The composition of polymer concrete is determined by its applications especially loading stress levels and ability to resist corrosive environment. PC is increasingly being used as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement concrete (PCC) in many applications, such as finishing work in cast-in-place applications, precast products, highway pavements, bridge decks, waste water pipes, and even decorative construction panels. In the last 40 years polymer concrete has made tremendous progress and continues to be very promising materials for a wide range of new and innovative applications. Moreover, the use of polymers should be well considered to guarantee better performance and improved sustainability [1] [2] [3] . Improvement on mechanical strength and chemical resistance is basic advantages of polymer concrete in comparison to ordinary Portland cement concrete (PCC). Three to five times on the compressive strength, high values for tensile strength (20 MPa) , and flexural strength (50 MPa) are still an outstanding advantage of polymer concrete [3, 4] .

Moreover, the use of polymers should be well considered to guarantee better performance and improved sustainability.

Three to five times on the compressive strength, high values for tensile strength (20 MPa) , and flexural strength (50 MPa) are still an outstanding advantage of polymer concrete.


In conclusion, ESD is a useful technique for stroke patients with slight or moderate levels of handicap. It reduces the length of hospitalization in the SU and the overall cost of care, while helping to reduce the risk of death or institutionalization and improving participation in the iADL. ESD could be introduced in the French system, especially in order to provide patients with rehabilitation care under free-living conditions. Lastly, the ESD technique has been rightfully included in the Stroke Unit Discharge Guideline [21] .

Lastly, the ESD technique has been rightfully included in the Stroke Unit Discharge Guideline.


In this paper, we introduce Multiple Access-Cognitive Interference Channel (MA-CIFC) by providing the transmitter of the point-to-point channel with cognition capabilities in the uplink with interference model. Moreover, transmitters of MAC have common information that enables cooperation among them. As shown in Figure 1 , the proposed channe consists of three transmitters and two receivers: two-user MAC with common information as the primary network and a point-to-point channel with a cognitive transmitter that knows the message being sent by all of the transmitters in a non-causa manner. A physical example of this channel is the coexistence of cognitive users with the licensed primary users in a cellular or satellite uplink transmission, where the cognitive radios by their abilities exploit side information about the environment to maintain or improve the communication of primary users while also achieving some spectrum resources for their own communication. In this scenario, the primary non-cognitive users can be oblivious to the or aware of the cognitive users [1] . When the non-cognitive user is oblivious to the cognitive user's presence, its receiver's decoding process is independent of the interference caused by the cognitive user's transmission. In fact, the primary receiver treats interference as noise. However, in the aware cognitive user's scenario, the decoding process at the primary receiver can be adapted to improve its own rate. For example, the primary receiver can decode the cognitive user's message and cancel the interference when the interfering signal is strong enough. If the multi-antenna capability is available at the primary receiver, it can also reduce or increase the interfering signal by beam-steering, which results in the occurrence of the weak or strong interference regimes [1] .

In this scenario, the primary non-cognitive users can be oblivious to the or aware of the cognitive users.

If the multi-antenna capability is available at the primary receiver, it can also reduce or increase the interfering signal by beam-steering, which results in the occurrence of the weak or strong interference regimes.


Paperboard is a thick paper-based multi-layer material with numerous applications due to its structural stability, lightweight, printable surface, attractive shelf-display and ease of recovery for recycling or end-of-life disposal. However, in comparison with traditional glass and plastic containers paperboard is unsuitable for some foodpackaging applications due to poorer barrier protection against grease, water vapor, oxygen, odors and other substances. Conventional solutions to improve these barrier properties include paperboard wax impregnation or surface coating with petroleum-derived polymer films [1] - [4] . Since both strategies reduce the recyclability and biodegradability features of paperboard in recent years several biopolymers (e.g. starch, cellulose, chitosan, pectin, xylan, isolated soy protein, pullulan among others) have been screened as alternative sustainable coatings for packaging applications [5] - [11] . In addition, nano-sized fillers such as silicate, titanium dioxide and clays, can be added to reinforce the mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of the biopolymers [6] [11] . Alternatively, inorganic nanoparticles can be synthesized in situ in the matrix of the biopolymer, thus forming organic-inorganic hybrid coatings [10] - [12] .

Conventional solutions to improve these barrier properties include paperboard wax impregnation or surface coating with petroleum-derived polymer films.

Since both strategies reduce the recyclability and biodegradability features of paperboard in recent years several biopolymers (e.g. starch, cellulose, chitosan, pectin, xylan, isolated soy protein, pullulan among others) have been screened as alternative sustainable coatings for packaging applications.

In addition, nano-sized fillers such as silicate, titanium dioxide and clays, can be added to reinforce the mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of the biopolymers.

Alternatively, inorganic nanoparticles can be synthesized in situ in the matrix of the biopolymer, thus forming organic-inorganic hybrid coatings.


The case s = 1 is actually the critical case for the cubic nonlinearity from the viewpoint of the scaling argument, and nothing is known even for local solutions. The difficulty is due to the lack of Strichartz estimates on L 2 t L ∞ , which is also related to the ill-posedness results for nonlinear wave equations of Lindblad [11] , [12] . The case s > 1 falls within the subcritical case for the cubic nonlinearity. Theorem 1 ensures global existence of small solutions in the subcritical case, which has been left open since [5] .

The difficulty is due to the lack of Strichartz estimates on L 2 t L ∞ , which is also related to the ill-posedness results for nonlinear wave equations of Lindblad.

Theorem 1 ensures global existence of small solutions in the subcritical case, which has been left open since.


In the fourth section of this article we will give an (inductive) algorithm for computing the equisingularity ideal, given a minimal good resolution of the curve singularity. The idea is to look at a simultaneous resolution functor. This is a functor (of Artin rings) which describes all deformations of the plane curve singularity (with sections) which can be simultaneously resolved. If one considers such deformations over smooth curves, the singularity is allowed to split up in several singularities. For the equisingular deformation functor, this is not allowed. The tangent space of this simultaneous resolution functor can be calculated inductively. An infinitesimal deformation with simultaneous resolution in particular gives an infinitesimal deformation of the minimal embedded good resolution of C. In particular we get for each exceptional curve a deformation of a small neighborhood of this curve. If all these deformations are trivial we have that are deformation is equisingular, by using results of Wahl [16] . Thus the equisingularity ideal is the kernel of a map ϕ from the tangent space of the functor of deformations with simultaneous resolution to a direct sum ofcohomology groups ⊕H 1 (F i , N Fi/Z ). Here Z is the minimal good resolution, and the F i are the exceptional curves of Z.

If all these deformations are trivial we have that are deformation is equisingular, by using results of Wahl.


Another important motive of female entrepreneurs is the desire to satisfy stakeholders rather than shareholders. Respondents in the Norwegian sample argued that they consider their customers not only as a beneficiary of a product or service, but as active participants in the elaboration of their businesses. It is important for female entrepreneurs in Norway not only to inform potential customers, partners and investors about the product but also to involve them to business development processes and empowering them for reciprocal benefits. This conclusion might be linked to a novel discussion in the literature on responsible entrepreneurship (Stilgoe et al., 2013) . Thus, the stakeholders' inclusiveness plays an important role in developing socially responsible business solutions. The finding of the present study emphasises that female business founders value that possibility of inclusion of stakeholders in the decision process and actively implement it in their practice.

This conclusion might be linked to a novel discussion in the literature on responsible entrepreneurship.


Women frequently have specific human capitals related to health, education or service industries obtained through education and previous job experience (Alsos et al., 2010) . The inclination to education and employment related to social services and industries might be justified by traditional female roles related to providing care and primary knowledge to children and elderly people, or home-related functions (cooking, cleaning, decorating, etc.) . Such professional choices let females to interact with people and hone skills related to social services, as well as identify gaps and business opportunities in humanitarian sectors. Maledominated professions are often related to heavy physical labour and technical industries.

Women frequently have specific human capitals related to health, education or service industries obtained through education and previous job experience.


Net electricity produced LHV of NG input to the process The Peng Robinson model was used to estimate the equilibrium conditions in CLR and WGS processes [14] . The Gibbs Reactor module is used to simulate the conditions in the oxidation and fuel reactors of the CLR. In the base case design, the Oxidation Reactor of CLR is operated at a pressure close the pressure of the compressor bleed from the GT system, which is 18 bar. Compressor bleed flow is 12% by mass of the air entering the GT system. The percentage of air bled from the compressor of the gas turbine system can be varied and the effect on the overall performance can be observed. A sensitivity on the percentage of the air bled is not in scope of this study. The remainder of the air needed is taken from the atmosphere and compressed using a separate air compressor, which operates with a polytropic efficiency of 90.9%. A steam to carbon ratio of 0.9 is assumed at the inlet of the fuel reactor. Steam is extracted from the MP Steam Turbine in the power plant. The air flow and the oxygen carrier circulation is adjusted to get a 99% conversion of CH 4 at equilibrium in the fuel reactor alongside limiting the oxidation reactor outlet temperature to 1200 • C. At such high temperatures, there exists a risk of agglomeration and sintering of oxygen carrier material that affects the techno-economic performance of the reactor [41] . Anyhow, in this paper the agglomeration and sintering effects of the oxygen carrier is neglected as the current paper focuses on the thermodynamic behaviour of the overall process. The pressure drop in the oxidation and fuel reactors is 5%. The compositions, temperatures and pressures for air and NG has been considered from EBTF report [37] .

Net electricity produced LHV of NG input to the process The Peng Robinson model was used to estimate the equilibrium conditions in CLR and WGS processes.

The air flow and the oxygen carrier circulation is adjusted to get a 99% conversion of CH 4 at equilibrium in the fuel reactor alongside limiting the oxidation reactor outlet temperature to 1200 • C. At such high temperatures, there exists a risk of agglomeration and sintering of oxygen carrier material that affects the techno-economic performance of the reactor.

The compositions, temperatures and pressures for air and NG has been considered from EBTF report.


The HTS and LTS processes were simulated using the equilibrium reactor module in Aspen HYSYS. A pressure drop of 3% was assumed in each of the WGS steps in this study. The heat exchangers between the processes have a 2% pressure drop on the gaseous stream and 0.4 bar pressure drop when the fluid flowing is liquid [37] . Saturated LP steam at 3.8 bar is produced when process streams are cooled. The CO 2 capture section consists of an absorber and a stripper, where 45% by mass a-MDEA is used as a solvent. The a-MDEA solvent serves well for CO 2 capture for moderate partial pressures of CO 2 at the absorber inlet [42] . The design conditions in the absorber and regenerator to capture CO 2 and regenerate the amine are adjusted to maintain a CO 2 capture rate of 95% across the absorber. Saturated LP steam at 3.8 bar is used in the reboiler of the stripper to regenerate the amine. The captured CO 2 is compressed and pumped to 110 bar through a compression cycle proposed by EBTF [37] .

The heat exchangers between the processes have a 2% pressure drop on the gaseous stream and 0.4 bar pressure drop when the fluid flowing is liquid.

The a-MDEA solvent serves well for CO 2 capture for moderate partial pressures of CO 2 at the absorber inlet.

The captured CO 2 is compressed and pumped to 110 bar through a compression cycle proposed by EBTF.


Solids are present in water in three main forms: suspended particles, colloids and dissolved molecules. Suspended particles such as sand, vegetable matter and silt range in size from very large particles down to particles with a typical dimension of 10 µm. Colloids are very fine particles, typically ranging from 10 nm to 10 µm. Dissolved molecules are present as individual molecules or as ions. Dissolved molecules cannot be removed by conventional physical treatment. Thus, the removal of colloids is the main objective and the most difficult aspect in conventional water treatment. Most suspended solids smaller than 0.1 mm found in water carry negative electrostatic charges. Since, the particles have similar negative electrical charges and electrical forces to keep the individual particles separate, the colloids stay in suspension as small particles. To remove colloids, small particles have to be destabilized first and then they will form larger and heavier flocks which can be removed by conventional physical treatment. This process can be described by clarification mechanism, which includes: coa-gulation, flocculation and sedimentation [5] .

This process can be described by clarification mechanism, which includes: coa-gulation, flocculation and sedimentation.


During recent decades research on electricity applied directly in water treatment has progressed well, making it an attractive method for coagulation or clarification of water, usually known as the electro-coagulation/electrochemical method. In this method direct current is passed through aluminum/iron plates suspended in water. This system causes sacrificial electrode ions to move into an electrolyte. Undesirable contaminants are removed either by chemical reaction and precipitation or by causing colloidal materials to coalesce. They are then removed by electrolytic flotation, or sedimentation and filtration. Disinfection is also accomplished by anodic oxidation. The mechanisms of coagulation were similar for electrocoagulation and aluminum salts treatment. The difference is mainly in the way aluminum ions are delivered [11] .

The difference is mainly in the way aluminum ions are delivered.


Turbidity consists of suspended material in water, causing cloudy appearance. This cloudy appearance caused by scattering and absorption of light by these particles. The suspended matter may be inorganic or organic. Generally the small size of particles prevents rapid settling of the material and water must be treated to reduce its turbidity. Turbidity can provide food and shelter for pathogens. If not removed, turbidity can promote regrowth of pathogens in the distribution system leading to waterborne disease outbreaks. Although turbidity is not a direct indicator of health risk, numerous studies show a strong relationship between removal of turbidity and removal of protozoa [1] .

Although turbidity is not a direct indicator of health risk, numerous studies show a strong relationship between removal of turbidity and removal of protozoa.


Researchers in the real-time and embedded systems community have developed methods to estimate Worst-Case Execution Time (WCET) or to prove that a program's WCET does not exceed specified bounds [10, 14, 26, 34, 57] . However, many of these methods require knowledge of loop bounds in the form of manually provided annotations or programming language restrictions. These methods do not easily apply to arbitrary C programs such as the benchmarks we evaluated in this paper. Further, these methods do not generate the concrete inputs that demonstrate worst-case behavior.

Researchers in the real-time and embedded systems community have developed methods to estimate Worst-Case Execution Time (WCET) or to prove that a program's WCET does not exceed specified bounds.


The Open University, where one of the authors is based, is the leading distance learning institution in the UK. It provides a staff-moderated asynchronous online student forum for each module. In 2014, in an attempt to improve retention, a series of dedicated peer mentoring threads were introduced into module-wide student fora to provide an additional element of support to all Level 1 language students on 10 modules at critical points in their learning journey. For each module, one student, who had recently studied the same module, was given a mentoring role to provide moral support and practical advice online in the dedicated peer mentoring threads. At the end of the academic year 2014-2015, the scheme was evaluated with overwhelmingly positive feedback (Fayram et al. 2018) . One noticeable result from the evaluation was the large difference in the number of posts by students: in one module only 28 per cent of the total number of posts was from students, whereas there were 62 per cent and 71 per cent in the other modules. We hypothesized that the nature of the communicative styles of the mentors had an impact on student engagement in posting.

At the end of the academic year 2014-2015, the scheme was evaluated with overwhelmingly positive feedback.


The interacting multiple model (IMM) approach has been generally considered to be the mainstream approach to maneuvering target tracking. It utilizes a bank of Kalman filters, each designed to model a different maneuver [11] . IMM algorithm is a suboptimal algorithm based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion. Under the MMSE criterion, to get the optimal estimation of the target state, the computational load grows exponentially when the measurements are increasing. In recent years, tracking target based on maximum a posteriori (MAP) criterion has received a lot of interest [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] . Expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is the state estimation approach based on MAP criterion. Us ing EM algorithm, the computational load grows linearly during per iteration and the optimal estimation based on MAP criterion can be achieved finally.

It utilizes a bank of Kalman filters, each designed to model a different maneuver.

In recent years, tracking target based on maximum a posteriori (MAP) criterion has received a lot of interest.


Another contemporary trend has been the establishment of Healthy Community Partnerships (HCPs) in many jurisdictions. These are community coalitions that connect traditional health and healthcare stakeholders with non-traditional partners that influence community health, such as government, private sector (e.g. chamber of commerce), and community services (schools, police, and others) [5] . Developed with the recognition that many of today's chronic diseases are influenced by social determinants of health, HCPs address community contexts that influence health by aligning the activities of constituent stakeholders towards addressing identified health priorities.

These are community coalitions that connect traditional health and healthcare stakeholders with non-traditional partners that influence community health, such as government, private sector (e.g. chamber of commerce), and community services (schools, police, and others).


Literature has increasingly attempted to describe factors that improve the conduct of STEGH to mitigate the potential risks on receiving communities. Principles include greater reciprocity, appropriate selection and preparation of volunteers, and a focus on visitor learning, humility and cultural sensitivity [3, 10] . Literature also calls on STEGH to be embedded within longer-term, locally-led development plans, as opposed to being conducted as stand-alone endeavours. In many cases, the harms arising from STEGH are driven in part by a lack of visitor interaction with local leadership and the perpetuation of power differentials and perceived stereotypes associated with visiting volunteers.

Principles include greater reciprocity, appropriate selection and preparation of volunteers, and a focus on visitor learning, humility and cultural sensitivity.


Recent increases in short-term experiences in global health (STEGH) participation has occurred both within and outside of broader development efforts [1] . The rising popularity of STEGHs has been driven by a diverse group of stakeholders, which broadly includes academic institutions sending learners on study abroad/alternative spring break programs, faith-based and community groups conducting charity work (e.g. medical clinics, service, or research, among others), and non-profit or for-profit organizations providing "voluntourism" experiences [2, 3] . Communities worldwide subsequently experience growing impacts resulting from hosting ever growing numbers of STEGH groups, and increasing controversy debates regarding the merits, impacts, and benefits of STEGH efforts [4] .

Recent increases in short-term experiences in global health (STEGH) participation has occurred both within and outside of broader development efforts.

The rising popularity of STEGHs has been driven by a diverse group of stakeholders, which broadly includes academic institutions sending learners on study abroad/alternative spring break programs, faith-based and community groups conducting charity work (e.g. medical clinics, service, or research, among others), and non-profit or for-profit organizations providing "voluntourism" experiences.

Communities worldwide subsequently experience growing impacts resulting from hosting ever growing numbers of STEGH groups, and increasing controversy debates regarding the merits, impacts, and benefits of STEGH efforts.


The mechanism of sound absorption in granule mass material is completely similar to solid porous material and its solid structure can present friction because of its appropriate strength and then sound absorption occurs by air viscosities trapped inside the empty and connected spaces inside the granules and separately in each granule. In low and average frequencies the interactions of the solid structure with the gaseous spaces happens through iso- thermal heat converting processes. Also, the scattering from the granules is also effective in absorbing sound energy inside these materials. Curve is also an efficient factor for absorbing sound in these materials, and is introduced in the internal structure of material [46] . Some studies have mentioned the determinant role of curve on the behavior of noise absorbing material in high frequencies [44] . Among the other factors effective on noise absorption are the thickness of absorbing material. The results of several studies about noise absorption by porous material showed that noise absorption is directly related to thickness in low frequencies. The rule of the thumb is that noise absorption in porous absorbents happens when the thickness of material is about one tenth of the noise wave. Absorption in conditions where the resonant frequency is a quarter of the sound wave (despite the adaptation effect) in high frequencies has little effect on noise absorption. The density of material is often an important factor on the absorbing properties of sound. Also the cost of acoustic material is directly related to the density. Research done about this topic showed that by increasing density, noise absorption increases in middle and high frequencies [23] . Density increases when the number of fibers increases in the unit of surface. As the number of fibers increase, friction also increases and therefore the loss of energy also increases. Therefore the coefficient of noise absorption increases [44] .

Curve is also an efficient factor for absorbing sound in these materials, and is introduced in the internal structure of material.

Some studies have mentioned the determinant role of curve on the behavior of noise absorbing material in high frequencies.

Research done about this topic showed that by increasing density, noise absorption increases in middle and high frequencies.

Therefore the coefficient of noise absorption increases.


The absorption of water by atmospheric aerosols with increasing relative humidity (RH) influences their size, composition, lifetime, chemical reactivity, and light scattering. Water is the most prevalent aerosol component at RHs above 80% and is often a significant component at lower RHs (Hanel 1976) . Accordingly, hygroscopic growth is important in a number of air pollution problems, including visibility impairment, climate effects of aerosols, acid deposition, long-range transport, and the ability of particles to penetrate into the human respiratory system.

Water is the most prevalent aerosol component at RHs above 80% and is often a significant component at lower RHs.


Agricultural biotechnology, or genetically engineered seeds (GE), has been promoted as a new source of yield growth at a time when traditional means of growth have been largely exhausted (Qaim, 2009) . A sizable empirical literature documents the yield gains associated with GE seeds, mostly from farm-level estimates of the yield gains from switching to GE from traditional seed technology (Qaim, 2009) . To the extent the GE gene increases yield per hectare, the technology increases supply, lowers prices, and reduces demand for new cropland.

Agricultural biotechnology, or genetically engineered seeds (GE), has been promoted as a new source of yield growth at a time when traditional means of growth have been largely exhausted.

A sizable empirical literature documents the yield gains associated with GE seeds, mostly from farm-level estimates of the yield gains from switching to GE from traditional seed technology.


Meeting growing agricultural demand amid severe resource constraints is among the greatest challenges of the 21st century. New evidence on the environmental cost of land-use change has raised the stakes, suggesting that externalities associated with cropland expansion are more costly than previously understood (Searchinger et al., 2008) . Stagnating crop yield and increasing demand from growing populations, rising meat demand in transition economies, and increasing biofuel production generate tradeoffs between environmentally costly land conversion and higher food prices (Rajagopal et al., 2007) . Like manna from heaven, any technology that boosts yield per hectare helps navigate this neo-Malthusian dilemma by increasing supply without converting lands to agriculture.

New evidence on the environmental cost of land-use change has raised the stakes, suggesting that externalities associated with cropland expansion are more costly than previously understood.

Stagnating crop yield and increasing demand from growing populations, rising meat demand in transition economies, and increasing biofuel production generate tradeoffs between environmentally costly land conversion and higher food prices.


We found that adoption of GE has significant impact on the price of cotton, corn, and soybeans. As corn and soybeans are used extensively in the production of food, these price effects likely translate into significant impacts on the price of food consumed by the poor in developing countries (Hochman et al., 2011) . The analysis suggests that while there has been a relatively high rate of adoption of GE cotton and soybean that has contributed to a significant price reduction in these commodities, bans and other regulations limited the adoption of GE corn to less than 30% of total corn hectarage, reducing its total price effect. If adoption of corn is expanded globally, we expect much larger increases in supply both because of reduction in pest damage as well the complementary input effect, resulting in further corn price reductions, which will benefit the poor. The use of GE is practically banned everywhere for major food grains like wheat and rice, even though existing traits could reduce pest damage in these two crops. Our analysis suggests that developing new GE varieties in these crops has the potential to reduce their prices as well as the environmental side effects from these crops.

As corn and soybeans are used extensively in the production of food, these price effects likely translate into significant impacts on the price of food consumed by the poor in developing countries.


In contrast to the above-mentioned case of a rigid box structure with one flexible wall, the analysis of irregular cavities, such as real car compartments, still challenges researchers and requires specific investigations. Moreover, there are in general around 700 structural and 25 acoustic modes in the range 0 -300 Hz for a typical passenger car structure and compartment respectively [13] . Thus, a full treatment of the problem analytically is an extremely cumbersome if not impossible task.

Moreover, there are in general around 700 structural and 25 acoustic modes in the range 0 -300 Hz for a typical passenger car structure and compartment respectively.


The Euro policies are the European automotive antipollution standards. In recent years, more stringent requirements associated with exhaust gas emissions have led to the development of a series of devices designed to reduce emissions. These devices must function under extreme conditions and therefore require a high degree of engineering to successfully address aspects such as material selection, thermal and mechanical stress, pressure pulses, and heat transfer. One of the biggest challenges that must be overcome when designing such devices is that of the damage caused by fouling [1] .

One of the biggest challenges that must be overcome when designing such devices is that of the damage caused by fouling.


A total of 10 plate tests were performed. No significant differences between the upper and lower plates were observed. Moreover, a test in which the plates were rotated 90 degrees was conducted without notable changes. Therefore, the effects of gravity on plate results appear to be negligible. This result is in agreement with previously published fouling studies with small particles (r p <5 µm) [31] .

This result is in agreement with previously published fouling studies with small particles (r p <5 µm).


In the present paper, the experimental layout conditions led to Re number ranged from 3 x 10 4 to 4 x 10 4 , and the dimensionless particle relaxation time p t + ranged from 0.3 to 10, therefore, thermophoretic effects should be smaller [18] . These ranges were chosen to extend previously obtained results [16] . In addition, the new test equipment introduces several dynamical features of the flow, thereby creating an environment more similar to that found in real heat exchangers.

In the present paper, the experimental layout conditions led to Re number ranged from 3 x 10 4 to 4 x 10 4 , and the dimensionless particle relaxation time p t + ranged from 0.3 to 10, therefore, thermophoretic effects should be smaller.

These ranges were chosen to extend previously obtained results.


The utilisation of obstacles is a common way of achieving intensification of the heat exchanger. Different types of obstacles have been developed, including dimples, pin-fins, perforated baffles, winglet vortex generators, and surface ribs [11] . The placement of repeated ribs periodically spaced along the flow direction of channel surfaces is one of the most commonly utilised techniques for obstacle-based heat exchanger intensification [9] . The periodic penetration of the ribs causes the separation and reattachment of the boundary layer, which promotes turbulent heat transfer and generates large-scale secondary flows.

Different types of obstacles have been developed, including dimples, pin-fins, perforated baffles, winglet vortex generators, and surface ribs.

The placement of repeated ribs periodically spaced along the flow direction of channel surfaces is one of the most commonly utilised techniques for obstacle-based heat exchanger intensification.


The study of ribbed surfaces is not a new subject. The first studies involving two opposite ribbed walls were focused on the reattaching effect and the optimisation of all of the geometrical parameters involved in surface design [6, 12, 13] . Most of these published papers were experimental studies aimed at determining the best Nusselt number correlation fit.

The first studies involving two opposite ribbed walls were focused on the reattaching effect and the optimisation of all of the geometrical parameters involved in surface design.


The commonest relationship of source cases to diagnosed children was the mother (n = 51, 42.1%) followed by sister (n = 31, 25.6%), brother (n = 27, 22.3%) and father (n = 18, 14.9%). The source case was a female for 66.1% (n = 76) of the children. Treatment was completed on 88 (72.7%) cases; while an additional 26 (21.5%) were cured. WHO criteria were used for treatment completed and cured [2] . Cured was thus defined as an initial smear-positive TB patient who is sputum smear-negative in the last month of treatment and on at least one previous occasion. There was 1 (0.8%) treatment failure (remained sputum smearpositive at 5 months or later after starting treatment), 4 (3.3%) patients died, 1 (0.8%) was transferred out and 1 (0.8%) defaulted.

WHO criteria were used for treatment completed and cured.


The PVC encapsulated galvanized steel wire is widely applied in submarine cable project in recent years [1] . PVC is coated on the surface of galvanized steel by thermal compression. This PVC coating can prevent the penetration of seawater and air and then inhibit the corrosion of galvanized steel. However, the failure of PVC will result in the penetration of seawater with immersion time, and the initial rust layer produced on the surface of the galvanized steel cannot fall off because the coating of PVC. Thus, the galvanized steel was always immersed in a closed saturated rusty seawater environment ( Figure 1 ).

The PVC encapsulated galvanized steel wire is widely applied in submarine cable project in recent years.


In our previous works, it had been demonstrated that Cl − concentration and pH have very important effects on corrosion behavior of galvanized steel under simulated rust layer solution [11, 12] . In the present work, the saturated Zn 5 Cl 2 (OH) 8 seawater is used to simulate the closed rusty seawater (CRS) environment. The corrosion performance of galvanized steel in CRS was investigated by means of conventional electrochemical techniques, including polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Effects of temperature and hydrostatic pressure on corrosion resistance of galvanized steel were studied in detail.

In our previous works, it had been demonstrated that Cl − concentration and pH have very important effects on corrosion behavior of galvanized steel under simulated rust layer solution.


As we know, 5W1H (including What, Who, When, Where, Why, How), a concept in news style is regarded as basics in information gathering. The rule of the 5W1H originally states that a news story should be considered as complete if it answers a checklist of 5W1H. The factual answers to these six questions, each of which comprises an interrogative word: what, who, when, where, why and how, are considered to be elaborate enough for people to understand the whole story [8] .

The factual answers to these six questions, each of which comprises an interrogative word: what, who, when, where, why and how, are considered to be elaborate enough for people to understand the whole story.


We assessed costs associated with integration of family planning and HIV services by comparing overall and category-specific costs within integrated and nonintegrated health facilities. We assessed cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of integration by comparing average cost per woman, marginal cost per additional woman using more effective family planning and marginal cost per pregnancy averted within integrated and nonintegrated health facilities. We reviewed cost-efficiency by clinic size to identify potential economies of scale. Additional information on these analyses is available in Appendix B. [21] . This difference is statistically significant and represents 822 additional HIV-infected women at integrated sites and 299 additional HIVinfected women at nonintegrated sites using more effective family planning at a marginal cost of $65.39 per additional HIV-infected woman using more effective family planning (Table 2) .

Additional information on these analyses is available in Appendix B..


We discussed in detail about the notion that all active matter systems generate a swim pressure due to their self-motion. The swim pressure is distinct from, and in addition to, the "hydrodynamic stresslet" [29, 35] . For larger swimmers where the Reynolds number is not small, we also have the Reynolds (or Bernoulli) pressure contribution ρ〈u ' ⋅ u ' 〉, where ρ is the density and u ' is the velocity fluctuation, in addition to the swim pressure.

The swim pressure is distinct from, and in addition to, the "hydrodynamic stresslet".


The whole situation is, however, even more complex than this, since there are a number of other factors that may influence the differences in regional railway transport supply between the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. One of these is the provision of railway infrastructure and its suitability for regional transport. The lack of appropriate tracks in certain urban and suburban sections makes it impossible for regions to introduce intensive and effective regional transport; this particularly affects the metropolises of primary and secondary significance in the Czech Republic. A high proportion of single-track routes and the low capacity of existing central railway stations are one example of these deficiencies, which can be seen in particular in the technologically and infrastructurally underdeveloped Brno Railway Hub (Seidenglanz Chvátal and Nedvědová, 2014; Dukát, 2005) . Furthermore, the amount of money invested in the provision of regional railway transport is necessarily also extremely influential. We suppose that there are great differences between the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany in this respect.

A high proportion of single-track routes and the low capacity of existing central railway stations are one example of these deficiencies, which can be seen in particular in the technologically and infrastructurally underdeveloped Brno Railway Hub.


The article is organized into two sections. In this introduction we go over the necessary definitions and make several remarks along the way before stating the Lorenz Renormalization Conjecture in § 1.4. Having accomplished that, we go on to describe the numerical experiments performed to support the conjecture and include the results of these experiments. The source code, together with instructions on how to reproduce the results, are freely available online (Winckler, 2018) .

The source code, together with instructions on how to reproduce the results, are freely available online.


Recent computational molecular simulations have been extended to studies of phase transitions of lipids, providing opportunities to study how the formation of nonlamellar phases is affected by lipid composition and peptides [40] . Marrink and Tieleman carried out atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of monoolein in an inverted cubic phase of the diamond type [41] . Importantly, a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/palmitic acid (PA)/water 1:2:20 system exhibits membrane fusion and transformation from a lamellar to the inverted hexagonal phase in a manner similar to experimental systems [42] . Coarse-grained (CG) simulations of DOPE and DOPE/DOPC (dioleoylphosphatidylcholine) bilayers showed that spontaneous formation of stalks between the lamellar bilayers is triggered either by increasing the temperature or by reducing the hydration level [43] . It has also been shown that a transmembrane peptide induces lipid sorting as well as the lamellar to inverted phase transition in CG simulations [44] .

Recent computational molecular simulations have been extended to studies of phase transitions of lipids, providing opportunities to study how the formation of nonlamellar phases is affected by lipid composition and peptides.

Marrink and Tieleman carried out atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of monoolein in an inverted cubic phase of the diamond type.

Importantly, a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/palmitic acid (PA)/water 1:2:20 system exhibits membrane fusion and transformation from a lamellar to the inverted hexagonal phase in a manner similar to experimental systems.

Coarse-grained (CG) simulations of DOPE and DOPE/DOPC (dioleoylphosphatidylcholine) bilayers showed that spontaneous formation of stalks between the lamellar bilayers is triggered either by increasing the temperature or by reducing the hydration level.

It has also been shown that a transmembrane peptide induces lipid sorting as well as the lamellar to inverted phase transition in CG simulations.


The transmembrane orientation of WT20 observed in the phase analysis may be relevant to the later steps of liposome fusion (e.g., the formation of hemifusion and the hemifusion diaphragm rupture), which deserve future analyses. The previous studies using EPR and NMR have unambiguously shown that WT20 resides in the outer leaflet of the bilayer membranes [31] . Therefore after binding to the membrane, WT20 is most likely stay in the outer leaflet with the tilted orientation. On the other hand, it has been proposed that, after the stalk formation WT20 assumes a more vertical and/or transmembrane orientation, interacts with transmembrane domain of the fusion protein and destabilizes the stalk and/or the hemifusion diaphragm [4, 5] . In this context, more analyses using the reconstitution of various lipids and peptides may give clue to peptide functions in membrane fusion.

The previous studies using EPR and NMR have unambiguously shown that WT20 resides in the outer leaflet of the bilayer membranes.

On the other hand, it has been proposed that, after the stalk formation WT20 assumes a more vertical and/or transmembrane orientation, interacts with transmembrane domain of the fusion protein and destabilizes the stalk and/or the hemifusion diaphragm.


Fusion of viral and plasma or endosomal membranes is mediated by envelope glycoproteins, known as fusion proteins. For many viruses, fusion requires major structural modification of the fusion protein. Such modification has been established, for example, for influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and HIV gp41 proteins [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] . The ectodomain of HA has been shown to consist of six polypeptides forming a trimer of HA1-HA2 complexes. The N-terminus of HA2, critical for HA fusion activity, has a highly conserved, hydrophobic sequence, referred to as the fusion domain or fusion peptide (FP) [7, 8] . In response to low pH in the endosome, HA changes conformation and projects its fusion peptide towards the target cell membrane [2, 9] .

Such modification has been established, for example, for influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and HIV gp41 proteins.

The N-terminus of HA2, critical for HA fusion activity, has a highly conserved, hydrophobic sequence, referred to as the fusion domain or fusion peptide (FP).

In response to low pH in the endosome, HA changes conformation and projects its fusion peptide towards the target cell membrane.


Polymer fibers provide a platform for a number of diverse applications, including drug encapsulation, biosensing, filtration, fuel cells, composites, and nanoelectronics [1] [2] [3] . Among the advanced processing techniques that have been used to produce fibers from natural and synthetic polymers, the electrospinning process provides the simplest approach to prepare nano-or microscale diameter fibers that are exceptionally long, uniform in shape, and diverse in composition [4] [5] [6] . By utilizing electrostatic interactions and elongation of the viscoelastic jet system, electrospinning can prepare ultrafine fibers from a polymer solution or molten sample adopting a simple one-step process. Numerous polymers have been reported to be electrospun into nanofibers for functional applications in the literature [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] .

Polymer fibers provide a platform for a number of diverse applications, including drug encapsulation, biosensing, filtration, fuel cells, composites, and nanoelectronics.

Among the advanced processing techniques that have been used to produce fibers from natural and synthetic polymers, the electrospinning process provides the simplest approach to prepare nano-or microscale diameter fibers that are exceptionally long, uniform in shape, and diverse in composition.

Numerous polymers have been reported to be electrospun into nanofibers for functional applications in the literature.


Electroacupuncture (EA), a commonly used acupuncture method applying a pulsating electrical current to acupuncture needles for acupoints stimulation, has been widely adopted for pain relief for decades [14] . Accumulating evidence shows that EA is effective in relieving neuropathic pain under multiple conditions like painful diabetic neuropathy, 2 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine nerve ligation, injury, and chronic constriction [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] . A former study showed that EA with low frequency reduced nociceptive response and normalized TRPV1 abnormalities in hind paw skin and DRG induced by nerve growth factor injection in rats [20] . However, little is known about the effect of EA with low frequency on TRPV1 under neuropathic pain condition, and whether this effect contributes to its alleviation of neuropathic pain.

Electroacupuncture (EA), a commonly used acupuncture method applying a pulsating electrical current to acupuncture needles for acupoints stimulation, has been widely adopted for pain relief for decades.

Accumulating evidence shows that EA is effective in relieving neuropathic pain under multiple conditions like painful diabetic neuropathy, 2 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine nerve ligation, injury, and chronic constriction.

A former study showed that EA with low frequency reduced nociceptive response and normalized TRPV1 abnormalities in hind paw skin and DRG induced by nerve growth factor injection in rats.


Thermal processing reduced the A fraction of protein (NPN) (Hsu & Satter, 1995; Ljukjel et al., 2000; Kafilzadeh et al., 2013) . The reduction in the NPN component from heating was presumably because of the loss of amino acids (Ljukjel et al., 2000) . One of the first noticeable changes of proteins on heating (even at temperatures around 100 ºC) was the loss of labile amino acids such as cysteine and lysine. Lysine is one of the most temperature-sensitive amino acids and destruction of lysine is often 5 to 15 times greater than that occurring with other amino acids (Dakowski et al., 1996) .

Thermal processing reduced the A fraction of protein (NPN).

The reduction in the NPN component from heating was presumably because of the loss of amino acids.

Lysine is one of the most temperature-sensitive amino acids and destruction of lysine is often 5 to 15 times greater than that occurring with other amino acids.


In vivo, in vitro and in sacco techniques are employed to estimate the ruminal degradability of protein in feedstuffs (Elwakeel et al., 2007) . The best method for evaluating protein source is the in sacco approach, but it is expensive, needs cannulated animals and is not practical for the usual evaluation of feeds. On the other hand, it is good for estimating ruminal protein degradation, but soluble and small particles of protein could leave the bags through the pores without complete degradation (Ho et al., 2008) . Simple procedures that are suitable for use by commercial feed testing laboratories are required to monitor the quality of an increasing supply of heat-processed soybeans that are intended as a protein and energy supplement for ruminants. The protein dispersibility index (PDI) has been claimed to have the most constant response to heating full-fat soybeans. Another in vitro procedure that is used to estimate protein quality is the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) (Sniffen et al., 1992) .

In vivo, in vitro and in sacco techniques are employed to estimate the ruminal degradability of protein in feedstuffs.

On the other hand, it is good for estimating ruminal protein degradation, but soluble and small particles of protein could leave the bags through the pores without complete degradation.

Another in vitro procedure that is used to estimate protein quality is the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS).


The CNCPS is one of the schemes that have been developed to fractionate protein in feeds. In this system, feed protein is partitioned into three fractions: non protein nitrogen (fraction A), true protein (fraction B) and undegradable true protein (fraction C). True protein, based on its rates of rumen degradation, is divided into three subfractions (B 1 , B 2 and B 3 ). The rumen degradation rates of B 1 , B 2 and B 3 fractions are 120% to 400% /h, 3% to 16% /h, and 0.06% to 0.55% /h, respectively (Schwab et al., 2003) . Fractions A and B 1 are soluble and rapidly degraded in the rumen (soluble protein). The fractions of protein in CNCPS system are A (NPN, soluble in borate-phosphate buffer, but not precipitated with trichloroacetic acid); B 1 (rapidly degradable true protein; soluble in borate-phosphate buffer and precipitated with trichloroacetic acid); B 2 (moderately degradable true protein, calculated as the difference between total CP and the sum of the other four CP fractions); B 3 (slowly degradable true protein, calculated as the difference between neutral detergent insoluble CP [NDICP] and acid detergent insoluble CP [ADICP]); and C (undegradable true protein, measured as ADICP) (Licitra et al., 1996; Schwab et al., 2003) .

The rumen degradation rates of B 1 , B 2 and B 3 fractions are 120% to 400% /h, 3% to 16% /h, and 0.06% to 0.55% /h, respectively.

The fractions of protein in CNCPS system are A (NPN, soluble in borate-phosphate buffer, but not precipitated with trichloroacetic acid); B 1 (rapidly degradable true protein; soluble in borate-phosphate buffer and precipitated with trichloroacetic acid); B 2 (moderately degradable true protein, calculated as the difference between total CP and the sum of the other four CP fractions); B 3 (slowly degradable true protein, calculated as the difference between neutral detergent insoluble CP [NDICP] and acid detergent insoluble CP [ADICP]); and C (undegradable true protein, measured as ADICP).


In recent years, wireless sensor network is an important issue in many applications, such as military intrusion detection, habitat monitoring, and so on. Sensor nodes are often deployed in unattended environments, so the security design is vital in many sensitive applications. The security mechanisms for wireless sensor networks have to provide authentication, confidentiality, integrity, scalability, and flexibility. Sensor nodes can sense and forward the readings to the base station (or sink), so the secure communication among sensor nodes is one of many important security issues in the sensor networks for the purpose of avoiding being eavesdropped or injected bogus data by adversaries. Many studies in the previous researches have been in the security issues, and key management has been a popular research so far [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] .

Many studies in the previous researches have been in the security issues, and key management has been a popular research so far.


The evolution of mobile devices into powerful information units has been marked by the emergence of patterns of behaviour that display many of the characteristics of peerto-peer (P2P) modes of interaction. The flexibility of these devices is due largely to their size, their wireless connections and hence their mobility. Battery power, however, can be an inhibiting factor that determines the range of viable computational and communication activities that can be supported [1] .

Battery power, however, can be an inhibiting factor that determines the range of viable computational and communication activities that can be supported.


Additional clutter is added to the problem by other objects, whether part of the explosives, or part of normal non-uniformity in clothing. Analysis has been done for the effects not only of objects added for increased damage with minimal effort, such as nails, but also the effects of varied clothing surfaces on the suicide bomber detection problem [1] . The analysis is extended with further examples in this work.

Analysis has been done for the effects not only of objects added for increased damage with minimal effort, such as nails, but also the effects of varied clothing surfaces on the suicide bomber detection problem.


Indeed, the nonstationarity of a flood series is not only defined by the variation of trend, but also by sudden changes. The TVM non-stationary model is only suitable for nonstationary flood series which have trend of variation [14] . While several books and articles in scientific journals use non-stationary QDF models for probability distributions with variation of trend, less study has been published in the hydrologic literature about non-stationary QDF analysis for sudden changes. This is a difficult task due to the problems in selecting the best non-stationary processing approach from the candidate flood frequency analysis methods available in the literature.

The TVM non-stationary model is only suitable for nonstationary flood series which have trend of variation.


Inadequate understanding of the probabilistic behaviour of extreme flows when designing a hydraulic structure may have significant economical impacts on the design values of hydraulic projects [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Indeed, flood severity can best be characterized by its magnitude and duration. Thus, both of these characteristics need to be studied together. Moreover, the stationarity assumption has long been compromised by human disturbances in river basins, especially for the floods' volume and duration. The accuracy of design flood will be affected if the parameter change is not considered for flood frequency analysis. Designed by the existing engineering hydrologic analysis method, basin development and utilization project, flood control, antidrought projects, and operation dispatches will face the risk of distortion in design frequency caused by the ever-changing environment.

Inadequate understanding of the probabilistic behaviour of extreme flows when designing a hydraulic structure may have significant economical impacts on the design values of hydraulic projects.


The small-gap and medium-gap treatments did not drastically alter nest tree use compared to the untreated control stand. Spatial arrangements of trees in these treatments were conducive to switching patterns of southern flying squirrels. Our findings suggest that southern flying squirrels maintain expected nest switching with canopy gaps 80 m in northern hardwoods. The multicohort treatment initially had lower rates of nest switching and likely had lower densities of suitable nest trees because of tree removal at the hectare scale. According to our study, the multicohort technique should be adapted in northern hardwoods to increase cavity trees available for southern flying squirrels immediately following treatment. Additional residual cavity trees with decay in thinned areas may help preserve spatial distribution of nest trees (Kenefic and Nyland 2007) . Forest managers should maintain densities of trees with cavities at 6.5-9/ha for flying squirrels (Holloway 2006) . Future studies are planned to evaluate the long-term effects of these old-growth silvicultural treatments on nesting patterns of southern flying squirrels.

Additional residual cavity trees with decay in thinned areas may help preserve spatial distribution of nest trees.

Forest managers should maintain densities of trees with cavities at 6.5-9/ha for flying squirrels.


Southern flying squirrels use a wide range of tree sizes (DBH range 5 3.0-69.1 cm) but prefer nesting in snags with cavities (Taulman 1999) . Most nest trees in the multicohort treatment did not resemble cavity trees of old-growth forest. Cavity trees in late-successional forests tend to have more advanced decay than even-aged or selection-cut stands (Goodburn and Lorimer 1998) . Because decayed nest trees appeared less available in the multicohort treatment (Table 4) , southern flying squirrels probably used alternative (e.g., less decayed with fewer developed cavities) trees. Southern flying squirrels in Ontario, Canada, that used alternative nest trees in thinned hardwood stands (18-m 2 /ha residual basal area) were more susceptible to predators (Holloway 2006) .

Southern flying squirrels use a wide range of tree sizes (DBH range 5 3.0-69.1 cm) but prefer nesting in snags with cavities.

Cavity trees in late-successional forests tend to have more advanced decay than even-aged or selection-cut stands.

Southern flying squirrels in Ontario, Canada, that used alternative nest trees in thinned hardwood stands (18-m 2 /ha residual basal area) were more susceptible to predators.


Two non-exclusive explanations may account for reduced nest switching by southern flying squirrels in the multicohort treatment compared to the small-gap treatment. Assuming an optimal foraging scenario in the multicohort treatment, moving less may indicate sufficient resources locally and no need to expend extra energy (Charnov 1976) . However, evidence supporting higher resource availability in multicohort compared to other treatments was lacking because red oak abundance and DWD volume did not differ among stands. Alternatively, limited availability of nest trees may have prevented switching among trees. Lower density of highly decayed nest trees than in the other treatments (Table 4) most likely reduced switching frequency in the multicohort treatment.

Assuming an optimal foraging scenario in the multicohort treatment, moving less may indicate sufficient resources locally and no need to expend extra energy.


In addition to highlighting the need for incorporating chromatin interactions into functional assignment, the discordance between chromatin contact frequency and LD has evolutionary implications. One consequence is that entire TADs or sub-TADs do not typically segregate as single haplotypes in human populations, enabling independent selection on regulatory variants versus the promoter and coding variants of their target genes. Furthermore, recombination blocks that span chromatin domain boundaries indicate that regulatory and coding variants from one domain can segregate with variants from the adjacent domain. The fact that haplotype breakpoints do not align with chromatin boundaries may indicate that recombination is deleterious at these functional elements, perhaps due to the mutagenic effects of recombination. These findings are different from observations regarding fixed structural differences between genomes of different mammals, which tend to preserve TADs with breakpoints enriched at TAD boundaries [31, 32] . We therefore conclude that while chromatin domains are functional genomic entities maintained as syntenic units over evolutionary time, recombination is independent of chromatin structure. This creates novel haplotypes of the genomic elements within and between TADs on which selection can operate.

These findings are different from observations regarding fixed structural differences between genomes of different mammals, which tend to preserve TADs with breakpoints enriched at TAD boundaries.


Solar cells based on arrays of vertical Si micro-or nanowires have been proposed as one possible route to lower production costs, while still obtaining efficiencies competitive with planar multicrystalline Si cells. The rea son for this is twofold. Firstly, materials costs can be re duced because the radial junction geometry tolerates the use of lower-purity silicon with minimal efficiency loss compared to a planar geometry [1] . Secondly, processing costs could be reduced by employing thin-film techniques such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of the active layer and roll-to-roll sheet processing.

The rea son for this is twofold.

Firstly, materials costs can be re duced because the radial junction geometry tolerates the use of lower-purity silicon with minimal efficiency loss compared to a planar geometry.


This study also elucidates the role of species habitat water availability and water management strategy, in addition to species climatic envelope in driving species leaf water relations. Species that experience lower Ψmd (and lower Ψpd) tended to have lower πtlp, particularly for those species from more arid environments. Variation in habitat water availability is also reflected in the larger dispersion in πtlp at observed in MAPD between −50 to −150 mm (Figure 2 ). This suggests that increasing aridity drives greater selection pressure for different strategies to exploit a wider range of potential water sources and ecohydrologic niches [31] . Regulation of water use must also closely align with spatial and temporal patterns in water availability thereby promoting strong divergence in water status, particularly during dry periods [32] . The tendency for larger trait variation in drier climates is consistent with other drought trait databases such as the global analysis of stem embolism resistance (defined using the water potential at 50 percent loss of hydraulic conductivity), that shows increasing trait variation with climatic water availability [33] . In this study, climatic water deficit explained only ~ 30% of the variation in πTLP. These patterns among drought resistance traits indicate the significance of contrasting water management strategies that may diminish the importance of a single trait πtlp in enabling survival under water deficit. Hence, at the whole plant level, species responses to increasing aridity involves the coordination of multiple traits and provide differential responses to drought and rates of recovery following drought.

This suggests that increasing aridity drives greater selection pressure for different strategies to exploit a wider range of potential water sources and ecohydrologic niches.

Regulation of water use must also closely align with spatial and temporal patterns in water availability thereby promoting strong divergence in water status, particularly during dry periods.

The tendency for larger trait variation in drier climates is consistent with other drought trait databases such as the global analysis of stem embolism resistance (defined using the water potential at 50 percent loss of hydraulic conductivity), that shows increasing trait variation with climatic water availability.


The Australian water relations traits database included 174 species and 74 genera for which there were data for πtlp, π0 and/or ε. About half of these studies also measured predawn leaf water potential (Ψpd) and/or midday leaf water potential (Ψmd). The vast majority of studies were conducted on plants that were either sampled during periods of high water availability or under well-watered conditions (in the case of experimental studies). Values of πtlp obtained under non-stressed conditions have shown to be good predictors of any subsequent changes in πtlp in response to water deficit [23] .

Values of πtlp obtained under non-stressed conditions have shown to be good predictors of any subsequent changes in πtlp in response to water deficit.


The radiation patterns were measured inside an anechoic chamber with the transmitting source antenna provided by a quad-ridge horn. The normalized radiation patterns of the proposed DRA, measured at several frequencies including 3.0 GHz, 5.0 GHz, and 6.5 GHz, are depicted in Figure 11 . From an overall view of these radiation patterns, it can be seen that stable broadside patterns in both principle planes are obtained across the operating frequency band, which verifies the TE 111 mode being excited. The desired TE 111 mode is the fundamental mode of the DRA excited by the offset monopole patch. In reference to these curves, in the -plane ( -plane), the measured radiation patterns are symmetrical. However, in the -plane ( -plane), the radiation patterns are not symmetrical and have slight deformation at the higher band, which is mainly due to the effects of the higher order modes. Figure 12 plots the measured and simulated peak gain of the proposed DRA. It is found that the gain range is about 4.8 dBi∼6.5 dBi. Thus, the peak gain is stable within the operating frequency band. In addition, Figure 13 depicts the plot of the measured and simulated radiation efficiency versus the desired frequency. It can be noted from the results that the radiation efficiency is nearly more than 80%, so the DRA works with very high efficiency in the operation bandwidth. The highest radiation efficiency (∼90%) is obtained at 5.0 GHz (i.e., second resonant point) due to good matching conditions. This is expected because DRAs have more radiation efficiency than conventional microstrip patch antennas [2] .

This is expected because DRAs have more radiation efficiency than conventional microstrip patch antennas.


It is also important to highlight a possible connection to entwinement [27, 28, 51] . Entwinement has been proposed as the CFT dual to the length of non-minimal boundary anchored geodesics present in non-pure AdS spacetimes. Unlike the entanglement entropy of a boundary subregion, which is a measure of correlations among spatially organized degrees of freedom, these works suggest that entwinement measures correlations among internal, discretely gauged degrees of freedom. It seems likely that the entwinement/non-minimal geodesic length duality is closely related to the OPE block/geodesic integrated field duality, and it would be interesting to understand the deeper connections between them.

It is also important to highlight a possible connection to entwinement.


In the present paper, we use analytical calculations to investigate the runaway electron distribution under the combined influence of Coulomb collisions, electric field acceleration, and radiative momentum losses. We show the existence of a bump and derive both a threshold condition for the appearance of the bump and an approximate expression for its location in parallel momentum space. The accuracy of the analytical estimates are then tested against numerical simulations carried out using CODE (Landreman et al. 2014; Stahl et al. 2015) .

The accuracy of the analytical estimates are then tested against numerical simulations carried out using CODE.


Finally, a lagrangian analysis of symmetries based on identities was performed. Whereas in the hamiltonian treatment one has to find a map between the parameters, in the lagrangian analysis there should be a map that connects the identities which involve the basic variables of the theory. In the framework of PGT, it was shown that the identities were different for the two types of symmetries. A mapping of the identities was not possible thereby reconfirming the results from the hamiltonian formalism. For the Einstein gravity, on the contrary, a mapping between the identities was explicitly derived. Our analysis shows that the hamiltonian and lagrangian formulations actually complement one another. For discussing off-shell equivalence, the lagrangian approach is more practical since it becomes obvious that a map between the identities cannot exist. In the hamiltonian formulation, it is nontrivial to really prove that a map does not exist between the transformation parameters. For discussing on-shell equivalence, on the contrary, the lagrangian method is not appropriate since the identities trivialise (0=0). Here the hamiltonian approach is clearly more viable. As a final remark, we mention that the methods developed here may be applied to other 3D gravity models [8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17] .

As a final remark, we mention that the methods developed here may be applied to other 3D gravity models.


Nowadays a lot of researchs have been carried out about using Geostatistical methods in different issues related to water and soil sciences [10] . Considering that studies of most researchers show that Ordinary Kriging Geostatistical methods have an acceptable precision [11] [12] [13] [14] . Therefore these methods have been used to preparing Groundwater levels and alluvial quality maps in this research. The condition to use Kriging method is normality of data. With exploring two methods, data histogram and QQPlot, was determined that data don't follow a normal distribution. So, the data was transferred to the logarithmic data. Through this, data obey the normal distribution. Histogram and QQPlot diagrams of thickness and salinity logarithmic data have been shown in Figures 2  and 3 respectively.

Nowadays a lot of researchs have been carried out about using Geostatistical methods in different issues related to water and soil sciences.

Considering that studies of most researchers show that Ordinary Kriging Geostatistical methods have an acceptable precision.


We present evidence on the level and trend in inequality over the last 27 years in the U.S. using disposable income and consumption for the same sample of individuals from the CE Survey. Our sample includes all individuals, not just those that live in urban areas or those that are of working age. While consumption inequality is always lower than income inequality, income and consumption inequality increase at approximately the same rate between 1984 and 2011, with the measures diverging over the Great Recession. The full reasons for this divergence will only be known after post-recession data emerges (Fisher et al., 2013a) .

The full reasons for this divergence will only be known after post-recession data emerges.


The simplest side weirs have a rectangular shape. Many studies have been conducted to specify the characteristics of rectangular side weirs. However, besides the advantages of rectangular side weirs like easy construction, such side weirs have low efficiency (Bilhan et al. 2011) . In case of overflow, there are two choices: first, the length of the rectangular side weir can be increased, and second, side wire efficiency can be increased. Increasing the side weir length leads to increasing the tributary channel-a choice that seems costly. The economical alternative is to increase the side weir efficiency. Modifying side weir shape could increase side weir efficiency between 1.5 and 4.5 times (Kumar and Pathak 1987; Cosar and Agaccioglu 2004; Ghodsian 2004; Emiroglu et al. 2010b; Aydin and Emiroglu 2013; Mirnaseri and Emadi 2013) .

However, besides the advantages of rectangular side weirs like easy construction, such side weirs have low efficiency.

Modifying side weir shape could increase side weir efficiency between 1.5 and 4.5 times.


A payment system is one of the most important issues in today's societies. Payment is a phenomenon with extensive dimensions found with the development of governmental and non-governmental organizations. Traditional payment systems are not based on individual and organizational performances. Therefore, despite the increase in expenses and salaries, these kinds of motivations do not influence productivity in organizations. They may also lead to decrease the activity and act as anti-motivational factor (Cardon, 2004) .

They may also lead to decrease the activity and act as anti-motivational factor.


Evidence and experiences show that the inappropriate design, weak performance of encouragement and reward system can be harmful more than its usefulness. There is also some evidences, which indicate whenever the payment system links to the ideal performance, it is effective in increasing the motivation level, attraction and maintain or skillful competent people. Thus, wage and salary systems should grow in the organization in to ensure whatever it is essential in the optimum performance. Such a system plays a basic role in motivation of employees; as a result, the goals of organization are achieved (Rau, 2006; Deci, 1972; Harwitz, 2003) . However, in several organizations, the governed wage and salary system cannot provide employees' job satisfaction and goals of organizations, because it does not contain any certain direction (Koh, 2000) . Therefore, necessity of systematic compilation can provide possibility of a wage salary payment based on the employees' performance and it can also provide the necessary field to prepare the improvement performance of creative human resources (Heywood, 2006) .

Such a system plays a basic role in motivation of employees; as a result, the goals of organization are achieved.

However, in several organizations, the governed wage and salary system cannot provide employees' job satisfaction and goals of organizations, because it does not contain any certain direction.

Therefore, necessity of systematic compilation can provide possibility of a wage salary payment based on the employees' performance and it can also provide the necessary field to prepare the improvement performance of creative human resources.


By studying from the results of different surveys about the importance of material incentives and nonmaterial motivations, it can be concluded that employees pay attention to salary and benefits in firstdegree. The reason is that the amount of their wage and salary is not adequate to meet their necessary requirements. If employees of an organization express worry towards psychological factors, it is explained that their salaries and benefits are enough and satisfactory. Therefore, when employees do not express their satisfaction either from the adequacy of their wage and salary for providing their essential needs or their unfair rules of division, human resource management will encounter an inefficiency problem and a decrease of human resources. In other hand, the lack of logic values in the payment wage and salary system creates different kinds of harmful and destructive competitions in organization so that a psychological environment of jobs becomes unsafe. This subject is a natural consequence of a payment-based age, academic background against qualification, competence and importance of duty and responsibility (Rayton, 2003; Dohmen, 2004; Piekkola, 2005) .

This subject is a natural consequence of a payment-based age, academic background against qualification, competence and importance of duty and responsibility.


Antimicrobials of plant origin have enormous therapeutic potential and have been used since time immemorial. They have been proved effective in the treatment of infectious diseases simultaneously mitigating many of the side effects which are often associated with synthetic antibiotics [7] . Many infectious diseases have been known to be treated with herbal remedies based on ethnobotanical knowledge. Natural products, either as pure compounds or as standardized plant extracts, provide unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of the unmatched availability of chemical diversity. Therefore, researchers are increasingly turning their attention to folk medicine, looking for new leads to develop better drugs against microbial infections. Thus, it is anticipated that phytochemicals with adequate antibacterial efficacy will be used for the treatment of bacterial infections.

They have been proved effective in the treatment of infectious diseases simultaneously mitigating many of the side effects which are often associated with synthetic antibiotics.


As the fact, light is transmitted through air faster than glass, so FSO technology offers optical communication at the speed of light. Also, the photons transmitted by the laser are much quicker than electrons moving in a wire and they can pass straight through one another, whereas charge-bearing electrons cannot. As a result, large volumes of data can be transmitted through a confined space in FSO which is not possible to realize in other communication techniques [2] .

As a result, large volumes of data can be transmitted through a confined space in FSO which is not possible to realize in other communication techniques.


Unlike conventional RF links, FSO communication is cost-effective, easily upgradable, and immune to radio frequency interference or saturation, serves higher bandwidth at a faster speed and requires no RF spectrum licensing or security software upgrades [3] . And, hence this technology is sprouting as an appealing alternative to the present communication systems. So, FSO can be employed for applications in building-to-building connectivity, disaster recovery, network redundancy and temporary connectivity for applications such as voice and data, video services, medical imaging, fixed-line carrier bypass, CAD and engineering services [4, 5] .

Unlike conventional RF links, FSO communication is cost-effective, easily upgradable, and immune to radio frequency interference or saturation, serves higher bandwidth at a faster speed and requires no RF spectrum licensing or security software upgrades.

So, FSO can be employed for applications in building-to-building connectivity, disaster recovery, network redundancy and temporary connectivity for applications such as voice and data, video services, medical imaging, fixed-line carrier bypass, CAD and engineering services.


Another form of displaying search results that is related to our work allows the user to rank the results according to different criteria (recency, relevance, authority, etc.) [6] . This view allows users to sort results according to their needs. Several Web mail search systems (e.g., Yahoo mail) follow this model and allow users to re-rank the default time-based results by relevance. However, this form requires further user interaction with the search results, and therefore the default ranking criterion plays an important role as experience shows that most users stick with the default rank and do not bother to re-rank the results even when beneficial [3] . In contrast, our hero-based approach is designed for discoverability, saving the need for additional re-ranking interaction.

Another form of displaying search results that is related to our work allows the user to rank the results according to different criteria (recency, relevance, authority, etc.).

However, this form requires further user interaction with the search results, and therefore the default ranking criterion plays an important role as experience shows that most users stick with the default rank and do not bother to re-rank the results even when beneficial.


The first objective of this study is to test the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in the Philippine setting. The EKC proposes an inverted U-relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. The EKC suggests that environmental degradation such as pollution and deforestation increases in the early stages of development, reaches a maximum at the middle income level, and then decreases with further income expansion [1] . As a country starts to develop, environmental degradation worsens due to the increase in the production of commodities. The decline in environmental damage as the country reaches the middle income level results from the shift in economic structure from the polluting manufacturing industries to the relatively clean services and information sectors, technological innovations in pollution and environmental damage control, and greater availability of public funds for environmental investments. Further, with greater wealth, there is a greater demand for environmental quality. An effect on scale of activity may also arise. As income rises, population growth rates drop and approach replacement levels [2] . The EKC hypothesis trivializes the issue of environmental degradation as it is seen to be temporary with development eventually leading to a better environment [3] . Hence, an empirical test of the existence or non-existence of the EKC will have important implications on development policy orientation. A strong empirical evidence for the EKC justifies a lenient environmental policy scenario while the absence of such evidence supports the pursuit of an economic growth trajectory that is stringently constrained by environmental considerations.

The EKC suggests that environmental degradation such as pollution and deforestation increases in the early stages of development, reaches a maximum at the middle income level, and then decreases with further income expansion.

As income rises, population growth rates drop and approach replacement levels.

The EKC hypothesis trivializes the issue of environmental degradation as it is seen to be temporary with development eventually leading to a better environment.


In this paper, the cracking induced/accelerated by SRB is defined as SRB-assisted cracking (Wu et al., 2018b) . The number limited but invaluable reports in the field on SRB assisted cracking were collected in the paper, and SRB-assisted SCC/CF of steels were reviewed. Furthermore, the thermodynamic interpretation and possible mechanisms were summarized in detail. Finally, factors affecting SRB-assisted cracking are also discussed in this paper.

In this paper, the cracking induced/accelerated by SRB is defined as SRB-assisted cracking.


Soil resistivity within about 5 m from water masses and buiIt up area may have higher soil resistivity than the respective average values of the site. In contrast, close to vegetation the local soil resistivity tends to be less than the average resistivity of the site. Somewhat similar observations have been made earlier as well [8] .

Somewhat similar observations have been made earlier as well.


Most often engineers use their long term experience or trial-and-error techniques to determine the suitable electrode system. However, such methodology sometimes leads to high cost and practical complexities as either the system is under designed, needing more electrodes or over-designed wasting material and labour. Grounding system designs that deviate very much from practically achievable ground resistance [6] . Under such circumstances it is highly necessary to have accurate set of models to determine the electrode configuration, once the soil resistivity profile and required limiting earth resistance is given. It is also required to find the optimum solution for a given system (power, signal, lightning protection etc) that will have minimum material cost without compromising the safety. Such requirement arises as the same limiting earth resistance can be achieved for a given installation by different electrode arrangements. The models developed need verification of their predictability in a real situation and investigation on various other factors (presence of vegetation, built-in environment, contact resistance, seasonal variation etc.).

Grounding system designs that deviate very much from practically achievable ground resistance.


Entropy-based methods have been widely investigated and discussed in recent years. These methods have shown to be viable for the task of automatic intrusion detection because they offer more fine-grained insights of the structure and composition of network traffic. Entropy-based characterizations are less affected by traffic sampling processes applied in high speed networks. Consequently, entropy methods become more robust for the task of intrusion detection in sampled environment; this is because entropy preserves the structure of an attack [4, 5] .

Consequently, entropy methods become more robust for the task of intrusion detection in sampled environment; this is because entropy preserves the structure of an attack.


Identification and early detection of anomalous activities on computer networks are the main goals to be performed by a Network Intrusion Detection System, or NIDS. Despite that the firewalls can be sufficient to protect a computer network; several times they are not able to prevent a wide type of attacks such as internal attacks. Besides, when someone wants to use a NIDS, software updates against new attacks are not available in a reasonable time. It means that the NIDS is not able to detect zero-day attacks until the database is updated. Thus, these novel attacks cannot be counteracted immediately [1] .

Thus, these novel attacks cannot be counteracted immediately.


Natural building stones are made from different types of material. The radionuclide content is lowest in basic rocks of magmatic origin. Also marbles, limestone and various detrital sedimentary rocks contain only small amounts of natural radionuclides. Higher concentrations are generally found in acid magmatic rocks, especially in late-magmatic granites, and in some metamorphic rocks. In minerals the incorporation of uranium and thorium into the crystal lattice depends on the abundance of these elements in the rock during crystallization and on the matching of the chemical properties and the atomic radii of hosts and substitutes. Based on these general expectations the ratio of the uranium or thorium contents of individual minerals should be more or less constant. The absolute concentrations of uranium and thorium in the minerals should be related to the geochemical characteristics of the rock from which the detrital grains originate, and give an indication of their provenance [2] .

The absolute concentrations of uranium and thorium in the minerals should be related to the geochemical characteristics of the rock from which the detrital grains originate, and give an indication of their provenance.


Perioperative anesthesia and its complications are other factors that influence length of stay. Postoperative pain, nausea, and dizziness that interfered with physical therapy were the main reasons for an unsuccessful 2-day discharge. In our study, all patients were placed on an epidural PCA. Continuous epidurals can control pain in the immediate postoperative period, and can allow earlier attainment of functional goals when compared to general anesthesia [2] . The PCA was routinely discontinued after 24 h and the patients were switched to oral pain medication by the end of postoperative day 1 in the fast track group. It is possible that patients with an unsuccessful 2-day discharge were more sensitive to the medications in the epidural, thus resulting in increased rates of nausea and dizziness and prolonged stays. Also, beginning ambulation with physical therapy within 6 h of surgery may contribute to nausea and dizziness as well. These findings raise the question as to whether more aggressive, preemptive anti-emetic usage is warranted in patients eligible for fast track discharge. Future research will explore the use of a low opioid pathway to eliminate these complications.

Continuous epidurals can control pain in the immediate postoperative period, and can allow earlier attainment of functional goals when compared to general anesthesia.


Trahtenberg introduced the term General Purpose Technology, which plays the role of "engines of growth" [5] . A successful innovative general purpose technology is an essential factor to dictate the growth potential of sustained economies. Computers & Communications has been recognized as the dominant General Purpose Technology since the last two decades. With the advancement in biotechnology, Ruttan argues that biotechnology will become one of the general purpose technologies in 21 st century and the drug and biotechnology industry has huge economical potential [16] . Since Drugs & Medical is the second most important technology in Saskatchewan, how to realize its economical potential is a topic that the provincial government should pay attention to, as this is the ultimate goal of investment in R&D. Policy makers should adjust their technological strategies to include encouraging start-up companies and emphasizing technology transfer and commercialization of intellectual properties in these fields.

Trahtenberg introduced the term General Purpose Technology, which plays the role of "engines of growth".

With the advancement in biotechnology, Ruttan argues that biotechnology will become one of the general purpose technologies in 21 st century and the drug and biotechnology industry has huge economical potential.


Worldwide, many studies have applied patent analysis to explore the technological development trends in different countries or regions. For example, in two researches, patent analysis techniques were used to measure the technological changes in Norway and Germany respectively [2, 3] . Chen and colleagues identified the core technologies and key industries of Taiwan by using patent counts and patent classification codes [4] . In Canada, a few researchers have used these techniques to study the technological trends at national level or at technical field level. In a study comparing the Canadian patents in USPTO with all USPTO patents from 1967-1994, Trahtenberg concluded that the technological composition of Canadian patents was out of step with other countries as traditional fields still prevailed in Canada and high tech fields were far behind the rest of the world [5] . More recently, Yegul and colleagues studied patents in the field of nanotechnology from 1976-2004 and found that Canada ranked at 5 th place in this field [6] . The present study is an attempt to apply patent analysis in a specific region of Canada, the province of Saskatchewan.

For example, in two researches, patent analysis techniques were used to measure the technological changes in Norway and Germany respectively.

Chen and colleagues identified the core technologies and key industries of Taiwan by using patent counts and patent classification codes.

In a study comparing the Canadian patents in USPTO with all USPTO patents from 1967-1994, Trahtenberg concluded that the technological composition of Canadian patents was out of step with other countries as traditional fields still prevailed in Canada and high tech fields were far behind the rest of the world.

More recently, Yegul and colleagues studied patents in the field of nanotechnology from 1976-2004 and found that Canada ranked at 5 th place in this field.


In order to identify key technologies in this province, a classification scheme for technological sectors and sub-sectors developed by Hall and colleagues was used [13] . Each US patent is assigned a series of classification class and subclass based on the highly detailed US patent classification system for technology, which includes 400 classes and 120,000 subclasses. In Hall's classification scheme, the 400 classes are aggregated into 6 main technological sectors and 36 sub-sectors. The 6 main sectors are Chemical (excluding Drugs), Computers and Communications, Drugs and Medical, Electrical and Electronics, Mechanical, and Others. Because each patent document is usually assigned a series of classification codes including a main class and supplementary classes, the main class was used to convert each patent to the relevant technological sector and sub-sector in this study.

In order to identify key technologies in this province, a classification scheme for technological sectors and sub-sectors developed by Hall and colleagues was used.


However, it should be noted that patent analysis has limitations as well. Not all inventions are patented, and patenting behaviours differs across industries and countries and across time. Further, the value distribution of patents is often skewed with only a few have high technical and economical value. Simple patent counts give each patent the same weight, thus the results can be misleading, especially when the sample size is small [1] . Therefore, results from patent analysis must be used and interpreted with caution.

Simple patent counts give each patent the same weight, thus the results can be misleading, especially when the sample size is small.


This study has several limitations in its methodological design. First, this study investigated granted patents instead of patent applications due to the fact that U.S. patent applications are only accessible from 2001. There is a time lag of three to five years for a patent to be granted, therefore, the number of granted patents would not reflect the most current inventive activities. Second, this study used patent issuing date to compile the statistics in order to be consistent with the data obtained from USPTO statistical reports [19] . Because of the time lag mentioned above, inventions applied in different years may be counted together by the year of issuing. This can introduce biases during periods when technology is undergoing rapid change or for regions in which technology is growing rapidly [1] . Third, assignee address was used to allocate patents to the region, which reflect the ownership of patents by Saskatchewan firms, regardless of where the researches were conducted. It is possible that assignee address may not correspond to the place of inventive activities; therefore it may not fully reveal patent activities in this region.

Second, this study used patent issuing date to compile the statistics in order to be consistent with the data obtained from USPTO statistical reports.

This can introduce biases during periods when technology is undergoing rapid change or for regions in which technology is growing rapidly.


Saskatchewan is one of the three prairie provinces of Canada. The production and export of agricultural products, natural resources, and their refined products are the backbone of the Saskatchewan economy. About 95% of all goods produced in the province directly depend on its agricultural and natural resources [7] . The agricultural product sector in Saskatchewan accounted for 10% of world trade in wheat, 60% in durum, and 40% in canola in 2001.

About 95% of all goods produced in the province directly depend on its agricultural and natural resources.


Since the reform and opening-up, on the one hand, China's economic growth has developed rapidly. On the other hand, China's environmental pollution is also very serious. The economic dividends brought about by extensive economic development methods have aroused serious ecological environmental problems. Haze pollution, water damage, and poisonous land incidents have undermined the sustainability of economic development, and the environmental carrying capacity has reached, or is approaching, the upper limit in China [1] . Taking the "Environmental performance index 2014" calculated by Yale University as an example, China ranked second in the world in terms of environmental pollution in 2014 [2] . The World Air Quality Index calculated by the World Health Organization also shows that only nine cities in China have entered the ranks of the 100 cities in the world [3] . The economic development at the cost of the environment has been difficult to sustain. Changing the mode of economic development, exploring the deep causes of environmental pollution, and exploring the contradictions between development and the environment have become one of the hot topics.

Haze pollution, water damage, and poisonous land incidents have undermined the sustainability of economic development, and the environmental carrying capacity has reached, or is approaching, the upper limit in China.

Taking the "Environmental performance index 2014" calculated by Yale University as an example, China ranked second in the world in terms of environmental pollution in 2014.

The World Air Quality Index calculated by the World Health Organization also shows that only nine cities in China have entered the ranks of the 100 cities in the world.