Video watermarking is a set of techniques that aims to hide information in a video stream in such a way that it is hard to remove or tamper with, all while preserving the quality and fidelity of the content. Video watermarking allows content creators to prove ownership after distribution and enables movie producers to identify leaks by embedding unique identifiers into preview copies of films [2] . Other examples of applications include everything from identifying copyright infringement and embedding tags for filtering content to automated broadcast monitoring for commercials.

Video watermarking allows content creators to prove ownership after distribution and enables movie producers to identify leaks by embedding unique identifiers into preview copies of films.


The New Zealand government is targeting a two-fold increase in primary exports for the thirteen year period ending 2025 [1] . Pressure from this growth is driving demand for new technologies and approaches to handle the increasing demand on manual labor forces to ensure high quality exports. Research 5 presented here focuses on kiwifruit, which represents the largest share of New Zealand's exports by value and 30% of the market-share globally.

The New Zealand government is targeting a two-fold increase in primary exports for the thirteen year period ending 2025.


A key challenge to convert this research into a commercial product is de-60 veloping a system with a commercially viable operational time. Currently an average cycle time of 33 s is being reported [4] . This 'cycle time' refers to the time to complete an average full harvest operation. This may include ripeness determination (if used), localization, fruit detachment, transport of detached fruit, wasted time from failed pick attempts, and movements between fruit.

Currently an average cycle time of 33 s is being reported.


Water is irreplaceable. It is a pivotal resource for human life, nature and the economy [1] [2] [3] . As recently stated by the United Nations, water represents a human right [4] . On the one hand, water is only renewable if well managed [4, 5] . On the other, the water sector is entering a period of profound change as it faces environmental challenges at both local and global levels. Indeed, freshwater constitutes only about 2% of the water on the planet and competing demands may lead to an estimated 40% global water supply shortage by 2030 [1] . The World Economic Forum has identified the water crises as the top global risk for the next decade [4] . Thus, urgent action is needed to tackle emerging issues [2] .

Water is irreplaceable.

It is a pivotal resource for human life, nature and the economy.

As recently stated by the United Nations, water represents a human right.

On the one hand, water is only renewable if well managed.

Indeed, freshwater constitutes only about 2% of the water on the planet and competing demands may lead to an estimated 40% global water supply shortage by 2030.

The World Economic Forum has identified the water crises as the top global risk for the next decade.

Thus, urgent action is needed to tackle emerging issues.


It is left to the analyst to decide how top-coded data are analysed. One approach is to categorize the variable so that top-coded cases all fall in one category-this is sensible but precludes analyses that treat the variable as continuous. Another approach is to ignore the fact of top coding and to treat the top-coded values as the truth. This method is straightforward, but clearly the data distribution is distorted and biased estimates will be obtained. A better method is to treat the extreme values as censored. Under an assumed statistical model, maximum likelihood (ML) estimates can be obtained by using algorithms such as the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm (Dempster et al., 1977) . This method is model based and should yield good inferences if the model is correctly specified. But we expect this method to be quite sensitive to model misspecification, especially when the upper tail of the assumed distribution differs markedly from that of the true distribution. The data users can also apply an imputation method to the top-coded data set and fill in the censored values. A limitation is that the imputed data fail to reflect imputation uncertainty, and imputations are sensitive to assumptions about the right tail of the distribution. We propose alternatives to top coding that allow better inferences for the data user by using simple multiple-imputation (MI) combining rules, while preserving the SDC benefits of top coding.

Under an assumed statistical model, maximum likelihood (ML) estimates can be obtained by using algorithms such as the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm.


Considering the conventional ETS if there are strong promotional effects, as it is true in our case study, the parameter estimates and even the selected model, as it is conditional on the N. Kourentzes, F. Petropoulos / Int. J. Production Economics ∎ (∎∎∎∎) ∎∎∎-∎∎∎estimated parameters, may be biased. By introducing the promotional information in the ETSx model this effect is mitigated. However, there is still uncertainty in the parameter identification and model selection, due to available sample and sampling frequency issues or the inherent limitations of information criteria for model selection (Kolassa, 2011) . The original MAPA was developed with the motivation of addressing the later issues. The time series is modelled at multiple temporal aggregation levels, thus at each level filtering the higher frequency components of the time series, allowing to estimate lower ones appropriately. Combining the estimates across the different aggregation levels results in robust final forecasts, as there is little reliance on a single model or a single view -aggregation level -of the time series, gaining the advantages of model combination. Nonetheless, similar to ETS and ETSx, the various models estimated under MAPA for the different aggregation levels will be biased if no promotional information is provided under the presence of strong effects. MAPAx address this by taking advantage of the additional information.

However, there is still uncertainty in the parameter identification and model selection, due to available sample and sampling frequency issues or the inherent limitations of information criteria for model selection.


Demand forecasting is crucial for decision making and operations in organisations. As demand for large number of forecasts increases, for example due to the number of products companies trade, the reduced length of the forecasting cycle, or the increase in the number of item-location combinations as retail/logistic chains become larger and larger there is pressure to have reliable and accurate automated baseline forecasts. Typically companies rely on Forecasting Support Systems (FSS), which integrate univariate statistical baseline forecasts with managerial judgement to introduce additional external information in the forecasts (Fildes et al., 2006) . Although the statistical element of such FSSs can be automated, the human element is resource intensive and often due to the increased workload, experts are not able to collect and account all relevant information into their forecasts. This is especially relevant for areas where numerous factors affect the demand, such as promotions and other marketing actions.

Typically companies rely on Forecasting Support Systems (FSS), which integrate univariate statistical baseline forecasts with managerial judgement to introduce additional external information in the forecasts.


It is well-known that we should not compute the matrix explicitly before performing the multiplication, as this would require a huge memory to store that matrix and will yield redundant computations. A cost optimal algorithm for this computation proceeds in a recursive way, consuming one matrix A (i) after another [7] . Consequently, traditional parallel routines for matrix-vector product cannot be considered. When starting with the recursive algorithm as a basis, any parallel scheme will involve a set of data communication at the end of each iteration. The cost of this communication is the main challenge for this problem, especially with a large number of processors, because there is a significant interleave between the (probably virtual) communication links. Moreover, in order to reduce the cache misses due to an increasing stride from one iteration to the next one, array reshuffling is sometimes considered, and this complicates the communication topology.

A cost optimal algorithm for this computation proceeds in a recursive way, consuming one matrix A (i) after another.


During 2007 a survey of writing tasks required by academic disciplines in the Faculty of Humanities was conducted at the University of Pretoria (Carstens, 2008a) . Study guides from a representative sample of departments were collected, and all tasks requiring extensive writing were excerpted Carstens and Fletcher 320 and analysed to establish the genres they belonged to as well as the text types (modes of writing) they demanded. The academic essay was found to be the genre with the highest frequency, and the materials of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies contained the highest number of essay-length tasks: 88 of all the assignments included in study guides of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies belonged to the essay genre. These findings constituted the rationale for the decision to design and evaluate a writing intervention for students of history. The decision was further supported by the fact that history is a subject field which exists purely by virtue of language (Schleppegrell et al., 2004) . It was decided to focus the intervention on second-year students because intermediate-level undergraduates should have developed some awareness of academic writing abilities, and thus also their educational needs.

During 2007 a survey of writing tasks required by academic disciplines in the Faculty of Humanities was conducted at the University of Pretoria.

The decision was further supported by the fact that history is a subject field which exists purely by virtue of language.


The relevance of libraries lies in the quality of services that they offer. Specifically, school libraries are referred to as learning laboratory for schools, providing the total learning package required by the students and their teachers. They are so important that the development of research culture in the lives of students take its root from an effective use of the school libraries (Jeyara, 2017) .

They are so important that the development of research culture in the lives of students take its root from an effective use of the school libraries.


Strengths of this study include the careful control of activity and of food and fluid intake before the tests, and testing only during the mid-follicular phase of the participants' menstrual cycle. Limitations include the limited range of participant characteristics. Future studies should explore these hypotheses in different populations, such as males, as evidence shows that eating rate and its effects may differ by gender [4, 16] . Moreover, results require further replication in real life conditions and with different foods and beverages.

Future studies should explore these hypotheses in different populations, such as males, as evidence shows that eating rate and its effects may differ by gender.


Higher values could be found at sites with living organisms (lichens, algae), and/or with anthracite in epipedon (Campbell, Claridge, 1987) . Oxidized carbon decreases with depth (JR1); it grows with depth (JR8) or it fl uctuates (JR5 and JR7). The highest correlation is with calcium content (r = 0.30).

Higher values could be found at sites with living organisms (lichens, algae), and/or with anthracite in epipedon.


To the best of our knowledge, FS has been previously reported in one single case of Burkitt's lymphoma infiltrating the kidney [15] . Herein, we report the first case series of lymphoma patients presenting with FS. All patients had overt severe FS requiring massive supplementation. Other causes of FS, mainly drugs, have been excluded. Moreover in patient 1, the evolution of FS paralleled the evolution of TmP/GFR, renal phosphate reabsorption rate/glomerular filtration rate (normal 0.8); NA, not available; FS, Fanconi syndrome; puria/cruria, proteinuria/ creatininuria; β2M, beta 2 microglobulinuria ( a normal value < 300 μg/l).

To the best of our knowledge, FS has been previously reported in one single case of Burkitt's lymphoma infiltrating the kidney.


The quality of cancer care can be precisely defined and accurately measured. But there are many different perspectives to consider. Structural characteristics include clinician (board certification, distribution of specialties, etcetera) and organizational characteristics (staffing patterns, schedules, etcetera). Structural characteristics are necessary to provide good care but are insufficient to ensure excellent quality. Research suggests that outcomes are improved when patients receive cancer care from a highly functioning multidisciplinary care team (another structural characteristic). Multidisciplinary cancer conferences are not universally occurring, despite compelling evidence supporting their benefit to patients and for providers [5] . The evidence shows that the roles played by different team members within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) are varied, with lower importance placed on the input of nursing personnel [6] . Regarding multidisciplinary care, a high degree of variability could be expected in Spain in the context of a decentralized health care system [7] . In Spain there is not any kind of accreditation for hospitals providing cancer care, though in Catalonia, specialized cancer surgery has recently been limited to highvolume hospitals.

Multidisciplinary cancer conferences are not universally occurring, despite compelling evidence supporting their benefit to patients and for providers.

The evidence shows that the roles played by different team members within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) are varied, with lower importance placed on the input of nursing personnel.

Regarding multidisciplinary care, a high degree of variability could be expected in Spain in the context of a decentralized health care system.


We consider that it is possible to conceptualize four statuses of career decision, based on the psychological processes of career exploration and investment, parallel to Marcia's identity statuses, which configure different modes of career identity. Therefore, we consider two types of decision: autonomous decision (career investment preceded by career exploration) and foreclosed decision (career investment without previous career exploration). Individuals who present decisions of this nature will, predictably, obtain low scores on career indecision evaluation instruments. Likewise, two types of indecision are considered: developmental indecision (absence of career investment and presence of career exploration) and diffuse indecision (absence of career investment and career exploration). It is possible that this latter type of indecision is similar to chronic indecision or indecisiveness, which has been described by several authors (Crites, 1969 (Crites, , 1981 Salomone, 1982; Tyler, 1969) . Individuals of these two statuses will, most probably, obtain high scores on career-indecision scales.

It is possible that this latter type of indecision is similar to chronic indecision or indecisiveness, which has been described by several authors.


Ten years ago, the Pluto algorithm made a significant contribution to the theory and practice of affine scheduling for locality and parallelism [7] . It is rooted in the polyhedral framework of compilation, a rigorous formalism to represent and operate on the control and data flow of a growing class of loop-based programs [11] . It provides a unified approach to loop nest optimization, offering precise analyses, aggressive transformations and code generation. The past decade saw the emergence of robust and scalable implementations and integration of polyhedral techniques into general-purpose compilers [4, 12, 22] . However, modern processor architectures made it imperative to model deep memory hierarchies that favor consecutive accesses to improve performance. Our work revisits the design of Pluto in light of these architectural features. We build a model of these features suitable for affine scheduling with heuristics based on linear programming, leveraging positive effects (e.g., locality) and avoiding the negative ones (e.g., false sharing). Rather than a unified algorithm, we propose a template built upon a parameterizable scheduling problem and a pair of interchangeable optimization objectives. In particular, we contribute a "clustering" technique for loop fusion, intertwining the iterations of different statements while maintaining the execution order within each loop, and we extend the loop sinking options when aligning imperfectly nested loops to the same depth. We address spatial effects by extending the optimization objective and allowing for linearly dependent dimensions in affine schedules that are out of reach of a typical polyhedral optimizer. Our iterative approach to nonconvex optimization does not restrict the optimization space and is particularly effective when negative coefficients are necessary to tile iteration spaces while aligning dimensions with the direction of consecutive memory accesses.

Ten years ago, the Pluto algorithm made a significant contribution to the theory and practice of affine scheduling for locality and parallelism.

It is rooted in the polyhedral framework of compilation, a rigorous formalism to represent and operate on the control and data flow of a growing class of loop-based programs.

The past decade saw the emergence of robust and scalable implementations and integration of polyhedral techniques into general-purpose compilers.


The single-phase power electronic converters interfacing a DC storage system or a DC source have the inherent problem of double-frequency power ripple. The effect of the same is experienced at the DC bus in terms of doublefrequency current ripple, leading to double-frequency DC bus voltage ripple in a standard single-phase DC-AC Voltage Source Inverter (VSI). This results in under-utilisation of renewable energy sources (e.g., PV), potential life-shortening for the batteries where the ripple current flows into the battery, thus heating up the battery. Further, this also leads to grid current distortion. The most common practice to counteract this scenario is to use a huge DC bus capacitor to supply the ripple current component. This passive strategy calls for electrolytic capacitors (because of their high capacitance value). However, the electrolytic capacitors have short end of lifetime, which reduces the overall system reliability [1] .

However, the electrolytic capacitors have short end of lifetime, which reduces the overall system reliability.


Following are the contents and organization of this paper. In Section 2, we briefly review the Big Bounce Genesis, a generic scenario for dark matter production in bouncing universe, based on our previous works [22] [23] [24] . It is the fundament of the issues we investigate in this paper. In section 3, we calculate the total energy and total energy fluctuation of dark matter for a given sub-horizon volume in the bouncing cosmological background by utilizing conventional thermodynamics. The famous relation, δE χ 2 / E χ 2 = N −1 χ , is re-obtained. By applying these results into Big Bounce Genesis, the total energy of dark matter is obtained as a function of the cross-section and mass of dark matter and the background temperature. And we show that, for the whole evolution of the bouncing universe, the total energy of dark matter is sub-dominated and takes a nearly constant fraction among the total energy of cosmological background in the given sub-horizon volume.

In Section 2, we briefly review the Big Bounce Genesis, a generic scenario for dark matter production in bouncing universe, based on our previous works.


Permanent magnet (PM) machines are widely used in applications on multi-axis machine tools due to their high dynamic response and high torque density [1] [2] [3] [4] . Considering manufacturing using machine tools, the machining allowance should be limited within a 6~320-mm diameter. In order to overcome this demanded error allowance, closed-loop motion control is preferred by installing high-resolution position sensors in PM machines.

Permanent magnet (PM) machines are widely used in applications on multi-axis machine tools due to their high dynamic response and high torque density.


High-resolution position sensors can be categorized into encoders with the output of digital pulse signals and resolvers with analog position signals. For these sensors, a rotating mechanism must be attached to the machine's rotor in order to measure the instantaneous rotor position. It is noteworthy that the installation of the position sensor increases the overall machine size, leading to the reduction of torque density under the same machine size [5] . Considering motion systems with a size limitation, position sensing using separated position sensors might not be well-suited to maximize the drive power density [6, 7] .

It is noteworthy that the installation of the position sensor increases the overall machine size, leading to the reduction of torque density under the same machine size.

Considering motion systems with a size limitation, position sensing using separated position sensors might not be well-suited to maximize the drive power density.


In this paper we develop rapidly computable approximations to some permutation p-values. The p-values we consider are for a difference in group means. The approximations are based on ideas from spherical geometry and discrepancy, related to the Stolarsky invariance principle (Stolarsky, 1973) . As described below, the resulting approximations prove to be very accurate for the tiny p-values where permutation methods are most difficult to use.

The approximations are based on ideas from spherical geometry and discrepancy, related to the Stolarsky invariance principle.


Quadrotors are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) actuated by four fixed-pitch independent propellers located at the vertexes of a cross-shaped structure [11] . In addition to being able to take-off and land vertically, quadrotors can reach high angular accelerations thanks to the relatively long lever arm between opposing motors. This makes them more agile than most standard helicopters or similar rotorcraft UAVs. For these reasons, and also because of their affordability and mechanical robustness, this platform has witnessed a considerable growing interest in the robotics and hobbyist community over the last decade, being, in some cases, also commercialized as off-the-shelf products [1, asc] .

Quadrotors are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) actuated by four fixed-pitch independent propellers located at the vertexes of a cross-shaped structure.


Despite these limitations, the study findings provide important information on the effect of environmental stressors on BP and hypertension among different ethnic groups. As far as we are aware, this is the first study that has assessed the effect of neighbourhood level stressors on BP and hypertension among ethnic minority groups. The neighbourhoods considered in our study were socio-culturally rather homogenous communities [39] . It has been emphasised that contextual or area bound factors may have a greater impact on health if a neighbourhood relates to a socio-culturally homogeneous community [30] .

The neighbourhoods considered in our study were socio-culturally rather homogenous communities.

It has been emphasised that contextual or area bound factors may have a greater impact on health if a neighbourhood relates to a socio-culturally homogeneous community.


The first task involved film viewing (without audio and subtitle) which was done twice to promote more retention and comprehension (Webb, 2007) . The first viewing took 7 minutes and 15 seconds; thus, watching the film twice took 14 minutes and 30 seconds. After viewing the film, the participants were asked to reconstruct the story through a written narrative. First, the participants were asked to recall the individual story events and sequence. Then, they were instructed to retell the story in English using their own words. They were not given limits as to the time and number of words for them not to be pressured during narrative writing. The elicited written narratives were then subjected to linguistic complexity analysis. The second task involved reading in which the same groups of participants were asked to read each of the four different reading passages assigned to them. These reading passages were fielded to the participants at an overlapping distribution: passages 1 to 4 for the Grade 2 pupils, passages 2 to 5 for the Grade 4 pupils, and passages 5 to 8 for the Grade 6 pupils. The participants were given an hour to finish the reading test, and they were able to finish the task in the allotted time because the videos, as mentioned earlier, were subjected to evaluation of experts as regards to length and difficulty level. The results of the reading test for four selected reading passages per grade level were subjected to distributional statistics to determine the MCRP per grade level. The results revealed that passages 3, 2, and 4 were found most comprehensible for grades 2, 4, and 6, respectively. After the MCRPs had been identified, these passages were subjected to linguistic complexity analysis.

The first task involved film viewing (without audio and subtitle) which was done twice to promote more retention and comprehension.


In Iceland, as in most other countries, preschool teachers 1 are mainly female. This has been the case in Iceland since the start of formal early-years education when the Women's Alliance opened the first full-time day care centre for children in the 1920s. The profession is thus highly feminised. The stereotypical gendered perception and discourse in society means that working with the youngest children is considered women's work and is therefore subordinated. This view makes it harder for preschool teachers' professionalism to be acknowledged, and for preschool teachers to be seen as professionals as it may be taken for granted that anyone, but especially women, can 'take care' of children. This perception is reinforced when the view is based on the ideas of 'traditional professionalism' where professions develop skills based on theoretical knowledge, education and training, and where those skills are certified by examination, a code of professional conduct is oriented towards the public good, and a powerful professional organisation is established (Millerson 1964) . Thus, a distinction is made between professions with fully fledged professional status, like doctors and lawyers, and 'semi-professions', which tend to be female-dominated occupational fields such as those of teaching, nursing and social work, where this status is claimed but is 'neither fully established nor fully desired' (Etzioni 1969, v) .

This perception is reinforced when the view is based on the ideas of 'traditional professionalism' where professions develop skills based on theoretical knowledge, education and training, and where those skills are certified by examination, a code of professional conduct is oriented towards the public good, and a powerful professional organisation is established.


ND is also considered as one of the major threat to the poultry raisers in Pakistan. Its high morbidity, mortality and reduced productivity, resulting in remarkable economic losses every year. ND is caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and characterized by sudden appearance and rapid spread of the virus within the flock with high morbidity and mortality. NDV is synonymous with avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) and is an important member of the family Paramyxoviridae (Alexander, 1997 (Alexander, , 1998 Lamb et al., 1996) . Clinically, NDV can be categorized into three main pathotypes, that is, lentogenic, mesogenic and velogenic strains (Alexander, 1997) .

NDV is synonymous with avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) and is an important member of the family Paramyxoviridae.

Clinically, NDV can be categorized into three main pathotypes, that is, lentogenic, mesogenic and velogenic strains.


In addition to the immunological results, the present work found a significant relationship between the blood lactate and the maximal heart rate during the 6 MWT. Together, the [La] and HR responses indicate that the 6 MWT was performed at sub-maximal effort. Previous authors reported that the blood lactate and the HR max during the 1-Mile walk test have a direct relationship in healthy elderly adults (Bazzano, Cunningham, Cama, & Falconio, 1998) . These background and the data of the current study, suggest that the metabolic variable (lactate) and heart rate are good indicators to control the intensity during the field exercise testing at least in apparently healthy elderly people.

Previous authors reported that the blood lactate and the HR max during the 1-Mile walk test have a direct relationship in healthy elderly adults.


The experiment was presented as a study aimed at measuring skills for comprehending and using rare words in English. It was decided not to disclose the real objective of the exercise so as to avoid the use of other idiosyncratic strategies for the intentional memorization of content. The participants were not made aware of the immediately following recall test; this was to promote incidental learning by reducing the risk that they focus on the target words for deliberate retention (Peters 2007) .

The participants were not made aware of the immediately following recall test; this was to promote incidental learning by reducing the risk that they focus on the target words for deliberate retention.


No structural collapse related to alkali silica reaction (ASR) in concrete has been reported in the literature, however the cracks resulting from ASR expansion can provide direct paths for penetrating aggressive media. The impermeability of concrete in the reactor containment building is a safeguard against a release of radioactive materials (water, gases) into the atmosphere in a case of a cooling pipe failure. Therefore the design considerations of reactor containment and other safety-related buildings cover both operational and low-probability incidental loads, along with a detailed analysis of environmental and material factors influencing the long term performance of concrete structures. So the issue of potential ASR damage in concrete is of primary importance for safety-related structures in nuclear power plants. The damages to concrete may be more significant for an increased temperature and humidity of environment. The reactive minerals in aggregate may be present in small amounts and their distribution may vary in different portions of the aggregate. Damage can be caused by as small percentage as 0.5% of defective aggregates. The amount of reactive silica is an important factor governing the severity of ASR, which depends critically on the nature of the reactive aggregate. Highly reactive minerals like opal may cover as little as 2 % mass to cause deleterious expansion, while less reactive minerals such as greywackes require in excess of 20% to be dangerous, Oberholster [1] .

Highly reactive minerals like opal may cover as little as 2 % mass to cause deleterious expansion, while less reactive minerals such as greywackes require in excess of 20% to be dangerous, Oberholster.


The observations of the increase of both k and µ with decreasing contact pressure, and the lumpy topography with high contact pressures were similar to the earlier findings with the circularly translating pin-on-disk (CTPOD), in which the pin diameter was 9.0 mm and the 6 static load was varied [11] . Apparently, these phenomena were not sensitive to the type of multidirectional motion or to the type of load. The same type of gamma-inert-sterilized UHMWPE was used in these two studies. It was not surprising that a polyethylene surface with protuberances here and there proved to be advantageous for lubrication, as indicated by the low µ values with 4.0 mm and 6.5 mm contact diameters. Between the contact spots, formed by the protuberances, lubrication was likely to be enhanced. Logically, this reduced wear. Alternatively, the high contact stresses on the contact spots caused heating that reduced the UHMWPE wear. It may be further speculated that the actual contact stresses were so high that they led to the formation of the protuberances by plastic deformation, contributed by the elevated contact temperatures.

The observations of the increase of both k and µ with decreasing contact pressure, and the lumpy topography with high contact pressures were similar to the earlier findings with the circularly translating pin-on-disk (CTPOD), in which the pin diameter was 9.0 mm and the 6 static load was varied.

Logically, this reduced wear.


The fact that the wear factor strongly increased with increasing contact area (Fig. 2 ) was in agreement with clinical findings that the wear rate of UHMWPE acetabular cups increase with increasing femoral head diameter [12] . The wear rate against 32 mm femoral heads was twice that against 22 mm heads in the revision group. In other words, and increase of the head diameter by 45 per cent resulted in an increase of wear rate by 100 per cent. If the two largest pin diameters of the present study, 9.0 mm and 12 mm, are compared, an increase of the pin diameter by 33 per cent resulted in an increase of the wear factor (and wear rate) by 76 per cent (Fig. 2) . This diametral dependence was very close to the clinical finding [12] . The above indicates that a larger contact area results in a higher wear rate simply because the surface that releases wear particles is larger. The lower contact stresses do not seem to efficiently counteract this detrimental tendency so that the rate of particle release would be lower.

The fact that the wear factor strongly increased with increasing contact area (Fig. 2 ) was in agreement with clinical findings that the wear rate of UHMWPE acetabular cups increase with increasing femoral head diameter.

This diametral dependence was very close to the clinical finding.


In order to develop our approach, it is important to estimate continuously the pose -position and headingof the vehicle in the frame of the map using GPS, because of its affordability and convenience. However, GPS suffers from satellite outages occurring in urban environments, under bridges, tunnels or in forests. GPS can thus be seen as an intermittently-available positioning system that needs to be backed up by a dead-reckoning system [7] . In this work, a low-cost odometric method based on the use of encoders attached to the rear wheels is proposed. A dead-reckoned estimated pose is obtained by integrating the elementary rotations of the wheels starting from a known pose. The multisensor fusion of GPS and odometry is performed by a Switching Kalman Filter (SKF). This kind of formalism is also useful in quantifying the imprecision associated with each estimated pose.

GPS can thus be seen as an intermittently-available positioning system that needs to be backed up by a dead-reckoning system.


Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a "wireless automatic identification and data capture (AIDC)" technology (p. 615) that allows end-to-end supply chain item level tracking and tracing. The technology is considered by scholars and practitioners as at the core of the so-called "Internet of Things", which refers to the "possibility of discovering information about a tagged object by browsing an Internet address or database entry that corresponds to a particular RFID" (p. 2) [1] . However, a basic RFID system is not that complex; it is made of three important components: (i) a tag, which can be embedded in or attached to a physical product to be tracked and traced; (ii) a reader and its antennas, which interact with the tag without requiring a line of sight; and (ii) a host computer or middleware, which is in charge of managing the entire system by aggregating RFID data, filtering RFID data, and interacting with other supply chain information systems (e.g. enterprise resource planning, warehouse management systems, and transport management systems) to support intra-and interorganizational business transactions.

The technology is considered by scholars and practitioners as at the core of the so-called "Internet of Things", which refers to the "possibility of discovering information about a tagged object by browsing an Internet address or database entry that corresponds to a particular RFID" (p. 2).


The derivative value determines the reaction based on the rate at which the error has been changing. Adding a derivative term can improve the stability, reduce the overshoot that rises when proportional or high gain integral terms are used, and improve response speed by predicting changes in the error [7] . However, differentiation of a signal amplifies noise and thus this term in the controller is highly sensitive to noise in the error term.

Adding a derivative term can improve the stability, reduce the overshoot that rises when proportional or high gain integral terms are used, and improve response speed by predicting changes in the error.


To take first steps in that direction, we export an approach from agriculture and human genetics, where an increasing number of complex traits can be predicted from the results of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) alongside other predictors [21] [22] [23] . We illustrate how a similar approach can be applied to conservation biology, focusing on prediction of bleaching in wild populations of A. millepora. To this end, we constructed a highly contiguous chromosome-level de novo assembly of the A. millepora genome and generated high-coverage, whole-genome resequencing data for samples collected across 12 reefs on the GBR. We analyzed these data to search for signals of adaptation and to construct a reference haplotype panel for imputation of additional low coverage genomes. Using a set of 213 phenotyped and genotyped samples, we then carried out a GWAS for bleaching response in A. millepora, demonstrating how a predictive model for bleaching in natural populations can be built from genomic as well as environmental data.

To take first steps in that direction, we export an approach from agriculture and human genetics, where an increasing number of complex traits can be predicted from the results of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) alongside other predictors.


PNC and postpartum family planning counseling are relatively newer focus areas for the global health community. While facility-based PNC following delivery with a SBA in a facility is a preferred strategy, home-based PNC for at-home births may be an intermediate strategy as countries work to increase proportions of deliveries with SBAs [25] . Health workers should be trained to include family planning counseling and provision during PNC visits as part of routine care.

While facility-based PNC following delivery with a SBA in a facility is a preferred strategy, home-based PNC for at-home births may be an intermediate strategy as countries work to increase proportions of deliveries with SBAs.


By thorough examination of the HMA internal structure, aggregate matrices that exhibit enhanced performance can be identified and steps can be taken to develop compaction techniques that can produce this structure. The variation in aggregate structure within a pavement layer can be better quantified, thus improving the accuracy of QC/QA methods. Also, by investigating the aggregate structure, the cause of premature failure of an asphalt pavement may be determined (Shashidhar 1999) .

Also, by investigating the aggregate structure, the cause of premature failure of an asphalt pavement may be determined.


Realistic characterization of the failure of asphalt mixes (in terms of cracking, etc.) necessitates the consideration of HMA internal structure. The internal structure of asphalt mixes refers to the content and the spatial and directional distribution of air-voids, aggregates and asphalt as well as the chemical and physical interactions among these constituents (Masad and Button 2004) . Internal structure is typically referred to as microstructure in materials science and as fabric in geomaterials. It has been well recognized that the internal structure of asphalt mixes plays a significant role in the mechanical properties of HMA and in the resistance of asphalt pavements to major distresses including rutting, fatigue, thermal cracking and low-temperature cracking (Yue et al 1995; Masad et al 1999b) .

The internal structure of asphalt mixes refers to the content and the spatial and directional distribution of air-voids, aggregates and asphalt as well as the chemical and physical interactions among these constituents.

It has been well recognized that the internal structure of asphalt mixes plays a significant role in the mechanical properties of HMA and in the resistance of asphalt pavements to major distresses including rutting, fatigue, thermal cracking and low-temperature cracking.


A good of health education, should be given based on the individual needs and patients' characteristic. Assessment based on data from or about individuals related to health problems is important to determine, in order to give appropriate information or strategy in addressing individual learning needs (Rimer & Kreuter, 2006) . Moreover Timmins explained, health education would be more effective if based on perception of patients' learning needs. One of the problems of health education program consist of the lack of patients' learning needs assessment, thus it was given only based on health personnel perception (Timmins & Kaliszer, 2003) . This study was conducted to analyze the learning needs of CHD patients based on patient perception, as a recommendation for subsequent education especially educational programs for CHD patients in western Java Indonesia.

Assessment based on data from or about individuals related to health problems is important to determine, in order to give appropriate information or strategy in addressing individual learning needs.

One of the problems of health education program consist of the lack of patients' learning needs assessment, thus it was given only based on health personnel perception.


Ultimately, this study shows that net of background characteristics such as age, education, and marital status, among others, unmet need for contraception independently has a significant effect on the risk of unintended pregnancy among Ghanaian women. This is evident in model 3 where the significance of all significant factors disappeared after controlling for unmet need for contraception. The implication is that, irrespective of the background characteristics, unmet need for contraception is a principal predictor of unintended pregnancy among Ghanaian women. In this regard, women who have an unmet need for contraception in Ghana have a significantly higher risk of unintended pregnancy than those without an unmet need for contraception. This significant positive relationship between unmet need for contraception and unintended pregnancy is consistent with extant literature [23, 24] . Finally, one potential caution about this study is that it is based on a single wave of a cross-sectional survey; therefore, the findings reflect the situation of a point in time and may change over time. However, these findings make an indispensable contribution to knowledge on the risk of unintended pregnancy in Ghana.

This significant positive relationship between unmet need for contraception and unintended pregnancy is consistent with extant literature.


Increased accessibility to digital technologies in schools has meant that teachers have been provided with alternatives to teaching that have paved the way for possible changes to their pedagogical practices (Hedberg, 2011) . In this study, we explore how digital technologies can be used in Foundation classrooms (the first year of schooling in Australia), to facilitate self-directed learning of lower-order, "closed" knowledge; a practice that has the potential to free teachers to devote more of their time engaging students in more meaningful teaching and learning activities. This paper responds to a move towards a "value added approach" to the research of digital technologies in education ("which features [of the software program and/or device] lead to learning?") rather than a question of "effectiveness" per se (Clark & Mayer, 2011, p. 380) . Specifically, our purpose was to investigate whether the type of pictorial representations used in phonics applications may be a significant design feature in software designed to support young learners to match letters to sounds, and whether larger-scale, more rigorous research on their design would be warranted.

Increased accessibility to digital technologies in schools has meant that teachers have been provided with alternatives to teaching that have paved the way for possible changes to their pedagogical practices.


The following tables show the data that was gathered using the pre and post-test student results. It cannot be assumed that students will enter their first year of schooling without any knowledge of letter-sound associations (Nicholas & Paatsch, 2014) . Further to this, the collection of entry data and project implementation occurred during the second school term, three months into the school year. Given none of the student participants included were new to their class, all child participants had been exposed to letter-sound mapping instruction (at least one focus letter a week) prior to the trial. This is reflected in Table 1 with a great spread of knowledge evident in all three classes at the commencement of the study. In all classes there was at least one child who only knew one letter-sound association along with children who knew 19 or more. Table 1 shows that a quarter of the children from the FTC-SD group and a quarter from the TLI group knew 1-3 letter-sound associations. This was slightly lower than the IC-SD group's first quartile, which shows that a quarter of student knew 1-5 letter-sound associations. The TLI group had the highest performing fourth quartile. A quarter of the children from this class began the second term knowing 17-23 letter-sound associations. There was also a greater spread amongst this group's third quartile with a quarter of students knowing 10-17 letter sounds. The FTC-SD class had the poorest performing fourth quartile with a quarter of children knowing 15-19 letter-sound associations.

It cannot be assumed that students will enter their first year of schooling without any knowledge of letter-sound associations.


TCP is the most widely-used reliable and rate-controlled transport protocol when multiple competing flows share common links. TCP achieves reliability and rate-control based on frequent acknowledgments that can be a limiting factor for data transfers when the forward/back-path-asymmetry exceeds 50:1 [7] . That, and TCP's assumptions about all packet loss being caused by congestion in link buffers and queues, make TCP unsuitable for the satellite environment we have described, as a single TCP flow will not be able to fully utilize the available capacity of satellite links.

TCP achieves reliability and rate-control based on frequent acknowledgments that can be a limiting factor for data transfers when the forward/back-path-asymmetry exceeds 50:1.


The previous two paragraphs suggest that adopting existing TFRC mechanisms would require significant modifications to the Saratoga protocol. Moreover, sending additional data, required for existing TFRC versions, in feedback is undesirable in Saratoga when asymmetry and low rates of the returnchannel are present, as acknowledgement congestion on the return-channel is a concern. Therefore, we design a true sender-based TFRC-like mechanism that controls the rate using the existing feedback specified in Saratoga, which anticipates the use of TFRC or a similar mechanism [1] . Our mechanism resembles the receiver-based TFRC, but computes parameters at the sender.

Therefore, we design a true sender-based TFRC-like mechanism that controls the rate using the existing feedback specified in Saratoga, which anticipates the use of TFRC or a similar mechanism.


With the adoption of mobile devices such as laptop computers, tablets (such as iPad), smartphones, and e-readers (such as Amazon Kindle), digital magazines are now no stranger to magazine readers. Digital magazines and, in particular, interactive digital magazines, are designed for (i) competing for online readers' attention, (ii) easy interaction between readers and the magazine, and (iii) disseminating interactive advertisements (Gordon, 2011) . Thus, online magazines are often not simple replicas based on their printed counterparts.

Digital magazines and, in particular, interactive digital magazines, are designed for (i) competing for online readers' attention, (ii) easy interaction between readers and the magazine, and (iii) disseminating interactive advertisements.


An ideal visual tracking system should be temporally and spatially complete [2] . Thus, there should be no single frame in which an object in the field of view would not be accounted for -temporal completeness; and each object in the field of view should correspond to a single connected silhouette (blob) in the image space that completely covers only the object's pixels -spatial completeness. In an environment with a variable number of objects from different classes, it is not always possible to achieve both temporal and spatial completeness during tracking.

An ideal visual tracking system should be temporally and spatially complete.


The test of aspect-oriented (AO) programs is an important activity, which constitutes an active research topic, investigated by many authors. The goal is to extend the knowledge acquired in the object-oriented (OO) context and to introduce specific test criteria for the AO software [1] [2] [3] [4] . Similarly to the OO software, the AO testing should be conducted in different phases [1] . In the integration test phase, the focus is on the interaction between the modules. In the AO context, a module can be either a class or an aspect, and new kinds of faults appear, as well as, some new difficulties.

The goal is to extend the knowledge acquired in the object-oriented (OO) context and to introduce specific test criteria for the AO software.

Similarly to the OO software, the AO testing should be conducted in different phases.


As contemporary high-performance computing (HPC) systems are increasing in size to thousands of processors, such as IBM's BlueGene/L (BG/L), high availability is becoming a challenge [4] . While the reliability of a single node is often remarkably high, a job's chance to complete execution prior to any failures decreases as the number of nodes to parallelize the job increases. For the BG/L at Livermore with 130k processors, a dual-processor compute card is currently failing every other day forcing a 1024-processor midplane to be temporarily shut down to replace the card [29] .

As contemporary high-performance computing (HPC) systems are increasing in size to thousands of processors, such as IBM's BlueGene/L (BG/L), high availability is becoming a challenge.

For the BG/L at Livermore with 130k processors, a dual-processor compute card is currently failing every other day forcing a 1024-processor midplane to be temporarily shut down to replace the card.


Prior work on distributed locking explored the scalability of tree structures [21] . This prior work focused on mutual exclusion protocols and reader/writer locks in the context of middleware such as CORBA. A fault-tolerant extension of such a locking protocol is developed as a ring-based topology, which limits its scalability [37] . Our membership algorithm, in contrast, provides consistent views among nodes in the presence of faults in a scalable manner. Furthermore, the approach is reconfigurable for a variable number of children (as a power of 2), natively encodes routing information due to its use of a radix tree, and it provides constant time access to the data structure for individual nodes.

Prior work on distributed locking explored the scalability of tree structures.

A fault-tolerant extension of such a locking protocol is developed as a ring-based topology, which limits its scalability.


It is possible that the improved performance in the prediction conditions in Experiments 1 and 2 was due to viewing the three phase diagrams rather than being asked questions about the behavior of the device. Research on mental representations of continuous processes suggests that people tend to represent processes as a sequence of key events rather than as analog simulation of continuous motion (Zacks & Tversky, 2001) . Therefore, the three phases might be more similar to people's mental representations of events than a continuous animation. Alternatively, viewing the three diagrams might itself induce students to infer the behavior of the system, so that being explicitly asked to predict system behavior while viewing these diagrams is not necessary. To examine the effects of the three phase diagrams independently of the instruction to predict system behavior, in Experiment 3 we included a condition in which participants viewed the three diagrams without answering prediction questions. We compared comprehension following viewing of the phase diagrams to comprehension of the device after viewing static and animated diagrams. If viewing the three phase diagrams leads to similar levels of comprehension as viewing an animation, it suggests that just seeing three different phases in the operation of the device is sufficient for students to construct a representation of system behavior. On the other hand, if viewing three phase diagrams leads to similar levels of comprehension as viewing a static diagram, it suggests that the three diagrams alone are not sufficient for representation of system behavior, and students must be explicitly instructed to predict how the system works.

Research on mental representations of continuous processes suggests that people tend to represent processes as a sequence of key events rather than as analog simulation of continuous motion.


These findings expand our understanding of the process of prejudice reduction. Previous research showed that high IMS/ low EMS people demonstrate less implicit bias, and that this effect is related to both reduced activation of biased associations and increased detection of correct responses among these respondents (Gonsalkorale et al., 2011) . However, it is an open question whether high IMS/low EMS individuals have less biased associations because of extensive practice at monitoring and replacing biased responses, if they simply never had biased associations in the first place, or if having less biased associations facilitates the development of effective response monitoring. The results of the present study indicate that extensive practice at monitoring and replacing biased responses can both enhance detection and reduce the activation of biased associations.

Previous research showed that high IMS/ low EMS people demonstrate less implicit bias, and that this effect is related to both reduced activation of biased associations and increased detection of correct responses among these respondents.


A subsequence of a time series that is seen to repeat within that time series is defined as a motif. The objective of the MTA is to find those motifs. The power of the MTA comes from the fact that it has no prior knowledge of the time series to be examined or what motifs exist. It searches in a fast and efficient manner and the flexibility incorporated in its generic approach allows the MTA to be applied across a diverse range of problems. The MTA has already been applied to motif detection in industrial data sets [2] . Here we test its generic properties by applying it to motif identification in system call data sets.

The MTA has already been applied to motif detection in industrial data sets.


The present work has demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, that the effects of 5-HT to increase the L-type Ca 2+ current and to prolong the early plateau phase of action potential repolarisation in human atrial myocytes were each potentiated by prior treatment of patients with β-blockers, with evidence of arrhythmogenic activity. Since 5-HT had no effect on late repolarisation or refractoriness, it would not be expected to contribute to the shortening of re-entrant circuits which stabilises AF. It is more likely that 5-HT may contribute to arrhythmia genesis, by causing afterdepolarisations via mechanisms involving increased I CaL and cellular calcium overload (Levy, 1989) .

It is more likely that 5-HT may contribute to arrhythmia genesis, by causing afterdepolarisations via mechanisms involving increased I CaL and cellular calcium overload.


In addition, we developed case study research to validate the chosen framework. Case study research is a common method for testing theories [121] . Theoretical frameworks require a permanent verification of the reality they represent in order to be updated [122] .

Case study research is a common method for testing theories.

Theoretical frameworks require a permanent verification of the reality they represent in order to be updated.


Global urban population is expected to reach nearly 60% of the total population in 2020 [1] . Furthermore, between 2000 and 2050 urban surface needs will be multiplied by a factor of 2 in developed countries and expanded by 326% in developing countries to fit population demands [2] . Local governments will have to manage this growth and it will put severe strain on municipal finances [3] . Therefore, city planning is getting more and more critical [4] .

Global urban population is expected to reach nearly 60% of the total population in 2020.

Furthermore, between 2000 and 2050 urban surface needs will be multiplied by a factor of 2 in developed countries and expanded by 326% in developing countries to fit population demands.

Local governments will have to manage this growth and it will put severe strain on municipal finances.

Therefore, city planning is getting more and more critical.


The constructive research steps are matched with suitable research methods and data so that the methodology reveals different angles of the research problem with a heterogeneous combination of complementary methods [114] . In our case, we have used several methodologies to conduct our research: content analysis, in-depth interviews, and case study. The complete process of the research work is illustrated in Table 1 .

The constructive research steps are matched with suitable research methods and data so that the methodology reveals different angles of the research problem with a heterogeneous combination of complementary methods.


The Santander City Council is also planning to renew the street lighting facility that will rely on the use of 23,000 luminaires of light-emitting diode (LED) technology, the integration of a point-to-point monitoring and command system, and the installation of 60 points of presence to regulate the light intensity level depending on whether or not pedestrians or vehicles are detected. The public tender for the street lighting infrastructure has been recently launched and the company awarded, as well as the system that it will implement, is already known. The concessionaire has committed to achieve savings of 80% on current energy consumption, which adds a reduction of about 35% of the costs of maintenance of the service. The concessionaire will have to make an initial investment of 11 million euros to renew the facility. The return of investment for the company will come from the savings achieved in the power consumption. Before launching the public tender, a testbed had been developed in the city with the support of a research group of the University of Cantabria in order to assess the sensor detection system. Different stakeholders are involved in the development of smart cities because of the appearance of brand new technologies, financial restrictions, and a wave of new ways of managing the commons. Local governments have been elected to lead cities but all the stakeholders are involved in that task [20] [21] [22] . In the process of evolving towards smart cities, municipalities move from traditional business models that are managed by the local government and budgeted by a third party (usually the taxpayer paying taxes) to models that boost complex relationships between the stakeholders and different financial systems like advertising or recycled materials. Bringing smart solutions to life and making them financially viable requires a proper understanding of the genuine business opportunities which may be created [23] .

Local governments have been elected to lead cities but all the stakeholders are involved in that task.

Bringing smart solutions to life and making them financially viable requires a proper understanding of the genuine business opportunities which may be created.


Unfortunately, only 4 of the 31 deployed PSATs remained attached for the entire pre-programmed period (Table 2) , and those four PSATs were programmed for 90 d. We concluded that at least four of the premature releases in our study (Table 2) were the result of predation (presumably sharks). Predation followed by predator ingestion of the PSAT was assumed when depth increased greatly for extended periods, counter to the vertical behavior we normally witnessed in Yellowfin Tuna. Concomitant to these depth changes, temperature readings were elevated above the values expected for a given depth; these temperatures were relatively constant, suggesting that the PSAT was ingested and therefore recorded the predator's internal body temperature. In addition, light level measurements were negligible, suggesting that the PSAT was shielded from light after being ingested. When the PSAT reverted to recording temperature values that were plausible for the concurrent depth values and started transmitting data via the Argos system, the PSAT was presumed to have been regurgitated. Predatory behavior resulting in PSAT ingestion has been reported in previous studies (Kerstetter et al. 2004; Béguer-Pon et al. 2012; Lacroix 2014) . Predation may have been responsible for the loss of other Yellowfin Tuna in our study, particularly when PSATs were at large for only a few days ( Table 1) .

Predatory behavior resulting in PSAT ingestion has been reported in previous studies.


The most obvious limitation of our method is the number and distribution of detectors, which was driven by the availability of drinkers in the study area. Other studies have recommended that trap spacing be ≤ 2σ to ensure enough captures and spatial recaptures for accurate parameter estimates (Sollmann et al. 2012; Sun et al. 2014) . The average minimum distance between drinkers in our study area was 810 m (SD = 340 m) slightly exceeding the recommended 2σ distance for the h 1 mixture class (360.89 m * 2 = 721.78 m) and a little more than half the distance of the h 2 mixture class (792.07 m * 2 = 1,584.15 m). Given the h 1 mixture class represented 79% of the total mixture, it is probable that a higher density of traps would have helped increase the precision of our parameter estimates. Furthermore, one-half of the drinkers in a survey region were being monitored at any time due to a limited number of cameras available for deployment. Cameras also were deployed as 2 groups in a temporally staggered fashion, rather than simultaneously, which reduced the number of days that all cameras within an area were active and may have increased the average distance between actively monitored drinkers. Cumulatively, it is probable that this design resulted in fewer captures and recaptures than necessary for a more precise density estimate.

Other studies have recommended that trap spacing be ≤ 2σ to ensure enough captures and spatial recaptures for accurate parameter estimates.


Several works have included CNN methods in systems that recover reflectance and shading layers [25, 26, 37, 38] . However, prior work uses CNNs mostly in combination with additional methods, such as Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), to achieve a dense image decomposition. An advantage of CRF models is their ability to encode prior information about the problem. In the pre-CNN time, intrinsic image methods were dominated by CRF models with carefully designed priors on reflectance, shading, and their combination. In this paper we attempt to answer the question whether prior terms are necessary when human annotation in the form of weak labels is available.

Several works have included CNN methods in systems that recover reflectance and shading layers.


A number of algorithms implementing various approaches for thinning of images have been proposed. The algorithms are broadly divided into two categories: iterative and non-iterative. Iterative algorithms repeatedly apply a procedure on the input image till the skeleton image is obtained. On the contrary, non-iterative algorithms take a set of predetermined parameters and try to obtain primary skeleton in a single iteration (Neuslds and Olszewski, 1994) .

On the contrary, non-iterative algorithms take a set of predetermined parameters and try to obtain primary skeleton in a single iteration.


Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite systems and epoxy adhesive are important materials in civil engineering. However, although the morphological characteristics of FRP have close correlation with its mechanical properties, they have not been deeply studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. Nowadays, in order to understand failure sequences of FRP composites and epoxy adhesives it has been correlated to the mechanical behavior of composites materials when they are used in retrofitting any concrete or steel element [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . In addition, majority of researches that have focused on FRP composites and epoxy adhesive mechanical behavior did not explore the morphology of materials. Hassein 8 studied how temperature affects the strength and the fatigue life of steel beams strengthened with externally bonded carbon FRP (CFRP) plates. In CFRP tensile test it was found that samples failed without any plastic deformation. Besides, tensile tests for sikadur 30 dogbone specimens were carried out and showed a nonlinear stress-strain behavior when the temperature is close and above the material glass transition temperature (Tg).

Nowadays, in order to understand failure sequences of FRP composites and epoxy adhesives it has been correlated to the mechanical behavior of composites materials when they are used in retrofitting any concrete or steel element.


Measurements of the axial flux distribution in the irradiation container at B2-irradiation channel have been carried out by foil activation method using 63 Cu(n, ) 64 Cu reaction, specifically by absolute method. Knowledge of the axial neutron flux in the core and the variation of the flux from one sample position to another are important in improving NAA technique. The axial neutron flux profiles indicate that variations occur from one position to another. The neutron flux for each of the positions measured can be used to predict the irradiation conditions of samples at those positions particularly during long irradiation in which many samples were jam-packed in one vial. This may facilitate flux corrections for the samples if need be. It can also be seen that even with the recent installation of the cadmium-liner in the outer channel of the reactor; the thermal neutron flux of the B2-channel has not deviated from 5.14 x 10 11 cm -2 s -1 measured earlier [12] .

It can also be seen that even with the recent installation of the cadmium-liner in the outer channel of the reactor; the thermal neutron flux of the B2-channel has not deviated from 5.14 x 10 11 cm -2 s -1 measured earlier.


To address this issue, a new piezohydraulic actuator is developed for integration into a microjet flow control system. The design presented here is focused on developing a benchtop, broadband flow control actuator that can be used to further understand the effect of broadband pulsed microjet actuation on various aircraft structures. Piezoelectric materials are well known for their broadband electromechanical actuation characteristics which have been utilized in a number of compact actuator devices [9] [10] [11] [12] . The large forces and small displacements afforded by piezoelectric stack actuators are ideal for broadband nanopositioning applications [13] . In applications where larger displacement (>1 mm) is desired, amplification techniques or frequency rectification is often employed [9, 11, [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] . As one example, a hydraulic amplification technique is utilized here to provide a compact throttling mechanism that can control a microjet with an orifice diameter on the order of 400 µm.

Piezoelectric materials are well known for their broadband electromechanical actuation characteristics which have been utilized in a number of compact actuator devices.

The large forces and small displacements afforded by piezoelectric stack actuators are ideal for broadband nanopositioning applications.

In applications where larger displacement (>1 mm) is desired, amplification techniques or frequency rectification is often employed.


In contrast to pulsed flow, steady flow microjets have demonstrated significant improvement in reducing undesirable flow characteristics on a broad range of aircraft structures including cavities, inlet designs, and impinging jets. In these systems, an array of orifices (each with diameter of ~400 µm) is strategically placed on an aircraft surface and steady blowing from the orifices reduces flow separation and acoustic emissions. Implementation of steady flow microjets have demonstrated significant reductions in the overall sound pressure level by 11 dB in a supersonic cavity flow application [7] .

Implementation of steady flow microjets have demonstrated significant reductions in the overall sound pressure level by 11 dB in a supersonic cavity flow application.


Other factors influence on forest maintenance and regenerative processes. Abiotic factors, such as luminosity, combined with canopy coverage, regulate the light available in the lower layers, determining growth and seedling (RiCHARDS, 1996) . Plant species, however, vary in their growth responses under high luminosity and their mortality under shade (PEARSOn et al., 2003) . Some species are adapted to survive in patches with high direct sunlight, such as natural gaps (PEARSOn et al., 2003) . These species are regarded as light-demanding species and they have a clearly different function from that of shade-tolerant species in terms of regeneration after treefall gap.

Abiotic factors, such as luminosity, combined with canopy coverage, regulate the light available in the lower layers, determining growth and seedling.

Plant species, however, vary in their growth responses under high luminosity and their mortality under shade.

Some species are adapted to survive in patches with high direct sunlight, such as natural gaps.


For centuries, animal breeders have greatly and effectively manipulated the genomes of livestock species and enhanced production traits in their herds by selecting superior individuals as predecessors for the next genera-tions. This indirect use of hereditary information without involving molecular knowledge may give useful results in terms of production but may ignore some reproductive traits of animal. Hence, there is need to use selection methods that are based on genomic studies (André, 2012) . Genes that are correlated with performance parameters can improve the estimation of breeding value and hence can work as a suitable supplement to conventional breeding procedures. Genetic polymorphism related to the differences in animal performance can be taken into account in the selection process.

Hence, there is need to use selection methods that are based on genomic studies.


This study aimed to address three research questions relevant to: (1) the variation of ambient temperatures; (2) predicting temperatures using ground and satellite data; and (3) the role of landscape features in amplifying temperatures. The results indicate that in all of our study regions, the temperatures vary by over 10 • C, and that those patterns were largely due to specific land cover patterns, including the presence of dense buildings (hottest) and parks/open space (coolest), which is consistent with other UHI studies using similar traverse-based methods [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] . The study went further to illustrate that specific satellite bands can help to inform predictions about the distribution of urban heat. In fact, within the model diagnostics, we observed that the application of a machine learning technique (RF) created high performing models with excellent predictive power, and low variance in error (RMSE).

The results indicate that in all of our study regions, the temperatures vary by over 10 • C, and that those patterns were largely due to specific land cover patterns, including the presence of dense buildings (hottest) and parks/open space (coolest), which is consistent with other UHI studies using similar traverse-based methods.


Next, we explain the relation with logic programming. We have mentioned that non-linear patterns and backtracking are important features to extend the efficiency and expressive power of pattern matching especially on non-free data types. Unification of logic programming has both features. However, how to integrate non-determinism of logic programming and pattern matching is not obvious [18] . For example, the pattern-matching facility of Prolog is specialized only for algebraic data types.

However, how to integrate non-determinism of logic programming and pattern matching is not obvious.


In the healthy heart, 60% to 90% energy production is achieved from beta-oxidation of fatty acids, while mainly from pyruvate oxidation for the remainder [17] . Pyruvate is a central metabolic substrate linking glycolysis to the Krebs cycle, and leading to energy production, as well as to production of lactate and CO 2 , partly converted in bicarbonate. Pyruvate derives from cytosolic glycolysis and lactate oxidation and, in the normoperfused heart, is mostly oxidized in the Krebs cycle, to form CO 2 , and partly either reduced back to lactate or converted into alanine [18] .

In the healthy heart, 60% to 90% energy production is achieved from beta-oxidation of fatty acids, while mainly from pyruvate oxidation for the remainder.

Pyruvate derives from cytosolic glycolysis and lactate oxidation and, in the normoperfused heart, is mostly oxidized in the Krebs cycle, to form CO 2 , and partly either reduced back to lactate or converted into alanine.


The microstructural and fatigue properties of different super austenitic stainless steel like AISI 904 L, 254 SMO and AMANOX1.3964 are studied when they are welded by plasma arc and electron beam-welding. The microstructures were fully dendritic and austenitic although the interdendritic materials are richer in ferrite stabilizing elements (Cr, Mo). The heat affected zone (HAZ) was very narrow in the electron beam welded joints due to the high cooling rate. The fatigue strength of such welded joints was found to be superior to that of the joints of ferritic -pearlitic steel (Lee et al., 2000; Bonollo et al., 2004) . The absence of precipitates in the region near the plate surface, close to the fusion line, was justified by the cooling rate which was fast enough to prevent the precipitate formation. However, closer to the plate centers, the welding process has led to a temperature exposure at which precipitation occurred (Nastac, Stefanescu 1993) . The temperature and stress fields which are computed in the laser welded region of mild steel sheets using finite element method were studied. It is found that, the temperature decay rate in the molten zone is lower than in the solid. The grain coarsening occurs in the heat affected zone and grain refinement and recrystallization takes place in the fusion zone (Yilbas et al., 2010) .

The fatigue strength of such welded joints was found to be superior to that of the joints of ferritic -pearlitic steel.

However, closer to the plate centers, the welding process has led to a temperature exposure at which precipitation occurred.

The grain coarsening occurs in the heat affected zone and grain refinement and recrystallization takes place in the fusion zone.


However, it is increasingly recognised that inequalities also occur within a given node of a value chain, based on gender, age, ethnicity, and other factors of social differentiation (Coles and Mitchell 2011) . Failure to address these inequalities is problematic from a gender and a broader equality perspective, and may effectively undermine the potential of VCD to contribute to both economic and social progress (Bamber and Staritz 2016) . This potential has been highlighted in approaches to women's economic empowerment, with authors advocating the adequate application of a gender lens in value chain analysis and associated development programming (KIT, Agri-ProFocus, and IIRR 2012; Rubin and Manfre 2014; Quisumbing et al. 2015) . Gender-based constraints and opportunities for strengthening women's participation in value chains figure prominently in these publications, often with a strong focus on women's capacity to enhance income and make decisions on its use.

However, it is increasingly recognised that inequalities also occur within a given node of a value chain, based on gender, age, ethnicity, and other factors of social differentiation.

Failure to address these inequalities is problematic from a gender and a broader equality perspective, and may effectively undermine the potential of VCD to contribute to both economic and social progress.

This potential has been highlighted in approaches to women's economic empowerment, with authors advocating the adequate application of a gender lens in value chain analysis and associated development programming.


Over the past few years, organisations engaged in the development of agricultural value chains have increasingly labelled their interventions as "inclusive". This conveys an explicit interest to carry out development programmes that "include and substantially benefit large numbers of poor people -often smallholders, but also artisans or small-scale retailers or customers" (Harper, Belt, and Roy 2015) . Such value chain development (VCD) often aims to improve access by smallholders and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including cooperatives and producer associations, to information, inputs, and services. Emphasis is placed on developing more equitable business relationships between different actors along the nodes of a value chain, with expectations that beneficial outcomes accrue to smallholders and SMEs but also to their business partners further downstream in the chain. Interventions typically focus on facilitating stronger links between these actors and expanding the provision of affordable and effective services from within and outside of the chain (Kaplinsky 2016) .

This conveys an explicit interest to carry out development programmes that "include and substantially benefit large numbers of poor people -often smallholders, but also artisans or small-scale retailers or customers".

Interventions typically focus on facilitating stronger links between these actors and expanding the provision of affordable and effective services from within and outside of the chain.


In this work we apply a tried and true method of generating solutions in supergravity theories: the awful power of the Geroch group [15] . In section 2 we find by explicit computation that the bosonic sector of our gauged STU model has a G = U(1) 3 invariance and one can use this group to act on any solution of the theory. We denote the diagonal U(1) subgroup of G by U(1) g and find reason to conjecture that G/U(1) g is in addition a symmetry of the fermionic sector of the theory.

In this work we apply a tried and true method of generating solutions in supergravity theories: the awful power of the Geroch group.


Although CA was originally a sociological issue, it has been used in other disciplines such as linguistics, sociology and ethnomethodology as well. CA, in a broader sense, "refers to any study of people talking together" (Ten Have, 2007, p. 6) . It is a multidisciplinary methodology and has been widely used in many different academic areas including second language learning and teaching. Despite the fact that Conversation Analysis is an approach in its own right, with its own theories and logics, SCT views it as just a tool in service of different sociocultural theories of learning (Markee & Kasper, 2004) . CA has been used in SCT paradigm as a powerful tool for analyzing the nuances of the interactions, and consequently better understanding them. Since this study uses the SCT framework as the theoretical backbone, and aims to base its claims on concrete and provable evidences, the best method to analyze the data of this study is considered to be Conversation Analysis.

Despite the fact that Conversation Analysis is an approach in its own right, with its own theories and logics, SCT views it as just a tool in service of different sociocultural theories of learning.


CA studies may be questioned regarding their reliability as they do not present their primary data to the readers. Hence the reliability of major parts of their analyses is not available for examination (Seedhouse, 2005) . On the other hand, however, CA analysts display their analyses so transparently as if giving the reader a tour, in a sense, of the processes of the analysis. They take the hand of the reader and walk them through all the stages of analysis step by step. This, of course, enables the readers to analyze the data themselves and judge the trustworthiness of the analysts' interpretations. Therefore, all the analyses are replicable to the readers themselves.

Hence the reliability of major parts of their analyses is not available for examination.


Until recently, the studies on L1 have mostly been on the basis of questions asked from the teachers and/or students about their opinions on whether or not it is a good idea to use L1 in L2 classes (Mora Pablo, Lengeling, Rubio Zenil, Crawford, & Goodwin, 2011) . The issue with these kinds of studies might be that they do not actually capture what really goes on in the classroom and it makes it next to impossible to verify what the teachers and students claimed, and prove any of the conclusions drawn. To go around this issue, some studies have used Conversation Analysis (CA) to capture what goes on in the classroom and base their conclusions on these documented evidences (De La Campa & Nassaji, 2009; Samar & Moradkhani, 2014) .

Until recently, the studies on L1 have mostly been on the basis of questions asked from the teachers and/or students about their opinions on whether or not it is a good idea to use L1 in L2 classes.

To go around this issue, some studies have used Conversation Analysis (CA) to capture what goes on in the classroom and base their conclusions on these documented evidences.


In contrast, ACTION was less successful at targeting predictability and decision-making in the caring situation. The lower predictability scores might be explained in the Swedish study by the slight educational content on planning ahead and decision-making. While the scheme demonstrated several benefits, it was relatively ineffective in reducing the perceived stresses of the caring situation. This finding reinforces the importance of providing a range of support services, especially respite and other forms of relief. It is therefore concluded that ICT-support services do not replace existing statutory or formal services, but rather facilitate their optimal use and stimulate new forms of help. Finally, there is the crucial question of when is such support best provided? The findings make clear that the scheme was most effective when delivered at the earliest opportunity, for then it enables the carer early access to the information, education and support services. In the same vein, an additional benefit for a family carer of ICT-support at an early date is the opportunity to be actively involved in developing new services, something which many find empowering (Hanson, Tetley and Shewan 2000) .

In the same vein, an additional benefit for a family carer of ICT-support at an early date is the opportunity to be actively involved in developing new services, something which many find empowering.


Turning to the primary target of the intervention, family carers, the findings suggest that the ACTION services were most appropriate for those who expressed a desire to care for an older relative at home, i.e. those in the ' It was definitely helpful ' and ' It was quite helpful' groups. The scheme encouraged carers to continue in their role by enabling them to feel more prepared and confident. It is also evident, however, that user-friendly ICT services are not appropriate for all family carers of frail older people, particularly those who are already heavily burdened, are in a crisis situation, or are ambivalent about their caring role, i.e. those in the ' It was definitely not helpful' group. Such carers probably require different forms of support, including information about alternatives to home care. Thus, a critical consideration is whether installing ICT support in a carer's homes indirectly coerces her or him to continue caring for their older relative, and makes more difficult a conscious decision to relinquish the role (Askham 1998) .

Thus, a critical consideration is whether installing ICT support in a carer's homes indirectly coerces her or him to continue caring for their older relative, and makes more difficult a conscious decision to relinquish the role.


Furthermore, the unique diagnostic and therapeutic potential of porphyrins, e.g., in tumor detection, tumor imaging and in the photodynamic treatment of malignancies are important motivations for porphyrin research [9] [10] [11] . Porphyrins are a ubiquitous class of compounds in nature. Classic examples are hemes, a group of iron porphyrins which serve as cofactor in proteins with multiple biological functions. Proteins such as myoglobin and hemoglobin are involved in reversible oxygen binding, while cytochromes function in reversible electron transfer processes. On the other hand, cytochromes P450 and peroxidases can perform oxidative transformations with a wide range of substrates [12] . The versatile biochemistry of cytochromes P450 has triggered the industrial applications of P450s for the production of fine chemicals [13, 14] . P450s allow for a variety of regioand enantioselective oxidation reactions, which are difficult to achieve by chemical synthesis [13, 14] .

Furthermore, the unique diagnostic and therapeutic potential of porphyrins, e.g., in tumor detection, tumor imaging and in the photodynamic treatment of malignancies are important motivations for porphyrin research.

On the other hand, cytochromes P450 and peroxidases can perform oxidative transformations with a wide range of substrates.

The versatile biochemistry of cytochromes P450 has triggered the industrial applications of P450s for the production of fine chemicals.

P450s allow for a variety of regioand enantioselective oxidation reactions, which are difficult to achieve by chemical synthesis.


Only a few studies have reported data on weight status of children with ASDs. Several studies have found varying prevalences of obesity in children and adolescents [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] . The results from these studies suggest that the prevalence of obesity in children with autism may be as high as, if not higher than, the general population of children. However, many of these studies had small sample sizes, no comparison group, and were conducted more than ten years ago.

Several studies have found varying prevalences of obesity in children and adolescents.


Specifically, in the last several years, multi-MeV ion acceleration from laser-irradiated thin target foils is an area that has received considerable interest and has been widely examined both experimentally and theoretically. When an ultra-intense laser pulse is incident on a thin target foil, protons, arising from hydrogenated contamination layers on the surface of the foil, are accelerated owing to electric-field formation. Experimental data and particle in cell (PIC) simulations of laser-acceleration of ions suggest the maximum proton energy increases significantly as the target thickness is reduced for sufficiently high laser intensity and contrast [14, 15, 31] . Because contrast is crucial for accessing high field physics in desired targets it has become a major issue, and is today under serious investigation throughout the world.

Experimental data and particle in cell (PIC) simulations of laser-acceleration of ions suggest the maximum proton energy increases significantly as the target thickness is reduced for sufficiently high laser intensity and contrast.


The South African energy sector is currently faced with a number of challenges. Residential energy consumption dramatically increased (by 50%) during the period 1994 to 2007 due to the implementation of a Free Basic Electricity Policy in 2001. This meant that 50 kWh of electricity was supplied per household to poor households per month, free of charge (Inglesi and Pouris, 2010) . Since 2007 the country has been experiencing an ongoing energy A perspective on South African coal fired power station emissions crisis. The main reason for this was the delay by government in making a decision to fund the building of a new power station after being warned of an energy crisis approaching in 1998, combined with an increase in demand as a result of economic growth and the implementation of the Free Basic Energy Policy (Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), 1998; Inglesi and Pouris).

This meant that 50 kWh of electricity was supplied per household to poor households per month, free of charge.


Four polish cultivars: Skiz, Eska 46, Alicja, Ani and six breeding lines: POB 13, SK-W-33, SKW-15, SKW-35A, SK-W-35A and SK-W-35B of P. pratensis L. were investigated. The seeds of these genotypes originated from the Małopolska Plant Raising -HBP Ltd., Poland. All genotypes were grown both in a greenhouse and in the field conditions in nursery of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Poznań University of Life Sciences. First, the individual genotypes of Poa were cloned in earlier mentioned two environments and further studies on these clones were conducted. It was ten clones for each [11] . Plants were treated with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid . However, the results obtained were comparable, so we decided that panicles will be sprayed only with an 75 mg × L −1 solution of 2,4-D. Each year five inflorescences from three chosen clones of each genotype were soaked for one minute in these solution of synthetic 2,4-D. The paper bags were used for isolation. For further observation, one treated and one untreated inflorescence from three clones of each genotype were taken in the same time. Spikelets were sampled from the experimental field and from the greenhouse 25 days after spraying. Six spikelets from the panicle were collected and fixed in the solution of ethyl alcohol:chloroform:acetic acid (6:3:1) for 24 h and stored in 70% ethanol in the refrigerator until use. Additional, spikelets from untreated inflorescences were also sampled to check the grain induction in the absence of the auxin treatment. Embryological analysis of embryo and endosperm formation were made with the help of paraffin section methods [15, 16] . There were 720 ovules analyzed altogether. The observation of endosperm and embryos development in embryo sacs (ES) were made under the Nicon microscope.

It was ten clones for each.

Embryological analysis of embryo and endosperm formation were made with the help of paraffin section methods.


A large number of algorithms for disparity map generation are pixel based in which the disparity is calculated pixel-by-pixel. Pixel based methods does not give good results in textureless surfaces. Noise is typically present in disparity calculated for such surfaces. Compared to the large number of research papers on pixel-based disparity map generation algorithms, there are not many related to region-based disparity estimation algorithms [6] [7] .

Compared to the large number of research papers on pixel-based disparity map generation algorithms, there are not many related to region-based disparity estimation algorithms.


In this context, it was previously demonstrated in hormone-treated but unspawned characiform fish that a significant percentage of GVBD oocytes remained in their ovaries and were not released (Hainfellner et al. 2012; Criscuolo-Urbinati et al. 2012) . Using these data, a new protocol was proposed which included prostaglandin F (PGF 2α ) administration together with conventional hypophysation (Criscuolo-Urbinati et al. 2012) . The inclusion of PGF 2α caused a significant increase in the P. mesopotamicus ovulation rate with a consequent increase in the post-ovulatory follicle frequency in relation to controls (only conventional hypophysation).

In this context, it was previously demonstrated in hormone-treated but unspawned characiform fish that a significant percentage of GVBD oocytes remained in their ovaries and were not released.

Using these data, a new protocol was proposed which included prostaglandin F (PGF 2α ) administration together with conventional hypophysation.


Monosodium glutamate, MSG, is a food additive which acts as preservative or enhancer of palatability [1] . MSG is sodium salt and is L-form of glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is one of the most widespread amino acids found in natural products [2] . Despite MSG's role in improvement of taste stimulation, some studies indicated that MSG has toxic effects on human and animal's tissues [3] . In this regard, some neurotoxic alterations such as brain damage and endocrine disorders have been seen after administration of MSG [4, 5] . Male infertility, reduction of body growth, obesity and hypogonadism has been reported following administration of MSG [6, 7] . Testicular hemorrhage and alteration of sperm production and morphology are the most reported changes in cases of male infertility after administration of MSG [3, 8] . Herbal drugs have gained importance because of their efficacy and cost effectiveness in treatment of several diseases. Morus Alba, M. alba, has long been used in treatment and prevention of many diseases and as a general tonic to enhance health in traditional oriental medicine. The mulberry extract have potent antioxidant activity [9] [10] [11] .

Monosodium glutamate, MSG, is a food additive which acts as preservative or enhancer of palatability.

Glutamic acid is one of the most widespread amino acids found in natural products.

Despite MSG's role in improvement of taste stimulation, some studies indicated that MSG has toxic effects on human and animal's tissues.

In this regard, some neurotoxic alterations such as brain damage and endocrine disorders have been seen after administration of MSG.

Male infertility, reduction of body growth, obesity and hypogonadism has been reported following administration of MSG.

Testicular hemorrhage and alteration of sperm production and morphology are the most reported changes in cases of male infertility after administration of MSG.

The mulberry extract have potent antioxidant activity.


Mulberry fruit contains high amounts of flavonoids and alkaloids and many of its bioactivities specifications were linked to the presence of these compounds [11] [12] [13] . Administration of exitotoxins leads to tissue cytotoxicity and cellular damages by excessive production of reactive oxygen species [14] . According to various antioxidant activities of Morus alba, in present research the protective effects of Morus alba on the structural and functional alterations of spermatogenesis following administration of Monosodium glutamate were evaluated.

Mulberry fruit contains high amounts of flavonoids and alkaloids and many of its bioactivities specifications were linked to the presence of these compounds.

Administration of exitotoxins leads to tissue cytotoxicity and cellular damages by excessive production of reactive oxygen species.


Inflation is presently the most attractive scenario for early cosmology [1] . The assumption that the universe has gone through an early de Sitter phase, driven by a slowly rolling inflaton field, naturally predicts a flat universe and can produce a nearly scaleinvariant spectrum of density perturbations, in agreement with current observations. In a successful inflation model, however, the inflaton potential must be quite delicately tuned to satisfy various constraints: it must be sufficiently flat to produce at least 60 e-foldings of expansion, it must allow for a graceful exit from inflation, and there must be a natural mechanism for reheating and producing density perturbations of the correct magnitude. It is therefore important to know whether realistic models of inflation can naturally arise from a microscopic starting point such as string theory.

Inflation is presently the most attractive scenario for early cosmology.