Plotting the SBH (Φ B ) against their respective ideality factors as shown in Figure 6 displays the linear correlation between the two. Extrapolating a linear fit of the data to η = 1 reveals the average barrier height Φ 0 B [17] . By the extrapolation of SBH (Φ B ) at η = 1 of the experimental data reported in Figure 6 ln(J s /T 2 ) versus 1/kT was obtained and is shown in Figure 7 . From the linear fit to the plot, the Richardson constant (A * * ) and effective Schottky barrier height (Φ eff ) were calculated to be ∼16 A cm −2 K −2 and 0.57 eV, respectively. The value of A * * obtained from the conventional Richardson plot is more than a factor of seven lower with respect to the theoretical value of 112 A cm −2 K −2 for n-type Si. Also, the value of effective barrier height Φ eff is less than the average barrier height Φ 0 B , suggesting the formation of an inhomogeneous SBH at the interface.

Extrapolating a linear fit of the data to η = 1 reveals the average barrier height Φ 0 B.


Atrazine and other triazine herbicides constitute a group of chemically similar compounds used to control certain annual broadleaf weeds and grasses in North America and throughout the world. They are used primarily in corn, but also in sorghum, sugarcane, cotton, macadamia orchards, pineapple, asparagus, other crops, and landscape vegetation, to some extent. Atrazine has been estimated to be the most heavily used herbicide in the United States in 1987-89, with its most extensive use for corn and soybeans in several states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin [2] .

Atrazine has been estimated to be the most heavily used herbicide in the United States in 1987-89, with its most extensive use for corn and soybeans in several states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.


It has been estimated that~66 000 infections of Hepatitis B virus, 16 000 infections of Hepatitis C virus, and 200-5000 infections of HIV among healthcare professionals are due to percutaneous injuries (Kermode et al., 2005) . Recapping a used needle poses a serious danger of needle-stick injury (Schmid et al., 2007) . Therefore, used needles never should be recapped, as this could lead to a needle-stick injury. The needles always should be discarded without removing them from the syringe and placed in a sharps container in one piece. In this study, 43.7% of the respondents admitted that they did not always avoid recapping a used needle before they discarded it. This finding is in accordance with other studies (Chan et al., 2002; Osborne, 2003; Kermode et al., 2005) . In addition, more than half (54.2%) of the respondents admitted some kind of manipulation of the needle after it has been used. More specifically, the respondents said that they often tried to disconnect a used needle from a syringe before discarding it. Such a manipulation can lead to a needle-stick injury or blood spillage.

It has been estimated that~66 000 infections of Hepatitis B virus, 16 000 infections of Hepatitis C virus, and 200-5000 infections of HIV among healthcare professionals are due to percutaneous injuries.

Recapping a used needle poses a serious danger of needle-stick injury.

This finding is in accordance with other studies.


The work presented here was motivated by an econometric study about subjective wellbeing (Wunder et al., 2011) . One crucial question in this field is how the level of overall life satisfaction evolves with age. Is there a midlife crisis? Does the level of life satisfaction decline when growing old?

The work presented here was motivated by an econometric study about subjective wellbeing.

Is there a midlife crisis?


There are two different kinds of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is defined as the doing of an activity for its inherent satisfaction rather than for some separable consequence. When intrinsically motivated, a person is moved to act for the fun or challenge entailed rather than because of external products, pressures or rewards (Ryan & Deci, 2000) . On the contrary, extrinsically motivated behaviors are carried out in anticipation of reward from outside and beyond itself. The usual extrinsic rewards are money, prizes, grades and even certain types of positive feedback.

When intrinsically motivated, a person is moved to act for the fun or challenge entailed rather than because of external products, pressures or rewards.


In this paper we study a new class of positive definite completion problems that corresponds to probabilistic models over directed acyclic graphs, abbreviated DAG models henceforth. DAG models, better known as Bayesian networks, are arguably one of the most widely used classes of graphical models. The need for studying this new class of problems naturally arises when studying spaces of covariance and inverse covariance matrices corresponding to DAG models [3] . These spaces are essential features of a DAG model. In the DAG setting, we consider specific positive definite completions of partial matrices that are specified by a pattern determined by the edges of a directed acyclic graph D. Here the partial matrices are desired to be completed in the space of covariance or inverse-covariance matrices corresponding to DAG models.

The need for studying this new class of problems naturally arises when studying spaces of covariance and inverse covariance matrices corresponding to DAG models.


Lorenz equations: The Chaos theory was discovered for the first time in meteorological activities by the mathematician and meteorologist of MIT called Edward Lorenz [11] . Although the scientists were very interested in solving the problems in connection with nonlinear systems, but none of them accomplished this problem, seriously. Lorenz declared that the intensive sensitivity to initial conditions would cause in predictability of these equations in the next years.

Lorenz equations: The Chaos theory was discovered for the first time in meteorological activities by the mathematician and meteorologist of MIT called Edward Lorenz.


Shallow water flows have been studied mathematically since the ninteenth century. One available mathematical model is the shallow water equations derived by de Saint-Venant [5] . Based on the shallow water equations, a well-known solution to a dam break problem was derived by Ritter [16] . More comprehensive study of shallow water flows has been conducted by other authors, such as Stoker [19, 20] .

One available mathematical model is the shallow water equations derived by de Saint-Venant.

Based on the shallow water equations, a well-known solution to a dam break problem was derived by Ritter.

More comprehensive study of shallow water flows has been conducted by other authors, such as Stoker.


Criticality safety analyses in the United States are performed to show that a proposed fuel storage or transport configuration meets the applicable requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 50, 52, 70, 71, and 72 [1] . For fuel storage at nuclear power plants, criticality analyses include calculations that are performed to demonstrate that the proposed configuration will meet the maximum k eff limits specified in the applicable requirements and guidance. As the fuel is used in the reactor, the 235 U content decreases and concentrations of fission products (FPs) and other actinides increase. Hence, some criticality analyses take credit for the reduction in reactivity of nuclear fuel that results from its use in the reactor. Such credit is referred to as burnup credit (BUC).

Criticality safety analyses in the United States are performed to show that a proposed fuel storage or transport configuration meets the applicable requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 50, 52, 70, 71, and 72.


Haskell is a purely functional language. Concurrency in Haskell is modelled with a monad abstraction which is built on top of effectful operations on shared state [11] . Once again, the order of effects is both important and unpredictable. Concurrent Haskell programs are not so declarative.

Concurrency in Haskell is modelled with a monad abstraction which is built on top of effectful operations on shared state.


To confirm that the observed objects are MoS 2 flakes, Raman analysis is necessary. Figure 3 shows the Raman spectra ranging from 40 cm −1 to 1000 cm , and A 1g modes are a result of vibrational modes within the S-Mo-S layer. The little downshift of all the peaks from the reported literatures may be related to the laser-induced heating [34] . It was observed that the E 1 2g and A 1g modes of the exfoliated MoS 2 nanosheets were centered at 379 cm −1 and 404 cm −1 , respectively, which were in the expected wavenumber range. Previous researches have demonstrated that the 2D exfoliated nanosheets have a smaller Raman shift difference between the two modes in comparison with their bulk counterparts because of the influence of neighboring layers on the effective restoring forces on atoms and the increase of dielectric screening of long-range Coulomb interactions [35] . However, it was observed that the Raman shift difference between the two modes of our exfoliated sheets was nearly equivalent to that of the starting powder. It was probably due to the aggregation during the process of deposition/drying on the substrate. In the Raman spectrum of MoS 2 powder, we also observed three new bands presented at 279, 817, and 988 cm −1 which did not exist in the exfoliated nanosheets. These bands represent MoO 3 vibrational energy states as a result of oxidation by the laser irradiation [34] .

The little downshift of all the peaks from the reported literatures may be related to the laser-induced heating.

Previous researches have demonstrated that the 2D exfoliated nanosheets have a smaller Raman shift difference between the two modes in comparison with their bulk counterparts because of the influence of neighboring layers on the effective restoring forces on atoms and the increase of dielectric screening of long-range Coulomb interactions.

These bands represent MoO 3 vibrational energy states as a result of oxidation by the laser irradiation.


Crystals of MoS 2 are composed of vertically stacked, van der Waals bonded S-Mo-S units held together, as shown in Figure 1 . Each of the units consists of two hexagonal planes of S atoms and an intermediate plane of Mo atoms coordinated through ionic-covalent interactions with the S atoms [25] . Because of the relatively weak interaction between layers and the strong intralayer interaction, exfoliating MoS 2 to few layers using liquid exfoliation technique is possible.

Each of the units consists of two hexagonal planes of S atoms and an intermediate plane of Mo atoms coordinated through ionic-covalent interactions with the S atoms.


The supernatant containing MoS 2 dispersions after centrifugation appeared to be blackish green in color, as shown in the inset of Figure 6 . It was found that the dispersions remained stable over periods of several weeks. By measuring the weight of 2D nanosheets in 1 mL supernatant, the concentration of the solution was estimated to be 1.6 mg mL −1 . The detailed optical properties of the nanoflakes were studied by measuring their UV-visible absorption spectra. The absorption spectrum exhibited two typical peaks at 621 nm and 680 nm, which are ascribed to B and A excitonic peaks, respectively, arising from the energy split from valence band spin-orbital coupling in 2D MoS 2 with large lateral dimensions [25] . The centrifugation process removed most of Journal of Nanomaterials the large 2D flake in the suspension, leading to the relatively weak features of the two peaks. In addition to these two weak peaks, there were two other peaks at 394 nm and 460 nm. It is probably due to the optical absorption of smaller lateral-sized MoS 2 nanosheets. The absorption peaks of the nanostuctures exhibit strong blue-shift even to ultraviolet wavelength arising from quantum effect [36] . We measured the excitation spectrum and emission spectrum of the exfoliated MoS 2 , respectively. It was observed that a strong broad peak was centered at 440 nm in the emission spectrum, as shown in Figure 7 . The phenomenon was quite different from what was observed in the monolayer MoS 2 exfoliated by scotch tape method. In that case, the strong photoluminescence is attributed to the direct excitonic transition as the monolayer MoS 2 turns to a direct bandgap semiconductor. Therefore, its photoluminescence peak is centered at 1.9 eV (652 nm), the bandgap of monolayer MoS 2 , which was demonstrated by previous calculation and experiment [16] . The difference is probably due to quantum confinement effect across the 2D planes [37] . To explain this more clearly, the size of nanoflakes prepared by scotch tape method is usually microndimensional; however, the sonication process in the liquid exfoliation method not only makes the flakes thinner but also further reduces their lateral size. Therefore, the 2D MoS 2 products prepared by liquid exfoliation method were generally small in lateral dimensions, even generating quantum dots of nanometer dimension in the process of exfoliation, which were demonstrated in Figure 4(d) . The luminescence properties are mainly decided by the size of particles [38] . Therefore, the characteristic of the peak is ascribed to the strong blue-shift hot photoluminescence from the K point [36, 37] .

The absorption spectrum exhibited two typical peaks at 621 nm and 680 nm, which are ascribed to B and A excitonic peaks, respectively, arising from the energy split from valence band spin-orbital coupling in 2D MoS 2 with large lateral dimensions.

The absorption peaks of the nanostuctures exhibit strong blue-shift even to ultraviolet wavelength arising from quantum effect.

Therefore, its photoluminescence peak is centered at 1.9 eV (652 nm), the bandgap of monolayer MoS 2 , which was demonstrated by previous calculation and experiment.

The difference is probably due to quantum confinement effect across the 2D planes.

The luminescence properties are mainly decided by the size of particles.

Therefore, the characteristic of the peak is ascribed to the strong blue-shift hot photoluminescence from the K point.


Compared to scotch tape microcleavage method, the liquid exfoliation technique can achieve large-scale preparation. The NMP solvent was chosen because its surface energy matches nanosheets' well, resulting in the enthalpy of mixing being very small [33] . Meanwhile, the surface tension can help overcome the van der Waals force, which makes the exfoliation easier and more effective. It also can be replaced by other organic solvents such as isopropanol (IPA), dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) [18] . The grinding process should be gentle and soft to detach the MoS 2 layers from the bulk materials relying on pure shear forces [32] . This function can be achieved by ball milling process as well [29] . Besides, adding NMP as a stabilizing surfactant into commercial MoS 2 powder in the Journal of Nanomaterials process can avoid reassembling of the MoS 2 nanosheets [18] . After being dried and redispersed into the NMP solvent, a high power tip sonication was used to further exfoliate MoS 2 in liquids. The sonication time needs to be selected appropriately. If the time is too long, it will damage MoS 2 nanosheets and affect their properties, while if the time is too short, the large flakes cannot be exfoliated effectively. To investigate the nature of the resulted MoS 2 , we performed SEM characterization. Figure 2 shows the SEM image of the surface of exfoliated MoS 2 nanosheets. By imaging the thin MoS 2 films, we observed a disordered array of MoS 2 nanoflakes stacked predominately in-plane. They were continuous over length scales greater than a few microns. Because the dispersions were not centrifuged, most of the nanoflakes were still relatively thick. Therefore, the last centrifugation step was employed to remove the larger nanoplatelets and any partially exfoliated crystallites [33] . Finally, the smaller flakes remained in the supernatant while the larger flakes and unsonicated powders existed in the sediment.

The NMP solvent was chosen because its surface energy matches nanosheets' well, resulting in the enthalpy of mixing being very small.

It also can be replaced by other organic solvents such as isopropanol (IPA), dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO).

The grinding process should be gentle and soft to detach the MoS 2 layers from the bulk materials relying on pure shear forces.

This function can be achieved by ball milling process as well.

Besides, adding NMP as a stabilizing surfactant into commercial MoS 2 powder in the Journal of Nanomaterials process can avoid reassembling of the MoS 2 nanosheets.

Therefore, the last centrifugation step was employed to remove the larger nanoplatelets and any partially exfoliated crystallites.


A re interorganisational ties in fact interpersonal ties? Advantageous interorganisational ties of syndication between venture capital ('VC') firms are created and sustained by senior investment managers (often known as General Partners ('GPs')) (Sahlman, 1990) . VC syndication ties are plausibly embedded in the social network of the relevant GPs. Then, when such a manager shifts employment to another VC firm, so these relations would follow. This effect can be seen as one of the motivations to recruit, resulting, as it might, in a more connected recruiting company and a less connected competing company (from which the new recruit came). But does inter-firm job mobility cause a corresponding shift in inter-firm ties? If positive, job mobility manifests the greater durability of interpersonal ties over interorganisational ties. Moreover, this would provide compelling indirect evidence that interorganisational ties are a manifestation of interpersonal ties.

Advantageous interorganisational ties of syndication between venture capital ('VC') firms are created and sustained by senior investment managers (often known as General Partners ('GPs')).


There is debate about the relative importance of the different motivations to syndicate. The frequency of a VC firm's syndication is better explained by its investment risk than by the value of funds invested (Bygrave, 1987) . Moreover, sharing information is a more notable reason for syndication than diluting financial risk; venture capitalists can gain access to syndication networks by having information valued by other investors (Bygrave, 1987) .

The frequency of a VC firm's syndication is better explained by its investment risk than by the value of funds invested.

Moreover, sharing information is a more notable reason for syndication than diluting financial risk; venture capitalists can gain access to syndication networks by having information valued by other investors.


The group H 1 (X, K 2 ) appears in other guises, as the higher Chow group CH 2 (X, 1) or as the motivic cohomology group H 3 (X, Z(2)); its quotient H 1 ind (X, K 2 ) has been much studied and is known to be often nonzero. Note that, while it is not clear from the literature whether there exist smooth projective varieties X such that Hom(Griff 1 (X), Z) = 0, no such issue arises for Hom(Griff 1 (X), F * ) since F * is divisible. The following theorem was suggested by James Lewis. For a prime l = char F , write e l for the exponent of the torsion subgroup of the l-adic cohomology group H 3 (X, Z l ). Then e l = 1 for almost all l: in characteristic 0 this follows from comparison with Betti cohomology, and in characteristic > 0 it is a famous theorem of Gabber [9] . Set e = lcm(e l ): in characteristic 0, e is the exponent of H His argument shows that, in characteristic p, it holds for l-adic cohomology if and only if the Tate conjecture holds for divisors on X -more correctly, for divisors on a model of X over a finitely generated field. In particular, it holds if X is an abelian variety; in this case, e = 1.

Then e l = 1 for almost all l: in characteristic 0 this follows from comparison with Betti cohomology, and in characteristic > 0 it is a famous theorem of Gabber.


Plural puts the process participant at the hearth of process management and facilitates empowerment of these individuals. Giving the chance (and responsibility for) process participants to think about and define their processes facilitates also the process change to be owned and performed by them. This helps to increase employee involvement, which in turn facilitates a culture that fosters problem solving and process improvements. Participation and commitment allows employees to make decisions themselves and in turn enhances the ability to reorganize rapidly to adapt to changes in the environment [17] . It creates an environment of 'ownership', allowing rapid exchanges of innovative ideas [18] . Aligned with the shift from 'command-andcontrol' structures to 'coordinate-and-cultivate' management, such an environment fosters the establishment of decentralized structures of loose hierarchies and democracies centered around enduring human values [19] . Process modelling for these people should not be seen as a burden on daily work activities but a chance (as well as a duty) to reflect on the way they perform their work and improve it.

Participation and commitment allows employees to make decisions themselves and in turn enhances the ability to reorganize rapidly to adapt to changes in the environment.

It creates an environment of 'ownership', allowing rapid exchanges of innovative ideas.

Aligned with the shift from 'command-andcontrol' structures to 'coordinate-and-cultivate' management, such an environment fosters the establishment of decentralized structures of loose hierarchies and democracies centered around enduring human values.


The ability to characterize ecosystem status generally relies on describing the status of a limited range of key species or processes. The choice of these proxies depends upon a range of factors, including their functional or structural importance, their amenability to measurement, and the extent to which they integrate variability at other levels in the ecosystem. In many cases, upper-trophic-level species fulfil these criteria, so indices of their diet, reproductive performance, and population size are frequently chosen as ecosystem indicators on the assumption that they will vary in relation to conditions at lower trophic levels. Seabirds and land-based marine mammals have been used in a range of situations, either as part of formal monitoring schemes or where changes in their reproductive performance have indicated larger-scale ecosystem changes (Ainley et al., 1992 (Ainley et al., , 1995 Vanfraneker, 1992; Bost and LeMaho, 1993; Furness and Greenwood, 1993; Monaghan, 1996; Furness and Camphuysen, 1997; Regehr and Montevecchi, 1997; Reid and Croxall, 2001; Weimerskirch et al., 2003) .

Seabirds and land-based marine mammals have been used in a range of situations, either as part of formal monitoring schemes or where changes in their reproductive performance have indicated larger-scale ecosystem changes.


There was at least one response vector for each species that did not appear to fulfil the expectation of a positive relationship with krill abundance during summer (Table 3) . Two are measures of offspring mass at or near independence (for gentoo penguins and black-browed albatrosses), that may have been confounded by differential offspring survival, which puts limits on the size range of individuals available for sampling (Williams and Croxall, 1990; Gray et al., 2003) . There was no relationship between krill abundance and the frequency of occurrence of fish (the main alternative prey) in the diet of Antarctic fur seals. This, however, may be a reflection of the relative insensitivity of frequency of occurrence as an indicator of dietary change (because the occurrence of a single fish in a sample is of equivalent value to a diet solely of fish). The difference in sensitivities of qualitative and quantitative diet measures is emphasized by the much better relationship between krill abundance and the proportion of krill by mass in the diet of both penguin species. Unfortunately, it is unrealistic to try to use analogous sampling methods for Antarctic fur seals (stomach lavage), to obtain routine quantitative estimates of krill in their diet as part of a monitoring programme. The lack of a relationship between krill abundance and breeding success of both penguin species, or Antarctic fur seal pup survival (the closest analogue to penguin breeding success), presents a good example of the potential for interaction among different processes to influence the apparent response of a single indicator of environmental conditions. In the case of Antarctic fur seals, the general expectation would be that pup survival is dictated by the effects of changes in prey abundance on the ability of females to provision their offspring. Local density-dependent mortality on the study beach, however, may also have an effect, such that in years with high pup density, a relatively greater proportion die from traumatic injuries (Doidge et al., 1984) . Also, the proportion of primiparous animals may increase in years of good food availability, potentially resulting in greater pup mortality during the first few weeks after parturition. Similar confounding effects of local density-dependence and demographic shifts are likely to affect the breeding success of penguins. That more than one process may influence a particular index is not in itself a problem, as long as the respective responses to changes in krill abundance are similar. It is, however, particularly important to identify situations where variations in signal (e.g. pup survival) to noise (e.g. effect of maternal experience, or risk of traumatic injury) ratio has a systematic component, because this has the potential to produce apparently counter-intuitive results (Reid, 2002) .

Two are measures of offspring mass at or near independence (for gentoo penguins and black-browed albatrosses), that may have been confounded by differential offspring survival, which puts limits on the size range of individuals available for sampling.

Local density-dependent mortality on the study beach, however, may also have an effect, such that in years with high pup density, a relatively greater proportion die from traumatic injuries.

It is, however, particularly important to identify situations where variations in signal (e.g. pup survival) to noise (e.g. effect of maternal experience, or risk of traumatic injury) ratio has a systematic component, because this has the potential to produce apparently counter-intuitive results.


Iteration continues until either the scattered field estimation error or contrast factor estimation error drops below a certain threshold [8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 33] . The threshold must first be set heuristically [8, 9, 12, 23, 33] . The permittivity profile of an object (scatterer) cannot be estimated with the radiating VECS alone. Signal-subspace optimization techniques are reported for permittivity profile estimation by extending the radiating objective function and minimizing the noise effects [6, 7, 24] .

Iteration continues until either the scattered field estimation error or contrast factor estimation error drops below a certain threshold.

The threshold must first be set heuristically.

Signal-subspace optimization techniques are reported for permittivity profile estimation by extending the radiating objective function and minimizing the noise effects.


Hydrographic conditions in the central Baltic are affected by large-scale climatic conditions. Since the late-1980s, prevailing weather conditions with strong westerly winds resulted in mild winters, above normal rainfall, increased river run-off, and reduced frequency of major inflows (Matthäus and Schinke, 1994) . Consequently, higher than normal temperatures in the intermediate and the bottom waters were recorded, while salinity and oxygen concentrations in the deep Baltic basins declined (Matthäus and Nausch, 2003) .

Since the late-1980s, prevailing weather conditions with strong westerly winds resulted in mild winters, above normal rainfall, increased river run-off, and reduced frequency of major inflows.

Consequently, higher than normal temperatures in the intermediate and the bottom waters were recorded, while salinity and oxygen concentrations in the deep Baltic basins declined.


The decline of the eastern Baltic cod stock was caused by reduced reproductive success in combination with increasing fishing pressure (Bagge et al., 1994; Köster et al., 2003b) . The reproductive success of the stock is closely coupled with hydrographic conditions in spawning areas. The importance of interacting climatic and hydrographic forcing, reproductive effort by the stock, and species interactions are discussed below.

The decline of the eastern Baltic cod stock was caused by reduced reproductive success in combination with increasing fishing pressure.


Construction projects are assumed to be one of the dominant elements of the economy of all the countries the world over (Proverbs et al. 1999) . Logically this sector plays a much more prominent role in developing countries compared with developed countries (Altaf 1979) . In addition, this industry is complex in its nature because it comprises large numbers of parties as owners, contractors, consultants, stakeholders, and regulators. Despite this complexity, the industry plays a major role in the development and achievement of society's goals. It is one of the largest industries and contributes to about 10% of the gross national product (GNP) in industrialized countries (Navon 2005) .

Construction projects are assumed to be one of the dominant elements of the economy of all the countries the world over.

Logically this sector plays a much more prominent role in developing countries compared with developed countries.

It is one of the largest industries and contributes to about 10% of the gross national product (GNP) in industrialized countries.


Restoration of degraded land remains a challenge for local, national and international organizations. Revegetation constitutes the most widely accepted and useful way to reduce erosion and protect soils against degradation during reclamation/restoration (Sheoran et al. 2010) . Germination is the first critical phase of plant establishment and it can be delayed or hampered by various factors. First, blockage of germination or dormancy may be inherent to the seed itself and can be of many types namely, morphological, physiological, physical, and a combination of these types (Baskin and Baskin 1998) . Each species in nature has its own germination behavior which includes, inter alia, the conditions required to break dormancy and to promote germination of non-dormant seeds (Liu et al. 2011) . Some seeds may cycle through dormancy status.

Revegetation constitutes the most widely accepted and useful way to reduce erosion and protect soils against degradation during reclamation/restoration.

First, blockage of germination or dormancy may be inherent to the seed itself and can be of many types namely, morphological, physiological, physical, and a combination of these types.

Each species in nature has its own germination behavior which includes, inter alia, the conditions required to break dormancy and to promote germination of non-dormant seeds.


Combretum micranthum was the only species for which the germination rate at the time of seed collection was higher than after 3 months of storage at room conditions. One explanation for this would be that the species does not have primary dormancy (at the time of collection) but can evolve secondary dormancy after 3 months of storage in ambient room conditions. Storage at room conditions can also lead to seed deterioration (Mamo et al. 2011) . In the present study, C. micranthum did not show a higher germination rate when stored in cool conditions; probably because the metabolic processes blocked in the seeds during cold storage needed more time in ambient conditions to resume. But this remains a hypothesis and a thorough and multi-parameter study would be required to better understand the germination ecology of this species.

Storage at room conditions can also lead to seed deterioration.


Many hydrological indices describe temporal variability, but do not provide spatial information on the intermittent stream habitat template. A spatial characteristic that differed among the intermittent sites at KPBS was distance and area of upstream and downstream refugia (see Table 2 ). Recovery from floods and seasonal drying is faster at intermittent sites with close upstream perennial surface water (Delucchi 1988; Paltridge et al. 1997; Fritz and Dodds 2004) . Sites with shorter distances or with higher connectivity to perennial water will tend to recover from seasonal drying more rapidly and therefore a community similar to perennial sources will be more likely to develop before the next drying event than at intermittent sites with distant refugia. Colonisation of these sites is primarily through downstream drift . Sites with longer flow duration are more likely to be colonised by species from upstream perennial surface waters. Sites closer to perennial water also may hold water longer and therefore allow more time for species replacement. However, spatial aspects were not an important predictor of mean annual biological characteristics in our study. This is probably because given average water velocity during periods of flow, water can move several km per day (i.e. down the entire stream network in a few days).Thus, increases in diversity over weeks may be influenced by proximity to sources of colonists , but annual means of diversity are not.

Recovery from floods and seasonal drying is faster at intermittent sites with close upstream perennial surface water.


The annual or biennial spinach belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family and is widely cultivated in China. Currently, little has been reported about the application of spinach proteins in TMV control except that spinach crude extract could protect Nicotiana glutinosa plants from TMV (Cho et al., 2000) . In this research, we further separated the anti-TMV proteins from the spinach crude extract. The mechanism under the anti-TMV ability of the active protein components was also primarily investigated.

Currently, little has been reported about the application of spinach proteins in TMV control except that spinach crude extract could protect Nicotiana glutinosa plants from TMV.


Tobacco virus diseases are a class of widespread diseases on tobacco plants and destructive to tobacco yield and quality. Till now, 27 viruses have been isolated from tobacco, including Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Tobacco etch virus (TEV), Tobacco ring spot virus (TRSV), etc. Once infected by tobacco viruses, tobacco inherent chemical composition becomes unbalanced, leaf qualities deteriorate, yields and economic benefits decline dramatically (Lei, 2004) . While inhibiting the viruses, anti-viral drugs may be harmful to the host plants, which are a major problem in controlling of plant virus diseases (Wu et al., 2008) .

Once infected by tobacco viruses, tobacco inherent chemical composition becomes unbalanced, leaf qualities deteriorate, yields and economic benefits decline dramatically.

While inhibiting the viruses, anti-viral drugs may be harmful to the host plants, which are a major problem in controlling of plant virus diseases.


Robotics and, in particular, mobile robotics, is becoming successful (for high school and university courses) due to a combination of factors (Weinberg and Yu, 2003) . The students are very motivated with robotics because they can physically experiment its work. So, using a suitable tool for the laboratory work becomes a very important decision.

Robotics and, in particular, mobile robotics, is becoming successful (for high school and university courses) due to a combination of factors.


This approach is widely reported to make 95-98% of the required assignments at best before getting stuck, and one often sees a statement that the residual problems were or could be removed by manual adjustment. For example: 'Very often, as many as six runs have been needed to obtain a solution for a single daily problem, with the average number of runs being about two or three. Frequently analyst intervention to correct one problem was frustrated by the emergence of a new problem... there occurs a point at which it is better to turn the problem over to the school for the final touches' [16] .

Frequently analyst intervention to correct one problem was frustrated by the emergence of a new problem... there occurs a point at which it is better to turn the problem over to the school for the final touches'.


Many authors have considered the problem of vibrations in structural and mechanical engineering resulting from the moving load, because of both being interesting from the theoretical point of view and having a significant importance for the practice. This problem occurs in dynamics of bridges, roadways, railways, and runways as well as missiles, aircrafts, and other structures. Various types of structures and girders like beams, plates, shells, and frames have been considered. Also various models of moving loads have been assumed [1] . Both deterministic and stochastic approaches have been presented [2] [3] [4] .

Also various models of moving loads have been assumed.

Both deterministic and stochastic approaches have been presented.


In summary, the current findings suggest significant relationships between cultural values of individualism-collectivism and allelic variation of OXTR rs53576, as well as the interplay between these variables in predicting prevalence of major depression disorder. The results reported in our study highlight the importance of culture-gene co-evolutionary theory in studying the predictive factors behind human's mental states and social behaviors. Future research should examine other specific genetic polymorphisms that may be associated with different dimensions of cultural values, as well as environment-culture-gene interactions that influence the psychological and neural processes underlying complex human behavior (Chiao and Blizinsky 2010; Chudek and Henrich 2011; Kim and Sasaki 2014) .

Future research should examine other specific genetic polymorphisms that may be associated with different dimensions of cultural values, as well as environment-culture-gene interactions that influence the psychological and neural processes underlying complex human behavior.


The current work first showed evidence for the association between collectivistic cultural values and A allelic frequency of OXTR rs53576. There are more A allele carriers in nations that are more strongly dominated by collectivistic cultural values. This is similar to the association between S allelic frequency of 5-HTTLPR and collectivistic cultural values (Chiao and Blizinsky 2010) . The association between collectivistic cultural values and A allelic frequency of OXTR rs53576 across nations stands when using different indexes of cultural values and when socioeconomic and health factors are controlled. This association is also evident when S allelic frequency of 5-HTTLPR is controlled.

This is similar to the association between S allelic frequency of 5-HTTLPR and collectivistic cultural values.


The culture-gene coevolutionary theory proposes that cultural traits, such as individualism and collectivism, have evolved and are adaptive, during which process they are related to some biological factors (Boyd and Richerson 1985) . Recent research has revealed geographical variability in historical and contemporary pathogen prevalence and shown that geographical variability can predict cultural variability in individualism-collectivism (Fincher et al. 2008) . Nations with greater historical and contemporary prevalence of infectious diseases or diseasecausing pathogens are more likely to endorse collectivistic cultural norms. A recent research further revealed that the association between pathogen prevalence and individualism-collectivism is mediated by short (S) allele distributions of the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) (Chiao and Blizinsky 2010) . Moreover, S allele distributions of 5-HTTLPR can predict cultural variability via local prevalence of mood disorders. That is, nations with greater pathogen prevalence are more likely to have a greater population frequency of S allele of 5-HTTLPR, to endorse stronger collectivistic cultural norms, and to have lower prevalence of mood disorders. These observations suggest that cultural values of individualism and collectivism may serve as an adaptive, 'anti-pathogen' function, protecting vulnerable geographical regions from increased spread of disease-causing pathogens via the promotion of collectivistic social norms which is associated with genetic selection of S allele carriers (Fincher et al. 2008; Chiao and Blizinsky 2010) .

The culture-gene coevolutionary theory proposes that cultural traits, such as individualism and collectivism, have evolved and are adaptive, during which process they are related to some biological factors.

Recent research has revealed geographical variability in historical and contemporary pathogen prevalence and shown that geographical variability can predict cultural variability in individualism-collectivism.

A recent research further revealed that the association between pathogen prevalence and individualism-collectivism is mediated by short (S) allele distributions of the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR).

These observations suggest that cultural values of individualism and collectivism may serve as an adaptive, 'anti-pathogen' function, protecting vulnerable geographical regions from increased spread of disease-causing pathogens via the promotion of collectivistic social norms which is associated with genetic selection of S allele carriers.


In the present work, we found that all the drugs were effective against a panel of 10 glioblastoma cell lines (two of them being primary cultures), with cediranib being the most potent. Furthermore, we observed in U251 cells that all the drugs impair cellular survival over time and in a dose-dependent manner, and again, cediranib was the most effective, even in the less sensitive cell line . By cell cycle analysis, we observed that all the drugs are cytostatic and reduce the number of cells in S phase. In the cells treated with sunitinib, cell cycle arrest in G 2 /M phase was also found, as described before [28] . In contrast to the other two drugs, cediranib showed to be also cytotoxic-inducing cell death by apoptosis, as assessed by PARP cleavage. We further confirmed by in vivo assays that cediranib displays simultaneously antiangiogenic and antitumoral activity in glioblastomas.

In the cells treated with sunitinib, cell cycle arrest in G 2 /M phase was also found, as described before.


Over the last years, a growing interest in vegetarian food has been observed, including seeds of leguminous plants (KORUS 2002) . Legume seeds are a valuable source of nutrients in the human diet as they supply minerals in addition to protein, carbohydrates and B-group vitamins. In many developed countries there is a tendency towards increased use of legume seeds in human nutrition. In Western Europe, an over threefold increase in legume seed consumption in the last years has been observed, reaching now about 3 kg per capita. In Poland, the level is much lower than recommended in the standards, i.e. 10-12 g per capita daily (PODLEOENY 2005) .

Over the last years, a growing interest in vegetarian food has been observed, including seeds of leguminous plants.

In Poland, the level is much lower than recommended in the standards, i.e. 10-12 g per capita daily.


Magnesium is one of the essential elements which are extremely important for the proper functioning of human body. Magnesium is a catalyst involved in around 300 metabolic pathways. The human body is not able to synthesize magnesium and, as a result, the Mg amount and proportion in a diet should be adequately adjusted (USTYMOWICZ-FARBISZEWSKA et al. 2000) .

The human body is not able to synthesize magnesium and, as a result, the Mg amount and proportion in a diet should be adequately adjusted.


Polymer composites are most common used among all types of composite materials [1] . Nanocomposites are a new class of composites that are particle-filled composites in which at least one dimension of the dispersed particles is in the nanometer range (< 100 nm). In recent years, nanocomposites received a great interest in governmental, industrial and academic studies [2] . Nanomaterials can be classified into nanostructured materials and nanophase/nanoparticle materials [3] . The former usually refer to condensed bulk materials that are made of grains (agglomerates), with grain sizes in the nanometer size range, whereas the latter are usually the dispersive nanoparticles. The nanometer size covers a wide range, from 1 nm to as large as 100 to 200 nm. To distinguish nanomaterials from bulk, it is crucial to demonstrate the unique properties of nanomaterials and their prospective impacts in science and technology [2, 4] .

Polymer composites are most common used among all types of composite materials.

In recent years, nanocomposites received a great interest in governmental, industrial and academic studies.

Nanomaterials can be classified into nanostructured materials and nanophase/nanoparticle materials.

To distinguish nanomaterials from bulk, it is crucial to demonstrate the unique properties of nanomaterials and their prospective impacts in science and technology.


Among the time-frequency transforms techniques such as Fourier and wavelet transforms, Gabor has emerged as the best representation of EEG signals in both time and frequency domain [6] [7] [8] . As a result, most of the current work in EEG compressed sensing focus on building a Gabor dictionary [5, 9, 10] . Given the fact that a Gabor dictionary is an over-complete dictionary, it can achieve greater robustness in the presence of noise. In addition, it can be sparser and can have greater flexibility in matching structure. Consequently, it can achieve a more accurate reconstruction [11] . However, a Gabor dictionary has difficulty reconstructing complex waveforms such as spike-and-wave and/or polyspike-and-wave EEG.

Among the time-frequency transforms techniques such as Fourier and wavelet transforms, Gabor has emerged as the best representation of EEG signals in both time and frequency domain.

As a result, most of the current work in EEG compressed sensing focus on building a Gabor dictionary.

Consequently, it can achieve a more accurate reconstruction.


In the case of fish production in India, it is found that there are only few regions which are able to specialize in intensive culture practices on a highly commercial basis. As a consequence, production performance of aquaculture sector has followed an uneven path and a large gap exists in productivity and efficiency (Ayyappan, 2008; Kumar et al., 2008) . Hence, improvement in technical efficiency is the key for meeting the growing fish demand in the coming years.

As a consequence, production performance of aquaculture sector has followed an uneven path and a large gap exists in productivity and efficiency.


This paper explores the role of geographical proximity in moderating the relation between competitive interdependence (or niche overlap) and the propensity of organizations to collaborate and exchange resources. The main underlying assumption is that geographical proximity exerts a differentiated effect on two opposing factors affecting the propensity of organizations to collaborate: namely, cooperative opportunities and competitive constraints. Competitive forces trigger differentiation strategies, whereas institutional processes tend to induce interorganizational homophily, or isomorphism (DIMAGGIO and POWELL, 1983) . The market structure emerges from the interaction between these two opposing forces. Consequently, it is important to understand how niche overlap affects the propensity of organizations to collaborate, as well as the extent to which geographical distance affects this relation.

Competitive forces trigger differentiation strategies, whereas institutional processes tend to induce interorganizational homophily, or isomorphism.


The present paper empirically addresses this argument by considering data on patienttransfer relations collected within a community of hospital organizations serving more than five million residents in one of the largest Italian geographical regions. As with most organizations, hospitals face multiple audiences, or sets of agents who control access to symbolic and material resources affecting organizational performance and, ultimately, survival (HANNAN, PÓLOS and CARROLL, 2007) . One audience of particular relevance for hospitals is patients, whose expectations are used to evaluate the quality of healthcare services. Patient transfers require high levels of coordination and communication between partner hospitals. For this reason, this paper treats the presence of patient transfer relations as the observable counterpart of the latent propensity 4 of hospitals to collaborate via the creation of network ties (LEE et al., 2011; IWASHYNA et al., 2009; LOMI and PALLOTTI, 2012) .

As with most organizations, hospitals face multiple audiences, or sets of agents who control access to symbolic and material resources affecting organizational performance and, ultimately, survival.

For this reason, this paper treats the presence of patient transfer relations as the observable counterpart of the latent propensity 4 of hospitals to collaborate via the creation of network ties.


In Section 7 we assume that X is a (birational) projection of a (cone over a) rational normal scrollX ⊂ P r+1 k . We then prove what is claimed by the previous Theorem 1.4. Here, we extensively use the determinantal description of rational normal scrolls (cf [21] ). As an application we give some constraints on the arithmetic depth t of X (cf Corollary 7.5 and Corollary 7.6).

Here, we extensively use the determinantal description of rational normal scrolls (cf).


In Section 5 we aim to describe X as a projection if t ≤ dim X. As a substitute for the S + -transform D(A) of the homogeneous coordinate ring A (which turned out to be useful in the case t = 1) we now consider the endomorphism ring B := End A (K(A)) of the canonical module of A (cf Theorem 5.3). It turns out that B is the homogeneous coordinate ring of varietyX ⊂ P r+1 k of minimal degree, and this allows to describe X as a projection ofX (cf Theorem 5.6). Endomorphism rings of canonical modules have been studied extensively in a purely algebraic setting (cf [2] , [28] ). The striking point is the concrete geometric meaning of these rings in the case of varieties of almost minimal degree.

Endomorphism rings of canonical modules have been studied extensively in a purely algebraic setting (cf,).


Changes and conflicts in projects, at work, and even in our daily lives are very common (Pinto and Kharbanda 1995) . Any additions, deletions, or other revision to project goals and scope are considered to be changes, whether they increase or decrease the project cost or schedule. Most commonly, lack of timely and effective communication, lack of integration, uncertainty, a changing environment, and increasing project complexity are the drivers of project change (Naoum 1994) . In addition, these changes may affect other aspects of the performing organization that may have program management implications.

Changes and conflicts in projects, at work, and even in our daily lives are very common.

Most commonly, lack of timely and effective communication, lack of integration, uncertainty, a changing environment, and increasing project complexity are the drivers of project change.


A local excitation of a quantum chaotic system spreads out over the entire system. This delocalization of the quantum information is called "scrambling". It has been believed that the scrambling is related to the quantum chaos or the butterfly effect: initially similar states evolves completely different state at the late time. The scrambling behaviour in strongly coupled systems attracts much attention in the context of black hole physics or AdS/CFT correspondence [1] [2] [3] .

The scrambling behaviour in strongly coupled systems attracts much attention in the context of black hole physics or AdS/CFT correspondence.


In the textile industry, international outsourcing provides significant cost savings. Current trends of reshoring are emerging due to increasing costs and risks [16, 17] . However, the reshoring process involves many challenges, such as worldwide variations in labor costs, capital investment decisions, environmental issues, and availability of raw materials [16, 18, 19] . Labor costs are a basic motive for international outsourcing. Table 1 highlights labor cost differences in different markets across the globe [20] . In developed markets, the unit cost of a garment includes nearly 50 percent of the labor cost. To decrease unit production cost, textile manufacturers have moved production processes to low cost markets [21] . Greater differences in unit production costs offset the transportation and transaction costs associated with low cost markets. Source: Sardar and Lee [20] .

Current trends of reshoring are emerging due to increasing costs and risks.

However, the reshoring process involves many challenges, such as worldwide variations in labor costs, capital investment decisions, environmental issues, and availability of raw materials.

Table 1 highlights labor cost differences in different markets across the globe.

To decrease unit production cost, textile manufacturers have moved production processes to low cost markets.

Source: Sardar and Lee.


The textile industry is a key manufacturing industry in the world. In the textile industry, supply chain globalization has brought numerous economic benefits. Today, reshoring is an emerging trend due to factors such as rising cost, quality issues, unemployment concerns, late deliveries, and quick response. In the textile industry, production and transportation decisions are directly related to environmental emissions [1] . Current sustainability issues, such as carbon footprint taxes, further complicate the issue. There are significant opportunities within the textile industry to reduce carbon emissions. Several textile companies have imposed a formal program to measure and reduce their carbon footprints [2] . The textile supply chain involves several environmental issues, including hazardous pollutants and waste management practices. The textile industry is an environmentally unfriendly industry due to hazardous pollutants such as dyeing chemicals and carbon dioxide emissions. Today, these issues are being addressed by compulsory carbon footprint taxes on textile products, sustainability rules and guidelines, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification, and emerging trends for corporate social responsibility [3] . International outsourcing causes more carbon emissions and environmental issues due to factors such as greater transportation distances and unsustainable practices at low-cost destinations. The utilization of a carbon footprint tax supports domestic outsourcing [4] . Furthermore, scattered consumer markets across the globe increase the difficulties associated with relocation decisions. In the textile industry, fashion business operations should consider more than just economic development [5] . Accordingly, a sustainable outsourcing strategy should include economic benefits as well as other associated factors. To increase sustainability in textile supply chains, production planning decisions that are based only on cost savings may not provide strategic benefits to the companies. Therefore, this paper suggests a sustainable outsourcing strategy based on operational cost, capacity flexibility, and outsourcing risk using three variants of goal programming.

In the textile industry, production and transportation decisions are directly related to environmental emissions.

Several textile companies have imposed a formal program to measure and reduce their carbon footprints.

Today, these issues are being addressed by compulsory carbon footprint taxes on textile products, sustainability rules and guidelines, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification, and emerging trends for corporate social responsibility.

The utilization of a carbon footprint tax supports domestic outsourcing.

In the textile industry, fashion business operations should consider more than just economic development.


Companies that outsource internationally focus on achieving cost benefits, while companies that outsource domestically focus on achieving capacity flexibility [22] . Manufacturers reduce capital investments and meet inconsistent demand requirements through domestic outsourcing. Outsourcing utilizes the chase strategy of capacity planning. In the chase strategy, production capacity can be adopted to respond to uncertainty. Domestic outsourcing provides better capacity flexibility than compensating for overtime or the hiring and firing of labor at in-house facilities. However, domestic suppliers have limited capacity due to their own production planning. Therefore, domestic suppliers cannot always be available to respond to demand fluctuations. In this case, some capacity flexibility may be reserved at domestic suppliers.

Companies that outsource internationally focus on achieving cost benefits, while companies that outsource domestically focus on achieving capacity flexibility.


This paper defines capacity flexibility as "capacity reserved with domestic suppliers to deal with uncertainty". Uncertainty is understood as deviation from demand estimated as a proportion of demand. A manufacturer allocates capacity flexibility to different domestic suppliers, and pays unit penalty costs for any capacity flexibility that is not acquired. If the uncertainty of a market is low, then the manufacturer will likely outsource internationally for cost savings. The textile supply chain has significantly distinct divisions with complex processes [16, 23] . Placement of upstream divisions in low-cost markets increases the risks of outsourcing. Subsequently, upstream divisions (e.g., fiber production, yarn production, fabric production, fabric processing, and garment manufacturing) in the textile supply chain become comparatively more ineffective and inefficient than downstream divisions (e.g., distribution and retailing) due to non-optimal inventories, lead times, transportation costs and complications, and service levels [24] .

The textile supply chain has significantly distinct divisions with complex processes.

Subsequently, upstream divisions (e.g., fiber production, yarn production, fabric production, fabric processing, and garment manufacturing) in the textile supply chain become comparatively more ineffective and inefficient than downstream divisions (e.g., distribution and retailing) due to non-optimal inventories, lead times, transportation costs and complications, and service levels.


The perturbative expansion in the strong coupling α s is the main approach to predictions in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at sufficiently high energies. However, the expansion parameter, α s , is not a physical observable of the theory. Its definition carries a dependence on conventions related to the renormalization procedure, such as the renormalization scale and renormalization scheme. Physical observables should, of course, be independent of any such conventions. This requirement leads, in the case of the renormalization scale, to well defined Renormalization Group Equations (RGE) that must be satisfied by physical quantities. The situation regarding the renormalization scheme is more complicated and perturbative computations are, most often, performed in conventional schemes such as MS [1] .

The situation regarding the renormalization scheme is more complicated and perturbative computations are, most often, performed in conventional schemes such as MS.


In the degradation of CTC, a slightly higher rate constant was calculated for composting, 0.034 day -1 , than stockpiling, 0.031 day -1 , indicating slightly more rapid degradation in composting. However, a higher correlation coefficient was calculated between the experimental data and the fitted model for stockpiling. This result suggests that the degradation rate at each sampling event was more variable in composting than stockpiling, decreasing accuracy in the composting fitted model (Wang et al., 2006) . TYL degradation in composting showed the highest calculated rate constant, 0.091 day -1 , and a much lower calculated rate constant for stockpiling. Previous investigation of the degradation of TYL in manure reported that TYL depleted fairly fast in anaerobic conditions and even faster in aerobic conditions (Kolz et al., 2005) . The majority, 90%, of initially applied TYL dissipated in less than five days after the beginning of aerated composting management in the present study; an observation that supports these previously reported results.

This result suggests that the degradation rate at each sampling event was more variable in composting than stockpiling, decreasing accuracy in the composting fitted model.

Previous investigation of the degradation of TYL in manure reported that TYL depleted fairly fast in anaerobic conditions and even faster in aerobic conditions.


Currently, two techniques for managing animal waste on site are composting and stockpiling. The primary mechanism involved in composting is the enhanced aerobic decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms, using adequate moisture and temperature (Liang et al., 2003) . A recent study reported the effect of composting on the dissipation of endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) 17β-estradiol and testosterone in poultry manure. This report concluded that 84% and 90% of the quantity of 17β-estradiol and testosterone, respectively, diminished over a period of 139 days (Hakk et al., 2005) . While this study indicated that composting could not eliminate the EDCs completely, this technique is efficient in removing organics. The stockpiling technique involves piling the manure without any active treatment, in an anaerobic state. Although composting can generate greenhouse gas such as ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide and might require more labor and time than stockpiling, composting is a more effective method than stockpiling in destroying pathogens, decreasing bulk density, and enriching nutrients.

The primary mechanism involved in composting is the enhanced aerobic decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms, using adequate moisture and temperature.

This report concluded that 84% and 90% of the quantity of 17β-estradiol and testosterone, respectively, diminished over a period of 139 days.


Much of the evidence regarding changes to the oral flora and cariogenic risk has been collected from traditional orthodontic clinic populations, which have been mainly White adolescents from middle-or upper-income families [6] [7] [8] [9] . Similarly, clinical studies evaluating periodontal status and subgingival flora have mostly involved White affluent teenage populations [10, 11] . However, the increase in the percentage of minorities in the United States, as well as other industrialized countries, may be leading to changes in the demographic profile of orthodontic patients seeking treatment [12] .

Much of the evidence regarding changes to the oral flora and cariogenic risk has been collected from traditional orthodontic clinic populations, which have been mainly White adolescents from middle-or upper-income families.

Similarly, clinical studies evaluating periodontal status and subgingival flora have mostly involved White affluent teenage populations.

However, the increase in the percentage of minorities in the United States, as well as other industrialized countries, may be leading to changes in the demographic profile of orthodontic patients seeking treatment.


Predicting and preventing mortality have long been studied, but recent Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines have brought thirty-day readmission rate to the forefront of the discussion [9] . As providers and health care delivery systems look toward the future of caring for patients, the need to design systems that effectively provide high-quality care and minimize overutilization of resources is pressing. The means by which we can achieve this aim have historically been unclear, as studies examining various interventions and their impact on readmission and health care utilization and/or health care cost have only recently become popular. This review is intended to succinctly summarize recent research that has examined how we can minimize readmission rates for COPD, with the longitudinal goal of decreasing the clinical and financial burden of COPD.

Predicting and preventing mortality have long been studied, but recent Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines have brought thirty-day readmission rate to the forefront of the discussion.


Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is a well known method for high-data-rate wireless transmission. OFDM may be combined with multiple antennas at both the access point and mobile terminal to increase diversity gain and enhance system capacity on a time-varying multipath fading channel, resulting in a multiple-input multiple-output OFDM system. It converts a frequency-selective channel into a parallel collection of frequency flat sub channels, which makes the receiver simple [1] . Multiple antennas can be used at the transmitter and receiver, now widely termed as a MIMO system [2] .

It converts a frequency-selective channel into a parallel collection of frequency flat sub channels, which makes the receiver simple.

Multiple antennas can be used at the transmitter and receiver, now widely termed as a MIMO system.


For a single gas hydrate, this equation has the advantage to simplify to a popular model in crystallization, known under the acronym of BCF model (from Burton, Cabrera and Frank [15] ). In this model, the linear dependence of the growth rate to the driving force corresponds to the growth of a rough surface. It can be further assumed that the overall mechanism of the coupled processes of integration and diffusion exhibits a first order dependence on the fugacity. Moreover, for a single gas, there is no competition between the different components to occupy the cavities up to the adequate filling level which stabilizes the structure physically and chemically.

For a single gas hydrate, this equation has the advantage to simplify to a popular model in crystallization, known under the acronym of BCF model (from Burton, Cabrera and Frank).


In interference-limited environments, a transmitting device may perform carrier sensing for each RB available within a single discovery period, before transmitting the discovery message, assuming that the interference conditions remain unchanged for a certain amount of time [17] [18] [19] [20] . Then, it can select the RB with the least amount of interference so that the discovery range can be maximized. If there is no specific carrier sensing threshold used for a discovery or the carrier sensing threshold is too high, the discovery range may be determined by the density of transmitting 2 International Journal of Antennas and Propagation devices per RB, assuming interference-limited environments. If a certain discovery range needs to be maintained, then the corresponding carrier sensing threshold can be used so as to satisfy the target signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) of the neighbor devices within the discovery range. If no RB satisfying the carrier sensing threshold can be found due to a high density of transmitting devices, the discovery period needs to be increased so that more RBs can be included in a single period. The discovery period can be adjusted by the centralized control of the network or by the distributed control of mobile devices. An increased discovery period means a large discovery range assuming still interferencelimited environments, but it also results in a longer discovery time.

In interference-limited environments, a transmitting device may perform carrier sensing for each RB available within a single discovery period, before transmitting the discovery message, assuming that the interference conditions remain unchanged for a certain amount of time.


We conducted a 4-week diary study to explore the information that 20 participants needed and wanted to share in their daily lives. We chose to use diary studies because a diary offers an ecologically valid way of allowing participants to document any situation in which they would like to obtain information or provide it to others with minimal disruption to their normal activities [9] . To minimize any disturbances, we designed the diary to ask for very short and specific information and met with participants each week to elicit additional details.

We chose to use diary studies because a diary offers an ecologically valid way of allowing participants to document any situation in which they would like to obtain information or provide it to others with minimal disruption to their normal activities.


The paper is organised along the lines of a previous study regarding the one-diode models for PV modules [1] . The criterion adopts a three-level rating scale that considers the ease of finding the data used by the analytical procedure, the simplicity of the mathematical tools needed to perform calculations and the accuracy achieved in calculating the current and power. Section 2 presents the simplified one-diode model and the effects of the series resistance on the shape of the I-V curves; Section 3 lists chronologically the most famous simplified one-diode equivalent circuits along with the used performance data, the required mathematical tools and the operative steps to obtain the model parameters. In Section 4, the accuracy of the tested simplified one-diode models is evaluated by calculating the I-V characteristics of some PV modules and comparing them with the performance curves issued by manufacturers. A criterion for rating the usability and accuracy of the analysed one-diode models is presented in Section 5. The minute descriptions of the mathematical procedures used to get the explicit or implicit expressions necessary to calculate the model parameters are listed in the Appendix A; such a review also contains the sequence of operative steps to easily calculate the model parameters.

The paper is organised along the lines of a previous study regarding the one-diode models for PV modules.


The selection of the model fit for purpose may be a difficult task that should carefully consider both the strong points and weaknesses of the examined method. Besides the achievable precision, each model has a different usability, as it needs specific performance data, which may be not available or difficult to extract from the available datasheets. The model also presents computation Many authors have proposed analytical procedures for determining the model parameters on the basis of the performance data usually provided by manufacturers . The identification of the parameters contained in the diode-based equivalent circuits has been also tackled exploring the possibility of using different procedures such as Lambert W-function, evolutionary algorithms, Padè approximants, genetic algorithms, cluster analysis, artificial neural networks, harmony search-based algorithms, small perturbations around the operating point and reduced forms [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] . Other authors have investigated some simplified versions of the one-diode equivalent circuit in order to obtain an adequate representation of the PV panel characteristics by means of a reduced number of model parameters. A large amount of simplified one-diode models, obtained by changing the used set of performance data, the adopted hypotheses and the analytical procedures for evaluating the model parameters, have been presented [64] [65] [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] .

The identification of the parameters contained in the diode-based equivalent circuits has been also tackled exploring the possibility of using different procedures such as Lambert W-function, evolutionary algorithms, Padè approximants, genetic algorithms, cluster analysis, artificial neural networks, harmony search-based algorithms, small perturbations around the operating point and reduced forms.

A large amount of simplified one-diode models, obtained by changing the used set of performance data, the adopted hypotheses and the analytical procedures for evaluating the model parameters, have been presented.


This paper deals with experimental analysis of the wave excitation force in surge on a conceptual prototype model of a semi-submersible foundation for an offshore wind turbine from Ramboll [12] . The concept is considered in three structural parts: columns (primary), heave-plates (secondary) and braces (tertiary). Because of the complex geometry, it is appropriate to analyse the excitation of wave induced loads on the structure in a component level test by analysing the influence of different parameters. The wave basin model test (Froude-based scale; 1/80) is conducted to observe and examine the wave load in surge. The model was fixed to simplify the influence of dynamic parameters by neglecting the motions.

This paper deals with experimental analysis of the wave excitation force in surge on a conceptual prototype model of a semi-submersible foundation for an offshore wind turbine from Ramboll.


In a recent test campaign on a semi-submersible 1/50 scale model in a wave basin, the recommendation was more research focusing on validation of the hydrodynamic loads by component-level tests [8] . Further, the modelling of wave loads by a definition of the wave spectrum is seen as a sufficient approach to a given design. A frequency domain analysis shows that specific wave periods of regular waves and the direction of incident waves have significant effects on the excitation forces and motion of the structure [9] . The analysis of the global motion response for a semi-submersible floating wind turbine has previously been examined [10] . The study concluded that an uncoupled frequency domain analysis was sufficient to assess the global motion response as long as the aerodynamic forces were taken into account. For numerical evaluation of wave/structure interaction, the Boundary Element Method (BEM) is used to compute diffraction/radiation theory in related studies of wave force on a semi-submerged platform [11] .

In a recent test campaign on a semi-submersible 1/50 scale model in a wave basin, the recommendation was more research focusing on validation of the hydrodynamic loads by component-level tests.

A frequency domain analysis shows that specific wave periods of regular waves and the direction of incident waves have significant effects on the excitation forces and motion of the structure.

The analysis of the global motion response for a semi-submersible floating wind turbine has previously been examined.

For numerical evaluation of wave/structure interaction, the Boundary Element Method (BEM) is used to compute diffraction/radiation theory in related studies of wave force on a semi-submerged platform.


To achieve its strategic and operational goals, a firm needs timely and relevant information. As this need grows, corporations are expected to adopt well-integrated IT systems with other operational controls. These systems face different security risks that may arise from ineffective internal controls or the nature of the competitive environment as the demand for information increases (Abu-Khadra et al., 2012; Abu-Musa, 2006) .

These systems face different security risks that may arise from ineffective internal controls or the nature of the competitive environment as the demand for information increases.


Information technology has become one of the most important strategic assets and a critical tool in ensuring the sustainability and development of a business. It is argued that the responsibility for designing, implementing and maintaining many of the controls over any organization's business processes is dependent on Information Technology (IT). The IT function is responsible for collecting, converting, archiving, protecting, processing, delivering and securely retrieving information as necessary (Abu-Musa, 2008) . Many organizations have been using several frameworks such as Control of Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT), Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), and Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). For optimal IT governance, we contend that organizations must integrate these frameworks. An integrated framework is one that links the key control objectives to strategic business objectives and, in doing so, addresses IT governance principles at both a strategic and operational level, whilst aligning IT and business management understanding of the key risk areas that characterize the organization's goals (Goosen and Rudman, 2013) . In addition, this fundamental alignment is expected to eliminate unnecessary controls and processes which, in turn, helps in improving IT governance and regulatory compliance.

The IT function is responsible for collecting, converting, archiving, protecting, processing, delivering and securely retrieving information as necessary.

An integrated framework is one that links the key control objectives to strategic business objectives and, in doing so, addresses IT governance principles at both a strategic and operational level, whilst aligning IT and business management understanding of the key risk areas that characterize the organization's goals.


The plan of the work is as follows. In Section 2 we work out the α 1 , α 2 Hamiltonians. They are the basis for perturbatively calculating the averaged orbital precessions of the relative motion of the binary's components in Section 3 by using the Lagrange planetary equations. The resulting analytical formulas are exact in the sense that no a-priori simplifying assumptions about the PF velocity and the orbital geometry are made. In Section 4, after critically discussing the constraints on α 1 , α 2 existing in literature, we use the latest determinations of the orbital motions of some planets of the Solar System to preliminary infer bounds on both α 1 and α 2 . More specifically, we compare our analytical predictions with the latest ranges of values for any conceivable anomalous perihelion precessions; since the latter ones are statistically compatible with zero, we are able to obtain upper bounds on α 1 , α 2 . In doing that, we assume that the supplementary precessions are entirely due to PFE, not modelled in the dynamical theories fitted by the astronomers to the data. In other words, we actually test PFE theories departing from general relativity in at most α 1 , α 2 . Nonetheless, it turns out that our constraints are close to those independently predicted for the future BepiColombo mission by simultaneously estimating α 1 , α 2 along with other PPN parameters from simulated data [32, 33] . Section 5 summarizes our findings.

The plan of the work is as follows.

Nonetheless, it turns out that our constraints are close to those independently predicted for the future BepiColombo mission by simultaneously estimating α 1 , α 2 along with other PPN parameters from simulated data.

Section 5 summarizes our findings.


In forest ecosystems of La Palma the species richness of various plant growth forms responds differently to surface structure. Only mosses respond directly to small-scale micro-relief heterogeneity, which increases the diversity of small-scale ecological niches independent of altitude. For small plants, such as mosses, bioclimatic envelope models might be based on too broad assumptions, even if local effects may by dampened on a larger scale [57] . However, for herbaceous and woody plants small-scale micro-relief heterogeneity does not contribute to an improved explanation of species richness patterns. For these species, general site conditions can be applied. Our results stress the fact that the role of relief heterogeneity has to be considered separately and specifically for different groups of organisms. There is no overarching relationship between relief heterogeneity and species richness across scales and plant growth forms. However, the influence of heterogeneity on herb, shrub and tree richness may vary with spatial resolution (grain size). Modern technology such as laser scanners may facilitate area-wide data collection and provide an opportunity to test this hypothesis. As species distribution models are a common predictive tool used for decision-making in nature conservation and for facing threats caused by climate change, an improved knowledge of the underlying ecological principles is crucial. Current modelling results might be strongly biased for species groups with small-scale habitats.

For small plants, such as mosses, bioclimatic envelope models might be based on too broad assumptions, even if local effects may by dampened on a larger scale.


Breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the USA. It is estimated that approximately 252,710 individuals will be diagnosed in 2017, and only 6% will present with de novo metastatic disease [1] . Occult breast cancer accounts for 0.1-0.8% of the cases and most commonly presents with axillary lymphadenopathy. Despite improvements in breast imaging, the fre-quency of detection of a primary tumor in that particular context has not substantially improved over time [2] .

It is estimated that approximately 252,710 individuals will be diagnosed in 2017, and only 6% will present with de novo metastatic disease.

Despite improvements in breast imaging, the fre-quency of detection of a primary tumor in that particular context has not substantially improved over time.


The other method for obtaining sentiments from images is visual content analysis [4, 15] . This method assumes that there is no explicit information for images. The visual image features are extracted based on low-level image properties, such as color and texture. Extracting features from images in our approach is essentially based on this method.

The other method for obtaining sentiments from images is visual content analysis.


Humans feel diverse sentiments through the effect of various stimuli, such as visual, acoustic, tactile, and olfactory [23] . Among these, visual stimuli are the most sensitive stimulus to affect human sentiments [16] . To feel sad or pleasant sentiments while watching a movie is one of the common experiences. On the one hand, these affections to sentiment are caused by context, although sometimes, they can also be caused only through visual stimulus without context. Feeling an sentiment from artwork we cannot understand is an example of this.

Humans feel diverse sentiments through the effect of various stimuli, such as visual, acoustic, tactile, and olfactory.

Among these, visual stimuli are the most sensitive stimulus to affect human sentiments.


Some studies have considered a broader set of PTAs, but have failed to code their IP provisions in detail (Valdés and Tavengwa, 2012; Seuba, 2013; Maskus and Ridley, 2016; Hofmann et al., 2017) . They make no distinction between PTAs that include TRIPs-plus measures and those that merely duplicate the content of the TRIPs agreement (which WTO members have to comply with anyway). Yet, before we can assess the social, political, and economic consequences of TRIPs-plus agreements, we must first identify the full sequence of TRIPs-plus agreements signed by a given country and find out exactly what issues they cover. This article and the T + PTA dataset presented seek to fill the knowledge gap.

Some studies have considered a broader set of PTAs, but have failed to code their IP provisions in detail.


Preferential trade agreements (PTAs) are at the forefront of international intellectual property (IP) law. Many of them include commitments that go beyond the minimum standards set out in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs). These PTAs extend the duration of copyright protection, strengthen patent rights, and broaden the scope of trademark protection (Drahos, 2001) .

These PTAs extend the duration of copyright protection, strengthen patent rights, and broaden the scope of trademark protection.


The body wall of cockroach is made up of chitin (a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine). Due to presence of both the amino group as well as acetyl group, it shows mildly acidic property in the Fig. 3 Schematics for the biosynthesis of Au NPs using Periplaneta americana extract solution which can be suitably manipulated to obtain desired nanomaterial (Fig. 3) . Though, the cells die after boiling but the liberated metabolites help in nanomaterials fabrication. Further, cockroaches contain the proteins that trigger allergic reactions among human identified as tropomyosin. Tropomyosin is an actin-binding protein that regulates actin mechanics (Asturias et al. 1999) . It is composed of four alpha helices, A, B, C, and D, which coil together to form the quaternary structure and is important, among other things, for muscle contraction (Asturias et al. 1999) . In the present case this protein might also have helped in redial encapsulation of freshly burgeoned nanomaterials thereby rendering stability. The overall similarity of Bla g 2 to the structures of other well-known aspartic proteases, suggest that ligand binding could be involved in the function of this allergen (Arruda et al. 1995) . Our investigation involving other insects and their developmental stages is still on.

Tropomyosin is an actin-binding protein that regulates actin mechanics.

It is composed of four alpha helices, A, B, C, and D, which coil together to form the quaternary structure and is important, among other things, for muscle contraction.

The overall similarity of Bla g 2 to the structures of other well-known aspartic proteases, suggest that ligand binding could be involved in the function of this allergen.


Few cross-cultural studies have compared CPT norms for different countries. The need for local norms is widely accepted because cultural factors may influence cognitive performance (Levav, Mirsky, French, & Bartko, 1998) . Children and adults from five cities (two in the United States, one in Canada, one in Ecuador, and one in Israel) were compared with regard to performance on the auditory and visual CPT-AX. The CPT results for children aged 8-12 years showed differences among cities only in commission errors on the visual task, whereas the 13-to 53-year-old age range showed differences in RTs on the auditory task.

The need for local norms is widely accepted because cultural factors may influence cognitive performance.


Music has long been thought to be a therapeutic means of reaching out to persons with AD and encouraging responses from such persons. Music is seen as an important component of dementia care and treatment. However, empirical studies where the efficacy of a treatment group (music therapy) has been compared with a nontreatment group have yielded mixed or inconclusive results (Vink, Bruinsma, & Scholten, 2003) . Music intervention studies therefore yield a limited view of music efficacy, one that needs to be enhanced with a larger picture of music cognition and the brain.

However, empirical studies where the efficacy of a treatment group (music therapy) has been compared with a nontreatment group have yielded mixed or inconclusive results.


We offer an alternative and complementary approach to the power of music, which is to focus on the implications of a particular research finding: Musical memories-familiarity for music heard in one's past-are preserved in healthy aging and also in the early stages of AD (Cuddy et al., 2012; Fornazzari et al., 2006; Hsieh, Hornberger, Piguet, & Hodges, 2011; Omar, Hailstone, & Warren, 2012) . Musical memories are sometimes spared, despite severe cognitive impairment, even in the later stages of AD (Cuddy & Duffin, 2005; Vanstone & Cuddy, 2010) . Research on spared systems can help us better understand and identify the mechanisms and neural substrates of the neurodegenerative process (Jacobsen et al., 2015) . It may also provide directives for care management.

We offer an alternative and complementary approach to the power of music, which is to focus on the implications of a particular research finding: Musical memories-familiarity for music heard in one's past-are preserved in healthy aging and also in the early stages of AD.

Musical memories are sometimes spared, despite severe cognitive impairment, even in the later stages of AD.

Research on spared systems can help us better understand and identify the mechanisms and neural substrates of the neurodegenerative process.


Finally, we did not set out to find, neither do we claim, that music is unique in its power to evoke positive memories. Nevertheless, the ubiquitous nature of music, its strong ties with emotion, and its preserved familiarity in OA and AD, all point to its potential value as a practical and effective adjunct to care and rehabilitation. Positive memories that support a positive sense of self can be explored for purposes of communication with music therapists, caregivers, and family. As well, the present findings support theoretical proposals of functional neuroanatomical connections between brain networks for music and large-scale networks supporting autobiographical memory (Janata, 2009; Peck, Girard, Russo, & Fiocco, 2016) . Understanding behavioral patterns of loss and sparing-such as music and memory-can help narrow the search for the neural substrates of this connectivity and so facilitate understanding of the AD disease process.

As well, the present findings support theoretical proposals of functional neuroanatomical connections between brain networks for music and large-scale networks supporting autobiographical memory.


The neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects some 46.8 million people worldwide and is predicted to reach 131.5 million by the year 2050 according to the 2015 World Alzheimer Report (Prince et al., 2015) . Behavioral hallmarks of the disease include memory and language impairment, with serious consequences for interpersonal communication and the sense of self and well-being in AD. Given the unrelenting progress of the disease and the fact that there is no cure, a diagnosis of AD is a devastating situation for both patients and caregivers alike. Methods for improving communication have the potential to improve quality of life in AD and thereby alleviate caregiver burden.

The neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects some 46.8 million people worldwide and is predicted to reach 131.5 million by the year 2050 according to the 2015 World Alzheimer Report.


Extracellular enzymes of white-rot fungi (WRF) are characterized by their capacity to degrade the complex structure of lignin, which also enables them to degrade a wide range of resistant pollutants including synthetic dyes, chlorophenols, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] . WRF and their lignin modifying enzymes (LMEs) have been investigated recently for the degradation of a broad spectrum of PPCPs [24] [25] [26] [27] . The potential of WRF for the removal of PPCPs has been investigated mostly in batch mode. There are only a few studies on continuous flow reactor configurations [24, 26, [28] [29] [30] . Despite a significant research effort, efficient removal of PPCPs by WRF mediated treatment, their removal mechanisms and degradation pathways remain largely to be elucidated. There have been a few excellent reviews on bioremediation of recalcitrant compounds by WRF and their LMEs [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] . However, aspects such as comparative performance of different whole-cell WRF species, the impacts of different reactor configurations as well as the performance under non-sterile environment deserve further attention. Moreover, factors controlling the performance of the crude and/or purified LMEs for the degradation of PPCPs, particularly the redox-mediator enhanced laccase systems remain largely unaddressed. This critical review fills these gaps. Degradation mechanisms and pathways for the removal of PPCPs are also critically discussed and the major metabolites or intermediate products following WRF treatment are identified. In addition, the technological challenges associated with the continuous fungal bioreactors are discussed and possible solutions are outlined. Directions for future research are also provided.

Extracellular enzymes of white-rot fungi (WRF) are characterized by their capacity to degrade the complex structure of lignin, which also enables them to degrade a wide range of resistant pollutants including synthetic dyes, chlorophenols, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

WRF and their lignin modifying enzymes (LMEs) have been investigated recently for the degradation of a broad spectrum of PPCPs.

There are only a few studies on continuous flow reactor configurations.

There have been a few excellent reviews on bioremediation of recalcitrant compounds by WRF and their LMEs.

This critical review fills these gaps.


Trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) include diverse groups of chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), pesticides, surfactants, and industrial chemicals. Due to their ineffective removal by the conventional wastewater treatment processes, these TrOCs are commonly detected in the aquatic environment including surface water and groundwater, and even seawater [1] [2] [3] . Most TrOCs are biologically active even at trace concentrations (in the range of few ng/L) and can impose detrimental impacts on aquatic environment as well as on human health [4, 5] . For example, PPCPs such as synthetic hormones can induce endocrine disrupting effects on aquatic lives [6, 7] . Some of these TrOCs can also accumulate in aquatic biota. Exposure to a non-lethal dose of antibiotics may result in the development of antibiotic resistant genes in bacteria which is an emerging concern for human health according to the World Health Organization [8] [9] [10] [11] . Biological treatment processes are environmentally friendly and cost-effective [12] [13] [14] . The conventional activated sludge and membrane bioreactor processes can efficiently remove bulk organics, nutrients, and pathogens. However, certain groups of PPCPs such as significantly This article is part of the Topical Collection on Water Pollution hydrophilic compounds and/or compounds with strong electron withdrawing functional groups are poorly removed by the conventional biological treatment processes [2, [15] [16] [17] . Thus, effective treatment processes to remove PPCPs from wastewater is urgently needed.

Due to their ineffective removal by the conventional wastewater treatment processes, these TrOCs are commonly detected in the aquatic environment including surface water and groundwater, and even seawater.

Most TrOCs are biologically active even at trace concentrations (in the range of few ng/L) and can impose detrimental impacts on aquatic environment as well as on human health.

For example, PPCPs such as synthetic hormones can induce endocrine disrupting effects on aquatic lives.

Exposure to a non-lethal dose of antibiotics may result in the development of antibiotic resistant genes in bacteria which is an emerging concern for human health according to the World Health Organization.

Biological treatment processes are environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

However, certain groups of PPCPs such as significantly This article is part of the Topical Collection on Water Pollution hydrophilic compounds and/or compounds with strong electron withdrawing functional groups are poorly removed by the conventional biological treatment processes.


Wet chemical etching is used to produce this effect on commercial solar cells. The technique strongly depends on the crystallographic orientation of the substrate, hence different etchants are needed for mono-crystalline and polycrystalline silicon wafers. Alkaline solutions (KOH or NOH) are commonly used for crystalline substrates, providing anisotropic etching which creates randomly distributed pyramids on the surface of the material. On the other hand for polycrystalline silicon mixtures of HF and HNO 3 are used. Chemical texturing makes it difficult to raise absorptance over a value of roughly 85 %; moreover, it is characterized by low reproducibility [7] . Precise control of temperature and composition of the chemicals is required [8] .

Chemical texturing makes it difficult to raise absorptance over a value of roughly 85 %; moreover, it is characterized by low reproducibility.

Precise control of temperature and composition of the chemicals is required.