Background: Self-efficacy concerned with the therapeutic use of self is important for occupational therapists. Students need to develop the knowledge and skills required to meet such challenges, and need to develop self-efficacy for using them in practice. This study examined changes in occupational therapy students' self-efficacy for therapeutic use of self, following a brief workshop, and examined factors associated with such changes. Methods: A sample of 89 Norwegian occupational therapy students was used, and the students completed three questionnaires 2-3 weeks after a workshop and at three months follow-up. Changes on the outcome measures were analyzed with t -tests for dependent samples, and factors associated with the outcome changes were analyzed with linear regression analyses Results: During the follow-up period, the students improved their self-efficacy scores on all three of the outcome measures. Higher age was associated with more improvement on two of the outcome measures. Conclusion: The occupational therapy students improved their self-efficacy for therapeutic use of self during the brief follow-up period. Thus, time in education, be it university-based or practice-based, seems to add to students' self-efficacy for clinical skills in this area. Higher age appears to be a resource for gaining more self-efficacy from attending educational courses.


Abstract: The mental health app is designed to provide users with a holistic approach to managing their mental health. The app is built using React, and features a chatbot, a meditation timer, and a task manager. The chatbot provides users with a safe space to express their feelings and emotions, and to receive advice and support from the app's virtual assistant. The meditation timer helps users to focus on their breathing and relax, while the task manager helps users to organize and prioritize their daily tasks. With these features, the mental health app provides users with the tools they need to manage their mental health in a more efficient and effective way.


Current practice guidelines recommend extended venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in high-risk surgical patients, but its value is less clear in


Document analysis is done to analyze entire forms (e.g. intelligent form analysis, table detection) or to describe the layout/structure of a document. Also skew detection of scanned documents is performed to support OCR algorithms that are sensitive to skew. In this paper document analysis is applied to snippets of torn documents to calculate features for the reconstruction. Documents can either be destroyed by the intention to make the printed content unavailable (e.g. tax fraud investigation, business crime) or due to time induced degeneration of ancient documents (e.g. bad storage conditions). Current reconstruction methods for manually torn documents deal with the shape, inpainting and texture synthesis techniques. In this paper the possibility of document analysis techniques of snippets to support the matching algorithm by considering additional features are shown. This implies a rotational analysis, a color analysis and a line detection. As a future work it is planned to extend the feature set with the paper type (blank, checked, lined), the type of the writing (handwritten vs. machine printed) and the text layout of a snippet (text size, line spacing). Preliminary results show that these pre-processing steps can be performed reliably on a real dataset consisting of 690 snippets.


Background Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is an effective technique for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). The efficacy of CMR versus the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (JMHW) guidelines considered as standard criterion for the diagnosis of CS remains to be elucidated. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed at assessing the diagnostic accuracy of CMR in cardiac sarcoidosis. We searched on PubMed from January 1, 1980, to March 28, 2018, on Embase from January 1, 1980, to March 29, 2018, and on the Cochrane Library from January 1, 1980, to April 1, 2018, using a strategy based on the search terms (sarcoidosis and magnetic resonance imaging) independently. We analyzed the data obtained with Revman 5.3 and Stata 14.0 software. Results Eight studies with a total of 649 participants met the inclusion criteria, and data were extracted. CMR had an overall sensitivity of 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87–0.97) and specificity of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.68–0.94) for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93–0.97). The subgroup analysis via public year showed that studies between 2011 and 2017 had an overall sensitivity of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.88–0.98) and specificity of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.49–0.99), with an area under the SROC curve being 0.96. Conclusions The results of this meta-analysis suggest that CMR could be used for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis and screening of patients suspected of CS. With the improvement of the technique, the diagnostic accuracy of MRI has improved.


Similarity measure is a critical tool for time series analysis. However, currently established methods, for instance, dynamic time warping (DTW) and its variants, are still facing some issues such as non-maximum-to-maximum alignment and pathological alignment, etc. Despite many attempts to improve, these issues remain stubborn because they are directly caused by the intrinsic mechanism of DTW. Thinking out of the context of DTW based methods, we propose in this article a new time series similarity measure framework which we call Time Adaptive Optimal Transport (TAOT). As its name implies, TAOT is based on optimal transport, a powerful distance measure for histograms and probability distributions, and TAOT inherits several promising properties from optimal transport to tackle the problems of classic DTW based methods. We make optimal transport capable of handling time series data by considering both observed values and their corresponding time coordinates simultaneously. TAOT can generate a many-to-many alignment between time series that further releases the search space for a more correct result. Experimental results show that TAOT can outperform other widely used similarity measures on classification tasks on multiple datasets. We also introduce the parameter extracting and visualization strategies of TAOT in this article.


The multi-feed multilevel A/O biological nitrogen removal process has distinct advantages in nitrogen removal.Currently,the researches all over the world on the multi-feed biological nitrogen removal process are limited only on the process emulation and synthetic-sized wastewater.By using real-wastewater simulate with the multi-feed process,the operational characteristics and the optimal controlled operation were more comp retentively investigated with 3 steps each with different ρ(C)/ρ(N) ratios.


Androgenesis, a process that takes place in in vitro conditions, is the news and the most secured method for development of haploid plants, where the vegetative or generative nucleus of pollen grain are stimulated to be developed into haploid plant, without further fertilization.
Beside the fact that androgenesis is possible in many crops and trees, the ability of each spices for successful propagation of microspores is limited to one genotype or variety. The reason for such restriction is still unknown and unfortunately androgenetically successful genotypes are without commercial importance.
Haploid plants are ideal material for plant genetics and breeding research. On the other hand, the frequency of spontaneous production of haploids of crops is very low. Therefore, one of the most important methods of in vitro cultivation of plants is production of number of haploids and dihaploids for short time. Those haploids/dihaploids are a base for further cytogenetics research studies which will justify the procedure.


Work on the genetic region of the house mice known as the t-complex has produced the hypothesis that mice heterozygous for t-haplotypes (+/t) may have a selective advantage over wild-type (+/+) males owing to the greater aggressiveness of +/t males. We tested this hypothesis by examining the behavior of +/+ and +/t mice placed in four large outdoor enclosures. We found that +/t males were dominant over +/+ males. Furthermore, in the outdoor enclosures +/t males had higher survivorship than +/+ males, both as adults and juveniles. However, males of the two genotypes did not differ in home range size. We suggest that t-haplotypes may be, in part, maintained in mouse populations because of a selective advantage in heterozygous males. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


I his paper the author discusses the question of sea boundary delimitation in cases where, in some manner, internal waters are involved. Special attention is given to the delimitation of Croatia's sea boundary with Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.


The paper analyzes the possibility of enriching history textbooks meant for compulsory schools (grades 5–11) with the recent gains of historical knowledge. The paper analyzes a number of textbooks, which are traditionally referred to as modern textbooks and next-generation textbooks. It maintains that practically all authors hesitate to enrich school textbooks with recently gained knowledge.


self-consciousness of thought. In other words, external relations constitute a necessary aspect of Hegel's spirit. But Russon also wants to insist that in absolute knowing, 'there are no "external relations" precisely because all those things that could naively be said to be "outside" the self now are recognized to be already internal to the self (104), and the compatibility of these two perspectives is unclear, given Russon's reading of Hegel. This is where one might have used the idea of logically necessary self-reflective ideas to make Hegel really respond to the difficulties raised in linguistic philosophy concerning the Cartesian idea of idea, as the objectivity of the idea of idea might be said to rest in the necessity with which consciousness strives to conceive of the most complete and internally coherent idea of itself. In a sense, external relations are internalized through being accepted, but the problem for Russon is that the form of selfreflection in which the strife of finite spirits is accepted is an internal relation, and Hegel's spirit is evidently capable of far more creative responses to the situation of being in community. James Thomas Ottawa, Ontario


Recommendations for the conduct of budgetary policies frequently refer to countries' "fiscal space". For example, on 5 December 2016 the Eurogroup highlighted that "there are considerable differences across Member States in terms of fiscal space and budgetary consolidation needs". Accordingly, policy recommendations often refer to how fiscal space can be generated, for example through the implementation of growth-friendly structural reforms.


The purpose of this study was to investigate how the satisfaction of psychological needs perceived by students participating in university physical education classes influenced on their motivational regulations. Research participants (N=234) participated in tennis, golf, bowling, and badminton subject classes for a semester and completed the questionnaires to measure their perceived psychological needs and motivational regulations at the end of the semester in 2016. Multiple linear regression analyses tested associations between psychological needs and motivational regulations. Regression analyses showed that the satisfaction of three psychological needs was significant determinants of motivational regulations such as intrinsic motivation and identified regulation. The results highlight the importance of instructor supportive behaviors to meet the psychological needs while teaching for university physical education classes, which then lead to sustained engagement and improved learning effect for university students.


The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for respectively transmitting control in a communication system between a switch (MSC) and a plurality of radio base station or a user data signal, wherein each base station (BS) via a the switch comprising a plurality of devices connected to the control channel (MSC) is connected. Connecting portion and the base station apparatus (BS) connected to at least one digital and / or analog control channel (ACCcd; DCCHcd), which control channel signals and dedicated to the multi-user from the switch (MSC) to a radio base station (BS) multi-user signals transmitted over a dedicated control channel only. The radio base station (BS) comprising a receiving device, where it checks whether the input signal is a multiuser signal. If it is determined that the signal is a multiuser signal, it is assigned to at least put several other control channels of that particular base station up.


Isopiestic vapor sorption measurements were carried out for concentrated solutions of poly(styrene-co-butadiene) (SBR) and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) in a number of aromatic solvents in the temperature range of 343 to 398 K. Henry constants were determined by means of inverse gas-liquid chromatography in the temperature range of 373 K (SBR) or 423 K (SAN) to 473 K, to obtain additional data at infinite dilution for the solvents, and for two of the monomers, styrene and 1,3-butadiene, in SBR.

The chain-of-rotators (COR) equation of state model was used to calculate the thermodynamic quantities applying a group-contribution approach. In general, good agreement is observed between experimental and calculated results.


OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, indications, maternal and perinatal outcome of emergency peripartum hysterectomy. METHOD: A prospective observational study of all patients who underwent peripartum hysterectomy was conducted from June 2011 to November 2012 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lalla Ded Hospital, an associated hospital of Government Medical College, Srinagar, Kashmir. Data, specifically on the incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy, the total number of deliveries, the maternal parameters, the indications of peripartum hysterectomy and associated maternal morbidity and mortality were recorded on a proforma. RESULTS: There were 87 cases of peripartum hysterectomy (75 caesarean hysterectomies, 86.2% and 12 postpartum hysterectomies, 13.8%), making an incidence of 2.56/1000 deliveries. Most of the patients were para 3, 32 (36.8%), were mostly in age group of 35-39 years 38 (43.7%) and belonged to rural areas. Overall, the most common indication for emergency peripartum hysterectomy was morbidly adherent placenta with placenta previa 39(44.8%) followed by uterine rupture 24 (27.6%), uterine atony 13 (14.9%) and accidental haemorrhage 6 (6.9%). In 38 (43.7%) patients total abdominal hysterectomy was performed while 49 (56.3%) patients required subtotal hysterectomy. There were 9 (10.3%) maternal and 40 (46%) perinatal deaths; all were due to severity of conditions necessitating hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy is potentially a lifesaving procedure associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. Morbidly adherent placenta with placenta previa was the commonest indication for emergency peripartum hysterectomy. Previous scar, multiparity and abnormal placentation were the significant risk factors.


white; the beds and baths are all on rubber-tyred wheels, and are very light and easily moved. The wards are too low in the ceiling; but the operating theatre on the second floor is lofty and has many points worthy of notice. The north wall is formed by an immense pane of glass, which, when it is desired to air the room, can be made to turn on its axis very easily by a simple lever; a long window in the roof also supplements the supply of light; the tbeatre can be rapidly heated by a large copper plate forming one of its sides, which covers the radiators placed in the thickness of the wall; the operating table is a very practical automatic hydraulic one. The sterilizing room is next to the operating theatre. A large lift can take a patient in bed up to the roof, which is arranged as a terrace, half being a glass-covered verandah. From the top to the bottom of the building is a chute, with openings on each floor, by which the soiled linen in bags is sent down to an underground passage, which communicates with the disinfecting room and the laundry; this is a model of its kind, with all the latest mechanism8 for the disinfection and washiDg of the linen. The corners of the rooms and the furniture have been designed with rounded angles; the electric lights are placed in the walls and the ceilings, covered with a convex glass. The administrative accommodation and the kitchen seem rather small for their purpose. The institution, on the model of the big hospitals in the United States, is free, there being no charge for any of the private rooms or beds in the wards, but donations to the fund will be accepted. Sufficient money has not yet been collected to receive patients, and the board has decided not to do so till it has enough to see its way clear for two years. The recent inaugaration was rather to make the existence of the institution more widely known, with the result that more than £1,200 was received in donations during the afterneon. The French Senate has passed a law guaranteeing to women at the time of their confinement their work and employment. Women will be allowed to stop work for eight consecutive weeks during the time which precedes or follows their confinement without losing their posts. The Senate has also passed a law forbidding the sale or importation of infants' feeding bottles provided with a rubber tube.


The structure of (~76-benzene)tricarbonylmolybde n u m , ( ' r / 6 C 6 H 6 ) M o ( C O ) 3 , has been determined at room temperature and 120 K by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The molecular motion about equilibrium has been studied by means of thermal-motion analysis, showing that there is significant stretching motion of C6H 6 and CO relative to Mo. There are effects of molecular packing on the motion of the CO's and on the deviation of the molecular structure from C3,. symmetry which are mutually consistent. The motional features and the deviations from symmetry are very similar to those of the isostructural ( ' r / 6 C 6 H 6 ) C r ( C O ) 3 . The reorientational motion of the C 6 H 6 group has been explored by potentialenergy-barrier calculations within the a tom-a tom approach. The results are compared with the available solid-state spectroscopic information. ('r/6-C6H6)Mo(CO)3 is monoclinic at room temperature [a = 6.162 (3), b = 11.096 (2), c = 6.826 (2) A, f l = 1 0 1 . 6 4 ( 3 ) ~, v = 457.12 A?], and at 120K [a = 6.028 (1), b = 11.001 (2), c = 6.763 (1) ,~, 0108-7681/92/040428-10506.00 fl = 100.79 (1) ~', V = 440.55 .~3], space group P21/m,


Introduction: Periodontal disease has been implicated as a risk factor for systemic diseases. There was a association between periodontal disease and serum albumin level in recent studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum albumin concentration as a prognostic marker of the periodontal disease. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 64 patients with chronic periodontitis, aged 20-50 years and 64 healthy control subjects with same age were selected. Dental and systemic stata were assessed for all subjects. Blood samples (2cc) were collected and COBASMIRA method was used to determine serum albumin level. The data were analyzed by One-Way ANOVA, Chi- square and t-tests. Results: The mean serum albumin concentration was 5.05±2.7 gr/dl in chronic periodontitis and 4.40±0.39gr/dl in control group and the difference was significant (P=0.000). Also there was a significant difference in albumin level between mild and moderate periodontitis (P=0.000). Conclusion: Mean concentration of serum albumin level in periodontitis (mild, moderate, sever) was higher than control group.


In this paper,a PC-PLC control model that is based on command code and state code is discussed,the practice proves that,through this model,the PC-PLC control can be easily attained.This model is useful for the reform of the traditional equipment and design of the new equipment.


In the process of the recognition of satellite images,some special geometrical curves are extracted by using image segmentation and tracking of boundary data and skeleton data with the method of Freeman chain code .A set of structural primitives is defined according to the difference of characteristic points of the geometrical curves that are directional.The extraction of the structural primitives from primary database with the boundary tracking algorithm and the algorithm of skeleton segmentation tracking algorithm are presented.The experimental results show that the set of structural primitives has distinct features and is easy to recognize,which offers a good foundation for the satellite cloud image recognition with the method of structural patten recogniton .


AbstractMorphologic analysis of a needle biopsy of the prostate was suggestive but not diagnostic of neoplasia. Subsequent cytologic examination of a pelvic soft tissue mass was suggestive of a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunocytochemical studies with the two most commonly used markers for prostate carcinoma, prostate specific acid phosphatase (PSAP) and prostate-specific epithelial antigen (PSA), confirmed the prostatic origin of the pelvic mass. We concluded that it is practical to use commercial polyclonal antisera for PSAP and PSA detection, but we do not recommend the use of similar grade reagents for detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Pitfalls related to use of certain immunological reagents and techniques as well as misinterpretation of results due to nonspecific sequestration of serum proteins are discussed. (The J Histotechnol 11: 55,1988.)


The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus (2) for displaying vehicle parameters including at least a first and a second parameter. In the inventive method, a value of the first, and a value of the second parameter is determined and the value of the first and the value of the second parameter on a display area (8) appears. In addition, the value of the first parameter is altered and implemented the change in the value of the first parameter to at least a first portion in a change in the value of the second parameter. On the display surface (8) a first display element (9) is generated by means of which the implementation of the change in the value of the first parameter is shown graphically in the change in the value of the second parameter.


ObjectiveTo summarize the technique and preliminary outcome of Neuroform stent combined with Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) to treat wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Methods32 cases with aneurysms which underwent 32 endovascular procedures performed by using stent were retrospectively analyzed.The ratio of aneurysm neck/body is 1/2~1/1. Results24 aneurysms were completely occluded and other 8 were incompletely (95%) occluded. Transient ischemia of cerebral occured in 2 cases. 14 aneurysms were followed up 0.5~1 year after. 2 aneurysms of them appeared neck remnant growth.ConclusionUsing Neuroform stent combined with GDC to treat wide-necked intracranial aneurysm may prevent the herniation of GDC into the artery and increase the outcome of wide-necked intacranial aneurysm.


Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) is the number one cereal crop of the World both in area and production. During the crop season of 2020, it covered worldwide 225 million ha area and produced 766 million metric tonnes with a productivity 3,404 kg/ha. India, China and UK are the World leaders in area, production and productivity of wheat, respectively. In India, it is grown in the area of 30.20 M ha with a production 107 million metric tonnes and productivity of 3,566 kg/ha in 2020. Among the different wheat growing states Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana covered the highest area and production of wheat, however, the highest productivity was recorded in Punjab.


SUMMARY

We investigate the seismic velocity contrast across the San Andreas fault (SAF) in the Parkfield area using fault zone head waves (FZHW) that propagate along the bimaterial fault interface and direct P waves. We systematically analyse large data sets of near-fault waveforms recorded by several seismic networks over the period 1984–2005. Clear FZHW are observed at many stations on the NE side of the fault in the creeping section of the SAF north of Middle Mountain (MM). This indicates the presence of a sharp bimaterial interface and that the NE side of the fault has lower seismic velocities in that region. The obtained P-wave velocity contrast is about 5–10 per cent north of MM, and it systematically decreases to 0–2 per cent near Gold Hill (GH). The along-strike variations of the velocity contrast are consistent with geological observations of a sliver of high-velocity rock immediately to the NE of the SAF near GH, associated with the GH fault, and existing 3-D seismic tomography results. The obtained imaging results offer an explanation for the mixed rupture directions of the M6-type Parkfield earthquakes. The strong velocity contrast around MM is expected to produce a preferred propagation direction to the SE for earthquakes that nucleate near MM (e.g. the 1934 and 1966 Parkfield earthquakes). In contrast, the near-zero velocity contrast and multiple fault branches near GH imply that earthquakes that nucleate near GH (e.g. the 2004 Parkfield earthquake) are not expected to have a preferred propagation direction to the SE, and are likely to propagate in directions that are controlled by other factors such as structural and stress heterogeneities. The observed systematic reduction of the velocity contrast along the SAF from NW of MM to SE of GH provides a dynamic arrest mechanism for earthquakes that nucleate in the northern part of the Parkfield section and propagate to the SE, and a dynamic arrest mechanism for earthquakes that nucleate in the southern section and propagate to the NW.


In the last decade, the unadjusted gender pay gap, defined as the raw percentage difference between male and female average gross hourly earnings, decreased in most European Union (EU) countries. Despite this progressive reduction, the average gender wage gap in 2014 in the EU (weighted by the number of employees) still stood at 16.6 per cent, indicating that women earned, on average, 84 per cent of that of men. This figure masks substantial variations across countries: although the gap is relatively narrow in Italy (6.1), Belgium (6.6) and Slovenia (7.0), it becomes significantly larger in countries such as Austria (22.2), Germany (22.3) and Estonia (28.1) (Source: Eurostat). Starting from the seminal works by Blinder (1973) and Oaxaca (1973), a large body of literature has investigated the gender wage gap to quantify the part that can be explained by differences in individual characteristics, such as education or job experience, and the so-called unexplained part. The latter component can be attributable to gender discrimination, justified by, for instance, a supposedly lower attachment to work by women. Much of this body of literature has treated the distribution of men and women into different working sectors and occupations as exogenously given. This approach does not acknowledge two potentially relevant factors. First, differences in individual characteristics may lead women to prefer jobs that pay lower wages on average. Second, to some extent, women might be prevented


Every year, thousands of people die or suffer chronic disability as the result of inherited diseases of the cardiovascular system. In many cases, diagnosis of inherited disease is delayed or missed owing to a lack of awareness, and an even greater number of relatives are exposed to unnecessary risk. This new edition of Inherited Cardiac Disease provides a comprehensive summary of the aetiology, presentation, and management of genetic disorders of the cardiovascular system. Fully updated to reflect the advances in molecular genetic technologies and the publication of national guidelines for the management of families with inherited cardiac diseases, it retains the first edition's broad scope and applicability to all members of the multidisciplinary team, from specialists in cardiology and clinical genetics, to genetic counsellors, paediatricians, nurse specialists, and GPs who may come into contact with families presenting with inherited cardiac diseases. After chapters on the general principles of cardiovascular genetics, genetic testing and counselling, individual disorders are then examined in detail, each account featuring a clinical summary, diagnostic tests and special investigations, and treatments relevant to each inherited cardiac disease. Written in the succinct bullet-point style of the Oxford Specialist Handbooks, this new edition of Inherited Cardiac Disease delivers key information in an accessible manner, and is an invaluable guide to anyone who works with patients who are affected by inherited diseases of the cardiovascular system in their practice.


Temperature measurements obtained for two storage modules in the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Station's Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) as part of the Used Fuel Disposition Campaign of the Department of Energy (DOE) were used to perform validation and sensitivity studies on detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of the concrete storage modules, including the dry storage canister within the modules. The storage modules in the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Station's ISFSI are a site-specific version of the standard NUHOMS® HSM. The two modules inspected each contained a 24P DSC loaded with 24 CE 14x14 spent fuel assemblies. The thermal analysis was performed using the STAR-CCM+ package, and the models developed for the specific ISFSI modules yielded temperature predictions in actual storage conditions for the concrete structure, the DSC and its contents, including preliminary estimates of fuel cladding temperatures for the used nuclear fuel. The results of this work demonstrate that existing CFD modeling tools can be used to obtain reasonable and accurate detailed representations of spent fuel storage systems with realistic decay heat loadings when the model omits specific conservatisms and bounding assumptions normally used in design-basis and safety-basis calculations. This paper presents sensitivity studies on modeling detailmore » (for the storage module and the DSC), boundary conditions, and decay heat load, to evaluate the effect of the modeling approach on predicted temperatures and temperature distributions. Because nearly all degradation mechanisms for materials and structures comprising dry storage and transportation systems are dependent on temperature, accurate characterization of local temperatures and temperature gradients that the various components of these systems will experience over the entire storage period has been identified as a primary requirement for evaluation of very long term storage of used nuclear fuel.« less


The rate of suicide among young people in the US increased by almost a fifth between 2003 and 2004. To find out if the increase was just a chance anomaly, researchers analysed national data on suicides in children and teenagers reported between 1996 and 2005. They found an estimated 326 extra deaths in 2004 and an extra 292 deaths in 2005 among those aged 10-19. Rates of suicide in both years were statistically higher than expected. Trends were similar in girls and boys, and the excess deaths were evident in both younger and older age groups. The researchers say the increases look real and follow a decade of steady decline in the rate of suicide among young people under 20 years. They urge the authorities to start looking for factors that might be to blame. Plausible candidates include increasing use of alcohol, the adverse influence on teenagers of social networking sites on the internet, and an increase in untreated depression secondary to recent regulatory warnings about giving antidepressants to adolescents. Access to firearms may also be part of the problem, say two other commentators (N Engl J Med 2008;359:989-91). The link between having a gun at home and risk of suicide is compelling, particularly when a loaded gun is kept in an unlocked drawer or cupboard. A recent decision by the USHigh Court to overturn a ban on hand gun ownership inWashington DC can only make things worse, they write.


In terms of the principle of high resolution sequence stratigraphy,sequence boundary marks are determined and two kinds of sequence boundaries of unconformity and shift surface of deposition are identified according to outcrop,core,logging and seismic data in Yanchang Formation,Upper Triassic System in Ordos Basin.There are seven sequence boundaries which classify six long-term base level cycles further in the basin.Based on stacking modes of short-term to medium-term base-level cycles,stratum mode of sequence SQ1 to the rising stage of sequence SQ3 is mainly composed of rising stage of long-term base level cycles which composed rising asymmetry cycle configuration.Stratum mode of the falling stage of sequence SQ3 to sequence SQ6 is mainly composed of falling stage of long-term base level cycles which composed falling asymmetry cycle configuration.Sedimentary facies and its distribution are mainly controlled by the change of base level.Sedimentary micro-facies are mainly composed of(braided) river and distributary channel of delta front.Favorable sandbo-dies are mainly distributed in the lower to middle stage of long-term base level rising cycles and the middle to upper stage of long-term base level falling cycles.


Peabody developmental motor scale is considered one of the most commonly used tests to assess motor development in preschool children; the Peabody is regarded as providing useful and comprehensive information for early assessment. At the end of this study; the applied Peabody developmental motor scale-2 edition can provide a general visual motor developmental framework for Egyptian children. Objectives: to establish norms for the Egyptian children in visual motor integration developmental skills through cross-sectional study design using PDMS-2 and comparing the results with the normative sample given in the PDMS-2 manual to find a method of evaluation that might be suitable for Egyptian children. Methods: Normal 110 children randomly collected to two groups in sequence according to age (group A (50 child): from 24 to 30 months and group B (60 child): from 30 to 36 months) after screening by Portage Scale through four nursery school in Giza area, Egypt and get at least 80% of scoring. Evaluation using PDMS-2 was applied once monthly to each group for successive six months in visual motor integration area of development in longitudinal pattern. Results: The present study revealed significant difference for almost measured subtest items of visual motor integration development for tested Egyptian children when comparing with the normative data using Z-scores. The significant differences were in favor of Egyptian children. Conclusion: the study reflects that Egyptians children are superior to normative sample of PDMS-2 in some visual motor integration areas of development. Detection of these differences between children from Egypt and children from other culture in visual motor integration development illustrates the importance to have norms for the other areas of motor development for the Egyptian children to be a national reference for all staff working in pediatric physical therapy.


Surge protective device is widely used in the lightning protection of electric appliances. In order to meet the withstand voltage level of those protected devices, multi-level surge protective devices are applied in the practical situation. Therefore, the optimal choice of decoupling elements is vital to realize the energy coordination between multi-level surge protective devices. This paper intends to expatiate on the process of coordination between these low-voltage multi-level surge protective devices, which is based on the transmission line theory. Through a series of experiments, we found the transmission line theory could be applied to describe the transmission process of lightning wave in the low-voltage system; When a 5-meter-long wire whose inductance is 5.6 micro-henry was used as the decoupling element, the average shunt ratio between multi-level surge protective device in the first level and multi-level surge protective devices in second was about 0.9: 0.1; upon the experimental results, it was proposed that two voltage limiting type multi-level surge protective devices had a better performance to clamp the overvoltage, which has a certain reference value in the practical application.


In this study,we preliminarily identified a duck unknown virus infection which originally epidemic in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces and mainly caused egg decreasing in adult layer ducks in 2010.The pathogen of this unknown infection could grow in duck and chicken embryos,and resulted in 100% mortality in infected embryos.Electron microscopy showed that the virion was round-like,50-100 nm in diameter,covered with an envelope.The virus isolate has no haemagglutiation activity,and is sensitive to ether and chloroform,resistant to pH9.Moreover,the virus isolate lost its infectivity at 50 ℃ for 1 h.The experimental infection of SPF chickens showed that the infected chickens grow slow,low mortality,and the virus could be re-isolated from infected birds.These findings indicate that this unknown infection is a viral in adult layer ducks,and the virus isolate could also infect chicken.Herein the infection is temporarily called duck infectious egg failings(DIEF).


Abstract We report the first total synthesis of murrastifoline B and an improved route to murrastifoline F using a twofold palladium-catalyzed Buchwald–Hartwig amination as key step. The monomeric carbazole and the biaryl precursor are also prepared via palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions.


Stroke is a severe health condition that causes morbidity and death all over the world, and nurses have a significant role in the care of patients admitted with stroke. The study aimed to explore knowledge and perception of stroke among nursing students to provide high quality of care. A descriptive, quantitative study was conducted among 192 participants between May 2018 and January 2019. The study included female students, aged 18 and older. The Self- structured questionnaire was used for data collection, composed of socio-demographic and stroke related-knowledge.. The Pilot study was carried out among 10% of volunteers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using a computer software program (SPSS) version 20. The T-test and chi-squared tests were used with a P-value of 0.05 to ensure the significances of the results. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the college of nursing, and written consent was taken from all participants. More than 90% of participants were single and knew what a stroke was, and more than 50% knew the different types of stroke. Also, participants had moderate knowledge about risk factors, signs, symptoms, and stroke prevention with 45.3%, 47.4%, and 38.0% respectively, and (50.0%) had poor knowledge of post-stroke complications and medications for treatment. Education level had a positive effect on participants' knowledge, most of the participants in at the fourth class had a moderate level of knowledge about risk factors for stroke, which was statistically significant (p-value was is 0.037), while third and fourth class students had a moderate level of knowledge about' signs and symptoms of stroke, which was statistically not significant (p-value > 0.005). Overall, students had a moderate knowledge score of stroke perception. Education level has a positive effect on fourth-year students' knowledge compared with students from third and second year classes.


The invention provides an electric bicycle suitable for indoor exercises. The electric bicycle comprises a bicycle body and fixing devices, wherein the bicycle body comprises a front wheel and a rear wheel; the fixing devices include a front wheel fixing device and a rear wheel fixing device; the front wheel fixing device is used for fixing the front wheel; and the rear wheel fixing device is used for fixing the rear wheel. The electric bicycle comprises more than one balancing weight; and the balancing weights are detachably fixed to the rear wheel. The rear wheel comprises steel rims; a hollow groove is reserved between every two adjacent steel rims; and the balancing weights are fixed to the corresponding hollow groove. The balancing weights and the corresponding hollow grooves are matched; a through hole is formed in the middle of each balancing weight; and the through holes in the balancing weights on two sides of the hollow grooves are fixed by virtue of bolts.


It seems possible that Sabbath observance among the Copts in Egypt and Ethiopia may have passed through three stages: I) Only the seventh-day Sabbath observed-from apostolic times until the Council of Nicea; 2) Sunday and the seventh-day Sabbath both observed-from the Council of Nicea until perhaps a century or two later; and 3) only Sunday designated as a day of public worship-a practice still observed today (p. 31).


Electrical noise will play an increasingly critical role in future nanoscale CMOS circuit operation characterized by lower supply voltages VDD and smaller device sizes. Both of these downscaling approaches reduce the margin of immunity to thermal noise, alpha particle strikes, and threshold voltage variations. This paper investigates the noise probability distributions for both equilibrium and non-equilibrium logic states of advanced CMOS flip-flops operated at ultra-low VDD. The theoretical distribution of transition times from one stable operation point to the other stable operation point is also derived, which is a useful representation of the soft error rate. It is shown that such nanoscale flip-flop designs are extremely sensitive to threshold variations, reducing average failure time to a few days. Monte Carlo simulations are provided to validate the theoretical model and its predictions.


This paper describes an experimental set‐up used to test the effect of some anticonvulsant drugs on the bemegride threshold and on the focal epileptogenic activity in the ECoG following cortical cobalt application in alert cats.


Aim of this paper was to appraise the magneto-hydrodynamic boundary layer flow of a Prandtl-Eyring fluid model on the top of stretched sheet. Ancillary to the same, the evolution and process of tra...


A method of extracting intuitive knowledge from neural network classifiers is presented in the paper. An algorithm which obtains crisp rules in the form of logical implications which approximately describe the neural network mapping is introduced. The number of extracted rules can be selected using an uncertainty margin parameter as well as by changing the precision level of the soft quantization of inputs. A fuzzy decision system based on the iris database has been developed using this approach to produce linguistic rules for flower classification.


Studies were carried out to replace Hydrogenated Fat (HF) with Rice Bran Oil (RBO) and two varieties of Rice Bran Oil Spread - RBOS1 and RBOS2 in the preparation of cake, cookies, piecrusts, muffins and doughnuts. Sensory evaluation of all the baked products prepared with HF, RBO, RBOS1 and RBOS2 was carried out using a 9 point hedonic score card and results indicated that cakes were most liked followed by piecrust and muffinsprepared with RBOS2. There was no significant difference in overall acceptability of baked products made with HF and RBOS2 indicating that RBOS2 can be used for development of baked products without any compromise on the sensory attributes. All baked products made with RBOS2 were well accepted by the respondents compared to HF indicating that RBOS2 can be popularized as a baking fat.


Research thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in public reproductive health in the school of public health of Kenyatta University.


Power industry restructuring has brought new challenges to the unit maintenance scheduling (UMS) problem. In recent years, quite a lot of research work has been done in this area around the globe, and in this paper a biographical survey is made. Specifically, the following issues are clarified, a) should the UMS be determined by the central way or by the market-based methods? b) the coordination mechanism of UMS, c) analysis of the impact of UMS on the reliability of the power system concerned, d) optimal maintenance strategies for generation companies, e) the relationship between UMS and relevant aspects including the market design, the transmission maintenance scheduling, and generation capacity adequacy and so on.


Forty-five patients with malignant bone tumors of the knee were submitted to wide resection and reconstitution of the joint with a custom made endoprosthesis. The mean follow-up was seven years and seven months. There were observed nine complications: in four cases the tumor recurred locally and in one case an artery was injured. The end result was considered good in 36 patients and poor in nine patients. The better results achieved in recent years were due to modifications introduced in chemotherapy for the osteosarcoma, the new system of staging of the bone tumors and new oncological and compartmental surgical techniques.


As the cool stream gushed over one hand, she [Annie] spelled into the other the word water, first slowly, then rapidly. I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten — a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that WATER meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand…. I left the well-house eager to learn. Everything had a name, and each name gave birth to a new thought. As we returned to the house every object which I touched seemed to quiver with life.


Antioxidative properties go with principal attributes of the Maillard reaction. Biacetyl, a reactive carbonyl intermediate formed in the initial stage of sugar transformations in the presence of amino acids, was found as an efficient precursor of several compounds with significant reducing activity which can act as antioxidants in real food systems. In this work, simple model systems of biacetyl were investigated under different conditions (amino compound involved, concentration, concentration ratio, reaction time, temperature and pH) to gain maximum yield of reducing power. Distribution of reducing power in different fractions of the reaction mixtures characterised by polarity and molecular size was evaluated. The fractionation procedure and HPLC separation step was developed to enable isolation of the major reducing products. Their characterisation was accomplished by use of photodiode-array (UV-VIS spectra) and electrochemical detection (half-wave potentials). The structures of the isolated products having reducing activity were identified by series of MS measurements and by comparison with synthesised standards.


A novel nano-sized tetragonal pyramid-shaped porous ZnO (TPSP-ZnO) structure was, for the first time, prepared with a high morphological yield by a simple polyglycol-assisted wet chemical method. It was found that the polyglycol had a significant influence on the nucleation and pore formation in the ZnO nanostructure. The OH−concentration and the zinc counter-ion affected the morphology of the produced ZnO nanostructure. TPSP-ZnO can be used as an efficient matrix for immobilizing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and applied to sense hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Interestingly, it had better biosensing properties than solid spherical ZnO nanoparticles, which might result from the larger specific surface area of TPSP-ZnO, causing a higher HRP loading, and the tetragonal pyramid-shaped porous nanostructure having high fraction of surface atoms located on the corners and edges, resulting in an improved catalytic activity.


This work consists of 2 parts - theoretical part describe the most importatn steps by market research, gaining information for this research, also the PEST and SWOT analysys of the company. This theoretical part is an important basis for the analytical part of my work, which gets by with market research of Ukranine for firm MBB Hubfix Ltd. One of the objectives is to gain of new trade partners in Ukraine.


Locational matching, i.e. the ambition to neutral- ize the locational advantage of a competitor by selecting the same location, is studied in an oligopolistic and particularly in a duopolistic context. Two testing methods are discussed and applied to three cases, one international, one national and one local. Both methods give indications of locational matching. Problem


Potential-pH diagrams and anodic oxidation behavior of antimony electrode were studied in buffer solution of various pH.The antimony electrode was prepared from granular antimony of two kinds purity; one was 99.9% and the other was 99.999%.Those granular antimony were m elted at 950 K in vacuum and atmosphere. The electrolyte of various buffer solution of pH 2-13 was used.The results show that potential-pH diagr ams is different by deaerated buffer solution and air saturated buffer solution. The value of the potential of the electrode in deaerated buffer solution for pH range 6-13 is given approximately by the relationE(scE)0.230-0.0591 pHwhich is equilibrium equation ofSb+ 2 H 2 0 = H S bO2+3 H++3 eCalvanostatical anodic oxidation resulted in the formatio n of a Sb20, on antimony, and a HSbO2 outer layer produced dissolved antimony ion.The formation ratio of Sb203 layer was increas ed with amounts of charge passed.


Objectives: To examine the associations between hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and (1) 5‐year all‐cause mortality and (2) serum erythropoietin (EPO), as the basis for the identification of data‐driven thresholds, and to assess the clinical relevance of mildly low Hb.


There is no doubt that the introduction of fluorides,has played a significant role in the decline of prevalence of dental caries.Despite its success,dental caries and cavities remain a global health problem.While fluoride is highly effective,economical agent for caries prevention,Even with regular fluoride use, carious lesions can still develop when there are more dietary sugar exposures therefore it must be recognized that in many situations.Fluorides Alone May Not Be Sufficient.Dental caries is multifactorial and all non-fluoride measures should be evaluated properly so that they can be introduced at the community level for its prevention.Though fluoride will continue to be the mainstay of any caries prevention protocol ,they alone may not offer complete protection against the disease, and it is generally recognized that the effectiveness of fluoride could be enhanced when combined with additional cariostatic agents.Based on the current understanding of caries process,several preventive strategies have been developed or are under investigation, suggesting a future where caries prevention will not be narrowly focussed on fluoride therapies.This review will state the current status of some non fluoride agents for caries prevention.


INTRODUCTION: Snake bite is one of the common emergencies encountered in our emergency practice and is more common in tropical india where farming is predominant occupation. Viper snake bites are common than other poisonous snake bites in humans. According to World Health Organization there are approximately 1,25,000 deaths amongst 2,50,000 snake bites every year worldwide, out of which India accounts for more than 10,000 deaths. Acute kidney Injury (AKI) is a major complication of snake bite and its adequate supportive management with antisnake venom administration is of high importance, for a good patient outcome. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To Study The Clinical Prole Of Renal Dysfunction In Snake Bite Patients In A Tertiary Care Centre STUDY DESIGN: This is a descriptive and retrospective type of study. RESULTS: The study includes 50 cases admitted in the hospital from August 2017 to August 2018. In our study, viper bite was more common and was seen in 31 cases. Majority of the patients who had renal dysfunction had visited traditional healers intially before visiting the hospital. Patients who developed Renal dysfunction had more "Bite to Needle" time. Out of 29 patients who suffered from Renal dysfunction, 21 patients survived. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that Renal Dysfunction occurs in the victims of snake bite if timely intervention is not done. The common complications include sepsis, shock, bleeding manifestations, cellulitis, and gangrene at the site of the bite.


Progress in the applications of television to fields other than entertainment has been much slower than was at first anticipated. From a survey of the history and requirements of the technique it is concluded that the initial approach was misguided and the results consequently discouraging. The economic basis of industrial television is then analysed and current and future trends in equipment design are briefly considered. A survey of some typical established applications is given which covers the four major fields, namely industry, commerce, science and education; applications are classified under four headings, respectively control and surveillance, data transmission, instructional and experimental. The paper concludes by postulating an eventual reversal of the present relative importance of the entertainment and utilitarian applications.


The whole history of transient flow field near free surface due to body exiting from water was quantitatively captured by PIV facility .It is shown that PIV system is suitable technical means for strong transient flow problem with free surface.


Seam puckering is the most important factor in sewing process. The evaluation method for seam puckering, however, has not been fully established. The evaluation should accord with the subjective one. A measurement system with a laser displacement meter was constructed for quantitative evaluation of puckering. The 3-dimensional shape of fabric surface was measured precisely by this system. The pucker of two groups of samples was measured by this system. At the same time a consumers' group evaluated the same samples and classified them into five grades. The evaluation pattern was different for each person. Discriminant analysis was used for objective evaluation of seam puckering. Logarithmic power spectra were calculated for each sample. Both the area of measurement and the frequency band of the pucker were divided into three parts. Logarithmic power spectra were summed up in each divided area and each frequency band. After all, nine valuables were obtained and used for discriminant analysis. More than 70% of predictions by the analysis agreed with the evaluation by consumers.


Referring to the physiological structure of horse,the structure and walking control method of a quadruped robot was researched.In order to check the aceuracy of this method,at first,a structural model of quadruped horse robot,which has 12 joints and four globose feet,was designed according to the bionic theory,and the reverse kinematics of this robot was acquired.And then,based on the structural model,the walk gait and trot gait were designed and realized.The walk experiment results indicate the validity of proposed structural model for quadruped horse robot and realization method of its two gaits.


Using Housing Situation Survey 2019/2020, we uncover the following facts regarding the duration of actual residence in the first home of a lifetime. First, the higher the age of buying the first home and the larger the area of the first home, the longer the (expected) residence period to live in the first home. Second, the higher the education level of the head of household and the greater the additional unexpected income, the shorter the length of stay in the first home. Third, the increase in household debt adversely affects the period of residence in the first home. It is interpreted as meaning that the probability of living in the first house is low for households who have purchased their first home by receiving a large amount of mortgage loan or Jeonse deposit. Based on these findings, this study suggests a selective policy of providing the housing finance support for purchasing the first house in life to households with a long (expected) period of actual residence and providing alternative Jeonse loans to those who do not.


Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is one of the most common condition encounter in the stifle of dogs. It still has a controversial etiology and treatment in veterinary medicine. Many professionals find difficulties in to diagnose and chose the surgical procedure to be adopted. In Brazil, the treatment approach using corrective osteotomies is increasing, and Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) is one of the techniques most widely used by professional. The objective of this study was to review the most important issues associated to the rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament, and to describe the technical principles behind the use of correcting tibial plateau angle, and surgical technique of TPLO. The surgical procedure is directly associated to the success or failure of treatment, and the importance of the postoperative complications must be taken into consideration.


The isospin breaking in the nucleon isovector axial charge, $g_A^3$, are calculated within the external field QCD sum-rule approach. The isospin violations arising from the difference in up and down current quark masses and in up and down quark condensates are included; electromagnetic effects are not considered. We find $\delta g^3_A/g^3_A \approx (0.5-1.0)\times 10^{-2}$, where $\delta g^3_A = (g^3_A)_p + (g^3_A)_n$ and $ g^3_A = [(g^3_A)_p - (g^3_A)_n]/2$. Using the Goldberger-Treiman relation, we also obtain an estimate of the isospin breaking in the pion-nucleon coupling constant, $(g_{pp\pi_0}-g_{nn\pi_0})/g_{NN\pi} \approx (2-7) \times 10^{-3}$.


I Kamisan Atan and co-authors are to be congratulated for their rigorously designed and performed randomised controlled trial (RCT) of an interesting and clinically important question: can progressive vaginal distension, by use of an inflated vaginal balloon device in late pregnancy, decrease the occurrence of birth trauma? Unfortunately, the answer appears to be 'no'. The pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse is becoming better understood, particularly with advances in multidimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound imaging (Singh et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:910–5) that detect subclinical pelvic changes related to vaginal birth, which has long been recognised as an important risk factor for prolapse. To allow passage of the evolutionarily large fetal head through a woman's pelvis, the pelvic muscles must undergo dramatic deformation, so it is not surprising that pelvic muscle damage, either avulsion or over-distension, occurs in as many as one-third of women having their first vaginal birth (Dietz et al. BJOG 2008;115:979–84). Similarly, results of this RCT found pelvic muscle damage in 27% of women, with levator avulsion in 13.1% and over-distension (termed microtrauma in this trial) in 13.8%. In contrast to the results of a small observational study that reported a significantly higher chance of delivery with an intact perineum in women who used the Epi-No device, compared with standard practice (Kovacs et al. Aust NZ J Obstet Gynaecol 2004; 44:347–48), perineal outcomes in this trial did not differ between groups. Overall, approximately three-quarters of women achieved vaginal delivery, with half delivering over an intact perineum and about one-quarter undergoing episiotomy. The trial results confirmed the under-diagnosis of obstetric anal sphincter damage, which was clinically recognised in only 5–7% of women, equally in both groups, versus 17.6% found by ultrasound. Overall, the RCT results were reassuring regarding safety: the use of the birth trainer did not seem to cause pelvic damage, with the possible exception of an increased risk of ultrasound-diagnosed external anal sphincter defect, which was marginally statistically significant in the intention-to-treat analysis (21% in the intervention group versus 14% in the control group; risk ratio, RR, 1.44; P = 0.07), and statistically significant in the treatment-received analysis (22 versus 12%, respectively; RR 1.76; P = 0.007). Is it possible, then, to alter the biomechanical properties of the pelvic muscles to protect them from damage during vaginal birth? This trial was not designed to answer that specific question; however, I believe the authors appropriately chose to study the clinical impact of their intervention. If any impact had been observed, it would then be possible to establish the mechanism by which the impact occurred. Negative results may seem disappointing, but they are an important contribution to the growing body of knowledge about birth trauma and later consequences for pelvic floor function. Birthrelated pelvic damage cannot currently be predicted and, at least for levator avulsion, once such damage has occurred, it appears to be irreversible. Thus, ideally, the results of further research will inform changes in prenatal, obstetric, and postnatal practices to improve pelvic health, and its related quality-of-life impact, for women.


16–21. 3 Hunter GR, Bickel CS, Fisher G, Neumeier W, McCarthy J. Combined Aerobic/Strength Training and Energy Expenditure in Older Women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2013;45:1386–93. 4 Foster-Schubert KE, Alfano CM, Duggan CR et al. Effect of diet and exercise, alone or combined, on weight and body composition in overweight-to-obese postmenopausal women. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2012;20: 1628–38. 5 Nicolaı̈ SP, Kruidenier LM, Leffers P, Hardeman R, Hidding A, Teijink JA. Supervised exercise versus non-supervised exercise for reducing weight in obese adults. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2009;49:85–90. 6 Slentz CA, Duscha BD, Johnson JL et al. Effects of the amount of exercise on body weight, body composition, and measures of central obesity: STRRIDE – a randomized controlled study. Arch Intern Med 2004;164: 31–39. 7 Després JP, Pouliot MC, Moorjani S et al. Loss of abdominal fat and metabolic response to exercise training in obese women. Am J Physiol 1991;261(2 Pt 1):E159–67. 8 Ross R, Dagnone D, Jones PJ et al. Reduction in obesity and related comorbid conditions after diet-induced weight loss or exercise-induced weight loss in men. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2000;133: 92–103. 9 Hunter GR, Brock DW, Byrne NM, Chandler-Laney PC, Del Corral P, Gower BA. Exercise training prevents regain of visceral fat for 1 year following weight loss. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2010;18:690–95. 10 Treuth MS, Hunter GR, Figueroa-Colon R, Goran MI. Effects of strength training on intra-abdominal adipose tissue in obese prepubertal girls. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998;30:1738–43. 11 Hunter GR, Bryan DR, Wetzstein CJ, Zuckerman PA, Bamman MM. Resistance training and intra-abdominal adipose tissue in older men and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002;34:1023–28. 12 Ross R, Bradshaw AJ. The future of obesity reduction: beyond weight loss. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2009;5:319–25. 13 Weinsier RL, Hunter GR, Desmond RA, Byrne NM, Zuckerman PA, Darnell BE. Free-living activity energy expenditure in women successful and unsuccessful at maintaining a normal body weight. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;75:499–504. 14 Weinsier R, Hunter G, Zuckerman P et al. Energy expenditure and free-living physical activity in black and white women: comparison before and after weight loss. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:1138–46. 15 Woo R, Pi-Sunyer FX. Effect of increased physical activity on voluntary intake in lean women. Metabolism 1985;34: 836–41. 16 Stubbs RJ, Sepp A, Hughes DA et al. The effect of graded levels of exercise on energy intake and balance in freeliving men, consuming their normal diet. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56:129–40. 17 Stubbs RJ, Sepp A, Hughes DA et al. The effect of graded levels of exercise on energy intake and balance in freeliving women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002;26: 866–69. 18 White LJ, Dressendorfer RH, Holland E, McCoy SC, Ferguson MA. Increased calorie intake soon after exercise in cold water. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2005;15: 38–47. 19 Shorten AL, Wallman KE, Guelfi KJ. Acute effect of environmental temperature during exercise on subsequent energy intake in active men. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90: 1215–21. 20 Werle CO, Wansink B, Payne CR. Just thinking about exercise makes me serve more food. Physical activity and calorie compensation. Appetite 2011;56: 332–35. 21 Ahrens CS. Effects of Exercise-Related versus EntertainmentRelated Conversation on Post-Exercise Food Consumption. Antionian Scholars Honors Program. St. Paul/ Minneapolis, MN: St. Catherine University, 2012.


ST. LOuts (JP}-A stray alley cat aeeldnarefuee from a nlutorm wandered Into a hotel and won two prlses 8unda)' at tile ,-reater St. Lout. cat club pow, The male Maltese. adOPted and n&meci "Mr. SUver" b)' .. lei tao.teu Marcella Duffy. took top honors In the best color 'or kUtens class and In the non-champion clUli. Occasional snow and a little change in temper. OW' . 1/11 if ature. sn.ow changing to flurries and turning U r l . colder tonight and tomorrow. High today 36 •


In the period of December 1, 1993 to February 28, 1994, considerable progress in the experimental study of monogranular layer simple shear flow device was made. Experimental data concerning the mean granular velocity, fluctuation velocity and solid volume fraction were obtained. The resulting data revealed new interesting features of particulate flows. The thermodynamically consistent, rate dependent model for turbulent two-phase flows and its application to analysis of simple shear flow was completed. Further progress on the application of the kinetic model for rapid flows of granular materials including the frictional energy losses were made. The flow over a vibrating plate was analyzed and the velocity, the fluctuation energy and the solid volume fraction profiles were evaluated. A computational model for analyzing flow of granular materials in ducts and passages with bumpy walls was developed. The special cases of Couette and chute flows was analyzed. The results were compared with the experimental data and good agreement was observed. Flows of gas-solid mixtures in vertical ducts were studied. A computational model for analyzing two-phase flow was developed, and the phasic mean velocity and fluctuation energy profiles were evaluated.


Molecular reactive force field,Reax FF-lg,was used to study shock-induced chemical events of CL-20 / BTF cocrystal. The results show that,when shock wave was loaded along different direction at 9 km·s- 1,both CL-20 and BTF molecules decompose quickly. Different directions present different decomposition rates and the decomposition speed along X axial direction is the fastest. Clusters with high molecular mass appear in earlier stage. Molecular weight of clusters decreases,but amounts of clusters increase subsequently. At early stage,the primary step is the fracture of the N-NO2 bond to yield NO2. The number of the primary product N2 obviously fluctuates during the whole process. It hits the maximum at about 28 ps. Shock velocity has slight influence on the reaction at the last stage.


This paper reports from a qualitative study on informal conditions for the implementation credit transfer system in vocation education and training (VET) in Poland based on European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET). The study was conducted just before the new law of VET (October 1st 2011) came into force. It introduced: (1)new vocational core curriculum which includes 200 school occupations, in which 252 qualifications are distinguished, (2) learning outcomes approach, (3) the examination requirements based on learning outcomes specified for the qualifications, and other tools supporting credit transfer and accumulation. The main purpose of the paper is to analyse the VET stakeholders knowledge, understanding and opinion on these new solutions and general on credit transfer and accumulation concept which aims at supporting development of lifelong learning. On the very general level respondents support all solutions that could improve learners employability and education opportunities. However part of them do not perform in-depth knowledge and reflections on such concepts as learning outcomes approach. They indicate also a number of drawbacks of the VET reform in Poland that is implemented in a hurry without sufficient support for schools, teachers and learners.


The Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries (CDSD) is a large collection of complex digitized Sanskrit dictionaries, consisting of over thirty-five works, and is the most prominent collection of Sanskrit dictionaries worldwide. In this paper we evaluate two methods for transforming the CDSD into Ontolex-Lemon based on a modelling exercise. The first method that we evaluate consists of applying RDFa to the existent TEI-P5 files. The second method consists of transforming the TEI-encoded dictionaries into new files containing RDF triples modelled in OntoLex-Lemon. As a result of the modelling exercise we choose the second method: to transform TEI-encoded lexical data into Ontolex-Lemon by creating new files containing exclusively RDF triples.


This study examines the reliability, validity, and practicality of six measures of cross-cultural pragmatic competence. The multi-test framework used here was developed by Hudson, Detmer, and Brown at the University of Hawaii and consists of six tests which focus on the students' ability to appropriately produce the speech acts of requests, apologies, and refusals in situations involving varying degrees of relative power, social distance, and imposition. These measures have previously been tested on native Japanese learners of English in an ESL context (Hudson et aI., 1992, 1995) and on learners of Japanese in a JSL context (Yamashita, 1996). The current study administered these tests to native Japanese learners in an EFL context . Four of the tests proved highly reliable and valid and two of the tests less so. Furthermore, the tests clearly differentiated those students who had a substantial amount of overseas experience from those who had not, a distinction not shown by the students' TOEFL scores. *~1.'li, 6li~<7) 7'7,/77 -{ '/ 7 ~~JJij!JJ5E7 A " <7)*~tt . fN~tt . ~ffltt ~~~T ~o ':<7)6li$.<7)7A Hi, nOO~~'m~7pgfWL.n'~, U41&::tX&T1.'<7)~tJJ~d~~· W~ . 1fJi':b '.J ~m<7)~Ji!U~jJ ~ ~U5ET ~ t:.V;, /\ '71"t:.'* <7) Hudson, Detmer, and Brown~: l~~~R~h~~<7)1.'~~~ ':hi1.'K~B*A •• ,*'m~~W.B*.,*'m~i~


The application of the concepts in oil and gas distillation to membrane desalination process to lower the energy cost for seawater desalination was studied in this paper. Drawing on the close analogy between multistage RO and conventional distillation separation processes, a hybrid membrane processes employing reflux and recycle concepts was developed. Reflux in membrane processes involves taking a portion of the effluent stream on the high pressure side and sending it to the low pressure side of the membrane, while recycle involves taking a portion of the permeate stream on the low pressure side and sending it to the high pressure side of the membrane. A predictive model was developed to study the effect of reflux and recycle on the specific energy consumption (SEC) and permeate quality when compared to conventional systems. In this study, the water permeability coefficients of membranes and brine recycle ratios were investigated. The results show that the SEC for a hybrid membrane processes comprising of RO and NF membrane was lower than conventional methods with the same recovery and feed concentration, suggesting that it is feasible to apply reflux and recycle concepts of distillation on desalination. Through the careful selection of RO membranes and NF membranes, benefits of reflux and recycle can be enjoyed for seawater desalination.


To improve the accuracy and real-time performance of vehicle recognition in an advanced driving-assistance system (ADAS), a vehicle recognition method based on radar and camera information fusion is proposed. Firstly, the millimeter-wave radar and camera are calibrated jointly, the radar recognition information is mapped on the camera image, and the region of interest is established. Then, based on operator edge detection, global threshold binarization is performed on the image of the region of interest (ROI) to obtain the contour information of the vehicle in front, and Hough transform is used to fit the vehicle contour edge straight line. Finally, a sliding window is established according to the symmetry characteristics of the fitting line, which can find the vehicle region with the highest symmetry and complete the identification of the vehicle. The experimental results show that compared to the original recognition region of the radar, the mean square error of this algorithm is reduced by 13.4 and the single frame detection time is reduced to 28 ms. It is proven that the algorithm has better accuracy and a faster detection rate, and it can solve the problem of an inaccurate recognition region caused by radar error.


In order to identify arrhythmia more simply and efficiently, one-dimensional convolutional neural network is used to extract electrocardiogram signal features and a neural network model based on cardiac beat is established, which can identify eight major ECG arrhythmia types. The cross entropy loss function is weighted according with the data distribution to solve the data imbalance problem. Experiments verify the effectiveness of the weighted cross-entropy loss function in ECG recognition, which improves the accuracy of all kinds to more than 99.5% and the sensitivity of all kinds to more than 90%. Compared with other models, this model can improve the performance of ECG arrhythmia recognition.


Simple Summary This study aims to investigate how epidermal growth factor (EGF) attenuates the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, microelement absorption of early-weaned pigs. A total of 48 early weaned piglets were randomly distributed to four groups consisting of a 2 × 2 factorial design. The main factors were the level of LPS (HLPS = high LPS: 100 μg/kg body weight; ZLPS = low LPS: 0 μg/kg body weight) and EGF (HEGF = high EGF: 2 mg/kg diet; ZEGF = low EGF: 0 mg/kg diet). Each group had four replicates and each replicate consisted of three piglets. The results showed that HLPS level decreased the growth performance and the apparent digestibility of crude fat, while HEGF level increased the average daily feed intake. The concentration of most microelements in the gastrointestinal tract chyme and feces were increased by HLPS level and decreased by HEGF level. The expression levels of most microelement transport-relative genes in the mucosa of gastrointestinal tissues were decreased by HLPS level and increased by HEGF level. In conclusion, dietary EGF could attenuate the negative effect of LPS exposure on the apparent digestibility of crude fat and microelement absorption through changing the expression levels of microelement transport-relative genes. EGF can be used as an additive to increase the essential trace elements absorption in the early weaning piglets. Abstract Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in nutrients absorption. However, whether it can be an effective additive to improve the growth performance and nutrients absorption in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged early weaning piglets is still unknown. A 14-days trial was conducted to investigate how EGF attenuates the effect of LPS on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, microelement absorption of early-weaned pigs, and study the underlying mechanism. A total of 48 early weaned piglets, aged 25 days, were randomly distributed to four groups (control, EGF, LPS and EGF + LPS groups) consisting of a 2 × 2 factorial design. The main factors were the level of LPS (HLPS = high LPS: 100 μg/kg body weight; ZLPS = low LPS: 0 μg/kg body weight) and EGF (HEGF = high EGF: 2 mg/kg diet; ZEGF = low EGF: 0 mg/kg diet). Each group had four replicates and each replicate consisted of three piglets. The results showed that piglets injected with HLPS level significantly decreased the average daily gain (ADG), and significantly increased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with the piglets injected with ZLPS level, while piglets fed HEGF level significantly increased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared with the piglets fed ZEGF level (p < 0.05). Piglets injected with HLPS level significantly decreased the apparent digestibility of crude fat compared with the piglets injected with ZLPS level (p < 0.05). Piglets injected with HLPS level significantly increased the concentration of most microelements in the gastrointestinal tract chyme and feces, and significantly decreased the expression levels of most microelement transport-relative genes in the mucosa of gastrointestinal tissues compared with the piglets injected with ZLPS level (p < 0.05). Piglets fed HEGF level significantly decreased the concentration of microelement in the gastrointestinal tract chyme and feces, and significantly increased the expression levels of the microelement transport-relative genes in the mucosa of gastrointestinal tissues compared with the piglets fed ZEGF level (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary EGF could attenuate the negative effect of LPS exposure on the apparent digestibility of crude fat and microelement absorption of early-weaning piglets. EGF and LPS influenced the absorption of essential trace element through changing the expression levels of microelement transport-relative genes in the mucosa of gastrointestinal tissues. In the early weaning piglets, EGF can be used as an additive to increase the essential trace elements absorption.


Field results from a 132 kV, SF/sub 6/ circuit breaker (CB) using a 2.5 GSps, 1 GHz bandwidth, measuring system showed that radiated transients contained distinct frequency components at 300 MHz, 500 MHz and 840 MHz. Using a simplified NEC based model of the CB, these frequency components are shown to be related to the physical size of the breaker switching contacts.


This study aims to produce and test the effectiveness of the fundamental movement skills (FMS) learning model product, let's exercise on students with mild intellectual disability (ID) in primary special need education (SDLB) Palembang City. This research took place in 2018 before the pandemic Covid-19 era. The subjects of the small group trial were 10 students and 4 teachers, and the subjects for the large group trial were 23 students and 4 teachers for grade 1 in 3rd  SDLB serving children with ID in Palembang City. The data analysis technique used the z test effectiveness test (parameter) and the Wilcoxon test (non parameter). The results showed that the large group trial data for aspects of basic movement skills, cognitive abilities, pleasure (fun), and focus of attention obtained an average value of trial 2 greater than trial 1, as well as the z-count value of the lets exercise model of play activity is greater. from the z-table value (1.96), so the difference is significant. So it can be concluded that the game model lets exercise be effective for improving FMS, cognitive abilities, pleasure, and focus on attention of grade 1 students with mild ID in SDLB.


* Abstract: Water use efficiency (WUE) and competition ratio (CR) response of three warm season C 4 -cereals (grasses) viz. corn (Zea mays L., cv. Hybrid-5393 VT3), grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench, cv. Hybrid-84G62 PAT), and foxtail millets (Setaria italic, cv. German Strain R) in pure and mixed stands under low and high water levels was investigated. The experiment was conducted in pot experiment at Dryland Agriculture Institute, West Texas AM but the WUE was 24% less in the three crops mixed stand than the two crops mixed stand at 90 DAE. Corn-mixed stand in two crops (average of corn + sorghum and corn + mil- lets) had 78, 74, and 74% higher WUE than the mixed stand of sorghum and millets at 30, 60, and 90 DAE, respectively. Corn and millets mixed stand had 14, 10, and 26% higher WUE than the corn and sorghum mixed stand at 30, 60, and 90 DAE,


: The systematic approach of complex technical devices design allows not only to design new devices and objects, but also to automate the design process. This article discusses the seven-layer spiral design model, which can be used to simplify the design process of complex devices in areas of mechanical engineering and computer engineering. The spiral model in this work is used for automation of analog IP-cores design; in particular, the windows application that implements the automated design system of analog low-pass filters was developed. The application allows user to design the filter scheme in automated mode after inputting the parameters. The proposed method has certain benefits compared to the known automated design methods for the specific object classes.


Transverse flow plate-shaped separator for liquids from a gas stream, in particular for oil mists, having a plurality of transverse parallel juxtaposed to the flow direction of the gas stream separating profiles, each of which forms two curved, offset each other laterally with the concave side opposite deflecting surfaces on which a cleanable gas stream flows successively along, wherein the deflection surfaces include a swirl chamber with an inlet gap and an outlet gap between itself and terminate at their longitudinal edges in an over the deflection surfaces protruding, along the longitudinal edges extending projection, characterized in that at least one of the protrusions (19) first, substantially planar, substantially transverse to the deflection surface (10) emerging from this outer surface (20) and a second, substantially planar, adjoining at an acute angle thereto second outer surface (21), so that the at least one projection (19) forms a projecting into the the deflection surfaces (10) along the flowing gas stream pointed edge (24), the at least one projection (19) on ...


Localized microstructure and elemental redistribution were induced in bismuth germanate glasses by irradiation with high repetition rate 800 nm femtosecond laser pulses. The confocal Raman spectra were examined to study the redistribution of elements and residual thermal stress. The microscopic Raman spectra indicated that the residual thermal stress increases from the unmodified region to the center of the laser modified region, while Bi is enriched at the boundary area of the inner structure of the laser modified region relative to Ge. Electron microprobe analysis further confirmed the elemental redistribution of Bi and Ge, which agrees well with the Raman spectral analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The centrality of the concept of equation in Mathematics and in other areas, both in Basic Education and in Higher Education was one of the main reasons to develop this research whose objective was to identify and to understand the conceptions of equation from prospective mathematics teachers. Grounded on Theory of Conceptual Profiles and researches about Conceptual Profile of Equation, the investigation was constituted on a qualitative research, in an interpretative perspective, whose data were analyzed according to the Content Analysis method. It becomes evident, in its findings, that the conceptions of equation of future mathematics teachers investigated are related to some zones of a Conceptual Profile of Equation under construction, especially with those that refer to the pragmatic and procedural character of the equations. The data analysis also allowed the elaboration of a new zone of the Conceptual Profile of Equation, denominated Formal Zone, besides the reorganization of the other zones of the profile.


This study looks at the performance model of mouse movement from the following three viewpoints: (a) effects of the direction of movement on the performance model, (b) optimal formula to define the size of targets in the performance model, and (c) comparison of fit to the pointing time among five performance models. As a result, it was shown that the fit to the experimental data did not differ among four conditions of direction of movement The contribution of the performance model was found to be the highest when the square of the area of a target is used as the size of a target. Moreover, the performance model based on the multiple‐regression analysis was better than that based on Fitts's law.


ratio had returned to normal by the 14th week of treatment. The value of the radioactive bromide partition test in excluding tuberculous meningitis is illustrated by the following three cases. Case 13.-This 19-year-old English man was admitted to hospital with a five-day history of sore throat, headache, vomiting, and meningism. He was ill-looking, anaemic, and had signs of meningitis. C.S.F. on admission showed 36 white cells/mm3 (70% polymorphs 30% lymphocytes) and 53 mg/ 100 ml sugar and 80 mg/ 100 ml protein. He remained ill and febrile, and a repeat C.S.F. a week later showed some deterioration, with 145 white cells/mm3 (90% lymphocytes) and 42 mg/100 ml sugar and 158 mg/100 ml protein. The possibility of tuberculous meningitis was then considered, but as the bromide ratio at that time was 2-2 chemotherapy was withheld, and thereafter he improved rapidly. An echovirus type 4 was later isolated from the C.S.F. and guinea-pig inoculation was negative. Case 14.-A 16-year old English boy was admitted with a twoweek history of backache, headache, vomiting, and abdominal pains. He had signs of meningitis. C.S.F. on admission contained 245 white cells/mm3 (84% lymphocytes) and 49 mg/100 ml sugar and 146 mg/100 ml protein. Although initially regarded as a case of virus meningitis, the possibility of tuberculosis infection arose when he remained ill and febrile after five days in hospital. Repeat C.S.F. showed a further rise in protein (200 mg) and a depression of the sugar level (33 mg/100 ml). The bromide ratio, however, was 2.5 and antituberculous treatment was withheld. He then recovered rapidly and uneventfully. Case 15.-A 46-year-old Pakistani man was admitted with a sixday history of headache, vomiting, and photophobia. He also complained of persistent cough for seven months. Admission C.S.F. showed 285 white cells/mm3 (90% lymphocytes), 42 mg/100 ml sugar and 142/100 ml protein. The possibility of tuberculous infection was considered but a radioactive bromide partition test gave a ratio of 1.7. No treatment was given and he made a rapid and complete recovery.


macroadenoma. We recently reported very similar data comparing the clinical and biochemical characteristics of 11 patients with a corticotroph microad- enoma and 10 patients with a corticotroph macroadenoma (2). We found indeed a significantly lower suppressibility of plasma cortisol after the standard high dose dexamethasone test in the group of patients with a macroadenoma ( 2 30% 6 14 vs. 2 61% 6 35 for microadenomas; P , 0.05). A similar trend was present when considering urinary 17-OHCS, but not UFC, during the same test. The ratio of mean cortisol to mean ACTH, another indirect index of endogenous glucocorticoid feed-back, was also significantly lower in patients with a macroadenoma and was, significantly, inversely related to adenoma size. Taken together, our results and those of Katznelson and colleagues strongly suggest a lower sensitivity of corticotroph macroadenomas to glucocorticoid feed-back. Basal plasma ACTH were higher in our patients with a corticotroph macroadenoma (morning ACTH: 134 6 78 vs. 52 6 28 ng/L; P , 0.05), as in the to 11 subjects with corticotroph microadenomas. There was a trend for a reduction in urinary 17-OHCS, but no change in UFC. The finding of less suppressibility of plasma cortisol in patients with macroadenomas sup- ports our previous findings of diminished suppressibility in patients with macroadenomas, although we did not measure plasma cortisol responsesinourinvestigation.However,asnotedbySelvaisandMaiter,suppressibilityofurinary17-OHCSandUFCwassimilarbetweenpa-tientswithmacroadenomasandmicroadenomas.Thesefindingsareincontrasttooursandmayreflectdifferencesinpatientnumberoranalysistechniques.Nevertheless,bothstudiessupportthehypothesisthatre-sponsetotheconventionalhighdexamethasonesuppressiontestmayhaveanalteredsetpointinpatientswithcorticotrophmacroadenomascomparedwithmicroadenomas.Wemayneedtoredefineinterpretationofhighdosedexamethasonesuppressiontestsinpatientswithcortico-trophmacroadenomas,or,insomecases,relyonthebaselineACTHlevelsandradiographicimagingstudiestodeterminetheappropriateclinicalapproach.Specifically,highdosedexamethasonenonsuppress-ibilityanddetectableACTHlevelsmaybeseeninpatientswithCush-ing'sdisease,particularlyduetocorticotrophmacroadenomas.Whycorticotrophmacroadenomasdevelopinsteadofthemorefre-quentlyoccurringmicroadenomasisunclear.Therearemultiplepo-tentialmechanismsthatmaycontributetothepathogenesisofmac-roadenomas. Using the MIB-1 antibody to stain for the cell cycle antigen Ki-67, we have shown that there is a trend for higher proliferative activityincorticotrophmacroadenomascomparedwithmicroadenomas setpoint study calcium excretion associated long-term, much larger doses of aspartame (2). In our 108 healthy men and women, 18–62 yr, received either aspartame 75 mg per kg of body weight per day in capsules, 3 times a day, or placebo for a 6-month period. An 18-factor battery of blood chemistries was analyzed at baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 weeks, and 24-h urine specimens were analyzed for calcium and creatinine at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. No significant differences from baseline levels within or between study group were noted in blood chemistries, including calcium and phos-phoruslevels.Furthermoretherewasnochangefrombaselineinurinarycalciumexcretioneitherexpressedinmilligramsper24horbya24-hcalciumtocreatinineratiowithinorbetweentheaspartameandplacebogroups.Theresultsofthisstudydocumentthesafetyofchroniccon-sumptionofaspartame,includingnoeffectoncalciumhomeostasis,atdosesapproximately25timestheaveragedailyconsumptionforAmer-icans(3),equivalenttotheamountofaspartameinapproximately10litersperdayofbeverage. the effects of long- term, large doses of aspartame on of The results of their study document the safety of chronic consumption of large doses of aspartame including no effect on calcium homeostasis. In our study, we observed, in the fasting state and after an overnight fast, an increase in calciuria during the 3 h after an oral load of either 250 mg aspartame or 75 g glucose (2).


The paper presents a performance analysis of cooperative free space optical (FSO) link, which consists of source, relay, and destination. In order to provide cooperative diversity gain the source transmits information to the destination via two paths. One path is the direct path from the source to destination and the second path is via relay. The signals received from both the paths are combined using maximal ratio combining (MRC) at the destination. For the considered system, expression for outage probability is derived over a weak atmospheric turbulent channel with path loss. Further, the performance of the system is demonstrated using numerical analysis and simulation. Keywords—Free space optical communication systems; log normal fading; outage probability; path loss.


Abscess of the spleen refers to an unusual complication of typhoid fever. Clinical and pathomorphological observation of cases of this complication are few and mainly relate to the regions with the epidemic spread of typhoid fever. Up to the present time there is no single point of view on the pathogenesis of this condition. Experience in diagnosis and treatment of such complication in young man is presented in this article. The diagnostic algorithm included the use of ultrasound diagnostics, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and morphological interpretation of this complication, considered it as a rupture of a cavity in the spleen, was performed on the basis of the detailed histological examination. The cause of the complication was a congenital dysplastic abnormality – angioma of the spleen.


The present study is aimed to analyze the influence of the use of technology in the processes of learning Mathematics; specifically, the content of geometry at the seventh grade by implementing a Didactic Unit in which GeoGebra, Quizizz, PowToon and Kahoot applications were used. This qualitative research included a group of teachers and two sections of seventh graders at the Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Grecia Costa Rica. One of the sections was the control group and the other the experimental group. For the collection of the data, observations, questionnaires and field notes were used. The findings revealed that the applications implemented contributed to the motivation of the students in class. In addition, the implementation of the applications allowed the students to attain a better visualization of the geometric figures. Therefore, the study showed that the incorporation of these applications is beneficial to the teaching and learning of the content of Geometry in the seventh grade.


Objectives The objective of this study was to compare ground reaction forces (GRFs) of a group of cats after femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO) with those of a historical control group. Methods We searched the database of the Small Animal Clinic of the Veterinary University in Vienna for cats that had undergone unilateral FHO at least 1 year previously. Owners were telephoned and invited to the clinic with their cats for a re-examination. An in-house owner questionnaire-based evaluation, complete orthopaedic examination, hip radiography and gait analysis with a pressure-sensitive plate were performed, and results were compared within and between groups (FHO group and control group [CG]). Results Seventeen cats that had undergone FHO (FHO group) at least 1 year previously and 15 healthy cats (CG) from a previous study were included. Measured GRFs (peak vertical force and vertical impulse [IFz] normalised to total force [%TF]) of the FHO legs were lower than those of the other legs of the FHO group and the legs of the CG. Results of the owner questionnaire were generally good and did not match the results of the GRF comparison. Furthermore, the gaits evaluated during the orthopaedic examination did not correlate with the measured GRFs where we identified a certain degree of lameness (reduced IFz, %TF) in all cats. Cats with limb shortening (dorsally displaced major trochanter major) were not revealed to have different GRF measurements. Conclusions and relevance This is the first study to assess GRFs in a large group of cats that had undergone FHO, comparing findings with those in healthy cats. Even if the differences are statistically significant, but rather small, our findings point to a long-term residual gait abnormality that could be detected using a pressure-sensitive plate but not always with an orthopaedic examination, in cats 1 year after FHO.


A K-band low power VCO fabricated by 0.13 µm CMOS technology is developed. By employing a NMOS cross-coupled pair with a transformer feedback, low phase noise under low dc power condition can be achieved at higher frequency. The VCO exhibits a 2.2 GHz frequency tuning range. The output power and the phase noise at 1 MHz offset are −10 dBm and −113 dBc/Hz, respectively. The dc power consumption is 0.6 V/3 mW. To author's knowledge, this performance achieves the best FOM in CMOS K-band VCOs.


The last few years have witnessed rapid development of knowledge-based systems to address a broad range of tasks in the engineering design domain. Recent attention has turned to the integration of modular systems to provide a unified approach to complex engineering problems, characterized by the need for interactive contributions by multiple design specialists. Issues in developing truly integrated systems center upon the establishment of effective communication among design participants. This paper presents a conceptual model for automated interactive engineering design, considering both the process architecture and semantic modeling aspects of the problem. A prototype system based on the conceptual model is also presented, operating in the domain of floor and equipment layout and design for industrial facilities.


Consistent Public Land Laws Enforcement Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, and other Federal law to classify as a Class B misdemeanor a violation of any regulation concerning the management, use, and protection of National Park System lands, National Forest lands, and other public lands. Makes a person guilty of a Class A misdemeanor (subject to a higher fine and/or imprisonment) for the knowing and willful violation of any such regulation. Provides authority to adjudge persons who commit such a violation to pay all costs of the proceedings.Allows fines so collected to be used to: (1) cover the costs of improvement, protection, or rehabilitation of the public lands rendered necessary by such violation; and (2) increase public awareness of such regulations and other requirements concerning public land use.