In business practice, despite the acknowledged importance of service business, product-centric companies frequently fight with PSS development as they may find difficult to understand how they should reconfigure the elements of their business models. In fact, the move "from products to solutions" is not only related to the evolution of the offering from product-centric to a product-service system, but can also imply the redesign of the business model [2] . PSS BMs in product-centric firms are still under-investigated: in particular, very few works develop a scheme of analysis of such BMs, identifying the relevant components for describing and formalizing the BMs of companies that move into PSS [9] .

In fact, the move "from products to solutions" is not only related to the evolution of the offering from product-centric to a product-service system, but can also imply the redesign of the business model.

PSS BMs in product-centric firms are still under-investigated: in particular, very few works develop a scheme of analysis of such BMs, identifying the relevant components for describing and formalizing the BMs of companies that move into PSS.


The phrase "do it right the first time" is far from reality and very difficult to be applicable [6] . Engineering design changes have been recognized as unavoidable in the development of complex engineering product [5, 7] . Engineering design changes have huge influences on production activities and hence making the activity of product development very pricey and prolong [7] . In the early decades the engineering changes were predominantly seen as a problem. People were reluctant to implement the change management system. From the past few decades it has been seen that industrialist take it as an opportunity and source of innovation and creativity [8] . Engineering design changes can facilitate to perform modification and error elimination in existing products. As a result, the product manufacturing cycle time decreases and manufacturers can launch new products to the market in least possible time. Engineering design changes can be taken into account as a driving force for incremental product improvement as customers are interested in more customized products. Keeping in view the above, knowledge attained from engineering changes is very helpful and useful for the design and development of the product. In the field of manufacturing, today's markets and consumers demand changes so quickly. Engineering design changes arises frequently for continual improvement of system or artifact.

The phrase "do it right the first time" is far from reality and very difficult to be applicable.

Engineering design changes have been recognized as unavoidable in the development of complex engineering product.

Engineering design changes have huge influences on production activities and hence making the activity of product development very pricey and prolong.

From the past few decades it has been seen that industrialist take it as an opportunity and source of innovation and creativity.


Increasing competitiveness in the market due to fast growing change environment, forces the industrialists to pursuit ways to manufacture a high quality product at a minimal cost with least possible time. To reduce the risk, manufacturing cost and time, companies have promoted focus on the incremental products. Thus, the aim of the designers is to change as little as possible. Most of the new designs are refined versions of the existing designs developed through alterations and changes to the current design [4] . These products have new characteristics, functions and performances that depends on the current product design. To satisfy the customer's requirements, these products are usually available in different kinds, which can require considerable changes to the initial design. Consumers are anxious about the product trustworthiness and thus they are hesitant to use too many unverified components [5] . The information regarding product parameters increases in quantity and also in quality as the design proceeds and provides a better insight of the design issues. In order to avoid undesired change propagation, designers may restrict propagation by freezing product components or their interfaces. Freezing the component design in early stage can restrain novelty, product improvement. On the other hand unfreezing the product elements can trigger the design iterations and increase the cost of redesign. In such cases the optimal freeze order has to be determined.

Most of the new designs are refined versions of the existing designs developed through alterations and changes to the current design.

Consumers are anxious about the product trustworthiness and thus they are hesitant to use too many unverified components.


The effects of heat transfer on engineering applications is a fundamental aspect in the design of power and propulsive systems. The heat exchange between fluid and solid components can reduce the system efficiency in situations where temperature peaks and gradients become important. This occurs in applications such as gas turbines or combustion engines, in which the cooling is essential to reduce wall tem-perature below the melting point. Heat losses usually carry a reduction in efficiency that eventually might lead to an economical cost and potential failure [1] . However, this interaction is difficult to model numerically not only due to the different time scales governing each individual problem, but also due to instability issues related to the coupling strategy [2, 3] .

Heat losses usually carry a reduction in efficiency that eventually might lead to an economical cost and potential failure.

However, this interaction is difficult to model numerically not only due to the different time scales governing each individual problem, but also due to instability issues related to the coupling strategy.


An interesting application to evaluate the numerical algorithms and the effects of thermal coupling with the flow dynamics is the case of a jet flame impinging on a plate. In this configuration, high rates of wall heat transfer are achieved as a consequence of the enhancement of the heat transfer coefficients by the continuous impact of vortical structures on the plate [11] . Impinging jets are characterised by the ratio H/D, where H is the nozzle-to-plate distance and D is the flow inlet diameter. Three flow regions can be identified in this configuration: the free jet region where flow is not influenced by the plate, the deflection region and the wall jet region [12] . For large H/D ratios, the configuration permits the development of a free jet and the impingement leads to the formation of a heat transfer profile with a maximum located at the stagnation point. However, for small H/D ratios, the jet core may be longer than the H/D ratio causing the jet to be laminar at the plate featuring low levels of turbulence and a minimum heat transfer coefficients at the stagnation point. As the flow accelerates parallel to the plate, the wall shear stresses increase leading to a maximum in the heat transfer profile at the wall [13] .

In this configuration, high rates of wall heat transfer are achieved as a consequence of the enhancement of the heat transfer coefficients by the continuous impact of vortical structures on the plate.

Three flow regions can be identified in this configuration: the free jet region where flow is not influenced by the plate, the deflection region and the wall jet region.

As the flow accelerates parallel to the plate, the wall shear stresses increase leading to a maximum in the heat transfer profile at the wall.


There are many ways to connect the hub and the spacer of the coupling which used to connect the driving and driven shafts together, such as bolts, interference fit and a pair of mating spline teeth [1] . The disadvantage of the bolt connecting will introduce certain unavoidable unbalance at high rotational speed. A mating spline with an internal tooth and an external tooth would have hysteretic forces and moments. However, the interference fit can avoid the weaknesses of the bolts and the mating spline, and also can transfer large torque moment.

There are many ways to connect the hub and the spacer of the coupling which used to connect the driving and driven shafts together, such as bolts, interference fit and a pair of mating spline teeth.


Bush encroachment is a major problem in Mkuzi Game Reserve (Goodman 1977) . Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight et Am. grows on a variety of soils within the reserve and is one of the major contributors to the bush encroachment problem. It is a thombush belonging to the Leguminosae subfamily Mimosoideae. Due to climate, stocking densities and management practices, dense thickets of this plant have formed, preventing grazing animals from reaching available grass. While this plant can make a valuable contribution as feed for browsing stock, it nevertheless reduces the carrying capacity of the veld. It is therefore necessary to determine the physiological and ecological factors which contribute to the spread of D. cinerea in its natural habitat if control programmes are to be instituted.

Bush encroachment is a major problem in Mkuzi Game Reserve.


In the past, libraries within research institutions (as the purchasers of journals on behalf of the institutions) have been responsible for the preservation of the content of journals for the future. In the current model, as most electronic journals are only licensed (in effect leased) to libraries, the preservation is up to publishers. There is concern that the imperatives of the commercial world will mean that there is no proper concern for preservation archiving. While some argue that the IR movement is about access not preservation others argue that preservation is one of the key issues that could define an IR (Pinfield, 2005) .

While some argue that the IR movement is about access not preservation others argue that preservation is one of the key issues that could define an IR.


Open access literature is free of charge to the user (but someone has to pay the costs for the infrastructure and maintenance) and the copyright holder consents to unrestricted use (Suber, 2003) . It is argued that as many disciplines are not in a position to set up repositories such as arXiv, institutions are ideally placed to do so. Institutions have the resources and infrastructure to set up, support and fund repositories. They can mandate or encourage self archiving and they can benefit from the enhanced profile (Pinfield, 2005) . If such open access archiving were mandatory, further benefits to institutions would accrue, such as keeping track of research output, research reporting, and eventual online global access to all research. Benefits to researchers include increased readership and citations, and therefore higher research impact (Harnad, 2003) . So there are incentives to publish in OA electronic journals 9 (known as the "gold road" to OA) or to self archive eprints in institutional or discipline-based repositories (known as the "green road") which utilise free open source or even proprietary software .

Open access literature is free of charge to the user (but someone has to pay the costs for the infrastructure and maintenance) and the copyright holder consents to unrestricted use.

They can mandate or encourage self archiving and they can benefit from the enhanced profile.

Benefits to researchers include increased readership and citations, and therefore higher research impact.


We have tested the solubility of the three ethyleneimine polymers: poly(propylethyleneimine) (PPEI), poly(propylmethylacrylate ethyleneimine) (PPMAEI) and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEOX). The number of repeat units for all these three polymers is about the same (w47-50 repeat units). The structures of these polymers are shown in Table 1 . None of these polymers were soluble in CO 2 at 295 K down to 1 wt% and pressures up to 45 MPa. The result for PPEI is consistent with our ab initio calculations summarized in Table 2 , showing that trimethylamine self-interactions dominate over trimethylamine-CO 2 cross interactions. Moreover, only one binding mode was found for the CO 2 /trimethylamine system shown in Fig. 2 . This implies that even if the site is not blocked by amine self-interactions, only a single CO 2 -amine bond per repeat unit is probably insufficient to induce solubility of the polymer. PPMAEI and PEOX have CO 2 -philic acrylate and carbonyl side groups, respectively. We had postulated that these groups would induce CO 2 -solubility of the polymers [14] . Unfortunately, even the addition of these groups failed to achieve any measurable solubility. The lack of solubility is not entirely unexpected for PPMAEI for two reasons. Firstly, an ethylene group separates the acrylate group from the backbone and we know that insertion of a methylene group between the backbone and the acetate group of poly(vinyl acetate), resulting in poly(allyl acetate), has a remarkable deleterious effect on miscibility of poly(allyl acetate) in CO 2 [14] . Secondly, the acrylate group is known to be much less effective than an acetate group at imparting CO 2 -solubility from the comparison of poly(vinyl acetate) versus poly(methyl acrylate) [26] . For PEOX the lack of an oxygen atom between the backbone and the carbonyl group diminishes side chain rotational motion, and hence the free volume of the polymer, leading to less favorable interactions between CO 2 and the polymer side chain [6] .

We had postulated that these groups would induce CO 2 -solubility of the polymers.

Firstly, an ethylene group separates the acrylate group from the backbone and we know that insertion of a methylene group between the backbone and the acetate group of poly(vinyl acetate), resulting in poly(allyl acetate), has a remarkable deleterious effect on miscibility of poly(allyl acetate) in CO 2.

Secondly, the acrylate group is known to be much less effective than an acetate group at imparting CO 2 -solubility from the comparison of poly(vinyl acetate) versus poly(methyl acrylate).

For PEOX the lack of an oxygen atom between the backbone and the carbonyl group diminishes side chain rotational motion, and hence the free volume of the polymer, leading to less favorable interactions between CO 2 and the polymer side chain.


Our ab initio calculations for the CO 2 /pyridine systems predict that self-interactions between the pyridine groups will dominate over the Lewis acid-Lewis base interactions between CO 2 and the nitrogen and therefore polymers that contain pyridine-like groups should not show high solubility in CO 2 . In order to test this hypothesis we tested the solubilities of poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP), poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) and poly(N-vinyl imidazole) (PVIZ) in CO 2 . None of these polymers were found to be miscible with CO 2 at a temperature of 295 K and pressures up to 55 MPa and at concentrations down to 0.7 wt%. Elevated temperature (343 K) did not result in a single phase solution. The surface tensions of P2VP and P4VP were reported as 45 and 71.5 mN/m at 293 K, respectively [50] . Hence, the polymer-polymer interactions appear to be too strong for the polymer to be soluble in CO 2 , in agreement with our ab initio calculations.

The surface tensions of P2VP and P4VP were reported as 45 and 71.5 mN/m at 293 K, respectively.


Nanoparticles (NP) are a type of colloidal drug delivery system comprising particles with a size range from 10 to 1000 nm in diameter. Nanoparticles may or may not exhibit size-related properties that differ significantly from those observed in fine particles or bulk materials (Buzea, Pacheco, Robbie, 2007) . The uptake of nanoparticulate systems (NPSs) through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is today a well-known and accepted phenomenon, NPS uptake from the gut can provide an additional drug administration route; each system has its own pharmacokinetic parameters and specific drug-carrying ability. The bioactive molecule is transported into the GIT by carriers whose physicochemical characteristics must be taken into account, although the physicochemical and pharmacological characteristics of the drug remain intact (Kreuter, 1991; Hussain, Jaitely, Florence, 2001; Nishioka, Yoshino, 2001; Hans, Lowman, 2002) .

Nanoparticles may or may not exhibit size-related properties that differ significantly from those observed in fine particles or bulk materials.

The bioactive molecule is transported into the GIT by carriers whose physicochemical characteristics must be taken into account, although the physicochemical and pharmacological characteristics of the drug remain intact.


How grammar is best acquired and taught has been a major issue at the centre of many controversies in second language acquisition research. It becomes even more controversial when young learners are concerned. Research and discussions on grammar teaching have recently focused on three options -"focus-on-formS," "focus-onmeaning," and "focus-on-form" (Long, 1991:45-46) . In focus-on-formS instruction, language is divided into isolated linguistic units and taught in a sequential manner through explicit explanations of grammar rules and immediate correction of errors (Long, 2000) . Classes follow a typical sequence of "presentation of a grammatical structure, its practice in controlled exercises, and the provision of opportunities for production-PPP" (Ellis, Basturkmen & Loewen, 2002:420) . The underlying logic of this approach is that the explicit knowledge about grammar rules will turn into implicit knowledge with enough practice (De Keyser, 1998) .

In focus-on-formS instruction, language is divided into isolated linguistic units and taught in a sequential manner through explicit explanations of grammar rules and immediate correction of errors.

The underlying logic of this approach is that the explicit knowledge about grammar rules will turn into implicit knowledge with enough practice.


Although few researchers have studied the above issues but, at present also lot of efforts are being made to refine and develop the analytical models for the accurate results. Some representative works on the subject are available [6] [7] [8] [9] . Related work done is discussed subsequently.

Some representative works on the subject are available.


Despite the fact that hernias occur commonly, there is still insufficient detailed information regarding the specific symptoms in the natural course of the untreated illness and the risk of developing complications. It results in a constant evolution of indications for operative treatment, from watchful waiting to surgical treatment of all hernias [2, 3] . Even in patients with no preoperative symptoms, performing a repair is suggested in selected cases, as the symptoms will occur with time, but the decision must be preceded by comprehensive information about the risk of chronic postoperative pain [4] . Among the symptoms reported by patients prior to surgery, special attention is given to the occurrence of pain and discomfort in the groin region. However, there is no comprehensive discussion of the nature of such pain or its circumstances, intensity and frequency. Simultaneously, the occurrence of postoperative pain is strongly emphasized, both with regard to chronic pain and other symptoms associated with the groin [5] . The appearance of such postoperative pain may in some cases be a reason that patients submit claims against the surgeons [6] . The situations occur despite the fact that usually there is no information regarding which of the ailments reported in the claim really occurred before the treatment. Additionally, some patients suffering from chronic pain must undergo additional treatment because of these ailments (mesh removal; triple neurectomy) [7] . Current recommendations for hernia treatment suggest applying techniques aimed at reducing postoperative pain in groups of patients who experience intense preoperative pain and to inform the patients about such risk in informed consent [8] . However, there is still no reliable stratification method of preoperative pain, and the current assessments of hernia symptoms are performed by means of a subjective evaluation. Hernia occurrence also influences socioeconomic burden, as every seventh patient is forced to use sick leave due to pain. At the same time, every third patient draws attention to the fact that hernia interferes with their leisure activities [9] . While qualifying patients for surgeries, three diagnostic aspects should be taken into account: preliminary symptoms, appearance of a protrusion in the groin, and the role of ultrasound [10, 11] . While the two last aspects are well discussed in the literature, there is no detailed information on preliminary symptoms and their influence on pain differentiation in cases of sportsman hernia or other conditions causing pain in the groin region.

It results in a constant evolution of indications for operative treatment, from watchful waiting to surgical treatment of all hernias.

Even in patients with no preoperative symptoms, performing a repair is suggested in selected cases, as the symptoms will occur with time, but the decision must be preceded by comprehensive information about the risk of chronic postoperative pain.

Simultaneously, the occurrence of postoperative pain is strongly emphasized, both with regard to chronic pain and other symptoms associated with the groin.

The appearance of such postoperative pain may in some cases be a reason that patients submit claims against the surgeons.

Additionally, some patients suffering from chronic pain must undergo additional treatment because of these ailments (mesh removal; triple neurectomy).

Current recommendations for hernia treatment suggest applying techniques aimed at reducing postoperative pain in groups of patients who experience intense preoperative pain and to inform the patients about such risk in informed consent.

At the same time, every third patient draws attention to the fact that hernia interferes with their leisure activities.

While qualifying patients for surgeries, three diagnostic aspects should be taken into account: preliminary symptoms, appearance of a protrusion in the groin, and the role of ultrasound.


Aside from affecting financial performance directly, the management of the firm may be motivated by a moral concern for environmental quality and can use an EMS as a guide to reducing its ecological impact. The use of an EMS, moreover, may allow the adopting firm to improve its public image / reputation with the community (Henriques and Sadorsky, 1996) . The pressures to adopt may not only come internally but also externally from its customers (private), and the government (public) (Segerson and Miceli, 1998) . Trade associations with which the firm has strong business relationships can request to have one or more EMS at the firm level (Khanna, 2001) . In addition, a firm may adopt an EMS as a proactive response to limit the possibility of future environmental regulations being imposed on them by government.

The use of an EMS, moreover, may allow the adopting firm to improve its public image / reputation with the community.

The pressures to adopt may not only come internally but also externally from its customers (private), and the government (public).

Trade associations with which the firm has strong business relationships can request to have one or more EMS at the firm level.


In this regard, one of the main focuses of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) is to develop a harmonized regulation for biotherapeutic products across Latin America in order to improve equity in health and quality of life. In response, guidelines for biological medicines have been issued in some countries; nevertheless, the requirements for the approval of each type of product (e.g.: vaccines, hemoderivatives, allergenic extracts or biotherapeutics) are frequently non-differentiated. Even though the guidance established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and the EMA were often used as a reference, 12% of Latin American countries have licensed biosimilar products issued as generics without a specific clinical evaluation [5] .

Even though the guidance established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and the EMA were often used as a reference, 12% of Latin American countries have licensed biosimilar products issued as generics without a specific clinical evaluation.


According to the updated guidelines, the pathway for biosimilars' approval begins with an exhaustive characterization and a comprehensive comparability study of the Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs), strongly related to the functionality and safety of the biopharmaceutical. These CQAs should comprise the attributes already recognized by the reference product, either found in characterization exercises or during the experience with equivalent molecules. The guidance states that a clinical comparative study should be followed, whose extension is defined by the characterization results and designed to assess meaningful differences, if they exist [17] . In effect, the higher the comparability the less pharmacological studies needed to evidence similarity [6, 18, 19] .

The guidance states that a clinical comparative study should be followed, whose extension is defined by the characterization results and designed to assess meaningful differences, if they exist.

In effect, the higher the comparability the less pharmacological studies needed to evidence similarity.


In summary, solubility of P in manured soils varies with the type of manure applied. These differences affect plant growth as well as the potential for off-site losses of P, as soluble P losses are linked to extractable soil P concentrations (Turner et at, 2004) . Different P weighing coefficients for manure effects on crop growth or water quality should be used to better predict their potential impact. In cases in which manures are incorporated on calcareous soils, it appears possible to determine an appropriate weighting coefficient based on an easily measured manure property, such as the C:P ratio. The relationship between C:P ratios in manures and relative soil P extractability may also help better predict allowable P loadings when combined with manure application rates and appropriate soil properties. However, additional field studies are needed to further develop it for this use.

These differences affect plant growth as well as the potential for off-site losses of P, as soluble P losses are linked to extractable soil P concentrations.


Calculated RPE values for shoot-biomass production and shoot P accumulation suggests that all manures and fertilizers, except for BS, were generally more effective at increasing plant growth and P uptake than an equivalent rate of P as MCP. This may have occurred because some N (as NH4-N) with fertilizer P enhances plant P uptake (Soon and Miller, 1977) . There was a very poor linear relationship between the bicarbonate RPE values and the RPEs for shoot-biomass production and shoot P accumulation (r2 = 0.1 and 0.2, respectively). Generally, manures increased soil test P only 50% of that from inorganic MCP fertilizer (Table 6) but had a 50% greater impact on plant P uptake (Table 7) , especially the swine manures and dairy liquid. This suggests that some manures may be more effective at supplying plant P than traditional fertilizers at equivalent P application rates.

This may have occurred because some N (as NH4-N) with fertilizer P enhances plant P uptake.


One major pillar of resource sustainability that we did not assess here is the equitable access and use of biodiverse vacant lots for all residents. Vacant lots tend to be clustered in low-income, population dense neighborhoods [12] . Additionally, high quality greenspaces are often unequally distributed across cities by racial and economic lines [70] [71] [72] . We found that many vacant lots were located in dense areas of Baltimore, and the sustainable suburban yards and remnant lots were often located away from the urban center ( Figure 2 ). Vacant lots in the center of Baltimore tended to be smaller inner blocks and corner vacant lots, which supported limited bird diversity and fewer plants, and often were emergent in origin. Even though inner-city neighborhoods would gain the most from transforming vacant lots into biodiverse, resident-friendly spaces, the resources to do so may be limited. This begs the question of whether vacant lots can be sustainable in these residential areas, or will they remain in poor environmental quality without substantial intervention? Monetary and other resource investments should be directed toward areas with abundant vacant lots, as these areas may offer the greatest in terms of overall greenspace size. These neighborhoods should be targeted by city sustainability managers and other stakeholders, as priority sites to manage for neighborhood enhancement.

Vacant lots tend to be clustered in low-income, population dense neighborhoods.

Additionally, high quality greenspaces are often unequally distributed across cities by racial and economic lines.


In cities with an abundance of vacant lots, these spaces may not be temporary, as they are traditionally viewed. Especially for Baltimore, the transformation of vacant lots into useable spaces or forested parkland could be viewed as a long-term conservation management decision to increase neighborhood aesthetics, park land, and connect city-wide greenways [69] . Planting trees in vacant lots may promote Baltimore government's goal of doubling the city's tree canopy to 40% by 2036 [70] . Plant communities are slow to change in vacant lots, so management efforts are necessary to increase habitat connectivity and biodiversity across the city [22] . Baltimore City officials currently manage vacant lots by periodically mowing accessible spaces, slowing the process of vegetative succession and limiting potential wildlife habitat. However, mowing efforts are often infrequent due to budget limitations and staffing, much to the dismay of residents who dislike the resulting tall grass. Grassroots efforts, either through adopt-a-lot programs or community organizations could be the key to managing vacant lots.

Especially for Baltimore, the transformation of vacant lots into useable spaces or forested parkland could be viewed as a long-term conservation management decision to increase neighborhood aesthetics, park land, and connect city-wide greenways.

Planting trees in vacant lots may promote Baltimore government's goal of doubling the city's tree canopy to 40% by 2036.

Plant communities are slow to change in vacant lots, so management efforts are necessary to increase habitat connectivity and biodiversity across the city.


We have implemented MRPerf using a mix of C++, tcl, and python code (3372 lines total) interfaced with the ns-2 simulator. In this section, we validate performance prediction made by MRPerf using performance results from a realworld application run on a medium-scale Hadoop [9] cluster. We present results of validation on a single-rack topology and a double-rack topology, validation at sub-phase level, detailed comparison of a single job, and look at jobs with different input size/chunk size. Next, we present two patches we made to Hadoop, in order to match performance prediction made by MRPerf to Hadoop. We note that our initial evaluation focus on MRPerf's ability to capture Hadoop behavior and result verification. Our benchmark application makes full use of the available resources, but does not overload them. Studying MRPerf under overload conditions, however, is a focus of our ongoing research.

In this section, we validate performance prediction made by MRPerf using performance results from a realworld application run on a medium-scale Hadoop cluster.


Using the slots in rectangular waveguide walls as radiating elements has become popular since the feed and the radiating structure were integrated in the same waveguide. Also, the insertion loss of such a system is very small. Since the excitation of a radiating slot could be controlled precisely by its physical parameters, an array of slots could be designed to have the desired radiation pattern [1] .

Since the excitation of a radiating slot could be controlled precisely by its physical parameters, an array of slots could be designed to have the desired radiation pattern.


The analysis method is an entire domain MoM with sinusoidal basis functions for the zero wall thickness structure. Then, we modify our model to account for the finite wall thickness by considering the slot region as a stub waveguide [25] . Results from MoM full-wave analysis and HFSS solution are presented and compared.

Then, we modify our model to account for the finite wall thickness by considering the slot region as a stub waveguide.


Among the neighbours who set up this school was Ramón Flecha, who in 1992 established CREA at the University of Barcelona. Over a period of 30 years, the DLG and the educational model of the Adult School of La Verneda-Sant Martí have spread to around 200 educational establishments, including nurseries, primary and secondary schools and adult education in various countries of Europe, North America and Latin America, under the general title of Schools as Learning Communities (Ríos, Herrero, & Rodríguez, 2013) . During this period, there has been a process of continuous investigation, deepening and development of different aspects of the Learning Communities project, always with the rigour which the international research community expects and with the aim of making a contribution to social change. Likewise, as a public centre for research, it has always been generous and disinterested in offering the Schools as Learning Communities project to whoever wishes to adopt and develop it. In this sense, the research centre has celebrated the participation of groups, people, administrations and so on who wanted to work in a scientific and rigorous manner. In the early years, it was CREA which carried out the systematic assessment of all the centres of nursery, primary and secondary education which wanted to become a 'Community of Learning'. Thus, the research centre placed all its knowledge at the disposal of others. This case study about the DLG with Moroccan mothers took place in a School as Learning Community in one of the most deprived districts of a town near to Barcelona.

Over a period of 30 years, the DLG and the educational model of the Adult School of La Verneda-Sant Martí have spread to around 200 educational establishments, including nurseries, primary and secondary schools and adult education in various countries of Europe, North America and Latin America, under the general title of Schools as Learning Communities.


Recent recommendations from the FDA recognized that there are three different types of nosocomial pneumonia with different all-cause mortality rates: non-ventilated HAP, ventilated HAP, and VAP [28, 29] . Interestingly, the highest mortality has been observed in patients with HAP who subsequently required iMV. In a recent summary of these recommendations, Talbot A B Fig. 3 Distribution and agreement of different sampling methods (a cross-tabulation of different methods; b agreement on the same pathogen when both methods were positive). Square colors divided as dark blue for agreement ≥ 75%, blue for agreement between ≥ 50 and < 75%, light blue for agreement between ≥ 25 and < 50%, and grey for agreement < 25%. BAL bronchoalveolar lavage, EAT endotracheal aspirate, FBAS fiberoptic-bronchoscopy aspirate highlighted the necessity to have information about sampling and causative pathogens in the non-VAP population [28] . Our study is the first one to provide this information in a detailed way, which can be very useful for empirical treatment adequacy and for future RCT studying new antibiotics. Being able to achieve a microbiological diagnosis in HAP has important consequences for patient care. First, it can support the suspicion of infection in a new lung infiltrate appearing concomitantly with fever in a critically ill patient, a frequent challenge for the attending physician [30] . Second, it makes possible to target the empiric antibiotic scheme more accurately, thus increasing the likelihood of clinical cure, preventing the selection pressure to further resistances, and reducing costs and unnecessary side effects [1] . Our findings corroborated two important phenomena reported elsewhere: (1) patients with microbiological diagnosis more commonly had an adaptation in their empiric antibiotic regimen and (2) patients without microbiological diagnosis received shorter total antibiotic treatment [31, 32] . Although a microbiological diagnosis is central in all infections both for epidemiological studies and for bedside care by clinicians, it becomes fundamental for hospital-acquired infections, because of higher probability of resistant pathogens, greater amount of antibiotic use and side effects, and associated costs.

Recent recommendations from the FDA recognized that there are three different types of nosocomial pneumonia with different all-cause mortality rates: non-ventilated HAP, ventilated HAP, and VAP.

BAL bronchoalveolar lavage, EAT endotracheal aspirate, FBAS fiberoptic-bronchoscopy aspirate highlighted the necessity to have information about sampling and causative pathogens in the non-VAP population.

First, it can support the suspicion of infection in a new lung infiltrate appearing concomitantly with fever in a critically ill patient, a frequent challenge for the attending physician.

Second, it makes possible to target the empiric antibiotic scheme more accurately, thus increasing the likelihood of clinical cure, preventing the selection pressure to further resistances, and reducing costs and unnecessary side effects.

Our findings corroborated two important phenomena reported elsewhere: (1) patients with microbiological diagnosis more commonly had an adaptation in their empiric antibiotic regimen and (2) patients without microbiological diagnosis received shorter total antibiotic treatment.


Both spruce and fir also resulted in similar values to those of the other two species considered in this work. In a previous work, value of beech control specimens was found to be 39.94 m which is similar to the results in this work [10] . Spruce and fir species had smoother surface quality than those of beech and alder when they were sanded with higher grit size sandpaper. This could be related to low density of both softwood species. Based on the ANOVA analysis, no significant difference was found between values determined from the tangential and radial surfaces for all four types of species as displayed in Table 2 . The highest adhesion strength value of 2.42 N/mm 2 was determined for beech samples sanded with 80-grit size sandpaper in tangential direction. Alder had 2.15 N/mm 2 for corresponding value as can be seen in Figure 4 . Both spruce and fir resulted in 2.06 N/mm 2 and 2.05 N/mm 2 adhesion 4 Advances in Materials Science and Engineering strength values when they were sanded with 80-grit size sandpaper. It is a well-known fact that anatomical structure is one of the major parameters influencing overall interaction between coating and substrate. Both alder and beech being semiporous structure would result in better absorption of the varnish causing higher magnitude of interaction between the two elements. No significant difference was found between adhesion strength values of two softwood species based on ANOVA and Duncan test as displayed in Tables 2 and 3 . Even though they were sanded with finer sand paper, their strength values did not go down in contrast to alder and beech. It seems that varnish had deeper penetration due to more porous structure than that of spruce and fir samples as mentioned above. In another study, ash which is also porous species had enhanced adhesion strength characteristics as it is sanded with coarse sand paper.

In a previous work, value of beech control specimens was found to be 39.94 m which is similar to the results in this work.


Adhesive strength of coating on the surface can be evaluated with several techniques such as tape peel, observing the crosscut, and pull-off test. The last one was effectively employed to evaluate adhesion strength of wood and wood products coated with different finishes in previous studies [4] [5] [6] . The adhesion strength of stained, bleached, and preservative-treated wood specimens from oak and beech was evaluated in a past study [7] . It was found that bleaching had an adverse influence on adhesion strength of coated samples while stained samples had an average adhesion strength of 1.58 N/mm 2 [7] . Oak samples were coated with polyurethane base varnish and the effect of moisture content was also investigated in another study [8] . Various works have also been carried out to determine surface roughness of wood samples, in relation to their adhesion strength, coated with different finishes [8] [9] [10] [11] .

The last one was effectively employed to evaluate adhesion strength of wood and wood products coated with different finishes in previous studies.

The adhesion strength of stained, bleached, and preservative-treated wood specimens from oak and beech was evaluated in a past study.

It was found that bleaching had an adverse influence on adhesion strength of coated samples while stained samples had an average adhesion strength of 1.58 N/mm 2.

Oak samples were coated with polyurethane base varnish and the effect of moisture content was also investigated in another study.

Various works have also been carried out to determine surface roughness of wood samples, in relation to their adhesion strength, coated with different finishes.


Hygroscopic characteristics of wood products play an important role in their effective utilization. Although there are many methods to enhance stability and appearance of wood, finishing is still considered as the most popular one among the others. Coating the surface of wood with different types of finishes will not only improve its appearance but also extend its service life. Final quality of coating applied to the surface of wood is influenced by various parameters; namely, species, roughness, porosity, density, and interaction between coating and the substrate [1] [2] [3] . Wood, being a nonhomogeneous material, sapwood, and heartwood ratio will also affect overall quality of coating [3] .

Final quality of coating applied to the surface of wood is influenced by various parameters; namely, species, roughness, porosity, density, and interaction between coating and the substrate.

Wood, being a nonhomogeneous material, sapwood, and heartwood ratio will also affect overall quality of coating.


If we arrange the arms of the interferometer along the x and y axes, and the path lengths are chosen correctly, then at one port the carrier light from the x axis will exactly cancel the carrier light from the y axis so that we get no carrier frequency light out. The interferometer is on a dark fringe for the carrier. The sidebands, however, having been created by phase modulations with opposite signs, will interfere constructively at this same port [6] . This means that we can have only the sideband light exiting one port of a Michelson interferometer under the dark fringe condition. Detecting light at that port, in theory, indicates the presence of a GW.

The sidebands, however, having been created by phase modulations with opposite signs, will interfere constructively at this same port.


When light travels through a region of space over which a GW is also propagating, the latter causes a periodic variation in the phase of the light field [5] . Mathematically, light with this kind of phase modulation may be described as a sum of plane waves of different frequencies. The largest frequency component is the carrier, which is just the frequency of the light when the modulation amplitude is set to zero. The next largest are the two first-order sidebands: a plus-sideband at the carrier plus the modulation frequency and a minus-sideband at the carrier minus the modulation frequency [6] . Higher-order sideband frequencies exist; however, when the modulation is small, as in the case of GWs, their amplitudes are negligible. The problem of detecting GWs may be reduced to the problem of detecting these sideband frequencies.

When light travels through a region of space over which a GW is also propagating, the latter causes a periodic variation in the phase of the light field.

The next largest are the two first-order sidebands: a plus-sideband at the carrier plus the modulation frequency and a minus-sideband at the carrier minus the modulation frequency.


The work presented in this paper covers an integral design of a telematic infrastructure for ITS services deployment oriented to the provision of contextual information. A communication architecture has been designed, developed, and extensively evaluated in a previous work [31] . The additional support of the infrastructure side is a key factor to offer global processing and contextual integration. The overlay network designed is based on the concept of P2P communication groups, which are used to bound the propagation of messages generated by vehicles and the ones received from the infrastructure in each service area. Vehicles perform a handover process through these areas in order to maintain a communication channel with a concrete service. This idea has been exploited through a network platform which comprises both the on-board unit and several entities located at the road side and the core infrastructure. The UMTS cellular network is used as communication technology, since continuous improvements in operator's infrastructures encourage its use in many ITS services.

A communication architecture has been designed, developed, and extensively evaluated in a previous work.


The first example of non-homeomorphic conjugate complex varieties was given by Serre [21] . Since then, only few examples seem to have been treated (e.g., Abelson [1] ). The argument of this paper provides us with a new method to construct examples of non-trivial effects of the automorphism of the base field on the topology of complex varieties.

The first example of non-homeomorphic conjugate complex varieties was given by Serre.

Since then, only few examples seem to have been treated (e.g., Abelson).


Here we have calculated a relation between X max and χ i from some simple logical arguments. Using that we have presented a simplified and approximated form of δN (χ i ). This form matches quite well with the shape of δN (χ i ) computed using lattice simulation [10] . To check whether our formulation is correct or not, we have performed lattice simulation for another another set of different parameter values and we have observed that it matches reasonably well with the analytical calculation. The lattice results indicate that the relation between X max and χ i need to be modified to have an exact match. So future works are required in this direction.

This form matches quite well with the shape of δN (χ i ) computed using lattice simulation.


Molecular Markers or genetic markers are DNA sequences associated with certain parts of the genome and they have well defined phenotypes. They can also be defined as, DNA pieces that flag the presence or absence of particular traits (Paterson, 1996) . Considering their abundance, molecular markers are powerful tools that speed and increase the precision and the effectiveness of plant breeding (Paterson, 1996) . Molecular markers allow selection for traits on basis of a simple laboratory tests on a small plant tissue, rather than direct measurements of the character itself. Molecular makers also showed great potential in selection and manipulation of genotypes for desirable quantitative traits loci (QTLs) that condition complex economic traits (Ejeta, et al., 2000) .

They can also be defined as, DNA pieces that flag the presence or absence of particular traits.

Considering their abundance, molecular markers are powerful tools that speed and increase the precision and the effectiveness of plant breeding.

Molecular makers also showed great potential in selection and manipulation of genotypes for desirable quantitative traits loci (QTLs) that condition complex economic traits.


Here, we consider the effects of vertical flow and diffusion on gravity currents that do not exhibit a steady state. We study a simple system to gain physical insight: the lock exchange of equal-viscosity fluids in a horizontal, vertically confined layer of permeable rock (figure 1). The layer is infinite in the horizontal direction; the top and bottom of the layer are impermeable boundaries. Initially, the more dense fluid occupies the left half of the layer, and is separated by the lock gate from the less dense fluid on the right. When the gate is removed, the fluids undergo an exchange flow, with the more dense fluid flowing to the right along the bottom of the layer and the less dense fluid flowing to the left along the top. Currently, the model for this system, which we call the straight-line slumping model, is based on both the Dupuit and sharp-interface approximations (Bear 1972; De Josselin De Jong 1981; Huppert & Woods 1995) . While this model provides physical insight and can accurately describe the flow when the approximations hold, it is valid for only a finite, intermediate time interval during the flow. It is not valid at early times after the lock gate is removed because vertical velocities are important in the early slumping. At late times, it is also not valid because diffusion and dispersion will eventually smear the sharp interface between the fluids into a large transition zone. We find that the lock exchange of miscible fluids exhibits four self-similar regimes in addition to straight-line slumping (figure 2). For each regime, we simplify the governing equations to develop an analytical model of the flow. We find that neglecting vertical flow and diffusion is only valid at intermediate times during the straight-line slumping regime. For all other times, at least one of these effects must be included to capture the physics.

Currently, the model for this system, which we call the straight-line slumping model, is based on both the Dupuit and sharp-interface approximations.


The better reproductive performance of cows weaned at 76 days post-calving is partially due to their higher weight gain (P<0.05) in the period between the two weaning ages and during the breeding seasons, resulting in better body condition. It must be noted that cows weaned at 148 days post-calving were kept in the study because they were able to get pregnant in the subsequent years. In addition, their body condition at calving, at the time of early weaning, and body weight at end of the breeding season were similar to the early-weaned cows (Tables 3  and 4) , which allows us to believe that those cows have excellent genetic capacity to produce in this environment (Deese & Koger, 1967) .

In addition, their body condition at calving, at the time of early weaning, and body weight at end of the breeding season were similar to the early-weaned cows (Tables 3  and 4) , which allows us to believe that those cows have excellent genetic capacity to produce in this environment.


Lymph nodes resection was considered effective in improving overall survival in several tumors [16] [17] [18] . Given the metastatic potential of Siewert type II cancer, completed lymphadenectomy might have therapeutic value considering the removal of positive lymph nodes. As Resected Lymph Nodes (RLN) count is the main evaluation for lymphadenectomy, it might be a prognostic index in Siewert type II cancer.

Lymph nodes resection was considered effective in improving overall survival in several tumors.


The purpose of this mini-review will be to examine the status of the LCP category some two decades plus from its original formulation as well as the finding from the landmark Dunedin longitudinal study of antisocial behavior that this category is comprised almost entirely of males [10] . The reason for the focus on this category is the robust and remarkable finding that the small group of individuals (5-10%) who tend to cluster in the LCP category are responsible for over half of all crimes in the United States and other developed countries, and an even greater proportion of violent crimes [5, [11] [12] [13] [14] . For example, in the classic study Delinquency in a Birth Cohort, out of the nearly 10,000 boys in a Philadelphia birth cohort, just 6% committed over 50% of the delinquency in the entire cohort, including 71% of the murders, 73% of the rapes, and 69% of the aggravated assaults [14] . The behavioral and collateral consequences of this relatively small group are profound and pervasive, resulting in the United States in billions of dollars in terms of justice system, victimization, mental health, and associated costs [14] . The mini review will, of necessity, given the voluminous literature and given the 'mini' nature of the review, draw heavily on analyzing and synthesizing several existing reviews.

The purpose of this mini-review will be to examine the status of the LCP category some two decades plus from its original formulation as well as the finding from the landmark Dunedin longitudinal study of antisocial behavior that this category is comprised almost entirely of males.

The reason for the focus on this category is the robust and remarkable finding that the small group of individuals (5-10%) who tend to cluster in the LCP category are responsible for over half of all crimes in the United States and other developed countries, and an even greater proportion of violent crimes.

For example, in the classic study Delinquency in a Birth Cohort, out of the nearly 10,000 boys in a Philadelphia birth cohort, just 6% committed over 50% of the delinquency in the entire cohort, including 71% of the murders, 73% of the rapes, and 69% of the aggravated assaults.

The behavioral and collateral consequences of this relatively small group are profound and pervasive, resulting in the United States in billions of dollars in terms of justice system, victimization, mental health, and associated costs.


Since the 1993 article, two other categories of antisocial behavior have been identified: childhood limited and adult onset antisocial behavior. The childhood limited group refers to children who despite exhibiting extreme and pervasive antisocial behavior do not continue to exhibit such high levels of antisocial behavior into adolescence or adulthood, though they may engage in less serious antisocial behavior and exhibit other forms of maladjustment [7] [8] [9] . Although there are too few studies to date to yield any reliable findings on the characteristics of the members of this group, there is some preliminary evidence that these children in contrast to the LCP group are less subject to harsh parenting, less likely to have a family history of psychiatric disorder, and possess higher levels of social and linguistic competence [7] . In the adult onset group, there is some evidence that high nervousness and few friends in adolescence may have deferred the onset of these individual's offending until early adulthood [5] .

The childhood limited group refers to children who despite exhibiting extreme and pervasive antisocial behavior do not continue to exhibit such high levels of antisocial behavior into adolescence or adulthood, though they may engage in less serious antisocial behavior and exhibit other forms of maladjustment.

Although there are too few studies to date to yield any reliable findings on the characteristics of the members of this group, there is some preliminary evidence that these children in contrast to the LCP group are less subject to harsh parenting, less likely to have a family history of psychiatric disorder, and possess higher levels of social and linguistic competence.

In the adult onset group, there is some evidence that high nervousness and few friends in adolescence may have deferred the onset of these individual's offending until early adulthood.


Sequence classification is one of the most important machine learning tasks, with widespread uses in fields like biology and natural language processing. Besides accuracy, speed is a critical requirement for modern sequence classification methods. For example, with the advancement of sequencing technologies, a massive amount of protein and DNA sequence data is produced daily [22] . There is an urgent need to analyze these sequences quickly for assisting time-sensitive experiments. Similarly, on-line information retrieval systems need to classify text sequences, for instance when quickly assessing customer reviews or categorizing documents to different topics.

For example, with the advancement of sequencing technologies, a massive amount of protein and DNA sequence data is produced daily.


The rest of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2 introduces the details of GaKCo and theoretically proves that asymptotically GaKCo runs faster than gkm-SVM for a large dictionary or allowing for more mismatches. Then Section 3 provides the experimental results we obtain on three major benchmark applications: TFBS binding prediction (DNA), Remote Protein Homology prediction (Proteins) and Text Classification (categorization and sentiment analysis). Empirically, GaKCo shows consistent improvements over gkm-SVM in computation speed across different types of datasets. When allowing a higher number of mismatches, the disparity in speed between GaKCo and the baseline becomes more apparent. Table 1 summarizes the important notations we use. Due to the space limitation, we discuss the related studies in the supplementary. Recently, Deep Neural Networks (NNs) have provided state-of-the-art performances for various sequence classification tasks. We compare GaKCo's empirical performance with a state-of-the-art deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model [17] . On datasets with few training samples, GaKCo achieves an average accuracy improvement of 20% over the CNN model (details in the supplementary).

We compare GaKCo's empirical performance with a state-of-the-art deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model.


Aujeszky's disease primarily affects swine, in which a variety of clinical symptoms have been described, such as disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), respiratory system and digestive tract, as well as reproductive disorders [5] . The disease is found worldwide in domestic pigs and in wild boar populations [4] . The standard laboratory methods for diagnosis of PrV are mainly based on viral isolation in cell culture, which is time consuming, and other diagnostic techniques such as conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or real-time PCR [1, 4, 6, 7] .

Aujeszky's disease primarily affects swine, in which a variety of clinical symptoms have been described, such as disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), respiratory system and digestive tract, as well as reproductive disorders.

The disease is found worldwide in domestic pigs and in wild boar populations.

The standard laboratory methods for diagnosis of PrV are mainly based on viral isolation in cell culture, which is time consuming, and other diagnostic techniques such as conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or real-time PCR.


The n-point statistics described above are most efficiently computed on digital datasets using fast Fourier transform (FFT) techniques [13, 35, 36, 41] . An implicit benefit of treating the material structure function as a stochastic process is that it allows a rigorous quantification of the associated variance [13, 14] . A second important benefit of the spatial correlations described here is that they lend themselves to objective, lowdimensional, high-value representations (using techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA)) [13, 14, 37, [42] [43] [44] .

The n-point statistics described above are most efficiently computed on digital datasets using fast Fourier transform (FFT) techniques.

An implicit benefit of treating the material structure function as a stochastic process is that it allows a rigorous quantification of the associated variance.

A second important benefit of the spatial correlations described here is that they lend themselves to objective, lowdimensional, high-value representations (using techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA)).


Conventional practices for the quantification of the material microstructure have largely relied on accumulated legacy knowledge by domain experts and intuition. Some examples of such microstructure measures include volume fraction, average particle/ grain size, average particle/fiber spacing (mean free path), tortuosity and coordination number [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] . However, it is easily seen that this simple set of microstructure measures is unlikely to be the best possible set or even an adequate set, because it is easy to imagine multiple instantiations of microstructures that would exhibit the same values of these simple microstructure measures while displaying vastly different values of macroscale properties of interest. This is particularly true when establishing structureproperty linkages for defect-sensitive, potentially anisotropic, macroscale properties.

Some examples of such microstructure measures include volume fraction, average particle/ grain size, average particle/fiber spacing (mean free path), tortuosity and coordination number.


In keeping with the current literature, which indicates that the advent of constructivist information processing places the student in the role of information seeker, more institutions of higher education are turning to active learning in the cyber classroom (Shana, 2009; Washburn, 2011) . This puts rich media at students' virtual fingertips and allows for a variety of learning modules designed to appeal to multiple learning styles. Written text, voice-over videos and screen-captures, Power Points, simulations, and Flash-based activities all attract the attention of the self-directed learner and offer a variety of opportunities to embrace the content and engage in virtual course room opportunities.

In keeping with the current literature, which indicates that the advent of constructivist information processing places the student in the role of information seeker, more institutions of higher education are turning to active learning in the cyber classroom.


Pterois miles and P. volitans, collectively known as lionfish, are predatory fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, native to the Indian and Pacific oceans. The first non-native lionfish were sighted near the southeast coast of North America in 1985 (Semmens et al., 2004) . Genetic evidence indicates that this popular aquarium fish was likely introduced via multiple aquarium releases off the southeast coast of Florida (Betancur et al., 2011) . From there, the population spread northward along the east coast of the United States and eastward toward Bermuda, before progressing southward throughout the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and western Atlantic, with lionfish reported from as far north as Rhode Island and as far south as Brazil (Schofield, 2009 (Schofield, , 2010 Johnston and Purkis, 2011; Frazer et al., 2012; Fogg et al., 2013; Ferreira et al., 2015) . A high reproductive rate coupled with the lack of native predators has allowed lionfish populations in the western Atlantic to flourish, reaching densities exceeding those found in their native habitats by a factor of 13 to 15 (Darling et al., 2011; Kulbicki et al., 2012) . These high densities of lionfish indicate that they have become invasive and could potentially affect the biodiversity and structure of reef fish communities, and cause significant ecosystem change (Lesser and Slattery, 2011; Albins, 2013) .

The first non-native lionfish were sighted near the southeast coast of North America in 1985.

Genetic evidence indicates that this popular aquarium fish was likely introduced via multiple aquarium releases off the southeast coast of Florida.

From there, the population spread northward along the east coast of the United States and eastward toward Bermuda, before progressing southward throughout the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and western Atlantic, with lionfish reported from as far north as Rhode Island and as far south as Brazil.

A high reproductive rate coupled with the lack of native predators has allowed lionfish populations in the western Atlantic to flourish, reaching densities exceeding those found in their native habitats by a factor of 13 to 15.

These high densities of lionfish indicate that they have become invasive and could potentially affect the biodiversity and structure of reef fish communities, and cause significant ecosystem change.


The intensity and spectral properties of the photons that are emitted from a thermal QCD plasma constitute excellent probes for the interactions that the plasma particles experience. Consequently, observing a thermal component in the photon yield of heavy ion collision experiments is among the main goals of the on-going program [1] [2] [3] . Simultaneously, on the theory side, the thermal photon rate has served as a classic testing ground for developing increasingly advanced computational tools [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] .

Consequently, observing a thermal component in the photon yield of heavy ion collision experiments is among the main goals of the on-going program.

Simultaneously, on the theory side, the thermal photon rate has served as a classic testing ground for developing increasingly advanced computational tools.


The addition of filler particles to elastomers, even in small amounts, is known to greatly improve the stiffness-as well as many other mechanical/physical properties-of this increasingly pervasive class of materials [1] . Among the various microscopic mechanisms that are responsible for such strong stiffening, in this work we shall focus primarily on the so-called "hydrodynamic reinforcing" effect within the context of nonlinear elastic deformations. That is, we view filled elastomers as two-phase particulate composites-comprising a continuous elastomeric matrix reinforced by a statistically uniform distribution of disconnected inclusions firmly bonded across interfaces-and study their macroscopic (or overall) elastic response, which, roughly speaking, is expected to be some weighted average of the elastic response of the elastomeric matrix and the comparatively rigid response of the fillers.

The addition of filler particles to elastomers, even in small amounts, is known to greatly improve the stiffness-as well as many other mechanical/physical properties-of this increasingly pervasive class of materials.


A key element in a successful pervasive computing environment is a personal computing device that enables the user to have continuous access to information [7] . Users' reliance on these devices necessitates that they be secure. One security attack that is unique to battery powered devices is a denial of service attack aimed at draining the battery. These "sleep deprivation torture" or "battery exhaustion" attacks, as called by Stajano and Anderson, prevent devices from entering normal low power idle or sleep states [8] . Consequently, the expected battery life of the devices is greatly reduced and users fail to gain the full utility of the devices.

A key element in a successful pervasive computing environment is a personal computing device that enables the user to have continuous access to information.

These "sleep deprivation torture" or "battery exhaustion" attacks, as called by Stajano and Anderson, prevent devices from entering normal low power idle or sleep states.


There are three phases of flow during the test namely: primary, secondary and tertiary stages. During the primary stage rate of strain decreases by load application. In secondary phase, rate of strain almost remains constant, and during tertiary phase the strain rate rises dramatically which is due to significant deformation of specimen under cyclic load application. In this criterion, the FN is defined as the load cycles when the tertiary stage is initiated. Although this method is one of the criteria to assess rutting performance of asphalt mixture, it has a disadvantage because it is observed that several minimum values from the strain rate were found [20] .

Although this method is one of the criteria to assess rutting performance of asphalt mixture, it has a disadvantage because it is observed that several minimum values from the strain rate were found.


Several permanent deformation models were proposed since 1970s that include power-law model, VESYS model, Ohio State model, superpave and AASHTO 2002 models [18, 20, 21] . In past researches, Flow Number (FN) was a popular indicator to assess the permanent deformation of hot mix asphalt [22, 23] . This value can be obtained as result of dynamic test by plotting cumulative plastic strain vs number of load cycles.

Several permanent deformation models were proposed since 1970s that include power-law model, VESYS model, Ohio State model, superpave and AASHTO 2002 models.

In past researches, Flow Number (FN) was a popular indicator to assess the permanent deformation of hot mix asphalt.


Plastics have prominent utilization worldwide. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is one of the major types of plastics that can be found in the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) [1] . MSW contains high proportion of thermoplastic polymers which has been increasing in value. PET is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer, and is considered as polyester material [2] . Large amount of waste PET is being produced in the form of different products, for instance, bottles, fibers, molding and sheets are the products mostly manufactured in Europe by application of PET [3] . Utilization of PET is well-known in food industry because of superlative characteristics offered by PET as a packaging material, mainly as bottles [4] .

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is one of the major types of plastics that can be found in the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).

PET is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer, and is considered as polyester material.

Large amount of waste PET is being produced in the form of different products, for instance, bottles, fibers, molding and sheets are the products mostly manufactured in Europe by application of PET.

Utilization of PET is well-known in food industry because of superlative characteristics offered by PET as a packaging material, mainly as bottles.


This section discusses about permanent deformation performance of control (unmodified) and PET modified asphalt mixtures. Three types of strains, namely: perfectly recoverable elastic, viscoelastic and irrecoverable plastic strains may develop after applying a load to the asphalt mixture. At higher temperature or under slow-moving loads, asphalt mixture may have pure elastic or viscoelastic behavior; however, it might behave as an elastic brittle material at lower temperature or under fast-moving loads [27] .

At higher temperature or under slow-moving loads, asphalt mixture may have pure elastic or viscoelastic behavior; however, it might behave as an elastic brittle material at lower temperature or under fast-moving loads.


To overcome these problems and make a better mixture providing longer service life, modifying asphalt mixture by utilizing additives such as fibers and polymers comes into popularity among road engineers and designers [5] . Among these additives, polymers (such as SBS, LDPE, and HDPE) have a prominent utilization [6] [7] [8] . In this case, many investigations have been conducted on effectiveness of using waste materials as additives in order to: (1) prevent from imposed additional charges by using additives and, (2) find a solution to reuse waste materials as secondary materials in such construction projects [9] [10] [11] [12] .

To overcome these problems and make a better mixture providing longer service life, modifying asphalt mixture by utilizing additives such as fibers and polymers comes into popularity among road engineers and designers.

Among these additives, polymers (such as SBS, LDPE, and HDPE) have a prominent utilization.

In this case, many investigations have been conducted on effectiveness of using waste materials as additives in order to: (1) prevent from imposed additional charges by using additives and, (2) find a solution to reuse waste materials as secondary materials in such construction projects.


Autonomous China found an 'any breastfeeding' rate of 92.2% at discharge [6] . The 'Beijing and Four Provinces Study' found that the 'ever breastfed' rate was 90.1% in China in 2002 [10] . This rate was similar to an Australia infant feeding study from West Australia where 93.5% of mothers were breastfeeding at discharge from hospital [11] .

Autonomous China found an 'any breastfeeding' rate of 92.2% at discharge.

The 'Beijing and Four Provinces Study' found that the 'ever breastfed' rate was 90.1% in China in 2002.

This rate was similar to an Australia infant feeding study from West Australia where 93.5% of mothers were breastfeeding at discharge from hospital.


There has for long been a convergence among development economists on the idea that economic growth is the main engine for poverty reduction. The traditional view in economics is that the benefits of economic growth (measured in terms of growth of the GDP) trickles down to the poor. Hence economic growth leads to poverty reduction. However, the recent growth experiences in the emerging economies, the growing concern about the rate of poverty during the last few decades, and the reaction of the international community through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) testified to the fact that the past growth focused strategies have failed to effectively reduce poverty (Pramanik 1994) . Reducing poverty entails improving the average income of the poor as well as reducing income inequality in any given country. But there is some kind of trade-off between distribution and growth in the overall poverty reduction strategy which is the bedrock of development. There is, therefore, the need to strike on the right balance on what the poverty strategy should focus: pro-poor or pro-growth?

However, the recent growth experiences in the emerging economies, the growing concern about the rate of poverty during the last few decades, and the reaction of the international community through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) testified to the fact that the past growth focused strategies have failed to effectively reduce poverty.


This route of sectoral labor transition depends on the effects of sectoral differentials in productivity of labor and differences in income elasticity of sectoral demand in the course of development. As income rises, the elasticity of demand for agricultural products tends to be the lowest compared to that of manufactured goods and services. Consequently, the shares of manufacturing and services sectors in GDP tend to be largest while that of agriculture sector shrinks. Similarly, technological progress has more immediate and efficient impact on the production process of manufacturing than in the agriculture sector, while the technology-induced growth in labor productivity is greater in the agriculture and manufacturing sector than in the service sector. This means that the volume of productivity in service sector would require more labor than in the primary and secondary sectors. Given this situation, the share of agricultural labor in the GDP and demand in agricultural products are expected to decline under rising income levels, while the greater proportion of labor force is allocated to manufacturing sector as the demand for industrial products increases. Larger proportion of demand in labor force will eventually move towards the tertiary sector as technology advances and per capita income rises (Schmidt, 2005) .

Larger proportion of demand in labor force will eventually move towards the tertiary sector as technology advances and per capita income rises.


Further studies that focusing on minimizing experimental errors are needed in order to enable technicians and farmers to safely and effectively use the new crop-related technologies. Sample sizes indicated for similar crops or determined as a function of the test area or the number of treatments are commonly used to determine the required experimental sample size. Statistically, this practice is unsuitable since sample size depends on experimental area heterogeneity and specific crop characteristics (Storck, Lopes, Cargnelutti Filho, Martini, & Carvalho, 2007) .

Statistically, this practice is unsuitable since sample size depends on experimental area heterogeneity and specific crop characteristics.


Small bowel obstruction (SBO) remains a common problem in the field of abdominal surgery. SBO may arise from various causes including extrinsic (adhesion, hernia, metastatic tumor, inflammatory processes, aneurysm, and unusual endometriosis) or intrinsic processes (bowel wall tumor, Crohn's disease, intussusception, bezoar, gallstone, and foreign body) [1] . Postoperative adhesions are the most common cause, accounting for nearly 80% of all clinical cases, even with the advent of minimal invasive surgery [2, 3] .

SBO may arise from various causes including extrinsic (adhesion, hernia, metastatic tumor, inflammatory processes, aneurysm, and unusual endometriosis) or intrinsic processes (bowel wall tumor, Crohn's disease, intussusception, bezoar, gallstone, and foreign body).

Postoperative adhesions are the most common cause, accounting for nearly 80% of all clinical cases, even with the advent of minimal invasive surgery.


The development in stock trading is observed as one of the fast-paced needs of the investing community. In line with these changes, investors became more rational in investment participation. The behavior of households has recently been used to explain investment decisions. Household behavior is challenging to study due to the complexity in measurement and constraints not covered in textbook models [2] . In line with this, behavioral finance has become the prime agenda for emerging research fields with an increasing number of arguments for the behavior explanation outside of the traditional boundaries [3] . Moreover, this area is modified to the different assumptions of the rational expectations model through the aspects of behavior and cognitive psychological theory such as sentiment, overconfidence, asymmetric preferences, anchoring, and culture. In effect, there is progress in exploring and explaining the rationality behind investor decision making through behavioral finance [4] . The previous studies on investment decision, particularly in stock market participation, have focused on solving the participation puzzle by linking social factors [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] .

Household behavior is challenging to study due to the complexity in measurement and constraints not covered in textbook models.

In line with this, behavioral finance has become the prime agenda for emerging research fields with an increasing number of arguments for the behavior explanation outside of the traditional boundaries.

In effect, there is progress in exploring and explaining the rationality behind investor decision making through behavioral finance.

The previous studies on investment decision, particularly in stock market participation, have focused on solving the participation puzzle by linking social factors.


The open science movement works towards the general availability of scientific insight and is considered one answer to the so-called "reproducibility crisis" [2] . Science results are often generated by a combination of software, data, and parameter settings, all of which contribute to the final result (and its interpretation). The complexity of all these elements is hardly describable in a single article -and often the publication does not allow the full reproduction of the achieved results. In the line of work towards consequent reproducibility of scientific results, there are three main tasks to be tackled: (a) motivate researchers to reproduce past results; (b) develop novel ways for the integrated presentation of future scientific results; (c) develop tools which allow for easy exploration of existing scientific works.

The open science movement works towards the general availability of scientific insight and is considered one answer to the so-called "reproducibility crisis".


Warthog are well below the preferred weight range of lion prey and so would be expected to be avoided, yet they are taken in accordance with their abundance. It is unlikely that this is an artefact of censusing or counting kills as the underestimation of the population size of small species is likely to be counteracted by the undercounting of the carcasses of these small species which are almost totally consumed. More likely is that warthogs are common in habitats where lions are, and are slower and have less endurance than most savanna ungulates (Estes, 1999) . Confounding this is the use of burrows by warthogs, although this is by no means a secure refuge (Estes, 1999) .

More likely is that warthogs are common in habitats where lions are, and are slower and have less endurance than most savanna ungulates.

Confounding this is the use of burrows by warthogs, although this is by no means a secure refuge.


Let us assume that the space is filled with the graviton field similar to a gas of relativistically moving particles, weakly interacting with each other due to the great speed and their small sizes. At each point in space we can find such a reference frame in which the fluxes of gravitons are isotropic. To do this, we should move to the system of the center of gravitons' momenta. In this case, the action of gravitons from all sides will be mutually balanced, the reference frame of the observer becomes inertial and the extended special theory of relativity (ESTR) will hold in it [6] . In ESTR all relations of the special theory of relativity (STR) are derived. ESTR differs from STR by the fact that the postulate of constancy of the speed of light in STR is replaced in ESTR by the postulate of the existence of an isotropic reference frame, in which the speed of light is the same in all directions. Thus the constancy of the speed of light in inertial reference frames is derived as one of the consequences.

In this case, the action of gravitons from all sides will be mutually balanced, the reference frame of the observer becomes inertial and the extended special theory of relativity (ESTR) will hold in it.


To date, the weak-form EMH has remained vital to dictate the behaviour of stock prices. It has several salient implications. First, efficiency is essential in policy making as it enables an effective allocation of capital across different productive sectors in an economy. If market is efficient, stock prices give accurate signals to guide investor decision making. In that sense, efficiency helps to enhance stock market liquidity and in turn stimulates long-term investment and economic growth. Conversely, inefficiency causes higher information costs and fluctuations in stock prices (Hubbard, 2008) . Second, if efficiency holds, the information of past trading is useless for predicting future stock price movements. Third, efficiency implies that stock prices fully reflect the information of past trading, thus technical analysis is not likely to be effective in stock price forecast. Fourth, if a stock price series can be characterized as a random walk process, shocks to stock prices are permanent. Following a shock, stock prices will reach a new equilibrium. Hence, future price movements cannot be predicted based on past price information (Narayan & Smyth, 2004; Munir, Kok, & Furouka, 2012) . However, if a stock price series displays mean reversion, the impact of shocks to prices is transitory.

It has several salient implications.

Conversely, inefficiency causes higher information costs and fluctuations in stock prices.

Hence, future price movements cannot be predicted based on past price information.


Investors generally believe that stock prices are predictable based on the information of past trading, which this motivates short horizon trading and speculation in the stock market. Technical analysis hints that stock price series will enrol in trends which tend to repeat in future (Dana & Cristina, 2013) . The basic tenet of technical theories stipulates that historical stock price behaviour tends to recur in future, thus successive price changes are dependent and can predict future price movements (Fama, 1965) . For example, the Dow Theory states that markets are likely to move in trends until reversals are exhibited, in which a primary trend can be either bear or bull market and a secondary trend displays short-term reversal(s) in the primary trend (Ray, 2012) . As investors expect to earn excess profits by exploiting any observable trends in stock price series, they prefer to trade for short-term (days, weeks, or months) as well as to speculate rather than using a strategy of simply buyand-hold.

Technical analysis hints that stock price series will enrol in trends which tend to repeat in future.

The basic tenet of technical theories stipulates that historical stock price behaviour tends to recur in future, thus successive price changes are dependent and can predict future price movements.

For example, the Dow Theory states that markets are likely to move in trends until reversals are exhibited, in which a primary trend can be either bear or bull market and a secondary trend displays short-term reversal(s) in the primary trend.


In this work, glass transition and relaxation processes of PS-b-PI diblock copolymers were studied. The diblock copolymers were of low molecular weight, below the entanglement molecular weight of each block [36] . As expected from the chosen synthesis conditions, the polyisoprene blocks mainly consist of 1,2-and 3,4-microstructure [37] . This combination led to diblock copolymer systems with reduced brittleness in comparison to neat polystyrene. Samples with a small volume fraction of polyisoprene were synthesized in order to examine the viscoelastic properties of asymmetric diblock copolymers. The molecular weight was varied in order to vary the tendency toward microphase separation. The in-depth examination of the viscoelastic properties as well as the relaxation processes gave an overview of the influence of molecular weight and composition of the diblock copolymers on the thermal and viscoelastic properties in the low molecular weight regime. Such materials are used for fabrication of composite materials; therefore, an "a priori" knowledge of their properties can lead to fabrication of nanocomposites with tailored properties. Furthermore, the viscoelastic properties of the neat polystyrene precursors were compared with those of the diblock copolymers, indicating the changes caused by the addition of the polyisoprene block.

The diblock copolymers were of low molecular weight, below the entanglement molecular weight of each block.

As expected from the chosen synthesis conditions, the polyisoprene blocks mainly consist of 1,2-and 3,4-microstructure.


As a consequence of this result, it is tempting to interpret small-amplitude anti-aligned libration of nonresonant planets as a signature of past resonant encounters as well as the associated migration. Indeed, such an interpretation holds great value as an instrument for disentangling the dynamical histories of planetary systems. However, care must be taken when drawing any such conclusion because eccentricity damping (such as that resulting from the dissipative processes that drive divergent orbital migration in the first place) in the secular domain may lead to antialigned orbits independently (Wu and Goldreich 2002; Mardling 2007; Batygin and Laughlin 2011) . Furthermore, it is important to note that lack of co-precessing anti-aligned obits in a given system should not be viewed as evidence for lack of past resonant encounters, since resonant encounters in densely populated planetary systems, can lead to orbital instabilities that act to chaotically erase fossilized remnants of past evolution. The lack of apsidal alignment between Jupiter and Saturn suggests that the solar system is in fact, such an example (Morbidelli et al. 2009; Batygin and Brown 2010; Nesvorný and Morbidelli 2012) .

However, care must be taken when drawing any such conclusion because eccentricity damping (such as that resulting from the dissipative processes that drive divergent orbital migration in the first place) in the secular domain may lead to antialigned orbits independently.

The lack of apsidal alignment between Jupiter and Saturn suggests that the solar system is in fact, such an example.


Influenced by the emergence of observational detections, a handful of authors have studied the global resonant dynamics of the unrestricted three-body problem (Rivera et al. 2005; Callegari and Yokoyama 2007; Michtchenko et al. 2008) . While quantitatively precise, the latter studies are generally tailored to particular systems, characterized by specific resonances and mass ratios. This renders the translation of the results to other systems and the acquisition of an overall understanding of the motion a difficult task. Indeed, a more physically intuitive and broadly applicable picture of resonant dynamics is desirable.

Influenced by the emergence of observational detections, a handful of authors have studied the global resonant dynamics of the unrestricted three-body problem.


An omnidirectional laser has been realized by dispersing CLC droplets with glycerol, where a 3-D Bragg optical microcavity can be formed [16] . This point-like, coherent, and omnidirectional lasing is another promising candidate for telecommunications, sensing, biomedical engineering, and display applications [16] . However, the 3-D Bragg cavity formed by pure CLC is quite easily deformed or even destroyed under high pump energy. Therefore, the real application of such an omnidirectional laser is seriously hindered by poor stability when high pump energy used. If the stability of the 3-D microcavity can be increased, the laser could resist higher pumping power without structure deformation. One possible solution is to add polymer materials.

An omnidirectional laser has been realized by dispersing CLC droplets with glycerol, where a 3-D Bragg optical microcavity can be formed.

This point-like, coherent, and omnidirectional lasing is another promising candidate for telecommunications, sensing, biomedical engineering, and display applications.


Anal cancer remains one of the few carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract that can be successfully treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with or without surgery [22] . However, such treatment is often accompanied by substantial morbidity due to the radiation therapy, and treatment failure is more likely with advanced disease. An understanding of the risk factors for AIN is important as detection and treatment of precancerous lesions such as HGAIN may prevent squamous cell carcinomas of the anus, similar to treatment of high-grade CIN to prevent cervical cancer.

Anal cancer remains one of the few carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract that can be successfully treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with or without surgery.


For instance, when n = 2 and M 2 is either the sphere S 2 or the real projective plane RP 2 , we prove that the slices are the only compact two-sided surfaces in the Riemannian product M 2 × R whose angle function Θ does not change sign and have constant Gaussian curvature (Corollary 6). It is worth pointing out that the condition that the angle function does not change sign is the natural generalization to our ambient spaces of the condition that the image of the Gauss map of a surface in R 3 is contained in a hemisphere, and it is a natural condition to consider if one wants to conclude that the surface is a slice [5, 6, 9] . When M 2 is either the sphere S 2 or the real projective plane RP 2 , we also prove that the slices are the only compact spacelike surfaces in the Lorentzian product M 2 × R 1 with constant Gaussian curvature (Corollary 9), without any additional hypothesis. In general, when n ≥ 3 we derive analogous results under the assumption that M n is Einstein.

It is worth pointing out that the condition that the angle function does not change sign is the natural generalization to our ambient spaces of the condition that the image of the Gauss map of a surface in R 3 is contained in a hemisphere, and it is a natural condition to consider if one wants to conclude that the surface is a slice.


It is well known that learning and memory deficits are accompanied by aging. The exact mechanisms responsible for the memory impairments with aging are still unclear, but evidence has accumulated that oxidative stress plays an important role [24] [25] [26] . Oxidative stress occurs when prooxidant and antioxidant levels become imbalanced. With aging, there is an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and diminished endogenous antioxidant enzyme levels, leading to an increased oxidizing cellular environment. Both SOD and CAT are the main endogenous antioxidant enzymes, playing an important role in the intracellular antioxidant defense in the brain. MDA, an important lipid peroxidation product, can be taken as an indicator for the state of oxidative damage of membranes under condition of oxidative stress. Two antioxidant markers SOD and CAT along with one oxidative stress marker MDA were measured in the current study. The results showed that the increasing MDA content and the decreasing activities of SOD and CAT in the aged mice could be partly reversed by EPT (100, 200 mg/kg) ( Figure 6 ). These findings demonstrated that the memory enhancing effects of EPT on the aged mice may be via antioxidant system. Aging is often accompanied by some alterations in the neurotransmitter systems such as acetylcholine and monoamine transmitters [27, 28] . And the transmission of these neurotransmitters in the brain has been long considered an important modulator of synaptic plasticity, memory consolidation, and other cognitive processes [29, 30] . Under normal condition, the metabolic controls, which are responsible for maintaining the levels of ACh and monoamine transmitters, are catalyzed by AChE and MAO, respectively [31, 32] . Our experimental data suggest that the EPT-mediated enhancement in spatial and non-spatial learning and memory abilities could be, at least partially, due to the decreasing activity of AChE and MAO in aged control mice (Figure 7 ), which were consistent with multiple behavioral tendencies.

The exact mechanisms responsible for the memory impairments with aging are still unclear, but evidence has accumulated that oxidative stress plays an important role.

Aging is often accompanied by some alterations in the neurotransmitter systems such as acetylcholine and monoamine transmitters.

And the transmission of these neurotransmitters in the brain has been long considered an important modulator of synaptic plasticity, memory consolidation, and other cognitive processes.

Under normal condition, the metabolic controls, which are responsible for maintaining the levels of ACh and monoamine transmitters, are catalyzed by AChE and MAO, respectively.


Thin-walled laminated composite shells and panels are widely used in aerospace applications. In aerospace structures, any weight savings through reduction of skin thickness must be balanced against the requirement for structural stability; therefore, it is of a great importance to study the buckling performance of composite structures for aerospace applications. In this regard, composite cylinders with circular cross-sections have mostly been studied in the literature due to their axisymmetric geometry that makes their analysis and design simpler. However, aerodynamic or other geometric considerations could dictate use of non-circular cross sections for aerospace applications such as in blended wing body aircraft designs. As a consequence, the non-uniformity of the curvature makes flatter portions with large radius of curvature more susceptible to buckling than other parts that have small radius of curvature, resulting in a considerably reduced buckling capacity [1] . From another point of view, this reduced buckling performance can be attributed to the inefficient use of material in such structures. Therefore, efficient tailoring of the material properties (e.g. stiffness) in different parts seem to be able to compensate the structural inefficiency resulting in more involvement of the structure in carrying the load and consequently improvement in the structural performance (e.g. buckling capacity).

As a consequence, the non-uniformity of the curvature makes flatter portions with large radius of curvature more susceptible to buckling than other parts that have small radius of curvature, resulting in a considerably reduced buckling capacity.


Soil salinity in arid and semi-arid regions is one of the most important factors limiting agricultural production (Neumann, 1995) . Significant reductions in plant growth occur due to salt stress, but these reductions vary according to plant species. The salt tolerance of vegetable varieties is important because monetary return is higher when compared with other field crops (Shannon and Grieve, 1999) . Fresh lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) leaves are rich in minerals. Lettuce is categorized as being moderately salt tolerant. Salinity levels higher than 2.0 and 2.6 dS m -1 reduce fresh yield and plant growth, respectively (De Pascale and Barbieri, 1995) .

Soil salinity in arid and semi-arid regions is one of the most important factors limiting agricultural production.

The salt tolerance of vegetable varieties is important because monetary return is higher when compared with other field crops.

Salinity levels higher than 2.0 and 2.6 dS m -1 reduce fresh yield and plant growth, respectively.


In Thailand the effect of the location × genotype interaction on the tuber yield was examined for 15 Jerusalem artichoke clones with diverse genotypes, grown at 9 locations [6] . The tuber yield ranged from 3.0 -17.2 t·ha −1 under the poorest conditions and from 26.1 -38.9 t·ha −1 at the best location. Averaged over four years, differences in tuber yield of 15 -28 t·ha −1 were caused for the same genotypes by differences in the site conditions (water supplies, soil type).

In Thailand the effect of the location × genotype interaction on the tuber yield was examined for 15 Jerusalem artichoke clones with diverse genotypes, grown at 9 locations.