A current problem and concept, cyber-victimization, is defined as the situation in which one or more individuals are exposed to harmful behavior personally or individuals experience it as legal entity through communication technologies (Arıcak, 2011) . Cyber bullying; by a group or individual, with computer or mobile phone, etc. is defined as an aggressive, intentional harmful behavior carried out by means of communication (Smith et al. 2008) . Cyber bulying or cyber victimization can be seen in various forms. Some of those; online fighting, harmful activities, libel, identity change, unauthorized use of information, provocation, cyber harassment and exclusion (Willard, 2007) . Unlike real victimization and bullying, there is no physical interaction between the cyber victim and the cyber bully. In this regard, cyber victimization and bullying have become an international problem (Antoniadou & Kokkinos, 2015; Ayas & Horzum, 2012; Bhat, 2008; Boronenko, Menshikov & Marzano, 2013; Keith & Martin, 2005) .

A current problem and concept, cyber-victimization, is defined as the situation in which one or more individuals are exposed to harmful behavior personally or individuals experience it as legal entity through communication technologies.

Cyber bullying; by a group or individual, with computer or mobile phone, etc. is defined as an aggressive, intentional harmful behavior carried out by means of communication.

Some of those; online fighting, harmful activities, libel, identity change, unauthorized use of information, provocation, cyber harassment and exclusion.

In this regard, cyber victimization and bullying have become an international problem.


B-L MSSM cosmic strings may also exhibit superconductivity induced by fermionic zero-modes in the string core [45, 46, 47] . The fact that the gauged U (1) B−L extension of the MSSM is rendered anomaly free by the inclusion of three families of right-handed neutrino chiral multiplets plays an important role here. The cosmic string initially develops as a non-zero n-fold winding of ν 3 around some line in space. This couples directly to the left-chiral tauon ψ E − and the chargino ψ H + , forming left-moving fermion zero-modes on the string worldsheet. However, anomaly cancellation requires the appearance of right-moving fermionic modes, whose identity in the B-L MSSM context is not self-evident. We show that the third family left-handed sneutrino develops a small VEV N 3 following the electroweak phase transition. This wraps the core of the cosmic string with winding −n, opposite that that of ν 3 . The right-chiral tauon ψ e + and chargino ψ H − couple to this field, inducing right-handed zero-modes which cancel all worldsheet anomalies. Thus, there is potential fermionic superconductivity in the cosmic string. We conclude, however, that the electroweak phase transition will, in general, render these fermionic currents unobservable [48] - [50] .

B-L MSSM cosmic strings may also exhibit superconductivity induced by fermionic zero-modes in the string core.

We conclude, however, that the electroweak phase transition will, in general, render these fermionic currents unobservable.


Emergence inhibition. Emergence inhibition of various crop and weed species has --------------------------------------------------------------------------------(% dry wt) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- been observed when BSMs are amended to greenhouse and field soils (Boydston et al., 2008; Rice et al., 2007; Vaughn et al., 2006) . We suggest that 2-propenyl ITC and SCN -released from GLSs found in BSMs were the dominant causes of emergence inhibition in 2006 (Table 2 ). Greater emergence inhibition was observed in S. alba than in B. juncea treatments across both rates (Table 2 ), most likely because of different glucosinolate types in the meals. Differences in ITC and SCN -release from the tissues and dispersal and persistence of these compounds in soil all contribute to differential effects on emergence. Release efficiencies from Brassicaceae seed meals are controversial and difficult to predict (Brown et al., 1991; Hansson et al., 2008) . Dispersal of the two compounds undoubtedly differs given that SCN -will move by way of diffusion and mass flow, whereas 2-propenyl ITC is a relatively volatile and hydrophobic compound (Borek et al., 1995) . Surface application with only shallow incorporation of BSMs used in this experiment likely favored volatile losses of 2-propenyl ITC, whereas leaching losses of SCN -were limited by only 62 mm of precipitation and irrigation in the 15-d period between BSM application and seeding. Persistence differences of the two compounds may also contribute to observed results because a longer half-life for SCN -in soil compared with 2-propenyl ITC has been reported (Borek et al., 1995; Brown and Morra, 1993) .

Emergence inhibition.

Emergence inhibition of various crop and weed species has --------------------------------------------------------------------------------(% dry wt) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- been observed when BSMs are amended to greenhouse and field soils.

Release efficiencies from Brassicaceae seed meals are controversial and difficult to predict.

Dispersal of the two compounds undoubtedly differs given that SCN -will move by way of diffusion and mass flow, whereas 2-propenyl ITC is a relatively volatile and hydrophobic compound.

Persistence differences of the two compounds may also contribute to observed results because a longer half-life for SCN -in soil compared with 2-propenyl ITC has been reported.


The dedication and commitment to training as well as the willingness to undergo many hours of hard work in the quest for developing and improving relevant physical qualities and technical skills is as evident for Molly, Susan and Jane as it was for the boxers studied by Wacquant. However, the 'emphasis on safety' described by Molly, Susan and Jane as being 'extremely important' is at odds with the opinion of the boxers. The participants in this study considered 'not being able to hit to the head', 'using impact absorbing gloves' and 'not intentionally harming anyone' as 'vital' for their involvement with the program. These views are totally inconsistent with the boxers' perceptions -they accepted the possibility of being injured and considered the risk as a part of their job. Nonetheless, 80% of the boxers indicated they would not want their children to be involved with boxing [11] . Although the reasons for the boxers concerns' are not expressly outlined, it is reasonable to conclude that the boxers had some misgivings in regard to exposing their children to the inherent dangers associated with boxing participation.

Nonetheless, 80% of the boxers indicated they would not want their children to be involved with boxing.


The Erindale program's 'emphasis on safety' is based on unequivocal evidence that participation in boxing entails serious risk. It has been estimated that the condition popularly known as punch-drunkenness develops in about 20% of professional boxers, and there is evidence that amateur boxers can also incur neurological damage. Ongoing improvements in the regulation and medical supervision of professional and amateur boxing might reduce the inherent injury risks associated with the sport but cannot eliminate them [42] [43] [44] . It should be noted that Molly, Susan and Jane considered these risks as 'unnecessary', 'avoidable' and 'inappropriate' and noted that the emphasis on safety has a major influence on their involvement with the Erindale program.

Ongoing improvements in the regulation and medical supervision of professional and amateur boxing might reduce the inherent injury risks associated with the sport but cannot eliminate them.


Several experts have noted that the sport has important aesthetic and symbolic qualities that have allowed it to act as a medium for transmission of artistic and cultural values and an agent of social change [12, 13] . Given that some of the arguments both for and against boxing can be seen as having merit, a question arises as to whether it might be possible to develop a new form of the sport that overcomes the objections while retaining the beneficial elements. A leading medical authority has suggested specific modifications, including exclusion of the head and neck as targets and the introduction of special gloves with greatly increased capacity for impact absorption [14] .

Several experts have noted that the sport has important aesthetic and symbolic qualities that have allowed it to act as a medium for transmission of artistic and cultural values and an agent of social change.

A leading medical authority has suggested specific modifications, including exclusion of the head and neck as targets and the introduction of special gloves with greatly increased capacity for impact absorption.


The energy distributions of precipitating electrons within dynamic small scale structures of the aurora provide the key to understanding the acceleration mechanisms that are operating above the ionosphere. Information about these energies and their variation in space and time can be obtained from the spectral signatures of the auroral emissions. Simultaneous imaging in different wavelength regions at high time resolution can be used to investigate the relationship between incoming electron energy flux and spatial structure within auroral forms (Semeter et al., 2001) .

Simultaneous imaging in different wavelength regions at high time resolution can be used to investigate the relationship between incoming electron energy flux and spatial structure within auroral forms.


As an extension to this analysis, the response of biomass yield to land quality was also examined. In total, we were able to associate land capability classes as defi ned by the NRCS with the vast majority of sites. Th e only exception to this was one fi eld trial in West Virginia (Fike et al., 2006) . Across the 39 sites for which data were compiled, statistical analysis showed no signifi cant relationship between productivity and land capability class for either lowland or upland ecotypes analyzed together or separately (Table 3) . Although careful application of this and other yield models is warranted, and new data will further inform our understanding, we see no evidence of a high-yield bias due to land quality in our database. Th is may be in part because many of the switchgrass fi eld trials established in the 1990s tended to be on marginal lands since a common expectation at the time was that less-than-prime agricultural lands would be used for woody and herbaceous energy crop production (Wright, 1994) .

Th e only exception to this was one fi eld trial in West Virginia.

Th is may be in part because many of the switchgrass fi eld trials established in the 1990s tended to be on marginal lands since a common expectation at the time was that less-than-prime agricultural lands would be used for woody and herbaceous energy crop production.


Our interest here is the lift of the full cosmology/instanton solutions corresponding to complete smooth 2D Minkowski trajectories. We find, in particular, that the k = 1 Milne geodesics, lift to a sequence of all the possible (d + 1)-dimensional (anti) de Sitter-Schwarzschild spacetimes for a given absolute value of the black hole mass, the negative and positive mass black holes corresponding to pre and post big-bang phases, respectively. Moreover, the big-crunch singularity is resolved in the higher dimension in the same way that certain dilaton black hole singularities are resolved [8] .

Moreover, the big-crunch singularity is resolved in the higher dimension in the same way that certain dilaton black hole singularities are resolved.


Stress concentration at an elliptic hole induced by a remote uniform load is one of the classical problems in linear elasticity. To reduce stress concentration, an effective method is applying a reinforcement layer, with appropriate geometry and material property, bonded to a hole (Chen and Chao, 2008) . This method has been widely applied to many practical problems where the elastic mismatch-induced stresses are of vital importance to mechanical integrity. In doing so, the problem is reduced to one of stresses within a two-phase elliptical composite. Unfortunately, the stress field within a two-phase elliptical composite is quite complicated. That is why the existing related works are mainly limited to a multiple-phase circular composite (Chao et al., 2006) . When a reinforcement layer is introduced in the analysis, the interfacial stresses between a reinforcement layer and the matrix must be taken into account. In this work, we consider a reinforced elliptical hole in an infinite plate subject to a remote uniform load. The reinforcement layer is bounded by two confocal ellipses. The proposed method is based on the method of conformal mapping and the technique of analytical continuation that is alternately applied across two concentric circles. The plan of this paper is as follows. The general formulation for plane elasticity and the method of conformal mapping are provided in Section 2. The series form solutions of the complex potentials of the stresses are given in Section 3. Some numerical examples are solved in Section 4. Finally, Section 5 concludes the article.

To reduce stress concentration, an effective method is applying a reinforcement layer, with appropriate geometry and material property, bonded to a hole.

That is why the existing related works are mainly limited to a multiple-phase circular composite.

The plan of this paper is as follows.


Since the impact of E and O on τ a is negligible (not shown), we will consider their impact on the intensive optical properties (ω 0 and g) only (Section 3.2). In comparison with ω 0 , the asymmetry factor typically has a smaller impact on the DARF at both the TOA and BOA [10] . Therefore, the expected different sensitivity of the retrieved aerosol properties (ω 0 and g) to changes of E and O suggests that the enhancement (as compared with offset) would have a smaller influence on the DARF. Below we discuss the impact of the enhancement and offset on the aerosol retrievals and calculated DARF and provide the corresponding quantitative estimates.

In comparison with ω 0 , the asymmetry factor typically has a smaller impact on the DARF at both the TOA and BOA.


To estimate the potential impact of the enhancement and offset on the anticipated aerosol retrievals, we performed a sensitivity study through application of the operational AERONET retrieval and development of synthetic 4STAR-like data. The development of the synthetic data involves (i) the selection of four days when the retrieved aerosol properties represent the multi-year averages of biomass burning aerosol, and (ii) adding the spectrally-dependent enhancement (at small scattering angles) or the spectrally independent offset (at all scattering angles) to the observed sky radiances for selected days. The relative sensitivity of the retrieved aerosol properties at four specified wavelengths (0.44, 0.674, 0.87 and 1.02 μm) to the expected enhancement and offset is treated in the framework of a theoretical approach previously developed and applied for the AERONET observations [28] . Particular attention is given to what extent the uncertainties in the retrieved aerosol properties (associated with the enhancement and offset) affect the upwelling and downwelling broadband fluxes and the direct aerosol radiative forcing at the bottom and top of the atmosphere.

The relative sensitivity of the retrieved aerosol properties at four specified wavelengths (0.44, 0.674, 0.87 and 1.02 μm) to the expected enhancement and offset is treated in the framework of a theoretical approach previously developed and applied for the AERONET observations.


This paper addresses the assessment of expected aerosol retrievals from the new airborne Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR) with multi-angular and multi-spectral observational capabilities [26, 27] . The compact design of the 4STAR could result in an apparent enhancement of sky radiance at small scattering angles (≤6° from sun) with some spectral dependence (up to 25% and 50% at 0.44 and 1.02 μm wavelength, respectively). In contrast to the enhancement, the maximum expected offset (±5% skylight miscalibration) of the 4STAR observations is assumed independent of wavelength for this study.

This paper addresses the assessment of expected aerosol retrievals from the new airborne Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR) with multi-angular and multi-spectral observational capabilities.


Multi-spectral remote sensing applications of the airborne AATS-14 instrument have mostly focused on extracting important information of atmospheric aerosol and gas constituents from direct solar beam transmission at 14 wavelengths [19] . Recently, the NASA Ames Research Center in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have made substantial technical improvements and developed the next airborne generation of AATS-14, named Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR) with ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared spectral coverage, increased number of channels (more than 1,500 pixels) and the sky-scanning ability of the ground-based AERONET sun/sky photometers ( Figure 1 ; [26, 27] ). It is expected that for the first time the 4STAR on board the G-1 aircraft will provide retrievals of aerosol microphysical and optical properties during the ongoing Two-Column Aerosol Project supported by the ARM Program (http://campaign.arm.gov/tcap/). Compared to the AERONET-supported sun/sky photometer, the 4STAR is a compact flyable instrument with considerably shorter entrance optics (Figure 1 ). Preflight assessment of the 4STAR performance illustrates that an apparent and noticeable enhancement (E) of sky radiance can occur at small scattering angles (≤6° from sun) and this enhancement has a "half-bell" shape with its maximum at the smallest (~3° from sun) scattering angle. Note that the smallest scattering angle is the same for the AERONET and 4STAR measurements. To exclude data contaminated by stray light, the scattering angles smaller than 3° are not used in the AERONET retrievals. Also, this assessment demonstrated that the enhancement is spectrally-dependent: it could reach up to 25% and 50% at 0.44 and 1.02 μm wavelength, respectively. The angular and spectral shape of the enhancement of the sky radiance at near-sun angles was directly measured by pointing the 4STAR at numerous angles near the sun while alternately introducing and removing a shade between the 4STAR and the sun. The placement of the shade when introduced was such as to insulate the entrance optic from incident sunlight without impacting the actual sky view of the instrument. For a given angle, the enhancement was defined as a ratio of shaded measurement over unshaded measurement at four wavelengths (0.44, 0.674, 0.87 and 1.02 μm).

Multi-spectral remote sensing applications of the airborne AATS-14 instrument have mostly focused on extracting important information of atmospheric aerosol and gas constituents from direct solar beam transmission at 14 wavelengths.

Recently, the NASA Ames Research Center in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have made substantial technical improvements and developed the next airborne generation of AATS-14, named Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4STAR) with ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared spectral coverage, increased number of channels (more than 1,500 pixels) and the sky-scanning ability of the ground-based AERONET sun/sky photometers ( Figure 1 ;).


Generally, the antibacterial activity is related to the local activity of the material that eradicates the bacteria or reduces their growth, without exerting general toxicity to the tissues [29] . Several investigations have reported that the parameters involved in the antibacterial activity of AgNPs are a combination of both physical and chemical features, such as size, shape, and surface-volume ratio of the nanoparticles, as well as their method of synthesis [1, 9] . In the present in vitro study, spherical AgNPs with an average size of 7.5-10.1 nm were synthesized by different methods, providing three different electrical surface charges to assess the effect of the surface charge and its role in antibacterial activity against certain gram-positive and gramnegative bacteria. Although the tested nanoparticles were synthesized by different methodologies, in fact the resultant nanoparticles will govern their antibacterial properties. According to the characterization results, the differently charged AgNPs were almost similar in their size and shape.

Generally, the antibacterial activity is related to the local activity of the material that eradicates the bacteria or reduces their growth, without exerting general toxicity to the tissues.

Several investigations have reported that the parameters involved in the antibacterial activity of AgNPs are a combination of both physical and chemical features, such as size, shape, and surface-volume ratio of the nanoparticles, as well as their method of synthesis.


It has been proved that the cellular membrane of the bacteria has a negative charge due to the presence of carboxyl, phosphate, and amino groups [32] . Hence, the repulsion between the bacteria and negatively charged AgNPs could result in the formation of an electrostatic barrier by limiting the interaction between the AgNPs and the bacteria. Considering this point, the finding that the least antibacterial activity was observed on negatively charged AgNPs might be explained. With a reduction in the magnitude of the negatively charged AgNPs, the antibacterial activity will increase [9] . The fact that the antibacterial activity of the AgNPs is dependent on their surface charge was verified with the results of the current study, which showed the intermediate bactericidal activity for neutral AgNPs and the strongest activity for positively charged AgNPs. In addition, the attraction of positively charged AgNPs to sulfur-and phosphorus-containing proteins of bacteria could be another factor for the dissimilar antibacterial effectiveness of AgNPs with different surface charges [33, 34] .

It has been proved that the cellular membrane of the bacteria has a negative charge due to the presence of carboxyl, phosphate, and amino groups.

With a reduction in the magnitude of the negatively charged AgNPs, the antibacterial activity will increase.

In addition, the attraction of positively charged AgNPs to sulfur-and phosphorus-containing proteins of bacteria could be another factor for the dissimilar antibacterial effectiveness of AgNPs with different surface charges.


Electrostatic attraction between positively charged AgNPs and negatively charged bacterial cells is necessary for the antibacterial effectiveness of the AgNPs and this attraction is managed by the charge of the AgNPs and the microorganisms [3, 9, 12, 31] . This attraction probably overcomes other factors, such as size and shape that can influence the bacterial cell death. The clear impact of charge over the other parameters influencing the antibacterial activity has also been shown in the current study in which the AgNPs of the smallest size (negatively charged: 7.5 nm) presented the least antibacterial activity.

Electrostatic attraction between positively charged AgNPs and negatively charged bacterial cells is necessary for the antibacterial effectiveness of the AgNPs and this attraction is managed by the charge of the AgNPs and the microorganisms.


Two previous works demonstrated that the AgNPs were more active against gram-negative bacteria regardless of their resistance level [12, 13] . In current study, P. vulgaris was the most resistant test bacteria, which needed a full concentration of positively charged AgNPs to obtain MIC. Furthermore, it was also resistant against neutral and negatively charged AgNPs. On the other side, although the MIC against E. coli could not be determined for negatively charged AgNPs, it was depicted as the lowest determined concentration among bacterial strains for neutrally and positively charged AgNPs. Therefore, our results suggest that the antibacterial activity of AgNPs may be associated with the characteristics of the bacterial species.

Two previous works demonstrated that the AgNPs were more active against gram-negative bacteria regardless of their resistance level.


The bactericidal effect of AgNPs depends on different parameters including size, shape, and the surface charge of the particles. In this respect, smaller particles are found to have greater antibacterial activity and shown to have two benefits. Firstly, they can easily reach the nuclear content of bacteria due to the structure of the bacterial cell wall, especially in gram-negative ones [5] . Secondly, they can provide a greater 2 Journal of Nanomaterials surface area and therefore stronger bactericidal interactions [2, 6] . Some studies revealed that the NPs greater than 10 nm accumulate on the cellular surface and compromise cellular permeability; however, NPs smaller than 10 nm penetrate into the bacteria, affecting DNA and the enzymes leading to cellular death [7, 8] .

Firstly, they can easily reach the nuclear content of bacteria due to the structure of the bacterial cell wall, especially in gram-negative ones.

Secondly, they can provide a greater 2 Journal of Nanomaterials surface area and therefore stronger bactericidal interactions.

Some studies revealed that the NPs greater than 10 nm accumulate on the cellular surface and compromise cellular permeability; however, NPs smaller than 10 nm penetrate into the bacteria, affecting DNA and the enzymes leading to cellular death.


Fibre-optic sensors based on the evanescent wave absorption effect are an example of simple, cost effective yet very efficient type of intrinsic fibre-optic sensor [12] . As light travels along the core of the optical fibre, a small portion of energy penetrates the cladding in the form of an evanescent wave, the intensity of which decays exponentially with the distance from the interface between the cladding and the surrounding environment. Typically the penetration depth of evanescent wave into surrounding medium is in order of hundreds of nanometers.

Fibre-optic sensors based on the evanescent wave absorption effect are an example of simple, cost effective yet very efficient type of intrinsic fibre-optic sensor.


Instead, it will be very useful to have a PV emulator that has embedded I-V characteristics of the target PV modules and is able to generate the output current and voltage based on the load demand and the ambient conditions. A well-designed power emulator or simulator makes it possible to greatly reduce the amount of time and the cost of developing an optimized system [9] . A system designer can utilize the emulator or simulator to verify the PV module design integrated with the load device. It provides a high degree of freedom for experimenting different designs of a solarpowered system with any ambient condition profiles as desired, which is not possible with real PV modules. A large body of previous research has indeed introduced PV emulators that model various kinds and sizes of PV modules subject to wide-ranging ambient conditions and load demands.

A well-designed power emulator or simulator makes it possible to greatly reduce the amount of time and the cost of developing an optimized system.


The liquid product obtained from biomass pyrolysis is a complex mixture of oxygenated, aromatic and carbohydrate derived compounds, with a wide range of molecular weight, generated from the fragmentation of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, and from further polymerization and degradation reactions due to the high temperature used in the process [8] [9] [10] 12, 13] . Such bio-oils are viscous materials, with high acidity and corrosivity. They usually posses a high oxygen content and lower carbon and hydrogen content than the fossil fuel. Because the bio-oil is rich in functional groups, it is a thermodynamically unstable liquid.

The liquid product obtained from biomass pyrolysis is a complex mixture of oxygenated, aromatic and carbohydrate derived compounds, with a wide range of molecular weight, generated from the fragmentation of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, and from further polymerization and degradation reactions due to the high temperature used in the process.


The presence of water diminishes the calorific power and ignition temperature of combustion fuels, but contributes to reduce the viscosity and to increase the fluidity of the oil [18] . The measured water content for BIOSS was of 5.3% and for BIOSC of 5.5%, lower values than those reported for bio-oils from different bio-mass, including sugarcane, which ranged from 15% to 30% [19] . As described in the literature, the water content is very dependent of the condensation process, fractions of bio-oils collected at different temperatures presented variable amounts of water, which increased at lower condensation temperatures [20] . In the present process, the condensation temperature was of 130˚C, which consequently lowered the water content of the oil. Different temperatures and shear rates were tested to find the best conditions to measure the viscosity, i.e., at 60˚C with a shear rate of 5 s . BIOSS and BIOSC were not fluid enough to measure the viscosity at lower temperatures, but after a mild heating to 60˚C, it flowed, therefore, to use these bio-oils as fuels, a moderate preheating would be necessary to pump the viscous oil into the engines. The viscosity for BIOSS was 0.5 Pa·s and for BIOSC was 0.4 Pa·s, within the range reported for similar bio-oils (0.1 -1.0 Pa·s) [11, [17] [18] [19] . The viscosity of bio-oils varies in a large range, depending on the biomass precursor, on the pyrolytic processes and on the bio-oils properties such as water and solid particles contents, being also very dependent of the bio-oil recovery process. The density found for both bio-oils was 1.22 g·ml −1 at 25˚C, close to the values previously reported for similar bio-oils [13, 19, 21] .

The presence of water diminishes the calorific power and ignition temperature of combustion fuels, but contributes to reduce the viscosity and to increase the fluidity of the oil.

The measured water content for BIOSS was of 5.3% and for BIOSC of 5.5%, lower values than those reported for bio-oils from different bio-mass, including sugarcane, which ranged from 15% to 30%.

As described in the literature, the water content is very dependent of the condensation process, fractions of bio-oils collected at different temperatures presented variable amounts of water, which increased at lower condensation temperatures.

The viscosity for BIOSS was 0.5 Pa·s and for BIOSC was 0.4 Pa·s, within the range reported for similar bio-oils (0.1 -1.0 Pa·s).

The density found for both bio-oils was 1.22 g·ml −1 at 25˚C, close to the values previously reported for similar bio-oils.


From the elemental analysis data it was possible to observe a higher carbon and hydrogen content in BIOSC (%C = 61.23; %H = 7.13) than in BIOSS (%C = 59.54; %H = 6.66), and consequently a lower oxygen content, 30.95% and 33.05%, respectively. This fits well with the larger fixed carbon content in the sugarcane in natura feedstock. The molar elementary compositions ( Table 2) are in agreement with the reported data for other bio-oils, although the carbon and nitrogen contents are slightly higher and the oxygen content is bellow the reported average [19, 22, 23] .

The molar elementary compositions ( Table 2) are in agreement with the reported data for other bio-oils, although the carbon and nitrogen contents are slightly higher and the oxygen content is bellow the reported average.


The study was started in 2011 and finished in 2012. After collection, the data was analyzed using SPSS (version 17.0) software, and summarized to facilitate its presentation. This article assumes that descriptive research considers the frequency or extension of the relationship between two variables [25] . The relationships between the various strategic orientations and adaptive capabilities in the company are displayed on a graph, whose x-axis contains the low or high adaptation capability data, and whose y-axis contains the low or high strategic orientation data. The level was calculated on the basis of the average obtained for every group of answers related to customer, competitor, technology and cost orientations, and also for the group of answers related to adaptive capabilities. Recognition of dynamic capabilities was investigated through an analysis of the answers to the open questions. The next section presents a synthesis of results based on analysis of the collected evidence.

This article assumes that descriptive research considers the frequency or extension of the relationship between two variables.


The concerted effort to understand how a company adapts to environmental challenges and opportunities is not a recent academic research topic. Originally, studies have indicated that the organizational adaptation process is related to the company actions and decision-making process when confronting the conditions of the market [9] - [11] . This means that adaptation capability is strongly linked to strategic actions that aim towards the reconfiguration of organizational resources, competences and routines in order to meet demands and opportunities within a changing business environment [2] , [5] , [6] . Characterized by the company's ability to implement strategies and actions to meet market changes, dynamic capability gives rise to organizational adaptive capability.

Originally, studies have indicated that the organizational adaptation process is related to the company actions and decision-making process when confronting the conditions of the market.

This means that adaptation capability is strongly linked to strategic actions that aim towards the reconfiguration of organizational resources, competences and routines in order to meet demands and opportunities within a changing business environment.


The resource-based and dynamic-capability views have been influencing researchers for decades, by providing a theoretical perspective on the field of strategic management [1] , [2] . This has led to further reflections on organizations' competitive advantage [3] - [6] . Adopting a positioning or an ongoing improvement strategy in order to achieve better operational efficiency-an area that many researchers have focused on-has proved to provide a static logic that is insufficient with respect to following changes in a complex and dynamic environment, marked by disturbances and uncertainties [5] , [7] , [8] .

The resource-based and dynamic-capability views have been influencing researchers for decades, by providing a theoretical perspective on the field of strategic management.

This has led to further reflections on organizations' competitive advantage.

Adopting a positioning or an ongoing improvement strategy in order to achieve better operational efficiency-an area that many researchers have focused on-has proved to provide a static logic that is insufficient with respect to following changes in a complex and dynamic environment, marked by disturbances and uncertainties.


Once the adaptive capability is tied to the strategic action, it presents strong links with the organization's strategic orientation. Strategic orientation is responsible for defining the outline of the company's strategy, influencing its decisions, and conducting organizational efforts and investments [12] . Strategic orientation reflects the organizational choices and the way in which the company has to interact with the external environment while doing business, as well as how to reconfigure, use or acquire resources in order to create dynamic capabilities [13] .

Strategic orientation is responsible for defining the outline of the company's strategy, influencing its decisions, and conducting organizational efforts and investments.

Strategic orientation reflects the organizational choices and the way in which the company has to interact with the external environment while doing business, as well as how to reconfigure, use or acquire resources in order to create dynamic capabilities.


Since 2005, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using galsulfase (recombinant human arylsulfatase B, Naglazyme) became available for MPS VI. ERT has been shown to be effective in ameliorating some of the clinical manifestation of MPS disease [11] [12] [13] . The objective of this study was to analyze the natural history, detailed growth patterns and joint range of motion in 4 patients with MPS VI currently living in Poland.

ERT has been shown to be effective in ameliorating some of the clinical manifestation of MPS disease.


Evolutionary Computation(EC) algorithms have previously had success in Genetic Association Studies (GWAS) (Motsinger et al., 2007) . Genetic Algorithms(GA) and Genetic Programming(GP) have been the most widely used techniques to optimize a range of classifiers like Neural Networks, Naive Bayes classifiers, Decision Trees, etc. As a new EC technique, Grammatical Evolution(GE), a technique based on the definition and evolution of a "grammar of SNPs", has been used coupled with other machine learning techniques to detect complex genotype-phenotype associations.

Evolutionary Computation(EC) algorithms have previously had success in Genetic Association Studies (GWAS).


Despite a history going back N 150 years and some examples of industrial applications, organic electrosynthesis has never established a position in routine laboratory synthesis. One reason is the reliance on beaker cells and H-cells when slow conversions and poor/ill-defined conditions hamper yields and reproducibility [1] . There is a clear need for cells for convenient and straightforward use by synthetic organic chemists. In designing and operating such cells, the emphasis is on convenience of use, high yield of product and ease of product isolation through a high conversion of reactant to product, the use of no/low electrolyte concentration and clean counter electrode chemistry. On the scale of laboratory synthesis, current efficiency is only important as far as competing electrode reactions can degrade product purity. Energy consumption only becomes important if and when the laboratory synthesis is to be scaled for manufacture.

One reason is the reliance on beaker cells and H-cells when slow conversions and poor/ill-defined conditions hamper yields and reproducibility.


It has become mandatory for a producer to obtain an organic label from government authorized certification bodies. Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNCA) is a government agency responsible for administering the organic accreditation and certification. Further, task of actual implementation of organic certification is carried out by China Quality Certification Center (CQC), which is an affiliate of Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). Although the organic market in China is considered to be in the process of healthy growth it is still undergoing numerous problems however, which include lack of supervision, absence of self-discipline, naive of repute, and competition chaos [6] . The standards observed by CNCA are regarded as stricter than standards being observed in other countries, but still a trust deficit exists in the Chinese organic food market owing to the continuous food safety shocks, for example, use of fake organic raw material by China Kweichow Moutai Co. [7] . Such types of incidents have caused distrust among consumers and their concerns have become serious. The consumption of food is a matter in which one cannot verify that the claims about the food being consumed have been fulfilled or not, therefore, the possibility of consumers' distrust grows manifold. Consumers exhibit distrust in organic food, expecting that organic food labels can be fake or attained without fulfilling the required standards and, in general, they do not trust in the government's ability to maintain these standard [8] .

Although the organic market in China is considered to be in the process of healthy growth it is still undergoing numerous problems however, which include lack of supervision, absence of self-discipline, naive of repute, and competition chaos.

The standards observed by CNCA are regarded as stricter than standards being observed in other countries, but still a trust deficit exists in the Chinese organic food market owing to the continuous food safety shocks, for example, use of fake organic raw material by China Kweichow Moutai Co..

Consumers exhibit distrust in organic food, expecting that organic food labels can be fake or attained without fulfilling the required standards and, in general, they do not trust in the government's ability to maintain these standard.


However, its production is concentrated in the summer, with a drastic yield decline occurring during the winter. The dormancy induced by reduction of the photoperiod is the most important determining factor that negatively influences seasonal yield, in addition to the low temperatures occurring in this season (Sinclair et al., 2003) . Thus, ecotypes or species considered sensitive to photoperiod display a decline in forage yield with the reduction of photoperiod, regardless of temperature.

The dormancy induced by reduction of the photoperiod is the most important determining factor that negatively influences seasonal yield, in addition to the low temperatures occurring in this season.


The ecotype Q4205 stood out when subjected to extended photoperiod and had the highest numerical PTDM in spring; however, this ecotype was not in the most productive group during the winter season. When subjected to natural photoperiod, there was a rapid regrowth and accumulation of dry mass of hybrids in the spring season, when compared with genitors Q4205 × André da Rocha and Q4205 × Bagual, maximizing the benefits obtained by hybrid vigor (Carvalho et al., 2001) . The genetic variability observed in the evaluated materials creates a substantial opportunity to perform new crosses within the breeding program. Thus, the best hybrids with regrowth capacity in spring could be used as male genitors in crosses with female genitors that have high forage yield, which could make it possible to obtain new elite recombinants to use in different environments.

When subjected to natural photoperiod, there was a rapid regrowth and accumulation of dry mass of hybrids in the spring season, when compared with genitors Q4205 × André da Rocha and Q4205 × Bagual, maximizing the benefits obtained by hybrid vigor.


Some of the factors that affect the physiology of forage plants are climatic factors, such as photoperiod and temperature (Whiteman, 1980) . The identification of materials described as insensitive is important, as these could be used in regions with milder weather, where the decrease in yield occurs mainly because of the photoperiod in the winter season. The results obtained suggested that the male genitors could be used in schemes of intraspecific crosses with female genitor ecotypes with sexual reproduction and high forage yield during the seasons that favor their growth.

Some of the factors that affect the physiology of forage plants are climatic factors, such as photoperiod and temperature.


Increasingly, video game users have seen their entertainment options expand beyond traditional console-based games to include more and more persistent massively multiplayer online games (MMOs). These online games occupy a substantial amount of leisure time for millions of game players. Recent research indicates that the average MMO user spends more than 25 hours a week using the popular online games, with MMO use often displacing game players' exposure to other traditional media (Williams, Yee, & Caplan, 2008) .

Recent research indicates that the average MMO user spends more than 25 hours a week using the popular online games, with MMO use often displacing game players' exposure to other traditional media.


Though previous studies of gender and race in traditional console-based video games have found games' portrayals to be unrepresentative in favor of male characters and white characters, character portrayals in the increasingly popular genre of massively multiplayer online games have previously been relatively unexamined. An understanding of the content of these games is increasingly important, as users of MMOs report playing online games more frequently than their use of television and other popular media (Williams et al., 2008) . Given that previous research has found that the extended use of online video games can lead to the cultivation of offline perceptions of social reality, , an accompanying examination of the popular but relatively under examined content of MMOs warrants comprehensive analysis. This study attempted to expand our understanding of how video game characters are represented in this novel game genre by identifying patterns of gender and race representation in MMOs to determine whether these patterns mirror those found by other research or whether MMOs exhibit new trends in the way they represent gender and race among their characters. Specifically, the study examined the distribution of character gender and race across 20 hours of video game content generated by five MMO players.

An understanding of the content of these games is increasingly important, as users of MMOs report playing online games more frequently than their use of television and other popular media.


Awareness that the failure of one large bank could tip many other banks into default is widely perceived to have contributed to the emergence among depositors and investors of a TBTF mentality: a presumption that the regulator would intervene and bail out a TBTF bank, rather than permit failure. Steps taken by governments in the US, Western Europe and elsewhere at the height of the crisis in 2008 to bail out numerous large banks that would otherwise have become insolvent have heightened concerns over TBTF. Among the consequences is a weakening of market discipline, with little incentive for depositors and investors to monitor risk-taking. Competition is distorted, because the TBTF bank benefits from an implicit safety-net insurance public subsidy (O'Hara and Shaw, 1990; Morgan and Stiroh, 2005; Mishkin, 2006; Schmid and Walter, 2009; Brewer and Jagtiani, 2012) .

Competition is distorted, because the TBTF bank benefits from an implicit safety-net insurance public subsidy.


Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium. Clinical presentation ranges from non-specific systemic symptoms, asymptomatic electrocardiographic abnormalities, cardiogenic shock, fulminant heart failure, prodrome viral symptoms, masquerading acute coronary syndrome to sudden death [1] . The diagnostic evaluation consists of an electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac biomarkers, endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques and myocardial imaging [2] . Treatment choices in stable conditions are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, b-blockers, aldosterone antagonists, interferon-a and -b. In unstable conditions, supportive care includes vasopressors, positive inotropic agents, diuretics, vasodilators and assist devices [3] .

Clinical presentation ranges from non-specific systemic symptoms, asymptomatic electrocardiographic abnormalities, cardiogenic shock, fulminant heart failure, prodrome viral symptoms, masquerading acute coronary syndrome to sudden death.

The diagnostic evaluation consists of an electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac biomarkers, endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques and myocardial imaging.

In unstable conditions, supportive care includes vasopressors, positive inotropic agents, diuretics, vasodilators and assist devices.


CCT of pterygium eye was found thicker than that of control eye in both group 1 and group 2. Considering that the ECD of the pterygium eyes in severe UV radiation group was still 2264.83 ± 349.78/mm 2 , much higher than 800/mm 2 , in which level, the patients would suffer from corneal decompensation combined corneal edema [33] . The difference could not be explained by the difference of ECD. This conclusion was in accordance with the result that even though the ECD of both pterygium eye and control eye in severe UV radiation group was lower than that in mild UV radiation group, no statistic difference of CCT was found between the two groups. Because the size of pterygium in some patients was so large that it was unable to measure the CCT correctly before surgery, we evaluated the CCT two weeks after surgery. Previous research demonstrated that the CCT was not affected by the existence of pterygium [34] . The difference of CCT between pterygium eye and control eye might be ascribed to the factors associated with pterygium surgery and the following alteration of the cornea after surgery, which need further clinical and experimental research.

Considering that the ECD of the pterygium eyes in severe UV radiation group was still 2264.83 ± 349.78/mm 2 , much higher than 800/mm 2 , in which level, the patients would suffer from corneal decompensation combined corneal edema.

Previous research demonstrated that the CCT was not affected by the existence of pterygium.


Causes for this interesting pattern of results in the context of mating have not been systematically investigated. Also, prior studies did not systematically analyse sex differences in the reciprocity of mate choices. Moreover, to date, the assumed reciprocity of mate choices has not been investigated at all-although research in other social contexts suggests that assumed reciprocity should be rather high (Back et al., 2010a; Kenny, 1994) . In the present study we contrast the actual reciprocity with the assumed reciprocity of mate choices. In doing so, we focus on the potential influence of personality, flirting behaviour and physical attractiveness in determining the low actual reciprocity of mate choices.

Moreover, to date, the assumed reciprocity of mate choices has not been investigated at all-although research in other social contexts suggests that assumed reciprocity should be rather high.


In multiphase microchannel flows, the surface/interfacial forces can affect significantly the flow patterns that form. Understanding the hydrodynamic characteristics of the different flow patterns and their transitions is a key step to properly design small scale multiphase systems. Apart from the operational conditions such as mixture velocity and phase flow rate ratio, flow patterns in small channels depend also on the geometry of the inlet, the wettability of the channel wall and the flow initialization conditions [38, 13, 32] . Some of the common flow patterns in both gas-liquid and liquid-liquid systems are annular, segmented (slug, plug), and dispersed flow. Segmented flow in particular, tends to appear for a wide range of operational conditions and has been the subject of many investigations [38, 6, 16, 9] . This pattern is characterized by dispersed phase plugs (or in the case of gas-liquid systems, Taylor bubbles) with equivalent diameter larger that the channel diameter, that flow along the channel separated by the continuous phase slugs. In many cases a thin film of the continuous phase separates the plugs from the channel wall, while circulation patterns form within the plugs and the slugs. Both these characteristics enhance mass transfer and make plug flow one of the preferred patterns for mass transfer processes in small scale units.

Apart from the operational conditions such as mixture velocity and phase flow rate ratio, flow patterns in small channels depend also on the geometry of the inlet, the wettability of the channel wall and the flow initialization conditions.

Segmented flow in particular, tends to appear for a wide range of operational conditions and has been the subject of many investigations.


Liquid-liquid plug flow in microchannels has already been investigated with lPIV by a number of researchers for a variety of fluids [15, 34, 21, 8, 39] . These studies have mainly focused on the plug propagation in the main channel and the recirculation patterns in the plug and slug phases. However, studies on the aqueous/organic phase plug flow formation at the channel inlet are limited [9, 22] .

Liquid-liquid plug flow in microchannels has already been investigated with lPIV by a number of researchers for a variety of fluids.

However, studies on the aqueous/organic phase plug flow formation at the channel inlet are limited.


In contrast to the relatively large number of investigations on fully developed plug flow, there are few experimental and theoretical studies on plug formation at the channel inlet mainly concerned with the final plug length [9, 12, 16] . Computational fluid dynamics models have also been developed for plug formation but are not supported by detailed experimental measurements of velocity fields or time evolution of the interface deformation and breakage. A difficulty arises from the high speed of the phenomena and particularly the breakage of the meniscus of the dispersed phase as it emerges from the inlet.

In contrast to the relatively large number of investigations on fully developed plug flow, there are few experimental and theoretical studies on plug formation at the channel inlet mainly concerned with the final plug length.


Tin oxide nanoparticles (TONPs) are one of the important materials that have been exploited widely to reduce air pollution and in the detection of toxic/smelling gases at low levels in the air as well as at industrial and domestic levels [20] . Owing to their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, tin oxide nanoparticles are deemed to be excellent candidates for biomedical applications [21] [22] [23] . Although antimicrobial properties of tin oxide nanoparticles are well documented, very little data is available on the effect of nanoparticles with special reference to nano tin on QS-controlled virulence and biofilm.

Tin oxide nanoparticles (TONPs) are one of the important materials that have been exploited widely to reduce air pollution and in the detection of toxic/smelling gases at low levels in the air as well as at industrial and domestic levels.

Owing to their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, tin oxide nanoparticles are deemed to be excellent candidates for biomedical applications.


The food industry is encountering excessive economic losses due to the spoilage and contamination of food products by microbes [1] . This spoilage of food is often linked to a density-dependent cell-cell communication system quorum sensing (QS). Communication is intra-as well as interspecies both in Gram-positive and in Gramnegative bacteria. Bacteria communicate and coordinate their behavior when they achieve an optimum population density and produce signaling molecules called autoinducers [2, 3] . Autoinducers (AIs) coordinate the production of various phenotypic and physiological characteristics. Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs), autoinducer peptides (AIPs), and autoinducer-2 (AI-2s) molecules are the three major classes of AIs [4] . These AIs regulate various enzymatic activities and siderophore-mediated iron chelation, which are associated with food spoilage [5] . In Gram-negative bacteria, AHL-based QS regulates the production of violacein pigment (Chromobacterium violaceum), virulence factors (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), flagellar motility (Listeria monocytogenes), bioluminescence in Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio fischeri, sporulation, and development of mature biofilms through cell differentiation and community organization [6, 7] . Various reports pertaining to food spoilage have demonstrated the role of QS in biofilm formation in food. Biofilm is a complex aggregation of the bacterial population with protected proliferation enabling them to stay alive in hostile environments as in human host [8] [9] [10] . Additionally, it enables them to disperse and colonize by the formation of biofilms [11] . Biofilm formation has been reported to be associated with more than 80% of infections caused by pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, biofilms can be considered as a special mode of persistent bacterial infection.

The food industry is encountering excessive economic losses due to the spoilage and contamination of food products by microbes.

Bacteria communicate and coordinate their behavior when they achieve an optimum population density and produce signaling molecules called autoinducers.

Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs), autoinducer peptides (AIPs), and autoinducer-2 (AI-2s) molecules are the three major classes of AIs.

These AIs regulate various enzymatic activities and siderophore-mediated iron chelation, which are associated with food spoilage.

In Gram-negative bacteria, AHL-based QS regulates the production of violacein pigment (Chromobacterium violaceum), virulence factors (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), flagellar motility (Listeria monocytogenes), bioluminescence in Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio fischeri, sporulation, and development of mature biofilms through cell differentiation and community organization.

Biofilm is a complex aggregation of the bacterial population with protected proliferation enabling them to stay alive in hostile environments as in human host.

Additionally, it enables them to disperse and colonize by the formation of biofilms.


As more optical observations are becoming autonomous and continuous, it is critical to guarantee long term, traceable and high quality measurements [2, 3] . We therefore need to take advantage of these (e.g. at WSS) frequent synoptic optical observations by developing approaches to infer and predict the surface water bio-optical state [4, 5] . As there is a plethora of theoretical, semi-analytical, and empirical approaches linking optically active seawater constituents and physical oceanographic parameters (water quality indicators) to radiometric quantities or remote sensing reflectance (R RS ) with good accuracy [6] - [8] .

As more optical observations are becoming autonomous and continuous, it is critical to guarantee long term, traceable and high quality measurements.

We therefore need to take advantage of these (e.g. at WSS) frequent synoptic optical observations by developing approaches to infer and predict the surface water bio-optical state.

As there is a plethora of theoretical, semi-analytical, and empirical approaches linking optically active seawater constituents and physical oceanographic parameters (water quality indicators) to radiometric quantities or remote sensing reflectance (R RS ) with good accuracy.


Visual evidence has shown that the architectural facades of the palaces and tombs of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (ca. 550-330 BCE) were richly decorated with color [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . At both Pasargadae and Persepolis, designated UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1979 and 2004 respectively, stone reliefs, excavated fragments, and paper pulp squeezes of inscriptions taken by archaeologists in the early 20th century bear visible paint remnants, evidence of a vibrant palette used to finish the surfaces of the monuments. Among these are 40 fragments of painted plasters and glazed bricks housed today in the Freer Study Collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The fragments were excavated by a team led by archaeologist Ernst Herzfeld in 1923 and 1928 , and were donated to the Freer Gallery of Art in 1947.

Visual evidence has shown that the architectural facades of the palaces and tombs of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (ca. 550-330 BCE) were richly decorated with color.


The ancient city of Pasargadae is located in the highland plain of Dasht-e Morghab ("Plain of the Waterbird") in Fars in southwestern Iran. It was the first capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great after 550 BCE, and the famed leader's final resting place [6] . Palace P, Herzfeld's "Palast mit dem Pfeiler, " from which the Pasargadae fragments in the Freer Study Collection originate, was first excavated with a series of narrow trenches in 1928 (Fig. 1) . Fragments collected include twenty-two pieces of painted and unpainted earthen plaster. Persepolis, the prominent later capital of the Achaemenid Empire in Fars was founded by Darius I (c. 550-486 BCE) around 520 BCE, and is located 43 km southwest of Pasargadae, in the modern Marvdasht plain. The exact excavation location of the two painted fragments from a floor, and the six fragments of glazed brick from Persepolis can no longer be determined (Fig. 2) . Both the painted fragments from Pasargadae and the glazed brick fragments from Persepolis were drawn in color in Herzfeld's excavation notebooks, which are now part of the Ernst Herzfeld Papers, Free Gallery of Art| Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives [7, 8] .

It was the first capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great after 550 BCE, and the famed leader's final resting place.

Both the painted fragments from Pasargadae and the glazed brick fragments from Persepolis were drawn in color in Herzfeld's excavation notebooks, which are now part of the Ernst Herzfeld Papers, Free Gallery of Art| Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.


Cross-sections of select small samples (<3 mm length) were prepared according to a method that requires minimal sampling [30] . The samples were embedded in Tra-Bond F113 epoxy, sectioned, and dry polished with silicon carbide grinding paper to minimize loss of watersoluble particles. Particularly porous samples were consolidated with cyanoacrylate during the polishing process as necessary. Finished cross-sections were photographed using a Leica EC3 camera mounted on a Wild Heerbrugg optical microscope using reflected light at magnifications of 12-50×, and a Leica DMLM optical microscope from 50-200× in reflected and ultraviolet light.

Cross-sections of select small samples (<3 mm length) were prepared according to a method that requires minimal sampling.


Therefore, the optimal level of the process parameters is the level with the highest SNR. In addition, a statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) is conducted to observe which process parameters are statistically dominant and significant. With the SNR and ANOVA analysis, the optimal combination of the process parameters can be accurately predicted [14, 15] . Finally, a confirmation experiment is performed to verify the optimal process parameters obtained from the Taguchi analysis. Therefore, the Taguchi method is utilized to obtain the most optimal process parameters for lower IOFF value of the device.

With the SNR and ANOVA analysis, the optimal combination of the process parameters can be accurately predicted.


The well-known statistical method known as Taguchi method is utilized in this analysis. The Taguchi approach provides a practical design strategy in which a modified design of experiment (DOE) is introduced. This technique emphasizes on reducing the number of experimental runs, but still increasing the efficiency. In the present study, there are mixed matrices of 16 input process parameters with 3 levels and 2 noise factors with 2 levels involved. There will be as many as 172,186,884 (316x22) runs of experiment if using the conventional full factorial design. The experiment will take only 144 runs with Taguchi method. Therefore, Taguchi method is capable of assisting designer to study the effect of many factors in the most economical way. A special orthogonal array consisting of 36 rows and 4 columns is constructed in order to retrieve 144 samples of result. This orthogonal array is used for design of experiment (DOE) that could assist the designer to study multiple process parameters variation in a fast and economic way. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is utilized in order to analyze the data and then to figure out the optimal combination of process parameters [10] . There are three categories of performance characteristics in the analysis of SNR, which are known as nominal-the-better, lower-thebetter and higher-the-better [11] . The SNR of each level of input process parameters is computed based on signal-to-noise (S/N) analysis. Regardless of the category of the performance characteristic, larger SNR corresponds to better performance characteristic [12, 13] .

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is utilized in order to analyze the data and then to figure out the optimal combination of process parameters.

There are three categories of performance characteristics in the analysis of SNR, which are known as nominal-the-better, lower-thebetter and higher-the-better.

Regardless of the category of the performance characteristic, larger SNR corresponds to better performance characteristic.


Enzyme production through bioprocess technology is influenced by several variables, such as temperature, pH, cultivation time, and carbon and nitrogen sources present in the medium. Thus, optimization of culture conditions for enzyme production using a statistical approach is one of the first steps to develop a low-cost fermentation process. One of the advantages of this method is the possibility of observing the interactions between the variables and their effects on the response (Cui and Zhao, 2012) .

One of the advantages of this method is the possibility of observing the interactions between the variables and their effects on the response.


Most gait recognition techniques use images captured from the side of the persons. The so-called "lateral views" are believed to be the most suitable views. But their use in real indoor conditions leads to serious operational issues. To capture long sequences of walking persons from their side, cameras have to be placed at a large distance. While it is manageable in outdoor environments, it is more difficult indoor. In hallways, it is often impossible to capture lateral view images. As a consequence, the use of a frontal view is mandatory in most hallways. Images captured from the front or the back of the users are thought to be less appropriate. They introduce geometric and scale transformations of the walkers that are absent from the side view. Furthermore, on these views, the pendular motion of the legs that is believed to contain a large amount of information about the gait is less visible [7] . However, the human ability to recognize walking people from behind supports the idea that building an automatic recognition scheme is possible.

Furthermore, on these views, the pendular motion of the legs that is believed to contain a large amount of information about the gait is less visible.


To evaluate the CHAP program's impact on LBW, logistic regression models were fit to the LBW outcome. First, the unadjusted LBW odds ratio for CHAP mothers versus non-CHAP mothers was calculated. Then, two multivariate logistic regression models were fit, the primary with only non-modifiable risk factors and a secondary also including factors modifiable by the CHAP program. Multivariable adjustment was also appropriate, as propensity score matching and multivariable adjustment are often used in combination to reduce potential bias [15] . The primary model was ''non-modifiable only'' because it is less likely to over adjust for the mediating effects of CHAP intervention. Covariates included in the primary model were the propensity score matching variables (mother's age, race, education, marital status, census tract, and delivery year), previous preterm or LBW delivery and tobacco use during pregnancy (none vs. any throughout pregnancy, thus nonmodifiable). Other risk factors considered for inclusion in the secondary model were hypertension (chronic or pregnancy-associated), eclampsia, incompetent cervix, renal disease, and uterine bleeding. However, only hypertension was added to the secondary model because there were very few occurrences of the other conditions.

Multivariable adjustment was also appropriate, as propensity score matching and multivariable adjustment are often used in combination to reduce potential bias.


Saturn's E-, F-, and G-rings are also water-ice dusty plasmas and are composed of micron size water-ice grains (Goertz, 1989) . Since the number density of water-ice grains is quite high in the F-ring, a large fraction of the negative charge resides on the dust grains and collective behaviors of the ice grains such as waves are observed (Goertz, 1989; Murray et al., 2008) . On the other hand, the number densities of water-ice grains in E-and G-rings are so small that most electrons are free in the plasmas and the dust grains do not have strong mutual interactions. Saturn's E-ring and Enceladus have attracted much recent attention because Cassini spacecraft images reveal that Enceladus emits water vapor and water-ice grains into the E-ring (Porco et al., 2006) .

Saturn's E-, F-, and G-rings are also water-ice dusty plasmas and are composed of micron size water-ice grains.

Since the number density of water-ice grains is quite high in the F-ring, a large fraction of the negative charge resides on the dust grains and collective behaviors of the ice grains such as waves are observed.

Saturn's E-ring and Enceladus have attracted much recent attention because Cassini spacecraft images reveal that Enceladus emits water vapor and water-ice grains into the E-ring.


What is the function of cyp7b1 in the prostate ? One possibility, suggested by the substrate preference of the enzyme, is that the enzyme might protect against hyperplasia. DHEA stimulates cell proliferation, and might serve either as a substrate for the local synthesis of active androgens and\or oestrogens, or, possibly, by facilitating androgen and oestrogen receptors by an unknown mechanism [34] [35] [36] [37] . A\enediol also appears to have intrinsic oestrogenic and androgenic activity at physiological concentrations [1, 38] . It is possible that, by metabolizing DHEA and A\enediol, cyp7b1 could protect the prostate against sex-steroidinduced proliferation and hyperplasia. In rat brain astrocytes, which also metabolize DHEA and other neuroactive steroids to androgens and oestrogens, 7α-hydroxylation is dependent upon cell contact, such that a large degree of contact among cells shifts steroid metabolism towards 7α-hydroxylated products at the expense of the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase oxidation pathway to A\enedione [39] . It is possible that a similar mechanism exists in the prostate, increasing the production of 7α-hydroxysterols during the proliferative phase of the gland. This might explain a rather controversial report that DHEA exhibits antiproliferative properties, inhibiting prostate carcinogenesis [40] . Moreover, some cyp7b1 products could act locally as active steroids responsible for at least some of the effects ascribed to DHEA and A\enediol.

DHEA stimulates cell proliferation, and might serve either as a substrate for the local synthesis of active androgens and\or oestrogens, or, possibly, by facilitating androgen and oestrogen receptors by an unknown mechanism.

A\enediol also appears to have intrinsic oestrogenic and androgenic activity at physiological concentrations.

In rat brain astrocytes, which also metabolize DHEA and other neuroactive steroids to androgens and oestrogens, 7α-hydroxylation is dependent upon cell contact, such that a large degree of contact among cells shifts steroid metabolism towards 7α-hydroxylated products at the expense of the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase oxidation pathway to A\enedione.

This might explain a rather controversial report that DHEA exhibits antiproliferative properties, inhibiting prostate carcinogenesis.


Small ferri-magnetic oxides, technically known as ferrites have attracted considerable attention not only from a fundamental scientific interest but also from a practical point of view for growing applications in the magnetic, electronic and microwave fields [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . Simultaneous presence of magnetic and dielectric nature of ferrites is vastly exploited in a variety of applications at different frequencies. The special feature of these materials is that the properties can be tailored over wide ranges by appropriate substitution of various ions in the chemical formula unit and control of processing procedures. Ferrites are extensively used in magnetic recording, information storage, colour imaging, bio-processing, magnetic refrigeration and in magneto optical devices [5] [6] [7] . Ferrites also have great promise for atomic engineering of materials with functional magnetic properties. The formation of corrosion product on the out of core surfaces in pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) are major problem.

Small ferri-magnetic oxides, technically known as ferrites have attracted considerable attention not only from a fundamental scientific interest but also from a practical point of view for growing applications in the magnetic, electronic and microwave fields.

Ferrites are extensively used in magnetic recording, information storage, colour imaging, bio-processing, magnetic refrigeration and in magneto optical devices.


Although online auctions have expanded the ways in which auctions are conducted, and have even created altogether new uses for auctions, there remain many unanswered questions. Unlike offline auctions that typically last only a few minutes, internet auctions such as those on eBay, Yahoo and Amazon last many days. Since bidders may enter an auction from anywhere, and at anytime, a longer auction time allows more bidders to spot an item and bid on it (Pinker et al., 2003) . Online auction websites are unique in that the owner of the website is not the seller, but rather a platform provider for trade activities. Buyers consequently have to rely on product information from sellers for purchase decision making, such as their business/trade records and credit reports (Li et al., 2009) . Of the myriad available e-commerce activities, online auctions have become one of the most important online transaction modes.

Since bidders may enter an auction from anywhere, and at anytime, a longer auction time allows more bidders to spot an item and bid on it.

Buyers consequently have to rely on product information from sellers for purchase decision making, such as their business/trade records and credit reports.


However, the e-commerce related literature has mostly focused on online shopping, while online auctions have received relatively little attention. Unlike traditional online shopping, online auctions suffer particularly acutely from problems of information asymmetry between buyers and sellers (Bajari and Hortacsu, 2003; Kazumori and McMillan, 2005) . Coined the "lemons" problem, scholars have suggested that the impersonal nature of online transactions and information asymmetry are the greatest obstacles to the rapid growth of Internet auction marketplaces. In response, internet auction companies have recently developed innovative tools that enable sellers to reveal more information about their credibility and product quality (Li et al., 2009) . Furthermore, large online auction players such as eBay have introduced buyer protection mechanisms such as appeal processes and third-party payment verifiers such as PayPal have provided further customer protection as well as helping to alleviate the sense of information asymmetry in favor of the seller. The question remains however, have such advancements been effective in promoting online auctions, or is there more that can be done? Despite such advancements in the industry, there is notable dearth of literature exploring the specific determinants of effective online auction deliveries. That is, what are the determining factors behind the customer's decision to purchase via online auctions, and following this, what are the specific decisive actions managers involved in the selling of products via online auctions can take in order to increase the chance that their products will be positively received by potential customers?

Unlike traditional online shopping, online auctions suffer particularly acutely from problems of information asymmetry between buyers and sellers.

In response, internet auction companies have recently developed innovative tools that enable sellers to reveal more information about their credibility and product quality.


According to data on Taiwanese internet usage behaviors in 2009 (Market Information Center of Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry), 49 percent of internet users had participated in online auctions, providing strong evidence of intense online auction activities in Taiwan. With eBay Taiwan closing its operations in 2006, Yahoo!Kimo became the largest auction website in Taiwan with a total of 800 million US dollars in sales (Yu and Wu, 2007) . Due to the overwhelming dominance in the Taiwanese online action market, this study sampled customers from the Yahoo! Kimo auction website.

With eBay Taiwan closing its operations in 2006, Yahoo!Kimo became the largest auction website in Taiwan with a total of 800 million US dollars in sales.

Kimo auction website.


The energy optimization of the motion control is necessary for machine tools as well as for production system. This optimization based on the assessment of quality of motion systems and controlled sequences of motion [1] . Furthermore, an appropriate start-up and in addition, a continuous monitoring is needed for demand oriented, resource-efficient and durable optimal functioning of all drive control loops of a production machine.

This optimization based on the assessment of quality of motion systems and controlled sequences of motion.


Therefore we describe in this paper a temporal wavelet-based coder for animated sequences of meshes of the same connectivity. One key contribution is the use of a temporal wavelet transform during the analysis step to exploit the temporal coherence of such data. The second key contribution of our compression scheme is the encoding of the resulting wavelet coefficients, optimized by a temporal model-based bit allocation initially proposed for the static semiregular meshes [15] . This coding scheme has the advantage to be valid whatever the wavelet used. We will experimentally show that the proposed coding scheme is simple, fast, flexible and competitive for any kind of animated models whatever the characteristics (parametrically coherent or not, fine/coarse meshes...), contrary to the state-of-the-art methods .

The second key contribution of our compression scheme is the encoding of the resulting wavelet coefficients, optimized by a temporal model-based bit allocation initially proposed for the static semiregular meshes.


In recent decades, interest in essential oils, which are used for centuries in natural medicine, increased. Many essential oils are claimed to possess antimicrobial activity and they have been used for the prevention and treatment of many infectious diseases as alternative remedies. It is known that the efficacy of the essential oil depends on many environmental and genetic factors. It has been proven that the main factors responsible for the diverse chemical composition of essential oils are climatic conditions, geographic origin, time of collection, distillation conditions, correct farming practices and part of the plant from which oil is extracted [14] [15] [16] . In our study, commercial essential oils derived from rosemary, caraway and fennel were used. These oils did not have a precise characteristic all the factors influencing on bactericidal activity but they are used in aromatherapy, aromatization of premises, rubbing, sauna, bath or shower.

It has been proven that the main factors responsible for the diverse chemical composition of essential oils are climatic conditions, geographic origin, time of collection, distillation conditions, correct farming practices and part of the plant from which oil is extracted.


Down the ages essential oils and other extracts of plants have evoked interest as sources of natural products. They have been screened for their potential uses as alternative remedies for the treatment of many infectious diseases [1] . Many plants contain extensive variety of phytochemical compounds with antimicrobial activity [2] .

They have been screened for their potential uses as alternative remedies for the treatment of many infectious diseases.

Many plants contain extensive variety of phytochemical compounds with antimicrobial activity.


The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of caustic cleaning formulations on the rejection of TrOC by two NF membranes. These caustic cleaning formulation are usually used to control organic fouling, which is the predominant type of membrane fouling in water-reuse and surface water filtration applications [17] . Chemical cleaning was simulated by exposing virgin membrane samples to analytical grade and commercial cleaning formulations. Changes in membrane average pore size, surface hydrophobicity and permeability, were systematically correlated to the variation in the rejection and physico-chemical properties of the TrOC. The mechanisms underlining the influence of chemical cleaning on TrOC rejection were elucidated and discussed.

These caustic cleaning formulation are usually used to control organic fouling, which is the predominant type of membrane fouling in water-reuse and surface water filtration applications.


Generally declining catches from wild fisheries have resulted in an increasing proportion of fish for human consumption being provided by aquaculture, which is expanding at over 10% per annum (Tidwell and Allan, 2002) . However, much aquaculture, including salmonid (salmon and trout) culture, is itself dependent upon wild capture fisheries for the provision of fish meals and oils that have traditionally been the predominant protein and lipid sources (Sargent and Tacon, 1999) . Both are readily accepted and digested by fish and, until now, were readily available and inexpensive (Wilson, 1989; Sargent et al., 1989; Barlow, 2000) . However, stagnation in industrial fisheries, along with the increased demand for fish oils, has dictated that alternatives to fish oil must be found if aquaculture is to continue to expand and supply more of the global demand for fish (Barlow, 2000) .

Generally declining catches from wild fisheries have resulted in an increasing proportion of fish for human consumption being provided by aquaculture, which is expanding at over 10% per annum.

However, much aquaculture, including salmonid (salmon and trout) culture, is itself dependent upon wild capture fisheries for the provision of fish meals and oils that have traditionally been the predominant protein and lipid sources.

Both are readily accepted and digested by fish and, until now, were readily available and inexpensive.

However, stagnation in industrial fisheries, along with the increased demand for fish oils, has dictated that alternatives to fish oil must be found if aquaculture is to continue to expand and supply more of the global demand for fish.


We categorized education into five categories, on the basis of the highest completed diploma, namely no education (zero to three years of education), pre-primary education (four years of education), primary education (nine years of education), secondary education (12 years of education), and tertiary education (more than 12 years of education). The individual income was calculated applying the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) modified equivalence scale, giving different weights to different family members (1 to the first adult, 0.5 to the second and other family members older than 14 years old, and 0.3 to individuals less than 14 years old) [17] . In all surveys, the upper income category was open ended, e.g., "€2,000 and above". To estimate the midpoint for the upper income category we followed Parker and Fenwick method [18] .

The individual income was calculated applying the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) modified equivalence scale, giving different weights to different family members (1 to the first adult, 0.5 to the second and other family members older than 14 years old, and 0.3 to individuals less than 14 years old).

To estimate the midpoint for the upper income category we followed Parker and Fenwick method.


Physical activity (PA) levels, on average, tend to decrease over the course of life. The percentage of adults aged 65 and up that meet physician recommendations for PA is low, ranging from 27 to 44% across surveys [1] . PA is closely related to indicators of successful aging such as avoiding diseases and disability, maintaining mental health, and engaging in an active lifestyle [2] [3] [4] [5] . While starting to be more active in old age still has benefits for health, evidence suggests that lifelong participation in PA has an additional positive impact on health [6] .

The percentage of adults aged 65 and up that meet physician recommendations for PA is low, ranging from 27 to 44% across surveys.

PA is closely related to indicators of successful aging such as avoiding diseases and disability, maintaining mental health, and engaging in an active lifestyle.

While starting to be more active in old age still has benefits for health, evidence suggests that lifelong participation in PA has an additional positive impact on health.


The existing research focused on improving the aerodynamic characteristics of single airfoil. However, an H type VAWT rotor is consisted of multiple blades, signifying that the improvement of single airfoil aerodynamic performance does not guarantee the perfectly better aerodynamic performance of the wind rotor. It is necessary to alter the design goal from individual airfoil to entire wind rotor. Moreover, when applied in urban sites, H type VAWTs encounter the problem that operating at variable tip speed ratios, which is attributed to complex wording condition featured by the matching of rotor and generator, electric storage and consumption, changing of electrical load [13] [14] [15] . Thus, using a power coefficient at fixed tip speed ratio to assess rotor aerodynamic performance at variable tip speed ratios is confusing and an attempt to develop a new aerodynamic performance evaluation indicator should be made. On another aspect, CFD method coupled with optimization algorithm has been routinely applied in wind turbine airfoil design [16, 17] . It should not be neglected that the CFD calculation, though having relatively accurate prediction results compared to other aerodynamic calculating tools, tends to be time consuming when the study object is H type VAWT characterized with complex flow field. Then, how to decrease the computational cost becomes one of the major challenges during the airfoil design process.

Moreover, when applied in urban sites, H type VAWTs encounter the problem that operating at variable tip speed ratios, which is attributed to complex wording condition featured by the matching of rotor and generator, electric storage and consumption, changing of electrical load.

On another aspect, CFD method coupled with optimization algorithm has been routinely applied in wind turbine airfoil design.


There is a growing interest in harvesting wind energy within the built environment in urban areas with the increasing focus on off-grid energy generation [1] [2] [3] [4] . Horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are two main types of equipment applied in converting the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical energy. It has been found by several researchers, H type VAWTs are particularly well suited to residential wind power generation for some inherent advantages in comparing with their HAWT counterparts [5] [6] [7] . Those merits are: being able to extract energy independently from wind direction, lower production costs, quieter in operation, and ease of installation and maintenance.

There is a growing interest in harvesting wind energy within the built environment in urban areas with the increasing focus on off-grid energy generation.

It has been found by several researchers, H type VAWTs are particularly well suited to residential wind power generation for some inherent advantages in comparing with their HAWT counterparts.


The Hopf algebra U H q sl(2) of this paper has an additional generator H which is not in the usual quantum algebra associated to sl (2) . The element H should be thought of as a logarithm of the usual generator K. The generator H is used to define a braiding and a twist on a category of U H q sl(2)-modules. In this category, H is also responsible for the apparition of an infinite cyclic group of one dimensional invertible objects which play a key role in the topological applications.

The Hopf algebra U H q sl(2) of this paper has an additional generator H which is not in the usual quantum algebra associated to sl.


Behavioural risk factors, including low physical activity, poor diet, overweight and obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, are also receiving attention, not only because of their association with CVD, but also because of the increasing incidence and prevalence of other conditions with lifestyle antecedents, including diabetes and dementia. Behavioural risk factors tend to be correlated within individuals, rather than occurring independently (Cairney et al., 2014; Lawder et al., 2010; Poortinga, 2007) . This co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors may make it difficult to evaluate their independent effects and there is growing emphasis in public health interventions on risk factor combinations. A recent systematic review found that people who do not smoke, consume alcohol moderately, physically active and have a healthy diet have 66% lower all-cause mortality compared to those who have none or only one of these healthy behaviours (Loef and Walach, 2012) . In the EPIC-Norfolk cohort, people who were current smokers, were physically inactive, consumed excess alcohol, and consumed less than five servings a day of fruit and vegetables, had a more than four-fold increase in their risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared to individuals who do engage in all of the four risky behaviours (Khaw et al., 2008) . Analyses from a U.S. cohort showed that individuals who do not smoke, eat a healthy diet and are physically active have a risk for cardiovascular diseases mortality that is 65% lower than people who do not engage in these risk-lowering behaviours (Ford et al., 2012) .

Behavioural risk factors tend to be correlated within individuals, rather than occurring independently.

A recent systematic review found that people who do not smoke, consume alcohol moderately, physically active and have a healthy diet have 66% lower all-cause mortality compared to those who have none or only one of these healthy behaviours.

In the EPIC-Norfolk cohort, people who were current smokers, were physically inactive, consumed excess alcohol, and consumed less than five servings a day of fruit and vegetables, had a more than four-fold increase in their risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared to individuals who do engage in all of the four risky behaviours.

Analyses from a U.S. cohort showed that individuals who do not smoke, eat a healthy diet and are physically active have a risk for cardiovascular diseases mortality that is 65% lower than people who do not engage in these risk-lowering behaviours.


The quality in precision manufacturing is determined by the positioning accuracy of certain critical components, e.g., the print-head in printing systems, or the point-ofexposure on a wafer in photolithography (Oomen et al., 2015) . The positions of these components are often not directly measured in real-time, either due to practical limitations or cost considerations. Therefore, they have to be inferred from measurements that are not collocated with the performance variables.

The quality in precision manufacturing is determined by the positioning accuracy of certain critical components, e.g., the print-head in printing systems, or the point-ofexposure on a wafer in photolithography.


Increasingly stringent accuracy and throughput requirements lead to a situation where the flexible structural behavior becomes relevant in the relation between the measured variables and the performance variables. Regarding accuracy, the desire to produce products with smaller features directly makes such internal deformations relevant. Regarding throughput, increased accelerations necessitate either a more light-weight system design or higher actuation forces, which both lead to more significant flexible dynamic behavior (Oomen et al., 2014) .

Regarding throughput, increased accelerations necessitate either a more light-weight system design or higher actuation forces, which both lead to more significant flexible dynamic behavior.


The most important data for reconfiguration include load consummation patterns and data of system. Usually, it is assumed that loads are constant, but sometimes they are taken into consideration as probabilistic. To obtain this information such systems like Customer Information Systems (CIS) and Outage Management Information System (OMIS) can be used [4] . Reconfiguration can be done automatically in the smart networks (3G). In these networks the status of system is observable online and switches can be controlled remotely [5] . Network reconfiguration is useful when a fault occurs in system too. At the time, fault point will isolate and structure of network will change. Usually it is assumed that fault point will be found as soon as possible [6] .

To obtain this information such systems like Customer Information Systems (CIS) and Outage Management Information System (OMIS) can be used.

In these networks the status of system is observable online and switches can be controlled remotely.

Usually it is assumed that fault point will be found as soon as possible.


Recent work at ICRISAT suggested that contrary to the existing belief, Vertisols do not have high P adsorption capacity compared to most acid soils of the humid tropics [25, 30] . All the adsorbed P was easily exchangeable by 32p and little P was adsorbed in the non-exchangeable form. Further, the benchmark Vertisol and A1-fisol on ICRISAT Center farm differed only a little in their P adsorption behaviour. The amount of fertilizer P that needed to be added to obtain 0.2/xgml -a equilibrium P concentration in the soil profile to a depth of 160 cm varied between 28 and 38/xg p g-1 soil [11] . Such results clearly indicate that P adsorption is not a major problem in the benchmark Vertisol on ICRISAT Center farm.

Recent work at ICRISAT suggested that contrary to the existing belief, Vertisols do not have high P adsorption capacity compared to most acid soils of the humid tropics.

The amount of fertilizer P that needed to be added to obtain 0.2/xgml -a equilibrium P concentration in the soil profile to a depth of 160 cm varied between 28 and 38/xg p g-1 soil.


Cubic Hermite splines are piecewise-cubic polynomial functions that are parametrized in terms of the value of the function and its derivative at the end point of each polynomial segment. By construction, the resulting spline is continuous with continuous first-order derivative. Cubic Hermite splines are used extensively in computer graphics and geometric modelling to represent curves as well as motion trajectories that pass through specified anchor points with prescribed tangents [12] . This is typically achieved by fitting a separate Hermite spline interpolant for each coordinate variable.

Cubic Hermite splines are used extensively in computer graphics and geometric modelling to represent curves as well as motion trajectories that pass through specified anchor points with prescribed tangents.


The priority condition of fuel self-sufficiency for the viability of a fusion reactor is measured through the Tritium Breeding Ratio (TBR). It is required to obtain a TBR ≥ 1.1 to have a 10% of margin (for final net TBR ≥ 1.0) accounting for possible losses and uncertainties. On the other hand, the plasma confinement can be kept only without overpassing the quench limits posed on the Superconducting Toroidal Field Coils (TFC). Furthermore, structural limits are imposed to the First Wall (FW) and Vacuum Vessel (VV), to maintain their integrity. The requirements taken into account and assessed here are summarized in Table 1 [2] .

The requirements taken into account and assessed here are summarized in Table 1.


On a quite different note, structural glasses and other amorphous systems were found to exhibit thermodynamic, dynamic and transport properties at low temperatures, which are strikingly different from those of their crystalline counterparts [4] . At temperatures below 1 K, the specific heat of glasses varies approximately linearly with temperature T, the behaviour of the thermal conductivity is close to quadratic in T, whereas in crystals both quantities are cubic in temperature. The behaviour of acoustic and dielectric response is also anomalous in this temperature range, when compared with the corresponding behaviour of crystals [5] . At temperatures around 10 K there is an anomaly of a different kind in the specific heat which appears as a bump in the ratio C(T )/T 3 -the so-called Bose peak. The thermal conductivity exhibits a plateau in the Bose peak region, and begins to rise again as the temperature is further increased.

On a quite different note, structural glasses and other amorphous systems were found to exhibit thermodynamic, dynamic and transport properties at low temperatures, which are strikingly different from those of their crystalline counterparts.

The behaviour of acoustic and dielectric response is also anomalous in this temperature range, when compared with the corresponding behaviour of crystals.