This article examines the critical skills necessary for the interaction of the subsidiaries to the local community. The study was conducted in the Brazilian telecommunications industry, focusing on subsidiaries suppliers of equipment (fees). This is an empirical and exploratory study based on case study. The theoretical basis were developed by internationalization and organizational skills theories. The results show that the subsidiary has some flexibility to develop specific actions with the local community and a concern to widen the scope of stakeholders considered.


We study a model of Fichthorn, Gulari, and Ziff for the reaction A+B→0.Their numerical studies showed a transition to a bistable state. We solve the model exactly. Our solution is similar in corm to that in diffusion-limited reactions and segregation occurs for low-dimensional substrates. The transition to bistability and saturation for finite-size systems at low desorption probability depend on dimension. The power spectrum of the saturation and the reaction rate are different: The first is universal and the other is to the geometry of the substrate


It is relatively common to occur in a Tertiary Care Neurosurgical setup to get a case of Syringomyelia proximal or distal to a space-occupying lesion (SOL) or site of spinal cord compression. In this case series, we are presenting two cases in which syringomyelia developed after traumatic spinal cord injury. On initial radiological investigations, the first case presented as an old D12 fracture with Post-traumatic syrinx formation but on complete workup for the extent of the syrinx, another lesion was found incidentally in the form of an intradural extramedullary SOL at the level of cervicomedullary junction. The SOL turned out histologically as WHO Grade I Meningioma. The second case presented as syrinx formation after gunshot (fire-arm) penetrating spinal cord injury to the D11-12 vertebrae. Treatment plans of both these patients are presented here in detail along with the literature review.


The present invention relates to a stereo camera for tracking the movement of a subject, and discloses a subject spatial movement tracking system using multiple stereo cameras, the system configured of: a plurality of stereo cameras; a spatial data composition unit for matching a depth map generated according to regions captured respectively by the plurality of stereo cameras; a subject detecting unit for determining whether a subject is present in the regions captured by the stereo cameras; a PTZ camera for carrying out panning and tilting and moving so that the image capturing direction is oriented toward the subject, and carrying out zooming focusing on the subject; and a drive control unit for driving the PTZ camera. The system uses: a first technique in which the drive control unit matches the position of one point from the image capturing ranges of the stereo cameras with the angle of the PTZ camera and sets an initial value, and when a subject is detected, drives the PTZ camera in accordance with a zoom level calculated according to a pan angle and a tilt angle required for moving based on the central coordinates of the subject and the distance to the subject; and a second technique in which image capturing regions are set for a 3D space, a drive value for the PTZ camera is manually preset such that the image capturing direction is oriented toward the respective set regions, and then a presetting value for the region in which the subject is detected is recalled, and the PTZ camera is driven.


The Basic Zero Cross Voltage Comparator was explained in detailed so that the students may correctly understand the nonlinear characteristics of integrated operation amplifier and grasp the circuits of various kinds of voltage comparators.


The chitosan microspheres crosslinked by formaldehyde were prepared by spray drying method and used as an adsorbent for copper (II) from aqueous solution. A batch adsorption system was applied to study the adsorption of copper (II) from aqueous solution by chitosan microspheres. The maximum adsorption capacity of the chitosan microspheres for copper (II) was 144.928 mg/g at pH 6.0. Langmuir adsorption model was found to be applicable in interpreting the adsorption process. To elucidate the adsorption mechanism, the chitosan microspheres before and after copper (II) adsorption were further characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, zeta potential analysis, and scanning electron microscope. VC 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 2881–2885, 2009


1. Middle Power Dreaming: Australian Foreign Policy during the Rudd-Gillard GovernmentsJames Cotton and John Ravenhill 2. The Howard-Downer Legacy: Global Deputy, Regional Sheriff Geoffrey Barker 3. Back from the Brink: Australia and the Global Economy 2006-10 John Ravenhill 4. Australia-America 2006-2010: Waiting for ObamaJames Cotton 5. Australia and China: The Challenges to Forging a 'True Friendship'Jian Zhang 6. Australia and Japan: Mobilising the Bilateral RelationshipRikki Kersten 7. Australia and EuropeDonald Kenyon and David Lee 8. Australia's Strategic and Commercial engagement with South Asia under Kevin Rudd: The ParadoxesMarika Vicziany 9. Australia, the Pacific Islands and Timor-LesteStewart Firth 10. Progress and Limits in Regional Cooperation: Australia and Southeast AsiaGarry Rodan 11. Australian Foreign Policy towards AfricaTanya Lyons 12. Plus ca Change? Coalition, Labor and the Challenges of Environmental Foreign PolicyLorraine Elliott 13. The Australia 2020 Summit as an Experiment in Foreign Policy-makingMelissa H. Conley Tyler and Emma White 14. Defence and SecurityHugh White 15. Australia's Foreign Policy MachineryMichael Wesley 16. Regional, Alliance and Global Priorities of the Rudd-Gillard GovernmentsAndrew O'Neil


The volume expansion of anode active materials in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries strongly affects the dynamic change of electrode structure and its activity of electrochemical reaction and mass transport. Thus, it is important to understand the mechanism and the internal phenomena during the charging process with volume expansion. And also, clarifying these phenomena contributes to the selection of active material when creating the electrode structure. The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of volume expansion of active material in porous electrode layer on the charging performance by a numerical simulation. In this calculation, for the electrochemical reaction transport analysis, equations are applied in this study based on the porous electrode theory, and for the structural deformation due to expansion, we expressed the change by controlling the structural parameters and built a model for simulation. From the simulation results, when the fastening pressure is small, active material with a large volume expansion ratio has a larger capacity. However, for a large fastening pressure, it doesn't seem to use active material with a large volume expansion ratio. Although the volume expansion of active material should be suppressed generally from the viewpoint of ion conduction network rupture, these results demonstrate that the influence of volume expansion effectively depends on the electrode creation conditions. This model will help to optimize the design of all-solid-state batteries and can be the key to further performance improvement.


[Objective]To investigate the effect of 17β-estradiol(E2) on m RNA expression levels of the β-defensin-2(SBD-2)in ovine oviduct epithelial cells in vitro. [Method]The primary ovine oviduct epithelial cells were isolated and subcultured to 2nd passage. The 2ndpassage cells were divided into five groups and were treated with 10-6mol/L, 10-7mol/L, 10-8mol/L, 10-9mol/L and 10-10mol/L of E2, respectively. The m RNA expression levels of the β-defensin-2(SBD-2) of ovine oviduct epithelial cells were determined at 2thh, 6thh, 12 thh, 24 thh and 48 thh after they were treated with different concentration of E2 by real-time RTPCR, respectively. The blank control groups were also included in each E2 treated groups for each detection time. [Results] The m RNA expression of SBD-2 of ovine oviduct epithelial cells reached the extreme level when they were treated with E2 of 10-8mol/L for 6 h and was significantly upregulated compared with the control(P0.01), and the m RNA expression of the SBD-2 of the cells were also upregulated when they were treated with E2 of 10-10mol/L for 24 h and 48 h. The expression of the SBD-2 of the cells showed a gradual decrement trend with the increase of E2 concentration. [Conclusion]It was indicated that the m RNA expression of SBD-2 of ovine oviduct epithelial cells can be upregulated by specific concentration of E2 for certain time, and the effect of E2 on the expression of the SBD-2 of ovine oviduct epithelial cells showed a time effect and dose-dependent manner.


Donald Keene has praised Takuboku's diary for its commitment to telling the truth. However, only Takuboku's poems and Tankas have been introduced to a wide audience, having been translated into 19 languages. In particular, his poem "End of Endless Discussion", which has a social dimension, and his Tankas, which are nostalgic and deal with conventional topics, were among the first of his works to be translated. As Keene points out, Takuboku's work has been positively received across time periods, ethnicities, and borders because of its commitment to "truth over beauty."


Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium -bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (EMI-TFSI) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium -bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMI-TFSI) were synthesized and then 1 mol/L LiTFSI was respectively added to the two RIILs to make ionic electrolytes suitable for lithium batteries. The electrochemical properties of both of ionic liquids were investigated. The electrochemical windows are approximately 4.8 V and 4.6 V , and the ionic conductivities of the two electrolytes in room temperature are 5.4 mS/cm and 1.6 mS/cm, respectively. The cycle properties of Li/LiCoO2 and Li/LiFePO4 with the two ionic liquids as electrolyte were studied. The results show that the cell performances of Li/LiCoO2 with both of the electrolytes are not good enough, while LiFePO4 has a better compatibility with EMI-TFSI than that with BMI-TFSI. LiFePO4/Li cell using EMITFSI+1.0 mol/L LiTFSI as the electrolyte still has the specific discharge capacity of 120 mAh/g after 20 cycles (0.1 C),which shows quite a good cycle ability.


A new algorithm for detecting the maneuvering target with an unknown velocity based on high resolution range profiles(HRRP) of the wideband high resolution radar is proposed.In order to improve the estimation precision in the low signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),the proposed algorithm estimates the velocity of the target and the location of the strongest scattering cells relevant to the target's scattering geometry by the improved two-way viterb algorithm,and then together with the non-coherent integration of the primary range cells chosen around the location of the strongest scattering cells,it improves the detection performance.Experimental results through measured data of two planes illustrate that the proposed algorithm leads to a visible performance improvement compared with conventional non-coherent integration in the presence of range walking.


This item is a postcard sent to Clare Gass in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. The front image is of Regatta Day in the North West Arm of the Halifax Harbour


: With the economic growth, people's living standards have increased and energy has been consumed excessively, energy consumption is an important part of the sustainable development of the economy. In this paper, the three major industries of Beijing's energy consumption with the total energy consumption by grey correlation analysis, it is concluded that the industrial structure and energy consumption characteristics. In view of the theory of consumption demand of economics, select factors that influence the consumption of total energy, establish a multivariate linear regression model, and determine the relationship between each factor and total energy consumption. By examining significant differences, eliminating secondary factors and arriving at multiple linear regression equations. Finally the change of total energy consumption in Beijing is predicted.


The central question surrounding the IPO underpricing puzzle is why issuers are willing to sell their shares at a price that is less than what the market is willing to pay. This paper shows that a major reason why managers are willing to underprice shares at IPO is that they use options and stock grants to protect themselves from the dilution to their existing shares. Underpricing can have a large positive tax effect for options they hold in addition to making new options more valuable. I show that underpricing shares can increase the tax advantage of paying employees with options. Managers can also use underpriced shares as currency to strengthen strategic alliances and customer loyalty. A major finding of this paper is that the use of options is directly related to IPO underpricing and explains a substantial amount of the variation in firm underpricing. * Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Phone: (617) 253-2933. Fax: (617) 258-6855. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com I am grateful to Paul Asquith, Espen Eckbo, Diego Garcia, Rich Lyons and Gordon Phillips for their comments. Comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated and can be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com


To facilitate mutual understanding between doctors and nurses, prevent errors, and assure quality control in the mixing intravenous drip solutions at Ikeda Municipal Hospital, the Department of Pharmacy manages changes in the mixing of solutions and provides appropriate information for drug use. We mix solutions for intravenous injection under uniform standards and also set up a satellite pharmacy to perform these functions in April 2000. This satellite pharmacy accepts prescriptions for manual intravenous injections and manages two laminar air follow cabinets and a laminar flow biological safety cabinet. A ward trial was started in April, another ward was added in June and all wards were included in October 2000. We mix solutions for intravenous injection from Monday till Friday, based on prescriptions received the previous day, from four divisions. The hours of operation are from 10 : 00 Am to 8 : 00 Pm excluding weekends and holidays. The preparation of anticancer and narcotic drugs is not performed by the satellite pharmacy. We mixed 60 to 70 bottles of intravenous injections per day, over a six-month period. Of the intravenous injections mixed, about 70 percent were mixed by the Department of Pharmacy. 95.3 percent were used, 1.8 percent diverted, 2.9 percent were not used.


In this paper, we study the ordinary backfitting and smooth backfitting as methods of fitting additive quantile models. We show that these backfitting quantile estimators are asymptotically equivalent to the corresponding backfitting estimators of the additive components in a specially-designed additive mean regression model. This implies that the theoretical properties of the backfitting quantile estimators are not unlike those of backfitting mean regression estimators. We also assess the finite sample properties of the two backfitting quantile estimators.


We use a natural experiment to identify a causal effect of the threat of shareholder litigation on ownership structure, governance, and firm performance. We find that when it becomes harder for small shareholders to litigate, ownership becomes more concentrated and shifts from individuals to institutions. Director and officer governance protections drop among these firms, and operating performance drops among firms whose ownership structure does not change. These results suggest that the ability of shareholders to coordinate and litigate against management is important for governance.


Introduction: Healthcare workers are facing many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, especially during the pandemic, the appropriate motivation for candidates to choose the profession of nurse is extremely important due to the high social expectations. Aim of the study: To present the motives that determined the choice of the profession of nurse among people undertaking studies. Material and methods: The research was conducted on a group of 321 nursing students at first- and second-degree studies in two Polish universities. Results: The research shows that the largest group, i.e. 40.5%, came from rural areas. As the most common reason for choosing that field of study, respondents indicated having an interest in the profession, and a willingness to help others and expand their knowledge (57.9%). 75% of respondents stated that the COVID-19 pandemic makes it easier to find a job. Conclusions: The main motive for choosing the profession of nurse is having an interest in the profession and a desire to help others regardless of the pandemic. A factor that often motivated students to choose the profession is the loved ones practicing the profession of nurse. In the surveyed group of nursing students, the COVID-19 pandemic did not directly affect the choice of the field of study (profession). Positive communication in the media about the enormous importance of nurses' professional activity for society is the basic element building interest in this profession among teenagers.


Purpose: We investigated to identify the effect of robo-horseback riding exercise (RHRE) on trunk muscle activity ratios for patients with low back pain. Methods: Twelve patients with low back pain and twelve healthy adults were recruited for this study. Subjects performed the RHRE with the neutral spine position. The amplitude of electromyography activity was recorded from the selected trunk muscles (internal oblique [IO], rectus abdominis [RA], multifidus [MF], the thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum [ICLT]). The ratios of the relative local muscle activity to the global muscle activity in abdominal and lumbar parts were calculated. Results: There were significant differences in the change values of the IO/RA and the MF/ICLT between low back pain (LBP) patients and healthy adults. The IO/RA ratio and the MF/ICLT ratio showed significant increase in LBP patients after training. Conclusion: The RHRE improved the trunk muscle activity ratio in patients with low back pain. The information presented here is important for investigators who use lumbar stabilization exercises as a rehabilitation exercise.


Given an n × n real matrix A. the Ky Fan k-norm of it is defined as the sum of its k largest singular values. We determine the structures of the linear transformations T on that preserve the Ky Fan k-norm. We show that except for (n,k) = (4,2), there exist orthogonal matrices U and V such that where A+ either denotes A or denotes At . For the particular case (n,k) = (4, 2)T is either of the usual form mentioned above or equivalent to the composition of the usual form with a particular operator that has many remarkable properties.


Abstract We construct a probabilistic polynomial algorithm that solves the integer factorization problem using an oracle solving the Diffie–Hellman problem.


Microstrip transmission lines residing on bianisotropic material ridges embedded in a multilayered environment are studied using a coupled set of integral equations (IEs). The formulation is full-wave, and both the ridge and the layered background material may be inhomogeneous and bianisotropic. Numerical results are presented which show the basic propagation characteristics for a variety of single and coupled ferrite ridge structures. For isotropic ridges embedded in an isotropic background, several previous methods have been applied.


The authors recruited 11 doctoral-level counseling students to participate in a study exploring the lived experiences of people who have encountered social class microaggressions (SCMs). Findings (consisting of 6 themes) suggest that SCMs are a distinct phenomenon arising from interpersonal and environmental exchanges that damage recipients. The authors present implications for counselor education and future research trajectories. Experiences of privilege and oppression continue to permeate the daily lives of people living in the United States (Lewis, Mendenhall, Harwood, & Huntt, 2013; Ratts, Singh, Nassar-McMillan, Butler, & McCullough, 2016; Sue et al., 2007). Although overt expressions of hostility are considered to be illmannered and undesirable behaviors, covert discrimination and degradation continue to be prevalent in the day-to-day interactions of individuals and groups that experience interpersonal and systemic marginalization (Ratts et al., 2016; Sue et al., 2007). These subtle and commonplace indignities communicate to recipients that they are less than dominant culture individuals, that they do not belong, and that their realities are invalid. These daily hostilities are known as microaggressions, a term coined by Pierce, Carew, Pierce-Gonzalez, and Willis (1978). For the last 2 decades, scholars have generated empirical and theoretical work (Constantine, 2007; Constantine & Sue, 2007; Nadal, 2011, 2013; Sue, 2010a, 2010b; Sue et al., 2007; Torres-Harding, Andrade, & Romero Diaz, 2012) documenting the nature of microaggressions, including the forms they take (i.e., microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations) and the ways in which they are transmitted (i.e., language, nonverbal behaviors, and environment). Microassaults include overt or covert actions or environments that communicate denigration and hostility (e.g., slurs, swastikas). Microinsults tend to be more covert and involve actions or environments that are offensive or indicate contempt for the recipient. Microinvalidations tend to be more covert and include actions or environments that ignore, undermine, or dismiss the lived realities of recipients (Sue et al., 2007). Most commonly, researchers have investigated microaggressions rooted in race, gender, and sexual identity (Capodilupo et al., 2010; Lewis et al., 2013; Shelton & Delgado-Romero, 2011; Sue, Capodilupo, & Holder, 2008). However, microaggressions can manifest in relation to other identity dimensions and in any relationship where power hierarchies, stratification, privilege, and oppression are present (Sue, 2010b; Sue et al., 2007). Because of this, leading microaggression scholars routinely encourage the examination of microaggressions across other identities (L. Smith & Redington, 2010; Sue, 2010a, 2010b), including intersecting identity dimensions (Liegghio & Caragata, 2016; L. Smith & Redington, 2010). To date, microaggressions related to social class have received little scholarly attention. The current study attempts to address this gap by investigating experiences of microaggressions related to social class—namely, social class microaggressions (SCMs). Social class is a complex construct associated with one's ranked place in the world relative to others based on economic and social factors (Cook & Lawson, 2016). We use the following definition: Social class is a subjective identity dimension composed of discrete socioeconomic status (SES) variables (i.e., income, education, and occupation) that combine with additional factors, such as resources, location, shared and individual experiences, and perceived status, that shape attitudes, beliefs, worldviews, values, and behaviors (Cook & Lawson, 2016; Liu, Soleck, Hopps, Dunston, & Pickett, 2004). To identify social class as an identity dimension, people use many descriptors and terms that may vary by person or group (e.g., poor, blue collar, upper class, middle class, lower class, working poor, upper crust, elite, owning class, ruling class, working class). In addition, people often conflate social class and SES (Cook & Lawson, 2016). Although SES is necessary to defining and understanding social class, social class is not SES in and of itself (Cook & Lawson, 2016). SCMs are a burgeoning research area. In clinical settings, difficulties associated with both identifying microaggressions and finding ways to combat them have been researched (Liegghio & Caragata, 2016). Investigators have examined constructs related to SCMs in higher education settings as well (Sarcedo, Matias, Montoya, & Nishi, 2015). Young, Anderson, and Stewart (2015) coined the term hierarchical microaggressions for situations in which participants experienced a systematic devaluing of their personhood based upon their institutional role. L. Smith, Mao, and Deshpande (2016) investigated classist microaggressions in poor and working-class students. Their results indicated that microaggressions related to social class negatively affected participants via financial barriers, alienation, and stigmatization. SCMs in an educational context might include comments such as "You are such an inspiration growing up how you did. How did you move on and up so well?" or "You really need to focus on school and not your other job right now. You can make money when you graduate." L. Smith et al. (2016) reported that SCMs can include assumptions about students' backgrounds and about whether students understand how to navigate higher education contexts. For example, some participants in their study reported that professors were surprised if their students did not identify as middle class or could not afford course materials. Others reported not knowing "unspoken guidelines" (p. 138), expectations, and professional etiquette when interacting with professors. In addition, participants reported feelings of disconnection from their families of origin and challenges sharing their higher education experiences. Microaggressive environments, experiences, statements, and beliefs can be insulting or convey that the recipient's needs are not relevant or valid. In addition, messages privileging middle or upper social class values (e.g., achievement and ambition, the importance of financial investing, centralizing one's occupation as the reason for living) can create microaggressive environments for those in other social class statuses (Cook & O'Hara, 2017; L. Smith et al., 2016). Even though results from existing studies indicate that SCMs are a real and persistent threat in higher education settings, SCMs have not been explored in counselor education. Ethical codes, accreditation standards, and professional guidelines require that counselors attend to related constructs of social position and SES (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs [CACREP], 2015; National Board for Certified Counselors, 2012; Ratts et al., 2016). Professional standards do not expressly use the term social class; they only name constructs related to it. Because social class is distinct from and more nuanced than SES, the absence of the term is notable and reflects the need to continue studying social class–related issues. Indeed, the absence of the term may also reflect society's lack of understanding about social class. Thus, it is imperative that professional counselors increase their competence regarding social class and SCMs and research SCMs to potentially prevent additional marginalization. Furthermore, if members of the counseling profession understand how SCMs manifest, then counselor educators and supervisors can integrate education, prevention, and response interventions throughout their roles and curricula. To understand how doctoral-level counseling students experience SCMs, we used qualitative inquiry— specifically, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Although the phenomenon of microaggressions has been documented by researchers, SCMs represent a newer facet not yet explored in depth. Thus, the purpose of our study was to explore and understand the experiences of SCMs. Because the study was exploratory and not confirmatory, we avoided labeling experiences with preestablished categories. We used the following research question to guide our study: What are the experiences of doctoral-level counseling students who have encountered SCMs during counselor education training?


(57) Abstract: asphalt, cutting means, for example, the short notches or long small pieces so that the supply is easy to channel (110, 111) container (10) Single Use with the package has been handled and kettle it is possible to easily cut. Container (10) is asphalt - so are advantageously prepared from the polymer composition, the entire asphalt package (5), for example, for use in roofing or paving applications, it can be melted in a kettle. Container (10) comprises a number of facets or stepped sides (20) and / or wall (30) having a substantially rectangular shape and gripping portion and / or the rake taken portions (220, 320), various features to enhance processability and handling property can be provided.


Forced convection is sometimes employed in the cooling of electronic equipment operating at high heat dissipation rates. The heated electronic components are usually arranged evenly on the vertical circuit boards.To analyze the heat transfer of such electronic equipment, the forced convective heat transfer between two vertical parallel electronic circuit boards (ECBs) was investigated. The local heat transfer coefficient from the board was affected by the Reynolds number, the distance between the boards, and the distance from the channel entrance.Two empirical equations for calculating local Nusselt numbers for the heat transfer in a channel between vertical electronic boards were obtained. One was for an ECB surface with components, another was for its rear surface without components, and the range of Reynolds numbers was from 1500 to 9000.


PurposeThis study examines how team-level mediating mechanisms (i.e. team psychological safety and team helping behaviour) facilitate the relationship between employees' ingratiation and performance ratings.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from 180 customer service teams working in Pakistan's hospitality industry through multiple sources using a paper and pencil questionnaire.FindingsThe multi-level structural equation modelling results showed that team psychological safety and helping behaviour fully mediated the relationship between ingratiation and performance ratings.Practical implicationsThe study has offered some implications for theory and practices.Originality/valueThis study showed that ingratiation might be a helpful impression management tool within a team context. Such an influence technique nurtures a psychologically safe climate and encourages peers to help each other perform mutual tasks within the hospitality context.


Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the pharmacokinetic characteristics of erianin (2-methoxy-5-[2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-phenol, CAS 95041-90-0), a nature product extracted from Dendrobium chrysotoxum, having notable antitumour activity, after intravenous injection of erianin fat emulsion to beagle dogs. An HPLC-MS method was developed to analyze the erianin levels in dog plasma and validated in a pharmacokinetic study. Plasma profiles were obtained after intravenous injection of erianin fat emulsion at the doses 7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg. The elimination half-life (t1/2) values for erianin were estimated to be 1.41 ± 0.31, 1.66 ± 0.19, 1.60 ± 0.28 h, while the mean area under concentration-time curve (AUC0–∞) values were 1021.3 ± 373.7, 2305.1 ± 597.0 and 3952.1 ± 378.2 ngh/ml, respectively. In conclusion, the present observations indicated that erianin plasma concentrations were clearly dose-proportional for the dose range studied. There was no gender difference in pharmacokinetics for erianin in male and female dogs.


Enterprises training their employees can raise the employees' rate of production and then bring bigger profits for enterprises, but the enterprises will face the risk of the employees' job-hopping. In order to detain the trained employees enterprises give them higher salary treatment. As a result the cost of the enterprises increases greatly, yet the crucial talented persons won't stay. Using signal game theory this article analyzes the decision-making problem of enterprises in employee training and educes many equilibrium results.


even predetermined Carlos V's response in 1539 to a typical resistance movement in New Spain. Leisa Kauffmann's chapter makes a compelling argument that despite its being heavy laden with European and Christian imagery, Alva Ixtlilxochitl's portrayal of Nezahualcoyotl retained Nahua cultural elements. Kauffmann convincingly argues that structural elements of the stories reveal coded cosmographic messages, like the role of trees or the means of communication with gods, that Nahuas would immediately recognize.


This paper mainly introduces the use of steam traps at present time.It also explores the working processes of various kinds of steam traps,their strengths and weaknesses and appropriate occasions to apply them.The third part is about the crucial factors that should be taken into account when selecting the types of steam traps and the installation instructions.The last part centers on detection and energy saving effect of steam traps.


Research was and still is involved in the controversial issue about innate talent or extensive practice as the determinants of excellent performance in a range of domains. This study aims to contribute by presenting an analysis of practice activities in a domain that appears to be particularly suitable—orchestral conducting. Most conductors usually attain expertise in instrument playing prior to commencing conducting studies. Twenty-seven students of German study programs of orchestral conducting (approximately 18.7% of the population) responded to a questionnaire about their practice activities in conducting programs and their instrumental experiences. Descriptive results show the wealth of prestudy experiences conducting students have. A clear influence on practice activities cannot be stated. During study, students rated conducting-specific practice activities as more demanding and devoted more time to them than to general music practice activities. Therefore, conducting-specific practice activities might have been practiced more deliberately than general music practice activities.


Radiocarbon dates reported in this date list are totally derived from a cooperative effort between the Romanian Institute of Geology and Geophysics and the Center for Applied Isotope Studies (CAIS). The project was carried out between 1972 through 1978. The purpose of the study was to add to the knowledge of the various stages of the Holocene development of the Danube and Black Sea (Ghenea et al, 1971; Panin, 1976).


Abstract : This report presents a time-varying linear-systems interpretation of the moving-acoustic-source problem. We present an algorithm that simulates the time series received at a sensor or an array of sensors resulting from the moving source. We then compare simulated data to experimental data to demonstrate the potential of the algorithm.


One of the central questions of pragmalinguistics is the distinction between linguistic structures and cultural norms that guide the usage of these structures in verbal interaction. This distinction is especially important for contrastive pragmatics, which analyses the interfaces of different languages and cultures. In order to draw a clear line between linguistic and cultural differences in patterns of interaction, contrastive pragmatics needs a methodological framework that is centred around a precise analytical separation between the idiomatic traditions of language and the cultural traditions of verbal interaction. Based on Eugenio Coseriu's system of language as a cultural competence, the study introduces a model that distinguishes three perspectives and types of (contrastive) pragmatics. A key-notion of this model is the concept of discourse traditions as a cultural knowledge that guides verbal interactions. Using this model as a blueprint, the study discusses discourse traditions of requesting with a focus on question acts used as polite requests. In the study, the idea of cultural traditions of discourse, which has been widely discussed in Romance linguistics during the last years, proves to be fruitful for a new methodological perspective on illocutionary patterns and communicative routines in contrastive and intercultural pragmatics.


I'm Bill Whelan from the Rand Corporation. I'd like to present a brief and somewhat general set of comments on diagnostic aid systems. The comrnents are general because I am summarizing previous and ongoing Rand study efforts. As you may be aware, Rand has done considerable work for t he Air Force in several areas related to diagnostic aid systems, such as investigations of engine health monitoring systems and studies of aircraft maintenance policies and programs. Recently, Rand has undertaken, under ARPA sponsor ship, a project to assess the utility and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic aid systems for U.S. Army ground vehicles. My examples will be drawn from the findings of this study. The relationship between diagnostic aid systems and NO[ is left as an exercise for the reader. Disciplines Engineering Science and Materials | Structures and Materials This 2. introductory is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cnde_yellowjackets_1975/1 DIAGNOSTIC AIDS FOR MILITARY SYSTEMS W. Whelan The Rand Corporation Santa Monica, California I'm Bi ll Whelan from the Rand Corporation. I'd like to present a brief and somewhat general set of comments on diagnostic aid systems. The corrrnents are general because I am sunnarizing previous and ongoing Rand s tudy efforts. As you may be aware, Rand has done cons iderabl e work for t he Air Force in severa l areas rel ated to diagnostic aid systems, such as investi gations of engine health monitoring systems and studies of aircraft maintenance policies and programs. Recently, Rand has undertaken, under ARPA sponsorship, a project to assess the utility and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic aid systems for U.S. Army ground vehicles. My exampl es will be drawn from the findings of this study. The relationsh ip between diagnostic aid systems and NO[ is left as an exercise for the reader. The utility of diagnostic aid systems can be reflected in increased operational readi ness for various kinds of mil itary equipment, as well as increased maintenance efficiency. I'm sure you have heard these words before, and I' ll discuss these t hemes subsequently. I have to thank Don Thompson for the idea for the firs t figure (Fig. l) "Diagnostic /\id Systems (Theory)." T rea li ze it' s a gross exaggeration to say that this figur e shov~s the theory of diagnostic aid systems. Of course, it merely sugges t s the idea behind them: that is, that somehow, using a diagnostic parameter, some measured characteristic of a system can be related to the state or s tatus of the system. Hopefully, a healthy system can be di stinguished from a system that is in some s tage of failing, and a system that has failed. This al so applies to a subsystem or component. A diagnosti c aid system can be defined as being made up of three subsystems (see Fig. 2) : a sensi ng subsystem, whose function is obvious; an infonnation processi ng and display subsystem; and f inally, a fa ilure model (see Fig. 3). Many people rai se the question, "l~hat are you doing call ing a failure mode l a subsystem of a di ag nostic aid system?" Well, I think it's the most important cotnponent of the diagnostic aid system. This i s the rationale: The fai lure model defines failure (at l east our interpretation of failure) and also establishes the fundamental limits of error of the system . Thi s provides gu idance for t he desi gn and use of diagnostic aid systems , including dec iding what to do with the data and what kind of repair or replacement action to take.


When dealing with gene expression data, FCM algorithm has the following defects: sensitiveness to the initial cluster centers, need to input the cluster number preliminary and doesn't consider the different contributions of attributes of gene expression data and so on. Accordingly, this paper presents a new feature weighted self-adaptive FCM algorithm handling gene expression data. First introduce a dataset pre-processing algorithms, then determine weights of all features of gene expression data set based on message-entropy, finally introduce the features' weights into the objective function of FCM algorithm. Experimental results show that the new algorithm significantly improves the effectiveness of taxonomic notes for gene expression data.


The liquid crystal display device liquid crystal display panel, a method of manufacturing and having the same are provided. The liquid crystal display panel according to one embodiment of the present invention, the pixel connected to the thin film transistor and the thin-film transistor disposed on a pixel region of the first substrate, the first substrate including a non-pixel region surrounding the pixel region and the pixel region electrode and the first, but includes at least one dummy pattern of adjacent and non-pixel area, a plurality of metal wires and a plurality of metal wires disposed on the substrate, the thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, at least one dummy pattern is made of the same material as any one of the gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode.


The cross sections of the process e(+)e(-) -> eta J/psi lip at center-of-mass energies (root s) between 3.81 and 4.60 GeV are measured with high precision by using data samples collected with th ...


Although ethics and values in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology have arguably been neglected by the field (Lefkowitz, 2017), there has been increased focus on these areas in recent years. Still, the process by which I-O psychologists (IOPs) move from the proscriptions and prescriptions of professional codes of ethics to making real-life decisions about real-life situations has received relatively little attention. Indeed, the current version of the ethics code of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the many similar codes from other countries (see, e.g., Lowman, 2018) do not include decision-making models.1A useful initial effort, Banks et al.'s (2022) six-step (stage) ethical decision-making model (similar to other such models, e.g., Duffy & Passmore, 2010; Welfel, 2016) will benefit from elaboration. This is particularly true for the kinds of situations that, like many that arise in I-O practice and research, are complex and ambiguous but also to those where there is a specific "right answer." In this article, I identify five points that have the potential to make this decision-making model more useful for IOPs and students. These are


Preface. 1 Molecular Orbital Theory. 1.1 The Atomic Orbitals of a Hydrogen Atom. 1.2 Molecules made from Hydrogen Atoms. 1.3 C H and C C Bonds. 1.4 Conjugation Huckel Theory. 1.5 Aromaticity. 1.6 Strained Bonds Cyclopropanes and Cyclobutanes. 1.7 Heteronuclear Bonds, C M, C X and C=O. 1.8 The Tau Bond Model. 1.9 Spectroscopic Methods. 1.10 Exercises. 2 The Structures of Organic Molecules. 2.1 The Effects of Conjugation. 2.2 Conjugation Hyperconjugation. 2.3 The Configurations and Conformations of Molecules. 2.4 Other Noncovalent Interactions. 2.5 Exercises. 3 Chemical Reactions How Far and How Fast. 3.1 Factors Affecting the Position of an Equilibrium. 3.2 The Principle of Hard and Soft Acids and Bases (HSAB). 3.3 Transition Structures. 3.4 The Perturbation Theory of Reactivity. 3.5 The Salem-Klopman Equation. 3.6 Hard and Soft Nucleophiles and Electrophiles. 3.7 Other Factors Affecting Chemical Reactivity. 4 Ionic Reactions Reactivity. 4.1 Single Electron Transfer (SET) in Ionic Reactions. 4.2 Nucleophilicity. 4.3 Ambident Nucleophiles. 4.4 Electrophilicity. 4.5 Ambident Electrophiles. 4.6 Carbenes. 4.7 Exercises. 5 Ionic Reactions Stereochemistry. 5.1 The Stereochemistry of the Fundamental Organic Reactions. 5.2 Diastereoselectivity. 5.3 Exercises. 6 Thermal Pericyclic Reactions. 6.1 The Four Classes of Pericyclic Reactions. 6.2 Evidence for the Concertedness of Bond Making and Breaking. 6.3 Symmetry-Allowed and Symmetry-Forbidden Reactions. 6.4 Explanations for the Woodward-Hoffmann Rules. 6.5 Secondary Effects. 6.6 Exercises. 7 Radical Reactions. 7.1 Nucleophilic and Electrophilic Radicals. 7.2 The Abstraction of Hydrogen and Halogen Atoms. 7.3 The Addition of Radicals to Bonds 7.4 Synthetic Applications of the Chemoselectivity of Radicals. 7.5 Stereochemistry in some Radical Reactions. 7.6 Ambident Radicals. 7.7 Radical Coupling. 7.8 Exercises. 8 Photochemical Reactions. 8.1 Photochemical Reactions in General. 8.2 Photochemical Ionic Reactions. 8.3 Photochemical Pericyclic Reactions and Related Stepwise Reactions. 8.4 Photochemically Induced Radical Reactions. 8.5 Chemiluminescence. 8.6 Exercises. References. Index.


Studies have shown that gender stereotypes have already appeared in children two years of age. As the central place for children's socialization, kindergarten teachers' gender stereotypes will substantially impact children's future studies and work. As one of China's most economically developed regions, the Yangtze River Delta region has richer educational resources than other regions. Some new educational concepts will be implemented earlier in the Yangtze River Delta region. As a relatively cutting-edge research field in preschool education, androgyny education has been implemented and developed to a certain extent in the Yangtze River Delta region. Therefore, this study took the Yangtze River Delta region as an example to find out the relationship between the gender stereotypes of early childhood teachers and androgyny education. A total of 67 teachers participated in this study. An adapted questionnaire was used to explore the relationship between teachers' gender stereotypes and androgyny education. This study used empirical data to demonstrate that gender stereotypes of early childhood teachers in the Yangtze River Delta region were negatively related to androgyny education. Thus, when gender stereotypes of early childhood teachers were strong, they were less likely to implement androgyny education. In other words, teachers can mitigate their stereotypes by implementing androgyny education.


The focus of this thesis is Crosslinking Mass Spectrometry (XL-MS) — a promising approach which received a lot of traction in recent years. This method allows capturing protein sites located in close proximity without the disturbing of protein native conformation. Here I describe our recent developments in the methodology together with XL-MS application to the complex biological systems. Chapter 1 contains a general overview of the Biomolecular MS and Proteomics over the years and covers its establishing as a robust and efficient method in protein characterization. With the focus on bottom-up proteomics, the chapter introduces instrumentation and main LC-MS/MS workflows which are routinely applied these days. Optimization of the protocol for crosslinking of proteins, proteins complexes, and system-wide crosslinking experiments is available in Chapter 2 and Appendix to this thesis. The approach is exemplified on two model systems: BSA protein as a low-complexity sample and whole PC9 cell lysate as a complex sample. In the case of BSA, the application of a set of proteases for protein digestion is described as a step towards more identified crosslinks. For the whole cell lysate experiment, the chapter reports the detection of thousands of unique crosslinked peptide pairs within a single experiment. Additionally, the detailed description of the crosslinking data analysis steps which are done with XlinkX node incorporated into Proteome Discoverer software suite together with the When applied to the complex biological systems, crosslinking outputs become not trivial in terms of data analysis and visualization. Chapter 3 describes the development and application of Cross-ID, the platform for analysis and visualization of complex XL-MS outputs. It describes the analysis of the proteome-wide crosslinking output generated in Chapter 2 for PC9 cells. Different visualization approaches, validation, and integration into DisVis pipeline for restraints-based interaction interface prediction are highlighted. After we have established and optimized the necessary steps in the crosslinking pipeline, we have started to investigate biological samples of interest. In Chapter 4 we describe the molecular architecture of the type I-F CRISPR adaptation complex comprised of Cas2-32 and Cas14. Integrative structural biology approach allows to correctly place the complex subunits and decipher interaction interface of the protein complex. First, complex mass and its stoichiometry are defined with SDS-PAGE, SEC and Native MS. Then by XL-MS with DSSO reagent, protein sites located close to each other are pinpointed. On the next step, XL-MS with formaldehyde reagent highlights the DNA-protein interaction sites and the final structure of the Cas2-34:Cas14-DNA complex is solved. Chapter 5 focuses on the XL-MS guided modeling and docking of the subunits of fibrin biological biopolymers. The high number of identified distance restraints within this extremely complex sample provides the basis for the modeling of the structures of the heparin-binding domain of β-fibrinogen, interactive and RGD-containing domains of α-fibrinogen as well as the α220-249 region. This chapter for the first time describes the model of the laterally aggregated Fibrin clot generated with the experimental data.


Growth, mortality and recruitment were determined for a loco (Concholepas concholepas) population from Huasco (Northern Chile) six weeks after suspension of a two years closed fishing season. The study was based on a shellmound sample of 2103 specimens that came from a processing plant. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters obtained (Loo = 152–160 mm, k = 0.38–0.52) indicate a faster growth and a smaller asymptotic size than reported in the literature. Recruitment seems to occurr during most of the year being strongest over a period of 4–6 months, probably during winter and spring. Total mortality was estimated as approx. 75% per year, about 10% lower than reported for loco populations of Central Chile previous to the closed fishing season.


Abstract: Preincubation of D384 cells, derived from the human astrocytoma cell line G‐CCM, with dopamine resulted in a time‐dependent attenuation of cyclic AMP responsiveness to subsequent dopamine stimulation. This effect was agonist specific because the prostaglandin E1 (PGE,) stimulation of cyclic AMP of similarly treated cells remained unchanged. The attenuation by dopamine was concentration dependent with a maximum observed at 100 μM. A comparison of dopamine concentration‐response curves of control and dopamine‐preincubated cells revealed no change in the Ka apparent value, but a marked attenuation of the maximal response. Preincubation of cells with dopamine in the presence of D1 but not D2 selective antagonists partially prevented the observed attenuation. Attenuations in dopamine responsiveness were also obtained when D384 cells were preincubated with D1 but not D2 receptor agonists. The level of attenuation attained related to agonist efficiency in stimulating cyclic AMP: SKF38393 < 3,4‐dihydroxynomifensine < fenoldopam < 2‐amino‐6,7‐dihydroxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene = dopamine. However, increasing the efficiency of 3,4‐dihydroxynomifensine stimulation of cyclic AMP, using the synergistic effect of adding a low concentration of forskolin, produced no further change in the attenuation of the subsequent response to dopamine. Thus, the D1 dopamine receptors expressed by D384 cells undergo homologous desensitization. Uncoupling of the D1 dopamine receptor appears to be independent of cyclic AMP formation, analogous to a mechanism proposed for the β‐adrenergic receptor.


We study a (N +1)−hypercyclical reaction-diffusion system with nonlinear reaction rate n. It is shown that there exists a critical threshold N0 such that for N ≤ N0 the system is stable while for N > N0 it becomes unstable. It is also shown that for large reaction rate n, N0 remains a constant: in fact for n ≥ n0 ∼ 3.35, N0 = 5 and for n < n0 ∼ 3.35, N0 = 4. Some more general reaction-diffusion systems of N + 1 equations are also considered.


The rising of creative industry internationally,is deemed to another new growth point of economic development after the high-tech industry.The article believes that the creative industry is the recent development of cultural industry,the appellation of cultural creative industry is quite suitable for the present actual condition of our country.After briefly expatiating the developmental status of international culture creative industry,the article selectively analyses the developmental actuality and existing problems of this industry in our country,and proposes 40 words of strategic concepts and policies and related countermeasures that our country will develop the cultural creative industry in the future.


In order to obtain high-performance transparent film,the thermal curing process of γ-(2,3-epoxypropoxyl) propyltrimethoxyl silane/boehmite(GPTMS/AlOOH) transparent composite film was researched in connection with its hardness and adhesion, Fourier infrared characterization,curing temperature,and curing time.The result showed that,with the increase of curing temperature and the extension of curing time,the film hardness would increase,the film adhesion would increase at first and then decline.The film hardness would be controlled by the massfraction of Si—O—Si and Al—O—Si.After thermal curing at 125 ℃ for 2.5 h,a GPTMS/AIOOH transparent composite film with pencil hardness of 4 H and adhesion of 2 could be obtained.


Biomarker discovery from complex biomedical data has become an important topic to unveil the significant new disease signals for disease diagnosis and treatment during past two decades. The earlier methods were proposed on a single genomic profile, and most of them utilize a single minimum support/confidence/lift cutoff. To overcome these shortcomings, here, we developed a framework for identifying complex markers using shortest distance based rule mining from the tri-omics profiles (gene expression, methylation and protein-protein interaction). We applied our method to a high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas multi-omics dataset. The novel markers were {GRB2-, STAT3-}('-' and '+' denote decreased and increased gene activities, respectively), {STAT3+, TP53-, MAPK3+} and {STAT3+, FYN+, MAPK3+}. We showed the superiority of our method vs. others, as it generates fewer rules and lower mean of the shortest distance than others. Moreover, our method is useful to extract complex markers from tri-omics profiles for the complex disease.


The complexes Fe(pyO)6(ClO4)3, Fe(pyO)6(NO3)3,2H2O, Fe(pyO)4(NO3)3,H2O, [Fe(pyO)4Cl2]+ClO4–,H2O, Fe(pyO)3X3(X = Cl or NCS) and Fe(pyO)2X3(X = Cl or Br) have been prepared. The stereochemistries of the complexes are discussed in relation to the results obtained by vibrational, electronic, and e.s.r. spectroscopy.


Densities and viscosities for the binary liquid mixtures of anisole or methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) with benzene, chlorobenzene, benzonitrile, and nitrobenzene were measured at 288.15, 293.15, and 298.15 K. These were used to compute the excess volumes (VE) and deviations in viscosity (Δη). These properties are discussed with reference to the nature of interactions between the unlike molecules.


The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has increased dramatically in recent years because of their huge potential in both civil and military applications and the decrease in prize of UAVs products. Location detection can be implemented through GNSS technology in outdoor environments, nevertheless its accuracy could be insufficient for some applications. Usability of GNSS in indoor environments is limited due to the signal attenuation as it cross through walls or the absence of line of sight. Considering the big market opportunity of indoor UAVs many researchers are devoting their efforts in the exploration of solutions for their positioning. Indoor UAV applications include location based services (LBS), advertisement, ambient assisted living environments or emergency response. This work is an update survey in UAV indoor localization, so it can provide a guide and technical comparison perspective of different technologies with their main advantages and drawbacks. Finally, we propose an approach based on an ultrasonic local positioning system.


Defenders of Wildlife is a leading conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. Defenders uses education, litigation, research and promotion of conservation policies to protect wild animals and plants in their naturalcommunities. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a 501 (c) (3) organization with 490,000 members and supporters nationwide and headquarters in Washington, D.C.


Examination of the pollen morphology, floral morphology and anatomy, and vegetative anatomy of Emblingia calceoliftora F.Muell.leads to widely divergent views concerning its systematic affinities.

Erdtman considers that pollen morphology shows Emblingia should be referred to, or near to, Polygalaceae; the pollen grains are unlike those of Capparaceae, Goodeniaceae or Sapindaceae.

Leins concludes that Emblingia is probably allied to the Sapindaceae. He lists the following similarities: three-carpellate, septate ovary with one axile ovule in each loculus; short androgynophore; eccentric, extrastaminal disk; reductions in corolla and androecium; ventral appendages to petals; spiral embryo and aril; bitegmic and crassinucellate ovules.

Melville interprets the hood of the androgynophore of Emblingia as a third petal and the gland ('disc') as a reduced stamen fascicle; the floral parts show a tendency to adhesion such as is common in the Goodeniaceae.Emblingia resembles Scaevola in general habit and hair type; the trimerous ovary, stigmatic vascular brush, and reniform seeds with curved embryos and complex vascular supply also suggest an affinity with Goodeniaceae.

Metcalfe's examination of the leaf and stem anatomy of Emblingia shows that the histological resemblance is closest to Goodeniaceae and next closest to Polygalaceae. Similarities to Goodeniaceae include minutely warty, unicellular hairs; branched sclereids; vascular bundles of leaf sheathed by inflated parenchymatous cells; deep-seated origin of cork in stem; xylem forming a closed cylinder in stem, traversed by narrow rays; mostly solitary vessels with simple perforations.


The electrochemical reaction of phenylacetylene with trialkylboranes in a tetrahydrofuran solution containing tetraalkylammonium halide gives the corresponding alkynes via a retention of configuration with respect to the boron-carbon bonds. The reaction mechanism is also discussed.


Po/So phases from numerous earthquakes along the margin of the Northwestern Pacific Basin were successfully recorded by a 1, 500-km-long ocean bottom hydrophone (OBH) array deployed for two months near Wake Island. Data from ten shallow-focus (<100km) events at 20°(2, 200 km) to 34°(3, 800 km) epicentral distance were used to compute propagation velocities across the array for the onsets of Po and So. The values found are 7.96±0.05 km/s for Po and 4.58±0.06 km/s for So. Travel-time intercepts associated with these velocities are, respectively, -7.21±2.40 s and -12.84±7.61 s. These velocities are significantly lower than those previously reported for the Northwestern Pacific using single station data. Although the low velocities and negative intercepts could simply be the result of bias in the data, they might also be due to the effects of azimuthal anisotropy along travel paths, or to increasing propagation velocity with lithospheric age, or to a different mode of propagation near the source.


In this paper, we study the feasibility of vibration-based damage identification methods for the instrumented Tsing Ma Suspension Bridge with a main span of 1377 m. Emphasis is placed on how to deal with the noise-corrupted/uncertain measurement data and how to use the series data from the on- line monitoring system for damage detection. Numerical simulation studies of using the noisy series measurement modal data for damage occurrence detection with the auto-associative neural network and for damage localization with the probabilistic neural network are presented. Five neural network based novelty detectors using only natural frequencies of the intact and damaged structure are first developed for the detection of damage occurrence in the Tsing Ma Bridge. The noisy/uncertain measurement data are produced by polluting the analytical natural frequencies with random noise. Numerical simulations of a series of damage scenarios show that when the maximum frequency change caused by damage exceeds a certain threshold, the occurrence of damage can be unambiguously flagged with the novelty detectors. A probabilistic neural network using noisy modal data (natural frequencies and incomplete modal vectors) is then constructed for the localization of damage occurring at the Tsing Ma Bridge deck. The main-span deck is divided into 16 segments and the damage in each segment is defined as a pattern class. The analytical modal data for each pattern class are artificially corrupted with random noise and then used as training samples to establish a three-layer probabilistic neural network for damage localization. A preliminary investigation shows that the damage to deck members can be localized only when the level of the corrupted noise is low.


Here, Han et al. show that transcription factor Zfp335 binds DNA and drives transcription via recognition of two distinct consensus motifs by separate ZF clusters and identify the specific motif interaction disrupted by the mutation R1092W. This study presents Zfp335 as a model for understanding how C2H2-ZF TFs may use multiple recognition motifs to control gene expression.


Vitellogenin is highly expressed in the fat body of silkworm(Bombyx mori) pupa. The study of transcriptional regulation mechanism of Bombyx mori vitellogenin(BmVg) gene and its promoter activity can help us to express exogenous proteins efficiently using silkworm pupae as bioreactor. In this study,1. 5 kb BmVg promoter fragment was amplified by PCR from the silkworm pupal genome DNA. The cell transfection vector named pGL3-Vg Promoter was constructed using differently truncated BmVg promoter to drive luciferase gene. Then,the BmVg promoter activity was analyzed in the BmE-SWU1 cell line. The results showed the BmVg promoter with 90 bp from the translation initiation site had basic transcription activity. Furthermore,the promoter activity was reduced obviously when the area-752 to-952 bp and-42 to-152 bp was deleted,which implied that there are important elements to the promoter activity in these two areas of BmVg promoter.


The mainstream data mining faces critical challenges and lacks of soft power in solving real-world complex problems when deployed. Following the paradigm shift from 'data mining' to 'knowledge discovery', we believe much more thorough efforts are essential for promoting the wide acceptance and employment of knowledge discovery in real-world smart decision making. To this end, we expect a new paradigm shift from 'data-centered knowledge discovery' to 'domain-driven actionable knowledge discovery'. In the domain-driven actionable knowledge discovery, ubiquitous intelligence must be involved and meta-synthesized into the mining process, and an actionable knowledge discovery-based problem-solving system is formed as the space for data mining. This is the motivation and aim of developing Domain Driven Data Mining (D3M for short). This chapter briefs the main reasons, ideas and open issues in D3M. 1.1 Why Domain Driven Data Mining Data mining and knowledge discovery (data mining or KDD for short) [9] has emerged to be one of the most vivacious areas in information technology in the last decade. It has boosted a major academic and industrial campaign crossing many traditional areas such as machine learning, database, statistics, as well as emergent disciplines, for example, bioinformatics. As a result, KDD has published thousands of algorithms and methods, as widely seen in regular conferences and workshops crossing international, regional and national levels. Compared with the booming fact in academia, data mining applications in the real world has not been as active, vivacious and charming as that of academic research. This can be easily found from the extremely imbalanced numbers of pubLongbing Cao School of Software, University of Technology Sydney, Australia, e-mail: email@example.com.


The extent of adhesion formation following both open and laparoscopic surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of postoperative adhesion formation after laparoscopic and open fundoplication in a rat model.


PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: to study the prevalence of prothrombotic polymorphisms of the hemostatic system in children with acute glomerulonephritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: analysis of carriers of prothrombotic polymorphisms in acute glomerulonephritis in children. Genes are candidates for predisposition to increased thrombus formation was investigated by PCR the allelic variants of genes of factors II prothrombin (G20210А); factor V Leiden (G1691A), factor VII clotting (G10976A); factor XIII of blood coagulation (G226A); fibrinogen G(-455)A; inhibitor of plasminogen activator PAI-1 4G(-675)5G; and polymorphic gene variants of folate cycle disorders: methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase – (MTHFR C677T, MTHFR А1298С), B12-dependent methionine synthase (MTR А2756G) and methionine synthase reductase – (MTRR A66G), 31 children: 20 children with endocrine nephrotic syndrome; 11 children with acute glomerulonephritis nephritic syndrome. RESULTS: it was found that the frequency of the major allele 5G (-675) of the gene PAI-1 50% statistically significantly (p=0,042) above was determined in children with endocrine NS group than in healthy children. When comparing the distribution of allele frequencies, genotypes of the genes of the hemostatic system and folate metabolism in patients with acute GN nephritic syndrome and the control group, statistically significant differences were revealed. In the study found that in children with acute glomerulonephritis often have a combination of prothrombotic polymorphisms – 48,4% (p<0.05), dominated by compounds of the genotype 677 CT MTHFR gene and genotype (-675) 4G5G PAI-1 gene in 40% of children. Coagulation status associated with dysfunction of hemostasis is more pronounced in the combination of acute glomerulonephritis and gene-genych Association of prothrombotic polymorphisms than in the control group. CONCLUSION: the Heterozygous genotype 677 CT MTHFR gene is 60% and the heterozygous genotype AD 66 gene MTRR 70% occur with greater frequency than in the control group.


T HE PRESENT ATTEMPT to test Stouffer's theory of intervening opportunities as a generalized expression of the relationship between migration and distance" was prompted by the belief that the potential utility of the theory justifies repeated efforts to determine its adequacy and by the availability of Swedish census data which could be employed for the purpose. The results of the current test, like those of the earlier ones by Stouffer and by Bright and Thomas,2 tend to substantiate the theory despite the crudeness of measurements and the doubtful suitability of the data used as criteria of opportunities. In Stouffer's words, his theory "assumes that there is no necessary relationship between mobility and distance. . . . It proposes that the number of persons going a given distance is directly proportional to the number of opportunities at that distance and inversely proportional to the number of intervening opportunities. . . . The relation between mobility and distance may be said to depend on an auxiliary relationship, which expresses the cumulated (intervening) opportunities as a function of distance."3 The results of both Stouffer's application of this theory to data on residential mobility in ClevelancG and Bright and Thomas' experiment with net interstate migration data for the United States as of 1930 were "encouraging" in showing conformity between patterns of expectation and observation; but Stouffer recognized that many discrepancies were too large to attribute to chance, while Bright and Thomas' application of the chi-square test to Stouffer's and their own results indicated that "a real discrepancy" was involved in both cases. They suggest, however, that the chisquare test may be too sensitive to be applicable. Bright and Thomas found discrepancies of two sorts, one of which they were able to reduce markedly by increasing the qualitative similarity of "opportunities" (i.e., by eliminating migration to California in their computations) and by holding constant the factor of direction. The other discrepancy, namely, an excess of expected over observed net migrants in the two smallest distance intervals, was attributed (i) to necessary crudeness of measurements which meant that these intervals represented "nearest migration" or " 'opportunities' without 'intervening opportunities"'; and (2) to the fact that Stouffer's formula, "although the theory on which it is based postulates no necessary relationship of migration and distance, . . . does overweight appreciably absence of distance in the first interval merely because intervening opportunities are necessarily measured in terms of distance bands."4 For further investigation of these possible sources of discrepancy, Swedish census data on intercommunity migration seemed especially suitable. The census of I930 tabulates all persons migrating from one community to another in Sweden between I92i and I930 by county of origin and county of destination of last migration, Samuel A. Stouffer, "Intervening Opportunities: A Theory Relating Mobility and Distance," American Sociological Review, I940, 5 :845-867. ' Margaret L. Bright and Dorothy S. Thomas, "Interstate Migration and Intervening Opportunities," American Sociological Review, I94I, 6 :773783. ' Stouffer, op. cit., pp. 846-847. The basic formula Ay a Ax is = X , Ay equalling the number of As x As persons migrating from an origin to a circular band of width As; x, the number of intervening opportunities; Ax, the number of opportunities within the band of width As. 4Bright and Thomas, op. cit., p. 779.


book contains severa l ch apt er s on the use of force and th e law of arme d conflicts. I found Internati on al Law: Achievements and Prospects exciting and fascina ting to read, becau se of the profound insights and pred ictions of future tr ends sha red by th e contr ibuto rs, all ren owned jurists and legal scho lars. Man y of the topi cs are not yet cove red in th e literature, and th e book could serve as a source of inspirati on for the many stude nt note topi cs and pap er s. As examples of new er developments, one autho r di scu sses th e need to regulate and cont ro l g ro ups of transnational corpo ra tions. Other s question wh ether the atmosph ere and even th e world 's gra in stoc k sho uld be consid ered the common heritage of manki nd . Another asks how one sho uld regulate th e electro-magnetic environment surround ing the ea rt h. The views expressed are also some times on the cutti ng edge in the fields of human rights, as well. The new er human right s to development and of peace a re di scu ssed in sepa ra te chapte rs. Overa ll, however , Intern ational Law: Achi evem ent s and Prospects takes a m oderate, reason ed and didactic approach to int ernationa l law. The reviewe r high ly recommends thi s book for all acade m ic law libraries and uni versity reference collections and only regrets that its high price may mak e it prohibi tively expensive for th e ind ividual purchaser.


The invention discloses a method for manufacturing a medium and high-voltage anode aluminum foil for an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, which sequentially comprises the following steps of: 1) pretreating an optical foil; 2) putting the optical foil into acid solution in a ratio of chloride ion to sulfate ion of 5-15:1, then applying an alternating current with the current density of 60 to 100mA/cm to the optical foil for primary corroding and hole forming, then putting the optical foil into acid solution in the ratio of the chloride ion to the sulfate ion of 1:9.5-16, and then applying a direct current with the current density of 250 to 300mA/cm to the optical foil for primary corroding and hole forming; 3) after primary cleaning, performing secondary corroding and reaming on the optical foil in the acid solution; 4) after secondary cleaning, drying the optical foil by using a drying furnace to obtain the corroded foil finished product; and 5) performing conversion coating on the corroded foil finished product to obtain the medium and high-voltage anode aluminum foil finished product. In the method for manufacturing the medium and high-voltage anode aluminum foil for the aluminum electrolytic capacitor provided by the invention, the surface dislocation and defect parts of the optical foil are subjected to pitting by the alternating current, and then the optical foil is subjected to primary corroding and hole forming by the direct current, so that heating is reduced, the deformation of the aluminum foil because of heating is prevented, the surface expansion rate of the aluminum foil is increased, and specific volume is improved greatly.


The traditional signal timing at intersections is only from the point of improving the traffic efficiency, and it does not take into account the pedestrian factors at intersections and vehicle exhaust emissions, which is easy to aggravate environmental pollution. This paper examines the relationship between vehicle delay, pedestrian delay, parking rates, traffic capacity and exhaust emissions, and develops a hierarchical multi-objective optimization signals framework to optimize fixed-time traffic based on survey at isolated signalized interactions. The optimized frame is solved by the particle swarm optimization, and the traffic light time of each phase is calculated by the flow ratio formulas. Using this method, the vehicle delay can be reduced by 18.7%, the queue length can be reduced by 15.5%. To a certain extent, using this timing scheme can improve road capacity, reduce traffic accidents, reduce tail gas emissions and reduce road congestion.


Successful provision of public transport cannot be achieved by any one organisation alone. At least three key parties must closely collaborate to deliver a truly integrated network. In New Zealand, the model most commonly used to deliver public transport is where the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and the regional council funds and contracts the service, the city or district council provides the infrastructure the network operates on and the bus company provides the buses and drivers that carry the customers. Together they must all be involved in the process. Our paper examines the importance of collaboration amongst these key parties in the delivery of a full regional PT network review. From inviting parties to be part of a steering group, the project management groups, and technical working groups, through to targeted consultation, this paper examines each step in the planning process. Learnings on successful collaboration include how the key parties were engaged, where their input added real value, and importantly, how the key parties communicated internally to ensure whole of organisation awareness and buy-in. We will also provide insight into the journey taken by the network review through the traditionally tricky area of melding technical outputs with political requirements – by way of an upfront agreed communications process within the project structure. Often a very difficult task!


In recent times the term "post-secular" has emerged to describe the age in which we are currently living. The term "post" is somewhat misleading because it is clear that the current age is strongly secular in a whole range of ways. Rather, post-secular is meant to indicate that the secularization metanarrative, the view that humanity is inevitably headed down a road that leads from a religious condition in the past to a secular age in the future, no longer holds. The post-secular certainly does not mean something like the "return of religion," or an idea that the secular age is…


Simple Summary Selective culling of female deer is effective in reducing overabundant sika deer (Cervus nippon) populations. Sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) can act as an attractant to selectively cull female sika deer due to the differences in mineral requirements. Here, using global plant trait data and a published list of sika deer feed plants in Japan, we estimated whether feed plants provide sika deer sufficient Na, Ca and Mg, and compared the results between males and females. Our analysis showed that sufficient Na and Ca were not always provided, especially when intakes were low and deer were large. Na deficiency was more intense for lactating females than males, whereas Ca deficiency was more intense for males. We suggest that Na and Ca could be useful for developing effective culling methods. Especially, Na could be useful for selective culling of female sika deer during the lactating period. Abstract Deficient minerals in overabundant populations could act as an attractant to cull sika deer (Cervus nippon). Because selective culling of female deer is reported to be effective in reducing sika deer populations, it is particularly important to clarify the differences in mineral requirements between males and females. Here, using global plant trait data and a published list of sika deer feed plants in Japan, we estimated whether feed plants provide sika deer sufficient sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), and compared the results between males and females. An analysis of 191 feed plant species suggested that feed plants can provide sufficient Mg, whereas sufficient Na and Ca is not always provided, especially when the intake is small or the deer large. Na deficiency was more intense for lactating females than males, suggesting that Na can be an effective attractant for selectively culling female deer. In summary, this study demonstrated that sika deer in Japan might require extra Na and Ca sources in addition to feed plants, and therefore these minerals could be useful for developing effective culling methods.


In an age of enlightenment, Wesley made the plain teachings of the Bible the foundation of the Christian faith and judged insufficient any Christian experience whose content was not founded in Scripture


Combustion ofbio-fuels, recycled fuels (RF), and refuse derived fuels (RDF) rouses the boilermakers to create new, cost-efficient designs to ensure environmentally-benign and reliable operation. A new CFB boiler designed especially for the combustion of recovered fuels has started operation in fall of 1999, in Stockholm, Sweden. This paper presents the special characteristics of this boiler, and shows some of the measured results during a three-week combustion test period. During this test period. four different recovered fuel types were burnt.


Identification of inertial parameters of manipulator of a robot is an important basic problem in robot dynamical research. Algorithm and mathematical model of inertial parameters identification of robot are analyzed in this paper. General rules and advantages of application of artificial neural network in identification of parameters of system are investigated also. A novel method different from the traditional ANN problems is developed. The structure and the weights of the network constructed have special physical meanings in this method. Difficulty in obtaining the training samples, which exists in the traditional ANN for inertial parameters estimation, is resolved. This method is simple, direct and less in operand, which can be applied on the end-effector of a robot on line to estimate its inertial parameters based on the signal of sensors. Feasibility and effectiveness of this method are proved by the results of experiment carried out in a PUMA 562 robot.


This book represents a timely exploration of the dynamics of U.S.foreign policy development. It introduces historical developments and theories of U.S. foreign policy and engages students in the politics and debates of the foreign policy process (both directly and by proxy) through innovative learning exercises. This book offers a rich understanding of the politics behind clashing perspectives towards contemporary foreign policy challenges ranging from immigration policy controversies to COVID-19 pandemic responses, climate change to the China trade war. All of these issues are presented in dynamic ways that focus on activism and engagement in the policy process-and so this text speaks directly to a new generation of college students who have mobilized to political activism. The book is intended to serve as a core text for classes on U.S. foreign policy at the 200-level or above and will appeal to a broad audience. New to the Second Edition: • Provides insights on contemporary foreign policy challenges facing the Biden administration and future presidents, such as climate change, the rise of China, sanctions and trade policies, and changing U.S. engagement in the Middle East. • Offers stronger theoretical foundations for the study of domestic constraints in the foreign policy decision-making process, including the power of interest groups and political polarization in Congress. • Explains pedagogical treatments of online and hybrid learning applications, along with presenting new exercises to engage students both in person in the classroom and online. • Presents more detailed and critical historical analyses of U.S. foreign policy, including greater attention to the U.S. as an imperial power and its implications for politics and society. • Creates new and exciting active learning exercises for instructors and students, including role-playing simulations of global public health crisis management and group research projects on cybersecurity and immigration policy. • Enriches the graphics and illustrations of foreign policy actors and processes in a full-color presentation. • Analyzes contemporary foreign policy issues in the Trump and Biden administrations. • Adds new web components and features, some authored by undergraduate students who are becoming experts in U.S. foreign policy. • Includes new writing exercises and assignments designed to promote creative and critical thinking about foreign policy actors and processes. © 2023 Jeffrey S. Lantis and Patrick Homan.


Your article, about approaches to action research since Lewin, provides a useful review of the literature that backgrounds the more in-depth presentations of particular action methods and theories provided by Park, Putnam, Reason, and myself. I agree strongly with your summary criticisms that the literature generally provides little information about internal action research team processes and fails to clarify the interdependence of action and research. Moreover, I also agree with the questions you raise right after declaring that 'in action research, truth is in the process of inquiry itself ', and I further agree that they are 'unlike those that guide most research'. But: how so? My most significant feeling of criticism about this review is that although you hint at differences between positivist research and action research, and hint as well at difficulties within action research itself, you rarely confront these issues head-on in a way that motivates the imagination of the reader (or at least of this reader). I think action research questions are different because they confront us as active human beings, and as members of social groups, about the harmonies or incongruities across different qualities of reality as we act in the present —from our own or our organization's intuitions of what we value, to our espoused strategies and priorities, to the actual pattern of our actions, and our effects. In other words, in action research, properly understood, the world is not seen as a single, out-there, third-person territory that is mapped by theory and empirical research. Rather, as both Reason and I have charted in different languages, the world consists of at least four distinct territories that interweave in the first-, second-, and thirdperson present as we act/inquire (each action an inquiry, whether recognized as such or not, and vice versa). You point out, as a criticism of action research (and the criticism is actually even more pertinent of most positivist research), that it is often not timely, that problems can change under one's feet while one is doing in-depth, iterative search. I agree and would put the matter more dramatically. I would say that any social theory and data that do not include a theory of, and practical sensitivity to, issues of timely action will perforce mislead us. Finally, I was astonished by your sentence, 'The validity of the theory (in action research) is judged by a simple criterion'. This sentence is followed by, not one, but three extremely complex criteria that are potentially in tension with one another: (1) improvement and (2) change within the context, and (3) development of new, generalizable knowledge. I believe that nothing less than what I call Developmental Action Inquiry, held and practiced lightly from a late-stage perspective earned through Management Learning Copyright g 1999 Sage Publications London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi Vol. 30(2): 227–248


Ferronickel slag (FNS) is a by-product of the smelting of nickel ore. When ground to powder, it can be used to partially replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC). This study focused on the production of self-compacting concrete (SCC) by replacing OPC with 20%, 35%, and 50% ground ferronickel slag (GFNS). In addition, natural sand was replaced by FNS in all the mixtures. Thus, the significance of this research is the conservation of natural resources by the dual use of FNS and GFNS. The fresh properties of SCC were evaluated as per EFNARC. The results show that the concrete mixtures using FNS and GFNS together met the criteria of SCC. Concrete microstructure was investigated by SEM images, and a detailed phase assemblage was studied by XRD. The highest 28 days compressive strength was found as 68 MPa in the mixture with 35% GFNS. The 50% cement replacement by GFNS showed the lowest compressive strength among all the mixes. The splitting tensile strength results followed a similar development as compressive strength. Hence, it implies that FNS can be a potential eco-friendly material that can be used in the production of SCC


The authors report on the ability of the Pr/sup 3+/-Yb/sup 3+/ codoped system to move the pumping wavelength to wavelengths shorter than 1.017 mu m. It was demonstrated that, by codoping of Yb/sup 3+/ with Pr/sup 3+/-doped fluoride fiber, amplifiers can be moved to the spectral range where effective pumping can be done with InGaAs laser diodes that have strained-layer quantum-well structures that were developed as a pumping source for Er/sup 3+/-doped fiber amplifiers. The pumping wavelength range was extended down to 0.93 mu m.<<ETX>>


A low-cost high-performance pantograph has been developed in Britain. It permits train speeds to be increased significantly or economies to be made in overhead equipment design.


The agent model has been used to conduct a number of simulation experiments. A.1 Scenarios used In the simulations four stimuli play a role. To make the results more readable the following descriptions are added, which was inspired by [25]. s 1 : The dreamer is chased by un unknown person. s 2 : The dreamer walks in an dark environment and sees an unknown person. s 3 : The unknown person is lost and asks the dreamer the way. s 4 : The dreamer can't get away quick enough and the chaser is getting near. The following type of scenario is used:  A memory trigger activates the sensory representation state of an emotionally neutral stimulus s 2. The corresponding episode state is triggered and the dream begins.  Another stimulus, s 1 , is associated with fear. There is a strong connection from the sensory representation state of s 2 to the sensory representation state of s 1. This is because the stimulus s 2 evokes an association with s 1 , due to resemblance or feelings of fear. Therefore the sensory representation state of s 1 is also triggered.  The stimulus s 3 is a reassuring stimulus, which does not go together with stimuli which evoke feelings of fear like s 1. The stimuli s 1 and s 3 contradict each other. The sensory representation state of s 2 does also have an excitatory influence on the sensory representation state of s 3. It means that when the sensory representation state of s 2 is activated the sensory representation states of both s 1 and s 3 are both triggered. Only one of the episodes of s 1 and s 3 is activated above threshold at the same time.  The stimulus s 1 is associated with fear, which means that if the sensory representation state of s 1 is active, the preparation state for bodily response b and the feeling state for b have higher levels than usual. The more neurotic the dreamer is the higher the level of the feeling state for b will be. The higher the activation of the feeling state for b, the more it inhibits the sensory representation state of s 3 and the more it excites the sensory representation states of s 3 and s 4.  The stimulus s 4 is associated with more fear than s 1. …


Stereo cameras have been used as perception sensors for agricultural vehicle navigation for years. One problem impeding their broader application is the difficulty of calibrating the installation poses of a camera using conventional measuring tools, especially when such a system is used in ill-structured agricultural field environments. The research reported in this paper was aimed to develop an automated calibration method for determining the camera installation pose with respect to a vehicle frame. Based on this method, a binocular stereo camera acquired a sequence of field scenery images as the vehicle moved straight forward for a short distance on a relatively flat surface. An image processing algorithm has been developed to detect some static feature points in the ground image and track their three-dimensional (3D) relative motions with respect to the moving vehicle. A plane best fitting to those detected ground features was then used to determine the camera roll and pitch angles, and the tracked motions of those feature points were used to estimate the camera yaw. Field test results validated that the developed auto-calibration method was capable of determining the camera installation pose at a calibration accuracy of ±1° over an approximately 10 m of vehicle traveling distance. The calibrated poses could be used to compensate for the navigation errors induced by camera misalignment.


The effect of confining pressure on the pore volume of some tight sandstones from the Uinta Basin, Utah, was investigated. A new method based on the pressure-volume relationships of a gas was developed and used to measure pore volume reduction. The results were compared with the results obtained using the more common method that involves the measurement of liquid expelled from a saturated core and were found to be in good agreement. Pore volume compressibility of the samples studies is in the range of values reported by other investigators and ranges from 2.0 x 10/sup -6/ to 1.3 x 10/sup -5/ pv/pv/psi at a confining pressure of 5,000 psi.


Conventional concrete is a mixture of cement, water, and coarse and fine aggregates. Supplementary components such as chemical and mineral admixtures may be added to the basic concrete ingredients to enhance its properties in fresh or hardened state. The development of tools to find the optimized mix proportions has been the subject of research during the last more than four decades. Customer churn is a major problem and one of the most important concerns for large companies. Due to the direct effect on the revenues of the companies, especially in the telecom field, companies are seeking to develop means to predict potential customer to churn. Therefore, finding factors that increase customer churn is important to take necessary actions to reduce this churn. The main contribution of our work is to develop the three kinds of the better classifier for the data prediction. Hence the three kinds of the classifiers like Decision Trees (DT), Naive Bayes Classifier and Rule induction (RI) is developed.


Abstract. Many digital image processing algorithms have been developed for a litchi harvesting robot to recognize and locate litchis in South China Agricultural University over the past decade. Algorithms include those for litchi fruits recognition using several colour space under different illumination conditions, as well as those for picking point detection and main fruit bearing branch detection. Other algorithms discussed are used in litchi fruits matching, picking point matching and distance measurement, thus for litchi fruits localization. A review of past efforts is presented in this paper, applications of these different algorithms are discussed, and future works are described.


The article suggests the potential of the real estate investment trust (REIT) listing on the Nasdaq Dubai stock exchange to boost the economy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It refers to the presence of three exchanges in the UAE as a factor that inhibits the growth of the bourse. A comparison of the regulatory framework set by Nasdaq Dubai with other exchanges in the region is presented. The role of local companies in the success of Nasdaq Dubai is noted.


Krimidanta (Dental caries) is a common disease in Sri Lankan society. Preschool and schoolchildren are mostly affected by this condition.  It is mostly affected on due to very low socioeconomic backgrounds with highly caryogenic dietary patterns, poor brushing habits and low value placed on oral health.  Ayurveda authentic classic mentions this condition under the Mukha Roga of Shalakya tantra . According to main authentic classics of Ayurveda, such as Susruta samhita, Astanga Hradaya samhita and Bhavaprakasha clearly mention the condition of Krimidanta and its treatment procedure. A literature study was carried out to collect and analyze the formulas mentioned in well-known traditional texts including Sarartha samgraha, Bhaisajja Manjusa, Prayogaratnavali, Yogarnava, Varayogasara and 21 books of Thalpathe piliyam in indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka. According to the findings, 92 individual herbals materials ( Udbhida Dravya ), 7 Animal materials ( Jangama Dravya ) and 5 Minerals ( Parthiva Dravya ) have been used to treat Krimidanta . Among them mostly mentioned herbs are Welkahambiliya (Tragia hispida), Wara (Calotropis gigantea), Attana (Datura metal), Inguru (Zingiber officinale), Tibbatu (Solanum torvum), Aralu (Terminalia chebula), Walagasal (Embelia ribes) and Diya beraliya (Monachoria hastata. And also Heen bovitiya (Osbeckia octandra), Heen udupiyaliya (Desmodium triflorum), Kebella (Aporusa lindleyana), Kiriwalla (Holarrhena mitis) and Niyada (Sansevieria zeylanica) are found as endemic herbs in Sri Lanka. In the management of Krimidanta, Karna Dhupana, Karna Purana, Dhuma, Kawala external paste application for relevant cheek and Kemkrama were identified as exclusive treatment procedures in indigenous medicine. It was concluded that more herbal, several animal and mineral materials have been used for Krimidanta with exclusive treatment procedures in indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka.


This article explores the architecture of the American courtroom and courthouse, in an effort to unearth the values and ideals embodied in American jurisprudence. The first section discusses the general notion that architecture, especially public architecture, is a spatial manifestation of social ideology that can be dissected to reveal the underlying ideology that created the architecture. The second section explores the architecture of the American courtroom and courthouse as embodiments of fundamental American legal concepts. The third section embarks on a detailed analysis of the courtroom, to unearth the ideologies underlying the actual application and practice of the law within the courtroom space. The fourth section examines courthouse exteriors in detail in order to unearth an external perception of the law that is practiced within. Finally, the fifth section assesses the insights that the previous two sections provide. That assessment reveals a legal ideology in flux. While courtroom designs have remained largely unchanged, conveying a certain stability and continuity within our legal system, changes in courthouse exteriors to styles reminiscent of corporate architecture seem to indicate that something is changing in the way the public perceives the law's role in contemporary society.


To modify polyvinylacetate dispersions, it was proposed to use the redox complex – Fenton reagent as a source of free radicals and oxidant for individual constituents, also it was proposed to use the acid-salt complex of nitric acid and aluminium nitrate as the mixture oxidant and the structure-forming agent (due to the formation of coordination bonds with functional groups of polymeric chains).The article presents the results of theoretical studies on possible mechanisms of chemical interaction between PVA dispersion-based adhesive composition (PVAD-51P trade mark) and modifying agents; also given here are the results of experimental investigation by infrared spectroscopy in transmittance of polymeric films formed both by modified and non-modified polyvinylacetate adhesive compositions.