A novel Ag3PO4/reduced graphene oxide/Bi2MoO6 (Ag3PO4/RGO/Bi2MoO6) Z-scheme photocatalyst has been successfully prepared by a precipitation-solvothermal method. The composition, morphology, structure and optical properties of the ternary composite were thoroughly investigated. The obtained Ag3PO4/RGO/Bi2MoO6 composite displayed significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation, and its degradation rate (0.14575 min−1) was approximately 2.34, 2.63 and 4.97 times faster than that of the Ag3PO4/Bi2MoO6 composite, pure Ag3PO4 and Bi2MoO6, respectively. Meanwhile, the Ag3PO4/RGO/Bi2MoO6 composite exhibited better stability compared with pure Ag3PO4 after four consecutive reuses. In addition, it shows good photodegradation efficiency for five other dyes under visible light irradiation. The improved photocatalytic performance and stability could be ascribed to the larger surface area, extended visible-light absorption capability and high-efficiency separation of electron–hole pairs of the Ag3PO4/RGO/Bi2MoO6 composite. Furthermore, RGO could act as a charge transmission bridge to accelerate the electron transfer from Ag3PO4 to Bi2MoO6 (Ag3PO4 → RGO → Bi2MoO6) in this Z-scheme system; thus the photocorrosion of Ag3PO4 and the recombination of charge carriers were effectively suppressed. The energy band structure and free radical capturing experiments proved that the electrons in the conduction band (CB) of Bi2MoO6 had stronger reducibility and the holes in the valence band (VB) of Ag3PO4 had higher oxidizability. Simultaneously, combined with the results of PL spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical measurements, the mechanism of Z-scheme charge transfer in the Ag3PO4/RGO/Bi2MoO6 composite was further confirmed. This study provides an idea for improving the anti-photocorrosion and photocatalytic performance of photosensitive semiconductors.


This study was conducted to analyze the segmentation & profiling Bogor tourists, analyze consumer preferences towards typical culinary Bogor and the factors that influence them, and formulate appropriate strategies for the development of the typical culinary Bogor. This research used descriptive method survey. Segmentation and profiling analysis performed on the tourist city of Bogor were done with the help of a cluster analysis. For the second objective of this study, this used conjoint analysis to formulate a preference rating of Bogor to the typical culinary travel Bogor. Both of these analyzes were processed using an analysis tool SPSS 16.0. The results showed that there were three groups/ clusters on the tourist city of Bogor. Cluster i.e. one single adult was as much as 23 percent, and cluster of two adult family was as much as 71 percent, and the last cluster of young adults was as much as 6 percent. Traveler preferences resulting from this study were typical culinary areas of Bogor which had complete tourist facilities, ease of sitting, and friendly service. The strategy that can be formulated for the development of the typical culinary Bogor is a breakthrough in terms of marketing, promotion of standardization policy by the government to businesses typical culinary Bogor, as well as the central building typical culinary Bogor.


Boards of 18 mm and 12 mm thickness with a specific gravity of 0.70 g/cm3 were used in this study. Some of these boards were coated with melamine-impregnated papers. The bending strength, modulus of elasticity, bonding strength, screw holding and formaldehyde emission of boards stored for, in turn, one day, one week, one month and three months were recorded during the experiments. It was concluded that coating with melamine impregnated papers improved the mechanical properties of particleboards and that formaldehyde emission was remarkably reduced. Board thickness was found to have an effect on all mechanical properties of particleboard except for bending strength and formaldehyde emission.


The "Activity Theory" is a modern social learning theory, which attempts to offer a different way of approaching learning by emphasizing on the kind and quality of the activities of the subjects, as a key learning factor. On the basis of the "Activity Theory" the "activity" is understood as a set of individual actions of personal character, which influence and interact on each other formulating a common systemic framework of activity in its own personality, character and orientation, that is the result both of the interconnection of different systemic considerations, and of the (existence) historicity of the roles and transformations leading to situations of individual and collective change. The potential of the principles of "Activity Theory" is to be highlighted in this paper through its application on the design of the lesson planning process of the Religious Education subject, focusing on issues related to the transformation of religious concepts into the learning content, as well as on the main learning processes leading the learning subjects into cognitive and socio-emotional change through such educational interventions and adaptations.


The article deals with the presence of a fairly large number of types of communication activities. The study tells about the two-way nature of language communication. determines the presence of different roles performed by the individuals participating in it. Each of these roles, which we will call types of communicative or linguistic activity, is a complex psychophysiological complex with a pronounced specificity. The same general property of communication implies the presence of two groups of types of communicative activity: productive types associated with the transmission or production of a message, and receptive types serving the receiving end of the communication line. The distinction between the productive and the receptive in language communication is, therefore, not a terminological excess, but a fact of primary importance, arising from the very nature of language information exchange. The second factor complicating the communicative activity of the members of the language team is the presence of two forms of language communication: sound (oral) and written. The coexistence and frequent alternation of two forms of language communication makes it necessary to "translate" written messages into sound and sound into written ones, which is associated with the presence of two specific types of communicative activity: reading aloud and writing speech. The third factor that contributes to the diversity of roles performed by individuals in language communication is the multiplicity of sound and written languages on our planet. To serve the exchange of information between multilingual teams, there are special types of communication activities associated with translation from one sound or written language to another. However, the article does not claim to cover all the necessary material.


For optimal point-to-point control of linear systems, this paper investigates how control strategies should be rendered online if non-convex state constraints are suddenly detected during execution. The challenge is to compute a modified strategy with low effort while maintaining a close-to-optimal control performance. The proposed solution is to synthesize offline a range of trajectories which are homotopic to the optimal unconstrained solution. Upon detection of the state constraints (which may represent an obstacle to be circumvented by a mobile vehicle), a sub-optimal yet feasible homotopic trajectory is selected by a fast iteration which avoids to solve a time-demanding constrained optimization problem online.


As the population is advancing day by day the needs of humans are rising steeply. It is of the paramount importance of the manufacturing companies to opt-out from the standard manufacturing techniques and makes way for the non-conventional techniques. One such that we will be discussing through this paper is the process of additive manufacturing. It is a rapid prototyping technique that involves laver by laver amalgamation of the filament coming out from the heated nozzle. In this paper, we will be discussing fused deposition modeling and the process of 3D-Printing. In addition to that, this study will discuss the effect of the bonding properties of the ABS filament on the introduction of acetone as the binding agent. A comparison of the bonding strength of the polymer with and without the acetone test will be presented with tested results will also be performed.


The tolerance of tissues to radiation is an inverse function of the volume irradiated. Portals should be no larger than necessary to cover the tumor-bearing areas. The widespread practice of using four or even six 15 × l0-cm. portals in the external irradiation of carcinoma of the cervix with medium voltage (200 to 400 kv) irradiates a large volume of tissue unnecessarily. Delivering high doses to such large areas increases the incidence of severe complications, and eventually lowers the cure rate (2,7,12). The availability of multimillion-volt therapy renders integrated planning and accurate aiming to secure minimal but adequate coverage of the tumor-bearing areas most imperative. Arrangement of the pelvic portals depends upon the purpose to be achieved: whether treatment of the primary tumor and its extensions or treatment of the lateral aspects of the parametria and lymph nodes only, as a supplement to local irradiation by intracavitary radium (5). For the former, the whole pelvis is included; for the ...


Nowadays, management trainers and educators are being challenged by an ever increasing number of new ideas, directions and expectations, all of which demand immediate attention and fulfilment. This is because it is perceived that, 'managers ought to be trained and equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills in order to take charge and consequently prepare their organisations to meet unexpected demands' (Analoui, 1989j p 9).


Growth and survival of juvenile pearl mother Pinctada imbricata was
evaluated through six months of culture in suspended hanging ropes and
pearl nets using a longline in Turpialito Bay, Cariaco Gulf, Venezuela.
Pearl oyster seeds 15 mm long were cultured, evaluating survival, shell
length, muscle, rest of the body and byssus mass monthly. Variations of
salinity, temperature, chlorophyll a, seston, solved oxygen and shell
fouling, were determined every two weeks. After six months, the oyster
reached dorso-ventral length close to 50 mm. Shell growth pattern was
similar for both types of culture, although byssus mass was higher in
hanging ropes, while shell length was greater in pearl nets. No
significant differences were found in body mass. Survival showed
similar patterns in both culture systems, although a decrease in
numbers occurred in January for the oysters in pearl nets, associated
to the presence of the gastropod Cymatium sp. The phytoplanktonic
biomass was positively correlated to growth in P. imbricata, showing to
be an important factor in growth modulation. The results suggest the
use of the rope system for the culture of P. imbricada.


The wine production sector is going through a transition state all over the world. It is breaking up national boundaries and resulting in the adherence to a economic, strategic and political transnationality (globalization). Facing a surplus, the industry reconfigures itself. This article, which is the result of research work that led to a Master degree dissertation, focuses on this reconfiguration. Its specific objectives are: (i) to reflect on the business competitiveness of the local (Vale do Sao Francisco) and national wine production sector in a global market, focusing the analysis on the identification and discussion of adjustments that are being implemented, (ii) proposing additional lines of strategic action, (iii) analyzing prospects of success in the new global competitive environment. The research adopted the comparative multiple case study method. The results highlight the existence of a strategic and competitive potential that can be translated (if the proper conditions are created – business structures and operational management aspects) into the establishment of a "competitive geographic concentration" in line with the Michael Porter's clusters for competitiveness.


In horizontal continuous casting or in meniscus free continuous casting, the appearance of corrugations or marks at the surface of the cast products cannot be related with the partial solidification of the meniscus of the free surface of the liquid metal, like in the case of the classical vertical continuous casting process. In order to find their origin, an experimental work has been carried on with two different experimental devices. The first one provides solidified metallic samples to be observed and analysed. With the other one, it is possible to directly look at the formation of the skin on the mould during the solidification of transparent organic compounds. Here, we firstly present the results of the observation of the surface of samples cast in very different casting conditions. In a companion paper, we propose a description of the formation of the marks and corrugations in terms of basic phenomena which occur during solidification.


A small-scale thermoelectric generator (TEG) system produces a power of 1.43 W at a temperature differential between the thermoelectric module (TEM) surfaces of 70.00°C. This can cold-start a GSM locator and broadcast coordinates using an SMS message. Ultra-low power off-the-shelf electronics are combined to produce a reliable cellular signal and generate the coordinates, eliminating the need for dedicated GPS modules and reducing the total power consumption. A supercapacitor-based charging system was designed to store charge from the TEMs and discharge a constant 5.2 V to power the electronics. The system requires approximately 60 seconds from a cold start to send geographic coordinates. Designs for several cold blocks, used to generate the temperature differential for the TEMs, were investigated, including designs utilizing phase-change material (PCM) and water.


Objective To investigate difference of mathematics anxiety in gender and grade of junior middle school students. Methods Totally 380 students from 3 junior middle school of Shandong province attended the investigation. The Mathematics Anxiety Scale for Middle School Student used in the investigation was developed by ourselves. Results There is no significant difference in gender and grade on the whole scale. But, there is significant difference in gender on the subscale of exam result anxiety, and in grade on subscale of classroom anxiety. Conclusion The higher level of mathematics anxiety of girls comes from the fact that girls are less confident in learning mathematics. Students of junior three has higher level of classroom anxiety than students of junior one, from which we can get that students may feel the instructional content is a little difficult for them. Index Terms - junior middle school students, mathematics anxiety, efficacy


Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. The continuous genetic research done on this disease demonstrates the vast complexity of the genetic architecture. The most recent whole‐genome sequence analysis (GWAS)included 1.1 million individuals and identified 38 loci associated with AD status with seven novel loci. However, there is no reliable therapeutics to combat the late stages of AD as of late. The identified rare variants in the RAB10 gene show protective effects against developing AD. This work demonstrates that inhibition of the expression of RAB10 yields better outcomes in terms of the amyloid‐beta ratio and cognition. In addition, we demonstrated that RAB10 modulates the NLRC4 inflammasome complex and their derived products IL‐1‐beta, IL‐18, and TNF‐alpha.


Since the late 1990s, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and several mainline Western Protestant churches have been at odds over homosexuality to such an extent that it has turned into a church-dividing issue. This article aims to find new openings for the ecumenical dialogue by examining how the ROC's negative attitude toward same-sex relations has been influenced by cultural and historic factors. The analysis focuses on the affective dimension of the ROC's discourse on homosexuality in important social documents and public speeches. The methodology applied is taken from affect studies. The rhetoric of the ecclesial texts recalls 'shadows from the gulag' and frightening memories of the chaos of the 1990s, and functions to create an imagined national, moral and religious community – the 'Russian Christian civilization' – which is characterized by masculine heterosexuality. Religious concepts tend to become subordinate to the affective politics of the discourse. In conclusion, the author proposes that ecumenical partners continue with a profound theological discussion on human sexuality in all its diversity and complexity, and clarify to each other how understandings of basic theological notions such as human dignity and freedom have also been shaped by formative historic experiences. Furthermore, ecclesiological debates should address, at a fundamental level, the relationship between Christian community and the freedom 'to be different.'


This research was done to investigate the antifungal activity of Thymus vulgaris and its effective concentration, and to compare the antifungal activity among Thymus vulgaris, Amphotericin B, and Potassium Iodide. Thymus vulgaris is a herb that its phytochemistry is employed for therapeutic properties. Thymus vulgaris was dried and made a viscous extract dissolved in DMSO 100%. The in vitro susceptibility of Aspergillus fumigatus to Thymus vulgaris, Amphotericin B, and Potassium Iodide were determined by a disk diffusion technique. There were 13 treatments and 3 replicates. The experimental design was completely randomized design. The data was analyzed using the analysis of variance statistic method. If there were differences among treatments, the Tukey test was used. The result indicated the significant difference (p 0.05) between Thymus vulgaris extract and Amphotericin B. It could be concluded that Thymus vulgaris extract has antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus


Abstract : Space Support Fully Integrated into All Phases of a Conflict: Ensuring Space Dominance for the Operational Commander. While Space Dominance has become a given for U.S. commanders in recent conflicts, emerging threats and the growth of complex space systems make the maintenance of that dominance a growing challenge. Numerous nations now have (or are developing) space capabilities and could challenge us in the next decade. In order to properly utilize and manage the various assets and threats facing our forces, operational commanders must be able to fully integrate space into all levels of their planning for a campaign. From Shaping Efforts, long before the fighting starts, through Enabling Civil Authorities, after the fighting ends, there are numerous capabilities which we must understand and master to win in the battle space of tomorrow.


Implement carrier synchronization module in DSP based on ICS-554 was realized by adopting the cross-Product Automatically Frequency Tracking (CPAFT) algorithm and SPLL. The SPLL consists of calculation frequency error, updating loop middle variable, and output control signal. The two A/D sampling channel was used to send the original signal into ICS-554 output at the same time. The delay filter was added in A/D module of Channel 2. The corresponding signal passed mixer, bus transmission, the SPLL calculation and the frequency of fest control bus to transmit time. So, the frequency offset in the channel one was equaled to one in the channel two in real-time.


The development of collections of popular culture by libraries is discussed in the context of both technological development and a new understanding that all cultural expressions are important manifestations of humankind's creativity. Taking a Bajan (relating to the island of Barbados) perspective, the author argues the case for libraries to collect and provide access to popular music, focusing on calypso as a particular case. She shows that this is a particularly important issue for developing countries, especially where oral and sound materials are important as national and local cultural expressions.


In enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157, there are two types of anaerobic nitric oxide (NO) reductase genes, an intact gene (norV) and a 204 bp deletion gene (norVs). Epidemiological analysis has revealed that norV‐type EHEC are more virulent than norVs‐type EHEC. Thus, to reveal the role of NO reductase during EHEC infection, we constructed isogenic norV‐type and norVs‐type EHEC mutant strains. Under anaerobic conditions, the norV‐type EHEC was protected from NO‐mediated growth inhibition, while the norVs‐type EHEC mutant strain was not, suggesting that NorV of EHEC was effective in the anaerobic detoxification. We then investigated the role of NO reductase within macrophages. The norV‐type EHEC produced a lower NO level within macrophages compared with the norVs‐type EHEC. Moreover, the norV‐type EHEC resulted in higher levels of Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) within macrophages compared with the norVs‐type EHEC. Finally, the norV‐type EHEC showed a better level of survival than the norVs‐type EHEC. These data suggest that the intact norV gene plays an important role for the survival of EHEC within macrophages, and is a direct virulence determinant of EHEC.


Four viruses have been reported from taro; Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV), Taro bacilliform virus (TaBV) and two putative rhabdoviruses, Colocasia bobone disease virus (CBDV) and Taro vein chlorosis virus (TaVCV). A fifth virus, tentatively named Taro reovirus (TaRV), has also been recently identified. The distribution of these viruses throughout the Pacific Islands, and the symptoms associated with their infection, are unknown in many cases due to a lack of sensitive diagnostic tests. We have used recently developed PCR-based diagnostic tests to survey taro growing in 11 Pacific Island countries for the presence of known viruses. DsMV and TaBV were widespread, whereas TaVCV and TaRV were more restricted in their distribution. CBDV was restricted to PNG and Solomon Islands and was always associated with the two most serious viral diseases of taro; alomae disease and bobone disease, but the causal agent of these two diseases remains unclear.


This work characterizes a novel mechanism of superenhancer-driven cyclin D1 upregulation by DHX37 and PLRG1, implicating this pathway as a potential therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma.


Safety device (1) for a kite, with a loop (26) which is releasably connectable to a harness hook of a surfer, a trigger mechanism (3) for opening the loop (26), a safety line (6), on the one hand to the kite or one front line (2, 4) or a back line (10, 12) and on the other hand via a leash (8) on the Surfer is fixable, characterized by a guide member (30) connected to the safety line (6) and leash (8) connected and movable along the loop (26) is guided such that it dissolves when opening the loop (26) by the release mechanism (3) of the loop (26).


Vacuum ultra violet (VUV) emission spectra from plasmas near walls of different metallic materials were measured to estimate the effect upon the local production rate of vibrational excited hydrogen molecules due to plasma wall interaction. Among Cu, Mo, Ni, Ta and Ti, the intensity of band spectrum around Lyman‐α had become the largest when Cu wall was used while it was the smallest for Ti. The role of particle reflection from the plasma electrode surface upon the H− production by a pure electron volume process is discussed.


Computation of Deflections. Work and Energy Theorems. Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures by the Force or Flexibility Method. Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures by the Displacement or Stiffness Method. Continuous Girders and Frames with Variable Moment of Inertia. Approximate and Practicable Methods. Elastic Arches, Members with Closed Ends, and Frames with Curved Members. Flexible Members. Appendix. General References. Index.


The operating efficiency of high-head pump turbines is closely related to the internal hydraulic losses within the system. Conventional methods for calculating hydraulic losses based on pressure differences often lack detailed information on their distribution and specific sources. Additionally, the presence of splitter blades further complicates the hydraulic loss characteristics, necessitating further study. In this study, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations were employed to analyze the performance of a pump turbine with splitter blades at three different head conditions and a guide vane opening (GVO) of 10°. The numerical simulations were validated by experimental tests using laser doppler velocimetry (LDV). Quantitative analysis of flow components and hydraulic losses was conducted using entropy production theory in combination with an examination of flow field distributions to identify the origins and features of hydraulic losses. The results indicate that higher heads are associated with lower growth rates of total hydraulic losses. In particular, the significant velocity gradients at the trailing edge of the splitter blades contribute to higher hydraulic losses. Furthermore, the hydraulic losses in the runner (RN) region are predominantly influenced by velocity gradients and not by vortices, with the flow conditions in the RN region impacting the hydraulic losses in the draft tube (DT).


Frank KC. Malignant histological grading system: proposal for an adjusted grading system for oral squamous cell carcinoma [dissertation]. São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia; 2019. Versão Original Squamous cell carcinoma represents 90% of malignant neoplasms in the oral cavity. Since it is a disease with high incidence and high risk, it is important to understand how it manifests both clinically and histologically for obtaining information to develop the best treatment and prognostic for patients. The international system used for classification is the clinical TNM staging system. However, this system does not guarantee a morphological and structural analysis of carcinoma. Thus, many researchers have given attention to this fact, making histological grading systems in order to assist in the treatment and in order to increase the quality of life and prognosis of patients with this neoplasia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the histological grade of malignancy of 50 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma located in tongue and buccal floor through histological grading systems of The World Health Organization (WHO), Brandwein-Gensler and Boxberg and relate their results to recent studies and to draw a new morphological gradading system. The 50 slides were stained with HE and analysed under optical microscope. Results: by WHO, 15 were well-differentiated, 26 moderately differentiated and 9 poorly differentiated. Boxberg with 18, 27 and 5 respectively and Brandwein-Gensler, with 22 low risk, 11 intermediated risk and 9 high risk. In relation to the findings of the study, we conclude that the different findings in the literature that are in discrepancy at all times and can be reduced if the combination of morphological parameters start being established in a new gradation that include several aspects of oral carcinomas.


Objectives
The effect of culinary doses of herbs and spices, consumed as part of a well-defined dietary pattern, on gut microbiota composition has not been previously studied. The aim of this study was to examine gut microbial composition following an average American diet (carbohydrate: 50% kcal; protein: 17%; total fat: 33%; saturated fat: 11%; sodium: 3000 mg/d) containing herbs and spices at 0.5 (Low Spice Diet; LSD), 3.3 (Moderate Spice Diet; MSD) and 6.6 (High Spice Diet; HSD) g/day/2100 kcal in adults at-risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).


The relaxation dynamics of the zero-range process (ZRP) has been an interesting problem. In this study, we set up the relationship between the ZRP and a model of traps, and investigate the slow dynamics of the ZRP in the framework of the trap model. Through statistical quantities such as the average rest time, the particle distribution, the two-time correlation function and the average escape time, we find that the particle interaction, especially the resulting condensation, can significantly influence the dynamics. In the stationary state, both the average rest time and the average escape time caused by the attraction among particles are obtained analytically. In the transient state, a hierarchical nature of the aging dynamics is revealed by both simulations and scaling analysis. Moreover, by comparing the particle diffusion in both the transient state and the stationary state, we find that the closer the ZRP systems approach the stationary state, the more slowly the particles diffuse.


Contemporary medical facilities, whether for diagnosis, treatment or research, must accommodate the needs of humans and medical instruments or equipment. With regard to acoustics, the disparate requirements vary from acoustic privacy to freedom from intrusive noise, to vibration control. Medical facilities also grow and change, subjecting occupants to demolition and construction disturbances. Acoustical criteria employed in building designs are often inadequate to control the full spectral range of requirements, although criteria for many conditions do exist. This paper presents interesting problems and conditions that occur in healthcare and research facilities with brief case studies to illustrate them, including construction disturbances, tonal noise affects on patients, privacy, and vibration and low frequency noise affects on medical equipment. Measurement data will contrast ambient versus disturbed conditions. Solution concepts to example problems will be presented with photo or drawing illustration...


This paper proposes a Neural Network classifier model for the automatic identification of cardiac arrhythmias. Our main aim is to have a better classification rate in a minimum time with simple algorithms in their implementation. The wavelet transform is used to extract the parameters which characterize different arrhythmic pathologies and thus constitute the bases of learning and generalization of the networks of neurons. A preprocessing by filtering adapted by the Butterworth Filter is applied to the signals before the extraction. Classification is done using Neural Network classifier further dimension reduction to reduce the overhead of the training is performed by PCA. The ECG signals used in this study are taken from the internationally known MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database. The results obtained are satisfactory with average recognition rates of 95.7% in NN and 97.1 % for PCA-NN.


Fifty-nine patients were evaluated for nutritional changes while receiving a 28-day course of recombinant leukocyte A interferon in an escalating dose, phase I study, on a three times weekly schedule. Side effects included, but were not limited to: fatigue (70%), anorexia (59%), nausea (32%), vomiting (18%), and diarrhea (10%), and are the subject of this report. Weight, serum albumin, and performance status were all significantly lower (p < 0.0001) on day 28 when compared to baseline, and decreases in weight were dose-dependent (p < 0.0001). Recombinant leukocyte A interferon appears to have an adverse effect on patients' nutritional status as measured by these parameters.


In this article, starting from a Gibbs capacity, we build a new random capacity by applying two simple operators, the first one introducing some redundancy and the second one performing a random sampling. Depending on the values of the two parameters ruling the redundancy and the sampling, the new capacity has very different multifractal behaviors. In particular, the multifractal spectrum of the capacity may contain two to four phase transitions, and the multifractal formalism may hold only on a strict subset (sometimes, reduced to a single point) of the spectrum's domain.


Although the application of carbon fiber composite materials in the industry is gradually wide, the research on the properties of materials is currently lacking. In order to save the cost of each test, the simulation of the properties of the carbon fiber composite material should be carried out in a targeted manner while conducting the necessary tests. Therefore, this paper first analyzes the main characteristics of carbon fiber composites, and then uses finite element analysis software to calculate the strength of the strong ring made of carbon fiber composite material for a vehicle under tensile failure load. I hope that the research in this paper can provide reference for relevant scholars, and I hope to expand the research in the field of automotive carbon fiber composite materials. 1. Research background 1.1 Literature review In recent years, many Chinese scholars have conducted extensive research on carbon fiber composite materials. Li et al used ANSYS software's node coupling technology and contact analysis technology to calculate the strength of the NOL ring made of a carbon fiber composite under tensile failure load, and the circumferential stress of each point on the NOL ring. The error between the two simulation methods and the experimental values was 23.6% and 5.6%, respectively, indicating that the contact analysis technique is more accurate (Li et al., 2011). Ma Xiangyu et al designed a carbon fiber composite vehicle transmission shaft for the strength and critical speed requirements of an automobile transmission shaft. The Abaqus finite element analysis software was used to simulate the transmission shaft, and the designed carbon fiber composite transmission was proposed. The performance of the shaft can fully meet the requirements of the automotive drive shaft (Ma et al., 2017). Zhang Jinguang and others believe that the integrated automotive composite drive shaft designed and manufactured using carbon fiber composite drive shafts meets the strength requirements while its minimum critical speed is much higher than the actual speed demand, providing safety and comfort for the vehicle body. A high-intensity guarantee. In addition, Abaqus finite element software is used to theoretically calculate the design of the transmission shaft shape, and the vibration mode image and amplitude value of the transmission shaft are obtained. The actual critical speed is measured through experiments, which provides a basis for the design and operation of the composite transmission shaft. (Zhang et al., 2018). Hu Renxiang and Zhou Jinyu used Altair OptiStruct software to establish a finite element model of the battery casing, and optimized the structure of the car battery casing. The entire automotive battery housing optimization process consists of three phases, namely the conceptual design phase, the system design phase, and the detailed design phase. The study concluded that the optimized design can reduce the weight of the battery case, and the weight loss ratio can be as high as 66%, so the optimization effect is obvious (Hu and Zhou, 2017). Li Yang et al proposed a new sandwich structure of carbon fiber/epoxy resin and rigid PVC foam, which was applied to a small electric vehicle floor. According to the theory of composite laminates, a finite element model is established and its bending characteristics are analyzed. Based on the original scheme, a structural optimization scheme for bending characteristics is proposed to improve the bending performance of the automobile floor and achieve the bending stiffness target setting (Li et al., 2018). Zheng Zongzheng believes that in the past automobile manufacturing, the steel transmission shaft was used, and its 2019 International Conference on Civil Engineering, Materials and Environment (ICCEME 2019) Copyright © (2019) Francis Academic Press, UK DOI: 10.25236/icceme.2019.007 35 bending natural frequency was small. In order to meet the requirements of high-speed driving of the car, a two-stage transmission shaft can be used, but the two-stage transmission shaft has many disadvantages that are difficult to overcome. However, the use of carbon fiber composites to make hybrid drive shafts for automobiles can solve this problem well and improve the overall performance of the car (Zheng, 2016). Based on a static loading test method, Xu Haijun and Zhang Kefeng used ABAQUS to carry out finite element simulation on the rear lower guard made of carbon fiber composites, and analyzed the influence of the carbon fiber composite paving scheme on the performance of the lower guard. It is proposed that the beam adopts a 90° single angle layering scheme, and the combination of the longitudinal beam using the mixed angle layering scheme is the best (Xu and Zhang, 2016). Based on the existing research, although scholars have carried out a lot of research on carbon fiber composite materials, these research perspectives are relatively broad. Therefore, this paper analyzes the finite element of carbon fiber composite materials for vehicles, and enriches the research in related fields. 1.2 Purpose of research Carbon fiber composites have a series of advantages such as small specific gravity, high specific modulus, and fatigue resistance. They can greatly improve the service life of automobiles, and can improve fuel efficiency and safety and comfort. They have been recognized as the best lightweight in the automotive industry. Materials (Zhang et al., 2016). Therefore, carbon fiber composite materials have been widely used in the automotive field. The traditional carbon fiber composite molding process is mainly from the aviation industry, while the aviation industry has the characteristics of high cost and small batch size. In order to meet the high efficiency and low cost requirements of automotive carbon fiber composite materials, many mainstream automobile companies in the world have developed a number of differentiated new rapid prototyping processes in combination with the characteristics of body parts, so as to maximize the efficacy of carbon fiber composite materials. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the finite element of automotive carbon fiber composites, and even to reduce the test frequency, it can accurately predict the tensile strength of the test piece. 2. Main characteristics of carbon fiber composites Overall, carbon fiber composites have the following characteristics: First, they are highly configurable. This is the most prominent feature of carbon fiber composites compared to other traditional materials. The mechanical and mechanical properties of carbon fiber composites can be achieved in accordance with the requirements of the use of the parts or the environmental conditions, by reasonably selecting and matching the components and materials, so as to maximize the expected results. To fully meet the performance requirements required for the specific engineering business. Second, there is a strong dependence on the carbon fiber composite process. In the formation process of carbon fiber composite structure, there are relatively complex physical or chemical changes between the materials of each component, and the performance of each component has strong dependence on process methods and parameters. In addition, because the carbon fiber composite material is difficult to accurately control the detailed parameters of the actual process in the specific molding process, a high technical level is required in the material fabrication process. Third, carbon fiber composites have higher tensile strength and lighter weight. Carbon fiber composites have relatively low density, so carbon fiber composites have significant light weight, high strength and high toughness compared with other traditional metal materials. Moreover, carbon fiber composites can reach dozens of times or more of plastic products than plastic products. Fourth, the carbon fiber composite material has good high and low temperature resistance and high thermal conductivity. Moreover, the coefficient of linear expansion has a negative temperature effect along the axial direction of the fiber. As the temperature gradually increases, the carbon fiber composite material gradually shrinks, so the dimensional stability is good and the thermal conductivity is high.


Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the competitive strategies being adopted by MFIs and the effect of such strategies on firm performance Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The targeted population of the study was derived from the 41 members of Association of Microfinance Institutions. A census was carried out.  The questionnaire was the main data collection instrument due to its convenience and ease of use. The data will be analyzed through both descriptive statistics and regression statistics. Results: The findings of the study indicated that MFIs used cost leadership competitive strategy, differentiation strategy, focus strategy and value disciplines. Findings indicated that there was a relationship between competitive strategies and the performance of MFIs. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: It was recommended in the study that the MFIs should continue the use of the competitive strategies as they were impacting positively to their performance. The suggested area of research was to determine most preferred dominant competitive strategy being used by MFIs and also to ascertain the truth of the "being split in the middle phenomena" advocated by porter (1998).


Dear Editor,

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a monophasic acute nonvasculitic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that is characterized by diffuse neurologic signs and symptoms coupled with evidence of multifocal demyelination lesions on neuroimaging.1 The onset of ADEM usually follows a viral infection or immunization after a mean period of 7–14 days. Neuroinflammation is well established as a key secondary injury mechanism after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and it has been long considered to contribute to the damage sustained following TBI.2 Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of ADEM are likely to reduce morbidity.3

A 4-year-old girl banged the back of her head and neck while bathing. She lost conscious for few seconds, and was agitated during the postconcussion period. After 72 hours her score on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 8 (eye opening=3, verbal=4, and motor=1), and she had bilateral reactive pupils, generalized symmetrical hypotonia, intact sensation, and intact knee and ankle reflexes. The plantar response was bilateral flexor, and she reported backache. A CSF examination showed pleocytosis (70 cells/µL) with mild elevation of protein (50 mg/dL), negative CSF oligoclonal bands, and negative serum neuromyelitis optica-immunoglobulin G antibodies (ELISA/dilution 4×). MRI of the cervical spine and brain confirmed a diagnosis of ADEM (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Axial T2-weighted (A) and FLAIR (B) MRI images of the brain, showing bilateral cerebral and cerebellar ill-defined patchy areas of signal abnormalities in the middle cerebellar peduncles, left temporal periventricular region, splenium of the corpus callosum, ...

She showed a marked improvement after pulse steroid therapy with methylprednisolone sodium succinate (Solu-Medrol®, Pfizer Inc., Belgium) at 30 mg/kg daily for 3 days. She was continued on oral prednisolone that was subsequently tapered over a 3-week period. A 3-week follow-up MRI examination showed regression of the disease process in terms of size, number, and mass effect of lesions. After 2 months she exhibited a complete clinical recovery, and normal neurologic findings.

Posttraumatic ADEM is rarely reported. An abnormally low GCS score at 24 hours or longer after head trauma is associated with an unfavorable prognosis.4 In the present case the GCS score remained low at 3 days posttrauma.

In our case brain demyelination occurred 72 hours after TBI. An animal study found that neuroinflammation plays a key role in the pathophysiology of brain damage following TBI. Biphasic breakdown of the blood-brain barrier after TBI has been reported to first appear immediately after the primary insult, with the permeability peaking within a few hours and then subsequently improving. Delayed injury cascades typically peak at 3–7 days after TBI, and lasts from days to years.5 Persistent inflammation and ongoing white-matter degeneration lasting many years after a single TBI have been reported in humans. PET imaging in humans using a ligand that binds to activated microglia revealed increased microglial activation for up to 17 years after TBI.6 Multiple or single extensive lesions on MRI in ADEM syndrome may be associated with disability.7 This contrasts with our case, since she recovered completely despite having multiple lesions. It is unclear whether the complete recovery in our case was due to the underlying etiology or to the early application of treatment. A previous study found a mortality rate of 20% with a high incidence of neurologic sequelae in patients who survived postmeasles ADEM.8


The history of the two french cultural institutes in spain is not only symbolic of the scientific and artistic attraction exerted by spain but also of the need to curb the influence of other foreign powers. The experience proved difficult since there were six different political regimes during the seventy years in question. Furthermore, the existence of those institutes was threatened when the buildings were destroyed during the spanish civil war, but had constantly been at stake since they were controlled by three different bodies - the bordeaux university, the french ministry of education and the academy of fine arts in paris - whereas spanish authorities just behaved as mere disinterested observers.


Acute heart failure is a major cause of urgent hospitalizations. These are followed by marked increases in death and rehospitalization rates, which then decline exponentially though they remain higher than in patients without a recent hospitalization. Therefore, optimal management of patients with acute heart failure before discharge and in the early post‐discharge phase is critical. First, it may prevent rehospitalizations through the early detection and effective treatment of residual or recurrent congestion, the main manifestation of decompensation. Second, initiation at pre‐discharge and titration to target doses in the early post‐discharge period, of guideline‐directed medical therapy may improve both short‐ and long‐term outcomes. Third, in chronic heart failure, medical treatment is often left unchanged, so the acute heart failure hospitalization presents an opportunity for implementation of therapy. The aim of this scientific statement by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology is to summarize recent findings that have implications for clinical management both in the pre‐discharge and the early post‐discharge phase after a hospitalization for acute heart failure.


The decentralised wastewater treatment system (DEWATS) is an onsite sanitation technology that can be used in areas away from municipal sewerage networks. The discharge of effluent emanating from DEWATS into water bodies may cause pollution. Agricultural use of the effluent may improve crop yields and quality thereby contributing to food security in low-income communities. There are drawbacks to the agricultural use of treated wastewater. Therefore, the study assessed the crop, environmental and health risks when irrigating with anaerobic filter (AF) effluent using the Decision Support System (DSS) of the South African Water Quality Guideline model, in four South African agroecological regions, three soil types, two irrigation systems and three different crops. The model was parameterised using AF effluent characterisation data and simulated for 45 years. The model predicted that there are no negative impacts for using AF effluent on soil quality parameters (root zone salinity, soil permeability and oxidisable carbon loading), leaf scorching and irrigation equipment. The problems were reported for nutrient loading (N and P) in maize and microbial contamination in cabbage and lettuce. It was recommended that the effluent should be diluted when used for maize production and advanced treatment should be explored to allow unrestricted agricultural use.


This paper seeks to apply the methodology developed in NESTA's recent research paper "A Dynamic Mapping of the UK's Creative Industries" to the Australian system of industry and occupation classifications (as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics), to establish whether the creative intensity threshold would be the same as the UK's and to determine if the employment results are an improvement on the previous definition methodology used in Australia - the CCI spine. The changes in the definitions reduced the level of creative employment in Australia (in 2011) by 24,052 from 554,996 to 530,944 people, a reduction of 4.3% when compared to the previous definition. Interestingly, the change in definition actually increased the average annual growth rate in creative employment between 2006 and 2011 from 2.62% to 2.76%, an increase of 5.2%. Based on the evidence, the authors find that NESTA's Dynamic Mapping definition methodology provides a tighter, more focussed selection of creative industries and occupations that will improve the ability of researchers and policy-makers to measure creative employment


Gregory Thaumaturgus was a third-century bishop in Pontus in northern Asia Minor. Regarded by the later Cappadocian Fathers as one of the greatest of their forebears in the Christian faith, he has left behind a few writings, a legend full of miracles, and now also a 'Bermuda triangle' of critical questions.


This paper presents a novel nonlinear velocity estimation method for robotic joints based on inverse hyperbolic sine tracing differential algorithm. Unlike the conventional methods that using the motor-side position measurements to obtain the joint velocity, this paper addresses the problem of joint velocity estimation that using the link-side absolute encoder data, so that the kinematic error caused by the mechanical transmission can be avoided effectively. Based on the inverse hyperbolic sine tracing differential algorithm, a velocity estimator is designed to obtain the high precision of the joint velocity and suppressing the measurement noise effectively. The stability of the proposed velocity estimator is proved by using the Lyapunov theory. Finally, experiments are performed to verify the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed velocity estimation method.


The invention, production, and operation of race are entangled with the processes of subject formation. One of its most evident effects is the degradation of the subjectivity of those who are submitted to its conditions. The aim of this essay is to investigate both the production and meaning of race, especially as it has been either passively neglected or deliberately addressed within contemporary philosophy. This meaning will be discovered by an initial investigation into problems of embodiment found in Rene Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy. Then, further exploration of figures in modern phenomenology, namely Edmund Husserl, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Simone de Beauvoir, will allow us to deepen our understanding of differential forms of embodiment, specifically, gender and racialized bodies. In the last section, a turn to Cornel West's genealogy, George Yancy's phenomenology and Ta-Nehisi Coates's political phenomenology, will lead to the latest development in the analysis of racialized embodiment, which in this essay are profiled as a form of "interrupted subjectivity."


Since their humble beginnings, video games have undergone huge technological advances, becoming a significant global industry today and highlighting the role played by translation and localization. Despite the continuing localization activities undertaken in the industry, translation studies (TS) have not paid much attention to video games as a research domain. Drawing on the author's previous work on the Japanese Role Playing Game (RPG) Final Fantasy titles, this paper attempts to demonstrate the ample research scope that this domain presents for TS scholars. In particular, it discusses the unique localization model used by Final Fantasy's Japanese publisher, illustrating how the games' new digital platform allows the (re)creation of a new gameplaying pleasure directly through the localization process itself. In this model, the original game merely sets off a chain of improvements through localization. In turn, understanding the different pleasures drawn from different localized versions of games will contribute useful insights into emerging games research.


The first objective of the subtask is the consolidation of available knowledge on user's visual and non-visual needs and framing requirements for electric light and daylight. The second is to set up use cases in specific applications, reflecting typical temporal changes in the usage of interior spaces in public buildings. The third objective is providing so called "personas" as narrative descriptions of representatives of relevant user groups and use schedules for different categories of public buildings. In this subtask, we are addressing the evolution of control strategies, both for electric lighting and window compo-nents. We found from a first survey among more than 100 professionals worldwide that there was high expectations concerning control techniques for reducing energy usage, simplifying tasks of facility managers and also improving occupant satisfaction. Thanks to digitalization of lighting and LED-sources, dimming and controls is made easier and can be operated remotely with wired and wireless network, and also from outside the building itself, to facilitate maintenance operation. Subtask D aims to demonstrate and assess currently available and typically applied concepts for daylighting and electric lighting design and their integration in order to better understand how these behave with respect to energy use, thermal and visual environment experience, maintenance, adaptability to new requirements as well as building user responses. This is addressed through a comprehensive literature review, targeted medium-term experiments in living laboratories, supplemented by short-term investigations of specific concepts in controlled research laboratory environments as well as performance tracking through "real" field studies in recently completed or retrofitted buildings across selected building types in several of the participating countries. In lighting – dissimilar to other building trades – no simple, fast applicable, hourly, energy calculation and rating method is available. This impedes the design and optimization of innovative and energy efficient lighting installations like advanced façade technologies, "human centric light" and "smart & connected light" based controls. Based on a generic approach an implemention into international standardization and a simple multi-platform tool practically introduc-ing the approach to stakeholders in the market are planned. Then, for use in daily lighting design, core parts of the approach are being implemented into the wide-spread and freely available lighting software DIALux evo. Generic In lighting – dissimilar to other building trades – no simple, fast applicable, hourly, energy calculation and rating method is available. This impedes the design of innovative lighting installations (façade technology "human centric light" and "smart & connected light" based lighting controls). The energy saving performance cannot be rated and therefore not be op-timized. The method under development allows to perform local weather based calculations with a generic façade, rooflight and sloped roof model including dynamic shading and glare protection by daylight. In its computational core the approach will be based on the algebraic formalism of the so called "3-Phase Method". This breaks down hourly based daylight simu-lations, which along with very high to a simple algebraic calculation combining sky and luminance and coefficients to obtain natural indoor hereupon control electric g. Photorealistic interactive dynamic visualization can largely facilitate the understanding of integrated lighting solutions: for electric lighting, for daylighting, and for all possible situations combining the two by control systems. It can be useful to illustrate various options in the controls and the effects of these options. Such visualization will be distributed by the task to key stakeholders. New means of communicating information on visual perception and energy efficiency for integrated lighting solutions shall be explored and brought into appli-cation by this activity. An interactive and immersive communication package will be produced based on input from the different subtasks to visualize various electric and daylighting strategies in selected environments as 3D – Virtual Reality interfaces and standard output formats of course as well (Figure 15). These se-quences should facilitate the understanding of the control strategies through a passive or active simulation of lighting controls with response to daylight varia-tions (Figure 16). Round about seven to eight different case studies will be elabo-rated and then made accessible via the task-website at the end of the task. Aside a procedure how to set up these se-quences will be made available.


BACKGROUND
The Amazon region is one of the main endemic areas of hepatitis delta in the world and the only one related to the presence of genotype 3 of the delta virus.

OBJECTIVE
To analyze the profile, mortality and survival of cirrhotic patients submitted to liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis delta virus and compare with those transplanted by hepatitis B virus monoinfection.

METHODS
Retrospective, observational and descriptive study. From May 2002 to December 2011, 629 liver transplants were performed at the Walter Cantídio University Hospital, of which 29 patients were transplanted due to cirrhosis caused by chronic delta virus infection and 40 by hepatitis B chronic monoinfection. The variables analyzed were: age, sex, MELD score, Child-Pugh score, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence before the transplantation, perioperative platelet count, mortality and survival.

RESULTS
The Delta Group was younger and all came from the Brazilian Amazon Region. Group B presented a higher proportion of male patients (92.5%) compared to Group D (58.6%). The occurrence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding before transplantation, MELD score, and Child-Pugh score did not show statistical differences between groups. The occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality were higher in the hepatitis B Group. The survival in 4 years was 95% in the Delta Group and 75% in the B Group, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.034). Patients with hepatitis delta presented more evident thrombocytopenia in the pre-transplantation and in the immediate postoperative period.

CONCLUSION
The hepatitis by delta virus patients who underwent liver transplantation were predominantly male, coming from the Brazilian Amazon region and with similar liver function to the hepatitis B virus patients. They had a lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, more marked perioperative thrombocytopenia levels and frequent episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients with hepatitis by delta virus had lower mortality and higher survival than patients with hepatitis B virus.


Objective To know the treatment effectiveness of methadone maintenance therapy(MMT) on drug users after six-month continuous treatment in Huarong County from 2008 to 2009,and to evaluate the function of MMT ambulatory. Methods The way of interview and questionnaire was adopted to record the general conditions,drug abuse,sexual behavior,society and family function of the drug users.Database was established by EXCEL software and the data were analyzed with SPSS16.0 software.Before and after the treatment,the individual behavior and social behavior of the drug users were compared using χ2 test. Results Totally 220 drug users were investigated,including 186 men and 34 women,the proportion of male and female was 5.5:1.The age of the drug users was mainly between 20 and 58 years(30.26±4.37).41.8% of the drug users had culture degree with senior middle school or technical secondary school.The drug users receiving junior college education or above and junior middle school education accounted for 29.54% and 26.85%,respectively.46.36% of the drug users were married,and 66.36% were unemployed.There were statistically significant differences in drug abuse,sharing injectors,using condoms and the behaviors of crime between before and after the treatment expect sexual life.There were 26 missing cases during the course of the treatment,with the total maintenance rate of 88.12%(194/220).The total rate of the patients who were satisfied with MMT service attitude was 92.73%(204/220). Conclusions MMT can reduce the frequency of drug taking and the ratio of sharing injectors,modify the related individual behaviors and social behaviors of the drugs users,increase the safety of sexual behavior,and decrease the occurrence of sexual transmitted diseases.It is worth popularizing among the drug users.


Obesity is a confirmed risk factor for hyperlipidemia, type-II diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. MicroRNAs (miRs) have emerged as an important field of study within energy metabolism and obesity. A previous study demonstrated miR-1275 to be markedly down-regulated during maturation of human preadipocytes. It has been reported that miR-1275 dysregulates expression in several types of cancer and infections. Little is currently known about the regulation of miR-1275 transcription. The aim of the current study was to explore the mechanism underlying the expression of miR-1275 in mature human adipocytes. After differentiation, human adipocytes were incubated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin-6. The results of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that miR-1275 can be down-regulated by TNF-α and IL-6, in human mature adipocytes. Bioinformatic analysis was used to predict nuclear factor (NF)-κB binding sites of miR-1275′s promoter region. Luciferase assay and rescue experiments were performed in HEK293T cells. NF-κB was involved in regulating miR-1275 transcription by binding to its promoter. In response to TNF-α, NF-κB was bound to the promoter of miR-1275 and inhibited its transcription. These results indicated that inflammatory factors could regulate miR-1275 transcription through NF-κB and influencing miR-1275 effects on obesity.


In this paper, we present the results of a computer investigation of asymptotics for maximum dimensions of linear and projective representations of the symmetric group. This problem reduces the investigation of standard and strict Young diagrams of maximum dimensions. We constructed some sequences for both standard and strict Young diagrams with extremely large dimensions. The conjecture that the limit of normalized dimensions exists was proposed by Vershik 30 years ago [A. M. Vershik and S. V. Kerov, Funktsional Anal. i Prilozhen 19(1) (1985) 25–36] and has not been proved yet. We studied the growth and oscillations of the normalized dimension function in sequences of Young diagrams. Our approach is based on analyzing finite differences of their normalized dimensions. This analysis also allows us to give much more precise estimation of the limit constants.


We have developed a three-dimensional (3D) circuit integration technology that exploits the advantages of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology to enable wafer-level stacking and micrometer-scale electrical interconnection of fully fabricated circuit wafers. This paper describes the 3D technology and discusses some of the advanced focal plane arrays that have been built using it.


This special issue of SAMAJ, composed of six empirical papers and this introduction seeks to throw light on environmental politics in contemporary urban India. Adopting a deliberately broad understanding of the environment, to include environmental amenities, urban natural resources and the built environment, the diverse case studies within this issue contribute to an interlinked set of discussions on the politicization of India's urban environment. In doing so they engage with the ways that the environment is entwined with questions of urban citizenship; the role environmental knowledge(s) play(s) in urban environmental politics; and the situated character of urban political ecologies. While these papers employ diverse entry points into the environmental politics of Leh, Puri, Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi they all pay close attention to everyday practices and situated dynamics. As this perspective is applied across various city sizes the results demonstrate on the one hand the heterogeneity of India's urban environments and on the other the pervasiveness of similar environmental politics across diverse sites. The insights from these papers aptly highlight the analytical challenge of considering issues of temporality and intersectionality whilst also recognizing the multi-scalar political-economic and social factors that shape contemporary urban power dynamics and the reproduction of particular urban environments.


STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMAn open fracture is defined as one in which the fracture fragments communicate with the environment through a break in the skin. The presence of an open fracture either isolated or as part of a multiple injury complex increases the risk of infection and soft tissue complicati


There have been significant progresses in single image super-resolution (SR) using deep convolutional neural network. In this paper, we propose a modified deep convolutional neural network model incorporated with image texture priors for single image SR. The model consist of a particular feature extraction layer followed by image reconstruction process, aiming to centralize on the image texture information so as to make the overall SR task more effective. This proposal is compared with current state-of-the-art methods on standard images. Our experimental results confirmed that, incorporating image texture prior information with conventional high-resolution image reconstruction process can lead to better performance and faster convergence speed simultaneously.


Transient ketenimines containing sulfenylimine fragments in which both functionalities are linked by an ortho-phenylene scaffold through their nitrogen and sulfur atoms respectively, underwent intramolecular cyclization yielding 2-(iminomethyl)benzothiazoles. These processes involve the formation of a new C-S bond and the concomitant migration of the imino group from the sulfur atom of the sulfenylimine fragment to the terminal carbon atom of the ketenimine function.


infection is caused partly by disruption of the composition of the normal intestinal microbiota. Previous studies have demonstrated that several individual species of probiotic bacteria may reduce the severity of intestinal inflammation in mice infected with C. difficle; however, no information is available regarding the effectiveness of over-the-counter probiotic preparations in the prevention of C. difficle infection and associated-IBDs. We hypothesize that an over-thecounter probiotic formulation will reduce intestinal inflammation during C. difficile infection. To test this, mice will be administered tap water supplemented with an over-the counter probiotic (KyoDophilus ® ) for one week, prior to infection with C. difficile. During this time, overall health of the mice will be measured daily by monitoring water consumption and body weight. After one week, intestinal inflammation will be quantified by measuring tissue edema and inflammatory cell infiltration into the intestine. We expect that mice receiving over-the counter probiotics will exhibit reduced markers of intestinal inflammation in response to C. difficile infection.


Climate change is projected to significantly affect the vulnerability of forests across the western United States to wildfires, insects, disease, and droughts. Here, we provide recent mortality estimates for large trees for 53 species across 48 ecological sections using an analysis of 23,215 Forest Inventory plots and a Random Forest classification model. Models were also used to predict mortality in future FIA inventories under the RCP 4.5 emissions scenario. Model performance indicated species identity as the most important predictor of mortality under both current and future scenarios, with contributions from climate and soil variables. Our results show relatively high levels of recent mortality in the Middle and Southern Rocky Mountains driven by high mortality in Populus tremuloides, Pinus contorta, Pinus albicaulis, and Abies lasiocarpa. Low levels of mortality were observed in several species, with <1% annual mortality observed throughout all other sections. Future mortality was predicted to increase significantly for most species and correlated well with recent mortality at the species level, but not at the plot level. These results suggest that future attempts to model or predict widespread forest mortality would benefit from more research on vulnerable species and that significant mortality events in some species may not be important for dynamics


THIS PAPER EXAMINES the empirical validity of a simple monetary model of exchange rate determination. The model is characterized as "monetary" because it assumes the existence of a stable money demand function and integrated world markets. The monetary model provides a useful tool for exchange rate analysis because it (a) clearly defines the role of speculation among the determinants of the exchange rate, (b) provides a simple definition of the equilibrium exchange rate, and (c) directly relates the equilibrium rate to the underlying instruments of monetary policy. Professor Friedman, in his classic defense of flexible exchange rate regimes, stressed that flexible exchange rates need not be unstable. He wrote, The ultimate objective is a world in which exchange rates, while free to vary, are in fact highly stable. Instability of exchange rates is a symptom of instability in the underlying economic structure. 2


This paper investigates the distributional and efficiency implications of a tax-mix change involving a reduction in personal income taxation financed by a board based consumption tax.


We consider the problem of projecting a convex set onto a subspace, or equivalently formulated, the problem of computing a set obtained by applying a linear mapping to a convex feasible set. This includes the problem of approximating convex sets by polyhedrons. The existing literature on convex projections provides methods for bounded convex sets only, in this paper we propose a method that can handle both bounded and unbounded problems. The algorithms we propose build on the ideas of inner and outer approximation. In particular, we adapt the recently proposed methods for solving unbounded convex vector optimization problems to handle also the class of projection problems.


Reactor technology for maleic anhydride continues its evolution. New processes achieve higher yields with lower investment by operating in a net reducing environment where the oxygen concentration is lower than that required stoichiometrically to react all of the butane. In this paper, we examined a wide range of operating conditions to quantify the effect of a reducing environment on maleic anhydride selectivity, byproduct acid productivity, and reaction rates. The experiments were carried out with a vanadium phosphorus oxide catalyst in a fluidized-bed reactor and a novel feed gas manifold. Oxygen, carbon monoxide, butane, and acid concentrations were measured online at a frequency of about 1 Hz. Acetic and acrylic acids were the predominant byproduct acids, but fumaric, methacrylic, and phthalic acids were also detected. Under reducing conditions, carbon adsorbed on the catalyst surface, byproduct acid yields increased, and both the selectivity and reaction rates decreased. A redox kinetic model was de...


Objective:To explore the effect of low energy He-Ne laser intravascular irradiation on ultrastructure of ischemic reperfusion myocardium. Methods:The animal model of acute ischemic reperfusion injury was replicated by ligating coronary artery to obstruct the bloodstream in house rabbit. The rabbits were divided into sham operation, myocardial ischemic for 30 minutes, ischemic and reperfusion separately for 30 minutes and ischemic and reperfusion for 30 minutes with ILIB treatment groups. The changes of myocardial ultrastructure were observed by transmission electron microscope. Results:In sham operation group myocardial myofiber showed stage contraction, interstitial edema, venial chondriosome turgescence, occlusive capillaries; in myocardial ischemia group, myocardial myofiber showed arrangement disturbance, myoplasm edema, chondriosome edema, angiectasis, angiolysis, white blood cell mosaicism in vascular;in ischemic and reperfusion group myocardial myofiber arranged relatively regularly, venial chondriosome edema, venial myoplasm edema, venial interstitial angiotelectasis and congestion;and in vascular ischemic reperfusion with ILIB treatment group myocardial myofiber arranged regularly, no chondriosome edema, erythrocytes in interstitial capillary, fluent capillary lumen,intact vascular wall without white blood cell mosaicism. Conclusion:ILIB treatment can regain ultrastructure of ischemic reperfusion myocardium and so protect the myocardium from the injury.


This article argues the transformations of the capitalism, looking for to point out them as resulted of the dialectic process of the laws of movement and reproduction of the value. In this direction, it is affirmed that the capitalist modifications moderns - associates to the productive reorganization, the financial globalization and the new paper of the national states - had been introduced by the representatives of the capital as strategies of retaken of the social control and the recovery of the accumulation levels, shaken for the structural crisis of the capital of years 70. Such transformations, on the other hand, had propitiated the retaken one of the social control of the capital, in virtue of the process of spalling of the diligent classroom and of the depreciation of the work force, and, for another one, they had created limitations to the accumulation, which had been precariously contouring for intermediary of the magnifying of the accumulation in financial bases. However, such dynamics of accumulation, centered in the finances, comes conforming an increase of the economic dependence and a deepening of the different social picture, mainly in the peripheral countries has seen the conformation of a "new imperialism".


A procedure for taking vertical gravity data from an airborne gravity (AG) or airborne gravity gradiometry (AGG) survey and combining it with vertical gravity data from ground measurements to produce a regional compilation is described. The method is illustrated using examples of AG data from West Arnhem Land (Northern Territory, Australia) and AGG data from Broken Hill (New South Wales, Australia). Despite significant differences in the acquisition and processing methods used for AG and AGG data, the integration procedure is the same for both. The procedure takes into account that the airborne and ground datasets are measured on different drape surfaces, that long wavelengths are not properly recovered in the airborne datasets, and that noise produces inconsistencies where surveys overlap in horizontal position. Before combining the two datasets, the input ground and airborne datasets are continued upwards or downwards to the chosen output drape surface using a drape-to-drape continuation procedure. Gaps in the long wavelength information content of the airborne data are filled with long wavelength information from the ground data using a technique termed "crossover" filtering. A smooth combined output data surface is obtained by jointly inverting the datasets using an equivalent source technique configured with a regular grid of sources. The spatial smoothness of the mass properties for the sources, and hence the smoothness of the fitted potential field surface, is controlled to produce data misfits consistent with the estimates of uncertainty supplied for each data point. This procedure requires not just the data values and horizontal locations of the observations, but information concerning the vertical position or elevation surface for each dataset, the range of wavelengths present in each dataset and estimates of the uncertainty in the data values. This information is not always readily available, and much effort in the examples was spent on these issues. The integrated product does not entirely replace the input ground and airborne datasets for interpretation purposes. However, the integrated product adds value because it has a different spectral mix compared with either of the inputs. In the examples that are presented, accurate long wavelength information from the ground data is merged with accurate mid-wavelength information from the airborne data. Additionally, information is carried through to the output from small prospect areas which have detailed and


We compare a hierarchy of three stochastic models in gene regulation.
In each case, genes produce mRNA molecules which in turn produce protein.
The simplest model, as described by Thattai and Van Oudenaarden (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 2001),
assumes that a gene is always active, and uses a first-order
chemical kinetics framework in the continuous-time, discrete-space
Markov jump (Gillespie) setting.
The second model, proposed by Raser and O'Shea (Science, 2004),
generalizes the first by allowing the gene to switch
randomly between active and inactive states.
Our third model accounts for other effects,
such as the binding/unbinding of a transcription factor, by
using two independent on/off switches operating in AND mode.
We focus first on the noise strength, which has been defined
in the biological literature as the ratio of the variance to the mean at steady state.
We show that the steady state variance in the mRNA and protein for the three models
can either increase or decrease when switches are incorporated, depending on the
rate constants and initial conditions.
Despite this, we also find that the overall noise strength is
always greater when switches are added, in the sense that
one or two switches are always noisier than none.
On the other hand, moving from one to two switches may either increase
or decrease the noise strength.
Moreover, the steady state values may not reflect the relative noise levels
in the transient phase.
We then look at a hybrid version of the two-switch model that uses stochastic differential equations to
describe the evolution of mRNA and protein.
This is a simple example of a multiscale modelling approach
that allows for cheaper numerical simulations.
Although the underlying chemical kinetics appears to be second
order, we show that it is possible to analyse the first and second moments of the mRNA and protein levels
by applying a generalized version of Ito's lemma.
We find that the hybrid model matches the moments of underlying
Markov jump model for all time.
By contrast, further simplifying the model by removing the diffusion in order to obtain
an ordinary differential equation driven by a switch
causes the mRNA and protein variances to be underestimated.


An air filled ionization chamber has been constructed with a volume of 552 liters and a wall consisting of 12.7 mg/cm2 of plastic wrapped over a rigid, lightweight aluminum frame. A calibration in absolute units, independent of previous Caltech ion chamber calibrations, was applied to a sealed Neher electrometer for use in this chamber. The new chamber was flown along with an older, argon filled, balloon type chamber in a C-135 aircraft from 1,000 to 40,000 feet altitude, and other measurements of sea level cosmic ray ionization were made, resulting in the value of 2.60 ± .03 ion pairs/cm3 sec atm) at sea level. The calibrations of the two instruments were found to agree within 1 percent, and the airplane data were consistent with previous balloon measurements in the upper atmosphere. Ionization due to radon gas in the atmosphere was investigated. Absolute ionization data in the lower atmosphere have been compared with results of other observers, and discrepancies have been discussed. Data from a polar orbiting ion chamber on the OGO-II, IV spacecraft have been analyzed. The problem of radioactivity produced on the spacecraft during passes through high fluxes of trapped protons has been investigated, and some corrections determined. Quiet time ionization averages over the polar regions have been plotted as function of altitude, and an analytical fit is made to the data that gives a value of 10.4 ± 2.3 percent for the fractional part of the ionization at the top of the atmosphere due to splash albedo particles, although this result is shown to depend on an assumed angular distribution for the albedo particles. Comparisons with other albedo measurements are made. The data are shown to be consistent with balloon and interplanetary ionization measurements. The position of the cosmic ray knee is found to exhibit an altitude dependence, a North-South effect, and a small local time variation.


The approach to representation and processing of images on the basis of recursive reference points searching is considered in view of compression and use of two-dimensional interpolation at image restoration. The example of reference points searching algorithm is given.


Hydrolysis of phosphomonoester and phosphodiester bonds of dpC, dCp, and dCpC were markedly accelerated in the presence of Th4+ in acidic (pH 4 and 5) aqueous solution; this effect surpassed those of other metal ions that were hitherto known as metals having catalytic activity for organic phosphoester (Ce3+, La3+, Cu2+).


Indonesian began to operate health insurance program in 2014 with payment scheme by INA-CBG's  (Indonesian Case-Based Group). That makes hospital to have appropriate tariff calculation. Breast fibroadenoma (FAM)must have an appropriate tariff calculation because it will be increasing. One of a calculating method that can be used is Activity Based Costing (ABC) because this method can measure accurately cost out of any activity, improve the precision and accuracy in the details of charging fees.  This study was descriptive quantitative. This study is limited to a patient with FAM cases that occurred in 2015 in patients using BPJS class III and without complications.  The unit cost excision FAM at RS PKU Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta which is calculated by the method of activity-based costing is Rp 4,704,877. The difference with the hospital unit cost of Rp 218.923 hospitals are higher, while the difference with INA-CBG rates Rp Rp 679.471 smaller.  The unit cost of service excision FAM still under INA-CBG's rates, calculations by the ABC method is higer  than the unit cost PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital. The management should be re-evaluated the tarif of this service .


Coherent states of optical phonons and polaritons are created through coherent Raman excitation (CRE) and their dephasing is determined through pico- and femtosecond time resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (TRCARS). The temperature dependence of the dephasing is used to identify the acoustic phonons generated from the decay of coherent optical states. The general decay channel involves the decay of the optical phonons and polaritons into two acoustic phonons each with one half the optical phonon energy and with compensating wave vectors. In some cases the decay channel is more complicated. In order to conserve momentum one of the phonons is near the positive X-point and the other near the negative X-point of the Brillouin zone. The TA phonon is on the lowest dispersion branch and, therefore, cannot further decay into lower energy phonons and still obey energy and momentum conservation. Thus to third order in the decay kinetics the TA phonons should have infinite lifetime. Our observations lead to a TA phonon lifetime of 66.5 +/- 5 ns.


We present an analysis of the first analytical physical theories developed after the introduction of calculus. The underlying framework of these theories is the differential and integral calculus in the form developed by Leibniz. We point out the fundamental laws, or principles, or postulates upon which they are founded, and show some results or laws that are derived from them. We point out the main concepts of the theories drawing attention to the primitive or primary concepts, which are those undefinable. The theories that we describe are those that emerged just after the introduction of calculus, from Varignon to Navier. The areas of these theories include mechanics, electricity, magnetism, light, propagation of sound and propagation of heat.


A flexible method to image unmodified transcripts and transcription in vivo would be a valuable tool to understand the regulation and dynamics of transcription. Here, we present a novel approach to follow native transcription, with fluorescence microscopy, in live C. elegans. By using the fluorescently tagged Argonaute protein NRDE-3, programmed by exposure to defined dsRNA to bind to nascent transcripts of the gene of interest, we demonstrate transcript labelling of multiple genes, at the transcription site and in the cytoplasm. This flexible approach does not require genetic manipulation, and can be easily scaled up by relying on whole-genome dsRNA libraries. We apply this method to image the transcriptional dynamics of two transcription factors: ttx-3 (a LHX2/9 orthologue) in embryos, and hlh-1 (a MyoD orthologue) in larvae, respectively involved in neuronal and muscle development.


In this paper the authors discuss the use of census data for England and Wales in examining socio-demographic change between 1971 and 1981. They construct a data set that "allows longitudinal analysis of change at an individual level. Examples showing changes in family status during early middle age; changes in social class for children entering the labour market during the 1970s; changes in housing tenure for migrants and non-migrants; and geographic mobility for children leaving their parents home are presented here to illustrate some of the possibilities created by linking information between two censuses. Some of the technical constraints and methodological limitations are also referred to." (EXCERPT)


ABSTRACT Introduction Distinct physiological responses to exercise occur in the heavy- and severe-intensity domains, which are separated by the critical power or critical torque (CT). However, how the transition between these intensity domains actually occurs is not known. We tested the hypothesis that CT is a sudden threshold, with no gradual transition from heavy- to severe-intensity behavior within the confidence limits associated with the CT. Methods Twelve healthy participants performed four exhaustive severe-intensity trials for the determination of CT, and four 30-min trials in close proximity to CT (one or two SE above or below each participant's CT estimate; CT − 2, CT − 1, CT + 1, CT + 2). Muscle O2 uptake, rectified electromyogram, and torque variability and complexity were monitored throughout each trial, and maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) with femoral nerve stimulation were performed before and after each trial to determine central and peripheral fatigue responses. Results The rates of change in fatigue-related variables, muscle O2 uptake, electromyogram amplitude, and torque complexity were significantly faster in the severe trials compared with CT − 2. For example, the fall in MVC torque was −1.5 ± 0.8 N·m·min−1 in CT − 2 versus –7.9 ± 2.5 N·m·min−1 in the lowest severe-intensity trial (P < 0.05). Individual analyses showed a low frequency of severe responses even in the circa-CT trials ostensibly above the CT, but also the rare appearance of severe-intensity responses in all circa-CT trials. Conclusions These data demonstrate that the transition between heavy- and severe-intensity exercise occurs gradually rather than suddenly.


Toxicity of methanol and n-butanol extracts of unripened seeds of Jatropha gossypiifolia and Vaccaria pyramidata was evaluated against eggs and adults of two species of freshwater snails, Lymnaea luteola and Indoplanorbis exustus. Results indicated that n-butanol extract of J. gossypiifolia was more effective molluscicide than methanol extract against both egg and adult stages of both species of snails. L. luteola eggs were observed to be more susceptible than adults. Different pH conditions ranging from 5.5 to 9.5 could not alter the toxicity of the n-butanol extract of J. gossypiifolia, except for a marginal reduction at higher alkaline pH. The n-butanol extracts of both plants were found to be safe against non-target organisms including freshwater fish Rasbora daniconius, dragonfly nymph Pentala flavecens and mayfly nymph Ephemera vulgata at molluscicidal concentration.


In the Doebner-von Miller quinoline synthesis with acetaldehyde or crotonaldehyde two stereoisomeric 4-hydroxy-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroquinaldines are formed as intermediates. The stereochemistry of these compounds differing in the relative positions of the hydroxygroups to the methyl-group can be ascertained by NMR.-spectroscopy. The pKa-values of stereoisomers are not identical due to the different spacial positions of the HO-groups.


This article examines the Virginia Industrial School for Colored Girls (VISCG), the state's only reformatory for delinquent black girls, which was established by the Virginia State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs in 1915. Rather than punishing them for their adolescent misbehaviors, the founding organization intended to protect troubled black girls from inappropriate incarceration with adults and other state practices of violence and negligence. The founders also intended to prepare these girls for a discriminatory labor market by providing specialized training in the domestic arts and carefully supervised domestic parole placements. A closer look at the practice of domestic parole complicates the neat distinctions between education and incarceration, protection and punishment that the women of the Virginia State Federation made in their public discourse about the school. Instead of special protection, girls committed to the VISCG from courts across the state experienced vulnerability to violence, isolation, and exploitation at the hands of white employers during domestic parole placements. This article argues that the VISCG's practice of domestic parole, despite the best intentions of school leadership, constituted a mode of carceral violence that warrants more interrogation.


We investigate by molecular dynamics simulation a system of N particles moving on the surface of a two-dimensional sphere and interacting by a Lennard-Jones potential. We detail the way to account for the changes brought by a nonzero curvature, both at a methodological and at a physical level. When compared to a two-dimensional Lennard-Jones liquid on the Euclidean plane, where a phase transition to an ordered hexagonal phase takes place, we find that the presence of excess defects imposed by the topology of the sphere frustrates the hexagonal order. We observe at high density a rapid increase of the relaxation time when the temperature is decreased, whereas in the same range of temperature the pair correlation function of the system evolves only moderately.


The invention discloses a streaming media transmission adaptive code rate control method. A data buffer used for temporarily storing data to be sent, a current data write address W and a current data read address used for recording the data buffer are arranged on a server side. The code rate is adjusted according to the difference value RW of the two addresses. The method can judge the net status through the read-write address difference RW so as to adjust code rate. The technical proposal does not need the support of a client and routers at the periphery, the operation is easy, and the code rate can be adjusted in time according to the net status.


Sir, Pneumoperitoneum is the presence of air or gas in the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity. It is usually detected on x‐ray, but small amounts of free peritoneal air may be missed and are often detected on computerized tomography (CT).[1] The most common cause of a pneumoperitoneum is a perforation/ disruption of the wall of a hollow viscus. The causes of pneumoperitoneum occurring in children are different from the adult population.


Professional development is critical for preparing undergraduate CS students for their future careers. Industry internships offer students pathways for professional development. However, little is empirically known about the impact industry-based internships have on CS students' career paths as well as the effectiveness of CS degree programs in preparing students for these professional development opportunities. In this paper, we present a thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses of 40 CS undergraduate students in the US who participated in an internship. This study aimed to understand the impact that professional internships have on: CS students' career goals, students' perceptions of the gaps between academia and industry, and students' strategies for professional success. We found four themes that describe the impact of internships on CS students. Internships (1) strengthened students' commitment to CS degrees and careers; (2) encouraged exploration of CS careers and industries; (3) promoted personal/professional growth; and (4) developed awareness of professional expectations. We also analyzed students' perception of the curriculum's effectiveness and found that students were strategically working to improve their technical skills outside of coursework to secure employment. These findings have the potential to retain students in computing and reduce the gaps between academia and industry, thereby increasing CS students' competitiveness in the workforce.


This research tries to examine the effect of the perceived leadership styles of principals on the emotional intelligence of expatriate teachers working in the private educational organizations in UAE. Three hundred teaching faculties working in fifteen schools, institutes and colleges constitute the study population. The perceived leadership styles of the principals are measured by Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire by Bass and Avolio (2004). Emotional intelligence of the teachers is measured by Emotional Intelligence Appraisal by Bradberry and Greaves (2001). Demographic questionnaire measured the personal information of the teaching faculties. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis are employed to analyze the data. The result indicated that individualized consideration factor of transformational leadership style of principals had significant positive influence over the emotional intelligence of teachers. Contingent rewards leadership of transactional leadership style showed positive predictive relationship whereas laissez faire leadership of principals showed significant but negative predictive relationship with emotional intelligence of expatriate teachers.


We investigate energy partitioning using seismological methods of seismic ruptures with estimated submicron levels of slip in the laboratory. Estimates inferred from recorded seismic waves are founded on microscale phenomenological friction experiments in the laboratory and appear to be constrained by inherent assumptions. In this concerted study, we build on the methods used to absolutely calibrate an array of piezoelectric transducers in a direct shear laboratory apparatus. We found that flat‐broadband sensor behavior allowed us to study source extent parameters using spectral source models that are typically used to interpret small to moderate‐sized earthquakes. We computed the corner frequencies, low‐frequency plateaus, and high‐frequency spectral falloff exponent using single‐station assumptions. Moment magnitude ranged from −9


This paper contains an exploratory study on self-regulation by a group of students during a second-year computer programming course (data structures). Self-regulation was measured through the implementation of an instrument that evaluates motivation and learning strategies. From the results of the implementation, the relation between self-regulation and academic performance among the students was studied through a correlation analysis and other multivariate analyses. The results show new empirical pieces of evidence on the role played by self-regulation within the educational context of computer programming, and suggest which combination of factors allows to discriminate the population subgroups between high and low academic performances, according to self-regulated learning variables.


The presence of widely used Chlorpyrifos pesticide residues in the environment increases concerns owing to its associated adverse effects on human health and the ecosystem. The present study reports the comprehensive analysis of published papers concerning the detection of Chlorpyrifos herbicide residues in water resources, vegetables and soil matrices. The results showed that Chlorpyrifos residues were frequently found in water resources, plants and soil matrices in excess, beyond permissible levels. The results collected, point to possible hazards to the aquatic ecosystem and human beings in general due to pollution of drinking water, exposure to pesticide residues through edible crops and long-term effects on soil quality and crop growth. This present study emphasizes on the urgent need for remediation alternative actions, such as ceasing or restricting the use of Chlorpyrifos, improving water treatment techniques and implementing best agricultural management practices.


A fast multi‐section MR imaging technique is described. Gradient‐ and spin‐echo (GRASE) imaging utilizes the speed advantages of gradient refocusing while overcoming the image artifacts arising from static field inhomogeneity and chemical shift. Image contrast is determined by the T2 contrast in the Hahn spin echoes. A novel k‐space trajectory temporally modulates signals and demodulates artifacts. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.