Abstract A correct management of the sinter plant is crucial for the productivity of an integrated steelwork, as the sinter quality has a direct and considerable impact of the blast furnace productivity and efficiency. To this aim, it is of utmost importance to continuously monitor the sintering process in order to preserve its stability as well as the homogeneity of the combustion along the entire length of the sinter bed. In particular, the permeability of the sinter mix once it lays on the strand is a crucial factor to monitor in the different areas of the bed together with the temperature distribution on the final part of the strand, just before the material discharge in the crusher. The charging gates, on the other hand, are the most natural mean to affect permeability itself, as their opening levels affect the distribution of the material on the strand. Here an innovative monitoring system is presented, which have been installed and tested at ILVA Taranto Works and integrates a series of measuring devices distributed on different zones of the machine. All the information collected by the sensing system is jointly exploited in order to obtain a clear and updated picture of the ongoing process, by providing a valuable support to plant engineers and technicians managing the sinter machine both for standard operations and for programming maintenance interventions.


Output and material composition of dust from steel-iron plants at home and abroad are introduced.The research status and problems of recovering zinc by hydrometallurgical methods from the dust are presented.


For over 40 years Nigeria's economy was driven by petroleum. During this period, her influence in Africa soared. It peaked in the 1970s and 80s, so much so that she spent oil money on the decolonization of certain countries in Africa. Natural Resource in Nigeria is owned by the people, but administered for the overall benefit of Nigerians by government. This precious natural gift lost its pride of place when the worth of petroleum dipped in the international market. Prior to this economic decline, Nigeria adopted a near socialist system by operating a subsidy regime. Because what belongs to government belongs to no specific person, Nigerian past leaders became profligate. A public property is nobody's property and can be misused and mismanaged. So, Natural Resources is a gift from God to be used to develop a given area or country for the betterment of the people. Natural Resources can be better harnessed by private enterprise. Thus, deregulation in the least, or outright privatization is the best option in maximizing natural resources.
Keywords: Deregulation, Natural Resources, Exploitation of Natural Resources, National Development.


The following thesis negotiates interaction effects of electromagnetic fields with matter.
Divided into three parts.
The first part deals with the transition from the classical radiation field at the quantum radiation field excitations which are considered as particles with zero mass and spin 1.
In the same part analyzes the scattering of electromagnetic radiation by an atom and the Rayleigh scattering and Thomson.
The second part is analyzed phenomena the effect of a constant magnetic field to the material as the levels Landau, the Bohm - Aharonov effect , the Meisner effect and the quantization of the magnetic flux.
Finally the third and last part is the detailed calculation of the amplitudes and the transition probability from an initial to a final state and proves the rule Fermi and analyzes the necessity of this.


Malondialdehyde(MDA) is one of the active carbonyl compounds existing in human body,which can react with protein to form age pigment fluorescence products(APFs) by carbonyl-ammonia cross linking reaction.The purpose of this study is to determine whether tea catechins can inhibit the formation of the age pigment fluorescence products induced by MDA-modified human serum albumin(HSA).Results showed that tea catechins,especially the gallated-catechin,could inhibit the formation of APFs.The structure-activity relationship studies suggested that the inhibiting effects of tea catechins on the formation of APFs were correlated with their nucleophilicity,besides their trapping MDA directly.This research indicated that inhibiting carbonyl-ammonia cross linking reaction may be one of the mechanisms of tea catechins preventing and curing diseases resulting from carbonyl stress reaction.


Dickkopf-related protein 2 (259 aa, ~28 kDa) is encoded by the human DKK2 gene. This protein plays a role in the inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway.


High resolution photoionization and fluorescence excitation spectra of dimers of the aromatic molecule fluorene (C{sub 13}H{sub 12}){sub 2} reveal complex excitonic interactions. Comparison of results for isotopically pure and isotopically mixed dimers provide the information necessary to analyze the spectra in terms of intermolecular motion on two perturbed adiabatic potential surfaces. The intermolecular force field on the lower surface is characterized by a perturbed quartic potential, whereas the upper surface is characterized by a displaced quadratic potential. The results provide the first detailed experimental description of strong coupling between an intermolecular coordinate and the excitonic state of a molecular dimer.


Introduction: Action Observation (AO) with physical practice refers to observing an action and imitating the observed action. AO activates the same neural circuit responsible for planning and executing actions using a mirror neuron system, leading to increased excitability of motor cortex areas and enhancement of motor learning. Previous works described positive results on upper limb motor recovery, gait and balance of stroke patients. It is not clear if AO synchronized with physical practice could improve the hand function in patients with chronic stroke. Objective: To evaluate the effects of AO with synchronized physical practice on affected hand function recovery of chronic stroke patients and investigate the influence of time after stroke on recovery. Material and Methods: Thirteen patients with a single episode of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke in middle cerebral artery territory, occurring for at least three months, who were participants of a controlled clinical trial to assess the effects of AO with synchronized physical practice on affected upper limb recovery were selected in a non-random way after giving informed consent. Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test was used to evaluate the performance of different hand daily activities, such as: writing a short sentence, turning cards, picking up small objects, simulating feeding, stacking pieces and moving light and heavy cans, and the time for the execution of the task was recorded. Patients were divided into two groups, before two years after the stroke and after two years after the stroke for an additional analysis. Three evaluations were performed, the first at the beginning, the second at three months and the third at the end of the treatment. The intervention consisted of AO using thirty-five videos of selective arm movements, including range of motion exercises and hand skills. The treatment ocurred in small groups of patients, under direct supervision and assistance, and lasted six months, two times a week. ANOVA of repeated measures, with Tukey post-test was used to compare the three evaluation moments and investigate the effect of time after stroke on recovery. Level of statistical significance (p <0,05). Results: In the first evaluation, patients completed the test in 109,17 ± 11,13 seconds, after three months in 91,48 ± 9,03 seconds and after six months in 74,31 ± 8,16 seconds (p <0,001). Analysis of the effect of time after the stroke: before two years and after two years after stroke, showed statistical significant difference for the moment factor (p<0,001, F=18,359, n2p=0,625, power 99,9%), indicating improvement in both groups. However, the absence of significant difference for group (p=0,865, F=0,030, n2p=0,003, power 5,3%) and group x moment interaction factors (p=0,126, F=2,279, n2p=0,172; power 41,3%) indicated that the time after the stroke did not influence hand function recovery. Conclusion: AO with synchronized physical practice improved affected hand function recovery after six months of treatment and the time after stroke did not seem to interfere on recovery.


In conceptual design of fusion blanket, we have got rid of traditional methods, in which a kind of information is isolated from others, but apply modern CAD technology to create the integrated information models, and apply modern CAE technology to analyze all the same models for different engineering. The info-composition of blanket info-model is analyzed, based on an idea, by which blanket model is unified in the whole procedure from research-oriented to engineering-oriented. A method of blanket info-modeling is established. After extracting and abstracting blanket features, the geometric model is defined by Backus Normal Form and associative concepts are normalized. Thereby, blanket variable geometric model of Fusion-Driven Subcritical System is created, and all kind of information is integrated with the geometric model, under the platform of Unigraphics NX.


The rheological properties of aqua-ethanol-coal of varying degrees coal metamorphism, stabilized by macromolecular surfactants was studied by rotational viscometry. It was found that including of hydroxypropylcellulose as a stabilizer for dispersions of coal and water-ethanol mixtures, increasing their stability. It is shown that with increasing molecular weight of hydroxypropylcellulose viscosity of disperse systems increases, regardless of the degree of coal metamorphism. With increasing concentrations of the polymer injected more than 0.01 % of coal the viscosity of the systems increases sharply.


ABSTRACT Beyond questions of transition to and backsliding from democracy, scholars are beginning to debate the contours of democratic deepening. This paper develops an account of 'dignified development' to elaborate understandings of democratic deepening through an interpretive synthesis of the secondary literature on Bihar between 1990 and 2005 when the much-maligned Lalu Prasad Yadav controlled the State's governance. At a time when democracy is under threat not only in India but across the world, reflections on democratic depth offer us lessons on how democracy might be renewed and reinvigorated.


The common difficulty present among the Indian farmers is that they don't opt for the proper crop based on their soil necessities. Because of this productivity is affected. This problem of the farmers has been solved through precision agriculture. This method is characterized by a crop database collected from the farm, crop provided by agricultural experts and given to recommendation system it will use the collect data and do deep learning model as learners to recommend a crop for site specific parameter with high accuracy and efficiency. Objectives : The comprehensive objective of the model is to deliver direct advisory services to even the smallest farmer at the level of his/her smallest plot of crop, using the most accessible technologies using deep learning. It is a recommender model built using a classifier and an optimization of the classifier. Based on appropriate parameters, the prediction accuracy. Novelty : MDNN can produce to simpler models while working with weights that can be optimized through PSO. PSO-MDNN sub-models produced from datasets and this proposed models gets adapted to data patterns if featuring datasets. This proposed work also exhibits promising outcomes in predicting crop yields using DLTs. for classifying images build a crop yield prediction model based on NDVI (New band Index)/RGB (Red Green Blue) data from UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The study evaluated the results of CNN by varying its parameters like training algorithm, network depth/layers, regularizations and tuning of hyper parameters.


This paper deals with an approximation scheme for getting rapidly convergent approximate solution of some nonlinear ordinary or partial differential equations appearing in the mathematical analysis of physical processes. Here the solutions are expressed in a series of exponential functions rather than the series of the independent variables. As a result the vanishing boundary conditions for localized solutions can be incorporated into the theory in rather straight forward way. For many cases, sum of the terms in the approximate solution can be found easily, thus provides exact analytic solution to the problem. To illustrate the efficiency and versatility of the method, proposed schemes developed here for bounded and unbounded region have been applied to some problems and have been compared with solutions obtained by some other approximation method now available. It appears that the present method is efficient, user-friendly and easy to implement through any symbolic computation software now readily available.


In aggressive medical practice,physicians have to inform patients about issues,including possible treatment options,the possible risks and benefits,and therapeutic consequences,by simple language.Informed consent should take reasonable physician standard.Also informed consent has exception.Breach of informed consent don't infringe directly health right,but self-determination of patients,possibly further cause damage to health of patients,resulting in physical injury.


We investigate the computational complexity (as calibrated in computability theory) and the proof-theoretic complexity (as calibrated in reverse mathematics) of Vaught's Theorem on the existence and uniqueness of saturated models for complete theories.
We define a saturated bounding degree as a Turing degree which can compute a saturated model for any complete and decidable theory whose types are all computable. We show as an upper-bound that any high degree and any degree of a completion of Peano arithmetic are saturated bounding. We show as a lower-bound that for no n is a low n degree saturated bounding.
Our investigation led to a new characterization of the low n hierarchy by means of the difficulty of finding escape functions. By Martin's theorem a degree is non-high if for any function computable in the degree there is a computable function which escapes domination (by infinitely often growing at least as large.) We show that a degree is low if and only if escape functions can be effectively produced. We generalize this property to provide a characterization of the lown degrees.
We show that Vaught's Theorem, suitably stated in reverse mathematics, is equivalent to ATR0 over ACA0; and that the statement of the uniqueness of saturated models, as well as the statement that saturated models are universal, are equivalent to ACA0 over RCA0.


The present application relates to a novel and high yield conversion of the formyl group of a cyano group to the preparation of 2- (3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl) -4-methyl-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ( febuxostat) of the novel method.


Mycoplasmas are responsible for many important diseases of animals, including contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC and calf pneumonia, arthritis and mastitis caused by Mycoplasma bovis. However, diagnostic techniques currently available are laborious and imprecise. The work described in this thesis concentrates on the critical evaluation of existing techniques and the development of improved procedures. The role of aneimicrobial resistance in limiting the options for disease control was also considered. Diagnostic methods for the detection of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC in clinical material were critically evaluated during a CBPP outbreak in Portugal. Immunoblotting was more sensitive and specific than CFT or ELISA. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was more rapid and sensitive than culture. However immunocytohistochernistry (ICC) was far the best test for detecting M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC antigen in lungs. A rapid latex agglutination test (LAT) to detect CBPP using a carbohydrate extract of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC was developed. Analysis of the carbohydrate extract composition demonstrated that fucose, glucosamine and galactose are present in the ratio of 1: 2: 16 respectively. N-acetyl neuraminic acid was also detected. Evaluation of the LAT with sera from negative, naturally infected and experimentally infected cattle demonstrates that the test clearly differentiates positive and negative CBPP sera. The LAT compared favourably with the CFT but was not as specific as the immunoblotting; however the LAT had the advantage of being more rapid and robust and could be used in the field. Molecular methods including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were assessed for their potential use in the diagnostic laboratory. A PCR method for identifying M. bovis was adapted, evaluated and introduced as a routine laboratory test. Using a set of universal 16S rRNA gene primers, amplicons of two serologically untypable isolates, one from a peregrine falcon, and the other from an ostrich were obtained. Results imply that the isolates may be new mycoplasma species.


Objective:to confirm the optimal transplanting time of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.Methods:the fresh weight of the root was determined by weighing.The length,diameter,embranchment and width of the root were determined by measuring.The content of baicalin was determined by HPLC.Results:the earlier the transplanting time, the higher the yield and quality of Scutellariae radix.Conclusion:the optimal transplanting time is 20 March.The plastic film covering or greenhouse cultivation can be used for improving the yield and quality of Scutellariae radix.


Can the same species arise more than once in different places or at different times? Can a species go extinct by hybridization? If so, can it reappear afterwards? Biologists are used to thinking about species as historical events. They arise once (speciation), exist for a certain time (undergoing stasis or anagenetic change) and then disappear (extinction). Some people even like to think of them as 'individuals', although, whether the use of the technical philosophical definition of this word is helpful to many biologists, is perhaps debatable. By and large, our observations of real animal species are not at all incompatible with these ideas. But, recent studies on fishes are suggesting that we may need to rethink our views of the life of a species to include the concepts of parallel speciation, despeciation and respeciation.The ideas I discuss in this paper are not necessarily new, but many fish biologists, like myself, may not have found any particular reason to consider them until recently. There is a very large literature on species concepts, and in a short opinion piece, I could scarcely attempt to do justice to the breadth of the debate or the complexity of the arguments raised. I will focus on issues relating to practical implications of species concepts that have to come to my attention as a fish biologist working on evolutionary questions.


Past research confirms that childhood and adolescent maltreatment increases the likelihood of juvenile offending (Ireland, Smith, & Thornberry, 2002; Maschi, Bradley, & Morken, 2008; Stewart, Livingston, & Dennison, 2008). However, research examining how specific types of maltreatment (physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect) impact later delinquent offense (violent crime, non-violent crime, status offending, property offending) is minimal. The aim of this study is to augment and expand upon this scant literature. One hundred and sixty-one non-sexual offending, male, juvenile delinquents held in six residential treatment facilities in a Midwestern state, were the subjects of this study. Each participant filled out the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) (Bernstein & Fink, 1998) and the Self Reported Delinquency measure (SRD) (Elliot, Huizinga and Ageton, 1985) in addition to demographic information. Results show that maltreatment accounts for 12.1% of delinquency and that physical neglect is the most significant predictor of violent crime, nonviolent crime, property offending, and status offending.


By following Maslow′s hierarchy theory of needs,this paper analyzes how interaction design meets users′ needs and illustrates the variety needs of users in the levels of usability、efficiency and experience.On that basis,it puts forward some strategies that could be taken in interaction design to meet users′ needs better.


Abstract A large number of nitrophenates of transition metals have been synthesised and characterised during the programme of formulation of new energetic materials. These compounds have been found to be ionic salts and number of water of crystallisation was found to depend upon the number of nitro groups.


Objective To evaluate erectile function of patients after renal transplantation. Methods Application of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) to evaluate erectile function of 96 consecutive kidney transplant recipients by questionaire. All five (IIEF 5) domains, i.e, erectile function(ED), orgasmic function, sexual desire ,intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction, were scored for each responder . Results 96patients replied. In renal transplant recipients, sexual problems were significantly less prevalent than those in patients undergoing dialysis(P0.01). About 69.79% chronic renal failure patients had trouble with ED .The erectile function was rehabilitated in 25 patients after renal transplantation, and 41(42.7%) patients still had trouble with ED. Physiological factors included age ,endocrine disturbance, diabetes , hypertensive vascular degeneration and anemia. Psychologic obstacle is also an importantfactor. Conclusion It is necessary and important to undertake health education among patients who have undergone renal transplantation.


better organic photodetector performance could be achieved if a low dark current density and a high EQE can be reached at the same time. In this paper, we present the fabrication and characterization of an all polymer photodetector sensing from 300 nm to 1000 nm with a calculated peak detectivity greater than 1.0 × 10 13 Jones in the NIR region, on the basis of the shot noise limit. The device also shows a respectable EQE of 27.7% at a wavelength of 850 nm under −0.5 V bias. Importantly, the dark current density is as extremely low as 0.64 nA cm −2 , which should be the best result among all wide spectrum response organic photodetectors reported so far. It can be seen that introducing a thin cross-linkable hole transporting/electron blocking layer greatly reduces the dark current density, while simultaneously preserving the photoresponse. A low-bandgap diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based polymer poly(diketopyrrolopyrrole-terthiophene) (PDPP3T), as shown in Figure 1 a, is utilized as the donor material, which has proven to be a promising candidate for organic fi eld-effect transistors (OFETs) and organic solar cells. [ 21–24 ] This polymer possesses a narrow-bandgap of 1.3 eV and nearly balanced hole and electron mobilities of 0.04 and 0.01 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . [ 21 ] As shown, it is able to cover the UV/visible/NIR spectral region and outputs a high photoresponse when incorporated with a (6,6)-phenylC71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 71 BM) acceptor. Poly[ N , N ′-bis(4-butylphenyl)N , N ′-bis(phenyl)-benzidine] (poly-TPD) is an effi cient hole transport material with a hole mobility of about 2.0 × 10 −3 cm 2 V −1 s −1 and has been widely used in polymer/quantum dot light emitting diodes as hole transporting layer due to its resistance to nonpolar organic solvents, such as toluene and p-xylene. [ 25–27 ] As reported, polyTPD is also cross-linkable under 254 nm UV light exposure, [ 28 ]


The aims of this study is to analyze the imfact of the competence, organizational culture and performance by work motivation as intervening variable. There are seven hypoteses tested in this study. The sample consists of 50 junior high school Kerinci Region. The proportional random sampling is used in this study. The result show that competence and organizational culture have impact on performance. The study also found that competence and organizational culture have impact on performance through work motivation. But the motivation in this study has not approved as intervening variable this is because the magnitude of indirect effect is lower than the direct effect. Keywords : competence, organizational culture, work motivation and performance of teachers


The growing number of users and macro base stations (BSs) in LTE-A network causes large amount of energy consumption for the whole network. In order to mitigate this problem, a sleep mode algorithm for Base Stations (BS) simultaneously powering Relay Stations (RS), deployed in the transmission area of selected BS considering the real time network traffic is proposed in this paper. The efficiency of power saving algorithms depends on an effective real-time network traffic detection and analysis. A method to detect and analyze real time mobile phone traffic in a cell is also proposed in this work. The number of Relay station to be deployed in the coverage area of a BS, transmission range and geographical areas to set up and factors for optimal deployment are also discussed in this paper considering the Qos parameter. Joint deployment of relay stations inter connected by X2 links and with the BS with the overlapped coverage is considered in this work. The deployment of relay station interconnected by X2 links and with the Base station also meets the strategies for efficient group Handoff. The performance is analyzed by comparing power consumption of BS with and without the proposed algorithm, the simulation results shows there is good power saving with this proposed method.


Following the definition of modulus of resilience in engineering, organizational resilience has been measured here by the extent of successful change over time to reflect the strength of any organization to withstand "sudden blows".
Three factors have been considered to reflect organizational resilience viz.:
1) extent of successful overall change in different asset bases like the suppliers, customers, technology, and organizational system,
2) continuity of such change over time, and
3) organizational size.
A model has been developed incorporating suitable surrogate measures to reflect the extent of changes in different areas. Suitable weightings have been assigned to reflect the extent of overall change. Return on investment criteria has been used to judge the relative success of overall change. The measurement concept has been applied to two food processing organizations in the Pacific Islands country with the last overthrowing the government as the example of sudden blow. The continuity of change has been assessed over a twelve-year period. Two organizations have been found to differ in their level of resilience, one being 5.2 times more resilient than the other.


This book offers indepth research into Web Engineering (WE) systems and tools that support knowledge sharing among individuals within organizations as well as those belonging to virtual organizations"--Provided by publisher.


Extensive deposits of heavy oil occur in updip pinch-out of the Bluesky and Gething Formations (Lower Cretaceous) of northwestern Alberta. In-situ extraction technologies require a detailed knowledge of porosity, permeability, and mineralogy within the reservoir and the effect of diagenesis on these properties. Marine sands in the upper part of the Gething Formation are composed predominantly of quartz and chert with lesser amounts of clastic carbonate, rock fragments, and feldspar. Emplacement of heavy oil forming the Peace River oil sands effectively stopped or slowed diagenesis. Thin-section petrography and scanning electron microscopy provide the means of establishing a diagenetic sequence and of timing of oil migration. Three wells with abundant core have been chosen to illustrate the relations among diagenesis, hydrocarbon migration, and reservoir quality. Authigenic minerals, in their probable order of emplacement, include pyrite, quartz overgrowths, feldspar overgrowths, kaolinite, and illite. Kaolinite and illite are most abundant in the water sands. An unusual secondary carbonate mineral, dawsonite. NaAlCO3(OH)2, occurs in only the richest oil sands but the timing of its deposition is in question. Secondary porosity was formed after feldspar overgrowths but before deposition of kaolinite. Oil migration took place after part of the kaolinite formed. Diagenesis is an ongoing process and the various stages probably continued until migration of oil into the reservoir. Porosity is better in the good oil sands than in the water sands. Permeability is reduced by the heavy oil. End_of_Article - Last_Page 626------------


BiMnO3 thin films were deposited on single-crystal (001)-oriented SrTiO3 substrates by rf-magnetron sputtering method. X-ray diffraction was used to analyze the crystal structure of the thin films, indicating that the films were monoclinic with two dominant orientation relationships along the substrate. The first is (111) BiMnO3 ‖ (001) SrTiO3; the second is (222) BiMnO3 ‖ (002) SrTiO3; other peaks showed that the films were polycrystalline. The roughness of the films was characterized by AFM. R vs. T was measured from 390 K to 15 K using a Keithley Model 167 Programmable Electrometer. Magnetic characterization was carried out by using a quantum design™ magnetometer for magnetization versus temperature and for hysteresis loops at different temperatures. The saturation magnetic moment of 2.8μB per Mn ion (still fairly smaller than that of the bulk, 3.6μB) was observed at 5 K decreasing with increasing temperature. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


As an application of near-infrared spectroscopy, pulse oximetry is widely used to non-invasively measure the arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). To improve the maternal and fetal outcome during delivery, transabdominal fetal pulse oximetry can be used to measure the fetal SpO2. The layered tissue structure above the fetus, however, is complex and thick. In order to understand the feasibility of transabdominal pulse oximetry, we simulated light propagation through the maternal abdomen. For realistic geometry, we segmented a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a pregnant women to create a 3D anatomical model, from which a 3D tetrahedron mesh was generated. Using this mesh, we then simulated photon propagation for 5 wavelengths and a grid of 70 sources and detectors (35 each) on the maternal abdomen above the fetal head with NIRFAST. Finally, depth sensitives were examined with Jacobian (J) and flat field. For a fetal head at ~4 cm depth, we found the normalized J at this depth is ~0.1-1% for source-detector distances within 9-10 cm. We also observed that at the same depth, the normalized flat field sensitivity is ~5-10%, which is 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than the normalized J. These results indicate that enough light can reach the fetus when considering ~9 cm source detector distances.


The time dependence of the exchange-correlation energy in density functional theory is given in terms of the exchange-correlation potential. The virial theorem for the exchange-correlation potential is shown to hold for time-dependent electronic systems and is illustrated by an exactly solved model: Hooke's atom with a time-dependent force constant. A relation between the coupling constant and functionals evaluated on scaled densities is derived. [S0031-9007(98)08169-1]


This master thesis project was administered by the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at KTH. The Swedish transport administration initiated this report and provided me with literature, reports and information that I needed. I would like to thank everybody that helped me finish my thesis. A special thank you to my supervisor Leif Jendeby and to all the people at COWI, especially Mikael Lindberg. And also a special thank you to my supervisor, professor Stefan Larsson. Thank you for your help and your encouragement. Finally, I would like to thank the people closest to me, who has supported me during my education. Abstract Swedish transport administration initiated this Master Thesis project and the aim was to compare regulations for the design of high-speed railways from three European countries: France, Germany and Spain. The reason why this is of interest for the Swedish transport administration is the design of the first Swedish high-speed railway, called Ostlänken. Therefore, a literature study of the regulations and other literature regarding high-speed railway has been carried out. A basic description of railway components, slab track and ballasted tracks is presented. Ballasted embankments usually consist of a trackbed layer (ballast onto subballast), and the ultimate thickness of this layer is discussed, as there are a number of methods available to calculate the appropriate thickness, with a number of different design parameters. These design methods results in different trackbed thickness and choosing the " wrong " method might lead to an overestimation or underestimation of the trackbed layer. Constructing a ballastless railway line means that the ballast is replaced by another material, usually a slab made of reinforced concrete or asphalt, and the rail is cast onto this slab. Countries design their slab using different methods. Germany has constructed high-speed railway lines with a slab track solution, generally slabs with low flexible stiffness. France has until recently constructed their high-speed line ballasted but is now developing a new slab track technique, called NBT (New Ballastless Track) and Spain uses various methods. It is difficult to compare the regulations, however, there are some factors that at least begin to explain the differences between the countries: the frost hazard, the inherent ground quality, purpose with the railway (mixed traffic, solely passenger traffic, etc.), design parameters (life, axle load, etc.). Furthermore, the settlement requirements, soil classification and bearing capacity are factors that varies from country to country, but the …


This paper presents a global solution from acquisition to visualization for the three‐dimensional reconstruction of cell sections. Original techniques are proposed for the correct handling of the geometrical section distortions, and a new interpretation based on the logarithmic image processing (LIP) model is applied in order to create normalized grey‐level sections where these are missing. Finally, a new method for generating a mesh of triangles to describe the envelope of the reconstructed cell is proposed, as well as a visualization mixing image synthesis and grey‐level information. The product allows the user to explore the reconstructed cellular block in any desired direction, by showing user‐defined grey‐level sections inside the block mixed to a synthetic view of the cell envelope.


Ainsliaea spicata belongs to Compositae Ainsliaea,it's whole plant is used in folk recipe.The dried powders of Ainsliaea spicata were extracted with 95 % EtOH in our study.Then EtOH was evaporated and the residue was extracted with Petroleum ether.The extract was chromatographed on a silica gel column,and was eluted with petroleum ether-ethyl acetate(60∶1).The volatile components were obtained in the first part.15 constituents were identified,and their relative contents were determined by peak area normalization method in GC-MS.


BFC is a per-flow per-hop congestion control method published in NSDI in 2022. BFC utilizes router support for multiple queues to perform per-flow per-hop level traffic scheduling within the network to maximize link utilization without requiring endpoint participation. A necessary condition for BFC to perform optimally is that routers must have sufficient buffer space and be able to truly isolate multiple flows within the same router. However, our experiments found that BFC's queue allocation algorithm cannot always effectively isolate multiple flows. BFC determines whether a queue is available by checking if the queue is empty, but in actual networks, it is common for queues to be empty during the absence of congestion or in the early stages of congestion. This can mistakenly allocate multiple flows to the same queue, causing BFC's scheduling ability to not perform optimally. This paper solves this problem and proposes an improved method called BFC+. Our experiments show that compared to BFC, BFC+'s queue allocation is more reasonable and has better performance.


We investigate the strategic diversification into a new innovative industry by producers coming from an established industry. To this purpose, datasets on the long-term evolution of the firm populations in the German machine tool and laser industries are matched. Only a small number of diversifiers from machine tools into the laser industry are identified. These tended to be among the larger and more innovative machine tool producers. For early diversifiers, exit hazards from the industry of origin increase after diversification. We do not obtain robust evidence that diversification is pushed by agglomeration in the industry of origin or pulled by agglomeration in the target industry. Regional laser-related public


Objective: To investigate clinical manifestations,diagnosis and therapy for primary malignant duodenal tumors(PMTD).Methods:The data of 84 cases PMTD confirmed by pathology admitted during 1995-2002 in Huaxi Hospital of Sichuan University was restropectively analyzed.Results:Tumors mostly located in the descending portion of the duodenum(61/84).Adenocarcinoma predominates among primary malignant duodenal tumors(72/84).The symptoms of biliary obstruction were caused mostly by tumors around peripapillary region,while GI hemorrhage and intestinal obstruction were caused mainly by tumors in other regions.The accurate diagnostic rates of gastroscopy,duodenoscopy and CT were 78.9%,83% and 84% respectively.Fifty cases underwent pancretoduodenectomy,7 cases segmental duodenetomy,20 cases bypass,so the total resection rate were 70%(57/81).The incidence rate of complications in patients with pancretoduodenectomy was nearly 18%,while other procedures had lower complications.Conclusion: Malignant duodenal tumors have no characteristic manifestations.CT and endoscopy are the mainstays for the diagnosis of PMTD.Pancretoduodenectomy should be the preferential procedure for PMTD.


This paper proposes a 2-dimensional (2D) maximum entropy threshold segmentation (2DMETS) based speeded-up robust features (SURF) approach for image target matching. First of all, based on the gray level of each pixel and the average gray level of its neighboring pixels, we construct a 2D gray histogram. Second, by the target and background segmentation, we localize the feature points at the interest points which have the local extremum of box filter responses. Third, from the 2D Haar wavelet responses, we generate the 64-dimensional (64D) feature point descriptor vectors. Finally, we perform the target matching according to the comparisons of the 64D feature point descriptor vectors. Experimental results show that our proposed approach can effectively enhance the target matching performance, as well as preserving the real-time capacity.


Security of an information system based on Web is studied. The methods of making use of the security settings provided by the operating system, Web server and database management system efficiently and suitably to ensure security of the information system are discussed. The application software is flexible, and can compensate for the security limitations of the operating system, Web server and database management system. Taking the information system of a certain organization as an example, its security is discussed from the viewpoint of operating system, Web server, database management system and application. Advises are also given.


This paper introduces improved methodology to triangulate dynamic graphical models and dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs). In this approach, a standard DBN template can be modified so the repeating and unrolled graph section may dissect the original DBN time slice and may also span (and partially intersect) many such slices. We introduce the notion of a "boundary" which divides a graph into multi-slice partitions each of which has an interface, and define the "boundary algorithm", a method to find the best boundary (and corresponding interface) between partitions in such models. We prove that, after using this algorithm, the sizes of the best forwardand backward- interface (and also the corresponding fill-ins) are identical. The boundary algorithm allows for constrained elimination orders (and therefore graph triangulations) that are impossible using standard slice-by-slice constrained elimination. We describe the above using the Graphical Model ToolKit (GMTK)'s notion of dynamic graphical model, slightly generalizing standard DBN templates. We report triangulation results on hand-concocted graphs, novel speech recognition DBNs, and random graphs, and find that the boundary algorithm can significantly improve both tree width and graph weight.


Since this book begins with a map, perhaps our story should end with a map as well. In February 1948, CTS participated in a "Resort and Holidays Exhibition" in London as the sole agent represent ing the Pan American World Airways in China. To broadcast the appeal of Chinese tourism, CTS staff displayed a huge poster—eight feet wide by six feet tall—of a tourist map of postwar China. Unlike the map cited at the beginning of this book, this map did not fill every province with the image of its most representative tourist attraction. Instead, it showcased an extensive yet uneven network, more developed in eastern coastal regions yet extending into the Northwest and the Southwest, as well as Taiwan and Manchuria. At the time, China was in the middle of a civil war and tourism was hardly a priority, but CTS's proud display demonstrated the accumulative effects of tourism development in the first half of the twentieth century. By superim posing the tourist network on an outline contour of China's geobody, this map also demonstrated the close link between tourism and the conceptual ization of China's national space. 1 In the first half of the twentieth century, the growing accessibility of modern transportation and the increasing prominence of tourism made it possible for middle-class Chinese to experience more of their own country. Developing along the modern transport circuits, China's tourism industry


Heart rate variability reflects current functional state of organism, the activity of autonomic nervous system and individual's adaptive reserves in response to changes in external or internal body functioning conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate regulatory changes of autonomous cardiac function on systemic level (RR variability), arising during peloidotherapy procedure in persons of different age and gender. The results showed differences in men's and women's autonomic nervous system response to peloidotherapy procedure – statistically significant time characteristic changes of HRV in men's group start to appear only during third stage of the procedure, when humoral mechanisms kick in; in women's group changes of frequency characteristics and their significant differences starts to appear already at the start of the procedure. Usually autonomic regulation of heart rate of older people is reduced; however heart rate variability changes during peloidotherapy procedure were adequate.


In this paper three benchmark function namely Sphere, Rastrigin and Ackly taken from the CEC'05 function set are optimized using artificial algae algorithm (AAA) which is a novel bio inspired metaheuristic optimizer. The Sphere function is Unimodal function while Rastrigin and Ackly are multimodal functions. To analyze the performance of the optimizer mean, best, average and standard deviation values were calculated. Furthermore convergence curve and one sample T-test were also employed to check the consistency of the algorithm over different runs and different dimensions. The coding and simulation of the algorithm was done using FORTRAN 90 and graphs were plotted using excel software. The IBM SPSS software was employed to perform one sample T-test. AAA produced successful and balanced results over different dimensions of the benchmark functions. Keywords— Metaheuristic, Unimodal, Multimodal, T-test, Optimizer


The inventory and revenue management models most commonly taught in the operations management and industrial engineering disciplines typically assume that the demand for a product is easily estimated and is independent of competing products offered through the same channel. In this chapter, we show why this is rarely a good assumption and provide a review of the statistical techniques that have been developed to correct product demand distribution estimates that are biased due to truncated demand or product substitution effects. Failure to correct product demand estimates for these biases has been shown to result in significantly missed opportunities in meeting customers' true demand due to incorrectly calculated optimal product stocking levels.


As the flying height in hard disk drives is reduced below 5 nm, a variety of factors such as intermolecular forces, lubricant modulation and meniscus forces affect the ability of the slider to fly stably over the disk. The presence of these forces leads to a dynamic instability. Identification of these forces is important for achieving the necessary interface for the areal density goal of 1 Tb/in/sup 2/. To achieve this identification we conducted touchdown-takeoff tests at different humidities and for different slider-disk combinations. It was found that lubricant pickup by the slider leads to lubricant mediated adhesion. This also contaminates the slider air-bearing surface, increases slider-disk adhesion, and decreases the flying stability of the slider.


The heat produced when air compression was used to heat the adsorbent in drying tower so that the drying equipment almost can't consume other energy.The operation cost of the drying equipment was greatly reduced,the energy-saving effects were remarkable.


As proposed earlier (Macromol. Rapid Commun., 2004, 25, 733) the K g and U* parameters of the Hoffman-Lauritzen theory can be derived from isoconversional analysis of DSC data on melt crystallization. In this study, the analysis is extended to include both melt and glass crystallization data. The analysis of DSC data on non-isothermal crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN) demonstrates that for each of these polymers the combined melt and glass crystallization data can be described by single set of the K g and U* values. The respective values for PET are 3.6 × 10 5 K 2 and 7.5 kJ.mol -1 and for PEN 2.2 × 10 5 K 2 and 6.6 kJ.mol -1 . The use of combined data sets helps to improve the precision of computations.


We derive novel analytic tools for the discrete Bass model, which models the diffusion of new products on networks. We prove that the probability that any two nodes adopt by time t, is greater than or equal to the product of the probabilities that each of the two nodes adopts by time t. We introduce the notion of an"influential node", and use it to determine whether the above inequality is strict or an equality. We then use the above inequality to prove the"funnel inequality", which relates the adoption probability of a node to the product of its adoption probability on two sub-networks. We introduce the notion of a"funnel node", and use it to determine whether the funnel inequality is strict or an equality. The above analytic tools can be exptended to epidemiological models on networks. We then use the funnel theorems to derive a new inequality for diffusion on circles and a new explicit expression for the adoption probabilities of nodes on two-sided line, and to prove that the adoption level on one-sided lines is strictly slower than on anisotropic two-sided lines, and that the adoption level on multi-dimensional Cartesian networks is bounded from below by that on one-dimensional networks.


Many diseases, including cancer and chronic conditions, require extended treatment periods and long-term strategies. Machine learning and AI research focusing on electronic health records (EHRs) have emerged to address this need. Effective treatment strategies involve more than capturing sequential changes in patient test values. It requires an explainable and clinically interpretable model by capturing the patient's internal state over time. In this study, we propose the"deep state-space analysis framework,"using time-series unsupervised learning of EHRs with a deep state-space model. This framework enables learning, visualizing, and clustering of temporal changes in patient latent states related to disease progression. We evaluated our framework using time-series laboratory data from 12,695 cancer patients. By estimating latent states, we successfully discover latent states related to prognosis. By visualization and cluster analysis, the temporal transition of patient status and test items during state transitions characteristic of each anticancer drug were identified. Our framework surpasses existing methods in capturing interpretable latent space. It can be expected to enhance our comprehension of disease progression from EHRs, aiding treatment adjustments and prognostic determinations.


This paper presents the design of a highly integrated GPS receiver for hand held and other applications. The IC consists of a complete GPS receiver with an integrated multi-mode fractional-N synthesizer. It is one of the most highly integrated GPS receiver ICs presented to date with unmatched flexibility and performance. The receiver chip is fabricated in a 0.35 /spl mu/m silicon BiCMOS process and packaged in a 48 pin 7 mm/spl times/7 mm land grid array chip scale package.


- Parasitic helminth fauna of Clarias gariepinus and Parachanna Obscura from a reputable fish farm, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria was evaluated using standard parasitological procedures . 4 different parasite species belonging to 2 parasitic classes; 3 species of Cestode ( Bothriocephalus spp., Diphilobothrium latum and Ligula intestinalis ) and a species of Nematode, ( Camallanus spp. ) were recovered from the studied fish species. A total of 113 parasites comprising of 52(46.02%) and 61(53.95%) parasites were recovered from 89 (59.30%), comprising of 41(54.70%) and 48(64.00%) infested C. gariepinus and P. obscura , respectively. Infestation was more in C. gariepinus compared to P. obscura . There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the rate of parasitic prevalence of C. gariepinus and P. obscura . Variation in parasitic prevalence between the sexes of C. gariepinus and P. obscura , existed, being more prevalent in male C. gariepinus than the female but more prevalent in the female P. obscura than the male. However, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the infection rates with respect to the sexes of the fish species. The distribution of helminth parasites in the fishes showed a notable preference for the intestine and stomach as sites of attachment which could be attributed to the availability of food in these regions. Intestine of the infested fish samples of both species had more parasites than the stomach. Larger sizes of C. gariepinus and P. obscura had more parasitic helminth load than the smaller sizes. Results of the correlation matrix for total number of parasites found on C. gariepnius and P. obscura showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between total length and total number of parasites but tthere was a significant difference (P<0.05) between total length and weight and total number of parasites and weight of the samples of C. gariepnius . For P. obscura , there was a significant difference (P<0.05) between total length and weight, total length and total number of parasite and total number of parasites and weight of the fish species.


We deduce Tolman's formula of luminosity-distance in Cosmology from Poincare's definition of light-distance with Lorentz Transformation (LT).In Minkowskian metric, if distance is proper time (as it is often argued) then light-distance must be also the shortest distance, like proper duration (unlike Einstein's longest length within rest system). By introducing Poincare's proper light-distance in Einstein's basic synchronization we deduce a dilated distance between observer and receding mirror (with relativistic Doppler factor). Such a distance corresponds not to an Euclidean distance (Einstein's rigid rod) but to an Hyperbolic distance (Cayley-Klein) with a Lobatchevskian Horizon. From a basic proportionality hyperbolic distance-velocity, we deduce the law of Hubble. By following Penrose's Lobatchevskian representation of LT, we transform Special Relativity (SR) into an Hyperbolic Cosmological Relativity (HCR). by using only the LT but the whole LT. In Hyperbolic Rotation motion (basic active LT or Einstein's boost), Hubble constant (hyperbolic angular velocity) is coupled with a minimal Milgrom's basic proper acceleration (hyperbolic centrifugal acceleration).


This paper presents a probabilistic assessment to predict risk in terms of probability of failure of a typical gas turbine engine cold section disk subjected to real life loading conditions. This activity involves calculation of the stress field in the disk/blade interface using available contact mechanics models, estimation of fretting fatigue life, and probabilistic risk assessment using the DARWIN ® software. A finite element analysis (FEA) of the disk-blade assembly is carried out to obtain contact forces and moments along the interface. Contact stresses are calculated from the contact forces and moments using the numerical solution of the singular integral equation that characterizes the contact interface via CAPRI (Contact Analysis for Profiles of Random Indentors) software and the Worst Case Fret model. Using contact stresses and available fretting fatigue models, the fatigue life under fretting environments is determined. Initial fracture risk results suggest that scheduled depot inspections have the potential to significantly reduce the probability of fracture associated with fretting fatigue for the range of values considered under this study. Further investigation is required to assess the influences of additional factors such as residual stress values and dynamic load effects.


A hairdressing head model with a lock structure comprises a head seat assembly (B), a head shell assembly (A2), a head scalp assembly (A1) and a lock mechanism. The head scalp assembly (A1) comprises a scalp body (2). The periphery of the scalp body (2) comprises a circle of lock edge (201, 201a) bent inward. The inside of the lock edge (201, 201a) comprises a circle of reinforcing edge (201b) projecting upward. The lock edge (201, 201a) is pressed between the head shell assembly (A2) and the head seat assembly (B). The reinforcing edge (201b) wraps the inner surface of the head shell assembly (A2). A projecting second positioning pin (111) is used for matching with a concave positioning slot (121), so that the lock edge (201, 201a) of the head scalp assembly (A1) is locked tightly, to ensure that the head scalp assembly (A1) is fixed tightly between the head shell assembly (A2) and the head seat assembly (B) and prevented from escape.


Objective To evaluate the security and feasibility of laparoscopic hemihepatectomy by selective hemihepatic inflow occlusion.Methods We first dissected the troubled side of the porta hepatis after selective hemihepatic inflow occlusion.Laparoscopic Peng's multifunctional operative dissector(LPMOD) was used to perform laparoscopic hemihepatectomy transected by curettage and aspiration.Seven patients had left laparoscopic hemihepatectomy and 2 had right laparoscopic hemihepatectomy.Results In the 9 patients operation was successful and none turned to open during the operation.Operative time was 210~380 min[mean,(267.8±57.2) min].The time for dissection of the porta hepatis was 20~70 min[mean,(49.4±17.4) min].The time for liver transection was 90~170 min[mean,(113.3±30.8) min.Operative blood loss was 100~1100 ml [ mean,(440.0±340.4) ml].The level of ALT increased to 53~374 U/L[ mean,(214.8±124.4) U/L] after the operation,and decreased to normal at 4~11 days[ mean,(6.1±2.1) days].The postoperative hospital stay was 7~14 days[mean,(9.7±2.0) days].No severe complication occurred after the operation.Conclusions Laparoscopic hemihepatectomy by selective hemihepatic inflow occlusion is safe and feasible.


This paper presents a data collection architecture for situational awareness (SA)-centric microgrids. A prototype has been developed which can provide enormous data collection capabilities from smart meters, in order to realise an adequate SA level in microgrids. A communication framework based on the publish-subscribe model is also proposed and implemented for the communication layer of the SA using the message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) protocol over two different physical (PHY) layers (i.e., WiFi and GPRS). An Internet of things (IoT) platform (i.e., Thingsboard) is used for the SA visualisation with a customised dashboard. It is shown by using the developed system, an adequate level of SA can be achieved with a minimum installation and hardware cost. Moreover, the Modbus protocol over the RS-485 is applied for the smart meter communication.


type="main"> We advance social disorganization theory by examining homicides disaggregated by motive and gang relation and by using data from El Paso, Texas—a predominantly Latino city with high levels of immigration and poverty. We analyze homicide data from the El Paso Police Department's detective logs, 1985–1995, as well as data from the 1990 U.S. Decennial Census. Key measures of social disorganization tend to be associated with homicide but these relationships vary across type of homicide. Immigration and percent African American show no connection with any homicide measure, while percent Latino is only positively associated with gang-related homicides. Overall, social disorganization is useful in understanding homicide in El Paso, but race/ethnicity and immigration do not operate as predicted. These results add important knowledge to a growing literature regarding the neighborhood-level associations between immigration, Latinos, and crime.


Does the word contest suggest friendly rivalry? Does it radiate the festive spirit which these events should generate and promote? Or does it stress victory and defeat?... We know that the most serious objections to musical contests are directly due to misplaced emphasis upon winning, to the devastating ambition to defeat an opponent. The bitter spirit and bad blood which too often develop between schools and communities, during and after these contests, are directly traceable to this unfortunate fighting spirit – to a fierce desire and determination to "lick the other fellow." (p. 347)


Congenital brain tumors are very rare neoplasms. The diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme in a newborn infant is a rarity. Prognosis of congenital glioblastoma has been uniformly fatal with most of the cases reported in literature having a very short survival in spite of all modalities of treatment. The authors report a case of congenital glioblastoma involving the pan right cerebral hemisphere in a two month-old infant who expired six months after tumor decompression. Literature is reviewed in light of the present case and various treatment modalities for this rare tumor are highlighted.


Abstract . The authors continue to explore the issue of practical methodology of research studies (Education and Science No 8, 2014). The aim of the study is to reveal theoretical and practical issues of empirical-research activity at the stages of conceptual problem understanding of pedagogical research, ideas promotion, development of the conception of their practical implementation and formation of scientifically grounded constructive hypotheses.  Methods . The applied methods include theoretical analysis, synthesis, abstraction, idealization, generalization, specification, comparison, classification, extrapolation, modelling and hermeneutic interpretation.  Results . Scientifically grounded description of the process of creative research of educational problems is presented in the paper. The content of such notions as «concept», «creative core», «idea», «plot», and «research hypothesis» is revealed. The creative core of scientific research is considered in close relation to the key aspects of the scientific inquiry: problematics definition, research topic and subject selection, clarification of initial facts and theoretical statements, definition of the conceptual framework, determination of essential novelty. The authors explore the mechanisms of the scientific research through the analysis of the educational situation and initial facts to the formation of a conceptual framework of research and the further working out of its instrumental component. The creative core of research is characterised as its most difficult element including the inception of idea transformation, its realisation into some conception and expansion into productive hypothesis. The authors describe the types of hypotheses, such as working and scientific (ready), functional and explanatory. The logical and gnoseological structure of a scientific hypothesis is shown in the study. The methodological requirements to the formulation of the scientific hypotheses are described. The probable logic errors of the are characterized. It is given the samples of fundamentally new scientific and pedagogical hypotheses suggested by well-known Russian scientist during the last decades and which have proved its constructivemodified possibilities. The specific examples of failed hypothesis-generating attempts of newcomer researchers are mentioned.  Scientific novelty . The authors point out the mechanisms of complicated and understudied process of hypothesis-generating, – the hypothesis formation due to mental abilities of a researcher. Complementarity of algorithmic and creative basis of the research activity, projective and reflexive character of scientific and pedagogical search integration are emphasized. Additionally, the authors arrange the common methodological mistakes made by researches during the process of developing the working hypotheses.  Practical significance . The research findings can help researchers, students, postgraduate students and candidates for a doctor's degree who master practical methodology scientific and pedagogical search to acquire the specific methods of hypothesizing, its verification and testing. It also can be useful to research adviors in order to enhance the creative strategy and constructiveness under their scientific supervision.


The median voter theorem is one of the most prominent results of formal political theory and economics, and is widely used to study interactions between them. The median voter is the person in the middle of the distribution on the single dimension and is a more accurate predictor of decision outcomes under simple majority voting system. Politicians believe that elections are logically imperfect. Median voting model has such imperfections less than the other models and an attempt has been taken to explore these in some details. Although the median voting model plays a pioneer role in modern democracy but it can not solve all the problems of voting system, and the paper deals where the median voter theorem fails.


Abstract In this paper, we study the Waldschmidt constant of a generalized fat point subscheme of where are essentially distinct points on satisfying the proximity inequalities. Furthermore, we prove its lower semi-continuity for Using this property, we also calculate the Waldschmidt constants of the fat point subschemes giving weak del Pezzo surfaces of degree 4.


5. Bolesnici s DM ËeπÊe imaju nijemu ishe-miju miokarda, a koronarna bolest srca (KBS) u dijabetiËara D iabetes (DM) and its chronic complications around the world represent a major world health problem. It is believed that currently 366 million people suffer from DM worldwide, and by the year 2030 the number of diabetics will increase to 552 million. The number of patients with DM rises in all countries, and 80% percent of the world's population suffering from diabetes live in developing countries or newly industrialized countries. 1 The prevalence of DM in Croatia in the age group between 18 and 65 is 6.1%. The total number of diabetics in 2010 was approximately 316,000, of whom over 190,000 patients have the disease discovered, while nearly 123,000 have the disease undiscovered. 2 It is known that besides genetic factors for occurrence of DM, particularly of type 2, the environmental factors and especially lifestyle factors greatly influence the incidence of DM. Physical inactivity, alcohol and eating habits (obesity), except for being well-known risk factors for the occurrence of DM type 2, they also contribute to poorer control of the already occurred disease. Living and nutritional habits of diabetics and therefore the associated risk factors are actually very far from the proclaimed recommendations and guidelines around the world 3. On the other hand, weight control and physical activity are critical factors for the prevention and occurrence of DM both in healthy individuals and in individuals with the already impaired control of blood glucose 3,4. Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the patients with DM. The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is 2 to 4 times higher among diabetics than in the other population 5. Dijabetes i koronarna bolest srca: vaaenost regulacije glikemije Diabetes and coronary artery disease: the importance of glycemic control SUMMARY: The incidence of diabetes is highly rising worldwide. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common macrovascular complication of diabetes. Strict control of blood glucose levels, regardless of clinical manifestation of CAD, contributes to the betterment of a patient and reduces medical costs.


Humans excel at interpreting the world dynamically and forming simplifying abstractions. Moreover, depending on the context, humans can re-interpret one situation in terms of another, which allows us to assign different meanings to (same) physical objects. With this ability, we can re-use existing knowledge, understand the behaviors of others, use language with metaphors, and learn and reason in novel situations. These seem to be prevalent in humans in contrast to other animals or, at least, current computational systems. Thus, a cognitive-inspired computational framework would need to consider dynamic interpretation and abstraction as the main design principle. This work presents such a framework focusing on the problem of dynamic interpretation.


An accounts-based population model for making population projections for the urban and rural areas of China was developed and reported on in detail in an earlier paper. In this paper the implications of the broad trends in population and labour-force growth over the next fifty years for the employment position in China will be discussed. Unemployment and underemployment are problems facing China today. Ongoing economic reform in the employment system runs the risk of rapidly increasing the number of unemployed, especially in urban China. In this paper, the following main dimensions of the employment problem in China will be discussed: Labour-resource utilization and employment structure, the dual employment system between urban and rural areas, unemployment and underemployment, employment-system reform, and labour-force quality and training.


The ORFⅠsegment was amplified by PCR utilizing the whole genome of BSV Yunnan isolate as the template,then subcloned in the prokaryotic expressional vector pET-32b(+)simultaneously digested by both EcoRⅠand XhoⅠ.The recombinant plasmid pET32-ORFⅠ was then transformed into the competent cells of E.coli BL21(DE3).Then the genetic engineering bacterial strain harboring pET32-ORFⅠ was induced by 0.1 mmol/L IPTG at 28 ℃,and the soluble fusion protein including the ORFⅠprotein was generated and then purified by the Ni2+-NTA column.The purified protein was then utilized to immune a rabbit in order to obtain the virus-specific antiserium.The tilter of the antiserium by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ID-ELISA)was up to 1∶100,000.The antiserium was proved to have high specificity by Western Blot.The present study had paved a way to establish the methods of BSV detection and the research protein function of BSV.


The exact eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a spinless relativistic charged particle are obtained here. The results are compared with those from classical mechanics.


We treat the problem of constructing exact theories of rods and shells for thin incom- pressible bodies. We employ a systematic method that consists in imposing constraints to reduce the number of degrees of freedom of each cross section to a nite number. We show that it is very dicult to produce theories that exactly preserve the incompressibility and we show that it is impossible to do so for naive theories. In particular, many exact theories have nonlocal eects. R esum e. On consid ere la construction des th eories exactes de poutres et coques pour les corps minces incompressibles. On utilise une m ethode syst ematique qui consiste a imposer des contraintes pour r eduire a un nombre ni donn el es degr es de libert e de chaque section droite. On montre qu'il est tr es dicile de produire des th eories qui conservent exactement l'incompressibilit e, et que c'est impossible pour les th eories naves. En particulier, de nombreuses th eories exactes ont des eets non locaux.


A device for a power tool in one aspect of the present invention is equipped with a control unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit. The control unit reads a configurable item and a configurable range from the storage unit in accordance with a request by an external device received from the communication unit and transmits the configurable item and configurable range to the external device via the communication unit.


Immunologic control of HIV-1 infection is a critical determinant of HIV disease progression. These investigators, who studied a cohort of female commercial sex workers from Nairobi, Kenya, report that acute sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are associated with increased HIV-1 viremia. A subset of 32 HIV-1-positive women and 10 HIV-1-negative women in …


Secondary or reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is frequently related to viral infections. However, the novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus associated HPS has never been reported. On October 10, 2009, a 17-year-old female child with no past medical history, complaining of severe asthenia, pneumonia, myalgia, and high fever, was admitted to our department, and H1N1 DNA was detected. Five days after her hospitalization, all signs and symptoms aggravated into HPS. After treatment for H1N1 influenza, the patient had a recovery and clearance of H1N1 infection 10 days after hospitalization. Three weeks later, the patient was discharged without any complaints, indicating the etiological role of H1N1infection in HPS.


According to an embodiment of the present inventive concept, device 4 includes an optical device 8 comprising a radially outer portion 12 that at least partially surrounds the radially inner beam forming unit 10 and the radially inner beam forming unit 10 is provided that. Device 4, the light source 2 through the reflecting mirror 6 and the first radially outer portion 12 so that an optical path is formed, the first towards the light emitted by the light source 2 to the radially outer portion 12 further comprising a reflection mirror 6 which is positioned to reflect the direction. Radially outer portion 12 is transparent so that the incident light that has reached the radially outer portion 12 along the first optical path is emitted radially outer portion 12 in a first direction parallel to the direction, and the light source performing at least one of the scattering and attenuation for the light reaching the radially outer portion 12 along a second optical path extending directly between the 2 and the radially outer portion 12. Thus, the radially outer portion 12 can function as a transparent exit window of the reflected light R, while preventing the transmission of direct light D may generate glare otherwise, radially inner beamformer 10 It contributes to the strength of the central beam F formed by.


underlying disease, clinical features of reaction and the global sensitivity of ST) did not allow us to form a strong conclusion about each IT drug. In our experience, ST performed under IT were safe and led to well-tolerated reintroduction of drugs. This study emphasizes the service ren-dered by ST when IT could not be interrupted.


This report discusses the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), a federal workers' compensation program that covers certain private-sector maritime workers. More than $980 million in LHWCA benefits are paid each year. The LHWCA is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) and all benefit costs are paid by employers and their insurance carriers.


This paper presents a 3 V-to-5 V integrated dual-mode digital-control step-up switched-capacitor (SC) power converter. The feedback control circuit is equipped with a low-power analog-to-digital converter which monitors and feeds the output voltage to a digital controller. With light loading, the control loop operates in a pulse-skipping mode. With heavy loading, the control loop operates in a frequency modulation mode (FMM) based on a numerically controlled oscillator whose switching frequency varies from 31.25 kHz to 1 MHz. The design is fabricated in a 0.5- μm digital CMOS process. With multiplierless implementation, the controller requires a gate count of less than 300. The whole design occupies a total active area of 0.23 mm2. From silicon measurement, with a 330-nF external flying capacitor, the design delivers a regulated 5 V output with an output current up to 25 mA from a 3 V supply, delivering an output power greater than 100 mW. The load regulation is measured to be 0.14%. A remarkable efficiency of 80% or above on average under various loading conditions is achieved. Dynamic characteristic and stability analysis of the SC converter in the FMM are presented. Comparisons with existing designs demonstrate the excellence of the proposed design.


Objective:?To exploe the factors related to the prognosis of granulosa cell tumor and its clinical characteristics.Methods:?40 cases of ovarian granulosa cell tumor with different stages and grades and treated with various methods were reviewed.Results:?The overall 5-and 10-year survival rates were 95% and 75%. The 5-and 10-year survival rates were 100% and 93.1% in stage Ⅰ, 88.9% and 33.3% in stage Ⅱ, 50% and 0 in stage Ⅲ. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates decreased with the increase of clinical stage and pathological grade. Different treatment methods didn't influence the survival rate of stage Ⅰ patients.Conclusion:?Tumor stage and grade are major factors to influence the prognosis of patients with granulosa cell tumor.


The main objective of this study was to investigate the status of sleep disturbance, fatigue, anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and analyse the relationship between fatigue and sleep disturbance, anxiety and depression. A cross-sectional research method was used to recruit 190 patients who were at least one-week post-MI as the research participants. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Chinese version of the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to analyse the relationship between fatigue and sleep disorders, anxiety and depression, assess the depression status and explore the relationship between myocardial infarction. In this study, 55.3% of patients had sleep disorders, 25.3% had anxiety tendencies with a gender difference, 20.0% had depression tendencies, and 33.2% had fatigue with no gender difference. Anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance were all related to fatigue ( P <0.05). The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance jointly explained 44.8% of the variation in fatigue. To conclude sleep disturbance, depression and anxiety could be influencing factors of fatigue in patients with MI, which affect the rehabilitation process of MI, particularly in elderly patients. Medical staff should consider educating the impact of anxiety, depression, fatigue and sleep disorders on MI and how to determine the needs of patients regarding mental health, symptoms and self-care strategies.


This article give some rational advice for the structure of based on statistical analysis data of book lending,trend and characteristic of reading during 2002-2004 in the library of Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Technology.


Since plasticity in metallic materials is usually attributed to the motion of dislocations, the knowledge of the evolution of the dislocation structure during deformation is the key to understanding the mechanical properties on all length scales. Especially for samples in the micrometer regime, the evolution of the slip-step pattern can be directly linked to the active dislocation sources. Depending on the number of operating dislocation sources on the different slip systems (slip planes) a characteristic slip-step pattern forms at the surfaces. The collective motion of dislocations and the formation of complex dislocation structures have been studied with nanoindentation using slip-step analysis. Scanning electron micrographs can give only information on slip-step orientation and slip-step distribution with no quantitative information on their heights. The heights are needed to estimate the number of dislocations that have reached the surface. Therefore, new correlated microscopy techniques are needed to further understand the origins of plasticity. information for both techniques a comprehensive due to the quasi-simultaneous correlation within setup. investigation collective


A detailed study was carried out to understand the photonic crystal design rules with very high dielectric constant (ε>13), based on plane wave expansion and finite difference time-domain (FDTD) techniques. It is found that the optimal dielectric constant contrast is indeed the one between conventional semiconductors (ε=12-14) and air. Either too high or too low contrast can lead to the reduction of complete photonic bandgap. With very high bulk dielectric constant (ε=20-25), PbSe nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) are suitable for air hole based PC structure with large TE gap. On the other hand, NQD backfilled photonic crystals with tunable bandgap is proposed based on the control of packing density of NQDs inside the air holes of photonic crystal structures. Both theoretical and experimental results on the integration process are reported.


Abstract. The xanthophyll content of wild type and abscisic acid (ABA) - deficient mutants of pea and Arabidopsis thaliana was determined. The wilty mutant of pea was indistinguishable from the non-mutant control. In contrast, plants homozygous for mutant alleles at the aba locus of Arabidopsis were very different from wild type. In these mutants, zeaxanthin accumulated to abnormally high levels. The major carotenoids, violaxanthin and 9′-cis-neoxanthin were virually absent from the mutant chromatograms. It was concluded that the aba genetic lesion impairs the epoxidation of zeaxanthin to violaxanthin and that this results in an inability to accumulate ABA. This provides clear evidence that zeaxanthin is a precursor of ABA.


In this paper an analysis was made to the Colombian regulations about the way to measures the noise generated by vehicles under stationary condition, for which, a part of the international regulation was also reviewed. Besides, a study contracted by the Ministry of Environment was evaluated. This, in order to generate recommendations to be used in a new legislation that allows effective control of noise pollution.In the aforementioned review, it was found that the methodology used for the measurement of vehicles road noise under stationary condition, internationally, is based mainly on ISO standard 5130: 2007, and although, they establish that it can be used in periodic controls on road, has the limitation that it can only be done outdoors. Nevertheless, the study contracted by the MAVDT, proposes acoustic conditions in the Centers of Automotive Diagnosis, allowing realizing these measurements indoors. Finally, the maximum permissible levels proposed by the study were analyzed, finding that these are based on a non-significant sample in terms of quantity and variety of vehicles, which makes it necessary to carry out a new investigation involving a larger number and other types of brands are taken into account.


Nanosheets assembled into nickel sulfide nanospheres were synthesized in a controlled manner, and exhibited superior tri-functional activities owing to optimized binding with hydrogen/oxygen intermediates.


The pure electric minivan is different from electric car. In order to achieve goals of optimum power performances, combined with certain van, we use the orthogonal optimization algorithm to optimize the design parameters. Then, establish simulation models and operate tasks calculation of the transmission ratio in Cruise. Simulation results show that: the design of optimum transmission ratio met requirements of power performances. This paper has practical guiding significances on providing a new way of electric minivan match and simulation analysis.


The invention minimil relates to a steel-making flux for the incubation process the refining slag, and more particularly calcium fluoride in the by-product Calcium Aluminate-based minimil refining slag generated in the refining process of minimil steel making process (CsF As the object of the present invention by using the refining slag Calcium Aluminate-based minimil produce a It is another object of the present invention by correcting the component to optionally be added to the calcium fluoride (CsF Steel, slag, flux, calcium fluoride, aluminum dross (Al. Dross)


This is the first major study of an often neglected area of Australian painting. Published in a large-format, generously illustrated volume, it surveys the genre of maritime painting from the beginning of European settlement to the end of the nineteenth century.


Few will forget the day in April 2010 a BP oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil gushed for 87 days and the world reacted with horror. Birds, fish and marine mammals lay lifeless along the coastline, consumed by the deadly waste. It was one of the worst environmental disasters in the history of the United States.


The Joint Business Group (KUBE) is a business group assisted by the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs which was formed from several assisted families to run Productive Economic Businesses and Social Welfare Businesses in the context of business independence, improving community welfare. With this group, it is hoped that the welfare of its members can increase. This study aims to analyze the factors that determine the success of the Joint Business Group (KUBE) program in Sambit Regency. The research sample was determined by purposive sampling with the consideration that KUBE meets the requirements to be sampled, namely KUBE which is still active. The methodology in this study uses quantitative research with multiple linear regression analysis techniques. This study examines each variable by testing the hypothesis and the coefficient of determination. The results showed that the determining factors for the success of KUBE in the form of venture capital, experience in entrepreneurship and the role of mentors had a significant effect on the success of the KUBE program. The success of KUBE will make a major contribution to the government in achieving the absolute poverty rate reduction target.


Structure formation by coupling between formation of crosslinking points and liquid–liquid phase separation was investigated for aqueous methyl cellulose solution by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and light scattering (LS) techniques. The sol–gel phase diagram and the SAXS results suggested that the liquid–liquid phase separation occurred before gelation. By LS measurements, the structure due to the liquid–liquid phase separation was directly observed. By applying speckle analysis on the LS profiles, it was suggested that the gelation and the phase separation strongly coupled each other: the increase in the apparent molecular weight by crosslinking induced the liquid–liquid phase separation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 168–174, 2010


Introduction: Mechanisms of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with a psychiatric diagnosis could be related to clinical risk factors/comorbidities, QT interval-prolonging therapeutic drugs or ...


This study proposes machine learning strategies to control the parameter adaptation in ant colony optimization algorithm, the prominent swarm intelligence metaheuristic. The sensitivity to parameters' selection is one of the main limitations within the swarm intelligence algorithms when solving combinatorial problems. These parameters are often tuned manually by algorithm experts to a set that seems to work well for the problem under study, a standard set from the literature or using off-line parameter tuning procedures. In the present study, the parameter search process is integrated within the running of the ant colony optimization without incurring an undue computational overhead. The proposed strategies were based on a novel nature-inspired idea. The results for the travelling salesman and quadratic assignment problems revealed that the use of the augmented strategies generally performs well against other parameter adaptation methods.


The changes in the nervous system induced by the repeated use of dependence-producing drugs are not limited to those associated with tolerance and physical dependence (withdrawal syndromes). They also involve memory traces that link both positive and negative reinforcing effects of drugs to affective states and environmental stimuli. Long after the obvious signs of withdrawal have abated, these affective states and stimuli may evoke urges to use the drug again (craving), some component of withdrawal distress, or both. In those who were formerly drug dependent, ingestion of a drug that produces a positive reinforcement may have a 'priming' effect resulting in increased craving for the drug of dependence. In addition to traditional pharmacological approaches, which seek to reduce relapse by ameliorating changes associated with withdrawal, or to block the reinforcing actions of drugs, newer approaches to relapse-prevention teach former users how to avoid situations that evoke craving or to cope with it when ...


The success of immunotherapy treatment in oncology ushered a new modality for treating a wide variety of cancers. However, lack of effect in some patients made it imperative to identify other pathways that are exploited by cancer cells to circumvent immune surveillance, and possibly synergize immune checkpoint treatment in those cases. It has been recently recognized that adenosine levels increased significantly in the tumor microenvironment and that adenosine/adenosine receptors play a powerful role as immunosuppressant and attenuating several effector T cell functions. The two main enzymes responsible for generating adenosine in the microenvironment are the ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73, the former utilizes both ATP and ADP and producing AMP while the latter utilizes AMP and generates adenosine. Thus, these two enzymes combined are the major source for the bulk of adenosine produced in the microenvironment. They were shown to be validated targets in oncology leading to several clinical trials that include small molecules as well as antibodies, showing positive and encouraging results in the preclinical arena. Towards the development of novel drugs to target these enzymes, we have developed a platform that can be utilized to monitor the activities of both enzymes in vitro (biochemical) as well as in cells (cell based) assays. We have developed very sensitive and homogenous assays that enabled us to monitor the activity of both enzymes and demonstrate selectivity of known small molecule inhibitors as well as selective monoclonal antibodies. This should speed up screening for novel inhibitors leading to more effective cancer therapy Citation Format: Said Goueli, kevin Hsiao. Biochemical and cell-based activities of ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 using a homogenous HTS formatted platform [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B138. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-B138


the bending stage is the most critical part in manufacturing sheet metal workpieces. Moreover, the automatic bend sequencing is a necessity for process planning. A robust method for sheet metal bend sequencing is presented in this paper, in which hard reject criteria and the preclusion method of complex bending model are both concerned. A set of solution methods in bend sequencing based on A-star algorithm is also developed accordingly. Finally, an application example of complex bending model is used to verify the presented bend sequencing method. And a CNC bending machine process planning software is developed based on it.


This research was conducted in La Delicia neighborhood, located in Panzaleo parish, Salcedo canton, Cotopaxi province, for a period of six months in the development of the entire thesis. The objective of the research was to evaluate the addition of three levels of residues of passion fruit (15%, 20% and 25%) in the feeding of guinea pigs in the reproductive stage. 40 female guinea pigs of 90-day-old were selected. 4 groups of 10 animals were selected randomly. The treatments were: T1 (balanced with passion fruit waste flour 15% plus forage), T2 (balanced with passion fruit waste flour 20% plus forage), T3 (balanced with passion fruit waste flour 25% plus forage) and T4 - control group (balanced without waste of passion fruit flour plus forage).The food ration provided according to the schedule was of 40 g of balanced per animal per day and 400 gr of feed per animal per day. In the same water ad libitum was supplied every day....


Knowing about serious health-related problems is an essential gateway towards prevention, treatment, and care about oneself. This study presents fndings on pupils' knowledge and skills about pregnancy and pregnancy control measures in the integrated sexuality education contents. The study was conducted through mixed method approach drawing a sample of 204 respondents from two districts in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. The data were collected through structured interview and focus group discussion methods. The fndings revealed that, the integrated sexuality education in schools has not been very effective in informing pupils on investigated aspects. Some basic aspects related to pregnancy and pregnancy control measures are still mysteries to most pupils. Comparatively, rural pupils indicated less knowledge than their urban counterparts. The study recommends more efforts by teachers in educating pupils on sexuality education concepts. Moreover, concerted efforts should be involved, and they should involve, among others, health professionals and community-based organisations to provide sexuality information to adolescents so as to address problems related to sexual risks, including pregnancy.


This thesis presents a study of instructors' and students' perceptions of the knowledge to be learned about limits of functions in a college level Calculus course, taught in a North American college institution. I have modeled these perceptions using a theoretical framework, which combines elements of the Anthropological Theory of Didactics,
developed in mathematics education, with a framework for the study of institutions – the Institutional Analysis and Development framework – developed in political science. I
describe the models and illustrate them with examples from the empirical data, on which they have been built: final examinations from the past six years (2001-2007), used in the studied College institution, and specially designed interviews with 28 students. While a model of the instructors' perceptions could be formulated mostly in mathematical terms, a model of the students' perceptions had to include an eclectic mixture of mathematical,
social, cognitive and didactic norms. The analysis that I carry out shows that these students' perceptions have their source in the institutional emphasis on routine tasks and
on the norms that regulate the institutional practices. Finally, I describe students' thinking about various tasks on limits from the perspective of Vygotsky's theory of concept development. Based on the 28 interviews that I have carried out, I will discuss the role of institutional practices on students' conceptual development.


The effects of latitudinal mean wind shear on the Rossby gravity wave are investigated. It is shown that this wave stabilizes barotropically unstable mean flows near the equator. Easterly curvature expands the wave scale and helps to insure the relevance of this theorem. It is also suggested that latitudinal shear, if incorporated into a Holton-Lindzen type experiment, might act to produce a correct asymmetry in shear zone strength in the two phases of the quasi-biennial oscillation.


The report represents the first part of the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment's dose-response analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Because of the tremendous amount of information bearing on approaches that can be developed to estimate risks from exposures to PAHs, the task is divided into three steps beginning with an analysis of benzo(a)pyrene (BAP), one of the PAHs. The steps are: (1) determining the oral potency slope for benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), (2) determining the inhalation potency slope for B(a)P, and (3) determining the potency slopes for other PAHs using a relative potency approach. The focus of the report is on estimating the carcinogenic potency slope of B(a)P by ingestion. The potency slope is used to provide an upper-bound estimate for risk from ingesting low doses of B(a)P. It should be noted that only information relevant to analyzing dose-response relationships by ingestion is analyzed in the report.


From its origins in the 1960s to the present day, the Internet has evolved from a mere idea for improving scientific and military exchange to a popular communication vehicle that enjoys a 34 percent global penetration rate. This chapter examines the sociological implications of this burgeoning technology, including not just the Internet, but related information communication technologies (ICT) such as mobile cellular signals, mobile phones, hand-held computers, smart robots, avatars, etc. Specifically, it explores issues of ICT access and social equality, the impact of ICT on central social processes such as community formation, connectivity, and intimacy, the influence of ICT on the conception of social interactants, and ICT and privacy. The bias against mediated communication as a vehicle of true intimacy is well established. Keywords: community formation; information communication technologies (ICT); social equality; social interactants; true intimacy


Analysis of the strain-induced pseudomagnetic fields (PMFs) generated in graphene nanobulges under three different substrate scenarios shows that, in addition to the shape, the graphene-substrate interaction can crucially determine the overall distribution and magnitude of strain and those fields, in and outside the bulge. We utilize a combination of classical molecular dynamics, continuum mechanics, and tight-binding electronic structure calculations as an unbiased means of studying pressure-induced deformations and the resulting PMF in graphene nanobubbles of various geometries. The interplay among substrate aperture geometry, lattice orientation, internal gas pressure, and substrate type is analyzed in view of strain-engineered graphene nanostructures capable of confining and/or guiding electrons at low energies. Except in highly anisotropic geometries, the magnitude of the PMF is generally significant only near the boundaries of the aperture and rapidly decays towards the center because under gas pressure at the scales considered here there is considerable bending at the edges and the central region displays nearly isotropic strain. When the deflection lead to sharp bends at the edges, curvature and the tilting of the $p_z$ orbitals cannot be ignored and contributes substantially to the total field. The strong and localized nature of the PMF at the boundaries and its polarity-changing profile can be exploited to trap electrons inside the bubble or of guiding them in channel-like geometries defined by edges. However, we establish that slippage of graphene against the substrate is an important factor in determining the degree of concentration of PMFs in or around the bulge since it can lead to considerable softening of the strain gradients there. The nature of the substrate emerges thus as a decisive factor determining the effectiveness of nanoscale PMFs tailoring in graphene.