Angiosperms have evolved a wide range of breeding barriers that promote allogamy by preventing autogamy (Barrett, 2002) . Breeding barriers can be prezygotic or postzygotic and many species have both these types of barrier (Bertin & Newman, 1993) . Common prezygotic barriers are dichogamy, i.e. a separation in time of the receptivity of stigmas and the release of pollen , and herkogamy, i.e. a separation in space of receptive stigmas and dehiscing anthers . Postzygotic barriers include selective ovule abortion, and reduced germination and fitness of selfed progeny. Prezygotic barriers can prevent autogamy but may not prevent geitonogamy (cross-pollination between inflorescences of the same individual or clone) (De Jong, Waser & Klinkhamer, 1993; Snow et al ., 1996; Montaner, Floris & Alvarez, 2001; Galloway, Cirigliano & Gremski, 2002) . Postzygotic barriers can prevent both autogamy and geitonogamy but result in the wastage of ovules and so are, in this sense, less efficient than prezygotic barriers (Waser & Price, 1991) .

Angiosperms have evolved a wide range of breeding barriers that promote allogamy by preventing autogamy.

Breeding barriers can be prezygotic or postzygotic and many species have both these types of barrier.

Prezygotic barriers can prevent autogamy but may not prevent geitonogamy (cross-pollination between inflorescences of the same individual or clone).

Postzygotic barriers can prevent both autogamy and geitonogamy but result in the wastage of ovules and so are, in this sense, less efficient than prezygotic barriers.


Pulse oximetry in a moving postoperative patient has severe limitations [8] . In 123 patients studied in the postoperative recovery area, it was found that 75 % of alarms caused by low oxygen saturation readings were "trivial" and attributed to movement artefact or poor signal quality [9] . Wilson showed that 87-90 % of desaturation episodes in children sedated for dental day surgery were due to movement artefact [5] . We have confirmed these findings by demonstrating that of 1878 desaturations seen, 1264 (67 %) were evident in only one of the two concurrent oximetric recordings and would therefore appear to be artefactual. We have used two oximeters to verify independently artefactual desaturation as other workers have tried with limited success to filter electronically the oxygen saturation signal [10] . Synchronization of the R wave of the ECG with the oximeter waveform has been shown to reduce the number of motion artefacts by 50% (from 4.1 to 2.1 %) when used in the neonatal intensive care unit [11] . This method has not been assessed for its reliability; furthermore it has been suggested that the oximeter may synchronize with the ECG artefact generated by movement [6] . Computerized oxygen saturation monitoring systems have used the alarm status of the oximeter and also oxygen saturation to invalidate data when the alarm is activated [3] . However, the oximeter alarm does not distinguish a genuine desaturation from one produced by movement. Unfortunately, the Nellcor N200 oximeter does not incorporate a plethysmographic waveform display which would assist in distinguishing artefactual from genuine data, although in any case this interpretation is beyond the present signal processing capabilities of the software [10] . Interestingly, there were fewer episodic desaturations sensed by the toe probe compared with the finger probe, both for the raw and evaluated data. This suggests that the finger probe is either more vulnerable to artefacts of other types or our template has been unsuccessful in isolating all movement artefact in the hand. However, for long-term oxygen saturation data collection in the absence of peripheral vascular disease, the foot may provide a more reliable location for probe attachment.

Pulse oximetry in a moving postoperative patient has severe limitations.

In 123 patients studied in the postoperative recovery area, it was found that 75 % of alarms caused by low oxygen saturation readings were "trivial" and attributed to movement artefact or poor signal quality.

Wilson showed that 87-90 % of desaturation episodes in children sedated for dental day surgery were due to movement artefact.

We have used two oximeters to verify independently artefactual desaturation as other workers have tried with limited success to filter electronically the oxygen saturation signal.

Synchronization of the R wave of the ECG with the oximeter waveform has been shown to reduce the number of motion artefacts by 50% (from 4.1 to 2.1 %) when used in the neonatal intensive care unit.

This method has not been assessed for its reliability; furthermore it has been suggested that the oximeter may synchronize with the ECG artefact generated by movement.

Computerized oxygen saturation monitoring systems have used the alarm status of the oximeter and also oxygen saturation to invalidate data when the alarm is activated.

Unfortunately, the Nellcor N200 oximeter does not incorporate a plethysmographic waveform display which would assist in distinguishing artefactual from genuine data, although in any case this interpretation is beyond the present signal processing capabilities of the software.


In our previous papers, the complexes of some M(III) ions with ERB, EBT, EBSE, Calc, and KLC were studied [9] [10] [11] [12] . Methods developed were utilized for voltammetric determination of REE, In, and Sc in model solutions, alloys, and scintillation materials with the limit of quantitation in range 10 −7 -10 −6 M. The observed different reduction behavior of studied complexes leads us to investigate peculiarities of M(III) interaction with azo dyes-ERB, EBT, EBSE, Calc, and KLC. Their structures are shown in Figure 1.

In our previous papers, the complexes of some M(III) ions with ERB, EBT, EBSE, Calc, and KLC were studied.

Their structures are shown in Figure 1.


Sunset Yellow FCF (SYF) is a synthetic yellow azo dye that is allowed worldwide as a food coloring agent and is known by designations such as FD&C Yellow No. 6, Food Yellow No. 5, E110, and Color Index No.15985. SYF is a disulfo monoazo dye prepared by the coupling of diazotized 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid with the sodium salt of 6-hydroxy-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid. During the manufacture of SYF, 1-(phenylazo)-2-naphthalenol (Sudan I) may be produced by the diazotization and coupling of aniline, an impurity in technical and refined sulfanic acid, with 2-naphthol [1] . Sudan I is an unauthorized colorant and an undesirable substance in food because of its reported possible carcinogenicity and genotoxicity in Japan, the United States, and the European Union (EU) [2] . In 2003, Sudan I was detected in chili products in France. After this report, in the EU and China, Sudan I and other unauthorized Sudan dyes (Sudan II, III, and IV) have been detected in samples of hot chili and other related foods. Consequently, various analytical methods have been established to determine and identify unauthorized Sudan dyes in foods [3] [4] [5] [6] .

During the manufacture of SYF, 1-(phenylazo)-2-naphthalenol (Sudan I) may be produced by the diazotization and coupling of aniline, an impurity in technical and refined sulfanic acid, with 2-naphthol.

Sudan I is an unauthorized colorant and an undesirable substance in food because of its reported possible carcinogenicity and genotoxicity in Japan, the United States, and the European Union (EU).

Consequently, various analytical methods have been established to determine and identify unauthorized Sudan dyes in foods.


Although the method is simple and rapid, high concentrations of an SYF solution have to be injected to determine low levels of Sudan I in the SYF. Since injecting high concentrations of the SYF solution can contaminate the line, sample loop, and column in the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrument, maintaining precision control in routine SYF laboratory tests is difficult. To reduce the risk of contamination to the analytical equipment from SYF, a method for extracting Sudan I from SYF was developed for cosmetic use. In the method, Sudan I is extracted using chloroform as a solvent and analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC [10] . However, owing to the toxicity of chloroform, it needs to be replaced with a less toxic solvent to reduce health hazards and environmental contamination. In this study, we developed a simple analytical method for detecting Sudan I in SYF using a less toxic organic solvent. The method was validated by recovery testing using two different concentrations of Sudan I and was applied to the analysis of commercial SYF samples in Japan.

In the method, Sudan I is extracted using chloroform as a solvent and analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC.


Although chitosan based biomaterials are well recognized for profound biomedical applications, the selection and use of cross-linkers restrict the usage. Apart from various formulations (cream), biomaterials of 2D and 3D forms find applications in various biomedical fields (Tissue engineering: culturing cells, drug delivery and also as a wound dressing material) [11] . These observations suggest the necessity of suitable cross-linkers to transform the chitosan macromolecule to a porous, high strength and biocompatible material for tissue engineering research.

Apart from various formulations (cream), biomaterials of 2D and 3D forms find applications in various biomedical fields (Tissue engineering: culturing cells, drug delivery and also as a wound dressing material).


Dicarboxylic acids (DCA) are versatile chemical intermediates with different chain length, generally represented as HOOC-(R) n -COOH. These chemical compounds are used as raw materials for the preparation of perfumes, polymers, adhesives and macrolide antibiotics for many years and are well known polymer building block [1] . DCA came to research focus because of its reaction capability with amine (-NH 2 ) and hydroxyl (-OH) group containing compounds through amide (-CONH 2 ) and ester linkage (-COOR) as evidenced in polyamides and polyesters preparations [2] [3] [4] [5] . However, the said reaction requires high temperature (>100˚C), which limits its application for the preparations. Alternatively, activation of -COOH group through carbodiimide and/N-hydroxysuccinimide found suitable for the reactions at ambient temperature, results in the formation of active ester (Oacylisourea) as a highly reactive intermediate, which reacts with -NH 2 and -OH groups at room temperature. However, the pH dependency, the need for additional steps for purification of the products, the uncontrolled formation of side products, hydrolysis and rearrangement reactions are the major limiting factors identified in this process [6] [7] [8] . Hence, DCAs find limited usage in biomaterial/ biopolymer preparations. However, the versatile nature of DCA, if exploited properly, it will solve most of the problems associated with the preparation of biomaterial.

These chemical compounds are used as raw materials for the preparation of perfumes, polymers, adhesives and macrolide antibiotics for many years and are well known polymer building block.

DCA came to research focus because of its reaction capability with amine (-NH 2 ) and hydroxyl (-OH) group containing compounds through amide (-CONH 2 ) and ester linkage (-COOR) as evidenced in polyamides and polyesters preparations.

However, the pH dependency, the need for additional steps for purification of the products, the uncontrolled formation of side products, hydrolysis and rearrangement reactions are the major limiting factors identified in this process.


The actual system of interest, supergravity on AdS 5 × S 5 , is discussed in Section 5. Thankfully, the symmetries of the problem remove most of the new fields; the only ones remaining are the dilaton and a scalar representing the radius of the five-sphere. Thus, after gauge fixing, there are four degrees of freedom (the dilaton and the radii of the S 1 , S 3 , and S 5 ) depending on one variable. Nonetheless the equations of motion are sufficiently complicated that they defy exact solution, and we had to resort to solving them numerically. The resulting free energy diagram is shown in figure 6 . One unexpected feature is the existence of a (temperature-dependent) positive lower bound on the logarithm of the PML. However, it should be recalled that we have worked within an ansatz that preserves the SO(6) symmetry of the boundary conditions. It is known that, at sufficiently high temperature, the conventional small black hole with that symmetry is unstable to perturbations that break it [30] . It is also known that there exists at least one solution with lower free energy in which SO(6) is spontaneously broken, namely the ten-dimensional black hole [31] . This conventional solution should extend into a branch of ten-dimensional hedgehog solutions, which we conjecture continues all the way to unit PML. Finding these solutions, however, would present a challenging numerical problem, and no attempt is made to do so here (even the conventional ten-dimensional black hole is not known analytically or numerically, outside of the limit that its horizon is much smaller than the AdS radius [31] ). In the phase diagram for the system with a chemical potential for the PML, the Hawking-Page transition should extend to a first-order transition separating five-and ten-dimensional black hole phases. We sketch a possible such phase diagram in figure 8 .

It is known that, at sufficiently high temperature, the conventional small black hole with that symmetry is unstable to perturbations that break it.

It is also known that there exists at least one solution with lower free energy in which SO(6) is spontaneously broken, namely the ten-dimensional black hole.

Finding these solutions, however, would present a challenging numerical problem, and no attempt is made to do so here (even the conventional ten-dimensional black hole is not known analytically or numerically, outside of the limit that its horizon is much smaller than the AdS radius).


We then discuss the connection between uncomplexity and the black hole geometry. With our definition, we give geometric interpretations of uncomplexity in various examples, and show how it fits together with subregion duality [8] . We see that the uncomplexity of a density matrix exactly corresponds to the portion of interior spacetime accessible to an observer which is also inside the entanglement wedge of the density matrix ( Figure 1 ). In this process we show that the different kinds of operations we studied earlier are responsible for the growth of different spacetime regions. We give a quantum circuit description of a black hole with a wide Penrose diagram whose entangling surface is behind its event horizon. We also point out the role played by the apparent horizon [9] .

With our definition, we give geometric interpretations of uncomplexity in various examples, and show how it fits together with subregion duality.

We also point out the role played by the apparent horizon.


The HIV Index testing model involves provision of HTS to family members of known PLHIV (index clients) who are at increased risk of HIV infection such as sexual partners and children under 15 years. The model acknowledges the importance of providing HIV services to family members of an individual living with HIV for the following reasons: they are affected by HIV diagnosis of one family member; concerns around disclosure; stigma & discrimination; and treatment challenges [3, 4] . Not only does the index model demonstrate an increase in identification of HIV positive cases among children and adults, but it also leads to an increased linkage into care and treatment services [5, 6, 7] .

The model acknowledges the importance of providing HIV services to family members of an individual living with HIV for the following reasons: they are affected by HIV diagnosis of one family member; concerns around disclosure; stigma & discrimination; and treatment challenges.

Not only does the index model demonstrate an increase in identification of HIV positive cases among children and adults, but it also leads to an increased linkage into care and treatment services.


To achieve the proposed goal, the QoS control of applications was inspired by imprecise computation [5] . Imprecise computation divides tasks into two subtasks: one implementing a mandatory execution flow and another implementing an optional flow. The mandatory flow is the hard real-time part of the task, and it must always be executed with in its deadline. The optional flow is the best-effort part of the task, which is only executed if the desired timing requirements can be met. The imprecise computation scheduler does not execute the optional subtasks when there is the possibility of any mandatory subtask deadline to be lost, thus reducing the demand for system processing. Moreover, in our scheduler, we propose that the optional subtasks be prevented from executing when the energy level will not be sufficient to meet the time specified by application. This control creates more idle periods in the system, and the scheduler can use power management techniques to reduce the energy consumption of components during these idle periods.

To achieve the proposed goal, the QoS control of applications was inspired by imprecise computation.


Over a period of many years, numerous medications have been developed and used to treat obesity. However, most of the drugs have been withdrawn because of serious adverse effects [4] . Recently, sibutramine was withdrawn due to an association with increased cardiovascular disease risk [5] . In this context, a demand for novel treatments exists, and herbal medicines have received considerable attention due to the perception that they have no adverse effects.

However, most of the drugs have been withdrawn because of serious adverse effects.

Recently, sibutramine was withdrawn due to an association with increased cardiovascular disease risk.


During the ferment preparation, the soluble solids values were kept constant due to the periodical addition of sugar cane juice; in contrast, the total acidity increased significantly probably due to the organic acid production, but without a relevant decrease in pH after 2 days of preparation. A progressive increase in the total yeast count (from WLN medium), a stable number of wild yeasts resistant to actidione (from WLD medium) and a low number of non-Saccharomyces (from Lysine Agar) demonstrated that the number of Saccharomyces increased considerably with the addition of sugar cane juice (Figure 1 ). The yeast count increased 5 log cycles in a 10-day period, suggesting that a yeast selection occurred during the preparation of the NF, especially Saccharomyces, which are more adapted to the high sugar concentrations from the sugar cane juice. The high must acidification and alcohol content also contribute to the selection of yeasts that prevail in the cachaça production (MORAIS et al., 1997; PATARO et al., 2000) . The high number of bacteria at the end of the preparation would be a negative point for the NF, but the microbiological analysis of the must and the ferment inside the fermentation tank in the first fermentative cycle showed bacterial count much lower than that observed in the NF at the end of preparation. A dilution effect by the introduction of the ferment into the tank or bacterial death caused by the high sugar concentration could explain this fact. Moreover, the NF does not constitute a primary source of bacterial contamination (Figure 1) .

The high must acidification and alcohol content also contribute to the selection of yeasts that prevail in the cachaça production.


Studies on the chemo-sensory quality of artisanal organic cachaça produced with natural ferment are scarce. Besides, although the ageing is optional for cachaça, it is a common technique for distilled beverages in several countries resulting in a better sensory quality, and constitutes the final step in the production of distilled beverages of differing qualities (FARIA et al., 2003) . In this context, this work aimed to evaluate the influence of the spontaneous fermentation on the chemo-sensory characteristics of artisanal organic cachaça, comparing to the commercial ferment. The effect of maturation (ageing) in oak barrels was also evaluated, as a contribution to those small producers who want to create a different quality beverage.

Besides, although the ageing is optional for cachaça, it is a common technique for distilled beverages in several countries resulting in a better sensory quality, and constitutes the final step in the production of distilled beverages of differing qualities.


For the sensory analysis of acceptability (affective test), a panel of 62 non-trained judges Ciência Rural, v.42, n.5, mai, 2012. evaluated the samples with respect to aroma, flavour, colour, body (adstringency) and global impression, using a 7-point hedonic scale ranging from "dislike very much" to "like very much". The cachaça samples (20mL) were served in transparent, colourless containers labelled with a three-digit code and presented in a monadic manner (MacFIE et al., 1989) . White light was used in the individual booths, with a balanced presentation of the cachaça samples according to a completely randomized block design. The sensory tests were approved by the University Ethics Committee (CAAE 0026.0.135.000-09).

The cachaça samples (20mL) were served in transparent, colourless containers labelled with a three-digit code and presented in a monadic manner.


Microcontrollers and microprocessors are used in everyday systems. Basically, any electronic systems that require co mputation or instruction execution require a microcontroller or microprocessor. Therefore, at the core of electronic systems with co mputational capability is a microprocessor. Microprocessors have grown fro m 8 bits to 16 bits, 32 bits, and currently to 64 bits. Microprocessor architecture has also grown fro m complex instruction set computing (CISC) based on reduced instruction set computing (RISC) based on a combination of RISC-CISC based and currently very long instruction word (VLIW) based [1] . So me microprocessors are optimized for high-performance servers, whereas others are optimized for long battery life in laptop computers. A computer architecture is defined by its instruction set and architectural state. The architectural state of the MIPS processor consists of the program counter and the 32 registers. Any MIPS micro architecture must contain all of this state. Based on the current architectural state, the processor executes a particular instruction with a particular set of data to produce a new architectural state. So me microarch itectures contain additional nonarchitectural state to either simp lify the logic o r improve performance [2] . The IBM System z10™ microprocessor is currently the fastest running 64-bit CISC (co mplex instruction set computer) microprocessor. This microprocessor operates at 4.4 GHz and provides up to two times performance improvement co mpared with its predecessor, the System z9® microprocessor. In addition to its ultrahighfrequency pipeline, the z10™ microprocessor offers such performance enhancements as a sophisticated branch-prediction structure, a large second-level private cache, a data-prefetch engine, and a hardwired decimal floating-point arithmet ic unit. The z10 microprocessor also imp lements new arch itectural features that allo w better software optimization across compiled applications. These features include new instructions that help shorten the code path lengths and new facilit ies for software-directed cache management and the use of 1-M B v irtual pages [3] .

Microprocessor architecture has also grown fro m complex instruction set computing (CISC) based on reduced instruction set computing (RISC) based on a combination of RISC-CISC based and currently very long instruction word (VLIW) based.

So me microarch itectures contain additional nonarchitectural state to either simp lify the logic o r improve performance.

These features include new instructions that help shorten the code path lengths and new facilit ies for software-directed cache management and the use of 1-M B v irtual pages.


Compared to PIRLS 2001 and 2006, Hong Kong raised her levels of reading achievement in 2011 and was the topperforming city among 49 participating countries/regions, with a mean score of 571 [10] . This remarkable jump in Hong Kong, as a city with a Chinese culture, has attracted much attention from researchers and educators all over the world. PIRLS examined four key factors affecting the reading performance which included "school," "teacher," "parent," and "student" [11] . Among these four questionnaires, home factor was identified in this study because early literacy experiences at home would establish a foundation for learning long before children develop the cognitive and linguistic skills necessary for reading [1, 12, 13] . It is well documented that early literacy experiences are critical for later academic development [14] . In addition, home factor has been shown to be both directly and indirectly related to students' reading achievement [15] . We identified home factors which have 2 Education Research International significantly contributed to this remarkable improvement in this study and are briefly reviewed here. Other factors have been and will be discussed elsewhere.

Compared to PIRLS 2001 and 2006, Hong Kong raised her levels of reading achievement in 2011 and was the topperforming city among 49 participating countries/regions, with a mean score of 571.

PIRLS examined four key factors affecting the reading performance which included "school," "teacher," "parent," and "student".

Among these four questionnaires, home factor was identified in this study because early literacy experiences at home would establish a foundation for learning long before children develop the cognitive and linguistic skills necessary for reading.

It is well documented that early literacy experiences are critical for later academic development.

In addition, home factor has been shown to be both directly and indirectly related to students' reading achievement.


The third application of sulcal shape analysis is the primary focus of the work described in this paper. Specifically, sulci and gyri can serve as features used in spatial normalization algorithms. Spatial normalization is frequently used to map data to a stereotaxic coordinate system, by removing inter-subject morphological differences, thereby allowing for group analysis to be carried out. The 3D Talairach coordinate system has been extensively used in the brain mapping literature, but surface-based coordinate systems have also been proposed for studying the cortex, which has a surface topology [3, 4] .

The 3D Talairach coordinate system has been extensively used in the brain mapping literature, but surface-based coordinate systems have also been proposed for studying the cortex, which has a surface topology.


In this article, we set out to evaluate the value creation and capture in the Czech automotive industry by different tiers of automotive firms. We empirically tested whether two theoretical assumptions apply in the automotive industry in the context of integrated peripheral markets. First, whether higher tier firms create and capture higher value than lower tier firms because they produce more complex components and possess a strong bargaining power that allows them to squeeze their suppliers (Sturgeon et al., 2008) . Second, whether intangible knowledge-based assets and strategic nonproduction functions represent a key source of value added for higher tier firms (Mudambi, 2008) .

First, whether higher tier firms create and capture higher value than lower tier firms because they produce more complex components and possess a strong bargaining power that allows them to squeeze their suppliers.

Second, whether intangible knowledge-based assets and strategic nonproduction functions represent a key source of value added for higher tier firms.


Currently, no commercially available rheometer exists to measure the rheological properties of polymer melts at high frequencies. Knowledge of the high frequency rheological behaviour of molten polymers is critical to accurately modelling processes such as vibration welding that typically operate under high frequencies [13, 14] . The purpose of this work was to design and construct a high frequency sliding plate rheometer (HF-SPR) based on a linear vibration welding machine. Even though sliding plate rheometers are traditionally used to measure the nonlinear viscoelastic properties of polymer melts, in this work, operation of the HF-SPR in the linear viscoelastic regime enables us to compare the results to data obtained on commercially available parallel plate rheometers and thus, provides a means of validating the performance of the HF-SPR.

Knowledge of the high frequency rheological behaviour of molten polymers is critical to accurately modelling processes such as vibration welding that typically operate under high frequencies.


Knocking down HK2 expression ameliorates the malignant phenotype of metastatic neuroblastoma cells. Metastatic and local human neuroblastoma variants exhibit a differential malignant phenotype (Nevo et al, 2008) . The metastatic variants are highly tumourigenic in xenografted nude mice, yield a higher metastatic load in these mice, possess a higher migratory capacity and are relatively more resistant to chemotherapy than the corresponding local variants (Nevo et al, 2008) .

Metastatic and local human neuroblastoma variants exhibit a differential malignant phenotype.

The metastatic variants are highly tumourigenic in xenografted nude mice, yield a higher metastatic load in these mice, possess a higher migratory capacity and are relatively more resistant to chemotherapy than the corresponding local variants.


The predicted deformed shapes throughout the tensile fracture simulations conducted on the wires with the varying 5mm to 15mm long longitudinal double laminations and on the wires with the varying 0.5 to 2.5mm deep lateral mid-width across-the-thickness and transverse mid-thickness-across-the-width laminations are the same. Consequently, only the deformed shapes predicted by the simulations conducted on the wires with the 15mm long longitudinal double laminations and the wires with the 2mm deep lateral mid-width across-the-thickness and transverse mid-thickness across-the-width crack-like laminations are presented. Only the predicted fracture shapes of the lamination-free wire and the wire with the longitudinal single straight-end lamination are presented as their detailed fracture processes have been presented in the earlier published work of the authors (see Adewole and Bull, [13] ).

Only the predicted fracture shapes of the lamination-free wire and the wire with the longitudinal single straight-end lamination are presented as their detailed fracture processes have been presented in the earlier published work of the authors (see Adewole and Bull,).


The use of FE failure analysis for the analysis of the failure of wires with and without cracklike laminations conducted in this work revealed major differences and similarities between the fracture process (fracture initiation and propagation) and the identity of the fracture shapes of the wires with single and double crack-like laminations reported by USBR [12] . The use of FE failure analysis also provides a better understanding of the fracture behaviours of wires with the different crack-like lamination types found in the fractured pre-stressing wires of the ruptured Jordan Aqueduct Pre-stressed Concrete Pipes. This demonstrates the need to employ FE failure analysis as a complementary and/or an alternative tool to the fractographic analysis of wires and other engineering structures/components generally. It demonstrates the need to employ FE failure analysis particularly in situations where the fracture marks required for the accurate fractographic failure analysis have been destroyed by post fracture events such as the corrosion of the fracture surface of the Jordan Aqueduct pre-stressed concrete pipe pre-stressing wires reported by the USBR [12] .

The use of FE failure analysis for the analysis of the failure of wires with and without cracklike laminations conducted in this work revealed major differences and similarities between the fracture process (fracture initiation and propagation) and the identity of the fracture shapes of the wires with single and double crack-like laminations reported by USBR.

It demonstrates the need to employ FE failure analysis particularly in situations where the fracture marks required for the accurate fractographic failure analysis have been destroyed by post fracture events such as the corrosion of the fracture surface of the Jordan Aqueduct pre-stressed concrete pipe pre-stressing wires reported by the USBR.


FE failure analysis revealed that longitudinal crack-like laminations do not always act as stress concentrators as reported by USBR [12] . Only the notched pre-cracked wires with a surface lateral across-the-thickness crack-like lamination, the wires with the lateral mid-width acrossthe-thickness and the transverse mid-thickness across-the-width laminations with laminations that are perpendicular to the tensile load path; and the wire with the longitudinal inclined-end crack-like laminations with the inclined-ends at an angle to the tensile load path act as stress concentrators. Straight-end crack-like laminations (single or double) that are parallel to the load path do not constitute stress concentrators. FE failure analysis also revealed that fracture initiation does not always occur at the termini of the offset and overlapping longitudinal crack-like longitudinal laminations as reported by USBR [12] . Fracture initiation only occurs at the termini of inclined-end crack-like longitudinal laminations with the inclined end at an angle to the tensile load path. For wires with the single and double straight end crack-like laminations, fracture initiation occurs at the middle of the thinnest ligament. Furthermore, FE failure analysis revealed that only lamination-free wire exhibits cup and cone fracture as neither the fracture sequence/stage nor the fracture shape exhibited by the wires with the single straight-end crack-like lamination, double overlapping and offset straight-end crack-like laminations and double overlapping and offset inclined-end crack-like laminations agrees with the well-known cup and cone fracture sequence and fracture shape. The fracture shapes exhibited by the wires with single straight-end lamination, double overlapping and offset straight-end crack-like laminations and double overlapping and offset inclined-end crack-like laminations can better be described as an "open V", "slantmiddle W" and "Zig-zag" fracture shapes respectively.

FE failure analysis revealed that longitudinal crack-like laminations do not always act as stress concentrators as reported by USBR.

FE failure analysis also revealed that fracture initiation does not always occur at the termini of the offset and overlapping longitudinal crack-like longitudinal laminations as reported by USBR.


Specifying the control limits is the most important step in designing a control chart. Improper estimation of the process dispersion which results in narrower or wider limits can increase the probability of type I error or the probability of type II error. When the limits are narrow, the risk of a point falling beyond the limits increases, falsely indicating that the process is out of control (Shahriari et al., 2009) . When the limits are wider the risk increases the points falling within the limits, this falsely indicates that the process is out of control (Shahriari et al., 2009) . The limits on a control chart can either be 0.001 probability limits or 3-sigma limits (Oakland 2008) . The 0.001 probability limits were determined so that, if chance causes alone were at work the probability of a point falling above the upper limit would be one out of a thousand and the probability of points falling below the lower limit would be one out of a thousand. Therefore, 3-sigma limits are the practical equivalent of the 0.001 probability limits. In this paper, the 3-sigma limits approach will be adopted.

When the limits are narrow, the risk of a point falling beyond the limits increases, falsely indicating that the process is out of control.

When the limits are wider the risk increases the points falling within the limits, this falsely indicates that the process is out of control.

The limits on a control chart can either be 0.001 probability limits or 3-sigma limits.


On the other hand, solar thermal system is applied to two practical ways, which includes practical light-to-electric power generation using mechanical heat engines in large-scale power plants and household heat supply through solar hot-water facilities. In such process, solar spectrum is first converted to hightemperature thermal energy and subsequently converted to electricity, and consequently, the entire solar spectrum can be utilized (Weinstein et al., 2015) . This intermediate thermal procedure also provides a cheap alternative to store thermal energy (Weinstein et al., 2018) .

In such process, solar spectrum is first converted to hightemperature thermal energy and subsequently converted to electricity, and consequently, the entire solar spectrum can be utilized.

This intermediate thermal procedure also provides a cheap alternative to store thermal energy.


As expected in most solar thermal systems, Fig. 6(A) shows that higher concentration will lead to higher efficiency (Kylili et al., 2018) . The efficiency predicted in the generalized model illustrates that the TIRSC can serve as a capable candidate for harvesting solar energy, since it achieves higher efficiency than a TIEC-only system. Particularly, under the 500 solar irradiance, a TIRSC yields a 16% solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency, which is a 2.2X performance improvement as compared with TIEC. This implies that the TIRSC possesses a better performance in an extended concentration range. For low concentration, the TIRSC performs like the TRC due to the negligible electron flux in the TIEC. On the contrary, for high concentration, the TIRSC behaves like the TIEC, originating from great enhancement of the electron flux overshadows the photon flux contribution in the TRC. Moreover, the energy loss mechanisms in the TIRSC are further explored, as shown in Fig. 6(B) , where the system only with the NRR corresponds to the case of the linear potential distribution in the vacuum gap of the TIEC and the system only with the SCE means that the TRC is made of ideal semiconductor materials. The effects of the NRR and SCE on the performance of the solar cells are analyzed to identify the dominant loss contributors that restricts the overall efficiency of the TIRSC. For example, under 500 concentration, the SCE and NRR could lead to 7.6% and 6.3% performance degradations in contrast to the ideal case without these effects. It indicates that the SCE plays the most critical role in degrading the system performance, and more efforts should be paid to reduce its effects (Su et al., 2014) . As a result, early TIECs used ignited cesium plasma to neutralize space charge between the electrodes in the 1950se1980s. Such plasma TIECs achieved high power output, but only at the cost of greatly increased complexity and decreased maximum efficiency (Shefsiek, 2010) . As an alternative to using plasma, the deleterious effects of space charge can also be mitigated by making the interelectrode gap small enough so that there is not enough space to develop a significant additional energy barrier. It has long been known that such vacuum TIECs can be more efficient than plasma TIECs if micron-scale gaps are used (<10 mm). This fact has been a motivation for recent efforts to develop microfabricated thermionic energy converters (Khalid et al., 2016) . In general, a larger concentration factor corresponds to a larger input energy flux, and a higher electrode temperature corresponds to a larger current density (Kylili et al., 2018) . Thus, the optimum values of T C , T A , J 1 , and jJ 2 junder the maximum efficiency, monotonically increase with the concentration, as shown in Fig. 7(A) and (B). However, in Fig. 7 (C) the optimum cathode barrier and TRC bandgap are not a monotonic function of concentration and have the maximum value 3.85 eV and 0.165 eV under the condition of 900 and 1000 solar irradiance, respectively. The TIRSC performance data obtained from Figs. 5e7 shall offer a practical design of highperformance TIRSCs, thus paving the way towards the development of future concentrating solar plants (Sadi et al., 2019) .

As expected in most solar thermal systems, Fig. 6(A) shows that higher concentration will lead to higher efficiency.

It indicates that the SCE plays the most critical role in degrading the system performance, and more efforts should be paid to reduce its effects.

Such plasma TIECs achieved high power output, but only at the cost of greatly increased complexity and decreased maximum efficiency.

This fact has been a motivation for recent efforts to develop microfabricated thermionic energy converters.

In general, a larger concentration factor corresponds to a larger input energy flux, and a higher electrode temperature corresponds to a larger current density.

The TIRSC performance data obtained from Figs. 5e7 shall offer a practical design of highperformance TIRSCs, thus paving the way towards the development of future concentrating solar plants.


In addition, the true values of HALE would be somewhat lower than reported because data for residents of long-term care facilities were unavailable. Misclassification of diabetes status was present in both the survey data and the surveillance system data we used. In the CCHS, misclassification can be due to selfreporting bias, generally a tendency to underreport the true disease status. In the CCDSS, misclassification toward the nondiabetic status can be present in geographic areas where data were incomplete. Areas with a larger proportion of salaried physicians provide the least complete data, which results in identifying fewer individuals with disease. Consequently, the disease status concordance between the two data sources varies by province and territory [35, 36] . Linkage of these two data sources (CCDSS and CCHS) would provide a method to reduce the self-reporting bias and the misclassification error.

Consequently, the disease status concordance between the two data sources varies by province and territory.


The main motivation for designing GDBF was the fact that it improves position-based forwarding in several important aspects. First, removing the beacons eliminates a major part of routing overhead which occurs independently of actual data traffic. Next, the nodes do not have to store neighbor tables, reducing their individual resource usage. The neighbor tables may be inconsistent, in particular if the beacon interval is long, if beacons are lost, or if nodes change their positions very frequently [9] . Inconsistent neighbor tables can lead, among other things, to the following problem: when a neighbor is selected for forwarding it may already have moved out of transmission range. While handing the packet back to the routing layer for rerouting can prevent packet drops, the transmission will induce bandwidth-consuming MAC layer retries. Next, a node A may have just moved into the transmission range of node B. Until A transmits its next beacon, B cannot use A for the forwarding of packets. As a consequence, forwarding decisions may be suboptimal or packets may be dropped as undeliverable even though a route exists. GDBF can improve forwarding decisions since the restriction that packets can only be forwarded to a node present in the list of neighbors is removed. GDBF selects the next hop dynamically using control messages, hence taking mobility into consideration. But we assume that message speed is greater than mobility speed, so that there is no topological change during one hop operation of the protocol in the greedy mode. In the recovery mode, mobility may result in the formation of loop. Hence we assume that there is no topological change in the area where face routing is in progress, at least while traversing one face.

The neighbor tables may be inconsistent, in particular if the beacon interval is long, if beacons are lost, or if nodes change their positions very frequently.


Particles in the atmosphere are often divided into two categories, depending on whether they are directly emitted into the atmosphere or formed there by condensation (Fuzzi et al., 2006) . Primary organic aerosol (POA) particles are generally understood to be those that are released directly from various sources. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is formed in the atmosphere by condensation of low vapour pressure products from the oxidation of organic gases. The quantification of different types of aerosols such as SOA and POA (or more classes if possible) is important as source identification is the first step in all mitigation activities. Furthermore, SOA and POA may be associated with different sizes, chemical composition and physical properties and thus may have different effects on climate or health.

Particles in the atmosphere are often divided into two categories, depending on whether they are directly emitted into the atmosphere or formed there by condensation.


For turbulent flow, the drag coefficients showed a reduction between 4% and 11%, compared with those measured in smooth flow and also a small decreasing trend with Reynolds number. Further work is needed in order to investigate the possible reasons for this behavior, testing this and different sections with turbulence of different intensities and scales. For sharp-edged bluff bodies, separation of flow occurs at the sharp edges and corners for practically all values of Re of interest in wind engineering, in wind tunnel or full-scale problems. This leads to the fact that the dependence of pressure coefficients and consequently of drag coefficients on Reynolds number for sharp-edged bluff bodies (but not for rounded edges) is often negligible, at least in smooth flows [5, 7] . The same happens for the non-dimensional vortex shedding frequency for sharp-edged sections. Our results confirm this independence. On the other hand, in turbulent flows, some characteristics, as the turbulence small scales, can affect the pressure distributions and, in consequence, the resultant aerodynamic forces [8, 9] .

This leads to the fact that the dependence of pressure coefficients and consequently of drag coefficients on Reynolds number for sharp-edged bluff bodies (but not for rounded edges) is often negligible, at least in smooth flows.

Our results confirm this independence.

On the other hand, in turbulent flows, some characteristics, as the turbulence small scales, can affect the pressure distributions and, in consequence, the resultant aerodynamic forces.


In our new algorithm, we adapt two text-summarization methods to summarize Web pages. The first approach is based on significant-word selection adapted from Luhn's method [13] . The second method is based on Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) [7] . The experimental results show that both approaches achieve improvements compared with the puretext-based summarization.

The first approach is based on significant-word selection adapted from Luhn's method.

The second method is based on Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA).


The energetic materials RDX and HMX are two important explosives used in armaments and as energy components of propellants composites. They are usually incorporate to curable plastic materials, forming the plastic explosives. The powdered aluminum is frequently incorporate to the explosives to increase their efficiency with considerable earnings in explosion heat and obtainment of higher temperatures for the formed gases (Meyer, Köhler and Homburg, 2002) .

The powdered aluminum is frequently incorporate to the explosives to increase their efficiency with considerable earnings in explosion heat and obtainment of higher temperatures for the formed gases.


In the study of compatibility of RDX with Viton, the DSC curves for pure RDX, pure Viton and RDX mixed with Viton are presented in Fig. 1 . In the pure RDX DSC curve appears a sharp endothermic peak temperature of 205 o C and, immediately after, a wide exothermic peak temperature of 225 o C is observed. The first peak (endothermic) corresponds to the melting process and the second peak (exothermic) corresponds to the decomposition process (Pinheiro, 2003) .

The first peak (endothermic) corresponds to the melting process and the second peak (exothermic) corresponds to the decomposition process.


The military use of explosives demands a high destruction power, but it has to be safe and easy to handle as well as stock-piled for long periods of time, even in adverse climatic conditions. These explosives should be hard to detonate, except in conditions of programmed detonation. Another important characteristic is that military explosives have to be loaded into armaments as shells, bombs, missiles and others without difficulties (Mathieu and Stucki, 2004) .

Another important characteristic is that military explosives have to be loaded into armaments as shells, bombs, missiles and others without difficulties.


According to criteria established by STANAG 4147, temperature variation of 4 o C or more would be indicative of incompatibility; therefore, RDX and the aluminum would be considered compatible. However, it is observed that beyond the small displacement in the decomposition temperature, a new peak appears, in the temperature of 233 o C, which is a significant alteration, demanding further investigation before using that mixture. As that peak appears after the decomposition temperature, it can be an indicative of secondary reactions happening between products of the decomposition of RDX and Al (Antic and Dzingalasevic, 2006; Keicher, Happ and Kretschmer, 1999) . To obtain more data on Al possible interference in RDX, the compatibility study may be carried out using other methods such as TG before affirming that RDX and the aluminum are totally compatible.

As that peak appears after the decomposition temperature, it can be an indicative of secondary reactions happening between products of the decomposition of RDX and Al.


In the studies with HMX, the DSC curves present small endothermic peaks in the strip from 170 to 190 o C, which correspond to the crystalline transition of the β-HMX for the form crystalline δ-HMX (Pinheiro, 2003) . The exothermic peak temperature of 274 o C indicates the decomposition of HMX with the presence of a small peak before the main peak. The presence of Viton do not show any interference in the peaks of crystalline transition, as it can be observed in the Fig. 3 , in which the curves DSC of HMX with Viton, pure HMX and pure Viton are presented.

In the studies with HMX, the DSC curves present small endothermic peaks in the strip from 170 to 190 o C, which correspond to the crystalline transition of the β-HMX for the form crystalline δ-HMX.


In addition, longitudinal data are often collected in varying time intervals, for example, when testing the long-term influence of interventions on affect by collecting data in waves. In that case, the transition probabilities can no longer be considered time homogeneous, and continuous time modeling is necessary (Crayen, Eid, Lischetzke, & Vermunt, 2017) . Therefore, in future research, we will develop a continuoustime extension of LMFA.

In that case, the transition probabilities can no longer be considered time homogeneous, and continuous time modeling is necessary.


Poor spelling can have drastic effects on writing. It makes writing a labored activity with regular interruptions to the thought process by excessive attention to spelling (Moats, 2000 , cited in El-Dakhs & Mitchell, 2011 . Writers who must think too hard about how to spell use up valuable cognitive resources needed for higher level aspects of composition (Singer & Bashir, 2004 , cited in Moats, 2006 . Poor speller may restrict what they write to words they can spell which leads to loss of verbal power and sometimes incoherent pieces of writing (Moats, 2006) .

Poor speller may restrict what they write to words they can spell which leads to loss of verbal power and sometimes incoherent pieces of writing.


For enhance the climbing ability of spherical robot a new kind of spherical robot with climbing link mechanism is designed. This new kind of spherical robot can move in traditional way by the pendulum or climb a slope of great gradient by the new climbing link mechanism. When the spherical robot moving in Flat terrain, the spherical robot moves in traditional way by the pendulum, now there are no passive friction wheel in the robot, the friction are all used for motive power, the energy utilization is high, the spherical robot can do the omnidirectional motion When the spherical robot climbs abrupt slope, it will use the climbing link mechanism (Zhao et al., 2009) .

When the spherical robot moving in Flat terrain, the spherical robot moves in traditional way by the pendulum, now there are no passive friction wheel in the robot, the friction are all used for motive power, the energy utilization is high, the spherical robot can do the omnidirectional motion When the spherical robot climbs abrupt slope, it will use the climbing link mechanism.


Cortisol has been termed "the stress hormone" because it's also secreted in higher levels during the body's 'fight or flight' response to stress and body's reaction to a challenge and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body [26] [27] . Although the present work was not able to identify the factors responsible for the stress response in the combined vaccine group compared to the hexavalent vaccine group, the reason could be probably related to the high antigenic dose in the combined vaccine which unexpectedly served as a kind of stress on the animal. Stress of vaccination in some cases has been shown to trigger a latent infection into becoming a clinical disease [28] . Other environmental and managerial conditions cannot be also excluded.

Cortisol has been termed "the stress hormone" because it's also secreted in higher levels during the body's 'fight or flight' response to stress and body's reaction to a challenge and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body.

Stress of vaccination in some cases has been shown to trigger a latent infection into becoming a clinical disease.


In this study animals vaccinated with the hexavalent vaccine demonstrated a significant increases in both phagocytic activity and phagocytic index of neutrophils. These results may be attributed to stimulation of the innate immune response occurred post vaccination. Leukocyte chemotaxis has been modulated by FMD vaccine resulting in increased chemotactic activity in the blood, and mobilization of phagocytic cells from the bone marrow probably to the site of injection. Therefore, following FMD vaccination, phagocytic function would be enhanced, both in terms of the individual cell recruited and the increased number of migratory leucocytes [35] .

Therefore, following FMD vaccination, phagocytic function would be enhanced, both in terms of the individual cell recruited and the increased number of migratory leucocytes.


Hateful speech is not to be mistaken for "cyber-bullying," another form of troubling online content that has been widely discussed and studied in recent literature. Cyberbullying is repetitive, intentional, aggressive behavior against an individual, and it either creates or maintains a power imbalance between aggressor and target (Tokunaga, 2010) . It is often hateful but it does not necessarily denigrate a person based on his or her membership in a particular group, as hateful speech (the subject of the present work) does.

Cyberbullying is repetitive, intentional, aggressive behavior against an individual, and it either creates or maintains a power imbalance between aggressor and target.


Community-defined speech. As we will discuss in detail later, we use the language that emerges from self-organized communities (in Reddit and elsewhere) as the basis for our models of hateful speech. Our decision is based on a deep sociological literature that acknowledges that communities both form, and are formed by, coherent linguistic practices (Bucholtz and Hall, 2005) . Most groups are defined in part by the "relationships between language choice and rules of social appropriateness" forming speech communities (Gumperz, 2009) . In this way of thinking, the group is defined by the speech and the speech comes to define the group (Klein et al., 2007; Reicher et al., 1995; Spears and Lea, 1992; Spears and Lea, 1994) .

Community-defined speech.

Our decision is based on a deep sociological literature that acknowledges that communities both form, and are formed by, coherent linguistic practices.

Most groups are defined in part by the "relationships between language choice and rules of social appropriateness" forming speech communities.

In this way of thinking, the group is defined by the speech and the speech comes to define the group.


Existing approaches to detecting hateful speech. Despite widespread concern about hateful speech online, to our knowledge there have been only three distinct lines of work on the problem of automated detection of hateful speech. One study concerned the detection of racism using a Naive Bayes classifier (Kwok and Wang, 2013) . This work established the definitional challenge of hate speech by showing annotators could agree only 33% of the time on texts purported to contain hate speech. Another considered the problem of detecting anti-Semitic comments in Yahoo news groups using support vector machines (Warner and Hirschberg, 2012) . Notably, the training data for this classifier was hand-coded. As we will discuss in this paper, manually annotated training data admits the potential for hard-to-trace bias in the speech ultimately detected. A third study used a linguistic rule-based approach on tweets that had been collected using offensive keywords (Xiang et al., 2012) . Like manually annotated data, keyword-based data has significant biasing effects as well. In this work we aim to build on these studies in two ways. First, we will consider a definition of hateful speech that could be practically useful to platform operators. Second, we will develop a general method for the detection of hateful speech that does not depend on manually annotated or keyword-collected data.

One study concerned the detection of racism using a Naive Bayes classifier.

Another considered the problem of detecting anti-Semitic comments in Yahoo news groups using support vector machines.

A third study used a linguistic rule-based approach on tweets that had been collected using offensive keywords.


Scientists and tourism practitioners cooperate with each other during the whale watching experience at sea. When united in the same interactions, the differences between expert and local knowledge can be overcome because knowledge sharing is more direct and tacit. This finding is consistent with the concept that organizational knowledge is knowledge in practice, rather than objectified and commodified knowledge (Yanow, 2004) . The important role of interactions and practices between researchers and tourism-practitioners is relevant not only for nature-based tourism but also for other sub-sectors within tourism.

This finding is consistent with the concept that organizational knowledge is knowledge in practice, rather than objectified and commodified knowledge.


In Switzerland, the condition of the surface is measured not only by rut depth h but also by the depth of water level inside it h v . In France, water level in the rut is also standardised and, depending on traffic, ranges from 6 to 12 mm. In Poland, the depth of the rut is assessed according to its effect on traffic safety. All ruts are divided into four separate categories: 0, I, II and III for different road classes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of literature (publications) about requirements for permissible rut depth and justification principles and methods of road condition assessment indicators according to this parameter (Vasiliev 1999) . Lithuania has established 20 mm permissible rut depth without specifying whether it is the mean, or one single value. There are also no requirements for the standard deviation s h of rut depth. When verifying the condition of operating roads covered with the asphalt pavement, the total percentage of road sections having deeper than 20 mm ruts is counted. The article presents one of the first attempts to measure rut depth on Lithuanian roads and display the obtained statistics (Getautis, Sivilevičius 2009) .

Unfortunately, there is a lack of literature (publications) about requirements for permissible rut depth and justification principles and methods of road condition assessment indicators according to this parameter.

The article presents one of the first attempts to measure rut depth on Lithuanian roads and display the obtained statistics.


The procedure for designing an asphalt mix specifies a range in air void content from 3% to 5%. However, actual variability in the air void content of the road surface varies more because of differences in temperature and compacting. With reference to Michigan transport department, the tolerance of air void content in the compacted asphalt mixture is 91% from the target air void content of 3% to 5%. Therefore, practical and permissible variability in air void content is 2Á6%. In practice, the in-place air void content of the existing pavements varies across the lane (in the transverse direction) because of additional compaction in wheel paths due to traffic. This leads to differences in percent air voids across the asphalt mat. Such differences are independent of segregation (Chang et al. 2002) . Therefore, ruts appear in the wheel rolling strips of compressed asphalt.

Such differences are independent of segregation.


Pavement surface deflections have been successfully used as an indicator of airport pavement life (Gopalakrishnan 2008) . In this study, pavement surface deflections measured prior to trafficking have been related to the rutting performance of four flexible pavement test sections at the FAA's National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF). While a number of load repetitions N increases, the rut depth of airport runways is also growing regardless of the number of wheels in the airplane chassis.

Pavement surface deflections have been successfully used as an indicator of airport pavement life.


In general, pavement sections subjected to higher traffic volumes have a higher rate of deterioration. Consequently, thicker pavements with higher-quality materials are required for high traffic facilities (Zaghloul, Holland 2008) . Therefore, it is not possible to compare the structural capacity of two pavement sections such as high traffic main interstate highways and low-traffic rural roads subjected to different traffic intensity without taking into consideration traffic effects.

Consequently, thicker pavements with higher-quality materials are required for high traffic facilities.


In these methods, probit regressions which determine the probabilities that households will make a purchase are obtained from a binary censoring rule. These probit regressions are used to compute the inverse mill ratio for each household, which are then inserted in the second step as instrumental variables. These methods are straightforward to implement and thus have gained signi cant attention in applied work. However, these Heckman-type approaches rely on a critical assumption that the error processes follow a joint normal distribution to recover consistent estimates of the demand system and therefore are prone to distributional misspeci cation. Speci cally, when the underlying distribution between the error processes is normal then these methods yield estimates that are p n-consistent. On the other hand, if the wrong joint distribution is assumed then the parameter estimates are O (1) . Furthermore, these Hackman-type models assume homoscedasticity in the disturbances, which is not always true especially in cross-sectional data. If heteroscedasticity emerges in the error terms, not surprisingly these approaches may yield erroneous elasticity estimates with potentially signi cant economic implications.

On the other hand, if the wrong joint distribution is assumed then the parameter estimates are O.


The data of this research will be collected through the questionnaire. The questionnaires are distributed to 100 English Department students of Bina Nusantara University. The students are asked to fill specific questions related to their language practice and language attitude. The questions are structured to see whether the learning environment and their motivation of learning English affect their language practice, in this case the use of English. Asking the question about people's opinion toward certain language variation and practice through questionnaire is an effective method to observe language attitude and ideology besides interviewing (Choi, 2003) . This method is considered as a direct method, which includes "forms of overt questioning about the meanings of linguistic varieties" (Coupland, 2007) . Thus, by using this method, researchers give the respondents form, which contains questions related to their language choice, practice, and ask the respondents to give their opinion about it.

Asking the question about people's opinion toward certain language variation and practice through questionnaire is an effective method to observe language attitude and ideology besides interviewing.

This method is considered as a direct method, which includes "forms of overt questioning about the meanings of linguistic varieties".


A closed-form solution exists for the 'steady state' 'shock cooling' stresses [12] . In certain experiments, however, the measured 'shock cooling' stresses were found to be greater than those predicted by the 'steady state' solution. In order to explain this, a numerical solution based on the nite difference method was developed for the coupled thermal stress and heat transfer equations governing the transient axisymmetric temperature and stress distributions through the pipe wall before any ice has been formed.

A closed-form solution exists for the 'steady state' 'shock cooling' stresses.


Booleanization of constraints has thus remained an ongoing quest in the constraint programming (CP) community. For example, pseudo-Boolean constraints (integer linear constraints over the domain {0, 1}), including the special case of Boolean cardinality constraints, have come under continual scrutiny due to their resemblance to their Boolean cousins [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Restricted to finite domains, general integer linear constraints have also been Booleanized by transforming all constraints to primitive comparisons, of the form x ≤ c, and encoding each of these by a distinct Boolean variable [6] . Set constraints over a finite universe have been Booleanized by creating a Boolean variable for each possible element of a set [7] . For other types of constraints over finite domain variables, particularly extensional constraints (those given as explicit listings of allowed tuples), it's sometimes effective to use the well-known technique of encoding each value of a variable's domain with a distinct Boolean variable. These previous lines of work have allowed CP to directly benefit from the great advances in SAT and related technologies over the past decade. In attempting to further push the envelope, however, one identifies two major limitations in this body of work. First, the types of constraints dealt with are limited; in particular, many nonlinear operations (such as multiplication/division, min/max, and the example given below involving array access) frequently required in modeling are left unsupported. Second, the techniques proposed, being specific to the respective types of constraints they target, are not necessarily compatible and are implemented for different problem specification formats, making the Booleanization of heterogeneous constraint models a difficult task both in theory and practice.

For example, pseudo-Boolean constraints (integer linear constraints over the domain {0, 1}), including the special case of Boolean cardinality constraints, have come under continual scrutiny due to their resemblance to their Boolean cousins.

Restricted to finite domains, general integer linear constraints have also been Booleanized by transforming all constraints to primitive comparisons, of the form x ≤ c, and encoding each of these by a distinct Boolean variable.

Set constraints over a finite universe have been Booleanized by creating a Boolean variable for each possible element of a set.


Excessive concentrations of airborne PM affect not only human health and environment but also the exploitation properties of civil and military automotive vehicles (Allen et al., 2001; Konrad and Beebe, 2005) . The majority of non-paved roads are formed by thickening the existing soil. When vehicles are driven on this kind of road, road dust is raised to the air due to the force of shear and turbulence (Nicholson et al., 1989) . PM abrade moving mechanical parts of vehicles, and can damage internal combustion engines if passing inside the engine through the filters and leaky systems (Wenk and Bulakh, 2004; Warren et al., 2005) . Such environmental conditions reduce vehicle service time, increase repair costs, fuel and oil consumption, etc. Hardness of some particles was shown to be higher compared to the elements of mechanisms of road machinery; therefore their presence in the moving parts of engine causes abrasive attrition (Wenk and Bulakh, 2004) .

Excessive concentrations of airborne PM affect not only human health and environment but also the exploitation properties of civil and military automotive vehicles.

When vehicles are driven on this kind of road, road dust is raised to the air due to the force of shear and turbulence.

PM abrade moving mechanical parts of vehicles, and can damage internal combustion engines if passing inside the engine through the filters and leaky systems.

Hardness of some particles was shown to be higher compared to the elements of mechanisms of road machinery; therefore their presence in the moving parts of engine causes abrasive attrition.


The UML is increasingly being used to support the design of componentbased systems [5, 11] . Some of the UML diagrams have also been used to automatically generate test cases. Offutt and Abdurazik first proposed a mechanism that adapted state specification-based test data generation criteria to generate test cases from UML statecharts [12] . They subsequently extended their work to generate tests from UML collaboration diagrams [1] . Similarly, Briand and Labiche suggested using class diagrams, collaboration diagrams, or OCL to derive test requirements [3] .

The UML is increasingly being used to support the design of componentbased systems.

Offutt and Abdurazik first proposed a mechanism that adapted state specification-based test data generation criteria to generate test cases from UML statecharts.

They subsequently extended their work to generate tests from UML collaboration diagrams.

Similarly, Briand and Labiche suggested using class diagrams, collaboration diagrams, or OCL to derive test requirements.


Our goal is to extend the idea of the Fourier-Laguerre expansion of the solution and consider it as a semi-discretization approach with respect to time [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8] . Then, we need to solve a recurrent sequence of stationary problems for Navier equations. The advantage of this semi-discretization approach, compared to Laplace transform, is the simple representation of the numerical solution. In our case, it is a partial sum of the Fourier-Laguerre series. Since the solution domain is unbounded, the use of classical integral equation methods with a volume potential would be ineffective. Instead, we present the solution in terms of a boundary potentials using explicit fundamental solutions of the obtained sequence. This approach gives us the possibility to reduce the stationary differential problems to a sequence of boundary integral equations.

Our goal is to extend the idea of the Fourier-Laguerre expansion of the solution and consider it as a semi-discretization approach with respect to time.


The receptor activity is modified posttranslationally by phosphorylation, sumoylation and ubiquitination as well as controlled by a myriad of coregulators [4] [5] [6] . Research in the field continues to reveal new roles for these receptors in a variety of normal and disease conditions. In this review we trace the history of the receptor discovery and describe their identified features and posttranslational modifications.

The receptor activity is modified posttranslationally by phosphorylation, sumoylation and ubiquitination as well as controlled by a myriad of coregulators.


As a comparison for our model, we compared the test RMSE to four other models: (1) using the global average, (2) a model comprised of the global average adjusted by local user and item bias terms, (3) a linear regression model on the entire data matrix, and (4) PMF (as implemented in GraphLab [16] ). All of these models are deterministic, and consistently produce the same answer (for the same parameter values). However, the LaD-BAE model is susceptible to seeding conditions, and therefore an average over 5 runs is given.

As a comparison for our model, we compared the test RMSE to four other models: (1) using the global average, (2) a model comprised of the global average adjusted by local user and item bias terms, (3) a linear regression model on the entire data matrix, and (4) PMF (as implemented in GraphLab).


In spite of important resources devoted to PHC reforms initiated in Quebec in the early 2000s, results so far have been limited in terms of experience of care improvement, reduction of utilization of services, and unmet needs. This is the conclusion we can draw when we compare the evolution of PHC practices that have become FMGs, NCs, or FMG-NCs to that of PHC practices that have not acquired such status. This is not to say that the healthcare system has not improved as a whole. For example, we observed that continuity has increased at the system level but more so in practices that were not FMG, NC, or FMG-NC. Accessibility has decreased but much less than it would have without FMGs, NCs, and FMG-NCs. These examples highlight the fact that it is hazardous and perhaps unfair to attribute specific effects of a social policy to a single intervention, be it success or failure. Social systems are complex and their components are highly interactive. The effect of a change may induce other, often unexpected, changes. Finally, implementing policy changes takes time [53] . This is the conclusion of a recent article that assessed one of the earliest and largest medical home pilots implemented in the United States [54] . How long it takes to realistically and fairly assess sustainable benefits brought about by primary care reforms such as the ones initiated in Québec in the early 2000s remains difficult to ascertain.

Finally, implementing policy changes takes time.

This is the conclusion of a recent article that assessed one of the earliest and largest medical home pilots implemented in the United States.


With the increasing age, treatment of patients following acetabular fractures becomes more challenging. Not only comorbidities with its subsequent increase in perioperative complications, but also the poor bone quality (osteoporosis) tends to result in unfavorable outcomes [4] . Several prognostic factors have been identified to determine the outcome. They can be categorized as patient factors, injury factors, and treatment factors [4] . Of these three entities, only treatment factors can be influenced in order to determine the patient's outcome following acetabular fractures. Patient factors include age, degree of osteoporosis, comorbidities, presence of degenerative joint disease, premorbid activity level, and mental function [4] . Injury factors include the presence of associate injuries and the fracture pattern [4, 5] . In elderly patients, especially comminuted fractures of the posterior wall or the quadrilateral surface have been identified to be prognostic factors determining functional outcome. Further prognostic injury factors include the degree of intra-articular comminution, articular cartilage damage, and the location and degree of femoral head impaction. In addition, the timing of presentation has to be considered, delayed presentation is associated with unfavorable outcomes. Treatment factors include the management chosen (conservative, open reduction and internal fixation, total hip arthroplasty acute or delayed), the management of perioperative complications, and the quality and timing of the named management [4] .

Not only comorbidities with its subsequent increase in perioperative complications, but also the poor bone quality (osteoporosis) tends to result in unfavorable outcomes.

They can be categorized as patient factors, injury factors, and treatment factors.

Patient factors include age, degree of osteoporosis, comorbidities, presence of degenerative joint disease, premorbid activity level, and mental function.

Injury factors include the presence of associate injuries and the fracture pattern.

Treatment factors include the management chosen (conservative, open reduction and internal fixation, total hip arthroplasty acute or delayed), the management of perioperative complications, and the quality and timing of the named management.


CCTV cameras have been widely deployed for various purposes such as surveillance, crime investigation, and disaster monitoring in the past decade. Facial images captured by CCTV cameras or mobile devices are utilized as clues in the investigation of criminal suspects in forensic applications. The state-of-the-art commercial face recognition systems have achieved perfect accuracy in matching facial images acquired in controlled scenarios, but face identification and retrieval are still processed by human examiners. They are very inefficient in terms of performance and time, because the investigator has to match the captured facial images one by one with the criminal face database in order to find the criminal suspect. Therefore an automated facial image retrieval system has become a recent research issue for forensic application [1] [2] [3] . Facial images in the real world have many challenging factors such as facial expression, illumination, pose, aging, and occlusion. These factors can decrease the true acceptance rate from 99% to below 60%, so the topic of face recognition algorithms is studied in order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks [4] . Furthermore, one of the most significant issues in the surveillance environment where people are not cooperating with the system is occlusion, which involves both intentional occlusion such as a hat, sunglasses, or scarf and natural occlusion such as a beard, hand, or makeup. Figure 1 shows examples of partially occluded facial images from the benchmark database. The occlusion causes falling-off of the performance of face recognition, because it distorts the appearance of the face and reduces the information to represent the facial image, as shown in the figure.

Therefore an automated facial image retrieval system has become a recent research issue for forensic application.

These factors can decrease the true acceptance rate from 99% to below 60%, so the topic of face recognition algorithms is studied in order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.


We say that the non-exhibiting test set is correlated to the exhibiting test set to the extent that this is true. Test suites developed under TDD are a good source of exhibiting tests [8] . However, they are not a good source of strongly correlated non-exhibiting tests-indeed the TDD methodology does not call for the explicit construction of "tests that do not test feature X". Because of this, we believe that techniques like Software Reconnaissance and Execution Slices cannot be used effectively with a typical testsuite developed under TDD, unless developers are willing and knowledgeable enough to develop sufficiently correlated non-exhibiting tests themselves.

Test suites developed under TDD are a good source of exhibiting tests.


As knowledge worker roles become more specialised and autonomous, and learning for work becomes continual and personalised, individuals must take greater responsibility for their own learning, managing their short-and long-term learning needs accordingly (Littlejohn & Margaryan, 2014) . For today's professionals, learning for work often blends deliberate, formalised learning with reactive, non-formal learning (Eraut, 2000) . Formal learning opportunities may be provided through in-house training, professional bodies, or educational institutions, with costs borne by the individual or their employer. However, time and financial commitments can present barriers to learning in this way.

As knowledge worker roles become more specialised and autonomous, and learning for work becomes continual and personalised, individuals must take greater responsibility for their own learning, managing their short-and long-term learning needs accordingly.

For today's professionals, learning for work often blends deliberate, formalised learning with reactive, non-formal learning.


The development of higher-power electric chargers is imperative for the adoption of electric vehicles. Whether wired or wireless, the infrastructure required for the large-scale implementation of electric vehicles must be powerful, convenient, and flexible to alleviate the need for large onboard energy storage, which now is a significant inhibitor to BEVs [15] . This viewpoint is apparent in public opinion. In surveys given on the use of electric vehicles, range and charging concerns largely dominated the responses [16] . Additionally, high-power charging is a key to reduce long electric vehicle refueling times which can typically take about 8 hours (i.e., overnight charging for about 100 miles of driving with a level-II charger). Furthermore, electrified heavy vehicles, such as delivery trucks or tractor trailers, could possibly require battery power of up to 140kW, and require even higher charging levels to charge in a reasonable time. Although most HPWPT systems are currently limited to about 50kW per pickup, it is not inconceivable to run multiple modules in parallel to achieve charging levels of up to 200kW. As the affordability of the systems is always paramount for industry acceptance, many of the current real-world implementations of these systems are for electric buses, which stop over the coils as part of their route. In many cases, these systems have proven to be less costly than conventional diesel buses and much more environmentally attractive for city centers.

Whether wired or wireless, the infrastructure required for the large-scale implementation of electric vehicles must be powerful, convenient, and flexible to alleviate the need for large onboard energy storage, which now is a significant inhibitor to BEVs.

In surveys given on the use of electric vehicles, range and charging concerns largely dominated the responses.


With these implementations, WPT is becoming more accepted and widespread. Industry and commercial partners are active in this area and own the majority of high-power systems. As one result of this increased interest, the most recent development in this area is the Society of Automotive Engineers' J2954 Technical Information Report (TIR) on WPT [17] . In this TIR, four power levels are defined for WPT, the highest of which is 22kVA from the grid (assuming 0.95 power *In some case, system power ratings are given for the total system instead of per pickup ratings.

As one result of this increased interest, the most recent development in this area is the Society of Automotive Engineers' J2954 Technical Information Report (TIR) on WPT.


The notion of computation plays a central role in several scientic endeavours, and especially in the computer and cognitive sciences. These two elds understood broadly not only use computational tools and models in their investigations, but have as their subject matter physical systems believed to be computational in nature. This claim is somewhat more controversial in the case of the cognitive sciences, as the computational theory of cognition, despite its widespread adoption since the Cognitive Revolution in the '50s, has found many detractors through the years. However, occasional scepticism notwithstanding, a large consensus has formed around the idea that cognitive systems are computational a consensus that survives and thrives to this day (Kriegeskorte & Douglas 2018) . Their computational nature, moreover, is supposed to help explain their cognitive nature and their capacity to lead to intelligent behaviour. As Fodor (1985, p. 93) once put it, the fundamental breakthrough of the Cognitive Revolution in comparison to past (representational) theories of mind was the adoption of the notion of computation to explain cognitive processing.

However, occasional scepticism notwithstanding, a large consensus has formed around the idea that cognitive systems are computational a consensus that survives and thrives to this day.


Let A = {H 1 , ... , H d } ⊂ C n+1 be a central arrangement of d hyperplanes, with Milnor Fiber F A , and intersection lattice L(A). For any edge X ∈ L(A), we note A X := {H ∈ A | X ⊂ H} the corresponding subarrangement. We associate to A the projective arrangement A ′ ⊂ P n C obtained by associating to a hyperplane H ∈ A, given by ℓ H = 0, the hyperplane H ′ ∈ P [14] .

We associate to A the projective arrangement A ′ ⊂ P n C obtained by associating to a hyperplane H ∈ A, given by ℓ H = 0, the hyperplane H ′ ∈ P.


However, in the course of treatment the multi peak and the large search space function optimization problems, the convergence rate of AFSA algorithm is slow and easy to fall into local optimal solution. At the same time, the experiences of group members are not used for the next moves. In order to improve the optimization performance of the AFSA, many scholars have proposed some improved algorithm [20] [21] [22] [23] . Although all the methods can improve the performance to some extent, but it still can not get satisfactory results for some of the functions. In this paper, we proposed a new method based on some new behavior. This paper is organized as follows. Related work is described in Section 2. In Section 3 the background of AFSA is presented. The improved algorithm is presented in Section 4. In Section 5 some experimental tests, results and conclusions are given. Section 6 concludes the paper.

In order to improve the optimization performance of the AFSA, many scholars have proposed some improved algorithm.

This paper is organized as follows.

Related work is described in Section 2.

Section 6 concludes the paper.


China has experienced rapid growth of economy and urbanization since the end of the 1970s when the Reform and Opening policy was officially implemented [6] . Although China has dramatically accelerated economic growth, its regional unbalanced development is also prominent, in particular, there is a considerable disparity between eastern coastal areas and western inland areas in terms of income and public services [7, 8] . Most public service resources are strongly concentrated in well-developed regions, especially big cities, while fewer resources are allocated in the western inland and underdeveloped regions [9] [10] [11] . Faced with this situation, which could lead to greater social conflicts, the Chinese government is committed to changing the phenomenon and the conception of Although hospitals are almost the most important healthcare resources and their regional distribution can have far reaching impact on social sustainability, there have been few debates on the distribution of China's hospitals, especially according to the unique structural system of hospitals with Chinese characteristics. For instance, is the regional distribution of China's various hospitals balanced or not? What is the level of regional maldistribution of various hospitals? What roles do various hospitals play in regional maldistribution of hospitals (RMH)? If the level of RMH changed, why? Further research is needed to solve these problems and fill the research gap. Through this research, it is expected to cover the shortage of related studies on regional maldistribution of China's hospitals based on their unique structural system, provide indicative references for solutions to solving the problem about RMH, and promote health equity for social sustainability.

China has experienced rapid growth of economy and urbanization since the end of the 1970s when the Reform and Opening policy was officially implemented.

Although China has dramatically accelerated economic growth, its regional unbalanced development is also prominent, in particular, there is a considerable disparity between eastern coastal areas and western inland areas in terms of income and public services.

Most public service resources are strongly concentrated in well-developed regions, especially big cities, while fewer resources are allocated in the western inland and underdeveloped regions.

If the level of RMH changed, why?


Health inequity or inequality is a worldwide problem for social sustainability. As the comprehensive carrier of healthcare resources, hospitals and their regional distribution are worthy of research and attention for social sustainable development. Especially in China, not only do hospitals have obvious regional distribution characteristics, but they also have their unique structural system. Meanwhile, previous studies are rarely interested in regional distribution of China's hospitals from their unique structural system, as well relatively lack of quantitative methods to study the relevant area of social sustainability [1] . Consequently, the study on regional distribution of various hospitals is helpful for both researchers and policy makers. Nevertheless, we should also note the method of Gini Coefficient and the indicator of the per capita hospitals are not perfect, and more in-depth and systematic study on the specific problems of China's hospitals needs to be conducted in the future.

Meanwhile, previous studies are rarely interested in regional distribution of China's hospitals from their unique structural system, as well relatively lack of quantitative methods to study the relevant area of social sustainability.


In addition to the processing and deployment advantages already well-recognized in the flexible electronics community, adding photonics into the picture further furnishes numerous intriguing opportunities beyond the current capabilities of flexible electronics. Light is the preferred carrier for ultra-high bandwidth data communications and is inherently immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI); spectroscopic signatures extracted from optical measurements provide unambiguous information about chemical species; and there are also many applications which rely on light-matter interactions and inevitably involves photonics technologies, such as lighting, imaging, and display. As one specific application example leveraging the unique benefits of photons, flexible optical waveguides are currently being pursued for board-level data communications to replace conventional electrical interconnects in order to improve datacenter energy efficiency and bandwidth density, where their mechanical flexibility facilitates highdensity, low-cost packaging and assembly [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] . Flexible and stretchable photonic structures can also be conformally integrated on arbitrary curvilinear optical surfaces to impart unconventional functions (e.g., aberration compensation) to the optical element underneath [13, 14] . Last but not least, mechanical deformation presents a simple and elegant approach for broadband photonic device tuning and reconfiguration [15] [16] [17] [18] .

As one specific application example leveraging the unique benefits of photons, flexible optical waveguides are currently being pursued for board-level data communications to replace conventional electrical interconnects in order to improve datacenter energy efficiency and bandwidth density, where their mechanical flexibility facilitates highdensity, low-cost packaging and assembly.

Flexible and stretchable photonic structures can also be conformally integrated on arbitrary curvilinear optical surfaces to impart unconventional functions (e.g., aberration compensation) to the optical element underneath.

Last but not least, mechanical deformation presents a simple and elegant approach for broadband photonic device tuning and reconfiguration.


Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are promising renewable technologies which use microorganisms as catalysts to drive the oxidation and reduction reactions on the solid-state electrodes [2] . Two most widely studied BESs are microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) [3] . In an typical MFC, microorganisms oxidize organic matters and transfer electrons to anode, either in a direct manner or a indirect manner. The electrons flow through the circuit to the cathode, where they are consumed in the reduction of oxygen [4] . In such process, electricity was generated from decomposition of organic matters in MFC. MEC is a type of modified MFC, in which no oxygen is present and hydrogen is produced through the reduction of protons in the cathode chamber when a small voltage ( 0.2 V in practice) is added across the anode and cathode [5] .

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are promising renewable technologies which use microorganisms as catalysts to drive the oxidation and reduction reactions on the solid-state electrodes.

Two most widely studied BESs are microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs).

The electrons flow through the circuit to the cathode, where they are consumed in the reduction of oxygen.

MEC is a type of modified MFC, in which no oxygen is present and hydrogen is produced through the reduction of protons in the cathode chamber when a small voltage ( 0.2 V in practice) is added across the anode and cathode.


Several indicators support the idea that switchbacks and the quiescent ground state are distinct. First, the similarity between the waiting and residence time distributions suggests that switchbacks correspond to a deviation from the ground state, which excludes the existence of a bistable state as observed, for example, in some plasma instabilities [47] . Second, the relative excess of occurrences of long quiescent regimes pleads in favor of their different nature. A third indicator is the different spectral density of B R , which we interpret as a signature of un-evolved solar wind for the quiescent regime.

First, the similarity between the waiting and residence time distributions suggests that switchbacks correspond to a deviation from the ground state, which excludes the existence of a bistable state as observed, for example, in some plasma instabilities.


The approach adopted by the measurement community for computing metrics like ATF time and SpeedIndex requires taking a series of screenshots of the Webpage loading progress and post-processing the captured frames. Unfortunately, this approach is computationally intensive, which makes these metrics complex to measure [15] . Our first contribution (presented in Section 3) is to propose a tractable method to estimate the ATF metric, and offer an open-source implementation as a Chrome extension [5] .

Unfortunately, this approach is computationally intensive, which makes these metrics complex to measure.

Our first contribution (presented in Section 3) is to propose a tractable method to estimate the ATF metric, and offer an open-source implementation as a Chrome extension.


Over the last decade, significant improvements were made in radiation therapy technologies. In fact, the new medical linear accelerators or dedicated technologies are now able to irradiate the planned target volumes and avoid adjacent organs at risk using intensity-modulated fields [9, 10] . Moreover, increased use is being made of radiosurgery for small cranial lesions and stereotactic body radiation therapy for small body targets. These progresses called for a simultaneous improvement of detectors and dosimeters for the maintenance of a satisfactory quality assurance programme of these systems. Furthermore, the possibility to perform prompt checks of the delivered dose through in vivo dosimetry studies becomes extremely important for RT treatments characterised by a high dose per single fraction [11] .

In fact, the new medical linear accelerators or dedicated technologies are now able to irradiate the planned target volumes and avoid adjacent organs at risk using intensity-modulated fields.

Furthermore, the possibility to perform prompt checks of the delivered dose through in vivo dosimetry studies becomes extremely important for RT treatments characterised by a high dose per single fraction.