Accuracy of depth seismic imaging depends on the accuracy of the velocity models used for wave-field reconstruction. Models can be decomposed in two components corresponding to large scale and small scale variations. In practice, the large scale velocity model component can be estimated accurately, but the small scale component cannot. Therefore, wavefield reconstruction does not completely describe the recorded data and migrated images are perturbed by artifacts. There are two ways to address this problem: improve wavefield reconstruction by estimating more accurate velocity models and image using conventional techniques, or reconstruct wavefields with conventional methods using the known smooth velocity, and improve the imaging condition to alleviate the artifacts caused by the imprecise reconstruction. The unknown component of the velocity model can be described as a random function with local spatial correlations. Imaging data perturbed by such random variations is characterized by statistical instability, i.e. various wavefield components image at wrong locations that depend on the actual realization of the random model. Statistical stability can be achieved by local wavefield averaging either in spatial windows defined in the vicinity of the data acquisition locations, or in local windows defined in the vicinity of image points. Conventional seismic imaging methods share the fundamental assumption of single scattering in the subsurface (Born approximation). Under this assumption, we can represent waves recorded at the surface as a convolution of Green's functions (G) corresponding to sources on the surface and scattering points in the subsurface. Assuming an impulsive source, we can write) , , () , , () , (m m s m m s m m y x G y x G x P ω ω ω ⋅ = (1) where P denotes recorded acoustic data at coordinates x m , x s are coordinates of the source, y m are coordinates of the scattering points, and ω m is the frequency of the propagating wave. The Green's function G characterizes data propagation in the real medium of velocity v. Imaging with recorded data P(x m , ω m) is a two-step procedure: the first step consists of extrapolation of a source wavefield forward in time, and extrapolation of the recorded wavefield backward in time; the second step consists of an imaging condition evaluating whether the two extrapolated wavefields match kinematically, which indicates if a reflector is present in the medium. A conventional imaging condition (CIC) involves cross-correlation of the source and receiver …


September 2021 SUMMARY: Moringa oleifera is an oilseed crop with poten tial for biodiesel production. The second step in this process is the extraction of oil. Extraction in hot water, with a Soxhlet apparatus and the ultrasound technique are the most commonly used methods. The aim of the present work was to obtain a phenomenological model for the Moringa oleifera oil extraction process using Soxhlet. Effective diffusivity for Moringa oil through the kernels is obtained, using the kinetics of the extraction process (experimentally determined) and the Fick 's diffusion second law for non-steady state. The value of 0.685·10 -12 m 2 /s fully matched reports on effective diffusion coefficient for other solids. It was also verified from the statistical analysis and a linear fit for experimental data that the model can be used to describe the oil extraction process of Moringa oleifera in the Soxhlet extractor, responding to the diffusive phenomenon (process controlled by


Abstract The Impact of Events Scale (IES) has been characterized as one of the most widely used measures of the subjective psychological distress associated with traumatic events. However, the scale may measure other aspects of events, such as the cognitive accessibility of an event, as well as emotional distress or symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To explore this possibility, 58 Texas community college students (35 women, 23 men) completed the scale with the target "stressor" being the worst movie or television show they had seen recently. Analysis showed that participants' scores approximated IES ranges often associated with significant emotional distress or PTSD. Insofar as the IES measures the memorability, cognitive accessibility or other aspects of events instead of psychopathology associated with events, it may produce misleading results when used as a measure of PTSD or emotional distress.


He is dead now. He looked close to it the few times I saw him 30 years ago. A small, wizened man, rendered kyphotic with age. Besuited, but dapper and with spit and polish black shoes, overlarge for his diminutive frame, he conducted his ward rounds slowly and methodically. He was a consultant in a small hospital, and there was just him, the ward sister, a houseman, and me, the medical student. And yet if I had to put …


A closed reamed intramedullary nail is th treatment of choice for a closed femoral shaft fracture. However, treatment of an open femoral shaft fracture is still controversial. From January 1987 to May 1989, 89 open femoral shaft fractures were treated at our hospital with a follow-up period of at least one year (average, 22 months), Delayed reaming after initial debridement was performed about one week's interval. The union rate was 88.8% with a union period of 5.8±1.8 moths. Knee range of motion was on average 108 degrees. Deep infection, present in 7.0%, was correlated with wound severity and procedures of shifting external fixation to internal fixation. Nonunion was noted in 11.2% and also correlated with wound severity. We conclude that for type I, II open fractures, a closed reamed intramedullary nail should be chosen. For type IIIA, IIIB fractures, a closed reamed intramedullary nail can only be sued after thorough debridement. Whenever suspicion exists, a non-reamed intramedullary nail or an external fixation should be utilized. Type IIIC should be undoubtedly treated with external fixation. However, shifting procedure form external fixation to reamed intramedullary nailing is dangerous. If there is suspicious of pin tract infection, shifting is contraindicated.


ABSTRACT In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, this study presents a general overview of the journal from 1998 to 2017 by using a bibliometric analysis. The objective is to identify the leading trends that have affected the journal during this time frame. In so doing, this study analyses a wide range of bibliometric issues including the publication and citation evolution of the journal, articles that cite the IJLRA, most-cited papers, most productive and influential authors, institutions and countries, and the evolution of author keywords. Additionally, the work develops a graphical visualisation of the bibliographic material published in IJLRA.


The technical project "Provision of a sewerage system for the river up community" It
will improve the living conditions for the people living in the area, since currently there
is not a sanitary sewer system or storm sewer system available, so the habitants use
septic tanks. The septic tanks are collapsing and producing pollution, causing
environmental damage and pollution, causing environmental damage and contamination
effects harmful to the habitants.
The main goal is to provide sufficient and adequate sewerage system that allows to
evacuate wastewater with the necessary environmental quality indices, according to the
EPMAPS standards over a period of 18 months. Emphasizing that because it is a high
residential growth area, the final designs are done by implementing new infrastructure,
in this case two alternatives are taken into account described in the project with their
respective advantages and disadvantages, from wich alternative two was chosen as the
best.
The investment cost for the combined sewer system is $ 990,028.39; this cost includes
the treatment plant that has a value of $ 148,783.29.
According to the resulting economic indicators, it is possible to define that the project is
profitable, with a net present value (NPV) of 93321.92. An internal rate of return (IRR)
of 13.08%, and a benefit cost ratio (B/C) of 1.08.


Seepage is one of the important factors involved in natural flow conditions, contributing to changes in flow turbulence patterns and morphological changes due to the transport of sediments. This transport of sediment particles influences the development of fluvial bedforms in any river channel. However, previous research on fluvial dynamics has not considered the influence of seepage on the flow field over the fluvial bedforms. The present experimental research aims to explore the behavioral patterns of turbulent kinetic energy, the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget, and quadrant analysis for flows over two-dimensional dune shaped bedforms in the absence and presence of downward seepage. Results from the study illustrate that at the measurement locations on the initial and lee side sections of a dune, the TKE increases with the introduction of downward seepage, leading to an increase in turbulence production near the bed-surface region. The flow energy under both no seepage and seepage conditions contributes mainly to the turbulent production. Turbulence diffusion and dissipation rates have been found to decline in the near-bed region of the initial and lee side sections of the dune. However, turbulent production has been found to be significantly higher in the presence of downward seepage than under the no seepage condition. Similarly, turbulent kinetic energy flux increases in the streamwise direction, while it reduces in the vertical direction at initial sections and lee side sections of the dune under seepage conditions. However, at the middle sections and crest portion of the dune, opposite behavioral patterns are observed for all the aforementioned turbulent entities. Quadrant analysis reveals that the sweep and ejection event increases while inward and outward interaction reduces in the near bed zone. Although the contribution of both sweep and ejection events increases in the presence of downward seepage, sweep events have clear dominance in the near bed region, suggesting the possibility of a higher rate and amount of sediment transportation than under the no seepage condition.


XML Schema lacks sufficient semantics and it becomes an obstacle to integration and sharing of heterogeneous XML data. In order to resolve these problems in well engineering domain, this paper proposes an ontology-based method to build a XML knowledge base called WeKB. In this method, a series of semantic views are defined between domain ontology and XML paths, and each node of XML data is mapped with some semantic views by which all elements of XML data are transformed to OWL instances and populated to WeKB. In addition, by axioms and inference rules, WeKB is also equipped with certain reasoning functions. By practical application, it can provide effective support for decision making in oilfield production.


There were 15,011 native human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients between 1986 and 2007. Among them, patients who had homo-sexual behavior made up the second largest group and the number had increased 36% since 1986. In contrast, the number of patients with drug-addition had only increased 2%, even though they are still the largest group. The ratio of male and female patients with homosexual behavior was 9:1. This information showed that homosexual group, especially the gay group, should be the major concern of the prevention and control policies of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The aims of this study were to understand the knowledge and attitude of AIDS of gays, their current level of risky sexual behavior and other associated factors to change their behavior, in order to reduce HIV infections in Taiwan. Purpose sampling and snowball sampling methods were adopted. Gays, including HIV-infected and non-infected candidates in non-government organizations and AIDS assigned hospitals were the subject of this study. 315 effective self-designed structural questionnaires were collected. The study was approved by institution review board. The study brought 7 results. Higher level of knowledge of AIDS in the HIV positive gays studied caused more positive attitude toward AIDS and its explanation power was 32.4%. The more positive attitude toward AIDS, the more positive actions. The knowledge of AIDS in gays studied was highly correlated to their willingness to encourage their intimate partners to do AIDS screen tests (X2=6.91 **). The respondents aged between 30 and 49 had more knowledge of AIDS than the respondents aged 50 and over. The respondents who are of high school or higher education background had better knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward AIDS. The knowledge, attitude and behavior toward AIDS in gays did not relate directly to where they resided. Non-HIV infected respondents had significant negative correlation between knowledge and attitude toward AIDS. Those who were uncertain if they had AIDS friends were 1.71 times less likely to use condom during sexual intercourse than those respondents who had AIDS friends. This study suggests that medical and healthcare facilities should instruct the patient more of 'Diagnostic methods of AIDS'. In addition, the study shows gays are reluctant to pick up AIDS manuals and vouchers even though they may need them. Maybe psychologically they feel that this action would announce themselves as HIV positive patients. This result suggests that instead of having the vouchers or manuals in paper, health care facilities could use emails or give instructions over the phone. It would be beneficial if HIV positive patients could have a better attitude toward understanding AIDS. Education could be given at elementary school stage to avoid discrimination against homosexuality, to promote the understanding that homosexuality does not equal to AIDS, and to clarify the routes of AIDS infection so the society can have a healthier and more accurate attitude towards homosexuals, no matter they are HIV positive or negative.


Geomorphological maps report the erosion and depositional relief landforms, including submarine ones, highlighting the morphographic and morphometric characters and interpreting the endogenous and exogenous morphological processes, both past or present, that produce and shape the topographic relief. In this kind of maps, the chronological sequence is also reported, distinguishing between active and inactive landforms. The geomorphological mapping, in addition to its scientific value, is the necessary starting point of different studies such applied geology and environmental protection investigations for socio-economic improvement.


Under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (CDSOA) of 2000, the U.S. government distributes the revenue from anti-dumping and countervailing duties to domestic firms alleging harm. In this article, we develop a simple model to examine the economic effect of the CDSOA. For the case in which the "offset payments" to domestic firms are linked to the volume of foreign imports, the CDSOA may increase foreign imports when the domestic market is more competitive than in the Cournot equilibrium. This finding runs contrary to what the E.U. and some exporting countries have claimed. But if the market is less competitive than in Cournot, the CDSOA becomes an instrument of trade protectionism.


This book has been published by the Self Study of Teacher Education Practices (S-Step) community. My chapter is "Leadership and on finding my way through self-study" draws upon an earlier study by J.Loughran (2014) Learning how to be coached: How a dean learnt with a critical friend.


This short piece responds to Matthias Kranke's extended review of our 2011 book Critical International Political Economy: Dialogue, Debate, Dissensus. We reiterate the book's commitment to challenging disciplinary orthodoxies and immanent critique. The response also observes how the review elides a number of crucial definitions to abrogate our commitment to an expansive disciplinary engagement.


Over the ages, healers have used imagery of many sorts to understand and explain illness and injury. From the deification of the beings associated with various illnesses to the advent of modern computer-aided imagery, healers have wanted to understand and see what is happening inside of their patients' bodies. I examine the imaging technologies doctors can use now, look at some advances and their applications, and touch on what we can expect the union of computers and imaging technologies to show us in the next few years. Technology such as X-rays, CT scans, PET, MRI and the Medical Imaging Toolkit are considered. Virtual reality medical systems are discussed.


Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO) has been referred to as the "last  frontier" in interventional cardiology. In recent years, new devices, improved imaging techniques and innovative  technologies significantly increased the success rate and safety of PCI for treatment of CTO remarkably. Favorable  long-term data on the outcomes of interventions, and excellent performance drug-eluting stents show a preference  for CTO recanalisation. Detailed knowledge about the histopathological characteristics of CTO is crucial to  understand the basic principles of advanced interventional techniques. Understanding the principle of antegrade  and retrograde approaches are completing the armamentarium essential for interventional cardiologists dealing  with this challenging lesion subset. As strategies fortreating complex lesions are continuously volving. Our goal  was to present a systematic review of the current methods for CTO revascularization in the context of the published  results of the application of these approaches are different centers, as well as solve the problem of choosing a  revascularization method in specific clinical conditions.


4 Abstract: A study was conducted with an objective to compare the efficacy of bentonite (BT), Spirulina platensis (SP) and glucomannan mycotoxin binders (GMA) on aflatoxicosis in broiler breeders. Three levels of AF, three binders and combination of different levels of AF with binders were evaluated. The Aflatoxin B1 (AF) fed at the levels of 300, 400 and 500ppb for three periods, each with duration of three weeks in broiler breeders from 28 to 36 weeks of age. Inclusion of 500 AF in the diet significantly (P 0.05) affected egg weight when compared to that of control. The results indicated no significant (P 0.05) effect of AF on egg weight, shell thickness and Haugh unit when compared to that of control. The results showed dose dependent cumulative effects of AF on all the affected parameters. Among the binders, GMA showed better counteracting effect.


This article presents properties of a follow-up system executing ship's rudder deflection using a constant delivery hydraulic pump. Furthermore, a solution is discussed which increases static and dynamic accuracy of such a system using the rudder angular velocity signal. This signal has been used for changing the level of a three-position controller insensitivity. The paper also shows the method of determination of the function describing variations of dead-zone width of the three-point controller. Two kinds of such function are shown, namely linear and quadratic. A computer model was prepared in MATLAB-Simulink environment, showing the operation of the system with correction of error signal, which carries out given by function variations of points of switching. Also included are the simulation results of the described solution, indicating a significant enhancement of accuracy of rudder angle control process for the steady state as well as during transients.


In this paper, the corrosion degradation process and semiconducting character of epoxy coating/carbon steel were examined in 5%H2SO4 solution by used of potential-capacitance measurement and Mott-Schottky analysis techniques. A film with MIS structure may formed on the surface of epoxy coating/carbon steel immersed in 5%H2SO4 for 10 min, with the extension of soaking time, the system gradually showed a semiconductor-like nature. When epoxy coating/carbon steel immersed for 1 d, the system exhibited n-type semiconducting, its Nyquist frequency map had two semi-impedance arcs in the whole frequency region, which showed that the epoxy coating/carbon steel electrode had two time constants. The epoxy coating/carbon steel immersed in 5%H2SO4 for 3 h~5 d, the dipole polarization had occurred under the electric field, electric dipole might hinder the migration of carriers, and slowed down the corrosion. Dipole relaxation effect made the capacitor of epoxy coating/carbon steel reduced with the absolute value of potential increased, and resulted in dependence on its frequency. The epoxy coating/carbon steel immersed in 5%H2SO4 for more than 7 d, the carbon and coating formed metal-semiconductor contacts, with the extension of soaking time, the carrier density increased gradually.


Worldwide, telecommunication sector has been playing a significant role towards public revenue generation. In Nepal, also it is one of the important sectors, which contributes on government revenue generation through paying direct and indirect taxes. This study aims to highlight the contribution of Nepal Telecom: a government incorporated telecommunication organization of Nepal towards government revenue generation. The study has also recognized areas relating to existing scenario of tax payment system of Nepal Telecom with exploring some possible solutions for improvement. The research design used in this study has been descriptive and analytical. Both qualitative and quantitative methods have been followed to make the research more empirical. The information and data required for this study have been taken from primary and secondary sources. The data from F/Y 2007/08 to F/Y 2016/17 have been taken for analysis of tax revenue. Data processing and tabulations have been done by using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Descriptive as well as inferential statistical tools have been used for analyzing data and draw conclusions. Advanced statistical tools like co-relation, multiple regression and time series analysis have been done and also verified the results by using test statistics (t-tests and f-tests). The study concluded that Nepal Telecom has been playing significant role towards government revenue generation through its income tax, VAT and TDS contributions.


The problem of providing source authentication in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) has been a roadblock to their large scale deployment, and is still in its infancy. In this paper, we present novel symmetric-key-based authentication schemes which exhibit low computation and communication authentication overhead. Our schemes are built upon the integration of a reputation mechanism, a Bloom filter, and a key binary tree for the distribution and updating of the authentication keys. Analytical evaluation of the proposed authentication schemes shows that the estimated average number of concatenated message authentication code in a packet from time 0 till time t is 4pt, with p is the probability that a key is corrupted. Our schemes are lightweight and efficient with respect to computation, communication and energy overhead.


The majority of the aircraft recognition methods assume the successful isolation of the aircraft silhouette from the background. In this system, image processing techniques are first employed to perform the image preprocessing tasks, such as image quality enhancement, noise removal, edge detection and automatic recognition. This system is the specific study of pattern recognition system based on aircraft shape such as wing, tail, nose of vehicle, morphological properties and color based properties. Although various types of automatic aircraft recognition system can be used, image processing with Matlab programming language is used to recognize aircraft. It is to make the system more flexible and refers to the task of selecting, detecting and successfully identifying different potential targets from simple scenes to complex scenes.


Methods in engineering design enhance development processes what was stated in a lot of research projects. Nevertheless there is a big lack of method implementation in industry. Engineers (mostly) learn applying methods at university. To enhance the use of methods in industry it is necessary to analyze the learning process of students. Therefore in this study several student works were analyzed regarding their use of methods. First a broad analysis was carried out. Afterwards best cases were analyzed and action proposals derived.


The chapel of Nuestra Senora del Pilar is nowadays one of the most original groups from the XVIII century in Cadiz. Its altarpieces and the interesting images we found inside are the object of this article, because after the investigation in the brotherhood's historical archive we can shed some light about its authors. So, Francisco Lopez and Gonzalo Pomar, high artists established in the city, will have an eminent protagonism, as main configurers of the whole espace.


This paper deals with Intellectual Property (IP) core design for dynamic task scheduling to support Out-of-Order (OoO) execution in Multiprocessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC) environment. MPSoC is one of the most promising future processor architecture. But such systems have to face challenges in the context of OoO execution during dynamic scheduling due to data dependencies like Read-after-Write (RAW), Write-after-Write (WAW) and Write-after-Read (WAR). Due to these dependencies stalling problem occur during OoO execution. In order to solve this stalling problem and achieve task level parallelism (TLP), Scoreboarding algorithm with register renaming technique is designed. As these dependencies impose challenging constraints on the direct use of techniques like OoO execution, register renaming and dynamic scheduling, a synthesizable IP core is designed. The simulation results show that the design can analyze all the task dependencies during run-time and resolves them at TLP. This algorithm is able to resolve 100% RAW, WAW and WAR hazards which are not solvable at instruction level parallelism (ILP).


Peripheral vascular disease results from narrowing of the peripheral arteries that supply oxygenated blood and nutrients to the legs and feet. This pathology causes symptoms such as intermittent claudication (pain with walking), painful ischaemic ulcerations, or even limbthreatening gangrene. It is generally believed that the vascular endothelium, a monolayer of endothelial cells (ECs) that lines the luminal surface of all blood and lymphatic vessels, plays a dominant role in vascular homeostasis and vascular regeneration. As a result, stem cell-based regeneration of the endothelium may be a promising approach for the treatment of PAD. Critical limb ischaemia (CLI) is an advanced form of peripheral artery disease which is responsible for about 100,000 amputations each year in the US. Trials to date have reported clinical improvement and reduced need for amputation in patients with CLI who receive autologous bone marrow or mobilised peripheral blood stem cells for stimulation of angiogenesis. There is no effective treatment for lower limb ischaemia caused by peripheral vascular disease and it is necessary to amputate the limb at the end stage. Therefore, the concept of effective therapeutic angiogenesis has become widely accepted during the past few years and it has emerged as a strategy to treat tissue ischaemia by promoting collateral growth using drug, gene or cell therapy. This article provides an overview of current therapeutic challenges for the treatment of critical limb ischaemia, the basic mechanisms of stem cell therapy, the most relevant clinical trials as well as future directions for translational research in this area.


QT-prolonging drugs are occasionally associated with Torsades de Pointes (TdP). In this study, we compared the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of QT-prolonging drugs associated with TdP and those not associated with TdP. The characteristics included the enzyme responsible for QT-prolonging drug metabolism; the change in drug exposure resulting from enzyme inhibition; the elimination half-life; the volume of distribution, bioavailability and protein binding; the increase in QT interval caused by the drug; and the increase in QT interval in the presence of metabolic inhibition. The results demonstrated that 9 of the 20 selected drugs were metabolized through CYP 3A4 alone and, among them, 4 were torsadogens. In the presence of metabolic inhibition, the increases in maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of torsadogens were not greater those of nontorsadogens. The increases in AUC, elimination half-lives, volumes of distribution, bioavailability, and protein binding were comparable between the two groups. Almost all torsadogens caused an increase in QT interval greater than 10 msec. In contrast, only one nontorsadogen did. With concomitant administration of enzyme inhibitors, torsadogens caused an increase in QT interval ranging between 30 msec and 82 msec, while those of nontorsadogens were up to a maximum of 16 msec. In conclusion, drugs metabolized through CYP 3A4 alone are not necessarily more likely to be proarrhythmic. The increases in QT interval induced by the torsadogens are slightly greater than those of nontorsadogens. With metabolic inhibition, they are associated with significantly greater increases in QT interval.


This article outlines and engages the "loving-first cycle" as a contextual model for starting new faith communities and as potentially one of the lessons from "fresh expressions" for the wider church. Initially we describe two alternative approaches to church multiplication and explain the "loving-first cycle" as a contrasting methodology arising from the experience of fresh expressions of church in the UK. Next, we ground the cycle in a case study from Cape Town, South Africa. Then we argue that the cycle has the potential to be an intentional methodology for mission.


Not Available 246 Prediction and Reconstruction of a Child's Developmental History Lynne E. Barnett (Australia) The experience of a premature baby in neonatal intensive care can be a harrowing and traumatizing one. For many parents it s also a lonely one. A group of four families, where babies were born at less than 28 weeks, sought to meet together. They found the usual mothers group very difficult and distressing: such mothers, they believed, could know little of their own experience. They had however, much to say. Through a local maternal and child health service, these parents and babies came together in a group psychotherapeutic setting. The group was established as a time limited closed psychotherapy group. Guidelines were established to enable mothers to speak of anything that they wished in a private and confidential manner with other mothers. A separate evening group was established for the fathers and their babies. This presentation will describe the painful and ambivalent feelings the parents experience towards the units which cared for their very sick babies. The interactions between the babies themselves will also be described. This model provides some guidance towards the establishment of psychotherapeutic groups which could work within the neonatal intensive care unit setting before the babies are discharged. 249 Impairments of Communication in Children with Autism, Traumatic Stress, and Reactive Attachment Disorder Pamela Segel (United States) The question I am proposing for discussion is how communication impairments manifest in similar presentations with some young children who have had brain insults and how do early childhood professionals meet the challenge of intervention. One objective of this presentation is to compare and contrast observable impairments in communication between children who have been diagnosed with Autistic Disorder using DSM-IV criteria, children diagnosed with Traumatic Stress Disorder using the DC:0-3 classification, and, and children diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder using the Research Diagnostic Criteria-Preschool Age (RDCPA). The second objective will be to discuss intervention strategies to address the impairments. Strategies to be discussed will include models of behavior modification and relationship-based models. 250 The Effects of Responsive Teaching on Young Children with Autism/PDD and Children with Other Developmental Disabilities Gerald J. Mahoney, Frida P Perales (United States) This study investigated the hypothesis that Relationship Focused early intervention procedures promote the development of young children with autism/PDD by increasing children's use of pivotal developmental behavior. The sample included 20 children with autism/PDD and a matched sample of 30 children with other disabilities and their parents. The children were 28 months old at the onset of intervention. Their mean cognitive age was 14 months and language age was 12 months. All were offered weekly one hour intervention sessions over a 12 month time period. Children's cognitive, language and socioemotional functioning were evaluated using standardized assessment procedures at the beginning and end of intervention. Pre and postobservations of parent-child interaction were also assessed. Results indicated that mothers made significant changes in their affect and responsiveness; while children made significant improvements in their pivotal behavior. Changes in children's pivotal behavior were moderately correlated to changes in mothers' style of interaction (rs .37 to .68). On the average the entire sample of children attained greater than a 90 improvement in their rate of cognitive and language development. Only children with autism made significant improvements in their social emotional behavior. Changes in children's developmental functioning were moderately associated with improvements in their use of pivotal behavior. 251 Prevention and Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers at Risk for Emotional/Behavioral Disorders Maureen A. Conroy, Elizabeth Kirby Fullerton, Catherine Beaunae, Brian Boyd, Linda Payne (United States) This poster discusses research findings on the implementation of a model intervention program designed to teach early care providers to decrease problem behaviors demonstrated by infants/toddlers who are at risk for the development of emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD). The objective of this study was to examine the effects of an intervention program used across 45 infants/toddlers who were identified as "at risk" for EBD and were enrolled in an Early Head Start daycare program. The intervention program focused on teaching family members and early childhood care providers to decrease children's problem behaviors. Components of the intervention model included (1) manipulation of environmental factors; (2) strengthening children s developmental social-communication skills; and (3) development of positive adultchild interaction skills. Direct observational data was collected and will be presented on the caregiver s abilities to acquire and maintain intervention skills as well as the developmental progression of proactive, appropriate social and problem behaviors. Single case research methodology (Kazdin, 1982) and descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the early intervention program. Preliminary results indicate that caregivers were able to implement program components resulting in a significant decrease in the children s problem behaviors. Research findings will be discussed to provide direction to practitioners and researchers who are working with young children at risk for EBD. 252 The Influence of Attachment in Development of Children with Autism Fabienne Naber, Sophie Willemsen SwInkels, Emma van Daalen, Herman van Engeland, Jan Buitelaar, Marian Bakermans-Kraanenburg, Marinus van Ijzendoorn (Netherlands) Due to the biological factor of autism, symptoms are assumed to be present from birth. Nevertheless, the diagnosis is hardly ever given under the age of three years. In the SOSOproject, children with high risk for autism are observed at the age of 16 months and followed in their development up till the age of 42 months when they receive a final diagnosis. One part of this project is observing the children for their social behavior, using behavioral observation methods. Children who receive a later diagnose of autism seem to show delays in, or absence of, social behaviors during their development. However, the severity of the delays differs between children with the same disorder. It seems that the severity of the disorder is also highly related to the attachment relationship between the mother and the child. During our study we observed the children for their play behavior skills and joint attention. The influence of the attachment relationship on their social development is analyzed and will be discussed in this presentation. 253 Merits and Demerits of Early ScreenIng for Autism Spectrum Disorder Claudiine Dietz, Sophie Willemsen-SwInkels, Emma van Van Daalen, Herman van Van Engeland, Jan Buitelaar (Netherlands) A two-stage protocolled screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) was performed in a random population of 31.724 children at age 14 months. With this screening method, 17 children with ASD were identified. Although we demonstrated with this study that a very early detection of ASD is in fact possible, several limitations of early screening became as well apparent. The sensitivity of the instrument was not as high as we had hoped for. At least two reasons seem to be inherent to this problem. First, a high number of parents would not cooperate with our screening procedure. The hesitation of parents shows as well in the time span of 7 months on average between the home visit and the moment of diagnostic examinations, whereas no waiting list existed. Second, because developmental disorders like ASD will appear at some time in development, the age of screening is highly related to the sensitivity of the screening instrument. It is plausible to believe that especially the milder cases will be missed with a screening at this early age. The positive predictive value was lowered by the high amount of false positives. It should however be noted that no typically developing children were found within the screen-positive group but the instrument did depict children with related disorders like Language Disorder (n 20) and Mental Retardation (n 9). This questions the demarcation between the childhood psychiatric disorders, at least at this early age. Merits and demerits of especially early screening will be further discussed. 255 The Munich Assessmet Scale for Mother-Child Interaction by M. Papousek Revisited Caroline Haff, Anja Kahnt, Harold Wurmser, Mechthild Papousek (Germany) Intuitive parenting is a key issue in the assessment of the quality of early mother-child interaction. Based on previous microanalytic approaches, Hanu and Mechthild Papou ek (1996) developed assessment scales which are appropriate for clinical use, because they permit a global estimation as a base for therapeutic interventions. The coding system has now been adapted and evaluated for scientific purposes. The authors have revised all scales in order to gain a more sophisticated, quantitative and objective measure for the quality of mother-child interaction. The Munich assessment scales for mother-child interaction aim at examining the quality of intuitive parenting as measured by the quantity of coregulatory behavior of the mother and her adjustment to infant cues. The system contains four scales in order to account for (1) the infant s visual attention and (2) infant s states of interactional readiness, and for (3) expressiveness of the repertoire of intuitive parenting and (4) its adjustment to infant cues. The revision of the original coding system by Papousek and Papousek especially pertains to category 3 (repertoire of intuitive parenting


From proceedings of the 14th annual meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Inc.; San Diego, CA (20 Jun


In future communication system, the demand for high capacity is a challenging problem for wireless services, especially for delivery of the 'last mile'. A potential solution is offered by the high altitude platforms (HAPs), which can utilize the best character and tradeoff of both satellite and terrestrial networks. Since the performance of the HAPs depends on the structure of network, how to deploy the nodes of airships for HAPs is increasingly important. In this paper, an optimal model of deployment of airships for HAPs is constructed and solved based on genetic algorithm. First, a heterogeneous system including terrestrial layer, HAP layer and GEO layer is given. Then, an optimal model with objective function of maximum entropy and minimum delay is established to optimize the deployment of airships for HAPs. Finally, a modified genetic algorithm (GA) is employed to optimize the objective function and get the optimal solution to the model. Simulation results show that the established objective function and the solution based on GA can reach the goal of on-demand deployment of airship for HAPs.


The phenomenon of evolution is closely related to Open Source Software (OSS) as there is a frequent release of versions. Improvements to the software are due to the enormous contributions made by developers. Software reusability is also seen as a necessary characteristic of OSS. In this paper, a conceptual model for reusability assessment is presented and reusability of the software is studied during evolution. The attributes of reusability of different versions are assessed and compared. The relationship between the attributes of reusability is analyzed. The experiment conducted in this paper is one of the potential applications of our proposed reusability assessment model. The study helps to understand the evolution of software from the perspective of reusability. The change in size (e.g. number of lines of code; number of methods/classes), maintainability index complexity, etc. are studied in different versions to analyze their effect on reusability of the software. The results justify the proposed reusability attribute model.


This article examines the ways in which primary, secondary and middle school teachers are represented in four Australian reports on middle schooling in the 1990s. All reports argue for changes in school culture in the middle years but portrayals of each group of teachers reinforce the gender order in contemporary schools. Although there are continuities in the ways teachers are discussed across the reports, a focus on action research and the discourse of teacher as researcher appears in the two most recent documents. The final section of the article considers the potential of this discourse to reconstruct teachers' work and challenge the gender order of the occupation. It concludes that if the positive potential of teachers as researchers is to be realised, then primary, secondary and middle school teachers, men and women, must be participants in all types of research which inform middle schooling.


It is expected that (single chip) multiprocessors will increasingly be deployed to realize high-performance embedded systems. Because in current technologies the dynamic power consumption dominates the static power dissipation, an effective technique to reduce energy consumption is to employ as many processors as possible in order to finish the tasks as early as possible, and to use the remaining time before the deadline (the slack) to apply voltage scaling. We refer to this heuristic as schedule and stretch (S&S). However, since the static power consumption is expected to become more significant, this approach is no longer efficient when leakage current is taken into account. In this paper, we first show for which combinations of leakage current, supply voltage, and clock frequency the static power consumption dominates the dynamic power dissipation. These results imply that, at a certain point, it is no longer advantageous from an energy perspective to employ as many processors as possible. Thereafter, a heuristic is presented to schedule the tasks on a number of processors that minimizes the total energy consumption. Experimental results obtained using a public task graph benchmark set show that our leakage-aware scheduling algorithm reduces the total energy consumption by up to 24% for tight deadlines (1.5times the critical path length) and by up to 67% for loose deadlines (8times the critical path length) compared to S&S


We will examine the effect of noise in the acquisition process of compressive sampling on the reconstruction error, assuming correct identification of the active coefficient of the sparse signal. We will show that while accepted random sampling matrices may have small restricted isometry constants, they differ greatly in the reconstruction error due to noise in the acquisition process. We will focus on noises that are typical to photons sensing.


Loads belonging to a bus at an industrial plant mostly constitutes of asynchronous motors. In case of a loss at one of the energy sources that these loads are fed from and in case of a necessity for maintenance at a feeder, to have the uninterrupted continuity of the plant the loads shall be fed again from a healthy source. These processes are conducted by the system which is abbreviated as ATS that is the Automatic Transfer System. With the purpose of inspecting the effects of the bus transfer to the motor loads and electrical system SIMULINK toolbox of MATLAB have been used to make the simulation of the electrical system and with this way fast transfer, in phase transfer and transfer related to the residual voltage structures have been investigated. The results have revealed the importance of motor bus amplitude and phase angle resultant vectorial potential values at deciding the bus transfer type and determining the effects to the electrical system.


Simulated auditory motion, ie step-ramp modulated interaural intensity (ΔI) or time (Δt) was presented via headphones as an adapting stimulus (narrow-band signal of 1 kHz mean frequency). After adaptation, settings of a stationary test stimulus were systematically shifted in the opposite direction when the experimental parameter was ΔI, but not when it was Δt. Further studies with Δt motion with the use of mean frequencies of 100 Hz or 6 kHz showed an aftereffect only at 6 kHz. Unlike visual motion aftereffects, no counter-motion was observed; rather the test stimulus appeared stationary, but settings of its interaural midline were displaced in a direction opposite to the direction of adaptation (on average by 1.2 dB or 30 μs for ΔI-simulated and ΔI-simulated motion, respectively). This displacement effect decayed with time after adaptation. The frequency dependence found for Δt motion suggests that the low-frequency mechanism of directional hearing that uses interaural ongoing-time (phase) differences is not able to adapt. The observed auditory aftereffects may be analogous to visual motion aftereffects since they are direction specific; however, because they lack apparent motion they also resemble disparity-specific stereoscopic aftereffects.


The kinetics of diffusion for synthesizing SiC was studied.The effect of power supply process on material diffusion dynamics was explored.And then discussing the important impact of power supply process on the energy consumption levels and product quality from the theory and exploring the relationship between the raw material particle size and reaction kinetics.With a view to realize this industry in China a reasonable energy consumption level,high-quality products and efficient production,from the fundamental science and technology to upgrade the industry level,and enhance the competitiveness of product markets.


Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non‐motor symptoms, and caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Prior studies showed that in animal model of PD there is a decrease in the resting and hypercapnia‐induced respiratory rate and in the number of phox2b‐expressing RTN neurons. The aim of this study was to identify the extent to which RTN pharmacological rescue restores respiratory function and determine the extent of biomolecular changes following PD‐induction. Adult male Wistar rats with bilateral injections of 6‐hydroxy‐dopamine (6‐OHDA, 24 μg/μl) or vehicle into the striatum were used. For proteomic analyzes, laser capture and pressure catapulting was used for microdissection of the brain cuts. We also performed comparative proteomic studies followed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA®) of the RTN region in PD‐induced rats. Stainless steel canullas were implanted into RTN region and injections of N‐methyl D‐aspartate (NMDA, 50 nl) were performed to verify the pharmacological activation of these neurons. Respiratory parameters were evaluated by whole body plethysmography. The results showed that sixty days after injection of 6‐OHDA, the number of SNpc catecholaminergic and RTN phox2b neurons reduced (73.1± 2 and 55.9 ± 17%, respectively). In PD‐animals, there is a reduction in basal ventilation, hypercapnia, hypoxia and maximal chemoreflex stimulation (MCS) (basal: 357 ± 19, vs. vehicle: 917 ± 22 ml/kg/min; hypercapnia: 1064 ± 35, vs. vehicle: 1921 ± 108 ml/kg/min; hypoxia: 711 ± 6, vs. vehicle: 1851 ± 102 ml/kg/min; MCS: 1195 ± 17, vs. vehicle: 2727 ± 26 ml/kg/min, p<0.05). However, the activation of RTN by NMDA injection showed similar respiratory responses between PD and control animals (respiratory frequency: 149 ± 12, vs. control 155 ± 12 breaths/min; ventilation: 1028 ± 191, vs. vehicle: 985 ± 199 ml/kg/min; tidal volume: 6.9 ± 0.7, vs. vehicle: 6.4 ± 0.5 ml/kg, p>0.05). The proteomic analyses of the RTN showed a biomolecular profile indicative of ongoing cell remodeling in PD‐induced animals. In PD‐group, some proteins showed a decreased fold change in quantity, such as MYH9 (cytoskeleton reorganization), CAMK2D (regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis), RAB6A (protein transport), whereas Dnah5 (cellular movement) and Rnh1 (ribonuclease inhibitor) were increased. In addition, other genes were functionally inhibited, such as ADORA‐2A (g‐protein receptor), IGF‐1 (growth factor) and SRF (transcription regulation) or activated, as RICTOR (kinases mediate responses to stress), MAP4K4 (kinase) and CAMK2A (NMDAR signaling complex). Our data suggest, therefore, that despite the fact that biomolecular changes occur at the RTN level, there may be persistence of an NMDA‐specific compensatory mechanism provided by the surviving neurons.


PT. Mandira Erajasa Wahana is a company that leases four-wheel vehicles and buses. Each vehicle mengal the benefit reduction is called shrinkage. Depreciation is the amount of an asset allocation that can be depreciated during the useful life of diestim Depreciation for the accounting period is charged to both income and indirect langs. In calculating the four-wheeled vehicle depreciation, PT. Mandira Era spacecraft using the method based on the time of the straight-line method straight-line method). Straight-line method using the measured time, h the purchase, and economic life. Calculation of depreciation of fixed assets list of four-wheel vehicles get such a book year period, this year book, book of this period, Dep. book and book value. Results using the method penghitunga g ntersebut straight.


In this article, we introduce the notions of Z-finite representations and Z-separation property of representations for operator Z-systems generating C∗-algebras. We use these notions to characterize the Z-boundary representations for operator Z-systems. We introduce Z-hyperrigidity of operator Z-systems. We investigate an analogue version of Saskin's theorem in the setting of operator Z-systems generating C∗-algebras.


The rural economic elites,as a social class who have got richer earlier and show considerable influential power in the rural area,are involved in rural politics in a superficial way due to multiple reasons. This phenomenon will exert negative demonstrative effect on other groups in political participation,and will result in the loss of advantageous resources and the undermined political legitimacy in rural areas. The causes for such phenomenon include the lower level of education of this class,their lack of interest in politics,and other internal causes such as individual purpose for urbanization,as well as political chaos in rural areas,influence of rural public opinions,and other external factors such as the negative government attitude.


It is of great significance for civil engineers to accurately predict the ultimate resistance capacity of bolt with the limited measurement data.Based on gray theory,GM(1,1),a gray model of load-displacement relation for bolt is established.The prediction method of ultimate resistance capacity and the whole load-displacement curve under the limited data are discussed in detail.The results of engineering cases prove that this method is reliable and the precision of prediction can meet the engineering need.


The scarcity of water resources is the most limiting factor of agricultural production in the municipality of Estreito, MA. The irregularity in the distribution of rainfall during the year, which is characteristic of tropical regions, means that agricultural activity in Estreito, as well as in other cities in the state of Maranhao, reduces during the dry season. In view of this scenario, the search for means that aim to improve the efficiency of irrigation for the sustainable management of water becomes indispensable. The present study aimed to carry out a comparative study of the reference evapotranspiration estimation methods based on air temperature and solar radiation, with the standard Penman-Monteith method, in the municipality of Estreito - MA. The meteorological data necessary for the execution of this work were acquired from the database of the National Institute of Meteorology, using an eleven-year continuous historical series of the climatic elements that were used in the equations that make up the different methods. The reference evapotranspiration estimates for Penman-Monteith-FAO and the other methods were calculated. For the evaluation of the statistical performance of the models, the indicators of the correlation coefficient (r), determination coefficient (R²), agreement index (d) and the performance index (c) were used. The FAO 24, Turc and Makkink Radiation models showed better performance when compared to the standard Penman - Monteith method, and can serve as alternative methods for estimating reference evapotranspiration in the municipality of Estreito - MA.


Correspondence Address: LAW OFFICES OF CHARLES GUENZER A silicon shelf tower for batch thermal processing of silicon P O BOX 60729 PALO ALTO, CA 94306 wafers in a vertical furnace. The tower includes at least three silicon legs joined to bases and having a vertical arrange (21) Appl. No.: 11/364,530 ment of slots. Silicon shelves are detachably loaded by sliding therm through the slots in the side legs and into the slot of the back leg. A interlocking mechanism detachably locks the shelves to the back leg while the slots in the two side legs laterally constrains the shelves. The shelves include (60) Provisional application No. 60/677.391, filed on May cutouts to allow a robot paddle to load and unload wafers to 3, 2005. the shelves. Circular holes in the shelves relieve stress and prevent wafer sticking Preferably, the shelves are formed from randomly oriented polycrystalline silicon. The shelves (51) Int. Cl. and towers can alternatively be made of other materials such C23C I6/00 (2006.01) as quartz and silicon carbide. (22) Filed: Feb. 27, 2006


This bachelor's thesis deal with marketing research of attendance and evaluation of communication activities in shopping centre Centro Zlin. The thesis is divided into two main parts, theoretical and practical. The first part contains the theoretical knowledge to the issue, particularly from the field of marketing communication and marketing research. The second part contains, among other things, the characteristic of the company, description of all communication components in shopping center Centro Zlin and especially the details of the research with a detailed analysis of the results. In the final part of the thesis deficiencies identified in the questionnaire inquiry are pointed out, and based on that, recommendations and possible solutions to improve the communication activities and support attendance are proposed.


In promotional materials, such as shop newsletters, the visual message is used more and more often, while shortening the descriptions of products. Although the image often attracts attention first, it may not necessarily maintain it and not always allows to assess the quality of the product. In the case of technological products, technical specification seems to be particularly important in the process of purchase decision-making. Simultaneously, its appearance seems to be a feature of minor importance. In this study, two types of newsletters were compared: containing large images and short descriptions, and containing small images and long descriptions. Participants were asked to read the offer and evaluate the attractiveness of the products. The aim of this study was to compare the assessment of the attractiveness depending on the length of description and the size of the images, as well as a comparative analysis of the visual exploration of both types of newsletters based on eye tracking data.


BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major threat to public health. OBJECTIVE: Compare the gut microbial composition between Chinese and Japanese patients with cardiovascular diseases and healthy subjects. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies with Chinese and Japanese populations. Reviews, duplicate, book chapters, and other irrelevant studies were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Independent searching by two investigators (LLJ, HJL). DATA SYNTHESIS: Data from eleven studies (with 960 subjects) were included for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that the abundance of Firmicutes in patients with cardiovascular disease was [ES=0.42, 95%CI, (0.34, 0.50), P<.01], while the abundance of Firmicutes in control subjects was [ES=0.36, 95%CI, (0.23, 0.49), P<.01] (ES: effect size). When compared to control subjects, the differential expression of Firmicutes abundance in patients with CVDs was [MD = 15.21, 95%CI (8.95, 21.48), P<.01] (MD: mean difference). The ratio of Firmicutes abundance in patients with CVDs to the control subjects was [RR=1.28, 95%CI (0.98, 1.67), P=.07]. The ratio of Firmicutes in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and controls was [RR=1.42, 95%CI (1.05, 1.94), P=.02]. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio is [OR=1.64 95%CI (1.11, 2.42), P=.01]. CONCLUSION: Our data show that patients with cardiovascular disease had higher levels of gut Firmicutes when compared to healthy controls. In addition, gut microbial dysbiosis was present in patients with cardiovascular diseases. LIMITATIONS: Due to limited quality and quantity of selected studies, conclusions from the current study need to be validated by future studies. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.


Index: I. Feeding Pasteurized Milk to Dairy Calves – BAMN II. Precautions for Feeding Raw Waste Milk – Dairy & Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, www.das.psu.edu/dairy/ III. Considerations for using Commercial On-Farm Pasteurization Systems Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, www.das.psu.edu/dairy/ IV. Calf Note #148 – Supplementing waste milk – CalfNotes.com V. Keys to Successful Free-Access feeding of Milk Acidified with Formic Acid – Calving Ease


Food security is one of the critical development issues faced by several developing countries. One avenue of yielding quality crops is by ensuring that good agricultural practices are followed throughout the entire farming cycle. This research focuses on educating students of higher learning on good agricultural practices associated with growing vegetables. Research target are students who are currently pursuing tertiary education in the field of agronomy and agroindustry, as it is expected that upon graduation, they will represent the frontlines of various agricultural concerns. As such, students form the basis for sustainable education as they can replicate knowledge gained and impact farmers on good agricultural practices through proper education, as well as enforcement. For the purpose of this research, students from Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia are identified as participants. The electronic learning method (e-Learning) is deployed to expose students to new mechanisms of teaching and learning, as well as to encourage students to be more active in independent studying. As teaching material, interactive multimedia videos canvassing the general farming guidelines, production and post harvest practices pertaining to the cultivation of vegetables are produced and distributed to students through workshops. A web portal is also developed to form an online community of students and promote interaction through forums, live chats, news updates and social networking platforms.


In weak gravitational lensing, weighted quadrupole moments of the brightness profile in galaxy images are a common way to estimate gravitational shear. We employ general adaptive moments (GLAM) to study causes of shear bias on a fundamental level and for a practical definition of an image ellipticity. The GLAM ellipticity has useful properties for any chosen weight profile: the weighted ellipticity is identical to that of isophotes of elliptical images, and in absence of noise and pixellation it is always an unbiased estimator of reduced shear. We show that moment-based techniques, adaptive or unweighted, are similar to a model-based approach in the sense that they can be seen as imperfect fit of an elliptical profile to the image. Due to residuals in the fit, moment-based estimates of ellipticities are prone to underfitting bias when inferred from observed images. The estimation is fundamentally limited mainly by pixellation which destroys information on the original, pre-seeing image. We give an optimized estimator for the pre-seeing GLAM ellipticity and quantify its bias for noise-free images. To deal with pixel noise, we consider a Bayesian approach where the posterior of the GLAM ellipticity can be inconsistent with the true ellipticity if we do not properly account for our ignorance about fit residuals. This underfitting bias is S/N-independent but changes with the pre-seeing brightness profile and the correlation or heterogeneity of pixel noise over the post-seeing image. Furthermore, when inferring a constant ellipticity or, more relevantly, constant shear from a source sample with a distribution of intrinsic properties (sizes, centroid positions, intrinsic shapes), an additional, now noise-dependent bias arises towards low S/N if incorrect priors for the intrinsic properties are used. We discuss the origin of this prior bias.


This study aims to determine immunomodulatory effect of tadpole (Rana
catesbeiana) serum to increase total cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in animal
model rat albino (Rattus norvegicus) that induced skin cancer. This study used a
completely randomized design (CRD). The sample consisted of 20 rats were
randomly divided into six treatment groups. The treatments were not be given in K
-. K+, P1, P2, and P3 were be exposed to cancer-triggering substances (DMBA or
Dimetylbenz (α) anthracene) and then two weeks after the onset lump, K + was be
given PZ (1,06 ml/head/day), P1 young frog serum 100% (1,06 ml/head/day), P2
young frog serum 75% (0,71 ml/head/day), and P3 young frog 25% serum (serum
0,27 ml/head/day). Samples of skin organ were be made preparations
immunohistochemistry. Results obtained average number of CTL in K - is 0,10a,
K+ is 1,00b, P1 that is 2,10d, P2 is 1,70cd, and P3 is 1,35bc. There are significant
differences regarding an increase in the number of CTL on each treatment, but there
is not real difference between K+ by P3, P1 to P2 and P2 to P3. Based on the results,
it can be concluded that there is a young frog serum immunomodulatory effects of
the increase in the number of CTL in animal model of rats induced skin cancer. It
is suggested to use the rate of 25% due to more effectively deliver
immunomodulatory effects.


OBJECTIVE
Sleep and mood disorders are common in hemodialysis (HD) patients and the pathophysiology is still unclear. Tryptophan (TRP) and its metabolites may play a prominent role in neural pathways related to sleep, fatigue, and depression. Here, we sought to compare the levels of TRP and its metabolites between HD patients and healthy subjects and examine their association with sleep, fatigue, and depression in HD patients. The design was cross-sectional analysis.

SUBJECTS
Ninety-nine adult patients on stable thrice weekly HD schedule between September 2011 and March 2014 and 10 healthy controls.

INTERVENTION
Venous blood samples were drawn in healthy subjects and immediately before dialysis in chronic HD patients. TRP and kynurenine (KYN) metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale, the PROMIS Short form Fatigue, and the Patient Health Questionnaire were administered concurrently.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Sleep, fatigue, and depression as assessed by subjective questionnaire.

RESULTS
TRP levels were significantly lower (52.4 ± 15.2 vs. 67.9 ± 3.1 μmol/L; P < .0001) and KYN (3.2 ± 1.2 vs. 1.4 ± 0.1 μmol/L; P < .0001) were significantly higher in the 99 HD patients relative to 10 healthy controls. In HD patients, higher KYN levels were correlated with worse depression and fatigue scores (r2 = 0.23 and 0.21; P ≤ .05, respectively). We found no association between TRP and KYN/TRP ratio with sleep disturbances, fatigue, and depression in HD patients.

CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates disturbed TRP metabolism in HD patients, but low TRP levels were not related with sleep disturbances, depression, and fatigue. In contrast, KYN levels, a metabolite of TRP, were much higher in HD patients compared with controls, and higher KYN associated with depression and fatigue. Further studies exploring the biological and functional consequences of increased TRP catabolism in HD patients are warranted.


In this paper we investigate some behaviours of Hawaiian groups of pointed spaces with respect to their base points. It is known that Hawaiian groups are not independent to the choice of the points in general. We present some conditions of spaces whose Hawaiian groups are independent of the choice of base point.


How bizarre: There are two different reaction paths towards formation of ethylene oxide (EO); in addition to that via an oxometallacycle (OMC) intermediate, silver oxide-catalyzed epoxidation of ethylene with surface oxygen, which can occur on an oxide phase as long as no oxygen vacancies are present, is possible. This path is established computationally, by using density functional theory.


The paper discusses the issue of validation in research guided by the method of cartography. It defines a guideline for validation and distinguishes three indicators for validation. It proposes that validation is assessed on three levels of evaluation: researcher's self-assessment, assessment by the research participants and peer review. This process will result in a distributed validation, as none of these three levels alone can account for the evaluation of the research process. Finally the paper argues that the validation of a cartographic research takes place throughout the process rather than just at the end of the investigation.


Finding a common point of multiple closed sets in a real Hilbert space has been an important task in a wide range of signal processing. In this paper, we study asymptotic properties of the parallel projection method (PPM) for closed sets satisfying a special feasibility condition, which holds in the context of certain sparse signal processing. Our analysis guarantees that the cluster point set of PPM is exactly the intersection of the closed sets, and the distance to each set along a sequence generated by PPM with arbitrary initial point converges to zero. Moreover, under certain additional assumptions, we prove that the sequence converges to a point in the intersection of the closed sets, while existing analyses gave only local behaviors of PPM.


Cognitive radios (CRs) use learning algorithms (LAs) located in the cognition engine (CE) to adapt their behaviour. CRs use LAs for spectrum prediction to enhance their quality of service (QoS). The CR's CE consumes battery power while classifying LAs. The LA classification reduces CR data transmission power and limits CR throughput. This paper proposes a framework to enhance CR QoS in LTE-Advanced (LTE-A). The proposed framework reduces battery power expended in LA classification and increases CR data transmission power. It introduces the radio resource control (RRC); RRC_COGNITIVE state in which the CR pauses LA classification. The framework's performance is evaluated using the CR transmit power and throughput. Simulations show that the proposed framework reduces LA classification power by 65 % on average. The reduction of LA classification power enhances CR transmit power. The CR throughput is enhanced by 23% and 80% when CRs are and are not secondary users (SUs) respectively.


The invention provides a method for preparing polysiloxane hydrogel with high moisture content. The method includes the following steps: polymerizing monomer mixtures to form the polysiloxane hydrogel, wherein the monomer mixtures comprise at least one silicon-containing monomer and at least one ionic monomer; and placing the polysiloxane hydrogel into an alkaline solution for at least 20 minutes, wherein, the PH of the alkaline solution is not smaller than 7.5, and the content of the ionic monomer is no less than 0.7 wt. % of total weight of overall polysiloxane hydrogel dry weight.


Phytates represent a complex class of natural occurring compounds formed during the maturation process of seeds and grains, the main storage form of phosphorus in vegetables. The phytate molecule is a major anti-nutritional factor for monogastrics animals, possessing in their structure highly ionizable groups orthophosphate, which affect the availability of minerals in the gastrointestinal tract. Phytases form a group of enzymes with the ability to release phosphorus bound to phytate molecule, with the aim of increasing the utilization of phosphorus for absorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate parameters of the medium, such as the concentration of nitrogen and carbon source in the


The worldwide acreage of genetically modified (GM) plants is growing year by year and amounted to 90 million hectares in 2005(CLIVE 2005). In contrast to the growing use of GM plants in agriculture, the acceptance of GM food is still low in the European Union (EU) as well as in Germany (FRANK, 2004).Therefore the European Union implemented a series of legal requirements and regulations which are related to R&D, commercial use and labelling of genetically modified organisms (GMO). The food and feed industry is mainly affected from Regulations (EC) No 1829/2003 and 1830/2003. Thus this study analyses the effects of those regulations on the German food and feed industry with special emphasis on GMO-testing regimes. The empirical basis was a comprehensive written survey in 2005 with a total of 1,700 mailed questionnaires. The responding rate was about 20%, thus resulting in 333 filled in questionnaires. The main target of regulations (EC) No 1829/2003 and 1830/2003 is to ensure consumers' freedom of choice between GM and non-GM food. Therefore those regulations require mandatory labelling if food and feed contains, consists or is produced from GMOs in a proportion higher than 0.9% of the food/feed ingredients considered individually. According to our survey the German food and feed industry is already affected by the worldwide increasing use of GMOs and the European GMO legislation. In figure 1 the main strategies of the German food and feed industry are illustrated to fulfil legal requirements of Regulations (EC) No 1829/2003 and 1830/2003. Figure 1: Strategies of German food and feed producers to fulfil legal requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and 1830/2003


Most researchers focus on the effect of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on investor returns and overlook customer reactions, despite the fact that customers are directly impacted by these corporate transformations. Others suggest that in M&A contexts, a dual emphasis of customer satisfaction and firm efficiency is both likely and beneficial. In contrast, the authors demonstrate that M&As not only do not yield a dual emphasis but also cause a decline in customer satisfaction to the extent that they eclipse any gain in firm value from an increase in firm efficiency. A quasiexperimental difference-in-differences analysis and an instrumental variable panel regression provide robust evidence for the dark side of M&As for customers. The authors use the attention-based view of the firm to demonstrate that post-M&A customer dissatisfaction occurs because of a shift in executive attention away from customers and toward financial issues. In line with the related upper echelons theory, they find that marketing representation on a firm's board of directors helps maintain executive attention on customers, which mitigates the dysfunctional effect of M&As on customer satisfaction. This research identifies a negative M&A–customer satisfaction relationship and highlights executive attention to customer issues and marketing leadership as factors that mitigate this negative relationship.


Attitude measurements using gyros and magnetometers placed on a stratospheric balloon during a non-pointed test flight were used to observe the natural azimuth and elevation motions of a balloon/load train/gondola at an altitude of 36 km over a total flight time of 400 minutes. Time traces of the entire flight are presented. This flight, conducted under nominal atmospheric conditions, had significant motion about the azimuth. Some discussion on balloon disturbances is also included.


We explore a small quantum refrigerator in which the working substance is made of paradigmatic nearestneighbor quantum spin models, the XY Z and the XY model with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, consisting of two and three spins, each of which is in contact with a bosonic bath. We identify a specific range of interaction strengths which can be tuned appropriately to ensure a cooling of the selected spin in terms of its local temperature in the weakcoupling limit. Moreover, we report that in this domain, when one of the interaction strengths is disordered, the performance of the thermal machine operating as a refrigerator remains almost unchanged instead of degradation, thereby establishing the flexibility of this device. However, to obtain a significant amount of cooling via ordered as well as disordered spin models, we observe that one has to go beyond the weak-coupling limit and compute the figures of merits by using global master equations.


A great challenge in water electrolysis is how to optimize the major factors that influence the production of hydrogen gas. Over the past years, different methods have been used to produce hydrogen gas from carbon-base fossil fuels but these methods have been proven to be environmentally unfriendly due to the enormous release of greenhouse gases associated with their use. In this work, an experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effect of electrolyte strength, voltage and time on the volume of HHO gas produced using a design built HHO gas generator. The generator was constructed from Stainless Steel 316 L plates made of 3 anodes, 3 cathodes, and 20 neutral plates. During the study, the strengths of KOH, NaOH, and NaHCO3 was prepared within the range of 0.010 M - 0.030 M. The prepared strengths for each catalyst were then varied across voltage range of 9 V to 13 V for 50 seconds. The experimental results obtained showed that, increasing electrolyte strength, voltage and time proportionally increased the yield of HHO gas. An optimal yield rate of 2.27 cm3/s of HHO gas was obtained when the generator was run at 13 V using 0.025 M KOH. In addition, other factors studied including electrode surface morphology, plate's configuration, and temperature also showed improvement in yield of HHO gas by 41.85%, 69.74%, and 71.96% respectively.


Abstract: On the basis of our studies of the fluctuation of the hematopoietic stem cell phenotype with cell cycle trnsit, we hypothesize that the ability of marrow stem cells to convert to nonhematopoietic cells will also vary at different points in the cell cycle. The new biology of stem cells has an impact on many fields including developmental biology and stem cell biology and the clinical potential is enormous.


Firstly,the trajectories of Mesoscale Convective Systems(MCS) over the Tibetan Plateau from June to August 1998 were automatically tracked.Based on these,CLARANS method,as an effective spatial clustering method,is applied to mining and analyzing the environmental physical fields which influence MCS moving eastward out of the Tibetan Plateau in summer,using the High Resolution Limited Area Analysis and Forecasting System(HLAFS) data.The spatial distribution features of thermodynamic field(temperature field,humidity field and relative water vapor flux divergence field) and dynamical field(vorticity field,divergence field and vertical velocity field) around MCS at the low layers over the Tibetan Plateau are obtained to reveal the dynamical and thermodynamic conditions favoring the origination,development and trajectories of MCS.And,the results indicate that the changes of the spatial distribution features of divergence field,vertical velocity field and relative water vapor flux divergence field around MCS are key factors influencing the development of MCS.These prove an effective method to study the dynamical and thermodynamic causes of MCS origination and development,and predict the trajectories of MCS over the Tibetan Plateau in summer.


Lightweight, low-cost, color-coded job cards packed with technical reference information and geared to specific types of maintenance and troubleshooting efficiency in nuclear as well as other types of power plants. Developed in conjunction with EPRI's counterpart in Japan, job card sets have been pilot-tested at two operating U.S. nuclear plants and are also being evaluated by Japanese utilities. In addition to their potential for utility customization, job cards could become a new line of EPRI information product that is used directly by the people who inspect and repair equipment in utility power plants.


A comparison of the chaotic advection in the barotropic inviscid unidirectional pulsating flow over a sea-mount of axisymmetric and elliptic form is presented. The process of passive markers' transport from vortical region into the flow-through region is studied. In particular the evolution of the corresponding Poincare sections with the change of frequency and amplitude of oscillations is presented. An approach to study the mechanism and parameters of chaotic advection in the open systems with finite lifetime trajectories is presented, which is based on the study of the distribution of time necessary to carry markers into the flow-through region. The optimal for chaotic mixing frequency of external excitation is calculated. The results show that in the case of elliptic sea-mount chaotic transport of markers can be more efficient than in the axisymmetric case, and the corresponding phase portraits have significantly different structures.


Background
The best nourishment for infants during the first 6 months of life is exclusive breastfeeding. It is recommended along with other food to complement the diet until the child is 2 years old, as long as the mother and the child are willing to continue with it. The objectives of this study were to determine he exclusive breastfeeding rate in full term newborns at hospital discharge and 15 days later and to analyze the factors that positively affect the exclusive breastfeeding.

Methods
A prospective study was conducted in which a sample of postpartum women with full term newborns was recruited during hospital admission. Different variables were compiled and two interviews were made to determine the kind of feeding they were giving their children and if it was maintained at 15 days of birth.

Results
Exclusive breastfeeding rate at hospital discharge is much lower than recommended. It significantly decreases at 15 days of birth, increasing artificial feeding. It seems that having a vaginal birth, no complications giving birth, providing early breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact in the delivery room are predisposing factors necessary to establish a good breastfeeding at hospital discharge.

Conclusions
Despite the efforts of professionals, the percentage of newborns with exclusive breastfeeding at birth is not enough for the current recommendations.


and his closest associate, Rosa Luxemburg, who had lucidly assessed both the real character of the Bolshevik revolution and the unreadiness of German masses for a violent revolution. Moreover, the badly executed Spartacist adventure later helped both extremes in Germany: the rightist reaction used Liebknecht's example as a pretext for its own brutality and the decapitated German Communist party became an obedient tool in the Kremlin's hands. These observations provide the general framework and basic points of Meyer's work. It is a pity that the first part of the book is rather poorly organized. It is irritating to find that the large majority of his very interesting quotations are given without indicating the author or the source. Despite these shortcomings, the final chapters and especially the summary are well written and merit attention for their shrewd political observations.


A low melting fraction of milk fat (LMF), with a dropping point (MDP) of 16.7 °C, was encapsulated by freeze-drying emulsions formulated with trehalose or its blends with 30 wt% lactose or sucrose as hydrophilic phase, and with a mixed of 50 wt% of the palmitic sucrose esters (SE) P-170 and P-1670 as emulsifiers. Trehalose or trehalose/sucrose matrices were very efficient to encapsulate LMF (retention values were 82.8% ± 3.2% and 90.5% ± 3.7%, dry basis, respectively), whereas trehalose/lactose showed a significant decline in initial retention (42.5% ± 2.5%, dry basis). The role of emulsion stability, water content, physical state of the matrix, and particle size distribution on LMF loss was investigated by following retention of LMF with time for the powders stored at water activities (a w ) of 0.11, 0.33, 0.44, 0.54, and 0.76. Trehalose emulsion was the most stable. However, encapsulation efficiency was higher for the trehalose/sucrose blend. Despite the high initial degree of crystallization, retention with time for the trehalose matrix was very high at all a w . The trehalose/lactose blend had a low efficiency to encapsulate LMF, especially at a w of 0.54 and 0.76. Retention was determined by the counteracting effects of all these factors and was more closely related to structural changes of the encapsulating matrix than to the physical state (amorphous or crystalline) of it.


Dr. Weiss expresses the frustrations of many conscientious physicians who recognize the need to educate the general public and the physicians effectively so that the infants and children in our motorized society will have a safer ride. The Accident Prevention Committee of the A.A.P. has been quite active during the last year in support of an awakening of our society to the realization that the motor vehicle is the most common cause of death and permanent disabling injury of children and youths.


The results of three experiments suggest that a memory trace for an event is not altered by witnessing similar events, but that postevents can interfere with its retrieval. On an immediate recall test, details from an original story (e.g. wrench) were recalled less often if a subsequent story mentioned a 'screwdriver' than if it did not. The interference effect occurred if people were asked to recall details fromboth stories (tool ---- ----), but not if people were asked to recall primarily from the first story. Thus, the interference effect in immediate recall was averted if the target trace could be activated selectively (Experiments 1a and 1b). A more general interference effect was found after a day. Fewer targets from the original story were recalled if the second story was presented just before the test than if both stories occurred a day earlier. Thus, the second story interfered with recall only if it emphasized contextual retrieval cues that did not match the trace for the targets (Experiment 2). Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en


Herbal medications have a diverse range of active constituents allowing us to use them in a variety of ways, but active constituents are poorly absorbed due to their strong polarity and low lipophilicity, resulting in low bioavailability. The aim of this research was to improve bioavailability by development and in-vitro evaluation of phytosomes containing herbal extract of Centella asiatica for its antioxidant and gastroprotective activity. Phytosomes of Centella asiatica were prepared by reflex method and further it is characterized and evaluated. The complex formation was estimated by FTIR analysis and drug content and drug entrapment efficiency of phytosomes was achieved to be 91.6% and 84.3% respectively. The mean diameter was found to be 854.2 nm and zeta potential 28.4 mV was found. It indicates that the in-vitro drug release of Centella asiatica were higher in comparison to the formulation complex i.e., 100% and 77.6%. The release kinetics of the optimized phytosomal formulation (F3) best fitted and the R2 value was found to be 0.9879. The anti-oxidant activity of Centella asiatica phytosomes was superior than its hydroalcoholic extract i.e., % inhibition of phytosomal formulation is 83.55 having IC50 value 1.99 and % inhibition of hydroalcoholic drug extract was 85.31 having IC50 value 2.77. In anti-ulcer activity phytosomes was found to neutralize acid more significant as compare to standard and hydroalcoholic extract of Centella asiatica. The results indicated that the prepared phytosome could be a promising candidate for effective delivery of active constituents.


Both e-commerce and m-commerce has had and have a big impact on how business today is operated. Furthermore, e-commerce is responsible for creation of many new jobs and its role to the overall economy in Europe is becoming increasingly important. E-commerce is a big part of retail and commerce and is constantly growing. However it is maybe not equally well known that the latest year mobile commerce (m-commerce) has grown at an even faster rate. Research has argued that in order for traditional e-commerce and commerce strategies to succeed it is vital to consider mobile optimizing strategies. In the broad picture the aim with the thesis is thus to analyze the current situation in m-commerce. The thesis will evaluate why m-commerce is an important strategy to consider and how retailers can achieve competitive advantage within m-commerce. (Less)


There is an increasing need to use the processes of community organization for the improvement of programs of vocational guidance and adjustment affecting all of the community's youth. The central purpose of the larger work from which this report is abstracted was to urge the utilization of these processes in the interest of minority youth. The need becomes particularly crucial with the realization that community organization processes facilitate cooperative effort between such major contributing agencies as the school and the social agency. Thus a further delimitation of the concern, to give momentum to this cooperative effort as it relates to this specific facet of the educative process. In relation to both the method of community organization and the objective of improved planning and programming for vocational guidance services cognizant, of the needs of minority youth, the work of a single agency, the National Urban League, commends itself to both the professional educator and the professional social worker. This observation is significant in light of attributes of the League's program-use of social work methods, respect for vocational guidance as a technical competency, and a commitment to supplementing community agencies having prior responsibility for the vocational guidance function. Study of the Urban League's program as it relates to vocational guidance has involved a review of relevant administrative pronouncements, questionnaire data reflecting its cooperative work with the school within the context of community planning, and visitation of communities in which programs of action were under way. Critical examination and appraisal of League activity entails two important considerations: (1) a definitive statement of the vocational guidance function, and (2) acquisition of understandings basic to an operational program tied to the community and purporting to supplement the work of agencies having prior responsibility. The essential elements in an adequate program have been delineated and given authoritative endorsement by the National Vocational Guidance Association. This well-known analysis includes the following services: occupational information, self-inventory and personal data collecting, vocational counseling, vocational preparatory, placement, follow-up and adjustment. Acceptance of this frame of reference permits a point of view of vocational guidance in terms of (1) specific services, and (2) the more functional conception implicit in the term process. The involvements of this viewpoint emerge as both psychological and sociological -the former concern with enlightening, informing and assisting the in-


Executive Summary In 2001, the City of Milwaukee spent almost $7 million on worker's compensation, a large increase from previous years. Expenditures in 1999 and 2000 had been around $5.5 million and prior to that expenditures were $4.7 million or less. Officials in the city's Department of Employee Relations and the Budget Office do not fully understand why spending on worker's compensation has increased so precipitously. Our task was to identify the sources of the spending increase and suggest some courses of action to avoid future high-cost years. Between 1998 and 2001 the city received about 3,500 new worker's compensation claims each year (slightly fewer – about 3,100 in 1999). While the number of new claims has remained relatively consistent, costs rose 23 percent from 1998 to 1999, retreated slightly in 2000, and rose 25 percent in 2001, resulting in a $2.3 million increase in spending over the four-year period. Medical costs constitute approximately 75 percent of the city's total worker's compensation spending. While doctor and hospital spending are the two most expensive categories, spending on physical therapy and medication has grown rapidly, and in excess of inflation, every year. This may suggest that Milwaukee is experiencing a growth in service utilization. The city is faced with the same number of claims, but injured workers are seeking or being prescribed additional medical services and medicines. Medical costs nationally have also risen, compounding the expense of increased utilization. The Police, Fire, and Public Works departments make up 93 percent of Milwaukee's worker's compensation expense. Public Works spending has grown only slightly in the last four years. The Police and Fire departments, on the other hand, have experienced approximately 65 percent increases in spending over this time period. This may be explained by the fact that Public Works Department employees face a set of injuries that stay relatively the same from year to year, such as back or muscular injuries, while police and firefighters face injury risks that tend to be less predictable and more severe. We identified four lines of inquiry that this study does not have sufficient data to address, but that the city should pursue to order to identify the cause of the spending increase: 1) Was there was a dramatic increase in severe, very costly injuries in one of the high-risk departments? 2) What are the effects of the city's cost-containment partnership with the preferred provider network CorVel? …


Our study is directed at the effects of high pressure on the thermal diffusivity of selected food samples – a fresh meat formulation for Swedish meatballs, pork meat pate and tomato puree. Preheated food samples were placed in a copper cell and tested at nominal pressures of 400 and 500 MPa in a high pressure chamber. The thermal diffusivity was estimated from the recorded time course of temperatures (at the center of the food sample, at the wall of the copper cell, and 7.5 mm from the wall) during the high pressure holding time. Measured time–temperature profiles were compared with predictions using the finite-element model to solve the problem of uneven heat conduction in an infinite, solid, linear cylinder using the linear temperature dependence of apparent thermal conductivity. Optimal parameters of the linear temperature dependence of apparent thermal conductivity were evaluated by comparing measured temperatures and temperatures calculated from the model. To minimize differences between measured and calculated temperatures, at the center of the sample, the Marquardt–Levenberg optimization method was used. The thermal diffusivity values of all food samples were linearly correlated with temperature for two levels of pressure. Thermal diffusivity values increased with increased pressure and temperature. † †This paper was presented at the XLVIIIth European High Pressure Research Group (EHPRG 48) Meeting at Uppsala (Sweden), 25–29 July 2010.


Defects associated with drilling of fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) are of major economic and safety concerns for aerospace manufacturers. Delamination of layers and thermal damage of the matrix are the most critical defects associated with drilling of FRP laminates, which can be avoided by keeping the drilling forces and temperatures below some threshold levels. Vibration-assisted drilling (VAD) is an emerging drilling process that uses intermittent cutting to reduce the drilling forces and temperatures, and achieve easier chip removal compared to conventional drilling. In this paper an extensive experimental study has been conducted to provide insight into the effect of the tool kinematics corresponding to the VAD parameters (speed, feed, frequency and amplitude) on the geometry of the formed chip determined by the intersection of the trajectories of the cutting edges as well as on the drilling forces and temperature. The combinations of the VAD parameters used in this study were selected from ranges of speeds 6,000 rpm to 12,000 rpm, feeds 0.05 mm/rev to 0.15 mm/rev, frequencies 30 Hz and 60 Hz, and amplitudes 40 μm to 400 μm. The Amplitude and feed were found to have the most dominant effect on the VAD forces, while the feed and speed had the dominant effect on the VAD temperatures. The thermal performance of the VAD process was found to be enhanced by the formation of vortices in the air gap created by the separation between the tool and the machined surface, which is mainly controlled by the feed and the rotational speed of the tool.Copyright © 2014 by Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada


The objective of this study was to determine the net energy( NE) requirement of Tianfu meat ducks aged from 2 to 3 weeks old. A total of 300 seven-day-old Tianfu meat ducks were selected for the experiment.To determine the apparent metabolizable energy( AME) of diets at different feeding levels,fifty ducks were selected and randomly distributed into five feeding levels consisting of ad libitum and 15%,25%,35%,45%restriction groups. The remaining 250 ducks were used for the feeding experiment and comparative slaughter experiment. At the beginning of the experiment,ten ducks were selected and slaughtered to determine the initial body composition. The remaining ducks were randomly distributed into five feeding treatments( same as the metabolic experiment). At the age of 14 days,ten ducks were selected from the ad libitum group and slaughtered to determine the body composition; at the age of 21 days,ten ducks were selected from every treatment and slaughtered to determine the final body composition. Based on the data of AME of diets,growth performance and body composition of ducks of the ad libitum group and restriction groups,heat production( HP) and metabolizable energy intake( MEI) at different feeding levels were obtained. NE for maintenance( NEm) was estimated as the antilog of the intercept of the linear regression between MEI and log10 HP. NE for weight gain( NEg) was estimated based on the total body energy( BE) and body weight( BW) of ducks of the ad libitum group at different ages. The result showed as follows: there were significant differences of AME of diets,average daily feed intake( ADFI),average daily gain( ADG),feed to gain( F / G),body fat content,body protein content,body water content,body energy content,energy retained as fat( REf),energy retained as protein( REp),MEI,body energy retention( RE),and HP at different feeding levels( P0.05). AME of diets,F / G,body protein content and body water content of restriction groups were significantly higher than those of the ad libitum group( P 0. 05); while ADFI,ADG,body fat content,body energy content,REf,REp,MEI,RE and HP of restriction groups were significantly lower than those of the ad libitum group( P 0.05).The regression equation between MEI and log10 HP of ducks aged from 2 to 3 weeks was: log10 HP = 2. 76 +0.000 1 ×MEI,and regression equation between BE and BW was: BE =- 768.87 + 10. 71 ×BW. It is concluded that the NEmof Tianfu meat ducks aged from 2 to 3 weeks is 577. 03 k J /( kg BW0.75·d),and the NEgis10.71 k J / g,therefore,the NE requirement of Tianfu meat ducks aged from 2 to 3 weeks can be calculated by the following formula: NE = 577. 03BW0.75+ 10. 71 △W.