We can refer to cloud computing as being a remarkable and outstanding IT in-novation in today's life. It is mainly based on the fact that cloud can produce resources and services of computing since it is a modern and distinguished technique. The services provided by cloud computing are numerous and can be classified into the following: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) as well as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) [1] . These services are also offered on the largest data canters scale such as Amazon, Google, and even Microsoft which draws the attention of several numbers of customers around the globe. As regards minor as well as medium size businesses, cloud computing relocation develops noteworthy and big savings from the economic perspective. As a matter of fact, cloud computing relocation is mainly dependent on the model of "pay per use" in respect with prices, as the payment by the user is based on his using or consuming the available resources [2] . And in spite of all the advantages offered by the cloud computing relocation, there are however some obstacles and problems which may occur such as inter-provider data portability problem, energy conservation problem, as well as security problem [3] .

The services provided by cloud computing are numerous and can be classified into the following: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) as well as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

As a matter of fact, cloud computing relocation is mainly dependent on the model of "pay per use" in respect with prices, as the payment by the user is based on his using or consuming the available resources.

And in spite of all the advantages offered by the cloud computing relocation, there are however some obstacles and problems which may occur such as inter-provider data portability problem, energy conservation problem, as well as security problem.


The intersection between the set of 16 BACs sequenced using the Illumina instrument and the set of 52 BACs sequenced using Sanger is a set of seven BACs (highlighted in bold in Table 7 ), but one of these seven BACs is not full-length (052L22). We used the six full-length Sanger-based BAC assemblies as the "ground truth" to assess the quality of the assemblies from Illumina reads at increasing depth of sequencing. To this end, we generated datasets corresponding to 100x, 250x, 500x, 1,000x, 2,000x, 3,500x, 5,000x, 6,000x, 7,000x and 8,000x depth of sequencing (for each of the six BACs), by sampling uniformly short reads from the high-depth datasets. For each choice of the depth of sequencing, we generated twenty different datasets, for a total of 1,200 datasets. We assembled the reads on each dataset with VELVET v1.2.09 (with hash value k = 79 to minimize the probability of false overlaps) and collected statistics for the resulting assemblies. Figure 4 shows the value of n50 (A), the size of the largest contig (B), the percentage of the target BAC not available in the assembly (C), and number of assembly errors (D) for increasing depth of sequencing. Each point in the graph is the average over the twenty datasets, and error bars indicate the standard deviation. In order to compute the number of assembly errors we used the tool developed for the GAGE competition [13] . According to GAGE, the number of assembly errors is defined as the number of locations with insertion/deletions of at least six nucleotides, plus the number of translocations and inversions.

In order to compute the number of assembly errors we used the tool developed for the GAGE competition.


Finally, we discussed a number of possible alternatives that have been proposed for blank nodes, by us, the community, and the RDF 1.1 Working Group. We generally concluded that any change to the core semantics of blank nodes would now incur a great cost, particularly given their use in numerous standards, their support implemented by various tools, and their presence in millions of RDF documents published on the Web. The most practical solution going forward would seem to be to leave the standard semantics of blank nodes as they are, offering methods for practitioners to optionally map them to Skolem IRIs where necessary. And indeed, this would seem to be the strategy that the RDF 1.1 Working Group has adopted [37, 20] .

And indeed, this would seem to be the strategy that the RDF 1.1 Working Group has adopted.


We then began surveying the use of blank nodes in published data. Analysing the BTC-2012 dataset, we found that 25.7% of unique terms were blank nodes, that 44.9% of documents contained at least one blank node, and that 66.2% of domains use some blank node(s). We thus concluded that blank nodes are prevalent in real-world data despite, e.g., the fact that they are discouraged from use in various Linked Data guidelines [38] . The largest producers of blank nodes were the data.gov.uk, freebase.com and livejournal.com sites, where the former two are in the LOD cloud. Looking at the complexity of real-world blank node structures, we found that the data.gov.uk site produces a large number of cyclical blank graphs, but that aside from this domain, the vast majority of blank nodes form trees. The highest treewidth we found for a real-world blank graph was 6, translating into an empirical upper bound of O(n 2 + mn 14 ) for the simple entailment check G |= H where |G| = m and |H| = n. Otherwise, almost all blank graphs were acyclical. We then conducted a survey to see why publishers use blank nodes; based on 88 responses, we found that the current semantics of blank nodes generalised the intent of publishers when using them in 97.7% of cases.

We thus concluded that blank nodes are prevalent in real-world data despite, e.g., the fact that they are discouraged from use in various Linked Data guidelines.


In addition to geometric parameters, we investigated the influence of the membrane's prestress on the conversion coefficient under free external load as shown in figure 6 . In this study, all parameters other than the prestress σ 0 are the same as listed in table 1. While the prestress is varied from 0.1×10 5 to 2.0×10 5 N m −2 , the membrane's effective bending stiffness D increases, and the resonant frequencies of the harvester thus also increase. The conversion coefficient peak also shifts to the higher frequency correspondingly. In contrast to the effects of the membrane's thickness h on the effective bending stiffness D (proportional to h 3 ), the prestress, which is only linear function of the bending stiffness, can only have a moderate effect on the elastic membrane's strain energy and hence the elastic dissipative energy [10] . Therefore, the amplitude of the conversion coefficient peak, instead of decreasing continuously like observed from figure 4(a) while the prestress increases, gradually reaches a best value of 48% when σ 0 =0.5×10 5 N m −2 , and then deceases gradually. It can be understood that the membrane with an optimized value of prestress leads to a very high magnet effect, and hence results in the best conversion coefficient. This state of membrane, therefore, is generally called 'acoustic impedance matching' [18] . Based on these parameter analyses, we optimized the energy harvester design. Due to the complex of the multiple value optimization, in this study, only two parameters: the external load R l and the radius of the mass b are selected. In this study the prestress σ 0 =0.5×10 5 N m −2 is selected. While other parameters are kept the same as listed in the table 1, two parameters (the mass' radius and the external load R l ) are varied to find the optimized harvesting coefficient. Figure 7 shows the optimized harvesting coefficients corresponding to several values of the given mass radius b and optimized value of the external load R l . We observed that the maximum harvesting coefficient peak is 36% while the possible capacity of the harvester is no more than 50%. It can be realized that with a given value of b, there will have a corresponding optimized value of R l or R l /R i . The result indicates that increasing b will lower the optimized value of R l /R i . Lowering the ratio R l /R i makes the portion of the harvested energy in the total electric energy or conversion energy decreased. As a result, the harvesting coefficient can be decreased as shown in the figure 7.

In contrast to the effects of the membrane's thickness h on the effective bending stiffness D (proportional to h 3 ), the prestress, which is only linear function of the bending stiffness, can only have a moderate effect on the elastic membrane's strain energy and hence the elastic dissipative energy.

This state of membrane, therefore, is generally called 'acoustic impedance matching'.


In this paper, the MAM harvester is based on axisymmetric model, which can produce elegant analytical solutions for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous problems. Based on the model, the parameter effect and optimization can easily be conducted. The similar approach can easily be extended for other types of structures such as rectangular MAMs or MAMs with multiple attached masses. However, for the cases with the general geometries, the point-matching method should be employed to numerically solve the governing equations and determine the magnet force [9, 10] .

However, for the cases with the general geometries, the point-matching method should be employed to numerically solve the governing equations and determine the magnet force.


This article is part of a research direction devoted to symmetries of difference equations [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] . It is not difficult to discretize linear differential equations while preserving their Lie point symmetries, realized by difference operators, rather than by continuous vector fields [3, 4] . The same cannot be said for nonlinear difference equations. The fact that the Burgers equation is both interesting and linearizable turns it into a most suitable tool for investigating symmetries of nonlinear difference equations. Furthermore, it can serve as a prototype for calculating symmetries of integrable difference equations.

This article is part of a research direction devoted to symmetries of difference equations.

It is not difficult to discretize linear differential equations while preserving their Lie point symmetries, realized by difference operators, rather than by continuous vector fields.


Generally, most Lactobacillus strains harbor one or more plasmid species, the size of which can vary from 1.2 to 150 kb [8] . Although many of the plasmids are cryptic, some important functions that relate to lactose metabolism, antibiotic resistance, bacteriocin production, and immunity, DNA restriction and modification, exopolysaccharide production, N-acetyl glucosamine fermentation, and transport of certain amino acids (e.g., cysteine) have been found to be encoded by plasmids [9, 10] . Three strains of L. reuteri were characterized as having plasmids, among which 18 plasmids of various sizes (1.87-53.0 kb) have been sequenced at the time of this writing (https://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/genome/plasmids/438). Some of these plasmids carry genes that may contribute to environmental adaptation of the host cell, as these genes were found to encode proteins associated with plasmid replication, antibiotic resistance, amino acid or sugar transport, and restriction-modification system [11] [12] [13] [14] .

Generally, most Lactobacillus strains harbor one or more plasmid species, the size of which can vary from 1.2 to 150 kb.

Although many of the plasmids are cryptic, some important functions that relate to lactose metabolism, antibiotic resistance, bacteriocin production, and immunity, DNA restriction and modification, exopolysaccharide production, N-acetyl glucosamine fermentation, and transport of certain amino acids (e.g., cysteine) have been found to be encoded by plasmids.

Some of these plasmids carry genes that may contribute to environmental adaptation of the host cell, as these genes were found to encode proteins associated with plasmid replication, antibiotic resistance, amino acid or sugar transport, and restriction-modification system.


From the loading of UDEC model, the peak strength, the CI stress, and the CD stress were obtained. The CI stress ratios ( ci / cn ) at first decreased and then increased as the flaw inclination angle increased, which was also observed in some references [7, 32, 39] . With the increasing of flaw length, the variation shape of the CI stress ratios changed from "V" into "U"; note that some points are not within the scope of the law. One plausible explanation was due to definition of the CI stress. In this paper, Poisson's ratio method was used to obtain the crack initiation stress [19] . But in actual operation, the CI stress is defined with 10% change of Poisson's ratio in some models. Another plausible explanation was due to random distribution of block sizes.

The CI stress ratios ( ci / cn ) at first decreased and then increased as the flaw inclination angle increased, which was also observed in some references.

In this paper, Poisson's ratio method was used to obtain the crack initiation stress.


Beyond whom the victimization was initially reported to, another important consideration may be the relationship of the offender to the victim in predicting whether or not the confidant reports the incident, and thus, whether official action is taken. Consistent with previous studies, we found that abuse perpetrated by a parent or stepparent was likely to be reported to the police or other authorities (Lanning, 1996) . In fact, 57% of the cases involving a parental figure were eventually brought to the attention of appropriate authorities. In addition, more than 48% of the incidents of sexual abuse that involved another adult relative as the offender were reported to authorities. In comparison, cases that involved the respondent being assaulted by a friend were not likely to come to the attention of authorities. Only 15% of these incidents were eventually reported to the police or other authorities. The largest percentage of arrests made were those where the offender was classified as "other adult relative." A total of 27% of these offenders were arrested. Other offenders who were likely to be arrested were neighbors (19% of those arrested), and other adults (13%). Intervention in abuse situations that involve extended family members or other adults as the perpetrators may be viewed as less intrusive than those cases with parental figures as the offenders. An arrest was made in only 5% of the cases with a parent or stepparent as the abuser. Sexual victimization incidents where a friend or another child was the offender were least likely to result in an arrest, with only approximately 5% and 3%, respectively, of each group being arrested.

Consistent with previous studies, we found that abuse perpetrated by a parent or stepparent was likely to be reported to the police or other authorities.


Although the current study provides important insights into the experiences of adolescent victims of sexual assault, there are several important limitations. Relying on self-report data may lead to problems of over-or underreports. Adolescents may refuse to provide information on their abuse, especially because sexual assaults may be highly traumatic or if the respondent feels in some way responsible for her or his victimization. On the other hand, some respondents may report such incidents even if they have never occurred. Although these are potential problems, most studies have demonstrated that self-report data is relatively reliable and valid (Hindelang, Hirschi, & Weis, 1979 , 1981 Hirschi & Selvin, 1967; Secades-Villa & Fernández-Hermida, 2003) .

Although these are potential problems, most studies have demonstrated that self-report data is relatively reliable and valid.


Although friends of the adolescent are the most likely offenders, parent and stepparent offenders are the offenders most likely to be reported to authorities. This pattern of reporting to authority figures is a representation of society's perception of who is most dangerous to children and when intervention is needed to protect children (Karski, 1999; Lanning, 1996) . The child or adolescent who is victimized in the home may be perceived as the most at risk, as they are likely to be in contact with the offender on a daily basis. Still, even though a large number of parental offenders are reported, few of these cases resulted in an arrest.

This pattern of reporting to authority figures is a representation of society's perception of who is most dangerous to children and when intervention is needed to protect children.


Mushrooms are not only a source of income for the collectors and tourism businesses but may soon provide an economic incentive for the forest landowners. A recent survey demonstrated that Catalonians are willing to pay for the experience of picking wild mushrooms [17] . Consequently we could expect incentives for improved forest management. When mushrooms become a source of revenue for forest managers, management priorities shift and interventions such as thinning, pruning, and control of invasive plants are carried out on a more frequent basis with forests significantly less vulnerable to wildfire, and much more protected from overgrazing.

A recent survey demonstrated that Catalonians are willing to pay for the experience of picking wild mushrooms.


Inter-lingual errors can be identified as transfer errors that result from a learner's first language features, for example grammatical, lexical or pragmatic errors. On the other hand, intra-lingual errors are overgeneralisations (Richards & Schmidt 2002:379) in the target language, resulting from ignorance of rule restrictions, incomplete applications of rules, and false concepts hypothesised. Orthography is the correct way of writing a particular language. The term orthography comes from the Greek language and means 'correct way of writing'. The conventional spelling system of a language is therefore part of its orthography. Orthography is the standardised procedure of a writing system, which includes spelling, pronunciation, word break and emphasis. Punctuation, word break and emphasis are not major problems for learners, but spelling is a problem for the majority of learners. In the English language, spelling plays an important role in the writing process (Franklin 2014) . Languages have either deep or shallow orthographies. If a sentence has incorrectly spelt words, the meaning and message of the sentence may be distorted. For precise meaning and precise communication words need to be spelt correctly. Frequent use of wrongly spelt words in an essay may erode the direct intended meaning of communication. WhatsApp may promote word cutting and such word cuts may be confusing for different people and even be meaningless for some readers. WhatsApp's casual means of communication may lead to the decay of formal essay writing skills. The efforts of linguists are to perfect and sharpen language efficiency; therefore, WhatsApp language has to be closely monitored so that it does not have a negative influence on the essays written by learners. Short word writing by learners may be viewed by linguists and language teachers as a decline of language proficiency in writing.

In the English language, spelling plays an important role in the writing process.


Language is a systematic means of communicating ideas using sounds, gestures, signs or marks. It is the code used to express oneself and communicate with others. Communicating is to share information, or to share what one knows and to interact with others. It involves a system of combining words to create meaning. Thus communication involves language, and language, therefore, remains potentially a communicative medium capable of expressing ideas and concepts as well as moods, feelings and attitudes (Habermas 1979) .

Thus communication involves language, and language, therefore, remains potentially a communicative medium capable of expressing ideas and concepts as well as moods, feelings and attitudes.


Pre-bum fuel load estimates were not useful for predicting thermocouple metrics. This was surprising considering the patchiness of fuels, particularly in the 3 plots that were thinned before burning. In contrast, a simple post-burn assessment of percent burn explained up to 36% of variation in thermocouple metrics. The predictive ability of this simple post-bum assessment of fuel consumption would likely be improved by including completeness of bum for different fuel components (litter/duff layer, woody debris, standing fuels), similar to commonly used post-bum severity classifications (Hungerford 1996) . While not reliable for determining fire temperature, post -bum assessments may be suitable for assessing coarse-scale bum characteristics particularly over large areas and under limited budgets.

The predictive ability of this simple post-bum assessment of fuel consumption would likely be improved by including completeness of bum for different fuel components (litter/duff layer, woody debris, standing fuels), similar to commonly used post-bum severity classifications.


In general, studies on socioeconomic status and overweight suggest that overweight is more prevalent among children of low income families in developed countries. In contrast, the vast majority of studies in developing countries show a positive relationship between socioeconomic status and obesity among children [9, 38] . Our study, carried out in a developed country, generally shows consistent results since overweight was more frequent among lower class children. However, among children from families with a non-German origin, the highest prevalence of overweight was observed in children in the high social class. It should be noted, however, that misclassification of socioeconomic status cannot be ruled out in our study since the classification was based on data supplied by one parent, mostly mothers, only.

In contrast, the vast majority of studies in developing countries show a positive relationship between socioeconomic status and obesity among children.


Gold nanoparticles gained special focus of researchers due to their use in optoelectronic devices, biosensors and catalysis applications [10] [11] [12] . In the last decade various plant resources were successfully utilized for synthesis of gold nanoparticlessuch as Pictacia integerrima, Inonotus obliquus, Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl, Pogestemon benghalensis, Nerium oleander leaves and Hibiscus Sabdariffa flower [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] . These plants are rich resources of phytochemicals with aromatic hydroxyl, aldehyde and carboxylic functional groups.

Gold nanoparticles gained special focus of researchers due to their use in optoelectronic devices, biosensors and catalysis applications.

In the last decade various plant resources were successfully utilized for synthesis of gold nanoparticlessuch as Pictacia integerrima, Inonotus obliquus, Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl, Pogestemon benghalensis, Nerium oleander leaves and Hibiscus Sabdariffa flower.


Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a persistent monocot and belongs to Palmae family and Cocoineae tribe [19] . Oil palm tree is normally grown in tropical areas. It is a crop that contributes significantly to Malaysian economy [21] . It gained second position as a feedstock for production of vegetable oil after soybean oil [20] . Presence of several phytochemicals, flavonoids and antioxidants-tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, reducing sugars and saponins in oil palm leaves has been conclusively proved in recent studies [22] [23] [24] . Phenolic contents of aqueous oil palm leaf extract (catechins and carotenoids) are higher compared to those present in green tea leaf extract [25] .

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a persistent monocot and belongs to Palmae family and Cocoineae tribe.

It is a crop that contributes significantly to Malaysian economy.

It gained second position as a feedstock for production of vegetable oil after soybean oil.

Presence of several phytochemicals, flavonoids and antioxidants-tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, reducing sugars and saponins in oil palm leaves has been conclusively proved in recent studies.

Phenolic contents of aqueous oil palm leaf extract (catechins and carotenoids) are higher compared to those present in green tea leaf extract.


Alongside the occurrence of synthetic Egyptian green and naturally occurring malachite in Egyptian funerary objects, green coloration has been reported as the result of degradation of Egyptian blue by either of two mechanisms. In the first, the original blue color may change to a faint green as copper ions are leached out of Egyptian blue and combine with chloride ions and calcium carbonate forming the basic copper chlorides atacamite and paratacamite [22] . The second mechanism describes instances where the organic binding medium around Egyptian blue pigment particles has darkened or yellowed significantly, altering the appearance of what was originally intended blue, to a green color [23] .

In the first, the original blue color may change to a faint green as copper ions are leached out of Egyptian blue and combine with chloride ions and calcium carbonate forming the basic copper chlorides atacamite and paratacamite.

The second mechanism describes instances where the organic binding medium around Egyptian blue pigment particles has darkened or yellowed significantly, altering the appearance of what was originally intended blue, to a green color.


A relatively simple color palette of pigments was used in Egyptian tombs and relics. White pigments include calcium sulfates (gypsum, CaSO 4 ·2(H 2 O) and anhydrite, CaSO 4 ), huntite (Mg 3 Ca(CO 3 ) 4 ), and calcium carbonate (chalk or calcite, CaCO 3 ). Carbon black of various forms was used, and red and yellow pigments were typically red (hematite, Fe 2 O 3 ) or yellow ochre (goethite, (FeO(OH)). On occasion, orpiment (As 2 S 3 ) or realgar (As 4 S 4 ) has been identified in royal tombs [3, 4] .

On occasion, orpiment (As 2 S 3 ) or realgar (As 4 S 4 ) has been identified in royal tombs.


Multivariate analysis is rapidly gaining popularity as a tool for the interpretation of spectral data, and principal components analysis (PCA) is one of the most used techniques for discerning structural relationships between samples based on the projection of data [9] [10] [11] [12] . PCA reduces the dimensionality in a data set while retaining the PCA is an ideal approach for the direct examination of XANES spectra where subtle spectral differences are sometimes difficult to discern visually or with conventional data modeling techniques. Minimal XANES data handling (background subtraction and normalization) is required for PCA. Further data treatment such as the extraction of the XAS oscillations (χ(k)) and subsequent Fourier analysis is not necessary. PCA provides a valuable and objective method for comparison of numerous XANES spectra. PCA scores plots allow exploration of sample co-variance in a reciprocal data space, providing an opportunity to define sample groupings, examine sample groupings and establish relationships within the identified groups. In the case of historic copper containing pigments, the relationships between Cu K-edge XANES spectra may be used to obtain chemical speciation and/or structural information for the pigments via PCA classification of XANES spectra according to the properties of the materials investigated. This method has been used here to assess unknown Cu containing green pigments used in ancient Egyptian artifacts in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia.

Multivariate analysis is rapidly gaining popularity as a tool for the interpretation of spectral data, and principal components analysis (PCA) is one of the most used techniques for discerning structural relationships between samples based on the projection of data.


The thermal conductivity of compacted granular aerogel from Cabot decreases from roughly 24 mW/(m K), for the uncompacted granules, to a minimum of about 13 mW/(m K), for granules compressed to a strain of 55-59% (or a bed density of 150-165 kg/m 3 , similar to that of a monolithic aerogel [12] ). Further compaction increases the conductivity slightly. The reduction in thermal conductivity is associated with the reduction in the volume fraction of interstitial air between the granules, which drops from 45% in the uncompressed samples to 2.5% at 60% strain (Fig. 6, 7a) . At high strains, the microstructure within the granules begins to collapse, increasing conduction through the solid. Analysis of the micro-CT images suggests that densification of the granules begins at a compressive strain of about 50% (Fig. 7b) . The adsorption/desorption data indicate that while there is some decrease in the pore volume within the granules (and thus densification) at a compressive strain of 50%, densification becomes pronounced at a compressive strain of 70% (Fig. 10e) .

The thermal conductivity of compacted granular aerogel from Cabot decreases from roughly 24 mW/(m K), for the uncompacted granules, to a minimum of about 13 mW/(m K), for granules compressed to a strain of 55-59% (or a bed density of 150-165 kg/m 3 , similar to that of a monolithic aerogel).


From now on, we make the assumption that an estimate of the computational workload is known. The computational workload model that we consider is the expected time to compute (ETC) model [3] . The ETC matrix, of size t × m is well defined. Each element ETC[t i ][m j ] of the matrix indicates the expected time to compute task t i on machine m j . The ETC matrix for a given HCS system can be obtained from user supplied information, task profiling, experimental data, and analytical benchmarking [19] [20] [21] . The model allows for a representation of the heterogeneity among tasks and machines. Machine heterogeneity evaluates the variation of execution times for a given task across the computing resources. Task heterogeneity represents the degree of variation among the execution time of tasks for a given machine.

The computational workload model that we consider is the expected time to compute (ETC) model.

The ETC matrix for a given HCS system can be obtained from user supplied information, task profiling, experimental data, and analytical benchmarking.


A recent trend in parts feeding research has been toward the development of inexpensive parts feeders using simple hardware. This approach has been called minimalist robotics (Bicchi and Goldberg, 1996) . The usefulness of simple hardware for parts feeding comes from taking advantage of the mechanical properties of the parts to assist in feeding and sorting. For example, a centrifuge uses simple rotational motion to sort particles based on density. Unfortunately, feeding complex three-dimensional parts is rarely so simple. The challenge is to develop algorithms for automatic design and control of mechanically simple feeders based on part CAD models, inertial parameters, friction, and restitution.

This approach has been called minimalist robotics.


Machine learning (ML) is a form of artificial intelligence (AI) which gives computers the skills to learn without being specifically programmed. It focuses on building computer programs which are subject to change when exposed to new data. Machine learning can be classified as either supervised or unsupervised. Supervised algorithms can apply past knowledge to new data whereas unsupervised algorithms make conclusions from datasets [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] .

Supervised algorithms can apply past knowledge to new data whereas unsupervised algorithms make conclusions from datasets.


Goat is a very important component in dry land farming system. There are nearly 102 breeds of goats in the world, of which 20 breeds are in India. As per the 18 th livestock census the total goat population of India is 140 million (MOSPI). Goats are among the main meat-producing animals in India, whose meat (chevon) is one of the choicest meats and has huge domestic demand. The goat is an animal that adapts itself readily to almost any climate especially in arid region. It is hardy, prolific and can be cheaply reared (Banerjee, 2004) .

It is hardy, prolific and can be cheaply reared.


In a close society, confl icts between individuals result in a better establishment of hierarchy and in a strengthening of the social position of individual animals (Veselovský, 2005; McCowan et al., 2008) . In the monitored group of geladas, however, the occurrence of aggression was relatively very low (2.0 ± 23.0 %), probably due to the absence of females in the group. A high value of standard deviation was a result of an uneven distribution of this activity in days of monitoring.

In a close society, confl icts between individuals result in a better establishment of hierarchy and in a strengthening of the social position of individual animals.


The research and development of robots that play with humans have been conducted since the late 1980s [1] [2] [3] . Soccer is a popular target of the game for robots, because of the RoboCup soccer project [4] . Since the beginning of the project, many robots that play soccer have been developed [5] [6] [7] [8] .

The research and development of robots that play with humans have been conducted since the late 1980s.

Soccer is a popular target of the game for robots, because of the RoboCup soccer project.

Since the beginning of the project, many robots that play soccer have been developed.


The important property of schedule buffer is that it can absorb departure delay to a certain extent and reduce delay propagation to subsequent flights (AhmadBeygi et al., 2008) . CASA does not take into account if regulated flights have any (remaining) schedule buffer to absorb ATFM delay and thus prevent potential delay propagation to subsequent flights. This research primarily examines the possibility to systematically utilize schedule buffers in the ATFM slot allocation process to reduce delay propagation to subsequent flights. At the same time, we aim to align tactical and strategic schedules at slot coordinated airports to improve airport slot adherence to protect scarce capacity resources of affected airports. We propose a two-level mixed-integer optimization model for ATFM slot allocation to minimize delay propagation at the first level, and finding a solution which maximizes airport slot adherence at the second level. The objective of the research is to account for stakeholders' different perspectives of congestion problem, in terms of business and operational needs, and bring the proposed methodology closer to dealing with real-world instances of congestion problem.

The important property of schedule buffer is that it can absorb departure delay to a certain extent and reduce delay propagation to subsequent flights.


We have previously shown that cold-induced influx of calcium from the cell wall into the cytosol, and changes in the phosphorylation of specific pre-existing proteins, are required for the cold acclimation of alfalfa cells (Monroy and Dhindsa, 1995; Monroy et al., 1993a) . How low temperature brings about these changes in protein phosphorylation is presently unknown. Here, we provide evidence for the cold-inactivation of a specific protein phosphatase, PP2A, and, more interestingly, for a link between its inactivation, calcium influx, and cas gene expression. Thus, our finding that PP2A is a target for cold inactivation provides an important clue to understanding the modulation of protein phosphorylation by low temperature and the elucidation of low temperature signal transduction pathways.

We have previously shown that cold-induced influx of calcium from the cell wall into the cytosol, and changes in the phosphorylation of specific pre-existing proteins, are required for the cold acclimation of alfalfa cells.


Various methodologies have been proposed for strengthening and seismic upgrading existing structures, such as construction of new reinforced concrete shear walls, precast elements or steel diagonal struts and the use of RC jackets. These methods, even though widely accepted and efficiently implemented in many cases, result in significant increase in mass and stiffness and therefore provoke critical changes in the design seismic loads. Moreover, they require extensive interventions, aesthetical modifications, significant cost or even operational interruptions for their proper implementation. On the other hand, analyses show that CFRP can effectively be used to strengthen masonry-infilled RC frame structures [2] .

On the other hand, analyses show that CFRP can effectively be used to strengthen masonry-infilled RC frame structures.


During the last two decades, the use of polymers reinforced with carbon fibres has been an effective alternative to ameliorate structural vulnerability [3, 4] . The fibre reinforced polymers are characterized by small thickness and weight, relative ease of application, resistance to environmental conditions and high strength compared to conventional materials. Their application results in significant increase in strength with very little modification of mass and stiffness; thus, slightly modifying the design seismic loads that are expected for the retrofitted structure.

During the last two decades, the use of polymers reinforced with carbon fibres has been an effective alternative to ameliorate structural vulnerability.


At this point some qualifications are in order. Oil prices in particular can be anticipated to remain low for a while [12] . Storage tanks in the U.S. are at their fullest since 1930. The fracklog, i.e., the number of wells waiting to be hydraulically fractured, has grown threefold: firms naturally aim to avoid oil extraction when the oil price is low, and defer completion work accordingly. The fracklog may slow a recovery in oil prices, as companies opt to bring back shale where the lead times are short and oil production can be quickly ramped-up to maximum levels.

Oil prices in particular can be anticipated to remain low for a while.


This paper focuses on the prospects for U.S. producers of tight oil. Their net income obviously depends on both revenues and costs. It is hard to get good cost data. This is partly because of limited information available about: (i) the rate at which tight-oil wells become less productive over time; and (ii) the distribution of well productivity [9] . We pay special attention to revenues. From this viewpoint, the future behavior of the crude oil price is paramount: it determines when production is profitable [10] .

It is hard to get good cost data.

This is partly because of limited information available about: (i) the rate at which tight-oil wells become less productive over time; and (ii) the distribution of well productivity.

We pay special attention to revenues.

From this viewpoint, the future behavior of the crude oil price is paramount: it determines when production is profitable.


This paper is organized as follows. In section 2 we recall some definitions and theorems we mentioned above. The proof of Theorem 1.1 is given in section 3. Then we give the compactification of test configurations. In section 4, we give the localization formula of Theorem 1. This is given by Futaki [6] . The localization formula gives an alternate proof for Theorem 1.1 at least for the product configurations. Acknowledgment I am very greatful to my supervisor, A. Futaki for valuable comments and constant support.

This paper is organized as follows.

This is given by Futaki.


Until now, several localization methods have been proposed to solve the problem of locating an MT in a wireless network [3, 4] . The global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the prospective European counterpart Galileo, are promising candidates to fulfill the FCC requirements [5] . In the GNSS, the MT location is estimated from the propagation time; the satellite (SAT) signals need to propagate to the MT, which is known as time of arrival (ToA) method. If the MT receives satellite signals from at least four different satellites, a threedimensional (3D) MT location estimate can be found, where the fourth satellite signal is needed to resolve the unknown bias between the MT and satellite clock [5] . In a similar manner, one can obtain a 2D MT location estimate if the MT receives signals from at least three different satellites. However, there exist situations where the GNSS signals are blocked, for example, when the MT is located indoors or in urban canyons. In these scenarios, the number of satellites in view is often not sufficient to obtain a 3D or even 2D MT location estimate.

Until now, several localization methods have been proposed to solve the problem of locating an MT in a wireless network.

The global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the prospective European counterpart Galileo, are promising candidates to fulfill the FCC requirements.

If the MT receives satellite signals from at least four different satellites, a threedimensional (3D) MT location estimate can be found, where the fourth satellite signal is needed to resolve the unknown bias between the MT and satellite clock.


An alternative to the GNSS is the exploitation of communication signals of the cellular radio network, in order to obtain MT location estimates. In the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), for example, measurements 2 International Journal of Navigation and Observation such as the received signal strength (RSS), timing advance (TA), angle of arrival (AoA), or enhanced observed time difference (E-OTD) exist that give information on the MT location. An appealing advantage of these measurements is that they are almost everywhere available. However, the corresponding localization methods that are based on these measurements cannot offer the same accuracy as their GNSSbased counterpart. The combination of measured values from the GNSS and the cellular radio network is, thus, a promising approach in order to obtain MT location estimates even if less than four or three satellites are in view [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] . The resulting hybrid localization methods are expected to improve the accuracy and availability of MT location estimates.

The combination of measured values from the GNSS and the cellular radio network is, thus, a promising approach in order to obtain MT location estimates even if less than four or three satellites are in view.


As noted in the introduction, whether measured in absolute or relative terms, the failure rate of new television shows is very high and has been for decades (Bielby & Bielby, 1994) . Despite the fact that such failure rates are costly to industry participants-particularly the television networks and the advertisers-the determinants of success and failure remain poorly understood (Littlejohn, 2007) . Compounding this problem is the fact that empirical research in the area of television studies has provided few, if any, useful insights or solutions. But as also noted in the introduction, there is small body of relevant work in a companion literature-the field of cultural economics-that sheds light upon the prediction of television ratings. Specifically, we refer to three recent studies that explain variation in box office revenues using only variables that are known during the pre-production stages.

As noted in the introduction, whether measured in absolute or relative terms, the failure rate of new television shows is very high and has been for decades.

Despite the fact that such failure rates are costly to industry participants-particularly the television networks and the advertisers-the determinants of success and failure remain poorly understood.


In the spring of 2011 an article appeared in the Wall Street Journal entitled "The Math of a Hit TV Show" (Chozick, 2011) . Of particular note was the article's detailed description of the gauntlet that is the new TV show development process. In its first stage, which we are told begins in early summer, each of the big four US networks receives about 500 "elevator pitches" or loglines, each of which describes the basic idea for a new series. Next, through a process unique to each network, the review of the 500+ pitches results in about 70 scripts being commissioned. In the third stage, approximately one-third of these scripts get the green light, i.e., the show creators are given money to produce a proof-of-concept pilot episode. Once the proof-of-concept pilots have completed filming, they are subjected to varying levels and kinds of marketing research, focus-group testing being one of the most common. Depending on a variety of factors, not the least of which is the strength of a network's current slate of shows, anywhere from 4-8 of these completed pilots are given slots in the network's lineup. At this point the show's creative team ramps up its staff, particularly with writers who begin penning the next several episodes of the series. No sooner do episodes appear on the air, then their ratings and viewership are carefully scrutinized. Based on how well those episodes are received, changes may be made to the characters and story lines. Even the order of episodes may be altered. In the worst case scenario, shows falling far below ratings or audience expectations can be cancelled or replaced after as little as 2-3 weeks. The networks' post-New Year schedules always contain a raft of mid-season replacements and, like the survivors from the fall line-up, they may be subject to changes right up to and including the airing of the season's final episode. In mid-May, at the industry confab known as the "up fronts," the networks announce their lineups for the coming fall's season. A few weeks later, as the networks once again start receiving pitches, the development process for the next year begins anew.

In the spring of 2011 an article appeared in the Wall Street Journal entitled "The Math of a Hit TV Show".


The need for sharing architectural knowledge was also observed in a study we conducted at a large software development organization [11] . We found that architects rely heavily on communication to work adequately and to produce high-quality results, and that many formal and informal discussions take place in the coffee room, at the hallway, or during other social events or meetings. However, despite the need for sharing architectural knowledge, software architects in practice often stick to familiar technology such as office suites for their daily tasks. Since such tools are rather ineffective to manage and share architectural knowledge, most of this knowledge remains implicit.

The need for sharing architectural knowledge was also observed in a study we conducted at a large software development organization.


Because there is no such thing as a "pulse-shape stability meter", it is necessarily the responsibility of ultrashort-pulse measurement techniques to also determine whether or not the pulse temporal profile is consistent from shot to shot. Techniques that ignore fluctuating components of the pulse shape and see only the consistent component are said to measure the "coherent artifact", which is typically the shortest possible temporal profile consistent with the spectrum of the pulse [5, 6] . It is shorter than and often much shorter than the actual average pulse length, and wishful thinking (desiring the shortest pulse length) has frequently resulted in its misinterpretation as the actual pulse length. A measurement technique that yields only the coherent artifact yields results that are, at worst, wrong and, at best, unconvincing.

Techniques that ignore fluctuating components of the pulse shape and see only the consistent component are said to measure the "coherent artifact", which is typically the shortest possible temporal profile consistent with the spectrum of the pulse.


Given that many lasers can have such interesting internal dynamics and complex pulse shapes in certain situations, it is important to ensure that pulse measurement techniques are able to reveal such instabilities in pulses. As mentioned earlier, simulations of fluctuating pulse shapes have demonstrated that several measurement techniques based on interferometry have considerable difficulty detecting instability and yield only the coherent artifact [7, 8] . This is alarming, especially because several popular techniques, including SPIDER, display these problems and so conceal potential instability from the user and can report, for example, pulse lengths considerably shorter than are in fact present.

As mentioned earlier, simulations of fluctuating pulse shapes have demonstrated that several measurement techniques based on interferometry have considerable difficulty detecting instability and yield only the coherent artifact.


Oxygen (O 2 ) is the key substrate in metabolism and essential for aerobic organisms to produce energy. Aerobic organisms deprived of adequate supply of oxygen can result in hypoxia [1] . Hypoxia can be a consequence in some pathological conditions, such as cardiovascular and cerebral ischemia, inflammation, pulmonary disorders and cancer, as well as in many physiological conditions including high altitude and physical exercise [2] . Therefore, eliminating the damage caused by hypoxia plays a critical role in prophylaxis and therapy these diseases.

Aerobic organisms deprived of adequate supply of oxygen can result in hypoxia.

Hypoxia can be a consequence in some pathological conditions, such as cardiovascular and cerebral ischemia, inflammation, pulmonary disorders and cancer, as well as in many physiological conditions including high altitude and physical exercise.


One of the earlier approaches in the above-mentioned category is referred to as the stress-strain interpolation method. This technique may be classified between two classes of models, analytical yield locus functions and micro-macro models. In terms of accuracy, this method allows following the yield stresses predicted by the Taylor theory more closely than a global sixth-order series yield locus adjusted on stresses computed by the Taylor model for the initial texture. For a comprehensive presentation of this method, see Habraken and Duchêne [17] .

For a comprehensive presentation of this method, see Habraken and Duchêne.


Knowledge of the pressure distribution is a primary concern in many engineering applications. For a body moving in fluid, the pressure is responsible for both the lift and form drag acting on this body, the two key parameters in aircraft and marine vehicle designs. In turbulence research, the velocity-pressuregradient tensor in the Reynolds stress transport equation, which is typically decomposed into the pressure diffusion and the pressure-strain tensors, is critical for understanding and modeling the turbulence [1] [2] . Pressure diffusion, together with turbulence and viscous diffusion, serves to transport turbulence away from regions of high mean strain where turbulence is produced and toward those locations of low production of turbulence [3] . The pressure strain tensor serves to redistribute energy among components of turbulence fluctuations and plays a central role in Reynolds stress transport equation [1] . However, due to the lack of the experimental capability, the velocity-pressure-gradient tensor has never been measured directly. It has only been inferred experimentally in simple geometries from a balance of the other terms in the turbulence kinetic energy transport equations [3] [4] [5] . Thus, except direct numerical simulation data, which are also limited to simple geometries and low Reynolds numbers, we have very little information on the velocity-pressure-gradient tensor.

In turbulence research, the velocity-pressuregradient tensor in the Reynolds stress transport equation, which is typically decomposed into the pressure diffusion and the pressure-strain tensors, is critical for understanding and modeling the turbulence.

Pressure diffusion, together with turbulence and viscous diffusion, serves to transport turbulence away from regions of high mean strain where turbulence is produced and toward those locations of low production of turbulence.

The pressure strain tensor serves to redistribute energy among components of turbulence fluctuations and plays a central role in Reynolds stress transport equation.

It has only been inferred experimentally in simple geometries from a balance of the other terms in the turbulence kinetic energy transport equations.


The toothfish trends (fewer fish, especially large ones) could well be responsible for the apparent decrease of RSKWs in the region. Near the Crozet Islands, killer whales that depend heavily on Patagonian toothfish (D. eleginoides) also have exhibited a decline in numbers. In that case, it is thought that fishermen's outright killing of killer whales, which take fish from the long lines, was largely responsible (Guinet & Tixier, 2011) . Nothing indicates that direct killing by fishermen is involved in the Ross Sea decrease. No reports of killer whales depredating long lines in the Ross Sea region have been made as of yet.

In that case, it is thought that fishermen's outright killing of killer whales, which take fish from the long lines, was largely responsible.


It is interesting to contrast the behavior in the two situations. In the Mandelbrot set, one component may "bump" infinitely many other components in the sense that their closures intersect, while any component of M P (π 1 (M )) may bump only finitely many other components. Moreover, the hyperbolic components can accumulate at points in the Mandelbrot set, while the components of M P (π 1 (M )) cannot accumulate in AH(π 1 (M ) ). On the other hand, in the Mandelbrot set, any point is in the closure of at most two hyperbolic components and any two hyperbolic components bump at at most one point, while arbitrarily many components of M P (π 1 (M ) ) may bump at a single point and the intersection of the closures of two components of M P (π 1 (M )) can be quite large (see Holt [16] ). The global theory of the topology of deformation spaces of hyperbolic 3-manifolds is still in its infancy, but we hope that its study will prove as rich and as rewarding as has the study of the Mandelbrot set.

On the other hand, in the Mandelbrot set, any point is in the closure of at most two hyperbolic components and any two hyperbolic components bump at at most one point, while arbitrarily many components of M P (π 1 (M ) ) may bump at a single point and the intersection of the closures of two components of M P (π 1 (M )) can be quite large (see Holt).


Thurston's Ending Lamination Conjecture provides a conjectural classification for elements of AH(π 1 (M ) ) by data which are partially topologi-cal, specifically the marked homeomorphism type of the marked hyperbolic 3-manifold N as an element of A(M ), and partially geometric, coming from the conformal boundary of N and the geodesic laminations which encode the asymptotic geometry of any geometrically infinite ends of N . However, the data in this conjectural classification do not vary continuously so they do not provide a clear conjectural picture of the global topology. Moreover, the Ending Lamination Conjecture is only known to hold for limited classes of Kleinian groups (see Minsky [31] , [32] ). In fact, surprisingly little is known about the global topology of AH(π 1 (M ) ).

Moreover, the Ending Lamination Conjecture is only known to hold for limited classes of Kleinian groups (see Minsky,).


Our community education variable was shown to influence both sexual onset and first birth. Communities with high percentage of inhabitants with secondary school and higher education are expected to have higher levels of social development [54] . Prior research has established that more developed areas are less likely to follow conservative and traditional lifestyle, thus the observed positive association of community education with sexual onset may reflect departure from traditional norms (e.g., delayed sexual debut) [9, 37] . More developed communities may also offer adolescents more opportunities such as easier access to schooling, employment, or healthcare that may contribute to deter adolescent childbearing [13, 55] . This observation, echoing the individual-level findings that higher education may delay the time to having the first birth, highlighted the importance of education, both individually (a form of human capital) and collectively, in young population in order to have healthy development [56] . This paper has several limitations. First, since the DHS offers a limited set of social capital related-variables, we were unable to use more comprehensive social capital measures used in prior research [19] . Second, although the quality of data collection from DHS is known to be high, social desirability or recall bias may arise when date of sexual debut was collected. Third, due to the crosssectional design of our study, no temporal sequence can be established. For example, our measurements of community social capital reflect the characteristics of the current place where the respondent live and not necessarily the characteristics before the outcome occurred. Finally, our results from the subsample of adolescents who have ever had sexual encounters should be interpreted with caution since the younger respondents (e.g., 15-years) are more vulnerable to be right censored even if they had the first sexual debut at the same age with those of the 19-year old.

Communities with high percentage of inhabitants with secondary school and higher education are expected to have higher levels of social development.

Prior research has established that more developed areas are less likely to follow conservative and traditional lifestyle, thus the observed positive association of community education with sexual onset may reflect departure from traditional norms (e.g., delayed sexual debut).

More developed communities may also offer adolescents more opportunities such as easier access to schooling, employment, or healthcare that may contribute to deter adolescent childbearing.

This observation, echoing the individual-level findings that higher education may delay the time to having the first birth, highlighted the importance of education, both individually (a form of human capital) and collectively, in young population in order to have healthy development.

This paper has several limitations.

First, since the DHS offers a limited set of social capital related-variables, we were unable to use more comprehensive social capital measures used in prior research.


With the implementation of agricultural mechanization, the use of agricultural machinery such as combine harvesters has become increasingly widespread. To guarantee the safety of combine harvesters, the reliable design of the braking system has received extensive attention. In recent years, several methods have been proposed to evaluate the performance of the combine harvesters in a laborious and inaccurate filedtest way. Moreover, these studies on the braking system of agricultural machinery vehicles are mainly limited to tractors, and most of the studies are focused on the optimization of a certain part of braking system or simulation analysis of the braking efficiency, while there are few studies of the braking system of combine harvesters, particularly the braking directional stability [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . It is still a challenge to evaluate their performance in a theoretical derivation-based simulation way.

Moreover, these studies on the braking system of agricultural machinery vehicles are mainly limited to tractors, and most of the studies are focused on the optimization of a certain part of braking system or simulation analysis of the braking efficiency, while there are few studies of the braking system of combine harvesters, particularly the braking directional stability.


Competition between ocean user groups is getting increased attention from scientists (Bishop & Samples, 1980; Hoagland et al., 2003; Jin et al., 2007; Laukkanen, 2001; Lee & Iwasa, 2011) . Fishermen and marine farmers are competitive ocean users when aquaculture uses seeds (i.e., juveniles) extracted from the wild, causing an increase in fishing mortality of the wild stock, resulting in the reduction of commercial wild fisheries targeting adult individuals. In this study, we develop a model to analyze the interaction between CBA and wild adult fisheries assuming that the impact of CBA on wild fisheries is via reduction of the intrinsic growth rate of the wild fish stock and hence wild stock and harvest. An MPA can be considered a potential management tool to ensure that sufficient numbers of young fish reproduce for the persistence of the population. We therefore include an MPA effect in this interaction model to test whether or not an MPA can enhance economic benefits of both fishers and farmers. The model is applied for both open access and economically optimal management regimes.

Competition between ocean user groups is getting increased attention from scientists.


Wild fisheries-aquaculture interactions can be divided into two classes: the market interactions (between wild and farmed fish that are sold as food) and the interactions related to environmental efficiency and wild resource uses (i.e., seed and feed). The former type of interaction may provide positive effects of aquaculture on wild fisheries such as the increase in total supply and reduction in fish price, resulting in a decline in fishing effort and hence an increase in wild fish stocks and harvest in open access fisheries (Anderson, 1985; Valderrama & Anderson, 2010; Ye & Beddington, 1996) . The positive market effects of aquaculture on wild fisheries, however, have only been identified for some species such as sea bream, sea bass, salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and pangasius (Asche, Bjørndal, & Young, 2001; Asche, 2008) . For the majority of aquaculture species that are low-intensity, small-scale, and wild seed dependent, productivity-enhancing innovation effects are limited (Asche, 2008) . The second type of interaction shows the opposite result; the growth of aquaculture that relies on natural resources has a negative effect on wild fish stocks and hence diminishes wild catch (Hannesson, 2003; Naylor et al., 2000) . In addition, the growth of aquaculture creates ecological and environmental impacts such as water and genetic pollution, destruction of coastal environments such as mangrove forests, and results in disease being spread from cultured fish to wild fish (Chopin et al., 2001; Naylor et al., 2000) . Though there exist a variety of interactions between wild fisheries and aquaculture, in this study we focus on the external effect of aquaculture requiring juveniles of the same species that is harvested in a wild commercial fishery.

The former type of interaction may provide positive effects of aquaculture on wild fisheries such as the increase in total supply and reduction in fish price, resulting in a decline in fishing effort and hence an increase in wild fish stocks and harvest in open access fisheries.

The positive market effects of aquaculture on wild fisheries, however, have only been identified for some species such as sea bream, sea bass, salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and pangasius.

For the majority of aquaculture species that are low-intensity, small-scale, and wild seed dependent, productivity-enhancing innovation effects are limited.

The second type of interaction shows the opposite result; the growth of aquaculture that relies on natural resources has a negative effect on wild fish stocks and hence diminishes wild catch.

In addition, the growth of aquaculture creates ecological and environmental impacts such as water and genetic pollution, destruction of coastal environments such as mangrove forests, and results in disease being spread from cultured fish to wild fish.


However, in the literature a closed area combined with an optimal management policy is not considered to be as beneficial as pure optimal fisheries management policies in a deterministic model, as aggregate biomass can be increased, but fishing yield decreases for increasing marine reserve sizes (Anderson, 2002; Conrad, 1999) . Contrary to this, our results show that the implementation of MPAs of certain sizes combined with optimal management outside the reserve can give better results (e.g., wild catch, CBA production, NPVs) in comparison to optimal management without an MPA. These results are mainly driven by the assumption that CBA reduces the intrinsic growth rate of the fish stock in the fishing ground, resulting in a higher intrinsic growth rate within the MPA compared to the fishable area. The migration of fish into the fishable area will increase due to the higher natural reproductive rate within the MPA, allowing for higher values for both fishery and aquaculture compared to optimal management without an MPA.

However, in the literature a closed area combined with an optimal management policy is not considered to be as beneficial as pure optimal fisheries management policies in a deterministic model, as aggregate biomass can be increased, but fishing yield decreases for increasing marine reserve sizes.


Total world fish production increased dramatically from 19.3 million tons in 1950 to 148.5 million tons in 2010, with the largest contribution coming from marine capture fisheries (FAO, 2012) . However, fish supply from wild fisheries reached a peak and has been fairly stable at about 90 million tons since the late 1980s. Since then, the increase in total fish production has come from aquaculture (Diana, 2009) . Aquaculture production reached 59 million tons in 2010, compared to 4.7 million tons in 1980, which is equivalent to an average annual rate of increase of 8.45% (FAO, 2012) . As the share of aquaculture contribution in seafood supply increases, the fisheries-aquaculture interactions become important and are receiving ever more attention from researchers (Natale, Hofherr, Fiore, & Virtanen, 2013) .

Total world fish production increased dramatically from 19.3 million tons in 1950 to 148.5 million tons in 2010, with the largest contribution coming from marine capture fisheries.

Since then, the increase in total fish production has come from aquaculture.

Aquaculture production reached 59 million tons in 2010, compared to 4.7 million tons in 1980, which is equivalent to an average annual rate of increase of 8.45%.

As the share of aquaculture contribution in seafood supply increases, the fisheries-aquaculture interactions become important and are receiving ever more attention from researchers.


We recall that a group is said to be 2-Engel if it satisfies the commutator law [[y, x] , x] = 1 or equivalently the law [x y , x] = 1, i.e. any two conjugates commute. These groups have their origin in Burnside's paper [2] . In that paper Burnside proved that all groups of exponent three are locally finite and in order to obtain this result he observed that these groups are 2-Engel. Burnside wrote a sequel to this paper where he studies 2-Engel groups in general [3] . This paper seems to have received surprisingly little attention, being the first paper written on Engel groups. In this paper Burnside proves that any 2-Engel group satisfies the laws (1) [x, y, z] 3 = 1.

These groups have their origin in Burnside's paper.

Burnside wrote a sequel to this paper where he studies 2-Engel groups in general.


Habitat structure plays an important role in determining species diversity, with more physically complex habitats containing more species (Bell et al., 1991) . There has been some controversy over what factors characterise complex versus simple habitats and affect the number of coexisting species (Hart & Horwitz, 1991; Tokeshi, 1999) . Habitat structure encompasses both qualitative and quantitative aspects, the former mainly referring to the relative abundance of different structural elements and latter to the absolute abundance of elements (Bell et al., 1991) . A major problem in dealing with the issues of habitat structure concerns the difficulty of identifying structural heterogeneity ⁄ complexity relevant to a set of organisms under study.

Habitat structure plays an important role in determining species diversity, with more physically complex habitats containing more species.

There has been some controversy over what factors characterise complex versus simple habitats and affect the number of coexisting species.

Habitat structure encompasses both qualitative and quantitative aspects, the former mainly referring to the relative abundance of different structural elements and latter to the absolute abundance of elements.


Reference management or citation management software (RMS), such as EndNote, RefWorks and Zotero, is a software that stores citations in a digital form, either locally or via an online interface, to make organizing research and formatting bibliographies and in-text citations more efficient. Many programs also offer sharing and collaboration features. RMS has become popular with both students and faculty in higher education, with many students entering college already familiar with free citation generators such as Citation Machine. Academic libraries are increasingly supporting RMS and recommending them to their constituents (Hensley, 2011) .

Academic libraries are increasingly supporting RMS and recommending them to their constituents.


The paper is organized as follows: In the next section the configuration of the combustion systems investigated is described, followed by a summary of the CFD model setup. Simulation results for a combustor with a two-stage fuel injection system are then presented. Both broadband and impulse forcing are utilized. Furthermore it is demonstrated how a physics-based interpretation of flame dynamics can be developed from a careful analysis of impulse and frequency responses, combined with time-varying heat release rate distributions. Then a similar analysis for a three-stage fuel injection system is presented. In all cases, identification quality is examined, applying methods of a posteriori validation developed in part I of this paper [5] . As in part I of this paper, a linear response behaviour of the flame is assumed. Indeed, we have checked by variation of excitation amplitudes that non-linear effects are not significant for the CFD simulations discussed below. The identification of the non-linear response of the flame to large amplitude acoustic fluctuations, which is required to predict limit cycle amplitudes or non-linear instability limits, is outside the scope of the present paper.

In all cases, identification quality is examined, applying methods of a posteriori validation developed in part I of this paper.


Osteoporosis is one of the most significant types of bone disease that causes degradation of bone's mechanical function. Osteoporosis is characterized by significant changes in bone structure causing increases in bone fragility and therefore an increase in fracture risk (Kilbanski et al., 2001) . The clinical importance of osteoporosis has been vigorously investigated in recent years due to the amount of people affected. In the United States alone, the costs of fractures resulting from osteoporosis have been estimated to be from 10 to 18 billion dollars per year and are expected to increase to 60 billion by the year 2020 (Iacono, 2007) . The effects of osteoporosis on bone are characterized by two distinct forms; Type I, which refers to the loss of trabecular bone mass after menopause due to lack of estrogen and Type II, which refers to loss of cortical and trabecular bone in both men and women as a result of aging (Marcus and Bouxsein, 2010) . The disturbances in osteoporotic bone structure are known to be due to changes in metabolic conditions such as hormonal changes (decrease in estrogen levels, growth hormone deficiency, increase in parathyroid hormone), steroids (glucocorticoid deficiency), diet, and lifestyle (reduction in calcium intake, lack of vitamin D, sedentary lifestyles) (Hauge et al., 2003; Iacono, 2007) . Both Type I and Type II osteoporosis share the common effect of increased susceptibility to catastrophic fracture in bone.

Osteoporosis is characterized by significant changes in bone structure causing increases in bone fragility and therefore an increase in fracture risk.

In the United States alone, the costs of fractures resulting from osteoporosis have been estimated to be from 10 to 18 billion dollars per year and are expected to increase to 60 billion by the year 2020.

The effects of osteoporosis on bone are characterized by two distinct forms; Type I, which refers to the loss of trabecular bone mass after menopause due to lack of estrogen and Type II, which refers to loss of cortical and trabecular bone in both men and women as a result of aging.

The disturbances in osteoporotic bone structure are known to be due to changes in metabolic conditions such as hormonal changes (decrease in estrogen levels, growth hormone deficiency, increase in parathyroid hormone), steroids (glucocorticoid deficiency), diet, and lifestyle (reduction in calcium intake, lack of vitamin D, sedentary lifestyles).


Dual-chemical retention system has been used in papermaking wet end for decades. The system uses short-chain branched cationic polymer to destabilize the well-dispersed state of pulp and which is conducive to the formation of small flocs with surface cationic charges. Subsequently, addition of high-molecular weight anionic polymers or particles allows the formation of large bridging flocs in pulp suspension. Many studies have proven that the system can improve drainage, uniformity, fine retention, and ash content and reduce energy consumption in drying and increasing machine speed [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Presently, the most frequently deployed dual-chemical system comprises low molecular weight cationic polyacrylamides as the cationic polymers, together with anionic charged microparticles with size range from 1 nm to 1 m which are insoluble in water and have large specific surface areas [6] [7] [8] [9] .

Many studies have proven that the system can improve drainage, uniformity, fine retention, and ash content and reduce energy consumption in drying and increasing machine speed.

Presently, the most frequently deployed dual-chemical system comprises low molecular weight cationic polyacrylamides as the cationic polymers, together with anionic charged microparticles with size range from 1 nm to 1 m which are insoluble in water and have large specific surface areas.


Commercially, major suppliers such as BASF, Eka, Nalco, and Ashland offer microparticle systems mostly of colloidal silica or globular high-molecular polymers. In the present study, we opted to use an indigenous mica mineral, sericite, to substitute the conventional microparticles in dual-chemical systems. Sericite is mined at Shiangyang, region of Taitung County, Taiwan. The mine has an estimated store of 15 million tonnes with sericite comprising about 50% of the ore. At present, the annual production is 3200 tonnes. Sericite is a platy silicate inorganic material with formula of KAl 2 (AlSi 3 ) O 10 (OH) 2 . When treated with molten alkali and then acidic swelling process, exfoliated nanoscale sericite or nanosericite can be produced. NS is known to have chemical stability, large specific surface area, anti-UV, antistatic, heat resistant, and electrical insulating properties. In addition, NS can form hydrogen bonding with the hydroxyl groups on bacterial cellulose chains, enhancing the dimensional stability of cellulosic films, heat resistance, and mechanical strengths. The flat 2 Advances in Materials Science and Engineering platy structure of NS is a 2D nanomaterial. The plate surfaces are negatively charged, while the edges are positively charged; therefore, in water dispersion, NS tends to self-aggregate, forming 3D network and precipitate. Proper treatment is required to allow NS to maintain stable dispersive state in aqueous phase [10] [11] [12] .

Proper treatment is required to allow NS to maintain stable dispersive state in aqueous phase.


Soft asphalt and Otta Seal technologies are a sustainable and economical solution to control dustiness on gravel roads [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] . Over the last decade, soft asphalt has been used on the low-volume roads of Nordic countries as it is less sensitive to frost heaves and fatigue, more flexible, and possesses self-healing abilities. Botswana, New Zealand, the United States (Minnesota), Norway, and Sweden, have already observed the benefits of Otta Seal, which can be constructed as a single layer or as double layers, and use it widely [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] .

Soft asphalt and Otta Seal technologies are a sustainable and economical solution to control dustiness on gravel roads.

Botswana, New Zealand, the United States (Minnesota), Norway, and Sweden, have already observed the benefits of Otta Seal, which can be constructed as a single layer or as double layers, and use it widely.


The control of dustiness is one of the most important maintenance activities on gravel roads. Vehicles travelling at a speed of 75 km/h on gravel roads with annual average daily traffic (AADT) equal to 100 vehicles per day (vpd), throw up about 25 tons of gravel wearing course aggregate annually, per kilometer [1] . This results in approximately 4 mm less thickness of the wearing course for a road 7 m in width [2] . Deficiency in the thickness of the wearing course leads to a corrugated road surface and faster pavement deterioration.

Vehicles travelling at a speed of 75 km/h on gravel roads with annual average daily traffic (AADT) equal to 100 vehicles per day (vpd), throw up about 25 tons of gravel wearing course aggregate annually, per kilometer.

This results in approximately 4 mm less thickness of the wearing course for a road 7 m in width.


Soft asphalt and Otta Seal do not increase bearing capacity, but protect pavements from moisture infiltration and loss of aggregates, and improve driving conditions. Hence, soft asphalt and Otta Seal reduce the maintenance cost of gravel roads and ensure social satisfaction. From the viewpoint of dust minimization alone, these techniques reduce maintenance costs by more than 40% [21] .

From the viewpoint of dust minimization alone, these techniques reduce maintenance costs by more than 40%.


Furthermore, greater visibility is achieved when dustiness is controlled, thus increasing the safety of road users [3] . The less dustiness, the lower the rate of traffic accidents. It also results in lower costs related to vehicle repairs, medical expenses, and loss of life [4] . Dust particles penetrate into the engine and other mechanical components of vehicles, increasing vehicle wear, requiring more frequent maintenance, and hence resulting in higher vehicle operating costs [5, 6] . Dust is also a health hazard because particles smaller than 10 µm accumulate in the human respiratory tract and cause allergies and asthma [7, 8] .

Furthermore, greater visibility is achieved when dustiness is controlled, thus increasing the safety of road users.

It also results in lower costs related to vehicle repairs, medical expenses, and loss of life.

Dust particles penetrate into the engine and other mechanical components of vehicles, increasing vehicle wear, requiring more frequent maintenance, and hence resulting in higher vehicle operating costs.

Dust is also a health hazard because particles smaller than 10 µm accumulate in the human respiratory tract and cause allergies and asthma.


The RAPTOR™ can perform four assays on the same sample allowing replicate measurements of the same analyte or simultaneous detection of four different targets. The RAPTOR™ uses four 635 nm diodes to excite each of four, 4.5 cm long fiber-optic probes. The fibers are assembled in a coupon which has fluidic channels for automated operation. Fluorescent molecules bound on the surface of the sensing region are excited by an evanescent wave generated by the laser. Photodiodes collect emission light at wavelengths over 670 nm. The emission signal is recorded in pico amperes (pA) and related to concentration of analyte [4] .

The emission signal is recorded in pico amperes (pA) and related to concentration of analyte.


Nowadays, thin film materials at micro-and nano-scale play a significant role in a wide range of engineering applications, such as medical instruments, micro-/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), and optical devices [1] [2] [3] [4] . The mechanical properties of thin film materials, which strongly influence the reliability and service life of a nano-device, have been attracting both industrial and scientific interest [4] . Therefore, it is vital to characterize the mechanical properties and understand the deformation mechanism of a thin film material, in order to manufacture nano-devices with high reliability and service life. Nanoindentation is one of the most popular methods used to investigate the mechanical properties of materials at micro-and nano-scale [5] .

Nowadays, thin film materials at micro-and nano-scale play a significant role in a wide range of engineering applications, such as medical instruments, micro-/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), and optical devices.

The mechanical properties of thin film materials, which strongly influence the reliability and service life of a nano-device, have been attracting both industrial and scientific interest.

Nanoindentation is one of the most popular methods used to investigate the mechanical properties of materials at micro-and nano-scale.


The pathogenesis of intestinal mucositis due to chemo/radiotherapy is not yet fully understood. Studies have reported a reduction in intestinal cell proliferation associated with an increasing rate of apoptosis, which in turn led to a loss of intestinal arrangement and function, mainly through villus shortening and crypt destruction. Similar findings were reported in this study and by other authors [45, 46] . Additionally, a focus of edema, inflammatory infiltrate and vacuolization caused by 5-FU which reached a high histological damage index were demonstrated here. Simultaneously, a marked body weight loss was observed, since chemotherapy decreases food intake and the inflammatory response causes the loss of the nutrient absorption capacity in the small intestine, thereby resulting in diarrhea, an important dose limiting toxicity in cancer treatment [47, 48] .

Similar findings were reported in this study and by other authors.

Simultaneously, a marked body weight loss was observed, since chemotherapy decreases food intake and the inflammatory response causes the loss of the nutrient absorption capacity in the small intestine, thereby resulting in diarrhea, an important dose limiting toxicity in cancer treatment.


In all cases, we provide explicit expression for both the gauge currents and the energymomentum tensor. When the symmetry remains unbroken, the covariant current is computed from the variation of the nonlocal invariant part of the action, whereas the consistent current is obtained from the anomalous local piece [16] . In the presence of spontaneous symmetry breaking, on the other hand, we find that both the covariant and the consistent currents can be written in terms of the Bardeen-Zumino current interpolating between the two. We thus compute the currents on a stationary background from the dimensional reduction of the Bardeen-Zumino current. Moreover, an evaluation of the leading anomalyinduced energy-momentum tensor gives a vanishing result, due to the cancellation between the contributions of gauge fields and Goldstone modes.

When the symmetry remains unbroken, the covariant current is computed from the variation of the nonlocal invariant part of the action, whereas the consistent current is obtained from the anomalous local piece.


The economic and demographic growth of cities in Uganda, is posing serious challenges to the urban local authorities. With rapidly swelling urban population, the requirement for infrastructure and services increase manifold. Solid Waste Management (SWM) is one such service that needs to be adequately provided to ensure an urban environment conducive to the well-being and productivity of the residents. The solid waste problem is due to high waste generation, inadequate waste collection and poor disposal habits by the households/individuals. In Uganda, the local government authorities are responsible for SWM services, but these services are only at secondary level (collection from dumping grounds/skips). Primary collection (waste removal from houses) is neglected by Kampala City Council (KCC) and yet a poor primary collection means exposed waste in the vicinity and an unhealthy environment. Lack of infrastructure, an inefficient institutional setup, and limited financial and technical resources, have led to an inadequate and inefficient level of provision of services even at the secondary level and yet the rate of waste generation is increasing each day. Kampala city, with a population of about 2 million people (projected from the 2002 census), generates about 1580 tones of solid waste per day. Of the total waste generated, about 53% is residential solid waste (Banga, 2008) . However, only 40 percent of the total waste generated is collected by both KCC and the private sector 1 . Therefore, the significant amount of solid waste generated is either burnt on the streets or ends up in drainage channels, marshy areas and empty plots.

Of the total waste generated, about 53% is residential solid waste.


The environmental indicators used in this work were selected according to EPD Certification. Therefore, the findings can suggest practical implications useful for entrepreneurs as well as for consumers. The former can improve and certify the environmental profile of their products and therefore increase the added value to reach market segments that are aware of sustainable production so, potentially, willing to pay a premium price. The latter can satisfy their sensibility to the environment protection by having more knowledge on the impacts of different production systems. In this study, the environmental improvement is complementary to economic performances. The economic indicators are more oriented to the farmers, who can use them to evaluate and improve their businesses. The utilization of environmental and economic indicators different from those applied in this study, could probably change the final rank and the decision-makers/stakeholders perspectives. The use of a synthetic index allows a more understandable reading of results and then a simpler measure of sustainability [20, 21] .

The use of a synthetic index allows a more understandable reading of results and then a simpler measure of sustainability.


Our notation and terminology concerning measure spaces are standard and follow [2, 8, 9, [13] [14] [15] . The paper deals with the following problem. Let a sequence (S n : n ∈ N) of sequences of measurable functions, all converging (in a mode of convergence) to a function f , be given. Apply a selection procedure π to find a sequence s constructed by choosing elements from each S n using π, and converging to f in the same or different mode of convergence.

Our notation and terminology concerning measure spaces are standard and follow [2, 8, 9.


The Versatile Link (VL) project was a joint ATLAS-CMS effort aiming at developing a radiation hard bi-directional optical link for use in the phase-I LHC upgrade program [1] . As the main building block on the transmission side, the GigaBit Laser Driver (GBLD) was developed to operate at a data rate of 5 Gb/s with a power consumption around 300 mW [2] . The Versatile Link PLUS project (VL + ) targets the phase II upgrades of the ATLAS and CMS experiments [3] . With the high-luminosity operation of LHC in phase II, data transmission requires very high data rates and low power dissipation. VL + has to support data rates up to 10 Gb/s in the upstream direction. As an initial step towards this target, we have designed and demonstrated the first 10 Gb/s radiation-hard laser driver (GBLD10) in 130-nm CMOS with a power consumption of 85 mW [4] . Similar to the GBLD, the GBLD10 is packaged in a 4 mm × 4 mm QFN24 package and is used to drive a Transmit Optical Sub-Assembly (TOSA) in an Enhanced Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP+) module.

The Versatile Link (VL) project was a joint ATLAS-CMS effort aiming at developing a radiation hard bi-directional optical link for use in the phase-I LHC upgrade program.

As the main building block on the transmission side, the GigaBit Laser Driver (GBLD) was developed to operate at a data rate of 5 Gb/s with a power consumption around 300 mW.

The Versatile Link PLUS project (VL + ) targets the phase II upgrades of the ATLAS and CMS experiments.

As an initial step towards this target, we have designed and demonstrated the first 10 Gb/s radiation-hard laser driver (GBLD10) in 130-nm CMOS with a power consumption of 85 mW.


One would ideally like a dynamical dichotomy for the action of Out(Γ) on X(Γ, G), i.e. a decomposition into an open set where the action is properly discontinuous and a closed set where the action is chaotic in some precise sense. The only case where G is non-compact and such a dynamical dichotomy is understood is the case where Γ = F 2 is the free group on 2 generators and G = SL(2, R) (see Goldman [23] ). We discuss this work briefly at the end of section 3.

The only case where G is non-compact and such a dynamical dichotomy is understood is the case where Γ = F 2 is the free group on 2 generators and G = SL(2, R) (see Goldman).


There is a generalization of the Rauzy induction acting on the space of linear involutions (see Danthony and Nogueira [5] ). Therefore it is natural to conjecture that this transformation is exact as well. This places the exactness property in the context of measured foliations on orientable surfaces.

There is a generalization of the Rauzy induction acting on the space of linear involutions (see Danthony and Nogueira).


Undertaking the role of HIV support worker effectively required them to share and receive information about their service users, presenting opportunities to connect with health or social work professionals [12] . This connecting role was achieved through writing advocacy letters or making referrals to relevant services. However, this study highlighted barriers around informationsharing. In other studies, health professionals can be gatekeepers of services and resources, limiting success in securing resources that promote achieving parenthood for PLWHIV [6, 15] .

Undertaking the role of HIV support worker effectively required them to share and receive information about their service users, presenting opportunities to connect with health or social work professionals.

In other studies, health professionals can be gatekeepers of services and resources, limiting success in securing resources that promote achieving parenthood for PLWHIV.


In concrete, chloride and inhibitor ions travel via three primary mechanisms: natural diffusion, electric migration, and transport by movement of pore solution due to capillary suction or external pressure gradient [9] . In water-saturated concrete, chloride ions migrate mainly via natural diffusion and electric migration [10] . The natural diffusion of chloride ions depends predominantly on their concentration gradient, which may also be affected by the electric membrane potential formed in concrete [10] . During rebar corrosion, chloride ions could also migrate from local cathodes to local anodes under the electric field generated by the corrosion cell [8] . In contrast to the internally established electric fields mentioned above, an external electric field is often applied to control the transport of chloride ions and protective species in concrete [11] [12] . Applications of such electrochemical treatments include mainly the electrochemical realkalization, electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE), cathodic protection, and EICI [11, 13, 14] . In ECE, an electric field with a current density of 1~5 A/m 2 is usually applied to a concrete structural component for a few weeks, under which chloride ions migrate out of concrete towards the external anolyte solution [11, 15] . In cathodic protection, a much lower current density is maintained for decades to prevent the corrosion of rebar in concrete, which also helps prevent excessive accumulation of chloride ions on rebar surface. Using a setup similar to ECE, EICI drives inhibitor ions into concrete (some of which may reach the rebar surface), while at the same time removing chloride ions out of concrete.

In concrete, chloride and inhibitor ions travel via three primary mechanisms: natural diffusion, electric migration, and transport by movement of pore solution due to capillary suction or external pressure gradient.

In water-saturated concrete, chloride ions migrate mainly via natural diffusion and electric migration.

The natural diffusion of chloride ions depends predominantly on their concentration gradient, which may also be affected by the electric membrane potential formed in concrete.

During rebar corrosion, chloride ions could also migrate from local cathodes to local anodes under the electric field generated by the corrosion cell.

In contrast to the internally established electric fields mentioned above, an external electric field is often applied to control the transport of chloride ions and protective species in concrete.

Applications of such electrochemical treatments include mainly the electrochemical realkalization, electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE), cathodic protection, and EICI.

In ECE, an electric field with a current density of 1~5 A/m 2 is usually applied to a concrete structural component for a few weeks, under which chloride ions migrate out of concrete towards the external anolyte solution.


Nitrate (NO 3 ) is the final product of nitrogenous organic matters. High concentration of nitrate in surface waters indicates that the water was polluted before by the industrial and domestic wastewaters containing ammonium and organic nitrogen and the fertilizers used in agricultural lands and containing nitrate (Topal and Arslan Topal, 2012) . Even though the low doses of nitrate are not toxic for fish, it was reported that fish mortality starts at the doses of 4 μg/L and higher (Acu, 2000) . Its concentration within surface waters is an indicator of the pollution of those waters caused by domestic and industrial waste waters containing ammonium and organic azote and the nitrogenous fertilizers used in agricultural lands (Topal and Arslan Topal, 2012) . According to the RSWQM, Brook Kuruçay is Class I water in terms of nitrate (NO 3 ). The total alkalinity and total hardness values in lime soils are generally close to each other (Boyd and Tucker, 2012) . The alkalinity level of the natural waters varies between 5 and 500 mg/L, and is closely related with the structure. The carbonate and bicarbonate give the alkalinity to the water (Tepe et al., 2006) . According to the results obtained from our analyses, the brook shows mildly-hard water characteristics.

High concentration of nitrate in surface waters indicates that the water was polluted before by the industrial and domestic wastewaters containing ammonium and organic nitrogen and the fertilizers used in agricultural lands and containing nitrate.

Even though the low doses of nitrate are not toxic for fish, it was reported that fish mortality starts at the doses of 4 μg/L and higher.

Its concentration within surface waters is an indicator of the pollution of those waters caused by domestic and industrial waste waters containing ammonium and organic azote and the nitrogenous fertilizers used in agricultural lands.

The total alkalinity and total hardness values in lime soils are generally close to each other.

The carbonate and bicarbonate give the alkalinity to the water.


The rivers are the ecosystems, which are affected by environmental pollution at most. The release of domestic-, industrial-, and agricultural-origin pollutants into rivers without adequate filtering and their accumulation lead to water pollution, and many organisms living in streams face with the risk of extinction. Such events obviously indicate the necessity of researching the pollution level of streams (Taş, 2006) .

Such events obviously indicate the necessity of researching the pollution level of streams.


Another parameter influencing the development of a balanced fauna is the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration. Besides being a compound that is necessary for aquatic life, DO is also necessary for biochemical oxidations. In sweet waters, there should be at least 5 mg/L dissolved oxygen for aquatic life (Atay and Pulatsü, 2000) . The lowest mean DO value measured in this study was found to be 8.63 mg/L in 9 th station, so the water of Brook Kuruçay is suitable for aquaculture in terms of DO concentration, and it is in Class I in accordance with RSWQM (Table 1a,b) .

In sweet waters, there should be at least 5 mg/L dissolved oxygen for aquatic life.


The annual mean values of the parameters by the stations are presented in Table 1a ,b, while the seasonal mean values are presented in Table 2 . There were significant differences (ANOVA, P>0.05) in average surface temperatures among stations and seasons (Table  1a ,ba,b; Table 2 ). One of the most important factors that affect the biological activity of the aquatic organisms and fish is the water temperature. The changes in this parameter result from seasonal temperature changes (Mutlu et al., 2013c) . Brook Kuruçay shows inland water characteristic. The temperature differences measured in 9 stations during the study were not at the level that can affect the aquatic life negatively (Table 1a, ba,b) .

The changes in this parameter result from seasonal temperature changes.


Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is another parameter that is utilized in order to find the pollution level of waters and waste waters (Mutlu et al., 2013a) . The COD level of waters higher than 25 mg/L indicate the pollution, while the values more than 50 mg/L indicates the severe pollution and possible toxicity for aquatic animals (Güler, 1997) . The maximum mean COD value measured in Brook Kuruçay was determined to be 1.29 mg/L in 9 th station. According to the RSWQM and the rule that the worst value determines the class, the Brook Kuruçay is in Class I in terms of COD (Table 1a,b) .

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is another parameter that is utilized in order to find the pollution level of waters and waste waters.

The COD level of waters higher than 25 mg/L indicate the pollution, while the values more than 50 mg/L indicates the severe pollution and possible toxicity for aquatic animals.