Stainless steels find wide applications in industry because they have good corrosion resistance and mechanical strength and are of low costs [1] [2] [3] . The corrosion resistance of this type of materials is believed to be associated with the existence of a stable oxide film on the surface, which is rich in chromium [4, 5] . This thin film makes the steel surface passive in many environments. In environments containing chlorides, however, stainless steels can experience pitting corrosion, which is believed to result from breakdown of the passive film in localised areas containing sulphur-rich inclusions [6] . The localised breakdown of passivity leads to pit initiation and formation of metastable pits which can develop into stable pits at potentials above a critical potential (i.e. pitting potential) or at temperatures higher than the pitting temperature [7] . Thus, below the pitting potential stainless steels are not expected to suffer from pitting corrosion.

Stainless steels find wide applications in industry because they have good corrosion resistance and mechanical strength and are of low costs.

The corrosion resistance of this type of materials is believed to be associated with the existence of a stable oxide film on the surface, which is rich in chromium.

In environments containing chlorides, however, stainless steels can experience pitting corrosion, which is believed to result from breakdown of the passive film in localised areas containing sulphur-rich inclusions.

The localised breakdown of passivity leads to pit initiation and formation of metastable pits which can develop into stable pits at potentials above a critical potential (i.e. pitting potential) or at temperatures higher than the pitting temperature.


In this paper, we report on the consequences of ambient O 2 -and especially its electronegative properties-on dynamic processes in the plume of a He CAPJ. Several previous investigations have been performed on the particular CAPJ used in this study, the kinpen Sci [24] . For example, the previously mentioned measurements of He m densities were made using this device [23] . As a result, the baseline operating characteristics of the CAPJ are well known and can be extrapolated to the broader class of CAPJ [4] [5] [6] . The consequences of O 2 content in the ambient and shield were investigated by using optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and numerical modelling. The OES measurements include low-resolution observations of the emission of atomic and molecular lines, high spectral and spatial resolution of N 2 emission bands and time resolved images of the plume of the jet jets using a fast-gating iCCD camera. We found that if the jet is shielded with N 2 , an intense N 2 emission occurs at the side of the jet nozzle and a dark space occurs at a distance of 0.5 to 1 mm from the nozzle. These features do not occur if the jet is shielded by synthetic air. We also observed a backwards directed emission (travelling along the jet axis against the flow direction) during the positive half-cycle if the shielding gas contains O 2 .

Several previous investigations have been performed on the particular CAPJ used in this study, the kinpen Sci.

For example, the previously mentioned measurements of He m densities were made using this device.

As a result, the baseline operating characteristics of the CAPJ are well known and can be extrapolated to the broader class of CAPJ.


Resonant methods have much better accuracy and sensitivity than nonresonant methods [1, 2, 16, 17] . They are generally applied to characterization of low-loss materials and require a meticulous sample preparation before measurements. In addition, for an analysis over a broad frequency band, a new measurement set-up (a cavity) must be made. On the other hand, non-resonant methods have relatively higher accuracy over a broad frequency band and necessitate less sample preparation compared to resonant methods [1, 2] . Due to their relative simplicity, nonresonant waveguide (or coaxial) transmission/reflection methods are presently the most widely used broadband measurement techniques [1, 18] .

Resonant methods have much better accuracy and sensitivity than nonresonant methods.

On the other hand, non-resonant methods have relatively higher accuracy over a broad frequency band and necessitate less sample preparation compared to resonant methods.

Due to their relative simplicity, nonresonant waveguide (or coaxial) transmission/reflection methods are presently the most widely used broadband measurement techniques.


Material characterization is an important issue in many material production, processing, and management applications in agriculture, food engineering, medical treatments, bioengineering, and the concrete industry [1] . In addition, microwave engineering requires precise knowledge of electromagnetic properties of materials at microwave frequencies since microwave communications are playing more and more important roles in military, industrial, and civilian life [1] . For these reasons, various microwave techniques have been introduced to characterize the electrical properties of materials. These methods can roughly be divided into resonant and non-resonant methods [1] .

Material characterization is an important issue in many material production, processing, and management applications in agriculture, food engineering, medical treatments, bioengineering, and the concrete industry.

In addition, microwave engineering requires precise knowledge of electromagnetic properties of materials at microwave frequencies since microwave communications are playing more and more important roles in military, industrial, and civilian life.

These methods can roughly be divided into resonant and non-resonant methods.


Aβ imaging with PET allows accurate detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in those neurodegenerative conditions where Aβ plays a role [1] . Aβ imaging also provides unique information on the relationship between brain Aβ and different cognitive parameters as well as genetic, central nervous system or peripheral markers [2] . Researchers often validate their assessments against the amount of Aβ in the brain. Most researchers are familiar with the 11C-PiB spectrum of SUVR values, and what PiB SUVR constitutes a "high" or "low" Aβ burden.

Aβ imaging with PET allows accurate detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in those neurodegenerative conditions where Aβ plays a role.

Aβ imaging also provides unique information on the relationship between brain Aβ and different cognitive parameters as well as genetic, central nervous system or peripheral markers.


As an alternative hypothesis, glucose levels in the lower range might represent indirect evidence of accelerated glucose transport and increase glucose uptake related to enhanced expression of the protein transporter protein 1 (GLUT1) in EOC with advanced FIGO stage at diagnosis. GLUT 1 is a hexose transporter ascribed to the GLUT family, which includes fourteen facilitative transporters working along the glucose concentration gradient [13] [14] . Among them, GLUT1 is the most widely expressed and is involved in maintaining basal glucose transport in several normal cell types and cancer cells [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] . The existence of a significant correlation between increased expression of GLUT1 in serous adenocarcinomas of the ovary and FIGO stage has been consistently shown in previous research. Cai and colleagues worked on two hundred formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from 40 normal ovarian tissues, 40 serous cystoadenomas, 40 borderline serous cystoadenomas and 80 serous cystoadenocarcinomas. In their study, results from immunostaining with rabbit anti-GLUT1 polyclonal antibody showed increased expression of GLUT1 and p63, a homolog of p53, in cystoadenocarcinomas compared to benign serous and borderline cystoadenomas. In addition, overexpression of GLUT1 and p63 were associated with the FIGO stage and metastasis of the tumors [21] . Similar results were reported by Shao and colleagues [22] . Hitherto, no study has evaluated whether in high FIGO stage EOC the increased expression of GLUT1 had any sort of resonance on the expression of this same receptor in other districts and/or at the systemic level. GLUT1 is physiologically over-expressed at the interface with cells or tissues with a glucose-driven metabolism, e.g. red blood cells membrane, perineum of the peripheral nerves. On a still highly speculative reasoning, we might hypothesize a sort of homeostatic equilibrium and the occurrence of consensual changes in the expression of this receptor at a multidistrict level following metabolic adaption of the ovary to the enhanced energy necessities dictated by the carcinogenetic process.

GLUT 1 is a hexose transporter ascribed to the GLUT family, which includes fourteen facilitative transporters working along the glucose concentration gradient.

Among them, GLUT1 is the most widely expressed and is involved in maintaining basal glucose transport in several normal cell types and cancer cells.

In addition, overexpression of GLUT1 and p63 were associated with the FIGO stage and metastasis of the tumors.

Similar results were reported by Shao and colleagues.


Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing service industries as well as the major source of foreign exchange earning and employment for many countries (Willliams & Buswell, 2003) . As a service industry, tourism based on interactions with wildlife is increasing in popularity across the world. The traditional perspective of zoological park has three common roles: (1) to exhibit wildlife; (2) to educate visitors about animals; and (3) to enhance the survival of wildlife through research and conservation (Alexander, 1979) . However, they provide an incomplete view of the contemporary perspective of most leading zoological park, which includes three additional roles: (1) to provide opportunities for recreation in natural settings; (2) to provide a tourist experience of outstanding service quality; and (3) to weave quality entertainment through the tourist experience (Tomas, Crompton & Scott, 2003) . These additional goals reflect an emerging recognition among managers regarding the importance of quality of service offerings. Thus, zoological parks not only are collection of labelled animals to be protected and studied, but they are also popular recreational destinations.

Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing service industries as well as the major source of foreign exchange earning and employment for many countries.

The traditional perspective of zoological park has three common roles: (1) to exhibit wildlife; (2) to educate visitors about animals; and (3) to enhance the survival of wildlife through research and conservation.

However, they provide an incomplete view of the contemporary perspective of most leading zoological park, which includes three additional roles: (1) to provide opportunities for recreation in natural settings; (2) to provide a tourist experience of outstanding service quality; and (3) to weave quality entertainment through the tourist experience.


As service industries are facing increased competition from market pressures, providing high quality service is an important strategy for business survival and growth. The main reason is that consumers have become increasingly sensitive to product and service quality in recent years (Lee & Hing, 1995) . It is therefore important that the quality management system used by service industries will consider customer satisfaction as one of primary indicators to measure a company's performance. Usually, service quality is difficult to evaluate due to the unique features of service delivery-intangibility, heterogeneity and inseparability of production and consumption (Kang & Bradley, 2002) . The customers evaluate the service quality based on the comparison between their expectations and perceptions on the critical aspects of services (Zeithaml, Berry & Parasuraman, 1996; Vazquez, Rodriguez-Del Bosque, Diaz & Ruiz, 2001; Van Iwaarden & Van der Wiele, 2002) . When a service provider is able to lift a customer's experience to a level that exceeds their expectations, then the customer will be satisfied.

The main reason is that consumers have become increasingly sensitive to product and service quality in recent years.

Usually, service quality is difficult to evaluate due to the unique features of service delivery-intangibility, heterogeneity and inseparability of production and consumption.

The customers evaluate the service quality based on the comparison between their expectations and perceptions on the critical aspects of services.


Although adversely affected by high temperature conditions, embryo development took place to some degree in some embryo sacs. For example, some ovary developed was normally in regards to embryo sac formation, and then, the egg cell was viable and competent to be fertilized. By considering the stages that embryos aborted as heat-stress it can be concluded that embryo abortion is caused by complex factors: (1) activities of embryo cells are degraded by high temperature stress, (2) embryo abortion is promoted by problems in endosperm development, and (3) embryo abortion can be resulted from obstacles in nutrient partition and transport within the ovule. Therefore, although the zygote has undergone some cell divisions at early free-nuclear endosperm stage, its development and differentiation is prevented as above complex factors. That is why only 23.2% of the ovules contained globular-shaped embryo after 3 DAP was observed in summer conditions (Guan and Adachi 1992) .

That is why only 23.2% of the ovules contained globular-shaped embryo after 3 DAP was observed in summer conditions.


A normal acrosome reaction (release of sperm hydrolytic enzymes) of spermatozoa is essential for zona penetration and fertilization. Our results show mercury exerts a meaningful reduction in the percent of halos on the gelatin slides. ROS mediated-functional defects caused lessened or arrested sperm motility, failed sperm-oocyte fusion, and abnormal acrosome reaction (Sharma and Agarwal, 1996) . However, here, structural and functional alterations of the sperm plasma membrane due to peroxidation condition may be accounted for the absence of sufficient acrosome reaction in the mercury-treated cells. However, it is reasonable to suggest that mercury may impose a severe lack of fertility potential to animal spermatozoa via impaired cell membrane and an abnormal pattern of acrosome enzymatic exocytosis.

ROS mediated-functional defects caused lessened or arrested sperm motility, failed sperm-oocyte fusion, and abnormal acrosome reaction.


This study investigated a new treatment process for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions by applying MAlC, under flow conditions. The composite consists of micro-alloyed aluminium (MAl), coated over a thin iron wire. In aqueous solutions, it behaves like a strong reducing agent, which may affect various pollutants in water. Additionally, as a final product of the MAl, dissolution, water-insoluble Al(OH) 3 is produced, which may coprecipitate pollutants and their degradation products from the water phase (Bojic, 1997; Purenovic et al., 1998; Novakovic et al., 1998) .

Additionally, as a final product of the MAl, dissolution, water-insoluble Al(OH) 3 is produced, which may coprecipitate pollutants and their degradation products from the water phase.


With decreasing initial pH, the rates of change of Cr(VI) concentration regularly increased. Acidity of model solution increased the MAl dissolution and reduction efficiency of the composite (Bojic, 1997; Purenovic et al., 1998) . Because of that, in the first half of the treatment, efficacy of the composite was greater in model solutions with lower pH. Considering that the pH of model solutions became equal after 60 min (Fig. 3) , efficacy of the composite became equal, too (period from 60 to 120 min, Fig. 5 ). Concentrations of Cr(VI) in model solutions at the end of the treatment by the MAlC are shown in Table 1 , as an average with standard deviation. The rates of pH change significantly decreased with increasing initial pH. However, after 60 min the pH values of all model solutions became equal, even though the pH varied considerably at the start (from 1 to 5). Figure 4 shows that the rate of pH change for Results in Table 1 demonstrate that final concentrations of Cr(VI) at the end of the treatment were very low in all model solutions. Their values depended on initial pH, and it was shown that the concentration difference between model Solutions I and V was about one order of magnitude.

Acidity of model solution increased the MAl dissolution and reduction efficiency of the composite.


The powder obtained by thermal degradation of pure Fe (acac) 3 was characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy in order to determinate the phase and the average size of the Fe 2 O 3 crystals. As shown in Fig. 1 , the powder presents just the hematite phase without other phases of Fe (III) oxide. The pattern shown by the powder is typical of hematite α-Fe 2 O 3 (JCPDS 86-0550). Narrow peaks indicate the presence of most nanosized material. When Al (acac) 3 was added into precursor mixture, the XRD patterns of the powders obtained by thermal degradation indicated the existence of a second crystal phase. Three new peaks at 30.4°, 43.5°, and 63.1°were assigned, respectively, to (220), (400), and (440) planes of AlFe 2 O 4 (hercynite JCPDS 007-0068) (Fukushima et al. 2013; Jastrzębska et al. 2015) . The peak at 57.5 can be assigned to both α-Fe 2 O 3 and AlFe 2 O 4 . It corresponds to planes (122) and (422), respectively. Such a peak becomes more intense and broader upon addition of increasing amounts of Al.

Three new peaks at 30.4°, 43.5°, and 63.1°were assigned, respectively, to (220), (400), and (440) planes of AlFe 2 O 4 (hercynite JCPDS 007-0068).


Cervical insufficiency complicates 0.1-1% of all pregnancies and is thought to be the main cause of second trimester pregnancy loss or early preterm birth [1] [2] [3] . Despite the clinical relevance of cervical insufficiency, little is known regarding the pathophysiology involved and the preterm risk assessment tools, especially those involving non-invasive methods. Such information is relevant for the development of more-effective treatments targeting individual risks and for patient counseling.

Cervical insufficiency complicates 0.1-1% of all pregnancies and is thought to be the main cause of second trimester pregnancy loss or early preterm birth.


Technology is intended to create rich learning environments and introduce children to new ideas, develop new skills, and expand their perspectives (Bailey & Cotlar, 1994) . Many parents may also buy their children mobile phones to help ensure their safety. However, technology when used to harass someone, can inflict harm and reduce school functioning for some children. Indeed, more than half of the students in our sample had experienced some cyberbullying, and more than a quarter of students reported bullying others in cyberspace at least once. Also, more than a third had been bullied both in cyberspace and at school. These forms of bullying are interrelated-children who were bullied in cyberspace were also likely to bully others in cyberspace and be bullied at school. Moreover, children who were bullied in cyberspace, as well as children bullied both in cyberspace and at school, were likely to function poorly at school. To a lesser extent, children who engaged in cyberbullying had difficulty with school work.

Technology is intended to create rich learning environments and introduce children to new ideas, develop new skills, and expand their perspectives.


The main long-term toxicity of anthracyclines is cardiac dysfunction associated with their chronic and/or highdose administration. Severe cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure may develop any time after the completion of the treatment. The precise pathogenesis of anthracyclineinduced cardiotoxicity is still uncertain, and it is likely to be multifactorial in origin. Nevertheless, pivotal role is attributed to the iron-catalyzed intramyocardial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause damage of various targets in the myocardial cells [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Probrain natriuretic peptide (Pro-BNP) is released by cardiac cells, and serum levels are elevated even before the development of overt cardiac distress symptoms related to impairment of left ventricular systolic or diastolic function leading to increased left ventricular wall stretch. Recent studies have also suggested that ischemia itself may promote release of BNP [7, [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] . In the present study, we evaluated cardiotoxicity in 67 pediatric patients with cancer (leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor) after they completed treatment with anthracycline-containing regimens. We also evaluated Se levels and the effects of Se supplementation with regard to cardiotoxicity because previous studies with Keshan disease (KD) suggested potential protective role of Se for cardiac dysfunction observed in Se deficiency. KD, a potentially fatal form of cardiomyopathy, first found in Keshan county, northeast China, is one of the most harmful endemic diseases. The disease is characterized by multifocal myocardial necrosis and fibrosis and leads to congestive heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Although the exact etiology of KD is unclear, Se deficiency is a major contributing factor [19] . Investigations into the epidemiology of KD revealed that individuals living in areas with Se-poor soil were under a high risk of development of the disease. Individuals living in those areas had low dietary intakes of Se that were reflected in low serum and hair levels of Se. Populations living in areas of China with Se-rich soil did not develop KD [25] [26] [27] [28] .

Nevertheless, pivotal role is attributed to the iron-catalyzed intramyocardial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause damage of various targets in the myocardial cells.

Recent studies have also suggested that ischemia itself may promote release of BNP.

Although the exact etiology of KD is unclear, Se deficiency is a major contributing factor.

Populations living in areas of China with Se-rich soil did not develop KD.


In the early phases of the design process, designers externalize ideas with a visual language proper to early sketching [8] . The visual language used by Magellan is closer to high-fidelity prototypes than sketches. Hence, this could explain the fact that produced sketches in the second step of the experiment used no color, whilst black and white UIs proposed in Magellan looked as unfinished regarding colored UIs. In the third step, participants were still looking for early designs. They were more interested in the general organization of the UI than in "details" such as the background color. However if A good color theme is not sufficient to make a good design, a bad color theme is sufficient to make a bad one. Smilarly high fidelity prototypes were not utterly useless. In some cases, they enabled designers to understand that a design they envisioned was actually not so good.

In the early phases of the design process, designers externalize ideas with a visual language proper to early sketching.


Implant devices such as bone fixation plates, stents, screws, and wires are commonly used to provide structural support and/or to assist in the healing process after surgical procedures, such as orthopedic, craniofacial or angioplasty interventions. Presently, these implant devices are made from bioinert material such as titanium alloys, stainless steels and cobalt-chrome alloys [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . However, additional surgeries are required to remove these devices once the healing process is complete [1, 6] . This procedure increases cost and in some cases leads to patient morbidity [7] .

Presently, these implant devices are made from bioinert material such as titanium alloys, stainless steels and cobalt-chrome alloys.

However, additional surgeries are required to remove these devices once the healing process is complete.

This procedure increases cost and in some cases leads to patient morbidity.


Nonwoven fabric are engineered materials, which are bonded together by random fibres mechanically, thermally or chemically. Within the last 50 years, many efforts have been made to study their material properties. In the literature, the nonwoven fabric is described as an anisotropic, nonhomogeneous, discontinuous and highly nonlinear material [1] [2] [3] [4] . From the view point of material's microstructure, the tensile behaviour of nonwovens is determined by the properties of fibres (their mechanical properties and orientation distribution function) and bond areas (their mechanical properties, shape, spacing and frequency). The present theories used to describe the tensile behaviour of thermally bonded nonwoven material are mostly based on a "cell theory", with the nonwoven material divided into cells and each cells containing the features of material's microstructure [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] . However, those methods do not allow researches to reveal the real deformation mechanisms of thermally bonded nonwoven materials due to the use of periodic boundary conditions; the models are not capable to describe properly nonuniformity of the nonwoven materials. Therefore, a discontinuous finite element (FE) model with a random fibre assembly was introduced in our earlier paper to describe the mechanical performance of the lowdensity thermally bonded nonwoven material [11] . In further stages of developing the model, the efforts are made on exploring the capability of the method and the range of problems, to which it can be applied. In this paper, to improve the suggested model, the developed programme, which generates the random fibrous web, is modified to avoid unconnected areas. Then the initial modulus of representative fibres, which form the random fibrous web of the discontinuous models, is determined according to the real material properties of polypropylene fibres. The obtained modulus is introduced into the discontinuous model. Finally, to investigate the effects of fibre's orientation distribution function (ODF) and arrangement of bond points on overall material properties of the nonwoven material, two different fibres orientation distributions and four different arrangements of bond points are implemented into the discontinuous model and the obtained results are analysed.

In the literature, the nonwoven fabric is described as an anisotropic, nonhomogeneous, discontinuous and highly nonlinear material.

The present theories used to describe the tensile behaviour of thermally bonded nonwoven material are mostly based on a "cell theory", with the nonwoven material divided into cells and each cells containing the features of material's microstructure.

Therefore, a discontinuous finite element (FE) model with a random fibre assembly was introduced in our earlier paper to describe the mechanical performance of the lowdensity thermally bonded nonwoven material.


We propose a methodology for road seed extraction which is based on a set of four road objects and another set of connection rules among them. Each road object is a local representation of an approximately straight road fragment and its building is based on a combination of polygons describing all relevant image edges. The polygons representing image edges are extracted using well-known image processing algorithms as, e.g., the Canny edge detection method followed by an edge linking algorithm and the split and merge algorithm (Parker 1997) . After the polygon extraction some steps are needed to build road objects. Firstly, two polygons that are candidates for representing edges of a same road are selected. Now taking one polygon as reference, the algorithm tries to combine their straight-line segments to the ones of other polygon. Two straight-line segments of the different polygons are accepted to form a road object when: 1 -only two endpoints of them are orthogonally projected onto opposite straight-line segment, whose results are shown as circles in figure 1 ; 2 -they are close to parallel and the distance between them is compatible to the road width (figure 1); and 3 -the region between them satisfies road knowledge as, for example, road surface is usually homogeneous, road surface has good contrast to its adjacent areas, road width does not change much, road edges are anti-parallels etc. In other words, as stated before a road object is a representation for an approximately straight road fragment. Moreover, road objects can be classified in four types, but additional details are given in the following sections. The road objects are sequentially connected to each other according to a rule set, allowing a road seed to be formed (Figure 1 ). In the following, the extraction of road objects and the way they are combined to construct road seeds are described with enough details.

The polygons representing image edges are extracted using well-known image processing algorithms as, e.g., the Canny edge detection method followed by an edge linking algorithm and the split and merge algorithm.


The concentration ranges of the chromogenic assays used in this study should cover the range for low and high doses of rivaroxaban used to prevent or the treat acute thromboembolism. However, specific assay procedures have been described also for low and high concentration of rivaroxaban [10, 18] . This may be preferable in a clinical routine laboratory. In our study, we adjusted the ratio of factor Xa and of the chromogenic substrate of every assay to obtain a similar maximal absorption by the release of the chromophore in the absence of rivaroxaban. This has to be performed for every assay by the manufacturer for routine application as well as the potential value of antithrombin added to the assay. The study presented here identifies an optimal chromogenic method to determine the Fig. 2 Correction of the OD concentration curves of methods A, C, D, and E by mathematical functions (see Table 1 ) to reduce the difference to method B (provisional standard method) Table 1 ) to reduce the difference to method B for the same concentrations of rivaroxaban used in Figs. 1 and 2 concentration of rivaroxaban and can be adopted for additional chromogenic assays not included in our study.

However, specific assay procedures have been described also for low and high concentration of rivaroxaban.


Solvents are chemical substances used in huge amounts for many different applications. One of the key areas of Green Chemistry is the elimination of solvents in chemical processes or the replacement of hazardous solvents with environmentally benign solvents. Glycerol, which is a nontoxic, biodegradable liquid manufactured from renewable sources, shows similar properties as an ionic liquid and has a high potential to serve as green solvent for organic syntheses. It has a very high boiling point and negligible vapor pressure; it is compatible with most organic and inorganic compounds and does not require special handling or storage. Glycerol permits turning to the advantages of both water (low toxicity, low price, large availability, and renewability) and ionic liquids (high boiling point, low vapour pressure) [15] .

Glycerol permits turning to the advantages of both water (low toxicity, low price, large availability, and renewability) and ionic liquids (high boiling point, low vapour pressure).


The subcellular localization of a protein provides crucial information regarding the protein's biological function, and can be used to help to annotate newly sequenced genomes, to verify experimental results, and to identify potential drug targets [1] . Biologists world-wide have contributed localization data, but the gap between localization data and protein sequence data continues to increase, raising the need for computation methods to rapidly predict subcellular localization for uncharacterized proteins based on sequence information alone. The SwissProt database currently contains more than a half million manually annotated and reviewed protein records. The annotations are taken from the literature and curator-evaluated computational analysis, and computational analysis has played an important role in PSL annotation. Around 90% of protein records in Swiss-Prot database are annotated through sequence similarity. For protein sequences without obvious sequence-similar proteins, a PSL predictor helps to provide plausible information quickly.

The subcellular localization of a protein provides crucial information regarding the protein's biological function, and can be used to help to annotate newly sequenced genomes, to verify experimental results, and to identify potential drug targets.


In Bitcoin, the transactions are recorded with a cryptographic signature by the sender, and are broadcast to the network. The initiated transaction remains unconfirmed in a temporary placeholder at the nodes of the network known as a memory-pool [22] . Once the pool reaches a certain size or a specified time to create a block, anybody in the network can pick those transactions and combine them to create a new block; the block is then signed using Merkle root, which contains information about all the transactions in it [1] . The new block is then tested for validity by solving a time-consuming mathematical puzzle to find the correct nonce by a miner; a valid block containing valid transactions is then added to a local blockchain, and further distributed in the network with the same puzzle and the discovered nonce which was used to solve the puzzle, as the miner's Proof-of-Work [1, 23] .

The initiated transaction remains unconfirmed in a temporary placeholder at the nodes of the network known as a memory-pool.

Once the pool reaches a certain size or a specified time to create a block, anybody in the network can pick those transactions and combine them to create a new block; the block is then signed using Merkle root, which contains information about all the transactions in it.

The new block is then tested for validity by solving a time-consuming mathematical puzzle to find the correct nonce by a miner; a valid block containing valid transactions is then added to a local blockchain, and further distributed in the network with the same puzzle and the discovered nonce which was used to solve the puzzle, as the miner's Proof-of-Work.


At present, no tomato cultivars in the world are grown on a commercial scale without chemical protection from late blight disease. The interval between spraying and harvesting is usually 2 to 3 days in Nepal ( SK Shrestha 2002, personal communication) and 0 to 5 days in the United States (R. Ashley 2003, personal communication) . The annual chemical application to tomato and potato crops is higher than any other food crops grown today (Niederhauser 1991) . Such heavy use of pesticides could result in increased human health hazards and environmental pollution. Because of this, in recent years, cultural control and biological methods including botanical pesticides have been attracting considerable interest towards disease management (Upadhyay et al 1996) .

The annual chemical application to tomato and potato crops is higher than any other food crops grown today.

Because of this, in recent years, cultural control and biological methods including botanical pesticides have been attracting considerable interest towards disease management.


Here, B is the bit period, D is the dispersion value, ∆λ is the spectral linewidth, and c is speed of light. As for example, for a single mode optical fibre, D = 17 ps/nm/km, L D = 52 km. A more exact calculation shows that the dispersion induced power penalty is less than 1 dB [4] . The power penalty rises exponentially with transmission distance for uncompensated dispersion. At 40 Gb/s, the signals are 16 times more sensitive to chromatic dispersion than that at 10 Gb/s [3] . Therefore, it is necessary to control the chromatic dispersion in the optical transmission system. Network operators usually use dispersion compensating fibre (DCF) to compensate CD but additional fine tuning of the chromatic dispersion 'manually' can be a cumbersome and time consuming process. As such there is a need for simple tuneable chromatic dispersion compensators for use in transmission networks. Several research initiatives such as automatic dispersion compensation using FBG or AWG have been carried out in this respect [5] [6] [7] . In this regard, an investigation of tuneable dispersion compensation in photonic transport system (PTS) by following a technique of varying the local optical clock signal power at the input of SOA was carried out.

A more exact calculation shows that the dispersion induced power penalty is less than 1 dB.

At 40 Gb/s, the signals are 16 times more sensitive to chromatic dispersion than that at 10 Gb/s.

Several research initiatives such as automatic dispersion compensation using FBG or AWG have been carried out in this respect.


There are several types of micromotors, in which the electromechanical energy conversion is controlled by electric fields. They can be divided into two general categories: electro(quasi)static and elastodynamic. The major distinguishing feature of different types of electro(quasi)static micromotors in most cases is the structure of the moving component (i.e. rotor or slider), which defines the mechanism of charge distribution [15] . Table 1 lists common types of electro(quasi)static micromotors and the mechanism of charge distribution in each of them [16] [17] [18] . The simple structure of the rotor in a variable-capacitance micromotor provides two major advantages over alternative micromotors: better accuracy in controlling the fabrication tolerances and higher reliability of the fabricated device. The variable-capacitance micromotor can provide an output power, torque/force and energy efficiency comparable to that of the other types of electro(quasi)static micromotors with the exception of elastodynamic and solid-filled gap micromotors.

The major distinguishing feature of different types of electro(quasi)static micromotors in most cases is the structure of the moving component (i.e. rotor or slider), which defines the mechanism of charge distribution.

Table 1 lists common types of electro(quasi)static micromotors and the mechanism of charge distribution in each of them.


To characterize the instant effect of Hg 2+ on the PM-H + ATPase of cortical root cells, we performed a set of experiments with FC. These results show that the functional activity of root cortical cells, in division zone treated with 2 µmol/L Hg 2+ for 24 h, were reduced which means that Hg 2+ may counteract FC-caused hyperpolarization. The response may indicate a similar target for alteration of PM-H + -ATPase activity by Hg 2+ and FC. Plant PM-H + -ATPases are known to be inhibited by sulphydryl reagents such Hg 2+ . In addition, an ATPase in a putative plasma membrane fraction from maize roots, was also inhibited by 1 µmol/L Hg 2+ by over 50% (Beffagna et al. 1979) .

In addition, an ATPase in a putative plasma membrane fraction from maize roots, was also inhibited by 1 µmol/L Hg 2+ by over 50%.


The essential changes that occur at the Brill transition are expressed clearly by 2D WAXD images below and above the transition temperature T B , an example of which is presented in Figure 1 (scanned at a heating rate of 15°C/min). The typical features in the diffraction patterns are the clear 100 and 010/110 diffraction rings of the triclinic phase below T B and the 'shifted 100' diffraction ring of the pseudo-hexagonal phase above it. For the detection of the Brill transition, a series of such 2D diffraction patterns obtained during synchrotron WAXD in situ measurements can then be processed to produce 3D representations of the diffraction profiles as a function of temperature. The results for the nylon 66 films isothermally treated at 250°C are presented in Figure 2 for heating in the temperature range from 25 to 220°C. For this particular material the Brill transition temperature is determined to be T B = 175°C. The values of T B can be determined by measuring the d spacings for the 100 and 010/110 diffraction maxima, shown in Figure 2 , and plotting them as a function of temperature as presented in Figure 3; T B is the intercept of the two curves. It is noted that the point at 175°C (in Figure 3) of the 010/110 and 100 d spacings. Alternatively, T B can be determined by plotting the arithmetic difference between these two d spacings of the triclinic cell (designated the index of chain packing, ICP) against temperature and extrapolating the linear region to ICP equals zero (not shown here) [14] . Looking at Figure 3 again, it is apparent that whereas the change in the d spacings with temperature of the 100 diffraction is relatively gradual and small (with a few minor fluctuations), that of the 010/110 diffraction is characterized by a two step behavior. Over the first step, at the lower temperature range, the spacing change with temperature is minimal. Then at around 130°C a marked change is observed, followed by a steeper increase from approximately 3.8 to 4.2 Å at T B .

Alternatively, T B can be determined by plotting the arithmetic difference between these two d spacings of the triclinic cell (designated the index of chain packing, ICP) against temperature and extrapolating the linear region to ICP equals zero (not shown here).


Virgilia is a small tree genus that includes two species (V. divaricata (Adamson) and V. oroboides (P.J.Bergius) Salter) and two subspecies. It is confined to the south-western and southern coastal regions of the CFR (Greinwald et al. 1989) . Studies have been conducted on growth and adaptations of legume species native to Mediterranean-type fynbos ecosystems that occur on naturally acidic soils (Muofhe and Dakora 1999; Spriggs and Dakora 2008; Power et al. 2010; Kanu and Dakora 2012) . However, information on the physiology of N and P uptake, efficiency and utilisation in legume trees in fynbos soils is largely unknown.

It is confined to the south-western and southern coastal regions of the CFR.

Studies have been conducted on growth and adaptations of legume species native to Mediterranean-type fynbos ecosystems that occur on naturally acidic soils.


Owing to the significant benefits on energy conservation and other aspects of society, energy efficiency retrofit has been emphasized around the world. For example, the U.S. government assigned to conduct energy efficiency retrofit of existing buildings and facilities [7] . Incented by the policies, the market to provide energy efficiency services through energy service companies (ESCOs) has been blooming in the last decade [8] .

For example, the U.S. government assigned to conduct energy efficiency retrofit of existing buildings and facilities.

Incented by the policies, the market to provide energy efficiency services through energy service companies (ESCOs) has been blooming in the last decade.


With several methods and probes of many types such as coaxial and waveguide transmission lines (T/L), and cavity, many people have researched to know electrical properties such as permittivity and permeability of materials at microwave frequencies [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . If we can know electrical properties of the materials in an area of interest, they will be utilized to predict and analyze electromagnetic effects. And the small change of the permittivity of the materials in the area will affect the electric and magnetic fields distribution, which means that the small change should be measured to increase the accuracy of the field analysis. Most materials have the potential for the permittivity change as the degradation process occurs or the temperature of the materials changes at normal circumstance.

With several methods and probes of many types such as coaxial and waveguide transmission lines (T/L), and cavity, many people have researched to know electrical properties such as permittivity and permeability of materials at microwave frequencies.


We have applied the Sorkin-Johnston (SJ) proposal, which defines a unique vacuum state for a free scalar field in any bounded curved spacetime, to D = d + 1 dimensional de Sitter space. In those cases where the prescription is well-defined, we find that the SJ vacuum always corresponds to one of the de Sitter-invariant α-vacua. This is reassuring, because a covariant approach should give rise to a vacuum state that respects the symmetries of the underlying spacetime. We find that the SJ vacuum depends on (i) whether the mass of the field is in the complementary or principal series (i.e. below or above the critical value (D − 1)/2 ), (ii) whether it is evaluated on the complete de Sitter manifold or its Poincaré half-space, and (iii) whether the spacetime dimension is even or odd. For a field of mass m < (D − 1)/2 on the Poincaré patch, the SJ prescription cannot be applied to the entire spacetime, but only a bounded globally hyperbolic subregion of it (where the ratio (3.9) does not have unit modulus). It would be interesting to investigate whether a physical account can be given for the failure of the procedure in this particular case (an example of another vacuum prescription which fails for light masses is the instantaneous ground state of the Hamiltonian, particularly in the global patch [26] ). Here it is worth noting that the complementary and principal series also exhibit different behaviours in the case of interacting theories [27, 28] . For instance, quantum-corrected fields whose bare mass belong to the principal series, unlike the complementary series, decay faster than the free KG field in past/future infinity. This has important consequences for objects such as the S-matrix for QFTs on global de Sitter space [20, 29, 30] .

It would be interesting to investigate whether a physical account can be given for the failure of the procedure in this particular case (an example of another vacuum prescription which fails for light masses is the instantaneous ground state of the Hamiltonian, particularly in the global patch).

Here it is worth noting that the complementary and principal series also exhibit different behaviours in the case of interacting theories.

This has important consequences for objects such as the S-matrix for QFTs on global de Sitter space.


The learning of Mandarin Chinese has gained prominence recently with the rapid rise of economic power in China, and the number of people who are learning Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) is increasing. In particular, the number of K-12 school students in the United States who are learning CFL increased from 20,000 in 2005 to 60,000 in 2008 (Dobuzinskis, 2011) . This increase indicates that more CFL courses are required in schools. In response to the global need of learning CFL, the Taiwanese government has dispatched CFL teachers to America and the rest of the world for CFL teaching. However, the number of CFL teachers may not be adequate at present and they are not made available to the learners in rural and remote areas. The Internet enables CFL learners to gain access to CFL courses without the constraints of space and time (Hampel & Hauck, 2004) . Therefore, an urgent need for CFL teaching and learning over the Internet is arising.

In particular, the number of K-12 school students in the United States who are learning CFL increased from 20,000 in 2005 to 60,000 in 2008.

The Internet enables CFL learners to gain access to CFL courses without the constraints of space and time.


Conventional methods for designing composite structures involve the use of Hooke's law for two-dimensional unidirectional composites. Equations relating the stresses and strains in these materials have been developed and are available from various texts [2] [3] [4] . These equations, however, are limited to flat unidirectional laminates. The procedure to follow is quite laborious. The material properties, material limits, number of fibre layers, and the fibre orientation and thickness of each layer as well as the loading conditions need to be known. These quantities are then used in the governing equations and numerous matrix computations are required. The outputs from these equations are the global and local stresses and strains of each layer. The local stresses on each layer are then compared to the allowable material limits and, if they exceed these limits, the entire process needs to be repeated with new angles and, if necessary, more fibre layers.

Equations relating the stresses and strains in these materials have been developed and are available from various texts.


There are several approaches targeting on-chip fluorescence detection based on CMOS image sensors. The conventional approach is to use an on-chip optical filter to separate the excitation light from the faint fluorescence signal [2] . However, the limit of detection (LOD) of such on-chip fluorescence detection systems is determined by the nature of the filtering material, such as photoresist-based color filters. To overcome this issue, a new technique has been proposed and realized based on photon absorption depth difference in silicon [3] [4] . However, a fluorescence 2D imaging device based on this method has not yet been reported.

The conventional approach is to use an on-chip optical filter to separate the excitation light from the faint fluorescence signal.

To overcome this issue, a new technique has been proposed and realized based on photon absorption depth difference in silicon.


Driving is a complex task in which different skills and functions are combined simultaneously, therefore monitoring drivers" attention regarding to brain resources is a strong challenge for researchers and analytics in the field of cognitive brain research and brain interface computer. The level of interference from task-irrelevant stimulus information ("conflict"), reflected in slowed responses and decreased accuracy for incompatible relative to compatible stimuli, is found to be reduced after the processing of an incompatible as compared with a compatible stimulus [12] . Recently, soft computing had been seen as an attractive alternative and several methods were developed for trajectory design and robot motion control using neuro-fuzzy techniques [13] . Data-driven approaches have been widely applied to solve industrial problems encountered in the real life, including control engineering, instrumentation and measurement, computer security, intelligent transportation systems and vehicles [14] . Causes of distractions during driving were quite widespread, including eating, drinking, talking with passengers, use of cell phones, reading, fatigue, problem solving, and using in-car equipment such as GPS, media player and in-vehicle entertainment, thus making it likely that the problem of driver inattention [15] [16] [17] [18] . Many researchers have proposed a lot of methods to detect attention change using physiological changes such as eye blinking, heart rate, pulse rate or skin electric potential, and especially brain wave [19] . EEG based methods mainly focus on the monitoring of the alertness variation of driver fatigue due to drowsiness, whereas the detecting approaches of alertness change in tasks requiring sustained attention has been seldom explored [20] . This work has two objectives (1) to select the optimal wavelet function for getting the better classification accuracy from the alpha, theta, and beta band features, (2) to determine the classifier which gives better average and individual classification rate. In our work, we have used audio-visual stimuli for evoking four different levels such as neutral, low, medium, and high distraction. Two features; Spectral centroid, power spectral density (PSD) is derived using wavelet transform on theta, alpha, and beta band. These numerical features are classified using three different classifiers namely K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), probabilistic neural network (PNN), and fuzzy inference system. In our last recent work, we used PNN classifier to classify driver drowsiness level (sleepy state) and achieved 61% based on db4 and we expect this accuracy would be more, if Fuzzy classifier had been used [21] . This paper adds on significant solution for driver distraction level related to EEG bands and their position in the packet of the wavelet transform explored mathematically by their designated equations. In this work, a set of four distraction stimulus namely media player, GPS, mental task, SMS message induced by using audio-visual stimuli. The rest of this paper is organized as follows. In Section 2, we summarize the research methodology by elucidating the data acquisition process. Section 3 and 4 explains feature extraction using wavelet transform and classification of distraction level by different classifiers respectively. Section 5 illustrates the overview of the results and discussion of this present work, and conclusions are given in Section 6.

The level of interference from task-irrelevant stimulus information ("conflict"), reflected in slowed responses and decreased accuracy for incompatible relative to compatible stimuli, is found to be reduced after the processing of an incompatible as compared with a compatible stimulus.

Recently, soft computing had been seen as an attractive alternative and several methods were developed for trajectory design and robot motion control using neuro-fuzzy techniques.

Data-driven approaches have been widely applied to solve industrial problems encountered in the real life, including control engineering, instrumentation and measurement, computer security, intelligent transportation systems and vehicles.

Causes of distractions during driving were quite widespread, including eating, drinking, talking with passengers, use of cell phones, reading, fatigue, problem solving, and using in-car equipment such as GPS, media player and in-vehicle entertainment, thus making it likely that the problem of driver inattention.

Many researchers have proposed a lot of methods to detect attention change using physiological changes such as eye blinking, heart rate, pulse rate or skin electric potential, and especially brain wave.

EEG based methods mainly focus on the monitoring of the alertness variation of driver fatigue due to drowsiness, whereas the detecting approaches of alertness change in tasks requiring sustained attention has been seldom explored.

In our last recent work, we used PNN classifier to classify driver drowsiness level (sleepy state) and achieved 61% based on db4 and we expect this accuracy would be more, if Fuzzy classifier had been used.


Broy proposes a service model to support multifunctional systems [18] . He uses modes to model service dependency, as well as feature interactions in this domain. Our work is also complementary, as we propose a way to enrich a given model to support multiple resolution rules associated to the same identified interaction.

Broy proposes a service model to support multifunctional systems.


In Section 2, we introduce a way of constructing an affine equivariant multivariate median using a transformation and re-transformation technique, where the transformation used is closely related to the data-driven co-ordinate system introduced in Chaudhuri and Sengupta [9] . In Section 3, we investigate the asymptotic behavior of the proposed median. In particular, some interesting and useful results related to its limiting distribution are derived when the probability distribution underlying the data is elliptically symmetric. Based on these results, we suggest an adaptive procedure for choosing the appropriate transformation so that the asymptotic variation of the sample median is minimized in some appropriate sense leading to an efficient estimate of multivariate location.

In Section 2, we introduce a way of constructing an affine equivariant multivariate median using a transformation and re-transformation technique, where the transformation used is closely related to the data-driven co-ordinate system introduced in Chaudhuri and Sengupta.


The question of whether forecast error is caused predominately by sensitivity to initial condition or model errors is of more than theoretical importance. The weather's initial state can never be perfectly known, so the model's sensitivity to initial condition essentially places an upper limit on the atmosphere's predictability, and to some extent the potential economic benefit of weather forecasts (Ehrendorfer, 1997) . It also serves as a guide to whether resources should be allocated to improving the initial condition or the model.

The weather's initial state can never be perfectly known, so the model's sensitivity to initial condition essentially places an upper limit on the atmosphere's predictability, and to some extent the potential economic benefit of weather forecasts.


HIV RNA > 1500 copies/mL is an important indicator of a high risk for transmission of HIV infection. Internationally, the targets of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the proportion of HIV-diagnosed persons who are receiving ART and for the proportion of persons receiving ART who are virally suppressed are 90% [25] . In this cohort of persons engaged in continuity HIV care, 94% of in-care person-time was contributed after ART initiation, exceeding the UNAIDS target. However, only 88% of person-time in care after ART initiation was spent with HIV RNA ≤ 1500 copies/mL (a less strict definition of viral suppression, based on risk of HIV transmission). If, while persons were not engaged in care in the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinic they were also not suppressed, the proportion of time spent capable of transmitting HIV infection would be higher (27%). If persons lost to clinic remained virally suppressed (possibly by receiving care elsewhere), then the proportion of all person-time in this cohort spent capable of transmitting HIV infection would only be 13%. The true proportion of time spent infectious is likely somewhere between these two extremes.

Internationally, the targets of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the proportion of HIV-diagnosed persons who are receiving ART and for the proportion of persons receiving ART who are virally suppressed are 90%.


Advanced robotic technologies add convenience to human life, not only in industrial applications, but also in the fields of education and entertainment. Researchers have developed numerous types of robots to meet different demands, so that the human-robot interactions are simplified and robots can carry out more complex functions. There are many kinds of robotic systems, but the robot arm is the one most used [1] . For many factories in the industrial field, such as car assembly plants, the use of robot arms is an important tool in the manufacturing process. In order for the movement of robot arms to be controlled according to the target positions, the robot arm movement needs to be designed with respect to stability and precision. As the recognition technology has improved in a variety of ways, robots have become more human-like; hence, these robots are called humanoid robots, as they resemble humans in appearance and imitate their behavior. Robots now offer valuable assistance for humans in their everyday life.

There are many kinds of robotic systems, but the robot arm is the one most used.


For both our experiments, we rank ordered the participants' data and analysed main effects and interactions using Mann-Whitney tests for between-participants comparisons and Wilcoxon tests for within-participant comparisons, correcting for ties when N 4 15 for Wilcoxon tests, and N 4 10 for Mann-Whitney tests (Siegel & Castellan, 1988) . Because the prediction that falsification should increase correct answers is directional, all p-levels are one-tailed. Table 2 presents the percentages of correct responses. Overall, the participants were more accurate in responding to the control problems (69% correct) than to the illusory problems (31% correct; Wilcoxon's T + = 203, n = 20, z = 3.93, p 5 .00001). The participants soon converged on the correct falsifications of the premises, even though they received no feedback. They were 79% correct from the third problem onwards. As predicted, the problems in the falsification condition were answered more accurately (53% correct) than those in the no falsification condition (49% correct). The difference was small, but reliable (Wilcoxon's T + = 98, n = 18, p 5 .02). The participants who carried out the falsification in the first block of trials were more accurate than those who did not carry out falsification in the first block of trials (56% vs. 44% correct; Mann-Whitney W x = 184.5, n = 24, z = 2.00, p 5 .02). Table 2 shows that, as the theory predicted, performance improved for the illusory problems (Wilcoxon's T 7 = 38.5, n = 9, z = 4.78, p 5 .00001). Falsification marginally influenced performance on control problems (Wilcoxon's T 7 = 29, n = 9, z = 1.27, p 5 .10). To test whether the falsification of premises had a greater effect on illusory than control problems, interaction weights were applied to the number of correct responses for control and illusory problems, which were summed for each group. Falsification had a marginally greater influence on illusory than on control problems (Wilcoxon's T 7 = 34.5, n = 9, z = 1.52, p = .06). To ensure that practice effects had no effect on our analysis, we compared the accuracy of illusory problems in the first block of the group who received falsification first against the accuracy of the illusory problems in the first block of the group who did not receive falsification first. We also compared the accuracy of control problems across the first blocks of the two groups. Despite the reduction in data points, we found a pattern similar to that found in the analysis of the full dataset, namely, falsification marginally influenced accuracy of answers to the illusory inferences (Mann-Whitney's W x = 170.5, N = 24, z = 1.34, p 5 .09), and to the control inferences (W x = 175, N = 24, z = 1.56, p 5 .06). However, falsifying had a greater effect on the illusory problems than on the controls (U x = 132, N = 24, z = 3.44, p 5 .0003).

For both our experiments, we rank ordered the participants' data and analysed main effects and interactions using Mann-Whitney tests for between-participants comparisons and Wilcoxon tests for within-participant comparisons, correcting for ties when N 4 15 for Wilcoxon tests, and N 4 10 for Mann-Whitney tests.


The treatment with 1.75 μmol silicon maintained the levels of total chlorophyll under water-deficient conditions. Similar levels were obtained with the control plants from both cultivars, in which the control represents the ideal conditions for the plant. This result can be explained by the relationship between the leaf water potential and the total Figure 2 . Chlorophyll a (A), chlorophyll b (B), and total chlorophyll (C) in two tomato cultivars treated with silicon and exposed to water deficiency. Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different by the Scott-Knott test at 5% of probability. The bars represent the mean standard error chlorophyll because adequate water in the leaf tissue maintains the stability of the chloroplasts in addition to other functions, such as absorption and energy transport. Water-deficient plants that were treated with silicon showed an increase in the total chlorophyll. Correspondingly, a decrease was observed in the plants exposed to a water deficit in the absence of silicon, likely because of the decrease in nitrogen absorption, an essential element necessary for the formation of chlorophyll. Silicon treatments were shown to cause changes to nitrogen metabolism (Watanabe et al. 2002) . Water is responsible for the conduction of nitrogen and other nutrients during their absorption through the root system.

Silicon treatments were shown to cause changes to nitrogen metabolism.


We found that within-population variation in traits related to tolerance was greater among genotypes of Spartina alterniflora in a population that had long been separated from the planthopper than in a population that had never been separated from it. Both shoot and plant mortality showed this pattern, as did population growth of the planthopper. These results are summarized by the relationship between cordgrass shoot survival and planthopper population growth (Fig. 3) . There was little variation in this relationship among San Francisco Bay genotypes, none of which suffered greatly from the low densities of planthopper developing over the 20-wk experiment, which is consistent with previous findings (Daehler and Strong 1995) . In contrast, there was huge variation among genotypes of the estranged population in both shoot survival and planthopper population growth. All but one Willapa Bay genotype suffered more than any San Francisco Bay genotype. Even at fairly low planthopper population densities, the harm done to most genotypes of the estranged cordgrass population was substantial.

There was little variation in this relationship among San Francisco Bay genotypes, none of which suffered greatly from the low densities of planthopper developing over the 20-wk experiment, which is consistent with previous findings.


The 2008 financial turmoil had important effects in the socioeconomic structure of many developed and developing countries. In the European Union, its impacts were pervasive and affected levels of income, employment and economic growth (Fagerberg and Srholec 2016) . Correspondingly, these events caused the marginalisation of disadvantaged groups and consequent social distress (Heidenreich 2015) . Also, youth employment was particularly affected, compromising future prospects of social well-being (Aceleanu, Serban, and Burghelea 2015) . This situation has driven down aggregate demand, causing a lasting recession within the bloc and a slowdown in convergence trends in the EU. Macro-stabilisation policies, in this context of economic crisis, seemed to be largely ineffective for recovery, having minor impacts on the reestablishment of sustainable growth patterns (Tassey 2012) .

In the European Union, its impacts were pervasive and affected levels of income, employment and economic growth.

Correspondingly, these events caused the marginalisation of disadvantaged groups and consequent social distress.

Also, youth employment was particularly affected, compromising future prospects of social well-being.

Macro-stabilisation policies, in this context of economic crisis, seemed to be largely ineffective for recovery, having minor impacts on the reestablishment of sustainable growth patterns.


Static and dynamic panel data methods are applied. Factor analysis is used to establish proxies of NIS' stages of development. Overall results seem to support the existence of a dual role of innovation policy in the European Union. These findings suggest that austerity policies may not only cause short-term divergence among EU nations, but also affect countries' evolutionary trajectories over the long run. This is line with the view stating that heterogeneous environments in terms of R&D efforts shall lead to persistent productivity disparities (Fagerberg and Verspagen 1996) .

This is line with the view stating that heterogeneous environments in terms of R&D efforts shall lead to persistent productivity disparities.


To test our propositions we assess information from 28 EU Member States observed throughout the 1990-2013 period. Three sets of empirical models are developed to approach variations in economic output and employment as a function of: (i) current public expenditures in R&D; (ii) structural conditions of the STI system and (iii) combined effects of these two sets of determinants. We address both economic activity and unemployment levels as partial proxies for overall socioeconomic conditions in European countries. As previous research has demonstrated, these vectors can be related to broader social issues in EU nations (Drydakis 2015; Jongen, Burazeri, and Brand 2015) .

As previous research has demonstrated, these vectors can be related to broader social issues in EU nations.


This debate has been dominated by a clash of approaches claiming for, on the one hand, austerity measures and, on the other, economic stimuli for countries. What we notice is that, although innovation theory and policy have evolved significantly in previous decades, there is a persistent gap concerning the need for stronger insertion and coordination with other related policy (and political) frameworks (Mytelka and Smith 2001; Von Tunzelmann 2004) . We depart from the perspective that the inclusion of a Science, Technology and Innovation-driven point of view -as a form of confronting such period of recession/depression -could provide a framework of reference of great utility for public policy (Audretsch and Link 2012) . Also, we understand that it can be adequately articulated with the economic stimuli speech and theoretical background.

What we notice is that, although innovation theory and policy have evolved significantly in previous decades, there is a persistent gap concerning the need for stronger insertion and coordination with other related policy (and political) frameworks.

We depart from the perspective that the inclusion of a Science, Technology and Innovation-driven point of view -as a form of confronting such period of recession/depression -could provide a framework of reference of great utility for public policy.


To that end, it is necessary to identify pest species accurately. Traditionally, they have been identified based on the morphological characteristics of adult insects (White and Hancock, 1997) . However, it is sometimes difficult to identify Bactrocera species, because there are numbers of species that are not morphologically distinct. Moreover, there are many cases in which morphological criteria cannot be easily applied. For example, species identification of immature insects usually requires rearing individuals until adult emergence. Many species can be discriminated from allied species only by the characteristics of male adults. Species identification is difficult when only broken pieces or portions of insect body are available. Such situations necessitate the development of new criteria for rapid and accurate identification of Bactrocera species that can be applied in quarantine practices.

Traditionally, they have been identified based on the morphological characteristics of adult insects.


The SPARE recruitment study has identified a number of issues relevant for the future design of trials. It is important, for example, to reduce the apparent complexity of the trial by encapsulating the design in a relatively simple flowchart. This then helps recruiters to be clearer in their presentation of the trial. The SPARE study also indicated several issues relevant to the future application of recruitment interventions that incorporate qualitative research. Although the recruitment investigation and its intervention were completed and implemented quickly, the trial closed before its findings could be fully evaluated, so the optimal time for such studies might be early in the trial design or feasibility stage -as in the ProtecT study [16] . Qualitative research that is initiated at later stages faces a number of challenges [7] . However, the time-lines for the intervention are now clearer from this study, and so targeted investigations might be possible if there were at least 18 (or better 24) months of recruitment time remaining. Another factor of importance for the future for trials with very different arms is to explore the need for joint lead investigators representing each clinical speciality. The intervention part of the study would have had much more and earlier immediate relevance for SPARE if it had been possible to obtain audio-recordings of recruiter-patient interactions. This aspect should perhaps have greater prominence in future interventions. The success of the qualitative investigation in understanding the key recruitment issues inside three months bodes well for future applications. It is likely that these sorts of studies are more useful for trials that involve very different treatment arms -as in ProtecT and SPARE. This was also true of the Quartet trials, although several of those were 'difficult' for other reasons [7, 8] . Such interventions are unlikely to be necessary in placebo-controlled drug trials, or those involving different methods of delivery of the same treatment. There are, however, increasing numbers of complex and challenging trials that may provide opportunities for targeted recruitment interventions.

Although the recruitment investigation and its intervention were completed and implemented quickly, the trial closed before its findings could be fully evaluated, so the optimal time for such studies might be early in the trial design or feasibility stage -as in the ProtecT study.

Qualitative research that is initiated at later stages faces a number of challenges.

This was also true of the Quartet trials, although several of those were 'difficult' for other reasons.


However, in many areas of cancer treatment/therapy, there is uncertainty over the most effective treatment, and often the most controversial questions focus in areas where the alternatives may include a surgical option. For example, in muscle invasive bladder cancer, most research has focussed on individual aspects of the two main modes of treatment: radical surgery (cystectomy -removal of the bladder) or conservative treatment based on radiotherapy (either alone or as part of a programme of selective-bladder preservation [SBP] where radiotherapy is used in those with good response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and cystectomy is performed in poor responders). Case series (with all their attendant flaws) have demonstrated similar survival outcomes for contemporary cystectomy, radiotherapy and SBP approaches, but the need for rigorous evidence in the form of a randomised phase III trial to demonstrate that these approaches are comparable has recently been very strongly encouraged [5] .

Case series (with all their attendant flaws) have demonstrated similar survival outcomes for contemporary cystectomy, radiotherapy and SBP approaches, but the need for rigorous evidence in the form of a randomised phase III trial to demonstrate that these approaches are comparable has recently been very strongly encouraged.


Coumarin in the leaves of P. lannesiana is known and used for its anti-bacterial activity and specific flavor. Seasonal changes of coumarin contents were investigated in the leaves of P. yedoensis [13] . Coumarin is also known as a strong allelochemical in the leaves of a leguminous tree, Gliricidia sepium [14] . However, its role as an allelochemical in Prunus species has not been well investigated.

Seasonal changes of coumarin contents were investigated in the leaves of P. yedoensis.

Coumarin is also known as a strong allelochemical in the leaves of a leguminous tree, Gliricidia sepium.


Here we report, the effects of both ABA and coumarin on both protoplast cultures of lettuce and P. yedoensis. Finally, the content of coumarin in suspension cells of P. yedoensis originating from leaves was investigated. The ABA content in their protoplasts was also investigated and compared with those of suspension cells originating from peduncle and petiole [16] . In addition, the differences of two putative allelochemicals were discussed as the cause of strong allelopathic activities of leaves of P. yedoensis.

The ABA content in their protoplasts was also investigated and compared with those of suspension cells originating from peduncle and petiole.


The nature of the electroweak phase transition is still weakly constrained experimentally and many possibilities remain open, in particular when the scalar sector of the theory is extended. There has been growing interest lately in the possibility of a strong first-order electroweak phase transition, not only because of its relevance for baryogenesis but also because it is a potential source of gravitational waves detectable at LISA [1] . The majority of the literature has focused on polynomial potentials for the Higgs and associated scalar fields.

There has been growing interest lately in the possibility of a strong first-order electroweak phase transition, not only because of its relevance for baryogenesis but also because it is a potential source of gravitational waves detectable at LISA.


The Higgs is localized towards the IR brane of the RS model which in the dual CFT corresponds to the Higgs being a composite state. The fact that in this scenario the temperature during the phase transition of the radion/dilaton is below the QCD scale, means that temperature corrections to the Higgs potential are negligible. Electroweak symmetry will therefore generically be broken simultaneously and QCD thus induces the electroweak phase transition. This potential dramatic impact on the nature of the electroweak phase transition was overlooked in the previous literature on RS and composite Higgs models. A fascinating application would be to use the strong CP -violation from the QCD axion, which would be large during such a phase transition near QCD temperatures, as the source of CP -violation for cold baryogenesis [9] . The output of this work will give strong support for this possibility.

A fascinating application would be to use the strong CP -violation from the QCD axion, which would be large during such a phase transition near QCD temperatures, as the source of CP -violation for cold baryogenesis.


Cell mediated strategy that can effectively circumvent the biological barriers has aroused extensive attention in the treatment of many kinds of tumors [25, 26] . Among them, macrophages are attractive due to their innate phagocytotic capability. They are not only circulating cells in body which are easy to achieve, but also one of the most abundant cells in tumor microenvironments which are directly relevant to tumor proliferation and metastasis [27, 28] . Macrophages can effectively bind to tumor cells via interactions between α4 integrins and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), thereby promoting their migration to tumor cells [29] . Macrophages can endocytose gold nanoparticles effectively and migrate into cancer cell spheroids without losing their photothermal performance [30] . Chu and coworkers prepared macrophages with GNR and improved the intratumoral distribution of GNR, thus enhancing the photothermal therapeutic efficacy [26, 31] . Although these studies exhibited efficient migration and therapeutic capacity of GNR loaded macrophages, the therapeutic of metastatic tumor cells has not been demonstrated by this platform. Immunotherapy was considered as one of the most effective strategies to treat tumor metastasis [32] . Here, we hypothesized that photothermal therapy combined with immunotherapy may enhance the comprehensive antitumor effect by photothermal elimination and immune surveillance.

Cell mediated strategy that can effectively circumvent the biological barriers has aroused extensive attention in the treatment of many kinds of tumors.

They are not only circulating cells in body which are easy to achieve, but also one of the most abundant cells in tumor microenvironments which are directly relevant to tumor proliferation and metastasis.

Macrophages can effectively bind to tumor cells via interactions between α4 integrins and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), thereby promoting their migration to tumor cells.

Macrophages can endocytose gold nanoparticles effectively and migrate into cancer cell spheroids without losing their photothermal performance.

Chu and coworkers prepared macrophages with GNR and improved the intratumoral distribution of GNR, thus enhancing the photothermal therapeutic efficacy.

Immunotherapy was considered as one of the most effective strategies to treat tumor metastasis.


GNR were prepared according to the seed-mediated growth method [34] . Sulfydryl groups were introduced onto the surface of hyperbranched PEI. The affiliation of peaks on PEI-SH was shown in the 1 H NMR spectra and the characteristic peaks of sulfydryl groups on PEI-SH were at 2.99 and 3.14. The molar content of sulfydryl segment in PEI-SH was about 23.3 (Fig. S1 ), which could be calculated from peak intensities of proton signal of sulfydryl and PEI. GNR-PEI was then constructed by conjugating of PEI-SH to GNR via S-Au bonds (Fig. 1) . The geometric morphology of GNR-PEI was achieved by TEM and the images showed that GNR-PEI had a mean length of 91.5 ± 8.2 nm and width of 30.4±2.5 nm (Fig. 2a) . There was little effect on the morphology of GNR-PEI/CpG complex compared with GNR-PEI (Fig. 2b) . As shown in Fig. 2c , a maximum absorption peak for the original GNR-PEI was around 802 nm. While for GNR-PEI/CpG complex, the peak slightly redshifted to 817 nm and the intensity also exhibited obvious enhancement, which was mainly due to the increased dielectric constant and the formation of hydrogen bonding between GNR-PEI and CpG [35] . For naked CpG group, no absorption was detected under our experimental conditions. The results indicated that GNR-PEI had the potential capacity for photothermal conversion. The content of PEI-SH on the surface of GNR was determined by TGA. The measurements were carried out from room temperature to 600 o C at a heating rate of 10 o C min −1 in N 2 . The results (Fig. 2c) showed that the content of PEI-SH in GNR-PEI was about 34.3%.

GNR were prepared according to the seed-mediated growth method.

While for GNR-PEI/CpG complex, the peak slightly redshifted to 817 nm and the intensity also exhibited obvious enhancement, which was mainly due to the increased dielectric constant and the formation of hydrogen bonding between GNR-PEI and CpG.


Photothermal ablation-induced tumor lysis could liberate tumor specific antigens and CpG adjuvant in situ. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells were then recruited and activated through activation of toll-like receptor 9 signaling, thus initiating effective and systemic antitumor immunity through a complicated immune cascade. Previous studies showed that CpG could effectively activate dendritic cells and elicit adaptive immune responses in vivo [37] . Here, histological analysis of 4T1 tumors following intravenous administration of GNR-PEI/CpG-laden-macrophages plus laser treatment revealed a dramatic infiltration of dendritic cells (CD11c + , 14.78%) in tumor sites compared with PBS (3.49%) and GNR-PEI/CpG-laden-macrophages without laser group (10.23%). The proportion of mature dendritic cells (CD11c + CD86 + ) was 8-fold higher after photothermal therapy compared with saline-treated group (Fig. 9a) . In addition, the treatment with GNR-PEI/CpG-laden-macrophages with laser induced much more mature myeloid dendritic cells migrating to tumordraining lymph nodes compared with other groups. Finally, the proportion of T-lymphocytes was further evaluated in spleens, and both CD8 + T cells and CD4 + T cells were significantly increased compared with salinetreated group (Fig. 9b) . Collectively, these results indicated that photothermal ablation and the photothermally triggered tumor specific antigens and CpG adjuvant has a combined effect on the activation of myeloid dendritic cells following intravenous injection with GNR-PEI/CpG-laden-macrophages plus laser treatment. Our findings provided a cell-mediated potential nanoplatform for tumor therapy by combination of near infrared photothermal therapy and immunotherapy.

Previous studies showed that CpG could effectively activate dendritic cells and elicit adaptive immune responses in vivo.


However, although IoT solutions are being implemented in a growing and fast way in almost all the aspects of humans' everyday life, their security exposition is not decreasing [12] . The integration of real-world objects with the Internet poses several security challenges, so that currently researchers and developers worldwide are struggling to find innovative solutions to address them [13, 14] . Specifically, the nature of the IoT ecosystem itself presents limitations from a security viewpoint. Due to the different standards and communication stacks involved, the resources constraints, and the massive amount and heterogeneity of interconnected devices, traditional security measures may not be employed efficiently in IoT systems [15] . Consequently, the process of reviewing different security alternatives for IoT devices becomes of crucial importance, so that one can spot the main challenges inherent to the IoT trend and possibly propose solutions [16] .

However, although IoT solutions are being implemented in a growing and fast way in almost all the aspects of humans' everyday life, their security exposition is not decreasing.

The integration of real-world objects with the Internet poses several security challenges, so that currently researchers and developers worldwide are struggling to find innovative solutions to address them.

Due to the different standards and communication stacks involved, the resources constraints, and the massive amount and heterogeneity of interconnected devices, traditional security measures may not be employed efficiently in IoT systems.

Consequently, the process of reviewing different security alternatives for IoT devices becomes of crucial importance, so that one can spot the main challenges inherent to the IoT trend and possibly propose solutions.


GA forms a major group of nonlinear search algorithms based on the mechanics of natural selection and natural genetics. GA differ from traditional search methods in various aspects such as the GA work with coded parameter set, not with the parameters themselves; search for a population of points, not with a single point; use an objective function, not derivatives; and use probabilistic transition rules, not deterministic ones. GA can be adapted to work with multiple parameter problems easily and search for all the parameter optimizers at the same time. There are various efforts in the literature where GA is used directly for DOA or it is used together with other methods for fast optimization of objective function in arrival angle estimation (Goldberg, 1989; Varlamos and Capsalis, 2004; Li and Lu, 2004; Man et al., 1996) .

There are various efforts in the literature where GA is used directly for DOA or it is used together with other methods for fast optimization of objective function in arrival angle estimation.


The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of ultrasound on the swelling of BC, to improve molecules entrapment and laccase immobilization. The BC membranes were produced using commercial scoby (tea fungus) in Hestrin & Schramn (HS) medium. The medium cultivation conditions were optimized to obtain high production yields at the lowest processing costs. After production and bleaching, the BC samples were swelled under different conditions (time, ultrasound, temperature and state of samples). The influence of swelling was further studied during fluorescein-polyethylene glycol (PEG) entrapment and enzyme immobilization. Swelling process is known to play an important role on the enzymes entrapment and immobilization since it is mainly related to the network elasticity, to the extent porosity of the polymer and to the large water uptake capacity to absorb enzyme molecules [1] [2] [3] . An enhancement of the microfibrils and porous network of BC would increase its ability for enzyme molecules entrapment. Moreover, the increase of available hydroxyl groups on the surface of nanocellulose would promote an higher enzyme immobilization degree via chemical bonding and/or electrostatic adsorption. Swelled and non swelled BC samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The intrinsic properties of BC, namely mechanical strength, tridimensional nanostructure, high purity and increased water absorption make this material the ideal candidate for enzyme immobilization. Moreover, the hydroxyl groups available at the surface of BC will provide the enzyme immobilization via chemical bonds and electrostatic adsorption. Enzyme immobilization studies on BC samples were performed with native and chemically PEGylated laccase from Myceliophthora thermophila, being the enzyme activity evaluated after immobilization. This evaluation was undertaken by ABTS and catechol oxidation. Static cultivation of BC was conducted in an incubator (SI-600R, JEIO TECH Co., Daejeon, Korea). The swelling of BC was performed using an ultrasonic bath (VWR USC 200TH, VWR International, Malaysia) or an orbital agitator (AG-200-A, optic ivy men system, Comecta, S.A). The absorbance was monitored using UV-visible spectrophotometry (Multimode Microplate Reader Synergy TM Mx and Gen5 TM , BioTek, Instruments, Winooski, VT, U.S.A.). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis was carried out using a FT/IR-670 Plus spectrophotometer (Jasco International Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The internal morphology of BC samples was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM, JSM-7600F, JEOL Korea Ltd., Japan).

Swelling process is known to play an important role on the enzymes entrapment and immobilization since it is mainly related to the network elasticity, to the extent porosity of the polymer and to the large water uptake capacity to absorb enzyme molecules.


It is argued that the current policy regime in the Netherlands provides little incentives for individual adaptation (Botzen and van den Bergh 2008; Aerts and Botzen 2011; Filatova 2014) . Our model results suggest that a partial reallocation of risk can provide incentives for individual adaptation. On the one hand, our results suggest that the direct capital damage from a flood can be reduced by diverting investments away from areas at risk. Provision of information about hazard as well as information about the effectiveness of individual adaptation measures could help private sector agents in making decisions on their own exposure to flood risk. On the other hand, ensuring the public good characteristics of protection is an important goal for policy makers: publicly financed prevention can help ensuring that safety does not become a good primarily enjoyed by the privileged.

It is argued that the current policy regime in the Netherlands provides little incentives for individual adaptation.


As in most Western countries, the political goal in Norway is that health care should be allocated according to medical need and at the lowest effective care level. The referral rates of general practitioners (GPs) are an important determinant of secondary care utilization [1] . However, research over the last 30 years has established that referral rates vary considerably between GPs, and that the variation in these rates cannot be explained by patient morbidity alone. Other factors play an important role, such as health care organization, GP characteristics and patients' wishes [2, 3] .

The referral rates of general practitioners (GPs) are an important determinant of secondary care utilization.

Other factors play an important role, such as health care organization, GP characteristics and patients' wishes.


Subjective outcomes are collectively referred to as 'patient reported outcomes' (PROs) [2] . PROs may help us evaluate the utility of transplantation and the effect of new drugs or devices employed after transplantation [2, 3, 5, 6] . Symptom experience and medication adherence are two major aspects of PROs to LT recipients.

Subjective outcomes are collectively referred to as 'patient reported outcomes' (PROs).

PROs may help us evaluate the utility of transplantation and the effect of new drugs or devices employed after transplantation.


Secondly, active prevention protects the software from dynamic analysis, which uses debuggers or processor emulators [1, 6] . However, in an absolute sense, this type of prevention is impossible on the PC due to the characteristics of open architecture. Any defense against this type of attacks must, at best, merely deter a perpetrator by providing a poor return on their investment.

Secondly, active prevention protects the software from dynamic analysis, which uses debuggers or processor emulators.


The notion of viscosity solution has been successfully applied to Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations and subsequently to stochastic control problems. Concerning equations on an infinitedimensional Hilbert space, relevant references are [4] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [38] , [39] , [20] . Generally speaking, the class of control problems that can be treated by this method is much more general than the one considered in this paper: for example, it includes control-depending coefficients F and G, and Lipschitz conditions are not required. However, none of the results we know are directly applicable to our situation, either because some boundedness conditions are not fulfilled in the presence of an unbounded operator A, or because G is required to take values in the space of HilbertSchmidt operators, or because other specific properties are required. We also notice that in all the cited references on viscosity solutions a characterization of the optimal control through a feedback law is not available.

Concerning equations on an infinitedimensional Hilbert space, relevant references are.


Due to the increasing number of poorly water-soluble drugs in the field of pharmaceutical industry, the urge for the development of novel methods aiming the enhanced dissolution of these substances is growing [1] [2] [3] . Among the various techniques the preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), which are solid state formulations containing a drug dispersed in an amorphous form in a carrier (mostly a polymer), are proven to be an excellent way of enhancing the dissolution properties, thus, advancing bioavailability [4, 5] . Oral solid dosage forms also have significant advantages over liquid dosage forms, for instance increased stability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and higher dose precision, therefore EMA (European Medicines Agency) recommends the development of solid dosage forms over liquid formulations [6] .

Due to the increasing number of poorly water-soluble drugs in the field of pharmaceutical industry, the urge for the development of novel methods aiming the enhanced dissolution of these substances is growing.

Among the various techniques the preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), which are solid state formulations containing a drug dispersed in an amorphous form in a carrier (mostly a polymer), are proven to be an excellent way of enhancing the dissolution properties, thus, advancing bioavailability.

Oral solid dosage forms also have significant advantages over liquid dosage forms, for instance increased stability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and higher dose precision, therefore EMA (European Medicines Agency) recommends the development of solid dosage forms over liquid formulations.


The results of the monitoring of saline soil development prove that the main source of salts in soil is the salinity of shallow groundwater (El Lateef et al. 2006) . In areas with an evaporation water regime of the soil, such as the many part of Iran dissolved salts are transported from a groundwater level to the soil profile by means of vertical flow. Moreover, using such groundwater for irrigation also leads to the accumulation of salts in the soil profile. In both processes groundwater is drawn by evapotranspiration, and soluble salts coagulate on the surface of soil particles and sodium ions are adsorbed into the soil colloidal system. Irrigation with secondary treated wastewater can also be the source of salts in soil (El Lateef et al. 2006) .

The results of the monitoring of saline soil development prove that the main source of salts in soil is the salinity of shallow groundwater.

Irrigation with secondary treated wastewater can also be the source of salts in soil.


From the data in our investigation, like the growth in medicine, it appears that the paradigm for the chiropractic profession has since shifted as well. Evidence of marginalization by the chiropractic profession of its unorthodox sect is indicated by the relative number of publications in its mainstream journal compared to the number associated with its dissident counterpart. From 1978 through 2004 for example, there were 1,394 abstracts available in the peer-reviewed and indexed journal most strongly affiliated with the chiropractic profession. For the same years there were only 55 abstracts associated with the periodical expressing a predominantly non-evidence-based view [3] .

For the same years there were only 55 abstracts associated with the periodical expressing a predominantly non-evidence-based view.


Intercalation of cationic surfactants changes the surface properties of clays from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and enables their industrial application, dependent on their structural properties [26, 27] . Worth mentioning is a study by Bickford and Foote [28] . Those authors synthesized sorbents capable of solidifying Purex, Pubex, and Cleanex organic wastes from the nuclear industry. Two of these sorbents, Petroset II and organoclay, were very easy to work with, as they had been designed to solidify liquid waste without the need for mixing. The Petroset II-G sorbent testing resulted in an optimized waste-loading ratio of 3.44:1 (sorbent to surrogate), and the optimized ratio for organoclay was 2.53:1.

Intercalation of cationic surfactants changes the surface properties of clays from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and enables their industrial application, dependent on their structural properties.

Worth mentioning is a study by Bickford and Foote.


Furthermore, the differences in phenotype between young queens of each form (e.g. in amount of nutrient reserves), coupled with a strong preference of P workers for the P-queen phenotype, make it unlikely that queens often become egg layers in nests of the alternate form (Ross & Shoemaker, 1993; Shoemaker & Ross, 1996) . This suggests that gene flow between the forms can be mediated by males only. Indeed, several studies indicate that interform gene flow commonly occurs by means of P queens mating with migrant M males (Ross & Shoemaker, 1993; Ross, 1997) .

Furthermore, the differences in phenotype between young queens of each form (e.g. in amount of nutrient reserves), coupled with a strong preference of P workers for the P-queen phenotype, make it unlikely that queens often become egg layers in nests of the alternate form.

Indeed, several studies indicate that interform gene flow commonly occurs by means of P queens mating with migrant M males.