Malnutrition is the cellular imbalance between supply of nutrients and energy and the body's demand for them to ensure growth, maintenance and specific functions. Malnutrition affects a great number of children globally with 99million underweight and 51million wasted hence remains a public health concern. Prevalence of child malnutrition in Kenya is high with stunting (26.0%), wasting (4.0%) and underweight (11.0%) among children under-five years. The general objective is to determine the predictors of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months attending maternal child health clinic at Ekerenyo Sub-County hospital in Nyamira County. The study was carried out at Ekerenyo Sub-county hospital located in Nyamira County in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted targeting children aged 6-59 months attending maternal child health clinic at Ekerenyo Sub-County hospital. Structured questionnaire was used to collect social economic demographic characteristics, dietary practices and morbidity of children. GJMR-L Classification: NLMC Code: QU 145 PredictorsofMalnutritionamongChildrenAged659MonthsAttendingMaternalChildHealthClinicatEkerenyoSub-CountyHospitalinNyamiraCounty Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of: Predictors of Malnutrition among Children Aged 6-59 Months Attending Maternal Child Health Clinic at Ekerenyo Sub-County Hospital in Nyamira County AbstractMalnutrition is the cellular imbalance between supply of nutrients and energy and the body's demand for them to ensure growth, maintenance and specific functions. Malnutrition affects a great number of children globally with 99million underweight and 51million wasted hence remains a public health concern. Prevalence of child malnutrition in Kenya is high with stunting (26.0%), wasting (4.0%) and underweight (11.0%) among children under-five years. The general objective is to determine the predictors of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months attending maternal child health clinic at Ekerenyo Sub-County hospital in Nyamira County. The study was carried out at Ekerenyo Sub-county hospital located in Nyamira County in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted targeting children aged 6-59 months attending maternal child health clinic at Ekerenyo Sub-County hospital. Structured questionnaire was used to collect social economic demographic characteristics, dietary practices and morbidity of children. Systematic random sampling technique was utilized to choose the guardians and care-givers of children aged 6-59 months. Anthropometric measurements wasting (weight-for-height), underweight (weight-for-age), stunting (height-for-age) was taken to determine the nutrition status. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-squire test of association and binomial logic regression. Anthropometric measurement was analyzed using WHO Anthro 2005 Beta Version February 17, 2006 software. Majority of the children (87.7%) consumed grains and tubers as a dietary practice. A higher percentage(26.4%) of the caregivers earned low monthly income less than Kes 3000. 1.2% of the children were wasted(W/H z-score <-2SD), 6.5% underweight(W/A z-score<-2SD) and 13.4% stunted (H/A zscore <-2SD). Poor nutritional status of children means continued and increased loss of productivity and lives. To achieve optimal results, participation and involvement of mothers and other community stakeholders should be established or strengthened towards addressing child malnutrition. Malnutrition is the cellular imbalance between supply of nutrients and energy and the body's demand for them to ensure growth, maintenance and specific functions. Malnutrition affects a great number of children globally with 99million underweight and 51million wasted hence remains a public health concern. Prevalence of child malnutrition in Kenya is high with stunting (26.0%), wasting (4.0%) and underweight (11.0%) among children under-five years. The general objective is to determine the predictors of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months attending maternal child health clinic at Ekerenyo Sub-County hospital in Nyamira County. The study was carried out at Ekerenyo Sub-county hospital located in Nyamira County in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted targeting children aged 6-59 months attending maternal child health clinic at Ekerenyo Sub-County hospital. Structured questionnaire was used to collect social economic demographic characteristics, dietary practices and morbidity of children. Systematic random sampling technique was utilized to choose the guardians and care-givers of children aged 6-59 months. Anthropometric measurements wasting (weight-for-height), underweight (weight-for-age), stunting (height-for-age) was taken to determine the nutrition status. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-squire test of association and binomial logic regression. Anthropometric measurement was analyzed using WHO Anthro 2005 Beta Version February 17, 2006 software. Majority of the children (87.7%) consumed grains and tubers as a dietary practice. A higher percentage(26.4%) of the caregivers earned low monthly income less than Kes 3000. 1.2% of the children were wasted(W/H z-score <-2SD), 6.5% underweight(W/A z-score<-2SD) and 13.4% stunted (H/A zscore <-2SD). Poor nutritional status of children means continued and increased loss of productivity and lives. To achieve optimal results, participation and involvement of mothers and other community stakeholders should be established or strengthened towards addressing child malnutrition.


Premna mwadimei (Lamiaceae), a distinct new species from the coastal forests of Kenya, Cha Simba area in Kilifi County, is described here with photographs. It is closely similar to P. chrysoclada and P. tanganyikensis but mainly differs from both by its habit, nature of the older stems, indumentum, leaf shape and floral morphology.


ABSTRACT Social work with groups of adolescents is a constituent part of social work practice, research, and training. However, little is known about the overall characteristics of the academic production related to group work with this population. This literature review explores 112 articles in social work journals for the period 2000–2017 focusing on the characteristics of the journals and content. The presence of the topic is not evenly distributed and has an Anglophone origin. The focus of the articles is mainly on the methodology of intervention with active and participatory activities. Although the production is not abundant, articles promote theory and practice integration.


OBJECTIVES
The aim of our analysis was to retrospectively analyze the course of pregnancy and delivery in the group of Polish women, aged from 15 to 25.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
We analyzed 345 woman, aged 15-25, treated in the KMMPiG ICZMP in Lodz between the years 2000 and 2006. The investigated patients were divided into two groups: 15-18-year-olds constituted the research group and 19-25-year-olds, that is the control group. Factors which have been taken into consideration included: pregnancy history, ultrasound examinations, delivery mode, birth weight and the APGAR score.

RESULTS
62.7% (n = 69) delivered naturally, 30.9% (n = 34) by caesarean section and 6.36% (n = 7) by forceps in the group of adolescents and 67.6% (n = 159), 32.4% (n = 71) and 2% (n = 5) (p = 0.379; OR 1.27) in the control group. 25.5% (n = 26) of the adolescent women (< 37 week of gestation, WG) and 20.7% (n = 48) of the controls (p = 0.39; OR 1.31) had a pre-term delivery. There were 3.9% multiparas in the group of teenagers and 20.7% among adolescents (p = 0.001). Fetal malformations were diagnosed prenatally in 13.7% (n = 14) of newborns delivered by adolescents mothers and 11.6% (n = 27) in the control group (p = 0.591; OR 1.21).

CONCLUSIONS
Despite the dangers connected with the young age of the mother, the results of this study allow us to state that teenage pregnancy usually has a correct course and does not differ significantly from the pregnancy of an adult woman.


"sex" and "sexuality" themselves are signs that can only point to the absence of their referents. For their pan, Catherine Belsey ("Love in Venice," 1992), Phyllis Rackin (on the engendering of Shakespeare's audiences, 1993), Gabriele Bernhard Jackson (on Shakespeare's Joan of Arc, 1988) assiduously attend to multiple uncertainties and indeterminacies in the historical/ideological conditions governing the production of gender identities; Ann Thompson (on reading The Tempest, 1991), and Carol Thomas Neely (in her essay on Othello prepared for this volume), both by way of mea culpa, situate questions of gender and sexual difference within the broader discourse of European imperialism. Barker and Kamps are to be commended for offering markers to chart the treacherous critical currents and countercurrents that both reflect and stir our continuing passion for, and fascination with, Shakespeare. Yet a question remains. If we liken Shakespeare criticism to the history of a great empire, is the situation of critical tension and confusion this volume portrays a sign of healthy infusion of challenging ideas from the margin (as the editors claim) or is it the evidence of the Balkan-like collapse of a center and of self-cannibalization? Whatever the label under which criticism proceeds, this is the question of the hour. iqMIKO NISHIMURA Hunter College, City University of New York


Ocean wave conditions impact many ways in which humans interact with the ocean, from the safety of recreation at the beach to the viability of offshore operations. Wave conditions are also topical from a research perspective, controlling processes such as coastal erosion and ocean mixing. Therefore, being able to characterize wave conditions on broad spatiotemporal scales is extremely valuable. A network of High-Frequency (HF) radar systems can provide measurements of wave conditions in near-real time along the coast where better observations are needed. Measurement of wave parameters such as significant wave height, wave period and wave direction is a secondary function of the SeaSonde HF radar. Waves are measured with SeaSonde HF radars from the second-order portion of the echo spectrum. The Doppler shift of the radio transmission from the SeaSonde contains information about the orbital velocity of the primary Bragg waves and the larger waves that they ride on. Since the wave data is dependent upon the occurrence of both Bragg and larger surface gravity waves, there is a minimum threshold for sea states in which reliable wave parameters can be determined. There is also a limiting factor for the radar in large sea states as the first-order spectra merge with the second-order and interpretation of the spectra becomes impossible with existing methods. We have tested methods for wave extraction and will present the results here. Our analysis explores the frequency-dependent threshold wave conditions for reliable wave parameter measurements, and which systems provide the best measurements. We also tested different radio waveform parameters to see which performed best in different environmental conditions. The study focuses on in-situ wave measurements from National Data Buoy Center (NOAA) buoys within the domain of the HF radar network, deployed offshore of Long Island and Delaware Bay, as well as mooring deployments of opportunity closer to the coast. Measurements will also be evaluated within the context of larger scale wave models routinely run in the area by NOAA. The threshold conditions determined by this study will guide the application of HF radar-based wave estimates to surf zone conditions by local weather forecast offices.


PURPOSE: A method for recognizing a gesture of a user in an electronic device is provided to conveniently and rapidly control the sensitivity of gesture recognition by controlling distance between a motion sensing apparatus and a subject. CONSTITUTION: Movement of a subject is sensed by using a motion sensing apparatus(S202). Distance between the motion sensing apparatus and the subject is confirmed(S203). A setup value applied to gesture recognition is referred to(S204). A gesture of the subject is adaptively recognized according to the setup value and the distance. An operation of an electronic device is controlled through the adaptively recognized gesture. [Reference numerals] (AA) Start; (BB, EE, GG) No; (CC) Execute corresponding functions; (DD, FF, II) Yes; (HH) End; (S201) Motion sensing mode entry?; (S202) Detecting the movement of object; (S203) Confirming the distance between detected object and camera; (S204) Confirming set value of motion sensing mode; (S205) Moving pointer according to set value and confirmed distance; (S206) Motion sensing mode end?; (S207) Request set value change?; (S208) Selecting one set value by displaying set value and applying the selected set value


As a result of research held during student practicals between 2012 and 2016 and a study of the population of the Pelophylax esculentus complex, we have found up to 13.3% of samples from the species Pelophylax ridibundus have abnormalities. Moreover, 6 different variants of limb malformations have been found: phocomelia, rotation, ectrodactyly, mixed patterns (brachydactyly ectrodactyly), polymelia and polyphalangy.


The aim of this paper is to suggest a quick and easy method for the collection of knowledge about human error in the maritime work domain using accident reports as empirical material. The method has three steps: 1. Text analysis 2. Accident analysis 3. Human error analysis Step 2 and 3 are based on very well known methods, techniques and taxonomies already included in the ongoing discussion about analysis of accident reports. The new contribution to this discussion is the first step, which is a formalized way of identifying relevant data in the report and to encounter for the methodological problems about the authors choice of perspective, focus etc. involved in the use of accident reports as empirical material.


This paper presents an inverse optimal control approach for stabilization in probability of discrete-time stochastic nonlinear systems. With the proposed scheme, we avoid to solve the associated stochastic Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation; additionally a cost functional is minimized. This stabilizing optimal controller is based on a discrete-time stochastic control Lyapunov function. The applicability of the proposed approach is illustrated via numerical simulations.


This study analyzed the origin and status of the registration system of water leisure craft to suggest an improvement plan for the ocean leisure industry. To identify the transition of the registration system, related water leisure craft, registration procedures and revised acts from「water leisure safety act」, which was established in the early 2000 and enacted since then were examined. To understand the problems raised, the management of the registration system and related other systems were analyzed. The results were as follows. First, the registration system was designed just to check the number of registrations of water leisure craft so it does not provide various and useful information that administrators and registrants want. Second, it is impossible to utilize and reconstruct the information regarding water leisure craft. In addition, the current registration system does not have a data sharing system with the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs so self-governing administrations are not connected to each other or to other electronic government systems. To resolve these problems, the construction of a new registration system is required. The new registration system of water leisure craft should facilitate not only processing registration files and administration work, but also multiple electronic governmental services that provide the water leisure users with useful information and encourage them to learn about their craft management and so on.


This work shows the study of the hydrogenation of the palm oil using a heterogeneous catalytic process with solid type Cu-Ni supported in ZnO at 40 bar of pressure and 200∞C of temperature. The aim of this study was to obtain fats alcohols from palm oil. The solids are actives and a mixture of fatty acids and alcohols was obtained.


We attempt to form periodic reverse twist domains using a microscale rubbing pattern. Conditions for the injection of a liquid crystal (LC) material into an empty cell are discussed. The fabricated LC cells with periodic reverse twist domains are applied to electrically controllable LC gratings. The stability of the periodic reverse twist domains, when a high voltage is applied and the LC cell is heated, is discussed. To stabilize the periodic reverse twist domains, a polymer stabilization technique using a UV-curable LC material is employed. The influence of the density of the UV-curable LC material on the diffraction properties of LC gratings is investigated, experimentally.


Are moral judgments based on reason, or on intuition and emotion? Thirty participants were presented with a classic moral reasoning dilemma, and with four tasks that were designed to put intuition and reason into conflict. It was hypothesized that participants' judgments would be highly consistent with their reasoning on the moral reasoning dilemma, but that judgment would separate from reason and follow intuition in the other four tasks. This prediction was supported. In the four intuition stories (but not in the reasoning dilemma) judgment preceded reasoning, judgments were based more on gut feelings than on reasoning, and participants more frequently laughed and directly stated that they had no reasons to support their judgments. This phenomenon -the stubborn and puzzled maintenance of a judgment without supporting reasons -was dubbed "moral dumbfounding." The existence of moral dumbfounding calls into question models in which moral judgment is produced by moral reasoning. These findings are linked to other dual-process theories of cognition. Moral Dumbfounding 2 Moral Dumbfounding: When Intuition Finds No Reason How do we know what is right and what is wrong? On what is morality based? These questions are as old as philosophy itself. Plato (trans. 1973) held that the Form of the Good was directly apprehended through the study of philosophy. For Aristotle (trans. 1953), the good was not a mystical metaphysical unity, but rather a mixed bag of virtues. By habituating oneself to these virtues, one reaches eudaimonia, a kind of moral well-being. But both of these early philosophers agreed that the control of the passions by reason was essential to virtue and morality. For more than two thousand years after that, most philosophers have agreed with them. It was not until the middle of the eighteenth century--during the "Age of Reason," no less -that the dominance of reason in morality came under serious attack, in the writings of Scottish philosopher David Hume (1739/1969). Hume observed that "nothing is more usual in philosophy, and even in common life, than to talk of the combat of passion and reason, to give the preference to reason, and assert that men are only so far virtuous as they conform themselves to its dictates" (p. 460). He noted that reason was held to be eternal, invariable and divine, while passion was held to be blind, inconsistent, and deceitful. "In order to show the fallacy of all this philosophy," he continued, "I shall endeavor to prove, first, that reason alone can never be a motive to any action of the will; and, secondly, that it can never oppose passion in the direction of the will" (p. 460). Hume did not fully succeed in his philosophical proofs of the impotence of reason. The present study, however, tests Hume's claims empirically. No study could show that reason can never oppose passion in the direction of the will, and indeed we think this hyperbolic claim is unlikely to be true. However we can investigate a class of moral dilemmas in which reason and passion conflict. If Hume is (generally) correct then passion will determine judgment and people will follow their feelings, even when they lack reasons to support those feelings. If Hume is incorrect then reasoning will precede judgment, and judgment will not be made without reasoning. However before we can begin an empirical test of Humean psychology we must bring its terms up to date. Hume's most radical claim about human judgment was that "reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them" (1739/1969, p.462). But what, in modern terms, are passions? In other passages from the same work Hume gives examples of passions such as anger, hope, fear, grief, joy, despair or security, suggesting that he means what we now call the emotions, broadly construed. Elsewhere in the work he discusses the emotions of "aversion" and "propensity", which motivate us to "avoid or embrace what will give us this uneasiness or satisfaction" (p.461). In modern terms he appears to be discussing a general approach-avoidance system (Davidson, 1992; Dollard and Miller, 1950). This approach-avoidance system is particularly important in the moral domain, giving us a "general appetite to good and aversion to evil" (p.464).As such Hume, like his fellow Scottsman Adam Smith (1759/1966), was proposing an innate moral sense (see Wilson, 1993, for a modern versions of the moral sense). Hume argued that this moral sense gives us certain "calm passions" which, because they do not cause as much "disorder to the soul" Moral Dumbfounding 3 as the emotions, are often mistaken for the products of reason. In modern terms these calm passions might be called intuitions, or, more popularly, "gut feelings". In the present article we shall use the term "intuition" as the broadest modern term for what Hume meant by "passion". Intuition should be understood to include a variety of automatic and uncontrollable cognitive processes, including emotional appraisals (Scherer, 1984) and automatic processes (Wegner & Bargh, 1998) which are largely outside the control of consciousness and independent of reasoning (see Bastick, 1982, for a review). But what about the relationship between intuition (passion) and reason? Hume used the metaphor of master and slave, which we suspect will fail to resonate (or worse) with modern audiences. We can update this metaphor while still preserving Hume's skepticism towards reason as follows: "reason is the press-secretary of the intuitions, and can pretend to no other office than that of ex-post facto spin doctor." In modern political life the President makes his decisions first and then dispatches the press-secretary to justify and rationalize those decisions. The press secretary may have no access to the real causes of the President's decision, and is therefore free to make up whatever argument will sound most convincing to the general public. Everyone knows that it serves no purpose to argue with the press secretary. Convincing her that her arguments are specious or that the President's decisions are wrong will have no effect on the president's decisions, since those decisions were not based on the press secretary's arguments. Several modern psychological theories have posited a similar ex-post facto role for reasoning. Nisbett and Wilson (1977) showed a variety of cases in which people's behavior or judgment was influenced by factors outside of their awareness. Yet when asked to explain their behavior people promptly constructed plausible sounding explanations using implicit causal theories. Haidt, Koller and Dias (1993) observed a similar phenomenon when interviewing people about harmless violations of taboos, such as eating one's (already dead) pet dog, or cleaning one's toilet (in private) with one's national flag. Participants often stated immediately and emphatically that the action was wrong, and then began searching for plausible reasons. Participants frequently tried to introduce an element of harm, for example by stating that eating dog meat would make a person sick, or by stating that a person would feel guilty after voluntarily using her flag as a rag. When the interviewer repeated the facts of the story (e.g., that the dog was thoroughly cooked so no germs were present), participants would often drop one argument and begin searching for another. It appeared that judgment and justification were two separate processes; the judgment came first, and then justification relied on "implicit moral theories" (paraphrasing Nisbett & Wilson, 1977), such as that moral violations have victims. Shweder and Haidt (1994) drew on such observations to support a theory of "cognitive intuitionism" in which the human mind has been built to respond to certain moral goods. These goods appear to us as self-evident truths. They are not figured out or derived from first principles, although cultures have some leeway in making some of these goods more or less selfevident to their members (i.e., the goods of equality and autonomy may or may not trump the goods of chastity and piety). Thus numerous theorists have suggested that moral judgment and moral reasoning may be two independent processes, in which moral judgment is like a form of perception (quick, nonMoral Dumbfounding 4 verbal, effortless, and utterly convincing) while moral reasoning is an ex post facto process, akin to explaining in words what one sees with one's eyes. A very useful language for discussing these two processes comes from Margolis (1987) who calls them "seeing-that" and "reasoning why". Margolis theorizes that the structure of the human brain cannot be radically different from its evolutionary ancestors. Our brains have been structured by millions of years of evolution for the function of pattern recognition, and our higher cognitive processes (such as reasoning) are only recent abilities being carried out by these same old structures. Although we may fancy that human cognition takes place exclusively using language and logic, the brain's structure and evolutionary history imply that most of our cognition involves lower or simpler processes of pattern matching. Realizing that human cognition is based primarily on pattern recognition and similar primitive thought processes--what Margolis (1987) calls "P-cognition", for pattern cognition-clears up a number of mysteries of human cognition. For example, as Margolis points out, human cognition is notoriously bad at logic problems, e.g., the Wason 4 card task. Because the brain's structure is set up for P-cognition, and not logic, this is understandable. Another seeming peculiarity in human cognition that is explained by P-cognition is the observations of the Gestalt psychologists. Gestaltists mostly studied visual perception, especially optical illusions. For example, Wertheimer (as cited in Wade, 1995, p. 137) often used a stimulus consisting of an image created of noth


This study was performed to propose the site selection plan for the restoration of the target Narrow-mouth Frog(Kaloula borealis) habitat, and has developed the AHP model to select the optimal site for narrow-mouth frog habitat restoration on the basis of the narrow-mouth frog Habitat Suitability In...


This paper is devoted to the problem of sample path large deviations for the Markov processes on R N having a constant but different transition mechanism on each boundary set {x: x i = 0 for i f A, x i > 0 for i ∈ }. The global sample path large deviation principle and an integral representation of the rate function are derived from local large deviation estimates. Our results complete the proof of Dupuis and Ellis of the sample path large deviation principle for Markov processes describing a general class of queueing networks.


The present invention provides a flexible method of preparation of transparent conductive thin film made of a flexible and transparent conductive thin film, the method comprising the steps of: 1) applying a solution of silver nanowires on a rigid substrate, removing the solvent solution of silver nanowires thereby forming a silver nanowire conductive network; 2) light-cured layer coating solution on a silver nanowire conductive network, and then attaching the transparent flexible substrate on the photocurable layer solution; 3) light-cured layer was cured to form a light cured layer, a silver nanowire conductive network, the photocurable layer and a transparent flexible substrate formed together constitute the flexible film on a rigid substrate to the; 4) separating the flexible film from the rigid substrate, thereby obtaining a silver-based nanowires the flexible transparent conductive film. The present invention provides a flexible transparent conductive film A balance of flexibility and hardness.


. This paper proposes a hierarchical analytic process framework to facilitate practitioners to determine improvement directions for a manufacturing system efficiently and systematically. The proposed framework analyzes current state performances of a manufacturing system by applying the knowledge of science of manufacturing systems which describe relationship control factors, performance measures, and improvement objectives. Then, concrete directions for improvements are suggested. The analysis process embeds the concept of diagnostic tree which makes it an easy-to-handle framework. Under the diagnostic tree concept, it decomposes the high-level business goal into successively low-level activities to give more comprehensive areas of improvement. The proposed framework comprises of three key elements: Operation Performance Measures (OPMs), Diagnostic tree (D-Tree), and Action guidelines. The OPMs are used in the D-Tree to determine improvement objectives. Then the Action guidelines suggest how to adjust control factors in a manufacturing system according to each improvement objective. The proposed diagnostic framework is demonstrated by Promodel simulation of a case study. The simulation model includes physical resources, flow lines, WIP, and replenishment signals of the case. By following the analytic process in the framework, the performance measures have shown improvements according to action guidelines and the result of improvements meets the requirement of a factory in the case study.


The objective of our study was to explain the histopathological changes of monodon baculovirus (MBV) in hepatopancreas and midgut tissues of the cultured Penaeus vannamei. Five-hundred and forty juvenile of P. vannamei with average size of 7.99±0.54 g and 3600 post larvae 10-15 were distributed to 18 glass aquariums (50×50×60cm) with 100L well aerated water per each aquarium as water borne MBV (group A) and food borne MBV (Group B) and one control group (C), in triplicates. Also, 3600 post larvae were dedicated for water borne exposure (D) based on one time immersion exposure in 24 h without water exchange and the untreated group was studied as control in triplicates. The specific pathological sign of MBV was observed as a multiple intranuclear eosinophilic occlusion bodies (OBs) in hepatopancreas and midgut tissues. Our result indicates that the severity of the MBV infection is more considerable in post larvae than juvenile stage and confirms that MBV can be an invasive pathogen for shrimp culture industry in Iran.


The principle of proportionality has been developed by the ECJ for many years now. It has been applied in various fields besides taxation. Its significance is illustrated by its inclusion in the text of the EU Treaty and the large number of cases at the ECJ applying it. Lithuanian courts are bound to apply the ECJ case-law in certain cases and sometimes even when no obligation exists the courts have a right to follow the ECJ reasoning when no domestic precedents exist. The significance of this principle is further enhanced by the accession of the EU to the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The European Court of Human Rights has been developing this principle and applying it as well . Hence, case-law of the ECHR has been given new importance. Therefore, it could be presumed that the Lithuanian courts dealing with tax disputes will increasingly rely on the developments in the application of the principle of proportionality in the ECJ and the ECHR. This also provides new opportunities for tax practitioners since wider application of internationally accepted principles and international case-law should facilitate better predictability of outcome of litigation and widen the selection of available arguments in court.


There are practical reasons to represent a set of reflectance spectra by a limited basis-function expansion. Such an expansion is most tractable in color technology applications when it is homogenous. However, more often a true principal-component analysis (PCA) is performed, which involves an offset of the expansion by a mean spectrum. In deference to custom, we discuss and exercise the traditional PCA on reflectances. We review the method of calculation and present tables of the principal components of 3,534 object-color samples from three color-order systems. Next, we describe two kinds of principal-component coordinates of a measured reflectance spectrum, one obtained by least-square best fit and the other by tristimulus match under one or more specified lights. Finally, we show illustrative examples, and propose some possible new uses for principal-component analysis of reflectances. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 29, 104–110, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10230


Objective To study the clinical diagnostic and treatment features of omental cysts in clildren.Methods Clinical diagnostic and treatment data of 21 patients with omental cysts in children were reviewed retrospectively.Results Morbidity rate between male and female was almost equal.Rate of attacking age was 52.4% under 3 years,76.2% under 6 years and 95.2% under 10 years.Distension,mass of abdomen and anemia were the main clinical situations.The diagnostic accuracy rate was 38.1%,and the misdiagnosis rate to hydroperitoneum,mesenteric cysts and moderate anemia was 19.1%,14.3% and 14.3% respectively at admission.57.1% patients were checked by CT.The accuracy rate was 83.3%.19.1% patients were checked by plain film of abdomen.The accuracy fate was 25.0%.90.5% patients were checked by ultrasound.The accuracy rate was 78.9%.80.9% and 19.1% omental cysts were located in greater omentum and lesser omentum respectively.90.6% patients were conducted with cyst resection singly.9.4% patients were conducted with half-baked cyst resection,and the surface on intra-cyst and vessel adhesion was treated with iodine tincture.Conclusion Children under 10 years who have the presenting features of abdominal distension,mass and anemia should be suspected of omental cysts.Ultrasound and CT are the most valuable methods for diagnosis.Operation is the first choice of cure,and uhe effect of therapy is satisfied.There were no sign of relapse in 15 cases after 8 years of follow-up.


Fungi associated with preharvest rots of tomato fruits in Sokoto were investigated. Standard tissue culture technique was used for the isolation of fungi.Tomato fruits showing symptoms of rots were collected from lowland plots in Mammande, Runji, Sabon birni and Sanyinna towns in Sokoto state. Small segments were cut out from the infected areas and plated on potato dextrose agar medium.The fungi isolated from rotted fruits were Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Mucor sp, Penicillium digitatum and Alternaria alternata. The higest frequency of occurrence was observed in A. niger (27.6%) followed by R. stolonifer (20.5%) and the least frequency of occurrence was recorded by A. alternate(3.8%).All the fungal isolates were pathogenic on tomato fruits. The fungi showed different symptoms of rots on the tomato fruits. It would be recommended that farmers should use improved and resistant varieties, treat contaminated water for irrigation, crop rotation and keep away rodents and insects which create wounds on the fruits will help in reducing preharvest losses. Keywords: Survey, Fungi, Preharvest rots, Tomato fruits


The ethanolic extracts of different parts of the following plants viz. Eclipta alba Hassk (Asteraceae) whole plant, roots of Berberis aristata DC (Berbidaceae), stem wood of Betula utilis D. Don (Betulaceae), stem wood of Cedrus deodara (Pinaceae), and fruits of Myristica fragrans Houtt . (Myristcaceae) exhibited 7.5, 8.3, 9.2, 6.0, and 8.7% significant fall in blood glucose profile in a single dose experiment on Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In single dose experiment nearly 8.0% decline in blood glucose profile of Streptozotocininduced diabetic rats was observed with a known antidiabetic ethanolic extract of the fruits of Terminalia chebula (Gaertn.) Retz. (Combretaceae).


Acknowledgment This thesis would not have been possible without the support of many people to whom I'd like to express my gratitude. First and foremost I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Solvay Gerke who continuously provided her guidance and (scientific) support from the very start to the end and Prof. Dr. Thomas Menkhoff who gave me valuable advice and support not only during my stay in Singapore. My field research in Singapore was funded by the Center of Development Research, University of Bonn and I'm very grateful for the support without which this thesis would not have been possible in this form. I'm very grateful to Prof. who have made available their scientific support in a number of ways. Furthermore I'd like to thank my respondents at the companies where I conducted research as well as the interviewed experts without whom the research would not have been possible and who allowed me to gain an insight into their companies' diversity management and shared their knowledge with me. Last, but definitely not least I'd like to thank my husband Nils, my family and friends in Germany as well as Singapore-in particular Sheda, Suri and Maziah Omar-for their ongoing support, encouragement and inspiration as well as our son Ben without whom I probably would not have finished the thesis as quick as I did.


The Zhanguo Ce clique was an important intellectual group during the period of anti-Japanese war.Their political views are quite extreme,which are full of non-rational nationalism.But they are based on the era theme of waging anti-Japanese war to save the motherland-China.


This paper presents a comparative study of various methods of obtaining Initial Basic Feasible Solution (IBFS) to Unbalanced Transportation Problem viz., NWCR, Matrix- minima method (least cost method), VAM, VAMT-TOC, and method given by Kirca- Satir(1990)) with our Cost-Sum method using statistical experimental design. The measure of the quality and the effectiveness for comparison of these methods are average relative deviation and the number of iterations to reach the optimality. It is also presented that how many instances gives the IBFS≡ OBFS cost which proves the superiority of Cost-Sum method as compared to other methods.


ABSTRACT Scholars have attributed the resilience of the neoliberal policy paradigm to external pressure on governments by giant corporations and to features of the neoliberal idea itself. This article proposes a different explanation based on the political influence of the economic models that governments use for policy planning. I develop a theoretical perspective to capture how economic models, rather than being mere analytical tools, are policy tools with an overt objective function and a covert political function. To illustrate the value of the theory, I use a qualitative case-study approach to analyse how politicians in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis used economic models before and during the 2011–2015 Social Democratic Thorning-Schmidt government in Denmark. I show how the Danish Finance Ministry's model worked as a weapon, a game board and a shield to discredit certain policies while promoting other policies, and in the process contributing to neoliberal resilience.


Some aspects of biology, for example the Hardy-Weinberg simulation of population genetics or modelling heat flow in lizards, have an undeniable mathematical basis. Students can find the level of mathematical skill required to deal with such concepts to be an insurmountable hurdle to understanding. If not used effectively, spreadsheet models designed to help to overcome such mathematical difficulties present a further hurdle in terms of IT skills. This paper describes examples of how spreadsheet simulations can be designed to reduce the problem of the IT interface obscuring real subject teaching. Two sets of questions designed to help students to meet learning outcomes associated with the Hardy-Weinberg model and with thermoregulation in lizards are presented together with suggested answers. This approach has been successfully used on an introductory genetics course and a control systems course within a Biosciences degree at Canterbury Christ Church University College.


Abstract A practical total synthesis of racemic nyasol (7) was explored. The α-hydroxyketo compound 3 was prepared from commercially available starting materials in two steps. Chelation-controlled reduction of the α-hydroxyketo compound 3 with Zn(BH4)2 gave the anti-1,2-diol compound 4 as the major product (anti/syn = 11.5:1). Stereospecific elimination reaction of a 1,3-cyclic thionocarbonate intermediate (5) exclusively yielded the Z-alkene compound 6. Our total synthesis is very concise (seven steps), uses commercially available starting materials, and offers good overall yield (40%). GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


Free full text available from www.ijccm.org From: *(Formerly from Bangalore), Mumbai, Lucknow, Delhi, Pune, Jaipur, Chennai, Sydney, Indore, Jamshedpur, Bhubaneshwar, Bangalore, Kolkata Background Over the last few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the knowledge, technology and skills required to treat critically ill patients. This has lead to the development of intensive care units (ICUs), which are essentially areas, where severely ill patients can be concentrated and looked after and provided with the infrastructure and expertise necessary to treat critical illness. Current ICU patterns result in the patient being admitted under a primary consultant, before admission to the ICU. Often this primary consultant is not an intensive care specialist and may not be conversant with the current critical care practices and guidelines. The presence of a consultant intensivist (critical care specialist) in this setting has been demonstrated, to greatly increase patient safety and to improve outcomes in terms of morbidity, mortality, length of stay and costs.


This paper examines how overconfidence affects the properties of management forecasts. Using both the "over†optimism†and "miscalibration†dimensions of overconfidence to generate our predictions, we examine three research questions. First, we examine whether overconfidence increases the likelihood of issuing a forecast. Second, we examine whether overconfidence increases the amount of optimism in management forecasts. Third, we examine whether overconfidence increases the precision of the forecast. Using both options†and press†based measures to proxy for individual overconfidence, we find support for all three research questions.


Abstract This article presents the analysis of gas holdup, pressure drop and bubble size of gas-liquid-solid flow in a modified downflow slurry bubble column. The analysis is done based on the Lockhart-Martinelli principle. The Lockhart-Martinelli model is modified and incorporate to predict the frictional pressure drop and gas holdup of three-phase flow in the modified bubble column. The effects of operating variables such as slurry flow rate, gas flow rate, slurry concentration and particle diameter on frictional pressure drop and gas holdup are investigated. To predict the gas holdup, Sauter mean bubble diameter and pressure drop, correlations have also been developed as function of different dimensionless groups by introducing the operating variables and physical properties. The studies of the pressure drop in the downflow slurry bubble column may give insight into a further understanding and modeling of the three-phase flow characteristics in industrial applications.


A-to-I RNA editing is the most frequent type of post-transcriptional nucleotide conversion in humans, and it is catalyzed by ADAR enzymes. In this study, the effect of RNA editing on human AhR expression was investigated because the AhR transcript potentially forms double-stranded structures, which are targets of ADAR enzymes. In human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived Huh-7 cells, the knockdown of ADAR1 reduced the RNA editing levels in the 3'-untranslsted region (3'-UTR) of AhR transcript and increased the AhR protein levels. Interestingly, the knockdown of ADAR1 enhanced the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-mediated induction of CYP1A1, a gene downstream of AhR. It was investigated the possibility that A-to-I RNA editing creates miRNA targeting sites in the AhR mRNA, and it was found that the miR-378-dependent down-regulation of AhR was abolished by the knockdown of ADAR1. These results indicated that the ADAR1-mediated down-regulation of AhR could be attributed to the creation of a miR-378 recognition site in the 3'-UTR of AhR. The inter-individual differences in the RNA editing levels within the 3'-UTR of AhR in a panel of 32 human liver samples were relatively small, whereas the differences in ADAR1 expression were large (220-fold). In the panel of human livers, a significant inverse association was observed between the miR-378 and AhR protein levels. These results suggested that the RNA editing-dependent down-regulation of AhR by miR-378 contributes to the variability in the constitutive expression of AhR in the human liver. In conclusion, this study uncovered, for the first time, that A-to-I RNA editing modulates the potency of xenobiotic metabolism in the human liver.


Objective To investigate application of multi-purpose urologic examining table in the lower ureter retrograde urography. Methods The performance of the multi-purpose urologic examining table was described, and 198 cases that applied this table for the lower ureter retrograde urography were reported. Results With 196 cases (99% ) succeed and 2 cases (1% ) defeat, this examining table enhanced achievement ratio of the lower ureter retrograde urography. Conclusion The multi-purpose urologic examining table has great superiority in the lower ureter retrograde urography, and can integrate ureter retrograde catheterization under cystoscope and contrast examination.


Advanced composite laminate and honeycomb sandwich structure depict process induced geometrical and dimensional deformations after end of curing process and when removed from its mould tools. A simple flat part tends to warp while an angled or curved part indicates spring-in
phenomenon due to the anisotropic material properties. These shape deformations are unpredictable and contribute to fit, fonn and functional error during an assembly stage. Often a conventional trialand-error method is deployed to correct the mould tool shape prior to mass production, which is very costly, uneconomical and time consuming. Alternatively a better method is sought to intelligently predict shape deformations considering the material properties, tool-part interaction and processing factors through analytical model, experiments and numerical analysis. However, experimental data is lacking in understanding the effect of fiber weaving styles and honeycomb core material properties in inducing shape deformations. Using higher satin weave style in the composite fabrication is believed to reduce the shape deformations. While adding a honeycomb core between
solid laminate skins reduces shape deformation due to its high stiffness to weight ratio. The degree and magnitude of both factors in influencing shape deformations are unknown. Hence, it is proposed to perform design of experiment using Design Expert software with eight key process
parameters such as lay-up orientation, number of layers, part geometry, part size, fiber volume, part configuration, weaving style and tool material to provide more insights of process induced shape deformations of monolithic and honeycomb sandwich composite structure.


Sex steroids in general and estrogens in particular – in addition to their effects on the reproductive organs – affect a large number of crucial bodily functions, including "higher" brain functions ...


Cross border business restructuring involving commissionaire arrangements, toll-manufacturing and more generally transfer of risks and intangibles toward central locations within a Multi National Enterprise (MNE) group, have become widespread practice. That raises important treaty, transfer pricing and other tax issues. The OECD observes significant effects on countries' revenue base and the risk of double taxation faced by MNE groups. Key problem is that through business restructuring the state which allowed for an deduction of business expenses on the creation of (intangible) assets may not be able to tax the corresponding income (capital gains or current income) at a later stage. Germany, e.g., developed a vital interest in taxing those hidden reserves and adopted specific legislation through the German Corporate Tax Reform Bill 2008 which basically taxes a "transfer package" at the time of the transfer based on expected future gains. The article scrutinizes the German legislation 2008, investigates the comparability of the German provisions with international law and proposes a profit split approach to the OECD.


ABSTRACT The chromosomal observations were carried out on 66 taxa collected from Kolli Hills belongs to 38 genera and 20 families. Sixty two ferns were studied cytologically for the first time in this study area. The present study has revealed the presence of 32 sexual diploids, 20 sexual tetraploids, 2 apogamous tetraploids, 9 sexual octoploids, 2 apogamous triploids and one 12-ploid sexual species. The sexuality of polyploids has also been calculated. The maximum number of chromosomes (n=171) were observed in Adiantum hispidulum while a minimum number of chromosomes (n=30) were in Adiantum latifolium, Cheilanthes tenuifolia and Pellaea boivinii. About the 20 genera were observed to be with more than one base number and remaining 18 genera with a single base number.


Scoriaceous micrometeorites are highly vesicular extraterrestrial dust particles that have experienced partial melting during atmospheric entry. We report the occurrence of clusters of anhedral relict forsterite crystals within these particles that testify to in situ fragmentation. The absence of similar clusters within unmelted micrometeorites suggests that fragmentation occurs during atmospheric entry rather than by parent body shock reprocessing. Clusters of broken forsterite crystals are shown to form as a result of fracturing owing to thermal stress developed during entry heating and require thermal gradients of >200 K µm –1 in order for differential thermal expansion to exceed the critical shear strength of olivine. Thermal gradients of this magnitude significantly exceed those resulting from thermal conduction and require the endothermic decomposition of phyllosilicates. Fragmented relict forsterite within scoriaceous micrometeorites, therefore, indicate that the precursor grains were similar to CI and CM2 chondrites and retained phyllosilicate prior to atmospheric entry and thus were not dehydrated on the parent asteroid by shock or thermal metamorphism. Explosive fragmentation of hydrous asteroids during collisions, therefore, does not significantly bias the interplanetary dust population. of igneous rims on fine-grained MMs supports similar of saponite and serpentine. Experimentally determined reaction rates using the an activation energy E a of 521 kJ –1 a frequency factor A 4.3 10 24 were obtained by fitting to the data of Llana-Fúnez et al., (2007). The change in concentration of serpentine at each time step was used to determine the energy dissipated by dehydration using an enthalpy of reaction of 414 kJ kg –1 via 3 where C is the and is the order of reaction. Experimental studies suggest that the order of varies between and (Llana-Fúnez et al., 2007). A value was assumed in the current study. The transient heat flow was simulated using an implicit numerical integration with a time step of 1 × 10 −9 s and an element of 0.01 µm. Heat transfer by gas or melt migration is not considered in the model but is likely to be less important than conduction.


It will be seen that the glacier-filled depression which we traversed on our journey has its main direction at right angles to the general direction of Novaya Zemlya in that latitude, and at right angles to the direction of the strata. We have here one of the many instances of the predominance on the north island of Novaya Zemlya of transverse and not longitudinal valleys. This condition is of course already indicated by the numerous and sometimes long fjords in the southern half of north island. In the northern half the relief of the solid rock is hidden by huge masses of inland ice. Therefore, in reality, the narrow Matochkin Strait, which cuts transversely through the land-mass, can (as has been pointed out by Chernyshev) not be regarded as the isolated cleft in the country which it appears to be when seen on the map of Novaya Zemlya, and which naturally gives rise to the thought that there exists there a fault fissure, a zone of dislocation, which is not the ease. In reality there are a number of similar cuttings, only the others do not extend quite so deeply, or else they are covered by a glacial mass. From a purely geographical point of view it may be of interest that the crossing from Mashigin to Zivolka fjord has been made, for hitherto the north island had only been crossed at two places. One of these was between Krestovii fjord and Rosmyslov fjord (which is the shortest possible passage across Novaya Zemlya); the other is far north, from Pankratyev peninsula (slightly north of 7 6?) and across the country towards the south-east. The crossing at the former place was made by the Russian Arctic explorer Russanov and the Italian Candiotti in the summer of 1908, and at the latter by the Russians Pavlov and Wiese in the winter of 1912-13, during the wintering of the Sedov Expedition at Pankratyev peninsula.


The demand for computationalpower has been increasing throughoutthe past years.Several solutions are being used in order to supply such demand, e.g., clusters ofworkstations [6] and shared memory multiprocessors. Although clusters have lowercost, their use implies in a great specialized programming effort. It is necessary tobuild new applications or port the existing ones to execute in these environmentsthrough the use of specific API's, such as MPI ( Message Passing Interface) [23].On the other hand, shared memory multiprocessor computers are more expensive,but simpler to use, since all resources are managed by a single operating system.Shared memory multiprocessor computers can be classified as UMA (UniformMemory Access) or NUMA (Non-Uniform Memory Access) computers [16]. InUMA computers each processor can access any memory area with the same averagecost. This property simplifies the load balancing: a process can be moved to anyprocessor without any impact to its memory access time, if the process is not cache-hot. The major drawback of UMA architectures is that the number of processors islimited by the contention on access to memory, which becames a bottleneck, sincethey all share the same memory bus. NUMA architectures allow a greater numberof processors because processors and memory are distributed in nodes. Memoryaccess times depend on the processor that a process is executing and on the accessedmemory area. Thus, the load balancing on these machines is more complex, sincemoving a process to a node that is distant from its memory area can increase processexecution time.Load balancing for parallel environmentsis a problem that has been deeply stud-ied for a long time. However, most of these studies are focused on user-level loadbalancing, where users of the system must know their applications behavior andprovide information to the load balancing algorithm. In this sense, there are manyproposals for different platforms, for example clusters [2, 5, 26] and computationalgrids [13, 24]. Some authors have also presented solutions or studies for the loadbalancing problem on NUMA computers. Zhu [25], for instance, proposes a clusterqueue structure for processes based on a hierarchical structure in order to solve thelimitation of single queue systems and the load imbalance problem that results ofdistributed queues. Focht [12], on the other hand, describes an algorithm based onthe Linux load balancing algorithm that tries to attract processes back to their orig-inal nodes when they are migrated. There has been also some studies presentinganalysis of load balancing algorithms on NUMA machines [7].In [10] we proposed an algorithm that allows Linux to perform multilevel loadbalancing in NUMA computers. The current Linux load balancing algorithm usesa structure called sched domain to build a hierarchy that represents the machine's3


The feet costumes of the characters in 《Dream of the Red Chamber》are various in kind,different in material,ever-changing in pattern and rich in colour.They contain a lot of factors of the traditional culture,refract the cultural connotations from the family members to the social system,and make clear that there is a close connection between the feet costumes of the Qing Dynasty and the customs of the Manchus.


Based on analyzing the literatures of enterprise procurement performandce evaluation both at home and abroad in recent years,the paper reviews the status quo of enterprise procurement performance evaluation research in five aspects:the definition,contents,rules of determining evaluation indexes,the determination and evaluation methods of index system,proposes the definition of procurement performance evaluation,points out the main problems existing in the evaluation research and finally six research trends are brought forth.


JEFFREYL. DEREVENSKYand RINA GUPTA (Eds.) Gambling Problems in Youth: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives New York: Kluwer Academic Press, 2004, 264 pages (ISBN 0-306-48585-0, US$65.00 Hardcover) As the public view of gambling in the United States and Canada has evolved over the past couple of decades from sin, to vice, to a benign form of recreation, participation rates have markedly increased. For a minority, gambling has had devastating consequences for themselves and their families, employers, and communities. Its emergence has resulted in addiction researchers and clinicians arguing about which dependence is more harmful - alcoholism or pathological gambling. A persuasive case can be made for both sides but most agree that problem gambling generally shows the more rapid and devastating impact on a family's equilibrium. At the same time, practitioners across North America are starting to see the effects of growing gambling activity on their clinical caseloads. Research into problem gambling is still in its infancy. Despite a general paucity of literature on problem gambling, two recent books, Grant and Potenza's Pathological Gambling: A Clinical Guide to Treatment (American Psychiatric, 2004) and Gambling Problems in Ymitli (the focus of (his review), are significant contributions to the field. Both have joined my list of core texts on problem-gambling behaviour. Derevensky and Gupta are world recognized leaders in youth gambling research and co-directors of the McGiII University Youth Gambling Research and Treatment Clinic and the International Centre for \buth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours. Their new book specifically addresses gambling problems in youlh, and presents a balanced and comprehensive overview of theory, research, and treatment knowledge. Until recently, little was known about this area, much like the situation that existed some 50 years ago when the concept of juvenile alcoholism was not yet plausible (diagnostic criteria involved a lengthy time span of use, withdrawal, and medical problems associated with use). In a similar fashion, we are only now recognizing the problems associated with this first generation of youth that has been exposed to widespread availability, acceptance, and promotion of gambling. Stinchfield reports that in early adolescence, the prevalence of gambling involvement rivals alcohol use and far exceeds the use of illicit drugs or tobacco. The level of research funding for adolescent gambling has grown quickly over the past 10 years, especially among Canadian provinces, and the resulting knowledge base is expanding rapidly. On a related front, the call for a gold standard for measuring prevalence has led to the development of a new, soon-to-bereleased adolescent gambling screen cooperatively undertaken by a number of publicly funded Canadian research groups. The field is in many ways defined by the dynamics of new research and clinical activities, and the need to be kept current is apparent. Derevensky and Gupta organize their book into seven sections: Prevalence, Correlates and Risk Factors, New Technologies, Measurement Issues, Treatment, Prevention, and Social Policy Issues, comprising a total of 12 well-written chapters. The introductory section is written by Dewey Jacobs, the patriarch of gambling research who suggests that the age of onset for gambling will continue to decrease as more children see their parents and relatives gambling. His chapter deftly predicts the explosive popularity of poker tournaments and celebrity poker on TV, and parent reports of their preteen children playing "Texas Hold'em" with their friends. An issue that emerges repeatedly is the debate over the actual prevalence of gambling and problem gambling in adolescent populations. Despite the inadequacy of currently available measurement tools, along with fundamental nomenclature and conceptual disagreement, all sides concur that significant numbers of adolescents are harmed by their gambling. …


Alteration of technological and optical states of glass activated with chloride ions, entered to the surface of quartz sand and quartz grain by way of sodium chloride was investigated in the article. Concentration optimum of activating agent was determined.


Using the unique circumstances of the 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate election, we report findings from survey data from a probability sample of White voters conducted in Illinois during the course of the 2004 election. In an experimental manipulation embedded in the survey, we tested four distinctive framings of Barack Obama by systematically altering the degree and content of his racialization as a Black man, and observing the effect of these treatments on evaluations of Obama. We hypothesize that more strongly racialized framings that highlight Obama's identity and connection with African Americans would push White voters toward more unfavorable evaluations of the candidate in comparison with deracialized framings. In addition, we argue that party identification has an important moderating influence on the relationship between the racialized treatment and respondents' evaluations of Obama.


In this article I use a case study of an urban elementary school to examine connections between educational research and practice at the school level. Beginning in the late 1980s, members of this school tried to restructure their curriculum, instruction, student and teacher grouping, and relationships with parents and neighborhood communities. Associated with this restructuring, school members participated in several multischool reform initiatives. They also developed new forms of group discourse, including a "protocol" process that supported generic features of educational research. Through these discourse innovations, school members were able to link research and practice in ways that are difficult to realize within discipline-based research, institutional research, or teacher research. A comparison of the protocol process with these other research orientations reveals the key role of discourse conventions in encouraging or discouraging links between educational research and practice at the school level.


Dysferlinopathy is one of the most common subgroup of autosomal recessive limb‐girdle muscular dystrophies that is caused by mutations in DYSF gene. However, there is currently no worldwide comprehensive genetic analysis of DYSF variants. Through a national multicenter collaborative effort in China, we identified 222 DYSF variants with 40 novel variants from 245 patients. We then integrated DYSF variants from disease‐related genetic databases including LOVD (n = 1020) and Clinvar (n = 1179), to depict the global landscape of disease‐related DYSF variants. Normal‐population‐derived DSYF variants from gnomAD (n = 4318) and ChinaMAP (n = 13,330) were also analyzed in comparison. In Chinese patients, gender instead of genotype showed influence on the onset age of dysferlinopathy, with males showing an earlier age of onset. After integrative analysis, we identified two hotspot DYSF mutations, c.2997G>T in world patients and c.1375dup in Chinese patients, respectively. Both the pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants scattered on the whole gene length of DYSF. However, three specific domains (C2F‐C2G‐TM, DysF, and C2B‐Ferl‐C2C) contained variants at higher frequencies than reported in both the databases and Chinese patients. This study comprehensively collected available DYSF variant data, which may pave way for genetic counselling and future clinical trial design for gene therapies in dysferlinopathy.


This chapter explores the history of expulsion and exposes the various ways immigration authorities have forced, coerced, and scared people into leaving the United States from the late nineteenth century to the present. It reveals how public officials have assembled a well-oiled deportation machine, propelled by bureaucratic self-interest as well as the concerns of local communities and private firms. The chapter focuses on the deportation machine's three expulsion mechanisms: formal deportation, voluntary departure, and self-deportation. It analyzes how authorities have used the expulsion mechanisms to exert tremendous control over people's lives by determining who can enter the country and regulating who the state allows to remain. It also talks about how undocumented immigrants and their allies have endured, adapted, and resisted to demand their constitutional rights and challenge what they have considered to be unjust laws and inhumane treatment.


In this paper, we present an approach towards mapping and safe navigation in real, large-scale environments with an autonomous car. The goal is to enable the car to autonomously navigate on roads while avoiding obstacles and while simultaneously learning an accurate three-dimensional model of the environment. To achieve these goals, we apply probabilistic state estimation techniques, network-based pose optimization, and a sensor-based traversability analysis approach. In order to achieve fast map learning, our system compresses the sensor data using multi-level surface maps. The overall systems runs on a modified Smart car equipped with different types of sensors. We present several results obtained from extensive experiments which illustrate the capabilities of our vehicle.


Many of the processes that underly neural computation are carried out by ion channels embedded in the plasma membrane, a two-dimensional liquid that surrounds all cells. Recent experiments have demonstrated that this membrane is poised close to a liquid-liquid critical point in the Ising universality class. Here we use both exact and stochastic techniques on the lattice Ising model to explore the ramifications of proximity to criticality for proteins that are allosterically coupled to Ising composition modes. Owing to diverging generalized susceptibilities, such a protein's activity becomes strongly influenced by perturbations that influence the two relevant parameters of the critical point, especially the critical temperature. In addition, the protein's kinetics acquire a range of time scales from its surrounding membrane, naturally leading to non-Markovian dynamics.


The Intra-Sudetic Basin, a Variscan intramontane trough in the central Sudetes (NE part of the Bohemian Massif), is filled with Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic deposits. The Carboniferous sediments display considerable lateral and vertical facies variation, which reflects intense synsedimentary, tectonic and volcanic activities. The sedimentary material was transported from various directions, and both the pebble lithology and the heavy minerals present are good palaeogeographic indicators of the alimentary areas. This paper presents the results of heavy mineral analyses of the Carboniferous deposits of the Intra-Sudetic Basin and discusses the possible usage of the heavy mineral spectra as palaeogeographic and stratigraphic indicators. Samples representing all the Carboniferous formations were taken along two profiles: between Ciechanowice and Kamienna Gora (profile W), and between Sady Gorne and Gluszyca (profile E). The heavy mineral analyses show the variation of the heavy fraction, both in the stratigraphic column and laterally. The Upper Tournaisian sediments display a characteristic heavy mineral assemblage: epidote, biotite, and chlorite - pointing to the Kaczawa Mts as the source area. In the Visean sediments, a clear regional distinction can be seen: in profile W there are no significant differences compared to the older sediments; in profile E - garnet appears as a major component, pointing to possible transport from the Gory Sowie Block. In the Upper Visean, the regional differences disappear, probably as a result of redeposition of the older material. There is an important change in the mineralogy of the heavy fraction in the middle part of the Bialy Kamien Formation. A considerable decrease in the garnet and ZRT (zircon+rutile+tourmaline) -mineral content is observed, and minerals formed during diagenesis (e.g. haematite) and/or hydrothermal processes (barite and siderite), become more abundant. The chemical composition of some minerals (especially garnet and chlorite) appears to be very useful for establishing the alimentary areas. The garnets of the Ciechanowice and Lubomin Formations are rich in Grs and resemble the garnets from the contact-metamorphic basic rocks of the Rudawy Janowickie (garnets rich in Sps, typical of HP rocks of the eastern cover of the Karkonosze Pluton, were not found). In the Sady Gorne Formation, garnets similar to those from the gneisses and migmatites of the Gory Sowie Block are the most common (a few grains rich in Sps, typical of low-grade metamorphic rocks are also found). The younger deposits display a wide variation of garnet formulae, which indicates various source areas and an important role of resedimentation. The heavy mineral analyses confirm that the alimentary areas for the oldest sediments of the Intra-Sudetic Basin were the Kaczawa Mts and the eastern cover of the Karkonosze granite, whereas for the younger deposits, most probably, there was not a single source area; rather the materials derived from different sources and were redeposited. The distinct change in the heavy mineral spectra in the middle part of the Bialy Kamien Formation suggests an important change in the factors controlling sedimentation in the basin. The heavy mineral analyses, in general, confirm previous interpretations based on sedimentological research; however, the direct transport from the Gory Sowie Block area is questionable (apart from garnets, other minerals typical of the rocks of that area do not occur).


Opportunistic spectrum access (OSA) is a promising method to improve the spectrum utilization. In this paper, we propose a weighted power control approach to further exploit the flexibility of OSA. We first give the definition and basic idea of confidence level of sub-channel idle (CLSI), then two schemes are raised to enhance the system performance considering the time-variance of channels, the accuracy of spectrum sensing and mutual interference (MI) in power-constrained cognitive radio systems. The first scheme is to maximize the system capacity, and the second one is a multi-objective optimization model for maximizing both the system capacity and the user satisfaction. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that scheme 1 can achieve optimal system capacity, and scheme 2 can obtain sub-optimal system capacity with optimal user satisfaction compared to the conventional algorithm.


This research paper has the use of artificial neural networks for life time milk amount prediction in dairy cows. The study is based on back propagation neural network which has trained and tested based on dataset provided. In modelling the artificial neural networks based predictive model, two-hidden layer network has been constructed. Suitable milk amount predictions can provide farmers and producers with valuable information. For this research Different artificial neural networks had been trained and the best performing number of hidden layers and neurons and training algorithms recorded. The output performance of the artificial neural networks model in simulating cow's performance was compared with actual data as recorded by experimental work. Generally more nearer prediction values can be obtained by a neural network approach. This approach suggests that a non-linear relationship exists among the dependent and independent variables in the data. Thus prediction results show that the artificial neural networks models used in this study have the potential of predicting future performance of cows on the basis of early expression traits.


Abstract A number of proprietary software packages, focusing on predicting the dynamic behaviour of railway vehicles, have been developed over the last 30 years. These packages have gained wide acceptance within the industry, since they shorten the design cycle and avoid the need for extensive field testing. The current trend within the industry to move towards to the development of vehicles with mechatronic systems and non-standard vehicles, has highlighted the shortcomings of many of these packages. Parallel developments in the software industry have led to the adoption of object-oriented and knowledge-based techniques. These techniques aid the human thought process; it is convenient to think of a railway vehicle as an assembly of many objects: bogies, axles, etc. This paper describes the development of a new software tool, based upon these techniques, which is intended to highlight many of these advantages.


A method for identifying inductance parameters of a synchronous electric machine includes: first determining the magnetic pole axis position of the rotor of the electric machine and obtaining a d-q magnetic pole coordinate axis; then injecting a high frequency voltage or current signal with a certain amplitude into the d axis of the electric machine and obtaining the amplitude of a feedback high frequency current or voltage component with the same frequency as that of the injected high frequency voltage or current in the feedback high frequency current or voltage of the d axis; and calculating the inductance L d of the d axis according to the feedback high frequency current or voltage component of the d axis. A system for realizing the method is also provided. The method and the system are easy to be realized. The frequency and the amplitude of the high frequency voltage signal injected into the electric machine are easily controlled.


I this work we investigate a notion of stochastic invertibility on Wiener space. Rougghly speaking a morphism of probability spaces with values on the Wiener space, which is further adapted, can be canonically associated to the laws of the solutions to some stochastic differential equations. One of the main properties of this morphism is to be invertible (i.e. to be an isomorphism of probability spaces) if and only if the underlying stochastic differential equation has a unique strong solution. Since it may be seen as a Brownian motion, we cal it the Brownian transform of the associated law, and we will study the invertibility of this Brownan transform. We will see that this notion, whose origins may be found in earlier results related to stochastic mechanics, extends and enlightens the notion of invertibility of adapted shifts on Wiener space which was investigated by Ustunel and Zakai in their recent papers, where this notion already appears clearly between the lines. Moreover, from the origin many problems arising in various fields are deeply related to this notion. This opens to a wide spectrum of applications, some of them being very concrete. We will investigate problems of various origins such as statistical physics, information theory, filtering, but also stochastic control and optimal transport. For instance, we will prove a very general result of pathwise uniqueness for the stochastic picture of euclidean quantum mechanics, and we will extend Shannon's inequality to any abstract Wiener spaces. We also show how this notion of invertivility fits naturally in stochastic differencial geometry.


Maleimide compounds, thermosetting resin, and a thermosetting resin composition, a thermosetting resin containing an inorganic filler and a molybdenum compound, a thermosetting resin composition containing silica and a specific molybdenum compound, a base material containing an unsaturated maleimide compound having a specific chemical structure after the application, the semi-cured by a prepreg and a manufacturing method of the circuit board for laminate formed by laminating a prepreg molding, and a resin composition varnish containing a specific process. According to the present invention, a low thermal expansion, drilling workability, and excellent heat resistance and electronic components, for example, it may provide such regeuna prepreg laminated board, an interposer.


Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) biopolymer films were prepared by solution casting technique and effects of UV irradiation on the structural and optical properties of the polymer films were analysed using X-ray Diffraction and UV–Visible studies. From XRD data, the microcrystalline parameters (crystallite size (LXRD) and crystallinity (Xc)) were calculated and found to be decreasing with UV irradiation due to photo-degradation process. From the UV-Vis absorption data, the optical bandgap (Eg), average numbers of carbon atoms per conjugation length (N) of the polymer chain and the refractive index (n) at 550 nm (average wavelength of visible light) of virgin and UV irradiated HPMC films were calculated. With increase in UV exposure time, the optical bandgap energy (Eg) increases, and hence average number of carbon atoms per conjugation length (N) decreases, supports the photo-degradation of HPMC polymer films. The refractive index of the HPMC films decreases after UV irradiation, due to photo-degradation induced chain rearrangements.Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) biopolymer films were prepared by solution casting technique and effects of UV irradiation on the structural and optical properties of the polymer films were analysed using X-ray Diffraction and UV–Visible studies. From XRD data, the microcrystalline parameters (crystallite size (LXRD) and crystallinity (Xc)) were calculated and found to be decreasing with UV irradiation due to photo-degradation process. From the UV-Vis absorption data, the optical bandgap (Eg), average numbers of carbon atoms per conjugation length (N) of the polymer chain and the refractive index (n) at 550 nm (average wavelength of visible light) of virgin and UV irradiated HPMC films were calculated. With increase in UV exposure time, the optical bandgap energy (Eg) increases, and hence average number of carbon atoms per conjugation length (N) decreases, supports the photo-degradation of HPMC polymer films. The refractive index of the HPMC films decreases after UV irradiation, due to photo-degradat...


In an attempt to shed light on the role of the polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine in cell cycle progression, polyamine biosynthesis has been analyzed during the cell cycle of Chinese hamster ovary cells, and cell cycle kinetics have been investigated in cells treated with polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors. Cells were synchronized with the mitotic detachment technique, and at various times after seeding, they were sampled for analysis of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) activities, as well as their mRNA levels and polyamine contents. The results imply that polyamine biosynthesis was regulated at the levels of transcription, translation, and post-translation. The effect of polyamine depletion on cell cycle kinetics was studied with a bromodeoxyuridine - flow cytometry technique. Polyamine depletion was achieved by treating the cells with either 2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of ODC, or 4-amidinoindan-1-one 21-amidinohydrazone (CGP 48664), an inhibitor of AdoMetDC. DFMO treatment resulted in depletion of the putrescine and spermidine pools, while CGP 48664 treatment resulted in depletion of the spermidine and spermine pools. Treatment with either of the inhibitors resulted in a reduction in the rate of progression through S phase within one cell cycle. This was not caused by an affect on the G1/S transition. The results indicate that polyamine depletion reduced the rate of DNA elongation without affecting the initiation of DNA replication. CGP 48664 treatment resulted in a more pronounced inhibition of S phase progression than did DFMO treatment, indicating that spermine may have a more pronounced role in DNA replication than the other polyamines.


This report examines whether money has a causal impact on children's outcomes. There is abundant evidence that children growing up in lower income households do less well than their peers on a range of wider outcomes, including measures of health and education. But is money important in itself, or do these associations simply reflect other differences between richer and poorer households, such as levels of parental education or attitudes towards parenting?


The present invention relates to a method for supporting handover in a first radio network node of a wireless network. The first radio network node serves wireless devices of a serving cell. The method comprises grouping (710) a plurality of wireless devices in the serving cell into a group, and selecting (720) one of the plurality of wireless devices as a coordinating wireless device for the group. The method also comprises requesting(730) a measurement report from the coordinating wireless device for the group, wherein the measurement report is to support a joint handover decision for the plurality of wireless devices of the group.


DOI: 10.21276/sjbms.2018.3.4.12 Abstract: This paper proposed a framework to establish the relationship between the implementation of TQM success factors and the organizational performance measures, using the role organizational culture plays as a moderating variable in the oil and gas industrial sector in Libya. The study which is the first step in providing a base for the empirical study of the moderating effect of culture in the Libya oil and gas industry has put forward some key success factors for TQM implementation with special consideration of the operational culture in the oil distribution sector in the Libya oil and gas industry. Thus, the study focused on those critical factors that can easily and positively affect the organizational performance. Having proved by previous TQM researchers how organizational culture and practices significantly influence the overall organizational goal and performance, if adopted and implemented with sincerity, this study will help Libya's Oil and Gas Sector to improve its competitiveness among firms, quality of products and services, and a standard customer expectation.


Coastal areas constitute one of the most difficult domains to manage, due to the several human activities and natural processes concentrated in it. The case of the coastal dunes is special, since they are so fragile and any intervention on them can cause alterations in the landforms and dynamics. This work assesses the level and role of management and the morphological status of coastal dunes on the Catalan and Valencian shorelines. To that end, ten beach-dune systems from Catalan and Valencian shorelines have been studied to guess how management actions determine the morphological status of them. A set of variables, comprising management actions and morphological status, have been selected and analyzed through a Hierarchical Clustering on Principal Components (HCPC). Results show that the beach-dune systems can be gathered in 2 main groups: those where sustainable management measures were not applied and present an advanced erosive state, and the ones where sustainable management measures were applied and present a good state of conservation. The good state of conservation is related to restoring dunes applying nature-based solutions, whereas degraded morphologies appear when artificial management actions have been carried out.


The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is launching an Ocean Science Initiative (OSI), which includes an Ocean Web Portal, a Center for Ocean Science, and its centerpiece - the nation's largest permanent Ocean Hall exhibit to open in the fall of 2008. NMNH is the most visited natural history museum in the world. Its dynamic team of research and exhibit staff, and unparalleled collections, in combination with NOAA's knowledge and expertise in ocean science, provides the opportunity to develop a truly unique exhibit, web portal and other supporting educational programs. This special session will focus on the partnership, the Hall, its development process, and evolving education and web portal plans.


To interpret flow cytometric data that are routinely obtained on natural oceanic communities, 23 strains of photosynthetic picoeukaryotes belonging to four classes (Prasinophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Pelagophyceae, and Prymnesiophyceae) and six pigment types were investigated for their light scattering in the forward and right‐angle directions, chlorophyll fluorescence, and DNA content as measured by flow cytometry. Cell she was assessed by Coulter counter, and pigment composition was measured by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. The size and GC% of the nuclear genome of cultured picoeukaryotes was measured from the fluorescence of DNA‐specific dyes. Using these two parameters, we could discriminate species within pigment groups. DNA staining of preserved natural samples may also prove useful in discriminating cooccurring populations in situ as long as the communities are not too complex. Using the relationships that we established between size and light‐scattering properties of the cells, we estimated equivalent diameters of picoeukaryotes in natural populations to be between 1.3 and 2 μm. Chlorophyll a content was between 6 and 16 fg·cel−1 as calculated from relationships that we established between chlorophyll a content and red fluorescence of the cultured strains. With respect to size, chlorophyll a content, and pigment composition, Pelagomonas sp. strains (Pelagophyceae) appeared to be the most representative of the natural communities in subtropical ocean waters. In contrast, green coccoid strains, which often outcompete other strains in culture, might only be minor contributors to these communities.


Athabasca University (AU) is recreating itself as a 21st century university. As an open and distance learning (ODL) university, its mandate is to remove barriers to university-level education. This is the vision and institutional context for any changes. Herein, we describe a series of projects with particular focus on two recent major initiatives that challenged our capacity to deal with large complex programs. An analysis of the effect of the start-up and operation of these two major programs with particular emphasis on project management, organizational change, acceptance by the academy, and absorbing the additional work is given. We offer, in the form of lessons learned, our experience for successful systematic integration of ICTs within an open university. These lessons, we believe are relevant for technology integration at any large educational organization.


Heart sounds are difficult to interpret because a) they are composed by several different sounds, all contained in very tight time windows; b) they vary from physiognomy even if the show similar characteristics; c) human ears are not naturally trained to recognize heart sounds. Computer assisted decision systems may help but they require robust signal processing algorithms. In this paper, we use a real life dataset in order to compare the performance of a hidden Markov model and several hidden semi Markov models that used the Poisson, Gaussian, Gamma distributions, as well as a non-parametric probability mass function to model the sojourn time. Using a subject dependent approach, a model that uses the Poisson distribution as an approximation for the sojourn time is shown to outperform all other models. This model was able to recreate the "true" state sequence with a positive predictability per state of 96%. Finally, we used a conditional distribution in order to compute the confidence of our classifications. By using the proposed confidence metric, we were able to identify wrong classifications and boost our system (in average) from an ≈ 83% up to ≈90% of positive predictability per sample.


Mining frequent trees is very useful in domains like bioinformatics, web mining, mining semistructured data, and so on. Existing techniques focus on finding "structural" patterns and ignores the "semantics" that may be associated with the subtrees. In this paper we proposal an algorithm to mine a novel pattern called frequent semantic tree cluster sequences (FRECLE), which captures the frequent sequential association between different semantics of tree-structured data. Given a semantic tree sequence database, the algorithm first categorizes each semantic tree to a semantic cluster. Next, FRECLE patterns are discovered from the semantic cluster sequences by adopting an existing frequent sequential pattern mining algorithm. FRECLE patterns are beneficial in applications where the knowledge of semantic association is significant, such as XML query caching, prefetching XML data, and web users clustering. Specifically, we show how our proposed FRECLE mining framework can be used for designing optimal XML query cache replacement strategy. Finally, by reporting the performance of our algorithm and caching strategy through extensive experiments with both synthetic and real datasets, we show the effectiveness and usefulness of FRECLE mining.


The American electric utility industry is undergoing a continuing series of regulatory and commercial changes unprecedented in the recent history of the industry. The changes are resulting in an industrywide examination of all facets of the business including the arena of operations and maintenance costs in conjunction with the nuclear facilities. The very viability of most nuclear facilities to a large extent depends on the effective implementation of program, process, and organizational reviews. These reviews, in one form or another, are under way at a number of facilities sometimes as a {open_quotes}stand-alone activity{close_quotes} and as often as not as a portion of a corporate and firmwide initiative. The impetus is coming from the marketplace, and both major challenges and opportunities are encompassed by the changes.


The advent of online education has provided a new option of learning to a class of learners, who do not find the conventional modes of learning viable for their unique lifestyles and career. The expectations of such online learners are quite different compared to students in the conventional set-ups. The online pedagogy is also not similar to face-to-face teaching in most instances. This is especially true with online pedagogy heavily relying upon asynchronous modes of communication. The online educators have evolved over the years various innovative ways of designing and facilitating such online classes to ensure highest standards of learning comparable to their world-class brick & mortar counterparts. In this endeavor of maintaining high standards of their perceived learning for learners, many times the online educators tend to overlook the expectations of the online learners often resulting in lower overall performance in the end.


Analyzed the green plant at live indoors spatial space function,the paper studies the indoors green plant kind,puts forward the indoors green turning decorative layout and the design principle,to beautify the living environment with the plant more reasonably,let the green plant better to rise adornment function,attain green decorative purpose.


High-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) is a composite material in which the advantages of fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) are combined with those of a high-performance concrete (HPC), which mitigates the weaknesses of conventional concrete and improves its overall performance. With the aim to reduce the long-term maintenance costs of structures, such as heavily loaded bridges, HPFRC is highly recommended due to its major durability performance. Specifically, its good antifreezing property makes it suitable for application in cold regions where cyclic freeze–thaw conditions cause the concrete to degrade. In this paper, a numerical simulation of the degradation processes induced by freeze–thaw cycles on bond-slip laws in HPFRC beam specimens has been developed so as to assess their effect on the flexural response of specimens as the fibres' volume percentage changes. Their cracking strength, postcracking strength, and toughness were predicted, with the present model being able to predict the cracking strength, postcracking strength and toughness of the HPFRC beam element under bending load conditions. Its accuracy was confirmed by comparing the model predictions with experimental results.


The study was conducted to detect the giardiasis in apparently healthy cattle by using direct ELISA technique and the aim of this study was to detect the giardiasis in apparently healthy cattle as a risk factor to transport the infection cow of different regions in Al-Qadissiya province and preserved in formalin saline 10% until testing by direct ELISA. The samples was examined by ELISA Kit (Giardia2nd generation ELISA)/USA, showed rate 76.4% (65 out of 85) of samples were revealed positive result of infection, and highest rate was recorded in age group above one year (≥12 months) and males. The study revealed there is highly distribution of giardiasis among the apparently healthy cattle, so ELISA test consider an accurate and faster for investigation of a large number of stool samples in laboratories.


&amact r The rehive yield per rccmit isopleh were derirred for PcM~UC m h s stocks from Negambo and Chilaw m a s respectively based on the trawl fishery data collected from July 1984 to June 1986. A maximum relative yield of around 0.041 p a recruit can be obtained when the length at fim capture is amund 11 cm. Although it appears that the fishi intemity a n be i n c r e d co~~idetrbly, it should bc cMicd out c o n a m t l y wi& on incrauc in minimum mesh size.


Objective To establish the site specific criteria and to probe into the factors influencing the display of the normal lymph nodes in upper and middle abdomen on MDCT scanning.Materials and Methods MDCT scans of 120 adults (age ranged from 15 to 65 years old), whose normal status of abdominal lymph nodes were identified with carefully physical examination, laboratory testing, history inquiring and CT scan finding, were performed with bolus intravenous contrast enhancement and observed on workstation screen with two different window techniques. Measurement of maximum short axis diameter (MSAD) and maximum long axis diameter (MLAD) of the largest node in nine sites of upper and middle abdomen, was performed using the tool provided by software of MDCT workstation. Upper limit (P_ 97.5 ) for normal nodal size and number was estimated with the statistic method of frequency table. Results (1) Observing with window 1 (window width: 350 HU, window level: 30 HU), the lymph nodes MSAD upper limit of nine sites on MDCT contrast enhancement scanning were gastrohepatic ligament 6.1 mm, portacaval space 8.2 mm, gastrocolic ligament 3.8 mm, gastrosplenic ligament 2.4 mm, celiac 6.3 mm, superior mesenteric 6.5 mm, retrocrural 6.3 mm, upper paraaortic area 6.9 mm and lower paraaortic area 9.8 mm respectively. The displaying ratio and MSAD upper limit of each location observed with window1 was higher than window 2 (width: 200 HU, level: 60 HU), the difference had statistic significance. (2) The displaying ratios of lymph nodes on CT scanning were higher in the patients with abundant and medium abdominal fat than that with little abdominal fat. The difference had statistic significance. The displaying ratios of maximum short axis diameter of lymph nodes by window a was higher than that by window b.Conclusion (1) Depending on the locations of lymph nodes, the upper limits of MSAD in upper and middle abdomen on MDCT were varies. The measurement value and displaying ratio of lymph nodes could be influenced by the observing window setting. (2) Displaying ratio of upper and middle abdominal lymph nodes on MDCT scanning could be influenced by the volume of abdominal fat of patients.


In this paper, we introduce the notions of a distance function, Alexandrov topology and $\ominus$-upper ($\oplus$-lower) approximation operator based on complete co-residuated lattices. Under various relations, we define $(\oplus, \ominus)$-fuzzy rough set on complete co-residuated lattices. Moreover, we study their properties and give their examples.


Environmental service trade has become an important content for negotiation of free trade ared(FTA).Envi-ronmental service enterprises in China which are provided with basic condition of strategic turning should seize this important opportunity for FTA negotiation of environmental service trade to expedite the strategic turning of environmental service enter-prises in China.At present,laws and policies system building for the development of environmental service industries and stra-tegic turning should be quickened,support strategy for environmental service enterprises should be formulated and guarantee problem of strategic turning should be settled.