Among these events, the light attenuation coefficients of the wounds on day 28 were restored to the original values of the normal skin because the epidermis and dermis recovered, and the new collagen fibres were restored [33] . In this study, we used the OCT system to monitor normal skin and wounds during the healing process. We noted that the distribution of light in normal skin tissue was uniform but became uneven in the wound; after the repair was completed, the light distribution became uniform again. Changes in the light attenuation coefficient are possibly caused by changes in the skin and dermis of the skin before and after the injury and repair of the skin [18] , [19] . When skin damage occurs, the attenuation coefficient increases due to calluses, which were produced by epidermal and dermal defects. In scabs, the melanin and red pigment of the epidermis increased considerably, and lesions form in the vasculature, among other changes [34] . These changes could cause the absorption coefficient to increase greatly, so the corresponding attenuation coefficient would also substantially increase. This finding was consistent with previous obtained results [35] . These changes could provide a theoretical basis regarding how to use OCT to monitor skin trauma and evaluate changes in the optical signal intensity of newly formed extracellular matrix (ECM) in the future [36] - [38] .

Among these events, the light attenuation coefficients of the wounds on day 28 were restored to the original values of the normal skin because the epidermis and dermis recovered, and the new collagen fibres were restored.

Changes in the light attenuation coefficient are possibly caused by changes in the skin and dermis of the skin before and after the injury and repair of the skin.

In scabs, the melanin and red pigment of the epidermis increased considerably, and lesions form in the vasculature, among other changes.

This finding was consistent with previous obtained results.

These changes could provide a theoretical basis regarding how to use OCT to monitor skin trauma and evaluate changes in the optical signal intensity of newly formed extracellular matrix (ECM) in the future.


In addition to the apparent morphology, H&E staining and Masson staining of paraffin sections of wounds are two other widely used observation methods for evaluating the effect of skin wound healing [7] , [8] . Using these observation methods, we can observe and understand the detailed structure of normal or abnormal pathological microstructures under a microscope. Histological images can show the integrity of the structure and parts of the wound healing, including thereepithelialization that occurs during dermal regeneration and the epidermal layer. Masson staining can also be used to identify collagen fibres and some fibrin that cannot be detected by H&E staining. As the wound healing time prolongs, more and more collagen accumulates, and the collagen richness in skin tissue can be observed using Masson staining. However, these two methods are analytical methods of immunohistochemistry; thus, some biological knowledge is required to understand and use these methods. The implementation of these two staining methods will strictly test the production technique of the operator. Improperly executed staining procedures can cause a poor dyeing effect. Moreover, time is relatively tight for the general situation of clinical disease and research, and the final conclusions from the disease inspection need to be reached as soon as possible. However, the cycle of histological staining is also long and cannot guarantee timely detection results. From this perspective, a rapid and effective analysis method is necessary to identify and study the structural characteristics.

In addition to the apparent morphology, H&E staining and Masson staining of paraffin sections of wounds are two other widely used observation methods for evaluating the effect of skin wound healing.


Wound repair is a key hot spot in surgical research [1] , [2] . This complex pathophysiological process can be divided into three stages, namely, the local inflammatory response stage, the cell proliferation and differentiation stage and the tissue reconstruction stage. Although different cell behaviours occur during the three different stages, they overlap with each other, constituting a complex and continuous biological response [3] - [6] .

Wound repair is a key hot spot in surgical research.

Although different cell behaviours occur during the three different stages, they overlap with each other, constituting a complex and continuous biological response.


Mediation hypothesis proposed that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and employer's performance. The results not only lead to the acceptance of hypothesis but also supported by previous literature. As existing literature established that job satisfaction is observed as the key to enhance employer's performance which resultantly lead towards organizational success [56, 57] .

As existing literature established that job satisfaction is observed as the key to enhance employer's performance which resultantly lead towards organizational success.


Although qPCR assays can detect down to a few target molecules of template per reaction, DNA extraction of fungal pathogens from clinical samples remains the bot- tleneck of PCR diagnostics [29] [30] [31] . Each BAL sample may consist of sterile saline (lavage fluid), fungal cells, biological components which may be PCR inhibitors (e.g. heme and mucus), and a large amount of human cells. Our previous work evaluated the utility of 6 commercial fungal DNA extraction kits [30] . Based on optimizing fungal DNA yields and minimizing FP and FN results, we selected the MasterPure™ Yeast DNA Purification Kit (Epicentre ® Biotechnologies, Madison, WI) for this study. The DNA extraction protocol was further optimized by adding silicon carbide sharps for lysis of fungal cell wall which significantly enhanced extraction yields. The extraction control qPCR qualitatively confirmed successful extractions and gave a quantitative measure of the amount of human genomic DNA present in every BAL extract. In addition, it helped guarantee that the BAL fluid contacted a human mucosal surface and that DNA was not significantly degraded. Although processing fungal cells in parallel to asses extraction efficiency has been suggested as a more accurate measure, such an approach brings with it the high probability of introducing fungal contamination in the pre-PCR processing lab and is thus a serious drawback. We avoided processing and extraction of fungal cells from external sources to minimize the potential for false positive PCR results. We verified the ability of our Aspergillus qPCR assay to successfully amplify 10 fg of A. fumigatus genomic DNA (< 1 Aspergillus genome) in the presence of 1 μg of human genomic DNA per reaction (10 9 fold excess human DNA). The human 18S rRNA gene PCR extraction control measurements helped validate that human genomic DNA in actual PCR reactions derived from BAL fluid was well within these limits, providing evidence that human DNA did not interfere with assay performance leading to false negative results.

Although qPCR assays can detect down to a few target molecules of template per reaction, DNA extraction of fungal pathogens from clinical samples remains the bot- tleneck of PCR diagnostics.

Our previous work evaluated the utility of 6 commercial fungal DNA extraction kits.


In the second part of the article, we used the Bäcklund technique in order to write the black hole metric in terms of an auxiliary seed potential f 0 that does not describe a black hole but a completely regular central region. We first derived simple relations between the values of f 0 at the boundaries of the interior region, and then carried these relations over to the original black hole metric by virtue of an appropriate Bäcklund transformation. A particular consequence of this relation is the universal equality (1) .

A particular consequence of this relation is the universal equality.


One of the most poignant modern motivations for the study of the transient response in complex distributed systems is the experience of Boeing in the design of their new aircraft, the Dreamliner. In an effort to mitigate risk and shed development costs, a substantial portion of the Dreamliner was designed by Boeing's suppliers. Difficulties coordinating between these manufacturers has rippled across Boeing's supply chain and led to financial losses and continuing delays in product delivery [8] . Airbus, one of Boeing's chief competitors, has faced similar struggles in delivery of the A-380 [9] .

Difficulties coordinating between these manufacturers has rippled across Boeing's supply chain and led to financial losses and continuing delays in product delivery.

Airbus, one of Boeing's chief competitors, has faced similar struggles in delivery of the A-380.


LICs tend be in one of two general structures, depending upon the context in which they are housed. They are either community-based LICs (the student is based in general practice and is mentored by a general practice (GP)/family physician) or in a more specialized setting such as an urban academic medical center (the student is based in parallel ambulatory care practices mentored by primary care and specialist physicians) [6] . In the former, the student spends the entire LIC in the generalist practice seeing patients with the primary care physician and other generalists as present, such as a surgeon or obstetrician in the clinic or local hospital [5, 7] . In the parallel model, the student may spend every Monday morning with a pediatrician, Monday afternoon with a surgeon, Tuesday morning with an internist and so on over the course of the year [3, 4] . The student acquires through these sessions a panel of patients who they follow where ever they go (e.g., specialty consultations, emergency room, operating room, etc.). In both models, continuity with patients is a key element of the education.

They are either community-based LICs (the student is based in general practice and is mentored by a general practice (GP)/family physician) or in a more specialized setting such as an urban academic medical center (the student is based in parallel ambulatory care practices mentored by primary care and specialist physicians).

In the former, the student spends the entire LIC in the generalist practice seeing patients with the primary care physician and other generalists as present, such as a surgeon or obstetrician in the clinic or local hospital.

In the parallel model, the student may spend every Monday morning with a pediatrician, Monday afternoon with a surgeon, Tuesday morning with an internist and so on over the course of the year.


Wave-induced hull girder vibrations are normally described by the terms of springing and whipping. Springing is resonant vibrations, while whipping is transient vibrations, which increases rapidly due to wave-loads. Whipping is normally caused by an impact of loads from bottom slamming, bow flare slamming or stern slamming (or even from ice impacts, grounding and explosion which is less frequent). Full scale measurement onboard different vessel types shows that the effect of vibrations on the fatigue damage is comparable to the conventional wave loading effect. The whipping contributes to extreme loading which may also exceed the IACS URS 11 rule wave bending moment, (Moe et al., 2005; Storhaug et al., 2012) .

The whipping contributes to extreme loading which may also exceed the IACS URS 11 rule wave bending moment.


Hygienically inferior environmental conditions (shortcomings in daily cleaning and disinfection of all milking equipment) are usually the main reason for poorer microbiological quality of milk (Bylund 1995) . In our case the milk from organic farming had a higher total mesophilic bacteria count as well as a higher percentage of samples with positive coliform bacteria count (46.1% for organic and 37.4% for conventional milk, Pearson's chi-squared test, P = 0.014). The comparison of coliform bacteria counts in the case of positive samples (CBC to 1500 CFU/ml), however, did not show differences between the types of farming or months. Previous studies from several countries showed no difference in bacteria count between organic and conventional milks (Sato et al. 2005; Ellis et al. 2007a; Muller & Sauerwein 2010) . One possible reason could be the difference in the size of farm and the way of milking equipment disinfection.

Hygienically inferior environmental conditions (shortcomings in daily cleaning and disinfection of all milking equipment) are usually the main reason for poorer microbiological quality of milk.

Previous studies from several countries showed no difference in bacteria count between organic and conventional milks.


All of the above points to the need for developing more culturally tailored interventions, which focus on social support for mothers and fathers in the Bedouin community. There are two reasons for this: the first is based on qualitative findings demonstrating that social support is an integral piece of the coping milieu in families with a child with ASD [14] . The second reason is that the Middle Eastern culture relies on a strong family support system based on the extended family lifestyle [9] . It is possible that effective social support could lead to better ways of coping, which in turn would help reduce mental burnout and lead to improved functioning, for both mothers and fathers [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] .

There are two reasons for this: the first is based on qualitative findings demonstrating that social support is an integral piece of the coping milieu in families with a child with ASD.

The second reason is that the Middle Eastern culture relies on a strong family support system based on the extended family lifestyle.

It is possible that effective social support could lead to better ways of coping, which in turn would help reduce mental burnout and lead to improved functioning, for both mothers and fathers.


The comparison in terms of parental coping strategies revealed only one difference between fathers and mothers of children with ASD. The only difference was found in escape-avoidance coping, which was employed more frequently by mothers of children with ASD. Other investigators have reported similar results [26] .

Other investigators have reported similar results.


The comparison between CG and CR chatbots has not been previously explored, but there are related works in humanrobot interaction (HRI). People tend to care for a robot by assuming and anticipating its needs [11] . In the context of "learning by teaching", i.e., when students learn the material by teaching about it, a CR robot that acted as children's "student" was effective in helping students retain knowledge [49] . In a study with an older population, a robot that asked for help from humans was accepted as a mutual companion; robots that people could care for and be cared by may pave new grounds for assistive technologies that aim for reciprocal care between humans and robots [26] . There are emotional, psychological, and physiological costs and benefits in caring for another being, e.g., comfort one gets from a pet vs. costs of caring for a pet. Yet human investments may not have such equitable pay-offs in HRI, which is a caveat that requires further research [11] .

People tend to care for a robot by assuming and anticipating its needs.

In the context of "learning by teaching", i.e., when students learn the material by teaching about it, a CR robot that acted as children's "student" was effective in helping students retain knowledge.

In a study with an older population, a robot that asked for help from humans was accepted as a mutual companion; robots that people could care for and be cared by may pave new grounds for assistive technologies that aim for reciprocal care between humans and robots.

Yet human investments may not have such equitable pay-offs in HRI, which is a caveat that requires further research.


Our qualitative analysis was performed on participants' open-ended responses to Vincent's questions, e.g. "can you remember something that went well for you recently?" (CG Vincent), "can you think of something that will cheer me up a bit?" (CR Vincent), and on post-experiment open ended responses about the experience in general. We coded deductively on the sub-scales of the self-compassion scale, and we allowed for inductive themes to emerge [3, 48] . Four coders analyzed the data, and a fifth annotator broadly checked for coherence or incoherence, resulting in a structured, iterative process. Our quantitative and qualitative measurements therefore corresponded with each other to triangulate varying insights of the same phenomenon-self-compassion through human-chatbot interaction.

We coded deductively on the sub-scales of the self-compassion scale, and we allowed for inductive themes to emerge.


We return to the question "when bots have psychological issues, can humans care for them, and if so, how?" to emphasize that (1) anthropomorphic realism of artificial entities is not required for humans to develop a caretaking stance towards them, and (2) machines' mimicry of people's psychological ill-being can help ascertain why certain psychological traits are labeled as issues. When we observe how people take care of unwell chatbots, we may uncover how they themselves want to be treated. Machines therefore do not need to pass the Turing test for the purpose of positive computing, or technology for well-being [6] .

Machines therefore do not need to pass the Turing test for the purpose of positive computing, or technology for well-being.


Clinical symptoms, TBUT, Schirmer test, and OSDI score are the most sensitive and specific tests performed to evaluate the severity of DES [7, 21] . Changes in these parameters help to understand the clinical efficacy of a treatment. In the current study, the group that received XG/CS improved its results in all tests above mentioned. However, there were no differences when was compared with PEG/PG after 60 days of intervention.

Clinical symptoms, TBUT, Schirmer test, and OSDI score are the most sensitive and specific tests performed to evaluate the severity of DES.


In addition to rheological properties above described, both, XG and CS act on different pathophysiological points involved in DED development. Xanthan gum is rich in OH-groups allowing it to react with reactive oxygen species and preventing oxidative stress damage implicated as a possible pathogenic cause of DED [25] . Meanwhile, CS modulates the inflammatory response mediated by cytokines [23] .

Xanthan gum is rich in OH-groups allowing it to react with reactive oxygen species and preventing oxidative stress damage implicated as a possible pathogenic cause of DED.

Meanwhile, CS modulates the inflammatory response mediated by cytokines.


Cellulose exists mainly as aggregates due to its complex intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding network, which make cellulose is very difficult to depolymerized and convert into a low mass molecule compound. To overcome the problem, dissolution of cellulose in suitable solvents could promote the conversion because cellulose chains are well-extended and -dispersed in such conditions beside the reaction run in extreme conditions [6] [7] . In this context, ionic liquids and alkaline aqueous solutions are generally employed for dissolution of cellulose [8] [9] [10] . For example, ionic liquids have been used as solvent to convert cellulose into HMF [11] . Oxalic and glycolic acids have been obtained from cellulose by alkali fusion or nitric acid oxidation processes [12] . However, this process required high concentrations of nitric acid (ca. 40 wt.%), which was very costly, corrosive, require special reaction apparatus in terms of scaling up for industrial production and dangerous for environmental.

To overcome the problem, dissolution of cellulose in suitable solvents could promote the conversion because cellulose chains are well-extended and -dispersed in such conditions beside the reaction run in extreme conditions.

In this context, ionic liquids and alkaline aqueous solutions are generally employed for dissolution of cellulose.

For example, ionic liquids have been used as solvent to convert cellulose into HMF.

Oxalic and glycolic acids have been obtained from cellulose by alkali fusion or nitric acid oxidation processes.


Cellulose is the most abundant renewable carbon resource on the planet and has great potential to be used as an alternative feedstock for the production of bio-based valuable platform molecule [1] . The conversion of cellulose not only into fuel-based but also high-value chemical is equally important. Hence, the conversion of cellulose into value-added fuel and chemicals has received increasing attention [2] [3] [4] [5] .

Cellulose is the most abundant renewable carbon resource on the planet and has great potential to be used as an alternative feedstock for the production of bio-based valuable platform molecule.

Hence, the conversion of cellulose into value-added fuel and chemicals has received increasing attention.


Pool sizes of adenine nucleotides also oscillated in a synchronous culture and the periodicity of the oscillations was similar to that observed for respiration rate (Fig. 5) . The maximum observed amplitudes (peak-trough) for ATP, ADP and AMP, expressed as a percentage of the minimum values, were 108, 194 and 520, respectively. Adenylate charge values varied between 0.63 and 0.88 and the ratio ATP/ADP varied between values of 0.9 and 10.9. The phase relationships between respiratory maxima, ADP and ATP/ADP maxima are shown on a cell cycle map in which a single traverse of the cycle is represented as a circle following cell division at 0" (Fig. 6) . Thus maxima of respiratory activity correspond to maximum ADP levels and are out of phase with maxima of ATP/ADP ratios. Therefore at those times in the cell cycle when respiration is at a maximum, growing organisms are in State 3, whereas organisms showing minimum respiratory activity are in State 4. Transitions of respiratory activity observed during the cell cycle of the bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus have also been explained in terms of differing energy requirement at different stages of the cell cycle (Edwards & Jones, 1977) .

Transitions of respiratory activity observed during the cell cycle of the bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus have also been explained in terms of differing energy requirement at different stages of the cell cycle.


Previous research indicates that there is an important relationship between interpersonal behavior and psychopathology. There are also numerous studies that indicate that various interpersonal characteristics, such as empathy, can be associated with therapeutic outcome (Ruiz et al., 2004) . For example, "empathic skills support long-term social commitment and are an essential prerequisite for higher social functioning" (Bailey, Henry, & Von Hippel, 2008) . The current study has important implications for counseling since empathy and interpersonal problems are involved in the therapy setting. These two measures could be used together in clinical settings in order to gain a better understanding of the person seeking treatment. These findings can give the counselor insight into how certain interpersonal problems may be connected to the client's relationships with others and may help identify people who are vulnerable to certain interpersonal problems based upon their empathic abilities.

There are also numerous studies that indicate that various interpersonal characteristics, such as empathy, can be associated with therapeutic outcome.

For example, "empathic skills support long-term social commitment and are an essential prerequisite for higher social functioning".


Although this study was not designed to show causation, it is a reasonable supposition that more trait-like levels of empathy influence state-like interpersonal problems, rather than vice versa. The directionality of this relationship is at least partially supported by previous research. For example, teaching clients empathic skills was seen to reduce some interpersonal problems in female undergraduate students (Brems, Fromme, & Johnson, 1992) . In light of the results from our study, this causal direction would suggest that increasing PT could reduce interpersonal problems with submissiveness, control, sociability and intimacy. In addition, decreasing PD could help to alleviate interpersonal problems with assertiveness, submissiveness, responsibility, control and sociability. It appears that empathy training can be done in a relatively short period of time and may even have secondary effects on other interpersonal aspects (Brems et al.,1992) . For example, teaching clients to be empathetic towards others may increase their awareness of their own personal feelings. This increased awareness may provide insight on one's effect of others, which may result in increased helping behaviors (Brems et al., 1992) .

For example, teaching clients empathic skills was seen to reduce some interpersonal problems in female undergraduate students.

It appears that empathy training can be done in a relatively short period of time and may even have secondary effects on other interpersonal aspects.

This increased awareness may provide insight on one's effect of others, which may result in increased helping behaviors.


Several partial results are known in Lehmer's problem. For example, if a polynomial f ∈ Z[z] exists with 1 < M (f ) < M ( 1 ), then deg(f ) ≥ 56 [17] . For more information, we refer the reader to the survey article [23] .

For example, if a polynomial f ∈ Z[z] exists with 1 < M (f ) < M ( 1 ), then deg(f ) ≥ 56.

For more information, we refer the reader to the survey article.


In 18 th century, in Serbia, mulberry trees were grown for their leaves as food for silkworms; however, presently, it is predominantly grown for its fruit. Three mulberry species, namely black (Morus nigra), red (Morus rubra) and white (Morus alba), are grown for fruit production (SHARMA et al., 2000) . Recently, wild edible plants have received much attention as sources of biologically active substances including antioxidants, antimutagens and anticarcinogens (ATMAKURI et al., 2009) . The genus Rosa contains over 100 species that are widely distributed in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America. These deciduous shrubs are widely grown in gardens for their flowers and fruits. The native rose species are an extremely rich source of nutrients, in particular, phenolics, carbohydrates, ascorbic acid and some minerals (ERCISLI, 2007) . However, the significant variation in their content and composition, could be useful for selection of relevant species or genotypes in future plant-breeding studies (DAVIS, 1997) . In general, rose hips are used in the food industry to obtain different products, such as tea, jam, jelly and marmalade.

Three mulberry species, namely black (Morus nigra), red (Morus rubra) and white (Morus alba), are grown for fruit production.

Recently, wild edible plants have received much attention as sources of biologically active substances including antioxidants, antimutagens and anticarcinogens.

The native rose species are an extremely rich source of nutrients, in particular, phenolics, carbohydrates, ascorbic acid and some minerals.

However, the significant variation in their content and composition, could be useful for selection of relevant species or genotypes in future plant-breeding studies.


The evidence-based practice (EBP) movement has permeated a range of health care and rehabilitation disciplines including the rehabilitation counseling profession (Chan et al., 2011) . The EBP framework advocates that rehabilitation professionals deliver clinical practices that are based on the strongest scientific evidence (Chan, Tarvydas, Blalock, Strauser, & Atkins, 2009) . Furthermore, the use of EBP enables counselors to fulfill their ethical obligations to consumers by better protecting consumers from harm pool from which they adopt new practices. Further, evidence is not a static domain and continually evolves and expands through research that formally evaluates current and emerging practices. As a result, a second issue emerges in that EBPs are not consistently applied which can result in variation in outcomes. Compounding this issue is the premature adoption of practices that have not been formally evaluated. The variations in application of EBP and the adoption of less-than-accepted practices results in some individuals receiving services that may limit their potential, or in severe cases, it may actually be detrimental to the individual being served (Graham et al., 2006) . Knowledge translation (KT) plays a key role in the effort to support the capacity of practitioners to overcome these challenges.

The evidence-based practice (EBP) movement has permeated a range of health care and rehabilitation disciplines including the rehabilitation counseling profession.

The EBP framework advocates that rehabilitation professionals deliver clinical practices that are based on the strongest scientific evidence.

The variations in application of EBP and the adoption of less-than-accepted practices results in some individuals receiving services that may limit their potential, or in severe cases, it may actually be detrimental to the individual being served.


Counselors from Maryland and Utah reported significantly lower levels of perceived barriers than counselors from Mississippi and Texas. This can be attributed to the fact that both Maryland and Utah have provided training to counselors to use specific scientifically supported interventions (e.g., motivational interviewing and individual planning and support (IPS) supported employment, etc.). VR counselors reported moderately high levels of self-efficacy and outcome expectancy and relatively low levels of perceived barriers to implementing EBP. However, there may be a disconnection between training and outcome expectancy of EBP. For example, respondents in Maryland reported relatively high self-efficacy in using EBP (M = 7.23) but substantially lower outcome expectancy scores (M = 5.65). The observed discrepancy may be linked to the finding that VR counselors' stages of change scores were lower than other scores. This may indicate that counselors, despite receiving training, might not be in the action stage of using EBP in their everyday practice. The lack of action may be due, in part, to intra-agency barriers and lack of incentives to engage in EBP practices (Graham et al., 2013) . In the regression model, self-efficacy and outcome expectancy were positively associated with readiness to use EBP and agency barriers and personal barriers were negatively related to readiness to use EBP. These socialcognitive predictors account for 44% of the variance in the stages of change scores indicating the value of using a social-cognitive framework to understand counselors' readiness to use EBP in current practice. Specifically, the outcome expectancy factor was the most significant predictor after controlling for the effect of perceived self-efficacy and perceived barriers. The results suggest that interventions or agency-related practices designed to increase outcome expectancy of EBP, in addition to developing self-efficacy, will strongly influence counselors' motivation to use EBP in practice. This finding can be is supported by the notion that higher levels of belief that EBP will lead to expected outcomes in VR (i.e., positive expectation post EBP use) can generate rehabilitation counselor's interest in learning new service delivery processes and in incorporating effective practices in their service delivery process.

The lack of action may be due, in part, to intra-agency barriers and lack of incentives to engage in EBP practices.


In general, the most common types of metabolic drugdrug interactions are inhibition and induction of drug metabolizing enzymes. These interactions can increase or decrease drug exposure when two or more drugs are co-administered, and this can enhance drug toxicity [20] . However, there is little information available about the ability of designer drugs to inhibit the metabolism of the other drugs administered. Evaluation of the potential risk of metabolic drug-drug interactions is important. In this investigation, in vitro experiments with human metabolic enzymes were used to study the major metabolites of six 4-substituted MAs and their ability to inhibit the metabolism of MA.

These interactions can increase or decrease drug exposure when two or more drugs are co-administered, and this can enhance drug toxicity.


We previously reported a method for distinguishing currently controlled substances, such as MA, 4-MMA, and 4-FMA, from other uncontrolled 4-substituted MAs, including 4-chloromethamphetamine (4-CMA), 4-bromomethamphetamine (4-BMA), 4-iodomethamphetamine (4-IMA), and 4-nitromethamphetamine (4-NMA) [18] . As a way to circumvent existing drug laws, production and subsequent abuse of 4-CMA, 4-BMA and 4-NMA is expected in future because details of their psychotomi-metic properties and synthetic processes are easy to obtain online [19] . Additionally, like 4-iodo-2, 5-dimethoxy-phenethylamine (2C-I) and 4-iodo-2, 5-dimethoxyamphetamine (DOI), which have been widely abused as designer drugs, 4-IMA also has a 4-iodinated aromatic part. Therefore, it is expected that these 4-substituted analogs of MA will be encountered in forensic cases in the future.

We previously reported a method for distinguishing currently controlled substances, such as MA, 4-MMA, and 4-FMA, from other uncontrolled 4-substituted MAs, including 4-chloromethamphetamine (4-CMA), 4-bromomethamphetamine (4-BMA), 4-iodomethamphetamine (4-IMA), and 4-nitromethamphetamine (4-NMA).

As a way to circumvent existing drug laws, production and subsequent abuse of 4-CMA, 4-BMA and 4-NMA is expected in future because details of their psychotomi-metic properties and synthetic processes are easy to obtain online.


However, obtaining suitable data is fraught with difficulties. In this paper, we describe the construction of a novel data source on the first five EU FPs, the sysres EUPRO database. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most complete and highest quality dataset currently available 3 . However, because of the heterogeneity and inconsistency of the available raw data, it is far from perfect and we thus discuss its strengths and limitations. We then construct networks, describe key structural features and illustrate their economic relevance. This yields 3 We are only aware of one comparable major data source on the EU FPs, the EU RJV database, which is part of the STEP-TO-RJVs database (Caloghirou and Vonortas 2000) . It has been constructed in the TSER project 'Science and Technology Policies Towards Research Joint Ventures' and contains information on all projects funded in FP1-FP4 that have at least one participant from the private sector. The 6,300 research joint ventures, however, represent only a subset of the corresponding 20,700 projects with information on more than one participant included in the sysres EUPRO database.

This yields 3 We are only aware of one comparable major data source on the EU FPs, the EU RJV database, which is part of the STEP-TO-RJVs database.


Duplex stainless steels (DSS) and Super Duplex Stainless Steels (SDSS) are dual phased steels comprising ferrite and austenite theoretically in equal proportions. They have exceptional mechanical and corrosion properties. Super duplex stainless steels have high chromium and molybdenum content which makes them highly corrosion resistive and higher mechanical strength. DSS and SDSS have wide range of applications in offshore, chemical, paper and pulp industries [1] [2] [3] .

DSS and SDSS have wide range of applications in offshore, chemical, paper and pulp industries.


Welding is a key fabrication technique in applications of duplex and super duplex stainless steels. Welding of DSS and SDSS grades are challenging operation due to their complex microstructure. Improper welding cycles may lead to destroy material properties such as drastic reduction in toughness, strength and corrosion resistance [4] .

Improper welding cycles may lead to destroy material properties such as drastic reduction in toughness, strength and corrosion resistance.


One of the few languages in which some frequency or familiarity effect has been found in beginning readers -German -is in fact one of the less regularly spelled languages of this group of languages. Beginning readers were found to be more accurate at reading familiar words (taken, as in this study, from beginning reading books) than unfamiliar words or pseudowords. However, after only a few weeks of reading instruction, children could read two-thirds of unfamiliar words and pseudowords. It was only in a subset of poor readers that the pattern of very poor reading of unfamiliar words and pseudowords, compared to reading of familiar words, persisted past the first few weeks of instruction (Klicpera, 1989) .

It was only in a subset of poor readers that the pattern of very poor reading of unfamiliar words and pseudowords, compared to reading of familiar words, persisted past the first few weeks of instruction.


Theoretical content and knowledge of current evidencebased practices relating to parent-child relationships and children's social and emotional development were requested by many educators to further advance their understandings and build their confidence when engaging with parents. Building on implicit knowledge with explicit knowledge (definite and clear information) relating to theoretical concepts and current evidence may have a significant influence on the quality of care and education an educator provides, highlighting the importance of incorporating explicit knowledge, in addition to implicit knowledge, when engaging with both children and parents (Conkbayir & Pascal, 2014) . Hence, using implicit knowledge as a foundation to gain further knowledge, through the integration of theoretical approaches and concepts, may enable educators to develop the confidence and skills they require to nurture parent-child relationships.

Building on implicit knowledge with explicit knowledge (definite and clear information) relating to theoretical concepts and current evidence may have a significant influence on the quality of care and education an educator provides, highlighting the importance of incorporating explicit knowledge, in addition to implicit knowledge, when engaging with both children and parents.


The findings indicated that the educators' use of implicit knowledge to interpret parent-child relationships was strong as they provided numerous examples of parentchild interactions and were able to describe functional and dysfunctional relationships through narratives. Educators' implicit knowledge and understanding was most strongly influenced by their observations of parent-child interactions. Observations of interactions between parent and child and practical engagement with parents and children are critical elements required for developing educators' implicit knowledge (Sun et al., 2007) . Observational skills were highly utilised by educators: observed interactions, events and achievements were interpreted and consequently contributed to their understandings of children and parents. Despite nominating a lack of time to observe and interact with parents as a significant challenge, the majority of educators confidently provided many examples of functional and dysfunctional parent-child relationships indicating that they have considerable capacity to gauge the status of relationships contributing to their implicit knowledge.

Observations of interactions between parent and child and practical engagement with parents and children are critical elements required for developing educators' implicit knowledge.


Although, as implicit knowledge is unrecorded and based on experiences and observations, educators find verbalising implicit knowledge challenging, leading to educator knowledge and practices to be seen and felt but rarely described or communicated (Kingston, 2012; McGill, 2007) . Educators noted that sharing of knowledge and practices with parents to support parent-child relationships was not commonly practised and suggested this was influenced by low self-confidence and communication skills; highlighting the difficulty of verbalising their implicit knowledge directly with parents. Building knowledge with theoretical, evidence-based approaches was identified as a strategy to strengthen educators' capacity in sharing of information with parents.

Although, as implicit knowledge is unrecorded and based on experiences and observations, educators find verbalising implicit knowledge challenging, leading to educator knowledge and practices to be seen and felt but rarely described or communicated.


Building on existing implicit knowledge through the reflection of beliefs, values and practices, sharing of narratives, integration of theories and interpreting the combination of implicit and explicit knowledge into practice may deepen educators' understanding and knowledge and provide them with resources they require to support parent-child relationships (Ohlsson, 2014; Shannon, Smith & Dana, 2016) . Research relating to educator learning indicates that educators' knowledge acquisition may benefit from integrating multiple sources of knowledge, such as existing knowledge, pre-service education, practical exposure to and understanding of their children and their families, and ongoing professional development (Pitsoe & Maila, 2012) . Educators are encouraged to engage in self-reflection practices in order to examine their beliefs and personal and professional values in order to gain deeper understandings of their interactions with children and families and their practices (Day, 1999; McGill, 2007; Nolan & Raban, 2016) .

Building on existing implicit knowledge through the reflection of beliefs, values and practices, sharing of narratives, integration of theories and interpreting the combination of implicit and explicit knowledge into practice may deepen educators' understanding and knowledge and provide them with resources they require to support parent-child relationships.

Research relating to educator learning indicates that educators' knowledge acquisition may benefit from integrating multiple sources of knowledge, such as existing knowledge, pre-service education, practical exposure to and understanding of their children and their families, and ongoing professional development.

Educators are encouraged to engage in self-reflection practices in order to examine their beliefs and personal and professional values in order to gain deeper understandings of their interactions with children and families and their practices.


A powerful method of modelling an electrochemical system is to derive its equivalent circuit [91] [92] [93] [94] . An equivalent circuit is a conceptual arrangement of linear circuit elements which, if implemented in hardware, would generate the same impedance response (or set of current/voltage curves) as the electrochemical system under investigation. In the present work, we demonstrate, for the first time, that a single, universal, equivalent circuit exists for virtually all carbon-based supercapacitors. Furthermore, this same circuit provides a complete and logically consistent explanation for open circuit voltage decay, capacitance loss at high frequency, and voltammetric distortions at high scan rate. Finally, based on a truncated version of the equivalent circuit, a solid-state supercapacitor simulator is constructed which successfully mimics the behaviour of commercial devices.

A powerful method of modelling an electrochemical system is to derive its equivalent circuit.


These results support the idea of interplay between metabolic pathways with the chlorophenols studied. Rhodococcus chlorophenolicum PCP-1 degraded 2,3,5,6 TeCP similar to PCP, and 2,3,5,6 TeCP was hydroxylated to TeCH (Tetrahydroquinone) [30] . The preferred growth substrate was 2,4,6 TCP which is metabolized via 2,6 dichlorohydroquinone for several bacteria [30] . A minor bacterial transformation pathway for the higher chlorinated phenols starts by methylation of the hydroxyl group [30] . This transformation reaction is a detoxification mechanism, since the methylated products are less toxic than the corresponding CPs.

Rhodococcus chlorophenolicum PCP-1 degraded 2,3,5,6 TeCP similar to PCP, and 2,3,5,6 TeCP was hydroxylated to TeCH (Tetrahydroquinone).

The preferred growth substrate was 2,4,6 TCP which is metabolized via 2,6 dichlorohydroquinone for several bacteria.

A minor bacterial transformation pathway for the higher chlorinated phenols starts by methylation of the hydroxyl group.


Over the last few decades computers and digital technologies have revolutionised most aspects of daily life. Education and teaching practices have witnessed significant changes moving from the traditional lecture model, where students are recipients of the knowledge communicated by a teacher, to a more dynamic approach in which activities are structured in a way that allows students to construct their own knowledge [1] . This model of teaching and learning, known as constructivism, is becoming increasingly popular among Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) teachers and has been shown to lead students towards a better understanding of the subject matter with increased retention and improved performance during exams [2] , [3] . Active learning experiences are also effective in encouraging students to integrate knowledge across different disciplines and this is particularly important for multidisciplinary subjects with growing popularity such as Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) [4] .

Education and teaching practices have witnessed significant changes moving from the traditional lecture model, where students are recipients of the knowledge communicated by a teacher, to a more dynamic approach in which activities are structured in a way that allows students to construct their own knowledge.

This model of teaching and learning, known as constructivism, is becoming increasingly popular among Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) teachers and has been shown to lead students towards a better understanding of the subject matter with increased retention and improved performance during exams.

Active learning experiences are also effective in encouraging students to integrate knowledge across different disciplines and this is particularly important for multidisciplinary subjects with growing popularity such as Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI).


When assignment to treatment is not randomized, those that receive one level of the treatment may differ from those that receive another with respect to covariates, X, that may also influence the outcome. For example, in a study estimating the causal effects of neighborhood choice on employment, persons who live in deprived neighborhoods differ from those who live in privileged ones on a variety of characteristics, such as socioeconomic status and education levels (Hedman and Van Ham, 2012) . As such, it may be difficult to distinguish between neighborhood effects and the differences between subjects which existed before they chose their neighborhoods. In such settings, establishing causes and effects requires more sophisticated statistical tools and additional assumptions.

For example, in a study estimating the causal effects of neighborhood choice on employment, persons who live in deprived neighborhoods differ from those who live in privileged ones on a variety of characteristics, such as socioeconomic status and education levels.


There are also methods that infer relative permeability by history matching observable parameters such as pressure drop and saturation profile history. The relative permeability curves are adjusted until a good match is obtained with the experimental data. The limitation is that the description of the actual shape of the relative permeability curves can cause errors (Hirasaki et al. 1995) .

The limitation is that the description of the actual shape of the relative permeability curves can cause errors.


As shown in Figure 4b , the high-resolution P2p spectrum can be deconvoluted into two main component peaks located at 131.7 and 133.1 eV, corresponding to P-C and P-O bonding, respectively [23] . In addition, the peak area ratio of P-C to P-O is close to 2:3. Doping phosphorus atoms into the carbon lattice (forming a P-C covalent bond) can induce negatively delocalized C atoms adjacent to P atoms; meanwhile, in P-O bonding (where an oxygen bridge is formed between C and P), the oxygen atoms can enhance electron poverty in the carbon atoms. These two kinds of structure have been reported to be advantageous for the ORR [29] . It should be pointed out that, there To explore the electrocatalytic activity of PN-rGO for the ORR, cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments were carried out in an O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH solution. The CV curves of a bare GCE and rGO were also measured for comparison. As shown in Figure 5a , for all the electrodes, the CV curves displayed distinct oxygen reduction cathodic peaks. The ORR peak potential positively shifted from −0.39 V for the GCE to −0.26 V for rGO and −0.21 V for PN-rGO. In addition, the PN-rGO had the highest peak current density, at −0.96 mA cm −2 , which was about four times higher than that of the GCE. The most positive ORR peak potential and the highest peak current density of PN-rGO, suggest that phosphorus and trace nitrogen co-doping can greatly enhance the ORR catalytic activity of graphene. The CV area of the PN-rGO was also much greater than that of the rGO, indicating the former had a much greater electroactive area, as CV area is closely related to a sample's capacitance, which is proportional to its specific surface area. This result is in good agreement with the BET results.

As shown in Figure 4b , the high-resolution P2p spectrum can be deconvoluted into two main component peaks located at 131.7 and 133.1 eV, corresponding to P-C and P-O bonding, respectively.

These two kinds of structure have been reported to be advantageous for the ORR.


After abstracting FVC, NDVI, LST, and WS with the footprint models, nine regression models were built for each of the periods based on the proposed multiple linear regression model. The four independent variables were also abstracted for the four LAS footprints. By comparing regression results with the observed LAS H, spatial trends in LAS H could be captured well, especially for LAS1 (Figure 3a) . The black line in Figure 3 H is over-estimated for LAS2 and LAS4, whereas it is under-estimated for LAS3. The residual part of LAS H is then estimated from the 17 EC H residuals by the above WATA kriging model. The final estimated result is obtained by adding the regression and interpolation parts. A comparison with observed values is shown in Figure 3b . There are obvious improvements compared with the regression. For both LAS1 and LAS2, the red dashed lines are almost coincident with the black lines. The slope value of LAS4 is 1.056 (i.e., very close to 1). From Figure 3a , it can be found that the overestimation is mainly caused by the regression part in the two-step modeling. After applying the WATA kriging to the regression residue and adding the result to the regression result, the overestimation is decreased at both LAS2 and LAS4. However, the under-estimation phenomenon still exists in LAS3, even though the slope is increased from 0.776 to 0.805. The most important reason for this may be a systematic bias between the LAS and EC values owing to the large number of buildings in the LAS source area [20] . The high H resulting from buildings can be captured by the LAS, but it is not captured by EC because almost all EC systems are located within corn fields.

The most important reason for this may be a systematic bias between the LAS and EC values owing to the large number of buildings in the LAS source area.


The speed (or the rate) of convergence of statistically and A-statistically convergent sequences were introduced in various ways [3] - [5] , [9] . In the present paper we choose another way to define the speed of convergence of A-statistically convergent sequences, applying the notion of convergence with speed λ (λ is a monotonically increasing positive sequence), introduced by Kangro in 1969 [11] . Also we investigate the matrix transforms of A-statistically convergent sequences with speed. We show that in the special case, if λ is bounded, from our results follow some results of Kolk [15] - [16] . The author wish to thank professor Kolk for valuable advices for preparing this paper.

The speed (or the rate) of convergence of statistically and A-statistically convergent sequences were introduced in various ways.

In the present paper we choose another way to define the speed of convergence of A-statistically convergent sequences, applying the notion of convergence with speed λ (λ is a monotonically increasing positive sequence), introduced by Kangro in 1969.

We show that in the special case, if λ is bounded, from our results follow some results of Kolk.


Many kinds of neural networks exist, such as backpropagation neural network (BPNN), discrete Hopfield neural network, radical basis function neural network (RBFNN), proportional-integral-derivative neural network, generalized regression neural networks (GRNN), and many other neural networks. Among these neural networks, BPNN is the most widely used and can be considered the most fundamental method [15] . Meanwhile, GRNN, which uses the probability density function, has robustness, a strong nonlinear mapping capability, and a high grade of error tolerance [23] . And previous researchers have been developed to compare the performance of these neural networks in application, especially for the BPNN and GRNN [23, 24] . Thus, these two methods (BPNN and GRNN) were used for predicting the frost-heaving behavior in this study.

Among these neural networks, BPNN is the most widely used and can be considered the most fundamental method.

Meanwhile, GRNN, which uses the probability density function, has robustness, a strong nonlinear mapping capability, and a high grade of error tolerance.

And previous researchers have been developed to compare the performance of these neural networks in application, especially for the BPNN and GRNN.


The data from the electrophoretic surveys are summarised in tables 1 and 2. Table 1 presents The number of heterozygous classes, with an expected frequency of more than 3 per cent, which show a deficit from expected frequencies is also presented. Table 2 summarises the degree of association between pairs of loci in the two species. The x2 probabilities of independence are given for the case where the allozymes were pooled into two classes. In the tables, allozymes are identified by numbers which are allocated in order of anodal mobility. For example, allozyme 1 has the highest anodal mobility of all representatives of an enzyme, migrating more rapidly than allozyme 2 which in turn migrates more rapidly than allozyme 3. The number of isoenzymes in heterozygotes was usually that which would be expected from the assumption that the enzyme has a particular functional form. That is, heterozygotes of monomeric enzymes possessed two bands, those of dimeric enzymes had three bands and those of tetramers had five bands. There was one exception to this pattern. One B. rostratus individual showed a twobanded heterozygous phenotype for Val. This could be due to heterozygosity of the normal form with a null allele (which does not prevent the dimer from functioning). If this is so, the estimated frequency of such nulls for this enzyme is less than 0.25 per cent. Nulls which prevent the dimer from functioning may still occur. No variants which could be ascribed to heterozygosity of a null and a normal allozyme were discovered for GPT-6-PGDH or GPD which are known to be dimeric in other organisms (Harris and Hopkinson, 1977) .

No variants which could be ascribed to heterozygosity of a null and a normal allozyme were discovered for GPT-6-PGDH or GPD which are known to be dimeric in other organisms.


It would be premature to dismiss all of the above possibilities as sole or joint cause of the maintenance of polymorphisms with apparent heterozygote disadvantage. There must be, however, a strong suspicion that the true basis of this maintenance remains to be discovered. A promising line of research has recently been opened by the analytical demonstration that multi-locus systems with constant fitness and marginal heterozygote deficits can be stably maintained given the appropriate conditions of epistatic selection (Hastings, 1982) . The examples provided by Hastings are considered by him to be biologically unusual because they require that the fittest homozygote should be in a very low frequency.

A promising line of research has recently been opened by the analytical demonstration that multi-locus systems with constant fitness and marginal heterozygote deficits can be stably maintained given the appropriate conditions of epistatic selection.


Openness to experience was also found positively influence the intention of purchasing cosmetics, and this result is consistent with previous study which also showed that openness to experience would positively affect people to buy free-off cosmetics [2] . It can prove that people who have more this personality are easily to accept more things around them, and therefore they are easily to conduct the purchasing behavior. This result gives a suggestion that the cosmetic retailers and sellers can focus on consumers who seem to have the personality more, and give them some interesting introduction of the cosmetics may attract them to buy.

Openness to experience was also found positively influence the intention of purchasing cosmetics, and this result is consistent with previous study which also showed that openness to experience would positively affect people to buy free-off cosmetics.


In Taiwan, many people are in pursuit of beauty and looking for the cosmetics to keep them young and pretty. With the information explosion, consumers check the ingredients, the efficacy and the toxicity of cosmetics carefully through the Internet, advertisements, and others. Nowadays, some consumers avoid buying the cosmetics which have some specific ingredients with potential toxicity [2] .

Nowadays, some consumers avoid buying the cosmetics which have some specific ingredients with potential toxicity.


Based on the TPB framework, only perceived behavioral control influences the respondents to purchase cosmetics. The results were different from the previous study which showed that attitude positively influences the intention to purchase face and body care products [10] . Besides, subjective norm doesn't affect the intention to purchase cosmetics and this result was inconsistent with the previous study [2] . The results suggest that people purchase cosmetics depending on whether they have enough time and money. Their past purchasing experience or the obstacles they encounter also affect people to buy the products. On the other hand, whether they like to purchase cosmetics or not don't influence them. It might be that when they need cosmetics, even they don't like to execute the buying behavior, they still have to complete the purchasing. Also, subjective norm doesn't affect people to buy cosmetics, and maybe it was because buying The study expanded the TPB by adding brand image, involvement, consumer knowledge and openness to experience. Surprisingly, brand image doesn't have significantly influence on purchasing intention, and it was different from the previous study which showed brand consciousness plays an important role in predicting Chinese consumers' attitude toward buying luxury products [22] .

The results were different from the previous study which showed that attitude positively influences the intention to purchase face and body care products.

Besides, subjective norm doesn't affect the intention to purchase cosmetics and this result was inconsistent with the previous study.

Surprisingly, brand image doesn't have significantly influence on purchasing intention, and it was different from the previous study which showed brand consciousness plays an important role in predicting Chinese consumers' attitude toward buying luxury products.


As consumers have higher degree of involvement in searching product information, they are more participative in the buying process, and value the buying decision prudentially. The involvement of consumers is various because everyone has different hobbies, value and motivation [1] . Sometimes, consumers can't distinguish the information on the packages exactly. For instance, if consumers have high involvement, they will search the information spontaneously. Consumers want to know the safety and efficacy of the nonprescription drugs and they will also ask opinion of the experts or other people [4] . In addition, cosmetics are a kind of products that consumers involve both in buying and using process [1] .

The involvement of consumers is various because everyone has different hobbies, value and motivation.

Consumers want to know the safety and efficacy of the nonprescription drugs and they will also ask opinion of the experts or other people.

In addition, cosmetics are a kind of products that consumers involve both in buying and using process.


Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been intensively studied in recent years due to their unique structural, electrical, mechanical, optical, thermal and chemical properties [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] . In health-care industry, CNTs have shown promise as contrast agents for photoacoustic and photothermal imaging of tumours and infections because they offer high resolution and allow deep tissue imaging [13] [14] [15] [16] . However, in vivo applications have been limited by the relatively low absorption displayed by nanotubes at near-infrared region (NIR) and concerns over toxicity. Recently, golden carbon have been strategically designed and synthesized by depositing a thin layer of gold around the CNTs for photoacoustic and photothermal imaging in vivo [17] . The gold layer acts as an NIR absorption enhancer and could potentially address the issues of toxicity. Nevertheless, controllable synthesis of golden carbons is still a challengeable task, so developing a simple and effective method for prepared an NIR absorption enhancer CNTs has became a hotspot.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been intensively studied in recent years due to their unique structural, electrical, mechanical, optical, thermal and chemical properties.

In health-care industry, CNTs have shown promise as contrast agents for photoacoustic and photothermal imaging of tumours and infections because they offer high resolution and allow deep tissue imaging.

Recently, golden carbon have been strategically designed and synthesized by depositing a thin layer of gold around the CNTs for photoacoustic and photothermal imaging in vivo.


Although "financial researchers have already determined that financial risks constitute the underlying basis of every financial decision problem, the management of such risks still remains a challenging issue" (Doumpos, Zopounidis 2001: 97) . The assessment of credit risk is thus one of the most critical and decisive moments in the process of credit concessions and can, in fact, determine whether or not credit should be granted. As such, improving credit risk assessment systems can be expected to contribute to more accurate concession decisions, and to lower the levels of risk associated with loans (Lopez, Saidenberg 2000; Gupta et al. 2014b) .

As such, improving credit risk assessment systems can be expected to contribute to more accurate concession decisions, and to lower the levels of risk associated with loans.


A limitation of the present work is the small sample size of patients with quiescent SLE; increasing the number of patients would increase confidence in the data generated. However, the main conclusion of this study, i.e., that both nucleotide excision repair and DNA double-strand breaks repair were defective in SLE patients (a) was confirmed in both quiescent SLE and in lupus nephritis patients (12 SLE patients versus 12 healthy controls) and (b) is in line with previous data showing that SLE T cells and monocytes have increased sensitivity to acquiring DNA double-strand breaks in response to oxidative stress [34] . Moreover, since total PBMCs were used in the present study, we cannot exclude the possibility that differences in cell subsets constituents between patients and controls contribute to some of the differences observed. Notably, a recent report provides evidence for defective repair of oxidative stress-induced double-strand breaks in all peripheral blood mononuclear cell subsets (CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and monocytes) derived from SLE patients compared with those from healthy controls [34] . Also, previous studies have also shown that both lymphocytes and neutrophils from SLE patients display increased DNA damage and, additionally, may demonstrate defective repair of oxidative DNA damage [9, 10] .

However, the main conclusion of this study, i.e., that both nucleotide excision repair and DNA double-strand breaks repair were defective in SLE patients (a) was confirmed in both quiescent SLE and in lupus nephritis patients (12 SLE patients versus 12 healthy controls) and (b) is in line with previous data showing that SLE T cells and monocytes have increased sensitivity to acquiring DNA double-strand breaks in response to oxidative stress.

Notably, a recent report provides evidence for defective repair of oxidative stress-induced double-strand breaks in all peripheral blood mononuclear cell subsets (CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and monocytes) derived from SLE patients compared with those from healthy controls.

Also, previous studies have also shown that both lymphocytes and neutrophils from SLE patients display increased DNA damage and, additionally, may demonstrate defective repair of oxidative DNA damage.


Variation of different classes of proteins in different genotypes of soybean seed, including anti-nutritional, allergen and storage proteins, has been investigated using 2D-PAGE in our laboratory [5] . In the present study, we describe the extraction, separation, and identification of different classes of common bean proteins. The Mascot search engine was used to search NCBI databases for protein identification. The identified proteins were clustered into cohesive groups based on their biochemical functions. Our findings are useful for understanding the various physiological functions of common bean proteins and useful for improvement of common beans protein quality through breeding programs as well as genetic manipulations.

Variation of different classes of proteins in different genotypes of soybean seed, including anti-nutritional, allergen and storage proteins, has been investigated using 2D-PAGE in our laboratory.


Adding nucleating agents into polymer matrix may affect not only the crystallization behavior but also the polymer melting process. In many cases, lower melting temperatures were observed for composites, in comparison with neat polymers. This phenomenon can be related to several factors and some of them are associated with the presence of nucleating agents which promote the formation of many nucleating points in the polymeric material [46] . In this case, each crystal has a small space available for it during the crystal growth. Thus, smaller and more imperfect crystals are created in comparison with those for neat polyolefin matrices, resulting in the decrease in melting temperature for composite materials [46] .

This phenomenon can be related to several factors and some of them are associated with the presence of nucleating agents which promote the formation of many nucleating points in the polymeric material.

Thus, smaller and more imperfect crystals are created in comparison with those for neat polyolefin matrices, resulting in the decrease in melting temperature for composite materials.


The incorporation of POSS particles into polyolefin matrices resulted in the increase of the crystallinity degree (X c ) values for the nanocomposites. Moreover, the increasing POSS mass% contents in polyolefin/POSS nanocomposites caused a further increase in the X c values. These results indicate that POSS particles may act as nucleating agents for the crystallization process of polyethylene or polypropylene matrices [20, 25, 31] .

These results indicate that POSS particles may act as nucleating agents for the crystallization process of polyethylene or polypropylene matrices.


In neat polymers, the homogeneous nucleation process may occur which is controlled mainly by the processing conditions and which gives a broad distribution of crystal sizes. In order to provide a better control of the crystallization process, the nucleating agents are introduced. These are substances which could induce the heterogeneous nucleation process, and they control the spherulites formation in crystallizable polymers by creation a large number of spherulites instead of a few large ones [41] . It was found in the literature data that the POSS particles, when introduced into various polyolefin matrices, may act as effective nucleating agents. The structure and the amount of the POSS nanofiller have a great influence on the crystallization behavior and the melting behavior of polyolefin/POSS nanocomposites [20, 21] .

These are substances which could induce the heterogeneous nucleation process, and they control the spherulites formation in crystallizable polymers by creation a large number of spherulites instead of a few large ones.

The structure and the amount of the POSS nanofiller have a great influence on the crystallization behavior and the melting behavior of polyolefin/POSS nanocomposites.


The increasing POSS mass% content in the PP/POSS nanocomposites resulted in a slight decrease in T mp values in comparison with the neat PP matrix (Table 1 , items 1-9), but there were no systematic changes in T mo values. In turn, T me values decreased at increasing POSS mass% contents in the PP matrix. In the case of LDPE/POSS nanocomposites, T mp values were slightly lower for the increasing amount of POSS nanofiller in the LDPE matrix (Table 1 , items 10-18). Simultaneously, the T mo and T me values were increased and decreased, respectively, with the increasing mass% content of the POSS nanofiller. The endothermic peak on DSC curves associated with melting process in PP/POSS and LDPE/POSS nanocomposites was [28] [29] [30] [31] . In the case of all analyzed HDPE/POSS nanocomposites, T mo and T me values were almost unchanged in comparison with the neat HDPE matrix. The melting temperatures of polymer materials are known to be strongly correlated with the structures of those materials and with the sizes and perfection of crystallites in a polymer [47] . Because of that, the changes of T mp values may suggest that the polymer chains are more orderly arranged in the presence of POSS8 or POSS18 molecules than in neat HDPE. It may thus be assumed that the POSS8 and POSS18 molecules not only accelerate the HDPE crystallization process but they also give rise to the order of polyethylene chains.

The endothermic peak on DSC curves associated with melting process in PP/POSS and LDPE/POSS nanocomposites was.

The melting temperatures of polymer materials are known to be strongly correlated with the structures of those materials and with the sizes and perfection of crystallites in a polymer.


Interestingly, the SEM analysis revealed that in the case of PP/POSS nanocomposites the spherulitic morphology was visible (Fig. 3b , c) while no specific morphological features were observed for neat PP (Fig. 3a) . No POSS aggregates were demonstrated which suggests good dispersion of POSS in the polypropylene matrix [20] . Hence, it may be assumed that POSS subnanometric aggregates may be located in the center of each spherulite, acting probably as a growth center. In turn, no distinct changes in morphology were observed for LDPE/POSS nanocomposites versus neat LDPE (data not shown).

No POSS aggregates were demonstrated which suggests good dispersion of POSS in the polypropylene matrix.


In this study, we explore the determinants of trust in South Africa, a society characterised by historically entrenched racial divisions in access to resources and persistent residential segregation along racial lines. Although Blacks have significantly lower economic status than Whites, they also constitute the majority population in South Africa. Previous research on trusting behaviour in South Africa has used experimental games and has identified large racial differences in trust, with Black participants being less trusting than Whites, and surprisingly, less trusting of other Blacks than of Whites (Burns 2006) . We revisit racial differences in trust making use of a nationally representative household survey which, for the first time in South Africa, includes questions that probe attitudes to trust.

Previous research on trusting behaviour in South Africa has used experimental games and has identified large racial differences in trust, with Black participants being less trusting than Whites, and surprisingly, less trusting of other Blacks than of Whites.


The study was carried out on the Lageado Experimental Farm of the Faculty for Agricultural Sciences at the São Paulo State University (UNESP), located at 22º51'55" S and 48º26'22" W, at an altitude of 810 m. The climate is mesothermal, classified as Cwa, subtropical humid. The average rainfall is 1,433 mm. Relative humidity is 71%, with an average annual temperature of 19.3 °C (CUNHA, 1999) . The soil in the area is classified as Red Nitosol.

The average rainfall is 1,433 mm.

Relative humidity is 71%, with an average annual temperature of 19.3 °C.


Theoretical concepts of sintering were originally based upon ideas of a discrete organization of porous media. Sintering was considered as the collective result of thermally activated adhesion processes which produce the growth of contacts between particles and their coalescence. The analysis of the mechanisms of interparticle interaction was characteristic for many of the elaborated approaches in the theory of sintering. These approaches were directed toward the investigation of the local kinetics of the process. Important features of sintering kinetics, such as the contact formation and the nature of the driving force have been clari®ed (German, 1996) . The results obtained have been embodied in a number of kinetic relationships describing densi®cation under free sintering.

Important features of sintering kinetics, such as the contact formation and the nature of the driving force have been clari®ed.


Pumps are widely used in many fields and the average electric power consumption is about 20.9% of the total consumption every year in China [1] . Because of the low level of manufacture and design of pumps, the efficiency of domestic pumps is about 10% lower than that of the developed countries. Among the pumps, the centrifugal ones are most widely applied, but there are many problems such as low efficiency, operated under off-design conditions, and low cavitations performance. Therefore, it will have very important practical significance to study the internal flow of centrifugal pumps in order to optimize the structure of main parts, improve the hydraulic performance, increase the efficiency and avoid being operated under off-design conditions, and thus reach the goal of increasing efficiency and saving energy.

Pumps are widely used in many fields and the average electric power consumption is about 20.9% of the total consumption every year in China.


Nowadays, utilisation of clean energy gets more and more attention due to the large amount of the off-gas exhausted by vehicles and heavy industry. As known, the electric vehicles (EVs) have higher energy efficiency and less CO 2 emission than the traditional vehicles. The production and sale of EVs might be widely promoted in the future, especially when the global warming becomes too obvious. For the electric vehicles, the Li-ion battery has the highest opportunity to be widely used due to its outstanding features in comparison with conventional batteries, such as high voltage, high energy density, low self-discharge rate and wide temperature range of operation. It is possible to forecast that the recycling market for automotive lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) will dramatically increase in the near future [1] .

It is possible to forecast that the recycling market for automotive lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) will dramatically increase in the near future.


In recent years colleges and universities have made substantial investments in tools to facilitate the integration of technology into instruction. One of the tools being widely embraced by institutions of higher learning is web-based course management systems (CMSs). A 2003 report indicated that more than 80 percent of U.S. colleges and universities were utilizing CMSs (Harrington, Gordon, & Schibik, 2004) . The cost of CMSs is significant, with many institutions spending millions of dollars on CMS development, licensing, faculty training, and student support services (Sausner, 2005) . The University of Michigan, for example, recently estimated that it will spend approximately $6.8 million dollars over a three-year period on the development of a customized CMS.

A 2003 report indicated that more than 80 percent of U.S. colleges and universities were utilizing CMSs.

The cost of CMSs is significant, with many institutions spending millions of dollars on CMS development, licensing, faculty training, and student support services.


Yet, no significant differences were found among the three treatment groups on the second measure of student performance, total course points. A plausible explanation for this finding was that the evaluative activities for which course points were earned required higher levels of thinking than the research design knowledge test did (Kemp et al., 1998) . Students earned course points for their performance on two multiple-choice exams and two research article critiques. The second exam and both research article critiques required students to make critical judgments about the research designs and procedures that had been used in published research studies. These higher-level cognitive activities may have enabled students, regardless of which treatment group they were in, with a better opportunity to demonstrate their learning than was the case with the knowledge test.

A plausible explanation for this finding was that the evaluative activities for which course points were earned required higher levels of thinking than the research design knowledge test did.


About 5% of the general population worldwide will have at least one non-febrile seizure in their lifetime [1] . In the USA, it is estimated that 150,000 adults present annually with an unprovoked first-time seizure [2] . The distribution of seizure occurrence is bimodal: the peak incidences of seizures are observed during childhood and after the age of 60 [1] . The leading cause of seizures in adults beyond the age of 60 is cerebrovascular disease and it has been shown to account for nearly 50% of newly diagnosed epilepsy in this age group [3••] . Furthermore, hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes are currently one of the leading causes of hospitalization in this patient population.

About 5% of the general population worldwide will have at least one non-febrile seizure in their lifetime.

In the USA, it is estimated that 150,000 adults present annually with an unprovoked first-time seizure.

The distribution of seizure occurrence is bimodal: the peak incidences of seizures are observed during childhood and after the age of 60.


In The failure of immune deviation to allergens among atopic individuals may be associated with poor neonatal capacity to produce IFN---γ [17, 18] . The IFN---γ producing capacity is much lower in neonatal T cells than in adults, and production increases with age [19] . The low IFN---γ production during infancy might be due to postnatal persistence of control mechanisms limiting intrauterine induction of potentially harmful Th1---like immunity [20] . In this prospective study, we show a similar birch induced IFN---γ production in atopic and non---atopic children. This is in agreement with a recent prospective study where house dust mite induced IFN---γ production was low both in atopic and non---atopic children during their first 18 months of life [13] . In that study, however, house dust mite induced IFN---γ mRNA expression increased with age only in the non---atopic individuals.

In The failure of immune deviation to allergens among atopic individuals may be associated with poor neonatal capacity to produce IFN---γ.

The IFN---γ producing capacity is much lower in neonatal T cells than in adults, and production increases with age.

The low IFN---γ production during infancy might be due to postnatal persistence of control mechanisms limiting intrauterine induction of potentially harmful Th1---like immunity.

This is in agreement with a recent prospective study where house dust mite induced IFN---γ production was low both in atopic and non---atopic children during their first 18 months of life.


Cereals are particularly susceptible to fungal contamination during both the pre-and postharvest stages. Many of these fungi are producers of mycotoxins, which are a chemically diverse group of secondary metabolites with a wide range of toxic effects (Bryden, 2012) . The contamination of grain by mycotoxins represents a major concern worldwide in the pig production chain, since the effect of these toxins is to reduce animal performance (Andretta et al., 2012) .

Many of these fungi are producers of mycotoxins, which are a chemically diverse group of secondary metabolites with a wide range of toxic effects.

The contamination of grain by mycotoxins represents a major concern worldwide in the pig production chain, since the effect of these toxins is to reduce animal performance.


The widening availability of lipid excipients with specific characteristics offers flexibility of application with respect to improving the bioavailability of sparingly soluble drugs and manipulating their release profile (Attama and Nkemnele, 2005) . Lipid-based DDS is an accepted, proven, commercially viable strategy in formulation of pharmaceuticals. Lipid formulations can be tailored to meet a wide range of product requirements . Generally, most lipid drug delivery systems used as drug carriers have high stability, high carrier capacity, feasibility of incorporation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances, and feasibility of variable routes of administration, including oral, topical, parenteral and pulmonary routes. It can also be designed to allow controlled drug release from matrices (Gelperina et al., 2005; Chime et al., 2013a) .

The widening availability of lipid excipients with specific characteristics offers flexibility of application with respect to improving the bioavailability of sparingly soluble drugs and manipulating their release profile.

It can also be designed to allow controlled drug release from matrices.


Buried in the water of reservoirs around the world are thought to be about 300 million submerged trees worth as much as $50 billion (Crockford, 2008) . These trees were left underwater during the construction of dam projects, particularly in the period from the 1950s through to the 1970s, because the value of timber was low, land clearance was often not completed, and the over-riding imperative was to generate electricity and water supplies. This vast underwater resource located in many different countries has now become an economic opportunity given the rising value of timber from mature trees, the imperatives to reduce land-based deforestation, new underwater technologies and a compelling discourse about rediscovered wood. New companies have emerged since the mid-1990s to harvest this resource and a mini-economic cluster has emerged in British Columbia, Canada. Establishing a new industry however took time and labour, especially since there were significant uncertainties regarding the value, quantity and condition of underwater wood.

Buried in the water of reservoirs around the world are thought to be about 300 million submerged trees worth as much as $50 billion.


The Chenopodium quinoa, a pseudo-cereal, is original cultivated in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Equator, Chile and Argentina in variety latitudes and altitudes. Due to its potential food source and South America limited production, C. quinoa has being introduced in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia (Bhargava et al., 2006) . This has contributed for its popularization, especially in the developing countries, as alternative food, which had to its high nutritional importance. Quinoa has high concentration of essential aminoacids and high content of calcium, magnesium, iron, copperand and zinc, and are rich in vitamins, as α-carotene and niacin (Vega-Gálvez et al., 2010) . Especially, chemical composition revealed the potential of C. quinoa seeds as a valuable ingredient in the preparation of cereal foods of improved nutritional characteristics (Stikic et al., 2012) (Silva et al., 2015a) . In Brazil, the C. quinoa was introduced in the decade of 1990, as part of an effort to diversification of production systems in the cerrado (Savannah), the Brazilian hotspot (Spehar & Santos, 2002) . The purpose of this work was extraction, purification and characterization of the protease inhibitors isolated from Chenopodium quinoa seeds.

Due to its potential food source and South America limited production, C. quinoa has being introduced in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.

Quinoa has high concentration of essential aminoacids and high content of calcium, magnesium, iron, copperand and zinc, and are rich in vitamins, as α-carotene and niacin.

Especially, chemical composition revealed the potential of C. quinoa seeds as a valuable ingredient in the preparation of cereal foods of improved nutritional characteristics.

In Brazil, the C. quinoa was introduced in the decade of 1990, as part of an effort to diversification of production systems in the cerrado (Savannah), the Brazilian hotspot.


Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APC) for naive T cells that bridge the innate and adaptive immunity in autoimmune diseases [1] . Mature DCs (mDCs) provide self-antigen-MHC complexes (signal 1) and costimulatory molecules (signal 2) for activation of antigenspecific T cells. In addition, mDCs also provide proinflammatory cytokines (signal 3) to shape the immune response by priming the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into different T helper cells [2, 3] . Tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) which show a typical tolerogenic phenotype with normal "signal 1" but weak "signal 2" and aberrant "signal 3" has the potential to induce tolerance. The recent studies suggested that "signal 1" alone leads to inactivation of the autoreactive T cells by anergy or deletion, and aberrant "signal 3" controls CD4+ T cell fate toward a regulatory phenotype [1, 4] . Immune tolerance restoration by adoptive transfer of tolDCs has been a promising therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases [5, 6] . The therapeutic effect of dexamethasone/vitamin D3-modified tolDCs has been confirmed in established collageninduced arthritis mice for reduced disease activity [7] . TolDCs generated from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using vitamin D3 can also induce stable and antigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in autoreactive T cells [8] .

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APC) for naive T cells that bridge the innate and adaptive immunity in autoimmune diseases.

In addition, mDCs also provide proinflammatory cytokines (signal 3) to shape the immune response by priming the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into different T helper cells.

The recent studies suggested that "signal 1" alone leads to inactivation of the autoreactive T cells by anergy or deletion, and aberrant "signal 3" controls CD4+ T cell fate toward a regulatory phenotype.

Immune tolerance restoration by adoptive transfer of tolDCs has been a promising therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases.

The therapeutic effect of dexamethasone/vitamin D3-modified tolDCs has been confirmed in established collageninduced arthritis mice for reduced disease activity.

TolDCs generated from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using vitamin D3 can also induce stable and antigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in autoreactive T cells.


There are several reported advantages to ASSR measurements. First, the response is elicited by a modulated pure tone. Thus, the stimulus is more narrowly defined in the frequency domain, compared with gated sinusoids or clicks. However, it is important to remember that once outer hair cell damage exists (which occurs in most cases of sensory hearing loss), the extent to which narrow cochlear regions can be excited is reduced. This is probably the case for gated tone bursts in quiet, tone bursts presented with a noise maske, and even for pure tones [2] . ASSR measurements also lend themselves to automatic response detection. Such a feature is attractive in that it avoids problems associated with the experience and expertise the observer [2] .

This is probably the case for gated tone bursts in quiet, tone bursts presented with a noise maske, and even for pure tones.

Such a feature is attractive in that it avoids problems associated with the experience and expertise the observer.


Despite the pharmaceutical effectiveness, a novel slow release drugs based on diclofenac or diclofenac sodium are insufficiently developed. Diclofenac sodium is an acidic compound (pK a about 4) with very low aqueous solubility [3] . Its solubility depends on the medium pH. Compound is practically insoluble in hydrochloric acid at pH 1.1, whereas in phosphate buffer at pH 6.8 the drug has higher dissolution rate [4] [5] [6] . Maybe due to this reason, there is insignificant number of scientific publications devoted to such system. However, a study of composites based on diclofenac and its derivatives has considerable practical significance. Controlled-release systems provide an increase in overall efficacy of the drug (i.e., therapeutic efficiency) due to maintaining constant drug concentration in a body within the optimum therapeutic range and under the toxicity threshold.

Diclofenac sodium is an acidic compound (pK a about 4) with very low aqueous solubility.

Its solubility depends on the medium pH. Compound is practically insoluble in hydrochloric acid at pH 1.1, whereas in phosphate buffer at pH 6.8 the drug has higher dissolution rate.


What lessons emerge from the EU's experience? The first thing to note is that the Monitoring Mechanism has evolved in a situation of relatively high institutional trust and political buy-in; that is, the EU is a system where some aspects of reporting can be legally enforced and hence is a 'more likely' case of sophisticated policy monitoring. But even in this relatively propitious context, the Commission and the EEA have had to operate under considerable political and technical constraints. The strong imbalance between ex ante projections and ex post reporting is especially instructive. This imbalance is in line with issues in other 'policy tracking' initiatives (Fransen & Cronin, 2013) . It strongly suggests that the persistent challenges in the EU are likely to emergeperhaps even in an exacerbated form -in other fora, notably in the UNFCCC, where levels of trust and cooperation are much lower and countries retain greater control over national climate policy target-setting and monitoring. The EU's experience of governing monitoring suggests that the UNFCCC must likely expend significant and sustained political effort to address these challenges.

This imbalance is in line with issues in other 'policy tracking' initiatives.


Several studies conducted in urban areas have pointed out that road dust resuspension contributes significantly to PM concentration levels (Thorpe and Harrison, 2008) . Street washing is one of the methods proposed as an abatement strategy to reduce resuspended road dust contributions to ambient PM concentrations. Street washing activities might reduce the amount of dust on the road and/or reduce their ability to suspend as the increased moisture might capture the particles on the road surface (Karanasiou et al., 2011) .

Several studies conducted in urban areas have pointed out that road dust resuspension contributes significantly to PM concentration levels.

Street washing activities might reduce the amount of dust on the road and/or reduce their ability to suspend as the increased moisture might capture the particles on the road surface.


The study of transport processes by turbulent fluxes is a key to understanding the exchanges that take place among the various components of the biosphere (i.e., the surface including vegetation and the atmosphere) at different time and space scales. For the past several decades, turbulent flux measurements of scalars have been conducted with in situ probes by using the eddy covariance (EC) technique (Desai et al. 2005) . This results in a rather high-accuracy measurement ('10%) but with an inherent representativeness limitation to small or local scales. Furthermore, considering the need for large scales both in vertical and horizontal dimensions, it calls for networks of tall towers. Even if the usual height is limited to tens of meters, their deployment is scarce and expensive. The few tall towers that extend several hundreds of meters are suited for vertical sampling in the nocturnal layer (NL) but fail short to sample the daily convective atmospheric boundary layer (CBL) or nocturnal residual layer (RL) with height h $ 0.5 km. Only the deployment of instrumented aircraft enables one to profile the turbulent fluxes but with the limitation of requiring dedicated field campaigns.

For the past several decades, turbulent flux measurements of scalars have been conducted with in situ probes by using the eddy covariance (EC) technique.


By using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and appealing the precise point positioning (PPP) method, we can determine a point's coordinates with high accuracy. The measurements from one receiver are used to determine the all three coordinates, but also other important parameters like: total neutral atmosphere delay, receiver clock error (Leandro et al. 2008) . The characterization of the errors by implying the PPP the representation becomes much better and also closer to the physical error sources (Wabbena, Schmitz, and Bagge 2005) .

The measurements from one receiver are used to determine the all three coordinates, but also other important parameters like: total neutral atmosphere delay, receiver clock error.

The characterization of the errors by implying the PPP the representation becomes much better and also closer to the physical error sources.


In breast cancer studies, RhoC has been identified as a highly specific marker in detecting tumors that developed metastases [15] . Over-expression of RhoC has been observed in the most aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, and is directly implicated in the control of the production of angiogenic factors in inflammatory breast cancer cells [16] [17] [18] [19] . In vitro studies in rat mammary adenocarcinoma cells have shown that Rho family GTPases are differentially involved in motile functions and aspects of growth that correlate with tumorigenesis and metastasis [20] .

In breast cancer studies, RhoC has been identified as a highly specific marker in detecting tumors that developed metastases.

Over-expression of RhoC has been observed in the most aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, and is directly implicated in the control of the production of angiogenic factors in inflammatory breast cancer cells.

In vitro studies in rat mammary adenocarcinoma cells have shown that Rho family GTPases are differentially involved in motile functions and aspects of growth that correlate with tumorigenesis and metastasis.


Large bone defects resulting from trauma, cancer or malformations remain significant clinical problems. The use of autografts, allografts or currently available synthetic biomaterials is not really suitable for such cases. Among synthetic biomaterials, hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH)) ceramics have been used as synthetic bone graft substitutes for more than 30 years due to their bioactivity, osteoconductivity and biocompatibility with the human tissue. However, HA shows limited ability to stimulate the development of new bone tissue and has a very low rate of biodegradation. To further improve its biological properties and extend its clinical applications, ionic substitution into the HA crystal lattice has been tested. One of the most promising candidate appeared to be the silicate ion, which replaces phosphate in order to yield a silicated hydroxyapatite (SiHA, Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6-y (SiO 4 ) y (OH) 2-y ). Previous studies have shown beneficial biological properties of SiHA compared to HA, as rapid bone apposition and angiogenesis, faster bone maturity, and a higher solubility [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Unfortunately, a lot of questions remain regarding these results. Recent critical reviews highlighted the lack of experimental evidence which could explain the real effects of Si substitution on the biological activity of HA in biological environment [6] [7] [8] .

Previous studies have shown beneficial biological properties of SiHA compared to HA, as rapid bone apposition and angiogenesis, faster bone maturity, and a higher solubility.

Recent critical reviews highlighted the lack of experimental evidence which could explain the real effects of Si substitution on the biological activity of HA in biological environment.


The dynamic analysis of the pretwisted beams is important in the design of a number of engineering components, e.g., turbine blades, helicopter rotor blades and gear teeth. An interesting review of the subject can be found in the review paper by Rosen [1] . The forced vibration problem of a pretwisted non-uniform beam with general elastic time-dependent boundary conditions is common in engineering applications. Thus, it is necessary to develop an accurate and simple method to solve this complicated problem and to "nd its performance.

An interesting review of the subject can be found in the review paper by Rosen.