The studies of the primate behavior have grown exponentially in the last 70 years (Strum & Fedigan, 2000). The first approaches towards modern studies in north american anthropology appeared with the works by Washburn, who stated that the knowledge of our nearest filogenetically relatives could help us understand the origins and evolution of human behavior, from the very first researches in american anthropology many postulates have been developed and reformulated. Primatological conceptions have changed and it would be pertinent to ask ourselves what these changes have obeyed to, and which pressures have influenced. Science should be regarded as a social product. Thus, it should be analyzed within a socio-historical context. This study, based on the revision of diverse authors' works, shows a view of the problems that North American primatology has faced and the impact if has had on Physical Anthropology.


Thermal design and packaging strategy of a prototype dual-loop vapor compression refrigeration cooling system, developed as a pilot model for thermal management of high performance CMOS based MCMs, is introduced in this paper. The cooling system was comprised of two separated refrigeration units providing low temperature cooling via a dual-path cooling module (evaporator) mounted on a CPU-MCM package. Cooling capacity for each refrigeration unit was controlled ranging from 250W to 2500W with a refrigerant evaporating temperature at −25 degree centigrade. The CPU-MCM mounted with the refrigeration cooling module was packaged on a system board assembly, together with other electronic devices. The assembly was accommodated into a dew-point control box where two dewpoint control units were operating in a redundancy to remove moisture and keep a dew temperature inside the box below −30 degree centigrade for completely preventing from condensation. Cooling redundancy was provided by both the refrigeration units and dual-path cooling module. The cooling module was redundant in that two sets of refrigerant passages were staggered within a thin copper plate, where each set was connected to a separated refrigeration unit. Apart from the robust system and steady operation, the configuration and operation mode also provided the cooling system a high power efficiency and much shortened starting time. Numerical simulations were also performed for investigating airflow and thermal characteristics, in a system board level inside the dew-point control box. Detailed predictions of airflow and temperature distributions were significantly helpful for improving and verifying practical system designs.Copyright © 2003 by ASME


Social, economic, cultural factors play a dominant role in identification and formation of disease in our society though disease is biomedical. Stigma creates fear and negative attitude towards stigmatized in the society. Women are constructed as the most marginalized group in the society. The rigid hold of repressive social structures impacts the lives of people in tradition-driven countries like India to a greater extent than they seemingly do in Western countries. Women in such societies are doubly stigmatized when they bear the tag of mental illness. In this paper I will analyze case studies of Assam to describe how traditional Indian patriarchal attitude towards mental illness has destroyed the lives of many Indian women.


Aim:  Sinus lifts are a predictable method of augmenting the height of bone in maxillary posterior sextants. These procedures can be complicated by anatomical factors, such as the presence of interfering bony septa in the sinus. The objectives of this study were to investigate the incidence of interfering septa in patients undergoing sinus lifts and to see if the presence of interfering septa increased the chance of intra-operative membrane perforation.

Materials and methods:  This retrospective cohort study assessed presence of interfering antral septa and their effect on Schneiderian membrane elevation in 45 patients with pneumatised sinuses undergoing sinus lifts. Chart audits and radiographic assessments were performed for 52 surgeries. The sinus lift procedure followed established guidelines. Presence of septa and occurrence of perforations were noted, and when perforations occurred, they were repaired with resorbable membranes.

Results:  Septa were present in 40% of cases, and were found to be 'interfering' septa in 28.8% of cases. Membrane perforation occurred in 11.5% of cases. There was no statistically significant association between the presence of interfering septa and membrane perforation.

Conclusion:  With enough experience and appropriate armamentarium and technique, an operator can overcome the presence of an interfering antral septum during a sinus lift procedure such that it does not increase the chance of perforating the Schneiderian membrane during elevation.


The Land question in Zimbabwe and most countries of the Global South has always been marred by the injustices perpetrated by the colonial governments in the equitable distribution of land. Women have been severely disadvantaged yet they are the ones who contribute so much in agricultural production and food security. Thus, land tenure, ownership, food security and access are interlinked, directly and indirectly. This paper seeks to explore while revisiting policies that have addressed land-use, tenure security and ownership in relation with women in Zimbabwe. Women have always been a domineering force in agriculture in which they contribute immensely though their contributions has not been fairly chronicled and publicised. Thus land is a key resource to empowering women in the socio- economic growth trajectory and poverty alleviation. Successful realisation entails a functioning transparent land administration system. Hence, access to arable and productive land is vital to most women who live in the communal areas and depend wholly on farming for their livelihoods. It is in this realm that, land plays a significant part and as a socio-economic catalyst, policies inclined should clearly state the position of women as far as ownership is concerned. Various statutory and legal statutes should address rights of women so that they will be able to continue contributing to food security. In light of these objections, this paper further examines and explores current and also already researched literature on empowering women in the lenses of land-use, right, access and their contributions to food security.


PT. Perkebunan Nusantara V is one of the companies engaged in oil palm plantations. During the 2011-2017 period PTPN V carried out the recruitment and selection process with a span of 2 years. Depreciation of employees that occurs at PTPN V due to the existence of leadership employees who enter retirement, die or are expelled from the company. New leadership employees from the results of recruitment, selection and placement are required to always improve performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of recruitment on performance, the effect of selection on performance, the effect of placement on performance, the effect of recruitment on selection, and the influence of selection on placement, as well as strategies to improve employee performance at PT. Riau Archipelago V Plantation. Respondents of this study were employees recruited from 2011 to 2017 with a number of respondents 90 people with the technique of determining respondents using proportionate stratified random sampling. The processing and data analysis techniques used in this study are descriptive statistical analysis, Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis with Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach with SmartPLS software, and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Expert Choice software 11. The results of this study are that recruitment has no effect on performance, selection has a significant effect on employee performance, placement has a significant effect on employee performance, recruitment has a significant effect on selection and selection has a significant effect on placement. Then the results of the formulation of the right strategy is to improve employee welfare, development of performance and competency based HRM, improve the recruitment system according to needs and improve performance monitoring and evaluation.


With the era of industrialization and excessive dependence on chemicals, there is increased indiscriminate disposal of especially chlorinated solvents causing a variety of environmental problems. Chlorinated solvents including trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene are significant groundwater contaminants causing severe health effects. Various technical strategies have been developed and applied, often with limited success. Time frames for remediation tend to be long, usually measured in decades. In this review we focus on remediation of chlorinated solvents in groundwater by the addition of exogenous microorganisms, specifically members of the genus Dehalococcoides (DHC) referred to as bioaugmentation. Many potential technologies for remediation of chlorinated solvents, its past, present and future as well as how bioaugmentation is superior to these techniques are discussed.


The hydro-upgrading experiments for mixed distillate oil of straight-run diesel,FCC diesel and coker distillate were investigated in 200 mL fixed-bed hydrogenation unit.The key point of the experiments was whether the poor-quality mixed distillate oil with high sulfur and nitrogen content after the hydrogenation could meet the motor diesel standard of Europe IV.The results show that,due to high sulfur and nitrogen content and low cetane number of mixed distillate oil,the diesel products after hydrogenation by traditional hydro-treating and hydro-upgrading technology in industry can not achieve the demand of catane number.However,the cetane number of the diesel products after the hydrogenation by improved technology can be improved by 16~19 units,sulfur and nitrogen content can be lowered to below 10 ppm,which can meet the EU V standard of motor diesel,and heavy naphtha fraction as its by-product can be used as high quality catalytic reforming feedstock.


The aim of the research was to create an effective method for producing transgenic wheat plants suitable for a wide range of promising varieties, both spring and winter crops. The plant material was cultivated at temperatures ranging from 4 to 25°C, either in the dark or in the light, with a 16-hour photoperiod (16/8 - day / night). Osram L36/77 FLUORA and F36W/33 Cool White lamps were used for lighting. The composition of all nutrient media included macroand micro-salts, vitamins B5, phytohormones and carbohydrates. The pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.8 before autoclaving. The medium was sterilized in an autoclave at pressure of 1.2 atmospheres for 15 minutes. An effective method of regeneration of transgenic wheat plants for ballistic transformation has been developed. Plants obtained by this method are phenotypically normal and fully fertile. The transgenic insertion of the target gene is transmitted to the offspring in accordance with Mendel's laws. The transformation efficiency was high for all the studied varieties and ranged from 1.4 to 7.8%.


The prototypical Sm1−xSrxMnO3 has been extensively studied in order to understand the role of disorder on the nature of ferromagnetic (FM) to paramagnetic (PM) phase transition in narrowband manganites. It is shown that both the magnetic and structural properties of Sm1−xSrxMnO3 are extremely sensitive to the applied external pressure (P) and magnetic field (H). It is reported that TC increases and the width of the thermal hysteresis in magnetization and resistivity decrease rapidly with increasing P. Above a critical value of P, the hysteresis disappears completely and the transition becomes second order. Such a strong dependence of magnetic properties on P clearly indicates that magnetic and structural order parameters are strongly coupled in this system and there exists a critical end point of the first order FM transition. To confirm the transition becomes conventional second order above the critical point, the system should obey the critical behavior belonging to some universality class, the most imp...


ABSTRACT In this article, we propose a method for extracting spatio-spectral features from high spatial resolution hyperspectral (HS) images. The method is based on extracting two-dimensional moments from neighbourhoods of pixels. Three different types of moments are considered: geometric, complex Zernike and Legendre. Moments of a given type are extracted from a few principal components (PC) of HS data, and are stacked on the original HS data to form a joint spatio-spectral feature space. These features are classified using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. The influence of the moments orders and the size of the neighbourhood window on the quality of the extracted features are analysed. A few experiments are conducted on two widely used HS data sets, Pavia University and Salinas. The results demonstrate high capabilities of the proposed method in comparison with some state-of-the-art spatio-spectral HS classification methods.


Sketched between 27th Octr. and 2nd Novr. 1852.[initialled] R.T. Copied Corpl. McLintock R.S.& M. 3rd July 1853; [Signed original?] Richd Tylden Capt & Comg R.Engr. Sovereignty expedition 18th January 1853. - Scale 4 miles to 1 inch [1:253,440]. - 1 coloured manuscript map in ink on fine wove paper; 75 x 48 cm. - Orientation: magnetic north. - Lacks Royal Engineer's stamp; 89/197; O/61 and R/6 on verso. - [Note] To accompany Capt. Tylden's letter to the Commanding Royal Engineer 7 dated 18th January 1853.


Cultured human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells were seeded on the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated hens' eggs at the 10th to 12th day of incubation. When the membranes were harvested after 18 to 19 days' incubation, tumors had formed in eggs seeded with 5 × 105 to 10 × 106 RD cells. The microscopic appearance of the tumors was similar to that of the rhabdomyosarcoma of the patient from whom the cell line was derived. In contrast to cell lines derived from RD cell tumors which formed in a cat or an NIH‐Swiss mouse and released the endogenous viruses of the cat and mouse, respectively, none of 36 cell lines derived from 13 tumors formed on the chorioallantoic membrane of hens' eggs released a type‐C virus and none contained the avian virus group‐specific antigen.


With boom in popularity in use of online network, has also come a rise in need for evidences for every work to be done. With this there has come forward a need for evidences in dentistry too. Previously it was, that very little academic literature exists on how to best utilize the resources available. Traditional approaches are no longer adequate, as online environments have completely radicalized the educational and practicing landscape. This book, therefore, provides a much-needed orientation in the subject for students and professionals alike. It is a ground-level book for those seeking to understand evidence-based dentistry and its significance for clinical practice, education and research. The book is anchored in the dental literature: the majority of the chapters offer guidance on providing a structured approach to reading and understanding research articles or commercial product information. It Incorporates published papers in order to provide worked examples, explains the most common forms of research used in dentistry, unlocks basic statistical and epidemiological concepts, along with key terms and should be useful to under graduates, post graduates, and practitioners.


The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway (conventionally called the canonical WNT pathway) plays an essential role in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, tissue injury repair and stem cell maintenance [1]. In recent years, due to the pathway's notable upregulation in many different cancers [1], targets that modify its signalling responses have been sought. The significant role of WNT signalling in human disease has also been demonstrated by its hyperactivation in other hyperproliferative diseases [2,3].


This paper underlines the fact that in human resources selection methodology not only the assessment instruments need to be standardized, but the selection criteria as well. In order to avoid toxic decision, taken under highly emotional states, witch commonly occur during the human resources selection process, we propose a fuzzy selection of the most appropriate candidates.


Abstract : The +100 additive was developed to increase the thermal stability of JP-8 aviation fuel. It has been shown that the dispersant/detergent component of the +100 additive permanently disables the water separators in fueling systems (i.e. filter/separators), potentially allowing water to enter vehicle or equipment fuel tanks. Furthermore, the additive will remove dirt and scale (previously deposited materials) from dirty fuel systems, and carry these contaminants downstream, which may quickly plug fuel filters. Some initial USAF evaluations with diesel-engine powered ground support equipment have shown only minor fuel-filter plugging problems. However, these evaluations, have been limited to flight line support equipment, which already operates on aviation-quality JP-8 fuel and is therefore at minimal risk. This project resulted in a set of data that documents the effect on fuel-borne contaminant levels resulting from operation of a previously diesel fueled vehicle with JP-8+100 aviation fuel. The collected data illustrate that there is generally an observable increase in fuel- borne particulates during the initial circulation of JP-8+100 throughout vehicle fuel systems previously operated on diesel fuel for extended periods of time. The laboratory analyses of the collected fuel samples also show that there is generally an increase in the fuel-borne water content when a vehicle is converted to operation with JP-8+1 00.


We develop a unitarity approach to consider the final state interaction corrections to the tree level graphs calculated from Chiral Perturbation Theory (χPT ) allowing the inclusion of explicit resonance fields. The method is discussed considering the coupled channel pion and kaon vector form factors. These form factors are then matched with the one loop χPT results. A very good description of experimental data is accomplished for the vector form factors up to √ s ≤ 1.2 GeV beyond which multiparticle states play a non negligible role. For the P-wave ππ phase shifts the agreement with data stands even higher up to √ s ≤ 1.5 GeV. We also consider the isospin breaking effects due to the ω − ρ mixing as a perturbation to the previuos results. In addition the low and resonance energy regions are discussed in detail and for the former a comparison with one and two loop χPT is made showing a remarkable coincidence with the two loop χPT results.


W E HAVE SEEN an evolution in NV, 7business life resulting in the department store, housing under one roof shopping opportunities varying from needles and thimbles to automobiles and house lots. In more recent years we have seen the birth, growth and development in the health and welfare field of an institution which has aptly been called the "department store of health," but techiically described as the " health center." We commend to business men and others who have community interests this type of institution as the ideal one for health conservation. The term "health center" covers a variety of types of institutions varying in scope of activities. Some are institutions for the dissemination of health education only, while others may conduct baby conferences or venereal disease clinics. Some may carry on the many functions of the health department while others are miniature dispensaries. There has been developed an accepted ideal type of health center which combines all of the health agencies, public and private, as well as the welfare agencies, in a selected area, coordinating their activities, and conducting a battle against disease with marked emphasis on prevention. I would define a health center as " an institution for the promotion of health and welfare of the people, made possible and practical by grouping under one roof all of the public and private health, welfare and relief agencies working in a district, thereby developing better correlation and co5rdination of effort."


10 Growing shipping activities in port areas have generated negative impacts on climate, air quality and human health. To better evaluate the environmental impact of ship emissions, an experimental characterization of air pollutions from ships was conducted in Shanghai port in the summer of 2016. The ambient concentrations of gaseous (NO, NO2, SO2, O3) and particulate concentrations (PM2.5), particle size distributions and chemical composition of individual particles from ship emission were continuously monitored for 3 months. Ship emission plumes were visible at the port site in terms of clear peaks of gaseous 15 and particulate matter concentrations. The SO2 and vanadium particles numbers were found to correlate best with ship emissions in Shanghai port. Single particle data showed that ship emission particles at the port site mainly concentrated in smaller size range (< 0.4 μm) where their number contributions were more important than their mass contributions to ambient PM. Composition of ship emission particles at the portside suggested they were mostly fresh particles, with their mass spectra dominated by peaks of sulfate, elemental carbon (EC), metallic composition of V, Ni, Fe and Ca, and very low nitrate signals. 20 For some cases of plumes, the gaseous NOx composition in plumes has the evidence of atmospheric transformation by ambient O3, resulted ozone depletion in this area. Quantitative estimation in the present study show that in port region ship emissions contributed 36.4 % SO2, 0.7 % NO, 5.1 % NO2, -0.9 % O3, 5.9 % PM2.5, 49.5 % vanadium particles if land-based emissions were included, and 57.2 % SO2, 71.9 % NO, 30.4 % NO2, -16.6 % O3, 27.6 % PM2.5, 77.0 % vanadium particles if land-based emissions were excluded. 25


The effect of pressure (1380, 4137 and 6895 kPa) and meat homogenate (0, 2.5, 5 and 10%) on raw and cooked attributes of restructured beef steaks and frozen free-flow cubes was determined. There was no interaction between pressure and homogenate on the attributes measured. The pressure and homogenate did not affect the color of the raw restructured steaks or the yield or extensibility of the cooked steaks. The bind strength of restructured steaks increased with increasing pressure (P < 0.08) and homogenate content (P < 0.001). The compressive strength and breakability of cooked restructured cubes increased with increased pressure (P < 0.07). The breakability decreased with the increase in the amount of homogenate used during restructuring (P < 0.001). It is concluded that the restructuring of beef may be achieved using pressure alone without binders, and that the use of meat homogenate tended to increase bind strength in restructured beef using pressure.


To construct a compact catadioptric system for inspection using a catadioptric objective and immersion medium. Objective of the system is about 190nm can be used in the optical energy belonging to a wavelength region ranging in the infrared region, can be realized, the aperture ratio of greater than 0.9, can consist elements with a diameter of less than 100 mm, standard the microscope are those that can be incorporated in, the focusing lens group, field lens, comprising a Mangin mirror arrangement and one kind or more kinds of immersion medium, the immersion medium is between Mangin mirror arrangement and the specimen. Also, so that can be used with this objective in catadioptric system for inspection, constituting the variable focal length optical system.


Many animals use and react to multimodal signals — signals that occur in more than one sensory modality. This study focused on the respective roles of vision, chemoreception, and their possible interaction in determining agonistic responses of the red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus. The use of a computer display allowed separate or combined presentation of visual and chemical cues. A cue isolation experiment using adult male and juvenile salamanders showed that both visual and chemical cues from unfamiliar male conspecifics could increase aggressive displays. Submissive displays were only increased in juveniles, and specifically by the visual cue. The rate of chemoinvestigation of the substrate was increased only by chemical cues in adults, whereas both chemical and visual cues increased this behaviour in juveniles. Chemoinvestigation appears, thus, more dependent on sensory input in juvenile salamanders. A follow-up experiment comparing responses to visual cues of different animals (conspecific salamander, heterospecific salamander and earthworm) or an inanimate object (wood stick) showed that exploratory behaviour was higher in the presence of the inanimate object stimulus. The heterospecific salamander stimulus produced strong submissive and escape responses, while the conspecific salamander stimulus promoted aggressive displays. Finally, the earthworm stimulus increased both aggressive and submissive behaviours at intermediate levels when compared to salamander cues. These specific combinations of agonistic and exploratory responses to each stimulus suggest that salamanders could discriminate the cues visually. This study sheds some light on how information from different sensory modalities guides social behaviour at different life stages in a salamander.


Detector Arrays for Optoelectronic Interconnections by Edward Joseph Ouellette III Submitted to the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY May 1994 ) Edward Joseph Ouellette III, MCMXCIV. All rights reserved. The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part, and to grant others the right to do so.


A total of 479 samples of nests or feeding sites of 38 species of Australian termite were plated onto a medium selective for isolation of Metarhizium spp. Sixty-seven samples were positive for Metarhizium spp. and a total of 97 isolates of M. anisopliae were obtained. Very few isolates were obtained directly from infected termites. Most isolates were obtained from nest-mound material from eastern Australia. Termite-associated material from the two common mound-building species of termite, Nasutitermes exitiosus and Coptotermes lacteus, provided 75 of the isolates. Similar material from 26 species of termites revealed no Metarhizium. A detailed study of two sites found that some of the Metarhizium isolates found in nest-mound material, including also some M. flavoviride and M. album, were of morphological types also present in adjacent soil. The DNA of isolates from mounds and the adjacent soil were compared using RAPDs and sequence analysis of the ITS region of the nuclear rDNA and the same types were found from both sources. The possible role of the fungus in termite ecology is discussed and it is thought most likely that Metarhizium is only opportunistically a pathogen of termites. Thus, isolates obtained from termite nest material are probably there because of the incorporation of soil into termite nests.


The Taqah terrestrial vertebrate locality, in the extreme southwest of the Sultanate of Oman at the southern margin of the Arabian Peninsula, is contained within a transgressive marine sequence (Shizar Member) that forms the basal unit of the Oligocene Aswaq Formation. Unlike the Eocene deposits, which are very monotonous and very widespread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, the Oligocene deposits are varied and much more limited in area; in Dhofar they are restricted to elongate east-west grabens that formed during the first stages in the opening of the Gulf of Aden. The Taqah locality lies within one of the grabens where the geology is complicated by large curved faults. The Shizar Member in the Taqah area comprises a 50-m thick, predominantly clayey-sandy sequence that shows large vertical and horizontal facies variations and contains carbonate intercalations, which are best developed in the central part of the member. Although 16 sequences are recognized in the section, these fall within three main sequences (S I, S2 and S3) interrupted by a major discontinuity interpreted as being due to a rapid drop in sea level. The basal sequence (51 ) begins with tidal flat deposits ; the topmost deposits of sequence S2 show subtidal characteristics that indicate a prograding carbonate shelf; then the uppermost sequence (S3) marks a return to tidal flat conditions with a strong terrestrial influx, and shows an increasingly confined character, passing from intertidal to supratidal (with fossil vertebrates) to lacus trine facies. The Shizar Member and the overlying Oligocene units have yielded a rich association of benthic and accessory planktonic foraminifera. Detailed analysis of the Oligocene biostratigraphic data in Dhofar and neighbouring regions has enabled the Shizar Member to be correlated with the Tc-T d stratigraphic interval (cf. East Indian Letter Stages) and the PI8-PlO planktonic foraminifera zone (Rupelian) : the vertebrate fossil layers of sequence S3 fall within the T d stage or P20 zone. A magnetostratigraphic study of the section shows a succession of eight polarity inversions that are correlated with the C13N to CIIR interval of the geological polarity time scale. On the basis of the most recent data, which place the Eocene/Oligocene boundary at 34 Ma, the age of the Taqah fossil vertebrate beds would be between 30 and 31 Ma. This result contradicts the Late Eocene age recently proposed for the whole of the Qatrani Formation of Fayum in Egypt. " Authors' addresses : J . ROGER, C. CAVELIER, Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, Orleans La Source, B .P . 6009, F-45060 Orleans Cedex 2, France. S. SEN, Laboratoire de Paleontologie des Vertebres, URA-CNRS 1 433, Universite P. et M. Curie, 4 Place Jussieu, F-752 52 Paris Cedex 5, France. H. THOMAS, Chaire de Paleoanthropologie et Prehistoire, URA-CNRS 49, College de France, II Place Marcelin-Berthelot, F-7532 1 Paris Cedex 5, France. Z. AL SULAIMANI, Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, Directorate General of Minerals, P .O. Box 55 1 , Muscat, Sultanate o f Oman. 7 Newsletters 28 (213) 0078-042 1 /93/0028-0093 $ 6 .75 © 1993 Gebruder Borntraeger, D-l000 Berlin· D-7000 Stuttgart (c) 2015 www.schweizerbart.com DOI:10.1127/nos/28/1993/93


* Editorial Suzanne Williams and Rachel Masika * Crossing borders and building bridges: the Baltic Region Networking Project Carolina Johansson Wennerholm * Who gets to choose? Coercion, consent, and the UN trafficking protocol Jo Doezema * Human rights or wrongs? The struggle for a rights-based response to trafficking in human beings Ann D. Jordon * Trafficking in children in West and Central Africa Mike Dottridge * Child marriage and prostitution: two forms of sexual exploitation? Susanne Louis B Mikhail * Slavery and gender: women's double exploitation Beth Herzfeld * Half-hearted protection: what does victim protection really mean for victims of trafficking in Europe? Elaine Pearson * NGO responses to trafficking in women Marina Tzvetkova * A tale of two cities: shifting the paradigm of anti-trafficking programmes Smarajit Jana, Nandinee Bandyopadhyay, Mrinal Kanti Dutta, and Amitrajit Saha * Reducing poverty and upholding human rights: pragmatic approach Meena Poudel and Ines Smyth * Resources Compiled by Nittaya Thiraphouth * Publications * Organisations * Electronic sources * Videos * Conferences


After initial checks, I noticed egregious differences between the apparatus as I found it and earlier literature. A thorough investigation then ensued to establish a new calibration factor (and to uncover when the calibration factor changed). The rest of this document details these measurements, but the final conclusion of this work is to find that the beam momentum relates to the spectrometer current as pc/I = 1.614MeV/A. Before we delve into the sundries of these measurements, a quick calculation based on simple approximations is provided and reveals nearly the same result.


Applications of Machine Learning (ML) to stock market analysis include Portfolio Optimization, Investment Strategy Determination, and Market Risk Analysis. This paper focuses on the problem of Investment Strategy Determination through the use of reinforcement learning techniques. Four techniques, two based on Recurrent Reinforcement Learning (RLL) and two based on Q-learning, were utilized. Q-learning produced results that consistently beat Buy and Hold strategies on several technology stocks, whereas the RRL methods were often inconsistent and require further investigation.


Two joint Manipulator attract more attention in industrial application, which highlights the importance of trajectory tracking accuracy and output vibration suppression in manipulator control system. This paper presents a novel vibration suppression and position control approach for a two joint manipulator. Firstly, the trajectory setting algorithm based on fifth-order polynomial interpolation is developed, which greatly contributes to solve the problem of the acceleration discontinuity in the continuous trajectory when compared with the cubic polynomial interpolation method, thereby further restrains the output vibration degree of the manipulator in the process of motion. Secondly, in order to improve the tracking performance and control precision, a position controller based on sliding mode control is then designed by sufficiently considering its kinematics analysis and dynamic model, whose stability is also proved. Finally, the whole system simulation on MATLAB/Simulink platform is performed to verify the effectiveness and its related performance of the proposed method. Compared to the tractional PD controller, the simulation results indicate that the proposed method achieves more better dynamic performance of trajectory tracking and position control accuracy, especially in acceleration and output torque vibration suppression.


We observed the effect of aminophylline administration on estimated hepatic blood flow. Indocyanine green (ICG) 0.5 mg/kg was administered as an intravenous bolus dose before and after intravenous infusion of 7 mg/kg aminophylline. Venous blood was collected at timed intervals over 15 minutes to construct ICG concentration‐time graphs. Pharmacokinetic values were calculated using non‐compartmental methods. Estimated hepatic blood flow decreased from 790 ± 190 to 665 ± 100 ml/minute (p < 0.05) after administration of aminophylline.


This paper describes an analytical and experimental investigation on the property of modal disparity in a vibrating structure. For a given structure, the concept of modal disparity describes its ability to generate significant changes in the mode shapes by some type of on-the-fly structural modification. In the present study we consider a vibrating beam that experiences a controlled stiffness change, induced by the activation and deactivation of an electromagnetic brake. The beam has two stiffness states corresponding to the two states of the brake. The mechanisms of braking and brake release are mathematically modeled using the principle of impulse and momentum and a finite element model of the beam that adequately describes both stiffness states is developed. The transformation matrix which maps the modal displacements and velocities between the two stiffness states is derived and it is shown that this matrix is a measure of modal disparity, i.e., how well energy can be redistributed between the modes. Experiments were conducted to validate energy redistribution between modes through stiffness variation. A clamped-clamped aluminum beam with a hinge and built-in electromagnetic brake was used for the experiments. A piezoelectric strain sensor was used for sensing and a pair of piezoelectric transducers were used for excitation. It is shown that significant amounts of energy can be shifted back and forth between different sets of modes in a systematic and predictable manner. This confirmation of modal disparity for a specific structural system opens the door for a number of potential applications in passive and active control of vibrating structures.Copyright © 2007 by ASME


In 1679 Leibniz writing to Huyghens, said : "I am not satisfied with the Algebra (of coordinates), inasmuch as they give neither the shortest ways nor the most beautiful theorems of Geometry; and think that there ought to be a more direct way of dealing with the elements of a figure." He gave a sketch of his ideas, which, however, formed no real contribution.


The paper examines the importance of using sitespecific data in computer simulation of building energy performance. The CAT (Canyon Air Temperature) computer model, which is designed to predict site-specific air temperature in an urban street canyon for extended periods on the basis of data from a reference station exposed to the same meso-scale weather, was used to provide modified input to a series of Ener-Win simulations of the energy performance of a hypothetical office building. The simulations show that, depending on the urban configuration represented by the aspect ratio of the street canyon, the modification to air temperature in many locations may be too large to neglect if the simulation is to be used for realistic design decision making.


Objective:To determine whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be mobolized to peripheral blood by G-CSF and to analyze donor stromal engraftment after successful allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT). Methods: MSCs were cultured from donor mobilized peripheral blood stem cells(PBSC) and bone marrow aspirated from 11 patients who had survived allo-HSCT successfully for 2 to 32 months. The phenotype of MSCs in the third passage was analyzed by flow cytometry(FCM). Engraftment analysis of the cultured MSCs, bone marrow and peripheral blood after allo-HSCT was performed using amplification of short tandem repeat regions by polymerase chain reaction (STR-PCR) synchronously. Results: MSCs were not cultured from the donors' mobolized peripheral blood stem cells, but were successfully cultured from the bone marrow of the 11 patients. Phenotypic analysis showed that MSCs in the third passage strongly expressed the putative mesenchymal markers(98%), but hardly expressed the hematopoietic markers (1%). Engraftment analysis showed that the MSCs cultured in all cases studied remained host origin, though the bone marrow and PB were full donor chimerism(FDC). Conclusion: This study suggest that the MSCs isolated from recipients receiving allo-HSCT do not have the donor genotype, although FDC is found in bone marrow and peripheral blood. The possible reason for this finding is that donor origin MSCs in mobilized peripheral blood stem cell grafts or bone marrow grafts are not enough.


The raster outline produced on a CRT screen by receiver deflection currents and modulation is greatly affected by parameters other than those characterizing the deflection yoke or the tube. Several systems capable of providing independent evaluation of the deflection yoke performance have come into use. Among these are "idealized" sweep arrangements, in which interfering and secondary effects common to receiver chassis have been minimized, systems which display only one of the raster sides at a time, and displays in which the raster outline is gradually developed by the application of complex synchronized waveforms to the winding systems representing the two axes. This paper describes a method and the equipment necessary to produce a raster outline, in the form of a continuous trace, by relatively simple means, using deflection currents of readily duplicable waveforms which permit constant and direct metering. The arrangement requires no external sync or video signal, does not need switching, is free from transients, and displays the entire raster outline plus a horizontal reference axis. The mode of operation is such that only standard picture tubes are required for the display to be evaluated.


This paper describes the design and experimental results of a DP4$T$ MMIC switch to be used as a building block for high-order compact and scalable Ka-band Switch Matrices. Two variants of the MMIC have been designed and optimized to be used in bare-die form, within hermetic complex modules, and in QFN plastic package solution, to be assembled in PCB based architectures. Both chips are manufactured on a European 0.15 $\boldsymbol{\mu}\mathbf{m}$ GaN/SiC HEMT technology for a total die area of 4x4 mm2. Good equalized insertion losses of about 2.5 and 3.5 dB, for bare-die and packaged variants respectively, were measured along all possible active paths. A minimum isolation level of 30 dB and a return loss better than 15 dB at all the RF ports were achieved for both circuits. The MMICs are fully compliant with the space deratings.


Provided are a solid fuel combustion device and a solid fuel combustion method such that combustion efficiency is improved. Also provided are a gas heating device, a liquid heating device, a power generation system, and a cooling system. The solid fuel combustion device 100 includes: a combustion furnace 20 for burning a solid fuel; a gas supplying device 40 which supplies gas containing oxygen to the combustion furnace 20; and an exhaust device 42 for discharging the flue gas discharged from the vent 24 of the combustion furnace 20. The solid fuel combustion device 100 includes a control unit 46 which controls the pressure in the combustion furnace by controlling the gas supplying device 40 and the exhaust device 44 in coordination with each other.


This paper presents a perturbation solution for flow in a porous saturated channel bounded by two isothermal parallel plates. It is considered that the flow is affected by an internal source term which is to be heated or cooled. The Brinkman flow model is employed to find fully developed velocity distribution. This solution permits a uniform solution for the energy equation to find the temperature distribution as well as the Nusselt number. The results found here are also valid for hyperporous materials which are of current practical importance.


The DLR-TAU Code is a CFD software package for solving the Euler or Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS) on hybrid grids. The main components of the TAU-Code are a preprocessing module, a compressible and a incompressible solver as well as an adaptation module. In addition, some utility programs are available. The support of tetrahedral, prismatic, pyramidal and hexahedral elements enables the use of efficient and flexible modern grid generators, enabling the generation of meshes for complex geometries within days. The resolution of flow features is taken automatically into account by the adaptation module for local refinement of the hybrid grids as well as for redistributing points in structured sublayers (composed of prisms or hexahedra) in order to adapt the mesh along wall-normal rays for an improved boundary-layer resolution. The initial or the adapted hybrid grids are input into the preprocessing module, which computes dual grids in an edge-based data structure. The dual grids are stored in partitions for parallel computations, as well as the different levels obtained by agglomeration of cells for the multigrid procedure. Steady or unsteady flow solutions for incompressible or compressible flows can be computed very time efficient, due to the use of multigrid, parallelization and vectorization. The chimera technique is available for the handling of several grids in relation motion. We present some selected results, which demonstrate the functionality, the performance and the accuracy of the TAU-Code


ABSTRACT This paper demonstrates that it is possible to jointly produce household surveys and field experiments by incorporating field experiments into the structure of the financial incentives used to enhance response rates. We use the opportunity to donate the financial incentive to a food bank to illustrate how the strategy would work.


Three polynuclear compounds containing copper(II)
and 1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene (hat) as the basic building blocks have
been prepared, [Cu4(hat)2Cl8]n·6nH2O 1, [Cu(hat)(H2O)2]n[NO3]2n2, and [Cu2(hat)(H2O)6]n[SO4]2n·2nH2O 3,
their crystal structures determined and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility
data measured. The basic building block in 1
is the dinuclear [Cu2(hat)Cl4] entity, two such units
being connected to tetranuclear units through relatively strong axial Cu–Cl
bonds (out-of-plane di-μ-chloro bridges). Weaker axial Cu⋯Cl
interactions link the units into a sheet structure. In 2
and 3 hat-bridged copper(II)
chains extending along glide planes are present. hat serves as a bis-bidentate
ligand in 2 and as a ter-bidentate
ligand in 3; in the latter compound
one of the copper atoms coordinated to hat does not participate in chain formation.
The copper coordination geometries observed in these compounds are square
pyramidal and elongated octahedral. hat coordinates either in only equatorial
positions to copper (1), or alternates
with one chelate in two equatorial positions and another in one equatorial
and one axial position (2 and 3). The copper⋯copper distance
across the hat bridge in 1 is 6.857(1) A
and 3.517(1), 3.600(1) and 3.651(1) A across the three different di-μ-chloro
bridges. In 2 the intrachain Cu⋯Cu
distance is 6.797(1) A. Three different Cu⋯Cu
distances across the hat bridge are found in 3,
one of 6.789(1) A involving two equatorial Cu–N bonds across a
pyrazine ring, and two of 7.117(1) and 7.186(1) A involving one equatorial
and one axial Cu–N bond to a pyrazine. Variable-temperature susceptibility
measurements on 1–3
reveal the occurrence of weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions
between copper(II) ions through bridging hat, the J values
being −2.5 (1), −2.1
(2) and −2.4 cm−1
(3). In 1
the interaction across the di-μ-chloro bridge within the tetranuclear entity
(J′) is found to be weak and ferromagnetic in character (ca.
+0.7 cm−1).


Since the beginning of the 1990s absolute gravity values have been determined three times in Estonia: In 1995 at three stations by the Finnish Geodetic Institute (FGI), in 2007 at two stations by the Institut fur Erdmessung (IfE), University of Hannover, and last year at seven stations again by FGI. During these campaigns two stations, Suurupi and Toravere, were occupied three times and Kuressaare station twice. The first campaign in 1995 was carried out with the JILAg-5 absolute gravimeter, which measures gravity at about 0.85 m height above the pier. The measurements in 2007 and 2008 were performed with FG5 instruments where the corresponding figure is 1.2 m. These absolute measurements have many scientific and practical applications. Currently the most important outputs in Estonia are the realization of the national gravity system and the constraints for gravity change due to postglacial rebound.


This article reviews the concept, architecture,realization model, technology challenges and economics of the continuing productization and globalization on Software Radio ,which is the basis of Third generation(3G) personal communication.


Barr, P.-O. Hypoxemia in man induced by prolonged acceleration. Acta physiol. scand. 1962. 54. 128–137. – Changes in the arterial oxygen saturation were recorded in healthy subjects on the human centrifuge by continuous cuvette oximetry before, during and after prolonged exposures to positive acceleration. With the subjects breathing air and wearing an automatically inflated anti-g suit, an immediate fall in the arterial O, saturation was observed upon exposure to 4.5–5.0 g. After one minute of the first exposure the O2 saturation ranged between 95 and 81 per cent, the arterial pH remaining essentially unchanged. At the same time the respiratory minute volume had increased, indicating gross deterioration in the efficiency of pulmonary function. Repeated exposures caused the arterial O2 saturation to fall at a faster rate and to a lower level with each consecutive run. The rate of resaturation on returning to normal gravity was usually slow, and markedly so after several exposures. The arterial hypoxemia is interpreted as being mainly a shunt effect caused by congestion with collapse of alveoli ("atelectasis") in dependent regions of the lungs. The potential dangers of acceleration-induced hypoxemia in high performance flight missions are discussed.


Let G be a nite group. The prime graph of G is a graph ( G) with vertex set (G), the set of all prime divisors of jGj, and two distinct vertices p and q are adjacent by an edge if G has an element of order pq. In this paper we prove that if ( G) = ( G2(5)), then G has a normal subgroup N such that (N) f 2;3;5g and G=N = G2(5).


Introduction: Ulf electromagnetic planetary waves can self-organize into vortex structures (monopole, dipole or into vortex chains). They are often detected in the plasma media, for instance in the magnetosheath, in the magnetotail and in the ionosphere. Large scale vortices may correspond to the injection scale of turbulence, so that understanding their origin is important for understanding the energy transfer processes in the geospace environment. In a recent work, the THEMIS mission has detected vortices in the magnetotail in association with the strong velocity shear of a substorm plasma flow (Keiling et al., J. Geophys. Res., 114, A00C22 (2009), doi:10.1029/2009JA014114), which have conjugate vortices in the ionosphere. By analyzing the THEMIS data for that event, we find that several vortices can be detected together with the main one, and that the vortices indeed constitute a vortex chain. The study is carried out by analyzing both the velocity and the magnetic field measurements for spacecraft C and D, and by obtaining the corresponding hodograms. It is found that both monopolar and bipolar vortices may be present in the magnetotail. The comparison of observations with numerical simulations of vortex formation in sheared flows is also discussed.


The results of a comprehensive longitudinal dispersion experiment in a stream with an irregular, sinuous pattern are presented. The time-spread of tracer clouds was found to increase at a rate between as found for uniform prismatic channels, and x as found for highly irregular mountain streams. This 'intermediate' dispersive state is thought to be related to the stream's degree of nonuniformity. The accuracy of one-dimensional approaches is considered, as is the applicability of a similarity analysis. A new definition of a 'mixing' length, based upon the condition of identical but shifted concentration–time curves, is proposed.


The selection of type of macroporous adsorptive resin,the condition of decolourization and its recovery were investigated systematically.The result indicates that 3# is the best resin in all the resins and the optimal experiment conditions was established.Compared with traditional technique,resin decolourization has advantage of simple procedure and no environmental pollution.


botany is tlle most natural choice when we remember that the medical man of to-day has not beeni divorced for so very long a time from the ancient craft of the herbalist. The work before us-The Ramblings of a Bird Lover10is by a doctor, but of divinity, not medicine. His appropriate name is already well known to thousands of bird lovers in this country. Dr. RAVEN states in his prefac-e that he makes no apology for this, his fifth book on his favouirite subject. Why, indeed, should he, since it is a book whicih will delight every reader who understands the thr ill that is felt by all true bird lovers when a new or rare bird is seen or heard? The author confesses that he was born " bird-mad." After reading this book we believe hiim and rejoice that he was. Quite rightly the chapter of honour, the first, is devoted to the author's namesake, the raven; and in the index of references this noble and, in appear ance, somewhat clerical bird outnumbers any other by six to one. This also is as it should be. The book is one of the most delightful of its kind, and the author's enthusiasm is such that the reader feels that he himself is one of the author's party on his exciting expeditions. The volume is generously illustrated with original photographs. Most of these are excellent, but we have examined Plate ii, which is said to show the nests of raven and buzzard with birds complete, in every light, perspective, and angle, but have failed utterly to identify anythinig at all in either photograph. Otherwise it is imipossible to find anytlhing but praise for the written word anld illustrationis in this fascinating bird book.


Background: Same-day bidirectional endoscopy (BDE) is a commonly performed procedure, but the optimal sequence for the procedure is not well established. Aims: This study aimed to assess if upper endoscopy before colonoscopy was better than the opposite sequence. Main outcome measures were time of procedure, sedation used, recovery time, and quality of procedure. Methods: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials of moderate sedation that compared the sequence of combination procedures. Search strategy up to 2018 was conducted and relevant papers retrieved for analysis. All data was extracted as per-protocol by 2 reviewers in a double-blind fashion and discrepancies resolved by a third person adjudicator. Data were pooled where possible to get a summary effect. Results: Seven studies (N=1974 patients) were included. There were 6 randomized controlled trials, and 1 prospective cohort study with tandem procedures. None of the studies were from North America. Time of procedure was similar for upper endoscopy and colonoscopy regardless of which was done first, and there was no difference in the total time (Mean difference -0.04 minutes [-0.64, 0.56 p=0.89]). Three studies (N=455) reported recovery time was significantly better in the endoscopy first group (Mean difference -4.42 minutes [-5.26,-3.58]). Sedation data could not be statistically combined due to heterogeneity, but a clear trend suggested higher sedation was used in the colonoscopy first group. Limitations: marked variability in designs, protocols for sedation, and poor methodologic quality of most studies. Conclusions: Bidirectional endoscopy is a common procedure in gastroenterology, and the optimal sequence remains controversial. Starting with upper endoscopy does not reduce procedure times, but may reduce the amount of sedation and consequently, the recovery time. These findings may represent a subtle, but meaningful difference for patients and endoscopy units to consider.


Black Athena: The Afroasiatic Roots of Classical Civilization, vol. 1, The Fabrication of Ancient Greece, 1785–1985, by Martin Bemal, Free Association Books, 1987, 576 pages, hb £30, pb £15


The first catalytic enantioselective trifluoromethylation of alkynyl ketones 1 with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane is disclosed by an operationally simple procedure, based on the combination of ammonium bromide of bis-cinchona alkaloids with Me(4)NF to afford trifluoromethyl-substituted tertiary propargyl alcohols (up to 96% ee), which are the important chiral building blocks for pharmaceuticals. Biologically attractive aryl heteroaryl trifluoromethyl carbinols were also synthesized.


THE DIAGNOSIS of cancer in children has been accompanied by a fatalistic outlook in the past. The child with cancer and his family have been a favorite subject of the thanatologists, who equate it with a "terminal" status. However, advances in the evaluation and care of childhood cancer, resulting from basic and clinical cancer research, have led to increasing periods of disease-free survival and probable cure for greater proportions of the children. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent form of childhood cancer. Ten years ago it was considered almost uniformly fatal, despite the temporary remissions induced by antileukemia drugs. In 1962, a treatment program was initiated in which "late" ALL was quickly converted to "early" ALL by inducing remission with prednisone and vincristine sulfate. Then, multiple antimetabolites were administered for two to three years to eliminate this "early" disease. When the major form of initial


Simple Summary While the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and sarcopenia are both objective indices of different aspects of a patient's general condition, few studies have comprehensively examined their mutual relationship as prognostic factors. In the present, retrospective study, we examined this question using a cohort of 200 patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC). No significant association was found between the CONUT score and sarcopenia, and most patients with sarcopenic aUC had normal or only slightly impaired nutritional status. The CONUT score and sarcopenia were significant, mutually independent, prognostic biomarkers and they outperformed performance the status as a prognostic factor in our cohort. Incorporating the CONUT score, sarcopenia or both into current established prognostic models increased their predictive accuracy. Our study corroborated the prognostic relevance of the CONUT score and sarcopenia and suggested the importance of separately evaluating these prognostic biomarkers in patients with aUC. Abstract Background: While the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and sarcopenia are objective indices of different aspects of a patient's general condition, few studies have comprehensively examined their mutual relationship in patients with advanced cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included 200 Japanese patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC). Sarcopenia was diagnosed using Prado's definition. The CONUT score and sarcopenia were examined for their possible association, and their prognostic value was analyzed. Results: The CONUT score and sarcopenia were not significantly associated. While sarcopenia occurred in 168 patients (84%), more than half of them had normal or only slightly impaired nutritional status, as indicated by a CONUT score of 0–2. During follow-up (median: 13.3 months), 149 patients died. The CONUT score and sarcopenia were independent prognostic factors (hazard ratio 1.22 and 2.23, respectively; both p < 0.001), whereas performance status was not. Incorporating the CONUT score, sarcopenia, and both into Bajorin's and Apolo's prognostic models increased their concordance index as follows: 0.612 for Bajorin's original model to 0.653 (+the CONUT score), 0.631 (+sarcopenia), and 0.665 (+both), and 0.634 for Apolo's original model to 0.655 (+the CONUT score), 0.653 (+ sarcopenia), and 0.668 (+both). Conclusion: The CONUT score and sarcopenia were mutually independent in terms of their prognostic value in patients with aUC. These objective indices of a patient's general condition may help in decision-making when considering treatment for patients with aUC.


OSMnx is a Python package for downloading OpenStreetMap street network data and then constructing it into NetworkX graphs. OSMnx can simplify and correct the network's topology automatically to ensure that nodes actually exclusively represent intersections and dead-ends. Once the network is constructed and corrected, OSMnx can calculate shortest paths from one node to another. It can also calculate various network measures relevant to urban design and transportation as well as statistical physics, including intersection density, average intersection degree, edge density, average street segment length, circuity, clustering coefficients, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, PageRank, and many more. Its built-in visualization capabilities leverage matplotlib to easily plot routes, one-way streets, dead-ends, high/low connectivity intersections, and figure-ground diagrams of street networks and urban form.


[Objective]To study influence factors of lobetyolin concentration in Radix Codonopsis. [Method]The contents of lobetyolin in five kinds of habitats,collecting time were detected by HPLC. [Result] The contents of lobetyolin in Radix Codonopsis of Longxi and Wenxian in Gansu were 0. 34 and 0. 56 mg / g,respectively. In the other hand,the contents of lobetyolin in Radix Codonopsis of Gansu Weiyuan and Shanxi Taiyuan were 1. 10 and 0. 90 mg / g,respectively. [Conclusion] The contents of lobetyolin showed significant difference from different original habitats. Those factors such as Codonopsis origin,collecting time,growing year,material processing method,etc,have a significant influence on lobetyolin concentration. Heating,organic solvent,microwave assisted extraction was helpful for the increase of extraction efficiency of lobetyolin.


Pseudorandom Sources and Oracles for BPP Eric Allender Rutgers University (joint work with Martin Strauss, Rutgers University) Lutz defined the notion of a pseudorandom oracle for BPP, and showed that almost every set in ESPACE is a source in this sense. We improve this result, showing that almost every set in PSPACE is a source. Using a new notion of measure for P, we show that the set of sources for BPP does not have measure 1 in P, although there are sources for BPP in AC. These results depend on our characterization of Pseudorandom Sources for BPP as exactly the Borel-normal binary sequences. Our main result shows that, for almost every set A in E, BPP = E. (This improves an earlier result of Lutz, showing that this property holds for almost every A ∈ ESPACE.) A similar construction can be carried out in PSPACE, although we do not know if it holds with measure 1. Notions of measure for classes such as PSPACE and DTIME(T (n)) for T (n) << 2 do not seem to relativize in a meaningful way. The talk concludes with speculation as to whether probabilistic methods can be applied in this way to yield fast simulations of BPP. Genericity and Measure for Exponential Time Klaus Ambos-Spies Universität Heidelberg (joint work with C. Neis, Freiburg, and S. Terwijn, Amsterdam) We relate the genericity concepts of Ambos-Spies, Fleischhack and Huwig to Lutz's resource bounded measure. We show that the class of n-generic sets has p-measure 1. This allows us to simplify and extend some p-measure1-results. We illustrate this approach by proving a new small span theorem for p-k-tt-reductions.


Let M d be a d-dimensional normed space with norm k · k and let B be the unit ball in M d . Let us fix a Lebesgue measure VB in M d with VB(B) = 1. This measure will play the role of the volume in M d . We consider an arbitrary simplex T in M d with prescribed edge lengths. For the case d = 2, sharp upper and lower bounds of VB(T) are determined. For the case d ' 3 it is noticed that the tight lower bound of VB(T) is zero.


It is difficult to ensure that the scanned document will not be skewed due to the high speed scanning of the paper document by the mechanical feed or the document itself. This will not only affect the visual effects, but also seriously affect the accuracy and speed of subsequent processing. Therefore, this paper presents a Hough transform algorithm based on automatic scanning image correction and cropping, the first to determine whether the scanned image is a text or non-text image, the image preprocessing based on different types of scanned images of the image binarization, Compared with the traditional algorithm has a good anti-interference ability, can accurately detect the scan image skew angle.


Information transmission in the central nervous system (CNS) is usually thought to consist of a network neurons connected by excitatory and inhibitory synapses. It has been, however, also known existence of receptors at the extrasynaptic position and non-synaptic release of neurotransmitters and the role and importance of extrasynaptic signalling has become gradually apparent in recent years. Receptors used in extrasynaptic transmission are mainly metabotropic types except GABAA and NMDA receptors and usually cause slow but lasting effects. Extrasynaptic information transmission regulates synaptic transmission before and after synapses, regulates excitability in certain areas of the CNS and participates in exchanging information with non-neuronal cells. It has been shown to be involved in long-term potentiation and long-term depression, and also in the formation of neural networks during development. Many of the CNS toxicants and therapeutics are thought to work through extrasynaptic receptors. Neurological disorders such as autism and Alzheimer's disease have also been known to be linked to extrasynaptic signalling. The elucidation of the function of extrasynaptic signalling systems will become increasingly important.


The 24‐hour intragastric pH of 12 patients with an acute duodenal ulcer was recorded with the aim of comparing the effects of two different times of administration of 300 mg ranitidine: post evening meal, or bedtime. This double‐blind crossover trial involved 3 centres. Twenty‐four‐hour gastric pH was measured under standard conditions (meals, time schedule) at the middle of each 14‐day treatment period. The analysis was performed on the percentage of times spent at pH levels below 1.5, 2, 3 and 4 for different periods and for the total 24 hours. During the whole day and night combined, as well as during the afternoon (12.00 hours‐19.00 hours), there was no difference between the 2 regimens regardless of the pH profile studied. During the morning (07.30 hours‐12.00 hours), the time spent below pH 1.5 and 2 was less when the drug was taken at bedtime (P < 0.05). In contrast, during the whole night (19.00 hours‐07.30 hours) the percentage of time spent below pH 1.5, 2 and 3 was significantly less when the drug was taken at post evening meal (P < 0.05). These results show that in patients with acute duodenal ulcer, 300 mg ranitidine administered at the end of the evening meal provides better control of nocturnal acidity than administration at bedtime and hence is suggested for optimization of therapeutic efficacy.


Anions recognition is of interest because anions play many important roles in living organisms. Most currently, it is very desirable to have access to anions recognition in high polar solvents such as DMSO or water. We have designed and synthesized a new dipyrrolylamide compound, o-di-(pyrroly-2-formamido)phenylene(1), which can bind DMSO via hydrogen bonds in solid state. The anions recognition of the compound were studied by the 1H NMR method in a high polar solvent of DMSO. It was evident that compound 1 binds anions via hydrogen bonds of pyrrole NH and amide NH with anions. Compound 1 binds F - more preferably than other anions duo to the well-preorganized structure.


Infection frequency,lesion size,sporulation capacity,and aggressive fitness of 18 isolates of Phytophthora infestans from potato in potato production areas and 18 isolates of P.infestans from tomato in tomato production area were tested using three potato and three tomato varieties on the detached leaflets.The result showed that isolates from potato had higher infection frequency,larger lesion size,stronger sporulation capacity,and more aggressive fitness than those from potato and isolates from tomato had also higher infection frequency,larger lesion size,stronger sporulation capacity,and more aggressive fitness than those from tomato,which indicating host specificity of Chinese isolates of Phytophthora infestans.


Nearshore morphological modelling is challenging due to complex feedback betweenhydrodynamics, sediment transport and morphology bridging scales from seconds to years.Such modelling is, however, needed to assess long-term effects of changing climates on coastalenvironments, for example. Due to computational efficiency, the sediment transport driven bycurrents and waves often requires a parameterization of wave orbital velocities. A frequently usedparameterization of skewness-only was found to overfeed the coast unrealistically on a timescale ofyears—decades. To improve this, we implemented a recently developed parameterization accountingfor skewness and asymmetry in a morphodynamic model (Delft3D). The objective was to compare theeffects of parameterizations on long-term coastal morphodynamics. We performed simulations withdefault and calibrated sediment transport settings, for idealized coastlines, and compared the resultswith measured data from analogue natural systems. The skewness-asymmetry parameterization wasfound to predict overall stable coastlines within the measured envelope with wave-related calibrationfactors within a factor of 2. In contrast, the original parameterization required stronger calibration,which further affected the alongshore transport rates, and yet predicted erosion in deeper areas andunrealistic accretion near the shoreline. The skewness-asymmetry parameterization opens up thepossibility of more realistic long-term morphological modelling of complex coastal systems.


OBJECTIVES: Therapeutic interchange (TI) interventions are commonly used to manage pharmacy benefit costs. While several studies have considered the effect that TI interventions have on drug costs, most have not considered the effect they have on medical management costs. The purpose of the present study was to assess drug cost and drug therapy management costs of a TI intervention following a change in the drug formulary for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor (statin) drugs, including the conversion of atorvastatin from formulary to nonformulary status. METHODS: A retrospective, quasi-experimental within-subjects design was used in this study. Administrative claims data were obtained from a select northeastern segment of a multistate Medicaid managed care organization (MCO). To be included in the study, patients had to meet the following criteria: (1) they must have had a minimum of 3 atorvastatin prescriptions during a 6-month enrollment phase, (2) they must have been continuously enrolled throughout the 900-day study period, and (3) they must have switched from atorvastatin to another statin between April 1, 2003, and July 31, 2003. The day of the switch from atorvastatin marked for each patient the end of the 12-month pre-TI period and the beginning of the 12-month post-TI period. Two separate dependent variables were developed: (1) statin drug costs (statin cost + dispensing fee) and (2) the costs paid by the MCO for the medical management of statin therapy, including office visit costs and the medical laboratory costs of measuring lipids and creatine kinase, and of checking liver functions. To estimate expenditures over 24 months, a panel analytic technique was used that allows each patient to serve as his or her own control. Multivariate models were used to assess the effects of the TI policy while controlling for age, gender, adjunctive dyslipidemia therapy, comorbidity, presence of a prior coronary artery event, statin compliance, cardiologist management, and disease severity. RESULTS: Of the 3,636 patients who met the study inclusion criteria and were converted from atorvastatin to an alternate statin drug, 129 patients (3.5%) switched back to atorvastatin following the TI. The average statin cost per claim in the 12-month post-TI period was $70.93, 9.5% less than the average cost in the 12-month pre-TI period ($78.40). The average cost per patient per year (PPPY) for statin laboratory tests (lipid panels, creatine kinase tests, and liver function tests) increased by 31.5% to $16.15 in the post-TI period compared with $12.28 PPPY in the pre-TI period, and medical office visit costs increased by 44.9% to $20.70 PPPY in the post-TI period compared with $14.29 PPPY in the preperiod. These increased costs related to the medical management of statin therapy were overwhelmed by an 11.7% reduction in statin drug costs, from $793.69 PPPY in the pre-TI period to $701.01 PPPY in the post-TI period, resulting in a net 10.0% reduction for combined statin costs and related medical costs, from $820.27 PPPY in the pre-TI period to $737.87 in the post-TI period. After limiting the analysis to patients who did not convert from atorvastatin to pravastatin (which cost more than atorvastatin before the rebate) and controlling for the influence of potential confounders, statin expenditure decreased by 33% (P less than 0.001). Multivariate models indicated no statistically significant differences in the costs related to the medical management of statin therapy after the TI compared with before the TI. CONCLUSIONS: Total costs for medical management of dyslipidemia with statin therapy decreased following implementation of the TI intervention for atorvastatin users. An 11.7% savings in statin drug cost, before consideration of manufacturer rebate revenues, became a net savings of 10.0% after inclusion of the medical costs associated with laboratory tests and physician office visits.


The information technology,especially for the internet of things,is rapidly developed at present,but the situation of Chinese occupational hazards is seriously day by day.While,there are so many relative laws,regulations and standards,and supervision staffs of occupational hazard are not enough,whose professional level also need be improved.The data quantity is so big,which needs be recorded.The feedback of information is very slow,and safekeeping and storing are very difficult.Those problems can be solved by using the occupational hazard supervision mobile terminal system(OHSMTS) at workplace.Based on the application requirements of OHSMTS,the research progress of mobile terminal system was described,and the system structure of OHSMTS was proposed,which include servers,wireless net and mobile terminals.The system structure of database and the hardware and software platform of OHSMTS ware also discussed.


The positive role that some forms of talkback radio play in the lives of audiences has received relatively little attention from researchers. Participants in a study that explored why Australian talkback radio program audiences listen to and call particular programs revealed engagement with this form of radio makes a significant contribution to their sense of well being. Study participants identified that these programs provide them with therapy and a valued sense of connection to community. For the lonely, talkback radio offered companionship and the opportunity to develop friendships. This article explores how talkback radio contributes to audience members' well being.


This paper presents a 10-bit ultra-low voltage energy-efficient SAR ADC. The proposed merge-and-split (MS) switching effectively reduces DAC switching energy by 83% compared with conventional one without the need of extra reference voltage (Vcm) and the issue of common-mode voltage variation. To maintain good input linearity, a new double-bootstrapped sample-and-hold (S/H) circuit is proposed under an ultra-low voltage of 0.3 V. In addition, by employing asymmetric logic in SAR control, the leakage power is reduced with the penalty of slight conversion speed degradation. The test chip fabricated in 90 nm CMOS occupied a core area of 0.03 mm2. With a single 0.3 V supply and a Nyquist rate input, the prototype consumes 35 nW at 90 kS/s and achieves an ENOB of 8.38 bit and a SFDR of 78.2 dB, respectively. The operation frequency is scalable up to 2 MS/s and power supply range from 0.3 V to 0.5 V. The resultant FOMs are 1.17-to-1.78 fJ/conv.-step.


Among the cornerstones of social science is the separation of problem-oriented scholarly endeavors from those which are general and addressed to no specific problem. The extremes of this continuum have been referred to as "applied research" and "pure research." The latter is partially defined by scientists as being ethically neutral, disinterested, and objective. The former refers to the process of applying the products of pure research to the real world. It is, of course, not difficult to see that applied research might produce novel contributions to the structure of knowledge, just as pure research does, while pure research may indeed suggest quite direct applications. Cronback and Suppes (1969) have suggested another fundamental and perhaps more thoughtfully formulated distinction in science: conclusion-oriented versus decision-oriented research. Conclusion-oriented research is not directed toward a specific problem or application. Knowledge as theoryconstruction is the general goal, and the specifics are determined by the researcher himself, so that no particular extra-


AbstractWe consider the problem of tracking multiple, partially observed targets using multiple sensorsarranged in a given con guration. We model the problem as a special case of a ( nite horizon) DEC-POMDP. We present a quadratic program whose globally optimal solution yields an optimal trackingjoint policy, one that maximizes the expected targets detected over the given horizon. However, aglobally optimal solution to the QP cannot always be found since the QP is nonconvex. To remedythis, we present two linearizations of the QP to equivalent 0-1 mixed integer linear programs (MIPs)whose optimal solutions, which may be always found through the branch and bound method, forexample, yield optimal joint policies. Computational experience on di erent sensor con gurationsshows that nding an optimal joint policy by solving the proposed MIPs is much faster than usingexisting algorithms for the problem. 1 Introduction This paper addresses a special case of nite horizon DEC-POMDPs. The special case has been called anetwork distributed POMDP [4] or a factored DEC-POMDP [5]. Lately, this special case has receivedattention in these pages, especially for the problem of detecting multiple targets passing through a givencon guration of locations using multiple sensors, and specialized algorithms have been conceived for it[4], [6], [3]. Our focus too shall be on the multi-target tracking problem.In this problem, the set of agents (sensors) is partitioned into subsets. It is assumed that for eachsubset, we can de ne immediate rewards that are dependent on the actions of the agents of the subsetbut not on the actions of agents outside the subset. It is furthermore assumed that the probabilities withwhich an agent receives observations are independent of probabilities with which other agents receiveobservations. Finally, it is assumed that the probabilities of transitions between states are independentof actions of the agents.The purpose of the above partitioning scheme is to model autonomy for agents in one subset fromthose in other subsets. In the multi-target tracking problem (Figure 1), only the two sensors surroundingFigure 1: Sensor con gurations (reprised from [6]).1


Business policies are pervasive in web-based information systems and the introduction of the semantic web has opened new fertile horizons for their representation and automated processing. However, a number of challenges have also emerged. One of those challenges is the contradictory information detection and resolution among policies. This papers reports on a semantic, knowledge-based approach for business policies representation, conflict detection and argumentation based resolution, leading to a justifiable conclusion. We also propose an architecture for enterprise-wide information system to integrate business policies about a given subject spanning across different information systems in an enterprise for decision making purposes.


The present invention relates to a serial connection device for a battery module. The present invention includes a base (10), a cover (20), a cell bus bar (30), and a substrate (40). On the base, a bus bar settling terminal (11) and a base-side coupling terminal (16) are formed. On the cover, a bus bar pressing unit (21) and a cover-side coupling terminal (26), which is coupled to the base-side coupling terminal, are formed. On the bus bar settling terminal, the fixing piece (31) of the cell bus bar is placed. At both ends of the fixing piece, a first and a second connection piece (36, 37) protrude outside the base while penetrating the base penetrating slit (15) of the base. Along the longitudinal direction of the base, a substrate settling unit (10") is formed, and on the top of the substrate settling unit, the substrate is settled. The electrical connection of the cell bus bar is implemented by the substrate. Therefore, in the present invention, the coupling of battery cells is easy and accurate by placing a plurality of cell bus bars, which electrically connect the anodes and the cathodes of the battery cells, at certain positions, and the total height of the serial connection device gets lower and thus the size of the device gets smaller by placing the substrate, which is flexible, in the space among the cell bus bars.


We present a case of multiple small bowel (SB) neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), many of which were not appreciable on Dotatate positron emission tomography (PET), as a case report and review of the literature to determine current best practice. pT4a)


Disclosed is a pressure sensor, comprising: a pressure sensing plate and a strain sensing unit which are arranged in a stacked manner, wherein the thickness of the pressure sensing plate is 0.2-3 mm, and the material of the pressure sensing plate is an elastic material with a Young's modulus not greater than 120 GPa. Also disclosed is a display apparatus, comprising a panel, a pressure sensing plate and a strain sensing unit which are arranged in a stacked manner in sequence, wherein the thickness of the pressure sensing plate is 0.2-3 mm, and the material of the pressure sensing plate is an elastic material with a Young's modulus not greater than 120 GPa. Also disclosed is an electronic device comprising the pressure sensor, and an electronic device comprising the display apparatus. The pressure sensor, the display apparatus and the electronic device disclosed can magnify the size of pressure and deformation, so that a pressure deformation signal can be detected using a relatively small pressure, and detection precision is improved.


work aims to characterize fatigue crack growth (FCG) behaviour for comparative durability prediction of NR/BR- and NR/SBR- blend based compounds. The influence of strain, temperature, r-ratio and waveform was studied to simulate realistic service life condition by using a Tear and Fatigue Analyser (TFA). Both of these blends show higher FCG rate at higher temperature, but the effect is comparatively higher in the NR/SBR compound. The influence of r-ratio towards FCG rate was found to be very less in NR/BR blend, whereas NR/SBR-blend shows considerable decrease in FCG rate at positive initial tension (r-ratio). The higher FCG rate was observed in pulse mode compared to sine mode in both the blends.


A 15 month old girl presented to the emergency department with a one week history of unsteady gait and approximately three to four unexplained falls each day. She had been walking independently and without difficulty since she was 12 months old. At birth, she had a broad pink patch on the right medial buttock, which had been diagnosed on clinical examination as a congenital haemangioma. The site had grown proportionally with the patient until these symptoms started, when this vascular stain became acutely indurated, and a contiguous, erythematous plaque appeared superiorly, overlying the sacrum. On examination, a swollen, violaceous, warm, subcutaneous plaque with superimposed telangiectases was noted overlaying the sacrum. This extended to the right buttock, where an accompanying pink-purple stain was present (fig 1). No thrills or pulsations were noted. Neurological examination showed no paralysis. Relevant laboratory findings are shown in table 1.

Fig 1
A swollen, violaceous, subcutaneous plaque overlaying the sacrum with subtle overlaying telangiectases (arrow), extending contiguously to the right buttock with a more prominent vascular stain (arrowhead)

View this table:

Table 1
Relevant investigation findings

1. What are the differential diagnoses of lumbosacral swelling in children?

2. What is the most likely diagnosis?

3. How would you manage this patient?

### 1. What are the differential diagnoses of lumbosacral swelling in children?

The differential diagnoses for paediatric lumbosacral swelling include congenital haemangioma, deep infantile haemangioma, kaposiform haemangioendothelioma (KHE), sacral meningocele, lipoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT), rectal abscess, and cellulitis. KHE and non-accidental trauma should also be considered when a child …


Linear differential systems $\dot{x}(t)=Ax(t)$ ($A\in\mathbb{R}^{n\times n}$, $x_0=x(0)\in\mathbb{R}^n$, $t\geq0$) whose solutions become and remain nonnegative are studied. It is shown that the eigenvalue of $A$ furthest to the right must be real and must possess nonnegative right and left eigenvectors. Moreover, for some $a\geq0$, $A+aI$ must be eventually nonnegative, that is, its powers must become and remain entrywise nonnegative. Initial conditions $x_0$ that result in nonnegative states $x(t)$ in finite time are shown to form a convex cone that is related to the matrix exponential $e^{tA}$ and its eventual nonnegativity.


The invention discloses an insert tube of a bronchoscope. The insert tube comprises a sleeve, a stainless steel woven tube and a spring tube, wherein the stainless steel woven tube is sleeved on the spring tube, the sleeve is sleeved on the stainless steel woven tube, and extending sections are respectively arranged at the two ends of the stainless steel woven tube and are exposed out of the edges of the sleeve; and the outside diameter of one end part of the sleeve is greater than that of the other portion of the sleeve, and an inclined face is formed in the height difference of the two outside diameters. The insert tube of the bronchoscope is flexible, simple and direct to operate, the diagnostic capability improvement and diagnostic efficiency increase are facilitated, and the suffering for a patient during examination is reduced.


Grasping the electric field distribution is critical for the safe operation of gas insulated transmission lines (GIL). Defects in GIL, especially those located near the conductor or the pipe wall, may cause severe electric field distortions, disturbing the induced charge concentrations on metal surfaces. In this paper, two types of defects, i.e. one impurity particle and two insulator cracks, are assigned in a 1000 kV AC-GIL. And the induced charge tomography (ICT) technique is developed to do defect identification and electric field reconstruction according to the induced charge distributions. Results show that the reconstructed permittivity and electric field distributions are highly consistent with the assigned cases. The ICT technique has the ability of not only identifying the outlines of insulators but also diagnosing the defects in GIL.


Whenever a change is done in software, regression testing is done to check that a recent change in code has not created any unwanted defects in the system. As size of regression test suite is very large, optimization algorithms help in selecting, minimizing and prioritizing test suites. Main aim is maximize fault detection ability with less number of test cases. Optimization techniques of various types are available but Multiobjective algorithms are the best choice to use as testing is dependent on many adequacy criteria or surrogates. In this paper, authors have carried out study on research papers where multi-objective algorithms are used in regression testing. Then comparison of performance of multi-objective algorithms is done to identify the best suitable multi-objective algorithm for regression testing.


Until recently, the study of international politics was confined mostly to economic, military, and diplomatic aspects. In the aftermath of the Cold War and the advent of globalization, however, culture has been on the rise in the discipline. A new approach has come to appreciate the affect of culture on the nature and structure of power. It is the aim of this paper to identify and discuss the components of cultural power and their contributions to a nation's power from an international point of view. The thesis of this paper is that cultural power is different in character from economic power, military might, and diplomatic choice are factors, but are more symbolic and perceptible. At the same time, cultural power is also as influential as other aspects of power and can be a source of diffusion, absorption, and domination.


Head & Neck Paragangliomas have been historically relying on surgery mostly, with worsened quality of life and major sequelae. Conventional external radiation therapy seems to offer an equivalent control rate with a low toxicity profile. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficiency of intensity‐modulated radiation therapy in Head & Neck paragangliomas.


Background
Control of the pocket in revisional breast surgery can be technically challenging and unpredictable. A capsulorrhaphy technique has been utilized in altering capsules in secondary aesthetic breast surgery.

Objectives
The authors sought to determine the effectiveness of popcorn capsulorrhaphy in revisional breast surgery.

Methods
A retrospective chart review of revisional breast cases utilizing popcorn capsulorrhaphy was conducted between September 2015 and August 2017. Only aesthetic breast cases were included. Data was collected for 149 patients.

Results
One hundred forty-nine patients representing 266 breasts were operated on. The average patient age was 42 years and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.2 kg/m 2. The average time from their original surgery to the popcorn capsulorrhaphy secondary procedure was 9.3 years. Indications for capsulorrhaphy included malposition in 163 breasts (61.3%), implant positioning for breast ptosis in 34 breasts (12.8%), pocket adjustment for implant size change in 49 breasts (18.4%) and post-explantation pocket reduction in 20 breasts (7.5%). Of the 266 implants, 145 (54.5%) were smooth, 101 (38%) textured and 20 implants (7.5%) were explanted. The average original implant size was 405 cc and the average size placed at the time of capsulorrhaphy was 422 cc. Two hundred thirty-six (88.7%) were in a submuscular pocket and 30 (11.3%) were subglandular. The total number of complications was 39 (14.7%), with 16 (6%) requiring some type of operative revision.

Conclusions
Popcorn capsulorrhaphy can provide pocket control and stability with low complication and revision rates. The addition of a mesh or biologic at the time of popcorn capsulorrhaphy can further lower the complication and revision rates.


Thermography is designed to record the surface temperature informatio n of he photographed objects. It is difficult to efficiently extract the useful information related the defects presented i the building outside walls because it is hard to analyze m any thermographs at a time. Principal component analysis (PCA) ha s been widely used to analyze the hyperspectral satellite images by generating the new image that is composed of major characteri sti s extracted from hundreds of bands contained in the hyperspectral images. In this study, a scheme is proposed by apply ing PCA on the collected thermographs such that large data can be limited into the few enhanced thermographs, and then object-bas d image segmentation is introduced to analyze those enhanced thermographs such that the boundaries of the segmented regions can be desc ri d and lied on those enhanced thermographs. The image segmentation presented in the paper can efficiently group those pix el with collecting similar surface temperatures into the same regions such that each thermography can be composed by f w groups. In each segmented group, the average surfac e temperature of each segmented region can be used to replace the surfac temperature recorded in each pixel. Furthermore, the environmental effects acting on the given thermal image can be estimated by th proposed model. In doing so, those regions with the highest surface temperature information can be considered as defects located on the exterior building layer. Different nondestructive testing methods are, then, applied to those identified locations to verify the processed results. From the experimental results, the proposed approach does offer a reliable way to locate th e d fects presented on the building exterior layers because the results obtained by applying impact echo method are almost the sa me with the processed results of the proposed approach.


Some spreader manufacturers offer several models based on the same general metering and distribution system,
but with different frames, wheels, or hopper sizes. It is generally assumed by the manufacturers and by those developing
spreader settings for product labels that all spreaders in such a family will use identical rate settings and deliver similar
patterns. Three Earthway Ev–N–Spred spreaders were tested to compare performance. The same effective swath width was
assumed for all models to allow statistical comparison of the data. There were highly significant differences in skewing and
distribution rates among the models and significant differences in coefficient of variation (CV). The minimum rates in the
overlapped patterns, expressed as a percent of the mean overlapped rate, were also significantly different in some cases.


The feasibility of utilizing a relay-assisted downlink massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) to boost the performance of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) is investigated. The key idea is to simultaneously transmit power and information toward the direct/relayed-users by leveraging the excess degrees-of-freedom offered by massive antenna arrays at the base-station (BS). The performance limits are established by deriving the harvested energies, achievable rates, and energy-rate trade-offs in the presence of imperfectly estimated/partial channel state information (CSI). These performance metrics are derived for a generalized SWIPT model, which facilitates analysis for both time-switching (TS) and power-splitting (PS) protocols. Two linear precoders based on zero-forcing and maximal ratio transmission are used at the massive MIMO BS, and a practically viable non-linear energy harvesting model is adopted for the direct/relayed-users. Joint detrimental implications of imperfect CSI at the BS, limited/statistical CSI at the users, and non-linear characteristics of energy harvesters are analytically quantified. In order to jointly guarantee user-fairness in terms of both energy and rate, a max–min optimal transmit power control policy is proposed. Then, the max–min fairness optimal energy-rate trade-offs are quantified for non-linear massive MIMO SWIPT. Our results reveal that the proposed relay-assisted downlink massive MIMO can be exploited to boost the achievable energy-rate trade-off by effectively reducing the end-to-end path-loss via shorter hop distances rendered by intermediate amplify-and-forward relays.


As the body's largest solid organ, the liver plays a very important role in the body's metabolism. More and more studies have shown that the liver may be an immune organ. A large amount of blood containing nutrients and pathogenic bacteria enters the liver. The liver is extremely rich in blood vessels, including the hepatic artery and portal vein. In the liver circulation, hepatic sinusoids have a unique structure and maintain normal immune homeostasis. More importantly, many liver diseases will directly affect liver sinusoids, such as hepatitis and liver fibrosis. Therefore, the ability to obtain high-resolution images of liver sinusoids of living livers is of great significance for the study of liver diseases. Photoacoustic imaging is becoming a very promising tool for the research of living organisms. It combines the high contrast of optical imaging and the high resolution of acoustic imaging to realize the imaging of absorption clusters in biological tissues. Since the scattering of ultrasound signals in biological tissues is 2-3 orders of magnitude weaker than the scattering of light in biological tissues, the endogenous absorption difference of tissues is directly used in the imaging process, so photoacoustic imaging has the advantages of deep imaging depth and non-destructive. As an important branch of photoacoustic imaging, photoacoustic microscopy can provide micron-level or even sub-micron-level imaging resolution, which is of great significance for biological research such as liver blood vessel detection. Since the lateral resolution of the photoacoustic microscopy imaging system depends on the focus of the laser, a higher resolution can be obtained by increasing the numerical aperture of the condenser objective. However, a large numerical aperture usually means a shorter working distance and makes the entire imaging system very sensitive to small optical defects. Therefore, the improvement of resolution through this method will be limited in practical applications. This paper implements a method of using iterative deconvolution to obtain a high-resolution photoacoustic image of the liver blood vessel. The focal spot of the photoacoustic microscopy is measured to obtain the lateral PSF (point spread function) of the system. Making the measured PSF as the initial system PSF to perform Lucy- Richardson (LR) deconvolution. The image resolution of liver lobules obtained by this method is higher. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the same liver sinusoid width before and after deconvolution are 9.52 μm and 6.65 μm, respectively, and the image definition is increased by about 1.4 times. Experiments show that this method can further improve the clarity of photoacoustic images of liver blood vessels, which lays the foundation for further research on liver diseases.