Based on CFD software Fluent, a 3-d simulation was conducted on a Texaco gasifier with boundary fitted coordinate system. Pre PDF model was use to predict species profile with β function. A UDF (user defined function) function was introduced to simulate heterogeneous reactions between char and O2, H2O, CO2 and H2. Effects of some industrial operation parameters, such as coal slurry oxygen, [C]/[O] and particle diameters, et al, on the gasification performance were analyzed. The coal conversion rate (CC) is 32% during coal combustion with O2 process, while the total CC is 95%, which shows that heterogeneous reactions of char with H2O, CO2 and H2 plays an important role in the whole gasification. CC is inverse proportional to the particle size. The CC is only 72% when the particle diameter is 175μm. Operation temperature is the most important parameters that affects gasification process. As the slurry concentration increases, the mole fraction of CO increases quickly while the mole fraction of H2O and CO2 drops sharply, H2 mole fraction drops a little at the same time. When [O]/[C] atom ratio increases, H2 mole fraction decreases sharply while CO and CO2 mole fraction almost doesn't change. Both outlet temperature and CC are proportional to coal slurry concentration and [O]/[C] ratio. Cold gas efficiency is proportional to coal slurry concentration. The peak value of cold gas efficiency appears when the [O]/[C] ratio is 1 to 1.05.


This paper investigates the limits of precision caused by color depth discretization in motion capture with known sphere marker in a uniform lighted scene for an ideal pinhole camera using a black box model. For each marker position its ellipse projection in the pixel plane is computed and the final pixel values are established based on how match the pixel area is covered by the marker image. The color of some boundary pixels loses information due to the color depth discretization and therefore the same image represents a range of marker location in space and not a single location. The maximum variations on all the major axis are computed with a precision of 100 nm for each marker location and a final analysis is performed using this findings.


Objective This paper studied 80 cases with acute patients severed diffuse axonal injury(DAI). Methods 60 patients were treated with moderate hypothermia. 20 cases were controls with normal temperature. Results The results showed ICP of patients in group of moderate hypothermia treatment obviously lower compared to the controls( P 0 05).The rate of death in treating group and controls were 26.7% and 55% respectively( P 0.05). The rate of favorable prognosis were 61.7% and 35% respectively( P 0.05). Conclusions The results proved moderate hypothemia treatment may reduce ICP of patients and improve prognosis of these patients in severed DAI.It is helpful for treating severed DAI.


This document describes research which investigated the effectiveness of the Cities in Schools (CIS) hypermedia training course for senior executives of that national dropout prevention program. The study employed a hybrid methodology of qualitative techniques and computer tracking tools, in order to provide a complete picture of how the hypermedia training course was delivered and received. Thirteen trainees and three professional trainers participated in a week-long training course. The goals of the study included how hypermedia is used in a "real-world" setting; hypermedia characteristics for further research; how frequently and to what extent trainers and trainees used hypermedia; methods of exploring hypermedia materials; and relationships of hypermedia use, non-hypermedia activities, and attainment of learning objectives of the course. Results of the qualitative component indicate that the following areas warrant examination in future studies: diversity of trainers and grouping issues; cooperative learning; presentation, formal evaluation of learning; applying learning to real-world situations; use of supplemental trainer-developed materials and print materials; variations in trainers' styles; time management; and course evaluation. The preliminary results of the computer tracking component of the study are presented, but it was not possible to continue the analysis of the relationship between uses of hypermedia and the attainment of specific learning objectives. Preliminary analysis of hypermedia paths used by trainers indicates that the trainees often traveled extremely complex paths while using the lypermedia training materials. Implementing computer tracking tools requires considerable programming expertise and effort, and are most efficiently implemented if they are incorporated into the design of the hypermedia application as it is developed. (Contains 8 references.) (AEF) U S DEisARTMENT Of EDUCATION Once of Eautationai Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL. RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) C This document has Dean reproduced SS received 'ton, the person cr organization anginal, rg rt C Moor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points 01 view or opinions stated°, INS dOcv mere do not necessarily represent ofilcial OEM position or policy


The paper deals with changes in the competitiveness of 12 countries forming the euro area in 1999-2000. These changes are analyzed using various macroeconomic indicators (real exchange rate, trade ratios, labor market and economic output performance). Due to the different levels of development of the countries forming the zone, changes in competitiveness do not extend uniformly. The paper ends with conclusions. The aim of this paper is to assess changes in the relative competitiveness of 12 countries forming the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) between 1999-2009. Greece was the only EU country which had not yet been accepted in the Union in 1999 and later joined the Eurozone in 2001. Despite the time difference, it was assumed that by including this economy in the analyzed EMU 12 group it would allow for better comprehension of the influence of monetary solutions and general economic policy within this integration grouping on the relative competitiveness of its particular members. Section 1 is devoted to a brief presentation of assumptions and expectations regarding the EMU. Section 2 examines real effective exchange rates (REERs). Along with the standard literature, it is assumed that REERs are important summary measures of shifts in competitiveness. Section 3 is devoted to trade developments; they are linked to the REERs. We present and analyze gross measures such as exports to the gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, external exports, export/import ratio, the share of EMU country exports in world exports and the role of high-tech trade. Section 4 deals with the shifts in labor force performance and section 5 is devoted to the most comprehensive measures which are GDP and gross national income (GNI) developments. The paper closes with conclusions.


Objective To evaluate the role of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mitoKATP) channel in mitigation of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury by isoflurane preconditioning in rats and the relationship with c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway.Methods Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 280-320 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),group I/R,isoflurane preconditioning group (group Ⅰ-pre),and 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD,a selective mitoKATP channel antagonist) group.Cerebral I/R was produced by modified 4-vessel technique described by Pulsinelli in anesthetized rats.In group Ⅰ-pre,the rats were exposed to 1.5% isoflurane for 1 h everyday for 5 consecutive days before ischemia.In group 5-HD,5-HD 15 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min before ischemia and the other procedures were similar to those previously described in group Ⅰ-pre.Neurological behavior was evaluated at 24 h of reperfusion.The rats in each group were sacrificed at 72 h of reperfusion,and the brains were removed for determination of neuronal apoptosis (by TUNEL) and expression of caspase-3 and phosphor-JNK (p-JNK) protein (using Western blot) in hippocampal tissues.Apoptotic rate was calculated.Results Compared with group S,the number of grid cross was significantly decreased,hanging time was shortened,apoptotic rate was increased,and caspase-3 expression was up-regulated in I/R,Ⅰ-pre and 5-HD groups,the expression of p-JNK protein was up-regulated in IR and 5-HD groups,and no significant change was found in the expression of p-JNK protein in group Ⅰ-pre.Compare with group I/R,the number of grid cross was significantly increased,hanging time was prolonged,apoptotic rate was decreased,and the expression of caspase-3 and p-JNK protein was downregulated in group Ⅰ-pre,and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group 5-HD.Compared with group Ⅰ-pre,the number of grid cross was significantly decreased,hanging time was shortened,apoptotic rate was increased,and the expression of caspase-3 and p-JNK protein was up-regulated in group 5-HD.Conclusion The mitoKATP channel is involved in mitigation of cerebral I/R injury by isoflurane preconditioning through blocking the JNK signaling pathway in rats.

Key words:
KATP channels ;  JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases ;  Isoflurane;  Reperfusion injury;  Brain;  Ischemic preconditioning


At several points in A View of the Present State of Ireland Spenser cites a work by the Swedish Catholic prelate Olaus Magnus, the Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus or "Description of the Northern Peoples" (Rome, 1555). Olaus's Historia rarely features in discussion of Spenser's use of sources, though it was clearly one of a number of texts he uses when constructing his depiction of Irish customs and tracing their origins in Scythian culture. This essay introduces Olaus's life and work, and its relevance to Spenser, before reassessing earlier attempts at tracing his influence in The Faerie Queene. Focus then turns to the specific citations of the Historia made in the View and to the kind of text that Spenser believes he draws upon, in particular how he appears to read or remember Olaus's work as offering a form of cultural or ethnological history of the Scythians. Understanding how Spenser read Olaus's work—and possibly that of his brother Johannes Magnus—is thus fundamental to our comprehension of how he uses the Scythians to characterize Irish barbarity.


The Al/sup 2//sup 7/( alpha , alpha ' gamma ) reaction was investigated by using particle-gamma coincidence techniques and a 22 Mev alphaparticle beam. A 0.79 plus or minus 0.03 Mev gamma-ray transition between the 3.0 snd 2.21 Mev states of Al/sup 2//sup 7/ was observed. This result, together with other data, suggested that the 3.0 and 2.21 Mev states were the 9/2/sup +/ and 7/2/sup +/ members of a K = 5/2 rotational band. (auth)


This study applies a sliding-mode-based neural network to control inverted pendulum systems. Neural network weights are updated using a cost function which denotes distance from the sliding manifold. Thus, minimizing the cost function equals reaching the sliding surface. Sliding mode based neural network also makes the system robust to uncertainties in parameters and dynamical uncertainties. Chattering effect is solved by modifying the cost function. Simulations are fulfilled for a SISO and a MIMO model of an inverted pendulum. The results of simulations reveal the effectiveness of proposed method.


The misoperation of the high impedance differential protection for main transformer No.3 in a substation is analyzed based on its principle and main features. Research result shows that,under the nearby large current fault,the differential current induced by the big difference of U - I characteristics between the current transformer of common winding and that of 500 kV or 220 kV presents big value,which will cause the protection misoperation. The countermeasure is to increase the protective settings by adjusting the variable resistors in RADHA differential circuit,which avoids the misoperation caused by the unbalanced currents and voltages generated in RADHA by the through currents during external fault. Field operation shows its effectiveness.


Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare disease that affects the growth of children and Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) is a medical condition which mostly results in PKU. The objective of this study is to compare the long-term growth of children with PKU and HPA. To this aim, we model the growth of children on the basis of a flexible mixed model including subject - specific curves and factor by curve interactions (Durban et al, 2005).


This dissertation is focused on the segmentation theory, as developed by economists and sociologists, from france and sweden, during the 1970s-80s. The discussion starts with michael j. Piore, and continues with the main researches included in what is called segmentation theory. Most writers have accepted the idea that labor markets are not independent of the way people live in the family. That's why the second chapter is concerned by cross-national comparisons about the family life, trying to precise the influence of family statuses, family functions on french and swedish labor markets. Finally, generation relationships are studied and this has lead to the idea that sociologists should give more attention to macrosocial generation-relationships than purely family-directed generation-relationships. To avoid a floating study, purely empirical, i have choosen to follow the aix-group theory, and a long chapter precises what are education, organization, industry-relationships (as well as labormarket policies ) in sweden, considering that it was not usefull to speak again of france, well described by the aix-group and his fellow-searchers. In this chapter, the cases of Volvo-Torslanda and Posten-Goteborg are examined. Oppositely, it was necessary to develop more the cases of Citroen-Rennes and "la poste" in Rennes that were not replaced in a societal analysis. Using these theories, and conscious of these structures, i have been able to state a typology of the young-blue-collar labor markets, as well as the white-collar and to precise the relationships between these segments (chapters 8 and 9 ). The conclusion comes back to the debate about segmentation, in a sociological point of view. What is a segment ? What is the relation between a social group and a segment ? What has changed since the first writings of Piore ?


D uring the process of translating Teile Dich Nacht, I frequently came across individual words that seemed of key importance within a poem but resisted translation. Upon closer inspection of such an obstacle, I would often find that the word functioned both on a literal and a figurative level, and that the English language forced me to make a choice between the two. In German both possibilities would clearly echo within the context of the poem, but in English I would lose that echo. I would then try to comb the poem for clues that would support either a literal or a more figurative translation of the word, but would find myself unable to determine either. During this search, however, I would become extremely sensitive to all the nuances between these concrete and abstract poles. I finally decided that this was precisely the "function" of such a word-to echo between these two poles. However, this function can rarely be translated. While in the German original the concrete and the abstract echo within the same word, in English they are often represented by several different words. This is, of course, a problem which translators have to confront frequently. But when I am translating a poet who is influenced by the Kabbala, this function of the Word-the representation of concrete and abstract poles of language-can be a significant part of how the poem means. The following poem will illustrate one example of such a translation problem.


Recent results in intensity modulated links' equalization are enabling previously unattainable performance, longer reach and higher spectral efficiency comparable to significantly more complex coherent transmission systems. System design aspects and tradeoffs are reviewed.


This paper empirically examines the effects of a change in foreign trade regime on productivity growth. Based on a Generalized Leontief factor demand function system, total factor productivity growth (TFPG) rates are calculated for the Turkish rubber industry during a substantial trade liberalization in the 1980s: TFPG was significantly higher following trade liberalization. Technological change was the major contributor to this growth. When a panel data estimation technique is used to explain technological change, the effects of trade liberalization become clearer: a one percentage point increase in the protection level led to more than a one percentage point (1.27) decline in the technological change rate.


Romania's joining to the European Union presumes, from the Romanian government, assuming several strategic decisions in implementing the Common Agricultural Politics. These decisions mainly refer to the way in which the financial support shall be given, after joining, to the Romanian farms. The constraints concerning the eligible surface for payments shows that the most important non eligible group of farms in the decoupled financial system, that was adopted by the Romania, are the animal husbandry farms without land and the small agricultural exploitations. The main beneficiary of the financial support after joining the EU are the bigist agricultural exploitations specialized in cereal production.


Cross sections for the proton-induced production of radionuclides (40≦A≦60) from natural titanium, iron, and nickel were measured for proton energies from 80 to 200 MeV. To critically survey the theoretical predictions of unknown excitation functions, the experimental data were compared with calculations according to Blann's hybrid model of nuclear reactions and to the semiempirical formulas of Rudstam and of Silberberg and Tsao. Then, based mainly on the new excitation functions, the production rates of cosmogenic radionuclides in meteorites by primary galactic protons were calculated. Since the interaction of primary solar and galactic particles with meteorites can be described with accuracy, the model calculations allow for a quantitative estimate of the action of secondary particles in meteorites. A method of completely describing the production of cosmogenic nuclides in meteorites that takes into account all sources of production is proposed.


Wind energy introduces a dynamic component to energy supply. The generation industry has adapted to significant variations in demand, but intermittent non-dispatchable sources such as wind energy pose new and different challenges to those seeking to maintain a consistent supply of adequate power at an effectively constant frequency. In order to understand the implications, a study of the British grid was undertaken. Gridwatch provides data on the average output (in MW) of all forms of generation feeding the grid every 5 minutes. Four years of such data, from May 2011 to March 2015, were analysed. The results show that the variation in wind supply is normally not a matter for great concern. The standard deviation of wind supply over 5 minutes is only about 20MW when the installed wind capacity is 4GW, rising to 40MW when the installed capacity is 8GW. However, there are occasions when the wind drops rapidly to very low levels, and others when it recovers equally rapidly from very low levels. These are comparatively rare events, occurring on average about ten times a year, and they form an increasing large part of the annual large changes which the grid must meet as the installed wind capacity increases. The average power output from this large grid was close to 20% of the installed generating capacity, and the maximum output was about 55% of the installed capacity. These results are discussed in terms of the need to increase the spinning reserves as the proportion of wind capacity to conventional capacity increases.


Stroke extraction plays an important role in the analysis of handwritten Chinese character. Ambiguous zones like intersections and junctions of strokes always bring difficulties for the extraction. The skeleton obtained by thinning algorithm is easy to be distorted in these areas. To solve this problem, an effective method to extract strokes using ambiguous zone information is proposed in this paper. This method uses an 8-neighbour window to detect ambiguous zones on the skeleton first. The removal of ambiguous zones splits the skeleton into several stroke segments. Cosine similarity and smooth degree between local sub-segments are calculated to get the connection coefficient. A reasonable strategy is made to connect stroke segments which satisfy connection coefficient conditions by interpolation. Natural strokes with dynamic information are extracted through the reconstruction and distortions on the skeleton are also modified. The last step detects abrupt turning points to get the final set of strokes. In the experiment, the proposed method obtains obviously better effect when detecting ambiguous zones. The extracted strokes remain good shapes and the position relationship among strokes can be reflected correctly. Results show that the stroke extraction method based on ambiguous zone information achieves high accuracy and fast speed, which can be useful in the related researches on handwritten Chinese character.


The symptoms of type I allergy are a direct result ofthe interactions between the main mediators of anaphylaxis (i.e. histamine. slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis. eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis and platelet activating factor which are released from the patient's basophils and mast cells) and their target cells (Moller. 1978: Bach, 197S; Ishizaka. 1976; Ishizaka & Ishizaka, 1978). The release of these vasoactive substances in allergic conditions is a consequence of confonnational changes occurring within the membranes of basophils and mast cells, which are triggered by the crosslinking of IgE antibody molecules fixed to these cells by the appropriate multivalent allergenic molecules which are responsible, in the first place, for the elicitation ofthe corresponding IgE response (DeWeck. 1971; Becker et ai. 1973; Ishizaka & Ishizaka, 1968). Hence, one ofthe simplest forms of therapy for common allergies mediated by IgE antibodies involves the administration of a variety of drugs, which inhibit the release of these mediators from the above-mentioned cells or block the effects of the released vasoactive compounds. Clearly, this therapeutic modality is only a palliative, since it treats the effects ofthe disease rather than the disease itself In line with immunochemical concepts, a rational therapeutic approach would involve inhibiting the perturbation of the membranes of basophils and mast cells which follows, as mentioned above, the crosslinking of cell-fixed IgE antibodies by polyvalent allergens by theadministrationof large doses of haptens of the appropriate allergenic molecule or of fragments of these molecules containing single determinants. The univalent compounds would be expected to bind to the Fab regions ofthe IgE antibodies and thus inhibit sterically the combination of IgE antibodies with the offending allergen(s). The feasibility of this approach gains support from the successful regimen developed by de Weck et al (1973) for the treatment of penicillin allergy by injecting large doses of the univalent penicillin derivative, benzylpenicilloyl-formyl Iysine. prior to administration of penicillin into sensitive patients requiring obligatorily this antibiotic. Clearly, this therapeutic modality could be extended to a wide spectrum


Modern society faces many new social problems - poverty, unemployment, aging, and so on. Local authorities are strongly committed to funding projects of social significance, but their capabilities are limited. Social entrepreneurship and social business offer innovative solutions that combine sustainable development goals with social integration at the regional level. Therefore, the aim of this report is to distinguish between the main features of the two types of business and to show the benefit of their functioning for the society.


Objectives. In view of previous experimental evidence relating sympathetic nervous overactivity in the heart to myocardial necrosis and ventricular arrhythmias, we prospectively examined the hypothesis that heightened cardiac sympathetic nervous activity is associated with an adverse outcome in patients with moderate to severe heart failure. Background. Despite recent therapeutic advances, patients with heart failure continue to have high mortality from progressive hemodynamic decompensation and lethal ventricular arrhythmias. It is believed that initially compensatory increases in sympathetic nervous system activity may ultimately be maladaptive, potentially contributing to subsequent adverse events. Methods. Sixty patients with moderate to severe heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction 18.9 -+ 0.9% [mean _+ SE]) were studied prospectively. In addition to the compilation of a bemodynamic, biochemical and electrocardiographic profile for each patient, whole-body and cardiac sympathetic activity were determined by isotope dilution. The relation of these variables to outcome was determined by Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results. The mean follow-up period of the study group was 7 --1 months (range 1 to 24) with a 12-month actuarial survival of 75%. Deaths (14 in all) were accounted for either by sudden death or progressive heart failure in equal numbers. The rate of release of norepinephrine from the heart was significantly higher in patients with heart failure than in healthy subjects (402 "¢37 vs. 105 -+ 19 pmol/min, p < 0.01), although the values for heart failure ranged widely from normal to 10 times normal. By univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, pulmonary capil. lary wedge pressure (p < 0.01), mean pulmonary artery pressure (p < 0.001), serum sodium levels (p < 0.01) and cardiac norepi. nephrine spill-over rate (p < 0.001) were identified as significant prognostic markers. In a multivariate analysis, cardiac norepinephrine spillover rate was identified as the most powerful prognostic marker (p = 0.0006) of those evaluated in this study, Conclusions. These results suggest that activation of the sympathetic nervous system in patients with heart failure, specifically the cardiac sympathetic nerves, may contribute to the poor prognosis associated with severe heart failure. The data therefore provide a rationale for the use of drugs such as beta-adrenergic blocking agents in the management of patients with heart failure. (J Am Coil Cardiol 1995;26:1257-63)


The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) began operation as a new independent Federal agency in 1998. Its primary mission is to aid in the prevention of chemical related incidents (e.g., fires, explosions, or toxic releases) in fixed commercial or industrial facilities.


The interpretation of complicated wave functions in a way which is illuminating and suggestive to a chemist requires concepts such as localized pairs of electrons. This is realized by writing the wave function as an antisymmetrized product of localized two-electron functions. Thus, the separated-pair approximation appears to be of great value in discussing chemical problems, particularly in its most simple form which is characterized by the use of a minimum set of basis orbitals. Following a brief review of the self-consistent group function method (SCGF-method) and of the use of contracted gaussians within this approach, results of SCGF calculations are reported for methane, methyl fluoride, ethane, ethylene, acetylene and cyclopropane.


In this paper,using leray-schauder fix point theory,the sufficient conditions for the existence of periodic solution for a differential equation with delays are established.This article abates the constraint conditions of the original literature,widens the domains of the results,and improves the known results of the related literature.


Objective
To explore the expression of B cell translocation gene-1 (BTG-1) mRNA and protein in gastric carcinoma tissue and its clinical significance.

Methods
Immunohistochemical staining [streptavid-in-peroxidase (SP) method] and in situ hybridization were used to detect BTG-1 protein and mRNA expression in 197 cases of gastric carcinoma and 65 cases of normal gastric epithelia. The relationship between hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-2α expression and clinical pathology of gastric carcinoma was analyzed.

Results
The rate of BTG-1 mRNA in normal mucosa tissue and cancer tissue was 81.5% (53/65) and 23.9% (47/197) respectively (χ2=69.901, P<0.05). The positive rate of BTG-1 protein expression in normal mucosa and cancer tissue was 84.6% (55/65) and 29.4% (58/197) respectively (χ2=60.657, P<0.05). The expression of BTG-1 mRNA and protein was obviously correlated with the infilatration, TNM grade and lymphatic metastasis in gastric carcinoma tissu (P<0.05).

Conclusion
The expression of BTG-1 mRNA and protein is up-regulated in gastric carcinoma tissue, which may be related to the occurrence of gastric carcinoma.

Key words:
B cell translocation gene-1; Gastric carcinoma


subdivisions, West Bantu and East Bantu (see Chapter 4 this volume). In this chapter, we use a modified version of Guthrie's codes taken from Bastin et al. (1999) (for a correspondence between the codes of Bastin et al. and Guthrie see Maho 2002). Bantu is thought to have originated in Cameroon or Nigeria, where the non-Bantu Bantoid languages are spoken today. The spread of Bantu is associated with the spread of farming; East Bantu in particular is associated with the Early Iron Age 'Chifumbaze' tradition in East and southeast Africa (Ehret 1998; Holden 2002; Phillipson 1993, 184–205; Vansina 1990).


Morphological Responses of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Pepper (Capsicum annum) to Abattoir Waste Treatment were investigated. This is aimed at determining the effect of abattoir effluents on some growth parameters and heavy metal contents of the selected vegetables. Effluents were collected early and transferred to black polythene bags to prevent algal growth. A screen house experiment was set up to house the pots. Soil samples were collected and transferred to the pots while representative samples were taken to the laboratory for analysis. Seeds of Solanum lycopersium and Capsicum annum were sown into perforated plastic pots (30 cm diameter and 33 cm depth) filled with 10 kg of topsoil. The seedlings were allowed to establish for 21 days before the commencement of effluent treatment. The following morphological growth parameters were determined; Plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf length, stem diameter, fresh weight, dry weight and leaf weight ratio. There was an increase in the number of leaves, plant height and stem diameter in both tomato and pepper varieties studied. This project concluded that abattoir effluent increases some growth parameters in Solanum lycopersicum with contrasting decrease in the plant height of Capsicum annum, under high concentrations which possibly suggest an adaptive mechanism developed by plant under stress. The mechanism of detoxification of plants growing in polluted areas should be explored.


Summary This article presents the results of analysis of cylindrical object centre displacements when the object is turning, supported in a roller vee block. These displacements result from the interaction between the element measured and permanent points of support. Limit values of these displacements were determined as well as the tolerance range of displacements expressed in the characteristic dimensions of the measuring system and the measured value of roundness deviation. Additionally, optimum selection criteria were defined for measuring system parameters from the point of view of the displacement range minimum.


65Zn has been used in several biological investigations (see, for example, Sheline, Chaikoff, Jones & Montgomery, 1943a, b; Heath, 1949; AnderssonKotto & Hevesy, 1949; Banks, Tupper & Wormall, 1950; Heath & Liquier-Milward, 1950; Rosenfeld & Tobias, 1951; Tupper, Watts & Wormall, 1951, 1952, 1954), and since radioactive zinc of high specific activity is now more readily available, it is probable that this isotope will be more widely used in biological studies. As far as we are aware, all the previous workers using 65Zn for biological experiments have made their radioactivity measurements with some type ofGeiger-Muller counter. A suitable scintillation counter system, employing a thalliumactivated sodium iodide crystal as the phosphor, has been developed, and found to possess several advantages over Geiger-Miller counters for this type of work. The present paper describes simplified methods for determining 66Zn in tissues using the Veall (1948) type Geiger-Muller counter for liquids, and the scintillation counter. A preliminary note on some of this work has been published elsewhere (Banks, Tupper, Watts & Wormall, 1954).


The sustainability of the manufacturing industry is of special importance to increase the protection of the environment. The production of fasteners like self-piercing rivets, however, is costly, time-consuming and energy-intensive. The heat treatment and the coating, which are mandatory in conventional self-piercing rivets to achieve adequate strength, ductility and corrosion resistance, are especially crucial in this respect. Within this paper, an approach for an increase in the sustainability in fastener production is presented. The use of alternative, high strain hardening stainless steels as rivet material enables a shortening of the process chain, because post treatment of the rivets after they are formed can be omitted. As the change in rivet material and processing causes some issues along the process chain, the focus of this paper is on the holistic evaluation of the challenges within the forming of high strain hardening steel and the impact of the changed rivet properties on the joining result.


Some balanced nested row-column designs with p rows, q columns and v treatments such that pq = av + d for some integers a>1 and d<v are given. They are either universally optimal (BNRC where treatments are replicated p times or not at all in a block) or what is called balanced extended block row-column designs (BEBRC) where treatments are replicated a or a+1 times within block. Many of these designs are cyclic. Average pairwise variances (APVs) are compared for the two types of designs and a formula given for when one of them has smaller APV. It has been common in the literature to consider a = 0 only i.e. to compare BNRC and BIBRC.


Solid waste is a major environmental threat globally, and Nigeria is not an exception. The problem of improper disposal of solid waste is further compounded by population growth and economic development, which leads to the generation of an enormous amount of solid waste. The resultant effects are environmental pollution with various pollutants such as toxic heavy metals. This research determined the heavy metal concentration in the soil of Ugwuaji solid waste dump environs in Enugu, Nigeria. The oil samples were collected and transported to the laboratory for analysis. The soil samples were analyzed for heavy metal using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The study concludes that poor waste management and accumulation of tons of solid waste in the dumpsite negatively affects the soil quality in the area. Further, the open solid waste dumping exposed the soil to serious contamination with heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Fe). This implies to serious human and animal health due to possible bioaccumulation and bio magnifications through plant uptake from the soil. It was recommended that proper waste management involving the use of 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) and sanitary landfills and environmental principles and laws should be implemented to ensure the sustainability of the environment in the area.


Production of interspecific germline chimera between quail and chicken was carried out using the cells from the central disk (CD) of the area pellucida in quail blastoderm (stage X) and the germinal crescent region (GCR) of quail embryo (stage 7-8). The cells of CD and GCR were dispersed and injected into the subgerminal cavity of chicken blastoderm (stage X). Injected eggs were incubated for 7 days or to hatching. To detect quail genomic DNA, the polymerase chain reaction was used. In day-7 embryos, quail DNA was detected in 4 gonads and 6 brains from 55 survived embryos received quail CD cells, and 9 gonads and 8 brains from 68 survived embryos received quail GCR cells. Quail DNA was also detected from eggs or semen of adult female or male chicken hatched from eggs received quail CD or GCR cells. CD and GCR cells as the donors showed the possibility to produce the interspecific germline chimera but the necessary improvement and the immunoreactive problem were suggested.


The paper addresses land cover monitoring at large scale. It investigates an approach for extracting information from remote sensing data and evaluating the possibility of doing automated analysis to detect land use changes. A multi-resolution remote sensing data process is performed to obtain curves describing the temporal reflectance profiles related to land cover behaviour. Then a time-frequency transformation is used to extract relevant features characterizing these profiles. The features are then projected on a representation space improving discrimination between different land cover types. This approach can applied in a scenario dedicated to the detection of land use changes caused by erosion.


Background Human Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a common cause of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in young children. It is often associated with severe neurological diseases and mortalities in recent outbreaks across the Asia Pacific region. Currently, there is no efficient universal antibody test available to detect EV71 infections. Methodology/Principal Finding In the present study, an epitope-blocking ELISA was developed to detect specific antibodies to human EV71 viruses in human or animal sera. The assay relies on a novel monoclonal antibody (Mab 1C6) that specifically binds to capsid proteins in whole EV71 viruses without any cross reaction to any EV71 capsid protein expressed alone. The sensitivity and specificity of the epitope-blocking ELISA for EV71 was evaluated and compared to microneutralization using immunized animal sera to multiple virus genotypes of EV71 and coxsackieviruses. Further, 200 serum sample from human individuals who were potentially infected with EV71 viruses were tested in both the blocking ELISA and microneutralization. Results indicated that antibodies to EV71 were readily detected in immunized animals or human sera by the epitope blocking ELISA whereas specimens with antibodies to other enteroviruses yielded negative results. This assay is not only simpler to perform but also shows higher sensitivity and specificity as compared to microneutralization. Conclusion The epitope-blocking ELISA based on a unique Mab 1C6 provided highly sensitive and 100% specific detection of antibodies to human EV71 viruses in human sera.


A study was carried out to assess the performance of growing pullets fed graded dietary levels of locust bean pulp (LBP). Five diets were formulated containing 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30% locust bean pulp.Three hundred and thirty (330) 9 weeks old Zartech brown pullets were used for the study. The birds were assigned into 5 treatments of 66 birds each, replicated thrice in a Completely Randomized Design. Results of the study indicated that final weight and weight gain of the birds fed LBP based diets was significantly (P< 0.05) lower than those fed the control diet. Similarly, lower feed intake and feed/gain ratio was obtained for the birds on the control diet, however result obtained for those on LBP based diets were similar. There was a significant (P<0.05) difference in water consumption and water/feed pattern of the birds across the dietary treatments. Daily feed cost ( N )/bird was significantly (P<0.05)lower at 30% dietary inclusion of LBP ( N 4.01) compared to other dietary treatments, however, the values (4.28, N 4.54,and N 4.24 )obtained at 0, 15 and 22.5% levels of LBP were similar. Feed cost /kg gain was significantly (P<0.05) different across the dietary treatments, however, the value of N 327 recorded for birds fed  the  control diet was comparable to N 319 recorded for those on 30% level of LBP, while 7.5,15 and 22.5% inclusion levels of LBP were similar. Generally, the total cost of producing growers at twenty weeks of age was comparable across the dietary treatments; nevertheless, the least cost was obtained at 30%. In conclusion, the inclusion of LBP in the diets of growing pullets supported growth and is cost effective.


The estimation of the probable errors of a large number of small duplicate plats well distributed in the area devoted to a field experiment indicates that the precision of agricultural experiments can be increased by replicating the experiments on small plats. Replication is urged not only for giving greater precision in experiments in which the results justify the increased labor, but also for furnishing a means whereby the experimenter and his reading public may determine what reliance can be placed upon the data and conclusions of the experiment. Replication also lessens the uncertainties involved in the use of check plats, and may decrease the total area required for the conduct of field experiments.


Purpose: The poor prognosis of multiple myeloma with t(4;14) is driven by the fusion of genes encoding multiple myeloma SET domain (MMSET) and immunoglobulin heavy chain. Specific genes affected by MMSET and their clinical implications in non-MMSET myeloma remain undetermined. Experimental Design: We obtained gene expression profiles of 1,032 newly diagnosed myeloma patients enrolled in Total Therapy 2, Total Therapy 3, Myeloma IX, and HOVON65-GMMGHD4 trials and 156 patients from Multiple Myeloma Resource Collection. Probes that correlated most with MMSET myeloma were selected on the basis of a multivariable linear regression and Bonferroni correction and refined on the basis of the strength of association with survival in non-MMSET patients. Results: Ten MMSET-like probes were associated with poor survival in non-MMSET myeloma. Non-MMSET myeloma patients in the highest quartile of the 10-gene signature (MMSET-like myeloma) had 5-year overall survival similar to that of MMSET myeloma [highest quartile vs. lowest quartile HR = 2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5–2.8 in MMSET-like myeloma; HR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6–3.3 in MMSET myeloma]. Analyses of MMSET-like gene signature suggested the involvement of p53 and MYC pathways. Conclusions: MMSET-like gene signature captures a subset of high-risk myeloma patients underrepresented by conventional risk stratification platforms and defines a distinct biologic subtype. Clin Cancer Res; 22(16); 4039–44. ©2016 AACR.


Sustainability is defined in a way to remind people of taking account of the current actual local situations of their own place. Based on the actual situations of China and a wide analysis of the main characteristics of green building assessment systems, some key issues about the GBAS (Green Building Assessment System) for China are discussed here. Firstly, the evaluation criteria selection for Chinese green building is discussed. Regional differences are well considered when selecting item and setting index. Secondly, the relationship for Q-L evaluation method in CASBEE and GOBAS is pointed out and improvements are presented. Thirdly, the establishment of a scientifically weighting coefficient system (WCS) with AHP plus Delphi method is studied here, and the final weight coefficients are optimized with sensibility analysis. Finally, the development for adaptability for different users and different areas is presented. This research and evaluation works are valuable for the development of green buildings in China.


In this paper the basic principle and the structure characteristic have been analyzed in motorcycle random fatigue test rig, and a new fatigue simulative time domain control technique is built to the electro-hydraulic servo system. A multilevel hierarchical fuzzy controller is designed to control the test rig to track the anticipant input signals, and finally achieve the real time control of the electro-hydraulic servo system. Many kinds of motorcycle's vibrant experiments have been carried out in the test rig, and the results of the experiments prove that the test rig can satisfy the demands of the motorcycle's reliability experiments, and also afford a new technique to motorcycle's fatigue experiment.


As 1984 drew to a close, the Labour Force Survey undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics put the number of young people (defined for these purposes as 15-19 years of age) unemployed and looking for full-time work at 22.2 per cent (seasonally adjusted) of that segment of the work force. Quirks of the seasonal adjustment processes - particularly around the turn of the calendar year - suggest that if anything that December estimate may be on the low side; throughout the preceding twelve months the comparable monthly estimates averaged 25.0 per cent.


The invention discloses a method for acquiring the maximum capacity of wind power integration. The method includes the steps that first, a maximum wind power integration capacity optimization model capable of considering peak shaving abundance is established; in the model, a target function takes the maximization of capacity of grid-connected wind power of a system as a target, and constraint conditions include active power balance constraint of nodes of the system, active power constraint of direct-current power flow of branches of the system, branch capacity constraint, output constraint of a conventional generator set, constraint of total wind curtailment every day, load shedding probability and annual load shedding expectation constraint, and wind curtailment probability and annual load shedding expectation constraint; second, a nonlinear equation in a wind power receiving optimization model is converted into a linear equation, and the linear maximum wind power integration capacity optimization model is acquired; third, according to acquired parameter data of a system network, historical wind power output data and the linear maximum wind power integration capacity optimization model, the maximum capacity of wind power integration is acquired. According to the method, abundance index constraint is introduced in to optimize the wind power integration capacity, and the obtained maximum wind power integration capacity meets the requirement for peak shaving abundance and power generation abundance; the nonlinear equation in the established model is converted into the linear equation, and the calculating time is remarkably shortened.


The main objective of this study was to identify the factors that differentiate persistently violent patients from less violent patients. Violent incident forms completed between 1980 and 1996 on the Denis Hill Unit, a medium secure unit, at the Bethlem Royal Hospital were analysed. During this period 280 patients were admitted to the unit and of those 165 (59%) had one or more violent incidents recorded against them. Out of a total of 2,180 incidents 1,460 (67%) were accounted for by 18 (6%) of the patients, who each had 25 or more violent incidents during their stay on the Unit. Of these 18 patients, additional background and outcome data were available on 17 patients. The 17 patients were compared with their less violent peers (i.e. those with fewer than 25 violent incidents) using the maximum number of variables that were available for analysis. A stepwise logistic regression revealed three significant variables in the final model. The odds were 5 : 1 against the persistently violent patients having received previous prison sentences, almost 5 : 1 in favour of them being female and 3 : 1 of them having had a history of special education. The findings have important resource and management implications for those persistently violent patients.


eMinnesota family of density functionals (M05,M05-2X,M06,M06L,M06-2X, andM06-HF) were evaluated for the calculation of the UV-Vis spectra of the indigo molecule in solvents of different polarities using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and the polarized continuummodel (PCM).e maximum absorption wavelengths predicted for each functional were compared with the known experimental results.


Abstract : A two-dimensional hybrid experimental-numerical technique for elastic-plastic stress analysis is presented. This technique results from merging two relatively new technologies in engineering mechanics: boundary element methods and image processing. A syntactic pattern recognition scheme termed Displacement Pattern Matching determines displacement boundary conditions to be used in an elastic-plastic boundary element (EPBEM) code. The result is an automated stress analysis tool. Displacement pattern matching is a process where displacements are measured by tracking an arbitrary array of black spots on a white specimen are compared in a double exposure format to determine displacements. Displacement pattern matching is a full-field technique, with spatial resolution on the order .0001 inch.


Photo-curable composition comprises a radical polymerizable monomer (A), photopolymerization initiator (B), and to being used as a sense of the compound (C) having the formula 1: Formula 1 Wherein X1 and X2 are selected from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, and some or all of the group consisting of a hydrogen atom of an alkyl substituted with fluorine. X1 and X2 may be the same or different. R1 to R10 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, and some or all of the group consisting of a hydrogen atom of an alkyl substituted with fluorine. R1 to R10 may be the same or different.


A new single-switch single-stage convertor with a high power factor is proposed. The proposed convertor gives good power factor correction, low current harmonic distortions, and tight output voltage regulation. The prototype meets the IEC555-2 requirements satisfactorily with nearly unity power factor.


In designing the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System (ANGTS), pipeline engineers gave thorough consideration to pipe-size selection, the use of existing systems as opposed to new high-pressure systems, compression, loop pipe, cooling vs. additional compression, single or multiple unit compressors, and electric-drive vs. gas-turbine-driven compressors. For the Alberta section of the system, Nova describes the studies involved in optimizing the pipe size, compression requirements, downstream cooling needs, and compressor-driver costs.


Surveys were done in lowland and highland areas of South Sumatera from September 2009 to April 2010. This study aimed to inventory and to identify species of L. erysimi host plants at the central vegetables in South Sumatra, to monitor its population development and to observe the symptoms and damage by L. erysimi on mustard. The surveys were conducted at various places 10-1,430 m above sea level in South Sumatra. The survey included wild plants and crops attacked by L. erysimi. L. erysimi and its hosts were observed visually and directly on the host plants colonized and attacked by L. erysimi. Species of L. erysimi host plants found were 12 species, namely Brassica juncea, Brassica campestris pekinensis, Brasicca campestris napus, Brassica oleracea, Brassica pharachinensis, Brassica rapa pekinensis, Apium graveolens, Nasturtium indicum, Cardamine hirsuta, Cloeme rutidospermae, Sunchus arventris, and Monochoria vaginalis. L. erysimi population found at two weeks after planting was 3.25 nymphs/plant. The peak population reached 547.08 nymphs/plant on 5 week-old mustard. Mustard damage by L. erysimi occured on 5 week-old mustard and reached 32.94%. Damage symptoms on mustard by L. erysimi could cause yellow curly-leaves, and severe damage could make the mustard stunted. Thus, L. erysimi was a harmful exotic pest, especially for mustard.


Fertility control has been one of the priorities of development in Indonesia. However, the 2000 and 2010 population censuses showed an increase in fertility indicators. To identify the sources of increased fertility in developed and less developed areas, DKI Jakarta and East Nusa Tenggara Provinces were selected for comparison. Using 2000 and 2010 census data, the decomposition analysis shows that the increase in Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of DKI Jakarta was dominated by the increase in nuptiality rate, while the increase in TFR of East Nusa Tenggara was mainly caused by the increase in Marital Fertility Rate (MFR). The highest increase in the proportion of married women in DKI Jakarta occurs in the age group of 15-19 years old, followed by the age group of 20–24 years old. The increase in MFR in East Nusa Tenggara occurs in nearly all age groups, particularly in the age groups of 30–34 and 35–39 years old. Identifying the sources of the increase in TFR is important for population policy to support population growth control, fertility reduction, and human resource quality improvement. The main suggestions based on the findings are the promotion of higher educational level and the benefits of postponing marriage among the younger age groups in DKI Jakarta as well as the use of contraceptive methods to control birth rate in East Nusa Tenggara.


The relevance of research is determined by the fact that in modern conditions a significant number of new deposits of solid minerals are being developed, for which comprehensive environmental studies are being carried out. As part of this work, there is a need for monitoring observations on the state and environmental changes based on digital technologies, the use of which in solid mineral deposits is grounded on modern maps using GIS technologies; it is assumed that the equipment will be used in automatic mode; the forecast is complex, multi-media is based on modern software products, processing should be areal and in time behaviour – all this will make management decisions more focused. Purpose of the work: to analyze the features of the use of digital technologies in organizing and conducting monitoring of the natural environment in the development of solid mineral deposits. Research methodology. In solid mineral deposits, environmental monitoring begins with mapping using GIS technology, operational observations; spatially distributed information is analyzed and visualized, area and time models appear, and a forecast is made for the time the field is developed and liquidated. Digital technology is used at each stage of monitoring. Results. An algorithm and a program for creating digital models in solid mineral deposits are developed taking into account the processes of changing environmental components in space and time.


In this paper, the problem of consensus tracking of uncertain multi-agent systems (MAS) with communication faults is addressed. The communication is assumed to be undirected. A reinforced unscented Kalman filter (RUKF) is employed to adapt the noise covariance matrices and to estimate the uncertain states of MAS as well as to train neural network internal parameters by providing a set of prior measurements. A Chebyshev neural network (CNN) is incorporated to learn the uncertain plant. To avert the neural network approximation errors a hyperbolic tangent function based robust control term is applied. The stability of the RUKF which is running simultaneously with the robust control term has been proven using Lyapunov stability approach. Numerical simulations are presented under different fault conditions to show the effectiveness of the proposed RUKF with 5% less computation power compared to adaptive unscented Kalman filter (AUKF).


A new method for intermittent self-regulated aspirations of tracheobronchial secretions (TBS) through a modified tracheal cannula provided with a heat-and-moisture exchanger is described and tested on laryngectomized and tracheotomized patients. The normal source, elimination and daily amount of the total respiratory tract fluid (RTF) and of the pure tracheo-bronchial secretions in adults are briefly discussed on the basis of the present results. It is assumed that the daily output of TBS does not exceed 0.5 ml per kg body-weight per 24 hours during physiological conditions. The suction device may also be used for therapeutic aspirations.


Case of a 65 year-old man with type-2 diabetes mellitus for 15 years who complained of abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant associated with unquantified fever and weight loss over a period of 25 days. In the emergency room, he presented tachycardia, tachypnea and fever of 37 o C, diffuse abdominal pain from light palpation without peritoneal irritation or right upper quadrant tenderness upon fist percussion test. Within a few hours the patient evolved to septic shock and required transfer to the intermediate care unit. The abdominal computerized axial tomography showed multiloculated hepatic abscess. Percutaneous drainage was performed with the culture positive for Escherichia coli and Fusobacterium spp. Then, the differential diagnosis was made between pyogenic or amebic liver abscess. Subsequently, oral cavity examination revealed severe periodontal disease with coronal destruction; therefore, extraction was scheduled.


In the broadest way, a systems-oriented attitude is characterized by particular sensitivities towards: (1) dynamic functioning as a transformation process of some type, whereby an input is acted upon to produce an output; and (2) organization as a multivariable complexity of subsystems which are linked to form the whole system. The functioning of the system is directly related to its organization. In fact, one might define a system as a whole which functions as it does because of the way its parts are organized. By the term "computer music," I mean music that is produced by a hardware and software system that importantly includes a computer, but may also include other analog or digital synthesis equipment. The numerous possibilities for computer music system design, which result from the decreasing cost and consequent easy availability of computer system components, makes the question of what type of system to design an extremely compelling one. Specific answers to this question can be resolved only after much more research in psychoacoustics is completed and after composers have had a chance to work with equipment presently being built. There are, however, certain general considerations in system design that might be mentioned at this time. But before designing a system, which is essentially the work of creating an organization of software and hardware modules, it is essential to understand how the system is intended to function. The choices for functioning and their implications in organization are the subject of this brief essay.


ZHANG Bin's death makes the system of reeducation through labor a question of wide concern and,no doubt,there are serious defects in the system.So significant reforms or changes are absolutely necessary.The paper points the defects and analyzes the ways out and development trends.


The electrochemical behavior of Fe(EDTA) - at the chitosan-modified glass carbon electrode (GCE) was studied. Based on this, a convolution valtammetry method was established. Fe(EDTA)- can be adsorbed into the positively charged chitosan membrane assembled on GCE and be reduced at -0.080 V vs. Ag/AgCl. At the chitosan-modified GCE, the e pp′ is proportional to the concentration of EDTA over the range of 8.0×10 -7 to 5.0×10 -5 mol/L. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 5.8% (n=5) and the recovery was in the range of 98%~105% for determination of real samples. The result was consistent with that from HPLC method.


Objective To explore the relationship between the Aurora-A gene and glioma by detecting the expression level of the gene in human glioma tissue. Methods Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR was performed on 42 glioma surgical specimens and 20 normal brain specimens.Statistical analysis were used to interpret the relationship between the expression and glioma. Results Aurora-A mRNA expression levels in glioma were significantly higher than that in normal brain tissues (P0.05),and the expression of Aurora-A mRNA in gliomas of gradeⅠ-Ⅱis much lower than that of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ (P0.05).Conclusions Aurora-A mRNA was highly expressed in human gliomas,which may play an important role in the oncogenesis and progression of human gliomas.And the expression of Aurora-A mRNA in gliomas of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ is much higher than that of gradeⅠ-Ⅱ,which may demonstrate that Aurora-A is relevant to the malignant level of gliomas.


Our recent measurements on amorphous (FexNi1−x)75P16B6Al3 alloys yielded the magnetic phase diagram (T vs. x). For x<xc (xc≲0.17) paramagnet (PM) to spin glass (SG) transitions occur and for 0.4≳x≳xc, cooling produces a PM to ferromagnet transition followed, at lower T, by a FM‐SG transition. We report low field ac susceptibility measurements on alloys for x in the neighborhood of xc. Application of a constant magnetic field (Ba) produces two peaks in χac(T) which mark the PM‐FM and FM‐SG transition temperatures. We obtain phase diagrams in the T vs. Ba plane, compare them to our numerical calculations based on recent theory, and infer the presence of large magnetic clusters for x≃xc.


Increasing greenhouse gas emissions and negative environmental consequences have raised worldwide attention to ecological issues. The development of carbon regulations (CRs) beside carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems is part of carbon mitigation policies (CMPs), which are following in recent years to control and manage carbon liberation. Along with environemtal policies, the utilization of renewable energy resources have been promoted significantly. However, the economic opportunities for renewable energy development considering CMPs have not addressed extensively. In this study, a stochastic mathematical programming model has been presented to minimize cost and downside risk (DSR) of the bioelectricity generation supply chain considering the pre‐ and postdisaster conditions. The role of several CMPs on the economic behavior of the system has been analyzed by investigating the potential uncertainties on material availability, material quality, and consumer demand. To consider disruption effects, the postdisaster stage has been classified into several substages including damage, recovery, and back to the sustainability stages. Mississippi State after the Katrina Hurricane is addressed as a case study to examine the performance of the proposed model. The results demonstrated that the occurrence of disruptive uncertainties creates 8,978,502 $, 8,864,335 $ and 8,884,055 $ as the DSR, under carbon tax policy (CTP), carbon offset policy (COP), and CCS, respectively. The effect of disruptive scenario 1 with a 15% reduction of resource has led to the greatest postdisaster supply chain costs in comparison with other scenarios. Although the financial analysis showed CTP has the greatest DSR after the occurrence of disaster, this policy has the most investment attractions, as well as COP, with the internal rate of return (IRR) of 9%. While implementing the CCS policy with the IRR of 2% creates 7% missed opportunity costs compared with other CMPs.


Despite the multi-categorical concept of giftedness having widespread acceptance throughout the world, cultural giftedness does not appear to be widely recognised or provided for. This paper examines what cultural giftedness means for Maori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) and describes how a culturally responsive learning environment can contribute to identifying and providing for gifted Maori students. While the paper focuses on gifted Maori learners, the underlying principles are relevant to gifted students from any ethnic minority group. Readers will be challenged to reflect on and share how they recognise and provide for cultural giftedness in their particular area of involvement.


As we revise this introduction, a wave of backlash against migrant workers is spreading in Europe. Daily news of (illegal) immigration and increasing incidents of xenophobia, racism, and violence make BBC World News. The need for understanding cultural difference and tackling discrimination in all forms cannot be greater than at the time when our "global village" is spiraling down the economic recession. Academic scholarship is one of the venues to stimulate interest in challenging issues of shifting identities, competing belongingnesss, and contested cultures that have forcefully emerged as the result of geopolitical remapping of the world. This special issue examines questions of difference in relation to our research practices as a means of promoting ethical and moral engagement with those who are not part of the privileged sociocultural space.


once again able to realistically examine their nation's crime problems. Criminological research revealed the extent of the Soviet crime problem and as a result criminal practitioners, in the late 1950's, expressed their initial interest in mounting a crime prevention campaign. In 1963, the Central Committee of the Communist Party, one of the Soviet Union's most important decision-making bodies, supported crime prevention measures giving them both legitimacy and visibility.2


Spring‐seeded annual forages are well adapted to the Great Plains; however, the influence of application rate and method of N fertilization on winter wheat (WW) (Triticum aestivum L.) forage productivity is unknown. A field study was conducted in a factorial design for 3 yr to determine the influence of N application rate and method on water and N productivity of awnletted WW 'Willow Creek'. Urea was either broadcast or banded at planting using N fertilization rates of 0, 28, 56, and 84 kg N ha−1. The N application rate × method interaction was significant only for WW height. Weed herbage was low at WW forage harvest, 19 kg ha−1. As N fertilization rate increased from 0 to 84 kg N ha−1, wheat stem density and height increased by 70 and 78%, respectively, and herbage increased by 58%. Increased N rate increased WW water use quadratically, but water productivity (kg biomass ha−1 mm−1) was 68% greater at 84 kg N ha−1. However, N application method did not influence water use or productivity. Banded N application increased N accumulation in WW herbage by 11% compared to broadcast N. Increasing N rate reduced N productivity by 24% compared to 0 kg N ha−1. Willow Creek WW produced greater herbage yield as N fertilization rate increased with banded application. Willow Creek is a highly productive fall‐planted forage in this predominantly spring‐planted small grain–grain legume region. Disciplines Agriculture | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Soil Science Comments This article is published as Lenssen, Andrew W., Upendra M. Sainju, Clain Jones, Kent McVay, and Terry Angvick. "Nitrogen fertilization rate and method influences water and nitrogen productivity of forage winter wheat." Agronomy Journal (2020). doi: 10.1002/agj2.20495. This article is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/agron_pubs/684 Received: 18 February 2020 Accepted: 9 October 2020 DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20495


Objective:To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate and hyaluronate in the treatment of patellofemoral osteoarthritis.Methods:A total of 86 patients with patellofemoral osteoarthritis were selected. Then the randomized and double-blind study was conducted. The patients were assigned to two groups:43 patients in glucosamine group taken glucosamine sulfate orally,two pills every time,ter in die,12 weeks continuously,other 43 patients in hyaluronate group received intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate,once a week,five weeks continuously. The curative effects and adverse reactions were observed and followed up.Results:The effective rates of glucosamine sulfate and hyaluronate were 83.7% and 81.4% respectively. The patients' quality of life in two groups improved obviously. There was not significant difference between two groups.The incidences of side effects were 2.3% and 9.3% in two groups respectively,which in hyaluronate group was significantly increased.Conclusion:Glucosamine sulfate,as well as hyaluronate could improve the clinical symptoms of patellofemoral osteoarthritis,moreover,the incidence of side effects in the patients treated by glucosamine sulfate was lower.


This study attempted to improve students' writing achievement through The Word Sort Strategy. This study was conducted by using classroom action research. The subject was class X in SMA Amir Hamzah Medan that consisted of 40 students. The study was conducted in two cycles; cycle I consisted of three meetings (meeting I, II, and III) and cycle II consisted of three meetings (meeting IV, V, and VI). The instruments for collecting data were quantitative data (writing test) and qualitative data (interview sheet, observation sheet and diary notes). Based on writing tests' scores, the mean of the students' scores in the second cycle was 79.35 and in the first cycle as 71.95. Based on the interview sheet, observation sheet and diary notes, it was found that students interested in applying Word Sort Strategy because it helped them to improve their writing achievement. The result showed that Word Sort Strategy can improve students' writing achievement.


P92 heat-resistant steel was used to demonstrate that creep rupture life evaluation period could be shorted by the assistant of the creep data from short-period stress relaxation test without reducing the prediction precision. Research showed that the minimum creep rate and the relaxation creep rate were exchangeable, and the stress exponent and the apparent activation energy analysis of the constant strain creep and the constant stress creep showed a similar deformation mechanism at the condition of T and . The creep rupture life predicted through the combination of these two kinds of creep data was closer to the real creep data than that evaluated by the traditional method based on the time to rupture only, and the precision of the evaluated creep strength increased at last 14.5 %.


Colloidal particles are distinguishable. Moreover, their thermodynamic properties are extensive. Statistical mechanics predicts such behaviour if one accepts that the configurational integral of a system of N colloids must be divided by N!. In many textbooks, it is argued that the factor N! corrects for the fact that identical particles (in the quantum mechanical sense) are indistinguishable. Clearly, this argument does not apply to colloids. This article explains why, nevertheless, all is well. The point has been made before, but has not yet sunk in. I also discuss the effect of polydispersity.


From July 1990 to April 1996, 500 laparoscopic supracervical (subtotal) hysterectomies (LASH) were performed. The technique and the advantages are described here. Because of the feasibility of this technique, the quick recovery of the patient and low rate of complications, this strictly laparoscopic approach must be widely considered when a hysterectomy is indicated and if there is no risk of remaining cervical cancer.


Abstract Despite progress made in the treatment of tobacco dependence, currently available treatments are effective for only a fraction of smokers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the effectiveness of treatment with nicotine or bupropion in heavy smokers (n=70), and 6 candidate polymorphisms in CYP2A6, 5-HTT and HTR2A genes. Analysis revealed a significant association between "favourable" genotype combination carriers (CYP2A6 "slow metabolizer" or 5HTT L-allele or HTR2A-1438GG) and nicotine treatment outcome (OR=2.69, 95% CI=1.28–5.64). Genetic variations in CYP2A6 gene or genotypes associated with reduced synaptic serotonin activity may influence the success of smoking cessation treatment.


The INDEST-AICTE Consortium, launched in 2003, provides differential access to 12,000 electronic journals and six bibliographic databases from a number of publishers and aggregators to 48 centrally-funded technical institutions, 60 government and government-aided engineering colleges and 820 private engineering colleges, and other organisations. The article describes major functions, activities and services of the INDEST-AICTE Consortium. It briefly touches upon resources subscribed, terms of licenses, policies and practices for archival back-ups, membership programmes including core members, AICTE-supported institutions, and self-supported category of membership. The article outlines governing structures of the Consortium and their roles. It elaborates on strategies used for effective implementation of Consortia amongst member institutions. It briefly touches upon the economics of the Consortium and spells out it future endeavours.


Quantum system with spin–orbit interaction in three-dimensional space is considered. Point-like perturbation for Rashba Hamiltonian is constructed in the framework of the theory of self-adjoint extensions of symmetric operators. Boundary triplet approach is used. The Weyl function and the scattering matrix are constructed.


The background: One of the prevalent main concerns in the medical world is the identification of Intron22 mutations in the Factor VIII gene carried by Iraqi patient in Wasit town, in Iraq suffering Hemophilia A (classical hemophilia) which is related to a X-chromosome recessive haemorrhage afflictions as the result of a flaw in the coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). It is essentially related with F8 mutations of Intron22 inversion which forms the most typical kind of mutations of blood afflictions worldwide involving half the patients suffering from severe Hemophilia A that possesses mutations, in addition to Intron 1 inversion suffered by 5% of severe Hemophilia A patients. All of the inversion mutations are suffered mainly by males, and uncommonly by females due to the intrachromosomal recombination among the homologous areas, in inversion 1 or 22, with extragenic copy posited the telomeric to the Factor VIII gene. Unfortunately, there is an absence in Iraq on researches pertaining blood affliction gene identification in persons who carries the Intron22 mutations exception in the current research. Aims of study: The objectives of the research is to to analyze through the detection mechanisms, the existence of Intron 22 mutations in the Factor VIII gene of 10 Hemophilia A Iraqi carriers cohort families. The hypothesis and anticipated result is that there will be a minimal margin of hazardous possibility for the recurrence. The hereditary F8 mutation is unknown to be present on the maternal side of the patient sufferer due to the possibilty of germline mosaics that exists within the community.


A novel approach to detection of communication deadlocks in occam 2 programs is proposed. The main feature of the approach is to monitor the interprocess communications of a target occam 2 program at runtime and detect communication deadlocks in the program by operating a Process-Wait-For Graph (PWFG) of the program. The PWFG is a formal representation of the synchronization waiting situation in an occam 2 program. In addition to the principle of detecting communication deadlocks in occam 2 programs, some issues on implementation of the monitor are also discussed.


This article highlights the importance of considering religious values in counseling from a cross-cultural perspective. Counseling has virtually ignored some aspects of culture and their influence on the therapeutic process.


aybe this is interfering with my homework! " Five years ago, when Instant Messaging was relatively new (and how last decade is that), I asked my students in a 444 Honors Seminar to do a simple observational experiment of their choosing to demonstrate the steps in the scientific process (hypothesis , observation, conclusion). Two students asked the same question: " How many IM messages do I get in 30 minutes? " Both made similar observations—about 20! My opening sentence above was the conclusion drawn by one of those students. This was my first direct encounter with the new, distracted environment of today's college students. IM was a laptop-based, pre-Wi-Fi technology. Users had to be sitting somewhere with wired access to the Internet; a dinosaur technology in comparison to the multiple gadgets now providing continuous access to the world. Both access and distractions have multiplied. A backlash is brewing. A recent column by David Brooks 1 focused on the value of books in the home for increasing student outcomes. In that essay he refers to The Shallows by Nicholas Carr, one of the more popular of a phalanx of books decrying the loss of focus and lack of time for deep analysis and complex thought in the instant-response world. As I write this (July 18), this week's New York Times Book Review section has no less than three essays and reviews on the impact of new communication technologies on learning and world events. All of which makes this year's dialogue topic, " Decision Making in the Age of Information Overload, " exceptionally timely and relevant. Part of good scholarship is being aware of historical precedents for your question, and it may be comforting to know that the concerns around superficiality and shoddy scholarship as a result of technological advances are not new. In Hamlet's Blackberry (as reviewed by Laurie Winer 2), William Powers traces similar concerns back to Socrates, who felt scrolls would erode thought by allowing people to look things up rather than " remember[ing] them from the inside, completely on their own. " Powers also mentions a 15th-century Italian scholar who said of Gutenberg's press that it would " disregard that which is best and instead merely write for the sake of entertainment. " For a U.S. precedent, we can look to Thoreau who said famously in Walden, " We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph …


In Software as a Service model, i.e. SaaS, tenants' sensitive data are stored and processed at the platform of untrusted service providers. Data privacy has become the biggest challenge hindering wider adoption of software as a service. Data combination privacy has been proposed to protect privacy of data combination through sensitive association hidden. However, this approach doesn't consider the scenario where tenants' requirements changed and customization happened. When tenants customize data schema or privacy requirements, there is a possibility that underlying physical data chunk schema collides with the privacy requirements of tenants. This paper proposed the data combination privacy preservation adjusting mechanism for data privacy leakage caused by on demand customization of software as a service. Three principles of privacy preservation adjusting mechanism are proposed. Based on the adjusting mechanism, there would no more privacy leakage than before customization during the adjusting process to the customized schema. Analysis and experiments demonstrate the corrective and effective of the data privacy preservation adjusting mechanism for software as a service.


In the post-war period, national and local governments in Japan made their spatial planning policies assuming ever-growing socio-economic conditions. Shrinking regions and cities are a phenomenon that will provide considerable challenges to infrastructural planning. This chapter analyses, the challenges and prospects resulting from the demographic ageing and shrinking processes, based on a description and evaluation of the traditional framework of Japan's infrastructural policy related to the "construction state" issue. To exemplify the ongoing challenges in spatial development processes and planning policies, selected governmental strategies for policy reorientation will be discussed. Finally, from the standpoint of institutional stability and change, some evaluative remarks on Japan's reform approaches that focus on sustainable regional development are offered for further discussion. Keywords: "construction state" issue; Japan's infrastructural policy; traditional framework


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 Transport infrastructure projects require an ex-ante evaluation before compromising substantial public funds. In this sense, travel time savings are one of the most important sources of benefits arising from the implementation of such projects. This paper studies travel behaviour in the Madrid-Barcelona corridor. This route links the two most important cities in Spain and is one of the densest airline domestic markets in the world, with near 5 million passengers per year. In 2008, the introduction of the new High Speed Rail (HSR) produced substantial improvements in the level of service for the rail alternative, achieving reductions in travel time of more than 50% over the conventional train. Using data from a detailed revealed preference (RP) survey we obtained estimates for the value of time of the main public transport modes operating in the Madrid-Barcelona corridor, considering the different components integrating the total travel time, that is, access and egress time, waiting time and in-vehicle travel. The analysis applied advanced modelling techniques, based on the estimation of flexible discrete choice models using an RP dataset providing information about the current behaviour of travellers between Madrid and Barcelona. The utilities of the various alternatives available were defined in terms of their main level-of-service attributes and some socioeconomic characteristics of the travellers. Our specification searches revealed the existence of systematic and random taste variations in the users' utility functions by the various transport modes in the corridor. From these estimated results, willingness-to-pay values for saving the different time components were derived. These values were larger for the air transport alternative than for the other modes. We also found, as usual, that travellers appear to be willing to pay more for reducing waiting time and access/egress time than travel time. Our study set out methodological grounds that can serve as a reference guide for quantifying the time savings derived from other projects in Spain. Although the ideal situation should be that each project is associated with a detailed behavioural demand study, sometimes it may prove more convenient (or a necessity) to transfer methods and models when conditions are similar, or to adapt them using some heuristics appropriate for the particular case study. In this sense, this research provides not only appropriate figures for the values of different time components for different transport modes, by different purpose, and for individuals with different socioeconomic profiles, but it also represents a methodological reference guide for the application of this approach in future studies. Moreover and more importantly, this work represents a novel research approach for Spain and a useful contribution to the literature on the value of time within the context of the European Union, where a general goal of transport policy is the development of pricing systems, including marginal social costs, to achieve a more rational use of the transport system.


Analyzed the three matching scheme of engine and torque of wheel loader,choosed the appropriate matching scheme.Based on the relevant characteristic curve,the starting performance,power efficiency and fuel economy are taken as the optimization targets when both of the two are working,multi-objective optimization mathematical model of the matching between engine and torque converter is established.Torque converter loop diameter optimal parameter is deduced through the Matlab.Finally,a numerical example is given and the optimization results are analyzed.


The cloth turban is undergoing conservation and appears to be in a fragile state. Fragments of the cloth were submitted for SEM examination to determine its condition and to analyse for the presence of damaging chemicals that might be the cause of the brittle nature of the material. The cloth appears to be in good physical condition, but analysis confirms the presence of sulphur and iron which suggests an acidic degradation. Methods Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with microanalysis were used to characterise the cloth fragments and to analyse the surface for elemental composition. The cloth fragment selected for examination was mounted on an adhesive carbon stub and examined uncoated in the SEM and imaged using the Centaurus backscattered electron detector. Further samples were mounted in resin and polished in cross-section for microanalysis to determine the penetration of sulphur and iron. Description The cloth fragments appear to be in very good condition with little or no thread or fibre damage, apart from at the broken edges, nor any general surface degradation. The fragments appear to be quite clean with no obvious surface deposits.


The indentation size effect on the microhardness of as-rolled ductile iron has been investigated. Vickers microhardness measurements were made at different loads ranging from 10 g to 1000 g. The measured values were analyzed with the popular Nix-Gao's plasticity model and a microstructural material-length scale parameter was determined. The hardness value was found to decrease with increasing indentation load with the indentation size effect shown to be very pronounced below about 100g and almost negligible above about 300 g. The measured hardness values were shown to be in good agreement with the well-described Nix-Gao strain gradient plasticity model with a material length scale parameter of 5.80 micrometers.


Reducing retransmitted data arising from wireless channel errors contributes to power savings on battery-powered wireless devices. The paper introduces block-based hybrid ARQ in which only blocks with non-correctable errors are retransmitted, rather than complete packets. In video streaming, as an unbounded number of retransmissions results in effective packet loss through missed display deadlines, this form of type I hybrid ARQ should be deadline aware. In a Bluetooth example, the scheme is moderated by relative packet efficiency. The result is significant improvements in video quality at the receiver, while at the same time the transmission power efficiency also improves.


Since the business policy tradition began at Harvard Business School, the academic field now known as strategic management has traversed a rather spectacular journey and is increasingly growing to be more diverse in terms of both its content and methodology. In order to help researchers, veterans or novices alike, to better fathom and appreciate such a gigantic literature running the gamut of all strategic research, this paper summarizes and critiques the research contributions since the 1960s based on the broad categories of dominant paradigm, corporate strategy, business strategy, and strategy process and top management team. Given the volume and the richness of the literature, and due to space limitation, it chooses to focus on those important research topics and streams, highlighting especially those milestone achievements and contributions.


This paper emphasizes a transformative approach to management knowledge, which is a methodology intended to improve the linkage across key stakeholders of the field. This methodology is proposed as an alternative to the most commonly used approaches in management studies, namely, positivist and interpretive approaches. The transformative approach is particularly suitable for connecting management consulting and research because this approach attempts to integrate action and reflection, personal and organizational realities, and theory and practice.


Acinetobacter baumannii is highly resistant pathogen and widely distributed in different hospitals as nosocomial pathogen (Ian et al., 2016). This is mostly isolated from intensive care units. In the last decades, the emergence and rapid spread of Multidrug-resistant A. baumannii have caused a serious clinical problem worldwide (Peleg et al., 2008). In a developing country concerns about the high costs in the ICU are increasing. Thus illness severity scoring systems have been devised depending on therapeutic, anatomical and physiological basis. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Score II (APACHE II) is one of the well-known scoring systems that are used to rule out severity of illness. This scoring system has been shown to provide objective discrimination between low-risk and high-risk groups of patients (Knaus et al., 1985). International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 7 (2017) pp. 1056-1061 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com


The relationships between Chinese consciousness of history and its cognition of international order have constructed the identity of China. Identity is never essential,but the product of relationships,especially of the relationships between knowledge and power. The theorization of history may help us locate ourselves in space and time. Analyzing the genealogy of the affirmation of "difference" of China is important to understand the collective person formation of China in modern world.


Uridine adenosine tetraphosphate (Up4A) has been reported as an endothelium‐derived vasoconstrictor. However, alterations in the vasoconstrictive responses to Up4A in hypertensive states remain unclear. We investigated the effects of Up4A on thoracic aorta (TA), mesenteric (ME), pulmonary (PA), basilar (BA) and renal (RA) arteries from uninephrectomized control (Uni) and deoxycorticosterone acetate‐salt (DOCA) rats using isometric tension recording. In segments at basal resting tension, Up4A (10−9 – 3 × 10−5 M) produced dose‐dependent contraction. In DOCA (vs. Uni): (1) Up4A‐induced contraction was similar in TA and PA, smaller in ME, and greater in BA and RA; (2) Up4A‐induced contraction in the presence of L‐NNA, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, was similar in TA, PA, and ME, and greater in RA. In BA and RA, Up4A‐induced contraction was reduced by suramin, a non‐selective P2Y receptor antagonist, but not by Ip5I, a P2X1/P2X3 receptor antagonist. In RA, selective agonists for P2Y2, P2Y4, or P2Y6‐induced contractions were greater in DOCA than Uni. These results suggest that hypertension may increase Up4A‐induced contraction in BA and RA, and P2Y receptor activation may contribute to enhancement of Up4A‐induced contraction in RA. These changes in vascular reactivity to Up4A may be adaptive to the vascular alterations produced by hypertension.


Image classification is very crucial for the information extraction and with the availability of high resolution and abundant data, traditional classifiers are not enough for such datasets. The solution is provided by Deep learning theory which allows for automated feature extraction method with an improved accuracy. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning and it has blossomed over the last decade because of its feature learning capability and its ability to generalize over unseen dataset. These techniques have been proven suitable in many fields such as biomedical, audio and video recognition, hand writing recognition and now it is also being used for the classification of aerial and satellite imagery. A simple Convolutional Neural Network is used for DeepSat dataset which gave overall accuracy of 99.97% for SAT-4, 99.98% for SAT-6. The results are at par and even surpassed some of the previous studies. Performance evaluation shows that the learning rate of 0.1 and batch size 250 provides with the best results for both SAT-6 and SAT-4. For a developing country like Pakistan, there is a dire need for a dataset similar to DeepSat which can then be used for various applications.


Five hybrid cultivars ('Boonlim', 'Cipres', 'Dariana', 'Franklim' in 'Steline') of white asparagus were tested on 4 locations in Slovenia (Celje, Logarovci, Nova Gorica and Novo mesto). The plantations were 7 years old when some of the raised beds were covered with black PE mulch and the yield was compared to the yield of uncovered beds. The planting space was 2.2 m between rows and 0.33 m between crowns in the row. Each cultivar had 2 covered and 2 uncovered repetitions with 15 plants (11 m 2 ). The yield and number of spears were measured. For 6 days, white spears were divided into 4 groups based on their thickness (4-8 mm; 8-12 mm; 12-16 mm; over 16 mm), counted and weighed in order to determine the proportion and quality of marketable yield. 'Steline' (3.44 t/ha) had the lowest average yield and 'Boonlim' (6.78 t/ha), which was the best performing cultivar in Logarovci and Nova Gorica, the best. In Novo mesto there were no significant differences among cultivars and in Celje, earlier cultivars 'Franklim', 'Cipres' and 'Dariana' performed better. 'Franklim' had more spears on average but the weight of the spears was best with 'Boonlim' (46.24 g) and worst with 'Steline' (32.03 g). The mulch influenced the yield, which was 5.27 t/ha on uncovered beds and 6.25 t/ha on covered ones. It also influenced the average weight of spears, which increased from 38.15 g to 40.88 g. The mulch did not increase either the number of spears or their thickness.


Rafflesia lagascae refers to corpse flower populations in Luzon, Philippines once listed under Rafflesia panchoana. The authors observed three ecological characteristics of R. lagascae cluster found in Salazar, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija province, Philippines: 1) biophysical survey of the habitat, 2) description of R. lagascae flowers and its clustering, and 3) observation of R. lagascae using time-lapse photography. Of the three identified R. lagascae sites in the area, only one had the viable cluster for observation. It was found that R. lagascae and its host, Tetrastigma loheri, thrive in forest patches within the grassy landscape. The authors also observed that R. lagascae flowering is not highly gregarious, where clusters are spaced considerably. Time-lapse photographic monitoring showed that R. lagascae requires about 70% of a day-night cycle to complete its flowering. Inherent biological traits of R. lagascae were primary factors for limited observation, but its constant presence in Salazar opens opportunities for long-term monitoring, which can raise better information for conservation efforts


Recommender systems that inform consumers about their likely ideal products have become the cornerstone of e-commerce platforms that sell products from competing manufacturers. Using a model of an ...


The aim of this study was to establish the relationships between height and diameter (DBH) of Quercus acutissima in a broadleaved-conifer mixed forests in Mountain Tai in China. Based on the data of Q. acutissima from a 0.6 hm2 permanent forest plot, the relationships between height and DBH were simulated with six empirical models, including Linear, Power, Chapman-Richards, Logistic, Korf and Weibull models, to select the optimization model. There is no significant difference in the predictive power of each growth model. The fitting and test results of each model in this study show that these six model forms have good prediction effects. The results showed that the logistic fitting effect is the best model for Q. acutissima. The Logistic model can be applied to the simulation of tree height and diameter of coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests in this area.


This paper deals with slope stability evolutions by limit equilibrium (LE) methods and compared with the results from GEOSLOPE software. The LE based methods are compared based on the factor of safety (FOS) obtained from various conditions with simplified slope geometry and assumed input parameters. The Bishop simplified Method (BSM) and Janbu simplified Method (JSM) is compared with Morgenstern‐Price method (M‐PM) and it is seen that the prediction of the most critical slip surface is influenced by the search technique. The comparative study among the LE methods showed that BSM is as good as M‐PM for normal condition in circular shear surface (CSS) analysis whereas simplified Janbu (JSM) method gives the most conservative value of the FOS.


This paper proposes a new induction learning method based on the specific object, which allows the learning of the specific object in answer set programming (ASP), which is helpful to the research of inductive logic learning. The framework is composed of background knowledge , learning object (OBJECT), hypothesis space (Sm) and hypothesis (H). This kind of programming method which obtains hypothesis through background knowledge learning is called inductive logic programming.


The study regarding the analysis and use of existing trip generation rates resulted in two reports: "Site Impact Traffic Evaluation (S.I.T.E.) Handbook": This report documents the site access study process in detail. As noted in the report, the trip generation estimation procedure is a critical step in the seven phase site access study. Four case studies are presented that demonstrate the use of trip generation rates and analyze the sensitivity of site related traffic to trip rates, trip distribution patterns and other key variables. "Development and Application of Trip Generation Rates": This report presents an overview of the data sources on trip generation rates. Updated trip generation rates are presented along with factors for adjusting trip rates due to variations in residential characteristics. The use of trip rates is described. While each of the two reports is an independent document, they complement each other, and the user would benefit from reading both reports.