Skin tone is the most important color category in memory colors. Reproducing it pleasingly is an important factor in photographic color reproduction. Moving skin colors toward their preferred skin color center improves the skin color preference on photographic color reproduction. Two key factors to successfully enhance skin colors are: a method to detect original skin colors effectively even if they are shifted far away from the regular skin color region, and a method to morph skin colors toward a preferred skin color region properly without introducing artifacts. A method for skin color enhancement presented by the authors in the same conference last year applies a static skin color model for skin color detection, which may miss to detect skin colors that are far away from regular skin tones. In this paper, a new method using the combination of face detection and statistical skin color modeling is proposed to effectively detect skin pixels and to enhance skin colors more effectively.


RIB waveguides were fabricated with the use of selective, wet chemical etching of two-component waveguide films SiO2:TiO2 which were obtained using sol-gel method. Photoresist was applied as a mask in the process. The etching of the layers SiO2:TiO2 was carried out in water solutions of ammonia fluoride. The paper presents results of theoretical analysis, technological characteristics, and power distributions in the obtained strip waveguides.


Inaccurate estimation in highway projects represents a major problem facing planners and estimators, especially when data and information about the projects are not available, and therefore the need to use modern technologies that addresses the problem of inaccuracy of estimation arises. The current methods and techniques used to estimate earned value indexes in Iraq are weak and inefficient. In addition, there is a need to adopt new and advanced technologies to estimate earned value indexes that are fast, accurate and flexible to use. The main objective of this research is to use an advanced method known as artificial neural networks to estimate the TSPI of highway buildings. The application of artificial neural networks as a new digital technology in the construction industrial in Republic of Iraq is absolutely necessary to ensure successful project management. One model built to predict the TCSPI of highway projects. In this current study, artificial neural network model were used to model the process of estimating earned value indexes, and several cases related to the construction of artificial neural networks have been studied, including network architecture and internal factors and the extent of their impact on the performance of artificial neural network models. Easy equation was developed to calculate that TSPI. It was found that these networks have the ability to predict the TSPI of highway projects with a very outstanding saucepan of reliability (97.00%), and the accounting coefficients (R) (95.43%).


tat Presented at the 10th International Conference on Defects and Radiation Effects in Semiconductors, Nice, France, September 11-14, 1978. •^f-1?c^4--^ LBL-7996 HYDROGEN IN GERMANIUM E. E. Haller September 1978 Prepared for the U. S. Department of Energy under Contract W-7405-ENG-48


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the chemical constituents of 70% aqueous ethanol extract from the whole plant of Crossostephium chinense for inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase.

METHOD
A bioactivity-guided isolation and purification process was used to identify the alpha-glucosidase activity inhibiting components of the whole plant of C. chinense. The dried whole plants were extracted with 70% aqueous ethanol. The extract was suspended in water and then further fractionated successively with cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, and normal butanol,and tested for their inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase in vitro. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods including NMR and MS, and comparison with data of authentic samples. All of compounds were assayed for their inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase in vitro.

RESULT
The ethyl acetate and water layer fractions showed the strong inhibitory activity, and were subjected to column chromatography over the various stationary phases. Tricetin 3',4',5'-trimethylether (1), scopoletin (2), tanacetin, hispidulin (3), apometzgerin (4), chrysoeriol (5), quercetagetin 3,6, 7-trimethylether (6), selagin (7) , scopolin (8), and quercetagetin-3,6-dimethylether (9) were isolated and characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. Among them, compounds 2, 3, 5-7 and 9 for inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase with IC50 (micromol x L(-1)) values of (34.36 +/- 2.06), (146.28 +/- 12.44), (246.26 +/- 8.73), (74.06 +/- 3.83), (42.19 +/- 5.25) and (136.20 +/- 25.73), respectively, were assayed as the active components. A positive drug, acarbose, showed the inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase with IC50 value of (489.25 +/- 38.55) mciromol x L(-1) in the same assay conditions with the above test com-1) pounds. The IC50 values of compounds 1, 4, 8 and tanacetin were all more than 1 000 micromol x L(-1).

CONCLUSION
The compounds 5 and 9 were isolated from the genus Crossostephium for the first time. The compounds 2, 3, 5-7, and 9 showed the strong inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase in vitro in the simple competitive manner. The results indicated that these compounds may be involved in the treatment of diabetes in the whole plant of C. chinense for human.


The epidemiology of vaginal infections in women of childbearing age who attended the Vista Alegre health center was studied between May and July 2017. Located in the district of Carmen Alto, department of Ayacucho. Because vaginal infections are a serious problem that affects a large number of women and in addition to generating physical and emotional problems in them, it constitutes a factor of economic loss for the health system. Vaginal secretion samples were obtained from 345 women of childbearing age and who had not received prior antibiotic treatment, to which a questionnaire that included demographic, sociocultural and economic epidemiological determinants was applied; The samples obtained were processed by direct observation and Gram staining. Of the total women who participated in the study, it was observed that 46.7% had bacterial vaginosis, 33% fungal vaginitis and 1.7% trichomonas vaginitis and 18.6% had no vaginal infection. Statistical association was determined between vaginal infections and age (X2: 9.664; gl: 2; α: 0.008), marital status (X2: 47.340; gl: 1; α: 0.000), number of sexual partners (X2: 15.862 ; gl: 1; α: 0.000068) and economic income (X2: 73.898; gl: 1; α: 0.000). Similarly, the risk was determined by the ORp of the occurrence of vaginal infections in: married women, compared to those who were single (ORp = 6.683; 95% CI: 3.736-11.957), multiple sexual partners compared to those who only have a sexual partner (ORp = 3.666; 95% CI: 1.877-7.159) and women who do not have work in front of those women who did have work (ORp = 20.759; 95% CI: 8.641-49.874).


This chapter explains that in the Ottoman pre-national( ist) era, cultural phenomena in the Balkans cannot be studied adequately unless put within a Balkan context. The author claims that in the pre-national(ist) period, identification with an ethnic community was far less important and less morally obliging than identification with a religious community. To that end, he schematically distinguishes three levels that in fact are chronologically and developmentally interrelated: the "ethnographic" level of low culture, which includes language; the "cultural" level of high culture, where religion is the determining factor of group formation, and finally, a "political" level, at which the religious community started developing into a rudimentary civil proto-nation. Keywords:Balkans; civil proto-nation; cultural level; ethnographic level; Ottoman pre-national era;


The importance of understanding the reasons of past decisions is not a new subject. However, there seems to be a gap regarding the verification of the efficiency of tools for understanding past decisions. In this paper we posit that the ability to perform decision reconstruction, using a GSS solution, can provide a flexible solution to the problem, but only if the information model underneath it is able to support/structure both ways the phases of a decision-making process. Based on earlier work, we present a first proposal for a general information model to support the decision-making process, as well as the decision reconstruction process. We tested these ideas by setting a case study where we used a prototype, based on a proposed model, to analyze a simulated public contracting process and present a discussion based on the obtained results.


This study analyzes the influence of sales promotions on purchasing decisions generator set (genset) with brand awareness as a mediating variable. The purpose of this study was to examine the sales promotion and brand awareness on purchase decisions in PT. Putra Jaya Indonesia, as well as examine the effect of sales promotion on purchase decisions with brand awareness as a mediating variable in PT. Putra Jaya Indonesia. The population in this study are all consumers who have made a purchase generator sets (gensets) at PT. Putra Jaya Indonesia. Data collection techniques methode used are questionnaire with likert scale, validity, and reliability. The analysis technique used is path analysis were processed using regression analysis with intervening variables. The results of this study show that sales promotions are directly and partially have significant and positive influence on consumer purchasing decisions for products genset PT Putra Jaya Indonesia. Brand awareness directly and partially has a positive and significant impact on consumer purchasing decisions for products genset PT Putra Jaya Indonesia. In addition, Effect of sales promotion conducted by PT Putra Jaya Indonesia on consumer purchasing decisions through brand awareness as a mediating variable.


In this paper, we have developed a chaos-based unequal encryption mechanism which can be applied in the wireless telemedicine with error decryption. The main idea for using chaos sequence is to increase the unpredictability compared with other kinds of random sequences. An essential feature of this unequal encryption scheme is that a bit stream mapping of 1D chaotic scrambler and a permutation scheme are allocated to the medical information that requires higher level encryption. In addition, a bit stream mapping of 1D chaotic scrambler is provided to messages that can meet high speed encryption. Simulation results show when a correct deciphering parameter is put in, these signals will be completely recovered. As long as there is an input parameter error, for example, with 0.00000001% initial point error, these signals will not be recovered.


Pharmacologists and toxicologists use animals to test their reactions to drugs and foods, and then extrapolate the data so as to predict the reaction of man. The main basis for prediction of safety also centres around toxicity tests in animals. Man is often many times more sensitive to drugs and foods than, say, the dog, cat, mouse and rat. It is often stated that results obtained in the most sensitive species studied should take precedence in toxicological evaluation but this must also be the species most similar to man with regard to metabolic pathways of compounds. Despite major advances in the availability and quality of laboratory animals in recent years, the unexpected still occurs. For example, although all mice can make antibodies to certain polypeptides, not all are able to respond to polypeptides of slightly lower molecular weights, the ability to form antibodies being controlled by a dominant genetic factor (McDevitt & Sela 1965). Differences in the susceptibility of the skin of guinea-pigs to sensitization with such compounds as dinitrochlorobenzpe and hapten-polylysine conjugates have also been found to be genetically controlled (Levine et al. 1963). Finally, rats can be selectively bred to show differences in reactivity to the first injection of dextran, egg-white, and certain polysaccharides (Harris et al. 1963). This unusual reaction of the sensitive rat to egg-white in many ways resembles the allergic manifestation produced by egg-white in man. In both species, there is urticaria, angio-adema and shock but whereas a dominant gene controls the reaction in the rat, only a relatively few healthy human individuals react to the stimulus. When the basic mechanisms are fully elucidated in the rat, it might be possible to understand the human reaction in more detail and establish better methods of treatment. We became interested in this so-called anaphylactoid reaction in rats some eight years ago. We discovered that over one-fifth of the rats from one colony failed to respond to the first and all subsequent doses of egg-white or dextran and it was soon apparent that this failure to respond (which we call non-reactivity) occurred in Wistar rats but not in rats of other strains. Selective breeding experiments then showed that this character was inherited, non-reactivity being due to an autosomal recessive gene. Repeated-doses into reactor animals produced a temporary resistance to the reaction and it was later found that pretreatment of reactor rats with antithyroid drugs, sympathomimetic amines, reserpine, anti-5-hydroxytryptamine drugs or corticosteroids also effectively prevented the response. The chief mediator of the reaction is probably 5hydroxytryptamine. However, the skin of nonreactor rats is not deficient in 5-hydroxytryptamine and these animals are no less sensitive than reactor rats to intradermal 5-hydroxytryptamine. Recently, bradykinin, a nonapeptide formed from plasma a2-globulin has been implicated in inflammation and allergy and this may play a role in certain shock states. Experiments showed that non-reactor rats formed and released relatively less bradykinin and that these animals were markedly more resistant to shock then were those sensitive to the first dose of dextran or egg-white (Starr & West 1967). Shock was induced by heat treatment (immersion of the hind-paw in water at 46-5°C for 30 min), by application of a toumiquet, by subjecting animals to trauma, or by initiating anaphylactic shock when the blood sugar level had been significantly reduced. Tests in vitro indicated that non-reactor rat plasma was activatable as easily as reactor plasma and hence it was considered that differences of enzyme activities in the whole animal might exist. On the other hand, the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands was shown to be far more efficient in non-reactors than in reactors, and adrenaline is a potent antagonist of bradykinin and shock. This example shows that care must be taken when the results of animal tests are being evaluated. It is essential to use animals of uniform reactivity, determining their response to standard drugs, foods and procedures as near as possible to the time when new compounds are being tested. Seasonal variation in the sensitivity of guinea-pigs and rats to anaphylactic shock and drugs has been reported, the greatest resistance always occurring during the summer months (Ankier et al. 1965). Furthermore, sex differences in the metabolism and excretion of such compounds as butylated hydroxytoluene (Daniel & Gage 1965) and ethylene glycol (Tanret et al. 1962) are well documented.


Abstract Cancer is one of the most deadly diseases in the world. In recent years, nanotechnology, as a unique technology, has been comprehensively applied in the therapy of cancer through diagnosis, imaging and theranostics. Additionally, with the emergence of advanced biomaterials which are capable of being applied in biomedical, research in cancer nanotechnology has made significant progress. Particularly, nanomaterials with dimensions below several hundred nanometers are intensively studied among these advanced biomaterials. In past decades, a number of organic and inorganic nanomaterials have emerged as novel tools for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics due to their unique characteristics, like their solubilization effect, drug protection, passive/active tumor targeting, controlled release of drugs which result in enhanced anticancer efficacy while reducing the side effects. In this review, we first provide a brief description of the key properties of nanomaterials, such as nanoparticle (NP) size, surface properties and tumor targeting. The major goal of this review is to summarize the achievements that have been made in the development of the application of nanomaterials for cancer therapies, along with a short description of their general characteristics and preparation of various kinds of nanoparticles.


Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) promised a loosely-coupled architecture that addresses interoperability issues among heterogeneous applications, and could bring them into the world of Web 2.0. Furthermore, Linked Data is based on Semantic Web technologies, and provides the means to reach the goal of Semantic Web, also known as Web of data, machine-readable Web, or Web 3.0. In military domain, the objective of Army Logistic Management (ALM) is to collect logistic data from Army weapon systems under daily operations, and then to perform statistical analysis to obtain comprehensive information. However, intelligent discovery of logistic information is a significant challenge in ALM scenario with an effective logistic analysis. This study proposes a Multiple-layered Semantic ALM Framework (MSAF) platform, which is based on Semantic Web technologies. It provides an intelligent SOA endpoint for human and machines at any time to access and submit SPARQL queries against a global-scale RDF linked data space and return the upto- date results in RDF formats over HTTP. Moreover, we present an applicable demonstration of ALM scenario based on MSAF, and illustrate a new fusion mechanism for dynamically constructing global Linked Data space to aggregate related RDF dataset from private legacy data sources and public Linked-Data cloud.


In this paper, we present a few efficient numerical algorithms for solving nonlinear equations based on Adomian decomposition methods. The property of convergence is proved and some numerical illustrations are also given to show the efficiency of these algorithms.


Objective To observe effects of carbendazim on hormone levels of male rats.Methods In Hershberger assay,56 wistar rats were castrated,after a week,they were dosed once a day for 10 days with TP plus carbendazim(20,100,200 mg /kg) or corn oil.Then,the gland of Tyson,glans penis,bulbourethral gland,levator ani and bulbocavernosus muscles,seminal vesicle and prostate wereremoved and weighed.After 80 day-dosed(0,20,100,200mg /kg),the rats'serum hormone(LH,FSH,T) and testosterone level intesticle were assayed by radioimmunoassay.Results Negative control organ coefficient of androgen-dependent glands and tissue wassignificantly higher than the solvent control group,there were significant differences(P 0.05;P 0.01);3 Carbendazim experimentalgroups organ coefficient of androgen-dependent glands and tissue was compared with the negative control group,there were no significantdifference(P 0.05);solvent and Carbendazim group organ coefficient of androgen-dependent glands and tissue was compared with thesolvent control group,there were no significant difference(P 0.05).Serum hormone levels of FSH,T,and testicular tissue T were nosignificant changes in any carbendazim groups and control group(P 0.05).Compared with the control group,200mg /kg carbendazimgroup serum LH level was lower,there were significant difference(P 0.05).Conclusion Carbendazim mayn't have antiandrogenic orandrogenic property in vivo screening test,and carbendazim has no effects on serum hormone levels of FSH,T and testicular tissue T level.


In this paper the measurement of the ultraviolet absorption edge of LiNbO3 crystal grown from the solid-liquid congruently melt at room temperature is presented. It is affirmed that the absorption edge below 4.0eV is attributable to indirect transition. The meaning of three straight-lines of the spectral curyo are discussed by studying the α1/2-hv curve of LiNbO3. The energy gap Eg is 3.38eV.


Objective:To investigate the applicability of multi-index monitoring including B-ultrasound and fetal monitoring in childbirth and the effective measures to reduce cesarean section rate.Methods:We divided 313 women who gave birth after 38 weeks of pregnancy in two hospitals into the experimental group and comparing group respectively.Then the comparative analysis was conducted after obtaining statistics based on fetal monitoring,abdomen or vaginal ultrasound examination.Results:The cesarean section rates of the two experimental groups were 48.10% and 39.29% respectively and those of the two comparing groups were 65.75% and 63.64% respec-tively in two hospital.There was no obvious difference in cesarean section rate between the two hospitals.Nonetheless,when cesarean sec-tion rate for the experimental group and the comparing group was compared,"Gang Yi"had obvious difference(P0.05),whereas "Guang Yao"had extremely significant difference(P0.01).Conclusion:Using multi-index monitoring is useful in pre-birth diagnosis and choos-ing the right way for childbirth,and lowering cesarean section rate.


An evaluation of the Malmstrom Air Force Base (MAFB) coal-fired Central Heat Plant (CHP) was begun in January 1995. The system was evaluated and tested, on-site improvements were made, and recommendations were made to continue improved system performance. Local conditions favor continued use of coal technology, and it was found that the control equipment, as installed, will perform at the level required to meet environmental regulatory standards. However, since the control equipment at MAFB is 10 years old, the installation may further improve operations by renewing the present boiler controls. Operation of the spray dryer equipment may also be improved by correcting problems involving low exit temperatures by raising the temperature at the inlet to the spray dryer. Tests proved conclusively that the existing SO2 removal system can be operated to achieve removal rates higher than 85 percent. However, investigation revealed a significant equipment problem; the baghouse flue gas outlet emission monitor gives unacceptable, operationally unreliable readings. If MAFE continues to use this inadequate equipment, such incorrect readings will likely cause further regulatory problems.


This study was designed to compare perceptions of stepparents and stepchildren to perceptions of adults and children in other family structures (i.e., families with married, widowed, divorced, or never-married parents) to see whether family structure is a salient social category by which people organize their perceptions of others. The subjects were 460 female and 236 male college students whose perceptions were measured with the First Impressions Questionnaire (FIQ), a semantic differential designed for this study. The general finding was that family structure is a cue by which stereotypes are formed. The categories of stepparent and stepchild, in particular, appeared to lend themselves to more negative stereotyping.


Interracial marriage is common in Brazil today despite an overall preference for racial endogamy. Fully one-fifth of all Brazilian unions in 1980 were racially exogenous (Silva 1987), although only a small portion of those marriages involved persons of widely differing colors. Indeed, 93 percent of interracial unions in 1980 were between whites and browns (pardos—persons of mixed race or mulattos) or between browns and blacks; only the remaining 7 percent (1.3 percent of all unions) took place between whites and blacks (Silva 1987, 73). Because intermarriage is the ultimate indicator of social distance or assimilation, these rates suggest little or moderate social distance between persons who are proximate in color but greater social distance between persons at the extremes ends of the color spectrum.


Effect of neodymium (Nd) on microstructure and mechanical properties of spray formed Mg-9Al-3Zn-6.5Ca-0.6 Mn alloy was studied by optical microscope ,SEM EDS,X-ray diffraction analyzer.The grains of spray formed Mg alloy is fine.The major phrases were α-Mg、Al2Ca and Ca2Mg6Zn3.After extrusion,the major phrases were α-Mg、Al2Ca and MgZn2.A new flake Al3Nd phase was formed by adding Nd.When the content of Nd was 2%,the mechanical properties of extruded Mg alloy were the best,of which the elongation was the same and the fracture was brittle with some dimples.


It is rather surprising that in the development that has come in recent years along the line of the economics of agriculture so little account should have been taken of the nature of demand with reference to agricultural products and of the very important consequences that arise from the peculiarities of demand for this class of products. In textbooks dealing with this general subject, in periodical literature, and in conferences, attention has been directed almost entirely to considerations relating to production in agriculture. It is proposed in this article to call attention to some of the neglected phases with reference to demand for agricultural products, in the economics of agriculture, and to point out some important applications relative to current problems.


This paper deals with the design of electromagnetic actuators via topology optimization methods. It focuses on the development of an optimizing material distribution tool based on a genetic algorithm, the NSGA-II. The originality of this tool is to use a material distribution formalism based on Voronoi cells and to allow not only the material, but also the number and position of these cells to be parameters of the optimization. The application of the method to two practical cases, a linear actuator and a ferrofluid-based micropump, reflects the interest and the potentialities of the method in general, and of the distribution formalism particularly. Some experimental results also confirm the quality of the solutions produced by the design tool.


Within the framework of strengthening a sustainable, healthy, affordable, supportive, safe and diversified mobility system for the university community, the Ibero Puebla in Mexico works on the consolidation of cycling routes, pedestrianization and collective transport. In this context, the dialogue with municipal and state authorities has been essential to materialize the Comprehensive mobility project of the Boulevard del Niño Poblano and the Inter-university digital electromobility pilot program, both developed with a gender perspective. The first one consists of improving the conditions of public space to connect different types of transport, pacify traffic, create safe paths, bike lanes, while the second one, offers students from three universities the possibility of sharing an electric digital minibus, routes oriented to user demand, maximizing connectivity, continuous feedback and access to low coverage areas for public transportation. The intervention of the university has been fundamental so that different secretariats at the state level coordinate for the projection and budgeting of the project, as well as articulate with the municipal authorities, on the one hand, as well as to offer a possibility of interuniversity collective transport, which decreases the use of electrical fossil, the emission of greenhouse gases, as a real option.


UG Scholar, Associate Professor Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology, Otthakalmandapam, Coimbatore, India. --------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract : A smart city enables the effective utilization of resources and better quality of services to the citizens. To provide services such as air quality management, weather monitoring and automation of homes and buildings in a smart city, the basic parameters are Carbon Mono Oxide, Carbon dioxide and the level of traffic. This paper presents a customized design of an Internet of Things (IoT) enabled environment monitoring system to monitor Carbon Mono Oxide, Carbon di-oxide and the level of the temperature. In this system, data will be sent from the transmitter node to the receiver node. The data received at the receiver node is monitored in Personal Computer (PC) through an IOT . The Internet of Things is a network of physical objects that consists of sensors, software and electronics which have the ability to communicate with each other as well as with users. It is rapidly evolving due to the convergence of information and communication technologies and the internet. One of the applications of Internet of Things (IoT) in the urban context is the smart city that promises to improve the quality and performance of urban services[1]. According to the world health organization (WHO), nine out of ten people breathe air with high levels of pollutants [2] .The services for which quality can be enhanced in a smart city are monitoring the strength of buildings, waste management, air quality management, weather monitoring, noise monitoring, energy consumption management and automation buildings. Among all the health risks air pollution is currently 3rd major cause of death in India. In south Asian child's the average life span has being shortened by two and a half years due to air pollution [3].


COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 12 March 2020. As of 27 May 2020, WHO statistics exhibited that more than five million confirmed cases have been reported globally. Much rema...


Americans know little about economics. Recent surveys document shocking gaps in understanding of markets, macroeconomic policy, and the economics of government. Both the general public and college students, including economics course-takers, do poorly on questions that check their knowledge. In a Gallup survey (William B. Walstad and Max Larsen, 1992), most knew that competitive prices are determined by supply and demand. But 65 percent of the public and 43 percent of college seniors believed that during a crisis in the Middle East "... government should prohibit oil companies from raising ... prices" (p. 65). In a Harris poll (Parade magazine, 1999), only 58 percent of adults knew that people are likely to respond to a doubling in the relative price of beef by buying more poultry and less beef. Only one in three understood that those who borrow money at a fixed interest rate are most likely to benefit from inflation. In a Minneapolis Federal Reserve survey (David Fettig, 1998), only 30 percent knew that government could reduce high inflation by decreasing spending and the money supply. Taking a high-school or college economics course has little impact on economic understanding (Walstad and Ken Rebeck, 2002). In a 15-question Gallup survey of college seniors, college economics course-takers scored 9, highschool economics course-takers scored 8, and those who took no economics scored 7 (Walstad and Sam Allgood, 1999). There is hope: Test-takers do better with questions that concern their day-to-day lives (Louis Harris and Associates, 1999). And adults believe economics is important: 88 percent want politicians to have a good understanding of economics, and 96 percent think that basic economics should be taught in high school (Harris and Associates, 1999). While objections can be raised about what questions were asked and how they were worded, national surveys administered by several respected firms support the same conclusion. Americans know little about economics.


Abstract Due to the wide distribution of crosswalks over the road nets, the finding of impaired crosswalk marks is usually long-time delayed, which may put crosswalk pedestrians into danger. To reduce the repairing cost and improve the finding speed of damaged crosswalks, this paper uses remote sensing images to automatically detect crosswalks. The detection results can be used for further examination of crosswalks. However, the detection of crosswalks from remote sensing images suffers from serious interferes of many other kinds of ground targets. Besides, there are rare openly available datasets for the research of crosswalk detection from remote sensing images. To conquer the above problems, this study provides an openly available dataset for the research of crosswalk detection. To improve the robustness, we propose a crosswalk detection framework which uses a U-Net based road area guidance. First, we use CNN models to detect crosswalks. Then, we use U-Net to extract potential road areas. Third, we propose a mixture classification strategy which combines the detection confidence and potential road area guidance for final crosswalk detection. Experimental results show that the road area guidance for crosswalks' detection is effective and can improve the detection performance.


The present paper investigates the effect of poverty on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in developing countries. It complements the important extant literature on the effect of FDI inflows on poverty by examining the issue the other way around. The analysis is conducted using a sample of 117 countries over the period 1980–2017, and the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique. It has relied on two indicators of poverty, namely poverty headcount ratio and poverty gap. The findings indicate that over the full sample, poverty influences negatively FDI inflows, including through its adverse effect on human capital (that is, both education and health). Unsurprisingly, low-income countries (considered as poorest countries) experience a higher negative effect of poverty on FDI inflows than other countries. On another note, poverty reduces FDI inflows to countries that restrict trade policies or experience lower level of trade openness, as well as to countries that experience a high degree of export product concentration. The paper discusses the implications of these findings.


The sampling clock accuracy of the digital predistortion (DPD) feedback path is limited by nonideal electronic components, which introduces random clock jitter and thus degrades the linearization performance. In this paper, we propose a new DPD architecture capable of estimating and mitigating the sampling clock jitter. The theoretical analysis reveals that the sampling clock jitter has a adverse effect on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the samples received and hence degrades the DPD performance. By applying the proposed reference injection method, the clock jitter can be estimated and mitigated, effectively. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed DPD architecture can improve the normalized mean square error (NMSE) and the adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) performances, compared with conventional DPD architecture when feedback sampling clock jitter is considered.


For convolutional codes, thc variation of the minimum distance between nonmerging codewords with the lengths of those codewords is considered for all finite lengths. This is carried out in terms of a new distance parameter for convolutional codes do, the minimum average weight per branch over all cycles. Upper and lower bounds on do for binary convolutional codes of rate 1/n are presented. The tradeoff between d_{o} and the free distance d_{free} is obtained for small memory length codes.


Digging is not a well-understood form of locomotion, and it poses different mechanical problems than other forms of locomotion (e.g., walking). The spanner crab (Ranina ranina) digs into sand, primarily using its pereiopods. Above sand, pereiopod movement is variable, with four different movement patterns revealed by tip trajectories. The most common pattern of pereiopod movement above sand is the pattern apparently used for digging: pereiopods 2 and 3 shovel sand forward from underneath the animal, while pereiopod 4 shovels in the opposite direction, pushing the posterior end down into the sand. When above sand, each pair of pereiopods moves in bilateral alternation, but R. ranina switches gait to bilateral synchrony as it descends into sand. The abdomen is also rhythmically active during digging, despite being small and relatively stiff. Ranina ranina can also locomote forward on top of the substrate by punting with pereiopods 2 and 3. Although many aspects of digging in R. ranina are similar to those of digging by other crustaceans, particularly anomuran sand crabs, R. ranina has retained a wider behavioural repertoire. S'enfoncer dans le substrat n'est pas une forme de locomotion bien comprise, et pose des problemes mecaniques differents des autres modes de locomotion (comme par exemple la marche). Le crabe Ranina ranina s'enfonce dans le sable, utilisant en premier ses pereiopodes. Au-dessus du sable, le mouvement des pereiopodes est variable, avec quatre modeles de mouvement differents, reveles par les trajectoires des extremites. Le modele le plus commun du mouvement du pereiopode au-dessus du sable est celui apparemment utilise pour s'enfoncer : les pereiopodes 2 et 3 rejettent le sable de dessous l'animal vers l'exterieur, tandis que le pereiopode 4 opere en sens inverse, poussant la partie posterieure de l'animal dans le sable. Quand l'animal est sur le sable, chaque paire de pereiopodes se deplace lateralement dans un sens et dans l'autre alternativement, mais R. ranina change de mouvement, suivant une synchronie bilaterale quand il descend dans le sable. L'abdomen est aussi actif en rythme, quand l'animal s'enfonce, en depit de sa petite taille et de sa relative raideur. Ranina ranina peut aussi se deplacer vers la surface du substrat en ramant avec ses pereiopodes


Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a fruit tree with economic importance cultivated in several oasis spread over the Algerian Sahara regions where the climate is hot and dry. This harsh environment has already shown to contain spontaneously plant-colonizing microorganisms with biocontrol and plant growth stimulating properties. The present study analyses for the first time, the community of roots endophytic fungi of date palm originating from three groves localized in Adrar province (Southeast of Algeria). Eighteen samples were taken from six randomly selected palms for each palm groves. Samples were aseptically collected from the youngest secondary roots.A total of 460 fungal isolates were obtained from 1800 fragments of roots, were affiliated to ten taxa according to a morphological identification. Most of the isolates were obtained from Tamentit groves growing in salt stress conditions. The other isolates were recorded from date palm trees affected by bayoud disease and from healthy trees. The dominant fungal endophytes were Fusarium sp. (30.9%) followed by Aspergillus terreus (15.4%). Four dominant isolates were tested for growth promotion of wheat via in vitro solubilization of phosphorus and production of indole acetic acid (IAA) and hydrocyanic acid HCN. Seeds sprouts were confronted directly with mycelium growing endophtes tested to ensure good root colonization. Chaetomium sp. and the species showing morphological characteristics of Botryosphaeriaceae increased significantly length, fresh and dry weight of the aerial and root parts of wheat. However, Fusarium sp. And Aspergillus terreus significantly decrease these parameters, despite, they produce more secondary metabolites. The importance and biological activity of the selected fungus was discussed. This study highlights the fungal diversity and the plant promotion potential of endophytes recovered from date palm of Algerian Sahara, and suggests extending investigation in such harsh environment, as a potential source of interesting microorganisms in the context of sustainable agriculture development.


In recent years, with the development of nanomedicine and oncology molecular biology, more and moreattention has been paid to exploring the pathogenesis of cancer at the nanoscale and implementing new methodsand new technologies for diagnosis and treatment at the single cell and molecular level. Atomic forcemicroscopy (AFM) was initially used for nano-detection and characterization in the field of semiconductorscience and other materials. With the penetration of nano-technology and life science, especially thedevelopment of nano-medicine, AFM has been successfully applied to the field of life science because of itsunique detection ability. This paper briefly introduces the development history of atomic force microscopy andthe engineering of atomic force microscopy, the working principles, working modes and imaging modes ofliving cells in physiological states. Especially the research and application of biological atomic forcemicroscopy and high-speed atomic force microscopy in the field of biology. The continuous improvement ofscanning speed, scanning range and scanning accuracy of atomic force microscopy (AFM) will provide anincessant impetus for the study of cancer cytology. This paper focuses on the research progress of atomic forcemicroscopy (AFM) in the field of cancer , including the research status of the surface ultrastructure,morphological characteristics, hardness and viscoelasticity of tumor cells, and the application prospects of AFMin cancer diagnosis and research and development of anti-cancer drugs are prospected.


Up to 15% of mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms. Using a pre—post design, results from two 8-week psychoeducational group programs for mothers with moderate levels of PPD symptoms are presented. Findings show the low-cost program to be a promising secondary preventative intervention for an undertreated population.


The properties of nanoparticles (including shape, size, material, and volume concentration) may significantly influence the thermal properties of nanofluids. Through molecular dynamics simulations, the aim of this study is to investigate the influence of nanoparticle properties on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids and find an effective criterion for predicting thermal conductivity enhancement. By establishing a series of simulation models, thermal conductivities of nanofluids were calculated on the basis of the Green–Kubo formula. It was found that all the nanoparticle properties that have been considered in this work influence the thermal conductivity of nanofluids, and the influence rules were discussed. Furthermore, there is a positive correlation between the distribution of atomic potential energy and the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Therefore, the ratio of energetic atoms in nanoparticles is proposed to be the criterion for predicting enhancement of the apparent thermal conductivity of nanofluids.


A conversion efficiency of 20.9% was achieved on Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 solar cell prepared through the sputtering-selenization/sulfurization process with Zn-based Cd-free buffer layer last year. In this paper, we will discuss the results of numerous analyses from the champion cell. The temperature and illumination dependences of Voc were measured to extract the Shockley-Read-Hall recombination rates at the buffer/absorber interface (Ri), in the space charge region (Rd), and in the quasi-neutral region (Rb) according to the method recently proposed by Li et al. [1]. The values of Ri, Rd, and Rb were deduced as 1.9×1015, 2.3×1017, and 1.1×1017 cm-2s-1, respectively. Comparing these values with those of the NREL's cell, our cell had similar Rb, better Ri , and worse Rd. A cross sectional image of the electron back scatter diffraction pattern revealed that smaller grains were segregated on the top of the absorber layer up to the depth of 200 nm. As the depth of the space charge region deduced from both the capacitance-voltage measurement and the combined scanning electron microscopy-electron beam induced current mapping was about 200 nm, the layer with small grains was expected to be the main cause of the inferior Rd. In addition to the longitudinal inhomogeneity of grain size, the electroluminescence imaging and the laser beam induced current mapping taken on the cell surface indicate that the lateral non-uniformity may also be deteriorating cell performance.


The characterization and modeling of mixed-signal systems is presented in this paper. The state of the art of software-defined radio is of great significance for the integration of wireless communication systems. In this paper, RF Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) will be taken as an example to characterize the nonlinear behavior of mixed-signal systems. The basic theory, measurement platform and key technique for mixed-signal systems modeling based on X-parameters are presented in detail, which vividly explains the nonlinear behavior of mixed-domain consisting of digital and analog signals.


Proper selection ofa lubricant for a given application depends on a thorough analysis ofthe system's tribological parameters. Tribology-the study of friction, lubrication, and wear-is influenced by the application's speed, temperature, load, the type of motion, and the operating environment. Having identified the tribological parameters, the lubrication engineer can select the optimum lubricant for a given application based on knowledge of lubricant chemistry. The lubrication engineer must then further analyze the application based on the identified tribological parameters. This analysis includes such elements as speed factors, elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication, extreme-pressure lubrication, emergency lubrication, and various special application requirements.


The planned GOES-R Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) will provide total lightning data on the location and intensity of thunderstorms over a hemispheric spatial domain. Ongoing GOES-R research activities are demonstrating the utility of total flash rate trends for enhancing forecasting skill of severe storms. To date, GLM total lightning proxy trends have been well served by ground-based VHF systems such as the Northern Alabama Lightning Mapping Array (NALMA). The NALMA (and other similar networks in Washington DC and Oklahoma) provide high detection efficiency (> 90%) and location accuracy (< 1 km) observations of total lightning within about 150 km from network center. To expand GLM proxy applications for high impact convective weather (e.g., severe, aviation hazards), it is desirable to investigate the utility of additional sources of continuous lightning that can serve as suitable GLM proxy over large spatial scales (order 100 s to 1000 km or more), including typically data denied regions such as the oceans. Potential sources of GLM proxy include ground-based long-range (regional or global) VLF/LF lightning networks such as the relatively new Vaisala Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) and Weatherbug Total Lightning Network (WTLN). Before using these data in GLM research applications, it is necessary to compare them with LMAs and well-quantified cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning networks, such as Vaisala s National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), for assessment of total and CG lightning location accuracy, detection efficiency and flash rate trends. Preliminary inter-comparisons from these lightning networks during selected severe weather events will be presented and their implications discussed.


How a communication system for electronic boards in the appliance can be developed? This is the main question that generates this investigation, which is focused in a theory based on the international project management standards and created in the context of information technologies resources but also on organizational communication methodologies. The basis of the investigation references to the principles created on the project management institute and makes reference to other project methodologies such as Prince2. The communication model consists on methods, processes and execution guides and demonstrates to be a key tool on the communication in between the interdisciplinary members which is managed from different latitudes in different locations allowing a clear execution and a better communication in between team members during the project execution. This model is conceived based on different problem solving tools but based mainly on the six sigma methodology and supported with survey exercises and some other software analysis standards but projected to the project management. This document is created under an improvement process in a real scenario which allows demonstrating its effectiveness based on results oriented to costs reduction on project execution. Additionally to the fact that the main measurement variable is the cost monitoring on projects, it is concluded also that there are some other benefits related to project team integration which were supposed to be a secondary target but that were important part of the investigation results.


Planting by mounding is a commonly used forestry technique that improves soil quality and ensures optimal tree growth conditions. During planting operations, one of the main planning steps is to estimate the number of mechanically created mounds in each planting block. Traditional counting methods involve manual field surveys or human photo-interpretation of UAV images, which are generally subject to errors and time-consuming. In this work, we propose a new approach to count mounds on UAV orthomosaics. Our framework is designed to estimate the required number of seedlings for a given planting block, based on a visual detection approach and a global estimation module. Firstly, a deep local detection model is applied on local patches to recognize and count visible mounds. Then, an estimation model, based on global features is used to predict the final number of plant seedling required for a given plantation block. To evaluate the proposed framework in real-world conditions, we constructed a large UAV dataset, including 18 UAV orthomosaics, comprising 111,000 mounds. We have conducted extensive experiments in our dataset, including a comparison with the state-of-the-art counting methods, as well as an analysis of Human-Level Performance (HLP) in identifying and annotating mounds. The experimental results show that our model reaches the best performance in terms of MAE and MSE, by comparison to state-of-the-art automatic counting mehtods.


In some countries, it is stated that youth political participation tends to decline, and the media are then regarded as ones of the causes of this decline. This is strongly supported by the media perspective. However, it is undeniable that there are contradictions to these views, which bring forth the mobilization perspective. There are also parties who consider that the media have merits in increasing political participation. In this case, communication plays an important role as an analytical tool to determine the effect of online political news consumption on political participation. Political knowledge is used as a mediator in this study. This study was conducted to see the position of Consumption of Online Political News in influencing Political Participation through Political Knowledge among Students. The study employed a quantitative method through questionnaires as an effort to collect and analyze data through regression analysis. Population in this study is Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia's student that used online news portal. The questionnaires were distributed to 100 student respondents. Sampling method of this study using purposive sampling with several criterias. The results of the study show that there is a significant effect of online political news consumption on political participation with a direct value 0,719.


Component theories are becoming more and more important in software engineering. A formal component model framework, which employs partial order event multisets rather than formal languages to describe the behavior patterns of components, was proposed to standardize components specifications and designs. Both sequentially controlled components and concurrently controlled components can be dealt with in a consistent way under this framework. The concepts of component model, task contract and system model, in combination with the verification approaches of component completeness, services satisfiability and system consistency, can be directly used to guide the design of simulation algorithms for in a components supporting environment.


Nowadays, there is a lot of buzz in separations science about the porous materials known as monoliths. Monoliths are used mostly as separation media and supports, and each one can be roughly compared to a single porous ''particle''. Monoliths are an alternative to columns packed with particulate stationary phases, which chromatographers have used for >100 years. Although that technology is well developed, it is not flawless. Packed columns have rather large void volumes; this is an inevitable result of the particulate character of the packing. Even in a perfectly organized array of monodisperse spheres, {approx}30% of the volume is interstitial voids. In reality, the percentage is even larger. As a consequence, a significant part of the column volume is not used for separation. However, this is not the only problem. Consider what happens when a mobile phase is pumped through a column packed with a standard porous packing. The liquid flows readily through the interstitial voids between the particles, where resistance to its flow is the smallest (Figure 1a). In contrast, the liquid in the pores remains stagnant. If a sample is injected into the stream of the mobile phase, the compounds in the sample will also be carried throughmore » the voids. However, diffusion occurs because of the concentration gradient between the compounds in solution flowing through the interstices and the stagnant liquid within the pores of the packing, and transport of these compounds into the pores results. Once the concentration ''pulse'' has passed by the bead, the compounds diffuse back from the pores into the surrounding liquid; eventually, only the original stagnant phase remains within the pores.« less


Presently, there is a rapid growth of interest in the area of flexible electronics. Benefits such as light weight, durability, and low cost are among the most appealing aspects. However, the high temperatures throughout the fabrication processes are still the main hurdle. In this study, the deposition of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) at low temperature (300 °C) using tin (Sn) catalyst is studied. Silicon nanostructures have been the center of research for many years for a number of applications in different areas. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and other industrial deposition techniques for the growth of crystalline silicon micro- and nanostructures use high temperatures and therefore are not compatible with temperature-sensitive substrates. This work utilizes a low-temperature deposition method for the growth of SiNWs and creates a leeway to use flexible plastic sheets as substrates. The silicon nanowires were deposited by exploiting the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) material growth mechanism using the plasma-en...


(Griminger, 1983). The establishment of a special relationship between pigeons and man over a period of thousands of years has created a volume of information about the digestive processes and nutritional habits in the pigeon (Levi, 1974; Griminger, 1983). However, very little information is available on the nutrient requirements and metabolism of nutrients in this species. This could partly be attributed to the complexity of studies to evaluate the nutrient requirements of pigeons, caused by the fact that young growing pigeons (squabs) continuously stay in the nest and are fed by the parents, initially with a special feed, the so-called crop milk (Waldie


To examine the current and potential future impact of formal and informal resources to enhance romantic relationships, 1,160 individuals were surveyed. When asked about resources previously used, participants reported that numerous forms of relationship help, including talking to a friend/coworker/family member, an individual therapist, and reading self-help materials had a larger impact than attending couple therapy. When asked about potential resources they would be likely to use in the future for relationship problems, participants indicated a strong preference for online self-help resources that included detailed feedback paired with a comprehensive, structured program. Implications for future development and dissemination are discussed.


In one embodiment, the access network (AN) receiving a given wireless communication device to a given data channel (e.g., traffic channel (the TCH), quality of service, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, etc.) assigned to the (e.g., call initiator, call target, etc.) request. The AN determines whether the given data channel is available for allocation to the wireless communication device. Under the AN determines the given data channel is available for allocation to the wireless communication device, the AN determines the priority score will be associated with the request and the received. The AN initiates a plurality of channels of data acquisition program (e.g., camp-on procedure, queuing program, etc.) of one of the plurality of scores in a case where the priority of the at least one priority higher than the determined score threshold each data channel acquisition procedures configured to obtain data of the given channel to service the received requests.


Extended Spectrum -lactamase (ESBL) are enzymes produced by bacteria that play an important role in resistance to antibiotics, especially 1st, 2nd,and 3rd generation cephalosporin antibiotics. The spread of resistance among some bacteria, both in the same species and cross-species have increased. Presumably this increased resistance is caused by horizontal gene transfer through transformation and conjugation. To prove the existence of horizontal gene transfer, in this research, the process of transfer of plasmid DNA from E. coli ESBL positive to K. pneumoniae ESBL negative. The result is, the transfer of plasmid DNA from E. coli ESBL positive to K. pneumoniae ESBL negative work done through the mechanism of transformation marked by expressed gene encoding a positive ESBL in K. pneumoniae and caused K. pneumoniae become resistant. Meanwhile, through the mechanism of conjugation, gene encoding a positive ESBL successfully transferred into K. pneumoniae and caused K. pneumoniae resistant to cefotaxime and aztreonam, and are sensitive to ceftriaxone and ceftazidime, but resistance to cefotaxime and aztreonam are not classified as ESBL. It is thought to be caused by back mutation in the sequence composition, or changes in the structure of ESBL enzymes.


Objective To explore B,C genotype of hepatitis B virus by quantitative PCR typing method and understand the distribution characteristics of different types of hepatitis B virus infection by HBV genotype.Methods From September 2010 to October 2012135 cases of HBV infection treated in the Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu City were selected as object of study,which were detected by quantitative PCR typing method.Results Quantitative PCR typing method successfully genotyped 131 cases(97.04%) of the sample,and 4 cases(2.96%) were not detected.28 cases(20.74%) were B / C hybrid.17 cases(12.60%) were C genotype.86 cases(63.70%) were B genotype.The difference was statistically significant(P 0.05).The genotype B percentage in chronic hepatitis B,severe chronic hepatitis B and acute hepatitis B patients and the was higher than that of mixed C and B / C,the difference was statistically significant.Conclusion The major HBV infection in the area is B genotype,followed by C genotype and B / C hybrid.


This paper aims at highlighting the manner in which the Number can play a special role if compared either to the binomials Language-Culture, or Language-Cognition. The Number represents an autonomous category prior to the following, either linguistic or graphic-numerical, representation system (the first
one constituted by the Numerals, the latter by the graphic numerical signs). In the
Number it is possible to find one of the fundamentals of a natural identity, typical of the human being as it is related to the Cognition devices and to their function, but at the same time of a cultural identity, because differently developed in several communities.
A similar complexity can be found in and characterizes the De figuris numerorum,
the brief treatise written by Priscian, «the first Latin-speaking grammarian» in
Costantinoples (who lived between V and VI AD), to match the requirements of the
greek-oriental ruling-class, in need of a different kind of education, who was able to hand over to their recipients their sense of Identity by means of safeguard of the Language.


This paper considers explicit upper bounds in $L_{\infty}$ on the solution operator of a class of second-order parabolic Dirichlet problems defined in $(-1,\,1)^{N}$. The elliptic part of the operator L is given by \begin{displaymath} Lu=-\sum_{i=1}^{N}a_{i}(x,\,t)\frac{\partial^{2} u}{\partial x_{i}^{2}} +\sum_{i=1}^{N}b_{i}(x,\,t)\frac{\partial u}{\partial x_{i}}, \end{displaymath} where $a_{i}\geq d_{i}>0$, $|b_{i}|\leq M_{i}$, $i=1,\ldots,\,N$, uniformly across the domain. Symmetry and the maximum principle are used to identify those coefficients, obeying these bounds, which result in the largest possible value for the norm of the solution operator in $L_{\infty}$. The norm of this optimal case is found in terms of $(d_{i})$ and $(M_{i})$ and a family of constant coefficient problems in one space dimension. This representation is made quantitatively explicit by Laplace transform evaluation of the one-dimensional problems.Similar sharp quantitative estimates on the resolvent $\|(\lambda I+L)^{-1}\|_{\i...


The hot gas used as a fuel for heating metal billet in the heating furnace during the steel rolling producing should be paid more attention because it would cause fire,explosion,poisoning accidents and ect.In this paper,the dangerous and harmful factors of rolling furnace in the process of production,installations and facilities,manual operation were analyzed,and the DOW was used to evaluate the criticality of furnace explosion.It showed that the fire and explosion risk criticality of heating furnace is medium,and the explosion spread is 25.46ft(7.76m).Then the effective safety methods which had been raised for the safety facilities and security management could lower the criticility,and reduce the explosion spread to 20.51ft(6.25m).According to the above mentioned,the criticality and spread of explosion were reduced effectively,and the reference frames were provided for the safe operation of enterprises.


This paper describes boater safety education programs in the United States. Boater safety education differs from other forms of environmental education considered in this document in its emphasis on safety as opposed to environmental stewardship. Environmental issues are often included in boater education programs, but receive much less emphasis than other topics related to safe boat operation. Recreational boating education in the United States is offered through a system of government agencies and non-government organizations, including the boating industry. The "best practices" in boater safety education include means of ensuring the availability of educational programs, ensuring the content and quality of the educational programs, getting more people to obtain the education, and finally, getting people to act on what they learn. The best practices include development of educational programs that are ageappropriate and suitable for boaters of all skill levels (including instructors), compliance with official boating education standards, and provision of boating courses through a variety of means (including traditional classes, self study and on-line courses). Commonly used specific practices include videos, practice examinations, provision of materials and equipment (such as loaner lifejackets for kids), mascots, incentives, and special events. There is a trend towards mandatory boater education, as more states are enacting laws requiring education for certain groups of boaters. At present, the best practices in boater education are defined primarily in terms of consensus of professional judgment or frequency of use. More research is needed to document the relationships between education/knowledge, boater attitudes and behavior, and the effectiveness of various educational approaches.


Using arthritis in referring to inflammatory and arthrosis in referring to degenerative conditions of the joints 179 conditions are noted in which 1 or the other or both or allied conditions occur. There are a large number of bacteria which can infect articular structures and arthropathies due to viruses are more common than had been believed. There are numerous postinfective arthropathies traumatic arthropathies and arthropathies due to dietetic causes. Certain drugs have also been known to cause arthropathies. Rheumatic symptoms and serological abnormalities induced by oral contraceptive drugs have been reported. The oral contraceptives appear to be capable of causing the hydrallazine (or reversible systemic lupus) syndrome.


Crude extract of Morus alba  at 100 mg/kg exhibited protective effect against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. In isolated rabbit jejunum, M. alba (0.3-10 mg/mL) inhibited the spontaneous contractions and caused glibenclamide-sensitive inhibition of low K + (20 mM)-induced contractions, with mild effect on high K + (80 mM). Similarly, cromakalim caused inhibition of low K + , but not of high K + , while verapamil did not differentiate in its inhibitory effect on two concentrations of K + . M. alba (3.0-30 mg/kg) caused suppression of carbachol (100 µg/kg)-induced increase in inspiratory pressure of anaesthetized rats. In guinea-pig trachea, M. alba completely inhibited low K + contractions, with partial effect on high K + . M. alba (0.3-1.0 mg/mL) caused leftward shift of isoprenaline-induced inhibitory concentration response curves, like papaverine. These results indicate that M. alba possesses a combination of K ATP channel opening, weak Ca ++ -antagonist and phosphodiesterase inhibitory mechanisms, which explain its medicinal use in hyperactive gut and airways disorders.


Abstract There is a growing need for very small nuclear reactors for space applications and as portable high-intensity neutron sources. This technical note investigates the question of what is the smallest possible thermal reactor. It was found that the smallest reactor is a spherically shaped solution of 242mAm(NO3)3 in water. The weight of such a reactor is 4.95 kg with 0.7 kg of 242mAm nuclear fuel. The radius of the reactor in this case is 9.6 cm.


Inspired by the similarity between vehicle interactions and particle interactions, a mechanical system with force elements is introduced to simulate a vehicle's acceleration behavior in a multilane traffic flow. On the basis of Newton's second law of motion, a subject vehicle's longitudinal behavior is simulated with the interaction force induced by the neighboring vehicles and the driver's driving preference. Five important factors—(a) subject vehicle's speed, (b) acceleration sensitivity, (c) safety consideration, (d) relative speed sensitivity, and (e) gap-reducing desire—are considered; each is modeled by a force element. A recently developed data collection system is used to capture the testing driver's acceleration behavior; the model parameters are calibrated with the traveler's driving behavior. To demonstrate the present model, a microscopic simulation program was developed with MATLAB. The simulated trajectories not only describe a driver's acceleration behavior in common scenarios but also accurately present complex, high-order behavior during multifaceted scenarios, such as lane changing or lead gap changing. The present model can be applied to single-lane and multilane car-following scenarios with the same algorithm.


The design and realization of recurrence software for underwater vehicle experiment is presented.Firstly,the functions of the recurrence software and its realization theory are explained.Then the hardware structure of the system as well as the flow of the recurrence software are introduced.Finally,several problems encountered during the course of space-time unification were discussed in detail,meanwhile,the settlement and steps were given.The recurrence soft- ware and its simulation function for underwater vehicle experiment demonstrate the experimental information integrally. The software is valuable for experiment data analysis and experimental evaluation,and can be referred by recurrence software for other experiments.


In this work we address the problem of realizing a reliable quantum memory based on zero-energy Majorana modes in the presence of experimental constraints on the operations aimed at recovering the information. In particular, we characterize the best recovery operation acting only on the zero-energy Majorana modes and the memory fidelity that can be therewith achieved. In order to understand the effect of such restriction, we discuss two examples of noise models acting on the topological system and compare the amount of information that can be recovered by accessing either the whole system, or the zero-modes only, with particular attention to the scaling with the size of the system and the energy gap. We explicitly discuss the case of a thermal bosonic environment inducing a parity-preserving Markovian dynamics in which the introduced memory fidelity decays exponentially in time, independent from system size, thus showing the impossibility to retrieve the information by acting on the zero-modes only. We argue, however, that even in the presence of experimental limitations, the Hamiltonian gap is still beneficial to the storage of information.


This report presents the results of a geochemical survey of the Challis 1/sup 0/ x 2/sup 0/ quadrangle, Idaho. The Challis 1/sup 0/ x 2/sup 0/ quadrangle comprises about 7000 mi/sup 2/ (18,000 km/sup 2/) in the center of Idaho, and lies about 50 mi (80 km) northeast of Boise, Idaho. We collected samples at 2516 sites. At most sites, we collected both a stream-sediment sample and a heavy-mineral concentrate. Where suitable outcrop was available, we collected rock samples, and where water was available, we collected water samples. We analyzed 2516 stream-sediment samples, 2354 heavy-mineral-concentrate samples, and approximately 1300 water samples, for a sampling density of about 1 sample per 2.9 mi/sup 2/ for the stream sediment and heavy-mineral concentrate.


This paper reports on work in progress to augment the role and practice of Creative Conversations in
product design education. We describe changes in practice designed to elevate the importance of
conversations and various pedagogical approaches used to support this elevation. These changes are
principally manifested in the formation of like-minded Communities of Interest, or 'Design Tribes',
the adoption of revised design process models and the associated reorganisation of assessment
philosophy and practice. We go on to describe and reflect on various technological interventions
deployed, that have been designed to weakly augment the conversation space in both situated (studio
based contact sessions) and distributed (work undertaken in between contact sessions) settings.


The heavy-ion programme of the NA61/SHINE experiment at CERN SPS is expanding to allow precise measurements of exotic particles with lifetime few hundred microns. A Vertex Detector for open charm measurements at the SPS is being constructed by the NA61/SHINE Collaboration to meet the challenges of high spatial resolution of secondary vertices and efficiency of track registration. This task is solved by the application of the coordinate sensitive CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors with extremely low material budget in the new Vertex Detector. A small-acceptance version of the Vertex Detector is being tested this year, later it will be expanded to a large-acceptance version. Simulation studies will be presented. A method of track reconstruction in the inhomogeneous magnetic field for the Vertex Detector was developed and implemented. Numerical calculations show the possibility of high precision measurements in heavy ion collisions of strange and multi strange particles, as well as heavy flavours, like charmed particles.


This study discusses how to understand the unity, complexity, and intensity of Yazid's painting using Monroe Beardsley's theory. Yazid is a West Sumatran artist who is quite famous for his naturalist flow and cannot be separated from the concept of natural beauty. This study uses a qualitative method which includes observation, interviews, and literature study. The research was conducted in the cities of Padang, Padang Pariaman and Padangpanjang, West Sumatra. After conducting research, it was found that Unity (unity) in Yazid's paintings as a whole shows how the arrangement of lines, colors, and compositions are produced in a perfect shape so that it looks like a unity. This makes for distinctive strokes and soft colors and object capture. The complexity of Yazid's paintings can be seen in the lighting which is described as similar to what is captured by the five senses so that the object does not look simple. How Yazid tries to present the refraction of light that is shown in each of his paintings. The intensity (seriousness) in Yazid's paintings can be seen in the lighting as the key in each of his works.


In the nephrotic syndrome the renal loss of albumin is often insufficient to explain the hypoalbuminaemia. Studies with labelled albumin have in many cases revealed an increased 'endogenous' catabolis


A 59-year-old Patient presented with cerivical lymphnode and a submandibular swelling on the right side of unknown cause that was not responsive to antibiotic treatment. 16 years ago a submandibulectomy was performed on the right side, nevertheless submandibular swellings had occurred repeatedly. Clinical examination showed a right-sided cervical swelling in the submandibular region. The floor of the mouth was indurated and pus could be squeezed out of the wharton's duct. A computed tomography of the neck revealed a calcified structure of 3.8 x 1.3 cm located anterior of the former submandibular region (A). Therapeutically the residual Wharton duct containing the sialolith was removed (B). Giant sialoliths after submandibulectomy are extremely rare. If parts of the Wharton duct remain, sialolithiasis may occur spontaneously or become evident after growth due to further calcification. The treatment of choice consists of the excision of the residual duct with the sialolith and any remaining gland tissue.


Immersion plating of nickel (Ni) on a porous silicon (PS) layer has been investigated in concentrated ammonium fluoride and dilute hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions containing When the PS sample was exposed to the bath containing 5 M and 50 mM at pH 8, metallic Ni was clearly observed at the open-circuit potential without using a reducing agent or any activation treatment at room temperature. However, no deposition was detected when the sample was immersed in a 0.5 wt % HF solution containing the same concentration of at pH 2. The different deposition behavior is discussed on the basis of mixed potential theory, changes in the stability of Si-H bonds of PS as indicated in the Fourier transform infrared spectra, and the different state of Ni complex formation as obtained from the UV-vis spectra. The position of the Ni redox levels in both solutions with respect to the bandedges of Si was also determined and the results revealed a nearly similar energetic situation. Results from current-potential curves showed that a slow Ni deposition from the alkaline solution occurred in the dark and different possible reaction mechanisms were proposed. They also revealed the enhancement of the deposition under illumination, indicating that the deposition mechanism is electron transfer from the conduction band. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy detected no silicon oxides on the PS surface after being immersed in the alkaline solution, giving merit that a binary PS/Ni nanostructure without Si oxides can be successfully achieved. © 2003 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.


In the field of Administrative Law, standards of revocability and non-retroactivity of the acts of Government are accepted. However, I will herein analyze how this two basic standards may be reversed, and its implications within taxation, in order to conclude with: (i) the inability of the Tax Administration to amend its re-assessment resolutions in the sense of triggering a higher burden on the taxpayer (except in certain exceptional cases), and (ii) the retroactivity of administrative acts involving the approval of registration (and the consequent acknowledgment) of tax-exempted entities.


* Abbreviations:
 ALTE — : apparent life-threatening event
 BRUE — : brief resolved unexplained event
 SIDS — : sudden infant death syndrome

This clinical practice guideline has 2 primary objectives. First, it recommends the replacement of the term "apparent life-threatening event" (ALTE) with a new term, "brief resolved unexplained event" (BRUE). Second, it provides an approach to evaluation and management that is based on the risk that the infant will have a repeat event or has a serious underlying disorder.

Clinicians should use the term BRUE to describe an event occurring in an infant younger than 1 year when the observer reports a sudden, brief, and now resolved episode of ≥1 of the following: (1) cyanosis or pallor; (2) absent, decreased, or irregular breathing; (3) marked change in tone (hyper- or hypotonia); and (4) altered level of responsiveness. Moreover, clinicians should diagnose a BRUE only when there is no explanation for a qualifying event after conducting an appropriate history and physical examination (see Tables 2 and 3 in www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2016-0590). Among infants who present for medical attention after a BRUE, the guideline identifies (1) lower-risk patients on the basis of history and physical examination, for whom evidence-based guidelines for evaluation and management are offered, and (2) higher-risk patients, whose history and physical examination suggest the need for further investigation, monitoring, and/or treatment, but for whom recommendations are not offered (because of insufficient evidence or the availability of guidance from other clinical practice guidelines specific to their presentation or diagnosis). Recommendations in this guideline apply only to lower-risk patients, who …


Given the ubiquitous examples of semiconductor nanorods synthesis, CuInS2‐based anisotropic heterostructures still lag behind in terms of shape/optical properties control. Here, core/shell CuInS2/CdS dot‐in‐rod nanoheterostructures which exhibit high degree of the morphology control, and a strong emission in the near‐infrared range of 700–900 nm, are realized. The authors made use of the seeded growth approach utilizing wurtzite CuInS2 quantum dots as seeds, which allows for tuning the dimension of the resulting core/shell nanorods, including the core size and the shell thickness. Time‐dependent photoluminescence studies reveal slowing down of the recombination rate with increasing thickness of the shell, which is characteristic for the quasi‐type II heterostructure. Alloying of the CuInS2 cores with Zn does not perturb the shell growth process, but enables improvement of the photoluminescence quantum yield of the resulting core/shell CuInZnS2/CdS nanorods to 45%, as compared to ≈30% for CuInS2/CdS nanorods.


The purpose of this paper is to estimate individual willingness to pay (WTP) for relocating mobile phone base stations (MPBSs) away from the vicinity of residences and investigate factors that affect individual decision. The CV method is employed to estimate the individual's WTP and investigate the factors that affect such WTP. A sample of 396 respondents was randomly selected and the survey was conducted by face-to-face interviews. Results of the decision to whether to pay for removing MPBSs show that the offered price is an important factor, as we as the cellular phone monthly expenditure, the level of risk perception, and individual habits with regard to engaging in exercise. The empirical results show that the mean and median of estimated WTP were NT$5,657 and NT$5,864, respectively. Profile analysis suggests that female individuals with a high level of education, a high level of risk perception, high mobile phone expenditure is willing to pay the greatest amount to have the MPBSs relocated.


To fulfil their fundamental obligations, public sector organisations are required to offer the population high-quality services. To carry out these duties, these organisations must have a qualified workforce (personnel). As a result, the workforce of the organisation needs to be sufficiently motivated to maintain pace with the organisational goal. This is accomplished through performance evaluation, which assesses the performance to ensure that employees are keeping up with their tasks and the reward system, which serves to maintain employee motivation. This study's main goal is to investigate how performance evaluation and reward systems are used to improve employee performance. Using both primary and secondary sources, data were collected. The findings indicate that organisations under evaluation use performance appraisal and reward systems before, during, and after staff transfers and deployments both inside and outside of MDAs. This management tool is one of the key determining variables in such transfers and deployments. When workers stray from their job descriptions, the company uses it as a deterrent. The outcome also shows that one of the challenges in implementing performance evaluation and reward systems is politics. The report recommends that the performance evaluation and reward system be based on merit and free of politics in its conclusion.


Solution and aging heat treatment are effective means to improve the mechanical properties of Al-Li alloys. The solution treatment and aging treatment tests of 2060 Al-Li alloy were carried out. The yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, Vickers hardness, and microstructure of specimens after heat treatment were obtained by the tensile test at room temperature, Vickers hardness test, SEM analysis, TEM analysis, and EDS analysis. The effects of solution and aging heat treatment parameters on mechanical properties of 2060 Al-Li alloy were analyzed by response surface model and test results. The results show that sufficient solution can make the Cu-rich second phase of the alloy continuously dissolves into the aluminum matrix, and consequently obtain the supersaturated solid solution, the insoluble second phase is mainly θ' (Al2Cu) phase, T(Al2Cu2Mg3) phase, and S' (Al2CuMg) phase. The strength and hardness of the alloy are improved, but the ductility worsens with the degree of solution treatment enhances. With the increase of aging temperature and aging time, the strength and hardness of the alloy increase, but the elongation decreases. Taking tensile strength, elongation, and Vickers hardness of the alloy as the optimization objectives, the NSGA-II multi-objective optimization algorithm was used to optimize the process parameters of solution and aging heat treatment, and the heat treatment experiment was carried out. The optimization results show that the best mechanical properties of the alloy with matching strength and toughness can be obtained under the solution treatment at 466 °C/60 min and aging treatment at 185 °C/13 h.


In this original editorial piece, Maria Vallet-Regi, Patricia Mora-Raimundo, Daniel Lozano and Miguel Manzano (all at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain) discuss the use of nanoparticles for the potential treatment of osteoporosis, in light of some of their recently published work in the field.


This paper presents the main results of the second wave of the OeNB Euro Survey conducted in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) in May/June 2008. The results on foreign currency-denominated assets, both cash and deposits, broadly confirm the picture obtained from the first wave of the survey, namely that the euro plays a dominant role throughout the CESEE region. New evidence on foreign currency loans (FCLs) reveals that the share of FCLs in total household loans is substantial, both in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Southeastern Europe (SEE). The article for the first time presents survey results on people's general economic sentiment, comprising their assessment of the present and future economic situation, perceived and expected inflation and expected exchange rate developments. Finally, the paper provides an update on the expected date of euro adoption in the EU Member States surveyed.


"Kelly's Dimensions of Professional Nursing" chronicles the non-clinical history, trends, and issues of the nursing profession, including ethics, nursing education, research, career opportunities, licensure, and legal rights.


The invention of computer-based writing program has revolutionized the way of teaching second language writing. Embedded with artificial intelligence scoring engine, it can provide students with both immediate score and diagnostic feedback on their essays. In addition, some of such programs offer convenient writing and editing tools to facilitate students' writing process, such as MyAccess. However, the effectiveness of using such programs to improve students' writing skills in the L2 is not conclusive yet. To gain a deeper understanding of how such a computer-based writing program works in EFL writing classes, this study explored factors that may lead to facilitation or frustration when the program MyAccess is in use. The participants were three EFL writing classes consisting of 68 third-year English majors in a Taiwan's university. Data included students' responses to a questionnaire, writing samples, feedback given by MyAccess, and focus-group interviews with the students. The findings show that only 55% of the students felt this program either moderately or slightly helpful to them in improving their writing skills and that the students were much less satisfied with the grading function than the writing/editing functions. Their dissatisfaction was largely because this program failed to give specific feedback in the content and rhetorical aspects of their writings. Moreover, the study also found that the different ways the three writing classes used this program and the instructors' familiarity level with the program coupled with their technological skills greatly affected the students' attitudes toward this program. The study concludes that pedagogical approaches and contextual factors are more crucial than the functions of the program in determining its effectiveness.


reported, isostructural with the superconducting lithium analogue, but containing almost regular FeAs4 tetrahedra similar to those in analogous compounds with the highest critical temperatures. Following the recent discovery that fluorine doped LaFeAsO 10 is a high temperature superconductor (Tc = 26 K), a growing class of superconductor has come to light, mainly consisting of compounds containing iron arsenide or iron selenide layers. LaFeAsO takes the ZrSiCuAs structure (filled PbFCl type) and contains anti-PbO or antifluorite-type FeAs layers in 15


In the latest issue of this bulletin, we reported the results of quantitative content analysis which examined "diversity" in Japanese broadcasting. In this paper, we'll report the data from the same survey more in detail. Content analysis was conducted on the samples which were collected from 70 television channels in broadcasting of terrestrial and satellite, communication satellite, in December 2011, and 2016 samples of program moments were randomly chosen. Coders examined program genres, portrayal of character roles, information of text on screen and program's theme in each


touching on these few examples from Brecht and his sources helps to spotlight the critical value of translating keywords with attention to their neighbors in the discursive and ideological environment they inhabit and in turn reshape, and thus helps to stress the importance of delicate probing into the meaning and function of drama in the world even in the darkest of times. the careful scrutiny required to parse these smallest elements of meaning recalls Brecht's insistence, in the play of theory and practice called Messingkauf, on both the delicacy and urgency of the task: "the world may well be out of joint and require forceful movements to be straightened out. But among the instruments available, it could be that the one that will serve is slight and fragile and requires delicate handling."9


According to the mechanism of sediment suspension under waves,namely,the main reason of sediment suspension changes from the turbulent mixing near the boundary layer to the periodic motion of the water particle near the free water surface,the explicit expressions of sediment concentration distribution are presented in the whole depth of water.The appropriate reference concentration and bed friction factor are recommended.Comparisons between the calculated results and the measurements indicate that the results of the model agree well with the data from experiments and field.


The rapid development of science and technology provides opportunities in the use of natural resources to meet human needs. Coastal and marine areas have potential, both in the form of renewable and non-renewable resources, so that the coastal and marine areas are the areas with their developed activities. Even though the activity of utilizing marine resources is very beneficial for the economy, but without realizing it can bring adverse impacts on the environment. This adverse impact can be in the form of environmental damage caused by pollution. Pollution is an innate impact that always follows every development activity. According to Law No. 23 of 1997, environmental pollution is the entry or inclusion of living things, substances, energy and/or other components into the environment Abstract


In ESL writing classes or courses, we often observe studentsstruggling to learn the writing skills. Some students even fail thesame writing course repeatedly. Failing and repeating the samewriting course will certainly affect the repeaters in several aspects.Hence, this study sought to explore the feelings and attitudes of thesestudents who were repeaters in learning writing in a pre-sessionalEnglish course at the International Islamic University Malaysia(IIUM). Based on semi-structured interviews with the repeaters andtheir writing instructors, it was revealed that the repeaters had somenegative feelings and attitudes, namely feeling uncertain with one'sown ability, lacking motivation, suffering from anxiety and havingpoor relationship with their teachers. This paper further discussedthese negative feelings and attitudes in light of scholarly thoughts ofpast and contemporary Muslim scholars to shed some light onaspects that are essential in ensuring successful language learningfor repeating student, particularly in relation to their feelings andattitudes towards learning English writing skills. This study hasmajor significance especially in enabling writing instructors tounderstand the repeaters better and to help them develop positiveattitudes towards learning writing in English. The pedagogicalimplications and recommendations are also discussed.


Electromachining technology is widely used in micro manufacturing of microshafts,
micro-holes, micro-grooves and other micro three-dimensional structures, which contributes to
the giant demands for tool electrode. More and more attention has been paid on the electromachining of
microelectrodes.

 To meet the increasing requirement of machining quality and machining efficiency of
electromachining of microelectrodes, the processing devices and processing methods of
electromachining of microelectrodes are continuously improved.

 This paper reviews various current representative patents related to the processing devices
and processing methods of electromachining of microelectrodes.

Through comparing different kinds of processing devices and processing methods of electromachining
of microelectrodes, the main problems in the current development such as machining efficiency
and machining quality of electromachining of micro electrode are concluded and analyzed, and
the future development trends of processing devices and processing methods of electromachining of
microelectrodes are discussed.

 The optimization of processing devices and processing methods of electromachining of
microelectrodes is advantageous for solving the problems of machining efficiency and machining quality,
and more relevant patents will be invented in the future.


Libraries in higher institutions should be of importance for teachers and students and play an important role in teaching and research. But there is distance between expectation and reality. In order to correct all the cognition deviations and work deficiencies,higher institutions libraries should apply the theories and approaches of management communication to their daily work,especially among management group,librarians and readers,so as to improve higher institutions libraries' prestige and status.


The approach of this priority crop wild relatives (CWR) and landraces (LR) conservation exercise was to use the skills and knowledge of 52 ECPGR in situ and on-farm conservation network members and other conference delegates, representing a broad European range of PGR-related academic, research and NGO organizations, to identify the short- and longer-term issues that are/will impact on European CW…