The ion density increases with the N 2 fraction as shown in Figs. 1m-p. This is in accordance with the trend of electron density because of the electropositive and quasi-neutral nature of the He + N 2 CAPs, i.e. the electron density roughly equals to the ion density. The ion densities peak at the interface of the bulk and sheath regions, because the ions are mainly generated in the sheath and they stay there almost regardless of the oscillation of the sheath boundary. The distribution of ions keeps invariable with time, much different to that of electrons, because the ion mobilities are typically less than the electron mobility by ∼50 folds [22] .

The distribution of ions keeps invariable with time, much different to that of electrons, because the ion mobilities are typically less than the electron mobility by ∼50 folds.


In this paper, He + N 2 and He + O 2 CAPs are chosen as the representatives of the electropositive and electronegative plasmas, respectively. The impurity (N 2 or O 2 ) fraction in the working gas is varied from 0 to 10%, covering most cases of practical applications. The electronegativity of He + O 2 CAPs keeps increasing with the O 2 fraction, allowing the plasma characteristics to be studying for a large electronegative range. A fluid model is used for this study, which has been used for He + N 2 and He + O 2 CAPs as reported previously [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] . The spatiotemporal evolution of the electron density, the electron temperature, the electron generation rate as well as the dissipated power density is obtained as a function of the impurity fraction, and they are compared with respect to the electropositive and electronegative plasmas. Moreover, the sheath dynamics is found to be much different for the two kinds of plasmas, and a new criterion is suggested for determining the sheath edge for those plasmas.

A fluid model is used for this study, which has been used for He + N 2 and He + O 2 CAPs as reported previously.


In this paper we present a focused view on the area of Exploratory Search. Exploratory Search combines all research on search tasks which are weakly covered by the classical query-response paradigm. It claims to especially cover open-ended complex search processes, discovery, and learning. As this definition encompasses a very vast and quickly changing field due to the fast progress in classical information retrieval, we are focusing in this paper on measurable and time consuming aspects of complex search: aggregation, discovery, and synthesis. The roots of the presented aspects go back to the work by Marchionini, who coined the term Exploratory Search in 2006 [44] .

The roots of the presented aspects go back to the work by Marchionini, who coined the term Exploratory Search in 2006.


Thin, flat protrusions produced by strongly adherent cells are generally called lamellipodia. Previous work, mainly on fibroblasts and epithelial cells, has established that movement of leading-edge lamellipodia is driven by growth of branched actin networks nucleated and crosslinked by the Arp2/3 complex. As they advance, these lamellipodia promote creation of new focal adhesions that provide traction and support continued movement (Case and Waterman, 2015) . This mode of cell migration is restricted to the animal lineage, where it relies on the presence of specific ligands in the extracellular environment and plays essential roles in embryonic development, wound healing, and tissue homeostasis.

As they advance, these lamellipodia promote creation of new focal adhesions that provide traction and support continued movement.


Another technique for using fiber-optic cables to measure strain is Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry (BOTDR). In this approach light pulses are sent down a cable and the frequency spectrum of light that is reflected back, or backscattered, is measured (Parker et al. 1997) . The peak frequency of the backscattered light spectrum is influenced by both the temperature and the strain in the fiber-optic cable (Kurashima et al. 1993) . If the temperature is known, then the strain in the cable can be determined by subtracting the effects of temperature. Unfortunately the intensity of the backscattered light in BOTDR is very low compared with FBG, which means that many readings have to be taken and averaged together, resulting in increased measurement times and decreased accuracy. The random error produced by commercially available BOTDR analyzers is normally distributed with a standard deviation of approximately 15 m« (Klar et al. 2006) .

In this approach light pulses are sent down a cable and the frequency spectrum of light that is reflected back, or backscattered, is measured.

The peak frequency of the backscattered light spectrum is influenced by both the temperature and the strain in the fiber-optic cable.

The random error produced by commercially available BOTDR analyzers is normally distributed with a standard deviation of approximately 15 m«.


A common way to reject recognized characters is to compute a confidence measure for each processed character. For such an approach rejection strategies can be formulated as simple thresholding operations. A large number of confidence measures have been proposed in the literature [1, 3, 9, 13, 14] . There are two main categories for producing confidence measures. In the first category, confidence scoring may consist of a simple function of appropriate parameters drawn directly form the recognition process, or it may be considered a learning task in which a classifier is trained to use an array of such parameter to distinguish correct recognition from incorrect. In another category, without integrating confidence scoring with recognition, a post-processing approach to confidence is adopted, in which confidence is measured following recognition [14] . In the post-processing mode, most confidence measures for offline handwritten character recognition systems are recognition score, likelihood ratio, estimated posterior probability, exponential probability, and negative entropy [14] . Some more sophisticated methods are to use learning techniques and complicated architectures [16, 17] .

A large number of confidence measures have been proposed in the literature.

In another category, without integrating confidence scoring with recognition, a post-processing approach to confidence is adopted, in which confidence is measured following recognition.

In the post-processing mode, most confidence measures for offline handwritten character recognition systems are recognition score, likelihood ratio, estimated posterior probability, exponential probability, and negative entropy.

Some more sophisticated methods are to use learning techniques and complicated architectures.


Throughout the world, photovoltaic power generation is becoming increasingly popular due to a combination of factors: low maintenance, minimal wear and tear of components due to the absence of moving parts, lack of audible noise, absence of fuel cost, and pollution-free operation after installation [1] [2] . Small-scale PV installations are very popular as lighting and water pumping solutions in developing countries, remote villages, and small rural and urban communities. These systems are also commonly used in developed countries that have a considerable amount of solar irradiation [3] . As PV systems are required to be low-cost, compact in size, and operate as efficiently as possible, this paper focuses on maximum power point tracking control algorithms for standalone PV systems, with the aim of delivering optimum performance over the widest range of operating conditions possible. Since PV systems exhibit nonlinear behaviour, the maximum power point (MPP) varies with solar insolation, and there is a unique PV panel operating point at which the power output is at a maximum, as shown in Figure 1 . Therefore, for maximum efficiency, it is necessary to use a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm to deliver optimal available PV output power at different operating points to the load. With this in mind, many maximum power point tracking algorithms have been developed, and much research has been carried out to optimize the various techniques [4] - [6] .

Throughout the world, photovoltaic power generation is becoming increasingly popular due to a combination of factors: low maintenance, minimal wear and tear of components due to the absence of moving parts, lack of audible noise, absence of fuel cost, and pollution-free operation after installation.

These systems are also commonly used in developed countries that have a considerable amount of solar irradiation.

With this in mind, many maximum power point tracking algorithms have been developed, and much research has been carried out to optimize the various techniques.


Interconnection networks have many different applications, including but not limited to, being used as interconnects for communications among processors and between processors and memory modules in a multiprocessor or multicomputer system, and as a switching network within a network router or switch. Roughly speaking interconnection networks are classified into two classes, direct (routerbased) networks and indirect (switch-based) networks [3] . A typical indirect interconnection network is a multistage interconnection network (MIN). In this paper, we consider MINs in the context of their being used as switching networks. We investigate their ability of simultaneously realizing one-to-one I/O mappings in the form of permutations.

Roughly speaking interconnection networks are classified into two classes, direct (routerbased) networks and indirect (switch-based) networks.


Orthopedic and bone implants have achieved significant success in recent medical history due to their efficacy in enhancing or replacing damaged tissues. The material of choice for such implants is typically composed of commercially-available pure titanium or titanium alloy. Titanium proved to be an excellent candidate for bone implants because of its inert titanium dioxide layer that is formed once exposed to the atmosphere; this passive layer then essentially acts as a barrier between the implant and tissue, effectively preventing the implant from further oxidation, and consequently minimizing the chances of immuno-response. However, in addition to promoting biocompability, an ideal orthopedic implant would also need to ensure the appropriate integration of the implant into the patient's body in a process known as osteo-integration [1] . Only with sufficient levels of osteo-integration, the host can then provide proper anchorage to retain the implant, decreasing the chances for loosening of the implant and increasing its post-surgical success. Thus, much of the current research interest has been invested to improve the biocompability and the osteo-integration of orthopedic implants [2, 3] .

However, in addition to promoting biocompability, an ideal orthopedic implant would also need to ensure the appropriate integration of the implant into the patient's body in a process known as osteo-integration.

Thus, much of the current research interest has been invested to improve the biocompability and the osteo-integration of orthopedic implants.


Since studies have demonstrated that the implant surfaces which mimic the bodily physiological environment exhibited the best potential for promoting desirable cellular responses, many approaches were proposed to be used for improving the performance of bone implants. These techniques included various forms of plasma spraying and sputter coating [17] [18] [19] [20] . However, the surfaces created from these methods were often either too thick, lacked surface homogeneity, exhibited poor bonding strength, or the techniques were too expensive and time consuming for commercialization [21] . Thus, although research has shown promising results in improving the biocompability and osteo-integration of bone implants, more effective techniques are needed to incorporate mineral oxides onto the surface of biomaterials. To overcome this obstacle, we adopted our patented ultrafine particle coating technique. This technique allowed us to effectively construct highly-adherent, while thin, surface films to improve the biocompatibility and osteo-inductivity of bone implants.

These techniques included various forms of plasma spraying and sputter coating.

However, the surfaces created from these methods were often either too thick, lacked surface homogeneity, exhibited poor bonding strength, or the techniques were too expensive and time consuming for commercialization.


While informative, this baboon model is a model of Stx toxemia and will not completely replicate the consequences of intestinal infection with STEC bacteria. Although bacteremia is rare and the toxins drive organ injury, we would expect differences in the magnitude and timing of toxin delivery as bacteria colonize the intestine. In addition, neurologic abnormalities are a frequent complication of STEC infection in patients [47] . We occasionally observe seizures or ataxia in the Stx2-challenged baboons, but they are not observed in all animals. Because of the infrequency and lack of quantifiable neural tissue injury marker(s), we do not know if TVP had any effect on the central nervous system. Finally, while Stx1 and Stx2 are primary virulence factors, other bacterial products likely contribute to host responses [48, 49] . Thus, while intravenous TVP administration was effective, it was effective with respect to the Stx2 challenge and not necessarily a bacterial infection. In ongoing studies, we are developing enteric infection models designed to recapitulate responses observed in patients and test therapeutics for dose, timing, and route of administration.

In addition, neurologic abnormalities are a frequent complication of STEC infection in patients.

Finally, while Stx1 and Stx2 are primary virulence factors, other bacterial products likely contribute to host responses.


O RGANIZATIONS and individuals routinely make important decisions based on inaccurate data stored in supposedly authoritative databases. Data errors in some domains, such as medicine, may have particularly severe consequences. These errors can arise at a variety of points in the life cycle of data, from data entry, through storage, integration, and cleaning, all the way to analysis and decision making [1] . While each step presents an opportunity to address data quality, entry time offers the earliest opportunity to catch and correct errors. The database community has focused on data cleaning once data have been collected into a database, and has paid relatively little attention to data quality at collection time [1] , [2] . Current best practices for quality during data entry come from the field of survey methodology, which offers principles that include manual question orderings and input constraints, and double entry of paper forms [3] . Although this has long been the de facto quality assurance standard in data collection and transformation, we believe this area merits reconsideration. For both paper forms and direct electronic entry, we posit that a data-driven and more computationally sophisticated approach can significantly outperform these decades-old static methods in both accuracy and efficiency of data entry.

These errors can arise at a variety of points in the life cycle of data, from data entry, through storage, integration, and cleaning, all the way to analysis and decision making.

The database community has focused on data cleaning once data have been collected into a database, and has paid relatively little attention to data quality at collection time.

Current best practices for quality during data entry come from the field of survey methodology, which offers principles that include manual question orderings and input constraints, and double entry of paper forms.


The term Fog Computing was introduced by Cisco Systems as a new model to bridge the gap between cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) devices (SABU, n.d.). It is a decentralized computing and it is a highly virtualized platform which provides computation, storage, and networking services between IoT devices and traditional cloud servers. Thus, the cloud-based services can be extended closer to the IoT devices [9] .

Thus, the cloud-based services can be extended closer to the IoT devices.


Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a right atrial tumor thrombus (RATT) is associated with a poor prognosis because heart failure, pulmonary embolism, or cancer progression results in an unavoidable fatal outcome. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy, or surgery is used to treat the tumor thrombus (TT); however, no standard treatment modality has been established [1] . Improvements in surgical procedures such as cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or total hepatic vascular exclusion (THVE) have allowed for the performance of aggressive surgery [2] . Surgical resection may be the only curative treatment that increases survival [3, 4] . However, few reports have described HCC resection with a recurrent RATT. We herein present a case involving resection of a recurrent RATT using normothermic CPB on a beating heart.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy, or surgery is used to treat the tumor thrombus (TT); however, no standard treatment modality has been established.

Improvements in surgical procedures such as cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or total hepatic vascular exclusion (THVE) have allowed for the performance of aggressive surgery.

Surgical resection may be the only curative treatment that increases survival.


Human keratinocytes express all of the essential inflammasome components and may activate and secrete IL-1 in response to allergen and microbial antigens [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] . Ph-sensitive serine proteases (SPs) or kallikreins are activated after the pH skin increase observed in patients with AD and also activate IL-1 [43] . The release of IL-1 from the epidermis after activation is a primary event that promotes the induction of various cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules and aggravates skin inflammation. On the other hand, downregulation of the inflammasome nucleotide-oligomerization binding domain receptor 3 (NLRP 3) in a Th2 milieu has been observed, which subsequently leads to an attenuated IL-1β response that might explain the increased susceptibility of patients with AD to infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus and herpes simplex virus [44] .

Human keratinocytes express all of the essential inflammasome components and may activate and secrete IL-1 in response to allergen and microbial antigens.

Ph-sensitive serine proteases (SPs) or kallikreins are activated after the pH skin increase observed in patients with AD and also activate IL-1.

On the other hand, downregulation of the inflammasome nucleotide-oligomerization binding domain receptor 3 (NLRP 3) in a Th2 milieu has been observed, which subsequently leads to an attenuated IL-1β response that might explain the increased susceptibility of patients with AD to infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus and herpes simplex virus.


Fifty-seven children (median age 7, interquartile range [IQR] 4-11.2 years) suffering from mild to severe AD were enrolled in the study. AD was diagnosed according to the criteria described by Hanifin and Rajka [16] . The severity of dermatitis was estimated according to the SCORAD index, ranging from 0 to 103 points (median value 30, IQR 22-36.5 points) [17] . The patients were not treated with any antihistamines, topical steroids or calcineurin inhibitors for at least 1 week before enrolment in the study (only emollients were applied). They were free of any systemic glucocorticoids during the preceding 8 weeks.

AD was diagnosed according to the criteria described by Hanifin and Rajka.

The severity of dermatitis was estimated according to the SCORAD index, ranging from 0 to 103 points (median value 30, IQR 22-36.5 points).


The Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) (Homoptera: Aphididae), is one of the most destructive pests in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and other small-grain cereals in several areas of the world (Archer and Bynum, 1992) . Since its detection in Texas in 1986, RWA has become a major economic pest of wheat and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in the western United States . The pest causes leaf rolling and streaking, head trapping, and even death in heavily infested plants . Direct economic losses in small grains in the United States during 1985 to 1995 that incurred as a result of reduced yield and increased production costs were estimated to be about $500 million (Webster et al., 2000) .

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) (Homoptera: Aphididae), is one of the most destructive pests in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and other small-grain cereals in several areas of the world.

Direct economic losses in small grains in the United States during 1985 to 1995 that incurred as a result of reduced yield and increased production costs were estimated to be about $500 million.


The relationship between drug dosage and plasma PYR concentrations proved to be highly variable between different subjects in the study (Fig. 4) , a phenomenon reported informally by an Israeli group undertaking a similar evaluation of PYR treatment of GM2 gangliosidosis (Naftali Stern, personal communication). In a study of plasma PYR concentrations during long-term treatment for cerebral toxoplasmosis in patients with AIDS, Klinker and colleagues showed that on weekly doses of the drug, steady-state concentrations of PYR were achieved in 12 to 20 days [21] . There was, however, marked variability between patients in the relationship between drug dosage and plasma levels. Concomitant treatment with metabolism-inducing medications, such as anticonvulsants, tended to decrease plasma PYR concentrations.

In a study of plasma PYR concentrations during long-term treatment for cerebral toxoplasmosis in patients with AIDS, Klinker and colleagues showed that on weekly doses of the drug, steady-state concentrations of PYR were achieved in 12 to 20 days.


The micronutrient content in the seeds is relevant for initial establishment of seedlings, where the nutrient fraction varies among species, cultivars and environmental conditions of the seed production field (Marcos Filho, 2015) . The micronutrient deficiency, specially manganese and zinc, reduces the metabolic activity due to its high demand in physiological processes, being essential components for enzymatic activation, structural manutention and membranes integrity (Römheld & Marschner, 1991; Teixeira et al., 2005) . In this context, this work aimed to correlate the micronutrients content in soybean seeds with their physiological potential.

The micronutrient content in the seeds is relevant for initial establishment of seedlings, where the nutrient fraction varies among species, cultivars and environmental conditions of the seed production field.

The micronutrient deficiency, specially manganese and zinc, reduces the metabolic activity due to its high demand in physiological processes, being essential components for enzymatic activation, structural manutention and membranes integrity.


Teachers who score high on emotionality also have key skills in interacting with students. Crucially, their empathic skills allow them to take their students' perspective and to understand their emotions (Mercer, 2016) . Like the orchestra conductor, they can raise or lower the emotional atmosphere according to the needs. They are also able to communicate their feelings clearly and establish a good rapport with students.

Crucially, their empathic skills allow them to take their students' perspective and to understand their emotions.


Good teachers, in addition to parents, psychotherapists and martial artists need to have good self-control. They all need to keep their tongue (or fists) in check. By being able to control their own emotions and resisting impulsive reactions, they can function in occasionally noisy stressful situations and they limit the risk of buckling in the long-term from burn-out (Brackett, et al., 2010; Chan, 2006; De Costa et al., 2018) .

By being able to control their own emotions and resisting impulsive reactions, they can function in occasionally noisy stressful situations and they limit the risk of buckling in the long-term from burn-out.


In a study based on data collected from the same 513 participants as in the present study, considered variation in teachers' self-reported attitudes towards their students. The authors found that high levels of global Trait EI corresponded with more positive attitudes towards students and higher enjoyment of lively students. The authors pointed out that the teaching profession might be unsuited to people with low levels of EI. More experienced teachers were also found to have significantly more positive attitudes towards their students although they did not explicitly enjoy working with lively students more. The authors speculated that longer teaching experience may boost emotional intelligence over time but acknowledged that a more neutral interpretation of the finding could be that teachers with lower levels of emotional intelligence are more likely to abandon the profession. Teachers with lower levels of English proficiency were found to have significantly less positive attitudes towards their students and enjoyed their lively students less. The authors speculated that this could be linked to teachers' linguistic insecurity, which could have generated a lack of confidence and a certain degree of defensiveness. Finally, the female teachers had significantly more positive attitudes towards their students but no such difference emerged for the enjoyment of lively students. This finding was linked to earlier studies where female teachers were found to have closer, less conflictual and less dependent relationships with students than male peers (Split, Koomen & Jak, 2012) .

This finding was linked to earlier studies where female teachers were found to have closer, less conflictual and less dependent relationships with students than male peers.


The next limitation is more an admission that the exclusive focus on a single personality dimension, and the finding of significant relationships with the dependent variables but with small effect sizes, means that a lot of variance is left unexplained. Length of teaching experience was also found to have a significant effect on attitudes towards students, creativity, classroom management, and pedagogical skills . Further possible sources of variation include teacher training, cultural and institutional background (De Costa et al., 2018) .

Further possible sources of variation include teacher training, cultural and institutional background.


These results represent a first step toward a complete theoretical treatment of the TREX approach. In addition, the results highlight the role of tuning parameters in high-dimensional regression in general. For example, while most results in the literature make statements about an estimator assuming an oracle could choose the tuning parameter, the prediction error bounds we present pertain to the TREX as it would actually be used by a practitioner. Finally, despite its non-convex objective function, recent work has shown that the TREX can be efficiently globally optimized using machinery from convex optimization [8] . This property plays a key role in closing a practical gap that would otherwise be present in any theoretical results that are based on the global minimizer.

Finally, despite its non-convex objective function, recent work has shown that the TREX can be efficiently globally optimized using machinery from convex optimization.


It seems that if mineral fertilizer is readily available and affordable, farmers who have been trained in advanced technologies are highly likely to continue to use it. However, the distribution of fertilizers, access and affordability by small holders remains a fundamental policy challenge. The high cost of fertilizer prevents particularly resource-poor farmers from using the required levels of fertilizer to boost crop production (Rhodes, 1995) . Nonetheless, results showed that low-input farmers are likely to adopt new production systems that significantly increase household food self-sufficiency and/or farm income. In addition, productivity in rice systems can be further enhanced by improving the efficiency of fertilizer use. In general, paddy yields increase was 55% in 2009 and 92% in 2010 when compared to the farmers" normal practice of growing rice without fertilizer application. Increases in yield could also increase the amount of organic matter returned to the soil through roots and potentially through crop residues. Results also showed that USG could increase N use efficiency in rice production. Nevertheless, additional application of foliar fertilizer did not increase paddy yields significantly. It is worthy of note that foliar fertilizer alone is not enough for optimum paddy yield because the amount of NPK supplied in the foliar fertilizer is not adequate for optimum paddy yields. Moreover, the greatest difficulty in supplying N, P, and K in foliar sprays is in the application of adequate amounts without severely burning the leaves and without an unduly large volume of solution or number of spraying operations.

The high cost of fertilizer prevents particularly resource-poor farmers from using the required levels of fertilizer to boost crop production.


Edible film has becomes one of the crucial forms of food packaging nowadays due to the rising concerns regarding increased environmental pollution, which is a serious environmental issue. The usage of edible film may reduce the amount of non-degradable packaging present in the market. Edible film can be consumed and provides barrier from moisture, oxygen and solute movement into foods [1] . Besides acting as a barrier, edible film can also be turned into one of the highest potential and highly marketable packaging to reduce the usage and problematic disposal of synthetic packaging. Starch edible film has the highest potential as food packaging as compared to lipid and protein films since starch is a renewable resource, inexpensive and widely available [2] .

Edible film can be consumed and provides barrier from moisture, oxygen and solute movement into foods.

Starch edible film has the highest potential as food packaging as compared to lipid and protein films since starch is a renewable resource, inexpensive and widely available.


The analysis of the relationships among the KCP, technological innovation capability, and SCA yielded the following findings. The KCP favors the development of process innovation capability, but doesn't directly positively affect product innovation capability. This result indicates that the relationship between KCP and product innovation capability is completely mediated by process innovation capability. In addition, the positive impact of KCP on SCA is not significant, but both process and product IC had a significant direct effect on SCA, as did process innovation capability on product innovation capability. These findings highlight that simply implementing a KCP is not sufficient to favor SCA; it would be necessary to put it through process and product innovation capability. Accordingly, the KCP encourages a business to improve its technological innovation capability, thereby gaining a SCA. This conclusion, which is derived from an empirical verification of the mechanism through which the KCP influences the SCA, contrasts with quantitative investigations on what underlies the relationship between the KCP and SCA [4, 5, 7] .

This conclusion, which is derived from an empirical verification of the mechanism through which the KCP influences the SCA, contrasts with quantitative investigations on what underlies the relationship between the KCP and SCA.


Although knowledge creation has been widely recognized as the key to SCA, few studies have discussed, at the micro level, the mechanism by which a company develops this advantage when it creates knowledge [8] . This literature gap has two possible explanations. First, whether knowledge creation always leads to a SCA lacks robust evidence. Given the overriding focus of a business on profit generation, the outcomes of knowledge creation as a business behavior should be examined through input-output comparisons. Second, a SCA represents the continued competitiveness of a product or service in the market [9] . From a resource-advantage perspective, knowledge is characteristically tacit, non-dynamic, and is difficult to transfer or disseminate [7] . Therefore, businesses should create knowledge to produce innovations, such as technologies and products, thereby translating their knowledge resources into SCAs [10] . In summary, research on the mechanism in the relationship between knowledge creation and SCA formation requires greater rigor and greater depth. On the basis of recent studies, the present study used technological innovation theories to investigate how the knowledge creation process (KCP) affects SCA through process and product innovation capabilities. Employing a mediation approach offers the benefits of a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanism underlying the KCP-SCA relationship. Specifically, we firstly investigate how KCP promotes firms' technological innovation capability (technological IC) and SCA directly. Secondly, we explore the relationship between firm's technological IC and SCA. Then, we further examine whether technological IC mediates the relationship between KCP and SCA. The remainder of the paper is structured as follows: Section 2 considers the theoretical background and sets out the study hypotheses; Section 3 details the research methods; Section 4 presents the analysis and results of the empirical study; and Section 5 presents the discussion and conclusions.

Although knowledge creation has been widely recognized as the key to SCA, few studies have discussed, at the micro level, the mechanism by which a company develops this advantage when it creates knowledge.

Second, a SCA represents the continued competitiveness of a product or service in the market.

From a resource-advantage perspective, knowledge is characteristically tacit, non-dynamic, and is difficult to transfer or disseminate.

Therefore, businesses should create knowledge to produce innovations, such as technologies and products, thereby translating their knowledge resources into SCAs.


Considering the direct effect of the KCP on SCA, our findings indicated that KCPs do not have a direct positively significant effect on SCA. This conclusion was inconsistent with our hypotheses, probably because, from the KBV, knowledge creation is the core task of a business and the knowledge created by members of a business through social interaction (particularly tacit knowledge, which is difficult to articulate, imitate, and disseminate) is a crucial source of SCA [7, 21, 58] . However, knowledge creation does not necessarily lead to stronger SCA. One immediate outcome of exploiting that advantage is that a business can respond to market changes effectively and develop products or services continually to satisfy customer needs, dominate market shares, and achieve a greater operational performance than its competitors [9, 59] . This allows a business to acquire business value. For businesses, knowledge creation lays the groundwork for new technologies, new products, or new services, which help the firms achieve a positional advantage in obtaining SCA [60] . However, this does not mean that all of the companies can achieve a SCA successfully through creating new knowledge. Many businesses that create knowledge do not achieve successful commercialization; therefore, this study empirically verified that KCPs do not directly strengthen SCA. Two examples are cited to illustrate this point. Kodak, despite creating knowledge about digital photography and inventing digital photography techniques, did not benefit from its brainchild. Although Apple created knowledge about personal computers and inaugurated the world's first, it was IBM that first achieved commercial success in this domain.

This conclusion was inconsistent with our hypotheses, probably because, from the KBV, knowledge creation is the core task of a business and the knowledge created by members of a business through social interaction (particularly tacit knowledge, which is difficult to articulate, imitate, and disseminate) is a crucial source of SCA.

One immediate outcome of exploiting that advantage is that a business can respond to market changes effectively and develop products or services continually to satisfy customer needs, dominate market shares, and achieve a greater operational performance than its competitors.

For businesses, knowledge creation lays the groundwork for new technologies, new products, or new services, which help the firms achieve a positional advantage in obtaining SCA.


Numerous arguments have been proposed as to the role of a company's knowledge creation in its competitive advantage. Penrose first formulated the KBV of business competitive advantage, suggesting that the interaction between productive services and knowledge creation underlies a company's development [4] . Prahalad and Hamel attributed the source of a company's SCA to its core competencies, and defined core competencies as "the company's collective knowledge about how to coordinate diverse production skills and technologies" [5] . Leonard-Barton indicated that the knowledge a company accumulates throughout its development, particularly the tacit knowledge that is difficult for its rivals to replicate, is essential to its SCA [6] . Grant maintained that knowledge creation and utilization are essential to businesses; compared with their markets, businesses can create and expand knowledge more effectively to facilitate the application and protection of their intellectual property; business competitive advantage is based on the capability to establish a system for generating and protecting knowledge resources; and such a capability facilitates the integration of knowledge and other resources to yield economic rents that are larger than average profits [7] .

Penrose first formulated the KBV of business competitive advantage, suggesting that the interaction between productive services and knowledge creation underlies a company's development.

Prahalad and Hamel attributed the source of a company's SCA to its core competencies, and defined core competencies as "the company's collective knowledge about how to coordinate diverse production skills and technologies".

Leonard-Barton indicated that the knowledge a company accumulates throughout its development, particularly the tacit knowledge that is difficult for its rivals to replicate, is essential to its SCA.

Grant maintained that knowledge creation and utilization are essential to businesses; compared with their markets, businesses can create and expand knowledge more effectively to facilitate the application and protection of their intellectual property; business competitive advantage is based on the capability to establish a system for generating and protecting knowledge resources; and such a capability facilitates the integration of knowledge and other resources to yield economic rents that are larger than average profits.


Numerous studies have suggested that as global competition continues to intensify, the more knowledge businesses create, the faster they can identify trends in technological and market development and act accordingly to secure advantageous positions in the market [36, 61] . Additionally, businesses that are more capable of knowledge creation typically wield stronger SCAs; therefore, academic research has often found knowledge creation and SCA to be positively related. However, their statistically proven correlation does not accurately explain how knowledge creation, which leads to new knowledge resources (such as product concepts, manners of work, and lines of thinking), translates into the SCA. This study argued that only when process and product IC are improved do these knowledge resources influence SCAs. This conclusion contributes theoretically to the understanding of how businesses acquire SCAs through knowledge creation.

Numerous studies have suggested that as global competition continues to intensify, the more knowledge businesses create, the faster they can identify trends in technological and market development and act accordingly to secure advantageous positions in the market.


Numerical simulations have been widely used to evaluate CO 2 multiphase flow, diffusion, geomechanics, and chemical reactions during CO 2 injection and storage. In the multiphase flow research field, TOUGH2 codes, which consider the cross-coupling of TH and THC processes for multiphase flow, were developed [11] . Two existing well-established codes, TOUGH2 and FLAC 3D , have been adopted as a pragmatic approach for modeling coupled THM processes [12] . Besides, TOUGHREACT and FLAC 3D have been linked together to simulate coupled THMC processes [13] . A novel fully coupled flow and geomechanics model TOUGH2-EGS in enhanced geothermal reservoirs based on average Navier equation was developed [14] . FEHM finite element codes were also applied to simulate coupled THM processes in subsurface fractured media [15] . A mechanical simulation module TOUGH2Biot, which was based on the extended Biot consolidation model and finite element method, was developed and applied to CO 2 sequestration simulation [9] . COMSOL multiphysics software, which can be used to simulate ground water flow subject to coupled THM effects if a suitable template and relationship between the coupled processes are constructed, has been widely employed recently [16] . In previous studies, even though substantial efforts have been devoted to estimation and prediction of the CO 2 sequestration performance, the theory for fracture permeability in caprock and the corresponding sealing efficiency of caprock have so far not been fully developed due to dual complexity of THM coupled processes and geological conditions. This paper is organized as follows. A new coupled thermal-hydromechanical model for CO 2 flow through a single fracture in caprock was first derived. The governing equations were linked with COMSOL multiphysics software, and the reliability of the model was verified using a sample problem. Finally, several numerical calculations on caprock models with a single fracture subject to coupled THM effects were performed, and CO 2 permeability of the fracture with respect to different fracture angle, overburden pressure, fluid pressure difference, injected CO 2 temperature, and initial aperture was, respectively, evaluated. In this study, these models were calculated under simplified conditions of singlephase flow and heat conduction alone in thermal field for brevity.

In the multiphase flow research field, TOUGH2 codes, which consider the cross-coupling of TH and THC processes for multiphase flow, were developed.

Two existing well-established codes, TOUGH2 and FLAC 3D , have been adopted as a pragmatic approach for modeling coupled THM processes.

Besides, TOUGHREACT and FLAC 3D have been linked together to simulate coupled THMC processes.

A novel fully coupled flow and geomechanics model TOUGH2-EGS in enhanced geothermal reservoirs based on average Navier equation was developed.

FEHM finite element codes were also applied to simulate coupled THM processes in subsurface fractured media.

A mechanical simulation module TOUGH2Biot, which was based on the extended Biot consolidation model and finite element method, was developed and applied to CO 2 sequestration simulation.

COMSOL multiphysics software, which can be used to simulate ground water flow subject to coupled THM effects if a suitable template and relationship between the coupled processes are constructed, has been widely employed recently.

This paper is organized as follows.


Oct4 and Nanog are transcription factors essential for maintaining stem cell phenotypes. Oct4 is a POU domain-containing transcription factor. It is involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation in a variety of tissues. Nanog is a homeobox-containing transcription factor. Its overexpression is associated with the pluripotency and self-renewing nature of embryonic stem cells. And Oct4 and Nanog expression is associated with early stages of pancreatic carcinogenesis [6] .

And Oct4 and Nanog expression is associated with early stages of pancreatic carcinogenesis.


Fatigue behavior in composites has also been modelled using continuum damage mechanics-based approaches by using fatigue cycles to account for damage growth [8] [9] [10] . These types of approaches suggest that degradation of the composite material is in direct relation with specific damage such as matrix cracking or delamination. The continuum damage mechanics (CDM) models correlate one or more material properties with defined damage variables which are determined quantitatively from the damage progression or failure mechanism.

Fatigue behavior in composites has also been modelled using continuum damage mechanics-based approaches by using fatigue cycles to account for damage growth.


As the profession continues to evolve and the services provided by school psychologists expand, it is important to empirically identify how school psychologists spend their time in psychoeducational evaluations. Knowledge of the amount of time school psychologists spend in activities related to psychoeducational evaluations will assist school districts when evaluating current policies and procedures. This may ensure that school psychologists are providing services that have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of as many students as possible within a specific time frame (Imich, 1999) .

This may ensure that school psychologists are providing services that have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of as many students as possible within a specific time frame.


In numerical modeling of physical phenomena it is often necessary to solve the advective transport equation for positive definite scalar functions, that is, we may wish to require that a non-negative variable remains non-negative under advection. In many hydrodynamical systems, such as in the presence of turbulent diffusion, dealing with a shock or discontinuity is not as important as maintaining the positive definiteness of the evaluated scalar quantity. Also in some numerical simulation of fluids sign-preserving advection is often a necessary prerequisite of solution realizability [1] , [2] . Numerical schemes of second or higher order accuracy can produce negative values in the solution due to the dispersive ripples. Lower-order schemes or higher-order schemes with zeroth-order diffusion added produce no ripples but suffer from excessive implicit diffusion.

Also in some numerical simulation of fluids sign-preserving advection is often a necessary prerequisite of solution realizability.


The study methods have been described in detail elsewhere (Orme et al., 2007) . In summary, practice assessors who had worked with students from five undergraduate and four postgraduate social work qualifying programmes in six different higher education institutions (HEIs) in England were invited to complete a questionnaire asking about their experiences as a practice assessor, their views of aspects of student performance, the issues they faced as assessors, and their demographic and professional backgrounds. The questionnaire included both open and closed questions. In order to comply with data protection requirements, questionnaires were distributed by practice learning co-ordinators except in one site, where the HEI obtained permission from practice assessors to disclose their details to the research team. They were administered twice-first, in 2006, to those who had worked with students on their first placement (Time One) and, second, in 2007, when they were sent to those working with students on their final placement (Time Two).

The study methods have been described in detail elsewhere.


Practice assessors broadly welcomed the changes to practice learning created by the introduction of the social work degree. There was little evidence of practitioners associating the introduction of graduate education with a move away from core activities, as in the widespread media coverage of graduate nurses being 'too posh to wash' (Hooper, 2004; Scott, 2004) . Degree students were seen as performing broadly similarly to DipSW students, particularly on final placement, consistent with the evidence of gradual socialization into the profession (Fook et al., 2000) .

There was little evidence of practitioners associating the introduction of graduate education with a move away from core activities, as in the widespread media coverage of graduate nurses being 'too posh to wash'.

Degree students were seen as performing broadly similarly to DipSW students, particularly on final placement, consistent with the evidence of gradual socialization into the profession.


The three scenarios analyzed differ in terms of allowance price growth rates and starting price. The USDA/EPA bases its analysis on a carbon price starting at $10 per ton in 2010 increasing at 5% per year [21] . The scenarios 'price floor' and 'price ceiling' serve to determine the lower and upper bound of our estimates in terms of area allocation, carbon sequestration, and prices because the ACES Act and APA include a price collar to limit compliance costs. For the APA, the inflation-adjusted price floor starts at $12 per t CO 2 and increases at 3% per year and the price ceiling starts at $25 per t CO 2 and increases at 5% per year. Figure 3 shows 100 possible allowance price paths for the three scenarios.

The USDA/EPA bases its analysis on a carbon price starting at $10 per ton in 2010 increasing at 5% per year.


The model is at the county level and homogeneous land-quality is assumed for the entire county, i.e., there are no within county differences in terms of crop yield, carbon sequestration, or cost. This assumption is justified because most of the analysis and results are driven by counties in the eastern part of the United States where counties are relatively small compared to counties in the western part of the country. Afforestation is restricted to areas with more than 700 mm of average annual precipitation and which had previous forest coverage (figure 2). Table 1 summarizes the assumptions for the forestry component in our model based on the regions in figure 2. Legislation would distribute carbon credits based on additional forest and not on existing forest and hence, we include only counties that had crops harvested in at least five years between 2000 and 2010. A limitation of the model is that neither the demand functions nor the yield include a time trend as a state variable because it would increase computational time exponentially. Implicit in this assumption is that any yield increase is offset by an increase in demand leaving the crop area unchanged in the long-run. Over the last few years, there has been a slight downward trend in wheat area and an upward trend in corn and soybean area but total cropland for the four crops has been fluctuating between 243 and 270 million acres over the last 20 years. The yield and production levels are calibrated to 2022 as the base year (t = 0) which represents the current long-run equilibrium projected by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute [23] . The discount rate for the model is set to 8%. The numerical analysis for this model is computationally intensive thus we limit our Monte Carlo simulation to 500 runs a period of 40 years.

The yield and production levels are calibrated to 2022 as the base year (t = 0) which represents the current long-run equilibrium projected by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute.


A summary of the key assumptions, parameters, and results for forest area and CO 2 sequestration for all three scenarios is provided in table 2. A key premise of this model is that agricultural markets in the US are in the long-run equilibrium at the beginning of the simulation period which is 2022. Hence, any reference to the baseline refers to the prices and quantities in the base year. In the description of the results, the focus is mostly on the scenario 'USDA/EPA' which represents the middle path between the price floor and the price ceiling and it makes our analysis comparable to the USDA/EPA carbon price path [21] . The figures only show counties in the eastern part of the US which represent the majority of corn, hay, soybean, and wheat area as well as afforestation activity.

In the description of the results, the focus is mostly on the scenario 'USDA/EPA' which represents the middle path between the price floor and the price ceiling and it makes our analysis comparable to the USDA/EPA carbon price path.


The present results are fourfold: first, our model yields less afforestation than under deterministic models because landowners find it optimal to delay afforestation. This also leads to less carbon sequestered over the projection period of 40 years. Second, afforestation starts occurring early in areas characterized by low agricultural productivity, i.e., the southeast and the northeast. Third, the loss of cropland in those areas is compensated in part by an increase in production elsewhere, mostly in the western part of the country. Almost no land conversion takes place in the Corn Belt. And lastly, the increase in crop prices begins after 20 years and increases until the end of the projection period. This also suggests that commodity prices will be driven by carbon prices in the longterm. The lower and delayed afforestation results in smaller commodity price increases than previously estimated [21] .

The lower and delayed afforestation results in smaller commodity price increases than previously estimated.


On the downside, the price our share-everything PDES system pays stands in the impossibility to exploit large or extreme scale clusters of distributed memory resources, which can instead be exploited by traditional non-shared memory bound PDES engines [2] . However, the perspective of our design is strengthened by the always rising trend towards larger numbers CPU-cores on a same shared-memory chipset, motivated by the already reached power wall affecting the growth of the computing speed of individual CPU-cores. On the other hand, future PDES architectures could be envisaged where on each individual shared-memory machine an instance of our share-everything PDES platform could be run, and the instances could, in their turn, be clustered via additional coordination mechanisms on a distributed memory platform.

On the downside, the price our share-everything PDES system pays stands in the impossibility to exploit large or extreme scale clusters of distributed memory resources, which can instead be exploited by traditional non-shared memory bound PDES engines.


In this communication, we present time-sequenced HRTEM in situ observations showing the dynamic entrapment of a non-covalently bound C 60 molecule in the saddle of a bent DWNT. The TEM studies were conducted at 80 kV to minimize knock-on damage due to exposure to the electron beam [13] . Supporting molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to help elucidate the nature of the vdW forces between the buckled region and fullerene.

The TEM studies were conducted at 80 kV to minimize knock-on damage due to exposure to the electron beam.


There is a tremendous growth of wireless communication services over the last decade. The security concerns are becoming more serious with the growth of wireless networks. As more people access critical information, and consumers begin to do their business and banking on mobile wireless devices wireless security has moved to the forefront. But there are certain attacks that exist on wireless networks and these can be classified as active and passive attacks [1] . Active attacks are those in which the transmitted data can be modified by an intruder and in passive attacks transmitted data can only be read [2] . Cryptographic primitives such as encryption and authentication are used to secure data over the wireless channel. To scramble a message in such a way that intervener could not see/modify the data is known as encryption and to identify the person who is communicating with you is authentication.

But there are certain attacks that exist on wireless networks and these can be classified as active and passive attacks.

Active attacks are those in which the transmitted data can be modified by an intruder and in passive attacks transmitted data can only be read.


A second reason why few researchers have studied banks' tax avoidance is that most large datasets on multinational banks only cover subsidiaries, not branches. However, banks use branches extensively: About a quarter of foreign affiliates of the 100 largest banks worldwide are branches, and the choice between opening a subsidiary or a branch varies systematically with a country's tax rate (Cerutti, Dell'Ariccia, and Peria, 2007) . In this paper, we use a newly available regulatory dataset provided by the German central bank (the External Positions of Banks database). This dataset includes information on all foreign subsidiaries and branches of German banks. The data is of exceptional quality and provides a complete picture of the foreign activities of all German banks. We also confirm that our findings hold for banks headquartered outside Germany by using Bureau van Dijk's Bankscope dataset.

However, banks use branches extensively: About a quarter of foreign affiliates of the 100 largest banks worldwide are branches, and the choice between opening a subsidiary or a branch varies systematically with a country's tax rate.


In the present study, the effect of electropolishing and passivation on the corrosion resistance of biomedical grade NiTi alloy has been carried out. Low temperature electropolishing treatments are generally preferred for obtaining good surface finish. The present work is focused on electropolishing of NiTi alloy in perchloric acid based solutions at ambient conditions for 30 sec, which we consider as the lowest duration compared to the literature reports [12, 24] . Electropolishing process was followed by passivation treatment in potassium periodate to form a passive film. The oxidizing power of potassium periodate is utilized for various applications [25] . Hence, passivation using periodate solution was expected to modify the surface properties of NiTi alloy also. Mechanism of electropolishing and passivation and their in vitro corrosion resistance and biocompatibility have been analyzed and compared to those of mechanically polished NiTi alloy.

The present work is focused on electropolishing of NiTi alloy in perchloric acid based solutions at ambient conditions for 30 sec, which we consider as the lowest duration compared to the literature reports.

The oxidizing power of potassium periodate is utilized for various applications.


According to the United Nations, 187,000 people are urbanizing across the world every day [1] . Accommodating an estimated 2.4 billion new urban dwellers over the next 35 years is one of the most pressing challenges for ensuring global sustainability. The world will need to build a new or expanded city of more than one million people every week for the next 40 years to cope with this urban growth.

According to the United Nations, 187,000 people are urbanizing across the world every day.


In recent years, polymer solar cells (PSCs) have been attracting much attention due to their low cost, ease of processing, flexibility, and light weight compared to traditional inorganic counterparts [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] . Actually, the most promising PSCs are based on the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structure where the polymer donor is intimately mixed with a fullerene derivative acceptor increasing the charge separation and transportation in PSCs. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of BHJ PSCs has also been improved greatly in the past years [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] . However, they still have not realized commercialization compared to conventional photovoltaic cells based on silicon. Many investigations on operating mechanism, novel device structures, fabrication process, and synthesis of multifunctional materials have been carried out in order to improve the device performance [2, 9, [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] . Among them, the preparation process of the solar cells is very important. The processes of energy conversion from light into electricity in PSCs usually include photon absorption, exciton formation/diffusion, exciton dissociation, carrier transport towards the electrodes, and charge collection by respective electrodes. These processes are subtly controlled by active layer thickness, intrinsic properties of materials, thermal treatment, and interface modification, for example, inserting different interface layers between active layer and electrode. Therefore, it is noted that efficient devices are hardly achieved by optimizing only one single aspect.

In recent years, polymer solar cells (PSCs) have been attracting much attention due to their low cost, ease of processing, flexibility, and light weight compared to traditional inorganic counterparts.

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of BHJ PSCs has also been improved greatly in the past years.

Many investigations on operating mechanism, novel device structures, fabrication process, and synthesis of multifunctional materials have been carried out in order to improve the device performance.


In this experiment, each age group differed significantly from the next, showing that in general, children are making great strides in their comprehension of disbelief between the ages of 3 and 5. The simple regression analysis confirms our hypothesis that children might be better at inferring disbelief through the visual modality (significant slopes for AO and AV conditions but not VO). Inspection of the boxplot in Figure 5 reveals very different patterns for the three age groups across conditions. The amount of variability found for 3-year-olds depends on the condition. The 3-year-olds performed worst on the AO condition, but with less variability than 3-year-olds that received the AV condition, where the most variability for this age group is found. This suggests that combining the audio and visual modalities may help some children, but hinder others. The variability observed for 4-year-olds in the AO task, however, could be explained by a 'transition' stage of acquisition between the 3-and 5-year-olds. Four-year-olds are still in the process of abandoning the stage during which they rely on visual scaffolding, and are moving towards full acquisition of the linguistic meaning. For this reason, less variability is found for the 4-year-olds that received the AV condition when compared to 3-year-olds for that condition. Finally, 5-year-olds no longer require scaffolding from the visual modality, and do not seem to be thrown off by the presence of two modalities in the AV condition (there is very little variability). With respect to how explicit false belief reasoning might help children with our task, our results reveal a tendency for children that pass the Sally Ann task to perform better on the comprehension task. But across ages, those that failed the Sally Ann task still perform at above-chance levels, indicating that success on the Sally Ann task is not a prerequisite for success on the comprehension task. These results should be interpreted with caution, since our task tested explicit false belief judgments. Younger children may exhibit implicit knowledge of false belief [8] . It is obvious that some kind of mind-reading ability (i.e. ToM) must be present for children to perceive their interlocutor's state of disbelief, and this study shows that the modality through which this belief state is communicated matters. In linguistic theory, gesture is often thought to be peripheral to the study of speech. We argue that gesture is a critical component of the study of intonational development that should not be ignored.

Younger children may exhibit implicit knowledge of false belief.


Acquiring a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) intrusion detection system (IDS) or network security monitor (NSM) set-up and placing it in an arbitrary location in an industrial control system (ICS) network is a straightforward task in itself. However, customization of the system and rewriting of the various rules is needed before meaningful functionality can be achieved [1] . Device manufacturers and service providers increasingly require remote connections to more of the devices in the field, and therefore industrial automation is slowly merging into the Internet of Things. Despite this, the ICS network environments are still very isolated compared to the traditional ICT organization's networks. Internet connections in the ICS environments should be managed and monitored carefully.

However, customization of the system and rewriting of the various rules is needed before meaningful functionality can be achieved.


Finally, we sought to investigate whether induced task values related differentially to degree of conceptual change. Overall, participants in all three of the conditions experienced conceptual change as evidenced by gains from pre-to posttest on scores of conceptual understandings about the causes of the common cold. This is not surprising since they all read a refutation text designed to promote conceptual change and such text have previously demonstrated to be effective (Hynd, 2001) . Our interest however, was the potential impact of induced task values on the conceptual change process. Statistical tests revealed that the utility condition participants experienced the greatest amount of conceptual change, followed by those in the attainment condition, with the participants in the control condition experiencing the least amount of conceptual change. We interpret our results, taken together, as suggesting that inducing students with a task value is more effective in facilitating engagement and conceptual change than not inducing students with a task value.

This is not surprising since they all read a refutation text designed to promote conceptual change and such text have previously demonstrated to be effective.


Musical-rhythmic movements, as the main activity, develop attention, freedom, memory, mobility and flexibility of mental processes, musicality and emotionality, creative imagination, ability to improvise in movement. The experience of the work of the Swiss musician and teacher Emile Jaques Dalcroze, who developed the system of musical and rhythmic upbringing of children at the beginning of the 20th century, tells us that musical and rhythmic movements are the universal means for the formation of musical skills of preschoolers. In his opinion, "from the first years of the child's life it would be worth to develop" muscle feeling, which, in turn, contributes to "the active and successful work of the brain" (Sozansky, 2009) . It is also important to organize a process of musical lessons with preschoolers, that should "bring joy to children, otherwise it will lose half of its value" (Sozansky, 2009) .

In his opinion, "from the first years of the child's life it would be worth to develop" muscle feeling, which, in turn, contributes to "the active and successful work of the brain".

It is also important to organize a process of musical lessons with preschoolers, that should "bring joy to children, otherwise it will lose half of its value".


Varyingly defined by scholars, however shares the common understanding of its distinction from government on governance as the power does not solely rest on the government itself. Rather, governance with its flexibility is distributed within various levels of power [5] [6] [7] . The purpose of governance is to accommodate and compensate for the very limitations that the government possesses, Due to the impact of climate change impact, the outbreak of vulnerability has occurred on multiple levels. Vulnerability at the individual level would stretch to vulnerability at the community level, and vulnerability at the community level aggravates the sense of inequality within individuals and is a potential risk for the community [13, 14] . Personal knowledge and resource scarcity have repercussions on the community's distribution of resources, and this reduces the chance of risk diversification [13] . A similar phenomenon breaks out at the national level; one nation's low climate change adaptation ability leads to the individuals' continuous exposure to such risk. In particular, Figure 1 illustrates the hierarchical multilevel model of adaptations and its vulnerability in which the individual grey levels of adaptations and vulnerability may expand out to the community levels of local scale determinants and broad scale determinants [15] .

Rather, governance with its flexibility is distributed within various levels of power.

Vulnerability at the individual level would stretch to vulnerability at the community level, and vulnerability at the community level aggravates the sense of inequality within individuals and is a potential risk for the community.

Personal knowledge and resource scarcity have repercussions on the community's distribution of resources, and this reduces the chance of risk diversification.

In particular, Figure 1 illustrates the hierarchical multilevel model of adaptations and its vulnerability in which the individual grey levels of adaptations and vulnerability may expand out to the community levels of local scale determinants and broad scale determinants.


In realising a greenhouse gas reduction for climate change adaptation, rather than the mitigation effort itself, a strong emphasis lies on governance; as a top-down approach from the central (national) government could undermine the regional characteristics of adaptation efforts [1] . Seemingly, a top-down approach could be regarded as a quick resolution, however, in reality it faces many difficulties in responding to the conflict as well as the fast-changing environment [2] . Within any level of governance (international society, central government, municipal government, local government, communities), the area affected by climate change or influenced by adaptation action is required to be integrated both horizontally (in geographic and hierarchical levels) as well as vertically (between administrative departments). Therefore, for successful adaptation, it is crucial of well-coordinated effort to strengthen the adaptation capacity and amplify the synergistic effect of cooperation between governance and the interested parties [3, 4] .

In realising a greenhouse gas reduction for climate change adaptation, rather than the mitigation effort itself, a strong emphasis lies on governance; as a top-down approach from the central (national) government could undermine the regional characteristics of adaptation efforts.

Seemingly, a top-down approach could be regarded as a quick resolution, however, in reality it faces many difficulties in responding to the conflict as well as the fast-changing environment.

Therefore, for successful adaptation, it is crucial of well-coordinated effort to strengthen the adaptation capacity and amplify the synergistic effect of cooperation between governance and the interested parties.


Initiatives led by MRC have considerably improved simulation modelling capacity within the national agencies of the MRC partner governments, but outside of China and Vietnam, uptake and use of the models for applications by the national governments (beyond that initiated by MRC) is limited. There are a number of reasons for this. Decisions about water resources are driven by concerns such as ecological impacts of development and the consequent effects on livelihoods (e.g. fisheries), rather than hydrology per se, and these secondary impacts are not well simulated by existing models. Development is being driven in a piecemeal way by individual projects and foreign investment, not by a coordinated plan as was foreseen when the DSF was established. Investors and governments perceive model outputs as too complex and not sufficiently targeted; while NGOs and communities perceive that the analysis is skewed to system components that can be quantified, so that economic outcomes tend to be emphasized and the impacts on ecology and livelihoods are insufficiently considered (Johnston and Kummu 2012; McCartney and Lacombe 2011) .

There are a number of reasons for this.

Investors and governments perceive model outputs as too complex and not sufficiently targeted; while NGOs and communities perceive that the analysis is skewed to system components that can be quantified, so that economic outcomes tend to be emphasized and the impacts on ecology and livelihoods are insufficiently considered.


Auto-regressive moving average vector (ARMAV) models have already been applied for the analysis of ambient excited multi-DOF's systems, such as civil engineering structures (bridges, buildings, . . .). These models only use time series obtained from the output signals of the system. It can be shown that the ARMAV model allows us to describe the dynamics of a structure subjected to filtered white noise. In other words, the only restrictions are that the structure behaves linearly, is time-invariant, and that the unknown input force can be modelled by a white noise filtered through a linear and timeinvariant shaping filter [1] . In some cases, the application of the ARMAV identification can be extended to various excitation models, consisting of white or colored noise, mixed with harmonics and non-stationary noise [2] .

In other words, the only restrictions are that the structure behaves linearly, is time-invariant, and that the unknown input force can be modelled by a white noise filtered through a linear and timeinvariant shaping filter.

In some cases, the application of the ARMAV identification can be extended to various excitation models, consisting of white or colored noise, mixed with harmonics and non-stationary noise.


To obtain a feasible acceleration measurement, several challenges have to be overcome. First of all, the gravitational component must be removed as this will affect the linear accelerations during roll and pitch motion. For an inertial measurement unit (IMU) this can either be done by horizontal stabilization of the sensor platform or, by a dynamic compensation scheme. Second, the noise, bias, and nonlinearities of the accelerometers must be handled. Using an observer to produce a filtered acceleration signal based on the acceleration, velocity, and position measurements, significantly aids that problem, and this strategy is used in this paper in addition to assuming that the gravitational effect is removed (Lindegaard, 2003) .

Using an observer to produce a filtered acceleration signal based on the acceleration, velocity, and position measurements, significantly aids that problem, and this strategy is used in this paper in addition to assuming that the gravitational effect is removed.


In this paper we use a lumped backward model to carry out a detailed numerical investigation of the effect of physical parameter uncertainty on the time-dependent single neutron chain survival probability and the time-dependent extinction probability when an intrinsic random source is present. Specifically, uncertainty is introduced in the factorial moments of the fission neutron multiplicity distribution, the source strength and the neutron lifetime, and all parameters are assumed to be independent random variables each uniformly distributed about their respective reference values. Strictly speaking, the uncertainty should be introduced directly into the fission neutron multiplicities and propagated into the factorial moments but the constraint that the multiplicity distribution be normalized correlates the multiplicities and significantly complicates the uncertainty analysis. Although stochastic UQ methods of the type considered here can be readily extended to accommodate correlated, Gaussian distributed input variables, more advanced techniques are necessary to represent correlated non-Gaussian distributed input variables (Park et al., 2015) . For this reason we have, in this preliminary investigation, incorporated uncertainty directly into the factorial moments, source strength and neutron lifetime and defer a more rigorous representation of uncertainty in the multiplicities to a more comprehensive future investigation. The multiplication factor or k-eigenvalue is generally considered to be an accurately known parameter for use in lumped systems, unlike the intrinsic source and neutron lifetime, so it is not treated as an uncertain variable this work. We emphasize that this does not represent a limitation of the methodology as it simply adds an extra independent random variable, albeit at increased computational cost.

Although stochastic UQ methods of the type considered here can be readily extended to accommodate correlated, Gaussian distributed input variables, more advanced techniques are necessary to represent correlated non-Gaussian distributed input variables.


The central executive of the working memory system was chosen as the third outcome variable. The central executive involves higher-order allocation of attentional resources in the presence of distraction or interference and is linked to academic success (Baddeley 1996) . An example of a working memory task is hearing a spoken sequence of numbers and being able to repeat back the sequence in reverse order, a task that involves both keeping information in memory and being able to manipulate the information at the same time, a process that often occurs in mathematical calculations. Thus, if programming has a general effect on the capacity for thinking through developing the capacity to access and hold information, then there is the possibility of gains in working memory. A number of studies have demonstrated that interventions can improve working memory capacity in children (Buschkuehl et al. 2012) . Consequently, we had tentative expectations that the experience of educational programming would increase working memory capacity.

The central executive involves higher-order allocation of attentional resources in the presence of distraction or interference and is linked to academic success.

A number of studies have demonstrated that interventions can improve working memory capacity in children.


Sustainability 2017, 9, 733 4 of 27 incremental innovations in existing technologies, whereas "alternatives" and "creation" are trending toward radical changes in existing technologies and seeking systemic solutions. Incremental innovation refers to slight, continuous changes or improvements in the existing technological systems [43] . Radical innovations are discontinuous changes of technology, which seek to replace already existing technology [51] . This paper addresses one particular type of ecoinnovation: retrofitting of old vessels with end-of-pipe technologies or components that improve the overall energy efficiency of the vessel (Figure 1 ).

Incremental innovation refers to slight, continuous changes or improvements in the existing technological systems.

Radical innovations are discontinuous changes of technology, which seek to replace already existing technology.


The second element in the conceptual framework is value creation. The suppliers' interest is to develop new products and services with the primary purpose of creating new markets and thus generating growth in the regional maritime cluster in Northern Jutland. A close collaboration between end-users and suppliers can lead to co-creation, which implies value created by co-production with suppliers, end-users or partners (Normann and Ramirez, 1993, in [91] (p. 10)). This stream of research addresses three mechanisms by which multi-party collaboration between suppliers and end-users is possible in order to develop new products and services. Local networks with a goal of developing maritime eco-innovations can be a platform for staging this collaboration.

A close collaboration between end-users and suppliers can lead to co-creation, which implies value created by co-production with suppliers, end-users or partners (Normann and Ramirez, 1993, in(p. 10)).


The case study findings allow us to propose a framework whose purpose is to help networks of firms direct their eco-innovation processes when influenced by regulatory, market or technological evolution. The framework suggests that supply networks can deliver products and service eco-innovations by a three tier process of (i) end-user involvement in the value-creation network, (ii) value creation in collaborative networks and (iii) delivering value propositions. The result of these three elements is the consolidation of a value-creating network integrated with suppliers and end-users. The value network will generate environmental products and service offerings to the maritime industry while improving the overall cluster competencies and collaboration for maritime eco-innovations ( Figure 4 ). The first part of the framework deals with end-user involvement in the value creation process. End-users influence the type of competencies and outcomes developed within the value network [15, 68] . In the context of this case study, the end-user was a shipping company, which either owned or managed a fleet of ships, and demanded eco-innovations characterized by incremental modifications of existing technologies. The model proposes three interacting drivers that motivate these end-users to become involved, along with their supply networks, in the development of ecoinnovations and, thus, co-create value: regulatory push, market pull, technology push and internal business aspects.

End-users influence the type of competencies and outcomes developed within the value network.


As highlighted in our literature review section, an eco-innovation process deals with aspects of network dynamics, i.e., how actors interact among them, but also how changes in the environment impact these relations. Taking a longitudinal perspective in the analysis of the value-creating network and its eco-innovation process also allowed us to unveil how the interaction of regulations and technological advantages create a window of opportunity for eco-innovations. Sulfur regulations on marine fuels, as the regulatory driver in this case study, have generated much research in terms of to what extent they push the development of cleaner technologies [7, 30, 88] . These drivers are often assumed independent in the literature, but our case study shows that they interact and, as such, have some consequences in the type of expected eco-innovation. The current market situation of the shipping business provides challenges to environmental technologies. In particular, ship owners will not have enough motivation to install environmental technologies, if the law does not require this. The shipping firm in our case study, which is a representative of the overall shipping business globally, is primarily interested in reducing operational costs. A large share of these costs is associated with fuel consumption. Retrofitting the vessel to gain efficiency is thus one aspect in which market drivers (high fuel prices) interact with another driver (technology push). Besides the market pull and technology push drivers, new regulations from IMO and the EU set strict guidelines on SO x , NO x or the type of marine fuel to be used on board. Several suppliers are in the business of energy efficiency improvements, and this is shown in the type of value proposition offered by the network partners.

Sulfur regulations on marine fuels, as the regulatory driver in this case study, have generated much research in terms of to what extent they push the development of cleaner technologies.


According to the framework, it is possible to understand the development of eco-innovations by analyzing the processes within the networks or other forms of supplier and end-user collaboration. At this point, processes can have two meanings: the functioning of the network and the innovation process. The first meaning deals with the roles of actors in the network and the activities and characteristics of the actors' participation in these activities. The second meaning refers to the account of actions undertaken by actors as part of developing a new product or service over time. Both types of processes are relevant and are integrated in the framework as a circle beneath "local network". Local suppliers created a network that brought together companies with experience in the sector and mature technologies with potential energy efficiency benefits for ships. As a result, the network sought to develop customized solutions to the end-user by combining different individual technologies. Developing combined product/service solutions as incremental environmental technologies for the maritime industry is not an activity that may generate the same type of revenues and return on investments as, for example, developing navigation instrumentation or propulsion equipment [92] . However, with better knowledge about the market developments, the perception about the demand for certain types of products became clearer. In other sectors, as in energy-renovation projects in the construction sector, this type of combination of energy-efficient technologies establishes a specialized service industry [12] .

Developing combined product/service solutions as incremental environmental technologies for the maritime industry is not an activity that may generate the same type of revenues and return on investments as, for example, developing navigation instrumentation or propulsion equipment.

In other sectors, as in energy-renovation projects in the construction sector, this type of combination of energy-efficient technologies establishes a specialized service industry.


Research about eco-innovation has moved beyond understanding what drivers or barriers face companies in the development/adoption of technologies with economic and environmental goals [1] . Instead, more attention is paid to opening the "black box" of the eco-innovation process [2] [3] [4] . As a result, the understanding of eco-innovation is broadened, and recent contributions indicate that eco-innovation can be the outcome or be a process itself [1] .

Research about eco-innovation has moved beyond understanding what drivers or barriers face companies in the development/adoption of technologies with economic and environmental goals.

Instead, more attention is paid to opening the "black box" of the eco-innovation process.

As a result, the understanding of eco-innovation is broadened, and recent contributions indicate that eco-innovation can be the outcome or be a process itself.


Recent progress in the field of neuroevolution has lead to algorithms that create neural networks to solve complex reinforcement learning problems (Stanley, 2004) . Neuroevolution refers to technologies which build and train neural networks through an evolutionary process such as a genetic algorithm. Neuroevolutionary algorithms are attractive in that they are able to automatically generate neural networks. Manual engineering, domain expertise, and extensive training data are no longer necessary to create effective neural networks. One problem with these algorithms is that they rely heavily on the random chance of mutation operators to produce networks of sufficient complexity and train them with the correct weights to solve the problem at hand. As a consequence, neuroevolutionary methods can be slow or unable to converge to a good solution. Traditional reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms on the other hand take calculated measures to improve their policies and have been shown to converge very quickly. However, RL algorithms rely on costly Q-tables or predetermined function approximators to enable them to work on complex problems. A hybrid of the two technologies has the potential to provide an algorithm with the advantages of both.

Recent progress in the field of neuroevolution has lead to algorithms that create neural networks to solve complex reinforcement learning problems.


In conclusion, we have successfully synthesized 3-amino-2,4-dicarbonitrile-5-methylbiphenyls by the condensation of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile and acetone in the presence of catalytic amounts of NaOMe, under solvent-free grindstone method. The mildness of the conversion, experimental simplicity, compatibility with various functional groups, excellent yields, short reaction times and the easy workup procedure makes this protocol an attractive and user friendly alternate method for the synthesis of substituted biphenyls. To increase the scope of the present reaction on industrial scale use of 'high speed ball mills' is recommended (Gao and Wang, 2008) .

To increase the scope of the present reaction on industrial scale use of 'high speed ball mills' is recommended.


Over the years, large number of polluting industries has developed all over the greater Dhaka area. The tannery industries at Hazaribagh (23 o 43 © N, 90 o 21 © E), Dhaka, are one of the major polluting industries (Saha and Ali, 2001) . Particularly, water pollution of Hazaribagh area has reached alarming level. The situation in Bangladesh demands major thrust in water pollution first. Water pollution refers specially to degradation of water quality as measured by physical, chemical and biological criteria (Keller, 1985) .

The tannery industries at Hazaribagh (23 o 43 © N, 90 o 21 © E), Dhaka, are one of the major polluting industries.

Water pollution refers specially to degradation of water quality as measured by physical, chemical and biological criteria.


The correct prediction of leakage inductance in transformers is critical for LLC resonant converters because a well-matched resonant frequency is required [1] , [2] . Traditional LLC converters use a wire-wound transformer and an additional magnetic component for the resonant inductor, resulting in a significant increase in the overall size of the converter. Nowadays, many efforts involve integrated magnetics and planar magnetics for LLC converters [3] - [6] . Inserting a magnetic shunt into the transformer winding layers is a common method to increase the leakage inductance, as shown in Fig Many publications have made excellent analysis and calculations for leakage inductance in conventional and planar transformers [7] - [11] . However, none of published literature has predicted an accurate leakage inductance for planar transformers with an inserted magnetic shunt. This paper focuses on the leakage inductance calculation in planar transformers based on magnetomotive force (MMF) analysis and leakage energy distribution along the conductors, insulators and magnetic shunt. Section II gives a detailed analysis on the leakage inductance and proposes a formula to calculate the leakage inductance with a magnetic shunt consideration. Section III presents a comparison of the calculations, FEA simulation results and the experimental results. Several Planar transformer prototypes with different magnetic shunts have been built to verify the proposed calculation method.

The correct prediction of leakage inductance in transformers is critical for LLC resonant converters because a well-matched resonant frequency is required.

Nowadays, many efforts involve integrated magnetics and planar magnetics for LLC converters.

Inserting a magnetic shunt into the transformer winding layers is a common method to increase the leakage inductance, as shown in Fig Many publications have made excellent analysis and calculations for leakage inductance in conventional and planar transformers.


To ascertain whether the results of the first study would hold when the test was not given to Palestinian students fluent in English, the second study investigated the experience of Palestinian students not fluent in English taking the CAT test in Arabic (Hambleton, 2005) . While this follow up study only focused on the critical thinking skills measured by the first four questions of the CAT test, the results of the second study support the premise that the critical thinking skills assessed by the CAT are appropriate to Palestinian higher education students more broadly and that an Arabic adaptation of the CAT might be successfully developed and employed to assess the critical thinking skills of Palestinian students in their main language of instruction. While the results suggest the Arabic items of the test are meaningful to the students, differences on some items such as item 1 indicate more refinement may be required for particular items and certainly in a full adaptation of the entire test (Sireci, 2005) . The results do indicate a full adaptation of the CAT in Arabic would be valuable.

To ascertain whether the results of the first study would hold when the test was not given to Palestinian students fluent in English, the second study investigated the experience of Palestinian students not fluent in English taking the CAT test in Arabic.

While the results suggest the Arabic items of the test are meaningful to the students, differences on some items such as item 1 indicate more refinement may be required for particular items and certainly in a full adaptation of the entire test.


Overall there was a moderate level of agreement that the skills tested on the CAT represent critical thinking. Levels of agreement ranged from 42.0% for "Evaluate whether spurious relationships strongly support a claim" to 73.2% for "Evaluate how strongly information supports a hypothesis or interpretation". These rates are lower than those reported with faculty in the US where agreement was at least 80% across all the skills (Stein, Haynes, Redding, Ennis, & Cecil, 2007) . However, this may have been because the US sample included only STEM faculty, and because the Palestinian sample included both STEM and non-STEM faculty. When agreement was examined in STEM faculty only, the agreement rate was much higher and was 80% or above for all but three skills ( Table 6 ). The percent agreeing may also be lower in the Palestinian sample because data were missing for between 17% and 35% of the sample. This was higher than the missing data rate for the demographic data which ranged from 13% to 25%. This may have been due to difficulty comprehending and interpreting the CAT skills or time constraints/survey fatigue which prevented busy faculty from completing the survey.

These rates are lower than those reported with faculty in the US where agreement was at least 80% across all the skills.


Data are means ± SD (n = 6) for an organ in a row followed by the same letter are not significantly Caudal bending (left side) was noticed in both the sublethal concentrations with time and persisted even under recovery tenures. The extent of caudal bending was pronounced in higher toxicant concentration. This greatly retarded the normal swimming pattern. Caudal bending may be a sort of paralysis, which is due to the inhibition of muscular AChE activity resulting in blockage of neural transmissions. Bending of caudal region is owing to the fact that caudal portion is the thinnest structure and hence can be conferred any sort of orientation due to paralysis of caudal musculature by inhibition of AChE activity as evidenced in the present study. Further inhibition of AChE activity results in a progressive accumulation of ACh, especially during periods of repetitive stimulation, leading to desensitization of nAChRs (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) and consequent muscular weakness (Giniatullin et al., 1998) . Thus quinalphos reduced instinctive behavioural responses and affected morphological features by depression of AChE activity. Quinalphos inhibits AChE activity due to the effects of their active oxygen analog quinalphos-oxon. The ratio between the toxification/detoxification reactions determines the degree of enzyme inhibition and can be used to evaluate metabolism processes (Timchalk et al.. 2002) .

Further inhibition of AChE activity results in a progressive accumulation of ACh, especially during periods of repetitive stimulation, leading to desensitization of nAChRs (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) and consequent muscular weakness.

The ratio between the toxification/detoxification reactions determines the degree of enzyme inhibition and can be used to evaluate metabolism processes.


Regarding simultaneous topic segmentation and labelling with respect to topics of breathing, hemodynamics, consciousness, relatives, and diuresis, the results from our supervised system were encouraging in terms of statistical metrics. Furthermore, this type of structuring was shown to increase the information search speed of health professionals [45] . We also addressed building overviews with ad hoc search topics by developing an unsupervised method and evaluating its performance against the annotation work needed to train the supervised system.

Furthermore, this type of structuring was shown to increase the information search speed of health professionals.


The etiologic agents of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF) are four serotypes: dengue virus (DENV)-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4, part of the dengue complex of the genus Flavivirus [1] . Dengue is a vector-borne viral disease considered to be a global public health issue due to an increasing incidence and its potential to cause epidemics and/or continuous viral circulation in most urban areas in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In 2010, approximately 390 million dengue-infected individuals and 20,000 deaths were estimated worldwide [2] [3] [4] .

The etiologic agents of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF) are four serotypes: dengue virus (DENV)-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4, part of the dengue complex of the genus Flavivirus.

In 2010, approximately 390 million dengue-infected individuals and 20,000 deaths were estimated worldwide.