Preplaced aggregate concrete (PAC) is special type of concrete that the method of its construction and implementation is different from conventional concrete. In PAC, coarse aggregate particles are first placed in the formwork and voids between them are subsequently injected with a special cementations mixture. PAC has been successfully used in many applications, such as underwater construction, casting concrete sections congested with reinforcement and concrete repair. PAC has a higher coarse aggregate content than that of conventional concrete. PAC can be considered as a skeleton of coarse aggregate particles resting on each other, leaving only internal voids to be filled with grout. Conversely, in normal concrete the aggregates are rather dispersed. Therefore, PAC has a specific stress distribution mechanism at which the stresses are transferred through contact areas between coarse aggregate particles. Coarse aggregate forms about 60% of the total volume of PAC, while coarse aggregate forms about 40% of the total volume of conventional concrete. In this research coarse aggregate size influence on strength parameters of PAC and comparing it with conventional concrete is done by uniaxial compressive strength test and Brazilian tensile strength test. According to results of tests in this research, the PAC with finest grain of coarse aggregate has higher compressive strength, higher tensile strength, higher modulus of elasticity and less poison ratio from conventional concrete.


In this paper, a procedure for the simultaneous determination of three metallic ions in used marine lubricating oils by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) is proposed. Zn(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) were the ions chosen as representative of specific marine engine wear. The DPASV was employed as an alternative to other analytical techniques. With the aim to develop an adequate procedure, spiked unused oils were employed to study several experimental conditions and instrumental parameters, as well as the formation of Cu-Zn intermetallic compounds. The flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used as a reference technique; a comparison of the results obtained by both techniques is also included.


The present invention relates to a microfluidic system, the microfluidic system comprises a valve (12) and the pump for a microfluidic system. The valve of the present invention comprises a check valve, such as a septum valve and flap valve (30). Other valves of the present invention includes a single use valve (12). Pump of the present invention comprises a reservoir (40) and at least two check valves (30, 31). The reservoir (40) may be a changeable capacity. The present invention also relates to a flexible microfluidic system (10). The present invention further relates to a method of making a microfluidic system (10) (including the microfluidic system of the present invention). This method removes step, a step of connecting the support (110) in the microfluidic system (10), and a microfluidic system from a master (10) to form a microfluidic system (10) on the master (100) comprising the step.


In the last three decades, the analytical categories of class and labor often appeared as having lost their luster for many social scientists and historians. This is especially true for scholars working on Eastern Europe, where after the fall of state socialist regimes the language of class was frequently presented as exhausted and burdened by political misuse. The instrumentalization of class was a protracted one, practiced first and foremost by the state socialist elites and subsequently by the postsocialist authorities. The communist partystates conceived of workers almost exclusively as a politically united and combative historical actor endowed with pregiven purpose. The communists ruled in the name of the working classes, and it was of the utmost importance for the official historiographies to follow the teleological assumptions of steady growth of the labor movement and the relentless march toward socialism. On the other hand, postsocialist political elites were keen to portray workers as victims of totalitarian states or, alternatively, as accomplices in the preservation of the communist rule. The dominant historiographical framings after 1989 were willing to recognize workers' struggles only if they could offer credence to the master narratives of national resistance to communism. Otherwise, the working class was deemed an outdated concept, a subject of the partystate, holding little analytical value at the dawn of unbridled consumerism, individualization, and politics based on national identity. Such perspectives rarely attributed agency to workers, while fetishizing a yet to be constituted middle class that David Ost terms "a vague concept signaling the prosperity and stability promised, but far from realized, by the postcommunist project." The intellectual climate started to change at the turn of the twentyfirst century. The first highly visible traces of historians reconsidering the role of labor in


OBJECTIVE. We used 2 new nationally representative surveys to compare racial and ethnic differences in low birth weight in the United States and England. METHODS. Risk factors and rates of low birth weight were compared across groups for singleton births within each country (white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian mothers in the United States; white, black, and Asian mothers in England). Crude rates and rates adjusted for socioeconomic status and behaviors were compared. Additional comparisons were limited to native-born mothers. RESULTS. Racial and ethnic disparities in low birth weight are as large in England as in the United States. Socioeconomic status and behaviors explain little of the variation across racial and ethnic groups in either country. CONCLUSIONS. Health disadvantages associated with being a minority do not seem to be a uniquely American phenomenon. Universal health care, as provided in the United Kingdom, alone may be insufficient to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in low birth weight.


For a semilinear control system in Hilbert spaces we prove results on the behavior of the minimum energy needed to steer an initial point to a ball around the origin. Connections between the minimum time function and the minimum energy are also provided.


Abstract : A historical, largely photographic retrospective is presented in recognition of the 1000th published report emanating from the FAA aeromedical research center officially established as the Civil Aeromedical Research Institute (CARI) in August 1960. The publications include 57 CARI reports (1961-1963), 1 CARI technical publication (1963), and 942 reports (1964-present) under the aegis of the (now) Office of Aerospace Medicine (OAM). The retrospective includes an historical section on the early development of civil aeromedical research. Additional, theme-related sections provide an indication of some of the varied research contributions and safety achievements of the Institute and cite some of the many individuals who contributed to the Institute's accomplishments.


I Abstract Since the world's first TBM started boring in 1800s the development of the boring technology has been a continuous process. The diameter of the TBM, the penetration rate and the efficiency in hard rock have increased in correlation with improved steel quality, larger disc cutters, adjusted cutter spacing, higher thrust force and higher torque. Different prediction models are established to estimate consumption of time, costs and cutter wear. Downtime caused by cutter changes, due to abrasion and wear, brings down the overall advance rate and affects the total economy of a project. Experiences from previous TBM projects show that the TBM is boring about 40% of the total boring time, and that cutter change takes about 15 % of the time. A small increase in cutter life can therefore give a considerable saving potential, looking at material costs and time spent. The TBM manufacturing companies are continuously working to improve penetration rate and to lower the costs in the boring process. FAST-Tunn is a joint research project dealing within TBM technology, involving a cluster of industrial partners, governmental bodies and academia/research. The aim of the FAST-Tunn project has been to improve the efficiency of new cutters in terms of 25 % increased durability, by investigating rock breaking mechanisms, steel quality and abrasivity. This Ph.D.-study is one out of two scholarships within the FAST-Tunn project. A large amount of resources have already been, and is expected to be, invested in different research projects aiming for improved cutter quality and more efficient TBMs, but do we really knows what is actually happening at this interface of materials? The number, length, orientation, type of cracks and the distance between them are all important responses to be detected and documented in order to increase the understanding of rock breaking under disc cutters of a TBM. Such knowledge can be used to optimize the TBM cutter head design, the cutter design and the operation of new TBMs, in order to decrease the cutter wear, and thereby increase the cutter life and the overall efficiency of the TBM. The knowledge can also be used to increase the utilization potential of a TBM at ongoing projects. This Ph.D.-Study seeks to improve the understanding of rock breaking by establishing a cost and time efficient method to visualize and document the rock breaking under the cutters of a full size TBM and under the cutter of a linear cutter test, and to use this method to document the effect of the cutter head speed, measured in revolutions per minute. The combination of sampling by core drilling at the face of two ongoing tunnel projects, geological mapping, sound velocity measurements, dye penetrant and the quantification of crack and core sample properties, have proven to be a both economical and time efficient way to detect and document the rock braking under a disc cutter of a full size TBM. Given constant operating conditions, there is a considerable variation of fracture patterns, and the rock breaking under the cutters of a TBM is much more complex than presented in literature. The concept model of rock breaking under the cutters of a TBM can be considered as a generalized and idealized presentation of the rock breaking, but is does not represent the great variety of fracture patterns and rock surfaces in front of a full size TBM. The study of cracks in core samples from two sites with different geologies and different RPMs, indicates that more cracks are initiated, and the cracks are longer and penetrates deeper into


Introduction: Training analysis is attended to a multitude of variables that determine the tasks and learning of the players. Aim: The objective of this study is to analyze the pedagogical variables and their relation to the different game situations that are used in basketball training tasks. Methods: After a descriptive analysis of the tasks, relationships and associations were identified between the Game Situation (GS) and the Game Phase, the Content Type and the Training Medium. Results & discussion: Unopposed tasks were associated with attack tasks, individual technical gestures and the use of exercises as a means. Equality reduced game situations in numerical with attack tasks, group tactical behaviors and games. Inequality reduced game situations in with defense tasks, group tactical behaviors and games. Finally, the most real game situations (5x5) were associated with mixed tasks, collective tactical behaviors and used sport as a means. Conclusions: By the control of the training, the trainer's intervention is characterized, as well as the underlying methodology in his intervention. In addition, in the context of school sports, it is a tool that facilitates the development of specific contents according to the formative stage.


The oxidation chemistry of a range of AuI-bis(NHC) (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes with hypervalent iodine(III) oxidants has been explored. AuI-bis(NHC) precursors have been synthesised by treatment of the corresponding [Au(NHC)Cl] derivatives with imidazol(idin)ium salts in the presence of K2CO3. The reactivity of the AuI complexes towards PhICl2 has revealed an influence of the nature of the NHC ligands present in the complex on the outcome of the oxidation reaction: small and more strongly electron-donating NHC ligands favoured the formation of a AuIII species. On the basis of these results, a AuI complex bearing two 1-butyl-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene (BMIM) ligands has been synthesised. This complex reacted with PhICl2 and also – for the first time in Au-NHC systems – with PhI(OAc)2 and PhI(OAcF)2 (OAcF = trifluoroacetate), affording stable AuIII-(NHC)2 complexes bearing acetate ligands.


need of a social responsibility that went beyond the facile description of outward scenes. Openly homesick for Spain (he began to write a novel in Spanish) he nevertheless dedicated himself to working among the poor in Liverpool, where he died, exhausted in mind and body, on February 24,1841. Blanco White has been most fortunate in finding a biographer as knowledgeable and compassionate as Martin Murphy, who understands the intricacies of the civic and religious eddies that underlay the polite surface of Spanish and English society in a period of such marked transition. In his anguished Odyssey, Blanco White traversed many of the currents that make his age, which spanned neo-Classicism to Romanticism, traditional agricultural societies to grimy industrial centers, dogmatic theocracies to freethinking circles, the dawn of the modern era with all its uncertainties. It is a biography to be read with profit. Douglas Hilt


Previous studies have found an area in left ventral visual cortex that responds more to words and pseudowords than to consonant strings. Does this area respond to the perceptual form of wordlike stimuli, or is it responding to some more abstract, linguistic property, such as orthographic regularity (i.e., conformity with the spelling rules of the language)? During a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment, participants read alternating-case words and pseudowords, which are orthographically regular but are perceptually unfamiliar. These stimuli activated the same area that was activated by pure-case words and pseudowords. These results suggest that the response of the so-called word-form area is not based on perceptual familiarity but rather on some more abstract feature such as orthographic regularity.


The attitude of a married couple on family planning acceptors and kinds of the contraceptive implant they take is potentially influenced by several factors, for instance the experience, socio-cultural issues, beliefs, and the facilities. To acquire a positive attitude about family planning requires a good attitude of married women and men toward it as well. Attitude has been seen as a very important realm in shaping someone's behavior. The purpose of this research is to analyze the correlation of fertile couples' attitude toward the family planning acceptors and their decision to take such contraceptive implant as an effort for birth controlling. This research is correlational study with cross sectional approach. The population investigated is all fertile age women documented as the family planning acceptor participants in BatuAji Health Center, which is further taken 58 respondents to be the sample through accidental sampling method. The data was collected using questionnaires and was analyzed with Chi Square statistical test. The result presents from 30 respondents with positive attitude, 20 respondents (66.7%) choose contraceptive implant and 10 respondents (33.3%) did not choose any contraceptive implant for birth control. On the other hand, it is reported that from 28 respondents with negative attitude, 8 respondents (28.6%) take contraceptive implant yet, 20 respondents (71.4%) do not take any. As the Chi Square test ensues p-value of 0.005<0.05, it can be confirmed that there is a correlation between the fertile age couples attitude on family planning acceptors with their decision to take certain contraceptive implant methods.


Objective:Platelet and T cell activation antigen 1( PTA1 )has been reported involved in autoimmune disorders and in transplantation models. In this study, we investigate the changes of serum soluble PTA1 (sPTA1) and membranous PTA1 (mPTA1)on lymphocytes in renal allograft recipients with clinically and pathologically diagnosed acute rejection. Methodology:Nineteen renal allograft recipients with acute rejection were included in this study. The diagnosis of acute rejection were made according to the clinical symptoms and histopathologic findings of allograft biopsy. Blood samples were collected each week after the establishment of the diagnosis, and in 3 recipients a blood sample was collected 1 3 days before the diagnosis. Solid phase ligand ELISA was used in analyzing serum sPTA1, and Flow cytometry employed in examining the expression of PTA1 on lymphocytes. Results:In the recipients of renal allograft recipients, the level of serum sPTA1 was found remarkably increased after the establishment of the diagnosis of acute rejection. Enhanced expression of mPTA1 on lymphocytes was found after the diagnosis of acute rejection. Change of serum level of sPTA1 was observed days before the appearance of clinical symptoms and even before the changes of histopathology. And interestingly, the levels of serum sPTA1 and the expression of mPTA1 decreased within days after the use of anti rejection immunosuppressant. Conclusion:PTA1 is a sensitive parameter for the diagnosis of acute rejection in renal allograft recipients and also a valuable one for monitoring the therapeutic response of anti rejection therapy.


E. 0. BASSETT W X WITH a view to determining whether the now familiar concept of social progress may claim a classical genesis in the Platonic philosophy, let us collect such evidence as the Dialogues afford under an analysis of the idea of progress; and so, being careful not to require of the Greek conformity tomore than the essential elements of the notion, at the same time allowing him incidental political theories and standards of evaluation possibly conflicting with our modern preconceptions, attempt o define Plato's position. Plato treats the material growth of civilization in a quasihistorical manner;' describing the primitive condition of man, without skill or resource; the discovery of fire and the simple arts;2 the evolution of occupations, herding, agriculture, and so on;, the concentration of population,4 and the correlative development of a simple division of labor;' the institution of sea travel,6 and foreign trade; the growth of population, colonization, war;7 the increase of comforts;8 and finally the appearance of leisure.9 This evolution of civilization has consumed infinite ages.10 Plato considers desirable a certain modicum of physical comfort attainable in an early stage of civilization;"l economic development beyond this point is to be ' See H. E. Barnes, "Theories of the Origin of the State in Classical Political Philosophy," Monist, XXXIV, 29, 30. 2 Pci., p. 274 C, D; especially, ".... from these is derived all that has helped to frame human life."


China (Chapter 13), one learns that Olympic protocol has been overshadowed by the spectacular cultural performances of the host, which is reflected in the relative lack of attention generally paid to Olympism and sport values by the broadcasters – a missed opportunity for intercultural understanding through the shared values of sport, promoted as part of the Olympic movement. Following the main editor's final personal wish (Chapter 25), this collective study project urges us to develop common interest to create a cross-cultural approach between east and west in the contemporary communication context, to explore an effective method to decode the relationship betweenmedia and the construction of social value, especially from the perspective of the image of a nation in the globalized and new media communication context. In sum, if we all agree that the Olympic ideal is to promote cosmopolitanism, emphasizing the role of the sporting spirit and mutual understanding in triumphing over hostilities and conflicts, overcoming the limits of borders, race and culture (see Chapter 20), it is also important for us to search a few more practical approaches to guide new media (apart frombusiness and entertainment purpose). One emphasis in this regardmight bemore sustained promotion of cross-cultural understanding, and enhancing the educative role/ mission of the media so that more people will enjoy not just watching sports through new media, but also enjoy the range of experiences that come with sport participation. Beyond just providing excellent physical andmoral contestsworthwatching, promoting the epitome of corporeal achievement and maximizing opportunities for intercultural exchange, Qing andRicheri'swork essentially reminds us that newmedia (throughwebsites and onto digital platforms andmobile devices with interactive possibilities) can play amore dynamic role in our individual and collective human experiences.


This paper analyzes various problems of mathematical modeling of traffic flows that are relevant for optimizing and reducing the congestion of road networks in large cities and metropolitan areas. Various types of relationships between traffic lights on a controlled section of the road have been studied, formulas have been proposed for calculating the optimal joint mode of operation and minimizing the formation of traffic jams in front of the intersection. A model for calculating the optimal traffic flow on a section of the road network and its implementation at the program level are proposed.


Today's nurses need to be highly adaptable in their thinking and reasoning abilities in the face of the increasing complexities and acuity of current work environments. In addition, it is a professional requirement that nurses provide competent care. Therefore, it is important that nursing students acquire adequate clinical reasoning skills, from the very beginning of their nursing experience, in order to prepare for eventual practice. In clinical settings, nurses are expected to quickly access and process information from a variety of sources in order to formulate a reasonable plan of care based on one's clinical judgment. Despite the slow uptake in nursing historically (Arnaert, Ponzoni, Liebert, & Debe, in press), hospitals are starting to recognize, with the advent of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), the advantages of computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) in promoting clinical reasoning. CDSSs, often called expert systems, are engineered to collate patient data from the EHR and to consider evidence-based guidelines in order to elaborate a differential diagnosis and suggest subsequent interventions for the purpose of validating the nurses' thought process. To become a competent professional nurse, one must develop the systematic thinking patterns of a nurse, often referred to as the nursing process. When the nursing process is initially taught, it is often elaborated explicitly on paper. However, over time and with experience, the nursing process becomes ingrained and thinking becomes intuitive whereby seasoned nurses have trouble expressing how they came to a particular conclusion. While developing systematic patterns of thinking might sound easy, thinking is a natural yet abstract process that no one can see or dissect, making it difficult to intervene on its guidance or promotion. Even today, there is furious debate in nursing education regarding clinical reasoning and how best to address it in curricula. Despite the existence of a few clinical reasoning models, e.g., Tanner's model (2006), there does not seem to be widespread consensus on the subject. In practice, the current trend seems to gravitate around active involvement of students in the learning process, via problem-based approaches that use elaborate case studies, hoping that this engagement will spark clinical reasoning. Only a few educational researchers have considered the use of CDSSs as a potential pedagogical tool to develop clinical reasoning (Thompson, Aitken, Doran, & Dowding, 2013). However, this body of research did not generate a wide-spread development due to a number of challenges that include, but are not limited to, the complexity of building relevant software programs, the difficulty in accessing real patient data, and the lack of standardized terminology. In fact, one possible solution to this dilemma would be that universities and colleges work alongside healthcare institutions to bridge this divide and to offer students a designated section within their EHR. Such a solution will provide students the opportunity to enter data and practice planning care using the CDSS. While this idea holds promise, it is compromised by the fact that educators of our generation generally do not have the reflex to turn to the use of technology-enabled strategies because they often lack technology-savvy. In addition, many educators, who are often exclusively universityor college-based, are not always proficient in the use of hospital-based clinical


In the 20th century, the center of gravity of Christianity shifted from north to south. Van Dusen of Union Theological Seminary in New York prophesied after a visit to the Caribbean in 1955 a "new reformation" and a "third mighty arm in Christendom" after the eastern Orthodox and western Catholic and Protestant missions (the latter essentially springing from the same roots). In the 21st century, the rapid growth of Christianity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America is largely owing to the "Churches of the Spirit" (Barrett et al. 2001). From 1990, anthropological and sociological (to a lesser degree theological) research has paid close attention to the phenomenon, but there is still a lack of studies for individual countries in Asia and Africa, and many western churches continue to interpret the development as schismatic, meaning an aberration from the norms of traditional Christianity. This is critical for the evaluation of movements that largely attract people from local and culturally very diverse contexts, but perceive themselves as part of a global "Pentecostal revolution" and are the driving force in Christian mission today.

Keywords:

pentecostal-charismatic movements, in the south;
"new reformation" and "third mighty arm in christendom";
pentecostal/charismatic movements;
pentecostalism, postmodern transnational movement;
pentecostal spirituality


Forty children, 10 in each age group of 3, 4, 5, and 6 years, were studied with the Ishihara plates for unlettered persons and with the Matsubara plates. The Ishihara plates consist of 4 figures to be named as a circle or square and 4 winding lines to be correctly traced with a cotton wool tipped pointer. Of these plates, 3 are for demonstration, 4 for screening, and the last plate is for diagnosis. If the diagnostic plate or all screening plates are incorrectly interpreted, color vision of the child is probably defective. The Matsubara plates consist of 10 plates with different figures, e.g., flower, dog, butterfly. One plate is for demonstration, 5 plates are for screening, and 4 plates for diagnosis. Color defective children cannot correctly interpret the 5 screening plates and 1–2 of the diagnostic plates. All 40 children most probably had normal color vision, because they correctly interpreted one or both tests. In the Ishihara test, all 5- and 6-year-old children correctly interpreted both the figures and winding lines. Eight 4- and 3-year-old children correctly saw the figures. All 4-year-olds correctly traced the winding lines, but only 4 of the 3-year-olds did so. In the Matsubara test, all 6-, 5-, and 3-year-olds, and 9 of the 4-year-olds correctly interpreted the figures. Both Ishihara and Matsubara plates are useful in examining preschool-aged children. All 8 Ishihara plates were reliable for 5- and 6-year-old children. The 4 Ishihara plates with winding lines were reliable for the children aged 4 years. The 4 Ishihara plates with figures were good for the 3-year-olds. The Matsubara plates were quite reliable in children aged 4, 5, and 6 years. The 3-year-old children often wanted to trace these complicated figures, and it was not always easy to observe if they were correctly done. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 26, S250–S252, 2001


An iron-based modified biochar was prepared by the coprecipitation method, including single iron-based modified biochar with FeCl3 and iron-based biochar doped with Cu and Mn from CuSO4 and KMnO4. ...


Recognition of handicapped person's movement ability with a quantitative underpinning is an important work for the movement education and therapy. This paper aims to establish an automatic human movement recognition system which is equipped with acceleration sensor nodes with built-in Bluetooth and a support vector machine. This paper compares several motion recognition methods by a new sensor network utilizing multiple acceleration sensor nodes. The recognition system is applied to measure the movement of the multi-handicapped persons and able-bodied persons. The acceleration data are measured and the movement is analyzed. An angular variability type log from the acceleration log is introduced, then each data can be recognized by applying a support vector machine. The evaluation in the differences from measured data of each subject is described. Support vector machine by the partial distance kernel can recognize a sensor data on the wrist of three classes with the precision of 85% in the range from 50% to 90% training data ratio.


The present study is aimed at investigating the influence of random cracks on the shear behavior of RC beams with steel fibers. For this purpose, several amounts of expansion agent and two percentages of steel fibers were used. From the strain history during the curing period of time, some sort of chemical prestress could be observed due to the use of expansion agent. Random cracks were successfully created and the pattern showed different crack densities, defined as the ratio between the area of the cracks and the uncracked area of concrete, for each beam. In some cases, a significant increase in the peak load was observed. In other cases only the deformability of beams was improved due to the addition of steel fibers.


The ballistic target recognition is much important to national missile defense system. However, it is difficult to identify the warhead from decoys by narrow-band radar due to their RCS' similarity between warhead and decoys. A novel approach for ballistic target recognition is proposed in this paper. It uses the micro-motion characteristics extracted from sequential HRRPs to identify ballistic targets. The micro-motion characteristics parameters, such as radar view angle and precession parameters, are solved by computing the relative position motion curve of the strong scattering centers of the target. Compared with other methods, the micro-motion parameters extracted from sequential HRRPs are stable and exact, thus can improve the performance of recognition. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.


Real-world cloth exhibits complex behaviors when it contacts deformable bodies. In this paper, we study how to improve the simulation of cloth-body interactions from three perspectives: collision, friction, and air pressure. We propose an efficient and robust algorithm to detect the collisions between cloth and deformable bodies, using the surface traversal technique. We develop a friction measurement device and we use it to capture frictional data from real-world experiments. The derived friction model can realistically handle complex friction properties of cloth, including anisotropy and nonlinearity. To produce pressure effects caused by the air between cloth and deformable bodies, we define an air mass field on the cloth layer and we use real-world air permeability data to animate it over time. Our results demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of our system in simulating objects with a three-layer structure (i.e., a cloth layer, an air layer, and an inner body layer), such as pillows, comforters, down jackets, and stuffed toys.


The maintenance of bus stop shelters in public roads is problematic according to the maintenance personnel, and especially according to the passengers. The number of passengers is usually quite small, so the acquisition and the maintenance should not cause excessive costs. The Finnish Road Administration started a study to find bus shelters suitable for low traffic public roads in spring 2000. The aim of this study was to find bus shelters that are aesthetic and sheltered enough. The shelters must also be able to maintain with reasonable costs. The study was divided into a study phase and two testing phases, carried out during 2000-2002. The present state was analysed and the pilot shelters were developed in the study phase. Testing phases focused on testing the shelters generally and new winter maintenance procedures. In the present situation, local authority has the responsibility for contracting and maintaining the shelters. Municipal allocation shortage and the lack of human resources have been complicating the maintenance. The municipalities have not been able to meet the challenge of the increasing need of shelters and the demands for improving shelter quality standards. Consolidation of shelters and roads winter maintenance has also been a big problem. In May 2001 the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities and the Finnish Road Administration signed a new contract about some responsibility principles of road keeping. In the future, the Finnish state is responsible for contracting and maintaining the shelters. The aim of the study was to find shelters that would primarily shelter passengers, but would also be able to maintain with in standard winter road maintenance. Shelters were supposed to be maintained mainly by ploughing and costs should remain reasonable. On the other hand, the aim was to find shelters that would serve also other interest groups. According to the study, the "enclosed" shelter type was found to be the best. The shelter with small doorway gives the best shelter in all weather conditions and is also the best to maintain. The steaming and dirtiness of the glass can be reduced with more effective maintenance. The adequate quality standard for winter maintenance is possible to achieve using the existing maintenance machines, as tractors, and trucks with snow ploughs. The shelters maintenance work can be made easier by choosing correct materials and structures. The right timing and consolidating operations helps also the cost.


Samples of frozen serum of human or bovine origin have been used as an additional standard for blood acid-base analysis. The serum was used to check and compare the performance of two pH electrodes and microequilibration systems. A mean buffer line for the serum was determined at the start of the series. Daily estimations of base excess and standard bicarbonate were made. When any analysis was outside two standard deviations from the mean values, the electrode system was not considered to be functioning correctly. It could be restored to normal function by suitable cleaning. The use of a control serum will demonstrate errors in the electrode system due to protein contamination which are not evident when the system is calibrated on buffer solutions.


This article asks if Ibn Khaldun's cycle – his study of how civilisations rise and fall – is relevant to the modern world. Two introductory sections set the stage for the reply: a series of early nineteenth century American paintings is used to explicate the theory, which is then put in historical context. The theory is applied to two countries – Algeria and South Africa – where the sense of national solidarity changed radically at the end of the twentieth century. The decay of Algeria's nationalist and socialist identity and the rise of South African non-racial citizenship show how flexible and subject to rational calculation asabiyah can be in the modern world. Group feeling can be redefined most successfully in situations of prosperity, as well as when state institutions have the capacity to check and balance executive power. But as recent United States history indicates, we remain vulnerable to the misuse of those institutions: the paper concludes by suggesting that even countries once proudly confident that they had broken the Khaldunian cycle may, in fact, be facing decay.


The embedded depth of driving wheels of boat-type tillage machinery not only changes the maximal horizontal thrust of driving wheels,the support reaction between driving wheels and the boat body,the rolling resistance and the driving resistance from the boat body,but also the boat slip ratio,the traction efficiency,and the fuel economy etc..Provided the increase of embedded depth of driving wheels,the shear area,the maximal horizontal thrust,and the traction adhesion could be increased.Besides,the slip loss power could be decreased.However,the rolling resistance and the power loss would be simultaneously increased.Thus,the embedded depth has to be fixable and ought to be decreased as much as possible.The depth could be regulated by the driving axis,the boat body,and the radius of driving wheels.This paper is to provide references for those who will develop better devices to regulate the embedded depth of driving wheels of boat type tillage machinery.


In September 2006, I arrived in China as a member of a Canadian delegation of museum directors on an exchange visit to the museums whose directors had visited us the previous fall. The delegation was sponsored by a private foundation, co-founded by Toronto resident, Dr Nelly Ng, whose passion for the understanding of culture, and whose view that it was a bridge to understanding and true diplomacy, underlay the mission. The Canadian embassy, the consulate in Shanghai, and the Delegation Générale du Québec were also involved, and the privileged access we were granted to museums and cultural sites meant that we saw more museums and historic sites in two weeks than most residents or visitors might see in several months.


This article examines programming for women in U.S. prisons in the 1980s, a decade marked by an increased number of incarcerated women and by court pressure to correct biases in programming. Data from a census of facilities and a sample of inmates reveal that regardless of gender, the prison experience does little to overcome marginalization from the workforce and leaves many who have history of drug abuse, or who are parents, untouched by relevant programming. Moreover, gender stereotypes shape the nature of the work and vocational training, and women disproportionately receive psychotropic drugs for mental health treatment.


Aim: This study aims to develop and pilot test an instrument to measure dental health literacy (DFLD: Determination of Functional Literacy in dentistry). Methodology: 320 patients attending a dental clinic were approached for the study with prior permission from concerned authorities. Each subject was administered the instrument DFLD along with Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (REALD-30) to measure oral health literacy. The subject's oral health related quality of life was also assessed using Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Internal reliability for DFLD was checked using Cronbach's alpha and its validity by correlating the final score with the scores of REALD- 30 and OHIP-14. Results: DFLD displayed good convergent and predictive validity when correlated with scores of REALD-30 and OHIP-14, respectively. Cronbach's alpha value for instrument reliability was found to be 0.84. Conclusion: DFLD is an efficient instrument which can be used to assess health literacy in the dental arena


[1] Martin Davies, Meaning, Quantification, Necessity (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1981). [2] Graeme Forbes, 'Canonical Counterpart Theory', Analysis 42 (1982) 33-7. [3] Graeme Forbes, 'More on Counterpart Theory', Analysis 43 (1983) 149-52. [4] Graeme Forbes, The Metaphysics of Modality (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985). [5] Graeme Forbes, 'Free and Classical Counterparts: Response to Lewis', Analysis 47 (1987) 147-52. [6] Allen Hazen, 'Counterpart-theoretic Semantics for Modal Logic', Journal of Philosophy 76 (1979) 319-38. [7] Saul Kripke, 'Identity and Necessity', in S. P. Schwartz (ed.), Naming, Necessity and Natural Kinds (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1977), pp. 66-101. [8] David Lewis, 'Counterpart Theory in Quantified Modal Logic', in his Philosophical Papers, Vol. 1 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983), pp. 26-46. [9] David Lewis, On the Plurality of Worlds (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1986). [10] Stephen Neale, Descriptions (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, in press).


Measuring the propagation parameters of a laser beam is an important method of understanding the quality of the laser beam and predicting its performance for various laser applications. For this reason, it is one of the major specifications required by laser users and reported by laser manufacturers. There are three different types of instruments commercially available, and in this article we will explain the differences between them and the reasons for there being these different approaches to making this measurement. For purposes of illustration we will discuss the Spiricon M2-200S, the Photon NanoModeScan, and the Photon M2-1780.


Analysis of individual particles containing nuclear materials in environmental samples gives important information on the origins. This paper describes analytical techniques of individual particles containing nuclear materials such as uranium and plutonium. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with an X-ray detector, solid track detectors, and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) were used to identify particles containing uranium and / or plutonium in environmental samples. Isotope ratios for these particles were successfully determined with SIMS, thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The complementary use of these methods is effective to characterize individual particles rapidly, precisely and accurately.


This article proposes and tests a convenient, easy to use closed-form solution for the pricing of a European Call option where the underlying asset is subject to upward and downward jumps displaying separate distributions and probabilities of occurrence. The setup presented in this article lays in contrast to the assumption of lognormality in the jump magnitude generally made in the option pricing literature and can be used by academics and practitioners alike as it allows for a more precise modeling of the implied volatility smile. Through the use of both simulations and actual options data on the S&P 500 index it is shown that the asymmetric jump model captures deviations from the standard geometric Brownian motion with more precision than the lognormal jump setup is able to achieve


This paper describes a liner solver for finite element analyses on parallel computers. The present method of parallel computation is based on the overlapping domain decomposition. This lead to the improvement of convergence as well as reduction of the communication cost between processor elements. The numerical results show that this method has good convergence in the eddy current analysis


From the perspective of the niche of ecological and economic systems,firstly this paper explored the ecological economic system advantages of the provincial administrative borders and characteristics of edge effects at the theoretical level.Secondly,on a practical level,through the formation and dynamic mechanism of the edge effects of the provincial ecological and economic systems,the SWOT analysis analyzed the strengths,weaknesses,opportunities and challenges in marginal areas of provincial ecological and economic systems,the development of Yulin in the future.Finally,the countermeasures and suggestions of edge effects for the eco-economic system were proposed which would promote the play of edge effects and regional development during the process of economic transformation and upgrading.


A study of the Upper Jurassic Swift Formation indicates that the Belt island uplift of west-central Montana provided more of the sediment composing that formation than has previously been thought. The study area extends north and west of Yellowstone Park and includes the southern flank of the Big Belt Mountains. The Swift is a moderately well-sorted, very-finegrained, calcareous, quartz sandstone. It is rich in glauconite and in black and brown chert similar to that found in the Madison and Phosphoria Formations respectively. Oysters and pelecypods are abundant throughout the Swift Formation and constitute the major faunal elements. Several generalizations may be made about the Swift Formation in area. Although it thins to the north and pinches out near the southern margin of Belt island, it forms a depositional blanket over most of the study area. Carbonate sedimentation increases in the southern part of the study area culminating in an oolite-rich facies. Swift sandstones in the northern part of the study area are coarser than those to the south and are characterized by an extensive basal conglomerate containing many angular pebbles and cobbles. Pebble angularity decreases to the south. These generalizations point to a shallow, marine shelf environment of deposition. The northern Swift rocks are interpreted as the deposit of a wide littoral zone on the rocky southern shore of Belt island. Angularity of pebbles in the Swift conglomerates plus the abundance of chert indicate that Belt island was a local source of clastic material. Lower-energy environments to the south were far enough away from that source to allow abundant carbonate sedimentation. STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO COPY In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced.degree at Montana State . University, I agree that the Library shall make it freely, available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly pur poses may be granted by my major professor, or, in his absence, by the Director of Libraries. It is understood that any copying of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission.


l-Cysteine solubility in 12 monosolvents (water,
methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isopropanol, isobutanol,
ethyl acetate, 1,4-dioxane, acetonitrile, and acetone) and three binary
solvents (water + methanol, water + ethanol, and water + isopropanol)
was determined by the gravimetric method from 283.15 to 323.15 K under
the atmospheric pressure. The solubility order in pure solvents was
acetonitrile < isobutanol < ethyl acetate ≈ sec-butanol < n-butanol < 1,4-dioxane < isopropanol < n-propanol < ethanol < methanol
< acetone < water, and it was positively related to the experimental
temperature and solvent composition for all solvent systems. For polar
protic solvents, the key factors influencing the solubility were the
length of the carbon chain and the solvent properties. The effect
of solvent–solvent and solvent–solute intermolecular
interactions on the solubility behavior was analyzed by the KAT-LSER
model. The modified Apelblat, Jouyban–Acree, and Apelblat–Jouyban–Acree
models were used to correlate the solubility data, and the values
calculated by the three thermodynamic models were found to agree well
with the experimental data.


Objective:To investigate the expression of AS and VEGF in cord blood and placenta of FGR. Methods:The expression of AS and VEGF in cord blood and placenta was determined after delivery.The study group was divided into two groups:the normal late pregnant group (n=50);the FGR group (n=30). Results:(1)The intensity of AS in FGR group was significantly higher than that of the normal early pregnancy(P0.05);but the intensity of VEGF in FGR group was lower than that of the normal early pregnancy(P0.05);(2) The intensity of AS immunostaining of trophoblasts in FGR group was significantly higher than that of normal late pregnant group(P0.05);But the intensity of VEGF immunostaining of syncytiotrophoblasts in FGR group was lower than that of the normal late pregnant group(P0.05). Conclusion:The expression of AS and VEGF was correlated with the state of FGR.


Because of its low-cost, highly educated and abundant labour, improved infrastructure, and foreign direct investment, China, a developing nation, has played a crucial role in enhancing global supply chains (SCs) in recent decades. However, the implementation of domestic and global SCs needs to be improved with new measures in China's legal system. The Chinese government should remove current barriers to improve the trading climate. Even though various analysts have identified the same issue, there needs to be a more focused examination of laws on environmental protection, customs, and tax. As a result, I aim to explain the legal options that may be used to overcome some of the current legal barriers, and the role that the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) plays in creating favourable legal rulings for China's global SCs. Nonetheless, more is needed, and further legislation is needed to address several legal deficiencies. The goal of this article is to support increasing the Chinese government's concern over the issues so that it can improve domestic and global SCs.
Global Supply Chains, Green Supply Chain, Sustainability, UNCITRAL, China


Background:Motorcycle taxi online are becoming the latest transportation trends among the public. Motorcyclists activity on motorcycle taxi online, due to neck position that tend to be flexible when viewing map, shoulder
static when driving, wearing helmet done for long time and continuously, then gradually can cause complaints of myofascial pain in neck muscle that is upper trapezius muscle. The purpose of this research is to know the effect
of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) combination and ischemic compression technique on upper trapezius muscle to myofascial pain syndrome.
Methods: This study used quasi experimental by using two groups of pre and post test without control. Respondents were 22 people consisting of two treatment groups with each group amounted to 11 people. This study was conducted for 4 weeks with a dose of 2 times a week.
Result: The result of influence test in TENS and TENS + IC group obtained p <0,05 then both groups have influence of TENS in reducing myofascial pain syndrome complaints. Conclusion: The combination of TENS and Ischemic Compression is better than TENS in reducing myofascial
syndrome pain complaints on online motorcycle taxi drivers.


Like the first, the second edition of this book is timely, and a real treasure trove for anyone with an interest in ethics. The approach to ethics is different from the traditional divide into theory and practice. The reader is presented with three parts, starting with setting out the moral terrain, leading to current applications of health-care ethics/nursing ethics, and finally broadening the view of health-care ethics/nursing ethics into some of the more innovative and challenging aspects of health care. These parts are still largely the same as in the first edition, but in this edition, they are more inclusive and wider in scope and aspect. All chapters have significant changes made, and some are radically different, new, or expanded to address more areas. In reading the text, I felt I was presented with a very precious gift that I could use as I wanted or needed. Nothing in the book is prescriptive or laid down as hard fact; everything is presented in a respectful way that urges the reader to engage with the text and find oneself a morally and ethically more competent person for having done so. There is substantive background on every subject treated, yet with plenty of careful critique of every topic. Chapters have ''Ethics in practice'' boxes that give examples and ''Exhibit'' boxes that contain supplementary material or evidence, as well as points for reflection that take the thinking further on the particular topic. Endnotes and plenty of up-to-date references in each chapter make the book an ideal resource for students at any level. In her foreword, Carol Taylor writes that many people reading this book ''will find themselves thinking as they read, 'I never thought about that,' or 'I never read that author,' or simply 'What a great insight.''' It could not have been said better; this was exactly my own experience as I leafed through the book on first receiving it. The book is written specifically for the Canadian market, but its relevance is much wider. Some of the topics discussed in the third part are only emerging on the health-care scene, such as genetics and identity, and neuroethics. Issues of ethics and public health and social justice/injustice are addressed. The fact that nurses have to grapple increasingly with the social and political aspects of their profession becomes clearer in this part, although the earlier parts are framed and guide the reader throughout to these less familiar issues in nursing. This book truly stretches the reader's ethical knowledge and competence and pushes the boundaries at every level, not least in the fact that health-care ethics and nursing ethics are constantly paralleled, seeing them as overlapping. The editors are to be congratulated on such a comprehensive, innovative, and balanced text, which is relevant for neophytes and experts alike.


This paper presents a review of recent progress on planar guided-wave acoustooptics with application to wideband real-time signal processing and communications. Key parameters of an acoustooptic Bragg modulator/ deflector relevant to signal processing and communications are discussed first. A projection of the performance figures obtainable with these parameters using the existing technology is also made. Implementation of the acoustooptic time-integrating correlators using integrated optics techniques is then described.


A modified stress function approach is developed here to reconstruct induced stress, residual stress and eigenstrain fields from limited experimental measurements. The present approach is successfully applied to three experimental measurements set in surface peened plates with shallow shot peening affected zone. The well-rehearsed advantage of the proposed approach is that it not only minimizes the deviation of measurements from its approximations but also will result in an inverse solution satisfying a full range of continuum mechanics requirements. Also, the effect of component thickness as a geometric parameter influencing the residual stress state is comprehensively studied. A key finding of present study is that the plate thickness has no influence on the maximum magnitude of eigenstrain profile and compressive residual stresses within the shot peening affected zone while having a great influence on the magnitude of tensile residual stress and the gradient of linear residual stresses present in deeper regions.


As transport automation technology continues to emerge, there is a need to engage in the questions of its governing—to find a balance between unreflective enablement and rigid control. An increasing body of literature has begun to address the topic, but only a few studies have examined discourse and culture as central components of the related governance processes. This article aims to analyse the discourse surrounding self-driving vehicles in the Finnish context by drawing from the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries. The critical discourse analysis framework is applied to study a comprehensive set of documents published by Finnish national-level governmental bodies from 2013 to 2020. The analysis identifies four imagined ways of implementing self-driving vehicles into the Finnish transport system and a large set of mostly positive anticipated implications. Moreover, the analysis illustrates the transport automation imaginary's cultural and spatial detachment, most obvious in the lack of detail and the disconnection between the imagined implementations and the anticipated implications. The findings are convergent with findings from other governance contexts, where discourse has been largely characterised by an unjustified optimism and strong determinism related to the wedlock with the automobility regime. If left unaddressed, such lack of reflectivity will not just lead to a plethora of undesired implications for Finnish society at large but will also signify a failure in developing an adaptive governance culture needed to face challenges of the 21st century.


This paper proposed a bilateral controller of a flexible master-slave manipulator (FMSM). A FMSM consists of a conventional compact rigid master arm and a flexible slave arm, and will be used in outer space in the future. This controller realizes stable compliance control and vibration control. The key idea is that this controller has dual compliance models.


to discussions of other techniques not mentioned in Levy's text, would be a definite improvement. Such a bibliography would have been especially helpful in the chapter on correlation where only the phi-coefficient, Spearman's rho, and the product-moment coefficient are discussed. There are no exercises following each chapter, but a workbook designed to accompany the text is available from the publisher. In conclusion, Inferential Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences is a carefully constructed, high quality text. It presents the basic concepts of statistical inference and would be a satisfactory text for a beginning course with this goal.


Highlights written by Elise Laffman-Johnson. diseases has been suggested as one option for the future of PD treatment and has shown potential in preclinical modes of neurodegeneration. A new proof-ofconcept, single-blind study evaluated the use of exenatide, a type 2 diabetes treatment that has exhibited neuroprotective/ neurorestorative properties in 45 patients with moderate PD. The findings show exenatide to be well tolerated, with side effects including weight loss and l-dopa failures in one participant. The study demonstrates a cost-effective manner in which drugs for future study as potential neuroprotective agents in PD can be selected and studied in advance of the major financial investment required for double-blind trials. (J. Clin. Invest. 123, 2730–2736, 2013)


Dementia and other cognitive disorders affect more than 35 million people worldwide. Over the last years, cognitive training tools were used to improve the brain functioning, thus to slow down the cognitive decline. Recently, research studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise could play an important restorative role toward cognitive impairments. Therefore, the aim of this work is to present an innovative sensorized approach which combines aerobic exercise and traditional cognitive tools for daily training.


Based on fully investigating of rock burst in every mine of Datong mine group, author analyzed causing mechanism of rock burst in Datong mine group, and summarized synthetically precaution technology of rock burst.


The discrepancy among academics in the nature and criteria of the TPRM leads to a controversy over its function. The TPRM should be a "three-pronged instrument" that applies the transparency principle of WTO, performs WTO's supervisory function and enforces WTO rules. The TPSM, together with the DSP, constitutes two supervisory institutions to ensure the multinational trade system to operate effectively. Elucidating the function of the TPRM is conducive to improving China's trade policies and legal system.


Analysis of ripple geometries using known tabulated laboratory and field data shows that the geometry can be of three types, i.e., sand ripples, light sediment ripples, and oscillatory bed ripples, reflecting different effects of the fluid shear stress and fluid accleration on the bed sediments. It is shown that when the bed shear stress or the amplitude of the water particle relative to the sediment size is small, the resulting vortices are more regular with low turbulence intensity and the generated ripples are two dimensional. However when the bed shear stress is large, the resulting vortices are very irregular with high turbulence intensity and the generated ripples are three dimensional in character.


The reform of assessment claims a critical role in the innovation of English curriculum.To make up the basic education curriculum assessment standards fit for Chinese situation,we should, firstly,look into the effects of international testing theory and language learning theory on the developmental trend of the secondary English assessment in China from the perspective of language testing;secondly explore the urgent problem of setting up and using of performance descriptors with regard to the more mature international language assessment standards and the present situation of teaching and assessment in secondary schools in China.


The purpose of the research is to explain content of the education policy of increasing the number of vocational high school student (SMK) in Indonesia, and to report impacts of the policy in Malang City of East Java Province. This research uses a qualitative design with study case approach in order to gain a comprehensive picture of the increasing the number of vocational high school student (SMK) in Indonesia policy, especially which is implemented in Malang City. Research data are collected by conducting interviews, observations, and documentations. In analyzing the data gathered, this study uses techniques of analysis by performing data reductions, data presentations, and drawing conclusions. The findings of the research show that the policy content or the policy load are written in the Middle Range National Education Development Plan 2004-2009 (Department of Education Strategic Plan) as well as in three Department of Education's attention letters of year 2006, 2007, and 2008. Policy content is structured and detailed clearly in plain language so that policy implementors are easily able to interpret and develop the policy objectives written into technical implementation steps. The education policy for increasing the vocational student number which is implemented in Malang City has run quite well with successfully achieved objectives, and has resulted some policy impacts both positive and negative


The structure of the tryptophan synthase α-subunit from Pyrococcus furiosus was determined by x-ray analysis at 2.0-Å resolution, and its stability was examined by differential scanning calorimetry. Although the structure of the tryptophan synthase α2β2 complex fromSalmonella typhimurium has been already determined, this is the first report of the structure of the α-subunit alone. The α-subunit from P. furiosus (Pf-α-subunit) lacked 12 and 6 residues at the N and C termini, respectively, and one residue each in two loop regions as compared with that from S. typhimurium (St-α-subunit), resulting in the absence of an N-terminal helix and the shortening of a C-terminal helix. The structure of the Pf-α-subunit was essentially similar to that of the St-α-subunit in the α2β2 complex. The differences between both structures were discussed in connection with the higher stability of the Pf-α-subunit and the complex formation of the α- and β-subunits. Calorimetric results indicated that thePf-α-subunit has extremely high thermostability and that its higher stability is caused by an entropic effect. On the basis of structural information of both proteins, we analyzed the contributions of each stabilization factor and could conclude that hydrophobic interactions in the protein interior do not contribute to the higher stability of the Pf-α-subunit. Rather, the increase in ion pairs, decrease in cavity volume, and entropic effects due to shortening of the polypeptide chain play important roles in extremely high stability in Pf-α-subunit.


Binaural renderers can be used to reproduce dynamic spatial audio over headphones and deliver immersive audio content. Six commercially available binaural renderers with different rendering methodologies were evaluated in a multi-phase subjective study. This paper presents and discusses the testing methodology, evaluation criteria, and main findings of the externalization, front/back discrimination and up/down discrimination tasks which are part of the first phase. A statistical analysis over a large number of subjects revealed that the choice of renderer has a significant effect on all three dependent measures. Further, ratings of perceived externalization for the renderers were found to be content-specific, while renderer reversal rates were much more robust to different stimuli.


Corporations have generally avoided publically linking their brands with political positions, yet recently brands have become more politically active. Brands like Chevrolet and Hobby Lobby were linked with marriage equality, yet little research exists regarding brands and politics. Our studies show: 1) consumers associate brands as liberal/conservative when brands are linked with political positions; 2) self-brand connection (SBC) is differentially impacted depending on the consumer's political orientation and the political orientation with which the brand is linked; 3) misalignment between the brand/consumer orientation weakens SBC; and 4) SBC mediates the relationship among brand/consumer political orientation, and brand attitude and purchase intention.


New technologies are increasing the vulnerability of the power system to cyber security threats. Dealing with these threats and determining vulnerabilities is an important task for utilities. This paper presents the development of a testbed designed to assess the vulnerabilities introduced by using public networks for communication.


One hundred eighty-eight male calves were randomly assigned to one of five treatments at about 6 wk of age t o determine the effect of castration at different weights on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Calves were castrated at 70, 230. 320 or 410 kg or left intact. All calves received a 36-mg zeranol implant 6 0 d postweaning and were re-implanted every 56 d for the duration of the trial (196 d). Animals were slaughtered between 14 and 15 mo of age. lntact males gained faster (P .10) in average daily gain (ADG) or feed efficiency (F/G) for males castrated at 70, 230 or 410 kg. However, castration at 320 kg depressed (P .10) from those castrated at 320 or 410 kg. Tenderness of steaks from animals castrated at 70 kg was greater (P .10) from the intact males. (


The purpose of this research is religious development in increasing religiosity, how to respond to descriptions and how the results of religious development activities are. Qualitative research method with a descriptive approach. The research subjects were prisoners, Ustadz, and correctional officers. Data collection techniques are observation and interviews. Data analysis through data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study indicate that urgent religious development is held in correctional institutions in collaboration with several institutions such as the Islamic Shari'ah Service, the Syari'ah Court, the Indonesian Da'i Association, the Ulema Consultative Council, and the Darul Mukhlisin Islamic Boarding School in Aceh Tamiang. The results of this collaboration confirmed the Al-Hikmah Islamic Boarding School in the Correctional Institution. The existence of the Al-Hikmah Islamic Boarding School helps religious development in the form of congregational prayers, dhikr, prayer, reading the Koran, cults, and studying books, and conducting religious studies filled by several ustadz from outside the prison. The response to religious development activities was initially very refusal, but gradually the people realized the benefits of these activities. The religious guidance carried out has an effect on increasing the religiosity of the inmates so that religious behavior can be seen in various religious activities.


The invention relates to a reference object (3) and a method for checking a surveying system (1), wherein a plurality of three-dimensional images (4, 8) by means of the measurement system (1) from a reference object from different recording directions (5) will be included. The reference object (3) has a closed form, each of the three-dimensional images (4) with at least the preceding receptacle (4) is registered. When an erroneous calibration and / or at a faulty registration, the individual images (4, 8) is deformed in comparison to the actual shape of the reference object (3), so that during assembly of the individual three-dimensional images (4) to a total recording (54) the continued deformation and thus deviates the total intake (54) produced in their dimensions to the dimensions of the reference object (3). At least one object region (10) of the reference object (3) is measured twice at the beginning of a cycle and at the end of circulation, wherein a distance (55) between a first position of the object area (10) in a first recording at the beginning of the circulation and a second position of the object area (10) in a second recording at the end of the circulation is determined in the total intake (54).


The interactions of sodium with ammonia in the gas phase are investigated. The optimized equilibrium geometries obtained at the DFT/B3LYP level using the 6-31G(d,p) basis set show that stable compounds Na(NH 3)4 and Na(NH 3)5 may result with respective dissociation energies of 42.5 and 48.0 kcal.mol -1 relative to their fragments Na and NH 3. Upon addition of diffuse functions on Na and N, one gets 33.2 kcal.mol -1 for Na(NH 3)4. The nature of the interactions was studied by NBO analysis through calculation of the second order perturbation energy. This showed that the most stabilizing interactions involve the donation of charge from the lone pairs of the ligands to Rydberg orbitals of Na and back-donation of charge from the singly occupied orbital of Na to the Rydberg orbitals of N and H and to the σ*N-H. An occupation of the σ*N-H and of the Rydberg orbitals of N and H by the odd electron of Na is therefore observed, which places its electron density near the positions of these nuclei. The calculated small Wiberg bond indices and the van der Waals penetration distance are in accord with a non-covalent type of interactions of the kind Lewis acid-Lewis base.


Arsenic, a naturally occurring element seen in the environment and cycled by water has been seen to be a pollutant in soil, water and air. The inorganic form of arsenic is associated with major health problems and cancer mainly arising due to its anthropogenic activities. The content of arsenic was assayed in six rice brands sold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The rice samples were ground to powdered forms and subjected to acid digestion before analysis. The Agilent Micro Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer (MP-AES) was used to analyze the digested samples. Results showed mean arsenic concentration in Vico Rice, the highest as 1.0073. This was followed by Local Rice 0.9420, Marori Benz 0.9140, Golden Stallion Rice 0.861 and the Cap Rice 0.8077 while the least mean concentration of arsenic was recorded in African Princess Rice 0.6417, all in mg/kg. The mean concentration was significantly different in the six brands of rice (P<0.05). The arsenic content in the different rice brand was within the tolerable concentration of 1.4 mg/kg as in cereals and vegetables. This concentration did not exceed the Maximum Permissible Limit of 1 mg/kg hence considered safe for consumption except Vico rice with a higher concentration above 1 mg/kg. This shows that rice brands sold in Port Harcourt pose no health risk for consumers with respect to arsenic content.


Customer service oriented technical support is common, but it has a high demand of users who need to be attended to simultaneously and at any time. This paper presents a systematic literature review showing a broad perspective on chatbots applied to customer service. Searches were conducted in: IEEE Xplore, Taylor & Francis, ETHzurich, Wiley Online Library, Science Direct, ERIC, ERIC, Microsoft Academic, Google Scholar, ACM Digital Library, and ARDI. This review presents discussions on the feasibility of implementing chatbots in customer service. The results of the systematic review conclude that chatbots are constantly improving with respect to the technologies used for their implementation, consequently, there is an improvement in the application of customer service, which has also caused the expansion of the scope of application reaching sectors such as health, transportation, education, among others. This application is booming in all countries of the world; however, the United States is the one that has more research, due to the great demand of customers and the great technological advancement, therefore, this country is the one who is at the forefront when it comes to chatbots.


Abstract: The AIDS HIV structural databases (HIVSDB, http://bioinfo.nist.gov/SemanticWeb_pr2d/chemblast.do ), the Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/home/home.do) and the PubChem ( http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ ) distribute one of the largest comprehensive collections of structural data on inhibitors, drug leads and clinical drugs for many diseases including AIDS. These databases contain info on several thousand biologically active compounds from many classes (HIV PR, RT, CCR5, Integrase) of FDA approved drugs for AIDS. Efficient and yet user friendly rule-based data management systems that support state-of-the-art annotation, visualization and query capabilities are crucial for the effective use of data for fragment based structural pharmacology and rational drug design. Semantic Web is the vision of the World Wide Web Consortium for enabling seamless integration of electronic data for data mining and knowledge generation across the Web. Robust and functionally relevant ontology plays a critical role in developing the data elements for a Semantic Web. Presentation will illustrate how Rule-based Semantic Web concepts are used for novel annotation, data integration, storage, and query to manage and display structural (fragments, 2-D images and text-based) biological, and pre-clinical data (http://xpdb.nist.gov/chemblast/pdb.html ). The technique is called (Chem-BLAST – Chemical Block Layered Alignment of Substructure Technique) and it allows rapid comparison and exchange of compound information using automated rulebased methods to develop structural ontology for use in drug discovery process. The methods and the results that will be presented are probably the first of its kind in biological world that uses entirely rule-based event processing methods to build, integrate and exchange information. The ontology developed by the methods is amenable to be presented either as an RDF or XML or to be used in a relational database. We call it a structural facebook as it is driven by ontology of structures of 'shared features' and presents them using visual images for rapid comparison.


T he past 10 to 15 years have seen a strong push within the Department of Defense and other government agencies toward the use of COTS software products in system acquisition. On the surface, this makes a lot of sense – why build something from scratch that already exists, especially if it is a mature product? In fact, with the increasing complexity of today's systems, a total custom system is no longer practical. With the continued use of COTS components in building systems, it is a worthwhile objective to identify sources of cost and approaches to managing them. It is the intent of this article to identify these sources. As part of an effort to collect data to calibrate a cost model for systems consisting of COTS components, a number of interviews were conducted with project managers, team leads, and other project members maintaining COTS-intensive systems. People consistently told us that these systems were more expensive to maintain than originally estimated and, in fact, were more costly than a comparable custom-built system to maintain. At the same time, we heard frustration expressed about the difficulty of communicating to upper management the reasons why COTS-based systems are so expensive to maintain. If COTS-based systems really are more costly to maintain, what are these additional costs? Are there strategies for managing or minimizing them? These questions are addressed in this article 3. Before proceeding to answer these questions, we need to define some terms. A COTS software component is defined as it was used in the COCOTS model [2]. This definition contains the following four parts: 1. A COTS component is sold, leased, or licensed for a fee (which includes vendor support in fixing defects if they are found). 2. The source code is unavailable. 3. The component evolves over time as the vendor provides periodic releases of the product (upgrades) containing fixes and new or enhanced functional-ity. 4. Any given version of a COTS component will reach eventual obsolescence or end of life in which it will no longer be supported by the vendor. All four parts of this definition have major implications for the added costs of maintaining COTS-intensive systems (compared to comparable custom-developed systems). At any given time for any given component , there is a choice between upgrading to the next version or doing nothing. There are risks inherent in either strategy. If the first choice is made …


In Wireless Sensor Network nodes are densely deployed and are prone to failure and the topology of sensor network changes very frequently. Sensor nodes are tiny devices limited in power, computation capacity, memory, sensing range and mobility. The major factors responsible for energy consumption in WSN"s are idle listing, collision, overhearing, overhead, congestion and unnecessary high transmission range. In this paper we reviewed the various cross layer designs using distributed method of information sharing among the layers and came to the conclusion as MR (MAC-ROUTING) is the best approach to design easily with good results in various parameters of network throughput, end to end delay, energy consumption, overhead, packet loss and residual energy compared to other cross layer approaches. Here we also observed that MAC layer plays a vital role in minimizes the energy consumption in various types of cross layer approaches.


cause which may lead to a reduction of the machining accuracy of machine tools. In this paper, the machining accuracy reliability is defined as the ability of a machine tool to perform at its specified machining accuracy under the stated conditions for a given period of time, and a new approach for analyzing the machining accuracy reliability of machine tools based on fast Markov chain simulations is proposed. Using this method, seven different failure modes could be determined for a machine tool. An analysis of the machining accuracy reliability sensitivity was performed based on solving the integral of the failure probability of the machine tool, and the key geometric errors which most strongly affect the machining accuracy reliability were identified. Finally, in this study, a 4-axis machine tool was selected as an example to experimentally validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.


【Objective】 To investigate the prevalence and related factors of self-reported food allergy for infants and young children in southwest China.【Methods】 A cross-sectional study on food allergy was carried out among 3 344infants and young children aged 6~24months who were selected from urban and rural of Yunnan,Guizhou and Sichuan provinces by stratified random cluster method.Data on morbidity of self-reported allergy,food allergens and basic informations about both child and their family were collected from a questionnaire through interviewing infants'caregivers.The related factors on food allergy were analyzed by Logistic regression models.【Results】 The morbidity of self-reported food allergy in infants and young children was 9.54%,the difference between urban(13.62%)and rural(5.69%)group was statistically significant(χ2=61.51,P0.05),and no differences were found in gender and age.The main food allergens were fish and shrimp(34.65%),eggs(29.53%)and fruits(9.45%)in urban,and there were fish and shrimp(30.63%),eggs(27.03%)and dairy(18.02%)in rural.The risk of food allergy for children in cesarean group was higher than that of children in natural delivery group(OR=1.53,P0.05);Breastfeeding in 4months after birth related to food allergy.The risk of food allergy in mixed feeding group was higher than that of exclusive breastfeeding group(OR=2.17,P0.05).The risk of food allergy for infants in breastfeeding with less than 4months was higher than that of infants in breastfeeding with more than 4months(OR=1.55,P0.05).【Conclusions】 The problem should cause our attention that the morbidity of self-reported food allergy in infants and young children is relatively high.Natural delivery and breastfeeding is likely to benefit to prevent food allergy in infants and young children.


For many years, many thousands of Vietnamese patriots have sacrificed themselves for a double objective—the unity and independence of Vietnam—and it was in pursuit of these aims immediately after the Second World War that, first the Viet-Minh, then the anti-Communist nationalists, brought into operation all the means at their disposal, both military and diplomatic. The Geneva Agreements of July 1954 confirmed the independence of Vietnam at international level. Yet, at the same time the country's unity, which for several years had no longer constituted a problem, was destroyed.


Objectives: We utilize a Case Report of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from pneumonia together with applications from Fic-Fac Ratio to creatively explain COVID-19's drug and vaccine developments, and mitigation measures to combat the resulting pandemic (declared by World Health Organization on March 11, 2020). Methods: Diagnostic test 'Accuracy' refers to ability of that test to distinguish between patients with disease, and those without. Our novel Fic-Fac Ratio, which is an acronym that stands for Fictitious-Factitious Ratio, is roughly considered as 'Inverse Accuracy' with higher Accuracy corresponding to lower Fic-Fac Ratio and vice versa. Regarded as tertiary spin-off from mathematically proving open problems in Number theory of Riemann hypothesis (and explaining two types of Gram points), Polignac's and Twin prime conjectures; we succinctly outline the derivation of this Ratio. Results: 2003 Case Report of 43 year-old male presenting with severe ARDS due to Bilateral Early Lobar Pneumonia of uncertain viral etiology resulting in death at a small Australian regional hospital. ACE is an acronym that stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme. The functions of ACE and its counterpart ACE2 are outlined. Physiological and pharmacological implications of ACE2 also acting as entry receptor for the coronavirus causing COVID-19 infection are detailed. Epidemiological principles on modelling COVID-19 pandemic with 'less accurate' SIR model versus 'more accurate' SEIR model are also presented. Conclusions: Controlling COVID-19 pandemic and developing effective COVID-19 drugs and vaccine(s) can be creatively explained using Fic-Fac Ratio. International collaboration is generally required to defeat COVID-19. Box 1. Significance of this study. Since originating from Wuhan, China in December 2019; crucial medical aspects of COVID-19 with its resulting pandemic (officially declared by World Health Organization on March 11, 2020) were quickly ascertained by astute health workers and epidemiologists from many countries dealing with global COVID-19 patients. Our novel Fic-Fac Ratio can be regarded as a simple mathematical tool to usefully model COVID-19 and help clinicians better understand this deadly infection. This Ratio essentially allows us to relate open problems from Number theory when considered as a frontier branch of Mathematics to COVID-19 from Medicine when considered as other science, technology and biology. COVID-19 is an acronym that stands for Coronavirus Disease 2019 with severity ranging from asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe to life-threatening with potential to result in residual chronic debilitating symptoms after recovery. It is a multi-organ disease generally affecting human lungs to the worst degree. To help ease time constraint of busy front-line health workers interested in reading this paper, its content is mindfully composed to succinctly include selected materials on COVID-19 pandemic – officially declared by World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Caused by highly contagious and moderately virulent SARS-CoV-2, this deadly pandemic has resulted in unprecedented negative global impacts from health and economic crisis with numerous deaths and widespread job losses. With many unknown factors, lockdown stages imposed and their subsequent easing to control outbreaks are often implemented by health authorities on the fly. Similar to most respiratory virus, spread of infection occurs through direct or indirect contact, > 5 μm size droplet spray in short-range transmission, < 5 μm size aerosol in long-range transmission (airborne transmission). Through our Fic-Fac Ratio which is regarded as tertiary spin-off from mathematically proving open problems in Number theory of Riemann hypothesis (and explaining two types of Gram points), Polignac's and Twin prime conjectures; we relate open problems from Number theory when considered as a frontier branch of Mathematics to COVID-19 from Medicine when considered as other science, technology and biology. Transmitted between animals and people, zoonotic virus SARS-CoV-2 which originated from Wuhan, China in December 2019 causing COVID-19 has clearly been shown not to be a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus [1]. The aim of publishing this paper is to promote useful knowledge on COVID-19 pandemic in a creative manner with overall goal to help foster global cooperation between all nations on planet Earth to effectively combat this pandemic. It does not contain any compromising or intrusive materials such as sensitive criticisms on national or international policies from selected countries. International cooperation to effectively combat the pandemic is required with China and US playing crucial roles aided by other big and small countries alike such as Russia, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Thailand. Figure 1. Schematically depicted SIR model consisting of three compartments. Figure 2. Schematically depicted SEIR model consisting of four compartments. SIR model depicted in Figure 1 and SEIR model depicted in Figure 2 are epidemiological (compartmental) models commonly used by mathematicians to compute theoretical number of people inflicted with an infectious illness such as COVID-19 in a closed population over time. Respectively, they consist of three and four compartments derived from: S for Susceptible Population, E for Exposed Population, I for Infectious Population, and R for Recovered Population [including deceased and/or immune individuals]. Both models utilize (deterministic) ordinary differential equations – these equations will not be replicated in this paper. Aspects of modelling this pandemic in terms of our derived Fic-Fac Ratio are loosely and intuitively perceived as "Incompletely Predictable" – a term also used when solving the seemingly unconnected abovementioned open problems in Number theory [2]. The adjective factitious derives from factus and therefore facere means to correctly make or utilize something based on (true) fact whereas fictitious derives from fictus and therefore fingere means to incorrectly make or utilize something based on (false) fiction. We predominantly refer the "something" here to include mathematical arguments (MA) and diagnostic tests (DT). These two adjectives with their given meanings are used to help create Fic-Fac Ratio, which is an acronym that stands for Fictitious-Factitious Ratio. DT 'Accuracy' refers to ability of that test to distinguish between patients with disease, and those without. Roughly considered as 'Inverse Accuracy' [with higher Accuracy corresponding to lower Fic-Fac Ratio and vice versa], we advocate this Ratio to be universally applicable to all well-defined mathematical models. With or without a "pseudo-component" (respectively) equating to '< 100% accuracy' or '100% accuracy', we usefully categorize all synthesized mathematical models to be broadly associated with either "proposed states" such as Riemann hypothesis or "natural states" such as COVID-19 pandemic. During mathematical modelling of Riemann hypothesis [2], less accurate inequation [as opposed to more accurate equation] is the relevant pseudo-component as it contains Pseudo-∑(all fractional exponents). During epidemiological modelling of COVID-19 pandemic, less accurate "Pseudo-SIR" model [as opposed to more accurate SEIR model] is the relevant pseudo-component as it does not contain compartment E for Exposed Population. Deriving FicFac Ratio is outlined in next section followed by a Case Report of severe pneumonia. By applying this Ratio to open problems, COVID-19 and its resulting pandemic, we subsequently provide concrete examples of ideal gold standard MA and ideal gold standard DT with associated MA and DT results corresponding to Fic-Fac Ratio = 0.


Schneider, Edgar W., Kate Burridge, Bernd Kortmann, Rajend Mesthrie, & Clive Upton (eds.), A handbook of varieties of English: A multimedia reference tool. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 2004. Vol. 1, xvii, 1168 pp.; vol. 2, xvii, 1226 pp. Hb/CD-ROM $720. These two volumes and CD-ROM form an impressive and informative survey of all major English varieties currently spoken. The aim, in the words of the editors, is "documenting and mapping the structural variation among (spontaneously spoken) non-standard varieties of English." Various standard Englishes, such as Received Pronunciation (RP), are also described, although it is not clear how the editors distinguished a national standard from a national variety. These standard varieties are used as "implicit standard[s] of comparison" for most varieties. Although this perspective might seem surprising in a descriptive work, upon further thought this explicit acknowledgment is refreshing. In many studies, the use of a standard variety for comparison usually remains implicit, rather than being acknowledged at the outset.


Thesis (M.S.)--Dept. of Population Studies, AUB, 2003.;"Advisor: Dr. Prem Saxena, Professor, Population Studies--Member of Committee: Dr. Monique Chaaya, Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Population Health--Member of Committee: Dr. Nabil Dajani, Profe


This paper discusses the main factors underlying the acquisition and mastery of French as a second language by schoolchildren in Togo, on the basis of a bilateral study of L2 acquisition from the beginning of schooling up to secondary school. We expand in particular on the influence of assessment practices on the acquisitional setting. A systemic approach shows the consequences of assessment on every level of the acquisitional situation and on cognitive development. From there, we aim at making explicit the involvement of acquisitional research on improving teaching and learning of French and the quality of school education in a L2.


The results of the conventional and special experiment on the parameters such as porosity,permeability,capillary pressure,wettability,grain size of cores got from low-resistivity formations of A Oilfield were analyzed.The low-resistivity beds in this oilfield were mainly controlled by some factors including high cation exchange capacity of smectite or mixed illite-smectite,high irreducible water saturation in micro?-porosity system,existence of trace pyrite.The porosities of conductive beds ranged from 15.0 percent to 28.2 percent,and the permeability values were less than 0 03μm 2.Although porosity exponent was only 0 530,the lithologic constanta was 6 363.The relationship between resistivity index and water saturation showed a non-liner pattern in dual-logarithm coordinate.The saturation exponent ranged from 1 01 to 1 10.The saturation exponents corrected by cation exchange capcity ranged from 1 56 to 1 65.The CT scanning technique and SEM are useful to determinate the microstructure of rocks and the distribution of pores and minerals.


Grifola frondosa is a kind of edible fungus in the forest of subtropic and temperate, the polysaccharides (named as grifolan) extracted from the fruit bodies and mycelia have the bio-activities on cancers, HIV virus, hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Studies showed its activities are connected with immunomodulation. In this paper, the chemical and pharmacological studies on grifolan from the Grifola frondosa were been reviewed.


Time-mean and fluctuating forces acting on two rectangular prisms of the same dimension in tandem arrangement placed in a uniform flow were investigated experimentally. The results were summarized in several figures from which one can obtain the time-mean drag, the fluctuating drag, the fluctuating lift and the Strouhal number for the various distance between the two prisms. Further, the behavior of the fluctuating lift and drag obtained from the conditional sampling based on the velocity signal of the periodic vortex shedding were presented and discussed. The vortex shedding from the downstream prism was trigered by the arrival of the vortices from the upstream prism when the distance between the two prisms exceeds three times of the prism width. Phase shift between the fluctuating lift generated by the vortex shedding was founded to be proportional to the distance between the two prisms.


The basic hypothesis of this paper is that the amount of fishing that a fish harvester undertakes during a year is not determined entirely by circumstances which are exogenous to the fisher, such as weather conditions and resource availability, but is also partially a matter of individual choice. The paper develops a behavioral model of fishing from the perspective that the decision to modify the period of time over which fishing takes place is governed by a comparison of the marginal benefits and costs of doing so. The model is tested econometric ally as an error-components model using a 10% longitudinal sample of recipients of seasonal fishermen's unemployment insurance benefits in Newfoundland over the period 1971-93. The results suggest that the Canadian unemployment insurance program has reduced the length of the fishing season in Newfoundland by about 8-10 weeks.


Planar structures are often used recently due to their many advantages. Transformers, power inductors and EMI filters are only a few components that are constructed using this technique. In order to increase their efficiency, parasitic capacitance (EPC) must be decreases and HF losses must be appropriate to their utilisation. In previous studies it was discovered that a shifted winding of the planar structures decreases EPC.This paper represents a study which aims at finding an optimum shifting of the windings, wich will decrease EPC and increase HF losses.


Through the research on photosynthesis of bamboo species(Dendrocalamus asper)introduced from Thailand and planted in Zhejiang,Fujian and Guangdong provinces,their physiological adaptation response to different environments during domestication process were discussed.Results got in the 3 experimental fields were as follows: Photosynthetic capacity of D.asper was significantly different in three different regions.Its net photosynthetic rate(Pn),phtosynthetic capacity,transpiration rate(Tr) etc.varied with the latitude,i.e.,the one in Rui′an where has the highest latitude and relatively low light and temperature showed lower photosynthetic capacity than those in Hua′an and Guangning.The diurnal change of Pn in Rui′an demonstrated a "single-peak",whose peak time appeared at 12:00 am,while the other two were "twin peaks",whose peak time appeared at 10:00 and 14:00 respectively,and the first peak was higher than the latter.The photoresponse characteristic parameters also demonstrated that the photosynthesis capacity of D.asper in Rui′an was weaker than the other two places.The Pn,max in Rui′an was only about 80 % of that in Hua′an and Guangning.Rui′an′s light compensation point(Plc) and light saturation point(Pls) were also very low,only 38.4 and 712.60 μmol/(m2·s)respectively.Among three places,Plc and Pls of D.asper′s in Hua′an was the highest.In the morning,the Gs was the essential factor to Pn,comparing that Pn might be effected mainly by other factors in the afternoon.Gs in Rui′an was obviously lower than that in the other two regions,therefore,the intercellular CO2 concentration and Pn in Rui′an was the lowerest among the three.The dormancy of Pn in the noon time was mainly caused by the inhibition of Gs,while in the afternoon,the intercellular CO2 concentration kept high,as the low rate of Pn was caused by non-stomatal factors.


The importance of reactive energy measurement was introduced and the principle of reactive power measurement was analyzed.In order to optimize the evaluation of users power factor,a more reasonable method to measure reactive energy and to evaluate power factor was presented.The method was verified by experiment data.


Polymers [N(CO) 2 Ph-CO-NR-CO-Ph(CO) 2 N-PhXPh] n (R = Me,Et,Pro, But, X = O, CH 2 ) were prepared. Glass transition and thermal decomposition temperatures of these polymers were in the range 180-210°c and 430-460°c, respectively. It was expected that in comparison to commercial polyimides the mechanical properties of these polymers remain unaffected whereas processability might be improved owing to the reduced glass transition temperature.


This study used 'Honeymoon' sweet corn planted on the University of New Hampshire Kingman Farm, Madbury, N.H. on 30 Jun. Each plot consisted of a single 20-ft row of corn and each treatment was replicated 4 times and arranged in a randomized block design. When the plants reached the 10% silking stage, silk spray applications of each treatment were initiated using an R & D CO2-pressurized (40 psi) single-nozzle hand-held sprayer that delivered 28,8 gal/acre. The sprays were directed toward the silk zone on each side of the row on 18 Aug, 22 Aug, 26 Aug, 31 Aug, and 3 Sep. Evaluations were made on 14 Sep by examining 20 ears from each replicate for the presence of larvae or feeding injury.