e21000 Background: Advanced melanoma is a type of malignant skin cancer without effective treatment. Ginsenoside-Rg3 (Rg3), a saponin component extracted from ginseng roots, has been revealed to have an anti-cancer effect. However, there is limited data about its involvement in advanced melanoma. In this study, we investigated the role of Rg3 in melanoma by evaluating its in-vivo efficacy to inhibit melanoma growth, lung metastasis and melanoma-induced angiogenesis. We also revealed the potential underlying mechanisms by examining ERK and Akt pathways. Methods: 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice were purchased and maintained in our animal center. A highly metastatic subline of murine B16 melanoma cells was kindly provided by Dr. Xiaochun Xu, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Five groups were designed for this experiment: control (PBS), 3 groups with different doses of Rg3(0.3mg/kg, 1.0mg/kg, and 3.0mg/kg), and 5-FU (20mg/kg). 7 mice per group were given subcutaneous injection of 2 x 106 melanoma cells on the right flank for xenograft assay. 5 x 105 melanoma cells wrer subcutaneously injected on the right hind footpad for metastasis assay.The formed tumor tissues and lungs were collected for tumor growth and metastasis analysis, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting. Results: For tumor growth, all the 3 Rg3 groups had smaller size of tumor and reduced expression of PCNA, a marker for cancer cell proliferation. For lung metastasis, the 3 Rg3 groups showed a lower number of tumor colonies with a dose-dependent manner. For angiogenesis, the 3 Rg3 groups displayed suppression of tumor-induced neovascularization through inhibition of VEGF. Western results demonstrated both ERK and Akt pathways were down-regulated in the Rg3 groups. Interestingly, immunohistochemical staining showed a higher number of CD8+ T cell in Rg3 groups lungs, suggesting immune response may be activated to fight against melanoma. Conclusions: Rg3 can decrease melanoma growth and metastasis by down-regulating ERK and Akt pathways. It may also inhibit melanoma metastasis by mediating VEGF-activated angiogenesis. More importantly, Rg3 may activate immune system to fight against advanced melanoma. Our study is the first to indicate Rg3 may be a promising novel drug for advanced melanoma. Based on these results, we are performing a clinical trial to test its efficacy to treat advanced melanoma.


In this paper, we will discuss the process of the signification of the concept of measurement based on research conducted to investigate the existing relations between the logical-historical development and the mode of appropriation of the concept of measurement based on the Cultural-Historical Theory/Activity Theory and Teaching Guided Activity. The empirical work was conducted with the collaboration of 21 teachers who teach mathematics in public schools. The analyses were based on the results of the following actions: a) Formative Experiment with theoretical and practical studies; investigation of social practices related to measurements in the fields, b) elaboration, execution, and evaluation of didactic experiments performed with elementary school students. We conclude that in the objectivation of the teaching of the concept of measurement, the process of signification reflects the mode of appropriation of its logical-historical development by the subject and depends on the sharing of cultural meanings underlying the measures acquired in the context of particular social practices of different collectivities, pointing to the need to consider, in the teaching praxis. These different mathematical and symbolic systems govern such practices in the cultural environment of the students.


Microgrid can allow a lot of renewable energies to penetrate into power system and achieve maximum utilization of existing energies and demand-side management. Existing study focus on the uncertainty of renewable energy and load, but the microgrid risk status is rarely considered. The paper proposes an microgrid optimal dispatch model based on situation awareness (SA). According to the three levels of SA, the uncertainty model in microgrid is established, the risk coordination constraints are analyzed, and the risk cost is proposed. The proposed model takes two cases of loss of load and resource wastage into consideration to cover most possible impacts of potential risk in microgrid. A typical microgrid is analyzed to find optimal decisions and to minimize the comprehensive risk. The validity of the proposed model and the impact of confidence level and tolerance margin is demonstrated through case study.


Eighty newly weaned gilts with an average weight of 7.36 kg were randomly allocated to groups of either two, four, six or eight piglets per pen. The different group sizes were repeated four times. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between treatments (group size) for average total weight gain. There was a difference (P < 0.05) between treatments for the average amount of time (min h−1) of operant supplemental infrared heat demanded by the pigs. There was a difference (P < 0.05) in amount of infrared heat demanded during the day (06:00–18:00 h) vs. night (18:00–06:00 h), (19.07 ± 5.17 vs. 11.27 ± 6.01 min h−1, respectively), for the combined group sizes. There was a difference (P < 0.05) between treatments for the number of overall (24 h) rewarded hits. Both diurnal and overall (24 h) rewarded hits had a significant (P < 0.05) linear trend. For each increase of one pig in the group there was a decrease of 1.56 min h−1 of heat demanded by the pigs. The pigs demanded 32–40% of the total amount of...


Individuals who suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have a loss of motor control and possibly the loss of speech. A brain-computer interface (BCI) provides a means for communication through nonmuscular control. Visual BCIs have shown the highest potential when compared to other modalities; nonetheless, visual attention concepts are largely ignored during the development of BCI paradigms. Additionally, individual performance differences and personal preference are not considered in paradigm development. The traditional method to discover the best paradigm for the individual user is trial and error. Visual attention research and personal preference provide the building blocks and guidelines to develop a successful paradigm. This study is an examination of a BCI-based visual attention assessment in an ALS sample. This assessment takes into account the individual's visual attention characteristics, performance, and personal preference to select a paradigm. The resulting paradigm is optimized to the individual and then tested online against the traditional row-column paradigm. The optimal paradigm had superior performance and preference scores over row-column. These results show that the BCI needs to be calibrated to individual differences in order to obtain the best paradigm for an end-user. Knisley, have provided exceptional feedback in developing this study and refining this document. A special thanks to my committee chair, Dr. Eric Sellers. He has been an admirable mentor and friend. His knowledge has proven to be an excellent guide and his passion for research has been invigorating. I would also like to thank the researchers in BCI lab at ETSU. They have provided limitless help and support. Most importantly, I would like to thank the participants in this study and those with whom I have worked in previous studies. The participants and their families have been supportive in every way and have shown me that despite the circumstances, joy in life is possible.


Sparse MobileNetV2 has potential for embedded image processing applications due to its low computation complexity. However, it uses 32-bit float point number system for computing and storage. As a result, its computing efficiency can be further improved. In this paper, an 8-bit fixed point quantization method for Sparse MobileNetV2 is proposed for model size reduction and computing operation simplification, which improves throughput and shrinks memory consumption. Firstly, quantization objects are confirmed by analyzing the computation pattern of Sparse MobileNetV2. Then, after the statistical analysis of the distribution characteristic of parameters, the 8-bit fixed point quantization method is applied. Experimental results of image classification on remote sensing image dataset show that the memory consumption is reduced to 18.7% and the throughput increases by l.6x, while there is only a slight accuracy loss.


Our previous studies indicate that the in situ phase of mammary carcinogenesis is characteristically associated with cell‐mediated immunity (CMI) against an immunogen shared by most breast carcinomas. Such reactivity is inversely correlated with stage and appears to impede in situ‐to‐invasive progression and lethality from invasive breast carcinoma. If in situ carcinomas are indeed associated with ambient, prognostically favorable immunity against such an immunogen, one would expect lethality from invasive breast carcinoma to be reduced in patients with a diagnosis of a prior, simultaneous, or subsequent in situ breast carcinoma. The present study provides a test of such relationships.


In this paper, a new index named as reactive power stability index is proposed for finding most favorable location for placement of D-STATCOM which provides maximum voltage stability in radial distribution system. For this, the load flow is carried out for calculating bus parameters with probabilistic load model. Probable load is calculated using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method. The main contributions of the paper are: (a) Optimal D-STATCOM placement based on the new reactive power stability index, (b) Determination of best D-STATCOM size with probabilistic ZIP load model. (c) Comparison of energy saving with D-STATCOM placement in distribution network considering deterministic and probabilistic load model. The proposed algorithm is tested on rural distribution feeder of 85-bus radial distribution system by using MATLAB software. Results show the reduction in line losses and enhancement in voltage profile.


[Objective] To study the risk factors of cerebral infarction and the preventive measures.[Methods] The 10 risk factors were compared between recurrent cerebral infarction group of 53 cases and initially cerebral infarction group of 137 cases by multiple Logistic regression analysis.[Results] The average age of recurrent and initially cerebral infarction group was 69.00±10.30 and 62.31±12.58,respectively.There was significant difference between them(P﹤0.01).The males were significantly more than female in the initially cerebral infarction group(87/50),and this proportion was higher than that in recurrent group(P﹤0.01).The single factor analysis revealed that the hyperhomocysteinemia,alcohol and family history were the risk factors for recurrent cerebral infarction(P=0.035,0.022,0.012).Multivariate analysis revealed that hyperhomocysteinemia was association with recurrent cerebral infarction(OR=2.074).[Conclusion] Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor in cerebral infarction,and preventive treatment should be taken.


Microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity and inducibility were measured in jejunal mucosa, liver, and lesion-free epidermis of patients with psoriasis. In all three tissues AHH activity and inducibility were less than in controls. This demonstration of a generalised enzymatic abnormality in the tissues of patients with psoriasis is in keeping with the suggestion that it may be close to the underlying genetic defect.


The effect of adjacent channel interference on the probability of error in a binary bandpass communication system with an integrating and dumping detector is investigated. Narrowband filters are assumed in the receiver of the main signal and transmitters of both main and interfering signals. Plots of the probability of error as a function of signal to noise ratio in the main channel or as a function of carrier frequency difference between the main and interfering signals are presented, assuming that the filters are of the Butterworth type. These figures are helpful in the selection of minimal frequency spacing of adjacent channels.


The research presents evagrian teaching about heresy. According to monk of Pontus heresy is not basically a rational error of human mind or some kind of erroneous reasoning but is caused by passions (gr. logismoi) with a strong emotinal component. A heretic is not a man lacking the intelligence or a proper education but a one who is still dominated by one or more passions and has not yet completely purified his nous.


21 Background: In study COU-AA-302 of men with mCRPC and no prior chemotherapy, AA plus prednisone (hereafter AA) significantly increased radiographic progression-free survival. There is limited information about response to subsequent AS-directed therapies following AA. In this post hoc analysis of pts who received AA during study COU-AA-302, we evaluated clinical response to subsequent AA or enzalutamide (ENZ). Methods: In COU-AA-302, 546 pts were randomized and received AA. Subsequent response and discontinuation data from 88 pts receiving AS-directed therapy after study were collected retrospectively, source verified, and entered into the database. Median time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression with 95% confidence intervals was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: As of May 2013, following AA on study, 55 pts received subsequent AA and 33 received subsequent ENZ. 69% (38/55) of pts in the AA then AA group and 67% (22/33) pts in the AA then ENZ group received intervening chemot...


Background: Chronic leg ulceration is the most common cutaneous manifestation of sickle cell disease. In this study we observed adult sickle cell disease patients with leg ulcer.
 Methodology: In this observational study, patients with sickle cell disease at University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Sickle Cell Centre Benin, from July 2008 to June 2009 were recruited. After informed consent 273 patients were selected but only 250 (125 males and 125 females) were interviewed and completed a pre-tested questionnaire. Data included socio-demographic information, history of previous leg ulcers and current ulcers confirmed by examination. In those currently with leg ulcers, haemoglobin phenotype, stable haemoglobin (calculated as average haemoglobin in the absence of vaso-occlusive crises in past 3 months, site, diameter and status of leg ulcers were documented. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.
 Results: In sickle cell disease patients leg ulcers were found currently in 24(9.6%) and previously in 56(22.4%), while in sickle cell trait it was 0% and 2(0.8%) respectively. Leg ulcers were more prevalent in males than females (M:F=3:1), in those with lower stable haemoglobin 6.1–8g/dl (58.4%), age range of 18-25 years (66.7%), around left lateral ankle (66.7%) and with average diameter of 5-10cm (58.4%). Aetiology was mainly traumatic (58.4%) with 33.4% as traditional traumatic scarification. Greater than one year recurrence was 50%, and ulcers were septic in 83.4%.
 Conclusion: A lower stable haemoglobin, ignorance and poverty play important role in worsening chronic leg ulcers in sickle cell disease. Improved health education, prompt medical and surgical intervention could improve these leg ulcers.


ABSTRACT The aspartyl residue at position 433 of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase of Escherichia coli K-12 was replaced by an asparaginyl residue. This substitution enabled γ-glutamyltranspeptidase to deacylate glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporanic acid, producing 7-aminocephalosporanic acid, which is a starting material for the synthesis of semisynthetic cephalosporins.


"To be or not to be" (3. 1. 55)-that is the question Hamlet asks of himself and Shakespeare asks of him and other self-scrutinizing figures like him (such as Othello, Lear, to some degree Cleopatra and Macbeth), figures emerging largely, though not solely, in the tragedies, where the idea of selfhood and the prospects of selfdetermination are most prominently at issue.1 New historicism, with its Foucauldian emphases on the coercive pervasion of "power" and the ideological overdetermination of identity, has brought us back, perhaps despite itself, to where early feminisms, with their interest in recovering muted female voices, began: to questions of agency, of the subject's power over and as a self.2 Given a world in which thoughts are subjects to and of a multi-layered network of social and political prescripts, what finally does and can it mean to be, to perform or possess identity, to speak and act as "I"?


THE RADIOLOGICAL and pathological correlation of an unusual cerebral stain in a region of brain necrosis is the primaxy objective Of this The lesion which oecurred in the occipital lobes was part of a more widespread necrotic process which appeared to be secondary to an episode of Severe hvpoxia Occurring at the time Of a cardiac arrest. A vertebral angiogram eight days later produced an intense, transient blush of the evri in the occiDital repion, postmortem histoseizures. In early June 1965, three weeks before hospitalization, she was struck in the right temporal region but did not lose consciousness. Thereafter she experienced severe throbbing right-sided headaches. One day before admission the patient became confused, unsteady, and drowsy. On the day of admission she developed severe headache, stiffness of the neck, and gross disorientation. She was taken to the emergency room where she had a generalized convulsion. Lumbar puncture yielded grossly bloody spinal fluid, the initial pressure exceeding 600 mm. of water. The supernatant fluid was xanthochromic and the protein was 280 mg. u, I 0 logical sections showed a marked degree of capillary proliferation in the necrotic occipital gyri which accounted in all probability for the angiographic opacification of these structures. A second interesting feature to be considered is the failure of angiographic visualization of a prominent cavernous angioma of the frontal lobe in the same patient.


Institutions are inevitably critical to the functioning of societies. In the face of religious proliferation in Nigeria, institutional decay is common place. The level of decay is not only frightening, worrisome, endemic and ingrained; it is gradually threatening the legitimacy, rationality and functionality of religion as the threshold of moral formation, attitudinal change and behavioural transformation in Nigeria. This paper therefore examined the relationship between institutional decay and religious proliferation and the role that religious proliferation has played in the erosion of morality in the Nigerian society. This paper, which utilized relevant secondary sources of data, contended that religious  proliferation has culminated in mere formalism, sterility, powerlessness such that; rather than strengthening the moral fabric of the Nigerian society, it has become incapacitated and, as a consequence, it is itself a channel and a facilitator of decay. The paper concluded with some useful recommendations including the exigency of a sense of cohesion and collaboration among religious groups so as to forge a united front for the creation and sustenance of a genial climate that will facilitate individual and institutional transformation through societal value re-orientation, attitudinal change and behavioral re-predisposition. Keywords: institution, decay, religious proliferation, Nigeria


This research aims at developing a knowledge based fast qualification method for moisture or thermally induced failure in microelectronic packages. Driven by the market competition and the need for shorter time to market, fast qualification tests are becoming more and more important for the industry. Qualifications are tests which are used in the industry to estimate the lifetime reliability of an electronic package and their ability to fulfil their engineering requirement. Since the traditional trial-and-error method is still commonly used during product and process development for design and qualification, these qualification tests are too time consuming and will result in long design cycles. Moisture and thermal-mechanical related qualification tests are selected for this work since they are responsible for the most of the failures in the electronic packages. More specifically moisture sensitivity level analysis (MSLA) and thermal cycling, which are related to the moisture and thermal-mechanical qualification tests, are chosen in this research. Although MSLA tests consist of two stages: moisture diffusion and reflow (heating to maximum of 260oC at solder reflow condition), only moisture diffusion is studied for MSLA as the moisture diffusion stage accounts for almost all of the duration needed for MSLA test. Furthermore, since it has been known that moisture diffusion rate increases significantly with increasing temperature and humidity, an accelerated condition of 85oC/85%RH pre-conditioning is chosen. This corresponds to the worst condition in the JEDEC standard J-STD-020D and hence the highest acceleration. Furthermore, two different qualifying criterions are used in this research to quantify the accelerated condition. They are equal weight gain and equal local moisture concentration and significant acceleration factor has been achieved with these criterions. Compared with the traditional and 60oC/60%RH pre-conditioning, the moisture absorption time for equal moisture weight gain is shortened by a factor of 16 to 112 if only moisture weight gain is used as a qualifying criterion. Although not as high, the acceleration factor of 2 to 17 can be achieved even if a more stringent criterion of the local moisture concentration is considered. Another advantage of using only one accelerated condition is such that it minimizes the need to maintain different humidity chambers for different MSL. This not only simplify the testing procedures but additional time could be reduced since all the test at their level can be performed together. Another aspect of this research is to develop advanced characterization technique that is need to support the moisture and thermal mechanical simulation. This is critical as it will not only speed up the characterization processes which is normally very time consuming, it is able to increases their accuracy too. For example, RH% steps at constant temperature methodology developed in this research could not only reduce the time duration needed for moisture diffusion characterization, it is also able to produce a much more accurate result. At least four days can be shortened using this method to characterize the moisture properties needed for fast moisture diffusion. Furthermore, the DMA plus moisture generator method is found to be more efficient than that of traditional TGA/TMA method used to determine moisture induced expansion. Compared to the regular TGA/TMA method, the CME characterization time is shortened from 210 hours to 42 hours. Thermal cycling qualification is a test to determine the ability of the package to withstand mechanical stresses induced by cycling between two temperature extremes. Traditionally, these thermal cycling qualification test is very time consuming since it requires up to a few thousands of thermal cycles depending on the engineering requirements. In order to shorten the thermal cycling cycles, a knowledge based thermal cycling fast qualification method is also developed. For thermally induced failure, faster thermal cycling qualification can be obtained with the aid of simulations. In this research, delamination between die attach and copper die pad is identified as the dominant failure mode during thermal cycling test. A transient delamination simulation based on cohesive zone method is implemented to predict the number of cycles needed for delamination. However, as with any simulation, meaningful delamination prediction can only be achieved with accurate input properties. Hence, interface properties (interface toughness and critical opening) between copper die pad and die attach where the delamination occur is investigated in this research. The die attach-copper interface toughness as function of temperature is characterized by using both four point bending experiments and numerical simulations and the result shows that the interface toughness decreases significantly with increasing temperature. Lastly, the critical opening value at room temperature is determined in this research using experimental results and cohesive zone simulations. Our simulation result shows that delamination occurs at a early stage in their fatigue life but these delamination cracks will stabilize at around 20 cycles. This is consistent with our experimental measurement performed using sample cross sectioning technique. Furthermore, good agreements on delamination location and length have been also observed between the prediction and experimental measurement. The study shows the cycles needed for delamination is reduced from up to1500 cycles to 20 cycles with this qualification strategy. In conclusion, this research provides a framework in developing a knowledge based fast qualification method which can shorten qualification time and design cycles for different electronic packages. Moisture diffusion time can be largely shortened if this method is used whereas our thermal cycling qualification can be significantly shorten our test duration.


Treat yourself to a holiday in villas with a private pool in Alcudia, on Mallorca´s north coast. Enjoy the best of both worlds: private pools near the sea.


Author cline published in 1987 the paper "Convolutions of distributions with exponential and subexponential tails",in which some properties about subexponential distributions and their related classes were presented.However,it has been pointed out by Shimura and Watanabe that there exists a logic gap in the proof of Corollary 3.2(i) of Cline′s paper.In this paper,a more critical counterexample is proposed to show this gap and what′s more,a further example is presented to show Corollary 3.2(i) of Cline′s paper is invalid itself.


The study was performed to explore the digestive physiology of the badger and provide the fundamental data for the breeding technology.An anatomical experiment was conducted about the main digesting organs from three female badgers in this paper.The results showed that the stomach of the badger presents a "U"-shaped cystic single room stomach.Small intestine,the longest section of the digestive tract,was 3557 mm and about 5~6 times as long as the body length.Duodenum was about ""-shaped.There were no clear boundaries between jejunum and ileum.Jejunum formed a fan-shaped ansa intestinalis whose radius was about 88 mm.Large intestine,about 170 mm,was underdeveloped,including the colon and the rectum,without the cecum.The colon has no haustra of colon or longitudinal belts.Digestive glands were more developed.The well-developed liver occupied the most anterior positon of peritoneal.The pancreas included left arm and right arm,while the left arm was longer than the right arm.


deserve merely death . . . How much less just is Jesus who demands not death for "wickedness" by his curious standards (that is, for not being a true believer), but eternal postmortem torment!' (p. 303). This statement ignores many sayings in which 'Jesus' moral vision' explicitly seeks to be more compassionate than the Tanakh. My most serious disappointment, one not shared by most scholars in my field, is his silence about the profound influence of the Homeric epics on the composition of the Gospel of Mark and Luke's two-volume Gospel-Acts of Apostles, where one finds scores of polemical Homeric imitations to depict Jesus and his followers as more powerful and compassionate than the Olympians. In other words, the stories in Mark and Luke-Acts offer the most promising opportunities for one to observe the agonism between the biblical and Homeric traditions. To be sure, Gospel authors did not contest the immorality of Yahweh with the same intensity; they should have done so more often. Such criticisms notwithstanding, H. has offered a brilliantly researched, original, engaging, witty and frequently humorous engagement with the abuses of the Bible by contemporary believers. I strongly applaud his humanistic integrity, erudition and righteous indignation with ignorance and intolerance. I am now retired from teaching in a United Methodist seminary – H. teaches at a Roman Catholic University! – and regret that I did not have this volume for required reading for my introductory course to the New Testament. I know of no text that better introduces these two monumental repositories of ancient myths, one Jewish and one Greek, to the cultural capital evoked by the Gospel authors or that would more profoundly shake students into critical engagement and disturbing discovery.


The utility model belongs to a planetary reducer driven rocking worktable, which is characterized in that: a bearing seat fixed on the foundation has an outer ring drive shaft positioned through a bearing, the end of the outer ring drive shaft is fixed with a square outer ring frame, the middle part of the outer ring frame side edge is arranged with an inner ring drive shaft with an inner ring plate at one end, the inner ring plate is inserted in the outer ring frame, the inner ring drive shaft and the outer ring drive shaft can be driven by a planetary reducer. The utility model can analog the individual and composite two-way freedom oscillating motion of ship and naval vessel and undersea boat in the laboratory environment with high control precision and measurement precision.


Research in herding has been prolific in recent decades engulfing a large array of national markets in its scope. However, despite the growing trend towards the formation of alliances among stock markets globally, the examination of herding in those alliances has been largely overlooked. We fill this gap by investigating this issue in the context of the EURONEXT for the April 2002 - April 2008 period on the premises of its two key indices (EURONEXT100; NEXT150). Results indicate that herding there is significant, irrespective of the state of the market, yet its significance evaporates once controlling for the effect of size, industrial and country classification.


The current state of spotted ground squirrel in the Volga region (N 51–56°, E 42–49°) has been studied due to modern changes in biotopical and ecological conditions. The distribution of species has a mosaic character caused by landscape features and degree of anthropogenic use of biotopes of the region, and by environment fragmentation changes as well. Strong decrease of a spotted ground squirrel number in the Volga region is marked now. Nowadays, there are 7 geographically isolated modern populations of species in the region. Colonies with high number of ground squirrel haven't been found out. Preserved colonies of S. suslicus are revealing mainly in the biotopes formed by pastures, uncultivated lands and ravines.


The introduction of mandatory safety belts for passengers in coaches has raised the discussion about the influence of occupants and belts in rollover results. The retention provided by the safety belts in the rollover will contribute to reduction of the injuries to the occupants but may lead to greater concerns over the vehicle structure. In this paper, the work carried out by INSIA-UPM to determine the influence of passengers under rollover requirements is presented.


By measuring the effects of halogen concentration on the lifetime of KrF excimer laser, the impurities effects on the laser output performance are analyzed. The experimental results also show that the degration of halogen concentration is related to the laser resonator conditions.


Censorship never dies: like intellectual freedom of which it is a part, it goes on changing its form. The discussion reviews some of the key social, political, religious, artistic and moral factors, suggests that censorship is an area which pre‐eminently brings out the worst and best because it is more complex than it looks, because consensus is rare, because everyone thinks they are right, and because professional and personal roles work together and sometimes get confused. Statements about intellectual freedom and rights are aspirational for practitioners trying to make personal decisions about what is acceptable and accountable. Reference is made to political correctness, alleged harms, community standards, and the role of the information professional as an intermediary.


There are many practical applications of galvanomagnetic effects of metallic and intermetallic semiconductors in electronic devices, most of them utilizing the Hall effect. On account of its characteristics as a two dimensional multiplier in nature and its simple circuit assembly, the Hall effect element has attracted more attention than the magnetoresistance element which needs inevitably an extra biasing magnetic field of a considerable magnitude to improve the non-linearity of its characteristic. In order to overcome this shortcoming a type of push-pull arrangement with 2 magnetoresistance elements in circuit is recommended, and the result is a three dimensional multiplier. A few examples of the applications of this kind of multiplier will be described in the paper, such as: (1) analog computing element which may carry out a large number of mathematical operations, (2) poly-phase power meter which is capable of showing the total power, (real, reactive, or apparent), in an electrical network with a single indication, (3) amplifiers and oscillators, (4) mixer, modulator and demodulator, (5) de current transformers, etc. In comparison with similar devices based on Hall effect, the magnetoresistance electronic devices have the advantages of higher sensitivity, better efficiency, and facility for adjustment. All the devices will be operating at ordinary room temperature. The construction of the magnetoresistance element will be discussed and some experimental results will be given.


A pair of specific primers of gene encoding phenol hydroxylase was designed by oligonucleotide high conservative sequence.A 684 bp fragment was amplified from Alcaligenes faecalis BC2001's total DNA.After sequencing and alignment by Blast,the sequence share 97% homology with phenol-degrading Proteobacterium L-18 strain(accession number:AY346142).Another phenol-degrading experiment showed that pH 6 was optimum for the growth of BC2001.It exemplified the BC2001 strain showing its phenol-degrading ability at 300 mg·L-1 of phenol concentration.


May, 12th, 1976, in Glasgow, nearly thirty years after the end of the Second World War, two of the most renowned soccer team from France and Germany faced each other in the final of the European clubs championship. International sports events provide great evidence of the way national cultures frame their view of other nationalities. I will seek through various examples to point out links between the operation of media sports discourse and the possible interests of countries as they occur in practice. This is examined through qualitative discourse examples from the transcription of the French television broadcast. Past and present issues of identity politics between France and Germany can be illuminated through this analysis. Attention is paid to whether national stereotyping, I/we images, established/outsider identities/relations were evident in the direct broadcast of this soccer game. I will examine how television has transformed sport as a form of popular culture, focusing on sport as a form of political ritual and sport as an arena in which representations of nation and nationhood are continually being worked through.


pective in 51 patients (1982-1988) with a clinical follow-up of at least 5 years. In another 75 patients (1987-1990) whose clinical course was known, we performed retrospective measurements. We found histological grading to correlate significantly with the nuclear DNA content, the DNA index (DI), the 5c-exceeding-rate, and DNA malignancy grading (MG) by Böcking. The DI showed significant correlation with the recurrence rate of the tumors. Summarising the three cytometric parameters mentioned above permits a subdivision of the tumors in "low risk" and "high risk" cases, which is more powerful than histopathologic grading or therapeutical groups. Based on the results of this study, we developed a concept for cytometrically stratified application of local chemotherapy in superficial urinary bladder carcinomas. This concept ist currently being checked in a multicentric randomised phase-lll study. The results of 81 patients (51 with low risk tumors) who had had a clinical follow-up of one year revealed the prognostic relevance of the DNA parameters.


Stromeyerite, below 93° C., forms orthorhombic crystals having space group symmetry Cmcm, with a = 4.06 A; b = 6.66 A; c = 7,99 A. The unit cell contains Ag4CU4S4, with each element occupying 4-fold special positions. The Ag is at 000, OO-h ~ ~ 0, and tH. The Cu and S atoms are at Oy-l, 01d-, ~ ~+ y-r, and tlY1, where the y parameter for Cu is 0.46 and for S is 0.80. The volumes of the principal BRILLOUIN zones of stromeyerite have been computed. The assumed electron-to-atom ratio will not exactly fill any of the principal zones. Consequently, a small portion of the electrons must be at a higher energy level separated by an energy gap from the others. A defect structure with up to 0.1 of the Ag atoms missing at random is proposed as a possible lower energy structure. This suggestion is in agreement with the experimental data found in the literature on the preparation of synthetic stromeyerite.


The technical esthetics is an aesthetic factor which arise from the natural sciences in application of machinery production,the technical esthetics drive the development of humanized technology and the innovation of artistic forms,which has become an important form of expression of modern design.This article analyze the technical esthetics from the conception of technical esthetics,the characteristics of technical esthetics in the modern design,the impact of modern design from technical esthetics,and propose own viewpoint that to achieve the harmonious development of modern design from combination of technical esthetics and other aesthetic features.


Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by an autoimmune defect in the neuromuscular junction. In most patients, the autoimmune attack is mediated by antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) on the postsynaptic membrane. Deficient immunoregulation, including regulatory T cells, is consistently observed. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) leads to the induction of regulatory T cells that mediate immunologic tolerance in autoimmune diseases; however, the data regarding MG are very limited.


Introduction: Ocular complications in diabetes have a significant impact on the working population. Apart from diabetic retinopathy, diabetes can lead to several non-retinal complications like cataract, ophthalmoplegia, dry eye, corneal kerato-epitheliopathy and refractive error. With the addition of substantial number of newly diagnosed diabetics per year there is a significant ever-growing burden on health services. Materials and methods: It was a hospital-based study conducted at Hi-tech Medical College and hospital where patient diagnosed as diabetics within one year and in the working age-group 30-65 years were included. After the routine ocular evaluation these subjects were administered a concise questionnaire containing questions testing their awareness about diabetes, its ocular complications and eyecare practices. Results: A total of 727 newly diagnosed diabetics were assessed with mean age 49.64 +/-7.28. The incidence of cataract was 18.7% and DR 9.35% respectively. Although nearly half the study population had some knowledge of diabetes, knowledge about ocular complications was limited. The main source of the information was the prescribing doctor. Conclusion: Determining the clinical profile of ocular complications with an assessment of knowledge and awareness of eye-care practices in the newly diagnosed diabetics can help to formulate the interventional measures to control the ocular morbidity.


Although it is widely accepted that financial development is associated with higher growth, the evidence on the channels through which credit affects growth on the micro-level is scant. Using data from a cross section of Bulgarian firms, the authors estimate the impact of access to credit (as proxied by indicators of whether firms have access to a credit or overdraft facility) on productivity. To overcome potential omitted variable bias of OLS estimates, they use information on firms' past growth to instrument for access to credit. The authors find credit to be positively and strongly associated with total factor productivity. These results are robust to a wide range of robustness checks.


Objectives. We aimed to examine the effect of beta2-agonists on anaerobic performance in healthy non-asthmatic subjects. Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Eligibility criteria. We searched four databases (PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science) for randomized controlled trials, published until October 2018, examining the effect of beta2agonists on maximal physical performance lasting one minute or shorter. Data are presented as standardized difference in mean (SDM) with 95% confidence intervals. Results. Thirty-two studies were included in the present meta-analysis. The studies include 41 different randomized and placebo controlled comparisons with beta2-agonists comprising 317 participants in crossover trials, and 110 participants in parallel trials. Beta2-agonists improved anaerobic performance by 5 % (SMD 0.27, 0.14-0.41) and the effect was related to treatment duration. In a stratified analysis the SDM was 0.18 (0.05-0.30) for acute treatment and 0.53 (0.190.88) for treatment for multiple weeks. Analyses stratified for the type of performance showed that strength 0.33 (0.12-0.53) and sprint 0.18 (0.050.30) performance was improved by beta2-agonists. Conclusion/implication. Our study shows that non-asthmatic subjects can improve sprint and strength performance by using beta2-agonists. Multiple weeks of treatment is more effective for


The influence of dichlorodifluoromethane (freon 12) on the formation and decomposition of ozone by ultraviolet rays irradiated from a low pressure mercury vapor quartz lamp has been studied. The lamp used in this study was cylinder shaped 15 W and its main spectral lines were 184.9 nm and 253.7 nm. Freon gas was supplied to the annular middle space of a triple structure pipe that had the lamp in its center. Then, with ultraviolet rays irradiating from the lamp, the relationship between chlorine concentration and freon flow rate was examined. Likewise, air with a small amount of freon gas was supplied to the middle space. The intensity of ultraviolet rays (184.9 nm) after passing through the freon layer was also examined. In a further experiment, freon gas was supplied into the middle space and air with ozone whose concentration was kept constant (10 ppm) was supplied to the annular outside space of the pipe. Then, with ultraviolet rays irradiating from the lamp, the relationship between the decomposition ratio and the gas flow rate was examined. The following results were obtained : (1) Ozone is not decomposed by freon alone. (2) Freon is quite able to pass through 253.7 nm wavelength ultraviolet rays, but it hinders the formation of ozone by easily absorbing 184.9 nm wavelength ultraviolet rays. Ozone was not formed when air was mixed with freon gas of over 0.9 vol%. As the freon flow rate decreased, the formation rate of ozone gradually increased, up to 90% in the case of 0.025 vol%. (3) Freon absorbs 184.9 nm wavelength ultraviolet rays, and part of it forms chlorine after being decomposed. The highest chlorine concentrations recognized, in the case of a 0.11 l/min freon gas flow rate, was 900 ppm. The chlorine concentration produced was in proportion to the ratio of freon in the air. (4) After passing through the freon layer, 253.7 nm wavelength ultraviolet rays are able to decompose ozone without hindrance. That is to say, freon itself does not affect the decomposition of ozone by these ultraviolet rays.


Effective document compression algorithms require scanned document images be first segmented into regions such as text, pictures and background. In this paper, we present a document compression algorithm that is based on the 3-layer (foreground/mask/background)MRC (mixture raster content) model. This compression algorithm first segments a scanned document image into different classes. Then, each class is transformed to the 3-layer MRC model differently according to the property of that class. Finally, the foreground and the back-ground layers are compressed using JPEG with customized quantization tables. The mask layer is compressed using JBIG2. The segmentation is optimized in the sense of rate distortion for the 3-layer MRC representation. It works in a closed loop fashion by a lying each transformation to each region of the document and then selecting the method that yields the best rate-distortion trade-off. The proposed segmentation algorithm can not only achieve a better rate-distortion trade-off, but also produce more robust segmentations by eliminating those mis-classifications which can cause severe artifacts. At similar bit rates, our MRC compression with the rate- distortion based segmentation can achieve a much higher subjective quality than state-of-the-art compression algorithms, such as JPEG and JPEG-2000.


This paper discusses the modified variational iterative method in solving the parabolic equation.The purpose is to get the solutions of the Fokker-Planck equation or the similar equation by using the simple calculation of the modified variational iterative method.Comparing with the Adomian method,the modified iterative method is faster in getting the convergence solution.


(57) Abstract: remote keyless entry apparatus for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a receiving unit disposed in the vehicle, the key fob communication apparatus for communicating a plurality of signals to the receiving unit. The communication device, to a receiving unit and a communication unit for transmitting a plurality of signals, operably coupled to the communication unit, a control unit for controlling the communication of a plurality of signals, electricity control unit It is connected, and a diagnostic integrated and storage unit for sending diagnostic data to the control unit. In addition, the communication device includes a key fogging blanking unit that can be selectively switched to the diagnostic unit and a control unit. These arrangements are, in a first operating state of the key fogging blanking unit, one of a plurality of signal triggers the control unit key fob generates the communication unit in order to receive the receiving unit. In the second operation state of the key fob, key fob generates a second signal received by trigger a diagnostic unit to a receiving unit of the plurality of signal to the communication unit. The second signal includes diagnostic information about the key fob, the receiving unit is to provide a diagnostic report after receiving the second signal.


Three new host species of Lasioerythraeus johnstoni Welbourn & Young are reported from Washington County, MS during 1986. These hosts were in the Thysanoptera (Thripidae) and Hemiptera (Cydnidae an...


The effectiveness of butyl methacrylate/ethyl acrylate–based copolymers as consolidants for stone was investigated. The penetration of polymeric consolidating products is extremely slight because of their macromolecular nature and in situ polymerization of the monomers is suggested as an alternative technique to the use of macromolecular solutions. The efficiencies of three products synthesized in situ and fluorinated by various copolymers were comparatively evaluated in terms of surface properties, water permeability, and consolidation on a selected stone substrate. Moreover, because the environmental stability of such polymeric products is one of the key factors for their extensive application for conservative treatments, the photooxidative stability of reference polymers prepared in vitro was also investigated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3202–3213, 2004


In order to identify whether the black hair extracted from the crime scene is dyed, the OLYMPUSBX51 phase contrast microscope is used to observe the black hair undyed or differently dyed without any damage to the hair. The results show that under the phase contrast microscope great differences exist among the black hair that is undyed, dyed from the original black, dyed from the original white, dyed for two weeks or newly dyed. Therefore, it provides effective examining ways for the forensic identification of dyed-hair by using the nondestructive phase contrast microscope.


The exercise scenario is designed to test the effectiveness of emergency response plans for the Airport, participating agencies, local first responders, state and federal response teams and other stakeholders in the event of an aircraft mishap into the Choctawhatchee Bay near Lincoln Park in Valparaiso. This critical training session allows for the Airport and first responders to collaborate and comply with the highest FAA standards in safety and security. Additionally, the exercise will identify our strengths and weaknesses with respect to preparing for, responding to and recovering from a civil aviation emergency.


Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and other organic compounds are solvent extracted from 10- to 20-g samples of fly ash from municipal incinerators with 200 mL of benzene using ultrasonic agitation for 1 h. A convenient filtering device is used to separate fly ash and solvent which is then concentrated to 100 ..mu..L using a rotary evaporator. Extracts are analyzed directly by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, including selected ion monitoring for PCDDs. Results from five replicate analyses of a fly ash sample yielded averages and standard deviations (ng/g) for the tetra-to octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins of 8.6 +- 2.2, 15.0 +- 4.0, 13.0 +- 3.4, 3.2 +- 1.0, and 0.4 +- 0.1, respectively. 2 tables, 3 figures.


Given that the purpose of any business, and therefore those working in the field of extraction of coal mineral resources, is aimed at maintaining the equilibrium relationship between revenue and expenditure, the management problem facing firms is to find those methods which allow sizing and controlling this type of relationship. For this purpose, a financial previsions document is elaborated, namely the "income and expenditures budget", with the help of which mines forecast for a certain period of time, usually a year broken down in quarters, the financial revenues and expenditures, thus ensuring a relationship of financial equilibrium.


For a translation surface, we define the systole to be the length of the shortest saddle connection. We give a characterization of the maxima of the systole function on a stratum, and give a family of examples providing local but nonglobal maxima on each stratum of genus at least three. We further study the relation between (locally) maximal values of the systole function and the number of shortest saddle connections.


This extensive abstract describes a study which investigated the therapeutic effectiveness and satisfaction of telephone therapy. Suljects were female outpatients who came to the _mental health center for counsel5ng. Treatment groups received face-to-face therapy, telephone therapy or delayed therapy (control group). The/measures psed with the subjects were an adjustment scale, a problems'checklistja satisfaction scale and an individual problem-improvement checklist. A fifth measure was a separate pre-test and post-test survey on cou'..Blors, opinions toward telephone therapy. Subjects receivin ,--ither therapy were found to be more improved on their individual problems than the control group subjects. No significant differences ok the other measures were obtained. Counselor opinions toward telephone therapy showed no improvement from pre-test to post-test. (Author/SJL) Documents .....cquired by ERIC include many'informal unpublished * materials not a7ailab1e from other sources. ERIC makes every effort * * to obtain the brast copy available. Nevertheless, items of marginal * reproducibility a-e often encountered and this affects the quality * of the microfich' ind hardcopy reproductions ERIC makes available * via the ERIC Docu. ,ut Reproduction Service (EDRS). EDRS is not * responsible foi, the quality of the original document. Reproduction: * * supplied by EDRS are the Pest that can be made from the original. U S OEPARTMENT NISALIN, EOUCATION WEI FARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EOUCATION 00CUMENT CUCE0 EXACTLY HAS BEEN k PHU THE PERSON AS RECPVE0 OR ORGANIZATION A TING IT bolNrs ?TA TED DO or vIew o OP'Nfoys NOT NECESSAR,LY \ OPPICIAL NATIONAL i PUT ,CATION POSITION INSTI T. if (OR ROL icY THE USE OF TELEPHONE THERAPY PsS A SHORTTERM CRISIS-INTERVENTION COUNSELING TECHNIQUE IN A COM47JNITY MENTAL HEALTH 'CFNTER ABSTRACT


Internet based communication systems appear in many forms from email to Instant Messenger and chat services to Voice over IP (VoIP). Common weaknesses of these current communication systems include inherent security vulnerabilities to attacks such as SPAM/SPIT/SPIM and DDoS, a lack of separation between routing address and identity, and a lack of message receiver controllability. Based on these observations, we describe preliminary ideas and analysis of a new communication architecture called DSL (Davis Social Links), which integrates the trust relationships of social networks into the internet communication infrastructure to provide receiver controllability, traceability, and global connectivity without centralized services or globally unique IDs. Although it is still in the early stages of development, we believe that DSL can help thwart many large-scale information-based attacks faced by the Internet community.


We evaluated the use of a bypass between the middle meningeal artery (MMA) and P2 segment of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) as an alternative to an external carotid artery (ECA-to-PCA) anastomosis. Five adult cadaveric heads (10 sides) were used. After a temporal craniotomy and zygomatic arch osteotomy were performed, the dura of the floor of the middle cranial fossa was separated and elevated. The MMA was dissected away from the dura until the foramen spinosum was reached. Intradurally, the carotid and sylvian cisterns were opened. After the temporal lobe was retracted, the interpeduncular and ambient cisterns were opened and the P2 segment of the PCA was exposed. The MMA trunk was transsected just before the bifurcation of its anterior and posterior branches where it passes inside the dura and over the foramen spinosum. It was anastomosed end to side with the P2 segment of the PCA. The mean caliber of the MMA trunk before its bifurcation was 2.1 (cid:1) 0.25 mm, and the mean caliber of the P2 was 2.2 (cid:1) 0.2 mm. The mean length of the MMA used to perform the bypass was 32 (cid:1) 4.1 mm, and the mean length of the MMA trunk was 39.5 (cid:1) 4.4 mm. This bypass procedure is simpler to perform than an ECA-to-P2 revascularization using long grafts. The caliber and length of the MMA trunk are suitable to provide sufficient blood flow. Furthermore, the course of the bypass is straight.


Some results of the CAPSYS method are presented. It is a new high-level synthesis method whose objective is to benefit from very long induction word (VLIW) compilation and digital signal processor (DSP) synthesis experiences to generalize the automatic processor design process. The major characteristic of this approach is to synthesize architecture in a global way. Instead of a single operative area, the synthesis considers a complete architecture. It permits one to take into account memory throughput, for instance, and, more generally, exchanges with the environment of the synthesized processor. The first part of the method, the generation of architectural models, is emphasized. This procedure furnishes a full spectrum of architectural decompositions (i.e. the number and the type of the functional units) from maximally parallel ones to fully serial ones. In each one, the synthesis algorithm creates an adequacy between the machine and the microcode. Results showing the influence of memory management on synthesized processors are given.<<ETX>>


In this work, we present advanced investigations and treatments for the problem of a restricted vibrating motion of a connected gyrostat with a spring. It is supposed that the gyrostat spins slowly about the minor or major principal axis of the inertia ellipsoid. The gyrostat is acted upon by a gyrostatic couple vector besides the action of Newtonian and electromagnetic fields. The approach of the large parameter is applied to obtain the periodic solutions for the governing system of equations of motion of the gyrostat. A geometric illustration using the angles of Euler is given for such motion to evaluate and analyze the gyrostatic motion at any instant. The analysis of the obtained solutions is considered in terms of numerical data throughout computer programs. Characterized parametric data are assumed through one of the numerical methods for obtaining numerical solutions that prove the validity of the analytical obtained periodic solutions. The obtained solutions, besides the phase diagrams, have been drawn to describe these solutions' periodicity and stability procedures. The novelty of this work comes from the imposition of a new initial condition that does not restrict movement around the dynamic symmetry axis. This assumption allows the use of a new technique for the solution called the large parameter. This technique gives solutions in a completely new domain that are different from the ones studied in previous works.


The flame retardancy of treated paper samples using BL-flame retardants and its mechanism were investigated in this paper.The FT-IR and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX) results showed that flame retardants were mainly composed of nitrogen and phosphorus elements.Limiting oxygen index(LOI) could reach 41% as the flame retardants concentration was 20%,which was belonged to non-inflammable standard.SEM images of paper surface showed that the about 10μm flower-shaped and 1μm flake-shaped crystal were deposited on the fiber surface as the treated flame retardants concentrations were 20% and 25%,respectively.


The peroxide value of imported polyethylene,polypropylene and polystyrene resin were determined by titration method.9 grades of imported polyethylene resin,14 grades of imported polypropylene resin and 10 grades of imported polystyrene resin were conducted a spot check.The results showed that the peroxide value of polyethylene and polypropylene resin were small and evenly distributed,and the polystyrene resin was large related with production technology.


The article introduces the modern design method emphatically (including Concurrent Design and Virtual Design and Green Design and Reliability Design and Intelligent Optimal Design) application in the modern electromechanical product design. Hope to provide certain reference function for electromechanical product development designer and electronic product enterprise's policymaker through the introduction.


Economists have less influence on congressional decision-making than they might because they do not make a sufficient effort to learn how issues look from the politicians' point of view. Politics and economics are inextricably connected in congressional decision-making. For those economists who are willing to try to bridge the gap between economists and Politicians, the article suggests ten guidelines: (1) learn about the history of the issue; (2) find out who will be making the decision, (3) timing is critical; (4) learn everyone's interests and arguments; (5) it's OK to think like an economist, but don't write like one; (6) keep it simple; (7) congressmen care more about distribution than efficiency; (8) take implementation and administration into account; (9) emphasize a few crucial and striking numbers; and (10) read the newspapers.


It is a question worth the asking, at what season in his life a man comes to the writing of history, with what equipment for the task, and under what impulsion. Cornelius Tacitus did not discover his vocation until he had passed the age of forty. Was that late or early? Late, in the opinion of some scholars, late and almost anomalous. Gaston Boissier avowed his surprise on the first page of his Tacite, a book published just over fifty years ago, and held in merited esteem for its combination of elegance and judgement. And, more recently (in 1947), Ernst Kornemann, the last survivor of that notable company, the pupils of Theodor Mommsen, affirmed it as an axiom that Tacitus came late to history.


INTRODUCTIONInformation and Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionized every walk of life today be it communication, governance, commerce, healthcare, education, entertainment, defense, etc., to list a few. ICT is influencing the society in the same way as was done by the machines in eighteenth century, perhaps on a far greater scale. Government of India has also acknowledged the constructive role of ICT in school education and have come out with a National Policy on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in School Education which has been revised in 2013 (Ministry of Human Resource, 2012). Internet and World Wide Web are main constituent of ICT. Internet usage worldwide has arisen exponentially in recent past, as of date about 3120 million people worldwide are using Internet (Internet Live Stat, 2015). About 20% of population in India is using Internet which is about 8.5% of world Internet users (India Internet Users, 2015). The number of mobile Internet user alone was expected to reach 213 million by June 2015 as per a report on Mobile Internet users in India of 2014 (Internet and Mobile Association of India, 2014). Interestingly, the explosion in the use of Internet has become possible due to affordable, readily available devices (gadgets) like laptops, tablets and mobile phones, particularly the availability of latter to the masses in even the rural areas of the country. Since the spread of Internet is countrywide, school children too are using Internet and how its contents especially the social networking sites, chat rooms, etc., are affecting them needs to be studied.In the present work, as a first step towards the study of impact of Internet and Social Networking sites/Social Media (SM), a survey is carried out among the school students of Raipur city of Chhattisgarh to study their awareness of use of these digital devices, Internet usage and spread of use of Social Media- SM. This survey to study the aforementioned technology usage is termed as "survey on Digital Awareness of school children of 14 to 19 years", and it systematically analyses the gadgets owned and used by students for communication, Internet access, entertainment and social networking, etc. Studies of Internet usage, SM and effect of these on students are being actively investigated worldwide hence a relevant literature review is given next.LITERATURE REVIEWUse of Internet and its impact has been extensively studied worldwide and as per the report of Pew Internet and American Life Project (The Internet goes to college, 2002) it was found that about 25% college students began using computers between the age 5 and 8 and almost everyone started using computers and Internet by the age of 16 to 18 years. The usage of Internet has been reported in the areas of communication through e-mails, entertainment and browsing for fun. In United States, by 2011, 82.8 young individuals between the age group 18 to 34 years reported accessing Internet from computers at home, though this trend varied across demographics such as race and ethnicity (Computers and Internet use in the United States, 2013). Chan and Fang (2007) studied young people in Hong Kong and found that the Internet was used for different purposes such as for making friends, shopping, listening to music, having fun, completing homework, and searching for information on further education. Aslanidou and Menexes (2008) collected samples from 418 high school students in four Greek cities found that Internet access remained at a very low level and was insufficiently used for academic purposes. Hawi, (2012) conducted experiments on 883 school students in Lebanon and reported that 84.2% students used the Internet for communication and email, 65.7% for information search in research, and 51.8% for entertainment such as online games and music. Ayub, Wan, & Nawawi (2014) carried out an interesting study in Malaysian Institutions where no correlation was found between Internet access duration and use of Internet for academic purposes among agriculture, engineering students. …


The purpose of this note is to explain a combinatorial description of closed smooth oriented 4-manifolds in terms of positive Dehn twist factorizations of surface mapping classes, and further explore these connections. This is obtained via monodromy representations of simplified broken Lefschetz fibrations on 4-manifolds, for which we provide an extension of Hurwitz moves that allows us to uniquely determine the isomorphism class of a broken Lefschetz fibration. We furthermore discuss broken Lefschetz fibrations whose monodromies are contained in special subgroups of the mapping class group; namely, the hyperelliptic mapping class group and in the Torelli group, respectively, and present various results on them which extend or contrast with those known to hold for honest Lefschetz fibrations. Lastly, we show that there are 4-manifolds admitting infinitely many pairwise nonisomorphic relatively minimal broken Lefschetz fibrations with isotopic regular fibers.


Studying the news sources used in data-driven journalism (DDJ) practices is the proposal of this dissertation. The theoretical approach includes classifications of news sources already discussed in journalism studies. Considering the contemporary context, which is modified by social and technological transformations, this study operates from the networked society and network journalism perspectives. The main point is to detect the use of journalism sources in news developed by DDJ techniques, which emerges in this scenario during the 2000's. It analyzes 60 news records published by O Globo, The New York Times and La Nación, as traditional media, and Nexo, FiveThirtyEight and Chequeado, as the native ones. Combining the theory and the empirical study, it proposes a classification by types of sources of DDJ news: documentary file, statistics and reproduction. Through this classification, it aims to fulfill a gap found in the theoretical sources approach, which is superficially discussed in journalism until now, bringing the use of documents as a protagonist in this scenario.


In order to research a new active agent of chlorine dioxide,an inorganic matter-MY,which can activate chlorine dioxide in neutral condition was studied,and the best activation mixture ratio was obtained.The influence of accelerating agent-sodium dichlord cyanurate on activation quantity was also studied and the appropriate stabilizing agent was screened.By orthogonal tests and stability tests,the best mixture ratio of preparing one pack system neutral solid chlorine dioxide was as follows: anhydrous sodium sulfate for 27.8%,sodium dichlord cyanurate for 7.2%,sodium chlorate for 26.0%,active agent MY for 39.0%.


We here report the first molecular characterization of an α-xylosidase (XylS) from an Archaeon. Sulfolobus solfataricus is able to grow at temperatures higher than 80 °C on several carbohydrates at acidic pH. The isolatedxylS gene encodes a monomeric enzyme homologous to α-glucosidases, α-xylosidases, glucoamylases and sucrase-isomaltases of the glycosyl hydrolase family 31.xylS belongs to a cluster of four genes in the S. solfataricus genome, including a β-glycosidase, an hypothetical membrane protein homologous to the major facilitator superfamily of transporters, and an open reading frame of unknown function. The α-xylosidase was overexpressed in Escherichia colishowing optimal activity at 90 °C and a half-life at this temperature of 38 h. The purified enzyme follows aretaining mechanism of substrate hydrolysis, showing high hydrolytic activity on the disaccharide isoprimeverose and catalyzing the release of xylose from xyloglucan oligosaccharides. Synergy is observed in the concerted in vitro hydrolysis of xyloglucan oligosaccharides by the α-xylosidase and the β-glycosidase fromS. solfataricus. The analysis of the total S. solfataricus RNA revealed that all the genes of the cluster are actively transcribed and that xylS and orf3 genes are cotranscribed.


Background: The activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system has been implicated in the progression of atrial structural remodeling during atrial fibrillation (AF). However, consequences of the changes of aldosterone in AF have not been evaluated.


[Objective]To study the expression of Cad-Ⅱ gene in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) transfected with Cad-ⅡcDNA after autografted into the bone defects. [Method]The experimental model of ilium segment defect was established in 20 Japanese white rabbits.The rabbit MSCs were isolated,cultured and expanded in vitro,and then the MSCs,transfected with Cad-Ⅱ and compounded with collagen sponge were autografted into the ilium segment defect.At 4 weeks of operation,the MSCs/ collagen sponge were excised,and the expression of Cad-Ⅱ was evaluated with RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods.[Result]All of the bone defects treated with implants exhibited new bone formation at 4 weeks postoperatively.In the transfection group,Cad-Ⅱ gene mRNA expression was higher than that in the control group(P0.01).The results of immunohistochemical staining showed there was a significant increase of the positive cells in the transfection group as compared with the control group(P0.01).[Conclusion]MSCs transfected with Cad-Ⅱ is highly expressed after autografted into the bone defects.


Objective To establish quantitative determination methods of Xinyuan Capsules.Methods:The HPLC were used.Result: The HPLC method could quantitatively determine 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystibene-2-O-β-D-glucoside content in Xinyuan Capsules.The linear range of Sodium Danshensu was 0.192~4.8 μg(r=0.9999),the average recovery was 99.8%with RSD of 0.43%.Conclusion:quantitative determination methods are reproducible and specific.


Most products in e-commerce are with high cost (e.g., digital cameras, computers) and hence less likely experienced by users (so they are called "inexperienced products"). The traditional recommender techniques (such as user-based collaborative filtering and content-based methods) are thus not effectively applicable in this environment, because they largely assume that the users have prior experiences with the items. In this paper, we have particularly incorporated product reviews to solve the recommendation problem. We first studied how to utilize the reviewer-level weighted feature preferences (as learnt from their written product reviews) to generate recommendations to the current buyer, followed by exploring the impact of Latent Class Regression Models (LCRM) based cluster-level feature preferences (that represent the common preferences of a group of reviewers). Motivated by their respective advantages, a hybrid method that combines both reviewer-level and cluster-level preferences is introduced and experimentally compared to the other methods. The results reveal that the hybrid method is superior to the other variations in terms of recommendation accuracy, especially when the current buyer states incomplete feature preferences.


—The generalized linearizing transformation is commonly used in the literature to study the linearization problem of single second-order ordinary differential equations. Necessary and sufficient conditions have been discovered for the linearization of such equations. However, the use of the generalized linearizing transformation to solve the linearization problem of a system of two second-order ordinary differential equations has not been explored. This paper aims to address this gap by applying the generalized linearizing transformation to a system of two second-order ordinary differential equations and solving the linearization problem.


The strong point of the culture history method of ancient literature study lie in making an explanation of cause and effect tothe feature of literature phenomenon. As this kind of explanation announced the aesthetic characteristic and humane intension of thespecific target at the same time, the potentiality of the culture history method of culture is brought into full play. As for the appraisal onliterary works and phenomenon, it is beyond the ability of this kind method.


Managing the distribution of electrical energy in a multi-source system (Smart Home) is essential for future smart cities, which reduces the dependency on the traditional electricity grid. In this paper, a hybrid power system is proposed consisting of a hydrogen fuel cell and a storage system. The latter will be used as support during the period of high energy demand to power a smart home. The presence of these two energy sources requires the global system to be governed by a control strategy. This strategy determines the energy distribution between the source and the load by optimally modeling system with satisfaction of constraints such as the state of charge (Soc), the storage system and the hydrogen consumption. Two energy management strategies have been developed: The Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy (ECMS) and the state machine method. The simulation was performed on MATLAB/Simulink to show performance in terms of hydrogen consumption and the state of charge (SOC) of the systems battery.


For numerous graph problems in the realm of parameterized algorithms, using the size of a smallest deletion set (called a modulator) into well-understood graph families as parameterization has led to a long and successful line of research. Recently, however, there has been an extensive study of structural parameters that are potentially much smaller than the modulator size. In particular, recent papers [Jansen et al. STOC 2021; Agrawal et al. SODA 2022] have studied parameterization by the size of the modulator to a graph family $\mathcal{H}$ ($\textbf{mod}_{\mathcal{H}}$), elimination distance to $\mathcal{H}$ ($\textbf{ed}_{\mathcal{H}}$), and $\mathcal{H}$-treewidth ($\textbf{tw}_{\mathcal{H}}$). While these new parameters have been successfully exploited to design fast exact algorithms their utility (especially that of latter two) in the context of approximation algorithms is mostly unexplored. The conceptual contribution of this paper is to present novel algorithmic meta-theorems that expand the impact of these structural parameters to the area of FPT Approximation, mirroring their utility in the design of exact FPT algorithms. Precisely, we show that if a covering or packing problem is definable in Monadic Second Order Logic and has a property called Finite Integer Index, then the existence of an FPT Approximation Scheme (FPT-AS, i.e., ($1\pm \epsilon$)-approximation) parameterized these three parameters is in fact equivalent. As concrete exemplifications of our meta-theorems, we obtain FPT-ASes for well-studied graph problems such as Vertex Cover, Feedback Vertex Set, Cycle Packing and Dominating Set, parameterized by these three parameters.


Under the conditions of large pig-breeding complexes in the raw material zone of OJSC "Smolmyaso" (Smolensk region), LLC "Meat Processing Plant Stupinsky", LLC APC "Mashkino" (Moscow region) during 2007–2017 a scientifi c and production experiment was carried out to determine the meat productivity of young pigs of domestic, Canadian and French breeding of diff erent breed combinations. When young pigs reached the live weight of 95–105 kg a control slaughter was carried out in order to determine the meat parameters of pig carcasses of the studied combinations. It has been revealed as a result of the experiment that three-breeds young pigs of French selection have the best meat qualities in terms of such indicators as the fat depth – 20,6 mm, which was less than the minimum indicators in the subgroups of three-breeds young pigs of domestic and Canadian breeding by 5,9 and 1,9 mm, and in terms of the area of the eye of loin – 55,7 mm, it surpassed these subgroups by 21,3 and 1,4 %, respectively. When determining the qualitative composition of pig carcasses, it has been concluded that three-breeds young pigs of Canadian and French breeding have approximately the same carcass meat content, but signifi cantly exceeded these indicators of three-breeds young pigs of domestic breeding in terms of pulp yield by 1,5 and 0,7 %, and the index of meatness of carcasses was higher by 0,9 and 0,6 %, respectively. It will be able to conclude on the basis of the results of scientifi c and production experiment that in order to obtain marketable young animals with high meat qualities, it is recommended to use more widely three-breeds hybrid young pigs of Canadian and French breeding


At present, the west of China is an important developing region, the research of its urbanization is of much importance. This paper mainly analyses the present situation of its urbanization and its problems, It points out that now it is in the quick developing phrase of urbanization, Finally. It provides some helpful suggestion with its.


Postponed ruling requires two-night hospital stay to qualify for inpatient reimbursement. Practices could experience hit to revenue and patient care.


Abstract. The aerosol–planetary boundary layer (PBL) interaction was
proposed as an important mechanism to stabilize the atmosphere and
exacerbate surface air pollution. Despite the tremendous progress made in
understanding this process, its magnitude and significance still have large
uncertainties and vary largely with aerosol distribution and meteorological
conditions. In this study, we focus on the role of aerosol vertical
distribution in thermodynamic stability and PBL development by jointly using
micropulse lidar, sun photometer, and radiosonde measurements taken in
Beijing. Despite the complexity of aerosol vertical distributions,
cloud-free aerosol structures can be largely classified into three types:
well-mixed, decreasing with height, and inverse structures. The aerosol–PBL
relationship and diurnal cycles of the PBL height and PM 2.5 associated with these different aerosol vertical structures show
distinct characteristics. The vertical distribution of aerosol radiative
forcing differs drastically among the three types, with strong heating in the
lower, middle, and upper PBL, respectively. Such a discrepancy in the heating
rate affects the atmospheric buoyancy and stability differently in the three
distinct aerosol structures. Absorbing aerosols have a weaker effect of
stabilizing the lower atmosphere under the decreasing structure than under
the inverse structure. As a result, the aerosol–PBL interaction can be
strengthened by the inverse aerosol structure and can be potentially
neutralized by the decreasing structure. Moreover, aerosols can both enhance
and suppress PBL stability, leading to both positive and negative
feedback loops. This study attempts to improve our understanding of the
aerosol–PBL interaction, showing the importance of the observational
constraint of aerosol vertical distribution for simulating this interaction
and consequent feedbacks.


With the development of integrated circuit technology, the application of new materials and new process in integrated circuit process also brings new challenges. This paper reported some improvement research for round convex residue (oxide residue) in dual gate layer which may result in low yield. Improvement research include change wet clean process condition before thick gate oxidation, add wet clean process post thick gate oxidation, change lithography process conditions and change thick gate growth mode. The results show that oxide residue can be effectively removed by these methods, and which can improve yield about 20%.


Abstract This paper builds a critical geography of poverty finance with recourse to a relational comparison of the microfinance and subprime mortgage markets. It probes paradoxical claims about the nature of poverty, the poor, states and markets that have surfaced in the aftermath of the financial crisis. In doing so it aims to generate new understandings of neoliberal global finance with specific emphasis on 1) the social constitution of risk through racialised and gendered forms of difference; 2) the exercise of dispossession and imperialism by financial means; and 3) articulations of poverty finance with the social relations of debt in specific conjunctures. Each of these terrains of inquiry forms a subsection of the paper, following a preliminary section that poses the animating paradox in more detail. The paper concludes with some reflections on the conditions of possibility for democratising finance.


The invention provides a semiconductor device for determining a moving mode of a user carrying an electrical terminal with little power consumption and high precision and an electrical terminal. A semiconductor device includes a moving state determining unit for obtaining first sensor data from a first sensor for detecting a moving state of a user who possesses an electrical terminal so that the moving state determining unit performs a determination process of the moving state of the electrical terminal; a reliability information determining unit for determining reliability information indicating reliability of a determination result of the determination process; and a transmission processing unit for transmitting the determination result and the reliability information to a main control unit that controls the electrical terminal.


Child sex trafficking has become one of the most highly publicised social issues of our time and, due to its global nature, transnational anti-trafficking advocacy networks are well placed and central to lead campaigns against it. Whilst there is an abundance of literature on the subjects of child sex trafficking and transnational advocacy networks we lack an understanding of the motivations of these networks that act as buffers against trafficking. Cosmopolitan globalisation theory remains a compelling framework for examining the motivations of transnational anti-child sex trafficking networks in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Applying a cosmopolitan globalisation lens, this article discusses the social justice goals of transnational advocacy networks, their centrality in combating child sex trafficking, and their ability to perform cosmopolitan 'globalisation from below' to counter global social problems.


Participatory Disease surveillance (PDS) has been used to produce more efficient and useful data in the prevention, treatment of diseases and improvement of veterinary services in the rural areas. PDS closes the gap between the veterinary public health disease investigators and the diverse livestock keepers. This study was conducted in 35 villages out of 6 local government areas of Plateau state in order to detect the Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) that are present in the state. Various methods that were used in data collection were semi- structured interview with key informants, simple ranking, proportional pilling, pairwise ranking, matrix scoring, seasonal calendar, mapping and transect walk. In poultry, Newcastle Disease (ND) proved to be the most important disease of poultry found in the study area and is also a transboundary animal disease. The transboundary animal disease of sheep and goats in this area is Peste de Petit Ruminant (PPR) which happens to be the most important disease of sheep and goats in Plateau state. The TADs of cattle in this area include Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and Lumpy Skin Disease. The most important disease of cattle in this area is FMD. In pigs and dogs, the most important diseases which are also TADs in this study area are African Swine Fever (ASF) and Rabies respectively. Challenges faced by the farmers in these villages include; diseases, difficulty in getting access to veterinary services, drought during dry season, and predation of chicks by hawks. This study has indicated the presence of numerous transboundary animal diseases in Plateau state and hence the need to address the issue in order to control the entry and spread of the disease in the area. (Ndahi MD, Kwaghe AV, Usman JG, Anzaku S , Bulus A, Angbashim J. Detection of Transboundary Animal Diseases using Participatory Disease Surveillance in Plateau State, Nigeria. World Rural Observ 2012;4(2):71- 77). ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural . 12


Plasmonic nanostructures with distinct spatial configuration and geometry are of considerable significance because of their desired optical response. These optical responses have close relationship with the inter-particle parameters in plasmonic nanostructures. However, the precise control of the consecutive variation of these parameters remains a formidable challenge. Here, we demonstrate a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) -based plasmonic nano-reporter, in which a AuNP performs as a walker to stepwise roll directionally and progressively on DNA origami. Using another AuNP as a stator, the rolling of the AuNP reporter could generate the inter-particle distance variation, which would be monitored by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Our method opens up a door to develop an optical reporter that monitoring inter-particle variations in plasmonic nanostructures.


Abstract : A button-type, 50-millisecond delay primer, designated Primer, Electric: XM88, was developed for incorporation in the PD, T212E6 and PD, XM566 Fuzes. Groups of primers were function tested (at extreme and ambient temperatures) after water immersion, environmental conditioning, ballistic firing and subjection to 30,000 Gs, with the primer contact pin forward and base forward. The development t fulfills the requirements for a delay initiator to be used in parallel with a superquick initiator, but the problem of sealing exists with the design of the plug assembly.


In order to achieve dynamic update of digital map data to support the geographic information services in traffic network with rapid development,a new-road automatic detection algorithm was proposed based on the Floating Car Data(FCD) technology.In this method,the moving trajectories of massive floating cars were calculated in real-time,then the suspected new road sets were extracted with the image matching between the existing map layers and the trajectories.After applying a filtering algorithm to the data sets for cleaning,the new road detection reports covering the new roads' location and length were generated automatically and saved as temporary map layers.The field test results show that this algorithm can detect the new roads quickly,so far as to detect new road within five minutes.It is a cost-effective solution for the real-time road map layer update.


2-Acetamido-2,3,3-trimethylbutanoic acid was prepared in racemic form from pinacolone in three steps. Subsequently, the resolution of racemic mixture was performed by using of quinine. (S)-2-Amino-2,3,3-trimethylbutanamide was prepared in optically pure form. All new prepared compounds and the intermediates were characterized by means of spectroscopic methods.


Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomic parameter of the rabbit tibia,and to design intramedullary nailing model on the rabbit tibia fracture faxition according to the medullary cavity anatomic feature.Method Eighteen adult New Zealand white rabbits(2.8~3.0 kg) were used in the study.Both sides of the tibia were harvested and transverse computed tomographic scanning was conducted in the interval of every 5 mm and the internal diameters were messured.The intramedullary nail for tibia fracture faxition was designed according to the rabbit tibia medullary cavity anatomic feature.The osteotomy was conducted at the board of upper and middle part of tibia.The models of tibia fracture intramedullary faxition were done.Result The shape in medullary cavity transverse section of upper part of the tibia was triangular.That of the lower part was oval.While the middle part was the transform of the two shapes.The intramedullary nail was designed according to the anatomic characteristics with it's transverse section being triangular.The fixation was satisfactory.Conclution The intramedullary nail designed according the anatomic feature of the rabbit tibia medul-lary cavity and the intramedullary nailing model on the rabbit tibia fracture faxition was rational.


The paper aims to examine the determinants for the development of organic farming in Poland under the present conditions associated with membership in the European Union (EU). The study is based on analyses of secondary sources and a nationwide survey among organic farmers. Organic farming in the EU is a subject to development under the influence of the strategies related to the European Green Deal. Polish organic agriculture developed dynamically after the EU accession. However, the process reversed from 2013 due to the unstable domestic support policy. The barriers are poor connections between farmers and distributors, bureaucratic procedures and low profitability. A significant chance for the development is the expected demand growth. The most important factors encouraging farmers were associated with environmental aspects and the use of labour. The further growth is conditioned by the better-organized policy of Polish organisations involved in agricultural policy.


the imperial anthology Kin'yôshû, deplored the lack of vigor in the tanka of his day and declared, in his treatise Toshiyori zuinô, that tanrenga was the only poetic form in which one could take pride (p. 325). What did he see that we do not? Figures poétiques concludes with several appendices, including a useful chronology of major poets and literary events, a list in Japanese of poems cited, and an excellent minidictionary of poets and poetic terms. The scholarship is impeccable and the translations well phrased and accurate. While aimed at scholars of premodern Japanese poetry, this book has much to interest narrativists and social historians.


The explicit algebraic analysis of any population model which takes non-Mendelian segregation into account is generally a cumbersome affair because the frequency of the gene which causes the abnormal segregation is not the same in male and female gametes. Models of this kind generate a messy set of simultaneous nonlinear equations from which the equilibria of gene frequency may be extracted. In specific applications it is often sufficient to solve the equations numerically, behaving as if they had no literal solution. This procedure is inelegant, and it may lead to some practical problems. If an equilibrium cannot be found for a given set of parameters, for example, then one has to try to decide if there is in fact no equilibrium for the parameters or if the iterative procedure happens to diverge for that particular set. When the analytic roots are available this problem never arises. The purpose of this article is to present the detailed solution of a model of meiotic drive which Lewontin (1968) has suggested would be helpful in understanding the evolutionary dynamics of the t-alleles in the house mouse. Because mice tend to breed in small endogamous family units, however, the deterministic model is only a very rough approximation to what would be expected to occur in nature, and to gain better insight one is forced to undertake Monte Carlo simulation of small populations (Lewontin and Dunn, 1960; Lewontin, 1968). Another striking example of non-Mendelian segregation occurs in the segregation distorter system in Drosophila melanogaster. Since local Drosophila populations are at least one and probably two orders of magnitude larger than local mouse populations (Wright et al., 1942), stochastic fluctuations in gene frequency are of minor importance as compared with the effects of selection and meiotic drive. Therefore, the deterministic model is probably a reasonable approximation to Drosophila populations, as well as to other large populations in which non-Mendelian segregation of an autosomal gene occurs (such as wheat, Loegering and Sears, 1967). The model to be analyzed is actually more general than the one proposed by Lewontin (1968) as this one allows for arbitrary segregation ratios in the two sexes. One disappointment is that the equilibria turn out to be quite complicated. On the other hand, the analysis does lead to a remarkably simple criterion for predicting when nontrivial gene frequency equilibria will occur and for determining the stability or instability of these equilibria.


ABSTRACT This study aims to develop a theory of determining the quality of financial statement reports that can increase  investor  confidence  in  financial  information  presented  by management.  This  research would like to find the role of good corporate governance  in improving the quality of financial statements as measured by accounting conservatism and earnings management, then it will be seen how the quality ability of financial statement can influence investor confidence level. The result of the research  did  not  find  the  influence  of corporate  governance  mechanism  on  the  quality of financial statements. However, the simultaneous test results found that corporate governance mechanisms  and  the  quality  of  financial  statements  affect  the  level  of  investor  confidence. Profit management as an indicator of the quality of financial statements negatively affects the level of investor confidence. But accounting conservatism declared no effect on the level of investor confidence. The results of the test with path analysis found that the variables that have a direct influence of the mechanism of good corporate governance is the ownership of the institution, while other variables have no influence either directly or indirectly.


Hybrid composites are grabbing the attention of the researchers and becoming an area in which more research work is to be done. The Stir casting technique is mainly used because the mixing of the materials can be done effectively in liquid state than in solid state. This research discusses about the mechanical behavior of hybrid composite, aluminium A356 alloy reinforced with palm sprout shell ash, alumina powder, red mud and magnesium oxide. The reinforcements selected for the fabrication are of three different types. Alumina and magnesium oxide are of ceramic particles and palm sprout shells are converted in to ash, the third reinforcement is red mud which is a waste product from the industries. We have selected palm sprout shell ash and alumina as one reinforcement and red mud and MgO as other reinforcement. Red mud and palm sprout shell ash were sieved to 75μ and alumina and MgO are of fine mesh. The dissemination of reinforcement particles in the Al 356 matrix would revealed by microstructure observation. Castings were prepared without and with reinforcement (percentile range from 1% to 3% with increment of 1%).An investigation was made on the mechanical and metallurgical behaviour of the pure base metal (A356) was compared with two different hybrid composites.


180 May 2006 Over the past 15 years, the use of specialized medical equipment by patients at home has increased in most industrialized countries. Studies show that more than 80% of people with healthcare needs would like to have care provided to them in their own homes.1 This trend emphasizes the importance of providing information tailored to the needs and concerns of individual patients in order to support informed decision-making.2 New technological devices and systems are also increasingly being developed to support the provision of care to patients in their own homes. These developments are making it practicable for healthcare systems to provide long distance services and are rendering ecare a viable option. The Internet and other modern means of communication are also accelerating progress in the provision of healthcare services and helping to improve patient care.3 Such advances challenge healthcare professionals to incorporate new technology into their everyday practices in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.4 Just as in other areas, healthcare is increasingly being provided in the context of a global community. Thus, e-care has also become a significant issue in world health, with experts predicting that e-care will revolutionize the practice of medicine and the delivery of health care. The Global e-Health Initiative was established to promote improvement in the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology.5 The e-Health Initiative (eHI) established the Leadership in Global Health Technology (LIGHT) initiative in 2004 to facilitate learning and information sharing among nations, in both the developed and developing world. The eHI website offers the newest and broadest perspectives on resources and tools related to e-health issues throughout the world (for more information, see www.ehealthinitiative.org and ehealthinitiativelight.org).


The scalar neutron spectrum normalized in reference to unit source neutron was meas-ured with a miniature NE213 spectrometer at several positions along the centerline in a graphite pile irradiated with D-T neutrons. The measured spectra were compared with the results of calculation using the MORSE-GG Monte Carlo code with the modified point-detecter estimator of Carter & Cashwell and the GICXFNS group cross section set derived from the ENDF/B-V library. The measured and calculated spectra agreed within the errors estimated from the observed ranges of statistical error and of the folds on spectra due to response function error, except near the resonance peaks of the carbon total cross section at the deeper positions inside pile.