Black americans continue to be the highest at-risk population for homicide, a position that the group has maintained since statistics based on race of victims were first compiled in 1914. The explanations attributed to this group-specific form of lethal injury are highly varied, encompassing individual and group behavioral orientations, with emphasis varying from one period to another. Current high-risk levels, however, are frequently attributed to the behavioral styles of young adult males, poverty, and membership in the subculture of violence. Yet, there are researchers who find problems with some or all of these explanations. But explanations are not temporally stable, and the underlying causal factors during one period later give way to others. Correspondingly, intervention efforts should reflect an awareness of the changing nature of interpersonal relationships that lead to homicide. One objective of this paper is to determine the direction in which the aggregate risk of homicide for blacks has been moving during the 1980s. Because blacks are highly concentrated in the nation's largest cities, where risk is known to be appreciably higher, it is particularly germane to attempt to detect if place of residence is tied to trends in risk behavior. To do this, homicide trends in a small sample of cities (which were scrutinized at the neighborhood level during the late 1970s) will be reviewed.


Seaweed depletion is one of the most serious situation happened along the coastal area in Japan and all over the world. The possible factors for barren ground development is lack of dissolved iron which required for reproductive growth of seaweeds. However, dam construction or urban development prevent the input of dissolved iron to coastal areas (Fig.1). To applied dissolved iron into seawater, natural organic matter such as humic substances should be used to keep iron maintained as a soluble fraction in alkaline region. The fertilization technique using mixture of steel slag as iron source and compost that contained humic substances has been developed and restoration of seaweed was succeed within 3 years. The model fertilization was observed within 6 months of incubation. The results shown that humic decreased within 2 months, however dissolved iron was detected until the end of incubation. In this previous study, detection of biomarker fatty acid which indicated for microbial activities has been reported. This suggests that the degradation of humic acid in fertilizer and continuous elution of iron can be attributed to microbial activities. In this study, model of iron dissolution from iron oxide model was simulated in culture system using artificial seawater. The test for iron elution was performed for a month to elucidate the effect of bacterial activity on iron elution to seawater using hematite as an iron oxide model. Anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonate (AQDS) was employed as dissolved organic matter model, since AQDS has been regarded as a monolog of humac matter. The eluted iron was determined in comparison in absence and presence of both hematite and AQDS. Bacterial cultures from fertilizer were isolated and identified.


Field studies were conducted at Charleston, SC to evaluate the effects of six chemical treatments on bahiagrass and the potential of these treatments to reduce mowing operations. Sulfometuron, maleic hydrazide, and imazethapyr plus imazapyr, in decreasing order of effectiveness, were the most consistent treatments evaluated during the 2-yr study. Sulfometuron reduced bahiagrass vegetative height (23%) for 6 to 8 WAT and suppressed 87 to 92% of seedheads without adversely affecting turf quality. All treatments temporarily discolored turf; however, effects were not objectionable for medium- to low-quality turf settings. Sulfometuron, maleic hydrazide, and imazethapyr plus imazapyr controlled growth and maintained acceptable turf quality for an average of 9, 9, and 8 wk, respectively; thereby reducing mowing operations by an average 29%. Mefluidide plus fluazifop-P, mefluidide plus sulfometuron, and chlorosulfuron were the least effective and/or consistent treatments evaluated.


This study investigated the immuno-toxicological effect of the insecticide fipronil at sublethal concentration (10% of LC 50 ) and the potential ameliorative effects of dietary microbial levan in Cyprinus carpio fry. Fish were randomly distributed into five treatments in triplicate for 60 days. Five different treatment groups were: levan control L 0 F 0 (basal feed + 0% levan without exposure to fipronil), pesticide control L 0 F (basal feed + 0% levan with exposure to fipronil), other three dietary supplemented groups exposed to fipronil with different inclusion levels of levan at 0.25% (L 0.25 F), 0.50% (L 0.50 F) and 0.75% (L 0.75 F), respectively. The results revealed that feeding common carp with 0.75% dietary levan significantly reduced ( P <0.05) glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase levels in various tissues. Lipid peroxidation and heat shock protein level was significantly ( P <0.05) reduced with supplementation of levan at 0.75% compared to other groups. Higher glycogen content was observed in high levan fed groups. Although fipronil exposure had no signficiant effect on lipid profile levels, dietary levan supplementation decreased lipid profile level in the fish exposed to fipronil stress. Total immunoglobulin and myeloperoxidase content of common carp showed an increasing trend with the concomitant increase in the level of levan administration in the diet. Overall, results revlealed that microbial levan at 0.75% in the fipronil induced C. carpio fry mitigated the stress due to its potent nutraceutical properties, thus presenting a promising immuno-additive for aquaculture.


This tool (10) for checking the centering between a clutch friction wheel and a crankshaft of a motor vehicle, comprises a first part (11) and a second portion (13) of cylindrical shapes. The first portion (11) of this tool (10) comprises a mark (15) and the first and second portions (11, 13) are integral with each other and eccentric with respect to each other.


1 The 17th June 2014 the EU Commission launched the new EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Macroregion with the publication of the Communication 357 and of the Action Plan along with the Supportive Analytical Document. The documents are result of a long-lasting process of public consultation carried out by the stakeholders in the Area that saw its start after the publication of the Discussion Paper (August 2013) and ended at the Athens Conference (February 2014) when the advantageous collection of suggestions for drawing of the Action Plan raised. The documents aim at bringing to the citizens attention, the advantages of a more tight cooperation in: promoting the maritime economy, taking care of marine environment, refining on infrastructures and sustainable sources of energy and promotion of sustainable tourism. The purpose is to offer to candidate and potential candidates countries, the opportunity to collaborate with the Member States, contributing to the integration of the Western Balkans in the EU. The documents will be presented at the EU Council and then in October 2014, during the EU Italian Presidency, the approval of the Action Plan by the EU leaders is expected. Starting from January 2015, a concrete implementation of the Macroregion will be appreciated. During the consultation on the EUSAIR Strategy a strong contribution to the matter expressing clear positions and operating through different modes of consultation in different contexts was provided by the AIC Forum. This involvement is mentioned in the Action Plan in regard to the pillar on Sustainable Tourism connected to trade and business opportunities. It is the result of a fruitful work and input for going further towards concrete projects proposed in the Action Plan. The 14th Edition of the AIC Forum took place in Greece, on the island of Corfu on the 10th-11th-12th of June 2014. The Event was organized in collaboration with the Corfu Chamber of Commerce and obtained, in addition to the European Institutions' patronage granted by the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, the High Patronage of the European Parliament which has regarded the Initiative as a valuable tool to strengthen cooperation and socio-economic development among the countries of the Adriatic Ionian Macroregion. This year the Edition was devoted to the following topic: "The Adriatic Ionian Macroregion: the role of Chambers of Commerce in the new economic scenario". The location, that well matches the undergoing EU Greek Presidency, and the topic of the Event highlight the high commitment that the AIC Forum is placing towards the macroregional process, in view of the upcoming Italian Presidency in the second half of 2014 when the Action Plan and the EUSAIR Strategy documents will be approved by the European Council. Two hundred delegates were present at this year Edition: representatives of the European institutions (DG Regio and DG Enterprise and Industry), national bodies of the countries of the Adriatic and Ionian Area (National Contact Points and representatives from different Ministries) including the Permanent Secretary of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative (AII), network of Universities UNIADRION as well as representatives from (follows at pag. 2) Adriatic Ionian Macroregion


" : contrQl1ers, The track tension is closely related to the maneuverability of tracked vehicles and the durability of tracks and suspension systems. In order to minimize the excessive load on the tracks and to prevent the peal.Joff of tracks from the sprock1et, the track tension needs to be maintained at the 6ptimhin level throughoutti:t~ maneuver. In this paper, a co-simulation tool is developed such that the performanc~ of the track tension control system can be investigated for various maneuvering tasks. The MBD (multi-body dynamics) vehicle model for tracked vehicles is very compli. cated (189 bodies, 36 revolute joints, 152 bushing elements and 954 degrees of freedom) and cannot be easily implemented in commercial software. Besides, the trac;k tension controller based on fuzzy logic can be easily constructed in the commercial control software. Therefore, co-simulation methodology is propos;ed so that the designed tension controller is interfaced into the MBD simulation softwgre. The performance of the tension control system is verified through the proposed co-simulation tool.


The performance of a fused silica column coated with 50% phenyl-/50% dimethyl-polysiloxane, characterized by a high thermal stability, was evaluated for the gas chromatographic determination of cholesterol oxidation products. A silylated mixture of eighteen oxysterol standards (0.1 mg/ml of each compound) was injected into the gas chromatographic system. The temperature was programmed from 230 to 260°C at 2.5°/min and then to 290°C at 1°/min; the injector and detector temperatures were set at 325°C, and the gas linear velocity was 22.8 cm/s. The column gave a fast (15 min) and satisfactory resolution of the main cholesterol oxides. Good separation of the hydroxy from the epoxy derivatives was achieved.The suitability of the method for the determination of oxysterols in food matrices was successfully tested on a saponified lipid extract from egg yolk powder, previously enriched and purified by NH2 solid phase extraction.


A guide to the best and weirdest alternative music, books, videos, zines, fashions, software technology and "tools for living". It features commentary, reviews, descriptions and provides contact names and addresses.


We evaluated the inclusion of peeled-mango waste meal as a source of carbohydrate in the protein:carbohydrate ratio (CP:CH) on performance and chemical composition of pacama (Lophiosilurus alexandri) juveniles. One hundred and fifty fish (11.31±0.96g) were stocked in sixteen 500 L tanks, fed three times daily (10% of live weight), in a system with water recirculation with biofilter. The treatments consisted of four experimental diets with decreasing levels of the ratio between crude protein and carbohydrate (1.40, 0.94, 0.56 and 0.29), with four replications per treatment. At the end of 60 days, we evaluated animal performance (final average weight gain, specific growth rate, total apparent feed intake, carcass yield, survival) and physicochemical composition of the carcass. The protein:carbohydrate ratios affected all performance variables (P 0.05). The carcass chemical composition variables were modified, except for mineral matter, pH and moisture. Mango meal can be used at the proportion of up to 15% in the diet for pacama, establishing a CP:CHO ratio of 1.40 without impairing animal performance and the carcass chemical composition.


We report the neuropathology of a patient with a family history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a p.N345K mutation in the transactivation response DNA‐binding protein 43 kDa (TDP‐43) gene (TARDBP). A 62‐year‐old man had bulbar palsy with progressive weakness in the extremities. Neurological examination revealed evident upper motor neuron signs and lower motor neuron involvement corroborated by needle electromyography. The patient was diagnosed as having probable ALS according to the revised El Escorial diagnostic criteria and was eventually diagnosed with familial ALS. At 65 years of age, respiratory failure became critical, and artificial ventilation was initiated. At 70 years of age, the patient died from a urinary tract infection. Histopathological investigation showed Bunina bodies in the remaining motor neurons and anterolateral funicular myelin pallor in the spinal cord. TDP‐43‐positive cytoplasmic inclusions were quite rare in the spinal cord motor neurons, being predominantly present in the glial cells (especially astrocytes) of the spinal cord anterior horn. Although the reason for the preferential vulnerability of spinal glial cells to TARDBP mutations remains unclear, our findings indicate that TARDBP p.N345K mutation could have an influence on the topography of TDP‐43 aggregation.


(30–364 days) and long-term (≥365 days) survival. Diabetes mellitus is a short-term prognostic factor, abnormal creatinine, and severe coronary status have affected short and medium survival. PCI was significant in terms of medium and long-term survival. Previous myocardial infarction and TIT influenced the long-term survival significantly. Conclusions: In Hungary, TIT is too long, and its dominant part falls within the prehospital period. The TIT is an independent prognostic factor, so reducing this time can improve the long-term prognosis of patients with ST-eleva-tion myocardial infarction.


1. The aim of the present study was to analyse the possible lack of uniformity in isoproterenol (ISO)‐induced myocardial hypertrophy.


"I, Too, Sing America" is a digital poem created by Tommy Nouansacksy (real name used with permission). A high school sophomore at the time, Tommy made this during the iPoetry unit in Jen Scott Curwood's English class during the 2005–2006 academic year. As part of this unit, Jen and her students read Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" and Langston Hughes' "I, Too, Sing America." After taking a rather traditional approach and analyzing the poems' literary devices and situating the themes within historical contexts, Jen then asked the students, "What is your America like?" While all students wrote a text poem in response, a number decided to use this as one of their digital poems. To do this, students used words (either text or voiceover), images, music, and transitions. They then compiled and edited their work in iMovie and later shared their digital poems with an audience that included their classmates as well as other students, teachers, administrators, and parents. In "'Just Like I Have Felt': Mult...


A total of thousand germplasm accessions of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) of diverse origin were evaluated for morpho-agronomic characters viz,. days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height (cm), finger length (cm), number of productive tillers, finger number per ear, days to maturity and grain yield per plant (g). Among the high yielding germplasm accessions, GE 4972 was observed to be superior in giving higher grain yield per plant (51g) along with finger length (9.2cm) and days to 50 per cent flowering (73days). Other superior germplasm lines that showed higher grain yield were GE 4967 (50g) and GE 5038 (46g). The germplasm accession GE 6058 had recorded lowest plant height (45.6cm), GE 4715 had recorded highest finger length (13.8cm), GE 6240 had recorded highest number of productive tillers (13.4), GE 5946 had recorded lowest number of days (47days) to 50 per cent flowering and GE 5078 had recorded highest finger number per ear (11.5) among the total germplasm accessions evaluated. This study helped in identifying superior germplasm accessions which could be effectively used in the regular finger millet improvement program.


This study examined the relation of college students' self-perceived and measured physical fitness. Students (30 men, 30 women; M age = 20.1 yr., SD = 1.4) completed the Physical Self-description Questionnaire and four fitness tests: air displacement plethysmography, submaximal treadmill test, curl-up test, and sit-and-reach test. Significant correlations were obtained for self-perceived physical fitness with measured body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, and flexibility (r = .33–.62). Significant correlations were also found between self-perceived overall fitness and actual body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance, and muscular endurance (|r| =.26–.55). These findings suggest that college students can gauge their own fitness in terms of four distinct health-related components with some accuracy.


Log is an absolutely necessarily part for a database management system, in which stores the historical operator of the database. Thus, it is very important to database recover. This paper discusses some database's data recover methods based on log by researching and analyzing the Oracle redo log file and its dump file.


The article deals with the systematization of existing restoration and reconstructive methods in a hierarchical order, depending on the possibility of introducing a new one into the historically established – from, the gentlest, restoration to the most active reconstructive. Their classification is proposed: according to the activity of the intervention – into preserving, restoring, renewing, transforming; to carry out qualitative changes at different system levels – urban planning, volumetric and functional. Preserving and restoring methods are classified as restoration, and renewing and transforming methods are classified as reconstructive. Their correspondence is shown depending on their activity in bringing new into the historical formed and their use for various system levels in the implementation of the complex process of restoration-reconstructive transformations. A brief explanation of each method is provided. It has been determined that the use of the restoration or reconstructive methods depends on the qualitative indicator of the existing state of the selected site, namely, its degree of value (historical-architectural value) and the degree of destruction (integrity). It is recommended to use restoration methods (preserving and restoring) for sites of the I and II degrees of value and integrity, and reconstructive methods (renewing and transforming) for sites of the III and IV degrees of value and integrity. It was indicated that the restoration methods correspond to the I and II degrees of restoration-reconstructive transformations, and the reconstructive methods correspond to the III and IV degrees of the RRT. For the effectiveness of the complex process of restoration-reconstruction transformations in any historical urban environment, it is recommended to use not individual methods, but their combinations.


The author shows that the sum or difference of two vectors is a vector. Similarly the sum of any two tensors of the same order is a tensor of that order. No meaning is attached to the sum of tensors of different orders, say u(sub i) + u(sub ij); that is not a tensor. In general, an equation containing tensors has meaning only if all the terms in the equation are tensors of the same order, and if the same unrepeated subscripts appear in all the terms. These facts will be used in obtaining appropriate equations for fluid turbulence. With the foregoing background, the derivation of appropriate continuum equations for turbulence should be straightforward.


In this paper, we investigate a Bayesian inference for software reliability models based on mean value functions which take the form of the mixture of beta distribution functions. The posterior simulation via the Markov chain Monte Carlo approach is used to produce estimates of posterior properties. Its applicability is illustrated with two real data sets. We compute the predictive distribution and the marginal likelihood of various models to compare the performance of them. The model comparison results show that the model based on the beta-mixture performs better than other models.


The purpose of this study was to examine how region-specific characteristics affect the occurrence of cardiac arrest. To analyze, we combined a unique data set including key indicators of health condition and cardiac arrest occurrence at the 244 small administrative districts. Our data came from two main sources in Korea Center For Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC): 2010 Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Surveillance and Community Health Survey. We analyzed data by using multiple regression, geographically weighted regression and decision tree. Decision tree model is selected as the final model to explain regional variations of cardiac arrest. Factors of regional variations of cardiac arrest occurrence are population density, diagnosis rates of hypertension, stress level, participating screening level, high drinking rate, and smoking rate. Taken as a whole, accounting for geographical variations of health conditions, health behaviors and other socioeconomic factors are important when regionally customized health policy is implemented to decrease the cardiac arrest occurrence.


Delivery of the Antek R-6000 total sulfur analyzer and modifications of the Shimadzu GC-14A gas chromatograph are scheduled for early July. Installation and calibration of these instruments will follow shortly. The atmospheric pressure electrobalance was used during the quarter for studies of the regeneration of FeS with O{sub 2}/N{sub 2} gas mixtures. Some anomalies in the data initially obtained required adjustment of balance sensitivity, reduction of sample size, and recalibration of the air rotameter. The authors are now confident that they can routinely obtain accurate and reproducible data with this unit. Definitive tests of effects of temperature, O{sub 2} concentration, and gas flow rate will be done next quarter. The high pressure electrobalance was put into service, and calibration experiments were started. Decomposition of CuSO{sub 4}{center_dot}5H{sub 2}O produced agreement with expected results. Heating of FeS in an O{sub 2}/N{sub 2} gas stream gave results in qualitative agreement with experiments using the atmospheric pressure electrobalance. Initial tests on effects of temperature, O{sub 2} concentration, and gas flow rate on the regeneration of FeS were done. Results were generally in agreement with expectations and with previous experiments on the atmospheric apparatus. Possible problems arose when the lowest range of the air mass flow controller was used. Fluctuation of the electrobalance signal in the early part of the regeneration experiment was an additional problem. Effort during the next quarter will focus on these problems and on definitive tests for FeS regeneration at elevated pressure. The Alonized fixed bed reactor pressure vessel was successfully leak tested early in the quarter. Other components of the fixed bed reactor system continued to arrive. Construction will begin in July along with installation of the analytical instruments.


This paper investigates the mathematical modelling of the biomagnetic fluid (human blood) flow, subjected to externally imposed various non-uniform magnetic fields. The three dimensional numerical simulation of a fully developed laminar blood flow in a long horizontal cylinder (steady Navier-Stokes equation) was verified by the analytical solution of Poiseuille flow. In allowing for the effects of the magnetic fields, the steady Navier-Stokes equations of the flow are expanded to include the Lorentz and magnetization forces. The model was used in a parametric study involving arteries with and without stenosis and aneurysm. It can be concluded that an imposed non-uniform magnetic field can create significant changes in the secondary flow patterns. Such behaviours can have interesting consequences especially in the optimization of the magnetically targeted drug delivery.


Purpose: This study aims to determine the internal factors and external factors that influence the success of Micro and Small Medium Enterprises's business performance of leading products in Central Java. Respondents in this study were 181 MSMEs delivered from various regencies in Central Java Province.
Methodology: Hypothesis testing conducted by performing multiple linear regression tests with SPSS 25 for windows.
Main Findings: The results of the study showed that internal factors: human resources, the use of accounting information and the use of information technology had a significant positive effect on the success of business performance and external factors which are government support and the business climate also had a significant positive effect on the success of business performance.
 Implication: The future studies could be more specialized in the types of MSMEs such as: business food, batik or handicraft so that the research results can be compared. Further research can also add both internal or external variables such as owner knowledge, business age, business scale or competitiveness. Future studies can also use other variables as moderating or intervening variables.
 Novelty/Originality of this Study: To date, there are no studies that examine internal factors (the ability of human resources, the use of accounting information and the use of information technology) and external factors (government support and business climate) affecting the success of business performance in leading products of micro and small medium enterprises in central java


Purpose: Functional disorders of the brain, such as dystonia and neuropathic pain, may exhibit poor response to medical therapy. The Globus Pallidus pars interna (GPi) and the medial‐thalamus are potential targets for surgical or stimulation interventions in these two pathologies, respectively. Radiosurgery is an attractive non‐invasive technique to treat dystonia or pain through a radio‐induced lesion to create the internal pallidotomy (IP) and medial thalamotomy (MT), respectively, but does not provide the possibility of confirming the target location through microelectrode recording. Computer‐aided atlas‐based target identification may provide a tool to maximize the anatomic detection of the target. The aim of this work is to show the feasibility of atlas‐based functional radiosurgery and evaluate the early results. Method and Materials: The coordinates of GPi, centro‐median (CMN) and medio‐dorsal (MD) nuclei were identified in the Talairach‐Tournoux atlas and transformed to the corresponding regions of the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) electronic atlas. Binary masks describing the target nuclei were created. The MNI electronic atlas was deformed onto the patient T1‐MRI by applying an affine transformation followed by a local nonrigid registration. The obtained deformation field was then applied to the target masks, which were superimposed on patient T2‐MRIs. The radiosurgical targets were thus identified on the patient T2‐MRI registered on the treatment CT. Results: Two patients affected by dystonia and neuropathic pain were treated through IP and MT (120 Gy prescribed at 65% and at 77%, respectively) delivered by the CyberKnife. Six month after the treatment, T2‐ and contrast‐enhanced‐T1‐MRIs showed edematous regions around the targets, whose correct lesion placements were confirmed through DW‐MRIs. Complete resolution of dystonia and pain was obtained within 6 months with consequent discontinuation of medical therapy so far required. Conclusion: This work shows that atlas‐based target reconstruction is a valid tool to maximize target detection during functional radiosurgery.


Removal of fly ash using wet scrubbers is widely used in the small and medium scale industries. Among the wet scrubbing methods, spray column falls into the simplest type category for its simple construction and various advan- tages. A novel pilot plant wet scrubber has been conceived, designed and fabricated. This paper distinctly focuses on the detailed design and fabrication of the ejector, which has been used to prepare fly ash-air mixture in the laboratory. A de- tail experimental investigation has been carried out to characterize the system. Studies indicate very encouraging result. The size analysis of the fly ash sample along with efficiency of fly ash removal in the wet scrubber has critically been ex- amined. It has been found that the present system yielded mentionable high efficiency for the scrubbing of fly ash. In most of the cases, the efficiency lies between 70.% and 90.%. The maximum efficiency obtained is above 90 %.


Context: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in the world and a modern threat to public health. India has been termed as the 'Diabetes Capital' of the world. The Indian scenario shows a steady increase in the prevalence of diabetes both in urban and rural areas as reported by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The tribal areas pose an equal risk with the changes in their life-style, however this aspect has not been explored extensively. Aims: To study the prevalence and epidemiological determinants of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the rural tribal area. Setting and design: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Tembha village, a tribal village in Taluka Shahapur, District Thane. Methods and material: A total of 568 adults aged 25 years&above were surveyed by questionnaires on demography, current and past dietary habits, social habits and family history. Physical examination and blood glucose measurement was done. Statistical analysis used: Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 15.0. Results: 568 subjects were studied. 296 (52.1%) were males and 272 (47.9%) were females. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 4.4% and that of impaired glucose tolerance was 1.2%. Significant association was found with risk factors like age, tobacco, alcohol addiction, obesity and hypertension. Independent risk factors like age over 40 years, obesity and hypertension were found statistically significant with logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The present study shows a high prevalence of diabetes in tribal areas. Tribal diabetes should be addressed as a problem to curb the epidemic of diabetes.


TC11 titanium alloy blade is one of aircraft engine important parts, its shape is complex and the quality requirement is high. The warps and the forgings may be discard due to the formed forging's remaining stress and the temperature stress. But it is possible to use the isothermal adjustment process to reduce the warp distortion and make the blade shape to meet the qualified requirements. Three dimensional design software Pro/E was used to carry on the design in view of the uniform temperature adjustment mold, and which Pro/E software can mainly solve the mold cavity modeling problem. The three dimensional surface modeling of blade is carried out and the heating and cooling devices for the isothermal sizing die are designed simultaneously. Its design flow is: creating the three dimensional entity of the blade, adding margin to the blade, using entity to set up the mold cavity, adding the mold structural elements, and designing heating and cooling system.


The two techniques, non-excavation recovery technique and endoscope detection technique of drainage pipe net were put forward. Pipe endoscope detection was divided into function and structure detection of drainage pipe. The detection technique could resolve the potential problems of civil roads and could apply advanced technology supplement for managing drainage pipe net.


What significance does linguistics have for the discipline of Qur'an exegesis? Kamil Öktem takes up this question in his essay on ar-Rāzī's Qur'an commentary and gives an overview of the various hermeneutic approaches and definitions of this Islamic discipline. He shows in the case study of the divine vision in Paradise (ru'yat Allāh), which is discussed in Q 6:103, how ar-Rāzī in his Qur'an commentary at-Tafsīr al-kabīr applies theological and linguistic knowledge. After a detailed methodical examination of ar-Rāzī's interpretation of Q 6:103, he concludes that, on the one hand, "linguistics were a very important and functionally crucial element in the early Qur'an exegesis" and, on the other hand, that there is great scope for interpretation in the theological discussions taking place in the Kalām discussions.


An experiment was performed which was designed to measure and record some salient features of thunder in the absence of reflections, strong temperature gradients, and turbulent air motion. A 10‐ft spark with a current‐versus‐time waveform similar to that of a typical lightning stroke was produced. Measurements were made of the direct sound waves from the spark. A description of this experiment will be presented and the results will be compared with those predicted by mathematical models of lightning.


Two magnesium matrix composites reinforced with 3 and 10% Ni-Ti particulates, respectively, were obtained by plasma sintering. The reinforcement material was obtained by grinding a mixture of powders of 68% Ni and 32% Ti atomic percent in a high energy mill for 40 hours. Particulates resulting from mechanical alloying have a partially amorphous and partially nanocrystalline structure, consisting of the following phases: Ni solid solution, Ti2Ni and NiTi (B2) phase. After sintering, both the matrix and the reinforcement material are nanocrystalline and the particulates have a polyphase structure, consisting of Ni(Ti), NiTi (R phase) and Ni4Ti3. The hardness of these composites is superior to the hardness of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with Ni-Ti particulates having 50% Ni / 50% Ti and 32% Ni / 68% Ti chemical compositions obtained under the same conditions and corresponding proportions of reinforcement material.


This paper presents an agent‐based model to study museum attendance, with the final aim of evaluating how the rules on free admission affect charged visits. Heterogeneous agents of a population are assumed to make their choices over a bundle of goods and activities which include museum attendance along with other consumption and leisure‐time alternatives. Simulations show that larger free‐admission rules always lead to an increase in the number of total visits. A specific focus is dedicated to show which conditions let the free admittance policies induce an increment also in charged visits. Agents are characterized in terms of income and education. Addiction to cultural consumption is modelled both with and without reference to education. Specific aspects, such as crowd effects and renovation of exhibitions, are also considered, as features of the museum attendance.


Limited research explores the outcomes of postsecondary graduates with learning disabilities (LD). We surveyed 132 graduates with LD of a large, public, competitive, postsecondary institution to determine information about current levels of employment, salary, postgraduate education, and self-disclosure rates in the workplace. Based upon a response rate of 67% (n = 89), results indicated that graduates were employed at comparable rates and salaries to graduates from the institution at large and to graduates with LD described in similar studies. Levels of employment and salaries exceeded those described in previous studies of individuals with LD who did not graduate from postsecondary institutions. We also provide data on rates of postgraduate education obtainment, types of employment, and rate of employment self-disclosure.


Beneficial effects of' trace amounts of dietary Se were first observed in vitamin E-deficient rats so that a strong metabolic interaction between these two micronutrients was apparent since the initial discovery of the nutritional value of Se (Schwarz & Foltz, 1957). Later work showed that Se and vitamin E tended to spare one another's requirement for the prevention of certain nutritional deficiency diseases (e.g. exudative diathesis in chicks, see Thompson & Scott, 1969). However, there were other conditions that appeared to respond specifically to only one of these nutrients (e.g. resorption gestation in rats, see Harris et al. 1958). As our knowledge about Se and vitamin E grew, the complexity of their interactions became clear with some conditions being specific for one or the other nutrient, whereas other syndromes responded equally well to either nutrient (Table 1). Many of the early results could be adequately explained by the


Medical implants are being used extensively in the treatment of many types of medical ailments. Approximately 20% of adults in the U.S. have received an implant of one type or another. The U.S. Department of Commerce states that the global market for medical devices in 2016 was $339.5 billion and predicted that it would grow to $435.8 billion by 2020. As with any man-made device, some of these implants will fail. This paper provides the fundamental knowledge required by engineering and biomechanical professionals in order to analyze why an implanted orthopedic device has failed mechanically; generally by fracture. The focus will be limited to the failure of metals that are used to fabricate orthopedic implanted devices. Information regarding the biocompatibility of various engineered materials and their interaction with tissues is also presented. *Correspondence to: David R Bosch, Forensic Engineering, Inc., 5001 North 50th Street, Suite 4, Phoenix, Arizona 85008, USA, E-mail: email@example.com Received: March 07, 2020; Accepted: March 25, 2020; Published: March 30, 2020 Introduction Medical implants are one of the great scientific breakthroughs and represent a growing financial sector. McCloy [1], has reported that the world-wide medical implant market exceeds $200 billion. He estimates that about 20% of adults in the U.S. have received an implant of one type or another. These numbers are substantiated by the U.S. Department of Commerce [2], which states that the global market for medical devices in 2016 was $339.5 billion and predicted that it would grow to $435.8 billion by 2020. As with any man-made device, some of these implants will fail. The materials that comprise medical implants fail in many different ways for many different reasons. In the case of the failure of engineered materials used for implantable devices, knowledge about medicine, human biology, biomaterials, engineering and many other factors must generally be considered and investigated before any conclusions can been drawn regarding the root cause of the device failure. The primary factors that must be considered include, but are not limited to, manufacturability and manufacturing processing requirements, biocompatibility of the proposed material(s), device geometry, the in vivo and in vitro environmental factors, the normal anticipated and traumatic (if any) loading conditions, and the health and condition of the patient. After a failed implanted device is explanted (removed) from the patient, it must be subjected to appropriate examination and tests. Perhaps the most critically important testing in cases of mechanical failure is the macro and micro examination of the failed device surface features and fracture surfaces. By using a wide array of tools and techniques, the analysis can reveal important surface features along with physical and mechanical properties of the failed device in order to determine if the device properties are consistent with those specified by the device manufacturer and ultimately determine the root cause of failure. One of the more important analytical techniques regarding the failure of various devices is fractography. The evaluation of fracture surface features often allows the analyst to determine what if any additional tests and/or investigations are required to complete the failure analysis. For example, if fractography reveals that an explanted device has failed due to surface damage created during the surgical implantation procedure, then the termination of the investigation may be deemed appropriate. If not, then additional tools and techniques may be employed to further investigate the root cause of the failure. Discussions regarding the history and types of implants along with the challenges of the development of biocompatible materials and related considerations are also presented. These subjects are covered in order to give the reader context in which to view the application of the tools and techniques that are generally relied upon to determine the root cause of implant failures. Without this knowledge, it may be very difficult, if not impossible, to understand the changes that are necessary to avoid future failures, and/or assist in the assignment of liability. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines medical implants as, "Devices or tissues that are placed inside or on the surface of the body." Implants are often prosthetics intended to replace missing or damaged human body parts. Other type of implants deliver medication, monitor body functions, and/or provide support to organs and tissues that have been damaged or are failing due to natural causes. McIntyre [3] summarized research published by 24/7WallSt.com based on its examination of National Health Survey data, peer-reviewed journals, multiple professional physician services, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings to complete a list of the most frequently implanted medical devices in the United States of America. The report contained data that included the number of procedures for Bosch D (2020) Review of the biomechanics, engineering design and forensic failure analysis of implantable medical devices Biol Eng Med, 2020 doi: 10.15761/BEM.1000179 Volume 5: 2-18 each of the top 11 implantable devices implanted each year, along with the total expenditure, average cost for each procedure and the major manufacturers for each device. The findings indicated that the most implanted medical device was artificial eye lens (2.582 million lenses). Following in descending order were ear tubes (715,000), coronary stents (560,000), artificial knee joints (543,000), metal screws, plates and rods (453,000), intra-uterine devices (425,000), spinal screws, rods and artificial spinal discs (413,000), breast implants (366,000), heart pacemakers (235,567) and artificial hips (230,000). The data and information for each device are summarized in Table 1. In the U.S.A., implants are considered to be medical devices and are regulated by the FDA under three classifications as defined in Title 21 CFR Part 860.3. The three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) divide medical devices based on increasing risk to the user. Examples of each of the implant categories are discussed below. It is also noted that there are many ASTM and ISO standards that are applicable to medical implants, several of which are referenced herein. The ideal implant material is described as having the following characteristics: 1) chemically inert; 2) excellent wear resistance; 3) superior biocompatibility; 4) an appropriate modulus of elasticity; 5) high strength; 6) long fatigue life; 7) corrosion-proof; and 8) inexpensive. Orthopedic implants are used to alleviate problems with joints (e.g. hips, knees, fingers and toes, wrists and shoulders). They also are used to repair or treat bone fractures, scoliosis of the spine, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis and pain. Implants can fail for several reasons, including improper implantation, material defects, design defects, and/or manufacturing defects. The following sections provide an overview of the engineering and biomechanical challenges associated with implantable devices. Orthopedic implants are used in fracture fixation through a process termed "open reduction – internal fixation" (i.e., ORIF). Most typically at present, these materials are metal alloys. The purpose of this surgical procedure is to enable the orthopedic surgeon to adequately stabilize the two ends of a fractured long bone or to bring many bone fragments from a comminuted fracture together in a stable fashion. For example, in some surgical procedures of the hand, an arthrodesis (bone fusion) is achieved by removing a proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and approximating the saw cut ends of the two bones together (proximal and middle phalanges) and securing them with a bone screw or dorsal finger surface metal plate over the proximal PIP joint at a desired arthrodesis PIP angle (see Case Study 1). In some spinal surgical procedures, metal plates are fixed to the anterior vertebral bodies in fusing functional spinal units in the cervical or lumbar spine; less frequently in the thoracic spine. Furthermore, in conjunction with hardware applied to anterior vertebral bodies, the posterior elements of vertebral structures may also be reinforced in a separate fusion procedure. Spinal pathology such as scoliosis (lateral curvature{s}) may also be treated by hardware such as Harrington or Luque rods that enable the physician to apply an apparatus, which will apply tension on one side of the spine and compression on the other in an effort to correct the deformity. Currently, there are many different implants available for the treatment of scoliosis. Implant systems differ depending upon patient indications [4]. Current joint replacements are not only being used for hips and knees but also for interphalangeal joints, ankles, shoulders (glenohumeral (GH) joints) and other joints. These joint replacements may be in response to acute trauma, but are more commonly implanted in cases of remote trauma or advancing osteoarthritis, and/ or chondromalacia with the advanced loss of joint articular cartilage. Whereas joint replacements in the past many times would fail within 5 to 10 years requiring revision, new knee and hip replacements may be expected to last 20 to 30 years. As implant materials and joint designs continue to improve, it is expected that the device life longevity will continue to increase. Case study 1 – Swan neck deformity repair


Salt-resistance polymer ASPAM used for oil flooding and the molecular aggregation of hydrolysis polyacrylamide PHPAM are researched by using electronic scanning,the process of injecting polymer in situ is simulated,and the influence of the polymer solution concentration,make-up water salinity,multi- level filtration and mechanic shearing on polymer molecular aggregation is analyzed,by means of core test,the characteristic of ASPAM flow through porous media is analyzed.Result indicates ASPAM shows,when aggregation of molecular reaches aggregating situation,the viscosity increases considerably,compared with PHPAM,ASPAM is of better ability of salt- resistance and shearing-resistance,in porous media,its dynamic liquid-keeping is more.The research is meaningful for using salt- resistance polymer flooding.


Executive Summary Making the transition to a sustainable energy future is one of the central challenges humankind faces in this century. The concept of energy sustainability encompasses not only the imperative of securing adequate energy to meet future needs, but doing so in a way that (a) is compatible with preserving the underlying integrity of essential natural systems, including averting dangerous climate change; (b) extends basic energy services to the more than 2 billion people worldwide who currently lack access to modern forms of energy; and (c) reduces the security risks and potential for geopolitical conflict that could otherwise arise from an escalating competition for unevenly distributed energy resources. The task is as daunting as it is complex. Its dimensions are at once social, technological, economic, and political. They are also global. People everywhere around the world play a role in shaping the energy future through their behavior, lifestyle choices, and preferences. And all share a significant stake in achieving sustainable outcomes. The momentum behind current energy trends is enormous and will be difficult to check in the context of high levels of existing consumption in many industrialized countries; continued population growth; rapid industrialization in developing countries; an entrenched, capital-intensive and long-lived energy infrastructure; and rising demand for energy-related services and amenities around the world. Although wide disparities exist in per capita energy consumption at the country level, relatively wealthy households everywhere tend to acquire similar energy-using devices. Therefore, the challenge and the opportunity exists—in industrialized and developing countries alike—to address resulting energy needs in a sustainable manner through effective demand-and supply-side solutions. The prospects for success depend to a significant extent on whether nations can work together to ensure that the necessary financial resources, technical expertise, and political will are directed to accelerating the deployment of cleaner and more efficient technologies in the world's rapidly industrializing economies. At the same time, current inequities that leave a large portion of the world's population without access to modern forms of energy and therefore deprived of basic opportunities for human and economic development must also be addressed. This could be achieved without compromising other sustainability objectives, particularly if simultaneous progress is achieved toward introducing new technologies and reducing energy intensity elsewhere throughout the world economy. The process of shifting away from a business-as-usual trajectory will necessarily be gradual and iterative: because essential elements of the energy infrastructure have an expected life on …


Bu3SnH-mediated aryl radical cyclisation of
N-[2,2-bis(phenylsulfanyl)ethenyl]-2-bromobenzamides
12a–d and 16 takes place in a 5-exo manner to give
exclusively the isoindolones 15a–d and 17, respectively.
The isoindolone 17 is converted into lennoxamine and a key
intermediate 20 for the synthesis of chilenine.


We evaluated meat quality and testosterone and cortisol contents of meat from 30 bulls and 30 steers. Meat from steers had significantly higher fat content, lower total collagen, pH, shear forces and L, a and b values than meat from bulls. Sarcomere length, soluble collagen, and steroids content were not statistically different between bulls and steers. No direct hormonal effects on meat quality have been found. Reported differences in meat quality could be attributable to stress and slaughter ages. Key words: Steroids, meat quality, bulls, steers


Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the most common complications of chronic hepatitis B. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) reactivation occurs in the inactive phase, characterized by reappearance of HBsAg or negative HBsAg. The prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection in cirrhosis and HCC ranges from 20% to 60%. This study aimed to analyze the differences in hepatitis B serological tests in patients with cirrhosis and HCC for diagnosis of acute or chronic hepatitis B. The current research was analytical and descriptive with a cross-sectional study design. This study involved 177 patients, including 50 cirrhosis patients and 127 HCC patients. Hepatitis B serological tests (HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, total anti-HBc) were analyzed using VIDAS instruments by the Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Immunoassay (ELFA) method. Hepatitis B serological test results were grouped based on the interpretation of serological test results. The data were processed with the statistical test Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent T-test, and Chi-Square, and results with p<0.05 were reported as significant. This study found that most males suffer from cirrhosis and HCC due to chronic HBV infection, with a mean age of 57. Chronic hepatitis was most common in patients with cirrhosis and HCC  (71.2%). There was no significant difference in the interpretation of the hepatitis B serological test between patients with cirrhosis and HCC, with a p-value of 0.230 (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in interpreting the hepatitis B serological test between cirrhosis and HCC. Both reactive HBsAg and non-reactive HBsAg can be obtained in cirrhosis and HCC.


This paper outlines recent early mission design activites for a lunar data systems architecture. Each major functional element is shown to be strikingly similar when viewed in a common reference system. While this similarity probably deviates with lower levels of decomposition, the sub-functions can always be arranged into similar and dissimilar categories. Similar functions can be implemented as objects - implemented once and reused several times like today's advanced integrated circuits. This approach to mission data systems, applied to other NASA programs, may result in substantial agency implementation and maintenance savings. In today's zero-sum-game budgetary environment, this approach could help to enable a lunar exploration program in the next decade. Several early mission studies leading to such an object-oriented data systems design are recommended.


The eastern North Pacific (ENP) has the highest density of tropical cyclogenesis of any basin in the world (Molinari et al. 2000). The boxed region in Fig. 1 delineates the area in which 75% of tropical cyclones (TCs) formed from 1981 to 2010. This area is characterized by low vertical wind shear, high low-level relative humidity, atmospheric instability, warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and enough distance from the equator to supply sufficient Coriolis force for cyclogenesis (e.g., Gray 1968). Though many TCs develop near land, the dominant track of ENP TCs is largely westward, and thus away from the coast, due to the influence of the subtropical ridge on the environmental flow in the basin. Once TCs move out of the main genesis region, atmospheric conditions hostile to TC development tend to occur in the form of increasing shear as well as decreasing moisture, convective available potential energy (CAPE), and SSTs (e.g., Fig. 1). The combination of hostile conditions and flow that steers TCs over open ocean limits the number of TCs that make landfall or affect land while the TC center remains over water.


This paper is about the gender gap among the BRICS countries during last one decade. Originally Brazil, Russia, India and China were grouped in 2001 by Jim O'Neil and officially became a diplomaticpolitical entity called BRIC in the year 2006. Later in the year 2011, South Africa joined in the group and renamed as BRICS. The emerging economy of these countries is to forecast to realize real and fast economic growth of the region. This group countries collective contribution to world GDP has increased from 11% in 1990 to 25% in 2011. The BRICS are good example for the present study because of two reasons; one, the repaid growth of economies and the second, the high proportionate (42%) of world's higher education. It is to be noted that the last few years in the BRICS countries, the gender gap reports shown both positive and negative sign in some of the key areas. The gender gap score for the various parameters viz., economic participation, education, health and political empowerment among the BRICS countries are compared and a brief analysis of the reports are listed highlighting the status of India the in the group.


We present an accelerator for seed-extension, a critical and computational intensive step in genome sequencing. The accelerator consists of a triangular array of 25×25 custom design processing elements implementing a string-independent automata. It achieves 2.46M reads/s, a ~1800x performance improvement, and 27x smaller silicon footprint compared to a Xeon E5420.


This article takes issue with aspects of the influential 'regulatory' perspective on European governance, especially as developed by Majone and Moravcsik. While many of their claims are compelling, these accounts become much less convincing when they move from empirical analysis to normative prescription—an argument developed in the article's first major section. The article charts the ambivalent treatment of connections between national democracies and at the EU level by regulatory theorists, considers their treatment of democracy, efficiency, welfare, social citizenship, understood here as features or legacies of majoritarian, or more accurately mass, democracy in Europe. The second section offers an alternative academic agenda for the analysis of Europe's multi‐level politics, which places it in historical perspective. It seeks to contribute to a growing body of EU scholarship that finds inspiration in the macro‐comparative approach of Rokkan, while also drawing links with studies in American political development. A rounded assessment of the prospects for democracy, legitimacy and political stability in Europe needs at least to integrate national and Europe level trends.


Plant roots can help to stabilise slopes. Existing analytical models to predict their mechanical contribution are however limited: they typically focus on the ultimate limit state, employ various empirical factors, and ignore much of the underlying root‐soil interaction. A new model was developed based on large deflection Euler‐Bernoulli elastic beam theory that can be used to study the mobilisation of root strength under various loading conditions (direct shear and pull‐out). Both lateral and axial loading of the root by the soil were incorporated, based on existing methodologies for foundation piles (p‐y and t‐z curves). The model is able to take the key parameters into account (root biomechanical properties, root architectural properties, and soil properties) while remaining quick to solve using a numerical boundary value problem solver. The model was compared with experimental direct shear test data using various root analogues (rubber, plastic, and wood) in dry sand with various densities and effective stress levels and was able to accurately predict the measured shear force‐displacement behaviour. Comparison with experimentally measured pull‐out force‐displacement curves using rubber and wooden root analogues with various architectures in dry and partially saturated sands was also satisfactory. In the future, this model can aid with addressing long‐standing problems in the root‐reinforcement community: quantifying the effect of (sequential) mobilisation of root strength in direct shear, the effect of the angle at which the root crosses a shear plane, the effect of root topology on root‐reinforcement or the effect of root bending, and root shear shear forces on root‐reinforcement.


Heart rate variability (HRV) has been conventionally analyzed with time- and frequency-domain methods. More recent nonlinear analysis has shown an increased sensitivity for identifying risk of future morbidity and mortality in diverse patient groups. Included in the domain of nonlinear analysis are the multiscale entropy measures. The Renyi entropy is such a measure. It is calculated by considering the probability of sequences of values occurring in the HRV data. An exponent α of the probability can be varied to provide a spectrum of measures. In this work we applied the multiscale Renyi entropy for identification of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in diabetes patients. Fifteen participants were identified with CAN (dCAN) using the five-test Ewing battery and 26 were control (nCAN). The multiscale Renyi entropy was measured from -5<;α<;+5. The best result was obtained with α=5, where the mean value for patients with CAN was 0.98 with standard deviation of 0.01, compared with a mean of 0.95 for controls with standard deviation of 0.02. The probability of the means being the same was p<;0.0001, suggesting that a significant difference between these groups was found using the Renyi entropy. Other values of α also showed a significant difference. Different pathologies differ in their ECG and HRV and therefore no single HRV test should be expected to be ideal for all pathologies. However, this work shows that the multiscale Renyi Entropy provides a high level of discrimination and therefore should be considered as a neuroendocrine test for CAN.


Developments in computer and communication technologies, which constitute the starting point of concepts such as decentralization, virtuality, simulation, augmented reality and metaverse, have also brought new forms of expression and designs in art to the agenda. In addition to the decentralized data architecture and metaverse areas that emerged in parallel with the development of network technologies, applications that increase the user's interaction and beleaguered experience such as virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality have increased their effectiveness in this field. The metaverse spaces that emerge with the cooperation of software, art and architecture offer their users a more similar life simulation of natural life through augmented reality vehicles or screens. Here, users can perform new experiences for artistic production and consumption as well as daily life practices such as socialization and communication. Metaverse spaces, which include the design of a three-dimensional virtual universe that can be supported by augmented reality, are free from all the constraints of the real world as a cinematic plateau. It is seen as a great advantage that the real film set can create a cinematic work without expensive equipment such as cameras, lights, and sound away from all the negativities of the natural shooting conditions. The fact that the production, distribution and screening of cinema works can be realized within this field brings a new understanding of decentralized cinema to the agenda. Decentralized cinema, which has begun to rise in the expanding virtual geography of the metaverse virtual space with its advantages such as virtual characters and scenes and creative space fictions, is an art form worth examining. This study focuses on the possible future transformations of cinema in terms of production and representation in the context of the relationship of virtual and augmented reality technologies with developing metaverse areas. The emergence of a new cinematic ecology; The opportunities and obstacles it provides to producers are examined with the philosophical criticism method through concepts such as virtual and augmented reality, web 3.0, metaverse in terms of audience experiences it offers for screening. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the metaverse area has many advantages in terms of the production of cinema works, democratization of the production and distribution of works, digital privacy and security for metaverse artists, and recognition of ownership for digital works of art.


This research aims to determine whether the development of discovery learning–based e-module using the professional PDF flip software integrated with the website can be an alternative in learning physics during the COVID-19 pandemic. This type of research is a preliminary study with qualitative descriptive research methods. The instrument used is a questionnaire with four categories, which is then distributed to teachers and students. The subjects in the study were physics teachers and students at SMA Negeri 3 Palu and SMA Karunadipa Palu. The data analysis used a qualitative description of the answer given by teachers and students. The results of preliminary studies show that: COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a look place online so that teachers needed teaching materials and practical media to be used without face-to-face learning. The research concludes that e-module development-based discovery learning using professional PDF flip software is integrated with the website as an alternative in learning physics during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Many humanl health problems have been created with the introduction of chlorinated hydrocarbons as pesticides. Much interest has centered around food residues, since one common method of application of these insecticides has been deliberately to use their residue effect for pest control. Owing to previous experience with other types of insecticides having a residue effect, there is an extensive precedent for food sampling, chemical analysis, legislation, and field regulations. However, to do this intelligently, the magnitude of the problem lhas to be carefully defined. Specifically, in regard to chlorinated lhydrocarbons there is no argument that these compounds are dangerous and lethal when ingested in large amounts. The only difference of opinion relates to the exact level at which a given food residue becomes sufficiently large so that its potential hazard to man outweighs its value for insect control. The development of insect resistance and tolerance is likely to make this type of decision increasingly difficult. DDT (2,2 bis(p-chlorophenyl) -1,1,1,-trichloroethane) is a typical example of a chlorinated hydrocarbon in extensive field use. This was the compound selected for experimentation. In view of the importance of safeguarding h-uman life, while permittinig agriculture to use these chemicals as indicated, it would appear that there is a need for more basic information on the physiological effect of human exposure to low doses of these compounds. One approach is to simulate the human experience by continuously feeding various levels of DDT incorporated into the diet of white rats. This method, even though representing a laboratory simplification of field conditions, creates new difficulties in the evaluation of the significance of tissue changes or biochemical abnormalities. Ultimately, the extrapolation of animal studies to human medicine represents the most vexing problem of all.


: This paper investigates the clustering pa(cid:614)ern of house price dynamics in 34 major cities in China over the period 2005–2016. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering is implemented based on a distribution-based dissimilarity measure, the Kullback-Leibler divergence, which measures the similarity between house price appreciation trajectories. The clustering procedure reveals a broad two-cluster structure: one relatively homogeneous slow-growing market cluster and one red-hot market cluster which, however, has a higher degree of within-cluster heterogeneity. The two-cluster partition also indicates a geographical pa(cid:614)ern that separates out Eastern China. However, this clustering pa(cid:614)ern is mainly shaped by the market structure in the recent period after 2014. Prior to 2014, and especially before 2010, the interurban housing market in China could be considered a homogenous market in terms of house price changes.


Adaptive optics can mitigate the turbulence-induced wavefront distortions that limit the minimum practical beam divergence in a ground-to-space optical link, and enable high intensity laser beam propagation through the atmosphere. The CEMERLL experiment will use laser guide star adaptive optics to transmit a near-diffraction-limited laser beam from the Starfire Optical Range to the Apollo lunar retroreflectors. The experiment will validate theoretical models that predict the effect of atmospheric turbulence on uncompensated and compensated laser beam propagation, and explore strategies to compensate for atmosphere-induced wavefront tilt not corrected for by laser guide star adaptive optics.


BACKGROUND
Breast cancer (BRCA) has become the most common cancer worldwide. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in the breast exerts a crucial role in promoting BRCA initiation, progression, and metastasis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the primary component of tumor-infiltrating immune cells through biological mediators which convert TME into malignant tumors. Combinations of these biological mediators can promote tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, immune suppression, and limit the anti-tumor activity of conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES
The present study aimed to highlight the functions of several biological mediators in the breast which generate TME into malignant tumors. Furthermore, this review offers a rationale for TAM-targeted therapy as a novel treatment strategy for BRCA Results: this review emphasizes TAM-associated biological mediators of TME viz., cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, adipocytes, tumor-derived exosomes, extracellular matrix, and other immune cells, which facilitates TME into malignant tumors. Evidence suggests that the increased infiltration of TAMs and elevated expression of TAM-related genes are associated with a poor prognosis of BRCA. Based on these findings, TAM-targeted therapeutic strategies, including inhibitors of CSF-1/CSF-1R, CCL2/CCR2, CCL5-CCR5, bisphosphonate, nanoparticle, and exosomal-targeted delivery have been developed, and are currently being employed in intervention trials.

CONCLUSION
This review concludes the roles of biological mediators of TME interact with TAMs in BRCA that provide a rationale for TAM-targeted therapy as a novel treatment approach for BRCA.


In Switzerland, the daily and annual profiles of electrical energy supply are deeply reshaped by the increasing importance of non-flexible renewable sources, i.e. solar and wind, slowly replacing nuclear power plants. Load shifting can be a special help, adapting consumption to this new production, allowing to develop and implement new storage solutions. In this paper, we present a solution that uses existing heating facilities of residential buildings to store electrical energy as thermal energy in buildings. Charging is performed by the margin power of heating systems, i.e. the difference between installed power and the heating power that is currently necessary. It is a storage solution limited to times when heating is necessary with charging/discharging powers depending on the weather conditions. However, it has the crucial advantage to be distributed over the grid and therefore adapts especially well to expanding non-flexible renewable distributed energy sources. Based on the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) buildings and dwellings statistics, this paper shows that in Switzerland, this solution could deliver a storage capacity above 6 GWh (for 1° change in room temperature) with peak charging/discharging powers at balance (i.e. when they are equal) of about 2.3 GW. The storage potential is hence in the same order of magnitude as large pump-storage hydroelectric power stations like Nant de Drance.


This paper reports progress in the CAD of microwave circuits using a parallel TLM code with Prony's method. With only 100 TLM time samples, the scattering parameters of a microwave bandpass filter are extracted via Prony's method on a normal workstation. Such a combination of the parallel TLM module and Prony's method brings efficient optimization using time domain techniques within acceptable time limits.<<ETX>>


The present invention relates to a circuit and method for detecting a different depth media. The method: First, a sensor which consists of a set of PCB copper foil, i.e. the shape of two identical PCB copper foil around the plate. Secondly, there is provided a detection driving signal Clk, is applied to the left and right electrode plates. Such that the electromagnetic field is formed between the left and right plates and earth; and again, and provides a phase difference of the waveform shaping circuit, so that each electrode plate may generate a phase difference of the drive signal relative to itself. Then a phase inverter circuit, waveform inversion, to facilitate the minute signal is filtered and amplified. MCU DC voltage signal sampling two plates. The present invention is further taken signal inversion timing is determined and the absolute value of the signal determines the difference between the two methods, to determine whether the true center signal. The present invention provides a detection method having a simple, stable, strong anti-interference characteristics.


The existence of positive solutions has been discussed in the paper for the non-homogeneous boundary value problem with a derivative argument; u"+a(t)f(t,u,u') = 0, 0t1, a (0) = 0, u(1)=b0. Where f is superlinear on u. Our approach is based on the Shauder fixed point theorem.


The purpose of this paper is to review literature about the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in strategic situations and identify the research that is needed in the area of applying AI to strategic marketing decisions.,The approach was to carry out a literature review and to consult with marketing experts who were invited to contribute to the paper.,There is little research into applying AI to strategic marketing decision-making. This research is needed, as the frontier of AI application to decision-making is moving in many management areas from operational to strategic. Given the competitive nature of such decisions and the insights from applying AI to defence and similar areas, it is time to focus on applying AI to strategic marketing decisions.,The application of AI to strategic marketing decision-making is known to be taking place, but as it is commercially sensitive, data is not available to the authors.,There are strong implications for all businesses, particularly large businesses in competitive industries, where failure to deploy AI in the face of competition from firms, who have deployed AI to improve their decision-making could be dangerous.,The public sector is a very important marketing decision maker. Although in most cases it does not operate competitively, it must make decisions about making different services available to different citizens and identify the risks of not providing services to certain citizens; so, this paper is relevant to the public sector.,To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first papers to probe deployment of AI in strategic marketing decision-making.


The improvement of sequencing technologies is increasing the volume of biosequences in databases. Experimental validation of genomes and proteomes is however far too slow compared to the pace at which data are being produced and electronic annotation is the current solution to this problem. The annotation of a new sequence is inferred from experimentally validated reference proteins using different algorithms. Recently we developed BAR+ [1], an annotation system that is cluster centric: a protein enters an annotated cluster provided that it shares at least 40% sequence identity over at least 90% of the alignment length with a protein of the cluster. From the cluster the protein inherits all the statistically validated features that characterize the cluster. These can include GO terms, Pfam domains and protein structure. Clusters in BAR+ where generated by splitting the components of graphs where two nodes (two proteins) are linked when they share at least 40% sequence identity over at least 90% of the pairwise sequence alignment [2]. BAR+ clusters are therefore graphs where protein sequences are the nodes and similarity relationships are the edges, with weight equal to the evaluated sequence identity between the pair of nodes. Over 13 million protein sequences have been clustered into 913962 clusters, with cluster size up to 87893 nodes. Here we enhance the level of detail within BAR+ clusters by applying algorithms used to identify communities in graphs. This is done in order to subcluster sequences that share within the same cluster more specific functional and structural features. A community is defined as a subset of nodes having more edges leading to members of the same community than to other nodes in the graph. The term community comes from the original application of this concept to social networks; however, community detection is now used to assess robustness of network infrastructures and to analyze interaction networks [3], [4]. The definition of community is a bit vague and then a mathematical measure is needed in order to compare different assignment of nodes to communities in a graph. Different approaches to community detection have been developed [5], mostly relying on the maximization of a target function. Other clustering techniques, like spectral methods and k-means, require a-priori knowledge of the number of communities. For our purpose, however, an algorithm capable to automatically detect the communities without the need of setting a parameter is


: Collaborative representation-based classification (CRC) has become a breakthrough in face classification due to its distinguished collaborative capacity. Nevertheless, insufficient observations of per subject are usually offered by few or even a single gallery image for face classification, which lead to a sensitive response to the variations from the original data set. In this study, the authors present a bi-directional CRC algorithm using convolutional neural network-based features for face classification. They first employ a deep convolutional neural network to extract facial features from the original gallery and query sets, and then develop a fast reverse representation model to obtain the auxiliary residual information between each training sample and the reconstructed one that is achieved from the test sample. Secondly, they offer a new solution to the bi-directional optimisation problem by which the input sample is well represented by the forward linear combination and the reverse one, respectively. The last contribution is to utilise a competitive fusion method for robust face recognition, which weighted reconstructed residuals from the bi-directional representation model. Experimental results obtained from a set of well-known face databases including AR, FERET, and ORL verify the validity of the proposed method, especially in the robustness to small sample size problem.


The discussion of a previous paper on the hydraulic jump in sloped channels (1) made it evident that the existing literature carried no clear exposition of the subject, and moreover that no systematic experimental evidence was available which would permit an engineer to draw practical conclusions regarding the matter. The research described in this paper is an attempt to clarify this situation.


The creative requirements for The LEGO Movie demanded that the entire world be made of individual LEGO bricks, with no cheating. Whole buildings needed to be demolished into their component bricks, vehicles pulled apart and re-assembled differently and some parts of the set were to be ripped up and formed into other objects. Even simulated FX like oceans, dust and clouds were to be made of bricks. To achieve this challenging brief and support rendering of massive amounts of geometry, we added a brick-based layer under our existing asset pipeline, which we kept 'live' all the way through to final rendering. This approach allowed us to leverage brick specific render optimisations, and to automate various tasks such as model building and surfacing.


[5] E. Ogretim and W.W. Huebsch. A novel method for automated grid generation of ice shapes for local-flow analysis. A priori testing of a synthetic velocity subgrid-scale model for large-eddy simulation. A discrete dynamical system subgrid-scale model of turbulent convection. A discrete dynamical system subgrid-scale model of turbulent convection. man's navier-stokes equation model of turbulent flow. Numerical simulation of turbulence based on a synthetic velocity subgrid-scale model. A new les model applied to an internally-heated, swirling buoyant plume. Simulation of vorticity-buoyancy interactions in fire-whirl-like phenomena. Random flow generation technique for large eddy simulations and particle-dynamics modeling.


This is an inquiry into the allegation that the United States Air Force flew reconnaissance missions for the Israelis during the 1967 June War as related in a book called Taking Sides by Stephen Green. After retracing Green9s steps and tracking a good number of leads, the author concludes that the story is untrue.


Review(s) of: Hainan - state, society, and business in a Chinese province, by Erik Kjeld Brodsgaard, London, Routledge, 2009, 190 pp.


Background Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is effective in improving motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to investigate mortality associated with bilateral STN DBS in patients with PD and to assess the factors associated with mortality and causes of death after DBS. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 257 patients with PD who underwent bilateral STN DBS at the Movement Disorder Center at Seoul National University Hospital between March 2005 and November 2018. Patients were evaluated preoperatively, at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery and annually thereafter. The cause and date of death were obtained from interviews with caregivers or from medical certificates at the last follow-up. Results Of the 257 patients with PD, 48 patients (18.7%) died, with a median time of death of 11.2 years after surgery. Pneumonia was the most common cause of death. Older age of disease onset, preoperative falling score while on medication, and higher preoperative total levodopa equivalent daily dose were associated with a higher risk of mortality in time-dependent Cox regression analysis. Conclusion These results confirm the mortality outcome of STN DBS in patients with advanced PD.


Listening Mirrors #01 is a sound art installation and musical instrument that warps and blurs the boundaries between real and designed realities, opening up a new space for participants to explore these two worlds as one. It challenges existing cultural conditioning of perception with new sonic networking systems. It promotes shared modes of musical expression for musicians and non-musicians alike. The instrument, in its construction and interaction design, investigates ways in which collective sonic expression can be made possible using Audio Augmented Reality technology (AAR) and acoustic mirrors, whilst exploring how such environments promote collaborative sonic expression. Listening Mirrors is composed of a virtual acoustic mirror (an IOS app built with OpenFrameworks, LibPD with bone-conduction headphones)and a parabolic acoustic mirror (built from aluminium metal sheets, piano wires and 3D printed joints, and brought under tension with double bass strings, bending each piano wire and aluminium sheet to form its parabolic shape), all networked and excited by transducers that stream sound from the real and virtual sonic environments.


Few reports have been published on the influence of the uniformity of rubber compounds on the quality of rubber products. In this work, NBR compounds of different degree of dispersion of additives were vulcanized in a mold equipped with two electrodes to measure the electric current during vulcanization. The electric current-cure time curves of these samples reflected the uniformity of NBR compounds.


Horizontal cells of the vertebrate retina are known to contribute to the formation of the receptive fields surrounds photoreceptor and biopolar cells. However, few synapses have bee describe anatomically that might mediate these interactions. We have observed in the catfish retina that cone horizontal cell perikarya and dentrites make‐conventional chemical synapses onto photoreceptor terminal telodendria and, onto bipolar cell dendrites, while horizontal cell axon terminals make chemical synapses onto the perikarya and processes of amacrine cells. The synapses are characterized by clusters of round vesicles aggregated close to the site of contact, as well as by electron‐dense material associated with both pre‐ and postsynaptic membranes. The three kinds of synapses observed anatomically correspond to the synaptic pathways involving cone horizontal cells that have been suggested by the physiology of these cells.


ABSTRACT One of the most iconic remains from the South American Paleo-American record is the so-called Fishtail, or just "Fell" projectile point, a distinctive artifact that stands out due to its wide distribution from southern Mexico to southernmost South America. This research brief informs on new data and observations on two Fishtail points found in Mendoza province in western Argentina. Detailed techno-morphological observations showed two shape variations; one was comparable to the so-called stereotype, and the other with the lanceolate variant recorded among this kind of diagnostic artifact. Stratigraphic contexts spanning the Fishtail point's age of ∼11,000–10,000 radiocarbon years ago have been found in the region. This fact suggests that during the last millennium of the Pleistocene, hunter–gatherers using Fishtail points in their weaponry were foraging in the landscape in the lowlands of the southern Andean mountain range in western South America.


The synthesis of a disaccharide macrocycle through 2,3-dideoxy glucopyranosyl monosaccharide is reported. 2,3-Dideoxy-erythro-hexopyranosyl thioglycoside possessing a free hydroxy functionality at the C-4 carbon is prepared, and cycloglycosylation is conducted. In the event, the cycloglycosylation occurs with a ring contraction of the monosaccharide moiety and affords the cyclic furanoside disaccharide. Solution-phase and single-crystal X-ray diffraction structural characterizations permit the features of the macrocycle to be uncovered. The solubilization and encapsulation properties of the macrocycle are studied in aqueous solutions with 1-aminoadamantane.


Questionnaire development is a multi-step process. At every step, decisions are made. This article describes a novel software which logs these decisions rationale for subsequent questionnaire modifications. Therefore it provides a graphical user interface to create and manipulate questionnaires, and to track the changes of the individual steps of the questionnaire development process. The detailed change information adds to the comprehensiveness of change reasons and supports extended external documentation. The documentation problem Deciding to do a survey means committing oneself to work through a myriad of issues each of which is critical to the ultimate success of the survey. Designing and developing new instruments constitutes a complex and lengthy process. The development of a questionnaire involves dozens of revisions, in particular if the purpose is a methodologically demanding study (see for example Czaja & Blair 2005; Groves et al. 2004; Leeuw, Hox & Dillman, 2008; Presser & Blair 1994; Sirken, Herrmann & Schechter et al. 1999; Schnell, Hill & Esser 2008). During the past 20 years, methods for testing and evaluating survey questionnaires have changed dramatically. In an effort to improve survey data quality, survey practitioners have significantly increased their use of an evolving set of questionnaire pre-testing methods (see for example Forsyth, Rothgeb & Willis, 2001; Presser, Cooper & Lessler et al. 2004; Tourangeau, R. 2003). The increasing use of cognitive psychology and methods derived thereof in the development of questionnaires for empirical social science research made single pre-tests obsolete. Due to the development of cognitive aspects of survey methodology, they have been superseded by a series of different pre-test methods.


The present study was conducted in Panchrukhi block of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. A total of 100 (50 males and 50 females) children in the age group of 6–18 years were randomly selected for the study. The findings indicate that more males as compared to females spend 1–2 hours in watching television, decided by them. Maximum number of respondents imitate the life style of hero/heroines. The findings further revealed that children watch television for entertainment! time pass/games. The television/computer also leads to unsocial and anti social behaviour among children.


Initial purchase expectation disconfirmation does not necessarily reduce consumer repurchase intention on a knowledge payment platform. This paper constructs a moderated mediation model to explore the positive impact mechanism and boundary conditions of initial purchase expectation disconfirmation on repurchase intention. With 524 questionnaire surveys, this paper conducts empirical analysis. The main findings are as follows: First, initial purchase expectation disconfirmation positively affects consumer repurchase intention by stimulating the platform search effort. Second, three boundary conditions affect such a mediation mechanism: subjective norms, anticipated regret, and alternative attractiveness. Specifically, the higher the subjective norms and anticipated regret the consumer has, the stronger the stimulating effect of initial purchase expectation disconfirmation on platform search efforts. The higher the platform alternative attractiveness, the stronger the optimistic prediction of platform search efforts on the platform repurchase intention. The conclusion deepens the theoretical mechanism of how initial purchase expectation disconfirmation affects platform repurchase intention.


Abstract : This monograph uses the perspective provided by OPERATION ECLIPSE, the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF) plan for the occupation of Germany, to examine current doctrine on war termination and postconflict operations. It argues that ECLIPSE demonstrates the value of investing staff resources early in a conflict to plan the transition from war to peace. Among the benefits derived from such an investment are synchronization of the terminal military operations with initial peace operations; anticipation of resource requirements; and clarification of the political end state. This monograph argues, based on the perspective of ECLIPSE. that political leaders are unlikely to issue a clear statement of end state because of internal political divisions, requirements for coalition unity, and the changing nature of the war itself. During World War II, the National Command Authority arrived at a vision of end state through an evolutionary process and transmitted it incrementally to planners. The planners, through the questions they asked of their superiors and the discussions engendered by drafts of their plan, assisted in the process of defining the desired end state by the end of the war. The monograph also seeks to demonstrate that it may be erroneous to treat postconflict operations as sequential to the terminal military campaign. War termination and postconflict operations will likely be executed concurrently with military operations and should form an integral part of the campaign plan.


. Various vanadates have been investigated to accelerate the development of advanced technologies, especially in the area of electronics. Amorphous FeVO 4 was synthesized by the liquid phase precipitation method. This precursor was firstly discharged and then charged as cathode material of lithium second battery, in which the valence of two kinds of metals can be changed. Thermal analysis (TG-DTA), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been used for their characterization. The result revealed the existence of two pairs of redox couples, Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ and V 5+ /V 4+ . The electrochemical investigation has shown that at higher potentials amorphous FeVO 4 can react with 1, 1.5 and 2 mol Li, respectively.


For many years radiologists have debated the question whether equal doses of X rays of different wave-lengths produce the same or different quantitative biological effects, a problem of practical importance in therapy. The chief obstacles in deciding the matter were the lack of a standard unit of X-ray intensity, the lack of adequate measuring apparatus, and the highly variable character of the biological materials which were used in making the tests. The adoption of a standard unit, the Roentgen, now permits an accurate definition of dosage, where previously none was possible. The question now is this: When a definite number of r units, measured by an air ionisation chamber, is delivered to a suitable material, will the amount of effect which is produced vary with the wave-length of the beam, that is, with the voltage. An almost ideal biological material consists of the eggs of the wild fruit fly, Drosophila. These eggs when freshly laid are comparatively sensitive, and are remarkably uniform in response...


A method of preparing analytically pure sodium ethanesulphonate, C2H5SOjNa.H20, in quantity is described. Physiological saline solutions were prepared in which a proportion of the sodium chloride normally present was replaced by an equimolar concentration of sodium ethanesulphonate. The effects of partial or total replacement of sodium chloride were examined upon a series of isolated organs, and the guinea-pig ileum preparation was found to be particularly sensitive to the change. Evidence is presented that these low-chloride solutions depolarized the cell membrane of smooth muscle, and that this effect might have been due to an alteration of the chloride ion potential. The present work arose from a study of ventricular fibrillation in the Langendorff preparation of the rabbit heart.


This paper presents a novel design of a Hexagonal Photonic Crystal Fiber (H-PCF) and its performance for different parameters such as effective mode index, dispersion, effective mode area and non-linearity. COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3 is used to design and analyse the parameters of the H-PCF. Nearly flattened dispersion is found for a wide wavelength range of 1370 nm to 1533 nm for a Germanium Di-Oxide (GeO2) doped Silicon Di-Oxide/Silica glass (SiO2) elliptical core H-PCF for 30% doping concentration. Again, High negative dispersion of −201 ps/nm/km at 1550 nm and −1017 ps/nm/km at 1610 nm wavelength for 30% doping concentration is achieved. Almost zero dispersion is seen from 1450 nm to 1550 nm for all percentage (10%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 60%) of doping. Effective mode area of 3.936 µm2 and non-linearity parameter of 18.33 W−1 km−1 is also achieved with 30% doping of GeO2 at 1550 nm wavelength. Simulation results are plotted in MATLAB to analyse the results and suggest its implications.


A one-step computational procedure is presented for estimating the parameters of the nonlinear three-element windkessel model of the arterial system incorporating a pressure-dependent compliance. Starting from steady-state aortic pressure and flow curves and under generally accepted assumptions, arterial pressure-volume curve, peripheral and characteristic resistances are determined through simple closed-form formulas. The method is applied to both simulated and experimental data and the results are compared with those obtained by an iterative parameter optimization algorithm and possibly with actual values. A major conclusion is that in most cases considered in this study a constant compliance remains an approximation of the compliant element adequate to usual measurement and model errors.<<ETX>>


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Objective To evaluate the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) in the promoter of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated(ATM) gene and the susceptibility of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Cantonese.Methods A total of 176 NPC Cantonese NPC patients and 202 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study.G/A genotyping of the SNP locus rs189037 in the promoter of ATM gene was performed by PCR and direct sequencing of the PCR products.Results The genotype frequency of heterozygote G/A was 50%(88/176) and 47.5%(96/202),and that of the homozygote variant A/A was 15.3%(27/176) and 18.3%(37/202) in NPC patients and healthy individuals,respectively.Statistics analysis revealed no evident correlations of the G/A and A/A genotypes to the clinical phenotypes of NPC in either NPC group or healthy control group(OR=1.022,95%CI=0.668-1.564 for G/A+A/A).Analysis after stratification by age and gender found no such correlations either.Conclusion The genotype frequencies of SNP locus rs189037 in the promoter of ATM gene are similar between NPC patients and healthy subjects,suggesting that rs189037 is not related to the genetic susceptibility of NPC in Cantonese.


This paper elaborates on certain aspects of a new measurement process that permits an assessment of spherical near-field (SNF) measurement errors based on a set of practical tests that can be done as part of any SNF measurement. It provides error bars for a measured radiation pattern in an automated fashion.


The Freeman and Durden decomposition as original developed is based on three scattering models for volume, surface and double bounce. It is known that the decomposition produces negative scattering powers for a large number of pixels. This implies that the scattering models are inconsistent with the data. In this paper, we investigate the negative power problem and propose two algorithms to mitigate it. To achieve this, alternative scattering models have been adopted, and new families of incoherent scattering models are developed. The effectiveness of these approaches is compared using L-band E-SAR polarimetric data. It will be shown that the negative power problem can be reduced to an insignificant level.


The results of several experiments were disseminated professionally during this semiannual period. These peer-reviewed papers that were accepted for publication represent the growth of our research areas, as follow-up experiments to previously published work in cognition and enrichment have been completed and are being published. The presentations not only reflect the latest interesting results that we have obtained, but also serve as a testament to the intense interest that is being expressed for our test system and findings.