Since the publication of several Institute of Medicine reports on quality, transparency and patient safety (Institute of Medicine, 2000 Medicine, , 2001 , attention has increasingly been focused on the objective measurement of health care outcomes. Outcomes measures refer to responses that characterize the patient's health status and include, for example, perioperative mortality, morbidity and functional status. Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is one of the few procedures performed with sufficient frequency to justify statistical assessment of outcomes to quantify provider performance (Dimick, Welch and Birkmeyer, 2004) . It is the outcomes component of Donabedian's triad that requires the most sophisticated statistical approach and this is the primary motivation for this article.

Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is one of the few procedures performed with sufficient frequency to justify statistical assessment of outcomes to quantify provider performance.


The emergence of new techniques for encoding and transmitting information in a spectrally efficient manner over optical fibers calls for the development of stable, broadband sources with accurately controllable characteristics. Of particular interest is the development of broadband frequency combs for use in applications, such as optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) [1] . Such applications require the generation of discrete line spectra with as little power variations over their entire spectrum as possible. Kerr effects in optical fibers are frequently used to broaden the spectra of pulsed lasers, the tailoring of which relies on the use of optical fibers with specially designed dispersion properties. To this end, carefully engineered microstructured fibers offering suitable dispersion and nonlinear characteristics are extensively used for the generation of smooth broadband spectra [2] .

Of particular interest is the development of broadband frequency combs for use in applications, such as optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

To this end, carefully engineered microstructured fibers offering suitable dispersion and nonlinear characteristics are extensively used for the generation of smooth broadband spectra.


In this work, we present two significant improvements to the previously reported results. We have targeted the generation of an ultra-flat frequency comb covering the full C-band, i.e. a spectral broadening of more than 10 times the bandwidth of the initial source spectrum. To achieve this, we developed a more sophisticated algorithm for the adaptive shaping process, based on the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) [7] . We report the generation of a spectrum with a 35-nm 3-dB bandwidth (and a 0.7-dB bandwidth of 26 nm).

To achieve this, we developed a more sophisticated algorithm for the adaptive shaping process, based on the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES).


According to the review of literature and the scholars, when modeling emergency vehicle dispatching problem, consider more about such factors as response time, time windows, and potential incidents. The vehicle redistribution method with area coverage constraints has been used to resolve the regional vehicle gaps in the process of the rescue. However, due to the differences of current accidents, vehicles, roads, and environments within each coverage area of the rescue station, the potential risks are different. In the situation of limited vehicles, it is more rational to regard the potential risks as a key factor for redistribution and preferentially guarantee the vehicle requirements of high risk areas. In view of the above and taking potential risks into consideration, we have set up the multiobjective programming model of vehicle dispatching and redistribution based on shuffled frog leaping algorithm (SF-M) in the previous work and solved the model with weight-based shuffled frog leaping algorithm [15] . But it is revealed at the same time that because of the different attributes of all the objectives, it is hard to determine the weight value scientifically and objectively. However, bilevel programming model can better describe the restrictive relation between the object in current accident rescue and the vehicle redistribution, thus guaranteeing the preferential decision-making power of the objective function of the first level and avoiding the objective weight successfully. Because of its inherent complexity, bilevel programming problem (BLP) has been proved to be a NP-hard problem. In addition, the multiple-incident and multiple-response (MIMR) emergency vehicle dispatching problems are large-scale variable problems, and heuristic algorithm is superior in solving this kind of problems [16] [17] [18] . Above all, with the aim to solve the emergency vehicle dispatching and redistribution problem in MIMR situation, this paper sets up a bilevel programming model of which the minimum time for the rescue of current accidents is the objective function of the first level and the minimum time for vehicle redistribution is the objective function of the second level, and then a bilevel shuffled frog leaping algorithm is put forward to solve the model.

In view of the above and taking potential risks into consideration, we have set up the multiobjective programming model of vehicle dispatching and redistribution based on shuffled frog leaping algorithm (SF-M) in the previous work and solved the model with weight-based shuffled frog leaping algorithm.

In addition, the multiple-incident and multiple-response (MIMR) emergency vehicle dispatching problems are large-scale variable problems, and heuristic algorithm is superior in solving this kind of problems.


Although epinephrine plasma level increased significantly in depression model rats, it seems that epinephrine has little-to-no effect on DMEs expression in vitro experiment. As BRL3A cells were treated with the selective adrenergic agonists DEXT and PE for 48 hr, Cyp3a18 expression was only moderately up-regulated without any significant difference. Similarly Cyp2b1/2, Ugt1a1, Gsta5, Nr1i2 and Nr1i3 expression also changed a little. The protein expression of Ugt1a1, Cyp3a1 and PXR were broadly unchanged, too. Besides, β-adrenergic agonist ISO had no effect on the drug metabolism-related gene/protein expression. The mechanism of the little-tono effect of adrenergic receptor agonist in vitro assay is not clear. Adrenergic receptors are expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system involving in the regulation of various physiological functions [29, 30] . Glucocorticoids are the major regulators of CYP450, and their release are affected by the adrenergic signaling pathway [31] . Stress might directly promote the expression of CYP3A, CYP2C and CYP2D via the adrenergic pathway, or indirectly regulate the expression of CYP450 through insulin pathway [32] . The in vitro little-to-no effect of adrenergic receptor agonists in BRL 3A cells suggested that adrenergic pathway might be dominantly related with the release of glucocorticoids in vivo.

Adrenergic receptors are expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system involving in the regulation of various physiological functions.

Glucocorticoids are the major regulators of CYP450, and their release are affected by the adrenergic signaling pathway.

Stress might directly promote the expression of CYP3A, CYP2C and CYP2D via the adrenergic pathway, or indirectly regulate the expression of CYP450 through insulin pathway.


The first key observation of the current study is that female runners were associated with significantly greater eversion and tibial internal rotation angles in comparison with males. This finding has potential clinical significance as excessive rearfoot eversion and associated tibial internal rotation parameters are implicated in the aetiology of a number of overuse injuries such as tibial stress syndrome, plantar fasciitis, patellofemoral syndrome and iliotibial band syndrome [20, 21] . This finding therefore suggests that females may be at greater risk from chronic injuries related to excessive eversion/ tibial internal rotation.

This finding has potential clinical significance as excessive rearfoot eversion and associated tibial internal rotation parameters are implicated in the aetiology of a number of overuse injuries such as tibial stress syndrome, plantar fasciitis, patellofemoral syndrome and iliotibial band syndrome.


During running, excessive coronal plane eversion of the ankle and internal rotation of the tibial segment during the stance phase of running have been implicated in the aetiology of running injuries [8] [9] [10] . The movement of the foot and shank are related, causing the tibial segment to rotate internally between touchdown and mid-stance [11, 12] . The transfer from ankle eversion to tibial internal rotation has been shown to differ widely among individuals [11, 12] . Yet, to date, it has not been established as to whether sex differences in tibiocalcaneal kinematics exist and how they might influence this coupling pattern. This study therefore aims to determine whether differences in tibiocalcaneal kinematics may exist between male and female recreational runners. A study of this nature may provide further insight into the increased incidence of injuries in female runners.

During running, excessive coronal plane eversion of the ankle and internal rotation of the tibial segment during the stance phase of running have been implicated in the aetiology of running injuries.

The movement of the foot and shank are related, causing the tibial segment to rotate internally between touchdown and mid-stance.

The transfer from ankle eversion to tibial internal rotation has been shown to differ widely among individuals.


Kinematic information was captured at 250 Hz using an eight-camera motion analysis system (Qualisys Medical, Sweden). Calibration of the motion capture system was performed before each data collection session. The calibrated anatomical systems technique (CAST) was utilised to quantify tibiocalcaneal kinematics [16] . The ankle joint was delineated as a function of the end points of the distal aspect of the tibial and the proximal end of the foot. To define the anatomical frames of the right foot and shank, retro-reflective markers were positioned onto the calcaneus, 1 st and 5 th metatarsal heads, medial and lateral malleoli and medial and lateral epicondyle of the femur. A carbon-fibre tracking cluster comprising of four retro-reflective markers was positioned onto the shank segment and secured using rigid tape. The foot was tracked using the calcaneus and 1 st and 5 th metatarsal markers. Static calibration trials (not normalized to standing posture) were obtained with the participant in the anatomical position in order for the positions of the anatomical markers to be referenced in relation to the tracking cluster/markers. The reliability of this measurement technique has been shown to be very high [17] .

The calibrated anatomical systems technique (CAST) was utilised to quantify tibiocalcaneal kinematics.

The reliability of this measurement technique has been shown to be very high.


Data processing retro-reflective markers were digitized using Qualisys Track Manager (Medical Ab, Sweden) in order to appropriate markers and exported as C3D files. Three-dimensional kinematics were quantified using Visual 3-D (C-Motion, USA) after marker displacement data were smoothed using a low-pass butterworth 4 th order zero-lag filter at a cut off frequency of 12 Hz [18] . Three-dimensional kinematics were calculated using an XYZ sequence of rotations (where X represents sagittal plane, Y represents coronal plane and Z represents transverse plane rotations) [19] . All kinematic waveforms were normalized to 100% of the stance phase; the processed trials were then averaged. To quantify ankle kinematics, the foot segment co-ordinate system was referenced in relation to the tibial segment, whilst tibial internal rotation was calculated as a function of the tibial co-ordinate system in relation to the foot in accordance with previous work [9] . Discrete 3-D kinematic measures from the ankle and tibia which were extracted for statistical analysis were 1) angle at footstrike, 2) angle at toe-off, 3) range of motion from footstrike to toe-off during stance, 4) peak eversion/tibial internal rotation, 5) relative range of motion (representing the angular displacement from footstrike to peak angle) and 6) eversion/tibial internal (EV/TIr) ratio. These variables have been defined as being clinically meaningful parameters by previous investigations which have examined tibiocalcaneal kinematics [8] .

Three-dimensional kinematics were quantified using Visual 3-D (C-Motion, USA) after marker displacement data were smoothed using a low-pass butterworth 4 th order zero-lag filter at a cut off frequency of 12 Hz.

Three-dimensional kinematics were calculated using an XYZ sequence of rotations (where X represents sagittal plane, Y represents coronal plane and Z represents transverse plane rotations).

To quantify ankle kinematics, the foot segment co-ordinate system was referenced in relation to the tibial segment, whilst tibial internal rotation was calculated as a function of the tibial co-ordinate system in relation to the foot in accordance with previous work.

These variables have been defined as being clinically meaningful parameters by previous investigations which have examined tibiocalcaneal kinematics.


In artisanal fisheries, catches frequently have both consumption and commodity values, making a distinction between subsistence and commercial activities difficult (Allison and Ellis, 2001; Baekgaard and Overballe, 1992; Berkes et al., 2001; Klein, 1999; Platteau, 1989) . This paper examines small-scale fish vending, both in terms of how it links resource use and consumption, and as a livelihood, using a case study of a market in Katima Mulilo, Namibia, in the upper Zambezi floodplain in southern Africa (Fig. 1) . We chose this setting because while African floodplain fisheries provide income and protein to large numbers of people, little is known about floodplain fishery biology or its role in livelihoods. An understanding of how a market associated with a floodplain fishery operates therefore provides important insight to both areas. This paper is organized as follows: First, we review recent literature on small-scale vending and themes of resource-consumption and livelihoods. We discuss the characteristics of small-scale fish vending and suggest how vending in coastal and lake environments (where the majority of studies have taken place) may differ from floodplain environments. We then describe the results of a longitudinal study of a fish market associated with the upper Zambezi floodplain, focusing on the commodity chains and the demographic and livelihood characteristics of the vendors. We conclude by considering to what degree our case study reflects descriptions of small-scale fish vending found elsewhere, as well as the potential impacts of fisheries management policies.

In artisanal fisheries, catches frequently have both consumption and commodity values, making a distinction between subsistence and commercial activities difficult.


Recently, there are many soft actuators that rely on regulating fiber orientations to implement anisotropic response [22] [23] [24] . Shape memory polymers are smart material with the ability to return from a deformed state to their original state when heated above glass transition temperature (tg). Due to the low strength and long response time, numerous efforts have been devoted to endow SMPs with global reinforced properties containing reduced recovery time and increased modulus [25, 26] . However, these methods are unable to realize soft actuators with localized and gradient properties, which is the capacity soft actuator requires [27] .

Recently, there are many soft actuators that rely on regulating fiber orientations to implement anisotropic response.

Due to the low strength and long response time, numerous efforts have been devoted to endow SMPs with global reinforced properties containing reduced recovery time and increased modulus.

However, these methods are unable to realize soft actuators with localized and gradient properties, which is the capacity soft actuator requires.


Gradient is a widespread strategy in nature for the purpose of survival and reproduction [1] . The introduction of spatial gradients can effectively enhance the mechanical and dynamic performance of materials by, for example, alleviating stress concentrations and creating anisotropic hygroscopicity [2] [3] [4] [5] . Gradient is used to referring to gradient chemical compositions/constituents without clear boundaries [6] . The term employed here in its broad sense is to describe the site-specific properties distributed within a material with gradual transitions between dissimilar nano-/micro-structural features, which is to say, structural gradient.

Gradient is a widespread strategy in nature for the purpose of survival and reproduction.

The introduction of spatial gradients can effectively enhance the mechanical and dynamic performance of materials by, for example, alleviating stress concentrations and creating anisotropic hygroscopicity.

Gradient is used to referring to gradient chemical compositions/constituents without clear boundaries.


There are basically two approaches to realize ''orientation gradient''. One way is arranging these building blocks from disordered to ordered. A typical example is the biopolymer-based wheat awn [7, 17] . In order to drive the seed into soil for dispersal, wheat awn has evolved into the structure that the cellulose fibrils are very well aligned along the long axis in the cap yet randomly organized at the ridge. The asymmetry in this arrangement leads to nonuniform expansion between different regions when exposed to daily humidity cycles, thereby providing the driving force for its dispersal.

A typical example is the biopolymer-based wheat awn.


In our experiment, two sorts of commercial available photo-resins, namely clear resin and flexible resin, were mixed in a mass ratio 3: 2 to enable the blends with both preferable strength and shape memory characteristics based on our previous researches. The sieved short steel fibers (SSFs) were added into above matrix in the mass/volume ratio 2:5 and homogenized with a mechanical stirrer [28] . To investigate thermomechanical performance of our samples, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) test was conducted and the glass transition temperature (Tg) was 60°C, corresponding to the peak of the Tan Delta curve in Fig. 8b .

The sieved short steel fibers (SSFs) were added into above matrix in the mass/volume ratio 2:5 and homogenized with a mechanical stirrer.


The other way is tuning the orientations of these building units to achieve gradual transition. To adapt to the environment and their own weight, many tissues in nature have adopted this strategy. In softwood branches, the alignment of fibrils changes from the lower side near the trunk, where the fibrils show a large deviation with respect to the long axis (with the microfibril angle of 40°), to the upper side of the branch where the fibrils are almost parallel to the long axis [10, 18] . This helps the bending of the branch upwards to accommodate its own weight.

In softwood branches, the alignment of fibrils changes from the lower side near the trunk, where the fibrils show a large deviation with respect to the long axis (with the microfibril angle of 40°), to the upper side of the branch where the fibrils are almost parallel to the long axis.


Central to good urban design is the capacity of the built environment to foster a positive sense of place in the ordinary places that provide the settings for people's daily lives. Sense of place is always socially constructed, but in ordinary placesphysical settings that do not have important landmarks or major symbolic structures-the social construction of place is especially important. It is also important to recognize the 'betweenness' of place: that is, the dependence of place on perspective (Entrikin, 1991) . Places are constructed by their inhabitants from a subjective point of view, while simultaneously they are constructed and seen as an external 'other' by outsiders. A neighbourhood, for example, is both an area centred on people and their homes, as well as an area containing houses, streets and people that others may view from a decentred or an outsider's perspective. Place is both a centre of meaning and the external context of people's actions.

It is also important to recognize the 'betweenness' of place: that is, the dependence of place on perspective.


While the caution of the previous paragraph is warranted, it is at least possible to say with certainty that these results qualitatively surpass those from previous artificial evolutionary systems. No previous autonomous artificial system has demonstrated unbounded evolutionary dynamics. As such these results provide validation of the theory behind Geb's design [13] .

As such these results provide validation of the theory behind Geb's design.


The adapted Farsi version of the self-efficacy for mammography scale consisted of 14 items. Most of the standardized factor loadings were moderate to large, suggesting that the majority of the observed variables were good measures of their latent construct. The standardized factor loadings ranged from 0.45 to 0.83 for the MSS items. These results are comparable with those reported in Champion's study where factor loadings were within 0.37-0.76 [12] . The results of Secginli's study showed a range from 0.62 to 0.82 and of Hashemian's from 0.54 to 0.94 for the corresponding self-efficacy items [19, 20] .

These results are comparable with those reported in Champion's study where factor loadings were within 0.37-0.76.

The results of Secginli's study showed a range from 0.62 to 0.82 and of Hashemian's from 0.54 to 0.94 for the corresponding self-efficacy items.


As a product of the integration of the manufacturing industry and tourist industry, China's tourist equipment manufacturing industry is still in the preliminary research stage. The tourist equipment manufacturing industry is the set of enterprises that offer equipment production or intermediate goods to tourist enterprises and tourists. In September 2015, the state council of China published "The Implementation Suggestions on Promoting the Development of the Tourist Equipment Manufacturing Industry" [3] . It points out that the tourist equipment manufacturing industry is characterized by high growth, high knowledge, and high value added, with a long industrial chain, driving effect, and broad market prospect. Accelerating the development of the tourist equipment manufacturing industry is significant to promoting the upgrade of the industrial structure of China's equipment manufacturing industry, cultivating new economic growth points, promoting a steady growth of the national economy, transforming the development pattern. and adjusting the industrial structure.

In September 2015, the state council of China published "The Implementation Suggestions on Promoting the Development of the Tourist Equipment Manufacturing Industry".


According to article 1 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) desertification is "land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities" [1] . Instead, land degradation is a reduction in the biological and economic productivity of terrestrial ecosystems, including soil, vegetation, and biota. Land degradation also disturbs the ecological, biogeochemical, and hydrological processes.

According to article 1 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) desertification is "land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities".


Indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios were also calculated for each classroom in order to understand whether or not VOC sources were located indoors or outdoors (Table 5 ). I/O ratios are commonly used to highlight the presence of important indoor emission sources. Ratios greater than a defined threshold value indicated the predominance of indoor contributions over an outdoor one. Different threshold values have been used in previous works [32, 33] . In this study I/O ratios were used to single out critical issues that may have originated from significant indoor sources (if I/O is very high) or from outdoor ones (if I/O < 1). The initial data analysis showed that indoor concentrations of benzene and substituted benzenes are due to the input/intrusion of VOCs from outdoor areas in most of the classrooms. Indeed, benzene and substituted benzenes are known as markers of vehicular traffic emissions [39, 40] . Nevertheless, these situations had still to be related to the concentration levels since two different sites having the same I/O ratio could actually have issues originating from a different source. For this purpose, the indoor concentration value for each pollutant was plotted against the corresponding outdoor value and five different I/O ranges were defined (see Figure 1) . Figures 1-4 show the indoor concentrations against outdoors for the cancer compounds monitored in this study: benzene, ethylbenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene and tethrachloroethylene. Moreover, the reference level (RL), which is the concentration level for each compound where excess cancer cases are expected to develop per 1,000,000 people if exposed daily for a lifetime, is given. Figure 1 shows that school 2 (I/O > 5) and school 3 (5 > I/O > 2) presented two different yet critical indoor air quality situations. School 2 (classroom 2) and school 3 (classroom 1) had indoor benzene concentrations 13 and 3 times higher than the outdoor concentrations, respectively (see Table 5 ). This finding suggests that there were high indoor sources of benzene in these classrooms. Furthermore, similar results were found for tetrachloroethylene (see Figure 2) . The indoor concentrations of tetrachloroethylene in school 2 (classroom 2) and school 3 (all classrooms) were 9, 8, 5, and 11 times higher than the outdoor concentrations, respectively. However, the tetrachloroethylene concentrations were generally very low in schools 2 and 3, with a maximum value of 2.2 μg/m 3 and 1.1 μg/m 3 , respectively (see Table 4 ).

Different threshold values have been used in previous works.

Indeed, benzene and substituted benzenes are known as markers of vehicular traffic emissions.


All our site requirements have a spatial component, and thus geographic analysis is appropriate. In this study, we focus on the simple combination of elevation with cloud cover using a Geographic Information System (GIS) (Hotan 2011) . GIS analyses are used in a range of fields. We are interested in gaining information by linking remotely sensed data to other datasets with spatial information that is important to us, in particular, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM).

In this study, we focus on the simple combination of elevation with cloud cover using a Geographic Information System (GIS).


Note that the fundamental group of W n is the affine braid group B a f f n−1 , which is defined in Section 2. Theorem 1.1 therefore implies an action of B a f f n−1 on the fibre, which consists of n n−1 points, via the monodromy action. In this paper we use properties of the covering map θ n to construct an infinite tower of covering spaces (2) . .

In this paper we use properties of the covering map θ n to construct an infinite tower of covering spaces..


The question above is related to the problem of constructing polynomial fibrations, which can be stated as follows. For which fibred links L can we explicitly construct a polynomial p : R 4 → R 2 such that p −1 (0) ∩ S 3 = L and arg p| S 3 \L is a fibration? This question is clearly motivated by results by Milnor on isolated singularities of complex plane curves [14] .

This question is clearly motivated by results by Milnor on isolated singularities of complex plane curves.


In this paper, we introduced and instigated two new classes of subsets in T 0 spaces -Rudin sets and WD sets lying between the class of all closures of directed subsets and that of irreducible closed subsets, as well as three new types of spaces -DC spaces, Rudin spaces and WD spaces. Rudin spaces lie between WD spaces and DC spaces, and DC spaces lie between Rudin spaces and sober spaces. Through such spaces, sober spaces can be factored. More precisely, for a T 0 space X, it is proved that the following conditions are equivalent: (1) X is sober; (2) X is a DC d-space; (3) X is a well-filtered DC space; (4) X is a well-filtered Rudin space; and (5) X is a well-filtered WD space. It is shown that locally hypercompact T 0 spaces are DC spaces, locally compact T 0 spaces are Rudin spaces, and core compact T 0 spaces are WD spaces. As a corollary we have that every core compact well-filtered space is sober, giving a positive answer to Jia-Jung problem [18] . Using Rudin sets and WD sets, we formulate and prove a number of new characterizations of well-filtered spaces and sober spaces.

As a corollary we have that every core compact well-filtered space is sober, giving a positive answer to Jia-Jung problem.


One important educational goal that has become a national priority is increasing the high school graduation rate (Rumberger, 2011a) . The high school graduation rate in the United States has stagnated since the 1970s, such that the United States ranks 22nd among 27 countries in a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; . More than 12%, or 28 million, of American citizens aged 18 or over are high school dropouts, and there are large racial, ethnic, and gender gaps in graduation, with many dropouts clustered in "dropout factories" (Duncan & Murnane, 2011; Rumberger, 2011b) . The economic consequences of dropping out of school are substantial, with estimates exceeding $250,000 in taxpayer losses and over $750,000 in total social burden per dropout (Levin & Belfield, 2007) . Reducing the dropout rate makes economic sense, but education budgets are limited. Rather than simply asking how to reduce the dropout rate, policymakers might justifiably seek the most efficient ways to obtain maximum results from available resources.

One important educational goal that has become a national priority is increasing the high school graduation rate.

More than 12%, or 28 million, of American citizens aged 18 or over are high school dropouts, and there are large racial, ethnic, and gender gaps in graduation, with many dropouts clustered in "dropout factories".

The economic consequences of dropping out of school are substantial, with estimates exceeding $250,000 in taxpayer losses and over $750,000 in total social burden per dropout.


Over the past few decades, federal, state, and local governments have attempted to raise graduation rates via targeted programmatic interventions that provide additional support to at-risk students, institutional interventions to strengthen schools and communities, and broad-based efforts to increase instructional effectiveness and raise academic achievement. These efforts have yielded mixed results, in part because they tend to be modest in scope (Rumberger, 2011a) . In addition, many initiatives are implemented in ways that do not allow for rigorous evaluation, either because they are part of a suite of reforms or because they do not allow for students to be followed over a long enough time horizon (Duncan & Murnane, 2011) . Even when existing studies have examined the effectiveness of the interventions, very few have incorporated cost-effectiveness analysis.

These efforts have yielded mixed results, in part because they tend to be modest in scope.

In addition, many initiatives are implemented in ways that do not allow for rigorous evaluation, either because they are part of a suite of reforms or because they do not allow for students to be followed over a long enough time horizon.


Beside milk, colostrum is lactose based material that contain 90 bioactive compound and also role as source of probiotic bacteria. Colostrum is initial foods that could help mammals baby survive at the new environment and a yellowish liquid which contain 10-17 times lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophils, protein and antibodies from mature milk (Frandson, 1992) . Dairy milk and bovine colostrum contained antimicrobial compound such as lactoferin, lactoperoxidase, lactoglobulin and lactolipid that include lactenin groups. Beside that, less than 20.000 cfu/mL of bacterial colony and less than 100 cfu/mL coliform found in colostrum (Frandson, 1992; Naidu, 2000; Paikkanen and Aalto, 2000; Heinrichs and Coleen, 2011) . Availability of antibodies, nutrients rich, antimicrobial activities has invite the functional microorganisms such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genus which used widely as probiotics LAB.

Colostrum is initial foods that could help mammals baby survive at the new environment and a yellowish liquid which contain 10-17 times lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophils, protein and antibodies from mature milk.

Beside that, less than 20.000 cfu/mL of bacterial colony and less than 100 cfu/mL coliform found in colostrum.


Medical diagnosis and in-patient drug monitoring rely upon the detection and quantitation of endogenous and exogenous bioactive chemicals. Currently, such analysis is predominantly based upon blood sampling which is achieved invasively via needle. The inconvenience and limitations of this procedure are well-known; patients, on the whole, would rather not be injected, the frequency and amount of sampling is constrained, successful intravenous access in geriatric and pediatric patients may be difficult, and there are risks to both patient and sampler. The potential benefits of alternative, noninvasive sampling procedures for chemical exposure assessment and continuous drug monitoring have been described. One approach involves collection, via the skin, of molecules circulating systemically. A major difficulty, however, with this idea is the characteristically very slow and variable passive permeation rates of chemicals across the skin. Indeed, experiments examining the outward migration of theophylline revealed little correlation between sampled amounts and drug levels in the body. Additionally, it was necessary to collect samples over extended periods of time, a significant potential drawback. To circumvent these problems, the application of iontophoresis to enhance sampling efficiency has been examined. Iontophoresis employs an electrical potential gradient to promote the penetration of ionizable molecules across the skin [1] [2] [3] . The current uses of the technique are the treatment of dermatology and aesthetic dermatology. In this paper, we have investigated the efficiency of a pulse waveform in the iontophoretic delivery of insulin to achieve blood glucose control and compared the results with a simple direct current iontophoretic delivery system.

Iontophoresis employs an electrical potential gradient to promote the penetration of ionizable molecules across the skin.


For a PV/wind/diesel hybrid system, it is necessary to provide an energy storage device. The storage system meets the remaining demand when the renewable sources have low energy. Conventionally, deep-cycle lead acid batteries are used for energy storage. Using PV/wind/diesel/battery energy source leads to a reliable energy source and reduces the total maintenance cost. Such systems are usually installed in locations where fuel supplies are expensive and unreliable, or where strong incentives for the use of renewable energy exist [1] .

Such systems are usually installed in locations where fuel supplies are expensive and unreliable, or where strong incentives for the use of renewable energy exist.


Offshore wind managed to reach 24% of the total installed power in Europe in 2015 compared to the 13% share the previous year [3] . Currently, 1716 offshore turbines are deployed in 32 offshore operational projects of an overall capacity of 6713.520 MW in the UK [4] . However, significant price increases in the overall cost of turbines, their operational and maintenance costs etc. have a direct impact on large-scale wind projects. The location of a wind farm and the type of support structure have great impacts on the overall costs [5e7].

Offshore wind managed to reach 24% of the total installed power in Europe in 2015 compared to the 13% share the previous year.

Currently, 1716 offshore turbines are deployed in 32 offshore operational projects of an overall capacity of 6713.520 MW in the UK.


High efficiency coefficients were recorded during model calibration and validation (Table 3) for the three RR models. Visual observation of simulated and observed runoff (Figure 2) showed that the models well replicate the seasonality of flow at the Koulikoro catchment. Global sensitivity analyses of the model parameters highlighted in Table 1 and Figure 3 revealed that the parameters f of the IHACRES-CMD model, the x1 of the GR4J and the pctim of the Sacramento model were the most sensitive by having the highest correlation coefficient with simulated runoff. From Figure 2 , uncertainty assessment factor P was about 0.5 at both calibration and validation periods for the IHACRES-CMD model. P factor of the GR4J and Sacramento models was below 0.5 during both calibration and validation periods. These indicate that the bound of uncertainty of the behavioural parameters of the IHACRES-CMD model captures about 50% of the observed thereby showing acceptable uncertainty levels in hydrological modelling [29] . The R-factor however was below one for all the models indicating acceptable thickness of the uncertainty bounds [29] . The influence of the model structural uncertainties on the monthly simulated runoff with GCM data is shown in Figure 4 and 5. All the models properly captured flow patterns from June to December while only Sacramento model adequately simulate low flow months (January -May). Figure 5 compares monthly ensemble runoff projections to the historical. Under RCP4.5 scenario at the near future, the IHACRES-CMD and Sacramento models simulated clear increases in runoff from August -December while GR4J model increases will be from September to November. At the far future (RCP4.5), there will be runoff increases from August to November under the simulations of IHACRES-CMD and Sacramento while GR4J projected runoff decreases in the months of July and August and an increase in September. RCP8.5 runoff projections shows runoff increases from July to October (IHACRES-CMD), Scaramento model projected increases at July and August while GR4J simulated decreases from July to December. Far future RCP8.5 simulations experience increases in the months of August to November (IHACRES-CMD), Scaramento will go through increases from July to November while GR4J increase will only be at September. Annual runoff projections from the three RR models and their ensemble of the hydrological models were aggregated to climatological time-scales and results are presented in Figure 6 . Clear increase in runoff is projected for the IHACRES-CMD and Sacramento models for RCP8.5. The ensemble of the hydrological models was able to amend the effects of uncertain projections made by GR4J model.

These indicate that the bound of uncertainty of the behavioural parameters of the IHACRES-CMD model captures about 50% of the observed thereby showing acceptable uncertainty levels in hydrological modelling.

The R-factor however was below one for all the models indicating acceptable thickness of the uncertainty bounds.


Despite the importance of the RRIM process, well-known simulation software is often focused on thermoplastic injection molding and uses the same models for RRIM. However, thermosets show a more complex flow behavior, triggered by a low-viscosity surface layer resulting from the hotter mold [1, 2, 5] . Furthermore, the flow is not shear dominated, like a plug flow, which is a typical adoption for thermoplastics [1, 2] . Additionally, commercial software does not simulate the air in the mold as a separate flow phase. This simplification is made to reduce the calculation time, but consequently neglects phenomena like air traps with significant influence on the process. These are only taken into account with empirical models in the post processing. For good simulation of RRIM, many material and process aspects need to be considered. As the resin is a non-Newtonian fluid, the viscosity must be modeled as function of temperature, shear rate and degree of cure to accurately simulate the pressure field [6] . For that purpose, and to have a reliable prediction of cycle time, curing kinetics have to be modeled in addition to rate-dependent viscosity models. Furthermore, fiber orientations should be predicted, since they have a significant influence on the mechanical and thermal properties of the final part [3, 4, 7] .

However, thermosets show a more complex flow behavior, triggered by a low-viscosity surface layer resulting from the hotter mold.

Furthermore, the flow is not shear dominated, like a plug flow, which is a typical adoption for thermoplastics.

As the resin is a non-Newtonian fluid, the viscosity must be modeled as function of temperature, shear rate and degree of cure to accurately simulate the pressure field.

Furthermore, fiber orientations should be predicted, since they have a significant influence on the mechanical and thermal properties of the final part.


Reinforced reactive injection molding (RRIM) is one of the most important manufacturing processes for short fiber reinforced composites with thermoset matrices. The process significantly affects the mechanical and optical properties of the final part. Hence, the process control is crucial for manufacturing high performance parts. Furthermore, an adequate process simulation is needed to achieve this process control and fulfill the high standards of the automotive and polymer industry [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] .

Furthermore, an adequate process simulation is needed to achieve this process control and fulfill the high standards of the automotive and polymer industry.


However, unlike the case of spectral measures, the domain of A need not coincide with the set of vectors for which the integral in (4) is finite. Moreover, the correspondence does not work the other way: not every POVM E : B(R) → L(H) satisfies (3) and (4) with respect to some symmetric operator A. This has been noted in the above references, along with the fact that the integral in the right hand side of (4) may well be infinite for any nonzero vector ϕ. Moreover, a normalized POVM corresponding to a symmetric operator A as above is unique only if A is maximally symmetric (i.e. has no proper symmetric extension) [1] . For these reasons, going from a POVM to a symmetric operator is not straightforward and choosing a reasonable definition for the operator integral f dE (including its domain) is problematic -except when f is bounded, in which case the domain is all of H.

Moreover, a normalized POVM corresponding to a symmetric operator A as above is unique only if A is maximally symmetric (i.e. has no proper symmetric extension).


In this study, however, the most popular steel is considered: the mild steel, Fig. 3(a) . This material was studied because several tension tests have been performed in quasi-static conditions and in relatively high strain rates allowing for a good recognition of its behavior in terms of strain hardening, including strain rate and temperature sensitivity [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] , Fig. 4(a) . The isotropic plastic behavior showed by this material allows the usage of an isotropic plasticity theory in its modeling.

This material was studied because several tension tests have been performed in quasi-static conditions and in relatively high strain rates allowing for a good recognition of its behavior in terms of strain hardening, including strain rate and temperature sensitivity, Fig. 4(a).


In this study, we presented a multi-delay pCASL protocol and performed correlation analyses between ASL and CT perfusion in a cohort of 17 patients with moyamoya disease. By incorporating delayed ATT into the CBF calculation, ASL was able to provide quantitative perfusion imaging consistent Conspicuity rating criteria are score 3, the perfusion lesion can be identified definitely; score 2, relatively clear diagnosis of perfusion lesion can be drawn; score 1, possible diagnosis of perfusion lesion can be obtained; score 0, cannot afford any help to diagnosis ASL arterial spin labeling, CTP CT perfusion, ATT arterial transit time, CBF cerebral blood flow, MTT mean transit time O-PET [19] . However, CBF may be underestimated in regions with delayed arterial arrival times, especially in cerebrovascular diseases [5] . Limited by the relatively long scan time required, very few studies have attempted the multidelay ASL approach in cerebrovascular disorders to simultaneously estimate ATT and CBF [5, 10] . Most existing studies also employed nonlinear least-square fitting for analysing multi-delay ASL data, which may be unstable in the presence of low signal to noise ratio (SNR) and few sample points. In the present study, we combined pCASL and backgroundsuppressed 3D GRASE to improve SNR and shorten image acquisition time, in conjunction with a robust algorithm for estimating ATT based on weighted delay [13] . The multidelay pCASL protocol offers simultaneous estimation of CBF and ATT images within approximately 10 min and it could be shorter with fewer pairs of tag/control for each delay at the cost of SNR [10] .

By incorporating delayed ATT into the CBF calculation, ASL was able to provide quantitative perfusion imaging consistent Conspicuity rating criteria are score 3, the perfusion lesion can be identified definitely; score 2, relatively clear diagnosis of perfusion lesion can be drawn; score 1, possible diagnosis of perfusion lesion can be obtained; score 0, cannot afford any help to diagnosis ASL arterial spin labeling, CTP CT perfusion, ATT arterial transit time, CBF cerebral blood flow, MTT mean transit time O-PET.

However, CBF may be underestimated in regions with delayed arterial arrival times, especially in cerebrovascular diseases.

Limited by the relatively long scan time required, very few studies have attempted the multidelay ASL approach in cerebrovascular disorders to simultaneously estimate ATT and CBF.

In the present study, we combined pCASL and backgroundsuppressed 3D GRASE to improve SNR and shorten image acquisition time, in conjunction with a robust algorithm for estimating ATT based on weighted delay.

The multidelay pCASL protocol offers simultaneous estimation of CBF and ATT images within approximately 10 min and it could be shorter with fewer pairs of tag/control for each delay at the cost of SNR.


Known shortcomings of the nucleation approach and condensation flux parameterisation are discussed. To consider turbulent density fluctuations, the governing equations for the first-, second-and third-order moments must be rederived on the base of a scale analysis (Bernhardt, 1964 (Bernhardt, , 1972 Bernhardt and Piazena, 1988; Foken, 1989; Venkatram, 1993; van Dop, 1998) . In the subsequent Papers II and III, the model capability to predict the CBL evolution in terms of first-, second-and third-order moments and to simulate the evolution of UCNs during a NPF event will be demonstrated within the framework of a conceptual study. Furthermore, the model results are discussed with respect to previous observational findings.

To consider turbulent density fluctuations, the governing equations for the first-, second-and third-order moments must be rederived on the base of a scale analysis.


Cetane number of a fuel is defined as the concentration of nhexadecane in heptamethylnonane providing the same autoignition delay as that of the fuel. However, blends of these reference fuels do not provide autoignition times proportional to their concentrations. Similarly, blends of alcohols with diesel or biodiesel blends are not expected to provide autoignition times proportional to their composition. Instead, the most reactive components (those with shorter autoignition times) contribute to shorten the autoignition time more that the least reactive ones to enlarge it [20] . Therefore, experimental autoignition studies with these blends are necessary to evaluate their autoignition behavior.

Instead, the most reactive components (those with shorter autoignition times) contribute to shorten the autoignition time more that the least reactive ones to enlarge it.


In this section, we present experimental results on the bounding box detection task and instance segmentation task of the challenging MS-COCO benchmark (Lin et al. 2014) . Following the protocol in MS-COCO, we use the trainval35k set for training, which is a union of 80k images from the train split and a random 35k subset of images from the 40k image validation split. We report COCO AP on the test-dev split for comparisons, which is tested on the evaluation server.

In this section, we present experimental results on the bounding box detection task and instance segmentation task of the challenging MS-COCO benchmark.


HE iron losses have been studied for decades, especially in electrical machines [1] . Following the development of power electronics and new controlling systems such as Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), high frequency harmonics due to switching frequency must be treated inside electrical machines [2] . Moreover, high speed applications require high fundamental frequency of functioning. The increase of frequencies induces a high iron losses growth [3] . Therefore, models must be adapted.

HE iron losses have been studied for decades, especially in electrical machines.

Following the development of power electronics and new controlling systems such as Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), high frequency harmonics due to switching frequency must be treated inside electrical machines.

The increase of frequencies induces a high iron losses growth.

Therefore, models must be adapted.


Ethiopia is gifted with many mineral resources. One such resource is coal. Exploration activities for coal deposits in Ethiopia have started around 1940s. Occurrence of the 4m thick coal at Yayu basin (part of the research) was reported by EMDE [1] . Review on coal reserve estimation of Yayu area was carried out by many workers [2] . In the Yayu area about 250 x 10 6 tons of coal is estimated as A and B reserve categories in 41 km 2 area [2] . About 178,576,000 tons is estimated as intrinsic economic resource for Wattete Mine field and coal rank determined to be lignite to sub-bituminous and medium to high volatile coal [2] . Though, coal mining in Achibo-Sombo (study area) is carried out by underground mining method using conventional approach, the safety of the mine and mine design, studies on structural, geotechnical and pillar design analysis are not yet done and remained a gap. The study includes, evaluation of pillar in terms size, pillar shape, strength and geometry, correlation of geological structures and investigate their effect on the mine, rock mass characterization and classify the rocks, study geotechnical properties of rocks, determine the safety factors and calculate the extraction ratio.

One such resource is coal.

Occurrence of the 4m thick coal at Yayu basin (part of the research) was reported by EMDE.

Review on coal reserve estimation of Yayu area was carried out by many workers.

In the Yayu area about 250 x 10 6 tons of coal is estimated as A and B reserve categories in 41 km 2 area.

About 178,576,000 tons is estimated as intrinsic economic resource for Wattete Mine field and coal rank determined to be lignite to sub-bituminous and medium to high volatile coal.


The implementation of this method is based on two kinds of traffic big data: one is road real-time traffic information; the other is the prediction of the traffic flow of the corresponding road network based on the traffic flow prediction algorithm [20] . The accumulated real-time data will be used alone or in conjunction with the corresponding prediction data to form the big data group. Our method will use these two types of data to obtain the congestion degree of the corresponding road network quickly and accurately and to judge the congestion degree of the current and future road networks.

The implementation of this method is based on two kinds of traffic big data: one is road real-time traffic information; the other is the prediction of the traffic flow of the corresponding road network based on the traffic flow prediction algorithm.


The problem of urban traffic congestion, from the beginning of the birth of motor vehicles to the widespread popularity of motor vehicles, has been an important issue that puzzles countries all over the world [1] . A traffic economic theory analysis considers that the upgrading of basic transportation facilities is an efficient way to solve congestion. However, in fact, this problem cannot be completely solved by simply building better roads and facilities [2] [3] [4] . The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology, which has emerged in recent years, has proved to be a scientific and efficient solution [5] . ITS widely uses information technology, traffic engineering, and behavioral science to reveal the rules of urban traffic, calculate traffic flow in real time, and try to guide vehicles and their surrounding vehicles to avoid traffic congestion. ITS has promoted the emergence of various solutions to modern urban traffic problems [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] .

The problem of urban traffic congestion, from the beginning of the birth of motor vehicles to the widespread popularity of motor vehicles, has been an important issue that puzzles countries all over the world.

However, in fact, this problem cannot be completely solved by simply building better roads and facilities.

The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology, which has emerged in recent years, has proved to be a scientific and efficient solution.

ITS has promoted the emergence of various solutions to modern urban traffic problems.


Taken together these results provide further insight into the burdens imposed by HB 2 and the ways that the Texas abortion law has limited women's access to abortion [4, 12, 13] . Abortion is a component of comprehensive reproductive health care, and denying women access to this service is increasing recognized as a breach of human rights [4] . The recent Supreme Court ruling that the two provisions of HB 2 were unconstitutional because of the undue burden on access they created is undoubtedly a victory for women's rights. However, it will take time before clinics reopen and access is restored for women across the state. Future research will need to explore the long-term impact of HB 2 and similar laws on unwanted births, gestational age at time of abortion and abortion self-induction among women in Texas and elsewhere.

Taken together these results provide further insight into the burdens imposed by HB 2 and the ways that the Texas abortion law has limited women's access to abortion.

Abortion is a component of comprehensive reproductive health care, and denying women access to this service is increasing recognized as a breach of human rights.


Rising levels of obesity are a current major threat to global health [1] . The number of obese adults and children worldwide has been increasing steadily over the past 30 years and although there is evidence that this trend may be levelling off in some countries, the overall rates of obesity in these high income areas remain high [2, 3] . Statistics from the World Health Organization estimate that more than 1 in 10 of the world's adult population was obese in 2008. These figures are concerning because obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of the main noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) (eg, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer) [4] . The significant challenge faced by societies in dealing with the effects of obesity on individual and economic health was acknowledged in a recent high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on NCDs, which urged action to address risk factors associated with NCDs such as unhealthy diet.

Rising levels of obesity are a current major threat to global health.

The number of obese adults and children worldwide has been increasing steadily over the past 30 years and although there is evidence that this trend may be levelling off in some countries, the overall rates of obesity in these high income areas remain high.

These figures are concerning because obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of the main noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) (eg, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer).


Increased food intake is an acknowledged driver of rising obesity rates [5] . Changes to the global food environment coincided with the start of the upward trajectory of obesity prevalence, leading to suggestions that increased availability of cheap, palatable, energy-dense foods in larger portion sizes has contributed to increased levels of obesity by promoting food intake [6] . Not only is food more available, it is also more aggressively marketed than ever before with tempting images of food ubiquitous in advertising and other media [7] . However, an important question is why increased marketing and availability of palatable food may be associated with overconsumption and weight gain in at-risk groups, while some people appear to be resistant to the obesogenic effects of a foodabundant environment. Genetic differences that result in individual variability in the psychological and physiological responses to food and cues that signal food availability are likely to strongly influence vulnerability to weight gain in an obesogenic environment. However, these genetic differences are also likely to interact with other factors associated with the modern food environment and 21st century lifestyles, such as food variety and eating on the go, to affect consumption and food choices. Understanding these factors has implications for the development of new approaches to help people control their food intake and lose weight or avoid weight gain in the first place. The aim of this review is to highlight recent advances in the understanding of the psychological processes contributing to overeating and to discuss the implications of these advances for the development of new approaches to help individuals limit food intake. The particular emphasis here is on studies of humans and the potential role of learning and memory processes.

Increased food intake is an acknowledged driver of rising obesity rates.

Changes to the global food environment coincided with the start of the upward trajectory of obesity prevalence, leading to suggestions that increased availability of cheap, palatable, energy-dense foods in larger portion sizes has contributed to increased levels of obesity by promoting food intake.

Not only is food more available, it is also more aggressively marketed than ever before with tempting images of food ubiquitous in advertising and other media.


The results agree with calculations of a 'heat stress reduction factor' for Europe where bias-corrected climate model output outperformed raw climate model data [17] . Our findings do not show a large difference in yields simulated with the two methods of bias-correction, whereas other studies found considerable differences between future climates obtained using various methods for bias-correction and concluded that the choice of bias-correction was a significant contributor to total future yield uncertainty [17, 19] . We conclude that bias-correction is needed and focus the following results on simulations using the two bias-corrected climate model outputs only.

The results agree with calculations of a 'heat stress reduction factor' for Europe where bias-corrected climate model output outperformed raw climate model data.

Our findings do not show a large difference in yields simulated with the two methods of bias-correction, whereas other studies found considerable differences between future climates obtained using various methods for bias-correction and concluded that the choice of bias-correction was a significant contributor to total future yield uncertainty.


In addition to the uncertainty in how crops respond to temperature, there is uncertainty in future climate. Progress has been made in including the quantification of climate model uncertainty in impact studies by using ensembles of Global Climate Models (GCMs). GCMs are not perfect representations of the true climate and bias-correction is used to make the GCM output more realistic. Recent studies have identified the choice of bias-correction of raw GCM output as a significant source of uncertainty: differences in future climate obtained using different bias-correction methods can be as large as between future emission scenarios [17, 18] . Most crops are sensitive to absolute temperature thresholds, hence correcting variability in addition to the mean is important [19] . This highlights the need for bias-correction of GCM output and the importance of the choice of bias-correction methodology for climate change impact studies.

Recent studies have identified the choice of bias-correction of raw GCM output as a significant source of uncertainty: differences in future climate obtained using different bias-correction methods can be as large as between future emission scenarios.

Most crops are sensitive to absolute temperature thresholds, hence correcting variability in addition to the mean is important.


The choice of climate data can have large implications for climate change impact studies. Even though it is becoming more common among the impact research community to use climate model ensembles, few studies combine climate model ensembles and bias-correction, or different methods for bias-correction [17, 34, 42] . This study shows that bias-correction of climate model output can be critical. If the impact of bias-correction is not tested, incorrect conclusions may be reached.

Even though it is becoming more common among the impact research community to use climate model ensembles, few studies combine climate model ensembles and bias-correction, or different methods for bias-correction.


In the Radar System, if the transmitter and receiver are collocated, this configuration is known as a monostatic radar system [1] . In contrast, if the transmitter and receiver are separated, the system is known as a bistatic radar system. The monostatic and bistatic radar system configuration is shown in Fig. 1a and b respectively. Forward Scattering Radar (FSR) is a special type of bistatic radar, where the target is close to the transmitter-receiver baseline as shown in Fig. 1c . FSR presents a conservative class of systems that have a number of fundamental limitations, including the absence of range resolution and operation within narrow angles.

In the Radar System, if the transmitter and receiver are collocated, this configuration is known as a monostatic radar system.


Epiphytes are plants growing perched on other plants, which differ from parasites in not deriving water or food from the supporting plant and from lianas in not having soil connections. Of all ecological classes of plants these are the most directly dependent on precipitation for their water supply. Their nutrient supply is derived in part from rainwater, which always contains some dissolved substances, in part from accumulated wind-borne particles, and in part from the decaying bark surface of supporting plants. The rich epiphytic flora of a tropical rain forest shows a remarkable gradation from sciophytic hygrophites, confined to the lower trunks of the trees to xerophytes (including cacti) (Daubenmire, 1974) . The cacti epiphytes of tropical forests may be attractive for diaspore dispersers, and consequently contribute to the maintenance of the biodiversity (Simão et al., 2007) .

The rich epiphytic flora of a tropical rain forest shows a remarkable gradation from sciophytic hygrophites, confined to the lower trunks of the trees to xerophytes (including cacti).

The cacti epiphytes of tropical forests may be attractive for diaspore dispersers, and consequently contribute to the maintenance of the biodiversity.


The quotient category will be denoted D G (X × [0, 1); A) >0 , and we remark that this is a germ category (see [11, §7] , [14] , [6] ). The objects are the same as in D G (X × [0, 1); A) but morphisms are identified if they agree close to X = X × 1 (i.e. on the complement of a neighbourhood of X × 0). Here is a useful remark.

The quotient category will be denoted D G (X × [0, 1); A) >0 , and we remark that this is a germ category (see [11, §7] ,,).

Here is a useful remark.


In this paper, we consider that the BLG is an universal M2 theory. Then BLG action shall be able to produce worldvolume action of more extended objects besides M5 [15] . We first establish the general theorem to see that we could have sufficient extra dimensional internal spaces from 3-algebra in M2 brane to have 6 space dimensions in the world volume of KK6. We next use the special property of isometry direction in (0|M 2, KK6) to find the U(1) field on KK6 world-volume action. Thus, we have found a possibility that the Kaluza-Klein monopole (KK6) world-volume action may be obtained from the multiple M2 action which is described by BLG theory.

Then BLG action shall be able to produce worldvolume action of more extended objects besides M5.


Experiments on the hydrolysis of cassava pulp, either enzymatically or using acids, are mostly conducted at low substrate concentrations, for example 4-5% (w/v). There are only a few reports regarding the use of a high substrate concentration or a high solid liquid ratio of cassava pulp in the hydrolysis of cassava pulp [7, 9, 14, 18] . In fact, an efficient process of ethanol production from sugars needs a high concentration of sugars in the hydrolysate, which can be obtained if a high substrate concentration is used in the hydrolysis. Therefore, in this study hydrolysis of cassava pulp using oxalic acid catalyst was performed at low and high substrate concentrations.

There are only a few reports regarding the use of a high substrate concentration or a high solid liquid ratio of cassava pulp in the hydrolysis of cassava pulp.


A severity concept that combines time and temperature has been developed to control the extent of pulping and the prehydrolysis processes in the pulp and paper industry [24] . This concept was extended by taking into account the acid catalyst used in the process, so that it becomes a combined severity parameter; therefore, different combinations of reaction time, temperature and acid catalyst concentration can be unified to produce the severity parameter [24] [25] [26] . The effects of the severity parameter on the results of the hydrolysis, for example the glucose yield, can be plotted as scattered points in a chart. This chart is useful to determine the combination of reaction time, temperature and acid concentration that produce a high glucose yield. Therefore, effects of the severity parameters were also studied, so that this study provides some new information regarding the relation between the severity parameter and the glucose yield obtained from the microwave-assisted hydrolysis of cassava pulp in acid medium.

A severity concept that combines time and temperature has been developed to control the extent of pulping and the prehydrolysis processes in the pulp and paper industry.

This concept was extended by taking into account the acid catalyst used in the process, so that it becomes a combined severity parameter; therefore, different combinations of reaction time, temperature and acid catalyst concentration can be unified to produce the severity parameter.


According to the estimations of the World Health Organization, at the beginning of the 21 st century, the annual production of creosote in the EU Member States was from 60 to 100 thousand tons (Ikarashi et al. 2005) . Thus, large amounts of the substance may penetrate into the soil. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as well as other creosote components may cause negative impacts on the biochemical processes of the soil, including transformations of the phosphorus compounds. The amount of organic phosphorus in the upper soil layers remains in a wide range: from 20% to over 80% of the total phosphorus content (Turner and Haygarth 2005) . The hydrolysis of esters and orthophosphoric acid anhydrides is catalyzed by a large group of enzymes, referred to as phosphatases (Nannipieri et al. 2011) . The most commonly studied phosphatases include phosphomonoesterases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of organic phosphoric monoesters (Wang et al. 2011) . Apart from these enzymes, soil contains phosphodiesterases and phosphotriesterases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphate diesters and triesters, respectively, as well as an inorganic pyrophosphatase that catalyzes the decomposition of pyrophosphate to orthophosphates (Reitzel and Turner 2014) .

According to the estimations of the World Health Organization, at the beginning of the 21 st century, the annual production of creosote in the EU Member States was from 60 to 100 thousand tons.

The amount of organic phosphorus in the upper soil layers remains in a wide range: from 20% to over 80% of the total phosphorus content.

The hydrolysis of esters and orthophosphoric acid anhydrides is catalyzed by a large group of enzymes, referred to as phosphatases.

The most commonly studied phosphatases include phosphomonoesterases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of organic phosphoric monoesters.

Apart from these enzymes, soil contains phosphodiesterases and phosphotriesterases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphate diesters and triesters, respectively, as well as an inorganic pyrophosphatase that catalyzes the decomposition of pyrophosphate to orthophosphates.


Recently, the proliferation of radio devices in diverse shapes and rapid progress in flexible technology require the antennas mounted on wireless devices to be manufactured in various shapes. Furthermore, vibrant studies of wearable systems, RFID tags, and flexible displays have spurred on much attention to the flexible antenna technology. Especially, there are increasing requirements of flexible antennas with lowprofile, compact size, and multiband including the wireless local area network (WLAN) band 2.4/5.2/5.8 GHz and the world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) band 3.5 GHz due to the explosive growth of demand for wireless data communication. The antennas operating for wearable systems and RFID tags are prone to the proximity effect by the material itself so that they usually suffer from degrading performance due to the resonating currents on the ground plane and their compact size. Particularly, these weaknesses mainly occur in the antennas used for data communications. Once encountered, to mitigate the performance degradation, a loop antenna has been an alternative since the current induced on the ground surface becomes small in magnitude [1] [2] [3] . Consequently, the loop antenna is regarded as a reference antenna in this paper.

Once encountered, to mitigate the performance degradation, a loop antenna has been an alternative since the current induced on the ground surface becomes small in magnitude.


Two types of PIM formulations using the polynomial basis and the radial basis function (RBF) have been formulated so far (Liu and Gu, 2001; Wang and Liu, 2002a) . In the meshfree radial point interpolation method (RPIM), RBFs augmented with polynomials and nodes in the local support domain are used to construct shape functions and the Galerkin weak form is adopted to derive a set of discrete system equations. The shape functions so constructed possess the Delta function property, which allows straightforward imposition of point essential boundary conditions, and many numerical techniques used in FEM can be applied in the RPIM with minimum modifications. Compared with meshfree methods based on strong form formulations, meshfree methods based on weak forms can usually achieve higher accuracy and results are very stable. This is due to the use of integration that provides smooth operations to the system. On the other hand, however, meshfree weak form methods can be more expensive because the integration needs to be performed numerically. In addition, background cells are also required for such numerical integrations.

Two types of PIM formulations using the polynomial basis and the radial basis function (RBF) have been formulated so far.


Regarding ship electric propulsion system as a modern ship career development direction, its safety and reliability are more and more concerned about [1] . The simulation technology is one of the important means for people to study ship electric propulsion system [2] . But the results of simulation credibility are worth considering, and incorrect results could lead to major events. So analyzing the credibility in the system simulation results, determining the relative weight of each subsystem, has great significance for studying the mechanism of ship electric propulsion system.

Regarding ship electric propulsion system as a modern ship career development direction, its safety and reliability are more and more concerned about.

The simulation technology is one of the important means for people to study ship electric propulsion system.


In the system simulation credibility analysis, we need to make sure of the mutual importance of the systems, namely, the weight. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is a comprehensive evaluation method used in research of complicated system [3] . The basic idea of using analytic hierarchy process to determine weight is to invite more related experts to compare each subsystem and to identify and analyse the judgment matrix. As a result of difference between each expert in knowledge, experience, ability, and level, different experts have different result to weight evaluation system. How to make better use of the evaluation experts has always been about the topic of comparison.

Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is a comprehensive evaluation method used in research of complicated system.


Kröger also proved an upper bound on Dirichlet eigenvalue sums, involving ε-neighborhoods of the boundary [27] . This bound is again not geometrically sharp. Kröger's estimates were generalized to domains in homogeneous spaces by Strichartz [53] .

Kröger also proved an upper bound on Dirichlet eigenvalue sums, involving ε-neighborhoods of the boundary.

Kröger's estimates were generalized to domains in homogeneous spaces by Strichartz.


Algebras of twisted differential operators play important role in modern representation theory. One fundamental application of these algebras is the equivalence of categories of modules over a complex semsimple Lie algebra and modules of global sections of algebras of twisted differential operators established by Beilinson and Bernstein, [3] . In this paper we initiate the study of generalized weight modules of such algebras, i.e. modules that are locally finite with respect to a maximal commutative subalgebra.

One fundamental application of these algebras is the equivalence of categories of modules over a complex semsimple Lie algebra and modules of global sections of algebras of twisted differential operators established by Beilinson and Bernstein.


In contrast, M-54 tortillas showed the lowest fibre content (Fig. 3d) , which may affect the textural properties because this genotype (M-54) is a very soft grain through which water penetrates, which facilitates elimination of the pericarp but can reduce the amount of natural gums (Martínez-Bustos et al., 2001) . Textural changes may also be related to the competition of starch, proteins, and fibre for water, resulting in different degrees of hydration and plasticization of starch in the matrix that forms. Figure 4 shows scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the floury endosperm of three inbred lines of the maize genotypes M-54, M-55, and CML-242 (Fig. 4a, c , e) and their tortillas (4b, d, f). The starch granules differ among the maize. Inbred line M-54 has a maize grain with a soft endosperm and starch granules of average size (10-14 μm) with a uniform round form (Fig. 4a) . Maize grain M-55 (Fig. 4c) has a semi-hard endosperm and partially round as well as undefined starch granule sizes that are both smaller (8 μm) and larger (16 μm) than those of M-54. CML-242 (Fig. 4e) maize has a hard endosperm with more packed starch granules. In Figure 4e , the starch granules (9-15 μm) have different shapes (round, polyhedral) . Tortillas made with the maize grain from inbred line M-54 (Fig. 4b) contain swollen starch granules and a softer texture. Conversely, the M-55 and CML-242 tortillas contain only some swollen starch granules, but their texture is more rigid. Figure 5 shows SEM images of the floury endosperm of two single crosses of maize M54xM55 and M55xM54 (Fig. 5a, c) and the H-70 maize hybrid (Fig. 5e ) and its tortillas (5b, d, f). The maize grains of the single cross of M54xM55 contain a semi-hard endosperm with starch granules (9-13 μm) that have a uniform round form (Fig. 5a ). M55xM54 and H-70 produce maize with hard and very hard endosperms, respectively. Figure 5c and 5e show starch granules with an irregular polyhedral form and an undefined shape, with a larger size (12-17 μm) than the other genotypes. The starch granules are more closely packed and they have a rough texture. Moreover, these maize grains are larger (Fig. 1c) .

In contrast, M-54 tortillas showed the lowest fibre content (Fig. 3d) , which may affect the textural properties because this genotype (M-54) is a very soft grain through which water penetrates, which facilitates elimination of the pericarp but can reduce the amount of natural gums.


Due to the economic importance of maize, technology has been used to improve the crop, resulting in genotypes with better agronomic, nutritional, and nutraceutical characteristics. In Mexico, researchers at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMyT) and the National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture, and Livestock (INIFAP) have participated in the production of maize varieties that are adapted to different regions of the country (Virgen-Vargas et al., 2014) . Valles Altos has also developed genetically improved maize, which has allowed hybrid generation with high yields and characteristics required for the preparation of tortillas and nixtamalized corn products (Zepeda-Bautista et al., 2009) . It is necessary to generate information regarding the physical and chemical characteristics of maize hybrids and their progenitors, parental simple crosses, and inbred lines because some components, such as starch in each maize genotype, directly influence the textural and rheological properties, volume, moisture, and shelf-life of masa and tortillas (Raeker et al., 1998) . In addition, consumers and producers of maize prefer varieties that present technological and economic advantages for their processes and products. In a maize plant used for breeding to produce hybrids, it is necessary to characterize the parents (lines and single crosses) and hybrids by their agronomic aspects and grain quality for the processing industry to offer consumers a quality product and improve the efficiency of plant breeding. There is little information in relation to the characteristics of maize grain, which could affect tortilla quality. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the physical, chemical, and rheological characteristics of nixtamalized masa and tortillas made with white grain of parent lines, single crosses, and one hybrid.

In Mexico, researchers at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMyT) and the National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture, and Livestock (INIFAP) have participated in the production of maize varieties that are adapted to different regions of the country.

Valles Altos has also developed genetically improved maize, which has allowed hybrid generation with high yields and characteristics required for the preparation of tortillas and nixtamalized corn products.

It is necessary to generate information regarding the physical and chemical characteristics of maize hybrids and their progenitors, parental simple crosses, and inbred lines because some components, such as starch in each maize genotype, directly influence the textural and rheological properties, volume, moisture, and shelf-life of masa and tortillas.


The fluid properties of the binary air-vapour mixture depend on the primary variables T and ϕ v . Appropriate ϕ v -weighted functions were developed that take into account the individual dry-air and water-vapour properties available from thermodynamic tables [59] . The properties of the desiccant medium are referred to silica gel RD [6] .

Appropriate ϕ v -weighted functions were developed that take into account the individual dry-air and water-vapour properties available from thermodynamic tables.

The properties of the desiccant medium are referred to silica gel RD.


Studies of cerebral aneurysms have shown that the elastin degradation associated with aneurysm initiation can be induced in the presence of unfavorable hemodynamic loads. In particular, it appears that some combination of elevated wall shear stress (WSS), wall shear stress gradient (WSSG) and hemodynamic pressure lead to elastin degradation in native and non-native bifurcations (Fukuta et al., 2000; Morimoto et al., 2002; Gao et al., 2008) . It seems likely that the elevated WSS and WSSG play the role of initiating a cascade of biochemical activities that lead to chemical degradation of the wall, rather than directly damaging the elastin. For example, some aspect(s) of the hemodynamic loading may lead to an imbalance in the production of MMP and TIMPs in the wall and thereby to a chemical degradation of the wall.

In particular, it appears that some combination of elevated wall shear stress (WSS), wall shear stress gradient (WSSG) and hemodynamic pressure lead to elastin degradation in native and non-native bifurcations.


The prevalence of fungi as the spoilage organism of some edible fruits and vegetables abound in different locations in Nigeria. Fruits and vegetables are exposed to contamination by microorganisms through direct contact with soil, dust, water and by handling at harvest or during postharvest processing. This makes them to harbour a wide range of microorganisms including plant and human pathogens [2] . Microorganisms responsible for spoilage of fruits and vegetables exploit the host using extracellular lytic enzymes that degrade these polymers to release water and the plant's other intracellular constituents for use as nutrients for their growth. Fungi in particular produce an abundance of extracellular pectinases and hemicellulases that are important factors for fungal spoilage [3] . Some spoilage microbes are capable of colonizing and creating lesions on healthy, undamaged plant tissue [4] .

This makes them to harbour a wide range of microorganisms including plant and human pathogens.

Fungi in particular produce an abundance of extracellular pectinases and hemicellulases that are important factors for fungal spoilage.

Some spoilage microbes are capable of colonizing and creating lesions on healthy, undamaged plant tissue.


Recent developments in wireless sensors, communication, and information network technologies (e.g., radio frequency identification-RFID or Auto-ID, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.) have created a new era of the internet of things (IoT). The term of the IoT has first been proposed by Kevin [1] . It refers to uniquely identifiable objects (things) and their virtual representations in an Internet-alike structure.

The term of the IoT has first been proposed by Kevin.


Effective segmentation relies on the flexible integration of multiple types of segmentation cues, among them statistical regularities in phonemes and prosody, coarticulation, and allophonic variation. Infants begin using multiple segmentation cues within their first year of life (Johnson & Jusczyk, 2001) . Despite this, many state-of-the-art models look at only one type of information: phonemes.

Infants begin using multiple segmentation cues within their first year of life.


The motivation of this present work is to develop an automatic system for the help in this field. It is possible because our proposal try extracting information biometric of the writing. The scientific bases for this idea are from the brain human. If we try to do writing with the less skilful hand, there will be some parts or forms very similar to the writing with the skilful hand, due to those orders are sent by the brain, and each brain is intrinsic of each person (Romero et al., 2007) .

If we try to do writing with the less skilful hand, there will be some parts or forms very similar to the writing with the skilful hand, due to those orders are sent by the brain, and each brain is intrinsic of each person.


Computers continue to have an increased presence in almost every aspect of our occupational, recreational and residential environments. In various university environments, students have indicated 100% access to computers, 92.1% regularly use internet and 73.3% regularly use e-mail (Palmer and Bray, 2001) . To accommodate the intensive use of computer technology, universities have developed multiple-user "Cyber Cafe" on campus for general student access. As the population of such facility increases, there is need to recognize that computer equipment may act as a reservoir for the transmission of potential hazardous or pathogenic *Corresponding author. E-mail: oguntibejuo@cput.ac.za, bejufemi@yahoo.co.uk.

In various university environments, students have indicated 100% access to computers, 92.1% regularly use internet and 73.3% regularly use e-mail.


Because MHC genes must defend against a great diversity of microbes in the environment, the MHC molecules (coded for by the MHC genes) must be able to present a wide range of peptides. MHC genes achieve this through several mechanisms: 1) the MHC locus is polygenic, 2) MHC genes are highly polymorphic and numerous alleles have been described, and 3) several MHC genes arecodominantly expressed [8] [9] . DQ genes of MHC class II region encode for (DQA) and (DQB) chains of the molecule and are highly polymorphic [4] .

MHC genes achieve this through several mechanisms: 1) the MHC locus is polygenic, 2) MHC genes are highly polymorphic and numerous alleles have been described, and 3) several MHC genes arecodominantly expressed.

DQ genes of MHC class II region encode for (DQA) and (DQB) chains of the molecule and are highly polymorphic.


Community Health Worker (CHW) programmes have been utilized globally as part of primary health care approaches for many decades [1] . In most developing countries these approaches were strengthened in the late 1970s after the Alma Ata conference in 1978 that aimed at increasing access to health care through the call for 'health for all' [2] . Several decades on, the performance of CHW programmes has met with mixed reviews. Cochrane reviews have provided evidence that establish the effectiveness of CHWs in certain key areas such as exclusive breastfeeding, increasing immunization uptake and fewer children suffering from fever, diarrhoea and pneumonia [3] . However, other evaluations establish that in certain settings CHWs have been unable to decrease mortality and have provided poor quality services that were not consistent enough to substantiate impact [1, 4] . Clearly, while the use of CHWs has the potential to positively influence health outcomes of community members, there remain significant challenges in implementation particularly in national programmes when rolled out at scale [5] .

Community Health Worker (CHW) programmes have been utilized globally as part of primary health care approaches for many decades.

In most developing countries these approaches were strengthened in the late 1970s after the Alma Ata conference in 1978 that aimed at increasing access to health care through the call for 'health for all'.

Cochrane reviews have provided evidence that establish the effectiveness of CHWs in certain key areas such as exclusive breastfeeding, increasing immunization uptake and fewer children suffering from fever, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

However, other evaluations establish that in certain settings CHWs have been unable to decrease mortality and have provided poor quality services that were not consistent enough to substantiate impact.

Clearly, while the use of CHWs has the potential to positively influence health outcomes of community members, there remain significant challenges in implementation particularly in national programmes when rolled out at scale.


In light of these potential benefits, SM, and social software in general, are being considered as potential learning platforms in higher education courses for their facilitation of connectivity (Veletsianos & Navarrete, 2012) . In sum, social media has changed the way of teaching and learning. Students are no longer message receivers who learn from teachers or books. Sometimes, they could possess more knowledge and skills than the teacher, equipped with online searching engines (such as Google), video guide (such as YouTube), and others' experiences (from professional groups). Therefore, teaching with social media should be different from traditional teaching. Students are more involved in communication with teachers, their peers, or maybe professional people online. They can contribute to not only class discussion but also the curriculum design and course development. The role of teacher is changed to facilitator to encourage students' searching and sharing ideas during class. But it is important for teachers to identify the usefulness of the knowledge online and quality of information from social media. Teachers can also encourage critical thinking and creative thinking during this process to lead the students on the right track. Social media, if combined with collaborative learning, can be more powerful and attractive to learners.

In light of these potential benefits, SM, and social software in general, are being considered as potential learning platforms in higher education courses for their facilitation of connectivity.


Nevertheless, cloud federation goes beyond just making several clouds interoperable [15] . A federation should enable the collaboration and cooperation of different providers in delivering resources to the users when a single resource provider is not able to satisfy the user demands, in a collaborative way. Therefore, on top of the interoperability and portability issues, there are several challenges that any federation must tackle.

Nevertheless, cloud federation goes beyond just making several clouds interoperable.


The global semantic concepts based intermediate representation methods take the scene image as a whole for obtaining global description features. The "Gist" model is the most prominent one of these methods. It has exhibited good performance in many applications [12, 13] . In this model, scene images are convolved by the multiscale and multiorientation Gabor filters. Then the filtering results are divided into a 4 * 4 grid and the means of all subregions are computed and assembled for yielding feature vectors [14] . Lastly, the "Gist" features are used for scene classification. The "Gist" model is obtained from the sparse grid of the scene image. Thus, the "Gist" feature is coarse-grained, and some detailed information of the scene image is lost. When scene images are complex, the classification performance of the "Gist" model is not very good. For example, when some categories of indoor environments are included in scene datasets, the classification accuracy of the "Gist" model drops dramatically.

It has exhibited good performance in many applications.

Then the filtering results are divided into a 4 * 4 grid and the means of all subregions are computed and assembled for yielding feature vectors.


Scene classification methods can be divided into two main categories. First, the early methods mainly use low-level global features (e.g., texture and color) which are extracted from a whole image [2, 3] . These methods often exhibit poor classification performance, because they lack an intermediate image description that is extremely valuable in determining the scene category. Second, the methods make use of semantic models [4] . They describe the contents of scene images by the semantic intermediate representation, which can be mainly divided into the local semantic concepts based intermediate representation methods and the global semantic concepts based intermediate representation methods.

First, the early methods mainly use low-level global features (e.g., texture and color) which are extracted from a whole image.

Second, the methods make use of semantic models.


Scene classification is an appealing and challenging problem in image processing and machine vision. The goal of scene classification is to automatically classify scene images into specific scene categories such as mountain, street, forest, and inside city. Scene classification methods have many applications, such as video retrieval, content-based image retrieval, UAV autonomous landing, and intelligent vehicle navigation [1] . Moreover, scene classification can provide an important cue for object recognition and detection, action recognition, and other computer vision tasks.

Scene classification methods have many applications, such as video retrieval, content-based image retrieval, UAV autonomous landing, and intelligent vehicle navigation.


Hyperpigmentation was also noted as a long-term complication of SM exposure in this study. Possible mechanisms of hyperpigmentation in the study population other than chronic inflammation, pruritis, and excoriation include higher melanin content, activated melanocytes, pigmentary incontinence due to hydropic changes in epidermal basal layer, increase in tyrosinase activity due to depletion of glutathione, increased melanogenesis and up-regulation of Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH) centrally from hypothalamus by interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-␣. Interestingly, hypopigmentation has also been reported in the SM-exposed population via a proposed mechanism of melanocyte destruction secondary to high concentration SM exposure. Given the reports of a higher prevalence of vitiligo in SM-exposed patients, the mechanism of SM-mediated changes in pigmentation remains in doubt [10] . Future studies will help us better understand which mechanism is more important in SM exposure.

Given the reports of a higher prevalence of vitiligo in SM-exposed patients, the mechanism of SM-mediated changes in pigmentation remains in doubt.


There is no further specificity to the results in terms of which specific patients or sub-groups may have driven this difference. SPRINT reported no statistically significant difference (P > 0.35) between survivors and non-survivors for any glycemic outcome, diabetic status, diagnostic code, insulin infused or carbohydrate nutrition, and the resultant mortality [21] . In contrast, the retrospective cohort maintained statistically significant associations for all glycemic outcomes except average blood glucose and insulin infused. These results imply, as above, that glycemic outcome was the main difference in these two cohorts and their outcomes.

SPRINT reported no statistically significant difference (P > 0.35) between survivors and non-survivors for any glycemic outcome, diabetic status, diagnostic code, insulin infused or carbohydrate nutrition, and the resultant mortality.


According to Vuppalapati, PA derives its name from the architectural pleomorphism visible on light microscopy. PA is also known as mixed tumor-salivary gland type, a phrase that describes its pleomorphic appearance as opposed to its dual origin from epithelial and myoepithelial elements. The "mixed tumor" aspect accounts for 73% of all salivary gland tumors. The palate is the most common site for PA and corresponds to small glands [3] .

The palate is the most common site for PA and corresponds to small glands.


Simulation is widely regarded as an effective tool for analysis of construction operations because of its ability in handling the complexity and uncertainty inherent in construction processes (Halpin et al. 2003) . In construction, computer simulation modeling is used for the purpose of monitoring the system in a controlled environment, which is safer and faster to use than in the real world. The significance of a simulation modeling tool centers on its ability to assist project managers to accurately test various scenarios of project execution plans. Such analysis generally yields better process understanding, lower cost, shorter duration and increased certainty in project delivery (AbouRizk 2010) . DES and SD are two main simulation methodologies that support automated systems which are used to analyze complex models. DES is more suitable for modeling issues of operational focus and employing reductionism in perspective. It is quantitative in nature, discreet in change and narrow in details. SD, on the other hand, is more suitable for problems that have context/strategic focus, is holistic in perspective, qualitative in nature, continuous in behavior, and broad in details (Brailsford and Hilton 2001) .

Simulation is widely regarded as an effective tool for analysis of construction operations because of its ability in handling the complexity and uncertainty inherent in construction processes.

Such analysis generally yields better process understanding, lower cost, shorter duration and increased certainty in project delivery.

SD, on the other hand, is more suitable for problems that have context/strategic focus, is holistic in perspective, qualitative in nature, continuous in behavior, and broad in details.