In situ observations have shown that ammonium salts commonly accumulate on dust particles (Galy-Lacaux et al., 2001; Jordan et al., 2003; Sullivan et al., 2007; Shi et al., 2008) . The coating of dust particles by sulfate occurred by in-cloud processes, by which reactions with sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) initiate the deposition of sulfate on the surface of the particles (Levin et al., 1996) . Other mixing processes include coagulation of sulfate particles or oxidation of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) to sulfate on the particle surface in the presence of ammonia (NH 3 ). The latter process involves titration of NH 3 by H 2 SO 4 to form ammonium sulfate (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , ammonium bisulfate (NH 4 )SO 4 , or triammonium hydrogen disulfate (NH 4 ) 3 H(SO 4 ) 2 . Similarly, in presence of nitric acid (HNO 3 ), NH 3 will produce ammonium nitrate (NH 3 NO 3 ) (Usher et al., 2003) . Sulfate coatings on dust undergo efflorescence (crystallization) at different relative humidities depending on the size and mineralogy of dust (Usher et al., 2003) .

In situ observations have shown that ammonium salts commonly accumulate on dust particles.

The coating of dust particles by sulfate occurred by in-cloud processes, by which reactions with sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) initiate the deposition of sulfate on the surface of the particles.

Similarly, in presence of nitric acid (HNO 3 ), NH 3 will produce ammonium nitrate (NH 3 NO 3 ).

Sulfate coatings on dust undergo efflorescence (crystallization) at different relative humidities depending on the size and mineralogy of dust.


The relatively weak change of mass extinction efficiency is in agreement with a previous model study (Bauer et al., 2007) . However, such study considered dust aging during transport whereas we have considered here dust co-located mostly over croplands with IASI NH 3 hot spots. The existence of mixed dust with NH 3 over large areas implies that a significant amount of dust is already mixed with ammonium salt before its long range transport and cloud processing. This in turn will affect dust lifetime, and its interactions with radiation, cloud properties, and ocean biogeochemistry.

The relatively weak change of mass extinction efficiency is in agreement with a previous model study.


As the MCDM and the data mining have these advantages. Moreover, the research of data mining in supply chain management still has many gap and less considered area to improve (Harding et al., 2006) . This paper proposes an effective solution on a combination of fuzzy stochastic AHP and data mining techniques approach to select a suitable freight logistics hub. Also, an empirical study is presented to explain the application of this study. The rest of this paper is organized as follows. In section 2 illustrates the fundamental of this research and reviews related literatures. In section 3 a research framework and methods are described. In section 4, an empirical study in Selection the Freight Logistics Hub in Thailand database is illustrated. Results and discussion of the proposed framework are mentioned and analyzed in section 5. Finally, conclusions and further research directions are provided in section 6.

Moreover, the research of data mining in supply chain management still has many gap and less considered area to improve.


One of various supply chain strategies is to select facility location. The ability of a firm to produce and market its products effectively or to deliver high-quality services is dependent in part on the location of the firm's facilities (Jayaraman, 1998) . However, the strategy of selection usually involves subjective and qualitative judgment. In this sense, the procedure of location selection is required to handle several complex factors in a better sensible and logical manner. Thus, the strategy selection is a kind of multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) problem and required MCDM methods to solve it appropriately.

The ability of a firm to produce and market its products effectively or to deliver high-quality services is dependent in part on the location of the firm's facilities.


Alternate bearing is when plants produce good crops of fruit in some years ("on" years) followed by poor crops ("off" years) [1] . The date palm is known to experience alternate bearing. Both "on" and "off" palms were considered in this review. Recent evidence suggests that the alternate bearing phenomenon in the date palm affects the distribution of certain elements in the tree.

Alternate bearing is when plants produce good crops of fruit in some years ("on" years) followed by poor crops ("off" years).


What follows is an element-by-element summary of published findings of the effect of the alternate bearing phenomenon on the levels of selected chemical elements in the date palm. Generally, six "on" and six "off" Fard cultivar date palms of the same age and location were considered, unless stated otherwise. A palm was considered to be "on" when it possessed eight or more bunches of dates, but "off" when it had six or less bunches of fruit. Typically, the date palm samples were pre-treated using standard literature digestion and ashing techniques [23] . Chemical analysis was performed mostly using ICP-OES [24] [25] . This sensitive, multi-elemental technique uses a plasma to atomise samples prior to analysis by emission spectroscopy. In the case of Hg, however, a specialised, non-ICP analyser was used [26] . It works on the principle of cold vapour atomic absorption at 253.7 nm. For the determination of N, the Kjeldahl method was exploited [2] [24] . Here, the sample is digested in boiling sulphuric acid and subjected to several further steps before finishing with an acid-base titration.

Typically, the date palm samples were pre-treated using standard literature digestion and ashing techniques.

Chemical analysis was performed mostly using ICP-OES.

In the case of Hg, however, a specialised, non-ICP analyser was used.

For the determination of N, the Kjeldahl method was exploited.


Alternate bearing in some date cultivars is of growing concern [2] . High yields are associated with low-quality fruits; in other words, small dates with high acidity and tannin, but low sugar content [3] - [6] . It is still unclear how alternate bearing works. In many cases, however, it has been associated with depletion of nutrients after a heavy cropping in the "on" year. In addition, alternate bearing is affected by several factors, including genetic factors, abiotic and biotic influences, and poor culture methods during the "on" year [1] [7] .

Alternate bearing in some date cultivars is of growing concern.

High yields are associated with low-quality fruits; in other words, small dates with high acidity and tannin, but low sugar content.

In addition, alternate bearing is affected by several factors, including genetic factors, abiotic and biotic influences, and poor culture methods during the "on" year.


On several occasions, attempts have been made to reduce the effect of alternate bearing on the date palm through the judicious use of horticultural techniques. Many groups have reported attempts to balance vegetative and reproductive growth [8] - [13] . These studies focused on girdling, nutrition, and thinning of fruits.

Many groups have reported attempts to balance vegetative and reproductive growth.


Multiple evidence points to an important role of EBV-specific T-cells in the long term control of the EBV carrier state. Failure of this control leads to the occurrence of EBV positive lymphomas in immunosuppressed patients after transplantation and as a late, severe AIDSdetermining outcome of HIV infection [11, 12] . We can better understand the critical components of immunity controlling EBV by studying the dynamics of the immune reconstitution during the post-HSCT period. Together with EBV-DNA load as measured in blood features of this reconstitution may provide more precise predictive tools in guiding the post-transplant therapeutic strategy.

Failure of this control leads to the occurrence of EBV positive lymphomas in immunosuppressed patients after transplantation and as a late, severe AIDSdetermining outcome of HIV infection.


Partial seasonal synchronization of QBO phase initiations occurs in CMAM, similar to behavior seen in tropical radiosonde data. As described in section 5, this suggests that decadal variations in the strength of QBOvortex correlations may be caused by internal atmospheric variability. One may construct a plot like Fig. 8 , where instead of varying groupings of years based on c, the t statistic is defined by the westerly-easterly composite difference when years are grouped into westerly QBO (QBO-W) and QBO-E categories defined by QBO winds at a particular altitude, and the horizontal axis represents the changing of that altitude. Constructing such plots separately for the 1958-78 and 1979-2001 periods (not shown) demonstrates substantial changes in t during NH winter between the two periods, consistent with previously reported decadal variations in the strength of QBO-vortex correlations (Lu et al. 2008) . A single-level QBO phase definition may obscure distinctions between QBO phases that are close in terms of c but that differ in aspects that are dynamically significant for the extratropical response. Hence, it is possible that long-term (decadal) drifts of c with respect to the annual cycle may alter the relationship between single QBO levels and the levels of causality, leading to single-level t values being different in the two periods. That this happens in CMAM without any externally imposed interannual variability shows that it can happen from internal variability of the atmosphere. This provides an alternative explanation to apparent effects of the 11-yr solar cycle on QBO-vortex coupling.

Constructing such plots separately for the 1958-78 and 1979-2001 periods (not shown) demonstrates substantial changes in t during NH winter between the two periods, consistent with previously reported decadal variations in the strength of QBO-vortex correlations.


The elucidations of the NGF/TrkA and the NGF/p75 NTR complexes now allow for the evaluation and prediction of molecular interactions which govern efficient neurotrophin signalling. However, it is also important to understand the caveats of these structures. For example, Figure 1 nicely illustrates the location, proximity, and footprint of ligand/receptor interaction of both TrkA and p75 NTR binding to NGF. However, some regions of the NGF/TrkA crystal proved difficult to resolve, and data are not available for NGF residues 61-68 [5, 6] . Importantly, in order to facilitate crystallization of the NGF/ TrkA complex, Wehrman truncated the structure of TrkA by a 32 residue sequence which joins the Ig-C2 domain TrkA to the cell surface [6] . This sequence likely plays a very important role for TrkA's ability to resolve one neurotrophin ligand from another. Thus, the contribution of loop domains I and II of NGF cannot be analyzed with respect to TrkA binding from crystal structure analysis. It is also important to note that the binding epitope of αD11 NGF-neutralizing antibody has been demonstrated to bind at the loop II and loop IV regions of NGF [24] .

However, some regions of the NGF/TrkA crystal proved difficult to resolve, and data are not available for NGF residues 61-68.

Importantly, in order to facilitate crystallization of the NGF/ TrkA complex, Wehrman truncated the structure of TrkA by a 32 residue sequence which joins the Ig-C2 domain TrkA to the cell surface.

It is also important to note that the binding epitope of αD11 NGF-neutralizing antibody has been demonstrated to bind at the loop II and loop IV regions of NGF.


The therapeutic efficacy of targeting the ligand in a ligand/receptor system has been demonstrated by the neutralizing effect of monoclonal antibodies in the clinic [8] . However, antibody-mediated therapies have several technical, practical, and economical limitations that restrict their widespread application in many clinical settings. A similar strategy using small-molecules to neutralize soluble peptide ligands in a pathological setting is just starting to be explored.

The therapeutic efficacy of targeting the ligand in a ligand/receptor system has been demonstrated by the neutralizing effect of monoclonal antibodies in the clinic.


Historically, small molecule-based therapeutics have generally focused on compounds directed towards membrane bound receptors, channels and intracellular enzyme targets. However, the physiological role of several of these targets is governed by soluble protein ligands such as cytokines or growth factors. Traditional "receptorcentric" screening strategies yielded clinically effective therapeutics for most of the past century [1] . Obvious examples in the field of pain research include targets such as cyclooxygenase (Cox1/2), canabinoid and opioid receptors, and a variety of ion-channel inhibitors [2] . However, in the last decade, the success of these strategies has not kept pace with the demand for new chemical entities and, complementary approaches may help to revitalize lead identification in many drug discovery programs.

Traditional "receptorcentric" screening strategies yielded clinically effective therapeutics for most of the past century.

Obvious examples in the field of pain research include targets such as cyclooxygenase (Cox1/2), canabinoid and opioid receptors, and a variety of ion-channel inhibitors.


Large-scale infrastructure-led development is back on the agenda. The United Nations sets its 9th Sustainable Development Goal towards the mobilisation of finance flows and knowledge in order to build 'resilient infrastructures' [1] . In a similar vein, the World Bank reemphasises the importance of investments and public spending on infrastructures for fundamental transformations towards sustainable and resilient societies [2] .

The United Nations sets its 9th Sustainable Development Goal towards the mobilisation of finance flows and knowledge in order to build 'resilient infrastructures'.

In a similar vein, the World Bank reemphasises the importance of investments and public spending on infrastructures for fundamental transformations towards sustainable and resilient societies.


The w-operation is the star operation defined by setting I w = ∩ M∈t-Max(R) IR M . An equivalent definition is obtained by setting I w = ∪{(I : J) ; J is finitely generated and (R : J) = R}. By using the latter definition, one can see that the notion of w-ideal coincides with the notion of semi-divisorial ideal introduced by S. Glaz and W. Vasconcelos in 1977 [14] . As a star-operation, the w-operation was first considered by E. Hedstrom and E. Houston in 1980 under the name of F ∞ -operation [18] . Since 1997 this star operation was intensely studied by Wang Fanggui and R.

An equivalent definition is obtained by setting I w = ∪{(I : J) ; J is finitely generated and (R : J) = R}. By using the latter definition, one can see that the notion of w-ideal coincides with the notion of semi-divisorial ideal introduced by S. Glaz and W. Vasconcelos in 1977.

As a star-operation, the w-operation was first considered by E. Hedstrom and E. Houston in 1980 under the name of F ∞ -operation.


Our results show that in general there is a positive relationship between bank size and switching costs. A rise in size and number of sub branches will strengthen information flow, reduce the problem of asymmetric information and strengthen its lock in power. However, small banks have a stronger motivation to increase their switching costs power, and extend their market share; while large banks are less aggressive, which is called the big banks' 'fat cat effect' (Farrell and Klemperer, 2007) . However, we find that in China, the 'very large' banks have lower switching costs than 'large' banks suggesting a non-linear relationship between bank size and switching costs, where after some critical size switching costs decline.

However, small banks have a stronger motivation to increase their switching costs power, and extend their market share; while large banks are less aggressive, which is called the big banks' 'fat cat effect'.


Fractional differential equations (FDEs) are obtained by generalizing differential equations to an arbitrary order. They are used to model physical systems with memory. Since FDEs have memory, nonlocal relations in space and time complex phenomena can be modeled by using these equations. Due to this fact, materials with memory and hereditary effects, fluid flow, rheology, diffusive transport, electrical networks, electromagnetic theory and probability, signal processing, and many other physical processes are diverse applications of FDEs. Since FDEs are used to model complex phenomena, they play a crucial role in engineering, physics, and applied mathematics. Therefore, they are generating an increasing interest from engineers and scientist in the recent years. As a result, FDEs are quite frequently encountered in different research areas and engineering applications [1] .

As a result, FDEs are quite frequently encountered in different research areas and engineering applications.


In response to the global financial crisis, national and international policy institutions started more intensive monitoring of the soundness of the financial system analysing the potential impacts of financial stress on the economy, and implementing a number of policy measures. Due to the depth and consequences of the crisis, many supervisory authorities have begun to consider a new set of techniques designed to measure the potential vulnerability of financial institutions. In particular, a strong emphasis has been placed on research regarding the development of tools measuring risk and uncertainty as well as their ability to serve as early warning indicators (Vermeulen et al., 2015) .

In particular, a strong emphasis has been placed on research regarding the development of tools measuring risk and uncertainty as well as their ability to serve as early warning indicators.


In contrast with previous studies of silk in arthropods (such as spider orb webs) the architecture of webspinner silk cannot be sufficiently characterized because, to a large extent, its form varies in subtle ways from tubular galleries to sheet-like coverings. Instead, subtle movements during spinning may provide more useful characters for phylogenetic analysis than the end products of spinning, as has been shown for blackfly larvae (Stuart & Hunter, 1998) . Our alternative hypotheses are spinning behaviour style: (1) is related to body size because larger webspinners, often arboreal, may require more complex spin-steps to create a protective silk covering (the body size hypothesis); and (2) reflects phylogenetic relationships as differences accumulated in lineages over evolutionary time (the phylogeny hypothesis).

Instead, subtle movements during spinning may provide more useful characters for phylogenetic analysis than the end products of spinning, as has been shown for blackfly larvae.


The number of foreign teachers and international students engaging in inter-cultural education recent decades in mainland China and adjusting to cross-cultural transition has risen as a new challenge gradually. The process of acculturation has been associated with increased creativity and also adaptation challenges. Cross-cultural adaptation usually refers to the process of internal change in individuals so as to be able to function in an unfamiliar cultural environment [1] [2] [3] . Long-term cross-cultural adaptation means that the sojourner needs experience many changes in life, thinking ways and many other aspects. And most of the foreign teachers and international students in colleges and universities are the so-called sojourners, means those who travel to a culture for an extended time, however with planned limits, such as several years [2] [3] [4] . The expatriates' adaption is not always successful in the culturally different environment, since they are supposed to adjust to both of the local studying/working environment and the life environment, which are unusually really tough and challenging. It is reported that the expatriation failure rate is estimated from 15% to 50%, failure in adaptation would lead to more barrier and low efficiency in their study or work abroad [5] [6] [7] . China's current management towards the foreign teachers and students still remained on focusing on the daily life and other basic level of attention. Thus it is urgent to learn more about the adaptation of the foreigners in China and understand the current situation of their life, thus find the problems and solve the problem [7, 8] . This study aimed to investigate the physical and mental health, life satisfaction, as well as socio-cultural adaptation of the foreign teachers and students in mainland China.

Cross-cultural adaptation usually refers to the process of internal change in individuals so as to be able to function in an unfamiliar cultural environment.

And most of the foreign teachers and international students in colleges and universities are the so-called sojourners, means those who travel to a culture for an extended time, however with planned limits, such as several years.

It is reported that the expatriation failure rate is estimated from 15% to 50%, failure in adaptation would lead to more barrier and low efficiency in their study or work abroad.

Thus it is urgent to learn more about the adaptation of the foreigners in China and understand the current situation of their life, thus find the problems and solve the problem.


When two or more cultures coming into contact, acculturation would occur as the result among the international students or international teachers or other kind of sojourners as well as with the host culture. We all know that moving to a foreign country can bring a number of challenges, so sojourner might experience stress and adjustment issues from life changes in the acculturation process [9] [10] [11] . In this analyses, we found that female foreigh teachers were significantly older than men, while average duration was longer for men, Europe and American nationality, married proportion were higher in males also; among students, the boys average age were elder, and the proportion of married, it is the first time to China were higher proportion for girls; compared to students, the teachers more teachers were the first time came to China, and the duration in China were longer. Female's life satisfaction scores were higher for both teachers and students, while the scores of teachers were higher than students. Results from regression analysis showed that married, came to China together with the whole family, stayed in China for more than one year and good social support could improve their adaptation, however the first time in China this factor may reduce the level of cross-cultural adaptation; similar situation was found among students.

We all know that moving to a foreign country can bring a number of challenges, so sojourner might experience stress and adjustment issues from life changes in the acculturation process.


Communication and multi-cultural collision would lead to early conflic when the foreigners first meet the Chinese culture, mutual respect or effective communication or understanding has become the key to the success of cross-cultural collaboration. For sojourners in China, in addition to the family, their social support resources could often be divided countrymen and locals. Early crosscultural experience, having lived in the same or similar experience who can provide sojourner information to help them cope with the new environment; and compatriots can also provide emotional help and support [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] . In conclusion, based on the characteristics of cross-cultural adaptation of foreign students and teachers in China which was found from the manuscript, strengthen the management of cross-cultural adaptation of foreign students and teachers, thus to help them obtain a faster and better cross-cultural adaptation will be possible. And hope the findings in this manuscript offer useful information to the promotion of educational areas in China.

Early crosscultural experience, having lived in the same or similar experience who can provide sojourner information to help them cope with the new environment; and compatriots can also provide emotional help and support.


There are many papers dealing with different active media and saturable absorbers meant for "eye−safe" microchip lasers [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] . The scientists put a lot of effort into develop− ing a more effective microchip laser with the maximum power or energy in the shortest possible pulse. Very often, the aim of their effort is to apply it to a laser range finder. Despite the fact that everyone knows this application there is still lack of articles describing it in real environmental conditions. This paper tries to deal with this problem and describes the practical application of the microchip laser to the prototype of a laser rangefinder. In designing and build− ing the rangefinder, the economic and utilitarian aspects were taken into account as well as the following requi− rements: l emitted radiation should be eye−safe (according to the international standard IEC 60825-1 the maximal energy density on the iris, at a 1535−nm wavelength and pulse duration several ns, is 10000 J/m 2 ; l range of distance measurement up to 10 km; l no active cooling of active media and pumping diode (construction of the rangefinder is much simpler); l separate active medium and saturable absorber constitut− ing laser resonator (the only possible solution as ther− mally bounded active media with saturable absorber are not commercially available); l divergence of a laser beam at the output of transmitting optics of 0,5 mrad (so as to ensure an enough overlap of the laser beam and the detector field of view at a short dis− tance, feasible adjustment and to be comparable with the standard NATO target whose dimensions are 2.3×2,3 m); l detector's field of view of 1 mrad (so as to ensure small background noise and feasible adjustment it is usually assumed to be 2 times higher than the divergence of the laser beam); l working temperature of 5-5°C; l measurement time up to 300 ms (assuming the target moving with velocity of 50 km/h perpendicular to the di− rection of measurement, it needs about 300 ms to cover the distance of 5 m -the diameter of the laser beam at a distance of 10 km). The experiments dealing with investigations of the active media and the saturable absorbers used to build the microchip laser were already described in papers [14, 15] .

There are many papers dealing with different active media and saturable absorbers meant for "eye−safe" microchip lasers.

The experiments dealing with investigations of the active media and the saturable absorbers used to build the microchip laser were already described in papers.


We then conducted a Varimax rotation which is depicted in Table 2 . While nine factors were extracted and the overall variance explained was comparable to that obtained in the principal components analysis (see Table 3 ), the factor loadings, based on the principle of orthogonality, led to a more distinct pattern. Compared with the principal components pattern, the Varimax analysis, suggested that, while there was some overlap of items between factors, this redundancy was reduced allowing greater clarity of interpretation (Hair, Anderson, Tatham, & Grablowsky, 1979) .

Compared with the principal components pattern, the Varimax analysis, suggested that, while there was some overlap of items between factors, this redundancy was reduced allowing greater clarity of interpretation.


One of the challenges to obtaining a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of zonation in wetlands, and particularly in mangroves in the Caribbean, is the lack of high-resolution spatio-temporal measurements for parameters such as salinity, that are considered to be major controls, especially in complex intertidal systems (Atwell et al., 2013) . Small island developing states such as the Caribbean heavily depend on mangrove ecosystems as a source of food, a buffer against storms and a habitat to organisms. Depletion of wetlands has a greater impact on livelihoods and economies in these countries. When considering how best to restore wetlands, data that identifies water quality niches or zones, which represent one factor in species zonation, could help in the planning and targeting of restoration and management efforts.

One of the challenges to obtaining a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of zonation in wetlands, and particularly in mangroves in the Caribbean, is the lack of high-resolution spatio-temporal measurements for parameters such as salinity, that are considered to be major controls, especially in complex intertidal systems.


In this paper, we report experiments showing that droplet trajectory control can be realized by coupling rebounding droplets with the dielectrophoretic force [10] . This control is achieved by steering the droplets to shift the location of impact along the substrate (figure 1). Trajectory control involves a highly localized, non-uniform electric field near the surface created by patterned electrodes. The resulting non-uniform electric field pulls the droplets toward the substrate, altering the impact point, incident angle and reflected angle of the stream. In this way, we can control the final impact point of droplets on the receiver of the printing system (such as paper or other recording surface). We also describe a second mechanism, not as well understood, that alters the rebound dynamics dramatically to trap the liquid at the substrate and thus provide on/off control.

In this paper, we report experiments showing that droplet trajectory control can be realized by coupling rebounding droplets with the dielectrophoretic force.


It's widely accepted that there are two kinds of viewpoints about the structure of PC, two-dimension conception and three-dimension definition. The two-dimension structure of PC was proposed earlier by Macneil, which included "transaction responsibility" factor and "relationship responsibility" factor [5] . Rousseau and Parks believed that although there were a great deal of personalization and distinction in PC, it could be still classified into two categories: transactional PC and relational PC, and there were certain discrepancies between them, for instance, focus of attention, time frame, stability, scope and the degree of certainty [6] . According to Chen's empirical study on the enterprise staff in China, PC could consist of two dimensions: "real responsibility" and "development responsibility" [7] . Nevertheless, Tijoriwala and Rousseau insisted that PC could be measured by gauging its three aspects, "transaction responsibility", "relational responsibility" and "team member responsibility" [8] . Analogously, Li identified the three components of PC, "normative responsibility", "interpersonal responsibility" and "development responsibility", when he conducted a survey in the firms in China [9] . Furthermore, Zhu and Wang put forward the three-dimension structure (including material incentives, environmental supports and development opportunities), which was more in line with the psychological characteristics of Chinese knowledge workers [10] .

The two-dimension structure of PC was proposed earlier by Macneil, which included "transaction responsibility" factor and "relationship responsibility" factor.

Rousseau and Parks believed that although there were a great deal of personalization and distinction in PC, it could be still classified into two categories: transactional PC and relational PC, and there were certain discrepancies between them, for instance, focus of attention, time frame, stability, scope and the degree of certainty.

According to Chen's empirical study on the enterprise staff in China, PC could consist of two dimensions: "real responsibility" and "development responsibility".

Nevertheless, Tijoriwala and Rousseau insisted that PC could be measured by gauging its three aspects, "transaction responsibility", "relational responsibility" and "team member responsibility".

Analogously, Li identified the three components of PC, "normative responsibility", "interpersonal responsibility" and "development responsibility", when he conducted a survey in the firms in China.

Furthermore, Zhu and Wang put forward the three-dimension structure (including material incentives, environmental supports and development opportunities), which was more in line with the psychological characteristics of Chinese knowledge workers.


PC is a kind of emotional relationship easily influenced by the internal and external factors, and presenting a dynamic developing process. It's PCB and Psychological contract violation (PCV) that turn into the two indispensable development stages of PC. On the basis of distinguishing the two concepts, Morrison and Robinson illuminated that PCB was an individual's cognitive evaluation when organization failed to perform their duties, while PCV was a person's emotional experience whose cores were indignation and disappointment [11] . In the academic, a great many scholars have come to a consensus about the relationship among PCB, PCV, employees' attitude and behavior. On the whole, some elementary conclusions can be outlined as follows: 1) PCB has a significant effect on JS, TI and other related variable; 2) JS is related to TI markedly; 3) JS is the mediate variable affecting the relationship between PCB and TI. However, most of authors don't implement the dynamic study at time point, nor did specifically analyze the different influence paths of disparate dimensions of PCB.

On the basis of distinguishing the two concepts, Morrison and Robinson illuminated that PCB was an individual's cognitive evaluation when organization failed to perform their duties, while PCV was a person's emotional experience whose cores were indignation and disappointment.


Measurement of selected parameters related to physical conditioning in youth is common in most physical education and sports programs (Milliken et al., 2008) . As with competitive running and cycling, dynamic strength seems to be an important determinant of swimming performance (Tanaka et al., 1993; Tanaka & Swensen, 1998) . Unfortunately, sport-specific assessment methods for muscle power output of the arms and legs for swimming are poorly developed compared with other sports (Swaine, 2000) . This seems to be even more critical in what concerns to young competitive swimmers. When properly administered, strength tests can be used to assess children's overall condition and specific sport performance (Faigenbaum et al., 2002) .

Measurement of selected parameters related to physical conditioning in youth is common in most physical education and sports programs.

As with competitive running and cycling, dynamic strength seems to be an important determinant of swimming performance.

Unfortunately, sport-specific assessment methods for muscle power output of the arms and legs for swimming are poorly developed compared with other sports.

When properly administered, strength tests can be used to assess children's overall condition and specific sport performance.


In this paper, we extended to even spacetime dimensions our results for the double copy structure of momentum-space CFT correlators [16] . This double copy structure is inherited from the bulk scattering amplitudes that arise on taking the flat space limit of correlators. Our main achievement is to understand the analytic continuation required to reach the flat space limit. Analytically continuing the largest momentum magnitude, which is an energy from the bulk perspective, we arrive at configurations with E = 0 for which bulk energy conservation is restored. Analysing the behaviour of the master integral I 1{000} under this continuation, the flat space limits of all renormalised correlators can then be constructed. Prior to analytic continuation, the master integral can be expressed as a 1-loop triangle integral and evaluated in terms of a Bloch-Wigner function in suitable complex variables. Under analytic continuation, these complex variables follow a simple path in the complex plane which involves crossing two branch cuts. The resulting discontinuities produce a new term which supplies the necessary singular behaviour in the flat space limit. This term can also be derived from the leading singularity of the 1-loop triangle integral, revealing interesting connections to dual conformal symmetry. The flat space limit of all other triple-K integrals, and that of the correlators themselves, can then be deduced by applying differential operators to I 1{000} .

In this paper, we extended to even spacetime dimensions our results for the double copy structure of momentum-space CFT correlators.


This large survey showed that in Brazil, there is a structure of secondary oral health care in public services, with differences in the frequency and geographical localization of specialties. Since the DSCs were created by the Brazilian Ministry of Health in 2004, procedures in endodontics, periodontics, minor oral surgery, oral medicine and care for patients with special needs have been offered at these centers [8] [9] 12, 14] . As oral health policy is recent, a large proportion of OHTs unfortunately still do not have access to a DSC.

Since the DSCs were created by the Brazilian Ministry of Health in 2004, procedures in endodontics, periodontics, minor oral surgery, oral medicine and care for patients with special needs have been offered at these centers.


Moreover, in order to gather data or information for more understanding dynamic adaptability of crickets, we started to examine to have interactive experiment using a micro mobile robot [14] , [15] . This is an interesting and novel trials related to active interaction to the cricket. For more progress to understand adaptability of the cricket, we are intending to set the experimental condition maneuverable system for gathering additional data related to pheromone behaviors. Therefore, we developed a system for active interaction experiment with the cricket and gathering experimental data of the cricket's pheromone behavior on-line. This paper describes a developed prototype and reports several basic experimental results utilizing the system. This paper is organized as follows. Section 2 introduces about the cricket and our previous works for understanding its adaptive behavior. Section 3 describes our prototype system for active interaction and on-line experimental data gathering. Section 4 also describes the experimental results utilizing our prototype system. Finally, Section 5 presents our conclusions.

Moreover, in order to gather data or information for more understanding dynamic adaptability of crickets, we started to examine to have interactive experiment using a micro mobile robot.

This paper is organized as follows.


Another question is how these waves are excited. The periods of the observed waves are interesting, since they are greater than those associated with standing Alfvén waves in the ionospheric Alfvén resonator (T ∼1 s), but shorter than periods associated with the Pi2 pulsations associated with substorm onset (T ∼40-150 s) or field line resonances (T ∼100-1000 s), although they could be harmonics of these. Recently fluctuations with shorter periods than those of Pi2 have been observed in the magnetotail in association with substorm onset, but these are not likely to be Alfvénic and furthermore have periods shorter than 10 s (Sigsbee et al., 2002) . Another possibility is that they are Alfvén waves excited by the large field-aligned currents surrounding the "wave guide" region and propagated into it. Further work is needed to estimate the frequencies resulting from a geometry applicable to the measurements presented here, but we note that the growth rate of kinetic Alfvén waves generated by an electron beam maximizes for a perpendicular wavelength of λ ⊥ = ρ i 2π , where ρ i = m i v ⊥ eB is the ion gyro radius, m i the ion mass, v ⊥ the perpendicular thermal velocity and e the elementary charge (Hasegawa, 1979) . For an oxygen plasma with a temperature of 5 keV, which is typical for the plasma sheet boundary layer, we get λ ⊥ ∼300 km which is in good agreement with the estimate given from the measurements above.

Recently fluctuations with shorter periods than those of Pi2 have been observed in the magnetotail in association with substorm onset, but these are not likely to be Alfvénic and furthermore have periods shorter than 10 s.

Further work is needed to estimate the frequencies resulting from a geometry applicable to the measurements presented here, but we note that the growth rate of kinetic Alfvén waves generated by an electron beam maximizes for a perpendicular wavelength of λ ⊥ = ρ i 2π , where ρ i = m i v ⊥ eB is the ion gyro radius, m i the ion mass, v ⊥ the perpendicular thermal velocity and e the elementary charge.


One question worth asking is, however, why no sign is seen of any large perpendicular converging electric fields in upward current regions, mentioned above. This question is addressed in the companion paper. We only note here that the search for such structures have been reported to be unsuccessful using Polar data (Janhunen et al., 1999) .

We only note here that the search for such structures have been reported to be unsuccessful using Polar data.


Turning to the downward traveling Alfvén waves of interval (2) we note that an obvious property of these is that they propagate in a region delimited by the two current sheets. It is possible that this region acts as a wave guide, due to gradients either produced by the currents or being associated with them in some other way (Leonovich et al., 1983) . PEACE data shown in the companion paper show that the borders between regions (1), (2) and (3) are really associated with gradients in particle fluxes. We also note that the estimated perpendicular wavelength λ ⊥ is of the same order of magnitude as the width of the region where the Alfvén waves propagate, which is consistent with these waves being a fundamental wave-guide mode (Wright, 1994; Griffiths, 1999) . Further studies are needed to verify if this is a common configuration at these altitudes.

It is possible that this region acts as a wave guide, due to gradients either produced by the currents or being associated with them in some other way.

We also note that the estimated perpendicular wavelength λ ⊥ is of the same order of magnitude as the width of the region where the Alfvén waves propagate, which is consistent with these waves being a fundamental wave-guide mode.


There is a long history of herbal medicine in far Eastern countries; in particular, Chinese people have utilized herbs and plants to treat various diseases for more than 8000 years [1] . With the advance of modern medicine and drug research, chemical synthesis has replaced plants as the primary source of medicinal agents in industrialized countries. However, in 1985, the World Health Organization estimated that about 80% of the world's population relied on traditional medicines including herb medicines for their primary health care needs [2] . Several aspects: 1) the high cost of chemical synthesis drug discovery, 2) the efficiency of herb medicine on complex illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, 3) the unique activities of herbal medicine aiming at the system level via interactions with a multitude of targets in the human body, make people return to the herbal medicine, a potential reservoir for new drugs [3] .

There is a long history of herbal medicine in far Eastern countries; in particular, Chinese people have utilized herbs and plants to treat various diseases for more than 8000 years.

However, in 1985, the World Health Organization estimated that about 80% of the world's population relied on traditional medicines including herb medicines for their primary health care needs.

Several aspects: 1) the high cost of chemical synthesis drug discovery, 2) the efficiency of herb medicine on complex illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, 3) the unique activities of herbal medicine aiming at the system level via interactions with a multitude of targets in the human body, make people return to the herbal medicine, a potential reservoir for new drugs.


Peroxides and hydroperoxides are products that represent the beginning of lipoxidation, a step in which the chainbreaker antioxidants can interrupt the process and restore the fatty acid chain [14] . Then, hydroperoxides are spontaneously decomposed to MDA, which can be used as an indicator of lipid peroxidation damage [15] . MDA concentration increased in vegetable oils after the heating process, with important differences among the vegetable oil, and the addition of WEP showed different effect depending on plant species and vegetable oils (Figure 1) . Thus, in sunflower oil the concentration of MDA increased from initial values of 2.24 ± 0.30 mmol g −1 to 6.53 ± 1.63 mmol g −1 after the heating process, this increase being significantly reduced by the addition of the three WEP. Moreover, this effect was similar to the three plant species and the three used concentrations (Figure 1(a) ) and could be attributed to the high phenolics content of these plants [8] [9] [10] [11] . Accordingly, the addition of Nigella seed extract to this vegetable oil increased its oxidative stability [5] . Similar effects have been reported in soybean oil enriched with white tea and olive leaves extract, in which the oxidative extension during microwave heating was reduced [16] .

Peroxides and hydroperoxides are products that represent the beginning of lipoxidation, a step in which the chainbreaker antioxidants can interrupt the process and restore the fatty acid chain.

Then, hydroperoxides are spontaneously decomposed to MDA, which can be used as an indicator of lipid peroxidation damage.

Moreover, this effect was similar to the three plant species and the three used concentrations (Figure 1(a) ) and could be attributed to the high phenolics content of these plants.

Accordingly, the addition of Nigella seed extract to this vegetable oil increased its oxidative stability.

Similar effects have been reported in soybean oil enriched with white tea and olive leaves extract, in which the oxidative extension during microwave heating was reduced.


Our results can be considered as non-central limit theorems in the sense that we are considering nonlinear functionals of a Gaussian process (the multiple integrals with respect to fractional Brownian motions with Hurst parameter H ) that converge to a non-Gaussian process (the multiple integral with respect to B H 0 ). A general review for non-central limit theorems, including a discussion of several classical criteria ensuring that multiple Itô-type integrals converge to another multiple Itô-type integral, can be found in Surgailis [22] . We point out that the multiple Itô-type integrals considered in this last paper are integrals with respect to independently scattered random measures controlled by finite diffuse measures on B([0, T ] n ), that do not include the case of fractional Brownian motion.

A general review for non-central limit theorems, including a discussion of several classical criteria ensuring that multiple Itô-type integrals converge to another multiple Itô-type integral, can be found in Surgailis.


Skin symptoms generally precede the first signs of arthritis [19] . PsA causes nonreversible joint damage and chronic pain if left untreated. Therefore the co-operation of two specialists in the area of autoimmune diseases, dermatovenereologist and rheumatologist is very important. Significant progress has been made in the Slovak Republic over the last decade in a disease symptoms recognition process by the general practitioners as well as dermatovenereology specialists. Biology therapy introduction was the main reason. The classification criteria for psoriatic arthritis were introduced into daily practice as Slovak rheumatologists became partners of international investigative teams [20] . The risk of an underdiagnosis comes from a small number of dermatovenereologists using proper assessment tools for the screening as well as low ability of the rheumatology experts to recognize predictive features determining PsA, e.g. presence of psoriasis, psoriatic nail dystrophy, dactylitis etc. Limited number of rheumatology outpatients in the country also causes diagnostic and treatment delays. The current first of a kind PsA epidemiology study in the region will utilize the specificity and sensitivity, of PASE and ToPAS questionnaires [21, 22] . The results obtained will be used to determine the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis among patients with psoriasis in the Slovak Republic. It is not possible to determine if an early diagnosis and treatment could result in significant health benefits, e.g. prevention of irreversible joint erosions. Neither it is possible to determine prognostic and risk factors for rapid structural progression. These should be an objective of the further research.

Skin symptoms generally precede the first signs of arthritis.

The classification criteria for psoriatic arthritis were introduced into daily practice as Slovak rheumatologists became partners of international investigative teams.

The current first of a kind PsA epidemiology study in the region will utilize the specificity and sensitivity, of PASE and ToPAS questionnaires.


As for the link between motivation and receptive vocabulary size, a significant connection is found between both in the secondary group, although it is small and therefore other variables can be influencing this result. In the primary group, no connection is identified. These results do not serve to establish a trend in studies that combine these two variables. A variety of results are obtained in this regard. No link is identified in a sub-sample of the 1 st secondary group, but it is observed in the same group in 3 rd secondary grade (Fernández Fontecha and Terrazas Gallego 2012) . The same lack of a clear tendency is noted in the 4 th primary CLIL group, which in 5 th grade shows a connection between general motivation and 2K VLT (Fernández Fontecha under review a).

No link is identified in a sub-sample of the 1 st secondary group, but it is observed in the same group in 3 rd secondary grade.


Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is a dual-focused approach that allows students to learn a content subject while being exposed to the foreign language in which this subject is taught (Dalton-Puffer 2008) . In the last few decades, the implementation of CLIL is a growing tendency in the European educational setting. In understanding the research findings in studies where the type of instruction is involved, we should single out several possible moderating variables, such as the learners' age, the time of foreign language exposure, and the type of instruction itself, i.e., CLIL vs. EFL (English as a Foreign Language). In EFL the foreign language is not the vehicular language as it is in CLIL. In addition, CLIL requires the implementation of a set of techniques to support both content and foreign language teaching. To know the extent up to which some each of these variables, independent of the others, has some weight on language achievement is an arduous task, since the learners' age, which usually goes hand in hand with the educational level, runs parallel to the time of EFL exposure. CLIL entails an increase of exposure independent of the learners' age or educational level. In Spanish education, a typical profile is one in which a learner in a CLIL context receives weekly at least the same hours of exposure to English as a non-CLIL learner plus the hours in English received through the different CLIL subjects. In other cases, the CLIL learner may even receive more hours in English weekly.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is a dual-focused approach that allows students to learn a content subject while being exposed to the foreign language in which this subject is taught.


Though there are many segmentation methods most of them are suitable only for even lighting image. Portable digital camera are usually operated under natural illumination, thus result in images with uneven lighting. One possible solution is to divide the whole image into small regions (named windows) and segmenting these windows separately. Theoretically, smaller is the window size, the better is the segmentation result. When the window size becomes too small, it can produce the problem of homogenous windows, i.e., windows contain only background or object pixels, result produce black areas called ghost objects, will occur after thresholding [3] . Meanwhile, if the window size is too large, it neither can't treat the uneven lighting condition nor can't get right threshold as well [6] . So there is a need to select window dynamically in order to obtain good segmentation result.

When the window size becomes too small, it can produce the problem of homogenous windows, i.e., windows contain only background or object pixels, result produce black areas called ghost objects, will occur after thresholding.

Meanwhile, if the window size is too large, it neither can't treat the uneven lighting condition nor can't get right threshold as well.


In the post-Global Financial Crisis (GFC) world, there are new challenges to the conduct of macro…nancial stabilization policies. One of the major changes in this new environment is a signi…cant decline in the neutral real interest rate. In many advanced economies, estimated long-term neutral rates have declined to much lower levels compared to the pre-crisis period and show no sign of recovery (Laubach and Williams, 2015) . This is challenging for policy makers for two reasons. First, low neutral rates limit the scope of conventional monetary policy in stabilizing the economy. Second, low interest rates raise concerns about …nancial imbalances and risks to …nancial stability (Borio, 2016) .

In many advanced economies, estimated long-term neutral rates have declined to much lower levels compared to the pre-crisis period and show no sign of recovery.

Second, low interest rates raise concerns about …nancial imbalances and risks to …nancial stability.


Usually, the maximum band gap energy of ferrites is approximately 2 eV, allowing the materials to effectively absorb visible light [5] . Furthermore, advantageous magnetic properties also offer ferrites useful applications [6] . Both forms of ferrites, in individual photocatalysts or in combination with others, are accentuated in literature for being separable and reusable from the reaction mixture [5, 7] . One of the typical uses of ferrites is as visible light photocatalysts for the degradation of pollutants in water and wastewater [7] [8] [9] [10] .

Usually, the maximum band gap energy of ferrites is approximately 2 eV, allowing the materials to effectively absorb visible light.

Furthermore, advantageous magnetic properties also offer ferrites useful applications.

Both forms of ferrites, in individual photocatalysts or in combination with others, are accentuated in literature for being separable and reusable from the reaction mixture.

One of the typical uses of ferrites is as visible light photocatalysts for the degradation of pollutants in water and wastewater.


Different pattern of NH 4 + -N fluctuation was observed in the tanks planted with R. mucronata (Fig.  3) which is much below the range of LC 24-72 hours for shrimps (Boyd 1991) . Comparable condition was observed in the first treatment ponds starting the fifth week after stocking. The concentration of NH 3 -N is suspected not to harm but to lessen the resistance of the shrimp towards vibriosis and WSBV. White spot syndrome virus and luminescent bacteria or vibrio are commonly suspected to be the main cause of cultured shrimp mass mortality (Madeali et al. 1993; Wythyachumnarnkul et al. 1998; Chuah et al. 2000) .

Different pattern of NH 4 + -N fluctuation was observed in the tanks planted with R. mucronata (Fig.  3) which is much below the range of LC 24-72 hours for shrimps.

White spot syndrome virus and luminescent bacteria or vibrio are commonly suspected to be the main cause of cultured shrimp mass mortality.


Nematic liquid crystals (LC) are suitable candidates for the cladding layer. They are optically anisotropic materials, meaning that the refractive index is directionally dependent. Typical values of Δn lie around 0.2. The director-representing the orientation of the rod-shaped molecules-of the LC can be reoriented by an externally applied electric field. When the tuning mechanism is well understood, the large electrooptic effect can be exploited to achieve tuning ranges that can in principle be wider than those achieved with heating or carrier injection. Ring resonators guiding TE-polarized light can be made very small, as the modal confinement is high. This enables operation over a large frequency range, but tuning with cladding layers is not trivial, as the light does not extend much outside the waveguide. Ring resonators guiding TM-polarized light have been demonstrated previously [4, 5] . They are more sensitive to changes in the cladding layer at the expense of a smaller free spectral range. TE-based ring resonators with LC cladding for tuning have also been demonstrated before, although at first the tuning mechanism was not clear [6] . Subsequently, it has been shown that, in a configuration where the electric field reorients the director from an orientation parallel to the substrate and the waveguides to an orientation perpendicular to the substrate, the resonances of a ring resonator can be tuned toward shorter wavelengths [7] .

Typical values of Δn lie around 0.2.

Ring resonators guiding TM-polarized light have been demonstrated previously.

TE-based ring resonators with LC cladding for tuning have also been demonstrated before, although at first the tuning mechanism was not clear.

Subsequently, it has been shown that, in a configuration where the electric field reorients the director from an orientation parallel to the substrate and the waveguides to an orientation perpendicular to the substrate, the resonances of a ring resonator can be tuned toward shorter wavelengths.


Respiratory O2 consumption. Stationary phase cultures were concentrated to about 2 mg protein ml-l by centrifuging and resuspending in fresh medium before they were transferred to a vessel (3 ml) fitted with a Clarktype 0, electrode (Rank Bros), previously calibrated at low d o 2 by adding small volumes of O,-saturated medium. All tests were at 30 "C. After 30 min incubation in the dark under air with constant stirring, the vessel was sealed and the O,-uptake measured until the dissolved 0, was completely utilized. The curves of 0, concentration vs time were digitized using a Hewlett-Packard plotter type 7220C linked to a PDPll34A computer and converted to rates of O2 uptake vs 0, concentration curves by drawing tangents to the digitized data. The resulting curves were then smoothed using a cubic spline algorithm procedure. Typical results are shown in Fig. 4 . Values of apparent K , and V,,, were calculated using the S/v vs S linear transform (Cornish-Bowden, 1979) .

Respiratory O2 consumption.

Typical results are shown in Fig. 4 .

Values of apparent K , and V,,, were calculated using the S/v vs S linear transform.


Fascinated nanofiber yarns arise in response to the proper time and conditions [25] . They are prepared by the adoption of traditional spinning technology [24] . The facile method could reduce the costs of nanofiber yarns which twisted the nanofibers around continuous filament.

Fascinated nanofiber yarns arise in response to the proper time and conditions.

They are prepared by the adoption of traditional spinning technology.


The PCR reactions were run in a final volume of 25 uL, containing 0.2 mM of each dNTP, 1 U Taq DNA polymerase, 6 M of each oligonucleotide, 300 ng DNA template, 1x buffer of the Taq DNA polymerase enzyme and 1.5 mM MgCl 2 . The reactions were carried out in a Programmable Thermal Controller PTC-100 ™ thermocycler (MJ Research), with an initial denaturation period of seven minutes at 94 °C, followed by 35 polymerisation cycles (94 °C for 30 s, 55 °C for 30 s, and 72 °C for 30 s) and an additional period of polymerisation of seven minutes at 72 °C. The amplified fragments were separated by electrophoresis on 1.5% (w/v) agarose gel containing 10 ng/ l ethidium bromide immersed in a 1X TBE buffer (90 mM TrisBorate, 0.5 M EDTA pH 8.0) and visualised with a UV transilluminator. In conventional soybean, glyphosate inhibits the enzyme, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), which is essential in the metabolic pathway for the synthesis of amino acids and also of some secondary metabolites; resulting in growth suppression and the subsequent death of the plant (QUERCI et al., 2010) . The phytotoxic effects were not pronounced in the RR soybean, as vegetative growth continued in the affected plants; this being due to genetically modified plants having the herbicideresistant gene, which enables their development and the formation of normal seedlings (FUNGUETTO et al., 2004) .

In conventional soybean, glyphosate inhibits the enzyme, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), which is essential in the metabolic pathway for the synthesis of amino acids and also of some secondary metabolites; resulting in growth suppression and the subsequent death of the plant.

The phytotoxic effects were not pronounced in the RR soybean, as vegetative growth continued in the affected plants; this being due to genetically modified plants having the herbicideresistant gene, which enables their development and the formation of normal seedlings.


In all treatments, with the exception of 7.6 MPa/9 cm target distance, the percentages of kanamycin-resistant explants regenerating shoots varied between 16.6% and 30%, while in control non-transformed leaf disks, almost 100% of the surviving explants were able to regenerate shoots. The reduction in shoot regeneration ability was also observed in standard Agrobacterium infection and in microwounded explants infected with Agrobacterium. A decrease in the percentage of shoot recovery from transgenic callus has also been observed in tomato (Hamza and Chupeau 1993) . The loss of the regeneration capacity observed in transformation experiments may be due to the high sensitivity to antibiotics of the strawberry leaf disk regeneration system (Graham et al. 1995) . In fact, preliminary experiments with non-infected leaf explants have shown a 50% reduction in shoot organogenesis when cefotaxime at 250 mg L -1 or carbenicillin at 500 mg L -1 were included in the medium (data not shown).

A decrease in the percentage of shoot recovery from transgenic callus has also been observed in tomato.

The loss of the regeneration capacity observed in transformation experiments may be due to the high sensitivity to antibiotics of the strawberry leaf disk regeneration system.


Product's working principles are used to elaborate 'how the product fulfills its function', so supply and facilitate effects to perform the desired transformation of energy, material and information [8] . When defining the desired effects, designer defines the functions of the future product in its working (operating) state [9] . For each desired effect, chain of transformations of energy, material and information can be composed. In this work, energy quality criterion for evaluating product's working principles is proposed. The premise stated is that energy transformation quality of product's working principles is also evaluation criteria of product's environmental value, thus ecological quality criteria of product's working principles.

Product's working principles are used to elaborate 'how the product fulfills its function', so supply and facilitate effects to perform the desired transformation of energy, material and information.

When defining the desired effects, designer defines the functions of the future product in its working (operating) state.


The productivity of larval biomass fed with cassava skin was different in each feeding treatment (Figure 1 ) Figure 1 . The productivity of larval biomass and residue (per day) Figure 1 shows that the process of cassava skin waste reduction by black soldier fly larvae produces two products i.e.larval biomass and residue undigested feed mixed with potent pelletized (poting) larvae as quality fertilizer. The feeding of 200 mg / larva / day resulted in the highest larval biomass of 1.54 mg/ day (dry weight) and residue formation of 52.88 mg/day (dry weight). Cassava leaf contains 16.42% cellulose and 31% hemicellulose (Ruqayyah, et al. 2011) . High cellulose and hemicellulose contents facilitate larvae in digestion and then converted into biomass body.

Cassava leaf contains 16.42% cellulose and 31% hemicellulose.


Black soldier fly larvae has high fecundity and tolerance in medium of life that make them suitable for cultivation activities (Newton et al., 2005) . High fecundity is very important for the cultivation of larvae. The high fecundity will make the larvae cultivation becomes more profitable. The biochemical composition of Black soldier fly larvae are 56% water and 44% dry weight, with protein details of 18.5%, animal fats of 15.5%, ash 7%, and other compounds (Newton et al., 2005) . With high amounts of protein and animal fats, Black soldier fly larvae are very potential as livestock feed ingredients and aquaculture ). In addition, dirt from Black soldier fly larvae is very potential to be used as high quality compost. The novelty of this research was the study of the development of Black soldier fly larvae for agricultural waste management. Especially larval biomass productivity, lar-pa stage. Prepupa was marked with the color of larvae skin turned into brown color, the way of harvesting was by using a sieve. Prepupa larvae were separated from the media, then weighed. The remaining media (residue) were weighed to determine the percentage of larval consumption.

Black soldier fly larvae has high fecundity and tolerance in medium of life that make them suitable for cultivation activities.

The biochemical composition of Black soldier fly larvae are 56% water and 44% dry weight, with protein details of 18.5%, animal fats of 15.5%, ash 7%, and other compounds.


The values found for albumins showed an increase only for the addition of 4 g of RA/day. This increase did not constitute a clinical or nutritional concern, since no effect was observed on total protein concentrations. The concentrations of gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase observed in the trial are within the reference values for Nellore. Despite the effects found by the inclusion of RA in the diet, no clinical changes were observed in the animals (Swenson et al., 1996) .

Despite the effects found by the inclusion of RA in the diet, no clinical changes were observed in the animals.


Essential oils are secondary metabolites of some plants, responsible for odour and colour, and can obtained by evaporation or distillation. In the rumen they act on the structure of the bacterial cell wall, altering the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane for hydrogen and potassium ions. The alteration of ion gradients results in deterioration of essential cell processes such as electron transport, protein translocation, phosphorylation steps, and other enzyme-dependent reactions. The resulting loss of control over chemiosmosis by the affected cell consequently leads to bacterial death (Dorman and Deans, 2000) .

The resulting loss of control over chemiosmosis by the affected cell consequently leads to bacterial death.


Vernier permanent magnet (VPM) machines have been investigated and shown to be capable of torque and power density at low speed operation [1] . Using such type of machines in slow speed direct drive applications can contribute to a significant reduction in active electrical machine size without sacrificing the machine performance. In addition, due to the approximate sinusoidal back EMF waveforms, VPM machines can produce lower cogging torque compared with conventional PM machines. A linear version of the Vernier PM machine has been proposed for direct drive wave energy converters offering high shear stress [2, 3] . However, direct drive machines including Vernier PM machines, variable reluctance machines and transverse flux PM machines tend to suffer from low PF, typically less than 0.4 [1] . For a fixed real power output, the capacity and relative cost of the converter is inversely proportional to the power factor of the electrical machine [4] . Therefore, power factor improvement of Vernier machines is a vital goal for machine designers in the field of wave energy converters.

Vernier permanent magnet (VPM) machines have been investigated and shown to be capable of torque and power density at low speed operation.

A linear version of the Vernier PM machine has been proposed for direct drive wave energy converters offering high shear stress.

However, direct drive machines including Vernier PM machines, variable reluctance machines and transverse flux PM machines tend to suffer from low PF, typically less than 0.4.

For a fixed real power output, the capacity and relative cost of the converter is inversely proportional to the power factor of the electrical machine.


Lind and Tuncel introduce the spanning tree invariant as an invariant of block isomorphism of Markov chains [12] . Its definition is as follows. Let P be a (finite and irreducible) stochastic matrix. For every subdigraph H of the underlying digraph D(P ) = (V (P ), E(P )) induced by P , let wt P (H) = e∈E (H) wt P (e) (1.1) where wt P (e) = P xy is the transition probability of the edge e = xy ∈ E(P ) with x and y the initial and terminal vertices of e (since P is stochastic, y∈V (P ) P xy = 1 for all x ∈ V (P )). For every vertex u ∈ V (P ), let S(u) = {T | T is a spanning tree rooted at u} (a subdigraph T is a spanning tree rooted at u if u has no outgoing edges in T , every vertex v ∈ V (P ) \ {u} has a unique outgoing edge in T and there exists a unique path in T from v to u). The local spanning tree invariant at u is τ u (P ) = T ∈S (u) wt P (T ) (1.2) and the spanning tree invariant is τ (P ) = u∈V (P ) τ u (P ).

Lind and Tuncel introduce the spanning tree invariant as an invariant of block isomorphism of Markov chains.

Its definition is as follows.


It is known that small water droplets are characterized by a strong scattering of light at the wavelength comparable with the droplet size [7] . This optical effect, which is commonly observed in the visible for the natural mists, has been recently considered as a promising way to improve shielding of fire radiation by multi-layered water sprays [8, 9] . It is important that the gaseous combustion products in the fire do not scatter the radiation. The radiation scattering by soot aggregates in the infrared range is also negligible (a considerable scattering by soot aggregates can be observed in the visible range only) [10] [11] [12] [13] . As a result, one can observe local regions of small water droplets near the flame axis because of their infrared scattering. This may be a scattering of the flame self-emission, but one can also use an external irradiation.

It is known that small water droplets are characterized by a strong scattering of light at the wavelength comparable with the droplet size.

This optical effect, which is commonly observed in the visible for the natural mists, has been recently considered as a promising way to improve shielding of fire radiation by multi-layered water sprays.

The radiation scattering by soot aggregates in the infrared range is also negligible (a considerable scattering by soot aggregates can be observed in the visible range only).


Per capita consumption of fluid milk in China has increased tremendously since the mid-1990s, although it remains low by western standards (Dong 2006) . The increase in the national growth rate of milk consumption, however, conceals regional, social and demographic differences in milk consumption. This paper explores this issue by examining the nature and influences upon consumer milk consumption in an urban region of China. Drawing on individual consumer survey data collected in urban Qingdao in China in 2005, a Tobit model of milk consumption is estimated.

Per capita consumption of fluid milk in China has increased tremendously since the mid-1990s, although it remains low by western standards.


The use of organic fertilizer in soil amendment has a number of advantages. When added to the soil, organic fertilizer has been reported to influence many physicochemical and biological properties of the soil such as increased infiltration rate, reduced bulk density, aggregate stability, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and biological activities [7, 8] . Additionally, organic fertilizer serves as slow-release reservoir for plant macronutrients, aids in plants micronutrient absorption, and 2 International Journal of Agronomy facilitates water and air infiltration. It has however been argued that organic manures are usually late in nutrient mineralization. Hence, there is a need to cure organic manures in order to reduce the time of mineralization on the field.

When added to the soil, organic fertilizer has been reported to influence many physicochemical and biological properties of the soil such as increased infiltration rate, reduced bulk density, aggregate stability, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and biological activities.


However, in subgroup analysis of the patients aged 80 years or more, the ESRD incidence was the highest in group 1. In addition, in patients with diabetes duration more than 10 years, group 2 showed the lowest ESRD incidence. Very elderly patients or patients with long duration of diabetes in group 1 did not show any reduction in ESRD development. Furthermore, ESRD incidence was significantly reduced in the combined group of CVD history and high CVD risk (P = 0.036). These results suggest that more emphasis should be placed on age and diabetic duration than on CVD risk in the setting of a more stringent goal. In addition, we reanalysed the incidence of ESRD according to the GFR and HbA 1c level. Spontaneous hypoglycaemia in patients with established diabetes can occur in later stages of CKD because the renal and hepatic clearance of insulin declines and renal gluconeogenesis also declines [22, 23] . In contrast, uncontrolled glycaemia has been noticed as a complication of advanced CKD. Uncontrolled glycaemia might be caused by reduced insulin clearance, diminished insulin production and increased insulin resistance. In addition, the improvement of insulin secretion was documented after administration of vitamin D [24, 25] . Because of this complex pathophysiology, the appropriate HbA 1c level for CKD diabetics remained unclear. Our study demonstrated that strict HbA 1c goal of <6.5% in patients with GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 appears to reduce the development of the ESRD without an increase of all-cause mortality. Also, we noticed the incidence of ESRD in patients with HbA1c <6.5% was lower compared with the patients with HbA1c more than 6.5%, regardless of GFR. Because of the small number in group B (n = 225), group B did not show significant association compared with group A by Cox's proportional hazard analysis for ESRD. However, these results suggested that, even in patients with advanced stages of CKD, the role of intensive glucose control is significant on the progression of ESRD.

Spontaneous hypoglycaemia in patients with established diabetes can occur in later stages of CKD because the renal and hepatic clearance of insulin declines and renal gluconeogenesis also declines.

In addition, the improvement of insulin secretion was documented after administration of vitamin D.


Finally, we examined some of the reasons why media violence was or was not considered offensive. Our analysis reveals a rich set of responses that center on a few main themes and support some of the quantitative findings. The primary reason cited is the perception that violence is inhumane, although this was still only given by a minority of participants. Many participants report feeling offended specifically because of media glamorization of an often cruel and brutal part of human society. Other participants express empathy toward victims, even fictional ones, vicariously experiencing the pain resulting from violence. When viewers feel empathy for victims of violence, they are less likely to be aggressive after viewing media violence (Funk, 2005; Krahé & Möller, 2010) . Other participants report that though media violence is not generally offensive, the nature of the portrayal influences their reactions. For example, participants note that extremely gratuitous portrayals or violence aimed at women or children is particularly offensive. A long research history supports this observationhow the violence is portrayed affects subsequent aggressive attitudes and behaviors . A few participants said that concerns over the affect media violence may have on their own and others' behaviors often result in feeling offended. Thus, triggered feelings of offensiveness, whatever the source, may negate or temper the aggressive cognitions, emotions, and behaviors often resulting from exposure.

When viewers feel empathy for victims of violence, they are less likely to be aggressive after viewing media violence.


First, we examined understudied person inputs related to offensiveness. As previously mentioned, person variables include all internal factors individuals bring to the consumption situation, such as personal traits, current states, scripts, attitudes, beliefs, aggressive orientations, and so forth (Carnagey & Anderson, 2003) . In examining gender as a person input, we confirmed our hypothesis that media violence is more offensive to women than men, thus supporting previous research that women are more sensitive to and offended by other types of content (ASA, 2002) . Given that women view less violence than men do (both in the media and potentially in the real world), they may be more offended because of their lesser familiarity with media portrayals of violence (Archer, 2004) . Indeed, when examining the reasons why men and women report not being offended by media violence, men are significantly more likely than women to report being desensitized by media violence and that violence is an expected part of life.

As previously mentioned, person variables include all internal factors individuals bring to the consumption situation, such as personal traits, current states, scripts, attitudes, beliefs, aggressive orientations, and so forth.

In examining gender as a person input, we confirmed our hypothesis that media violence is more offensive to women than men, thus supporting previous research that women are more sensitive to and offended by other types of content.

Given that women view less violence than men do (both in the media and potentially in the real world), they may be more offended because of their lesser familiarity with media portrayals of violence.


Though the study had a number of strengths including a large sample size and a mixed method, there were several limitations. Most notably, the data are cross-sectional, and thus, the direction of effects is unknown. We have modeled the data assuming that feelings of offense predict aggressive behavior; however, it is equally plausible that less aggressive people are more offended by portrays of violence in the media. Future longitudinal or experimental research should attempt to disentangle the direction of effects, though we suspect it is likely a bidirectional one. It is also possible that one or more third variables may be related to both offensiveness and aggression (e.g., empathy, physiological indicators, victimization). Furthermore, though we sampled participants in two different parts of the country and in two very different universities, the sample is not entirely representative of emerging adults as a whole, and thus invites some caution. Finally, the definition of "offensiveness" that we provided to participants involved feelings of disgust and/or embarrassment, two concepts widely discussed in the offensiveness literature (Shimp & Stuart, 2004) . However, this definition did not capture potentially related concepts, such as guilt or shame, which may occur as a result of viewing media violence. Though guilt and shame are closely related, they appear to have substantially different behavioral consequences (Shepherd, Spears, & Manstead, 2013; Tangney, Stuewig, & Martinez, 2014) . Accordingly, we hope that future research examines whether feelings of guilt and/or shame influence feelings of offensiveness and reactions to media violence as do feelings of disgust and embarrassment.

Finally, the definition of "offensiveness" that we provided to participants involved feelings of disgust and/or embarrassment, two concepts widely discussed in the offensiveness literature.

Though guilt and shame are closely related, they appear to have substantially different behavioral consequences.


Discovery of the distinct insertion segment (IS900) in the MAP genome in the late 1980s has enhanced the development of highly specific and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques that incorporated the IS900 probe for the early diagnosis of MAP infection [14] . The specificity and sensitivity of PCR system was enhanced further by developing new primers to detect as low as 1 MAP CFU [14] . However, the sensitivity of the PCR remained controversial in comparison to the fecal culture.

Discovery of the distinct insertion segment (IS900) in the MAP genome in the late 1980s has enhanced the development of highly specific and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques that incorporated the IS900 probe for the early diagnosis of MAP infection.

The specificity and sensitivity of PCR system was enhanced further by developing new primers to detect as low as 1 MAP CFU.


Theory of mind (ToM) describes the ability to ascribe others mental states (such as beliefs, desires or opinions) that are dependent on environmental contingencies. ToM further implies the use of mental state understanding to predict and explain social behaviours (Astington, 2001) . Over the last 40 years, several studies showed that children's ToM dramatically improves in preschool years (Wellman, Cross & Watson, 2001) . Hence, most attention has been given to the investigation of ToM development during preschool years, disregarding school-age years. However, ToM abilities continue to improve throughout childhood and adolescence (Bosacki, 2013; Devine & Hughes, 2013) .

ToM further implies the use of mental state understanding to predict and explain social behaviours.

Over the last 40 years, several studies showed that children's ToM dramatically improves in preschool years.

However, ToM abilities continue to improve throughout childhood and adolescence.


The present study will investigate the role of coping strategies in the relationship between ToM and internalizing symptomatology. On the one hand, coping styles mostly derive from the ability-which is part of the broader concept of ToM-to identify, process and regulate emotions (Davis & Humphrey, 2012) . On the other hand, coping styles are likely to shape mental health (Seiffge-Krenke, 2011) . Therefore, coping strategies might represent the crucial factor linking and explaining the relationship between ToM abilities and internalizing symptoms.

On the one hand, coping styles mostly derive from the ability-which is part of the broader concept of ToM-to identify, process and regulate emotions.

On the other hand, coping styles are likely to shape mental health.


Before commenting on the core results of the current research, some preliminary findings deserve attention. First, we found a significant negative association between ToM and depressive symptoms. This finding is consistent with previous results (Caputi et al., 2017; Manstead et al., 2013) . Nonetheless, further studies are needed in order to confirm this negative association in typically developing youths and to clarify its nature. The use of different tasks is also recommended to give further validity to these findings.

This finding is consistent with previous results.


As for the structural description of classes of residuated lattices, non-integral residuated structures, and consequently substructural logics without the weakening rule, are far less understood at present than their integral counterparts. Therefore, some authors try to establish category equivalences between integral and non-integral residuated structures to gain a better understanding of the non-integral case, and in particular, to gain a better understanding of substructural logics without weakening [8, 9] . Despite the extensive literature devoted to classes of residuated lattices, there are still very few results that effectively describe their structure, and many of these effective descriptions postulate, besides integrality, the naturally ordered condition 1 , too [1, 4, 10, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20] . Linearly ordered odd involutive commutative residuated lattices (another terminology is odd involutive FL e -chains) are non-integral and not naturally ordered, unless they are trivial. Therefore, from a general point of view, our study is a contribution to the structural description of residuated structures which are neither naturally ordered nor integral.

Therefore, some authors try to establish category equivalences between integral and non-integral residuated structures to gain a better understanding of the non-integral case, and in particular, to gain a better understanding of substructural logics without weakening.

Despite the extensive literature devoted to classes of residuated lattices, there are still very few results that effectively describe their structure, and many of these effective descriptions postulate, besides integrality, the naturally ordered condition 1 , too.


In this section we present selected results for cross sections, angular distributions and asymmetries. For the numerical evaluation of the formulae presented above we use a set of default parameters for the model [24] . These default parameters are given in table 1 of appendix B. Many of the parameters are well constrained while we can only guess the values of some others. In the present study we do not make any attempt to fit the parameters to data. That would be desirable in general but is not the scope of the present paper. Instead, we concentrate here on studying the qualitative features of the reaction (1.1) in the model. We find that some asymmetries seem particularly promising for detailed experimental studies as they allow to enhance interesting effects by choosing suitable cuts on the data. In particular, we point out promising ways to look for effects of the elusive odderon.

For the numerical evaluation of the formulae presented above we use a set of default parameters for the model.


The next variable is average retirement age. According to Mincer's theory, the number of years spent in education has a direct relationship to length of work experience -the more years one spends in education, the later one retires and thus contributes a higher social benefit to the economy and state welfare (Mincer 1974) . The authors estimated the average retirement age according to Denis Latulippe's methodology (Latulippe 1996) . First, the average retirement age in the age group 40 -44 and the number of people in age group x, x+n who will retire is estimated according to D.Latulippe. E(y) -average retirement during age 45 -49 of people aged 40 -44 y -age x -age on last birthday where -average active population in age group from x to x + n in year z -number of population in age group x to x + n in year z z -2010 The average retirement age is equal to where -number of people in age group x, x+n who will retire in the next five years -number of people in age group 40 -44 who will retire at age 45 -49 x, x+4 -age group According to the State Social Insurance Agency, the average retirement age in Latvia in 2010 was 60.93 years. Eurostat provides activity rates of employees only till age 74 however small but there is a number of employees who continue to work in age 75 -79. For this reason the authors estimated activity rates in age group 75 -79 using the multivariate regression but number of population in age group 75 -79 by trend (data are not recalculated according to the results of 2011 Population Census carried out by Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia to be comparative with other variables). The authors estimated average retirement age of people with secondary education and tertiary education. One of the benefits of education is higher employment rates of those who have better education. For this reason, authors compared the employment rates between employees with different levels of education -primary, secondary and higher education.

According to Mincer's theory, the number of years spent in education has a direct relationship to length of work experience -the more years one spends in education, the later one retires and thus contributes a higher social benefit to the economy and state welfare.

The authors estimated the average retirement age according to Denis Latulippe's methodology.


As findings show, improvement can be seen in the final results, even if it is slight in some sessions. Participants clearly performed better with familiar tasks, which may be due to the sense of certainty and security routines provide (Touhill, 2012) . Besides, it is important to highlight that these results were achieved when learners were exposed to videos, which seemed to be more appealing and engaging since findings show that students followed instructions accurately, possibly due to clearer instructions given through the audiovisual materials. Therefore, it can be concluded that this strategy had a positive change on the learners' performance: improving their ability to follow instructions and their pace when following them.

Participants clearly performed better with familiar tasks, which may be due to the sense of certainty and security routines provide.


Furthermore, this strategy became a routine in the lessons. At first, learners took their time to get familiarized with the strategy, but in the following sessions they knew what they had to do in each task. This could lead to learners feeling relaxed and self-confident about what they do in the English lessons, which makes learning and language acquisition more likely to happen (Krashen, 1982; Martínez Rincón, 2014) .

This could lead to learners feeling relaxed and self-confident about what they do in the English lessons, which makes learning and language acquisition more likely to happen.


One of the main advantages of remote sensing techniques is their capacity to obtain spatially explicit data over large areas in a timely and economic fashion (Hall et al., 2005) . Airborne laser scanning, also referred to as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), is an active remote sensing technique which has been widely used in topographic mapping (Kraus et al., 2006; Kobler et al., 2007) . LiDAR sensors are designed to provide three-dimensional data, thus allowing direct measurement of the canopy structure (Reitberger et al., 2008; Wagner et al., 2008) . In vegetated areas, most laser pulses are reflected back to the sensor from the leaves and branches of the vegetation canopy. However, a certain fraction of pulses reaches the ground surface through small gaps in the vegetation canopy (Hollaus et al., 2007) .

One of the main advantages of remote sensing techniques is their capacity to obtain spatially explicit data over large areas in a timely and economic fashion.

Airborne laser scanning, also referred to as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), is an active remote sensing technique which has been widely used in topographic mapping.

LiDAR sensors are designed to provide three-dimensional data, thus allowing direct measurement of the canopy structure.

However, a certain fraction of pulses reaches the ground surface through small gaps in the vegetation canopy.


Approximately 76% of women in the U.S. shower at least once a day and approximately 28% of women in the U.S. take a bath at least once a day [1] . Although showering or taking baths generally improve hygiene, these activities may also result in maternal hyperthermia or exposure to water disinfection byproducts (as discussed below), and long or frequent showers or baths may result in increased exposure to either or both. However, it is unknown whether shower or bath length or frequency during early pregnancy may affect risk for birth defects.

Approximately 76% of women in the U.S. shower at least once a day and approximately 28% of women in the U.S. take a bath at least once a day.


Much research has suggested that the majority of K-12 science and mathematics teachers lack engineering knowledge and experience, as well as how to utilize engineering to connect other STEM subjects (Cunningham and Knight, 2004; Oware et al., 2007) . In other words, many science and mathematics teachers may have difficulty implementing curriculum that calls for the infusion of engineering concepts into their teaching. This may impede achieving the goal of STEM literacy in K-12 schools in the U.S because teachers' perceptions and understandings of engineering affect their teaching practice of how to develop and implement engineering integrated lesson plans and how to assess students' learning of engineering (Guzey et al., 2014) . More importantly, teachers' understandings of what important concepts in a discipline affect their attitude and selfefficacy of teaching the concepts in their classroom (Kwak, 2002) . In other words, teachers' understandings of engineering and engineering practices affect their attitude and pedagogical approach of how to teach engineering.

Much research has suggested that the majority of K-12 science and mathematics teachers lack engineering knowledge and experience, as well as how to utilize engineering to connect other STEM subjects.

This may impede achieving the goal of STEM literacy in K-12 schools in the U.S because teachers' perceptions and understandings of engineering affect their teaching practice of how to develop and implement engineering integrated lesson plans and how to assess students' learning of engineering.

More importantly, teachers' understandings of what important concepts in a discipline affect their attitude and selfefficacy of teaching the concepts in their classroom.


Inflammatory pulmonary manifestations such as granuloma formation, pneumonitis, and fibrosis may be seen in CGD patients [10] . Pulmonary granulomatous disease is diagnosed histologically with a negative culture and may be confused with mycobacterial infection [3] . Although not listed in the first five or six pathogens, mycobacterial infections due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis or BCG vaccination are not rare in CGD patients [11] .

Inflammatory pulmonary manifestations such as granuloma formation, pneumonitis, and fibrosis may be seen in CGD patients.

Pulmonary granulomatous disease is diagnosed histologically with a negative culture and may be confused with mycobacterial infection.

Although not listed in the first five or six pathogens, mycobacterial infections due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis or BCG vaccination are not rare in CGD patients.


The increased activation within the ventrolateral PFC, when processing emotional stimuli, parallels the greater responses of the premotor cortex and inferior frontal gyrus observed in multiple sclerosis patients, relative to controls, when performing sensorymotor and cognitive tasks, respectively (Pantano et al., 2002; Prakash et al., 2008; Rocca et al., 2008b) . Converging evidence supports the hypothesis that functional reorganizations take place in the brain of subjects with multiple sclerosis to minimize the clinical expression of the brain damage (Filippi and Rocca, 2003) . Hence, the increased response of the ventrolateral PFC might reflect adaptive mechanisms limiting the full expression of emotional symptoms in multiple sclerosis and it can be viewed as a compensatory mechanism involving the re-allocation of neuronal resources to preserve affective behaviour. No abnormal amygdala activation to emotional stimuli was found in multiple sclerosis patients and this could also reflect an 'up-regulation' of modulatory functions of the ventrolateral PFC on this subcortical structure. In this respect, it is noteworthy that similar mechanisms (i.e. increased PFC response, and restrained amygdala reactivity) have also been proposed during the recovery from psychiatric disorders such as major depression (DeRubeis et al., 2008) .

The increased activation within the ventrolateral PFC, when processing emotional stimuli, parallels the greater responses of the premotor cortex and inferior frontal gyrus observed in multiple sclerosis patients, relative to controls, when performing sensorymotor and cognitive tasks, respectively.

Converging evidence supports the hypothesis that functional reorganizations take place in the brain of subjects with multiple sclerosis to minimize the clinical expression of the brain damage.

In this respect, it is noteworthy that similar mechanisms (i.e. increased PFC response, and restrained amygdala reactivity) have also been proposed during the recovery from psychiatric disorders such as major depression.


The issue underpinning the lack of trained and competent CMs is the dearth of recognized and established term of references for competency provided within the industry as highlighted by several researchers [2, 8, 9] . They collectively agreed on alleviating construction personnel's technical and managerial skills where gaps are still persisting. Thus, a review on the common area of problems shows that the predicament stems from the curriculum development process where the essential part lies in the contents generation, which fundamentally related to the competency identification. It is apparent that the lack of terms of reference on the generic technical competency for CM has been the major setback. Therefore, this paper reports a preliminary study which aimed at identifying the technical competencies of CM.

The issue underpinning the lack of trained and competent CMs is the dearth of recognized and established term of references for competency provided within the industry as highlighted by several researchers.