This article presents findings from the Upskilling for Future Generations Project (Gen-Up), a participatory, collaborative project designed with and for young women in Cameroon and Sierra Leone to understand the links between technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and sustainable employment. The aim of the project is to provide a model of gender mentoring that can help communities to challenge gender stereotypes and to empower young women to build careers in male-dominated labour sectors. The article calls for a deeper, gender-just understanding of �skills� necessary to fulfil the United Nations� �decent work� goals in the context of deepening urban inequality and gender discrimination. The article situates gender at the centre of future TVET policy, arguing that without a gender-just and gender-sensitive approach, skills programming will continue to have limited success in rebalancing patriarchal and discriminatory labour markets.


The re-territorialisation and localisation of the cyberspace is surely amongst the most relevant undergoing transformations of the Internet. Technological developments made on geolocated-internet-based services and the consequent impressive market growth of this kind of services, are there to prove that the Internet is not uniquely pushing for globalization, but also for localisation of processes and interactions. Therefore, in this wider context is of utmost interest analysing if and how the Internet is facilitating the re-territorialisation and to some extent even the creation of an Australia Muslim community. Abstract: The re-territorialisation and localisation of the cyberspace is surely amongst the most relevant undergoing transformations of the Internet. In this wider context, is of utmost interest analysing if and how the Internet is facilitating the re-territorialisation and to some extent even the creation of an Australian Muslim community. This is the topic addressed by Possamai et al. 's essay. However, the choice of focusing exclusively on the content analysis of three websites without putting them into a wider context and taking into account their social media presence makes the analysis based on too limited and soon out-dated set of information and therefore their conclusions do not seem to be strongly grounded. subject.


Interviews with scientists in the forefront of research and discovery in the workings of the mind underlie an examination of the brain's evolution, physiology, and functions and of thought processes, problem solving, and creativity.


Results of experiments investigating the influence of resonance radiation trapping on the power and efficiency of the atomic thallium photodissociation laser are reported. Transverse pumping of a thallium iodide cell with added free metallic thallium has enabled conversion efficiencies from the ArF laser pump beam of greater than 7% to be achieved on a single Tl laser transition at λ 535.0 nm. Collisional deexcitation of the 72S1/2 upper laser level imposes a limit on the TlI densities which can be employed.


Ultra-wideband (UWB) time difference of arrival (TDOA)-based localization has recently emerged as a promising indoor positioning solution. However, in cluttered environments, both the UWB radio positions and the obstacle-induced non-line-of-sight (NLOS) measurement biases significantly impact the quality of the position estimate. Consequently, the placement of the UWB radios must be carefully designed to provide satisfactory localization accuracy for a region of interest. In this work, we propose a novel algorithm that optimizes the UWB radio positions for a pre-defined region of interest in the presence of obstacles. The mean-squared error (MSE) metric is used to formulate an optimization problem that balances the influence of the geometry of the radio positions and the NLOS effects. We further apply the proposed algorithm to compute a minimal number of UWB radios required for a desired localization accuracy and their corresponding positions. In a real-world cluttered environment, we show that the designed UWB radio placements provide 47% and 76% localization root-mean-squared error (RMSE) reduction in 2D and 3D experiments, respectively, when compared against trivial placements.


Now,most companies have adopted monitoring software to prevent and reduce employees do their own things during work time.This paper concludes the functions and advantages of monitoring software,and analyzes the defects of monitor software based on the existing monitoring software,finally presents his ideas briefly.


This paper provides, the relation between arcs in a projective space and optimal codes which is used to provide solutions for optimal codes. The main computing tool is the mathematical programming language GAP. The properties of optimal codes with some examples are shown. NOTATION GF(ݍ ) Galois field of ݍ= ݌ ௛ elements, ݌ prime and ℎ positive integer ܩ ( ,ݍ ) -dimensional Projective space over GF(ݍ ) V(k, q)avector space of dimension over GF(ݍ ) n-arc set of n points no three of which are collinear m(r, q)the maximum size of an n-arc in ܩ (ݎ ,ݍ ) ൫ ௡ ൯ number of ways of choosing k objects out of


As multinationals unrelentingly seek new growth to satisfy shareholders, they increasingly hear concerns from many quarters about environmental degradation, labor exploitation, cultural hegemony and local autonomy. What is to be done? Must corporations' thirst for growth and profits serve only to exacerbate the antiglobalization movement?

On the contrary, the authors say, a solution to this dilemma does exist. Companies can generate growth and satisfy social and environmental stakeholders through a "great leap" to the base of the economic pyramid, where 4 billion people aspire to join the market economy for the first time. This is not a question simply of doing the right thing in order to lift people out of poverty ? although that will surely be a result of the leap the authors have in mind. From a senior executive's point of view, it's a matter of finding the most exciting growth markets of the future. It is also where the technologies that are needed to address the social and environmental challenges associated with economic growth can best be developed. The authors illustrate their point with examples of companies that are already profitably disrupting such industries as telecommunications, consumer electronics and energy production.


Recently, as deep learning technologies have received much attention for their great potential in extracting the principal components of data, there have been many efforts to apply them to the Channel State Information (CSI) feedback overhead problem, which can significantly limit Multi-Input MultiOutput (MIMO) beamforming gains. Unfortunately, since most compression models can quickly become outdated due to channel variation, timely model updates are essential for reflecting the current channel conditions, resulting in frequent additional transmissions for model sharing between transceivers. In particular, the heavy network models employed by most previous studies to achieve high compression gains exacerbate the impact of the overhead, eventually cancelling out the benefits of deep learning-based CSI compression. To address these issues, in this paper, we propose Lightweight CSI Feedback (LCF), a new lightweight CSI feedback scheme. LCF fully utilizes autoregressive Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to generate CSI predictions and uses them to train the autoencoder, so that the compression model could work effectively even in highly dynamic wireless channels. In addition, 3D convolutional layers are directly adopted in the autoencoder to capture diverse types of channel correlations in three dimensions. Extensive experiments show that LCF achieves a lower CSI compression error in terms of the Mean Squared Error (MSE), using only about 10% of the overhead of existing approaches.


In this paper we consider a warehouse space rent problem in product return logistics with consideration of the usufruct lateral transfer. The problem is discussed for the two situations of definite and free distribution functions for the returned products, respectively. First, an optimal usufruct lateral transfer policy is derived in the form of complete pooling. Then, we obtain the optimal rent policy and Nash equilibrium equations for the centralized and decentralized models, respectively. Furthermore, we re-consider the problem under the distribution free situation for the centralized and decentralized decision models, and the optimal bound and Nash equilibrium are respectively derived against the worst case. Finally, managerial insights are derived to analyze the practical meanings of the results, which are combined with our numerical examples for a clear knowledge.


The general principles of civil law serve as the benchmark of dispute analysis and resolution in the domain of civil law.These principles embody the nature and basic values of Chinese civil laws,corresponding to the fundamental demands of the civil society and the market economy in China.Namely,they are,by stipulation of General Principles of Chinese Civil Law,the principles of equality,autonomy,fairness,good faith,and public order and social morals.As the ground principle,the principle of equality treating the like alike is the foundational premise of the principle of autonomy,while the principle of autonomy is the essence of civil law reflecting the basic ideas of civil law.Nonetheless,the principle of fairness aims at maintaining necessary balances of individual interests during,especially,their autonomous transactions.The principle of good faith and the principle of public order and social morals set the boundaries of individual autonomy.


Extra-adrenal paragangliomas, as distinct from pheochromocytomas of the adrenal medulla, may occur throughout the body. They are rare neoplasms arising from neural crest cells, which are distributed along the autonomic nervous system. The most common site for extra-adrenal paragangliomas is the carotid body. These tumours may also occur in the spinal canal – usually in association with the cauda equina or filum terminale. We present the case of a paraganglioma of the cauda equina, managed for 10 years, that is unusual in the sense of its multifocal nature at presentation and extent of local progression.


This thesis deals with soft-information based information reconciliation and data sifting for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). A novel composite channel model for QKD is identified, which includes both a hard output quantum channel and a soft output classic channel. The Log-Likelihood Ratios, - also called soft-metrics - derived from the two channels are jointly processed at the receiver, exploiting capacity achieving soft-metric based iteratively decoded block codes. The performance of the proposed mixed-soft-metric algorithms are studied via simulations as a function of the system parameters. The core ideas of the thesis are employing Forward Error Correction (FEC) coding as opposed to two-way communication for information reconciliation in QKD schemes, exploiting all the available information for data processing at the receiver including information available from the quantum channel, since optimized use of this information can lead to significant performance improvement, and providing a security versus secret-key rate trade-off to the end-user within the context of QKD systems


Exilis is a safe, fast and effective way to volumetrically deliver radiofrequency energy (RF) to the deepest layers of the skin, allowing for a dual function of circumferential reduction of fatty adiposities to tighten the skin on the body and face.


The most common and maximum radii of craters on cathodes of copper, mild steel, silver, silver cadmium oxide and aluminium having various oxide film thicknesses, are reported following 4.5 A arcing of duration between 3.8 ns and 3.5 μs. The increase in crater radius with arc duration is examined in the light of a simple joule-heating model in a hemispherical region from which material is lost to form a crater. All the results except one conform with adiabatic joule heating, the one exception involving heat conduction into the cathode being no longer negligible. A brief comparison with cratering in cathodes of vacuum arcs is made, showing that these are of the latter type where joule heating provides the dominant energy input and the crater radius tends to increase to a value where this input is balanced by thermal conduction into the bulk metal. Close agreement with the model confirms earlier estimates by other methods of mean emitting site currents, current densities and lifetimes for copper and steel, and then enables these quantities to be estimated for the first time for silver, silver cadmium oxide, aluminium and also for mild steel with a relatively thick oxide film.


Richmal Crompton was born in Bury, Lancashire on 15 November 1890 and she wrote and published 'Just William' stories from 1919. She was very prolific, and published thirty-eight 'Just William' story collections, some forty novels and other short story collections. She is most famous for her stories about an eleven year old boy called William who features in the 'Just William' stories. Crompton often wrote ideas on fragments of paper. Her archive at the University of Roehampton also includes letters and other documents from fans, friends, family, local organisations and businesses which have, on the other side, ideas for her stories. The archive houses Crompton's library taken by her family from her last home. Personal notes and postcards from friends were found inside these books. Moreover, the archive includes other personal items, such as her desk, typewriter and glasses. This essay will consider how we can understand the archive of the author, Richmal Crompton, based on a diatextual analysis that draws connections across the fluid boundaries that all of this material creates within this physical and imaginative space. This article was submitted to the European Journal of Life Writing on October 1st 2015 and published on 22 June 2016.


Storage Ring Free Electron Laser (FEL) dynamics and behaviour can be explored versus the detuning, i.e. a small difference between the frequencies of revolution of the electron bunches, and of the optical pulse circulating into the optical cavity. In fact, it provides situations ranging from the maximum initial gain over losses conditions to threshold ones. A complete detuning curve gives the intensity of the FEL versus the detuning. Streak camera provides a full characterisation of the FEL versus detuning: position of the centre of mass of the laser, bunch lengthening. The energy spread is deduced from the electron beam transverse sizes. The analysis of the FEL behaviour versus detuning is compared with simulations performed with LAS. The detuning behaviour is then illustrated under different cases.


An Historical Review of Empirical Research This study sought to explore empirical research which exists regarding homophobia. Only within the last thirty years has there been a serious attempt by researchers to critically examine and discuss homophobia in our society with regard to heterosexuals' attitudes toward gays and lesbians. Three themes emerged from the literature: 1) discussions of how homophobia may be quantifiably measured; 2) how the fear of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is equated with the fear of homosexuals; and 3) how direct practice with clients is affected by a practitioner's own homophobia. This researcher found varied social, medical and political schools of thought regarding homophobia represented throughout the last three decades. By historically reviewing the work of empirical research, this paper will discuss homophobia and its relevance to social work practice. Abstract An Historical Review of Empirical This study sought to explore empirical research which exists regarding homophobia. Only within the last thirty years has there been a serious attempt by researchers to critically examine and discuss homophobia in our society with regard to heterosexuals' attitudes toward gays and lesbians. Three themes emerged from the literature: 1) discussions of how homophobia may be quantifiably measured; 2) how the fear of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is equated with the fear of homosexuals; and 3) how direct practice with clients is affected by a practitioner's own homophobia. This researcher found varied social, medical and political schools of thought regarding homophobia represented throughout the last three decades. By historically reviewing the work of empirical research, this paper will discuss homophobia and its relevance to social work practice.


Conservation of agrobiodiversity is a prerequisite for sustainable food production and this can be enhanced by improving farmers' positive perception of it. This study examined farmers' perceptions of the on-farm conservation of cassava biodiversity in Ogun State. Data collected from 160 cassava farming households using a multistage sampling procedure were analysed using descriptive statistics, weighted scores and means. Results show that the highest proportion of farmers (44.2%) strongly agree that the composition of cassava varieties has changed in the last five years owing to late maturity. Almost half of the farmers (49.3%) have abandoned local cassava varieties and "Gbego" cassava variety is the most abandoned variety. The perception of a typical farmer is that improved cassava varieties did not require more weeding than local ones but is undecided about fertilizer requirement and ease of harvesting. Improved cassava varieties are perceived to be bigger, early maturing, yield higher and are more disease resistant than the local ones. The farmers also perceive that improved varieties have more water content than local ones but was undecided on which had more tissue content. There is a close tie in the perception of the farmers about whether improved cassava tubers had higher market price, are more scarce to obtain or preferred to local varieties by processors than local varieties.


This project is an over-higher stories building with 32 floors of shearing wall frames among which are three floors of frame structure belonging to the erecting regular one item over-limitation irregular and erecting component part without connection.In accordance with the normal requirement the analysis of the parameters such as comparison of the period;position transferring;the shearing weight ration and hard weight that meeting the regular requirement.According to the elastic analysis of the weak layer of the structure is discovered and reinforcement of the weak layer.


Vascular Plants Distribution as a Tool for Adaptive Forest Management of Floodplain Forests in the Dyje River Basin The study is based on a full floristic inventory of floodplain forests in South Moravia along the upper part of the Dyje River (Forest district Valtice). The study area is located in the Dolní Morava Biosphere Reserve and includes several Sites of Community Importance within Natura 2000. The aim of the inventory was to analyze diversity of herb and woody species occuring in the study area, including both native protected and threatened species, and invasive species. The study area was divided into segments. A segment represented the smallest unit of spatial forest division - "forest stand part". The species were recorded into a special scratch-list. Altogether, 656 plant species were found. The floristic database has been integrated with GIS. Maps of distribution of selected plant species or groups of plants were produced. On the basis of geographical visualization of the above mentioned results we identified areas with a high diversity of all species and endangered species. The results may be used as a base for adaptive forest and environmental management.


ABSTRACT In 2002, Kenya's new National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) undertook to investigate and ensure the recovery of all public lands illegally allocated by the outgoing government. A Commission of Inquiry into the Illegal and Irregular Allocation of Public Land, chaired by the lawyer Paul Ndung'u, was appointed. The commission's report sets out the illegal land awards made to powerful individuals and families, provides important information about the mechanisms by which public land was misallocated, and shows how the doctrine that public land should be administered and allocated 'in the public interest' was consistently perverted. This paper explores what the Ndung'u report tells us about the role of the legal profession in the illegal and irregular misallocation of public land. It makes clear that the legal profession, far from upholding the rule of law, has played a central role in land corruption, using its professional skills and networks to accumulate personal wealth for itself and others. This stands in contrast to the role of the legal profession in promoting good governance and the rule of law envisaged by donors of international development aid. This paper focuses on 'local' land grabbing, and argues that the 'global land grab' or 'investor rush' needs to be understood alongside local manifestations of land privatisation.


When a human needs to apply a large force to an environment, the human takes an appropriate posture to produce a large manipulation force. This paper discusses appropriate working postures for a humanoid robot to apply a force effectively to an environment. An objective function is defined and the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) is used to find a solution. The pushing a wall and turning a valve are taken as examples of tasks for a humanoid robot, and simulations and experimentations are performed. The results show that the consideration of working postures clearly contributes to make the manipulation force larger.


To safeguard food security and preserve pre- cious water resources, the technology of water-saving ground cover rice production system (GCRPS) is being increasingly adopted for rice cultivation. However, changes in soil water status and temperature under GCRPS may affect soil biogeo- chemical processes that control the biosphere-atmosphere exchanges of methane (CH4/, nitrous oxide (N2O) and car- bon dioxide (CO2/. The overall goal of this study is to bet- ter understand how net ecosystem greenhouse gas exchanges (NEGE) and grain yields are affected by GCRPS in an an- nual rice-based cropping system. Our evaluation was based on measurements of the CH4 and N2O fluxes and soil het- erotrophic respiration (CO2 emissions) over a complete year, and the estimated soil carbon sequestration intensity for six different fertilizer treatments for conventional paddy and GCRPS. The fertilizer treatments included urea application and no N fertilization for both conventional paddy (CUN and CNN) and GCRPS (GUN and GNN), and solely chicken manure (GCM) and combined urea and chicken manure ap- plications (GUM) for GCRPS. Averaging across all the fer- tilizer treatments, GCRPS increased annual N2O emission and grain yield by 40 and 9 %, respectively, and decreased annual CH4 emission by 69 %, while GCRPS did not af- fect soil CO2 emissions relative to the conventional paddy. The annual direct emission factors of N2O were 4.01, 0.09 and 0.50 % for GUN, GCM and GUM, respectively, and 1.52 % for the conventional paddy (CUN). The annual soil carbon sequestration intensity under GCRPS was estimated to be an average of 1.33 Mg C ha 1 yr 1 , which is approxi-


This paper proposes a new algorithm for the design of robust PI controller for plants with parametric uncertainty using new necessary and sufficient stability conditions. Most of the control systems operate under large uncertainty causing degradation of system performance and destabilization. In order to compensate these shortcomings, a robust PI controller is designed based on new necessary and sufficient conditions for stability of a plant with parametric uncertainty, a class of interval polynomial. New necessary and sufficient conditions for the determination of robust stability of interval polynomials have been developed using the results of Routhe's theorem and Karitonov theorem. A set of inequalities are derived based on these developed new necessary and sufficient conditions to obtain robust controller parameters. The proposed method is simple and involves less computational complexity compared with the available methods in the literature. The efficacy of the proposed methodology is demonstrated with a numerical example for successful implementation.


A program is developed for the purpose to analyze the relation of cross sectional moment-curvature using Fortran language.Distribution flexible element is adopted for beam element,while classic relationships between stress and strain for concrete and steel are employed in establishment of analytical model.Accuracy of the analytical model is verified by comparison of the analytical and experimental results.Then,the program is used to analyze the reinforced concrete beam strengthened by steel plate.The quantities of ultimate load-bearing capacity improvement of studied beams are presented after strengthened by steel plate,which are useful for engineering design in future.


—The combination of service virtualization and edge computing allows for low latency services, while keeping data storage and processing local. However, given the limited resources available at the edge, a conflict in resource usage arises when both virtualized user applications and network functions need to be supported. Further, the concurrent resource request by user applications and network functions is often entangled, since the data generated by the former has to be transferred by the latter, and vice versa. In this paper, we first show through experimental tests the correlation between a video-based application and a vRAN. Then, owing to the complex involved dynamics, we develop a scalable reinforcement learning framework for resource orchestration at the edge, which leverages a Pareto analysis for provable fair and efficient decisions. We validate our framework, named VERA, through a real-time proof-of-concept implementation, which we also use to obtain datasets reporting real-world operational conditions and performance. Using such experimental datasets, we demonstrate that VERA meets the KPI targets for over 96% of the observation period and performs similarly when executed in our real-time implementation, with KPI differences below 12.4%. Further, its scaling cost is 54% lower than a centralized framework based on deep-Q networks.


Increasing competitive market places, good practice organizations have demonstrated clear benefits of focusing on the customer. In line with increasing competition, the nature of customer expectation led by greater consumer choice and higher education standard have changed, resulting in more sophisticated, more knowledgeable and demanding customer. This paper discuss about at marketing strategy in service organizations.


A high-gloss LCD front shell was taken as the research object with the aim of reducing its volume shrinkage rate of the high gloss injection moulding products.CAE simulation and orthogonal experimental design were combined to investigate the influence of the processing parameters on the volume shrinkage rate of the high gloss products including influential trend and the order of significance.It was found that packing pressure was the most significant factor and the optimum parameters were obtained.Based on sample data acquired by numerical simulation and orthogonal method,RBF neural network was utilized to establish the nonlinear relationship between process parameters and volume shrinkage rate,and it was realized that volume shrinkage rate of high-gloss product could be predicted quickly and accurately under the change of process parameters,thus having a significant effect on the practical production.


Moral education is a very important component in the whole educational system.So is in adult colleges.But due to students with mature ideology,the moral education in adult colleges is characterized by the practicality.With the career guidance,the paper tries to combine moral education with student's employment to make moral education more effective.


In a world that offers children abundant activities from which to choose, understanding how to motivate children to engage longer in productive activities is crucial. This paper examines how the offered assortment size affects children's engagement with their chosen option. In the first study, I show children prefer to choose from a larger set even though they think doing so is more difficult. Then, in Studies 2 and 3, four- to five-year-old children choose from either a small set (two options) or a large set (six or seven options). In study 2, children choose a book to look at and I measure how long they look at it. In Study 3, children choose a game to play with and I measure how long they play. Children spend more time looking at the book and playing with the game they choose from the small versus the large set. By contrast, the size of the choice set does not affect food consumption. Such findings contribute to our understanding of young children's decision-making and have important implications for determining the optimal assortment size to offer children to increase engagement with desirable activities.


IM is a voltageand time-dependent K+ current that is sup pressed by muscarinic receptor activation. lu augment* tion following agonist washout was blocked by heavily buffering [Ca'+]i using BAPTA. Although IM is not primarily Ca*+ dependent, small increases in [Ca'+]i by photolysis of the "caged" Ca2+ chelator nitr-5 or by evoking action potentials augmented, while larger increases inhibited, IM. Raising [Ca2+]i for prolonged periods, by nitr-5 photolysis, reduced its sensitivity to agonist, leaving a poorly reversible response. These results suggest that Iu can be regulated by physiologically relevant changes in [Ca2+]i, placing I,., in a unique position to modulate cell excitability.


This study examined understandings and experiences of LGBT communities, and assessed implications for health and wellbeing, employing a literature review, online survey and indepth interviews and discussion groups. LGBT communities are often understood as communities of 'identity' or 'interest'. Study participants frequently used the term
community to refer to groups of LGBT people (known to one another or not), whether physical, online or imagined through (shared) feelings of 'belonging'. The study highlighted three key elements/foundations to LGBT communities: place/space, (shared) identity, and
(to a lesser extent) politics. Participants and existing evidence highlights the importance of shared experiences of stigma/discrimination, and a resulting sense of 'connection'. This does not negate the need to acknowledge/address diversity and inequality or exclusion.
Safe spaces were identified as key to avoid 'self-censorship' regularly employed in wider society, though participants engaged with other LGBT people for a variety of reasons. Sensing/experiencing 'community' had clear links to reported wellbeing, including combating isolation, heightening confidence and self-esteem, and sometimes
improving/maintaining physical health. However, potential 'risks' related to elements of community were also identified (e.g. alcohol/drug consumption). Caution is needed when the term 'community' is used in the singular and/or when it is assumed that LGBT people are more alike than not.


A theoretical model concerning the Tm–Ho codoped fiber saturable absorber based passive Q-switching of an Er-doped fiber laser is established. Comparison with the Tm-doped fiber saturable absorber is described and discussed. Numerical results indicate that, compared with a Tm-doped fiber saturable absorber, the Tm–Ho codoped fiber saturable absorber shortens the lifetime of the 3F4 energy level and improves the operation of the laser system.


Experimental study was made to investigate the flame propagating through a methane/air mixture flow with periodic concentration fluctuation by using a stagnation flow type burner. Three kinds of fluctuations different in the range of fluctuation expressed as (φm, a) = (0.85, 0.06), (1.07, 0.17) and (1.30, 0.06), where φm is the mean equivalence ratio and a is the fluctuation amplitude, were examined for the frequency f ranging from 3 Hz to 50 Hz, and fluctuating burning velocity and burnt gas temperature were estimated or measured. The dependences of their fluctuation widths on f were compared among the three kinds of fluctuations and discussed on the basis of the apparent equivalence ratio φa evaluated for the mixture flowing into the flame front using the relationship between mixture equivalence ratio and burnt gas temperature for the stationary flame. The results obtained were : (1) For a certain range of f, the maximum and minimum burning velocities of the flame are, respectively, higher and lower than those estimated for the mixture equivalence ratio fluctuation at the burner exit, irrespective of the kind of fluctuation. (2) The fluctuation width of φa, 2A, becomes maximum at the some value of f for every kind of fluctuation. This value of f for the fluctuation (1.07, 0.17) which includes the stoichiometric condition is approximately half of the values for other fluctuations. (3) The width 2A for the lean side fluctuation (0.85, 0.06) is larger than that for the rich side fluctuation (1.30, 0.06) in spite of the same value of a.


to allow each of them to marry, at great expense, and contrary to the reigning pattern in most noble families, by which all but one or two girls would end up in a convent. A growing disaffection with forced monacation gave her arguments some heft in early-eighteenth-century Rome but did not sway the leader of the Boncompagni: her brother-in-law, Cardinal Giacomo Boncompagni. Finally, Maria Teresa, the oldest of Ippolita's four girls and thus the one who did not have to worry about marriage, carried on a crusade against Cardinal Francesco Barberini and Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI simply to have her young daughter, Cornelia, live with her and to be involved in the choice of her spouse.


providing assisted reproduction services: regulation 4 of the private hospitals and medical clinics regulations (CAP 248, Rg1), published in September 2001. Downloadable at the following website URL address: [accessed: 20.10.05]. Boon Chin Heng National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, 119074 Singapore, Singapore. Tel.: +65 6874 4710; fax: +65 6774 5701. E-mail address: email@example.com.


Novel types of 3,3-di(heteroaryl)oxindoles are obtained from the first organocatalytic, enantioselective Friedel—Crafts alkylation of indoles and pyrroles, respectively, with 3-hydroxy-indolyloxindoles.


Here,a general nonlinear mathematical model of torsional pendulum vibration was built to reduce the error of the traditional torsional pendulum vibration model in measuring moment of inertia for large scaled plate-like objects. The average value method under a weak nonlinear damping condition was adopted to linearize the nonlinear model to get a linear equation of torsional pendulum vibration. The new mathematical expression for the moment of inertia to be measured was deduced and calculated. The results obtained with the new model showed higher repeatability and accuracy in measurement of moment of inertia of large scaled plate-liked objects.


The authors are grateful for the opportunity to reply to the comments on our previous contribution (González-Rovira et al 2008 Nanotechnology 18 495305). We would like to clarify some aspects regarding the aim of our studies along with the morphological, chemical and structural features of the nanomaterials synthesized.


The course of electromagnetic field and electromagnetic wave is the specialized basic course in the department of Electrical & Communication engineering in the college. To improve the the quality of teaching, the modernization theory and measures may be appropriate for the teaching reform. We carry out teaching reform in the curriculum of electromagnetic field and electromagnetic wave. This paper discusses the appropriate methods or other techniques in the teaching process, including the selected textbook, adjusting teaching methods to the course content, or other technique. That is mainly depended on the effect of teachers' guidance. We can analysis students' knowledge base points and change the part of the course material. Students are required to master the basic method of analyzing problems. Under the premise of respecting to teach the attitude of scientific theory and method on knowledge, teachers use the specific teaching methods and let students accept and digest effectively. According to the experimental teaching reform revelation, teachers set up the computer simulation experiment for the simulation characteristics are the core of teaching auxiliary experiments. The simulation experimental reform has proved that it has effect to study the idea and method to solve the problem and turn it into the innovation ability.


The multiannual financial framework declares the political priorities of the European Union in terms of their financial dimension. Negotiations over the future shape of a seven-year framework that was presented by the European Commission last year are currently held. This article deals with the shape of the new financial perspective for the period from 2014 to 2020 from several point of view. Firstly, an approach of the European Commission, which is analyzed in comparison with the previous proposal of 2004 and also according to background of the results of negotiations between Member States and a framework approved by the European Parliament and the Council, is evaluated. Secondly, attention is focused on the potential change in the nature of budgetary policy with an emphasis on the design of two major spending policies and reforms that should be implemented after 2014.


This study aims to determine financing management, the existing inhibiting factors and the efforts made by Rumah Tahfidz Darul Hadits Palembang to overcome existing obstacles. This type of research is a descriptive qualitative research type with a literature study. This research was conducted at the Darul Hadith Tahfidz House in Palembang. The research subjects consisted of school principals, staff and education staff. This data collection technique was obtained from the results of observations and a summary of field notes. The analytical techniques used in this study are (1) data collection, (2) data reduction, (3) data presentation, (4) conclusion. From the results of the study, it was found that the formulation of the preparation of school financing, in this case the RAPBS, was carried out through an analysis of school operational needs, both related to the implementation of the teaching and learning process and other supports. b) The school's vision guides the preparation of the RAPBS, mission, goals and strategies, namely the principal, teachers (educators) and education staff. c) The financing of education in schools is sought by utilizing funds from local governments, foundations and the community. d) Strategies taken by schools to raise funding from the community through parents and businesses. e) The evaluation is carried out by the school regularly, every semester and academic year. f) All school personnel must provide comments and input on every program implementation and use of the school budget. g) Forms of accountability for the use of the budget carried out by the school include compiling the program's final report, which is given to all school members and their stakeholders. h) Report on the use of financing that is oriented towards accountability and transparency.


Devonian, and Quaternary clays of Latvia together with additive of sawdust after plastic moulding of pellets were used. Partial oxidation of sawdust and formation of active carbon after thermal shock at temperature 800°C were determined. The main clay mineral in all of clays was hydromica with some difference in the structure. Obtained materials with bulk density 1.1 g/cm3 as sorbent for different chemicals such as iodine and methylene blue was used. Dependence of sorption ability of pellets on the type of used clay (clay minerals) was determined. XRD for the determination of phase compositions, nitrogen absorption for the pore size distribution, SEM for the analysis of structure and nanoscale Zetasizer for the determination of surface charge were used.


AIM
Aim of this study was to demonstrate and compare different quantification techniques to assess contrast enhancement in dynamic MRI studies. The diagnostic potential of dynamic MRI studies is increasingly appreciated and already used in different organ systems.

METHOD
A patient population of 314 histologically verified breast lesions (138 malignant, 176 benign) were evaluated using a high temporal resolved dynamic sequence. Different quantification techniques such as the use of a cutoff line, time dependent and pharmacokinetic assessment were comparatively evaluated.

RESULTS
Time dependent quantification methods revealed higher diagnostic potential which was further improved by in vivo normalization of the contrast availability in the vascular system. Significant differences in the enhancement characteristics were determined between malignant and benign as well within the different histological entities.

CONCLUSION
Time dependent quantification methods enable an angiogenic characterization of lesions to improve diagnostic interpretation as well as monitoring during therapy. They are also the basis for automated, color-coded visualization of dynamic studies.


This study was performed as an adjunct to an existing clinical study to validate the effect of veneer: framework thickness ratio on stress distribution in an implant-supported all-ceramic fixed partial denture. Two commercially available titanium dental implants with corresponding customized abutments and a patient-retrieved all-ceramic fixed partial denture were scanned using a high-resolution micro-CT scanner. Reconstructed 3D objects, along with a simulated bone surface, were incorporated into a non-manifold assembly and meshed simultaneously using Simpleware software (Synopsys Simpleware ScanIP Version P-2019.09; Mountain View, CA). Three such volume meshes (Model A, Model B, Model C) corresponding to veneer: framework thickness ratios of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 respectively were created, and exported to a finite element analysis software (ABAQUS). An axial load of 110 N was applied uniformly on the occlusal surfaces to calculate the static stresses and contour plots were generated in the post-processing module. From the data obtained, we observed optimum stress distribution in Model B. Also, the tensile stresses were concentrated in the posterior connector region of the prosthesis in all three models tested. Within the limitations of this study, we can conclude that equal thickness of veneer and framework layers would aid in better stress distribution.


Computing a projecting gradient direction requires solving a minimization problem in original variables, if the projection gradient method (Rosen 1961) is applied to solve the dual problem of a constrained convex programming problem. We use parallel algorithms to obtain an approximate solutions with any given accuracy. It is explained that Rosen method is convergent when approximate solutions with proper accuracies are employed.


A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of straw incorporation and soil pre-flooding on the fate of (15NH4)2SO4-N and the growth of rice.Excessive application of rice straw when incorporated with(^15 NH4)2 SO4 at the C/N ratio of 40 reduced the loss of (^15NH4)2SO4-N and retarded the growth and development of rice significantly,while no adverse effects were observed on dry weight of panicle and the total recovery of (15NH4)2 SO4-N when rice straw was incorporated with(15NH4)2SO4 at a C/N ratio less than 25.There were no significant effects of duration of soil pre-flooding within 6 weeks on (^15NH4)2 SO4-N uptake by rice and on rice growth,but,less loss of (^15NH4)2SO4-N was observed in the soil with a longer period of pre-flooding.


1. Contemplating the Corporate Communications, Corporate Marketing and Identity Curricula - Celebrating 15 Years of the ICIG Symposium: 1994-2009 (Klement Podnar and John M.T. Balmer) 2. Weathervanes or Signposts? Constructs or Philosophy? Scrutinsing and Explicating Corporate Image, Corporate Identity, Corporate Communications, Corporate Reputation, Corporate Brands and Corporate Marketing (John M.T. Balmer) 3. Schools of Thought in Corporate Marketing - Traces and Future Perspectives (Joachim Kernstock and Tim Oliver Brexendorf) 4. The Missing Link in Corporate Marketing (Zlatko Jancic) 5. Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Identity: Potentials for Disciplinary Cross-Fertilization within Research and Teaching (Anne Ellerup Nielsen and Trine Susanne Johansen) 6. Consumer's Identification with a Brand (Urska Tuskej and Klement Podnar) 7. Exploring How Organizational Identity is Affected by the Arrival of New Members (Laura Illia) 8. Holland's Got Talent? The Relevance of Employer Branding in Job Advertisements for Becoming an Employer of Choice (Jan-Willem Schoonderbeek, Jorinde J.C. Westhoff, Kelta Meeusen and Wim J.L. Elving) 9. Generic Charisma - A Conceptualization and Measurement Tool Development (Ana Tkalac Vercic and Dejan Vercic) 10. Exploring the Relationship between Media Sentiments and Market Capitalisation in 32 FTSE-350 Firms (Temi Abimbola) 11. Corporate Communications in China: A Preliminary Study (Ying Fan) 12. Corporate Social Responsibility, Customer Trust and the Mediating Role of C-C Identification in the Banking Industry (Ursa Golob and Klement Podnar) 13. How Do Companies Choose between Socially Responsible Suppliers? An Experimental Study (Joop-Joost Hietbrink, Guido Berens and Johan van Rekom) 14. Business Schools' Use of CSR as a Corporate Marketing Strategy (Anne Ellerup Nielsen and Christa Thomsen)


The purpose of this waste analysis plan (WAP) is to document the waste acceptance process, sampling methodologies, analytical techniques, and overall processes that are undertaken for waste accepted for storage and/or disposal at the Low-Level Burial Grounds which are located in the 200 East and West Areas of the Hanford Facility, Richland, Washington. This WAP documents the methods used to characterize, obtain and analyze representative samples of waste managed at this unit.


ABSTRACT Expanded analyses were completed on the efficacy of a family empowerment intervention for juvenile offenders and their families. The results indicate the promise of the intervention in regard to the youths drug use and involvement in drug sales during a one-year post initial interview follow up period.


These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The publisher or original authors may retain copyright to the materials. Signs from the Unseen Realm: Buddhist Miracle Tales from Early Medieval China


Giant barrel sponges, Xestospongia muta, are abundant and important components of the southeast Florida reef system, and are frequently injured from anthropogenic and natural disturbances. There is limited information on the capacity of X. muta to recover from injury and on methods to reattach X. muta fragments. In late 2002, hundreds of barrel sponges offshore southeast Florida (Broward County) were accidentally injured during an authorized dredging operation. In early 2003, two to three months post-injury, 93% of 656 assessed injured sponges appeared to be recovering. In 2006, three years post-injury, nearly 90% of 114 monitored sponges continued to show signs of recovery. Growth rates were estimated by measuring sponge height above visual injury scars and ranged from 0.7 cm yr1 to 6.0 cm yr1. Information on the artificially reattached fragments is limited but did show that X. muta fragments can reattach. This study provides evidence that X. muta in southeast Florida can naturally recover. Details on sponge size class associated recovery processes and growth were not collected due to event associated legal issues limiting the study. Studies to determine detailed growth rates and recovery success for different injury and restoration scenarios will further facilitate restoration decision making by resource managers.


This work examines drought and wet events based on Standardized PrecipitationEvapotranspiration Index (SPEI) over Kenya from 1981 to 2016. Spatiotemporal analysis of dry and wet events is conducted for 3 and 12-month SPEI. The drought incidences were observed during the period 1984, 1987, 2000, 2006, 2009, 2015, and 2016 for SPEI-3 whilst the SPEI-12 demonstrated the manifestation of drought during the year 2000 and 2006. SPEI clearly shows that the wettest period, 1997 and 1998 that coincide with the El Nino event in both time steps. SPEI -3 shows a reduction in moderate drought events while severe and extreme cases were on increase towards the end of the twentieth century. Conversely, SPEI-12 depicts an overall increase in severe drought occurrence over the study location with observed intensity of -1.54 and cumulative frequency of 64 months during the study period. The trend of wet events is upwards in the western and central highlands while the rest of the regions show increase in dry events during the study period. Moreover, moderate dry/wet events predominate whilst extreme events occur least frequent across all grid cells. It is apparent that the study area experiences mild extreme dry events in both categories although moderately severe dry events dominate most parts of the study area. High Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 4 February 2020 © 2020 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license. Peer-reviewed version available at Atmosphere 2020, 11, 307; doi:10.3390/atmos11030307


Accurate rainfall prediction is conductive to human life and disaster prevention. Meanwhile, deep learning methods are confirmed to be helpful to improve the accuracy of weather prediction. A novel data-driven neural network is proposed in this work referred as RainfallNet which introduces fusion module based on both radar echo observations and numerical weather prediction (NWP) data. The architecture of the network includes three elements: (1) dual encoders to extract the spatio-temporal feature of the radar echo images and NWP data respectively, (2) parallel attention mechanism combining channel attention and spatial attention to reveal the contribution of each data source and (3) combined loss function joining structural similarity loss, mean square error and mean absolute error with different weight for each rainfall level to further increase the meteorologically assessment metrics. The experiments on South China dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of our model, achieving superior performance on meteorologically assessment metrics over most existing algorithms.


To examine relationships between sex-role stereotyping and attraction to the opposite sex, subjects scoring high or low on the Macho Scale estimated their liking for a person of the opposite sex who was physically attractive or unattractive. A predicted two-way interaction showed that high scorers reported greatest liking for attractive persons and least liking for unattractive persons, while the liking of low scorers was less affected by physical attractiveness. Secondary findings showed that low scorers on the Macho Scale recalled more biographical information about the persons they rated, that information recall was positively correlated with liking, and that high and low scorers differed markedly in the traits ascribed to the physically attractive.


This paper reports a monitoring and adaptive integral control strategy for EDM to regulate the cycle time of the periodical retraction (jumping of the tool electrode according to the gap condition. A digital EDM gap monitor has been developed to detect the time ratios of gap states with a resolution of 0.2 μs. The theoretical and experimental analysis of the effect of sensing parameter combinations on control aspects and performance of manual setting, integral control and adaptive integral control methods have been carried out. Experimental verification shows that the proposed system results in higher erosion rate, better machining stability, and complete avoidance of are damage


Heart failure is associated with altered cardiac metabolism, in part, due to maladaptive mechanisms, in part secondary to comorbidities such as diabetes and ischaemic heart disease. The metabolic derangements taking place in heart failure are not limited to the cardiac myocytes, but extend to skeletal muscles and the vasculature causing changes that contribute to the worsening of exercise capacity. Modulation of cardiac metabolism with partial inhibition of free fatty acid oxidation has been shown to be beneficial in patients with heart failure. At the present, the bulk of evidence for this class of drugs comes from Trimetazidine. Newer compounds partially inhibiting free fatty acid oxidation or facilitating the electron transport on the mitochondrial cristae are in early phase of their clinical development.


West Nile virus (WNV) is a Flavivirus maintained in nature through alternate cycles of infection in wild birds and haematophagus mosquitoes, mainly Culex sp. Natural infection by WNV has been demonstrated in more than 200 bird species, which present variable susceptibility to infection and disease. Corvids and passeriformes are particularly susceptible and develop high levels of viremia and mortality. Occasionally, the virus may be transmitted to mammals by mosquitoes feeding previously on viremic birds. Human and horses are highly susceptible to WNV infection and often develop fever, which may be followed by neurological infection and fatal meningoencephalitis. Originally identified in Uganda (1937), WNV infection remained for decades restricted to North Africa, East Asia, Middle East and Mediterranean Europe. In these areas, isolated cases of human and horse disease, or small outbreaks were occasionally reported. In 1999, the virus was introduced in New York, USA, where it caused mortality in thousands of wild and captive birds and infected hundreds of people, killing 21. Thereafter, the infection rapidly spread out over the US territory, causing thousands of human infections (more than 27.000 - around 1100 deaths) and equine infections (more than 25.000 cases). WNV infection has also been detected in wild and domestic birds, horses and other mammals across Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and northern South America, indicating its dissemination southwards. In 2006, WNV was first identified as the agent of fatal neurological disease in three horses in Argentina, where it has been shown to be circulating in wild birds at least since 2005. Brazilian's human and animal health authorities are concerned with a possible introduction of the virus in the country, where it would find ideal ecological conditions for transmission and spread. This article presents a brief review on the main epidemiological and clinico-pathological aspects of WNV infection, with emphasis to human, horse and avian infections.


INTRODUCTION: Corona virus disease was first reported in Wuhan city of China in 2019. The disease is caused by a highly infectious virus which can be transmitted from human to human through physical contact, droplets, or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. AIM: The study aims to get an assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices towards COVID-19 disease among the dental practitioners in Bhutan.MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online cross- sectional study was conducted among dental practitioners working in different hospitals across the country. All dental professionals who provided their email address were included in the study. Data were collecting using a structured questionnaire shared though email. A total of 157 dental professionals were invited through e-mail to participate in the study. RESULTS: A total of 125 dental professionals participated in the study (response rate 79.6%). Over half of the participants (51.2%) were between the age group 20-30 years. Despite almost everyone (98.4%) knowing the causative agent and management of COVID-19 positive patients, only around a half of the participants (48%) had a good level of knowledge on COVID-19.CONCLUSION: The study found that less than half of the participants have a good level of knowledge on COVID-19 while a majority of them feel that there is discrimination against COVID-19 positive patients and health professionals working for COVID-19 patients. The study highlights the need to conduct sensitization, trainings or CME on COVID-19 periodically to keep all health professionals updated with latest advancements to help maintain safety in clinical practice.


Plant growth-promoting rhizo-bacteria play a vital role in the suppression of plant diseases. Pseudomonads are well known to show the growth promotion activity in plants and simultaneously activating the disease incidence delay. Promising strains of Pseudomonas isolated from different soil samples collected from various geographical regions of central Himalayas were applied as seed bio priming (SB), SB+ Root Dip (RD), SB+RD+ Drenching (DR) and SB+RD+DR+ Spraying (SPR) individually and in combination with different strains and evaluated for their effect on management of early blight caused by Alternaria solani an important disease of tomato. Disease incidence was reduced by the application of bio-inoculants individually as well as in combinations. The minimum disease incidence was recorded when different strains as consortia were applied as SB+RD+DR+ SPR.


We investigate in this paper non-commutative local rings of the smallest length that are potential counter-examples to the pure semisimplicity conjecture. Throughout the paper is an associative ring with an identity element. We call local, if the Jacobson radical ( ) of is a two-sided maximal ideal. We denote by mod( ) the category of finitely generated right -modules. Given a right -module of finite length we denote by ( ) the length of . We recall that a ring is said to be of finite representation type, if is artinian and the number of the isomorphism classes of finitely generated indecomposable right (and left) -modules is finite. Following [24] we call a ring right pure semisimple, if every right -module is a direct sum of finitely generated modules. It is well known that a ring is of finite representation type if and only if is right pure semisimple and is left pure semisimple (see [2], [11], [18], [22]–[24]). It is still an open question, called the pure semisimplicity conjecture, if a right pure semisimple ring is of finite representation type (see [2] and [24], [25], [28]). In [13] the question is answered in affirmative for rings satisfying a polynomial identity and for self-injective rings (see also [7], [19] and [31]). The reader is referred to [42] and to the author's expository papers [30] and [32] for a basic background and historical comments on the pure semisimplicity conjecture. It was shown by the author in [28] and [33] that there is a chance to find a counter-example to the pure semisimplicity conjecture and might be hereditary with two simple non-isomorphic modules. The existence of a counter-example depends on a generalized Artin problem on division ring extensions. In the present paper we are mainly interested in the existence of counter-examples to pure semisimplicity conjecture that are local of the smallest length, that is, of length ( ) two or three. This continues our study started in [28], [35] and [33]. It is shown in Lemma 3.1 that every such a local ring has ( )2 = 0. Therefore we study representation-infinite right pure semisimple local rings with ( )2 = 0 such that the Auslander-Reiten quiver (mod ) is of the form · · · → •→ •→ •→


During the past decade the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) has compelled us to revise our understanding of gene regulation during health and disease. These tiny RNA molecules are approximately 19 to 24 ribonucleotides long, which, guided by partial Watson-Crick complementarity and the RNA-induced silencing complex, bind to the 3# untranslated regions of messenger RNA and suppress its translation directly or through compromising its stability. Thus, changes in the expression of a miRNA inversely correlate with that of its target genes. Variations in the abundance miRNAs are seen during normal developmental stages in a wide range of species, where they are involved in regulating developmental timing, and in all diseases examined to date, where they are involved in the underlying pathogenesis. Indeed, it is well established that changes in gene expression underlie the mechanisms involved in development and disease and occur through transcriptional or posttranscriptional regulation. One difference between these two mechanisms is that posttranscriptional regulation can provide a more prompt response through circumventing the need for DNA remodeling and transcription. Thus, it is not surprising to find that one of the functional significances of miRNAs is their posttranscriptional regulation of developmental timing, where underor overexpression of a given miRNA accelerates or delays development. Similarly, a cell's adaptability and survivability on exposure to stress conditions depends on the promptness of its response. A classic example is the increase of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha protein, but not mRNA, within minutes of exposure of a cell to hypoxia, which also illustrates the importance of posttranscriptional versus transcriptional regulation by miRNAs. This prompts the question: what regulates the regulator in these instances? Accumulating evidence shows that posttranslational modification of RNA-binding and processing proteins regulate the stability of miRNAs. However, miRNAs, which are transcribed through RNA polymerase II-dependent promoters, are regulated through known enhancers such as serum response factor that regulates miR-1 expression and are involved in tissue specification. Sequencing and microarray analysis have uncovered hundreds of miRNAs in the cardiovascular system. These are estimated to regulate approximately 60% of genes or more by some estimates. A series of review articles will be published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology that describe the advances in miRNA studies and their therapeutic potential in the cardiovascular system. In the first article, Dr David Port and colleagues describe the biogenesis and regulation of miRNA expression, including a discussion of both transcriptional as well as posttranscriptional mechanisms. In addition, they review the changes in miRNA expression observed in the rodent and human failing hearts while highlighting the advantage of deep sequencing analysis. This is followed by a more detailed discussion on the roles of specific miRNAs and their targets that are known to fluctuate during heart failure. These include miR-21 and its role in myofibroblast and myocyte survival and cardiac fibrosis; miR-1 and miR133 and their roles in cardiac development, myocyte survival, hypertrophy, and cardiac conductivity; and myomiRs and their coregulation with the myosin heavy chain genes. The article concludes by discussing the therapeutic potential of some miRNAs.


There is an increasing awareness of the problems caused by interference from electromagnetic fields on electronic devices. The rapid expansion of the use of personal radio communication devices suggests a growing problem. The sophisticated electronic technology now commonly used in acoustical instruments is more susceptible to electromagnetic interference than previous technologies. In 1991, the ANSI Committee S1, Acoustics, formed working group 21 to develop a new standard to address the radio frequency electromagnetic susceptibility of acoustical instrumentation. Now in its eighth draft, the standard provides general specifications for the characteristics of acoustical instruments when used in the presence of radiated electromagnetic fields. The standard provides limits on allowable deviation from specified acoustical performance based on the accuracy class of the instrument. The standard also presents minimum testing requirements and sample test methods to demonstrate conformance to the specifications....


The objectives of this research are to (1) address remote sensing strategies and requirements for estimating snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) using existing L-Band interferometric data sets in coordination with field-based observations and modeling frameworks and, with this information, (2) inform the Next Generation Cold Land Processes Experiment (SnowEx) toward articulating the appropriate science and research questions for a single motivating science plan. As proposed, SnowEx is a multi-year airborne snow campaign with a primary goal of exploring multimodal sensor observations in coordination with field campaigns to inform the next generation snow remote sensing satellite platform. Based on limitations of satellite-based optical and LiDAR instruments operating in regions of the globe with consistent cloud-cover, the fact that many snow-dominated regions are at more northerly latitudes (limited solar illumination in the middle of winter), and these snow-dominated regions often experience periods of prolonged cloud cover (due to synoptic precipitation events), a microwave remote sensing platform may be the most viable path to space for a dedicated snow remote sensing mission. Specifically, L-Band radar interferometry has shown some unique promise with an archive of historical and contemporary satellite collections from JAXA's PALSAR-1 and PALSAR-2 instruments, respectively. Moreover, with the expected NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission launch in 2020 and the unprecedented availability of dedicated global interferometric L-Band products every 12-days, as well as what is in essence a NISAR airborne simulator in JPL's UAVSAR platform, the L-Band interferometric approach to estimating snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) requires further investigation within the context of in-situ observations and modeling frameworks.


The Evolut R FORWARD study confirmed safety and effectivenesss of the Evolut R THV in routine clinical practice out to 1 year. Herein, we report the final 3‐year clinical follow up of the FORWARD study.


Palm vein recognition is a promising new biometric method, which has additional potential in the forensic field. This process is performed using light using NIR(Near-infrared) LEDs and the camera that captures the acquisition of veins. The obtained images have noise with variations of rotation and translation. Therefore, the input image made by the camera must be pre-processed using characteristic processes. A set of features is extracted based on images taken from infrared light cameras and processed in order to make authentication possible. This whole process can be accomplished by several methods. Thus, the application can be used to improve the security of military ships in restricted areas, but not only.


'Studying up' after one has 'studied down' poses a unique set of challenges, heightened by contexts of unequal power relations between different sets of informants. These are illustrated with the author's experience moving from ethnographic fieldwork in a community adjoining a protected area to preliminary explorations of fieldwork among conservation professionals. Because of the intrinsically personal nature of ethnographic research, aspects of social position, personal history, and reflexive self-monitoring shape these encounters, which – depending upon the situations – result in informal restrictions on access, collaboration and an interest in the 'expert' anthropologist, and attempts to shift the loyalties of the anthropologist. While the details of the encounters are specific to the particular cases described, they highlight issues that are endemic to the fraught terrain of conservation in contemporary Africa, and which are likely to confront other researchers who attempt a similar transition from working with a disadvantaged population to working with the officials who would govern and regulate them.


A method is presented for arranging a set of records into buckets to facilitate partial match retrieval. The idea is mainly motivated by the concept of optimal Cartesian product files. For a set of records, the method recursively partitions them into a collection of optimal Cartesian product files. A performance formula of this new file structure is derived and the superiority of this data organization concept is established. It is shown that the Cartesian product file is only a special case of the proposed file system.<<ETX>>


Abstract Background Retinoic acid (RA) is intrinsically linked to neurodevelopment and has been implicated in schizophrenia (SZ). This is supported by preliminary trials of a retinoid receptor agonist, Bexarotene, as an adjuvant and the association of five common variants in proximity to members of this pathway at genome wide significance. In addition to these high frequency variants with small effect size, we suspect that this pathway is also affected by rare variants with much higher impact. We aimed to examine the burden of variants in retinoid loci in schizophrenia along with its potential consequences for clinical practice. Methods Whole genome sequencing was performed on SZ cases (N=331) and non-psychiatric controls (N=167). Cases were further clustered by cognitive measures to derive the cognitive deficit (CD; N=166) and cognitively spared (CS; N=165) subtypes. Disease and subtype associated genomic variation was then analysed in a panel of 129 genes selected for involvement in RA biology (Molecular Signatures Database). Rare variation was aggregated at the gene level using the optimal unified sequence kernel association test (SKAT-O). Clinical metadata was further examined for each case with a rare putative high impact loss of function variant in a RA panel gene predicted using SnpEff. The rare variant burden on target genes of RA receptor binding in SZ was investigated by logistic regression of variants mapped to consensus 5 base pair spaced direct repeat (DR5) retinoic acid response element (RARE) motifs. Results Gene level rare variant association uncovered suggestive associations with SZ (P < 0.01) for three retinoid genes – RBP3, ADH1C and RPE65. In addition, a stronger signal was detected overall for CD cases implicating four additional genes including the RA receptors RARB (P = 1.1 x 10–3) and RARG (P = 9.2 x 10–3). SZ patients with a rare high impact genotype predicted in a RA panel gene were more likely to have serious symptomology as defined by a global assessment of functioning (GAF) score below 50, P = 7.1 x 10–3 (Two-Tailed Fisher's Exact Test). We also found evidence of an increased burden of rare variants within predicted DR5-RARE in SZ (P = 0.017, odds ratio [OR] = 1.094, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.023- 1.186), however, there was no significant difference between the cognitive subtypes (CD/CS, P = 0.8, OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 0.961–1.045). Discussion Our findings suggest that RA mediated control of gene expression is heterogeneously disrupted in SZ by rare variants in DR5-RARE motifs. Strong signals in the context of our sample size further support the possibility of enrichment of rare loci in genes involved with RA biology, particularly in CD cases with impaired cognition. Moreover, we identified a subset of patients with likely high effect size genotypes in the RA pathway. Future work will examine whether these high-risk patients would benefit from retinoid based pharmacological intervention.


To develop teaching and researching activities effectively plays an important role in improving teaching quality and teaching capacity.Teachers should set up modernized training conception,make the target of teaching and researching activities practically,select various forms and perfect the means of teaching and researching activities to get ideal effect.


This study had the following general goals: (a) map some of the political and social factors that prompted the establishment of two-year Technological Universities in Mexico; (b) describe the main features of the model and how it differs from other models; (c) discuss Neoliberal Human Capital Theory as one of the main theoretical backdrop for expanding this kind of institutions; and finally (d) assess the model's strengths and weaknesses. To accomplish these goals, the study drew data from existing policies and from a set of six interviews to human resources directors in Monterrey area, Northern Mexico. These recruiters belonged to the most important areas of production and services in the region. Findings show that graduates with two-year degrees have higher chances of getting hired. Thus, poor students may have better opportunities, one of the basic purposes of this type of degree. However, data evidenced some level of negative stratification for key positions that goes against general belief of continuous improvements for people with diplomas. Also, some of the Human Capital Theory's central assumptions seemed to be challenged by the way jobs develop in Mexico. In addition, the Mexican Technological University System faces several challenges and competition with existing forms of tertiary institutions. This chapter is a significant contribution for policymakers who need to understand what employers expect from the Technological University and its graduates. Policy alternatives are discussed.


Introduction: Overexposure of the skin to the sunlight can cause photoaging and promote the emergence of malignant neoplasms. Sunscreens are used to prevent these alterations and may occasionally cause adverse reactions in children and adults. Objective: To analyze the frequency and types of adverse reactions caused by sunscreens in adults and children. Methods: Data analysis of in vivo, non-invasive clinical studies performed at a clinical research institute. Results: Data from 2,263 adults and 523 children were evaluated, with 13.92% and 4.44%, respectively, presenting some type of reaction. Conclusions: Sunscreens are effective in preventing photoaging and skin cancer. Cosmetic formulations containing sunscreens may cause adverse reactions with low prevalence.


Transmission electron microscope investigation of ultrathin microtomesections of graptoloid graptolite periderm forming nema and virgula walls in a didymograptid, an orthograptid, and monograptids indicates that these structures had certain similarities as well as differences in ultrastructure. Similarities include: An internal canal that is partly hollow and partiy filled with loosely woven fibrous material, layered walls, layers in the walls formed of electron dense, homogenous sheet fabric bounding compact fabric formed of densely-packed fibrils; and holes: or vesicles that perforate the compact fabric. Two aspects of colony growth may be recognized among graptolites. One is: extension of those tissues related to nema or virgula formation, and the other is zooidal budding. The two growth aspects appear to be little, if at all, related in didymograptids and other graptolites with a nema. They mayor may not be related in orthograptids and other biserial scandent graptolites. Study of peridermal ultrastructure suggests that they 'may have been closely related in monograptids because the outer layers of the virgula wall develop into thecal wall growth increments. Graptolite colonies, particularly uniseriaI graptolites, resemble physonectid siphonophores in certain gross morphological aspects as well as in having two similar aspects of colony growth. Physonectid colonies are highly integrated. Physonectids may provide a model for use in suggesting potential graptolite colony function and degree of colony integration. The close relationship between the two growth aspects, in rponograptids suggests that they could have been the most highly integrated graptolite colonies. Members of the colony may have acted together to generate efficient flow of water currents past the zooids for feeding and waste disposal. Perhaps, too, tissues related to virgula development were connected with buoyancy and mobility, by analogy with the functiqns of the physonectid nectosome. Inasmuch as uniserial graptolites essentially replaced piserials, and the biseI:ials replaced many graptolites with a nema, these developmental steps may have been those leading toward increasingly greater degrees of colony integration. Ultrastructural studies thus may provide insights into not only colony function and integration, but also into graptolite evolutionary adaptive strategy.


Tourism is an important part in supporting the development of social, economic, cultural, and even regional political life. Ijen Crater is listed as the largest crater in the world and one of the tourism industries in Banyuwangi City with high tourism potential in the East Java region, Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to find the right formula to develop ijen crater tourism and maintain nature conservation. The research method uses the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) approach. The results of the analysis obtained that cooperation strategies with stakeholders 0.37%, community empowerment strategies 0.315%, regulatory improvement strategies 0.186% and management management strategies 0.129%. Stakeholder cooperation is an important priority because it is useful to be able to create relationships by building good communication in running the wheels of the ecotourism industry. This study can ultimately be useful for mapping strategies in developing ecotourism in Ijen Crater, Tamansari Village, Banyuwangi, Indonesia.


Adolescents' externalizing problem behaviors have attracted increasing research attention in recent years. We explored the relationship between social exclusion and adolescents' externalizing problem behaviors with a sample of 871 Chinese adolescents, who completed the Ostracism Experience
 Scale for Adolescents, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, the Deviant Peer Affiliation Scale, and the Externalizing Problem Behavior Questionnaire for Adolescents. The results showed that social exclusion was significantly associated with adolescents' externalizing problem behaviors, and
 that interpersonal needs mediated this relationship. In addition, deviant peer affiliation moderated the direct effect of social exclusion on externalizing problem behaviors, as well as the indirect effect via interpersonal needs. Our results provide suggestions for teachers and parents to
 prevent and intervene in the externalizing problem behaviors of adolescents.


1. Capture histories of individual piping plovers. File contains individual id, capture history, individual count (always 1 in this dataset) as well as covariates for: sex (standardized such that 0 = unknown, 1.05 = female, and -0.946 = male), and time specific covariates (50 columns each) for minimum known age (1 = first year known breeding, 0 = all else) and minimum known linear age (from 1 to 10 years since first known breeding). 2. Data for condition analysis. Includes id, mass, year, reproductive output, and sex (standardized such that 0 = unknown, 1.05 = female, and -0.946 = male)3.arrival departure data. Includes id, year, standard arrival date, standard departure date minimum age, reproductive output, and sex (standardized such that 0 = unknown, 1.05 = female, and -0.946 = male)


A tetanics occurrence in a dog is described, the animal displaying at consultation the following clinical indications: generalized muscular rigidity (spastic paralysis), trismus, ";risus sardonicus";, reflex hyperexcitability, erection of ears, skin wrinkling in frontal region of head and "bannertail". Diagnosis was exclusively clinical, infection introduction by C. tetani was not detected.


The report summarizes activities conducted and results achieved in a program to demonstrate Limestone Injection Multistage Burner (LIMB) technology on a tangentially fired coal-burning utility boiler, Virginia Power's 180-MWe Yorktown Unit No. 2. This successfully demonstrated technology combines furnace injection of a calcium-based sorbent for moderate reductions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) with a low-nitrogen-oxide (NOx) firing system for NOx emissions reduction. Testing was conducted on an eastern bituminous coal with a typical sulfur content of 2.3%. Results of both extensive parametric testing and continuous long-term operation of the LIMB system are presented. Results of performance testing of the Low-NOx Concentric Firing System (LNCFS) Level II firing system are also presented. The effects of LIMB operation on boiler, electrostatic precipitator (ESP), and ash handling system performance are also discussed.


Using density functional theory (DFT), we have investigated the mobility and insertion potential of Li on single-walled TiS2 nanotubes as a function of radius. To explore large radii, the nanotube ...


With the combination of the ray tracing method and proportional spacing method, and by using the parameterized design language APDL of the finite element analysis software ANSYS, a 3D model for the extrusion die runner was established. The modeling method has the advantages of strong adaptability and being easy to design and change, and is a good basis for CAE_based optimized design and example_based intelligent design of extrusion dies.


Based on the results of field investigation and analyses of the water samples near an urban landfill site,the characteristics of groundwater pollution are discussed in this paper.A numerical model is built for the simulation of groundwater migration of pollutants.The fitting shows that the mathematical model is reasonable.By using the model to forecast the migration of COD_ cr and Cl,we get the results of those kinds of pollutants in the area.


Hashing based multimedia retrieval methods have been widely studied because of the advantages of computation efficiency and low storage cost. Generally, there are two ways of doing hashing: Supervised and unsupervised hashing. Supervised hashing was known to be more efficient and popular. However, in many real applications, only unsupervised method work because there are no labels. But unsupervised hashing method still face some challenges such as how to get semantic information from unlabeled data. To address this problem, in this paper, we propose a deep unsupervised hashing method based on semantic segmentation (Seg-HashNet). Specifically, a pre-trained semantic segmentation model is used to mine informative semantic information to guide the learning process and generate highquality hash codes. Extensive experiments on two public datasets have been performed, which showed that Unsupervised Semantic Segmentation hashing is superior to the latest unsupervised hashing method in image retrieval tasks.


Source and Description: Takeda et al. (1) reported a cDNA sequence for human GIP. We selected primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the 3' end of the coding sequence and extending into the untranslated region of the human GIP gene. The forward primer is 5'-CACAATGGGCTCGACTTAGCATAA-3', the reverse primer is 5'-CTTGCTGGATCAGACAAACCTCTG-3'. The expected amplification product based on cDNA sequence was 165 bp, however, a 1800 bp product was observed, implying these primers span an intron.


This research's purpose is to obtain empirical evidence about the effect of liquidity, leverage, and company size on financial distress. This research was conducted using secondary data. The object of this research is manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) during 2017 - 2019. This research was conducted with a sample size of 20 manufacturing companies and a total of 60 samples of company data for 3 consecutive years. Furthermore, the data collection technique used in this study was purposive sampling that was processed using the EViews version 10.0 program. The results showed that all independent variables in this study had a simultaneous influence on financial distress (F test). The t test results show that liquidity (CR) has a positive and insignificant effect on financial distress, while leverage (DAR) has a significant positive effect on financial distress. For company size (SIZE), this variable has a positive and insignificant effect on financial distress.


With the gradual shift from 2D maps to a 3D virtual environment, various visual artifacts were generated by overlaying 2D map symbols on 3D terrain models. This work proposes a novel screen‐based method for rendering 2D vector lines with the accuracy of more than one pixel on the screen in real time. First, screen pixels are inversely projected onto a 3D terrain surface, and then onto the 2D vector plane. Next, these pixels are classified into three categories in terms of their intersection situation with the 2D lines. After that, a multiple sampling process is applied to the pixels that intersect with the 2D lines in order to eliminate visual artifacts, such as intermittence and aliasing (in pixel scale). Finally, a suitable point‐in‐polygon judgment is implemented to color each sample point quickly. The algorithm is realized in a heterogeneously parallel model so that the performance is improved and becomes acceptable.


How to keep talents becomes a management problem in private enterprise.Whether talents are stable or not influences enterprises′ future existence and development directly.This problem has attracted attention of both corporation groups and academe.Therefore,the study of this paper has both theoretic and realistic meaning.Through content analytical method,questionnaire survey and interview,the author analyses the reasons,and proposes countermeasure to the problems.


We developed a process‐based model of forest growth, carbon cycling and land‐cover dynamics named CARLUC (for CARbon and Land‐Use Change) to estimate the size of terrestrial carbon pools in terra firme (nonflooded) forests across the Brazilian Legal Amazon and the net flux of carbon resulting from forest disturbance and forest recovery from disturbance. Our goal in building the model was to construct a relatively simple ecosystem model that would respond to soil and climatic heterogeneity that allows us to study the impact of Amazonian deforestation, selective logging and accidental fire on the global carbon cycle. This paper focuses on the net flux caused by deforestation and forest re‐growth over the period from 1970 to 1998. We calculate that the net flux to the atmosphere during this period reached a maximum of ∼0.35 PgC yr−1 (1 PgC= 1 × 1015 gC) in 1990, with a cumulative release of ∼7 PgC from 1970 to 1998. The net flux is higher than predicted by an earlier study ( Houghton et al., 2000 ) by a total of 1 PgC over the period 1989–1998 mainly because CARLUC predicts relatively high mature forest carbon storage compared with the datasets used in the earlier study. Incorporating the dynamics of litter and soil carbon pools into the model increases the cumulative net flux by∼1 PgC from 1970 to 1998, while different assumptions about land‐cover dynamics only caused small changes. The uncertainty of the net flux, calculated with a Monte‐Carlo approach, is roughly 35% of the mean value (1 SD).


A briefly introduction of action mechanism of preservatives,deterioration caused by microorganism and the commonly used preservatives in cosmetics were presented in this paper. Sample pretreatment method and instrumental analysis method were summarized also. The popular preservatives in cosmetics were parabens. The consumption of new preservatives in cosmetics (iodopropynyl butylcarbamate,diazolidinyl urea,imidazolidinyl urea) is increasing. The analysis method of preservatives by the high-performance liquid chromatography was most widespread. Regarding kathon,the sensitivity of gas chromatography is higher than that of high-performance liquid chromatography. The other analysis methods are semi-quantitative thin layer chromatography and simultaneously determination water-soluble and the fat soluble preservatives capillary electrophoresis. The methods for determination of 55 limited preservatives of Hygienic Standard for Cosmetics(in 2002 version) are still not satisfactory,more methods should be developed.


In this work, we have presented a method for speech summarization of audiobooks without converting them into the transcript. The model used is the 1-D convolutional neural network. The audio is segmented into sentences based on the silence between two consecutive sentences. We have used acoustic features of the sentence audio as input to our model. The output of our model is binary, which tells us whether to include this sentence in our summary or not. Thus, we have converted the task of speech summarization into a classification task. Then we have concatenated the classified audio chunks into one summary. We have compared the generated summary against the manually done summary. For better insights, we have used a text summarizer as a reference to see what the summary should include. The transcript is used for only that; otherwise, our method is independent of the text. The results obtained show us a possibility of a language-independent audio summarizer that retains the audio quality since we have used the original audio in our summary.


The High Resolution Accelerometer Package (HiRAP) instrument is a triaxial, orthogonal system of gas-damped accelerometers with a resolution of 1 times 10 super minus 6g 1 mu g. The purpose of HiRAP is to measure the low-frequency component of the total acceleration along the orbiter vehicle (OV) body axes while the OV descends through the rarefied-flow flight regime. Two HiRAP instruments have flown on a total of 10 Space Transportation System (STS) missions. The aerodynamic component of the acceleration measurements was separated from the total acceleration. Instrument bias and orbiter mechanical system acceleration effects were incorporated into one bulk bias. The bulk bias was subtracted from the acceleration measurements to produce aerodynamic to an aerodynamic coefficient model. The aerodynamic acceleration data and coefficient model were used to estimate the atmospheric density for the altitude range of 140 to 60 km and a downrange distance of 600 km. For 8 of 10 flights results from this model agree with expected results. For the results that do not agree with expected results, a variety of error sources have been explored.


Divided government exists where different political parties control the executive and legislative branches in a political system. This has become a common feature of Taiwan's national and local political landscape. In the literature, scholars tend to disagree with each other concerning whether divided government leads to dysfunctional politics. This study attempts to shed some light on the issue by exploring the effects of divided government at the city/county level on the public's perceptions of their mayor/magistrate's performance in Taiwan. We take advantage of a 2002 survey of the public's evaluations of government performance and examine whether different forms of divided government affect residents' responses. Our findings indicate that residents in cities or counties under divided government express more negative views, although their party identification seems to be an important intervening variable in shaping their opinion.


operative day. Peritoneal dialysis was started 1 month after surgery owing to intolerance to the dialysate. After 15 months of follow-up, the catheter maintained patency without migration, catheter tract infection, or peritonitis. There was no abdominal wall hernia found during this period. The guidelines of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) recommend that any abdominal wall hernia should be repaired before PD is started (2). According to the study by García–Ureña et al., abdominal wall hernias develop in 17.2% of patients that receive PD, and 73% are found before PD. Inguinal hernias account for 26.9% of these patients (3). Laparoscopic PD catheter placement has been introduced widely owing to the benefits in reducing mechanical complications (4). It is worthwhile performing concomitant laparoscopic TEP hernioplasty and PD catheter placement, which not only benefits PD catheter fixation but also promises hernia repair, rapid patient recovery, and wound size reduction. In this case, the TEP approach made it more secure theoretically than the conventional open method in PD patients owing to the design of internal fixation. Although most PD patients have poor general performance and limited choices of surgical procedures that include PD catheter placement and hernioplasty, laparoscopic concomitant procedures can be an alternative choice for some suitable patients. In this case, concomitant hernioplasty and PD catheter placement was safe, effective, and worthwhile.


The aim of this work was to clarify the CT aspects of an asymptomatic Morgagni hernia discovered incidentally on a Thoraco-Abdomino-Pelvic scanner. Patient: We report the case of a 55-year-old woman who came for assessment of the extension of a tumor of the rectum in whom a thoraco-abdomino-pelvic scan was performed which fortuitously revealed the right Morgagni hernia. No treatment was offered. Radiographic control of Morgagni's hernia after 6 months of the CT scan showed lesional stability. Conclusion: Morgagni's hernia is a rare entity, most often discovered by accident. However, this hernia is often asymptomatic and does not require treatment. The positive diagnosis is fortuitously evoked on a CT scan after another assessment and monitoring can be done on a standard radiography in order to limit the X-ray irradiation.


Damping of torsional beam vibrations of slender beam–structures with thin–walled cross–sections is investigated. Analytical results from solving the differential equation gover– ning torsion with viscous bimoments imposed at the boundary, are compared with a numerical approach with three–dimensional, isoparametric elements. The viscous bimoments act on the axial warping displacements associated with inhomogeneous torsion, and are in a numerical format realized by suitable configurations of concentrated, axial forces describing discrete dampers. It is illustrated by an example that significant damping ratios may be obtained for a beam with an open cross–section.


According to the characteristic of profile,this paper proposes a method of generating the work-blank model automatically based on the CATIA/CAA platform,which employs the profile standard-part library to match the feature parameters.The feature parameters obtained by splitting the part are compared with the parameters of the work-blank model stored in the standard-part library.The result 3D work-blank model is generated by choosing the optimum match of the standard-part library.


Semantic Mapping is a semantics-based interactive system that enables intuitive virtual content placement for projection mapping in intelligent environments. Our semantic mapping system embeds semantic information of the environment to provide a user with an easy way to control and place projected virtual items in the physical world. In contrast to traditional projection mapping that involves manual adjustments, this semantic mapping system enables efficient manipulation of virtual content through inputs from users via speech or text. To build the system, we first use a commercial depth camera for scene reconstruction and an end-to-end deep learning framework for semantic segmentation at the instance level. We illustrate the system by developing a prototype for a set of proof-of-concept, room-scale applications. The accuracy study and user study results show that the system can provide users with accurate semantic information for effective virtual content placement.


The photopolymerization of acrylate resins on wood surfaces suffers from retardation and inhibition effects due to the phenolic derivatives present at the interface. This article details the study of the effect of a set of phenolic compounds on the initiation step. The global effect was recorded by differential scanning calorimetry and photocalorimetry. A comparison between a direct photocleavable initiator such as 2,2-dimethyloxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA) and a two-component system like benzophenone/N-methyldiethanolamine (BP/MDEA) suggests that the retardation effect observed in the latter case is due to the interaction between phenols and the triplet state of BP. Subsequently, nanosecond transient absorption (NTA) spectroscopy was used to measure in acetonitrile the quenching rate constants k Q . A hydrogen abstraction occurred, and the ketyl radical quantum yield was also determined by NTA experiments. In comparison with the photoreduction mechanisms proposed in the literature, the high k Q values obtained were tentatively correlated to the half-wave oxidation potentials of phenols in order to discuss the involvement of an electron transfer within the reaction. Some EPR experiments were done to confirm in situ the photoreduction process at the wood surface and the creation of phenoxyl radicals. The interaction of phenols with some initiating radicals was also studied.


Abstract Say that an incomplete d.r.e. degree has almost universal cupping property, if it cups all the r.e. degrees not below it to 0′. In this paper, we construct such a degree d, with all the r.e. degrees not cupping d to 0′ bounded by some r.e. degree strictly below d. The construction itself is an interesting 0″′ argument and this new structural property can be used to study final segments of various degree structures in the Ershov hierarchy.