Spoofing detection algorithms in voice biometrics are adversely affected by differences in the speech characteristics of the various target users. In this paper, we propose a novel speaker normalisation technique that employs adversarial multi-task learning to compensate for this speaker variability. The proposed system is designed to learn a feature space that discriminates between genuine and replayed speech while simultaneously reduces the discrimination between different speakers. We initially characterise the impact of speaker variability and quantify the effect of the proposed speaker normalisation technique directly on the feature distributions. Following this, we validate the technique on spoofing detection experiments carried out on two different corpora, ASVSpoof 2017 v2.0 and BTAS 2016 replay, and demonstrate its effectiveness. We obtain EER of 7.11% and 0.83% on the two corpora respectively, lower than that of all relevant baselines.


Description Widespread distribution in Africa set to begin despite lingering questions about efficacy Widespread distribution in Africa set to begin despite lingering questions about efficacy


oth sides in the individual mandate litigation have developed a wide range of legal arguments to support their position. Some defenders of the mandate have also emphasized several nonlegal reasons why they believe the Court should uphold the law. These arguments have gotten more emphasis since the Supreme Court oral argument seemed to go badly for the pro-mandate side. The most common are claims that a decision striking down the mandate would damage the Court's "legitimacy," that a 5-4 decision striking down the mandate would be impermissibly "partisan," and that it would be inconsistent with judicial "conservatism." Even if correct, none of these arguments actually prove that the Court should uphold the mandate as a legal matter. A decision that is perceived as "illegitimate," partisan, and unconservative can still be legally correct. Conversely, one that is widely accepted, enjoys bipartisan support, and is consistent with conservatism can still be wrong. Plessy v. Ferguson and Korematsu are well-known examples of terrible rulings that fit all three criteria at the time they were decided. In addition, all three arguments are flawed even on their own terms.


Objective To explore whether response at 14th day can predict response at 28th day in schizophrenics taking clozapin.Method It was fixed dose as(309±83)mg/d from 14th day to 28th day and was estimated Positive and Negative Syndrome Rating Scale (PANSS) at baseline,treated 14th and 28th day,respectively,in 40 inpatients with schizophrenia taking clozapine.Results There was a very significant positive correlation between PANSS total score subtractive score rate at 14th day and those at 28th day(r=0.7334,df=39,P0.01).It was significant higher rate of predominant improvement at 28th day in patients with PANSS total score subtractive score rate≥20% at 14th day than patients with PANSS total score subtractive score rate20% at 14th day (12/23 versus 0/17,P=0.0002420.001).Conclusion It was approximately 50% rate of predominant improvement at 28th day in patients with symptom improvement ≥20% at 14 day,whereas it was nearly impossible for predominant improvement at 28th day in patients with symptom improvement 20% at 14th day.


The differences in facial anatomical structures of the major ethnic groups,may also be reflected in nasal resistance. Active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR) is the recommended technique for the objective assessment of nasal airway resistance (NAR). This study comprised of 85 adult Malay subjects. All the subjects had to undergo a primary assessment of relevantsymptoms of nasal disease and nasal examination before undergoing AAR assessment. The mean value of total nasal airway resistance (NAR) was 0.19 Pa/cm3/s (ranged from 0.09 to 0.55Pa/cm3/s) at 75 Pa pressure point and 0.24 Pa/cm3/s ranged from 0.12 to 0.52 Pa/cm3/s) at 150 Pa pressure point. The mean unilateral NARwas 0.46 Pa/cm3/s at a reference pressure of 75 Pa and 0.51 Pa/cm3/s at a reference pressure of 150 Pa. In this study we presented normal values for NAR in healthy Malay adult subjects. AARproves to be a valuable clinical method for recording and quantitating nasal resistance.


8 The Lusi mud volcano of East Java, Indonesia, remains one of the most unusual 9 geological disasters of modern times. Since its sudden birth in 2006, Lusi has 10 erupted continuously, expelling over 90 million cubic meters of mud that has 11 displaced ~40000 people. This study undertakes the first detailed analysis of the 12 pore pressures immediately prior to the Lusi mud volcano eruption by compiling 13 data from the adjacent (150 m away) Banjar Panji-1 wellbore and undertaking 14 pore pressure prediction from carefully compiled petrophysical data. Wellbore 15 fluid influxes indicate that sequences under Lusi are overpressured from only 16 350 meters depth and follow an approximately lithostat-parallel pore pressure 17 increase through Pleistocene clastic sequences (to 1870 meters depth) with pore 18 pressure gradients up to 17.2 MPa/km. Most unusually, fluid influxes, a major 19 kick, connection gases, elevated background gases and offset well data confirm 20 that high magnitude overpressures also exist in the Plio-Pleistocene volcanic 21 sequences (1870 to ~2833 meters depth) and Miocene (Tuban Formation) 22 carbonates, with pore pressure gradients of 17.2-18.4 MPa/km. 23 24 Page 1 of 53 Interpretation Manuscript, Accepted Pending: For Review Not Production


Economics has always been an important field of study for the simple reason that, at its idealistic heart, it is the study of how to influence the trade and utilization of limited resources in order to make people as happy as possible. However, economics is also a field in which it is very difficult to prove assertions to be absolutely true because economics concerns itself with the behavior of people, and people all too often don't know how they themselves will behave in certain situations, never mind predicting how other people will behave. This difficulty motivates a certain skepticism about how successful current economic thought actually is in terms of making people happier. Of course a contemporary example of one of economics' failures is the current recession, the cause of which is a contentious issue agreed upon by few but has been blamed on everyone from the speculators on Wall Street to mortgage holders to government officials who perhaps failed to regulate the interactions of the preceding parties. The complex human element that predicated this recession is often overlooked by economic theory, which instead tends to focus on aggregate behavior that fits nicely into elegant equations. However, the elegance of these equations is lost in the chaos that ensues when they fail to accurately predict and prevent economic downturns. In this paper we assert that economics lends itself more to analysis by simulation rather than analysis by equations, which tend to abstract away too many relevant details to be valid. More specifically, we assert that a simulation that models the interactions of individual agents in an economy is more useful than equations that aggregate individual behavior away into averages. Furthermore, we discuss the design and implementation of a new framework for such a simulation, EOS, which we argue is an improved version of


Purpose – The study aims to assess the influence of change readiness on the knowledge sharing process. This study proposes that readiness for knowledge sharing involves developing holistic understanding of the process through identification of individual and organisational readiness. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopts a qualitative case study design involving three New Zealand professional service firms (PFSs). Using grounded theory analysis, categories and concepts of change readiness that shape the knowledge sharing process were identified. The linkages among these elements offer an explanation of how readiness for knowledge sharing is formed. Findings – Findings show that beliefs regarding knowledge sharing and individual expertise determine individual readiness to share knowledge. Readiness for the process is escalated by instilling collective commitment for knowledge sharing. A conducive organisational context, which comprises communication, participation and learning, represents a firm's...


This paper presents a novel and secure image encryption method. The plain image's pixels are confused using the N-point crossover operation of genetic algorithms. Randomly paired rows and columns are determined by the two state variables of a six-dimensional hyperchaotic map. The number of crossover points, which are calculated by the two other state variables of the hyperchaotic map, differ from each other for each row or column pair. The crossover positions are specified according to the number of crossover points with the help of the last two state variables. The proposed algorithm generates the diffusion stage's encryption key using the SHA-256 hash value of the plain image. Mutation and crossover operators are implemented using the 16-bit subblocks of the 256-bit hash value. The scrambled image's pixels are altered with the generated encryption key and previously encrypted pixels. Keyspace and sensitivity, histogram, correlation, information entropy, differential, data loss, noise attack, and computational time analyzes are performed to test the safety and effectiveness of the encryption method. The experiments and simulation results show that the proposed encryption technique is highly secure and efficient since it can resist various attacks.


And (57) Abstract: handle housing (10), a rotary atherectomy device comprising a replaceable drive shaft cartridge which can detachably attached to the handle housing (10) (60). Rotary prime mover carried by a prime mover base disposed within the handle housing (10) (30). Replaceable cartridge, the cartridge housing (62), longitudinally movable tube (70) comprises a slide (64), and a rotatable flexible drive shaft (21). The rotary atherectomy device comprises a cartridge latch and the tube latch.


Campus-wide traffic security issues are related to the safety of all the faulty,students and staff;related to the safety order on campus as well as to the stability and development of the college.In recent years,many colleges has been continuously expanding their area,increasing the number of the students and staff.Meanwhile,they are short of not only traffic controllers,but traffic system and facilities as well.Besides,they neglect the education to all the members.That leads to many hidden troubles in campus-wide traffic.Therefore,enhancing people's awareness of security,constituting rules and regulations of traffic safety and perfecting traffic signs and facilities is the best way to prevent and stop frequent occurrence of campus-wide traffic accident.


The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature and type of packaging on lamb quality throughout display. Legs from twenty lamb carcasses were removed and cut. Chops were vacuum skin and modified atmosphere packaged (40 % O2/30% CO2/30% Ar) and refrigerated at -0,5 and 4 ̊C in darkness. pH, instrumental colour and lipid oxidation were determined. Vacuum skin packaged meat avoided dramatically lipid oxidation both at -0,5 and 4 ̊C. Moreover, it showed a better maintenance of redness than modified atmosphere packaged lamb. Significant differences were found in TBARS values of modified atmosphere packaged lamb refrigerated at different temperature. Lamb stored at -0, 5 ̊C registered a faster development of rancidity than those was refrigerated at higher temperature. In conclusion, vacuum skin packaging resulted in a better chemical and physical stability than modified atmosphere packaging.


Abstract The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the perception of management on the benefits of adopting an environmental management accounting (EMA) system as a waste management tool in a paper and pulp manufacturing company. This paper highlights the benefits of an EMA system and the role and importance of EMA as a decision-making tool in encouraging the adoption of cleaner production (CP) techniques and technologies. This research was based on a case study of a paper and pulp manufacturing company in KwaZulu-Natal. This research was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. Data collection instruments for the study included a Likert-type questionnaire and interviews with the environmental manager and cost accountant but the findings reported in this paper are based on the empirical evidence gathered from the questionnaire which identified that there was positive correlation between environmental performance and CP techniques and technologies. Environmental costs were hidden under general overheads and understated because the company was using a conventional costing system and not an EMA system; hence, environmental costs were not traced back to the products or processes responsible for those costs. It was evident from the qualitative data analysis that management regarded their environmental costs as too insignificant to justify implementation of an EMA system. The consequent reluctance of the company to adopt CP resulted in poor waste management and lower-quality environmental performance.


To avoid the interference of electromagnetism to magnetoelectric sensors, a mathematical model between acceleration and wavelength was proposed with the analysis of fiber Bragg grating acceleration sensors' mechanical model, and then a low frequency fiber Bragg grating acceleration sensor was designed. With the experiment, the frequency range of amplitude is 45 Hz and the cross-axis disturbance is 40 dB, which means that the sensor can be used in practice.


We drove across the river into Algiers and parked on a narrow street lined with ancient buildings that looked like impacted teeth. The foundations had settled and the upper stories leaned into the sidewalks, the rooftops tipping downward against the light like the brim of a man's fedora. The hotels were walk-ups with stained sacks of garbage propped by the entrances, the taverns joyless, dark places where fortified wine was sold by the glass and where a person, if he truly wanted to slip loose his moorings, could create for himself the most violent denouement imaginable with a casual flick of the eyes at the bikers rubbing talcum into their pool cues. But the real business on this street was to provide a sanctuary that precluded comparisons, in the same way that prisons provide a safe place for recidivists for whom setting time in abeyance is not a punishment but an end. The mulatto and black girls inside Maggie Glick's bar rejected no one. No behavior was too shameful, no level of physical or hygienic impairment unacceptable at the door. The Christmas tinsel and wreaths and paper bells wrapped with gold and silver foil stayed up year round. Inside Maggie Glick's, every day was New Year's morning, sunless, refrigerated, the red neon clock indicating either the A.M. or the P.M., as you wished, the future as meaningless and unthreatening as the past.


There was a close connection between the expansion of the press and experiments with new pedagogical strategies in the early industrial age. An expanding public school system required textbooks thus creating a whole new category of demand which appealed to printers who always on the lookout for reliable markets. At the same time, literacy was increasingly understood to be a desirable characteristic for a productive, patriotic citizenry. For a period of five years or so in the 1820s, several sons of important Spanish American patriot leaders were sent abroad to study in a progressive school called Hazelwood, near Birmingham in the heart of industrializing England. While there, the boys and their friends wrote and published a monthly periodical called the Hazelwood Magazine that clearly imitated the contents of professional newspapers andshared the underlying values of the medium.


Perhaps the simplest approach to modeling acoustic scattering from objects with internal substructure is to consider a cylindrical shell with an internal mass attached by springs. The earliest analyses, published in JASA in 1992, by Achenbach et al. and by Guo assumed one and two springs, respectively. Subsequent studies examined the effects of internal plates and more sophisticated models of substructure. In this talk we reconsider the Achenbach—Guo model but for an arbitrary number, say J, of axisymmetrically distributed stiffeners. The presence of a springs-mass substructure breaks the cylindrical symmetry, coupling all azimuthal modes. Our main result provides a surprisingly simple form for the scattering solution for time harmonic incidence. We show that the scattering, or T-matrix, decouples into the sum of the T-matrix for the bare shell plus J matrices each defined by an infinite vector. In addition, an approximate expression is derived for the frequencies of the quasi-flexural resonances induced ...


Abstract Inspired by the famous Prisoner's Dilemma game theory model, Karin Marie Fierke introduced the Warden's Dilemma to explain self-sacrifice and compromise in asymmetric interactions and to show that such an explanation requires a social ontology. She applied her model to Irish Republican Army hunger strikes in 1980–1981. Her model, however, closely resembles what game theorists call a 'nested game'. This article (re)introduces the nested Warden's Dilemma, focuses on the tripartite relationship inherent to the model and examines hunger strikes as part of a strategy potentially informed by instrumental rationality and knowledge of the Warden's Dilemma dynamic. After briefly discussing the implications of approaching self-sacrificial behaviour from a rationalist perspective, a case study of strategic non-violence in Myanmar (Burma) demonstrates how third parties can both diffuse instrumental rationality regarding political self-sacrifice and facilitate patterns of resistance that appear to capitalize on the Warden's Dilemma dynamic.


, disposal.?Kditob. Sulphur fumigation commenced at 10-30. 11-30 a.m.?Has passed two characteristic " rice-water" stools with much flaky suspended material Vomited once; urine quite suppressed; temperature 97'3?F.; respirations32 ; pulse slightly perceptible. 2-30 p.m?Temperature 98 4C F. ; respirations hurried. 70 per minute ; pulse in brachials quick and weak?about 140. No more vomiting after application of a sinapism. No stools ; is restless and thirsty. 4-30 p.m.?Is perspiring profusely, but the skin feels cool. Temperature 98'6? F. ; respirations more quiet; no pulse at the wrist; less thirsty. 7p.m.?Temperature, 98'6? F. ; respirations 50, less laboured; pulse at the wrist flickering and cannot be counted, in the brachial more steady and about 80 per minute. Has just passed a yellowish-coloured stool. Is feeling more comfortable.


Extracts from Rosmarinus officinalis L., more commonly known as rosemary, have been approved for use in the EU as food additive E932 under Regulation 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council. Rosemary extracts are currently widely used to increase shelf life of food products. Rosemary extracts are characterised by two reference antioxidant compounds, carnosol and carnosic acid . T his characterization allows for difference s in rosemary ext racts. Four approved production methods, as described by Commission Regulation 231/2012, produce rosemary extracts with different compositions and antioxidant activity. This results in difficulties to compare scientific data and to assess the safety of approved rosemary extracts. Based on unpublished studies for each of the four approved extract types, EFSA concluded that "the proposed uses and use levels would not be of safety concern". Yet, gaps in knowledge still exist for the approved extracts as man y different rosemary extracts are used in scientific research.


In this work, we compute the eigenvalues of the transition operator associated to the Fibonacci stochastic adding machine. In particular, we show that the eigenvalues are connected to the set of complex numbers z where (z2, z) belongs to the filled Julia set of a particular endomorphism of ℂ2. We also study some topological properties of the set .


This study aimed to analyze the effect of the expression of Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) V protein in bovine cells on the replication of Bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5). Growth properties of BoHV-5 were evaluated in parental and PIV5 transfected cells. In one-step growth experiments, the BoHV-5 reached higher titers at earlier time points in the transfected cells when compared to the parental cells. The mean plaque size produced by the BoHV-5 in transfected cells was larger than the parental cells. This indicated that the expression of the PIV5 V gene facilitated the release and cell-to-cell spread of BoHV-5 in bovine cells.


ABSTRACT In this paper, a Gothic mortar originating from the remains of a bridge pier in Roudnice nad Labem (Czech Republic) was analyzed. The inorganic composition of the mortar showing special mechanical properties was studied using polarizing light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction, while the protein content was analyzed by peptide mass mapping using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization—time of flight mass spectrometry and nanoliquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Two types of inorganic binders having a composition similar to mineral wollastonite and hydraulic lime and milk protein additive were detected. We believe that organic and inorganic binders added together to the mortar increase its hardness and firmness in the aquatic environment. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


The anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) is the main motor branch of the median nerve. It arises 5–8 cm distal to the humeral epicondyles, passes between the two heads of pronator teres and then courses distally on the volar aspect of the flexor digitorum profundus muscle and interosseous membrane. It supplies the deep finger flexors for the thumb and index finger and the pronator quadratus muscle, and deep sensation to connective tissue structures in the ventral wrist region. In patients with idiopathic symptoms in the AIN distribution, a distinction is made between pronator teres syndrome and anterior interosseous syndrome (AIS). Pronator teres syndrome is supposed to be a rare but genuine entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve around the elbow, caused by hypertrophied or overused muscles or anatomical aberrations, such as tight ligaments or fascial bands. Its counterpart, AIS, was first described as such by Kiloh and Nevin in 1952 and thought to be some form of localized neuritis. AIN is described as a syndrome with "vague forearm pain and pure motor paresis of the AIN innervated muscles". It has been noted previously that AIN involvement is not uncommon in neuralgic amyotrophy (Parsonage Turner syndrome, brachial plexus neuritis), which is a syndrome of acute onset focal inflammatory neuropathy that, in addition to the AIN, often involves other nerves such as the long thoracic and suprascapular. In the 1960s and 1970s, several case series were published describing fibrous bands in the pronator teres region and the tendinous origin of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle that gave give rise to local compression of the AIN itself, and surgical exploration of the nerve was recommended in idiopathic cases with no spontaneous recovery after 3–6 months. From this point on, authors coming from a surgical background have usually stated that AIS is a compression neuropathy that requires surgical release in the majority of cases. Many surgical textbooks still advise surgical decompression of the nerve from the site of a possible ligament of Struthers (several cm above the elbow crease, but present in only 1–2% of the population) all the way to the proximal arch of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. However, more recent reviews increasingly mention an inflammatory etiology as the most likely cause of AIS. In practice, treatment for AIS most likely depends on the specialty and training of the evaluating physician. The second decade of the 21st century has seen the emergence of nerve imaging as a new player in the field of peripheral neuropathies. Both high-resolution nerve ultrasound (US) and dedicated MR neurography (MRN) have developed into powerful tools to tease out hitherto unknown aspects of different types of peripheral nerve disorders. In a retrospective case series published in this issue from two centers with extensive imaging experience in focal inflammatory neuropathies, Dr. Sneag and coworkers describe the imaging results of 45 patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute AIS. Twenty-two patients from one center underwent MRN of the upper extremity, and 23 patients from second center underwent US of the median nerve, to localize the pathology and assess the pathophysiological mechanism of AIS. The epidemiology and symptoms described for all patients fit well into the spectrumof neuralgic amyotrophy. MRN in center 1 showed one or more focal "hourglass-like" nerve constrictions in fascicles of the median nerve proper, involving the AIN bundles in all patients. Fitting the hypothesis of a multifocal inflammatory neuropathy, MRN also showed involvement of other median nerve fascicles to the pronator teres and flexor carpi radialis muscles in 25%, and additional fascicle bundles in 14%, with concomitant denervation edema of these muscles. All the nerve constriction sites were located 0.2–12.8 cm proximal to the elbow joint line. US showed fascicular constrictions or fascicular enlargement of the median nerve proper in 87% of the patients seen in center 2. Overall, just 1 of the 74 fascicular constrictions found was located 1 cm distal to the elbow joint line, still in the median nerve proper. No external compression was seen around the nerves, and both study sites did not find any patient with abnormalities in or around the AIN proper in the forearm. Overall, the majority of patients had an incomplete or no spontaneous recovery after a followup of 0.7–240 months in both centers. The authors conclude that AIN neuropathy is almost always located in the median nerve in the distal upper arm, and never in the AIN itself. MRN and US were both capable of detecting the focal nerve pathology, with MRN more sensitive for detecting focal constrictions, while US detected fewer constriction sites but did find nerve segments with focal enlargement, indicative of inflammation, that MRN was unable to demonstrate due to its lower spatial resolution. The authors suggest that both techniques could be complementary in the workup of AIN pathology. This case series confirms the findings of another recent MRN study, that in almost all cases the pathology in AIN can be found in the mid to distal upper arm region. The occurrence of focal constrictions of the anterior interosseous fascicles in the median nerve proper has been known since the late 1990s. In a 2003 study, Nagano described 33 surgically treated patients in whom real entrapment was rare (one patient), and all the others were found to have fascicular constriction of the AIN. Two seminal papers convincingly linked Received: 28 December 2019 Revised: 7 January 2020 Accepted: 11 January 2020


This paper presents an analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of cultural sites in the Ili River Valley in Northwest China based on the application of Arc GIS software. It further explores the relationships between the spatio- temporal evolution of the sites, human history,and the natural environment. The results indicate that the numbers and proportions of the sites,and the frequency of their occurrence, exhibited an inverted V-shaped change trend during six historical periods. These covered the initial, peak, and declining stages of six periods extending from the Xia- Western Zhou dynasties to the Qing- Modern period. The spatial distribution pattern shifted from "high in the east and low in the west" during the first three periods to "high in the west and low in the east" during the latter three periods, illustrating a change in the spatial center of gravity of human activities. The sites were mainly distributed on slopes of grades 1- 5. The proportion of sites increased from 75% during the Spring and Autumn- Qin dynasties to 93.75% during the Qing- Modern period. The concentrated distribution of site elevations shifted from grades 4- 8 during the Spring and Autumn- Qin dynasties, and the Western Han-Northern and Southern dynasties to grades 1-4 during the latter three periods. The number of sites showed a shifting trend from high mountains and hills to low plains, and from high slopes to low slopes. In particular, the evolutionary pattern of sites in the study area exhibited a special "moist" pattern of migration from middle and upstream areas to downstream areas, as opposed to the migration pattern of sites located in typical arid areas. The paper also includes a discussion of factors influencing the distribution and spatio- temporal evolution of cultural sites, notably, human factors such as politics, economy, and productivity, and natural factors such as geomorphology, altitude, slope, and climate. Although the distribution and spatio- temporal evolution of cultural sites exhibited an orientation toward natural laws pertaining to factors such as river valleys, terraces, plains, and water resources, they presented a significant orientation toward laws, relating to human- driven forces including productivity levels, political stability, economic development, business and trade, and transport, which were more evident during the latter historical periods.


This paper investigates the potential of straw bale as a sustainable construction material for the bushfire prone areas of Australia. It aims to demonstrate how straw bale meets the performance requirements of the Australian Standards while also contributing significantly less to carbon emissions compared with conventional walling systems. To commence, the paper will review literature that discusses the sustainable properties of straw - from its carbon storage potential to its excellent insulation properties. The Waddington Social Housing development will then be used as a case study to demonstrate how straw bale houses contribute significantly less to carbon emissions in comparison to conventional alternatives. To develop the argument for straw's use in the bushfire-prone areas of Australia, the paper will examine the current legislation governing construction in bushfire zones. In particular, this discussion will focus on the Australian Standards Section 3959, where studies from Australia's CSIRO into the extreme heat performance straw bale demonstrate compliance with these standards. Finally, Australia's first bushfire resistant straw bale home in Daylesford Victoria is examined as a second case study for the paper. It is determined that low carbon straw bale is a viable alternative to conventional walling systems as it is successfully employed in a region devastated by bushfire only a few years prior.


This article presents the mechanisms of polymer wear and quantifies wear in terms of wear rate (rate of removal of the material). Interfacial and bulk wear are discussed as well as a discussion on the wear study of "elastomers," "thermosets," "glassy thermoplastics," and "semicrystalline thermoplastics." The article also discusses the effects of environment and lubricant on the wear failures of polymers. It presents a case study on considering nylon as a tribological material and failure examples, explaining wear resistance of polyurethane elastomeric coatings and failure of an acetal gear wheel.


Key Words: ethnography, grounded theory, qualitative research, theory construction.The map is not the territory.- Alfred Korzybski, 1931Ralph LaRossa's (2012) article on the multidimensional world of qualitative research provides family scientists with a set of innovative tools to guide writing and reviewing. He proffered an engaging challenge: to view the Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF) as a meeting place of scholars, a thought community (Zerubavel, 1997), even a culture of its own. More than two decades into an era of theoretical and methodological pluralism (Acock, van Dulmen, Allen, & Piercy, 2005; Bengtson, Acock, Allen, Dilworth- Anderson, & Klein, 2005; Doherty, Boss, LaRossa, Schumm & Steinmetz, 1993), family scientists are on the hunt for a common language and shared frameworks to address family phenomena that elude understanding and explanation.Latitude, longitude, and altitude help to locate qualitative research in the writing and revision process. But they led me to reconsider Alfred Korzybski's famous line, "The map is not the territory." He delivered this quote at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in New Orleans in 1931. Korzybski indicated that a map may have a structure similar or dissimilar to the structure of a territory, but it should not be mistaken for that territory. A map is useful when it provides a framework for us to find ourselves and for us to then navigate, or move in a direction of our choosing. The dimensions in LaRossa's article did provide a map for publication in JMF, but they also hinted at what lies below in the ' 'real' ' territory: a dynamic and shifting set of cultures that constitute this journal community, other journal communities, and family science in the midst of other disciplines in the social sciences. LaRossa briefly referred to long-standing expectations for data quality and analysis, which I want to explore more carefully as key issues that cannot be avoided in the next stages of a review process. I also return to the critical question of how JMF helps to shape a culture of family science and inquiry for generations of scholars.Even with the tools to locate qualitative studies, it is not necessarily clear what constitutes "good" qualitative research. What must happen after location is movement, or navigation, to the location (' 'good science") that reviewers indicate for authors. This navigation draws authors deeper into the rough waters of the culture of family science. LaRossa implicitly and explicitly recognizes this, offering something like an intersectional lens for consideration. Intersectionality draws attention to how different sets of privilege or oppression cluster together in distinct configurations. The latitude, longitude, and altitude continua in qualitative family research are infused with elements of status and power. As he pointed out, authors gain legitimacy as they lean away from humanistic approaches or toward theorizing. They also gain legitimacy as they work toward more rigorous methods that reflect "good science."In this response, I explore the implications of LaRossa's dimensional map for movement into the territory of rigorous social science. As a researcher locates herself along these uniquely qualitative dimensions of research, she also revises and reworks research to address standards for data quality and data analysis that have traditionally divided scholars into methodological camps. She confronts a dilemma of whether she should ' 'emulate basic principles in quantitative social sciences in establishing standards of evidence for qualitative work" (Small, 2009, p. 6). I discuss how LaRossa's dimensions offer us new shared language with which to readdress the long-standing barriers in both of these methodological domains.I also examine the implications of this map for a larger context of the interaction of JMF, other family science journals, the funding community, and the creation of a culture of research in family science (not just qualitative research). …


In Scotland, access by remote communities to specialist medical services is a long-standing problem due to geographical and demographic factors. The problem is accentuated in island populations, where the transport of emergency cases to specialist centres involves air travel and its associated costs. The UK government has made equity of access to specialist services one of its principal aims for the National Health Service and the role of telemedicine in achieving this aim was highlighted in the Acute Services Review for Scotland1. In the north-east of Scotland, the application of telemedicine to the support of community accident and emergency services has already been evaluated2. Aberdeen Royal Infirmary serves as a secondary and tertiary referral centre in the north of Scotland. It is the most northerly hospital in Britain that has all acute specialties on site, including neurosurgery and a multiconsultant accident and emergency department. In February 2000, a telemedicine link was established between the accident and emergency departments of the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Shetland. The Shetland Isles lie in the North Sea 600 km north of Aberdeen and have a population of 20,000 (Fig 1). We describe a case where use of the telemedicine link prevented emergency transfer from Shetland to Aberdeen.


We give conjectures on the form of families of integer sequences whose Hankel transforms are, respectively, ( α, β ) Somos 4 sequences, ( α, 0 , γ ) Somos 6 sequences, and ( α, β, γ, δ ) Somos 8 sequences, for particular values of α , β , γ , δ which we de-scribe. The sequences involved can be described in terms of the application of certain stretched Riordan arrays to the Catalan numbers, accompanied by a (sequence) Hankel transform. The combination of Riordan array and the Catalan numbers results from the study of certain generalized Jacobi continued fractions, based on the Counting Automata Methodology. Proof of the Somos-4 Hankel determinant conjecture, Adv. Appl. Math. , 42 (2009), 152—156.


Interpenetrating network polymers (IPNs) are chemically homogeneous (on a sciently large scale binary systems) that can be conveniently prepared by swelling first the loosely crosslinked component in a suitably chosen monomer and subsequently crosslinking the latter. The properties of blends and IPNs are dependent on the two-phase nature, phase continuity, domain size and molecular mixing at phase boundaries. A study of morphology, glass transition temperature, modulus, etc., explains the properties of any two-component system. Natural rubber (NR) is a typical elastomer having good resilience, elongation and elasticity, ease of storage, milling and the possibility of using different vulcanization processes. Semi-IPNs based on NR/polystyrene (PS), where only the NR phase is crosslinked, offer a binary polymer system network having the elastomeric properties of NR imparted to the hard brittle properties of PS. Physical blends of NR and 1,2-polybutadiene (1,2-PBD), a thermoplastic rubber, combine the good physical and superior ageing properties of 1,2-PBD with the unique elastomeric/hysteresis characteristics of blends based on NR and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) (physical blends and statically vulcanized) combine the good elastomeric and mechanical properties of NR with the excellent ageing and flex crack resistance of EVA.


This paper examines the relationship between exchange rates and stock prices indexs in the emerging financial market of Indonesia using daily data over a four-year period from January, 2002 to December, 2005. The motivation is to establish the causal linkages between leading prices in the foreign exchange market and the stock market in Indonesian market; the linkages have implication for the ongoing attempts to develop stock markets simultaneously with a policy shift towards independently floating exchange rates Using the Granger concept of causality (1969), cointegration technique and standard Error Correction Model (ECM), show that consistent with portfolio approach to exchange rate determination, it is argued that there is a negative short run and long run causality from stock prices to exchange rates (unidirectional causality from stock prices to exchange rates). A change in stock prices have an impact on exchange rate for composite indexs (IHSG) and also for sectoral indexs The result have implication that the development on the stock market are important to economics development, increasing on the stock market performance become an indicator of a good macro economic condition and appreciate the domestic currency.


With a view to optimising the fabrication process for X-ray masks, this paper studies their deformation under irradiation. Over the last years this has become a problem of major importance in microelectronics. The heating of the mask during exposure to X-rays is critical since it can cause displacements and mechanical breaks due to the strain induced in the diaphragm and absorber. X-ray lithography has the potential for engraving patterns with dimensions smaller than 0.1 /spl mu/m with only one level of resin. Hence the patterns on masks are of submicron size (1:1 ratio), which demands rigorous monitoring of deformations in the mask. These could restrict the use of X-ray masks in production. It is therefore necessary to estimate, simulate and limit the deformations.<<ETX>>


Hacking tools and the best combination of which would constitute a means to protect the computers systems. The idea is that the synthesis of certain groups as simple hacking tools with a tools for viewing network traffic to ensure that the one place that can supervise and protect the flow of data on computer networks, particularly the Internet. This application is simple to use and practical because it uses free and open source tools.


One of the fundamental technical challenges of any new spaceborne vegetation remote sensing mission is the determination of what sensor(s) to place onboard and what, if any, overlapping modes of operation they will employ as each onboard sensor adds significant cost to the overall mission. In this article, the remote sensing of forest parameters using multimodal remote sensing is presented. In particular, polarimetric radar, Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR), and near-IR passive optical sensing platforms are employed in conjunction with physics-based models. These models are used to accurately estimate forest aboveground biomass as well as canopy height in homogeneous areas. It is shown that this proposed method is capable of achieving high accuracy estimates while using minimal ancillary data in the estimation process. We present a method to combine measured data sets with our geometric and electromagnetic sensor models to develop a forest parameter estimation algorithm that fuses multimodal remote sensing technologies with a minimal amount of ground information and yields an accurate estimate of forest structure including dry biomass and canopy height with rms errors of 1.6 kg/m2 and 1.68 m respectively.


The traditional perspective on the Public Accountant's professional services is running out of time and, although such services are still valuable for enterprises, the survival of the latter demands a more open and aggressive professional attitude in this field (Lebrija, 1998). Employability profiles respond to this demand by acknowledging the new abilities required of the labor force, which go beyond professional competencies. It is also these profiles which will allow coping with employment instability and difficulties produced by the combined stream of worldwide economic integration and technological developments, as stated by the International Office of Labor (1998). This research intends to be a preliminary approach to the Public Accountant's Employability Profile, as required by industrial and service enterprises, which is expressed in terms of the abilities acknowledged by an international employability profile.


[Objective] The study aimed to seek for a simple and rapid method of determinating main components in biogas,which was suitable to be applied in rural area.[Method] The fermentation biogas was extracted by injector with volume of 1 ml and CO2 in biogas was absorbed by KOH or NaOH solution,so the content of CO2 in biogas was determined and compared with that determined by GC,then the content of CH4 in biogas was calculated out.[Result] The content of CO2 in biogas could be determined more accurately by NaOH and KOH solutions and the difference was not significant(P0.05).The content of CO2 determined by this method had extremely significant correlation with that determined by GC(P0.01).The variation coefficient of CO2 content in biogas determined by KOH solution was 1.19%,which was in the scope allowed by GC.[Conclusion] The determination method established in the study was simple and rapid and had higher accuracy in determining the content of CO2 in biogas,so it was suitable to be applied in the operation management of rural biogas digester at present.


Railroads continue to play an important role in moving domestic and international freight through Texas, contributing to economic growth in the state. This study addresses the potential for implementing a rail planning process in the Texas Department of Transportation. In order to accomplish this, successful rail planning processes at other US departments of transportation were evaluated and exemplary programs identified. Three reports were published addressing a variety of findings. The first, published by the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, provides an overview and examination of 32 state rail policies, plans, and programs for both passenger and freight traffic. The second report, also published by the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, provides information on exemplary state rail programming and planning based on case studies of California, Florida, North Carolina, and the state of Washington. The third report, published by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A and M University, provides (1) a framework for rail planning in Texas, (2) identification of current rail issues in Texas, (3) a case study on urban rail rationalization, and (4) a characterization of the rail system inmore » Texas. In each report, detailed appendices are provided to complement the findings and recommendations. In this project summary report, an implementation schedule is recommended to institute rail planning in the Texas Department of Transportation.« less


Objective:To observe the clinical effects of periocline on acute pericoronitis.Methods: 83 cases of acute pericoronitis of wisdom teeth were randomly divided into two groups.Experiment group(n=39),tooth pocket were rinsed by 3% hydrogen dioxide solution and saline water and then periocline ointment was applied into the pocket.Comparison group(n=44),after the pocket was rinsed,2% iodine-glycerin was applied,and combined with oral administration of antibiotics for 3 days.Therapeutic effects between the two groups were assessed 3 days later after treatment.Results: The cure rate of acute pericoronitis in experiment group and comparison group were 56.42% and 29.55% respectively.The effective rate in experiment group and comparison group were 89.74% and 70.45% respectively.There was an obvious statistical difference(P0.05).Conclusion: Periocline is effective and safe in treatment of acute pericoronitis.


The ability of cell to modulate the fluidity of plasma membrane was crucial to the survival of microorganism at low temperature.Plasma membrane proteins,fatty acids and carotenoids profiles of Antarctic psychrophilc yeast Rhodotorula sp.NJ298 were investigated at-3 ℃,0 ℃ and 8 ℃.The results showed that plasma membrane protein content was greater at-3 ℃ than that at 8 ℃,and a unique membrane polypeptide composition with an apparent molecular mass of 94.7 kDa was newly synthesized with SDS-PAGE analysis;GC analysis showed that the main changes of fatty acids were the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids(C18:1 and C18:2) and shorter chain saturated fatty acid(C10:0) increased along with the decrease of the culture temperature from 8 ℃ to-3 ℃;HPLC analysis indicated that astaxanthin was the major functional carotenoids of the plasma membrane,percentage of which increased from 54.6±1.5% at 8 ℃ to 81.9±2.1% at-3 ℃.However the fluidity of plasma membrane which was determined by measuring fluorescence anisotropy was similar at-3 ℃,0 ℃ and 8 ℃.Hence these changes in plasma membrane's characteristics were involved in the cellular cold-adaptation by which NJ298 could maintain normal plasma membrane fluidity at near-freezing temperature.


Based on the available information in many cases it can happen that two objects cannot be distinguished. If a set of data is given and in this settwo objects have the same attribute values, then these two objects are called indiscernible. This indiscernibility has an effect on the membership relation,because in some cases it makes our judgment uncertain about a given object. The uncertainty appears because if something about an object is needed to bestated, then all the objects that are indiscernible from the given object must be taken into consideration. The indiscernibility relation is an equivalencerelation which represents background knowledge embedded in an information system. In a Pawlakian system this relation is used in set approximation.Correlation clustering is a clustering technique which generates a partition. In the authors' previous research the possible usage of the correlation clusteringin rough set theory was investigated. In this paper the authors show how different types of search algorithms affect the set approximation.


The purpose of this essay is to discuss what a sensual interpretation of art is and what it should include. The discussion is based on an attempt to do a sensual interpretation of the Greek-British ...


Recently, the control of size, morphology and dimensionality in inorganic materials has been rapidly developed into a promising field in materials chemistry. 3D nanostructured flower-like ZnO architecture with different size and shapes have been simply synthesized by hydrothermal process, using zinc acetate and ammonium hydroxide as reactants. In this study, the ZnO thin-films were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering in other to get high adhesion and uniformity of 3D nanostructured flower-like ZnO architecture on a SiO2 substrate. The XRD patterns identified that the obtained the nanocrystallized ZnO architecture exhibited a wurtzite structure. SEM images illustrated that the flower-like ZnO bundles consisted of flower-like or chestnut bur, which were characterized by polycrystalline and (002) preferential orientation.


The software and hardware design of the shifting handle ECU on AMT automobiles is introduced as well as the CAN communication principle and application protocol between the shifting handle ECU and the AMT ECU.


Sufentanil is widely used in clinical anaesthesia because of its protective effects against ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Diabetes mellitus elevates the activity of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β), thereby increasing the permeability of mitochondrial transition pore. This study investigated the role of GSK‐3β in ameliorating the cardioprotective effect of sufentanil post‐conditioning in diabetic rats.


Three new near-infrared D–A−π–A dyes (S1, S2, and S3) with indeno[1,2-b]thiophene-based strong donor, containing 5,6-difluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DFBT), benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BT), and 2,3-diphenylpyrido[3,4-b]pyrazine (PP) as the auxiliary acceptor, respectively, were synthesized for the application of dye-sensitized solar cells. Introduction of powerful electron-donating unit of indeno[1,2-b]thiophene and the strong electron-withdrawing DFBT, BT, and PP groups into the conjugation bridge can enhance the absorption wavelength range into NIR region, where the maximum absorptions of the three compounds are all over 610 nm and S3 can reach 628 nm. Moreover, it is rare to see that the colors of the dyes are all green both in dichloromethane and on the TiO2 film. Via fine-tuning of the auxiliary moiety, the onset of incident-photon-conversion efficiency of S1–S3 can reach 850 nm and S3-based DSSCs in the presence of iodine and cobalt electrolytes show the best overall solar energy conversion effic...


In the dog a preganglionic stimulation at a high stimulus frequency for 10–15 s elicited a two-wave response, early and late responses in the perfused ear (vasoconstriction), as well as early and late contractions in the nictitating membrane. Both the late contraction and the late response could be aborted by cooling the superior cervical ganglion, and restored by rewarming the ganglion. Both were resistant to atropine and hexamethonium combined. Their magnitude depended upon the duration of stimulation and upon the stimulus frequency used. Their time courses were similar both before and after hexamethonium or chilling. Therefore, it is concluded that they are manifestations of late discharges in the superior cervical ganglion, which are independent of both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors in the ganglion. A similar but less prominent phenomenon was demonstrated in the lumbosacral sympathetic ganglion of the dog by studying the responses of the retractor penis muscle and the perfused hind limb to pregan...


Physiologic monitor for but is delayed from the user's heart rate measuring the pulsatile motion signal (MoCG) is the same rate the same. In one embodiment, the system includes a housing configured to be worn on the body of the user, and at least one MoCG sensor housing, the rate is but identical to that of delayed from the user's heart rate measuring the pulsatile motion signal (MoCG) is, at least one MoCG sensors, and at least one data processor, based on only the output of at least one MoCG sensors, (i) the heart rate of the user ( and HR) and activity level, calculating at least one of (ii) and breathing rate of the user (RR), one stroke volume (SV), and cardiac output (CO), at least one One of and a data processor. In another embodiment, at least one data processor is in the housing.


Abstract : The auxiliary cooling provided over the torso area by each of two similar ice (water) packets vests was directly measured on a life-sized sectional manikin. These vests were worn with a combat vehicle crewman (CVC) ensemble plus a complete chemical protective (CW) suit. Cooling rates provided (watts) versus time were determined for a completely wet (maximal sweating) skin condition during heat exposure to three hot environments. The number of ice packets attached to a vest varied from 43 to 91 ice pacekts. When approximately 50% of the torso surface area is covered by ice packets, each additional ice packet added to the vest increases the torso cooling to a greater degree than an ice packet added to a vest with less than 50% torso surface area coverage. Interface temperature between two ice packets and the torso surface and the temperature changes inside one ice packet during and experiment, were also measured. (Author)


Objective To observe the effect of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) on neonatal outcomes and umbilical artery flow. Methods A prospective cohort study method was employed, and 60 pregnant women met the HDP diagnostic criteria (HDP group, aged 31.2±6.0 years, gestation time 251.0±9.0d, hospitalized from Sep. 2011 to May. 2012, and delivered live-born infants) and 63 pregnant women with normal blood pressure and without medical or surgical ailments (control group, aged 30.2±2.8 years, gestation time 251.9±7.7d, hospitalized in the the same period, and had live birth) were involved in present study. The indexes of umbilical artery blood flow were measured, the adverse neonatal outcomes (neonatal asphyxia, low birth weight babies and premature labor) were recorded, and the correlation was analyzed between the adverse neonatal outcomes and the indexes of umbilical artery blood flow. Results The incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes (neonatal asphyxia, low birth weight newborns and premature labor) was higher in HDP group (58.3%, 45.0% and 53.3%, respectively) than in control group (6.3%, 3.2% and 3.2%, respectively, P<0.05). The results of umbilical artery blood flow indexes, including pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) in HDP group (0.897±0.176, 0.588±0.701 and 2.655±0.346, respectively) were significantly higher than in control group (0.741±0.123, 0.525±0.650 and 2.120±0.364, respectively, P<0.05). The indexes of umbilical artery blood flow (PI, RI and S/D) in newborns with adverse outcomes were significantly higher than in those newborn without adverse outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression revealed a positive correlation between RI and adverse neonatal outcomes. Conclusions The indexes of umbilical artery blood flow appear to be abnormal in pregnant women with HDP, and adverse neonatal conditions (neonatal asphyxia, low birth weight newborns and premature labor) are prone to occur in their newborns. The RI of umbilical artery may be related to the adverse neonatal outcomes.


In this paper, electron energies in core–shell quantum wires (CSQW) of rectangular, triangular, T-shaped, H-shaped and circular geometries are numerically computed by solving a time-independent Schrödinger equation using the finite difference technique. Computation is performed for both normal and inverted structures of CSQW, taking into account Kane-type nonparabolicity, conduction band discontinuity, and effective mass mismatch at the hetero-interface. Sparse, structured Hamiltonian matrices are produced for the calculation of energy eigenvalues and intersubband transition energies. Comparative study reveals that for a given core width of normal CSQW, the eigenenergy is the highest for the triangular geometry and the lowest for the rectangular geometry. For inverted CSQW, the ground-state energy of the triangular wire decreases with increasing core width, unlike other geometries. Studies on the intersubband transition energy show that for triangular and H-shaped inverted CSQW, it varies in a direction opposite to that of other inverted structures. Suitable tailoring of wire dimensions indicates the possibility of tuning the transition energy for photonic applications.


Recognizing human actions is an important ability for service and domestic robots. This paper presents a novel approach for learning and recognizing motion models from human motion capturing data. The key idea is to represent observed motion trajectories as a graph, where the nodes correspond to poses and the edges indicate pose similarities. We optimize this graph using least squares minimization and non-maximum suppression to obtain a generalized model for the respective action. The resulting motion models can then be used to recognize actions in unlabeled motion capturing data. Experiments based on real-world data show that the learned motion models can reliably classify a large set of different motions. Furthermore, we show that the learned models robustly generalize over different people.


Graduate higher education has done little to assess and understand graduate students' needs and experiences beyond the classroom. Therefore, we conducted a phenomenological study using multiple data collection tools, including survey and focus groups from two different time periods to implement a multiphase needs assessment. The goal of the evaluation was to better understand graduate students' overall needs and experiences related to professional development at a public Carnegie classified Doctoral Research University in the Rocky Mountain Region. Results revealed the following themes: perceptions of professional development in graduate school, finding balance is never ending, experiences of personal and professional barriers, and the importance of faculty and peer relationships. Discussion, implications, limitations, and a conclusion are provided.


to paraphrase one chapter title, it proved to be the earthquake that never was. The level of volatility was relatively low, the populist challenge from Sinn Féin came to nothing, and Fianna Fáil's Bertie Ahern was returned to office for the third time. The only notable change was that his new coalition was formed together with the Green party, the first time that this party has joined government in the Irish Republic. Otherwise, it was an election that marked time. The total vote change of the six parties that had held seats in the outgoing Dáil was just 7.9 per cent, with four of these parties gaining or losing less than 1 per cent each. This leaves the authors of the various chapters sounding like a latter-day Holmes and Watson, discussing the various reasons why the dog failed to bark. In political science, however, unlike in detective fiction, there are never any easy answers as to why things did not happen, and there is also no compelling explanation offered here. Perhaps the electorate, unlike Conan Doyle's dog, is simply catching its breath, and perhaps the explosion will come the next time around, to be recorded in HIV 7. If one improvement might be recommended for a future edition, it would be to make a stronger effort to get to the whole that lies beyond the sum of the parts. One reason why the full story promised in the subtitle is not always easy to grasp is that attention tends to be dissipated to each of the individual components, with none of the chapters attempting to pull the different strands together in a way that makes sense of the election as a whole. The book lacks an introduction or conclusion, and while this may have facilitated its quick production, it also means that questions are sometimes left unanswered.


For acute leukemia (AL) with adverse prognostic factors, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the standard care option after the first complete remission. Meanwhile, as the success of haploidentical HSCT (haplo-HSCT), haploidentical donors (HIDs) become a reliable choice. However, there have been no reports on haplo-HSCT from HIDs with mild alpha(α)-thalassemia for AL yet. In the present report, we first describe two cases of successful haplo-HSCT from HIDs with mild α-thalassemia for AL.


The present invention provides an organic solvent dispersion of zirconium oxide particles, which is obtained by dispersing zirconium oxide particles in an organic solvent other than methanol and ethanol at a content ratio of 20% by weight or more. The zirconium oxide particles are surface-treated with a surface treatment agent containing a silane coupling agent represented by general formula (I) and 12-hydroxystearic acid. The D50 of the zirconium oxide particles in the organic solvent dispersion is within the range of 1-20 nm. The transmittance of the organic solvent dispersion at a wavelength of 400 nm is 10% or more, and the transmittance thereof at a wavelength of 800 nm is 80% or more. The viscosity of the organic solvent dispersion immediately after the production at 25°C is 10 mPa·s or less, and the increase of the viscosity 7 days after the production relative to the viscosity immediately after the production is 10 mPa·s or less.
(RO) n -Si-X 4-n (I)
(In the formula, R represents an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms; n represents 2 or 3; and X represents an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, a vinyl group or a (meth)acryloyloxyalkyl group.)


Landslides are a dominant mechanism of erosion in mountain landscapes. Widespread triggering of landslides by large storms or earthquakes can lead rapid changes in short-term erosion rates. If landslides occur repeatedly in particular parts of a mountain range, then they will dominate the evolution of that section of the landscape and could leave a fingerprint in the topography. Despite this recognition, it has proved difficult to examine shifts in the focus of landslide erosion through time, mainly because remote sensing approaches from single events to a few decades at most. Here we turn to the depositional record of past erosion, attempting to track landslide occurrence and the provenance of eroded material using a novel combination of the isotopic and molecular composition of organic matter (bulk C and N isotopes, molecular abundance and isotopic composition) deposited in Lake Paringa, fed by catchments proximal to the Alpine Fault, New Zealand. In the modern day forest, we find correlations between elevation, soil depth and the bulk δ 13 C values of the organic matter and the carbon preference index of n-alkanes. We find large shifts in these measurements in the lake core. Using an empirical model based on modern soil samples we suggest that the erosion provenance shifts dramatically after each of four large Alpine Fault earthquakes in the last one thousand years. These shifts in inferred erosion altitude match shifts in the hydrogen isotope composition of long-chain n-alkanes (plant wax biomarkers) and the inferred shifts in depth track changes in organic matter radiocarbon activity and nitrogen isotope composition, lending support to our model. The combination of bulk isotopic composition and biomarker ratios has the potential to track erosion provenance in other settings. In the Lake Paringa record, we find that post-seismic periods eroded organic matter from a mean elevation of 722 +329 / -293 m at the headwaters of source catchments and supplied 43% of the sediment in the core, while inter-seismic periods sourced organic matter primarily from lower elevations (459


N-acetyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine(ADNAZ)and N-formyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine(FDNAZ),acyl derivatives of 3,3-dinitroazetidine(DNAZ)were prepared.Single crystals suitable for X-ray measurement were obtained.ADNAZ crystallizes in the orthorhombic system,space group P212121 with unit cell parameters a=0.6844(3)nm,b=0.6994(3)nm,c=1.6948(6)nm,V=0.8112 nm3,Z=4.FDNAZ crystallizes in the monoclinic system,space group P21/c with unit cell parameters a=1.0322(4)nm,b=0.6054(2)nm,c=1.1268(4)nm,β=100.135(5)°,V=0.6932 nm3,Z=4.The density functional theory(DFT)method of the Amsterdam density functional(ADF)was used to calculate the geometry and frequency of the two derivatives.The geometry,Hishfeld charges of atoms,Mayer bond orders,frontier orbital energy and the main atomic orbital percentage were calculated.The analytical results indicate that the oxygen atom of acyl group is an active atom for ADNAZ and FDNAZ.


This paper proposes a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework that learns a reusable policy to find the optimal placement of decoupling capacitors (decaps) on power distribution network (PDN) with an arbitrary probing port. The proposed DRL framework trains a policy parameterized by pointer network, which is a sequence-to-sequence neural network, based on REINFORCE algorithm. The policy finds the positional combination of a pre-defined number of decaps that best suppresses self-impedance of a given probing port on PDN with randomly assigned keep-out regions. Verification was done by allocating 20 decaps on ten randomly generated test sets with an arbitrary probing port and randomly selected keep-out regions. Performance of the policy generated by the proposed DRL framework was evaluated based on the magnitude of probing port self-impedance suppression followed by decap placement over 434 frequencies between 100MHz and 20GHz. The policy generated by the proposed framework achieves greater impedance suppression with fewer samples in comparison to random search heuristic method.


The 19 IEEE International Conference on Data Mining (IEEE ICDM 2019) is supporting and soliciting workshops on a plethora of topics strongly connected to new research directions and novel applications of data mining. The main goal of the ICDM Workshops program (IEEE ICDMW) is to indicate, explore, and disseminate major challenges in the field of data mining, to suggest and introduce possible research pathways for addressing these problems, and to solicit broad participation from the data mining community and other relevant research communities.


Inappropriate dosing is one of the main causes of adverse drug events, particularly in elderly patients.[1][1],[2][2] While several options for intervention exist, the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults now specifically includes recommendations for


CHEMISTRY IN SUPERCRITICAL FLUID-SWOLLEN POLYMERSDIRECT SYNTHESIS OF POLYMER/POLYMER AND POLYMER/METAL COMPOSITES FEBRUARY 1997 JAMES J. WATKINS, B.S., THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY M.S., THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Thomas J. McCarthy A simple and versatile method for the preparation of polymer composites in supercritical fluids (SCFs) is proposed and demonstrated by experiment. Reagents are infused into solid polymers as SCF solutions and converted to the desired product by inducing a reaction to occur in the presence of the SCF solution or subsequent to its removal by depressurization. The product of the reaction, which may or may not be soluble in the SCF solution, constitutes the second phase of the composite. The process is effective for modifying virtually all polymers including those such as poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) (PCTFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene that are solvent resistant or otherwise difficult to process. Polymer/polymer composites are prepared by the sequential infusion and free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers within carbon dioxide-swollen substrates. Experiments involving combinations of eight polymer substrates and five monomers demonstrate the utility of the method and control over the severity of substrate V modification. A study of styrene polymerization within CO,-swollen PCTFE indicates composite composition and structure is dictated by system variables including temperature, pressure and monomer concentration. The control imparted is consistent with the underlying phase behavior and absorption kinetics of the CO,/polymer/monomer system. Diffusion rates within the matrix are sufficiently rapid to yield high molecular weight polystyrene (PS) (M, > 200,000 g/mol). The resulting PCTFE/PS composites exhibit unique, co-continuous morphologies. Polymer/metal composites are produced by the sequential SCF-assisted infusion and reduction of organometallic compounds within solid polymers. The hydrogenolysis of dimethylcycloocatadiene platinum (II) (CODPtMcj) in poly(4-methyl-l-pentene) (PMP) and PTFE yields isolated Pt nanoclusters distributed throughout the substrates. The reduction is autocatalytic and is shown to be mass transfer limited in PMP. Cluster size is controlled by adjusting diffusion rates in the substrate during C0DPtMe2 reduction. The discovery that the reduction of organometallic compounds proceeds cleanly in CO, is the basis for Chemical Fluid Deposition (CFD), a new, generally useful metal deposition scheme. CFD is demonstrated by the low temperature (80 ''C) deposition of platinum and palladium films on silicon wafers and polymer substrates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates the films are continuous and free of ligand-derived


SUMMARY Cyclic GMP (cGMP) is responsible for various cellular functions including signal pathways and it acts as a mediator for nitric oxide (NO). In order to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of the plant-derived isoflavones, the crude peel extract of Flemingia vestita and pure genistein were tested with respect to the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), NO efflux and the cGMP concentration in Rallietina echinobothrida, the cestode parasite of domestic fowl. For comparison, the parasites were also treated with genistein (the major isoflavone present in the crude peel extract), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a known NO donor, and praziquantel (PZQ), the reference drug. At the time of onset of paralysis in the parasite, the activity of NOS showed a significant increase (35–46%) and a 2-fold increase of NO efflux into the incubation medium in the treated worms in comparison to the respective controls. The cGMP concentration in the parasite tissue increased by 46–84% in the treated test worms in comparison to the controls. The results show that the isoflavones, genistein in particular, from the crude peel extract of F. vestita influence the cGMP concentration in the parasite tissue, which plays a major role in the downstream signal pathways.


Objective:To observe the curative effect of Buxue Yishen Tang(BYT)for Leukopnia(LP).Methods:103 case of LP were allocated to two groups randomly,the treatment group(58cases)treated by BYT;The control group(45cases)treated by leucogen and VitB4.The leukocyte counts were observed before and after treatment in both groups and the curative effects were compared.Result:The short-term effective rate was 91.4%and 62.2%and long-term effective rate was 89.1%and 52.0%respectively in treatment group and control group(P0.05=.The leukocvte counts before and after treatment showed significant difference(P0.05)between two groups.


Increasing demands on the quality and specific properties of polymers imply increasing demands on the mineral fillers used in composite materials. They are expected not only to reduce the cost of production but also improve the mechanical properties of the composites or endow them with new features, e.g. thermostability. The paper presents a method for obtaining polyethylene composites with chalk modified by two new 1-alcoxymethyl-3-hydroxypyridinium chlorides: 3-hydroxy-1octyloxymethylpyridinium chloride (salt 1) and 3-hydroxy-1-octadecyloxymethylpyridinium chloride (salt 2) and gives a characterisation of the composites obtained. Introduction of chalk modified with ammonium salts results in an increased values of MFI of the composites. The MFI changes are the most pronounced for the PE composites containing the filler in concentrations from 0.05 to 2.0% wt. Addition of the chalk modified with the ammonia salts causes greater changes in some mechanical properties of the composites (Young modulus) than addition of unmodified chalk, while changes in some other properties (stress at break) was practically the same.


A package containing a device chip, a plated-through hole with an hourglass, and a potting material which spills the component chip and the via, wherein a top surface of the potting material is substantially flush with a top surface of the component chip. A dielectric layer overlaps the potting material and the device chip. Several redistribution lines (Lines redistribution, RDLs) extend into the dielectric layer, to be electrically coupled to the device chip and the via.


In this study, we find that KrF excimer laser irradiation is an effective treatment for enhancing polymer light-emitting diode (PLED) performance, due to the increase in work function and the amount of oxygen on the indium–tin oxide (ITO) surfaces and the reduction in ITO surface roughness, resulting in a reduction in leakage current at the polymer/ITO interface and an increase in device luminance. It is indeed necessary to minimize the leakage current to prevent unnecessary wasting of power and to increase external quantum efficiency.


Introduction: Methotrexate is a drug with chemotherapeutic properties frequently used for the treatment of certain types of cancer. The following is a clinical case which, to the best of the authors' knowledge, is the first report in Colombia on nephrotoxicity caused by this drug and describes the consequences as well as the treatment provided at a quaternary care hospital.
Case report: A 71-year-old patient with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with normal renal function underwent chemotherapy (high-dose methotrexate intravenously) and developed stage 3 acute renal failure according to the KDIGO guidelines, which was most likely related to methotrexate intake. The patient received treatment with intravenous fluids and sodium bicarbonate as promoters of urine excretion of the toxin, and oral calcium folinate following the institutional protocol. The patient was discharged with recovery of kidney function and improved creatinine and urea nitrogen levels.
Conclusion: The treatment given to the patient in this case report shows that although methotrexate nephrotoxicity is a potentially serious entity, it can have a good prognosis if treated promptly.


Low-wage labour migration from lower- to higher-income economies has become a precondition for capital accumulation. As a part of this, neoliberal actors (businesses and states) strive to actively produce migrants with a strong work ethic. They do this in numerous ways. In this paper, we draw upon labour process theory to argue that a 'mobility–immobility dynamic' is a major way capital now controls precarious workers. The mobility–immobility dynamic relates to low-wage workers' need to move (and often circulate) internationally but, once they have moved, a desire by businesses and states to keep them in place. The fixing of migrants both across space (through transnational mobility) and in place (through immobility) underlines the importance of a multi-scalar approach to understanding the control of the transnational working-class. We draw on evidence from European horticulture – 36 in-depth interviews with migrant workers, employers and community stakeholders in Norway and the United Kingdom – to highlight the mobility–immobility dynamic in practice.


Preface Cardiac Connexins: Genes to Nexus: Duffy, H.S. Fort, A.G. Spray, D.C. Physiology of Cardiovascular Gap Junctions: van Veen, T.A.B. van Rijen, H.V.M. Jongsma, H.J. Role of Connexin43-Interacting Proteins at Gap Junctions: Giepmans, B.N.G. Life Cycle of Connexins: Regulation of Connexin Synthesis and Degradation: Salameh, A. Gap Junctions and Propagation of the Cardiac Action Potential: Bernstein, S.A. Morley, G.E. Micropatterns of Propagation: Lee, P.J. Pogwizd, S.M. Pharmacology of Cardiovascular Gap Junctions: Herve, J.-C. Dhein, S. Structural and Functional Coupling of Cardiac Myocytes and Fibroblasts: Camelliti, P. Green, C.R. Kohl, P. Connexins and Cardiac Arrhythmias: van Rijen, H.V.M. van Veen, T.A.B. Gros, D. Wilders, R. de Bakker, J.M.T. Role of Connexins in Atrial Fibrillation: Dhein, S. Connexins in the Sinoatrial and Atrioventricular Nodes: Boyett, M.R. Inada, S. Yoo, S. Li, J. Liu, J. Tellez, J. Greener, I.D. Honjo, H. Billeter, R. Lei, M. Zhang, H. Efimov, I.R. Dobrzynski, H. Cardiac Ischemia and Uncoupling: Gap Junctions in Ischemia and Infarction: Dhein, S. Connexin43 and Ischemic Preconditioning: Schulz, R. Heusch, G. Alterations in Cardiac Connexin Expression in Cardiomyopathies: Severs, N.J. Dupont, E. Thomas, N. Kaba, R. Rothery, S. Jain, R. Sharpey, K. Fry, C.H. Alterations of Connexin 43 in the Diabetic Rat Heart: Lin, H. Ogawa, K. Imanaga, I. Tribulova, N. Connexins in Atherosclerosis: Chadjichristos, C.E. Derouette, J.-P. Kwak, B.R. Connexin-Dependent Communication within the Vascular Wall: Contribution to the Control of Arteriolar Diameter: de Wit, C. Wolfle, S.E. Hopfl, B. Cx40 Polymorphism in Human Atrial Fibrillation: Hauer, R.N.W. Groenewegen, W.A. Firouzi, M. Ramanna, H. Jongsma, H.J. Author Index Subject Index.


In recent times, scholars and researchers in Applied Linguistics have increasingly shown interest in dissertation acknowledgements/thesis acknowledgements (DAs/TAs) in various settings (Anglo-American, Arabic, and Asian), leaving those from Sub-Saharan Africa under-researched. The present study seeks to examine the DAs of undergraduate students at a Ghanaian university, following Hyland (2003, 2004). A data set of 200 DAs was obtained from two departments, English and Entomology & Wild Life. The qualitative research design was used as the main approach, supplemented by some descriptive statistics, to analyze the schematic structure and lexico-grammatical choices in the data set. Two key findings were observed in the study. First, the analysis showed a three-move pattern across the two sets of data and a slight differentiation in terms of text length across the exemplars. Secondly, the DAs from both departments deployed gratitude-related terms and socio-culturally conditioned names, while hybridized forms (realized in sociolinguistic terms as code-mixing) were preferably used in the DAs from the Department of English. These findings have implications for research on DAs/TAs, genre studies, and undergraduate research writing pedagogy.


In this paper, strain sensors based on planar scaffold metamaterial design are demonstrated. The optical properties of such metamaterials are studied, which are proved to be highly dependent on the deformation of the structure. Fabricating such metamaterial on compliant polymeric substrate, the geometric parameters could be tuned with external strain and hence are found to control the reflection resonance condition of the metamaterial. Such mechanical tunability provides the opportunity to realize efficient strain sensors and about 27 nm resonance wavelength shift is observed by applying as much as 37% tensile strain. Furthermore, distinct from most of the previous works, our structures are based on "intaglio" design, which could be manufactured directly by one step fabrication using focused ion beam cutting, hence makes the fabrication process much simpler.


In the final decades of the 19th century, a crisis broke out in the relations between government officials and Muslim communities in the province of Kazan. A cultural borderland located within a centralizing imperial heartland, Kazan represented one of the oldest and most important sites of Muslim--state interaction in the Russian Empire. (1) From the late 1870s onward, however, Muslim--state relations in the region deteriorated sharply in the face of state efforts to assert more direct control over the administration of the region's Muslim populations. Muslim opposition to these initiatives, taking the form of demonstrations and mass petition campaigns, would occur on an almost yearly basis throughout the final three decades of the century. How did Muslims in late imperial Russia view the tsarist state and its institutions? For decades during the Cold War, scholars discussing the relations between the tsarist state and non-Russian communities in the empire emphasized the theme of conflict, stressing the importance of identity and "national resilience" in the face of "Russian" rule. (2) More recently, however, this conflict-oriented view of Muslim--state relations in the empire has come under increasing pressure from scholars, mainly working with tsarist state archival sources, who instead have stressed the importance of state institutions (3) and their engagement by Muslims in the empire. (4) Perhaps the most forceful critique of older conflict-oriented scholarly narratives has come from Robert D. Crews. (5) Crews argues that Muslims "looked to the state" to protect their interests, particularly with respect to matters pertaining to faith. (6) Instead of viewing tsarist officials as enemies, writes Crews, Muslims saw them as "agents of a shari'a to be realized in its entirety," and as allies of Muslims seeking to protect the cause of "true religion." (7) Muslims meanwhile viewed threats to Islam as emanating less from state authorities than from "within the community in the form of neighbors who did not attend communal prayers alongside other villagers or townspeople." In the view of Muslims, Crews writes, "religion" not only found accommodation among tsarist officials but in fact "came to depend upon the institutions of state." (8) This article looks beyond these narratives of rejection and embrace in an investigation of a series of protests taking place within Muslim communities in the Volga region in the late 19th century. (9) I argue that, while Muslims did not reject tsarist institutions to the degree outlined in many older studies, (10) neither did Muslim subjects of Russia commonly view tsarist officials as defenders of the Islamic faith. (11) Indeed, in the second half of the 19th century, Muslim--state relations in the region were becoming increasingly complex, with Muslims looking to strengthen the role of some institutions of state authority while resisting others. Even in Kazan, one of the most administratively integrated regions of the empire, Muslims were becoming increasingly alienated from tsarist authorities in the region, including both civil and spiritual officials. (12) Beginning with a discussion of Islamic spiritual (dukhovnoe) administration in Russia, this article examines a series of protests, petition campaigns, and mass rumors circulating in and around the province of Kazan in the final decades of the 19th century, as well as the response of local officials to these events. I pay special attention to the language of Muslim--state communications, especially with regard to what I describe as the use of "Islamic discourses"--that is, the invocation of terminology drawn from Islamic civilization. (13) How, I ask, did a series of conflicts pertaining mainly to administration come to be articulated--by tsarist officials and Muslim protesters alike---in terms of faith? (14) Islamic Administration in Late Imperial Russia Kazan Muslims, like other non-Russian populations of the empire, were governed through a system of spiritual administration that was religious in form but largely administrative in content. …


This article deals with the business prospects of the biotechnology industry and portrays it as 'global sunrise' industry. The biotech industry classification and the recent trends are outlined in the first part. The structure and the pattern of the industry in different countries have also been analysed. The case of bio-agricultural exports and imports in the world is given as a tool for understanding the importance of global business opportunities in the biotech industry.


The purpose of this paper is to propose a method of testing multivariate normality which guarantees the asymptotic size of the test. The basic idea is simulation of the actual percentage points of the distribution of a test statistic over a grid in a confidence region. Other tools which are called into service include non-parametric density estimation, likelihood ratio statistics, and spline interpolation. The procedure is compared with three well-known tests in a small simulation experiment.


This chapter provides an introduction to some of the essential principles of revenue law and to the main taxes studied on the LPC. It covers the main taxes; the sources of tax law; who pays tax; the administration of the tax system; and appeals against tax decisions.


The aim of this work is to analyze the world and the Portuguese market for tomato products after the 1980s. We also try to evaluate the changes occurred in the food chain. We could verify an increase in production and trade over the past two decades with consequences for the products value. In spite of its com petitiveness, Portugal maintains its relative position faced with its competitors. It is possible to highlight some positive changes in the agricultural sector with the increasing importance of producers' organisations and a significant im provement of productivity. It is crucial to shift from tomato pasta production to higher value products.


In the case of grid voltage unbalance,the phase amplitude and angle of grid voltage vector provided by traditional three-phase phase-locked loop(PLL) is distorted seriously.So the normal performance of the three-phase PWM rectifier is deteriorated.A novel three-phase PLL is presented based on the decoupling double synchronous reference frame(DDSRF).The unbalanced grid voltage is decomposed in the dual synchronous rotating coordinate,the accurate voltage fundamental positive sequence,negative sequence components will be acquired by filtering the higher harmonic element used cross-decoupling method.Amplitude and phase angle information of the fundamental positive sequence grid voltage vector will be obtained.Simulation and experimental results show the correction of the proposed method.


This paper is both a summarization and extension of [6] and [7], where a stochastic model of interacting operations carried out in a generic Baltic Sea Region port was proposed and analyzed. Each operation involves a number of possible unwanted events (critical incidents) whose instances occur randomly and can cause instances of other events affecting this or other operations. This can lead to a cause-effect chain of events affecting one or multiple operations. The model presented in [6] is somewhat complex, therefore it was downgraded to a simpler, application-oriented version demonstrated in [7], where an algorithm computing the risks of critical incidents is constructed and then applied to a real-life example. The current paper, apart from presenting a method of computing the risks of critical incidents, occurring by themselves or resulting from the cascade effect, also features a method of root-cause analysis of such incidents. First, the formulas for the root-cause probabilities are derived, where such a probability quantifies the likelihood that a critical incident occurring in step h of a cascade was caused by another incident that initiated this cascade. Second, an algorithm computing the root-cause probabilities, based on the derived formulas, is constructed. This algorithm is illustrated by its application to the example given in [7]. The presented results can be used as a tool for fault propagation analysis and fault diagnosis applied not only to a port environment, but to any complex industrial system.


Let X, Y be locally compact Hausdorff spaces and M, N be Banach algebras. Let θ: C 0 (X,M) → C 0 (Y,N) be a zero product preserving bounded linear map with dense range. We show that θ is given by a continuous field of algebra homomorphisms from M into N if N is irreducible. As corollaries, such a surjective θ arises from an algebra homomorphism, provided that M is a W*-algebra and N is a semi-simple Banach algebra, or both M and N are C*-algebras.


College students, 250 women and 250 men, were surveyed concerning their experience in the typical situation in which they encounter someone who reminds them of someone else. 94% of the respondents indicated having positive and favorable feelings about the remembered other, while only 6% of the sample reported negative and unfavorable feelings about the remembered person in such circumstances. Alternative interpretations of the data are considered, with attention focused on implications for the study of interpersonal attitudes in contemporary society.


Reported survival rates for yearling and subadult bears in hunted black bear populations in North America are scarce. We estimated survival rates of yearling and subadult black bears from a hunted population in western Virginia during 1999 2002. We captured and marked 307 different individual yearling and subadult bears on 2 study sites, and attached ear tag transmitters or radio collars to 54 (34M : 20F) 1-year-old, 52 (23M : 29F) 2-year-old, and 35 (8M : 27F) 3-year-old black bears. We used the known fate model in program MARK to estimate annual, non-hunting, and hunting season survival for radio-marked bears of each age and sex class. Additionally, we used markrecapture data in the recaptures only, dead recoveries, and Burnham's combined models within program MARK to estimate annual survival for each age and sex class. One-, 2-, and 3-year-old female survivorship was 0.87 (95% C.I. 0.78 0.92), while 1-year male survivorship was 0.32 (95% C.I. 0.20 0.47), and 2and 3-year-old male survivorship was 0.59 (95% C.I. 0.47 0.71) from the Burnham's combined model. Survival rates for 1-year-old females (χ = 6.20, P = 0.01) and 2-year-old females (χ = 7.74, P = 0.01) were higher than males in each age category, respectively. However, we detected no difference between 3-year-old females and 3-year-old males (χ = 2.61, P = 0.11), likely due to small sample size of males (n = 4). Low yearling and subadult survival is not likely a cause for alarm due to the importance of adult female survival to population growth and the promiscuous mating system in black bear populations.


The Source Sampling of Particulate Matter (PM) of heavy metal distribution in dolerite mining site, Uturu, Abia State, was investigated using a High-Volume Sampler method. The Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) concentrations was reported to be 2542.6, 2507.1, 2213.4, 2153.3, 3306.8, and 20.5 μg/m3 which was mostly higher than the limits of 200 and 50 μg/m3 set by NESREA [10] and WHO [17] respectively in most locations around the quarry site, there were regions where the values were considerably lower than these standard limits. Specifically, results obtained in the areas such as Behind Crushing Zone, Office 1, Generator House, Office 2 and Crushing Zone were markedly above the control (26.8µg/m3).


As addiction affects not only on addict person but also on family members, so relationship behaviors is an important part of codependents' life which needs to recover in order to achieve health promotion. This study investigates to find whether the "12-Step Program" empowers families of addicts/alcoholic in term of relationship with others or not. In other words, this study aims to find differences of relationship behaviors by comparing families of addicts/alcoholics who practice the "12-Step Program" and who do not. Theory of empowerment is the key theory to conduct this study. The findings of this study indicate that the "12-step program" is an effective program to enables codependents to improve their relationship with others in comparison with those who do not practice this program (control group). In other words, independent samples t-test reveals that codependents' relationship behaviors are recovered duo to practicing the "12-Step Program" in Al-Anon/Nar-Anon groups in Iran. (Zahra Ajri , Mohammad Shatar Sabran. Personal Empowerment among Al-Anon/Nar-Anon Members in Iran.


Endogenous levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide, and the activities of the synthesizing and hydrolyzing enzymes, i.e. N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamine‐hydrolyzing phospholipase D and fatty acid amide hydrolase, respectively, were determined in the cortex and the striatum of rats subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Anandamide content was markedly increased (∼ 3‐fold over controls; P < 0.01) in the ischemic striatum after 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion, but not in the cortex, and this elevation was paralleled by increased activity of N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamine‐hydrolyzing phospholipase D (∼ 1.7‐fold; P < 0.01), and reduced activity (∼ 0.6‐fold; P < 0.01) and expression (∼ 0.7‐fold; P < 0.05) of fatty acid amide hydrolase. These effects of middle cerebral artery occlusion were further potentiated by 1 h of reperfusion, whereas anandamide binding to type 1 cannabinoid and type 1 vanilloid receptors was not affected significantly by the ischemic insult. Additionally, the cannabinoid type 1 receptor antagonist SR141716, but not the receptor agonist R‐(+)‐WIN55,212‐2, significantly reduced (33%; P < 0.05) cerebral infarct volume detected 22 h after the beginning of reperfusion. A neuroprotective intraperitoneal dose of 17β‐estradiol (0.20 mg·kg−1) that reduced infarct size by 43% also minimized the effect of brain ischemia on the endocannabinoid system, in an estrogen receptor‐dependent manner. In conclusion, we show that the endocannabinoid system is implicated in the pathophysiology of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion‐induced brain damage, and that neuroprotection afforded by estrogen is coincident with a re‐establishment of anandamide levels in the ischemic striatum through a mechanism that needs to be investigated further.


Images of Buddha Amitayus are recognizable by the main attribute -a vessel with the elixir of immortality placed in his palms, which rest upon his knees. The images of various versions are very often found in the Tibeto-Mongolian Buddhist regions. This is explained by the wide popularity of his cult. The Amitayus cult is one of the tantric ways to protect the life and health of the believer. Rituals aim to extend the time of life on purpose to continue the active practice of Buddhism. Among the main texts connected to the cult are the "Sukhavati-vyuha Sutra" (1st century), "Amitayus-dhyana Sutra" (4th century), and the "Longevity Sutra". Amitayus is a power manifestation of Tathagata Buddha Amitabha, the head of the lotus family. He lives in the Pure Lands of Sukhavadi, where Amitayus stays among the bodhisattvas in the retinue of Buddha Amitabha. This factor is directly linked to the idea of a long life. The Western Paradise of Sukhavati is a place where all the material and bodily needs are readily available to live beings. The aggression and the acquisitiveness are defeated, and people are exclusively concerned with their spiritual growth. The great Mongolian artist, educator and head of state paid due attention to the cult of Amitayus, which is evidenced by the magnificent sculptures which constitute his artistic heritage. These are large sculptures of Buddha Amitayus from the Museum-Temple of the Choijin Lama in Mongolia and the Museum of the History of Buryatia in Ulan-Ude, Russia. The sculptures differ in size, technique, plastic, as well as some details. At the same time, proportions, filigree processing at all stages of production, unity of aesthetics and style remain unchanged.


This study aims to identify and analyze the effect of the promotion mix and the individual factors on the decision of customers using the services PermataMobile, as well as to determine the promotional mix and the individual factors of customers simultaneously in the decision to use the services at the bank's branch PermataMobile Merdeka. The method used is descriptive and verification. The sample used in this study were 110 respondents. Data analysis using validity, reliability, and path analysis. The independent variable in this study is the promotional mix and the individual factors of customers, while the dependent variable is the decision to use. The results showed the promotional mix and the individual factors of customers and the decision to use the services of layanann PermataMobile is good. From the analysis results obtained track promotional mix and the individual factors in the decision of customers use the services of PermataMobile either partially or simultaneously.