Recently, it has been noted that the equations of General Relativity simplify considerably in the limit in which the number of spacetime dimensions, D, is taken to be large, which provides an efficient tool to approximate finite D results, as a perturbative calculation in 1/D [16] . The main ingredient of the construction is the fact that when the number of spacetime dimensions is large, the gravitational potential becomes very steep near the horizon which yields to a natural separation of the dynamics that localise near the horizon and the ones that probe regions far away from it. In particular, this implies that the quasi-normal mode (QNM) spectrum splits into near-horizon decoupled modes, and coupled modes that are delocalised [17] [18] [19] . As explained in these references, while the coupled modes are quite generic, i.e. shared by many black holes, the decoupled modes are sensitive to the particularities of different solutions.

Recently, it has been noted that the equations of General Relativity simplify considerably in the limit in which the number of spacetime dimensions, D, is taken to be large, which provides an efficient tool to approximate finite D results, as a perturbative calculation in 1/D.

In particular, this implies that the quasi-normal mode (QNM) spectrum splits into near-horizon decoupled modes, and coupled modes that are delocalised.


Climate change belongs to the most serious and urgent problems of our times. As there is increasing consensus that this change is at least partly caused by anthropogenic influences, many governments have developed climate mitigation policies, such as carbon pollution reduction schemes, over the past years. However, the general expectation is that in spite of these new policies, which may mitigate climate change to some degree, the climate will continue to change. Therefore, next to climate change mitigation, adaptation to climate change has gained a place on the governmental agenda. Climate change adaptation may be defined as ' '[…] all spontaneous responses and planned action taken to cope with the impacts of, or reduce vulnerability to, a changing climate. Such adaptation is needed to tackle current problems or anticipate possible future changes, with the aim of reducing risk and damage cost effectively, and perhaps even exploiting potential benefits'' (Swart et al. 2009) . Concrete examples of adaptation measures are the reinforcement of dikes, the creation of space for rivers, and the selection and development of new crop varieties by the agricultural sector.

Such adaptation is needed to tackle current problems or anticipate possible future changes, with the aim of reducing risk and damage cost effectively, and perhaps even exploiting potential benefits''.


In mean-field modeling of short-fiber composite materials, a composite unit cell is subjected to mean stress or strain and the effective stiffness or compliance tensors are found by averaging strains and stresses throughout the composite [1] . This averaging is done over all unit cell orientations using a fiber orientation distribution function. The unit cell for this analysis is a short fiber composite with all fibers aligned in the same direction. Thus, the fundamental problem for analysis of short-fiber composites is to determine mechanical properties of an aligned, short-fiber composite.

In mean-field modeling of short-fiber composite materials, a composite unit cell is subjected to mean stress or strain and the effective stiffness or compliance tensors are found by averaging strains and stresses throughout the composite.


One of the hypothesis to explain the pear bud necrosis problem is that the reserve mobilization and the carbohydrate fluxes to the buds are blocked when mild temperatures occurred during winter. The objective of this study was to compare the carbohydrate concentrations, the cell wall acid invertase and sucrose-phosphate synthase activities in wood of branches and floral buds of Japanese pear trees (Pyrus pyrifolia) cv. Housui, under different chilling conditions during the dormancy period. The experimental material consisted of branches of Japanese pear trees cultivar Housui, collected from 16-year-old plants at the experimental orchard. The chilling requirement of 'Housui' is around 720 chilling hours (≤ 7.2ºC) and has shown high rates of floral bud abortion (close to 100% in most years) in southern Brazil (Faoro, 2001) .

The chilling requirement of 'Housui' is around 720 chilling hours (≤ 7.2ºC) and has shown high rates of floral bud abortion (close to 100% in most years) in southern Brazil.


Interactions (p ≤ 0.05) between factors occurred to the total soluble sugars (TSS), reducing sugars (RS) and starch (mg g -1 DW) contents and to cell wall acid invertase (CWAI) and sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) activities (nmol min -1 g -1 FW) ( Table 1) . Concentrations of TSS, RS and starch were higher in the buds concerning the continuous (T2) and alternate artificial chilling (T3) compared to natural conditions (T1) and lack of chilling (T4) treatments. The reducing sugars were higher in both tissues of T2 treatment than in other treatments. The total soluble sugars concentrations were higher in wood tissues of T2 treatment and in bud tissues of T2 and T3 treatments. The accumulation of soluble sugars in the branches submitted to the cold occurred possibly due to the effect of low temperatures during the dormancy period, leading to a great accumulation of sugars in the buds exposed to chilling during the dormancy release phase (Figure 2) . The elevated RS (glucose and fructose) content in the tissues which receive more artificial chilling than others during dormancy enabled the 'resynthesis' of starch next to the floral buds tissues and provided more reserves to support the blossom and leafing processes. The starch mobilization from the reserve tissues (the stems and/or roots) to the growth areas (the meristems) of the woody plants, aims to increase the amount of soluble sugars potentially useful for cellular metabolism (Beck and Ziegler, 1989) . Carbohydrates dynamics in tissues of temperate-zone deciduous fruit trees reflects the inter-conversion between starch and soluble sugars, since that starch hydrolyzed during dormancy period is temporally resynthesized before being used during dormancy release (Ameglio et al., 2004) .

The starch mobilization from the reserve tissues (the stems and/or roots) to the growth areas (the meristems) of the woody plants, aims to increase the amount of soluble sugars potentially useful for cellular metabolism.

Carbohydrates dynamics in tissues of temperate-zone deciduous fruit trees reflects the inter-conversion between starch and soluble sugars, since that starch hydrolyzed during dormancy period is temporally resynthesized before being used during dormancy release.


The psychologically informed literature -harnessed because of its functional value in the design and implementation of meaningful education practice -on which the paper rests, privileges a cognitive view of learning. While it is recognised that there is a significant social dimension to learning, and that the classroom context for formal learning is socially mediated; the effects of collaboration and interaction cannot be appreciated without first recognising the role and robustness of individual understanding (Bransford & Schwartz, 1999; Salomon & Perkins, 1998; Schneider & Stern, 2010) . The article is organised as follows. First, the case is made for Transformation, at least in part, to be a psychological construct. Second, there is an outline of the essentially cognitive nature of Learning. There follows an account of the role of Cognition and Metacognition in Learning, pointing to their necessity in teacher-education.

While it is recognised that there is a significant social dimension to learning, and that the classroom context for formal learning is socially mediated; the effects of collaboration and interaction cannot be appreciated without first recognising the role and robustness of individual understanding.

The article is organised as follows.


In all of the investments above, the access of DG is taken into consideration, implying its positive impact on PSC improvement. However, the development of the electricity market puts forward higher requirements for the accuracy and efficiency of the PSC evaluation. The PSC assessment provides real-time capacity and available capacity basis for the electricity market transactions of different time scales, which is an important guarantee for reliable power transaction. In the market environment, when the factors of accessed DG change, such as capacity, output and location, the accurate and rapid re-evaluation of PSC is required necessarily. In order to describe the change of the dependent variable caused by the fluctuation of the independent variable, the generalized sensitivity, one of the most significant means, has been widely used by scholars in multiple fields [18, 19] . Drawing on this idea, the PSC evaluation system in ADS is established in this paper.

In order to describe the change of the dependent variable caused by the fluctuation of the independent variable, the generalized sensitivity, one of the most significant means, has been widely used by scholars in multiple fields.


Therefore, it requires response models to predict the seismic demand of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges under multiple hazard levels, and damage models to predict the corresponding damage state. Finally PBEE framework links the column demands with damage state to estimate the economic loss. Accordingly, several researchers have studied the trends between the demand parameters (e.g. drift ratio or strain at critical sections) and damage parameters (e.g. bar buckling) experimentally [1] [2] [3] .

Accordingly, several researchers have studied the trends between the demand parameters (e.g. drift ratio or strain at critical sections) and damage parameters (e.g. bar buckling) experimentally.


In this paper, we have proposed a reconfigurable printed patch antenna capable of communication over eight different 4G LTE bands. The reconfigurability in this patch antenna is achieved using three RF PIN diodes as switches. PIN diodes are the devices having high switching capabilities and can be made to act as a short circuit, an open circuit or exhibiting any desired reflection coefficient in between [37] . Control of active components, i.e., PIN diodes, is the main and critical part of this reconfigurable antenna. These switches are controlled by three separate DC lines. But as DC lines are also conducting elements, they interrupt the path of current, so to cut them from radiating part of the antenna, the inductors are added in DC lines. The capacitors are inserted between the DC sources and the ground plane to avoid the flow of DC current to the ground.

PIN diodes are the devices having high switching capabilities and can be made to act as a short circuit, an open circuit or exhibiting any desired reflection coefficient in between.


With the enhancement in the world of wireless communications, the need for multipurpose devices has increased. This need can be fulfilled with reconfigurable antennas [1] . Reconfigurability can be achieved in different categories like frequency, polarization and radiation pattern reconfigurations [2, 3] . This change is obtained by redistributing the antenna currents, thus, altering the electromagnetic fields of the antenna's effective aperture. Regarding the adjustable parameters of the antennas, reconfigurable antennas can be divided into many sub-categories which include frequency reconfigurable antenna, pattern reconfigurable antenna, polarization reconfigurable antenna, frequency-polarization hybrid reconfigurable antenna and frequency-pattern hybrid reconfigurable antenna among which frequency reconfigurable antennas are found more in the literature [4] [5] [6] .

This need can be fulfilled with reconfigurable antennas.

Reconfigurability can be achieved in different categories like frequency, polarization and radiation pattern reconfigurations.

Regarding the adjustable parameters of the antennas, reconfigurable antennas can be divided into many sub-categories which include frequency reconfigurable antenna, pattern reconfigurable antenna, polarization reconfigurable antenna, frequency-polarization hybrid reconfigurable antenna and frequency-pattern hybrid reconfigurable antenna among which frequency reconfigurable antennas are found more in the literature.


One of the largest uncertainties in understanding the current climate and possible future changes is the radiative forcing of ice clouds [1] . The main difficulty in quantifying the radiative characteristics of ice clouds is that many factors (or the degrees of freedom, DOF) affect the radiative forcing, such as ice water content (IWC), ice particle size distribution (PSD), individual particle shape, temperature and cloud height [2] . Almost all applications such as climate models parameterize some of these factors to decrease DOF in order to simplify calculations [3] . For example, in radiative transfer models (RTMs), the PSD is often assumed as a gamma distribution with respect to particle maximum dimension ( ) with a certain shape parameter and a scale parameter.

One of the largest uncertainties in understanding the current climate and possible future changes is the radiative forcing of ice clouds.

The main difficulty in quantifying the radiative characteristics of ice clouds is that many factors (or the degrees of freedom, DOF) affect the radiative forcing, such as ice water content (IWC), ice particle size distribution (PSD), individual particle shape, temperature and cloud height.

Almost all applications such as climate models parameterize some of these factors to decrease DOF in order to simplify calculations.


Currently, ice clouds are observed using multiple tools including in situ instruments and remote sensors such as ground-based radars, lidars, and radiometers, and airborne, balloon-borne, and satellite-based instruments. In situ instruments such as airborne particle samplers provide the most precise measurement but suffer from very limited time and spatial coverage. Radars, lidars, and radiometers are used to retrieve ice cloud properties from their received radiances, but all the aforementioned factors that affect radiative forcing must be considered. Most retrieval methods utilize RTMs as their cores so it is desirable to develop the best parameterizations of all factors that match between the RTM simulated and instrument observed radiances throughout several spectral bands [3] [4] . The ideal condition to retrieve a particular quantity (e.g., IWC) is when the radiance is only sensitive to the target quantity while not sensitive to any other quantity (such as temperature, or particle shape, etc). Ground-based instruments have more spatial and time coverage than in situ measurement and are more economic and easily handled than satellites. However, the retrievals of high altitude ice clouds from ground-based instruments are interfered with significantly by aerosols and absorbing gases in the lower troposphere. Current radiometers on satellites receive radiance covering visible, near and far (thermal) infrared, and millimeter bands [5] . When ice cloud is present, visible and infrared radiances observed by satellite sensors are usually sensitive to ice particle shape, while millimeter and submillimeter radiances measured by spaceborne instruments and radars are sensitive to particle size distributions. Specially, two submillimeter bands, 642GHz (including horizontal and vertical polarization states, H&V) and 874GHz, provided by the Compact Scanning Submillimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (CoSSIR, flying on an airplane at about 20km height), have been successfully used to retrieve IWC [4] . Additionally, infrared bands on satellites can only "see" very high ice clouds (i.e., over 7-8km), while visible and millimeter band signals are contaminated by radiation from lower liquid clouds, water vapor, and the surface.

Most retrieval methods utilize RTMs as their cores so it is desirable to develop the best parameterizations of all factors that match between the RTM simulated and instrument observed radiances throughout several spectral bands.

Current radiometers on satellites receive radiance covering visible, near and far (thermal) infrared, and millimeter bands.

Specially, two submillimeter bands, 642GHz (including horizontal and vertical polarization states, H&V) and 874GHz, provided by the Compact Scanning Submillimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (CoSSIR, flying on an airplane at about 20km height), have been successfully used to retrieve IWC.


Flows through emergent elements, usually vertical cylinder arrays, have been mainly studied under uniform flow conditions [14, 15, 19] . Flow through an emergent cylinder array is driven by a volume drag force, which generates turbulence throughout the water column. This results in constant mean velocity and turbulence quantities throughout the depth. The physical processes are thus very different from those resulting from a boundary layer on a bed roughness, for which turbulence production is limited to the near-bed region [21] . Flows through emergent cylinder arrays are also associated with free surface oscillations, namely transverse waves whose amplitude can reach 35 % of the water depth [30] .

Flows through emergent elements, usually vertical cylinder arrays, have been mainly studied under uniform flow conditions.

The physical processes are thus very different from those resulting from a boundary layer on a bed roughness, for which turbulence production is limited to the near-bed region.

Flows through emergent cylinder arrays are also associated with free surface oscillations, namely transverse waves whose amplitude can reach 35 % of the water depth.


In systems with a high degree of symmetry such LSCs tend to exhibit low frequency dynamics, such as e.g. rotations, cessations or torsional oscillations (Funfschilling et al., 2008) . In MC low-frequency oscillations of the heat transfer between air inlet and outlet have been observed and found to be the result of the dynamics of coherent LSCs (Westhoff et al., 2008) . In the paper presented here MC is studied for Ar = 3.3 by means of PIV and local temperature measurements. In order to identify the characteristic frequencies of the LSC dynamics the two-dimensional three-component (2D3C) PIV results are analysed using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD).

In systems with a high degree of symmetry such LSCs tend to exhibit low frequency dynamics, such as e.g. rotations, cessations or torsional oscillations.

In MC low-frequency oscillations of the heat transfer between air inlet and outlet have been observed and found to be the result of the dynamics of coherent LSCs.


Because an employee-governed firm maximises the wages and minimises the probability of bankruptcy, and it is not driven by shareholders' aspirations of value maximisation, we hypothesise that the capital structure choice of an employee-governed firm is very conservative. An employee-governed firm is expected to operate with lower leverage compared to the firm that is governed by shareholders. Lower leverage results from lower demand for debt because interest payments reduce cash flow, and thus wages, and because leverage increases bankruptcy risk. Besides, employee-governed firms are faced with a lower supply of debt due to credit rationing and the firm's limited borrowing capacity. It is expected that it would opt for a debt of shorter maturity and would be faced with a higher cost of debt. Shorter debt maturity is expected because employeegoverned firms mitigate the problem of adverse selection and the resulting credit rationing by signalling its quality to uninformed lenders by borrowing short term instead of long term (Flannery 1986; Diamond 1991) . Higher cost of debt in employee-governed firms is expected because financial markets disfavour democratic firms (Gintis 1989) .

Shorter debt maturity is expected because employeegoverned firms mitigate the problem of adverse selection and the resulting credit rationing by signalling its quality to uninformed lenders by borrowing short term instead of long term.

Higher cost of debt in employee-governed firms is expected because financial markets disfavour democratic firms.


ZnO is a very promising material, due to its low toxicity, low cost and outstanding properties. It has wurtzite structure, it is an n-type direct wide band gap semiconductor (E g = 3.4 eV) with large excitation binding energy of 60 meV at room temperature, high Seebeck coefficient [4] . Both its optical and electronic characteristics can be controlled by the presence of dopants, which are selected depending on the required properties and applications. The typical dopants that have been used to improve the n-type ZnO performance are the group III elements of the periodic table (B, Al, In, Ga). However, for most optoelectronic devices, it is also necessary to have ZnO with p-type conductivity. Growth of p-type ZnO is highly challenging. In principle, p-type conductivity can be realized in ZnO by doping either with group IA and IB elements [Li, Na, K, Ag, Cu] to replace Zn or by doping with group V elements [N, P, As, Sb] in the place of oxygen [5] [6] [7] [8] .

It has wurtzite structure, it is an n-type direct wide band gap semiconductor (E g = 3.4 eV) with large excitation binding energy of 60 meV at room temperature, high Seebeck coefficient.

In principle, p-type conductivity can be realized in ZnO by doping either with group IA and IB elements [Li, Na, K, Ag, Cu] to replace Zn or by doping with group V elements [N, P, As, Sb] in the place of oxygen.


In addition to taking the cognitive assessment, all student examinees reported how they felt while taking the test by completing the state anxiety subtest of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) (Spielberger and Edwards 1973) . This inventory was developed for purposes of research on anxiety in children and was used with permission from the developer. The scale measures state anxiety with twenty questions that ask respondents to report how they felt at a particular moment in time (e.g. calm) on a three-point rating scale (e.g., from "very calm" to "not calm"). The STAIC test manual reports Cronbach's alpha reliability ranging from .82 for males to .87 for females, which is above the accepted standard for basic research in the social sciences (Nunnally 1978) . The observed Cronbach's alpha reliabilities for the STAIC in the current study were .93 for the students in the control group, and .87 for the students who received the reduced load mathematics assessment. Validity evidence presented in the test manual supports the use of the inventory for research purposes with children. The STAIC has been widely accepted and is currently associated with over 200 references in the literature (Spielberger and Edwards 1973) .

In addition to taking the cognitive assessment, all student examinees reported how they felt while taking the test by completing the state anxiety subtest of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC).

The STAIC test manual reports Cronbach's alpha reliability ranging from .82 for males to .87 for females, which is above the accepted standard for basic research in the social sciences.

The STAIC has been widely accepted and is currently associated with over 200 references in the literature.


Notice also that the issues with unitarity we are discussing are peculiar only to the gravitational interaction and absent, even in the regularization removal limit, for the electromagnetic background with the definition of particles given by the instantaneous Hamiltonian diagonalization [10] . As we shall see, this is a consequence of the fact that the strength of the gravitational interaction on a tree level grows linearly with the energy of a particle (the equivalence principle), while, in the electromagnetic case, it does not depend on the energy. Mathematically, the metric field enters the principal symbol of the Klein-Gordon operator, in contrast to the electromagnetic field, that results in a more intense particle creation by the gravitational field in the ultraviolet spectral range.

Notice also that the issues with unitarity we are discussing are peculiar only to the gravitational interaction and absent, even in the regularization removal limit, for the electromagnetic background with the definition of particles given by the instantaneous Hamiltonian diagonalization.


Dual controlled ventilation (DCV) is nowadays the most improved lung ventilation modality providing for controlled breathings to patients treated with anaesthesia (surgical) or in Intensive Care Units or affected by the respiratory insufficient syndrome. Unlike spontaneous breathings, i.e. breathings governed by the patient himself, controlled breathings are those for which the control of lung ventilation is completely achieved by an external device, the ventilator. The rationale of DCV can be easily understood by following the most relevant stages relative to the historical evolution of mechanical ventilation [1] [2] [3] .

The rationale of DCV can be easily understood by following the most relevant stages relative to the historical evolution of mechanical ventilation.


The meta-analysis is a useful tool for comparison and synthesis of various studies and research. In the social sciences, and especially in behavioral studies, the meta-analysis is useful because it allows for the comparison of similar results, given the semi-controlled nature of the experiments that are conducted in these fields [5] . The meta-analysis consists of a series of techniques that allow researchers to generate more information through a synthesis, and interpretation keys, starting from primary sources that make up the body of knowledge available.

In the social sciences, and especially in behavioral studies, the meta-analysis is useful because it allows for the comparison of similar results, given the semi-controlled nature of the experiments that are conducted in these fields.


Animation is a natural fit for secondary displays. Because secondary displays on the desktop are typically small, this often translates into some use of animation to cycle through items of interest via scrolling or fading techniques. However, a natural confound of using animation as a secondary display aid is that constant change in a visual field is a strong perceptive attention draw for humans (Ware et al., 1992) . Consequently, animation naturally appears to distract people from their primary focus. People may be willing to accept a small amount of movement in the visual field as long as it serves some useful purpose (such as raising awareness or assisting in monitoring) and does not unduly distract them from their primary work focus. While Maglio and Campbell conducted studies on animated textual displays, they employed a 5-pixel jump when scrolling, creating a jerky effect that may have resulted in unnecessary distraction (Maglio and Campbell, 2000) . However, our pilot-testing showed that a smoother ticker updating a pixel at a time may introduce less distraction and possibly affect the other design objectives (reaction and comprehension) as well.

However, a natural confound of using animation as a secondary display aid is that constant change in a visual field is a strong perceptive attention draw for humans.

While Maglio and Campbell conducted studies on animated textual displays, they employed a 5-pixel jump when scrolling, creating a jerky effect that may have resulted in unnecessary distraction.


A variety of information communication devices have been developed to help people maintain a sense of casual awareness of interesting information. These notification systems attempt to deliver current, important information through a variety of platforms and modes in an efficient and effective manner. The benefits of notification systems are numerous, including rapid availability of important information, access to nearly instantaneous communication, and heightened awareness of the availability of personal contacts. Visually implemented notification systems are characterized as presenting information with some type of display, reflecting the current state of a corresponding information resource. While such a system display may be usually thought of as a computer monitor, it could also be a large screen or wearable display, or even a real world object, such as Mark Weiser's dangling string representation of network traffic (Weiser and Brown, 1996) .

While such a system display may be usually thought of as a computer monitor, it could also be a large screen or wearable display, or even a real world object, such as Mark Weiser's dangling string representation of network traffic.


The device physics of the LTFET was investigated. It was found that a large part of the subthreshold region is dominated by the parasitic, lateral, 2D BTBT from the source to R offset with a lower G tun . The more efficient 1D BTBT from the source to R nonoffset , with a higher G tun takes place at a higher bias in the subthreshold region. In other words, the condition, that is, V th_Rnonoffset > V th_Roffset , exists in the LTFET. With R nonoffset not conducting the device does not utilize its channel fully during the subthreshold region. A new type of device based on the LTFET was introduced in this work. The device uses a dual gate structure with W rk_gate1 < W rk_gate2 . This increases the potential in R nonoffset and lowers V th_Rnonoffset . The DG-LTFET reverses the threshold condition of the LTFET, that is, it lowers V th_Rnonoffset and makes it <V th_Roffset . R nonoffset with higher G tun turns on earlier than R offset in the subthreshold region in the DG-LTFET and the device exhibits an SS of less than 10 mV/dec. It was found that W rk_gate1 in the DG-LTFET needs to be sufficiently less than W rk_gate2 to achieve the sub 10 mv/dec SS. It was found that I ds and SS are independent of H g1/2 . The DG-LTFET was further evaluated for different device dimensions including T j and H s while maintaining the electric field vector distribution equivalent. I ds decreases with an increase in T j and scales with H s . The N d value of 10 18 cm −3 was found to appreciably reduce ambipolar I ds . With the results presented in this work, the DG-LTFET could be considered as a viable potential replacement to conventional MOSFET and 3D integrations [16] .

With the results presented in this work, the DG-LTFET could be considered as a viable potential replacement to conventional MOSFET and 3D integrations.


The device physics of the LTFET was investigated. It was found that a large part of the subthreshold region is dominated by the parasitic, lateral, 2D BTBT from the source to Roffset with a lower Gtun. The more efficient 1D BTBT from the source to Rnonoffset, with a higher Gtun takes place at a higher bias in the subthreshold region. In other words, the condition, that is, Vth_Rnonoffset > Vth_Roffset, exists in the LTFET. With Rnonoffset not conducting the device does not utilize its channel fully during the subthreshold region. A new type of device based on the LTFET was introduced in this work. The device uses a dual gate structure with Wrk_gate1 < Wrk_gate2. This increases the potential in Rnonoffset and lowers Vth_Rnonoffset. The DG-LTFET reverses the threshold condition of the LTFET, that is, it lowers Vth_Rnonoffset and makes it <Vth_Roffset. Rnonoffset with higher Gtun turns on earlier than Roffset in the subthreshold region in the DG-LTFET and the device exhibits an SS of less than 10 mV/dec. It was found that Wrk_gate1 in the DG-LTFET needs to be sufficiently less than Wrk_gate2 to achieve the sub 10 mv/dec SS. It was found that Ids and SS are independent of Hg1/2. The DG-LTFET was further evaluated for different device dimensions including Tj and Hs while maintaining the electric field vector distribution equivalent. Ids decreases with an increase in Tj and scales with Hs. The Nd value of 10 18 cm −3 was found to appreciably reduce ambipolar Ids. With the results presented in this work, the DG-LTFET could be considered as a viable potential replacement to conventional MOSFET and 3D integrations [16] .


Fire would have led to both canopy and understory death, as well as the removal of the litter and duff layer. Under these conditions, aspen would have sprouted extensively and, if there were nearby surviving trees, possibly regenerated by seed. White birch could also have sprouted from its base and regenerated by seeds cast by surviving trees (Fowells 1965) . The regeneration of white spruce would be dependent on the germination of seeds cast by trees that survived the fire or were at the margin of burns. Since fire came in short, successive 15-to 20-year intervals, aspen would still have been able to regenerate extensively by sprouting. The regeneration of white birch would have depended on sprouts from the base of the tree, as it does not produce large quantities of seed until it is between 40 and 70 years old (Fowells 1965) . White spruce, on the other hand, would not have been reproductive, since it does not produce seed until it is between 45 and 60 years old (Rowe 1955; Moss 1955) . Consequently, short-interval fires would seem to produce good seedbeds but fewer seed sources for most tree species. Thus, species that sprout vigorously from widespread underground stems, such as aspen, would be favoured. The reduction in white birch is a puzzle.

White birch could also have sprouted from its base and regenerated by seeds cast by surviving trees.

The regeneration of white birch would have depended on sprouts from the base of the tree, as it does not produce large quantities of seed until it is between 40 and 70 years old.

White spruce, on the other hand, would not have been reproductive, since it does not produce seed until it is between 45 and 60 years old.


A description of the contents of the paper is as follows. The natural algebraic setting for our work is that of Hilbert A-modules, where A is a finite von Neumann algebra. In Section 1 we define the Betti numbers and Novikov-Shubin invariants of a (left-Fredholm) morphism of Hilbert A-modules, and derive some useful inequalities on the Novikov-Shubin invariants. In Section 2 we define the Betti numbers and Novikov-Shubin invariants of a Fredholm Hilbert A-chain complex. If one has a short exact sequence of Fredholm Hilbert A-chain complexes then there is an induced long weakly exact homology sequence, with which one can relate the Betti numbers of the chain complexes (Cheeger-Gromov [9] ). We show that in Theorem 2.3 that the Novikov-Shubin invariants of the chain complexes are related by certain inequalities.

If one has a short exact sequence of Fredholm Hilbert A-chain complexes then there is an induced long weakly exact homology sequence, with which one can relate the Betti numbers of the chain complexes (Cheeger-Gromov).


Growth and development necessitates the production of electricity. As the need for electricity rises with development, questions regarding potential side effects have also begun to surface. Consequently, over the past three decades, identifying and quantifying the externalities associated with electricity generation and the impact of a growing electricity sector have come to the fore. Externalities arise when the social and marginal costs of electricity generation differ, which means that the market price does not fully reflect the resource value. Therefore, individual welfare does not reflect the entire cost of the good or service (Baumol and Oats, 1988; Pearce and Turner, 1990) . The focus of this study is on health externalities, specifically the cost of health externalities.

Therefore, individual welfare does not reflect the entire cost of the good or service.


Subsequently, the authors have developed specific and appropriate copper-based nanocoatings for application in the field of cultural heritage [14] . In particular, Cu-NPs have been mixed with Estel1100, a silicon based product commonly used as consolidant/water-repellent for stone substrates, in order to obtain a combined system with long-lasting biological activity due to the continuous and controlled release of copper ions that act as biocides. Then, in collaboration with the Opificio delle Pietre Dure Institute (Florence, Italy), the Cu-NPs have been used for in situ bioactivity tests. To this purpose aliquots of CuNPs mixed to four types of commercially available consolidant/water-repellent products have been applied to different stone and plaster surfaces located in the archaeological area of Fiesole, and their behaviour has been evaluated for more than two years, showing appreciable performances [8] .

Subsequently, the authors have developed specific and appropriate copper-based nanocoatings for application in the field of cultural heritage.

To this purpose aliquots of CuNPs mixed to four types of commercially available consolidant/water-repellent products have been applied to different stone and plaster surfaces located in the archaeological area of Fiesole, and their behaviour has been evaluated for more than two years, showing appreciable performances.


In this study, the results on the application of Cu-NPs and ZnO-NPs-based consolidants/water-repellents on stone substrates are presented. The study aims to demonstrate that, in the case of ZnO-based composites, higher NPs loadings can be achieved without affecting the colour of the stone substrates: this is an important issue since the amount of bioactive species which is released by the composite (which is related, in turn, to the durability of the biocide activity) has been shown to depend on the initial concentration [14, 32] . Preliminary laboratory tests were performed consisting in testing of the nanocoatings on different stone samples; evaluation of chromatic variations and morphological behaviour were carried out with colorimetry and SEM-EDS, respectively.

The study aims to demonstrate that, in the case of ZnO-based composites, higher NPs loadings can be achieved without affecting the colour of the stone substrates: this is an important issue since the amount of bioactive species which is released by the composite (which is related, in turn, to the durability of the biocide activity) has been shown to depend on the initial concentration.


Face recognition has been the subject of intense interest in recent years. Biometric techniques such as fingerprint or iris recognition have a high degree of accuracy; however, they require the subject to comply with the recognition process. Face recognition can be performed with a lesser degree of compliance, meaning that people can be identified without their consent or even their knowledge [1] .

Face recognition can be performed with a lesser degree of compliance, meaning that people can be identified without their consent or even their knowledge.


The increasing professionalism in the sport of beach volleyball is evident by the progression from the 1992 FIVB Beach Volleyball World series of 6 events with a total prize pool of $950,00 to the 2008 series which consisted of 39 events (19 women's / 20 men's) and a total prize pool of approximately $8,300,000 (FIVB, 2008) . As such, there is a growing demand for a clearer understanding of the physical requirements to be an internationally competitive elite beach volleyball athlete. An increased understanding in this area could also contribute to improvements in training methods and provide targets for developing athletes.

The increasing professionalism in the sport of beach volleyball is evident by the progression from the 1992 FIVB Beach Volleyball World series of 6 events with a total prize pool of $950,00 to the 2008 series which consisted of 39 events (19 women's / 20 men's) and a total prize pool of approximately $8,300,000.


Cell polarity is vital for the development of multicellular organisms and for the proper functions of epithelial cells in different organs. Polarity in epithelial cells is characterized by different lipid and protein components in the apical and basolateral surface domains. Tight junctions (TJs) act as occluding barriers to maintain cell polarity and homeostasis, and regulate permeability among epithelial cells [1] . Three major TJs protein complexes, Crumbs complex, Scribble complex and Par3-Par6-aPKC complex, play important roles in the assembly of TJs [2] . Moreover, there is increased evidence indicating that these complexes and their associated proteins may mediate two major types of signals: signals relayed from the intracellular compartments towards TJs regulating their assembly and function; and signals propagated from the TJs into the cells modulating gene expression, cell proliferation and differentiation as well as other functions [2, 3] .

Tight junctions (TJs) act as occluding barriers to maintain cell polarity and homeostasis, and regulate permeability among epithelial cells.

Three major TJs protein complexes, Crumbs complex, Scribble complex and Par3-Par6-aPKC complex, play important roles in the assembly of TJs.

Moreover, there is increased evidence indicating that these complexes and their associated proteins may mediate two major types of signals: signals relayed from the intracellular compartments towards TJs regulating their assembly and function; and signals propagated from the TJs into the cells modulating gene expression, cell proliferation and differentiation as well as other functions.


Usage of flexible polyurethane foam in Sub-Sahara Africa has been mainly for mattresses and furniture and recently, there has been a growing demand for durable and high hardness characteristic (i.e. high compression resistant) foam at low cost [11] . Foams with these qualities are of interest to many sectors of the economy, and therefore their preparation, characteristics, and applications are subject interest [12] . However, the cost of petro-chemical based polyol, which constitute the largest percentage of materials used in foam production and which possess the characteristics to induce superior mechanical properties in foam currently commands a high value due to the rising costs of the petro-chemical feed stocks [13] .

Usage of flexible polyurethane foam in Sub-Sahara Africa has been mainly for mattresses and furniture and recently, there has been a growing demand for durable and high hardness characteristic (i.e. high compression resistant) foam at low cost.

Foams with these qualities are of interest to many sectors of the economy, and therefore their preparation, characteristics, and applications are subject interest.

However, the cost of petro-chemical based polyol, which constitute the largest percentage of materials used in foam production and which possess the characteristics to induce superior mechanical properties in foam currently commands a high value due to the rising costs of the petro-chemical feed stocks.


In flexible polyurethane foams, the fillers promote an increase in density and resistance to compression. However, they reduce the resilience and contribute to the increase in permanent deformation. In addition, properties such as tear strength are significantly affected by the introduction of filler [9] . Accordingly, it is necessary to determine the correct concentration of the filler in the polymer matrix, so as to obtain a product of reliable quality [10] .

In addition, properties such as tear strength are significantly affected by the introduction of filler.

Accordingly, it is necessary to determine the correct concentration of the filler in the polymer matrix, so as to obtain a product of reliable quality.


Teleoperation systems allow person to extend their sense and manipulation capabilities to remote place. In general, slave robot is controlled to do some real tasks at the remote place by the controlled signals that are sent from the master side. Communication channels are composed to connect the robots and the remote environment. In bilateral control, contact information will be fed back to the master side when the salve robot interacts with the remote environment, therefore the manipulation capability can be improved [1] . One absolutely unsolved problem of the control of teleoperation system is time delay in communication line. In some cases, the master and the slave are coupled via a communication network (e.g Internet), and hence the time delay is incurred in the transmission of data between the master and the slave sides.

In bilateral control, contact information will be fed back to the master side when the salve robot interacts with the remote environment, therefore the manipulation capability can be improved.


A top-down approach was incorporated and partially implemented using the EDT model but only to observe the energy demand projection left to economic growth. Similar models and studies [17e20] have been performed to compare the two approaches (top-down and bottom-up) and to determine the best possible solution. One of the key challenges in future energy demand planning is trying to decouple energy consumption and economic growth. With a bottom-up approach, such decoupling can be performed more easily, where focus is on end use. Predicting future energy demand more precisely and quantifying and describing all possible future energy savings leaves room for higher penetration by renewable energy sources [21] . Today, long-term energy demand planning cannot be left to "trend analysis". Different energy policies and technologies will have a significant impact on future transport systems [22] . Thus, a bottom-up model based on the scenario approach can provide different paths to future energy systems.

Predicting future energy demand more precisely and quantifying and describing all possible future energy savings leaves room for higher penetration by renewable energy sources.

Different energy policies and technologies will have a significant impact on future transport systems.


One of the main questions not considered in this study is that regarding how to satisfy all of the energy needs of the transport subsectors that are not viable for electrification. One of the logical assumptions would be to implement existing biofuels or emerging synthetic fuels [25] . The issue of biofuels in Croatia can be a sensitive one. The main issue is the actual potential of biofuels and their sustainability in Croatia. In future transport systems, the most difficult subsectors to model are the ones that are not likely to be electrified. For the purposes of this paper, most of those subsectors are "transferred" to biofuels or synthetic fuels. Ultimately, the EDT model is scenario-based; thus, the transition rate to biofuels or synthetic fuels can be set by the user.

One of the logical assumptions would be to implement existing biofuels or emerging synthetic fuels.


The third scenario presents the option of the electrification of personal vehicles till the year 2050. This is a very interesting scenario because it offers insight into possible energy savings and reduced dependence on foreign fossil fuels in case Croatia decides to switch to electrification. This would present a significant impact on the country's electricity demand, meaning new infrastructure and technologies both on the transmission and distribution side [24] .

This would present a significant impact on the country's electricity demand, meaning new infrastructure and technologies both on the transmission and distribution side.


The main drawback of HOAS is the difficulty of dealing with metatheoretic issues concerning names in process contexts, i.e. terms of type name->proc. As a consequence, some natural metatheoretic properties involving substitution and freshness of names inside proofs and processes, cannot be proved inside the framework and instead have to be postulated. Soundness and completeness of our axiomatization of this elementary theory of contexts deserves further investigation. In any case, Martin Hofmann has recently announced that our axioms are validated in suitable pre-sheaves models [16] .

In any case, Martin Hofmann has recently announced that our axioms are validated in suitable pre-sheaves models.


Here, we aimed to increase the supply of free FAs for efficient biodiesel synthesis by eliminating these non-essential FA utilization pathways (Fig. 2) . This approach included: (a) deletion of DGA1, LRO1, ARE1 and ARE2 to block storage neutral lipid formation; (b) deletion of POX1 to avoid FA degradation; (c) a combination of both strategies by deleting all five genes. In a prior work, we demonstrated a metabolic engineering strategy for producing biodiesel using a wax ester synthase (WS) from Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus DSM 8798 [7] . This previously reported biodiesel producing pathway was introduced to these mutants, and abilities for biodiesel production were evaluated.

In a prior work, we demonstrated a metabolic engineering strategy for producing biodiesel using a wax ester synthase (WS) from Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus DSM 8798.


In all species studied so far, casein genes form a cluster of between 250 and 350 kb ( Fig. 1) , in which the "calcium-sensitive" (Ca-sensitive) caseins, α s1 (CSN1S1), β (CSN2) and α s2 (CSN1S2), are tightly evolutionarily related, whereas κ-casein (CSN3) is physically and functionally linked [92] . The organization and orientation of the genes in the cluster is highly conserved, mainly in the 5' and 3'UTRs, in the signal peptide and in the major phosphorylation sites [63] . In all casein genes the first exon encodes the 5'UTR. In the Ca-sensitive caseins the second exon harbors the remaining 12 nt of the 5'UTR and encodes the signal peptide, 15 residues long, and 2 AA of the mature protein. In CSN3 the signal sequence is encoded by exon 2 and part of exon 3 [92] .

In all species studied so far, casein genes form a cluster of between 250 and 350 kb ( Fig. 1) , in which the "calcium-sensitive" (Ca-sensitive) caseins, α s1 (CSN1S1), β (CSN2) and α s2 (CSN1S2), are tightly evolutionarily related, whereas κ-casein (CSN3) is physically and functionally linked.

The organization and orientation of the genes in the cluster is highly conserved, mainly in the 5' and 3'UTRs, in the signal peptide and in the major phosphorylation sites.

In CSN3 the signal sequence is encoded by exon 2 and part of exon 3.


Keystroke is a behavioural biometric modality monitoring the way individuals' type on the keyboard [2] . The basic idea of keystroke dynamics is based on the assumption that people type in uniquely different characteristic manners. Hence, this method depends on identifying users certain habitual typing rhythm patterns [3] . Different names of keystroke dynamics are used: keyboard dynamics, keystroke analysis, typing biometrics and typing rhythms [8] . One of the advantages of keystroke dynamics is that it is inexpensive because it can be used without any additional hardware. In addition, the user acceptance of a keystroke dynamics biometric system is considered very high [16, 10] .

Keystroke is a behavioural biometric modality monitoring the way individuals' type on the keyboard.

Hence, this method depends on identifying users certain habitual typing rhythm patterns.

Different names of keystroke dynamics are used: keyboard dynamics, keystroke analysis, typing biometrics and typing rhythms.

In addition, the user acceptance of a keystroke dynamics biometric system is considered very high.


Authentication is the process of determining whether a user is allowed to accesses a particular system or resource. The major objective of authentication system is allowing entities to be recognized before using resources. Several authentication methods are available starting from alphanumeric passwords until the use of biometrics and smart cards. However, the use of these technologies has raised several concerns such as the acceptability and lack of flexibility, and lack of robustness against imposters. In addition, traditional method such as the couple of username and passwords are required to be effective for authentication, easy and quickly executable, which can be considered as conflicting and difficult for humans. However, to guarantee strong authentication it is required to integrate multiple authentication methods. For example, it is possible to provide strong authentication in the password authentication scheme by combining it with keystroke dynamics [1] .

For example, it is possible to provide strong authentication in the password authentication scheme by combining it with keystroke dynamics.


These unexpected properties of the BPS degeneracies certainly hint at deeper structures of the theories yet to be fully uncovered. Specifically, while the properties pertaining to the intricate moduli dependence of the BPS index mentioned above have been observed within the framework of N = 4, d = 4 supergravity, a microscopic understanding of these properties is clearly desirable. In particular, we would like to understand why the different indices at different points in the moduli space can be extracted from the same generating function. More explicitly, from the fact that the group of wall-crossing is a subgroup of the (Z 2 -parity-extended) S-duality group, when the moduli cross a wall of marginal stability, the change of the BPS index can be summarized by a change of the "effective charges" by a Weyl reflection [16] . We would like to understand why the index should change in such a simple way.

More explicitly, from the fact that the group of wall-crossing is a subgroup of the (Z 2 -parity-extended) S-duality group, when the moduli cross a wall of marginal stability, the change of the BPS index can be summarized by a change of the "effective charges" by a Weyl reflection.


In this paper we work in the decompactification limit (V K3 1) and show how the group structure underlying the moduli dependence of the dyon BPS index of the N = 4 K3 × T 2 compactification of type II theory can be understood as simply a consequence of the supersymmetry of the dyonic states. From the other point of view, this group structure is simply the consequence of the fact that the BPS spectrum of the theory is given by the appropriate representation of a Borcherds-Kac-Moody algebra. The Weyl group of the algebra, which is a symmetry group of the root system of the algebra, then plays the role of the group of wall-crossing for the physical degeneracy of the dyonic states [16] . Therefore, we hope that the microscopic derivation of the Weyl group presented in the present paper will be the first step towards an understanding of the microscopic origin of the Borcherds-Kac-Moody algebra in the dyon spectrum.

The Weyl group of the algebra, which is a symmetry group of the root system of the algebra, then plays the role of the group of wall-crossing for the physical degeneracy of the dyonic states.


Recent years have seen a lot of progress in the understanding of the BPS spectrum of N = 4, d = 4 string theory [1] - [19] . First and foremost, complete microscopic partition functions have been proposed for various N = 4, d = 4 string compactifications, including the so-called CHL models [20] , [4] . These proposals for the generating function for the BPS indices of the theories have in the meanwhile been fairly well-understood and passed all consistency checks performed so far [20, 1, 10, 11, 12] .

Recent years have seen a lot of progress in the understanding of the BPS spectrum of N = 4, d = 4 string theory.

First and foremost, complete microscopic partition functions have been proposed for various N = 4, d = 4 string compactifications, including the so-called CHL models.

These proposals for the generating function for the BPS indices of the theories have in the meanwhile been fairly well-understood and passed all consistency checks performed so far.


The constant development of measuring techniques and equipment results in a huge amount of data available for quality control tasks. Thermal imaging and thermal cameras are very good examples of this trend [1] . However, the progress in hardware capabilities would be useless if not followed by the progress in algorithms and software [2, 3] . Of course, new algorithms force hardware development, too. In general, both key players in quality control, i.e., hardware and software, influence each other.

Thermal imaging and thermal cameras are very good examples of this trend.

However, the progress in hardware capabilities would be useless if not followed by the progress in algorithms and software.


This paper is devoted to the application of a well-known multivariate algorithm, i.e., PCA, to analysis of data acquired with the help of thermal cameras. The successful application of such algorithms in other fields allows us to expect improvement of production line quality control results. Multivariate algorithms enable reduction of the dimension of input space in classification problems and so they make them easier to solve [4] . It is especially important in the case of n × m images for which each pixel can be treated as a separate piece of information, and so the dimension of the input space can be as high as n × m [5] . Depending on the resolution, information included in adjacent pixels can be more or less correlated and feature extraction is indispensable [6] .

Multivariate algorithms enable reduction of the dimension of input space in classification problems and so they make them easier to solve.

It is especially important in the case of n × m images for which each pixel can be treated as a separate piece of information, and so the dimension of the input space can be as high as n × m.

Depending on the resolution, information included in adjacent pixels can be more or less correlated and feature extraction is indispensable.


Bardram and Bossen argue that it is difficult for a single information system to support the 'web of coordinative artifacts' that people employ to schedule their meetings [3] . Our goal with Calendar.help is not to obviate this network of interdependent scheduling tools and processes, but rather to introduce a flexible and adaptive virtual assistant that can navigate it on a person's behalf using a conversational approach over email. We accomplish this with a novel architecture that seamlessly combines automation, structured microtask workflows, and unstructured macrotasks.

Bardram and Bossen argue that it is difficult for a single information system to support the 'web of coordinative artifacts' that people employ to schedule their meetings.


Multiferroic BiFeO 3 (BFO) possesses a G-type antiferromagnetic order with a spatially modulated spin structure, which does not allow net magnetization [1] . Ferromagnetic magnetization has been observed in A-site doped (Bi 1 À x A x ) FeO 3 À δ (A ¼ La, Nd, Sm, Ca, Pb, Sr, and Ba) ceramics and films [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . Magnetization of the doped specimens increased significantly with radius of the doped ion. For instance, spontaneous magnetization of (Bi 1 À x Ba x )FeO 3 À δ ceramics increases with increasing Ba content [6] . Magnetization hysteresis loops of (Bi 0.95 Sr 0.05 )FeO 3 À δ (BFO5Sr) ceramic show a weak ferromagnetism due to straightening of the Fe-O-Fe bond angle [10] . X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and neutron diffraction of (Bi 1 À x Sr x )FeO 3 À δ (x¼ 0.0-0.5) ceramics synthesized using a modified gel-combustion, suggest that the Bi 3 þ -Sr 2 þ substitution causes Fe 3 þ -Fe 4 þ transformation and oxygen vacancies [10] . Structures of (Bi 1 À x Sr x )FeO 3 À δ (x¼ 0.0-0.5) remain in the rhombohedral R3c space group and rhombohedral distortion decreases with increasing Sr 2 þ content [10] . It was reported that Sr doping can stabilize the BFO perovskite structure [11] .

Multiferroic BiFeO 3 (BFO) possesses a G-type antiferromagnetic order with a spatially modulated spin structure, which does not allow net magnetization.

Ferromagnetic magnetization has been observed in A-site doped (Bi 1 À x A x ) FeO 3 À δ (A ¼ La, Nd, Sm, Ca, Pb, Sr, and Ba) ceramics and films.

For instance, spontaneous magnetization of (Bi 1 À x Ba x )FeO 3 À δ ceramics increases with increasing Ba content.

Magnetization hysteresis loops of (Bi 0.95 Sr 0.05 )FeO 3 À δ (BFO5Sr) ceramic show a weak ferromagnetism due to straightening of the Fe-O-Fe bond angle.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and neutron diffraction of (Bi 1 À x Sr x )FeO 3 À δ (x¼ 0.0-0.5) ceramics synthesized using a modified gel-combustion, suggest that the Bi 3 þ -Sr 2 þ substitution causes Fe 3 þ -Fe 4 þ transformation and oxygen vacancies.

Structures of (Bi 1 À x Sr x )FeO 3 À δ (x¼ 0.0-0.5) remain in the rhombohedral R3c space group and rhombohedral distortion decreases with increasing Sr 2 þ content.

It was reported that Sr doping can stabilize the BFO perovskite structure.


Recently, we showed that the electrical resistivity of chemically sprayed In-doped ZnO thin films grown at 400 ∘ C can be altered within an interval of 10 2 -10 −3 Ωcm by varying the solution spray rate [12] . In this study we will not focus on obtaining the highest electrical conductivity or optical transmittance; we study the effect of the solution spray rate on the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of ZnO:In thin films deposited by chemical spray. The aim is to find the optimal solution spray rate to deposit transparent and conductive ZnO:In thin films.

Recently, we showed that the electrical resistivity of chemically sprayed In-doped ZnO thin films grown at 400 ∘ C can be altered within an interval of 10 2 -10 −3 Ωcm by varying the solution spray rate.


Different strategies in agricultural practices have been developed to overcome the negative effect of salinity in plants, increase nutrient uptake and enhance crop performance. Some organic molecules are able to activate plant metabolism and improve their performance under different kind of stresses in a short period of time and inexpensively (Bulgari et al., 2015) . New approaches include the use of plant biostimulants, bioactive compounds that operate through different mechanisms to fertilizers. Biostimulants are usually able to enhance tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants and improve their nutrient use efficiency which in consequence, allow a reduction in fertilizers without affecting yield and quality (Bulgari et al., 2015) . However, it is not possible to suggest a common mode of action for all formulations because they derive from multiple sources or contain a variety of bioactive components which together, may contribute to specific effects in plants.

Some organic molecules are able to activate plant metabolism and improve their performance under different kind of stresses in a short period of time and inexpensively.

Biostimulants are usually able to enhance tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants and improve their nutrient use efficiency which in consequence, allow a reduction in fertilizers without affecting yield and quality.


RSSI fluctuation and diversiform smartphones can significantly degrade the positioning accuracy of WiFi localization systems, as well as the patterns between training and testing signature vectors. The WiFi device used to train the radio map during the calibration phase may especially differ from the ones used during the positioning phase. WiFi modules from different providers have varying receive signal gains which make the RSSI vary using different devices at the same location [22] . This hardware variance problem is not only limited to differences in the WiFi chipsets used by training and tracking devices. Besides, it arises when the same WiFi chipsets are connected to different antenna types and/or packaged in different encapsulation materials.

WiFi modules from different providers have varying receive signal gains which make the RSSI vary using different devices at the same location.


S. Salter, C. Gardner 1870 spaces being at a premium, or even insufficient, particularly for first-year cohorts (Papo, 2001) . The practice of reducing the number of face-to-face laboratory sessions and supplementing these with virtual/online alternatives is a strategy being trialled to cope with increasing demands on learning spaces and resources (Baker & Verran, 2004; Blewett & Kisamore, 2009) . In addition to the face-to-face laboratory sessions, the use of virtual (online) practicals is particularly appropriate for first-year microbiology students who are required to develop generic skills based on foundation microbiology curricula as opposed to subsequent years where more specialised laboratory techniques based on advanced theory are better handled in wet (face-to-face) laboratories. Online practicals have been trialled in a wide variety of specific science/biological disciplines including histology, microbiology, pharmacology and dentistry (Evans, Gibbons, Sha, & Griffin, 2004; Gilman, 2006; Sancho et al., 2006; Wahlgren, Edelbring, Fors, Hindbeck, & Stahle, 2006) . These practicals have covered specific areas such as slide staining and interpretation (histology, microbiology) and occupational health and safety (dentistry). Studies of these trials typically have employed one-dimensional methodologies (Dee, Lehman, Consoer, Leaven, & Cohen, 2003) . Many of these studies are also hypothesis generating rather than hypothesis testing and, as such, provide initial support and direction for the generation of pedagogically sound and student-supported online laboratory teaching (Sunal, Sunal, Odell, & Sundberg, 2003) .

S. Salter, C. Gardner 1870 spaces being at a premium, or even insufficient, particularly for first-year cohorts.

The practice of reducing the number of face-to-face laboratory sessions and supplementing these with virtual/online alternatives is a strategy being trialled to cope with increasing demands on learning spaces and resources.

Online practicals have been trialled in a wide variety of specific science/biological disciplines including histology, microbiology, pharmacology and dentistry.

Studies of these trials typically have employed one-dimensional methodologies.

Many of these studies are also hypothesis generating rather than hypothesis testing and, as such, provide initial support and direction for the generation of pedagogically sound and student-supported online laboratory teaching.


Reinforced concrete structures all over the world require rehabilitation or strengthening at some time in their life span for various reasons, such as mechanical damage, environmental effects, increased service loads, and errors in the design and construction [1] . On the other hand, some elements of the structures may also have been weakened due to corrosion of steel rebars [2] [3] [4] [5] . This paper presents an investigation on the flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with the Near Surface Mounted (NSM) technique using bamboo reinforcements through both experimental tests and a finite element analysis (FEA). In the NSM technique, strengthening materials are placed into grooves cut into the concrete cover of the RC beams and bonded using a bonding agent. This technique has many potential advantages because it can improve and enhance the flexural strength of reinforced concrete beams without the need for additional dimensions, and it is becoming more widely recognized because of its efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of application [6] . The other advantages of this technique include: less risk of debonding from the concrete substrate, better protection against accidental impacts and unchanged aesthetic features [7, 8] .

Reinforced concrete structures all over the world require rehabilitation or strengthening at some time in their life span for various reasons, such as mechanical damage, environmental effects, increased service loads, and errors in the design and construction.

On the other hand, some elements of the structures may also have been weakened due to corrosion of steel rebars.

This technique has many potential advantages because it can improve and enhance the flexural strength of reinforced concrete beams without the need for additional dimensions, and it is becoming more widely recognized because of its efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of application.

The other advantages of this technique include: less risk of debonding from the concrete substrate, better protection against accidental impacts and unchanged aesthetic features.


This study contributes towards understanding the manifestations of climate variability on communities and could therefore support climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for the benefit of the vulnerable in communities. Furthermore, extracting water body information from remotely sensed data is an important technique of water resources macroeconomic monitoring, flood disaster monitoring and wetland and shoreline protection. Additionally, accurate extraction of water resources information from remotely sensed images is a significant means for the surveying and dynamic monitoring of water resources (Xu 2006) .

Additionally, accurate extraction of water resources information from remotely sensed images is a significant means for the surveying and dynamic monitoring of water resources.


Within the stele, three small cavities called intrastelar canals were present in JD1 (Figs. 5-6 ) and JD2 populations (Fig. 7) , but only one intrastelar canal was seen in XN1 (Fig. 5) . Previous studies revealed that the number of canals appeared to be a stable diagnostic feature for Isoetes (Takamiya et al., 1997) . Around the intrastelar canal, the annular tracheids can be seen clearly (Fig. 10) . The internal leaf anatomy of Isoetes shows less environmentally induced variation than the external leaf morphology. Therefore, because of their stability, anatomical characters of leaves have been considered to be of greater diagnostic value (Pfeiffer, 1922) .

Previous studies revealed that the number of canals appeared to be a stable diagnostic feature for Isoetes.

Therefore, because of their stability, anatomical characters of leaves have been considered to be of greater diagnostic value.


However, the bioavailability of this compound depends on several factors including food processing, with higher lycopene levels in plasma after the consumption of tomato paste or juice, compared to fresh tomato (Sies and Stahl, 1998) . This fact has been partially attributed to heating, which improve the bioavailability of lycopene by breaking down cells walls and weakling the bonding forces between lycopene and tissue matrix (mainly lycopene-protein complexes). Thus making lycopene more accessible, and enhancing the formation of more absorbable and less metabolized (although less stable) cis-isomers. But also, the presence of a lipid food matrix in processed tomato causes a better extraction of lycopene into the lipophilic phase and results in a better absorption of this compound (Shi and Le Maguer, 2000) .

However, the bioavailability of this compound depends on several factors including food processing, with higher lycopene levels in plasma after the consumption of tomato paste or juice, compared to fresh tomato.

But also, the presence of a lipid food matrix in processed tomato causes a better extraction of lycopene into the lipophilic phase and results in a better absorption of this compound.


Ethical trade has a moral simplicity that leads one to assume it will be developmentally positive. The actual results are a little less clear. Voluntary codes of conduct in the clothing industry, for instance, have been effective in significantly reducing the incidence of child labour [24] . But, as noted above, this can have both positive and negative impacts on poor communities. Likewise, ethical standards increase the costs of production. Where these costs are willingly absorbed by consumers as an ethical premium, they can have a relatively straightforward and positive developmental impact. However, if the costs have to be absorbed by the developing country producers, this may lead to unforeseen and unwanted outcomes, such as greater mechanisation of production and consequent loss of employment opportunities.

Voluntary codes of conduct in the clothing industry, for instance, have been effective in significantly reducing the incidence of child labour.


The practice of ethical trade is increasingly moving into the mainstream of development activities, through programmes such as the UK's Ethical Trading Initiative [14] . Ethical trade is seeking to encourage voluntary codes of conduct amongst large producers with subsidiaries or suppliers in developing countries. The codes of conduct and related standards are intended to benefit workers' rights and human rights, and to help meet other social and environmental development goals.

The practice of ethical trade is increasingly moving into the mainstream of development activities, through programmes such as the UK's Ethical Trading Initiative.


Due to the interdisciplinary nature of work and organizational psychology, researchers publish their results in diverse scientific journals of different knowledge areas, mainly psychology and management (König et al., 2015) . This is a great strength, as it contributes sharing knowledge in various fields, but also implies a difficulty because researchers have to open the focus of analysis in conceptually and methodologically terms. An important object of interest for research is the analysis of the scientific journals and articles included on the Web of Science (Viseu et al., 2015) . In this, the present study contributes to analyze a specific area of Psychology that has been scarcely studied.

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of work and organizational psychology, researchers publish their results in diverse scientific journals of different knowledge areas, mainly psychology and management.

An important object of interest for research is the analysis of the scientific journals and articles included on the Web of Science.


Finally, we analyze the 50 papers that have received more citations in the last 25 years, the journals that have published them, the authors and the relationships between them. To reach our objectives we used the database Web of Science as a source of information, since it is currently considered the most important and influential database in international scientific research (Merigó, Mas-Tur, et al., 2015; Viseu et al., 2015) . The search strategy was developed in January 2016. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the field, indicated in the introduction, we decided not to focus exclusively on the journals indexed in the management or psychology categories of WoS but search by topic, regardless of the category in which the sources are placed.

To reach our objectives we used the database Web of Science as a source of information, since it is currently considered the most important and influential database in international scientific research.


As far as optimal fiscal policy is concerned, few clear and general results seem to be supported theoretically or empirically on a broad basis, no matter that a number of institutional regulations stipulate certain restrictions on fiscal discretion, e.g., the Maastricht Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact in the EMU or the "golden rule" in the UK. As in monetary policy, the trade-off between value judgement and specialized knowledge plays a crucial role in delegating fiscal policy to an independent institution (Calmfors 2003) . If the effects of fiscal policy affect the whole society and expertise plays a crucial role, fiscal policy can be delegated because democratic accountability is not the main objective (Blinder 1997, 121) . Fiscal policy as stabilization policy is characterized by technical knowledge, not so much by judgment as, e.g., redistribution (Calmfors 2003, 334) . Therefore, stabilization can be delegated, whereas all other areas such as redistribution and provision of public goods should not be delegated. However, the separation of these tasks is not as easy as theoretical models might suggests because fiscal policy touches the core of the political decision process (Buti, Eijffinger, and Franco 2003, 15) .

As in monetary policy, the trade-off between value judgement and specialized knowledge plays a crucial role in delegating fiscal policy to an independent institution.


Space environment involves specific in-use conditions for materials [1] . On ground or during mission, ageing parameters depend on applications and are not fully understood. Bonded assemblies are widely used for spacecraft conception and require a specific attention. They are notably susceptible to ageing phenomena due to storage on ground during spacecraft integration and thermal cycling under vacuum in orbit [2] . A previous study presented evolution of assemblies' properties depending on simulated hydrothermal ageing conditions (ground ageing) [3] . These modifications were followed in terms of molecular mobility correlated with mechanical behaviour of thermoset bonded structures exposed to moisture. Dielectric spectroscopy showed its ability to analyse adhesive bond in service configuration, thanks to adhesive secondary relaxation modes.

Space environment involves specific in-use conditions for materials.

They are notably susceptible to ageing phenomena due to storage on ground during spacecraft integration and thermal cycling under vacuum in orbit.

A previous study presented evolution of assemblies' properties depending on simulated hydrothermal ageing conditions (ground ageing).


Real ageing after a thermal cycling under vacuum is not accessible (satellites are not returned on Earth). The alternative is to use accelerated testing based on space industry knowledge and ESA normative data [4] . Acceleration laws remain empirical. Simulation parameters' influence and correlations with ageing mechanisms are not clearly defined. Accelerated tests are often designed to be representative of spatial environment, and it is difficult to dissociate ageing parameters and properties evolutions [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . Moreover, thermal cycling studies consider thermal fatigue of composite materials [10, 11] . A few studies are devoted to evolution of polymer properties due to level of temperature reached [12] [13] [14] [15] . Oxidative thermal degradation is evidenced by chemical and mechanical characterisation. In some cases, equivalence between real and simulated ageing is explored but ageing processes can differ [16] .

The alternative is to use accelerated testing based on space industry knowledge and ESA normative data.

Acceleration laws remain empirical.

Accelerated tests are often designed to be representative of spatial environment, and it is difficult to dissociate ageing parameters and properties evolutions.

Moreover, thermal cycling studies consider thermal fatigue of composite materials.

A few studies are devoted to evolution of polymer properties due to level of temperature reached.

In some cases, equivalence between real and simulated ageing is explored but ageing processes can differ.


The influence of vacuum and temperature on properties of the adhesive and assemblies has been studied. Concerning adhesive behaviour, a good agreement has been revealed whatever the test configuration (bulk material or in service configuration). The 7 days of ageing are not representative of the life time of a satellite. They have been chosen to be a compromise between a sufficient duration to reach equilibrium and a moderate duration to limit the cost of ageing tests. In the space industry, outgassing tests consist in a 125°C storage under vacuum during 24 h [20] . It is usually considered as enough to obtain a complete release of gaseous species from a specimen. Polymeric properties do not present any difference after an ageing under vacuum or under atmospheric pressure, whatever the ageing temperature. Consequently, vacuum is not a sensitive ageing parameter, and the 7 days are sufficient to reach equilibrium. Ageing temperature influence is twofold. An increase of ageing temperature below T gref activates curing reactions so that a hardening of the polymeric network is observed. Contrarily, an increase of ageing temperature above T gref involves an intrinsic plasticisation of epoxy network that might be due to the mobility of loose chains. It would be now interesting to vary the ageing duration to reduce tests cost or to establish acceleration laws. It must be recalled here that the classical curing process recommended by the manufacturer for stabilising the structure of such epoxy cannot be done since spacecraft integration in clean room prevents this kind of thermal treatment.

In the space industry, outgassing tests consist in a 125°C storage under vacuum during 24 h.


The vacuum influence is seldom studied. It does not deal with adhesives but with rubbers used as sealing materials or thermosets used as matrix in composite materials. Vacuum is often considered as a neutral atmosphere [11] . However, it involves outgassing of volatile substances as moisture, low molecular weight additive, or unreacted species [17] . The expelled gases can be especially detrimental to optical instruments and solar cells on-board the spacecraft. Surfaces may be obscured by condensed outgassing products. The nature and extent of outgassing can lead to serious changes in the basic material properties. Outgassing properties are often tested, thanks to thermogravimetric methods [18, 19] . These phenomena are taken into account, thanks to normalised outgassing test in order to avoid contamination problems [20] . Influence on other properties is quasi non investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of vacuum level during thermal ageing on a commercial adhesive. At the same time, it allows us to investigate the evolution of adhesive properties due to temperature. For a better description, ageing has to be achieved avoiding effect of cycling; that is why the thermal ageing is isothermal. The ageing conditions chosen for this study were selected to differentiate thermal effects from thermal spiking effects [15] .

The vacuum influence is seldom studied.

Vacuum is often considered as a neutral atmosphere.

However, it involves outgassing of volatile substances as moisture, low molecular weight additive, or unreacted species.

Outgassing properties are often tested, thanks to thermogravimetric methods.

These phenomena are taken into account, thanks to normalised outgassing test in order to avoid contamination problems.

The ageing conditions chosen for this study were selected to differentiate thermal effects from thermal spiking effects.


Gestural modeling refers to the process of interpreting sequential strokes as specific modeling functions and creating a model by a pre-defined method. Reconstructional modeling is the process of considering an entire set of stroke inputs as a projected image of a 3D model, and creating a model using geometric regeneration technology [9] . From a design perspective, reconstructional modeling is intuitive and effective for sketching ideas. However, the entire set of strokes is interpreted; therefore, it is difficult to recognize complex models correctly and modify a model because the modeling process is not saved. On the other hand, in gestural modeling, the user can understand the modeling process and modify models by repeating the input gestures. Therefore, in this research, we focus on gestural modeling in order to create editable 3D models that can be modified at a later point in time.

Reconstructional modeling is the process of considering an entire set of stroke inputs as a projected image of a 3D model, and creating a model using geometric regeneration technology.


Third, there is a considerable gap in terms of intersectoral collaboration around LFI (Lukic, 2012) . By 'intersectoral collaboration', we mean collaboration both between the public and private sectors exemplified by academia-industry collaboration, as well as collaboration within and between private sectors, such as companies within the energy sector or across the energy, construction, healthcare and other sectors. The non-academic stakeholders have extensive knowledge of the safety and work processes and practices, but may lack the conceptual understanding and knowledge of contemporary explanations of human learning to apply these to the problems they face. Although universities and industry have collaborated in process-and technology-based areas of safety, joint research and development in LFI has been limited. Extant limited intersectoral collaborations in LFI often do not move beyond data collection from companies, and the research findings are seldom embedded within practice or policy.

Third, there is a considerable gap in terms of intersectoral collaboration around LFI.


This toughening mechanism of FCMCs would also have validity for brittle tungsten provided that reinforcing fibers are strong enough and their interfaces are suitably engineered. Tungsten wire-reinforced tungsten matrix composite (W f /W) is a candidate. Commercially available tungsten wires are generally very strong (tensile strength: >2.7 GPa) and quite ductile. This beneficial property is ascribable to extremely textured fine-grained structure. Hence the original toughness of tungsten wires can be utilized until the wires become fully embrittled during fusion operation. The amount of its contribution to the total toughness of a W f /W composite will depend on the volume fraction of the wires. On the other hand, the overall chemical purity will be just slightly modified by interface coating because only thin (<1µm) films are used. To author's knowledge there is no previous publication in literature dealing with this kind of tungsten composites prior to authors'. The idea of a novel W f /W composite based on a fundamentally different toughening mechanism was the motivation of the present work [17, 18] .

The idea of a novel W f /W composite based on a fundamentally different toughening mechanism was the motivation of the present work.


Grapevine cultivars are often spread via vegetative propagation and this leads to the diffusion of numerous genetically identical copies of a specific plant. During this process, somatic mutation could occur and this results in a plant characterised by unique genomic traits that could lead to a unique phenotype. A considerable proportion of the morphological diversity in grape germplasm is the results of spontaneous somatic mutations fixed through vegetative propagation rather than by segregating polymorphism. Identifying the causal genetic variants underlying phenotypic variation among clones will be a challenging task, for which deep re-sequencing will be required (Myles et al., 2011) .

Identifying the causal genetic variants underlying phenotypic variation among clones will be a challenging task, for which deep re-sequencing will be required.


In this study ozonesonde data are used as reference to identify biases and estimate background error statistics. This approach requires that sonde profiles are unbiased and globally representative for the model, since the background error must be specified for the full model grid. Although their geographical distribution is not always homogeneous (e.g., in the Southern Hemisphere), WOUDC sondes are generally used to validate global models and satellite retrievals (Massart et al., 2009; Dufour et al., 2012) .

Although their geographical distribution is not always homogeneous (e.g., in the Southern Hemisphere), WOUDC sondes are generally used to validate global models and satellite retrievals.


Sonde data do not cover the upper stratosphere and assimilation parameters like error correlation length scales cannot be diagnosed using sonde-sparse data. Thereafter, we also rely upon results from previous studies, which exploited ensemble methods to estimate the error statistics for the same model and observations used in this analysis (Massart et al., 2012) . Eventually, sensitivity tests will be used to assure the robustness of the analysis to the variation of the assimilation parameters (Sect. 4.3.1).

Thereafter, we also rely upon results from previous studies, which exploited ensemble methods to estimate the error statistics for the same model and observations used in this analysis.


Similar problem has been attempted by Fortz and Thoroup [9] . In their approach, a set of links was considered as critical, and in each iteration one of these links was failed based on the maximum utilization among critical links. The cost of normal topology and the resulting failed topology was averaged and the search was driven to find a solution which minimizes the average cost. One of our implementations in this work is similar to this approach but with the modification that the link failed is always the one connected between nodes carrying the highest demand. This simulates the worst case scenario.

Similar problem has been attempted by Fortz and Thoroup.

This simulates the worst case scenario.


The situation is somewhat different in food markets, such as that for agricultural products (e.g., vegetables and fruits). Degrees of food safety variability are often difficult for consumers to detect because the relevant factors are classified as 'credence quality' attributes (Henson & Traill, 1993; Latvala & Kola, 2002) . However, public agencies can test for residual pesticides and uncover regulation violations. Food safety levels might vary among producers, but information on average (or prevailing) food safety levels and on substandard products is easy to find on the Internet and other media. We can therefore assume consumers are increasingly aware of the average food safety levels. It follows that they will purchase products when their willingness to pay (WTP) is, at most, as high as their willingness to pay for average quality products. Therefore, firms producing high-quality products should exit the market, and food safety levels should fall to the level defined by the safety standards set by public agencies. Product prices should also continue to fall.

Degrees of food safety variability are often difficult for consumers to detect because the relevant factors are classified as 'credence quality' attributes.


Economists usually categorise foods into search goods, experience goods, and credence goods (Nelson, 1970; Darby & Karni, 1973) . Many foods are affected by problems such as asymmetric information (e.g., when sellers have more information about goods than consumers) and imperfect information (e.g., when consumers cannot inspect the safety of vegetables) (Traill & Koenig, 2010) . This can produce a 'market for lemons' or an adverse selection (Akerlof, 1970) .

Economists usually categorise foods into search goods, experience goods, and credence goods.

Many foods are affected by problems such as asymmetric information (e.g., when sellers have more information about goods than consumers) and imperfect information (e.g., when consumers cannot inspect the safety of vegetables).

This can produce a 'market for lemons' or an adverse selection.


A fundamental function of food is providing nutrition. Humans once needed to ensure a minimum calorie intake under income constraints. Rising income levels made it easier to acquire the necessary calories (Pritchett & Summers, 1996) . Later, humans purchased additional values such as taste and other qualities (Drewnowski, 1997; Blaylock, Smallwood, Kassel, Variyam & Aldrich, 1999) . For example, individuals spent their extra money on higher-quality foods (e.g., by shifting from pork to beef). Currently, after satisfying taste and other qualities, emphasis is being placed on food safety.

Rising income levels made it easier to acquire the necessary calories.

Later, humans purchased additional values such as taste and other qualities.


One popular method for capturing CO2 from flue gas is based on aqueous amine solutions. These solutions are widely used to capture CO2 from high CO2 content gases, but are less suitable for CO2 capture from ambient air since the amine compounds responsible for capturing the CO2 deactivate rapidly when in contact with (dissolved) oxygen at regeneration conditions. Moreover, for CO2 air-capture there will be a significant solvent loss via evaporation since the solvent needs to be in contact with a massive amount of air [3] .

Moreover, for CO2 air-capture there will be a significant solvent loss via evaporation since the solvent needs to be in contact with a massive amount of air.


These limitations are largely overcome using amine-functionalized solid sorbents. For these solid amine sorbents it is generally assumed that they react along similar reaction pathways as for aqueous phase amine systems. An important advantage is that less energy is needed in the form of sensible heat as heating up the bulk of the water as solvent is avoided. The solid amine sorbents applied in a gas-solid process, are said to possess other advantages such as much faster sorption kinetics as liquid phase diffusion is avoided, higher CO2 capacity, higher stability, higher resistance to contaminants and less emissions [4, 5] . The feasibility of capturing CO2 from air using solid amine sorbents has already been proposed and confirmed by several studies [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] . Whereas for physical CO2 sorbents the presence of water vapor can be detrimental, for amine-based sorbents the capacity of CO2 even increases in humid air, compared to dry air [11] .

The solid amine sorbents applied in a gas-solid process, are said to possess other advantages such as much faster sorption kinetics as liquid phase diffusion is avoided, higher CO2 capacity, higher stability, higher resistance to contaminants and less emissions.

The feasibility of capturing CO2 from air using solid amine sorbents has already been proposed and confirmed by several studies.

Whereas for physical CO2 sorbents the presence of water vapor can be detrimental, for amine-based sorbents the capacity of CO2 even increases in humid air, compared to dry air.


In our previous work, we tested an amine based ion exchange resin on its feasibility to capture CO2 from air. The experimental results show that this adsorbent enjoys a high CO2 capacity and relative moderate water capacity during CO2 capture from air [14] . Next to CO2 adsorption capacity at different temperatures, there are still some parameters required for an optimum reactor design. Especially, optimization of the duration of the adsorption and the solid efficiency during adsorption are important. These two parameters are important as they determine the total amount of sorbent required (and the sorbent capacity per day) and the sorbent cost and energy efficiency of the process.

The experimental results show that this adsorbent enjoys a high CO2 capacity and relative moderate water capacity during CO2 capture from air.


Two of the main challenging and partly conflicting conditions in capturing CO2 from air include sufficient CO2 supply (at 400 ppm in air) and minimizing pressure drop during adsorption. Pressure drop is an essential parameter as it is directly related to the energy consumption ( = • ∆P) for gas-sorbent contacting. Handling large amounts of gas for CO2 air capture is inevitable, since around 1400 m 3 of ambient air is needed per kg of CO2. Due to this, the pressure drop over the gas-solids contactor for CO2 capture from air should be much lower than for other CO2 capture processes. Only contactors which can realize a low pressure drop are viable for CO2 air capture. Based on pressure drop considerations, we will firstly select the type of reactor between the fixed bed family and the fluidized bed family. The pressure drop for a fluidized bed reactor is calculated via the gravity of the solid minus the buoyancy force [15, 16] .

The pressure drop for a fluidized bed reactor is calculated via the gravity of the solid minus the buoyancy force.


It is due to the symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium, the root-nodule bacterium which fixes atmospheric nitrogen, that legumes are often able to fulfil their own nitrogen requirements and thus require the addition of little or no nitrogen fertilizer. Where these fertilizers are too costly, legumes are of substantial benefit both in producing food and in adding to the soil nitrogen that can be used by succeeding crops (Lowendorf, 1980) . However, nodules are often formed by nonfixing or less efficient strains of Rhizobium that lower the overall capacity of the nitrogen-fixing process (Date & Brockwell, 1978) . It is therefore very important, when considering maximization of nitrogen fixation, to have a technique to identify the strain of Rhizobium present within a nodule.

Where these fertilizers are too costly, legumes are of substantial benefit both in producing food and in adding to the soil nitrogen that can be used by succeeding crops.

However, nodules are often formed by nonfixing or less efficient strains of Rhizobium that lower the overall capacity of the nitrogen-fixing process.


All fecal samples analyzed in this report (10 from dog and 2 from human) were determined to belong to the sub-type A-I assemblage. Nevertheless, based on the ribosomal gene ces in the isolates and classify assemblage A into subgroups A1, A2, and A3, based on results previously reported [32] . The multiple alignment of amplified sequences of ribosomal gene allow us divide the isolates of group A into subgroups A1, A2 and A3 according with changes in the nucleotide sequences, this fact demonstrates the genome plasticity of Giardia and therefore its ability to adapt to different hosts promoting the transmission of giardiasis from animals to humans and vice versa.

Nevertheless, based on the ribosomal gene ces in the isolates and classify assemblage A into subgroups A1, A2, and A3, based on results previously reported.


Overall, some of our QTLs associated with resistance to southern corn rust were located on same QTL regions that have previously been reported while others were This study mapped to the same position of chromosomal segments involved in other plant disease resistance described earlier. The clustering of genes and QTLs involved in disease and insect resistance in maize are distributed over ten chromosomes. It is common to find two QTLs linked to different disease resistance in maize located on same chromosomal segments [78] . Studying the co-localization of disease QTLs in maize led to a better understanding of the genetic architecture of disease resistance in maize to analyze how relationship of resistance to disease among plant diseases.

It is common to find two QTLs linked to different disease resistance in maize located on same chromosomal segments.