The fluid between two concentric spheres differentially rotating around a common axis, nominally the spherical Couette flow, is relevant for geophysical and astrophysical objects like planetary interiors. This is because many planetary bodies consist of a solid inner and a liquid outer core which do not rotate at a constant angular velocity (Spohn, 2007) . The Earth's core, for example, undergoes a slight differential rotation (Song and Richards, 1996; Buffett, 1997) . It is helpful to quantify the interaction between the core rotation and the fluid's interior in order to understand e.g. angular-momentum transport, tidal heating, fluid mixing or the generation of magnetic fields.

This is because many planetary bodies consist of a solid inner and a liquid outer core which do not rotate at a constant angular velocity.

The Earth's core, for example, undergoes a slight differential rotation.


As an example, we can consider an urban multiemergency situation as shown in Fig. 1a . In addition to the emergency response personnel, deployment of several robotic units may be required to perform search and rescue operations in locations where human investigation is difficult [28] . These robotic units would frequently communicate with each other, as well as with the base station, over a wireless ad hoc network. Due to the limited availability of battery power, and high communication overhead, robotic units must be divided into teams to optimize two important objectives: 1) compaction, to minimize power dissipation in intrateam communication, and 2) equipartitioning, to form teams with uniform power distribution, so that the teams do not drop out of the system due to rapid battery exhaustion. These objectives are competitive in nature and need to be optimized in a simultaneous manner. A clustering performed on the basis of a single objective such as compaction would result in the identification of clusters that may not be equipartitioned. One such clustering solution using KMeans algorithm is shown in Fig. 1b . As shown, the clusters are not balanced, and the smaller clusters may drop out of the system much earlier than the other clusters due to the consumption of significant amount of power in intercluster communication, in addition to the search and rescue activities.

In addition to the emergency response personnel, deployment of several robotic units may be required to perform search and rescue operations in locations where human investigation is difficult.


In a nutshell, data-centric trust is built by collecting all the evidence corroborating a piece of information [11] . Intuitively, the more entities that corroborate the information, the higher the resulting trust value is. This has a valuable side effect if the required trust level is a threshold that is independent of the number of participants: The individual contributions of entities decrease as the number of entities increases and hence the amount of privacy that needs to be traded for trust also decreases. But this improvement in privacy comes at a cost when privacy-preserving entities have to collectively contribute to the establishment of data-centric trust in the presence of adversaries. In fact, a privacy-preserving entity is rational by definition, from the privacy point of view. This is because it optimizes its own utility (actually, it minimizes its privacy loss) and hence prefers contributing nothing to the system while getting all the benefits, thus creating the free rider problem [4] . To address this issue, we use game theory to model the strategies of rational entities that try to establish data-centric trust in the presence of rational adversaries. Based on the initial analysis, we prove that using incentives can enable trust establishment and reduce the amount of disclosed privacy.

In a nutshell, data-centric trust is built by collecting all the evidence corroborating a piece of information.

This is because it optimizes its own utility (actually, it minimizes its privacy loss) and hence prefers contributing nothing to the system while getting all the benefits, thus creating the free rider problem.


A similar variational retrieval has been used at ECMWF since March 1996 to retrieve surface wind speed, atmospheric moisture, and cloud liquid water path from SSM/I radiances over ocean (Phalippou 1996) . This scheme runs on quasi-real time every day. At the moment, the retrieved products are used for monitoring the quality of the ECMWF analyses and forecasts and for comparisons with the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service regression algorithms. They are not yet used in the assimilation system.

A similar variational retrieval has been used at ECMWF since March 1996 to retrieve surface wind speed, atmospheric moisture, and cloud liquid water path from SSM/I radiances over ocean.


Today, it is well known that multiple antenna systems are able to bring about significant improvements in wireless communications. For mobile communications, the first step to apply this technology was taken at the introduction of diversity reception at base stations. This was later followed by the so-called smart antennas or adaptive antennas, which relies on array beamforming techniques to achieve system performance improvements [1] . Both these techniques are only implemented at the base station side, since the complexity was considered to be too high for mobile terminals, and the improved performance was already "good enough" at the time.

This was later followed by the so-called smart antennas or adaptive antennas, which relies on array beamforming techniques to achieve system performance improvements.


Patterned or structured electrodes have been shown to have considerable importance in many areas of science and technology, particularly electroanalytical applications [1] [2] [3] . The development of strategies for the fabrication of such materials is needed as the desire to make smaller, more sensitive, and more selective devices becomes increasingly important. One means to create structured electrodes involves strategically combining sol-gel chemistry and templating together [4, 5] . In such a process, for example, a suitable template is doped into a silica sol and cast on a surface such as an electrode. Upon subsequent removal of the template, voids remain in the microporous oxide network. Examples of various types of templates that have been used include molecules, surfactants, and latex spheres [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . In prior work, we have shown how an array of silica nanowells can be formed on an electrode surface and how these structured electrodes can be used to electrochemically grow copper nanoparticles and conducting polymers from the bottom-up [8] . The success of this method depends on the extent at which, upon removal of the latex sphere, the underlying electrode surface is exposed, enabling it to be used as a microelectrode [9] . Providing there are no defects (pin holes) in the insulating silica surrounding the nanowells, the electrochemistry only takes place in the nanowell, thus restricting growth to this area [8] . The advantages of growing arrays of nanoparticles within a porous inorganic network using this approach are the following: (a) the interparticle spacing between nanoparticles can be controlled by the size of the template used to form the nanowell, (b) the size and shape of the resultant nanoparticles/nanostructures can be controlled by the size and shape of the nanowell, and (c) the silica support helps prevent aggregation of the nanoparticles as they begin to grow larger [8, 10, 11] . From an electroanalytical point of view, enlarging the conductive domains located at the bottom of the nanowell also provides a means to potentially increase the sensitivity of the microelectrode array [12] . The importance of nanoparticle arrays in electroanalytical chemistry has been well documented in the literature [12] [13] [14] [15] . Figure 1: Simplified cartoon that shows the fabrication of silica nanowells on the gold electrode and the subsequent enlargement of the conductive domains exposed after template removal.

Patterned or structured electrodes have been shown to have considerable importance in many areas of science and technology, particularly electroanalytical applications.

One means to create structured electrodes involves strategically combining sol-gel chemistry and templating together.

Examples of various types of templates that have been used include molecules, surfactants, and latex spheres.

In prior work, we have shown how an array of silica nanowells can be formed on an electrode surface and how these structured electrodes can be used to electrochemically grow copper nanoparticles and conducting polymers from the bottom-up.

The success of this method depends on the extent at which, upon removal of the latex sphere, the underlying electrode surface is exposed, enabling it to be used as a microelectrode.

Providing there are no defects (pin holes) in the insulating silica surrounding the nanowells, the electrochemistry only takes place in the nanowell, thus restricting growth to this area.

The advantages of growing arrays of nanoparticles within a porous inorganic network using this approach are the following: (a) the interparticle spacing between nanoparticles can be controlled by the size of the template used to form the nanowell, (b) the size and shape of the resultant nanoparticles/nanostructures can be controlled by the size and shape of the nanowell, and (c) the silica support helps prevent aggregation of the nanoparticles as they begin to grow larger.

From an electroanalytical point of view, enlarging the conductive domains located at the bottom of the nanowell also provides a means to potentially increase the sensitivity of the microelectrode array.

The importance of nanoparticle arrays in electroanalytical chemistry has been well documented in the literature.


The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily is a large group of transcription factors that control expression of multiple genes involved in a broad range of biological processes, such as development, homeostasis and metabolism. The transcriptional activity of NRs is primarily regulated through ligand binding [1] . The Pregnane X Receptor (PXR), first described by Kliewer and colleagues in 1998, is a member of the NR superfamily [2, 3] . PXR is mainly expressed in the liver, intestine and kidneys, and plays a key role in the regulation of genes involved in the metabolism and efflux of endogenous hormones and xenobiotic molecules [3] [4] [5] . The genes regulated by PXR include genes encoding enzymes, such as cytochrome P450s (CYPs), glucuronyltransferases and sulfotransferases, as well as transporters, such as P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance proteins [2, 3, [6] [7] [8] . The ligand-binding domain (LBD) of PXR is large and flexible, and can change its shape to accommodate structurally diverse molecules including steroids, bile acids, antibiotics, statins, and pesticides [9, 10] . A considerable amount of inter-species variation has been observed in the PXR LBD with human, rabbit and rat sharing roughly 75-80% amino acid identity [11, 12] . There are numerous examples of differences in ligand binding to PXR and resulting downstream transcription of enzymes and transporters between species, which complicates the extrapolation of results from in vivo animal studies to humans [11, [13] [14] [15] .

The transcriptional activity of NRs is primarily regulated through ligand binding.

The Pregnane X Receptor (PXR), first described by Kliewer and colleagues in 1998, is a member of the NR superfamily.

PXR is mainly expressed in the liver, intestine and kidneys, and plays a key role in the regulation of genes involved in the metabolism and efflux of endogenous hormones and xenobiotic molecules.

The genes regulated by PXR include genes encoding enzymes, such as cytochrome P450s (CYPs), glucuronyltransferases and sulfotransferases, as well as transporters, such as P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance proteins.

The ligand-binding domain (LBD) of PXR is large and flexible, and can change its shape to accommodate structurally diverse molecules including steroids, bile acids, antibiotics, statins, and pesticides.

A considerable amount of inter-species variation has been observed in the PXR LBD with human, rabbit and rat sharing roughly 75-80% amino acid identity.

There are numerous examples of differences in ligand binding to PXR and resulting downstream transcription of enzymes and transporters between species, which complicates the extrapolation of results from in vivo animal studies to humans.


Genetic improvement and intensive silviculture (mechanical site preparation, competition control, fertilization) have increased loblolly pine plantation total yields from 91 to 420 m [8] . Extensive research efforts by academia, corporate landowners, and their cooperative partnerships provided much of the technical improvement that led to current pine plantation yields. Given the size of the actively managed loblolly pine plantation resource and its responsiveness to silviculture, management can be modified to increase regionwide ecosystem carbon sequestration, especially when gains in ecosystem carbon align with increased stem growth or efficiency of fertilizer use. For instance, an additional 8 Tg CO2 equivalents year is sequestered due to application of N and P fertilizer to loblolly pine plantations [9] .

Genetic improvement and intensive silviculture (mechanical site preparation, competition control, fertilization) have increased loblolly pine plantation total yields from 91 to 420 m.

For instance, an additional 8 Tg CO2 equivalents year is sequestered due to application of N and P fertilizer to loblolly pine plantations.


Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is one of the most important commercial tree species in the world, and is the foundation of the forest products economy of the southeastern USA, which produces 16% of the world's timber volume, more than any other country [1] . As of 2010, loblolly pine plantations represented one-half of the standing pine volume in the southern USA (11 million hectares), with over 1 billion seedlings planted annually [2] . Forest management requires a long-term perspective because decisions made today dictate outcomes decades into the future. Even with application of intensive silviculture to increase growth rates, rotation lengths of loblolly pine plantations in the southeastern USA are usually longer than 20 years [3] . Significant increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration are occurring and associated changes in temperature and rainfall may begin to occur over this time frame [4] . To respond to projected changes in climate, a better understanding is needed of how climate affects loblolly pine plantation growth, productivity, and resilience. This information can be used to adapt forest management to novel climate conditions and help mitigate the rise in atmospheric greenhouse gases through increased carbon sequestration.

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is one of the most important commercial tree species in the world, and is the foundation of the forest products economy of the southeastern USA, which produces 16% of the world's timber volume, more than any other country.

As of 2010, loblolly pine plantations represented one-half of the standing pine volume in the southern USA (11 million hectares), with over 1 billion seedlings planted annually.

Even with application of intensive silviculture to increase growth rates, rotation lengths of loblolly pine plantations in the southeastern USA are usually longer than 20 years.

Significant increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration are occurring and associated changes in temperature and rainfall may begin to occur over this time frame.


Greenhouse gas emission permits represent the right to use certain amounts of environmental resources and atmospheric capacity. Since 1992, when the Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the issue of climate change has received international attention. In 2014, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fifth assessment report showed that climate change would have serious widespread and irreversible impacts on humans and ecosystems. As early as 2009, limits on global average surface temperature increases to well below 2 • C above pre-industrial levels were written into the "Copenhagen Accord". In 2015, the Paris Agreement proposed that "through the joint efforts of all countries in the world, the global average temperature increase is controlled within 2 • C compared with the pre-industrial period, and the temperature increase is limited to 1.5 • C" [1] . This agreement means that, in response to climate change, the total amount of global carbon emissions will be rigidly constrained, and countries will be obliged to take on international responsibilities for carbon reduction.

In 2015, the Paris Agreement proposed that "through the joint efforts of all countries in the world, the global average temperature increase is controlled within 2 • C compared with the pre-industrial period, and the temperature increase is limited to 1.5 • C".


The present study assessed thoughts, emotions, and focus of attention of yips affected golfers and thus provides a possible starting point for the development and evaluation of interventions for the yips. It does not, however, distinguish between the potentially different types of yips that have been proposed in the literature (Smith et al., 2003; Stinear et al., 2006) . In addition, as with all qualitative and retrospective studies, it needs to be pointed out that the participants' answers might be biased or distorted by false memory. Moreover, although thoughts, emotions, and focus of attention have been treated as separate categories in the current study, it is obvious that there is always an overlap between thoughts and emotions in qualitative reports about one's personal experience. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to clearly distinguish the focus of attention from thoughts right before or during putting. Yet, in spite of the methodological limitations, the present categorization serves well to promote a better understanding of how golfers experience the yips and which processes might be involved in the yips and its long-term nature. This provides practitioners with valuable information to develop effective treatment.

It does not, however, distinguish between the potentially different types of yips that have been proposed in the literature.


Assuming that psychological factors have an influence on the yips, the negative experience of the yips might offer an explanation for its long-term nature. It is possible the yips endures as a result of entrapment in a cycle of negative expectations and experiences about one's putting skill or perceived control of the movement. As is the task of bowling in cricket, putting 1 might be experienced as a continuously threatening process, as it cannot be avoided and needs to be finished "successfully" (Bawden & Maynard, 2001) . Although we did not apply any psychometric measures it seems plausible to assume that a situation described as fear inducing (i.e., having to take a putt) is perceived as a high-pressure situation. Thus, yips-affected golfers might continue to experience the yips because the perception of pressure due to the demands of the putting task is regularly reinforced by negative feedback about the outcome. However, this explains neither why the yips occurs in the first place nor the underlying mechanisms responsible for the debilitated movement execution.

As is the task of bowling in cricket, putting 1 might be experienced as a continuously threatening process, as it cannot be avoided and needs to be finished "successfully".


Phytosterols are wide occurrence in plants and they make up the largest nontriacylglycerol component of the refined vegetable fats (Itoh et al., 1973) . The cholesterollowering consequence of phytosterol is supposed to be caused by an inhibition of cholesterol absorption resulting from the higher solubility of phytosterols than of cholesterol in bile salt micelles (Hirota et al., 2003) . Sesbania grandiflora (Linn.) is one of the natural source which belongs to the family Leguminosae and commonly known as Agathi.

Phytosterols are wide occurrence in plants and they make up the largest nontriacylglycerol component of the refined vegetable fats.

The cholesterollowering consequence of phytosterol is supposed to be caused by an inhibition of cholesterol absorption resulting from the higher solubility of phytosterols than of cholesterol in bile salt micelles.


Proximate, tocopherol and sterol content`s determination is an important measure during characterization of seed oil of plants and crops. These parameters indicate hidden potential and possibility of exploitation for commercial use of oils. The results of proximate analysis of Sesbania seeds are reported in Figure 1 which shows crude protein present in high amount that is 35%. All human beings necessitate a number of complex organic/inorganic compounds in diet to meet the requirement for their activities. The important constituents of diet are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water (Indrayan et al., 2005) . Total tocopherol contents of seed oil are 258.21 mg/100 g. Soya bean and corn oils are the richest source of γ-tocopherol and the constitution of Sesbania oil showed that γ-tocopherol is present in significantly equal amount of these oils. The presence of other tocopherols complied by falling the occurrence of tocopherol as an α > δ > β -types (Table 1) (Sabria et al., 2006) . The mixture of α, β, γ and δ isomers containing 60% wt of tocopherols, are widely used as an additive to many kinds of foods (Shimada et al., 2000) .

The important constituents of diet are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.

The presence of other tocopherols complied by falling the occurrence of tocopherol as an α > δ > β -types (Table 1).

The mixture of α, β, γ and δ isomers containing 60% wt of tocopherols, are widely used as an additive to many kinds of foods.


This tree occurs through India to tropical Australia, and is planted in other tropical countries including Pakistan. It contains plenty of natural constituents which includes sterols, saponins and tannins etc. The various parts of the plant possess different pharmacological properties. In Folk Medicine, it is applied as aperients, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, laxative, and tonic (Vijay et al., 2009) . The active components of Sesbania seeds are leucocyanidin, cyaniding, saponin and sesbanimide while oleanolic acid and its methyl ester and kaemferol-3-rutinoside are present in its flower.

In Folk Medicine, it is applied as aperients, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, laxative, and tonic.


In this paper we present a "proof of concept" for the use of FPGAs in boosting XML filtering performance. We utilize a four step approach that converts such query into hardware description, suitable for implementation on FPGA. The first step involves conversion of an XPath query to PERL compatible regular expressions (PCREs). The regular expressions are clustered by their common prefixes in order to produce more compact representation on the board and are then translated to VHDL using our "regex to VHDL" compiler [24] . Moreover, in order to support parent-child relationships, we introduce the use of stacks and modify the regular expression hardware to use them. The highly optimized VHDL code is then deployed on the FPGA board. The stream of documents is forwarded to the board where it is processed with high degree of parallelism. Our experimental evaluation reveals that this architecture achieves orders of magnitude improvement in the terms of running time compared to the state of the art software based XML filtering systems.

The regular expressions are clustered by their common prefixes in order to produce more compact representation on the board and are then translated to VHDL using our "regex to VHDL" compiler.


Recently, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has been developed to characterise the residual elastic strain with a high spatial resolution based on the shift of the zone axis of Kikuchi pattern in the materials/specimen due to the improvement of angular resolution during sampling of the Kikuchi pattern [23, [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] . Meanwhile, the geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) distribution can also be calculated based on the lattice curvature [32, 35, 36] . This technique appears to be valuable to capture the small levels of residual elastic strains, especially in the single crystal material, in which the reference Kikuchi pattern can be chosen from far field strain-free regions and is applicable to whole sampling area. In terms of polycrystalline alloys however, this incurs a problem of choosing the reference Kikuchi pattern due to the misorientation between different grains. The chosen reference Kikuchi pattern within the sampling area in the polycrystalline alloys is essentially in an unknown strain state (although normally the reference pattern is chosen from the least deformed region) [35] [36] [37] . As a consequence of the "reference pattern problem", the measured residual elastic strain only represents the relative deformation within the same grain in polycrystalline materials. In addition, this technique is unable to capture a larger plastic strain field.

Recently, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has been developed to characterise the residual elastic strain with a high spatial resolution based on the shift of the zone axis of Kikuchi pattern in the materials/specimen due to the improvement of angular resolution during sampling of the Kikuchi pattern.

Meanwhile, the geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) distribution can also be calculated based on the lattice curvature.

The chosen reference Kikuchi pattern within the sampling area in the polycrystalline alloys is essentially in an unknown strain state (although normally the reference pattern is chosen from the least deformed region).


Particularly, LC lenses with electrically controllable focal length have been reported to show many feasible approaches since the first patent of the invention in 1980 [10] . This essential focusing property represents a signifi− cant improvement compared to conventional fixed lenses because the use of mechanical moving parts may be avoided. Also, static lenses involve complex manufacturing processes for creating the surface curvature, procedures that get more complicated if size of devices is reduced to micro− metric order. Instead, plane surfaces of LC devices make the assembly to standard optics easier, for example, attaching to an optical fibre and can diminish production costs. LC len− ses share their applications with conventional fixed lenses. In addition to the advantages of LC lenses previously men− tioned, lenses arrays based on this technology have shown another advantages according to the specific application. Small size and light weight are some strict constraints, for example, in military applications. Many research works have been reported such as focusing a light beam on a spot, beam steering control in curved trajectories of light in bar− −code scanners or imaging in optical systems using Fresnel lenses. Low driving voltages, low power consumption and trans−missive/reflective operation modes are also benefits for driving the devices.

Particularly, LC lenses with electrically controllable focal length have been reported to show many feasible approaches since the first patent of the invention in 1980.


In order to reduce mortality and meet the daily zinc intake WHO-UNICEF in 2004, recommended zinc supplements (Bryce et al., 2005) . Zinc supplement intervention is a recent development and some trials of its effectiveness have been conducted among children suffering from diarrhea. As recorded in a Bangladesh trial, it was discovered that zinc-supplemented children had 16% faster recovery and 51% lower mortality (Baqui et al., 2002) . Thus, research on finding low, cheap, and readily available biological material that could be embedded with zinc to reduce/carter for human zinc deficiency are currently on going.

In order to reduce mortality and meet the daily zinc intake WHO-UNICEF in 2004, recommended zinc supplements.

As recorded in a Bangladesh trial, it was discovered that zinc-supplemented children had 16% faster recovery and 51% lower mortality.


Our results show growth in buildings' energy demand across all SSPs. This growth is especially strong when considering useful energy projections-70 EJ/yr in 2010 to 164-951 EJ/yr in 2100-heavily driven by cooling energy consumption. In terms of final energy, the extent of the demand increase differs widely across scenarios -from 116 EJ/yr in 2010 to a range of 120-378 EJ/yr by 2100-, underlining the importance of socio-economic, climatic and life styles development on long-term projections. For most scenarios, the results lie within the spectrum of previous studies [44, 45] . The projection for the environmental scenario-SSP1, 120 EJ/yr in 2100-remains below prior baseline forecasts, reflecting the strong structural developments towards sustainability assumed in this scenario.

For most scenarios, the results lie within the spectrum of previous studies.


To conclude, our analysis provides results that are an important input for the analysis of long-term climate change mitigation. They indicate that in absence of vigorous energy efficiency improvement efforts (as assumed in the SSP1 scenario) buildings' energy demand will increase substantially over the 21 st century, imposing greater stress on the energy supply system. Most of this demand increase will come from electricity, for which many decarbonisation options exist [50] . Moreover, the radical shift in the types of services impacts policy making as well; strategies and potentials to decrease energy demand will differ between a context of high demand for heat, as in 2010, and a context of high demand for lighting and appliances, as projected for 2100. A better understanding of different types of energy demand in the buildings sector is therefore a crucial input when analysing the contribution of buildings' energy use to climate change, and for exploring the mitigation possibilities in this sector that remain substantial.

Most of this demand increase will come from electricity, for which many decarbonisation options exist.


Evaluation of Clinical Symptoms. Evaluation of psychopathological symptoms was performed according to the PANSS. This instrument consists of 30 clearly defined items. The PANSS entails three subscales to assess positive (7 items), negative (7 items), and general psychopathological (16 items) symptoms [32] .

Evaluation of Clinical Symptoms.

The PANSS entails three subscales to assess positive (7 items), negative (7 items), and general psychopathological (16 items) symptoms.


One could ask whether the linear trend shown in Figure 4 , and in particular the values of average transmission predicted by the linear fit of Figure 4 , could be extended to the case where the pillar cluster sizes are not uniform. To this aim, we have performed a further in silico experiment, where we have selected a crystal with a random but skewed distribution of pillars in the cells. To design this crystal, we have assigned pillars in cells by a fitness model [26] . We have used this model in order to make a crystal space with skewed clusters size without benchmark distribution. Thus, we have obtained a random crystal in which the clusters size distribution (i.e. pillars for cells distribution) is skewed. This crystal has no empty cells with various number of pillars and therefore it differs with respect to the set of crystals used in the first experiment.

To design this crystal, we have assigned pillars in cells by a fitness model.


The elastically supported beams exposed to moving loads play an important role in practice, and the dynamic response of the system has been studied extensively. Employing the Fourier transform, Sun constructed the closed-form solutions for the problems of infinite beam resting on a Winkler foundation under line moving loads and harmonic line loads, [4, 5] . Also using the analytical approach, Kim and his co-worker have incorporated the effect of initially leaded axial force and shear deformation on the vibration behavior of infinite beams resting on elastic foundation subjected to a moving harmonic load, [6, 7] . By the same method, Chen and his co-workers studied the effect of foundation viscosity on the dynamic response of beam under moving load, [8] . It is necessary to note that all the above cited work on the elastically supported beam, the beam length is assumed to be infinite, and this assumption prevents the complexity arose by the boundary conditions.

Employing the Fourier transform, Sun constructed the closed-form solutions for the problems of infinite beam resting on a Winkler foundation under line moving loads and harmonic line loads.

Also using the analytical approach, Kim and his co-worker have incorporated the effect of initially leaded axial force and shear deformation on the vibration behavior of infinite beams resting on elastic foundation subjected to a moving harmonic load.

By the same method, Chen and his co-workers studied the effect of foundation viscosity on the dynamic response of beam under moving load.


A warranty of any type, since it involves an additional service associated with a product, will lead to potential costs to the manufacturer beyond those associated with the design, manufacture and sale of the product. The warranty servicing costs may vary from 2 to 10 percent of sale price depending on the product and the manufacturer ( Murthy, 2007) . The warranty cost strongly depends on the reliability of the product which in turn depends upon several factors, some of which are controlled by the manufacturer, such as the decisions made during the design and development stage. Some of the factors are related to the consumer such as the product usage pattern and the operating environment and maintenance.

The warranty servicing costs may vary from 2 to 10 percent of sale price depending on the product and the manufacturer.


Grain yield can be predicted by agrometeorologicalspectral models in which the spectral variable is usually represented by vegetation indices, considered remote indicators of vegetation vigor. Theses indices are proposed based on the antagonistic response of the vegetation reflectance in the spectral regions of the visible and near infrared due to the accumulation of biomass (Jensen, 2009) . The higher the amount of biomass, the lower the reflectance is in the visible region due to the increased absorption by the photosynthetic pigments. In the near infrared, the increased biomass causes the reflectance to increase due to increased multiple scattering and additive reflectance (Jensen, 2009; Ponzoni et al., 2012) .

Theses indices are proposed based on the antagonistic response of the vegetation reflectance in the spectral regions of the visible and near infrared due to the accumulation of biomass.

In the near infrared, the increased biomass causes the reflectance to increase due to increased multiple scattering and additive reflectance.


The sonic point in the one-dimensional averaged wave structure is located at the position at where u * + c * = 0. The importance of using a mean steady detonation profile to determine the location of the effective sonic plane was highlighted by Lee & Radulescu [32] . Figure 8 shows the simulation results for the case of continuous (i.e., Γ = 1) lab-fixed energy sources, Q = 50, τ = 0.1, and γ = 5/3 analyzed using the Favre averaging approach and p-v representation of thermodynamic states. Note that while the source energy is uniform throughout the medium, it is still released in piecewise-continuous segments with width L, which is non-dimensionalized to a value of unity when reported here. In figure 8(a) , the evolution of the flow field is plotted as a grayscale contour of pressure in a x -t diagram. Figure 8(b) shows the spatial profile of f in the wave-attached reference frame, which measures the intensity of mechanical fluctuations around the Favre-averaged value in the flow field, non-dimensionalized by Q. The one-dimensional steady structure of the time-averaged pressurep in the waveattached reference frame is plotted in figure 8(c) below the x -t diagram. The thermodynamic path taken by a fluid element traversing this one-dimensional steady, averaged wave structure is plotted in a p-v diagram as shown in figure 8(d) . The location of the sharp increase inp from the upstream initial state to its peak value occurs in the region between the leading shock and the loci of the source releasing energy in the x -t diagram. The peak in the averaged pressure matches the von Neumann pressure, i.e., the downstream pressure behind a normal shock of strength M CJ , shown in figure 8(d) . As shown in figure 8(a) , the u + c characteristics near the separatrix are quasi-straight lines with slight wiggles as they pass through backward-running shock waves and contact surfaces.

The importance of using a mean steady detonation profile to determine the location of the effective sonic plane was highlighted by Lee & Radulescu.


Without visual access to the scene, typical sensing approaches, including ultrasound, optical and thermal imaging, lose their effectiveness and then cannot accurately recover the layout (Leigsnering et al., 2013a) . Electro-magnetic (EM) waves are able to penetrate walls and may be reflected by objects. On account to this feature, targets can be localized, and hence layouts of the area become predictable. Nevertheless, in practical TWRI process, the transmitted wave may reach the receiver through more than direct paths due to the large number of scattering surfaces in the building, e.g. interior walls, floor and ceiling. This leads to multipath propagation associated with the targets and the scattering environment. Multipath propagation may produce various adverse effects to the image, and the energy in the multipath returns may accumulate at some locations in the echo response where no physical targets actually exists (Ahmad and Amin, 2008) . The interior wall multipath propagation investigated in this work arises from specular reflections at the surface of interior walls. Virtual targets are used to describe the effect, which commonly lead to 'ghost' targets that are easily confused with real targets (Setlur et al., 2011) .

Without visual access to the scene, typical sensing approaches, including ultrasound, optical and thermal imaging, lose their effectiveness and then cannot accurately recover the layout.

Multipath propagation may produce various adverse effects to the image, and the energy in the multipath returns may accumulate at some locations in the echo response where no physical targets actually exists.

Virtual targets are used to describe the effect, which commonly lead to 'ghost' targets that are easily confused with real targets.


Assuming that the two interior walls are perpendicular to the front wall, and all the wall parameters are simply estimated. To solve the non-convex optimization problem, a nested optimization scheme is proposed to yield ghost-free reconstruction results and accurate estimation of the wall parameters. In multipath environment, the reconstruction process can be achieved by a block orthogonal matching pursuit (BOMP) after exploiting the group-sparsity properties of echo data. The BOMP algorithm can be viewed as a block version of the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) (Eldar et al., 2010) . It is the extension of the subspace OMP method for TWRI. In each step of iteration, this algorithm selects the best matching sub-block, and converges it into the group of supporting block. However, for valid reconstruction, BOMP needs very precise knowledge of wall parameters. Estimation mistakes in wall parameters may lead to 'ghosts' or may targets localization errors, so particle swarm optimization (PSO) is introduced in this method to solve the wall parameter uncertainty schemes. Numerical simulations prove that the proposed imaging method can significantly improve the imaging quality while successfully correcting the wall parameters.

The BOMP algorithm can be viewed as a block version of the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP).


In recent years, the emerging technology of through-the-wall radar imaging (TWRI) has been one of the hottest topics among international participants due to its widespread applications in monitoring, surveillance and national defence (Ahmad et al., 2015) . High-resolution images of the opaque obscured scenes provide significant assistance to antiterrorism and military missions. TWRI completes the detection process by transmitting Gaussian pulses and processing the echo data (Li and Burkholder, 2015) . It is regarded as an effective and convenient method for revealing the locations of obscured targets in indoor scenarios (Leigsnering et al., 2014) .

In recent years, the emerging technology of through-the-wall radar imaging (TWRI) has been one of the hottest topics among international participants due to its widespread applications in monitoring, surveillance and national defence.

TWRI completes the detection process by transmitting Gaussian pulses and processing the echo data.

It is regarded as an effective and convenient method for revealing the locations of obscured targets in indoor scenarios.


The absence of precise information of the indoor layouts may lead to difficulties in deploying precise configurations to reconstruct with high accuracy in multipath models when the multipath propagation is employed (Wang et al., 2013) . In practical operational scenarios, it is difficult or impossible to obtain accurate wall parameters in advance. Thus, it is imperative to develop valid multipath exploitation techniques, estimate the wall parameters in advance, offer precise information to the reconstruction process and ultimately enable high-resolution reconstruction with accuracy.

The absence of precise information of the indoor layouts may lead to difficulties in deploying precise configurations to reconstruct with high accuracy in multipath models when the multipath propagation is employed.


There are some issues that make this question complicated. In fact, solving a full wave model is computationally demanding and may require vast resources. According to previous works, compressive sensing (CS) has been employed to deal with the huge amounts of the original data, by which an effective approach for CS reconstruction in the presence of multipath without prior knowledge of the building layout has been proposed (Leigsnering et al., 2013b) . However, additional energy in the multipath returns is suppressed rather than exploited during estimating parameters of the layouts. By solving inverse problems in multipath propagation, it is possible to acquire front wall parameters and interior wall positions from the scattered field. With regard to the reflecting and scattering impact on the surrounding buildings, the problem going forward is a non-linear question, and it is even more challenging in practical works. To solve this problem, various linear approximations have been proposed, but the results and conclusions are unacceptable to researchers owing to the insufficient ability to rebuild precise layouts.

According to previous works, compressive sensing (CS) has been employed to deal with the huge amounts of the original data, by which an effective approach for CS reconstruction in the presence of multipath without prior knowledge of the building layout has been proposed.


Simulations indicate that the intersection point is very close to the membrane isoelectric point (IEP) and it allows one to estimate the e p value. However, its estimated value depends on the type of ionic radius considered. Combining Stokes, crystal or cavity radii in the computation of several hindrance factors and DE partition, 5 models which statements and results are reported in table 2, were formulated. In all cases, the membrane charge at the intersection point is very low and e p is comprised between 54.3 and 62.8, in the range of common values reported in the literature [6, 9, 22] . The CV model gives the lowest residuals while CC and SV models yield the worst fitting. The experimental results at pH 4 and 10, were tested for the five models using the values of the pore radius and the pore dielectric constant calculated previously from independent experiments and fitting only one parameter, X (table 3) . The calculated rejections for SV and CC clearly diverged from the experimental ones and are not showed. Results for SS and CV models can be seen in figures 3-6.

In all cases, the membrane charge at the intersection point is very low and e p is comprised between 54.3 and 62.8, in the range of common values reported in the literature.


In order to seek the above-described busy beaver numbers, metabiology evolves programs that output very large numbers. These numbers grow faster than any computable function. Chaitin shows that, if they could be written, his programs would produce large numbers very quickly [1, 3, 27] . But in order to do so, Chaitin's model uses a halting oracle, busy beaver numbers and limitless resources, things that do not exist in reality, or are unknowable, or are unbounded. Because metabiology programs have unbounded length and can run for an unbounded amount of time, the unboundedness essentially undermines the creativity required to solve the large-number problem. With unbounded resources and unbounded time, one can do most anything. One can also quickly exceed the computational resources of the known universe [14, 28] .

Chaitin shows that, if they could be written, his programs would produce large numbers very quickly.

One can also quickly exceed the computational resources of the known universe.


The colour spectrum is a physical continuum but it is perceived discontinuously, as discrete categories or segments of hues (Harnad, 1987) . This is part of an effect called Categorical Perception (henceforth, CP). CP is found when a continuum is divided into categories, and when these categories appear to affect discrimination. In operational terms, CP can be defined by faster and/or more accurate discrimination of pair of stimuli that cross a category boundary (across-category), than two stimuli from the same category (within-category), even when the stimulus differences between the pairs of stimuli are equal. This definition of CP will be used throughout, and is illustrated in the classic form shown in Figure 1 . Figure 1 shows four stimuli designated as B2, B1, G1 and G2. Two (B2, B1) belong to the same the linguistic category, blue, and two (G1, G2) belong to the linguistic category green, with the category boundary between B1 and G1. The separation between the adjacent stimuli is equal. Discrimination of the cross-category stimulus pair (B1, G1) is faster and/or more accurate than discrimination of the within-category stimuli, (B1, B2) or (G1, G2).

The colour spectrum is a physical continuum but it is perceived discontinuously, as discrete categories or segments of hues.


It is also unclear whether this species will develop into a major problem in Chile, and this possibility should be examined further. E. synethes is a multivoltine species, with both immature and adult stages present throughout the year. This seems also to be the case for the population reported here, where up to now larvae have been found feeding only on B. catharticus. In the Australian region, however, it has been reared from several native and exotic grasses that are either spontaneously grown or cultivated, and also on wheat (Kaila 2011) .

In the Australian region, however, it has been reared from several native and exotic grasses that are either spontaneously grown or cultivated, and also on wheat.


CCPs can exhibit six types of pattern: Normal (NR), Cyclic (CC), Upward Trend (UT), Downward Trend (DT), Upward Shift (US) and Downward Shift (DS) (Montgomery, 2008) . Except for normal patterns, all other patterns indicate that the process being monitored is not functioning correctly and requires adjustment. Figure 1 shows six pattern types of control chart.

CCPs can exhibit six types of pattern: Normal (NR), Cyclic (CC), Upward Trend (UT), Downward Trend (DT), Upward Shift (US) and Downward Shift (DS).


In recent years, several studies have been performed for recognition of the unnatural patterns. Some of the researchers used the expert systems (Swift and Mize, 1995; Evans and Lindsay, 1988) . The advantage of an expert system or rule-based system is that it contains the information explicitly. If required, the rules can be modified and updated easily. However, the use of rules based on statistical properties has the difficulty that similar statistical properties may be derived for some patterns of different classes, which may create problems of incorrect recognition.

Some of the researchers used the expert systems.


The given paper is focused on the research of the eggshell membranes behaviour under tensile loading. The results on the fracture strength of the whole eggshell show that this parameter is more or less dependent on the loading rate (Carter, 1979; Trnka et al., 2012; Nedomová et al., 2014) . The same dependence may occur also for the eggshell membranes. In the given paper this dependence has been studied on the eggshell membranes of three domestic fowls (hen, goose and Japanese quail). The knowledge of these characteristics is meaningful e.g. in design of the numerical model of egg. These models are than used in numerical simulation of the egg behaviour under diff erent loads (Song et al., 2006; Perianu et al., 2010) .

The results on the fracture strength of the whole eggshell show that this parameter is more or less dependent on the loading rate.

These models are than used in numerical simulation of the egg behaviour under diff erent loads.


Furthermore, one of the primary parameters which affect the susceptibility of the cables to aerodynamic vibration problems is the cable damping. Structural cables have minimal intrinsic damping that is not normally adequate to suppress wind-induced vibration in the cables. They can potentially be driven to large amplitude oscillations by a variety of windrelated mechanisms. Of the various wind-related mechanisms, the structural cables are generally susceptible to three main phenomena, namely, rain-wind-induced vibrations, galloping of various types, and vortex excitation [1, 5] . Of these, the rain-wind phenomenon is a widespread problem for stay cables resulting in large amplitude vibration of the cables under moderate wind and light rain and has been reported on several bridges around the world. Formation of water rivulets under such conditions is related to this phenomenon.

Of the various wind-related mechanisms, the structural cables are generally susceptible to three main phenomena, namely, rain-wind-induced vibrations, galloping of various types, and vortex excitation.


In this study, we use data collected during the 2009 Thau Lagoon Experiment to investigate whether the LAS technique can be used reliably over lakes or sea to retrieve sensible heat flux (H ) values. The scintillometry technique has, to our knowledge, been used only once to estimate sensible heat fluxes over sea or lakes (McJannet et al. 2011) . This paper presents the results of one of the first attempts to extend its domain of use and compares scintillometry sensible heat flux estimates with those obtained by eddy covariance.

The scintillometry technique has, to our knowledge, been used only once to estimate sensible heat fluxes over sea or lakes.


These implications and contributions to the literature have to be seen in the light of the limitations of this research. First, these results are based on data from one class in a Dutch university. While the results are in line with theory, I suggest that replication would be needed to assess the boundaries of generalization. Here it would be particularly interesting to systematically vary parameters such as the type of participants (bachelor, master, practitioners), the effect of prior education on the benefits of SRL, team learning, and psychological safety, and other didactical features (Carayannis et al., 2003; Al-Atabi and Deboer, 2014) . Second, the relationships between the dependent and independent variables may be more complex than captured in this model. Such an added complexity is suggested by theory. Hence, future analyses could take this complexity into account, for example with multilevel path models (Hox, 2002) .

Here it would be particularly interesting to systematically vary parameters such as the type of participants (bachelor, master, practitioners), the effect of prior education on the benefits of SRL, team learning, and psychological safety, and other didactical features.

Hence, future analyses could take this complexity into account, for example with multilevel path models.


Game jams are creative, social events in which participants, usually working in teams and physically colocated in a space with other jam participants, rapidly produce a game. Typical game jams last 24-72 hours; for example, the Global Game Jam, an annual event in which hundreds of locations around the world simultaneously host game jams, lasts 48 hours [1] . Kultima summarises them as "accelerated, constrained and opportunistic game creation events with public exposure" [2] .

Typical game jams last 24-72 hours; for example, the Global Game Jam, an annual event in which hundreds of locations around the world simultaneously host game jams, lasts 48 hours.

Kultima summarises them as "accelerated, constrained and opportunistic game creation events with public exposure".


Recently, a wide range of IoT oriented simulators have risen [1] [2] [3] . Regrettably, these are use case limited (e.g., they only focus on big data processing). In addition, they are often focused on very specific sensors or sensor behaviour, neglecting the financial side of operating large scale IoT systems. Finally, these simulators are rarely scaling to match the number of devices foreseen in IoT systems of tomorrow.

Recently, a wide range of IoT oriented simulators have risen.


The susceptibility patterns of Aeromonas spp. were very similar to that of P. shigelloides. These bacteria are closely related and can share resistance determinants. The bacteria were isolated from common environments and are therefore likely to be exposed to similar antibiotic resistance selection pressure. Besides, this finding may be in support of previous reports that genus Aeromonas is an indicator bacterium for antimicrobial resistance in the aquatic ecosystem (Baron et al. 2017; Penders and Stobberingh 2008; Usui et al. 2016) .

Besides, this finding may be in support of previous reports that genus Aeromonas is an indicator bacterium for antimicrobial resistance in the aquatic ecosystem.


Three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs) offer considerable advantages by offering increased signal speeds and lower operation power, and by combining multiple technology functions in a low-volume stacked design. Threedimensional integration increases the number of potential inter-chip interconnections while reducing interconnection complexity and cost. The design complexity of 3D ICs introduces an increased sensitivity of operation and reliability due to the thermomechanical interactions among their multilevel components [29] . Therefore, mechanical modeling has become a critical consideration in the design phase of 3D ICs to manage and reduce these sensitivities, and to increase yield and reliability [12, 14, 31] . Progress has been made in the simulation of the thermomechanical response of 3D ICs, primarily utilizing finite element methods in two and three dimensions [2, 3, 6, 8, 18] .

The design complexity of 3D ICs introduces an increased sensitivity of operation and reliability due to the thermomechanical interactions among their multilevel components.

Therefore, mechanical modeling has become a critical consideration in the design phase of 3D ICs to manage and reduce these sensitivities, and to increase yield and reliability.

Progress has been made in the simulation of the thermomechanical response of 3D ICs, primarily utilizing finite element methods in two and three dimensions.


Fabric-covered cylinders provide a well-defined experimental and computational framework to study some of the system-level effects important for clothed humans [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . The effects of variable air spacing between fabric layers, or between the fabric and the human skin surface, can be important in determining how much heat and mass is transferred into or out of the clothing. Much progress has been made in more complicated models that capture the actual body geometry of clothed humans or body sections [10] [11] [12] . However, as shown in Figure 1 , there is significant computational expense associated with modeling the clothed human configuration.

Fabric-covered cylinders provide a well-defined experimental and computational framework to study some of the system-level effects important for clothed humans.

Much progress has been made in more complicated models that capture the actual body geometry of clothed humans or body sections.


While the world is facing huge financial policy changes, a relative sluggish growth of insurance industry has been seen in Pakistan. The country is therefore on its move to gradually increase the insurance penetration (Malik, 2011) . While after the insurance reforms of 1990, the insurance industry has seen firm developments, however the actual factor of this development is the implementation of the insurance ordinance 2000.

The country is therefore on its move to gradually increase the insurance penetration.


Composite show similar rate sensitivity of failure stresses in all three directions. Averaging three values obtained from fits, CERATE1, strain rate dependency of failure stress, was found to be 0.02048. In Figs. 3(a) and (b) experimental and numerical bar responses of the composite are given. Numerical data was intentionally time-shifted for clarity. It is clear that the numerical data show very similar behavior to the experimental data and, hence, confirm the validity of the model. From Fig. 3(b) , the amplitude of the reflected wave is seen to increase as a function of time from zero to a local maximum before decreasing gradually: this is followed by a sharp rise indicating that the specimen has been extensively damaged or has failed. In Fig. 4 experimentally obtained and numerically calculated damage sequences of composite can be seen in longitudinal and through-thickness directions. In experiments, a high-speed camera was used to obtain the images. In figures, first pictures show the instant that incident bar strikes the specimen. The images were taken with an inter-frame time of 46 μs. Numerical simulation results are shown with the contours of delamination mode history variable of MAT-162 (History variable #12, [10] ).

Numerical simulation results are shown with the contours of delamination mode history variable of MAT-162 (History variable #12,).


As briefly discussed in study 1, a limitation of our procedure is that it does not allow, in the neutral prime conditions, for mechanisms previously found to influence future decisions to operate. In general, we would expect healthier food choices for the future than for the present. We believe there are three possible reasons why choices in the neutral prime conditions are not different between the present and the future. First, the neutral prime conditions still featured a scrambled sentence task. The sentences used in those conditions (e.g., "they had a great trip") may have activated different, inconsistent goals for different participants, creating noise and overriding the influence of time frame. Second, Goal Systems Theory posits that means to goal achievement present in the environment are capable of activating goals and influence behaviors (Shah and Kruglanski 2003) . Because participants were presented with eight healthy food items and eight tasty food items, goals associated with both types of food may have become activated in the absence of a previous information prime, which motivated thoughts about both indulgence and selfcontrol independently of the time frame of the choice. Third, offering 16 options in the set is more subject to preference heterogeneity than a simple choice between a virtue and a vice, commonly used in intertemporal choice research.

Second, Goal Systems Theory posits that means to goal achievement present in the environment are capable of activating goals and influence behaviors.


Activation of information associated with spending and saving influenced choices in the food domain in a similar way that information associated with food indulgence and self-control did. This implies that different domains in which self-control and indulgence operate are represented within the same superordinate structure (Wadhwa, Shiv, and Nowlis 2008) . Once information in the environment activates this "indulgence" or "self-control" structure, the managing of multiple behaviors is not restricted to particular behaviors directly associated with the active information, but rather to an array of behaviors associated with a higher-level indulgence and self-control representation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing how people balance across seemingly unrelated behaviors in the pursuit of self-control.

This implies that different domains in which self-control and indulgence operate are represented within the same superordinate structure.


Procedure and Stimuli. Participants entered the behavioral lab and were seated in front of personal computers. Instructions told participants that they would now participate in three studies, supposedly unrelated. The first study purportedly investigated cognitive processes associated with unscrambling sentences. In truth, the study aimed at priming certain information content (Srull and Wyer 1979) . Participants were presented with 10 sets of five words and asked to form sentences by unscrambling those words. Each sentence contained a word related to one type of information. In the "self-control information prime" condition, participants unscrambled sets of words such as habits paid his healthy off. In the "neutral information prime" condition, participants unscrambled sets of words such as a had trip they great. The self-control condition had 10 sentences including words related to self-control. The words were work out, fat, weight, fit, slim, shape, healthy, diet, nutrition, and exercises. The second task was a manipulation of construal level (Freitas, Gollwitzer, and Trope 2004) . In the concrete (abstract) construal condition, participants were told that we were interested in how (why) people pursue academic success. We asked participants to describe how (why) they will achieve academic success. After participants wrote a response, they clicked on a "continue" button, and the next screen appeared. The next screen showed the exact response they had given on the previous screen and asked how (why) they were going to do that. This procedure was repeated one more time. Participants were given as much time as they wanted to write the responses. After participants were done, they were asked to indicate, on a scale ranging from 1 to 9, whether academic success for them was "getting my books, studying hard, and going to classes," anchored at 1 on the scale, or "focusing on whom I want to be in my personal and professional life," anchored at 9 on the scale. This measure was used as a manipulation check.

Procedure and Stimuli.

In truth, the study aimed at priming certain information content.

The second task was a manipulation of construal level.


Plants have developed different adaptive mechanisms to withstand abiotic stress conditions such as high or low temperature, salinity and drought. Many of these adaptive mechanisms are a consequence of stress perception and are likely to be mediated through stress induced expression of specific genes. This stress induced gene expression leads to the synthesis of specific stress responsive proteins, which may impart tolerance. Stress induced genes are many and diverse. In response to desiccation stress alone, as many as 74 genes are expressed (Ingram and Bartels, 1996) . An important group of stress responsive genes are late embryogeny abundant (lea) genes which were first identified in maturation and desiccation phases of seed development in cotton. Several lea genes have been characterized and, based on deduced amino acid sequences, different LEA groups of proteins have been identified and their functions postulated (Baker, Steele and Dure, 1988) .

In response to desiccation stress alone, as many as 74 genes are expressed.

Several lea genes have been characterized and, based on deduced amino acid sequences, different LEA groups of proteins have been identified and their functions postulated.


Amongst the different groups of LEA proteins the LEA2 and LEA3 groups have been extensively characterized. The LEA2 group of proteins, also referred to as dehydrins, are characterized by a highly conserved sequence, KIKEKLPG in the carboxy terminus (Baker et al., 1988) . The consensus * Present address : Section of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

The LEA2 group of proteins, also referred to as dehydrins, are characterized by a highly conserved sequence, KIKEKLPG in the carboxy terminus.


Based on the total amount of nutrients circulating in litterfall, several meta-analyses suggest that N likely limits plant growth in tropical montane and white-sand forests, and P or another rock-derived element limits plant growth in most lowland tropical forests (Vitousek & Sanford 1986; Tanner, Vitousek & Cuevas 1998) . Nutrient limitation by K has been relatively less studied in forested ecosystems in comparison with N and P despite its vital function in sustaining nutrition and primary productivity (Tripler et al. 2006) . Ours is the only K fertilization experiment in a tropical forest .

Based on the total amount of nutrients circulating in litterfall, several meta-analyses suggest that N likely limits plant growth in tropical montane and white-sand forests, and P or another rock-derived element limits plant growth in most lowland tropical forests.

Nutrient limitation by K has been relatively less studied in forested ecosystems in comparison with N and P despite its vital function in sustaining nutrition and primary productivity.


The distribution pattern of pseudobranchial tumours in cod correlates positively with the population density. So it can be concluded that it is an epidemic densitydependent disease. These results are in accordance with the hypothesis that the pseudobranchial tumour is an infectious disease caused by protozoans (Watermann et al., 1982) .

These results are in accordance with the hypothesis that the pseudobranchial tumour is an infectious disease caused by protozoans.


Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease. Every year 59 000 people are estimated to die of rabies transmitted by domestic dogs, mostly in Asia and Africa [1] . The main reservoir hosts for rabies are domestic dogs in low-and middle-income countries, but wild animals including foxes, raccoons, skunks and raccoon dogs also maintain rabies in some parts of the world [2] . Historically, measures for controlling dog rabies have included dog population management, movement restriction and vaccination [3] . Dog vaccination is the most effective control measure [4, 5] . Today, rabies mostly circulates in countries where large-scale dog vaccinations have not been undertaken, and has emerged in unvaccinated dog populations in previously rabiesfree areas [6, 7] .

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease.

Every year 59 000 people are estimated to die of rabies transmitted by domestic dogs, mostly in Asia and Africa.

The main reservoir hosts for rabies are domestic dogs in low-and middle-income countries, but wild animals including foxes, raccoons, skunks and raccoon dogs also maintain rabies in some parts of the world.

Historically, measures for controlling dog rabies have included dog population management, movement restriction and vaccination.

Dog vaccination is the most effective control measure.

Today, rabies mostly circulates in countries where large-scale dog vaccinations have not been undertaken, and has emerged in unvaccinated dog populations in previously rabiesfree areas.


In this study two different groups were included: a clinically relevant group and an asymptomatic one. According to the current guidelines for evaluating diagnostic accuracy, the first step in the assessment of a novel test has to evaluate the discriminative ability between a priori defined, gold standard diseased and non diseased subjects [27] [28] [29] . As can be seen from Table 1 , controls and COPD subjects differs in age and smoking history. Although this difference does not allow extending our results to a general population of smokers and nonsmokers of a similar age, definitely it gives two clear indications for further analysis.

According to the current guidelines for evaluating diagnostic accuracy, the first step in the assessment of a novel test has to evaluate the discriminative ability between a priori defined, gold standard diseased and non diseased subjects.


Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a wide class of small organic molecules that are volatile at ambient temperature. In exhaled breath, VOCs include several molecular families such as hydrocarbons, compounds containing nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur. Important components are the byproducts of the oxidation of phospholipids cytoplasmic DNA or membrane protein or can be the result of various pathophysiological processes or formed by bacteria [4, 5] . Under normal conditions, the exhaled air contains many VOCs that are both endogenous, produced during the body's metabolic processes, and exogenous, absorbed by the external environment. Exogenous compounds enter into the body through the skin, inhalation or ingestion and then are metabolized, modified by physiological processes such as the absorption in the epithelial lining fluid of airways, and by biochemical alteration such as oxidation processes and exhaled [4, 6] . A recent review indicates some 1840 VOCs in exhaled air of healthy subjects [7] .

Important components are the byproducts of the oxidation of phospholipids cytoplasmic DNA or membrane protein or can be the result of various pathophysiological processes or formed by bacteria.

Exogenous compounds enter into the body through the skin, inhalation or ingestion and then are metabolized, modified by physiological processes such as the absorption in the epithelial lining fluid of airways, and by biochemical alteration such as oxidation processes and exhaled.

A recent review indicates some 1840 VOCs in exhaled air of healthy subjects.


Electronic noses may provide information about the respiratory profile characterized by a set of various VOCs, but they do not provide specific information about the individual molecules. To identify the compounds present in the exhaled air it is necessary to use different techniques based on a detection mechanism able to separate the different compounds in the mixture. GC-MS is certainly the most widely used of these instruments, in particular complemented by solid phase micro-extraction techniques [18] .

GC-MS is certainly the most widely used of these instruments, in particular complemented by solid phase micro-extraction techniques.


Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease characterized by a mixture of small airways disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema) that causes flow limitation (http://www.goldcopd.org/uploads/users/files/GOLD_ Report_2014_Jun11.pdf ). A proper and early detection of COPD is essential to improve the prognosis of this progressive and debilitating disease, but although pulmonary functional tests (PFTs) are mandatory in the diagnosis of COPD, none of the derived parameters are so specific or sufficiently sensitive to detect the peripheral damage of the small airways or the different underlined mechanisms [1] . Moreover, it has been observed that the greater decline in lung function often occurs in the moderate stage of disease and an early intervention may reduce the progression of pathology [2, 3] .

A proper and early detection of COPD is essential to improve the prognosis of this progressive and debilitating disease, but although pulmonary functional tests (PFTs) are mandatory in the diagnosis of COPD, none of the derived parameters are so specific or sufficiently sensitive to detect the peripheral damage of the small airways or the different underlined mechanisms.

Moreover, it has been observed that the greater decline in lung function often occurs in the moderate stage of disease and an early intervention may reduce the progression of pathology.


Further researches are needed to clarify the metabolic pathways of formation and the role played by these VOCs. However, although the mechanisms of generation and elimination of some VOCs are not yet fully understood, and none of the individual compounds was specific for COPD, the overall analysis of VOCs adds a valuable contribution to diagnose and characterize the disease. A limit of our study is represented by the difference in age between the two studied populations, since the healthy subjects were younger than COPD patients. However, it has been shown that VOCs pattern in exhaled air is not different between healthy young and healthy elderly [49] . However, we cannot exclude the possibility that age-related differences may alter the profile of the exhaled air in presence of a disease [50] . Although this study found a peculiar fingerprint in COPD in comparison to healthy subjects and some VOCs were correlated to the disease, more studies and a larger population are needed to translate these results into clinical practice. Moreover, subjects were restrained for food, but it was not standardised the carbohydrate intake. Another limit of our study could be that the analysis of VOCs has been done from the first 500 ml of exhaled air. Normally, the first 125-150 ml of exhaled air derive from dead anatomical space. The next volumes of air derive from peripheral airways and alveolar compartments. Our objective was to analyze the air from small airways and alveoli, therefore from the site of inflammation in COPD. More laborious methods to collect exhaled air might include the elimination of the breath portion in contact with upper airways, while in this paper we preferred to use a more simple and reproducible method.

However, it has been shown that VOCs pattern in exhaled air is not different between healthy young and healthy elderly.

However, we cannot exclude the possibility that age-related differences may alter the profile of the exhaled air in presence of a disease.


Electronic noses are versatile instruments typically portable, based on arrays of partially selective gas sensors system. Electronic noses can typically detect a large spectrum of VOCs to provide a discrimination among samples classified according to their chemical composition [16] . Among a manifold of other applications, some electronic noses have been used to differentiate healthy subjects from patients affected by various diseases [15] . In combination with other "omics" platforms, the electronic nose could contribute to exploit the knowledge about biomarkers of lung inflammation, respiratory diseases and to characterize different phenotypes, providing important information to personalize drug treatment and facilitate the development of new drugs [17] .

Electronic noses can typically detect a large spectrum of VOCs to provide a discrimination among samples classified according to their chemical composition.

Among a manifold of other applications, some electronic noses have been used to differentiate healthy subjects from patients affected by various diseases.

In combination with other "omics" platforms, the electronic nose could contribute to exploit the knowledge about biomarkers of lung inflammation, respiratory diseases and to characterize different phenotypes, providing important information to personalize drug treatment and facilitate the development of new drugs.


There are a number of limitations that clearly limit the generalizability of the results and prevent causal inferences from being drawn. First, because participants were not randomly assigned to schools with and without GSAs, causality cannot be inferred with regard to the relationship between GSA status and any of the outcome variables of the study. Rather, GSAs should be viewed as indicative of an environment that may be conducive to healthy development for LGBT youth. Though we did attempt to control for the acceptance of and safety for LGBT people in the communities that participants attended high school, some of the benefits detected in this study may still stem from living in a community where the climate for sexual minorities is quite positive. These communities are more likely to have schools with a GSA and other resources, compared to communities where the climate for LGBT people is less than desirable (Fetner & Kush, 2008) .

These communities are more likely to have schools with a GSA and other resources, compared to communities where the climate for LGBT people is less than desirable.


Our study showed that aerenchyma was observed only at 6 mg/kg of selenate ( Figure 4E ). Aerenchyma is an adaptation that allows storage and distribution of gases along the root plants, aiding in respiration and ATP production. Plants that received selenate can develop aerenchyma in cortical tissues and this adaptation could be related to development of a volatilization system for Se excess (Azaizeh et al. 2003) .

Plants that received selenate can develop aerenchyma in cortical tissues and this adaptation could be related to development of a volatilization system for Se excess.


Histochemical assay showed modifications in roots of B. brizantha plants due to rates and sources of Se applied (Figures 4 and 5) . Both forms of Se over than 1 mg/kg increased apoplastic barriers, with an increase in exoderm and endoderm, however, this increase was non-significant. Cortical parenchyma cells did not change with selenite rates supply (Figure 5 ), however, in high levels of selenate, aerenchyma development in root of B. brizantha plants was observed ( Figure 4E ). An increase in apoplastic barriers could be associated with blockage of contaminant flow from the soil solution to vascular cylinder (Pereira et al. 2008) .

An increase in apoplastic barriers could be associated with blockage of contaminant flow from the soil solution to vascular cylinder.


Former studies indicate that selenate and selenite provide distinct responses in Se translocation . In this study, lower Se treatments (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg), around 65% of the element applied as selenate and 40% as selenite was found in leaves of B. brizantha ( Figure 1C) . These results fairly agree with those obtained in former studies , which reported that selenate is superior to selenite in translocation by higher plants. This happens when selenite is taken up by roots, as it is rapidly assimilated into organic forms that are not highly mobile in the xylem, while selenate is not easily converted to organic forms in roots and is therefore readily transported to leaves (Li et al. 2008) .

This happens when selenite is taken up by roots, as it is rapidly assimilated into organic forms that are not highly mobile in the xylem, while selenate is not easily converted to organic forms in roots and is therefore readily transported to leaves.


There have only been three published field surveys of the ecology of D. validus, including one in the Eastern Arc Mountains. There have also been no attempts to make direct counts of D. validus density nor to determine how disturbance affects behavior. Furthermore, there have been no studies to compare methods for estimating density. This lack of research is regrettable because the hyrax's uneven density and patchy distribution has to be understood before practical conservation plans can be developed. A common approach has been to estimate hyrax latrine density [11, 12] . One such study, in two of the same areas as the current study, showed that the latrine density of hyrax in the West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve was far greater than in the heavily hunted New Dabaga / Ulangambi Forest Reserve. A second study in South Africa also showed that den preference of D. arboreus is closely linked to diet [13] . From both of these studies it is clear that tall, intact forest is crucial for D. validus survival.

A common approach has been to estimate hyrax latrine density.

A second study in South Africa also showed that den preference of D. arboreus is closely linked to diet.


HIV positive women with recent CD4 count of </=200 cell/mm3 were five times more likely to be screened for cervical Ca than those whose CD4 cell count was > 200 cell/mm3. Women with lower CD4 count might have advanced WHO clinical stage, they might have been diagnosed as HIV positive a long time ago and might have frequently developed opportunistic infections. Thus, they might make frequent health institution visits and be advised or counseled to be screened for cervical Ca. However, this finding contradicts the finding of a study conducted in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy [11] .

However, this finding contradicts the finding of a study conducted in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy.


Radiation Oncologists and many other medical experts currently spend a substantial portion of their time segmenting medical images, and in particular, labeling brain tumors and associated edema in MRI. This labeling is especially important when planning radiation therapy, and new treatment techniques such as Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy will soon drastically increase the segmentation workload [1] . The introduction and acceptance of these types of new technology will thus depend on reducing the manual time associated with detecting and segmenting tumors.

This labeling is especially important when planning radiation therapy, and new treatment techniques such as Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy will soon drastically increase the segmentation workload.


But despite the nationwide screening program in the Netherlands, there was an increase in AIS with stable rates of invasive adenocarcinoma. An increase in incidence of invasive adenocarcinomas as well as in situ adenocarcinomas has been shown in multiple countries worldwide, such as the Unites States, Korea, Sweden, and other European countries [1, 4, 7, 33] . However, presumably with adequate screening and treatment of the precursor lesion of adenocarcinoma, one would expect a decrease in the incidence of invasive adenocarcinoma. Therefore, an increase in AIS rate (or an increase in AIS detection) could lead to a subsequent drop in adenocarcinoma incidence. This was not found in this study, and also other studies found the same phenomenon of cervical cancer screening seemingly failing to decrease adenocarcinoma incidence [7, 9, 31] . Theoretically, it could be that this effect is not yet visible, since it takes approximately 10 years for AIS to progress into invasive adenocarcinoma [2] . Or it is possible that part of the precursor lesions we are detecting would have shown regression on their own.

An increase in incidence of invasive adenocarcinomas as well as in situ adenocarcinomas has been shown in multiple countries worldwide, such as the Unites States, Korea, Sweden, and other European countries.

This was not found in this study, and also other studies found the same phenomenon of cervical cancer screening seemingly failing to decrease adenocarcinoma incidence.

Theoretically, it could be that this effect is not yet visible, since it takes approximately 10 years for AIS to progress into invasive adenocarcinoma.


There have been several web test collections created for supporting reproducible experiments at TREC. Examples include .GOV2, WT2g, and WT10g as well as a recent larger collection ClueWeb09. For large collections, relevance judging is mostly done through pooling techniques [7] . Such techniques assemble and judge results from multiple searches and systems, with the assumption that most relevant documents will be found.

For large collections, relevance judging is mostly done through pooling techniques.


Our study demonstrates that both children and parents are especially sensitive to the doctor's tone of voice; thus, verbal communication is likely a critical factor in shaping this relationship. Non-verbal behaviors such as eye contact or gestures were less frequently voiced by the participants as being important. One of our previous studies also found tone of voice to be the most frequently perceived feature of family doctors during patient visits [24] .

One of our previous studies also found tone of voice to be the most frequently perceived feature of family doctors during patient visits.


Such an explicit description brings up a more intriguing question. For a symplectic rational manifold Corollary 1.2(1) tells us we have a transitive group action of π 0 (Symp h (M )) = Symp h (M )/Symp 0 (M ) on Lag ξ (M, S 2 ), the Hamiltonian isotopy classes of Lagrangian spheres in the class ξ ∈ H 2 (M ; Z), and the stabilizer of this action seems hard to understand. It may be possible to understand the stabilizer of the action of π 0 (Symp h (M )) on the Fukaya category in terms of braid group elements [20] .

It may be possible to understand the stabilizer of the action of π 0 (Symp h (M )) on the Fukaya category in terms of braid group elements.


Pre-surgical examination of epileptic patients traditionally includes language lateralization assessment [1] . However, language is a complex entity involving multiple levels of processing. Expressive language tasks (e.g. verbal fluency) are the most frequently used paradigms to investigate language lateralization [2, 3] . Receptive language paradigms, however, may be more suitable when working with young children or patients with mental retardation as they do not require active participation of the subject [4] . A number of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies suggest a left temporo-frontal stream specifically involved during syntactic and semantic processing, both necessary to comprehension [5] [6] [7] . For instance, the processing of sentence with canonical Subject-Verb-Object structure (SVO) involves a pathway that includes the frontal inferior gyrus, the supplementary motor area and the temporal inferior gyrus [8] . These authors further suggest that the left temporal inferior gyrus would play a role in the integration of the Subject, the Verb and the Object into a semantically coherent sentence.

Pre-surgical examination of epileptic patients traditionally includes language lateralization assessment.

Expressive language tasks (e.g. verbal fluency) are the most frequently used paradigms to investigate language lateralization.

Receptive language paradigms, however, may be more suitable when working with young children or patients with mental retardation as they do not require active participation of the subject.

A number of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies suggest a left temporo-frontal stream specifically involved during syntactic and semantic processing, both necessary to comprehension.

For instance, the processing of sentence with canonical Subject-Verb-Object structure (SVO) involves a pathway that includes the frontal inferior gyrus, the supplementary motor area and the temporal inferior gyrus.


Excess food intake and reduced physical activity are among the major causes of the worldwide increase in obesity. With increased obesity follows increased number of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. T2D is increasing exponentially and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide [1] . Moreover, patients with diabetes often develop cardiovascular complications.

T2D is increasing exponentially and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.


Irregular ("go anywhere") skidding should be avoided as it results in excessive land disturbance and erosion. The negative environmental effects caused by skidding activities listed in descending order include the physical detrition of the soil, plant retardation, changes in species diversity and degradation of wildlife habitats and activities caused by organic elements and humification of the soil and nitrogen losses due to denitrification. Furthermore, skid trails break trees and saplings on the path also causing trauma and injury. Stream water quality can be affected by the nutrient cycle and water temperature of riparian zones. This is primarily due to sediment flow into drainage systems caused by skid trails [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] .

This is primarily due to sediment flow into drainage systems caused by skid trails.


Recent advances in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology make it possible to build micrometer-scale sensors mimicking the function and structure of fish lateral lines. The first MEMS lateral line consists of a linear array of 16 hotwire amemometers (Fan et al., 2002) . These sensors are capable of measuring flow magnitude but not direction. Recently, MEMS haircell flow sensors, which are sensitive to flow direction, have also been developed .

The first MEMS lateral line consists of a linear array of 16 hotwire amemometers.


To overcome this problem, we exploit quasi-experimental variation in insurance status resulting from the rules insurance companies use to establish the coverage eligibility of dependents. One of the largest segments of the population that lacks health insurance is young adults (age 19 to 29). For example, in the United States, 29% of the uninsured are young adults (Schwartz and Schwartz, 2008) . Because many health insurance contracts cover dependents until the age of 18 and only cover older dependents if they are full time students, a significant number of teenagers become uninsured after they reach the threshold birthday. Because young adults are relatively healthier than the older population, it is reasonable to assume that they would consume relatively low levels of health care regardless of whether they are insured or uninsured and that the social cost of extending coverage to uninsured young adults would be relatively modest.

For example, in the United States, 29% of the uninsured are young adults.


DsiRNA-CS nanoparticles that had a small particle size, positive surface charge, regular morphology, high encapsulation efficiency, and exhibited sustained release of DsiRNA were successfully prepared by the ionic gelation method. Moreover, these nanoparticles provided maximal protection [29] . Thus, DsiRNA was more effective for silencing the target gene in solid tumors at a concentration 2.5-fold less than siRNA, and this reduction could prevent off-target effects. Moreover, CS has great prospective applications for DsiRNA delivery. Thus, DsiRNA-CS nanoparticles could be used in future in vivo studies.

Moreover, these nanoparticles provided maximal protection.


RNA interference (RNAi) was first identified in C. elegans in 1998 and subsequently in mammalian cells as a posttranscriptional gene silencing mechanism [1] . Within a decade, RNAi has developed into a tool for functional molecular genetics, target gene validation in drug discovery, and a novel therapeutic strategy [2, 3] . Small interfering RNA-(siRNA-) induced RNAi is considered to be a treatment modality for human diseases including cancers [4, 5] . However, nonspecific effects triggered by siRNAs complicate the use of RNAi for specifically downregulating gene expression [6] . It has been recently shown that chemically synthesized DsiRNA (27 bp duplexes) is more potent than traditional siRNA (21 bp duplexes) [7] . Use of DsiRNA to trigger RNAi should result in enhanced efficacy and increased longevity of RNAi, at lower concentrations than that of siRNA [8] . Unlike siRNA, DsiRNA is bound and cleaved by Dicer and then passed into the RNAi-induced silencing complex (RISC) assembly in a sequence-specific orientation [6] .

RNA interference (RNAi) was first identified in C. elegans in 1998 and subsequently in mammalian cells as a posttranscriptional gene silencing mechanism.

Within a decade, RNAi has developed into a tool for functional molecular genetics, target gene validation in drug discovery, and a novel therapeutic strategy.

Small interfering RNA-(siRNA-) induced RNAi is considered to be a treatment modality for human diseases including cancers.

However, nonspecific effects triggered by siRNAs complicate the use of RNAi for specifically downregulating gene expression.

It has been recently shown that chemically synthesized DsiRNA (27 bp duplexes) is more potent than traditional siRNA (21 bp duplexes).

Use of DsiRNA to trigger RNAi should result in enhanced efficacy and increased longevity of RNAi, at lower concentrations than that of siRNA.

Unlike siRNA, DsiRNA is bound and cleaved by Dicer and then passed into the RNAi-induced silencing complex (RISC) assembly in a sequence-specific orientation.


Human malignancies are target diseases for siRNA-based therapeutics, with a long list of potential targets related to aberrant signaling pathways in cancer cells [21] . Angiogenesis in human solid tumors has drawn much attention as a direct treatment strategy and a basis for universal chemosensitization [22] . VEGF is an important angiogenic factor associated with tumor growth and metastasis in a wide variety of solid tumors [23] [24] [25] . Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models of human solid tumors mimic the in vivo conditions of solid tumor avascular microregions, including the 3D architecture, cell density, abundance of extracellular matrix (ECM), and cell-cell and cell-ECM communications. These models are the best in vitro models for studying spatial drug distribution as a function of tissue depth (distance from drug exposure side) and possibly drug activity in situ [26, 27] .

Human malignancies are target diseases for siRNA-based therapeutics, with a long list of potential targets related to aberrant signaling pathways in cancer cells.

Angiogenesis in human solid tumors has drawn much attention as a direct treatment strategy and a basis for universal chemosensitization.

VEGF is an important angiogenic factor associated with tumor growth and metastasis in a wide variety of solid tumors.

These models are the best in vitro models for studying spatial drug distribution as a function of tissue depth (distance from drug exposure side) and possibly drug activity in situ.


Stability in biological fluids and effective delivery constitute the main challenges for RNA-based therapeutics [9] [10] [11] . Thus, carrier or transport system is the main constituent in any in vitro/in vivo DsiRNA experiment. Despite the advantages of DsiRNA, the selection of a correct transfection agent that will proficiently protect and deliver DsiRNA to the tissues and provide a sustained release for additional processing is vital. Viral delivery systems are frequently associated with safety and immunogenicity concerns [12] . Thus, nonviral transfection systems are more attractive to researchers and 2 Journal of Nanomaterials allow for better control of siRNA concentration and more foreseeable toxicity patterns. Among the nonviral delivery carriers, chitosan (CS) is a widely used cationic polymeric gene carrier [13] [14] [15] . CS is a linear polysaccharide composed of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine residues and can be derived by the partial deacetylation of chitin [16] . CS is known to be biocompatible, minimally toxic, nonimmunogenic, and degradable by enzymes [17] [18] [19] [20] .

Stability in biological fluids and effective delivery constitute the main challenges for RNA-based therapeutics.

Viral delivery systems are frequently associated with safety and immunogenicity concerns.

Among the nonviral delivery carriers, chitosan (CS) is a widely used cationic polymeric gene carrier.

CS is a linear polysaccharide composed of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine residues and can be derived by the partial deacetylation of chitin.

CS is known to be biocompatible, minimally toxic, nonimmunogenic, and degradable by enzymes.


Constraint Diagrams is another visual representation of constraints in object oriented models [6] . Like Visual OCL, Constraint Diagrams is also a logical, object oriented language. Constraint Diagrams uses a syntax similar to Euler diagrams and maintains a natural conversion to predicate logic. Constraints can also be expressed in a very compact manner using Constraint Diagrams. However, the Euler diagram style syntax can become cumbersome if an element is a member of more than three sets [6] [4] .

Constraint Diagrams is another visual representation of constraints in object oriented models.

However, the Euler diagram style syntax can become cumbersome if an element is a member of more than three sets.


FBPs were introduced to numerically solve Eq. (1) under the initial conditions (2) . The noteworthy feature of the proposed method in Section 4 is that due to the matrix form of solution algorithm, it is very easy to write a computer program. On the other hand, because the most elements of appeared matrices in the solution method are zeros, therefore, the calculation time is very short. A reasonable upper bound was presented for the residual error function and thus it was proved that the method is convergent and its order of convergence is o 1 N N+1 (N+1) . The method was tested on three numerical examples and as can be seen in Tables 1-7 , for small quantities N (8 ≤ N ≤ 11), an approximation with high accuracy (10 −12 ≤ |e i 1 , N (x)| ≤ 10 −8 ) can be obtained. The presented method can be easily generalized to solve system of Volterra-Fredholm integro-differential-difference equations and system of partial differential equations but some reformations are needed.

FBPs were introduced to numerically solve Eq. (1) under the initial conditions.