Construction materials used in building structures, such as masonry, wood, and reinforced concrete, deteriorate over time because of many factors including poor design, defective materials or manufacture, and poor workmanship. This article is concerned with estimates of masonry deterioration and the effects of covariates on the damage to bricks on the walls of five multiple-story buildings of a residential complex located in the Bronx, New York. In this case study, the damage of primary interest was a "spall," a physical separation of a portion of the brick face from the body of the brick. Eventually, the face becomes so damaged that portions fall off. The result is an unattractive appearance and a hazard to passersby. In this study, spall damage was assessed by means of three different and independent condition assessment surveys: an expensive, precise, and hence very limited scaffold drop survey and two additional inexpensive, but more detailed photographic and visual surveys. The photographic survey was obtained by photographing the walls of the entire residential complex, and the visual survey was done by individuals walking around the periphery of each building and making a visual assessment of the damage to each wall. In the photographic survey, a large amount of incomplete data was unavoidable because of either poor photo angles or various physical obstructions. A binomial regression model using four categorical explanatory variables or factors was fitted to the observed photographic spall data. Sparseness of the data, the presence of outliers, and overdispersion were major problems encountered in selecting and fitting a suitable model. A small pilot survey, in which the relevant portions of the photographic and visual surveys were matched to 11 drop locations of the scaffold survey, recorded spall counts using each survey method. From this pilot survey, photographic and visual spall data were calibrated to the scaffold drop survey data. It was determined that of the two surveys, only the photographic spall survey was needed to predict scaffold spalls. The estimate of total damage from the photographic survey was then adjusted using the calibration results. Finally, a multiple imputation procedure was used to impute values for the missing data and obtain an estimate (and its standard error) of the true spall rate over the entire residential complex. Sources of uncertainty to factfinders in legal trials are discussed and illustrated through the present case.


Air flow generated by plasma actuators is useful in modifying the boundary layer for aerodynamic purposes. In a paper by Boeuf et al a model is developed to quantify electrical forces coupled to the bulk air in a dielectric barrier discharge and estimate air flow velocity. That model is extended to include specific ion mobility and momentum transfer to the bulk gas in a plasma actuator. For regions in the actuator with high E/N and high field gradients, a dipole force is investigated. Some air species and ion species have permanent dipole moments. And, a dipole moment can be induced in atoms, molecules, and charged species that depends on the field magnitude and electronic polarizability coefficient. Ion and neutral species properties as well as the magnitude of electrical forces coupled to the bulk gas in different regions of a dielectric barrier discharge are quantified.


Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) practitioners could benefit from recent innovations in the field of organizational development, particularly those of Peter Senge, that outline how institutions can become "learning organizations," which are responsive to change to meet the needs of their members. These techniques could be used to help schools, universities, and nongonvernmental organizations develop a capacity to promote ESD.


Bronchiectasis is described in two persons following ammonia burns of the respiratory tract The victims were exposed to anhydrous ammonia fumes for a period of 30 to 90 minutes respectively following a railroad tank-car derailment. Significant bronchiectatic changes were observed even though the admission chest roentgenogram was interpreted as normal in one case and as having an infiltration involving the lingula and left lower lobe present on the other. Follow-up radiographic studies should include a bronchogram when a person exposed to a corrosive gas remains symptomatic and inflammatory changes were present on the chest roentgenogram taken shortly after the incident.


Recognition of arbitrary shaped clusters is a highly active research topic in data mining and cluster analysis. In this paper, we consider the problem of data clustering of arbitrary shaped clusters as a random evolutionary process. We propose a new algorithm RNDC which uses the random process for cluster analysis. RNDC assumes that an object contains information only about the characteristic values of its local neighbourhood. It explores the local cluster structures to determine the global partitions of dataset. It is of significance that RNDC evolve randomly among the objects of dataset, while other well-known partitioning clustering algorithms used the techniques of sequential propagation through the nearest connected/reachable objects. Our method is, in principle, applicable for any arbitrary shaped clusters. Since randomness is an essential part of RNDC, it makes this algorithm suitable for multiprocessing parallel computation.


More than 2 decades into the ongoing opioid epidemic, an estimated 2.1 million people are affected by opioid use disorder with a recordhigh number of deaths exceeding 93,000 in 2020 in the United States alone.1,2 First responders, including police, firefighters, and emergency medical services clinicians are often the first to provide assistance in opioid-relatedemergencies.However, the system inwhich first responders operate is poorly equipped to manage these encounters. Structurally, the protocol-based approach of first-responder care is not designed to manage the chronic and complex nature of addiction. As emergency care practices are rarely coupled with a clear path to effective long-term treatment options, emergency personnel provide frequent (and often repeated) care to these persons, repeatedly bearing witness to the devastating social and physical effects of opioid addiction. As a result, many emergency personnel feel frustrated and helplesswhen it comes to encounters involving opioid use disorder. In these trying circumstances, it is critical to understand emergency professionals' attitudes and beliefs toward people who use opioids. In this issue, Metcalf et al's "Compassion, Stigma, and Professionalism among Emergency Personnel Responding to the Opioid Crisis: An Exploratory Study in New Hampshire, USA" presents findings from a series of qualitative interviews with front-line emergency personnel regarding attitudes and beliefs toward people who use opioids. This study provides an important look at the experiences of emergency personnel in caring for those affected by opioid use disorder and offers a framework for exploring how these experiences may shape their beliefs and attitudes. This investigation is critically needed as emergency personnel often provide the first—and often the only—care for those struggling with opioid use disorder. From this exploratory work emerge 3 core themes: when caring for opioid abuse victims, emergency personnel struggle with (1) compassion, (2) stigma, and (3) professionalism. Compassionate beliefs included those that reflected a desire to alleviate suffering following the witnessing of another's distress. Stigmatizing beliefs, defined as negative biases toward those who use opioids, also included the more nuanced categories of suspicious and cynical attitudes. Interestingly, these categorieswere notmutually exclusive among participants.


The influence of ambient temperature on the stability of a low-power laser spectroscopic CO2 sensor was investigated. Several methods, such as WMS over-modulation and environmental temperature control, were devised for mitigating this influence.


[Objective]To explore the characteristic and causes of acute occupational poisoning in drumming up business and investment companies in Fuxin,provide scientific basis for the measures of prevention and control.[Methods]Analysis was conducted on data of patients with acute occupational poisoning,investigation report and clinical records in drumming up business and investment companies in Fuxin from 2002 to 2006.[Results]Thirteen instances of acute occupational poisoning were reported in Fuxin from 2002 to 2006.56 patients with acute occupational poisoning were reported and 1 died.Of which there were 5 serious acute occupational poisoning instances involving more than 3 people in each.[Conclusion]The accident of acute occupational poisoning was serious in Fuxin.Safety education for workers especially young workers must be strengthened.Document on occupational hygiene must be filed,formalities on construction project must be gone through legally.Ventilation and ventilator installation must be provided to protect the workers health.


Two waves of Palestinian uprising during the 1990s have raised awareness among Israelis that the occupation of the Palestinian territories also includes a local indigenous population—the Palestinian people—and that they are determined to fight for independence and an end to the Occupation. At the same time, a set of global and regional changes, such as the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the risk of attack by the "Eastern Front" against Israel (Iraq, Syria, and Jordan), and the globalization of the Israeli economy, has led to the emergence of a new geopolitical agenda in Israel. The expansionist discourse of "Greater Israel" is being replaced by a new consensus, which attempts to conclude the unfinished project of determining the state's borders in a way that will secure the future of Israel as a majoritarian Jewish and democratic nationstate. To a large extent, the new consensus is returning to the more pragmatic and balanced traditional views of the Labor-led Zionist movement, which sought a balance between territorial and socio-demographic goals (Kellerman 1993). This pragmatic attitude manifested itself in the secularized concept of "redeeming the land," which meant not only gaining ownership over the land by conquest but buying land at market prices, settling and cultivating it as a means to train a generation of farmers to sink roots in the land, as part of a national "rebirth" (Almog 1990; Schnell 2001). This discourse channelled the Zionist movement toward the strategy of "pure colonization," leading to the development of a settlement system that was largely separated from the Palestinian population (Shafir 1993). It also drove the Zionists' attempt to control those territories where they were able to achieve a demographic majority, showing willingness to compromise in areas heavily populated by Palestinians or to accept some mode of power-sharing in one or another type of confederation (Gorny 1993; Newman 2001). In contrast to the Labor-led Zionist ideology, the right-wing elite, led by Ze'ev Jabotinsky and later by Menachem Begin, believed in military conquest of the territories and including the Arabs in a Jewishcontrolled liberal democratic state, which would grant full civil rights to Arabs as citizens (Galanty-Ben-Rafael et al. 2001). Underlying this vision was the colonialist assumption that the Palestinians would cooperate with the so-called progressive Jewish state. Unfortunately, with the rise of Likud government after 1977, the right-wing administration adopted the goals of the traditional rightist leadership, attempting to expand control over the territories of "Greater Israel." They did this by the means used by the Labor party—settlement, creating facts on the ground—but this time by settling areas where Palestinians formed a dominant majority. This strategy led to aggressive colonization in the most densely populated Palestinian areas. In addition, the 1967 war created a platform for the National Religious Party to move from their marginalized status in the Israeli political spectrum to a more central position. They took the lead in the settlement process, trying to consolidate a neo-Zionist ethos embedded in messianic religious belief. The right-wing elite that led the settlement process never answered the question of how the Jewish majority in the highly populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza could best be consolidated in order to carry out the A Route Leading to Separation and Peace


Despite increasing use of ANPR cameratechnology, especially in criminal investigations, literature and the experience of the police with whom we worked, seem to show that there is no systematic method to locate as adequately as possible these expensive facilities. Given a set of four categories of robberiesover one year localized within the province of Liège (Belgium), we propose a methodology based on a multi-criteria analysis, making use of density offenses, road density and the distance between the sites of the cameras. Multi-criteria approach can adjust the factorweightings for different types of offenses. In addition, the methodology is iterative, insofar cameras sites are located in successive phases. One result validation criteria is provided in the form of a territorial coverage rate considering the number of selected camera sites and the travel time from each of these sites. MOTS-CLÉS : caméras ANPR, profilage géographique, ingénierie du trafic, estimation à noyaux de densité, analyse multicritère


This optional unit in the RMA is about choosing the people you need to carry out your organization's work activities. Fiona Robbins explains.


We propose Hogna, a platform for deploying self-managing web applications on cloud. The platform enables the deployment of the applications based on the automation of a set of operations (starting instances, installing necessary software and configuring the instances, etc.), and then the continuous monitoring of the health of the applications. The gathered monitoring data is analyzed using a performance model and an action plan is created and executed. Any components involved (for monitoring, analyzing, planning and deployment changes) can be customized to fit the needs of the application and/or researcher.


This paper introduces an algorithm for fast temporal segmentation of videos into shots. The proposed method detects abrupt and gradual transitions, based on the visual similarity of neighboring frames of the video. The descriptive efficiency of both local (SURF) and global (HSV histograms) descriptors is exploited for assessing frame similarity, while GPU-based processing is used for accelerating the analysis. Specifically, abrupt transitions are initially detected between successive video frames where there is a sharp change in the visual content, which is expressed by a very low similarity score. Then, the calculated scores are further analysed for the identification of frame-sequences where a progressive change of the visual content takes place and, in this way gradual transitions are detected. Finally, a post-processing step is performed aiming to identify outliers due to object/camera movement and flash-lights. The experiments show that the proposed algorithm achieves high accuracy while being capable of faster-than-real-time analysis.


A recombinant Fab antibody, designated 1E8–4b, which reacts with the Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related Aβ peptides, Aβ[1–40], Aβ[1–42] and Aβ[1–43] has been developed. The 1E8–4b Fab was constructed by cloning the VHCH1 and VLCL domains from the parent hybridoma 1E8 antibody, reported previously to recognize these Aβ peptides. Briefly, a C‐terminal Flag tag sequence was incorporated into this construct, which was ligated into the vector pHFA2 and expressed in Escherichia coli. Following purification on an M2 anti‐Flag affinity column, the 1E8–4b recombinant Fab antibody was shown to bind plaques within sections of brain tissue from CERAD‐defined AD patients by immunohistochemistry. ELISA, epitope mapping and immunoblotting confirmed the recognition of the Aβ1–40/42/43] peptides by the 1E8–4b Fab. The 1E8–4b Fab did not recognize APP695 or APP770 which contain the Aβ sequence. The Aβ specificity of the recombinant 1E8–4b Fab antibody was identical to the parent 1E8 monoclonal antibody.


In this paper, the hardware constitute and the design of controlling and analyzing program of a multi-channel high sampling and long record system data acquiring and analyzing are described. The synchronous data of current, electric field change, dE/dt and magnetic field et al with the order of microsecond are firstly acquired by using this system during artificially triggered lightning experiment carried in Pingliang country, Gansu on July 1997. Using this system, the measured lightning waveform can be analyzed and carried out multi signal deal.


Based on the re.arch on EVA(Economic Value Added),this article analyzes its influences on traditional financial management,and puts forward preliminary proposals on establishing financial strate- gy on the basis of EVA indexes.


xii Chapter 1 Literature Review 1 Chapter 2 Materials and Methods 31 Chapter 3 Construction of Recombinant LSDV (rLSDV-Grttn) Expressing HIV-1 Subtype C Polyprotein Grttn 59 Chapter 4 Safety of LSDV as a Vaccine Vector and Immunogenicity of rLSDV-Grttn 83 Chapter 5 Final Discussion 113 References 118 Un ive rsi ty of Ca pe To wn


This research was aimed to determine the effects of perilla seeds (Perilla frutescens L.) levels in the diet on the percentage of carcass and non carcass, chemical quality and levels α-linolenic acid (ALA) of meat ducks. The research design was one way Completely Randomized Design with 3 treatments, 6 replications and each replication consisted of 6 head ducks. The treatment included; P0 : (100% basal feed); P1 : (97.5% basal feed + 2.5% perilla seed) and P2 : (95% basal feed + 5% perilla seed). The carcassing process was carried out when the age of the local ducks reaches eight weeks by slaughtering 2 head ducks for each replication. Materials used 36 samples of breast duck meat were observed. The experiment was conducted for 60 days. The data were analyzed with one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). If there was significant differences among treatments, Duncan's multiple range test (DMRT) were applied. The result shows the carcass weight and non carcass percentage were not significant (P>0.05), but breast percentage and liver percentage were significant (P<0.05). The perilla seed supplementation had significant effect (P<0.05) on increased levels of protein, cholesterol and α-linolenic acid and also had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on decrease level of meat fats. The conclusion of this research is the enriched of perilla seed at the level of 5% in basal feed does not increased the carcass weight, percentage carcass and non carcass, but increased percentage breast and liver. The quality of protein and omega-3 fatty acids and reduce fat levels, but had not been able to reduce cholesterol levels in local duck meat.


This chapter attempts to identify discursive commonalities in a critical manner. If categories from practical philosophy are of significance for understanding social norms and how these can be adequately described, then taking a look at the philosophical discourse provides an entry point. Of course, speaking of practical philosophy as such is somewhat limiting in light of the sheer breadth of such discourse, even more so in that philosophical debates are contentious not only in their solutions but in the very definition of problems. However, the chapter makes the attempt nevertheless. Its focus here is driven by the presumption that at least the identification of problems is not too vague an enterprise in contemporary practical philosophy, and that it indeed plays a decisive role for a theory of the normative. Möllers analyzes the deficits of philosophical concepts of normativity, focusing on theories that conceive of norms as reasons for action. He concludes that they fail to offer an adequate description of the social practice of the normative.


Today's industry of movie in China,boasting considerable financial competence,market share,cultural consciousness and audience's support,should slow down its steps in blindly following the West,and make a serious review of its own history of development.The last 60 years have witnessed the rise of Chinese movies as a distinctive type in the world movie circles.A review from the perspective of aesthetic typology indicates that the transmutation from invariance to diversity characterizes the 60-year evolution of Chinese movies in aesthetic typology,the first 30 years being of purity,simplicity and sentimentality,and the second,i.e.,after China's reform and opening to the outside world,being a period in which invariance was substituted largely for diversity,marking the tendency of aesthetics to diversification with the times.


The purpose of this paper is to describe the Queensland Department of Main Roads' Extended Design Domain concept (EDD). EED was developed for road restoration projects. This paper specifically discusses level of design experience needed to use EDD properly, the importance of identifying reasonable capability, the need for documentation and the dangers of not facing up properly to a situation that is not supported by EDD. EDD has made it possible to identify if reasonable capability still exists for a situation that does not fully fit within the normal design domain as given in the Queensland Road Planning and Design Manual and other Australian road design guides. The paper also examines about three years experience with using EDD in Main Roads. The EDD concept was developed initially to address the sight distance issue with road restoration projects. Namely, the existing alignment is retained yet the available sight distance at some places on the road is less than the minimum given in current design guides for the future operating conditions


Diabetes has become a serious threat to mankind, as it is found in all parts of the world. Alloxan induced diabetic mice were treated by Metformin to study the impact of oxidative stress and endogenous antioxidants. Due to the establishment of diabetes, the oxidative stress indicators were found to be positively correlated with the elevation in the levels of endogenous antioxidants. Whereas, in Metformin-treated diabetic mice, the data revealed the correction of diabetes by lowering of blood glucose level along with body weight. But the levels of endogenous antioxidants were not recorded to increase except GST. It shows that under in vivo system level of oxidative stress increases due to the Metformin. The data revealed that Metformin treatment of mice, however, manage the glucose level but not effective in controlling oxidative stress.


Writer Alain Mabanckou, originally from the Republic of the Congo, has worked his way to literary stardom in the French-speaking world and beyond by harnessing a creative ethos born of a cosmopolitan sensibility that is steeped in his experiences of migration as a black man. Living,
 writing, speaking and teaching between three continents, Mabanckou's prolific literary output betrays a conflicted relationship to French-speaking Africa's literary past, and draws on tropes of pastiche and irony to set itself within a global literary framework that demands a world
 audience. The writer's work and public persona thus showcase a unique brand of migrant cosmopolitanism.


TEM in situ tensile tests of 310 stainless steel show that a dislocation free zone (DFZ) forms if the displacement keeps constant after dislocations are emitted from a crack tip. The elastic DFZ is gradually thinned and the stress in the DFZ will reach the cohesive strength, resulting in nucleation of nanocracks in it and their bluntness into voids. If continuously tensioning, the inhomogeneously thinning ahead of the crack tip, initiat- ing and connecting of microcracks or microvoids will be observed rather than a DFZ, nanocracks' initiation and bluntness into voids. The inverse pile-up ahead of a loaded crack tip can move back to the crack tip when unloading.


The recent implementation of the FEMA Corps program, which expands the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps program, will provide disaster relief efforts with rapid access to a cadre of 1,000 trained responders. The program is designed to provide cost-effective labor to disasters, as well as instill a civic ethic among program participants. This research examines the effect that participation in disaster responses among a sample of AmeriCorps NCCC members has on disaster participation later in life. Respondents were not found to give or volunteer to the Hurricane Katrina and Rita efforts at significantly different rates than other NCCC members. Participation in NCCC does appear to positively predict whether an individual donated time to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, although it did not predict if an individual gave money. Rather, age and income were better predictors of monetary donations.


Torrefaction of low-cost poplar biomass was evaluated in this work for manufacturing bio-coal materials for co-firing applications. Two different severity conditions were used in the multiple hearth furnace of the torrefaction pilot-plant CENTORRE (at an average flow rate of 45 kg h -1 in dry basis): i) 300 °C; ii) 350 °C, with a residence time of 45 min, respectively. The raw and torrefied biomasses have been characterized using thermal-gravimetric and elemental analyses (C, H, N, S, O). The kinetic profiles were evaluated using the pseudo-first order rate equation (PFORE). An increase of the carbon/oxygen ratio was obtained as a result of the torrefaction severities. The greater mass losses were evidently obtained at higher temperatures (52% at 300 °C, and 67% at 350°C). Additionally, the torrefaction process allows the storage of the feedstock for longer time; it reduces the energy consumption for grinding, and enhances the friability of the biomass for large-scale utilization in metallurgical furnaces.


Objective: To investigate the role of mtNOS in cerebral ischaemia in Mongolian gerbils.

Methods: Mitochondria isolated after 5 min of ischaemia and after 48 and 72 hrs of restitution of blood flow was used. Animals were pretreated with fast Na + channel blocks (TTX) and NOS inhibitors (L-NAME, 7-NI). Following estimations were made: (i) respiratory main complexes (ii) NAD(P)H/NAD(P) levels (iii) mitochondrial membrane potential and (iv) DNA pattern.

Results: LDH estimated in the venous outflow was elevated. Respiratory main complexes I, II and III except IV were altered in ischaemic group. NAD(P)H/NAD(P) levels were elevated, significant decrease with TTX in all groups was observed. Ischaemia dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential. This was reverted close to normal values by TTX, 7-NI and L-NAME in the order of their efficacy. No significant change in DNA pattern was observed.

Conclusion: Ischaemia induced pathological changes at the mitochondria level are presented by TTX and L-NAME. They may find possible use for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative disorders.


In the past 10 years, an increasing number of outbreaks of enteric disease associated with animals in public settings, such as fairs and petting zoos, have been reported. Fifty-five of these outbreaks that occurred in the United States during 1991-2005 are reviewed in this article. Lessons learned from these outbreaks and recommendations for prevention are also discussed. Physicians should be aware of this important public health problem and play an active role in prevention of human illness associated with animals in public settings.


The strength of the Leeuwin Current (LC) and its eddy field are both strong during the austral winter and weak during the austral summer on the annual time scale, and are strong during the La Niña years and weak during the El Niño years on the interannual time scale. As the LC is a warm current, the sea surface (evaporative) heat loss off the west coast of Western Australia (WA), as well as the upper ocean stratification (mixing) and the nutrient fluxes, is also closely linked to the strength of the current. In this paper, recent studies on the temporal and spatial variability of the biophysical properties in the oligotrophic marine environment off the west coast of WA are reviewed. By analysing recent satellite chlorophyll a data and shipboard survey results, possible mechanisms that could be important to the variability of the ocean production off the west coast of WA are identified as: meridional erosion of the seasonal thermocline; vertical motion of the nitrocline; horizontal and vertical nutrient advection related to the LC eddy activity; in situ nitrification; and benthic-pelagic coupling. Potential impacts of climate change on the ocean production off the west coast of WA are hypothesized.


In the present paper; the FTIR and Temperature dependent DC Ionic conductivity studies of polymer (80 Wt% PVDF-HFP) with inorganic lithium tetra fluoroborate salt (20 Wt% LiBF4) as ionic charge carrier and plasticized with various weight ratios of Ethylene carbonate plasticizer (10 Wt% to 70 Wt% EC) as gel polymer electrolytes. Solution casting method is used for the preparation of plasticized polymer-salt electrolyte films. FTIR analysis shows the good complexation between PVDF-HFP: LiBF4 and the presence of functional groups in the plasticized polymer-salt electrolyte membrane. Also the analysis and results show that the highest DC ionic conductivity of 1.66 × 10−3 SCm−1 was found at 373 K for a particular concentration of 80 Wt% PVDF-HFP: 20 Wt% LiBF4: 40 Wt% EC porous gel type polymer-salt plasticized porous membrane. Increase of temperature results expansion and segmental motion of polymer chain that generates free volume in turn promotes hopping of the lithium ions satisfying Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher equation.


Content list display apparatus that acquires a content list corresponding to the screen size of the display screen. In this apparatus, a display unit (315) has a display screen of a predetermined screen size, and displays the content list. When the operation input unit user operates (311) outputs a transmission request command for content list, the content information operation unit (312), the display range determination unit to (313), determining the range of the content list to command. Display range determining unit (313), based on the screen size of the display unit (315), determines the range of the content list that can be displayed in one screen. Thereby, the portable communication terminal device (310), so obtaining the content list information to the extent that can be displayed on one screen from the server apparatus (350), for example, even if it becomes necessary to retransmission control by the communication failure, the retransmission time a short period of time in the corner, there is little possibility that the decrease in convenience to the user.


Objective To study the etiological factors, incidence and prognosis of pulmonary fungal infection. Methods One hundred forty-six cases with pulmonary infection were retrospectively analyzed. Results. Candida albicans was ranked the first pathogen. The risk factors of secondary pulmonary fungal infection were utilization of broad-spectrum antibiotics and carticosterioids, hypopriterinemia, advanced age, organ transplantation, COPD, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion As pulmonary fungal infection is major reason for secondary infection for many diseases, it is necessary to make early examination on secretion of lower respiratory tract in suspected patients. It should also when possible avoid random use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids in order to reduce incidence of pulmonary fungal infection.


E-mail has many advantages: rapid,convenient,fast and so on.This article discusses some applications of E-mail in management and collaboration,purchase of books and periodicals,reader service and homepage of the library etc under the network environment.


The large amount of gangues will be produced in the processes of mining and washing of coal,and the development of coal gangue bricks can save a lot of energy resources and also help the green sustainable development of new building materials.Based on the principle of cascade utilization of energy,considering the ratio of raw materials in preparing the coal gangue bricks,technology and techniques,as well as major equipment,the calculating model for utilization of calorific values and energy savings of coal gangue bricks was systematically constructed and,measurements and analysis were done taking the gangue brick prepared with Shanxi coal gangue as example.The results showed that total energy of approximate 993 800 tons of coal equivalent was saved in the industry of coal gangue bricks in Shanxi Province in 2010.


The aim of this article is to present a developed metagraph model which serves to verify the minimum requirements for cyber security in web-based student information management systems. The model presents the correlation between cyber attacks and cyber defense of the system. The protection is based on a created model for cybersecurity 3-12 and is divided into 3 categories – software, server and information system users. The most common 9 cyber attacks on automated information systems have been selected. Twelve countermeasures to these attacks have been selected. The application of the metagraph model is used to check whether the system meets the requirements of the model 3-12. The developed information system has been tested in foreign language training of students at Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. The developed metagraph model can be applied to other information systems.


Abstract The main objective of this study is the evaluation of the capability of laccase from Myceliophthora thermophila immobilized on fumed silica microparticles (fsMP) for the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in two enzymatic reactor configurations. This type of support can also be magnetized to allow the straightforward separation of the biocatalyst under a magnetic field. The support exhibited excellent biocompatibility with the enzyme, superior tolerance to pH and temperature as well as improved stability in comparison with the free enzyme, even in the presence of organic solvents and enzyme inhibitors. The technical feasibility of the removal of EDCs by immobilized laccase was assessed in two types of enzymatic reactors operated in sequential mode: a membrane reactor using fsMP-laccase and a reactor with magnetic separation using magnetized fsMP-laccase. The extent of transformation for the target compounds: bisphenol A (BPA) and 17β-estradiol (E2) was high and comparable to free laccase in both systems (up to 80%). The possibility of reusing the immobilized enzyme, especially for magnetized supports, offers an interesting approach in the development of enzyme based processes for the biotransformation of emerging pollutants.


4532Background: SLITRK6 is a cell adhesion molecule highly expressed on several tumors, including mUC. ASG-15ME is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) that delivers a small molecule microtubule-disrup...


We calculate a component of connection superfields and Lorentz superparameter at second order in anticommuting coordinates in terms of the component fields of 11-dimensional on-shell supergravity by using `Gauge completion'. This configuration of superspace holds the $\kappa $-symmetry for supermembrane Lagrangian and represents 11-dimensional on-shell supergravity.


In the present study, the total RNA was extracted from three instar larvae of Musca domestica, the cDNA sequence encoding the ORF of cecropins was amplified by RT-PCR, and the target fragment was further sequenced after being cloned into T vector pUCm-T. Then, the cDNA sequence of the mature cecropins was amplified by PCR with recombinant plasmid pUCm-T/cecropin as template, the N-terminal rare codon GGA of E. coli was changed to the favorable codon GGC, and a Asn codon AAC was added in front of the stop coden TAA in the C-terminus. This mutant gene designated as mCecropin was then ligated with the fusion expression vector Pgex-4T-1. After restriction analysis and DNA sequencing, the posi9tive recombinant plasmid pGEX-4T-1/mCercropin was transformed to different strains of E. coli cell was chosen as the host cell for the expression of the fusion protein. The expressed fusion protein GST-mCecropin was purified by GSTrap affinity coloum and the GST marker was then cleaved by thrombin. In this way, the fusion protein mCecropin with antibacterial activity was obtained after purification with HiTrap benzamidine column.


The primary purpose of this book seems to lie in the alphabetically arranged list of places, most mentioned in the Bible, on which brief articles have been written by 17 Israeli and three American archaeologists all well-known for their field experience and academic contributions. Thus where they write on sites and subjects known to them, and this is almost exclusively within Israel, they provide excellent summaries (as for example the editor's own on Mampsis). Where comment is made on those place-names mentioned but rarely in the Old Testament the information, lacking originality and bibliography, is on the level of the average popular Bible dictionary. For places further afield this book lacks authority, though there are competent Israeli scholars who could have written well on Syria and Mesopotamia and have prevented factual errors, omissions and misprints (e.g. under Calah). The last are probably mostly due to translation, but some betray a lack of firsthand contact with some fields of study such as Akkadian (written ' Accadian ' throughout). By a self-imposed limitation to archaeological evidence, even from sites from which it is the ancient documentation rather than the artifacts which have a primary bearing on the customs and way of life which it is the book's claim to reflect, the book cannot fairly be classed as ' a unique commentary on the Bible' or ' an indispensable reference book for students of archaeology and the Bible' as the publishers claim. The illustrations, with a few exceptions, are only of a moderate standard of reproduction and Dame Kathleen Kenyon would probably be horrified at the view of a few crumbling trenches chosen to illustrate Jericho (p. 164, cf. p. 234).


Graphene-based van der Waals heterojunctions can not only modulate the electronic properties of graphene but also retain the superior properties of the original monolayer. In this paper, the structure, electrical contact types, electronic and optical properties of Graphene/C3N van der Waals heterojunctions are systematically investigated based on first-principles calculations. We find that there is a p-type Schottky contact of only 0.039 eV in the Graphene/C3N van der Waals heterojunctions at the equilibrium state. The external electric field can adjust the interface contact type, from p-type to n-type schottky contact, or from p-type schottky contact to ohmic contact. The vertical strain not only opens a nonnegligible band gap of 360 meV at the Dirac cone of Graphene in Graphene/C3N van der Waals heterojunctions, but also modulates the band gap of C3N in the heterojunctions. Moreover, both the doping type and concentration of the carrier can be effectively tuned by the applied electric field and the vertical strain. The increase in carrier concentration is more pronounced by the applied electric field. Compared with the pristine monolayer Graphene and monolayer C3N, the optical response range and the light absorption rate of Graphene/C3N van der Waals heterojunctions are enhanced. Main absorption peak in the spectrum up to 106 cm-1. These results not only provide valuable theoretical guidance for the design of Schottky-based Graphene/C3N van der Waals heterojunctions devices, but also further explore the potential of heterojunctions for further applications in optoelectronic nanodevices and field-effect transistor devices.


In the following discussion, a knowledge of the theoretical principles of airplane construction is assumed, as presented in detail by Vogt and Lippisch. A few quantities will however be otherwise designated, in accordance with the Gottingen symbols.


Queer and trans individuals have fashioned their bodies in various ways throughout time; however, their undergarment needs are not always available in the marketplace. We asked: how have trans people produced and distributed DIY gender-affirming undergarments worn on the lower portion of the body via DIY YouTube video tutorials amid the lack of commercial objects available to fashion their sense of self? To answer our question, we analyzed 24 YouTube videos on DIY gender-affirming undergarments created by openly-trans YouTubers using a grounded theory, constant-comparative approach. Although the fashion industry, and society at large, often neglects trans individuals' needs—many trans people have exhibited resilience and resistance, in this instance by making and disseminating their own gender-affirming undergarments and related knowledge. Arguably, these trans YouTubers engaged in acts of personal and community liberation by sharing product ideas and product knowledge to assist themselves and others in obtaining accessible gender-affirming care.


Machine learning (ML) is a crucial perspective for acquiring real-world and operative solution for crop yield issue. From a given set of predictors, ML can predict a target/outcome by using Supervised Learning. To get the desired outputs need to generate a suitable function by set of some variables which will map the input variable to the aim output. Crop yield prediction incorporates forecasting the yield of the crop from past historical data which includes factors such as temperature, humidity, ph, rainfall, crop name. It gives us an idea for the finest predicted crop which will be cultivate in the field weather conditions. These predictions can be done by a machine learning algorithm called Random Forest. It will attain the crop prediction with best accurate value. The algorithm random forest is used to give the best crop yield model by considering least number of models. It is very useful to predict the yield of the crop in agriculture sector


Reductive coupling of aromatic aldehydes and ketones leading to 1,2-diols has been achieved with high yield and good diastereoselectivity under environmentally friendly conditions using aluminium powder in the presence of aqueous sodium hydroxide. The notable advantage of the present method seems to be the negligible formation of side products arising mainly due to reduction of the carbonyls to the corresponding alcohols, Cannizzaro reaction and formation of olefins via McMurry coupling. Diaryl ketones have been found to be unreactive under the present conditions. Moreover, the aluminium recovered after the reaction can be reused after washing and drying.


Electromagnetic shielding clothes for protecting human exposure from harmful radio waves have been commercialized. However, most research has so far focused on the fabrics. In this paper, based on the orthogonal experiment method, design the structure of the electromagnetic shielding clothes, and conduct the performance test. Through direct and variance analysis, find out the significance degree of the structure factors, and then get the best level combination of the factors, thus provide a theory basis for optimization structure design of electromagnetic shielding clothes.


This paper considers quasi-static linear response of a solid piezoelectric cylinder due to electric voltage and mechanical loading applied at the ends. A recently developed analytical general solution for an annular cylinder of finite length is used to analyze this complex mixed-boundary value problem. The general solution for electroelastic field and the applied loading are expressed in terms of Fourier-Bessel infinite series. Both flexible electrodes in smooth contact with and rigid electrodes bonded to the cylinder ends are considered. The problem is formulated by dividing the electrode contact area into several annular rings and developing a flexibility equation system based on a set of influence functions to satisfy the mixed-boundary conditions at the cylinder ends. The present approach allows consideration of a cylinder under a variety of electromechanical loading conditions. Accuracy of the present scheme is confirmed by comparing with the existing solutions for the limiting case of an elastic cylinder. Selected numerical results for different cylinder length-radius ratios, electrode dimensions, materials and electric voltage and mechanical loads are presented to demonstrate the coupled electromechanical behavior of a cylinder.


PURPOSE: A PLL(Phase-Locked Loop) circuit is provided to be stably operated in poor conditions such as instantaneous voltage drops of a power supply, harmonics, phase angle jumps, etc. CONSTITUTION: A PLL circuit(10) includes a d-q conversion part(11), a normalization part(12), an ALC(Adaptive Linear Combiner) part(13), and a PI(Proportional Integral) control part(14). The d-q conversion part receives three-phase signals and produces stationary signals of d-axis and q-axis. The normalization part normalizes the output of the d-q conversion part. The ALC part outputs an estimated vector by applying a weighted value, calculated with a delta rule, to the normalized d-q stationary signals. The PI control part receives the output of the ALC part and minimizes errors. [Reference numerals] (11) D-q conversion part; (13) ALC part; (14) PI control part;


Plants
acclimate to nitrogen (N) or moisture stress by respectively increasing
photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) or water use efficiency (WUE), in order
to maximize their relative growth rate (RGR). These two phenotypic adaptations have
opposite effects on specific leaf area (SLA). Thus, intraspecific variations in
the SLA-RGR relationship should reflect the relative importance of N vs.
moisture stress in plants. In this study, we measured needle gas exchanges and N
concentrations in order to derive PNUE and WUE, as well as SLA and RGR of black
spruce (Picea mariana) seedlings
growing on a rapidly drained site in the presence or absence of Kalmia angustifolia. The eradication of Kalmia had resulted in a ~140% increase in seedling
growth over a 6 year period. We found a negative SLA-RGR relationship where Kalmia had been eradicated, and a
positive one where Kalmia had been
maintained. Kalmia eradication resulted
in higher WUE when measurements were made directly on the seedlings, and in
lower PNUE when twigs were rehydrated prior to gas exchange measurements. Our
data suggest that the bigger seedlings on Kalmia-eradicated
plots increase RGR by decreasing SLA, as a means of coping with moisture stress.
By contrast, increasing SLA on noneradicated plots may be a means of
coping with nutrient stress exerted by Kalmia.
The SLA-RGR relationship could potentially be used to identify the limiting
resource for black spruce seedlings in different environments.


Objective: To establish NIR model of psoralen,isopsoralen and moisture content in salt Psoraleae Fructus granules. Method: With determination of HPLC and moisture content as reference data,NIR was adopted to build quantitative measurement models of psoralen,isopsoralen and moisture content of 10 batches of salt Psoraleae Fructus granules. Result: Root mean square error of cross validation( RMSECV) of determination model of psoralen and isopsoralen was 0. 025 0 with correlation coefficient( r) of 0. 886 8,root mean square error of prediction( RMSEPV) was 0. 025 5 with r = 0. 891 0; RMSECV of moisture determination was 0. 161 with r =0. 897 5,RMSEPV was 0. 150 0 with r = 0. 921 8. Conclusion: These established models was stable,accurate and reliable,which could be applied for fast determination of psoralen,isopsoralen and moisture within their coverage.


This issue of Inflammopharmacology is dedicated to the life and work of the late Derek Willoughby. His untimely death on 13 March 2004 after a long period of illness and what can be considered premature for one who was otherwise so fit during his life, was met with great sadness by the many colleagues and friends, both personal and professional. In fact it was not possible for many of his colleagues and past students to separate the personal from the professional relationships, for Derek was always very friendly, personable, generous and kind to all alike. He had an endearing and engaging way. His innocent-like friendly smile and spontaneity, always ready for a chat about anything that came to mind made him a special character. Many have written in their tributes to Derek in this issue of the Journal and elsewhere how he made outstanding contributions to the science of inflammation and also gave many very good ideas and challenges to think about. It was his personal approach and warm personality that so naturally enabled him to get ideas across to those at all levels. Many of Derek's ideas were well outside the boundaries of current thought at the time.


In this study two proteinous elicitors in extracellular supernatant during interaction between Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae JXOⅤ and suspension-cultured incompatible rice IRBB4 cells were isolated and identified. Proteins in extracellular supernatant collected 36 h after the interaction between JXOⅤ and incompatible rice IRBB4 suspension cells or compatible rice IR24 suspension cells were fractioned by HPLC using an anion exchange column Q-Sepharose. Two fractions obtained in incompatible interaction showed elicitor effect for that length of leaf lesion on rice IR24 inoculated JXOⅤ observably decreased after treatment with substance in that fractions. Further purification by HPLC using anion exchange column Mono-Q and preparative PAGE revealed 2 elicitors with molecular mass 17.2 kD and 49.2 kD,and pI 5.8 and 6.2. Treatment with these eli- citors at the concentration of 100 μg/mL before inoculation of JXOⅤ not only decreased leaf lesion,but also increased the activity of defence enzymes PAL and POD in leaves of compatible rice IR24.


In this study,the experiment animals,Meriones libycus,were collected in Turpan Basin during the period from April to October 2004.The body weight excluding viscera weight of Meriones libycus is used as the index to study the population age composition of Meriones libycus.The population structure of Meriones libycus is analyzed and divided into 5 age groups by using body weight excluding viscera as the age identification index.The 5 groups are: I.Juvenile group: female 40 g and male 45 g;II.Sub-adult group: female 40.1~80 g,male 45.1~85 g;III.Adult group I: female 80.1~100 g,male 85.1~120 g;IV.Adult group II: female 100.1~120 g,male 120.1~135 g;V.Senior group: female 120 g,male 135 g.Moreover,the relationships between body weight excluding viscera and body weight,body length and tail length of Meriones libycus are analyzed.The results reveal that there is the most significant linear correlation between body weight excluding viscera and body weight of Meriones libycus, that is the growth of body weight follows the growth of body weight excluding viscera of Meriones libycus,and the difference of body weight among the different age groups is not so significant.These reveal that the body weight can be regarded as the index of identifying the age of Meriones libycus when the experiment conditions are limited and the data of body weight excluding viscera can not be measured.The characteristics of seasonal change of the population age composition of Meriones libycus are that the group III and V are dominant in spring,the quantities of group I and II increase significantly in summer and early autumn,and the change of proportions of all the groups in autumn is not so significant except that of senior group.


Objective To analyze the findings and value of nonenhanced CT of acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis.Methods Findings of nonenhanced CT scans of 6 cases of acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis proved by operation were reviewed.Results CT imaging showed thickened bowed wall,high attenuation and engorgement of mesenteric veins,and mesenteric stranding in all the 6 cases and free peritoneal fluid in 1 case.Conclusion Nonenhanced CT scan is a valuable method in the early diagnosis of acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis.


We present an approach that combines semantic metadata and reasoning with a visual modeling tool to enable the goal-driven configuration of smart environments for end users. In contrast to process-driven systems where service mashups are statically defined, this approach makes use of embedded semantic API descriptions to dynamically create mashups that fulfill the user's goal. The main advantage of the presented system is its high degree of flexibility, as service mashups can adapt to dynamic environments and are fault-tolerant with respect to individual services becoming unavailable. To support end users in expressing their goals, we integrated a visual programming tool with our system. This tool enables users to model the desired state of their smart environment graphically and thus hides the technicalities of the underlying semantics and the reasoning. Possible applications of the presented system include the configuration of smart homes to increase individual well-being, and reconfigurations of smart environments, for instance in the industrial automation or healthcare domains.


System-justification theory (SJT) proposes that people have an inherent motive to support societal systems, even at the expense of their personal and group interests. However, the evidence for this system-justification motive is mixed, and a close examination of the relevant propositions yields some important theoretical inconsistencies. To address this mixed evidence and theoretical inconsistency, we introduce a social identity model of system attitudes (SIMSA). SIMSA integrates a cluster of different social identity processes and proposes that system justification can occur among members of low-status groups (a) because of a passive reflection of social reality, (b) as a form of in-group bias (at the superordinate level), and (c) in the hope that in-group advancement is possible in the future within the prevailing system. We conclude that SIMSA provides a more comprehensive and theoretically consistent explanation of system justification than SJT.


Taking the application of software Pre/Engineer as an example,create the screw 3D solid model of screw conveyor,study the impact of the main structural parameters of the screw on the strength and stiffness with FEA,and optimize the main structural parameters.An efficient way is provided to optimal design of screw.


The aim of this research was to find out whether Number Head Together as one of the cooperative learning strategy can improve the students' reading comprehension. The design of this research was Classroom Action Research (CAR) since this research focus on the teaching and learning activities in the classroom. This research was conducted at the eight grade of SMPN 1 Rejoso Kabupaten Pasuruan that consists of 27 students for D class. The result of this research can be said success because there was a progress improvement from each cycles conducted. It was proven by the result of the test in the cycle one 52% and cycle two 84% from the criteria of success which was standardized 80% from all students got minimal standard score 76.


textabstractIn this report, analyses are made of some of the numerical techniques implemented in MARIN's viscous ship-hydrodynamics software PARNASSOS. Suggestions are given to improve the robustness of PARNASSOS and -- where appropriate -- its accuracy and computational efficiency. The effects to be expected from some of the proposed modifications are analyzed as well.


Techniques to improve the efficiency of numerical simulation for the prediction of compositional reservoir processes are described. In particular, parallel computational approaches to the numerical nndell ing of the cycling of a gas condensate reservoir have been investigated on a hypercube parallel computer ( INTEL IPSC/2 ). A commercial reservoir simulation model was used as the initial basis for the seven component simulation. Parallelization of the coefficient and saturation function routines was accomplished using a technique to minimize the overhead of messages in this distributed memory environment. For the linear equation solution a donm.in decomposition approach was implemented along with multigrid techniques to obtain more robust parallel solutions. The initial goal of the research to develop efficient parallel numerical models for the prediction of compositional processes was achieved. Greater than ninety-eight per cent of the CPU time of the compositional model was parallelized. Future work to achieve further parallelization will involve both the linear equation solution and the coefficient routines.


The paper presents a solution for the analysis of operational states belonging to technical equipment whose exploitation regime is majority logic redundant "two of three". Modest assessments, without technical foundation, oftenly lead to mistaken conclusions. A technical approach, based on instant analysis, also can be a consequence of significant distorsions from the true functional evolution of technical entities. The method of the expertons, proposed by this study, based on a group of experts, offers an image of the real operational capabilities, but the results are valid only for the moment of the analysis. The same conclusion can be achieved also by the consultation of the the documents related to the operationality of those technical facilities. The functional evolution, based on the behaviour throughout time of the equipments and the stochastic analysis through the quantification of the entropic degradation trend, makes possible a true knowledge of their operational capabilities.


African women are becoming increasingly relevant in the continent's development and growth agenda. For decades, African women have been seen as a backbone and connective tissue for spiritual growth and sustainable societies, in fields such as religion, culture, economics, and politics, to name a few. This review is part of PhD studies on African women leadership development. The aim of this paper is to explore a functional connection between theoretical perspectives and practical application in real life regarding the agenda on developing leadership capabilities for women. A qualitative evidence synthesis was used as a method of inquiry and thematic expressions were developed using the COSTA QDA Technique. Results culminated in three thematic expressions that explicated a disconnect between popular theories on women development agenda and practical application in a collaborative approach. However, an emphasis was made on the requirement for women in influential leadership positions to coach and mentor others. Findings further indicated that women at grassroots level were enthusiastic and ready for programmes and environments that enable leadership capabilities, development and growth. The study concluded that formal and sustainable mentorship and coaching programmes that integrate all stakeholders (males and females) in a collaborative approach should be developed.


Background One of the extra-skeletal roles of vitamin D for health is associated with cardiovascular disease. Poor vitamin D status has been associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction. There were controversial results about the association between vitamin D deficiency and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) concentration. The purpose of the present study was to determine the concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D [25(OH)D] in an elderly population and to find any association between 25(OH)D and MMP-9 concentrations. Methods This study was of cross-sectional design involving 160 male and female subjects aged 55–65 years, in South Jakarta, Indonesia. Determination of MMP-9 and 25(OH)D concentrations was done concurrently on subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria after all study subjects had been selected. 25(OH)D and MMP-9 concentrations were assessed by direct competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Statistical analysis used chi square and t tests. Results Mean 25(OH)D concentration in the study subjects was 14.4 ± 6.4 ng/mL. A total of 68.8% of subjects had a 25(OH)D level of 20 ng/mL.There was an increased MMP-9 concentration in male subjects with a 25(OH)D level of 20 ng/mL (p=0.011), but not among female subjects (p=0.809). Conclusion The MMP-9 concentration was increased among male subjects with low level of (OH)D. This study confirmed that 25(OH)D concentration may have a potential role in endothelial function.


In the framework of pressurized water reactor severe accidents, the MOD code studies steam explosion from its triggering and escalation stage to the propagation and possible steady-state stage of the interaction. The triggering of vapor explosion is induced by thermal fragmentation caused by a pressure wave. In MOD, the fine fragmentation is described by continuous laws dependent on parameters such as its time, its rate, and the diameter of fragments. Consequently, a physical model is needed to specify all these parameters.


Abstract —Linear two-point boundary value problem of order twois solved using extended cubic B-spline interpolation method. Thereis one free parameters, λ, that control the tension of the solutioncurve. For some λ , this method produced better results than cubicB-spline interpolation method. Keywords —two-point boundary value problem, B-spline, extendedcubic B-spline. I. I NTRODUCTION C ONSIDER the general form of linear two-point boundaryvalue problem u ( x )+ p ( x ) u ( x )+ q ( x ) u ( x )= r ( x ) ,x∈ [ a,b ] ,u ( a )= α, u ( b )= β. (1)This problem has a unique solution, u ( x ),if p,q,r∈C 1 and q ( x ) < 0 [1]. Generally, this problem is difficult to solve ana-lytically. Some of the most frequently used numerical methodsare shooting, finite difference, finite element and finite volumemethods [1], [2]. These methods, although requiring littlecomputational time, evaluate the approximated solutions onlyat the collocation points, u ( x i ) for i =0 , 1 ,...,n .A different approach of solving linear two-point boundaryvalue problem has first been suggested by Bickley in 1968[3]. He used cubic spline interpolation to model the solutioncurve and applied the differential equation as well as theboundary conditions to solve for the unknown constants. Asa result, a set of equations could be produced approximatingthe analytical solution. Further work on this approach can befound in [4], [5]. Thirty years later, Caglar et al. proposedthe use of cubic B-spline interpolation to solve this problem.The basis function of B-spline is constructed using piecewisepolynomial function that satisfies


a Latin American setting. These are the clearest and best-organized chapters because it is clear from the beginning of each how they contribute to Naish's core argument. In these chapters, Naish does provide a compelling account of how US writers felt stifled in their desire to critique US slavery and how using a Latin American setting allowed them to say what they really wanted to say. An excellent example of this occurs when Naish describes the work of William Prescott – a historian who wrote with a literary flourish. Naish writes,


Studies on the effect of stocking density on the growth of fat snook Centropomus parallelus were conducted in floating net cages in the north coast of the State of Sao Paulo, in Ubatuba City. Juveniles weighing 32.53 ± 6.54 g were stocked in densities of 20 and 40 fish/m3 and appraised for 160 days. Fish were fed commercial diet with 40% of crude protein,
supplied twice a day, at the rate of 3% biomass of each tank-net. The environmental variables (water temperature, oxygen level, salinity and transparency) were according to the parameters considered ideals for the species. Survival and
the apparent feed conversion were not different (p <0.05) between the treatments. The mean final weights, specific growth rate and daily gain weight, indicated that the treatment of lower density was (p <0.05) superior to higher
density. In relation to total weight gain, an accretion was observed of 98.6 and 87.9 g for the densities of 20 and 40 fishes/ m3, respectively. However, final biomass was superior (p<0.05) for the treatment with higher density, demonstrating a straight relationship between density and biomass production observed in the fish farming.


Understanding and predicting human mobility is a crucial component of transportation planning and management. In this paper we propose a new model to predict the location of a person over time based on individual and collective behaviors. The model is based on the person's past trajectory and the geographical features of the area where the collectivity moves, both in terms of land use, points of interests and distance of trips. The effectiveness of the proposed prediction model is tested using a massive mobile phone location dataset available for the Boston metropolitan area. Experimental results show good levels of accuracy in terms of prediction error and prove the advantage of using the collective behavior in the prediction model.


This article focuses on a sensorial glove prototype capable of acquiring hand motion and estimating its pose. The presented solution features twelve inertial measurement units (IMUs) to track hand orientation. The sensors are attached to a glove to decrease the project cost. The system also focuses on sensor fusion algorithms for the IMUs and further implementations, presenting the algebraic quaternion algorithm (AQUA), used because of its modularity and intuitive implementation. An adaptation of a human hand model is proposed, explaining its advantages and its limitations. Considering that the calibration is a very important process in gyroscope performance, the online and offline calibration data was analyzed, pointing out its challenges and improvements. To better visualize the model and sensors a simulation was conducted in Unity.


The inverse controller is traditionally assumed to be a deterministic function. This work presents a pedagogical methodology for estimating the stochastic model of the inverse controller. The proposed method is based on Bayes' theorem. Using Bayes' rule to obtain the stochastic model of the inverse controller allows the use of knowledge of uncertainty from both the inverse and the forward model in estimating the optimal control signal. The paper presents the methodology for general nonlinear systems. For illustration purposes, the proposed methodology is applied to linear Gaussian systems.


Context. The study of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) coronae embedded in noncool core (NCC) galaxy clusters is crucial to understand the BCG's role in galaxy cluster evolution as well as the activation of the self-regulated cooling and heating mechanism in the central regions of galaxy clusters.
Aims. We explore the X-ray properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) of the NCC galaxy cluster MKW 08 and the BCG corona, along with their interface region. With recent and deep archival Chandra observations, we study the BCG corona in detail, and with archival XMM-Newton observations, we investigate the implications of the central active galactic nuclei (AGN) on the BCG.
Methods. We carry out imaging and spectral analyses of MKW 08 with archival XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray observations.
Results. Our spectral analysis suggests the presence of a central AGN by a power-law with a photon index of Γ ≃ 1.8 at the core of its BCG. Although the ICM does not exhibit a cluster scale cool core, the BCG manifests itself as a mini cool core characterized by a cooling time as short as 64 Myr at r = 3 kpc centered at the galaxy. The isothermality of the BCG corona seems to favor mechanical feedback from the central AGN as the major source of gas heating. The gas pressure profile of this mini cool core suggests that the BCG coronal gas reaches pressure equilibrium with the hotter and less dense ICM inside an interface of nearly constant pressure, delimited by radii 4 ≤ r ≤ 10 kpc at the galactic center. As revealed by the presence of a metal enriched tail (Z ≃ 0.5–0.9 Z⊙) extending up to 40 kpc, the BCG corona seems to be experiencing ram-pressure stripping by the surrounding ICM and/or interacting with a nearby galaxy, IC 1042.


This paper reviews selected initiatives taken by Asian countries to comply with emerging global sustainability standards, reporting, and management systems, and tracks the response of Asian businesses to global environmental concerns, examines market based innovations including new regulations that augmented corporate excellence, and identifies future directions for business that lead low carbon society. It recommends governments and business to join forces in supporting low carbon initiatives, drawing upon market mechanisms through reconfiguring national environmental policies and strategies.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze and re-direct recent schematic and empirical scholarship on Habermas' theory of the public sphere in library and information science (LIS).

Design/methodology/approach
This paper conducts a critical analysis of the relevant literature in light of Habermas' origination and use/purpose of the public sphere concept.

Findings
The authors examined here produced a schematic operationalization of the public sphere that thinned the concept, but in turn, that schematization has produced insight into the civil society functions and communications of libraries, both within and without. For this work to be meaningful, the considerations and contexts of democratic society must be reinserted.

Research limitations/implications
Further explorations of the relationship between the public sphere and civil society as they are manifested around and in libraries is called for. Additionally, Weigand's approach to producing data/evidence on the public sphere and libraries should be furthered.

Practical implications
Understanding the role and function of libraries in democratic societies is essential for libraries to play a productive democratic role in those societies and thus, in guiding them.

Social implications
This paper helps to situate the bewildering circumstances of libraries who face both popular support and broad political-social questioning of their role and place.

Originality/value
This paper arguably interjects a more sophisticated and nuanced theoretical picture of the public sphere than prior precis presented in the LIS literature have undertaken. It also engages a unique set of empirical-theoretical students from another perspective in order to deepen and shift that research discourse.


Optimal diabetes management requires daily selfmanagement. While little time is spent with health professionals, they can have a substantial impact on how a person manages and feels about living with diabetes. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore what people with diabetes wish their health professionals understood about living with diabetes.


Learner beliefs about Second Language (SL)/Foreign Language (FL) learning have been investigated since 1980s (e.g, Horwitz, 1985 ; Wenden, 1999 ). The present study examines learner beliefs about Japanese language learning and actions (their performance in and outside of the classes), in relation to the contextual factors; their motivation of the language learning, goals of taking the course, and environments of the language learning. Ethnographic approach was used for data collection including diary entry, interviews and classroom recordings. The study discusses beliefs of two students in relation to their actions, based on activity theory ( Leont'ev, 1981 ). These students were selected, because their motivation of the language learning and goals of taking the course were similar, while their beliefs and outcome were different. Differences in their language learning 'activities' and outcome were associated with their beliefs and environments. The study suggests that not only learners' motivation and goals but also beliefs influence their performance and outcome, and that operational conditions (language learning environments) can be a great affect on them. (167W)  References  Horwitz, E. K. (1985). Using students beliefs about language learning and teaching in the foreign language methods course. Foreign Language Annals, 18 (4), 333-340. Leont'ev, A. N. (1981). The problem of activity in psychology. In J. V. Wertsch (Ed.), The Concept of Activity in Soviet Psychology (pp. 37-71). Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc. Wenden, A. L. (1999). An introduction to metacognitive knowledge and beliefs in language learning: beyond the basics. System, 27 , 435-441.


Obesity is one of the most frequent nutritional disorders in dogs and cats. The disease is characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat in a systemic way, leading to secondary damage to the animal's health. Among the causes of obesity are factors such as race, species, genetic predisposition, nutrition, castration, use of some medications, but it is also due to the change in the habit of life of these species that over time were becoming more and more sedentary. Because it is a nutritional disorder, the adoption of nutritional management is essential in the treatment of the disease, because the proper balance of nutrients such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, fibers and food moisture, will function in a regulatory way in the animal's organism. Associated with an adequate nutritional management, the institution of a program of physical activities to reduce the sedentarism of the animals is of paramount importance to help the weight loss in a healthy way and without risks to the health of the animal. Thus, it can be said that providing a healthy and balanced diet to these animals is the main way to control obesity, so it is important to know the role of each nutrient in the treatment, as well as the feasibility of using ready-made foods available in the Marketplace.


white racial fears of black population growth unrelieved by expanded geographic dispersion. In methodology, the study is a model both of diligence and of the effective fusion of traditional historical research with quantitative data analysis. That analysis sustains the generalizations about age and class of active party members and gives some support to the emphasis on expansion by relating growth factors to county voting patterns. The Princeton University Press has made a reasonable, even generous, allotment of space to maps and tables, but the critical reader will have questions unanswerable by the published data. The least excusable omission is the lack of a statement, and statistical breakdown, of the total number of individuals pursued through the tedious examination of original census returns. From a cursory inspection of text and tables they appear to have numbered well over two thousand. Involving fewer census records but some sixty local newspapers as well, their identification and location rival the monumental search of Ralph A. Wooster for members of the secession conventions.


The microstructure and crystallization kinetics of Bi-substituted garnet films prepared by pyrolysis is investigated. After the crystallization of a film is completed, the microstructure of the film is observed with a TEM. The so called Johnson-Mehl microstructure is seen and a crystalline grain is approximately 1 μm in diameter. The Avrami exponent n is obtained from the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation. The transformation quantity x is determined from the ratio of the crystallized domain and the uncrystallized domain where they can be clearly observed in a differential interference microscope image as well as from the change of the optical absorption coefficient. The estimated n is known to be 3.   It can be concluded that the crystallization mechanism of the Bi1Dy2Fe4Al1O12 films prepared by pyrolysis should be a disk shaped diffusion controlled growth with a constant thickness, if the nucleation rate is considered to be constant.


Many of the basic parameters of a ubiquitous computing environment are highly variable. For example, rate of mobility, quality of wireless communication, density of communicating nodes, power constraints and computational constraints all vary greatly from situation to situation. Unfortunately, existing routing protocols, transport protocols and adaptive applications can only adapt in a limited way. One feature that is missing from many systems is the ability to identify gross operating conditions and take on very different modes of operation. Such adaptability would improve the efficiency of many solutions. We use the term multi-modal protocols to describe systems that adapt in this way. We have explored two such systems: Wireless TCP and Overlay Routing.


Objective To understand cerebrospinal meningitis antibody level in healthy inhabitants in Huazhou City. Methods A stratified and random sampling method was adopted for selection of subjects and all the subjects were divided into seven groups by age. Three millitre vein blood was taken from the subjects and the levels of antibody to serogroup A and C of meningococcus were determined. The results were statistically analyzed. Results The serological positive rate of antibody to group A and group C viruses were 85.86% and 13.61% and the mean geometry titre(GMT) were 1:7.12 and 1:1.13 respectively. Conclusion Seroroup A of meningococcus is predominant in Huazhou. There is little possibility of occurrence of cerebrospinal meningitis outbreaks due to serogroup A of meningococcus. But the work of immunization with serogroup A+C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine be carried out.


Executive Summary Buddhism has been associated with the philosophy and practice of compassion, tolerance, pacifism and ahimsa, or the avoidance of violence. The paradox of political and nationalist violence in modern Buddhist polities is particularly acute in Sri Lanka which has historically been viewed in the Theravada Buddhist world and canon as a Dhamma Dveepa (Island of the Doctrine), where the purer doctrine was to be preserved and flourish, since in India and Nepal, the birthplace of Buddhism and the Buddha Siddharta Gautama, the religion has had fewer adherents than Hinduism or Islam, and lacked state patronage. Since the Constitution of 1972, Buddhism has had a special place in Sri Lanka and, in recent times, the state, through its overseas diplomatic missions, has consciously projected itself as a Buddhist land and national heritage site, paradoxically, while engaged in one of the South Asian region's most violent armed conflicts. How do we explain political violence enacted under the sign of a historical religion whose doctrinal substance is ahimsa? This paper suggests that while Buddhist religiosity in Sri Lanka has historically been linked to state power and patronage, the substance and form of public Buddhism has been reconfigured both through the long moment of the colonial encounter with Christianity, as well as, the institution of democracy which has legitimated Sinhala Buddhist majoritarianism and the concomitant marginalisation of ethno-religious "others" in the post-colonial nation state in Sri Lanka. These include Tamils, Muslims and Christians, while Hinduism has been spared due to its historical proximity to Buddhism. It was in somewhat disproportionate response to this marginalisation that the various Tamil groups took up arms with the assistance of the Indian state. A number of theorists have noted that, in the course of the colonial encounter with Christianity, Buddhism went through a revival, even as its practice was purified and took the shape of theistic religion – a phenomenon that has been famously termed "Protestant Buddhism" (Obeyesekere: 1988, Malalgoda). More particularly, it will be argued here that processes of democratisation have given rise to Sinhala majoritarian nationalism. Ironically, the institution of democracy in post/colonial Sri Lanka may be seen to have given rise to the


The ammonia evaporation method, originally applied for the preparation of highly dispersed silica-supported copper catalysts, was used to synthesize magnesia-silica for the one-step conversion of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene. The MgO-SiO2 catalysts obtained by this method contained a high fraction of magnesium silicate hydrates, which are associated with enhanced butadiene selectivity. These catalysts were benchmarked against those prepared by a conventional wet-kneading method. A Mg/Si molar ratio of 4 was optimal, forming butadiene with 37% yield, which is far superior to the 15% yield obtained with MgO-SiO2 formed by wet-kneading. At 475 °C and a WHSV of 3.2 h−1, a productivity of 0.612 gBD gcat−1 h−1 was measured without the catalyst suffering from deactivation, even after 52 h TOS. The catalysts were characterized by spectroscopic and thermal techniques to elucidate their physicochemical properties and explain the differences in the catalytic performance. The presence of magnesium silicate hydrates gave a balance of surface acidity and basicity, which greatly improved butadiene formation. The open morphology of MgO-SiO2 with vertically arranged platelets and the presence of large pores are proposed to contribute to the stability of the catalyst.


Abstract The host immune response is a key obstacle to entomopathogenic nematodes in making the transition from the free-living state to parasitism. The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema glaseri has evolved mechanisms to evade immune encapsulation in larvae of the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica. Host intrahemocoelic injection tests show that live axenic nematodes of S. glaseri not only avoid host melanotic encapsulation but also protect dead nematodes injected after the live ones. This result indicates that the nematodes release anti-immune factor(s). We extracted the nematode surface coat proteins and found that at least one protein (SCP3a) from the S. glaseri surface coat can suppress the host immune system. This suppression protects unrelated nematode species from encapsulation and latex beads from phagocytosis. We conclude that S. glaseri uses an anti-immune protein to defeat the host immune system, thereby protecting itself from encapsulation. Presumably its symbiotic bacteria are similarly protected from phagocytosis.


Luminescence nanoprobes have been extensively investigated for many biomedical applications, ranging from cell/tissue imaging, real‐time monitoring pathophysiological changes, drug discovery, bioassays, image‐guided surgery, and therapeutic evaluations, mainly due to their excellent physicochemical properties such as tailorable size, controlled morphology, and regulatable luminescence performances. In particular, rationally designed luminescence nanoprobes with reasonable functional integration enable pharmacological effect‐based drug screening, quantification of biological/pharmaceutical agents, and monitoring therapeutic responses of different drugs. This review provides an overview of the applications of different types of luminescence nanoprobes in drug discovery and development, involving various nanoprobes for high‐throughput and high‐content drug screening, pharmaceutical analysis, and therapeutic evaluations in cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and other typical inflammatory diseases. Moreover, challenges and future perspectives regarding future applications of luminescence nanoprobes in the drug discovery field are also discussed.


Following deep astrometric and photometric study of the cluster NGC 2682 (M 67), we are able to accurately determine its fundamental parameters. Being an old and rich cluster, M 67 is relevant for the analysis of the Galactic disk evolution. M 67 is well studied but lacks a wide and deep Stromgren photometric study. The brightest stars of the open cluster M 67 were used as uvby − Hβ standard stars in our studies of NGC 1817 and NGC 2548, and the extension of the field covered, as well as the number of observations, allowed us to obtain the best set of Stromgren data ever published for this cluster. We discuss the results of our CCD uvby − Hβ intermediate-band photometry, covering an area of about 50 � × 50 � down to V ∼ 19. Moreover, a complete membership segregation based on astrometric and photometric criteria is obtained. The photometric analysis of a selected sample of stars yields a reddening value of E(b − y) = 0.03 ± 0.03, a distance modulus of V0 − MV = 9.7 ± 0.2 and [Fe/H] = 0.01 ± 0.14. Through isochrone fitting we found an age of logt = 9.6 ± 0.1 (4.2 ± 0.2 Gyr). A clump of approximately 60 stars around V = 16, (b − y) = 0.4 could be interpreted as a population of pre-cataclysmic variable stars (if members), or as a stream of field G-type stars placed at twice the distance of the cluster (if non-members).


Our purpose is to reach into the past autd shossresults of diaphuyseal resection at the Presetut time amtd thus', perhaps, to provide iuufornuat.ion for the future. The basis for this uvork is to be found itt Oilier's moiuograph published itt 1894, imi us'hichi hue referred to uvork he had done from 1858 to 1867. Imi 1870, Cheever reported huis first clinical case of regeneration of the tibia folioss-ing diaphys'eal resectiout for ost.eonuyelitis'. Excellent. reviews svere comtt.ributed by Nichols itt 1902 amid by Phemuuister itt 1915. Regeneration of the tibial shaft after resectiomi amid fibular tranisplauttat.ioui for reconstruction of the tibia after resectioti for osteomuuyehit.is amid tumor had beemi recorded 1,11 before auty of our patients had beemi seemi amid cared for. The length of observation and the presentation of late etid results are the omuly justificat.ioui for thus report uvhich presemits a follouv-up study of six childremi, origimiahly reported mi 1933 They all had had resection of the tibial shaft for os'teonuyelitis' betuveen the years 1925 amid 1932. Developments occurrimtg itt the imit.ervemtiuig t.hirt.y-tw'o years have


Competition over resources is of key importance in a growing competitive environment.Alumni are potential resources of human,finance and ideological and political education for a school.This essay tries a strategic way to look at alumni as "resources" to start a creative model of ideological and political education.In the essay,practical significance of utilizing alumni resources,the functional system of this utilization,and "win-win situations" are analyzed in depth.The main aim is to fulfill,by all means,the special function of alumni in ideological and political education so that ideological and political education can be more directive and effective.


Brillouin spectroscopic measurements have been carried out on relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.85Ti0.15O3 single crystal over the temperature range 300–873 K. The frequency of longitudinal acoustic phonon (LA) begins to exhibit a strong decrease below the Burn's temperature TB followed by an increase in the line-width below the characteristic intermediate temperature T* ∼ 525 K. The line-width of the LA phonon mode exhibits a sharp Landau-Khalatnikov-like maximum at 463 K, the tetragonal-cubic phase transition temperature (Ttc). In addition, a broad central peak, found below T* exhibits critical slowing down upon approaching Ttc indicating an order-disorder nature of the phase transition. The relaxation time of polar nanoregions estimated from the broad central peak is found to be same as that obtained from LA phonon mode suggesting a strong coupling between strain and polarization fluctuations.


The modeling (and its experimental verification) of packing and deformation of the composites consisted of aluminum-magnesium alloy AMg6, B4C powder and W nano-powder has been performed. The powder compositions were determined using discrete element modeling of the composite particles packing based on the particle size distribution functions of real powders. The models of maximum mixture packing densities have been rendered.


Publishers' details for: Reports from a Wild Country: Ethics for Decolonisation; Deborah Bird Rose, Sydney, UNSW Press, 2004, pp 236, pb $39. 95, ISBN 0868407984.


Drug resistance of bacteria is a major problem that harasses clinicians.Thus,many scientists of medical field focus their attention onto the investigation of drug resistance mechanisms.In recent years,some studies indicate that the occurrence of drug resistance is closely linked to cloning and expression vector——integron.Integrons is a kind of mobile genetic elements that can capture exogenous gene cassettes and ensure their expression under the action of integrases.At the same time,integrons can be integrated with the plasmid,or participate in the transfer as an integral part of the transposon,so that drug resistance genes can spread among different species.Integrons have become an important drug resistance mechanism of gram-negative bacteria.This paper reviews relationship between integron and multidrug resistance.


Law-intruding juveniles refers to persons more than 10 years old but under 14. Even they do activity to breach penalty law and this includes composition requirement, they are not responsible for it and punishment or security-measure cannot be given and protection-measure can be available. According to statistics about crime of Law-intruding juveniles, that assemblyman Kim Hyun received from the National Police, crime increased from 9,431 in 2011 to 13,059 cases in 2012_ by 27.7%. If such trend continues, crime by Law-intruding juveniles might be social problem. Among crimes of Law-intruding juveniles in 2012, violent crimes were robbery 28, rape 180, arson 96, totally 304. This brings deep concern. Adolescents would lead our future. So if they are not growed right and commit such crime much, Korean future would be dark. Accordingly, it would be necessary to arrange systematic mechanism, so that they can grow to shape 'society without crime.' This cannot happen naturally but it would be possible by doing much study and implementing them. In order to reasonably reduce or prevent crime by Law-intruding juveniles, First, if it is violent crime and crime activity was committed in a state where Law-intruding juveniles can do normal judgement, which is based on expert witness, such crime should be punished. Second, through integration of restorative justice and welfare justice, wrongdoer should seek real forgiveness from a victim. At the same time, welfare benefit should be given to fundamentally solve exposure of crime environment, so that at least petty crime for living should be prevented. Third, To strengthen education for knowledge, virtue, and power, personality education certification should be introduced and implemented. Fourth, By doing Touching project 1004, let Law-intruding juveniles feel real emotion so that they can really regret.


The world maximum flood and its envelop curve formula are helpful for people to analyze and understand the regional distribution law of world flood extreme value,can provide an important scale for reasonable checking the flood frequency analysis and Probable Maximum Flood(PMF) results and provide convenience for PMF rough estimation of some regions where are short of storm/flood data.The obtained new formula of peak discharge envelope curve of known maximum flood in the world according to a vast amount of flood extreme value in the world is as follows: Q_m=154A~(0.738)(for the conditions of A300 km~2);Q_m=1 830A~(0.316)(for the conditions of A=300~3,000,000 km~2).The paper briefly analyzes the characteristics of the maximum flood distribution and flood genesis in the world.


Recent terrorist bomb attacks on buildings have resulted in increased interest in the protection of key buildings. Various research programs have provided improved design and analysis techniques as well as new mitigation methods. Advanced finite element methods provide the best analytical results because they can take into account the time varying load, dynamic structural response, non-liner material properties, and the non-linear interaction of various response modes (e.g., shear and flexure). These methods require not only time but also specialized expertise to obtain good results. They are therefore generally unpractical for typical blast design problems. Simplified methods can provide reasonable approximations that are adequate for design. A variety of types of simplified models exist. Typical models include single or multi-degree-of-freedom, pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams, and response surfaces developed from finite element analyses. This paper describes some recently developed simplified models and associated research.


Alejandro L. Madrid's book on electronic dance music from Tijuana is a cultural analysis that, buttressed in Jean Baudrillard's and Fredric Jameson's theories of simulacra and postmodernity, regards consumption as the main strategy in identity constructions of border subjects. For Madrid the border is an epistemic arena that, as an ontological imaginary for the people of Tijuana, represents a site for the production of meaning. In this context, the book analyzes one of cultural studies' most sounded anxieties in the age of late capitalism: the eff ects of globalization in local constructions of identity and the crisis of the nationstate. According to Madrid, Nortec music—a simulacrum in which meaning and identity are performative acts in constant change—is a metaphor of Tijuana as a transient space that is always in a state of "becoming," elusive and changing, unable to fi x individuals in ontologically defi ned groups, and in which binational narratives collapse. Throughout the book, the author unfolds an analysis about postmodern practices of signifi cation showing how simulacra—either sonic or graphic, since the graphic arts are also incorporated into the aesthetic sensibility of the Nortec experience—represent articulations of a desire for originality and cosmopolitanism as main catalysts of the Nortec scene. Chapter 1 establishes how processes of simulation are at the core of the Nortec experience. From the inability to account for a common myth of origin of this music to a kitsch reinterpretation of "roots" and tradition in music as an empowering source of identity, Madrid shows how the lack of a referent acts as main discursive element. Chapter 2, then, contextualizes this dynamic in the impossibility to account for grassroots authenticity in popular music traditions from the north of Mexico, since banda, norteño, cumbia, and onda grupera sounds are themselves hybrid texts, the products of historical processes of appropriation and transculturation, thus suggesting that authenticity is constructed as a simulacrum as well. Chapter 3 goes further in problematizing the notion of reference by showing how the Nortec Reviews


Programs should consist of off-the-shelf, interchangeable, black-box components that are produced by a network of independent software companies. These components should not only come with type signatures but also with contracts that describe other aspects of their behavior. One way to express contracts is to state preand postconditions for externally visible functions. These preand post-conditions should then be validated during evaluation or possibly even during compilation. If a function call fails to satisfy its contract, the run-time system should blame the faulty program component. Behavioral contracts in the form of assertions are well-understood in the world of procedural languages. Their addition to class and interface hierarchies in object-oriented programming languages, however, raises many new and interesting questions. The most complicating factor is that objects can pass between components and trigger callbacks. Another problem is that object-oriented languages allow objects to satisfy several interfaces at once. In this paper, we analyze existing approaches to adding contracts to class-based languages and show how they blame the wrong component in certain situations for breach of contract. We then present a conservative extension of Java that allows programmers to specify method contracts in interfaces. The extension is a compromise between a consistent enforcement of contracts and language design concerns. In the future, we plan to clarify the relationship between contracts and contract violations with a rigorous analysis. 1 Contracts and Assertions Beugnard, Jézéquel, Plouzeau, and Watkins [1] suggest that software components should come with contracts. They describe four levels of contracts: 1. syntactic contracts (type systems), 2. behavorial contracts (invariants, preand post-conditions), 3. synchronization contracts, and 4. quality of service contracts. Type systems and other syntactic contracts for components have been studied extensively in object-oriented, functional, and higher-order contexts [2, 10, 16]. Behavioral contracts have been studied in procedural contexts [11, 19, 20, 25, 26]. Behavioral contracts have also been added to object-oriented languages [4, 9, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 24]. Adding behavioral contracts to object-oriented languages, however, is subtle. Each of the referenced systems fails


Many different modes have been used to reverse and/or prevent the effects of a High fat diet. The literature suggests that a combination of diet modification and exercise can be effective. Thus, this study employed a specific mixture of amino acids and aerobic exercise training to investigate their effects on glucose tolerance and cell signaling in high fat fed rats.