The corresponding far-field scattering patterns and electric field distributions for the used core-shell spherical nanoparticle (inner radius = 0.07 μm, outer radius = 0.1 μm, and permittivity ε s = 16 − 0.85i) at the incident wavelength of 0.508 μm (at maximum point E) have been demonstrated further in Figure 6D -F. It is worth mentioning that the electric field can be enhanced strongly in Figure 6E and F at maximum point E, which is associated with laser. Moreover, the electromagnetic plane waves propagating through the core-shell nanoparticle have been affected strongly, as seen in Figure 6F . This is due to the excitation of strong magnetic quadrupolar mode. In addition, the far-field scattering pattern of the TE component presents a symmetrical four-lobe shape and that of the TM component shows symmetrical two-lobe shape, which is a typical distribution of magnetic quadrupole [20] . The electric field enhancement factor distributions display the typical two-lobe distribution corresponding to magnetic quadrupole oriented along the y-axis, which is in accord with the corresponding far scattering pattern (scattering TM component). This behavior of maximum point E has verified that the strong magnetic quadrupolar mode can be excited, as can be observed in Table 1 . In conclusion, we use the Mie theory to investigate the scattering characteristics of a core-shell spherical nanoparticle with a gold core of radius r 1 = 0.07 μm and different gains in the dielectric shell layer of radius r 2 = 0.01 μm, which can be tuned to support both electric and magnetic responses simultaneously. Generally, the scattering intensity of spherical nanoparticles will be enhanced by the introduction of gain. It is seen that the forward scattering intensity of a core-shell spherical nanoparticle can be enhanced remarkably at certain incident wavelengths using the appropriate gain-doped dielectric shell, which is attributed to the excitations of magnetic dipolar and quadrupolar modes. More importantly, we have confirmed the possibility to produce zeroforward scattering intensity by adding proper gain in the dielectric shell. With the appropriate gain-doped dielectric shell, the second Kerker condition or the condition of 3(a 1 + b 1 ) + 5(a 2 + b 2 ) = 0 under dipole-quadrupole approximation can also be fulfilled at certain incident wavelengths. In addition, if the absolute values of dipolar and quadrupolar terms have the same order of magnitude, the local scattering minimum and maximum can be produced away from the forward and backward directions. Moreover, anomalously weak scattering or superscattering can also be obtained for the core-shell nanoparticle with suitable gain in shell. In particular, for such a choice of suitable gain in shell, zero-forward scattering and anomalously weak scattering can be realized at the same wavelength. Meanwhile, super-forward scattering and superscattering can also be achieved simultaneously at another wavelength. The above-mentioned features make the proposed core-shell spherical particles to have great potential applications in manipulating light at nanoscale, such as cloaking, plasmonic lasers, and optical antennas.

In addition, the far-field scattering pattern of the TE component presents a symmetrical four-lobe shape and that of the TM component shows symmetrical two-lobe shape, which is a typical distribution of magnetic quadrupole.


The organic compounds in these effluents, mainly the chlorinated phenols, are toxic to aquatic organisms and resistant to microbial degradation. The chlorolignins can be slowly degraded to units with low molecular mass, such as catechol and guaiacol, and be damaging to the environment (Eriksson & Kolar, 1985) . The brown color of the effluents obstructs penetration of the water by sunlight and can inhibit the biological activities in it .

The chlorolignins can be slowly degraded to units with low molecular mass, such as catechol and guaiacol, and be damaging to the environment.


The results of this study provide validation of site-specific elemental signatures in otoliths of juvenile striped bass that were caged in four habitats of Albemarle Sound. We hypothesized that the rivers draining into Albemarle Sound would have unique water chemistries due to sediment geology and the existence of physiochemical gradients that control dissolved element behavior. Gradients of ionic strength, pH, oxidation potential, and suspended particulate matter occur in estuaries and change the phase of elements, altering adsorption and desorption processes that affect the mass transport of elements to the ocean (Coffey et al. 1997) . The mixing of fluvial and marine water masses leads to the depletion of adsorbed elements on particulate matter and subsequent increases in dissolved elements along the salinity gradient, a common pattern observed in estuarine systems (Zwolsman and van Eck 1999; Dorval et al. 2005) . The unique physiochemical properties of the water masses examined in this study created distinct distributions of trace elements throughout Albemarle Sound.

Gradients of ionic strength, pH, oxidation potential, and suspended particulate matter occur in estuaries and change the phase of elements, altering adsorption and desorption processes that affect the mass transport of elements to the ocean.

The mixing of fluvial and marine water masses leads to the depletion of adsorbed elements on particulate matter and subsequent increases in dissolved elements along the salinity gradient, a common pattern observed in estuarine systems.


To determine service candidates, a typical iterative topdown approach is to regard every business process that has to be supported on its own [1] . The business process is decomposed until service capability candidates for specific activities can be derived. Existing service candidates are revised or new service candidates are added to the blueprint. When applying this approach, the question is: When should the decomposition be stopped to obtain reusable but also not too fine-grained services? Additionally, regarding one business process after the other may inhibit the creation of a common set of service candidates, for the relationship between single activities of decomposed business processes is not formalized. When deriving service candidates from the decomposed business processes, a common ground between the processes is not identified and process "silos" of services are produced [4] . The service capabilities and their design, such as their granularity, are aligned to a specific business process. This means that they are designed to exactly fulfill the requirements necessary for one specific business process. Maybe existing service candidates are not regarded since their granularity is inappropriate or the taxonomy differs. Instead, new services are created. This may result in several services providing the same capability with different granularities or names. A continuous revision of the service inventory blueprint is required to avoid these issues, which constitutes a complex task. The taxonomy has to be unified and a compromise to satisfy all requirements has to be found. This requires all prior design decision to be kept in mind.

To determine service candidates, a typical iterative topdown approach is to regard every business process that has to be supported on its own.

When deriving service candidates from the decomposed business processes, a common ground between the processes is not identified and process "silos" of services are produced.

Instead, new services are created.


Many array signal-processing algorithms have been used to estimate the directions of arrival of multiple narrow-band plane waves from data measured in using array antennas. There is an increasing interest in high-resolution eigenstructure techniques for DOA estimation in adaptive antenna arrays. ESPRIT is one of the high-resolution DOA algorithm that is commonly used in adaptive arrays [7] . Unlike MUSIC, ESPRIT reinduces a much smaller computational burden and hence has a smaller memory requirement. It also does not involve an exhaustive searching procedure [8] .

ESPRIT is one of the high-resolution DOA algorithm that is commonly used in adaptive arrays.

It also does not involve an exhaustive searching procedure.


The regression in figure 6 illustrates the negative linear correlation between the S and H indices. This relationship can be used to estimate a critical value or limit of the H index, which differentiates between hard-setting soils with "suitable" or "poor" structural organization based on the critical value of the S index, and the critical value for H is 292. The H index measures the effective stress in the hard-setting soils at the moisture level found at the inflection point, θi. This stress is mainly due to the pockets of water that remain between the particles when the soil dries. The water pockets pull the particles together as a result of two phenomena: the negative pore pressure caused by the water bridges and the surface tension of the water forming the bridges (Dexter, 2004b) .

The water pockets pull the particles together as a result of two phenomena: the negative pore pressure caused by the water bridges and the surface tension of the water forming the bridges.


The GARCH models are widely used for modelling and forecasting of economic and financial series. Further, more advancement was made by using the AR specification with ARCH/GARCH models where it was found to forecast volatility more efficiently. In the past more than two decades, the non-linear models have been widely used by various researchers who have found different combinations of AR-GARCH models appropriate for different situations (Jordaan et al., 2007; Paul et al., 2009; Sundaramoorthy et al., 2014) . But, the most widely used GARCH specification is the GARCH (1, 1) model in the time-series forecasting.

In the past more than two decades, the non-linear models have been widely used by various researchers who have found different combinations of AR-GARCH models appropriate for different situations.


In order to estimate the reach that might be possible at LHC Run II, we have performed a simplified analysis projecting the Run I SM background expectations in a search for W H associated production and combining this information with LHC Run II signal predictions obtained using our implementation. Using the overflow bin of the reconstructed W -boson transverse momentum distribution in the single lepton channel as a probe for EFT effects suggests that the LHC Run II will significantly improve the current limits obtained from global fits. Clearly both the V H and VBF processes deserve further investigation including detector effects and an analysis strategy to reject the SM backgrounds. In this case, the new physics contributions to the SM background processes should also correctly be accounted for, since effective operators affecting electroweak Higgs-boson production also impact the normalisation of the triple gauge-boson interactions both directly and indirectly via the aforementioned field redefinitions [23, 38, 41, 63, 64] .

In this case, the new physics contributions to the SM background processes should also correctly be accounted for, since effective operators affecting electroweak Higgs-boson production also impact the normalisation of the triple gauge-boson interactions both directly and indirectly via the aforementioned field redefinitions.


Computational homogenization approach is adopted to solve interface volume with cohesive zone [32] . The cohesive zone (using a traction-opening concept) is coupled with a microstructural scale with finite dimension. The boundary value problem at the microstructure is solved using the macrostructural scale kinematics (interface opening vector).

Computational homogenization approach is adopted to solve interface volume with cohesive zone.


The results of the pre-and post-exam scores will be represented by the total number of correct answers among all students and corresponding fractions. This is performed per question, for contextual and conceptual questions separately and for all questions. The fractions will be used to calculate the gain index hgi. The latter is defined as the ratio of the actual average gain (%post -%pre) to the maximum possible average gain (100 -%pre) (Hake 1998) . A paired samples t test and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test are used to determine the difference between pre-and post-scores. Both tests were used because frequency analysis showed the data was only approximately normally distributed. The internal consistency of the exam was tested by calculating Cronbach's alpha for the items within the different objectives, resulting in an average correlation. Finally, a factor analysis was used to test the (amount of) assumed objectives the exam is based on.

The latter is defined as the ratio of the actual average gain (%post -%pre) to the maximum possible average gain (100 -%pre).


For the qualitative part we ensured validity and reliability in several ways (Hake 2004; Niedderer and Goldberg 1993) . First, all methods of qualitative data collection and analysis were based on scientific literature in order to guarantee test-validity resulting in well-founded results. Second, due to coding, peer debriefing and member checking a coherent and explicit chain of analysing and reasoning was provided. Third, we used direct investigation techniques in a real-world educational setting to avoid restricted experimental settings that may cause quasi-valid results because important impacts are ruled out. Fourth, methodological and investigator triangulation is used to check results and to interpret findings.

For the qualitative part we ensured validity and reliability in several ways.


The control group, used to determine a possible learning effect from completing the test, showed now average gain (%pre = 29; %post = 30). For the experimental group, a paired samples t test indicates the overall gain is significant, t(76) = -18.18; p \ 0.001. This is confirmed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test that gives the same p value. Unless, the experimental group made significant progress, substantially more gain could be possible because the overall gain is just enough to be called ''medium'' (Hake 1998) . Compared to the gains found in different physics (-related) course studies, also including LBD, this gain is comparable (Churukian 2002; Coletta and Phillips 2005; Hake 1998; Kolodner 2002b) .

Unless, the experimental group made significant progress, substantially more gain could be possible because the overall gain is just enough to be called ''medium''.

Compared to the gains found in different physics (-related) course studies, also including LBD, this gain is comparable.


The sentences are then passed through the preprocessing steps followed by the identification of emotional words based on the WordNet Affect lists (Strapparava and Valitutti, 2004) . The word level emotion tags are assigned as sentence and statement level emotion tags. Multiple emotion tags assigned by the system for each of the statements are compared against its corresponding single annotated emotion tag. The baseline system based on WordNet Affect lists achieves the average Precision, Recall and F-Score values of 58%, 47.4% and 50.6% respectively on 5120 sentences with respect to five emotion classes.

The sentences are then passed through the preprocessing steps followed by the identification of emotional words based on the WordNet Affect lists.


The word as well as phrase level emotion expressions are identified using Support Vector Machine (SVM) based supervised system (Das and Bandyopadhyay, 2010) . The system achieves average Precision, Recall and F-Score values of 69%, 45.8% and 55.05% respectively. The sentential emotion tags are assigned based on the identified emotional expressions and intensity clues. Two types of explicit discourse markers such as temporal (e.g., 'when' 'while') and causal (e.g., 'as', 'because') are employed for identifying emotions at statement level. It has been found that the incorporation of the intensity and discourse level clues improves the Precision (70.04%), Recall (65.3%) and F-Score (68.03%) values respectively. The errors are due to the problem in identifying the textual clues in support of the physiological variables. But, it has been observed that the general variables play the significant roles in identifying emotions.

The word as well as phrase level emotion expressions are identified using Support Vector Machine (SVM) based supervised system.


Experts suggest that student work should be authentic or based on the real world (Wiggins, 1990) . Frequently known as project based learning, it is a form of instruction where students are immersed in challenging learning situations that are anchored in real world simulations (Page, 2006) . According to Page, project based learning can support critical thinking, multilayered decision making, goal setting, problem solving, and collaboration. As a result, many institutions are anchoring their assessment activities into meaningful scenarios so that students are being assessed on their abilities to apply learning to realistic situations.

Experts suggest that student work should be authentic or based on the real world.

Frequently known as project based learning, it is a form of instruction where students are immersed in challenging learning situations that are anchored in real world simulations.


Strategic management is a complicated area of study that is based on the understanding of interrelationships between strategic decisions of the different functional areas of a firm (Mankins, 2004) . Theoretical approaches to the subject matter have been shown to be limited, as students are shown strategic decision-making as a static process (MacKay & McKiernan, 2004) . While the benefits of active learning are established, most higher education strategic, production, and/or operations management courses remain lecture based, exposing students to abstracted concepts.

Strategic management is a complicated area of study that is based on the understanding of interrelationships between strategic decisions of the different functional areas of a firm.

Theoretical approaches to the subject matter have been shown to be limited, as students are shown strategic decision-making as a static process.


The lesson to be learned from the global financial crisis is that the shortage of liquidity by financial institutions leads to disastrous situations. To avoid the recurrence of such crisis, regulators and authorities have introduced new liquidity measures to enhance banks' capital and liquidity positions and ensure the resolvability of financial institutions. The new measures aimed at forcing banks to maintain higher level of liquidity to ensure the sustainability of their operations and to keep the overall banking system sound and safe. Therefore, banks and financial institutions were obliged to improve their risk management strategy in order to reduce excess risk taken. This could be done by for example, holding an appropriate buffer of liquid assets to minimize the risk of a maturity gap between assets and liabilities in their balance sheets by taking into account the opportunity cost of holding a buffer of liquid assets (Diamond & Dybvig, 1983) .

This could be done by for example, holding an appropriate buffer of liquid assets to minimize the risk of a maturity gap between assets and liabilities in their balance sheets by taking into account the opportunity cost of holding a buffer of liquid assets.


Soundscape, as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is an "acoustic environment as perceived or experienced and/or understood by a person or people, in context" (ISO, 2014) . The urban soundscape contributes to the perceived quality of the urban environment and the identity of a city. Ambient sounds may evoke thoughts and emotions, may influence our mood or steer our behavior. Cities are comprised of many types of public outdoor spaces, each with their distinctive soundscape. Inspired by the potential positive effects a suitable acoustic environment may have on well-being of citizens and the attractiveness of the city, the challenge of designing the acoustic environment of urban public outdoor spaces has attracted attention since long (Schafer, 1994; Southworth, 1969) .

Soundscape, as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is an "acoustic environment as perceived or experienced and/or understood by a person or people, in context".

Inspired by the potential positive effects a suitable acoustic environment may have on well-being of citizens and the attractiveness of the city, the challenge of designing the acoustic environment of urban public outdoor spaces has attracted attention since long.


Calcium is an essential element for humans, and is also responsible for 'water hardness', a water quality parameter frequently tested in industrial plants and municipal water treatment facilities. Calcium is biologically required for numerous functions, such as building and maintaining the bones and teeth, blood clotting, transmitting of the nerve impulses and regulating heart's rhythm [1] . Milk and dairy products are convenient sources of calcium for many people [2] . Drinking water is an important source of calcium in the elderly, particularly because of increased needs and decreased consumption of dairy products [3] . Therefore, low-cost, sensitive and selective methods are necessary to determine this ion.

Calcium is biologically required for numerous functions, such as building and maintaining the bones and teeth, blood clotting, transmitting of the nerve impulses and regulating heart's rhythm.

Milk and dairy products are convenient sources of calcium for many people.

Drinking water is an important source of calcium in the elderly, particularly because of increased needs and decreased consumption of dairy products.


Bank as categorized into financial intermediary between society and institution with the role of deposit-taking entities involved primarily in business lending (Cetorelli et al., 2012) . Trust, confidence and soundness of banking system may lead to efficient performance of banks in order to survive and compete among industry (Zeitun and Benjelloun, 2013) . Thus, efficient banking system may guarantee the smooth functioning of nation's payment system and effective implementation of the monetary policy (Gulati, 2011) . Hence, bank efficiency as measured through overall technical efficiency (OTE), pure technical efficiency (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE) are necessary to be controlled and examined as well as the risks in a certain condition of economy.

Bank as categorized into financial intermediary between society and institution with the role of deposit-taking entities involved primarily in business lending.

Trust, confidence and soundness of banking system may lead to efficient performance of banks in order to survive and compete among industry.

Thus, efficient banking system may guarantee the smooth functioning of nation's payment system and effective implementation of the monetary policy.


The question in what way the results about density of smooth mappings between manifolds can be generalized to the case of mappings between metric spaces was formulated by Heinonen, Koskela, Shanmugalingam and Tyson, [21] . In this context one asks about density of Lipschitz mappings, because the class of smooth mappings make no sense. In order to formulate the problem we need to define the class N 1,p (X, Y ) of Sobolev mappings between metric spaces.

The question in what way the results about density of smooth mappings between manifolds can be generalized to the case of mappings between metric spaces was formulated by Heinonen, Koskela, Shanmugalingam and Tyson.


This study provides the first evidence of the expression of glycolysis-related proteins GLUT-1, HK 2, PFK-1, LDHA, TKTL1 and mitochondrial enzymes SDHA, SDHB, ATP synthase in the multi-step carcinogenesis of OSCC. It seems that both, hypoxia-related glucose metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation characteristics are associated with the carcinogenesis of OSCC. Acidosis and OXPHOS may drive a metabolic shift towards the PPP [67] . Therefore, inhibition of the PPP and glycolysis, as well as targeted anti-mitochondrial therapies (ROS generation) by natural compounds (polyphenol mix, selective vitamins) or synthetic vitamin derivatives (e.g. oxybenfotiamine) may act as sensitizer for apoptosis in cancer cells mediated by adjuvant therapies in OSCC. Summarizing in other words, targeting detoxifying systems (e.g. TKTL1, LDHA) make cancer cells or (oral) precursor lesions more vulnerable to apoptosis.

Acidosis and OXPHOS may drive a metabolic shift towards the PPP.


Characterization of the apple genome has focused primarily to date on whole genome duplication, the detection of SNPs, the prediction of genes and the characterization of gene families, as well as generation of an inventory of repeated elements. Structural variations, such as copy-number, have not been studied in detail, in apple or indeed in other fruit tree species. In short-lived crop species, such as maize and rice, copy-number variation has been investigated using NGS and microarray technologies, and a growing consensus has emerged as to the agricultural relevance of CNV [54] . In particular, genes located in Although CNV had not been investigated previously in the apple genome, there has been some evidence that CNV might play an important biological role here.

In short-lived crop species, such as maize and rice, copy-number variation has been investigated using NGS and microarray technologies, and a growing consensus has emerged as to the agricultural relevance of CNV.


Hybridization-based methods, such as array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), were the first high-throughput approaches used to identify CNVs at the genome-wide scale [21] . More recently however, NGS technologies combined with new analytical approaches, such as read-depth, paired-end, and split-reads analysis, have become popular [22] . Analysis of read-depth is an effective method for CNV detection, relying on detection of changes in the depth of coverage across the genome as being indicative of changes in the underlying copy-number [23] . The aim of our study was to detect CNV regions (CNVRs), in the apple genome using lowcoverage (1x to 5x) NGS re-sequencing data from 30 apple varieties grown or used for cultivar breeding worldwide.

Hybridization-based methods, such as array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), were the first high-throughput approaches used to identify CNVs at the genome-wide scale.

More recently however, NGS technologies combined with new analytical approaches, such as read-depth, paired-end, and split-reads analysis, have become popular.

Analysis of read-depth is an effective method for CNV detection, relying on detection of changes in the depth of coverage across the genome as being indicative of changes in the underlying copy-number.


Both psoriasis and PsA were initially regarded as Th1-mediated diseases, due to differentiation of the naïve T cells after IL-12 and IFN-γ release by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The psoriatic skin and synovium are infiltrated by the T cells, dendritic cells, neutrophils and macrophages. However, it is well known that Th17 cells, activated by IL-23, IL-21, IL-6 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), play a vital role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and PsA. Th17 cells are present not only in the skin but also in the synovial tissue and synovial fluid [9, 10] . Some animal studies have revealed that mice deficient in IL-17 showed decreased development of collagen-induced arthritis [11] . Nevertheless, the mechanism of chronic T cell activation by APCs in psoriasis still awaits elucidation. Impaired interaction of the PD-1 on T cells, B cells and macrophages with its ligand PD-L1 or PD-L2 on the APCs seems to be responsible for an intense, up-regulating T cell response [12, 13] .

However, it is well known that Th17 cells, activated by IL-23, IL-21, IL-6 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), play a vital role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and PsA. Th17 cells are present not only in the skin but also in the synovial tissue and synovial fluid.

Some animal studies have revealed that mice deficient in IL-17 showed decreased development of collagen-induced arthritis.

Impaired interaction of the PD-1 on T cells, B cells and macrophages with its ligand PD-L1 or PD-L2 on the APCs seems to be responsible for an intense, up-regulating T cell response.


RFT offers an analysis of perspective taking that explains this behavior as being based on a history of in principle empirically analyzable subject-environment interactions. Perspective taking, false belief, and deception are conceptualized by RFT as particular patterns of arbitrarily applicable relational responding or relational framing, which RFT sees as the core behavior involved in language. Multiple different relational response patterns are implicated in language development, including patterns of Same, Different, Opposite, More Than/Less Than, and so forth (Hayes et al., 2001) .

Multiple different relational response patterns are implicated in language development, including patterns of Same, Different, Opposite, More Than/Less Than, and so forth.


In addition, impulsive control method has been also widely used to stabilize and synchronize chaotic systems in recent years [13, 16, [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] . Impulsive control gives an efficient method to deal with systems which cannot endure continuous disturbance. Additionally, in synchronization process, the driven system receives the information about the active variables of the driving system only in the discrete times. This drastically reduces the amount of information transmitted from the driving system to driven system which makes this method more efficient and more useful in a great number of applications, such as in encrypt communications; this point is essential [18] .

In addition, impulsive control method has been also widely used to stabilize and synchronize chaotic systems in recent years.

This drastically reduces the amount of information transmitted from the driving system to driven system which makes this method more efficient and more useful in a great number of applications, such as in encrypt communications; this point is essential.


The delayed feedback control, as one of the important chaos control means, was introduced by Lithuanian physicist K. Pyragas in 1992 to stabilize an unstable periodic orbit of a nonlinear control system [1, 2, 9] . Based on this method, the control input is fed by the difference between the current state and the delayed state. Currently, the delayed feedback control method has been extensively applied to controlling chaos [8, 9, 12, 22, [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] .

The delayed feedback control, as one of the important chaos control means, was introduced by Lithuanian physicist K. Pyragas in 1992 to stabilize an unstable periodic orbit of a nonlinear control system.

Currently, the delayed feedback control method has been extensively applied to controlling chaos.


On the other hand, the main drawback of fuzzy control systems is the lack of a systematic modeling and control design methodology. Particularly, stability analysis of fuzzy system is not easy, and parameter tuning is generally a timeconsuming procedure, due to the nonlinear and multiparametric nature of fuzzy control systems [2] . To resolve these problems, a linear system can be adopted as the consequent part of a fuzzy rule, which leads to the so-called T-S model.

Particularly, stability analysis of fuzzy system is not easy, and parameter tuning is generally a timeconsuming procedure, due to the nonlinear and multiparametric nature of fuzzy control systems.


The T-S fuzzy dynamic model originates from Takagi and Sugeno. In this framework, a nonlinear dynamical system is first approximated by a T-S fuzzy model. In this type of fuzzy model, local dynamics in different state-space regions are represented by linear models. The overall model of the system is achieved by fuzzy blending of these linear models. The control design is carried out based on the fuzzy model. For each local linear model, a feedback control is designed. The resulting overall controller, which is nonlinear in general, is again a fuzzy blending of each individual controller [1, 2] . Here, it is noted that the defuzzified output of the constructed T-S fuzzy model is mathematically identical to that of the original nonlinear system. Clearly, the T-S fuzzy model provides a successful method to describe certain complex nonlinear systems using some local linear subsystems. In view of its convenience, T-S fuzzy control theory has been extensively applied to chaos control and synchronization in some literatures [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] .

The resulting overall controller, which is nonlinear in general, is again a fuzzy blending of each individual controller.

In view of its convenience, T-S fuzzy control theory has been extensively applied to chaos control and synchronization in some literatures.


Fuzzy control as a nontraditional method of control, in recent years, has received much attention as a powerful tool for the nonlinear control. Compared with the traditional control paradigm, the advantages of the fuzzy control paradigm are twofold. Firstly, a precise mathematical model of the controlled system is not required. In addition, a satisfactory nonlinear controller can often be developed empirically without using complicated mathematics [1] . In view of its superiority, fuzzy controllers are often used for controlling conventional control methods as an extra layer of control in order to improve the effectiveness of the control.

In addition, a satisfactory nonlinear controller can often be developed empirically without using complicated mathematics.


Whether or not delays are present, complex optimal control problems require numerical solutions [36] . There are several numerical approaches that use techniques of nonlinear programming to compute the solutions of nondelay optimal control problems. One such method commonly applied is Direct Transcription (DT) [3] . Direct transcription methods transcribe the entire optimal control system into a large sparse nonlinear programming problem (NLP) by a discretization scheme. To obtain the optimal solution the resulting NLP is solved on a sequence of refined meshes until a desired tolerance is reached. DT methods, and in particular, methods involving orthogonal collocation have become popular in several areas due to their high accuracy in approximating non-analytic solutions with relatively few discretization points [26] . Additionally, DT approaches are popular since several constraints on state and control variables can be accommodated. Encountering complex necessary conditions and discontinuous multipliers prove disadvantageous for some methods. However, these issues are avoided with DT since DT neither relies on necessary conditions nor multipliers of the control problem. Also a DT formulation can handle problems with advances just as easily as delays since it is similar in some ways to a boundary value solver and in a boundary value context advances and delays can often be treated the same. Provided one adapts sophisticated mesh refinement strategies with state of the art sparse NLP solvers, a DT approach can often provide solutions to many problems that are otherwise difficult or impossible to solve with other methods [5] .

Whether or not delays are present, complex optimal control problems require numerical solutions.

One such method commonly applied is Direct Transcription (DT).

DT methods, and in particular, methods involving orthogonal collocation have become popular in several areas due to their high accuracy in approximating non-analytic solutions with relatively few discretization points.

Provided one adapts sophisticated mesh refinement strategies with state of the art sparse NLP solvers, a DT approach can often provide solutions to many problems that are otherwise difficult or impossible to solve with other methods.


The IceCube Observatory recently reported the detection of a diffusive flux of highenergy astrophysical neutrinos [8, 9] . These 37 events have deposited energies between ∼ 50 TeV and 2 PeV, and are consistent with an isotropic E −2 spectrum. Meanwhile, searches for point-like neutrino sources, applying four years of IceCube data, still find the event data to be compatible with the background signal [10] . No point sources of high-energy neutrinos have been identified thus far.

The IceCube Observatory recently reported the detection of a diffusive flux of highenergy astrophysical neutrinos.

Meanwhile, searches for point-like neutrino sources, applying four years of IceCube data, still find the event data to be compatible with the background signal.


Figures 9 and 10 present the influence of guar gum, surfactants (SDS, CTAB, TX-100) and their mixtures (SDS/TX-100, CTAB/TX-100) with the molar ratio 1:1 on the zeta potential of manganese dioxide. As it can be clearly seen from the obtained data, the presence of GG together with the surfactants might increase or decrease of the zeta potential of MnO 2 . Moreover, a shift of isoelectric point (pH iep ) of MnO 2 is also observed. The zeta potential values of MnO 2 are the highest in the presence of GG and CTAB and in the system where except for GG and CTAB TX-100 is also present. The reason for that is the chemical character of CTAB. Positively charged groups from this surfactant are present in the diffused part of the electrical double layer which causes the increase of the values of the MnO 2 zeta potential. It should also be mentioned that in every system containing surfactant and polymer molecules the adsorption of polymer-surfactant complexes causes the shift of the slipping plane towards the bulk phase. This effect is responsible for the decrease of the zeta potential of MnO 2 but it seems to be smaller than the effect connected with the presence of the charge in the electrical double layer. This is why the increase of the zeta potential is observed in the presence of CTAB and the mixture of CTAB/TX-100. On the other hand, the addition of anionic SDS to Fig. 6 Influence of guar gum on the surfactants (CTAB, SDS, TX-100) adsorption on the MnO 2 surface in the presence of 0.003 CaCl 2 , pH = 6 Fig. 7 Surface charge density of the system MnO 2 / 0.01 M NaCl in the absence and presence of guar gum (100 ppm) and surfactants Fig. 8 Surface charge density of the system MnO 2 / 0.003 M CaCl 2 in the absence and presence of guar gum (100 ppm) and surfactants the adsorption system (with or without nonionic TX-100) results in the decrease of the MnO 2 zeta potential. This decrease is a consequence of two effects. The first one is the presence of the negative charge in the diffused part of the electrical double layer and the second one is the shift of the slipping plane towards the bulk solution, coming from the adsorption of polysaccharide or the polysaccharide/surfactant complex (Chibowski et al. 2000) . The above mentioned shift of the slipping plane is larger in the presence of the surfactant mixture than in the presence of the only one surfactant. The adsorption layer created under such conditions (two surfactants exhibit synergetic effect) is more expanded towards the bulk phase and that is why the zeta potential decreases. In the system where only nonionic GG is present or in that with GG and TX-100 the decrease of the zeta potential also results from the shift of the slipping plane caused by the adsorption of polymer or polymer-surfactant-polymer complexes. The comparison between the zeta potential of MnO 2 in the presence of 0.01 mol dm -3 NaCl (Fig. 9 ) and 0.003 mol dm -3 CaCl 2 (Fig. 10) shows that the values of the zeta potential of MnO 2 obtained in the presence of CaCl 2 are higher than those obtained in the presence of NaCl, which is typical of these electrolytes but the obtained dependences are very similar.

The first one is the presence of the negative charge in the diffused part of the electrical double layer and the second one is the shift of the slipping plane towards the bulk solution, coming from the adsorption of polysaccharide or the polysaccharide/surfactant complex.


In March, 2010 the Laboratory of Ecology, Ichthyology and Fisheries (LEPI) of the Federal University of Paraná, received another individual of S. glanis (Figure 3 ) that had died in a fish pond connected into the Paraná River Basin, in a subbasin of the Piquiri River, in the municipality of Palotina, Paraná State, Southern Brazil (24º17' 02''S, 53º50'24''W, Figure 2 ). This identification was based on the size and weight (1.70 m and 70 kg) and morphological data, such as the number of anal soft rays. We counted 92 anal soft rays, the species norm being between 83 and 96 (Froese and Pauly 2013) .

We counted 92 anal soft rays, the species norm being between 83 and 96.


In this work, we present a systematic study of the influence of automatic tool output on characteristics of annotations created for NLP purposes. Our investigation is motivated by the hypothesis that annotations obtained using such methodologies may be subject to the problem of anchoring, a well established and robust cognitive bias in which human decisions are affected by pre-existing values (Tversky and Kahneman, 1974) . In the presence of anchors, participants reason relative to the existing values, and as a result may provide different solutions from those they would have reported otherwise. Most commonly, anchoring is manifested as an alignment towards the given values.

Our investigation is motivated by the hypothesis that annotations obtained using such methodologies may be subject to the problem of anchoring, a well established and robust cognitive bias in which human decisions are affected by pre-existing values.


A food web is a directed network of S nodes connected by L links, with links indicating the flow of biomass between nodes, which typically represent species or more coarsely resolved aggregations of species. Previous work on degree distributions in food webs has described their functional form. An early study of three food webs considered the undirected degree distribution, combining incoming and outgoing links, and suggested that degree distributions followed a power law and so are scale-free (Montoya and Sole 2002) . This was disputed by a study of seven food webs, which considered the consumer and resource distributions separately, and argued that both followed a single-scale functional form (Camacho et al. 2002) . A study of 16 food webs found that the form of the undirected degree distributions varied with network connectance (C=L/S 2 ), with power law distributions at low values of connectance (Dunne et al. 2002) . None of these studies provide any explanation as to why these distributions should occur.

An early study of three food webs considered the undirected degree distribution, combining incoming and outgoing links, and suggested that degree distributions followed a power law and so are scale-free.

This was disputed by a study of seven food webs, which considered the consumer and resource distributions separately, and argued that both followed a single-scale functional form.

A study of 16 food webs found that the form of the undirected degree distributions varied with network connectance (C=L/S 2 ), with power law distributions at low values of connectance.


Also, numerical modeling of photon transport through tissue has become well established in tomography and has often been described by the diffusion approximation to the transport equation (Aydin et al., 2005) . The diffusion approximation is, however, valid only for regions that are much more scattering than absorbing. Thus, in problems of non-scattering regions the diffusion approximation fails and higher order approximations to transport equations are needed.

Also, numerical modeling of photon transport through tissue has become well established in tomography and has often been described by the diffusion approximation to the transport equation.


Using these assumptions, it is possible to derive a correlation function describing the statistical relationship of the speckle fields at two different point positions. Naturally, if the two point positions coincide (i.e., we compare the intensity at a point to itself), we find a normalized correlation value of unity. As these points become further separated from each other, the correlation value tends to decrease. Two points are said to be totally decorrelated when this correlation function decreases to zero, and indeed this is often used to define the lateral and longitudinal speckle size [4] . For numerical and experimental purpose, the average speckle size in a particular direction is often defined as the distance at which the correlation function takes the value of 0.5 [3] .

Two points are said to be totally decorrelated when this correlation function decreases to zero, and indeed this is often used to define the lateral and longitudinal speckle size.

For numerical and experimental purpose, the average speckle size in a particular direction is often defined as the distance at which the correlation function takes the value of 0.5.


In the minimal S 3 -invariant extension of the SM, the flavour symmetry group S 3 × Z 2 relates the mass spectrum and mixings, and reduces the number of free parameters in the leptonic sector of the theory. This allowed us to predict two mixing angles, θ 13 and θ 23 , as function of the charged lepton masses only, in excellent agreement with the experimental values, while the other neutrino mixing angle, θ 12 , depends also on the neutrino mass spectrum. The tangent of the solar angle,tan θ 12 , fixes the scale and origin of the neutrino masses which has an inverted hierarchy. In this model, we found that the deviation of the theoretical neutrino mixing matrix,V th PMNS , from the tri-bimaximal pattern is very small. In this form of the theory, the flavour violating processes are strongly suppressed by the flavour symmetry S 3 × Z 2 and the strong mass hierarchy of the charged leptons. Processes that proceed through the exchange of flavour changing neutral currents give information on the vacuum expectation values for the scalar Higgs bosons. The contribution of FCNC to the magnetic moment anomaly of the muon is at most 6% of the discrepancy between the experimental value and the Standard Model prediction, this contribution is small but non-negligible [6] .

The contribution of FCNC to the magnetic moment anomaly of the muon is at most 6% of the discrepancy between the experimental value and the Standard Model prediction, this contribution is small but non-negligible.


An important paper has reported reversal of alpha band desynchronisation on treatment with IGF-1 [6] . In the first instance, we were not able to replicate such result. However, when limited to patients with > alpha band desynchronisation at T0 (more anxious), paired analysis demonstrated a trend to reversal in the previously reported direction ( = 0.21, paired -test). Such a result may not reach statistical significance due to the small sample size of IGF-1 treated patients with > desynchronisation at T0 ( = 6). Further EEG analysis in larger studies of IGF-1 treatment in RTT may help add clarity to this issue, which is complicated by the small sample sizes in the RTT population.

An important paper has reported reversal of alpha band desynchronisation on treatment with IGF-1.


Urban energy use significantly contributes to climate change. According to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), urban areas account for between 67% and 76% of global energy consumption and generate about three quarters of global carbon emissions (Creutzig et al., 2013) . This share is even larger in China where 85% of carbon emissions are attributed to urban economic activities, and this share will likely increase as China's urban population is projected to grow by 240 million over the next 35 years (Liu, 2015) .

According to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), urban areas account for between 67% and 76% of global energy consumption and generate about three quarters of global carbon emissions.

This share is even larger in China where 85% of carbon emissions are attributed to urban economic activities, and this share will likely increase as China's urban population is projected to grow by 240 million over the next 35 years.


The second goal of our paper is to gain a better understanding of the environmental consequences of the influx of FDI and environmental regulations. We do this by examining their impacts on the scale, composition and technique effects for the industrial CO 2 emission growth path. The relationship between FDI and a city's (local and global) pollution is ambiguous, depending on two competing forces (Copeland and Taylor, 2004) . The first is the raw scale of capital investment such as heavy machines and construction equipment in factories. This should lead to a positive effect of FDI on CO 2 emissions ('pollution haven' hypothesis). On the other hand, FDI may help a city to upgrade the quality of its capital stock and such technique effect may translate into lower energy consumption and CO 2 emissions. The optimistic case would be more likely if new capital is significantly cleaner than older durable capital. Therefore the decomposition analysis will help us determine whether the scale or the technique effect dominates the impact of FDI inflow on the industrial CO 2 emissions trend in urban China.

The relationship between FDI and a city's (local and global) pollution is ambiguous, depending on two competing forces.


Where firms locate is both a function of the natural advantages of different geographic areas and of the regulatory policies and incentives offered by different local governments. Local governments who are aware of this strategic dynamic must decide whether to enforce regulations and pay the price of losing some mobile dirty jobs or to enjoy the environmental gains of deindustrializing. A strand of the literature on environmental regulation has documented that differential enforcement of pollution regulation encourages industrial migration to areas featuring laxer regulation (Kahn, 1997; Becker and Henderson, 2000; Greenstone, 2002; Kahn and Mansur, 2013) . In the richer first-tier and some of the second-tier cities, Chinese local governments are starting to enforce stricter environmental regulations (Zheng and Kahn, 2013) . Based on our decomposition results, we are able to explore how typical environmental regulations affect a city's industrial pollution via these three channels -losing dirty firms (both scale and composition effects) or encouraging incumbent firms to improve their technology (technique effect).

A strand of the literature on environmental regulation has documented that differential enforcement of pollution regulation encourages industrial migration to areas featuring laxer regulation.

In the richer first-tier and some of the second-tier cities, Chinese local governments are starting to enforce stricter environmental regulations.


Fundus cameras are becoming the main means to screen diabetic patients for diabetic retinopathy (DR) as recommended by the American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. A recent subject of much research in the literature is automatic detection and computer aided diagnosis of retina disease [1] . For these automated systems, a high-contrast, artefact free image is essential to improve performance by preventing sources of confusion in the detection of lesions and abnormalities in the image. Thus there is a deep motivation to acquire a high quality retina image.

A recent subject of much research in the literature is automatic detection and computer aided diagnosis of retina disease.


Early investigations relating dark matter to helioseismology focussed on constant cross section spin-independent models of heavy mass (30 GeV − 100 GeV). For the selected mass range, there was little to no modification to the sound speed profile [59] . Results were shown to be dependent on the strength of the interaction. Effects start to become larger as the cross section approaches the transition between local and non-local transport, where the total luminosity transported approaches a maximum [60, 61] .

For the selected mass range, there was little to no modification to the sound speed profile.

Effects start to become larger as the cross section approaches the transition between local and non-local transport, where the total luminosity transported approaches a maximum.


However, significant problems remain. The favoured models are well within the exclusion regions of all direct detection, beam dump and collider experiments that have reported constraints on electromagnetic dipole dark matter [70, 80, 85] . For example, the upper bound on the anapole moment and magnetic dipole momnet are ∼ 10 −4 GeV −2 and 10 −4 µ p , considerably lower than that required by our simulations. It is therefore difficult to reconcile our results with the direct detection limits.

However, significant problems remain.

The favoured models are well within the exclusion regions of all direct detection, beam dump and collider experiments that have reported constraints on electromagnetic dipole dark matter.


Much of the modern description of the solar interior arises from helioseismology, the study of pressure wave propagation through the Sun. In particular, it is possible to predict the speed of the propagation of the waves as a function of the depth of the Sun. As the waves are acoustic, such a quantity is termed the sound-speed profile of the Sun. Importantly, the speed of sound in the Sun is readily predicted independently by theoretical solar models. Early attempts at fitting the data to models seemed to be successful at best [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] .

Early attempts at fitting the data to models seemed to be successful at best.


One can also consider the correlation function with other kinds of operators, for example, Wilson loops. The holographic dual of the Wilson loops has various descriptions: fundamental string probe, D3-brane probe, D5-brane probe and bubbling geometry [39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48] . It will be an interesting problem to calculate the correlation function with the Wilson loop using these descriptions.

The holographic dual of the Wilson loops has various descriptions: fundamental string probe, D3-brane probe, D5-brane probe and bubbling geometry.


A surface operator in a gauge theory is an operator supported on two-dimensional surface Σ. In N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory, a disorder type surface operator is introduced to give a gauge theory description to ramifications in the context of the geometric Langlands program in number theory [1] . The surface operator is characterized by the boundary condition on the fields in the path integral near a codimension two singularity. As other local or nonlocal operators, surface operators are useful to understand the AdS/CFT correspondence [2, 3, 4] .

A surface operator in a gauge theory is an operator supported on two-dimensional surface Σ. In N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory, a disorder type surface operator is introduced to give a gauge theory description to ramifications in the context of the geometric Langlands program in number theory.

As other local or nonlocal operators, surface operators are useful to understand the AdS/CFT correspondence.


In this paper, we only use probe D3-branes to describe the gravity dual of the less BPS surface operators. It will be a challenging problem to include the back reaction and construct the supergravity solution for these less BPS surface operators. There are several works on less BPS bubbling geometry [49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58] . One may find the solution of 1/4 BPS surface operator in these backgrounds, or doubly Wick rotated ones.

There are several works on less BPS bubbling geometry.


The Spanish legislation regulating the generation of electricity from sustainable resources allows CSP plants to produce up to 12 % of their electricity from auxiliary fuels [7] . For a typical 50 MWe installation, this hybrid operation involves the consumption of 2.32 · 10 8 MJ/yr of auxiliary fuel and results in the generation of 22,600 MWh/yr of additional electricity, which also benefits from the 26.9 c€/kWh premium fee established for solar thermal power generation. Hence, all commercial CSP plants in Spain (39 in operation and 21 currently under construction) operate according to this strategy in order to maximize economic revenues. Note that this legislation was superseded by Royal Decree Law 1/2012, which removed financial support for future installations not approved under the previous regime. A few authors have investigated the environmental performance of CSP plants based on parabolic through technology using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] . These investigations suggest that the environmental performance of these plants is highly influenced by the energy input and the type of fuel (mainly NG) employed in auxiliary boilers [9] . An alternative discussed in specialized forums involves replacing the NG with biomass derived fuels, so that the resulting electricity could be regarded as being fully renewable and totally independent from fossil resources.

The Spanish legislation regulating the generation of electricity from sustainable resources allows CSP plants to produce up to 12 % of their electricity from auxiliary fuels.

A few authors have investigated the environmental performance of CSP plants based on parabolic through technology using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology.

These investigations suggest that the environmental performance of these plants is highly influenced by the energy input and the type of fuel (mainly NG) employed in auxiliary boilers.


Commercial CSP plants also include one or more auxiliary boilers that provide extra heat for daily start-up operations, to avoid freezing of the HTF and molten salts, to reduce system instability caused by transient clouds and also for additional electricity generation. Natural Gas (NG) is used most frequently as auxiliary fuel due to its low cost, clean combustion and rapid response, although the use of fuel oil, mineral coal and biomass has also been reported [3] [4] [5] [6] . The minimum amount of auxiliary energy required to operate a commercial CSP installation varies depending on plant size and design, the characteristics of the TES system, the intensity and daily hours of solar irradiance, and also ambient temperature. For a CSP plant like the one investigated in this paper (wetcooled, 50 MWe, parabolic trough, 7.5 hours TES), this minimum requirement has been estimated to be between 100,000-130,000 MJ/MW/yr. It may be assumed that this energy input does not have a net contribution to electricity generation.

Natural Gas (NG) is used most frequently as auxiliary fuel due to its low cost, clean combustion and rapid response, although the use of fuel oil, mineral coal and biomass has also been reported.


Eight sugarcane clones were crossed in all 28 possible combinations in May 1997, at the Copersucar crossing station at Camamu, Brazil. Clones RB845257, SP86-172, SP79-3314, SP80-1607 , SP81-1763 , SP81-3386, SP84-2029 were taken at random from a population of five hundred elite parents in the breeding program. To prevent selfing, all female inflorescences were emasculated using hot water treatment (Machado Junior et al., 1996) . Each progeny plot consisted of 70 seedlings planted in 5 rows (1.4 m apart) of 6 meters. Seedlings were planted 0.46 m apart in the row. The statistical design was a randomized complete blocks with four replications. The experiment was conducted for two harvests. Traits evaluated during the experiment are listed in Table 1 .

To prevent selfing, all female inflorescences were emasculated using hot water treatment.


Agriculture is liable for climate change as its activities accounts for nearly 13.5% of the total global anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions [1] . During the last decade, there is a trend of GHG emissions reduction in the agricultural sector, but more effort on this direction should be made to fulfil global climate commitments. The main contribution of agriculture to GHG emissions is related to cropland soil, enteric fermentation and manure management [2] .

Agriculture is liable for climate change as its activities accounts for nearly 13.5% of the total global anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

The main contribution of agriculture to GHG emissions is related to cropland soil, enteric fermentation and manure management.


However, most practitioners do not have a clear perspective of the benefits of PATs in agricultural production and do not consider the environmental reimbursements that their use could provide [11] [12] [13] [14] . There is a need to produce evidence of the actual impact of these technologies on GHG emissions, farm productivity and economics. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to identify and describe the PATs that possess the capacity to have positive impact on GHG emissions produced from the agricultural sector in combination with farm productivity and income sustenance or improvement.

However, most practitioners do not have a clear perspective of the benefits of PATs in agricultural production and do not consider the environmental reimbursements that their use could provide.


Observations of the extragalactic radio background have detected an isotropic excess in the frequency range of 22 MHz to 10 GHz [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . The aggregate data, assembled by the Absolute Radiometer for Cosmology, Astrophysics, and Diffuse Emission-2 (ARCADE-2) Collaboration, show that the emission has a spectrum that falls as T −2.6 [6] . The overall intensity of the emission (hereafter referred to as the ARCADE-2 excess), exceeds the intensity expected from the isotropic portion of the galactic diffuse emission by a factor of a few [5, 8] .

Observations of the extragalactic radio background have detected an isotropic excess in the frequency range of 22 MHz to 10 GHz.

The aggregate data, assembled by the Absolute Radiometer for Cosmology, Astrophysics, and Diffuse Emission-2 (ARCADE-2) Collaboration, show that the emission has a spectrum that falls as T −2.6.

The overall intensity of the emission (hereafter referred to as the ARCADE-2 excess), exceeds the intensity expected from the isotropic portion of the galactic diffuse emission by a factor of a few.


There are two caveats to the analysis shown in this work. First, while our model predicts a maximum electron energy of ∼50 GeV, this stems from a simple, time-independent approximation that does not carefully take into account between Alfvén reacceleration and energy-loss process such as synchrotron emission. A full magnetohydrodynamic model of cluster mergers is necessary to carefully model the electron energy spectrum in both minor and major mergers, an effort which lies beyond the scope of the current work. In Appendix A, we discuss this caveat in more detail, and show that reasonable variations in the maximum electron energy moderately impact our fit to the high-frequency excess, but do not effect fits below ∼1 GHz. Additionally, we have assumed that the power of Alfvén waves could be efficiently converted into the re-acceleration of electrons. This assumption may not be guaranteed. For instance, when the energy density of relativistic protons is larger than that of electrons, an efficient electron acceleration would unavoidably accelerate protons, leading to an increase of the damping rate of the Alfvén waves and thus a decrease in the efficiency of electron acceleration. However, as cosmic rays at GeV-TeV energies are expected to be confined within the cluster volume for cosmological times, re-energization of secondary electrons and positrons is possible due to the inelastic interactions between cosmic ray protons and the intracluster medium [38] .

This assumption may not be guaranteed.

However, as cosmic rays at GeV-TeV energies are expected to be confined within the cluster volume for cosmological times, re-energization of secondary electrons and positrons is possible due to the inelastic interactions between cosmic ray protons and the intracluster medium.


Several models have been posited in order to explain the intensity of the ARCADE-2 signal, including contributions from radio galaxies, radio supernovae, radio-quiet quasars, and diffuse electrons in the inter-galactic medium [9] . However, the extrapolation of these source classes to low-luminosities has failed to reproduce the total intensity of the ARCADE-2 excess while maintaining consistency with constraints from infrared and X-Ray emission [10] . In addition to astrophysical sources, dark matter models have also been formulated in order to explain the ARCADE-2 excess. Dark matter models are well motivated for explanations of ARCADE-2 since they naturally produce large fluxes of relativistic e + e − while producing negligible thermal emission. This allows dark matter induced emission to simultaneously fit the intensity of the ARCADE-2 excess while remaining consistent with infrared constraints, and several similar models have been formulated to date [11] [12] [13] [14] .

Several models have been posited in order to explain the intensity of the ARCADE-2 signal, including contributions from radio galaxies, radio supernovae, radio-quiet quasars, and diffuse electrons in the inter-galactic medium.

However, the extrapolation of these source classes to low-luminosities has failed to reproduce the total intensity of the ARCADE-2 excess while maintaining consistency with constraints from infrared and X-Ray emission.

This allows dark matter induced emission to simultaneously fit the intensity of the ARCADE-2 excess while remaining consistent with infrared constraints, and several similar models have been formulated to date.


The highest rates of IE are observed among patients with prosthetic valves and catheters. Other risk factors include chronic rheumatic heart disease, age-related degenerative valvular lesions, HD, and coexisting conditions such as diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and intravenous drug use. The clustering of several of these predisposing factors with age probably explains the increased incidence of EI among persons aged 65 years or older [3] [4] [5] [6] .

The clustering of several of these predisposing factors with age probably explains the increased incidence of EI among persons aged 65 years or older.


High temperatures are an established risk factor for human health [1] . Heat waves, usually understood as periods of persistent hot conditions, have been found to be associated with sharp increases in mortality all over the globe [2] . Similar effects are found using morbidity data [3] . Understanding how heat waves affect human health is an important key for the preparation and adaptation to the projected increase in heat wave durations and frequencies [4] .

High temperatures are an established risk factor for human health.

Heat waves, usually understood as periods of persistent hot conditions, have been found to be associated with sharp increases in mortality all over the globe.

Similar effects are found using morbidity data.

Understanding how heat waves affect human health is an important key for the preparation and adaptation to the projected increase in heat wave durations and frequencies.


For both heat waves our results show, that the maximum in the mortality values occurred one day after the maximum of the wave, when the meteorological parameters indicated a clear reduction of the heat stress. An explanation for this effect can be found in the up to two-day lag, between outdoor heat stress and the indoor conditions [35] . In particular, since many people, especially elderly or sick people which are most vulnerable to heat stress, typically spend a large part of their time inside buildings. Heat warning systems should therefore consider the indoor thermal conditions as well and heat-intervention strategies should focus also to the days following a heat wave.

An explanation for this effect can be found in the up to two-day lag, between outdoor heat stress and the indoor conditions.


The 2003 and 2015 heat waves have been ranked as the second and sixth most severe European events with respect to their intensity and spatial extend [26] . Germany was affected by both heat waves. Here, we present a comparison of the two summers 2003 and 2015 focusing on similarities and differences with respect to the meteorological conditions and the health impact with a focus on South-West Germany. In the context of climate change, we furthermore assess the likelihood of similar heat waves in the near and far future, using regional climate model (RCM) simulations.

The 2003 and 2015 heat waves have been ranked as the second and sixth most severe European events with respect to their intensity and spatial extend.


Recently, the benefit of employing synchrophasor measurements for power system monitoring has been widely recognized (Ree et al. (2010) ). Phasor measurement unit (PMU) is a device capable of measuring voltage phasors at each bus at a rate of 30 samples per second or higher. Based on the global positioning system (GPS), multiple PMUs deployed across a wide area can achieve precise synchronization. Compared to the conventional supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) architecture, which can provide only few samples in a minute, the synchrophasor measurements can reveal the dynamics of the power system. Thus, the use of PMU data can significantly improve the capability of power system monitoring, protection and control.

Recently, the benefit of employing synchrophasor measurements for power system monitoring has been widely recognized).


This approach is initiated by transforming the governing differential equation into its integral analog via the Green's second identity followed by a FEM-like element-by-element implementation of the resulting equations throughout the problem domain. Unlike other BEM techniques, no extraneous mathematical techniques are applied to do all integration on the boundary of the problem domain. The whole process is amply simplified by the presence of a source point inside a generic element which facilitates a "local support" based numerical integration akin to the FEM implementation. The gain resulting from this approach is immense because the resulting integral equations appear in the form of local element equations whose contributions add up to produce slender and banded coefficient matrices [16] [17] .

The gain resulting from this approach is immense because the resulting integral equations appear in the form of local element equations whose contributions add up to produce slender and banded coefficient matrices.


The result was, as shown in Table 2 , like we expected. Patients in the non-responder group had a larger BWT and larger prostate volume. But as shown in Table 3 , larger prostate volume had little influence in the non-responder group. Only BWT had a significant influence in the nonresponder group. As shown in Table 4 , the IPSS voiding subscore was significantly improved in both groups. However, the IPSS storage subscore was not improved in patients who had larger BWT. According to our results, LUTS/BPH patients with larger BWT have more advanced detrusor changes that cannot be reversed with the relief of BOO. For patients with BPH and DO, alpha-blocker medication with antimuscarinic medication can effectively relieve the symptoms [27] . In cases of LUTS/BPH patients with increased BWT, prescription of antimuscarinic medication with an alpha-blocker would be effective for improving the patient's irritative symptoms.

For patients with BPH and DO, alpha-blocker medication with antimuscarinic medication can effectively relieve the symptoms.


An understanding of financing decisions is clearly of great importance for family firms and scholars as this is considered along with the "peculiar financial logic" that characterizes family firms (Gallo, Tàpies, & Cappuyns, 2004) . Specifically, a review of the literature shows that several inconsistencies can be found and that various factors complicate a thorough understanding of family business financing decisions. Therefore, our aim in this article is to analyze and systematize prior work on financing decisions in family firms, which will help identify (theoretical) shortcomings and present a framework for organizing (future) research in this field. We focus in this review on articles dealing with "all" types of family businesses, meaning that they can be characterized by family involvement in various ways, and can be private or public firms, small or large firms. Given the dispersed nature of the family business financing literature and the gap that still exists between the family business and finance field of research, we believe a thorough review can bring a large contribution to both disciplines and will form a good basis to elaborate future studies on finance in family businesses.

An understanding of financing decisions is clearly of great importance for family firms and scholars as this is considered along with the "peculiar financial logic" that characterizes family firms.


However, in the DC distribution system based on a VSC, the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBTs) will be blocked from self-protection during the DC short-circuit fault. In this case, the VSC turns into an uncontrolled rectifier, as the freewheeling diodes will feed the fault [6] . In the meantime, the DC-link capacitance discharges, and the DC current rises rapidly to a relatively large value, which may be dozens of times the normal one and poses a considerable threat with respect to the safety issue. As a result, a current-limiting device is necessary, and the resistive superconductive fault current limiter (SFCL) is a good choice because of its fast response and low power loss characteristics [7] .

In this case, the VSC turns into an uncontrolled rectifier, as the freewheeling diodes will feed the fault.

As a result, a current-limiting device is necessary, and the resistive superconductive fault current limiter (SFCL) is a good choice because of its fast response and low power loss characteristics.


Nowadays, more and more electric appliances, such as electric vehicles, LED lamps, mobile phones and computers, are becoming DC consumers with the development of power electronics technology. Scholars are now putting forward the DC distribution system based on the widely studied and applied distributed generation, which supplies DC power. Compared with the AC distribution system, a DC distribution system based on a voltage source converter (VSC) presents much more advantages, such as better power quality, larger power transportation capacity, higher reliability, being more economical, having lower energy waste, and so on [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Therefore, the research on DC the distribution system has drawn more and more attention.

Compared with the AC distribution system, a DC distribution system based on a voltage source converter (VSC) presents much more advantages, such as better power quality, larger power transportation capacity, higher reliability, being more economical, having lower energy waste, and so on.


Plants of the Brassicaceae family are well known for their ability to accumulate GSLs that, in the presence of myrosinase enzyme, release substances with antifungal activity [14] . Volatile compounds released from leaf materials from several different Brassica crops inhibited growth of pathogen Foc in in vitro tests. The laboratory experiment showed that glucosinolates and their breakdown products which are excreted from Ethiopian mustard have a high significant inhibition of Foc pathogen growth in in vitro condition. Ethiopian mustard was by far the most effective one in inhibiting fungal growth in in vitro tests. Mustard is known for containing very high levels of glucosinolates, higher than most other Brassica spp, and also produces some of the most biologically active forms of isothiocyanates [12] . All Brassica crops inhibited fungal growth of all pathogens to some degree [19] . Our finding is in agreement with others where appreciable inhibition of F. oxysporum growth was reported on B. napus and B. carinata [14] .

Plants of the Brassicaceae family are well known for their ability to accumulate GSLs that, in the presence of myrosinase enzyme, release substances with antifungal activity.

Mustard is known for containing very high levels of glucosinolates, higher than most other Brassica spp, and also produces some of the most biologically active forms of isothiocyanates.

All Brassica crops inhibited fungal growth of all pathogens to some degree.

Our finding is in agreement with others where appreciable inhibition of F. oxysporum growth was reported on B. napus and B. carinata.


Plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family are well known for containing an exclusive group of alkaloids, which have been considered a distinctive taxonomic characteristic of this family (Bastida et al., 2006) . Crinum is a pantropical genus that has extensive traditional use in Africa in a wide range of therapeutic applications, including antitumoral and antimalarial, and treatment of rheumatism and kidney and bladder infections, among others (Nair and van Staden, 2013) . Alkaloids purified from the Crinum species have been confirmed as responsible for some of these properties, particularly the antiproliferative action (Berkov et al., 2011a) . The alkaloidrich extracts from Crinum angustum have shown significant antibacterial and antifungal activities (Ianello et al., 2014a) . To date, approximately 130 species found throughout Africa, America, southern Asia and Australia have been classified within the Crinum genus (Refaat et al., 2012) .

Plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family are well known for containing an exclusive group of alkaloids, which have been considered a distinctive taxonomic characteristic of this family.

Crinum is a pantropical genus that has extensive traditional use in Africa in a wide range of therapeutic applications, including antitumoral and antimalarial, and treatment of rheumatism and kidney and bladder infections, among others.

Alkaloids purified from the Crinum species have been confirmed as responsible for some of these properties, particularly the antiproliferative action.

The alkaloidrich extracts from Crinum angustum have shown significant antibacterial and antifungal activities.

To date, approximately 130 species found throughout Africa, America, southern Asia and Australia have been classified within the Crinum genus.


Cars have developed from being completely mechanical in the early 20th century to being electromechanical in the subsequent decades until finally reaching the present-day's complexity in terms of hardware and software. Especially in case of software development, such aspects like the quantity of functions embedded in the car or the binary code size have increased exponentially [10] , [11] , [13] . To face these challenges, on the one hand, the hardware is continuously improved by more powerful components. On the other hand, the high climax in software challenges cannot be solved just by hardware improvements, but requires evolution in software engineering. The required efforts can be divided into two categories: runtime efforts and design efforts. Runtime efforts are concerned with the optimal execution of complex code on the hardware. Here, software engineering improvements are hardly feasible. Hence, this is not in the focus of this paper. Design efforts relate to the efficient specification of complex software, which results in a need for good software engineering methods. This is the key topic of this paper.

Especially in case of software development, such aspects like the quantity of functions embedded in the car or the binary code size have increased exponentially.

This is the key topic of this paper.


However, in contrast to our findings among students from the United States, among Taiwanese students, weight misperceivers were less likely to eat breakfast every day and there was no difference in fruit and vegetable consumption between weight misperceivers and accurate perceivers [29] . It is possible that these differences may be cultural. Previous studies using YRBS data have similarly found that male weight misperceivers were more likely to get 60 or more minutes of physical activity at least 5 days in the week prior to survey, and consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day in the week prior to survey [14, 26] .

However, in contrast to our findings among students from the United States, among Taiwanese students, weight misperceivers were less likely to eat breakfast every day and there was no difference in fruit and vegetable consumption between weight misperceivers and accurate perceivers.

Previous studies using YRBS data have similarly found that male weight misperceivers were more likely to get 60 or more minutes of physical activity at least 5 days in the week prior to survey, and consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day in the week prior to survey.


In this paper we study the self-similar fluctuations of the exponentially localized eigenstates of this equation occurring when the interaction parameter λ > 1. The exponential decay of the wave function ψ i leads us to write ψ i = e −γ|i| η i , (1.2) where γ = log λ (the Lyapunov exponent) [1] . The fluctuations may thus be analysed by considering the evolution of η i . We shall be exclusively concerned here with the golden mean case ω = ( √ 5 − 1)/2 which satisfies ω 2 + ω = 1.

The exponential decay of the wave function ψ i leads us to write ψ i = e −γ|i| η i , (1.2) where γ = log λ (the Lyapunov exponent).


The prime motivation of developing high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels was the replacement of low-carbon steels for the automotive industry in order to improve their strength-to-weight ratio and meet the need for higher-strength construction grade materials. HSLA steels have excellent strength, good weldability and ductility, and also outstanding low temperature impact toughness superior to that of high yield strength (HY) steels [1] . However, proper surface treatment is necessary for many applications to increase their resistance to aggressive environment.

HSLA steels have excellent strength, good weldability and ductility, and also outstanding low temperature impact toughness superior to that of high yield strength (HY) steels.


Coatings 2016, 6, 46 6 of 9 ground and subsequently phosphated surfaces. This value was 34 times higher compared to only ground surface and almost twice as high as on sandblasted and further phosphated surface, which is evidence of uniform manganese phosphate coating formation. The findings from potentiodynamic polarization tests were supported by non-destructive electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. Figure 6 shows the Nyquist diagrams of S355J2 steel samples after various surface treatment. Nyquist plots are frequently selected tool for EIS interpretation, allowing precise determination of equivalent circuit components [22, 24, 25] . Figure 7 shows the equivalent circuit best describing the electrochemical processes at the sample-electrolyte interface. Polarization resistance R p is the most important electrochemical characteristic. The value of R p expresses how resistant the mono-or multi-surface layers are against corrosion [26] [27] [28] . Component CPE represents a constant phase element. Its function in the expression of EIS data is defined elsewhere [25, 29] . The values of equivalent circuit elements were obtained from the analysis of a selected equivalent circuit using a software EC-Lab (Bio-Logic Science Instruments SAS, Claix, France, version 11.01). These values are listed in Table 4 . The highest value of R p was reached with ground and subsequently phosphated surfaces. This value was 34 times higher compared to only ground surface and almost twice as high as on sandblasted and further phosphated surface, which is evidence of uniform manganese phosphate coating formation.

Nyquist plots are frequently selected tool for EIS interpretation, allowing precise determination of equivalent circuit components.

The value of R p expresses how resistant the mono-or multi-surface layers are against corrosion.

Its function in the expression of EIS data is defined elsewhere.

These values are listed in Table 4 .


Our study supports the hypothesis that older individuals have neurogenic changes in the genioglossus muscle. We found MUPs with increased durations and numbers of phases suggesting that peripheral axons have sprouted to compensate for a loss of motor axons. These data indicate that the presence of 'neurogenic' changes is associated with the physiological aging processes in the genioglossus muscle. In addition, as we detected a lower number of motor unit potential trains per recording in older subjects, this finding may indicate fewer motor neurons and thus a lower level of motor unit recruitment in older adults. Importantly, these data were collected during wakefulness. In young adults approximately 50% of inspiratory modulated genioglossus motor units become inactive at sleep onset [67] . While there is no data on older adults, if the proportional fall were the same as in young adults, we speculate that at sleep onset fewer motoneurons would be active in older adults leading to repetitive airway collapse. Interestingly, the more complex MUPs, were detected in younger patients indicating ongoing reinnervation. The smoothed less complex MUPs in the older adults may indicate a reduced level of ongoing, as compared to completed, reinnervation in the older adults.

In young adults approximately 50% of inspiratory modulated genioglossus motor units become inactive at sleep onset.


The mechanistic link between physical exercise and improved outcome following colorectal surgery is yet to be fully elucidated. The changes occurring in the cardiorespiratory system in response to exercise have been studied in detail in a variety of training regimes [20] [21] [22] . The effect of exercise on mesenteric perfusion has been the subject of investigative research for over 60 years. However, the definitive impact of exercise, whether it be whole body involving large muscle groups or isometric involving specific muscles, on mesenteric blood flow continues to be a source of debate. Understanding the mechanisms by which preoperative exercise may improve outcome following colorectal surgery may in part lie in the response of the mesenteric vasculature. Bowel resection inevitably involves sacrificing a mesenteric vessel. If exercise improves mesenteric blood flow, it is conceivable that patients who exercise regularly may be less susceptible to complications following colorectal surgery such as delayed return of gut function, or even anastomotic breakdown.

The changes occurring in the cardiorespiratory system in response to exercise have been studied in detail in a variety of training regimes.


At the regional level, composite indicators mainly evaluate features such as regional competitiveness, innovative performance, knowledge-based economy or economic maturity. In most cases, a composite indicator is formed out of several indicators as the weighted sum of their values which are normalized to be mutually comparable (Horká, 2013a) . In other words, a composite indicator can be defi ned as an aggregated index consisting of individual indicators and their signifi cance weights that express their relative signifi cance. However, the construction of a composite indicator is not simple; it is necessary to solve a number of methodical problems and to interpret the results correctly. The construction consists of several stages -the selection of suitable indicators, fi nding the missing data, the selection of the manner of aggregation, and the weight assignment to partial indicators (Nardo et al., 2005) .

In most cases, a composite indicator is formed out of several indicators as the weighted sum of their values which are normalized to be mutually comparable.

The construction consists of several stages -the selection of suitable indicators, fi nding the missing data, the selection of the manner of aggregation, and the weight assignment to partial indicators.


The Institute for Management Development (IMD) creates the competitiveness ranking titled The World Competitiveness Scoreboard every year. The scoreboard is published in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. The composite index measures the ability of countries to create and maintain the environment in which companies compete. In 2013, ranking of 60 countries was determined using 333 indicators. Some of these indicators came from statistical sources (two thirds of the data) and the others from their own surveys (a third of the data) and they were divided into four groups: economic performance, government effi ciency, business effi ciency, and infrastructure (IMD, 2013) .

Some of these indicators came from statistical sources (two thirds of the data) and the others from their own surveys (a third of the data) and they were divided into four groups: economic performance, government effi ciency, business effi ciency, and infrastructure.


The European Union measures competitiveness of regions using the Regional Competitiveness Index, which is based on the methodology developed by the World Economic Forum. Regions at the NUTS 2 level are evaluated. The indicators are followed within 11 pillars that describe both inputs and outputs of territorial competitiveness. The 11 pillars are grouped in three subindices, which are basic (fi ve pillars), effi ciency (three pillars), and innovative (three pillars) factors of competitiveness. The data were normalized using the standardization method. The weights of the subindices were set in a way diff erent from the WEF as most EU countries are in the group of the most developed countries. However, regions were also divided into fi ve groups based on their GDP and diff erent subindex weights were set for diff erent groups (Annoni, Dijkstra, 2013) .

However, regions were also divided into fi ve groups based on their GDP and diff erent subindex weights were set for diff erent groups.


Architectural Styles have received significant attention from both academia and industry. Preliminary work in the field designed software structures specialized for specific domains, such as avionics or missile control and command [5] . This initial work on the definitions of Architectural Styles is one of the cornerstones of SA.

Preliminary work in the field designed software structures specialized for specific domains, such as avionics or missile control and command.


Among the thermosetting polymers, epoxy resins are the most widely used for high performance applications such as, matrices for fibre reinforced composites, coatings, structural adhesives and other engineering applications [1] . Many studies have been made to improve their toughness and crack resistance. In recent years, high performance thermoplastics have been extensively used to toughen thermosetting resins because of their high modulus and glass transition temperatures [2] [3] [4] . Morphology of the resulting polymer blends depends on the selection of the thermoplastic polymer, the epoxy precursors, hardener and on the curing cycle parameters [5] [6] [7] . The phase separation upon crosslinking is due to the increase in molecular weight of epoxy resin. This reaction induced phase separation (RIPS) leads to different morphologies. Dispersed, cocontinuous or phaseinverted structures can be obtained. Thermosets have historically been the principal matrix material for fibre reinforced composites for many applications [8] [9] [10] . A great deal of research interest has been made on the study of the wetting phenomena of polymeric systems [11] [12] [13] . An appropriate experimental technique for quantifying the surface properties of solids is the measurement of contact angles of liquids on solid surfaces. The term wettability is used to describe the extent to which a liquid spreads on a solid surface. The interfacial properties between a liquid and a polymer component are characterized by the surface energies of each phase and the contact angle between them. The contact angle method is relatively simple, very useful and highly sensitive to investigate the interfacial phenomena. The contact angle is an important parameter in surface science. It is the angle between the surface of the wetted solid and a line tangent to the curved surface of the drop at the point of three-phase contact. In this paper, systematical experimental studies on the morphological and wetting behaviour of epoxy resin (DGEBA) modified with SAN (Styrene Acrylonitrile) and then reinforced with glass fibres were made. The phase separation in blends and arrangement of fibres in composites were investigated. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of the specimens was well established. The study is aimed to reduce the hydrophilic nature of epoxy resin by thermoplastic modification. The study is also directed to the effect of thermoplastic/fibre content on the surface properties of blends and composites.

Among the thermosetting polymers, epoxy resins are the most widely used for high performance applications such as, matrices for fibre reinforced composites, coatings, structural adhesives and other engineering applications.

In recent years, high performance thermoplastics have been extensively used to toughen thermosetting resins because of their high modulus and glass transition temperatures.

Morphology of the resulting polymer blends depends on the selection of the thermoplastic polymer, the epoxy precursors, hardener and on the curing cycle parameters.

Thermosets have historically been the principal matrix material for fibre reinforced composites for many applications.

A great deal of research interest has been made on the study of the wetting phenomena of polymeric systems.


The results confirm those of previous studies that reported a higher level of agreement in the more observable dimensions [16] . Moreover, agreement on Physical well-being presented a decrement over time, and especially in girls and in the older age group. These results are consistent with one of the few longitudinal studies conducted in a population with diabetes type I in which agreement between adolescents and their parents also diminished over time in observable dimensions [19] . Other studies analyzing factors with potential influence on the level and direction of agreement showed a slightly higher level of parent-child agreement in children with cerebral palsy, compared with the results from the present study [6] . A general population study of parent-child agreement showed similar results to the present study, compared with our baseline results [18] .

The results confirm those of previous studies that reported a higher level of agreement in the more observable dimensions.

These results are consistent with one of the few longitudinal studies conducted in a population with diabetes type I in which agreement between adolescents and their parents also diminished over time in observable dimensions.

Other studies analyzing factors with potential influence on the level and direction of agreement showed a slightly higher level of parent-child agreement in children with cerebral palsy, compared with the results from the present study.

A general population study of parent-child agreement showed similar results to the present study, compared with our baseline results.


The temporal patterns of G. niger in the shallow areas also coincide with observations made in the Venice lagoon and the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, the increase in density and standing stock in autumn being related to the recruitment season and the second peak (spring) to the breeding period (higher GSI values) (Arruda et al., 1993; Malavasi et al., 2005; Franco et al., 2006) . Unlike S. pavo and G. cobitis, G. niger seems to use the shallow areas of the lagoon for reproductive purposes. This situation was probably due to the habitat requirements for reproduction of this species: males build nest under stones and defend and take care of the eggs deposited by the females (Barcala, 1999) . The presence of a dense monospecific meadow of the invasive macroalga Caulerpa prolifera, which covers the whole central area of the lagoon, could force G. niger breeding individuals to migrate toward littoral shallow areas in search of suitable bottoms for reproduction.

The temporal patterns of G. niger in the shallow areas also coincide with observations made in the Venice lagoon and the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, the increase in density and standing stock in autumn being related to the recruitment season and the second peak (spring) to the breeding period (higher GSI values).

This situation was probably due to the habitat requirements for reproduction of this species: males build nest under stones and defend and take care of the eggs deposited by the females.


D-Gun thermal spraying technique finds a variety of applications like in the aircraft industries of the United States and Japan [13] . A D-Gun consists of a long barrel, a powder feeder, and a chamber in which the combustion is initiated and controlled. Gas flows are regulated and controlled with the help of control panels provided in D-Gun [14] . It includes a manipulator to hold and control the movements of the work piece. A measured mixture of oxygen and acetylene gases is fed into the barrel along with the coating powder to be deposited. The gas mixture is ignited with a spark and the combustion produces detonation waves. The detonation waves thus produced heats and accelerated the coating powder to be deposited. Some advantages of D-Gun spray coating process is increase in wear resistance by several times, dense microstructure, lower porosity, smooth surface finish, higher microhardness, lower oxidation of in-flight particles, improved wear and erosion wear resistance, and so forth.

D-Gun thermal spraying technique finds a variety of applications like in the aircraft industries of the United States and Japan.

Gas flows are regulated and controlled with the help of control panels provided in D-Gun.