Uniplanar coplanar waveguide (CPW), coplanar strip (CPS), and slotline on dielectric substrates have many applications in microwave integrated circuit (MIC) and monolithic microwave/millimeter wave integrated circuit (MMIC) designs. New power dividers using one-section and two-section coupled CPW have been developed. These circuits provide substantially improved performance over a wider bandwidth than conventional microstrip power dividers. Measured results show that the one-section CPW power divider has greater than 20-dB isolation, less than 0.3-dB insertion loss, a 0.2-dB power dividing imbalance, and a 20 phase imbalance over a bandwidth of more than 30% centered at 3 GHz. The two-section CPW power divider has greater than 24-dB isolation, less than 0.5-dB insertion loss, a 0.1 dB power dividing imbalance, and a 1.6/spl deg/ phase imbalance over a bandwidth of more than 66% centered at 3 GHz. Experimental results agree well with calculated ones. In-phase and 180/spl deg/ out-of-phase power dividers constructed by the circuit configuration method are described in this paper. The even-odd mode excited method is used to analyze the power dividers. Also two other power dividers using asymmetrical coplanar strip (ACPS) have been developed with good performance. A 180/spl deg/ out-of-phase power divider is demonstrated with an amplitude imbalance of 0.4 dB and a phase difference of 180/spl deg//spl plusmn/1/spl deg/ over a wide bandwidth.


This paper develops a model for the analysis of the reliability of bridge columns under earthquake loads. Probability of failure is defined as the probability that the displacement ductility capacity of the bridge column is less than the ductility demand at the assumed earthquake level. Ductility capacity is formulated as a function of the column geometry and the volumetric ratio of confining steel. Ductility demand can be calculated by time history analysis of a bridge structure or as done in this study, using inelastic earthquake spectra. Results of this model expressed in terms of reliability indices are presented for bridges designed according to AASHTO's guidelines.


The work analyzes the efficiency of the use of the Mellin transform for character recognition and evaluates the boundaries of changing image parameters, in which this method is sufficiently effective. The possibility of effective recognition is established when the image rotation angle is changed, as well as its zoom, noisiness and blurring.


Exotic functions of thin films are quite often connected to the unique atomic and molecular features of buried layers and interfaces. In reality, the structures are far from uniform, but seeing such inhomogeneity is extremely difficult. The present research concerns how to solve the difficulty. The novel technique developed is the X-ray reflectivity imaging. While ordinary X-ray reflectivity gives very precise information on the electron density profile along the depth in thin films, the method can have some imaging capability, by combining with the image reconstruction scheme. Some practical applications will be reported.


In this article the author analyzes the current domestic state studies, trends and features of its development. It is concluded that legal science practically does not study the so-called blunders in state policy, ineffective strategics, failures of reforms and programs. Classical state science and its representative Aristotle called this a deviation in a state development and used the concept of a deviated (deviating) state . It is proposed to study the causes, types and forms of deviations. The author believes that this approach will allow a deeper analysis of the emerging negative trends and patterns in the European statehood development. The current global crisis, provoked by the situation in Ukraine and around it, only sharpens deviations in the European states' development. It is emphasized that deviated state theory needs a proper development in the legal science. The problem of the state bodies activities imitation shall be central in the future theory. The author believes that many components of modern statehood do not essentially fulfill their tasks and functions, or, if they do, then partly. The relationship between society and the state is analyzed through the prism of alienation. The state is a product of society; it was created for society and is entirely indebted to it. Legal science must develop criteria for remoteness of the state from society to define the degree of alienation. Within the framework of negative trends, selectivity is also considered as a feature of modern statehood. The author understands selectivity as a special form of coercion. Such states do not carry out heavy repressions; there is a certain point of revenge on individuals, groups, organizations, etc. Among the deviations, the author refers to ignoring the role and importance of social organizations, state's withdrawal form international human rights organizations, etc. The article ends with the author's appeal to reasonableness as a condition for resisting deviations. Reasonableness must form the basis for statehood and legal reality. The state, its institutions must be the product of rational human activity. Mankind has long been determined in its own values, which include the state and its companion - law.


The environmental instruments to environmental measuring will be analyzed and questioned. An absence of biological instruments will be indicated and the controversial discussion between the economy and biology is also approached. The economy as dominant science has developed instruments that will be accepted as universal languages. On the other hand the biological factors and the environmental services will be transformed in money, which may be a danger for the environmental preservation. The second part of the article is focused on the instruments developed for measuring the worth of forest.


It is estimated that between 80% and 90% of governmental and business data collections contain address information. Geocoding – the process of assigning geographic coordinates to addresses – is becoming increasingly important in many application areas that involve the analysis and mining of such data. In many cases, address records are captured and/or stored in a free-form or inconsistent manner. This fact complicates the task of robustly matching such addresses to spatiallyannotated reference data. In this paper we describe a geocoding system that is based on a comprehensive high-quality geocoded national address database. It uses a learning address parser based on hidden Markov models to separate free-form addresses into components, and a rule-based matching engine to determine the best set of candidate matches to a reference file. The geocoding software modules are implemented (as part of the Febrl open source data linkage system) in the object-oriented language Python, which allows rapid prototype development and testing.


Local governance as a mechanism of co-management in local government can be called as an effective tool to support quality of decision-making processes� One of its possible forms is participatory budget, which has been being implemented in Poland for several


The lunar periodicity in Paracentrotus lividus (Lam.) and Sphaerechinus granularis (Lam.) was studied at several stations in the North Adriatic during four years. No correlation was found between the moon cycle and the maturity of the investigated species


In a diffusion-based molecular communication system, molecules are employed to convey information. When we focus on absorbing receivers, we need to consider propagation and reception processes in a framework of first passage processes. For this kind of molecular communication system, the characteristics of the channel is also affected by the shape of the transmitter. In the literature, most studies focus on systems with a point transmitter due to circular symmetry. In this letter, we address the propagation and reception patterns of chemical signals emitted from a spherical transmitter. We also investigate the directivity gain achieved by the reflecting spherical transmitter. We quantify the power gain by measuring the received power at different angles on a circular region.


Neurotransmission and neuroinflammation are modulated by the endocannabinoid signaling system based on the CB 1 and CB 2 cannabinoid receptors [1]. The stimulation of CB 2 receptors modified the cytokine milieu contributing to the accumulation of anti-inflammatory mediators [2]. Therefore, CB 2 agonists could represent attractive therapeutic target affecting a myriad of immune responses from inflammation to neuroprotection [3]. Cannabinoid CB 2 receptor activation by selective agonists has been shown to produce analgesic effects in preclinical models of inflammatory, neuropathic and bone cancer pain. In this study the effect of a novel CB 2 agonist (MT178,


Described in the article are the metbods of application of the principle of merarcmcal traversal of bitree in operation and its calculations, which are worked out in C-like language.


The present invention discloses a method for preparing and instant soup convenient river, by turtle, eel, catfish, shrimp, Brasenia, King spent, Gorgon, Meidou, Mama field line, basil leaves, ginseng dragon, pine needles, triangular, Cordyceps, who face the root, salt, pepper powder raw material composition. The advantages are: turtle not only taste fresh, high-protein, low-fat, but also contains a variety of vitamins and trace elements nourishing treasures, adding eel, catfish and other freshwater fishes make this more taste Road delicious, more nutritious, more conducive people's health.


In my talk, to be based on [1], I plan to give an abridged presentation of rheology that emphasizes the role of two basic structures of continuum mechanics, the balance structure and the dissipation structure. I find it instructive to review these well-known structures in the simplest context of rheological models, that is to say, 0-dimensional and massless bodies, whose state is described by a short list of scalar variables, the time evolution of the latter being ruled by simple-to-handle first-order ordinary differential equations. To make things even simpler, I altogether ignore thermal and entropic effects: all variables, independent and not, have mechanical interpretations. To discuss balance structure, a rheological body can be regarded as a 'black box', in that a description of its constitutive nature can be deferred. What is needed is an account of its kinematics, in the light of a notion of observer change that helps making precise the definition of admissible velocity fields, followed by a specification of the power expenditures, both external and internal to the body, associated with a given velocity field, and of their required invariance under observer changes. With this, I will show how notions of external forces and stress arise, consistent with their own balance statements. The dissipation structure can be discussed on the basis of a purely mechanical dissipation inequality, postulating that the time rate of a constitutive free-energy function ψ be bounded by the internal power expenditure, the latter being written in terms of a constitutive stress function σ. For the class of viscoelastic rheological bodies, I will deduce general representation results for both ψ and σ, via an adaption of more or less standard arguments in continuum thermodynamics.


Rectangular grid cells are commonly used for the geophysical modeling of gravity anomalies, owing to their flexibility in constructing complex models. The straightforward handling of cubic cells in gravity inversion algorithms allows for a flexible imposition of model regularization constraints, which are generally essential in the inversion of static potential field data. The first part of this paper provides a review of commonly used expressions for calculating the gravity of a right polygonal prism, both for gravity and gradiometry, where the formulas of Plouff and Forsberg are adapted. The formulas can be cast into general forms practical for implementation. In the second part, a weighting scheme for resolution enhancement at depth is presented. Modelling the earth using highly digitized meshes, depth weighting schemes are typically applied to the model objective functional, subject to minimizing the data misfit. The scheme proposed here involves a non‐linear conjugate gradient inversion scheme with a weighting function applied to the non‐linear conjugate gradient scheme's gradient vector of the objective functional. The low depth resolution due to the quick decay of the gravity kernel functions is counteracted by suppressing the search directions in the parameter space that would lead to near‐surface concentrations of gravity anomalies. Further, a density parameter transformation function enabling the imposition of lower and upper bounding constraints is employed. Using synthetic data from models of varying complexity and a field data set, it is demonstrated that, given an adequate depth weighting function, the gravity inversion in the transform space can recover geologically meaningful models requiring a minimum of prior information and user interaction.


In December, 1947 McLaurin1 reported five cases of granuloma of the larynx following the passage of the endotracheal tube for anaesthesia. He added one case of his own, making the sixth case to be reported in the periodical literature at that date. Tuft2 reported a case shortly afterwards to be followed by Barton3 who reported another. Barton referred to a case reported by Smiley4 in 1940, the latter had discussed three cases previously reported; those of Clausen5 in 1932, Gould6 in 1935, and Cohen7 in 1936. In 1942 Farrior8 reported a case of contact ulcer of the larynx with exuberant granulation tissue which followed endotracheal anwesthesia. The case to be reported now brings the number to ten. A search of the literature in the intervening years would probably find other cases reported and it may be assumed with a good deal of certainty that still others have occurred which have not been reported.


By using Darlington topology, an alternative circuit is proposed to overcome the in-band gain problem for the log domain circuits. This idea is applied to a third order elliptic filter synthesized in the log domain. Simulations are performed in order to compare the performances of ideal transistors with infinite forward gain, CBIC-R transistors and CBIC-R transistors connected in Darlington topology. The AC response of the Darlington connected transistors gives better performance in terms of in-band gain. THD and noise performances are also investigated. In addition, the circuit is driven by a signal at the filter's corner frequency, i.e. f=100 kHz, for the time domain analysis. The results are discussed


(1975). Helping Behavior and Attitude Congruence toward Capital Punishment. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 96, No. 2, pp. 295-296.


This paper explores the differences between men and women in termsof their own subjectivities in situations of crisis, in rural areas of Andean culturesin Latin America, based on the Colombian movie La Sirga (2012). To that end,it assess the emotional strategies employed by Alicia, the protagonist, to copewith displacement after losing her home and family. Using the phenomenologicalmethodology, it proposes a contrast between the sight (masculine strategy tocontrol the space) and the tact (feminine strategy to regain the place), through adialogue between spatial and passion semiotics, and emotional geographies. Thus,the contrast between the haptics and the optics unveils different ways to apprehendthe world. This gives ground to interpret the displacement as a phenomenon that,without ignoring their suffering and grief, allowed women from traditional ruralcommunities to find new ways to pertain to society and look at themselves.
Keywords: Colombian cinema, displacement, spatial semiotics, genderperspective, haptics.


Thigh lacer was used in 28 fractures of the shaft femur in 28 patients. It was made up of polyethylene high density sheet according to the measurement of the individual's thigh. Union occurred in all the cases and function was far advanced by the time clinical and radiological union occurred. Thigh lacer provides stabilizing influence at the fracture site allowing uninterrupted fracture healing and negligible movement at the fracture site. It gave gratifying results in the fractures of the middle and lower third of femur but not in the fractures of the upper third femur. Thigh lacer was not found detrimental to the fracture union.


Different SiAION composites based on α′-SiAION are investigated, with respect to the phase relationships, densification behavior, and mechanical properties. The compositions are located on a phase-diagram line parallel to the Si3N4-Y2O3 9AIN compound in the Si3N4-SiO2-AlN-Al2O3-Y2O3-YN system. Analysis of the reaction sequences shows that the formation of the composites is associated with the transient appearance of Y4A12O9 (YAM), yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG), melilite, and a nitrogen-rich liquid phase. The small shift of compositions on the Si3N4-Y2O3-9AIN compound phase-diagram line toward the Al2O3-rich side offers the advantage of a higher sinterability and the removal of the melilite phase from a wide range of compositions containing α′-SiAlON and polytypes. The α′/β′-SiAlON composites show better mechanical properties in comparison to pure α′-SiAlON and composites of α′-SiAION and polytypes. A post-heat-treatment causes the crystallization of YAG as a grain-boundary phase and leads to excellent strength retention up to temperatures of 1350°C.


The development of excellent performance of Na‐ion batteries remains great challenge owing to the poor stability and sluggish kinetics of cathode materials. Herein, B substituted Na3V2P3–xBxO12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) as stable cathode materials for Na‐ion battery is presented. A combined experimental and theoretical investigations on Na3V2P3–xBxO12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are undertaken to reveal the evolution of crystal and electronic structures and Na storage properties associated with various concentration of B. X‐ray diffraction results indicate that the crystal structure of Na3V2P3–xBxO12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1/3) consisted of rhombohedral Na3V2(PO4)3 with tiny shrinkage of crystal lattice. X‐ray absorption spectra and the calculated crystal structures all suggest that the detailed local structural distortion of substituted materials originates from the slight reduction of V–O distances. Na3V2P3‐1/6B1/6O12 significantly enhances the structural stability and electrochemical performance, giving remarkable enhanced capacity of 100 and 70 mAh g−1 when the C‐rate increases to 5 C and 10 C. Spin‐polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that, as compared with the pristine Na3V2(PO4)3, the superior electrochemical performance of the substituted materials can be attributed to the emergence of new boundary states near the band gap, lower Na+ diffusion energy barriers, and higher structure stability.


A risk-based assessment and risk management system of capability-based defense planning (OPO) is an integral part of this process. This approach is based on the experience of defense planning of NATO member states and the functioning of models, where the place and role of risks, their impact on processes and procedures, both at the planning stage and in the process of implementing its results, are clearly defined. Failure to take risks into account can lead to an incorrect decision to assess the security environment or to identify unrealistic tasks and measures to develop the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (defense forces). The risk management system as an integral model of the OPOV process provides for the following structural components: - organizational and analytical, including the identification, identification and documentation of risks, as well as a comprehensive assessment of identified risks and the extent of their negative consequences; - executive and management, which provides for: selection of methods, tools and risk management planning to reduce the likelihood of their implementation and minimize negative consequences; direct risk management during phased EIA procedures; - the final, in the framework of which the monitoring of the achieved results is carried out, their effectiveness is assessed and the implementation of the planned risk management measures is monitored and the relevant plans are adjusted. The main ways to respond to planning risks are: avoidance, reduction, acceptance or distribution (transfer) of risk. The application of these methods is carried out taking into account a certain acceptable level and acceptability of risk (a certain number of risks that the organizational structure is ready to accept in a certain category). The proposed logical sequence of procedural measures of the system for assessing and managing risks of the defense planning process and the creation of a risk register will allow normalizing and improving the OP process. Creating a risk register based on an algorithm of procedural measures for identifying, identifying, quantifying and qualitatively assessing the degree of influence and minimizing risks will help to avoid mistakes, rationally allocate resources, timely influence the results of working out the OP procedures and increase the efficiency of the defense planning process based on capabilities.


We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in a large series of benign and malignant parotid tumors.


As more and more organizations are collecting and sharing data about their customers, there is a growing concern about violation of customer privacy. While some of the sharing is for the benefit of general public such as to understand disease behavior in medical research, individuals are concerned about violation of their privacy. The middle ground is found through privacy-preserving data mapping. Here, sensitive attributes of data are mapped to another domain so that original values are not revealed and yet the original associations are retained. In this paper, we compare a set of fuzzy-based mapping techniques in terms of their privacy-preserving property and their ability to retain the same relationship with other fields. In particular, our contribution is on four fronts: (i) modification of the fuzzy function definition, (ii) introducing seven ways to combine the different functional values for a data item into a single value, (iii) using several similarity metrics to compare the original data with the mapped data, (iv) measuring the effect of mapping on derived association rule. The paper presents preliminary results in this direction and proposes future work in this area.


Cells contain a large pool of non‐pumping Na/K‐ATPase that participates in signal transduction. Here, we show that the surface expression of Na/K‐ATPase is significantly reduced in human prostate carcinoma and cancer cell lines because of increased endocytosis. This down‐regulation impairs the ability of Na/K‐ATPase to regulate key signaling processes. Supplement of the Na/K‐ATPase or pNaKtide, a mimetic peptide derived from Na/K‐ATPase, normalizes the defective signal transduction. Consequently, these treatments stimulates apoptosis, inhibits growth and migration in cultures of cancer cells. Moreover, administration of pNaKtide inhibits angiogenesis and growth of tumor xenograft. Thus, the new findings demonstrate the in vivo effectiveness of pNaKtide, and suggest that the defect in Na/K‐ATPase‐mediated signal transduction may be targeted for developing anti‐cancer therapeutics.


Let $G=(V,E)$ be a graph of order $p$ and size $q$ having no isolated vertices. A bijection $f\colon E\hm{\rightarrow}\left\{1,2,3,\ldots,q \right\}$ is called a local antimagic labeling if for all $uv\in E$, we have $w(u)\neq w(v)$, the weight $w(u)=\sum_{e\in E(u)}f(e)$, where $E(u)$ is the set of edges incident to $u$. A graph $G$ is local antimagic, if $G$ has a local antimagic labeling. The local antimagic chromatic number $\chi_{la}(G)$ is defined to be the minimum number of colors taken over all colorings of $G$ induced by local antimagic labelings of $G$. In this paper, we completely determine the local antimagic chromatic number for the corona product of wheel and null graphs.


A frequency-doubled diode laser spectrometer in the blue spectral range has been developed based on a cavity-enhanced SHG method. The SHG output at 422 nm was applied for probing of a Ca atomic beam to investigate the modified velocity distribution when the beam was decelerated with a stilben-420 dye laser.


Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles 90089-037 1 Abstract The numeric concentration of procaryotic and eucaryotic cells that form the planktonic microbial community decreases monotonically and rapidly with increasing size. This size distribution has been interpreted to be the result of allometric control of growth and respiration rates, but we propose an alternative "random encounter" hypothesis to explain such a distribution. According to this hypothesis, the size distribution of cells that range from 0.3 to 100 pm results from size- selective predation by protozoans. A phagotrophic population will swim randomly through the water encountering both prey and predators. At steady state, such a population must ingest smaller prey at a sufficient rate to balance its rate of loss to larger predators. The size distribution of cells must, therefore, satisfy this condition. In particular, a mathematical statement of the hypothesis is based on the following relationships: volume of a cell varies as the cube of its diameter; clearance rate (L3T-I) by a predator varies as the square of its diameter; and, for a given population, its range of possible prey sizes varies with its prey diameter at the same time that the range of predator sizes able to capture the given population varies with its predator diameter.


Reducing an individual's weight is a matter of visiting a nutritionist and following a plan, reducing the weight of a whole society, country or world is a completely different topic that needs a special program in order to be achieved. As we all know, obesity has become the largest threat to the health and economy of the countries that suffer this malady. Much has been recommended by governments and health agencies who mention that, to reduce the weight of a society or a country as a whole, we all need to eat less calories and move more, but unfortunately, this recommendation has not contributed to reduce even a gram in the weight of the population of the obese countries, instead, it has allowed a daily progress of this pandemia, increasing the expenses in health services and medicines, that in the present day are hard to sustain. Reducing the weight of an obese society is not easy task due to the many interests that compose the problem, but in fact it is very possible. This is the reason I began working on designing A World Program against Obesity: The Frias Program, with sole purpose of accomplishing this highly important task. This program is composed by 7 revolutions which are described as follows:


In this paper, we investigate the system performance of a multi-cell multi-user (MU) hybrid millimeter wave (mmWave) multiple-input multiple- output (MIMO) network adopting the channel estimation algorithm proposed in [1] for channel estimation. Due to the reuse of orthogonal pilot symbols among different cells, the channel estimation is expected to be affected by pilot contamination, which is considered as a fundamental performance bottleneck of conventional multicell MU massive MIMO networks. To analyze the impact of pilot contamination on the system performance, we derive the closed-form approximation expression of the normalized mean squared error (MSE) of the channel estimation performance. Our analytical and simulation results show that the channel estimation error incurred by the impact of pilot contamination and noise vanishes asymptotically with an increasing number of antennas equipped at each radio frequency (RF) chain deployed at the desired BS. Thus, pilot contamination is no longer the fundamental problem for multi-cell hybrid mmWave systems.


The accessibility of attitudes from memory was examined as a function of the strength of the association between the attitude object and the evaluation. The strength of the object-evaluation association was manipulated by varying the number of times (zero, one, three, or six) that subjects expressed their attitudes toward a given issue on an attitude survey. Accessibility was operationalized as the latency of response to an attitudinal inquiry. A quadratic relation between number of expressions and latency was observed, such that initial expressions decreased response latency more than did subsequent expressions. The nature of the experiment also permitted a correlational examination of the relation between attitude extremity and attitude accessibility. A significant but not very substantial correlation was found. The results are discussed in terms of their implications both for the process by which attitudes guide behavior and/or attitude measurement practices.


Bunashimeji mushroom (Hypsizigus marmoreus) is one of the most popular edible mushrooms in Asia. Recent studies showed that H. marmoreus had pharmacological functions such as antitumor, antioxidant and antivirus properties; however, the compound which possessed immunomodulatory abilities had not been clarified. In this study, we have purified the H. marmoreus protein via DE-52 anion-exchange gel firstly and further utilized fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) system with Hitrap-Q column. The single protein having a molecular mass of around 12 kDa was named H. marmoreus immunomodulatory protein (HMP). In addition, PAS staining showed HMP was not a glycoprotein. Moreover, N-terminal amino acid sequence of HMP, ATT-WKTSK, was determined by Edman degradation. To evaluate the immunomodulatory capability of HMP, we observed that it stimulated splenocytes cell division and IFN-γ production. Nevertheless, HMP was failed to promote purified CD90.2+ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion. This revealed that HMP was unable to elicit T cells activation directly and the antigen presenting cell (APC) might be a key factor in T cell activating reaction.
Next, we investigated the activation of HMP on murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). HMP could up-regulate CD40, CD80, CD86 and MHC class II expression and induce the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12p70 by BMDCs. Furthermore, in a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), HMP enhanced antigen presentation ability of BMDCs and activated IFN-γ production by purified DO11.10 CD4+ T cells. Therefore, HMP had the potential to induce BMDCs maturation and provoke Th1 response in vitro. In murine model of OVA-induced Th2 response allergic airway inflammation, HMP was capable of restraining the level of OVA-specific IgE and increase OVA-specific IgG2a in mice sera. Additionally, in mice bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 were reduced and IFN-γ was up-regulated by peritoneal injection with HMP. In the presence of HMP, amount eosinophil also was decreased in mice BALF. HMP caused alleviation of inflammatory cell infiltration in mice lung tissues. These results suggested HMP could skew OVA-indued Th2 response to Th1 response in vivo. In conclusion, a novel immunomodulatory protein purified from H. marmoreus could induce Th1 response development via BMDCs activation in vitro and ameliorate allergic airway inflammation in vivo. These findings supported the Th1 driving ability of HMP and indicated its immunoregulatory potential.


We have helped develop a one-dimensional photochemical model of the Earth's stratosphere, in order to provide an up-to-date comparison with mid-latitude observations. This work focuses on the present state of the stratosphere, and includes studies of the radiation field (absorption and scattering), the important partitioning and vertical distribution of halo-carbons and their products, as well as certain intriguing discrepancies related to light and heavy ozone. We briefly comment on the detection by J. R. Herman and J. E. Mentall of a 10% ratio of total scattered flux to direct solar flux at a wavelength of about 200 nm and an altitude of 40 km. This ratio is over a factor of two higher than our theoretical results and cannot be explained without the existence of a scattering component not included in the model. We also explicitly demonstrate the first-order effects of the inclusion of sphericity (spherical shell atmosphere) on the stratospheric photochemistry at solar zenith angles close to 90°. The resulting changes in model concentrations for short-lived radicals such as O, OH, ClO, and NO are largest in the lower stratosphere, but relatively small compared to current observational uncertainties. We propose that a significant overestimate of the molecular oxygen absorption cross sections in the important spectral window from about 200 to 220 nm is in large part responsible for the discrepancy between observed and modeled vertical profiles of some halocarbons (CFCl3 in particular), as well as for the long-standing problem of simultaneously fitting N2O, CH4, CF2Cl2, and CFCl3 profiles with a single eddy diffusion model. Recent measurements of atmospheric transmission by J. R. Herman and coworkers seem to support this idea. The use of their proposed reduction in O2 cross sections leads to significant decreases in the CFCl3 concentration above about 20 km, with smaller reductions in N2O, CF2Cl2 and HNO3. The concentrations of CH4, H2, and CO are not significantly altered. Changes in other gases (including ozone) are also discussed, as well as the effect on eddy diffusion coefficients obtained from measurements of N2O or CH4 profiles in the stratosphere. Accurate determinations of these small O2 absorption cross sections are needed, since they affect the vertical distribution of halo-carbons in the stratosphere, and the lifetime of these species has an impact on ozone depletion estimates. In terms of the halocarbon decomposition products in the stratosphere, our model vertical distribution of ClO is shown to provide a reasonably good fit to the mean of available observations. As discussed by others, changes in certain rate constants affecting HOx in the lower stratosphere have led to decreases in model ClO concentrations by over a factor of three in the lower stratosphere, thus improving the shape of the vertical profile. In addition, the amount of upper stratospheric ClO has increased due to recent changes in the kinetics (reactions O + HO2, O + ClO, and possibly OH + HCl). The diurnal variation of ClO observed from the ground (microwave emission) by P. Solomon and coworkers is consistent with our model results in terms of the maximum day-to-night decrease in column abundance above about 30 km. However, the observed mid-morning increase is slower than theoretical values, while the predicted afternoon decrease might be too slow, even if one considers the uncertainties in photochemical data. This could indicate the existence of missing chemistry in the models. Although the different observations show somewhat contradictory results. Other observations (balloon-borne microwave spectroscopy and infrared laser radiometry) are also discussed in relation to our model. To first-order, indirect evidence for the breathing cycle between ClO and ClONO2 seems to have been established. The mean observed HCl mixing ratio profile decreases somewhat faster towards the lower stratosphere than model profiles, a discrepancy which has previously been noted, particularly at high latitudes. Measurements of ethane in the lower stratosphere seemed to indicate that the atomic chlorine concentration was three to five times lower than predicted, but more recent data do not show such a discrepancy. The fluorine products consist mostly of HF and COF2. We show that the main uncertainty for this system is the value of the quantum yield (as a function of wavelength) for COF2 photodissociation, which translates into a factor of three or more uncertainty in the ratio of HF to COF2 concentrations in the upper stratosphere. If this quantum yield has an average value close to 0.25, a better model fit to observations of HF and [HF]/[HCl] is obtained than if the value is close to unity. Simultaneous stratospheric measurements of COF2 and HF, as well as ClO and HCl, would greatly enhance our ability to test photochemical models of these halocarbon products. Finally, we stress that, although generally good agreement is found between our model and observations of HOx, NOx, and ClOx species (involved in catalytic cycles destroying ozone), the mean observed mid-latitude ozone abundance from about 35 to 50 km is up to 50 or 60% greater than current model results. Certain observations of a 10 to 15% daytime increase in ozone concentration in the 30 to 40 km region are also puzzling, if real. We explore the model sensitivity to various input parameters and point out that, given the present uncertainties in photochemical laboratory data, no reasonable change in one or even three or four of these parameters can eliminate the ozone discrepancy. There might well be some missing chemistry in relation to the effectiveness of the loss processes for odd oxygen, or a (less likely) unknown significant O3 source. We have to understand the present upper stratospheric ozone distribution, before estimates of possible future ozone depletion can be made with confidence. We also discuss our understanding of heavy ozone photochemistry, which might be related to a light ozone photochemical source. Fast isotopic exchange processes between O and O2 will dominate the heavy odd oxygen chemistry, and we do not find any significant heavy ozone enhancement possibilities in the stratosphere, unless unusually large fractionation processes exist. The in situ mass spectrometer observations of a 40% enhancement in 18O32O2 near 30 km by K. Mauersberger remain a mystery, and further data collection -- possibly via infrared or microwave spectroscopy as well -- should be undertaken if this potentially significant discrepancy is to be understood.


A phenomenologically based viscoplastic model is derived for copper. The model is thermodynamically constrained by the condition of material dissipativity. Two internal state variables are considered. The back stress accounts for strain-induced anisotropy, or kinematic hardening. The drag stress accounts for isotropic hardening. Static and dynamic recovery terms are not coupled in either evolutionary equation. The evolution of drag stress depends on static recovery, while the evolution of back stress depends on dynamic recovery. The material constants are determined from isothermal data. Model predictions are compared with experimental data for thermomechanical test conditions. They are in good agreement at the hot end of the loading cycle, but the model overpredicts the stress response at the cold end of the cycle.


It is incontestable that universities assumed the so-called "third mission" which means that they include community engagement in their activities in order to be financially viable. This paradigm shift begs the question: In terms of whose interest does community engagement serve? It has been difficult to separate community engagement from traditional research as community engagement projects can emerge from new research ideas. As an emerging property, community engagement should be holistic rather than reductionist, in order to afford universities opportunities to function as sites of citizenship, as well as to contribute to the knowledge society and knowledge economy, and generate mutual benefits. However, there are no instruments used to gauge the benefits for communities, while the benefits for academics and universities are outputs, promotions and revenue. The epistemologies and methodologies used in community engagement activities are often foreign to the communities and neither appreciate nor understand their problems. Instead of universities being communities of scholars, they have become workplaces. The communities are often pawns and objects in the hidden agendas of researchers and institutions. Some of these agendas include but are not limited to, university entrepreneurialism, dispossession of indigenous knowledge of local communities, advancement of commercialisation and capitalism, and meeting academic key performance areas to be eligible for promotion. This conceptual article argues that community engagement is a complex phenomenon that requires a systemic non-linear approach.


In recent years, the inclusion of popular visual culture in art curricula has emerged as a focal point of investigation and discussion in art education. Its proponents sought to expand the content of study to include contemporary cultural forms such as television, magazines, and the Internet (Chalmers, 2005; Efland, 2004; Tavin & Anderson, 2003).


Designing molecules with desired biological properties remains an outstanding challenge both in the wet and dry laboratories. Meeting this challenge promises great translational impacts across drug discovery, material sciences, biotechnology, and more. Recent momentum in deep learning promises to advance our computational capabilities on molecule generation. In particular, deep graph generative models which treat molecule design as a graph generation problem are allowing us to directly learn from existing databases of small molecules and generate novel, valid molecules. Currently, these models have many shortcomings, including poor controllability of desired molecular properties, especially in practical application where the training data is usually small, noisy, and incomplete. This paper focuses on equipping graph variational autoencoders with the ability to control for desired properties and its practical application in a practical application which is the generation of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QAC). Several controllable graph generation mechanisms are investigated for their effectiveness. A general framework is then proposed to extend these mechanisms by our newly proposed objective function to handle the challenges in practical applications where the property value annotations are usually censored and not fully available in all training samples. The experimental evaluation considers an experimentally-characterized dataset of antimicrobial small molecules with wet-lab characterized activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superiority of the proposed models and control of desired properties.


Campaigns to reorganize administrative structures of federal, state, and local governments have been the battlegrounds over which much of American public administrative theory has been spawned, advocated, and criticized.' These reorganization battles over structure, power, process, and doctrine have often been so pitched that opponents or advocates of reorganization have accused the opposition of insanity, tyranny, godlessness, naivete, backwardness, and questionable ancestry. Despite such controversy, government reorganizing has played a vital role in making the constitutional system work. Administrative reorganizations have been characterized as garbage cans, "highly contextual combinations of people, choice opportunities, problems, and solutions."2 This essay views reorganizations as oilcans, lubricating constitutional machinery so it can function. More specifically, reorganizing has been an extraconstitutional means of reducing friction and conflict stemming from constitutional issues surrounding the proper balance and separation of powers. 3 Reorganizing within the existing constitutional framework to flesh out and operationalize it has dominated over efforts to overhaul the constitution itself into a parliamentary or other system.4 Instead of junking the 1787 model for a different constitutional system, Americans, using their spirit for tinkering and inventiveness, have relied on repairing and lubricating the old model to keep it running. Reorganizing to repair and improve the system of government has largely been an adaptive process combining ideology and pragmatism to meet changing needs. As with many machinery lubricants, reorganizations have rarely been neutral interventions but have often been terrifically heated while doing their job. Reorganizations typically create as well as reduce political and administrative friction. But reorganizing has also avoided tackling constitutional issues head-on, instead confronting issues of governance at a relatively less volatile and more manageable level. This essay first addresses reorganization's facilitating, lubricating role, observing the different emphases and trends taken to keep constitutional machinery running to achieve system goals of accountability and competence. This essay concludes by examining some proverbs of reorganization and by drawing implications for future reorganization practice and research.


The article discusses information resources containing information about small and medium-sized businesses. The authors analyzed statistical information about small and medium-sized businesses, considered approaches to its formation, as a result, formulated problematic issues and proposed ways to solve them.


The effect of the vitamin C and vitamin E in the diet was evaluated on the ectoparasite occurrence, survival, weight and length in Nile tilapia larvae, Oreochromis niloticus L. (Perciformes, Cichlidae), during sexual reversion. Larvae with medium weight of 0,01 g and 10 mm of total length were submitted to four treatments: T1 = without addition of vitamins, T2 = 1000 mg of vitamin C, T3 = 300 mg of vitamin E and T4 = 1000 mg of vitamin C and 300 mg of vitamin E per kg of treat. In the beginning, the occurrence of diagnosed ectoparasite was of 100% (90,0% Trichodina and 10,0% mixed infection). At the end of the experiment a significant decrease of Trichodina occurrence in the treatment with vitamin E (T3) in relation to the treatment without vitamin (T1) was met. Weight, total and standard length also had a significant increase of the treatment with vitamin E (T3) in relation to the others. For survival the best result was in treatments with vitamin C (T2). It is concluded then that vitamin C supplementation in the treat was beneficial compared to survival and that vitamin E was effective on the parameters related to the corporal development (weigh and length), as well as on the occurrence of Trichodinas in Nile tilapia larvae, during the sex reversion process.


This chapter explains that the comparison of legal phenomena has always implied, alongside a synchronic and spatial juxtaposition, a certain relevance of the time factor. Here, the comparative method sought to develop a more complex and multi-faceted interpretation of the law, free from the constraints of national borders and sovereign states. It intended to reveal complexity, and to draw different legal experiences closer together. In so doing, it necessarily embraced the dimension of change and diversity. The comparative method and the historical method are thus rarely seen as antithetical; more often than not, the two approaches are jointly applied in an investigation that seeks to combine the synchronic and diachronic perspectives. The chapter reveals, however, that the dialogue between history and comparison was far from straightforward. At no time was the diachronic perspective pre-eminent, or capable of absorbing and guiding the comparative study. It rather limited itself to playing an essentially secondary, subservient role.


A subpart of the following problem is considered. It is assumed that a set of known three-dimensional lines with an unknown pose and orientation are observed with a camera. The problem is to recover the position and orientation of the camera from the observed image lines, assuming that a correspondence has been established between the 2-D and the 3-D lines. It is shown that there exist infinite sets of three-dimensional lines such that no matter how many lines are observed in these sets the solution to the orientation or pose determination problem is not unique. The maximum number of possible solutions is given. These results clearly define the domain of validity of algorithms which solve the orientation or pose determination problem.<<ETX>>


Summary. The role of gestrinone, 2.5 mg twice weekly, in treating proven menorrhagia (>80 ml) was examined in 19 women. They were treated for five cycles (2 placebo, 3 active), taking one capsule twice weekly. Placebo had no effect on menstrual blood loss (MBL). On gestrinone 10 women became amenorrhoeic, in five MBL was markedly reduced (5–74 ml) and four did not respond. In three of the non‐responders submucous leiomyomas were found at subsequent hysterectomy. Follow‐up periods showed a persistent reduction in MBL for nine women in the first post‐treatment menstruation.


Whatever it is, coronavirus has made the mighty kneel and brought the world to a halt like nothing else could. Our minds are still racing back and forth, longing for a return to "normality," trying to stitch our future to our past and refusing to acknowledge the rupture. But the rupture exists. And in the midst of this terrible despair, it offers us a chance to rethink the doomsday machine we have built for ourselves. Nothing could be worse than a return to normality. Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. Arundhati Roy (Financial Times, 2020)


Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a multifunctional histone chaperone that can activate RNA Polymerase II-driven chromatin transcription. Acetylation of NPM1 by acetyltransferase p300 has been shown to further enhance its transcription activation potential. Moreover, its total and acetylated pools are increased in oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, the role of NPM1 or its acetylated form (AcNPM1) in transcriptional regulation in cells is not fully elucidated. Using ChIP-seq analyses, we show that AcNPM1 co-occupies marks of active transcription at promoters and DNase I hypersensitive sites at enhancers. Moreover, NPM1 interacts with proteins involved in transcription, including RNA Pol II, general transcription factors, mediator subunits, histone acetyltransferase complexes, and chromatin remodelers. Moreover, its histone chaperone also contributes to transcriptional activation. We further show that AcNPM1 regulates key genes required for proliferation, migration and invasion potential of oral cancer cells and knockdown of NPM1 mitigates these processes in cells as well as orthotopic tumors in mice. Collectively, these results establish that AcNPM1 functions as a coactivator and regulates the expression of key genes involved in oral tumorigenesis.


To orient for national energy strategy and comply with international energy market transformation, constructing innovation ecosystem for enterprises have important strategic significance for increasing comprehensive competitiveness of domestic petroleum enterprises well as promoting the sustainable development of China's oil industry.


Abstract In recent times marriage has seemingly become less popular, more fragile and less of an exclusive setting for having children. This paper examines recent changes in marriage, cohabitation, divorce and re-marriage patterns. It suggests that much of the decline in marriage rates, seen since the beginning of the 1970s, is likely to be due to people marrying at increasingly older ages, rather than a wholesale rejection of marriage. One of the more important elements influencing changes in marriage patterns is the rise in cohabitation. We track the development of cohabitation and note that it is now virtually a majority practice prior to marrying and commonplace prior to a re-marriage. Few cohabitations continue for extended periods Cohabitation generally precedes rather than substitutes for marriage. However, a growing minority of couples are no longer marrying before becoming parents and this has contributed to the recent doubling in the proportion of extra-marital births. Over recent decades more p...


The Andromeda galaxy (M31) hosts a central supermassive black hole (SMBH), known as M31*, which is remarkable for its mass (∼108 M☉) and extreme radiative quiescence. Over the past decade, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory has pointed to the center of M31 ∼100 times and accumulated a total exposure of ∼900 ks. Based on these observations, we present an X-ray study of a highly variable source that we associate with M31* based on positional coincidence. We find that M31* remained in a quiescent state from late 1999 to 2005, exhibiting an average 0.5–8 keV luminosity ≲1036 erg s-1, or only ∼10−10 of its Eddington luminosity. We report the discovery of an outburst that occurred on 2006 January 6 during which M31* radiated at ∼4.3 × 1037 erg s-1. After the outburst, M31* entered a more active state that apparently lasts to the present, which is characterized by frequent flux variability around an average luminosity of ∼4.8 × 1036 erg s-1. These flux variations are similar to the X-ray flares found in the SMBH of our Galaxy (Sgr A*), making M31* the second SMBH known to exhibit recurrent flares. Future coordinated X-ray/radio observations will provide useful constraints on the physical origin of the flaring emission and help rule out a possible stellar origin of the X-ray source.


Theranostics is an emerging field, defined as combination of therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in the same material. Nanoparticles are considered as an efficient platform for theranostics, particularly in cancer treatment, as they offer substantial advantages over both common imaging contrast agents and chemotherapeutic drugs. However, the development of theranostic nanoplatforms raises an important question: Is the optimal particle for imaging also optimal for therapy? Are the specific parameters required for maximal drug delivery, similar to those required for imaging applications? Herein, we examined this issue by investigating the effect of nanoparticle size on tumor uptake and imaging. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-conjugated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in different sizes (diameter range: 20–120 nm) were injected to tumor bearing mice and their uptake by tumors was measured, as well as their tumor visualization capabilities as tumor-targeted CT contrast agent. Interestingly, the results showed that different particles led to highest tumor uptake or highest contrast enhancement, meaning that the optimal particle size for drug delivery is not necessarily optimal for tumor imaging. These results have important implications on the design of theranostic nanoplatforms.


The structure and properties of single wall carbon nanotubes(SWNTs) are described.The method and principal of arc discharge for SWNTs synthesis are introduced,the development and new progresses in this region are also mentioned.


Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation for right ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia(RVOTVT).Methods Thirty-seven cases with RVOTVT were ablated.The efficacy and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation were evaluated.The follow-up was processed.Results Thirty-three of thirty-seven cases were ablated successfully.The successful rate of ablation was 89.19%.Recurrence occurred in two cases.No serious complications occurred.Conclusion Catheter ablation for RVOTVT is effective and safe.


The relatively hereditary character of diverse cultural phenomena has already drawn attention to the role that the family can play in this trans mission. It appears in particular that political orientations and the chances of access to different types and levels of education can frequently be explained by a specific family membership. Two types of argument are put forward here in order to explain how the family can appear as a privileged place of cultural apprenticeship: on the one hand psychological arguments linked with the primary and universal character of family education and the type of relations that this develops; on the other hand a more sociological explanation based on the repercussion that the more or less great complexity of learned language entails with regard to diverse exterior participations, and on the comparison between the impact of the family and those of other socializing agents on the successive choices which they will impose. To these explanatory elements of the existing link between cultural memberships and the family environment is added, for religion as much as for the family, the transition from the public to the private sphere. This parallel evolution will tend to increase the autonomy of religion on the plane of secondary elaborations for which it will borrow its mode of re-interpretation from the exigencies of daily life, particularly from the family.


An important issue in the three-dimensional (3D) wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is sensor energy optimization. To alleviate this issue, we introduce a new 3D spherical network structure model, and by combining the original energy consumption model to construct a new method to determine the optimal number of clusters and balance the total energy consumption. Since the different sizes of the clusters are generated by traditional hierarchical clustering, it causes unbalanced energy consumption in the network. To alleviate this problem, we adopt an improved dynamic hierarchical clustering method and implement two strategies that include the following three contributions: the introduction of the distance similarity index to get a better clustering, a double cluster head (CH) strategy to reduce the load of a cluster head in a large cluster, and a node dormancy mechanism to balance the energy consumption of the network. In addition, we also propose the optimal cluster-head function to select the CH of each cluster in each round, and the optimal cluster-head function is constructed based on the residual energy and positions of the nodes. Finally, to optimize the CH election strategy, several parameters of the optimal cluster-head function are determined according to the network structure. The simulation results show that our routing protocol is more robust compared with four other protocols, which is of great significance for the application in 3D environment monitoring.


In [1] Enrico Bombieri, asked the question "For example, is it always true that c ≤ p/abc p 2 ?." in present paper we prove that the answer is: Yes. 1 The series ∞ n=1 R(n) t n s We introduce the series ∞ n=1 R(n) t n s (1) where R(n) := the multiplicative radical of n, t := a real positive variable, s := a real variable, such that s > t + 1. ∞ n=1 R(n) t n s converges because it is majorized by ∞ n=1 1 n s−t , since R(n) t ≤ n s and the latter series converges since s > t + 1. We denote the set {t > 0, s > t + 1}, the convergence region of ∞ n=1 R(n) t n s , by CR(s, t), indicating its dependance on s and t.


We present a device concept and a prototype of a future mobile device. By featuring a rollable display, its display size and its form factor can be dynamically changed. Moreover, we investigate how physical resizing of the display can be used as an input technique for interacting with digital contents and present a set of novel interaction techniques. Evaluation results show that physical resizing of the display can improve the way we interact with digital contents on mobile devices.


Throughout the Wes sex. novels the re i s a profound pys chological divison between r u r a l charac ters on the -one hand, and urban charac ters on the other. The difference is one between j.nvolvement and detachment; the ru ra l charac ter is basically a p a r t of the natural world in which he l ives , and therefore evinces an instinctive sense of belonging, a confident secur i ty that comes o f existing within an age.-o1.d pattern. The urban charac ter , torn up b y the roots f r o m his r u r a l or igins , has been forced to develop the means to combat the sense of aloneness that accompanies selfawareness 2nd therefore he rhas acquj-red the power of Reason. Urban man has developed the capacity to detach himself f rom the situztion, to analyse i t a s an extension of h is ovm self, and then to ac t according to his rational conclusions. His reason c lear ly affords hiim a psychological superior i ty over r u r a l man, who i s incapablc of separat ing himself f roni his cxpcricnce. Urban (rat ional) man i s able to perce ive alternative courses of action that cor~stant ly allow h im t o choose whatever appears the most advantageous; detached f r o m hS s surroundings, he can often manipnl-ate r u r a l folk and their customs to suit his own selfish ends, since the la t te r have no res i s tance to such exploitatjon. Hardy ' s own attitude toward this conflict changes markedly a s we progress through the novels; a t the beginning, t he re i s a powerful feeling of sympathy for r u r a l tradition we m a y detect a nostalgic feeling of r eg re t for the passing of a s impler , m o r e primitive way of life. However, the experience of the novels quickly reveals the inadequacies of r u r a l involvement, par t icu lar ly when challenge i s made by urban in t ruders who pay l i t t le heed to the ways of the past . Hardy finds himself torn between the ideal and the rea l . At f i r s t , r u r a l l ife r ep resen t s both aspects (in Under the Greenwood T r e e and F a r F r o m the Madding Crowd), but gradually the alienated ----consciousness of urban man a s s e r t s itself, until Hardy i s compelled to admit the superior effectiveness of rational thought. Ultimately, urban life i s posited a s both ideal and r ea l ( in Jude the Obscure ), but Hardy discovers that illusion prevai ls h e r e also; man cannot finally escape his own nature. Thus the re app'ears to be no escape; the re can be no r e t r ea t into a m o r e 'natural ' instinctive way of life, and yet there appears to be l i t t le hope of Reason alone.


Fracture of restored teeth is a problem in restorative dentistry since it has been estimated that 92 percent of fractured teeth have been previously restored. In a restored tooth, the stresses that occur at the tooth-restoration interface during loading could become large enough to fracture the tooth and/or restoration. The tooth preparation process for a dental restoration is therefore a classical optimization problem: tooth reduction must be minimized to preserve tooth tissue whilst stress levels must be kept low to avoid fracture of the restored tooth. The objective of the present study was to propose alternative optimized designs for a second upper premolar cavity preparation by means of structural shape optimization based on the finite element method and biological adaptive growth. Restored tooth models using the optimized cavity shapes exhibited significant reduction of stresses along the tooth-restoration interface. In the best case, the maximum stress value was reduced by more than 50 percent.Copyright © 2004 by ASME


Objective:To study the effect of fructus gardeniae from Bazhong preventing jaundice. Methods:The normal rats were selected and administrated water extraction and 70% ethanol extraction of fructus gardeniae orally. Chemical oxidation method was used to measure the serum total bilirubin TBIL in rats. The enzyme method was used to measure the total cholesterol CHOL and triglyceride TG in rabbit bile. The levels of TBIL,TG and CHOL in normal rats' blood serum were determind by administrating gardenia grown in different regions. Results:Compared with normal blank control group,gardenias in four areas water soluble parts,or 70% ethanol soluble parts obviously reduced CHOL,TG and CHOL of normal rats. Fructus gardeniae extract from Bazhong had better effect than other three regions'. What's more,water soluble effective components had better effect than alcohol soluble parts(P0.001). The water soluble effective components of gardenia from Bazhong had more significant effect than Jiangxi's(P0.001). And it had the most significant effect than water soluble effective components of fructus gardeniae from Hubei(P0.01). Conclusion:Fructus gardeniae from Bazhong has better quality and better effect on preventing jaundice than other that from three areas. The research and development about fructus gardeniae from Bazhong is worthy of being focused on.


Nowadays far too many university entrants come from school. There are indeed very few students who do not come direct from school to university. This means that the population is very young in experience and, perhaps more important, much too uniform in composition.


Editors' Preview Chapter 5, 'The neurobiology of categorization', provides a review of what is known about the neural bases for categorization. A major theme of the chapter is that categories characterized by different kinds of structures may enlist different types of learning and memory processes that in turn rely on different brain circuitry. For example, as noted in Chapters 2, 3, and 4, human adults possess the ability to rapidly learn rule-based categories in which the rule splitting the categories is explicit, verbalizable, accessible to conscious awareness (e.g. red things go into group A , green things go into group B ), and believed to be stored in a declarative form of memory that enables recall of facts and events. Human adults also learn categories that require an integration of information that is not readily verbalizable, may be slowly acquired, and may be stored in a nondeclarative procedural memory system. Figure 5.1 provides an example of categories that can be learned through an integration of information about the orientation and thickness of the bars within the circular discs on each side of the boundary. Examples of real-world categories learned through processes of information integration include determining whether X-rays provide evidence of cancerous tumours and (as was referenced in Chapter 2) determining whether day-old chicks are male or female. Various lines of evidence acquired with different investigative techniques within cognitive neuroscience suggest that categories acquired through explicit rule learning versus information integration may be processed through two distinct brain pathways. The evidence includes studies of single-unit recording in animals (an electrode is used to register the activity of an individual neuron as an animal is performing a categorization task), brain stimulation (a brain region is directly stimulated with electric current as an animal learns a categorization task), lesion studies (a brain region of an animal is damaged to determine what effect that has on categorization performance),


David Hayes looks at the increasing presence of Taiwanese cement companies in the Chinese industry, with particular focus on Taiwan Cement Corporation.


The significance of the calculus of variations as a focal point of analysis has been emphasized by Hubert and his school, and its intimate connection with the theories of mechanics, differential equations, integral equations, and quadratic forms in an infinite number of variables, has been used to the mutual benefit of all these disciplines. From one standpoint the problems of the calculus of variations may be regarded as problems of ordinary maxima and minima in a denumerable or non-denumerable infinity of independent variables; the imposition of a finite number of auxiliary conditions would then be equivalent to reducing the infinity of variables by a finite number. It is natural to inquire what will happen when a denumerable infinity of auxiliary conditions are imposed on the function involved in the integral to be minimized. In various branches of mathematics much light has been thrown on problems by a generalization from the finite to the infinite and it may reasonably be expected that there will be additional insight into the problems of the calculus of variations by the development of a similar extension. This paper undertakes to make a beginning of such a study by treating a particular problem which has for its Euler condition a differential equation central in mathematical physics. Some of the results will appear as natural generalizations of criteria already known, while others seem in contradiction to them. The problem to be studied is intimately related to one discussed earlierf by the author in which a. finite number of auxiliary conditions were imposed. That discussion concerned the solutions of the equation


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a viewpoint on the 1961 scientific method and research methodology used by Miller and Modigliani to derive the conclusion that dividends are irrelevant, with reference to the UK Companies Act of 2006, specifically Sections 829‐840 that concern distributions, and Section 172 that stipulates the duties of the directors in their promotion of the success of the company.Design/methodology/approach – The relevant sections of the UK Companies Act of 2006 concerning distributions and the duty of directors to promote the success of the company were studied. It was followed by a detailed analysis of the article by Miller and Modigliani, in particular the purpose, assumptions, the 30 equations that comprise their model, and their interpretive logic in drawing conclusions from their equations.Findings – In effect, Miller and Modigliani exclude dividends as a determinant of share value, side‐step the purpose of their research, do not state assumptions upon which their an...


An understanding of the effects of the water content on the solvent extraction of metals from the deep eutetic formed from choline chloride and lactic acid has been obtained. This change can be rationalised as being due to a change in the activity coefficient of chloride in the deep eutetic.


ABSTRACT The prediction and speculation about the values of the stock market especially the values of the worldwide companies are a really interesting and attractive topic. In this article, we cover the topic of the stock value changes and predictions of the stock values using fresh scraped economic news about the companies. We are focussing on the headlines of economic news. We use numerous different tools to the sentiment analysis of the headlines. We consider BERT as the baseline and compare the results with three other tools, VADER, TextBlob, and a Recurrent Neural Network, and compare the sentiment results to the stock changes of the same period. The BERT and RNN were much more accurate, these tools were able to determine the emotional values without neutral sections, in contrast to the other two tools. Comparing these results with the movement of stock market values in the same time periods, we can establish the moment of the change occurred in the stock values with sentiment analysis of economic news headlines. Also we discovered a significant difference between the different models in terms of the effect of emotional values on the change in the value of the stock market by the correlation matrices.


OF DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Graduate School at the University of Kentucky By Osvaldo Di Paolo Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Ana Rueda, Professor of Hispanic Studies Lexington, Kentucky 2010 Copyright @ Osvaldo Di Paolo 2010 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATIONOF DISSERTATION CADAVERES EN EL ARMARIO: EL POLICIAL PALIMPSESTICO EN LA LITERATURA ARGENTINA CONTEMPORANEA This dissertation investigates the emergence of detective fiction and film from 1994 to the present. The corpus appears during the government of Carlos Menem and its intent to insert Argentina into a globalized economy. Poverty, insecurity and violence prevail in the Argentine society and ten detective novels, based on real-life murders, appear in 1994. Consequently, I explore each murder case, beginning with the newspaper article, and trace its transformation into short fiction, novel and/or film. The articles about the homicides follow the tendencies of the sensationalist yellow press. The writers and film directors, however, transform those stories, following and also subverting the characteristics of the classic detective fiction or the hard-boiled. In doing so, these recreations of the murder cases aim to denounce or criticize specific aspects of Argentine society: domestic violence, discrimination, stigmatization and corruption, among others.


A formula for evaluating pathwise, the solution to a stochastic differential equation with continuous semimartingale differentials is obtained under the usual lipschitz condition on the coefficients. As an application of this result, a formula for the natural increasing process associated with a continuous local martingale is obtained.


This paper describes a high accurate geometric correction method for NOAA AVHRR data considering elevation effect. NOAA data in map coordinate system is divided into rough and flat blocks to identify the variation of elevation. GCP template matching and affine coefficients are then used to correct residual errors in image coordinate system. In order to correct more residual errors, appropriate flat blocks are combined with GCP templates. Finally, corrected data is transformed into map coordinate system by bilinear interpolation. Because the sizes of rough blocks are smaller, the errors of bilinear interpolation are reduced.


A variety of biosensor configurations have been explored which may find applications ranging from fermentation monitoring and control of separation processes to shelf life prediction and quality assurance. Two general categories of biological components are distinguished: biocatalysts and bioreceptors. A range of physical and chemical transducers are available to monitor the biological recognition event and can be broadly classified into electrochemical, optical, thermal and piezoelectric devices. A number of examples where biosensors have been successfully applied to industrial monitoring and control are discussed. >


EARLY one evening in July, 1910, Mrs. Isabella Wilson, an elderly woman of 70, was found dead with her head battered in at her house in Slough. Although the crime and the tracking down of the criminal failed to arouse the same interest, perhaps, as is usual in such cases, probably on account of the fact that public excitement was at its height at about this time over the search for, and subsequent conviction of, Hawley Harvey Crippen, none the less as an unusually clever piece of detection, the "Slough Murder" deserves a foremost place in the police annals of this country. Mrs. Wilson was a second-hand clothes dealer and lived alone in one of a small row of houses in the High Street of Slough. The front portion of the premises was used as a shop, where the old woman transacted all her business, and this led into a smaller room at the back, which she designated as her " parlour ". It was in the parlour that the dead body was discovered. That she had fought hard for her life was apparent in the disordered state of the room and her torn and disarranged clothing. The local authorities promptly called in the aid of Scotland Yard and Detective-Inspector Elias Bower, with Detective-Sergeant Burton as his assistant, was immediately put in charge of the case. It may be recalled that it was Elias Bower who solved the famous Moat Farm mystery in 1899 when, after nearly four years of relentless searching, he struck the trail of Herbert Samuel Dougal and sent him to the gallows for the murder of Miss Camille Holland.


The invention discloses a method of preparing a gel polymer lithium ion battery, comprising the following steps: solving P(VDF-HFP) in organic solvent, and then adding P(VDF-HFP) nonsolvent to obtain mixed P(VDF-HFP) solution; spreading the mixed P(VDF-HFP) solution on the diaphragm or the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate of the lithium ion battery to volatilize the solvent of the mixed P(VDF-HFP) solution and form a composite porous film on the diaphragm or the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate of the lithium ion battery; assembling the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate with the diaphragm of the lithium ion battery, and injecting liquid electrolyte in to as assembled electrical core; and heating and baking the electrical core to make the composite porous film and the liquid electrolyte form gel to obtain the gel polymer lithium ion battery. The method of preparing the gel polymer lithium ion battery has simple process, low cost and wide application range and ensures that the produced composite porous film has high liquid absorption rate and stable structure and the gel polymer lithium ion battery has good cycling performance and conducting performance.


This epilogue looks to the decline of the formation of thinking black that this book has traced. It proposes that this formation declined in the face of the failure of revolutionary Black Power in the Caribbean, new divisions around ethnicity and religion in the wake of the Iranian Revolution and the Rushdie Affair, the incorporation of black activists into new structures of state multiculturalism, and the reinventions of blackness that Stuart Hall analyzed as the rise of "new ethnicities." In these contexts, the epilogue proposes, the meanings and constituencies of blackness shifted in the late 1980s, and its promise of a radical or revolutionary transformation of British politics and society appeared less certain.


THESEUS is an ESA space based project, which aims to explore the early universe by unveiling a complete census of Gamma-ray Burst (GRB) population in the first billion years. This goal is expected to be realized by the combined observations of its three instruments on board: the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI), the X and Gamma Imaging Spectrometer (XGIS), and the InfraRed Telescope (IRT). This last one will identify, localise, and study the afterglow of the GRBs detected by SXI and XGIS, and about 40% of its time will be devoted to an all-sky photometric survey, which will certainly detect a relevant number of extragalactic sources, including Quasars. In this paper, we focus on the capability of IRT-THESEUS Telescope to observe Quasars and, in particular, Quasars lensed by foreground galaxies. In our analysis we consider the recent results for the Quasar Luminosity Function (QLF) in the infrared band based on the Spitzer Space Telescope imaging survey. In order to estimate the number of lensed Quasars, we develop Monte Carlo simulations using the mass-luminosity distribution function of galaxies and the galaxy and Quasar redshift distributions. We predict about 2.14 × 105 Quasars to be observed during IRT-Theseus sky survey, and approximately 140 of them lensed by foreground galaxies. Detailed studies of these events would provide a powerful probe of the physical properties of Quasars and the mass distribution models of the galaxies.


nm. The technique developed in this work for the preparation of sodium decatungstoholmiate(ІІІ) is new and differs in that it allows one to synthesize a normal salt, which can be used for the synthesis of other normal salts of sodium heteropoly decatungstolanthanidates(ІІІ). As a result of attempts to synthesize salts by the interaction of holmium(III) nitrate with aqueous solutions of sodium tungstate acidified to Z = 1.17 and 1.29, X-ray amorphous solids were obtained, which most likely are mixtures of paratungstate B and holmium heptatungstate. Using the methods of chemical analysis and FTIR spectroscopy, the conditions for the formation of a sodium-holmium double salt with lacunar undecatungstate anion, derived from Keggin structure Na 2 Ho 2 [Нo 2 (H 2 O) 10 W 22 O 72 ( OH) 2 ]·46H 2 O are established. Procedure for the synthesis of holmium(III) paratungstate B Ho 10 [W 12 O 40 (OH) 2 ] 3 ·54H 2 O by the exchange reaction of holmium(ІІІ) nitrate with sodium paratungstate B was elaborated, and by the method of scanning electron microscopy it is proved to be single–phase. It was found that the grain size of the sample is in the range 200–450 nm. The absence of sodium(I) ions in the composition of the synthesized salt was proved by atomic absorption spectroscopy and EDX. Microphotographs of the salt powders Na 9 [Но(W 5 O 18 ) 2 ]·23H 2 O and Ho 10 [W 12 O 40 (OH) 2 ] 3 ·54H 2 O in the characteristic X–ray radiation show no zones with different surface morphologies, and show uniform distribution of Na, Ho, W, O is observed without segregation, which confirms the single–phase nature of the products.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Since the early 1980s, many organizations have implemented information systems to manage activities--a major step forward from managing on a functional basis. The development of activity-based costing and, later, activity-based management systems facilitated this transition. More recently, the focus has shifted to managing activities within the context of processes and subprocesses. For example, process-based costing (PBC) systems have been developed specifically to support process management. If managers focus on improving individual activities rather than an entire set of activities within processes and subprocesses, suboptimization can occur. This article describes how JEA, a municipal utility based in Jacksonville, Fla., implemented a process-based organizational structure and supporting cost management and other models, which include PBC. JEA's general strategic control approach is a paradigm that can be generalized and adapted to other types of organizations. ********** Since the early 1980s, many organizations have implemented information systems to help manage activities. The development of activity-based costing (ABC) and, later, activity-based management (ABM) systems facilitated this transition. Overall, it has been a major step forward--in contrast to managing on a functional, silo basis, using traditional management accounting information systems. More recently, managers have shifted their focus to managing activities within processes and subprocesses. If they are focusing on improving individual activities rather than the entire set of activities within processes and subprocesses, suboptimization can occur. Often, the output from one activity is the input to another within the same process or subprocess. A cost saving or improvement in one activity may cause problems and inefficiencies in downstream activities. For example, efforts to reduce the time to process paperwork in one activity may result in more errors in subsequent activities, reducing efficiency and productivity. Recently, James A. Brimson proposed that a "process performance statement" be added as a fourth financial statement, with a focus on the future, including target outcomes for each process to complement the historical emphasis of the traditional income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. (1) Process-based management models include process value analysis and process reengineering. Cost management models that support process improvement efforts include recent developments in ABC/ABM models that have more of a process focus. (2) Interestingly, a process emphasis has been a common feature of German ABC systems since 1989. (3) Also, process-based costing (PBC) systems have been developed specifically to support process management. (4) PBC systems manage activities in the context of processes as the following quotation indicates: Process-based costing does not make ABC obsolete. Rather, process-based costing modifies it and provides an overall framework within which ABC fits. (5) In the following case study, we describe how a municipal utility implemented a process-based organizational structure and supporting cost management and other models, which include PBC. JEA, A MUNICIPAL UTILITY JEA is a municipal electric, water, and wastewater utility in Jacksonville, Fla. (6) The company has been remarkably successful financially while having electricity rates that are among the lowest in the United States. (7) In 2001, JEA was the eighth largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of number of customers. (8) JEA's long-run vision is to be "the best service provider in the nation by 2007." Its intermediate goal was "to become the best utility service provider in the nation" by 2004--according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). (9) The official ACSI cumulative results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2004 place JEA solidly in second place among all major U. …


Abstract : Up to 50 instructions may be entered aurally into the BESM-3M digital computer by an arbitrary speaker in a room with noisy background with the aid of a speech recognition system which operates on signals divided into voice spectrum sub-bands and clipped speech parameters. In this system channel number 1 passes speech energy which exceeds a certain threshold value and which occupies a band below 500 Hz; channel number 2 reacts to signals whose frequencies are above 500 Hz. Other channels (consisting of bandpass filters) are used for distinguishing vowel sounds. Thus, channel number 5 recognizes 'a' and 'o' and partially 'e' and 'u' sounds and channel number 6 may distinguish 'i' and 'y' and partially 'u' sounds. The resulting pulses are counted, an action which identifies affricates and fricatives with sufficient accuracy. The resulting speech indices, coded in binary form, are interrogated by the BESM-3M computer input unit at a rate of 100 Hz. This information is subsequently stored in the BESM-3M main memory. It takes up to 1 sec to enter an aural command into the computer. All aural signals may be delivered to an octal output printer whose output makes it possible to study word structure and individual sounds.


2,10-Dibromo-3-chlorochamigra-7(14),9-dien-8-one (1), isolated from the red alga Laurencia nipponica, is found as an equilibrium mixture of two stable conformational isomers the structure of which has been elucidated by 1H n.m.r. experiments. The ratio of the two stable conformers is 70 : 30 and from this, the Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) has been determined as 2.11 kJ mol–1. A conformational equilibrium of 2-bromo-3-chlorochamigra-7(14),9-dien-8-one (2) has also been observed. The strain-energy difference (ΔH°), calculated using molecular-mechanics calculations, between the two stable conformers of (1) and between those of (2) are 2.35 and 2.81 kJ mol–1, respectively, and the variation in stability of each of the two conformers of (1) and (2) is attributed mainly to the dipole-dipole interaction energy. Using 1H dynamic n.m.r. spectroscopy, the thermodynamical parameters of conformational exchange of (1) have been determined as ΔG313‡= 76 kJ mol–1, ΔH‡= 50 kJ mol–1, and ΔS‡=–84 J mol–1 K–1. The unusually high barrier is caused by the hindered rotation of the C(6)–C(11) axis, and to a large extent, by the non-bonded interaction between the two axial protons, 2-H and 4-Hax, and an exomethylene proton, 14-Hb.


Time-dependent infrared images, temperature profiles, and oxidizer-to-fuel (O/F) mixture ratios are reported for unsteady flames resulting from the hypergolic ignition of a droplet of monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) contacting a small pool of red fuming nitric acid (RFNA). The infrared images of the hypergolic combustion process provide insights into the size, shape, and intensity of the flame ignition, growth, and extinguishment progression. Thin filament pyrometry is used to estimate time-dependent and time-averaged flame temperature profiles across three heights above the propellant contact interface. The flame temperature linearly decreases with distance above the contact interface for the ignition heights (9–19 mm) studied in this work. The flame temperature is largest near the droplet centerline and nonlinearly decreases in the radial direction as the hypergolic combustion products mix with the surrounding nitrogen. A parametric sensitivity analysis is used to show that mixture ratio, gas velocity, and the convective heat transfer coefficient correlation have minimal effect on the flame temperature estimates. A chemical equilibrium optimization analysis indicates that the O/F mixture ratios are smallest near the flame centerline, nonlinearly increase in the radial direction, and asymptotically approach infinity near the edge of the flame. The results provide important data for quantitative comparison with hypergolic ignition models and future studies of alternative hypergolic propellants of practical interest.


Abstract Background: Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) improves oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and may act synergistically with high-frequency ventilation. High-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) has improved outcome in patients with inhalation injury. Thus, a system for NO delivery via HFPV would be desirable, but has not yet been described. Methods: A mechanical test lung was used for this evaluation. HFPV was delivered by means of a Volumetric Diffusive Respiration ventilator (VDR-4®). Spontaneous breaths were simulated by means of a lever arm attached to the bellows of the test lung. NO was instilled continuously at a constant rate into a side port between the sliding venturi of the VDR-4® and the endotracheal tube. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and NO levels were measured electrochemically via ports located at the front and back of the test lung. Expired gas was scavenged, and environmental NO2 levels were monitored. The ability of the system to provide constant NO lev...


An important activity for 4-H members is taking part in community service projects. These projects provide a great opportunity for 4-H members to develop positive relationships in the community as well as enhance personal growth and satisfaction. Plan for Successful Projects Steps to help make community service projects successful and fun: 1. Decide what is needed in the community/county. 2. Decide what types of activities members have interest in and abilities to do. 3. List all the activities that have been suggested. 4. Discuss the possibilities and rank them in order of importance and interest. Select the project. 5. Develop a plan of action. 6. Carry out the project as planned. 7. Record the members' efforts with photos, videotapes, or written notes. 8. Monitor the activities and make adjustments as needed. Take time to discuss the successes and shortcomings of the project and ideas for improvement. 9. Write a summary of the experience after completion. Share it with the media and the county 4-H staff. Put together a scrapbook record of the activity. 10. Celebrate! Feel good about the contribution to the community and the positive learning gained by the 4-H members. DO encourage members to get involved in all phases of the project including planning, conducting, and evaluating the project. DON'T do it all for them.


We observe the propagation of information in a system of self-replicating strings of code (``Artificial Life'') as a function of fitness and mutation rate. Comparison with theoretical predictions based on the reaction-diffusion equation shows that the response of the artificial system to fluctuations (\eg velocity of the information wave as a function of relative fitness) closely follows that of natural systems. We find that the relaxation time of the system depends on the speed of propagation of information and the size of the system. This analysis offers the possibility of determining the minimal system size for observation of non-equilibrium effects at fixed mutation rate.


Lung cancer is a common leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Ailanthone, a natural compound isolated from Chinese herb Ailanthus altissima, has been reported to exert antiproliferative effects on various cancer cells.


The issue of maintenance and repair management of fleet in a bus transit agency consisting of several branches is presented in the article. Technical base development takes place due to increasing of effectiveness as a result of specialization and cooperation of maintenance and repair, as well as using maximum potential, reducing and optimal costs allocation. The minimum total reduced cost was taken as a criterion for the efficiency of production placement, focusing on the costs associated with the choice of specialization and subsequent cooperation of maintenance (mainly the costs of transportation of units and vehicles between the branches). The management approach of cooperating in the issue of maintenance and repair of buses is aimed at the distribution of a particular type of work between the technical bases of different branches of the united transit agency. The applied method is based on the common approach to the solution of the "transport problem" and adapted specifically for the united transport company involving two and more separate branches. The method was tested on the united agency operating urban buses in Moscow, aiming to allocate fleet maintenance with regard to its needs and resources.


The authenticity verification of a User Generated Audio-Video content relative to a real event can be a very critical task especially when the content is shared on the Internet. Audio-Video files need to be checked in order to verify the origin of the content and the absence of alterations that could have changed their semantic content. The paper presents a multimodal approach for audio tampering detection that analyzes both the audio component and the video component of a recorded video file. The proposed solution estimates the volumetric characteristics of the environment where the multimedia content has been captured both from the video and audio signals. Then, the approach checks the consistency of the environment characteristics estimated from the audio signal with respect to those estimated from video files. The proposed solution proves to be useful in identifying video fakes and bootlegs, although it proves to be useful for the localization of added audio effects in a movie or radio track.


Complete racemization of (S)-(I) and (S)-(II) can be achieved using 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) as base in methyl- or ethyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) or (ETBE).


FIELD: cold rolling of strip steel, mainly in reversing rolling mill. SUBSTANCE: lubricating and cooling emulsion contains water and oil with saponification number no less than 130 mg KOH/g. Total concentration of oil is in range 2.5 - 3.0% at content of mechanical impurities in emulsion no less than 100 mg/l per 1% of total oil concentration. EFFECT: lowered wear degree of rolls of cold rolling mill. 1 ex


This paper presents a new general technique for analysis of noise in static log-domain translinear circuits. It is demonstrated that employing this technique, leads to a general, simple and routine method of the noise analysis. . The circuit has been simulated by HSPICE. The simulation results are seen to conform to the theoretical analysis and shows benefits of the proposed circuit. Keywords—Noise analysis, log-domain, static, dynamic, translinear loop, companding.


For mechanical servo system,a novel servo controller based on integral backstepping scheme was presented,the controller has strong robustness to external disturbance and system parameter changes. Simulation results for a DC motor servo system show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


The increase of exposure to volatile organic compounds in general, and endocrine disruptors in particular, through daily healthcare consumer goods urgently calls for the development and commercialization of cheap and easy‐to‐use sensors to detect these molecules in air. Organic semiconductors (OSCs) promise the mass fabrication of cheap and flexible sensors, under the condition that the fabrication of functional thin films having the right morphology can be fully harnessed. Nanoporous morphologies are interesting in the field of gas sensing because they facilitate the diffusion of gas molecules to the active volume of organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs), at the vicinity of the gate dielectric. Nanoporous films of OSCs are, however, challenging to produce and to transfer into working sensors. Usage of nanoporous OSC films deposited on a sensitive 4‐tert‐butylcalix[6]arene gate dielectric as the active layer of an OFET‐based gas sensor is proposed here. The semiconducting molecules are self‐assembled into nanoporous films at the interface between air and water, allowing their transfer to practically any gas‐sensitive dielectric substrate. The OFET built on this film stack is used here to sense the presence of methyl 4‐hydroxybenzoate (methylparaben) in air at concentrations below 1 ppb.


Abstract By drawing on macro‐categories of key human resource (HR) management interventions recommended by the Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) during the Covid‐19 pandemic, this study aimed to explore whether and how Intensive Care Units (ICU) have strengthened their HRs during the first year of Covid‐19 emergency. A rapid review was conducted to provide a quick synthesis of the literature in English identified in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS), PubMed, and Scopus databases. A total of 68 articles qualified for the final analysis. The findings illustrated that health organisations were often guided by staffing ratios to estimate capacity to care, aimed to modify the scope of practice of providers, redeployed both internal and external staff to ICUs, created and adapted the Covid‐19‐specific staffing models, and implemented technological innovations to provide services to the unprecedented number of patients while protecting the physical and mental health of their staff. The insights of this research should be helpful for health leaders, HR Managers, and policymakers who have faced unprecedented challenges and tough decisions during this emergency. The findings could also inform beyond‐Covid‐19 ICU policies and guide future research.


It has been alleged that, contrary to the assumptions in Pareto's Manual, the ability to compare first-differences of utility implies cardinality. It is shown here that the validity of this theorem hinges critically on the framework of analysis. In the framework of the thirties it is valid because of the implicit use of an 'unrestricted domain' assumption. In the modern choice-theoretic context it is not in general true but it becomes valid if utility functions are continuous and are defined on a connected topological space.