An effective teaching is defined as teaching that creates an environment in which deep learning outcomes for students are made possible, where high quality student learning is promoted and where superficial approaches to learning are discouraged (Ramsden, 1992) . There are several ways to get feedback on teaching been suggested which included student ratings, self-evaluation, peer observation, video recording, student interviews, alumni ratings, employer ratings, administrator ratings, teaching scholarship, teaching awards, learning outcome measures, and teaching portfolio (Berk, 2005) . However, students' ratings or students' evaluations are the most commonly used and also a necessary source of evidence of teaching effectiveness for both formative and summative decisions. The purpose of measuring teaching effectiveness is not only to evaluate the lecturer's performance, but the evidence produced is important for major decisions about the future in academe and improvement of teaching quality (Berk, 2005) . Therefore, this present study was conducted to evaluate the teaching performance among Faculty of Health Sciences (FSK), UKM lecturers and several related aspects of lecture delivery from the perception of students.

An effective teaching is defined as teaching that creates an environment in which deep learning outcomes for students are made possible, where high quality student learning is promoted and where superficial approaches to learning are discouraged.

There are several ways to get feedback on teaching been suggested which included student ratings, self-evaluation, peer observation, video recording, student interviews, alumni ratings, employer ratings, administrator ratings, teaching scholarship, teaching awards, learning outcome measures, and teaching portfolio.

The purpose of measuring teaching effectiveness is not only to evaluate the lecturer's performance, but the evidence produced is important for major decisions about the future in academe and improvement of teaching quality.


In the present study, examination grades were not influenced by the effectiveness of lecture delivery and students' level of understanding. This was in agreement with previous study which found that academic performance was directly affected by the students' effort, prior performance and their approaches to learning (Diseth et al., 2010) . As the primary purpose of the lecture is to provide a framework of knowledge, thus students should search for extra information on a subject matter in order to perform better in their examination. However, it is also necessary for the lecturers to pay close attention on issues related to effective teaching.

This was in agreement with previous study which found that academic performance was directly affected by the students' effort, prior performance and their approaches to learning.


Recent technological advances have made it possible to develop distributed sensor networks consisting of a large number of low-cost, low-power, and multi-functional sensor nodes that communicate over short distances through wireless links. Such sensor networks are ideal candidates for a wide range of applications such as monitoring of critical infrastructures, data acquisition in hazardous environments, and military operations [2] . When sensor networks are deployed in a hostile environment, security becomes extremely important, as they are prone to different types of malicious attacks. For example, an adversary can easily listen to the traffic, impersonate one of the network nodes, or intentionally inject misleading information into the networks. Therefore, because of their importance, it is necessary to guarantee the trustworthiness and resilience of sensor networks.

Such sensor networks are ideal candidates for a wide range of applications such as monitoring of critical infrastructures, data acquisition in hazardous environments, and military operations.


One of the main issues is the complex and dynamic overshadowing effects on building surfaces. Some preliminary analyses during the early design phases could avoid the effect of solar availability reduction, which influences the potential of solar systems, as well as daylight and the thermal performance of buildings [6] . Most of the solar radiation available for producing the solar energy exploiting the building envelope currently remains unutilized. In order to increase the solar potential, volume optimization should be studied in order to improve the solar harvest from the façades, and the proper level of solar access should to be guaranteed. One efficient way in which to reduce environmental impact is certainly the use of the solar energy. Passive design solutions developed following sustainable principles increase solar gains and daylight, while also reducing the energy use in buildings. Furthermore, heating and electricity could be supplied from renewable sources as active solar energy systems are integrated into the building envelopes [1] . This paper is focused on a new solar urban planning approach for building densification and preservation in existing urban areas. The approach requires that new buildings be designed paying attention to the volume, shape, orientation of BiPV façades, in relation to the urban context in which they are inserted. Furthermore, solar access and the right to light of the surrounding buildings are investigated. Finally, analyses are conducted on urban daylight in public squares, in order to evaluate the overshadowing effects.

Some preliminary analyses during the early design phases could avoid the effect of solar availability reduction, which influences the potential of solar systems, as well as daylight and the thermal performance of buildings.

Furthermore, heating and electricity could be supplied from renewable sources as active solar energy systems are integrated into the building envelopes.


In recent years, various safety systems have gradually become standard features in new car models. Examples include Anti-lock Breaking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system, lane departure warning (LDW) system, etc. Despite this, in countries with high proportion of scooters 1 (e.g., Taiwan) the number of accidents, injuries and deaths caused by the accidents have been steadily increasing over the past decade [1] . Closer investigation reveals that the increase is mainly caused by accidents involving scooters; on average, the numbers have been increasing by 10% every year and they are responsible for more than 80% -90% of the deaths and the injuries [1] .

Despite this, in countries with high proportion of scooters 1 (e.g., Taiwan) the number of accidents, injuries and deaths caused by the accidents have been steadily increasing over the past decade.

Closer investigation reveals that the increase is mainly caused by accidents involving scooters; on average, the numbers have been increasing by 10% every year and they are responsible for more than 80% -90% of the deaths and the injuries.


When such a broadband single-carrier transmission is applied to cellular systems, however, there is still a remaining challenge; enhancement of immunity to CCI coming from adjacent cells when a single-carrier scheme is introduced in TDMA based cellular systems. In the case of OFDMA based wireless access systems, CCI immunity control is relatively simple, just by controlling the number of bits loaded to each subcarrier according to the channel state information (CSI) including CCI conditions fed back from the receiver side, which is called a subcarrier-level adaptive modulation [9] . In the case of single-carrier transmission, on the other hand, because the transmitted bit stream occupies whole the assigned bandwidth any time, the receiver is always suffering from CCI from adjacent cells in the cellular systems. Thus, energy of such CCI accommodated in the allocated bandwidth has to be efficiently suppressed by some means.

In the case of OFDMA based wireless access systems, CCI immunity control is relatively simple, just by controlling the number of bits loaded to each subcarrier according to the channel state information (CSI) including CCI conditions fed back from the receiver side, which is called a subcarrier-level adaptive modulation.


Although some prior work has noted changes in liver function associated with amphotericin B exposure, these changes are not as well established as the changes associated with azole agents. In a comparison of amphotericin B deoxycholate and fluconazole, hyperbilirubinemia was more common among patients treated with amphotericin B deoxycholate [14] . An openlabel trial of patients treated with amphotericin B lipid complex found that AST levels doubled after treatment [16] .

In a comparison of amphotericin B deoxycholate and fluconazole, hyperbilirubinemia was more common among patients treated with amphotericin B deoxycholate.

An openlabel trial of patients treated with amphotericin B lipid complex found that AST levels doubled after treatment.


An important challenge in large-eddy simulations of the atmospheric boundary layer is the specification of the SGS model coefficients and, in particular, how to account for external or internal parameters such as position in the flow, grid/filter scale, atmospheric stability and chemical regime. Usually in LES of atmospheric turbulent reacting flows, the subgrid reactant flux is modelled as the product of a local gradient of the concentrations from the resolved scales and of eddy-diffusity coefficients. These coefficients are either simply prescribed (in the case of Smagorinsky models) or estimated by solving an equation for the turbulent kinetic energy assuming that subgrid scale turbulence is equally efficient at transporting scalars as it is for heat [18] . In this paper, we explicitly calculate the model coefficients by using a dynamic procedure and without making any assumption of the ability of subgrid turbulence to transport scalars. Thus the model coefficients are specifically calculated for each reacting scalar.

These coefficients are either simply prescribed (in the case of Smagorinsky models) or estimated by solving an equation for the turbulent kinetic energy assuming that subgrid scale turbulence is equally efficient at transporting scalars as it is for heat.


This study illustrates the importance of analysing students' opinions within the teaching environment, as it provides the teacher and the institution with an insight to students' needs, which can then be reflected in the teaching process. Furthermore, the teacher plays a vital role in manipulating the classroom environment to accommodate the teaching process and thus encourage learning. As a result, teacher training is fundamental to establishing a well-educated and an effective facilitator of the teaching process (Sim & Pop, 2016) . Based on the importance of the teachers' role in achieving student satisfaction, a teacher might consider implementing different activities to promote student engagement. Moreover, proper evaluation and corrective feedback could be applied to reflect students' performance.

As a result, teacher training is fundamental to establishing a well-educated and an effective facilitator of the teaching process.


Urease belongs to group of nickel-binding proteins. In the present paper we utilized two very different analytical techniques, spectrometric and electrochemical, for detection of this protein. The spectrometric analysis is most commonly used compared to electrochemistry [68, 93] . However we shown that the electrochemical technique is suitable not only to detect urease sensitively but also to study the interaction of urease with nickel(II) ions. Moreover, we prepared Ni nanoelectrodes and utilized it for measurement of urease. Based on the results obtained we were able to not only detect urease itself but also to distinguish its native and denatured form using Ni nanoelectrode.

The spectrometric analysis is most commonly used compared to electrochemistry.


The definition of the ROM used in this work relies on the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), a statistical 2 International Journal of Aerospace Engineering technique able to extract the essential physics of some input information. The statistical analysis of the data allows expressing the flow field in terms of a set of low rank basis vectors and the ROM is obtained using this reduced set. In literature, the POD appears in different equivalent forms such as Karhunen-Loève decomposition, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) [5] . According to POD, an optimal linear basis, named POD basis, may be interpreted as a solution of minimization of the projection error of the original system, equivalent to maximizing the energy in the projection [6] . Therefore, the optimality of the basis vector is in an energetic sense. If a problem is described by a representative number of high-fidelity calculations from which a set of basis vectors may be extracted, the singular values become rapidly small and a small number of basis vectors are sufficient to approximate the initial data. In this way, POD provides an efficient statistical tool to capture the dominant features of a model characterized by many degrees of freedom and to represent it to the desired accuracy by using a reduced set of modes. The ROM is derived by projecting the high-fidelity model onto a reduced space spanned by only some of POD modes.

In literature, the POD appears in different equivalent forms such as Karhunen-Loève decomposition, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD).

According to POD, an optimal linear basis, named POD basis, may be interpreted as a solution of minimization of the projection error of the original system, equivalent to maximizing the energy in the projection.


Stem cells, a reservoir of undifferentiated cells with the capacity for unlimited or prolonged self-renewal, have the potential to produce differentiated and specialized progenies [1] . They hold the key to a number of cellular processes, including development, tissue regeneration, and aging, and the promise of cures for many diseases and injuries. They are a versatile and promising cell source for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine [2] .

Stem cells, a reservoir of undifferentiated cells with the capacity for unlimited or prolonged self-renewal, have the potential to produce differentiated and specialized progenies.

They are a versatile and promising cell source for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.


Many algorithms and methods have been proposed to conduct MPPT operations in PV applications. The basic aim of these algorithms and methods is to maximize the available power of PV modules. Perturbation and observation (P&O) and IC are very common algorithms in terms of easy adaptation to PV systems and they are always considered as cost effective methods. When the success of MPPT operation is evaluated, the P&O algorithm is unsuccessful for sudden changes in solar irradiance. However, the IC algorithm performs better than P&O for this condition [1] [2] [3] .

However, the IC algorithm performs better than P&O for this condition.


Early diagnosis and rapid effective therapy are essential management strategies for surveillance, control and elimination, thus averting malaria morbidity and mortality. Indeed, early effective anti-malarial treatment may also decelerate transmission in a population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), building community capacity through training and supervising community health workers (CHWs) can help reduce morbidity and mortality associated with malaria in Africa. This can be achieved through rapid and effective treatment of malaria cases within 24 h [12] . In addition, the WHO recommendation on the diagnosis of malaria is based on parasitological diagnostic approaches namely light microscopy and immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) [10] . Given the limitations of microscopy in the rural areas, malaria RDT is a user-friendly and accurate diagnostic tool that can be performed at the point of care in communities by CHWs in Africa [13] .

This can be achieved through rapid and effective treatment of malaria cases within 24 h.

In addition, the WHO recommendation on the diagnosis of malaria is based on parasitological diagnostic approaches namely light microscopy and immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs).

Given the limitations of microscopy in the rural areas, malaria RDT is a user-friendly and accurate diagnostic tool that can be performed at the point of care in communities by CHWs in Africa.


Nowadays, the elderly population with dementia is increasing. A statistics shows that approximately 5% of the population in United States of America is over 65 years old. In Japan, 6% of the population is also over 65 years old. In South Korea, with the increasing of aging society, the number of patient with dementia is also increasing gradually. Currently, there are about 400,000 people suffering dementia. It is predicted that there will be 60 million people with dementia in 2020, and 212 million people with dementia in 2050. Brookmeyer et.al even stated that by 2050, 1 in 85 persons worldwide will be living with the disease [1] .

Brookmeyer et.al even stated that by 2050, 1 in 85 persons worldwide will be living with the disease.


The surplus number of scoring systems is an indicator that the ideal system has not yet been found [3, 4, [29] [30] [31] . In a systematic review for the performance of ASS in predicting appendicitis, authors stated that the heterogeneity was apparent between studies where they have found a nonsignificant trend towards overprediction in the low risk strata and a significant overprediction in the intermediate risk category and high risk strata in children [32] . In our study, ASS with a cut-off level of 7 had sensitivity and specificity rates of 77.8% and 70%, respectively. Its PPV rate was the worst among scoring systems (59.1%) but had a moderate success rate of NPV (84.5%). What is more, Kappa coefficient was the lowest among the scoring systems that suggests nearfair agreement (Table 4) . Likewise, PAS was also found to have very heterogeneous results for most cut-off points in a recent meta-analysis, although the authors have grouped studies with similar inclusion criteria [33] . They stated that the heterogeneity was probably due to the examiner-dependent variables of PAS and concluded as the imaging studies should be added to history taking, physical examination, laboratory test, and PAS in patients with suspected AA. In our study, PAS had the lowest sensitivity (55.2%) and highest specificity (92.5%) rates. Its PPV rate (80.8%) was close to NSS, higher than ASS with a Kappa coefficient of 0.512 that suggests Emergency Medicine International moderate agreement. On the other hand, NSS had the highest rate of sensitivity (94.6%), a high rate of specificity (second after PAS), the highest rates of PPV (81.6%), and NPV (96.6%) with a Kappa coefficient of 0.797 that suggested a good agreement (Table 4) .

The surplus number of scoring systems is an indicator that the ideal system has not yet been found.

In a systematic review for the performance of ASS in predicting appendicitis, authors stated that the heterogeneity was apparent between studies where they have found a nonsignificant trend towards overprediction in the low risk strata and a significant overprediction in the intermediate risk category and high risk strata in children.

Likewise, PAS was also found to have very heterogeneous results for most cut-off points in a recent meta-analysis, although the authors have grouped studies with similar inclusion criteria.


An association between culture and type 2 diabetes risk, independent of physical activity and diet, is plausible, given what is known about the physiological mechanisms linking psychosocial stress to insulin resistance and subsequent type 2 diabetes risk via hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation [35, 36] . In general, integration of two or more cultures is viewed as a less stressful, more adaptive process, because this orientation allows ethnic minorities to function effectively in a multicultural society while still maintaining supportive connections to their own family's culture [37] . Hence, integration may be associated with lower psychological stress in African-Americans, thereby influencing type 2 diabetes risk independent of physical activity and diet. Additional research is needed to better understand the associations between integration, psychological stress, and diabetes risk in this ethnic minority group.

An association between culture and type 2 diabetes risk, independent of physical activity and diet, is plausible, given what is known about the physiological mechanisms linking psychosocial stress to insulin resistance and subsequent type 2 diabetes risk via hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.

In general, integration of two or more cultures is viewed as a less stressful, more adaptive process, because this orientation allows ethnic minorities to function effectively in a multicultural society while still maintaining supportive connections to their own family's culture.


The department of Mechanical Engineering at UMass Dartmouth has taken concrete steps to introduce more synergistic design principles in the freshmen year through a newly formed Introduction to Mechanical Engineering (MNE 101) course. In MNE 101 students are being taught the basic concepts of design and drafting using Solidworks I. Using their drafting knowledge and some predefined design constraints, students have to design and 3-D print components of machinery and explore whether their design allows the parts to fit correctly and allow the machine to function properly. This assignment has concepts of reverse engineering. Outcomes for the MNE 101 course include learning basic concepts of drafting, tolerance and manufacturability. In addition, a reformulated Mechanical Systems Design and Controls (MNE 391) course in the junior year and the newly introduced Thermal Systems Design (MNE Mechanical Systems Design and Control course integrates concepts from dynamics and mechanics of materials in a systems-based integration via short projects and laboratory exercises. Similarly, the Thermal Systems Design course requires an integration of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer concepts into cycle analysis and heat exchanger designs, explored both through theoretical designs as well as laboratory experiences. The junior and senior courses where design is explored at a systems level give students a better picture of integration. Of course, data will still need to be collected longitudinally to find if there is an improvement in design originality as a result of each course. Finally, it is important to consider the role of the group environment on design originality. Design fixation does not just occur due to individual decisions, and being in a group can enhance or hinder creativity [23] . Previous research using the same design problems as the current paper indicated that the originality of the initial concept was improved by the contributions of the group members [24] . The current data, however, may show something different. As shown above, there are concepts where only a single individual generates an original design ( Figure 4 ) and concepts where multiple group members contribute to the originality of a design (Figure 3) . We plan on further exploring the idea of synergistic vs. non-synergistic group design within the current data. Level of synergy may be affected by curriculum level, familiarity with the group members (for example, our senior students completed the concept generation task within their project groups), or individual characteristics of the group members. This future analysis would also have implications for design education. In both educational and real-world settings, engineers are expected to work in groups. An analysis of how well groups are working together to create original designs could lead to suggestions for how undergraduate engineering curricula can best shape group design skills.

Design fixation does not just occur due to individual decisions, and being in a group can enhance or hinder creativity.

Previous research using the same design problems as the current paper indicated that the originality of the initial concept was improved by the contributions of the group members.


Another reason to utilize cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses is to more fully examine the influence of academicallyrelevant individual difference variables, such as GPA and selfefficacy, on the development of innovation capabilities. Some researchers [cf. 11] have found positive relationships between standardized creativity tests (Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking) and academic performance. As discussed earlier, as individuals acquire skills, such as the skills that students learn through undergraduate engineering curricula, they move from more declarative, cognitive resource-demanding processing of information to more procedural, cognitive resource-free processing of information [12] . At the early stages of skill acquisition, individual differences in general abilities, such as intelligence or reasoning, are often correlated with performance, but as individuals practice more and gain proficiency in a skill, the role of individual variation diminishes [13] . Therefore, it is important to account for individual differences in intelligence when examining the development of innovation capability across the curriculum. In the current study, academic performance (GPA) serves as a proxy for intelligence.

As discussed earlier, as individuals acquire skills, such as the skills that students learn through undergraduate engineering curricula, they move from more declarative, cognitive resource-demanding processing of information to more procedural, cognitive resource-free processing of information.

At the early stages of skill acquisition, individual differences in general abilities, such as intelligence or reasoning, are often correlated with performance, but as individuals practice more and gain proficiency in a skill, the role of individual variation diminishes.


Other cutting edge techniques of FT-IR, such as UATR, have stood out for the analysis of different materials when compared to transmission techniques. Basically, studies show there are not significant differences in the fingerprint region, below 1,500 cm -1 for the spectrum obtained by the method of transmission and by UATR (Waltham, 2005; Abibi and Hequet, 2005) . In the nondestructive technique UATR of internal reflection, used to analyze solids, powders, liquids and gels, an IR beam passes through an ATR element, with high refractive index, consisting of ZnSe-diamond or KRS-5-diamond, and reaches the sample surface (Fig. 1a) . Another requirement of UATR is the good contact between the crystal and the sample surface. The analysis of probe strength (Fig. 1b) can be adjusted in order to obtain a more appropriate contact, once different pressure levels directly influence the intensities of the obtained ATR spectrum.

Basically, studies show there are not significant differences in the fingerprint region, below 1,500 cm -1 for the spectrum obtained by the method of transmission and by UATR.


In this study, a complete randomised design is used to perform the experiment. The disturbances of the hardness and composition vary over time and randomisation is used to ensure that the test data will be uncorrelated with these time trends. Blocking is not used, as the subdivision of the experiment into smaller time intervals will not reduce the variations of the data. If no considerable difference occurs, blocking will probably affect the accuracy of the experiment results adversely (Fisher and Yates, 1953) . It is usually regarded as good practice to keep an experiment as simple as possible (Oosthuizen, 2001) .

If no considerable difference occurs, blocking will probably affect the accuracy of the experiment results adversely.

It is usually regarded as good practice to keep an experiment as simple as possible.


We show in what follows that there is a notion of "bi-free independence" (or "bi-freeness") for two-faced systems which has the right properties for the development of probability theory concepts based on it. Restricted to systems which have only left (or only right) nonconstant variables, bi-freeness reduces to freeness, however when there are both left and right variables, bi-freeness implies for instance that certain groups of variables at the level of their distributions exhibit commutative ("tensor product") independence. Bi-freeness may be related to a number of recent non-commutative independencies ( [2] , [1] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [11] ). An exploration of possible connections would be of much interest.

Bi-freeness may be related to a number of recent non-commutative independencies (,,,,,).


On a free product of Hilbert spaces with specified unit vector there are two actions of the operators of the initial spaces, corresponding to a left and to a right tensorial factorization respectively ( [12] , [16] ). In usual free probability this gives a choice between left and right when modeling free random variables on free products of spaces. From here it is then natural to imagine the situation when algebras of left operators and algebras of right operators on the free product space are considered at the same time. We will show that there is a "two-faced" extension of free probability to deal with the expectation values for such combined systems of operators and begin developing in this paper and its successors the basics of the theory. Like with usual free probability we have found it convenient in the development of basic concepts to move between a purely algebraic framework and a C * -algebra functional analysis framework.

On a free product of Hilbert spaces with specified unit vector there are two actions of the operators of the initial spaces, corresponding to a left and to a right tensorial factorization respectively (,).


H-MGs receiving power supply and other H-MGs must have the possibility of using an upstream grid, the non-dispatchable units (NDUs) and their local energy storage systems. In addition, H-MGs ought to have access to other neighboring H-MGs for swapping excess electricity while all types of players are satisfied with the best possible way they achieve their defined objective functions. This is the duty of the EMS as it satisfies technical and economic constraints related to each generation and consumption to establish the best choice for power equilibrium in the network [26] . In a system of MH-MGs, the distribution networks (market operator (MO) and a distribution network operator (DNO)), and H-MGs desire the optimum utilization of power generation and consumption resources. To attain higher reliability, the EMSs must have this capability to store the maximum possible energy in ESs of each H-MG. From this viewpoint, the optimum design of a system with MH-MG leads to the coincident optimization of H-MGs and distribution network pay-offs. Such a design has a dynamic programming nature.

This is the duty of the EMS as it satisfies technical and economic constraints related to each generation and consumption to establish the best choice for power equilibrium in the network.


In this paper a spectral-domain approach for the theoretical study of radiation by fractal shaped antennas is presented; radiating geometries whose generating IFS is based on affinities (i.e., translations, rotations and dilations) are considered. Since this kind of spatial transformations have simple analytical counterparts in the Fourier domain, it is possible to establish an efficient iterative procedure for a closed-form spectral description of the source current distribution. For the same reasons the spectral properties of a selfsimilar resonator bears enough information to compute the fractal dimension of the cavity [8] . Then the evaluation of the EM field radiated by the antenna is directly accomplished by integral-expanding the Plane-Wave (PW) radiations originated by the various spectral components of the source current. In this way we avoid direct space-domain integral-differential computation on the fractal structure (e.g., convolution between tensor Green function and currents), which involves some 'critical' theoretical issues (e.g., tangent vectors cannot be properly defined in classical way almost anywhere on the fractal [9] ).

For the same reasons the spectral properties of a selfsimilar resonator bears enough information to compute the fractal dimension of the cavity.

In this way we avoid direct space-domain integral-differential computation on the fractal structure (e.g., convolution between tensor Green function and currents), which involves some 'critical' theoretical issues (e.g., tangent vectors cannot be properly defined in classical way almost anywhere on the fractal).


The results also showed that most of the participants were females. Gender role socialisation and expectations may have accounted for more females reporting SCD and its associated complications. In Ghanaian culture, males are expected to show bravery, strength and endurance during times of crisis and are expected to be the bread winners, to be leaders in their family and to endure pain [40] . This is corroborated by the fact that females generally report or complain more than males when they are suffering from different types of illnesses [41] .

In Ghanaian culture, males are expected to show bravery, strength and endurance during times of crisis and are expected to be the bread winners, to be leaders in their family and to endure pain.

This is corroborated by the fact that females generally report or complain more than males when they are suffering from different types of illnesses.


Regarding distributed computation, as mentioned above, no work that we are aware of studies the complexity of the problem from the distributed viewpoint. However, distributed matching is a well-studied problem. While maximum matching cannot be found in less than diameter time, good approximations can be found in logarithmic time even for weighted matching [9] . On the other hand, there are lower bounds on the time required to compute an approximate maximum matching even with unbounded-size messages [7] .

While maximum matching cannot be found in less than diameter time, good approximations can be found in logarithmic time even for weighted matching.

On the other hand, there are lower bounds on the time required to compute an approximate maximum matching even with unbounded-size messages.


In clinical practices, lung ultrasound (US) has been gaining in popularity among clinicians and has become an essential tool in critically ill management [8, 9] . However regarding human pulmonary oncology, there is no possible use of US except for invasive endoscopy of cancer nodules and lymph nodes [10, 11] . The main limitation of endoscopy and ultrasound is the detection of these nodules if proximity with the probe is not close enough. This access limitation is due to the absence of US propagation through the lung parenchyma because of air.

In clinical practices, lung ultrasound (US) has been gaining in popularity among clinicians and has become an essential tool in critically ill management.

However regarding human pulmonary oncology, there is no possible use of US except for invasive endoscopy of cancer nodules and lymph nodes.


Mast cells are similar to Basophils in many respects, including the presence of cell surface IgE Fc receptors as well as cytoplasmic granules. Mast cells have cytoplasmic membrane-bound granules that contain a variety of biologically active mediators they are activated by the cross-linking of high-affinity IgE Fc receptors. Mast cells may also be triggered by several other stimuli, such as complement components C5a and C3a [3] . Pathogenesis of acute appendicitis is poorly understood. Currently, luminal obstruction due to faecoliths or less commonly submucosal lymphoid hyperplasia especially in children appears to initiate acute inflammation in appendix [4] .

Mast cells may also be triggered by several other stimuli, such as complement components C5a and C3a.

Currently, luminal obstruction due to faecoliths or less commonly submucosal lymphoid hyperplasia especially in children appears to initiate acute inflammation in appendix.


Basically, there are two different trends for extending SVMs to multiclass problems. The first considers the multiclass problem directly as a generalization of the binary classification scheme [4] . This approach often leads to a complex optimization problem. The second decomposes a multiclass problem into multiple binary classification problems that can be solved by an SVM [5] . One-vs-rest (OVR) is a representative decomposition strategy, while winner-takes-all or error correcting codes (ECCs) is reconstruction schemes to combine the multiple outputs [6] . It has been pointed out that there is no guarantee on the decomposition-based approach to reach the optimal separation of samples [7] . There are several reasons for this, such as unbalanced sample sizes. However, these could be complemented by the proper selection of a model or a decision scheme.

The first considers the multiclass problem directly as a generalization of the binary classification scheme.

The second decomposes a multiclass problem into multiple binary classification problems that can be solved by an SVM.

One-vs-rest (OVR) is a representative decomposition strategy, while winner-takes-all or error correcting codes (ECCs) is reconstruction schemes to combine the multiple outputs.

It has been pointed out that there is no guarantee on the decomposition-based approach to reach the optimal separation of samples.


Hall algebras associated to abelian categories play in important role in representation theory. In particular, when the abelian category in question is the category of F q -representations of a quiver associated to a simply-laced Dynkin diagram, there is a close relationship between the Hall algebra and the quantum enveloping algebra of the Lie algebra associated to the same Dynkin diagram. Recent attempts to strengthen this relationship have led to the problem of associating some kind of Hall algebra to categories which are triangulated rather than abelian. In particular, it is conjectured that one could recover the quantum enveloping algebra from an appropriate Hall-type algebra associated to Peng and Xiao's root category, which is, roughly speaking, the derived category of the category of this abelian category of representations, modulo a double shift relation [15] .

In particular, it is conjectured that one could recover the quantum enveloping algebra from an appropriate Hall-type algebra associated to Peng and Xiao's root category, which is, roughly speaking, the derived category of the category of this abelian category of representations, modulo a double shift relation.


It might be argued that the model proposed in this study is an oversimplification of the coaching process, given that there are a range of what, on the surface at least, seem like very different approaches to coaching described in the literature (Cox et al., 2014b; Palmer & Whybrow, 2007; Passmore, 2007) . It isn't clear, however, if these approaches actually share essential similarities. We hope that using Q mode factor analysis as a data-reduction method in this study has made it possible to identify some fundamental features in the coaching process. There is clearly a need for expanding this study to evaluate a broader range of coaching practices. However, given the difficulties process researchers face in gaining access to coaching sessions, the involvement of six experienced coaches and the one-off nature of some coaching sessions should provide a promising start for what is hoped to be an ongoing program of research.

It might be argued that the model proposed in this study is an oversimplification of the coaching process, given that there are a range of what, on the surface at least, seem like very different approaches to coaching described in the literature.


However, from the perspective of the observers describing the session in relation to professional standards, the sessions often fell short of what they might have expected in terms of an explorative in-depth dialogical process. This suggests the possibility of self-deception on the part of the coaches (Bachkirova, 2016) . In applying a full range of coaching skills (paraphrasing, restatement, expressing empathy, consciously building rapport, providing support/reassurance, giving verbal encouragement, structuring the session, and suggesting solutions), some of the coaches might have appeared to have been too busy to allow the conversation to develop at its own pace, not permitting rapport to build naturally.

This suggests the possibility of self-deception on the part of the coaches.


Two factors (F1, F2) were extracted and rotated (varimax) using PQ Method (Schmolck, 2014) . The factors were then manually rotated 12 degrees (anticlockwise) to position the individual Q sorts either side of the two factors. This is a recommended practice in Q methodology (Brown, 1980) . Through manual rotation, the two factors are positioned to provide a central viewpoint through the middle of those participants loading significantly onto those factors. Figure 2 shows the rotated This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

Two factors (F1, F2) were extracted and rotated (varimax) using PQ Method.

This is a recommended practice in Q methodology.


In previous work on piglet castrations, researchers have measured the frequency in the call that is highest in amplitude (Wemelsfelder and van Putten, 1985; White et al., 1995) . In the current study, we also measured this frequency but found two classes of calls as shown in Fig. 2 . The rate of high frequency calls increased significantly in response to castration, but we did not find consistently significant differences in terms of our other measures (rate of low frequency calls, average frequency of high or low calls, and the call duration). In other work (unpublished data), we have measured a large number of call characteristics including aspects of the fundamental frequency and variation in the frequency over time, but again did not find consistently significant differences in response to castration.

In previous work on piglet castrations, researchers have measured the frequency in the call that is highest in amplitude.


Rice, Oryza sativa (2n = 24) belonging to the family Poaceae and subfamily Oryzoidea is the staple food for onethird of the world's population and occupies almost onefifth of the total land area covered under cereals. It is grown under diverse conditions and over wide geographical range. Most of the world's rice is cultivated and consumed in Asia, which constitutes more than half of the global population. Approximately 11 % of the world's arable land is planted annually to rice, and it ranks next to wheat. The world's rice production has doubled during last 25 years, largely due to the use of improved technology such as high yielding varieties and better crop management practices [1] . Further scope of crop improvement depends on the availability, genetic diversity and variability and use of new biotechnological tools. There exists a rich diversity in rice. Except for a few earlier studies on classification of germplasm using isozymes, there have been a few studies to assess the diversity of Indian rice varieties including landraces, at the molecular level. Presently some of the varieties have gone threatened. Hence, their conservation and characterization is of utmost important. Some of the traditional varieties are not sufficiently represented to study the genetic diversity. A number of molecular markers have been used for diversity study in rice [2] [3] [4] . Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) is a microsatellite-based multi locus marker technique, which is simple and useful for estimating genetic diversity in several crop plants. The technique has the advantages of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and in addition shows higher level of polymorphism, reproducibility and cost-effectiveness per polymorphism. ISSR-PCR has been used in genetic diversity studies in several crop plants. In rice, ISSR-PCR has been used for the analysis of micro satellite motif frequency and fingerprinting of varieties, determining phylogenetic relationships among Oryza species [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . The usefulness of multi locus ISSR-PCR markers in determining diversity within improved varieties, landraces of rice of Orissa has not been previously investigated. The objectives of this study are: (i) to assess the extent of genetic diversity in Indian landraces of rice as compared to improved cultivars and other accessions using ISSR primers; (ii) to compare the level of polymorphism revealed by each primer, and between landraces and varieties, (iii) to develop a rational basis for the choice of informative primers using polymorphic information content, resolving power and mean genetic similarity and (iv) to identify the variety diagnostic ISSR markers for rice improvement program.

The world's rice production has doubled during last 25 years, largely due to the use of improved technology such as high yielding varieties and better crop management practices.

There exists a rich diversity in rice.

A number of molecular markers have been used for diversity study in rice.

In rice, ISSR-PCR has been used for the analysis of micro satellite motif frequency and fingerprinting of varieties, determining phylogenetic relationships among Oryza species.


Today, AmI researchers show increasing interest in context-aware applications, for context awareness is a key to building AmI, which can make AmI systems more sensitive, responsive and adaptive. A context-aware computing system (CCS) will provide adaptive actions according to different contexts. Context is any information that can be used to characterize the situation of an entity, where an entity can be a person, place, physical or computational devices [2] . It can be acquired from various sources such as sensors, databases, agents and so on. This context, without any further interpretation, is called low-level context. It's not a good choice for context-aware computing system to build actions that adapt directly to low-level context, for 1) the low-level context may be meaningless, trivial, or vulnerable to small changes, 2) it's not necessary for a system to adapt its behavior to each and every change of context [3] . It's more attractive that a CCS is aware of situations, which are logically aggregated pieces of context and semantic abstractions that describe the phenomena we observe in rich and dynamic environment. By abstracting context into situations and adapting system behaviors only to these situations, a system not only can imitate human decision making process to act more intelligently, but also can be prevented from dealing with much meaningless information. In this sense, a promising CCS tends to be situation-aware.

Context is any information that can be used to characterize the situation of an entity, where an entity can be a person, place, physical or computational devices.

It's not a good choice for context-aware computing system to build actions that adapt directly to low-level context, for 1) the low-level context may be meaningless, trivial, or vulnerable to small changes, 2) it's not necessary for a system to adapt its behavior to each and every change of context.


Sliding mode control (SMC) is known to be a robust control scheme applicable for controlling uncertain systems. Great robustness is provided against various categories of uncertainties such as external disturbances and measurement errors [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . It is also straightforward to execute the resulting algorithms. The dynamics performance of a SMC system is affected by the suggested sliding manifolds upon which the control structure is switched. The most normally used sliding manifolds are linear hyperplanes. Such hyperplanes ensure the asymptotic stability of the sliding mode. Nonlinear switching manifolds may give increase to a better control performance, provided the nonlinearity is added purposefully. The terminal sliding mode concept has been suggested to focus the finite time control [8] . However, SMC techniques cannot provide satisfactory results when suffering poorly modeling unless the designers know the bounds of uncertainty.

Great robustness is provided against various categories of uncertainties such as external disturbances and measurement errors.

The terminal sliding mode concept has been suggested to focus the finite time control.


This integrable/generic dichotomy has been extremely successful in describing equilibration and thermalization in isolated quantum many-body systems [10, 11, 16, 17] . However over the past couple of years it has become increasingly apparent that there are simple quantum many-body systems that fall outside this dichotomy (see, e.g., refs. ). These systems are generic, in the sense that they do not possess extensively many conserved quantities (i.e. they are non-integrable, as can be seen via level spacing statistics), but none-the-less are not compatible with the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis. As a result, these systems show anomalous non-equilibrium dynamics, such as long-lived persistent oscillations in the timeevolution of local observables and an absence of thermalization. On the experimental side, such anomalous non-equilibrium dynamics was recently observed in a (1+1)-d lattice system of ultracold Rydberg atoms [52] . The subset of these non-integrable systems that violate the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis is discussed in detail in section 1.2.

This integrable/generic dichotomy has been extremely successful in describing equilibration and thermalization in isolated quantum many-body systems.

On the experimental side, such anomalous non-equilibrium dynamics was recently observed in a (1+1)-d lattice system of ultracold Rydberg atoms.


The absence of annihilation poles in one-particle-to-one-particle matrix elements is a crucial difference to analogous calculations in the Ising field theory and the sine-Gordon model [83] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] . There the corresponding matrix elements contain singularities that arise from the non-local soliton-like nature of excitations, and these lead to non-perturbative corrections in the time-evolution at long times. This allows for a O(1) difference between initial and final expectation values in these systems. Our work thus provides insight into a general mechanism in non-integrable (1+1)-d systems with confinement whereby thermalization can be avoided.

The absence of annihilation poles in one-particle-to-one-particle matrix elements is a crucial difference to analogous calculations in the Ising field theory and the sine-Gordon model.


In fact, the high foliar concentrations of K + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ recorded in stressed argan plants can be suggested as a physiological mechanism of tolerance that their role is to mitigate the negative effects of drought. In terms of comparison, both inland ecotypes seem be more tolerant considering their constitutive high concentrations of these ions. After rehydration, leaf concentrations of K + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ were significantly reduced, by referring to the concentrations noted in drought stress period, before reaching levels converging to those noted in the control plants. The argan plants showed an alternative and quicker strategy to promote drought tolerance by accumulating sufficiently high levels of inorganic ions. Indeed, the energy cost of the osmotic adjustment using inorganic ions is much lower than that of the use of organic molecules synthesized in cells (Hu and Schmidhalter, 1998; Patakas et al., 2002) . High concentrations of these elements in the leaves can help A. spinosa plants to overcome the negative effects of drought.

Indeed, the energy cost of the osmotic adjustment using inorganic ions is much lower than that of the use of organic molecules synthesized in cells.


During drought stress period, the content of total thiols in the leaves of A. spinosa plants increased significantly in the four ecotypes. This increase is mainly due to the significant increase in thiol protein content. The rate of protein thiols is a relevant marker of oxidative stress. However, the non-protein thiol content decreased significantly under drought stress conditions. The thiols are antioxidants that act through various mechanisms (Deneke, 2000) . High levels of glutathione and other thiols have been associated with an increased tolerance to oxidative stress under abiotic stress conditions (Szalai et al., 2009; Nazar al., 2011) . According to our results, the increase of the total thiols content could have signed the occurrence of oxidative stress and reflected the antioxidant capacity of thiols in the argan tree. These thiols seem to efficiently allocate antioxidant defense system in the argan tree under drought stress conditions. After rehydration, the decrease of the protein thiols can be explained by the fact that the thiol groups are oxidized by reducing free radicals and these denatured proteins are removed.

The thiols are antioxidants that act through various mechanisms.

High levels of glutathione and other thiols have been associated with an increased tolerance to oxidative stress under abiotic stress conditions.


Nanoparticles have been extensively investigated in diagnostic radiology and radiation therapy [1] [2] . Radiosensitization observed by several authors points out gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as the best candidates to be used as flagships of Radionanotherapy [3] [4] . This technique is becoming an increasingly practical option as nanobio-interactions are mapped.

Nanoparticles have been extensively investigated in diagnostic radiology and radiation therapy.

Radiosensitization observed by several authors points out gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as the best candidates to be used as flagships of Radionanotherapy.


A is the pre-exponential factor (s ), and T is the temperature in K. Despite all the criticisms against the Arrhenius rate law, it remains the only kinetic expression that can satisfactorily account for the temperature-dependent behavior of even the most unconventional reactions including biomass pyrolysis [9] . The integrated form of the first order rate law (cf. Eq. 3) was used to calculate the rate constant for the pyrolysis behavior of tobacco at a reaction time of 2.0 s. The activation energy was determined from the Arrhenius plots (ln k vs. 1/T) which establishes a linear relationship between the pre-exponential factor A and the rate constant k as given by Eq. 4, where ln A is the y-intercept and − Ea RT is the slope.

A is the pre-exponential factor (s ), and T is the temperature in K. Despite all the criticisms against the Arrhenius rate law, it remains the only kinetic expression that can satisfactorily account for the temperature-dependent behavior of even the most unconventional reactions including biomass pyrolysis.


To mimic actual cigarette smoking conditions, smoking apparatus were designed according to ISO 3402:1999 standards [16] . Whereas the destruction kinetics of nicotine was explored for both ES1 and SM1 cigarettes, only ES1 cigarette was investigated for nicotine formation. For formation kinetics, smoking residence times usually representative of real world cigarette smoking conditions (2, 5, and 10 s) were explored. Consequently, a plot of ln k as a function of puff (smoking) time yielded a straight line with a slope of −0.1323 (Fig. 3 ) from which the formation rate constant of nicotine (0.13 s ) was calculated. The plot, although an estimation from restricted smoking times is consistent with first order reaction kinetics. The original amount of nicotine in ES1 cigarette was estimated from the y-intercept and established to be 9.1 × 10 8 GC-Area counts. This value is remarkably close to that obtained from experimental modeling of tobacco burning from ES1, ~8.0 × 10 8 GC-Area counts. Interesting data have been reported in this work concerning the decrease of nicotine with smoking times (Fig. 3A, B) . This suggests that longer residence times may lead to possible side reactions which result in the conversion of nicotine to other by-products. It is well known in literature that shorter residence times minimize secondary reactions but longer residence times may lead to radical formation, recombination, and pyrosynthesis of new by-products [29, 34] . Thus, these processes reduce the yield of the parent compound, in this case, nicotine. The UV-Vis data was basically qualitative but remarkably corroborates GC-MS data. Therefore, the longer the smoking times the lower the concentration of nicotine reaching the lungs of the cigarette smoker. Longer puff times may be beneficial to the smoking community based on the results obtained from this work.

To mimic actual cigarette smoking conditions, smoking apparatus were designed according to ISO 3402:1999 standards.

It is well known in literature that shorter residence times minimize secondary reactions but longer residence times may lead to radical formation, recombination, and pyrosynthesis of new by-products.


Main inclusion criteria in both trials were the presence of early symptoms of common cold, with symptoms up to 36 hours before enrollment in the children's trial and up to 48 hours in the adult trial. The severity of the cold was measured using a symptom score [16] . The score was calculated by summing 8 symptoms (headache, muscle ache, chilliness, sore throat, nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, cough, and sneezing) with each item rated 0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate and 3 = severe. Patients with a symptom score of 1-9 (children's trial) or 2-9 (adult's trial) at the time of inclusion were enrolled in the study. Investigators and patients were masked to treatment and the test spray and matching placebo were indistinguishable. Patients were randomly assigned using a permuted block schedule (size four). After randomization, patients received treatment with either iota-carrageenan nasal spray (0.12% iota-carrageenan/0.5% sodium saline; "carrageenan") or placebo (0.9% sodium saline; "placebo") three times per day, for 7 days. Presence of common cold symptoms were recorded in daily diaries till day 21 after inclusion in trials.

The severity of the cold was measured using a symptom score.


Most higher eukaryotic cells possess four Hsp90 homologs: two cytosolic isoforms, one of which is constitutively expressed while the other is induced by heat shock and stress (Hsp90β and Hsp90α, respectively), one localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (Grp94) and one localized to the mitochondria (TRAP1). Despite some sequence divergence and a few insertions/deletions decorating the globular domains, the structures of all Hsp90 homologs remain conserved, suggesting a fundamental mechanism that adapted to different cellular environments. Indeed, a survey of conformational states in bacterial, yeast, and human Hsp90 revealed species-specific tuning of conformational equilibria and ATPase rates (Southworth and Agard, 2008) . In general, reaching the NTD-dimerized closed state is rate limiting for ATP hydrolysis. In the case of TRAP1, the formation of this closed state is further regulated by a temperature-sensitive kinetic barrier imparted by an extra N-terminal extension . For eukaryotic cytosolic Hsp90s, binding of co-chaperones can stabilize particular conformational states and modulate ATPase activity (Eckl et al., 2013; Retzlaff et al., 2010; Southworth and Agard, 2011) .

Indeed, a survey of conformational states in bacterial, yeast, and human Hsp90 revealed species-specific tuning of conformational equilibria and ATPase rates.

For eukaryotic cytosolic Hsp90s, binding of co-chaperones can stabilize particular conformational states and modulate ATPase activity.


We experimented with our model based on two datasets from both a controlled and a crowd-sourced environment. We first discuss these datasets, and the model and training configuration. We then discuss the performance of our model in comparison with a state of art analytical method proposed previously [2] .

We then discuss the performance of our model in comparison with a state of art analytical method proposed previously.


In the case of multi-black holes, interesting eyebrow-like structures outside the main shadows of the black holes, as well as the deformation of these shadows, have been observed [20] . Such eyebrow structure have also been observed in the case of shadows of two merging black holes [34, 35] . This kind of structure has been regarded as a unique feature of a multi black hole system. Multiple shadows have recently been shown to be present for asymptotically flat rotating black holes with scalar hair that are solutions to Einstein gravity minimally coupled to a massive complex scalar field [36] .

In the case of multi-black holes, interesting eyebrow-like structures outside the main shadows of the black holes, as well as the deformation of these shadows, have been observed.

Such eyebrow structure have also been observed in the case of shadows of two merging black holes.

Multiple shadows have recently been shown to be present for asymptotically flat rotating black holes with scalar hair that are solutions to Einstein gravity minimally coupled to a massive complex scalar field.


Aerosol and clouds are important components of the earth's climate system. Detailed knowledge of their interactions as well as their radiative properties and effects is crucial to advance our understanding of climate change (Boucher et al., 2013) . One specific aspect which requires further research is their interaction with solar radiation through scattering and absorption and the resulting modulation of the shortwave radiation budget.

Detailed knowledge of their interactions as well as their radiative properties and effects is crucial to advance our understanding of climate change.


Permeability in sedimentary deposits always exhibits spatial heterogeneity and anisotropy that reflect the original depositional and also post-depositional processes. Experimental, numerical, and field studies on geological storage suggest that reservoir permeability heterogeneity can enhance capillary and dissolution trapping while potentially helping to deter CO2 migration and leakage [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] . Simulation results also suggest that models incorporating permeability heterogeneity can more accurately assess the various CO2 trapping mechanisms [36] [37] [38] . While CO2 'self-sealing' storage can be very attractive, more detailed studies of CO2 interaction with formation water and heterogeneous sediments under variable temperature and pressure conditions are needed for understanding mechanisms of CO2 trapping processes in the deep-sea sediments and for quantitatively evaluating the CO2 injectivity and possible leakage rates to sea. This study is to develop a statistical framework for CO2 accounting in the deep-sea sediments and quantifying CO2 trapped in different processes such as solubility trapping, capillary trapping, heterogeneity trapping, gravitational and hydrate-formation trapping. The statistical framework starts from characterizing marine sediment heterogeneity and defining the associated independent parameters (which are statistically independent from output variables, but have a large impact on modeling results). The independent parameters can be classified into: sea depth, marine sediment thickness, permeability mean, variance and integral scale, and porosity. In most of the offshore sites such as in the sites of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), the exact values of the independent parameters are not well-known, but we may obtain enough information to characterize or define the uncertainty distributions of these independent parameters. These distributions are used to sample the uncertain parameters and conduct geostatistical-based Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to quantitative evaluate both the storage capacity and leakage probability of marine sediments exhibiting variable permeability, variance, porosity and thicknesses. We focus on a set of synthetic models with reservoir fluid flow characteristics selected based on four sites in the GOM basin where sediments with sufficient thickness and permeability exist ( Figure 1 ). As a result of historical exploration for development of petroleum and other resources, extensive subsurface characterization data exist in these sites, thus uncertainty in reservoir parameters can also be relatively well constrained [39] [40] [41] [42] . Within a computationally efficient statistical framework, this study also aims to assess the uncertainty in the estimated storage capacity and leakage probability for the synthetic reservoirs. Results then yield insights into the conditions under which safe and permanent storage of CO2 can be achieved in offshore environments. In the following sections, the characteristics of the four GOM sites are first summarized, followed by a description of the uncertainty methodology used to evaluate CO2 storage and leakage into the sea.

Experimental, numerical, and field studies on geological storage suggest that reservoir permeability heterogeneity can enhance capillary and dissolution trapping while potentially helping to deter CO2 migration and leakage.

Simulation results also suggest that models incorporating permeability heterogeneity can more accurately assess the various CO2 trapping mechanisms.

As a result of historical exploration for development of petroleum and other resources, extensive subsurface characterization data exist in these sites, thus uncertainty in reservoir parameters can also be relatively well constrained.


Studies suggest that the offshore storage can reduce monitoring expenses and lead to enhanced storage security [18] [19] . By injecting CO2 into sediments beneath the seafloor under suitable temperature and pressure conditions, CO2 could be trapped through 'self-sealing' gravitational or hydrate-formation mechanisms [19] . Under gravitational trapping, an impermeable caprock above the CO2 reservoir to prevent upward fluid migration is no longer required; when hydrates are formed, CO2 becomes immobilized. Moreover, offshore locations are away from population centers. As a result, such operations avoid the perception of storage beneath a populated area, reduce the difficulty of establishing surface and mineral rights at candidate sites, and decrease the risk of contaminating underground sources of drinking water [20] [21] . Notwithstanding high capital costs (e.g. drilling rigs), the overall economics of offshore storage may be more favorable than onshore storage. For example, storage can be combined with enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in depleted off-shore oil and gas fields, which have infrastructure in place including injection wells and pipelines. In many offshore settings, due to the great reservoir depths, high formation pressure is expected even after primary and secondary recoveries, thus ensuring the miscibility requirement for EOR [22] [23] [24] [25] . However, off-shore storage has its own challenges. Based on experience gained in producing off-shore reservoirs, two main challenges have been identified: (1) storage security is compromised when the emplaced CO2 in sub-seafloor sediments leaks into the overlying water column; (2) storage capacity and injectivity may not be guaranteed at all off-shore locations, because suitable reservoirs with sufficient areal extent, thickness, porosity, and permeability are needed.

Studies suggest that the offshore storage can reduce monitoring expenses and lead to enhanced storage security.

By injecting CO2 into sediments beneath the seafloor under suitable temperature and pressure conditions, CO2 could be trapped through 'self-sealing' gravitational or hydrate-formation mechanisms.

As a result, such operations avoid the perception of storage beneath a populated area, reduce the difficulty of establishing surface and mineral rights at candidate sites, and decrease the risk of contaminating underground sources of drinking water.

In many offshore settings, due to the great reservoir depths, high formation pressure is expected even after primary and secondary recoveries, thus ensuring the miscibility requirement for EOR.


Green energy is an important industrial sector in this era of international competition. This energy sector includes (1) the main industries of solar photovoltaic and LED lighting and (2) the general potential industries of wind power, biofuels, hydrogen and fuel cells, energy information and communication, and electric vehicles among others [1] . The solar energy industry is one of the most important "green energy" industries. The output value of Taiwan's solar industry as a whole is expected to exceed 15 billion NTD in 2015, with the silicon solar cell module accounting for much of it, at the same time as it ranks number 4 in the world [1] . The maintenance of international competitiveness and sustainable development in the industry in the future will mainly depend on the quality of the industry's human resources. How to provide the professional competencies needed by the industry and to further develop curricula to nurture talent are the core priorities of engineering education.

This energy sector includes (1) the main industries of solar photovoltaic and LED lighting and (2) the general potential industries of wind power, biofuels, hydrogen and fuel cells, energy information and communication, and electric vehicles among others.

The output value of Taiwan's solar industry as a whole is expected to exceed 15 billion NTD in 2015, with the silicon solar cell module accounting for much of it, at the same time as it ranks number 4 in the world.


This study found that solar industry professional competency is composed of 11 professional dimensions, with each professional competency composed of several subdimensions, as shown in Table 2 . In the application of research methods in response to a need to establish the professional competencies required in an industry, the DACUM (Develop A Curriculum) method is usually used, with the experts using brainstorming techniques to obtain the needed professional skill directory/listing [24] . On the other hand, in the Delphi method, the experts' anonymous input is used to seek advisory consistency between the professional competency and its subcompetencies [25] . In the V-tech method, the enterprise survey emphasises a large sample within a single industry to get a list of general professional competencies needed for engagement in the specific professional career [26] . This study adopted the expert advisory method, emphasising qualitative expert interviews through close contact with benchmark solar companies listed on the stock market. Together with the focus group method, through discussions with solar industry experts, the professional competencies and their subcompetencies in the solar industry were thus confirmed. Therefore, the research method adopted by this study can essentially be regarded as an application of the DACUM method.

In the application of research methods in response to a need to establish the professional competencies required in an industry, the DACUM (Develop A Curriculum) method is usually used, with the experts using brainstorming techniques to obtain the needed professional skill directory/listing.

On the other hand, in the Delphi method, the experts' anonymous input is used to seek advisory consistency between the professional competency and its subcompetencies.

In the V-tech method, the enterprise survey emphasises a large sample within a single industry to get a list of general professional competencies needed for engagement in the specific professional career.


In recent years, the solar industry has had to adapt to an ultracompetitive environment. An enterprise's competitive advantage derived from resource strength is quickly eroded as a result of its competitors' technological innovations [7, 8] . Moreover, the operations of international companies in the solar industry generally focus on the vertical integration of the supply chain, while Taiwan's manufacturers mostly focus on specialised manufacturing [9, 10] . In view of the rapid changes in the technical content of a business's technologies, and since Taiwan's advantages are in manufacturing, one of the biggest problems of engineering education is how to keep up with the changes in the professional competencies required by the industry and how to plan and design the curricula needed to foster the talent required for industrial development. Therefore, to establish a basis for the solution of this problem, this study aims to establish professional competency indices and their subindices for the solar energy industry. The research may contribute, firstly, as a basis for the planning and designing of the curriculum for the training of engineers in higher education and, secondly, in the industrial sector, as an important reference for enterprises needing to select, train, and utilise their human resources or to cultivate management's successors.

An enterprise's competitive advantage derived from resource strength is quickly eroded as a result of its competitors' technological innovations.

Moreover, the operations of international companies in the solar industry generally focus on the vertical integration of the supply chain, while Taiwan's manufacturers mostly focus on specialised manufacturing.


In today's global market, the supply chain presents significant risk management challenges. Having an appropriate traceability and recall plan in place is critical to managing supply chain risks. The ability to track products through all stages of the supply chain has always been important for companies, but in the event of a product recall, having an efficient system in place is critical [8] .

The ability to track products through all stages of the supply chain has always been important for companies, but in the event of a product recall, having an efficient system in place is critical.


Manufacturers are facing immense problems regarding product safety which leads to huge product recalls. The United Sates Department of Agriculture reported 82 recalls which contained around 3,475,115 pounds of meat in year 2012 [1] . Food Standards Australia reported around 60 recalls of food products in 2012, more than the average of the past year [2] . Other than food the higher recalls results are shown in consumer products. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 5,095 products were recalled in 2013 [3] . These statistics show that producers are still facing recall crises. Huge recall cost (such as repairing or destroying the recalled products and cost of notification) occurs as a result of large recall. Manufacturers always faced problems in recalling defected products because of poor traceability systems. If the design of traceability system is appropriately effective and efficient then it significantly helps the production systems in managing the product safety issues and recall crisis. In order to minimize the quantity and probability of recalls the traceability systems are widely used and considered as a necessary part of product safety strategies. However, from literature it is clear that still manufacturers are struggling to get (obtain) the (significant) substantial results. Recall statistics showed that microbial contamination is the leading reason of all recalls followed by contamination of foreign material in the finished products. Practitioners have always tried to trace raw material batches contaminated by microbial contamination in food industry and defected component batches in assembly lines but they failed because of nonoptimized traceability systems. Also, it is very costly for companies to refund the customer's money or replace defected products. At times the situation becomes worse when defected products lead to customer health problems or injuries. The US Consumer Product Safety 2 Mathematical Problems in Engineering Commission (CPSC) indicates that the total recall cost in US is more than $700 billion each year just for consumer products [4] . Most companies now rely on insurance to cover defined cost involved in recalls. However, companies face hard times when insurance cannot be claimed due to the severity of product recall, especially the recall of unsafe and contaminated products.

The United Sates Department of Agriculture reported 82 recalls which contained around 3,475,115 pounds of meat in year 2012.

Food Standards Australia reported around 60 recalls of food products in 2012, more than the average of the past year.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 5,095 products were recalled in 2013.

The US Consumer Product Safety 2 Mathematical Problems in Engineering Commission (CPSC) indicates that the total recall cost in US is more than $700 billion each year just for consumer products.


The DM density profile, ρ(R) (where R is the distance from the GC), is a crucial ingredient for predicting the intensity flux and anisotropy of gamma rays produced by the annihilation of WIMPs in the halo of the MW, since the annihilation rate depends on the square of the DM particle number density. While the DM density profile at galactocentric distances R > 5 − 6 kpc is relatively well constrained by the analysis of kinematical data of the MW rotation curve, the DM profile in the inner few kiloparsecs from the GC is subject to large uncertainties [7] . In the absence of observational constraints, the most profitable recourse is examination of N-body, and, more recently, hydrodynamic simulations. Pure DM N-body simulations predict a DM density profile that behaves like r −γ , where γ ≈ 1 in the few inner kiloparsecs, as encoded in the so-called Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profile [9] . Baryonic processes can either lower or increase the DM density in the inner halo [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] . However, the size of those effects is still a matter of debate.

While the DM density profile at galactocentric distances R > 5 − 6 kpc is relatively well constrained by the analysis of kinematical data of the MW rotation curve, the DM profile in the inner few kiloparsecs from the GC is subject to large uncertainties.

Pure DM N-body simulations predict a DM density profile that behaves like r −γ , where γ ≈ 1 in the few inner kiloparsecs, as encoded in the so-called Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profile.

Baryonic processes can either lower or increase the DM density in the inner halo.


Many of the computerised keys mentioned above are merely illustrated electronic versions of paper dichotomous keys. The keys built using software such as Lucid™ are not dichotomous but are multi-access, a function easily handled by computers but more difficult to achieve in paper form. Lucid™ was developed at the Centre for Pest Information Technology and Transfer, University of Queensland (Norton 2000; Norton et al. 2000) .

Lucid™ was developed at the Centre for Pest Information Technology and Transfer, University of Queensland.


Pool boiling refers to boiling processes that lean on natural convection as a means for heat transfer between a heater surface and the boiling fluid; it is the key mode of thermal transport in many practical applications. Local heat transfer phenomena near heating walls in industrial boiling equipment (e.g. evaporators and kettle reboilers) for instance are essentially pool boiling processes [1] . Furthermore, pool boiling is emerging as novel cooling technique for electronics components [2] . Despite its importance, many aspects of (pool) boiling remain largely unexplored to date, mainly due to the immense complexity of the process emanating from the intricate interplay between fluid dynamics, heat transfer from the heater to the fluid and phase transfer. Studies on boiling known in the literature are mainly experimental and empirical. Numerical studies based on a model of reasonable degree of detail are numerous but theoretical investigations aiming at a rigorous analysis of such models are scarce. The theoretical analysis of a simple boiling model presented in this paper is intended to contribute to a better qualitative understanding of fundamental phenomena in pool boiling.

Local heat transfer phenomena near heating walls in industrial boiling equipment (e.g. evaporators and kettle reboilers) for instance are essentially pool boiling processes.

Furthermore, pool boiling is emerging as novel cooling technique for electronics components.


Important phenomena resulting from numerical simulations of our model are consistent with properties known from laboratory experiments. This suggests that the model provides an (at least qualitatively) adequate description of pool boiling. Both the present model and the numerical techniques used can be extended relatively straightforward to 3D pool boiling systems. This is a topic of current research [25] . Furthermore, results of a stability analysis of the steady-state solutions will be presented in a forthcoming paper. Preliminary results of this analysis reveal that steady-state solutions are always unstable, except for the two homogeneous solutions corresponding to the nucleate and film boiling regimes.

This is a topic of current research.


In pool boiling there are three fundamental boiling modes, i.e. nucleate, transition and film boiling, that occur successively with increasing temperature [3] . Nucleate boiling is, as opposed to film boiling, an efficient and safe mode of heat transfer and is the desired boiling mode in most practical applications. Nucleate boiling transits into film boiling upon exceeding the so-called critical heat flux (CHF) through the intermediate state of transition boiling. This transition results in a dramatic increase in interface temperature due to the substantial drop in the heat-transfer coefficient when going from nucleate boiling (homogeneous liquid-like mixture) to film boiling (vapour blanket on the interface). This manifests itself in the essentially nonlinear relation between the mean heat flux and the mean interface temperature (the so-called boiling curve [3] ). Improving the efficiency of boiling processes involves finding a good balance between high heat-transfer coefficients (close to CHF) and low risk (safe distance from CHF). In-depth understanding of transition boiling and its underlying mechanisms is imperative to achieving such a balance [4] .

In pool boiling there are three fundamental boiling modes, i.e. nucleate, transition and film boiling, that occur successively with increasing temperature.

This manifests itself in the essentially nonlinear relation between the mean heat flux and the mean interface temperature (the so-called boiling curve).

In-depth understanding of transition boiling and its underlying mechanisms is imperative to achieving such a balance.


Several methods are used for industrial processing of monazite to extract uranium, thorium and REEs from monazite sands [4] . The alkali process was proffered for monazite treatment in the different plants established in Malaysia, France and the US [5, 6] . Some workers treated the monazite using 70% NaOH under pressure for 2 h at 150 °C to produce insoluble REEs and Th hydroxides for subsequent processing [7] .

Several methods are used for industrial processing of monazite to extract uranium, thorium and REEs from monazite sands.

The alkali process was proffered for monazite treatment in the different plants established in Malaysia, France and the US.

Some workers treated the monazite using 70% NaOH under pressure for 2 h at 150 °C to produce insoluble REEs and Th hydroxides for subsequent processing.


Photoplethysmography is a non-invasive optical technique widely used in the study and monitoring of the pulsations associated with changes in blood volume in a peripheral vascular bed [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] . Photoplethysmography is used in the estimation of arterial blood oxygen saturation ðSpO 2 Þ by pulse oximetry. Pulse oximeters estimate arterial oxygen saturation by shining light at two different wavelengths, red and infrared, through vascular tissue. In this method, the pulsatile photoplethysmographic (ac PPG) signal associated with cardiac contraction is assumed to be attributable solely to the arterial blood component. The amplitudes of the red and infrared ac PPG signals are sensitive to changes in arterial oxygen saturation because of differences in the light absorption of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin at these two wavelengths. From the ratios of these amplitudes, and the corresponding dc photoplethysmographic components, arterial blood oxygen saturation ðSpO 2 Þ is estimated. Hence, the technique of pulse oximetry relies on the presence of adequate peripheral arterial pulsations, which are detected as photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals [9] .

Photoplethysmography is a non-invasive optical technique widely used in the study and monitoring of the pulsations associated with changes in blood volume in a peripheral vascular bed.

Hence, the technique of pulse oximetry relies on the presence of adequate peripheral arterial pulsations, which are detected as photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals.


There have been many studies comparing the accuracy of commercial pulse oximeters [16] . However, the focus of these studies was solely on SpO 2 and therefore do not include as appreciation of PPG signals. There has been no attempt thus far to investigate the behaviour of the PPG signal both in amplitude and morphology as the SpO 2 values change. The limitations of these studies provided the stimulation for this pilot study where a custom made PPG processing system has been developed in order to enable the investigation of the PPG signals at both wavelengths during blood pressure cuff-induced hypoperfusion. The developed custom made PPG processing system enable the access to all raw signals (ac and dc PPG signals at both wavelengths), something that it is not possible with commercial pulse oximeters. Also, the custombuilt system did not apply and high order filtering or any averaging on the acquired PPG signals, therefore enabling a true real time acquisition.

There have been many studies comparing the accuracy of commercial pulse oximeters.


When peripheral perfusion is poor, as in states of hypovolaemia, hypothermia, vasoconstriction, low cardiac output and low mean arterial pressure, pulse oximeter readings become unreliable or cease altogether [10, 11] . The oxygenation readings become unreliable in these circumstances because conventional pulse oximeter sensors are usually placed on the most peripheral parts of the body such as the finger, where pulsatile flow is most vulnerable, as it is compromised by diversion of blood flow to more vital organs. Hence, pulse oximetry becomes unreliable in a significant group of patients at just the time when the measurement of blood oxygen saturation would be clinically of most value. Newly developed pulse oximetry technologies such as Masimo SET TM were designed to display accurately blood oxygen saturation values during motion artefact or during periods of hypoperfusion. However, there are only a few reports on the accuracy of pulse oximeters during hypoperfusion in a clinical setting [12] . This pilot study will investigate in detail the morphology and amplitude of the PPG signal and its effect on pulse oximetry under controlled vasoconstrictive studies.

When peripheral perfusion is poor, as in states of hypovolaemia, hypothermia, vasoconstriction, low cardiac output and low mean arterial pressure, pulse oximeter readings become unreliable or cease altogether.

However, there are only a few reports on the accuracy of pulse oximeters during hypoperfusion in a clinical setting.


Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in the gastrointestinal tract is varies among species and is presented in Table 1 (Radi and Khan 2006) . Both COX-1 expression and relative COX-1/COX-2 are higher in some animal species (including dogs and rats) in comparison with humans, and this fact may partially explain the sensitivity of these species to even low NSAID doses (Table 1) (Wilson et al. 2004; Radi and Khan 2006) . COX-2 expression in the colon in the dog has attracted special attention.

Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in the gastrointestinal tract is varies among species and is presented in Table 1.

Both COX-1 expression and relative COX-1/COX-2 are higher in some animal species (including dogs and rats) in comparison with humans, and this fact may partially explain the sensitivity of these species to even low NSAID doses (Table 1).


Recently a link has been established between tonic inhibition and absenceassociated SWD generation, though this link is currently isolated to, and believed to be 'required' in, thalamic relay neurons (Fariello & Golden, 1987; Crunelli et al., 2011; Errington et al., 2011) . Evidence of this link includes findings that the increase of GABAergic tonic currents in thalamic relay neurons is sufficient to produce SWDs in wild-type rats, and multiple rodent models of absence epilepsy (GAERS, stargazer, lethargic, tottering) express increases in thalamic inhibitory tonic currents (Fariello & Golden, 1987; Crunelli et al., 2011; Errington et al., 2011) . The present study, however, demonstrates that this link must be expanded to include tonic inhibition in cortical neurons. Using continuous video-EEG monitoring and selective pharmacological manipulation of cortical tonic inhibition, we show that decreasing cortical inhibitory tonic currents is also 'sufficient' to produce SWDs in wild-type (RR) mice, and that rescuing the lost cortical tonic currents in RQ mice suppresses SWD expression.

Recently a link has been established between tonic inhibition and absenceassociated SWD generation, though this link is currently isolated to, and believed to be 'required' in, thalamic relay neurons.

Evidence of this link includes findings that the increase of GABAergic tonic currents in thalamic relay neurons is sufficient to produce SWDs in wild-type rats, and multiple rodent models of absence epilepsy (GAERS, stargazer, lethargic, tottering) express increases in thalamic inhibitory tonic currents.


Occupational exposure of humans to agrichemicals, especially pesticides is common and results in both acute and chronic health effects, including acute and chronic neurotoxicity, lung damage and respiratory failure and male infertility [26] [27] . A variety of cancers also have been linked to exposure to various pesticides [28] . In addition, there have been reports of aplastic anaemia and related blood dyscrasias being associated with occupational exposure to pesticides. Endocrine disruption and skin effects such as contact dermatitis and allergic sensitization have been frequently observed in pesticide workers after exposure to several pesticides. Furthermore, immunologic abnormalities and adverse reproductive and developmental effects due to pesticides have also been reported [29] .

Occupational exposure of humans to agrichemicals, especially pesticides is common and results in both acute and chronic health effects, including acute and chronic neurotoxicity, lung damage and respiratory failure and male infertility.

A variety of cancers also have been linked to exposure to various pesticides.

Furthermore, immunologic abnormalities and adverse reproductive and developmental effects due to pesticides have also been reported.


Free-space optical (FSO) communications have gained increasing interest due to their advantages, including higher bandwidth and higher capacity, as compared to traditional radio frequency (RF) wireless communications [1] - [3] . Also, since similar optical transmitters and detectors are used for FSO and fiber optics, similar bandwidth capabilities are achievable. It is also a promising technology as it offers many benefits, including full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet throughput in certain applications, a huge license-free spectrum, a certain immunity to interference, and a high level of security [1] , [2] . These benefits of FSO communications can resolve the issues that RF communications face due to the expensive and scarce spectrum.

Free-space optical (FSO) communications have gained increasing interest due to their advantages, including higher bandwidth and higher capacity, as compared to traditional radio frequency (RF) wireless communications.

It is also a promising technology as it offers many benefits, including full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet throughput in certain applications, a huge license-free spectrum, a certain immunity to interference, and a high level of security.


In 1990 the Commission of European Communities published its Green Paper on Urban Environment [4] . This document was a touch of attention to city authorities by the highest European body; though the document had no competence in urban issues and despite the controversy it raised, the document was legitimized by the concern that the European citizens were transmitting to their own local authorities. This document contains direct references to the convenience of developing and implementing green plans in European cities.

In 1990 the Commission of European Communities published its Green Paper on Urban Environment.


Samples were taken from eight districts of the city. The districts have been selected based on their representativity of the whole urban environment (Fig. 7) . These eight districts include the two most densely populated districts (2 and 6), those districts with particular urban and environmental features in the outskirts of the city (4 and 10) and rural districts, the Market Garden (7, 17 and 19) , and the seafront (11) .

These eight districts include the two most densely populated districts (2 and 6), those districts with particular urban and environmental features in the outskirts of the city (4 and 10) and rural districts, the Market Garden (7, 17 and 19) , and the seafront.


The city has never taken the periurban spaces, i.e. the nonurbanizable land, into consideration. Egocentric urban planning pays little attention to the city surroundings. Therefore, to complement this green planning is required and necessary; green planning provides the complementary land planning to urban planning as it also covers the surrounding land of the city. One of the key issues for better urban planning is the creation of green zones in cities. In this sense, green zones constitute one of the basic parameters of sustainability included in the different indicators developed worldwide. Among the existing indicators we can mention the First Generation of Common European Indicators, developed by the Expertise Group on Urban Environments of the EU General Directorate for the Environment. According to the technical report, the existence of public green zones is among the five main indicators of sustainable European cities [4] .

According to the technical report, the existence of public green zones is among the five main indicators of sustainable European cities.


This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study nested within a large, randomised controlled trial. The MUSICIAN trial, which allocated 442 primary care participants to one of four arms, compared the clinical and cost effectiveness of three psychosocial interventions (Prescribed exercise, CBT and exercise-CBT combined) with treatment as usual for chronic pain. Trial results have been published previously [17] .

Trial results have been published previously.


Numerous studies from sub-Saharan Africa have shown substantial health impacts and cost-effectiveness of PCV, RV and MSD [41] [42] [43] . There is thus little doubt that these vaccines are a sound investment in population health, but substantial increases in domestic financing for vaccines are necessary to ensure sustainability. Zambia funded 83% of immunisation programme costs in 2011 and has continued to increase its contribution, showing strong commitment [6] . Increasing resources to health or improving efficiency of services can potentially create fiscal space. However, it is a substantial challenge to achieve reallocations of the magnitude required for the multiple new vaccines and increased provisions to health can be expected to be difficult given the economic context. If increasing provisions to vaccines inadvertently crowd out funding of other items, such as transport for supervision and outreach, this could damage overall immunisation performance. Hence, all sustainability options require advocacy and responsive planning to reinforce the focus of government and partners on ensuring optimal transition.

Numerous studies from sub-Saharan Africa have shown substantial health impacts and cost-effectiveness of PCV, RV and MSD.

Zambia funded 83% of immunisation programme costs in 2011 and has continued to increase its contribution, showing strong commitment.