Healthcare is one of the most complex and rapidly-changing industries. It is continually transformed by new technologies, techniques, as well as pharmaceutical and delivery systems [1] . Hospital design incorporates a development process that is based on the following main concerns: the adequacy of technological advances in healthcare; compliance with rules and regulations (that ensure the good quality of the designed environments); the complexity and flexibility required for the project; and the life-cycle cost constrains.

It is continually transformed by new technologies, techniques, as well as pharmaceutical and delivery systems.


Limited understanding about the amount of carbon stocks in pastoral ecosystems thus results from a failure to consider spatial and temporal environmental dynamics. This poses challenges for policy development to promote, manage or protect pastoralism to safeguard the atmospheric environment from GHG emissions, in addition to providing local pastoralists with a reasonable livelihood. Consequently, there has been a general development of replacing pastoralism with other land uses without looking at associated environmental implications (Behnke and Kerven 2013) .

Consequently, there has been a general development of replacing pastoralism with other land uses without looking at associated environmental implications.


With substantial exploration, the oil and gas resources on land and shallow water field cannot meet the need of the development of industry. Recently, more than 40% of the newly proved oil and gas resources are found in deep water field, which is much more difficult to develop [1] . Exploring and developing oil and gas in deep water field are one of the important developing trends of oil and gas industry.

Recently, more than 40% of the newly proved oil and gas resources are found in deep water field, which is much more difficult to develop.


A key aspect of studying terrorist network is to investigate the organizational dynamics and the mechanism by which its structure grows and changes over time [1] . Due to the networked connection between terrorists, network analysis methods provide a powerful way to study the organizational structure. The interplay between topology and dynamics in complex networks is a fundamental problem, which has not been widely studied [2] . Individual behavior and network ties mutually influence each other [3] . For studying terrorist organization, it is important to find out how the terrorists behave in performing tasks and how the activities affect the organizational dynamics [4, 5] . On the other hand, terrorist network is usually not a complete picture due to the inherent difficulties in obtaining data. It shows only those links that have been publicly disclosed [6, 7] . Hence, using computational experimentation to obtain insight into the dilemma of terrorist network dynamics is valuable.

A key aspect of studying terrorist network is to investigate the organizational dynamics and the mechanism by which its structure grows and changes over time.

The interplay between topology and dynamics in complex networks is a fundamental problem, which has not been widely studied.

Individual behavior and network ties mutually influence each other.

For studying terrorist organization, it is important to find out how the terrorists behave in performing tasks and how the activities affect the organizational dynamics.

It shows only those links that have been publicly disclosed.


The waveforms of coding process are showed in Figure 4 , which represent the 4-level data patterns in time domain at 1545.5 nm. According to the encoding principle, the upper and middle patterns are level 1 and level 2 versus level 0, respectively. All 4-level can be identified in the bottom of Figure 4 . As demonstrated in Figure 2 , the upper pattern was a duplicate of pump pattern. The middle pattern was probe number 1 signal. Then the bottom pattern consisted of the above two. Figure 5 is the corresponding eye diagram. It was found that the level spacing can be arbitrary but we chose around 0 : 1 : 2 : 4 for clear identification [8] . The extinction ratio of the three separated 2-level eye patterns corresponding to level 1, 2, and 3 were 7.56 dB, 11.07 dB, and 13.18 dB, respectively. While the respective signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) were 18.01 dB, 26.31 dB, and 26.56 dB. As the lowest amplitude, the performance of level 1 was relatively weaker than that of the other two due to the existence of the CW. The narrower pulsewidth of levels 1 and 3 whose operation principle was like an AND gate due to pulse compression in FWM process [9] . The mark level of level 3 was noisier than the other levels due to the ASE from EDFA amplified by OPA effect. Furthermore, note that the scheme we proposed here can also be potentially applied to an all-optical digital-toanalog conversion (DAC) system [10] . The incoming serial pulses which represent a digital signal are converted to the parallel pulses by an optical serial-to-parallel converter [11] . The parallel pulses are assigned to the probe and pump as the most significant bit (MSB) and the least significant bit (LSB), respectively. So as indicated in Figure 2 , the 2-bit digital signals "00," "01," "10", and "11" correspond to the analog signals "0," "1," "2", and "3". Consequently, a 2-bit alloptical DAC scheme with binary code can be realized. The advantage of this technique is its easy implementation and flexibility of level spacing optimization.

It was found that the level spacing can be arbitrary but we chose around 0 : 1 : 2 : 4 for clear identification.

The narrower pulsewidth of levels 1 and 3 whose operation principle was like an AND gate due to pulse compression in FWM process.

Furthermore, note that the scheme we proposed here can also be potentially applied to an all-optical digital-toanalog conversion (DAC) system.

The incoming serial pulses which represent a digital signal are converted to the parallel pulses by an optical serial-to-parallel converter.


Silica based mesoporous materials and in particular mesoporosus silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have attracted extensive attention due to their wide spread applications in biomedical fields including biosensing, drug delivery and diagnostic imaging. They are easily chemically modified with biomolecules and are used as theranostic agents for biomedical applications [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . The principal requirements for such nanocarriers include safety (non-toxic) and absence of undesirable side-effects. When nanoparticles (NPs) enter a biological fluid (blood, plasma or interstitial fluid) they are coated with proteins, the "protein corona", that may lead to the exposure of new epitopes, altered function and/ or avidity effects [6] . The protein corona spontaneously forms upon exposure to proteins and may consist of multiple layers that have different affinities to the NPs surface, e.g. the soft corona consisting of the external layer of proteins weakly interacting with the NPs, and the hard corona that strongly adheres to the NPs surface [7] . Because the protein corona affects the properties of the NPs surface, it has significant impact on the interaction between the NPs and cell walls [8] [9] [10] . Many studies are described in the literature where NP cellular uptake involves the presence of a protein corona. A key factor affecting their final uptake rates is their adhesion to the cell membrane [11] [12] [13] [14] . In order to be an effective delivery vehicle, the NPs must have prolonged blood circulation times and must escape the uptake by mononuclear phagocytes, macrophages and the reticuloendothelial systems [12] . The interaction between the positively charged polyethyleneimine (PEI) polymer and the negatively charged proteins might cause a protein corona effect in this type of nanocarriers. Hence, many PEIs have been chemically modified to decrease the side effect and improve their transfection efficiency [15, 16] . An interesting approach to avoid this effect is the zwitterionization of MSNPs surface for imparting antifoul ing properties. Zwitterionic materials are a new class of antifouling surfaces that have demonstrated to be efficient due to the formation of a strong hydration layer through electrostatic interaction. Their weak interactions with serum proteins and their non-toxic nature make them ideal candidates for gene and drug delivery vectors [17] [18] [19] [20] .

They are easily chemically modified with biomolecules and are used as theranostic agents for biomedical applications.

When nanoparticles (NPs) enter a biological fluid (blood, plasma or interstitial fluid) they are coated with proteins, the "protein corona", that may lead to the exposure of new epitopes, altered function and/ or avidity effects.

The protein corona spontaneously forms upon exposure to proteins and may consist of multiple layers that have different affinities to the NPs surface, e.g. the soft corona consisting of the external layer of proteins weakly interacting with the NPs, and the hard corona that strongly adheres to the NPs surface.

Because the protein corona affects the properties of the NPs surface, it has significant impact on the interaction between the NPs and cell walls.

A key factor affecting their final uptake rates is their adhesion to the cell membrane.

In order to be an effective delivery vehicle, the NPs must have prolonged blood circulation times and must escape the uptake by mononuclear phagocytes, macrophages and the reticuloendothelial systems.

Hence, many PEIs have been chemically modified to decrease the side effect and improve their transfection efficiency.

Their weak interactions with serum proteins and their non-toxic nature make them ideal candidates for gene and drug delivery vectors.


How trends in animal density and seasonal patterns of grazing are connected to nutrient and sediment dynamics is not obvious. A seasonal 103 spike in TSS concentrations (Fig. 4A-C) , an increase in TP, and a 43 increase in bison use at N4D compared to the dry N2B stream occurred during late summer and early autumn (Table 3) . Thus, we can hypothesize that the bison had moved to N4D to have better access to water, resulting in the observed seasonal increase in TSS and TP concentrations in N4D. Bison require more water in summer than in other seasons because of increased metabolic activity and often shift from upland grazing to lowland grazing where plant productivity is greater (Knapp et al. 1999) . In winter, bison eat snow to meet their water needs, a behavior that could limit the need to access streams. However, bison abundance in the riparian buffer and streamwater TP concentrations were highest in winter. Bison probably congregate in the lowlands in winter to shelter from cold and to obtain drinking water because snow is not prevalent at KPBS most years. Bison use of lowlands decreases in the summer and increases in the winter months (Fig. 6) . If bison density affects waterquality variables, then sediment and nutrient concentrations could be seasonally influenced.

Bison require more water in summer than in other seasons because of increased metabolic activity and often shift from upland grazing to lowland grazing where plant productivity is greater.


NF-κB is responsible for the transcription of innumerable genes related to pro-inflammatory activity, such as IL-1, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2 [34] [35] [36] . Consequently, a decrease in the gene expression of these inflammatory mediators was also observed. Compared with LPS-stimulated cells, the a b COX-2 and IL-1β genes showed more than 80% gene suppression after treatment with LDT11. The suppression of iNOS and IL-6 genes was practically total in LDT11 pre-treated cells. The evaluation of the treatment after 24 h showed that the relative amount of iNOS decreased in all the tests performed, including in the LPS treated cells. Consequently, the gene suppression was less expressive than that observed in experiments conducted after six hours. Gene expression of iNOS after 24 h was the only outcome in which treatment with LDT11 was inferior to the results obtained with the commercial drugs. Although, treatment with LDT11 was also capable of reducing the iNOS gene expression when compared to LPS treated cells.

NF-κB is responsible for the transcription of innumerable genes related to pro-inflammatory activity, such as IL-1, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2.


Inflammation is part of the complex biological response by body tissue to harmful stimuli, caused by infections, injuries or trauma. It is a complicated process regulated by several pro-inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, NF-kB, IL-1β, and IL-6 [20] . The rapid release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by activated macrophages plays a crucial role in triggering local immune response [21] . However, excessive production of inflammatory mediators may be more damaging than the event that triggered the immune response and may be associated with autoimmune diseases, diabetes, sepsis, diffuse intravascular coagulation, tissue injury, hypotension, and death [22] . The inhibition of these inflammatory mediators employing pharmacological modulators has been used as an effective therapeutic strategy to reduce inflammatory reactions [23] .

It is a complicated process regulated by several pro-inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, NF-kB, IL-1β, and IL-6.

The rapid release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by activated macrophages plays a crucial role in triggering local immune response.

However, excessive production of inflammatory mediators may be more damaging than the event that triggered the immune response and may be associated with autoimmune diseases, diabetes, sepsis, diffuse intravascular coagulation, tissue injury, hypotension, and death.

The inhibition of these inflammatory mediators employing pharmacological modulators has been used as an effective therapeutic strategy to reduce inflammatory reactions.


Average monthly costs during the distant 6 to 12 months prior to recruitment (not the 6 months immediately preceding recruitment) were also used in the PMS for the economic analysis. The matching of costs with the distant 6 months was done to minimize the potential effect of escalating cost in the months immediately prior to recruitment to MTC. After calculation of their propensity scores, the effect of telecare on medical expenditures of the two groups was estimated using the difference in difference method [10] . We compared the direct medical annual costs of patients in both groups during the year following the recruitment to MTC with the preceding year.

After calculation of their propensity scores, the effect of telecare on medical expenditures of the two groups was estimated using the difference in difference method.


The PLGA used in the present study was a biodegradable synthetic polymer that is known to be effective for various tissue reconstructions due to its excellent cytocompatibility [25, 34] . Nevertheless, it can only rarely be used independently to maintain scaffold shape because of its rapid degradation rate [22, 32, 34] . In contrast, PCL is highly elastic, which prevents early scaffold fractures [28] . However, cell affinity for PCL is lower than that for PLGA due to the high hydrophobicity of PCL [35, 36] . In addition, the degradation rate of PCL is much slower than bone regeneration rates [37] . PLGA/PCL blends have biological and mechanical advantages over 100% PCL and 100% PLGA. Blended PCL/PLGA has been reported to have adequate cell affinity, a degradation rate similar to the regeneration rate of bone, and sufficient flexibility for molding when used as a GBR membrane to treat irregular bone defects [25] . In the present study, the incorporation of TCP, which has excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, was used to increase compressive strength and surface area, and consequently, to enhance cell and tissue integration [32] .

The PLGA used in the present study was a biodegradable synthetic polymer that is known to be effective for various tissue reconstructions due to its excellent cytocompatibility.

Nevertheless, it can only rarely be used independently to maintain scaffold shape because of its rapid degradation rate.

In contrast, PCL is highly elastic, which prevents early scaffold fractures.

However, cell affinity for PCL is lower than that for PLGA due to the high hydrophobicity of PCL.

In addition, the degradation rate of PCL is much slower than bone regeneration rates.

Blended PCL/PLGA has been reported to have adequate cell affinity, a degradation rate similar to the regeneration rate of bone, and sufficient flexibility for molding when used as a GBR membrane to treat irregular bone defects.

In the present study, the incorporation of TCP, which has excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, was used to increase compressive strength and surface area, and consequently, to enhance cell and tissue integration.


The scrambled sentence task was followed by a saccade adaptation task, using procedures established in our earlier work (Bock, Schmitz, & Grigorova, 2008; Grigorova, Bock, & Borisova, 2013) . In single-step trials, a target of 7 mm diameter was presented in the center of the screen for 750 -1500 ms, enclosed by a circle of 11 cm radius. The target then jumped onto the circle in one of eight randomly selected directions (0, 45, 90, 315 deg, where 0 deg denotes rightwards, and 90 deg upwards), and returned to the center 760 ms later. In double-step trials, the target jumped onto the circle, shifted along the circle by −15 deg (clockwise) after 200 ms , and returned to the center 640 ms later. Twenty successive trials constituted an episode, and were separated from the next episode by a short rest break. The adaptation task consisted of a baseline phase with two single-step episodes, followed by an adaptation phase with 25 double-step episodes, and then by an aftereffect phase with two single-step episodes.

The scrambled sentence task was followed by a saccade adaptation task, using procedures established in our earlier work.


Horizontal and vertical eye movements were registered by electrooculography (DC-EOG) with a band pass filter of 0.08 -100 Hz. Signals were digitized with a resolution of 0.01 deg/bit and a sampling rate of 100 Hz, and calibration was repeated every five episodes. Custom-designed interactive software determined saccade direction as the angular difference between first target step and primary saccade, in the plane of the screen. The software also determined saccade latency as the delay between first target step and the onset of primary saccade. Saccades with latencies beyond 270 ms were discarded, since they may be influenced by reprogramming towards the second step (Becker & Jürgens, 1979) . Mean saccade directions for each subject and episode were adjusted by subtracting the subject-specific baseline values before graphical presentation and statistical analysis. Saccade direction for each episode of the adaptation phase (25 episodes) and the aftereffect phase (2 episodes). Means across subjects primed with positive age stereotypes are shown in grey, those across subjects primed with negative age stereotypes in black, and those across nonprimed control subjects are dashed. For better clarity, no error bars are shown.

Saccades with latencies beyond 270 ms were discarded, since they may be influenced by reprogramming towards the second step.


Subjects were first primed with age stereotypes using an established procedure, the scrambled sentence task (Bargh, Chen, & Burrows, 1996) . Each person was given 20 lists of five words, and had to select four words from each list to formulate a meaningful sentence; the fifth, non-fitting word had to be crossed out. Unbeknown to the subjects, one of the four selected words was either a positive or a negative age stereotype (e.g., "wisdom" versus "decay"). Eight subjects received lists with positive stereotypes, and the other eight with negative ones; all were instructed to proceed at their own pace. The prime words came from a pilot study in which eight persons, aged 50 to 65, rated a list of 15 experimenter-selected words on two ten-point Likert scales, one scale for "maturity" and the other for "frailty". The 10 words with the highest "maturity" rating (5.0 to 8.0) and the 10 with the highest "frailty" rating (6.3 to 8.3) were repeatedly used as primes for the main experiment.

Subjects were first primed with age stereotypes using an established procedure, the scrambled sentence task.


All these studies indicate clearly that there is a strong relationship between economic development and transportation, perhaps in both directions. However, if this relationship is bidirectional, then studies undertaking one-way relationship between transportation and income involve a misspecification problem. That is, ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation will produce biased and inconsistent estimates of the structural parameters given that there is an endogenous relationship between income and transportation. Therefore, it is critical to determine the direction of the causality between transportation and economic development (GDP per capita level) in advance. Applying the Granger-causality (or rather Granger non-causality) test is the most effective and practical way to test the direction of causality (Chamberlain, 1982; Florens and Mouchart, 1982) .

Applying the Granger-causality (or rather Granger non-causality) test is the most effective and practical way to test the direction of causality.


A GUI (graphic user interface) approach to designing an initial skeleton of each TMO and letting a tool generate a code-framework for each TMO, has been formulated and some experiments have been conducted with successful results [10] . The GUI based tool has been named the Visual Studio for TMO (ViSTMO). A study on a costeffective method for realizing high-quality graphic display of the dynamically changing states of TMOs in DTS has also been performed [2] .

A GUI (graphic user interface) approach to designing an initial skeleton of each TMO and letting a tool generate a code-framework for each TMO, has been formulated and some experiments have been conducted with successful results.

A study on a costeffective method for realizing high-quality graphic display of the dynamically changing states of TMOs in DTS has also been performed.


Overall, mecC MRSA do not seem to be highly prevalent in Austria at the moment, which reflects the situation in most other European countries [10] . On the other hand, the frequency of mecC MRSA has increased significantly to a proportion of 2% of the total annual human MRSA cases in Denmark [4] . As mecC is carried on a mobile genetic element (SCCmec), it has the potential to spread into different lineages [29] [30] [31] . Thus, reliable detection and monitoring of mecC MRSA with appropriate phenotypic and molecular screening and confirmation methods is needed.

Overall, mecC MRSA do not seem to be highly prevalent in Austria at the moment, which reflects the situation in most other European countries.

On the other hand, the frequency of mecC MRSA has increased significantly to a proportion of 2% of the total annual human MRSA cases in Denmark.

As mecC is carried on a mobile genetic element (SCCmec), it has the potential to spread into different lineages.


There are two control modes for the chopper of this usage. One is the continuous conduction mode (CCM) of dc current and another is the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) of dc current [3] - [6] . In continuous mode, input ac voltage and current are detected, and the input current is formed to be nearly sinusoidal waveform by using PWM with variable switching frequency. Specially, the converter for this mode requires a current sensor and synchronization control circuit, and then the control system is complicated. In discontinuous mode, the input ac current becomes a quasi sinusoidal waveform in proportion to the magnitude of input ac voltage under constant switching frequency with PWM. The control circuit for the DCM converter eliminate-es the complicated circuit control requirement and reduces the number of components [4] - [5] . Moreover, in this mode, the turn-on of chopper switching devices occurs at zero current, that is, zero current switching. Therefore, the switching losses caused by switching turn-on operation are very low. However, the switching devices are switched off at the maximum current corresponding to a certain level of voltage in one cycle of the switching frequency, so-called hard switching. It causes the large current stresses of the switching devices and variable electromagnetic interference.

One is the continuous conduction mode (CCM) of dc current and another is the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) of dc current.

The control circuit for the DCM converter eliminate-es the complicated circuit control requirement and reduces the number of components.


In this paper, we propose a buck-boost isolated converter for PFC including a novel soft-switching step up-down chopper by DCM. The switching devices in the proposed converter are operated by a soft switching technique using a new quasi-resonant circuit, that is, the quasi-resonant operation makes zero current switching (ZCS) and zero voltage switching (ZVS) for the turn-on and turn-off of control switches without switching power losses, so called "soft switching" [6] - [9] . The quasi-resonant circuit is composed of a step up-down inductor and a loss-less snubber capacitor [10] - [12] . The resonant operation of the quasiresonant circuit is partially enforced at only switching turnon time or turn-off time in order to reduce the losses and stresses of the resonant devices. Particularly, an accumulated energy in the snubber capacitor regenerates into the input power source without the power losses of the snubber circuit by quasi-resonant operation. It results in not only increasing input power factor but also elevating output dc voltage in comparison with a conventional PFC buck-boost isolated converter.

The switching devices in the proposed converter are operated by a soft switching technique using a new quasi-resonant circuit, that is, the quasi-resonant operation makes zero current switching (ZCS) and zero voltage switching (ZVS) for the turn-on and turn-off of control switches without switching power losses, so called "soft switching".

The quasi-resonant circuit is composed of a step up-down inductor and a loss-less snubber capacitor.


An input current drawn by the phase controller or diode rectifiers creates a number of problems for the power distribution network and for other electrical appliances. Therefore, recently the power factor correction (PFC) techniques have received great attention and a number of new techniques have been proposed. To improve input current waveform and to control the power factor (PF) of unity at the same time, it is proposed to use an active converter, which includes step-up chopper or step-down chopper for the rectifier circuit [1] - [3] .

To improve input current waveform and to control the power factor (PF) of unity at the same time, it is proposed to use an active converter, which includes step-up chopper or step-down chopper for the rectifier circuit.


Subpopulations with high A e and h, and low P-0.05, contributed more to the intra-population component, whereas those with high P-0.05 and low I contributed more to the inter-population component of total diversity. These estimates were successfully used to predict subpopulation contribution to inter-and intra-population diversity (Petit et al. 1998) . Two subpopulations contributed negatively to total diversity either due to lower than average C ST (Batini-3) or C S (Batini-7) . The estimate of gene flow based on G ST was high among these subpopulations (N m ¼ 2.33) which is high enough to prevent divergence resulting from genetic drift (Parzies et al., 2004) . However, this is not in agreement with the high level of gene differentiation in spite of the relatively high average distance among subpopulations. Nevertheless, N m was much lower than the average value (4.92) reported for 12 populations of a Syrian barley landrace collected from different geographical regions (Parzies et al., 2004) . These high values may only be explained on the basis of seed exchange among farmers (Yu et al., 2001; Parzies et al., 2004) .

These estimates were successfully used to predict subpopulation contribution to inter-and intra-population diversity.

The estimate of gene flow based on G ST was high among these subpopulations (N m ¼ 2.33) which is high enough to prevent divergence resulting from genetic drift.

Nevertheless, N m was much lower than the average value (4.92) reported for 12 populations of a Syrian barley landrace collected from different geographical regions.

These high values may only be explained on the basis of seed exchange among farmers.


Southern Tigray is characterized by high population pressure, scarcity of arable and grazing land, and low moisture [16] . High demand for land coupled with existing pressure on the available land is progressively narrowing farmers' agro-economic decisions and forcing part of them to encroach and cultivate on previously unused marginal or pastoral grazing lowland areas [17] . Farmers responded to this pressure by introducing high-value tree-based farming systems [18] . Despite its successes, including alleviating farm poverty, achieving environmental protection through reduced soil erosion, and mitigating climate change, very little research has been conducted specifically to ascertain the role of agroforestry practices in income diversification in southern Tigray.

Southern Tigray is characterized by high population pressure, scarcity of arable and grazing land, and low moisture.

High demand for land coupled with existing pressure on the available land is progressively narrowing farmers' agro-economic decisions and forcing part of them to encroach and cultivate on previously unused marginal or pastoral grazing lowland areas.

Farmers responded to this pressure by introducing high-value tree-based farming systems.


The final step consisted of adjusting phosphorus concentrations to 25 µg TP/L and 200 µg TP/L, for low and high nutrient treatments simulating oligotrophic and hypertrophic conditions, respectively. Nitrogen was added to achieve a phosphorus to nitrogen ratio of 1:20 (by molecular weight). At the start of the experiment nutrient addition was only needed for the high nutrient treatments. To account for nutrients loss, monthly nutrient additions were necessary to maintain the two nutrient levels throughout the experiment. Nutrient dosing (see Supplementary Table S1 ) was determined from previous experiments [52, 53] .

Nutrient dosing (see Supplementary Table S1 ) was determined from previous experiments.


Synchronized multinational experiments hold a strong potential to study many profound and seemingly intractable ecological conundrums surrounding climate change impacts in ecosystems [21, 69] . However, the scope and cost of such studies often require balancing study designs with available financial resources, and our study was not exempt from such a trade-off. We aimed to strengthen inference from a spatial perspective by running the experiments in two countries located in similar geographical latitudes, which came at the cost of scrutinizing the temporal aspect of study. However, by analyzing a composite sample integrating monthly snapshots of ecological conditions in the mesocosms throughout an entire growing season, we believe that we have sufficiently characterized the broader systemic aspects in our mesocosms that have been considered necessary for assessing resilience using the discontinuity analysis. We are therefore confident that our results and inferences are not unduly influenced by sampling design.

Synchronized multinational experiments hold a strong potential to study many profound and seemingly intractable ecological conundrums surrounding climate change impacts in ecosystems.


We assessed the resilience of zooplankton communities using within-and cross-scale patterns in zooplankton body size and biomass aggregations, which have been considered as proxies of the relative resilience of ecosystems [38, 42, 43] . We identified two additional measures (gap size and aggregation lengths). Research has shown that several ecological phenomena (e.g., invasions and species extinctions) are non-random with regard to the location of species in body mass groups [44, 68] . These measures therefore provide additional information on how our experimental treatments affected body size and biomass aggregation patterns and thus the resilience of zooplankton assemblages. The four indicators of resilience were studied in mesocosms simulating two drivers that may have an important influence on the ecology of shallow lakes under climate change in the future: nutrient enrichment and water level change [3, [6] [7] [8] .

We assessed the resilience of zooplankton communities using within-and cross-scale patterns in zooplankton body size and biomass aggregations, which have been considered as proxies of the relative resilience of ecosystems.

Research has shown that several ecological phenomena (e.g., invasions and species extinctions) are non-random with regard to the location of species in body mass groups.

The four indicators of resilience were studied in mesocosms simulating two drivers that may have an important influence on the ecology of shallow lakes under climate change in the future: nutrient enrichment and water level change.


Our results indicate that it is the parents who obtain the most remarkable improvements in their physical condition. In the parents there is an increase in the Standing long jump with feet together, the speed and agility 4x10 m shuttle run, 20 m shuttle run, as well as a decrease in body mass index. This is very useful to obtain a better physical condition since it is proven that to have better levels of physical condition is associated with a greater tendency to a body weight within normal parameters (Gálvez, Rodríguez, Rosa et al., 2014) .

This is very useful to obtain a better physical condition since it is proven that to have better levels of physical condition is associated with a greater tendency to a body weight within normal parameters.


There are numerous studies that relate parents' physical activity to that of their children and it is accepted that physical activity performed by the parents, father's occupation and ethnicity are significantly related to the frequency of exercise of the children, especially for girls (Gustafson, & Rhodes, 2006) . According to our results, joint physical activity of parents and children can improve some of the variables that are related to the physical condition of the girls, to maintain that of the boys and to improve those of the parents. For that to happen, the tasks carried out must produce an adequate motivational climate between parents and children that is key for children to remain psychologically involved in sports practice and the parents involved with sufficient intensity or effort to produce appreciable physical improvements (Ames, 1999) .

There are numerous studies that relate parents' physical activity to that of their children and it is accepted that physical activity performed by the parents, father's occupation and ethnicity are significantly related to the frequency of exercise of the children, especially for girls.

For that to happen, the tasks carried out must produce an adequate motivational climate between parents and children that is key for children to remain psychologically involved in sports practice and the parents involved with sufficient intensity or effort to produce appreciable physical improvements.


The experiments presented here include high speed camera measurements of the wing kinematics as well as lift and pitch moment measurements on a custom built force balance [12] . Unless mentioned otherwise, all the tests were carried out at a moderate flapping frequency of 15 Hz in order to have consistent results in all the tests. For higher frequencies the prototype performance can slightly deteriorate over time due to wear of the "anchors" holding the displaced joints.

The experiments presented here include high speed camera measurements of the wing kinematics as well as lift and pitch moment measurements on a custom built force balance.


We also demonstrated that the THF-activated TrkB signaling pathway works by phosphorylating TrkB in DRG neurons, possibly acting as a TrkB agonist. Recently, a relative of THF -7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF) -was shown to promote spinal cord motoneuron embryonic development, as well as inducing functional recovery in myotrophic lateral sclerosis [17, 18] . Interestingly, DHF seemed to act through the AKT signaling pathway rather than directly on the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in motoneurons [17] . Therefore, it seems that complex signaling pathways may be differentially associated with THF (or DHF) in regulating spinal cord DRG neurons and motoneurons.

Recently, a relative of THF -7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF) -was shown to promote spinal cord motoneuron embryonic development, as well as inducing functional recovery in myotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Interestingly, DHF seemed to act through the AKT signaling pathway rather than directly on the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in motoneurons.


In this paper, we propose a penalized-likelihood method that does model selection and parameter estimation simultaneously in the Gaussian concentration graph model. We employ an 1 penalty on the off-diagonal elements of the concentration matrix. This is similar to the idea of the lasso in linear regression (Tibshirani, 1996) . The 1 penalty encourages sparsity and at the same time gives shrinkage estimates. In addition, we explicitly ensure that the estimator of the concentration matrix is positive definite. We also introduce a 'nonnegative garrote' type method that is closely related to the aforementioned approach.

This is similar to the idea of the lasso in linear regression.


It is not easy to calculate the friction factor ''f" using Eq. (6). The friction factor appears in the both sides, the Colebrook's equation is implicit, and it has to be solved iteratively which causes serious difficulties in repetitive calculations of the friction factor. For this reason, a number of approximate solutions have been proposed to alter the Colebrook's equation; thirty three (33) equations were inventoried. Several authors have reviewed these equations by looking at the accuracy only [17] [18] [19] . The More the equation is longer the more the CPU time is higher. However the explicit formulas which are the topic of the paper the time need for their computation is ''zero" so the only difference that can make sense is the environment and the work size in which the use of those formulas is an obligation. The basic idea of this paper is to review most of the existing explicit formulas for computation of the friction factor for turbulent flow in rough pipes and to introduce more than one criterion to select the best equations. Three criteria were proposed: simplicity of the formula, maximum deviations and the coverage of the entire range of Moody diagram.

Several authors have reviewed these equations by looking at the accuracy only.


Problem solving can be defined as any purposeful activity where one is presented with a novel situation and devises and performs a sequence of steps to achieve a set goal [1] . The problem solver must make judicious decisions to reach the goal in a reasonable amount of time. There is evidence to suggest that a crucial difference between the problem-solving capabilities of physics professors (experts) and introductory physics students (novices) lies in both the level and complexity with which knowledge is represented and rules are applied [2, 3, 4] . Physics professors view physical situations at a much more abstract level than beginning students, who often focus on the surface features and get distracted by irrelevant details. For example, students tend to group together all mechanics problems involving inclined planes, regardless of what type of physical principles are required for solving them [4] .

Problem solving can be defined as any purposeful activity where one is presented with a novel situation and devises and performs a sequence of steps to achieve a set goal.

There is evidence to suggest that a crucial difference between the problem-solving capabilities of physics professors (experts) and introductory physics students (novices) lies in both the level and complexity with which knowledge is represented and rules are applied.

For example, students tend to group together all mechanics problems involving inclined planes, regardless of what type of physical principles are required for solving them.


Many studies have focused on investigating the differences between the problem solving strategies used by expert physicists and introductory physics students [2, 3, 4] . The problems chosen in these studies are typically those which physics professors find easy to solve using their intuition. Here we analyze the problem solving strategies of physics professors in a case where their physical intuition fails. An introductory level problem was identified for which the physical intuition of most experts is lacking. We compare the problem-solving strategies of professors and introductory physics students in this context. According to cognitive theory, expertise in a particular domain consists of having a large stock of compiled knowledge to deal with a wide variety of contingencies [5] . No matter how expert people are at coping with familiar problems, their performance will begin to approximate that of novices once their stock of compiled rules in memory has been exhausted by the demands of a novel situation [5] . In these situations, experts cannot easily invoke compiled knowledge from memory because the applicability of a particular principle is not entirely obvious. They must process information "on the spot," in a manner similar to novices.

Many studies have focused on investigating the differences between the problem solving strategies used by expert physicists and introductory physics students.

According to cognitive theory, expertise in a particular domain consists of having a large stock of compiled knowledge to deal with a wide variety of contingencies.

No matter how expert people are at coping with familiar problems, their performance will begin to approximate that of novices once their stock of compiled rules in memory has been exhausted by the demands of a novel situation.


Similar to the variable reluctance stepping motor, the switched reluctance motor (SRM) belongs to a doublysalient and singly-excited machine [1] [2] [3] . It possesses a lot of inherent structural advantages, such as rigid structure, high power density, high reliability, low maintenance requirement and suited for high-temperature and high-speed operations. In addition, its converter is free from arm fedthrough short circuit. However, the SRM also suffers from many disadvantages: (i) high torque ripple; (ii) high acoustic noise and vibration; (iii) absolute rotor position information is required for performing the converter switching for the SRM; (iv) nonlinear winding inductance and torque generating characteristics.

Similar to the variable reluctance stepping motor, the switched reluctance motor (SRM) belongs to a doublysalient and singly-excited machine.


We have accurately registered many dozens of medical images using anatomical landmarks [1] . This provides us with a large number of reference datasets with which to evaluate alternative automated registration algorithms. We have devised two techniques for assessing possible voxel similarity measures: feature space sequences and similarity measure plots.

We have accurately registered many dozens of medical images using anatomical landmarks.


Our present results also confirm that Carr-induced paw edema model results in the production of NO and PGE 2 . Excess amounts of NO and PGE 2 play a critical role in the aggravation of chronic inflammatory diseases. Scientific papers were observed that while the production of NO and PGE 2 was blocked by the NOS inhibitors in mouse macrophages RAW 264.7 cells, these inhibitory effects were reversed by coincubation with the precursor of NO synthesis, L-Arginine [7] . Furthermore, inhibition of iNOS activity by nonselective NOS inhibitors attenuated the release of NO and prostaglandins simultaneously in LPS-activated macrophages, which suggested that endogenously released NO from macrophages exerted a stimulatory action on enhancing the prostaglandins production [33] . It is known that Indo acts in this model of inflammation in several ways, inhibiting prostaglandins synthesis and infiltration of plasma proteins and neutrophils into the inflammatory site [34] . The inhibition of paw edema induced by Carr for 3 hrs coincides with the peak of edema, inhibition of COX-2 [30] . In our study, the levels of NO and PGE 2 were decreased significantly by treatment with 5 and 10 mg/kg scopoletin. TNF-α is a mediator of Carr-induced inflammatory incapacitation, and is able to induce the further release of kinins and leukotrienes, which is suggested to have an important role in the maintenance of long-lasting nociceptive response [35] . In this study, we found scopoletin decreased the TNF-α level in serum after Carr injection.

Scientific papers were observed that while the production of NO and PGE 2 was blocked by the NOS inhibitors in mouse macrophages RAW 264.7 cells, these inhibitory effects were reversed by coincubation with the precursor of NO synthesis, L-Arginine.

Furthermore, inhibition of iNOS activity by nonselective NOS inhibitors attenuated the release of NO and prostaglandins simultaneously in LPS-activated macrophages, which suggested that endogenously released NO from macrophages exerted a stimulatory action on enhancing the prostaglandins production.

It is known that Indo acts in this model of inflammation in several ways, inhibiting prostaglandins synthesis and infiltration of plasma proteins and neutrophils into the inflammatory site.

The inhibition of paw edema induced by Carr for 3 hrs coincides with the peak of edema, inhibition of COX-2.

TNF-α is a mediator of Carr-induced inflammatory incapacitation, and is able to induce the further release of kinins and leukotrienes, which is suggested to have an important role in the maintenance of long-lasting nociceptive response.


Recent years have witnessed increasing interest in text-to-text generation methods for many natural language processing applications ranging from text summarisation to question answering and machine translation. At the heart of these methods lies the ability to perform rewriting operations according to a set of prespecified constraints. For example, text simplification identifies which phrases or sentences in a document will pose reading difficulty for a given user and substitutes them with simpler alternatives (Carroll et al., 1999) . Sentence compression produces a summary of a single sentence that retains the most important information while remaining grammatical (Jing, 2000) .

For example, text simplification identifies which phrases or sentences in a document will pose reading difficulty for a given user and substitutes them with simpler alternatives.

Sentence compression produces a summary of a single sentence that retains the most important information while remaining grammatical.


New high-throughput screens of cancer genes are being developed at a rapid pace, making the need for efficient approaches for integration of large datasets that use diverse technologies to describe genetic alterations in human cancers [5] . Examples of such genome-scale datasets include: aCGH (DNA loss or gain), RNA expression microarray (tissues or cell lines), small molecule cell line screens, and various proteomic approaches. Tumors may be susceptible to targeted therapies once their essential molecular alterations have been found. Integrative approaches to these genome-scale data sets allow multiple Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Website (www.melanoma.com).

New high-throughput screens of cancer genes are being developed at a rapid pace, making the need for efficient approaches for integration of large datasets that use diverse technologies to describe genetic alterations in human cancers.


West European public transport has undergone quite fundamental reforms during recent decades. These reforms have created points in the planning and organisation of the public transport system where formal structures may produce sub-optimal outcomes (Sørensen & Longva, 2011) . In some countries, this has resulted in more fragmented transport operations on the ground (O'Sullivan & Patel, 2004; Van de Velde and Wallis, 2013) . For the purposes of this research, such points are termed "critical interfaces". In this paper we explore how planning, operation and improvement of local and regional public transport are managed in situations where the formal institutions (governance established in law) are not adequate, and informal institutions (governance not established in law) have arisen to play a complementary role. This is done by comparing and contrasting case studies of four countries: Britain (more specifically England, outside London); the Netherlands; Germany; and Sweden. The paper identifies certain "critical interfaces" in the public transport sphere where sub-optimal transport was being delivered and where better collaboration is needed in order to deliver measures and policies that will help make public transport more efficient. In such situations, informal institutions become important if progress is to be made towards more effective public transport. While previous work has considered individual countries' governance structures for public transport, there is a lack of comparative studies; in addition, this paper adds to knowledge by considering how the informal works to support the formal in the operation and improvement of public transport. More specifically, the paper uses the literature on institutional change to chart the process through which the informal governance form emerges and how it interacts with the formal governance structure already in place.

These reforms have created points in the planning and organisation of the public transport system where formal structures may produce sub-optimal outcomes.

In some countries, this has resulted in more fragmented transport operations on the ground.


Phytophthora capsici is an important pathogen of vegetable crops such as tomato, pepper, cucumber and squash and more recently snap bean [1] [2] [3] . Infestations of Phytophthora capsici on annual crops typically require warm and wetter than average conditions, and can spread rapidly due to the production of asexually produced deciduous sporangia and motile zoospores [4] . In North America, sexual recombination and the production of the thick walled oospore is common and dormant oospores may persist in the soil for years. For North American populations, the combination of asexual and sexual reproduction affords P. capsici the benefits of both explosive clonal reproduction and the high genetic variation generated by sexual recombination [4] . Characterizing genotypic diversity plays an important role in determining whether the asexual or sexual portion of the Phytophthora life cycle is driving the epidemiology of the pathogen. A number of techniques have been utilized to assess genotypic diversity in Phytophthora (e.g. amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), microsatellite (SSR), and isozyme markers) and more recently, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have provided useful markers for characterizing field isolates [5] [6] [7] .

Phytophthora capsici is an important pathogen of vegetable crops such as tomato, pepper, cucumber and squash and more recently snap bean.

Infestations of Phytophthora capsici on annual crops typically require warm and wetter than average conditions, and can spread rapidly due to the production of asexually produced deciduous sporangia and motile zoospores.

For North American populations, the combination of asexual and sexual reproduction affords P. capsici the benefits of both explosive clonal reproduction and the high genetic variation generated by sexual recombination.

A number of techniques have been utilized to assess genotypic diversity in Phytophthora (e.g. amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), microsatellite (SSR), and isozyme markers) and more recently, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have provided useful markers for characterizing field isolates.


The population structure of P. capsici from fields in the US includes considerable genotypic diversity, along with the presence of both mating types [6, [8] [9] ]. It appears that the winter (or fallow) season imposes an effective selection pressure favoring the oospore for survival of the pathogen. Populations of P. capsici from pepper fields in Peru display a much different genotypic makeup, with only three genotypes documented and a single clonal lineage of the A2 mating type (designated PcPE-1) dominating pepper and tomato fields in coastal Peru [10] . In some cases, cropping in the coastal area of Peru includes pepper production year round as well as irrigation from common river systems. In these areas, the irrigation strategy and the availability of host material may explain the widespread occurrence of PcPE-1, as surface waters have been shown to harbor abundant populations of P. capsici [11] .

The population structure of P. capsici from fields in the US includes considerable genotypic diversity, along with the presence of both mating types].

Populations of P. capsici from pepper fields in Peru display a much different genotypic makeup, with only three genotypes documented and a single clonal lineage of the A2 mating type (designated PcPE-1) dominating pepper and tomato fields in coastal Peru.

In these areas, the irrigation strategy and the availability of host material may explain the widespread occurrence of PcPE-1, as surface waters have been shown to harbor abundant populations of P. capsici.


Advanced combustion modes show great potential to improve vehicle fuel economy. One possible implementation of such combustion modes are multimode combustion engines applying spark ignition (SI) and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion [1] . HCCI combustion improves engine efficiency, is, however, limited to low loads [2] . This disadvantage is resolved by switching to the less efficient SI mode if the driver requests a load outside HCCI's limits.

One possible implementation of such combustion modes are multimode combustion engines applying spark ignition (SI) and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion.

HCCI combustion improves engine efficiency, is, however, limited to low loads.


Intestinal mucosa phytase activity increases and more phytate phosphorus (PP) is hydrolyzed at low dietary calcium (Ca, 0.40%) compared with high Ca (0.90%) in broiler chickens from 14 to 24 days of age (Applegate et al.,2003) . Broiler growth rate and tibia ash responses to supplemental phytase are the greatest at low non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) levels and high Ca levels, and these responses decrease when the Ca level decreases or when the NPP level increases (Driver et al., 2005) . These data indicate that dietary Ca and phosphorus (P) affect the efficacy of endogenous and exogenous phytase in broiler chickens.

Intestinal mucosa phytase activity increases and more phytate phosphorus (PP) is hydrolyzed at low dietary calcium (Ca, 0.40%) compared with high Ca (0.90%) in broiler chickens from 14 to 24 days of age.

Broiler growth rate and tibia ash responses to supplemental phytase are the greatest at low non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) levels and high Ca levels, and these responses decrease when the Ca level decreases or when the NPP level increases.


But, intriguingly, it is not just the ability to structure accounts of the past that diers by gender; as the examples illustrate, there are substantial dierences in what girls and boys choose to talk about. Girls focus on interrelations among people. By mentioning more speci®c people and relationships than do boys, as well as including more non-speci®c references to others, girls are placing their personal experiences in more interpersonal contexts. Moreover, girls are providing more emotional information about their past than are boys. Emotions are the explicit link between the outer and inner world, in that they provide information about relations and reactions between self and other (Campos et al., 1983; Fogel, 1993) . By including more emotional content than do boys, girls are relating their experiences in the world with their inner experiences of what these events mean to oneself and others. In all of these ways, girls are clearly focused on the social world in relating their personal past to a greater extent than are boys.

Emotions are the explicit link between the outer and inner world, in that they provide information about relations and reactions between self and other.


Rather, these gender dierences seem to be related speci®cally to autobiographical narratives. These dierences may emerge from dierential experience and engagement in reminiscing with others. During the preschool years, parents reminisce more elaborately with daughters than with sons (Reese et al., 1996) . By middle childhood, girls are spending more time one-on-one with their friends, engaging in verbal interactions (Leaper, 1991; Lever, 1976) . More speci®cally, when girls are together, they are much more likely to share experiences with each other than are boys (Tannen, 1990) . Because girls are more practised at engaging in this kind of discourse it makes sense that they will also be more skilled at it (Fivush, in press ).

During the preschool years, parents reminisce more elaborately with daughters than with sons.

By middle childhood, girls are spending more time one-on-one with their friends, engaging in verbal interactions.

More speci®cally, when girls are together, they are much more likely to share experiences with each other than are boys.


Related to this was our decision to use measures of narrative structure and content in this study. Based on theoretical considerations, we postulated that dimensions important to self-de®nition would be re¯ected in longer, more coherent, and more emotionally laden autobiographical memories. But previous research ®nding relations between autobiographical and self-concept has relied on measures such as number of memories generated, or latency to report a memory in relation to particular self-constructs (Barclay and Subramanian, 1987; Markus, 1977; Neimeyer and Rareshide, 1991) . Given the lack of relations obtained in this study, it would be instructive to examine the narrative measures used here with adolescent and adult participants, as well as to use measures of frequency and latency of memories with children, to ascertain how dierence measures of autobiographical memory and selfconcept are interrelated.

But previous research ®nding relations between autobiographical and self-concept has relied on measures such as number of memories generated, or latency to report a memory in relation to particular self-constructs.


Of course, it is possible that gender dierences in autobiographical narratives re¯ect gender dierences in the kinds of events in which boys and girls participate. That is, girls may actually have more interpersonal experiences to relate than do boys. For example, girls are encouraged to spend time close to adults, whereas boys are encouraged to play independently (Fagot and Hagen, 1991) . Still, even when relating clearly interpersonal events, girls are more likely than boys to mention the other people present and to talk about the quality of the social interactions. Thus, it appears that girls' narratives about their past are more relationally oriented than are those of boys.

For example, girls are encouraged to spend time close to adults, whereas boys are encouraged to play independently.


Policy makers often lack time and expertise to collect information themselves. For this reason, they have to rely on others. A serious problem is that agents who have information about policy consequences are usually those who have a vested interest in the outcome (Milgrom and Roberts, 1986) . For example, it is very likely that army officers are much better informed about the pros and cons of alternative weapon systems than policy makers. This does not always mean, however, that officers' recommendations concerning weapon systems are in policy makers' interests.

A serious problem is that agents who have information about policy consequences are usually those who have a vested interest in the outcome.


Even with relatively modest sample sizes (N ¼ 17), we found strong evidence that aggression directed toward an opponent and retreat and courtship elicited from an opponent were repeatable within males. The design of our study does not allow us to determine whether these results are due to stable individual differences (i.e., ''personalities'' or BTs) or the influence on the first trial on the second. Further complicating the interpretation of these results, variability in opponents may influence the behavior of focals, and vice versa. Regardless of its cause, however, the existence of within-individual repeatability of behavior and repeatable reactions from conspecifics raises interesting questions about the role of stable BTs in social dynamics. We are conducting experiments to determine whether the repeatability of aggressive behavior and the ability to elicit retreat and courtship behaviors in conspecifics persists in a colonial environment. If this is the case, it may be possible to link BTs to dominance hierarchies, mating skew, and other group-level phenomena (Weinstein and Maelzer 1997; Sih and Watters 2005; Nemiroff and Despland 2007; Nonacs and Kapheim 2007) .

If this is the case, it may be possible to link BTs to dominance hierarchies, mating skew, and other group-level phenomena.


The substitution with lanthanum in nickel and cobalt phosphate materials was studied on the chemical composition, powder condition, color, acid and base resistance in previous works [12, 13] . Specific surface area of phosphates increased and particle size became larger by the substitution with lanthanum. The substitution with lanthanum was effective on acid and base resistance for design of inorganic phosphate pigment. However, the color of phosphate materials was whitened by the sub-stitution with lanthanum.

The substitution with lanthanum in nickel and cobalt phosphate materials was studied on the chemical composition, powder condition, color, acid and base resistance in previous works.


Cerium cation is also one of rare earth cation. The different phenomena are expected with lanthanum cation, because cerium cation has stable tri-and tetra-valent states [14] . Generally, tetravalent cerium cation forms the yellow materials. Therefore, the substitution with tetravalent cerium cation is suitable to improve the acid and base resistance of yellow pigments. In this work, nickelcerium (+IV) phosp hates were synthesized in aqueous solution. The obtained products were estimated from their particle shape and size distribution, specific surface area, color, acid and base resistance.

The different phenomena are expected with lanthanum cation, because cerium cation has stable tri-and tetra-valent states.


The Embedded System Block (ESB) of the APEX E family of programmable logic devices from Altera Corporation has evolved from the FLEXIOK and FLEX10KE Embedded Array Blocks (EAB) [1] . The Embedded Array Block of the FLEX10K is a highly configurable block of RAM that can also be initialized at configuration time to be a ROM block. The block contains 2048 bits that can be configured into RAMs or ROMs of the following sizes: 2048 x 1, 1024 x2, 512 x4, 256 x8. In the FLEX10KE family the EAB has been changed to 4096 bits of dual port RAM with the following configurations: 2048 x 2, 1024 x 4, 512 x 8 and 256 x 16.

The Embedded System Block (ESB) of the APEX E family of programmable logic devices from Altera Corporation has evolved from the FLEXIOK and FLEX10KE Embedded Array Blocks (EAB).


Fiber optic is an attractive technology in the current CO 2 monitoring market because it provides continuous monitoring along the entire length of a wellbore. Other advantages over conventional permanent downhole sensors include immunity to electromagnetic interference, greater sensitivity, resistance to high temperatures, capability of multiplexing and ease of integration into large scale fiber networks and communication systems [1] , [2] , [3] . Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) is a technology that consists of sending a pulse of light down a fiber optic cable installed along a wellbore from wellhead to total depth and back. Thermal effects induce oscillations within the fiber's quartz glass. The light particles interact with the electrons of the thermally exited quartz glass molecules producing an effect known as light (or Raman) scattering. One of the three spectral components of the backscattered light, the anti-Stokes Raman backscatter, is temperature dependent. Therefore, anti-Stokes measurements can be used to calculate temperature along the fiber at high resolutions.

Other advantages over conventional permanent downhole sensors include immunity to electromagnetic interference, greater sensitivity, resistance to high temperatures, capability of multiplexing and ease of integration into large scale fiber networks and communication systems.


In this section, we present the simulation results obtained by using the proposed broadcast algorithm. We conducted extensive simulations on various network conditions. The simulations were performed using network simulator 2 (NS2) [15] .

The simulations were performed using network simulator 2 (NS2).


Verification and validation of knowledge based systems: Verification and validation of the content of knowledge repositories is at the heart of knowledge maintenance. Verification is a process of ensuring that the knowledge base is consistent and complete within itself. Validation is the process of determining if a KBS meets its users' requirements (Meseguer and Preece, 1995) .

Validation is the process of determining if a KBS meets its users' requirements.


The second hypothesis relates to the peculiarities of medical education. The introduction of the hard Effects of Pediatric Training for Detecting Signs of Developmental Problems Ana Silvia de Morais, Edna Márcia Koizume Bronzatto, Rogério Lerner & Maria Cristina Machado Kupfer sciences (physics, chemistry, and statistics) in the initial period of the course reflects the ideal of medical tasks: accuracy, scientific rigor, and the value of objectivity, and the relations of cause and effect. Advancing to the anatomy, the kind of thinking encouraged rests on the observation of what can be seen and palpated. The observation model is the corpse on the dissecting table. This whole scenario would promote, in general, a detachment of the physician in the relationship and a lack of preparation of this doctor with the management of psychiatric symptoms. One way to meet this educational bias would be the understanding of the pediatricians not only as the child's doctor, but the family physician, focusing on health care at the heart of the web of family relationships -place of feelings and conflicts (Posternak, 2000) .

One way to meet this educational bias would be the understanding of the pediatricians not only as the child's doctor, but the family physician, focusing on health care at the heart of the web of family relationships -place of feelings and conflicts.


A further problem when measuring the surface emissivity of electronic devices is the optically transparent semiconductor materials, which allow IR radiation from subsurface layers to be collected by the microscope, leading to errors in measuring the surface emissivity [9] . To overcome these limitations, a novel technique has been developed that employs a micro-particle with a known, and high, surface emissivity. The micro-particle is placed in isothermal contact with the device under test. The microparticle technique has been used to improve the accuracy of single point IR temperature measurements made on optically transparent and highly reflective surfaces [10] . It eliminates the need for a conventional high emissivity coating of blackpaint, which is destructive and causes heat spreading across the surface, thereby averaging the temperature of hot-spots. Knowledge of the temperature of hot-spots is vital for assessing the potential failure mechanisms of devices. The micro-particle sensor is small and unlike the paint coating does not cause significant heat spreading, allowing for more accurate point temperature measurements. The particle can also be removed without damaging the device.

A further problem when measuring the surface emissivity of electronic devices is the optically transparent semiconductor materials, which allow IR radiation from subsurface layers to be collected by the microscope, leading to errors in measuring the surface emissivity.

The microparticle technique has been used to improve the accuracy of single point IR temperature measurements made on optically transparent and highly reflective surfaces.


We observed that Sema5A expression was high in angiogenic islets in the RT2 model which further supports our previous observations that SEMA5A can enhance angiogenesis [18] . However, we did not observe correlation between angiogenesis marker CD31 and SEMA5A in human pancreas and metastatic tissues, but a weak but significant correlation was present between SEMA5A and CXCL8 expression. Another interesting observation in human PC patients was the downregulation of SEMA5A expression in lymph node metastasis. In KPC mice, we also observe a similar loss of SEMA5A expression in lymph node metastatic lesions. Possible reasons for these observations can be that lymph node metastasis may represent cancer cells in transition and does not upregulate cell adhesion molecules such as SEMA5A.

We observed that Sema5A expression was high in angiogenic islets in the RT2 model which further supports our previous observations that SEMA5A can enhance angiogenesis.


The remainder of this article is organized as follows. Theorem 2.1 in Section 2 slightly generalizes the result on strong and weak divergence of the Euler method of Hutzenthaler, Jentzen and Kloeden [22] . Convergence of the Monte Carlo Euler method is reviewed in Section 3. The main result of this article, i.e., divergence of the multilevel Monte Carlo Euler method for the SDE (7), is presented and proved in Section 4. We believe that the multilevel Monte Carlo Euler method diverges more generally and formulate this as Conjecture 5.1 in Section 5. Section 6 contains our proof of almost sure and strong convergence of the multilevel Monte Carlo tamed Euler method for all locally Lipschitz continuous test functions on the path space whose local Lipschitz constants grow at most polynomially.

Theorem 2.1 in Section 2 slightly generalizes the result on strong and weak divergence of the Euler method of Hutzenthaler, Jentzen and Kloeden.


Candlestick analysis is a graphical representation that is obtained from the historical prices of certain stock or index. These data consist of information as an indicator of price movements (Marshall, Young & Cahan, 2006; . Technical indicator that is illustrated in the graph comprised of a series of data plots. It reflects the output relating to the use of formulas that is particularly applied on specific securities. The data in regard to price movements including the various combinations of opening price, high, low, and closing price within a specific time period (Usman, Nurazi & Zulkarnain, 2012 pattern that should be known is whether the historical data shows upward trend, downward trend or sideways trend (Varadharajan &Vikkaraman, 2011; Lu & Shiu, 2012) .

The data in regard to price movements including the various combinations of opening price, high, low, and closing price within a specific time period (Usman, Nurazi & Zulkarnain, 2012 pattern that should be known is whether the historical data shows upward trend, downward trend or sideways trend.


In all the experimental and theoretical studies mentioned above, the active region is a QW embedded in the base of an HBT. It is well known that the performance of a laser is improved, especially in reducing the threshold current, if a single QW (SQW) is replaced by multiple QWs (MQWs), primarily because the mode confinement is enhanced in the latter [11] . The increase in the modulation BW in an MQW TL has been predicted in a recent paper [12] .

It is well known that the performance of a laser is improved, especially in reducing the threshold current, if a single QW (SQW) is replaced by multiple QWs (MQWs), primarily because the mode confinement is enhanced in the latter.

The increase in the modulation BW in an MQW TL has been predicted in a recent paper.


Despite these caveats, our analysis of low-care cases demonstrates the value of a uniform instrument, the MDS, for comparing the long-term populations in different countries [5, 10] . The prevalence of lowcare cases can now be examined with greater ease and objectivity, using a range of definitions to meet the study's objectives. The database provides valuable evidence for making cross-national comparisons concerning the effectiveness of medical and social community supports, of the nursing home pre-admission screening programmes and of payment mechanisms in providing appropriate care. In the future, we can look forward to further exciting possibilities as longitudinal databases develop in each country.

Despite these caveats, our analysis of low-care cases demonstrates the value of a uniform instrument, the MDS, for comparing the long-term populations in different countries.


Challenges in accurate measurement of BM were likely responsible for differences between investigators and the IRC determinations. Overall, these data suggest BM in BRAF-mutant melanoma are less responsive to BRAF inhibition due to either different tumour characteristics of the BM, different characteristics of both BM and extracranial metastases in patients with BM, or differences in drug concentrations between intracranial and extracranial metastases. We believe the second explanation is most likely, since the brain and extracranial response rates were lower in our study and BREAK-MB than for the metastases of patients without BM in studies that excluded them. Molecular differences in BRAF mutant melanoma that metastasizes to the brain are under investigation and point to the PTEN pathway as likely mediating important elements of their biology [15] . Clinical studies of inhibiting signalling in the PTEN pathway, such as PI3K, AKT or mTOR-inhibitors either in combination or sequenced with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, should provide data to address this hypothesis.

Molecular differences in BRAF mutant melanoma that metastasizes to the brain are under investigation and point to the PTEN pathway as likely mediating important elements of their biology.


This paper provides two contributions to the study of Java bytecode verification. The first one is to give a formal framework to reason about bytecode verification. The framework is based on abstract interpretation [22, 23, 24] . An abstract interpreter executes the program in an abstract (approximated) way to statically check dynamic properties. The actual domain of computation (called concrete domain) is replaced by an abstract domain and the operators of the concrete computation are replaced by correct abstract operators. We define the verification process as a formal abstract semantics of JVML. The formalisation can be used to compare different models and implementations of the verifier.

The framework is based on abstract interpretation.


In this paper, a compact novel UWB printed antenna works for a frequency range of 50MHz-5GHz is proposed to be applied for SPR application. The frequency range is chosen as a tradeoff of between the resolution and the depth of penetration. The proposed antenna is developed from a rectangular microstrip antenna fed by symmetric T-shaped [6] . Some methods such as resistive-loaded, abrupt transition and ground plane modification are included in the development to achieve the required specifications [7] - [11] . The development is done by adding four abrupt transitions on its T-shaped arm, a circular patch under it, and U-shape ground plane on the other side of the antenna. Each resistive load at the end of its arms as well as the modification of ground plane shape is applied to improve impedance matching throughout the required frequency region so the requirement of proposed bandwidth could be achieved. Four abrupt transitions and additional circular patch are needed to improve the radiation efficiency of antenna as well. The numerical design is performed to find the optimum design of antenna where physical parameters of antenna such as length and width of arms, length and width of ground plane, transition angle, radius of circular patch, resistive load value, and thickness of substrate is investigated intensively through its parametrical study.

The proposed antenna is developed from a rectangular microstrip antenna fed by symmetric T-shaped.

Some methods such as resistive-loaded, abrupt transition and ground plane modification are included in the development to achieve the required specifications.


Design and manufacturing of environmental conscious products are of vital importance to the society as they affect the depletion of virgin materials, and consumption of natural resources (Gungor, Gupta 1999) . Environmental problems such as resource depletion and air, water and land pollution have emerged as a result of intensified interventions into the environment. There is also an increasing scientific awareness of the cumulative and synergistic effects of some of the environmental impacts over space and time. For instance, some activities at the manufacturing stage may not have an immediate effect to the environment but may have a negative effect on environment during its usage or disposal when it reaches its end of life. In the interest of sustainable development, continuous improvement in the overall environmental performance of those products should be encouraged by identifying the major sources of negative environmental impacts and implementing environmentally conscious practices to minimise the impact and avoid transfer of pollution. Among these, eco-design, also known as design for environment, has been becoming an important element in new product development.

Design and manufacturing of environmental conscious products are of vital importance to the society as they affect the depletion of virgin materials, and consumption of natural resources.


Individuals behave according to their perceptions of reality, rather than reality itself. Therefore, employees would act safely in a perceived pro-safety environment, which is labeled as a safety climate. Safety climate refers to employees' (shared) perceptions and appraisals of safety policies, procedures, and practices in the workplace. It serves as a mental schema for employees to interpret safety measures in the work settings, and also a frame of reference for them to adapt their behaviors (Shen et al. 2015) . Hence, a strong safety climate induces and sustains employees' The findings, however, should be read in light of limitations of this study. One of main limitations is the use of a cross-sectional design. Therefore, causal inferences could not be drawn from the findings. Though the contributing factors can help enhance psychological safety climate, they do not necessarily cause psychological safety climate. Another limitation is that, the study was conducted in Hong Kong, and hence whether the findings can be generalized entails replicating the study in other cultural settings.

It serves as a mental schema for employees to interpret safety measures in the work settings, and also a frame of reference for them to adapt their behaviors.


The therapeutic gains, however, are modest. These patients have severe and complex disorders and are seen in a tertiary service, serving a population with high levels of social deprivation and with a significant history of imprisonment, torture and violent crime. The outcomes may therefore be seen as encouraging, particularly as some studies with traumatized refugees have shown no improvement in treatment (Carlsson, Mortensen and Kastrup, 2005) . At discharge, many of our patients are still within a clinical population, as can be seen in Figure 1 , but the proportion of patients who have improved across all patient groups is similar. Interestingly, the refugee group with an interpreter had a higher proportion of patients who had improved than the group of refugees without, suggesting that the use of interpreters is no barrier to therapeutic outcome.

The outcomes may therefore be seen as encouraging, particularly as some studies with traumatized refugees have shown no improvement in treatment.


Previous research has documented the co-occurrence of mental disorders and illicit substance use [16, 17] . The association can be explained in different ways. Psychiatric disturbance can occur before or after the commencement of illicit substance use: people may use illicit substances to manage their psychiatric symptoms; the pharmacological properties of illicit substances such as amphetamines can induce psychiatric symptoms; the symptoms of withdrawal connected with drug addiction can mimic those of common mental disorders; and, the psychosocial stressors connected with life for people who use illicit substances create distress and can have a detrimental effect on mental health [18] . The precise origin of psychiatric symptoms may not be so critical given that comorbid psychiatric symptoms in substance users are connected with a poor long-term prognosis regardless of whether these symptoms were independent of the substance use or were a consequence of it [19] [20] [21] .

Previous research has documented the co-occurrence of mental disorders and illicit substance use.

Psychiatric disturbance can occur before or after the commencement of illicit substance use: people may use illicit substances to manage their psychiatric symptoms; the pharmacological properties of illicit substances such as amphetamines can induce psychiatric symptoms; the symptoms of withdrawal connected with drug addiction can mimic those of common mental disorders; and, the psychosocial stressors connected with life for people who use illicit substances create distress and can have a detrimental effect on mental health.

The precise origin of psychiatric symptoms may not be so critical given that comorbid psychiatric symptoms in substance users are connected with a poor long-term prognosis regardless of whether these symptoms were independent of the substance use or were a consequence of it.


Mental disorders are one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease in both high and low income countries [1] . Common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety are frequently comorbid with other health and psychosocial problems and are among the most important causes of morbidity [1] [2] [3] . Mental health remains a low priority in most low and middle income countries and unmet needs for treatment are pervasive [4] [5] [6] .

Mental disorders are one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease in both high and low income countries.

Common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety are frequently comorbid with other health and psychosocial problems and are among the most important causes of morbidity.

Mental health remains a low priority in most low and middle income countries and unmet needs for treatment are pervasive.


Thermoplastic polymer matrices enable to manufacture composites at very short cycle times which makes them feasible for high volume productions. In contrast to thermosetting composites, they exhibit better impact resistance, higher toughness, recyclability and in the case of polylactic acid (PLA), even biodegradability. However, fiber impregnation is more difficult due to the high melt viscosity of the thermoplastic matrix. Different impregnation techniques have been proposed and performed. One of the most promising routines is provided by online commingled yarns which are based on the principle of homogeneous distribution of continuous matrix filaments and reinforcement glass filaments (GFs) during melt spinning [1] . This technique is more advantageous compared with air jet texturing because fibers were not damaged during commingling. The homogeneous fiber/matrix distribution of online commingled yarns especially leads to short impregnation paths and low void contents reflected by the high mechanical performance of the thermoplastic composites.

One of the most promising routines is provided by online commingled yarns which are based on the principle of homogeneous distribution of continuous matrix filaments and reinforcement glass filaments (GFs) during melt spinning.


Interestingly, we found that SHANK3a variants harboring either c.1527G > A or c.2497delG, thus lacking large but distinct parts of the protein's C-terminus ( Figure 1A) , exhibit overlapping phenotypes in all morphological parameters investigated. When overexpressed, both truncated proteins exclusively accumulate in the nuclear compartment of transfected cells ( Figures 2C,D , Additional file 5: Figure S3A ,B) and this is accompanied by a severe reduction of dendritic tree complexity ( Figure 3A,B,C) . Moreover, we found a specific reduction of dendritic spine and excitatory, but not inhibitory synapse density ( Figure 4A ,B,C,D,E,F). These findings are in line with previous in vitro studies showing similar phenotypes for rodent homologue Shank3a variants harboring either c.3679_3680insG or c.3349C > T [23, 25] .

These findings are in line with previous in vitro studies showing similar phenotypes for rodent homologue Shank3a variants harboring either c.3679_3680insG or c.3349C > T.


With the rapid evolution of wireless technologies during the last decade or so, the emphasis on services offered by wireless carriers has shifted from voice-based services to high data rate applications and value-added services. The widespread use of wireless phones has also generated interest in the area of mobile positioning and tracking, especially for vital emergency and personal safety services and commercial applications such as location sensitive billing, fleet management and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) [1] [2] [3] . Tracking and Location based services (LBS) offer wireless device manufacturers and carriers opportunities to increase revenues by offering users attractive services that are tailored to their location.

The widespread use of wireless phones has also generated interest in the area of mobile positioning and tracking, especially for vital emergency and personal safety services and commercial applications such as location sensitive billing, fleet management and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).


In conclusion, our study revealed disease-specific changes despite high heterogeneity of SF milieu between patients, reflecting the chronic nature of the disease and great variability in SF content [11] . In particular, RA patients have the highest values of inflammatory mediators in both serum and SF, implicating alternate osteoclastogenic pathways independent of RANKL and TNF-α [25] . On the other hand, PsA involves a specific increase in RANKL/RANK expression in the synovial compartment, creating a potent osteoclastogenic environment in the affected joints. Our findings indicate arthritis-specific mediators associated to the form of arthritis, which may be clinically relevant for the development of diagnostic or therapeutic strategies targeting proinflammatory and osteoclastogenic effects of arthritis.

In conclusion, our study revealed disease-specific changes despite high heterogeneity of SF milieu between patients, reflecting the chronic nature of the disease and great variability in SF content.

In particular, RA patients have the highest values of inflammatory mediators in both serum and SF, implicating alternate osteoclastogenic pathways independent of RANKL and TNF-α.


These methods require O(N 2d ) operations per evaluation of the collision operator, where N is the total number of velocity grid points in each dimension. While convolutions can generally be computed in O(N d log N ) operations, the presence of the convolution weights requires the full O(N 2d ) computation of the convolution , except for a few special cases, e.g., the Fokker-Planck-Landau collision operator [13, 9] . Spectral methods provide many advantages over Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Methods (DSMC) because they are more suited to time dependent problems, low Mach number flows, high mean velocity flows, and flows that are away from equilibrium. In addition, deterministic methods avoid the statistical fluctuations that are typical of particle based methods.

While convolutions can generally be computed in O(N d log N ) operations, the presence of the convolution weights requires the full O(N 2d ) computation of the convolution , except for a few special cases, e.g., the Fokker-Planck-Landau collision operator.


The most studied droplets (either quasi-or hemi-spherical) are placed on hydrophobic or superhydrophobic (or even oleophobic or superoleophobic) transparent surfaces. The interaction with the optical radiation takes place by transmission of the laser beams through the support surface [6] . In other cases the droplets are produced and fixed or moved within microchannel structures that are designed for their manipulation by light in single-or two -phase flows, in view of their further use in optical chips [7, 8] .

The interaction with the optical radiation takes place by transmission of the laser beams through the support surface.

In other cases the droplets are produced and fixed or moved within microchannel structures that are designed for their manipulation by light in single-or two -phase flows, in view of their further use in optical chips.


In this work, the finite-element method (FEM) will be employed for the calculation of the transient response of large floating bodies of variable thickness, under long-wave excitation, in an inhomogeneous shallow water environment. In particular, in §2, the mathematical formulation of hydroelastic problems concerning a freely floating thin, elastic strip and a semi-fixed beam under long-wave excitation are presented. Then, in §3, the variational formulations of the above problems are presented and, subsequently, in §4, the principle of energy conservation and stability estimates for the weak solution are derived and discussed. Section 5 presents the special FEM developed for the numerical solution of the aforementioned variational problems. Finally in §6, numerical results based on two chosen examples are presented and discussed, illustrating the efficiency of the present method. For validation, numerical results are compared against the method developed by Sturova [35] . Finally, the main theoretical results concerning the energy conservation principle are verified, providing a valuable insight into the physical phenomenon.

For validation, numerical results are compared against the method developed by Sturova.


It is likely that the observed global warming over the past 50 years is the result of the increase of greenhouse gas concentrations [2] . Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is an efficient greenhouse gas with a positive radiative absorption of about 1.5 W m À2 [2] . Its atmospheric concentration has increased by 0.4% (1.5 ppmv) annually during the past two decades and by 31% since 1750 [2] . Most of this increase is anthropogenic, from the burning of fossil fuels (6 Gton yr À1 ). The ocean and land absorb about half of these emissions, while the other half corresponds to the atmospheric increase (3 Gton yr À1 ). Carbon cycle models project that CO 2 will increase from its present concentration of 360 ppmv to over 500 ppmv by the year 2100 [2] .

It is likely that the observed global warming over the past 50 years is the result of the increase of greenhouse gas concentrations.

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is an efficient greenhouse gas with a positive radiative absorption of about 1.5 W m À2.

Its atmospheric concentration has increased by 0.4% (1.5 ppmv) annually during the past two decades and by 31% since 1750.

Carbon cycle models project that CO 2 will increase from its present concentration of 360 ppmv to over 500 ppmv by the year 2100.


Alternatively, a square area of 300 Â 300 km 2 would suffice. In either case, the hundred thousand square kilometer value is an upper limit. If the sinks were not flat, but built upward, as fences or towers, this would further counteract laminarity restrictions. Roughness elements in the absorber would reduce the thickness of the molecular diffusion layer. A transfer velocity of 10 cm s À1 could possibly be approached. Structures as tall as 10 m and maintained over long horizontal distances are conceivable. The structure height is about 1% of the boundary layer height, and ten units would remove as much CO 2 as 100 km of flat material. However, these options may alter the momentum budget of the lower atmosphere. An alternative approach which greatly reduces the active area required by collection units is to split a large single unit into a large number of parallel units separated by substantial gaps in the prevailing direction of the wind [31] . The limitation of a single large unit is the mixing time of the atmosphere in the vertical direction. This creates a CO 2 depleted shadow downwind of the leading edge of the collection unit. The result is a significant reduction in the collection magnitude of the sink a short distance beyond its leading edge which limits the usefulness of most of the downwind part of the large single unit. By creating gaps between narrow units, nearly the same amount of CO 2 can be extracted over the same total surface area, but now the gaps are no longer covered by active absorption units. Instead the gaps simply provide a distance over which the air is vertically mixed thereby significantly replenishing the CO 2 in the near ground layer before it encounters the next active absorption unit. Micrometeorological modeling is being used to investigate these possibilities in detail [31] . Micrometeorological modeling would be necessary to investigate these possibilities.

An alternative approach which greatly reduces the active area required by collection units is to split a large single unit into a large number of parallel units separated by substantial gaps in the prevailing direction of the wind.

Micrometeorological modeling is being used to investigate these possibilities in detail.


The total amount of carbon captured over one year (Gton C yr À1 ) in the CTM is calculated for six different v ( Table 3 ). The maximum amount of carbon that can be absorbed is 19 Gton C yr À1 . This upper limit is achieved with v > 5 cm s À1 . At higher v, the loss becomes limited by the amount of CO 2 in the lowest grid box. At v ¼ 1 cm s À1 , 7 Gton C yr À1 are absorbed, an amount about equal to the anthropogenic input. Thus, 1 cm s À1 is used for v in the simulations with different sink locations. This is a typical value for a reactive gas [15] . The dependence of the carbon burden on v of the sink is also shown in Fig. 1 . Here, the loss of carbon is shown to be linear, as is expected by the nature of the deposition velocity driven sink.

This is a typical value for a reactive gas.


In our study, an attempt has been made to fulfill the task using a line-scan camera. This kind of camera uses one linear array sensor to capture a two-dimensional image by composing lines collected at different time instants. Currently, the line-scan camera has been only used for automatic inspection [7, 8] . We believe that, actually, the potential of the camera is underestimated. The line-scan camera has several unique characteristics. Firstly, it is much more cost-effective. Only one linear array sensor is used, which means it can provide higher scanning frequency (up to 140kHz). Secondly, the background of the images collected is uniform when the camera is stationary. Therefore, the camera can record a clear moving object with very sharp contour. However, few works have focused on the value of the line-scan camera in motion analysis [8, 9] .

Currently, the line-scan camera has been only used for automatic inspection.

However, few works have focused on the value of the line-scan camera in motion analysis.


The measurement work is accomplished by a calibrated line-scan camera. As a measure camera rather than an inspection tool, the parameters of the line-scan camera are necessary. This is related to the calibration and projection model of the line-scan camera which is well analyzed in literature [10, 11] . The procedure of the calibration is not detailed in this article, but it is necessary when real images are collected. The projection model is described as below.

This is related to the calibration and projection model of the line-scan camera which is well analyzed in literature.


In this paper, we have presented a new cost-effective technique for estimating the 3D motion of spherical objects using a single line-scan camera. Cameras have played important roles in measurement [1, 3, 13] . The line-scan camera has its distinctive advantages, such as low data transmission, high scanning frequency and uniform image background, which make it especially suitable for the imaging of a high-speed object. The work presented in this paper shows the valuable potential of linear array image for motion estimation. Compared with the area array image, the linear array can record the time and space information of the moving object in line-scan mode. Moreover, it can acquire a sharp contour of fast-moving object on clear background.

Cameras have played important roles in measurement.