The critical state concept in geomechanics holds that dense granular materials, when loaded beyond an initial static packing, eventually attain a steady state condition of constant density, fabric, and stress (Schofield and Wroth, 1968) . This condition is often associated with shear-driven flow and failure: granular avalanches, landslides, tectonic faults, and failures of foundation systems and embankments. As such, the critical state has received intense interest from geologists, engineers, and physicists, who have devoted great effort in understanding the state's underlying mechanics. Density, fabric, and deviatoric stress at the critical state are known to depend upon the particles' shapes and contact properties as well as on the mean stress and intermediate principal stress (Zhao and Guo, 2013) . Even so, the eventual bulk characteristics for a given assembly are insensitive to the initial particle arrangement and to the stress path that ends in the critical state: for example, materials that are initially either loose or dense eventually arrive at the same density condition after sufficient shearing. This convergent characteristic resembles that of thermal systems that approach an equilibrium condition with sufficient passage of time.

The critical state concept in geomechanics holds that dense granular materials, when loaded beyond an initial static packing, eventually attain a steady state condition of constant density, fabric, and stress.

Density, fabric, and deviatoric stress at the critical state are known to depend upon the particles' shapes and contact properties as well as on the mean stress and intermediate principal stress.


The paper makes exclusive use of information that is formulated as moment constraints on the density p(· · · ) (Eqs. 7 and 8). An alternative form of information was introduced by the author in a paper on topologic entropy (Kuhn, 2014) . In this work, a relative entropy principle (cross-entropy or Kullback-Leibler entropy) was applied, admitting information in the form of certain a priori inclinations (priors) of p(· · · ). Because these inclinations can have either an empirical or theoretical origin, this approach allows information -even imperfect information -gained from one theory (for example, an affine field approach) to be included in a shear-driven entropy model. We should also consider the entropy model in relation to mean-field upscaling models, which have been used with reasonable success in estimating the smallstrain stiffness of dense granular materials. These models can be more descriptive than predictive, as they require extensive additional information, in the form of contact stiffnesses, packing data, etc. Mean-field models, however, do provide a clearer, deterministic connection between the micro-scale and bulk behaviors: the micro and macro behaviors are unambiguously linked through contact rules. The corresponding connection is rather opaque in the paper's approach. For example, why do the constraints lead to a greater number of forward sliding contacts than reverse sliding contacts? What features of the model lead to smaller normal forces among sliding contacts than for non-sliding contacts? Although the model yields some convincing predictions, the model is certainly enigmatic in regard to its results, as the model's predictions are extracted only through a painstaking integration of distribution averages.

An alternative form of information was introduced by the author in a paper on topologic entropy.


The operators under consideration will have rotation invariant symbols in space, i.e., they can be considered as a function of the Laplacian (more precisely, of the square root of the negative Laplacian). Observe that this holds for all examples mentioned before. To prove maximal regularity, we will essentially use H ∞ -calculus for the negative Laplacian and the time derivative operator and apply an abstract result on joint H ∞ -calculus due to Kalton and Weis [16] . In fact, this method works for general resolvent commuting operators admitting a bounded H ∞ -calculus, and we will formulate our main result in this setting (Theorem 3.2 below). The results are proved simultaneously for both scales of spaces, Sobolev-Slobodeckij and Bessel potential.

To prove maximal regularity, we will essentially use H ∞ -calculus for the negative Laplacian and the time derivative operator and apply an abstract result on joint H ∞ -calculus due to Kalton and Weis.


The present research provided an opportunity to obtain a targeted, magnified look at the work and family issues associated with future managers in the hotel industry based on the results of focus groups. Focus groups appear to have been effective as a methodology to employ in this work because ideas emerged from the focus groups, and the study identified a range of multifaceted ideas and feelings that participants have regarding work and life in the hotel industry, each of which tend to be the types of outcomes of successful focus groups (Krueger and Casey, 2000) . Because the problems of interest span both work and non-work domains, it was useful to have several different focus groups. From a macro-industry view, a unique characteristic of the hospitality industry may be the almost "theater-like" quality of the workplace. Many participants also cited the beautiful settings, the good food and accommodations as benefits, and that interactions with guests were often in a party-like atmosphere. Further, each hotel employee has his or her own role to perform and arrive at work dressed formally (e.g. suits, jackets, ties, etc) or in a uniform (e.g. hourly employees) when interacting with the public. Good performance and success at work are defined as displaying positive affect, being responsive to guest requests (or demands), generally creating a pleasant environment and delivering excellent service.

Focus groups appear to have been effective as a methodology to employ in this work because ideas emerged from the focus groups, and the study identified a range of multifaceted ideas and feelings that participants have regarding work and life in the hotel industry, each of which tend to be the types of outcomes of successful focus groups.


Focus groups have emerged as a popular technique for gathering qualitative data, both among sociologists and across a wide range of academic and applied research areas (Morgan, 1996) . Focus groups are currently used as both a self-contained method and in combination with surveys and other research methods, most notably individual, in-depth interviews. Comparisons between focus groups and both surveys and individual interviews help to show the specific advantages of focus groups in producing interaction among participants (Morgan, 1996) .

Focus groups have emerged as a popular technique for gathering qualitative data, both among sociologists and across a wide range of academic and applied research areas.

Comparisons between focus groups and both surveys and individual interviews help to show the specific advantages of focus groups in producing interaction among participants.


In order to avoid misinterpretation between the terms eco-efficiency and sustainability in the paper they are clarified herein. Eco-efficiency is defined as a quantitative relation between the quality of life produced (in form of services and products) and the use of natural resources, finite energy sources, emissions and waste (Lahti, 2008) . On the contrary, sustainability is not restricted to technical outcomes and functionality, but is more of an ideology used to reshape our society to sustain in the long run.

Eco-efficiency is defined as a quantitative relation between the quality of life produced (in form of services and products) and the use of natural resources, finite energy sources, emissions and waste.


Field experiments were carried out in two growing seasons, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, in Aberdeen, Idaho, USA (42.96 • N, 112.83 • W, and elevation 1342 m). Drought tolerance was evaluated in the 2012-2013 growing season under irrigated (1213IR) and terminal drought (1213TD) environments using an un-repeated augmented complete block design. This augmented design was useful for screening large numbers of new and untried treatments [48] . The 198 accessions were planted side by side in two irrigation treatments without replication and were randomly assigned to twelve sub-blocks. The five checks were replicated and assigned randomly within each of twelve blocks. Therefore, each sub-block comprised 45 un-replicated wheat accessions to be evaluated and the five check cultivars. The five checks were all high yielding cultivars at the released time, Norwest553 (PI 655030), IDO444 (PI 578278), Settler (PI 6538833), Yellowstone (PI 643428) and Hatcher (PI 638512). Accessions in each treatment were divided into early, intermediate, and late maturity groups and both terminal stress and no stress (irrigated) treatments were applied in the 2012-2013 season. In the 2013-2014 growing season, all accessions were planted with three replications under terminal drought (1314TD). An aluminum sprinkler pipes system was used to irrigate each treatment. The 1213IR was irrigated once per week between May and July. To induce terminal drought stress, in each year these treatments were irrigated until 95% of plots had headed. Table 7 and Figure S1 show the distribution of precipitation, irrigation, and maximum and minimum mean daily temperature in both growing seasons. Precipitation was 129.5 mm during the 2012-2013 growing season and 1062 mm of irrigation water was applied in the 1213IR for a total of 1191.5 mm. For 1213TD, a total amount of 708 mm, 826 mm, and 944 mm of irrigation water was applied for the early, intermediate and late maturity groups, respectively. The precipitation in the 2013-2014 growing season was 248.7 mm and 705 mm of irrigation water was applied for a total of 953.7 mm. Sowing density in each environment was adjusted by thousand kernels weight to provide 0.48 million seeds per hectare. The plot dimensions were 3.0 m × 1.5 m with seven rows and 25 cm between rows. Herbicide and fungicide were sprayed as needed throughout the growing season. The application of fertilizer was adjusted based on a soil test before planting to provide a rate of 207 kg N ha −1 .

This augmented design was useful for screening large numbers of new and untried treatments.


Agronomic traits, including GY, HD, PH, TKW and GVW, of 198 winter wheat accessions of early, intermediate, and late maturity were evaluated in irrigated and terminal drought conditions in the present study. The significant effects of environment on these five traits (p < 0.0001) resulted from factors such as water treatments and temperature. Large differences for the five traits were found between the maturity groups under different conditions. The early accessions produced higher GY and heavier TKW than the late accessions in all three environments, which was consistent with previous studies [10, 39] . Early accessions headed earlier, were shorter, and had greater GVW than late maturity accessions, likely because the early accessions escaped late high temperature stress [42] . These results show the value of higher GY (under both irrigation and terminal drought conditions) of the early winter wheat accessions from the NSGC.

The early accessions produced higher GY and heavier TKW than the late accessions in all three environments, which was consistent with previous studies.

Early accessions headed earlier, were shorter, and had greater GVW than late maturity accessions, likely because the early accessions escaped late high temperature stress.


Interestingly, our results showed that glutamate excitotoxicity does not seem to act as a critical mechanism involved in the deleterious effect of hyperthermia in ICH as happens with ischemia. Although experimental studies have demonstrated that glutamate is transiently accumulated in the perihematoma region during the early phase of ICH, the specific role of glutamate in the brain injury observed after ICH needs to be further explored. In this regard, in the current animal models (autologous blood or collagenase injection) of ICH it is difficult to know if glutamate increase is produced as result of the artificial effect of the tissue disruption after blood or collagenase injection, or it is due to the mass effect of perihematomal edema, which can cause a regional hypoperfusion by mechanical compression of blood vessels [24] . Moreover, clinical studies have not even demonstrated the relevance of glutamate in ICH. Therefore further experimental and clinical studies are necessary to elucidate the role of glutamate in ICH.

In this regard, in the current animal models (autologous blood or collagenase injection) of ICH it is difficult to know if glutamate increase is produced as result of the artificial effect of the tissue disruption after blood or collagenase injection, or it is due to the mass effect of perihematomal edema, which can cause a regional hypoperfusion by mechanical compression of blood vessels.


The toxicity of some species such as P. aduncum against different orders of insects of medical and agricultural importance has already been reported (Estrela et al., 2006; Silva, Ribeiro, Souza, & Correa, 2007; Scott et al., 2008; Misni, Othman, & Sulaiman, 2011; Souto, Harada, Andrade, & Maia, 2012; Piton, Turchen, Butnariu, & Pereira, 2014; Turchen, Piton, Dall'Oglio, Butnariu, & Pereira, 2016a) . However, the egg stage is probably the least studied in terms of susceptibility to chemicals, and the few studies that assessed the vulnerability of eggs were often reported by accident, arising from the application of insecticides to other developmental phases of insects (Smith & Salkeld, 1966) . Past studies report that mineral oils act primarily as ovicides by depressing the respiratory rate when applied directly to moth eggs (Riedl, Halaj, Kreowski, Hilton, & Westigard, 1995) . The length of respiratory expression and the dose of oil in contact with the egg are critical to provoke mortality (Smith & Pearce, 1948) . Other studies have reported that the ovicidal nature of the oils is due to the natural tendency of oils to block the oxygen supplied to the developing embryo or due to the toxicity of some inherent chemical constituents of the oil (Rajapakse & Senanayake, 1997) .

The toxicity of some species such as P. aduncum against different orders of insects of medical and agricultural importance has already been reported.

However, the egg stage is probably the least studied in terms of susceptibility to chemicals, and the few studies that assessed the vulnerability of eggs were often reported by accident, arising from the application of insecticides to other developmental phases of insects.

Past studies report that mineral oils act primarily as ovicides by depressing the respiratory rate when applied directly to moth eggs.

The length of respiratory expression and the dose of oil in contact with the egg are critical to provoke mortality.

Other studies have reported that the ovicidal nature of the oils is due to the natural tendency of oils to block the oxygen supplied to the developing embryo or due to the toxicity of some inherent chemical constituents of the oil.


The decision to choose type 1 diabetes patients was not accidental. This is a group of patients particularly exposed to the development of complications from an early age, and angiopathy affects all vessels, including those in the pulmonary circulation. Therefore, the usefulness of non-invasive methods (EBC) in assessing the severity of oxidative stress in this group of patients seems to be an interesting issue. The mean concentration of 8-isoprostanes was the highest in plasma in type 1 diabetic patients with developed complications. Lower levels of this marker were characteristic of a group with no developed complications. The lowest values were observed in the control group. These results appear to be consistent with the intuitively expected values, providing a biochemical evidence that the 8-isoprostane concentration is significantly higher in the plasma of inflammatory patients. Similar observations come from, among others, the work of Vessby [10] .

Similar observations come from, among others, the work of Vessby.


In order to achieve a wide impedance bandwidth in DRAs, many approaches have been investigated. One approach is to use special configurations for DRAs, but the geometries of these methods are not easy to construct [7, 8] . L-and T-shaped DR antennas have been reported, achieving impedance bandwidths of 30% and 60%, respectively [9, 10] . Using stacked DRAs is another method to improve the impedance bandwidth, but in this method, DRAs must be different in size and/or dielectric constants [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] .

One approach is to use special configurations for DRAs, but the geometries of these methods are not easy to construct.

L-and T-shaped DR antennas have been reported, achieving impedance bandwidths of 30% and 60%, respectively.

Using stacked DRAs is another method to improve the impedance bandwidth, but in this method, DRAs must be different in size and/or dielectric constants.


Antenna miniaturization is becoming significantly important, specially in low frequency applications. A rectangular dielectric resonator antenna with relative permittivity of 36 was used to reduce the size of the antenna and the resulting impedance bandwidth was found to be 2.7% [15] . If a wider bandwidth is required, a dielectric resonator with a lower dielectric constant can be used. However, the size of the antenna will be considerably increased for the same resonant frequency. From observations regarding the study of the air gap effects on the DRA performance, the bandwidth is increased due to the presence of the air gap [16, 17] . Other techniques are possible to reduce the size of the antenna [18] . However, these methods affect the radiation characteristics dramatically and the antenna is not suitable for phased arrays.

A rectangular dielectric resonator antenna with relative permittivity of 36 was used to reduce the size of the antenna and the resulting impedance bandwidth was found to be 2.7%.

From observations regarding the study of the air gap effects on the DRA performance, the bandwidth is increased due to the presence of the air gap.

Other techniques are possible to reduce the size of the antenna.


When operating, the air conditioning (A/C) system is the largest auxiliary energy consumer in a conventional vehicle. A/C loads account for more than 5% of the fuel used annually by light-duty vehicles in the United States [1] . Climate control loads can have an even larger impact on hybrid electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid EV, and all-electric vehicle performance. Hybrid EVs show a 22% lower fuel economy with the A/C on [2] . For all-electric vehicles, the effect of the climate control system usage is even more severe. Due to a shortage of waste heat, heating of the passenger cabin in EVs has to rely on battery energy. Cooling the cabin can also take a significant portion of energy available in the battery, significantly reducing vehicle efficiency and range. Mitsubishi reports that the range of the i-MiEV can be reduced by as much as 68% with heating and 46% with cooling of the cabin on Japan's 10-15 cycle [3] . The Advanced Powertrain Research Facility at Argonne National Laboratory has reported 59.3% and 53.7% reductions in range due to maximum heating and maximum cooling, respectively, for the Ford Focus EV operating on the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule cycle [4] . In addition to these climate control impacts, electric-drive vehicles may have additional cooling requirements for the electric traction drive system components, including batteries, power electronics, and electric machines.

A/C loads account for more than 5% of the fuel used annually by light-duty vehicles in the United States.

Hybrid EVs show a 22% lower fuel economy with the A/C on.

Mitsubishi reports that the range of the i-MiEV can be reduced by as much as 68% with heating and 46% with cooling of the cabin on Japan's 10-15 cycle.

The Advanced Powertrain Research Facility at Argonne National Laboratory has reported 59.3% and 53.7% reductions in range due to maximum heating and maximum cooling, respectively, for the Ford Focus EV operating on the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule cycle.


One might think that a possible explanation for the original agreement is that since the bubbling geometries have nontrivial topology, they are nonperturbative solutions that cannot be seen in string perturbation theory. So the original counting of microstates in Minkowski spacetime could not include black holes sitting in these spacetimes. However, it has been argued that as one decreases the string coupling, the bubbles reduce to wrapped branes which can be seen at weak coupling [25] . So either the index calculation undercounts the number of BPS states, or there are more complicated BPS bound states of branes and strings that are not included in the D-brane system that was originally studied.

However, it has been argued that as one decreases the string coupling, the bubbles reduce to wrapped branes which can be seen at weak coupling.


Under service exposure condition, reformer tubes have been subjected to carbonization, oxidation, overheating, stress corrosion cracking, sulfidation and thermal cycling. Overheating of the tubes leads to early creep damage and embrittlement [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . Premature failure of these tubes can take place due to service ageing which is the major cause for rupture Traditional stainless steel application for vertical reformer tubes has been gradually replaced or substituted by centrifugally cast HK40 alloys and subsequently by HP modified alloys. Even after these advancements, many reformers fail during service within a period of 3 to 15 yrs, though their designed performance is specified as 11.4 yrs. On the other hand, it is noteworthy that despite most of these tubes have a specific design life of 10-15 yrs, literature survey has revealed that they can have a significant remnant life beyond their specified design life [2] . This is estimated by carrying out RLA (residual life assessment) studies performed at progressive intervals during a well-planned shut down, both by non-destructive evaluation technique and also by destructive tests like accelerated creep or stress rupture tests above the operating hoop stress level of the tubes. Balance or residual life of the tubes can then be estimated by using LMP (Larson-Miller Parameter) equation [5] .

Overheating of the tubes leads to early creep damage and embrittlement.

On the other hand, it is noteworthy that despite most of these tubes have a specific design life of 10-15 yrs, literature survey has revealed that they can have a significant remnant life beyond their specified design life.

Balance or residual life of the tubes can then be estimated by using LMP (Larson-Miller Parameter) equation.


In case of CCU reactor and FPU distillation column materials, accelerated creep rupture tests were carried out in the temperature range of 515-520 o C and in the stress range of 60-120 MPa. The stress levels above the operating stress at each temperature were selected in such a way as to obtain rupture within a reasonable span of time. In general, creep rupture damage (ω) is considered as the ratio of cumulative operating time and total operating time [15] .

In general, creep rupture damage (ω) is considered as the ratio of cumulative operating time and total operating time.


Another experiment that was done separately was assessment of SNPs production by S. pyogenes. As the results displayed, after incubation of the bacterial cells in BHI medium that contained AgNO 3 (at its sub-MIC concentration that was obtained for the bacterium), the color of the suspension turned from yellow to dark brown that confirmed the production of SNPs. This simple and fast technique for the production of SNPs was described earlier in our previous work . In this method, AgNO 3 at the obtained sub-MIC concentration for the tested bacterium was used. So the nitrate ions slightly inhibited the bacterial growth, and the bacterial cells actively produced SNPs by an enzymatic reduction. However, non-enzymatic process may be involved in SNPs production since it has the possibility of the presence of some polymers (such as HA) and proteins in the bacterial culture medium. Production of SNPs was confirmed using visible spectrophotometery, TEM, and XRD tests, and the obtained results have been indicated in Figs. 3, 4 , and 5, respectively. As described previously, before XRD analysis the sample was heated at 300°C for 1 h. In our previously published work, it was reported that SNPs were joined together by the heat treatment, and this process led to increase in the sizes of SNPs which finally resulted in sharper XRD peaks (Pourali et al. 2013) .

As described previously, before XRD analysis the sample was heated at 300°C for 1 h. In our previously published work, it was reported that SNPs were joined together by the heat treatment, and this process led to increase in the sizes of SNPs which finally resulted in sharper XRD peaks.


From the outcomes that were obtained in this study, the next step is to produce a suitable scaffold that is made from HA/SNPs for in vivo applications. There are different available methods rather than microbial one for HA and SNPs production but these strategies have their own deficiencies. For example, the extraction of HA from different types of animal tissues has been done for several years but the procedure is time consuming and unclean and the produced HA usually is impure (Kanala et al. 2011) . Also in the case of SNPs production there are different chemical and physical methods. Although these methods are simple, cheap, and fast,some chemical by-products that remain on the surface of the produced SNPs usually have some toxic effects when they are used in vivo ). The third strategy for SNPs production is the biological one. This method is safe, clean, and eco-friendly ). There are limited bacterial strains with the ability of HA production and the problem will be more difficult when they are explored for the ability of SNPs production too. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to use a bacterium with both abilities of HA and SNPs production, and to achieve this S. pyogenes was chosen. Although S. pyogenes is an important human pathogenic bacterium, due to these two abilities it was used in the current experiment.

For example, the extraction of HA from different types of animal tissues has been done for several years but the procedure is time consuming and unclean and the produced HA usually is impure.


Humans and animals are capable of learning, perfecting and reproducing complex trajectories that allow them to perform a variety of tasks, from coordinated body movements to catching, and particularly in humans, object manipulation, writing and drawing. The mechanisms underlying motor skills, from the learning of basic primitives to their organisation in higher-level cognitive structures, are fundamental in understanding how humans accomplish advanced motor skills [1] . Object manipulation, skilful movements and generalised trajectories are considered fundamental in the evolution of intelligence and modern technology [2] . The autonomous learning of robotic movements and their organisation are an increasingly important research focus.

The mechanisms underlying motor skills, from the learning of basic primitives to their organisation in higher-level cognitive structures, are fundamental in understanding how humans accomplish advanced motor skills.

Object manipulation, skilful movements and generalised trajectories are considered fundamental in the evolution of intelligence and modern technology.


Numerous treatment protocols have been published on the management of EI. The only step common to all is that the intravenous infusion should be stopped immediately. Recent protocols appear to favour the use of hyaluronidase injection plus saline flush in the treatment of EI [2, [6] [7] [8] . However, there are many other treatment regimes described including the use of various creams, ointments, and occlusive dressings. Specific treatments are also available depending on the infusate e.g. topical nitroglycerin for vasoactive medications [9] .

Recent protocols appear to favour the use of hyaluronidase injection plus saline flush in the treatment of EI.

Specific treatments are also available depending on the infusate e.g. topical nitroglycerin for vasoactive medications.


The trends at 550 K and 650 K are consistent with a strengthening of the Antarctic vortex, with decreased mixing in winter at high latitudes and increased mixing in spring. Mixing at the vortex edge is highly correlated with wave activity, quantified here as eddy heat flux (the correlation coefficient for 650 K Lyapunov exponents with 30 hPa eddy heat flux at 60 • S is −0.75). At all three analyses levels, a winter/early spring decrease in northern mid-latitude mixing was found. This decrease in mixing is consistent with negative trends in EP fluxes and eddy heat fluxes in the Northern Hemisphere in winter, that have been reported on in several studies (Hadjinicolaou et al., 2005; Randel et al., 2002; Hood and Soukharev, 2005) .

This decrease in mixing is consistent with negative trends in EP fluxes and eddy heat fluxes in the Northern Hemisphere in winter, that have been reported on in several studies.


Crop MNR and environmental impacts due to N administration are two aspects frequently ignored by farmers. In this experiment, no significant increases in MNR were detected above 200 kg of N ha −1 in both the years of research. On the other hand, N rates less than N-200 did not result in a satisfactory marketable yield; however, no significant differences in MNR were noticed for the N-150 rate. In the Mediterranean environment, low N supplies also resulted in unacceptable values of MNR for wheat; moreover, the production trend resulting from N fertilization was affected by interannual climatic variability [49] .

In the Mediterranean environment, low N supplies also resulted in unacceptable values of MNR for wheat; moreover, the production trend resulting from N fertilization was affected by interannual climatic variability.


In the present study, the N-100 and N-150 rates showed the highest values of NUE and NupE in both years. Despite the highest marketable tomato yield being achieved by supplying 200-250 Kg of N ha −1 , these N fertilization levels displayed intermediate and low values of NUE and NUpE, respectively. Considering the importance of N management as a key factor in achieving satisfactory yields, the results of our research identified treatment N-200 as the optimal rate to obtain high tomato production and avoiding N losses like volatilization and leaching, which both contribute to the impact due to GWP [59, 61] .

Considering the importance of N management as a key factor in achieving satisfactory yields, the results of our research identified treatment N-200 as the optimal rate to obtain high tomato production and avoiding N losses like volatilization and leaching, which both contribute to the impact due to GWP.


The main point of the present article will be to show that solutions to the extremal flow equation exists locally in time. However, even if these were going to exist globally, we should not expect that they would converge as time approaches infinity in all possible cases. We already know of examples of Kählerian manifolds that do not admit extremal metrics [2, 13, 18] .

We already know of examples of Kählerian manifolds that do not admit extremal metrics.


In general, our flow equation is different from the Kähler version of the Ricci flow, even when the class Ω represents ±c 1 . This last assertion is illustrated, for instance, by the blow-up of CP 2 at one or two points, and the reason is basically a simple one: extremal metrics, which is what we seek when we consider the new flow, is a more general concept than that of Kähler-Einstein metrics, and when Ω = c 1 , these two concepts agree only if we impose an additional restriction on c 1 [7, 16] . It is worth mentioning, however, that on compact connected Riemann surfaces, both the Ricci and extremal flow coincide with one another, and they also coincide with the two-dimensional version of the Yamabe flow. This is so because regardless of the metric g you consider on the given Riemann surface, the holomorphy potential π g s g , where s g the scalar curvature of g, turns out to be a topological constant. Even in this last case, it is still of some interest to point out that of these three equivalent flows, only the extremal one can be interpreted as the gradient flow of a variational problem.

This last assertion is illustrated, for instance, by the blow-up of CP 2 at one or two points, and the reason is basically a simple one: extremal metrics, which is what we seek when we consider the new flow, is a more general concept than that of Kähler-Einstein metrics, and when Ω = c 1 , these two concepts agree only if we impose an additional restriction on c 1.


Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) are accelerated at the Sun or in the interplanetary medium during flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) reaching energies up to several GeV. SEP events consist of electrons, protons and ions (up to Fe) that propagate along the interplanetary magnetic field causing sudden and often long lasting particle radiation enhancements. SEP events show significant variability in their relative abundance and intensity profile, with the maximum of the proton flux near Earth reached in timescales ranging from less than an hour to longer than a day. The characteristics of SEPs are obtained by in situ singular or multiple spacecraft observations. Some SEP profiles exhibit a short period of flux increase varying from a few minutes to half a day when a fast interplanetary shock passes the observation point, called an Energetic Storm Particle (ESP) event, indicating in situ acceleration of particles by the shock (Cane, 1995) .

Some SEP profiles exhibit a short period of flux increase varying from a few minutes to half a day when a fast interplanetary shock passes the observation point, called an Energetic Storm Particle (ESP) event, indicating in situ acceleration of particles by the shock.


In the suction process of compressors, the refrigerant is heated as it gets into contact with hot components, such as the electric motor, bearings, crankcase, and compressor housing. Some of the heat is rejected to the outside environment through the compressor housing, whereas the remainder ends up heating the refrigerant admitted in the suction line. Figure 1 outlines the interactions between the sources and the heat paths in a typical low-pressure housing scroll compressor. Some gas superheating in the suction process is necessary, either to avoid the presence of liquid in the compression chambers, or primarily to cool the electrical motor. However, suction gas superheating negatively affects the compressor performance. The first effect is the reduction of the volumetric efficiency due to the decrease of gas density, reducing the cooling capacity of the system. The second consequence is the reduction of the isentropic efficiency brought about by the associate increase of specific work of compression (Kremer et al., 2012) .

The second consequence is the reduction of the isentropic efficiency brought about by the associate increase of specific work of compression.


In Tanzania, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important edible and nutritious vegetable crop and sources of income [6] . Tomato is produced by small and medium growers for food and household income. Tomato yield in Tanzania is estimated at 17.5 Mt/ha. Currently yield production has dropped to 50 % of the total production due to various constraints including pests and diseases [9] .

In Tanzania, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important edible and nutritious vegetable crop and sources of income.

Currently yield production has dropped to 50 % of the total production due to various constraints including pests and diseases.


The properties of residential broadband traffic differ considerably from those of academic or office traffic often seen in literature. The constant portion of daily traffic fluctuations is about 70%, much larger than ones found in earlier reports [3, 5] . Research results obtained from campus or other academic networks may no longer apply to commercial traffic. More research efforts should be directed to measurement and analysis of residential broadband traffic.

The constant portion of daily traffic fluctuations is about 70%, much larger than ones found in earlier reports.


Another structured groupoid covered in the present study is ring-groupoid. The concept of ring-groupoid was presented by Mucuk [12] . Mucuk has proved how the ring structure of a topological ring X is lifted. Additionally, he has also shown the category of the coverings of topological ring X is equivalent to that of the coverings of fundamental Lie ring groupoid π1X corresponding to X.

The concept of ring-groupoid was presented by Mucuk.


All classes are meeting places of a range of discursive practices, they are sites of negotiation and conflict, where social identities and relations of power are established (Luke & Freebody, 1997) . This paper is premised on the assumption that Language other than English (LOTE) classes are key sites for the contestation and construction of identity, a significant issue that is entering public debate with the re-emergence of nationalism and rapid political transitions (Wertsch, 1995) . Learning another language, or another set of discursive practices, inevitably involves issues of culture, identity and resistance.

All classes are meeting places of a range of discursive practices, they are sites of negotiation and conflict, where social identities and relations of power are established.

This paper is premised on the assumption that Language other than English (LOTE) classes are key sites for the contestation and construction of identity, a significant issue that is entering public debate with the re-emergence of nationalism and rapid political transitions.


The characteristics of the context (political, socioeconomic, familiar, cultural) determine the relationship between employment stability and health and wellbeing, as different studies have pointed out. A recent review concluded that conducting studies in different contexts is important for understanding the relationships between unemployment and health outcomes. The authors noted that there are a large number of studies analysing unemployment and health focusing on the effect size at the population level. In contrast to that approach, the review authors recommended a need to conduct analysis of subgroups of populations representing different context, including by gender and for different family and socioeconomic subgroups [16] .

In contrast to that approach, the review authors recommended a need to conduct analysis of subgroups of populations representing different context, including by gender and for different family and socioeconomic subgroups.


The intercomparisons were all based around the Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE) which took place in and around Darwin, Australia, from 20 January to 13 February 2006. Its focus was to describe the evolution of tropical convection, including the large-scale heat, moisture, and momentum budgets at 3 h time resolution, while at the same time obtaining detailed observations of cloud properties and the impact of the clouds on their environment (May et al., 2008) . A field campaign of this kind provides an ideal test-bed for driving and evaluating a range of atmospheric models used in weather and climate research and prediction.

Its focus was to describe the evolution of tropical convection, including the large-scale heat, moisture, and momentum budgets at 3 h time resolution, while at the same time obtaining detailed observations of cloud properties and the impact of the clouds on their environment.


Lp-PLA 2 , an enzyme derived from leukocytes, particularly macrophages, is responsible for metabolism of LDL to the pro-inflammatory mediators lysophosphatidylcholine and oxidized fatty acids [33] . Lysophosphatidylcholine increases expression of vascular adhesion molecules, upregulates cytokines and CD40 ligand, and stimulates macrophage proliferation [34] . Levels of Lp-PLA 2 activity have been associated with increased risk of incident ischemic cardiac and cerebrovascular events in epidemiological studies [13] . Our study provides evidence that this novel marker of vascular inflammatory activity is associated with risk of recurrent stroke in patients after first stroke. Levels of Lp-PLA 2 activity, like those of Lp-PLA 2 mass, were not markedly affected by stroke severity in our population.

Lp-PLA 2 , an enzyme derived from leukocytes, particularly macrophages, is responsible for metabolism of LDL to the pro-inflammatory mediators lysophosphatidylcholine and oxidized fatty acids.

Lysophosphatidylcholine increases expression of vascular adhesion molecules, upregulates cytokines and CD40 ligand, and stimulates macrophage proliferation.

Levels of Lp-PLA 2 activity have been associated with increased risk of incident ischemic cardiac and cerebrovascular events in epidemiological studies.


One of the crucial tasks in WAAM is the generation of paths which guide the motion of the deposition head to fill the 2D layers representing the cross-sectional geometry of an object. Many types of path patterns have been developed for AM, as summarized in Table 1 [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] . It is found that the essential step to generate paths is offsetting. Commonly used patterns are raster patterns which offset parallel to a given direction, and contour patterns which offset parallel to the boundary of geometry. Other path patterns are either variations or combinations from these general strategies.

Many types of path patterns have been developed for AM, as summarized in Table 1.


Beside the problem of the ad hoc renovation market in Flanders, there is a need for a more flexible building stock. A growing Flemish population accompanied by a decreasing household size results in a need for additional h ouses [7] . The needs of a household moreover change over time, e.g. due to family expansion or contraction or evolving comfort requirements. A flexible and adaptable housing stock could hence contribute in the overall aim to move towards a more sustainable built environment. Interventions as splitting, combining and extending existing buildings are possible solutions to deal with these changing needs and to avoid spatially underused buildings and will be more and more required in the future. In order to execute these interventions in a sustainable manner there is a need for affordable and adaptable building systems with a low environmental impact. This paper focuses on the assessment of the life cycle financial and environmental impact of rooftop extensions. The goal of the paper is twofold: (1) some methodological issues in evaluating renovation interventions are discussed and analyzed and (2) an existing semi-prefabricated 'open-renovation-system' for a rooftop extension is assessed both on element and building level from an environmental and financial life cycle perspective.

A growing Flemish population accompanied by a decreasing household size results in a need for additional h ouses.


In order to assist decision making and make useful scenarios for the future, it is necessary to assess the skill of the GCMs. There has been a number of evaluation studies of GCMs (Houghton et al. 2001) . Much of the past evaluation has primarily involved global mean surface temperatures (Tett et al. 1999; Stott et al. 2001; Forest et al. 2002) . When GCMs are used to study the response of regional or local climates to an enhanced greenhouse effect, it is desirable to evaluate their ability to reproduce the regional and local climatic trends of the past, although only a few studies have focussed on this issue.

There has been a number of evaluation studies of GCMs.

Much of the past evaluation has primarily involved global mean surface temperatures.


On the other hand, the latest data acquisition systems that have been integrated on the supervision and monitoring devices for photovoltaic plants are based on wireless technology such as Zigbee, according to IEEE 802.15.4, based specification for personal area networks. Parameters such as temperature, irradiation, DC power input in the inverter and AC power output to the grid can be easily obtained. Furthermore, the acquired data can be uploaded to the cloud almost in real time and send notification alerts to the power plant owners and maintenance service [4] . However, these systems still do not integrate georeferences tools that may help to improve the application of a preventive maintenance strategy.

Furthermore, the acquired data can be uploaded to the cloud almost in real time and send notification alerts to the power plant owners and maintenance service.


The operation and maintenance of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant results of extreme importance to guarantee its optimal performance. In fact, monitoring is not just a regular recording of data but involves a more detailed analysis in order to prevent possible malfunctions witch its associated power and economic losses. However, most photovoltaic power plants just record few operative data in order to check a proper operation, but it is not usual that maintenance service carry out a detailed analysis. Effective maintenance involves at least semiautomatic analysis and alerts. In this way, the maintenance operator is allowed to make immediate decisions and solve safety problems and minimize power losses [1] .

In this way, the maintenance operator is allowed to make immediate decisions and solve safety problems and minimize power losses.


Since the D0-brane is believed to be the Kaluza-Klein particle corresponding to the compactification of 11-th direction and has positive longitudinal momentum, it is considered as a natural candidate for the elementary degrees of freedom in the infinite momentum frame. Also, extended objects of M-theory such as membranes and 5-branes can be described as classical configurations of matrices in SYM theory. However, what is highly non-trivial is that the SYM theory which is the description of D-branes in the low-energy, short-distance and the weak-coupling limit is proposed as the exact non-perturbative definition of M-theory. Taking the large-N limit must be an important ingredient. Subsequently, it was proposed that the finite-N version of Matrix theory can be interpreted as the compactification of M-theory on a lightlike circle [2] . The compactification in the lightlike direction is equivalent to the compactification in the spacelike direction with small compactification radius and small transverse length scale [3, 4] . Since M-theory compactified on the small spatial circle is the weakly-coupled type IIA string theory, it provides the explanation for the appearance of SYM theory for the D0-branes. Various quantitative checks for the finite-N interpretation has been performed, including the consistency with the supergravity interactions up to two-loop perturbations in Matrix theory [5, 6, 7] .

Subsequently, it was proposed that the finite-N version of Matrix theory can be interpreted as the compactification of M-theory on a lightlike circle.

The compactification in the lightlike direction is equivalent to the compactification in the spacelike direction with small compactification radius and small transverse length scale.

Various quantitative checks for the finite-N interpretation has been performed, including the consistency with the supergravity interactions up to two-loop perturbations in Matrix theory.


In this paper, we have predicted the 2-point functions of the supercurrents of Matrix theory following the conjecture of generalized AdS/CFT correspondence. We have analyzed the scaling behavior with respect to N and considered whether the Matrix-theory supercurrents have correct weights when we interpret the scaling of N (with fixed g s ) as the boost in the 11-th direction following the original proposal of Banks, Fischler, Shenker and Susskind [1] . We have reached to a result which is not very definitive: The supercurrents corresponding to the two kinds of fermionic symmetries of Matrix theory can be indeed interpreted as having inverse weights under the Lorentz boost, which suggests the correctness of the interpretation of them as kinematical and dynamical SUSY currents of the 11-dimensional SUSY. However, the weights are slightly different from the canonical behavior, which seem to be of the same nature as the anomalous behavior for the spacetime tensors which were found in the previous paper. The origin of these behavior are not clear but it is likely that the generalized AdS/CFT correspondence is not able to give the exact information of Matrix theory, possibly due to the 'IR cutoff' of the supergravity calculation which is the boundary of the near-horizon region.

We have analyzed the scaling behavior with respect to N and considered whether the Matrix-theory supercurrents have correct weights when we interpret the scaling of N (with fixed g s ) as the boost in the 11-th direction following the original proposal of Banks, Fischler, Shenker and Susskind.


Silica is well known and described as inorganic compound, which has high chemical resistance, hardness, and porosity. The incorporation of silica into polypropylene matrix is an attractive way to significant improvements in the properties of the composites, e.g., mechanical strength and elastic modulus, thermal stability, chemical resistance, heat and flame resistance, and reduction in gas permeability [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] . These properties led to the application of silica/polypropylene composites in various industrial fields, e.g., packaging, automotive, medical, and textile industries [14] [15] [16] .

The incorporation of silica into polypropylene matrix is an attractive way to significant improvements in the properties of the composites, e.g., mechanical strength and elastic modulus, thermal stability, chemical resistance, heat and flame resistance, and reduction in gas permeability.

These properties led to the application of silica/polypropylene composites in various industrial fields, e.g., packaging, automotive, medical, and textile industries.


Another problem in the area of innovative composite materials is the influence of functional hybrid filler on the supermolecular structure and morphology of the polymer matrix. The interfaces between the filler and the matrix in composite materials are widely regarded as the most important factor determining their mechanical properties [44] . It is well known that lignocellulosic materials may act as heterogeneous nucleating agents and nucleate crystallization along the interface with sufficiently high density of nuclei [45] . The nucleation ability of filler and transcrystalline structure in composite system has profound effect on the ultimate properties of the polymer matrix and hence on the composite. The interphase surface is responsible for transfer of stress appearing in the system. Weak interphase interactions are responsible for the appearance of cracks and delamination of the composites, leading to considerable deterioration of mechanical strength. In view of the above, the presence of transcrystalline structures can be vital for getting composites of desired properties [46] . Additionally, knowledge of the phenomena taking place at the interphase boundary polymer/filler permits optimization of the processing leading to products of target properties.

The interfaces between the filler and the matrix in composite materials are widely regarded as the most important factor determining their mechanical properties.

It is well known that lignocellulosic materials may act as heterogeneous nucleating agents and nucleate crystallization along the interface with sufficiently high density of nuclei.

In view of the above, the presence of transcrystalline structures can be vital for getting composites of desired properties.


Despite these limitations, this small study has helped to validate the use of serological testing for diagnosis of pertussis. Tests for antibody against individual B. pertussis antigens have been validated in other studies [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . Post-vaccination IgA and IgG antibody levels against pertussis toxin, pertactin and agglutinogens decrease rapidly, and IgA disappears, after the initial antibody response. Subsequent increases in antibody levels occur after exposure to infected persons or symptomatic illness. Thus an increase in IgG or the presence of IgA antibody, unless closely following vaccination, indicates exposure to B. pertussis. Prospective serological studies support the view that unrecognized pertussis is common despite high immunization rates [22] .

Tests for antibody against individual B. pertussis antigens have been validated in other studies.

Prospective serological studies support the view that unrecognized pertussis is common despite high immunization rates.


An important measure of MEMS performance is a mechanical quality-factor (Q-factor) defined as a ratio between stored and dissipated energy in a system, at the resonance frequency [1] . High quality factor is desirable for resonant MEMS ( Fig. 1) as it directly translates to the improved noise resolution and higher measurement sensitivity. Fig. 2 shows bias instability and Q-factor dependence for the state-of-the-art MEMS gyroscopes reported in open literature, demonstrating an improvement of the performance with the Q-factor increase.

An important measure of MEMS performance is a mechanical quality-factor (Q-factor) defined as a ratio between stored and dissipated energy in a system, at the resonance frequency.


Typically, calculating software metrics involves counting entities found in a model, such as number of classes or methods [9] . While some metrics are specific to a given type of model (e.g. lines of code), others are applicable to a number of different models. For example, coupling between classes might be usefully measured in source code, in a UML class diagram, or even a UML sequence diagram.

Typically, calculating software metrics involves counting entities found in a model, such as number of classes or methods.


Further work needs to be done to make our approach practical. To date, we have implemented and demonstrated the viability of a general purpose exclusion lock which can be configured to exactly meet a specific locking requirement [4] , [12] . We have also prototyped the algorithm outlined in Section 5 in Haskell. What remains to be done is to provide a programming language based solution to the automatic derivation of the tree-structured uses relation. In this regard, we intend to pursue both development-time models, relying on object ownership types, and deployment-time techniques, relying on static analysis techniques. This paper has considered the problem of lock selection for composite object systems, with known internal exclusion requirements and external potential for concurrent activity. We have identified strategies for selecting optimal lock distributions, exploiting fixpoint lattice of a Galois connection between the internal exclusion requirements and external concurrency environment. To reduce the difficulty of the lock selection process for programmers, we have presented a novel algorithm for local computation of the covering relation for the lattice. A wizard can use this algorithm to intelligently guide a programmer through the lock selection process.

To date, we have implemented and demonstrated the viability of a general purpose exclusion lock which can be configured to exactly meet a specific locking requirement.


In most theoretical approaches, credit worthiness is evaluated based on one's likelihood to service the future burden of repayments. The future liquidity position of debtors remains unknown at the time of credit approval, which is the core of risk associated with the approval decision. For mortgages, it has been frequently argued in the literature that scoring models can help to partly alleviate this problem by allocating potential clients a different probability of becoming delinquent over the credit horizon. Scoring models rely on proxies (e.g. demographic status, educational attainment) to forecast future labour market prospects (Wagner 2004) . Consequently, these models evaluate future earnings using a Heckman corrected Mincerian approach. However, such models may prove unreliable in the context of large swings in the unemployment rate, since such periods are typically associated with out-of-equilibrium labour market behaviour. Such swings are frequent in the context of developing or transition countries, but occur also in highly industrialised countries (e.g. Finland in mid 1990s or Ireland and Spain over the 2007-2009 period) .

Scoring models rely on proxies (e.g. demographic status, educational attainment) to forecast future labour market prospects.


Cancer and other chronic diseases share some common pathogenic mechanisms, such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. These diseases can be controlled by resistant to mutagens/carcinogens and/or to inhibit progression of the disease by administering chemopreventive agents (Aly and Mahmoud, 2013) . Chemotherapy and surgery are standard methods for treatment of these diseases, although not been fully effective. Most of the anti-tumor drugs currently used in chemotherapy are toxic to normal cells and cause toxicity for immune cells. So, it is important to minimize curing doses to the least amount possible as well as trying to minimize the side effects of these drugs. Therefore, the identification of new anticancer drug with low side effects on the immune system has become an essential goal in many studies of immunopharmacology.

These diseases can be controlled by resistant to mutagens/carcinogens and/or to inhibit progression of the disease by administering chemopreventive agents.


In the present study, different types of electrospun polysulfone (PSU) fibers (with different morphologies and different fiber diameters) were produced to determine the most favorable system for bacterial integration. PSU was chosen in this study for water filtration applications since it is a widely used polymeric material in this area. Previously, it was shown that electrospun PSU fibers can be used as a carrier fibrous matrix for bacterial immobilization for the purpose of bioremediation of water systems (Sarioglu et al., 2016) . For the bacterial strain, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus STB1 strain was chosen since it was previously presented as promising for ammonium remediation in water and it could remove even high concentrations of this contaminant at heterotrophic conditions (Sarioglu et al., 2012) . The dye removal capability of this strain was unknown, hence it was aimed to evaluate the dye removal characteristics of this strain for potential bioremediation applications in the present study. Electrospun PSU fibrous webs with optimal morphology and fiber diameter for bacterial immobilization was chosen and then tested for simultaneous removal of ammonium and methylene blue dye at differential concentrations. This type of system is promising for potential wastewater treatment applications after successful optimizations.

Previously, it was shown that electrospun PSU fibers can be used as a carrier fibrous matrix for bacterial immobilization for the purpose of bioremediation of water systems.

For the bacterial strain, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus STB1 strain was chosen since it was previously presented as promising for ammonium remediation in water and it could remove even high concentrations of this contaminant at heterotrophic conditions.


The using of vibration method to detect the state of the winding mechanical gradually became a hot research at home and abroad [1] [2] . Compared with traditional methods, the vibration method has no electrical connection with the whole power system, and it has strong anti-interference ability and sensitivity. And it can be a safe and reliable monitoring of power transformers in the state, it has a good application prospect [3] [4] .

The using of vibration method to detect the state of the winding mechanical gradually became a hot research at home and abroad.

And it can be a safe and reliable monitoring of power transformers in the state, it has a good application prospect.


Substantial research has been devoted to the effect of labor market regulations in several labor outcomes in the developing world (Heckman and Pagés, 2004) . However, the effects of specific dimensions of labor regulations have been much less studied. Furthermore, in developing countries there is a big gap between the de facto and the de jure regulation, as enforcement is weak and evasion is large. This paper studies the effect of more stringent de facto firing regulations on average firm size in the developing world. In the presence of adverse economic conditions, strict firing regulations increase the cost of firing and may severely discourage firms from adjusting their workforce. Moreover, strict firing regulations also likely affect the firm's hiring decisions. For example, in good times, as firms anticipate higher firing costs, it is plausible that firms hire fewer workers, to avoid future costs in laying them off.

Substantial research has been devoted to the effect of labor market regulations in several labor outcomes in the developing world.


A shift in emphasis, from increasing survival to improving both the length and quality of people's lives, has led to a greater policy interest in the United Kingdom, and indeed in Europe as a whole in summary measures of population health. The government projects that the overall number and proportion of older people in the United Kingdom will rise significantly in the coming decades (Wanless (2002) ). However, there is a debate over whether these people will live longer, healthier lives, longer but more disabled lives, or something in between. The UK Treasury's long-term projections of the costs of an ageing population assume that the proportion of life spent in long-term care will remain constant but acknowledge that this is a cautious assumption and do not rule out an expansion of morbidity for the United Kingdom (Treasury (2004) ).

The government projects that the overall number and proportion of older people in the United Kingdom will rise significantly in the coming decades).

The UK Treasury's long-term projections of the costs of an ageing population assume that the proportion of life spent in long-term care will remain constant but acknowledge that this is a cautious assumption and do not rule out an expansion of morbidity for the United Kingdom).


Previous findings also suggest that gender, education, physical aggression, hostility, childhood abuse and exposure to domestic violence, and history of partner violence are risk factors for relationship violence (Burt, 1980; Cowan, 2000; Chen and White, 2004; Gover et al., 2008; White and Smith, 2009; Gallagher, 2011) . Preliminary findings in this study suggest that these variables are equally vital to understanding BEREVIWOS and GESTABE. Specifically, higher adversarial sexual beliefs, physical aggression, hostility, relationship victimization experience, and propensity to victimize partner were found to be related to higher BEREVIWOS. Higher hostility and relationship distress was related to higher endorsement of GESTABE. The relationships remained valid after controlling for social desirability responses, suggesting that common method variance in no way diminished their relevance. Thus, future studies in the region will benefit from integrating the variables to determine their influence on beliefs about gender-based violence and stereotypes.

Previous findings also suggest that gender, education, physical aggression, hostility, childhood abuse and exposure to domestic violence, and history of partner violence are risk factors for relationship violence.


Relationship violence remains a pandemic problem with physical and health consequences for victims, especially women (Ellsberg et al., 2008) . In Nigeria, for example, it is a major public health problem for women, with a prevalence rate as high as 47.3% for physical violence and 12.7% for sexual violence (Alo et al., 2012) . Although global attention to relationship violence has been increasing over the past few decades, little is known about the full range of beliefs associated with violence against women. Gender stereotypes and views that are integral part of beliefs contributing to relationship violence in patriarchal societies (i.e., societies in which power and control of social and economic resources are centered on men and where traditional roles and expectations of women in relationship, family, and society are framed to be inferior to men) are equally not fully examined. Because beliefs and stereotypes are crucial to understanding victimization and perpetration of partner violence, examining their dimensions will provide insight on appropriate interventions for victims and perpetrators. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to measure and describe development of beliefs about relationship violence against women scale (BEREVIWOS), gender stereotypes and beliefs (GESTABE), and to examine hypothetical relationships among them in Nigeria.

Relationship violence remains a pandemic problem with physical and health consequences for victims, especially women.

In Nigeria, for example, it is a major public health problem for women, with a prevalence rate as high as 47.3% for physical violence and 12.7% for sexual violence.


A limitation of the note-based time steps is their inability to represent notes with durations that are not an integer multiple of a sixteenth note. To take into account tuplets, we could use as time step the greatest common divisor between all the note values we wish to represent. For instance, using a time step of a 24th note would allow to represent triplets as well as sixteenth notes. The more note values we want to take into account, the smaller the time step, which could lead to the same problem as time-based time steps: mostly self transitions, and no learning of temporal dependencies [13] . Moreover, in our representation, we do not differentiate between note onsets and continuations. As a consequence, repeated notes are represented the same way as held notes. We assume that by using two different symbols, we could prevent over-fragmentation of notes in the output.

The more note values we want to take into account, the smaller the time step, which could lead to the same problem as time-based time steps: mostly self transitions, and no learning of temporal dependencies.


A longitudinal study based on Norwegian registry is one of the largest modern studies devoted to the family structure effects on cognitive development. Data of 392 thousand people were analyzed. One of the goals of the study was to examine relationship between birth order, gender and the level of education received by the age of 25. It was shown that the higher birth order is the lower is education level and this trend is more pronounced in women. The researchers conclude that there is a certain amount of influence of birth order on academic achievement at the population level [20] . The researchers also note that birth order effect on cognitive abilities in children is more marked if age spacing between children is small.

The researchers conclude that there is a certain amount of influence of birth order on academic achievement at the population level.


Data on the family structure effect on cognitive parameters are more homogeneous. It is currently considered established that a large sibship size imposes negative effect on children intelligence development [9] . The above relationships are not culturally sensitive and remain unchanged even under control of socio-economic status (SES) of families [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] .

It is currently considered established that a large sibship size imposes negative effect on children intelligence development.

The above relationships are not culturally sensitive and remain unchanged even under control of socio-economic status (SES) of families.


A new stage in studies devoted to birth order effects began after publication of Born to Rebel by F. Sulloway [4] . Based on analysis of intellectual and social revolution the author concluded that first-born children were different from other children: they stood out for maintaining the existing order whereas younger children stood out for its change. Therefore, first-born children and younger children differ from each other for personality traits.

A new stage in studies devoted to birth order effects began after publication of Born to Rebel by F. Sulloway.


Unsupervised learning or clustering have been a research focus of several communities for the past decades. Many algorithms have been proposed with varying degrees of success and are widely used in areas from text categorization/computer vision to genomics [1] . While many strides have been made in the area, there are still many open problems. Little success has been found in cases in which clusters do not form convex regions or are not clearly separated (overlapping). In particular, these scenarios can pose challenges to methods using Euclidean distances to measure similarities/affinities between data points. In a Euclidean space, a point on the edge of cluster 1 in Fig. 2 is closer to points in cluster 2 than to other points in cluster 1. In this case, there is no linear form which will classify the data satisfactorily.

Many algorithms have been proposed with varying degrees of success and are widely used in areas from text categorization/computer vision to genomics.


The crippling blow which strikes when trying to scale discrete-state models to represent user populations of significant size is the well-known problem of statespace explosion. The discrete-state representation demands memory in quantities which grow too quickly for us to be able to meet these demands for long. A bold alternative is to abandon discrete-state representations and take our models to the continuous-space world using fluid-flow analysis [1] . This allows us to represent and analyse large-scale systems with modest requirements on memory and time.

A bold alternative is to abandon discrete-state representations and take our models to the continuous-space world using fluid-flow analysis.


The case f (t) = t is called the cylindrical case in the model equation of nonlinear acoustics (see Crighton [1] ). As a next natural step we consider the equation (1) f (t) is positive for t > 0. In other words, the positivity of f (t) prevents the corresponding solution from developing singularity and has a smooth effect on the solution when the initial data is rough no matter how fast f (t) tends to zero as t tends to zero.

The case f (t) = t is called the cylindrical case in the model equation of nonlinear acoustics (see Crighton).


The large interannual variability in the timing, distribution and extent of burning events can presently be mapped by making use of satellite observations and using the total burned area products [6] [7] [8] [9] . To quantify the strength of the emission sources methodologies have been developed which combine such satellite observations with, e.g., terrestrial ecosystem models that account for differences in both land type and the availability of biomass for burning. This has lead to the development of a number of bottom-up emission inventories for use in three-dimensional global chemistry-transport models (3D global CTMs) [6, 8, 9] . A recent intercomparison of BB emission inventories for the year 2003 has highlighted large differences in both the seasonality and the total flux of gases emitted from tropical burning regions [10] . This study concluded that no preference can be given towards which methodology captures BB events most accurately, where there are both seasonal and regional differences in the performance of each inventory. This introduces significant uncertainty in the associated emissions of CO, nitrogen oxides (NO x ), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and carbonaceous aerosols from BB emission sources. Thus, the most advanced bottom-up BB inventories that are currently available for use in 3D global CTMs exhibit significant differences in the integrated seasonal fluxes.

The large interannual variability in the timing, distribution and extent of burning events can presently be mapped by making use of satellite observations and using the total burned area products.

This has lead to the development of a number of bottom-up emission inventories for use in three-dimensional global chemistry-transport models (3D global CTMs).

A recent intercomparison of BB emission inventories for the year 2003 has highlighted large differences in both the seasonality and the total flux of gases emitted from tropical burning regions.


For anthropogenic emissions it has been shown that the global OH distribution, and thus τCH 4 , is significantly affected by the ratio of CO and N (as nitrogen oxides) emitted into the atmosphere [22, 23] . For BB the CO/N ratio is typically much higher than anthropogenic emissions due to incomplete combustion processes [23] . This has the potential to impact the global CO burden, and thus τCH 4 , due to a lower fraction of the emitted CO being oxidized in/around the source region. To date to our knowledge there has been no similar investigation as to how the potential variability in the CO/N ratio from BB emission inventories impacts on the atmospheric lifetimes of abundant trace gases when applied in a global CTM, which is a major focus of this study.

For anthropogenic emissions it has been shown that the global OH distribution, and thus τCH 4 , is significantly affected by the ratio of CO and N (as nitrogen oxides) emitted into the atmosphere.

For BB the CO/N ratio is typically much higher than anthropogenic emissions due to incomplete combustion processes.


Following the analogy with quantum mechanics, one can also build a noncommutative geometry by replacing the algebra of coordinates by a noncommutative algebra represented as operators acting on a given Hilbert space. This is the setting of the theory developped by Connes, which is based on spectral triples, and allows to generalize to a broad class of spaces the notion of spin geometry [2] . A spectral triple (A, H, D) consists in an involutive algebra, playing the role of the algebra of coordinates, which is represented on the Hilbert space H. The latter is the analogue of the fermionic Hilbert space and the operator D is the Dirac operator.

This is the setting of the theory developped by Connes, which is based on spectral triples, and allows to generalize to a broad class of spaces the notion of spin geometry.


In quantum mechanics, the classical algebra of observables, that are complex valued functions on the phase space, is replaced by a noncommutative algebra. The commutation relations of this algebra lead to Heisenberg's uncertainty relations and thus to the disappearence of points. This is the basic idea of noncommutative geometry: the standard algebra of functions on a space must be replaced by a more general noncommutative algebra, while extending the standard definitions and theorems of classical differential geometry. The most basic example of such a noncommutative geometry is certainly the quantum plane, whose coordinates satisfy xy = qyx instead of xy = yx. On such a space, a differential calculus can be constructed and its symmetries are properly described by a quantum group SL q (2) .

On such a space, a differential calculus can be constructed and its symmetries are properly described by a quantum group SL q.


It is nowadays well admitted that the major dificulty in quantizing gravity lies in our current concepts of geometry. Indeed, at very small scale, a simple quantum mechanical argument combined with general relativity shows that the standard notion of point cannot hold [1] . Accordingly, the usual notions of geometry must be reformulated without any reference to points.

Indeed, at very small scale, a simple quantum mechanical argument combined with general relativity shows that the standard notion of point cannot hold.


Increasing amounts of RDF data are becoming available for public access, e.g., as sets of LOD [2] . Such data are a signi cant resource of knowledge that is still largely unexploited for data analysis purposes. In order to render such data accessible to casual analysts, these data should ideally correspond to a multidimensional structure since the multidimensional model is a widely accepted de facto standard for OLAP. Self-service query mechanisms should also be provided on top of the multidimensional structure.

Increasing amounts of RDF data are becoming available for public access, e.g., as sets of LOD.


The improvement in lipid profile of blood could be referred to a multi factors besides on the role of amino acids of protein, dietary fibers and antioxidants may play a good part in this action. Beneficial treatment of CaPP showed that the dietary fibers are having the potential to lower the levels of total cholesterol and LDL-c in blood. Absorption of bile salts by soluble dietary fiber (SDF) results in changes in cholesterol metabolism, loss of cholesterol, unavailability of bile salts in the intestine for micelle formation, which inhibits lipid fractions absorption, increased fecal bulk dilutes bile acids in the lower intestinal tract, and short chain fatty acids produced especially the propionate, which has been proposed to inhibit hepatic cholesterol synthesis (Tharanathan and Mahadevamma, 2003) .

Absorption of bile salts by soluble dietary fiber (SDF) results in changes in cholesterol metabolism, loss of cholesterol, unavailability of bile salts in the intestine for micelle formation, which inhibits lipid fractions absorption, increased fecal bulk dilutes bile acids in the lower intestinal tract, and short chain fatty acids produced especially the propionate, which has been proposed to inhibit hepatic cholesterol synthesis.


The sorption of surfactants to bacteria and to interfaces can either enhance or inhibit adhesion, depending on the nature of the surfaces and the surfactant itself (Neu, 1996) . Most investigations dealing with the effects of surfactants on bacterial mineralization of PAHs were based on the use of surfactant concentrations above their CMC (Guerin and Jones, 1988; Liu et al., 1995) . However, because the sorption of a surfactant to surfaces depends on the free concentration of the surfactant in solution, modifications of surface properties, caused by the surfactant, are significant at concentrations below the CMC (Neu, 1996) .

The sorption of surfactants to bacteria and to interfaces can either enhance or inhibit adhesion, depending on the nature of the surfaces and the surfactant itself.

Most investigations dealing with the effects of surfactants on bacterial mineralization of PAHs were based on the use of surfactant concentrations above their CMC.

However, because the sorption of a surfactant to surfaces depends on the free concentration of the surfactant in solution, modifications of surface properties, caused by the surfactant, are significant at concentrations below the CMC.


Oil palm has been Malaysia's largest economic crop since three decade ago especially when the world price of rubber plunged in 1960's and 1970's. Since then, oil palm plantation steadily grew from about 0.6 million hectares in 1975 to about 4.85 million hectares in 2010 [1] . Currently Malaysia is the second largest exporter of palm oil in the world after Indonesia [2] .

Since then, oil palm plantation steadily grew from about 0.6 million hectares in 1975 to about 4.85 million hectares in 2010.

Currently Malaysia is the second largest exporter of palm oil in the world after Indonesia.


In the standard scenario of a WIMP (weakly interacting massive particle), direct detection experiments record the nuclear recoil energy spectra produced when a dark matter particle scatters off a target nucleus. The expected nuclear recoil energy falls exponentially and such events, with an energy of typically not more than a few tens of keV, lie well within the range of abundant backgrounds due to radioactivity and other cosmogenic backgrounds. Despite these challenges, experimental limits on the interaction cross-section versus WIMP mass have been steadily improved. Yet, there exists no widely accepted evidence of their presence on Earth. Firm evidence of directionality relative to a WIMP wind would be the most robust signature of the WIMP nature of dark matter, and is an essential step to a claim of discovery. If any of the direct detection experiments observe evidence for nuclear recoils that cannot be explained with known processes, then the search for directionality in such nuclear recoils will be of foremost interest. Given that dark matter signatures exhibit an exponentially falling energy spectrum, and an annual modulation of interaction rates which can be easily mimicked by any activity of seasonal variations, or cosmogenic backgrounds, a discovery claim of dark matter would have to be followed by other exceptional evidence [3] [4] [5] [6] .

Given that dark matter signatures exhibit an exponentially falling energy spectrum, and an annual modulation of interaction rates which can be easily mimicked by any activity of seasonal variations, or cosmogenic backgrounds, a discovery claim of dark matter would have to be followed by other exceptional evidence.


A powerful signature of dark matter would be the detection of a significant spatial anisotropy in the angular distribution of such nuclear recoils consistent with the standard model of a non-corotating WIMP halo. Earth's position in the galactic arm provides a boost of ∼230 km/s, comparable to the quasi-virial velocity ∼220 km/s of gravitationally captured WIMPs. Dark matter interactions would produce a large forward-backward asymmetry in the angular distribution of nuclear recoils. An importance of the directional information for an incontestable claim of discovery and its role in the additional rejection of terrestrial backgrounds is widely appreciated [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] .

An importance of the directional information for an incontestable claim of discovery and its role in the additional rejection of terrestrial backgrounds is widely appreciated.


The Standard Model (SM) of elementary particle physics has been astonishingly successful in explaining much of the presently available experimental data. However, it still leaves open a number of outstanding fundamental questions whose answers are expected to emerge in a more general theoretical framework. One of the major motivations for pursuing new physics beyond the SM is the 'dark matter puzzle', which finds no explanation within the Standard Model. From the accumulated experimental data, we now know that ordinary matter comprises only about 4.9% of the Universe. The remaining 95.1% is divided between a mysterious form of matter called 'dark matter' (26.8%) and an even more perplexing entity called 'dark energy' (68.3%) [1] .

The remaining 95.1% is divided between a mysterious form of matter called 'dark matter' (26.8%) and an even more perplexing entity called 'dark energy' (68.3%).


Recently, a novel approach has been proposed to confront the challenges of the directional sensitivity for nuclear recoils with active masses approaching the ton-scale. The detector concept is based on a high-pressure Xenon gas TPC with an electroluminescent gain stage which utilizes the 'columnar recombination' (CR) process, leading to a potential directional sensitivity of nuclear recoils [30] . If this conceptual idea and the related detector technology can be demonstrated, it would revolutionize dark matter experiments [31] . Unlike low pressure gas tracking detectors, a ton-scale high-pressure gas dark matter detector would be more practical.

The detector concept is based on a high-pressure Xenon gas TPC with an electroluminescent gain stage which utilizes the 'columnar recombination' (CR) process, leading to a potential directional sensitivity of nuclear recoils.

If this conceptual idea and the related detector technology can be demonstrated, it would revolutionize dark matter experiments.


Less than five percent of ESBL negative isolates were resistant to cefepime, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime thereby making these antibiotics appropriate choices for treatment of infections caused by these organisms. However, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid which hitherto was thought to be a good choice for infections with these organisms and being mostly used as mono-therapy in our facility was associated with a high rate of resistance. This finding was in contrast with the Macedonian study where resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was only 20% [19] . Lack of antibiotic prescription policies in our environment and the frequent dispensing of antibiotics such as cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid as over the counter drugs may have contributed to the high level of resistance in the current study. Consequently, making decisions on the appropriate empirical oral antibiotic becomes difficult in the clinics.

This finding was in contrast with the Macedonian study where resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was only 20%.


Nowadays, due to the increasing presence of refractory molecules in the wastewater streams, it is important to develop new technologies to degrade such recalcitrant pollutant molecules into smaller innocuous ones. For this reason efficient oxidation processes operating under environmentally friendly conditions are needed [1] . As well known, Fenton chemistry encompasses reactions of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of iron to generate highly reactive species such as the hydroxyl radical and possibly others.

For this reason efficient oxidation processes operating under environmentally friendly conditions are needed.


Self-pierce riveting technology is a relatively new fastening technique. It has become a potential joining approach for aluminium alloy structures in the automotive industry owing to its unique advantages over conventional fastening methods, such as spot welding [1] [2] [3] . However, only a small body of experimental data is available to make possible predictions about the behaviour of a self-pierce riveted aluminium alloy joint [4] [5] . In addition, the fretting wear behaviour of self-piercing riveted aluminium alloy sheet has received little attention although it is well known that aluminium alloys have poor fretting wear and fatigue resistance and that the probability of encountering fretting in structures is extremely high [6] .

It has become a potential joining approach for aluminium alloy structures in the automotive industry owing to its unique advantages over conventional fastening methods, such as spot welding.

However, only a small body of experimental data is available to make possible predictions about the behaviour of a self-pierce riveted aluminium alloy joint.

In addition, the fretting wear behaviour of self-piercing riveted aluminium alloy sheet has received little attention although it is well known that aluminium alloys have poor fretting wear and fatigue resistance and that the probability of encountering fretting in structures is extremely high.


IDNT was used in many hospitals implemented NCP, but the extent of IDNT use varied depending on the hospital. IDNT was used at nutrition diagnosis step in all hospitals using IDNT, but used at other steps of NCP in less than a half of those hospitals. Nutrition diagnosis is the new step that distinguishes NCP from the existing process and requires using IDNT. As a result, nutrition diagnosis terminology will be familiar and widely used in practice compared to other terminologies (nutrition assessment terminology, nutrition intervention terminology, and nutrition monitoring & evaluation terminology). It was found that nutrition diagnosis terminology was the most familiar and was most widely used in the U.S. [8] .

It was found that nutrition diagnosis terminology was the most familiar and was most widely used in the U.S..


In general, GLC/MS chromatograms show good resolution with peaks resolved completely (Rs ≥ 1.5). Indeed, peaks with resolution factors greater than 1.0 can be accurately quantified [38] . However, low Rs values (Rs ≤ 1) were obtained with peaks TR4/TR5 and TR7/TR8 for testosterone, and peaks PR4/PR5 for progesterone.

Indeed, peaks with resolution factors greater than 1.0 can be accurately quantified.


Little is known about the photochemical transformation of testosterone and progesterone especially about the products formed from their direct photolysis. With regard to testosterone, photodegradation products have been identified in some studies [26] - [28] . To our knowledge, there has been no previous description study of PR photoproducts formation. However, photolysis implemented alone or in combination with catalysts in advanced oxidation processes is known to be one of the most effective techniques for removal of pharmaceuticals and other organic pollutant compounds from water [29] - [34] .

With regard to testosterone, photodegradation products have been identified in some studies.

However, photolysis implemented alone or in combination with catalysts in advanced oxidation processes is known to be one of the most effective techniques for removal of pharmaceuticals and other organic pollutant compounds from water.


Progesterone and testosterone are the primary natural progestin and androgenic hormones, respectively. In humans they have also various medical applications including hormone replacement therapy, contraception and palliative care for cancer treatment [13] - [15] . These hormones are mainly derived from the constant excretion (faeces and urine) of human and animals and are also released from sewage treatment plants, representing a risk for aquatic organisms and humans [16] [17] .

In humans they have also various medical applications including hormone replacement therapy, contraception and palliative care for cancer treatment.

These hormones are mainly derived from the constant excretion (faeces and urine) of human and animals and are also released from sewage treatment plants, representing a risk for aquatic organisms and humans.


This study focused on the identification of photochemical transformation products of progesterone and testosterone in purified dilute water. For both hormones, the direct photolysis has been performed under monochromatic ultraviolet light at 254 nm (the wavelength used for disinfection process in drinking water) and under polychromatic irradiation (λ > 290 nm) to simulate sunlight. Kinetic aspects and quantum yield determination were described in our previous work [35] .

Kinetic aspects and quantum yield determination were described in our previous work.


We have observed adverse selection among enrollees of a voluntary CBHI scheme when assessing the association between health status and enrolment. Our descriptive analysis showed that the EQ-5D health status of the insured individuals was significantly lower than matched uninsured individuals. When adjusting for confounding factors with multiple regression models, we found that the individuals with higher EQ-5D scores were about half as likely to enroll in CBHI scheme. It can thus be argued that adverse selection was present in the CBHI scheme. Such a problem can be a threat to the financial sustainability of the scheme. Our findings were similar to a previous study conducted in China, which found the presence of adverse selection in the Rural Mutual Health Care scheme [14] . Unlike our study, the Chinese study applied two questions for assessing the health status of the individuals, which included whether individuals suffered from any illness in the last month before the survey and the severity of that illness. A study in Burkina Faso, however, did not find any association between the health status of the household and CBHI enrollment [18] .

Our findings were similar to a previous study conducted in China, which found the presence of adverse selection in the Rural Mutual Health Care scheme.

A study in Burkina Faso, however, did not find any association between the health status of the household and CBHI enrollment.


The Ministry of Education and the regional authorities are involved in introducing ICT into Slovak schools namely through the pilot project Infovek, or under agreements with Microsoft which supplies schools with Microsoft Windows operating systems and with Microsoft Office. Since 1998 aims of the project Infovek had been to introduce ICT into teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools, by connecting these schools to the Internet before the end of 2002, training their teachers and enabling all pupils to master basic computer skills before the end of 2003 (Sýkora et al., 1999) . The initial global plan of the project Infovek to engage all schools to the project till 2004 failed. The principal reason was economic limitation. The objective assumes that about 50 -60 % of all schools could be engaged in the project.

Since 1998 aims of the project Infovek had been to introduce ICT into teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools, by connecting these schools to the Internet before the end of 2002, training their teachers and enabling all pupils to master basic computer skills before the end of 2003.


In this article, we are primarily concerned with the discreteness properties of commensurators of subgroups of G which are not themselves lattices. We consider the class of thin groups instead, a class of groups which has received a large amount of attention in recent years [58] . Here, a subgroup Γ ă G is thin if Γ is discrete and Zariski dense in G, and if G{Γ has infinite volume with respect to Haar measure on G. Thus, Γ fails to be a lattice in G by virtue of having infinite covolume in G. Natural examples of thin groups arise from infinite index Zariski dense subgroups of lattices in G.

We consider the class of thin groups instead, a class of groups which has received a large amount of attention in recent years.


Nitrification was initially believed to be merely an added benefit of treating wastewater with trickling filters (TFs). Eventually, TFs were designed as a tertiary treatment process for the sole purpose of nitrification based on empirical data. In 1975, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) published a series of empirical design curves for the design of nitrifying TFs (NTFs) as a function of influent ammonia concentration, desired ammonia removal, and temperature (Gullicks and Cleasby 1986) . A number of theoretical models based on transport processes and diffusion limiting conditions for nitrification were also developed for the design of NTFs (Gujer and Boller 1986; Logan 1993; Rittman and McCarty 2001) .

In 1975, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) published a series of empirical design curves for the design of nitrifying TFs (NTFs) as a function of influent ammonia concentration, desired ammonia removal, and temperature.

A number of theoretical models based on transport processes and diffusion limiting conditions for nitrification were also developed for the design of NTFs.


Many other parameters affect nitrification in TFs. The suspended solids and organics concentration should be low (Gullicks and Cleasby 1990b; Andersson et al. 1994) . Wastewater temperature affects water and biofilm diffusion constants, bulk liquid film thickness, dissolved oxygen saturation concentration, and nitrification kinetics. The ammonia removal rate may be adjusted for temperature by the using the Nernst-Einstein equation. Some researchers concur with this type of temperature adjustment. They believe that if temperature is accounted for in a model, it should be in terms of diffusivity (Okey and Albertson 1987) . Other researchers have observed a stronger correlation with media configuration and temperature (Logan and Parker 1990) .

The suspended solids and organics concentration should be low.

They believe that if temperature is accounted for in a model, it should be in terms of diffusivity.

Other researchers have observed a stronger correlation with media configuration and temperature.


Esophageal dysfunction is the main cause of gastrointestinal morbidity in children with JSS [1] . It was present in 40% of our patients and it lead to significant discomfort. Dysphagia, diarrhea, intestinal involvement and anorexia may contribute to the marked weight loss observed in the majority of children. Since only radiography and pH monitoring were the methods used to detect gastroesophageal reflux, it may have been missed in some patients. Esophageal manometry, which was not performed in our patients, is a very sensitive method for detecting lower esophageal dysfunction [20] .

Esophageal dysfunction is the main cause of gastrointestinal morbidity in children with JSS.

Esophageal manometry, which was not performed in our patients, is a very sensitive method for detecting lower esophageal dysfunction.