Various methods of eliciting the extensor plantar response (upgoing toe through action of the extensor hallucis longus muscle in concert with one or more other flexor muscles of the leg) have been report ed (3). Among these the most well known is the method described by Babinski (Babinski sign) (3). Eliciting an extensor plantar response by head anteflexion has not been reported. In a 75-yo woman, height 161 cm, weight 63 kg, with a history of Wertheim surgery, shrinking kidneys, chronic renal insufficiency leading to hemodialysis since 3 weeks prior, anemia, arterial hypertension, heart failure, cataract, liver cysts, and hypothyroidism, disorientation and confusional state became apparent. A continuous cognitive decline has been already noted since several months before. Clinical neurologic examination showed disorientation for all qualities, wasting of the facial muscles, a positive Brudzinski sign, diffuse weakness (M5-), wasting of the upper and lower limb muscles, and reduced Achilles tendon reflexes. Passively anteflecting the head to test the Brudzinski sign, repeatedly and reproducibly elicited an extensor plantar response on the left side (Fig. 1). The plantar response was also extensor when elicited in the ordinary way by Babinski's method. Blood-work revealed marked renal insufficiency with metabolic acidosis, anemia, elevated alphaamylase, hypothyroidism, reduced phosphorus, increased calcium, and hyperparathyroidism. A cerebral CT scan showed prominent basal ganglia lacunas bilaterally, and previous left anterior and posterior border zone infarctions. An MRI of the cerebrum disclosed a recent ischemic infarction in the left posterior border-zone, marked leucaraiosis, patchy lesions within the parieto-occipital white matter, a lacuna in the pons, various lacunas in the basal ganglia bilaterally, and diffuse atrophy. The upper segments of the cervical spine did not show an abnormal signal. Meningitis, carcinomatosis and subarachnoid bleeding were excluded upon the favorable further course Though not confirmed by more extensive and specific investigations, a mitochondrial disorder was suspected. Usually, an extensor plantar response is elicited by continuous stroking of the lateral plantar surface of the foot and the transverse arch to the metatarsophalangeal joint in a single movement with a firm object or by the thumb-nail-drag method (Babinski sign) (3, 5). Other methods to elicit the extensor plantar response have been proposed by Chaddock, Gordon, Oppenheim, Gonda, Stransky, Rossolimo, Mendel and Bechterew, Schäfer, Bing, Moniz, Throckmorton, Strumpell, and Cornell (3). Unfortunately, there are no systematic studies available on the reliability of eliciting the plantar response by Acta Neurol. Belg., 2009, 109, 57-58


A primarily experimental investigation of the deposition of droplets from a turbulent two-phase suspension flow on a parallel vertical wall has been found to be closely related to the ratio of fluctuation velocity of the droplets to that of the flow and the size of the droplets. Data are obtained for an air-water mist flow parallel to a vertical flat plat at Re = 1.54 × 105 to 4.2 × 105 by the use of a particle-sizing two-dimensional reference-mode laser-Doppler anemometry technique. Although no rigorous theory can be formulated at present due to the complexities involved, however, an analytical attempt is made in the hope of providing an explanation to the physics of the phenomenon. It is based on an apparent turbulent viscosity of the fluid as felt by the moving particles in a turbulent two-phase suspension flow and the most energetic eddy frequency of the flow.


Over the last fifteen years, emerging economies have experienced abrupt changes in bond spreads and large movements in capital flows. We propose a simple general equilibrium model where international investors hire fund managers to invest their capital either in the bonds of an emerging economy or in a riskless asset. We model the emerging economy as a small-open economy subject to an aggregate shock, populated by agents making decisions of consumption, borrowing and default. There is only an infinitesimal fraction of fund managers who have information on the fundamentals of the emerging country. This generates career concerns that distort the investment decision of uninformed fund managers. When the probability of default is sufficiently high, they prefer to invest in safe bonds even at a lower expected return to reduce the probability of being fired. This is what we define "reputational premium". As the economic and financial conditions change, the reputational premium can switch sign. This generates an overreaction of the market leading to excess volatility of spreads, capital flows and output.


Upon anchoring the ship at a point selected for a station, careful soundings were taken to determine the character and regularity of bottom. I f not a l r e a d y m progress erection of the tower was begun on the skid beams over the forw ard w ell deck by bolting foot plates to plank mattresses about 4 feet square, a fter which the corner posts w ere attached and each loaded with 300 pounds of railroad iron secured to the corner post just above


Magnetic alumina micro-spheres with Fe core/Al2O3 shell structure were prepared by the oil column method. It shows that the specific surface area and pore volume of the Fe/SiO2/Al2O3 composite micro-spheres calcined at 600°C were 185 m2/g and 0.98 cm3/g, respectively. The specific saturation magnetization is 26.0 emu/g. The distribution of particle size was in the range of 100~200 μm.


Structural bone damage is often considered to be late consequence of inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)[1]. However this concept may be biased by insufficient quality of imaging hard- and software. Herein we present a novel combination of high-resolution computed tomography (HR-pQCT) with cinematic rendering technique, which incorporates a more advanced lighting model for volume rendering, creating photorealistic and highly detailed 3D images of joint surfaces. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


FIELD: railway transport; permanent way maintenance and repair. SUBSTANCE: proposed machine contains first tie carrier designed for taking old ties and furnished with old tie lifting device, and second tie carrier designed for placing new ties on leveled up crushed-stone base. First and second tie carriers are provided with connecting device for split connection with oil tie lifting device. According to other design version of machine, old tie lifting device is connected with first and second tie carriers. Said old tie lifting device is made for re-placing from working position into non-working position owing to provision of drives. Peculiarities of proposed method are as follows: to change working direction of machine, device for lifting oil ties is removed from first tie carrier and is mounted on second tie carrier. Direction of transportation is changed for both carriers. Use of proposed machine makes it possible to change working direction bringing to minimum re-equipment work. EFFECT: provision of reliable machine for removing old and laying new rail track. 5 cl, 5 dwg


Genetic and phenotypic parameters of papaya (Carica papaya L.) were estimated for plant height, stem diameter at 10 and 50 cm height (above the soil surface), number of leaves, internodes length and foliar index at the ages of three, five and seven months old. The experiment was conducted using eight half-sib progenies at Tiete Experimental Station, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The results of the variance analyses showed significant effects for plant height for the three ages; for stem diameter at 10 cm height, in seven month old plants; and for median internodes length in three and five month old plants. Estimates for the genotypic determination coefficient, for the average of progenies, were high in most of the cases. These results showed the possibility of a successful mass selection of papaya, for the variables studied.


The Sundance Formation covers an area from Northern Montana to Northern Colorado and from Eastern Wyoming to Western Wyoming. The formation is fine- to medium- grained sandstone composed of quartz and is Upper Jurassic in age. This research focuses on the formation in the Devil's Tower area of Northeast Wyoming. Within the formation are various facies deposited under different depositional environments, including the Stockdale Beaver Shale overlain by the Hulett Sandstone. The Stockdale Beaver Shale, primarily slope forming, is roughly 30 meters thick and was deposited in a lacustrine setting. The Hulett Sandstone, cliff forming, in roughly 15 meters thick and was deposited under a series of tidal inlet sequences. The differences in depositional environments suggest that there could be variations in the physical properties of the rock. This research focuses on porosity and permeability, how much void space, by volume, is within the rock and how connected the void spaces are, respectively. To find these two properties of the rock, samples were taken from the formation and are currently being analyzed via thin section petrography. Porosity and permeability are important characteristics. They determine how much of a fluid can be stored in the rock, and how easily a fluid can move through the rock. Knowing something about these characteristics can give insight on how the formation could function as an aquifer, and how to make decisions about drilling water and/or oil wells.


This paper defines the knowledge search problem and presents the overview of existing solutions. The classification of systems for knowledge search is given here and the working principle of these systems is described. Three types of systems for knowledge search are marked out: knowledge search engines, Q&A websites, combined systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each system type were revealed due to testing results of the following systems: TrueKnowledge, START, Wolfram|Alpha, Freebase, Blurtit, Allexperts, Ответы@mail.ru, Answers.


As genome sequencing is becoming faster and cheaper, an abundance of DNA and protein sequence data is available. However, experimental annotation of structural or functional informa-tion develops at a much slower pace. Therefore, machine learning techniques have been widely adopted to make accurate predictions on unseen sequence data. In recent years, deep learning has been gaining popularity, as it allows for effective end-to-end learning. One consideration for its application on sequence data is the choice for a suitable and effective sequence representation strategy. In this paper, we investigate the signif-icance of three common encoding schemes on the multi-label prediction problem of Gene Ontology (GO) term annotation, namely a one-hot encoding, an ad-hoc trainable embedding, and pre-trained protein vectors, using different hyperparameters. We found that traditional unigram one-hot encodings achieved very good results, only slightly outperformed by unigram ad-hoc trainable embeddings and bigram pre-trained embeddings (by at most 3% for the Fmax score), suggesting the exploration of different encoding strategies to be potentially beneficial. Most in-terestingly, when analyzing and visualizing the trained embeddings, we found that biologically relevant (dis)similarities between amino acid n grams were implicitly learned, which were consistent with their physiochemical properties.


Almost twenty years ago now, one summer's night, I led a party of the blind—myself included— into a deep woods full of copperheads and barbed wire. Scruffy partisans of the sixties all, we had sat on the porch of my trailer in the woods of southeastern Ohio drinking beer until the sky clouded over with the beginnings of a storm, and the moon fled the hollow and pulled the black hat over its face. We'd run out of lies and PICkINg TOmaTOES, NEaR FREEzE, aT mIDNIghT


The authors describe the case of a woman who suffered 2 brief episodes of loss of limb motor activity (left side) after 3 months of treatment with oral contraceptives (Lynestrenol and Mestranol). It is known that oral contraceptives cause an increase in some factors of blood coagulation (e.g. Factors 7 9 10 and fibrinogen). The only pa thological finding in this case was the absence of fibrinolytic activity which was normal again when tested after 10 days when clinical symptoms had disappeared. Thromboembolism is ruled out. There may have occurred a temporary insufficiency in cerebral arterial circulation presumably favored by a condition of blood hypercoagulability (absence of fibrinolytic activity). Recent tests by other authors tend to confirm this hypothesis. Although the mechanism of action is unknown it is reasonable to assume that the indiscriminate use of oral contraceptives may cause a predisposition to arterial vascular insufficiency.


The enlightment of Lenin's New Economic Policy on us is: 1.Be sure to learn and take advantase of capitalism; 2.Rent system is still the form we can take advantage of; 3.Be sure to develop the business.


Using Monte Carlo simulations with overrelaxation, we have equilibrated lattices up to $\beta=2.928$, size $60^4$, for pure SU(2) lattice gauge theory with the Wilson action. We calculate topological charges with the standard cooling method and find that they become more reliable with increasing $\beta$ values and lattice sizes. Continuum limit estimates of the topological susceptibility $\chi$ are obtained of which we favor $\chi^{1/4}/T_c=0.643\,(12)$, where $T_c$ is the SU(2) deconfinement temperature. Differences between cooling length scales in different topological sectors turn out to be too small to be detectable within our statistical errors.


Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, hosted her Swedish counterpart, Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman, Elisabet Fura, during a roundtable discussion on the role of the ombudsman on 7 October in Pretoria. The Dean of Law at the University of South Africa, Professor Rushiella Songca was also part of the discussion.


Current situation, main connection modes and their applicable conditions of MV distribution network in Shanghai, China are introduced first. Considering the practical conditions of Shanghai, MV distribution network are classified into three types: overhead line network, cable network and overhead line-cable mixed network. Planning and optimization strategies of each type are analyzed based on supply ability, reliability level and economical efficiency. For overhead line network, the installed capacity and the properties of the customers determined the number of the sections and links of a certain overhead line. Optimization must be adopted in accord with the network reconstruction. For cable network, switching station and ring network are the two main modes. Connection modes, type and number of the stations should be analyzed carefully upon the actual situation of a district. For mixed network, appropriate balance should be considered first, according to three key factors: the regional characteristics, the developing stage of a district and the corresponding planning scheme. Practice in optimization of MV distribution network is introduced in the end of the paper. One example is about the optimization and reconstruction strategy of the distribution network in a mature district, the other is based on the reformation of overhead lines in a developing zone. These two kinds of projects are now very popular in Shanghai, especially in central town. INTRODUCTION Compared with HV network, MV distribution network is much more complicated and various in connection modes in typical districts of cities, especially in Shanghai and other big cities of China. It also experienced several periods along with the establishment and development of the cities. For a long time, there are no definite standards for planning and optimization of MV distribution. Planning control is also not carried out strictly. Such situation causes the casualness and variety of the connection modes in MV distribution network. On the other hand, expanding of MV distribution network is now obviously subject to the site constraints of distribution stations in cities. So it is significant to adopt proper optimization strategy to improve power supply ability under site constraints of distribution stations. PLANNING STRATEGIES OF MV DISTRIBUTION NETWORK DIRECT SUPPLY FROM SUBSTATION This connection mode is usually used for large consumers, whose installed capacity is more than 4000kVA, but less than 6300kVA. Single incoming supply, two incoming supplies (both are often used, backup for each other), two incoming supplies (one is often used and the other is backup) are three often adopted forms in this mode. SUPPLY FROM SWITCHING STATION This mode is suitable for the regions with high load density to fully utilize the power supply capability of a certain substation. Limitations of the feeder intervals in a certain substation can also be relieved using this mode. Direct supply from switching station This mode is applicable to the power users with installed capacity from 1250kVA to 4000kVA, usually used in industrial parks and business districts, where large power users are concentrated intensively. [2] (See Figure 1, S represents sourcing substation, K represents switching station, u represents users) S K U P S U U Figure1. Direct from switching station Single ring network from switching station This mode is suitable for small and medium power users, such as residential users, usually including three forms: (a) supply from circle network station (or ring main unit), which is sourced from switching station (See figure 2.a, K represents switching station, P represents circle network station or ring main unit). (b) supply from boxtype transformer substation, which is sourced from switching station (See figure 2.b, wx represents box-type transformer substation). (c) supply from box-type transformer substation connected to circle network station, sourced from switching station (See figure 2.c). The installed capacity of a single ring is limited to 4000kVA. This mode can meet "N-1" rule. [3] C I R E D 21st International Conference on Electricity Distribution Frankfurt, 6-9 June 2011 Paper 0122Paper No 0122 2/4 Double ring network from switching station This mode is often used in important areas, where power users needing high supply reliability are concentrated, such as central business districts, high grade residential areas. The power sources of each circle network station are from two different switching station (or different buses of a certain switching station). This mode can usually meet "N-2" rule.


Immune checkpoints are molecules on the surface of leucocytes which modulate the amplitude of immune responses. Monoclonal antibodies blocking these molecules are known as immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) and have been shown to unleash anti- tumour immunity and mediate durable cancer regressions. ICIs include ipilimumab which blocks the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), nivolumab and pembrolizumab which are both against the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)1. The clinical use of these ICIs has led to significantly improved survival in patients with a variety of solid malignancies including melanoma.


MAKING VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) A REALITY! Chair: Daniela Souza Director Marketing of SET SVP AD Digital The recent development of VR technologies gave wings to all our creative dreams. Content creators are now able to take viewers through an immersive experience with an almost unlimited potential and transport consumers to any place in this or other worlds. Virtual reality is unique, especially when compared to other types of media, in that the viewer's attention is full and exclusively focused on the experience, making for a powerful and lasting impression.


PurposeThe transition from school to higher education is a complex process. Peer mentoring is often used by institutions to facilitate this process. The purpose of this research, which was conducted at a South African university, was to determine whether a peer mentoring programme, which involved a large number of students and a limited number of mentors, could successfully assist students to adapt to the academic and psychosocial demands of university life.Design/methodology/approachA sequential explanatory mixed method design was implemented. In the first phase, a questionnaire was used to collect data to establish participants' experience of the programme. The findings from the questionnaire were used to inform the qualitative phase, in which the participants' perceptions of the benefits of the mentor programme were further explored by means of group interviews. The qualitative data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.FindingsThe results indicate that a structured peer mentoring programme, in which a mentor works with up to 70 mentees in a group setting, can be a useful tool to assist with students' transition to university. The research found that the peer mentoring programme contributed to the students' academic, social and personal integration into the higher education environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe perspectives of mentors and faculty were not included. No comparative study with students who did not participate in the programme was conducted.Practical implicationsThis research illustrates that it is possible to mentor large groups of disadvantaged and vulnerable students notwithstanding limited resources.Originality/valueIn contrast to the existing literature on peer mentoring in higher education, which focuses on one-on-one or small-group mentoring, this research suggests that peer mentoring of larger groups can also play an important role in assisting students to transition to higher education. The description of the programme and the benefits students derived from it offer other institutions with limited resources some ideas about how a peer mentoring programme can be implemented.


Environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) are playing an important role in environmental education in South-eastern Europe. Although some organisations appeared to compromise themselves by becoming political parties, others did useful work in debating ecological issues, working on environmental projects and increasing public awareness. Most are involved in environmental education in some way, although few have the resources to establish extensive networks and hence they need umbrella groups to coordinate activities, like the Environmental Partnership for Central Europe, which is active in parts of the region with small grants, technical assistance and training programmes. Support from the West is also crucial and particular mention should be made of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), an international, independent, non-profit organisation founded in 1990 with the help of the EU and USA. It seems that the ENGOs can be very effective in environmental education and their efforts are often welcomed by governments. In a situation where capacity and finance are limited, ENGOs help to generate viable indigenous institutions and reduce the risk of donor addiction syndrome when foreign aid fails to give rise to positive long-term effects. But continued assistance is critical and international support is still needed.


The importance of study on seismic behavior of joints in precast RC shear wall structures was expounded and the progress of investigation on seismic behavior of joints in precast RC shear wall structures was introduced.The design code and design method of joints in precast RC shear wall structures at home and abroad were also summerized.It is concluded that horizontal joints and vertical joints are important parts of precast RC shear wall structures.Horizontal joints transfer vertical load,bear horizontal shear force.Vertical joints transfer shear force between the precast shear walls,and affect the structure deformation and structural energy dissipation capacity.It is suggested that more attention should be paid to the construction measure,connection method of vertical bars across horizontal joints and energy dissipation behavior of assembled vertical joints in future research work.


This study extends support for the construct validity of the three strongest physical self-concept measures for 395 Israeli university students (60% women) aged 18 to 54, demonstrating a new extension of the multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) design that incorporates external validity criteria and a test of jingle-jangle fallacies. Structural equation models of this MTMM data confi rmed the a priori 23-factor structure of the three instruments, and the convergent and discriminant validity of factors from each instrument in relation to those from the other instruments. There were few age effects, whereas gender differences were smaller than expected and stable over age. In support of the known-group-difference approach, physical education majors had systematically higher physical self-concepts than management majors. Relations of body image to self-concept factors supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the physical self-concept factors and the separation of body fat from physical appearance self-concepts, but having a more obese body was not signifi cantly related to health self-concept or global self-esteem factors.


Abstract Background Erlotinib is an oral EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in NSCLC. Drug absorption depends largely on its solubility in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Potentially, erlotinib -as lipophilic drug- is ought to dissolve better in a fatty drink such as full cow's milk compared to water. Gastric acid reducing agents like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the solubility and thus the uptake of erlotinib. Hence, we hypothesized that administration of cow's milk may be a feasible way to increase erlotinib uptake (both with or without PPI co-administration). We performed a two-period randomized cross-over study to investigate the influence of full cow's milk compared to water on the exposure of erlotinib with and without the PPI esomeprazole in NSCLC patients. Methods During 24 hours, pharmacokinetic sampling (PK) was performed at days 7 and 14. In the 7 days prior to PK, erlotinib was taken daily with either 250 mL water or full cow's milk. Patients were assigned whether to receive erlotinib with (arm A) or without esomeprazole (40mg qd; arm B) 3 hours prior to erlotinib intake starting 3 days prior to PK. Primary endpoint was change in geometric mean for the area under the curve (AUC0-24h). A linear mixed model was used to analyze AUCs and maximal concentration (Cmax). Results Twelve of the 20 patients used erlotinib without a PPI. Erlotinib AUC0-24h decreased non-significantly with 5% (95%CI: -14 to + 5%; P = 0.3) when administered with milk compared to water in the non-PPI patients. Also in the 8 patients who did use esomeprazole, erlotinib AUC0-24h did not differ between intake with water or milk (95%CI: -29 to + 40%; P = 1.0). Cmax did not differ in non-PPI users (P = 0.6) and in PPI users (P = 0.9). However, esomeprazole decreased erlotinib AUC0-24h with 48% (95%CI: -61 to -31%; P  Conclusions Exposure to erlotinib did not change by erlotinib intake with milk compared to water in both the PPI and non-PPI patients. Therefore, the combination with milk instead of water is safe and well tolerated. Esomeprazole strongly decreased both erlotinib AUC0-24h and Cmax, and should be avoided if possible. Clinical trial identification NTR 6148. Legal entity responsible for the study Ron H.J. Mathijssen. Funding Roche. Disclosure R.H. Mathijssen: Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Astellas; Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Cristal Therapeutics; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Research grant / Funding (institution): Pamgene; Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Pfizer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Sanofi; Honoraria (self): Servier; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


Human Resource Development (HRD) is a crucial element in contemporary organizations and determines their future to a signifi cant extent, especially in the healthcare business, which has been changing and developing according to emerging trends such as the problems of insuffi ciency and the inequitable distribution of healthcare professionals, as well as certain morality and ethical issues.


Because of the repional differences of economic conditions and development,farmer households differentiate among each other in terms of total income,expenditure and expenditure structure,etc.This causes further differences of the small-loan credit in the aspects of sources,scale,purpose,frequency and service satisfaction,etc.Considering these differences,China need readjust the small-loan credit in order to give more scientific and substantial support to those farmer housholds involved.


This dissertation investigates some information theoretic aspects of communication over wideband fading channels and their applicability to design of signaling schemes approaching the wideband capacity limit. This work thus leads to enhanced understanding of wideband fading channel communication, and to the proposal of novel efficient signaling schemes, which perform very close to the optimal limit. The potential and limitations of such signaling schemes are studied. First, the structure of the optimal input signals is investigated for two commonly used channel models: the discrete-time memoryless Rician fading channel and the Rayleigh block fading channel. When the input is subject to an average power constraint, it is shown that the capacity-achieving input amplitude distribution for a Rician channel is discrete with a finite number of mass points in the low SNR regime. A similar discrete structure for the optimal amplitude is proven to hold over the entire SNR range for the average power limited Rayleigh block fading channel. Channels with a peak power constraint are also analyzed. When the input is constrained to have limited peak power, we show that if its Kuhn-Tucker condition satisfies a sufficient condition, the optimal input amplitude is discrete with a finite number of values. In the low SNR regime, the discrete structure becomes binary. Next, we consider signaling over general fading models. Multi-tone FSK, a signaling scheme which uses low duty cycle frequency-shift keying signals (essentially orthogonal binary signals), is proposed and shown to be capacity achieving in the wideband limit. Transmission of information over wideband fading channels using Multi-tone FSK is considered by using both theoretic analysis and numerical simulation. With a finite bandwidth and noncoherent detection, the achievable data rate of the Multi-tone FSK scheme is close to the wideband capacity limit. Furthermore, a feedback scheme is proposed for Multi-tone FSK to improve the codeword error performance. It is shown that if the receiver can feedback received signal quality to the transmitter. a significant improvement in codeword error probability can be achieved. Experimental results are also obtained to demonstrate features and practicality of Multi-tone FSK. 3 Thesis Supervisor: Muriel Medard Title: Harold E. and Esther Edgerton Associate Professor Thesis Supervisor: Lizhong Zheng Title: Assistant Professor


Utilizing CO2 to produce value-added chemicals can save environmental and economic impacts. However, these savings are reduced by the cost of CO2 supply when CO2 has to be captured from dilute sour...


By ultraclean low-pressure CVD using SiH4 and GeH4 gases, high quality Si1-xGex epitaxial growth on Si(100) is achieved. In order to prevent island growth and generation of misfit dislocations in the heterostructure, relatively low deposition temperatures and optimization of the layer thickness are inevitable for the high Ge fractions. Atomically flat surfaces and interfaces for the Si/Si1-xGex/Si heterostructures containing Si0.8Ge0.2, Si0.5Ge0.5 and Si0.3Ge0.7 layers are obtained by deposition at 550, 500 and 450 degrees C, respectively. It is also found that the Si0.5Ge0.5-channel pMOSFET has the highest peak field- effect mobility. The deposition rate, the Ge fraction and the in-situ doping characteristics with the B2H6 and PH3 addition are expressed based on the modified Langmuir-type adsorption and reaction scheme, assuming that the reactant gas adsorption/reaction depends on the surface materials. Ultrasmall MOSFETs have been also realized by selective epitaxy of impurity-doped Si1-xGex on the source/drain regions.


The structure and diversity of microbial communities developing in the combined gradient of temperature (44–19 °C), as well as concentration of oxygen (0–10 mg/L) and hydrogen sulfide (33–0.7 mg/L), were studied in the thermal sulfide spring on the coast of Northern Lake Baikal. The predominance of bacteria participating in sulfur and nitrogen cycles and significant changes in the composition of microbial communities were noted at changing physicochemical conditions. Thiovirga sp. (sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, up to 37%) and Azonexus sp. (nitrogen-fixing bacteria, up to 43%) were dominant at high temperatures and concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in two hydrotherms. In addition, a significant contribution of the Rhodocyclaceae family (up to 51%) which is involved in the denitrification processes, and Acetoanaerobium sp. (up to 20%) fixing carbon oxide were found in the spring water. In the stream, mainly oxygenic cyanobacteria (up to 56%) developed at a temperature of 33 °C, in the presence of hydrogen sulfide and oxygen. In addition, sulfur bacteria of the genus Thiothrix (up to 48%) found in epibiotic communities of benthic animals of Lake Baikal were present here. Thiothrix sp. formed massive fouling in the zone of mixing lake and thermal waters with a significant contribution of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Hydrogenophaga (up to 22.5%). As well as chemolitho- and phototrophic bacteria, chemoorganotrophs (phyla Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Desulfobacterota, Nitrospirota, Fibrobacterota, etc.) have been identified in all communities. The chemical parameters of water in spring and coastal zones indicate a significant change in the composition of thermal waters occurring with the participation of diverse microbial communities that contribute to the assimilation of inorganic components of mineral thermal waters.


Reservoir computing is a computational framework, which was derived from recurrent neural networks. The advantages of reservoir computing models include the high-speed learning ability compared with deep learning models and the amenability to physical implementations with a variety of substrates. Therefore, reservoir computing has recently attracted much interests from interdisciplinary fields. In this talk, I will explain the fundamentals of reservoir computing and then introduce recent advances in physical reservoirs.


Extracting Chinese cultural genes and modeling its characteristics are very useful for Chinese both to find the origin of the Chinese culture and grasp its essence,and to accumulate its energy and enhance its effect.Methods of extracting genes and modeling characteristics includes:using digital technology to store cultural heritage;constructing Chinese cultural genbank on the basis of culturomics;confirming the core of the cultural genes from three aspects;using network technology to broadcast online.


The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in adult women is 2-4 times that in men. Gynecologic laparoscopic surgery increases incidence of PONV. Whether the phase of menstrual cycle is a risk factor for PONV after gynecologic laparoscopy is controversial (1, 2, 3). We investigated in prospective, double-blind, observational study if the phase of menstrual cycle has influence on the incidence of PONV in patients undergone general anesthesia for gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. After obtaining IRB approval and informed consents, 72 women in child bearing age, ASA PS I and II, scheduled for laparoscopic gynecological surgery were assigned into three groups according to phase of the menstrual cycle at the time of anesthesia: G1 - follicular phase (days 1-8), G2 - ovulatory phase (days 9-15) and G3 - luteal phase (days 16 to the end). The day of menstrual cycle was calculated from the first day of the last cycle. The exclusion criteria were: obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal paresis, pregnancy, breast-feeding, irregular cycles, use of antiemetics, hormones, steroids and psychotropic drugs before surgery. Patients received 7.5 mg of midazolam PO 1 h before the surgery. No PONV prophylaxis was given. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 5mg/kg, vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg and fentanyl 1-2 μ g/kg, followed by 10 mL/kg saline and maintained with sevoflurane ∼ 1MAC and air in 40% oxygen. Patients were considered to have had PONV if at least one episode of nausea, vomiting or retching or any combination of these occurred during 24 hours postop. Diclofenac IM and pethidine IV was used for postoperative pain and metoclopramide IV for PONV. Data were analyzed using Χ ² ; , Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney test and expressed as mean (SD). P<0.05 was considered significant. There were no significant differences among groups for age, weight, height, BMI, h/o smoking, h/o motion sickness or previous PONV, type of surgery (removal of the ovarian tumors and cysts, myomectomy, infertility), duration of surgery and anesthesia, total amounts of opioids received perioperatively. Incidence of PONV was not overall significantly different: G1=5/17 (29%), G2=14/35 (40%) and G3=3/20 (15%) p=0.15. Metoclopramide use was also not significantly different among groups: G1=2, G2=7 and G3=2 patients. There were no difference in pain scores (VAS 0-100 mm) at 2h postoperatively: G1=19.71 (9.74), G2=25.34 (12.94) and G3=19.7 (10.07) (p=0.2) and 24h postoperatively G1=9.76 (9.8), G2=9.31 (10.09) and G3 10.25 (10.78) (p=0.92). Although higher incidence of PONV and more usage of metoclopramide in ovulatory phase of cycle compared with follicular and luteal phase, our data suggest that menstrual phase did not influence PONV after general anesthesia for gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. A study with larger groups and more power would need to show if ovulatory phase has significat increase of incidence of PONV in this clinical setting.


The present text adds recent results provided by a research on religiousness (understood as human capacity, historically and culturally determined, to elaborate meanings for the totality of existence) as it is experienced by undergraduates at PUC-SP. The data provided by the last two versions (3 and 4) of the quantitative / qualitative research questionnaire complete the initial versions. Consequently, this text analyses: A- the free comments written at the end of the questionnaire; B- the didactic experience involving powerful objects and the meanings attributed to them by the subjects, which make them portraits of the young religiousness.


This paper examines counteridentification, a process contributing to impasses in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The author defines counter identification as an unconscious dynamic whereby a therapist colludes with his/her patient by being defensive in a way in close structural resemblance to the defensive monner the patient has assumed


ABSTRACT Context. The Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) aims to reduce death, illness, disability, and to promote improved growth and development of children < 5years. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of IMCI as a tool to facilitate diagnosis of HIV. Method. This was a cross sectional observational study. We interviewed health workers (HWs) on IMCI and observed them during the assessment of at least five patients in 14 health facilities. An IMCI trainer then reassessed the children to confirm the conclusions made. Variables studied were: training, skill in IMCI, difficulty and suggestions to improve IMCI. HIV assessment was based on signs called "5 entry door" on which are based the classification and management of cases. Results. 30 workers were included; 43.8% of HWs had less than two years in the service, and 53.3% were not trained. Most of HWs (85.7%) not formerly trained were implementing the IMCI. They demonstrated various abilities to correctly manage. Among the untrained, 8 (66.6%) against 16 (100%) trained HWs adequately assessed, classified and managed children following the algorithm for HIV. Most of them (72.2%) declared that the IMCI facilitates early consultation. Majority (94.6%) had difficulty in implementing the algorithm due lack of material, training, supervision and motivation. Conclusion. The IMCI algorithm is a tool that can facilitate the identification of HIV infection. In a context where the check-treat strategy is not wide spread and where the PMTCT failed to detect all the infected/exposed children, routine implementation of the IMCI can improve the HIV management program. RESUME Introduction. La Prise en Charge Integree des Maladies de l'Enfant (PCIME) vise a reduire la morbidite, les deces et l'infirmite des enfants < 5 ans. L'etude visait a evaluer l'efficacite de l'outil PCIME dans le depistage du VIH. Methodologie. L'etude etait transversale descriptive. Nous avons interviewe sur la PCIME et observe des personnels prenant en charge chacun au moins cinq patients dans 14 formations sanitaires. Un expert reevaluait les enfants afin d'approuver leurs conclusions. Les variables etudiees etaient : la formation, maitrise des directives PCIME, difficultes et les suggestions pour son amelioration. La recherche du VIH reposait sur les signes nommes « 5 portes d'entree » desquelles decoulent la classification et le traitement. Resultats. 30 personnels de sante ont ete inclus. 43,8% de ces prestataires avaient moins de deux ans de service et 53,3% n'etaient pas formes. La majorite (85,7%) du personnel non forme pratiquait la PCIME. Ils etaient capables de prendre en charge correctement un enfant selon l'algorithme du VIH, de facon variable. Parmi eux, 8 (66,6%) contre 16 (100%) formes pouvaient correctement evaluer, classer et traiter les enfants. La plupart (72,2%) declaraient que la PCIME facilite la consultation precoce. Presque tous (94,6%) eprouvaient des difficultes pour l'implementer a cause du defaut d'outils de formation, de supervision et de motivation. Conclusion. L'algorithme PCIME represente un outil qui faciliterait l'identification de l'infection a VIH. Dans un contexte ou son depistage systematique n'est pas vulgarise et ou les performances de la PTME ne permettent pas de detecter tous les enfants exposes/infectes, son implementation systematique ameliorerait le programme du VIH.


Full-waveform inversion (FWI) is a computational procedure to extract medium parameters from seismic data. Robust methods for FWI are needed to overcome sensitivity to noise and in cases where modeling is particularly poor or far from the real data generating process. We survey previous robust methods from a statistical perspective, and use this perspective to derive a new robust method by assuming the random errors in our model arise from the Student's t-distribution. We show that in contrast to previous robust methods, the new method progressively down-weighs large outliers, effectively ignoring them once they are large enough. This suggests that the new method is more robust and suitable for situations with very poor data quality or modeling. Experiments show that the new method recovers as well or better than previous robust methods, and can recover models with quality comparable to standard methods on noise-free data when some of the data is completely corrupted, and even when a marine acquisition mask is entirely ignored in the modeling. The ability to ignore a marine acquisition mask via robust FWI methods offers an opportunity for stochastic optimization methods in marine acquisition.


The social performance of individuals is influenced by the expectations that people have about the outcome of their behavior, since these allow us to anticipate the future and plan courses of action. The expectations of social rejection have been defined as thoughts that anticipate the possibility of being rejected in an interpersonal situation. When they are frequent can bring a number of difficulties in the social life of people. The aim of this study was to build the Social Rejection Expectations Scale (SRE) for the adult population. First, 51 preliminary items were submitted to expert judgment (N = 6) to obtain evidence of content validity. Second, using an accidental sampling, an exploratory (N = 320) and confirmatory factor analysis (N = 458) was performed. As a result, a final scale was obtained, consisting of 27 items distributed in three factors named as Expectations of rejection in situations with known people, Expectations of rejection in situations of establishment of new relationships and Expectations of rejection in public places and with unknown people. The internal consistency of the scale was evaluated, obtaining very good and excellent coefficients for each factor (from .71 to .88). Finally, significant positive correlations were obtained between the scales of the test and different measures of social anxiety. It can be concluded that the SRE is a valid and reliable instrument for the evaluation of expectations of social rejection in the adult population, being a useful tool in research and diagnosis.


The kappa statistic is a widely used measure for quantifying agreement between raters using nominal scales. It is advocated on the grounds that it "corrects" for a level of agreement that would be expected by chance alone based on the marginal rates. The operating characteristics of kappa, however, show that it responds in a complicated and unintuitive way to subject-specific and marginal agreement. Modifications to kappa and supplementary statistics, which have been proposed to help interpret kappa are discussed. Remarks are made as to why the kappa statistic has such problematic features.

Keywords:

agreement;
association;
contingency table;
kappa;
margins;
reliability


Green Marketing is a concept in vogue and is capable to affect all aspects of business with significant result with the concept of e-marketing. Green marketing is a phenomenon which has developed particular important in the modern market. Additionally, the development of green marketing has opened the door of opportunity for companies to co-brand their products into separate line, lauding the green-friendliness of some while ignoring that of theirs. Such marketing techniques will be explained as a direct result of movement in the minds of the consumer market. As a result of this businesses have increased their rate of targeting consumers who are concerned about the environment. These same consumers through their concern are interested in integrating environmental issues into their purchasing decisions through their incorporation into the process and content of the marketing strategy for whatever product may be required.This paper proposes an explorative research study on an emerging horizon of management of Green Marketing and avoiding the Green Marketing Myopia. This paper discusses how businesses have increased their rate of targeting green consumers, green consumers and explores the challenges and opportunities with green marketing. Green marketing is something that will continuously grow in both practice and demand.


Mikuliãová M., I . Steinhauserová, G. Bofii lová, M. Nebola: Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli Strains Isolated from Poultry and Pigs in the Czech Republic. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74:639-644. Antimicrobial resistance has emerged among Campylobacter spp. mainly due to use of antimicrobial agents in animal feed. A total of 219 samples containing Campylobacter spp. were detected in our research during the course of 2003/4. The samples, originating from chicken (101) and pigs (118) were tested for their resistance to selected antibiotics. Evaluation of results was carried out using agar dilution method (NCCLS M11-A6) to test the sample resistance against ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. The C. jejuni strain from pigs mainly showed a high resistance to tetracycline (39.13%) and erythromycin (34.78%). Approximately a quarter (26.07%) of C. jejuni detected was resistant to ampicillin and ciprofloxacin (26.09%). C. coli isolates from pigs showed simular results to C. jejuni, such as resistance to tetracycline (60.71%) and erythromycin (56.84%). On the other hand, it was found that C. jejuni in pigs had a high resistance to ciprofloxacin (52.63%) and nalidixic acid (34.74%). C. jejuni isolates from chicken samples had the highest resistance to ciprofloxacin (45.21%) and ampicillin (27.40%), and a low resistance to erythromycin (13.70%). A quarter of the samples collected were resistant to nalidixic acid. In comparison of C. jejuni prevalence, resistance to tetracycline (21.92%) was lower in chicken than in pig samples. Similar to results of porcine meat analysis, C. jejuni isolated in chickens showed no resistance to chloramphenicol and a low resistance to gentamicin. C. coli strains found in chickens showed high resistance to nalidixic acid (60.71%) and ciprofloxacin (46.43%). Even though laws prevent the use of antimicrobial material in feed for livestock, their resistance to fluoroquinolone antibiotics is high. Prevention of the use of antimicrobial material in feed is the most precise control in raising livestock. Campylobacteriosis, resistance, antibiotic, treatment Campylobacter spp. was originally found to occur in nutrition-related illnesses. Today illnesses caused by Campylobacter spp. and salmonella presence in food are still very common in developed European countries. Majority of cases of infection in humans are caused by the Campylobacter spp. strain C. jejuni and in some cases C. coli (Steinahuserová and Nebola 2002). Campylobacter spp. can be present in the intestinal tract of warm blooded animals without evoking clinical symptoms of disease in them. Young or immunodeficient animals can develop a gastrointestinal type illness if infected with C. jejuni. Commonly, carriers of C. jejuni are previously exposed to free range birds or chickens. Occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in chicken and turkey is estimated at 60 – 80%, but according to some authors, occurrence in some populations has been found to be as high as 100%. Campylobacter spp. in pigs is also relatively frequent, although C. coli is the most commonly isolated strain. Occurrence in other farm animals such as sheep and cattle is also not uncommon. Prevalence of Campylobacter spp. depends on hygienic conditions and the manner in which the animals are bred (Moore at al. 2002). Animal preparation packages containing antibiotics were distributed throughout farm ACTA VET. BRNO 2005, 74: 639–644 Address for correspondence: Prof. MVDr. Iva Steinhauserová, CSc. Department of Meat Hygiene and Technology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic Phone: +420 541 562 740 Fax: +420 541 321 230 E-mail: email@example.com http://www.vfu.cz/acta-vet/actavet.htm


The events that occurred during the Crusades, the encounter of Western and Eastern civilisations, led to certain modes of thinking and representations that are still evident today, overtly or subliminally. By revisiting some of the Western and Eastern chronicles of the first Crusade, we hope to capture the source of some of these images and to see how they are used today in media and official discourse.


Most agricultural land in the Republic of Moldova (about 80%) is located on slopes with different inclination. The purpose of this paper is appreciation soil losses for ordinary chernozems with different degrees of erosion which leads to their degradation in the reception basin "Negrea". From the data analysis concerning soil losses washed it notes that they are in close contact with degree of erosion. In this way in the eroded ordinary chernozem soil losses constituted: poorly eroded 9.3 t/ha, at the moderately eroded 12.8 t/ha, increasing to 22.2 t/ha in the soil with strong degree of erosion. The effect to degrading of soil erosion it is not limited only to the removal of fertile layers but also the deterioration physical, chemical, hydric and biological its properties. The indirect impact of erosion process on environmental components it refers to training in the cycle of mineral and organic compounds from outside the agricultural lands. Regarding of loss of fertile soilsoils reception basin "Nergrea" accordance with data obtained, fall within the following classes of erosion danger: absent – not eroded and typical delluvial; moderate poorly and moderately eroded; big strongly eroded.


The question of how slurries are transported and placed during hydraulic fracturing treatments was first broached by Kern et al. (Kern, Perkins et al., 1959), in 1959. In the early 90's, Cleary and Fonseca (Cleary and Fonseca Jr., 1992) suggested that gravity acting on the slurry as a whole would cause the heavier slurry to fall through the fluid in the fracture and that this would dominate individual particle settling in determining the final distribution of proppant. This sparked a healthy debate concerning the nature of flow into a fracture and brought about a renewed interest in fracture fluid flow. A fracture is analogous to a Hele-Shaw flow cell. However, most experimental studies that deal with flow in fractures assume that the fracture is globally uniform with constant height and width. This is hardly the case in real fractures. Downhole cameras have revealed that fractures are anything but uniform. There are wide and narrow regions coupled with abrupt changes in uniformity. In addition, pressure analysis indicates that, in many cases, the height of the fracture changes during most of the treatment. These all serve to disturb not only bulk slurry flow but also the settling behavior of the particles that make up the slurry. While it is difficult to simulate the growth of a fracture experimentally, width non-uniformities can be simulated and their effect on slurry flow determined. A method that can be used to predict the behavior of the slurry in the presence of a non-uniformity will be presented. These techniques can be incorporated into computer models to improve predictive capabilities.


In this paper, we propose a novel approach for decomposing financial market returns into observable risk factors and idiosyncratic risk. We utilize a vector stochastic-volatility model to extract the potentially time-varying exposure of low frequency hedge fund performance on high frequency data. By making use of a particle filter with Rao-Blackwellization, we reduce the dimension of the space where we generate particles, which results in more accurate estimates of the posterior and predictive distributions of the unknowns. This approach can be used for analyzing hedge fund performance and their advertised strategies as well as in forensic risk-management. The latter is a critical need given the generally low transparency of the hedge fund industry. We illustrate our results using simulations and real hedge fund and S&P 500 index data from 1994-2011.


The present study aims to identify the relationship between emotional intelligence and organizational commitment of high school teachers in Bushehr province this cross-sectional study using a questionnaire survey among secondary school teachers in the school year 2010-2011 were a Bushehr province. The study population of 1,753 secondary teachers out of Bushehr province which 156 (90 female and 66 male) of them classified as intermittent sampling with volume and Cochran were selected based on a formula. Emotional Intelligence questionnaire meets the standards of Meyer and Allen and Meyer Salve and organizational commitment. Emotional intelligence questionnaire reliability 0/81 organizational commitment questionnaire reliability 0/89, respectively and they both scale alpha of 0/7, so they both and sufficient liability of the questionnaire. To analyze the data as SPSS and alsotestand analysis variance and t-test for comparison on of different uses and results indicated this was the only variable affecting the significance of differences between groups example was different, this means that women have higher emotional intelligence and organizational commitment than men, and this difference was significant. The other significant differences in demographic variables between the groups.


Four mononuclear symmetric coordination compounds of Ni(II) and Zn(II) (C1–C4), obtained from N2O2 donor Schiff base ligand systems were synthesized in-situ and characterized with a variety of analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as elemental CHN-analysis, 1H-NMR, 13C{H}NMR, UV-Visible, Infrared, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron, and high-resolution mass spectroscopies. These analyses revealed that the ligands chelate the metal ions through the oxygen and nitrogen (N2O2) atoms of the phenolate and azomethine functional groups, resulting in distorted and perfect square planar geometry around Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions, respectively. The 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase activity of the complexes were investigated using in vitro assay techniques. The studies revealed that the complexes possess moderate radical scavenging activity with no or very weak xanthine oxidase activity, in which the controls show better activity than the complexes in both assays. However, C3 and C1 demonstrated some level of activity at higher concentrations but not commensurate with the controls. The DFT calculation of the complexes using the M06- 2X/B3LYP-311G9d.p) level of the theory presented electronic properties that supported the experimental findings on the complexes


: Solar thermal power generation is an advanced and environmentally friendly clean energy technology of the 21st century. It harnesses solar energy to produce electricity by concentrating sunlight to create high-temperature environments, converting this heat energy into usable thermal energy, and then transforming it into electrical energy. This makes it suitable for meeting basic electricity needs, especially in the context of renewable energy integration and energy storage. However, solar tower power plants also face several challenges, including high construction and maintenance costs, dependence on geographical location and weather conditions, and energy storage issues. Additionally, they often require extensive land use and cannot generate power continuously during cloudy conditions or at night. This paper delves into discussions and research on how to address these two aspects of the problem, leveraging the power of mathematical modeling for practical problem solving.


This essay examines the prefigurative politics that birthed and has sustained the Ambazonian revolutionary movement and its war of independence in Cameroon. It uses Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to question the extent to which foundational value based Ambazonian discourses have lived up to the objectives of the movement's founding. An analysis of speeches, official documents, and video content from Ambazonian leaders reveals that (1) the Ambazonian objective to secede from the state of Cameroon was initially discursively premised on prefigurative ideals, (2) the surge of radical discourses and the imprisonment of pioneer leaders of the movement prompted a deviation from the movement's foundational goals, and (3) there is a need to reimagine the revolutionary alternative in the promised liberation of English-speaking Cameroonians.


The lattice dynamics of molecular crystal CS 2 is studied within the rigid molecule and harmonic approximations, on the basis of Kihara core potential. Frequencies of lattice vibrations, dispersion curves, density of states and heat capacity at low temperatures are calculated. The results are in good agreement with experimental data and also compared with previous calculations. A role of nonaxisymmetric short-range interactions is discussed.


Algorithms based on swarm intelligence are more and more frequently applied to problems of systems reliability. The article presents the application of a firefly algorithm to the reliability optimization of two systems: bridge and 10-unit, with minimal paths set, minimal cuts set and decomposition methods. The obtained results are presented and compared with the available literature data.


Rice straw is one of the organic materials and natural residue of rice crop or paddy material and is the third-largest residue from agriculture after sugarcane bagasse and maize straw. Southeast Asian countries produce approximately 80% of rice production in the world. It leads to a large quantity of rice straw as a by-product every year. Surplus rice straw is a focal issue associated with storage of rice straw, removal of entire straw from the field, and very little time between the cultivation of the crop. Stubble burning is a quick, cheap, and efficient way to prepare the soil bed for wheat, the next crop. Rice straw has both nutrient and calorific values. Straw is the only organic material available in significant quantities to most rice farmers. About 40 percent of the nitrogen (N), 30 to 35 percent of the phosphorus (P), 80 to 85 percent of the potassium (K), and 40 to 50 percent of the sulfur (S) taken up by rice remains in vegetative plant parts at crop maturity. Straw is either removed from the field, burned in situ, piled or spread in the field, or incorporated in the soil. Open burning of the crop residue kills useful microflora of soil, leads to soil degradation, and contributes to harmful greenhouse gases such as SO2, NO2, CH4, N2O, carbon monoxide in the atmosphere including the hydrocarbon and particulate matter. Therefore, rice straw burning is a serious creator of environmental pollution. The study investigated environment-friendly options of rice straw such as bedding material for cattle, mushroom cultivation, nutrition in the soil, power generation, combustion material, pellet making, bio-gas, bio-ethanol, bio-char, acoustic material, 3D objects, cardboard and composite board, packaging materials, production of bio-composite, cement bricks, and handmade paper. The key purpose of this paper is to provide environmentally friendly alternatives to rice straw instead of open field burning.


A tetraphenylporphyrin capped with a calix[4]aryl amide through L-alanine pillars (compound 1) has been synthesized. Owing to C4 symmetry in both the tetraphenylporphyrin and the calix[4]arene this molecule still retains C4 symmetry. As the calix[4]aryl amide moiety can bind alkali metal cations, and the porphyrin moiety can bind transition metal cations, compound 1 acts as a host molecule with a hard–soft ditopic metal-binding site. It was found that the ZnII complex of 1(complex 1·ZnII) can bind KI very strongly with log Kass= 5.23 (CHCl3 : MeCN = 4 : 1 v/v; 25 °C) whereas KClO4 is scarcely captured by 1·ZnII. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies showed that I– ion is bound to this cavity, interacting with both calix[4]arene-bound K+ through electrostatic attraction and porphyrin-bound ZnII through coordination as an axial ligand. The results establish that complex 1·ZnII acts as a unique ditopic receptor for I– ion.


In this study, the authors develop a new algorithm for face recognition with varying lighting conditions. Their method first performs low-pass and high-pass filtering to the face image, and then takes the ratio between the two filtered images. The authors take the arctangent to the ratio and use these features to classify an unknown face image. In addition, their method works for any combination of low-pass and high-pass filters. The authors studied two sets of the low-pass and high-pass filters in their experiments and their results are better than gradient faces, Weber faces, and self-quotient images (SQIs) in the noisy environment, no matter denoising or no denoising is performed to the noisy face images for the CMU-PIE and Extended Yale-B databases. Nevertheless, the SQI is best for the CAS-PEAL face database in authors' experiments. The SQI takes a convolution operation with a low-pass filter. The implementation of SQI may have chosen a more suitable low-pass filter for the CAS-PEAL face database, but not for the YALE and CMU-PIE face databases. This may be the main reason why SQI outperformed their proposed method in this study for the CAS-PEAL face database. Nevertheless, the SQI is many times slower than their proposed method.


The concept of identity, in its distinctive modern sense, is based on techniques of differentiating individuals as particular, collective or relational. Earlier, it mapped individuals as a 'people' extolled as the bearers of sovereignty vis-à-vis their social positions. It is essentially construed as a process of forming consciousness about the way in which society individualises people as objective social locations such as nation, class, gender, tribes, community, race or nationalities. Such locations can well be imagined. But what is pertinent is that all of them incite the 'will to govern' without limitations which result in re-location of the source of individuals as governable subjects. The governing of people initiates a new chapter in identity theory. Identity as source of freedom and, at the same time, as subject of security of the people forms an apposite duo, mutually reinforcing. The question of identity is no longer limited to the issue of internalisation or externalisation of social position. It is now entrapped in the depth of the technical conditions of the state of subjugation while being free to exercise the vantage of an explicit and scholarly system of rights, freedom and liberties. This significant discursive turn in the concept of identity has made it more challenging than ever. In A Princely Impostor? The Kumar of Bhawal and the Secret History of Indian Nationalism, Partha Chatterjee returns with the question of the conduct of identity. The right of identity, Chatterjee poses, is not what one thinks about oneself but crucially as who one is given by what others think: the art and technique of acknowledging the right person. He re-tells the once sensational incident in Bengal, on the eve of Indian independence, of a man who rises from the dead to claim one-third share of an estate called Bhawal, now in Bangladesh, generating Rs.648, 353 in 1931 (£578,584) and his status as the prince and inheritor of the estate, the second Kumar of Bhawal. He passes the triune test of truth about his 'identity' or personhood. The second Kumar, like men of his class, status and time, was fond of courting paramours and is believed to have been infected with syphilis. As the disease aggravated, upon doctors' advice, he moved to Darjeeling, a popular hill station, for a speedy recovery from the scars and wounds that were


Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are rarely used by the general public, but there are few use cases. Therefore, in this research, we clarified the factors that are important at the time of installation from the viewpoint of facility managers, targeting districts included the A ward of Tokyo. We also examined factors that might be important at the time of facility design in consideration of the installation of AEDs. In addition, we verified areas in which AEDs are usable in urban spaces by time of day and considered factors relevant to future installations from an urban perspective. Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are rarely used by the general public, but there are few use cases. Therefore, in this research, we clarified the factors that are important at the time of installation from the viewpoint of facility managers, targeting districts included the A ward of Tokyo. We also examined factors that might be important at the time of facility design in consideration of the installation of AEDs. In addition, we verified areas in which AEDs are usable in urban spaces by time of day and considered factors relevant to future installations from an urban perspective. Based on awareness surveys of facility managers and covered area population analysis Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) have been available to the general public since 2004, and, although the number of AEDs installed per capita in Japan has reached a level not inferior to other countries, they are rarely used by the general public, but there are few use cases. Therefore, in this research, we clarified the factors that are important at the time of installation from the viewpoint of facility managers, targeting districts included the A ward of Tokyo. We also examined factors that might be important at the time of facility design in consideration of the installation of AEDs. In addition, we verified areas in which AEDs are usable in urban spaces by time of day and considered factors relevant to future installations from an urban perspective. From the series of analysis results, we observed the following related factors.


To provide a method and system for assigning channels in a spatial division multiple access communication network. Network includes a plurality of normal channels, some of which are configurable to be shared simultaneously by multiple subscribers. The method includes determining a combination of a subscriber from the existing subscribers. Existing subscribers, is reassigned to share a channel, thereby resources for the new subscriber is released.


Accurately identifying the key nodes of the road network and focusing on its management and control is an important means to improve the robustness and invulnerability of the road network. In this paper, a classification and identification method of key nodes in urban road networks based on multi-attribute evaluation and modification was proposed. Firstly, the emergency function guarantee grade of road network nodes was divided by comprehensively considering the importance of road network nodes, the consequences of failure, and the degree of difficulty of recovery. The evaluation indexes were selected according to the local attributes, global attributes, and functional attributes of the road network topology. The spatial distribution patterns of the evaluation indexes of the nodes were analyzed. The dynamic classification method was used to cluster the attributes of the road network nodes, and the TOPSIS method was used to comprehensively evaluate the importance ranking of the road network nodes. Attribute clustering of road network nodes by dynamic classification method (DT) and the TOPSIS method was used to comprehensively evaluate the ranking of the importance of road network nodes. Then, combined with the modification of the comprehensive evaluation and ranking of the importance of the road network nodes, the emergency function support classification results of the road network nodes were obtained. Finally, the method was applied to the road network within the second Ring Road of Beijing. It was compared with the clustering method of self-organizing competitive neural networks. The results show that this method can identify the key nodes of the road network more accurately. The first-grade key nodes are all located at the more important intersections on expressways and trunk roads. The spatial distribution pattern shows a "center-edge" pattern, and the important traffic corridors of the road network show a "five vertical and five horizontal" pattern.


Thank you so much for the comments and they are really valuable. The paper is an attempt to describe various marine operations, the factors affecting it and the importance of having a stronger and deeper understanding of the metocean conditions of the farm location, vessels that will be used and challenges that could arise along the installation, O&M and decommissioning phases of a floating wind farm. Floater-specific factors are also metioned so that a wind-farm designer can have a better understanding of the marine operations and avoid related difficulties. All your comments will be addressed in the next version of the paper.


This article presents both electrodeless conductivity analyzer and electrodeless concentration analyzer for testing acid,alkaline and salt solutions,which are made by the japanese DKK Corp.in accordance with an electromagnetic induction principle.The paper also illustrates the two dimensional correlation curves of the concentration of H 2SO 4,HNO 3,HCL,NaCH,NaCl solutions vs the conductivity,and the three dimensional correlation curved surface related to the concentration of H 2SO 4 solution,conductivity and temperature,along with a comparasion table provided with concentration measuring ranges of the same type products from other companies as the said concentration analyzer from the DKK Corp.


Focusing has played a critical role in human development since ancient times and has been applied in various fields, ranging from creating fire to designing camera lenses, and from visible light to microwave frequencies. However, achieving adaptive and targeted focusing in complex electromagnetic environments remains a long-standing challenge. To address this challenge, we propose a novel deep learning-driven adaptive metasurface transmission focusing (DAMTF) approach in this paper. The proposed approach consists of a high transmittance tunable metasurface, a focusing network, and a phase shift-voltage map function. Specifically, the metasurface focusing network converts the detected electromagnetic field into the necessary phase shift for focusing, while the phase shift-voltage map function converts the phase shift into the voltage exerted on the metasurface unit. Subsequently, the metasurface modifies the electromagnetic field to realize the adaptive and targeted focusing in complex electromagnetic environments. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed DAMTF can effectively achieve accurate transmission focusing at predefined locations for random incident waves across a wide range of frequencies. Moreover, the high transmittance property (95%) and the potential for wideband-focusing make the DAMTF promising for various applications such as 6G communication, imaging, wireless charging, etc..


Diatomite was used as core material to enhance the flocculation efficiency, the optimum parameters and the economic analysis of the compound coagulant, which composed of diatomite and PAC, used to treat oilfield produced water was determined in this study. The results showed that diatomite could improve the flocculation efficiency, when the reaction parameters were as below: PAC/diatomite = 1/4, compound coagulant dosage = 70~80 mg/L, pH = 6~9, temperature was 40degC, the removal rate of turbidity and suspended solid could reach over 88%. Compared with the only use of PAC as coagulant, the use of compound coagulant could save chemical cost by 28%.


In this paper, we applied single period and multiple period variance ratio (VR) tests to European Union allowance (EUA) spot and futures data since their availability in June 2005 and April 2005 respectively up to the end of January 2010. Comparing Phase 1 (2005-2007) and Phase 2 (2008-2012), we find that the products traded in Phase 2 show weaker rejection against the random walk hypothesis than the products traded in Phase 1. We further divide the two phases into four sub periods, 2005/06/24 for spots and 2005/04/25 for futures to 2006/04/26, 2006/04/27 to 2007/12/31 as Phase 1, 2008/02/26 for spots and 2008/01/03 for futures to 2008/12/15 and 2008/12/16 to 2010/01/28 as Phase 2. It is revealed that even the products traded in the later stage in Phase 1 after the price adjustment on 26th April 2006 showed much weaker rejection than the primary stage of the market. Thus, it is proven that the market efficiency is improving from Phase 1 to Phase 2 and the market has turned more efficient after the adjustment on 26th April 2006.


In this work, two configurations of polluted silicone insulators were investigated experimentally for the resulting surface currents when loaded with a positive DC voltage up to 30 kV. The two pollution layers, one drop-like, one continuous, turned out to be visibly different concerning their conductivity, as well as their susceptibility to partial discharges (PD) on the surface when exposed to rising humidity. Furthermore, the importance of long-term studies to observe DC currents without polarization or alternating components was confirmed, in agreement with previous research in this field. Despite the different characteristics of the impurity layers, the selection of different impurity layers emerged as a robust assessment of the insulators' performance, and as a basis for mathematical modeling of further progression of the surface current over time.


We document some key facts about aggregate consumption and its subcomponents over time. We then document the behavior of some important determinants of consumption, such as consumers' expectations about their future income, and changes in the consumers' wealth positions. Finally, we use a simple permanent income model to show that the observed drop in consumption during the Great Recession can be explained by the observed drops in wealth and income expectations.


615 Background: The chemokine CXCL13 is chemotactic for B cells. We examined the prognostic significance of CXCL13 mRNA expression in node-negative breast cancer. Methods: Microarray based gene-expression data for CXCL13 (205242_at) were analysed in four previously published cohorts (Mainz, Rotterdam, Transbig, Yu) of node-negative breast cancer patients not treated with adjuvant therapy (n=824). A meta-analysis of previously published cohorts was performed using a random effects model. Prognostic significance of CXCL13 on metastasis-free survival (MFS) was examined in the whole cohort and in different molecular subtypes (ER+/HER2-, ER-/HER2-, HER2+). Independent prognostic relevance was analysed using multivariate Cox regression. Results: Higher RNA expression of CXCL13 was related to better MFS in a meta-analysis of the whole cohort (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.83-0.94, P<0.0001). Prognostic significance was most pronounced in the HER2+ positive molecular subtype (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.87, P=0.0009) as compared ...


Amphiphilic quaternary ammonium salts show biological activity and are widely used in many fields of industry. Among other things, they are used as disinfectants in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Amphiphilic quaternary ammonium salts are also embedded in liposomes in order to enable the liposomes to transfer DNA into cells. That is why many papers are devoted to the interaction of surfactants with model membranes. These interactions destabilise the lamellar structure of phospholipids and lead to the formation of lipid-surfactant mixed micelles. Such studies involved many surfactants differing in head group structure, chain length and number of chains (gemini surfactants). Significantly less attention is paid to the role of counterions in these interactions. Counterions are known to be able to modify water structure in a different way. Some counterions are water structure makers while others are water structure breakers. Therefore, the properties of the bilayer-solution interface strongly depend on the kind of counterion. Thus, the type of counterion is an important factor influencing the interaction of amphiphilic compounds with lipid membranes. We studied the effects of commonly used surfactants, such as N-dodecyl-N,N,N-trimethyllammonium halides (DTAX) and N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-benzylammonium halides (DBeAX), on the thermotropic phase behaviour of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol bilayers, on 1 H NMR spectra, and on the structure of membranes. Besides this, we studied the interaction of surfactants with model membranes by means of isothermal titration calorimetry. The binding enthalpy and partitioning coefficients were calculated, and phase diagrams for lipid surfactants were drawn.


A brief history of the formation and development of the laboratory of decorative floriculture and gardening at PABSI, the main directions of its scientific research are presented. The most significant results achieved by the scientific department for almost half a century, which are extremely promising and in demand now, are noted.


William ElginWickendenAward Every year the Editorial Board of the Journal of Engineering Education selects the winner of the William Elgin Wickenden Award of the American Society for Engineering Education. This award recognizes an article that represents the highest standards of scholarly research in engineering education among the articles published in the Journal in each volume year. For the Wickenden Award in 2017, the Board selected the article "Latina/o Adolescents' Funds of Knowledge Related to Engineering," by Amy Wilson-Lopez, Joel Alejandro Mejia, Indhira Mar ıa Hasb un, and G. Sue Kasun, which appeared in the April 2016 issue of the Journal. The Board also selected three articles for Honorable Mention for the Wickenden Award: "Community Cultural Wealth: An Assets-Based Approach to Persistence of Engineering Students of Color," by Cate C. Samuelson and Elizabeth Litzler, which appeared in the January 2016 issue; "A Model of Co-Curricular Support for Undergraduate Engineering Students," by Walter C. Lee and Holly M. Matusovich, which appeared in the July 2016 issue; and "Selecting Effective Examples to Train Students for Peer Review of Open-Ended Problem Solutions," by Matthew A. Verleger, Kelsey J. Rodgers, and Heidi A. Diefes-Dux, which appeared in the October 2016 issue. Congratulations to all!


A direct measurement of the nitric oxide mixing ratio between 43 km and 61 km was made with a rocket-borne chemiluminescent detector. This was the second flight in a series of two designed primarily to determine feasibility. The rocket was launched at Wallops, Island, Virginia on 19 March 1976 at 14:15 EST. The ozone-generated background signal was monitored throughout the flight by periodically interrupting the atmospheric sample flow with a pure- N2 bias-supply gas. An extensive error analysis was performed to evaluate the uncertainty in our results. The discovery of computational and calibration-gas concentration errors required us to reanalyze the results from the first flight of this detector in 1975; the corrected results are reported here. A comparison of the results from the two flights is made.


Mass violence is a complex phenomenon that defies simplistic explanations. This article proposes a bio-psycho-social model to account for the many factors that contribute to rampage school shootings. Biological factors include those related to health, appearance, and ability. The psychological domain includes three types of perpetrators: psychopathic, psychotic, and traumatized. The social factors include family patterns, multiple types of failures, and external influences. In addition, there are issues that cut across the bio-psycho-social domains, such as masculine identity. The sense of damaged masculinity is common to many shooters and often involves failures and inadequacies in more than one domain. Implications for threat assessment are noted.


Optical fibers are used in a considerable number of applications ranging from ocean and terrestrial cables to remote sensors and to light guides in medical and other applications. They have also found wide usage in the information and communications industry. Because of the increased demand on bandwidth for transmitting large volumes of information faster, cheaper, and more reliably, manufacturing high-quality optical fibers that will guarantee reliability in performance at high production levels deserves much attention. In the manufacturing process, high fiber draw rates often result in inferior quality fiber with poor mechanical properties. On the other hand, low draw speeds lead to superior quality fiber with better mechanical properties at the expense of decreased rate of production. The realization of good quality fiber without unduly compromising the production throughput is accomplished through the solution of an optimization model. Naturally, since there are significant uncertainties in process and model parameters, there is a need to account for them in the optimization model. Accounting for uncertainty in chemical process design has been an area of active research in the past few years. Most engineering processes and designs are based on models having parameters which take on nominal values. However, in real time, processes fluctuations abound. These variabilities arise because of varying process conditions (e.g., temperature instabilities) and inaccuracies in the experimental determination of model parameters (e.g., energy of activation, diffusion constants, and viscosity parameters). Hence, for a process to remain feasible (all process constraints are satisfied) at the operation stage, it is imperative that the effects of uncertainties are accounted for at the design stage. Infeasibilities during the operational stage lead to suboptimal and poor quality products. There are some instances where safety is a major concern. For instance, Rooney


Objective To explore perioperative nursing of elderly patients who have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Retrospective analysis of 70 cases of elderly patients who have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done.Results Three cases among 70 patients were converted to open surgery.Patients recovered very well without complications.Conclusion Considering the characteristics of elderly patients,we should make specific nursing plans,give comprehensive preoperative assessment,provide psychological care and health education,improve preoperative preparation,focus on disease monitoring,the drainage tube care and diet care.All these can improve the success rate of surgery to reduce the incidence of complications.


As UNSCR 1325 completes fifteen years, feminism and pacifism need to rethink their relationships with women's movement in the Middle East. The conflicts in the region have a gender impact that cannot be assessed without analysing the effects of western colonialism and imperialism over the construct of «woman», as well as the relations between main political forces on one side and feminism and women's movement on the other one. The case of Palestine shows how in a context of prolonged military occupation, Israeli colonialism, Palestinian nationalism and Islamism have used women's bodies to develop their respective rhetoric of ethnic cleansing, national liberation and Islamic authenticity. The so-called dichotomy between secular feminism and Islamic feminism is contextualized, and some recommendations are put forward to avoid new identity essentialisms. In between resistances and negotiations, Palestinian feminist movement points out innovative strategies to allow situated and equitable dialogue.


The indispensable necessity of complete authority at the seat of government, carries its own evidence with it. It is a power exercised by every legislature of the Union, I might say of the world, by virtue of its general supremacy. [. . .] This consideration has the more weight as the gradual accumulation of public improvements at the stationary residence of the Government [. . .]. The extent of this federal district is sufficiently circumscribed to satisfy every jealousy of an opposite nature. The Federalist Papers, no. 43 (Hamilton et al. 1982, p. 218)


It inhibits the inspection accuracy decreases due to reflection scattering light generated in the wafer holder. Portion of the wafer holder 10 has a groove portion 12 for the support 11 of the convex shape, separated from the wafer to the support in contact with the wafer, the support 11 of the convex shape, supporting the one end of the wafer extend from the continuous portion supporting the other end, and a connecting portion 13 for connecting the supporting portion 11 of the convex shape, respectively, close to the vicinity of the portion which supports the vicinity of the other end of the part which supports the one end is provided.


This paper examines selected components of social security system in India and compares them with their OECD counterparts. Historically, the Indian policy makers have viewed the pension system as a welfare measure and therefore, it lacks in financial professionalism, diversification, and in the belief that pension funds can also be treated as an asset. The Indian system is biased towards the organized formal sector as workers in this sector are benefitted with the provisions under various labor laws. Even then the pension provisions in India are way far behind the OECD benchmark. In the unorganized sector, old age income remains mainly confined to voluntary savings. The New Pension System although makes the pension amount an old age asset, is silent on the social security provisions to the poor. The average income earners are not able to replace their pre-retirement earnings with pensions compared to most of the OECD countries. In terms of the gross pension wealth, India is nearer to the OECD average only in the low income category for men. Out of 5% of health care expenditure as a percentage of GDP, government's share in India accounts even less than 1% which is significantly lower than the OECD benchmark.


An energy-saving emission-reducing partial oxygen-increasing combustion-supporting device used for a cement kiln is placed beside the cement kiln. A VPSA oxygen enrichment generation device of the energy-saving emission-reducing partial oxygen-increasing combustion-supporting device is connected with an oxygen enrichment control device. The oxygen enrichment control device is connected with an air blower and connected with an oxygen enrichment preheater through an oxygen conveying pipeline. An oxygen enrichment pressure transmitter, an oxygen enrichment concentration transmitter, an oxygen enrichment flow rate transmitter and a control valve are respectively arranged on the oxygen conveying pipeline. A smoke inlet of the oxygen enrichment preheater is connected with high-temperature waste gas of the cement kiln, and an oxygen enrichment gas outlet is connected with an oxygen enrichment jet nozzle. The oxygen enrichment jet nozzle is arranged on the lower half portion of a rotary kiln combustion device. According to the energy-saving emission-reducing partial oxygen-increasing combustion-supporting device used for the cement kiln, not only can materials absorb more effective heat energy as much as possible, but also the temperature in the upper portion of the cement kiln can be reduced effectively and fuel can be burnt fully, timely and completely with less combustion air. Moreover, performance of high-quality fuel can be fully developed so that usage of poor-quality fuel becomes possible. Smoke dust, dust, CO, CO2, NOX and the like are reduced. The energy-saving emission-reducing partial oxygen-increasing combustion-supporting device used for the cement kiln has remarkable comprehensive energy-saving emission-reducing benefit.


A detailed analysis of the secondary metabolites of the Caribbean sponge Verongula gigantea has been performed. A number of bromotyrosine derivatives, 1, 2, and 6-17, were identified, one of which (17) is a novel compound. Its structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Additionally, aureol (18) and 5, 6-dibromo-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (19) were isolated from one of the five analyzed specimens.


This paper is concerned with the dynamic interaction between soil, pile and structure when subjected to harmonic excitation at the base rock level. The structure to be analysed is an isolated tall bridge pier with deep group pile foundation. The dynamic substructure approach is taken, dealing first with the pile-footing substructure and the pier superstructure independently; and then integrating these at the interface. Since the soil profile is multi-layered, the transfer matrix scheme is applied to extend the relevant continuum solution proposed by earlier researchers for pile analysis in a homogeneous viscoelastic medium.

Using a numerical example, the importance of the soil layer vibration modes which exert forces on the pile varying along the pile length is pointed out together with the soil-structure inertial interaction in the structural response. The latter concerns the dynamic characteristic of the complete system whereas the former relates the driving force to it. Also examined is the applicability of the approximate soil reaction based on the plane strain assumption, which simplifies the formulation and requires much less computing time in the response analysis.


Changes in ambient temperature are known to alter both the hyperthermic and the serotonergic consequences of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Metabolism of MDMA has been suggested to be a requisite for these neurotoxic effects, whereas the hyperthermic response is an important contributing variable. The aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction between ambient temperature, MDMA-induced thermodysregulation, and its metabolic disposition in monkeys. MDMA (1.5 mg/kg i.v.) was administered noncontingently at cool (18°C; n = 5), room (24°C; n = 7), and warm (31°C; n = 7) ambient temperatures. For 240 min following MDMA administration, core temperature was recorded and blood samples were collected for analysis of MDMA and its metabolites 3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA), 3,4-dihydroxyamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA). A dose of 1.5 mg/kg MDMA induced a hypothermic response at 18°C, a hyperthermic response at 31°C, and did not significantly change core temperature at 24°C. Regardless of ambient temperature, plasma MDMA concentrations reached maximum within 5 min, and HHMA was a major metabolite. Curiously, the approximate elimination half-life (t½) of MDMA at 18°C (136 min) and 31°C (144 min) was increased compared with 24°C (90 min) and is most likely because of volume of distribution changes induced by core temperature alterations. At 18°C, there was a significantly higher MDA area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and a trend for a lower HHMA AUC compared with 24°C and 31°C, suggesting that MDMA disposition was altered. Overall, induction of hypothermia in a cool environment by MDMA may alter its disposition. These results could have implications for MDMA-induced serotonergic consequences.


The circular dichroism (CD) of a polythiophene in the molecularly dispersed state was observed for the first time. The polythiophene possesses two chiral alkyl side chains (poly{3,4-bis[(S)-2-methyloctyl]thiophene}, PDMOT). The chiroptical properties of this polymer in solution, aggregate, and thin solid film states were investigated. A chirally distorted main-chain conformation in a single molecule of PDMOT accounts for the observed CD spectra in solution and could also be considered as a novel chiral motif in an optically active polymer, besides the highly ordered, intramolecular helical structure and the chiral superstructure resulting from intermolecular π−π stacking. Significant temperature and solvent effects on the CD were also observed in the spectra.


......................................................................................................................................2 List of contents............................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................4 List of tables and figures............................................................................................................6 Author's declaration.................................................................................................................15 The hazel dormouse.................................................................................................................17 Chapter 1: General introduction......................................................................................18 Chapter 2: Take only photographs leave only footprints: Novel applications of non-invasive survey methods for small arboreal animals............................................................43 Chapter 3: Keeping track of hazel dormice: an objective method for discriminating small mammal footprints................................75 Chapter 4: Isolation and characterisation of hazel dormouse microsatellite loci......................................................................101 Chapter 5: Dormice on the edge: population genetics of hazel dormice on the southwest peninsula of England ..........................................................................................................111 Chapter 6: Multiple paternity in the hazel dormouse: not so promiscuous after all?..........................................................................168 Chapter 7: Patterns of hibernation in the hazel dormouse: Intra-specific variation and the influence of diet.....................................191 Chapter 8: General discussion........................................................................................216


A constraint satisfaction model is established for steelmaking-continuous casting production scheduling problem with parallel machines in each processing stage.By analyzing the characteristics of the problem,we reduce it to a problem of minimizing the operation's starting time deviation.In the solving process,the temporal feasible initial schedule is constructed firstly by using variable selection and value selection heuristic,then the resource conflicts are checked by conflict checking algorithm and are repaired by backward pruning combinational algorithm until a consis-tent final solution is achieved.The validity of the proposed constraint satisfaction-based method is demonstrated by the data experiment.