The experiments for young children's recognition and understanding of emotions included matching, identification, and detection tasks featuring faces expressing different emotions as well as explaining the causes for these kinds of emotions. The possible range for recognition and understanding of emotions scores was 0-3. Children's self-esteem was measured by asking about how they felt in different aspects of their life such as physical appearance, intelligence, character, competence. The number of dimensions was six. The degree of satisfaction with these aspects of the self was measured by a 5-point Likert scale. The possible range for each scale and general self-esteem score was 0-5. Mothers' attitudes about child-rearing, parent-child relationships, and roles of family members were measured by PARI (Parent Attitude Research Instrument) E.S. Schaefer and R.Q. Bell [8] .

The number of dimensions was six.

Mothers' attitudes about child-rearing, parent-child relationships, and roles of family members were measured by PARI (Parent Attitude Research Instrument) E.S. Schaefer and R.Q. Bell.


Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is a considerable public health problem with over 20,000 cases in the UK and up to 300,000 in the US annually [1] . In the last decade, new strains of and epidemiological changes in existing strains of the organism have emerged, in particular ribotype 027. This highly pathogenic ribotype has resulted in substantial morbidity and mortality [1] [2] [3] . CDI results in diarrhoea which ranges in severity from mild to severe, which in life threatening cases may require surgery [1] . Outbreaks of CDI have occurred in a wide range of healthcare settings including acute care hospitals, nursing homes, intensive care units, as well as in community settings. These have caused considerable political and public disquiet and have spurred governmentdriven action to address this organism both in the UK and internationally [3] . However, much remains unknown regarding the factors which influence CDI acquisition and transmission, therefore potentially compromising the development of effective interventions and control policies.

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is a considerable public health problem with over 20,000 cases in the UK and up to 300,000 in the US annually.

This highly pathogenic ribotype has resulted in substantial morbidity and mortality.

CDI results in diarrhoea which ranges in severity from mild to severe, which in life threatening cases may require surgery.

These have caused considerable political and public disquiet and have spurred governmentdriven action to address this organism both in the UK and internationally.


It is apparent that the mechanisms of C. difficile transmission are complex. Mathematical modelling could be a useful tool to improve our understanding of CDI dynamics, as has been shown for other complex infectious diseases such as influenza [14] . Such models could make a valuable contribution to optimising CDI management and control; for example by providing theoretical frameworks to model and monitor the spread of infection, to improve the understanding of the underlying factors that trigger the development of epidemics from sporadic cases, to predict future trends and for testing the effects of intervention strategies.

Mathematical modelling could be a useful tool to improve our understanding of CDI dynamics, as has been shown for other complex infectious diseases such as influenza.


Although micro EDM is successfully used in machining micro parts and in making micro dies and molds, there are a number of problems existing in micro EDM, such as the handling of the electrode and parts, preparation of electrode and workpiece, machining process and measurement. The electrode wear and machining efficiency are two problems to be solved in the machining process [3] . A seriously worn electrode would directly affect the depth and shape of 3D cavities. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for electrode wear incurred during machining. Up to now, many approaches including electrode wear prediction, sensing, modeling and compensation have been presented [7, [11] [12] [13] [14] .

The electrode wear and machining efficiency are two problems to be solved in the machining process.

Up to now, many approaches including electrode wear prediction, sensing, modeling and compensation have been presented.


First, previous research has suggested that mothers underestimate the sexual activity of their teenagers because they make erroneous assumptions about adolescent sexuality. A positive parental perception of the parentteen relationship even increases the underestimation of teen sexual behaviors by parents (Jaccard et al., 1998) . A good parent-child relationship will not necessarily prevent an adolescent from experimenting with sex. However, the relationships that professional helpers form with parents can be critical in providing them with the sex education information needed to dispel myths about adolescent sexuality and to improve parent-teen sex communication.

A positive parental perception of the parentteen relationship even increases the underestimation of teen sexual behaviors by parents.


Second, in terms of communication an emphasis on comfort needs to be given to helping parents increase communication skills while strengthening relationships. Adolescents who are sexually active are more likely to report poor communication with their parents (Craig, 1996) . Sex education that provides skills training based on social-learning principles can be an important type of practice-based educational approach (Franklin & Corcoran, 2000) . Social-learning theory suggests that the norms and behavior of the people around teenagers, particularly parents, influence their behavior. Most sex education programs communicate that it is desirable to postpone sexual intercourse and that unprotected sex should be avoided. These programs may take place in school or community settings such as hospitals. They usually combine information on human sexuality with specific, concrete skills-building sessions on how to resist influences encouraging sexual activity. Some of these programs also work to increase parent-child communication on sexuality and sexual choices. Although evaluations of these programs have not provided conclusive evidence, they do appear to be effective in postponing sexual activity among virgins. It is important to note that while they do not appear to influence the level of sexual activity of those already sexually active, these programs may help these teens use contraceptives more effectively (Barth, Leland, Kirby, & Fetro, 1992; Howard & McCabe, 1992) . Teens not only need information about their sexuality, but they also need to know how to apply this information in daily life. For most people, including adolescents, there is usually a gap between what people know and what they do. Therefore, sex education programs need to place emphasis on teaching decisionmaking skills, life skills, and life planning.

Adolescents who are sexually active are more likely to report poor communication with their parents.

Sex education that provides skills training based on social-learning principles can be an important type of practice-based educational approach.

It is important to note that while they do not appear to influence the level of sexual activity of those already sexually active, these programs may help these teens use contraceptives more effectively.


The purpose of practice and intervention should not be to merely improve the quality of the relationship between adolescents and parents (Ballou, 2002) . Intervention needs to address erroneous parental assumptions and to help parents provide information related to teen sexuality. Social work practitioners in schools, clinics, and other community-based programs frequently function in the role of teachers and supportive professionals with adolescents (Hall & Torres, 2002; Mellin & Beamish, 2002) . As frontline providers of accurate information to parents, social workers can better serve the adolescents, families, and communities in which they work.

The purpose of practice and intervention should not be to merely improve the quality of the relationship between adolescents and parents.

Social work practitioners in schools, clinics, and other community-based programs frequently function in the role of teachers and supportive professionals with adolescents.


Social workers and other helping professionals need to take leadership roles in designing, implementing, directing, and evaluating comprehensive and effective practice interventions in all areas of practice, including those that involve familial sex education approaches and programs (Dziegielewski & Roberts, 2004) . However, practitioners must first recognize and then acknowledge that parents have a vital role to play in prevention efforts. Preventative sex education efforts of most programs still largely exclude parents as agents of change in agency-based interventions intended to reduce adolescent risk-taking sexual behaviors. Research indicates that a majority of parents are not opposed to sex education curricula for their children (Pick & Palos, 1995) . Sex education information has been shown to be more effective when combined with familial sex communication (Franklin & Corcoran, 2000) . It seems reasonable to believe that parental involvement could be successfully incorporated into existing sex education programs. Doing so may result in both reduced risk-taking sexual behaviors by adolescents and increased levels of comfort during familial sex communication.

Social workers and other helping professionals need to take leadership roles in designing, implementing, directing, and evaluating comprehensive and effective practice interventions in all areas of practice, including those that involve familial sex education approaches and programs.

Research indicates that a majority of parents are not opposed to sex education curricula for their children.

Sex education information has been shown to be more effective when combined with familial sex communication.


Overall, there is a sincere effort for practice strategy to include brief evidence-based interventions (Corcoran & Vandiver, 2004; Roberts & Yeager, 2004) . Previous research in this area clearly documents the need to include parents in sex education programs that are designed to provide accurate information while raising comfort levels when parents and their teens communicate. To accomplish this, a psychoeducational group to increase comfort during sexually related communication between parents and their teenagers was offered.

Overall, there is a sincere effort for practice strategy to include brief evidence-based interventions.


Even though parents and teenagers are often uncomfortable talking about sexuality, parent-teen communication about sex appears to be linked to responsible sexual behavior among adolescents (Raffaelli et al., 1998) . Despite support for increased parental communication with their adolescents about sex, many parents remain uncomfortable approaching this subject. The findings from this practice-based study remain consistent with those of earlier investigations supporting the importance of familial participation in sex education toward increasing communication comfort levels between parents and their teens. This observation has implications for professional social work practice, especially if practitioners are to design interventions at a variety of levels that address the complex problems of unplanned pregnancy and STIs among adolescents.

Even though parents and teenagers are often uncomfortable talking about sexuality, parent-teen communication about sex appears to be linked to responsible sexual behavior among adolescents.


In the reconstruction process, a key step is to establish the Fresnel zone plate (FZP), which is related to the distance between each section of the object and the photodetector. Various methods have been developed to deal with the autofocusing problem, along with identifying how many sections that the hologram records [4] [5] [6] . Here we propose a new method based on entropy minimization to achieve autofocusing in OSH. This technique is verified by simulations under different situations.

Various methods have been developed to deal with the autofocusing problem, along with identifying how many sections that the hologram records.


As the growth-inhibitory effects of cements and bonding systems prevent bacterial colonization in marginal gaps, attempts have been made to decrease the bacterial counts under the restorations by incorporating leachable antimicrobial agents in the restorative materials [14] [15] [16] . Nevertheless, modification of dental materials with nonleachable antibacterial agents may be advantageous when preparing materials that undergo continuous physical challenged in the harsh oral environment for many years. Consequently a different approach based on the use of polymers with antibacterial properties, such as polycationic-type polymers [17, 18] . It is generally accepted that cationic polymers was developed with quaternary ammonium groups can be used as potent antimicrobials; bacteria do not appear to develop resistance to cationic polymers due to their nonspecific mode of action [19] . Several reports have described that following the incorporation of a methacryloyloxydodecyl pyridinium bromide (MDPB) monomer in resin composites, there was no release of the incorporated monomer and the resin composite exhibited antibacterial properties [20, 21] . Previously, we showed that incorporation of small amounts of quaternized polyethyleneimine (QPEI) nanoparticles into resin composites exerts a strong antibacterial effect against a wide range of bacteria for at least one month, with no measurable effect on biocompatibility [22] . Additionally, we found that small amounts of QPEI nanoparticles can be immobilized in resin composites during polymerization without leaching out and without compromising the mechanical properties of the material [18] . Furthermore, we observed that QPEI nanoparticle quaternization with octyl groups yields optimal antibacterial properties for dental composite restorative material: six months aging of composite incorporating 1% w/w QPEI nanoparticles resulted in complete inhibition of cariogenic mutans streptococci biofilm in vitro [23] . More recently, the biocidal effect of incorporated antibacterial nanoparticles on in vivo oral biofilm was shown [23] . In the present study, we further investigated the effect of QPEI nanoparticles incorporated in two conventional GICs on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei.

As the growth-inhibitory effects of cements and bonding systems prevent bacterial colonization in marginal gaps, attempts have been made to decrease the bacterial counts under the restorations by incorporating leachable antimicrobial agents in the restorative materials.

Consequently a different approach based on the use of polymers with antibacterial properties, such as polycationic-type polymers.

It is generally accepted that cationic polymers was developed with quaternary ammonium groups can be used as potent antimicrobials; bacteria do not appear to develop resistance to cationic polymers due to their nonspecific mode of action.

Several reports have described that following the incorporation of a methacryloyloxydodecyl pyridinium bromide (MDPB) monomer in resin composites, there was no release of the incorporated monomer and the resin composite exhibited antibacterial properties.

Previously, we showed that incorporation of small amounts of quaternized polyethyleneimine (QPEI) nanoparticles into resin composites exerts a strong antibacterial effect against a wide range of bacteria for at least one month, with no measurable effect on biocompatibility.

Additionally, we found that small amounts of QPEI nanoparticles can be immobilized in resin composites during polymerization without leaching out and without compromising the mechanical properties of the material.

Furthermore, we observed that QPEI nanoparticle quaternization with octyl groups yields optimal antibacterial properties for dental composite restorative material: six months aging of composite incorporating 1% w/w QPEI nanoparticles resulted in complete inhibition of cariogenic mutans streptococci biofilm in vitro.

More recently, the biocidal effect of incorporated antibacterial nanoparticles on in vivo oral biofilm was shown.


Traditionally, cements, such as glass-ionomer cements, are used to fill gaps and serve as sealing agents between the tooth preparation and dental crowns. Unfortunately, although cements are intended to seal the crown margins, bacterial microleakage may occur, resulting in secondary caries and thus compromising the longevity of the restoration [7] . Nonetheless, several in vitro studies have confirmed that GICs have an antibacterial potential [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] . These antibacterial properties are attributed to fluoride release, which is believed to inhibit microbial growth and metabolism. However, the fluoride is released within a short interval and the antibacterial effect is lost over time [13] . Accordingly, development of new GICs with distinct antibacterial properties is essential and may increase the longevity of dental crowns. Moreover, therapeutic benefits may be gained upon combining antibacterial agents with GIC materials.

Unfortunately, although cements are intended to seal the crown margins, bacterial microleakage may occur, resulting in secondary caries and thus compromising the longevity of the restoration.

Nonetheless, several in vitro studies have confirmed that GICs have an antibacterial potential.

However, the fluoride is released within a short interval and the antibacterial effect is lost over time.


Different in vitro methods have been used in the past to study the antimicrobial activity of dental materials with the Journal of Nanomaterials aim of inhibiting secondary caries at the restoration margin. Most methods used for this purpose, for example, traditional agar diffusion, do not adequately reflect clinical conditions. Therefore, in this study we used the DCT to determine the bacterial growth after incubation of a small amount of bacterial suspension on the materials surface. We also resorted to the agar diffusion test (ADT) as a tool for comparison with the existing published data. The ADT is a semiquantitative test originally used for evaluating the antibacterial properties of antibiotics. Although the ADT is widely used in the dental literature, it is unsuitable for testing materials which are designated to be insoluble, such as various restorative materials. Alternatively, the DCT was designed to evaluate quantitatively the antibacterial surface properties of materials with low to extremely low solubility. In this test, the bacteria are allowed to come in direct contact, under controlled conditions, with the tested material, to study the kinetics of bacterial growth [24] . The QPEI nanoparticles were previously reported to exert antibacterial properties when immobilized in resin composites, with no recorded effect of eluted particles [18, 22] . In the present study these insoluble antibacterial nanoparticles were found to be active for at least one month after being in contact with the tested bacteria. The bioactive components did not affect bacterial growth in the ADT. Accordingly, it may be speculated that the antibacterial activity is not through released particles.

In this test, the bacteria are allowed to come in direct contact, under controlled conditions, with the tested material, to study the kinetics of bacterial growth.

The QPEI nanoparticles were previously reported to exert antibacterial properties when immobilized in resin composites, with no recorded effect of eluted particles.


Most of the currently used dental restorative materials do not form a long-lasting perfect seal with the cavity wall. Indeed, it has been shown that gap formation and microleakage are not completely prevented, even when using state-of-the-art bonding systems [1] . Gaps between restoration margins and cavity walls are colonized by oral microorganisms and may result in secondary caries formation and pulp disease [2, 3] . Secondary caries has been identified as the major factor responsible for the longevity of dental restorations [4] [5] [6] .

Indeed, it has been shown that gap formation and microleakage are not completely prevented, even when using state-of-the-art bonding systems.

Gaps between restoration margins and cavity walls are colonized by oral microorganisms and may result in secondary caries formation and pulp disease.

Secondary caries has been identified as the major factor responsible for the longevity of dental restorations.


Finally, even though the present contribution focuses on a very specific geological system, it is nevertheless related to river networks formed by runoff, a more common situation (Perron et al. 2009; Fowler et al. 2007) . Indeed, if the topography of an eroding landscape undergoes diffusion while tectonic uplift generates a uniform injection of sediment, the stationary state of the landscape can be represented by the Poisson equation. Assuming additionally that runoff follows the main slope of the topography, one recovers a theory that is mathematically equivalent to the seepage model of this paper.

Finally, even though the present contribution focuses on a very specific geological system, it is nevertheless related to river networks formed by runoff, a more common situation.


Approximately 174,650 new prostate cancer cases were estimated to be diagnosed in 2019 which is about 20% of new cancer cases in men [1] . Evidence has shown that prostate cancer accounted for 9.8% of all cancer-related death in males [2] . In the past few years, in the United States, there has been a slight increase in metastatic prostate cancer and prostate cancer-related mortality, 26,730 deaths in 2017 to 31,620 death in 2019 [1, 2] . According to the 2019 National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines (NCCN), the increase in the number of metastatic prostate cancer may have been influenced by guideline recommendations which could have resulted in reduced detection of localized prostate cancer and lesser radical prostatectomies being performed [1] .

Approximately 174,650 new prostate cancer cases were estimated to be diagnosed in 2019 which is about 20% of new cancer cases in men.

Evidence has shown that prostate cancer accounted for 9.8% of all cancer-related death in males.

In the past few years, in the United States, there has been a slight increase in metastatic prostate cancer and prostate cancer-related mortality, 26,730 deaths in 2017 to 31,620 death in 2019.

According to the 2019 National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines (NCCN), the increase in the number of metastatic prostate cancer may have been influenced by guideline recommendations which could have resulted in reduced detection of localized prostate cancer and lesser radical prostatectomies being performed.


Illumination and reflectance components are characteristics of the digital image. The illumination is the amount of viewed source illumination incident on the scene. The reflectance is the amount of illumination reflected by objects in the scene. Slow and fast spatial variations characterize illumination and reflectance, respectively. The homomorphic filter operates these components separately with two or more parameters. The homomorphic filter can be used to improve the ideal filter (Pratt, 2007; Gonzalez and Woods, 2008) . The homomorphic filter is also used to measure the visibility. The value of R 2 of measuring the visibility index via the homomorphic filter technology is close to 0.9 (Kutner et al., 2004; Sun et al., 2007) . According to the correlation with the observed visual range, we can see that the homomorphic filter is better than the ideal high pass filter. However, using the homomorphic filter is complex because it is necessary to decide the parameters.

The homomorphic filter can be used to improve the ideal filter.

The value of R 2 of measuring the visibility index via the homomorphic filter technology is close to 0.9.


We train our network using the CNN toolbox MatConvnet [21] . We use SGD for optimization with momentum 0.9 and weight decay of 0.0005. It is important to note that our network weights starts with a random initialization of the first 5 layers of the alexnet and we append the 5 × 5 fully convolutional layer initialized with zero weights to get zreo disparity estimates. Due to the linearization of the loss function as explained in section 3, we learn the network proposed in Figure 4 in multiple stages, starting from the coarsest level (5x18 depthmaps), and iteratively adding upsampling layer at a time. The learning rate for the network which predicts depths at the coarsest resolution is initially set to 0.01 and gradually decreased after each epoch using the factor 1/(1 + α * n) (n−1) where n is the index of current epoch and α = 0.0005. We set the number of epochs to 100 for learning depths for pyramid level in the coarse to fine fashion. Since the number of pixels increase by a factor of 4 (with 2× upsampling of the depthmaps), the cost approximately increases by the same factor at every finer level. Hence we decrease the initial learning rate by a factor of 4 for the subsequent layers. The smoothness prior strangth γ was set to 0.01.

We train our network using the CNN toolbox MatConvnet.


Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the main pulse crops grown for seed in Egypt. It is widely considered as a good source of protein, starch, cellulose and minerals for humans in developing countries and for animals in industrialized countries (Haciseferogullari et al., 2003) . In addition, faba bean is one of the most efficient fixers of the atmospheric nitrogen and, hence, can contribute to sustain or enhance total soil nitrogen fertility through biological N 2 -fixation (Lindemann and Glover, 2003) .

It is widely considered as a good source of protein, starch, cellulose and minerals for humans in developing countries and for animals in industrialized countries.

In addition, faba bean is one of the most efficient fixers of the atmospheric nitrogen and, hence, can contribute to sustain or enhance total soil nitrogen fertility through biological N 2 -fixation.


Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas L.) is a eudicotyledonous warm season crop, which belongs to the Convolvulaceae family [1] . It is a herbaceous plant with creeping perennial vines and adventitious roots [2] . The majority of the sweet potatoes grown in Zimbabwe are for human consumption, as a substitute for bread. Over the years, sweet potato consumption has been on the increase, with an estimated 1 -7 kg per capita, giving it an economic importance on both rural and urban markets [3] . The relatively high per capita consumption has led to a growing number of farmers producing for commercial purposes. The crop's ability to adapt to marginal environments has made it popular with resource-poor farmers as yields of 15 and 50 tonnes per hectare has been obtained with minimum use of fertilizers and with proper fertilization and sufficient moisture respectively [4] . When compared with other root and tuber crops, sweet potato yields considerably high amount of energy per unit area such that it comes third to the potato (Solanum tuberosum) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) in production across the world [5] . With the fore mentioned characteristics rainfed sweet potato production has increased over the years, with major production areas stretching from Agro-Ecological Regions I, II and III of Zimbabwe [6] .

Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas L.) is a eudicotyledonous warm season crop, which belongs to the Convolvulaceae family.

It is a herbaceous plant with creeping perennial vines and adventitious roots.

Over the years, sweet potato consumption has been on the increase, with an estimated 1 -7 kg per capita, giving it an economic importance on both rural and urban markets.

The crop's ability to adapt to marginal environments has made it popular with resource-poor farmers as yields of 15 and 50 tonnes per hectare has been obtained with minimum use of fertilizers and with proper fertilization and sufficient moisture respectively.

When compared with other root and tuber crops, sweet potato yields considerably high amount of energy per unit area such that it comes third to the potato (Solanum tuberosum) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) in production across the world.

With the fore mentioned characteristics rainfed sweet potato production has increased over the years, with major production areas stretching from Agro-Ecological Regions I, II and III of Zimbabwe.


Smallholder farmers in these regions of Zimbabwe produce sweet potato, using their own experience passed on from early generations. Depending on the experiences and location, farmers use various tillage methods and varying vine orientations for planting since they believe these to produce variable yields [4] . The tillage systems, which include ridges and mounds, optimize infiltration and facilitate root expansion, vary in respective areas depending on environmental conditions and availability of draft animals [7] . Vine placement at planting differs from horizontal, looped and folded vine orientations.

Depending on the experiences and location, farmers use various tillage methods and varying vine orientations for planting since they believe these to produce variable yields.

The tillage systems, which include ridges and mounds, optimize infiltration and facilitate root expansion, vary in respective areas depending on environmental conditions and availability of draft animals.


To overcome the limitation of CMOS technologies in various temperature sensors (as discussed above), we opted threshold voltage, temperature sensor with for the application in the avionic system, owing to good accuracy with minimum power consumption. The temperature sensors based on the threshold voltage of MOSFETs are known for their lower power consumption and smaller die area [13] [14] [15] [16] . The voltage or current across MOSFETs is always varies with the temperature, but the challenge is designing these types of sensors is accuracy. Because linearize this variation is a difficult task. This task is accomplished by proper selection of circuit architecture and adjusting the W/L ratio of the transistors used so that the non-linearity can be reduced.

The temperature sensors based on the threshold voltage of MOSFETs are known for their lower power consumption and smaller die area.


Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and concomitant diabetes (DM) have a considerably increased mortality rate and reduced exercise capacity compared to non-diabetic HFrEF patients [1] . It is well-established that in HFrEF DM is frequent, and screening with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) reveals a prevalence of more than 30% [2] . We have previously reported that the co-existence of DM, whether it is by history or newly diagnosed is associated with a reduced left ventricular (LV) contractile reserve assessed by low-dose dobutamine echocardiography (LDDE) among HFrEF patients [3] . Further, reduced LV contractile reserve is predictive of prognosis and thus could contribute to the unfavorable outcome of diabetic HFrEF patients [4] . The pathophysiological processes leading to reduced LV contractile reserve remain to be fully elucidated but have been associated with myocardial fibrosis in patients with cardiomyopathy [5] .

Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and concomitant diabetes (DM) have a considerably increased mortality rate and reduced exercise capacity compared to non-diabetic HFrEF patients.

It is well-established that in HFrEF DM is frequent, and screening with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) reveals a prevalence of more than 30%.

We have previously reported that the co-existence of DM, whether it is by history or newly diagnosed is associated with a reduced left ventricular (LV) contractile reserve assessed by low-dose dobutamine echocardiography (LDDE) among HFrEF patients.

Further, reduced LV contractile reserve is predictive of prognosis and thus could contribute to the unfavorable outcome of diabetic HFrEF patients.

The pathophysiological processes leading to reduced LV contractile reserve remain to be fully elucidated but have been associated with myocardial fibrosis in patients with cardiomyopathy.


The second case study is performed on the MIDAS designed database of MR brain images of healthy volunteers [24] . Images are acquired on a 3T unit under standardized protocols. Images include T1 and T2 acquired at 1 × 1 × 1 mm 3 , magnetic resonance angiograpy acquired at 0.5 × 0.5 × 0.8 mm 3 , and diffusion tensor imaging using 6 directions and a voxel size of 2 × 2 × 2 mm 3 . In this study, the T1-FLASH, T1-MP-RAGE, and T2 sequences of the MIDAS database are used.

The second case study is performed on the MIDAS designed database of MR brain images of healthy volunteers.


A recently proposed "detangling" procedure offers a systematic way to determine the response of CLS to disorder in any flat band lattice, by first transforming the model to a basis where in the absence of disorder the CLS arXiv:1601.03784v2 [cond-mat.dis-nn] 12 Jan 2017 appear as defects completely decoupled from the remaining dispersive Bloch bands [34] . In this basis, a generic disorder potential is split into two parts defined by the local symmetries of the CLS. The symmetric part maintains the compactness of the CLS while lifting their degeneracy, while the antisymmetric part hybridizes them with the continuum of dispersive degrees of freedom, analogous to a Fano resonance [35] . Dispersive degrees of freedom near the FB energy are therefore scattered by a random collection of resonant scatterers, leading to a resonant enhancement of the effective disorder potential. The result for a particular 1D cross-stitch lattice was the localization length ξ scaling with diagonal disorder strength W as ξ ∼ 1/W at the FB energy -diverging, but at variance with the familiar ξ ∼ 1/W 2 law for Anderson localization in the other Bloch bands [34] .

A recently proposed "detangling" procedure offers a systematic way to determine the response of CLS to disorder in any flat band lattice, by first transforming the model to a basis where in the absence of disorder the CLS arXiv:1601.03784v2 [cond-mat.dis-nn] 12 Jan 2017 appear as defects completely decoupled from the remaining dispersive Bloch bands.

The symmetric part maintains the compactness of the CLS while lifting their degeneracy, while the antisymmetric part hybridizes them with the continuum of dispersive degrees of freedom, analogous to a Fano resonance.

The result for a particular 1D cross-stitch lattice was the localization length ξ scaling with diagonal disorder strength W as ξ ∼ 1/W at the FB energy -diverging, but at variance with the familiar ξ ∼ 1/W 2 law for Anderson localization in the other Bloch bands.


When U > 1 the CLS lack orthogonality, but they may still form a complete basis for the flat band. If the CLS are incomplete, the missing states required to complete the flat band basis can be accounted for e.g. by using graph theoretical arguments and Euler's theorem [16, 31] . One can perform a similar decoupling by considering a superlattice formed by groups of U unit cells. Using such an enlarged unit cell, N/U of the flat band states become CLS of class U = 1. However there is no basis that can simultaneously decouple the remaining flat band states; the flat band projector operator is irreducible in position space. Nevertheless in many cases this partial detangling of the flat band is already sufficient to understand the impact of perturbations such as disorder, especially when the perturbations destroy the translational invariance of the lattice.

If the CLS are incomplete, the missing states required to complete the flat band basis can be accounted for e.g. by using graph theoretical arguments and Euler's theorem.


Any disorder with strength W inevitably spoils this destructive interference, coupling the CLS to the lattice's Bloch waves and enabling diffraction or coherent condensation to a finite width determined the disorder-induced Anderson localization length ξ [33] . In this work we are concerned with what happens in the weak disorder limit as W → 0. Does ξ approach the size of a CLS, signifying their stability against weak disorder? Or does ξ diverge, as one would expect for the Anderson localization length in a finite width Bloch band? Recent studies suggest that the behaviour strongly depends on the structure of the FB and its CLS; some CLS are robust, while others are highly sensitive to any disorder.

Any disorder with strength W inevitably spoils this destructive interference, coupling the CLS to the lattice's Bloch waves and enabling diffraction or coherent condensation to a finite width determined the disorder-induced Anderson localization length ξ.


In this paper, a perturbation technique is used to compute the normal forms of di!erential equations whose Jacobian, evaluated at an equilibrium, has two pairs of purely imaginary eigenvalues. The ratio of the two eigenvalues is a rational number, giving rise to resonant oscillations. The perturbation method, combined with multiple time scales, has been successfully developed for computing normal forms of Hopf bifurcation and other singularities [7, 12, 13] . It has been shown that the approach is very computationally e$cient and is simple enough to use by a novice to computer algebra. This technique is systematic and can be directly applied to the original n-dimensional di!erential equations, without the application of centre manifold theory. This approach reduces the steps involved in the application of normal form theory to simultaneously obtain the normal form (on the center manifold) as well as the associated non-linear transformation.

The perturbation method, combined with multiple time scales, has been successfully developed for computing normal forms of Hopf bifurcation and other singularities.


This paper focuses on the development of the methodology and symbolic software for computing the normal forms of a double Hopf bifurcation associated with various resonant cases, including k : k (k Ok , k and k are positive integers) resonances and 1 : 1 primary resonance. The separate treatment for the two cases is due to di!erent scaling which is necessary for the application of perturbation techniques. Uniform scaling is used for the k : k (k Ok ) resonant cases while non-uniform scaling has to be applied for the 1 : 1 resonance to match the perturbation orders. All the formulas derived in this paper for computing the coe$cients of the normal forms and the non-linear transformations are given explicitly in terms of the original system coe$cients. This facilitates direct applications to special problems [8, 10, 14] . Based on the explicit recursive formulas, user-friendly symbolic software using Maple has been developed. Examples are presented to show that the perturbation technique is computationally e$cient and therefore, is particularly useful for computing high-dimensional systems and high order normal forms.

This facilitates direct applications to special problems.


Normal form theory has been widely used to simplify the analysis of dynamic behavior of di!erential equations near an equilibrium [1}3] . The basic idea of the method of normal forms is to employ successive co-ordinate transformations to systematically construct a simpli"ed form of the original di!erential equations without changing the fundamental dynamical behavior of the system in the vicinity of the equilibrium. Normal form theory is usually applied along with center manifold theory [4] . Center manifold theory is applied before normal form theory, to obtain a locally invariant small dimensional manifold in the vicinity of an equilibrium, called center manifold. Although it is easy to construct an &&abstract'' normal form for a given singularity, it is di$cult to compute the explicit expressions of a normal form in terms of the coe$cients of the original di!erential equations. Therefore, the crucial part in computing the normal form of a system is the computation e$ciency. Moreover, algebraic manipulations become very involved and time consuming as the order of the normal form increases. The introduction of computer algebra systems such as Maple, Mathematica, Reduce, etc., becomes necessary at this point. Recently, many researchers have paid attention to the development of e$cient computational methods with the aid of computer algebra systems [5}11] .

Normal form theory is usually applied along with center manifold theory.


Polarizers and polarizing beam splitters have found application in many optical systems. Whereas in a polarizer it is only the transmitted or the reflected light that is utilized, in a polarizing beam splitter both the transmitted and the reflected beams are utilized and are of equal significance [16] . Polarizing beam splitters using a one-dimensional photonic crystal have been designed and their performance studied by various researchers [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] . It is well known that a high performance polarizing beam splitter is one that operates over a broad spectral region and a wide range of angles of the incident light, the extinction ratio of the desired to the unwanted polarized light in reflection or transmission is large and the transmittance or reflectance for the desired polarization is high [17, 24] . Since it is not possible to fulfill all the above requirements simultaneously in a conventional thin film PBS, a compromise has to be made between them. A polarizer with a large wavelength range usually has a small angular field and vice versa [16] .

Whereas in a polarizer it is only the transmitted or the reflected light that is utilized, in a polarizing beam splitter both the transmitted and the reflected beams are utilized and are of equal significance.

Polarizing beam splitters using a one-dimensional photonic crystal have been designed and their performance studied by various researchers.

It is well known that a high performance polarizing beam splitter is one that operates over a broad spectral region and a wide range of angles of the incident light, the extinction ratio of the desired to the unwanted polarized light in reflection or transmission is large and the transmittance or reflectance for the desired polarization is high.

A polarizer with a large wavelength range usually has a small angular field and vice versa.


In Section 2, multilayered thin film polarizers and PBS's which form the background for our study are reviewed. In Section 3, the theoretical analysis upon which our study is based is presented. The mathematical formulation uses a transfer matrix method (TMM) [27, 28] . Section 4 describes the structural design. In Section 5, the performance of the polarizer proposed by us is studied in detail. Finally, conclusions are presented in Section 6.

The mathematical formulation uses a transfer matrix method (TMM).


By considering the modelling approach to reduce or characterise the uncertainty of aerosol effects as part of the COST Action ES1004 EuMetChem (European framework for online integrated air quality and meteorology modelling; see http://www.eumetchem.info/), a list of interactions were identified as the most relevant coupling processes for regional air-quality and weather predictions. These interactions were chosen because experts considered them to be the most important, but were poorly represented at the same time in the current online coupled models (Kong et al., 2015) . This type of model offers the possibility to account for the feedback mechanisms between simulated aerosol concentrations and meteorological variables, and thus permits the simulation of ARI and ACI, which form part of the above-mentioned list of interactions.

These interactions were chosen because experts considered them to be the most important, but were poorly represented at the same time in the current online coupled models.


There are several plant-based vaccines that have been produced, with some of them being currently at the clinical trial phase. Among them, the most common types of vaccines are against virus and bacteria that cause fatal illness in human and animals and usually Nicotiana plants are utilized as the bioreactor. However, to date, only two products have been licenced: (a) plant made scFV mAB used in the production of a recombinant HBV vaccine in Cuba and (b) Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine for poultry approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) [12] . There is no plantbased vaccine that has received the license from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is due to the fact that plantbased vaccines are classified under the genetically modified crop category [13] . In view of this exciting yet challenging research, the first part of this paper focuses on the conventional and refined expression technologies for improved plant-based vaccines production, while the latter part discusses challenges encountered during and after the production process.

However, to date, only two products have been licenced: (a) plant made scFV mAB used in the production of a recombinant HBV vaccine in Cuba and (b) Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine for poultry approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This is due to the fact that plantbased vaccines are classified under the genetically modified crop category.


The increasing pollution of the electromagnetic environment has prompted the study of array pattern nulling techniques . These techniques are very important in radar, sonar and communication systems for minimising degradation in signal-to-noise ratio performance due to undesired interference. There has also been considerable interest in synthesising array patterns with broad nulls [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] . The broad nulls are needed when the direction of arrival of the unwanted interference may vary slightly with time or may not known exactly, and where a comparatively sharp null would require continuous steering for obtaining a reasonable value for the signal-tonoise ratio.

There has also been considerable interest in synthesising array patterns with broad nulls.


Recently, we proposed an efficient ISAR segmentation method that is composed of three steps; coarse range alignment, image segmentation and enhancement of the segmented images [10] . The key steps of this method are the coarse range alignment in which every single pixel has the same weight on the cost function and the segmentation of ISAR images coarsely formed after phase adjustment. However, the existing coarse alignment and segmentation methods have some problems. In the coarse alignment, the range-Doppler image can be seriously blurred if one of the several segments is poorly aligned. In the segmentation, if targets are narrowly spaced, two targets may be partially accommodated in a window simultaneously.

Recently, we proposed an efficient ISAR segmentation method that is composed of three steps; coarse range alignment, image segmentation and enhancement of the segmented images.


In this method, a binary image of the bulk image is constructed using a 2D constant false alarm (CFAR) detector [13] . Image closing is then applied to the binary image. The connected set of pixels in the closed image is used to segment each target from the bulk image. In simulations using point scatterer models of two Su-35s and one F-14, and the measured data of the real Boeing747, the proposed method is more accurate and requires less computation in coarse alignment and successfully segments the bulk image into sub-images.

In this method, a binary image of the bulk image is constructed using a 2D constant false alarm (CFAR) detector.


Main fuel for medium and low speed engines such as large marine diesel engines, due to its cheaper price, is heavy fuel oil. These fuels have low quality and high emissions. As a result, fuel additives play an important role in reduction of pollution in medium and low speed diesel engines. One solution to enhance the quality of heavy fuel and decrease its emissions is addition of alcohols such as ethanol, methanol, and butanol to the reference fuel. Research indicates a higher comparative advantage of butanol relative to ethanol and methanol in combination with diesel fuels [1] .

Research indicates a higher comparative advantage of butanol relative to ethanol and methanol in combination with diesel fuels.


Low returns and high risks are two issues faced by agricultural commodity producers as mentioned by UK"s Department for International Development (DFID) on its 2004 report. According to the DFID, those two problems occur due to the less rapid growth of agricultural commodities" prices compared to those of manufactured products, and the price volatility in agricultural commodities. Generally, commodities, especially agricultural commodities, are well known for their prices volatility patterns (Newbery, 1989) . The DFID argues that developing countries which are highly dependable on agricultural commodities should try to decrease their dependency on those commodeties. One such developing country, which will be the focus of this article, is Indonesia. Agriculture is traditionally the main sector of Indonesia"s economic activity. Until 1960, it represented 50% of Indonesian"s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as shown in Figure 1 . The decline of the percentage inthe GDP since 1966 was due to the effort to reduce Indonesian overdependence on farmers. In the period of OrdeBaru, which was headed by Soeharto (Indonesian second president), the economy development were not just focused on agriculture, but also on other sectors such as manufacturing, electricity, construction, services and finance sectors (Djamin, 1989) . Figure 1 shows that in the percentage of agriculture roles on GDP decreased from about 50% in 1960 to about 16% in 1996. The percentage increased to be 18% in 1998 and 19% in 1999. Three decades of stable progress in Indonesian agricultural development were suddenly disturbed by financial and environmental shocks in 1997 (Daryanto, 1999) . Daryanto also mentioned that those conditions caused food insecurity, but in opposite to food crops, the Asian crisis gave positive impacts on farm non-food crops (plantations) and forestry. As high export-oriented and low importoriented subsectors, they enjoyed the prizes from the Asian crisis due to the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) depreciation. After the Asian financial crisis in 1998, the good performance of agricultural exports was one factor, from agricultural sector, that saved Indonesia from the crisis (Basri, 2002) .

Generally, commodities, especially agricultural commodities, are well known for their prices volatility patterns.

In the period of OrdeBaru, which was headed by Soeharto (Indonesian second president), the economy development were not just focused on agriculture, but also on other sectors such as manufacturing, electricity, construction, services and finance sectors.

Three decades of stable progress in Indonesian agricultural development were suddenly disturbed by financial and environmental shocks in 1997.

After the Asian financial crisis in 1998, the good performance of agricultural exports was one factor, from agricultural sector, that saved Indonesia from the crisis.


The information in this study also can give additional information to Indonesian government in increasing cash inflow to the country, since Indonesia is an international major player in those seven commodities markets (Agriculture Data Center, 2011) . The increase of cash inflow can be realized by maintaining the existence of the commodities, quantities and quality, in fulfill the market demand. The welfare of farmers and small private sectors of those seven commodities should be put into account. Government can give them insight and encouragement to add values of those commodities through manufacturing sector. They can manufacture those commodities further to be another half or full finished goods forms. Therefore, when the market prices become too high which lead to the decrease of demand, they will survive from the manufactured products of those commodities.

The information in this study also can give additional information to Indonesian government in increasing cash inflow to the country, since Indonesia is an international major player in those seven commodities markets.


The mean values, as shown in Table 1 , were far from one. Those indicate that the data are stationary around zero. The standard deviation values, which are far from one, show the diversity of data which means that each commodity has high volatility in its price returns. The probability of Jarque-Bera in all of those commodities shows that those are not distributed normally. This study used ADF test statistic to perform the stationary test. The t-statistic value must be greater than the ADF test statistic values. Table 2 shows that all of those seven commodities have t-statistic values greater than all critical values. It means that the price return series of those commodities are stationary. The results of ARMA construction process for each commodity are shown in Table 3 . Although Arabica, Robusta and Black Pepper are shown have no heteroscedasticity problem, the returns volatility of those commodities can still be predicted by ARCH family models (Francq & Zakoian, 2010) .

Although Arabica, Robusta and Black Pepper are shown have no heteroscedasticity problem, the returns volatility of those commodities can still be predicted by ARCH family models.


Patient safety culture involves leader and staff interaction, routines, attitudes, practices and awareness that influence risks of adverse events in patient care [8] . The concept is developed within organizational psychology, and is regarded as a group phenomenon. The safety culture in the health service near the patients is of particular interest, as a substantial variation across wards has been shown [9] . This variation is associated with risk of medical errors [10] [11] [12] .

Patient safety culture involves leader and staff interaction, routines, attitudes, practices and awareness that influence risks of adverse events in patient care.

The safety culture in the health service near the patients is of particular interest, as a substantial variation across wards has been shown.

This variation is associated with risk of medical errors.


Roughly speaking, an algebraic stack is an object which looks locally like the quotient of an algebraic variety by a group action [26] . Thus it is a fundamental question whether a given stack is globally the quotient of a variety by a group action. We show that a strong version of this property is equivalent to another fundamental property of stacks: having ''enough'' vector bundles for geometric purposes. The equivalence turns out to be interesting even in the special case where the stack is a scheme. Moreover, we prove the existence of enough vector bundles in the important case of orbifolds whose associated algebraic space is a scheme. In more detail, the two main results of the paper are: Theorem 1.1. Let X be a normal noetherian algebraic stack (over Z) whose stabilizer groups at closed points of X are a‰ne. The following are equivalent.

Roughly speaking, an algebraic stack is an object which looks locally like the quotient of an algebraic variety by a group action.

The following are equivalent.


Mycoplasmas have the ability to induce non-specific immune and inflammatory responses, because they are able to induce cytokine production, activate monocyte/macrophages, nonspecific polyclonal B and T lymphocytes and glial cells. On the other hand, mycoplasmas are able to avoid immune response by phase or antigenic variation. Lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) are the major antigens of mycoplasmas [16] . These mycoplasmal antigens have been implicated in some pathogenic effects and as targets of humoral immune response. Infections produced by mycoplasmas tended to chronicity, so the continuous production of nonspecific or specific antibodies can lead to hypersensitivity or autoimmune reaction, which may involve mycoplasmas as triggering or exacerbation agents of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Humoral immune response in patients with diagnostic of ALS against mycoplasmas have been not detected. In this study, we used LAMPs extracted from M. fermentans PG18. IgM antibodies against LAMPs of these strains were detected in 6/13 (46%) patients and in 13/42 (31%) healthy individuals, while IgG antibodies were detected in 4/13 (31%) patients and in 3/42 (7%) healthy individuals. We cannot rule out the possibility that ALS patients have higher levels of antibodies to LAMPs than healthy controls, because it was not possible to get a second blood sample from patients. Antibodies against LAMPs of mycoplasmas have been detected in patients with RA and SLE, although antibodies against LAMPs are serological markers of exposure to mycoplasmas, it is important to be cautious with these results, because there is cross-reactivity to self-antigens due to mycoplasma molecular mimicry of self-molecules [17] . Therefore, studies about the participation of LAMPs of mycoplasmas in human diseases are necessary.

Lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) are the major antigens of mycoplasmas.

Antibodies against LAMPs of mycoplasmas have been detected in patients with RA and SLE, although antibodies against LAMPs are serological markers of exposure to mycoplasmas, it is important to be cautious with these results, because there is cross-reactivity to self-antigens due to mycoplasma molecular mimicry of self-molecules.


Key managers should be involved in strategy formulation and implementation. Top and middle managers' commitment and participation in strategic planning are critical for motivating and engaging front line managers and employees, generating new ideas needed for developing action plans, building decision consensus and commitment, and improving organizational performance (Brenes et al., 2008; Schaefer and Guenther, 2016) . A lack of managers' commitment and active participation in strategic planning results in various challenges in strategy implementation.

Top and middle managers' commitment and participation in strategic planning are critical for motivating and engaging front line managers and employees, generating new ideas needed for developing action plans, building decision consensus and commitment, and improving organizational performance.


Friends were not associated with school engagement to the same level as for young people not-in-care, possibly because moving schools more frequently means friends are not so influential. The desirability of reducing the number of school changes for young people during their in-care journey have been noted in other studies (Ferguson & Wolkow, 2012) . As some participants discussed, changing schools did adversely affect them. They missed out on learning particular academic concepts, which for some resulted in them being ill-prepared for their senior studies. Although staying at the same school may not always be possible, and the views of the young person must be taken into account, aiming to keep school stable should be an objective when placement transitions occur. This is relevant not only to educational goals, but to the capacity of children to make and keep school friends and enjoy their time at school.

The desirability of reducing the number of school changes for young people during their in-care journey have been noted in other studies.


This paper focuses on the school engagement of young people in out-of-home care. It draws on a mixed methods study of the school to work transition of young people in care, and reports specifically on factors that are important for school engagement and connectedness. It is well established that it is vital for children in out-of-home care to experience stability, permanency, and the opportunity to receive assistance for dealing with trauma and other impacts of maltreatment. As part of promoting their wellbeing, the importance of children having quality educational experiences is also recognized. However, research to date has shown that children in out-of-home care are at risk of a range of unfavourable educational outcomes, such as grade activities with persistence and effort, and participating in and contributing to social and academic opportunities within the school environment. It encompasses the conduct and behavioural aspects of learning (Fredricks et al., 2004) . Emotional engagement focuses on the student's stance or attitude, and the her or his perception of staff, peers, and the learning setting. Both favourable and unfavourable reactions and appraisals may result in a range of emotions such as like, dislike, interest, anxiety, and excitement. Cognitive engagement refers to how much a student is willing to invest or contribute to the acquisition and mastery of learning tasks, including personal motivation, tenacity, and self-management. Engagement is associated with many positive academic outcomes, including achievement and persistence in school (Fredricks et al., 2004) .

It encompasses the conduct and behavioural aspects of learning.

Engagement is associated with many positive academic outcomes, including achievement and persistence in school.


While the in-care group reported more school engagement than their not-in-care peers, there were different factors driving engagement for both groups. Aside from school achievement, for the in-care group, support from carers and support from their caseworker were the factors that most strongly predicted school engagement. For the comparison group, academic achievement, parental support, and friends who like school were more strongly associated with school engagement. This highlights the vital role of care system personnel, reinforcing that education cannot be left to schools (Jackson & Cameron, 2012) . We have previously discussed the role and responsibility of the carer and the caseworker in promoting education as a route to a better quality of life . Other studies have highlighted the role of the teacher (Driscoll, 2011; Gilligan, 1998; Harker et al., 2004; Martin & Jackson, 2002; Merdinger et al., 2005) . While many young people who were interviewed appreciated teachers who would take the time to assist and encourage them, be approachable, and have a relaxed and cheerful disposition, it seemed that teachers were not as vital to school engagement as carers and caseworkers.

This highlights the vital role of care system personnel, reinforcing that education cannot be left to schools.

Other studies have highlighted the role of the teacher.


In this paper, we examined a range of school engagement variables, comparing young people in out-of-home care with those not-in-care. The in-care group reported lower aspirations for themselves, saw their parents as having lower aspirations for them, received less support from parents with their studies, and reported less school stability. These results are consistent with other studies that have found lower levels of educational attainment and participation for children in care (Cashmore, et al., 2007; Trout, Hagaman, Casey, Reid, & Epstein, 2008) .

These results are consistent with other studies that have found lower levels of educational attainment and participation for children in care.


In applied mathematics, another two types of differential equations, impulsive differential equations and functional differential equations with different conditions have wide applications in modeling particular phenomena and dynamical processes in physics, automatics, robotics, biology, medicine, and so forth. For example, impulsive differential equations can be used to investigate natural phenomena or dynamical processes which are subject to great changes in a short period of time [16] [17] [18] . To further understand the mathematical models with impulsive differential equations or functional differential equations with different conditions, analytical investigation of these equations is required. During the last ten years, progress in studying these two types of differential equations has been made [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] .

For example, impulsive differential equations can be used to investigate natural phenomena or dynamical processes which are subject to great changes in a short period of time.

During the last ten years, progress in studying these two types of differential equations has been made.


Intensely active strategies at the top of the ICAP spectrum are likely to bring intrinsic benefits not captured within our result. Constructive and interactive methods give students opportunities to practice collaborative work, which will ideally lead to improved social skills and training for collaborative work in science (Fine & Harrington, 2004; Rosenberg, Lorenzo, & Mazur, 2006) . Both methods have the capacity to position students in a growth mind-set as apprenticing experts instead of passive receivers as in traditional lecture classrooms (Nasir & Hand, 2006; Yeager & Dweck, 2012) . Both activities are likely to result in improved learning outcomes similar to those observed in a variety of STEM teaching environments from even the partial use of active learning strategies (Dauer & Long, 2015; Freeman et al., 2014) . Indeed, more inclusive and more effective classrooms in other fields and types of institutions may already tend toward these methods (Pascarella & Blaich, 2013) .

Constructive and interactive methods give students opportunities to practice collaborative work, which will ideally lead to improved social skills and training for collaborative work in science.

Both methods have the capacity to position students in a growth mind-set as apprenticing experts instead of passive receivers as in traditional lecture classrooms.

Both activities are likely to result in improved learning outcomes similar to those observed in a variety of STEM teaching environments from even the partial use of active learning strategies.

Indeed, more inclusive and more effective classrooms in other fields and types of institutions may already tend toward these methods.


In addition to the shared benefits of constructive and interactive activities, there are unique benefits that come from engaging in an interactive activity. For example, interactive methods have the special characteristic of placing students as "micro experts," which gives them opportunities to improve attitudinal outcomes, such as confidence and grit (Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, & Kelly, 2007) . Also, there is an increased level of accountability built into the interactive activity since all members of the group must contribute, which may help causally explain the learning gains seen here. Last, the increased structure built into the interactive activity may create more equitable group dynamics by explicitly tasking each group member with an active role. While these likely gains are important for the development of next-generation scientists, all are extra benefits unrelated with the positive results described here.

For example, interactive methods have the special characteristic of placing students as "micro experts," which gives them opportunities to improve attitudinal outcomes, such as confidence and grit.


The present method is simple, fast, cost-effective and highly reproducible. There were several key points to be taken under consideration when formulating the present acid phenol method. The phenol used in the present protocol was acidic in nature (pH 4.0-5.5). RNA molecules are usually found stable in a pH range of 5.0 to 6.0. High pH (>7.5) and presence of divalent cataions favored the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds present in RNA (Wiame et al. 2000) . In the present method, EDTA was used to sequester bivalent cataions like Mn +2 or Mg +2 . Acidic phenol and EDTA render more RNA stability by inhibiting degradation of RNA phosphodiester bonds in presence of bivalent cataions. One extra chloroform-isoamylalcohol purification step was included prior to phenol:chloroform:isoamylalcohol (25:24:1) step to remove endogenous phenolic compounds specifically followed by phenol:chloroform:isoamylalcohol (25:24:1) step which confirmed more efficient removal of protein during RNA preparation. Guanidium isothiocyanate and polyvinyl pyrolidone widely used for plant RNA isolation. These reagents were not used in the present protocol as the lysates obtained were found to be contaminated with a significant extent of cellular polysachharide and proteoglycans. These contaminations are reported to prevent suspension of RNA after precipitation with alcohol and thus inhibiting further downstream processes (Groppe and Morse, 1993) . Present acid phenol method thus avoids the use of guanidium isothiocyanate and polyvinyl pyrolidone guanidium isothiocyanate.

High pH (>7.5) and presence of divalent cataions favored the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds present in RNA.

These contaminations are reported to prevent suspension of RNA after precipitation with alcohol and thus inhibiting further downstream processes.


A model of non-singular screw dislocation lying along an infinitely long cylindric body is investigated in the present paper in the framework of three-dimensional T (3)-gauge approach [1] . The gauge part of the total Lagrangian is chosen in the Hilbert-Einstein form, while the elastic contribution to it corresponds to the energy of elastically isotropic continuum given by the terms of second and third orders in the strain components. In other words, a second order elasticity approach is adopted in the present paper.

A model of non-singular screw dislocation lying along an infinitely long cylindric body is investigated in the present paper in the framework of three-dimensional T (3)-gauge approach.


Additionally, isotonic dextrose (5.5 mg/dl) was substituted for isotonic saline as the vehicle in all solutions to prevent sodium repletion. As in protocol 1, following stabilization, two baseline clearances were obtained except each was 30 minutes in duration. Following baseline clearances, dextrose vehicle (AD + DEX, N 6) or ANF (AD + ANF, N 6) was administered at 1.2 mi/mm (i.r.). Fifteen minutes after initiation of this infusion, a control clearance was obtained documenting any changes due to ANF or DEX. The infusion of vehicle or ANF was then continued as adenosine (0.1 molIliter) was infused at 1.0 mi/mm (i.r.) for 20 minutes, a dose previously documented to result in reproducible reduction in GFR [11] . After 10 minutes of AD infusion, a 10 minute clearance was obtained. AD was then discontinued and 10 minutes later, ANF or DEX was stopped. After an additional 10 minutes, a 10-minute recovery clearance was obtained. All solutions used in this protocol were made in dextrose.

The infusion of vehicle or ANF was then continued as adenosine (0.1 molIliter) was infused at 1.0 mi/mm (i.r.) for 20 minutes, a dose previously documented to result in reproducible reduction in GFR.


Ice cover-Lake ice characteristics such as ice-cover duration, ice-on and ice-off dates, and ice thickness have a profound effect on lake ecology due to their influence on temperature, water column stability, nutrient concentrations, gas exchange, and light availability. Ice thickness and structure represent important factors governing radiation distribution and availability through the ice-covered season (Fritsen and Priscu 1999; Belzile et al. 2001) . It has also been suggested that (at least for high-latitude lakes) one of the most important primary production peaks takes place under ice (Tanabe et al. 2008) . Assuming that the bloom is triggered by the amount of light available, a change in ice thickness may modify the bloom timing, thus potentially decoupling primary production from consumers (Winder and Schindler 2004) .

Ice thickness and structure represent important factors governing radiation distribution and availability through the ice-covered season.

It has also been suggested that (at least for high-latitude lakes) one of the most important primary production peaks takes place under ice.

Assuming that the bloom is triggered by the amount of light available, a change in ice thickness may modify the bloom timing, thus potentially decoupling primary production from consumers.


Currently, researches on ship anomaly behavior analyzing are plenty, and most of them are based on AIS data. Steven Mascaro detects the ship's sailing status by Bayesian network [3] . Gerben Klaas Dirk de Vries developed an anomaly behavior recognition method by machine learning, in his research, the ships' track feature was extracted by clustering and classifying the mass historical AIS data in harbor, channel, and anchorage ground [4] . However, these researches didn't concern to the validity of AIS information.

Steven Mascaro detects the ship's sailing status by Bayesian network.

Gerben Klaas Dirk de Vries developed an anomaly behavior recognition method by machine learning, in his research, the ships' track feature was extracted by clustering and classifying the mass historical AIS data in harbor, channel, and anchorage ground.


It is important to know whether the threadlike structure is an isolated object in ventricles or it is connected to a threadlike structure outside the ventricles. In order to be a BHD, it must continue to the central canal of the spinal cord [22] . Indeed, as shown in Figure 6 , we found that the threadlike structure extends through the central canal of the spinal cord. Interestingly Figure 6C showed that the nerve BHD in the central canal of a spinal cord had the branching points which were observed earlier by Bonghan Kim [22] .

In order to be a BHD, it must continue to the central canal of the spinal cord.

Interestingly Figure 6C showed that the nerve BHD in the central canal of a spinal cord had the branching points which were observed earlier by Bonghan Kim.


The (small) support of X ∈ D(R) is defined as supp R X = p ∈ Spec R X ⊗ L R κ(p) = 0 , where κ(p) = R p /pR p . This notion was introduced by Foxby [5] . Let a be an ideal of R, and write Γ a for the a-torsion functor lim − →n Hom R (R/a n , −) on the category Mod R of R-modules. Then we have supp R RΓ a X ⊆ V (a) for any X ∈ D(R).

This notion was introduced by Foxby.


The principle of membrane filtration however implicates sophisticated physical, chemical, and biological reactions between the membrane surface and water contaminants [17] . These reactions usually influence each other, presenting a complicated effect on the filter surface known as membrane fouling. Membrane fouling has been a major hitch to the extensive use of low pressure membranes for drinking water treatment [20] [21] [22] [23] .

The principle of membrane filtration however implicates sophisticated physical, chemical, and biological reactions between the membrane surface and water contaminants.

Membrane fouling has been a major hitch to the extensive use of low pressure membranes for drinking water treatment.


Over the years, conventional water treatment techniques have been used to remove waterborne pathogens in order to meet satisfactory drinking water quality. However, such systems cannot effectively meet the ever increasing and more stringent water quality regulations of modern times [6, 7] . Moreover, the presence of residual chlorine that is used for disinfection in conventional water treatment can react with natural organic matter (NOM) to form carcinogenic disinfection by-product precursors (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and other halogenated organics [8] [9] [10] . Direct exposure to DBPs can also lead to miscarriages and nervous system complications [8, 11] .

However, such systems cannot effectively meet the ever increasing and more stringent water quality regulations of modern times.

Moreover, the presence of residual chlorine that is used for disinfection in conventional water treatment can react with natural organic matter (NOM) to form carcinogenic disinfection by-product precursors (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and other halogenated organics.

Direct exposure to DBPs can also lead to miscarriages and nervous system complications.


Notwithstanding, pretreatment of feed water has been identified as an efficient way of reducing membrane fouling and increasing permeate quality [19, 24] . In view of that, the aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of the recent scientific knowledge on pretreatment techniques used for alleviating membrane fouling. The concept and mechanism of fouling and the influence of techniques such as coagulation, adsorption, oxidation, bio-filtration, and others on membrane fouling are elucidated. In addition, the applicability of the various techniques in low and middle income countries is discussed. It is envisaged that this review paper will provide a comprehensive understanding on fouling reduction abilities of different pretreatment techniques and such knowledge will promote the extensive adoption of the membrane filtration technology for drinking water production in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions.

Notwithstanding, pretreatment of feed water has been identified as an efficient way of reducing membrane fouling and increasing permeate quality.


Additionally, since our aim is to produce RE for real-world applications, we experimented with end-to-end systems, which use Named Entity Recognizers (NERs). For this purpose, we also exploited Freebase for creating DS data for our robust NER (Nguyen et al., 2010) . The results show that our RE systems can be applied to any document/sentence achieving an appreciable F1 of 67%.

For this purpose, we also exploited Freebase for creating DS data for our robust NER.


Photochemistry deals with the chemical changes brought about by light. Its important aim is to discover or to design structurally organized and functionally integrated artificial systems that are capable of harvesting solar energy, to perform useful functions. Energy crisis is the main impetus to the study of photochemical reactions. The photochemical changes such as photofading of coloured materials, photosynthesis in plants, and blackening of silver halides, and were observed and so forth, studied qualitatively from 1817 onwards. The quantitative approach to photochemistry was initiated by Grotthus and Draper in the beginning of the nineteenth century, and it was formulated that only the light which is absorbed by a system can cause any chemical change. The probability or rate of absorption is given by the Lambert-Beer Law [1] .

The probability or rate of absorption is given by the Lambert-Beer Law.


Photocatalysis is found to be an eco-friendly cheap method for removing various pollutants from gas and liquid streams and conversion of solar energy to chemical energy by splitting water (H 2 generation) and reducing CO 2 into light hydrocarbons. Splitting of water is a process that has great potential for the conversion of photo energy to chemical energy, in the form of hydrogen [2] . Millions of tonnes of H 2 S are produced in petroleum refinery plants in every year and is expected to increase considerably in the future [3, 4] . Thus, among various methods of solar energy conversions, much attention has been paid to photocatalytic decomposition of H 2 S, for its potential in obtaining clean and high energy containing H 2 from abundant H 2 S. As the 2 International Journal of Photoenergy direct thermal decomposition of H 2 S, for the production of hydrogen and elemental sulfur is energy intensive and economically unviable, there has been immense emphasis on the development of visible light photocatalysts for the production of hydrogen [5] . The development of a particulate photocatalyst that catalyzes overall water splitting under visible light for large-scale production of H 2 from water and sunlight, has become an important endeavor [6] [7] [8] [9] . It is also essential to find an alternative to fossil-fuelbased energy sources, for establishing new energy systems for the 21st century. Thus, photocatalysis appeared as a "green" technology with promising applications in a wide assortment of chemical and environmental technologies.

Splitting of water is a process that has great potential for the conversion of photo energy to chemical energy, in the form of hydrogen.

Millions of tonnes of H 2 S are produced in petroleum refinery plants in every year and is expected to increase considerably in the future.

Thus, among various methods of solar energy conversions, much attention has been paid to photocatalytic decomposition of H 2 S, for its potential in obtaining clean and high energy containing H 2 from abundant H 2 S. As the 2 International Journal of Photoenergy direct thermal decomposition of H 2 S, for the production of hydrogen and elemental sulfur is energy intensive and economically unviable, there has been immense emphasis on the development of visible light photocatalysts for the production of hydrogen.

The development of a particulate photocatalyst that catalyzes overall water splitting under visible light for large-scale production of H 2 from water and sunlight, has become an important endeavor.


The major organic compounds that constitute the industrial waste water include dyes, phenols, chlorophenols, aliphatic alcohols, aromatics, polymers, and carboxylic acids. Although, dyes are creating a colorful world, they are becoming a major source of environmental contamination, as their release into the ecosystem is a dramatic source of aesthetic pollution, eutrophication, and perturbation in aquatic systems [13] . Colour removal, especially from textile waste water, has been a big challenge over the last decades [14] . The conventional technologies are not capable of reducing them to the lowest levels demanded by the environmental laws. The complexity and variety of dyestuffs employed in the dying processes made it difficult to find a unique treatment procedure that entirely covers the effective elimination of all types of dyes. Principally, biochemical oxidations go through considerable restrictions in view of the fact that the majority of dyestuffs commercially available have been deliberately planned to resist aerobic microbial degradation and are thus, converted to toxic or carcinogenic compounds. Physical processes, for example, flocculation, reverse osmosis, and adsorption on activated charcoal are nondestructive and simply transfer the pollutant to another media, consequently causing secondary pollution. Among the advanced oxidation processes (AOP) prompted for treating both gas and water pollutants, the heterogeneous photocatalysis is a powerful tool to solve environmental and energy problems [15, 16] . Injurious atmospheric pollutants, which are exhausted from internal combustion engines and furnaces, like nitrogen oxides (NO x ) such as nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) originates acid rain, photochemical smog, and greenhouse effects. Therefore, successful removal of the above pollutants has become a vital topic in the meadow of environmental protection, and there had appeared many winning reports on the catalytic oxidation of NO x under photo irradiation.

Although, dyes are creating a colorful world, they are becoming a major source of environmental contamination, as their release into the ecosystem is a dramatic source of aesthetic pollution, eutrophication, and perturbation in aquatic systems.

Colour removal, especially from textile waste water, has been a big challenge over the last decades.

Among the advanced oxidation processes (AOP) prompted for treating both gas and water pollutants, the heterogeneous photocatalysis is a powerful tool to solve environmental and energy problems.


Islands appearing in highly chaotic regimes were observed in numerous numerical simulations [9, 10] . While many of these simulations were carried for the standard map, only recently it has been shown that for large K it has a dense set of parameter values for which elliptic islands exist [11] . It is tempting to assume that the numerically observed chaotic sea is a nonuniformly hyperbolic set of positive measure; however, no results in this direction have appeared to the best of our knowledge.

Islands appearing in highly chaotic regimes were observed in numerous numerical simulations.

While many of these simulations were carried for the standard map, only recently it has been shown that for large K it has a dense set of parameter values for which elliptic islands exist.


As mentioned above, the amphibolites units are completely identifiable on the analyzed velocity logs, in contrast with Gneiss and Variegated Units. Only the GU1 unit is reflected by the velocity change on all the sonic logs. This point may be explained by the fact that amphibolites exhibit faster velocities (Vp and Vs) than gneiss and variegated units, characterized by close velocity values which make them difficult to differentiate on the sonic logs (Goff and Holliger, 1999) .

This point may be explained by the fact that amphibolites exhibit faster velocities (Vp and Vs) than gneiss and variegated units, characterized by close velocity values which make them difficult to differentiate on the sonic logs.


Here, we report a proof-of-principle implementation of a multichannel SRS-FC system that can analyze the chemical content of flowing particles at rates approaching those of standard fluorescence-based FC. Different from CARS, the SRS spectrum is free of a nonresonant background and is identical to that of the spontaneous Raman [20, 29] . SRS requires a pump and a Stokes beam for excitation. When their energy difference (ω p − ω S ) matches a vibrational transition Ω, energy flows from the input photons to the molecule to excite the vibrational mode. Such a process gives a large SRS signal proportional to σI p I S , where σ is the Raman cross section of the specimen, and I p and I S are intensities of the pump and Stokes beams, respectively [18] .

Different from CARS, the SRS spectrum is free of a nonresonant background and is identical to that of the spontaneous Raman.

Such a process gives a large SRS signal proportional to σI p I S , where σ is the Raman cross section of the specimen, and I p and I S are intensities of the pump and Stokes beams, respectively.


Third, by operating in a tight focusing condition, our SRS-FC system examines only a part of a large particle at the laser focus, limiting present applications to relatively homogeneous samples. The measurement volume could be increased by either using weakly focused beams, as in most fluorescence FC systems, or by applying Bessel beam focusing for both input beams. The former requires higher laser powers to generate a detectable SRS signal; the latter could be achieved using a specially designed optical system generating Bessel beams [34] .

The former requires higher laser powers to generate a detectable SRS signal; the latter could be achieved using a specially designed optical system generating Bessel beams.


By offering a high-throughput quantitative analysis of single live cells in a suspension, flow cytometry (FC) has found wide applications in biological research and clinical diagnosis. Measurement of individual cells can be performed on the basis of their physical properties, such as electrical impedance or light scattering, or it may take advantage of fluorescence labeling that reveals function, physiology, or phenotypic characteristics. Impedance-based FC is able to count cells based on their size [1] . The physical measurement of wide-angle light scatter provides a measure of granularity, whereas narrow-angle light scatter can be used as a proxy for size/ volume information for particles [2] . Fluorophore-conjugated antibody labeling has enabled detection of cell-surface markers associated with cell function and therefore is employed as the principal approach for immunophenotypic analysis in modern FC [2, 3] . Along with cell function and physiology analysis, the detection and quantitation of small molecules, such as nutrients, metabolites, and drugs in single cells, could allow for new biological insights and diagnosis strategies for diseases. However, well-established traditional FC is not well suited for measurements quantifying the presence of the non-fluorescent small molecules. The use of fluorescent tags is not a realistic solution in this context, as such tags could significantly alter the function of these molecules when covalently attached. Nonspecific binding of fluorescent labels as well as cellular autofluorescence can also reduce the clarity of the results and complicate the interpretation of the observations; careful application of spectral unmixing would be required in order to estimate the abundance of pure constituents in the signal. Consequently, an FC technique that is able to provide intrinsic chemical characteristics of live cells without disrupting cellular function and without the necessity for labeling would offer an enormous value for biological and pharmaceutical research, with potential for clinical cytometry analysis as well.

Impedance-based FC is able to count cells based on their size.

The physical measurement of wide-angle light scatter provides a measure of granularity, whereas narrow-angle light scatter can be used as a proxy for size/ volume information for particles.

Fluorophore-conjugated antibody labeling has enabled detection of cell-surface markers associated with cell function and therefore is employed as the principal approach for immunophenotypic analysis in modern FC.


The TACs for the SEF quota species are set by the AFMA Board (which currently consists of a Chairman, the Managing Director of AFMA, two scientists, a government director, a management consultant and two industry representatives), which, for the SEF, is advised by two Management Advisory Committees (MACs), representing the trawl and non-trawl sectors of the fishery. The scientific advice on which TACs are based is developed by the South East Fishery Assessment Group (SEFAG), which has established several species-specific subgroups 1 . The process of providing scientific advice related to TAC setting for several species therefore originates at the species-specific subgroup level and passes through a variety of other committees (which act to some extent as an internal review process). However, development of this advice has proved (and continues to prove) difficult because AFMA's legislative objectives are not sufficiently explicit at the level of species management. This problem has been overcome for some species by defining more specific objectives. However, some of these specific objectives are in conflict. For example, the specific management objectives for blue grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae , used to include 'sustainable development of the winter spawning run fishery of blue grenadier off the west coast of Tasmania' and 'maintain the catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the non-spawning fishery above its lowest annual average level from 1986 to 1994' (Tilzey 1999) . These objectives are clearly in conflict because achievement of the first objective implies a higher probability of failing to achieve the second objective.

For example, the specific management objectives for blue grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae , used to include 'sustainable development of the winter spawning run fishery of blue grenadier off the west coast of Tasmania' and 'maintain the catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the non-spawning fishery above its lowest annual average level from 1986 to 1994'.


Australia's South East Fishery (SEF) is a multi-species, multi-sector fishery, the trawl sector of which operates from Barrenjoey Point off New South Wales to Cape Jervis off South Australia (Tilzey 1999) . It is managed primarily by means of Total Allowable Catches (TACs), which are set for the 16 key species in the fishery (Table 1) . These 16 species constitute approximately 80% of the landed catch (Tilzey 1999) . Management actions for all the species in this fishery must be selected to satisfy (to the extent possible) the five legislative objectives of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). These objectives are: conducting management consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD), maximizing economic efficiency, implementing efficient and cost effective management, ensuring accountability to the fishing industry and the Australian community, and achieving government targets in relation to cost recovery.

Australia's South East Fishery (SEF) is a multi-species, multi-sector fishery, the trawl sector of which operates from Barrenjoey Point off New South Wales to Cape Jervis off South Australia.

These 16 species constitute approximately 80% of the landed catch.


Until recently, the only rule used to assess stock status in the SEF has been the so-called 'CPUE strategy'. This involves assessing whether the catch rate for the last year for which data are available is less or greater than the lowest catch rate over a pre-specified period (usually 1986-94) . This 'strategy' has been criticised by both industry and scientists as being inadequate given inter alia concerns regarding the relationship between catch rate and abundance (Tilzey 1999) . In addition, the 'strategy' is not explicit about what actions will be taken if the catch rate does fall below the threshold.

This 'strategy' has been criticised by both industry and scientists as being inadequate given inter alia concerns regarding the relationship between catch rate and abundance.


Within the microenvironment of the stomach tissue, gastric epithelial cells have complex interactions with other cell lineages. These components include fibroblasts, immune lineages and endothelial cells that make up blood vessels [1] . This complex cellular milieu plays a critical role in maintaining tissue function and integrity. Similarly, solid tumor development leads to changes in the cellular microenvironment -the interactions between epithelial cancer cells and tumor stroma influence tumor development, facilitate metastasis, enable evasion of immune surveillance, and alter therapeutic responses [2] . For example, the gene expression profile from stromal cells around epithelial tumors may have prognostic implications and predictive information about response to chemotherapy [3, 4] . Despite its important role in tissue regulation and maintenance, very little is known about the cellular features and intercellular communication among gastric epithelial and stromal cells.

These components include fibroblasts, immune lineages and endothelial cells that make up blood vessels.

Similarly, solid tumor development leads to changes in the cellular microenvironment -the interactions between epithelial cancer cells and tumor stroma influence tumor development, facilitate metastasis, enable evasion of immune surveillance, and alter therapeutic responses.

For example, the gene expression profile from stromal cells around epithelial tumors may have prognostic implications and predictive information about response to chemotherapy.


MedioGrid platform is service-oriented. It is based on the latest generation Grid middleware (Globus Toolkit 4) and uses most recent tools to deploy and access Grid services. It offers an original solution for data replication and distribution based on OGSA-DAI in order to ensure fault tolerance [7] . MedioGrid's platform is encapsulating also Gridservices wrapping legacy codes, e.g. GIMP. In a field dominated by proprietary sophisticated codes, public-domain software packages are used as basic components in order to make possible the public access to the platform services.

MedioGrid platform is service-oriented.

It offers an original solution for data replication and distribution based on OGSA-DAI in order to ensure fault tolerance.


The mapping of PPAs integrates a set of core analysis for planning and management of natural resources and territory (PEDRON et al., 2006; SOARES et al., 2011) . The Rural Environmental Registry (CAR, acronym in Portuguese) established by the NFC, aims to create a database of land use and natural sites of all farms in the country. This remarkable challenge will be achieved, largely, thanks to geographic information systems.

The mapping of PPAs integrates a set of core analysis for planning and management of natural resources and territory.


Why do poor countries get trapped in a vicious circle of high birth rates and low growth rates? This paper will develop a unified theory of how production volatility affects the growth rate of an economy by altering both saving decisions and the decision to have children. The model may be particularly relevant in some developing countries, where production volatilities are much greater than in developed economies (Turnovsky and Chattopadhyay, 2003) .

The model may be particularly relevant in some developing countries, where production volatilities are much greater than in developed economies.


Public investment is refers as consumption good that reduce the saving and capital investment of an economy. The study reexamines the effect of public investment on economic growth. The impact of public investment on economic growth is specific to country which means every country has different scenario regarding their public investment. The study explains different channels through which economic growth is affected from public investment. Public investment has dual effect on economic growth; it may have a positive or may be a negative effect. Initially, public investment cause increase in production which as a result help to increase output of any country along with its employment level and at the end economic growth of country start to move towards boost. Based on Keynesian view point, public investment is a government instrument which causes production to increase at a specific level. Public investment helps to increase in output which is added in aggregate demand and from resultant, employment increase with increasing in aggregate demand. Public investment raises aggregate demand and has a multiplier effect on output (Blinder, 2008) .

Public investment raises aggregate demand and has a multiplier effect on output.


Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) aims at retrieving images based on their visual contents. It is a long-standing research hot spot over the past decade [1] . However, performances of state-of-the-art CBIR systems are still unsatisfactory due to the semantic gap between image visual contents and human's image perception.

It is a long-standing research hot spot over the past decade.