The article describes a high voltage power supply module incorporating a ceramic transformer. The high voltage power supply module incorporates a ceramic transformer which utilizes piezoelectric effect to generate high voltage. The ceramic transformer is constructed from a ceramic bar and does not include any magnetic material. The module can work without a loss of efficiency under a magnetic field of 1.5 tesla. The module includes feedback to stabilize the high voltage output, supplying from 3000 V to 4000 V with a load of more than 10 MΩ at efficiency higher than 60 percent. A supply voltage of 5 V is high enough to provide the high voltage from 3000 V to 4000 V at a load of more than 10 MΩ. The module will be soon commercially available from a Japanese company. The module is provided with interface for a Neuron chip, a programming device processing a variety of input and output capabilities. The chip can also communicate with other Neuron chips over a twisted-pair cable, which allows establishing a high voltage control network consisting of a number of the modules which are interfaced by the Neuron chips individually. The functions of the module kept under the control of the chip are managed through the network. The chip turns on and off the module and sets the output high voltage. The chip detects the short circuit of the output high voltage and controls its recovery. The chip also monitors the output current. Thus the modules are monitored and controlled through the network. I. HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY MODULE The high voltage power supply module includes feedback to stabilize the high voltage output, supplying from 3000 V to 4000 V with a load of more than 10 MΩ at efficiency higher than 60 percent under a magnetic field of 1.5 tesla [1]-[4]. A Japanese company1, trying to improve the performance and to reduce the size of the module, will soon makes a compact high voltage power supply module commercially available. The module incorporates a ceramic transformer. The ceramic transformer takes the place of the conventional magnetic transformer. The ceramic transformer utilizes piezoelectric effect to generate high voltage. The ceramic transformer is NF Corporation http://www.nfcorp.co.jp constructed from a ceramic bar and does not include any magnetic material. So the transformer is free of leakage of magnetic flux and can be operated efficiently under a magnetic field. The transformer is shaped symmetrically in the lengthwise direction and operated in the longitudinal vibration mode. The maximum power rating of the ceramic transformer is about 4 W. In a high voltage control network, each module is interfaced by a Neuron chip2. Neuron chips enable the high voltage power supply modules to network intelligently. Neuron chips have all the built-in communications and control functions to implement LonWorks3 nodes. These nodes may the be easily integrated into highly-reliable distributed intelligent control networks called LonWorks network. Most functions of the module is brought under the control of the Neuron chip. So function of the module kept under the control of the Neuron chip is managed through the network. The module is turned on and off through the network. The high voltage is set through the network. The output current is also monitored through the network. Short-circuiting the high voltage is detected by the Neuron chip and reported through the network. The Neuron chip is enabled to recover the high voltage from feedback breakdown, for example, caused by the short-circuiting. II. FEEDBACK The high voltage power supply is composed of divider resistors, an error amplifier, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a driver circuit, the ceramic transformer and a Cockcroft-Walton (CW) circuit (Fig. 1). The VCO generates a driving frequency for a sinusoidal voltage wave which drives the ceramic transformer. The VCO supplies the driving frequency to the driver circuit where the sinusoidal voltage wave is generated synchronized with the driving frequency. The sinusoidal voltage wave is amplified in voltage by the transformer and then supplied to a Cockroft-Walton (CW) circuit where the sinusoidal wave is amplified further in voltage and rectified. A high voltage is produced at the output of the CW circuit. Neuron is a registered trademark of Echelon Corporation. LonWorks is a registered trademark of Echelon Corporation. R eg ul at or ESJA98 x6 x6 3nF 100nF


Accurate and high spatial resolution (<100 m) surface climate information is crucial for process‐based modelling in hydrology, ecology, agriculture, urban studies etc, especially in complex terrain landscapes where coarse grid resolution information (∼10 km) is inadequate to represent pronounced local variability. We used a machine learning‐based workflow to predict high resolution (30 m) and sub‐daily atmospheric variables fields of near‐surface air temperature and humidity, and wind speed. The method used the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) decomposition applied on ground stations observations or Global Climate Model (GCM) residual error, in a sequence with bias correction and statistical models (Linear Regression‐LR, Artificial Neural Network model‐ANN and Empirical Quantile Mapping‐EQM) to provide downscaling from large scale atmospheric conditions to complex terrain variability. The predictions described relationships of Principal Component (PC) scores dependent on GCM temporal variability on 6‐hourly basis (with LR or ANN or EQM), and PC loadings dependent on topographic indexes to help providing horizontal sub‐grid extrapolation. The methods were validated with a 1‐year dataset from a dense weather stations network deployed in a complex terrain basin in tropical climate of Southeast Brazil. We present an exhaustive description of the PC modes daily/seasonal variability for each variable, and their spatial variability associated to the topography and thermal driven circulations. The predictions in general substantially improved accuracy when compared to GCM outputs, especially near the valley and in sheltered area where local effects are mandatories. Specially, ANN and EQM significantly improved the predictions at the variability of extreme events, such as the formation of strong cold air pooling or wetting in the valley.


Abstract : The report describes the implementation of a system for adaptive computer aiding in dynamic decision processes and provides theoretical background for some of the underlying techniques. The report is presented in two parts under separate covers. 'Scenario Generation by Elicited Expert Probabilities,' describes a unique technique for generating realistic dynamic decision environments. It covers the following topics: (1) a review of requirements for and techniques of generating scenarious; (2) a description of the elicited expert probability approach; (3) a description of the system for generating fishing fleet scenarios and the associated hardware and software. The report was prepared as part of a long term program directed toward the application of adaptive computer techniques for aiding the decision maker and toward the experimental investigation of the factors which influence optimal decision aiding in complex, realistic, intelligence-gathering tasks. (Modified author abstract)


ABSTRACT Objective We investigated intentionally fabricated autobiographical memories in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Method We invited AD patients and control participants to construct real events as well as fabricated events describing fictitious personal events that occurred in the past. Results Results demonstrated slower retrieval time for intentionally fabricated memories than for real ones in both AD patients and control participants. The analysis also showed similar vividness for intentionally fabricated memories and real ones in AD patients but lower vividness for intentionally fabricated memories than for real ones in control participants. Conclusions The slow retrieval time of intentionally fabricated memories may be attributed to the cognitive effort required to retrieve elements from autobiographical memory and edit them to construct a new memory. We suggest that the vividness of intentionally fabricated memories observed in AD may induce confusion with real memories. In addition to the experimental approach of our study, we offer a theoretical rationale for intentionally fabricated autobiographical memories by situating them in the wider context of different facets of false memories in AD (e.g. confabulations, source monitoring errors).


Abstract This research aims at develop an MTB detection model from the FLVQ neural network to HGA-FLVQ model. In this research, the FLVQ method was developed through strengthening its initiation, in which the first cluster centers used as FLVQ input were optimized first by HGA. The results show that sensitivity and specificity of the HGA-FLVQ model reach 96.30 and 95.65%, whereas the sensitivity of an FLVQ method is 70.83%, and the sensitivity of an LVQ method is 87.50%. The specificity of an FLVQ method and the specificity of an LVQ method are 84.62%. Based on these results, we can say that the HGA-FLVQ model is better than FLVQ and LVQ methods. It also means that relative amplitude can be used by the HGA-FLVQ model as a feature to detect the presence of MTB in the sputum of TB-suspected patients. Thus, the HGA-FLVQ model can be used to strengthen TB laboratory examination at Public Health Centers in Indonesia.


Online education has gained much popularity in the recent time .In case of India, in the presence of great social diversity in India; it is difficult to change the social background of students, parents and their economical conditions. Therefore the only option left for us is to provide uniform or standardize learning resources or methods. For this high quality education throughout India there must be some nationwide network which provides quality education to all students. As has been apparent for the past several years online education has emerged as a powerful contender for the next new education technology. Although the previous technological breakthroughs that have failed to live up to their initial promise, I strongly believe this time really is different. Several online courses have been run in the current time that has taught many thousands of students in a variety oftopics.


What Can Special Libraries Expect from the OECD? Statistical and analytical publications, delivered world-wide, covering a total of 16 subjects (economic, social, technical, legal) and 24 Western industrialised countries (the OECD member countries) as well as Central and Eastern Europe, threshold and developing countries. Comprehensive bibliographical information and information about the content of all material produced by the OECD Publications Service in Paris and the three OECD Publications and lnformation Centres in Washington, Tokyo and Bonn. Internationally comparable data and analyses in the form of monographs, annual publications and periodicals in printed form, on diskette, magnetic tape or on microfiche


Summary Human pulmonary macrophages were able to phagocytize BP-ferric oxide particulates in a time-dependent manner. BP was eluted from the engulfed particulates and released into the extracellular space either as free BP or as metabolites of BP. Some of the released products were mutagenic for Chinese hamster V-79 cells. A higher binding level of BP to bronchial DNA was found when bronchial explants were coincubated with PAM containing BP-ferric oxide than when incubated with BP-ferric oxide alone.


Transfer learning (TL), applied in the context of time-series forecasting, is an important hot topic nowadays in machine learning. This paper addresses the gap identified in most recent survey papers that empirical studies, currently missing, are very necessary to come up with guidelines for TL approaches and TL method design selections that can be used by practitioners. In this perspective, this paper does overall suggest the skeleton of a comprehensive sensitivity analysis methodology for TL schemes w.r.t. to a given machine learning model at hand. As a first step, five relevant TL performance metrics are suggested and comprehensively defined. Then, the core steps of a comprehensive TL-related sensitivity analysis are formulated. For illustration, an mini-sensitivity analysis is conducted on an MLP shallow network. Although relatively small, this mini-sensitivity analysis does confirm the usability of the suggested methodology as it does already, nevertheless, highlight some interesting insights. The end-product of this project can culminate in designing a pretrained model that can be useful to time-series forecasting practitioners.


Abstract The paper presents an analysis of the operational properties of paint coatings for use in military technology in the field of masking. The assessment of the properties was performed on the basis of measurements of the surface geometric structure and adhesion using the peel method. The measurements of specular gloss, colour in the range of 400-700 nm and reflectance in the range of 350-1200 nm were made in relation to the requirements of the Polish Defence Standard NO-80-A200. Coating systems are characterised by their low roughness and good adhesion. Due to their operational properties, the developed coating systems can be used on armaments and military equipment.


In order to authenticate an information processing terminal (1) connected to a communication network (5) using a mobile terminal (2), provided is a mobile proxy authentication system which authenticates a user in the information processing terminal (1) connected to the communication network (5) using the mobile terminal (2) which the user carries. Said mobile proxy authentication system comprises an authentication interface unit (110) which accepts an input of authentication information in the information processing terminal (1), a confirmation request unit (305) which acquires the authentication information inputted in the authentication interface unit (110) and makes a confirmation request to the mobile terminal (2) on the basis of the authentication information, a confirmation operation unit (207) which requests the user to perform a confirmation operation in response to the confirmation request and sends approval data to the confirmation request unit (305) in response to the confirmation operation by the user in the mobile terminal (2), an external authentication processing unit (306) which performs authentication processing on the basis of the approval data, and an authentication result sending unit (303) which sends the result of authentication by the external authentication processing unit (306) to the communication network.


As an archipelago dominated by small islands, Maluku has a high wealth of biological and non-biological natural resources.  This is influenced by the region's geographical location between the Asian zone and the Australian zone, the Oriental area. One of the indicators that can be used to find out is Australian wild animals and Asian wild animals in Maluku. Traditional people in Maluku, since their ancestors have been conservation of natural resources causing its availability can still be enjoyed by the current generation. The research aims to find out the forms of legal protection and the process of application to natural resources in the South Leitimur Subdistrict. The observed variables are traditional forms of conservation and their application process. The study required 27 people as respondents—research using direct and indirect Survey methods.  Data collection is done by conducting interviews, filling out question lists and field observations. The data collected includes primary and secondary data. The results showed that traditional forms of conservation of natural resources in the South Leitimur Subdistrict are Sasi, Sacred Places, and Pamali. The application process has similarities that Sasi is applied at sea and on land. At the same time, Pamali and sacred places are prohibited from being crossed because it is believed to be dangerous or full of mystery.


Extended Abstract Assimilable organic carbon (AOC) refers to a fraction of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon that is readily assimilated by microorganisms for cell growth. It consists of a broad range of low molecular weight organic carbon molecules such as sugars, organic acids, and amino acids. AOC is a critical parameter for drinking water treatment and distribution processes. Several studies have linked AOC and biofilm formation in drinking water distribution systems [1, 2]. Thus AOC test is a standardized measure of the bacterial regrowth potential of treated water. Conventional AOC analysis is done with a bioassay that was originally developed by Dutch researcher Van der Kooij and co-workers and later adapted by others as stated in the Standard Methods[3-4]. This method basically contains two stages, cell culturing and cell enumeration. In the cell culturing stage, the water sample is inoculated with two water representative strains (Pseudomonas fluorescens P-17 and Spirillum sp. NOX), and incubated at 15 °C for 9 days to reach the stationary phase. On days 7, 8 and 9, culture cell enumeration is determined by traditional plating counting on nutrient agar, which required another 3 5 days. Finally the cell numbers of the two strains are converted to AOC amount by previously derived empirical yield values. This method is tedious, labour-intensive and notably time-consuming (>14 days). Thus, a fast and easily applicable AOC testing method is essential for an efficient water treatment system and water bio-stability monitoring. The long incubation time in the first stage is caused by the slow growth rate of Pseudomonas fluorescens P-17 and Spirillum sp. NOX strains. Rapid growth strains can be successfully obtained by evolutionary engineering. Classical mutagens, UV, heat shock are robotic, newly developed methods like genome shuffling and transcription factor optimization further strengthen the tools for strain improvement by evolutionary engineering. In this work, we have obtained the fast growing strains without compromising of the carbon source utilization spectrum, thus we could dramatically reduce the time for the first stage. The long process time is an inherent disadvantage for plate counting. A more robotic method should be applied. Flow cytometry has emerged as the leading tool for single-cell analysis. One of the advantages of flow cytometry is that it allows for rapid and accurate enumeration of different types of cells in a cell mixture. In this work, we have demonstrated that using flow cytometry can reduce the total timing for AOC detection.


Sakakibara heart Institute

 Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative treatment for inoperative or high-risk patients requiring surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). In previous studies, the vital capacity falls to about 50% immediately after SAVR. Although the vital capacity recovers to about 60-70% in one week, it does not recover to preoperative levels at 3 months following SAVR 1)2). TAVR is expected to preserve respiratory function because TAVR does not require a sternotomy.

 The purpose of this study was to investigate early stage respiratory function after a TAVR. We assumed that respiratory function is not reduced after a TAVR.

 This prospective study was approved by the local ethics committee of our Institute. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. The subjects were patients who underwent TAVI at our Institute from July 2017 to March 2019. Exclusion criteria included patients who refused to provide informed consent, emergent cases, NYHA (New York Heart Association) Class IV patients, patients receiving inotropes, patients under mechanical ventilation, patients enrolled in other studies, or patients for whom conducting pulmonary function tests were judged to be difficult. The pulmonary function test was conducted once a day until one week after the TAVR procedure.

 The target number was 100, and we ceased registration when informed consent was obtained from 100 patients. TAVR was conducted for 142 cases in this period and 42 cases were excluded. After informed consent was obtained, 17 cases were excluded because they met the exclusion criteria, and the analysis was conducted with 83 cases. The vital capacity and % of vital capacity were significantly reduced from the first day to the sixth day and recovered to preoperative levels at the seventh day after TAVR. The forced expiratory volume was significantly reduced from the first day to the fifth day, and recovered to preoperative levels at the sixth day after TAVR. The percentage of forced expiratory volume at one second was not significantly reduced.

 The respiratory function was reduced in the early stages after TAVR. The respiratory function was reduced mostly on the first day after TAVR and recovered to preoperative levels on the seventh day after TAVR. After TAVR, the respiratory function recovered earlier than after SAVR. We believe that TAVR is more suitable for patients with reduced respiratory function.
 Abstract P112 Figure. respiratory function after TAVR


. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Damavand volcanic ash on the morphological and physiological characteristics of beans as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The results showed that the highest dry leaf weight was observed in 100 mg/L treatment per liter of volcanic ash (0.0099 g). The results also showed that the optimal sugar content of the soluble sugar at 100 mg/L of volcanic ash was 0.650 (mg/g D.W.). The highest protein content and optimal peroxidase activity were observed with 0.68 (mg/g F.W.) and 0.082 (A470/mg/protein), respectively. Therefore, it can be argued that volcanic ash may increase plant growth and biosynthesis of organic compounds such as iron and aluminum.


Abstract Physical dimensions and evolutionary status of the A-type twin binary GSC 4019 3345 are presented. Located at a distance of ~1.1 kpc from the Sun, the system was found to have two components with identical masses (M 1,2 = 1.92 M⊙), radii (R 1,2 = 1.76 R⊙), and luminosities (log L 1,2 = 1.1 L⊙) revolving in a circular orbit. Modeling the components with theoretical evolutionary tracks and isochrones implies a young age (t = 280 Myr) for the system, which is bigger than the synchronization time scale but smaller than the circularization time scale. Nevertheless, synthetic spectrum models revealed components' rotation velocity of V rot12 = 70 km s−1, that is about three times higher than their synchronization velocity. No evidence is found for an age difference between the components.


Preliminary results are reported from a research project analysing congestive heart failure in terms a stochastic coupled-oscillator model of the cardiovascular system. Measurements of blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) have been processed by use of the wavelet transform to separate its oscillatory components, which number at least five. Particular attention was concentrated on the frequency content near 0.01 Hz, which is known to be associated with endothelial function. The LDF was carried out in conjunction with iontophoretically administered acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in order to evaluate endothelial reactivity. Measurements were made on 17 congestive heart failure (CHF) patients (a) on first diagnosis, and (b) again several weeks later after their treatment with a β-blocker had been stabilised. The results of these two sets of measurements are being compared with each other, and with data from an age and sex-matched group of healthy controls. It is confirmed that endothelial reactivity is reduced in CHF patients, as compared to healthy controls, and it is found that one effect of the Beta-blocker is to ameliorate the loss of endothelial function in CHF. The implications of these results are discussed.


In accordance with the National Soil Environmental Quality Standards of China, Grade I and Grade II (GB15618-1995), this study adopted single pollution index (SPI) and Nemeiow synthetical pollution index (NSPI) methods to analyse and assess the ecological risk of the seven heavy metals, namely Cd, Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Cr and Zn, contained in the surrounding soils of one coal waste pile at Naluo Coal Mine, Liupanshui, Guizhou, China. The results revealed that (1) Cd had higher SPI than any other heavy metal and the maximum Cd SPI, indicative of serious pollution, was found in the soil sample collected from the 150 m distant from the centre along possible coal gangue alluvial flow; (2) synthetical pollution assessment of heavy metals per Grade I found that soil sample collected from sites 150 m from the centre along possible coal gangue alluvial flow had the maximum NSPI, which suggests that the soil is seriously polluted, and that there is a link between heavy metal pollution level in the surrounding soils of the coal waste pile and the sampling direction; (3) synthetical pollution assessment of heavy metals per Grade II revealed that sampling distance had a bearing on the pollution level in the surrounding soils of the coal waste pile, and the soil samples collected from 100 or 150 m distant in all the sampling paths had minor pollution.


One of the most important problem in today's physics is the integrity of the four main forces of nature. This article is intended to introduce a formula as the static core formula of all forces. The theory states that the force is the energy multiplied by the motion function; or in other words, the energy which is stuck in the motion function. We explained the reason of the forces damping.


(2) Computer-aided (-based, -managed) learning Claims: patient teachers; scrupulous examiners; tireless schedulers of instruction. For students: freedom to follow their own path of learning; work at their own pace in their own time; richer materials; automatic measurement of progress. "Personal computers will revolutionize society and will create powerful new opportunities for those who can handle them". [Collis, Social Vision 1979/80, 1996]


A system comprising a plurality of power conversion devices, e.g., uninterruptible power supply (UPS) device, a power conversion device having a power input line coupled to the common input terminal, and each of the power conversion means comprises a control circuit, the control circuit being configured to in response thereto the current sense signal on the current sense input of the power converter is electrically operated means. The system further includes a first current transformer having a primary winding inductively coupled to the power input line; and the secondary winding of the first current transformer coupled in series electrical sensing lines; and a plurality of two current transformers, each of the second current transformer comprising a primary winding inductively coupled to the current sense line and each comprising a secondary winding coupled to respective input terminals of the current sensing input of said sensing of electrical .


In this paper, a matter-element extenics method is adopted to combine the information of each layer and each eigenvalue, so as to realize the evaluation of the current state of switch cabinet. The calculation of correlation degree is improved in the traditional matter-element extenics method. And the actual evaluation effect is optimized. This paper illustrates the evaluation process with practical examples, and compares the current evaluation results with the actual status of switch cabinets and the evaluation results obtained by traditional matter-element extension method. They proved the advance and effectiveness of the proposed method.


Although studies in the visual cortex have found γ‐aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptor‐mediated pre‐ and postsynaptic inhibitory effects on neurons, the subcellular localization of GABAB receptors in different types of cortical neurons and synapses has not been shown directly. To provide this information, we have used antibodies against the GABAB receptor (R)1a/b and GABABR2 subunits and have studied the localization of immunoreactivities in rat visual cortex. Light microscopic analyses have shown that both subunits are expressed in cell bodies and dendrites of 65–92% of corticocortically projecting pyramidal neurons and in 92–100% of parvalbumin (PV)‐, calretinin (CR)‐, and somatostatin (SOM)‐containing GABAergic neurons. Electron microscopic analyses of immunoperoxidase‐ and immunogold‐labeled tissue revealed staining in the nucleus, cytoplasm and cell surface membranes with both antibodies. Colocalization of both subunits was observed in all of these structures. GABABR1a/b and GABABR2 were concentrated in excitatory and inhibitory synapses and in extrasynaptic membranes. In GABAergic synapses, GABABR1a/b and GABABR2 were more strongly expressed postsynaptically on pyramidal and nonpyramidal cells than presynaptically. In type 1 synapses GABABR1a/b and GABABR2 was found in pre‐ and postsynaptic membranes. The nuclear localization of GABABR1 and GABABR2 subunits suggests a novel role for neurotransmitter receptors in controlling gene expression. The synaptic colocalization of GABABR1 and GABABR2 indicates that subunits form heteromeric assemblies of the functional receptor in inhibitory and excitatory synapses. Subunit coexpression in GABAergic synapses that include PV‐containing and PV‐deficient terminals suggests that pre‐ and postsynaptic GABAB receptor activation is provided by several different types of interneurons. The coexpression of both subunits in excitatory synapses suggests a role for GABAB receptors in the regulation of glutamate release and raises the question how these receptors are activated in the absence of pre‐or postsynaptic GABAergic synaptic inputs to excitatory synapses. J. Comp. Neurol. 431:182–197, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


A bolaform amphiphile(BP-15) bearing biphenyl group and long spacers of alkyl chains was synthesized. In-situ AFM studies indicate that the amphiphile can form two kinds of surface aggregates with different morphologies depending on solution concentration: short-range ordered cylindrical surface micelles at the lower concentration and flat domains at the higher concentration. These results agree well with the two critical micelle concentrations in bulk solution as determined by the concentration-dependent conductivity.


Zinc is one of the most abundant metals in living organisms and is an essential co-factor of many metabolic enzymes and transcription factors. In this review, based on ar ecent body of theoretical and experimental results, the physical bases are delineated for the following aspects of zinc binding and selectivity in proteins: (1) What is the most thermodynamically preferable coordination geometry of a bidentate ligand (such as carboxylate) or Zn in Zn-binding sites? (2) What is the protonation state of the Cys side chain in Cys4 zincfinger cores? (3) How does a protein select Zn from the mixture of ions in the surrounding fluids? (4) What is the role of the second shell in metal binding and selectivity? The key results are summarized and the physical basis and/or implications of the findings are discussed.


This case study examines the history, structure and social, economic, and political changes of an urban neighborhood in Ohio, and how local social actors and organizations affect those changes. The data are based on personal interviews, meeting minutes, newsletters, newspaper articles, and other documentation and materials. The analysis shows that (1) individual social actors are the most important factors in bringing about change consistent with the local social action system, (2) there is a significant and positive relationship between the economic condition of the neighborhood and the success of the changes in the neighborhood, (3) changes consistent with the local social action system are most effectively induced when various organizations and social groups are organized independently of each other but at the same time associated through coalition activities, and (4) the larger urban system (both political and economic systems) in which the neighborhood is located can have strong influence on the neig...


Urbanization and expansion in each city of emerging countries have become an essential function of Earth's surface, with the majority of people migrating from rural to urban regions. The various urban category characteristics have emphasized the great importance of understanding and creating suitable land evaluations in the future. The overall objective of this study is to classify the urban zone utilizing building height which is estimated using Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and various satellite-based indexes of Sentinel-2A. The first objective of this research is to estimate the building height of the Sentinel-1 SAR in Nonthaburi, Thailand. A new indicator, vertical-vertical-horizontal polarization (VVH), which can provide a better performance, is produced from the dual-polarization information, vertical-vertical (VV), and vertical-horizontal (VH). Then, the building height model was developed using indicator VVH and the reference building height data. The root means square error (RMSE) between the estimated and reference height is 1.413 m. Then, the second objective is to classify three classes of urban types, which are composed of residential buildings, commercial buildings, and other buildings, including vegetation, waterbodies, car parks, and so on. Spectral indices such as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), and normalized difference built up the index (NDBI) are extracted from the Sentinel-2A data. To classify the urban types, a three-machine learning classifier, support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) were developed. The classification uses randomly trained data from each 500 m focus study which are divided into a 100 × 100 m grid. Different models are examined using different variables, for example, classification using only building height and only spectral indices. The indices and estimated building height were used to classify the urban types. Not only the average of various satellite-based indices and building height of 100 × 100 m grid was used, but also the minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation were calculated from NDVI, NDWI, NDBI, and building height. There are a total of 16 variables used in the model. Eventually, the principal components analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the variables and get better performance of the models. SVM showed better accuracy than the other two, RF and KNN. The accuracies of SVM, RF, and KNN are 0.86, 0.75, and 0.76, respectively.


We study compact hyperbolic surface laminations. These are a generalisation of closed hyperbolic surfaces, which appear to be more suited to the study of Teichmüller theory than arbitrary non-compact surfaces. We show that the Teichmüller space of any non-trivial hyperbolic surface lamination is infinite dimensional. In order to prove this result, we study the theory of deformations of hyperbolic surfaces, and we derive a new formula for the derivative of the length of a simple closed geodesic with respect to the action of grafting. This formula complements those derived by McMullen [ 24], in terms of the Weil–Petersson metric, and by Wolpert [ 34], for the case of earthquakes.


Background and objectives: Interest in essential oils has revived in recent decades, with their various applications in perfumes, food and flavor, cosmetics, aromatherapy and pharmaceutical industries. However, in order to improve the extraction yield and quality of the essential oil new environmentally friendly and low cost approach was developed to grinding of plant material before subjecting it to hydrodistillation. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of mixer and stone grinding on yield and quality of essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus and Eucalyptus globulus. Methodology: In mixer and stone grinding methods, the leaves were grinded in mixer grinder and on stone grinder respectively and then subjected to hydroistillation by using Clevenger apparatus. Results: The highest essential oil percentage was found in stone grinding in comparison to mixer grinding and conventional hydro-distillation methods both in C. citratus and E. globulus and it was 0.82%, 0.70%, 0.40% and 0.84%, 0.69%, 0.38% respectively. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of lemongrass essential oil shows the presence of α-citral, β-citral, geraniol, geranyl acetate,eudesmol and caryophyllene oxide as major costituents. The main chemical constituents of eucalyptus essential oil are pinene, phellandrene, 1, 8-cineole, limonene, terpinen-4-ol, alloaromadenderne and globulol. Conclusion: This has proved that the mixer/stone grinding of plant material before hydrodistilation did not adversely influence the composition of essential oils but improve the yield percentage and quality of essential oil and provided a good alternative for the extraction of essential oil from aromatic plants which is economic and ecofriendly. WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES SJIF Impact Factor 5.210 Volume 4, Issue 11, 1646-1655 Research Article ISSN 2278 – 4357 Article Received on 16 Sep 2015, Revised on 5 Oct 2015, Accepted on 26 Oct 2015


In this paper, robust adaptive control is designed for pitch and torque control of the wind turbines operating under turbulent wind conditions. The dynamics of the wind turbine are formulated by considering the five degrees of freedom system (rotor angle, gearbox angle, generator angle, flap-wise deflection of the rotor blade, and axial displacement of the nacelle). The controller is designed to maintain the rotor speed, maximize the aerodynamic efficiency of the wind turbine, and reduce the loads due to high wind speeds. Gaussian probability distribution function is used for approximating the wind speed, which is given as the disturbance input to the plant. The adaptive control algorithm is implemented to 2 MW and 5 MW wind turbines to test the robustness of the controller for varying parameters. The simulation is carried out using MATLAB/Simulink for three cases, namely pitch control, torque control, and the combined case. A case study is done to validate the proposed adaptive control using real wind speed data. In all the cases, the results indicate that the rotor speed follows the reference speed and show that the designed controller gives a satisfactory performance under varying operating conditions and parameter variations.


The perception people have of audiovisual production in Tepic, Nayarit, is based on the different types of production that is performed and the relationship between the cost - benefit these entail. In the present study the social context in which the audiovisual


WARMS Rangeland Ecological Health iv October 2007 The rangelands or semi-arid and arid regions of Western Australia occupy about 87 percent of the land area. Pastoral grazing of managed livestock, mainly sheep and cattle, occurs over much of this area, with an increasing proportion being allocated to the state conservation estate. Rangeland monitoring began at the local scale in the 1950s and since then has been closely tied to the needs of the pastoral industry. By 1992 a regional-scale, ground-based system was in place after two decades of trialling precursor techniques. The state-wide pastoral monitoring programme, known as the Western Australian Rangeland Monitoring System (WARMS), helps to monitor the state's natural vegetation and soil resources. Change in soil and vegetation attributes through time, in response to climatic conditions, herbivore grazing, fire and other natural and anthropogenic drivers in the rangelands is known as change in range condition or range trend. When range condition is used in an ecological context, as it is in this research, an improving trend implies an improvement in ecological integrity or ecosystem health. In contrast, a declining trend implies a reduction in integrity, otherwise known as natural resource degradation. The principal objective of this study is to produce a regional-scale, long-term quantitative assessment of range condition change in the southern rangelands of Western Australia, using WARMS transect data. Previous analyses of the WARMS database have examined selected vegetation parameters, but this study is the first to calculate a single integrated range condition index. The assessment covers an area of approximately 760,000 km, stretching southeast from the southern Pilbara region through the Gascoyne-Murchison and Goldfields regions to the Nullarbor region on the Great Australia Bight. WARMS is designed to provide data and information for assessing regional and long-term changes in


Original meiotic chromosome counts are reported for 35 species and one natural interspecific hybrid in 11 genera of Mexican Melastomataceae. These include first counts for 24 species in three of the nine recognized New World tribes in the family. Counts of n = 18 for Arthrostemma parvifolium and n = 36 for Topobea calycularis represent new numbers for these genera. Other counts for species of Arthrostemma (n = 30), Centradenia (n = 18), Clidemia (n = 17, 23), Conostegia (n = 17), Heterocentron (n = 18), Leandra (n = 17), Miconia (n = 17), Monochaetum (n = 18), Pterolepis (n = 7), and Tibouchina (n = 9, 18) corroborate previously reported numbers for these genera. Centradenia, Heterocentron, and Monochaetum with n = 18 and Conostegia with n = 17 appear to have remarkably constant chromosome numbers, whereas Tibouchina exhibits a polyploid series based on x = 9. Clidemia, Leandra, and Miconia, the largest genera of Miconieae, show greatest variation in chromosome numbers. The widespread occurrence of n = 17 suggests that this is the base number in the Miconieae. Two hypotheses are presented to explain the origin of x = 17 in the Miconieae. One suggests straight autotetraploidization of x = 9 followed by chromosome loss (2x - 1). The allotetraploid hypothesis proposes that x = 17 is of dibasic origin and may have formed by ancient hybridization of species with 7 and 10 or 8 and 9 haploid chromosomes.


The recommendation system [1] can quickly find the information that users are interested in from the complex information and recommend it to the user, and it has been widely used in web-based services. However, the current mainstream recommendation models [16] all have the problem of sparse data [2] and ignoring the long-term and short-term interests of users. In response to these problems, we propose a graph neural network recommendation model (LSGNR) based on long-term and short-term user interest modeling. In the experiment, we used the public data set to verify and analyze the algorithm of LSGNR model. We performed an experimental comparison with the current mainstream five recommendation models. Experimental results show that the performance of the proposed algorithm is generally better than the current mainstream recommendation methods [17], and it is improved by more than 10% compared with other models under the two evaluation indicators.


Incomplete lupus erythematosus (ILE) involves clinical and/or serologic manifestations consistent with but insufficient for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) classification. Because the nature of ILE is poorly understood and no treatment recommendations exist, we examined the clinical manifestations, medication history, and immunologic features in a diverse collection of ILE and SLE patients.


By reviewing the mental hygiene and the mental health criterion,the paper discussed the necessity of the combination of positive psychology and mental hygiene,and proposed the concepts of mental hygiene and mental health criterion of athletes. By summarizing the present research situation of athletes` mental hygiene,the paper,combined with the DFSMH,analyzed the limitations of traditional mental hygiene researches and the effects of positive psychology on mental hygiene. Finally,it listed some problems waiting o be solved in order to offer reference for sports psychology research.


Objective:To investigate the feature of histomorphology and biology of uterine bizarre leiomyoma from the clinical,pathological features as well as the immunlhistochemical expression.Methods:Mass sizes of 13 cases were observed under microscopy to do Ki-67,P53,estrogen receptor(ER),progestogen receptor(PR),immunohistochemistry SP and ABC stain and analyze clinical data and followup.Results:The main presentations were vagina irregular bleeding,abdominal pains and pelvis mass.4 cases complicated with pregancy,3 cases treated by exogenous progestogen,9 cases expressed ER(-),Ki-67(±),P53(±),13 cases PR(+).Conclusion:Uterus bizarre leiomyoma belongs to benign tumors,which has correlation to exogenous progesterone and endogenous progestogen.Its differentiation depends on HE slice observation for some feature of immunlhistochemical expression.


Background: Ultrasound has become a very useful tool in animal reproduction since implemented during the 1980's. Different applications go from clinical to physiological studies, along with a number of practical on-farm uses. Objective: This paper reviews the basic principles of transrectal ultrasonography and highlights the importance of its use within the productive context of cattle operations. Methods: Anatomical and physiological concepts of the cow's reproductive tract are described, along with concepts on the use of ultrasound in monitoring ovarian dynamics through follicular diameter measurements and corpus luteum volume during the estrous cycle, and this variables are related to pregnancy success also diagnosed by ultrasound. Results: Research references, as well as our own results are presented, showing a positive relationship between the diameter of the ovulatory follicle, the volume of the corpus luteum generated after ovulation, and the positive pregnancy diagnose. Conclusion: Our data, as well as the referenced literature, demonstrate that ultrasound is a useful tool, with potential for being used in evaluation, diagnosis and decisionmaking based on the cow reproductive events, along with the current reproductive biotechnologies as insemination and embryo transfer in order to optimize their efficiency.


The miscibility of poly( e-methyl styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (MSAN)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) ternary blends was studied by DSC. PMMA is immiscible with PEMA, but the addition of MSAN helps make PMMA and PEMA more compatible. The formation of a miscible ternary blend is favored when there is a high MSAN and/or PMMA content in the blend.


A new genus of jumping spiders, Bavirectagen. nov. is proposed to include the type species B. flavopuncta gen. et sp. nov. and Bavirecta exilis (Cao et al., 2016) gen. et comb. nov. Distinguishing characters of Bavirecta gen. nov. include: 1) tubular abdomen, 2) enlarged front legs, 3) straight and pointed embolus, broadest proximal lobe with black blotches, 4) prolateral tegular lobe, 5) widely separated anterior atria. Furthermore, two new species, Schenkelia aurantia sp. nov. (♂♀) and Brancus calebi (♂) sp. nov., are described and diagnosed. Mogrus frontosus (Simon, 1871) is redescribed based on a male collected from Mandaitivu Island of Jaffna District in Sri Lanka. The genera Brancus Simon, 1902, Mogrus Simon, 1882 and Schenkelia Lessert, 1927 are reported for the first time from Sri Lanka (Brancus and Schenkelia are recorded for the first time outside Africa).


Enthalpy potential method is the most important and the most commonly used air-conditioning performance test,measurement in order to determine the value of being measured, measurement uncertainty is the result of the measurement quality quantitative characterization, the availability of measurement results depends on the quality of uncertainty. This text analyzed enthalpy potential method test the performance of air-conditions from uncertain, and combine with the fresh evaluation APF to calculate the uncertain of APF.


Relation between the (α+θ) microstructure and the superplastic behavior in an ultra-high carbon steel (Fe-1.4Cr-1.0C) has been studied. Special attention was paid to the substructure and grain boundary character in α matrix. By 90% warm rolling of a pearlite structure, an (α+θ) microstructure with fine and equiaxed α grains of 0.4μm in diameter and spheroidized θ particles of 0.2μm in diameter is obtained. Kikuchi pattern analysis has revealed that α matrix exhibits a recovered structure in which a large fraction of α grain boundaries are subgrain boundaries (low angle boundaries) not suitable for grain boundary sliding. When the 90% warm rolled specimens were austenitized in (γ+θ) two phase region, quenched and tempered at the temperature below Al, an (α+θ) microduplex structure with the α and θ grain sizes equivalent to those in the as warm rolled specimen is formed. It was found that the fraction of high angle α grain boundary significantly increases in comparison with the as warm rolled specimen. The austenitizing, quenching and tempering treatment without warm rolling of pearlite structure also produces an (α+θ) microduplex structure with high angle α grain boundaries. The specimen austenitized, quenched and tempered shows much larger superplastic elongation in the tensile tests at 973K than the as warm rolled specimens.


In order to characterise the barrage regime is usually very important to check the validity of assumptions on which its application is based. Accordingly, in this study we have estimated a set of numbers comprising the Lake number, the Wedderburn and Burger numbers, and inflow and outflow Froude numbers. Therefore we have used two years worth of time series data (2000-2001) consisting of temperature profiles, morphometry data, meteorological data, and inflow and withdrawal data of two reservoir located in the Mediterranean region.


PURPOSE: A touch screen panel and a manufacturing method thereof are provided to diversify the external design of information devices by being installed on a curved window and to reduce manufacturing costs of the information devices. CONSTITUTION: A touch screen panel comprises a window(113) and a touch screen device. One side of the window has a curved surface shape. The window is installed on the front side of a display device(110). The touch screen device is attached to the curved surface of the window. The touch screen device has a curvature corresponding to the curved surface of the window. A pair of transparent conductive films(111a,111b) is attached each other across multiple dot spacers(111c).


Supply chain management is to apply a total systems approach to managing the entire flow of information, materials, and services from raw materials suppliers through factories and warehouses to the end customer.

The goals of supply chain management are to reduce uncertainty and risks in the supply chain, thereby positively affecting inventory levels, cycle time, processes, and ultimately, end customer service levels.

Then, Just in time purchasing is to establish agreements with vendors to deliver small quantities of materials just in time for production


Objective:To discuss the clinical features and treatment strategy of extrahepatic portal hypertension(EHPH).Methods:Six patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction(EHPVO) were reviewed retrospectively.Results:Five patients presented repeated esophageal variceal hemorrhage and splenectasis, one with upper abdominal discomfort and fever. All the diagnoses were established by color Doppler Ultrasonography evaluation and angiography of portal vein. Three typical cavernous transformation of the portal vein(CTPV) were found. Portal trunk thrombosis was found in one patient. And one patient's splenic vein was occluded and invaded by recurrent ovary carcinoma. Oesophagogastric devascularization was performed in three patients. Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) was used in one patient, and one patient was cured by combined EVL and endoscopic sclerotherapy(EST). Superior mesenteric caval shunt was performed in one patient. The average follow up period was 8.4 months. There were two deaths.Conclusion:The cause of extrahepatic portal hypertension in adults is complicated. Color doppler and portal vein angiography are very useful diagnostics aids. The treatment plan for this rare disease should be selected according to patient's particular situation.


In this study, the structure and properties of an organic–inorganic composite material prepared from nylon 6 doped with fine particles of silver iodide (AgI) were examined. The preparation of the composite involved the complexation of nylon 6 with polyiodide ions such as I and I by immersion in an iodine/potassium iodide (I2–KI) aqueous solution followed by reaction in a silver nitrate (AgNO3) aqueous solution; this resulted in the in situ formation of β-AgI fine particles within the nylon 6 matrix. The AgI content formed in the composite was dependent on the immersion temperatures of the I2–KI and AgNO3 solutions. Lower solution temperatures resulted in larger amounts of AgI in the composite. This method readily provided a composite with a high content of AgI in nylon 6 and a conductivity of approximately 10−5 Ω−1 cm−1. In a uniaxially oriented nylon 6 matrix, AgI particles precipitated with anisotropic shape, which was caused by the orientation of the precursor polyiodide ions. The structure of the oriented composite provided the anisotropic conductivity. Additionally, the composite exhibited high antibacterial properties. The procedure used in this study is considered a unique method for the preparation of organic–inorganic composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008


In early 2000 Brisbane City Council saw a need for traffic response units in the field to improve the Traffic Control Centre's incident management procedures. Traffic Response Units are a common practice tool used in incident management around the world. A number of options were assessed ranging from establishment and staffing completely with Council resources to total outsourcing. The latter was the option that was adopted due to its advantages in flexibility of staffing, experience, culture, and the minimisation of risk to Council in handling vehicles. The Brisbane road system is owned and managed by two different organisations, Brisbane City Council and the Department of Main Roads. As some roads owned by DMR are within an eight kilometre radius of the CBD, it was logical to offer to DMR the advantages of this facility, so that a seamless service could be offered to the motoring public. Obstacles that needed to be overcome included different cultures and approaches to road management and different legislative frameworks. This paper explains how these obstacles were overcome to enable a satisfactory agreement to be made. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E205999.


The present invention provides a hot water piping system comprising a water tank through a water supply solenoid valve manifold drawn, which bypass the one-way valve, respectively, leads to a water mains supply more charge through the check valve, each charge of water hot tap end connector; flow sensors are provided in each charge the water; the water charge of each intermediate section are connected to a return charge, charge coupled to a respective return string with a non-return return manifold pump; flow velocity sensors not detected when the forward flow rate, water supply solenoid valve by the controller gradually closed, and then transmits an activation signal to stop the return pump, otherwise, the water supply solenoid valve open; the pump inlet nonreturn also provided a water temperature sensor, pump check upon receiving a start signal, and the water temperature sensor detects the temperature reaches a preset value, running, or stopping the pump does not run back; nonreturn pump disposed below the tank. The system can effectively reduce resource waste hot water supply system.


An efficient photogalvanic cell containing oxalic acid as an electron donar, a dye bismark brown as a photosensitizer, and sodium lauryel sulphate as a surfactant has been investigated for solar energy and storage. The photopotential, photocurrent, and power generated by the photogalvanic cell were 675.0 mV, 130.0 μA, and 87.75 μW, respectively. The determined conversion efficiency of the cell was determined as 0.4704% and fill factor was 0.557. The current voltage characteristics of the cell have also been studied. The effect of diffusion parameters on the electrical output of the cell was investigated and a mechanism for the generation of photocurrent in this photogalvanic cell has also been proposed.


This editorial heralds the online publication of a new, international, peer-reviewed, open access journal, dedicated to emerging threats to human health. The Journal is an initiative of the Emerging Health Threats Forum, an independent, not-for-profit association that was established with support from the UK's Health Protection Agency. This Journal builds on the Forum's extensive emerging health threats news service and weekly Emerging Health Threats Monitor, with original research articles, in-depth reviews, perspectives, commentaries, and policy reviews on emerging health threats.1 Policy reviews catalogue strategies used to address threats, and appraise their effectiveness. Unique to the Emerging Health Threats Journal will be a new article type on strategic lessons learned. This will capture the critical lessons in disaster and other crisis responses that are often overlooked until they are relearned yet again in the next disaster. (Published: 29 February 2008) Citation: Emerging Health Threats Journal 2008, 1 :e1. doi: 10.3134/ehtj.08.001


The depth of Iran's transformation by religios fanaticism since 1979 has taken even its own scholars by surprise. Aiden Foster-Carter and Fred Halliday examine two groups of losers - women and the left.


Objective To investigate the age-related changes of serum FT3,FT4,TSH,and the effect of gender on them.Methods Sera were obtained from 87 males and 93 females(age 20 to 69 years) in the medial examination certer.Testing their serum free triidothyronine(FT3),free thyroxin(FT4),thyrotropic-stimulating hormone(TSH).Results FT3,FT4 progressively decreased from 20 to 69 years,FT3 decreased at the rate of 0.77% per year,FT4 decreased at the rate of 0.87% per year;TSH didn′t chang from 20 to 39 years,and progressively increased with aging by 1.72% per year after 40 years.The males had higher FT3,FT4 and lower TSH than the females.Conclusion This cross-section study susgests FT3,FT4 progressively decrease with aging,TSH progressively increase after 40 years.The males had higher FT3,FT4,and lower TSH than the females.


Traversal efficiency of ray tracing acceleration structures can be improved by specializing them, each frame, for the rays that are traced in that frame. A companion paper to this one demonstrates that extremely high traversal performance for eye and hard shadow rays can be obtained by transforming rays and geometry with a perspective transform, then using a grid acceleration structure in the perspective space. However, the performance of this perspective grid acceleration structure suffers for off-axis rays such as those used for soft shadows or depth of field. In this paper we address this shortcoming by exploring the use of the perspective transform with adaptive acceleration structures such as kd-trees. The problem of choosing optimal split planes for an acceleration structure is different in perspective space than it is in world space, so we introduce a new cost metric for estimating traversal cost of acceleration structures in perspective space. This metric is related to the traditional surface area metric but defined in perspective space. We implement a ray-tracing system with both traditional and perspective acceleration structures and demonstrate significant performance improvements using the perspective space structures even when build time is included. Additionally we evaluate the effectiveness of our new cost metric compared to traditional cost metrics. A key insight demonstrated by these results is that end-to-end rendering performance can be improved by building a different specialized acceleration structure for each light and camera in the scene instead of using a single non-specialized acceleration structure for all rays.


Understanding mouse embryonic development is an invaluable resource for our interpretation of normal human embryology and congenital defects. Our research focuses on developing methods for live imaging and dynamic characterization of early embryonic development in mouse models of human diseases. Using multidisciplinary methods: optical coherence tomography (OCT), live mouse embryo manipulations and static embryo culture, molecular biology, advanced image processing and computational modeling we aim to understand developmental processes. We have developed an OCT based approach to image live early mouse embryos (E8.5 – E9.5) cultured on an imaging stage and visualize developmental events with a spatial resolution of a few micrometers (less than the size of an individual cell) and a frame rate of up to hundreds of frames per second and reconstruct cardiodynamics in 4D (3D+time). We are now using these methods to study how specific embryonic lethal mutations affect cardiac morphology and function during early development.


An activity for nicotine extraction and detection in tobacco. The procedure is based on the extraction of nicotine from tobacco, followed by the reaction between nicotine with Co(II) and Cu(II) ions. A qualitative experiment is proposed in order to demonstrate and visualize the presence of nicotine in tobacco and to demonstrate metal-nicotine complexes formation and their mass spectrometry (ESI) analysis.


Preliminary paleomagnetic study of granitic and sedimentary rocks from the Ellsworth Whitmore Mountains crustal block (EVH), Vest Ant arctica, leads to the following conclusions: (1) The EVH has a paleogole for the Middle Jurassic located at 235°E, 41 S, (ag 5 "' 5.3, N = 8 sites) assuming that no widespreaCI regional tilting has occurred since the magnetization measured was acquired. A Middle Jurassic paleolatitude of 47°S is indicated for the sites and precludes an origi nal location for the EVH block south of the Ant arctic Peninsula crustal block (AP). (2) This pole is not significantly different from the pre viously published Middle Jurassic paleopole ob tained from rocks of the northern Antarctic Penin sula. The combined AP-EVH paleopole, compared to the Middle Jurassic mean paleopole obtained from igneous rocks of the Ferrar Supergroup in East Antarctica, suggests about 15° tectonic clockwise rotation of the AP and EVH. Since the AP and EVH poles coincide, these two crustal blocks may have moved as one unit since the Middle Jurassic. ( 3) The new data are compatible with two different Gondwanaland reconstructions. The first considers the AP and EVH as separate entities. The second is based on the movement of the AP and EVH as one block. For the Middle Jurassic, both reconstruc tions would locate the EVH west of Coats Land and south of the Falkland Plateau, with the adjacent AP located south of southernmost South America. (4) Enigmas concerning the structural trend and isolation of the thick Ellsworth Mountains Paleo zoic succession persist.


In both experimental and natural settings, incentives sometimes underperform, generating smaller effects on the targeted behaviors than would be predicted for entirely self-regarding agents. A parsimonious explanation is that incentives that appeal to self-regarding economic motives may crowd out noneconomic motives such as altruism, reciprocity, intrinsic motivation, ethical values, and other social preferences, leading to disappointing and sometimes even counterproductive incentive effects. We present evidence from behavioral experiments that crowding may take two forms: categorical (the effect on preferences depends only on the presence or absence of the incentive) or marginal (the effect depends on the extent of the incentive). We extend an earlier contribution (Bowles and Hwang, ) to include categorical crowding, thus providing a more general framework for the study of optimal incentives and as a result, an expanded range of situations for which the sophisticated planner will (surprisingly) make greater use of incentives when incentives crowd out social preferences than when motivational crowding is absent.


This article is a response to Jess C. Ribot and Nancy Lee Peluso's theory of access through my experience working at an art brokerage agency in Indonesia. Ribot and Peluso have examined how social actors make use of resource, property, money, and people who benefit them, but they do not explain in detail how the actual process of an actor gaining an access. In my personal reflection, access turns out to be multi-layered, hierarchical, and always in the hands of other actors, never free-floating. My analysis shows that access cannot be gained for free, but is always a gift. This article explains why an actor who wants to seize access must activate his agency to accumulate capitals in the form of trust, reputation and privilege through social processes.


Effectiveness in reflecting uncertainties in a modeling process is critical for ensuring forecasting accuracy and improving process efficiency. However, few previous studies made efforts toward incorporating uncertainties into comporting modeling systems. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology based on Monte Carlo simulation and factorial design to reflect uncertainties in the modeling process. The uncertain parameters under consideration include temperature, moisture content, free air space, and oxygen concentration. Monte Carlo simulations are undertaken based on comporting kinetic simulator, and a set of 24 factorial experiments are conducted to examine the effects of the input uncertainties and their interactions. The results indicate that complexities of the system uncertainties have been effectively addressed through the developed modeling approach. The proposed method offers an effective tool for comporting process simulation and control under uncertainty.


Flow cytometric DNA‐ploidy measurements were performed on paraffin‐embedded and fresh tumor specimens from 690 patients with Stage I‐III breast cancer. The conventional classification of DNA‐ploidy (diploid versus aneuploid) was compared with a division of tumor ploidy into 5 classes based on DNA index (DI) range. The DI‐classification showed a better correlation with tumor size and TNM stage than the conventional classification. Aneuploidy was associated with an impaired survival and distant relapse‐free survival (p =0.02) but the DI‐classification improved the discrimination between different prognostic groups of patients. In general, this indicated a more aggressive phenotype for tumors evolved via polyploidization. Hyper‐tetraploidy (DI >2.10) indicated a very poor prognosis in pre‐menopausal patients. No prognostic effect of aneuploidy and DI‐class was found in node‐negative and TI patients. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that aneuploidy was an additional prognostic factor to nodal status (1 < N < 3, N > 3 vs. N =0) and tumor size (T2‐4 vs. T1) for overall and distant relapse‐free survival. Subdivision according to DI‐class did not improve the prognostic power of DNA‐ploidy due to stronger correlations with established prognostic factors.


SUMMARY Exact and asymptotic expressions are derived for the probability of the occurrence of one or more pairs of non-overlapping range intervals in k samples of size n from a continuous distribution. The sample range is defined to be the line interval connecting the extreme order statistics. The occurrence of non-overlapping ranges may be used as a test for the detection of location shifts. An example of this use in semiconductor testing is discussed and the power against a particular three-sample normal alternative is computed.


Towards midnight on 27 June 1787, it was clear, serene and moonlit, Edward Gibbon, certainly the greatest historian of his own, and possibly of any other, era laid down his pen after having written the last lines of his masterpiece The history of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. He did this in the agreeable surroundings of the summer house in his garden at Lausanne overlooking the lake. He commented that his first emotion was the recovery of his freedom after so many years of unremitting labour but soon 'a sober melancholy was spread over my mind by the idea that I had taken my everlasting leave' of the 'old and agreeable companion' that his book had become to him over the years (Murray 1896: 333–334).


The advancement of Information Technology
(IT) has given tremendous effects on hotel industry.IT has been perceived as the competitive weapon to survive in the intense competition in the hotels business. As a result, in 2003, 63% of hotels listed by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism of Malaysia provided their e-mail as a medium of communication for its online patrons.Despite the successful technology initiation
among hotels in Malaysia, the effectiveness of
implementation of technology in relation to customer service still remains unknown.Do these hoteliers responsively reply the customer e-mail? The aim of the study is to investigate the quality aspect of the online customer service in Malaysian hotel industry. In 2004, 200 hotels with the e-mail addresses were sent a typical room query and their responses were recorded to examine their e-mail quality.Even though, the hotels performed well for each quality variable, the overall finding showed that the chance that a guest would receive a quality reply was only at 12 out of 200 or 6%.Practical and theoretical contributions are also discussed in this paper.


e-Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine and determine the effect of customer experience and food quality on customer satisfaction of culinary SMEs in Jakarta moderated by entrepreneurial character. The sampling technique used was accidental sampling and the samples used in this study were 210 MSME customers in Jakarta. The data collection technique uses a questionnaire instrument and then the data that has been collected is processed by data analysis methods in the form of SEM-PLS and Smart PLS Version 03 software. The results of this study indicate that customer experience and food quality have a positive and significant effect on customer satisfaction, while entrepreneurial character has an effect on positive on customer satisfaction. Based on the moderating variable, the entrepreneurial character has not been able to strengthen the influence of customer experience on customer satisfaction, while the entrepreneurial character is able to strengthen the influence of food quality on customer satisfaction.


1. Outward currents in cat ventricular fibres have been studied using the single sucrose gap method. The time dependent outward currents can be separated into a fast component, IK, and a slow component, Ix. The voltage dependence of the IK time constant was bell‐shaped, being about 150 msec at ‐90 mV, 500 msec at ‐25 mV and 300 msec at +30 mV. The combination of much faster time constants and larger amplitudes relative to Ix allowed the estimation of IK amplitude, but not time course, from semilog plots of membrane currents accompanying 2 sec depolarizations.


The possibilities of the remote detection of continuous laser beam propagating in the scattering continental and coastal atmosphere at its registration in off-axis zone are discussed. The significant increase of the beam radiance contrast of laser radiation (LR) at its divergence decrease experimentally (in a field experiment) was shown. It was demonstrated that the dispersion at the border of the laser beam aperture plays an important role along with the multiple scattering. The decrease of the beam radiance contrast under twilight conditions is observed. The beams with divergence of 2' and 4' become discoverable at angles of scattering (80–90)° and (60–70)° correspondingly. The contrast difference can reach a decade.


: The Philippines is a country rich in languages, more than 100 distinct languages. Linguists note that there are large differences among the languages, and that they may be grouped into language families, include a northern group (including Ilokano, Pangasinan, and Kapampangan), and a central group (including Tagalog, Bikol, Hiligaynon, and Cebuano). The linguistic diversity of the Philippines arises from natural processes broadly relating to language change, the divergence between linguistic communities caused by lack of communication, and the converse convergence caused by a high rate of communication between communities. The people of the Philippines are experiencing a period of language convergence, marked by high levels of borrowing from large languages such as English, Tagalog, as well as from regionally important languages. In this process, for better or worse, some languages are abandoned altogether and become extinct.


Objective: To explore the effect of personalized nursing intervention on the compliance of patients with gastrointestinal cancer chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 188 patients with tumor and chemotherapy who were treated in our gastroenterology department were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into the control group (CG) and the observation group (OG) according to a random number table method. The Activity of Daily Living (ADL) score, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and self-report of depression changes in the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were observed before the nursing (T0), 2 weeks after nursing (T1) and 1 month after treatment (T2). The treatment compliance scale was used to evaluate both groups. A satisfaction rating scale designed by our hospital was used to compare the level of patient satisfaction. A 3-year prognostic follow-up was performed in both groups. Results: The ADL score of the OG was different from that of CG before treatment, and was higher than that of CG at T1 and T2 (P<0.05). The SAS and SDS scores of each group at T1 and T2 were different from those at T0 (P<0.05). The OG showed significantly better compliance and higher level of satisfaction than those of the CG (P<0.05). No statistical difference in the 3-year survival rate was observed between the two groups (P=0.853). Conclusion: Personalized nursing can effectively improve the quality of life and treatment compliance during chemotherapy for patients with gastrointestinal tumors.


One of the frequent victims in the study of medieval magic is the field of popular charms. Where textual evidence of them survives at all, it is almost never in the large, elaborately illuminated volumes where, for example, treatises on alchemy and divination are often found, but in small, well-worn codices or scraps of paper, or else noted in the margins and on the flyleaves of other texts. These are exactly the manuscripts that are usually overlooked by art historians or other scholars interested in codicological matters, and for this reason, many--especially those dating from the last centuries of the Middle Ages, lacking even antiquity's appeal--have been neglected. Among these, Plimpton Add. MS 02 (henceforth Plimpton) holds a remarkable, previously undiscovered series of charms. Plimpton is a small, unprepossessing late-fifteenth-century miscellany in the Rare Books and Manuscript Library at Columbia University. (1) Physically, Plimpton is composed of six leaves of poor-quality parchment: two bifolia followed by two more leaves of uncertain construction. Some appear to have been scraped for reuse, and each is only about two and a half inches wide and six and a quarter inches tall. The upper edges of all leaves have been badly damaged, possibly by fire or smoke. At some later point, the manuscript was bound among twenty-five paper folia in a nineteenth-century English brown calf binding. The text is written in two roughly contemporary Gothic book hands dated by Malcolm Parkes to the final quarter of the fifteenth century. (2) The texts in the first scribe's hand, which this paper is most concerned with, are a collection of Latin writings in honor of the Three Magi, namely the vespers antiphon for the feast of Epiphany, an extract from Psalm 71, and a prayer for guidance for travelers, followed by a collection of eight brief charms addressed to various angels, with instructions for their performance, a concluding prayer, and a list of sacred names. Following these, the second scribe adds a collection of Middle English hunting terms and proverbial material. Little scholarship has been done on Plimpton to date. After its description by C. U. Bond and W. H. Faye in the 1962 Supplement to the de Ricci Census, (3), in 1967 Rachel Hands established that the material contained in folios 3r-5v of Plimpton--lists of collective nouns, moral precepts, terms of resting and mating, carving terms, four items that a wise man ought to fear, and fifteen properties of a good horse--is an abridged copy of National Library of Wales Brogyntyn MS ii.1 (olim Porkington 10), folios 184r-192v, (4) a claim she repeats in her later facsimile of the Boke of St. Albans. (5), In 1999, Paul Acker noted that following the portion of Plimpton copied from the Brogyntyn MS are two Middle English devotional lyrics, "Lord that art of mi3tis moste" (6) and "Almytty God Ihesu Crist," (7) and published a transcription of the latter. (8) No other research has been published on Plimpton; most notably, the material on folios lv-2v (fol. 1r is blank) has been entirely ignored, with the sole exception of a footnote by Acker that labels it "Latin prayers (or charms) to the Three Magi and guardian angels" without further discussion. (9) This paper attempts to address that gap in the scholarship, beginning by examining Plimpton's physical form and textual content, moving to an analysis of several of the texts included in Plimpton within the context of medieval folk magic, and concluding that these entries are examples of religious charms. Finally, I argue that Plimpton's unusual pattern of folding and wear suggests that it was used as a textual amulet. Physical Features The poor quality of the parchment in Plimpton, its small size, and its idiosyncratic contents suggest that it could have been originally intended as a gathering for a commonplace book. (10) As described by David Parker, the most distinctive feature of commonplace books, and a notable characteristic of Plimpton, is the personal selection and combination of texts, the arrangement of which allows compilers to become authors of a sort. …


The animal adipose tissue can be divided into brown adipose tissue(BAT)and white adipose tissue(WAT).Mammalian brown adipose tissue is the main non-shivering thermogenesis organ,which contains a large of mitochondrial.BAT plays a important role in regulating the control of body temperature and the balance of energy,while the amount and activity of uncoupling protein that lies in the inner membrane of mitochordrial is the key of determining the function of BAT.This article reviewed the structure of UCPs,the polymorphism of UCP gene and the relation between UCP gene and obesity,the factors that affect the expression of UCP mRNA,and a discussion was give at last.


Variety of clays and clay minerals play an important role in the environment and used as an effective adsorbent material for the removal of toxic metal ions from water solution (Crini, 2010). The use of clays as adsorbent have advantages upon many other commercially available adsorbents in terms of low-cost, an abundant availability, high specific surface area, excellent adsorption properties, nontoxic nature, and large potential for ion exchange (Crini and Badot, 2010; Gupta et al., 2013; Rao et al., 2014; Rao et al., 2015). Clays also contain exchangeable cations and anions held to the surface (Miranda-Trevino and Coles, 2003; Crini and Badot, 2010). For these reasons, the attention of scientists worldwide has been focused on using natural or modified clay materials as adsorbent for water treatment.


This paper is aimed to present our study on the screening and identification of effective organic pollutant degrading bacteria in the sediment of a heavily organic polluted marine cage fish farm.As a matter of fact,the marine cage fish farming first began in Guangdong coastal waters of China at the end of 1970s,and it has grown dramatically during the last three decades and become one of the important marine aquaculture industries in China.However,marine cage fish farming generates high pollution loadings especially in the sea bottom,where the high sediment oxygen demand,anoxic sediments, production of toxic gases and decrease in benthic diversity may result.For bioremediation of polluted sediment environment in marine cage farm,six bacteria strains were isolated after 2 months of selective enrichment incubation under intermittent aeration condition from the sediment in the marine cage fish farm in Dapeng Ao Cove, east coast of Shenzhen City.Through the ability test for degradation to the liquid wild trash fish culture medium,four bacteria strains which were capable of degrading the organic trash fish pollutant rapidly and efficiently,were obtained.The 7 d incubation of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD_7) were between 1 040 - 1 140 mg/L,the 5 d incubation for the average COD_(Mn) removing rate (1 - COD_5/COD_0) were between 13.58% - 46.9% and the biochemical degradation rate (BOD_5/COD_0) were between 81.56% - 89.43%.The 5 d incubation for average COD_(Mn) degradation rate of pair-strain mixed bacteria was 64.91 % (6.51 %,which was 2 times higher than that 30.60 (13.63% of single strain;and BOD_5/COD_0 were between 86.10% - 89.13%.There were no obvious differences if compared with those of single strain.Sequence analysis based on partial 16S rDNA and performed by BLASTN and FASTA showed that 2 strains belonged to genus of Staphylococcus sp.and Halomonas sp.The other 2 strains maybe belonged to genus of Halomonas sp.and Pseudomonas sp.,respectively.


In order to assess the impact of commercialisation and digitization on journalists' sourcing practices, we set up a content analysis of the secondary sources and information actors in the news output of four Flemish newspapers over a period of 10 years (2000-2010). From a longitudinal methodological perspective we match our results with reflexions on the expanding or shrinking mediated public sphere. The analysis shows little to no shifts through time. Mainstream sources dominate the news but citizens are also an important part of it. As far as we can observe, Flemish journalists modestly refer to pre-packaged sources. The opportunities for a more diverse source use offered by Web 2.0 applications have not yet penetrated in their newsrooms. The findings indicate that often heard concerns about cost-cutting in newsrooms or sanguinity about the democratic potential of Web 2.0 seem fairly exaggerated, at least in the Flemish context.


In the modern days, a galvannealed sheet steel (GA) instead of a cold rolled steel sheet has been widely used as an alternative to extend the life of automotive body. Accordingly, the mechanical properties of GA for automobiles were taken into account and studied by comparing with the temperature va...


Abstract : The research sought to illuminate the subject of productivity. Findings suggest that the subject has not had the benefit of rigorous scientific scrutiny. This study indicates a need for multiple approaches, depending on nature of the organization, its goals and purposes. An extensive bibliography is provided. Much of the published research or productivity borrows and builds on assumptions, traditions, parameters, and methodologies evolved in the industrial and business sectors. Input/output and time and motion studies established baseline data for production units, and these were then aggregated for entire factories, offices, companies, or industries. What applied to primary or secondary economic activities were inappropriate to the tertiary sector, governmental agencies, and military productivity. With few exceptions, baseline data for these latter categories must be suspect because of changing missions, alignments, personnel, goals, leadership, priorities, and products. There are different productivity approaches, emphases, and philosophies between and within agencies and organizations.


Background: Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation (POAF) is the most common complication of open cardiac surgery related to prognosis and morbidity. However, it is controversial whether POAF is associated with excess mortality independent of associated risk factors after cardiac surgery. Methods and results: POAF was identified in 425 patients (34.5%) of 1229 patients underwent isolated valve repair and/or replacement operation. Patients have more chances to experience POAF if they were older than 65 years old (p < 0.0001), Caucasian (p=0.0017), with heart failure (NYHA Class >= III) (p<0.001), with hypertension (p<0.001) or with peripheral vascular diseases (p<0.001). The unadjusted fiveyear survival rate was 82.8% for patients without POAF and 71.3% for with POAF (p < 0.0001). An unadjusted hazard ratio for POAF was 1.85 (95% CI: 1.40 to 2.43). With a propensity score-matching model, in the 406 pairs of patients under adjusted survival analysis showed significant lower survival rate in POAF (p=0.001) with the adjusted hazard ratio of 1.40 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.92), compared to without POAF. Conclusion: Our present study supported that POAF is independently associated with an increased long-term mortality in patients who had isolated valve surgery. All isolated valve surgery patients without history of atrial fibrillation between January 1997 and December 2007 in Texas Heart Institute Research Database (THIRD) were included for this study. This study was approved by the hospital Institutional Review Board. Data was abstracted with the key words of "valve repair", "valve replacement", and "atrial fibrillation". Postoperative atrial fibrillation was defined as patient who has a new onset of atrial fibrillation/flutter of any duration between operation and discharge with a diagnosis documented by physician. All cause of death was collected and followed for up to 5 years. Patients without feedback were excluded. All of variables were identified from database. The risk factors that are associated with POAF included: Age, Gender, Race, Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure, Diseases of the heart valves, Acute or prior Myocardial Infarction (MI), Diabetes Mellitus, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Renal Failure; Pulmonary Disease, Cerebrovascular Disease, Endocarditis, Overweight, Smoking. Survival was measured as time (in years) to either death or last follow-up from date of surgery. All patients without follow-up data were excluded.


On the 28th April 1988 members of the Venous Forum stepped into the invigorating sunshine ofearly summer on the Cote d'Azur. The Third Anglo-French Ven ous Meeting Was held at the Hotel Negreseo in Nice, the participating societies being the Societe Fran~aise de Phlebologie and the Societe Beneluxienne de Phlebologie and the Venous Forum of the Royal Society of Medicine. A business meeting for Forum members was held on the evening ofour arr ival before the start of the conference. The Chairman Mr G. Jantet sought members views on the proposed multicentre trial to test whether the long saphenous vein needed to be stripped or not. After'lenKthy discussion it was clear that members could not agre e on how to conduct such a trial. Practice evidently varies greatly and with lack of c oncensus the President feared we were discussing a 'dead duck'. This seems a pity because the disparity of opinion underlies the need for a good trial. So tar the 'strippers' have argue d for a lower incidence of recurrence, and the 'non-strippers' for the need to preser ve the long saphenous vein for later coronary artery bypass grafting. There is the add ed economic argument that if conserving the vein does not lead to more recurrence , then more operations could be done on out-patients. Postoperative discomfort is less wh en the vein is not stripped and out-patient care should be easier. This in one avenu e to shorter waiting lists. All that could be agreed was the setting up ofa scientific subcommittee to loo k into this and other potential projects. Mr J. Schraibman (Rochdale), although a comm itted 'non-stripper' is keen to conduct such a trial, and his view is that ten stalw art surgeons prepared to put their backs into the work could achieve a result. The names of Dr Andre Davy, Dr Paul Ouvry and Professor Jean van der S tricht were proposed for Honorary Membership of the Venous Forum. The first session was on varicose veins, it was chaired by Dr A. Davy a nd Mr J. Dormandy and focused attention on the short saphenous system. Those su rgeons who hoped to gain a clear understanding of'this difficult area were probably disap pointed. The main problem is the anatomical complexity of the system linked with the need to carry out safe surgery through an incision which will not leave an uF;ly scar. Dr I.. Th iery (Gent), covered the anatomical problem, describing the femoropopliteal vein of Gi acomini, the gastrocnemius veins, the popliteal fossa vein and the varied termination of the short saphenous vein including its termination in the sciatic nerve vein. Mr M . Sugrue (St


In this paper we present an exploration of the stability and repeatability of a hollow core microstructured fibre (HCMOF) Raman gas sensor. Raman gas detection using HC-MOFs is an exciting technique as it enables high sensitivity, multi-species detection using a small gas volume and within a small physical space. Several previous works have demonstrated the utility of HC-MOF fibres as Raman gas cells for the detection of a wide range of gas species such as methane and hydrogen. Here we take a first look at the Raman signal stability (in a single fibre) and signal reproducibility (from fibre-to-fibre). We show that a HC-MOF Raman system can achieve low within-day variability of 0.3 %CV and fibre-to-fibre variability of 7.6 %CV. Understanding the error within systems such as the one presented is critical in the development of HC-MOF-based gas sensors for practical applications.


The interfacial reactions and bump shear properties of the electroplated Sn-37Pb (in wt.%) solder bumps with the Ni under bump metallization (UBM) were investigated as a function of the number of reflows. A continuous facetted Ni3Sn4 intermetallic compound (IMC) layer was formed at the interface between the solder bump and the Ni UBM during reflow. The thickness of the Ni3Sn4 IMC layer was 0.41 μm after 1 reflow, and then the thickness of the IMC layer increased with increasing the number of reflows. The shear properties of the bumps indicated the maximum values after 1 reflow, and then decreased with increasing the number of reflows. The fracture surfaces of the bumps showed ductile failure characteristics after 1 reflow, and then the fraction of the brittle fracture, induced by the IMC formed at the interface, increased with increasing the number of reflows.


Compactly representing the visual signals is of fundamental importance in various image/video-centered applications. Although numerous approaches were developed for improving the image and video coding performance by removing the redundancies within visual signals, much less work has been dedicated to the transformation of the visual signals to another well-established modality for better representation capability. In this paper, we propose a new scheme for visual signal representation that leverages the philosophy of transferable modality. In particular, the deep learning model, which characterizes and absorbs the statistics of the input scene with online training, could be efficiently represented in the sense of rate-utility optimization to serve as the enhancement layer in the bitstream. As such, the overall performance can be further guaranteed by optimizing the new modality incorporated. The proposed framework is implemented on the state-of-the-art video coding standard (i.e., versatile video coding), and significantly better representation capability has been observed based on extensive evaluations.


Recent research results regarding the very long chain transmembrane components in the membrane of extremophilic eubacteria, such as Sarcina ventriculi, Thennotoga maritima, and Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus have raised interesting questions concerning the physical and biochemical function on these components in the membrane. In order to understand the dynamic characteristics of these acids which reside in the bilayer membrane, 580 ps molecular dynamic simulations at 300 K were performed for two model systems. These systems were the bilayer with regular chain (C16:0 or C18:1) fatty acid methyl esters and the fatty acid bilayer containing very long chain transmembrane dicarboxylic acid methyl esters ( dimethyl ester; C32:0). Our analyses indicate that very long chain transmembrane dicarboxylic acids have a noticeable influence on the bilayer dynamics at a sub-nanosecond time scale. The center-ofmass mean-squared-displacement (MSD) of regular chain fatty acids adjacent to the very long chain transmembrane dicarboxylic acids decreased, the long-axis order parameter increased, and the reorientational motions of methylene groups were slowed along the hydrocarbon chains. These results indicate that the very long chain transmembrane dicarboxylic acids reduce the molecular order of the whole bilayer membrane.


In recent years, the mobile GIS applications have been developed fast and are still in great demand with the popularity of smart phones. For the diversity of network analysis, this paper puts forward an universal algorithm for path planning based on the thoughts of heuristic A* algorithm to support customization of target rule, weight rule and result rule. It aims at finding a path planning algorithm applicable to most mobile GIS network analysis.


Abstract Despite increasing interest in healthcare clowning, especially to evaluate its effectiveness in a large variety of settings, no investigations have been oriented toward exploring the potential risks associated with burnout in clown doctors. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between personality traits, emotional intelligence, and burnout and to predict the burnout levels of 160 Italian clown doctors. The multiple linear regression findings showed that the best predictor for emotional exhaustion was neuroticism and for personal accomplishment were consciousness and emotional intelligence, while no correlations were found between the variables taken into account and depersonalization. These findings highlighted how specific personality traits are linked to different dimensions of job burnout and were discussed in the context of clown doctors' burnout.


The energy efficiency of a wireless sensor depends of three criteria: the transmission power (transmission range), the radio links quality (BER) and finally the message length. In this paper, we propose to reduce the overall consumption of a sensor by adapting the transmission power according to the last two criteria. The originality of our approach is to improve an energy model by the use of a realistic propagation model and a realistic BER estimation. Thus, from this complete model we show the propagation channel influence on the adjustment of the transmission power. The consequences on the energy consumption are illustrated in terms of lifetime on a forwarding sensor. Simulation results demonstrate clearly that significant gains on the lifetime of a sensor are obtained by adjusting the transmission power in function of the frame length.


Nearly a third of residential units in Slovenia are located in multi-residential buildings. The majority of such buil dings were built after WW2, when the need for suitable accommodation buildings was at its peak. They were built using the construction possibilities and requirements of the time. Every year there are over 200 fires in these bu ildings, resulting in fatalities and vast material damage. Due to the great efforts over the past centuries, which were all mainly aimed at replacing combustible construction materials with non-combustible ones, and with advancements in fire service equipment and techniques, the number of fires and their scope has decreased significan tly but they were not entirely put out. New and greater advances in the field of fire safety of multi-residential buildings became obvious within the last few years, when stricter regulations regarding the construction of such objects came into force. Developments in science and within the industry itself brought about several new solutions in improving the situation in this field, which has been confirmed by experiences from abroad. Unfor tunately in Slovenia, the establishment of safety principles still depends mainly on an occupants' perception, finan


We present spectra of the optical transient (OT) associated with GRB 021004. The spectra show a blue continuum with superposed absorption features and one emission line. We confirm two intervening metal-line systems at z = 1.380 and z = 1.602 and one very strong absorption system at a redshift of z = 2.323. Lyα emission is also seen at this redshift. While the spectrum of the OT overall cannot be simply described with a power law, the spectral index over the range 5500-8850 Å is steep, Fν ∝ ν-0.96±0.03. Comparison of spectra from multiple epochs shows a distinct color evolution with the OT becoming redder with time over the first 3 days. This is the first clear example of color change in an OT detected spectroscopically.