Low pressure DC glow discharge plasma technology is applied widely in many fields, like plasma etching, plasma material surface treatment, plasma electron beam source, plasma sputtering spraying, and so on [1] [2] [3] . Many scholars have carried out various studies on low pressure glow discharge experimentally and theoretically. In the experimental study, a variety of means have been employed, such as electrostatic probe detection and spectroscopic diagnostic methods to analyze and study physical processes and discharge mechanism of low pressure glow discharge [3] [4] [5] [6] .

Low pressure DC glow discharge plasma technology is applied widely in many fields, like plasma etching, plasma material surface treatment, plasma electron beam source, plasma sputtering spraying, and so on.

In the experimental study, a variety of means have been employed, such as electrostatic probe detection and spectroscopic diagnostic methods to analyze and study physical processes and discharge mechanism of low pressure glow discharge.


Despite the fact that the influence of the magnetic field on the parameters of the plasma has been studied in the experiment, in theoretical research, there is still not a complete theoretical description of the influence of magnetic field on the parameters of the glow discharge. The relations between the physical quantities and some physical phenomena can not be explained strictly. Most authors use numerical methods in the theoretical study [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] . With the development of computer and algorithm optimization, these methods provide a good foundation and guarantee with great achievements made in this field. However, seen from previous numerical settlement results, there are also common problems: (1) numerical method applies some imaginary boundary conditions in the calculation process, which often leads to unreasonable results; for example, it can not be self-consistent; (2) unstabilizing factor may occur during the calculation, which leads to phenomenon of divergence, so calculation has to stop halfway; (3) in the lengthy process of calculation, it is not easy to find human error and check calculation results. Moreover, relationship between the various physical quantities is not readily apparent. In order to avoid these shortcomings, some of the early researchers sought analytic expression of the relevant parameters from the relevant classic discharge equation with applied analytic methods and actual boundary conditions and the theoretical model of glow discharge plasma under no magnetic field is established [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] .

Most authors use numerical methods in the theoretical study.

In order to avoid these shortcomings, some of the early researchers sought analytic expression of the relevant parameters from the relevant classic discharge equation with applied analytic methods and actual boundary conditions and the theoretical model of glow discharge plasma under no magnetic field is established.


Different gravitational interactions for different matter types inevitably break the Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP), which states that all objects in a uniform gravitational field, independent of the mass or other compositional properties, will experience the same acceleration. In Newtonian language, the difference between inertial mass (the mass appearing in Newton's second law) and gravitational mass (the mass appearing in Newton's law of gravity) must be exactly zero for the WEP to be respected. For ordinary baryonic matter, modern experiments using torsion balances report that the difference between inertial and gravitational masses is zero at the 10 −13 level [11] . Thus, violations of the WEP in the visible sector are tightly constrained. The constraint on WEP breaking in the dark sector is much less restrictive.

For ordinary baryonic matter, modern experiments using torsion balances report that the difference between inertial and gravitational masses is zero at the 10 −13 level.


Beyond the fifth-force description, we also introduce a phenomenological, post-Newtonian model to explicity distinguish dark matter gravitational and inertial mass. For ordinary cosmology, one can derive parts of the background Friedmann and linear perturbation equations in the post-Newtonian description by treating the scale factor as an expanding sphere filled with a homogeneous and isotropic fluid [17] . For pressureless matter, the continuity and Euler equations of fluid mechanics can be matched to the energy-momentum conservation equations in general relativity. We will follow this description and treat baryonic matter and dark matter as two separate but coupled fluids. Effectively, the dark matter fluid is evolving with a different scale factor such that the ratio of dark matter gravitational to inertial mass can not be simply absorbed by the dark matter energy density. The cosmological data will provide a constraint for this ratio. A relevant example from the literature uses the tidal disruption of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way to constrain this ratio at the 10% level [18] . We will find that cosmological data can provide a much more stringent constraint.

For ordinary cosmology, one can derive parts of the background Friedmann and linear perturbation equations in the post-Newtonian description by treating the scale factor as an expanding sphere filled with a homogeneous and isotropic fluid.

A relevant example from the literature uses the tidal disruption of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way to constrain this ratio at the 10% level.


In this paper we have updated the constraint on Newton's gravitational constant G for all matter using the latest available cosmological data. We found a tension with the CODATA standard value for the gravitational constant which is independent of the specific combination of experimental data used in our analysis. The most stringent cosmological constraint on G comes from the combined dataset of Planck+ACT/SPT+Lensing+BAO+HST+BBN, and this result has a tension with the CODATA value at a significance of 2.2σ. More insight on this discrepancy will come soon with the release of the 2015 Planck data [8] . If the best fit for G still tends high, this may be a hint for a new physics in cosmology and the need to go beyond the ΛCDM standard cosmological model.

More insight on this discrepancy will come soon with the release of the 2015 Planck data.


One simple way to mimic dark matter equivalence principle breaking is to introduce a long-range force only for dark matter [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] . In this class of models, the gravitational interaction strengths for dark matter and baryonic matter are the same, although the total long range force between two clumps of dark matter is different from baryonic matter. In our study, we will also update the cosmological constraints on the fifth force strength and pay additional attention to the force carrier energy density.

One simple way to mimic dark matter equivalence principle breaking is to introduce a long-range force only for dark matter.


Microwave horn antennas occur in a variety of shapes and sizes and are used in areas such as wireless communications, electromagnetic sensing, nondestructive testing and evaluation, radio frequency heating and biomedicine [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] . Horns are also widely used as high gain elements in phased arrays and as feed elements for reflectors and lens antennas in satellite, microwave and millimeter wave systems. Moreover, they serve as a universal standard for calibration and gain measurements of other antennas.

Microwave horn antennas occur in a variety of shapes and sizes and are used in areas such as wireless communications, electromagnetic sensing, nondestructive testing and evaluation, radio frequency heating and biomedicine.


Navier-Stokes equations, in fact, work perfectly for macroscale flows, but at micro-scale may become inaccurate in local rarefied areas. Such inconsistency can be partially overcome by applying appropriate slip boundary conditions. However, as indicated in literature, the first order slip condition is valid only for local Knudsen number (Kn, ratio between mean free path and relevant geometrical scale) less than 0.1, and any attempt to increase its range, resorting to higher order slip boundary conditions, is not trivial and highly geometrical dependent. On the other hand, micro-scales are accurately described by more general, but much more time and memory consuming kinetic equations, which require a discretization in both physical and velocity spaces. However, within the range of Knudsen number typical for MEMS devices, the flow can usually be subdivided into a local rarefied regime area along the walls and an internal core, where the flow behaves as a continuum. Therefore, a multi-scale hybrid continuum/kinetic solver, capable of an accurate, yet efficient simulation of multi-scales flows, offers a promising engineering approach and an up to date topic in scientific community [1] [2] [3] .

Therefore, a multi-scale hybrid continuum/kinetic solver, capable of an accurate, yet efficient simulation of multi-scales flows, offers a promising engineering approach and an up to date topic in scientific community.


In brief, the bicycle wheel represents a very complex structure and its complexity derives from several facts, such as the considerable number of components, the different spoke patterns, the various loadings it has to respond to, as well as the different ways it may be deflected under that variety of loads. All of it is very well described by Brandt [5] . That is why it is nearly impossible to establish a general model for the bicycle wheel that may be valid for any requirement.

All of it is very well described by Brandt.


However, the modelling-based development of the tyre-substrate interaction is to a certain extent hindered by the fact that the underlying physics of the force generation are not fully understood. Therefore, methods to measure tyre-road rolling contact forces play an important role in the development of safer, less noisy and more energy-efficient road vehicles. They are used to generate empirically based knowledge and serve as validation tools in the product development cycle. Moreover, they are used in research aiming for an increased understanding of the underlying physics of contact force generation and finally; they are potentially used in real-time active control systems for improved vehicle handling and safety, i.e. electronic stability programs (ESP) with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and traction control systems (TCS) [1] .

Moreover, they are used in research aiming for an increased understanding of the underlying physics of contact force generation and finally; they are potentially used in real-time active control systems for improved vehicle handling and safety, i.e. electronic stability programs (ESP) with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and traction control systems (TCS).


Maritime or cluster pine (P. pinaster Aiton) is one of the most iconic species of the western Mediterranean forest landscape. In Spain, it is the most widely distributed native pine (^600,000 ha of natural populations) and also the most widely used in reforestation. Maritime pine has been planted in temperate regions within and outside its natural range mainly because of its commercial importance and easy acclimation. In fact, outside its natural range, this species is considered one of the most relevant invasive plants in the world (Lowe et al., 2004) . In the light of this, ecological information from natural populations of the species, in particular that related to seed dispersal and recruitment can be very useful for developing population dynamic and spread models (Rodríguez-García et al., 2010) .

In fact, outside its natural range, this species is considered one of the most relevant invasive plants in the world.

In the light of this, ecological information from natural populations of the species, in particular that related to seed dispersal and recruitment can be very useful for developing population dynamic and spread models.


Human bilharziasis is caused by the trematode species of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma hematobium, Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma mekongi [1] . The disease is highly prevalent throughout Africa, South America and several Caribbean islands [2] . It is one of the most widespread of all human parasitic diseases, ranking second only to malaria in terms of its socioeconomic and public health importance in tropical and subtropical areas [3] . Estimates suggest that over 250 million people were infected and the disease caused 11,700 deaths and a global burden of 3.3 million disability-adjusted life years [4] .

Human bilharziasis is caused by the trematode species of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma hematobium, Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma mekongi.

The disease is highly prevalent throughout Africa, South America and several Caribbean islands.

It is one of the most widespread of all human parasitic diseases, ranking second only to malaria in terms of its socioeconomic and public health importance in tropical and subtropical areas.

Estimates suggest that over 250 million people were infected and the disease caused 11,700 deaths and a global burden of 3.3 million disability-adjusted life years.


National's policy on the continuation of energy is based on three core dimensions: energy security, social equity and environmental impact mitigation. These three goals require firm action to turn the national energy system onto sustainable and environmentally sensitive energy system [1] . Hence, to face the challenge on the demand of energy in the future, there is a need to develop bio-energy instead of fossil energy. It is predicted that Indonesia will run out of fossil energy sources in the near future due to the limited supply of natural gas, the increasing of oil price, inefficient use of energy [2] . Therefore, the sustainable energy sources should be concerned and one of the strategy to meet increasing demand is to accelerate the development of clean energy such as renewable and alternative energy [1] . Indonesia has been targeting a new and renewable share of 23 % in the national energy mix up in year 2025 [3] . In supporting the demand of new and renewable energy, the use of biomass-based biofuels are needed and several forest tree species can be utilized as a source of raw materials.

These three goals require firm action to turn the national energy system onto sustainable and environmentally sensitive energy system.

It is predicted that Indonesia will run out of fossil energy sources in the near future due to the limited supply of natural gas, the increasing of oil price, inefficient use of energy.

Therefore, the sustainable energy sources should be concerned and one of the strategy to meet increasing demand is to accelerate the development of clean energy such as renewable and alternative energy.

Indonesia has been targeting a new and renewable share of 23 % in the national energy mix up in year 2025.


In terms of the importance of environmental protection and sustainability, can luggage tags be reused to reduce the use of paper adhesive luggage tags? With two billion passengers travelling by air each year, huge numbers of adhesive luggage tags are printed for the trip and disposed of after use. This phenomenon creates environmentally unfriendly wastage. IATA estimated that in 2013 airlines printed 2.95 billion adhesive luggage tags each year. This has led airlines to develop permanent digital luggage tags. British Airways announced in November 2013 that they will roll out digital tags to frequent fliers who can check-in for a flight with their own smartphones with the personalized digital tag. The tag uses the Near Field Communication (NFC), short-range wireless technology and electronic ink to display and pass the barcode information to the reader device. This method has reduced the use of adhesive paper luggage tags. Qantas Airways also introduced QBag Tag, which is a permanent electronic tag, in domestic flights with the use of RFID instead of NFC in transmitting the flight details into the tag. Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is also investigating a digitally-enabled suitcase with electronic tagging and GPS real-time tracking [33] .

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is also investigating a digitally-enabled suitcase with electronic tagging and GPS real-time tracking.


Bones are an important organ in our bodies and provide us the freedom to do the things that we want to do. Bones help us to stand up straight, walk, and jump. Many health problems, such as trauma, infection, and tumors, can cause broken bones [1] . Bone tissue can repair itself for small defects, and sometimes cannot heal large bone defects. The treatment of large bone defects represents a considerable challenge in clinical practice [2, 3] . This situation necessitates the use of bone grafts, including autografts, allografts, and bone substitutes for healing [4] . Autografts have long been acknowledged as the gold standard for bone grafts due to their outstanding osteoinductivity, osteoconductivity, and osteogenicity. However, the following limitations restrict their extensive clinical application: limited supply, donor site injury, and potential risks of infection. Allografts, providing scaffolds for graft sites, are relatively abundant in supply, are osteoconductive, and have been used successfully in bone grafting procedures. However, allografts have their limitations as well, including a slowly creeping substitution process compared to autografts, high risks of disunion or delayed union, and potential risk of disease transmission and antigenicity that induces host rejections. Bone graft substitutes include organic materials, inorganic materials, and composites. Surgeons encounter a serious challenge in searching for the ideal artificial bone substitute for the repair of large bone defects. Biomaterials, due to their comparability with human bone structure, have been demonstrated to be popular in orthopedic surgery [4] .

Many health problems, such as trauma, infection, and tumors, can cause broken bones.

The treatment of large bone defects represents a considerable challenge in clinical practice.

This situation necessitates the use of bone grafts, including autografts, allografts, and bone substitutes for healing.

Biomaterials, due to their comparability with human bone structure, have been demonstrated to be popular in orthopedic surgery.


As for the relationship between some extreme climate indices, researchers generally assume that it is stationary over space and use an ordinary linear regression OLR model to analyze it. Nevertheless, it is known that an OLR model can only represent global relationship and it hardly takes into consideration the variations in relationships over space, in other words, the explicit incorporation of space or location has not been that commonly considered. In this context, there has been recently a surge focusing on the inclusion of spatial effects in climate models. A geographically weighted regression GWR model, which extends the traditional regression framework by allowing regression coefficients to vary with individual locations spatial nonstationarity , is an effective method of utilizing spatial information to improve this issue [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] . Hence, GWR produces locally linear regression estimates for every point in space. For this purpose, weighted least squares methodology is used, with weights based on the distance between observations i and all the others in the sample. GWR allows the exploration of variation of the parameters as well as the testing of the significance of this variation. It is of great appeal to apply GWR technique to analyze spatial data in a number of areas such as geography econometrics, epidemiology, and environmental science 14-16 . China is strongly influenced by the East Asian monsoon 17 . During the winter half year, the climate is mostly cold and dry. Cold days and strong winds accompanied by dust storms are the major climate features particularly observed in northern China 18 . During the summer period, the rain belt moves gradually from south to north with the hot and humid climate in eastern China 19 . The regional characteristics of extreme climate are particularly prominent in China. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the spatially varying impacts of some temperature extreme indices on one precipitation extreme index in China. In this paper, relative thresholds based on the 1961-1990 base period were firstly used to build some extreme indices, namely, FEP frequency of extreme precipitation , FWD frequency of warm days , FWN frequency of warm nights , FCD frequency of cold days , and FCN frequency of cold nights . The spatial distributions of these indices were then analyzed. In order to investigate the relationship among these indices, a GWR model was utilized to study how FEP was affected by the other indices. Moreover, two statistical tests were carried out to confirm some of our guesswork and some promising results were obtained.

A geographically weighted regression GWR model, which extends the traditional regression framework by allowing regression coefficients to vary with individual locations spatial nonstationarity , is an effective method of utilizing spatial information to improve this issue.


Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a large family of genetic diseases resulting from defects in the synthesis of glycans and in the attachment of glycans to lipids and proteins. These disorders cause a wide range of clinically relevant human diseases with different, sometimes diffuse, clinical pictures. There are currently 12 defined N-, seven O-and three N-and O-glycosylation defects due to defects in proteins with glycosyltransferase or transport function already identified [1] . For a growing group of patients with unidentified defects, but typical and atypical clinical presentations in CDG, there is a high need for an increase in the speed and accuracy of diagnostics in order to design rational therapeutic suggestions in as short a time span as possible.

There are currently 12 defined N-, seven O-and three N-and O-glycosylation defects due to defects in proteins with glycosyltransferase or transport function already identified.


The alteration of glycan patterns related to CDG defects is reflected in the patients' serum, which can be analyzed for glycosylation patterns of glycoproteins, according to proteomics-based protocols [2] . However, urine as a rich source of metabolic structures renders an excellent opportunity for noninvasive sample diagnostics. Carbohydrate patterns of CDG patients' urine were investigated by us using distinct glycomics-based strategies to explore the feasibility of protocols and their potential for unique structure discovery and clinical applications [3] [4] [5] [6] . Components of these highly complex mixtures depict different levels of modifications by sialylation and fucosylation. A high number of intact and truncated N-and O-glycan structures were revealed by high resolution mass spectromdatabases [4] . Using a novel approach of ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMS-MS), overlapping of the carbohydrate mass range landscape was shown to be highly reduced, allowing development of strategies for more efficient identification by sequencing the glycan precursor ions, following their separation by their mobility, or drift time, through the traveling wave IMS cell [3] . The fragmentation data obtained clearly demonstrate that carbohydrate epitopes can be de novo identified by this type of bioanalysis rendering an efficient novel tool for glycomics to be introduced to the CDG research and be applied to clinical samples. In the following investigation, monosialylated glycoforms from urine and their terminal epitopes were identified by IMS and automatic data assignment to be correlated with those described in carbohydrate databases for comparison of their possible function.

The alteration of glycan patterns related to CDG defects is reflected in the patients' serum, which can be analyzed for glycosylation patterns of glycoproteins, according to proteomics-based protocols.

Carbohydrate patterns of CDG patients' urine were investigated by us using distinct glycomics-based strategies to explore the feasibility of protocols and their potential for unique structure discovery and clinical applications.

A high number of intact and truncated N-and O-glycan structures were revealed by high resolution mass spectromdatabases.

Using a novel approach of ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMS-MS), overlapping of the carbohydrate mass range landscape was shown to be highly reduced, allowing development of strategies for more efficient identification by sequencing the glycan precursor ions, following their separation by their mobility, or drift time, through the traveling wave IMS cell.


The horse has three basic types of muscle fiber: Type I, IIA and IIB, which differ in contractile and metabolic characteristics [14] . Type I fibers are slow-contracting fibers, while Types IIA and IIB are fast-contracting. In addition, Type I and IIA fibers have a high oxidative capacity and thus can utilize fuels aerobically while Type IIB fibers have a low aerobic capacity and depend on anaerobic glycolysis for energy generation. All three fiber types store glycogen, while only Types I and IIA have significant triglyceride storage. The speed of muscle contraction determines how fast the animal is able to move, and the faster an animal moves the greater the ATP requirement [14] . While walking, muscle contraction occurs very slowly and relatively small amounts of ATP are expended. During this type of exercise, Type I fibers are primarily recruited and energy generation is entirely aerobic, with muscle burning predominantly fat. As speed increases from a walk to a trot to a canter, Type I fibers alone are no longer capable of contracting rapidly enough to propel the horse. At this point, Type IIA fibers are also recruited. These fibers are also aerobic, but they use a combination of glycogen and fat for energy generation. Glycogen (glucose) can be metabolized twice as fast as fat for ATP generation, and as speed increases, fat becomes simply too slow a fuel for energy generation. As the horse increases speed to a fast gallop, Type IIB fibers are recruited and energy generation no longer remains purely aerobic. At these speeds, the requirement for ATP has exceeded the ability of the horse to deliver enough oxygen to the muscle to produce the energy by aerobic means. Anaerobic glycolysis takes over as a rapid metabolic pathway to generate ATP. Anaerobic glycolysis results, however, in lactic acid accumulation, and fatigue soon develops as the pH in the muscle begins to fall.

The horse has three basic types of muscle fiber: Type I, IIA and IIB, which differ in contractile and metabolic characteristics.

The speed of muscle contraction determines how fast the animal is able to move, and the faster an animal moves the greater the ATP requirement.


The LPD model takes into account wind velocity variances and Langrangian autocorrelations. The spread of the pollutant is simulated by the Langevin equation derived by Thomson for inhomogeneous Gaussian turbulence under non-stationary conditions (McNider et al., 1988) . Turbulence statistics are obtained by using the Hanna scheme with some modifications taken from Ryall and Maryon for convective conditions (Stohl et al., 2005) . The autocorrelation coefficient is assumed to be an exponential function that depends on the Lagrangian time scale. The time step used to move particles in the Markov chain model has to be variable in inhomogeneous turbulence and depends on the Lagrangian time scale (Uliasz, 1994) . Well-mixed profiles can be obtained as long as the timestep is small enough to resolve the small-scale turbulence in the vicinity of the boundaries (Hurley and Physick, 1991) . Like the mesoscale model, the LPD model was configured with USGS land-use data.

The spread of the pollutant is simulated by the Langevin equation derived by Thomson for inhomogeneous Gaussian turbulence under non-stationary conditions.

Turbulence statistics are obtained by using the Hanna scheme with some modifications taken from Ryall and Maryon for convective conditions.

The time step used to move particles in the Markov chain model has to be variable in inhomogeneous turbulence and depends on the Lagrangian time scale.

Well-mixed profiles can be obtained as long as the timestep is small enough to resolve the small-scale turbulence in the vicinity of the boundaries.


Smooth muscle cells form smooth muscle tissues. These tissues are major components of systems like cardiovascular, reproductive, urinary, and intestinal systems. Smooth muscle cells play a major role in diseases like cancer, asthma, arteriosclerosis, and hypertension since they constitute the main layer of smooth muscle tissues [9, 11] . Gastrointestinal smooth muscle diseases represent a major health problem affecting 2 million individuals every year [12] . Smooth muscle cell regeneration is required in the gastrointestinal tract as defects commonly occur [13] .

Smooth muscle cells play a major role in diseases like cancer, asthma, arteriosclerosis, and hypertension since they constitute the main layer of smooth muscle tissues.

Gastrointestinal smooth muscle diseases represent a major health problem affecting 2 million individuals every year.

Smooth muscle cell regeneration is required in the gastrointestinal tract as defects commonly occur.


Stem cells could be used for treatment of several diseases such as Parkinson's, stroke, diabetes, traumatic injury, and multiple sclerosis diseases. These diseases are caused by either loss or damage of the cells in the organs or tissues [32] . Stem cells have to be differentiated into cells which are required to repair or replace the lost or damaged cells. ADSCs have been shown to have a high plasticity capability. They have been able to differentiate into smooth muscle, neuron, bone, cartilage, and fat cells [9, 33] . Differentiating ADSCs into SMCs would assist in the treatment of diseases that affect diseases in the cardiovascular, intestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems [11, 34] . Studies on coculturing of cells have proved that differentiation can be increased due to the secretion of growth factors of the cells that will be differentiated into. Previous studies have shown that LILI can increase cell viability and proliferation [18, 25] . Growth factors have shown to have many effects on cells that include proliferation and differentiation and they play major roles in these processes [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] . The results in the present study showed a decrease in the proliferation of ADSCs and an increase in the proliferation of SMCs. This was observed through flow cytometry analysis; however, this could not be distinguished in the optical density analysis of the cocultures. In this study LILI increased the proliferation of cocultured cells; however, in the cocultures that had growth factors, proliferation decreased as compared to the cocultures without growth factors. This could have been due to the fact that proliferation of ADSCs was halted while differentiation into SMCs was initiated. Flow cytometry results concurred with this observation since a decrease in expression of the ADSCs markers in the cocultures was observed while those of the SMCs increased. This once again supports the argument that proliferation was inhibited since ADSCs were preparing for differentiation.

These diseases are caused by either loss or damage of the cells in the organs or tissues.

They have been able to differentiate into smooth muscle, neuron, bone, cartilage, and fat cells.

Differentiating ADSCs into SMCs would assist in the treatment of diseases that affect diseases in the cardiovascular, intestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems.

Previous studies have shown that LILI can increase cell viability and proliferation.

Growth factors have shown to have many effects on cells that include proliferation and differentiation and they play major roles in these processes.


The reader will probably notice that the parameters used to characterize the generated LW pulses lead to aperture sizes and frequency bandwidths that are slightly exaggerated. The apertures simulated in this work shrink from initial sizes of several metres to minimum radii of few millimetres, while the highest frequencies contained in their spectra are of the order of tens of teraHertz. Such bandwidths are about an order of magnitude larger than those produced by recently developed optical sources [9] . We have chosen such blown up quantities primarily to demonstrate the efficiency of dynamic apertures to launch extremely narrow pulses from extended sources of larger dimensions. For various applications the maximum and minimum radii and the bandwidths of the elements constituting the aperture can be altered according to the design requirements.

Such bandwidths are about an order of magnitude larger than those produced by recently developed optical sources.


The definition of the diffraction length is a topic that is frequently discussed in connection with the LW generation and propagation [7, 8] . The core of this issue resides in the ambiguity of determining the maximum temporal (ω max ) frequency of the spectrum. Furthermore, the range of the pulse and its rate of decay depend on the transverse spectral bandwidth. These quantities, together with the maximum radius of the aperture, can be combined to give a good estimate of a diffraction length [8] . However, inclusive estimates of this type can conceal some features that might be useful for specific applications.

The definition of the diffraction length is a topic that is frequently discussed in connection with the LW generation and propagation.

These quantities, together with the maximum radius of the aperture, can be combined to give a good estimate of a diffraction length.


In this work, we have studied three excitation schemes of dynamic apertures. One of these uses the FWM field and has been investigated in detail in another paper [1] . The other two utilize variations of the FWM excitation, the spectral components of which are distributed in a different manner. Whereas the FWM has most of its significant components located at the lower end of its spectrum, the other two examples have most of their spectral components located at higher frequencies. It has been demonstrated that the shape of the spatial spectrum affects the rate of decay of the pulse. In the near-far-field range, the LW pulses can hold out better than equivalent pulses radiated from static radiators [1] . Such an enhancement has been shown to be roughly of the order of the ratio R max /R min . Thus for dynamic apertures having equal maximum radii, the radiated LW pulses typified by narrower focused waists should hold out longer before they start to decay. Figure 4 shows that this is true for both the PFWM and MFWM pulses exhibiting slower decay rates than the FWM pulse in the near-field range. For the FWM pulse R min is equal to 4/χ max . A slower decay, hence, follows from increasing the spatial bandwidth. Nevertheless, pulses like the PFWM and MFWM can reduce R min while keeping the anticipated increase in χ max at bay.

One of these uses the FWM field and has been investigated in detail in another paper.

In the near-far-field range, the LW pulses can hold out better than equivalent pulses radiated from static radiators.


The aforementioned effects on the propagation of the LW pulses in the near-far-field region might be overshadowed in inclusive definitions of a diffraction length [6, 16] . Such definitions usually give a diffraction limit that depends on the maximum size of the aperture, the bandwidth of the spatial (or transverse) χ -spectrum and the maximum value of the temporal ω-spectrum. Various authors set different criteria for defining χ and ω max . For example, one can use either a 3 dB point, a half-power width or even adopt a more strict criterion (e.g. the (1/e 4 ) used in this work) to try to include the effects of the extended tails. This is just a pedagogical issue that does not add anything new to the physics of the problem. The aforementioned definitions of a diffraction length give a good estimate, in a broad sense, of the behaviour of a generated LW as it propagates in the near-far-field region. Our three examples show good agreement with the predicted diffraction lengths, apart from minor differences, such as those observed in the comparison between the PFWM and MFWM pulses. Namely, that the PFWM holds better at smaller distances, and that MFWM takes over at larger ones.

The aforementioned effects on the propagation of the LW pulses in the near-far-field region might be overshadowed in inclusive definitions of a diffraction length.


Uncertainties in the data were propagated forward to the results by fitting probability distributions to each parameter. Beta distributions were fitted to all transition probabilities and gamma distributions to all cost parameters. Uniform distributions were fitted to parameters where only two data points were available that describe a high and low value. One thousand random re-samples were taken from all distributions. This gave rise to 1000 estimates of the change to total cost (DC), change to total QALYs (DE) and net-monetary-benefit. The probability the intervention was costeffective as compared to the usual care alternative was estimated by counting the number of times the net-monetary-benefit statistic was positive over the total number of re-samples [31] . These results were plotted as cost-effectiveness acceptability curves that show the probability that adopting the intervention is a costeffective decision, given uncertainties in model parameters. Costeffectiveness acceptability curves describe a wide range of decision maker's willingness to pay for QALYs (c). Detailed information about the use and interpretation of cost-effectiveness acceptability curves is available [31, 32] . The process captures the variance in the data collected from trial participants and accounts for any correlations between parameters. The method used to fit beta, gamma and uniform distributions to the data and the method used estimate daily probabilities is described in the Appendix S1.

The probability the intervention was costeffective as compared to the usual care alternative was estimated by counting the number of times the net-monetary-benefit statistic was positive over the total number of re-samples.

Detailed information about the use and interpretation of cost-effectiveness acceptability curves is available.


The objective of the present paper is to build on these previous methods to estimate unknown two-point space-time flow statistics. Both the PSDs (one-point temporal statistics) and spatial covariances (two-point spatial statistics) are subsets of two-point space-time correlations, so our approach represents a generalization of these previous methods. This is an important step since two-point space-time statistics contain additional, fundamental information about the flow. In particular, they carry information about coherent motions within the flow, and can even be used to define the concept of a coherent structure ). Moreover, space-time correlations can be used to obtain real-time estimates of the flow state via convolution with a time-varying input signal (Sasaki et al. 2017) .

Moreover, space-time correlations can be used to obtain real-time estimates of the flow state via convolution with a time-varying input signal.


The production of ESBLs and PMQR proteins are a cause for concern. The ciprofloxacin resistance and ESBL rates are high in E. coli isolates from Turkey, being 40 -42% and 28.7 -32.1 %, respectively [5, 6] . However, significantly lower ciprofloxacin resistance and ESBL rates among E. coli in North America, Latin America, and Europe were observed -4.5 -1.9 %, 7.1 -9.0 %, and 5.0 -5.4 %, respectively [7] . Data on the prevalence of ESBL, especially CTX-M and VEB types, are limited in Turkey. Although the prevalence of PMQR genes, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr, and recently qepA and associated ESBLs have been reported, the prevalence of qnrC and qnrD is unknown [8] [9] [10] [11] .

The ciprofloxacin resistance and ESBL rates are high in E. coli isolates from Turkey, being 40 -42% and 28.7 -32.1 %, respectively.

However, significantly lower ciprofloxacin resistance and ESBL rates among E. coli in North America, Latin America, and Europe were observed -4.5 -1.9 %, 7.1 -9.0 %, and 5.0 -5.4 %, respectively.

Although the prevalence of PMQR genes, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr, and recently qepA and associated ESBLs have been reported, the prevalence of qnrC and qnrD is unknown.


Over the past 10 years, PMQR has emerged as an important issue. Different rates of PMQR have been reported depending on the country of origin of the isolates [22] . E. coli carrying qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, and aac (6' [16] . In addition, a qnrA-positiveCitrobacter freundii isolate that produces bla VEB-1 and bla has been reported in Turkey [8] . Here, in addition to the TEM and SHV type, a VEB type β-lactamase was detected, but distinct from that of a qnrApositive E. coli isolate from the same hospital. This finding showed that VEB-1 type β-lactamase persists in microorganisms in Turkey. The present study also demonstrated the co-expression of the PMQR genes, similar to previous reports from France, UK, China, and Turkey [11, [24] [25] [26] .

Different rates of PMQR have been reported depending on the country of origin of the isolates.

E. coli carrying qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, and aac (6'.

In addition, a qnrA-positiveCitrobacter freundii isolate that produces bla VEB-1 and bla has been reported in Turkey.

The present study also demonstrated the co-expression of the PMQR genes, similar to previous reports from France, UK, China, and Turkey.


In a recent work we have applied these ideas to the quark singlet ground state of the hadrons [5] . The color symmetry SU(3) c provides an entropy for each of the colored quarks with the value ln 3. We have extended this result to models at finite temperatures [6] . This entropy reflects the probability of quark mixing maneuver inside the hadrons. At vanishing temperature the confined quarks can be viewed as continuously tousled objects. In present work we investigate the contribution of the ground state entropy to the equation of state for the colored quarks using the phenomenological bag model for strong interactions [7] . We assume that inside the hadron bag all of the strong interactions at low temperatures T and small quark chemical potentials µ q are included in the quark and gluon condensates. We will not elaborate here any further on details of the bag model. We apply it as a simplest analytical model for the QCD equation of state. In this model and in the low temperature limit the thermodynamical quantities of the quarks are given by the non-perturbative bag pressure, which is widely known as the bag constant B. B gives the gain in the energy density of the confined state relative to its value in vacuum (section 3). In particular, we will look at a special model for baryons, for which the effective degrees of freedom are entirely given by the quark and gluon colors. All other couplings are taken so that the spin and flavor are not explicitly considered.

In a recent work we have applied these ideas to the quark singlet ground state of the hadrons.

We have extended this result to models at finite temperatures.

In present work we investigate the contribution of the ground state entropy to the equation of state for the colored quarks using the phenomenological bag model for strong interactions.


This research is focused on the magnetic targeted hyperthermia treatments. This treatment can directly eliminate the cancer cells without damaging the normal ones. Most importantly, the medication applied on the surfaces of magnetic materials can directly perform the treatment [5, 6] . Magnetic targeted hyperthermia treatments are conducted by placing magnetic targeted medicines on the tumor and imposing the alternating magnetic field (∼kHz-∼MHz) on it [7, 8] .

Most importantly, the medication applied on the surfaces of magnetic materials can directly perform the treatment.

Magnetic targeted hyperthermia treatments are conducted by placing magnetic targeted medicines on the tumor and imposing the alternating magnetic field (∼kHz-∼MHz) on it.


To generate heat in an alternating field, magnetic materials activate more than four different known mechanisms, which are generation of eddy currents, hysteresis losses, relaxation losses, and frictional losses, and so forth. There are two modes, rotational (Brownian) and Neel, in which the relaxation losses in single-domain MNPs occur. The magnetic moment fixed along the crystal easy axis revolves away towards the external field in the Neel mode. Similar to the hysteresis loss in multidomain magnetic particles, the Neel mechanism can also generate heat by means of "internal friction" caused by the movement of the magnetic moment in an external field. In the Brownian mode, however, the interaction between a thermal force and viscous drag in the suspending medium will influence the particle movement significantly. The whole particle moves towards the external field with the moment locked along the crystal axis instead. This phenomenon serves to account for the mechanical friction component in a given suspending medium. Applying the mechanism mentioned above, the local temperature of the tumor can rise up to 42-50 ∘ C, with that the cancer cells will be killed [9] [10] [11] .

Applying the mechanism mentioned above, the local temperature of the tumor can rise up to 42-50 ∘ C, with that the cancer cells will be killed.


The factors that affect the biodistribution of polymeric iron nanoparticles (NPs) include the size, shape, hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of the surface, and surface charge [14] . Thus, this experiment explores the characteristic differences of heating effectiveness between 1D iron nanowires (NWs) and commercial iron nanoparticles (NPs) in hyperthermia treatments. Iron NWs reveal a special property that may easily destroy the cancer cells by its 1D spinning radius. The cellular toxic tests of the nanoiron are also conducted for the iron NWs in further studies.

The factors that affect the biodistribution of polymeric iron nanoparticles (NPs) include the size, shape, hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of the surface, and surface charge.


The presented work is a part of development and research studies on design of the new diagnostics for poloidal tomography [5] , [8] , [11] . As a part of the tomography system, the GEM detector operation will take place in severe radiation surroundings. It is important, then, to verify their operation under targeted radiation conditions. In this work initial laboratory results on the detector prototype performance are presented.

The presented work is a part of development and research studies on design of the new diagnostics for poloidal tomography.


In the present study, we applied QMRA methodology to workplace settings in order to determine the risk of infection that is caused by inhalation exposure to HAdV, which was chosen as a reference pathogen because of its wide dispersion, resistance, and infectivity [46] . Our data confirmed the wide diffusion of this virus and also found considerable differences between indoor and outdoor settings. Our findings reveal an opportunity to reduce indoor contamination with adequate ventilation systems.

In the present study, we applied QMRA methodology to workplace settings in order to determine the risk of infection that is caused by inhalation exposure to HAdV, which was chosen as a reference pathogen because of its wide dispersion, resistance, and infectivity.


In this work, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectra have been measured at the front facet of a series of 1.3µm dilute nitride lasers [6] . The below threshold ASE spectra have been used to extract the net modal gain, effective group index and shift in effective index all as a function of temperature and injection current. From these parameters, we then extract the linewidth enhancement factor using equation 1.

In this work, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectra have been measured at the front facet of a series of 1.3µm dilute nitride lasers.


Malnutrition is a persistent problem in developing countries. WHO estimates the fraction of malnourished children in developing countries at 33% as measured by the percentage of children stunted, i.e. children that fall below -2 standard deviations of the United States National Center for Health Statistics / WHO international reference median value (de Onis, Frongillo, and Blössner 2000) . This has far-reaching consequences: malnutrition in utero or in infancy can have a long-lasting negative impact on cognitive development and on their subsequent capacity to achieve sufficient income to provide for their own children when adults (Alderman, Hoddinott, and Kinsey 2006; Victora et al., 2008) .

WHO estimates the fraction of malnourished children in developing countries at 33% as measured by the percentage of children stunted, i.e. children that fall below -2 standard deviations of the United States National Center for Health Statistics / WHO international reference median value.

This has far-reaching consequences: malnutrition in utero or in infancy can have a long-lasting negative impact on cognitive development and on their subsequent capacity to achieve sufficient income to provide for their own children when adults.


For the specification based on planned treatment status in column (1), we do not find a statistically significant impact in the program villages in comparison to the control villages. In contrast, when basing the analysis on actual treatment status, the program is found to increase weight-for-age of children 0-36 months by one-tenth of a standard deviation on average. The age dummies (omitted for space reasons) reflect the common finding of a deterioration of the nutritional situation for the children with increasing age when compared to the children in the reference group. The other control variables mirror the findings in previous studies on the determinants of child nutrition: parent's education and sanitary facilities in the household improve the nutritional status, while the status of being a twin reduces it significantly. The gender dummy is insignificant, as discrimination by gender is typically not observed in Africa (Svedberg, 1990) . As indicated by the indicator variable 'second round', the villages in the sample experience an overall increase in the weight-for-age indicator of about one tenth of a standard deviation for both types of villages that is statistically significant at the 1% level. This finding confirms the general trend observed in the summary statistics in Table 1 .

The gender dummy is insignificant, as discrimination by gender is typically not observed in Africa.


In contrast, a child born after April 2004 would have had the additional benefit of their mothers participating in the discussion groups and micronutrient provision for pregnant women, two important program components. There is increasing evidence that the experiences in utero can have long-lasting effects (Behrman and Rosenzweig 2004; Strauss 2000) . Additionally, these children would benefit from the advice to the mothers on the use of colostrum as well as on exclusive breastfeeding.

There is increasing evidence that the experiences in utero can have long-lasting effects.


Income inequality can influence carbon emissions per capita through various channels whose relative strength might depend on the stages of economic development. An overview of the theoretical arguments for the role of income inequality for emissions can be found in Borghesi [1] . In the next paragraphs we briefly describe two of them, namely aggregation bias and political economy arguments.

An overview of the theoretical arguments for the role of income inequality for emissions can be found in Borghesi.


The PCDL systems have been proved to be a useful tool that can capture the small size characteristic of wind, turbulence, wake vortices, and so forth [5] [6] [7] [8] . The PCDL is one of the most accurate optical sensing techniques by transmitting a laser beam into the atmosphere and detecting the radial backscattered signal by aerosol particles [9] . The radial velocity (Line of sight velocity, LOS) could get by analyzing the Doppler shift in the frequency of the backscattered signal [10, 11] . The LOS velocity is the component of the air motion along the laser beam, thus the wind field information could be induced [11] .

The PCDL systems have been proved to be a useful tool that can capture the small size characteristic of wind, turbulence, wake vortices, and so forth.

The PCDL is one of the most accurate optical sensing techniques by transmitting a laser beam into the atmosphere and detecting the radial backscattered signal by aerosol particles.

The radial velocity (Line of sight velocity, LOS) could get by analyzing the Doppler shift in the frequency of the backscattered signal.

The LOS velocity is the component of the air motion along the laser beam, thus the wind field information could be induced.


Low-level wind shear is a sharply change in wind speed or wind direction in space within 2000 feet at height. Wind shear can be broken into vertical and horizontal components, with horizontal wind shear occurring near fronts and near the coast, and vertical wind shear typically near the ground surface [ [1] ]. Wind shear can cause disastrous aircraft accidents by affecting aircraft airspeed during take-off and landing phases [2] . There were 33 accidents caused by turbulence encounter, covering 18 percent of the total numbers of accidents between 2014 and 2015 [3, 4] . Effective wind shear alarm systems are needed to guarantee the safety of civil aviation.

Wind shear can be broken into vertical and horizontal components, with horizontal wind shear occurring near fronts and near the coast, and vertical wind shear typically near the ground surface [].

Wind shear can cause disastrous aircraft accidents by affecting aircraft airspeed during take-off and landing phases.

There were 33 accidents caused by turbulence encounter, covering 18 percent of the total numbers of accidents between 2014 and 2015.


The mathematical description of compressible flows is important from the point of view of applications, domains such as aerodynamics and geophysics are the most natural to be mentioned here. On the other hand, complexity of the equations describing the flow delivers very interesting mathematical challenges. In spite of active research in the field, we are still far from the complete mathematical understanding of compressible flows. The only general existence results are available for weak solutions with homogeneous boundary conditions [7] , [12] . As far as regular solutions are concerned, we have so far only partial results assuming either some smallness of the data, or its special structure. The problems have been investigated mainly with homogeneous boundary conditions ( [4] , [17] ). For the overview of the state of art in the theory one can consult the monograph [18] .

The only general existence results are available for weak solutions with homogeneous boundary conditions.

The problems have been investigated mainly with homogeneous boundary conditions (,).

For the overview of the state of art in the theory one can consult the monograph.


Studies were divided into two groups according to whether the sample was defined as engaging in exercise or competitive sport. This grouping strategy was based on previous research that suggests that differences may exist between athletes and nonathletes (Eman, 2012; Phoenix, Faulkner, & Sparkes, 2005) . Grouping firstly allowed for the identification of themes exclusive to each population. Additionally it allowed for the identification of convergent and divergent themes across the populations.

This grouping strategy was based on previous research that suggests that differences may exist between athletes and nonathletes.


Methodological limitations also exist within the study designs weakening the confidence ascribed to overall results. Reflexivity is missing in the reporting of eight of the 13 studies making it difficult to determine what effect the researcher may have had on the data. The lack of transparency in analysis or supporting evidence of some studies also raises concerns surrounding the validity of those results (Dionigi & O'Flynn, 2007; Grant, 2001; Stathi, Fox, & McKenna, 2002; Whaley & Ebbeck, 2002) . However, the biggest methodological concern is the lack of clear, concise definitions of exercise and competitive sport. The definition of competitive sport centres on participation in masters' games but does not address a minimum level of physical activity; whereas the exercise group offer diverse definitions with no consensus across studies. Whilst the authors acknowledge that defining competitive sport or exercise may not have been a goal in the literature, it means that there is the potential that some older adults in the exercise studies may be more physically active than those in the competitive sports group. This also means that there is large variation in the level of physical activity amongst participants within the exercise group which may have been perpetuated by self-report. This probably explains why results were less consistent amongst the exercise group. Overall, these methodological limitations weaken the level of confidence afforded to the findings of this review.

The lack of transparency in analysis or supporting evidence of some studies also raises concerns surrounding the validity of those results.


Interestingly, one exercise study grouped participants according to activity levels (Dionigi, Horton, & Bellamy, 2011) . This study found differences in approaches to ageing across varying exercise levels with the highly active group more closely resembling results in the competitive sport studies. This provides further support for the differences found in this review and highlights the diversity of experience found within and between groups of active older adults. Further, it acts as a reminder that ageing is a complex phenomenon that cannot be captured through a single lens. To this end, it also provides direction for future studies by suggesting that grouping participants according to varying levels of physical activity, or training intensities of specific sports, may uncover subtle yet important differences within these populations.

Interestingly, one exercise study grouped participants according to activity levels.


ALDH1A1 has also been reported to play a role in notch signaling in LASCs [7] . Notch can regulate the Akt signaling pathway and eventually affect cell cycle regulatory proteins including cyclin (CCN) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) [8] . In this study, we evaluated the effects of ALDH1A1 on the stemness of LASC, as well as its potential mechanism, by suppressing the notch pathway.

ALDH1A1 has also been reported to play a role in notch signaling in LASCs.

Notch can regulate the Akt signaling pathway and eventually affect cell cycle regulatory proteins including cyclin (CCN) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2).


From the farmer's perspective, drought causes greater expenditure on feeding livestock, and crop production receipts are reduced due to low yields. Drought reduces the farmer's ability to generate income, service debt, replace capital items (e.g. machinery) and finance recovery (Edwards et al. 2009; Kingwell and Farre 2009) . Drought can have long-term business consequences if the farmer's capacity to finance their cropping and livestock operations during recovery is impeded (Lawes and Kingwell 2012) .

Drought reduces the farmer's ability to generate income, service debt, replace capital items (e.g. machinery) and finance recovery.

Drought can have long-term business consequences if the farmer's capacity to finance their cropping and livestock operations during recovery is impeded.


Available transfer capability (ATC) expresses a measure of transfer capability remaining in a physical transmission network for further commercial activity over and above already committed uses [1] . It is not only an important technical index for measuring the stability margin of the power grid, but also a useful tool for guiding transactions and market planning in the power market. Therefore it is very important to correctly assess ATC between different areas. The modern power system is a large scale dynamic system. As power systems have grown, their operation has become more complex with the introduction of more outside interferences. As a result, uncertainty factors are becoming prevalent in the assessment of ATC. Moreover, power industry reforms necessarily lead to an increasing number of market participants, which greatly changes the trade mode and operation control. These also produce more uncertainties in the ATC assessment. Hence how to correctly describe and fully consider uncertainties is the key issue of ATC assessment [2] .

Available transfer capability (ATC) expresses a measure of transfer capability remaining in a physical transmission network for further commercial activity over and above already committed uses.

Hence how to correctly describe and fully consider uncertainties is the key issue of ATC assessment.


Some controlled viscosity fluids could be used in tactile display systems such as the MRF, ERF, for which the viscosity of the fluid can be controlled through magnetic or electric field respectively. High voltage is also required for this application (maximum 10 kV per 20 mA) and a fabric is needed between the layers to prevent short circuit and to increase the force [10] . The conjugated polymers are consisting primarily of an electrolyte between conductive polymers which have a powerful actuation with up to 15% strain and 49 MPa and a stretchable actuator with 34% strain and up to 10 MPa, but not yet tried [11] [12] .

High voltage is also required for this application (maximum 10 kV per 20 mA) and a fabric is needed between the layers to prevent short circuit and to increase the force.

The conjugated polymers are consisting primarily of an electrolyte between conductive polymers which have a powerful actuation with up to 15% strain and 49 MPa and a stretchable actuator with 34% strain and up to 10 MPa, but not yet tried.


The widespread application of turbines, particularly gas turbines, in strategic fields such as power generation, oil & gas and jet engines is the main reason for the existence of superalloy. Gas turbine efficiency is mainly correlated with the compression ratio: if this increases the efficiency increases. The problem is that to a higher compression ratio corresponds a higher temperature at the end of the combustion phase. As a consequence, taking into account that the gas turbine blades are continuously in contact with a post combustion gas, the turbine blades are strongly stressed by the centrifugal load at high temperatures. In other words, the efficiency of the gas turbine increases if the blades are able to work at high temperatures. Therefore, the materials of turbine blades were traditionally required to perform well in terms of thermal creep deformation, good surface stability and resistance to corrosion or oxidation. Moreover, superalloys are also known as "Heat Resisting Alloys" or "High Temperature Alloys". Even if the origin of the name superalloy seems to be rather obscure, it appears in the late 1940s and it could be related to the television hero Superman [1] . Although the majority of today's superalloys are used in gas the turbine industry, these materials have a wide range of applications. Even if the current development of superalloys is essentially stimulated by gas turbines, they were initially developed and applied in components that worked at elevated temperatures under high stress, and in severe environments. To sum up, the development of superalloys, today can be essentially associated to the necessity of increasing gas turbine efficiency, using alloys with better performance at high temperatures.

Even if the origin of the name superalloy seems to be rather obscure, it appears in the late 1940s and it could be related to the television hero Superman.


In the current level of evolution of Soccer 3D, motion control is a key factor in team's performance. Indeed, controlling a high degrees of freedom humanoid robot is acknowledged as one of the hardest problems in Robotics. Much effort has been devised to humanoid robot walking, where researchers have been very successful in designing control algorithms which reason about reduced order mathematical models based on the Zero Moment Point (ZMP) concept, such as the linear inverted pendulum model [2] . Nevertheless, these techniques restrict the robot to operate under a small region of its dynamics, where the assumptions of the simplified models are still valid [3, 4] . Therefore, model-based techniques are hard to use for designing highly dynamic movements, such as a long distance kick and a goalkeeper's dive to defend the goal from a fast moving ball. In the robot soccer domain, a common approach arXiv:1901.00270v1 [cs.AI] 2 Jan 2019 for these movements is to employ keyframe movements, where the motion is composed by a sequence of robot postures. In this case, the movement is designed off-line and executed in a open-loop fashion in execution time.

Much effort has been devised to humanoid robot walking, where researchers have been very successful in designing control algorithms which reason about reduced order mathematical models based on the Zero Moment Point (ZMP) concept, such as the linear inverted pendulum model.

Nevertheless, these techniques restrict the robot to operate under a small region of its dynamics, where the assumptions of the simplified models are still valid.


Leaf nutrient concentrations. The plant nutrient management regime included ground and foliar fertilizer applications for both systems but was not sufficient for optimal tree nutrition in this study. Although the farm management rarely applies N to this orchard, additional N fertilizer applications may have improved the productivity of both treatments in this experiment. Trees in both systems remained at the low end of recommended ranges for leaf N in mature apple trees in New York during the last 3 years of this study (Stiles and Reid, 1991) . N deficiency symptoms were evident in leaves from both systems. Although greater leaf nutrient levels were often found in OFP than in IFP trees, low levels of K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, B, and Zn existed in both systems. Organic apple growers in New York have reported problems with maintaining adequate leaf nutrient levels, possibly as a result of uncontrolled weed competition (Schupp, 2004) . Although the Wonder Weeder cultivator provided more effective and convenient weed control compared with the Rinieri cultivator and others used in New York organic orchards, there were extended periods when weeds were present under OFP trees and likely competitive for nutrients and water. Decreased tree N status may also have contributed to the small OFP fruit size in our study.

Leaf nutrient concentrations.

Trees in both systems remained at the low end of recommended ranges for leaf N in mature apple trees in New York during the last 3 years of this study.

Organic apple growers in New York have reported problems with maintaining adequate leaf nutrient levels, possibly as a result of uncontrolled weed competition.


Strictly speaking, potential negative environmental impacts of different pest control systems cannot be inferred solely from any of the presently available environmental assessment models, none of which include potential environmental impacts of fossil fuel use, fertilizers, water resource use, soil management systems, or economic externalities (Levitan et al., 1995) . For the new putative ''reduced-risk'' pesticides, there may also be potential unforeseen issues that will emerge after decades of use. For example, heavy reliance on neonicotinoids in IFP, and spinosads in OFP, may lead to pest resistance and control failures for both of these systems (Nauen and Denholm, 2005; Shono and Scott, 2003) .

Strictly speaking, potential negative environmental impacts of different pest control systems cannot be inferred solely from any of the presently available environmental assessment models, none of which include potential environmental impacts of fossil fuel use, fertilizers, water resource use, soil management systems, or economic externalities.

For example, heavy reliance on neonicotinoids in IFP, and spinosads in OFP, may lead to pest resistance and control failures for both of these systems.


The problem of identifying Web communities is clearly related to the more fundamental problem of graph partitioning. For general graph partitioning, one can often resort to straightforward principles such as unrestricted minimal cut, or the dual principle of maximum flow. However, the graphs used by most such techniques are undirected, and therefore they ignore the directionality information encoded in Web hyperlinks [4, 8] . Another simple approach is to extract similarity measurements between neighboring vertices (Web pages) directly from the link structure to perform a generic clustering method [9] . However, the similarity should be measured from the global structure of the graph. A more global approach to Web graph clustering suggests, therefore, that some sort of aggregate similarity measure be used, such as those based on the spectrum of the connectivity matrix. For undirected graph clustering, a common suggestion is to partition by performing a singular value decomposition (SVD) on W [13] . However again, the connectivity matrix W is not symmetric.

However, the graphs used by most such techniques are undirected, and therefore they ignore the directionality information encoded in Web hyperlinks.

Another simple approach is to extract similarity measurements between neighboring vertices (Web pages) directly from the link structure to perform a generic clustering method.

For undirected graph clustering, a common suggestion is to partition by performing a singular value decomposition (SVD) on W.


For TBI monitoring, the acceleration sensor should be a three-axis device as the impact can arrive from any direction. In order to keep the system size as small as possible, we used a spiral spring/annular mass system based on an impact switch originally designed by one of the authors (Mr. Smith) for fuzing applications [8] . The size of the mass and shape of the spring have been reduced and the fabrication process re-engineered for this work to better fit the very limited form factor required by the intended in-ear application.

In order to keep the system size as small as possible, we used a spiral spring/annular mass system based on an impact switch originally designed by one of the authors (Mr. Smith) for fuzing applications.


Other works are focused on describing the kinetics of the chemical reaction and following the formation of the porous film in real time to determine some properties of PSi in-situ [3, 4, 7, 13, 14, 15] . For any application of the PSi, a completed knowledge of PSi optical properties is required, interface quality, thickness, and porosity. Optical transmittance and reflectance are good options because they are non-destructive techniques and provide rapid and accurate information of optical properties of c-Si and PSi in the visible range [16] .

Other works are focused on describing the kinetics of the chemical reaction and following the formation of the porous film in real time to determine some properties of PSi in-situ.

Optical transmittance and reflectance are good options because they are non-destructive techniques and provide rapid and accurate information of optical properties of c-Si and PSi in the visible range.


The calculation of the optical constants (refractive index n(λ), and extinction coefficient, k(λ)) is usually made by fitting the reflectance or transmittance spectra. However, the methods are not trivial, in fact, they represent an inverse problem. This problem of estimating optical constants and thickness using only transmittance or reflectance data has been addressed by using fitting procedures and optimization algorithms. However, in the case of PSi, due to the nature of the random porous formation, it is necessary to consider other parameters such as porosity and interface roughness because this variety of inhomogeneities causes light scattering. These inhomogeneities and roughness are no longer negligible, and they can introduce a significant error in the determination of the optical constants [17] .

These inhomogeneities and roughness are no longer negligible, and they can introduce a significant error in the determination of the optical constants.


Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most common secondary glomerulonephritises in China. The clinical and pathological manifestations of LN are diverse and associated with different therapeutic responses and prognoses in patients with this disease. A precise description of renal histopathological lesions and an appropriate classification of LN are essential for nephrologists both as a treatment guide and for predicting prognosis in patients [1] . Although renal biopsies can provide pathological information, they are invasive and can be risky as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients tend to have a greater chance of bleeding especially those with coagulation abnormalities or renal atrophy. For these reasons, noninvasive, ideal methods for assessing renal structure and function have been pursued by nephrologists.

A precise description of renal histopathological lesions and an appropriate classification of LN are essential for nephrologists both as a treatment guide and for predicting prognosis in patients.


For the nime-S, as can be seen in Figure 5 , the action of the electric field with intensity of −0.40 V/Å presents the same trend observed for the charge distribution in the LUMO level for the nime-N system. The HOMO level presents Journal of Nanomaterials electronic charge in the opposite regions to the interaction, both in the nanotube and in the nimesulide molecule. Besides, some gas adsorption behavior on carbon based materials has been investigated, where the application of an external electric field can modulate the adsorption/desorption of the molecules being able to act as a reversible switch [20, 21] .

Besides, some gas adsorption behavior on carbon based materials has been investigated, where the application of an external electric field can modulate the adsorption/desorption of the molecules being able to act as a reversible switch.


There were no significant differences in the number of species, abundance and percent cover of the common species between the 2 sides of each panel, using a Kruskal-Wallis l-way analysis of variance (Sokal and Rohlf, 1981) . Therefore, results from all 6 sides of each monthly set of panels were combined for the analysis. The number of species had a normal distribution and was treated using parametric methods.

There were no significant differences in the number of species, abundance and percent cover of the common species between the 2 sides of each panel, using a Kruskal-Wallis l-way analysis of variance.


The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) ERK1 and ERK2 are linked to the activation of membrane receptors [56] [57] [58] . Our data showed that levels of p-ERK1/2 in the SCG of the MI rats were significantly higher than those in the control and sham rats. ERK phosphorylation participates in P2X receptor-mediated pathological changes [56] [57] [58] . The MI rats treated with NONRATT021972 siRNA had reversed the upregulation of p-ERK1/2 in the SCG. These results suggested that the activation of the P2X 7 receptor after myocardial ischemia caused ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Therefore, the inhibitory effects of NONRATT021972 siRNA on the upregulated expression of the P2X 7 receptor in the SCG after MI might be involved in the mechanism of intracellular ERK signaling.

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) ERK1 and ERK2 are linked to the activation of membrane receptors.

ERK phosphorylation participates in P2X receptor-mediated pathological changes.


Orange juice powder is the dehydrated orange juice and contains all nutrients except water. Spray drying can be used to convert orange juice into powder that has good quality product resembling the original juice as close as possible. Thus, these powders have longer shelf life and convenient to reconstitute with water [1] . They are natural ingredients used in many food products with role of flavoring and coloring agents. Orange juice powder is a high sugar content product which is generally difficult to spray dry due to its hygoscopicity and thermoplasticity [2] [3] [4] [5] . In order to achieve a successful drying, high molecular weight drying agent materials such as maltodextrin has been added for preventing powder stickiness and cohesion on the spray dryer wall [4, 6] . Spray dried products are manufactured to moisture content standard. Thus, a good spray drying control system is to produce a product with standard moisture content. Thus, the study about effect of operating parameters on product quality is important because the quality of spray dried products mostly depends on the operating parameters [7] . Inlet air temperature, nozzle flow rate, feed flow rate, air flow rate and feed concentration are these parameters had been investigated [8] [9] . Dynamic models are the key and design of process control. Empirical modeling is a graphical method and derived from the experimental data by applying step response with introduce a small change in the manipulated variable. An empirical model predicts the controlled variable response to manipulated variables as a function of time. However, questions arise such as how is the dynamic behaviour of spray drying of orange juice powder with maltodextrin? What is the effect of maltodextrin concentration on this spray drying process? The aims of this work are to develop an empirical model for spray drying of orange juice powder and then implement a PI controller to improve the process. This empirical model should be developed because no any related model has been proposed in the literatures. A preliminary study on the effect between the input variables (inlet air temperature 978-1-4577-0005-7/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE and maltodextrin concentration) and the output variables (outlet air temperature, outlet air humidity and relative humidity, and powder moisture content) was conducted. In simulation studies, the model obtained was used to determine the suitable tuning method by PI controller.

Thus, these powders have longer shelf life and convenient to reconstitute with water.

Orange juice powder is a high sugar content product which is generally difficult to spray dry due to its hygoscopicity and thermoplasticity.

In order to achieve a successful drying, high molecular weight drying agent materials such as maltodextrin has been added for preventing powder stickiness and cohesion on the spray dryer wall.

Thus, the study about effect of operating parameters on product quality is important because the quality of spray dried products mostly depends on the operating parameters.

Inlet air temperature, nozzle flow rate, feed flow rate, air flow rate and feed concentration are these parameters had been investigated.


Although outdoor cooking thus contributes to both neighborhood concentrations and ambient background concentrations, from an individual stove perspective it is useful to evaluate what emissions rates cause direct impacts to neighbors. Fig. 6 shows a comparison of emission rates from outdoor cooking for exposures to increase equivalent to AQG, with distance required for emissions plume concentrations to reach 10 mg/m (Chafe et al., 2014) . For emissions rates that would reduce exposures of the cook equivalent to the AQG (126 mg/min) and IT 3 (189 mg/min), the plume concentration would reduce to lower than the AQG before the plume reached neighbors downwind in these Haryana villages at wind speeds greater than 1 m/s (10 m and 14 m respectively). In contrast emission rates that would reduce exposures of the cook equivalent to IT 2 and IT 1 would result in emissions concentrations that were significantly above the AQG by the time the plume reached neighbors downwind (23 m and 32 m respectively), and thus would be expected to have a direct health implication. Clearly, however, the extent of impacts would again be dependent on housing density.

Fig. 6 shows a comparison of emission rates from outdoor cooking for exposures to increase equivalent to AQG, with distance required for emissions plume concentrations to reach 10 mg/m.


Social origin influences formal and informal learning opportunities. In particular, children and young individuals who are at risk of poverty or affected by poverty have diminished opportunities. Recent studies have demonstrated that the social background of young individuals strongly determines their social participation (Düx et al. 2008; Engels and Thielebein 2010; Gaiser and Rijke 2006; Gensicke et al. 2006; Otto and Kutscher 2004) . Especially young people with lower socio-economic status have a lower participation rate in, for example, sport clubs or organisations.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the social background of young individuals strongly determines their social participation.


To disentangle poverty-related withdrawal mechanisms, we use the panel study "Labour Market and Social Security" (PASS), which was developed for the labour market, welfare state and poverty research in Germany (Trappmann et al. 2010) . The survey data are well suited for the study of needy individuals and their participation in society because of the oversampling of recipients of benefits in accordance with the German Social Code Book II. In the following sections, we first explain the importance of informal learning and then discuss the mechanisms of social withdrawal with regard to participation in extracurricular leisure activities. Then, we present the data, our research design and the empirical findings. Finally, we summarise the results and discuss socio-political implications.

To disentangle poverty-related withdrawal mechanisms, we use the panel study "Labour Market and Social Security" (PASS), which was developed for the labour market, welfare state and poverty research in Germany.


Poverty research has demonstrated that monetary resources restrict opportunities for participation but that withdrawal also occurs because of shame. Poor children and youth are ashamed of the poverty of their parents and internalise their parents' lack of self-esteem (Gillen and Möller 1992) . Thus, they withdraw from previous contacts or avoid them from the beginning (Kern 2004) . Both mechanisms-financial constraints and social withdrawal because of shame-result in an accumulation of educational disadvantages for children and young individuals affected by poverty, although the socio-political approach only focuses on the first mechanism.

Poor children and youth are ashamed of the poverty of their parents and internalise their parents' lack of self-esteem.

Thus, they withdraw from previous contacts or avoid them from the beginning.


The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of implementing the Alice visual programming environment (VPE), with a long-term view to improving the computer programming performance and learning experience of second-level IT learners. The intention was to expose them to new and exciting ways of programming that enhance problem-solving skills and nurture higher-order critical thinking. Alice is an open source teaching tool, designed to provide first-time exposure to learners on the basics of object-oriented programming (OOP). They can learn fundamental programming concepts whilst creating 3D animated movies and basic video games that contribute to an engaging interactive environment [6, 19] .

They can learn fundamental programming concepts whilst creating 3D animated movies and basic video games that contribute to an engaging interactive environment.


A graph representation of an execution of a parallel program similar to our PAG has been used extensively in the past [4] , [7] , [10] , [19] , [24] . Implicitly walking a PAG by attaching instrumentation messages onto applications messages has been used for online detection of race conditions in parallel programs [8] , [13] . Similar instrumentation has also been used to reduce the number of events that must be logged for program replay [22] .

A graph representation of an execution of a parallel program similar to our PAG has been used extensively in the past.

Implicitly walking a PAG by attaching instrumentation messages onto applications messages has been used for online detection of race conditions in parallel programs.

Similar instrumentation has also been used to reduce the number of events that must be logged for program replay.


Several authors concluded that EMs analysis is the preferred choice for finding possibly important routes in the majority of the applications [7, 8, 12] . The conclusion arises because EPs and GVs do not represent the complete set of simplest (genetically independent) routes within the metabolic network under investigation. Here, we evaluate these tools from a different perspective: for selecting a number of pathways that describe a particular phenotype. We compare the use of EMs, the largest set, and GVs, the smallest subset, with the aim of bioprocess optimization and control. We evaluate the modelling accuracy and computational intensity.

Several authors concluded that EMs analysis is the preferred choice for finding possibly important routes in the majority of the applications.


This paper deals with a polymer, which is in ideal material wherever superlative surface quality, colorfastness, and luster are required. ABS is a two-phase polymer blend. In recent years, numerous studies on blends of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) and isotropic thermoplastic have been carried out due to the interest in the LCP fibril formation during processing and a significant enhancement in mechanical properties [1] . The presence of a high modulus and high strength TLCP as a dispersed phase in an engineering plastic can significantly alter the thermal properties of the blended material. Various types of liquid crystalline polymer blends have been reported and these include TLCP/polypropylene, TLCP/polycarbonate, and TLCP/poly (ethylene terephthalate) blends. ABS is an engineering plastic that finds extensive applications in the home and business appliances and automobile parts due to its cost effectiveness, good processability, and mechanical properties. Because of its good balance of properties, toughness, strength, and temperature resistance coupled with its ease of moulding and high quality surface finish, ABS has a very wide range of applications. These include domestic appliances, telephone handsets, computer, and other office equipment housings, lawn mower covers, safety helmets, luggage shells, pipes, and fittings. Because of the ability to tailor grades to the property requirements of the application and the availability of electroplatable grades, ABS is often found as an automotive interior and exterior trim component [2, 3] .

ABS is a two-phase polymer blend.

In recent years, numerous studies on blends of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) and isotropic thermoplastic have been carried out due to the interest in the LCP fibril formation during processing and a significant enhancement in mechanical properties.

Because of the ability to tailor grades to the property requirements of the application and the availability of electroplatable grades, ABS is often found as an automotive interior and exterior trim component.


Its drawbacks, such as low-heat-deflection temperature, prevent its further applications in structural parts or hightemperature applications. However, this causes the viscosity to significantly increase, which makes processing more difficult. Adding LCP to the matrix reduces the viscosity to some extent. Thus we can say that LCP acts as a nucleating agent in the system [4] . This paper aims to study the effects of compatibilizer additions on the mechanical strength and thermal stability behavior of injection molded ABS containing LCP. The compatibilizers used were solid epoxy resin and Zn ++ coated nanosilica. Nanofillers have, for many years, had a high significance in the plastics industry. Nanofillers are basically understood to be additives in the solid form, which differ from the polymer matrix in terms of their composition and structure. They generally comprise inorganic materials, and more rarely organic materials. Inactive fillers or extenders raise the quantity and lower the prices, while active fillers bring about targeted improvements in certain mechanical or physical properties [5] . The activity of active fillers may have a variety of causes, such as the formation of a chemical bond (e.g., cross linking by carbon black in elastomers), filling of a certain volume, disruption of the conformational position of a polymer matrix, immobilization of adjacent molecule groups, and possible orientation of the polymer material [6] .

Thus we can say that LCP acts as a nucleating agent in the system.

Inactive fillers or extenders raise the quantity and lower the prices, while active fillers bring about targeted improvements in certain mechanical or physical properties.

The activity of active fillers may have a variety of causes, such as the formation of a chemical bond (e.g., cross linking by carbon black in elastomers), filling of a certain volume, disruption of the conformational position of a polymer matrix, immobilization of adjacent molecule groups, and possible orientation of the polymer material.


For some cases, these shells are embedded in an elastic medium. There are different approaches to analyze the interaction between a structure and an ambient medium. Most earthen soils can be appropriately represented by a mathematical model from Pasternak, whereas sandy soils and liquids can be represented by Winkler's model [15] .

Most earthen soils can be appropriately represented by a mathematical model from Pasternak, whereas sandy soils and liquids can be represented by Winkler's model.


In this paper, we present an initial investigation of the switching mechanism between the CW and CCW modes in a new class of SRLs under injection from a single tunable laser from the same port. We found switching between both lasing directions can be achieved by changing wavelength while using only one port. Such findings are critical for SRL use in integrated photonic devices where much of the prior research on directional switching has been shown for injections into two counter-propagating ports [5, 9] . The use of a single switching port greatly simplifies device design by reducing operation complexity with the potential to reduce the device area, the number of components including SRLs, and thus increase speeds for such devices as the >100 GHz all-optical analog-to-digital converter.

Such findings are critical for SRL use in integrated photonic devices where much of the prior research on directional switching has been shown for injections into two counter-propagating ports.


Recently high speed all-optical signal processing designs have been proposed such as a >100 GHz analog-todigital converter as a milestone for future photonic integrated circuit (PIC) applications [8] . These systems rely on all-optical switching and can gain advantage from monolithically-integrated coupled SRLs for low power consumption, faster operation speeds, and high-order functionality without the need for additional cleaved facets. Such complex structures can benefit greatly from SRLs with phase pads for independent tuning of each laser and tap pads to monitor the power within each coupled SRL during operation. We have evaluated single-port injection triggered switching of SRLs with gain, phase, and tap pads as a building block for all-optical signal processing.

Recently high speed all-optical signal processing designs have been proposed such as a >100 GHz analog-todigital converter as a milestone for future photonic integrated circuit (PIC) applications.


These data are relevant to recent guidelines recommending frequent or continuous EEG recording in all postcardiac arrest patients [23] . Intermittent EEG sampling may fail to detect all seizures. In this cohort, only three subjects had NCSE when cEEG was started, while nine subjects initially were in another EEG pattern that progressed to NCSE. Moreover, two subjects demonstrated acute hemodynamic changes that improved with treatment of NCSE. Burst-suppression was the most common EEG pattern recorded, and four patients with burst-suppression progressed to NCSE. Given this dynamic progression, cEEG is superior to intermittent EEG recordings.

These data are relevant to recent guidelines recommending frequent or continuous EEG recording in all postcardiac arrest patients.


Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) is a process of separating one component (the extractant) from another (the matrix) using supercritical fluid as an extracting solvent. Extraction is usually from a solid matrix, but can also be from liquids as well. SFE can be used as a sample preparation step for analytical purposes, or on a larger scale to either strip unwanted material from a product (e.g. decaffeination) or collect a desired product (e.g. essential oils). Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is the most commonly used supercritical fluid, sometimes modified by co-solvents such as ethanol or methanol. Extraction conditions for supercritical CO 2 are above the critical temperature of 31.04˚C and critical pressure of 73.8 bar; the addition of modifiers may slightly alter such condition. CO 2 is the most commonly used solvent due to its non-toxicity and non flammability properties and its availability in high purity at low cost. It also has good solvent properties for extraction of non-polar components such as hydrocarbons, In order to extract polar components; cosolvent (e.g. ethanol, methanol) is frequently used to raise the solvent power of supercritical CO 2 . Supercritical fluid extraction has proved effective in the separation of essential oil and its derivatives for use in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and other related industries, producing high-quality oils with commercially more satisfactory compositions than obtained through conventional hydro-distillation [8] .

Supercritical fluid extraction has proved effective in the separation of essential oil and its derivatives for use in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and other related industries, producing high-quality oils with commercially more satisfactory compositions than obtained through conventional hydro-distillation.


The PTOS is a single-pass shallow-tillage seed and fertilizer drill with fluted roller seeding mechanism manufactured in China (model: 2BG-6A) that is being commercially selling in Bangladesh. The PTOS is 120 cm wide, allowing six rows of wheat at 20 cm spacing, or two rows of maize at 60 cm. Operating field capacity is typically 0.14-0.20 ha/h (Hossain et al., 2004) . This seeder uses 48 rotary blades (bent C shape) accomplishes three operations in a single pass, including tillage (up to 5 cm), placement of seed and fertilizer in a furrow, and seed covering by a postfurrow opener roller bar (Hossain et al., 2004; Wohab et al., 2007; Islam et al., 2010) .

Operating field capacity is typically 0.14-0.20 ha/h.

This seeder uses 48 rotary blades (bent C shape) accomplishes three operations in a single pass, including tillage (up to 5 cm), placement of seed and fertilizer in a furrow, and seed covering by a postfurrow opener roller bar.


To calculate the coefficient of uniformity of seed distribution, an area of two rows with a length of one meter was randomly selected using a wooden frame in each replication. The planted seeds in this area were separated and seed to seed distance was measured with scale. The coefficient of uniformity of seed distribution was computed using the following equation (Senapati et al., 1992) .

The coefficient of uniformity of seed distribution was computed using the following equation.


Pointed gourd is multiplied through stem cuttings and root suckers usually by the farmers. But stem and root cuttings are labor intensive and also require bulk amount of vines and roots, which restrict their multiplication at commercial level and ultimately increase its cost. Propagation using seed is not feasible primarily due to poor germination (Kumar et al., 2007) . Seed based populations have a tendency to give more male than female plants and in some cases the ratio goes up to 85:15 (Som et al., 1993) . In such a case, in-vitro multiplication of elite clones will be an attractive approach in order to meet the requirement of quality propagules at large scale for commercial cultivation. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to develop a micro-propagation protocol for plant regeneration of pointed gourd through in-vitro culture of shoot tip and nodal segment.

Propagation using seed is not feasible primarily due to poor germination.

Seed based populations have a tendency to give more male than female plants and in some cases the ratio goes up to 85:15.


In order to better understand the failure by debonding of the FRP, Figure 1 presents a general example of a reinforced concrete beam strengthened in bending with a FRP NSM system. This figure indicates the regions where the three major debonding failure modes can occur [7, 8] . End debonding is associated with the concentration of stresses near the ends of the FRP and starts from its extremity to the center of the beam, causing the failure of the strengthening system. Debonding caused by diagonal shear cracks, usually designated critical diagonal crack debonding, is associated with the development of a dominant shear crack. As soon as the crack reaches the FRP, it can propagate horizontally along the FRP NSM system towards the closest extremity, causing the failure of the strengthening system. Debonding caused by flexural cracks, commonly designated intermediate crack debonding, is in a manner similar to shear crack debonding phenomenon, but initiated by a flexural crack.

This figure indicates the regions where the three major debonding failure modes can occur.