Currently there is a large variety of methods for measuring soil carbon. Among these relatively new techniques, infrared spectroscopic techniques are promising, because they are low cost and are easy to use, which can be feasible for acquiring data for a large region. The use of infrared spectroscopy in agriculture started in 80's for measuring fruits and vegetations qualities. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has become well established in agricultural field (Wetzel, 1983) . Recently, NIR spectroscopy techniques have been developed as a useful quantitative tool for the prediction of various soil properties; including soil moisture, soil organic carbon, nitrogen content, and soil texture (Dalal and Henry, 1986; Morra et al., 1991; Reeves et al., 2002) .

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has become well established in agricultural field.

Recently, NIR spectroscopy techniques have been developed as a useful quantitative tool for the prediction of various soil properties; including soil moisture, soil organic carbon, nitrogen content, and soil texture.


The effective tracking of a chemical plume via multiple AUVs in ocean environments is a very challenging task. Based on the moth-inspired approaches that successfully tracked a chemical plume and declared the chemical source in the near-shore ocean environments, however, developing a new strategy for plume tracing via multiple AUVs allows us to simplify the design procedure. Effectively coordinating multiple AUVs to achieve a better CPT performance has become one of the most important issues. This paper extends mothinspired plume tracing via a single vehicle to multiple vehicles by redefining the Find-Plume, Maintain-Plume, Reacquire-Plume, and Declare-Source behaviors (Li et al., 2006) . Under the assumption of communication availability between the vehicles, we develop a coordination mechanism for selecting a leader among multiple vehicles, which leads the vehicle fleet to perform moth-inspired plume tracing and propose a formation algorithm for the control of the non-leader vehicles to follow the leader during CPT missions. We evaluate the proposed strategy in a simulated fluid-advected environment with scales of 100 m. The studies show that, in comparison with a single vehicle, CPT via a multiple-vehicles system significantly reduces the time cost for tracing the plume toward its source and identifying the source location, and slightly improves the accuracy of the declared source locations. Figure 1 shows a scenario of tracing a plume with a significant meander via multiple vehicles.

This paper extends mothinspired plume tracing via a single vehicle to multiple vehicles by redefining the Find-Plume, Maintain-Plume, Reacquire-Plume, and Declare-Source behaviors.


However, all of these models are poor in Generalization ability and practicality. Because, different bus stop with different situation need different prediction model, and, how many passengers will get on the bus and how many get off are both needed to be predicted. With the advent of big data era, relationship between the bus dwell time and influence factors can be ignored. What we need to study is its changing rule. Time series based methods has been used in bus dwell time prediction using history data of bus dwell time [9] . Compared with previous models, this kind of model can be used in practice without need of adjustment according to bus style, station form and also without need of prediction the number of passengers will on and down.

Time series based methods has been used in bus dwell time prediction using history data of bus dwell time.


Despite the presence of fractionally charged quarks, the lightest SU (5) monopole carries a single unit of Dirac magnetic charge. This comes about because the unbroken gauge symmetry SU (3) c × U (1) em share a Z 3 symmetry [5] . The SU (5) monopole ends up carrying some color magnetic flux that is screened due to color confinement. The SU (5) monopoles are superheavy with a mass about an order of magnitude larger than M GUT ∼ 2 × 10 16 GeV.

This comes about because the unbroken gauge symmetry SU (3) c × U (1) em share a Z 3 symmetry.


In this brief report we calculate the range of energy scales during non-SUSY GUT inflation such that n s and r are compatible with the Planck 2015 constraints [12] . This determines the magnitude of H which, in turn, provides an estimate for the range for M I that is compatible with an observable flux of primordial magnetic monopoles. These monopoles with mass ∼ 10 14 GeV do not necessarily catalyze nucleon decay with a strong interaction rate, and they should be accessible to current and future large scale detectors. Estimates for the proton lifetime are also provided.

In this brief report we calculate the range of energy scales during non-SUSY GUT inflation such that n s and r are compatible with the Planck 2015 constraints.


VR is highly flexible and programmable. It enables one to present a wide variety of controlled stimuli and to measure and monitor responses made by the user (Riva, 1998; Riva et al., 1997) . Both the synthetic environment itself and the manner in which this environment is modified by the user's responses can be tailored to the needs of each client and/or therapeutic application (Glantz, Durlach, Barnett, & Aviles, 1996) . Moreover, VR is highly immersive and can cause the participant to feel "present" in the virtual environment. In this sense, VR provides a powerful means of increasing levels of environmental interaction in a highly controlled and structured manner .

VR is highly flexible and programmable.

It enables one to present a wide variety of controlled stimuli and to measure and monitor responses made by the user.

Both the synthetic environment itself and the manner in which this environment is modified by the user's responses can be tailored to the needs of each client and/or therapeutic application.


For N = 4 SYM theories, the actions are written as the form: Q + Q − (something), where Q ± are two of the supercharges and nilpotent up to gauge transformations. We refer it as 'balanced topological field theory (BTFT) form'. Balanced topological field theories are also related to N = 4 SYM theories via the twist [13, 14] . Similarly to the N = 2 case, we regard Q ± as two of spinor supercharges of the N = 4 theories, and the twist amounts just to changing the notations of fields. The lattice models are constructed for N = 4 SYM in two-and four-dimensions preserving the Q ± supersymmetries exactly. In this case, the lattice actions have SU(2) R symmetry transforming Q ± as a doublet, which is a subgroup of SU(4) internal symmetry of N = 4 theories. We show that the lattice theory for N = 4 in two-dimensions defines the corresponding continuum theory with no requirement for fine tuning as well as N = 8 theory in two-dimensions which is obtained by dimensional reduction from the N = 4 in four-dimensions. This paper is organized as follows. In section 2, we briefly explain on the 'topological field theory form' of N = 2 SYM theories. In section 3, we construct the lattice models for N = 2 theories in d = 2, 4, 8, and show that the continuum theory is defined without fine tuning in the case d = 2. In section 4, we give some explanations on the 'balanced topological field theory form' for N = 4 SYM theories in two-and four-dimensions. In section 5, we formulate the N = 4 theories on hypercubic lattices, and discuss on the renormalization in the continuum limit. Section 6 is devoted to summary and discussions. In appendix A, we give the explicit form of the γ-matrix conventions used in the paper. In appendix B, we present the explicit form of the matrices P µ for the N = 2 and 4 theories, which appear in the term analogous to the Wilson term removing the species doublers of fermions. In appendix C, we discuss about Q ± -cohomology in the N = 4 lattice models, whose result is useful for the renormalization argument in section 5.

Balanced topological field theories are also related to N = 4 SYM theories via the twist.

This paper is organized as follows.


We have shown that, after adjustment for confounding factors, total and upper arm lengths are inversely associated with prevalence of diabetes in Japanese-American individuals. Forearm length, total leg length, lower leg length and height were not associated with diabetes. No significant interaction was seen between limb length and sex in the prediction of diabetes prevalence, although differences in the magnitudes of these associations by sex did appear when a sex-specific analysis was conducted. Given the nonsignificance of the sex-limb length interactions, we believe the evidence does not therefore strongly support a difference in the associations between limb length and diabetes prevalence by sex. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in humans to report that shorter arm length is independently associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes. Our findings are in keeping with suggestions in the limited literature hypothesising that arm length may be associated with diabetes. A shorter demi-arm span (measured from the sternal midline to the web space between the middle and fourth fingers) has been shown not to be associated with diabetes [2] . However, in that study, diabetes was defined based on self-reporting, which may have resulted in a misclassification of diabetes status without oral glucose tolerance testing to confirm this diagnosis, and furthermore may have had limited statistical power as only 24 individuals with this disorder were included in the analysis. In an animal study using the Goto-Kakizaki rat model of type 2 diabetes, those animals with diabetes had shorter humerus lengths than those without [20] . Finally, arm length has been shown to be inversely associated with dementia (both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia), a condition that appears to be associated with the early life environment, as may also be the case with type 2 diabetes as postulated in the thrifty phenotype hypothesis [17, 21] .

A shorter demi-arm span (measured from the sternal midline to the web space between the middle and fourth fingers) has been shown not to be associated with diabetes.

In an animal study using the Goto-Kakizaki rat model of type 2 diabetes, those animals with diabetes had shorter humerus lengths than those without.

Finally, arm length has been shown to be inversely associated with dementia (both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia), a condition that appears to be associated with the early life environment, as may also be the case with type 2 diabetes as postulated in the thrifty phenotype hypothesis.


The above-mentioned bio-inspired landing studies focus on autonomous landing on a flat surface. However, many real-world missions for MAVs will involve unknown landing sites that may be cluttered or have a slope. Indeed, bees can choose their landing site and adapt their body attitude to the slope of the surface on which they are landing [10] . For an MAV the detection of the landing surface's slope would also be of interest, either for adapting the MAV's attitude or for evaluating the suitability of the surface for landing.

Indeed, bees can choose their landing site and adapt their body attitude to the slope of the surface on which they are landing.


However, unlike side looking radar, forward looking radar has a rangedependence clutter spectrum, resulting from the nonzero orientation of array axis relative to the aircraft velocity vector. So for forward looking radar, clutter echoes on different range cells have distinct statistical properties and thus are not suitable for estimating the clutter covariance matrix of the range cell under test. This is called insufficient training sample problem [2] . This problem causes receiving antenna pattern to suffer high sidelobes.

This is called insufficient training sample problem.


Antenna array for airborne radar is used by space-time adaptive processing (STAP) technology to reject clutter and accomplish ground moving target indication (GMTI) [1] . STAP is applicable for side looking radar, where clutter Doppler frequency is independent of range. The clutter echoes from many range cell can be utilized as training samples to estimate accurately the clutter covariance matrix of the range cell under test and form an adaptive receiving beam.

Antenna array for airborne radar is used by space-time adaptive processing (STAP) technology to reject clutter and accomplish ground moving target indication (GMTI).


As a representative discontinuous barrier of vibration isolation, rows of cavities not only can be convenience to construction and supporting, but also are more economical than rows of piles as barrier (Figure 1 ), because it need not be excavated as empty trench or continuous wall. Therefore it is concerned as an idea measure to be adopted in the vibration pollution control project, especially in saturated soft soil area with high underground water level. As the research basis of rows of cavities as barrier, the problem of refraction and scattering of elastic waves in cylindrical interface has been studied by researchers worldwide [1] [2] [3] [4] .

As the research basis of rows of cavities as barrier, the problem of refraction and scattering of elastic waves in cylindrical interface has been studied by researchers worldwide.


Most permanganate strengthening is carried out by using a solution of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) or in acetone with different concentrations within 1 to 3 hours after alkaline strengthening, strengthening the hemp fiber in permangant solution at a concentration of 0.033: 0.0626: and 0.125% in acetone for one minute. As a result of permanganate strengthening is a reduction in the fiber, therefore the water absorption of fiber-reinforced composites increases. The hydrophilic properties of the fibers will decrease with the increase of KMNO4 concentration, but at 1% KMnO4 concentration there is cellulose degradation which will produce polar groups between the fibers and the matrix [6] .

The hydrophilic properties of the fibers will decrease with the increase of KMNO4 concentration, but at 1% KMnO4 concentration there is cellulose degradation which will produce polar groups between the fibers and the matrix.


Permanganate is a compound containing MnO4-permanganate groups. Permanganate strengthening is used on cellulose fibers that turn into radicals through the formation of permanganate ions. Then the highly reactive Mn3 + ion as the initiation of the graph copolymerization [6] [8] .

Then the highly reactive Mn3 + ion as the initiation of the graph copolymerization.


Natural fibers containing hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin are hydrophilic which is a feature that likes to water. It is this property that causes natural fibers to hardly unite or bind with a hydrophobic matrix of a dislike of water. Therefore, there is a need to improve the properties of the natural fibers in order to establish a good bond with the matrix. Treatment of lignocellulosic materials can be done in several ways as chemically, physically, and microbiologically. Each method has advantages and disadvantages. The efficiency and effectiveness of its use may vary, depending on the source of the material and the purpose of the process. Chemical treatment is the most commonly used method because it is easier, more effective, faster and does not use too high energy. The bond between fiber and matrix has an effect on the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites. Specifically, the composite tensile strength is affected by the efficiency of the load transfer from the matrix to the fiber through shear at the interface. Therefore, a number of mechanical tests have been developed to measure the interface capacity to transfer the stress from the matrix to the fibers in the composite. Several test methods have been used to evaluate the bond capability between fibers and matrices such as: (1) pull outs, (2) microtension, (3) microcompression, (4) fragmentation. The interconnection of the fiber with the matrix consists of several bond models: (a) chemical bonds, (b) ionic electrostatic bonds, (c) molecular reaction interdiffusion, and (d) mechanical bonds (interlocking) [2] .

The interconnection of the fiber with the matrix consists of several bond models: (a) chemical bonds, (b) ionic electrostatic bonds, (c) molecular reaction interdiffusion, and (d) mechanical bonds (interlocking).


Lignocellulose is the name used for materials containing lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Lignocellulose is a constituent component of plant cell wall especially on the stem section. Hemicellulose and cellulose are polysaccharides that can be decomposed into monosaccharides. The availability of abundant lignocellulosic materials on earth has resulted in the study of the use of lignocellulosic materials to be very attractive [1] .

The availability of abundant lignocellulosic materials on earth has resulted in the study of the use of lignocellulosic materials to be very attractive.


Adoptive T cell transfer represents a promising, emerging approach for cancer immunotherapy and HIV therapy [1] . The generation of adoptive T cells, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, requires genetic engineering to make the cells more potent to recognize and kill tumor cells or HIV-infected cells [2] [3] [4] . Although CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are preferred for tumor targeting, CD4+ 'helper' T cells support and enhance CTL activity, and are therefore essential to create an efficacious antitumor environment [5, 6] . Furthermore, the use of genetically modified CD4+ T cells is thoroughly investigated for different treatment modes of HIV-infected patients, including the adoptive transfer of CCR5-modified CD4+ T cells [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] .

Adoptive T cell transfer represents a promising, emerging approach for cancer immunotherapy and HIV therapy.

The generation of adoptive T cells, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, requires genetic engineering to make the cells more potent to recognize and kill tumor cells or HIV-infected cells.

Although CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are preferred for tumor targeting, CD4+ 'helper' T cells support and enhance CTL activity, and are therefore essential to create an efficacious antitumor environment.

Furthermore, the use of genetically modified CD4+ T cells is thoroughly investigated for different treatment modes of HIV-infected patients, including the adoptive transfer of CCR5-modified CD4+ T cells.


VNB photoporation demands a combination of pulsed laser irradiation and light-absorbing nanoparticles (e.g., AuNPs) attached to the cell membrane. For this purpose, 60 nm AuNPs were synthetized in-house and modified with a cationic coating to enable efficient attachment to the negatively charged cell membrane. These AuNPs remained stable in cell culture medium, presumably due to the formation of a protein corona, which resulted in a slight increase in hydrodynamic radius [45, 46] . The VNB generation threshold of the synthetized AuNPs was determined to be 0.96 J/cm 2 , which is in good agreement with previously reported work on comparable AuNPs and with similar photoporation equipment [33] [34] [35] .

These AuNPs remained stable in cell culture medium, presumably due to the formation of a protein corona, which resulted in a slight increase in hydrodynamic radius.

The VNB generation threshold of the synthetized AuNPs was determined to be 0.96 J/cm 2 , which is in good agreement with previously reported work on comparable AuNPs and with similar photoporation equipment.


There were several limitations to our study. First, our findings are limited to baseline data. Longitudinal follow up of the cohort is needed to demonstrate longer term health outcomes. We plan to generate further data through the expansion of enrollment in phase two and follow up of the current cohort to yield a more representative sample for Karachi. Another limitation was low participation and underrepresentation of men in the health examination at the mobile health unit despite a significantly higher number of informed consents attained at the household. In the local culture, permission of the head of household was required for participation in the health examination. The household head was usually a male and was absent for extended periods for work. Among actual attendees we found more women than men because they were often at home. Proliferation of non-profit, governmental, commercial and academic research in poor and marginalized communities may have lowered the interest and motivation for participation in some households. Similar patterns of declining participation have been observed in the other parts of the world including among major epidemiological studies in developed countries [60] . Known diabetes was not taken into account when estimating the prevalence of diabetes in this study as access to diabetes care in these populations is limited and individuals with diabetes likely suffer from persistent hyperglycemia. The missing data for study was less than 1% for most variables and not more than 2.5%. Missing value analysis showed that the data were missing completely at random and hence this is only a minor limitation.

Similar patterns of declining participation have been observed in the other parts of the world including among major epidemiological studies in developed countries.


Frequency of cycling to school was significantly reduced in boys with migration background. Because migration background and low socioeconomic status correlate with lower income, these results may be explained by less financial resources for purchasing bicycles in these demographic groups. In addition, low relevance and accep tance of cycling as a mode of commuting in other cultures may play a role. Moreover, migration has been shown to be associated with liv ing in hazardous areas (Burrmann. 2008) . Hence, higher safety risks may lead to lower uses of bicycles as a transportation mode.

Moreover, migration has been shown to be associated with liv ing in hazardous areas.


Using our implantable LED device can establish acute and progressive thrombosis models by adjusting the duration of irradiation and power intensity of the LED. The acute thrombosis model could be obtained using a 6 mW/cm 2 LED and single irradiation for 4 h. The LED irradiation needs a longer duration because the power of the LED is smaller than the laser (15 W/cm 2 ) [33] . Furthermore, the progressive thrombosis model could be acquired using a 4.3-4.5 mW/cm 2 LED with irradiation for 2 h first, shut off for 30 min, and irradiation for another 2 h. Because the power of the LED is smaller than laser, the heat produced by LED irradiation is negligible. Therefore, the tissue damage is less as compared with the laser induction model. The rats used in the acute or progressive thrombosis model can survive during the experiment period before being sacrificed.

The acute thrombosis model could be obtained using a 6 mW/cm 2 LED and single irradiation for 4 h. The LED irradiation needs a longer duration because the power of the LED is smaller than the laser (15 W/cm 2 ).


To design an industrial process based on these results, a kinetic model was developed to simulate the reactions between the matte and slag [13] . This paper explains the details of the kinetic model based on a coupled reaction between the matte and slag. Moreover, this model was used to determine the optimum conditions for the sulfurization of steelmaking slag to separate P and the oxidation of matte to increase the Mn/Fe ratio.

To design an industrial process based on these results, a kinetic model was developed to simulate the reactions between the matte and slag.


From 2000 to 2011 the combined annual payments from major Federal farm programs (excluding crop insurance premium subsidies) ranged from 10 to 25 billion dollars per year (USDA-ERS 2014) . Policy makers often justify the subsidies by stressing that agriculture is the engine of the rural economy. But is the relationship between agriculture and the rural economy strong enough to serve as a pillar of justification for agricultural subsidies? Agricultural and regional economists assert that the U.S. rural economy is no longer a predominantly farm-based economy, emphasizing the diversity of rural economies and the growth of rural-urban linkages (Irwin et al. 2010; Castle, Wu, and Weber 2011) . The emphasis is well-founded: U.S agriculture dramatically reduced its use of labor in the 20 th century as horses gave way to tractors (and then bigger tractors) and favorable wages in other sectors motivated people to leave the farm (Kislev and Peterson 1982) . Over the century the share of the workforce employed in agriculture declined from 41 percent to less than 2 percent, and production became concentrated on fewer, larger, and more capital intensive farms (Dimitri, Effland, and Conklin 2005) .

From 2000 to 2011 the combined annual payments from major Federal farm programs (excluding crop insurance premium subsidies) ranged from 10 to 25 billion dollars per year.

Agricultural and regional economists assert that the U.S. rural economy is no longer a predominantly farm-based economy, emphasizing the diversity of rural economies and the growth of rural-urban linkages.

The emphasis is well-founded: U.S agriculture dramatically reduced its use of labor in the 20 th century as horses gave way to tractors (and then bigger tractors) and favorable wages in other sectors motivated people to leave the farm.

Over the century the share of the workforce employed in agriculture declined from 41 percent to less than 2 percent, and production became concentrated on fewer, larger, and more capital intensive farms.


The techniques used to understand these phenomena are mostly based on the linear stability analysis, where exponential growths of the flavor off diagonal elements in the linearized regime signify flavor instabilities. However, combining the fast oscillations together with the nonstationary (evolution in time) and inhomogeneous (evolution in space) flavor evolution require different techniques. Since it involves both the time and spatial evolution and the related Fourier modes, it is reasonable to use the dispersion picture [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] . In the dispersion picture, the imaginary Fourier modes of the disturbances in time and space signify the instabilities, giving the most general description of the fast oscillations.

Since it involves both the time and spatial evolution and the related Fourier modes, it is reasonable to use the dispersion picture.


In the dispersion picture for the fast oscillations, we obtained three dispersion relations for the three flavor scenario. Here also f νµ = fν µ and f ντ = fν τ are the conditions to get back the effective two flavor picture. For the three flavor case we considered the simplest two beam model where each beam consists of all the three flavors of neutrinos. Depending on the values of the angular densities chosen, we obtained four kinds of instabilities, namely the completely stable, damped stable, convectively unstable and absolutely unstable corresponding to each of the off diagonal element. For simplicity, we assumed same angular distributions for all the three sectors resulting in the presence of similar kind of instabilities for all of them. However, the different angular distributions may result in different stability picture in different flavors. In the non-linear evolution this might result in an interesting impact, as in the non linear picture the instabitiy in one flavor sector may have strong influence on the evolution of another flavor sectors. This becomes interesting when fluxes for the three flavors of neutrinos and their respective antineutrinos are different [34] . It would be crucial to understand the influence of these flux differences in the context of these 'three flavor speed up (or slow down!)' in the non-linear evolution.

This becomes interesting when fluxes for the three flavors of neutrinos and their respective antineutrinos are different.


Simultaneous to the fast oscillations, another very important development regarding the understanding of the 'stationary' nature of the flavor evolution came into picture. It has been found that the absence of stationarity gave rise to new kind of instabilities, 'temporal' instabilities [24, 25] . These instabilities are distinctly different in comparison to the previously known flavor instabilities as the temporal instabilities are not completely 'matter suppressible' [16, 25] . However, these 'non-matter suppressible' phases are very short and are not expected to be long enough to develop into physical flavor conversions for the slow oscillations. This picture changes very rapidly if we focus on fast oscillations. Thus the fast oscillations together with the temporal instabilities could generate flavor instabilities which are growing extremely fast and may avoid the problem of matter suppression.

It has been found that the absence of stationarity gave rise to new kind of instabilities, 'temporal' instabilities.

These instabilities are distinctly different in comparison to the previously known flavor instabilities as the temporal instabilities are not completely 'matter suppressible'.


In order to achieve high-energy efficiency and increase the network scalability, the nodes can be organized into clusters and apply random selection method for cluster head election in an epoch [7] . After collecting all the data of its members, cluster head transfers them to the base station. During the phase of clustering, the cluster head plays an important role in providing data communication to nodes and the base station efficiently. This method can increase the energy consumption of the sensor network and acquire network scalability.

In order to achieve high-energy efficiency and increase the network scalability, the nodes can be organized into clusters and apply random selection method for cluster head election in an epoch.


Due to collecting data in its cluster and forwarding from other clusters, the cluster heads near the base station will consume more energy and die in advance, which will influence the life cycle of the whole network [6] . In this paper, an unequal clustering method is proposed to balance the energy consumption among the cluster heads. The proposed algorithm offers a framework for collaborative data processing among researchers. By adjusting competition radius of different candidate cluster heads, the cluster size near the base station is smaller comparatively in order to compensate for unbalanced communication overhead caused by intercluster communications.

Due to collecting data in its cluster and forwarding from other clusters, the cluster heads near the base station will consume more energy and die in advance, which will influence the life cycle of the whole network.


In recent years, a considerable attention and research have been devoted to the deployment of sensors for distribute management, collaborative information processing, and multihop communication [1] . Wireless sensor networks integrate the most advanced technology, such as sensor technology, embedded computing technology, wireless communications, and distributed information processing. Through a variety of microsensors monitoring and collecting the environmental information collaboratively, the data that the target customer required can be transmitted to the embedded system of information in time [2] . Therefore, collaborative data processing and balanced energy consumption should be considered as the key issue in WSNs. However, collaborative data processing has received little attention until recently.

In recent years, a considerable attention and research have been devoted to the deployment of sensors for distribute management, collaborative information processing, and multihop communication.

Through a variety of microsensors monitoring and collecting the environmental information collaboratively, the data that the target customer required can be transmitted to the embedded system of information in time.


Sample processing to assess pesticide contamination of fruit surfaces involved washing the fruit, reducing the volume of the wash solvent, loading to a glass filter disc, drying the disc, loading the disc into a spinning disc accessory and scanning in a NIRSystems 6500 spectrophometer. The total effort involved in sample analysis was considerably less than GC-MS methodology, with less skill required of the operator. Effective processing Spectra acquired from DESIR samples were processed using The UnScrambler chemometrics software, V9.1. Difference spectra were calculated in an Excel (Microsoft) spread sheet and the spectral window was optimised using a MatLab PLS toolbox (Eigenvector) and an inhouse developed script [19] . Processing of spectra with a Savitsky Golay second derivative involved a second or-time per sample was approximately 30 min.

Difference spectra were calculated in an Excel (Microsoft) spread sheet and the spectral window was optimised using a MatLab PLS toolbox (Eigenvector) and an inhouse developed script.


Analytical methods based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS; 750 -2500 nm) are generally very rapid and require little sample preparation. For example, comercial fruit grading systems are available with the capacity of grading up to 10 pieces of fruit per second on a pack-line [3] . These systems utilise short-wave near infrared spectroscopy to non-invasively assess the soluble sugar or dry matter content of the fruit. Also, the analysis of active ingredient content of pesticide formulations using FT-NIR of a solvent extract of sample was noted to be "10 times faster", with less solvent use than the chromatographic procedure [4] .

For example, comercial fruit grading systems are available with the capacity of grading up to 10 pieces of fruit per second on a pack-line.

Also, the analysis of active ingredient content of pesticide formulations using FT-NIR of a solvent extract of sample was noted to be "10 times faster", with less solvent use than the chromatographic procedure.


Most recently, two studies on the use of NIRS to determine pesticide levels were published in 2011. One study describes the development of a PLSR model based on DESIR, using pure (aqueous) pesticide solutions (1.25 to 400 mg·kg -1 ), with spectra (10,000 to 4000 cm -1 ) acquired using an FT-NIR unit [7] . The use of multiplicative scatter correction with first derivative of absorbance data was recommended, with a R of 0.899 and a RM-SECV of 42.3 mg·kg -1 reported. A support vector machine (SVM) was used to establish a classification model, however because of the low sample number used the model could easily overfit the data. Further, issues of matrix and model robustness were not considered in this study. The second study also considered determination of pesticide in pure methanol/water solutions, using a 1 mm transmittance cell and a Foss NIRSystem 6500 spectrophotometer [8] . A limit of detection of 12.6 and 46.4 mg·kg -1 for Alachlor and Atrazine respectively, was reported. Further verification of this result is recommended.

One study describes the development of a PLSR model based on DESIR, using pure (aqueous) pesticide solutions (1.25 to 400 mg·kg -1 ), with spectra (10,000 to 4000 cm -1 ) acquired using an FT-NIR unit.

The second study also considered determination of pesticide in pure methanol/water solutions, using a 1 mm transmittance cell and a Foss NIRSystem 6500 spectrophotometer.


In the present paper, a new methodology for the optimisation of stand-alone hybrid systems is shown. The methodology includes a probabilistic optimisation by means of Monte Carlo simulation, in order to consider the uncertainties in the renewable sources and in the load. It allows stochastic optimisation of complex hybrid systems with a high level of accuracy in the model of the system, including a very accurate weighted Ah-throughput model for the lead-acid batteries [24] .

It allows stochastic optimisation of complex hybrid systems with a high level of accuracy in the model of the system, including a very accurate weighted Ah-throughput model for the lead-acid batteries.


It is necessary to consider the consumption requirements when the main objective is to supply electric power for the needs of an off-grid hospital, its medical services and newer technologies which advance the services through lower-consumption devices (gateways, PCs, tablets, smartphones). In this last case, it would be possible to create a wireless sensor network (WSN), where several sensors record information regarding the physiological variables of the patient to send it to the medical specialist located in another hospital. These devices are sometimes placed in the body of the patient, forming a body sensor network (BSN). They can be machine to machine (M2M) and therefore work without human intervention. They are equipped with a small processor, a radio transceiver for communication and a sensor. Usually, these devices consume very low electrical power (in the range of mW) [25] .

Usually, these devices consume very low electrical power (in the range of mW).


The most serious causes of corrosion in reinforced concrete are localized depassivation of the steel due to chloride ion diffusion and complete depassivation due to acidification of water pores, resulting from reactions between hydrated compounds and carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere (Montemor et al. 2003) . The permeation of chloride ions through concrete causes depassivation of the steel bars, reducing the service life of the structure. The diffusion process, the external chloride concentration, and the microstructure of the concrete determine how long it takes for the chloride ions to reach the steel (Andrade 1993) .

The most serious causes of corrosion in reinforced concrete are localized depassivation of the steel due to chloride ion diffusion and complete depassivation due to acidification of water pores, resulting from reactions between hydrated compounds and carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere.

The diffusion process, the external chloride concentration, and the microstructure of the concrete determine how long it takes for the chloride ions to reach the steel.


However, mimicking the natural secretory pattern of endogenous insulin in individuals without diabetes whilst maintaining glycemia within a normal physiological range is challenging around exercise [6, 10] . In the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, intensive treatment to maintain euglycemia between 4 and 7 mmol/L with either an external insulin pump or three or more daily insulin injections and frequent blood glucose measurements delayed the onset and slowed the progression of retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy compared with conventional therapy of one or two daily insulin injections over a 6.5-year period [11] [12] [13] [14] . However, an increased occurrence of severe hypoglycemia was evident with intensive treatment compared to the conventional arm [15] . Thus, more frequent finger prick sampling is inconvenient for patients, increases cost to healthcare providers, and might still not stabilize glycemic control.

However, mimicking the natural secretory pattern of endogenous insulin in individuals without diabetes whilst maintaining glycemia within a normal physiological range is challenging around exercise.

In the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, intensive treatment to maintain euglycemia between 4 and 7 mmol/L with either an external insulin pump or three or more daily insulin injections and frequent blood glucose measurements delayed the onset and slowed the progression of retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy compared with conventional therapy of one or two daily insulin injections over a 6.5-year period.

However, an increased occurrence of severe hypoglycemia was evident with intensive treatment compared to the conventional arm.


The incorporation of the Neumann condition for incompressible flow has been discussed in detail in a remarkable work by Gresho and Sani [1] . From a mathematical point of view, the system of equations governing an incompressible flow is singular with respect to the pressure. There is no evolutive equation for the pressure. In practice, the system is usually considered as the momentum equation subject to a solenoidal restriction for the velocity field. The initial and boundary conditions are being prescribed only for the velocity field.

The incorporation of the Neumann condition for incompressible flow has been discussed in detail in a remarkable work by Gresho and Sani.


A control chart is a statistical process control technique widely is used to control industrial process (Montgomery, 1996) . The behaviour of the process data on a control chart indicates whether the manufacturing process is in control or out of control. The presence of an unnatural pattern such as shifts in process mean, or trends as shown in Figure 1 means that a process is out of control. The accurate identification of these unnatural patterns will help the quality practitioners to determine the assignable causes for process variation. Moreover, the information about control chart unnatural patterns parameters such as shift magnitude and trend slope is very important for quality practitioners. The sizable shift magnitude or trend slope means that a catastrophic problem may be happened in the process and needs a quick intervention and further technical investigation.

A control chart is a statistical process control technique widely is used to control industrial process.


Brassica rapa varieties from northwestern Spain showed differences in their sensory profiles. This variability could be used to select the best variety for sensorial characteristics according to vegetable market and consumer preferences. Secondary metabolites as glucosinolates and phenolic compounds, which play a crucial role in fruit and vegetable quality, were responsible of texture and flavor, depending on the organ evaluated. So, glucosinolates in turnip tops and hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids in turnip greens resulted to be related to some sensory traits responsible for taste and firmness. Regard to phenolic compounds, correlations with structural and flavor traits were found, thus indicate the relationship of these compounds and the cell wall integrity as well as provide characteristics taste. Hydroxycinnamic acids play a very important role in the life of the cell wall. They are principal components governing cell wall integrity, shape and defence against pathogenic access [28] . Glucosinolates, especially progoitrin (in turnip greens) and gluconapin (in turnip tops), showed a high correlation with flavor traits as bitter taste and aftertaste persistence. Hence, these compounds may be the main responsible for the bitter and pungent impression in these vegetables, which are frequently disliked and are one of the reasons for low consumer acceptability of some Brassica crops [10, 15, 25] . Some sensory traits evaluated in this study, mainly those related to texture as leaf and stalk firmness and resistance to cutting and those related to taste as bitter, salty and aftertaste could be used as important parameters for measuring the sensorial value of turnip tops and turnip greens. This first study has allowed us not only to define the sensory attributes of these crops but also to select those traits that they would be good candidates for a rapid screening of material. This invaluable information would help us to improve the quality and potential health value of turnip greens and turnip tops.

They are principal components governing cell wall integrity, shape and defence against pathogenic access.

Hence, these compounds may be the main responsible for the bitter and pungent impression in these vegetables, which are frequently disliked and are one of the reasons for low consumer acceptability of some Brassica crops.


These encouraging results are not without limitations. The first limitation refers to the cross-sectional nature of the study. Validation through a longitudinal study would strengthen the results, enabling analysis at different times and over longer periods. Secondly, the study is based on children's self-reported data. Despite this limitation, studies have confirmed the reliability of results based on children's self-reported data. These data are sometimes more suitable than data provided by adults because children are less conditioned by social desirability [50, 52] .

These data are sometimes more suitable than data provided by adults because children are less conditioned by social desirability.


The analysis indicates that aggression among children belonging to low socioeconomic status families is moderate. Boys were observed to be slightly more aggressive than girls, mainly at the post-test stage. The program seems to have positively affected both groups. The average aggression scores were lower in the post-test stage than in the pre-test stage. The effects were greater for girls than boys. The results are consistent with previous studies showing that men have higher aggression scores than women do in childhood and adolescence [44, 45] .

The results are consistent with previous studies showing that men have higher aggression scores than women do in childhood and adolescence.


The superstring theory contains not only fundamental strings but also Dp-branes which extend p spacial directions [1] . In the low energy limit, the superstring theory is well approximated by the supergravity, and Dp-branes are described by a classical solution which is called a black p-brane [2, 3] . In the extremal case where the mass and Ramond-Ramond charge of the black p-brane are balanced, quantum corrections to the classical solution are suppressed.

The superstring theory contains not only fundamental strings but also Dp-branes which extend p spacial directions.

In the low energy limit, the superstring theory is well approximated by the supergravity, and Dp-branes are described by a classical solution which is called a black p-brane.


The distinctive feature of complex adaptive systems -a subclass of complex systems that consists of living systems -is that the individual agents create, and operate in, an evolving environment to which they must continually adapt under competitive conditions (Wilson 2016) . This means that failure to adapt carries the risk of being outcompeted. The adaptation of the system as a whole is the collective outcome of the adaptive efforts of all of its agents. The latter efforts are not necessarily conducive to a successful adaptation of the system as a whole. Some forms of individual adaptive behavior do contribute to a highly successful collective adaption. Other forms do not or do even harm to the collective adaptation (which may then result in causing damage to the adaptive success of all agents in the system). The individual adaptation efforts can thus result in an unintended and perhaps undesired collective adaption. This means, conversely, that the individually pursued intentions of the agents often do not materialize as envisioned.

The distinctive feature of complex adaptive systems -a subclass of complex systems that consists of living systems -is that the individual agents create, and operate in, an evolving environment to which they must continually adapt under competitive conditions.


Complex adaptive systems, capitalism, and the unsteadiness of the growth process Before addressing the growth problems of capitalist economies from the perspective of complex adaptive systems it is useful to briefly outline the main features of such systems. A system is called complex if two conditions are met (Gell-Mann 1995) . First, it is composed of a large number of parts or agents from whose individual behavior the behavior of the system as a whole emerges. Second, the interactions between the individual parts or agents are such that the emerging behavior of the system as a whole is difficult to predict on the basis of only observing the behavior at the individual level.

A system is called complex if two conditions are met.


Autonomous mobile robots require many kinds and large numbers of sensors to measure the distance, velocity, and scale of objects for environment recognition. The signal processing of each sensor requires real-time environment recognition with high accuracy and resolution, despite the limited computational ability in the signal processing for each sensor. Distance measurements using ultrasonic waves are widely used in industrial applications because structures easily reflect them. Additional advantages of ultrasonic sensors include their low purchase cost, small size, and simple hardware. Therefore, ultrasonic distance measurements have been studied and used for environment recognition in autonomous mobile robots [1] [2] [3] .

Therefore, ultrasonic distance measurements have been studied and used for environment recognition in autonomous mobile robots.


Cross-correlation operation consists of huge iterations of multiplications and accumulations, and requires high-cost digital signal processing. Therefore, real-time distance measurements by the cross-correlation method are difficult because of the limited computational ability of autonomous mobile robots. To reduce the calculation costs of cross correlation, a sensor signal processing method using a delta-sigma modulated single-bit digital signal has been proposed [8] [9] [10] . Cross correlation by single-bit signal processing in the proposed method consists of a recursive cross-correlation operation of single-bit signals and a smoothing operation accomplished by a moving average filter [10] . The calculation costs of cross correlation are reduced by the recursive cross-correlation operation of single-bit signals.

To reduce the calculation costs of cross correlation, a sensor signal processing method using a delta-sigma modulated single-bit digital signal has been proposed.

Cross correlation by single-bit signal processing in the proposed method consists of a recursive cross-correlation operation of single-bit signals and a smoothing operation accomplished by a moving average filter.


However, the relevance of deadwood as biodiversity indicator has been criticized by several authors (Failing and Gregory, 2003; Noss, 1990) . They questioned its interest in forests that are subject to frequent fires and where deadwood is generally not a naturally occurring structural element. One may also argue that few saproxylic species can live in planted forests since the intensive management of plantations, including ploughing and understorey tending, can considerably reduce the amount and persistence of deadwood. Despite this a large-scale biodiversity assessment of planted forests have shown that deadwood amount and quality is an important driving factor for many species of lichens, bryophytes, fungi and insects (Humphrey et al., 2002; Smith et al., 2008) . Recently we found that deadwood averaged 15 m 3 /ha and was present throughout the revolution in Maritime pine plantations of south-western France (Brin et al., 2008) . But to our knowledge, there was no information about saproxylic beetle biodiversity in such forest plantations.

However, the relevance of deadwood as biodiversity indicator has been criticized by several authors.

Despite this a large-scale biodiversity assessment of planted forests have shown that deadwood amount and quality is an important driving factor for many species of lichens, bryophytes, fungi and insects.

Recently we found that deadwood averaged 15 m 3 /ha and was present throughout the revolution in Maritime pine plantations of south-western France.


Stakeholder-oriented approaches that place stakeholders more at the centre have gained attention since 2006 (FAO, 2006; Hermans et al., 2006) . Such approaches widen the water valuation lens. Rather than merely putting a monetary value on water resources, stakeholder-oriented approaches can provide a structured and transparent mechanism through which those affected can express the values that water-related goods and services represent to them (FAO, 2006) . This differs from classic economic valuation in that it is embedded in the water resources management process, of which it forms an intrinsic part. Stakeholder-oriented approaches can be used as a means for conflict resolution, decision-making, informing stakeholders, supporting communication and sharing insights. By combining expert knowledge and scientific methods with stakeholder judgements, they can facilitate joint agreement on priorities and specific actions to take, to secure the multiple values attributed to water and measures to increase water values (e.g., guiding decisions on water allocation and distribution for the former, and informing measures to increase efficiency and efficacy of use for the latter) (FAO, 2006) .

Stakeholder-oriented approaches that place stakeholders more at the centre have gained attention since 2006.

Rather than merely putting a monetary value on water resources, stakeholder-oriented approaches can provide a structured and transparent mechanism through which those affected can express the values that water-related goods and services represent to them.

By combining expert knowledge and scientific methods with stakeholder judgements, they can facilitate joint agreement on priorities and specific actions to take, to secure the multiple values attributed to water and measures to increase water values (e.g., guiding decisions on water allocation and distribution for the former, and informing measures to increase efficiency and efficacy of use for the latter).


Valuing water is gaining policy interest. Policymakers regard water valuation as a means to shape water-related policy and developments, enabling them to set targets (e.g. highest value) and criteria (economic, food security and environmental), and weigh them (seek optimisation) in decisionmaking. A premise behind valuing water is that economies are likely to be more resilient to climate, food, and energy shocks if water resource management and water supply and treatment infrastructure are designed to protect and extend the value of the resource, thereby fully accounting for current and future pressures (Australian Water Partnership, 2016) .

A premise behind valuing water is that economies are likely to be more resilient to climate, food, and energy shocks if water resource management and water supply and treatment infrastructure are designed to protect and extend the value of the resource, thereby fully accounting for current and future pressures.


Although our algorithm is way the fastest competitor for join ordering for complex queries, there is still plenty of room for future research. First, the generation of csg-cmp-pairs still does some generate-and-test. It will be interesting to see whether connected subgraphs of hypergraphs can be generated without any tests. Further, compensation is a means to allow for more reordering if there is a conflict [1, 11, 19] . Our algorithm does not incorporate compensation. Thus, this is a natural next step to consider. Lately, a new approach for a top-down join enumeration algorithm has been proposed by DeHaan and Tompa [7] . It is only a linear factor apart from the optimal solution and thus highly superior to existing top-down join enumeration algorithms. It suffers from the same issues as DPccp did, namely, no hypergraph and no outer join support. It will be interesting to see how their algorithm can be extended to deal with these issues.

Further, compensation is a means to allow for more reordering if there is a conflict.

Lately, a new approach for a top-down join enumeration algorithm has been proposed by DeHaan and Tompa.


One of the crucial problems in relevance feedback is modelling users' feedback, i.e., building a retrieval model based on user supplied labelled data. There are two aspects to this problem. One is what (low-level) features to use to represent the image content and the other is what algorithms to use for building the retrieval model. Early approaches mainly use global features; colour histogram and texture descriptors are the most commonly used. For the retrieval model, machine learning approaches such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) are popular [8, 15] .

There are two aspects to this problem.

For the retrieval model, machine learning approaches such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) are popular.


In recent years, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have become a versatile technology for serving a multitude of applications that include residential, industrial, commercial, healthcare, and military applications. As such, WSNs are considered one of the enabling technologies for realizing the Internet of Things (IoT) concept where they play the pivotal role of detecting events and measuring physical and environmental phenomena of interest [1] . Many of the important IoT applications served by WSNs are characterized by being mission-critical, meaning that the failure of the WSN to detect the occurrence of an event or a phenomenon in the targeted region of interest (RoI) will have serious implications [2] . Hence, it is imperative that the WSN functions properly throughout its intended mission time. This poses stringent reliability requirements on the WSN that must be addressed in the design and deployment phase of the network.

As such, WSNs are considered one of the enabling technologies for realizing the Internet of Things (IoT) concept where they play the pivotal role of detecting events and measuring physical and environmental phenomena of interest.

Many of the important IoT applications served by WSNs are characterized by being mission-critical, meaning that the failure of the WSN to detect the occurrence of an event or a phenomenon in the targeted region of interest (RoI) will have serious implications.


Use of citation analysis to obtain article quality is sometimes unreliable because recently published articles have lower probabilities of being cited. Author's behaviors to cite other article were motivated by on various reasons, for example, correct methodology and useful results of the study. However, authors sometime even cite other paper due to the opposite reasons, for example flawed method and results. Therefore, it could not be generated as an indicator of good article. It can only measure whether the paper was useful to other authors for writing their own papers [23] .

It can only measure whether the paper was useful to other authors for writing their own papers.


A number of studies on the effects of the Chinese herbal medicine on cervical radiculopathy have been proposed, but useful empirical research is insufficient. For chronic neck pain, with or without radicular symptoms, there is low quality evidence suggesting that herbal medicine is more effective than placebo for pain relief as measured at the end of the treatment [6] . Moreover, the size of the studies has been small and the effect was measured only in the short-term. Further research is very likely to change both the effect size and our confidence in the results. There is a need for randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) with adequate numbers of participants that address long-term efficacy of herbal medicines compared to placebo.

For chronic neck pain, with or without radicular symptoms, there is low quality evidence suggesting that herbal medicine is more effective than placebo for pain relief as measured at the end of the treatment.


M ATRIX multiplication is a computation intensive part of many commonly used scientific computing applications. Many algorithms in numerical and nonnumerical problems are solved efficiently using matrix-matrix multiplications [1] . Also, in the case of parallel algorithms, some problems that are not solved efficiently using sequential algorithms turn out to be solved efficiently using matrixmatrix multiplications or variations of matrix-matrix multiplication [2] . Such an application uses matrix multiplication as a basic computational kernel so that a chain of matrices is frequently required and the matrices are multiplied consecutively [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] .

Many algorithms in numerical and nonnumerical problems are solved efficiently using matrix-matrix multiplications.

Also, in the case of parallel algorithms, some problems that are not solved efficiently using sequential algorithms turn out to be solved efficiently using matrixmatrix multiplications or variations of matrix-matrix multiplication.

Such an application uses matrix multiplication as a basic computational kernel so that a chain of matrices is frequently required and the matrices are multiplied consecutively.


State-of-the-art operational modal analysis techniques can provide accurate estimates of natural frequencies and damping ratios of structures in parked conditions. However existing techniques require a lot of human-interaction and as such they cannot easily be applied for continuous monitoring purposes. Therefore the development and validation of tools for the automatic and continuous identification of these parameters is essential to process large amounts of data and perform a long-term analysis. Furthermore, it is required that these routines are sufficiently robust to run on an online basis, in order to provide in almost real-time parameters that characterise the condition of the wind turbine. In this paper an automatic monitoring approach will be presented using a state-of-the-art modal parameter estimator, the polyreference least squares complex frequency-domain estimator-commercially known as PolyMAX [14, 15] . The method will be applied to 2016 datasets of 10 min collected during a period of 2 weeks while the wind turbine was in parked conditions. It will be shown that the method allows us to identify and track the most dominant modes in the frequency band of interest. This will allow us to have a discussion on the dynamic behaviour of an offshore wind turbine in parked conditions in terms of its resonance frequencies, mode shapes and damping values of the most dominant modes.

In this paper an automatic monitoring approach will be presented using a state-of-the-art modal parameter estimator, the polyreference least squares complex frequency-domain estimator-commercially known as PolyMAX.


The comet C/2009 P1(Garradd) was named after the Australian astronomer Gordon J. Garradd from Siding Spring Observatory, Australia, who discovered the comet on four images obtained between August 13.77 and August 13.81 2009, at a heliocentric distance of 8.7 AU. In the same year 2009, B. G. Marsden also calculated the parabolic orbit of the comet Garradd. The aphelion distance of the Garradd is ∼ 5000 -5500 AU, which was estimated by Nakano in the year 2011 (Nakano 2011) . It is to be noted that the location of inner Oort cloud is somewhere in between 2,000 and 20,000 AU. So, the comet Garradd may belongs to the inner Oort cloud family, but it is difficult to comment whether or not comet Garradd is dynamically new. The comet reached its perihelion on December 23, 2011 (r = 1.55 AU) and its closest approach to the Earth was on March 5, 2012 (△ = 1.27 AU). The visual magnitudes of comet Garradd were 9.7 and 12.4 on March 21 and May 23, 2012 respectively, which was sufficiently bright enough for observation in optical domain.

The aphelion distance of the Garradd is ∼ 5000 -5500 AU, which was estimated by Nakano in the year 2011.


Advances in nanoindentation techniques have greatly enabled researchers to probe and investigate material properties at the nanometer scale. Nanoindentation testing is now a ubiquitous tool for the characterization of the mechanical properties of materials at the nanometer scale (Fischer-Cripps 2011) . The properties of small volumes of materials probed by nanoindentation testing are usually different from their macroscopic counterparts and different deformation mechanisms are generally thought to be a significant contribution to this discrepancy (Kiely and Houston 1998) .

Nanoindentation testing is now a ubiquitous tool for the characterization of the mechanical properties of materials at the nanometer scale.

The properties of small volumes of materials probed by nanoindentation testing are usually different from their macroscopic counterparts and different deformation mechanisms are generally thought to be a significant contribution to this discrepancy.


We found that variation in overall abundance, richness, and composition of ants at McLaughlin Reserve was more often associated with variation in soil characteristics (especially low clay and high sand content) than with variation in plant richness, biomass, or composition. Percentage of clay and sand consistently affected the abundance of all ant species combined and the three dominant ants. Several soil elements also explained some of the variation in the ant community (e.g., Mg, Co, and B). These soil attributes could affect ants directly via their nesting activities or indirectly via their effect on plants (Harrison et al. 2003) .

These soil attributes could affect ants directly via their nesting activities or indirectly via their effect on plants.


The low mass WIMP detection threshold directly depends upon the baseline energy resolution, generally determined by electronic noise in the ionization readout circuit. The circuit integrates the drift current produced by an interacting particle and requires a high impedance input stage with a capacitance well-matched to the detector capacitance of C det ≈ 150 pF. Traditionally, a silicon JFET located within the cryostat (working at an operating temperature of T≈150 K) is used as an input stage which is then coupled to room temperature electronics, forming the remainder of the amplifier [13, 14] . Each JFET dissipates 5 mW of power which must be sunk by the cryostat. The typical achieved single channel charge resolution of σ E ≈ 300 eV ee 1 (100 electrons) sets a zero background low mass detection threshold of roughly 10 GeV/c 2 , preventing searches in the low-mass WIMP regime without the introduction of background events.

The circuit integrates the drift current produced by an interacting particle and requires a high impedance input stage with a capacitance well-matched to the detector capacitance of C det ≈ 150 pF. Traditionally, a silicon JFET located within the cryostat (working at an operating temperature of T≈150 K) is used as an input stage which is then coupled to room temperature electronics, forming the remainder of the amplifier.


To highlight several of our key findings, we discovered that young people are very active in broadening their social circles, while seniors have the tendency to maintain small but close connections. We found that male users maintain broader social connections than female users when they are young. We also found that cross-gender communications are more frequent than those between same-gender users. We also observed frequent cross-generation interactions that are essential for bridging age gaps in family, workplace, education, and human society as a whole [20] . We discovered significant gender differences in human interactions throughout their lives, which reflects dynamic gender-biased social strategies. Figure 1 shows examples of both female and male ego networks. Human social behaviors reveal both same-gender relationships-'FFF' (Female-Female-Female) and 'MMM' (Male-Male-Male) triads-and opposite-gender social groups ('FMM' and 'FFM' triads) during the dating and reproductively active period (18-34 years old). Upon entering into middle-age, people's attention to opposite-gender triads quickly disappears. However, the insistence and social investment on samegender social groups ('FFF' and 'MMM') lasts for a lifetime. Finally, our analysis shows strong interrelations between users' age and gender. For example, a 20-year-old female's behaviors are distinct from not only a 20-year-old male's, but also from a 50-yearold female's.

We also observed frequent cross-generation interactions that are essential for bridging age gaps in family, workplace, education, and human society as a whole.


The occurrence of bone defects with critical size impairing regeneration and self-repair is a key problem in orthopaedic surgery [1] . As a result of a serious accident, trauma, deep burns, osteomyelitis, necrosis, bone tumours, and several other conditions, it is often necessary to remove the diseased tissue or bone fragments that have no vascularization and cannot be used for reconstructive surgery. Therefore, the resulting large bone defects have to be stabilized and/or reconstructed, by adopting bone substitution techniques and materials.

The occurrence of bone defects with critical size impairing regeneration and self-repair is a key problem in orthopaedic surgery.


In most cases, the ideal solution is the autologous bone graft, which is the gold standard in clinical practice, because it possesses all the characteristics for bone growth: osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, and osteogenicity [1] [2] [3] . Although it is a safe solution for compatibility and for the absence of immunogenicity, autograft is affected by problems such as donor site morbidity and limited supply [4] . Bone allografts and xenografts are alternatives, but they are expensive and imply the risk of disease transmission and adverse host immune reaction.

In most cases, the ideal solution is the autologous bone graft, which is the gold standard in clinical practice, because it possesses all the characteristics for bone growth: osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, and osteogenicity.

Although it is a safe solution for compatibility and for the absence of immunogenicity, autograft is affected by problems such as donor site morbidity and limited supply.


Chitosan is a natural copolymer composed of -(1-4)-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose units, derived from the alkaline deacetylation of chitin, the main constituent of the exoskeleton of crustaceans, such as shrimps, molluscs, and insects [16] [17] [18] . It is also the principal fibrillar polymer in the cell wall of certain fungi. Chitin is one of the most abundant organic materials, being second only to cellulose in the amount produced annually by biosynthesis, and it is composed of -(1-4)-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose units. The chemical N-deacetylation of chitin is achieved by alkaline hydrolysis and produces 40 to 80% of deacetylated CS [19] .

Chitosan is a natural copolymer composed of -(1-4)-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose units, derived from the alkaline deacetylation of chitin, the main constituent of the exoskeleton of crustaceans, such as shrimps, molluscs, and insects.

The chemical N-deacetylation of chitin is achieved by alkaline hydrolysis and produces 40 to 80% of deacetylated CS.


Bioactive ceramics are chemically similar to natural bone inorganic components which allow osteogenesis to occur and can provide bony contact or bonds with the host bone [14] . However, brittleness and low biodegradability restrict their clinical applications. In this respect, natural and synthetic polymers could overcome these drawbacks. In particular, chitosan (CS) has recently attracted much interest in bone tissue engineering for its capacity to promote growth and mineral-rich matrix deposition by osteoblasts in culture [15] . In addition, CS is biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic, and physiologically inert and can be moulded into porous structures [16] .

Bioactive ceramics are chemically similar to natural bone inorganic components which allow osteogenesis to occur and can provide bony contact or bonds with the host bone.

In particular, chitosan (CS) has recently attracted much interest in bone tissue engineering for its capacity to promote growth and mineral-rich matrix deposition by osteoblasts in culture.

In addition, CS is biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic, and physiologically inert and can be moulded into porous structures.


Toluene and formaldehyde are chosen as the target pollutants because they are the major indoor air contaminants and widely exist in modern building materials and household products (Ichiura et al., 2003) . The present work studied the enhanced destruction of toluene and formaldehyde by the O 3 -PCO process in a continuous-flow reactor. The stability during the variation of humidity and initial O 3 concentration was investigated. The mechanism on enhanced stability was also studied. The present study is helpful for better understanding and application of the O 3 -PCO technology.

Toluene and formaldehyde are chosen as the target pollutants because they are the major indoor air contaminants and widely exist in modern building materials and household products.


Then, in the early stage of AV implementation, traffic composition will be mostly manually-driven vehicles with several vehicles with automated driving functions and some AVs. It becomes significant to study the key road safety issues when AVs with different settings are mixed in traffic. Hence, there is a need to study the coexistence of Conventional Vehicles (CV) and AVs in the same road link at the same time, and to rethink the road infrastructure standards in a way that can suit both types of vehicles [8, 9] . Traffic micro-simulation is a valuable approach to investigate how safety and operational traffic characteristics will change when AVs circulate in the streets, and to consider new Crash Modification Factors (CMFs) [10, 11] .

Hence, there is a need to study the coexistence of Conventional Vehicles (CV) and AVs in the same road link at the same time, and to rethink the road infrastructure standards in a way that can suit both types of vehicles.

Traffic micro-simulation is a valuable approach to investigate how safety and operational traffic characteristics will change when AVs circulate in the streets, and to consider new Crash Modification Factors (CMFs).


Next to the association between pWMH and plasma tPA-activity, we also found an association between plasma tPA-activity and dWMH, however these results lost significance after correction for sex and age. Perhaps the effect is small and a larger population is needed to confirm an association. On the other hand, several studies report different neuropathological findings, risk factors and rates of progression between dWMH and pWMH, which could indicate differences in underlying pathophysiology [24] . Also, presence or progression of pWMH, but not dWMH, has been related to cognitive decline [24] .

On the other hand, several studies report different neuropathological findings, risk factors and rates of progression between dWMH and pWMH, which could indicate differences in underlying pathophysiology.

Also, presence or progression of pWMH, but not dWMH, has been related to cognitive decline.


The difference in blood pressures was not due to differences in starting weights, growth rates or weights at the end of the study. Although HS-FRU consumed less food, their caloric intake was the same as the HS group due to drinking 20% fructose. Down-regulation of the renin-angiotensin system is an important mechanism to eliminate excess salt. When animals are given high-salt diets, systemic Ang II levels fall to values close to 10 −12 mol/L [57] . Even though renal cortical Ang II levels during periods of excess salt intake are not known precisely, reductions in renal Ang II similar to plasma levels are expected to contribute to increase urinary Na + excretion (UNaV) thereby eliminating excess salt. If UNaV fails to increase, there is a progressive positive balance of Na + accompanied by retention of water and extracellular volume expansion. Together, these effects elevate arterial pressure. Blood pressure increases until pressure natriuresis achieves Na + balance. Thus, if a primary reduction in Na + reabsorption rates throughout the nephron fails to increase UNaV, Na + balance would be achieved by elevating blood pressure leading to salt-sensitive hypertension [28, 58] .

When animals are given high-salt diets, systemic Ang II levels fall to values close to 10 −12 mol/L.

Thus, if a primary reduction in Na + reabsorption rates throughout the nephron fails to increase UNaV, Na + balance would be achieved by elevating blood pressure leading to salt-sensitive hypertension.


Hence, most common approaches to voice recognition are the fundamental frequency and the formant frequencies. The fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency of the voice signal, whereas the formant frequencies are fivefold; they are the resonances of the vocal tract system [6] . These basic parameters are to be considered as the experiential knowledge stimulated by the learning process of the neural network.

The fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency of the voice signal, whereas the formant frequencies are fivefold; they are the resonances of the vocal tract system.


In a study describing the psychometric properties in cognitively intact Norwegian nursing home patients, Haugan and colleagues described different factor solutions of the HHI [19] . A two-factor model comprising 11 items (excluding item #6) resulted in the best model fit. One factor was named "Temporality and readiness" and the other "Interconnect". This model explained 41.6% of the variance. The factor structure of the HHI was examined in US patients with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers [6] . They found a two-factor solution explaining 51.4% of the variance. Factor 1 comprised items #2, #3, #7, #9, #10 and #12, while factor 2  comprised items #1, #4, #5, #6, #8 , and #11. Factor 2 explained only 6.05% of the variance.

In a study describing the psychometric properties in cognitively intact Norwegian nursing home patients, Haugan and colleagues described different factor solutions of the HHI.

The factor structure of the HHI was examined in US patients with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers.


Among the enzymes used industrially, the B-component lipase from the yeast Candida antarctica (CalB) is a particularly efficient and robust lipase catalyzing a large diversity of organic reactions, including transesterification [14] . The enzymatic catalyst is immobilized in two different configurations, either as enzyme beads sandwiched in structured packing or as enzyme containing silica-gel based coating applied onto structured packing ( Figure 1 ). Both catalytic packings are introduced in the pilot-scale RD column at the Laboratory of Fluid Separations, TU Dortmund University, for experimental investigation.

Among the enzymes used industrially, the B-component lipase from the yeast Candida antarctica (CalB) is a particularly efficient and robust lipase catalyzing a large diversity of organic reactions, including transesterification.


Biocatalysis underpins some of the oldest chemical transformations known to humankind, and it has become a key component in the toolbox of chemists and chemical engineers, allowing new green chemistry and highly productive processes to be developed [1] . Enzyme-catalyzed processes are used in many industrial processes, as for example the synthesis of enantiomerically pure chemicals which are important as intermediates in the pharma-and agro-industry [2] . The pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industry is demanding for economically more attractive processes [2] . Still, the most commonly used production mode for enzyme-catalyzed reactions is based on batch processes using stirred tank reactors [3] .

Biocatalysis underpins some of the oldest chemical transformations known to humankind, and it has become a key component in the toolbox of chemists and chemical engineers, allowing new green chemistry and highly productive processes to be developed.

Enzyme-catalyzed processes are used in many industrial processes, as for example the synthesis of enantiomerically pure chemicals which are important as intermediates in the pharma-and agro-industry.

The pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industry is demanding for economically more attractive processes.

Still, the most commonly used production mode for enzyme-catalyzed reactions is based on batch processes using stirred tank reactors.


We particularly concentrate on activation reactions with very short half-lives that allow analysis to be completed in a few minutes. A secondary advantage of using short halflife reactions is that residual activity of samples after analysis is very low. For example, surface dose rates are generally unmeasurable above natural background about 1 hour after the measurement process is completed, and calculated radioisotope levels are below recommended clearance levels [13] .

For example, surface dose rates are generally unmeasurable above natural background about 1 hour after the measurement process is completed, and calculated radioisotope levels are below recommended clearance levels.


Electronic or e-waste is an umbrella term covering discarded electrical and electronic equipment that has reached the end of its life cycle, cannot be reused, and has ceased to be of any value to its owner. In 2014, around 41.8 million metric tonnes of e-waste was produced worldwide, with 468,000 metric tonnes produced in Australia alone. The amount of e-waste being produced around the world is expected to grow by 4-5 % each year up to 2018 [1] . E-waste is the fastest growing form of waste in Australia, with the rate of production currently increasing 3 times more quickly than any other waste type [2] .

The amount of e-waste being produced around the world is expected to grow by 4-5 % each year up to 2018.

E-waste is the fastest growing form of waste in Australia, with the rate of production currently increasing 3 times more quickly than any other waste type.


The Model of Hierarchical Complexity is contentless and domain free. It is also fractal so that the stage changes process is independent of stage. There is only one stage sequence and only one domain (Harrigan, Giri, & Commons, 2014) . Therefore it is expected that these results will generalize to other content and other tasks and domains.

There is only one stage sequence and only one domain.


The Asian-Pacific region is known to be endemic for HBV. Older data from the 1990s found the highest prevalence of HDV in Pakistan (58.6%) and Iran (2- 20%) [25] . More recently, a study in Taiwan determined the prevalence of HDV in HBsAg carriers to be 15.3% (56/366) [26] . In China, testing for HDV is limited and the burden of HDV is likely underestimated. The main reason for the lack of testing is the common belief that HDV is a rare condition that is unlikely to be clinically relevant. Through this large retrospective cross-sectional study, we are advancing the current understanding of HDV in China and demonstrating its clinical importance. This study on the epidemiological, clinical and histological characteristics of HBV/HDV co-infection may provide a baseline for future study of HDV in China. The prevalence of HDV previously determined among a small sample of patients in southern China was 2.1% (6/282) [27] . The prevalence of HDV in Guangzhou has been previously reported to be 13% in 1990 [28] . Our study shows a prevalence of HDV infection of 6.5%. Comparisons between this study and our study are limited by different methods of detection and a much smaller sample size (N574) [28] . Overall, given our large sample size, we believe our estimate to be closer to true prevalence and propose the burden of HDV in China may in fact be much higher than previously believed. Our results also demonstrate higher prevalence of HDV co-infection in patients older than 50, and prevalence rates remained fairly stable during the time period under study (Fig. 2) . These may imply a decreasing trend of HDV as it is much less prevalent in the younger patients.

Older data from the 1990s found the highest prevalence of HDV in Pakistan (58.6%) and Iran (2- 20%).

More recently, a study in Taiwan determined the prevalence of HDV in HBsAg carriers to be 15.3% (56/366).

The prevalence of HDV previously determined among a small sample of patients in southern China was 2.1% (6/282).

The prevalence of HDV in Guangzhou has been previously reported to be 13% in 1990.

Comparisons between this study and our study are limited by different methods of detection and a much smaller sample size (N574).


Recently it was reported that vitamin D3, an osteoporotic reagent, inhibited HCV production in cell culture systems [20, 21] . Furthermore, it was reported that vitamin D3 was associated with the effect of therapy for patients with CH-C [18, 19] . Statins inhibited HCV RNA replication by suppressing geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) production [14] . Another osteoporotic reagent, bisphosphonate, may possess anti-HCV activity, because it also inhibited the biosynthesis of GGPP in the mevalonate pathway by inhibiting farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase. Taken together, these findings indicate it is likely that the HCV life cycle is associated with osteoporosis.

Recently it was reported that vitamin D3, an osteoporotic reagent, inhibited HCV production in cell culture systems.

Furthermore, it was reported that vitamin D3 was associated with the effect of therapy for patients with CH-C.

Statins inhibited HCV RNA replication by suppressing geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) production.


High temperature fuel cell systems are an attractive solution with ultra-low pollutant emissions and high efficiency. Many systems in production today are fuel flexible, using suitable high methane content biogas, digester gases and landfill gases to produce power with little or no impact on performance or emissions, after appropriate gas clean-up process [12] [13] [14] . While the initial markets for stationary fuel cells has primarily been base-load generation, often with heat recovery, the majority of distributed generation applications will require responsive capabilities. Some of the dynamics a fuel cell may need to respond to include: a rapidly changing building load, stochastic charging of electric vehicles, intermittent cloud cover impacting a local solar array, or a sudden fuel transition between biogas and pipeline gas.

Many systems in production today are fuel flexible, using suitable high methane content biogas, digester gases and landfill gases to produce power with little or no impact on performance or emissions, after appropriate gas clean-up process.


Thermal management within an SOFC is accomplished primarily by controlling the bulk air flow rate to the cathode. A natural temperature gradient develops as the air flows across the heat generating cell. The temperature throughout the SOFC must be maintained within specific bounds which ensure sufficient electrochemical activity without excessive degradation. These boundary specifications dictate the overall temperature gradient which can be sustained. Higher localized temperature gradients are also undesirable due to the associated thermal stress which can lead to failure in the ceramic cells. Co-flow, counter-flow, and crossflow are the three most frequently studied arrangements for planar SOFC. Co-flow design, in which the fuel and air travel across the cell in the same direction, has the most uniform temperature profile among the three arrangements [24] . The counter-flow configuration in which air and fuel travel in opposite directions has the highest efficiency and higher local temperature gradients [25] [26] [27] . Finally, cross-flow design, in which the paths of air and fuel channels are perpendicular to each other, often yields significant manufacturing benefits in the manifold design and gas routing of the system. However, cross-flow often has the worst temperature profile (e.g., maximum temperature across the cell and local gradients) [28, 29] .

Co-flow design, in which the fuel and air travel across the cell in the same direction, has the most uniform temperature profile among the three arrangements.

The counter-flow configuration in which air and fuel travel in opposite directions has the highest efficiency and higher local temperature gradients.

However, cross-flow often has the worst temperature profile (e.g., maximum temperature across the cell and local gradients).


The transition from the steady state to periodic oscillations is presumably a supercritical Hopf bifurcation, but the amplitude of oscillations beyond the onset increases too rapidly to determine (with our resolution) the dependence on a 0. Figs.  3 and 9 show that the amplitude of the oscillations is large near the z = 0 (bromate) end of the reactor, but no oscillations are discernible near the other end. Although the oscillation amplitude is below the level of detectability near the z = 1 end of the reactor, the system is presumably oscillating globally; this is indeed the case for the model [14] .

Although the oscillation amplitude is below the level of detectability near the z = 1 end of the reactor, the system is presumably oscillating globally; this is indeed the case for the model.


The ADCP user calculates ship velocity using the best possible positions at the end of each ADCP ensemble averaging interval, typically 2.5 min. The resulting raw ship velocity is noisy and must be smoothed. Conventional linear filtering methods are not appropriate since the ship velocity is significantly nonstationary. One ap- proach to this smoothing problem is the reference-layer method, in which measured ADCP-layer velocities relative to the ship are subtracted from raw ship velocity to yield a raw absolute reference-layer velocity (Kosro 1985; Wilson and Leetmaa 1988) . This signal is smoothed with a linear time-domain filter and then used to reference the entire ADCP profile.

One ap- proach to this smoothing problem is the reference-layer method, in which measured ADCP-layer velocities relative to the ship are subtracted from raw ship velocity to yield a raw absolute reference-layer velocity.


When bottom tracking is not available, accurate ship velocities from navigation are vital for referencing acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements to earth coordinates. The global positioning system (GPS) continues to be of great assistance in this regard to the shipboard ADCP user. The presence of selective availability (SA) degrades the accuracy of a conventional GPS receiver to about Ϯ50 m root-mean-square (rms) (Hofmann-Wellenhof et al. 1997) . The P-code receivers that eliminate SA are available only to the military and selected civilian users, such as the larger University National Oceanographic Laboratory System research vessels. Various differential GPS techniques with respect to a known reference can also remove SA and increase typical GPS accuracy to about Ϯ10 m. For realtime differential GPS, one or more reference stations and a radio data link are required. The U.S. Coast Guard offers differential corrections via radio, but the transmissions are not always available away from the vicinity of major U.S. harbors. Commercial radio differential corrections are available only in certain areas and involve greater expense. GPS users can set up their own differential reference stations on shore in support of a particular project, but this method can be difficult and expensive.

The presence of selective availability (SA) degrades the accuracy of a conventional GPS receiver to about Ϯ50 m root-mean-square (rms).


In the present study, whole-lung deposition of tobramycin in this study was similar with both devices in healthy volunteers, but was approximately 40% lower in CF patients using the eFlow rapid. More tobramycin also remained in the eFlow rapid device after it was used by the CF patients. This could be the result of shallow breathing that may occur in CF patients, leaving more time for small droplets to coalesce and be deposited on the device surface. Another factor is that, unlike the LC Plus, there is no compressor attached to the eFlow rapid device. The variability seen between the eFlow rapid and the LC Plus in CF patients may be attributed to the difference in handling of the nebulisers between healthy subjects and CF patients, especially with a system that delivers the drug over a shorter nebulisation time. Patients should therefore be coached to handle the nebulisers correctly, inhale deeply and slowly [24] . The wide variability in lung deposition patterns with eFlow rapid did not allow firm conclusions to be drawn with respect to this device. In addition, the distribution of different degrees of lung function in CF patients and its influence on drug deposition patterns need to be evaluated in larger patient populations for better understanding of this aspect.

Patients should therefore be coached to handle the nebulisers correctly, inhale deeply and slowly.


Values of friction coefficient obtained for steel on ice versus the Fig. 1 . Optical microscopy image of an ice surface replica. The magnification shows the characteristic 120°angles formed by the grain boundaries at almost each cross. Etch pits are also visible [13, 14] .

Etch pits are also visible.


Our findings also suggest that formula-feeding may be particularly hazardous for HIV-infected infants, since all infants HIV infected by one month of age in the formula-feeding group died by twelve months, compared to none in the breast-feeding group. This excess risk to HIV-infected non-breast-feeding infants has been reported in earlier studies [11, 12] . However, the excess mortality with formula-feeding remained, even after excluding infants infected with HIV-at one month of age, suggesting that formula feeding is deleterious even among HIV-uninfected infants.

This excess risk to HIV-infected non-breast-feeding infants has been reported in earlier studies.


While many instruments generate relatively stable data time series over short time windows, dynamic uncertainty levels, variable sampling densities, and/or different lengths of gaps with missing data can complicate the analysis of long-term datasets. For example, the five-year time series of a solar variability indicator (Mg II core to wing index) shows consistency 35 on the order of days but increasing noise level and gaps are observed at the month-scale (Cebula et al., 1992) . The time series of the geopotential scale factor, a function of the geoidal potential, is also relatively stable on shorter time scales but demonstrates a slowly increasing long-term pattern (Burša et al., 1997) . Additionally, the time series of a ratio (F factor) for calibrating a satellite radiometer suite (i.e. VIIRS) shows band-specific gap distributions and variable trends (Cardema et al., 2012) . As a result, these time series may not be described as a simple deterministic function of time due to possible noise and 40 gaps.

For example, the five-year time series of a solar variability indicator (Mg II core to wing index) shows consistency 35 on the order of days but increasing noise level and gaps are observed at the month-scale.

The time series of the geopotential scale factor, a function of the geoidal potential, is also relatively stable on shorter time scales but demonstrates a slowly increasing long-term pattern.

Additionally, the time series of a ratio (F factor) for calibrating a satellite radiometer suite (i.e. VIIRS) shows band-specific gap distributions and variable trends.


Stator windings failures are among the most frequent faults in ac machines [15] . They have been widely studied in the last few years [16] [17] [18] . These faults are related to stator windings insulation degradation, being one of the most difficult failures to identify [19] . When dealing with PMSMs, inter-turn short-circuits may result in stator over currents that create a magnetic flux opposed to the natural flux of the permanent magnets. This reversed flux may partially demagnetize the rotor magnets [20] .

Stator windings failures are among the most frequent faults in ac machines.

They have been widely studied in the last few years.

These faults are related to stator windings insulation degradation, being one of the most difficult failures to identify.

This reversed flux may partially demagnetize the rotor magnets.


Although burnout and stress in call centres, has been greatly acknowledged, there is a lack of empirical research on employee stress in call centres . Therefore, we were motivated to study job burnout among call centres in India. In emergent markets (such as India), the call centre sector is rapidly growing and it is estimated that soon there will be a workforce of 700,000 in India (Shah and Bandi, 2003) .

In emergent markets (such as India), the call centre sector is rapidly growing and it is estimated that soon there will be a workforce of 700,000 in India.