The indentation force decreased in the cartilage specimens through the increase of the cycles. It can be related to the viscoelastic and biphasic behavior of cartilage which causes that the recovery is not instantaneous and the fluid flow in the cartilage is present in the indentation region [34, 35] . Thus, between consecutives cycles there is no time for total recovery and there is an initial deformation after the first cycle. The fluid flow has an important role in the mechanical behavior of the tissue. For instance, mechanical compression of cartilage causes a rapid pressurization of the fluid in the tissue, which in turn supports the load. This pressurization allows the longevity of cartilage under repeated compression since loading is supported by fluid instead of a solid-solid interaction [36, 37] . Time-dependent changes occur in the fluid movement due to the fact that the fluid redistributes within the tissue, which contributes to the viscoelastic properties of the tissue. Due to the fluid pressure decrease over time, the solid fraction of the matrix suffers a higher load, giving rise to creep and stress relaxation behaviors [38] . Thus, the increase of cartilage stiffness (see Table 1 ) can be related with the loss of fluid pressure and fluid movement, which causes a higher load in the solid fraction of the matrix in the second and third cycle.

It can be related to the viscoelastic and biphasic behavior of cartilage which causes that the recovery is not instantaneous and the fluid flow in the cartilage is present in the indentation region.

This pressurization allows the longevity of cartilage under repeated compression since loading is supported by fluid instead of a solid-solid interaction.

Due to the fluid pressure decrease over time, the solid fraction of the matrix suffers a higher load, giving rise to creep and stress relaxation behaviors.


CCBs have been reported to preferentially dilate arterioles, increasing the pressure gradient between arteriolar and venule capillaries and leading to the extravasation of intravascular fluid and resultant vasodilatory edema [2] . Since the condition of the our patient resolved completely after discontinuing amlodipine besylate, and assays for other causes yielded uniformly negative results, the conjunctival chemosis observed in the patient was likely due to CCB-induced vasodilatory edema. Our patient was not rechallenged with amlodipine after resolution of chemosis for ethical reasons and because his symptoms had resolved completely and his blood pressure was controlled on a new medication. A low dose of diuretics, administered after amlodipine discontinuation, likely did not affect the resolution and progression of chemosis, inasmuch as CCBs are reported to have a natriuretic effect and edema is thought to result from increased intracapillary pressure rather than from salt and water retention [5] .

CCBs have been reported to preferentially dilate arterioles, increasing the pressure gradient between arteriolar and venule capillaries and leading to the extravasation of intravascular fluid and resultant vasodilatory edema.

A low dose of diuretics, administered after amlodipine discontinuation, likely did not affect the resolution and progression of chemosis, inasmuch as CCBs are reported to have a natriuretic effect and edema is thought to result from increased intracapillary pressure rather than from salt and water retention.


And finally, the paper contains in Section 10 a discussion of topographical groups. These are subgroups of PGL 2 (Z) for which unordered superbases are a principal homogeneous space. There are only two normal such subgroups, which are isomorphic under the outer automorphism of PGL 2 (Z). They have a Cayley graph isomorphic to the topograph of Conway and Fung [5] .

They have a Cayley graph isomorphic to the topograph of Conway and Fung.


Hyperbolic systems with geometric source terms arise in various applications ranging from shallow water with bottom tomography to nozzle flows. In such applications the source terms may have low regularity or possibly concentrations, which cause numerical difficulty when one wants to obtain the steady state solutions [9] . The numerical viscosity, an inevitable feature in modern shock capturing schemes, is blamed for the discrepancy of the steady state solutions.

In such applications the source terms may have low regularity or possibly concentrations, which cause numerical difficulty when one wants to obtain the steady state solutions.


Concentration and contagion risk on credit portfolios have been studied for many years with different methodologies and approaches. Such risks can be seen as departures from the Asymptotic Single-Risk Factor (ASRF) paradigm which underlies the IRB approaches of Basel II [2] . Basic hypothesis of this model include the homogeneity of the underlying portfolio and a common factor driving systematic risk.

Such risks can be seen as departures from the Asymptotic Single-Risk Factor (ASRF) paradigm which underlies the IRB approaches of Basel II.


Pharmacogenetic and Genetic Tests: in Pennsylvania and Bavaria there was no big difference between the percentage of the public and physicians who have heard of pharmacogenetic tests. In comparison to Pennsylvania (public 23%/physician 48%), in Bavaria, 8% more public representatives and 9% more physicians stated to have heard of pharmacogenetic tests. Pennsylvanian and Bavarian physicians also showed no significant difference for the pharmacogenetic test prescription and advice. According to physicians' own statements, only 3% more physicians in Pennsylvania prescribed and advised pharmacogenetic tests (PA 16%/BY 13%). We compared our physician data from Pennsylvania with the U.S. National Survey for Adoption of Pharmacogenomic Testing, 2012, where about 10% of physicians stated that they were informed about pharmacogenomic tests and 13% had ordered them in the previous 6 months [34] . In our survey, five times more physicians have heard of pharmacogenetic tests and about the same percentage prescribed them. The difference between only "hearing about the test" and "being informed about it" was probably the main reason for the different results in the studies.

We compared our physician data from Pennsylvania with the U.S. National Survey for Adoption of Pharmacogenomic Testing, 2012, where about 10% of physicians stated that they were informed about pharmacogenomic tests and 13% had ordered them in the previous 6 months.


There is evidence that levels of certain triterpene glycosides, the compounds that typically are used to standardize commercial black cohosh extracts, vary across particular tissues of black cohosh with up to ten times higher concentrations in tissues of the early flowering raceme [23] . The mechanism of action of these compounds in humans and in plants has been extensively studied though remains elusive, but in plants it is thought that some of the terpenoid compounds may play a role in attracting pollinators [24] . It is unknown, however, if selection of plants with active reproductive features would affect the concentrations of active constituents in the rhizome.

There is evidence that levels of certain triterpene glycosides, the compounds that typically are used to standardize commercial black cohosh extracts, vary across particular tissues of black cohosh with up to ten times higher concentrations in tissues of the early flowering raceme.

The mechanism of action of these compounds in humans and in plants has been extensively studied though remains elusive, but in plants it is thought that some of the terpenoid compounds may play a role in attracting pollinators.


The traditional perspective on software development is rooted in the rationalistic paradigm, which promotes a plan-driven product-line approach to software development using a standardized, controllable, and predictable software engineering process [15] . Today, this traditional mechanistic worldview is challenged by the agile perspective that accords primacy to uniqueness, ambiguity, complexity, and change, as opposed to prediction, verifiability, and control. The goal of optimization is being replaced by those of flexibility and responsiveness [33] .

The traditional perspective on software development is rooted in the rationalistic paradigm, which promotes a plan-driven product-line approach to software development using a standardized, controllable, and predictable software engineering process.

The goal of optimization is being replaced by those of flexibility and responsiveness.


Soil EC maps were used to study the soil condition and apply the field management strategies in the Malaysian paddy fields, where higher EC levels were determined in the southern and central regions of the study area [2] . EC a surface map produced using 400 square-foot grid cells showed that the highest salinity levels were located in the eastern portion of the study plot dominated by the denser clay soil [2] . Coefficients of variations (CVs) and semivariogram analysis were used to characterize the variability and spatial structure of EC in a 33 ha drainage experimental plot in Cauto River Valley, Cuba [3] . The variogram analysis revealed that EC and soil physical properties displayed similar spatial scales for the arable field of Southern England [4] . Knowledge of spatial variability of soil properties is useful for site-specific management and applying inputs in accordance with the specific requirements of soil and plant [5] [6] [7] .

Soil EC maps were used to study the soil condition and apply the field management strategies in the Malaysian paddy fields, where higher EC levels were determined in the southern and central regions of the study area.

EC a surface map produced using 400 square-foot grid cells showed that the highest salinity levels were located in the eastern portion of the study plot dominated by the denser clay soil.

Coefficients of variations (CVs) and semivariogram analysis were used to characterize the variability and spatial structure of EC in a 33 ha drainage experimental plot in Cauto River Valley, Cuba.

The variogram analysis revealed that EC and soil physical properties displayed similar spatial scales for the arable field of Southern England.

Knowledge of spatial variability of soil properties is useful for site-specific management and applying inputs in accordance with the specific requirements of soil and plant.


Rapid growth of population, urbanization, economic growth, and the increase in the standard of living have all contributed to the fast increase of municipal solid waste. More waste coupled with increasing prices of sites forced engineers to design higher and steeper landfills for better utilization. Changes in the size of landfills result in increased sheer strength. In the analysis of long term behaviour of landfills, slope stability analysis plays a major role because the gas and leachate pipes, the monitoring and lining system can easily get damaged [3, 12] .

In the analysis of long term behaviour of landfills, slope stability analysis plays a major role because the gas and leachate pipes, the monitoring and lining system can easily get damaged.


Comparing the models applied in recent studies brings up numerous issues [1, 13] . Studying landfill behaviour in a laboratory setting is a difficult task because the material to be analyzed is heterogeneous, and the largest diameter of particles is, depending on the landfill management technique, may go as high as 0.1 meter to 1 meter. Therefore, the number of places where such laboratory tests can be performed are very limited.

Comparing the models applied in recent studies brings up numerous issues.


The mushy zone is the region of a continuously cast strand where the solid and liquid coexist as a mixture. In Fig. 2 Crack-like defect at off-center location of hot-rolled plates observed after forming Fig. 3 Photograph of transverse section of rolled product revealing segregation band along the crack line at offcenter location after macroetching (50 vol% HCL) Fig. 1 Crack-like defect at centerline of hot-rolled product arising due to centerline segregation the Brittle Temperature Range (Zero Strength Temperature to Zero Ductile Temperature), this zone is characterized by extremely low-critical strain to fracture [1] . When the combined strain arising on the solidifying front due to strand bulging, misaligned segment rolls, or uneven solidification exceeds a critical strain, there are chances of forming intercolumnar cracks [2] [3] [4] [5] . Since the surrounding of the cracks contains solute-rich interdendritic liquid, there are possibilities of the cracks to get filled with the segregated liquid. However, at some locations having heavy interdendritic bonding, the flow of fluid may be blocked and the cracks may remain open and unfilled [1] .

In Fig. 2 Crack-like defect at off-center location of hot-rolled plates observed after forming Fig. 3 Photograph of transverse section of rolled product revealing segregation band along the crack line at offcenter location after macroetching (50 vol% HCL) Fig. 1 Crack-like defect at centerline of hot-rolled product arising due to centerline segregation the Brittle Temperature Range (Zero Strength Temperature to Zero Ductile Temperature), this zone is characterized by extremely low-critical strain to fracture.

When the combined strain arising on the solidifying front due to strand bulging, misaligned segment rolls, or uneven solidification exceeds a critical strain, there are chances of forming intercolumnar cracks.

However, at some locations having heavy interdendritic bonding, the flow of fluid may be blocked and the cracks may remain open and unfilled.


Several authors have studied the origin and formation of internal defects like centerline segregation and intercolumnar cracks in continuously cast slabs. Effect of centerline segregation in cast slabs on the internal quality of the hot-rolled products is also well known [6, 7] . However, the effect of the intercolumnar cracks in slabs on the internal quality of hot-rolled product is an area which has not been significantly explored before. There is a general conception that the internal cracks get welded during hotrolling operation. This may be true for crack portions remaining open in slab and free from segregations. However, whether the same is applicable to crack portions filled with segregated liquid is a question. Through systematic laboratory experimentations, the present work is aimed to establish a strong correlation between intercolumnar cracks in cast slab and off-center defects in hot-rolled plates or strips.

Effect of centerline segregation in cast slabs on the internal quality of the hot-rolled products is also well known.


The susceptibility toward forming intercolumnar cracks during solidification depends majorly on the extent of Brittle Temperature Range. Segregating elements like sulfur and phosphorus lower solidification temperature of steel below its equilibrium solidus, thereby enhancing this range [1] . In this perspective, high-carbon steels are more prone to cracking as compared to low-carbon steels because of their larger solidification range (T solidus À T liquidus ). Also segregation tendencies of sulfur and phosphorus are higher when solidification occurs in austenitic mode as in case of high-carbon steels [6] .

Segregating elements like sulfur and phosphorus lower solidification temperature of steel below its equilibrium solidus, thereby enhancing this range.

Also segregation tendencies of sulfur and phosphorus are higher when solidification occurs in austenitic mode as in case of high-carbon steels.


Ethiopia government has been striving to achieve the 3rd Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, at all ages [11] . However, the neonatal mortality rates in Damot pulasa is still remained higher than the national level; it is 38 per 1, 000 live births [12] . Thus, new innovative strategies must be developed for safe home deliveries including essential neonatal care in order to change the practice at the household level, besides devising means of proper care of the neonate in domestic settings and ensuring proper referral of those neonates who cannot be managed at home [13] . A study showed that home-based counseling strategy using volunteers and designed for scale-up can improve newborn care behaviors in rural communities [14] .

Ethiopia government has been striving to achieve the 3rd Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, at all ages.

However, the neonatal mortality rates in Damot pulasa is still remained higher than the national level; it is 38 per 1, 000 live births.

Thus, new innovative strategies must be developed for safe home deliveries including essential neonatal care in order to change the practice at the household level, besides devising means of proper care of the neonate in domestic settings and ensuring proper referral of those neonates who cannot be managed at home.

A study showed that home-based counseling strategy using volunteers and designed for scale-up can improve newborn care behaviors in rural communities.


The leverage effect is usually tightly connected, and sometimes even interchanged, with a notion of the asymmetric volatility. The standard asymmetric volatility is characterized by a lower volatility connected to a bull (growing) market and a higher volatility connected to a bear (declining) market. The definition and interconnection between the two effects -the leverage effect and the asymmetric volatility -is thus very close and sometimes hard to distinguish between. Nonetheless, most authors agree on several characteristics of the relationship between returns and volatility -returns and volatility are negatively correlated, the correlation is quite weak yet still persists over quite long time (with slowly decaying cross-correlations), and the causality goes from returns to volatility and not vice versa (Pagan, 1996; Bollerslev et al., 2006) .

Nonetheless, most authors agree on several characteristics of the relationship between returns and volatility -returns and volatility are negatively correlated, the correlation is quite weak yet still persists over quite long time (with slowly decaying cross-correlations), and the causality goes from returns to volatility and not vice versa.


For this purpose, it is interesting to reect aspects of low-level deployment in high-level modeling languages. As our rst contribution, in this paper, we pro- modeling language based on concurrent objects [8, 11, 14, 21, 24] . The main idea of resource-restricted deployment components is that they are parametric in the amount of resources they make available to their concurrently executing objects.

As our rst contribution, in this paper, we pro- modeling language based on concurrent objects.


The energy climate relationship is interesting as it is a great example of a feedback effect. The causal link from emissions due to the combustion of fossil fuels to deliver energy services to climate change is well established. However, hotter summers and warmer winters will change energy consumption and production patterns. A similar feedback mechanism is hypothesized in land use (Pielke et al., 2002) . There are several ways in which climate may affect energy consumption. In the residential, commercial and industrial sectors one would, in a warmer world, expect higher cooling demand, which would lead to increased electricity consumption.

A similar feedback mechanism is hypothesized in land use.


Several analytical and numerical models have been proposed and applied to estimate shielding effectiveness of plate shield and the effective EM properties of heterogeneous materials [7] [8] [9] [10] . As for analytical method, there are mainly three kinds of methods to calculate plate shielding effectiveness. They are field distribution method, wave propagation and reflection method together with equivalent transmission line method [11] [12] [13] [14] .

Several analytical and numerical models have been proposed and applied to estimate shielding effectiveness of plate shield and the effective EM properties of heterogeneous materials.

They are field distribution method, wave propagation and reflection method together with equivalent transmission line method.


Ensemble classifiers are known to increase the accuracy of single classifiers by combining several of them and have been successfully applied to imbalanced data-sets [21] [22] [23] [24] . Ensemble learning methods have been shown to be more effective than data sampling techniques to enhance the classification performance of imbalanced data [25] . However, as the standard techniques for constructing ensembles are rather too overall accuracy oriented, they still have difficulty sufficiently recognizing the minority class [26] . So, the ensemble learning algorithms have to be designed specifically to effectively handle the class imbalance problem [5] . The combination of ensemble learning with imbalanced learning techniques (such as sampling methods presented in Section 2.1) to tackle the class imbalance problem has led to several proposals in the literature, with positive results [5] . Hence, aside from conventional categories such as kernel-based methods, ensemble-based methods can be classified into a new category in imbalanced domains [5] . In addition, the idea of combining multiple classifiers itself can reduce the probability of overfitting.

Ensemble classifiers are known to increase the accuracy of single classifiers by combining several of them and have been successfully applied to imbalanced data-sets.

Ensemble learning methods have been shown to be more effective than data sampling techniques to enhance the classification performance of imbalanced data.

However, as the standard techniques for constructing ensembles are rather too overall accuracy oriented, they still have difficulty sufficiently recognizing the minority class.

So, the ensemble learning algorithms have to be designed specifically to effectively handle the class imbalance problem.

The combination of ensemble learning with imbalanced learning techniques (such as sampling methods presented in Section 2.1) to tackle the class imbalance problem has led to several proposals in the literature, with positive results.

Hence, aside from conventional categories such as kernel-based methods, ensemble-based methods can be classified into a new category in imbalanced domains.


Force system supplied by orthodontic appliances is composed by complex three dimensional forces and moments in Cartesian coordinate system. Clearly known these data of forces and moments can guide to design more perfect treatment plan and make accurate tooth movements (Badawi et al., 2009) . Experimental test is a valid method for acquiring the macro mechanical data applied on teeth by archwires, but special device generally is needed with force transducers (Chen et al., 2010) . With these tested data, accurate control of orthodontic force and personalized treatment plan can be realized to some degree.

Clearly known these data of forces and moments can guide to design more perfect treatment plan and make accurate tooth movements.

Experimental test is a valid method for acquiring the macro mechanical data applied on teeth by archwires, but special device generally is needed with force transducers.


Because outdoor exposure tests are considered a test for accelerated aging based on natural environmental conditions, the deterioration mechanism was thought to be similar to the deterioration that occurs when wood-based panels are actually used in housing construction. But outdoor exposure tests have many disadvantages; one of the most significant is that results are limited by the test location [4] . Even when outdoor exposure tests use the same panels at all locations, there are differences in the deterioration of panels among the locations. Thus, the results of outdoor exposure tests conducted at specific sites are not applicable to sites with different weather conditions.

But outdoor exposure tests have many disadvantages; one of the most significant is that results are limited by the test location.


A positive linear relationship is also observed between the outdoor relative humidity and the relative humidity on the platform for both stations (Fig. 3b) . As in the case of air temperature, the relationship is quite strong (r=0.83) for the station with the smallest depth, whereas it is relatively moderate (r=0.46) for the station with the greatest depth. The R-square value reveals that 69% of the variation in the relative humidity rate at the platform of the station with the smallest depth is increased by taking into account the outdoor relative humidity. The corresponding percentage for the station with the greatest depth is far lower (21%). In parallel with the field measurements on the platforms, a similar experiment was conducted in the interior of air-conditioned train carriages. The average difference of air temperature and PMV between the platform and the airconditioned carriage of the train that just have arrived at the platform and the doors are opening is presented in Figure 4 . The results reveal that passengers experience an air temperature change that ranges between 0.4 o C and 2.7 o C at the station with the greatest depth, during their transition from the platform to the interior of the train and vice versa (Fig. 4a) . This difference is even higher at the station with the smallest depth and ranges from 2.8 o C to 5.7 o C. The highest differences are observed during midday at the station with the smallest depth, probably due to the fact that the indoor air temperature seems to follow the diurnal variation of outdoor air temperature. On the other hand, for the case of the station with the greatest depth, highest differences are observed during the morning rush hours. Further, passengers experience a PMV change that ranges between -0.1 and 0.8 scale points at the station with the greatest depth, during their transition from the platform to the interior of the train and vice versa (Fig. 4b) . As in the case of air temperature, this difference is even higher at the station with the smallest depth and ranges from 0.8 to 1.9 scale points. In general, people experience sudden change in environmental conditions when they are moving from an indoor space to the outdoor environment and vice versa [23] . However, the above results reveal distinct thermal conditions in the underground railway environment. Consequently, passengers are exposed to transient thermal conditions, especially at the station with the smallest depth, when they are moving from the platform to the interior of air-conditioned train and vice versa.

In general, people experience sudden change in environmental conditions when they are moving from an indoor space to the outdoor environment and vice versa.


The amount of TSS (oBx) is directly associated with food viscosity due to its direct relationship with the amount of sugars, especially glucose, fructose and sucrose, varying according to species, facilitating their retention on tooth surfaces and contributing to dental biofilm maturation [13, 22] . TSS values ranging from 10.34 to 12.52 were observed, especially for Carrefour® juice (p≤0.001), which corroborate studies that found a range from 8 to 12.6° Brix in fresh cashew juice [12, 21] . These values are similar to those observed for other fruit juices [19, 22] .

The amount of TSS (oBx) is directly associated with food viscosity due to its direct relationship with the amount of sugars, especially glucose, fructose and sucrose, varying according to species, facilitating their retention on tooth surfaces and contributing to dental biofilm maturation.

TSS values ranging from 10.34 to 12.52 were observed, especially for Carrefour® juice (p≤0.001), which corroborate studies that found a range from 8 to 12.6° Brix in fresh cashew juice.

These values are similar to those observed for other fruit juices.


The normal mucus layer, approximately 800 µm in thickness, provides a protective barrier between the underlying epithelium and lumen, which contain noxious agents, destructive hydrolases, and microorganisms [1] [2] [3] . The functional efficacy of the adherent mucus layer depends on its thickness and stability in vivo as well as the physical and chemical properties of the gel. In inflamed colon tissue, the mucus layer is not sufficient to protect against microorganisms in the area of an ulcer [1] [2] [3] . In this study, HA biopolymers were evaluated for their adhesive properties with respect to the mucus layer. FL-Labeled HA conjugates exhibited stronger adhesion in the ulcerous tissue than in the healthy colon tissue. Thus, these materials supplement the viscous mucus that prevents the mucosa from a repeat injury.

The normal mucus layer, approximately 800 µm in thickness, provides a protective barrier between the underlying epithelium and lumen, which contain noxious agents, destructive hydrolases, and microorganisms.

In inflamed colon tissue, the mucus layer is not sufficient to protect against microorganisms in the area of an ulcer.


Henceforth, to accomplish better results we require a thorough model to consider every one of these factors. Numerous studies have been done in this field with numerous sorts of methods over two decades some of them depend on traditional systems and others based on intelligent techniques containing ANN, ANFIS, fuzzy logic, and SVM in related field. SVM techniques utilized non-linear regression for environmental data and proposed a multi-target methodology, MO-SVM, for automatic configuration of the support vector machines in view of a based on a genetic algorithm. MO-SVM demonstrated more exact in forecasting performance of the groundwater levels than the single SVM (Giustolisi, 2006) .

MO-SVM demonstrated more exact in forecasting performance of the groundwater levels than the single SVM.


Gamma rays irradiation is an efficient tool to produce mutants in crop breeding and more than 1,800 cultivars either obtained as direct mutants or derived from their crosses have been released worldwide in 50 countries (Ahloowalia and Maluszynski, 2001) . In Indonesia, gamma rays irradiation has been used in agriculture research and development since several decades ago, especially in fields of mutation breeding, pest control, plant nutrition, and animal health. In breeding program, this approach has not only contributed several crop varieties to national agriculture, but also generated hundreds of promising mutant lines that are ready for further multi-location trials. However, it is noted that no work on chilli resistance to Begomovirus has been carried out yet.

Gamma rays irradiation is an efficient tool to produce mutants in crop breeding and more than 1,800 cultivars either obtained as direct mutants or derived from their crosses have been released worldwide in 50 countries.


For a successful understanding and modelling of the global climate system an in-depth knowledge of the global water cycle is mandatory (Chahine, 1992) . Measuring the required quantities is, however, still a challenging task especially over the global oceans with a generally insufficient spatial and temporal coverage by ship and buoy observations. The advent of satellite platforms provided the opportunity to retrieve global data sets with an equally dense spatial distribution over sea and over land. Especially since the availability of passive microwave radiometers in space, the derivation of several essential water cycle components, and particularly of precipitation, became possible with acceptable accuracy over the global oceans . In principle, these data sets can be combined to estimate the global ocean freshwater flux. This is a highly desired but difficult task, as different data sources have to be combined, which leads to inconsistent results (Schlosser and Houser, 2007; Trenberth et al., 2007) . Furthermore, no comprehensive in situ data are available (Oki, 1999) .

For a successful understanding and modelling of the global climate system an in-depth knowledge of the global water cycle is mandatory.

This is a highly desired but difficult task, as different data sources have to be combined, which leads to inconsistent results.

Furthermore, no comprehensive in situ data are available.


Aortic coarctation accompanied by cardiac lesions is a major clinical challenge because the pathology exists in two separate anatomical locations. To date, there is no consensus about how to approach such cases. It has been suggested in some reports that coarctation should be treated first, whereas other studies report that cardiac lesions should be treated prior to coarctation repair [1] [2] [3] [4] . Perioperative morbidity and mortality risks are higher in the two-staged repair techniques because the patients undergo two separate surgical procedures. Also, two separate skin incisions could be a cause of concern for patients' in the long term.

It has been suggested in some reports that coarctation should be treated first, whereas other studies report that cardiac lesions should be treated prior to coarctation repair.


In terms of limitations of the proposed coupling methodology, these depend each time on the type of models that are coupled [14] . Specifically, for coupling between two linear models such as NEMOH and MILDwave, the resulting coupled model will provide conservative results in study cases when non-linear phenomena are dominating. On the other hand, the above limitations can be overcome when applying the proposed coupling methodology, for non-linear models. However, the use of non-linear models needs to be justified for each specific study case, as they often introduce computational instability and high computational costs.

In terms of limitations of the proposed coupling methodology, these depend each time on the type of models that are coupled.


Neural networks are the attempt to reproduce in machines some of the features that are believed to be at the origin of the intelligent thinking of the brain [28] . The key idea consists in performing computations using a network of simple processing units, called neurons. The output value of each neuron is obtained by applying a transfer function on the weighted sum of its inputs [9] . When performing supervised learning an algorithm, such as stochastic gradient descent, is then used for tuning the neurons weights so as to minimize a cost function on a training set [9] .

Neural networks are the attempt to reproduce in machines some of the features that are believed to be at the origin of the intelligent thinking of the brain.

The output value of each neuron is obtained by applying a transfer function on the weighted sum of its inputs.

When performing supervised learning an algorithm, such as stochastic gradient descent, is then used for tuning the neurons weights so as to minimize a cost function on a training set.


Despite those difficulties many breakthroughs have been achieved in the recent years. The first step in the renewed interest for neural networks came in 2012 when it was shown that using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) could reduce the error rate in an image classification task by a factor of two compared with the best feature engineering methods available [25] . Following this milestone, it has become clear that feature engineering underperforms compared with neural networks in a variety of tasks including image classification, speech and hand writing recognition, text analysis, and control of autonomous cars among others.

The first step in the renewed interest for neural networks came in 2012 when it was shown that using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) could reduce the error rate in an image classification task by a factor of two compared with the best feature engineering methods available.


Growing countries and modern industries depends heavily on the availability and capacity of electrical power. Which, directly influences a country's economic growth. Therefore, having an accurate medium and long terms electrical load prediction is very important for the electrical industries; it is a crucial input data for all studies of market development of energy production and consumption. Load Forecasting is a step in the planning process of works energy, which determines the investments involved and committed to making irreversible choices on the number of power plants to develop or activate and the number of turbines and other sources of electricity production to install in order to satisfy national and/or regional demand. Effectively, making an accurate forecast a matter of prime advantage [1] .

Effectively, making an accurate forecast a matter of prime advantage.


Let X sing be a Gorenstein normal projective variety. Suppose that X sing admits a projective crepant resolution π : X res → X sing and a smoothing X sm which is projective. The passage from X res to X sm is called the extremal transition [14] . When X sing is a threefold having only ordinary double points as singularities, this is known as conifold transition and has been studied by many people, for example, as a means of constructing new Calabi-Yau threefolds or finding mirrors.

The passage from X res to X sm is called the extremal transition.


Third, again with respect to firm performance, once more it is demonstrated that social capital matters, even when traditional entrepreneurial and firm characteristics are taken into account. This may be of interest to urban neighbourhood renewal programmes in which attention to the economic dimension is growing (van Meijeren & Ouwehand, 2007; North & Syrett, 2008) . According to the Dutch neighbourhood renewal programmes, the alleged contribution of small local firms and their active entrepreneurs to a thriving neighbourhood economy and in the end to an improvement of the neighbourhood has different dimensions. Firms may create meeting places for local inhabitants, which enhances contacts and social interaction, and increase access to local goods and services. Furthermore, their entrepreneurs may act as local role models for others. Finally, there is some empirical evidence that entrepreneurs are active neighbourhood participants as they relatively often intervene in local social and physical disorder (Crommentuijn et al., 2007) . Our empirical findings contribute to understanding the alleged neighbourhood benefits of local firms in pointing at a two-way relationship between firms and local social context, as not only local firms influence neighbourhoods, but in turn, a varied and large local network positively relates to firm success.

This may be of interest to urban neighbourhood renewal programmes in which attention to the economic dimension is growing.

Finally, there is some empirical evidence that entrepreneurs are active neighbourhood participants as they relatively often intervene in local social and physical disorder.


A number of conclusions can be drawn from our study. First of all, entrepreneurs in Dutch neighbourhoods have a rich and diverse social network that they can access and mobilize in times of need. Interestingly, access is more pronounced via strong ties and not, as found in many other studies (mostly conducted in the US) via weaker ties. It is a task for future research to inquire more deeply into the question whether this finding is typical for Dutch entrepreneurs or even a general characteristic of the Dutch population. Furthermore, in our attempt to combine social network insights from sociology with spatial proximity issues from economic geography, we found that social capital and local social capital closely relate to personal and firm characteristics. Social capital has a clear spatial dimension. Furthermore, several of our parameters measuring social capital are associated with firm performance in the expected positive direction, even when we control for entrepreneur and firm characteristics. In successively answering the three research questions posed in the introduction, we first conclude that social capital is indeed available in the local neighbourhood of entrepreneurs. However, the share of occupational positions and prestige accessed locally declines with the educational level of entrepreneurs. Second, both general and local social capital can be explained through individual characteristics of the entrepreneur, but firm characteristics also significantly contribute to the explanation. As expected, the attained educational level is positively associated with both extensity and mean prestige reach. Quite unexpected is our finding that occupational prestige of the entrepreneur does not relate to number of positions accessed nor to average prestige accessed, both general and locally. In other words, neither the "like-me" hypothesis nor the "status hypothesis" seems to be valid here (Laumann, 1966) . One would expect that entrepreneurs either search for others with the same prestige-this is the prediction of the "like me" hypothesis; or that they prefer contacts to others who are higher on the social ladder-this is the "status" hypothesis. However, we found no association between entrepreneurs' prestige and prestige accessed when other factors are controlled for. Our third research question was on the association between social capital and firm performance. Our findings underline the relevance of social capital for firm development, as some positive associations between our social capital measurements and firm performance indicate. The coefficient for performance, when it is measured more objectively by assessed profit and employment growth and more subjectively by assessed satisfaction with firm development, remained stable, even after controlling for individual (entrepreneurial) and firm characteristics. These relations, all in the expected direction, are most prevalent in analysing the entrepreneurs' satisfaction with past firm performance, but we also find significant estimates when looking at employment and even profit growth. For firms that serve-and therefore depend on-local markets, it is especially the case that the local network in terms of extensity, upper reach and range positively relates to employment growth over the past two years.

In other words, neither the "like-me" hypothesis nor the "status hypothesis" seems to be valid here.


Our study has some limitations. First, the mechanism through which size of the networks and level of occupational prestige accessed become effective is still not quite clear. What do these network members actually do which helps an entrepreneur and the firm to perform better? Are the costs of getting help lower through a large and status rich network? Related to this, help may simply be a by-product of an interaction with a very different goal. We do not know whether network members are deliberately chosen for a certain goal or activity or whether this is a by-product of another activity (Westlund & Nilsson, 2005) . Following the same line of reasoning, we also do not know whether help which is provided is an action of investment in the other person or a reciprocal action that repays previously received help. Second, in the absence of longitudinal data, we cannot draw conclusions on causality. Is firm growth influenced by a large range of occupational positions accessed, both general and local, or does firm growth (or size) enforce and increase network size and occupational status accessed in this network? Despite the fact that we found strong associations in our analyses, only a follow-up of this survey among the same entrepreneurs will help to identify the causal direction of the associations. A third limitation briefly mentioned above is that our study at the level of the entrepreneur does not investigate the ties or contacts themselves. We can therefore not disentangle the complex mechanism by which network extensity and level of occupational status influences entrepreneurs and their firm. Our future studies on similarity between network partners and the impact of role models on entrepreneurship will focus on exactly these processes and consequences of support. Fourth and finally, it is beyond the scope of this study to include specific neighbourhood characteristics that may have strong effects on the number and level of occupational positions accessed locally, as neighbourhoods substantially differ in socio-economic population structures. We welcome new investigations in this supply-side effect on entrepreneurial networks, and more generally, in the interactions between local social and physical neighbourhood features and entrepreneurs and their consequences for firm development. From our paper on the interdependency between (local) social capital and firm success intriguing questions arise which call for sound answers. We are only just at the brim of understanding the complex interdependency between the "economic" and the "social" in the study of local firms and their owners.

Our study has some limitations.

We do not know whether network members are deliberately chosen for a certain goal or activity or whether this is a by-product of another activity.


The subjective and objective measurement and evaluation of 5Ps property will contribute to identify their individual quality and help us to integrate and optimize 5Ps to achieve most competitive comfort and satisfaction. Direct and indirect approaches can be used in subjective and objective evaluation. For instance, pressure monitoring system can be used to test compression profiles [27, 36, 37] . Series of ASTM, AATCC, and ISO standardized approaches can be applied to directly test physical-mechanical properties of materials. Physiological parameters as markers can be selected to test related body system and physiological mechanisms, e.g. heart rate and blood pressure are usually as the physiological marker for autonomic nervous system, and the urinary excretion of hormone cortisol for reflecting stressful status, etc. Wear trials can help us analyze the psychophysical property and user's psychological comfort; electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG) and cardiovascular measures can be used to determine psychophysiological property when user wearing CAW.

For instance, pressure monitoring system can be used to test compression profiles.


In all three systems, it is clear that signal phase measurements play an important role in fundamental satellite system operation. As a result, it is important to measure and monitor a signal's phase from a measurement point of view and in terms of its use as a characterization of the overall system's performance [5] . Performance characterization may occur in the final stages of the spacecraft assembly or as part of routine on-orbit operations. A typical phase characterization may involve the injection of a known signal into the nominal science data path, the recording of the characteristics of the known signal, and a comparison against a standard. Overall, this process can be best described as system calibration.

As a result, it is important to measure and monitor a signal's phase from a measurement point of view and in terms of its use as a characterization of the overall system's performance.


To overcome the limitations of the single path routing protocol and achieve high performance, multipath routing protocols are introduced. The objectives of multipath routing are to ensure load-balancing, reliable communication, efficient Quality of service (QoS), maximize node and network life time, improve throughput etc. Numerous on-demand multipath routing protocols have been proposed for MANET [3] , [4] . These multipath routing protocols attempt to discover multipath between source and destination pairs in the network and it discovers multipath in a single route discovery process. The selected multipath should be loop-free paths, disjointness of paths, less route discovery frequency, lower routing overheads and consume optimal bandwidth. Multipath routing protocols relatively have a greater ability to reduce route discovery frequency than single-path routing protocols. Multipath routing protocols discover new routes when all paths become fails at the same time and also the possibility of such failure is very small.

Numerous on-demand multipath routing protocols have been proposed for MANET.


Our study area consisted of a 6)/100 m strip of littoral zone at Morice Lake that forms a natural bay. Observations were made on banded killifish, F. diaphanus, to investigate how population density influenced group size and group number. Visual count transects were carried out in two parallel 3-m wide strips (0 Á/3 m and 3 Á/6 m) off the shore over 100 m of shoreline by two observers. Previous studies have shown that the presence of observers in close proximity does not generally affect killifish shoaling behaviour (Krause et al. 2000) . During the visual transects, the number of groups, the respective group size and group mean of body length were estimated. Controls showed that the median error in determining group size was 11.5% (lower quartile: 6.7 and upper quartile: 19.6, N 0/16) and that over-estimates and underestimates were equally likely (Mann Á/Whitney U test: N 1 0/9, N 2 0/7, W 0/69, two-tailed P0/0.47). There was no relationship between the magnitude of the error and group size (linear regression: r 2 0/0.12, N 0/17, two-tailed P0/0.18) for a group size range of 20 Á/234 fish. The estimated mean body length differed from the measured mean body length on average by 1.7 mm (SD 0/1.4 mm, N 0/17).

Previous studies have shown that the presence of observers in close proximity does not generally affect killifish shoaling behaviour.


Considerable attention has been focused on appropriate control strategies to compensate for ferroelectric hysteresis and nonlinearities in piezoelectric actuators used in nanopositioning stages [3, 12, 13, 14, 19, 25] . PI and PID control designs have been shown to be limited in bandwidth and are only effective in small scanning regimes where hysteresis is minimal. At moderate to large field levels where the nonlinearties and hysteresis increase, instabilities may occur as the control gains are necessarily increased to achieve the required accuracy. The application of linear robust control techniques such as H ∞ control have provided improvements in bandwidth and robustness to nonlinearities and hysteresis [12, 13, 14] . However, when linear robust control methods are implemented, the control input focuses on compensating for the ferroelectric constitutive behavior which reduces the ability to compensate for external disturbance loads and system dynamics of the device. This has led to research focused on the design and implemention of nonlinear, model-based control designs to accommodate constitutive nonlinearities and hysteresis [3, 11, 19] .

Considerable attention has been focused on appropriate control strategies to compensate for ferroelectric hysteresis and nonlinearities in piezoelectric actuators used in nanopositioning stages.

The application of linear robust control techniques such as H ∞ control have provided improvements in bandwidth and robustness to nonlinearities and hysteresis.

This has led to research focused on the design and implemention of nonlinear, model-based control designs to accommodate constitutive nonlinearities and hysteresis.


The strong uniqueness for (1.1) represents a phenomenon that is called "regularization by noise". This is the property that roughly speaking can be formulated as follows: deterministic equation without noise might not have uniqueness or existence property; however whenever the equation is perturbed by noise it has a unique solution, see the related discussion in a recent book of Flandoli [7] . This is the situation with (1.1): clearly one cannot make a general claim that equation (1.1) without noise at the right hand side has a unique solution whenever b is not Lipschitz, whereas, as we mentioned above, with the noise, uniqueness holds for a large class of drifts b. Note that whenever we say that there exists a unique strong solution to (1.1) we mean by this that on some filtered probability space (Ω, F , (F t ) t 0 , P) there exists a unique adapted strong solution to that equation. That, in fact, implies that regularization by noise phenomenon happens in probability sense, as a regularization for Itô-Walsh stochastic equation.

This is the property that roughly speaking can be formulated as follows: deterministic equation without noise might not have uniqueness or existence property; however whenever the equation is perturbed by noise it has a unique solution, see the related discussion in a recent book of Flandoli.


The research shows that effective internal control has significantly promoted enterprises to assume social responsibilities and generated fair and sustainable benefits for stakeholders. Meanwhile, effective internal control substantially improves the degree of fulfillment of corporate social responsibility, and fully reduces the risk of social responsibility. Through this study, we overcome the current situation that the two concepts of assumption and fulfillment of corporate social responsibility have not been distinguished in previous literature [4, 6, 13] . From the two aspects of accrual basis and cash flow system, we comprehensively analyze the influences of internal control on the assumption and fulfillment of corporate social responsibility, which is of practical value to strengthen the subsequent construction of internal control system and the long-term practice of corporate social responsibility.

Through this study, we overcome the current situation that the two concepts of assumption and fulfillment of corporate social responsibility have not been distinguished in previous literature.


Enterprise management has more discretion in choosing accounting estimation methods [1] . Without the restriction of formal policies and procedures, it is difficult to guarantee the reliability of the company's external disclosure of financial reports, which will have a negative impact on the protection of stakeholders' rights and interests. Enterprise goals can be divided into economic goals and non-economic goals. Economic goals are undoubtedly the primary goal, while social responsibility is the spillover effect of pursuing the primary goal [2] . For state-owned enterprises, corporate social responsibility is a specific, mandatory and legal goal and responsibility. Social responsibility includes both non-economic goals and economic goals. In 2008, China State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions on the Implementation of Social Responsibility by Central enterprises," which called for integrating the concept and requirements of social responsibility into the development strategy of central enterprises [3] . Where central enterprises are those enterprises that dominate in major industries and key areas that are vital to national security and the lifeblood of the national economy. Central enterprises are an important pillar of the national economy.

Enterprise management has more discretion in choosing accounting estimation methods.

Economic goals are undoubtedly the primary goal, while social responsibility is the spillover effect of pursuing the primary goal.

In 2008, China State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions on the Implementation of Social Responsibility by Central enterprises," which called for integrating the concept and requirements of social responsibility into the development strategy of central enterprises.


In reviewing the literature, it became evident that acupuncture and related therapies have been wildly used for obesity treatment. As mentioned in the meta-analysis, combination of acupuncture and lifestyle modification is more effective compared with lifestyle modification alone [12] . Results of Yeh's research suggested that ear acupoint stimulation had remarkable improvements in the anthropometric parameters of Body Weight (BW), BMI, and so on [13] . In addition, another systematic review performed in 2015 has also shown that clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding therapy was better than that of the control group for simple obesity [14] . However, a major problem is that whether acupuncture or acupuncture-related therapies alone or combined therapy is more effective than lifestyle modification management remains disputable.

As mentioned in the meta-analysis, combination of acupuncture and lifestyle modification is more effective compared with lifestyle modification alone.

Results of Yeh's research suggested that ear acupoint stimulation had remarkable improvements in the anthropometric parameters of Body Weight (BW), BMI, and so on.

In addition, another systematic review performed in 2015 has also shown that clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding therapy was better than that of the control group for simple obesity.


There is some urgency to this question because several growth hormones and other anabolic factors have been proposed to treat the muscle weakness and wasting associated with DM. Using these anabolic agents shows promising results both in vivo and in vitro, but more research is needed regarding their potential therapeutic and adverse effects [8, 9] . The Neuromuscular Disease Center at the University of Rochester is currently conducting a treatment trial in DM patients, to determine the safety and feasibility of using insulin-like growth (IGF) factor 1 complexed to IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) [IPLEX Ò , Insmed Incorporated, Richmond, VA, USA]. However, elevated serum levels of IGF-1 have been implicated in the etiology of several common adult neoplasms, most notably cancers of the breast, colon and prostate, leading to theoretical concerns that long-term treatment of DM patients with IGF-1 might promote tumor growth [10] . If IGF-1 or other growth factor therapies prove beneficial in DM, establishing whether myotonic dystrophy patients have an intrinsic susceptibility to specific neoplasms could influence how this treatment is used.

Using these anabolic agents shows promising results both in vivo and in vitro, but more research is needed regarding their potential therapeutic and adverse effects.

However, elevated serum levels of IGF-1 have been implicated in the etiology of several common adult neoplasms, most notably cancers of the breast, colon and prostate, leading to theoretical concerns that long-term treatment of DM patients with IGF-1 might promote tumor growth.


The provision of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to HIV-infected pregnant women and exposed infants is critical for the success of PMTCT. In Malawi, the current treatment regimen for pregnant women under Option B+ is Tenofovir, Lamivudine, and Efavirenz in a daily fixed-dose single tablet [8] . The HIV-infected mothers in our study reported receiving several different ARV regimens with additional variation across districts. During pregnancy 38.6% reported not receiving any ARV prophylaxis (Table 2) . By district this finding ranged from 35.4% in Mulanje to 44.3% in Salima.

In Malawi, the current treatment regimen for pregnant women under Option B+ is Tenofovir, Lamivudine, and Efavirenz in a daily fixed-dose single tablet.


In this work, we train an ELMo model in a corpus with a mixture of clinical reports and relevant Wikipedia pages in the clinical domain. Next, a bidirectional LSTM-CRF model is applied to identify the clinical concepts. This model is trained and tested on the 2010 i2b2/VA challenge [1] . Our proposed model achieves the best performance among others the state-of-the-art models by 3.4% in terms of F1-score.

This model is trained and tested on the 2010 i2b2/VA challenge.


CrossFit is a physically and metabolically demanding conditioning method that has become increasingly popular as a mode of exercise as well as a competitive sport. The ultimate training goal of CrossFit training is to maximize and sustain power output in each bout (Smith, Sommer, Starkoff, & Devor, 2013) . This conditioning program is characterized by the use of gymnastics, strength training (including Olympic lifts), anaerobic training, and high power cardiorespiratory activities performed in varying combinations, loads, and volumes. Within a given workout, trainees may encounter several distinct and sometimes unconventional training stresses. For example, a CrossFit bout may involve light to moderate-loaded weight lifting performed at high-volumes or near 1RM loads performed at low-volumes followed by multiple sets of rope climbs. Some workouts may call for high-volumes of heavy loaded lifts accompanied by intense cardiorespiratory conditioning such as 1 mile run and/or row. These bouts vary in duration as well, ranging from 5 minutes or less to 30-45 min, and in rare cases, longer.

The ultimate training goal of CrossFit training is to maximize and sustain power output in each bout.


While this study was the first to examine psychotropic medication use, predictors of psychotropic use, and the link between target symptoms and specific medications in children with HFASDs and it had a number of strengths that addressed weaknesses in the research (e.g., structured screening, IQ test scores, ASD-symptom severity assessed using a standardized measure, narrowly defined group, etc.), several limitations warrant mention. One potential limitation involves sampling bias as the children with HFASDs were all beginning psychosocial treatment trials. Parents who pursued psychosocial treatment trials may differ from typical parents of children with HFASDs in their use of psychotropic medications. Another limitation involved the lack of data on the specialist who prescribed the medication [13] . Such information may provide insight into important prescription trends based on specialty. The current study also relied on parent reports for identification of psychotropic agents and target symptoms. Although use of parent reports is common in studies of psychotropic use in ASDs/HFASDs, future studies may seek to validate parent reports (e.g., review of prescriptions issued by physicians and/or physician reports). The sample was also small and largely male and Caucasian. Additionally, while the PDR allowed for a consistent methodology to examine the link between target symptoms and psychotropic agent, physicians often rely on a number of factors that affect their clinical decision making. Lastly, no statistical corrections were applied to the regression analyses so the findings should be considered as preliminary pending replication. Ongoing research is needed as individuals with HFASDs are distinct from lower-functioning individuals with autism, and they may require psychotropic medication treatment that targets different symptoms [13] .

Another limitation involved the lack of data on the specialist who prescribed the medication.

Ongoing research is needed as individuals with HFASDs are distinct from lower-functioning individuals with autism, and they may require psychotropic medication treatment that targets different symptoms.


TFC and GC are the most prevalent and seemingly promising options for similarly traumatized at-risk youths (Breland-Noble et al. 2005; Dorsey et al. 2012; Lee et al. 2011) . Placement decisions, however, seem to be based predominantly on regional program availabilities. Decision makers could use knowledge about the relative success rates of TFC and GC in planning child welfare and associated services. Therefore, this research synthesis aims to clarify what is known about the relative effectiveness of TFC and GC in caring for youths at risk of moving from the child welfare system to the criminal justice system.

TFC and GC are the most prevalent and seemingly promising options for similarly traumatized at-risk youths.


In homogeneous reservoirs the gas and water may segregate rapidly and the threephase zone is then located close to the injector. The region with three-phase flow can in many cases extend to a considerable part of the reservoir. More heterogeneous reservoirs may have a slower segregation of the fluids. Lower mobility of gas and water in the three-phase zone also delays the segregation process [6, 7] .

Lower mobility of gas and water in the three-phase zone also delays the segregation process.


The combination of gas and water gives many favorable effects [2, 3] . Gas results in better microscopic displacement; less oil left in the pores of the gas swept areas when compared to water swept areas. The zones swept with both gas and water may have even lower trapped oil saturation [4] [5] [6] [7] .

The combination of gas and water gives many favorable effects.

The zones swept with both gas and water may have even lower trapped oil saturation.


Our study has several limitations. First, we could validate only the models in couples with primary infertility because detailed information on secondary infertile couples was lacking in the NL test population which was therefore relatively homogeneous. This may have influenced the performance of particularly the Nelson model (Vergouwe et al., 2010) . Nevertheless, our study shows that reliable predictions can be given in the primary infertility group. Apart from being the largest (about two thirds of the target population), it is, in our opinion, also the most relevant group because secondary infertile couples have proved their fertility while many of them have at least one child. Second, our validation population consisted only of couples that used their own oocytes. The predictor 'donor oocytes versus own oocytes' in the Nelson model was useless when validating the model because no patients who used donor oocytes were included in the NL data set.

Our study has several limitations.

This may have influenced the performance of particularly the Nelson model.


In climate research, the maritime continent (MC) is one of the most crucial regions [1] . The MC plays a key role as a heat and moisture source and impacts global atmospheric circulations that contribute to regional climate change [2] . The MC is known to be a very active convective region where convection is influenced by local, regional, and global atmospheric conditions such as the monsoon, tropical convection, intra-seasonal oscillations, and the complex structure of the topography of land and the body of water Indian Ocean but does not propagate through the MC [24] . The Asian-Australian monsoon covers the MC and the northern part of Australia and creates an annual dry and wet season [24] . MJO that passes through this region is associated with either high or low precipitation than average [25] .

In climate research, the maritime continent (MC) is one of the most crucial regions.

The MC plays a key role as a heat and moisture source and impacts global atmospheric circulations that contribute to regional climate change.

The MC is known to be a very active convective region where convection is influenced by local, regional, and global atmospheric conditions such as the monsoon, tropical convection, intra-seasonal oscillations, and the complex structure of the topography of land and the body of water Indian Ocean but does not propagate through the MC.

The Asian-Australian monsoon covers the MC and the northern part of Australia and creates an annual dry and wet season.

MJO that passes through this region is associated with either high or low precipitation than average.


Spatial decision problems in agriculture and other areas often require that a large number of alternatives are evaluated based on multiple criteria. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a powerful tool for analysing spatial data and establishing a process for decision support. Multicriteria Decision Aid (MCDA) methods can facilitate decision making in situations where several solutions are available, various criteria have to be taken into account and decision makers are in conflict (Dias et al., 2002) .

Multicriteria Decision Aid (MCDA) methods can facilitate decision making in situations where several solutions are available, various criteria have to be taken into account and decision makers are in conflict.


A current trend in physical, chemical, and biological sciences is the pursuit of miniaturized machinery and devices. To achieve this goal, two complementary approaches have been developed. The first one, called 'top-down', consists in the miniaturization of existing objects following lithographic technologies, and has been widely used in microelectronics. This approach is currently reaching some physical limits due to the incompatibility of such technologies with the nanometer scale. The second one, known as the 'bottom-up', starts from atoms and molecules and follows a building up strategy, consisting in the association of different modular functional units through the formation of covalent bonds or supramolecular interactions. Nature already uses this strategy to build a large variety of sophisticated machines, such adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, kinesin, myosin, DNA polymerase, or ribosome, which are designed to perform linear or rotary motion [1] . Inspired by nature or their man-made macroscopic analogues a variety of artificial molecular machines have been synthetized [1, 2] . By analogy with a macroscopic machine, a molecular machine can be defined as an assembly of molecular components designed to perform a mechanical motion (i.e., a controlled large amplitude or directional movement of one component relative to another) in response to a stimulus. Even if the manipulation of motion at the molecular level has been mastered in such molecular machines, the reversible control of physical or chemical properties at the molecular level remains a challenge in the field. In particular, switching magnetic properties has attracted a wide interest from inorganic chemist for information storage or quantum computing at the molecular level.

Nature already uses this strategy to build a large variety of sophisticated machines, such adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, kinesin, myosin, DNA polymerase, or ribosome, which are designed to perform linear or rotary motion.

Inspired by nature or their man-made macroscopic analogues a variety of artificial molecular machines have been synthetized.


Wordsworth's immortal line "the child is the father of man" assumes new meaning in today's consumption-driven society, where the younger family members seem to influence, if not dominate, their elders. Children's influence in family decision making (FDM) is increasingly recognized and acknowledged by marketers, family size in India has been on a decline, currently almost 4.3 people per family as compared to earlier years, when it was more than 5. With the reduction in their average size and the increase in their incomes, Indian families have more money to spend. Since children are the main focus, parents try their best to fulfill their children's aspirations. Consequently, the children get more attention and have greater participation in the decision making process. Experts peg the market for products and services in which children play the role of an influencer at an astounding $100 billion (Rs 450,000 crore) (Sethi, 2011) . Evidently, children's consumer behavior and their influence in family purchase and consumption decisions in India merits rigorous research attention.

Experts peg the market for products and services in which children play the role of an influencer at an astounding $100 billion (Rs 450,000 crore).


Fundamentally, for the marketers, the results demonstrate that teenage children can no longer be treated as passive beneficiaries of family purchase decisions. Rather, their role needs to be acknowledged and understood to formulate marketing offerings productively for target markets. This is in line with what was so far notionally known -that "pester power" has just become savvier, smarter, and more informed. Rather than nagging their parents to unleash their rising disposable incomes at random and flashy products and services that catch their eye, more and more of India's close to 400 million children below the age of 15 are becoming connoisseurs and specialists that their parents rely on (Sethi, 2011) .

Rather than nagging their parents to unleash their rising disposable incomes at random and flashy products and services that catch their eye, more and more of India's close to 400 million children below the age of 15 are becoming connoisseurs and specialists that their parents rely on.


The idea that deterministic theories and quantum theories may be very closely related, has been advocated by this author for a number of years [1] . To understand this relation, some issues needed to be further clarified. It has always been obvious that deterministic, time reversible systems can be cast in a quantum mechanical formalism, where the evolution is described by a hamiltonian that in no fundamental way differs from other, obviously quantum mechanical hamiltonians. However, in many cases, different choices of the hamiltonian describe the same physical model, in particular if the time variable is restricted to integral time values (in some units). On the other hand, one would like to implement locality of a deterministic system, such as a cellular automaton, by postulating a hamiltonian that can be regarded as the integral (or sum) of a local hamilton density. This latter procedure is not straightforward. We found interesting examples where this can be done, but a systematic formalism still seems to be lacking.

The idea that deterministic theories and quantum theories may be very closely related, has been advocated by this author for a number of years.


Recently, we elaborated a scheme that enables us to map systems with pairs of integers onto other systems where these pairs are replaced by pairs of real but non commuting numbers [2] . This mapping requires the machinery of quantum mechanics. States of the discrete system may well be postulated to evolve completely deterministically, but this is no impediment against treating them as states in a Hilbert space. After our mapping is applied, much of their deterministic nature becomes hidden, and the system takes the shape of a quantum theory. Indeed, it is a real quantum theory, including Born's interpretation of the squares of the amplitudes as representing probabilities. Consequently, we arrive at a theory of quantum wave functions (which is what quantum states look like when defined on the real line), evolving completely in line with an ordinary Schrödinger equation, yet it is a deterministic theory in disguise. The importance of this mapping is its potential usefulness in quantum field theories. There, we have hamiltonians that are integrals of hamilton densities. We set out to follow the following strategy: turn a simple, exactly soluble cellular automaton into an exactly soluble quantum field theory, derive its hamiltonian, and subsequently add interaction terms. The hamiltonian will receive small, local corrections so that now a cellular automaton can be mapped onto an interacting quantum field theory. From there, find our way to the Standard Model.

Recently, we elaborated a scheme that enables us to map systems with pairs of integers onto other systems where these pairs are replaced by pairs of real but non commuting numbers.


Here we examine a large sample of Croatian people living in a small, isolated island with relatively stable communities. The study of isolate populations aims to take advantage of increased genetic and environmental homogeneity compared with predominantly urban populations (Vitart et al., 2006) . This can facilitate gene mapping but has the potential disadvantages of reducing the diversity of genetic influences and increasing the extent of shared environmental influences, which may be particularly important for personality traits. We apply the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (short-form) to this new group. We examine its psychometric structure, internal consistency, sex differences, heritability, and phenotypic and genetic relationship to psychological distress.

The study of isolate populations aims to take advantage of increased genetic and environmental homogeneity compared with predominantly urban populations.


The neuroticism and extraversion scales had good psychometric characteristics, but not the psychoticism scale, which was not used further here. Sex differences and associations with age were as expected for neuroticism and extraversion. Indeed, despite the translation of the items, even the means and SDs were similar to the UK values for neuroticism and extraversion (Eysenck et al., 1985) . The additive genetic contributions to these traits were within the range of those found in the literature (Matthews et al., 2003) . The genetic correlation between neuroticism and psychological distress measured using the GHQ was very high.

Indeed, despite the translation of the items, even the means and SDs were similar to the UK values for neuroticism and extraversion.

The additive genetic contributions to these traits were within the range of those found in the literature.


The proportion of the total variance contributed by additive genetic effects was significant for all traits except psychoticism, as follows: neuroticism = 0.24; extraversion = 0.41; and GHQ = 0.18 (Table 3) . A 'mother effect' was also fitted but was non-significant for all three measures, with estimated associated variance components contributions of 0.08 (SE = 0.09; p = 0.17) for extraversion, 0.024 (SE = 0.1, p = 0.42) for neuroticism, and 0.045 (SE = 0.09, p = 0.3) for GHQ. Similar estimates were obtained using a maximum likelihood method implemented in Table 2 Sex differences and correlations with age and GHQ for the EPQ-R traits of neuroticism and extraversion and the lie scale SOLAR (Almasy & Blangero, 1998) . Therefore, subsequent results are from models that did not fit mother effects. For neuroticism (EPQ-R-N), the variance component attributable to additive genetic effects became non-significant after adjustment for GHQ, suggesting that these two measures are influenced by shared genes. On the other hand, for extraversion the additive variance component is still highly significant even after adjustment for GHQ or neuroticism, suggesting a non-shared genetic contribution. In agreement with this observation, when a bivariate analysis was performed, there was a very high genetic correlation between neuroticism and GHQ, r g = 0.91, and modest genetic correlations between extraversion and GHQ, r g = À0.37, and between neuroticism end extraversion, r = À0.41 (Table 4) .

Similar estimates were obtained using a maximum likelihood method implemented in Table 2 Sex differences and correlations with age and GHQ for the EPQ-R traits of neuroticism and extraversion and the lie scale SOLAR.


Genetic isolates have been very valuable for the mapping of rare genetic diseases and are believed to offer equal advantages for unravelling the genetics of more common complex diseases. These populations have been shown to exhibit increased levels of linkage disequilibrium, which is favourable for gene mapping (Service et al., 2006) . In addition, preliminary genetic studies using genetic markers in the communities on the Eastern Adriatic islands in Dalmatia have indicated reduced genetic diversity within the island populations surveyed in comparison to the Croatian general population (Vitart et al., 2006) . In tandem with these studies and to provide a foundation for gene mapping studies, it is important to study the distribution of quantitative traits that underline common complex disease and the performance of standard instruments used to measure these traits.

These populations have been shown to exhibit increased levels of linkage disequilibrium, which is favourable for gene mapping.

In addition, preliminary genetic studies using genetic markers in the communities on the Eastern Adriatic islands in Dalmatia have indicated reduced genetic diversity within the island populations surveyed in comparison to the Croatian general population.


The heritability estimates found here are remarkably congruent with other estimates for extraversion and neuroticism (Bouchard, 2004; Keller, Coventry, Heath, & Martin, 2005; Lake, Eaves, Maes, Heath, & Martin, 2000) . Despite this being a population isolate, the heritability estimates for the neuroticism and extraversion EPQ-R components are similar to those published from more diverse populations. This suggests that the potential disadvantages of using isolates in behavioural research are small. Family-based studies provide an upper limit for the heritability since they may include a component in the resemblance between relatives which is due to shared environment. The latter can be more readily estimated in adoption or twin studies, especially where the latter are reared apart (McGue & Bouchard, 1998; Stoolmiller, 1999) . Our attempts to fit mother effect which presumably is a proxy for shared household effect suggested that this effect is low. This is in agreement with twins studies of much larger sample size (Eaves, Heath, Neale, Hewitt, & Martin, 1998; Keller et al., 2005) . Interestingly, these large scale studies additionally underlined a significant non-additive genetic contribution to variation underlying personality traits, most likely due to additive by additive epistasis. Our present study is too small to unravel such effects. The high genetic correlation between neuroticism and psychological distress was in close agreement with the review of data from other cultures where it is found that neuroticism has a high genetic correlation with anxiety and depression (Middeldorp et al., 2005) . Our results also suggested that the correlation between the additive genetic effects is much larger than the correlation between the environmental effects. The trait of neuroticism is the most-studied risk factor for anxiety and depression. In this sample we found that extraversion added significant additional variance to psychological distress. The correlations between GHQ and neuroticism (positive) and extraversion (negative) here are similar to those in a large UK sample of students (Stewart et al., 2005) . In addition to extraversion's being a replicated negative correlate of psychological distress, independent of neuroticism, it was found here to have a negative genetic correlation with GHQ. Therefore, genetic studies of psychological distress should focus on extraversion in addition to neuroticism as a risk factor.

The heritability estimates found here are remarkably congruent with other estimates for extraversion and neuroticism.

The latter can be more readily estimated in adoption or twin studies, especially where the latter are reared apart.

This is in agreement with twins studies of much larger sample size.

The high genetic correlation between neuroticism and psychological distress was in close agreement with the review of data from other cultures where it is found that neuroticism has a high genetic correlation with anxiety and depression.

The correlations between GHQ and neuroticism (positive) and extraversion (negative) here are similar to those in a large UK sample of students.


A large amount of etic research has been completed on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The research has been done mostly on the original 90-item EPQ. Generally, its psychometric structure has been well-reproduced in at least 34 countries (Barrett & Eysenck, 1984; Barrett, Petrides, Eysenck, & Eysenck, 1998) . Here we apply the 48-item short-form of the EPQ-Revised in a new setting.

Generally, its psychometric structure has been well-reproduced in at least 34 countries.


As another example, consider a company that hosts DRM protected media files. Users can purchase licenses from various content providers that issue usage licenses containing keys required to decrypt the protected files. Let us assume that two such content providers are contprov1 and contprov2. A usage license could be expressed as a Boolean formula over attributes. For example, the policy could state that the protected file should only be decrypted by someone who has purchased licenses from at least one of the given content providers and is authenticated as an adult. Policy P 2 in Figure 2 is an example of such a DRM policy. It is also possible to automatically extract such policies from policies written in the Open Digital Rights Language (ODRL) [12] .

It is also possible to automatically extract such policies from policies written in the Open Digital Rights Language (ODRL).


Preventive maintenance (PM) activity is relying on planning and scheduling. Planning the maintenance activities is necessary to set goals and objectives and to establish the procedures for accomplishing these goals, while scheduling involves the actual execution of the planned (and sometimes unplanned) maintenance activities. Maintenance scheduling is a form of decision making that is associated with vagueness and imprecision. It is the process of allocating the limited resources (workshop, manpower, machines, equipment, tools, spare parts, materials) to maintenance tasks over time in order to properly execute work orders, taking into account the operations sequence, standard times and priorities. The primary concern is setting the sequence of the outstanding work orders [23] . PM planning is among the most common and significant problems faced by the manufacturing industry. Production schedules are often interrupted by equipment failures, which could be prevented by proper preventive maintenance [22] . Equipment maintenance management must primarily provide operational or short-term (i.e., daily) and long-term planning.

The primary concern is setting the sequence of the outstanding work orders.

Production schedules are often interrupted by equipment failures, which could be prevented by proper preventive maintenance.


In this paper we will study the fluctuations of a two-dimensional soliton (2-brane) in scalar 4D noncommutative field theory and begin the study of intersecting 2-branes in this theory. On the geometrical level, a plane in four dimensions can be deformed into a curved minimal area surface, and two intersecting planes can be deformed into a single smooth minimal area surface. In string theory, the latter phenomenon is related to a zero-mode which appears at the intersection of two D-branes [17] .

In string theory, the latter phenomenon is related to a zero-mode which appears at the intersection of two D-branes.


In this paper we have found a solution that describes two intersecting 2-brane solitons in a field theory on a noncommutative R 4 in the large noncommutativity limit. We studied the zero modes of the solution. We found a zero mode that is reminiscent of the zero mode of two intersecting D2-branes that corresponds to a deformation into an irreducible curve. It would be interesting to examine whether this zero mode receives a potential at higher orders or whether it is an exact flat direction. Because we have seen that simple holomorphic deformations are no longer flat at sufficiently high orders, the latter possibility seems unlikely. Here "higher-order" could have several meanings. First there is the expansion of the classical action, still in the large noncommutativity limit. This expansion parameter is the ǫ in equation (15) . On top of that, there are the expansions in the noncommutativity parameter and the quantum fluctuations. In these notes we have not attempted to include either of those.

This expansion parameter is the ǫ in equation.


In many taxa, the social environment experienced during early life gives rise to predictable between-individual differences in adult social behaviour [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . For example, in many rodents, individuals who have received limited parental care also provide less parental care themselves to their own offspring [6, 7] . Similarly, macaques exposed to parental abuse are likely to develop similar abusive traits in adulthood [8] . These examples hint at a form of developmental plasticity, in which social cues early in life lead to irreversible developmental switching among different social phenotypes [3, 5, 9] . A commonly found pattern is that early-life social adversity results in the reduced expression of prosocial behaviour later in life, which in turn results in social adversity in the next generation [7, 10, 11] .

In many taxa, the social environment experienced during early life gives rise to predictable between-individual differences in adult social behaviour.

For example, in many rodents, individuals who have received limited parental care also provide less parental care themselves to their own offspring.

Similarly, macaques exposed to parental abuse are likely to develop similar abusive traits in adulthood.

These examples hint at a form of developmental plasticity, in which social cues early in life lead to irreversible developmental switching among different social phenotypes.

A commonly found pattern is that early-life social adversity results in the reduced expression of prosocial behaviour later in life, which in turn results in social adversity in the next generation.


Study sites.-The study was conducted in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, Northern Japan (38u379N, 141u079E) in August 2008. Annual precipitation in the area was 1126 mm, and mean temperature in August 2008 was 22.5uC (Japan Meteorological Agency 2010) . In this area, community-based, biodiversity-friendly farming activities have been expanding recently (Kurechi 2007) .

Annual precipitation in the area was 1126 mm, and mean temperature in August 2008 was 22.5uC.

In this area, community-based, biodiversity-friendly farming activities have been expanding recently.


Our research also has some limitations It addresses logistics risks faced by two 3PLs in the context of its relations with one of its customers CementCo in India and hence lacks generalizability. Nevertheless, the study is conducted in the context of a developing economy and logistics service providers in other developing countries may face similar risks and challenges. Hence the identified risks and the methodology may provide foundation for conducting similar studies in other developing economies. Moreover, the findings in terms of need of increased collaboration and integration between logistics service providers and their customers will also be relevant in other developing economies with limited logistics infrastructure (Wiengarten et al., 2014) .

Moreover, the findings in terms of need of increased collaboration and integration between logistics service providers and their customers will also be relevant in other developing economies with limited logistics infrastructure.


Prior to the release of the instruments, testing resulted in a number of recommendations, perhaps the most interesting being that "ongoing research is needed on the relationship of public health system capacity, performance and outcome" [23] p.196). Halverson argues that part of the value of the American performance standards lies in the fact that "what gets measured, gets done" [21] p.viii). It has been claimed that "the true value of the national performance standards rests with the ability of public health leaders to use these tools to strengthen system capacity" [24] .

Prior to the release of the instruments, testing resulted in a number of recommendations, perhaps the most interesting being that "ongoing research is needed on the relationship of public health system capacity, performance and outcome" p.196).

Halverson argues that part of the value of the American performance standards lies in the fact that "what gets measured, gets done" p.viii).

It has been claimed that "the true value of the national performance standards rests with the ability of public health leaders to use these tools to strengthen system capacity".


Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammatory mechanisms are essential for the development of complications in type 2 diabetes [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] . These mechanisms involve increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as activation of inflammatory cells including macrophages, T/B lymphocytes, and dendritic cells [8, [13] [14] [15] . However, it is unclear if these inflammatory phenomena are involved in the pathogenesis of PDN from type 2 diabetes. Here, we use db/db mice, a model for type 2 diabetes, to study the role of skin inflammation that could contribute to peripheral nerve damage and pain during the period of mechanical allodynia in db/db mice from 6 to 12 weeks of age [16] . In this period, we detected nerve growth factor (NGF)/p38-dependent upregulation of inflammatory markers, including TNF-α, nitric oxide synthases and cyclooxygenase (COX) 2, in db/db mice [17] . Our findings suggested that there is increased inflammation in the peripheral nerves in db/db mice during the period of mechanical allodynia.

Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammatory mechanisms are essential for the development of complications in type 2 diabetes.

These mechanisms involve increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as activation of inflammatory cells including macrophages, T/B lymphocytes, and dendritic cells.

Here, we use db/db mice, a model for type 2 diabetes, to study the role of skin inflammation that could contribute to peripheral nerve damage and pain during the period of mechanical allodynia in db/db mice from 6 to 12 weeks of age.

In this period, we detected nerve growth factor (NGF)/p38-dependent upregulation of inflammatory markers, including TNF-α, nitric oxide synthases and cyclooxygenase (COX) 2, in db/db mice.


The K-theory for a C * -algebra consists of a series of invariants which hold information on equivalence classes of projections in the matrix algebras over the algebra. The K-theory for O N was worked out by Cuntz [5] . In particular, its K 0 group is the finite abelian group K 0 (O N ) = Z/(N − 1)Z. In connection with classification results for inductive limits of Cuntz algebras we mention work of Rordam [25] . We also note that our isomorphism theorem has overlap with work of Evans [13] .

The K-theory for O N was worked out by Cuntz.

In particular, its K 0 group is the finite abelian group K 0 (O N ) = Z/(N − 1)Z. In connection with classification results for inductive limits of Cuntz algebras we mention work of Rordam.

We also note that our isomorphism theorem has overlap with work of Evans.


Location-based services traffic police dispatching systems have been built in many cities. We can master the distribution of road police force and deploy police force in real time through the systems [8] . And it greatly improves the efficiency of the traffic command work. But without understanding the states of the traffic police on duty during dispatching police force based on the location information, the efficiency of the police resources deployment would be greatly reduced. In practice, the primary command staffs often communicate with the relevant police post firstly, and then the police post would send policeman to the corresponding place. These are too many intermediate steps that reduce the efficiency of the police dispatching.

We can master the distribution of road police force and deploy police force in real time through the systems.


We began this article with the description of a university library which had assumed that digital resources could replace the need for physical libraries, and for information professionals as intermediaries. Happily for the future of the profession, our research suggests that this view is fundamentally mistaken. At least in the humanities, digital resources have not replaced the library as an important research resource. If anything, their function as information gateways has increased their importance. Far from being unneeded, digital resources require librarians to take on new roles. Librarians have therefore now become providers, producers, gate keepers and intermediaries for information. They now undertake, in digital terms, some of the roles for which publishers were needed in the print world, for example in the case of institutional repositories, and the library is now viewed as a gateway to further digital collections (Unsworth, 2005) . It is therefore vital that libraries and archives are funded appropriately, and that ICT spending is not seen as a replacement for physical resources and staff.

They now undertake, in digital terms, some of the roles for which publishers were needed in the print world, for example in the case of institutional repositories, and the library is now viewed as a gateway to further digital collections.


Polymer-inorganic particle composites have brought a lot of attention due to their combined properties derived from individual materials (Zhou et al. 2006) . Cellulose is the structural component of primary and secondary cell walls of plants as minor and major constituents, respectively. As a chemical raw material, it is generally well known that it has been used in the form of fibers or derivatives for nearly 150 years for a wide spectrum of products and materials in daily life.

Polymer-inorganic particle composites have brought a lot of attention due to their combined properties derived from individual materials.


As both the Limpopo National Park and the PNB form major components of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, it was decided to build on the work recently completed in the Limpopo National Park (Stalmans et al. 2004) . A similar conceptual approach was followed whereby landscapes were mapped explicitly whereas the embedded plant communities are implicit. A landscape is defined as 'an area with a specific geomorphology, climate, soil vegetation pattern and associated fauna' (Gertenbach 1983) .

As both the Limpopo National Park and the PNB form major components of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, it was decided to build on the work recently completed in the Limpopo National Park.

A landscape is defined as 'an area with a specific geomorphology, climate, soil vegetation pattern and associated fauna'.


Vegetation is often used as a surrogate or building block for the definition of habitats (Timberlake et al. 1993) . The use of broad habitat units defined by a combination of environmental factors and vegetation would probably represent the most useful input for the drafting of the management plan. This is because such units have relevance to different species of wildlife, they may differ in their ecological capacity and availability of water, they might require different fire regimes, and they will differ in their sensitivity to utilisation and development.

Vegetation is often used as a surrogate or building block for the definition of habitats.