Access to diverse juvenile rearing habitats for winter run promotes phenotypic diversity which is likely to be important in dynamic environments, such as the CCV . While our data suggests these non-natal rearing habitats are consistently used, their relative importance to the population may fluctuate with California's hydrologic extremes. Annually collecting and analyzing adult otoliths ensures changes in habitat use and life history diversity can be monitored through time (Johnson et al., 2017) . Maintaining and protecting a diversity of habitat options can buffer against extinction risk and needs to be incorporated into the winter run conservation strategy. Failure to protect these key habitats limits recovery opportunities and may increase the extinction risk of Sacramento winter-run Chinook salmon that currently rely on non-natal habitats.

Annually collecting and analyzing adult otoliths ensures changes in habitat use and life history diversity can be monitored through time.


Skin is the largest human organ and the only organ directly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. It is well known that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with premature skin aging (photoaging), local and systemic immunosuppression, many cutaneous inflammatory disorders, and photocarcinogenesis [1] . Due to the deleterious effects of ROS in the skin, many researchers have endeavored to identify and evaluate antioxidants to enrich the endogenous cutaneous protection system, to prevent and/or treat UV irradiationinduced skin damage.

It is well known that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with premature skin aging (photoaging), local and systemic immunosuppression, many cutaneous inflammatory disorders, and photocarcinogenesis.


The scale of ocean energy exploitation has expanded considerably in the recent years [1] [2] [3] . Deep-sea floating platforms are some of the most important large structures for ocean energy exploitation. These platforms include Tension Leg Platforms (TLP), semi-submersible platforms and Spar platforms. Dynamic responses due to the wind and wave effects need to be considered for a safe design [4] . The combined action from both wind and wave effects leads to a large amplitude of vibration on the ocean platform [5, 6] . Vibration is the main detrimental effect that reduces the safety and fatigue life of a deep-sea platform. In high-rise buildings, energy-absorbing devices are commonly being used to reduce the structural vibration by absorbing the excessive kinetic energy within the structure. This successful application may be transferable to solve the vibration problem in a floating platform, however, the natural period and motion amplitude are unique kinetic properties that exist in a floating platform and not in a high-rise building. Horizontal motion, vertical motion and vertical in-plane rotation due to vibration are the main situations to be prevented in a floating platform.

The scale of ocean energy exploitation has expanded considerably in the recent years.

Dynamic responses due to the wind and wave effects need to be considered for a safe design.

The combined action from both wind and wave effects leads to a large amplitude of vibration on the ocean platform.


Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the leading cancers worldwide [1] . Despite advances in technologies and therapeutics such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and combined modality treatments, HNSCC still has a poor prognosis and survival rates have not been improved in the past few years. The heterogeneous nature of HNSCC has been demonstrated by histological, phenotypical, and karyotypical analyses [2, 3] . Although heterogeneity can be attributed to clonal evolution, there is increasing awareness that cells have significantly different abilities to proliferate and form new tumors. This has led to the hypothesis that many cancer cells have a limited ability to divide and only a small subset of phenotypically distinct cells, the cancer stem cells (CSCs), have the capacity to self-renew and form new tumors [4] . Cancer stem cells (CSCs) arise from sequential mutations in normal stem cells due to progressive genetic instability and/or environmental factors.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the leading cancers worldwide.

The heterogeneous nature of HNSCC has been demonstrated by histological, phenotypical, and karyotypical analyses.

This has led to the hypothesis that many cancer cells have a limited ability to divide and only a small subset of phenotypically distinct cells, the cancer stem cells (CSCs), have the capacity to self-renew and form new tumors.


There is a need to develop new treatment strategies that may eventually replace traditional chemotherapy which has severe off-target side effects and unwanted toxicity [15] . Another major challenge is the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) by the tumor cells, which ultimately makes chemotherapy less effective [16] [17] [18] . Currently the use of nanoparticle systems for biological imaging and drug delivery has attracted increasing attention [19] . Of particular interest to us are dextran-coated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized with hyaluronan (HADESPIONs) [20] . HA immobilized on the surface of a nanocarrier (SPION) serves as an "address" molecule that is identified by a receptor molecule (in this case CD44). Hyaluronan oligosaccharides which completely inhibit HA-CD44 interaction have been shown to sensitize chemotherapy resistant lung and breast cancer cell lines [12] .

There is a need to develop new treatment strategies that may eventually replace traditional chemotherapy which has severe off-target side effects and unwanted toxicity.

Another major challenge is the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) by the tumor cells, which ultimately makes chemotherapy less effective.

Currently the use of nanoparticle systems for biological imaging and drug delivery has attracted increasing attention.

Of particular interest to us are dextran-coated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized with hyaluronan (HADESPIONs).

Hyaluronan oligosaccharides which completely inhibit HA-CD44 interaction have been shown to sensitize chemotherapy resistant lung and breast cancer cell lines.


As we know, the contribution of interband optical transition give rise to the negative imaginary part of inter , which supports the conditions for TE mode existence when graphene is not doped ( h!=2 9 jE F j) [35] . However, we find that there is no resonance point of the reflectance of TE-polarized wave, this behavior contrasts with the case of TM-polarized waves, where sharp SPP-related resonances occur. Hence, TE-polarized waves in graphene are not put forward to realize the tunable THz angular/frequency filters in our configuration. Moreover, it is found that the optical conductivity of graphene has the characteristic behavior of the magneto-optical effect, and the giant Faraday rotation in graphene has been identified [36] , [37] . Magneto-optical conductivity of graphene is a function of magnetic field for various values of the chemical potential EF, hence it will have an effect on the transmission resonance, including the resonant angle and frequency. However, the main properties of tunable THz angular/frequency filters in our configuration do not change.

As we know, the contribution of interband optical transition give rise to the negative imaginary part of inter , which supports the conditions for TE mode existence when graphene is not doped ( h!=2 9 jE F j).

Moreover, it is found that the optical conductivity of graphene has the characteristic behavior of the magneto-optical effect, and the giant Faraday rotation in graphene has been identified.


In 1980, the biomechanical works of Paul Grammont proved that medialization and lowering of the center of rotation can increase the level arm of the deltoid and restore active forward elevation for pseudoparalytic shoulder [7] . Reverse shoulder prosthesis (RSP) has been used by many authors in irreparable cuff tear and also in other indications [6, [8] [9] [10] [11] . Since the indication for this prosthesis are widening, we wanted to determine whether the RSP is effective in shoulder prosthetic revision surgery.

In 1980, the biomechanical works of Paul Grammont proved that medialization and lowering of the center of rotation can increase the level arm of the deltoid and restore active forward elevation for pseudoparalytic shoulder.

Reverse shoulder prosthesis (RSP) has been used by many authors in irreparable cuff tear and also in other indications.


Researchers have developed several applications that utilize the data from connected vehicles to improve safety and mobility, such as traffic signal control and automated incident detection. Because of the gradual rollout of connected vehicle technologies, researchers often study the effect of different penetration rates on an application's performance. In many connected vehicle mobility applications, the performance of the application improves as the percentage of vehicles equipped with communication devices increases. For example, traffic signal control algorithm PAMSCOD reduced delay by an additional 12% when the penetration rate increased from 20% to 60% (He et al. 2012) . Similarly, Priemer and Friedrich experienced a 6.5% improvement in vehicle speeds when increasing penetration rate from 10% to 50% in their traffic signal control algorithm (Priemer and Friedrich 2009) .

For example, traffic signal control algorithm PAMSCOD reduced delay by an additional 12% when the penetration rate increased from 20% to 60%.

Similarly, Priemer and Friedrich experienced a 6.5% improvement in vehicle speeds when increasing penetration rate from 10% to 50% in their traffic signal control algorithm.


One of the problems when it comes to dredging is the management of the waste from the dredging activities [9] [10] [11] . If the dredged material is not contaminated, the material can be used without any major problems. As a matter of fact, in Japan, 90% of the dredged materials are safe to be used [12] .

One of the problems when it comes to dredging is the management of the waste from the dredging activities.

As a matter of fact, in Japan, 90% of the dredged materials are safe to be used.


The usual practice of managing dredged sediments is that the sediments will be dumped in open waters or Confined Disposal Facilities (CDF) [7] . In Europe, managers for dredging activities are encouraged to seek an environmentally friendly alternative for managing the dredging by-product from harbour and channels maintenance [8] . Therefore, one of the proposed ways is by using the unwanted dredged sediments as material in concrete production.

The usual practice of managing dredged sediments is that the sediments will be dumped in open waters or Confined Disposal Facilities (CDF).

In Europe, managers for dredging activities are encouraged to seek an environmentally friendly alternative for managing the dredging by-product from harbour and channels maintenance.


The fact that the three species were sampled during practically every month of all crop seasons (Table 2, Fig. 2 ) is conditioned to their multivoltinism, and by the presence, in the study area, of minimal biotic and abiotic conditions for their development and permanence. This also indicates that all species had initial populations (even in the dry season -June to September) that would allow rapid increases in abundance under favorable conditions. However, the monthly abundances of each species within each crop ( Table 2 , Fig. 2) varied greatly, sometimes with coincident and sometimes antagonistic population peaks, attributed to the behavioral and developmental characteristics of the larvae of each (Kasten et al., 1978; Teston et al., 2001; Specht et al., 2014) . Associated with these variations, the results indicate that the meteorological variables affected the decrease in the numbers of the three species in different ways (Table 3) .

However, the monthly abundances of each species within each crop ( Table 2 , Fig. 2) varied greatly, sometimes with coincident and sometimes antagonistic population peaks, attributed to the behavioral and developmental characteristics of the larvae of each.


The caterpillars of each species have different habits and consume variable food resources (tissues): The caterpillars of A. infecta have cryptic coloration (green), rest all day on the leaf limbs and are exposed to daily climatic variations (warmer during the day and cooler at night). Plant tissues commonly consumed (leaves), especially native and cultivated grasses (oats, ryegrass, grasses, millet and corn) tend to be less nutritive (Teston et al., 2001; Lafontaine, 2004) . Since they stay close to the leaves, they are relatively more exposed to the attack of natural enemies. Elaphria agrotina caterpillars, however, prefer dry plant materials and stay in the soil feeding on debris/tillage or dead plant structures such as maize, including leaves, cobs, stigmas and dried seeds (Specht et al., 2014) . Because caterpillars are usually close to the ground, they may or may not feed on nutrient-rich foods (depending on seed availability) and be less exposed to daily variations in temperature and relative humidity and are thus sheltered and protected from natural enemies. At last, S. frugiperda caterpillars, although they remain hidden during the day (on the ground or between plant structures), are very mobile from birth and prefer to attack leaves that are starting to develop (attacking the maize, millet and sorghum (Harvey et al., 2008; Casmuz et al., 2010; Favetti et al., 2017) . Because they are very mobile, S. frugiperda caterpillars are usually sheltered during the day and move out from dusk to early evening to eat, being protected from natural enemies most of the time. This greater mobility still allows their caterpillars (when available) to explore preferred hosts and plant tissues with higher nutritional value, including growing flowers, fruits, seeds or tissues.

Plant tissues commonly consumed (leaves), especially native and cultivated grasses (oats, ryegrass, grasses, millet and corn) tend to be less nutritive.

Elaphria agrotina caterpillars, however, prefer dry plant materials and stay in the soil feeding on debris/tillage or dead plant structures such as maize, including leaves, cobs, stigmas and dried seeds.

At last, S. frugiperda caterpillars, although they remain hidden during the day (on the ground or between plant structures), are very mobile from birth and prefer to attack leaves that are starting to develop (attacking the maize, millet and sorghum.


Curly kale (Brassica oleracea L. var Acephala) is a biannual leafy vegetable, a member of the cabbage family, and widely grown in all the East African countries and in many other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia and Latin America (Mwithiga and Olwal, 2005) . Kale plants are robust and can tolerate cold temperatures, even -18°C (Steindal et al., 2014) . Its foliage is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds such as vitamins, minerals, glucosinolates and phenolic compounds (Ayaz et al., 2006; Armesto et al., 2015) . However, the foliage has a high moisture content (approximately 86% w.b.) at harvest and, therefore, it cannot be preserved for more than a few days under ambient conditions of 20-25°C (Korus, 2011; Mwithiga and Olwal, 2005) .

Curly kale (Brassica oleracea L. var Acephala) is a biannual leafy vegetable, a member of the cabbage family, and widely grown in all the East African countries and in many other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Kale plants are robust and can tolerate cold temperatures, even -18°C.

Its foliage is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds such as vitamins, minerals, glucosinolates and phenolic compounds.

However, the foliage has a high moisture content (approximately 86% w.b.) at harvest and, therefore, it cannot be preserved for more than a few days under ambient conditions of 20-25°C.


Leaf senescence involves the loss of chlorophyll and other constituents, membrane deterioration and nutrient recycling (Guiboileau et al., 2010) . These changes are largely temperature-controlled in the harvested products (Albornoz and Cantwell, 2016) . Furthermore, the high presence of naturally occurring microorganisms on fresh vegetables may lead to the rejection of the product by consumers because of spoilage, even though these are usually nonpathogenic for humans. Moreover, the damage of the fresh vegetable surfaces during peeling, cutting, and shredding may worsen the contamination with spoilage microorganisms (Mansur and Oh, 2015) . Consequently, it may reduce the microbial and sensory shelf life of the end-product (Ragaert et al., 2007) . Therefore, we need to develop an effective preservation method that can enhance the shelf life of fresh-cut kale during storage.

Leaf senescence involves the loss of chlorophyll and other constituents, membrane deterioration and nutrient recycling.

These changes are largely temperature-controlled in the harvested products.

Moreover, the damage of the fresh vegetable surfaces during peeling, cutting, and shredding may worsen the contamination with spoilage microorganisms.

Consequently, it may reduce the microbial and sensory shelf life of the end-product.


Freeze-drying, or 'lyophilization', has long been known as the best drying method for preserving the original properties of the raw material. This process is known to extend the shelf-life of foods by preventing microbial growth and retarding lipid oxidation (Nakagawa et al., 2015) . Freeze drying, in particular, preserves a higher level of bioactive compounds than does air-drying (Sogi et al., 2013) . Hence, this process is generally recommended for drying materials containing heat-sensitive components such as tocopherols, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and plant phenolics (Shofian et al. 2011) .

This process is known to extend the shelf-life of foods by preventing microbial growth and retarding lipid oxidation.

Freeze drying, in particular, preserves a higher level of bioactive compounds than does air-drying.

Hence, this process is generally recommended for drying materials containing heat-sensitive components such as tocopherols, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and plant phenolics.


Error analysis of the ground bases sensing CSM as a function of zenith angle suggests that the rRMSE is typically bounded by 5% (50 W m À2 ) and can be as low as 0.5% (5 W m À2 ) for solar zenith angles less than 30°. In addition, the positive and notably small magnitude (1-3%) of the rMBE of the improved model suggests that the algorithm only slightly overestimates DNI which is typically desirable for CSMs which should provide an outer envelope of available irradiance and can also be used in the detection of cloud enhancement of irradiance (Tapakis and Charalambides, 2014) . The substantial reduction of both rRMSE and rMBE of the improved DNI CSM over a wide range of solar zenith angles indicates that increased accuracy is achievable with minimal resources. In addition the improvement appeared to be very weakly dependent on location, as similar improvements were observed in nearly all of the micro-climates. The proposed approach is therefore simple to implement, computationally inexpensive, and geographically robust.

In addition, the positive and notably small magnitude (1-3%) of the rMBE of the improved model suggests that the algorithm only slightly overestimates DNI which is typically desirable for CSMs which should provide an outer envelope of available irradiance and can also be used in the detection of cloud enhancement of irradiance.


The term aerosol is used to describe either liquid or solid particles that are suspended in the atmosphere with sizes ranging from 1 to 10 5 nm in radius (Wen, 1996) . Aerosols in the atmosphere may be either natural or anthropogenic in origin and include particles such as fine soil, pollen, and microorganisms lifted by the wind; sea salts escaping from breaking waves; smoke and soot emitted from fires; ash and dust erupting from volcanoes; sulfates created by the burning of coal and oil; and black carbon released during the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products. The net effect of aerosols on local microclimates depend on three primary mechanisms: direct radiative forcing as a result of scattering and absorption of visible and infrared radiation in the atmospheric boundary layer, indirect radiative forcing associated with changes in the microphysical and optical properties of cloud fields, and local heating in the cloud formation layer due to highly absorbent aerosols such as black carbon (Stefan et al., 2006) . Although it is clear that DNI attenuation under cloudless skies is driven by aerosol variability, the magnitude of these influences is poorly constrained as a result of the highly spatial-temporal variability of aerosol particles in the atmosphere as well as the fragmentary knowledge of the processes which control the physical, chemical, and optical properties of aerosol distributions (Morcrette et al., 2003; Kaskaoutis and Kambezidis, 2008; Chin et al., 2002) .

The term aerosol is used to describe either liquid or solid particles that are suspended in the atmosphere with sizes ranging from 1 to 10 5 nm in radius.

The net effect of aerosols on local microclimates depend on three primary mechanisms: direct radiative forcing as a result of scattering and absorption of visible and infrared radiation in the atmospheric boundary layer, indirect radiative forcing associated with changes in the microphysical and optical properties of cloud fields, and local heating in the cloud formation layer due to highly absorbent aerosols such as black carbon.

Although it is clear that DNI attenuation under cloudless skies is driven by aerosol variability, the magnitude of these influences is poorly constrained as a result of the highly spatial-temporal variability of aerosol particles in the atmosphere as well as the fragmentary knowledge of the processes which control the physical, chemical, and optical properties of aerosol distributions.


The study was divided into four main parts. With regard to the research question addressed in this paper, we will focus our description on the interaction with the smart environment and the interview. First, participants answered a pre-questionnaire, which contained questions regarding different user characteristics. Second, each participant interacted with a home-monitoring application (see Figure 2 ), which was designed for patients suffering from endstage heart failures. Third, participants had to answer a short postquestionnaire regarding their attitude towards the experienced system. Finally, within the interview section, we explored prevalent mental models, i.e., users' perception of smart home environments using the teach-back method. During the interview participants were asked to describe a metaphor or analogy of the previously tested sample application. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of reported metaphors, participants were required to "explain similarities between the scenario and the metaphor or analogy" ( [17] , p. 435). While most metaphors are little distinctive, participant could generate more than one metaphor and were asked to report which metaphor fits best. Based on the metaphor and analogy, we expected to receive better insights, how participants perceive technology [29] . The interviews (40-50 minutes) were audio-recorded and quotations were translated from German into English. The script was pretested.

To ensure a comprehensive understanding of reported metaphors, participants were required to "explain similarities between the scenario and the metaphor or analogy" (, p. 435).

Based on the metaphor and analogy, we expected to receive better insights, how participants perceive technology.

The script was pretested.


The application of enzymes as the selecting agent in ISFET-based sensing systems leads to the development of highly selective sensors [2] . Such Enzyme-modified ISFETs (EnFETs) can in principle be constructed with any enzyme that induces a local change in pH near the surface of the sensor. By combining ISFET with a membrane that contains an antibody, the sensor can detect antigen-antibody interaction. ISFET biosensors are used in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and food quality control. One distinctive advantage of ISFETs is their suitability for miniaturization, since the signal to noise ratio is independent of the ISFET area. Therefore large multi-sensor arrays capable of detecting different species and simultaneously measuring relevant parameters (temperature, pH, etc) are possible. In all these applications cost and single-use, that is disposability, are paramount considerations.

The application of enzymes as the selecting agent in ISFET-based sensing systems leads to the development of highly selective sensors.


The temperature dependence of the ISFET characteristics has been measured using a 5 mM phosphate buffer with pH 7.6 and it is shown in Fig. 3a for a TFT with W/L = 100 µm/6 µm. Both the threshold voltage and the shape of the I-V curves change with temperature. Fig. 3b shows the voltage shift vs. temperature at three different values of I D. The behavior is linear and the temperature coefficients for the three curves are slightly different. The temperature coefficient is higher than the one observed for single crystal ISFETs [7] . There are three main possible contributions to the observed temperature effect: (1) temperature dependent potential change at the Ag/AgCl reference electrode; (2) temperature dependent potential drop at the Si 3 N 4 /electrolyte interface (3) temperature dependent polySi TFT characteristics. The first two contributions can only induce a parallel shift of the I-V curves, while the third one can also change the shape of the I-V curve itself.

The temperature coefficient is higher than the one observed for single crystal ISFETs.


One disadvantage of deep saline formations is that, in general, the presence of containment (seals) is not demonstrated as it is for oil and gas reservoirs, which have held hydrocarbons in place for millions of years. Injection sites targeting saline formations need to be characterized on an individual basis to ensure that they are suitable for longterm storage and overlain by the necessary seals. For hundreds to thousands of years, some fraction (possibly all) of the injected CO 2 is expected to dissolve in native formation fluids; and some of the dissolved CO 2 may react and become part of the solid mineral matrix. Once dissolved or reacted to form minerals, CO 2 is no longer buoyant and would not rapidly rise to the surface, even in the absence of a suitable geologic seal (Benson and Myer, 2002) . However, these reactions typically occur during a very long time and do not lessen the need for a tight geologic seal because any leakage would most likely happen before there has been time for significant dissolution and mineralization to occur.

Once dissolved or reacted to form minerals, CO 2 is no longer buoyant and would not rapidly rise to the surface, even in the absence of a suitable geologic seal.


Continuous delivery is a practice in which software is constantly kept releasable by automated continuous integration (CI), testing, and deployment processes [5] . CD extends CI by continuously testing that the software is of production quality through an automated release process. The Difference to continuous deployment is that production deployments are done according to separate decisions.

Continuous delivery is a practice in which software is constantly kept releasable by automated continuous integration (CI), testing, and deployment processes.


Evidence for close relationships between stomatal conductance and plant hydraulic resistance have already been demonstrated by numerous measurements (Meinzer & Grantz 1990; Saliendra, Sperry & Comstock 1995; Fuchs & Livingston 1996; Lovisolo & Schubert 1998; Bond & Kavanagh 1999; Nardini & Salleo 2000; Comstock 2000; Sperry 2000; Schäfer et al . 2000; Hubbard et al . 2001) . Equally important are the theoretical findings and field experiments demonstrating that leaf water potential cannot drop below a critical value (Tyree & Sperry 1988 Sperry et al . 1998; Hacke et al . 2000; Hubbard et al . 2001) . Should this occur, cavitation and loss of hydraulic conductivity rapidly follow in the soil-rootxylem system, leading to desiccation and death of the leaves.

Evidence for close relationships between stomatal conductance and plant hydraulic resistance have already been demonstrated by numerous measurements.

Equally important are the theoretical findings and field experiments demonstrating that leaf water potential cannot drop below a critical value.


Bioplastics are novel materials of the 21st century and would be of great importance to the materials world [8] . Bioplastic production and consumption will grow bigger in the future in the world. Because of this, these materials need to be evaluated carefully for sustainability and waste management. Therefore, this review provides state of performance of bioplastics materials, focusing on benefits or disadvantages of bioplastics. Also, it gives an overview of bioplastics standards.

Bioplastics are novel materials of the 21st century and would be of great importance to the materials world.


These GHGs (greenhouse gases) contribute to worldwide climate change [5] . The fourth problem is their "non-degradability or durability". Plastic is not biodegradable and will persist in the environment for hundreds of years [6] . The economic problem is "competition for crude oil and energy security".

These GHGs (greenhouse gases) contribute to worldwide climate change.

Plastic is not biodegradable and will persist in the environment for hundreds of years.


The first environmental problem which leads to plastics is "landfill problem" [3] . Increasing amounts of plastic waste emerged as a crisis in many areas of the world because of shrinking landfill capacity, rising costs and strong legislation. The second environmental problem is "accumulation of plastics in oceans". For example, in a long-term study in the North Atlantic, one seawater sample contained the equivalent of 580,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometer [4] . Also, plastic incineration generates toxic emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane.

The first environmental problem which leads to plastics is "landfill problem".

For example, in a long-term study in the North Atlantic, one seawater sample contained the equivalent of 580,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometer.


Formative assessment and feedback have a powerful influence on student learning (Hattie and Timperley 2007) . To be effective, however, feedback needs to be timely and provide information to the student on how to close the gap between current and desired performance (Nicol and Macfarlane-Dick 2006) . Growing class sizes make it difficult to offer frequent formative assessments in combination with high-quality feedback. This study reports on the development of a successful, novel, two-stage online test that encourages student engagement and ensures regular, timely feedback to large classes.

Formative assessment and feedback have a powerful influence on student learning.

To be effective, however, feedback needs to be timely and provide information to the student on how to close the gap between current and desired performance.


Like cooked soybean and natto, miso and soy sauce are also treated by steaming, and thus the proportion of 6 ≤ -O -malonyl-␤ -glucosides is only a small percentage. However, the proportion of aglycons is higher than that of ␤ -glucosides in miso and soy sauce (Fig. 3) , and therefore these were classified as a separate cluster (Fig. 3) . During the fermentation of miso and soy sauce, ␤ -glucosides are reported to be hydrolyzed to aglycons by ␤ -glucosidase generated by bacteria, Aspergillus strain (Esaki et al. , 1994) . Although natto formed by Bacillus subtilis ( natto ) is a fermented soybean food, aglycons increased very little, the proportion of ␤ -glucosides was very high at 74%, and the distribution was similar to that of cooked soybean.

During the fermentation of miso and soy sauce, ␤ -glucosides are reported to be hydrolyzed to aglycons by ␤ -glucosidase generated by bacteria, Aspergillus strain.


Most commonly, Z-pins are made from rods of carbon fibre composite less than 1 mm in diameter and inserted in the thickness (Z) direction of composites. They are generally inserted into the laminate using an ultrasonically assisted insertion technique known as UAZ®, orthogonal to the laminate plane before curing in the autoclave. Current applications of Zpins to date include formula 1 cars and military aircrafts [1, 2] .

Current applications of Zpins to date include formula 1 cars and military aircrafts.


Not only were changes from pretreatment to posttreatment statistically significant, the magnitude of changes was generally in the moderate-to-large range of effect sizes. In fact, participants' scores on standardized outcome measures generally reached the normal range at posttest. For example, depressive symptoms decreased significantly, with the average score of participants in the moderate range of depression at pretreatment and with the majority of participants reporting no elevations or only mild mood disturbances at posttreatment (Beck et al., 1996) . At the pretreatment assessment, nearly 25% of the sample met criteria for high suicidal risk, according to established cutoffs (Glanz et al., 1995) . However, at posttreatment, only 7% met criteria for high suicidal risk. Similarly, at pretreatment, the participants' average social adjustment score was nearly 2 SDs above the community sample mean (lower scores indicate better adjustment), whereas at posttreat- ment, the group was nearly 2 SDs below this community mean (Weissman et al., 1978) . Despite the stress that is characteristic of an abusive environment and the demands of participating in treatment, participants' satisfaction with the treatment program was consistently very high. These high levels of satisfaction suggest that the program was meeting many of the needs of its participants, and this high satisfaction complements the formal assessment data.

For example, depressive symptoms decreased significantly, with the average score of participants in the moderate range of depression at pretreatment and with the majority of participants reporting no elevations or only mild mood disturbances at posttreatment.

At the pretreatment assessment, nearly 25% of the sample met criteria for high suicidal risk, according to established cutoffs.

Similarly, at pretreatment, the participants' average social adjustment score was nearly 2 SDs above the community sample mean (lower scores indicate better adjustment), whereas at posttreat- ment, the group was nearly 2 SDs below this community mean.


The migration of cells within tissues plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes, including embryonic development, wound repair, angiogenesis and metastasis. Various signaling pathways control these processes. Integrins (single-pass type I transmembrane proteins) are a major family of metazoan cell-surface-adhesion receptors playing a key role in the signaling and mechanotransduction mechanisms. Their functions include maintaining cell adhesion, tissue integrity, cell migration and differentiation [1] [2] [3] . Previous studies revealed that integrins could be affected by the application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) [4, 5] . Recent studies of CAP jets have shown that they have great potential for use in biomedical applications. Their distinguished physical and chemical properties are defined by the uniqueness of non-thermal non-equilibrium plasmas. Depending on their configuration they can be used for wound healing, sterilization, targeted cell/tissue removal and cancer treatment [6] [7] [8] [9] . It was found that CAP jets can slow down cell migration and change integrin expression on the cell surface, i.e. treatment of cells with CAP jet resulted in a decrease of β1 and αv-integrins ∼24 h after treatment [10] . In addition, the localization effect of cold plasma treatment on cell migration was shown [11] . The plasma effect is determined by the size of the plasma jet and does not alter cell migration outside the treated area. The CAP effect has not only spatial but also temporal dependence since it persists for at least 33 h. Despite the progress made in studying CAP interaction with the living tissue, the question remains: what causes the motility and cell adhesion of cells to change in response to plasma treatment? The answer to this question needs to be obtained to allow application of cold plasma in aiding patients with wound healing [1, 12] .

Their functions include maintaining cell adhesion, tissue integrity, cell migration and differentiation.

Previous studies revealed that integrins could be affected by the application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP).

Depending on their configuration they can be used for wound healing, sterilization, targeted cell/tissue removal and cancer treatment.

It was found that CAP jets can slow down cell migration and change integrin expression on the cell surface, i.e. treatment of cells with CAP jet resulted in a decrease of β1 and αv-integrins ∼24 h after treatment.

In addition, the localization effect of cold plasma treatment on cell migration was shown.

The answer to this question needs to be obtained to allow application of cold plasma in aiding patients with wound healing.


The assessment of placenta maturity is an important issue in prenatal diagnosis. The ability of a decision tree classifier to discriminate different textures with three sets of textural features was tested. The performance of the classifier using textural features corresponding to co-occurrence matrices, Law's operators, and neighborhood gray tone difference matrices was assessed and applied to the problem of the classification of ultrasonic images of the placenta corresponding to different grades. Ultrasonic images of the placenta according with the four classes proposed by Grannum were classified using decision trees built with C5.0 [9] .

Ultrasonic images of the placenta according with the four classes proposed by Grannum were classified using decision trees built with C5.0.


Interferometric laser imaging for droplet or bubble sizing is a very convenient technique. It is relatively simple to develop and gives accurate evaluations of the size of these scattering particles in a wide range of configurations [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . In addition, real-time algorithms can be developed to investigate a whole image directly using Fourier transforms instead of investigating the interferogram droplet per droplet or bubble per bubble [8] . Unfortunately, this technique is limited to the analysis of simple scattering objects as spherical droplets or bubbles. The deformation of these objects can affect significantly the interferometric patterns (orientation and frequency of the fringes) and the analysis of complex irregular objects does not seem to be possible. In this paper, we show however that interferometric out-of-focus imaging can allow the determination of some simple morphological information of irregular particles (size and global form of the envelope).

It is relatively simple to develop and gives accurate evaluations of the size of these scattering particles in a wide range of configurations.

In addition, real-time algorithms can be developed to investigate a whole image directly using Fourier transforms instead of investigating the interferogram droplet per droplet or bubble per bubble.


This paper is organized as follows. In Section 2, we fix the notation of Seifert fibered homology 3-spheres and Seifert multilinks following the book [5] . We introduce the notion of compatible contact structures for multilinks in Section 3. The case a 1 · · · a k > 0 is studied in Section 4, including the proof of Theorem 1.1, and the case a 1 · · · a k < 0 is in Section 5, where we give an explicit construction of contact structures and some criterion for detecting overtwisted disks. We then prove Theorem 1.2 in Section 6 and Corollary 1.3 in Section 7. In Section 8, we give the definitions of positive and negative cablings and the proof of Theorem 1.4. A conjecture about strongly quasipositive orientation is posed in the end of Section 7.

This paper is organized as follows.

In Section 2, we fix the notation of Seifert fibered homology 3-spheres and Seifert multilinks following the book.


Figure 10 also shows P max /A calculated using Equations (8)- (10) and that the values agree well with the experimental data. Power is generated at low concentrations because of the cation selectivity of the silica membrane. At high concentrations (c H = 1 M), ion selectivity of the silica membrane is almost nonexistent, as shown in Figure 7 . However, even in this case, a small amount of power can be generated from the natural anion selectivity of bulk NaCl solutions (t + « 0.4). Finally, Figure 11 shows the contour plots of P max /A, calculated using Equations (8)- (10), as a function of c L and c H . The figure shows that the optimal concentrations at which the power output density is maximum (1.2 mW/m 2 ) are c L = 4 mM and c H = 50 mM. That maximum P max /A value corresponds to a power output of 2.1 µW because the cross-sectional area of the membrane, A, used in the present study was 17.3 cm 2 . This power output is sufficient to drive low-power circuitry for wireless systems and to power biomedical implant devices [30, 31] . Therefore, dense silica membranes have the potential for use in nanofluidic and microfluidic systems.

This power output is sufficient to drive low-power circuitry for wireless systems and to power biomedical implant devices.


Modern wind turbines are machines that require big efforts when maximizing wind energy capture, not only because of their highly nonlinear aerodynamics, but also because of the high efficiency required even when model uncertainties, external perturbations, or system faults are present. As a consequence, the efficiency of both power capture and power generation is strongly dependent on the selected control method [5] . This situation provides a motivation to consider new alternative control techniques that improve the performance of HAWT without any structural change.

As a consequence, the efficiency of both power capture and power generation is strongly dependent on the selected control method.


The main objective of wind turbines is to convert efficiently wind energy into electrical power. There are wind turbines available in a different number of configurations (vertical axis, horizontal axis, fixed speed, variable speed, etc.). The most used type for large-scale power production is the variable-speed horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) with a two-or three-blade rotor [3] . HAWTs are commonly equipped with blade-pitch actuators, generator torque control and many sensors for use in real time control [4] . HAWTs operate in different control regions, and the region considered in the present work is a low-to-medium wind speeds operation (also called partial load operation or operation in region 2) where the main objective is to extract the maximum power from the wind.

The most used type for large-scale power production is the variable-speed horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) with a two-or three-blade rotor.

HAWTs are commonly equipped with blade-pitch actuators, generator torque control and many sensors for use in real time control.


When we compare states with and without term limits, before and after term limits took effect, we see that the average level of contributions (per one thousand residents in each incumbent's district) drops in states with term limits. States with and without term limits had average contribution levels of $983 and $763, respectively, (in real 2002 dollars) in each state's first election cycle. In the states with term limits, average contributions dropped to $690 in the second election cycle, but the average contribution in non-term-limited states increased to $891 . This effect was consistent for both upper and lower houses of the legislatures and appears to support the claim that term limits act as a form of campaign finance reform. But this finding may mask underlying patterns of interest group contributions. A detailed study of tobacco industry contributions before and after term limits, for example, showed that tobacco companies gave smaller contributions to a larger number of legislators, spending the same amount before and after term limits but gaining more access by contributing to more legislators (Apollonio, Glantz, and Bero 2004) . This result does imply, however, that organizations may be pursuing a retail strategy in the wake of term limits. The first hypothesis, that legislators in term-limited states receive lower average contributions, appears to be correct.

A detailed study of tobacco industry contributions before and after term limits, for example, showed that tobacco companies gave smaller contributions to a larger number of legislators, spending the same amount before and after term limits but gaining more access by contributing to more legislators.


Nutrient inputs in estuaries come from riverine and agricultural sources, industrial and urban sewage, and atmospheric deposition (Howarth et al. 1996) . Before the 1970s, most effluents from industrial and domestic sources were discharged both directly to the Scheldt river and estuary and indirectly, via the sewage systems. Some of these effluents had a very high biochemical and chemical oxygen demand (BOD, COD) and high nutrient concentrations. Since that period, major efforts have been undertaken to reduce this load, and this effort is still increasing, although it is mainly concentrated on point sources of nutrient pollution. The volume-averaged concentration data show how these discharges of agricultural, industrial, and municipal wastewater in the rivers and estuary first caused an increase in nutrient levels and deterioration of the oxygen concentration in the water until the middle or end of the 1970s (Figs. 8, 9 ). After that period, a marked decrease in nutrient loading and improvement of oxic conditions occurred. In the Belgian part of the Scheldt, the increase in nutrient concentrations from 1967 to 1974 was estimated to occur at a linearized rate of more than 10% per year for DIN and DIP, while the subsequent reduction in nutrient concentrations occurred at a much lower rate. For the whole estuary, the reduction numbered 1%, 1.3%, and 5.4% of the concentrations per year for DSi, DIN, and DIP, respectively. With these rates, the objectives, set by the states of the region, to halve the quantities of nutrients reaching the North Sea by 1995-compared to the base year 1985-were clearly met for phosphorus but not for DIN. We can estimate that, at the current rate of nutrient reduction, it will take at least another decade before the desired goals are achieved for nitrogen.

Nutrient inputs in estuaries come from riverine and agricultural sources, industrial and urban sewage, and atmospheric deposition.


It is important to set this discussion on these local against a more global backdrop. In particular, we must recognize that that as countries achieve the efficiencies discussed above in dealing with farm-gate and postharvest losses in their food systems through technological fixes, they may not see overall reduction in food waste. This is because as countries grow rich enough to invest in this kind of infrastructure, the problem of food waste may shift away from the farm-gate and manifest itself as the kind of waste caused by consumers and retailers in the developed world. Here, it is important to reflect on the results of our statistical models that GDP is positively related to food waste. In middle-income countries, such as South Africa, although food waste from agricultural production, post-harvest handling and storage, and processing and distribution sill make up the bulk of losses along the supply chain, increasingly consumer food waste is being noted as a major problem [44] [45] [46] . Households often tend to prepare/buy too much food, especially staples such as porridge and rice, which ends up thrown away, along with expired or spoiling bread. Although the lack of proper meal planning and education around preventing food waste are major issues, marketing strategies by food retailers, such as promotional specials that are intended to clear out food items before they reach their sell-by date, has been noted to contribute to food wastage at the household level [44] .

In middle-income countries, such as South Africa, although food waste from agricultural production, post-harvest handling and storage, and processing and distribution sill make up the bulk of losses along the supply chain, increasingly consumer food waste is being noted as a major problem.

Although the lack of proper meal planning and education around preventing food waste are major issues, marketing strategies by food retailers, such as promotional specials that are intended to clear out food items before they reach their sell-by date, has been noted to contribute to food wastage at the household level.


To analyse the impact of ħΩ R on the thermodynamic parameters of the desilylation under VSC, the C PTA in the reaction mixture [a freshly prepared homogeneous solution of PTA and tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (TBAF) in methanol] was varied from 0.5 to 2.5 m in steps of 0.5 m, while maintaining the fixed concentration of TABF (0.5 m). The presence of TBAF facilitates the desilylation reaction at room temperature [34] . A higher C PTA resulted in immiscible solutions when mixed with TBAF and methanol and is therefore not suitable for experiments under VSC. The TBAF concentration was fixed based on the half-life of the reaction outside the cavity for the lowest C PTA and the homogeneity of the reaction mixtures for all the C PTA used.

The presence of TBAF facilitates the desilylation reaction at room temperature.


It is remarkable that although the changes in the thermodynamic parameters follow the Rabi splitting, their magnitude is much greater than the VSC induced ħΩ R . This indicates that the effect of VSC is not only an energetic one on the potential energy surface leading to the products, it must also imply a change in reaction mechanism, which is confirmed by the evolution of ΔH ‡ and ΔS ‡ as discussed elsewhere [3] . It is interesting to see that the VSC has a retarding effect on the reaction, which could be understood by looking into the formation and organisation of the TS of the rate-limiting step.

This indicates that the effect of VSC is not only an energetic one on the potential energy surface leading to the products, it must also imply a change in reaction mechanism, which is confirmed by the evolution of ΔH ‡ and ΔS ‡ as discussed elsewhere.


There are two major pathways that could induce apoptosis: the intrinsic mitochondria pathway and extrinsic death receptor pathway [32, 33] . In the intrinsic pathway, many factors such as environmental changes, stimuli and drugs could induce mitochondria dysfunction. Cytochrome c is released from dysfunctional mitochondria and accumulated in the cytoplasm where it binds to the protein Apaf-1, meanwhile, binding of Pro-caspase-9 to Apaf-1 oligomers results in the formation of apoptosome, eventually leading to the activation of caspase-3, DNA damage and cell apoptosis [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] . Many previous studies have shown that emodin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in many carcinoma cells via intrinsic mitochondria pathway [18] [19] [20] 22, 23, 40, 41] . Our data also showed that emodin induced up-regulation of Cytochome c and Apaf-1 but down-regulation Pro-caspase-9 and Procaspase-3 in HeLa cells, suggesting the involvement of the intrinsic mitochondria pathway in emodin-induced apoptosis also happened in HeLa cells.

There are two major pathways that could induce apoptosis: the intrinsic mitochondria pathway and extrinsic death receptor pathway.

Cytochrome c is released from dysfunctional mitochondria and accumulated in the cytoplasm where it binds to the protein Apaf-1, meanwhile, binding of Pro-caspase-9 to Apaf-1 oligomers results in the formation of apoptosome, eventually leading to the activation of caspase-3, DNA damage and cell apoptosis.

Many previous studies have shown that emodin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in many carcinoma cells via intrinsic mitochondria pathway.


In recent years, the time series prediction model has been widely used in stock forecasting, traffic flow forecasting, and wind power forecasting [11] . However, it is rarely used in TWHT prediction. Scholars of the University of Queensland, Australia put forward the TWHT prediction model based on fuzzy information granulation (FIG) and the support vector machine (SVM) [12] . However, their study followed the stock forecasting model without redesigning the actual conditions of the TWHT prediction.

In recent years, the time series prediction model has been widely used in stock forecasting, traffic flow forecasting, and wind power forecasting.

Scholars of the University of Queensland, Australia put forward the TWHT prediction model based on fuzzy information granulation (FIG) and the support vector machine (SVM).


In this study, we evaluated the quality of the REVEALS pollen-based reconstruction of landscape openness based on comparison to remote sensing-based maps of anthropogenic land use in the present day. Establishing that the REVEALS method does a reasonable job of representing present-day patterns of land cover, we use REVEALS reconstructions for the mid-and late-preindustrial Holocene to evaluate two differing ALCC scenarios: KK10 and HYDE. Neither ALCC scenario captures the fine-scale spatial pattern of land use as inferred from the REVEALS reconstruction, but at an aggregate country-scale population region, the KK10 land use dataset shows good correspondence with pollen-based reconstructions. The nonlinear forest-population density relationship used in the KK10 model adequately hindcasts the amount of land use in the past, at least for the parts of northern and central Europe we studied. In contrast, the HYDE database appears to consistently underestimate landscape openness during preindustrial time. While these ALCC scenarios, KK10 in particular, may be useful for studies on very coarse-scale feedbacks between land cover change and climate in the preindustrial Holocene, further developments to ALCC models must focus on improving the distribution of land use, particularly in the distant past. This should be done in part by making more use of archaeological information and also by taking into account the importance of non-agricultural activities for the spatial pattern of land use. As both land use models discussed here are global, further data-model comparisons will be possible as REVEALS compilations become available for larger parts of the world [81] . By performing pollen-based reconstructions of land use in diverse environmental and socio-cultural settings, we will be able to further improve the accuracy of modeled land use in the past and better understand how the human transformation of the Earth's surface over the Holocene may have affected the evolution of anthromes, climate and the long-term sustainability of human-environment interactions.

As both land use models discussed here are global, further data-model comparisons will be possible as REVEALS compilations become available for larger parts of the world.


Our construction is just a special case of that given by Christensen and Ivan for AF-algebras [7] . Given an increasing sequence of finite-dimensional C * -algebras A 1 ⊆ A 2 ⊆ A 3 ⊆ · · · one considers their union and a representation constructed by the GNS method. The same sequence of sets provides an increasing sequence of finitedimensional subspaces for the associated Hilbert spaces which is used the construct the eigenspaces for the operator D. The one other piece of data needed for our construction is a σ-invariant measure with support X, which we denote µ.

Our construction is just a special case of that given by Christensen and Ivan for AF-algebras.


Alain Connes introduced the notion of a spectral triple which consists of a separable, infinite dimensional complex Hilbert space H, a * -algebra of bounded linear operators on H, A, and a self-adjoint unbounded operator D such that (1 + D 2 ) −1 extends to a compact operator. The key relation is, roughly, that for all a in A, [D, a] = Da − aD is densely defined and extends to a bounded operator [9] . The motivating example is where A consists of the smooth functions on a compact manifold and D is some type of elliptic differential operator.

The key relation is, roughly, that for all a in A, [D, a] = Da − aD is densely defined and extends to a bounded operator.


Kopyor coconut is a coconut with genetic abnormalities which result in a unique texture of the meat. The meat is soft, crushed, and detached from the shell due to the lack of one of the enzymes that plays a role in the formation of the meat, i.e. enzyme α-D-galactosidase. Because of these genetic abnormalities, kopyor coconut is relatively rarer than ordinary coconut. The scarcity, combined with a large demand, have contributed to its high economic value in the market [1] .

The scarcity, combined with a large demand, have contributed to its high economic value in the market.


We are interested in twistings of the motivic K-theory spectrum KGL in the algebrogeometric context of motivic homotopy theory [12] , [47] . Over the complex numbers C, or more generally any field with a complex embedding, our motivic twisted K-theory specializes to twisted K-theory under realization of complex points. The idea of twisting (co)homology theories have been used to great effect in topology. A classical example is cohomology with local coefficients, which can be used to formulate Poincaré duality and the Thom isomorphism for unorientable manifolds. Analogous motivic results are subject to future work.

We are interested in twistings of the motivic K-theory spectrum KGL in the algebrogeometric context of motivic homotopy theory.


Controlling for participants' sex provided further support for the moderation model. As found in the British sample, being Indonesian male also increased the likelihood of higher levels of blast intensities on no provocation and low provocations, but the effect of sex diminished on high provocations. This finding is in line with a meta-analysis in the Western cultures (Bettencourt & Miller, 1996) . They concluded that for females, the differences between aggression under provocation and neutral conditions are expected to be larger than for males, indicating the importance of provocation as a moderator of sex differences in aggression. Thus justification to display aggressive behaviour that is normally held in check by sex role norms appears to work similarly for females across cultures.

This finding is in line with a meta-analysis in the Western cultures.


Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) describes a reversible process which converts adherent, polarized epithelial cells with specialized cell-cell junctions into motile mesenchymal cells [1] . It occurs physiologically during embryogenesis and contributes pathologically to cancer metastasis, the major cause of death in cancer patients [2] [3] [4] . Transient rounds of EMT and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) allow tumor cells to acquire increased invasive and migratory abilities for dissemination from the primary tumor and colonization of secondary sites [4] [5] [6] [7] . To understand the metastatic dissemination of cancer cells it is crucial to analyze cell migration. Migration is regulated by various signaling pathways and involves complex molecular and cellular processes such as remodeling of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and restructuring of the actin cytoskeleton [8] .

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) describes a reversible process which converts adherent, polarized epithelial cells with specialized cell-cell junctions into motile mesenchymal cells.

It occurs physiologically during embryogenesis and contributes pathologically to cancer metastasis, the major cause of death in cancer patients.

Transient rounds of EMT and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) allow tumor cells to acquire increased invasive and migratory abilities for dissemination from the primary tumor and colonization of secondary sites.

Migration is regulated by various signaling pathways and involves complex molecular and cellular processes such as remodeling of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and restructuring of the actin cytoskeleton.


Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely used for the preservation of food and feed raw materials and to intensify the flavour and texture of fermented products. Of the lactobacilli commonly used in food processes, Lactobacillus plantarum is important in the production of many fermented foods of both plant (pickled vegetables, silage, sourdough) and animal (dry ferment sausages, fermented fish, cheese) origin [1] . This versatility and ecological flexibility is most likely associated with the genome size of L. plantarum, which is one of the largest known among LAB [2] . Based on complete genome sequencing, L. plantarum has a capacity to use a large variety of carbon sources and encompasses a relatively high number of regulatory functions concentrated within a defined genomic region, which was designated the lifestyle adaptation region [3] . These genomic features exhibit an efficient adaptation capacity of L. plantarum to versatile environmental conditions.

Of the lactobacilli commonly used in food processes, Lactobacillus plantarum is important in the production of many fermented foods of both plant (pickled vegetables, silage, sourdough) and animal (dry ferment sausages, fermented fish, cheese) origin.

This versatility and ecological flexibility is most likely associated with the genome size of L. plantarum, which is one of the largest known among LAB.

Based on complete genome sequencing, L. plantarum has a capacity to use a large variety of carbon sources and encompasses a relatively high number of regulatory functions concentrated within a defined genomic region, which was designated the lifestyle adaptation region.


Economical forces mostly drive the problems of development regulation emerging in the cities of today. Such also is the case with retail centres invasion to the east European cities. With the market globalization new investors are coming and often they are not very sensitive to the existing environment. As a result the Lithuanian Ministry of Environment have given an order to the municipalities of bigger cities to make retail centres specialized plans to regulate this kind of development in the cities. Yet there is no experience in post-soviet countries how to keep a curb on economic forces and the problem for the planners is how to strengthen their motivation against inappropriate locations proposed by the investors [1] .

Yet there is no experience in post-soviet countries how to keep a curb on economic forces and the problem for the planners is how to strengthen their motivation against inappropriate locations proposed by the investors.


In general, high-dimensional state space and search strategy are two main problems in generative approaches. High-dimensional pose state space makes pose analysis computationally expensive or even infeasible. Despite the high dimensionality of the configuration space, many human motion activities lie intrinsically on low-dimensional latent space [7, 8] . Motivated by this observation, we use ISOMAP, a nonlinear dimensionality reduction method, to learn the lowdimensional latent space of pose state, by which the aim of both reducing dimensionality and extracting the prior knowledge of human motion are achieved simultaneously. On the other hand, search strategy, in general how to track in the low-dimensional latent space, is another important problem. The search strategy should suit for the characteristics of the subspace and be global, optimal, and convergent. Although considerable work has already been done, a more effective search strategy is still intensively needed for robust visual tracking. In our opinion, motion prior knowledge has great influence on the search strategy, which can aid in performing more stable tracking. Compared with the previous methods, extracting the prior knowledge and introducing it in the designing of search strategy are of particular interests to us.

Despite the high dimensionality of the configuration space, many human motion activities lie intrinsically on low-dimensional latent space.


To understand the effect of the different thicknesses on the electrical properties of PMMA films, we have studied their morphology. Figure 5 shows the morphology of two PMMA films with two different thicknesses, 9 nm and 15 nm (Figures 5(a) and 5(b) , resp.), which were fabricated using CB. They were studied by AFM and the film with 15 nm reveals a good deposition with a small roughness about 0.3 nm. In general, all the films processed with the different solvents show good deposition, except the films smaller than 10 nm. The latter present an ohmic behavior ( Figure 5(a) ) and they show holes inside the film of the same order of the film thickness. These holes are responsible for the ohmic behavior because they cause a short circuit between the electrodes. Similar AFM images were reported by Pyo and coworkers for AIDNC films in the same thickness range [30] .

Similar AFM images were reported by Pyo and coworkers for AIDNC films in the same thickness range.


We adopt uniform quantization and arithmetic entropy coding on transformed attribute residuals. Intra prediction modes, transform modes, quantization steps, scan modes, the number of discarded zero for each block and block attribute residuals are encoded into bitstreams. Different quantization steps are used to reach the test bitrate point and to obtain different pairs of bitrate and PSNR. We use the bits per point (bpp) to measure the total bitrate of Y, U, V three components for each point. PSNR values are calculated on Y, U, V components by the evaluation metric from MPEG PCC standard proposal [22] .

PSNR values are calculated on Y, U, V components by the evaluation metric from MPEG PCC standard proposal.


Validation of new methodology is mandatory to investtigate whether the applied method actually address the issue in focus. Criterion validity approaches this question by comparing the test under investigation with an already established and validated test, i.e. the "gold standard". We have previously found good construct validity in a group of Norwegian hospitalised patients [15] .

We have previously found good construct validity in a group of Norwegian hospitalised patients.


When looking for correlations between PAL and traditional tests several interesting and also clinically logical features were revealed. All three results from PAL (Total errors, First trial memory score and Total trials) correlated with Global memory index. In addition both Verbal and Visual memory indexes correlated as well. Somewhat surprisingly, there was a tendency towards stronger correlations with verbal than non-verbal memory. This may indicate a need to verbalize to perform effectively on the PAL test. Patients frequently report that they are connecting names to the figures shown in this subtest. The First trial memory score indicates immediate ability to store visual information. This condition correlated strongly with the Visual paired association and more moderately, but still significant, with the subtest Visual Span Backwards (VSB), from the WMS-R. As expected, this may indicate that this condition demands immediate recollection of visual patterns and associations. The more complex conditions of Total errors and Total trials showed stronger association with general memory. Especially since correlations with IQ were generally weak, this underlines the dependency of these test conditions on temporal lobe function, also claimed by other authors [26, 27] . Thus, the First trial memory score may be viewed as depending on passive storage, whereas results of Total errors and Total trials depends more on active recollecttion. Hence it is not surprising that these results correlate with the more cognitive demanding Trail Making Test, part B (TMT-B) and also with visual IQ. In addition, both TMT-B and VSB are heavily dependent on spatial abilities. The correlation between subtests of PAL and these tests thus may indicate that spatial abilities also are important for performance on the PAL subtest. This is not unexpected, given the demand to remember spatial locations.

Especially since correlations with IQ were generally weak, this underlines the dependency of these test conditions on temporal lobe function, also claimed by other authors.


SOC is regarded a test for executive function. We compared SOC with tests from our standard clinical test battery, which are thought to be tests of executive functions, i.e. Category test and TMT-B. Somewhat surprisingly, we found no significant correlations between SOC and these tests. However, the definitions of executive functions are rather vague when it comes down to specific tests, and the general concept of executive functions probably contains a wide variety of cognitive functions [28] . Thus, it may not be expected a high degree of correlation between different measures of this construct. SOC may be a specific test of strategic planning and execution of such plans, whereas Category and TMT-B tests other aspects of executive function. Results reported from mean thinking time, 5 moves, from SOC correlated with several memory scores (Visual reproduction, 1 and 2, Visual memory index and Global memory index). Subsequent thinking time is the time used after the initial move has been made. If the patient makes a wrong move he can reset the target stimuli to start over again. To do this resetting fast and effectively the patient needs to remember the last position or the initial position of the target. This may explain why memory seems an important asset regarding SOC even though SOC is a test for executive function. Not surprisingly, results from SOC also correlated with IQ (Full scale IQ and Performance IQ). IQ is claimed to be an important factor in executive functioning. This result supports that SOC test executive domains in our population.

However, the definitions of executive functions are rather vague when it comes down to specific tests, and the general concept of executive functions probably contains a wide variety of cognitive functions.


Chitosan (poly[ -(1-4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose]; CH) is the second most abundant polysaccharides in nature after cellulose. There are some valuable characteristics possess to chitosan (e.g., biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioadhesiveness, and antimicrobial properties) which lead to its application for encapsulation of food bioactives [5, 7, 8] . However as a weak base with a pK value of the d-glucosamine residue of about 6.2-7.0, it is soluble in acidic media [9] . Hence, chitosan cannot be considered as a protective biopolymer for encapsulating of bioactives against the gastric media and therefore might not be alone applied for colon delivery.

There are some valuable characteristics possess to chitosan (e.g., biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioadhesiveness, and antimicrobial properties) which lead to its application for encapsulation of food bioactives.

However as a weak base with a pK value of the d-glucosamine residue of about 6.2-7.0, it is soluble in acidic media.


Alginate (AL) is a water soluble linear anionic polysaccharide formed from alternating blocks of 1-4 linked -Lguluronic and -Dmannuronic acid residues. It has been reported to be mucoadhesive, biodegradable, and biocompatible [10, 11] . Gel formation of AL is induced using crosslinking with divalent cations such as Ca +2 . The gelation and cross-linking of the AL are mainly achieved by exchanging of sodium ions from the guluronic acids with the Ca +2 ions, and zipping of guluronic groups to form the egg-box-like conformation [12] . Alginate also shows pH sensitivity, while in contrast to chitosan, the release of encapsulated bioactive could be postponed in low pH, which is advantageous for colon delivery of acidic sensible bioactive ingredients [8, 13, 14] .

It has been reported to be mucoadhesive, biodegradable, and biocompatible.

The gelation and cross-linking of the AL are mainly achieved by exchanging of sodium ions from the guluronic acids with the Ca +2 ions, and zipping of guluronic groups to form the egg-box-like conformation.

Alginate also shows pH sensitivity, while in contrast to chitosan, the release of encapsulated bioactive could be postponed in low pH, which is advantageous for colon delivery of acidic sensible bioactive ingredients.


SLN, AL-CH, and PEC-CH coated SLNs were produced to enhance stability and functionality of caffeic acid. Encapsulation efficiency and load of produced SLN were 71.21 ± 1.2% and 4.73 ± 0.35%, respectively. It is noteworthy that in a previous paper, it has been indicated that chemical compositions of the materials did not change during layer by layer coating [8] . In the following subsections, some features of developed nanocarriers such as size, zeta potential, morphology, and release behavior are studied; the effect of different treatments on antioxidant activity of caffeic acid is discussed afterwards.

It is noteworthy that in a previous paper, it has been indicated that chemical compositions of the materials did not change during layer by layer coating.


The increased attention being paid to the loss of nitrate via agricultural drainage has led many to call for significant changes in both management of N fertilizer and management of agricultural drainage systems [17] . Overall, current agronomic guidelines, which are primarily based on crop response, may inadequately protect the water quality in Southern China [18] . Although positive results were obtained by applying AWD technology in rice fields, the drainage volume in AWD has been reported to be larger due to the excessive drainage requirement, which results in an increase in nitrate losses from the agricultural fields [19, 20] . This can be partially addressed by the introduction of irrigation and drainage management. This then allows drainage design and management within the reasonable bounds expected for long-term nitrate control [21] . The various forms of N, caused by the actions of microorganisms, are dependent on temperature and time. The subsequent movement of nitrate is dependent on the presence of water in excess of field capacity. This timing should correspond with the plant's need for N. Logically, placement of N into the soil profile as a fertilizer addition would ideally be as close to the time that a plant needs the nutrient as possible to minimize the chance for loss into the environment. In this experiment, we observed that urea fertilization can significantly increase the concentration of NH 4 + -N and TN but has a little influence on NO 3 − -N. The major nitrogen treatment mechanisms of rice paddy include microbial interactions with nitrogen, sedimentation, chemical adsorption, and plant uptake [22] . In traditional nitrogen treatments, the biological nitrogen transition requires a two-step process: nitrification followed by denitrification. Nitrification implies a chemolithoautotrophic oxidation of ammonia to nitrate under strict aerobic conditions. The nitrification process is very oxygen demanding. During the submergence, the biological denitrification mechanism makes use of nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor in low-oxygen environments [23] . Under CID condition, the concentrations of NH 4 + -N at four stages were higher than that of NO 3 − -N. As is shown in Table 3 , NH China [24] . This is because the nitrification was suppressed by lack of oxygen due to prolonged submergence. The concentration of NH 4 + -N in surface water at tillering stage is higher than that at the following three stages. This is because the growth is strong at jointing-booting and panicle initiation stages, which lead to the reduction of NH 4 + -N and NO 3 − -N.

The increased attention being paid to the loss of nitrate via agricultural drainage has led many to call for significant changes in both management of N fertilizer and management of agricultural drainage systems.

Overall, current agronomic guidelines, which are primarily based on crop response, may inadequately protect the water quality in Southern China.

Although positive results were obtained by applying AWD technology in rice fields, the drainage volume in AWD has been reported to be larger due to the excessive drainage requirement, which results in an increase in nitrate losses from the agricultural fields.

This then allows drainage design and management within the reasonable bounds expected for long-term nitrate control.

In this experiment, we observed that urea fertilization can significantly increase the concentration of NH 4 + -N and TN but has a little influence on NO 3 − -N. The major nitrogen treatment mechanisms of rice paddy include microbial interactions with nitrogen, sedimentation, chemical adsorption, and plant uptake.

During the submergence, the biological denitrification mechanism makes use of nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor in low-oxygen environments.

Under CID condition, the concentrations of NH 4 + -N at four stages were higher than that of NO 3 − -N. As is shown in Table 3 , NH China.


An interesting question is what gauge group would arise on the pairs of D0-branes. We recall that the type I fivebrane also arises only in pairs, at least as counted in a sense natural to the type IIB description. There, the gauge group on such a pair is SU(2) [38, 39] . In the case of the pair of D0-branes in the background of a single D8-brane, one again expects the group to be some projection of U(2); i.e., either SU(2) or U(1) depending on whether the projection is symmetric or anti-symmetric. Now, we do not normally expect a semiclassical description of the sort used here to tell us about the detailed structure of the gauge groups. Also, we realize that in the D2-brane case the branes are allowed to separate locally and are 'confined' only in some global sense. Thus, we expect that the gauge group in that case is locally U(2) but with some global constraint. To get some idea about this global constraint, let us consider the case where the two sheets of D2-brane in fact coincide. Then, we can make two observations that suggest that the gauge group in the present setting should include global U(1) rotations instead of global SU(2) rotations. First, we recall from section 3 that, although the two D2-branes coincide the corresponding sheets of the M2-brane are separated in x 10 . This is clearly true for the (n = 1, m = 2) case v/w 2 = e b . Since the two sheets of the M2-brane do not coincide, we would be surprised to find a group that is not a subgroup of U(1) × U(1). Second, although T-duality cannot be used in a rigorous way, we expect T-duality to map our pair of D2-branes to a pair of D0-branes that are stuck together, and in particular to a pair of D0-branes located at the same point in space. Thus, one expects that holonomies of the gauge fields on the D2-branes around the non-trivial cycles of the torus take values of the form e iφ 0 0 e iφ , which do not arise in SU (2) . This is in contrast with the case of type I fivebranes, for which an Mtheoretic explanation of the antisymmetric projection condition leading to SU(2) can be related to two branes having mirror-symmetric positions across a would-be orientifold plane.

There, the gauge group on such a pair is SU(2).

Thus, one expects that holonomies of the gauge fields on the D2-branes around the non-trivial cycles of the torus take values of the form e iφ 0 0 e iφ , which do not arise in SU.


Heritage Spanish speakers are individuals who grew up in a Spanish-speaking home in a context where Spanish is not the majority language, and who have receptive and some degree of productive competence in the language (Valdés, 1997) . Traditionally, courses designed for this population in the United States have heavily emphasized the acquisition of prestige varieties (i.e. standard Spanish) and the development of linguistic registers associated with formal or scholarly writing (Leeman, 2005; Martínez, 2005) . Such emphasis derives from the fact that, due to a lack of formal instruction in Spanish, heritage speakers may not have acquired the linguistic registers expected in the oral and written formal settings of their native language (Colombi, 2003) .

Heritage Spanish speakers are individuals who grew up in a Spanish-speaking home in a context where Spanish is not the majority language, and who have receptive and some degree of productive competence in the language.

Traditionally, courses designed for this population in the United States have heavily emphasized the acquisition of prestige varieties (i.e. standard Spanish) and the development of linguistic registers associated with formal or scholarly writing.

Such emphasis derives from the fact that, due to a lack of formal instruction in Spanish, heritage speakers may not have acquired the linguistic registers expected in the oral and written formal settings of their native language.


Recent discourses have argued that charity is a vital force for good and an effective aspect of a responsible approach to business in travel and tourism (Goodwin et al.,2009) . Although this is an important and valid aspiration, this paper has demonstrated that there is some way to go in order to develop the evidence base on which to develop future policy and practice in this regard. Without a clear empirical foundation such calls will be hollow rhetoric, however wellintentioned. While there has been some welcome initial progress on understanding CSR in travel and tourism, attention has been fragmented and limited in scope. In order to enhance the performance of the sector in CSR more generally and corporate philanthropy in particular, more comparative research among businesses and organisations is necessary as is greater engagement with theory and concept developed in the mainstream body of knowledge. By adopting precisely this approach, this paper has demonstrated that there is significant charitable activity being conducted by low-fares airlines, mainly in the form of strategic philanthropy.

Recent discourses have argued that charity is a vital force for good and an effective aspect of a responsible approach to business in travel and tourism.


The other way of looking at the problem is to consider alignments to be exploited at a higher level independent from local ontologies and termed global level [27] . In this approach, the alignment language may be more expressive than the languages defining local ontologies, allowing better alignment reuse. However, only mappings are considered in this work, and no proposition concerning the integration of links at the global level is made.

The other way of looking at the problem is to consider alignments to be exploited at a higher level independent from local ontologies and termed global level.


Diospyros montana also known as Bombay ebony and belong to the family of Ebanaceae. Diospyros genus is receiving increased attention as it is used in Indian traditional medicines like Ayurveda and Unani [19] . Diospyros montana is mainly distributed in Western Ghats of India, Sri Lanka and Australia. It was reported that genus Diosyros contain various phytochemicals such as phenols, flavonoids, saponins, terpinoids and reducing sugars [20] . Diospyros montana has significant pharmacological activities, used in the treatment of cough, ulcer, anti-hypersensitive and snake bites [21, 22] . Bark extract of D.montana contains diospyrin compound, which acts as a tumor inhibitory agent [23] . However, to date, less attention has been paid to synthesis nanoparticles from this plant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on biosynthesis of AgNPs from stem bark extract of D.montana. We have demonstrated the phytochemical screening of methanolic stem bark extract, biosynthesis, characterization of silver nanoparticles and their free radical scavenging and antibacterial activities.

Diospyros genus is receiving increased attention as it is used in Indian traditional medicines like Ayurveda and Unani.

It was reported that genus Diosyros contain various phytochemicals such as phenols, flavonoids, saponins, terpinoids and reducing sugars.

Diospyros montana has significant pharmacological activities, used in the treatment of cough, ulcer, anti-hypersensitive and snake bites.

Bark extract of D.montana contains diospyrin compound, which acts as a tumor inhibitory agent.


Soapstock is formed by treating (refining) crude or degummed vegetable oils with alkali to produce a sodium soap, which is separated from the oil by centrifugation. Typically, soapstock will account for 5 to 10% of the crude oil mass, although higher values can be reached when the crude oil has a high concentration of free fatty acids [1] . Soapstock consists of 70-95% water and 5-30% of fatty material, depending on the refining practice and the equipment used. Most of the fatty material, 60-70%, is in the form of sodium soaps of fatty acids with the remainder made up of triglycerides, phospholipids, and minor amounts of other oil-derived compounds [2] . Oil cakes of various residues have been used for fermentative production of lipase and other industrial enzymes because their residual oil contents serve as inducers for lipase production [3] .

Typically, soapstock will account for 5 to 10% of the crude oil mass, although higher values can be reached when the crude oil has a high concentration of free fatty acids.

Most of the fatty material, 60-70%, is in the form of sodium soaps of fatty acids with the remainder made up of triglycerides, phospholipids, and minor amounts of other oil-derived compounds.

Oil cakes of various residues have been used for fermentative production of lipase and other industrial enzymes because their residual oil contents serve as inducers for lipase production.


Solid-state fermentation (SSF) with fungal strains results in much greater productivity than submerged fermentation (SF) [5] . SSF is defined as the fermentation involving solids in the absence (or near absence) of free water. However, the substrate must possess enough moisture to support growth and metabolism of microorganism [8] . Therefore, it can be used either as support or as a carbon-energy source [9] . One of the major advantages of SSF is that it may be carried out using naturally-occurring agricultural by-products, such as straw and bran [10] .

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) with fungal strains results in much greater productivity than submerged fermentation (SF).

However, the substrate must possess enough moisture to support growth and metabolism of microorganism.

Therefore, it can be used either as support or as a carbon-energy source.

One of the major advantages of SSF is that it may be carried out using naturally-occurring agricultural by-products, such as straw and bran.


Simulation models of metro lines are used in predictive control algorithms for the real-time regulation of trains, and in the robustness analysis of train timetables. The two main variables in these models are the running time between stations and the dwell time. In metro lines equipped with ATO (automatic train operation) the running times present, in general, less variability than the dwell times, and they depend mainly on the control commands and technical restrictions. On the other hand, the dwell times are random processes that depend on the number and behaviour of the passengers as well as the action of closing door and departure/take-off carried out manually by the drivers. In addition, these dwell times depend on the physical design of the station (width and length of the station, accesses to the platforms, etc.), since the passengers can concentrate in certain points of the station making access to the train difficult [1] .

In addition, these dwell times depend on the physical design of the station (width and length of the station, accesses to the platforms, etc.), since the passengers can concentrate in certain points of the station making access to the train difficult.


In tissue-based studies of breast carcinogenesis, non-cancerous breast tissue is often utilized as a control tissue for comparison. Non-cancerous breast tissues are generally selected on the basis of convenience-usually these are excess tissues with a benign histologic appearance that were banked from surgical procedures. However, it could be argued that almost all surgically resected breast tissues have been removed for some abnormality or state of high risk for breast cancer. Sources of non-cancerous control breast tissue used for research (and sometimes called ''normal'') may include unaffected ipsilateral or contralateral breast tissue from a patient with cancer, prophylactic mastectomy tissues, neighboring breast tissue from women with benign breast lesions, or, most commonly, reduction mammaplasty tissue [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . While these tissue sources lack cancer, they may not represent truly normal breast tissue, since there is usually a clinical abnormality or high-risk condition that is motivating the removal of the tissue for clinical purposes. Reduction mammaplasty tissues may be regarded as the best representation of the normal state since the patient does not have cancer and the tissue removal is not targeted to a specific abnormality or high-risk state.

Sources of non-cancerous control breast tissue used for research (and sometimes called ''normal'') may include unaffected ipsilateral or contralateral breast tissue from a patient with cancer, prophylactic mastectomy tissues, neighboring breast tissue from women with benign breast lesions, or, most commonly, reduction mammaplasty tissue.


Regarding lobular involution, we found that KTB normal donor samples showed a higher likelihood of complete involution compared to RM and BBD tissues, after adjusting for age and other factors. Lobular involution is an age-related process of atrophy of the breast lobules, and complete involution is associated with reduced breast cancer risk [16] . The more frequent state of complete involution in normal donor tissues provides histologic evidence of lower breast cancer risk than in BBD or RM tissues. This finding may seem confusing in light of reports that RM patients do not have increased breast cancer risk. Two studies have shown that among women who underwent RM, breast cancer risk after the procedure is reduced compared to the general population [18, 19] . This reduction in risk would appear to be related to the removal of a large amount of breast tissue, removing the cancer risk associated with that portion of tissue. To our knowledge, no study has addressed longterm breast cancer risk in women with macromastia severe enough to warrant surgery but who have not undergone RM.

Lobular involution is an age-related process of atrophy of the breast lobules, and complete involution is associated with reduced breast cancer risk.

Two studies have shown that among women who underwent RM, breast cancer risk after the procedure is reduced compared to the general population.


The increased activity of decarboxylases after one day of infestation suggests their participation in the short-term local response elicited by pea aphid feeding. The importance of the hypersensitive response (HR) in aphid-plant interactions has been noted by other authors (Goggin, 2007; Morkunas et al., 2011) . During earlier HR events in response to some aphid species, reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion (O 2 -) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) are generated (Thompson and Goggin, 2006) . Polyamines prevent plant damage caused by oxidative stress but may also generate large quantities of H 2 O 2 , inducing the next steps of stress responses (Mohapatra et al., 2009) . Oxidative degradation of polyamines by diamine oxidase (DAO) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) generated H 2 O 2 during the hypersensitive response of tobacco to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) (Cona et al., 2006; Yoda et al., 2009) . A similar mechanism could be involved in the induc- tion of decarboxylases in pea tissues soon after A. pisum infestation began, which may have resulted in overaccumulation of PAs and intensification of their next transformations (e.g., oxidative degradation). This phenomenon needs to be studied in terms of the biochemical interactions between the oxidative burst and the metabolism of PAs in aphid-infested plants.

The importance of the hypersensitive response (HR) in aphid-plant interactions has been noted by other authors.

During earlier HR events in response to some aphid species, reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion (O 2 -) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) are generated.

Polyamines prevent plant damage caused by oxidative stress but may also generate large quantities of H 2 O 2 , inducing the next steps of stress responses.

Oxidative degradation of polyamines by diamine oxidase (DAO) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) generated H 2 O 2 during the hypersensitive response of tobacco to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).


As we have seen, with the exclusion of ProcessJob as discussed above, all the procedures of the scheduler have at most Oðlog nÞ computational complexity. These Oðlog nÞ operations have low constant factors because they are implemented on binary heaps, which are very efficient data structures. We believe that these performance guarantees are sufficient for a very large set of practical situations: for example, CFS-the current Linux scheduler-has Oðlog nÞ complexity since it uses a tree structure [31] .

We believe that these performance guarantees are sufficient for a very large set of practical situations: for example, CFS-the current Linux scheduler-has Oðlog nÞ complexity since it uses a tree structure.


It has been reported that ®lm diusion tends to be the rate limiting step in high porosity adsorbers, when the concentration of active sites is low, or when the particles are signi®cantly small. Internal diusion tends to be the rate controlling step when diusing molecules are large compared to the pore size of the adsorbents (Carleysmith, Eanes & Lilly, 1980; Gopala Rao & Gupta, 1982; Tsou & Graham, 1985; Graham, Pucciani & Pinto, 1987; Zhao & Xingyan, 1990) . This is normally the case when dealing with protein adsorption, even in macroporous resins. This conclusion, however, applies to individual particles; external resistance can increase signi®cantly in packed beds.

Internal diusion tends to be the rate controlling step when diusing molecules are large compared to the pore size of the adsorbents.


Several studies have showed that "postoperative" cystic duct leak is a rare complication of LC and associated with fairly low morbidity. Endoscopic ductal decompression and percutaneous drainage are effective treatment [11] [12] [13] . We described that ACD may be managed with several techniques. Similarly, when persistent bile leakage occurred, ES was also effective.

Endoscopic ductal decompression and percutaneous drainage are effective treatment.


To keep skin clean of microorganisms chitin is a suitable product to be applied on textiles. Chitin, poly-(1,4)-2-acetoamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucose, is the second most abundant natural polymer. Its chemical structure is similar to that of cellulose, differing only in the second carbon position, where the hydroxy groups are replaced by an amino acetyl group. Chitosan is the deacetylated form of chitin, i.e. poly-(1,4)-2-amido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucose. Chitosan has been found to be capable of inhibiting microbial growth [7] [8] . The antimicrobial mechanism is not clear but it is generally accepted that the primary amine groups provide positive charges which interact with negatively charged residues on the surface of microbes. Such interaction causes extensive changes in the cell surface and cell permeability, leading to leakage of intracellular substances.

Chitosan has been found to be capable of inhibiting microbial growth.


Treatment is often challenging, because no well-studied or approved systemic options exist [3] . Systemic options are used for severe situations, and topic treatments are prescript for non severe or in order to prevent it to appear. These infections can sometimes be treated by hydrating the skin and ensuring that the zone is free of harmful microorganisms [4] [5] [6] . Fabrics can therefore be useful if they can keep skin clean of microorganisms and improve hydration of the dermis.

Treatment is often challenging, because no well-studied or approved systemic options exist.

These infections can sometimes be treated by hydrating the skin and ensuring that the zone is free of harmful microorganisms.


Certain methods are normally used for sterilization: autoclave, ethylene oxide gas, and radiation. Autoclave needs a high temperature to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. Ethylene oxide gas causes surface sterilization only and can leave toxic residues. Radiation is usually by gamma rays or electron beam, the possibility of entering certain substrates is very high and penetration is superior to that of UV radiation. The use of radiation processing has become widespread in recent years. It is considered as a safe, reliable, and economical technique capable of being used in various fields of industrial production and scientific research and is an environment-friendly alternative to other industrial techniques [16] . Radiation is used in different forms, but most attention is given to those able to pass through matter and that can be considered as ionizing radiation [17] . Physico-chemical techniques such as irradiation by accelerated electron beams, neutrons or gamma radiation possess a high potential for modifying textile fibres and other materials [18] .

It is considered as a safe, reliable, and economical technique capable of being used in various fields of industrial production and scientific research and is an environment-friendly alternative to other industrial techniques.

Radiation is used in different forms, but most attention is given to those able to pass through matter and that can be considered as ionizing radiation.

Physico-chemical techniques such as irradiation by accelerated electron beams, neutrons or gamma radiation possess a high potential for modifying textile fibres and other materials.