Artemis and Aphrodite occupied an important place in ancient Greek society and despite a very long tradition of scholarship into Greek beliefs, the divine world of the Greeks has lost nothing of its attraction for contemporary scholars, as testify two recently published books, both the result of the respective author's PhD research.


This Note examines the controversy over consumers' home audio taping activities and finds the legislation under consideration by Congress an inappropriate remedy. Initially, this Note reviews the proposed legislation introduced in Congress addressing the issue of home audio taping. The Note then surveys the rationale behind the Sony decision, which determined that video recorder manufacturers were not liable as contributory infringers, and advocates that audio recorder manufacturers receive similar treatment. Next, this Note analyzes whether home audio recording may constitute fair use under the federal copyright law. This Note concludes that even if certain forms of home audio recording are infringing uses under the Sony rationale, Congress should reject the proposed legislation. In its present form it is overbroad, because it unduly penalizes consumers whose taping activities may qualify as fair use, or who use audio recording equipment in ways that do not infringe on copyright owners' interests.


The research aims at exploring the buckling behavior of embedded co-cured composite sandwich structure (ECCSS) under static load. In accordance with the research objective, an analytical model, which is based on the interlayer stress continuous theory to formulate governing differential equations for predicting the critical buckling loads of ECCSS, has been established. The theoretical solution that satisfies the boundary conditions is obtained using the principle of minimum potential energy. The results obtained by ANSYS software have been used to corroborate the correctness of the analytical model. In addition, effects of various structural parameters (such as ply angles and skin-to-core thickness ratio) on buckling behavior of ECCSS have been investigated.


Fluid filtration rate ( J v/ S) from rat mesenteric capillaries was measured using a modified Landis technique before and after superfusion with 100 μM N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Three groups were studied: 1) control rats, 2) rats injected with antineutrophil serum (ANS), and 3) rats injected with a monoclonal antibody (CL26) against the leukocyte adhesion molecule CD18. The relative increase in J v/ S(l-NAME/baseline) in control rats averaged 1.66 ± 0.32 ( n = 11), which was significantly higher ( P< 0.05) than in ANS (0.51 ± 0.12; n = 5)- and CL26 (0.45 ± 0.16; n = 6)-injected rats exposed tol-NAME. Thel-NAME-induced changes in J v/ Sin each group were due to altered permeability rather than altered pressure gradients, as determined by measurements of arteriolar hydrostatic pressure (using a servo-null apparatus) and estimates of intravascular oncotic pressure (using plasma protein concentration). These findings indicate that nitric oxide synthase inhibition increases the permeability of mesenteric capillaries to water, a response that is dependent on neutrophil adhesion.


FIELD: physics; computer engineering. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to electronic modules for highly sensitive data processing and protection of data used in recording tachometers of freight cars for example, as well as in financial organisations, payment terminals, on aeroplanes and everywhere, where sensitive data are processed, necessary for hardware protection from external manipulation, for example chemical or physical acts (for example mechanical, laser, fire etc), which enable manipulation of data. The result is achieved due to that, a hardware protection system is integrated into the system holder. That way, a sensor system is obtained, which is integrated into the system holder in form of printed circuit boards, which can be made using the traditional printed circuit board "high-technology" and can be installed and processed on traditional processing lines for making electronic modules. EFFECT: design of a hardware protection system for electronic modules which can be integrated into the electronic manufacturing procedure. 13 cl, 4 dwg


ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to identify aspects of warnings that will reduce online disclosure of personal information, specifically aspects that people do not consider sensitive. The vast majority of online commercial websites collect personal data, and many consumers report cybercrime events, such that identity theft is a significant risk. Most people can be uniquely identified by the combination of their birth date, age, and gender. This is problematic, since people do not believe these identity elements to be important to safeguard. Participants were asked to provide personal information to receive an online insurance quote. Participants in experimental conditions were warned not to disclose their date of birth. The experimental manipulations were (a) the vividness of the warnings and (b) whether an alternative to disclosure was recommended. Analyses indicated that providing an alternative to disclosure proved to be an effective strategy to reduce disclosure. Personal information disclosure can be reduced through warnings, but warnings need to be carefully designed and tested. Clear recommendations for alternative behavior may be especially effective. Designers of warnings and alerts can use the principles identified in this research to make their messages more effective.


Nurses are 'willing and able to take up the challenge' of providing sex education in schools, the Royal College of Nursing has said.


The basic causes of the radiation damage inflicted on macromolecular crystals during diffraction experiments are summarized, as well as the current state of research which attempts to understand and to mitigate it.


Abstract. We formulate the bedload sediment flux probability distribution from the Lagrangian dynamics of individual grains. Individual particles obey Langevin equations wherein the stochastic forces driving particle motions are switched on and off by particle entrainment and deposition. The flux is calculated as the rate of many such particles crossing a control surface within a specified observation time. Flux distributions inherit observation time dependence from the on–off motions of particles. At the longest observation times, distributions converge to sharp peaks around classically expected values, but at short times, fluctuations are erratic.
We relate this scale dependence of bedload transport rates to the movement characteristics of individual sediment grains. This work provides a statistical mechanics description for the fluctuations and observation-scale dependence of sediment transport rates.


By means of Motokawa's method of electric flicker, we measured for 60 minutes variations of electric flicker values (difference of electric thresholds for appearance and disappearance of flicker) of 19 subjects after a blood transfusion, a bleeding or an injection of plasma. 1. After the bleeding the value increased gradually, reached a maximum about 30 minutes after the bleeding, and then decreased to the initial value in about 60 minutes. 2. In case of blood transfusion, decreases instead of increases were observed. The value gradually decreased, reached a minimum 10-20 minutes after the transfusion, and then, increased to the initial value in about 60 minutes. 3. In case of the plasma injection, no significant change of electric flicker values could be found. From these facts it was concluded that an increase of oxygen content of the blood causes a decrease of electric flicker values, and vice versa. The authors have pleasure in acknowledging their indebtedness to Prof. K. Motokawa who has guided them kindly.


Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most frequent subtype of lymphoma in the world and corresponds to a heterogeneous entity, both from the clinical and molecular point of view, being its prognosis of survival very variable The IPI and the NCCN-IPI are powerful risk-stratification tools in patients with DLBCL. Although the IPI risk score is widely used, it doesn't discriminate very high risk patients. In 2014 the NCCN-IPI was published. It has shown a better discrimination of these patients in Asia, Europe and USA. GELL is a recently formed group of study in lymphomas from Latin America that includes eleven countries. The aim of this study was to validate whether the NCCN-IPI is of prognostic value in Latin-American patients with DLBCL.
 Methods: We included patients with a diagnosis of DLBCL treated at different institution between 2012-2013. IRB approval was obtained before the collection of the data. Pathological samples were reviewed at each participating institution to confirm the diagnosis. Pertinent clinical data were collected through chart review and are presented using descriptive statistics. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazard regression models were fitted to evaluate hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (OS).
 Results: A total of 329 patients with the diagnosis of DLBCL were included in this analysis. The median age at diagnosis was 64 years (range 18-83 years) with a slight female predominance (54%). Clinically, 59% of patients were 60 or older, 34% presented with ECOG >1, 29% with elevated serum LDH, and 70% with extranodal disease; 49% had stage I/II and 51% had stage III/IV. The IPI score distribution was low-risk in 36% of patients, low-intermediate in 25%, high-intermediate in 22% and high-risk 17%. The NCCN-IPI score distribution was low risk in 17%, low-intermediate in 42%, high intermediate in 30% and high risk in 11%. 89% of patients received standard R-CHOP, 2% received R-miniCHOP, and 9% received other regimens. The overall response rate was 83%; 69% had complete response and 14% had partial response. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 65%. DLBCL patients with low, low-intermediate, high-intermediate and high risk NCCN-IPI had 5-year OS rates of 89%, 71%, 55% and 38%, respectively (p<0.001). In a multivariate model adjusting for neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, NCCN-IPI was an independent prognostic factor. When compared with patients with low-risk NCCN-IPI, patients with low-intermediate (HR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9-4.7; p=0.09), high-intermediate (HR 3.5, 95% CI 1.5-8.0; p=0.003) and high-risk NCCN-IPI (HR 7.2, 95% CI 3.0-17.2; p<0.001) had worse OS.
 Conclusion: We have validated the prognostic value of the NCCN-IPI in previously untreated Latin American patients with DLBCL.
 Figure. Figure.

 Chiattone: Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Castillo:Beigene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding.


Researches on the two dimensional (2d) systems back to 1950s, when the main concern was the study of stability conditions for analog networked circuits (Levenstein, 1958; Ozaki & Kasami, 1960). Then, with the advent of new technologies and developments in the digital systems engineering as well as advances in the mathematical fields, this paradigm has evolved over the last decades into a major shift to discrete systems, addressing in addition to stability issues the control systems theory problems, which have ever since called the attention of mathematicians, digital signal processing community, control systems theorists and computer scientists among others. These investigations on the stability and control of 2d systems can be gathered into basically two approaches: the multidimensional z-transform framework (Bose, 1982; Lim, 1990) and the energy method (see for example (Du & Xie, 2002) and references therein). The z-transform formalism has contributed greatly to the stability analysis of systems expressed in terms of the transfer function representation by providing a variety of stability methods as the well known Shanks stability criteria. Due to the fact that these techniques are useful instruments to checking the bounded input bounded output (BIBO) stability of system (Lim, 1990), this philosophy has been applied to systems described by their state space model representations, and as a result many stability conditions have been established in terms of the characteristic equations and eigenvalues (Fornasini & Marchesini, 1978), which have provided helpful tools for people in the systems engineering to establish control systems design methodologies (Kaczorek, 1985). On the other hand, unlike the z-transform, the energy method consists essentially in finding a Lyapunov function that expresses the energy of the system, and then showing that this energy vanishes as the equations indices increase. Thus, since the success of this method relies fundamentally in one's ability to formulate an adequate energy function, the role and the influence of the eigenvalues of the state space matrices are in many cases left uncovered. Incidentally, the discovering of a suitable function is also inherent in the stability and design procedures based on the linear matrix inequalities (LMI) approach, which is essentially a branch of the energy method (Boyd et al., 1994). Despite this point, LMI's based 1


We have performed AC susceptibility and DC magnetic relaxation measurements on the spin ice system Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 down to 0.08 K. The relaxation time of the magnetization has been estimated below 2 K down to 0.08 K. The spin dynamics of Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 is well described by using two relaxation times [τ S (short time) and τ L (long time)]. Both τ S and τ L increase on cooling. Assuming the Arrhenius law in the temperature range 0.5–1 K, we obtained an energy barrier of 9 K. Below 0.5 K, both τ S and τ L show a clear deviation from the thermal activated dynamics toward temperature independent relaxation, suggesting a quantum dynamics.


Pandemic and climate change: two events that are mixed and, often, seem to be the same. The events of recent years, and especially 2021, have jeopardized the certainties which up until now, were grounded on that scientific knowledge could lead humanity along a safe path. For a while, we thought that the results of multiple theses, and the accumulated efforts to understand phenomena and solutions based on the concept of sustainability were in vain, given the threats of a ferocious pandemic, along with the frustrated attempts to contain climate change. The goals sought up until now have been greatly challenged.


The main indicator of the steady state of slopes is the safety factor, which can be physically expressed by comparing the stress conditions in the natural earthen slopes. The safety factor can vary between the critical value, the minimum value which marks the limit of the stable condition, and large and very large values, theoretically infinite. The leading aim of this framework is to create a deterministic model for landslides hazard analysis based on direct evaluation of safety factor, under different degrees of soil saturation and considering different scenarios of seismic acceleration. The slope stability assessment will be done using infinite slope model. This analysis can be approached in geographic information systems taking into account a pixel basis. Therefore, the factors and parameters that trigger the slope fail and those that prevent the slope for failing will be expressed as individual maps (thematic maps). These maps will be overlaid using a created GIS function, according to the mathematical formula of the safety factor. The proposed model has been tested in a geographic information system environment in the Bucium Hill area, located on the south-east side of the Romanian city, Iasi. The thematic maps engine used as main input data: digital terrain model and the results of geotechnical laboratory tests from 25 bore holes (friction angle, cohesion, unit weight). The final result will be a quantitative hazard map of failure probability assessment. The calibration will be done by comparing with other maps obtained from two different approaches.


Recently, deep learning-based image classification and speech recognition approaches have made extensive use of attention mechanisms to achieve state-of-the-art recognition, which demonstrates the effectiveness of attention mechanisms. Motivated by the fact that the frequency and time information of modulated radio signals are crucial for modulation recognition, this letter proposes a time-frequency attention mechanism for convolutional neural network (CNN)-based automatic modulation recognition. The proposed time-frequency attention mechanism is designed to learn which channel, frequency and time information is more meaningful in CNN for modulation recognition. We analyze the effectiveness of the proposed attention mechanism and evaluate the performance of the proposed models. Experiment results show that the proposed methods outperform existing learning-based methods and attention mechanisms.


The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek(XDLVO) approach was applied for better understanding of the basic interfacial interactions(i.e.van der Waals interaction,electrostatic interaction and acid-base interaction) involved in reverse osmosis(RO)membrane fouling by humic acid at different pHs.Based on the theoretical calculations with three representative RO membranes,the electrostatic interaction was found to be negeligible in membrane fouling.The van der Waals interaction favored fouling,whereas acid-base interaction could prevent it.The contribution of van der Waals interaction was higher in the cohesion stage than that in the adhesion stage.The acid-base interaction was dominant in both stages.Membrane fouling became less serious as solution pH increased.The surface free energy was affected by solution pH mainly via the alternation of acid-base energy.Correlation analysis of the corresponding fouling data proved that XDLVO approach could successfully describe the characteristics of RO membrane fouling by humic acid and quantitatively evaluate the involved interfacial interactions.The contact angle of RO membrane measured by pure water turned out to be an inappropriate parameter for accurate prediction of membrane fouling.


The dietary and medical values of chicken soup have been detected long before. Chicken soup contains various kinds of nutritional components including amino acids, proteins and some microelements. Current research shows that chicken soup can relieve cold symptoms, remove fatigue, offer enteral nutrition, enrich the blood and so on. In the industrial manufacture of the chicken soup, active polypeptides which are obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of chicken protein have anti-hypertension, anti-oxidant and enhancing immunity activity. This paper intends to summarize the dietotherapy function, nutritional value of chicken soup.


This study provides an alternative empirical approach to identify optimal urban growth when accounting for its associated environmental effects. It is assumed that preserving outer landscapes and enjoying reduced density levels are inversely related, and so households must trade them off. The exercise analyses whether more disperse urban growth would be socially desirable in a particular area, the metropolitan region of Barcelona. A contingent valuation exercise using a double-bounded format was undertaken and an extended version of the spike model was used to estimate the willingness to pay of changing to a less dense urban path. The results show that a less compact scenario would be welfare-increasing in aggregate terms. It is suggested that general proposals on compacting cities should not necessarily constitute a desirable planning goal.


A trigger circuit of single phase-controlled rectification based on Matlab/Simulink is brought forward in this paper, and also its modularization and encapsulation are expatiated. This trigger circuit has a good user interface, can be used easily in many circuits, simplifies the simulation model, and also has a good effect through single bridge rectification circuit simulation.


Although Earth's orbit is never far from circular, terrestrial planets around other stars might experience substantial changes in eccentricity. Eccentricity variations could lead to climate changes, including possible "phase transitions" such as the snowball transition (or its opposite). There is evidence that Earth has gone through at least one globally frozen, "snowball" state in the last billion years, which it is thought to have exited after several million years because global ice-cover shut off the carbonate-silicate cycle, thereby allowing greenhouse gases to build up to sufficient concentration to melt the ice. Due to the positive feedback caused by the high albedo of snow and ice, susceptibility to falling into snowball states might be a generic feature of water-rich planets with the capacity to host life. This paper has two main thrusts. First, we revisit one-dimensional energy balance climate models as tools for probing possible climates of exoplanets, investigate the dimensional scaling of such models, and introduce a simple algorithm to treat the melting of the ice layer on a globally frozen planet. We show that if a terrestrial planet undergoes Milankovitch-like oscillations of eccentricity that are of great enough magnitude, it could melt out of a snowball state. Second, we examine the kinds of variations of eccentricity that a terrestrial planet might experience due to the gravitational influence of a giant companion. We show that a giant planet on a sufficiently eccentric orbit can excite extreme eccentricity oscillations in the orbit of a habitable terrestrial planet. More generally, these two results demonstrate that the long-term habitability (and astronomical observables) of a terrestrial planet can depend on the detailed architecture of the planetary system in which it resides.


To study protective effect of APS against acute chemical liver injury.An animal model with acute liver injury was reproduced by carbon tetachloride and D chondrosamine in mice.Liver function indicators,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST),were determined.Increase in serum ALTand AST in mice caused by carbon tetrachloride and D chondrosamine could be inhibited by APS. There was significant difference between them and control.[Conclusion]It suggests that APS can protect mice from acute chemical liver injury.


We describe a practical procedure for the triangulation of arbitrary n-dimensional regular bounded domains by isoparametric simplicial elements preserving the optimal order of accuracy. Along similar lines we prove general error estimates for the finite element solution of second order elliptic problems. Various kinds of nonhomogeneous boundary conditions can be dealt with, such as Dirichlet, Neumann and Robin boundary conditions.


Fifty seven children and adolescents with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis (12-17 years old) were examined, Complex therapy including indirect lymphotropic injection of rono-leukin was performed in 24 patients (main group MG) and intravenous injection of ro-noleukin 19 patients (control group CG). It has been established that specific process was going with decay in 16 (66,7%) patients of MG and 10 (52,6%) CG, with bacterioexcretion in 14 (58,3%) subjects in MG and 11 (57,9%) -CG. It has been concluded that indirect lymphotropic injection of ronoleukin as well as intravenous one is accompanied by positive clinicoroengenologic dynamics, normalization of immunologic indices in the nearest and remote period to an equal degree in both groups. The time of procedure is significantly reduced that is positively told on patients' relation to treatment, especially on adolescents' one.


Records of natural and pollutant fluxes to the Savannah River Estuary are found in some river and marsh deposits into which time frames can be introduced by /sup 210/Pb or plutonium geochronologies. Plutonium releases from the Savannah River Plant are evident in only one deposit and in marsh grass which received the transuranic element from atmospheric transport. The pollution records can be disturbed by bioturbative activities of organisms, by the input of marine solid phases to the estuarine deposits, and by river scour and fill.


Abstract : The article describes one possible solution of the radiation and input impedance problems of a ferrite antenna. The stated method of solution is not entirely general and exact, but it allows a more general view at the working of a ferrite antenna.


Cerium oxide (CeO2) thin films have been grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition on AlGaN/GaN heterostructures and their insulating properties as gate dielectric layer have been explored. The deposited thin films have been found to be textured on the GaN based heterostructures and exhibited a permittivity of 26. This high permittivity value and large band gap are certainly advantageous with respect to other reported materials for the metal insulator semiconductor high electron mobility transistor application. The reduced leakage current density clearly suggests that these CeO2 films are very promising as gate dielectric for AlGaN/GaN transistors low power consumption technology.


The third ASSESS mission using a Lear Jet aircraft conducted to continue the study of scientific experiment operations in a simulated Spacelab environment. Prior to the mission, research planning and equipment preparation were observed and documented. A flight readiness review for the experiment was conducted. Nine of the ten scheduled flights were completed during simulation mission and all major science objectives were accomplished. The equipment was well qualified for flight and gave little trouble; telescope malfunctions occurred early in the mission and were corrected. Both real-time and post-observation data evaluation were used to assess research progress and to plan subsequent flight observations for maximum effectiveness.


This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel 6 m diameter ofiset Stifiened Spring-Back Re∞ector, not only do we demonstrate the feasibility and efiectiveness of the Stifiened Spring-Back Re∞ector concept, but we also show that a large scale ofiset version of the Stifiened Spring-Back Re∞ector (SSBR) is able to meet {and sometimes better{ the stringent speciflcations of large high accuracy communications re∞ector antennas. The SSBR is a monolithic thin carbon-flbre-reinforced-plastic shell which is stifiened along the edge by an integral elastically collapsible stifiener. This collapsible stifiening rim signifl- cantly increases the overall stifiness of the dish in the deployed state and yet its conflg- uration is such that the structure can still be packaged elastically. This paper details a whole host of analysis which have been conducted to show that this full-scale 6 m diameter ofiset design meets and most times betters the speciflcations required for Ku band oper- ation. These include the rms surface accuracy under thermal loading, modal behaviour, linear dynamic transient response, static buckling conditions and stress distribution due to packaging. The ofiset Stifiened Spring-Back Re∞ector has a mass of 25.5 kg, maximum rms due to thermal distortions of 3.5 "m and a natural frequency of 1.66 Hz and a maximum packaged stress of 228 MPa. Furthermore an optimization study using the response surface methodology, further improves on this conflguration, with an optimum design having a mass of 23.6 kg, a natural frequency of 1.87 Hz and a maximum stress of 219 MPa, which also achieves a 1.92 factor increase on the initial stifiness of the re∞ector


Zhao Shuli once gave a self-orientation as a "Writer of Literary Booth". His "Literary Booth" contains profound "modernity " connotation of family and nation, and his novels in Yan'an period carter to "modernity program" by the political power of the liberated areas. His modernity writing and introspection of "revolutionary"content inherits and innovates traditional folk art forms, and the "local " modernity norm he represents directly embodies the value appeal for establishing a modern national country.


The main purpose of this study was to assess the current status of cooperative learning implementation in secondary schools of Harari regional state. Hence, it examined the extent to which stakeholders: mainly teachers, students and school leaders perform their roles with regard to the implementation of cooperative learning. In addition to this, it tried to look at factors affecting the implementation of cooperative learning. To accomplish this purpose, the study employed descriptive survey research design. The study was carried out on 4 secondary schools which were selected through stratified random sampling techniques. Then, a total of 277 individuals were participated in the study. Among them, 70 teachers and 200 students were included in the sample through stratified random sampling technique. Additionally, 4 principals were included through purposive sampling while 3 supervisors were included through available sampling techniques. Questionnaire, semi-structured interview, document analysis and observation checklist were used to collect the necessary data. The analysis of quantitative data was carried out by using percent, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regressions while qualitative data which was obtained through open ended questions, interview, document analysis and observation checklist were analyzed using narration. The result of the study revealed that, the three responsible stakeholders: Namely, students, teachers and principals are sometimes (moderately) performing their roles. Regarding factors affecting the implementation of cooperative learning, the study indicated that, student related, teacher related, classroom related, and support related factors have their own effect on the status of implementing cooperative learning. Besides, the result of multiple regressions showed that, classroom related, student related and support related factors are significant determinants of the overall status of cooperative learning implementation while teacher related factors do not have significant effect on status of cooperative learning implementation. From the results of the finding, it is possible to conclude that, the status of cooperative learning in the study area is moderate due to the indicated factors affecting its implementation. Therefore, it is recommended that, the government in cooperation with universities located in the study area and non-governmental organizations that work to support quality of education need to provide technical support to teachers and school leaders on how to organize students at the time of practicing cooperative learning and managing the practice of cooperative learning in general through the provision of training opportunities. In addition to this, it is better if school leaders in collaboration with teachers work on raising the awareness of students towards the implementation of cooperative learning. © 2016 Elixir All rights reserved. Elixir Edu. Tech. 95 (2016) 41003-41011 Educational Technology Available online at www.elixirpublishers.com (Elixir International Journal) Anwar Ahmed Hussen/ Elixir Edu. Tech. 95 (2016) 41003-41011 41004 learning opportunities are customized to maximize learning outcome Relative to students taught traditionally: i.e. with instructor-centered lectures, individual assignments, and competitive grading, rapidly growing body of researches are confirming the effectiveness of CL. For instance, Mabrouk (2007) and Cheong (2010) confirmed that cooperatively taught students tend to exhibit higher academic achievement, greater persistence through graduation, better high-level reasoning/critical thinking skills, deeper understanding of learned material, greater time on task, greater intrinsic motivation to learn and achieve, greater ability to view situations from others" perspectives, more positive and supportive relationships with peers, more positive attitudes toward subject areas, better skills in leadership, communication, social and conflict resolution. Additionally, Johnson (2007) and Johnson (2009) stipulated that extraordinary achievement comes not from individualistic or competitive efforts of isolated individuals but from CL that promotes a situation in which students work together in small groups to maximize the learning of all members, sharing their resources, providing mutual support, and celebrating their joint success. By recognizing these benefits the government of Ethiopia incorporated the concern of active learning in general and CL in particular in policy documents. For instance: MoE (2009) confirmed that, active learning methods are not properly and sufficiently employed (addressed) in TESO program. As a result, this document stressed on five themes that serve as Standards for Pre-service Secondary School Teachers. One of them is facilitating students learning through the practice (application) of diverse active and reflective instructional techniques pertinent to objectives & contents. Additionally, handbook of Higher Diploma Program (HDP) for teacher educators (MoE, 2011) indicated that, HDP will enable candidates to be involved in collaborative learning and team work. It also affirmed that, HDP candidates will be able to organize and monitor group work and begin to develop the ability to manage cooperative groups effectively. So, these two documents imply that, the government of Ethiopia is currently training higher institution instructors (teacher educators and non teacher educators) in a way that they can have the knowledge and skill about active learning in general and CL in particular so that they can practice it in their future teaching learning process of their class. This is to mean that, CL has got attention in all levels of education starting from the lower level to the universities. Moreover, Abebaw (2011) stated that textbooks and other teaching & learning materials which are prepared currently are being designed in line with the practice of role play, pair work and group work. He also wrote that, the practice of group work is quite common in secondary schools, colleges and universities. Thus, secondary schools found in Harari national and regional state are one of the seven regional states and two administrative cities that currently implement CL as instructional strategy in Ethiopia. As a result, conducting scholastic research on this area is judicious and indispensable. 1.2. Statement of the Problem Researches such as Liang (2002), Ume and Fidelia (2009) and Adeyemi (2008) indicated that CL maximize students" academic achievement by helping them to work together. In addition to this the government of Ethiopia is currently reinforcing (pushing) all schools to put CL into practice. But the practical situation of CL in secondary schools of the study area seems that teachers are acting as the warehouse of knowledge by dominating students so as to passively take notes and ask very few or no questions in class room. In other words, teachers centered method seems to be dominant and the implementation of CL is likely to be less emphasized in secondary schools of the study area. To find out the research gap a number of local and international researches conducted on the area of CL has been assessed. For instance, Mohamed (2014) conducted a kind of survey research on practices of CL in Haramaya University College of Education and Behavioral science. Finally, he found out that CL is important to improve the academic achievement and social skills of students. Additionally, his study indicated that the practice of CL is not effective due to different factors affecting the implementation process. Moreover, a comparative study carried out by (Abebaw, 2011) on both higher and lower achiever learner"s attitude towards CL indicated that both groups of students (higher and lower achiever) have a favorable attitude towards CL and no significant difference was found in their attitude. That means academic achievement level does not play any significant role in differentiating learners" attitude towards CL. Furthermore, experimental study conducted by Liang (2002), Ume and Fidelia (2009) and Adeyemi (2008) on the effect of CL up on the achievement of students showed that the experimental group (students exposed to CL) outperformed the controlled group (students that followed traditional approach). Yet, none of the above researches were deliberate to scrutinize the status of Cooperative Learning Implementation (CLI) in the context of Ethiopian secondary schools specifically secondary schools of Harari regional state. Therefore, being different from the above studies, this study focused on status of CLI in secondary schools of Harari regional state. In doing so, this research used theoretical framework discussed below to determine the status of CLI. Theoretical frame work Chen (2005) suggested conceptual framework having two models for program implementation. These are Action model and Change model. According to him the action model can be implemented in order to activate the change model and it is the operation of the change model that leads to the attainment of the program goals. In other words, enhanced implementation of action model can enhance the change model and thus in turn enhances the final outcome. In addition to this, Altrichter (n.d) and Olives (1998) stated that the implementation of a certain program can be successful when three factors are fulfilled. These are the program being introduced (innovational characteristics like clarity, complexity and quality), the people being involved (Actors such as teachers, students, principals and others) and the organization in which the peoples work (organizational characteristics like organizational culture, organizational structure and process). The ideas of these two scholars indicates that, status of program implementation will increase when the peoples that are involved in program implementation effectively perform their responsibilities and the organizational situations are


The interface shear strength between TiO_x and Ti was evaluated in this study using a substrate straining method.Specimens for the tensile test were thermal oxidized in an air furnace at 500 and 800℃ for an hour.After tensile loading,it was found that the fracture morphology of the TiO_x film depended upon the bonding strength of the interfaces.A stronger bonding strength,at least 970MPa,of the TiO_x/Ti system heat treated at 500℃ was detected,and the most of the cracks in the TiO_x films were aligned at a direction of ±45° to the tensile axis.Cracks in the film of TiO_x/Ti system heat treated at 800℃ showed periodicity and were perpendicular to the tensile axis and the bonding strength of the system was calculated to be at most 495MPa.


Objective: A weight-based dose of heparin is calculated to achieve target ACT (Activated clotting time) for establishing CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass). Whether a target ACT can be achieved with lower dose of heparin in Pakistani population was the aim of this study.
Methodology: The cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Department of Cardiac Surgery from 1st January 2019 to 1st January 2020. Three hundred thirty-six (336) patients undergoing elective open-heart surgeries on CPB were included in this study. Patients receiving weight-based heparin dose were placed in Group-A, while those on low-dose heparin were placed in Group-B. ACT was considered to have reached the target value in range of 400-480 seconds, values between 481-1500 seconds were considered excessive, whereas ACT of >1500 was regarded as potentially high-risk for peri-operative bleeding .
Results: 14.1% (n= 28) of Group-A patients achieved target ACT, whereas 58.3% (n=116) exceeded the target of 480. In 25.1% (n=50), ACT values were beyond the measuring capacity of the assay machine i.e. >1500. Only 2.5% (n=5) required additional dosage of heparin. Target ACT in Group B was achieved in 19.7% (n= 27), 55.5% (n=76) had excessive ACT values, whereas in 16.8% (n= 23), it was >1500. 9.5% (n=13) required an additional dosage of Heparin.
Conclusion: In Pakistani population, a target ACT can be achieved with significantly lower dose than the conventional weight-based heparin dose. Larger studies, preferably randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the optimal heparin dose calculation for safe anti-coagulation during CPB.


Tetrabromoaurate (III) is an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides by nitric acid in a biphasic system (nitromethane/water). The system is selective and can be applied to the oxidation of any type of dialkyl and alkyl aryl sulfide and also of diaryl sulfides activated by electron-releasing substituents. The nature of the active species has been investigated in relation to the mechanistic aspects


The role of a main starting air valve is to supply compressed air to the diesel engine for starting the stopped diesel engine of a ship and cut off the air during normal operation. In this study, the main starting air valve with 80mm size was designed based on the developed valve with 50mm size. The concept design of the 80A main starting air valve was completed by using CATIA. Then, fluid analysis was performed to investigate the flow characteristics such as pressure and velocity distribution. Sequentially, structural analysis using FSI was performed. In this study, ANSYS CFX and ANSYS Workbench are utilized. The heavy weight of the body can deteriorate the strength performance of neighbor elements, leading to undesirable effect on flow characteristics. Thus, in this research, a lightweight design of the body was suggested satisfying strength requirement. The weight of the suggested design was reduced by 7kg, and the strength satisfied its requirement.


When the Century Freeway opened in October 1993 after three decades in the making -- the product of intensive civic conflict, and advertized as the world's most costly road at over $100 million per mile -- it was indeed an achievement of the century. Ultimately it was far more than a mere road. It also became a community development enterprise, an environmental improvement program, a housing project, and a legal precedent that may well shape all future freeway construction. To assess its significance the authors examined the record and interviewed the participants, and summarize their findings here.


Larval development of the Indo-west Pacific lutjanine lutjanid Macolor niger is described based on pelagic larvae (4.8-10 mm) from western Pacific plankton hauls, settlement-stage larvae (17-19 mm) from Great Barrier Reef light-trap catches and Solomon Island reef-crest net catches, and settled juveniles (26-32 mm) from the western Pacific. The larvae possess all the characteristics of lutjanids (24 myomeres; elongate dorsal spine 2 and pelvic spine; pelvic ray 1 longer than spine; postcleithral spine; extensive, large, smooth head spines; and fin-ray counts of DX,14-15, AIII,10-11, P 1 17-18), and corroborate the inclusion of Macolor in the Lutjanidae. The larvae have long, weakly serrate, robust fin spines, with the serrations largely disappearing by settlement at 17-19 mm. Unique meristic values (in particular fin-ray and gill-raker counts) and distinctive colour pattern at settlement confirm the identification. Settled juvenile M. macularis (17-20 mm) from the western Pacific are similar to M. niger, but are slightly deeper bodied, with much longer elements in the pelvic fin and spiny dorsal fin. Distinctive meristics and pigment patterns separate the two species.


The JAK/STAT (Janus kinase / signaling transducer and activator of transcription) signaling pathway is implicated in converting stationary epithelial cells to migratory cells. In mammals, migratory responses are activated by chemoattractant proteins, including chemokines. We found that by binding to seven‐transmembrane G‐protein‐coupled receptors, chemokines activate the JAK/STAT pathwayto trigger chemotactic responses. We show that chemokine‐mediated JAK/STAT activation is critical for G‐protein induction and for phospholipase C‐β dependent Ca2+ flux; in addition, pharmacological inhibition of JAK or mutation of the JAK kinase domain causes defects in both responses. Furthermore, Gαi association with the receptor is dependent on JAK activation, andthe chemokine‐mediated Ca2+ flux that requires phospholipase C‐β activity takes place downstream of JAK kinases. The chemokines thus employ a mechanism that links heterologous signaling pathways — G proteins and tyrosine kinases — in a network that may be essential for mediating their pleiotropic responses.


This paper aims at developing a well-balanced performance framework for measuring the effects of e-government and designing the selection process to e-governmentpsilas KPI as reflecting the governmentpsilas strategies and goals. These methods measure effectively visible and invisible effects from the post e-governmentpsilas projects. To accomplish the purposes of this study, we applied the general success factors of e-government and the concept of KPI. The performance framework consists of three perspectives; process efficiency, service quality, and information resource management, which comprehensively cover the fields of its effect. Also we develop the selection process of KPI composed of analyze, gather, screen, and redesign in order to screen the objective fitted KPI. Following the selection process, we can validate whether the KPI is suitable for the strategies and goals. This present study will lay the groundwork for continuous improvement of the e-governmentpsilas performance.


We report a Compact Disk (CD)-based SERS platform, which allow simple and effective preconcentration of targeting molecules for SERS signal amplification. The promising capability of the preconcentration is demonstrated using this SERS-CD platform through SERS intensity of rodamine 6G (R6G) with concentrations ranging from 1 μM to 1 nM. In addition to the effective SERS signal amplification via optofluidic CD platform, we introduce a new self-assembly of gold nanoparticles by CuSO4 as an excellent SERS substrate which has both high sensitivity and uniformity.


The present war will leave architects unexpected and wonderful opportunities for replanning our cities and making them more worthy of the name 'city'. The impressive schemes already laid before the public show that they intend to be ready when the moment comes. They will produce something better than a formless huddle of shops and slums or a wide but still formless expanse of suburbs. A more organic structure will be their object, built round a vital centre. In achieving this the creators of the new towns will be guided first and last by the needs and ways of life of those who will have to live in them. These will not be sacrificed to tradition or to artistic fancy. There will be no meaningless imitation and no appeal to precedent unless it is based on similar ways of life and similar ideas. For these reasons one hesitates to turn to classical precedents; but perhaps there is something in the ancient Greek city, the polis, which is not altogether foreign to the modern spirit, and arising out of this, elements in its architectural form which are applicable to modern needs. The city in the best sense of the word was a Greek creation. The polis was a compact community in which life was so organized that each citizen could get the greatest benefit from his membership. It was not so large that he was completely swallowed up, but it was sufficiently large for him to enjoy a rich and full political and economic, social and intellectual life.


In the complex underwater acoustic (UWA) channel, the channel characteristics of multipath interference, time-varying, bandwidth limitation, and transmission delay have great effects on the real time UWA speech communication. This paper combines Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication technology with Multi-Band Excitation (MBE) speech compression coding technology. With high-speed DSP device, algorithms of speech compression and decompression, modulation, coding, equalization and anti-Doppler, are being used to design a set of digital UWA speech communication system. This system realized a kind of real time wireless speech communication on submersibles or divers. The paper firstly introduces OFDM communication technology and MBE voice compression technology, then the hardware and software structure of the system are mentioned. Finally, the paper verifies the performance of the system through a lake experiment.


Experiences are remembered or forgotten, but the neural determinants for the mnemonic fate of experience are unknown. Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to identify specific brain activations that differentiated between visual experiences that were later remembered well, remembered less well, or forgotten. During scanning of medial temporal lobe and frontal lobe regions, subjects viewed complex, color photographs. Subjects later received a test of memory for the photographs. The magnitudes of focal activations in right prefrontal cortex and in bilateral parahippocampal cortex predicted which photographs were later remembered well, remembered less well, or forgotten.


National newspapers regularly report on public opinion as part of their political coverage. In addition to covering aggregate survey trends, journalists occasionally conduct follow-up interviews with respondents from those surveys to present the views of real people in news stories. The practice of reporting these "qualitative quotes" has existed for decades, yet, there has been little scrutiny of the voices that appear in news stories or their effect on public opinion. We examine this phenomenon in the context of the United States with a historical examination of New York Times stories and other major U.S. outlets that contain polling information and follow-up interviews. Consistent with past work on exemplars, there is considerable evidence for the nonrandom nature of the people invited to comment for news stories. In particular, the use of qualitative quotes reinforces some of the biases that exist in news sourcing more generally. Finally, we demonstrate in an experiment that qualitative quotes influence policy attitudes as least as much as aggregate polling figures.


Grasping objects from unstructured piles is an important, but difficult task. We present a new framework to grasp objects composed of shape primitives like cylinders and spheres. For object recognition, we employ efficient shape primitive detection methods in 3D point clouds. Object models composed of such primitives are then found in the detected shapes with a probabilistic graph-matching technique. We implement object grasping based on the shape primitives in an efficient multi-stage process that successively prunes infeasible grasps in tests of increasing complexity. The final step is to plan collision-free reaching motions to execute the grasps. With our approach, our service robot can grasp object compounds from piles of objects, e. g., in transport boxes.


In the paper, a new approach to fuzzy Multi-Attribute Decision Making methods has been proposed, with the application of Ordered Fuzzy Numbers model. After the presentation of OFN model, it has been used as part of the fuzzy SAW method. Ordered fuzzy numbers allow to immediately distinguish between type of criteria, and the presented examples show the usefulness of the proposed method.


The estimation of target position and velocity is attempted on the basis of angular measurements only. This topic is of interest for passive radar, sonar and electronic warfare systems; in these cases. the maritime target radiates either an electromagnetic or an acoustic wave. The modified gain extended Kalman filter of single platform is used for the tracking of maritime targets, and a fusion algorithm for multi-platform bearing-only tracking is developed. Computer simulations show that the fusion algorithm has better performance than-single platform tracking.


It discusses the technology of changing Toray 716-type high speed take-up machine 8-fold spinning FDY equipment into 16-fold spinning equipment and production process adjustment. With thickness of seal shim in spin-pack adjusted, the spin-pack rotated tighten should be fixed in same place of easy discerption yarn. With the tow tension increased at GR2 exit, shaking and collision including strand of tow should be avoided. With the proper paper design and the take-up tension increased appropriately when exchange, the exchanging success rate is ensured. In order to guarantee good spin cake shaping, the winding angle should be adjusted from 4~5°. And it is more suitable when the take-up is less than 13 cN.


(57) [summary] For example, the first metal oxide, which is at least partially coated with a very thin layer of a second metal oxide, such as These complexes are very effective to have and, for example decomposition absorption of chlorocarbons and undesirable fluid such as gas or liquid form of chlorofluorocarbons has a high surface area. In use, the compositions of the present invention a fluid stream comprising undesirable fluids, and as by the use of filters containing complexes as part of the filter medium, is contacted.


1. Introduction - the new habitat 1 2. what's around the corner 33 3. whats so special about information technology 69 4. All things being equal 91 5. Globalisation, poverty, priorities 119 6.Democracy, Deliberation and the virtues of denzienship 7. Cutting out the middleman: -e-government, e-democracy 8. Privacy 9. The future is here


Messianic delusions—until now rather rare and poorly understood—appear to be increasing in incidence and to be influenced by the values of the counter culture. The author identifies the principal clinical features of delusions: the belief in one's omnipotence and omniscience, the avoidance of affect-laden experiences and thoughts, the pursuit of asceticism, the experience of exalted mystical states, and the tendency to form symbiotic relationships that are devoid of meaningful emotional investment. The author discusses the treatment of this difficult problem and offers observations from his clinical experience.


Miyaura borylation, that is, palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling between bromoarenes and diboron, offers a versatile method for preparing arylboronates; however, a costly and inaccessible catalyst has been required for synthesizing highly congested arylboronates with the method. Here the Pd(OAc)2-tri(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine catalyst was found to work as an efficient catalyst for the sterically demanding borylation. A broad range of o,o-disubstituted bromoarenes were converted into the corresponding arylboronates in high yields by using the palladium catalyst with Cs2CO3 in EtOAc at 80 °C.


There exists a steady,spherical and subsonic-transonic accretion flow onto a central black hole,which corresponds to the maximum possible steady accretion mode. In the work,in the light of the computational fluid dynamics,the global dynamics of the steady,spherical subsonic-transonic accretion has been successfully obtained.There are two advantages of this method. First,during the time-marching process from the initial state to the steady state,the evolutionary process is physical and realistic. Second,the computational fluid dynamics has been developed more maturely,which provides us with a very powerful tool to solve the transonic accretion flow. In addition to the spherically symmetric accretion,the method of computational fluid mechanics should be also suitable for solving the global dynamics of the radiatively inefficient accretion flow and super-Eddington accretion flow.


The thesis analyses the signification of the problem of life in Nietzsche's philosophy and its importance in Nietzsche's reflections on politics. The first chapter discusses the distinction in the Birth of Tragedy between the two different principles of the Dionysian and the Apollonian, where the problem of life finds its initial contradictions. The second chapter examines the question of life in Nietzsche's thought in the 1880s. There, the body is interpreted as a movement of subjectivation and differentiation, for which the utilisation of a completely singular concept of health, in perpetual transition, becomes necessary. The third chapter analyses Nietzsche's problem of genealogy, understood as an interpretation-practice connected with the process of life itself and therefore different from a pure and objective historical science. The fourth chapter presents and discusses Nietzsche's critique of his actuality, interpreted as the final result of an historical process of a political dissolution. According to the thesis, Nietzsche criticises a certain kind of social science, where that crisis finds its strongest evidence, and uses on the other hand a genealogical practice to trace the initial point in history that brings us to the present dissolution. The origin of the crisis is the exact place where the dynamics of life is forgotten under its presumed identity. Thus, the explanation of the individual coincides in this origin with the passing-away perpetual movement of a democracy which tends to multiply and intensify the differences.


Sticking of light gas atoms (He,D,H) on the (0001) surface of graphite is studied theoretically in the framework of the quantum mechanical perturbation theory. The formulas include a detailed microscopic description of the solid structure and vibrations. The calculations are employed in conjunction with the published experimental data to investigate the properties of the inelastic gas–surface coupling in the He/graphite system. The inelastic coupling is suggested to have a significant attractive component, and to be confined to highly localized spots on the surface. The low energy sticking probability is shown to be very sensitive to the weak coupling between the graphite layers. The high energy sticking via excitation of the optical out‐of‐plane phonons is found to be very inefficient. The isotopic effect is investigated in the H,D/graphite system. While the heavy isotope sticks about two times more efficiently in the low energy limit, the decay of the sticking probability with the energy is slower for the lighter isotope. Therefore the difference in the sticking probability of the two isotopes decreases strongly towards higher energies.


The semantic web is based on the idea of having formalized knowledge expressed on the web (in languages like RDF). However, we know that people do not like to strictly comply with some ontology and they would tend to add their own tags within existing ontology descriptions. This thesis addresses the issue of heterogeneity within the domain of photo annotation. It presents a peer-to-peer infrastructure and client software that enables users to provide ontology based photo annotations in a free manner (by using the most convenient vocabulary) and share them with other users in a peer-to-peer environment. Moreover, the thesis presents an ontology alignment based mediator service to translate queries among the peers.


Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit that is associated with significant
psychosocial repercussions. Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a most common complication seen after post acne.
Therapeutic goal of treatment include promoting degradation of melanosomes and inhibiting their formation.
Patient treated with Azelaic acid / Glycolic acid experienced of significant greater reduction in number of inflammatory
lesions. This study focuses on the comparison of efficacy of 12% Glycolic acid and 10% Azelaic acid in treating post acne
hyperpigmentation.


Abstract This paper reviews how the construct of oral fluency in a second language (L2) has been defined and researched over the last twenty-five years. The emerging picture is somewhat kaleidoscopic, as domains of cognitive, social, individual and linguistic influences on L2 speech have been opened up for study. L2 fluency research presents a wealth of directions for future exploration, five of which have been laid out here as an achievable, though not comprehensive, agenda for the coming decade. Four of these studies focus on the relationship between variables such as perceived fluency, utterance fluency, idiomaticity, task familiarity, vocabulary size and learner self-reflection, while the fifth focusses on supporting fluency development in the L2 classroom. As an aid to prospective researchers, the five studies are laid out in practical detail, together with suggestions on how these might need to be altered to fit the local context in which the research is undertaken.


The present invention relates to a novel and improved method for the preparation of (4S)-4-(4-cyano-2-methoxyphenyl)-5-ethoxy-2,8-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-1-6-naphthyridine-3-carboxamide of the formula (I) and of a crystalline modification of said compound.


ABSTRACT The study tackles crisis communication through the press, which reshapes the construction of crisis events, vulnerability, and resilience across English articles and their Greek translations. The strategies involve (a) distinguishing between approaches across English and Greek relative to crisis type, (b) reshaping representations of victims, and (c) assigning responsibility to powerful others. Linguistic variation in re-mediating suffering through translation is of paramount importance, because it may have a de/mobilizing effect on audiences by dis/en-couraging audience response to humanitarian field operators, in crises. The analysis improves understanding of in/efficient intercultural communication in international relief operations. Emerging patterns of managing crisis and hazard representation in original and translated discourses may contribute valuable insights towards better communicating action plans in disaster risk reduction frameworks.


A two-dimensional simulation program has been developed to model in detail the behavior of depletion-mode MOSFETs from liquid-nitrogen temperature (77 K) to room temperature (300 K). The differences between the low-temperature model and the room-temperature model in terms of numerical approaches are discussed. Simulation results in the linear region (VDS = 0.1 V) for applied gate voltages at subthreshold and above threshold are reported. These results are in reasonable agreement with experimental data available in the literature. Simulation results on the saturation region for a typical depletion-mode NMOS transistor are also presented.<<ETX>>


THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF PILES IN AREAS OF WARM PERMAFROST PRESENT MANY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND CONTROLS TO MINIMIZE DISTURBANCE OF THE DELICATE THERMAL BALANCE OF WARM PERMAFROST ARE INCLUDED IN AN EVALUATION OF PILE INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES. THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE SITE INVESTIGATIONS AND PROPER CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION AND CONTROL IS EMPHASIZED. PRECONSTRUCTION TEMPERATURE INFORMATION IS USED WITH CLIMATOLOGICAL RECORDS AND THEORETICAL METHODS TO PREDICT THE FREEZING AND/OR THAWING THAT WILL BE EXPERIENCED UNDER THE STRUCTURE. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FREEZEBACK OF PILES ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES, INSTALLATION METHODS, AND THE VOLUMETRIC HEAT CAPACITY OF THE PERMAFROST. /AUTHOR/


The technique of sensitivity analysis is old and well known, but few modern papers include them, perhaps because of the subtle tricks and customizations that have to be done to reap their benefits. The authors show how to overcome some of the difficulties of performing sensitivity analyses. They draw examples from a broad range of fields: physics, systems theory, physiology, expert systems, bioengineering, control theory, simulation, queuing theory, and system design. The important points that can be extracted from literature covering diverse fields and long time spans are generalized. >


The influence law of gear defect on transmission accuracy is studied. The virtual prototype model of the gear transmission system was built by using SolidWorks and ADAMS software. Internal excitations such as meshing stiffness, friction and damping during gear transmission are considered. The simulation parameters are reasonably set by using virtual prototype technology. The simulation analysis experiments are carried out by using ADAMS software. The normal, broken teeth and pitting conditions of spur gears in a certain transmission ratio are analyzed. The dynamic force variation law of gear shaft is studied. The results show that under the condition of broken tooth, the load of input shaft rises, and then drops to a low value for a period of time. Under the pitting condition, the load of input shaft increases greatly. The rise degree of pitting conditions is different. The research contents provide a feasible basis for early fault diagnosis of gear transmission system.


In this paper author tries to outline the context of transition opening in the two largest former Yugoslav republics, Serbia and Croatia. The break-up of ideological consensus in socialist Yugoslavia opened the door to creating new ideological concepts, which led to the disintegration of the state. In such circumstances, transition in Croatia and Serbia was opened.


New flux-switching permanent magnet (FSPM) brushless machine topologies with different stator and rotor pole combinations (Ns/Nr) are developed, with potentially reduced stator and rotor pole numbers without introducing the unbalanced magnetic force. The relative merits of FSPM and flux reversal permanent magnet (FRPM) brushless machines are evaluated. The electromagnetic performance, including back-emf, static torque, cogging torque, stator and rotor iron losses and magnet eddy current loss, and unbalanced magnetic force, etc. of new FSPM machines having Ns/Nr =12/16 and 6/8 is also compared with that of existing FSPM machines having Ns/Nr =12/10 and 6/5 by finite element analyses and experiments.


We propose a method that allows the interpretation of the data representation obtained by CNN, through introducing prototypes in the feature space, that are later classified into a certain category. This way we can see how the feature space is structured in link with the categories and the related task.


July 1997 marked the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Medical Repository, the first medical journal indigenous to the United States (Figure 1). It was printed by T. & J. Swords, Printers to the Faculty of Physic of Columbia College in New York City.1–5 The journal, originally edited by Samuel Latham Mitchill, Elihu Hubbard Smith, and Edward Miller, was published quarterly from 1797 to 1824. Why was the Medical Repository founded, who was responsible, and what was the proposed subject matter?6,7 Finally, who read it, and why did publication cease in 1824? The British blockade during the . . .


Links between "Humanae vitae" and the recent "Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation" are inevitable. The first forbids certain forms of birth control, the second certain forms of birth promotion. Both documents set forth lofty descriptions of marriage, sexuality, and the human person; and both prohibit certain interventions into the sexual act. The absoluteness of the prohibitions taken by the documents seems heartless to some and courageous to others. The debate is about the means, the how of control or promotion. Because the Instruction is recent (March 19, 1987), it has been the topic of popular writing, but has not yet been subjected to a great deal of scholarly scrutiny. Only time will tell whether it will generate a body of literature comparable to that stimulated by "Humanae vitae/' The latter was a careful, comprehensive, and tightly-written text. The Instruction is rambling, repetitious, and vulnerable to a wider range of objections. The wisdom of Solomon was needed to work through the myriad of personal and social factors involved; instead, we received something closer to a handbook. The problems are not new. Rachel's lament reaches across the centuries: "Give me children, or I die!" Today it is estimated that one couple i n ^ x is infertile. Because of technology, the husband cannot so simply repeat Jacob's reply: "Can I take the place of God, who has denied you the fruit of the womb?" (Gen 30:1-2). In Abraham's time the "institution"


The introduction of publicly available application stores for mobile devices enables to publish research prototypes to a wide audience. This distribution channel can be used to conduct studies with participants from all over the world and diverse backgrounds. We report from a study that compares three visualization techniques for off-screen objects on digital maps. Usage data from 362 persons was collected and 105 persons completed an interactive tutorial. Significant differences between the three conditions were found. The results support previous findings but we conjecture that the results are affected by unintended influences.


The Principal Component Analysis was applied to three sets of data, generated from the results of grain size analysis of 153 surface sediment samples of Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro. State. The results show the advantages of the method in the interpretation of the different textural facies of the sediments of the area, in comparison to the classification methods of Shepard (1954) and Folk & Ward (1957). The results show also that the grain size frequencies are the best set of data for the application of the analysis.


of a dissertation at the University of Miami. Dissertation supervised by Professor Brenna Munro. No. of pages in text. (265) My research underscores complex interactions between African artistic production, nationalism, gender inequality, and land rights. I deploy East Africa's literary oeuvre— including novels, short stories and a Swahili play—to explore mutually informing social and artistic contexts that inspire phenomena as diverse as administrative land policies and utopian reformist schemes. I read transnational fiction against colonial photography and political manifestos, to address the "cross-pollination" of ideas and discourses. "Writing on the Soil" argues that postcolonial theory needs re-orienting towards materialist criticism and political conversations regarding resource inequality as suggested by texts that reflect on the material structures of neo/colonial domination in Africa. By recovering a lost argument within postcolonial theory about materiality and its influence on textual aesthetics and artistic production, "Writing on the Soil" examines the metaphorical labor that land performs in African literary and visual texts.


In the present paper, a new type GTA welding system using a hollow tungsten electorode is proposed to ignite and sustain a welding arc in a vacuum like the open space. In the developed system, Ar gas for discharge is supplied to arc space through the hollow tungsten electrode.The results of the present work are summarized as follows, (1) Even in a low pressure condition, a small quantity of Ar gas flow can ignite and sustain an arc discharge and the arc can melt the base metal.(2) In a low pressure condition, a stationary arc follows a transient arc. The period of the transient arc discharge increases with the decrease of Ar gas flow rate.(3) With the decrease of Ar gas flow rate, the arc voltage increases and the penetration of base metal (stainless steel) increases in size.


Evidence suggests that conducting two or more tasks simultaneously (i.e., multitasking) leads to decreased attention overall and plays a contributing role in accidents and injuries. This article examines the potential impact multitasking can have in a work environment influenced by electrical hazards. This article 1) provides an example of an incident scenario in which multitasking could play a role, 2) describes the psychology of multitasking, 3) explains why we overestimate our multitasking ability and how this leads us to take risks, and 4) suggests how to apply this knowledge in certain electrical hazard scenarios.


To isolate,purify,and identify the Opuntia dillenii polysaccharide(ODP).Fresh cactus was extracted by hot water,precipitated by ethanol,fractionated by DEAE Sepharose fast flow,separated by Sephadex G series,and treated by freeze-drying.After the above purification,five po1ysaccharides were obtained.Purity of them was examined by electrophoresis,relative mo1ecular weight of them was measured by gel chromatography,and chemical composition was determined by HPLC.A11 of ODP were proved to be homogenous,relative mo1ecular weight of them were 2.0×103、1.0×106、4.0×103、9.2×105、and 5.0×103.ODP1 was composed of rhamnose only,ODP2 was made up of rhamnose and D-glucose,ODP4 contained rhamnose and D-galactose,ODP3 and ODP5 consisted of rhamnose and another unidentified monosaccharide,respectively.The deproteinized or decolorized procedure is not necessary for the purification of ODP,and a11 of ODP are identified to be homogenous.3tAbs.,12refs.


The Gestalt principles of perceptual learning elucidate how the human brain categorizes and comprehends a set of visual elements grouped together. One of the principles of Gestalt perceptual learning is the law of closure which propounds that human perception has the proclivity to visualize a fragmented object as a preknown whole by bridging the missing gaps. Herein, a letter recognition scheme emulating the Gestalt closure principle is demonstrated, utilizing artificial synapses made of 3D integrated MA3Bi2I9 (MBI) perovskite nanowire (NW) array. The artificial synapses exhibit short‐term plasticity (STP) and long‐term potentiation (LTP) and a transition from STP to LTP with increasing number of input electrical pulses. Initiatory ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations attribute the conductance change in the MBI NW artificial synapses to the rotation of MA+ clusters, culminating in charge exchange between MA+ and Bi2I93−. Each device yields 40 conductance states with excellent retention >105 s, minimal variation (2σ/mean) <10%, and endurance of ≈105 cycles. MBI NW‐based artificial neural network (ANN) is constructed to recognize fragmented letters alike their distinction in unabridged form and also the gradual withering of synaptic connectivity with engendered missing fragments is demonstrated, thereby successfully implementing Gestalt closure principle.


Background: During biting and chewing the periodontal mechanoreceptors (PMRs) signal sensory information about the point of attack, the direction of the tooth loads and the intensity of the force with a high sensitivity to very low forces. The sensory information from the PMRs is used by the central nervous system (CNS) to control and position the food morsels and direct the force vectors during biting and chewing. In the absence of this information as for example in subjects with dental implants, control of food positioning, bite force direction and magnitude of force is hampered. Aims: The present thesis examines the sensorimotor mechanisms involved in the spatial aspects of human jaw movements during biting and chewing. Further, it aims to identify specific sensorimotor impairments in patients rehabilitated with fixed prostheses supported by dental implants or natural teeth. Material and methods: In a series of studies we investigated the effects of short-term training (Study I) and of transient sensory input deprivation due to local anesthesia (Study II) on oral fine motor performance in individuals with normal healthy dentition. Further, we evaluated sensorimotor impairments in patients with fixed toothand implant-supported prostheses during tasks involving biting (Study III) and chewing (Study IV). Results: These results of the present studies revealed that short-term training of oral fine motor tasks increased the accuracy of task performance and decreased the duration of jaw movements required to complete the biting task (Study I). Transient deprivation of sensory inputs decreased the accuracy of task performance, yet had no impact on the duration of jaw movements required to complete the biting task (Study II). Sensorimotor impairment was observed in subjects with fixed toothand implant-supported prostheses compared to subjects with natural dentition during the oral fine biting task. This impairment was apparent from lower accuracy of task performance and a shorter duration of jaw movements compared to those with natural dentition (Study III). Moreover, when attempting to crush the food morsel during a chewing task, the subjects in the fixed toothand implant-supported groups exhibited significantly longer total duration of the jaw movement phases than individuals with natural dentition, owing to food morsel slippage (Study IV). Conclusion: The findings of these studies indicate that short-term training leads to superior spatial control reflected in better performance and optimization of jaw motor functions. However, transiently or permanently altered inputs of sensory information from the PMRs perturbs the spatial aspects of oral fine motor control. It is apparent that lack of peripheral afferent input to the CNS attenuates fine-motor control of the jaws. LIST OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS I. Effects of short-term training on behavioral learning and skill acquisition during intraoral fine motor task Kumar A, Grigoriadis J, Trulsson M, Svensson P, Svensson KG Neuroscience. 2015; 306:10–17 II. Perturbed oral motor control due to anesthesia during intraoral manipulation of food Grigoriadis J, Kumar A, Svensson P, Svensson KG, Trulsson M Manuscript III. Alterations in intraoral manipulation and splitting of food by subjects with toothor implant-supported fixed prostheses Svensson KG, Grigoriadis J, Trulsson M Clin Oral Impl. Res. 2013; 24:549-555 IV. Motor behavior during the first chewing cycle in subjects with fixed toothor implantsupported prostheses Grigoriadis J, Svensson KG, Trulsson M Clin Oral Impl. Res. 2016; 27:473-480


The introduction of eGovernment services and applications leads to major changes in the structure and operation of public administrations. We present current work in progress in Italian eGovernment projects aimed at the analysis, development, deployment and evaluation of tools and environments to support the people who design, develop, use and evaluate eServices to citizens.


This paper summarizes the results of a pan-Canadian online survey study that investigates the extent to which school practitioners ( N = 1,153) use research to inform their practice. The self-reports indicate that the majority of the respondents used educational research, yet this engagement was infrequent. Although the respondents shared neutral attitudes about research, their comments add rather negative connotation to their perceptions. This study's findings are relevant to school leadership organizations, teacher education institutions and research-generating bodies as they point to the necessity of increasing research relevance and accessibility, cultivating teaching as a research-based profession, and building school capacity to use research.


The early idea of English Puritanism has had an important influence on Defoe's creation.The image of Robinson is closely related to Defoe's ideology and life experience,therefore Defoe shows his own thoughts of Puritanism and sense of value through Robinson's behavior.This paper studies the image of Robinson from an ideological point of view.


We read with interest the recent paper by Sin and colleagues1 which, we believe, raises more questions than it answers.

A major concern is the fact that ascertainment of mortality was incomplete for a significant proportion of patients (973/5086), corresponding to 19% of the total (not the reported 12%) who withdrew prematurely from the study. This loss to follow up was more likely to occur in the placebo group. The authors use the ISOLDE study2 to claim that patients who withdrew prematurely were more likely to die, and that therefore the hazard ratio is in fact an underestimate of the benefit of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). However, the ISOLDE data are themselves contradictory on this point. The claim is based on …


The effect of hypomotility of the intestine and longer cycles of the intestinal MMC( migrating motor complex) is increasingly recognized on cholesterol gallstone formation. Hypomotility of the intestine and longer cycles of the intestinal MMC indirectly lead to the increasing concentration of DCA(deoxycholic acid): DCA itself can slow down intestinal transit, thereby allowing more time for intestinal cholesterol absorption . Hypomotility of gallbladder might also imply a direct inhibitory effect of DCA;DCA enhances cholesterol excretion to bile and biliary cholesterol crystallization by destabilising cholesterol-rich vesicles. Patients with cholesterol gallstones have defective gallbladder motor function, and increased biliary DCA. Delayed small bowel transit may contribute to supersaturation of bile with cholesterol by increasing DCA production.


The toxicity of CNU、GANU、ACNU、GCNU、CLZ、PCNU、BCNU、CCNU、STZN、MeCCNU、FCNU in NIH mice was determined.The LD50S were 5.8、18.0、26.0、27.0、31.5、 38.0、48.5、58. 0、150. 0、185.0 and500.0 mg·kg-1,respectively.No positive relationship between the toxicity and the effectiveness was observed.For Nitrosoureas with 3-N-hetero-cycnc ring or aliphatic ring,the inductionof resistance to drug was difficult,their toxiciteswere lower and the effectiveness was higher.CNU had no chloroethyl group in 3-N-position,so its toxicity was higher as compared with BCNU.If the chlorine atom in 1-N-chloroethylgroup was substituted by fluorine atom,the toxicity of this compound significantly decreased.


The invention discloses a method for making substrate embedded with element. The method includes: firstly, providing a core layer comprised by stacking plural insulation layers in partially curing state; and then, forming embedding hole on the core layer and disposing an inner embedded element with at least one electrodes in the embedding hole; respectively forming metallic layers on upper and lower surfaces, and pressing the core layer and the two metallic layer together to fill the insulation layer into the embedding hole and coat the periphery surface of the embedded element; at last, respectively patterning the metallic layers of the upper and lower surface of the core layer to from a first signal layer and a second signal layer on both upper and lower surfaces of the core layer thereby electrically connecting the embedded element to realize electrical connection of the electrode of the embedded element and the first signal layer.


Pekarangan is part of a complex of small-scale agroforestry landscape. Pekarangan have 3 functions i.e. ecological, economic, and social. ecological function, for providing landscape services such as carbon stock and biodiversity; economic function, can supplies foods and nutrition; and social function, for building low carbon communities and increasing the environmental awareness. Therefore, this research aims to correlate carbon stocks and biodiversity index of Pekarangan in Ciliwung Watershed. This study has measured 48 samples which were divided in three stream, namely upstream, midstream, and downstream. The samples were divided into four groups, G1 (pekarangan size less than 120 m2 and doesn't have other agricultural land (no other agricultural land - OAL), G2 (<120 m2 with OAL < 1000 m2), G3 (120-400 m2 with no OAL) and G4 (120-400 m2 with OAL < 1000 m2). The results show that correlation between carbon stock and biodiversity index value is R2 = 0.05. The results showed no correlation between carbon stocks and biodiversity index could be due to the amount of Pekarangan owners who prefer potted plants than plant a tree, so that the carbon sequestered in the Pekarangan only slightly.


ABSTRACT This study describes a Toxoplasma gondii IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on a new chimeric antigen containing three immunodominant regions from the MIC1, MAG1, and SAG1 proteins of the parasite and shows that this test is useful for diagnostic purposes and may replace the lysed and whole-cell antigens.


When the copra-meal-defatted copra-is attacked by Asp.oryzae for the purpose of brewing shoyu, special ordour is produced from the koij. The authors investigated it concentrating by steam-distillation and fractional distillation, and by way of semicarbazone method and oxidation by brome they found out these components are methylketones ; that is methyl-n-amylketone, methyl-n-heptylketone and methyl-n-nonylketone. In other way they cultivated Asp. oryzae in such composition ; water 100cc, peptone 10g_??_glucose 10g, agar 20g and added 4_??_5 drops of caproic, .caprylic, capric and lauric acid individually The ordour of methyl-ketones produced is tested and the results are as follows.


Recently we experienced a case of synovial osteochondromatosis which originated from the right hip joint. A considerable number of cases of this disease have been reported; however, it does not commonly originate in the hip joint. The characteristics of the hip joint militates against diagnosing the localization of the free bodies and furthermore determining the surgical approach. In this respect, CT scan was very useful in our case. In order to complete the excision, dislocation of the hip joint seemed important. But a review of the 20 cases reported in detail so far revealed the dislocation left quite a degree of ROM restriction after the operation. Therefore, rather than completing the excision by key words: synovial osteochondromatosis, hip joint, CT scan, surgical approach, operative method


Aim: This study is to evaluate the pattern of stress distribution and bone failure around the Absoanchor micro-implant under various loading conditions and various force levels.
Materials and Methods: FESA was originally introduced as a numerical form of analysis in aeronautical engineering and has the potential to obtain a computer generated mathematic model of a real object of complicated shape with its different physical material properties in order to identify the stresses and displacement. Finite element structural models of the Absoanchor implant, cortical bone and cancellous (trabecular) bone of both maxilla and mandible were generated using solid modeling software NASTRAN. In this present study three types of loads were applied on head of implant to simulate different loading conditions. The forces applied were in the range of 25-300gms in both horizontal and diagonal plane, while forces of 10-100gms were applied in vertical plane.
Results: There is no bone deformation seen in this study in all the three loading conditions.
Conclusion: Since there is no bone deformation for the normal range of force in all the three planes the absoanchor titanium micro-implant placed in maxilla and mandible provide stable anchorage for orthodontic force.


The free vibration along with the vertical direction of the symmetric double spring –mass system has been studied with experimental method. It is discovered that when the distance between two suspending points is not zero, the vibration of symmetrical double spring mass system along the vertical direction is nonlinear. The period of the system increases with the increase of the amplitude and distance of suspending points. The equivalent mass coefficient of the system vibrating nonlinearly is greater than that of the system vibrating harmonically and is related to inclination degree and relative elongation of the spring.


The electronics designing process exceeded the simple level of developing projects based on empirical approaches, when for every single change tremendous cost in time and money was spent in most of the cases. Moving the design process from the real to the virtual world changed the engineering perspective on what can be done in less time. As previous discussed [9], [12], signal integrity and power integrity analysis become more and more recommended for the current electronic designs developed around the world. Combining the high frequency and high component density on most of current electronic designs, the generated temperature becomes a very important result of power consumption. This kind of issue can be controlled using certain approaches. Metal mounting holes with their screw, radiators, fans and some other thermal transfer solutions might be instated. The designer experience can be used to control the board temperature but the significant amount of time and money on checking solutions is tremendously reduced by using HyperLynx Thermal, the thermal analysis solution provided by the Mentor Graphics Company. The paper focuses on this thermal analysis solution capabilities for controlling temperature techniques on virtual prototypes of printed circuit boards by running what if scenarios.


The aim of this article is to introduce a novel Circle Search Algorithm (CSA) with the purpose of obtaining a precise electrical model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Current-voltage and current-power curves are used to characterize the performance of PEMFCs. A nonlinear model with seven unknown parameters is used to describe these polarization curves. Estimating these unknown parameters is a critical issue because they influence the dynamic analysis of fuel cells in a variety of applications such as transportation and smart grids. The suggested method is based on minimizing the fitness function (the sum of the squared errors (SSE)) between estimated and measured voltage values. The CSA is compared to the neural network algorithm (NNA), grey wolf optimization (GWO), and the sine cosine algorithm (SCA). The optimization results reveal that the simulation times of the CSA, NNA, GWO, and SCA are 5.2, 6, 5.8, and 5.75 s, respectively. Moreover, the CSA converges to the best minimum within the first 100 iterations, which is faster than the other algorithms. The robustness of the CSA is verified using 20 independent runs, where the CSA achieves the smallest average and standard deviation. In addition, the t-test proves the superiority of the CSA compared to the other algorithms, where all p-values are less than 5%. The simulated I-V and I-P curves of the CSA-PEMFC model match the measured curves very closely. Moreover, the efficacy of the CSA-PEMFC model is evaluated under a variety of temperature and pressure conditions. Therefore, the suggested CSA-PEMFC model has the potential to be an accurate and efficient model.


Astonishing cancellations take place in the calculation of high-energy scattering cross sections in quantum quadratic gravity, a quantum field theory for gravity. Tree-level differential cross sections that are minimally inclusive behave as 1/E, as desired for a well-behaved UV completion. Such cross sections are calculated for the various spin states of the massless and massive graviparticles. These describe the hard scattering processes that occur in a picture involving the gravitational analog of parton showers. The structure of some of the simpler amplitudes is also explored. Unitarity without positivity is the key property of the perturbative theory.


The immune reconstitution syndrome caused by bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was found in 4 HIV-infected children who were immunized with BCG at birth. The localized, suppurative, BCG-related complications developed within 10 weeks after initiation of antiretroviral therapy. The incidence rate was 2.7 cases per 100 persons (95% confidence interval, 0.7-6.7). Patients responded well to treatment with isoniazid and rifampicin.


"Cao Cao And Yang Xiu"SHANG Changrong acts as the leading role has not faded for 20 years, played a commanding role in the Chinese traditional drama during the new time, it has also formed a feature of SHANG Changrong's art characteristic. In this play, SHANG Changrong first remolds a new character of Cao Cao, intently manifests the human nature in the Chinese traditional drama during the new time; and first constructs the art of new character with painted facial make-up more than the copper hammer, rack, has exposed the rule which once more tradition grows continually. In these "first", there are some kind of universal significance.


Objective To evaluate the practical value of serological tests and PCR SSP for HLA B typing.Methods PCR SSP was used for genotyping of HLA B homozygotes identified by serological tests.Result Of 75 samples of HLA B homozygotes identified by serological tests12 were found as heterozygotes by PCR SSP genotyping.Conclusions HLA B typing by PCR SSP had proved to be accurate and reliable,while the serological tests were cheap,rapid and easy to perform.


– This paper aims to explore the rationale underpinning the national development of UNISON's organising strategy and its implementation at regional and branch levels., – The author used non‐participant observation case studies in three National Health Service (NHS) UNISON branches of 92, 49 and 17 per cent density and 45 interviews with non‐members, members, branch activists (key‐stewards and stewards), full‐time officers and managers., – UNISON aimed to devolve financial resources to branches whilst encouraging participation supported by training and increased in‐fill recruitment. Initial regional support diminished because of managerial opposition. Individual attempts by regional staff to resurrect the strategy met with significant resistance within branches as key‐stewards regarded it as largely inappropriate., – Concentration on a single union region, which experienced specific problems, could exaggerate poor articulation of strategy. Small numbers of interviews with full‐time officers may ignore alternative viewpoints within the national and regional levels., – Rather than using the union organising model as a yardstick against which to measure the impact of change, this work examines the incremental development of national strategy and explores the problems of implementation throughout the union to branch level.


The effect of grain boundary phase on contact damage behavior is investigated in alumina ceramics. Four types of aluminas doped with MgO, anorthite (CaO·Al2O3·2SiO2), silica, and with both MgO and anorthite are prepared such that they have similar average grain size by adjusting sintering conditions. MgO-doped alumina composed of equiaxed grains shows brittle fracture behavior, and anorthite-doped alumina composed of elongated grains shows a quasi-plastic response under Hertzian sphere indentation. The co-doped alumina with MgO and anorthite, however, is damage tolerant even with its rounded grains, while silica-doped alumina with similar grain size and shape to anorthite-doped alumina shows abrupt strength degradation with low critical load for cone cracking. The damage behavior is discussed from the viewpoint of residual stress induced by thermal expansion mismatch between the grains and grain boundary phases. The damage tolerant behavior of alumina ceramics is significantly affected by the composition of grain boundary phase.


Abstract Background Detection of β-D-glucan (BDG) in serum is recognized as the mycological evidence in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection (IFI). However, its diagnostic value in low prevalence of IFI has not been elucidated. We aimed to examine the performance of BDG in hematology patients receiving antimold prophylaxis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all BDG results performed for the purpose of diagnosis or surveillance for IFI in hematology patients receiving posaconazole or micafungin prophylaxis from January 2017 to February 2019 in a tertiary hospital. At least two consecutive positive results of BDG were regarded as positive BDG. All the episodes were classified into true-positive (TP, positive BDG with probable/proven IFI), true-negative (TN, negative BDG without probable/proven IFI), false-positive (FP, positive BDG without probable/proven IFI), false-negative (FN, negative BDG with probable/proven IFI), and nonevaluable (could not be determined for the occurrence of breakthrough IFI). When BDG test was performed in the setting of persistent fever ≥72 hours in spite of broad-spectrum antibiotics or with a suspicion of IFI, it was defined as a diagnostic BDG episode, while others were defined as a surveillance BDG episode. Results Of a total of 140 episodes, 24 episodes were non-evaluable. Among 116 evaluable episodes, 75 received induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, 35 underwent stem cell transplantation, and 10 had intensive treatment for graft-vs.-host disease. There were three episodes of probable/proven IFI (2.6%). Ninety-one (78.4%) were performed with diagnostic purpose, while 25 (21.6%) were performed for surveillance. TP, TN, FP, and FN were 2 (1.7%), 91, 22, and 1, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value were 66.7%, 80.5%, 8.3% and 98.9%, respectively. PPV was 13.3% and 0% in diagnostic and surveillance BDG episodes, respectively. Conclusion The PPV of BDG was low in hematology patients receiving antimold prophylaxis, even in the diagnostic-driven episodes. The routine screening of BDG is not helpful, and the BDG test may be used for exclusion of IFI rather than for diagnosis in these patients. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


We aim to increase service life and reliability of the conveyor chain traction body. The study of oscillatory pro-cesses in traction bodies of different chain conveyors have shown that the spectra of oscillations is necessarily present the frequency of their own free oscillations of traction body. This can be explained by the excitation of the last periodic blows rollers at the joints of rails of lamellar conveyor. Equation of the first approximation in the presence of shock at the joints gives the averaged amplitude of vibration, the value of which have impacted posi-tively: the value of the pulse, the frequency of strikes, is negatively correlated with the length of the pipeline. Thus the attack on the joints to increase the amplitude of low-frequency of oscillations of the traction body of the conveyor.