As in the standard case, the nonlinear couplings in the continuity and Euler equations are at most quadratic and the vertices are the same as those for a single dark matter fluid. The only difference is that the velocity divergence in the continuity equation is enhanced by the factor (1 + w) Ω Q /Ω m . At linear order, this term is responsible for a rapid evolution of the growth rate at low redshifts, and changes the standard relation between the velocity divergence and the growth factor. Due to the absence of pressure gradients, the solutions for the linear growth and the linear growth rate of the total fluid can be written in integral form, as in the standard ΛCDM case. Using these solutions we are able to find simple fitting functions for these quantities, which generalize those currently employed in ΛCDM cosmologies [36, 37] .

Using these solutions we are able to find simple fitting functions for these quantities, which generalize those currently employed in ΛCDM cosmologies.


Principal component analysis (PCA) is a well-known statistical technique for linear dimensionality reduction [1] . It projects high-dimensional data into a low-dimensional subspace by applying a linear transformation that minimizes the mean squared reconstruction error. PCA is used as a pre-processing step in many applications involving data compression or data visualization. The approach has, however, severe limitations. Since it minimizes a mean squared error, it is very sensitive to atypical observations, which in turn leads to identifying principal directions strongly biased toward them.

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a well-known statistical technique for linear dimensionality reduction.


The first class includes soft agents that are used for the assessment of mobile and potentially mobilizable portions of risk elements (Száková et al. 2001) . In regard of gathered experiences we prefer using of 1M NH 4 NO 3 (for mobile contents) and 0.025M Na 2 EDTA for potentially mobilizable contents. Especially the first scheme is crucial, if only for the reason that it is employed as the international standard for the soil quality evaluation (ISO/DIS 19730).

The first class includes soft agents that are used for the assessment of mobile and potentially mobilizable portions of risk elements.


In a second approach, an experimental method to measure the resonant frequencies of liquid bridges has been developed. The results obtained have been used for evaluating several theoretical models, although a relaxed shape for the tank is assumed. The three-dimensional model, which retains the appropriate boundary conditions and minimum simplifications, offers better agreement with experiments in the range checked. The results from the one-dimensional model in the first mode coincide quite well for A > 2 with those from the three-dimensional model, as is shown in figures 6 and 16. This bound on A can be considered as a validity limit of the one-dimensional model in studying linear oscillations. A similar value is obtained in the case of breaking processes (Meseguer et al. 1983) .

A similar value is obtained in the case of breaking processes.


The manufacturing sector is a vital sector of the economy as well as a catalyst for growth. Countries such as China and Singapore have witnessed tremendous growth driven by the manufacturing sector (Anwar, 2008) . The sector is not homogeneous; rather, it comprises a number of subsectors, each with diverse needs and characteristics. Nevertheless, access to finance remains a common constraint among enterprises.

Countries such as China and Singapore have witnessed tremendous growth driven by the manufacturing sector.


Music performance has been characterized as a component of a communication system in which composers code musical ideas in notation, performers transduce this notation into an acoustical signal, and listeners recode the acoustical signal into musical ideas (Kendall & Carterette, 1990) . This model applies particularly to score-based music performance, which characterizes a significant proportion of classical Western musical practice. The score, written by a composer, generally specifies the pitch and duration categories of the notes to be played by the performer in an unambiguous manner, while conveying less specific information about exact tempo, articulation, dynamics and ornamentation (Large, 1993; Palmer, 1997) . Depending on the repertoire, the performer has more or less freedom in deciding how to interpret the score, but pitches and nominal note durations are generally less subject to variation than other musical parameters, given that they can be categorically defined. Because the score provides an explicit benchmark with which the performance can be compared, score-based music performance has constituted the focus of research in music performance (Palmer, 1997) .

Music performance has been characterized as a component of a communication system in which composers code musical ideas in notation, performers transduce this notation into an acoustical signal, and listeners recode the acoustical signal into musical ideas.

The score, written by a composer, generally specifies the pitch and duration categories of the notes to be played by the performer in an unambiguous manner, while conveying less specific information about exact tempo, articulation, dynamics and ornamentation.

Because the score provides an explicit benchmark with which the performance can be compared, score-based music performance has constituted the focus of research in music performance.


The unique properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the reason for the rapid progress in synthesis of nanotubes and the use of CNTs in electronics [1] . Numerous studies have indicated that carbon nanotubes have several good electrochemical properties. For example, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are electrocatalytically active in the reduction of oxygen [2] . Although the potential of oxygen reduction is lower than with other carbon electrodes, the reduction potential is still OPEN ACCESS rather high -0.4 V [3] . Therefore, the electrocatalytic properties of MWCNTs should further be improved, e.g. by functionalization with some other materials.

The unique properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the reason for the rapid progress in synthesis of nanotubes and the use of CNTs in electronics.

For example, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are electrocatalytically active in the reduction of oxygen.

Although the potential of oxygen reduction is lower than with other carbon electrodes, the reduction potential is still OPEN ACCESS rather high -0.4 V.


The advantages of using recombinant E. coli as the host organism are well known, as fast growth and high cell density cultures are easily achieved; high bacterial growth and PHB production are reported in literature but these factors are dependent on medium composition: a nutrient medium, rich in pure carbon sources, will increase the final PHB/PHA yield but, at the same time, the production costs. Unfortunately, the cost of producing PHAs is still high, approximately US$ 4-6/ kg, as there are included also polymer extraction and recovery costs [18, 40] . In fact, PHB granules are cytosolic and mechanical or chemical methods are required for cell disruption.

Unfortunately, the cost of producing PHAs is still high, approximately US$ 4-6/ kg, as there are included also polymer extraction and recovery costs.


Bubble gas microaeration and sparging has been shown useful to increase the oxygenation of the medium and the synthesis of PHB [27] . The process optimization may lead to high intracellular PHB accumulation (up to 95% of PHB/g of dry cell weight). Applications of PHA are coatings, packaging films and in bottling, medicine, drug delivery and bioplastic components [28, 29] . The principal bottleneck is the cost of production, being higher than 2 dollars/kg, due to costs of running the fermentors, and for extraction and purification. Therefore, it is highly desirable to optimise bioreactor conditions to improve the yield, and to scale up the processing capacity of fermentors.

Bubble gas microaeration and sparging has been shown useful to increase the oxygenation of the medium and the synthesis of PHB.

Applications of PHA are coatings, packaging films and in bottling, medicine, drug delivery and bioplastic components.


Finally, a sensor needs to be dedicated to the detection and evaluation of PHB production. This is a critical point in industrial fermentation, since keeping the process for the shortest time possible is economically convenient, and bacteria that do not synthesise still consume sugars and keep the fermentors busy. Traditional PHB screening methods for PHB quantification in whole cells have exploited the Nile Blue staining and fluorescence of PHB containing bacteria [37] . Nile Blue dye stains PHB and other neutral lipids in bacteria. Quantitative assessments of PHB based on Nile Blue fluorescence involve various fixing steps, executed with an alcohol or acetone treatment, that facilitate the permeation of the dye through the membrane. The time required is between one and two hours and some manual passages. New methods have been proven less time consuming than standard Nile Blue colorimetric staining of PHB, and may be run in automatic, providing measures even over-night. Recently a more sensitive measurement has been obtained detecting bacteria fluorescence on a laser scanner (unpublished results) [17] . In this way, a colour scale was obtained, from blue, green, red, to white as the highest saturation signal. The chip slides loaded with serial dilutions of bacteria, are slightly dried for fixing the pellets to the glass, and incubated with the solutions for staining, centrifuged and loaded onto the scanner.

Traditional PHB screening methods for PHB quantification in whole cells have exploited the Nile Blue staining and fluorescence of PHB containing bacteria.

Recently a more sensitive measurement has been obtained detecting bacteria fluorescence on a laser scanner (unpublished results).


Various companies produce PHB and PHB-V heteropolymers. TephaElast (by Tepha), Biopol (by Metabolix, Cambridge, MA, USA), Mirel (by Telles, Clinton, IA, USA, this joint venture has been closed), Biogreen (by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Tokyo, Japan), Enmat (by Tinan, Tianjin, China), Nodex (by Kaneka, Osaka, Japan), Biocycle (by PHB Ind., Serrana, Sao Paulo, Brazil). Of these, Telles has the highest production capacity, projected to reach 50.000 tonn/year in 2020, and SIRIM, Selangor, Malaysia, has a fully automated fermentor system [30] . In 2016, Metabolix announced the intention to sell the patents and assets for PHA to Cheil Jedang (Seoul, Korea), making this company one of the strongest in this field for the next years.

Of these, Telles has the highest production capacity, projected to reach 50.000 tonn/year in 2020, and SIRIM, Selangor, Malaysia, has a fully automated fermentor system.


Considering the three different agro-industrial wastes tested, the best result in both bacterial growth and PHB production was observed with banana juice hydrolysate and the recombinant strain ( Table 2 ). The natural strain Ralstonia taiwanensis, usually good PHB producer when tested in two-stage batch production (nutrient medium followed by limiting medium), when grown exclusively in agro-industrial wastes showed very low yield (Table 2 ). In fact, even if in the literature natural strains are reported as the best PHB producers, the results depend on the medium composition. Whilst recombinant strain does not require carbon/nitrogen imbalance in the bacterial medium, PHB synthesis in natural strains depends on a precise C:N ratio, whilst the depolymerase may degrade PHB when carbon is unavailable in the medium pET/CAB E. coli, conversely, is able to grow and produce PHB polymers in hydrolysate waste, without the necessity of carbon/nitrogen imbalance. Banana by-product supplied from TRANSBIO Consortium, used to 5% (v/v) of the final medium, is particularly rich in glucose and fructose (89.80 ± 0.5 g/L and 82.24 ± 0.4 g/L, respectively) and nitrogen (6 g/L); was shown to be an excellent medium for recombinant E. coli grown to produce P(3HB). Conversely, a natural strain needs two different media: a nutrient medium to increase biomass and a limiting medium, with carbon/nitrogen imbalance, to produce PHA/PHB; the particular composition of concentrated banana juice results in a disadvantage for natural strain manipulation, as it contains excessive nitrogen concentration amount that decrease the C/N ratio expected in the limiting medium. To overcome this drawback, a glucose syrup can be used as carbon feeding, increasing the costs of production. An additional advantage to use banana juice waste is related to its citric acid content. In fact, the utilisation of the available sugars in the medium is divided into two steps. Acetyl-CoA, intermediate of the central carbon metabolism, is required for cell synthesis during the exponential phase but is diverted to produce PHB polymers in the stationary phase. PHAs are produced from acetyl-CoA as phbA enzyme condenses two acetyl-CoA molecules into acetoacetyl-CoA, while the addition of citrate blocks the TCA cycle, causing a shift of most of the acetyl-CoA generated in glycolysis pathway towards PHA synthesis. Banana juice, conversely to other hydrolysates, possesses a discrete amount of citric acid (3.50 g/L) and it can help shifting toward P(3HB) pathway. Another important aspect is that recombinant strains can not degrade the PHB polymers inside the cell, due to absence of depolymerises. The pH was controlled automatically at 6.9 ± 0.1 by the addition of NH4OH (20% v/v) as bacterial growth leads to an acidification of the medium; ammonium hydroxide represents a nitrogen source and also in this case it is not suitable for a natural strain, causing the need to seek an alternative buffer system. Another parameter not to be neglected for a better bacterial growth of both, recombinant and natural strains, is the amount of oxygen in the medium. In small scale experiments, we used Erlenmeyer flasks with baffles that facilitate the oxygenation of bacterial cultures under stirring, observing improvements in terms of biomass. This strategy is in agreement with Chen and Page, who used high aeration rate to promote cell growth in the first stage and lower aeration rate in the second stage to promote PHB production [4] . However, many strategies are proposed to increase biomass and to produce P(3HB): one-stage batch, two-stage batch or high-cell-density fed-batch cultures [3] . Based on fed-batch culture, drainage system in the bioreactor would be a good strategy as it removes the supernatant depleted of nutrient and it would concentrate the bacterial culture, reducing an excessive increase of the volume for a longer and more efficient feeding.

This strategy is in agreement with Chen and Page, who used high aeration rate to promote cell growth in the first stage and lower aeration rate in the second stage to promote PHB production.

However, many strategies are proposed to increase biomass and to produce P(3HB): one-stage batch, two-stage batch or high-cell-density fed-batch cultures.


As indicated before, when personal estimates of exposure are used in epidemiological studies, measurement error and attenuation in health-risk estimates are likely, particularly when there is substantial within-subject variability and a limited number of measurements is obtained. Repeated measurements could be obtained, at least in a subset of the population, to improve the exposure estimate, or to estimate the within -and between -subject variance, which will enable the estimation of attenuation in health -risk estimates ( Armstrong, 1998 ) . In the case of water consumption, daily water consumption questionnaires showed that the largest proportion in the variation in consumption is explained by differences between individuals ( ICC =0.61) , but that there are differences between full -time employed ( ICC = 0.42) and part -time or less employed (ICC = 0.81 ) women ( Shimokura et al., 1998 ) . As far as we are aware, no repeated measurements have been reported for biomarkers, and a study to determine the within and between subject variance in uptake is needed. Well validated biomarkers should be used, that are easy to obtain and have a long enough biological half -life, e.g., chloroform as a marker for volatile DBPs and TCAA as a marker for nonvolatile DBPs. It is important to note that the use of biomarkers is generally labour intensive and expensive and such studies should be well planned and have an efficient design.

Repeated measurements could be obtained, at least in a subset of the population, to improve the exposure estimate, or to estimate the within -and between -subject variance, which will enable the estimation of attenuation in health -risk estimates.

In the case of water consumption, daily water consumption questionnaires showed that the largest proportion in the variation in consumption is explained by differences between individuals ( ICC =0.61) , but that there are differences between full -time employed ( ICC = 0.42) and part -time or less employed (ICC = 0.81 ) women.


In general, there are a number of methods have been proposed to estimate missing value [7] [8] [9] [10] . The best estimation should not change the important characteristics of the dataset and should follow the character of rainfall in a given area [11] . In hydrological study, spatial correlations also exist among rainfall occurrence and amounts of studied stations. The fact is reasonable as fairly negative relationship were observed between correlation of daily rainfall and distances among the neighboring stations. Therefore it is important to include neighboring stations in estimation process.

In general, there are a number of methods have been proposed to estimate missing value.

The best estimation should not change the important characteristics of the dataset and should follow the character of rainfall in a given area.


Daily rainfall data are one of the most important variables in hydrological and environmental modelling and also in assessing the water quality. However, studies involving the use of long and continuous time series data are always faced with the problem of missing value especially in developing countries like Malaysia. Mostly the existing data series are too short to perform a good and meaningful analyses and often contain a large number of missing values [1] [2] [3] . Normally lack of data and inhomogeneity problem are due to rainfall station relocation, changes in the environment, instrument malfunctions and network reorganizations [4] . In hydrologic modelling, developing a method to get an accurate estimation of rainfall are very crucial. In order to get an accurate results in analyses, the rainfall data that is used must be complete, homogeneous and have a good quality.

Mostly the existing data series are too short to perform a good and meaningful analyses and often contain a large number of missing values.

Normally lack of data and inhomogeneity problem are due to rainfall station relocation, changes in the environment, instrument malfunctions and network reorganizations.


Aside from Hawking radiation, black funnels have also been used to study heat transport [14] . A black hole is viewed as a heat source in the dual field theory and the heat transport properties are mapped to a stationary flow in the black funnel. One might be able to construct stationary black funnel solutions in order to study non-equilibrium heat flow. This can also be attempted in global AdS.

Aside from Hawking radiation, black funnels have also been used to study heat transport.


The main objective of this study was to evaluate preliminary designs to support "green" driving. In practice, the in-trip guidance provided by such a haptic system would occur over far longer durations than the short 30s scenario utilized here, hence this study provides little in terms of an assessment of long term driver comfort. In a real system, should advice need to be overridden, especially in the preferred high force condition, applying such high pedal forces may well lead to fatigue from the need to co-contract both the shin muscles and calf muscles to stabilize the desired gas pedal position, resulting in undesirable physical driver workload (Abbink, 2006) .

In a real system, should advice need to be overridden, especially in the preferred high force condition, applying such high pedal forces may well lead to fatigue from the need to co-contract both the shin muscles and calf muscles to stabilize the desired gas pedal position, resulting in undesirable physical driver workload.


With the continuous development of science and technology and the increasing of people's living standard, the product life cycle is shortened, more and more waste products, accompanied by resource crisis and environmental problems are becoming increasingly prominent. Therefore, developing circular economy, maintaining social sustainable development and building a resource saving and environment friendly society have become an urgent strategic issues. Remanufacture engineering is one of the main ways to realize the circulation economy, to alleviate the shortage of resources and sustainable development. Recycling and remanufacturing of waste products has become an important strategic operation mode of modern enterprise, and it can produce significant economic benefit and social benefit [1] .

Recycling and remanufacturing of waste products has become an important strategic operation mode of modern enterprise, and it can produce significant economic benefit and social benefit.


In order to resolve various environmental issues, numerous investigations are currently focusing on energy conservation techniques. One topic of particular interest is drag reduction in heat transport systems. The addition of drag reducing agents leads to reduced frictional loss, and a corresponding reduction in pumping power, and results in effective energy conservation [1] .

The addition of drag reducing agents leads to reduced frictional loss, and a corresponding reduction in pumping power, and results in effective energy conservation.


Spatial inhomogeneity has profound consequences for the dynamics of real physical systems. For single particle systems the detailed consequences of inhomogeneity are well understood, with periodicity leading to band structure and disorder leading to Anderson localization [1] . On macroscopic scales over which the system looks effectively homogeneous, these effects are simply encoded in bulk material properties such as efficient momentum dissipation and a finite DC resistivity. In stronglyinteracting many-body systems, however, the consequences of disorder remain far more mysterious. When does disorder lead to localization? Can disorder interfere with confinement or other manybody effects? What are the macroscopic legacies of microscopic disorder in a strongly-interacting many-body system?

For single particle systems the detailed consequences of inhomogeneity are well understood, with periodicity leading to band structure and disorder leading to Anderson localization.


With a pump of 130 mW, one can generate a mode-locked Kerr comb in the aforementioned Si 3 N 4 cavity. The comb evolution is shown in Fig. 2(a) , with an increasing pump detuning = 2, 5, 6.5, and 7.625 ( is defined as 2δ 0 /(α + κ) [29] ). The comb spectrum gradually becomes smooth, evolving from the modulational instability state to the cavity soliton state [28] . Fig. 2(b) shows the temporal profile of the stable cavity soliton at = 7.625, with a pulsewidth of 77 fs and a peak power of 96 W. Coupled out of the cavity, the pulse has a peak power of 290 mW, sitting on a 2.6 mW DC component, which is the residual pump after 20-dB attenuation by an optical bandstop filter. The optical amplifier is set to have a gain of 18.6 dB, resulting in the peak power P 0 of 20 W for the optical pulse launched into nonlinear waveguides, temporally ignoring other practical issues such as coherence over the gain bandwidth, the insertion/connection losses.

The comb evolution is shown in Fig. 2(a) , with an increasing pump detuning = 2, 5, 6.5, and 7.625 ( is defined as 2δ 0 /(α + κ)).

The comb spectrum gradually becomes smooth, evolving from the modulational instability state to the cavity soliton state.


Until the risks for sporadic cryptosporidiosis are better defined, broad preventive recommendations will be less effective than focusing on those exposures that appear to have the greatest risk. Immunocompromized patients, especially those with HIV infection, should be counselled that certain activities, such as handling young livestock, swimming in freshwater bodies or public pools, any human contact with potential faecal-oral exposure, and consumption of municipal water during a boil-water advisory or in regions with poor sanitation, are recognized risks [1, 2, 18] . The potential but unknown risk from other exposures, including municipal water consumption under normal circumstances, should be discussed, but providing specific recommendations is difficult and must be individualized.

Immunocompromized patients, especially those with HIV infection, should be counselled that certain activities, such as handling young livestock, swimming in freshwater bodies or public pools, any human contact with potential faecal-oral exposure, and consumption of municipal water during a boil-water advisory or in regions with poor sanitation, are recognized risks.


Gesture states (registration, continuation, termination) were generated by using a "grasp" clutching-gesture as this has been reported to be the preferred gesture by many users [19] . Additionally, we added the hand movement to it [3, 7] . We divided the GestureDrawer interaction technique into two single-stroke gesture actions to reduce fatigue, by keeping both the physical clutching and hand movement at a minimum.

Gesture states (registration, continuation, termination) were generated by using a "grasp" clutching-gesture as this has been reported to be the preferred gesture by many users.

Additionally, we added the hand movement to it.


Of the 3 diagnostic tests under evaluation, IgM-TESA blots represented a promising tool with intermediate characteristics [17] . Levels of sensitivity were higher than micromethod, and this technique relies on infrastructure readily available for other serological diagnoses. However, blot strips fade quickly over time and must be interpreted immediately; bands can be ambiguous, with imperfect reproducibility for a given specimen; and strips need to be produced in-house, raising issues of standardization between batches and laboratories. Maintaining reliable, routine TESA-blot testing in Bolivia proved challenging; the results reported here were generated in our Lima research laboratory.

Of the 3 diagnostic tests under evaluation, IgM-TESA blots represented a promising tool with intermediate characteristics.


Some of these activating events are blocked by BP-1, which may explain its anti-tumor activity [3] . FLT1 is highly expressed in breast-cancer tissues and breastcancer cell lines, but its expression is absent or near background in normal breast tissues [2, 3] . However, the molecular mechanism by which Flt-1 promotes breastcancer invasion and metastasis by binding to PlGF-1 is also unclear.

Some of these activating events are blocked by BP-1, which may explain its anti-tumor activity.

FLT1 is highly expressed in breast-cancer tissues and breastcancer cell lines, but its expression is absent or near background in normal breast tissues.


This microstructure can be considered intermediary between austenitic and ferritic stainless steels. Duplex stainless steels have higher strength than austenitic stainless steels, higher toughness than ferritic stainless steels and good weldability [1] [2] [3] [4] . Furthermore, due to the high Cr content and the presence of alloying elements in the material, the duplex stainless steels present superior corrosion resistance in different environments when compared to other types of similar stainless steels, together with a yield point that is superior to the one of austenitic stainless steels. This behavior allows thickness and weight reduction of a component or equipment produced with this type of steel [5] [6] .

Duplex stainless steels have higher strength than austenitic stainless steels, higher toughness than ferritic stainless steels and good weldability.

This behavior allows thickness and weight reduction of a component or equipment produced with this type of steel.


As previously discussed, the duplex stainless steels present typically two phases: ferrite and austenite. The amount and morphology of the ferrite affect the properties of the weld joints as cracking susceptibility, corrosion resistance and low temperature fracture toughness. Furthermore, it was suggested that some of these properties are related to the crystallographic relationship between  and  [14] [15] [16] .

Furthermore, it was suggested that some of these properties are related to the crystallographic relationship between  and .


Without water, there is no life and, in recent years, this resource is increasingly scarce. Various factors such as climate change, droughts and population increase contribute to its scarcity [1] . Although the earth's surface consists of 70% water, only 3% corresponds to freshwater. In addition, a significant part of that percentage is found in ice caps and glaciers, consequently only 1% of the surface freshwater is usable. Efficiency in water use can significantly increase if the capacity to reuse it increases by using new and improved technologies. In the case of seawater, desalination emerges as an alternative to extract salt and other polluting elements from it, turning it into water suitable for human consumption, or for productive uses such as agriculture and mining, among others. Desalination is identified as a safe source of water that guarantees a stable supply as compared with the variability of natural sources and the scarcity of this resource in the basins. However, the application of chemical methods generates waste that affects the environment [2, 3] .

Various factors such as climate change, droughts and population increase contribute to its scarcity.

However, the application of chemical methods generates waste that affects the environment.


In contrast, the use of new biotechnological tools could favor the recycle of wastewater and improve the quality of seawater and freshwater. Such is the case of biomineralization, a process that is mediated by bacteria and other organisms for the formation of minerals from ions present in the surrounding environment. A particular form of biomineralization is microbiological carbonates precipitation (MICP), and is defined as the process involving the formation of minerals mediated by living organisms as a result of the cellular activity that promotes the physicochemical conditions required to carry out the formation and growth of the biominerals [4] . There is a great variety of structures and, in nature, more than 60 types of biological minerals have been described [5] . From an evolutionary point of view, this process is generated mainly from bacterial activity. Bacteria are capable of inducing mineral precipitation through three types of mechanisms [6] .

A particular form of biomineralization is microbiological carbonates precipitation (MICP), and is defined as the process involving the formation of minerals mediated by living organisms as a result of the cellular activity that promotes the physicochemical conditions required to carry out the formation and growth of the biominerals.

There is a great variety of structures and, in nature, more than 60 types of biological minerals have been described.

Bacteria are capable of inducing mineral precipitation through three types of mechanisms.


The dayside E-region neutral dynamics during a magnetically quiet period was studied using the EISCAT UHF radar at Tromsø in terms of a momentum balance among the various forcings such as the Coriolis force, the pressure gradient force, the viscous force, the tidal force, and the electromagnetic force (Maeda et al., 1999) . In a certain height range between 106 and 110 km, the Coriolis force was balanced with the southward pressure gradient force, which corresponded to the northward temperature gradient. In other words, the neutral temperature became higher to the north. Since the momentum balance is maintained locally, the northward temperature gradient derived only from the EISCAT UHF radar data does not necessarily mean a higher temperature in the polar cap than in the auroral region.

The dayside E-region neutral dynamics during a magnetically quiet period was studied using the EISCAT UHF radar at Tromsø in terms of a momentum balance among the various forcings such as the Coriolis force, the pressure gradient force, the viscous force, the tidal force, and the electromagnetic force.


Learning involves not only cognition but more importantly feeling and emotion known as affects (Dirk, 2001) . For students to learn, they need to "be connected" with the learning materials. The ability to "connect" with the learning materials is an acquired skill that is classified under learning of the affective domain. The affective domain relates to the emotional component of learning (Lieberman, et al, 2007) . It emphasizes a feeling, tone, an emotion, or a degree of acceptance or rejection. Affect encompasses a range of acquired skills from simple attention to organization and characterization of complex, but internally consistent, qualities of character and conscience (Ferlazzo, n.d) . In brief, the affective domain relates to the emotional component of learning.

Learning involves not only cognition but more importantly feeling and emotion known as affects.

The affective domain relates to the emotional component of learning.


The potential of cell-substrate tomography with nanometre resolution has been demonstrated for 3 examples. Variableangle TIRFM seems to be an ideal method, if a fluorescent dye is distributed rather homogenously either within a thin layer (e.g., cell membrane) or on top of a layer (e.g., within the cytoplasm or an isolated chromosome). A user-friendly two-layer model was applied for all calculations reported above, although up to 4 layers (glass substrate, buffer solution, cell membrane, cytoplasm) may interfere. However, for thin cell membranes, and cell-substrate distances which are smaller than the laser wavelength, the two-layer model still holds with only few percent of error [20] . Similarly, the error resulting from an inhomogeneous spot of incident light may become negligible, if this spot is large compared to the object field [4] . Further requirements for calculation of tomographic images are a stationary spot of illumination (upon variation of the angle Θ), a constant fluorescence quantum yield over the measured parts of the sample (as deduced in the case of laurdan from the homogeneous distribution of fluorescence lifetimes) and a high signalto-noise ratio. Since TIRFM images are usually about 100 times weaker than conventional fluorescence images, a high sensitivity of the detection system, for example, of an EM-CCD camera, is needed. This kind of detection system also permits the use of very low illumination doses (far below 1 J/cm 2 for 10−12 TIRFM images), which may assure 7 cell survival in high-resolution microscopy and in vitro diagnostics.

However, for thin cell membranes, and cell-substrate distances which are smaller than the laser wavelength, the two-layer model still holds with only few percent of error.

Similarly, the error resulting from an inhomogeneous spot of incident light may become negligible, if this spot is large compared to the object field.


Variability of breathing pattern among different healthy individuals leads to an intersubject variability for particle deposition (Majid et al., 2011) . The scatter of breathing parameter values becomes even more pronounced in the case of patients with obstructive lung diseases. Breathing capabilities of each individual should be accounted for when choosing the appropriate aerosol drug and inhaler. Since patients are diagnosed primarily based on spirometry tests, actually this information is available at the moment of the prescription of the drug. However, inhalers have specific resistance and the breathing parameter values acquired during a normal lung function test are different from those recorded during the inhalation of aerosol drugs. Left panel of Fig. 2 Based on Fig. 2 the measured breathing parameter values of an individual depend on whether they are acquired without an inhalation device (normal spirometry) or they are measured when inhaling through an inhaler. On the other hand, they also depend on the specific resistance of each inhaler. Both plots indicate a higher airflow resistance for Turbuhaler ® than for Diskus ® , which is in line with the outcome of previous studies (Palen, 2003; Melani et al., 2005) . For an accurate and reliable numerical modelling the knowledge of parameter values characterizing breathing when inhaling through the inhalation device is of key importance. From the perspective of disease management it is also of great importance to know whether a patient is able to apply a correct breathing mode or not. Dry powder inhalers usually require a minimum inhalation flow rate to emit a considerable amount of fine particles with chances to reach the intrathoracic airways. Since standard spirometry data alone are not sufficient to decide whether a patient is able to efficiently use a given inhaler or not, the establishment of relationships similar to the ones deduced in Fig. 2 for all the marketed DPIs would be necessary. In order to establish statistically relevant correlations, these relationships should rely on measurements on a much higher number of individuals (and possibly more measurements for the same patient) than in the present study, preferably grouped into types and levels of diseases, categories of ages and genders.

Variability of breathing pattern among different healthy individuals leads to an intersubject variability for particle deposition.

Both plots indicate a higher airflow resistance for Turbuhaler ® than for Diskus ® , which is in line with the outcome of previous studies.


It is clear that if equation (1) is satisfied T e f f = T , otherwise T ef f turns out to be a decreasing function of t w and ω. The physical meaning of equation (2) is that there is a timescale (for example t w ) which allows us to separate the fast processes from the slow ones. In other words the low frequency modes, such that ωt w < 1, relax towards the equilibrium value much more slowly than the high frequency ones which rapidly relax to the temperature of the thermal bath. Therefore it is conceivable that the low frequency modes keep memory of higher temperatures for a long time and for this reason their temperature should be higher than that of the high frequency ones. This striking behaviour has been observed in several numerical models of ageing [12, [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] . Further analytical and numerical studies of simple models show that equation (2) is a good definition of temperature in the thermodynamic sense [11, 12] . In spite of the large number of theoretical studies there are only a few experiments where FDR is studied in ageing materials. The experimental analysis of the dependence of T e f f (ω, t w ) on ω and t w is very useful to distinguish among different models of ageing because the FDT violations are model dependent [12, [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] . Furthermore the direct analysis of the noise signal allows one to understand if the dynamics is either intermittent or continuous in time.

This striking behaviour has been observed in several numerical models of ageing.

Further analytical and numerical studies of simple models show that equation (2) is a good definition of temperature in the thermodynamic sense.

The experimental analysis of the dependence of T e f f (ω, t w ) on ω and t w is very useful to distinguish among different models of ageing because the FDT violations are model dependent.


In this context, several studies have proposed advanced solar control solutions [25] . The implementation of effective energy and low-cost solutions in retrofitting should not condition the use of the building. One of the possible solutions to be applied to existing glazing surfaces is the application of solar control films, reflective materials that reduce solar heat gains, as stated by Lampert [26] .

In this context, several studies have proposed advanced solar control solutions.

One of the possible solutions to be applied to existing glazing surfaces is the application of solar control films, reflective materials that reduce solar heat gains, as stated by Lampert.


If an engineering system comprises elastic components with frictional interfaces, the instantaneous state generally depends on the previous loading history. In particular, if the system is subjected to loads that are periodic in time, the steady state may depend on the initial conditions or on an initial transient loading phase. As a result, the effective damping in the system and/or damage due to fretting may exhibit variability due to differences in assembly procedures (Barber, 2011) .

As a result, the effective damping in the system and/or damage due to fretting may exhibit variability due to differences in assembly procedures.


Participants completed the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep scale-16 (DBAS-16) [14] . The scale assesses insomnia-related misconceptions. DBAS-16 is a Likerttype scale in which participants indicate a number ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree) in response to questions about beliefs and attitude toward sleep; the total score is an average of ratings on each of the 16 items.

Participants completed the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep scale-16 (DBAS-16).


The simplest DOEs are often factorial experiments, where all factors are varied simultaneously at a limited number of factor levels [9] . More complex DOEs involve response surface designs. Central Composite Designs (CCD) are possibly the most popular types of response surface designs. They may be thought of as a combination of three components ( Fig. 1) , namely: a) a factorial DOE at two levels, b) axial points (star design), c) a centre point [12] . This paper investigates the effect of environmental factors on the rate of degradation of chromogenic colour prints. In this accelerated degradation experimental design, the effect of three factors e temperature (T), RH and acetic acid concentration (c(AA)) -were investigated using a face-centred CCD. Since the degradation of dyes is a chemical reaction, T was expected to have a significant effect on the reaction rate. RH was also investigated as moisture generally accelerates the rate of degradation, although the exact mechanism is not necessarily understood [6, 13] .

The simplest DOEs are often factorial experiments, where all factors are varied simultaneously at a limited number of factor levels.

They may be thought of as a combination of three components ( Fig. 1) , namely: a) a factorial DOE at two levels, b) axial points (star design), c) a centre point.

RH was also investigated as moisture generally accelerates the rate of degradation, although the exact mechanism is not necessarily understood.


Degradation was accelerated by carrying out the experiments at higher temperatures than encountered in a typical archival repository. The obtained results thus had to be extrapolated to the temperatures expected in archival collections. Previous investigations within the photographic industry had shown good correlations between Arrhenius test predictions and trade experience and this is a widely used methodology in photographic companies, including Kodak [17e19]. Therefore, it was assumed that extrapolations would assume the form of an exponential function. To enable this, natural logarithm of the rate of reaction and inverse temperature should be used in calculations [19] . For this reason, T was converted to 1/T and the normalised annual colour change, ΔE T , was converted into its natural logarithm. Due to the significant differences in magnitude between the resulting T, RH and c(AA) coefficients, the temperature parameter was multiplied by 1000.

To enable this, natural logarithm of the rate of reaction and inverse temperature should be used in calculations.


Each independent factor assumed three coded levels that were À1, 0, and þ1 (Table 1) . A value was then assigned to the À1 and þ1 levels for each factor, with 0 being assigned to the middle value. The RH and c(AA) values were chosen to include the values typically encountered in archival collections [16] . The values for T were selected by considering the balance between accelerating the degradation processes so that the effect could be observed in a reasonable time and not moving too far from realistic storage conditions.

The RH and c(AA) values were chosen to include the values typically encountered in archival collections.


Acknowledgment This paper is a part of my Ph.D thesis at University of Notre Dame [5] . The author would like to express gratitude to his advisor, Professor Karsten Grove, for many helpful discussions. He also thanks Professor Anton Petrunin for discussing the proof of Theorem 3.1. The author benefits a lot from his "Exercises in orthodox geometry" [16] .

D thesis at University of Notre Dame.

The author benefits a lot from his "Exercises in orthodox geometry".


A successful establishment of a weed in any ecosystem is attributed to several reasons, such as high growth rate, high reproductive potential, adaptive nature and above all interference by resource depletion and allelopathy (Kohil and Rani, 1994) . Allelopathy concerns the effects of one plant on another due to chemicals released by them, or the breakdown products of their metabolites (Willis, 1994) . Allelopathy has been suggested as a mechanism for the impressive success of invasive plants by establishing virtual monoculture and may contribute to the ability of particular exotic species to become dominants in invaded plant communities (Hierro, 2003; Kanchan and Jayachandra, 1979) . Allelopathy is expected to be an important mechanism in the plant invasion process because the lack of co-evolved tolerance of resistant vegetation to new chemicals produced by the invader could allow these newly arrived species to dominant natural plant communities (Hierro, 2003) . In fact, allelopathic interference is one of the important mechanisms for the successful establishment of invasive exotic weeds (Ridenour & Callaway, 2001) .

A successful establishment of a weed in any ecosystem is attributed to several reasons, such as high growth rate, high reproductive potential, adaptive nature and above all interference by resource depletion and allelopathy.

Allelopathy concerns the effects of one plant on another due to chemicals released by them, or the breakdown products of their metabolites.

Allelopathy has been suggested as a mechanism for the impressive success of invasive plants by establishing virtual monoculture and may contribute to the ability of particular exotic species to become dominants in invaded plant communities.

Allelopathy is expected to be an important mechanism in the plant invasion process because the lack of co-evolved tolerance of resistant vegetation to new chemicals produced by the invader could allow these newly arrived species to dominant natural plant communities.

In fact, allelopathic interference is one of the important mechanisms for the successful establishment of invasive exotic weeds.


The study of different combinations of functionals and basis sets for VCD spectra underlines the importance of accurate vibrational frequencies and the corresponding normal modes. Therefore, the VCD spectra from BP86 calculations are usually superior to those from BLYP calculations in terms of agreement with experimental spectra. This is due to the well-known feature of BP86 to yield harmonic force fields in close agreement with experiment [34] [35] [36] . VCD spectra from OLYP calculations are comparable to or even slightly better than those from BP86. This is because the two functionals yield similar force fields. Regarding the basis set dependence of the VCD spectra it turns out that a TZP basis set is sufficiently large for calculations of reasonable accuracy. Our tests, performed on many chiral molecules suggested that BP86/TZP is always a safe choice for a good agreement with experiment.

This is due to the well-known feature of BP86 to yield harmonic force fields in close agreement with experiment.


The continued economic development and increasing investment in infrastructure in China has resulted in a marked improvement in construction standards for transportation networks throughout the country. This investment and development include the increased design and implementation of high-speed rail lines, especially in the more populous eastern portion of the country [1] . Skew bridges are commonly used on high-speed railway lines due to their following advantages: (a) maintaining harmony with the surrounding buildings and environment by requiring less land space for the new structure; (b) reducing resistance to flow for piers located in the water; and (c) meeting high-speed rail performance demands. Compared with a bridge having an orthogonal substructure, the behavior of skewed bridges is more complicated due to torsional effects that result from the skew angle [2] .

This investment and development include the increased design and implementation of high-speed rail lines, especially in the more populous eastern portion of the country.

Compared with a bridge having an orthogonal substructure, the behavior of skewed bridges is more complicated due to torsional effects that result from the skew angle.


It is especially the boldest, most future-looking visions of HCI that need to pay attention to this issue. For an illustrative example, consider the first implementations of ubiquitous computing systems in classrooms, in the Classroom 2000 project [1] . Here, we have the benefit of retrospection, since similar systems are now in use; however, in the 1990s, university students were not using phones, tablet computers, and laptops in the classroom. To learn about the impact of their new tablet-like note-taking application, the researchers evaluated it in circumstances that to some extent correspond with the way computers are used in classrooms in the 2010s. The studies did reveal some benefits that have since been documented, such as its usefulness for those students who do not normally take notes. However, because the prototypes were single-purpose devices, the Classroom 2000 work did not uncover the major riddle that mobile, networked computers pose for present-day education: distraction and avoidance of notetaking when materials are available online. Had early studies warned about this possible future, perhaps we would have fewer issues with ubiquitous technology in education.

For an illustrative example, consider the first implementations of ubiquitous computing systems in classrooms, in the Classroom 2000 project.


Similar results have been also demonstrated in both U.S. and U.K. real estate markets in which momentum strategies are profitable on raw and risk-adjusted return bases (Chui et al., 2003b; Marcato and Key, 2005) . However, these studies employed variance as a risk measure where it is bound by several strict assumptions such as (a) return distributions are normally distributed and (b) all investors dislike both extreme high and low returns. The normality assumption in return distributions has been debated and challenged by extensive empirical studies (Young and Graff, 1995; Lu and Mei 1999) . Furthermore, the second assumption is not intuitively appealing. These limitations could have far-reaching implications for real estate risk management and investment strategies including momentum trading strategies.

Similar results have been also demonstrated in both U.S. and U.K. real estate markets in which momentum strategies are profitable on raw and risk-adjusted return bases.

The normality assumption in return distributions has been debated and challenged by extensive empirical studies.


On the other hand, there is still only modest overlap between the sentences for longer n-grams, particularly given that the corpus is sentencealigned and that 27% of the sentence pairs in this aligned data set are identical. If the word distributions were very similar between simple and normal text, then the overlap proportions between the two languages would be similar regardless of which direction the comparison is made. Instead, we see that the normal text has more varied language and contains more n-grams. Previous research has also shown other differences between simple and normal data sources that could impact language model performance including average number of syllables, reading complexity, and grammatical complexity (Napoles and Dredze, 2010; Zhu et al., 2010; Coster and Kauchak, 2011b) . In addition, for some monolingual translation domains, it has been argued that it is not appropriate to train a language model using data from the input domain (Turner and Charniak, 2005) .

Previous research has also shown other differences between simple and normal data sources that could impact language model performance including average number of syllables, reading complexity, and grammatical complexity.

In addition, for some monolingual translation domains, it has been argued that it is not appropriate to train a language model using data from the input domain.


Besides proliferation, cell morphology has been correlated to critical functions such as differentiation [47] [48] [49] [50] . It is noteworthy that the osteogenic differentiation, as measured by calcium deposition and osteocalcin quantification, was significantly increased in ModA samples. A similar trend was also detected for alkaline phosphatase activity, an early osteogenic marker, albeit not in a statistically significant way.

Besides proliferation, cell morphology has been correlated to critical functions such as differentiation.


The reported data concerning surface wettability are consistent with the profilometric analysis. The Si 3 N 4 -TiN samples displayed the typical water contact angles cited in literature for nitride-terminated surfaces [43] . The higher contact angle with water (*60°) of ModA suggests a sort of repulsing behavior towards water spreading due to the presence of air bubbles trapped among peak-to-peak interspaces of the surface microstructures. Moreover, it confirms that a different topographical pattern is present on the ModA surface with respect to ModB, while the surface chemistry of the specimens is left quite unaffected by the surface finishing, as demonstrated through the negligible difference (*4 mN m) in surface energy values that are both typical of a moderately hydrophilic surface.

The Si 3 N 4 -TiN samples displayed the typical water contact angles cited in literature for nitride-terminated surfaces.


New Zealand (NZ) experienced high inflation during the 1970s and the 1980s, reaching a peak of 18.4 per cent per annum in 1980. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) approach to monetary policy has undergone significant changes since 1984. After 1984 a large number of exchange controls, reserve ratios and direct controls of the operations of financial institutions were removed from New Zealand's financial system and the exchange rate was also floated. From the late 1970s to early 1980s, based on the assumption of a strong and persistent relationship between inflation and the supply of money, monetary policy was conducted by targeting the annual growth of monetary aggregates. However, from 1986 to 1988 the RBNZ conducted monetary policy through control over the "quantity" of cash made available to settlement banks (rather than its price) with no certain target for inflation (Huxford and Reddell, 1996) . In 1989 the RBNZ was given responsibility of curbing inflation in a written contract between the Bank and the Government, called the Policy Targets Agreement (PTA). According to a current PTA, on average inflation should not exceed 0-3 per cent on annual basis. It is important to note that from 1991 to 2002 the rate of inflation (excluding interest and GST) was within the specified range with the only exception being the year 2000.

However, from 1986 to 1988 the RBNZ conducted monetary policy through control over the "quantity" of cash made available to settlement banks (rather than its price) with no certain target for inflation.


Black holes in AdS space have been studied in great detail within the context of holography [1] . The supersymmetric black holes provide a laboratory where we can hope to examine the statistical underpinnings of the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy [2] . In this work we continue the study of such objects within the context of N = 2 gauged supergravity in four dimensions by considering static AdS 4 black holes with a non-vanishing NUT charge and where the scalar fields take non-trivial profiles.

Black holes in AdS space have been studied in great detail within the context of holography.

The supersymmetric black holes provide a laboratory where we can hope to examine the statistical underpinnings of the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy.


Problems can be identified when business processes transcend organizational boundaries. As an example, unknown differences in workflows for duplicated services can create inconsistencies [6] . Processes then have to include compensational tasks that need to be performed as a result of the exceptions that occur. Moreover, an enterprise may assume that specific tasks have been performed. In health care, such an assumption can potentially expose patients and employees for dangers. Moreover, in health enterprises, it is important that no more than sufficient information is exchanged between organizations in order to adhere to laws on patient information confidentiality. As a result, since information needed for the execution of a requested process in enterprise B often is not fully known by the requesting enterprise A, additional counter requests often have to be made.

As an example, unknown differences in workflows for duplicated services can create inconsistencies.


The low-temperature phase (LTP) of MnBi has interesting properties suitable for permanent magnetic applications [1] . At low temperatures its spin configuration is in-plane but at T = 80K a spin reorientation takes place and the magneto-crystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) increases with increasing temperature up to 2.1kJ/m 3 at T = 500K. At T = 593K a first-order phase transition occurs reducing the c/a ratio [2] . These properties motivate a systematic study of the magnetic properties of MnBi in dependence on the change of lattice parameters with temperature.

The low-temperature phase (LTP) of MnBi has interesting properties suitable for permanent magnetic applications.

At T = 593K a first-order phase transition occurs reducing the c/a ratio.


Ab-initio calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) have been performed. The central statement of the DFT is that the total energy of a many-electron system can be expressed as an functional of the electron density. This leads to the formulation of the Kohn-Sham equation, a Schrödinger-like equation on a continuous electron density [8] . The Kohn-Sham equation can be solved in a self-consistent manner.

This leads to the formulation of the Kohn-Sham equation, a Schrödinger-like equation on a continuous electron density.


There are many types of water sports in Malaysia such as swimming, jumping, scuba diving, yachting, canoeing and many more. Kayaks and canoes become an increasingly popular means of enjoying sport and leisure boating activities in Malaysia. Kayaks resemble canoes in that both are long, narrow, lightweight paddle boats which are pointed at both ends. Like canoes, kayaks have a hull, which is the hollow bottom shell of the boat. The main difference that separates the two is that canoes are propelled by single bladed paddle while kayaks are propelled using two bladed paddle. Generally, Kayak is a type of canoe and the word canoe can be used for describing both kayak and canoe [1] . There are two main types of canoes: C-boat (Canadian) and K-boat (Kayak) [2] . The first type is usually manufactured using many different materials, its length is around 5 m, and the paddler is usually kneeling while paddling the canoe. The other type, K-boat, is closed decked vessel, usually used by one person, and the paddler is usually sitting while paddling a kayak. Different materials are used for constructing canoes such as: wood, canvas, aluminum, fiberglass, Kevlar and Royalex [3] .

Generally, Kayak is a type of canoe and the word canoe can be used for describing both kayak and canoe.

There are two main types of canoes: C-boat (Canadian) and K-boat (Kayak).

Different materials are used for constructing canoes such as: wood, canvas, aluminum, fiberglass, Kevlar and Royalex.


Chalmers University has a multiple accelerometer arrangement, which is coupled with a video analysis and a biomechanical model. Accelerometers can be placed by suction cups to various areas of the body. One study shows how a relatively low frequency still provides adequate biomechanical modeling (Siirtola et al., 2011) .

One study shows how a relatively low frequency still provides adequate biomechanical modeling.


Inclusion of data from small hospitals is challenging, but collection of such data has been gradually increasing; in 2017, 8.5% of 5800 small hospitals are participating in JANIS, almost double the number from 2015. Population-based AMR surveillance, which captures AMR data from an entire predefined population or a representative sample, is considered to be the gold standard for surveillance [4] . However, laboratory-based surveillance covering a small number of sentinel sites (fewer than 20% of national hospitals) is considered to be sufficient to provide relatively robust estimates of national AMR prevalence, assuming that the sampling is constant and the sample is representative of the target population [15] . Therefore, increasing sampling frequency, especially prior to treatment with antibiotics, may increase the representativeness of the JANIS Open Report for small hospitals more effectively than recruiting additional hospitals. Moreover, data validation is a challenge for small hospitals without microbiology staff. Accordingly, support of regional hospital networks is required for purposes of education.

Population-based AMR surveillance, which captures AMR data from an entire predefined population or a representative sample, is considered to be the gold standard for surveillance.

However, laboratory-based surveillance covering a small number of sentinel sites (fewer than 20% of national hospitals) is considered to be sufficient to provide relatively robust estimates of national AMR prevalence, assuming that the sampling is constant and the sample is representative of the target population.


Reservoirs are constructed with the aim to use the environment-friendly hydropower for generation of electric energy. In most cases, this fact leads to the building of reservoir cascades in rivers. These influence one another by hydraulic linkup. As a result, natural flow behavior is strongly influenced. Reservoir cascades have further tasks in addition to energy production, e.g. avoidance of overflows and guarantee of navigation. The energy production must be subordinate to these tasks in order to prevent a danger to people and real values. To solve these tasks, operating rules were determined. Two modules were developed for the realization of the operating rules. These comprise of a conventional PID-concept and the Fuzzy-concept FUGERA. These concepts cannot optimally solve the mentioned multicriterial tasks. Therefore, a newly developed MEFURO-concept is presented. Furthermore, a module for smoothing of discharge was integrated (Rauschenbach et al., 1998) .

Furthermore, a module for smoothing of discharge was integrated.


It is then natural to try to correct the BC model [16, 17, 18] . The difficulties are all related to the fact that in the BC model the intertwiner quantum numbers are fully constrained. This follows from the fact that the simplicity constraints are imposed as strong operator equations (C n ψ = 0). However, these constraints are second class and it is well known that imposing second class constraints strongly may lead to the incorrect elimination of physical degrees of freedom [19] . In this paper we show that the simplicity constraints can be imposed weakly ( φ C n ψ = 0), and that the resulting theory has remarkable features. First, its boundary quantum state space matches exactly the one of SO(3) LQG: no degrees of freedom are lost. Second, as the degrees of freedom missing in BC are recovered, the vertex may yield the correct low-energy n-point functions. Third, the vertex can be seen as a vertex over SO(3) spin networks or SO(4) spin networks, and is both SO(3) and SO(4) covariant.

It is then natural to try to correct the BC model.

However, these constraints are second class and it is well known that imposing second class constraints strongly may lead to the incorrect elimination of physical degrees of freedom.


Dynamic analysis of TLP is performed by the uncoupled and fully coupled models [11] . In the former case platform is considered as a rigid body without tendon influence, and linear restoring is applied. If nonlinear damping is linearized problem can be solved in frequency domain. That advantage of reduction of computing time is paid by decreased accuracy.

Dynamic analysis of TLP is performed by the uncoupled and fully coupled models.


TLP motion in waves is nonlinear due to nonlinear restoring stiffness and damping, [3] . The tendons make TLPs more mobile in horizontal than in vertical plane and ensure almost horizontal position of the working area. Vertical excitation is caused by the first order wave forces, while dominant horizontal excitation is due to the second order wave forces, [4] . Vertical response, i.e. heave, roll and pitch, has high natural frequencies due to high axial tendon stiffness. Natural frequencies of horizontal motion, i.e. surge, sway and yaw, are much lower due to tendon geometric stiffness and can easily fall into resonance with the forcing frequency.

TLP motion in waves is nonlinear due to nonlinear restoring stiffness and damping.

Vertical excitation is caused by the first order wave forces, while dominant horizontal excitation is due to the second order wave forces.


Restoring stiffness plays very important role in TLPs dynamic behavior. Horizontal motion is nonlinear since stiffness is function of surge, sway and yaw. Stiffness of vertical motion is almost linear and depends on platform offset, which causes setdown, as position parameter. Setdown is one of very important design parameters for limiting platform immersion [5] .

Setdown is one of very important design parameters for limiting platform immersion.


The deformation and fixation of compressed wood have been studied and widely reported [9] [10] [11] [12] . However, the information on basic properties of compressed bamboo for supporting higher utilization of such materials are still lacking, especially those related to softening behavior, deformations and setting of compressed conditions. We, therefore, studied the practice of molding bamboo strips to a curved shape with a small radius of curvature using this hot-press molding operation. In this paper, bamboo strips with different thicknesses and MC were subjected to press molding under 120-210 °C for different time. The influence of these variables (temperature, time, MC and thickness) on compression and recovery ratio, color changes, microstructure, mass loss, chemical changes and thermal-mechanical behavior were investigated to give fundamental information on bamboo press molding under hydrothermal conditions.

The deformation and fixation of compressed wood have been studied and widely reported.


As an existing technique for improving strength properties, compression has been performed on solid wood and bamboo, during which the material is densified by properly heating and a compression force [4, 5] . However, it is difficult to obtain such modified materials with curved or other complicated shapes because this technique is often performed on a plate-pressing. Pressing the materials in molds is one method to make curved products in large numbers. Molding method has long been used for fabrication of wood and other biomass-based composites from powder, particle, or veneer forms. However, the fiber structure of bamboo, which is mechanically beneficial, is damaged in these forms. Bamboo has conventionally been processed by cutting and gluing, which limits the shape of the products and the productivity. It is necessary to investigate changing the shape of bamboo strips using the mold pressing operation, which provides the potential to manufacture profiled bamboo components for utilization in engineering products.

As an existing technique for improving strength properties, compression has been performed on solid wood and bamboo, during which the material is densified by properly heating and a compression force.


The second explanation for the deterrent is based on the differential physiological response of the sex phenotypes to stress. It is known that environmental stress influences the concentrations of metabolites in plants and that male plants tend to occupy more 'stressful' microsites (McArthur 1977; Freeman et al. 1980; Charnov 1982) . For example, variation in the concentrations of metabolites has been shown to occur throughout the year and between the sex phenotypes in A. canescens (Tiedemann et al. 1987) . It is, therefore, possible that due to the relatively stressful microsites they occupy, male bladder saltbushes produce concentrations of physiological metabolites that happen to repel sheep.

It is known that environmental stress influences the concentrations of metabolites in plants and that male plants tend to occupy more 'stressful' microsites.

For example, variation in the concentrations of metabolites has been shown to occur throughout the year and between the sex phenotypes in A. canescens.


High unemployment rates have typified some European countries in recent decades. Most studies point to structural conditions and rigidities of the labour market, together with the system of unemployment benefit in those European economies, as the major causes of such high figures (Bean, 1994) . In addition to the question of nationwide aggregate unemployment, another interesting, but less studied, aspect is the geographical distribution of unemployment.

Most studies point to structural conditions and rigidities of the labour market, together with the system of unemployment benefit in those European economies, as the major causes of such high figures.


For a DSF system, the cavity depth, namely the distance between the inner and outer panes, usually can range from 800 mm to 2000 mm (Wigginton 1996; He, Mu 2003; Guo et al. 2004) . Many practices have proved that this cavity depth range can give a better environmental performance by inducing air flow naturally or mechanically. In addition, the DSF with a tilted outer glass pane is usually required for a better architectural aesthetic (Chen 2010) . Generally, the outer pane tilt angle of a DSF can range from 75° to 115° (inward tilt angle is 75°~90°, and outward tilt angle is 90°~115°) (Chen 2010) . If a fire occurred in a room adjacent to a DSF, the cavity depth and the outer pane tilt angle will have significant effects on smoke spread in the cavity. For a high-rise building, the fire room height also is a key factor. Almost previous studies about the smoke spread in the cavity of a DSF focused on the effect of the cavity depth, but little attentions had been focused on these factors, the fire room height and the outer pane tilt angle. Therefore, to investigate the influence of fire room height and outer pane tilt angle on the smoke movement in the DSF, a series of simulations was conducted in this paper, which could provide useful data for engineers to understand smoke movement mechanisms and design fire protection codes in DSF.

For a DSF system, the cavity depth, namely the distance between the inner and outer panes, usually can range from 800 mm to 2000 mm.

In addition, the DSF with a tilted outer glass pane is usually required for a better architectural aesthetic.

Generally, the outer pane tilt angle of a DSF can range from 75° to 115° (inward tilt angle is 75°~90°, and outward tilt angle is 90°~115°).


The findings of this research study warranted several discussion points; namely, as it concerned 'what' teachers were doing with regards to what they believed about their pedagogical methods of instruction. Specifically, the data revealed that secondary social studies teachers felt as if they were utilizing the pedagogical methods of instruction preferred by the CCSS a little more than half the time (M = 3.4). The results come as no surprise though, as any professional would believe they are competent in their field. However, once explored deeper, the data exposed a particularly troubling issue, which was that a high percentage of secondary social studies teachers were unfamiliar with the CCSS. Additionally, the data did not seem to align with previous studies, which suggested that secondary social studies teachers' instructional practices were dominated by teacher-centered methods of instruction (Leming et al, 2006; Russell, 2010) .

Additionally, the data did not seem to align with previous studies, which suggested that secondary social studies teachers' instructional practices were dominated by teacher-centered methods of instruction.


The etiology of sleep problems, frequently observed in TSC, remains unclear [5] . In children with TSC, severe sleep problems usually appear after the onset of epileptic spasms and are often due to sleep-related epileptic events (night waking, early waking, seizure-related sleep problems, and excessive daytime sleepiness) [5, 6] . Blunted melatonin (MLT) blood levels are especially interesting for their potential, yet unproven link with the disrupted sleep-wake cycle is frequently seen in many TSC children. In healthy subjects, melatonin secretion by the pineal gland increases prior to sleep onset and a peak is seen 4-5 hours after sleep onset. The circadian melatonin secretion in patients with epilepsy is characterized by an increased phase shift of melatonin release as compared to the nonepileptic patients [7] . Thus, since seizures are the most common neurological symptom of TSC, occurring in 96% children, similar disturbances may also be expected in TSC. However, to our knowledge, no one has looked at the circadian rhythms of melatonin production in children with TSC. In order to fill this literature gap, we decided to record the circadian melatonin secretion rhythms in TSC children and to analyze the data using the mathematical modelling proposed previously in our study of circadian rhythms of endogenous melatonin secretion in patients with epilepsy [7] . The parameters describing the diurnal melatonin secretion, melatonin concentration, release amplitude, phase shift of melatonin release, and sleep duration in children with TSC were compared with the data obtained for children with and without epilepsy. In addition, the mathematical model determines the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) of melatonin secretion, as an important circadian marker [8] .

The etiology of sleep problems, frequently observed in TSC, remains unclear.

In children with TSC, severe sleep problems usually appear after the onset of epileptic spasms and are often due to sleep-related epileptic events (night waking, early waking, seizure-related sleep problems, and excessive daytime sleepiness).

The circadian melatonin secretion in patients with epilepsy is characterized by an increased phase shift of melatonin release as compared to the nonepileptic patients.

In order to fill this literature gap, we decided to record the circadian melatonin secretion rhythms in TSC children and to analyze the data using the mathematical modelling proposed previously in our study of circadian rhythms of endogenous melatonin secretion in patients with epilepsy.

In addition, the mathematical model determines the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) of melatonin secretion, as an important circadian marker.


Interestingly, past research has suggested that peer influence may be more salient for young men than for young women (Cassidy, 2013; Morton, 2003) . As there were only 55 men in this study, we were limited in assessing gender differences, however gender was a strong predictor of problem gambling with men scoring higher. Certainly further research is needed to determine if social influences on emerging adult problem gambling are gender specific.

Interestingly, past research has suggested that peer influence may be more salient for young men than for young women.


Our results also suggest that emerging adults' peers influence their normative attitudes to problem gambling. In particular, it appears that having friends that gamble problematically may increase empathic responses to problem gamblers and increase the likelihood of helping a problem gambler in need. As such, it may be that within friendship groups gambling problems are likely to elicit supportive responses. In contrast, perceived parental problem gambling had no influence on stigmatizing perceptions of problem gambling. It is likely that for emerging adults peer behaviour and interaction with peers would be currently driving their own values more so than parent interactions. The effects of parental problem gambling at this period of life may be more subtle, and unconscious, as emerging adults transition from adolescent dependence on their parents to more independent status as a young adult (Arnett, 2000) .

The effects of parental problem gambling at this period of life may be more subtle, and unconscious, as emerging adults transition from adolescent dependence on their parents to more independent status as a young adult.


Problem gambling poses a significant economic, social, and psychological burden to society, with prevalence rates as high as three percent in parts on North America and Europe (Gowing et al., 2015) . Australians are reported to be the biggest gamblers worldwide, with the highest gambling expenditure and loss per person (Williams, Volberg, & Stevens, 2012) . A recent study indicated that 0.6% of Australian adults were considered problem gamblers (individuals who reported a high rate of gambling-related harm, loss of control, or negative consequences for themselves and others in their social network), while an additional 3.7% of adults were considered to be at moderate risk of becoming problem gamblers (Gainsbury et al., 2014) .

Problem gambling poses a significant economic, social, and psychological burden to society, with prevalence rates as high as three percent in parts on North America and Europe.

Australians are reported to be the biggest gamblers worldwide, with the highest gambling expenditure and loss per person.

A recent study indicated that 0.6% of Australian adults were considered problem gamblers (individuals who reported a high rate of gambling-related harm, loss of control, or negative consequences for themselves and others in their social network), while an additional 3.7% of adults were considered to be at moderate risk of becoming problem gamblers.


These observations raise the question of whether it is possible to build a small, cheap, and low-power SDR platform. Berkeley's Waldo platform, measuring just under 2.5" by 3.5", and costing approximately $400, provides some evidence that a small and less expensive SDR platform may be feasible [23] . Waldo, based on a Xilinx Spartan 3 FPGA, and built to support RF time-of-flight (ToF) ranging, is not quite inexpensive or low-power. Waldo eschews modularity and generality, and it offers small size and modest cost, through system integration and application focus. An SDR platform targeted to mobile communications and sensor networks could benefit from a similar platform specialization, for example by using highlyintegrated radio front-ends and processing back-ends that are tailored to needs of short-range, personal area networks. Modern transceivers, for example, integrate almost all radio front-end functions, including RF-to-baseband pathways, an RF RX/TX switch, power amplifiers, oscillator circuitry, digital frequency synthesizers, and baseband/control interfaces, into a single chip that draws very low sleep power and can wake up rapidly when needed. When coupled with mixedsignal FPGAs that integrate ADC/DAC, FPGA, and CPU blocks into a single device, most of the elements of a lightweight SDR can be found in just two chips, leaving mainly the issue of power.

Berkeley's Waldo platform, measuring just under 2.5" by 3.5", and costing approximately $400, provides some evidence that a small and less expensive SDR platform may be feasible.


In this work we propose a different mechanism of language competition, a mix between the Voter model, and the Schelling segregation model [13, 14] . In his model, Schelling showed how individual residential preferences impacted on segregated neighborhood patterns, and how even modest levels of racial preferences can be amplified into high levels of global segregation. In his original model, the agents are black or white, and they are located in a square lattice with a proportion of empty sites. Each agent has a fixed tolerance, which is a bound of the rate of people of the opposite color that agent tolerates among his neighbors, and when this bound is reached, that agent decides to migrate to some empty site.

In this work we propose a different mechanism of language competition, a mix between the Voter model, and the Schelling segregation model.


We have found a 95% credible interval for the effective coupling constant g 4 eff < 2.35 × 10 −27 from a baseline dataset consisting of the Planck 2015 temperature, large-scale polarization and lensing data. This bound becomes g 4 eff < 1.64 × 10 −27 when Planck 2015 small-scale polarization is also included, and represents an improvement of more than a factor 3 with respect to the limits that we previously derived using the Planck 2013 data [32] . We have found no significant improvement in these bounds when also considering geometrical information in the form of measurements of the BAO scale, astrophysical determinations of the Hubble parameter, and observations of type IA supernovae. From the point of view of the cosmological evolution, our results are more easily interpreted by remembering that g eff ≡ σv T 2 . The bounds can also be easily rephrased in terms of the redshift z νrec at which neutrinos cease to free-stream: z νrec < 3800 (95% C.I.) for the baseline dataset, and z νrec < 2300 when small-scale polarization is added. Thus we find that neutrinos are free-streaming at least until close to the time of matter-radiation equality. Finally, we find that tensions between CMB and low-redshift measurements of the expansion rate and of the amplitude of matter fluctuations are not alleviated when NSνI of this kind are considered. We caution however that we have not employed techniques specifically targeted to the search of multiple peaks in the joint posterior distribution of the model parameters. The results summarized up to this point, reported in Sec. 4, do not depend on the underlying particle physics model, as long as the assumption that the mediator φ is very light holds.

This bound becomes g 4 eff < 1.64 × 10 −27 when Planck 2015 small-scale polarization is also included, and represents an improvement of more than a factor 3 with respect to the limits that we previously derived using the Planck 2013 data.


In this study, the prepared s-HA/PA composite has a good homogeneity (Figure 3) . Furthermore, no obvious interface debonding could be observed in the fracture surface of composite, suggesting that there was a good interface between s-HA and PA, which was consistent with the results of IR and XRD. The compressive strength of the composites with 10-40 w% s-HA content ranged between 95 and 132 MPa, which was close to that of the natural bone, between 50 and 140 MPa [26] . It has been reported that n-HA/PA composite showed good mechanical strength and could meet the fundamental requirements for supporting after implantation [1] . Compared to that, s-HA/PA composites showed higher compressive strength. Therefore, s-HA/PA should have enough compressive strength for the support requirements in vivo.

The compressive strength of the composites with 10-40 w% s-HA content ranged between 95 and 132 MPa, which was close to that of the natural bone, between 50 and 140 MPa.

It has been reported that n-HA/PA composite showed good mechanical strength and could meet the fundamental requirements for supporting after implantation.


To evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility of biomaterials, the cell culture experiments are useful approaches [27, 28] . In this study, the MG63 cells were used to test the cytocompatibility of the s-HA/PA composite. The results showed that the MG63 cells could proliferate better on the composites, as was demonstrated by the MTT assay, suggesting positive cellular responses to this material. After 7-day culture, the OD values of the composites were significantly higher than those of TCP, indicating that the composites could promote the cell proliferation better and had higher cytocompatibility than TCP. The phase contrast microscopy results exhibited International Journal of Polymer Science that cells population increased with high speed and the spaces among the cells disappeared at 5 days and that the cells maintain normal morphology, suggesting that the s-HA/PA composites had no negative effect on the cell attachment and proliferation. Furthermore, the ALP activity has been used as an early marker for functionality and differentiation of osteoblasts during in vitro experiments [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] . The results showed that the ALP of the MG63 cells cultured on the s-HA/PA composites exhibited significantly higher levels of expression than that of the cells cultured on TCP at 5 and 7 days, indicating that the composite could induce better the differentiation of the cell into osteogenic cells.

To evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility of biomaterials, the cell culture experiments are useful approaches.

Furthermore, the ALP activity has been used as an early marker for functionality and differentiation of osteoblasts during in vitro experiments.


Previous studies have showed that the properties of HA have manifest effects on the properties of the HA/PA composites [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] . For example, HA with atom molar Ca/P ratio of 1.67 is very stable and hence shows poor degradability and bioactivity in vivo while HA with lower atom molar Ca/P ratio (form 1.5 to 1.67) exhibits higher solubility (degradability) and bioactivity. The size of HA also affects the properties of the obtained composite. A nanoscaled HA shows better bioactivity and enhancement effects on polymer and obtains higher mechanical properties compared to the microsized one because the nanosized HA have obvious surface effect and small size effect [17, 18] .

Previous studies have showed that the properties of HA have manifest effects on the properties of the HA/PA composites.

A nanoscaled HA shows better bioactivity and enhancement effects on polymer and obtains higher mechanical properties compared to the microsized one because the nanosized HA have obvious surface effect and small size effect.


HA has an inorganic component similar to that in human hard tissue. It has a good biocompatibility and can bond to bone tissue in body [1, 21] . The outstanding biological performance of HA biomaterial has been widely proved in the forms of bone filler, coating on titanium alloy, and recently as scaffolds for cell carrier in bone tissue engineering [1, 5, 9, 11] . So, HA is a good candidate for the preparation of ceramic/polymer composites. Previous studies have reported many performances of HA; for example, size and Ca/P ratio exhibited manifest effects on the properties of the resultant composite [22] . Hence, in this study, the spherical HA was used as inorganic phase to enhance polyamide 66 to obtain novel composites, and their properties were characterized. It was shown by IR and XRD that chemical bond was formed between s-HA and PA, which was considered to be a strong interface bond. So when the s-HA are imposed with external pressure, the pressure could be transferred into PA via chemical bond, thus improving the whole mechanical strength. The interface interactions between the polymer and inorganic mineral have been proved to have positive effects on the mechanical properties and the distribution of inorganic particles into the composites [23] [24] [25] .

It has a good biocompatibility and can bond to bone tissue in body.

The outstanding biological performance of HA biomaterial has been widely proved in the forms of bone filler, coating on titanium alloy, and recently as scaffolds for cell carrier in bone tissue engineering.

Previous studies have reported many performances of HA; for example, size and Ca/P ratio exhibited manifest effects on the properties of the resultant composite.

The interface interactions between the polymer and inorganic mineral have been proved to have positive effects on the mechanical properties and the distribution of inorganic particles into the composites.


The difficulty arising in Coulomb's friction is the indeterminacy of the tangential constraint when the relative tangential velocity vanishes (Stronge 1994; Bhatt & Koechling 1995; Batlle 1996) . In order to identify the contact status at each contact point, local dynamical equations are established by transferring the governing equations into the local contact coordinate frame, in which the normal and tangential accelerations are separated and are directly connected with the contact forces. Once the relative tangential velocity disappears at a contact point, a correlative coefficient ðm st i Þ of friction for the contact point can be obtained by using the local dynamical equations with an assumption for a stick mode. If the correlative coefficient is located in the interior of the local frictional cone, a stick mode truly occurs when the tangential velocity vanishes. Otherwise, a reverse slip may appear, and the tangential constraint should be replaced by the Coulomb's friction law for slip. Once the tangential constraint is correctly identified, for the contact dynamics, the complementarity condition combined with the Coulomb's friction law will provide a solution for the local dynamical equations to obtain the normal and tangential contact forces that can make the numerical simulation advanced.

The difficulty arising in Coulomb's friction is the indeterminacy of the tangential constraint when the relative tangential velocity vanishes.


Owing to the special configuration of the dimer, a singularity will appear when it lies on the vibrated plate or experiences double impacts with two contact points sticking on the plate. This gives rise to a superstatic problem where there exists no solution in rigid body dynamics (Brogliato et al. 2002) . The other problem in simulation is how to identify a transition from a sequence of single impacts into a contact phase, which is associated with a so-called collisional singularity (Falcon et al. 1998) . These two problems are also discussed in detail in part I, and a scheme for dealing with them within the framework of rigid body dynamics is developed.

This gives rise to a superstatic problem where there exists no solution in rigid body dynamics.

The other problem in simulation is how to identify a transition from a sequence of single impacts into a contact phase, which is associated with a so-called collisional singularity.


The fact that dependent connections only abstractly rely on coercions to subset types should make it possible to derive instances for other predicates than the Checkable ones. For instance, in the setting of the Mathematical Components library using the SSreflect proof language, properties are better described through Boolean reflection (Gonthier & Mahbouhi, 2010) . Using Boolean functions is very similar to using decidable/checkable properties, so that framework should provide a lot of new interesting instances of partial connections between subset and simple types in the Kleisli category of the TError monad.

For instance, in the setting of the Mathematical Components library using the SSreflect proof language, properties are better described through Boolean reflection.


It is known that peripheral blood T lymphocytes from SLE patients show impaired IL-2 production and proliferation in response to mitogenic stimuli [1] [2] [3] . The molecular basis of these abnormalities, the in vivo significance of this defect and its participation in the pathogenesis of the disease are still unresolved. Whether this functional impairment is mainly related to defect(s) intrinsic to T cells, to antigen-presenting cells (APC) or to T-APC cell interactions remains unclear. In this regard, it has been recently shown that the defective response of SLE T cells to nominal antigen is due to impaired APC function [4] . It has also been demonstrated that SLE T cells properly respond to allogeneic APC from healthy donors, whereas SLE APC fail to stimulate normal T cells in autologous and allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions [5, 6] .

It is known that peripheral blood T lymphocytes from SLE patients show impaired IL-2 production and proliferation in response to mitogenic stimuli.

In this regard, it has been recently shown that the defective response of SLE T cells to nominal antigen is due to impaired APC function.

It has also been demonstrated that SLE T cells properly respond to allogeneic APC from healthy donors, whereas SLE APC fail to stimulate normal T cells in autologous and allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions.


In this study an experimental investigation is conducted on a 3-dimensional large scale beam-column joint from a typical New Zealand moment resisting frame building using the actual irregular displacement history more likely to be experienced during an earthquake. A multi-level seismic performance assessment (MSPA) methodology is established and applied to the building by using pre-identified critical ground motion records representative of different levels of seismic hazard [13] . By applying these critical ground motion records to computational models of the prototype building, displacement-time histories of certain elements of the building are extracted. These displacement-time histories are then applied to the beam-column joint sub-assembly in quasi-earthquake displacement (QED) tests.

A multi-level seismic performance assessment (MSPA) methodology is established and applied to the building by using pre-identified critical ground motion records representative of different levels of seismic hazard.


An encouraging finding of the present study was that only a minority of students were amotivated in PE. However, it is important to continue to study amotivation because the research evidence is still preliminary and the prevalence of amotivation may vary depending on a number of factors. For example, there may be differences in amotivation between students from public and private schools due to differences in funding and available facilities. Furthermore, age differences in amotivation should be examined since there is evidence that intrinsic motivation, task orientation, and perceived physical ability decrease from late childhood to late adolescence (Digelidis & Papaioannou, 1999) . These decreases in adaptive motivational variables could be associated with increases in amotivation. The influence of peers and parents should also be examined. There is evidence that parental influence is a significant predictor of young people's attitudes and degree of involvement in physical activity (Welk, 1999) . It would also be informative to know, for both theoretical and practical purposes, how teachers cope with amotivated students. Finally, intervention programs are needed to tackle amotivation based on the students' suggestions and sound theoretical advice.

Furthermore, age differences in amotivation should be examined since there is evidence that intrinsic motivation, task orientation, and perceived physical ability decrease from late childhood to late adolescence.

There is evidence that parental influence is a significant predictor of young people's attitudes and degree of involvement in physical activity.


The Cuban HIV/AIDS program includes a detection system that allows for detection of HIV-positive cases from several sources. Some of these sources were started at the beginning of the program, while others were introduced later and some have been discontinued in time. Since 1993, this detection system is composed, among others, of 6 major sources. These were screenings of all blood donors, persons that were treated for other sexually transmitted infections, persons admitted to a hospital with a suspicion of HIV infection or subject to specific procedures like dialysis, persons that volunteered to be tested, persons having received a recommendation for HIV testing from his/her general practitioner (family doctor) and through sexual partner tracing. Other minor sources include testing of all pregnant women and prison inmates [3] .

Other minor sources include testing of all pregnant women and prison inmates.


We develop a model and a numerical estimation scheme for a Bayesian approach to inference in case-control studies with errors in covariables. In epidemiology covariates are frequently measured with error substantial enough that it can seriously a ect the assessment of the relation between risk factors and disease outcome (Carroll, Spiegelman, Lan, Bailey & Abbott 1984) . Although there are situations where it is possible to obtain accurate measurements of the covariate, at a substantially higher cost, for the majority of the observations these measurements will not be available. Nevertheless, the validation group can be used to form a model that indirectly links the error-prone measurement to the disease outcome, through its relation to the error-free measurement.

In epidemiology covariates are frequently measured with error substantial enough that it can seriously a ect the assessment of the relation between risk factors and disease outcome.