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CIW Foundations Certification Bible | From the Publisher: ::: The depth and scope of the book will precisely map to the CIW objectives stated in the CIW Foundations credential to make certain that certification objectives map to book content which in turn maps to test questions on the certification exam. This ensures a high level of reliability and validity of the Foundations book in preparing candidates to pass the CIW Foundations examination. |
1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Salts as New Catalysts to Produce Epoxy-anhydride Polymers with Improved Properties | We report the curing process of epoxy oligomers by using isomethyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride catalyzed with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium salts. Catalytic action has been ascertained to be dependent on the nature of anion. Salts with and anions appeared to be most active. Formation of salt adducts with epoxy resin and anhydride is shown. Polymers having higher values of strength and glass transition temperature—as compared with similar epoxy systems cured in the presence of tertiary amines as catalysts—are prepared. |
Analytical Model for Predicting Shear Strengths of Interior Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Joints for Seismic Resistance | A softened strut-and-tie model was previously developed for determining the shear strengths of exterior beam-column joints for seismic resistance. This existing model originates from the strut-and-tie concept and satisfies equilibrium, compatibility, and the constitutive laws of cracked reinforced concrete. This paper examines the applicability of the previously proposed model to interior beam-column joints. The calculated shear capacities of 56 interior joints were compared with the experimental results, and good agreement was obtained. |
Cáncer de cuello uterino y grupo sanguíneo | The analysis presented on 2,151 patients with cervical cancer and blood group, it is not positive to support him any correlation. The figures show almost a similar distribution to the one with the rest of the "normal population", and exactly superimposed with the statistics reported by Dr. Velasco in 8,610 women who have another disease but not cervical cancer. |
Polarization properties of Rayleigh backscattering with a high degree of coherence in single-mode fibers | Abstract The state and degree of polarization (SOP, DOP) of Rayleigh backscattering (RB) are analyzed by using Jones calculus for the case the source coherent length is larger than the fiber length. It shows that the SOP of RB is the same as the SOP of input light, and the fiber disturbance does not influence the SOP of RB. The DOP of RB is also the same as that of input light. The corresponding experiments have been carried out, and the results agree well with all the predictions. |
Elective Orchiopexy for Recurrent Testicular Torsion | AbstractThe over-all testicular salvage rate with acute torsion is only 20 to 50 per cent. However, up to 50 per cent of the patients with acute torsion have experienced previous episodes of acute testicular pain. The features of resolved acute torsion in 9 patients are described. It is suggested that if an elective orchiopexy is performed after an episode of resolved acute torsion then the over-all rate of testicular salvage should improve by obviating subsequent acute torsion. |
Stability of Frames in the Presence of Primary Bending Moments | Systematic method of analyzing stability of frames against sidesway buckling is developed; 2 possible approaches are presented; slope deflection equation method based on equilibrium considerations and moment distribution procedure; these otherwise well known techniques, for analysis of stability of frames subjected to loads at joints, are extended here to general case in which primary bending moments occur prior to buckling. |
Drifting in populations of the alfalfa leafcutting bee,Megachile rotundata(Fab.) (Hym., Megachilidae) | The within-field drifting of Megachile rotundata (Fab.) females was evaluated at three field sites in Saskatchewan and one site in Alberta, Canada. Marked females were released at field shelters and bee movement was monitored throughout the field season. High levels of bee drifting were observed at all locations. An average of 32.3% (Saskatchewan) or 51.8% (Alberta) of marked females were observed to have drifted away from their release site. The distance female bees drifted was predicted using exponential regression equations and expressed using contour reponse patterns. This high level of within-field movement must be taken into account when evaluating field treatments in sub-populations of alfalfa leafcutting bees. |
LibGuides: Florida Teacher Resources: U.S. Department of Education | This guide is intended to provide resources for both academic and professional use. Federal Resources |
Spontaneous hemothorax associated with von Recklinghausen's disease | Spontaneous hemothorax is a rare and life threatening complication of neurofibromatosis. Two types of vascular involvement have been described: (a) stenotic or aneurysmal alterations in large vessels such as the aorta and its branches; and (b) dysplastic features in smaller vessels. Thoracotomy and surgical ligation of the bleeding vessels is primarily indicated in the presence of active bleeding with associated hemodynamic compromise. A more conservative approach with endovascular embolization or non-operative management have also been reported in case of hemodynamic stability. We present a rare case of spontaneous hemothorax treated conservatively in a patient with von Recklinghausen’s disease. q 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. |
Optimal Experiment Design for Identifying Dynamical Takagi-Sugeno Models with Minimal Parameter Uncertainty | Abstract In this contribution the optimal experiment design for the identification of linear affine Takagi-Sugeno (TS) models is discussed. The parameters of these models can be separated into local model and partition parameters which also allows for a separation of the design. The presented optimal design is based on the Fisher Information Matrix (FIM) and its objective is to minimize the parameter estimation uncertainty. In this contribution parameters of a standard test signal type (multi-step) are optimized to achieve this objective. The effectivity of FIM-based designs for nonlinear models depends on initial identification including structural decisions. The general functionality of the presented method is demonstrated on a case study. |
Evidence-based design recommendations for prevalence studies on multimorbidity: improving comparability of estimates | Background ::: In aging populations, multimorbidity causes a disease burden of growing importance and cost. However, estimates of the prevalence of multimorbidity (prevMM) vary widely across studies, impeding valid comparisons and interpretation of differences. With this study we pursued two research objectives: (1) to identify a set of study design and demographic factors related to prevMM, and (2) based on (1), to formulate design recommendations for future studies with improved comparability of prevalence estimates. |
Apoplastic Proteins Involved in Communication Between Tomato and the Fungal Pathogen Cladosporium Fulvum | Cladosporium fulvum is a biotrophic fungal parasite which colonizes the intercellular spaces between the mesophyll cells of tomato leaves and is confined to the apoplast during the main part of the disease cycle (De Wit 1977; Lazarovits and Higgins 1976). The apoplastic fluid of infected leaves contains proteins which are constitutively produced by the plant, plant proteins specifically induced by the fungus and fungal proteins constitutively produced or specifically induced by the plant. Several of these induced plant proteins belong to the class of pathogenesis related (PR) proteins, some of which appear to have 1,3-β-glucanase and chitinase activity. The latter proteins have antifungal activity. One class of fungal proteins may be important for obtaining or establishing basic compatibility, while another class of proteins plays a role in race-or cultivar-specific resistance. These latter proteins are also known as race-specific elicitors. |
Smart distribution system research and education at the FREEDM systems center | This panel paper outlines the undergoing research towards the development of a novel smart distribution system at the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center. The center's mission is to develop fundamental and enabling technologies necessary for a next generation smart distribution systems which can facilitate seamless integration of distributed recourses. The paper will also highlight center's education programs that are being developed for educating the next generation of power engineers who will be needed for the development and management of such systems. |
DOPPLER-FREE STUDY OF THE $Li_{2}$ MOLECULE: THE $B^{1}\Pi_{u}$ STATE | $^{a}$ I. Russier, F. Martin, C. Linton, P. Crozet, A.J. Ross, R. Bacis and S. Churassy, J. Mol. Spectroscopy, 168, 39 (1994) |
Thermoplastic molding compositions having a high toughness | (57) Abstract: A) 30 to 98 wt% of a thermoplastic polymer, i.e., A) with respect to a1) a styrene compound represented by the following formula 50 to 100 wt% (R Each monomer that, using one or more protective colloids dispersed in water to obtain a dispersion of droplets of a volume average particle size d |
The optically active process of higher-order bands in neutron-irradiated silicon | The optically active process of higher-order bands (HOBs) in fast-neutron-irradiated float-zone silicon has been investigated at low temperature using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer with optical excitation. It is found that the photoexcitation process follows an exponential time dependence and that the decay is logarithmic with a decay time constant of 105 s at 7 K. The saturation value of the absorption coefficients depends on the logarithm of the illumination-light intensity. These characteristics are associated with the slow relaxation of photoexcited carriers originating mainly from defect clusters. The relaxation behaviour of photoexcited carriers has been analysed using the macroscopic-barrier model, which is in good agreement with the observations. |
Survey of health informatics of health organizations in Chongqing | Objective To master the present situation of health informatics of health organizations in Chongqing,and to retionally lay out and plan the programs of informatics technique in all health organizations.Methods Informatics technique's establishment, personnel, outlay, schedule and steps of informatics were surveyed by symposium, questionnaire and phone consultation. Results The health informatics in Chongqing shows the following characteristics:(1)Health informatics construction has definite foundation stated advancement health organization in Chongqing; (2)It is a just primary step of the informatics building; (3)The health informatics construction is restricted by many complications.Conclusion Several suggestions are put forward to further strengthen the health informatics construction. |
Apnea and periodic breathing during sleep. | In this issue of the Journal, Javaheri reports on his ongoing studies of periodic breathing during sleep in patients with congestive heart failure.1 Since breathing is usually regular, periodic bre... |
Online Optimization in Dynamic Environments: A Regret Analysis for Sparse Problems | Time-varying systems are a challenge in many scientific and engineering areas. Usually, estimation of time-varying parameters or signals must be performed online, which calls for the development of responsive online algorithms. In this paper, we consider this problem in the context of the sparse optimization; specifically, we consider the Elastic-net model, which promotes parsimonious solutions. Following the rationale in \cite{mok16}, we propose an online algorithm and we theoretically prove that it is successful in terms of dynamic regret. We then show an application to the problem of recursive identification of time-varying autoregressive models, in the case when the number of parameters to be estimated is unknown. Numerical results show the practical efficiency of the proposed method. |
Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Hysterectomy | Organized by: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) ; CUHK Jockey Club Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills Centre |
[The prospective directions of research in teratology]. | Unsolved problems of modern teratology are discussed. The monitoring of the congenital malformation incidence is one of the variants of evaluation and control of the mutation pressing in the population. The investigation of human foetuses obtained in artificial abortions may be very helpful in this respect. The investigation of the phenotypical manifestations of malformations in the human prenatal ontogenesis and the use of the results for the creation of notion on the malformation morphogenesis seems to be perspective. The definition of the tissue dysplasias and their classification (dystopia, dyssynchronia, hamartomas) are given. The issue of the tissue malformations during the postnatal development is not similar. They may be asymptomatic, or to disturb the function of the organ concerned, or to predispose to chronic inflammation or neoplastic growth. |
Land use land cover change and the comparative impact of co-management and government-management on the forest cover in Malawi (1999-2018) | ABSTRACTMiombo Woodland is the major Land use/land cover with important ecological functions in Africa. In Malawi, government-management was designed to manage Woodlands. However, when illegal acti... |
Theoretical studies and spectroscopic investigations of ground and excited electronic states of thiophene oligomers | Abstract CNDO/S calculations including single and double excited configurations were performed on thiophene oligomers n T with 2–6 monomer units. In contrast to the results on linear polyenes only single excited configurations are necessary to explain the experimental results. The theoretical energies for the lowest 1 1 B states are in good agreement with the low energy absorption origins and the high energy fluorescence maxima and with the 1 1 B state energies observed at low temperature. The results show that the 2 1 A state lies above the 1 1 B state for 2T–6T. Transient absorption bands measured by picosecond spectroscopy could be assigned to transitions between 1 1 B and higher calculated 1 A states of all studied oligomers n T. |
"Renaissance" of Economic Migration in the West | The article deals with historical forms and recent trends in economic migration in western countries. It is demonstrated that the use of foreign labor force has multidimensional consequences for the receiving societies. Modern approaches of western states to economic migration that are aimed at attracting foreign workers in demand, entrepreneurs and investors are analysed. |
Chelating derivatives of chitosan obtained by reaction with ascorbic acid | Ascorbic acid immediately dissolves Euphausia superba chitosan upon mixing and forms chitosan ascorbate; during the 6-h period after dissolution in water at pH 5–7, ascorbate is oxidized to dehydroascorbate which undergoes Schiff reaction with the amino groups of chitosan, thus yielding a viscous solution of a polymeric ketimine. The latter is characterized by infrared spectrometry, circular dichroism spectropolarimetry, viscometry and alkalimetry. When brought into contact with transition metal ions, the chitosan ascorbate ketimine yields insoluble metal chelates. Upon reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride, the water-insoluble N-[2-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)tetrahydrofuryl] chitosan (NDTC) is obtained, which shows enhanced capacity for uranium, up to 800 mg U/g from solutions at pH 4·5. |
Corruption and Unethical Practices in Project Management in Nigeria | This work will help those in the building industry and those in the offices in charge of awarding any kind of contract especially construction which is subject to a lot of reviews due to force majure and artificial causes caused by those occupying the offices just because of their selfish interest. This work will also show that ethical values is fast diminishing in places and offices in charge of awarding contracts. It will also give a clue on how wastage and mismanagement is accrued in project that are not sopped to last more than their stipulated time. But by abiding by the ethical values and laws of project management it will serve as an eye opener that Nepotism does not help when considering who to award contract. This therefore will considerably reduce wastage embezzlement and mismanagement most especially to government contracts. |
The moderating role of knowledge in designing trusted web interface in entrepreneurial electronic businesses | In this research for the first time the moderating role of user knowledge in designing a web interface and electronic trust (e-truet) was studied. To this end, about 700 electronic questionnaire was sent to the target population of the study which consisted of faithful users of forum Arirangfa. 240 questionnaires were completed. Accepted questionnaires were analyzed through structural equations and partial least squares method and Smart-PLS 2.0 software. The results of the analysis of data indicated that: 1) the model was a robust theoretical model for predicting electronics’ trust through design of web interface. 2) According to user view, graphic design of website are not related to e-Trust. 3) Among dimensions of web design, structure design has the greatest impact on users’ trust on the website. 4) The level of user knowledge can not moderate the relartion between design dimentions of website and e-trust. |
FUNCTIONAL PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS FOR DYNAMIC FAULT SCENARIO CLASSIFICATION | This paper reports the results of a comparison of different approaches with respect to the classification of the numerous accidental scenarios generated in a dynamic safety analysis of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) with digital Instrumentation and Control (I&C). In particular, two algorithms are used for classification (Fuzzy C-Means clustering and kth nearest neighbor rule) with two sets of input variables (the values of the relevant process variable and the corresponding functional principal components). |
The impact of customer mobility | The rapidly increasing requirement on public telecommunications operators to satisfy the communication needs of the mobile customer, in terms of both subscriber and equipment mobility, certainly represents a factor influencing the changing 'face' of telecommunications transmission. The author discusses mobility features and the associated increase in transmitted signalling load and bandwidth economy, as observed in public land mobile networks, both of the current analogue and forthcoming digital types. In general, the classical communication path from fixed point A to fixed point B, using a fixed path over a variety of transmission systems in between, has been overtaken by mobile point A communicating with fixed or mobile point B, using a succession of transmission paths (due to the handover requirement) in the general case. > |
Calculation of Suspension Peptization | Report regarding the combination the theories of flocculation, particle repulsion, and particle attraction in order to "understand the flocculation characteristics of TH02 suspensions" (p. 2). |
Extraction, matching and pose recovery based on dominant rectangular structures | Man-made environments possess many regularities which can be efficiently exploited for image based rendering as well as robotic visual navigation and localization tasks. In this paper we present an approach for automatic extraction of dominant rectangular structures from a single view and show how they facilitate the recovery of camera pose, planar structure and matching across widely separated views. Since in the presented approach the rectangular hypothesis formation is based on a higher level information encoded by the presence of orthogonal vanishing directions, the dominant rectangular structures can be detected and matched despite the presence of multiple repetitive structures often encountered in a variety of buildings. The different stages of the approach are demonstrated on various examples of images of indoors and outdoors structured environments. |
Evaluation of a Medical Faculty Development Program | Pre- and postintervention self-assessments are commonly used to evaluate educational interventions. However, when training influences participants'criteria for their self-ratings (response shift), the validity of the traditional prefpost comparisons is suspect. We assessed the influence of this phenomenon in a national faculty development program for clinical teachers. We compared changes in traditional pre/post self-assessment ratings with changes in retrospective pre/post self-assessment ratings. Data included prelpost intervention faculty self-assessments and evaluations of faculty by housestaff and students. On dimensions addressed in the training program, retrospective pre/post comparisons revealed more significant changes in teaching performance and attitudes than traditional pre/post comparisons. Housestaff and student evaluations were more consistent with thefaculty 's retrospective pre/post than with traditional prelpost comparisons. We conclude that, compared to traditional prelpost self-assessm... |
Oral supplementation of Thuja oreintalis leaf extract moderately affects the behavior in albino mice in a gender specific manner. | Present study was designed to demonstrate the effect ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja orientalis on the learning and memory formation in albino mice. Four week old albino mice were either orally supplemented with 50mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Thuja orientalis or with equal volume of saline solution (0.9% NaCl) for seven days. A battery of neurological tests (Elevated plus maze, Rota Rod, light and dark box, open field and novel object recognition test) were applied at the end of dose supplementation. Thuja orientalis leaf extract treated female mice spent significantly les time on rotating rod (P = 0.02) than male treated with saline solution [indicating poor neuromuscular coordination]. While all other neurological test performances varied non significantly (P > 0.05) when compared between Thuja orientalis treated albino mice (of both genders) with their respective control groups indicating a moderate effect of 50mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Thuja orientalis on the behavior of young albino mice. |
Implication of Tlr4 and CD14 mRNA expression in lung and hepatic tissues in sepsis rats | Objective To investigate the expression of Tlr4 and CD14 mRNA in the lung and hepatic tissues in sepsis rats.Methods The sepsis model was made by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:normal control (n=10),CLP (subdivided into 24,48,72,96 h post-CLP,n=10 in each).At serial time points in each group,animals were sacrificed,and the tissues of lung,liver,,kidney and intestine were harvested to detect the expression of Tlr4 and CD14 mRNA by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The expression levels of Tlr4 and CD14 mRNA were significantly increased in lung and hepatic tissues during 24-96 h after CLP as compared with control group (P 0.05), while in kidney and intestine there was no statistically significant difference (P 0.05). Conclusion Tlr4 and CD14 may be a key factor in the development of excessive inflammatory response. |
Home Security Alarm System Using LabVIEW | Home security has been a major issue as crime rate is increasing and everybody wants to take proper measures to prevent intrusion. The basic purpose of a home alarm system is to keep ourselves secured, and to safeguard our home. When the alarm is triggered, it emits a loud sound to frighten away intruders. An alarm security system is absolutely essential for anyone who wants to protect their property from those who might try to steal it. The work presented in this report is LabVIEW based simulated home security alarm system which acts as an electronic security guard for the home. Keywords: LabVIEW, security, alarm, sensor, front panel, intruders |
Can fuzzy extension of Delphi-analytical hierarchy process improve hospital site selection? | Applications of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and its Fuzzy Extension (FAHP) can be witnessed in different Multi-criteria Decision- Making (MCDM) situations including location selection. However, the use of such a prominent MCDM tool is limited when it comes to hospital site selection in India. This paper makes an attempt to do a formal study of hospital site selection in India using AHP and its fuzzy extension. The study embeds Delphi both with AHP and FAHP in generating consensus and does a comparative analysis to verify the supremacy of one over another. Three rural locations from India are considered for a potential hospital in the study. Results indicate ‘cost of land’ as the most important sub-factor across both the integrated models followed by ‘population characteristics’. D-AHP and D-FAHP has resulted in varying weights for few sub-factors nevertheless the differences are not statistically significant. |
A practical structure for a very large time sequential data base | This paper discusses the practical aspects of incorporating an indexed sequential file structure into a large time sequential data base, which includes the sequence of intervals between heartbeats measured from the electrocardiogram (ECG). First, the paper describes the time sequential data base. Secondly, the paper presents uses made of the time sequential file. Finally, the paper describes the indexed sequential data structure developed to support this application. |
The role of oxygen transfer in acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment | A study was conducted to evaluate two chemical models of iron oxidation. The first model was proposed by U. S. EPA in 1983 for use in the design of acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment systems. This model expresses the oxidation rate as a function of ferrous iron, oxygen concentrations, and pH. The second model was proposed by the U. S. Bureau of Mines and expresses the oxidation rate as a function of a treatment system's oxygen transfer rate. The findings of the study were that the model based on oxygen transfer was accurate in predicting ox idation rates over a wide range of initial ferrous iron concentrations. The predictions of the EPA model were inaccurate in modeling iron oxidation. Water Environ. Res., 64, 817 (1992). |
Communication-Free Widened Learning of Bayesian Network Classifiers Using Hashed Fiedler Vectors | Widening is a method where parallel resources are used to find better solutions from greedy algorithms instead of merely trying to find the same solutions more quickly. To date, every example of Widening has used some form of communication between the parallel workers to maintain their distances from one another in the model space. For the first time, we present a communication-free, widened extension to a standard machine learning algorithm. By using Locality Sensitive Hashing on the Bayesian networks’ Fiedler vectors, we demonstrate the ability to learn classifiers superior to those of standard implementations and to those generated with a greedy heuristic alone. |
Power enhancement, noise reduction, and linewidth narrowing of THz output by mixing beams from coupled oscillators | THz radiation was generated by mixing idler-idler waves from coupled optical parametric oscillators based on stacked KTP plates. Power enhancement, noise reduction, and linewidth narrowing have been attributed to noise reduction between idler waves. |
Moderate pressure, low‐temperature microwave spectrometer | An apparatus for generating up to ∼3.5 kilobars of hydrostatic pressure from ambient down to liquid helium temperatures has been developed at 35 and 17 GHz. The design incorporates a conical sapphire cavity pressure seal in a piston‐and‐cylinder loaded by a small commercial ram. The use of silicone grease as a hydrostatic working fluid to low temperatures is emphasized. The equipment has been used for several ESR experiments. |
Swallow monitoring through apnea detection in breathing signal | This paper presents the concepts, design, and algorithms for a wearable swallow monitoring system. Swallow monitoring can be used for assessing a person's overall food and drink intake habits as well as other swallow related disorders. The system works based on the key observation that a person's otherwise continuous breathing process is interrupted by a short apnea when she or he swallows as a part of food intake process. Using a wearable chest-belt, we detect swallows by detecting apneas extracted from breathing signal captured by the chest-belt. A matched filter based template matching framework is developed for swallow detection. A number of matched filter template design, both static and iterative, are developed for high-accuracy swallow detection. |
A Smith Predict Fuzzy PID Algorithm for Aeroengine System with Long Time-delay | Because of long time-delay,parameters oscillation have are a serious problem for the fan inlet guide vane system of a certain turbofan engine in the process of trial run test.In order to solve this problem,a smith predict fuzzy PID algorithm is proposed.The result of simulation indicates that it requires less accurate predict model and has better robustness by comparing with the traditional Smith predictor. |
Relativistic bound states at Born level | Theoretical and phenomenological studies indicate that the QCD coupling \alpha_s(Q^2) freezes in the infrared. Hadrons may then be described by a perturbative expansion around "Born" states bound only by a confining potential. A linear potential results from the QCD equations of motion when Gauss' law for A^0 is solved with F_{\mu\nu}^a F^{\mu\nu}_a \neq 0 as boundary condition. The \order{\alpha_s^0} Born states are Poincar\'e covariant and can serve as \ket{in} and \bra{out} states of scattering amplitudes. Their Dirac-type wave functions include f\bar f creation/annihilation effects giving sea-like partons at low x_bj. |
Verticality as the cue for “bigger” in tactile and visual tasks | Pairs of three-dimensional objects, equal in volume but differing in height, were presented visually to 105 Ss and tactually to 105 Ss from Grades 1–7. Ss selected the “bigger” of each pair. Verticality was the dominant visual cue for first and second graders only. In Grades 1–6 verticality was the dominant tactile cue, with some exceptions; seventh graders’ choices were a 50–50 split. Results indicated that developmentally verticality remains the dominant cue for “bigger” in the tactile sense longer than in vision. |
Axial-flux hybrid-excitation synchronous machine: Analysis, design and experimental evaluation | This paper presents an axial-flux machine with hybrid excitation (HE), in which the flux linkage can be regulated in an extremely wide range by using a rotating excitation winding. This machine shows a theoretically infinite constant power speed range and also exhibits a high degree of fault tolerance against uncontrolled generator operation. The machine has a single-stator double-rotor topology, with one rotor mounting permanent magnets and the other supporting the excitation winding. After a review of the state of the art of HE machines, this paper examines the principle of operation of this machine. Subsequently, a prototype is designed, analyzed with finite-element analysis, and built. Finally, experimental results are reported to confirm the theoretical predictions and the benefits and drawbacks of this novel topology. |
FRACTAL ANALYSIS OF GAS DIFFUSION IN POROUS NANOFIBERS | In this study, with the consideration of pore size distribution and tortuosity of capillaries, the analytical model for gas diffusivity of porous nanofibers is derived based on fractal theory. The proposed fractal model for the normalized gas diffusivity (De/D0) is found to be a function of the porosity, the area fractal dimensions of pore and the fractal dimension of tortuous capillaries. It is found that the normalized gas diffusivity decreases with increasing of the tortuosity fractal dimension. However, the normalized gas diffusivity is positively correlated with the porosity. The prediction of the proposed fractal model for porous nanofibers with porosity less than 0.75 is highly consistent with the experimental and analytical results found in the literature. The model predictions are compared with the previously reported experimental data, and are in good agreement between the model predictions and experimental data is found. The validity of the present model is thus verified. Every parameter of the... |
XXII. Determination of the North Polar distances and proper motion of thirty fixed stars | When a standard catalogue of some of the principal fixed stars was laid before the Society in the year 1813, I ventured to state as my opinion, that the error of this catalogue depending on the mechanical construction of the instrument, did not probably exceed a quarter of a second. This opinion has been confirmed by the observations of another year; the results of which I have now the honour of transmitting to the Society, as it appears that in those stars which I have continued to observe, I have not had occasion to alter the position of any one, above one-tenth of a second. For this reason I should hardly have thought it necessary to make any farther communication on the subject, had I not wished for an opportunity of adding some valuable deductions respecting the proper motions of these stars. |
Supporting the inclusion people who experience homelessness through the state government's community support grants | The Victorian State Government's Victorian Community Support Grants are designed to simplify processes for partnerships with government in developing creative ways to strengthen local communities. The Grants support community initiatives to: - Strengthen the capacity of communities; - Increase local leadership; - Involve a wide range of groups; - Support the involvement of volunteers; - Improve social, learning, cultural, employment and economic opportunities; - Improve community environments, resources and infrastructure. |
Some Observations On the Analysis of Structure in Biblical Narrative | In recent years an increasing number of studies has been published devoted to the investigation of the literary features of biblical narratives 1). Whereas in the past biblical scholars paid attention primarily to genetic questions, with a view to restoring the "original", "authentic" form of the narratives by peeling off additions and disposing of alterations, lately there has been evidence of a growing tendency to deal with the biblical narrative in its present shape. Needless to say, this new literary approach is not to be confused with the formcritical method, which occupies itself mainly with questions of genre, formulas and other more or less fixed forms, and with their Sitq im Leben 2). The present literary method is concerned mainly with the |
GENETIC AND NON-GENETIC FACTORS AFFECTING THE CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF JAPANESE QUAILS* (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA) | Data on 164 Japanese quails were utilized to study the effect of strains, hatches and sex of chicks on pre-slaughter weight and weights of carcass after bleeding, dressed carcass, eviscerated carcass, inedible and edible offals and various carcass cuts. The Black strain was superior to Brown for all the characters except the breast weight. Significant hatch effect was observed for the pre-slaughter weight, dressed weight, eviscerated carcass, inedible offals, heart and gizzard. The sexual dimorphism was not evident for any of the characters studied, except pre-slaughter weight. Majority of the carcass traits were medium to highly heritable. |
A pragmatic tool for the measurement of perineal tears | Perineal trauma following childbirth affects around 70% of women (Greenshields and Hulme, 1993). The two main sources of trauma are due equally to either episiotomy (surgical incision of the perineum) or to a spontaneously occurring tear. Perineal tears vary in size and are graded from first degree (the most minor) to fourth degree (most severe). First, third and fourth degree tears are all clearly defined by the anatomical structures involved and clearly describe the extent of the trauma incurred. However, second-degree tears can vary widely in size and are often given the subjective descriptions of small, medium and large. Approximately 25–35% of all childbearing women sustain a second-degree perineal tear during childbirth but research and audit of the most appropriate aftercare for the wound has been restricted by the inability to provide a more objective measurement of second-degree tears. The Birmingham Perineal Research Evaluation Group has developed a tool to provide an objective measurement of se... |
Robotic surgery and ethical challenges | Abstract: The various types of surgical robotic systems are reviewed and a range of ethical problems is discussed. Topics include the patient experience of such techniques, how robotic systems are marketed, training and the balance of cost versus access, as well as challenges relating to remote robotic surgery and automated hospitals and applications of specific systems such as da Vinci and RoboDoc. |
Novel scheme for delaying reverse‐flow reactor runaway | The reverse-flow packed-bed reactor has been proposed for use in the chemical process industries because of its ability to store thermal energy within the bed (Boreskov and Matros, 1983). During periods of high fuel concentration, large thermal spikes may form within the reactor upon flow reversal. If the duration of high fuel concentration is large, thermal runaway may result since the spikes grow in magnitude upon each other. A new scheme is proposed which strategically reduces the flow reversal time with each half-cycle in order to utilize the entire bed to store thermal spike energy. Alternatively, the principle outlined in this paper can be used to reduce the startup time of reverse-flow reactors. |
Application method of gallium in gallium-doped crystalline silicon | The invention discloses an application method of gallium in gallium-doped crystalline silicon. The application method comprises the following steps of: earlier-stage processing of gallium, disposing of gallium-containing silicon materials, and placing of gallium, wherein the disposing of the gallium-containing materials comprises the step that holes are formed in at least part of the silicon materials, the placing of the gallium comprises the steps that gallium is placed into the holes of the silicon materials, and the silicon-containing materials are arranged in the position two thirds below the final loading height. Through the method provided by the invention, the volatilization of gallium can be effectively reduced during a crystal growing process, so that the specific resistance range is precisely controlled. |
Policies on antibiotics of south east London general practitioners for managing acute otitis media in children. | Questionnaires on antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media in children were sent to the general practitioners who make regular referrals to clinics in the King9s College Hospital group. The most popular first choice of drug was amoxycillin (44%), but 37% of general practitioners said that they often used oral phenoxymethylpenicillin. This drug has relatively low activity against Haemophilus influenzae and many strains of Staphylococcus aureus. It is poorly absorbed from the stomach, does not penetrate the middle ear well, and its use may be one factor in the development of chronic middle ear effusions after acute otitis media. Sixty two per cent of the doctors who replied never treated acute otitis media with intramuscular antibiotics, but 57% used oral loading doses. Ninety seven per cent never treated their patients without antibiotics. |
An efficient synthesis of chiral cyclic β-amino acids via asymmetric hydrogenation | Cyclic p-amino acids, homoproline, homopipecolic acid and 3-carboxy-methylmorpholine were obtained in high enantiomeric excesses by transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic β-acylamino-alkenoates. These compounds were synthesized by a thio-Wittig reaction on N-protected thiolactames. |
Development of environmental friendly hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive for sanitary product | The preparating method of hot-melt pressure sensitive adhesive for sanitary product by styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer(SBS) as base-material was reported. Effect of other raw materials, for example, tackifying resin, plasticizer and age risister, and reaction temperature, reaction time, oxygen in reaction system on properties of hot-melt pressure sensitive adhesive were discussed. |
Etiology and management of adduction contracture of the thumb. | The most common etiological factors producing adduction contracture of the thumb are presented. Development of contracture in congenital deformities, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, cerebral palsy, burns, after snakebite, and as a consequence of trauma are each described. |
Release of neuropeptide Y and noradrenaline during afferent nerve stimulation. | The present study was carried out to investigate the possibility that noradrenaline (NA) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) are co-released after afferent vagal or saphenous stimulation (1, 5, 10 and 20 Hz) in chloralose-anaesthetized dogs. Electrical stimulation of the vagus elicited an increase in plasma NA levels for the 5, 10 and 20 (but not 1) Hz frequencies. Blood pressure only increased after a 20-Hz stimulation. In contrast, no change in plasma NPY levels was observed whatever the frequency of stimulation. Electrical stimulation of the saphenous nerve failed to change plasma NA and NPY levels. The present data suggest that (1) the release of NA varies according to the frequency of stimulation of nociceptive fibres, (2) NPY release does not seem to be involved in the pressor effect elicited by the stimulation of nociceptive-sensitive fibres, and (3) NPY and NA release are not necessarily linked. |
Reversible Vasoconstriction Syndrome Involving the Basilar Artery in an Adolescent: Imaging and Clinical Features | Abstract Importance Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of "thunderclap headache" and by transient, multifocal vasoconstriction of cerebral vasculature. Here we present an adolescent boy whose clinical features fit the diagnostic criteria and whose neurovascular imaging revealed reversible vasoconstriction of the basilar artery alone. Observation A previously healthy 14-year-old boy presented with repeated severe sudden thunderclap headaches following exercise. These symptoms were accompanied by isolated basilar artery stenosis. Conclusion Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is a condition with several clinical triggers. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood. This patient adds to a broadening spectrum of clinical features of this disorder. |
Prediction method of leakage current of insulators on the transmission line based on BP neural network | Pollution flashover is a serious threat to the safe and stable operation of power system, and the pollution flashover voltages of insulators on the transmission lines are related to the leakage currents. In this paper, a neural network model was proposed to predict the leakage currents on the insulators, which could provide references for preventing pollution flashover. By the analysis of a large number of leakage current data obtained by the monitoring device on the insulators of operating lines, the characteristics of the leakage current is extracted, and then combined with BP neural network, the prediction model of leakage current based on the actual operation data is established. By adjusting the parameters of the BP neural network, the prediction results can be accords with the actual operation situation. The reliability of the predicted results was verified by the leakage current on the insulator surface. |
The Vaalharts beef cattle crossbreeding project : livestock - cover | Crossbreeding beef cattle is gaining ground, as SA farmers increasingly value high productivity and low production costs. Prof Michiel Scholtz, head of the Vaalharts Crossbreeding Programme, tells Wilma den Hartigh about the programme's contribution to the utilisation of crossbreeds. Research into, and acceptance of, crossbreeds is important for the sustainability and competitiveness of the South sector, says Prof Michiel Scholtz, head of the Vaalharts Crossbreeding Programme. The programme was established to demonstrate how genetic selection and crossbreeding can optimise economically important traits such as fertility, growth, efficiency, health and carcass characteristics in cattle. |
Idiopathic facial (Bell's) palsy: a clinical survey of prognostic factors | Forty-four patients with idiopathic facial (Bell's) palsy were studied. They were assessed by the eventual clinical outcome and on this basis 3 groups were formed. Various clinical parameters were studied and those factors associated with a poor prognosis were identified. The factors of significance include age, initial severity of the palsy and the time taken for spontaneous improvement. All other parameters fail to show any statistically significant correlation with prognosis. |
Assessment of P504s(α-methylacy-CoA racemase)Immunohistochemistry in Diagnosis of Prostatic Neoplasms | Objective:To assess the utility of P504s immunohistochemistryin diagnosis of prostatic neoplasms.Methods:Light microscopy and immunohistochemistry examinations(EnVision staining) were performed in 151 cases of prostatic neoplasms to correlate the morphology and protein expression of P504s and prostate specific antigen(PSA).Results:The strong expression of PSA were detected in all of the cases.P504s was strongly and diffusely positive((++)～(+++)) in 21 of 22 cases of prostatic adenocarcinomas.Weak expression was observed in 1 of 127 case of BPH.Both cases of ASAP were negative for P504s.Conclusions:P504s is an useful marker for microscopic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of prostatic neoplasms with the good sensitivity(95.5%) and specificity(99.2%). |
Overall profit Malmquist productivity index under data uncertainty | Abstract The calculation of the overall profit Malmquist productivity index (MPI) requires precise and accurate information on the input, output, input-output prices of each decision making unit (DMU). However, in many situations, some inputs and/or outputs and input-output prices are imprecise. As such, we consider the overall profit MPI problem when the input, output, and input-output prices are imprecise and vary over intervals, showing that method (MCM 54: 2827–2838, 2011) has some shortfalls. To remedy these shortfalls, we propose another method for measuring the overall profit MPI when the inputs, outputs, and price vectors vary over intervals. That is, to calculate the overall profit efficiency intervals, cone-ratio data envelopment analysis models can be applied to the incorporated information as weight restrictions. Further, we provide a new approach to calculating the upper bound of the overall profit efficiency of each DMU. A numerical example is provided for illustrating the proposed method. |
pH-Controlled Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Peptide Amphiphile | The self-assembling behavior of peptide amphiphiles can be leveraged upon to form complex nanostructures that have a wide range of applications. Herein we present a study on the lateral assembly of peptide amphiphile nanofibers into higher order structures by designing complementary attracting designer sequences, made up of oppositely charged amino acids, on the surface region of the nanofibers. The surface charge of the individual amino acids can be selectively altered as the pH is raised above or below their pKa value, and this enables the regulation of interfiber and intrafiber interactions. We demonstrated that pH which triggers alternating positively and negatively charged surface sequence enables interdigitating and bundling of nanofibers, while pH which results in negatively charged surface sequence discourages lateral assembly of nanofibers. This pH-responsive system is able to self-assemble into micelles, nanofibers, and bundles nanofibers, providing a new perspective toward the fabrication of no... |
Multiple Attribute Decision-Making Method Using Similarity Measures of Neutrosophic Cubic Sets | In inconsistent and indeterminate settings, as a usual tool, the neutrosophic cubic set (NCS) containing single-valued neutrosophic numbers and interval neutrosophic numbers can be applied in decision-making to present its partial indeterminate and partial determinate information. |
Large substructure identification using substructure isolation method | Substructure Isolation Method (SIM) is used for large substructure identification. It utilizes the responses of global ::: structure to construct the responses of the isolated substructure, which is a virtual and independent structure with the ::: same system parameters as the real substructure. Then, the substructure identification is carried out equivalently via the ::: isolated substructure and flexibly by some of the existing identification methods which aim originally at the large ::: structure. Therefore, the performance of the SIM offers the possibility that the large substructure can be identified. A ::: numerical bridge model is used to verify the proposed method, which preforms efficiently and accurately. |
Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of mycobacterial phenolic glycolipids | Fast atom bombardment mass spectra were successfully recorded for intact glycosylphenolphthiocerol dimycocerosates (phenolic glycolipids, PGLs) from Mycobacterium kansasii, M. leprae, M. tuberculosis, M. marinum, M. bovis and M. haemophilum. Characteristic fragment ions from the loss of the oligosaccharide moiety and one of the long-chain multimethyl-branched mycocerosic acids were observed in most cases. A tandem mass spectrometric experiment was carried out on the PGL from M. tuberculosis, revealing the type of mycocerosic acids esterified to individual homologues. Mass spectra of homologues separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography gave information on the substitution pattern in certain cases. The potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization spectroscopy was demonstrated by a successful analysis of the PGL from M. tuberculosis. |
Nitrene Insertion into CC and CH Bonds of Diamide Diimine Ligands Ligated to Chromium and Iron | The impact of redox non-innocence (RNI) on chemical reactivity is a forefront theme in coordination chemistry. A diamide diimine ligand, [{-CHN(1,2-C6H4)NH(2,6-iPr2C6H3)}2]n (n=0 to −4), (dadi)n, chelates Cr and Fe to give [(dadi)M] ([1Cr(thf)] and [1Fe]). Calculations show [1Cr(thf)] (and [1Cr]) to have a d4 Cr configuration antiferromagnetically coupled to (dadi)2−*, and [1Fe] to be S=2. Treatment with RN3 provides products where RN is formally inserted into the CC bond of the diimine or into a CH bond of the diimine. Calculations on the process support a mechanism in which a transient imide (imidyl) aziridinates the diimine, which subsequently ring opens. |
COMMENTARY: Sports Broadcasting: Is it a Job for Public Service Broadcasters?-A Welfare Economic Perspective | The current policy of European public service broadcasters (PSBs) of acquiring expensive sports rights does not correspond with welfare economic principles. The Listed Events regulation prevents sports events of major importance for society from migrating to pay-TV broadcasters. Handing over expensive sports programs to commercial rivals will release resources that can be used on other activities, including programs that have characteristics of externalities and merit goods. Such a policy has been adopted by Australian PSBs. |
The sexual problems of diabetic men. | Diabetic men are prone to develop sexual problems, the most common being erectile failure. In the past this diabetic impotence has been regarded as a discrete clinical entity, providing one of the best examples of a physically-induced failure of erection. It now appears likely that the clinical picture and aetiology are more involved than had been suspected, there being a complex interaction between physical and psychological influences. Assessment and treatment need to take account of this interaction by concentrating not only on the form of the sexual disturbance but also on its context. |
Influence of the flow on the output power of a longitudinal-flow gas laser | An extension of the semiclassical laser theory is presented, in order to take into account a longitudinal drift of the active atoms. The calculations are restricted to single-mode gas lasers in the doppler limit. It is shown that the output power of the laser decreases as the drift velocity of the atoms increases. |
Die Fl�chen mit geraden Linien als Affinen Zentrafl�chen | If the (euclidean) Gauss curvature of a surface in 3-space is nowhere vanishing, we have a uniqueaffine normal in every point of the surface and the set of affine normals forms a line congruence. According to the euclidean situation one can discuss existence and degeneration ofaffine focal surfaces. A cylinder of revolution in euclidean space can be characterized by the property, that all normals intersecttwo straight lines. The corresponding property in affine geometry leads to certainaffine surfaces of revolution, whose meridian curves (plane sections through a fixed axis) can be determined. If we assume the affine focal surfaces to coincide (the affine Weingarten endomorphism has double eigenvalues in every point) and degenerate intoone straight line, then the surface is aruled surface the generators of which areparallel to a plane. |
Hibernoma of the neck: a rare cause of neck mass | (Editorial Comment: A hibernoma is an uncommon benign tumor. Its origin in brown fat may cause confusion with a lipoma.) Brown fat is found only in scattered foci in the adult human, commonest in the interscapular region, the mediastinum, and the neck. Tumors originating from these fat deposits are called hibernomas; approximately 100 are reported in the world literature with a small proportion occurring in the neck. A case of a hibernoma forming in the neck will be presented and the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of this unusual tumor discussed. |
APPLICATION OF PRE-STRESSED TENSILE PIPE TO BIG SUSPENDED SPACE SYSTEM | In the design and construction of the Science,History and Culture Center of Jiangsu Province which has a new and complicated structure,pre-stressed tensile oblique pipe was used in the arc steel structure that could stabilize the suspended beams,not only satisfying the load bearing requirement of the component,but also beautifying the space configuration. |
Effects of infliximab against carbon tetrachloride-induced intestinal injury via lipid peroxidation and apoptosis | Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) is often employed in the production of chlorofluorocarbons, petroleum refining, oil and rubber processing, and laboratory applications. Oral, subcutaneous, and inhalatio... |
Positioning central venous catheters--a prospective survey. | Abstract This paper reports the results of a prospective survey of 266 attempted central venous catheterisations by various routes, evaluating their success rate and incidence of immediate complications and attempts to demonstrate a relationship between patient height in centimetres (H) and ideal catheter length. The overall rate of intrathoracic placement was 230 from 239 catheterisations (96%) after 266 attempts (86%). Of these 230 catheters, 54 terminated in the right atrium (24%). To avoid right atrial placement with its well documented risk of cardiac tamponade, it is recommended that right infraclavicular subclavian catheters are inserted to H/10-2 cm, right internal or external jugular catheters to H/10 cm and left external jugular catheters to H/10 + 4 cm. |
The i-E Equations of Steady-state Voltammograms at Microdisk Electrodes | Based on the theories of conventional electrodes, as well as the properties of microdisk electrode, the i-E equations for chronoamperometry at disk microelectrode for reversible, quasi-reversible and irreversible systems are derived. Steady-state voltammograms for the oxidation of [Fe(CN)6]4- , Fe2+ and ascorbic acid were measured at a series of microdisk electrodes with different radii. The conventional log-plot shows that oxidations of [Fe(CN)6]4- and ascorbic acid are reversible and totally irreversible, respectively, but the oxidation of Fe2+ is reversible at larger radius microdisk electrodes and quasi-reversible at smaller radius microdisk electrodes. The application of the log-plot to the voltammograms yielded a straight line, its slope allows us to evaluate the charge transfer coefficient and the intercept gives values of the electron transfer rate constant. |
The complex role of B7 molecules in tumor immunology | T-cell activation requires the interaction of the T-cell receptor with a cognate major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–peptide complex. Initiated by antigen engagement, the adaptive immune response is orchestrated by a complex balance between stimulatory and inhibitory signals that are predominantly controlled by members of the B7 family. Here, we review the current knowledge on B7 family members concerning their constitutive and regulated expression, modulation of the immune response and their role in the evasion of host immune surveillance. We also discuss recent therapeutic strategies that aim to improve immune-cell recognition of tumors and induce tolerance to autoreactive immune responses in normal tissues by manipulating B7 functions. |
Roles of hydrogenation, annealing and field in the structure and magnetic entropy change of Tb-based bulk metallic glasses | The reduction of open-volume regions in Tb-based metallic glass (MG) by annealing and hydrogen charging was found to rearrange the atomic structure and tune the magnetic behaviors. After crystallization, the magnetic structure and magnetic entropy change (MEC) alters due to the structural transformation, and a plateau-like-MEC behavior can be obtained. The hydrogen concentration after charging at 1mA/cm2 for 576 h reaches as high as 3290 w-ppm. The magnetization behavior and the MEC change due to the modification of the exchange interaction and the random magnetic anisotropy (RMA) upon hydrogenation. At low temperatures, irreversible positive MEC was obtained, which is related to the internal entropy production. The RMA-to-exchange ratio acts as a switch to control the irreversible entropy production channel and the reversible entropy transfer channel. The field dependence of the MEC is discussed in term of the competition among Zeeman energy, exchange interaction and RMA. |
Constituents of genus petasites—IV | Abstract A group of a new type of sesquiterpene, named bakkenolide-A, B, C, D, and E was isolated from the buds of Petasites japonicus (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim. subsp. giganteus (Fr. Schm.) Kitam. (Japanese name, Akita-buki). They have a novel spiro-γ-lactone grouping. The structure and stereochemistry including absolute configuration was established for bakkenolide-A (B-A) ( 1 ) on the basis of chemical degradations (Chart 1, 2) and physical measurements. The C 11 -dicarboxylic acid ( 5 ), a main degradation product of B-A during potassium permanganate oxidation, was instrumental in determination of the full structure. The absolute configuration was based on the transformation of B-A to the known perhydroindanone derivative ( 12 ). |
Adaptive Ensembling: Unsupervised Domain Adaptation for Political Document Analysis | Insightful findings in political science often require researchers to analyze documents of a certain subject or type, yet these documents are usually contained in large corpora that do not distinguish between pertinent and non-pertinent documents. In contrast, we can find corpora that label relevant documents but have limitations (e.g., from a single source or era), preventing their use for political science research. To bridge this gap, we present \textit{adaptive ensembling}, an unsupervised domain adaptation framework, equipped with a novel text classification model and time-aware training to ensure our methods work well with diachronic corpora. Experiments on an expert-annotated dataset show that our framework outperforms strong benchmarks. Further analysis indicates that our methods are more stable, learn better representations, and extract cleaner corpora for fine-grained analysis. |
The Political Budget Cycle is Where You Can't See It: Transparency and Fiscal Manipulation | We investigate the effects of fiscal transparency and political polarization on the prevalence of electoral cycles in fiscal balance. The recent political economy literature on electoral cycles identifies such cycles mainly in weak and recent democracies. In contrast, we show, conditioning on a new index of institutional fiscal transparency, that electoral cycles in fiscal balance are a feature also of advanced industrialized economies. Using a sample of nineteen OECD countries in the 1990’s, we identify a persistent pattern of electoral cycles in low(er) transparency countries, while no such cycles can be observed in high(er) transparency countries. Furthermore, we find, in accordance with recent theory, that electoral cycles are larger in more politically polarized countries. |
Focusing of electromagnetic waves into a dielectric slab: I. Exact and asymptotic results | We present exact and asymptotic results for the electromagnetic field inside a dielectric slab in terms of the given field or source current outside the slab. Exact results for the reflected and transmitted fields are also given. In particular, we provide explicit exact and asymptotic results for the case in which the incident wave is a converging electromagnetic wave generated by a time-harmonic aperture current. In a separate paper our results are used to obtain exact and asymptotic numerical results for the focused field inside the slab. |
ChemInform Abstract: Practical Synthesis of Optically Active Alcohols via Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Aromatic Ketones Using Chiral Rh(III)-Monosulfonamide Ligand Complex in Aqueous Media. | Chiral Rh(III) monosulfonamide complexes are found to catalyze asymmetric transfer hydrogenations of prochiral ketones to furnish the corresponding optically active alcohols in good yields and enantioselectivities. |
Information Acquisition and Utilization Problems | This paper focuses on the problem of information acquisition and utilization where a decision maker, by carefully controlling a sequence of actions with uncertain outcomes, dynamically refines his/her belief about stochastically time-varying parameters of interest in order to utilize a system of interest as efficiently as possible. The paper proposes a new theoretical framework for stochastic learning and decision-making in such a setting termed Information Acquisition and Utilization Problems (IAUP). IAUP is a special case of partially observable Markov decision problems (POMDP) with several unique properties. Motivated by a synthesis of the prior works on active hypothesis testing, noisy dynamic search, and joint source-channel coding, this framework borrows from diverse areas of research from statistics, information theory, and stochastic control. The main contribution of this work is to establish the general attributes of IAUPs as well as their connections to known fields of study. |
Colorimetric determination of thiram based on formation of gold nanoparticles using ascorbic acid. | A novel optical method for the determination of thiram has been developed using surface plasmon resonance peak of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The stable and dispersed AuNPs were directly synthesized by reduction of HAuCl4 with ascorbic acid in micellar media according to a simple approach. The presence of thiram during formation of AuNPs results in the decrease of the intensity of plasmon resonance peak. The variation in the plasmon absorbance allows the colorimetric determination of thiram. The effect of different variables such as pH, ascorbic acid and CTAB concentrations was studied and optimized. The proposed method is capable of determining thiram over a range of 2.0×10(-7)-1.0×10(-5) mol L(-1) with a limit of detection 1.7×10(-7) mol L(-1). The relative standard deviation of the method was <3.7%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of thiram in water and plant seed samples. |
Habitat Selection in Geographically Complex Landscapes | The practice of landscape ecology is generally one that attempts to understand how patterns of abundances may interact with the physiognomic and compositional characteristics of landscapes (Dunning et al. 1992, Morris and Brown 1992). However, the goal is to understand why populations, enumerated across large spatial scales, frequently are not equivalent to the sum of the productivities of the component patches of usable habitat across that same region. This discrepancy generally results from the underutilization of available resources (e.g., food, cover, or breeding habitats), which, in turn, may result from the species’ inability to find these resources in time to fully exploit them. In this way, fragmented landscapes are thought to pose difficult problems for the persistence of mammalian metapopulations (see Lidicker 1995, and chapters therein for review). |
Interaction between 3d-, 4d- and 5d-electron in Sr2Ir1−x(Ru,Ti)xO4 | Abstract The effect of substituting 3 d -nonmagnetic Ti 4+ and 4 d -magnetic Ru 4+ for 5 d -magnetic Ir 4+ in Sr 2 IrO 4 polycrystals has been studied. The magnetic transition temperature T N decreases with Ru doping, while T N is almost unchanged with Ti doping. This phenomenon indicates that there is super-exchange coupling between Ir 4+ and Ru 4+ , which is weaker than that of Ir–O–Ir, while there is no interaction between Ir 4+ and Ti 4+ . The resistivity of Sr 2 Ir 1− x Ru x O 4 decreases with increasing x due to the introduction of holes upon Ru doping, and the ρ – T relation presents the percolation phenomenon in 0.31 ≤ x ≤ 0.6 range. On the contrary, the resistivity of Sr 2 Ir 1− x Ti x O 4 increases with x . The increase of ρ is attributed to the scattering of additional vibration modes of Sr 2 TiO 4 in which are measured by IR spectra. |
Performance analysis of MRC/MRT relaying in massive MIMO systems via interference modelling | This work analyses the performance of multi-user massive MIMO relay networks, where the relay station is equipped with a large number of antennas. The combination of maximal-ratio-combining (MRC) and maximal-ratio-transmission (MRT) is utilized at the relay for low-complexity processing. Different from existing work, we consider the practical scenario with limited number of users, fixed source power, and fixed relay power. Our work shows that the interference is neither negligible nor asymptotically deterministic, and it dominates the statistical properties of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR). Via deriving an approximation on the probability density function (PDF) of the interference power, analytical results on the sum-rate and outage probability performance of the multi-user relay network are obtained. |
Transforming Growth Factor-β in Cancer Therapy: Smurfs in TGF-β Signaling and Regulation of Bone Homeostasis and Cancer | Controlled proteolysis mediated by Smad ubiquitination regulatory factors (Smurfs) plays a crucial role in modulating cellular responses to ligands of the TGF-β superfamily. Accumulating biochemical evidence has demonstrated that Smurfs regulate TGF-β or BMP signaling either by targeting the receptor-regulated Smads for degradation or by using Smad7 as an adaptor to degrade the ligand-activated receptors, Smad4 or other associated proteins. Recent in vivo biological assays indicate that Smurfs can also target other proteins outside the canonical Smad-pathway. Smurf1 controls osteoblast function by modulating the activity of the MEKK2-JNK pathway, and thereby regulates bone homeostasis. Smurf1 also regulates cell polarity and tight junctions by fine-tuning the RhoA level through Par6 polarity complex at cellular protrusions. This chapter summarizes the current finding of molecular mechanisms of Smurfs action and their biological activities, and discusses the potential involvement of Smurfs in tumorigenesis. |
Electrooptic polymer materials and devices for global optical interconnects | Global optical interconnects can provide high data rate parallel communication capability through access to the internal nodes of very large scale integrated circuits. Topographic arrays of polymeric electrooptic multilayer devices such as etalons or multilayer mirrors broadcast the data stored on the surface of the chip. Differential detection of this image permits interconnection without the need for high contrast ratios. An experimental demonstration of a point-to-point interconnection using a Fabry-Perot etalon with a polymeric thin film spacer is presented. |
On the conditional effects of IMF program participation on output growth | The empirical evidence currently available in the literature regarding the effects of a country’s IMF program participation on its output growth is rather inconclusive. In this paper we propose and estimate a panel data sample selection model featuring state dependence. As in this model the output growth effects of program participation can be conditional on the realization of a state variable (conditional pooling), our framework may reconcile previous empirical evidence based on models without state dependent effects. We find that the effects of IMF program participation on output growth vary systematically with an index reflecting a country’s institutional record, and that output growth effects of program participation are significantly positive only if the IMF program is coupled with sufficient improvement of the institutional record. |
Using standardized metadata to improve the search and analysis of remote sensing data for change detection | The awareness about the changes occurred in our living earth has received a tremendous attention from a variety of research and application domains. For such missions, it is advantageous to take full advantages of the abundant geospatial data available in sharing environment. The diverse types and overwhelming volume of available georesource, however, impedes such expectations. This paper focuses on the use of RS data to aid change detection. A set of metadata elements from ISO19115 are selected and their searching and usage strategies are developed. The standardized metadata helps to improve the searching efficiency by adding constraints for intelligently filtering data that matches the characteristics of the reference RS data. It also facilitates the sharing of information collected by different organizations to improve the precision and accuracy of the analyzed results, and guides RS data providers to supply all the necessary information to the analyzers to aid decision making. |
[Chemotherapy with bevacizumab (BV)+modified FOLFOX6 for unresectable colorectal cancer]. | We examined efficacy and safety of bevacizumab (BV)+modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) regimen for unresectable colorectal cancer. We had 16 patients: liver metastases 8, lung metastases 4, local recurrences 2, and lymph node metastases 2, as for evaluable lesions. The response rate was 46.6%, and disease control rate was 86.6%. Hepatic metastatectomy was done in two cases after PR response. There was 1 infusion related reaction case, 1 tumor bleeding and 1 anal fistula as the adverse events. In conclusion, the BV+mFOLFOX6 is one of the effective and feasible regimens for unresectable colorectal cancer. |
Coalition of the Hallux Sesamoids: A Case Report | Multiple variations in partition of the hallux sesamoids have been described; however, to our knowledge, a coalition of the hallux sesamoids has never been presented. A case of coalition of the hallux sesamoids is presented and the literature is reviewed with respect to the possible significance of this anomaly. |
Supernova 1987A Shockwave hits the ring | In 1987, the brightest supernova seen since 1604 appeared in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way about 170,000 light years away. Eleven years later, a new light show is beginning, as the shockwave from the explosion hits a mysterious ring of material that surrounds the star. This collision may show us whether the ring was emitted by a merger between the precursor star and a binary companion, or created in some other way. And it will probably look very pretty. |