This paper investigated synchronization properties between two mutually delay-coupled lasers as a function of the detuning between the optical angular frequencies of the lasers. The distribution of periodic and chaotic phases was mapped in detail on the control parameter plane defined by the coupling coefficient and the detuning (ητ × δτ). Such plane was found to display a sequential appearance of self-similar stability islands of CW output, along the δτ = 0 axis. By considering a synchronization indicator r, we found that the alternation of stability islands is related to an alternation between in-phase and out-of-phase oscillations of the lasers fields [25] . In addition, we showed the recurrent appearance of RPPs near these islands, interspersed with windows of aperiodic "quasi-RPPs" solutions. The synchronization parameter r was found to be slightly smaller inside RPPs windows, suggesting an out-of-phase disposition of the laser electric fields. A remarkably abrupt change in the optimal temporal shift which maximizes the cross-correlation function between the laser intensities was found for δ ∼ 0.45. Such jump was shown to be related to continuous deformations of the temporal profile of I 1 and I 2 induced by a continuous increment of δ. We hope our findings to motivate their experimental investigation.

By considering a synchronization indicator r, we found that the alternation of stability islands is related to an alternation between in-phase and out-of-phase oscillations of the lasers fields.


As already mentioned, previous work has shown that the transition from 0 to very small values of the detuning δ makes the RPPs disappear [15] . However, over a specific region of the parameter space, such solutions may reappear for δ = 0, in a way that a steady increase of the detuning in this region reveals an alternation between RPPs and aperiodic solutions [15] . Here, the region inside the white box in Fig. 1(a) , magnified in Fig. 1(c) , presents such alternation between phases in a more general and elucidative way. It can be shown that the colored stripes in Fig. 1(c) , representing solutions with more than one peak per period, are basically related to RPPs phases (examples of solutions over these phases are shown in Figs. 2(c) and 2(e)). The complex structure and disposition of the stripes related to RPPs presented in this diagram evidences that the fairly regular alternation between RPPs and aperiodic phases results from the analysis of the variation of a single parameter, which follows a specific path through the diagram [15] . The two-dimensional approach presented here greatly complements this earlier analysis, providing a deeper insight concerning the intricate relation between laser phases.

As already mentioned, previous work has shown that the transition from 0 to very small values of the detuning δ makes the RPPs disappear.

However, over a specific region of the parameter space, such solutions may reappear for δ = 0, in a way that a steady increase of the detuning in this region reveals an alternation between RPPs and aperiodic solutions.

The complex structure and disposition of the stripes related to RPPs presented in this diagram evidences that the fairly regular alternation between RPPs and aperiodic phases results from the analysis of the variation of a single parameter, which follows a specific path through the diagram.


Conjoint analysis is widely used (Hauser et al., 2006) . However, there are many different conjoint analysis methods and selecting the best method for a (research) problem is a difficult task for researchers and practitioners. Several new methods have arisen in the field of choice-based conjoint analysis (CBC) in recent years. In the present article, we evaluate two adaptive hybrid methods that were developed for product conceptswith many attributes and levels.

Conjoint analysis is widely used.


For the analyst, the choice of the method may also depend on practicability. Sawtooth Software provides a software package for ACBC that enables the analyst to create the questionnaire and, after fielding, to derive utility estimates (Sawtooth Software, 2009a) . Such a software package is notyet available for HIT-CBC. While the experimental design is fixed and easy to create for HIT-CBC, this should not strictly prevent application of this method because as well Sawtooth Software's CBC/HB package as the R package "bayesm" can be used for utility estimations (Rossi, 2013) .

Sawtooth Software provides a software package for ACBC that enables the analyst to create the questionnaire and, after fielding, to derive utility estimates.

While the experimental design is fixed and easy to create for HIT-CBC, this should not strictly prevent application of this method because as well Sawtooth Software's CBC/HB package as the R package "bayesm" can be used for utility estimations.


The existence of liquidity constraints and lack of capital for businesses is commonly debated in Europe. One of the most frequently discussed problem is the poorly developed venture capital market. The lack of venture capital and the gap between Europe and the United States is raised as one explanation why Europe has not had the same amount of successful entrepreneurial companies as the US and, therefore, has not experienced the same economic growth during the last decades (Bottazzi and da Rin 2003) .

The lack of venture capital and the gap between Europe and the United States is raised as one explanation why Europe has not had the same amount of successful entrepreneurial companies as the US and, therefore, has not experienced the same economic growth during the last decades.


Surprisingly, a large enhancement in binding constant was reported for binding of AMP to guanidinium groups when embedded at a water surface [6] . These results clearly indicate that molecular recognition can be achieved much more efficiently at an appropriate interface. In order to further understand these findings, Sakurai and co-workers considered theoretical aspects of molecular recognition at the air-water interface using a quantum chemical approach including reaction field calculations combined with AM1 molecular orbital methods [7] [8] [9] . Guanidinium host and phosphate guest were placed in various positions at a model interface consisting of a lipid layer (low dielectric, ε = 2) and water phase (high dielectric, ε = 80). The calculated binding energies depended significantly on the position of the binding site relative to the two-phase boundary. A large binding constant was obtained when the binding site was located in the lipid phase, while positioning the guanidinium deep in the water phase resulted in a very small binding energy. Even when the hydrogen bonding site was positioned in the water phase, the site is affected electronically by the low dielectric lipid layer, which strengthens intermolecular hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. As a result, the binding constant increases significantly at the border between lipid and aqueous phases. These quantum chemical calculations suggested advantageous aspects of interfacial environments for efficient molecular recognition of substances in aqueous media.

Surprisingly, a large enhancement in binding constant was reported for binding of AMP to guanidinium groups when embedded at a water surface.

In order to further understand these findings, Sakurai and co-workers considered theoretical aspects of molecular recognition at the air-water interface using a quantum chemical approach including reaction field calculations combined with AM1 molecular orbital methods.


Although the model presented above is reasonably instructive, the model parameters are susceptible to potential bias stemming from unobserved heterogeneity across individual students. Students may differ in a variety of ways, not only in demographic profiles but also in their ambition, interest, background, intelligence, emotional health, and other factors beyond our control. Accounting for such idiosyncrasies across students can be accomplished with a fixed effects model that assigns a separate intercept to each student and (Chamberlain 1985) .

Accounting for such idiosyncrasies across students can be accomplished with a fixed effects model that assigns a separate intercept to each student and.


The development of dielectric elements suitable for telecommunication systems performing at microwave band demands for very stringent criteria. In order to be applied in devices such as amplifiers, filters and resonators the ceramic materials must display a combination of planned properties. A high dielectric permittivity promotes the intended device miniaturization since the wavelength in dielectrics is inversely proportional to the squared root of their relative dielectric permittivities. This produces impacts positively on the signal propagation velocity and cross-coupling effect minimization. Additionally, a low dielectric loss or equivalently high quality factor lead to prominent frequency selectivity and operational stability. Often pointed out as determinant practical requisite, the thermostability at different working temperatures is ensured by a small temperature of the resonant frequency. There is a significant amount of effort devoted to this research field continuously. In part, this is due to the difficulty to attain simultaneously the three requested features highlighted [1] - [3] .

In part, this is due to the difficulty to attain simultaneously the three requested features highlighted.


The numerical criteria of fit considered here are the weighted profile R-factor (R WP ), the value of the DurbinWatson d-statistic (d DW ) and the goodness of fit (S GoF ). From a purely mathematical point of view, R WP is the most meaningful of the R's because the numerator is the residual being minimized, scaled by the weighted intensities [12] . Based on this criterion, the refinement associated to the phase CRFO presented the best result. The value of the Durbin-Watson d-statistic shows the serial correlation of the refinement, where an ideal value should be around 2, indicative of insignificant serial correlation in the refinement process [20] . According to the results, it is suggestive a significant serial correlation, in principle associated with the presence of a slight amount of extra phases present and/or overlapping. Graphical representations of the Rietveld model fit to the measured XRD diffraction patterns for CTO and CRFO are shown in Figure 1(a) & Figure 1(b) . The residual exhibits satisfactory matching (minimization of the difference) between observed peaks of the crystalline phases and the employed model. Also, the obtained values for S GoF around 1.0 indicate the adequacy of the proposed models, which justify the effectiveness of structural elucidation for the materials analyzed and validates a good purity grade achieved by them. The crystallographic data, refinement indices and density of the materials under investigation are summarized in the Table 1 . The results for the composites are reported in Table 2 . Figure 2 shows the room temperature infrared transmission spectra observed for CTO, CRFO and derived composites. The characteristic vibrational modes, ranging from 400 cm −1 to 600 cm −1 , are summarized in the Table 3 . The values for CTO are slightly different, but close to previously published results [21] [22] . Evidencing the solid-state reaction, the CTO and CRFO present displacements in relation to that characteristic observed for their reagent oxides: the Fe 2 O 3 transmission spectrum occurs in 575 cm −1 and 480 cm −1 , in 580 cm −1 and 445 cm −1 for eskolaite (Cr 2 O 3 ) and in 423 cm −1 for rutile (TiO 2 ). As suggested by the XRPD patterns, the composites seem to reflect the quantities of each phase therein. Table 4 presents the microwave dielectric properties of the samples investigated considering the measurement Table 2 . Density (theoretical, physical and relative) and Rietveld indices (numerical criteria of fit) for composites of the (1−x)CTO:(x)CRFO system.

From a purely mathematical point of view, R WP is the most meaningful of the R's because the numerator is the residual being minimized, scaled by the weighted intensities.

The value of the Durbin-Watson d-statistic shows the serial correlation of the refinement, where an ideal value should be around 2, indicative of insignificant serial correlation in the refinement process.

The values for CTO are slightly different, but close to previously published results.


The balance of evidence suggests that anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases-out of which carbon dioxide is the most significant-are having a distinct impact on the global climate [1] . Since the Framework Convention on Climate Change was concluded in 1992, nations have been negotiating commitments to stabilize and then reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, which will otherwise continue to build up in the atmosphere. The debate on climate change policy, particularly with respect to the prospect for achieving a binding international commitment to reduce global emissions, has been heavily focused on the economic costs and feasibility of the proposed mitigation plans.

The balance of evidence suggests that anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases-out of which carbon dioxide is the most significant-are having a distinct impact on the global climate.


The overall objective of this paper is to critically scrutinize previous economic models used to assess the costs of climate protection. We pay particular attention to the way in which different model structures and assumptions affect cost estimates, and highlight the limitations and the strengths of different types of models and approaches. A scrutiny of these issues can hopefully shed some light on the economic sacrifices that are associated with climate protection, and in turn provide pieces of knowledge that in turn can fuel the current debate on climate policy impacts and help lay people interpret model results and make own judgments. As the climate debate evolves, it is important that stakeholders understand the strengths and weaknesses of economic models of climate policy and use them for at least broad insights, but perhaps not for the specific numbers provided [5] .

As the climate debate evolves, it is important that stakeholders understand the strengths and weaknesses of economic models of climate policy and use them for at least broad insights, but perhaps not for the specific numbers provided.


To achieve uniform coatings, the degree of particle agglomeration should be minimized especially when working with nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have strong tendency to agglomerate compared to submicrometer particles due to their large surface area. The agglomeration is generally due to the Van der Waals attraction forces between nanoparticles which can be counterbalanced by electrostatic and steric stabilization. Electrostatic stabilization can be achieved by the addition of charge to the nanoparticles so that they can repel one another especially under the influence of the pH. Steric stabilization can be achieved by the adsorption of a thin layer of polymer onto the nanoparticle surface to physically prevent the nanoparticles from coming close enough to each other and cause agglomeration [5] . Generally, the combination of both electrostatic and steric stabilization is termed electrosteric stabilization and can be achieved using polyelectrolytes. A polyelectrolyte is a polymer chain with numerous dissociable groups. Polyacrylic acid (PAA) is one example of polyelectrolyte dispersants, which is fully dissociated at pH 8.5 to 9 [5, 6] .

Electrostatic stabilization can be achieved by the addition of charge to the nanoparticles so that they can repel one another especially under the influence of the pH. Steric stabilization can be achieved by the adsorption of a thin layer of polymer onto the nanoparticle surface to physically prevent the nanoparticles from coming close enough to each other and cause agglomeration.

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) is one example of polyelectrolyte dispersants, which is fully dissociated at pH 8.5 to 9.


Fluctuation-splitting (or residual-distribution) schemes are multidimensional upwinding schemes that have been developed mainly for unstructured triangular/tetrahedral meshes [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . These schemes are based on cell residual (fluctuation) with variables stored at nodes and consist of two steps: compute the flux balance (fluctuation/residual) over an element; distribute it to the nodes of the element to bring changes to the nodal variables. Note that both steps are based on 2 H. NISHIKAWA complete elements, not on lower-dimensional components such as faces or edges (as in the finitevolume methods). This element-wise operation enables multidimensional physics to be directly taken into account, and this is one of the advantages of the fluctuation-splitting schemes over the finite-volume schemes.

Fluctuation-splitting (or residual-distribution) schemes are multidimensional upwinding schemes that have been developed mainly for unstructured triangular/tetrahedral meshes.


In general, it is very difficult to calculate the rate of vacuum decay, since the equations describing CdL instantons are highly non-linear. Therefore, the CdL tunneling rate has been analyzed by using some approximations in most of the previous studies. For instance, the thin-wall approximation and the piecewise-linear potential ("triangular potential") approximation are often used in the literature [4] [5] [6] . However, to analyze the false vacuum decay quantitatively, it is desirable to calculate the CdL tunneling rate without using such approximations and see whether and when those approximations become good.

For instance, the thin-wall approximation and the piecewise-linear potential ("triangular potential") approximation are often used in the literature.


Treatment involves surgery with nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy. Radical nephroureterectomy with excision of bladder cuff is the treatment of choice in patients without metastasis; however, in view of the unifocal nature of this disease, parenchyma sparing surgeries have also been proposed [2, 4, 5, 8, 12] . Cisplatinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy are usually given due to the advanced stage and poor prognosis in most patients but have shown no survival benefit, highlighting the need for early diagnosis [1, 2, 4, 8, 10] . One of our patients was lost to follow up, one died of intercurrent CAD while the remaining two (one pT2 and the other pT3) were on cisplatinum-based chemotherapy and surviving three and five months after surgery, respectively.

Radical nephroureterectomy with excision of bladder cuff is the treatment of choice in patients without metastasis; however, in view of the unifocal nature of this disease, parenchyma sparing surgeries have also been proposed.

Cisplatinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy are usually given due to the advanced stage and poor prognosis in most patients but have shown no survival benefit, highlighting the need for early diagnosis.


Literature on behavior change has described the role of DM in healthy behaviors. Studies have shown that mindful individuals are more likely to engage in and maintain healthy behaviors (Roberts & Danoff-Burg, 2010; Ulmer et al., 2010) . Moreover, authors argued that self-regulation of thoughts and emotions linked to behavior change, convinced mindful individuals to change their behavior more easily than individuals with lower mindfulness skills (Levesque & Brown, 2007) . In our sample, high levels of self-reported mindfulness were associated with higher levels of intrinsic motivation, and higher levels of PA, which confirms previous work (Brown & Ryan, 2003; Deci & Ryan, 1985) . These results suggest that DM leads to more intrinsic, and healthier behavior choices. This tendency was observed in the correlation matrix (Table 2) , in which we can see that the more intrinsically motivated towards exercise participants were the more mindful.

Studies have shown that mindful individuals are more likely to engage in and maintain healthy behaviors.

Moreover, authors argued that self-regulation of thoughts and emotions linked to behavior change, convinced mindful individuals to change their behavior more easily than individuals with lower mindfulness skills.

In our sample, high levels of self-reported mindfulness were associated with higher levels of intrinsic motivation, and higher levels of PA, which confirms previous work.


Preliminary analyses were conducted to ensure no violation of the assumptions of normality, linearity, and homoscedasticity. Models (b), (d) and (e) were discarded because of the absence of significant correlation between self-reported mindfulness and PA level (see Table 2 ), which indicated that self-reported mindfulness could not be a predictor of PA level (Baron & Kenny, 1986) . Only two models remained: the moderation model (a) and the simple linear model (c), which represents the main effect of the moderation model. Model (c) was tested at step 2. Plotting the Pearson residuals enabled us to check the normality of their distribution. The basic assumptions for a multiple regression analysis were satisfied.

Models (b), (d) and (e) were discarded because of the absence of significant correlation between self-reported mindfulness and PA level (see Table 2 ), which indicated that self-reported mindfulness could not be a predictor of PA level.

Model (c) was tested at step 2.


Overall, coyotes are able to adapt their behavior based on environmental factors and therefore sexual dimorphism may not play an effect on their winter diets. Today coyotes in PA seem to have a diverse diet, including both small, medium, and large mammals, and probably are ultimately preventing a mesopredator release, influencing the overall health of our local ecosystems [25] . Few studies have been completed to understand the role of the coyotes within Pennsylvania and what impacts they have in this region. Many of what has been completed has been studied through scat samples or captive animals [32] . The predation tendencies of male and female coyotes within this study are important to understand their sexual dimorphism, diet, and responses to ecological factors such as habitat availability. As their diet changes by region and season this could help in understanding the population dynamics of this important species on local ecosystems.

Today coyotes in PA seem to have a diverse diet, including both small, medium, and large mammals, and probably are ultimately preventing a mesopredator release, influencing the overall health of our local ecosystems.

Many of what has been completed has been studied through scat samples or captive animals.


Other individual socio-economic variables such as residence, household wealth index and level of autonomy did not have any influence on adolescent contraceptive use as would have been expected. This study does demonstrate that adolescent woman's socio-economic circumstances, such as education, wealth, and level of autonomy may not independently be accurate predictors of contraceptive use as also shown in other studies [11, 12, 43] . The influence of education on contraceptive use may be compromised by considerable diffusion effects in progress which may operate at levels beyond the adolescent women's circumstances. A similar diffusion effect on contraceptive use by uneducated women was found in India where mass media exposure emerged as an important diffusion channel [43] . A similar explanation can be said with regard to the lack of association between contraceptive use and household wealth and residence contrary to existing literature [15] . Clearly, the need to look beyond just the individual socioeconomic women's circumstances is justified here.

This study does demonstrate that adolescent woman's socio-economic circumstances, such as education, wealth, and level of autonomy may not independently be accurate predictors of contraceptive use as also shown in other studies.

A similar diffusion effect on contraceptive use by uneducated women was found in India where mass media exposure emerged as an important diffusion channel.

A similar explanation can be said with regard to the lack of association between contraceptive use and household wealth and residence contrary to existing literature.


In our cohort, SB PAS stain and PCR were positive in 14% and 42%, respectively, of LWD cases without weight loss or chronic diarrhea. These results are congruent with previous studies demonstrating increased sensitivity of duodenal PCR compared with PAS staining [11, 16, 30] . Lagier and colleagues recently reported 24 cases of LWD in which duodenal tissue PAS stain and PCR were positive, 0% (0/22) and 6.7% (1/15), respectively [1] .

These results are congruent with previous studies demonstrating increased sensitivity of duodenal PCR compared with PAS staining.

Lagier and colleagues recently reported 24 cases of LWD in which duodenal tissue PAS stain and PCR were positive, 0% (0/22) and 6.7% (1/15), respectively.


A methodology for implementing lean manufacturing strategies was proposed which is able to systematically identify manufacturing waste, select appropriate lean tools, identify relevant performance indicators, achieve significant performance improvement, and establish lean culture in the organisation [10] . A management commitment transformation plan and the formation of a lean team should be enough to initiate a lean culture. But initiation of a lean culture is not sufficient, management needs to consistently stay supportive and not only at the start of LP implementation. A lean team cannot implement LP if management support is not absolute. Detection of unsupportive management should be done soon enough.

A methodology for implementing lean manufacturing strategies was proposed which is able to systematically identify manufacturing waste, select appropriate lean tools, identify relevant performance indicators, achieve significant performance improvement, and establish lean culture in the organisation.


Printed antenna arrays have gained a great deal of attention and impetus for use in telecommunication systems such as point to point and point to multipoint and also in radar microwave and millimeter systems [1] . This is due to their numerous attractive features such as light weight, small size, low cost, high efficiency, ease of fabrication and installation and in array designs the microstrip feed network can be placed on the same substrate as the microstip patches [1, 2] . Furthermore, they are generally economical to produce since they are readily adaptable to hybrid and monolithic integrated circuits fabrication techniques at radio frequency (RF) and microwave frequencies [2] .

Printed antenna arrays have gained a great deal of attention and impetus for use in telecommunication systems such as point to point and point to multipoint and also in radar microwave and millimeter systems.

This is due to their numerous attractive features such as light weight, small size, low cost, high efficiency, ease of fabrication and installation and in array designs the microstrip feed network can be placed on the same substrate as the microstip patches.

Furthermore, they are generally economical to produce since they are readily adaptable to hybrid and monolithic integrated circuits fabrication techniques at radio frequency (RF) and microwave frequencies.


The first experiment, which observed a phenomenon caused by the polarization of light, was carried out in 1669 by E. Bartholin, who discovered the double refraction of a light ray by Iceland spar (calcite). Today it is common knowledge that in the birefringence effect, the stationary states of light in a medium are the states with linear polarization parallel or perpendicular to the optical axis of a crystal. These states have different indices of refraction and move at different velocities in a crystal. As a result in crystals, for example, circularly polarized light turns into linearly polarized and vice versa [1] .

As a result in crystals, for example, circularly polarized light turns into linearly polarized and vice versa.


In a similar manner, the propagation in matter of the de Broglie waves, which describe the motion of massive particles, may be characterized by the index of refraction [6, 17] . In this case, the index of refraction also characterizes particle motion in matter, even at high energies, for which the de Broglie wavelength /mv (m is the particle mass, v is its velocity, in the case of relativistic velocities m stands for the relativistic mass mγ, γ is the Lorentz factor) is small in comparison with the distance between the atoms (scatterers). Furthermore, it turns out that for particles with nonzero spin, there exist the phenomena analogous to light polarization plane rotation and birefringence [12, 23, 24, 39] . In this case such phenomena of quasi-optical activity of matter ("optical" anisotropy of matter) are due not only to electromagnetic but also to strong and weak interactions.

In a similar manner, the propagation in matter of the de Broglie waves, which describe the motion of massive particles, may be characterized by the index of refraction.

Furthermore, it turns out that for particles with nonzero spin, there exist the phenomena analogous to light polarization plane rotation and birefringence.


In image classification tasks, knowledge transfer and data augmentation are regularly employed for small datasets. Knowledge transfer usually takes place by initially training a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) in a large source dataset (e.g., ImageNet) and using its weights as a starting point for training in the smaller target dataset [10] . Data augmentation goal is to add new data points to the input space by modifying training images while preserving semantic information and target labels. Thus, it is used to reduce overfitting.

Knowledge transfer usually takes place by initially training a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) in a large source dataset (e.g., ImageNet) and using its weights as a starting point for training in the smaller target dataset.

Thus, it is used to reduce overfitting.


HD and freezing of gait (FOG) are both axial symptoms of PD [55] . In our recent work, we have found out that these symptoms share some pathophysiological mechanism [56] . More specifically, we proved that FOG is mainly linked with improper articulation, disturbed speech rate and with intelligibility. We did not identify any significant relations between FOG and phonatory features. On the other hand, we analyzed only the sustained vowel /a/ and partial correlations were calculated only with some baseline FOG-Q sub-scores. The current study provides deeper and more complex results in terms of FOG and phonatory features relations. The first correlation analysis (baseline features vs. ∆FOG-Q) identified just a few significant correlations. However, based on mainly formant frequencies extracted from vowel /u/, the XGBoost model estimated the change in FOG-Q with 13% error. Generally, the significant impact of formants in this specific task is in line with our previous study [56] . The second correlation analysis (∆ of the baseline features vs. ∆FOG-Q) revealed some relations between changes in FOG and changes in aperiodicity, tremor of jaw/tongue, and acoustic noise.

HD and freezing of gait (FOG) are both axial symptoms of PD.

In our recent work, we have found out that these symptoms share some pathophysiological mechanism.

Generally, the significant impact of formants in this specific task is in line with our previous study.


Feature importances of the SGBoost models are visualized in Figure 2 . The figure shows the feature importances for all of the trained models. Feature importances quantify a relative importance of the features in the ensemble of the trained XGBoost model [47] . Therefore, the higher the value of the feature importance, the more important the feature is for the prediction of the dependent variable. With this in mind, the rationale behind this visualization is to show which features are important, and how strong that importance is, for the trained models in direction of predicting the change in the particular clinical rating scales in the horizon of two years given the acoustic features at the baseline.

Feature importances quantify a relative importance of the features in the ensemble of the trained XGBoost model.


Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is now considered one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world [1] [2] [3] . The high mortality rate could reflect the poor prognosis for patients with advanced-stage HCC, the pattern of clinical presentation, and the poor outcome associated with cirrhosis [4] . The high rate of recurrence and heterogeneity are the two major features of HCC [5] . Surgical procedures such as liver transplantation and liver resection are the first-line treatments for HCC [6, 7] . Even after surgical procedures, the overall 5-year survival rate of HCC patients remains very poor because of high recurrence rates [7] . These findings create an immediate demand to better understand the molecular defects responsible for HCC in order to identify novel potential biomarkers and characterize candidate-signaling pathways that can be further used for therapeutic intervention [8] .

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is now considered one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world.

The high mortality rate could reflect the poor prognosis for patients with advanced-stage HCC, the pattern of clinical presentation, and the poor outcome associated with cirrhosis.

The high rate of recurrence and heterogeneity are the two major features of HCC.

Surgical procedures such as liver transplantation and liver resection are the first-line treatments for HCC.

Even after surgical procedures, the overall 5-year survival rate of HCC patients remains very poor because of high recurrence rates.

These findings create an immediate demand to better understand the molecular defects responsible for HCC in order to identify novel potential biomarkers and characterize candidate-signaling pathways that can be further used for therapeutic intervention.


There is considerable evidence that the use of dental care services may be influenced by socioeconomic and psychosocial factors [4, 10] . Previous studies have reported that parents' perceptions of their child's oral health could influence oral health decisions and patterns of healthcare for children [10, 11] . However, little data is available regarding the interaction of different predictors of dental care utilization in Brazilian preschool children [2] .

There is considerable evidence that the use of dental care services may be influenced by socioeconomic and psychosocial factors.

Previous studies have reported that parents' perceptions of their child's oral health could influence oral health decisions and patterns of healthcare for children.

However, little data is available regarding the interaction of different predictors of dental care utilization in Brazilian preschool children.


When speaking of the complexity of a formal lan guage, one usually means the complexity of its "gram mar" [9] . This means, one asks only for the difficulty of describing the set of all sequences, disregarding completely any probabilistic aspects. But it is obvious that probabilities can influence very strongly whether we naively consider a language as complex or not. Two authors may use the identical set of words and grammatical rules; if one of them uses frequently only a small subset then we consider his language certainly less complex.

When speaking of the complexity of a formal lan guage, one usually means the complexity of its "gram mar".


During the past several decades, the study of meteorites has opened an increasingly wide window on the nature of extraterrestrial environments, especially conditions in the asteroid belt and early solar nebula. Most meteorites are now believed to be fragments of asteroids that, following ejection in a cratering event on their parent body millions of years ago, wandered through space until they collided with Earth (Marti and Graf 1992) . These objects therefore provide very detailed and useful information about asteroid properties and about conditions in the asteroid belt over different epochs.

Most meteorites are now believed to be fragments of asteroids that, following ejection in a cratering event on their parent body millions of years ago, wandered through space until they collided with Earth.


To accommodate the small number of particles used in our runs, we have traded some realism for diagnostic purposes. For example, meteoroids ejected from their parent asteroids have trajectories and velocities that are not well constrained or understood. Rather than try to study all parts of this vast parameter space with a limited number of bodies, we instead start our meteoroids at the parent asteroid in the same orbit. This way, we can follow what happens to the meteoroids without worrying about how launch conditions have biased the result. It is important to keep in mind, however, that ejection events can and probably do throw meteoroids to the vicinity of chaotic resonances, shortening their travel time considerably . We have also eliminated meteoroid disruption events, since they diminish our limited statistics. We justify this by noting that the typical integration time used in this paper (50 Myr) is comparable to the CRE ages of some stony meteorites (Marti and Graf 1992) .

We justify this by noting that the typical integration time used in this paper (50 Myr) is comparable to the CRE ages of some stony meteorites.


We investigate whether this needed transportation mechanism might be Yarkovsky nongravitational forces, a radiation recoil which may cause 0.1-to 100-m objects to undergo semimajor axis drift as a function of their spin, orbit, and material properties. Meteoroids ejected into orbits near the 3 : 1 or ν 6 resonances during cratering events should slowly spiral into those resonances by Yarkovsky drag, giving those objects time to collect cosmic rays before reaching Earth. Recent numerical results indicate that meter-sized stones in the main belt may have drift rates between ±0.01 and 0.001 AU Myr −1 , fast enough to allow many parent asteroids to provide material to the 3 : 1 or ν 6 resonances, but slow enough to also explain meteorite CRE ages (Rubincam 1998; Farinella et al. 1998a) . Irons, with longer collisional lifetimes, may evolve from greater distances, such that they may sample a great proportion of parent bodies in the main belt. For these reasons, we believe an exploration of these thermal forces can potentially allow us to clarify connections between meteorites and their parent bodies in the main belt.

Recent numerical results indicate that meter-sized stones in the main belt may have drift rates between ±0.01 and 0.001 AU Myr −1 , fast enough to allow many parent asteroids to provide material to the 3 : 1 or ν 6 resonances, but slow enough to also explain meteorite CRE ages.


When irrigated land is unconstrained, modernization is likely to lead to new uncontrolled water abstraction, potentially starting a vicious circle in which irrigated land expands while water resources are overexploited. Therefore, water saving measures must be accompanied by instruments to control water abstraction and the expansion of irrigated land. The key for public policy is to understand the difference between pressure reduction (diverted water) and impact reduction (consumed water), that is, the difference between "dry" ("paper") and "wet" ("real") water savings, respectively (Seckler 1996) . Again the existence of a satisfactory water accounting is crucial for sustainable public policy.

The key for public policy is to understand the difference between pressure reduction (diverted water) and impact reduction (consumed water), that is, the difference between "dry" ("paper") and "wet" ("real") water savings, respectively.


Foreign bodies, including broken needles, endodontic files, implant fixtures, piercing bar, and surgical instruments, are sometimes lost in the oral and maxillofacial region during dental procedures or maxillofacial surgeries [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . Immediate removal of these foreign bodies is recommended, because they can move to a deeper position and their presence may result in unexpected complications [6, 7] . However, it is not always easy to define the exact location of the foreign body intraoperatively, especially when the lost item is small and/or embedded in soft tissue [8] . A risk of injuries to neighboring nerves or vessels always exists during the removal procedure if the three-dimensional location of the lost material is not precisely defined. Preoperative routine radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans yield limited information of the item's location only in the static head posture. To remove small and soft tissue-embedded items in the head and neck region, an intraoperative real-time image is needed to define the exact three-dimensional location of the item.

Foreign bodies, including broken needles, endodontic files, implant fixtures, piercing bar, and surgical instruments, are sometimes lost in the oral and maxillofacial region during dental procedures or maxillofacial surgeries.

Immediate removal of these foreign bodies is recommended, because they can move to a deeper position and their presence may result in unexpected complications.

However, it is not always easy to define the exact location of the foreign body intraoperatively, especially when the lost item is small and/or embedded in soft tissue.


To achieve full participation, both the quantity and quality of an experience must be considered (Imms & Granlund, 2014) . However, while quantity can be understood or measured as the amount of involvement, little is known about quality participation in PA, as well as how it may be fostered, particularly among veterans with a physical disability. This study aimed to explore views of a quality PA experience among veterans with a physical disability. The findings provide insight into PA-and military-specific elements of quality participation and conditions for accessing quality participation experiences. The contributions of the study findings for extending theory and practice are considered below.

To achieve full participation, both the quantity and quality of an experience must be considered.


A first limitation is that the current exploration did not consider any potential cultural differences in participant views. This should be examined further as access to care, support, and PA experiences may vary according to country. We also did not consider how experiences vary as a result of injury characteristics and presence of comorbidities (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder) due to sample size. Specifically, our sample did not include a sufficient number of participants demonstrating each characteristic to make these distinctions. A further limitation of this study is that male veterans are over-represented in this sample, a common concern within military health research (Yano et al., 2010) . Potential gender differences may exist in how veterans perceive and experience quality, as well as what elements may be most important in meeting quality needs within a PA context. Thus, future studies could consider the gendered dynamics of participation and how they might influence perceptions of quality. Finally, the study did not include the perspective of non-physically active individuals. As individuals engaging in PA, the participants likely have more positive views of their PA experiences. Future research could benefit from those who tried PA and dropped out or never engaged in PA to understand their perspective on their experiences, and their views of quality.

A further limitation of this study is that male veterans are over-represented in this sample, a common concern within military health research.


The main objective of this work is to analyze the research state of the bioimpedance and dielectric applications in different fields and in the light of these results, to build a generic perspective on the standing of these techniques in their technological application in our world today. The core benefit of bioimpedance and dielectric spectroscopy resides in the possibility of applying these advanced measurement systems to a variety of scientific areas. This work can be achieved through the extraction of terms relevant to the research, the analysis of growth in prevalence of these terms and the identification of interrelationships [29] . Research is the primary motivating factor for advances in the bioimpedance and dielectric fields [30] .

This work can be achieved through the extraction of terms relevant to the research, the analysis of growth in prevalence of these terms and the identification of interrelationships.

Research is the primary motivating factor for advances in the bioimpedance and dielectric fields.


The development and validation of FRAX have been extensively described [4, 5] . The risk factors used were based on a systematic set of meta-analyses of populationbased cohorts worldwide and validated in independent cohorts with over 1 million patient-years of follow-up. The construct of the FRAX model for Moldova retained the beta coefficients of the risk factors in the original FRAX model with the incidence rates of hip fracture and mortality rates for Moldova. National mortality rates used data from the United Nations for 2009 [15] . Ten-year fracture probabilities were compared to those of neighbouring countries (Romania and Ukraine).

The development and validation of FRAX have been extensively described.

National mortality rates used data from the United Nations for 2009.


Grapes (Vitis spp.) belong to the Vitaceae family and are used mainly for their juice, especially in the wine industry (Lutterodt et al., 2011) . The bioactive compounds, including simple phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, stilbenes, proanthocyanidins and vitamin E, are important phytochemicals in grapes. Simple phenolic compounds of grapes are hydroxycinnamic acid (p-coumaric, caffeic, sinapic and ferulic acids) and hydroxybenzoic acid (gallic, gentisic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids) (Georgiev et al., 2014; Shi et al., 2016) . Several phenolic compounds are found in the skins, pulp and seeds of grapes (Nile et al., 2013) . Most of these compounds have antioxidant properties, which play a significant role in human health because they reduce the oxidation of low-density protein, thereby decreasing the risk of heart disease and preventing cancer (Yılmaz et al., 2015; Yalcin et al., 2016) . The amount of phenolics is affected by the grapevine variety, climatic and geographical factors, cultural practices, and the stage of ripeness (Obreque-Slier et al., 2010; Farhadi et al., 2016) .

Grapes (Vitis spp.) belong to the Vitaceae family and are used mainly for their juice, especially in the wine industry.

Simple phenolic compounds of grapes are hydroxycinnamic acid (p-coumaric, caffeic, sinapic and ferulic acids) and hydroxybenzoic acid (gallic, gentisic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids).

Several phenolic compounds are found in the skins, pulp and seeds of grapes.

Most of these compounds have antioxidant properties, which play a significant role in human health because they reduce the oxidation of low-density protein, thereby decreasing the risk of heart disease and preventing cancer.

The amount of phenolics is affected by the grapevine variety, climatic and geographical factors, cultural practices, and the stage of ripeness.


Understanding the processes that regulate the poleto-equator temperature difference is a central issue in climate dynamics (Lindzen 1994) . In the Tropics, the rotationally confined, thermally direct Hadley circulations are important for maintaining the observed small meridional temperature gradients in low latitudes (Schneider 1977; Held and Hou 1980) . Outside the Tropics, it has long been recognized that quasigeostrophic baroclinic eddies are responsible for transporting heat to the poles (Lorenz 1967) . Since these are distinct physical mechanisms, dynamics of the Tropics and extratropics have often been analyzed in isolation from each other. Conceptually, these two dynamic re-gimes may be coupled through the vertical shear of the zonal wind in the subtropics, whose strength depends on the rate of supply of angular momentum by the Hadley circulation and the mean-flow deceleration by extratropical eddies. It is plausible that a connection may exist between acceleration of the subtropical jet by the Hadley cell and the eddy-induced heat transport outside the Tropics.

Understanding the processes that regulate the poleto-equator temperature difference is a central issue in climate dynamics.

In the Tropics, the rotationally confined, thermally direct Hadley circulations are important for maintaining the observed small meridional temperature gradients in low latitudes.

Outside the Tropics, it has long been recognized that quasigeostrophic baroclinic eddies are responsible for transporting heat to the poles.


The etiology of cut throat injuries can be broadly divided into suicidal, homicidal or accidental in occurrence [3, 9] . Familial troubles, psychiatric illnesses and poverty are documented triggering factors in suicidal attempts. The triggering factors for homicide are political conflict, familial, land related disputes and sex related crimes [9] [10] [11] . Regarding accidental causes mostly related to the road traffic accident and fall injuries [10] .

The etiology of cut throat injuries can be broadly divided into suicidal, homicidal or accidental in occurrence.

The triggering factors for homicide are political conflict, familial, land related disputes and sex related crimes.

Regarding accidental causes mostly related to the road traffic accident and fall injuries.


The agricultural sector in Tanzania is hampered by low productivity, poor infrastructure, and a lack of technology, being dominated by smallholder farmers cultivating average farm sizes of between 0.9 ha and 3.0 ha. About 70% of Tanzania's crop area is cultivated by hand hoe, 20% by ox plough and 10% by tractor, and almost all is rain fed. The production of food crops dominates the agricultural economy (KPMG 2015) .

The production of food crops dominates the agricultural economy.


Under the conditions observed in rural communities of Tanzania, especially in the semi-arid regions, farmers usually farm several field areas, sometimes many kilometers apart; the principle behind this is to take advantage of better soils and reduce the risk of total crop failure associated with the smallscale spatial distribution of precipitation. To be able to use fields in different areas, waiting for the onset of rainfall is not an adequate strategy. Therefore, farmers often practice so-called 'dry soil planting', when they seed the crop into dry soil a few days before the expected start of the rainy season (KPMG 2015) . The advantage of this practice is that when the rainfall starts seeds are already in the soil and can immediately start to germinate. This is especially important in regions where the rainy season is not long enough to provide adequate moisture during the whole cropping cycle.

Therefore, farmers often practice so-called 'dry soil planting', when they seed the crop into dry soil a few days before the expected start of the rainy season.


Most maize (80%) is produced by small-scale farmers and is grown both for subsistence and as a cash crop. Between 65% and 80% of all maize is consumed within the producing households: only 20% to 35% enters commercial channels. Maize comprises an average of 16% of national household food expenditures, though there are big regional variations. The choice to grow maize, even in areas of insufficient rainfall, is driven by a strong dietary preference for maize over the more drought-adapted traditional cereals such as sorghum and millets. Efforts are being made to develop more drought tolerant cultivars of maize available to Tanzanian farmers and to increase irrigation (Doebley et al. 2010) .

Efforts are being made to develop more drought tolerant cultivars of maize available to Tanzanian farmers and to increase irrigation.


Most maize production in Tanzania is under low-input rainfed conditions. Simple hand hoes, farm-recycled seed, little use of synthetic fertilizers or agrochemicals and minimal weeding are the usual technologies and inputs employed. Maize crops frequently fail because of insufficient soil moisture. Irrigation is not usually available or selected as an option for maize, and on-farm water harvesting techniques are not yet well known or used (Wilson and Lewis 2015) .

Irrigation is not usually available or selected as an option for maize, and on-farm water harvesting techniques are not yet well known or used.


The shifting of planting date based on cultivar properties could prevent critical stages of crop development from coinciding with periods of extreme high temperature and water deficit, consequently helping to reduce yield loss from climate change (Tao and Zhang 2010) . Generally, crop yields may suffer substantially with either a late onset or early cessation of the growing season. Shifting of planting date ensures that the seed, once in the soil, has sufficient moisture to trigger the germination process and further crop development. However, in order to be successful and effective this strategy needs the farmers to be available all the time before the expected onset of rainfall (Mugalavai et al. 2008) .

The shifting of planting date based on cultivar properties could prevent critical stages of crop development from coinciding with periods of extreme high temperature and water deficit, consequently helping to reduce yield loss from climate change.

However, in order to be successful and effective this strategy needs the farmers to be available all the time before the expected onset of rainfall.


Specific concerns about climate variability include variability in the onset and cessation of rainfall, rainfall amount, and frequency and duration of periods of soil water deficits. This variability greatly affects crop yield in rainfed systems, and is a major disincentive to the adoption of yield-improving practices, which then challenges researchers to develop adoptable practices and varieties. Therefore, knowledge of the seasonal climate variability and its associated risks is important to the improvement of crop management (Liben et al. 2015) .

Therefore, knowledge of the seasonal climate variability and its associated risks is important to the improvement of crop management.


Maize is the staple food for the majority of Tanzanians, providing about 60% of Tanzanian's dietary calories and 50% of the protein. With about five million ha, Tanzania has the largest planted area of maize in all Southern and East Africa. Maize production has significantly increased over the past 10 years, largely through expansion of area planted rather than increased grain yields. Over the past 50 years, maize production has kept pace with the increase in population (FAOSTAT 2016) .

Over the past 50 years, maize production has kept pace with the increase in population.


Nevertheless, despite the advantage of a faster start, planting into dry soil also poses the risk that germination is initiated by a precipitation event that is not the start of a rainy season. In this situation, the crop can start to germinate but then die during subsequent drying of the soil and seedling. In other situations there is also a risk that if the seed stays for a long period in the soil without sufficient moisture to trigger germination, high temperatures can cause loss of vigor, or it can be damaged or eaten by insects or other animals (Benin et al. 2016; Cooper et al. 2008) .

In other situations there is also a risk that if the seed stays for a long period in the soil without sufficient moisture to trigger germination, high temperatures can cause loss of vigor, or it can be damaged or eaten by insects or other animals.


Climate change is likely to make matters worse with further increases in rainfall variability being predicted (Agrawala et al. 2003; Schlenker and Lobell 2010) . Climate change is also expected to alter pest and disease outbreaks, increase the frequency and severity of droughts and floods, and increase the likelihood of poor yields, crop failure and livestock mortality (Harvey et al. 2014) . The ability of agricultural communities and other agricultural stakeholders in sub-Saharan Africa to cope with the constraints and opportunities of current climate variability must first be enhanced in order to be able to adapt to climate change and the predicted future increase in climatic variability. Tools and approaches are now available that allow for a better understanding, characterization and mapping of the agricultural implications of climate variability and the development of climate risk management strategies specifically tailored to the needs of stakeholders (Cooper et al. 2008) .

Climate change is likely to make matters worse with further increases in rainfall variability being predicted.

Climate change is also expected to alter pest and disease outbreaks, increase the frequency and severity of droughts and floods, and increase the likelihood of poor yields, crop failure and livestock mortality.

Tools and approaches are now available that allow for a better understanding, characterization and mapping of the agricultural implications of climate variability and the development of climate risk management strategies specifically tailored to the needs of stakeholders.


A thin intermediate layer of silicon oxide is reported to have a significant influence on the surface passivation performance of dielectric layers grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) [1] , [2] . On the one hand this layer can shield fixed charges from the interface and lead to a decrease in passivation performance because of the fact that less minority charge carriers are repelled from the recombinative surface. On the other hand, the interface itself and thereby the chemical passivation quality can be improved by a reduction of recombinative interface states.

A thin intermediate layer of silicon oxide is reported to have a significant influence on the surface passivation performance of dielectric layers grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD).


The proposed method's workflow and the tools involved to perform a runoff screening are basic and adoptable for users with access to a highlevel geographic information system able to handle and process raster, vector and geometric network based data representations. From a strict point of view, the method proposed is applicable, only, when surface runoff is predominantly 1D as seen especially in many not-developed sewerless cities. However, the method is applicable in permafrost regions, also, when assessing sudden impacts of melted snow while the ground remains frozen, and surface infiltration is absent (Johansson, 2016) . In warmer regimesit is applicable, too, in stormwater situations when infiltration rates are so low that they may be ignored in order to provide a first overview of the hydrologic situation for rural and urban catchments before considering detailed 2D flood modellings.

However, the method is applicable in permafrost regions, also, when assessing sudden impacts of melted snow while the ground remains frozen, and surface infiltration is absent.


One of the prerequisites of sustainable forest management (SFM) is to minimise the negative impact of harvesting on the environment without limiting work productivity [1] [2] [3] . A well-designed network of forest roads can contribute to this, especially when precision forestry is applied [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] . Multifunctional forestry is strictly related to a forest road network guaranteeing access to silvicultural and operational activities, as well as to other social functions, including tourist activities [3, 6, [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] . From an economic point of view, the efficiency of forest operations depends on appropriate road density and distribution [16, 17] . Moreover, a well-designed and properly established forest road network guarantees a low impact on the environment when extracting or transporting timber [2, [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] .

One of the prerequisites of sustainable forest management (SFM) is to minimise the negative impact of harvesting on the environment without limiting work productivity.

A well-designed network of forest roads can contribute to this, especially when precision forestry is applied.

Multifunctional forestry is strictly related to a forest road network guaranteeing access to silvicultural and operational activities, as well as to other social functions, including tourist activities.

From an economic point of view, the efficiency of forest operations depends on appropriate road density and distribution.

Moreover, a well-designed and properly established forest road network guarantees a low impact on the environment when extracting or transporting timber.


Microfluidics is increasingly influential to not only academia but also industry in diverse fields including biology, chemistry, medicine, foods, energy, environment, etc. because of the advantageously small footprint sizes, high sensitivity, feature diversity, and compartmentalization [1] . In particular, the medical applications of microfluidics are rapidly growing because of two aspects. Feature diversity and compartmentalization allow the fabrication of so-called organ-or body-on-a-chip devices, which recreate organ or bodily functions mimicking appropriate bodily responses on microchips for drug screening [2] . Small footprint sizes allow efficient and complex detection in diagnostics by so-called micro total analysis systems (µ-TAS) [3] . For all of these purposes, microfluidic devices commonly created in glass or polymer are building blocks, and desired functions are integrated to further functionalize them.

Microfluidics is increasingly influential to not only academia but also industry in diverse fields including biology, chemistry, medicine, foods, energy, environment, etc. because of the advantageously small footprint sizes, high sensitivity, feature diversity, and compartmentalization.

Feature diversity and compartmentalization allow the fabrication of so-called organ-or body-on-a-chip devices, which recreate organ or bodily functions mimicking appropriate bodily responses on microchips for drug screening.

Small footprint sizes allow efficient and complex detection in diagnostics by so-called micro total analysis systems (µ-TAS).


We introduced glycerol-water solvents due to three motivations: (i) the reduction of water fraction to eliminate the generation of cavitation bubbles, (ii) the replacement of DMSO in fabrication for better fabrication resolution, and (iii) the improvement of the refractive index matching. From our results, it seems that we achieved improvements of the three points in combination. One should note that although glycerol itself is viscous, glycerol-water mixtures can increase fluidity due to the polarity of water molecules [28] . Higher viscosity would be advantageous for well-connected fabrication, while higher fluidity is advantageous for microfluidic flow.

One should note that although glycerol itself is viscous, glycerol-water mixtures can increase fluidity due to the polarity of water molecules.


Proteinaceous pad structures integrated into microfluidics were recently reported for the detection and capture of living cells [15] . Because pads were fabricated from a protein solution on a glass surface prior to aligning and bonding a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channel to the glass, this fabrication method is restricted by the PDMS bonding process. The bonding process requires dry conditions and the proteinaceous components only attached to the glass substrate, so it appears to be difficult to fill an entire cross-section of a PDMS channel with them. The required accuracy of alignment and bonding strength also would restrict design choices. The ship-in-a-bottle integration technique based on laser direct writing in a solution filled in a microchannel, even with complex shapes, can alleviate these restrictions.

Proteinaceous pad structures integrated into microfluidics were recently reported for the detection and capture of living cells.


Recently, our group developed the ship-in-a-bottle integration technique to integrate functional microcomponents or create biomimetic structures by constructing three-dimensional (3D) polymer micro-and nanocomponents inside closed glass microchannels [4] . In this technique, femtosecond laser direct writing is employed to polymerize microcomponents from polymer solution inside transparent microchannels, based on multi-photon absorption processes, allowing the fabrication of nearly arbitrary and well-resolved 3D structures, as explained later. For the efficient multi-photon absorption processes, ultrashort pulses shorter than several tens of a picosecond is necessary. However, picosecond laser polymerization requires more light exposure to encounter the loss of diffusing radicals between pulses [5] . Thus, femtosecond laser polymerization combines an attractive trade-off between pulse delivery and radical generation. Using this advantage of femtosecond laser polymerization, 3D microand nanochannel array scaffolds were recently integrated to study cancer cell migration in biomimetic structures [6] . However, glass microfluidics and the integrated polymers are inherently inert for biological cells. We envision that the 3D integration of biomaterials such as proteins will increase biochip versatility as well as biomimetic environment due to the diversity of native and synthetic proteins available in terms of function and biocompatibility.

Recently, our group developed the ship-in-a-bottle integration technique to integrate functional microcomponents or create biomimetic structures by constructing three-dimensional (3D) polymer micro-and nanocomponents inside closed glass microchannels.

However, picosecond laser polymerization requires more light exposure to encounter the loss of diffusing radicals between pulses.

Using this advantage of femtosecond laser polymerization, 3D microand nanochannel array scaffolds were recently integrated to study cancer cell migration in biomimetic structures.


Nanostructure materials have attracted great interest in recent years because of their exceptional characterization such as high catalytic activity, mechanical and electrical properties, all of which are obtained by obstructing their dimensions. It is well known that the physical, electrochemical, and electronic properties of nanostructured materials are not the same as those of bulk materials. In terms of nanotechnology methodologies towards improving clean energy solution, numerous innovative nanomaterials as catalyst supports for PEMFCs have been actively investigated. In this context, the role of the nanostructure in carbon supports like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), carbon aerogels, and nano-plates of grapheme was much highlighted. The main purposes for using nanostructure-supported Pt catalysts are to reduce Pt loading through increasing the catalyst utilization, and improving the catalyst activity and total performance. The higher catalytic activity of Pt and Pt-based catalysts supported on CNTs and CNFs than that of the same catalysts supported on carbon blacks was ascribed to their unique structure and properties such as high surface area, good electronic conductivity and chemical stability [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] . Tests carried out in PEM fuel cell conditions indicated that these materials can be more durable and can outlast the lifetime of most widely used Vulcan XC-72.

The higher catalytic activity of Pt and Pt-based catalysts supported on CNTs and CNFs than that of the same catalysts supported on carbon blacks was ascribed to their unique structure and properties such as high surface area, good electronic conductivity and chemical stability.


As further points of discussion the following six criteria are considered which were presented by John D. Howard in his dissertation [57] . Howard explained that a taxonomy should be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, unambiguous, repeatable, accepted and useful. So at this point we argue whether our approach meets these criteria.

As further points of discussion the following six criteria are considered which were presented by John D. Howard in his dissertation.


This paper describes the use of systems modelling to evaluate an agroforestry extension program which was undertaken over 3 years as one of the activities of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project ASEM/ 2003/052, Improving Financial Returns to Smallholder Tree Farmers in the Philippines. Systems modelling was chosen because it is well suited to the evaluation of agroforestry extension, whereas statistical analysis is best suited to experimental research, which is difficult to evaluate if interventions involve human interaction (Rossi et al. 2004) . Economic approaches may require long-term data collection and the usefulness of structured surveys suffers because the context of responses is often ignored (Pretty et al. 1996) .

Systems modelling was chosen because it is well suited to the evaluation of agroforestry extension, whereas statistical analysis is best suited to experimental research, which is difficult to evaluate if interventions involve human interaction.

Economic approaches may require long-term data collection and the usefulness of structured surveys suffers because the context of responses is often ignored.


Mixing tank was widely used in many industries such as in chemical industry, mineral water processing, petroleum, solid-liquid mixing, and improving mass transfer and chemical reaction in it [1] . In chemical industry for example, the stirred tank used to mix a reactant in close contact and in adequate stoichiometry so that the mixing process can occur. Also, stirred tank was used for dispersing the synthesized products included the molecule of interest as well as toxic products, inhibitors and other secondary products [2] . Most of the mixing operations are performed by mechanical stirred tank. Stirred tank comes with various design and configurations, according to purpose of the stirred tank. One of the challenges in designing a stirred tank is to full fill the main requirement of the stirred tank itself which is for mixing purpose. Therefore, the best choice for the stirred tank type can vary widely, depending on the purpose of operation carried out in the stirred tank. In mixing process, an efficiency become the main issues and the company who produced the stirred tank always try to come out with a new solution in designing the stirred tank which is to produce a high efficiency mixing with a low cost of operation [2] .

Mixing tank was widely used in many industries such as in chemical industry, mineral water processing, petroleum, solid-liquid mixing, and improving mass transfer and chemical reaction in it.

Also, stirred tank was used for dispersing the synthesized products included the molecule of interest as well as toxic products, inhibitors and other secondary products.

In mixing process, an efficiency become the main issues and the company who produced the stirred tank always try to come out with a new solution in designing the stirred tank which is to produce a high efficiency mixing with a low cost of operation.


The sensitivity to temperature and precipitation was different among each type of grassland [4] . The NDVI was significantly correlated to precipitation in typical steppe and desert steppe [25] . We found that NDVI was positively correlated with precipitation in four types of grassland. We found that precipitation could affect a larger area of NDVI than temperature. The sensitivity of NDVI to precipitation has previously been shown in arid and semi-arid areas more generally [26] [27] [28] . Precipitation is a main influencing factor for the plant growth and vegetation pattern. Precipitation is a limiting factor in desert steppe and typical steppe distributed in the midwest of Inner Mongolia, where the rainfall shortage is unable to meet the demand for water resources. In the meadow steppe regions, temperature is the main factor which influences the NDVI due to high rainfall and adequate water.

The sensitivity to temperature and precipitation was different among each type of grassland.

The NDVI was significantly correlated to precipitation in typical steppe and desert steppe.

The sensitivity of NDVI to precipitation has previously been shown in arid and semi-arid areas more generally.


In our study, the NDVI in meadow steppe and typical steppe were characterized as having high variation but have no significant changing trends except for that in the growing season. The NDVI showed a significant increasing trend in meadow steppe and typical steppe during the growing season from 1982 to 2011. Consistent with our results that NDVI increased in the growing season, Cao showed that NDVI increased since 2007 in the whole Mongolian Plateau [19] . These results may be related to the precipitation change in meadow steppe and typical steppe. The NDVI increased significantly in the southeast and southwest part of Inner Mongolian grasslands in the growing season and full year.

Consistent with our results that NDVI increased in the growing season, Cao showed that NDVI increased since 2007 in the whole Mongolian Plateau.


The plasma concentration of HFABP is influenced by a variety of factors such as cytosolic enzymes, subcellular location, molecular mass and concentration gradients. Additionally, plasma clearance of FABP also affects the appearance of its level in the general circulation. Because of its smaller size, FABP pass through the glomerular membranes and is reabsorbed and metabolized in tubular epithelial cells [24] . So, the impaired clearance due to renal failure can cause falsely increased plasma concentrations, on contrary hypermetabolic states can cause falsely decreased levels of FABP [25] . The hypothesis suggest that the release of HFABP is a metabolically controlled property of cell membranes due to reversible disturbance of cell metabolism [26] . Increased plasma H-FABP concentrations significantly correlated with increased cardiac event rates and cardiac mortality [27, 28] .

Because of its smaller size, FABP pass through the glomerular membranes and is reabsorbed and metabolized in tubular epithelial cells.

So, the impaired clearance due to renal failure can cause falsely increased plasma concentrations, on contrary hypermetabolic states can cause falsely decreased levels of FABP.

The hypothesis suggest that the release of HFABP is a metabolically controlled property of cell membranes due to reversible disturbance of cell metabolism.

Increased plasma H-FABP concentrations significantly correlated with increased cardiac event rates and cardiac mortality.


The number of apoptotic cells increases and that of proliferating cells decrease as pregnancy advances [17, 18] . Apoptosis is a phenomenon characterized by cell shrinkage and cleavage of chromatin [10] . Scattering of light is a boundary phenomenon. As photons propagate in tissues and hit on boundaries, such as cellular membranes, there is a change in refractive index resulting in a change of the photon's direction, the so-called scattering of light. The scatter power depends on the size distribution of the intraand extracellular scatterers which change during apoptosis and extracellular matrix remodeling. In our measurements, we observed a significant decrease in the scatter power explainable by the shrinkage of the cellular components of the uterine cervix after programmed cell death. On the other hand, oxygen saturation decreased only slightly during treatment with misoprostol (Fig. 2) . Although it can be assumed that the drug-induced inflammatory process resulted in an increased oxygen consumption of the tissue this seems to be counterbalanced in part by the reduced oxygen requirement of the tissues undergoing apoptosis.

The number of apoptotic cells increases and that of proliferating cells decrease as pregnancy advances.

Apoptosis is a phenomenon characterized by cell shrinkage and cleavage of chromatin.


The human uterine cervix is a complex tissue composed of an extracellular matrix consisting predominantly of collagen with elastin and proteoglycans, and a cellular component consisting of smooth muscle and fibroblasts, epithelium, and blood vessels [9] . Hormone-regulated biochemical changes occur during pregnancy, ultimately leading to cervical ripening [10] . Prostaglandins (PG) are widely used in pregnant women for cervical ripening and induction of labor. PG initiates a remodeling of the cervical connective tissue resembling the spontaneous ripening process [11] [12] [13] .

The human uterine cervix is a complex tissue composed of an extracellular matrix consisting predominantly of collagen with elastin and proteoglycans, and a cellular component consisting of smooth muscle and fibroblasts, epithelium, and blood vessels.

Hormone-regulated biochemical changes occur during pregnancy, ultimately leading to cervical ripening.

PG initiates a remodeling of the cervical connective tissue resembling the spontaneous ripening process.


In addition, as we have already pointed out, due to the state-space explosion problem our analysis is restricted by the size of the network and the packet configuration sequences. To alleviate this shortcoming, sophisticated state-space reduction techniques need to be developed, thereby enabling the effective verification of the Hypersurface. In particular we will develop parameterised model checking techniques that enable conclusions to be drawn irrespectively of the size of the network [4] . Specifically we believe the networks will admit cutoffs expressing the number of nodes that is sufficient to consider in order to conclude correctness for any number of nodes [14, 7] .

In particular we will develop parameterised model checking techniques that enable conclusions to be drawn irrespectively of the size of the network.

Specifically we believe the networks will admit cutoffs expressing the number of nodes that is sufficient to consider in order to conclude correctness for any number of nodes.


An alternative interpretation relies not on the actual inability to respond but the emotions evoked by the surveys. According to the Leverage-Saliency Theory of Survey Participation, the achieved influence of a particular feature is a function of how important it is to the potential respondent, whether its influence is positive or negative, and how salient it becomes to the sample person during the presentation of the survey request [49] . A survey which reminds a patient that he or she has a cancer with relatively higher morbidity and less positive prognosis (colon cancer) may result in a lower response rate than a survey about a cancer evoking emotions about a health condition with a better prognosis (prostate or breast).

According to the Leverage-Saliency Theory of Survey Participation, the achieved influence of a particular feature is a function of how important it is to the potential respondent, whether its influence is positive or negative, and how salient it becomes to the sample person during the presentation of the survey request.


Sequential data (see a formal definition in Section 3.1), such as DNA sequences, web browsing histories and mobility traces, is being increasingly used in a variety of real-life applications, spanning from genome and web usage analysis to location-based recommendation systems. Publishing sequential data is important, since they enable researchers to analyze and understand interesting patterns. For example, mobility traces have become widely collected in recent years and have opened the possibility to improve our understanding of large-scale social networks by investigating how people exchange information, interact and develop social relationships. With billions of handsets in use worldwide, the amount of sequential data has been gigantic. When aggregated, it can help understand complex processes (e.g., the spread of viruses), build better transportation systems, and prevent traffic congestion [20] . While the benefits provided by sequential data are indisputable, it, unfortunately, poses considerable threats to individual privacy [19] . In fact, sequential data might be used by a malicious adversary to discover potential sensitive information about a record owner, such as his habits, religion or relationships. Because privacy is so important to people, companies and researchers are reluctant to publish datasets by fear of being held responsible for potential privacy breaches. As a result, only very few of them are actually released and available. This limits our ability to analyze such data to derive information that could benefit the general public.

When aggregated, it can help understand complex processes (e.g., the spread of viruses), build better transportation systems, and prevent traffic congestion.

While the benefits provided by sequential data are indisputable, it, unfortunately, poses considerable threats to individual privacy.


Caregivers of frail older relatives comprise a large and growing segment of society that regularly endures significant stress and that could benefit from interventions that reduce the emotional distress that many caregivers experience when carrying out their role. In this study we attempt to contribute to the analysis of the efficacy of a psychotherapeutic stress management program for caregivers. To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to apply a psychotherapeutic program targeting caregivers, which includes an MTC format that, in addition to phone contacts and homework material, also involved regular meetings with the therapist. This kind of format may be especially appropriate for caregivers, who are hard put to find time to attend a therapy, which frequently leads to high dropout rates (So¨rensen et al., 2002) .

This kind of format may be especially appropriate for caregivers, who are hard put to find time to attend a therapy, which frequently leads to high dropout rates.


Results obtained from neural models are indicated in Table 3 . MAE (Mean Absolute Error), determination coefficients (R 2 ) and RMS error are as shown in the table. R 2 is the proportion of the total variation in predicted values that can be accounted for by the linear relationship with measured values. R 2 near to 0 indicate that the data points do not fall in a well-defined straight-line shape, and the slope near to 1 in the regression equation represent the equivalence of measured and predicted values [13, 14] . Using a random selection method, 60% of all data records were assigned to the training set and 20% for testing, while the remaining 20% were relegated to the validation set. As described above, network training is done using the standard back propagation algorithm. The sigmoidal function is used as the transfer function in hidden layer and purelin transfer function in output layer due to its suitable application. The best results were obtained for the ANN composed of nine (9) neurons in hidden layer. In order to improve models performance, the PCA technique was applied for data preprocessing. PCA seeks relevant directions for the input data that maximize variance [15] .

R 2 near to 0 indicate that the data points do not fall in a well-defined straight-line shape, and the slope near to 1 in the regression equation represent the equivalence of measured and predicted values.

PCA seeks relevant directions for the input data that maximize variance.


TMCP is currently a common production method for HSS and UHSS since it enables the production of fine-grained steels. Through this method, high-strength steels can be achieved even with low levels of alloying. Additionally, this is not accomplished at the expense of toughness since grain size is the key factor in attaining the high-strength properties [1, 6] . The lower amounts of alloying elements have the further advantage of reducing production costs [7, 8] . However, these steels are quite sensitive to the peak temperatures and cooling rates. Welding by conventional fusion processes can degrade their properties destroying the original optimized grain size and good balance of strength and toughness [1] . Friction stir welding (FSW), due to its solid-state process domain and autogenous nature, can join these materials at significantly lower temperatures and with some control of the cooling rates, e.g., via active cooling, overcoming the weldability limitations of conventional fusion welding methods.

Additionally, this is not accomplished at the expense of toughness since grain size is the key factor in attaining the high-strength properties.

The lower amounts of alloying elements have the further advantage of reducing production costs.

Welding by conventional fusion processes can degrade their properties destroying the original optimized grain size and good balance of strength and toughness.


Compared to fusion welding, FSW typically produces less distortion, is not detrimental to toughness, and does not cause concerning levels of hardness. Additionally, FSW can generate superior fatigue properties [20] . The solid-state nature of the process can enable joining the TMCP steels in the same range of temperatures where they are originally processed, i.e., the intercritical temperature region (ferrite austenite twophase region) between the A 1 and A 3 temperatures [6] . FSW of UHSS in their optimal range of thermomechanical processing conditions could result in welds with fine microstructure enabling a good combination of high-strength and toughness.

Additionally, FSW can generate superior fatigue properties.

The solid-state nature of the process can enable joining the TMCP steels in the same range of temperatures where they are originally processed, i.e., the intercritical temperature region (ferrite austenite twophase region) between the A 1 and A 3 temperatures.


Higson took up that idea in more detail in 2008 in the special case of complex semisimple groups; he showed that there is a natural bijection betweenĜ r and G 0 in that case, and that analyzing the analogies between C ⋆ r (G 0 ) and C ⋆ r (G) in terms of this bijection leads to a proof of the Connes-Kasparov conjecture . This way to the Connes-Kasparov isomorphism takes one through the fine structure of representation theory, but instead of using it for a direct calculation of (1) as Wassermann, Pennington and Plymen had successfully done, it expresses the Connes-Kasparov isomorphism as a relatively natural consequence of an easily stated, but actually rather subtle, fact onĜ r . An appealing feature of Higson's approach from this point of view is that only simple and quite general facts about K-theory are needed, and that no K-theory group need be written down explicitly. His results have been generalized to Lie groups with a finite number of connected components and a complex semisimple identity component in a recent paper of Skukalek [23] .

His results have been generalized to Lie groups with a finite number of connected components and a complex semisimple identity component in a recent paper of Skukalek.


The Fell topology onĜ is in general very wild, and studying the topological spacê G directly is usually difficult. An indirect, often fruitful approach is to study a suitable completion of the convolution algebra C almost orthogonal to that of Wassermann, because it succeeds in replacing most of the arsenal of representation theory by a few simple (but far-reaching) facts on the distance to the origin in G K and on Harish Chandra's elementary spherical function. Lafforgue did not neglect representation theory: he proved that the Connes-Kasparov conjecture actually implies that the discrete series can be accounted for with the help of Dirac equations on G K [18] .

Lafforgue did not neglect representation theory: he proved that the Connes-Kasparov conjecture actually implies that the discrete series can be accounted for with the help of Dirac equations on G K.


In contrast, the interhemispheric temperature difference record is used to constrain the strength of F ASA . This is a logical choice, since sulfate aerosol particles have a short resident lifetime in the atmosphere, and in a typical year, over 90 percent of sulfate emissions have been in the Northern Hemisphere [56] . Therefore we would expect to see the cooling effects of sulfate more strongly in the Northern Hemisphere as opposed to the Southern Hemisphere, and therefore a relatively warmer Southern Hemisphere were sulfate emissions to increase.

This is a logical choice, since sulfate aerosol particles have a short resident lifetime in the atmosphere, and in a typical year, over 90 percent of sulfate emissions have been in the Northern Hemisphere.


Our primary technique is Bayesian estimation-an analysis of probability where Bayes' theorem is used to update the probability estimate for a hypothesis as new information becomes available. As such, Bayesian learning makes use of both an estimation of the likelihood of a proposition based on currently available data, as well as a prior estimation. We also make use of our Group's SCM and a program to generate different realizations of natural variability consistent with those in the observed temperature record and ocean heat-uptake record [12, 13] .

We also make use of our Group's SCM and a program to generate different realizations of natural variability consistent with those in the observed temperature record and ocean heat-uptake record.


The rubber production reduces from 20 years. At the age of 22 to 29 years, latex production becomes uneconomic (Anon., 2002) . Trees of 30 years age class, which had already lost its capability to produce latex, showed highest values of all the physical and mechanical properties. The 25 years tree also had shown good physical and mechanical values because the production of latex turns lower in that age. The physical and mechanical properties were the lowest in the 20 year aged tree.

At the age of 22 to 29 years, latex production becomes uneconomic.


Post-thoracotomy pain is usually severe, due to extensive intraoperative nerve injury and continuous chest wall movements during respiration and coughing. Postoperative pain after thoracotomy represents a major morbidity issue because it cannot be eliminated with a simple technique that is effective, cheap, applicable to all patients and free from complications [1] . As a result, post-thoracotomy pain is currently being addressed in a multifactorial manner with combinations of different analgesic medications and, frequently, with various routes of administration, as well as with the use of locoregional analgesia techniques, which require practice, special skills, tight titration of dosing regimes and close postoperative patient monitoring. Apart from the analgesia technique chosen for each patient, opioids are indispensable-with their consequent risks-given that it is not always possible to maintain effective postoperative analgesia without affecting the adequacy of respiratory function and the mental status of the patient [1] .

Postoperative pain after thoracotomy represents a major morbidity issue because it cannot be eliminated with a simple technique that is effective, cheap, applicable to all patients and free from complications.

Apart from the analgesia technique chosen for each patient, opioids are indispensable-with their consequent risks-given that it is not always possible to maintain effective postoperative analgesia without affecting the adequacy of respiratory function and the mental status of the patient.


Verifying Design Design conformance tools check whether the implementation of a system conforms to an intended design. PatternLint is one example tailored to design patterns [20] . Rules about conformance and nonconformance to the structure of a pattern are specified in a logic fact base. These rules are compared against structural features, such as the calls between classes, extracted from source code. PatternLint can help a developer understand how an implementation may or may not structurally correspond to a pattern. The DPRG approach can also help in assessing conformance; it is less automatic than PatternLint but it can provide more detail about implementation variants, and can be used to match against partial implementations of a pattern.

PatternLint is one example tailored to design patterns.


Finally, the bulk of commercial e-books and applications for young children may differ from the materials used in the current experiment and may not benefit learning to the same extent. Unlike commercial materials, interactivity in the ebooks used here was highly controlled: we inserted only one hotspot per interactive moment, children were allowed to play for a maximum of 30 s with a hotspot, and the number of hotspot moments was restricted to four per session. This way, children did not have a chance to prefer playing to reading text (de Jong & Bus, 2002; Labbo & Kuhn, 2000) . Likewise, animated pictures, sounds, and music in our e-books matched the story text, which may not be the case when, for instance, a print or digital book is combined with hyperlinks to a website which plays video.

This way, children did not have a chance to prefer playing to reading text.


One of the most puzzling discovery of the last years in physics is the current acceleration of the universe [1] - [2] . An unknown energy component, dubbed as dark energy, is proposed to explain this acceleration. Dark energy almost equally distributes in the universe, and its pressure is negative. The simplest and most theoretically appealing candidate of dark energy is the cosmological constant that is the ΛCDM model. In this case, the equation of state parameter ω = −1. Although the ΛCDM model is in general agreement with the current astronomical observations, but has some difficulties e.g. to reconcile the small observational value of dark energy density with estimates from quantum field theories. So although the ΛCDM model is the most obvious choice, but it suffers from coincidence problem and the fine-tuning problems. It is thus natural to pursue alternative possibilities to explain the mystery of dark energy. In order to explain the acceleration that is dark energy, many kinds of models have been proposed, such as quintessence, phantom, k-essence, tachyon, f-essence, Chaplygin gas and its generalizations, etc.

One of the most puzzling discovery of the last years in physics is the current acceleration of the universe.


Preliminary results indicate that this study has successfully avoided the input/output coupling present in the previous experiment [4] . Further analysis is needed to quantify the effects of proprioception on motor control. However, the data thus far imply that proprioceptive feedback significantly improves accuracy and ease of use in motor control tasks when vision is not available, confirming that artificial proprioceptive feedback in a prosthesis would be beneficial to the wearer in everyday life.

Preliminary results indicate that this study has successfully avoided the input/output coupling present in the previous experiment.


During the last few years several researchers use the hardware implementation on the FPGA for controlling electrical system [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] . Most of them use the VHDL (VHSIC hardware description language). In this study, the Xilinx System Generator (XSG) is used to automatically generate the VHDL code. The advantages of this method are the rapid time to market, real time, and portability.

During the last few years several researchers use the hardware implementation on the FPGA for controlling electrical system.


Clay mineral/polymer nanocomposites (CPNs) have been developed for years since the montmorillonite (Mt)/nylon 6 nanocomposites were first synthesised by Toyota Research Centre (Usuki et al., 1993) . Single layers of Clay minerals such as Mt are known to have large aspect ratios and superior mechanical properties . CPNs have drawn considerable attention as by dispersing a small mass content of clay mineral (lower than 10 wt.%) into the polymer matrix, the mechanical properties and barrier properties can be significantly improved in respect to those of the neat polymer (Giannelis, 1998; Okada and Usuki, 2007) . However, the mass content of clay mineral in CPNs was usually limited to be under 10% because when a higher amount of clay mineral was incorporated, the dispersion could be worse and thus deteriorate the performance (Chen, 2004; Chen et al., 2008) .

Clay mineral/polymer nanocomposites (CPNs) have been developed for years since the montmorillonite (Mt)/nylon 6 nanocomposites were first synthesised by Toyota Research Centre.

CPNs have drawn considerable attention as by dispersing a small mass content of clay mineral (lower than 10 wt.%) into the polymer matrix, the mechanical properties and barrier properties can be significantly improved in respect to those of the neat polymer.

However, the mass content of clay mineral in CPNs was usually limited to be under 10% because when a higher amount of clay mineral was incorporated, the dispersion could be worse and thus deteriorate the performance.


While ANN models are easy to understand, its weight solution space is non-convex, which means there are many local minimums, making it difficult to find the global optimum solution. Another drawback of traditional ANN is its supervised learning construct that necessitate availability of training data, limiting its applicability in real-world situations (Rumelhart et al., 1986; Bengio and Olivier, 2011) . To address these problems, other improved versions of BP such as Bayesian regularization have been proposed (Xie et al., 2007) . While Bayesian regularization shows improvements, it still requires training data that limits its applicability.

Another drawback of traditional ANN is its supervised learning construct that necessitate availability of training data, limiting its applicability in real-world situations.

To address these problems, other improved versions of BP such as Bayesian regularization have been proposed.