This is a useful book for students in that it puts a number of texts, commentaries and discussions under one cover; yet it fails to be either a valuable book or a stimulating one. It fails on the first count since the length of the book does not permit the discussion necessary for a really serious assessment of the various arguments introduced: it fails on the second count since Professor Hick is too keen to introduce his readers to other people's writing and not keen enought to exhibit his own critical faculty. Indeed the book suffers from over conscientiousness and devotion to other writers on Hick's part—which conscientiousness leads in some instances to sheer turgidity. For example, why is it necessary to repeat Paley's development of the supposed analogy with the watch and then, instead of pointing out obvious breakdowns in the analogy, go straight on to William Derham ? The critical student will have had enough of exegisis by this time and will be eager for Hick to show his critical teeth. Again, Hume's counter arguments are solidly reproduced, with the saving grace that Hick does conveniently conflate them. Contemporary students however have easy access to Hume's works, so why reproduce it all here unless one is going to introduce fresh criticism and discussion?—but Hick's own critical contribution is very limited (cf. p. 13). Further his criticism of du Notiy is simply a repetition of Matson. Even by the end of the first chapter one longs for some critical wine which will help one digest the solid food; but the next course is more solid food (until p. 34 at any rate) viz. a conscientious plodding through Tennant and Taylor.


Different species of water plants of the avandelta and the Northern Caspian Sea are researched, and their chemistry is also investigated in the paper. The comparative characteristic of chemical parameters of air-dry water plants of the Caspian Sea is given there. The fact of significant content of pectinaceous substances in zoster and pondweeds (pectinate and perfoliate) enables to consider fresh-water weeds as a promising raw for their getting. The technology of extraction polysaccharides with the application of ammonium oxalate on marine grass zoster, taken from the Northern Caspian Sea is approved there.


With billions of emails exchanged worldwide on a daily basis, email is nowadays considered to be one of the most widespread forms of digital communications. The massive deployment of this technology is certainly due to its ease of use and interoperability. This advantageous ubiquity of email communications comes nonetheless at the cost of security, which is often side-lined in favour of maintaining backwards compatibility with older versions of the protocols and considering security features as optional to ensure compatibility between providers. As a consequence, email communications often fall short of protecting the privacy and the authenticity of the information exchanged. Taking into account the fact that email is used to exchange private and personal information, the latter risks become extremely prominent. We review here the outstanding privacy and security risks in worldwide email communications and we describe a set of practical countermeasures, based on combinations of existing standards, which are capable of effectively mitigating the identified risks. Based on this analysis we provide a set of technical recommendations to be followed by email providers in order to enhance security, whilst preserving compatibility in the ecosystem.


: Fruits and vegetables may contain components that exert antimicrobial effects. In this study, beef jerky formulated with 15% raisins produced conditions inhibitory to pathogenic bacteria by decreasing pH to 5.4 and aw to 0.64. Storage of vacuum-packaged raisin-beef-jerky (10-wk; 30 °C) resulted in a further decrease to pH 4.5 and aw to 0.62. The antioxidant potential was increased by over 600%. The product received favorable sensory ratings for appearance, texture, and flavor, comparable to the non-raisin control. Raisins in ready-to-eat meats such as jerky produce a lower fat, higher fiber product with antimicrobial capability and increased antioxidant potential, thereby providing a potentially safer, healthier alternative to traditional meat snacks.


A new process "grinding-dry-mixing"-"rolling-vibrating high-temperature solid reaction synthesis" was developed, on the basis of routine preparation methods of cathode material of polymer lithium-ion battery, and modified cathode material LiNi0.7Co0.3O2 was prepared. The important parameters in preparation processes, such as raw materials and calcination conditions were studied, which influence the material structure, morphology and electrical characteristics. LiNi0.7Co0.3O2 obtained by this process consists of even and particular granule that has a diameter of 10 μm, and its gravimetric specific capacity is up to 177 mAh/g.


The paper describes the use of Structural Insulation Panels (SIPs) as an energy efficient building material for walls, floors and roofs and their suitability in high seismic regions such as in California. SIPs are made out of a core of rigid form insulated plastic inserted between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). The SIP system replaces a plywood shear wall system with vertical studs in residential and commercial buildings. In a plywood shear wall system there are vertical studs typically at 16 inches on center that helps to transfer the vertical loads to foundation. However in SIPs the vertical members are at least four feet apart and in some cases there are no dedicated vertical elements other than the OSB boards. While SIPs have widely been used in non seismic regions, questions remain their ability to sustain applied seismic loads. As a result the SIPs are not readily acceptable in high seismic regions. The paper describes the use of SIPs as a structural material, and analytical studies conducted to evaluate suitability of SIPs in high seismic regions using structural simulations with SAP2000 and design calculations per the current design codes.


A mathematical method was studied to model the detector response of high-spatial-resolution positron emission tomography systems consisting of close-packed small crystals, and to restore the resolution deteriorated due to crystal penetration and/or nonuniform sampling across the field of view (FOV). The simulated detector system has 600 bismuth germanate crystals of 3.14 mm width and 3 cm length packed on a single ring of 60 cm diameter. The space between crystals was filled up with lead (i.e., septa). Each crystal was in coincidence with 200 opposite crystals so that the FOV had a radius of 30 cm. The detector response was modeled based on the attenuating properties of the crystals and the septa, and the geometry of the detector system. The modeled detector response function was used to restore the projections from the sinogram of the ring detector system. The projections had a uniform sampling of 1.57 mm across the FOV and had the crystal penetration and/or the nonuniform sampling compensated. A chest phantom with a few small circular cold objects ( approximately=4 mm diameter) located at the center and near the periphery of the FOV was computer-generated and used to test the restoration. The reconstructed images from the restored projections demonstrated resolution improvement off the FOV center, while preserving the resolution near the center.<<ETX>>


PARCHMENT BARRIERS AND THE POLITICS OF RIGHTS Jack N. Rakove Department of History Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305-2024 INSTITUTE OF eLl¥ERNMENTAL STUDIES LIBBARY Working Paper 91-3 UNIVERSITY OIF CAUFORNIA INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENTAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BFRKFLFY Wh


The large set problem in the combinatorial design theory has a long history and important applications. The related research work had been quite slow in making progress for a long period of time due to its sophistication. Being benefited and motivated by some new methodology the research in the large set problem has taken on a promising posture in recent thirty years. In this paper, we give a comprehensive summary about the development of large sets and overlarge sets for some types of classical triple systems. In addition, we obtain new results that there exist an ${\rm OLKTS}(2\cdot13^n+1)$ and an ${\rm OLRMTS}(3\cdot5^n)$, where $n\geq0$.


Power analysis attacks are one of the most common Side-Channel Attacks (SCAs), proven to be extremely successful even on protected embedded devices. This paper proposes the use of a Residue Number System (RNS) architecture with randomly permuted moduli sets to implement the Double-and-Add computation, which is proven as the most susceptible operation in Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). The proposed solution randomly permutes the moduli sets, allowing randomized power traces, significantly removing the correlation between the power dissipation and the secret key and eliminating the need for the intermediate conversion to binary required in the state-of-the-art. Architectures obtained for a 90nm standard cell technology suggest that a significant power analysis resistance is achieved for the Double-and-Add circuitry, incurring an extra performance cost of 3 times compared to the related state-of-the-art.


We introduce a fast and accurate numerical technique for the solution of electromagnetic induction sensing problems called the orthonormalized volume magnetic source model. The model assumes that the secondary magnetic field measured by a sensor originates from a set of magnetic dipole sources distributed over a volume that coincides with the interrogated area. The Green functions associated with the responding sources are turned into an orthonormal basis using a generalization of the Gram-Schmidt method, enabling one to determine the sources' strengths directly from measured data without having to invert large and potentially ill-conditioned matrices. The method treats multitarget cases naturally and robustly. Several examples are presented to illustrate the applicability of the method in the discrimination of unexploded ordnance (UXO). In particular, we analyze data taken by the Time-Domain Electromagnetic Multisensor Towed Array Detection System sensor array at a test stand and during a blind test administered at a UXO live site. The method is highly successful in distinguishing UXO from among other UXO and from accompanying clutter.


. The strong coupling between atmospheric circulation, moisture pathways and atmospheric diabatic heating is re-sponsible for most climate feedback mechanisms and controls the evolution of severe weather events. However, diabatic heating rates obtained from current meteorological reanalysis show significant inconsistencies. Here, we theoretically assess with an Observation System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) the potential of the MUlti-platform remote Sensing of Isotopologues for investigating the Cycle of Atmospheric water (MUSICA) Infrared Atmospheric Sounding interferometer (IASI) 5 mid-tropospheric water isotopologue data for constraining uncertainties in meteorological analysis fields. For this purpose, we use the Isotope-incorporated General Spectral Model (IsoGSM) together with a Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter (LETKF) and assimilate synthetic MUSICA IASI water vapour isotopologue observations. We perform four ensemble simulations, three where synthetic IASI isotopologue and humidity data are assimilated and another one where no observational data at all are assimilated. By comparing the ensemble simulations with data assimilation with water isotopologues to the one 10 without any data assimilation we can, in contrast to the former study by Toride et al. (2021) where additionally conventional observations where considered, assess the direct impact of the IASI δ D and water vapour data on the meteorological variables, especially on the heating rates and vertical velocity. The assessment is performed for the tropics in the latitude range from 10 ◦ S to


Continuous scaling oc VLSI circuits is reducing gate delays but rapidly increasing interconnect delays. Semiconductor industry roadmap predicts, that beyond the 130 nm technolgy mode, performance improvement of advanced VLSI is likely to begin to saturate unless a paradigm shift from present IC architecture is introduced. This papaer presents a comprehensive analytical treatement of ICs with multiple Si layers (3-D ICs). It is shown that significant improvement in performance (more than 145%) and reduction in wire-limited chip area can be achieved with 3-D ICs with vertical inter-layer interconnects. This analysis is based on dividing a chip into separate blocks, each occupying a physical level. A scheme to optimize interconnect distribution among different interconnect tiers is presented and the effect of transferring the repeaters to upper Si layers has been quantified in this analysis. Various technologies being investigated for 3-D fabrication are reviewed. Finally, implications of 3-D architecture on several circuit designs are also discussed.


Cells integrate mechanical cues to direct fate specification to maintain tissue function and homeostasis. While disruption of these cues is known to lead to aberrant cell behavior and chronic diseases, such as tendinopathies, the underlying mechanisms by which mechanical signals maintain cell function is not well understood. Here, we show using a novel model of tendon de-tensioning that loss of tensile cues in vivo acutely changes nuclear morphology, positioning, and expression of catabolic gene programs. Using paired ATAC/RNAseq, we further identify that a loss of cellular tension rapidly reduces chromatin accessibility in the vicinity of Yap/Taz genomic targets while also increasing expression of genes involved in matrix catabolism. Overexpression of Yap results in a reduction of chromatin accessibility at matrix catabolic gene loci, while also reducing transcriptional levels. Concordantly, depletion of Yap/Taz elevates matrix catabolic expression. Finally, we demonstrate that overexpression of Yap not only prevents the induction of a broad catabolic program following a loss of cellular tension, but also preserves the underlying chromatin state from force-induced alterations. Taken together, these results provide novel mechanistic details by which mechanical signals regulate tendon cell function to preserve matrix homeostasis through a Yap/Taz axis. Significance Statement Cells integrate mechanical signals to regulate biological outputs within tissues. These processes are required for tissue function and homeostasis. Here, we show how mechanical cues (e.g. tension) directs tendon cell function and fate at a transcriptional and epigenetic level. Furthermore, we show that disruption of these mechanical cues leads to a disease-like cell state, indicating these mechanosensitive pathways could be important for diseases driven by perturbed mechanical signaling, such as tendinopathy. Finally, we demonstrate that genetic perturbation of a single protein can preserve cell and chromatin state following a loss of tension, supporting novel avenues for the development of innovative mechano-therapeutics.


A method of extracting rules from neural networks formed using an evolutionary algorithm is presented. The evolutionary algorithm used here is a random optimization method (ROM). In particular, deterministic mutation (DM) is introduced in ROM. It is performed on the basis of the result of neural network learning. The DM procedure can evolve a candidate of a solution to increase a ROM fitness function in a deterministic manner. In the paper iris data are used as inputs. ROM are utilized to reduce the number of connection weights in the neural network. The network weights survived after the ROM training represent rules to perform pattern classification for the iris data. The rules are then extracted from the networks in which hidden units use signum and sigmoid functions to produce binary outputs. It enables us to extract simple logical functions from the network. Simulation results show this approach can generate a simple network structure and as a result simple rules.


The countryside is an available and eligible resource, with an unexploited growth potential for the exploitation of which is necessary to converge efforts of policy makers both at national level and in the Member States regarding the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of agricultural policies. The central elements of the policy - farms and farmers - will be central elements of the Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2014-2020


This document is the author deposited version. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it. Published version WILKINSON, Katherine and DAVIDSON, J. (2008). They've been my lifeline. An evaluation of South Yorkshire's Specialist Domestic Violence Court initiative: the Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service. Project Report. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.


University of Minnesota Master of Science thesis. July 2014. Major: Dentistry. Advisor: Wook-Jin Seong, PhD. 1 computer file (PDF); vi, 29 pages.


soldiers, 53,000 Italians, and 5,000 military Japanese prisoners of war in some 550 camps across America. Nebraska had its share, with three large camps of between 3,000 and 4,000 enemy captives (depending on transfers and new arrivals): Scottsbluff , Atlanta, and Fort Robinson, and more than a dozen small branch camps designed to bring pows close to their work sites. From early 1943 to late 1945 the pows worked to bring in America's crops. Th ey studied in classrooms, produced theater plays and concerts, squabbled among themselves, sometimes escaped, and learned about democracy through personal interaction with Nebraska's farm families and work supervisors. Th e embrace of America by most prisoners depended largely on individual experiences or interactions. Many learned to love America's Great Plains and, indeed, aft er their mandatory return to Europe following the war, an unknown number emigrated back to live. Native Nebraskan Melissa Marsh explores every facet of the pow experience in the state, from their arrival by ship and trains from Camp Shanks, New York, to life and culture in the camps of Middle America. Marsh, a trained historian from the University of Nebraska– Lincoln, has written a wellorganized volume based on an impressive selection of available sources: interviews with participants, contemporary news accounts, diaries, letters, and other personal accounts. Recollections are oft en confi rmed by military reports in the National Archives. If there is a drawback to the work, it is the author's contemporary optimism in describing the situation. Marsh acknowledges (114) that fascism ruled behind barbed wire, and that knives and tools were smuggled into Fort Robinson (102), yet we seem to meet only the obstacles based on nationality, race, ethnicity, and class in addition to gender and sexuality. With the continued development of immigration from Latin American countries into all parts of the United States, including the Great Plains, the stratifi ed experiences of Latinas in relationship to education and "prosperity" in the United States are constantly in fl ux. Th is fl uidity also occurs within the borders of the United States as one essay's author writes, "Th e academic life is nothing if not nomadic" (57). Th e sense is that the women comprised in these essays have, through various familial circumstances, met with this obstacle and carved out a path that understands the moments of loss that must be negotiated. Th e evidence is presented here through the power of testimonio (fi rstperson stories of power) rather than datadriven research. Th e book is powerful and very balanced in its presentation, merging drama, humor, and a sharp sense of interpretation. At times there is a sense of having read about one father in a prior essay, or a fi rst moment on campus in another, but ultimately this repetition proves to be a part of the collection's eff ect: experiences like these are simultaneously individual and communal.


Background and Aims:The present research was performed to explore differences between two sugar sources for tracing of EColi. in nine oral different products (i.e. Syrup:L-Carnitine,Diphenhydramine, Zinc Sulphate, Expectorant, Salbutamol, Pedicold, Theochal-G,Suspension:Ibubrofen, Metronidazole). Methods:Test methods for specified microorganisms(EColi.) were compared in this study. It was inoculated <100 CFU EColi ATCC:8739 to each product and they were sampled for test. At first total microbial count was done on each polluted product.10 ml of each one was transferred to 90 ml of LB and also to 90 ml of TSB. LB medium was incubated at 30-35 C0 for 48h then they were subcultured on MacConkey Agar at 30-35 C0 for 48h.TSB mediums were Shaked well and 1ml of each medium was transfered to 100 ml of MacConkey Broth and they were incubated at 42-44 C0 for 48h.They were subcultured on MacConkey Agar plates at30-35 C0 for 48h.These tests were done for three times. Results: Growth of purple,large,surrounded by turbide zone were EColi.Although present of EColi was stabilished in products before test, in some cases EColi couldn't have detected by LB medium,but in all oral products TSB medium had Shown expected. Conclusions:These findings confirm that because of simpler sugar(Glucose) TSB medium have good quality for enriching EColi. Lactose sugar can't be used always ,so it 's reasonable to substitute this medium for detection of Ecoli in pharmaceutichal fields.


The purpose of this work is to review empirical studies regarding the site selection process undertaken by meeting and exhibition planners,and to arouse academic concerns and upgrade the praxis of professional meeting planning in China.Based on understanding of the evolution process of site selection criteria,convention and visitors' bureau and related personnel at meeting or exhibition destinations will be able to provide targeted,personalized service and information that planners most need when making their site selection decision.This will help planners to make more informed decisions in the selection of destinations and facilities,which can attract more conferences and exhibitions and eventually form a mutually beneficial cycle and enhance planners' competitiveness.A total of 27 known empirical studies related to meeting planners' site selection criteria,published in major hospitality and tourism journals from 1977 to 2012,were collected by keyword searching from well-known databases,and these studies were content-analyzed.Each study was reviewed to document the various elements,and this was used to assess the state of research regarding meeting planners' site selection criteria.The results show that of the 27 articles analyzed,20 were published from 2000 to 2012,which accounts for 74.07% of all the research examined in this paper.The result also indicated that research regarding meeting site selection by planners has mainly focused on North America.With the growing importance of convention and exhibition activities,studies concerned with the Asia-Pacific region have gradually increased.Several relatively consistent findings of meeting site selection were also obtained here.Important selection criteria include the following:the meeting / exhibition destination as well as the quality and performance of meeting space and hotel rooms;the costs including hotel rooms,meeting space,food and beverage and other costs;safety and security;available human resources.To be more precise,throughout the reviewed literature,meeting space size,hotel room quality,and the availability of facilities were consistently found to be important criteria during the meeting site selection process.As for evaluation of the conference / exhibition destination,most studies found that meeting planners mainly focus on the destination image,geographic location,environment,accessibility,and reputation for hosting successful conferences or exhibitions.Cost or affordability is often considered to be an important criterion in site selection.Because there are various costs,the costs at the conference or exhibition destination should be assessed as a whole.In addition,about half of the reviewed studies found that the safety and security of participants was a criterion identified as important to meeting planners.Finally,the review revealed that the cooperation,helpfulness,and service quality of convention or meeting staff and employees are important standards in the selection of meeting site.Therefore,it is necessary for meeting planners to investigate the available human resources prior to meeting venue selection and investment.A discussion of the findings and suggestions for future research in the field of convention and meeting management are presented in this paper.It is asserted that cross-cultural research in this field,along with cooperation between stakeholders,should be given a great deal of attention.


Commercialization of watercress in the Sierra Norte mountain range in Oaxaca, Mexico principally relies on harvesting plants growing on riverbanks; however, semi-intensive cultivation throughout the year could be established as an alternative for the region. With this as an objective, the present study was carried out using the laminar flow of nutrients technique to evaluate four solutions of different macronutrients and four shade percentages. Treatment distribution was formulated according to a bifactorial arrangement. Four harvest periods were employed, in April, June, September, and November of 2010. Yields and vegetative growth of watercress decreased linearly with increasing shade levels. The best results were obtained with a nutrient solution using an electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.90 dS m−1. Shade cloth percentages higher than 10% caused a significant decrease in total cycle production; the use of shade cloth is not recommended during seasons with low incident radiation.


A Johnson-Cook thermo-viscoplastic constitutive model for 20CrMo material was established.The strainhardening parameters for the model were obtained on the base of data from quasi static compression force test.And using the Oxley-Welsh cutting theory,the strain rate parameters and thermal softening effect parameters for the model were determined by the analysis of the results from orthogonal cutting experiments.Under the condition of the JC model established and shear failure criterion,the results of cutting temperature and force gotten from orthogonal cutting wereanalyzed by finite elements simulation.By comparison between simulation results and experimental data.The results show that the maximum relative error is within 20%.The simulation analysis and the constitutive model are reasonable.


Abstract The sedimentary strata of southern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba, 220,-000 square miles in area and 165,000 cubic miles in volume, form a broad shelf dipping into the Williston basin. These beds are 95 per cent marine, and divisible into 3 major categories: (a) a basal clastic group, early Paleozoic in age, and 12.4 per cent of the sedimentary volume; (b) a middle carbonate group, Ordovician through Mississippian in age, and 47 per cent of the volume; and (c) an upper clastic group, Mesozoic and Cenozoic in age and 40.6 per cent of the sedimentary volume. There are two major petroleum producing districts. That across southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba contains 65 per cent of the recoverable reserves (2 billion barrels) in Mississippian reservoirs. The other, with the remaining 35 per cent, occupies a north-trending belt in southwestern Saskatchewan, it includes reservoirs Jurassic and Cretaceous in age, as well as the two major non-associated natural gas fields. The initial recoverable reserves of the Williston basin region (including North Dakota and eastern Montana) are 3 billion barrels. These are 1.7 billions less than the initial recoverable reserves of the 4 billion barrel Illinois-Michigan basin region — a region exploited since the early part of the century. It is deduced that the deficit in the Williston basin region represents undiscovered exploitable reserves, and that 1.15 billion barrels are yet to be found in the study area. Current gas reserves of 1 trillion cubic feet are expected to quadruple.


On the basis of typical fire accident analysis,combined with work practice,the effect and influence of fire cause determination was discribed,which has reference value for Fire Investigation Regulation.


Despite the fact that the federal government has not approved requests to waive a number regulations that would thwart it, Kansas is moving ahead with its KanCare Medicaid overhaul


Objective To investigate the multiple underlying diseases, precipitating factors of first diagnosed acute heart failure (AHF) in the elderly. Methods 144 patients hospitalized with newly diagnosed AHF were divided into non-senile group and elderly group according to the age of subjects. The underlying diseases, multiplicity of etiology, and inducing factors of AHF were retrospectively analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results The first three underlying diseases were coronary heart disease (CHD, 52.1%), essential hypertension (EH, 32.1%), and chronic renal failure (CRF, 8.5%) in the elderly group, rheumatic heart disease (RHD, 32.6%), CRF (21.7%), and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, 19.6%) in non-senile group. The rate of multiple underlying diseases was 49.5% in the elderly and 9.8% in non-senile group. Infection was the most common inducing factor of AHF in both groups. Conclusions The most frequent causes of AHF are CHD, EH, and CRF, and the rate of multiple causes of AHF is higher in the elderly patients with AHF.


Through the history of mankind comedy has been, and still is, a form of entertainment. Comedy also has a critical function when the comedians use irony or satire to critize for example politicians, ...


Millets have substantial benefits as a drought-resistant crop, yield good productivity in the areas with water scarcity, possesses remarkable edibles and nutritive values. Nutritional quality of food is the most important parameter for maintaining human health and complete physical wellbeing. Since nutritional wellbeing is the driving force for development and maximization of human genetic potential. Therefore the study was undertaken to investigate the nutrient composition of selected minor millet. The mean moisture content of millet ranged from 8.0 to 10.1 percent. Among the minor millet proso (12.3g/100g) and foxtail millet (12.0g/100g) showed the highest protein content than other millets and lowest was in barnyard millet (6.3g/100g). Fat and ash content in millets ranged from 0.9 to 4.4g/100g and 1.3 to 2.0g/100g respectively. The highest crude fiber content was recorded in barnyard millet (9.9g/100g), followed by kodo millet (9.2g/100g) and lowest in proso millet (2.3g/100g). Carbohydrate content in finger millet was significantly higher (76.3g/100g), followed by proso millet (74.0g/100g) and least was recorded in foxtail millet (67.0g/100g). The energy value of selected millets ranged from 330 to 362 Kcal. Results showed that 'F' value indicated a significant difference to exist among the selected millets for all the nutrients studied (p≤0.05).
Millets have substantial benefits as a drought-resistant crop, yield good productivity in the areas with water scarcity, possesses remarkable edibles and nutritive values. Nutritional quality of food is the most important parameter for maintaining human health and complete physical wellbeing. Since nutritional wellbeing is the driving force for development and maximization of human genetic potential. Therefore the study was undertaken to investigate the nutrient composition of selected minor millet. The mean moisture content of millet ranged from 8.0 to 10.1 percent. Among the minor millet proso (12.3g/100g) and foxtail millet (12.0g/100g) showed the highest protein content than other millets and lowest was in barnyard millet (6.3g/100g). Fat and ash content in millets ranged from 0.9 to 4.4g/100g and 1.3 to 2.0g/100g respectively. The highest crude fiber content was recorded in barnyard millet (9.9g/100g), followed by kodo millet (9.2g/100g) and lowest in proso millet (2.3g/100g). Carbohydrate content in finger millet was significantly higher (76.3g/100g), followed by proso millet (74.0g/100g) and least was recorded in foxtail millet (67.0g/100g). The energy value of selected millets ranged from 330 to 362 Kcal. Results showed that 'F' value indicated a significant difference to exist among the selected millets for all the nutrients studied (p≤0.05).


The clover, T. fragiferum L. cv. 'Salma' was grown for two years in a greenhouse under a heavy rate of urban compost application at sowing (1001 ha−1 year−1). An inorganic fertilizer was also applied for comparison (8N-15K2O-15P2O5, 1.21 ha−1 year−1). The legumes Medicago rugosa Des. cv. 'Paragosa', Trifolium subterraneum L. ssp. subterraneum, T. subterraneum L. ssp. brachycalycinum were also grown for comparison. The combined N applied with the inorganic fertilizer did not impair either seedling emergence or growth of any of the legumes. Seedling emergence of legumes was in general higher under the urban compost treatment than under the inorganic and control treatments, with that of T. fragiferum being the highest. This latter species was the only one with a higher dry matter production under the urban compost treatment than under the other treatments. Urban compost application significantly increased N, P, Cu and Zn concentration and export of T. fragiferum, in relation to the inorganic and control trea...


Peridermal tissue, and thecal 'floors' are shown to be present in some specimens of Pseudoretiolites, Retiolites and Stomatograptus. The development of a dense reticulum and thecal hoods is also recognized as being a progressive developmental feature in Gothograptus. It is suggested that all these structures, whether internal or external, are the product of mature or old-age development. It appears questionable whether the Rhabdopleura model of rhabdosomal development adequately explains late-stage membranes and other adventitious tissues such as discussed herein.


occasions and to and fro movement of the fluid in the lower oesophagus. Twenty patients had both barium and ultrasound examinations as described above. There was agreement on 18 examinations; 7 patients showed reflux and 11 showed no abnormality on either examination. One patient had definite reflux on ultrasound examination but 'minimal' reflux was,reported on the radiographic examination. On the 16 year old patient, reflux was seen on the barium swallow but it was not possible to outline the oesophagus on ultrasound because of interposition of lung between the heart and the aorta. Discussion We had observed that some infants and children had a line of 'bright' echoes behind the heart during two dimensional echocardiographic examinations. Closer scrutiny showed that these echoes represented fluid filled oesophagus caused by occasional reflux. This prompted us to undertake the present study to assess the possibility of diagnosing reflux using ultrasound. It became obvious after the first few examinations that the method was as accurate and in some ways superior to the barium swallow. Ultrasound examination is likely to be more physiological as it is not necessary to use contrast media and infants are now examined after normal feeds. It is also more accurate than the barium examination in which one uses very short radiographic screening time to minimise the radiation dose. This leads to false negative examinations in 15% of cases.2 With ultrasound it is possible to scan continuously for several seconds and the examination may be carried out over several minutes (usually 15 minutes) by intermittent scanning. Gastro-oesophageal reflux may be reliably diagnosed by ultrasound but resolution of anatomical detail is generally insufficient to allow comment upon the presence or absence of an associated hiatus hernia. Only two of 20 patients in this study were over 3 years of age so the application in older children remains to be assessed. Most radiology departments have real time ultra-sound equipment for neonatal head and abdominal examinations. A sector scanner is probably the equipment of choice for this, as for all paediatric ultrasound examinations. New diagnostic modalities are often criticised for providing some additional information but not replacing established techniques. In our department , ultrasound examination has replaced conventional barium examinations in all cases of suspected gastro-oesophageal reflux in children and is also used in follow up of children receiving antireflux treatment. In addition to avoiding unnecessary exposure to radiation, there are undoubted savings in …


The present invention belongs to the field of information technology, in particular to a medical device for the user's smart B2B site evaluation methods and systems. Evaluation method comprises four steps, Step 1: create a user evaluation database; Step 2: Evaluation of Model libraries rule; Step 3: Evaluation performed; Step 4: output and feedback; evaluation system comprises four modules corresponding respectively perform four functional steps. The present invention is basic information on medical devices by B2B website user, historical transaction information, review information online comprehensive calculation and modeling, giving each user a quantitative evaluation of the site's value as a reference for online transactions, in order to achieve assess the possibility of turnover and the purpose of preventing potential risks. Advantages: (1) utilization of data mining, multivariate regression modeling and natural language processing techniques to evaluate website user modeling, objective and comprehensive; (2) has a feedback mechanism that can continuously improve the intelligent evaluation rule base, so that the evaluation results more acurrate.


In this paper, we present a method to generate vector vortex wave that can carry Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) and Spin Angular Momentum (SAM), for wireless communication in tunnels or similar structures. Inside a closed environment, vortex waves are free from beam divergence issue and show a central null in the field magnitude distribution. Additionally, these waves possess the ability to carry multiple modes at the same frequency due to the unique phase distribution on the phase front and greatly enhance the channel capacity. These distinctive characteristics make vortex waves favorable for wireless communication in tunnel like structures. In this work, we present a method to generate the vortex waves using a radial array of monopoles inside a metallic waveguide. Different shapes of metallic guided structures resembling typical tunnel forms used in transportation or mining are studied. Simulation results show that the proposed method can generate vortex waves inside such closed environments.


We study the nonlinear elliptic problem with discontinuous nonlinearity −∆u = f(u)H(u− μ) in Ω, u = h on ∂Ω, where H is the Heaviside unit function, f, h are given functions and μ is a positive real parameter. The domain Ω is the unit ball in Rn with n ≥ 3. We show the existence of a positive solution u and a hypersurface separating the region where −∆u = 0 from the region where −∆u = f(u). Our method relies on the implicit function theorem and bifurcation analysis.


Based on a careful selection of tide gauges records from the Global Sea Level Observing System network, we investigate whether coastal mean sea level is rising faster than the global mean derived from satellite altimetry over the January 1993–December 2007 time span. Over this 15‐year time span, mean coastal rate of sea level rise is found to be +3.3 ± 0.5 mm/yr, in good agreement with the altimetry‐derived rate of +3.4 ± 0.1 mm/yr. Tests indicate that the trends are statistically significant, hence coastal sea level does not rise faster than the global mean. Although trends agree well, tide gauges‐based mean sea level exhibits much larger interannual variability than altimetry‐based global mean. Interannual variability in coastal sea level appears related to the regional variability in sea level rates reported by satellite altimetry. When global mean sea level is considered (as allowed by satellite altimetry coverage), interannual variability is largely smoothed out.


It is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, a polishing method, and a polishing apparatus which can easily flatten the initial irregularities of a metal film and have an excellent efficiency of removing an excess metal film. In planarizing a metal film by polishing, It is possible to suppress the damage to the surface. This method includes a step of interposing an electrolyte solution containing a chelating agent between the cathode member and the copper film, a step of applying a voltage between the cathode member as a cathode and the copper film as an anode to oxidize the surface of the copper film and form a chelate film of oxidized copper And a step of removing the projecting portion of the chelate film corresponding to the shape of the copper film and exposing the projecting portion of the copper film on the surface of the chelate film, wherein the step of forming the chelate film and the removal of the chelate film Repeat the process. An electrolytic power supply, an axial driver, a table driver, a controller, a control panel, a slurry supply unit, an electrolyte supply unit, a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulating film, a barrier film, a seed film, a copper film, a chelate film, a cathode member, Pad, insulator


Introduction: Jetting during the early stages of an hypervelocity impact has long been proposed as an explanation for the terrestrial origin of tektites [1]. This highly shocked and superheated material have been found hundreds [2] to thousands of kilometers away from the point of impact [3], requiring extremely high ejection velocities. Although there have been several experimental studies dealing with the jetting process [e.g. 1, 4], detailed investigation on the jetted particle cloud are virtually non-existent. [5] recently tracked the leading particle front in hypervelocity impact experiments perpendicular to the impact direction and showed that jetted material can reach velocities higher than 2.5 times the impact velocity. We developed a method to track the entire front and evaluate the expansion velocity as a function of the ejection angle. Even though data acquisition is challenging due to the rapid jetting process and small particle size, it is possible to numerically analyze the front for angles between 5° and 45° with respect to the target surface using advanced image analysis approaches. Experiments such as the one presented here serve as the basis for understanding jetting processes. By gauging numerical models with experimental results and subsequently scaling the simulations to planetary dimensions, we hope to improve thermodynamic material models, and to help developing more sophisticated models of hypervelocity impact processes.


(57) Abstract: providing high selectivity to acrylic acid at low temperatures the partial oxidation of propane mixed with a molecular oxygen-containing gas, mixed metal oxides Mo-V-Ga-Pd-Nb-X (X = La , Te, Ge, Zn, Si, In or W) catalyst system.


We construct an exotic monotone Lagrangian torus in CP2 using techniques motivated by mirror symmetry. We show that it bounds 10 families of Maslov index 2 holomorphic discs, and it follows that this exotic torus is not Hamiltonian isotopic to the known Cliffordand Chekanov tori.


One basic adaptation function of an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) consists of selecting the most appropriate next task to be offered to the learner. This decision can be based on estimates, such as the expected performance of the student, or the probability that the student successfully solves each particular task. However, the computation of these values is intrinsically difficult, as they may depend on other complex latent variables that also need to be estimated from observable quantities, e.g. the current student's ability. In this work, we have used system dynamics to model learning and predict the student's performance in a given exercise, in an existing ITS that was developed to teach students solve arithmetic-algebraic word problems. The high correlation between the predicted and real scores outlines the potential of this type of modeling as a prediction tool to support the decision about the next task that should be offered to the learner.


Received 14 December 2019; editorial decision 30 March 2020; accepted 31 March 2020. Correspondence: Barbara Hedgis McGovern, MD, Seres Therapeutics Inc, 200 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 (firstname.lastname@example.com). Open Forum Infectious Diseases © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial reproduction and distribution of the work, in any medium, provided the original work is not altered or transformed in any way, and that the work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa114 The Efficacy and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplant for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection: Current Understanding and Gap Analysis


Background: Daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimen of tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) tablet is the standard of care for HIV prevention in Thailand. Event-driven PrEP (ED-PrEP), taking two loading pills 2–24 h prior to sex and two doses afterward, is considered an alternative regimen. This pilot study aimed to describe accuracy of and retention in ED-PrEP use among Thai young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Methods: A cohort of YMSM aged 15–19 years at risk of HIV infection, defined as reporting irregular condom use or having an HIV-positive sexual partner, was enrolled. All participants were provided oral TDF/FTC, condoms, and the "Raincoat" mobile application, which reminds users when to administer ED-PrEP. Participants attended clinic visits at Months 1, 3, and 6 and followed up by phone at Months 2, 4, and 5. Proper use of ED-PrEP was reported in person-months. Results: From August 2020 to July 2021, 36 YMSM with a median age of 18.7 (IQR, 17.5–19.4) years were enrolled. Thirty-two participants (88.9%, 95% CI: 73.9–96.9%) were retained at 6 months. No HIV incidence occurred during this study period. Of 197 person-months of follow-up, 69 (35%) involved sexual activity. In this group, 61% used ED-PrEP correctly. "Unplanned sexual activity" was the most commonly cited reason for incorrect use. Conclusions: YMSM who have infrequent sex had very high retention in ED-PrEP. However, about one-third of the sexually active period, ED-PrEP was not used correctly due to not taking the loading dose, suggesting that this regimen may not be suitable for unanticipated sexual activity.


Magnetic resonance imaging has shown promise for evaluating tissue oxygenation. In this study differences in the tissue longitudinal relaxation rate (R1) and effective transverse relaxation rate (R  *2 ), induced by inhalation of pure oxygen and carbogen, were evaluated in 10 healthy subjects. Significant reductions in R1 were demonstrated following both oxygen and carbogen inhalation in the spleen (both P < 0.001), liver (P = 0.002 air vs. oxygen; P = 0.001 air vs. carbogen), skeletal muscle (both P < 0.001), and renal cortex (P = 0.005 air vs. oxygen; P = 0.008 air vs. carbogen). No significant change in R  *2 occurred following pure oxygen in any organ. However, a significant increase in R  *2 was observed in the spleen (P < 0.001), liver (P = 0.001), skeletal muscle (P = 0.026), and renal cortex (P = 0.001) following carbogen inhalation, an opposite effect to that observed in many studies of tumor pathophysiology. Changes in R1 and R  *2 were independent of the gas administration order in the spleen and skeletal muscle. These findings suggest that the R1 and R  *2 responses to hyperoxic gases are independent biomarkers of oxygen physiology. Magn Reson Med 61:75–83, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The present invention relates to novel substituted bipiperidinyl derivatives, method for manufacturing it, the use thereof for the treatment and / or prophylaxis of diseases, and the treatment and / or prophylaxis of diseases, especially diabetic microangiopathy, limbs the treatment and / or prevention of diabetic ulcers, especially diabetic foot ulcers, diabetic heart failure, diabetic coronary microvascular cardiac disorders, peripheral vascular and cardiovascular disorders, thromboembolic disorders and ischaemia, peripheral circulatory disorder, Raynaud's phenomenon, CREST syndrome, microcirculation failure, intermittent claudication, and the use of it for the manufacture of a medicament for the promotion of wound healing of peripheral and autonomic neuropathy.


The Effect of Pressure in Lower Extremity on Psychological Characteristics Shigeki WATANUKI and Kazuo MIHIRA Faculty of Science of Living. Osaka City University. Sugimoto-cho, Sumiyoshi-ku. Osaka-city, 558 Japan The effects of pressure in lower extremity on psychological characteristics were measured by using the technique of psychometric method. Five young females served as subjects. Results were as follows. ( 1 ) The pressure sensation in the thigh was more sensitive than that in leg, especially pressured at high values (above 60mmHg). And moreover the pressure sensation in leg was decreased by pressuring the thigh. ( 2 ) The width of the cuff obtaining the minimum pressure sensation existed and it was 7cm and equal to the distance of 2 points with just noticeable difference. ( 3 ) Psychological distances between adjective words indicating pressure sensation were almost the same interval in both leg and thigh, but the pressure obtaining the same adjective words were smaller in thigh than in leg.


This paper presents visual analysis tools to help study the impact of policy changes on air traffic congestion. The tools support visualization of time-varying air traffic density over an area of interest using different time granularity. This visual analysis platform is used to investigate how changing the aircraft separation volume can reduce congestion while maintaining key safety requirements. The same platform can also be used as a decision aid for processing requests for unmanned aerial vehicle operations.


T HE theme of this paper is that the social structure of contact situations is an important determinant of the cultural change which goes on when two societies with differing cultures come into contact. This proposition is certainly not new or revolutionary, but it often seems neglected. If it is taken seriously, it does not permit one to advocate such generalizations as, for example, that under contact conditions material culture changes more readily than other aspects of culture, that core values (whatever they may be) are the most resistant elements to change, or even that traits from one culture which are incompatible with traits in another are resisted by participants in the latter. It promotes abandonment of this type of generalization simply because it requires any general statement about sequences of change in acculturation to include some reference to the structure of cultural transmission. It directs attention to the nature of the social relations through which contact is maintained and suggests that they have a determinable influence on the character of the innovations offered, on the acceptance and diffusion of these, and on the modification of the innovations which takes place. The view implied is not that social structure is the major determinant. It is rather that no instance of acculturation can be adequately described so long as the social structure of contacts is omitted, and hence that no change sequence can be explained without some consideration of the nature of the social structure. I wish to illustrate the proposition by consideration of some cultural changes among Yaqui Indians of northwestern Mexico. In the examples presented I shall try to show how the social structure of contact communities influenced changes in such cultural innovations as ritual artifacts, ritual behavior, and ritual beliefs. The present paper does not present comparative data which would help to illuminate the nature of the relationship between social structure and processes of cultural change, but the two papers which follow


Political values are considered as inherent in human action (contrary to Plato's view of the transcendent reality of values), and as forming opposite contradictory poles for the axiological orientation of decisions (Weberian view of conflicting values). Germane to these postulates, 10 scales are used to assess the values of a sample of 90 local politicians and administrators in France, whose characteristics are correlated with values, as well as contextual variables. Results show inter alia that political values are independent of sex, of income and education, but that some are linked to partisan orientation (Machiavellianism excepted). Most of the values are independent of contextual socioeconomic variables, except that the personal interest of politicians (as opposed to selfless altruism) provokes a specific type of political expression in local election: a high rate of nullified ballots (bulletins nuls).


Since Bruton' first recognized the association between hypogammaglobulinaemia and susceptibility to infection 18 years ago, advances in immunology have made possible a clearer understanding of clinically encountered immunological defic:ency syndromes. In the light of current concepts of the immune response, the variable pattern encountered, depending on whether immunoglobulin production, cell-mediated mechanisms or both are affected, can be better appreciated. There is a wide measure of agreement on how these disorders may be classified."· The subject has been recently extensively reviewed.' One variety of immunological deficiency recognized is associated with deficiency in small Iymphocytes and almost absent thymic tissu~. This has become known as 'thymic alymphoplasia': Recently an atypical form of this condition was reported in South Africa: In the patient described here, there were certain investigations which strongly suggested the diagnosis of thymic alymphoplasia during life. The clinical course, however, was dominated by severe, intractable diarrhoea due to proved malabsorption, which lasted nearly 8 months. Despite severe immunoglobulin deficiencies (particularly IgG and IgA), pyogenic, fungal or viral infections were not a major problem, except terminally. Defects in cell-mediated immunity were not fully assessed during life, but the autopsy findings were typical and confirmed the diagnosis.


The changing conception of the artist that occurred during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries has been recognized in various ways. This article seeks to argue that it may be seen in the language used to describe artists' working spaces. Typically lacking any precise differentiation in the inventories of painters' estates that enumerate the contents of their dwellings room by room, the language for these spaces undergoes a change in the more rhetorically shaped literature on art. First sporadically, then strikingly, the word 'bottega' with its unwanted commercial connotations is abandoned and, before 'studio' comes to take its place, the word 'stanza'– simply space or room – is used as a more neutral, less problematic word, even for multiple spaces. Entailed in this usage is both the concern for the status of the artist and the introduction of new social practices into a definition of the artist's workplace that had been largely economic.


Rabin's cryptosystem was proved to be as hard as factorization. However, Rabin's digital signature schemes is probabilistic. This paper shows two eecient Rabin type digital signature schemes, a basic scheme and an improved scheme. Both schemes run much faster than Rabin's scheme. They are deterministic and the size of a signature is much smaller than that of a signature in Rabin's scheme. Furthermore, it is proved that, by applying the technique of Bellare and Rogaway, the proposed scheme is secure against chosen plaintext attack. More precisely, breaking the proposed digital signature scheme by chosen plaintext attack is as hard as factoring N.


A modified nested linear array (MNLA) has been reported recently for a greater potential in increasing the degree-of-freedom. However, there exist some "holes" in the difference co-array, which results in missing "lags" and limited performance of direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation. In order to tackle this problem, this paper applies a Toeplitz matrix completion technique to MNLA, and investigates the performance of DOA estimation on this basis. Particularly, a semidefinite program with trace minimization is derived to obtain the covariance matrix with Hermitian and Toeplitz structure. The recovered Toeplitz covariance matrix is then utilized to perform DOA estimation. Various numerical examples are provided to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.


A testing approach for JavaEE multistory frame was presented by using combinatorial testing technology.Software fault injection technique was used to detect the efficiency of the testing method.The framework of the method for testing JavaEE based Web applications was described.Case study showed that presented method was valid.


Secret sharing has been a subject of study since 1979. In the secret sharing schemes there are some participants and a dealer. The dealer chooses a secret. The main principle is to distribute a secret amongst a group of participants. Each of whom is called a share of the secret. The secret can be retrieved by participants. Clearly the participants combine their shares to reach the secret. One of the secret sharing schemes is  threshold secret sharing scheme. A  threshold secret sharing scheme is a method of distribution of information among  participants such that  can recover the secret but  cannot. The coding theory has been an important role in the constructing of the secret sharing schemes. Since the code of a symmetric  design is a linear code, this study is about the multisecret-sharing schemes based on the dual code  of  code  of a symmetric  design. We construct a multisecret-sharing scheme Blakley's construction of secret sharing schemes using the binary codes of the symmetric design. Our scheme is a threshold secret sharing scheme. The access structure of the scheme has been described and shows its connection to the dual code. Furthermore, the number of minimal access elements has been formulated under certain conditions. We explain the security of this scheme.


The paper studied the effect of a suddenly intruded δ potential on the energy level of a one-dimensional quantum well by perturbation method.It is found that δ potential has no effect on the odd parity states of the system but it makes the energy level of the even parity states have a constant shift,and the degree of the shift depends on the intensity of δ potential.


Stochastic Computing (SC) is an alternative computing paradigm that promises high robustness to noise and outstanding area- and power-efficiency compared to traditional binary. It also enables the design of fully parallel and scalable computations. Despite its advantage, SC suffers from long latency and high energy consumption compared to conventional binary computing, especially with current CMOS technology. The cost of conversion between binary and stochastic representation takes a significant cost with CMOS circuits. In-Memory Computation (IMC) is introduced to accelerate Big Data applications by removing the data movement between memory and processing units, and by providing massive parallelism. In this work, we explore the efforts in employing IMC for fast and energy-efficient SC system design. We specially focus on memristors as an emerging technology that promises efficient memory and computation beyond CMOS. We discuss the potentials and challenges for realizing efficient SC systems in memory.


Abstrcat Schizophrenia is a serious mental disease. The disease can destroy the suffers' abilities of cognition, performance, speaking, notice and memory. Jean-Marie Danion and Thierry Menlenans try to indicate suffers' implicit memory is not destroyed when they use artificial grammatical structure and various ways by comparing between schizophrenia suffers and normal persons. The study provides certain theoretical support for its treatment and prevention.


Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show the unexplored relationship between mindful organizing, organizational mindfulness and talent management with regard to its outcomes. Methodology: The paper presents an integrative review of the literature available in relation to talent management and organizational mindfulness and provides the development of a theoretical framework based on integration and synthesis of this literature. Findings: The literature review revealed that organizational mindfulness and mindful organizing belong to the factors which may enhance individual level outcomes of talent management, such us: organizational commitment, motivation to work, extra-role behaviour and this, in turn, results in better organization's performance. Practical implications: In order to enhance the individual level outcomes of talent management, the mindfulness needs to operate across all organizational levels. It should be create by top administrators and translate across organizations' levels by middle managers for the front-line employees. Research limitations: This study is based on theoretical analysis and its assumptions should be tested empirically. Originality/value of the paper: Although the authors indicate many factors that may shape talent management process and its outcomes, the potential infl uence of mindful organizing and organizational mindfulness on talent management outcomes has not been analysed so far, meanwhile these phenomena's have a lot in common with managing talented employees. Therefore, it is expected that mindful organizing (directly) and organizational mindfulness (indirectly) may enhance individual level outcomes of talent management.


The invention discloses a quayside container crane, which is provided with two cantilever beams penetrating front and rear upper cross beams and installed on the front and rear upper cross beams. The distance between the two cantilevers is approximately equal to the distance between two adjacent compartments of a ship to be loaded or unloaded, and the width in the direction of the ship length of the boundary dimension of the crane is smaller than or equal to the total width of two adjacent compartments. As the distance between two cantilever beams of the container crane can guarantee that hangers on the two beams are located above the adjacent compartments to be loaded or unloaded respectively, the crane can load and unload the adjacent compartments simultaneously. At the same time, the width of the crane in the direction of the ship length is no more than the total width of the distance between the adjacent compartments, so that two or more cranes can approach to work cooperatively, a plurality of adjacent compartments or even all compartments of the ship can be loaded or unloaded simultaneously, the problem of quayside container cranes all over the world that adjacent compartments cannot be load and unloaded at the same time is solved, and the efficiency for loading and unloading containers is also improved greatly.


Abstract Little is known about the relationship between the accuracy of a discrete-event simulation model and its complexity. Despite this, authors propose that increasing model complexity leads to improved accuracy with diminishing returns. In this paper we explore whether this proposition is correct by applying successive simplifications, some in different sequences, to three simulation models and measuring the impact on the accuracy of the model output. The results show that while increased complexity often leads to improved accuracy, this is not always the case. Also, we see that even when there is a positive correlation between complexity and accuracy, the returns to accuracy from greater complexity can be diminishing, constant or increasing. So, we conclude that the proposition about the relationship between accuracy and complexity is not correct. However, it does remain a useful heuristic for guiding modellers when considering the scope and level of detail at which to model a system.


VIV responses are one of the critical issues for the design of deepwater production systems because they are exposed to currents along the water column. Nowadays, the modal superposition method is widely adopted for the VIV responses, using Shear7 for example, after some important simplifications like replacement of the whole system (the riser tower and the flexible jumpers) by a single equivalent line. In recent years decoupled production systems have been proposed and installed in West Africa and other areas (Gulf of Mexico, Brazil). The present study applies the wake oscillator model of Iwan and Blevins (1974) and that of Facchinetti (2003) to the case of deepwater riser tower and compares the results to those obtained from the modal superposition method. In this paper, the wave oscillator models and the methodoloy are described. The VIV results from different tools for the HRTs in 1300 m and 2000 m water depths are compared.


I present a magneto-optic effect study of magnetic domains in a ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet crystal at different stages of a hysteresis loop. By measuring the Faraday effect in response to the out-of-plane component and Kerr effects to the in-plane components of the sample magnetization, I examined the evolution of magnetic domains during a hysteresis loop in an in-plane external magnetic field. I found that crystalline anisotropy, magneto-static energy, and the presence of movable domain walls play indispensable roles in the domain orientation, particularly when the external field is near zero, and have led to seemingly unusual appearances of hysteresis loops.


1. Farquhar C, Naoom S, Steiner C. The impact of endometrial ablation on hysterectomy rates in women with benign uterine conditions in the United States. Int J Techn Assess Health Care. 2002;18:625–34. 2. Flynn M. Health care resource use for uterine fibroid tumors in the United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;195:955–64. 3. Groff J, Mullen P, Byrd T, Shelton A, Lees E, Goode J. Decision making, beliefs and attitudes toward hysterectomy: a focus group study with medically underserved women in Texas. J Womens Health. 2000;9:S39–50. 4. Araujo T, Aquino E. Risk factors for hysterectomy in Brazil. Cad Sa ude P ublica. 2003;19:S407–17. 5. Bardin L. Content analysis, 1st edn. Lisbon: Edic ~ oes 70, 1977.


One of the obvious characteristics of public communication is strong unidirectivity and weak feedback mechanism.This peculiarity makes accepters not timely express their ideas,as well as spreaders not respondently adjust their own spreading behavior,and leads to affect the exertion of the spreading effect.But with modern technology continual development and active practice of spreaders themselves,the feedback mechanism of public communication has been greatly improved.It is completing the transition from traditional to modern.Media organizations actively respond to this transition,provide respondent material,organization guarantees.and will necessarily optimize relationship between the spreader and the accepter,and greatly boost the spreading effect.


This scholarly and whimsical improvisation on the influence of jazz in the Soviet Union unveils a layer of popular spontaneity beneath party consciousness. It is the cool flip side of Soviet-American relations, a fascinating yarn about the Americanization of Soviet culture by a well-known jazz clarinetist, Russian historian, and college president. It is a study in cultural Westernization, and in the limits of totalitarianism. Starr begins with an examination of the "low sweet fever" under Nicholas II, the penetration of tangos, cakewalks, ragtime, and other Americanisms into prerevolution-ary Russia via the novel technology of the gramophone. It was a world of increasingly urbane and urban Russian popular culture, dance crazes, and middle-class fashion. The years of revolution and civil war cut off such cultural winds from the West; and only under the New Economic Policy (1921-1928) did jazz bring its first notes and rhythms into the Soviet Union.


In order to develop a new negative resistance device, a single-layer device of organic-dye-doped insulating polymer has been fabricated by dipping. The current-voltage characteristics at room temperature showed remarkable negative resistance, which did not depend greatly on the combination of insulating polymers and dopants. In addition, the ratio of peak current to valley current was 23 or higher and the difference 2 V. The origin of the negative resistance is discussed in terms of tunneling transport of holes or electrons through the bulk of the dye-doped polymer.


ABSTRACT Women's access to nonprofit organizations providing financial and community services is an issue in remote areas of Pakistan. Weak communication of nonprofit services to potential female clientele is a significant barrier to women's access to nonprofit services. This article examines how personal networks among women in remote areas may improve the information delivery about the women-focused nonprofit projects in Pakistan. The women's networks also play a critical role in members' motivating each other to join the services offered by the nonprofit organizations. The study used concepts of network and social capital and current network analysis techniques. Data from three remote locations in Pakistan were analyzed using a 2-mode network analysis, content analysis of nonprofit websites, and face-to-face interviews. UCINET software program identified network routines (centrality measures). The study found that friends, neighbors, and local schools are significant information sources for women. Most information about income-producing projects came from their spouses. Information about social services came from friends, neighbors, or social gatherings. Husbands have high betweenness centrality indicating high power over women's access to services. Closeness centrality measures indicate that women are not well connected for exchanging information on nonprofit services.


Breastfeeding is the safest, most effective and economical method for nourishing the newborn from birth to six months of life and beyond. The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies have long been known, as well as the primary role that exclusive breastfeeding plays as a determinant of short and long-term health. For these reasons, since the 1980s, international and national institutions, together with those responsible for providing care in the maternal and child environment, have collaborated through implementation strategies in the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding. For this reason, starting from 2012, at the Castelli Hospital of the ASL VCO (BFHI certified since 2010), we worked on the development of a tool for the qualitative assessment of breastfeeding that can be used at the discharge of the mother-newborn dyad, with the goal of identifying mothers in need of greater support and therefore of a clinical re-evaluation.


Comprises correspondence re Somes Island, letters and telegrams from friends of the family including McLauchlan, Alun and Yuditt, Hands and Franz, Noeline, B Osolinsky, Hans, mostly re Strewe's marriage to Jocelyn Muir, poem by (`An Odo') and correspondence with Hildegard a Brassard; poem by Alun
Language - Some letters are in German
Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Physical Description: Mss, typescripts and printed matter


A radial point interpolation meshless method with polynomial basis is applied to solving axi-symmetric problem.The meshless discrete equation of axi-symmetric problem of solid mechanics is obtained.Numerical calculation of the thick wall cylinder is carried out by means of the meshless method,and the meshless numerical model is established.The distribution of radial displacement and the distribution of radial stress and circumferential stress under uniform external pressure are researched.The numerical results are analyzed and compared with those of the finite element method.They show good agreement and verify the feasibility of the application of proposed method in engineering axi-symmetric problem.The numerical results show that this method has high accuracy,good stability and good application prospects.


The present invention provides a filter medium comprising a micro-fiber layer (2) provided on the carrier layer (1) and the carrier layer, the filter medium is a filter medium having a relatively low pressure loss in addition to superior portion bunriyul and excellent dust accumulation capacity with respect to the object of the present invention to be a melt containing the first fiber formed of bonded fibers the bicomponent fibers and spun to the carrier layer (1) are contiguous, and continuous is the micro-fiber layer (2) It characterized in that it comprises a second fiber formed of blown fiber.


The sharpest known high probability generalization bounds for uniformly stable algorithms (Feldman, Vondr\'{a}k, 2018, 2019), (Bousquet, Klochkov, Zhivotovskiy, 2020) contain a generally inevitable sampling error term of order $\Theta(1/\sqrt{n})$. When applied to excess risk bounds, this leads to suboptimal results in several standard stochastic convex optimization problems. We show that if the so-called Bernstein condition is satisfied, the term $\Theta(1/\sqrt{n})$ can be avoided, and high probability excess risk bounds of order up to $O(1/n)$ are possible via uniform stability. Using this result, we show a high probability excess risk bound with the rate $O(\log n/n)$ for strongly convex and Lipschitz losses valid for \emph{any} empirical risk minimization method. This resolves a question of Shalev-Shwartz, Shamir, Srebro, and Sridharan (2009). We discuss how $O(\log n/n)$ high probability excess risk bounds are possible for projected gradient descent in the case of strongly convex and Lipschitz losses without the usual smoothness assumption.


Fir tree groove broaching is prone to deformation, which affects the machining precision of rear wheel groove. The numerical broaching force is calculated to improve deformation of the processed round tank .This paper uses the planer to make cutting tests that are carried out in shaping machine to simulate the wheel broaching process and measures the cutting force in the experiment. After analyzing the unit numerical cutting force of GH4698 broaching is finally obtained. It provides a simple method to calculate the cutting force of wheel groove machining.


Abstract The purpose of this study is to analyze the affecting factors and debt characteristics with household debt. The method of analysis was used SPSS 22.0. The main results were as follows. First, psychological debt burden group were found to be lower academic background, more household members, job in agriculture, forestry and fisheries and women among demographic characteristics. This suggests the need for the governments who are interested in the risk from household debt. Second, psychological debt burden group showed higher level of debt and average monthly debt repayments. This study implies that it is necessary to do financial education and consulting. Third, psychological debt burden group seemed that the households with more the average monthly interest payments and repayments on income, the more total liabilities compared to total assets. As the ages get higher, it was gradually increased. It suggests that the development of psychological counseling program for debtor with household debt. Other factors(property prices or the financial environments) will be dealt with in the subsequent studies.


We thank Auerbach et al. (1) for taking the time to formulate their thoughts on our Opinion (2).

We value this opportunity to jointly resolve an apparent misunderstanding of our Opinion piece. As the title "Toward an international definition of citizen science" suggests, our work is meant to be a call to action. The aim of our Opinion is not to present a closed definition that should be internationally accepted. Rather, we offer our context-specific catalog (3) as a basis for a discussion that may lead to a commonly recognized definition—importantly, with the involvement of the international citizen science (CS) community and …

[↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: florian.heigl{at}boku.ac.at.

 [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1


Abstract : Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is a widely used construction material. In airbase facilities, it is used to construct the runways and parking aprons. During the takeoff and landing of aircrafts, the high temperature exhaust has splashed to the concrete pavement from the modem vectored thrust engines (VTE) or auxiliary Power Unit (APU). The APU is a low-power has turbine that provides compressed air, from a load driven compressor, for starting the main engines and for operating auxiliary systems during ground maintenance. In particular, the exhaust gas temperature of a VTE could rapidly reach over 700 deg C, and the corresponding exhaust velocities could go beyond 1800 ft/s. The pavement is subjected to extremely rapid transient high temperature loadings as well as thermal cycles of heating and cooling. Figure 1.1 shows a typical damaged area in an F/A-18 parking apron. The origin of the problem is the F/A-18 auxiliary power unit, which is located at the bottom of the fuselage near the tail section. The exhaust gas temperature isotherms on the pavement top are almost circular and show a decrease along the radios. Chemical degradation of concrete due to hydraulic fluid, lubricating oils also contribute to the damage of concrete pavement. The U.S. Department of Defense has seen an increase in airfield concrete apron distress in the form of surface scaling when the aprons are exposed to cyclic heat, spilled lubricants, and/or hydraulic fluid (McVay, Smithson and Manzione, 1993). Chemical analysis of the damaged concrete reveals that the spilled fluid from the engines are undergoing hydrolysis (breakdown) accompanied by the consumption of calcium hydroxide, plus hydrated silicate and aluminate phases.


This article uses the (A) Airway, (B) Breathing and, (C) Circulation structured approach to the assessment of a sick child to provide an overview of the equipment used in resuscitation attempts involving children. It emphasises that a working knowledge of the resuscitation equipment used in emergency situations is fundamental to the process of checking and preparing it. The article is aimed at students and newly qualified nurses, but may be also useful as revision for more experienced nurses.


Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the world [1]. Endoscopic resection of adenomatous polyps is reported to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer [2]. However, polyps that are large and those that are removed piecemeal are risk factors for residual neoplasia [3]. Therefore, colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been found to have a high en bloc resection rate compared with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) [4]. In recent years, colorectal ESD has become a common endoscopic procedure. However, in Western countries, colorectal ESD is not the standard treatment for large colorectal lesions [5, 6] because the procedure is challenging and the rate of perforation is higher than that for EMR [7]. These challenges are attributable to the fact that the colorectal wall is thin and the maneuvering ability of the endoscope in the colon is limited. In addition, several factors pertaining to technical difficulties have been reported [8, 9]. To ensure smooth and safe performance of colorectal ESD, it is important to maintain appropriate visibility of the submucosal layer in an easy and quick manner. Therefore, we developed a treatment strategy for colorectal ESD using a clip with a looped thread (LT) [10]. This traction method is cost-effective as well as easy to perform compared with previously reported methods. The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this novel traction method. Patients and methods


A novel DC/DC converter for the city' s tramcar is introduced. The structure,principle and method of the control circuit are discussed in detail. To ensure the mormal working of the circuit, some measures are taken, including the excessive current and voltage protection, low input voltage protection and self-building power. The experimental result has verified the good performance of the device.


Security has always been a major issue in computers, even more so with the modern systems and the exponentially growing use of the Internet. A wellplanned security policy and the use of antivirus software make a first line of defense. A second line of defense is needed since, as has been proven over the past few years, it is not a question of "if" the first line of defense is going to be crossed by malicious code; it is a question of "when". This second line of defense consists of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). The more efficient an IDS is at detecting real threats, the more robust the overall security of a computer system is. The Human Immune System provides a rich set of promising theories that could be used to help improve the efficiency of Intrusion Detection Systems. Self/Non-Self theory about how HIS detects foreign and malicious bodies is one area that I plan to explore and implement in an IDS application.


This work shows the importance of industrial, cultural and natural heritage in the vine and wine sector. It valorises the landscape of vineyards to the sustainability of rural areas, outstanding the recent views of heritage like a resource to the promotion of wine tourism in Spain and the Region of Murcia particularly.


Summary Addition of desoxyribonucleic acid, gelatin, fibrinogen, and especially hyaluronic acid to normal human citrated blood causes a considerable increase in E.S.R. Hyaluronic acid acts only in its highly polymerized form, thus suggesting that molecular weight is an important factor in this reaction, as well as asymmetry of the molecule. Hyaluronidase specifically reverses the action of hyaluronate on E.S.R. Intravenous injection of hyaluron- ate in guinea pig and rabbit leads to increased E.S.R. Intravenous injection of hyaluronidase promptly causes the increased rate to become normal.


In this paper, we investigate the accuracy of linear classification techniques for a P300 Brain-Computer Interface used in a typing paradigm. Fisher's Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Bayesian Linear Discriminant Analysis (BLDA), Stepwise Linear Discriminant Analysis (SLDA), linear Support Vector Machine (SVM) and a method based on Feature Extraction (FE) were compared. Experiments were performed on patients suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH), in on-line and off-line mode. Our results show that BLDA yields a significantly higher accuracy than the other linear techniques we have compared, at least for our group of subjects.


Books reviewed in this article:

Dwight N. Hopkins, Introducing Black Theology of Liberation

Dwight N. Hopkins, Down, Up, and Over; Slave Religion and Black Theology

Dwight N. Hopkins, Heart and Head: Black Theology–Past, Present, and Future


Improved access to multibeam sonar and underwater video technology is enabling sci- entists to use spatially-explicit, predictive modelling to improve our understanding of marine ecosys- tems. With the growing number of modelling approaches available, knowledge of the relative perfor- mance of different models in the marine environment is required. Habitat suitability of 5 demersal fish taxa in Discovery Bay, south-east Australia, were modelled using 10 presence-only algorithms: BIOCLIM, DOMAIN, ENFA (distance geometric mean (GM), distance harmonic mean (HM), median (M), area-adjusted median (Ma), median + extremum (Me), area-adjusted median + extremum (Mae) and minimum distance (Min)), and MAXENT. Model performance was assessed using kappa and area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic. The influence of spatial range (area of occupancy) and environmental niches (marginality and tolerance) on modelling performance were also tested. MAXENT generally performed best, followed by ENFA-GM and -HM, DOMAIN, BIO- CLIM, ENFA-M, -Min, -Ma, -Mae and -Me algorithms. Fish with clearly definable niches (i.e. high marginality) were most accurately modelled. Generally, Euclidean distance to nearest reef, HSI-b (backscatter), rugosity and maximum curvature were the most important variables in determining suitable habitat for the 5 demersal fish taxa investigated. This comparative study encourages ongo- ing use of presence-only approaches, particularly MAXENT, in modelling suitable habitat for demer- sal marine fishes.


We present an analysis of 125 patients with the diagnosis of aplastic anemia seeking care from the Department lf Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital during the last 4 years. Only 78 of 125 cases fulfilled the predefined eligibility criteria and were included in the study 68 patients (87.2 percent) were classified as "severe aplastic anemia". Our study did not allow any convincing inference about possible etiologic factors. The most common leading symptoms were bleeding tendency and pallor. Only one out of 19 cases (5.26 percent) Who received testosterone propionate for more than six months showed complete response. Septicemia and intracranial bleeding were the two most common causes of 13 deaths.


Summary form only given. We present a novel 2/spl times/N phased-array waveguide grating (PAWG) design, which utilizes two sets of vernier input ports to compensate center wavelength shifting due to processing. By having two corresponding sets of output waveguides, each PAWG can function as two identical 1/spl times/N-channel wavelength multi/demultiplexers. All input and output channels of the two 1/spl times/N devices are interleaved to yield uniformity and efficient interconnect to cross-bar switches. An 8-channel wavelength-selective 2/spl times/2 nonblocking optical switch is designed using two 2/spl times/8 PAWGs, connected by 12 thermal-optic (TO) cross-bar switches. This 2/spl times/2 WDM optical switch can route each input wavelength to either output ports and is suitable for any transparent optical WDM network systems.


Stories about former banker Bradley Birkenfeld exploded in media outlets around the world in September, 2012, when reports circulated Birkenfeld was awarded a $104 million Internal Revenue Service ("1RS") whistleblower payout. The reward was believed to be the largest U.S. whistleblower award of any kind paid to an individual to date.1 Birkenfeld provided detailed information to the U.S. government about tax evasion schemes peipetrated by his former Swiss employer, UBS. The $104 million represented a 26 percent award of the $400 million in taxes paid by UBS to the 1RS as a result of a 2009 settlement.2 The reward highlighted the federal tax whistleblowing program-a little-known program that was overhauled by Congress in 2006 with the enactment of the 1RS Whistleblower Act.3 Notwithstanding the record payout to Birkenfeld and the recent legislative attempt to revitalize the tax whistleblowing program, the 1RS continues to mismanage the program. This article identifies problems plaguing the 1RS whistleblowing program and recommends simple reforms that would increase its effectiveness.April, 2014, marked the 100th birthday of Form 1040, which most taxpayers use to report the amount they owe in taxes for the year. The form-once short enough to be published on the front page of the New York Times-now has hundreds of supplemental schedules and attachments.4 The growth in complexity of tax filing is mirrored by the growth over time in the number of U.S. citizens who fail to report all their income on the form. Each year the 1RS faces a serious challenge combatting the tax gap, the difference between the estimated amount taxpayers owe and the amount ultimately paid, on income earned domestically and abroad. The most recent 1RS estimate of the net domestic tax gap is $385 billion annually.5 However, U.S. taxpayers are required to report and pay U.S. income tax on worldwide income.6 The 1RS estimate of $385 billion does not take into account the international tax gap: taxes owed on cross-border transactions that are subject to U.S. taxation.7 Estimates from non-IRS sources place the international tax gap between $40 billion to $123 billion annually.8 This means that the total annual U.S. tax gap ranges from $400 to $500 billion.One key strategy available to the 1RS to improve tax collections and to raise compliance rates is to rely on informant-supplied tips.9 Typically, the 1RS selects returns for audits by using a mathematical formula known as the Discriminate Index Function (or "DIF").10 A report issued by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) concluded that "examinations initiated based on informant information had a higher dollar yield per hour and a lower no-change rate, when compared to returns selected using the 1RS' primary method of selecting returns, the Discriminant Index Function (DIF)."* 11 In addition, informants reduce the number of no-change audits; that is, audits where no adjustments are made.12 Given that examinations triggered by informant information are more cost effective than non-informant examinations, an efficient and well-run tax whistleblower program would be a significant step towards closing the U.S. tax gap. The 1RS Whistleblowing Program, as it currently operates, is neither efficient nor well run. This article identifies problems with the tax whistleblowing program and offers solutions.Part I of this article provides an international context for the need for the 1RS whistleblowing law and identifies efforts to reduce the tax gap. Part II traces the history of the federal tax whistleblower statute found in Internal Revenue Code ("I.R.C.")13 Section 7623, summarizes the major changes made by the 2006 amendments to the law, and identifies some of the procedures instituted by the 1RS in administering the tax bounty program. A number of other international, federal, and state whistleblowing programs offer financial incentives to informants. Part III reviews several of these whistleblowing programs in order to provide a perspective on the 1RS whistleblowing law. …


In this article, we show time-resolved reflectivity experiments in a pump and probe configuration on Bismuth single crystal, with two crystallographic orientations: one with the principal axis orthogonal to the surface plane, and the other one with the principal axis in the surface plane. We point out the strong anisotropy in the ultrafast response by comparing the results on the two different orientations and we discuss them in the light of the two-temperatures model.


Abstract This work studies the leaderless consensus problem in networks composed of non-identical flexible-joint robot manipulators. Using standard functional analysis, i.e., Barbâlat's Lemma, it is established that a simple control law provides a solution to the leaderless consensus problem. The network is modeled as an undirected graph and the interconnection can exhibit variable time-delays. The proposed controller consists of two different terms, one that dynamically compensates the robot gravity and another which ensures the desired consensus objective. This last term is a simple Proportional plus damping scheme. Simulations, using a network with nine 2-degrees of freedom manipulators, are provided to support the theoretical contributions of this work.


According to Cardina's multi-intelligent theory,"Intelligent Satisfaction Pedagogy" is created.It is testified by practicing in teaching that in volleyball compulsory course teaching "Intelligent Satisfaction Pedagogy" is available to modify a lot of shortcomings in conventional teaching directed in intelligent theory.It is more coincident with the features of intelligence;moreover,it is capable to improve the quality of volleyball teaching effectively.


In this report a rare case of a bleeding carcinoid located in the ileum and diagnosed with an angio-CT
examination of the abdominal cavity is presented. An angio-CT examination of the abdominal cavity may
be an effective method of imaging diagnostics in cases of negative results of endoscopy and colonoscopy
examinations and, at the same time, a shortage of accessibility to double-balloon enteroscopy and capsule
endoscopy. It is possible to visualize bleeding lesions on condition that the outflow of the blood into the
digestive tract is above 1 ml per minute. The patient concerned was operated on in a scheduled course
following proper preparation. The perioperative course was uneventful and after a three-year follow-up
no features of the recurrence of neoplastic disease have been observed.


A large body of research has been conducted in the area of language learning beliefs, across the world. Beliefs inevitably matters in the pragmatic aspect of language learning. If learners are driven by misconceptions of language learning, the performance in class might be really low. Teachers' consciousness about English language teaching is also reflected in the methods utilized in class. Research indicates that individual students differ considerably in their use of learning strategies. Elaine Horwit, who developed the Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) was the first to conduct a systematic research into the nature of language learning beliefs. The theoretical framework of BALLI is based on five major components pertaining to language learning; foreign language aptitude, the difficulty in language learning, nature of (English) language learning, learning and communication strategies and motivation. In order to collect data, a questionnaire survey was conducted with a group of 30 ESL learners in the University of the Visual and Performing Arts. The sample group is little exposed to English since their medium of instruction is Sinhala and most of them come from rural backgrounds. The gathered data was statistically analyzed and several significant findings were revealed. According to the survey, it was found out the subjects believe that it is easy to learn a foreign language at a young age. The majority agreed that they have the ability to achieve proficiency in English. All the female participants believe that women are better than men at learning. Most of the subjects maintain a neutral opinion on learning English grammar. All the participants agreed that they want to learn English and believe that they will have better job opportunities if they learn English well. However, all the participants agreed that it is not necessary to be able to speak in English to live in Sri Lanka. It appears that this questionnaire is a valid instrument that can be applied to the Sri Lankan context to a great extent, despite its limitations. In order to make it more applicable to the Sri Lankan context, slight modifications should be done to make sure that the questions mirror the role played by culture, social background, discipline of study and field of work, in shaping beliefs of English language learners in Sri Lanka.


The optimization of carbohydrate and amino acid was fit together by the maillard reaction products's absorbency and antioxidation value. At the same time, the effect of reaction temperature, time, pH and molar ration on antioxidation value were investigated by uniform design. The result showed that the reaction substance were fructose and aspartic acid. The optimization MRPs prepared condition were: pH6, temperature 105 ℃, reaction time 8 h, the ration of fructose and aspartic acid 1.5∶1. The antioxidation of MRPs was very effective on the oil experiment.


E-government contains huge data volume, if we store all Indian languages records then again volume increase. After coming Unicode Indian languages conversion is possible. Also .NET and JAVA technology internationalization is power-full future for working in multilingual environment. Depending on client's request use of language conversion is possible at client side by executing script code. System take care that culture of current environment language and data record's language are different than only perform mathematical conversion. On second phase verify that converted Unicode value has assigned any character or not.


TNF receptor‐1 (TNFR1) and TRAIL death receptors preferentially induce pro‐inflammatory or cytotoxic signaling, respectively, via distinct plasma membrane and cytosolic complexes. New studies identifying the pro‐inflammatory factors TRAF2, RIP, and LUBAC in TRAIL death receptor complexes suggest that the latter are more "TNFR1‐like" than anticipated and argue for revision of prevailing models of spatio‐hierarchical TRAIL‐induced signaling complex assembly.


THIS PAPER DESCRIBES AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF CERTAIN VARIABLES ON THE INDICATED TENSILE STRENGTH OF STRUCTURAL LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATE CONCRETE AS DETERMINED BY THE SPLITTING TENSION TEST. THE VARIABLES TREATED ARE LOADING RATE, LOADING STRIPS, MOLD TYPE, CURING CONDITIONS, IMPROPER LOAD DISTRIBUTION, AND IMPROPERLY MADE CYLINDERS. CERTAIN PROBLEMS IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE SPLITTING RATIO ARE ALSO ILLUSTRATED. /JM/


An asymmetric anti-aldol addition process of ketone-derived donors that is not limited by the structure of the ketone is described.