A technique for generating active species with the One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP) has been developed at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's (UTK) Plasma Sciences Laboratory [1] [2] [3] . The OAUGDP is a non-thermal RF fourth-state-of-matter plasma with the time resolved characteristics of a classical low pressure DC normal glow discharge [1] . The OAUGDP is capable of operating in air (and other gases) at atmospheric pressure and near room temperature. The OAUGDP has been the subject of exploratory testing for plasma processing applications of industrial interest, including increasing the surface energy, wettability, wickability, and sterilization of fabrics. No vacuum system or batch processing is necessary, and a wide range of applications is possible. This technology is simple, cost effective and suitable for online treatment of webs.

A technique for generating active species with the One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP) has been developed at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's (UTK) Plasma Sciences Laboratory.

The OAUGDP is a non-thermal RF fourth-state-of-matter plasma with the time resolved characteristics of a classical low pressure DC normal glow discharge.


In addition to investigating the sterilization of surfaces, our team has developed a sterilizable meltblown air filter for the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) [9] . This work was motivated by a desire to deal with the "sick building syndrome," in which microorganisms captured by an air filter in a heating, ventilating or air conditioning system can reproduce in situ and be released into the airstream, thus exposing all persons within the building. Our sterilizable air filter, the "Volfilter," is a planar version of the OAUGDP produced by attaching strip electrodes to both sides of a sheet of filter material made out of a nonwoven fabric. After the filter removes microorganisms from the airstream, the electrodes are energized with a high-voltage, low-frequency RF source, and the resulting planar OAUGD plasma kills the captured microorganisms. The combination of an appropriate nonwoven filter material and periodic application of the OAUGDP requires minimum maintenance and results in an effective capture and sterilization device even for viruses.

In addition to investigating the sterilization of surfaces, our team has developed a sterilizable meltblown air filter for the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration (EPA).


The treatment time was greatly reduced in our new Mod IV reactor for the same surface energy of nonwoven fabric and polymeric films reported in our previous work [13, 14] . However, our current samples had the same trend in aging effect. Physical and chemical analyses were conducted in our previous work to study the mechanisms of wettability after the treatment. Future work will emphasize the same kinds of analyses (SEM, AFM and ESCA) to study the mechanisms of the improvement (reduction) of the treatment time, and to reduce or eliminate the aging effect.

The treatment time was greatly reduced in our new Mod IV reactor for the same surface energy of nonwoven fabric and polymeric films reported in our previous work.


Between the 1990s and 2015, the cruise industry exhibited extremely dynamic behaviour and high growth rates. In 2015, approximately 23 million people vacationed on cruise ships [4] . This figure is more than threefold higher than the number in 2000 (7.2 million passengers), and sixfold higher than in 1990 (3.8 million passengers). Moreover, the forecasts are positive -an average annual growth rate of 3.3% is expected for the period of 2016-2019 [5] . While the global financial crisis of 2008-09 had a major impact on maritime cargo shipping, for example, in 2009, the global containerised cargo rate fell by 9.0% compared to 2008, whereas worldwide cruise passengers grew by 9.1% [26] . Cruise lines and cruise ports continued experiencing steadily rising numbers of passengers.

In 2015, approximately 23 million people vacationed on cruise ships.

Moreover, the forecasts are positive -an average annual growth rate of 3.3% is expected for the period of 2016-2019.

While the global financial crisis of 2008-09 had a major impact on maritime cargo shipping, for example, in 2009, the global containerised cargo rate fell by 9.0% compared to 2008, whereas worldwide cruise passengers grew by 9.1%.


The decision for a cruise line to call at a specific port or, more importantly, to establish a homeport for their vessels depends on whether the area in which the port is located is attractive for cruise itineraries. A port cannot be attractive if it is not located close to or in an area where there are other available cruise ports with which to design an itinerary. Thus, a cruise port needs to be located close to or within an area where cruise ships operate [12] . The above geographic constraint can be referred to as a geographic constraint at the global level in terms of designing an itinerary, but there is also a strong spatial dependence on the configuration of a cruise itinerary within the cruise destination region or the specific sector of a cruise destination. This geographical dependence results in a negative spatial relationship with the range of short distances between ports, which becomes positive at intermediate distances and negative again at large distances [7] . Cruise ports need one another to survive according to a 'mutual benefit' principle [1] . Additionally, the optimisation of sailing distances in designing an itinerary is a key question because fuel costs have a major impact on the total shipping costs because fuel consumption has an exponential dependence on sailing speed.

Thus, a cruise port needs to be located close to or within an area where cruise ships operate.

This geographical dependence results in a negative spatial relationship with the range of short distances between ports, which becomes positive at intermediate distances and negative again at large distances.

Cruise ports need one another to survive according to a 'mutual benefit' principle.


Both examples arise from classical constructions. Throughout, we work over an uncountable algebraically closed field of arbitrary characteristic. Starting with a set of k very general points on P n , and a divisor of degree d with given multiplicities at these points, we make a sequence of Cremona transformations centered at certain subsets of the points, and compute the degree and multiplicities of the strict transform of the divisor under these transformations. The changes in degrees and multiplicities are governed by an action of a Coxeter group of type T 2,n+1,k−n−1 , an observation originally due to Coble [6] . A modern account of Coble's work can be found in the survey of Dolgachev and Ortland [7] . If n = 2 and k = 10, or n = 3 and k = 9, then the associated groups of type T 2,3,7 and T 2,4,5 are infinite and have elements acting with eigenvalues of norm greater than 1. The divisors of the examples arise as the corresponding eigenvectors. For simplicity, we make explicit computations for specific transformations in these groups, but the results are valid for many other elements as well.

The changes in degrees and multiplicities are governed by an action of a Coxeter group of type T 2,n+1,k−n−1 , an observation originally due to Coble.

A modern account of Coble's work can be found in the survey of Dolgachev and Ortland.


The usefulness of the PSR was described in favourable terms by the health care professionals with strategic positions in the county councils. The potential benefits that were identified can be attributed to different system levels, decision maker level, management level, staff level and patient level. At the decision maker level PSRs can provide input for priority setting within the county councils. The PSRs may also have a benchmarking effect by identifying good examples or best practices and contribute to generating a sense of "competition" regarding patient safety [28] . At the management level, the PSR facilitates an overview of patient safety work and provides guidance for the structure of this work. At the staff level, the PSR might contribute to emphasizing the importance of patient safety issues and could possibly influence the patient safety culture, an issue considered increasingly important in patient safety work [27] . The usefulness at the patient level could be described in terms of patient involvement and empowerment, because patients who are well informed about local patient safety activities will be in a better position to form and express their opinion on the issue [29] .

The PSRs may also have a benchmarking effect by identifying good examples or best practices and contribute to generating a sense of "competition" regarding patient safety.

At the staff level, the PSR might contribute to emphasizing the importance of patient safety issues and could possibly influence the patient safety culture, an issue considered increasingly important in patient safety work.

The usefulness at the patient level could be described in terms of patient involvement and empowerment, because patients who are well informed about local patient safety activities will be in a better position to form and express their opinion on the issue.


Recently, Chern-Simons-matter (CSM) theories with extended supersymmetries in three dimensions have attracted a lot of interests, because they are natural candidates of the dual gauge descriptions of M2 branes. About 20 years ago, generic Chern-Simons gauge theories (with or without matter) in 3D were demonstrated to be conformally invariant at the quantum level [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] . However, to describe M2 branes, one needs to further introduce (extended) supersymmetries into the CSM theories.

About 20 years ago, generic Chern-Simons gauge theories (with or without matter) in 3D were demonstrated to be conformally invariant at the quantum level.


In an interesting paper, Bagger and Lambert (BL) have been able to construct the N = 6 ABJM theory in a modified 3-algebra approach, in which the structure constants are antisymmetric only in the first two indices [32] . By introducing an anti-symmetric tensor into a 3-algebra (symplectic 3-algebra), the authors have constructed another class of N = 6 CSM theories: the ones with gauge group Sp(2M)×O(2) [33] . Encouraged by the successes, it is natural to ask whether N = 5 CSM theories can be constructed in terms of a 3-algebra or not. Furthermore, it is also natural to ask whether all N = 5, 6 CSM theories can be constructed by a unified 3-algebraic framework. In this paper we will propose to solve these two problems.

In an interesting paper, Bagger and Lambert (BL) have been able to construct the N = 6 ABJM theory in a modified 3-algebra approach, in which the structure constants are antisymmetric only in the first two indices.

By introducing an anti-symmetric tensor into a 3-algebra (symplectic 3-algebra), the authors have constructed another class of N = 6 CSM theories: the ones with gauge group Sp(2M)×O(2).


The analysis of the electrocardiographic signal (ECG) provides a noninvasive technique to analyze the heart function for different cardiac conditions. Particularly, automatic classification algorithms focus on ECG rhythm and morphology analysis and their disturbances. Disturbances in the rate, regularity, site of origin or conduction of the electrical impulses are known as arrhythmias [1] . While some types of arrhythmias represent a life threat in the short term (e.g. ventricular fibrillation), there are other types that appear less frequently and represent a long-term threat without proper treatment. It is in those later cases, which require carefully inspection of long ECG recording, where the use of automatic algorithms represents a significant help for diagnostic.

Disturbances in the rate, regularity, site of origin or conduction of the electrical impulses are known as arrhythmias.


The most common site of mandibular fractures manifested in our department was the condyle, followed by the symphysis and angle, and fractures at these locations were associated with age. In general, the most common sites of mandibular fracture are the condyle and angle (especially in the presence of an impacted or semi-erupted third molar), mental foramen or body, parasymphysis, and any part of the dental alveolus [20] . However, the most common fracture site in patients aged 60 years in this study group was the symphysis, followed by the body. Although the reason for this is unclear, it is possible that elderly patients with limited mobility, especially those living alone, can easily stumble and fall, striking their mandible against the ground directly without first falling into outstretched hands or arms, causing an indirect fracture of the condyle. In addition, it is also possible that dentition is associated with mandibular fractures in the elderly because they are often fully or partially edentulous, with atrophy of the jaw and osteoporosis [19] .

In general, the most common sites of mandibular fracture are the condyle and angle (especially in the presence of an impacted or semi-erupted third molar), mental foramen or body, parasymphysis, and any part of the dental alveolus.

In addition, it is also possible that dentition is associated with mandibular fractures in the elderly because they are often fully or partially edentulous, with atrophy of the jaw and osteoporosis.


In the high-speed flight, the optical window of an airborne imaging system is subject to the aeroheating effects which cause the window temperature to rise rapidly. The FPN induced by background IR window emission can significantly degrade the signal-to-noise ratio and even drive the detector into saturation [6] . Furthermore, what makes overcoming this problem more challenging is the fact that the higher window temperature and its gradient are, the stronger the FPN is. Thus, this type of FPN induced by an inhomogeneous-temperature optical window is a major threat to the airborne imaging system. Fig. 1(a) is a degraded image captured by a long-wave infrared (IR) imaging system in an electric arc wind tunnel experiment where the heat flux is 250 kW/m 2 . It is obviously observed in Fig. 1 that the radiation from the heated window makes the intensities of the background pixels unevenly increase. This optics-related FPN spatially continues and its magnitude fast increases with window temperature. In addition, the IR imaging system is often affected by the strong random noise, and therefore it is much difficult to simultaneously remove the aeroheating-induced FPN and system noise using the traditional NU correction methods.

The FPN induced by background IR window emission can significantly degrade the signal-to-noise ratio and even drive the detector into saturation.


Our data suggest that the influence of opioids on cancer recurrence shows an important trend in the early (stage I) rather than later (stage II and III) stages. Our findings might be explained by several hypotheses. It is possible to speculate that in later stages of the disease, tumor growth may be influenced by mechanisms other than by MOR activation, including the influence of other opioids receptors such as d-opioid receptors. In fact, the receptor binding is much higher for d-than MOR in lung cancer cells [23] . Moreover, long-term exposure to opioids appears to favor a protumoral microenvironment [24] . As patients with higher stages are more likely to have longer, complex, and more invasive surgeries, it could be argued that our results reflect the association of higher intraoperative consumption/administration of opioids to patients undergoing complex and longer procedures. The number of mutations increases exponentially as tumors grow, hence the mechanisms driving cell survival or apoptosis might change in different stages of the disease [25] . Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations can occur at different rates in patients with primary tumors, those with regional recurrences, and distant metastasis [26] . Interestingly, opioids can induce phosphorylation of the EGFR; hence, the growth of cancer cells expressing EGFR and MOR at different rates in the so-called postoperative minimal residual disease (MRD; circulating tumor cells, micrometastasis, and positive surgical margins) could be modulated differently by the different opioids [27] . Another explanation could be linked to the immunesuppressive effect of opioids. Our group has recently demonstrated that immediately after lung cancer surgery there is a profound depression of the innate immunity, which is characterized by a decrease in the function of the natural killer cells and it has been demonstrated that opioids in moderate and large amounts depress their function [28, 29] . Based on these premises, we can hypothesize that patients with no or "limited" MRD (Stage I) who received low amount of opioids appear to have an improved survival because the impact of the postoperative immune suppression is less important compared to that in those with significantly more MRD (stage II/III), who may have received higher doses of opioids due to more complex and invasive surgical procedures. Although, this last explanation is merely speculative, similar results have been found with other perioperative interventions such as blood transfusions, which have immune-suppressive effects [30] .

In fact, the receptor binding is much higher for d-than MOR in lung cancer cells.

Moreover, long-term exposure to opioids appears to favor a protumoral microenvironment.

The number of mutations increases exponentially as tumors grow, hence the mechanisms driving cell survival or apoptosis might change in different stages of the disease.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations can occur at different rates in patients with primary tumors, those with regional recurrences, and distant metastasis.

Interestingly, opioids can induce phosphorylation of the EGFR; hence, the growth of cancer cells expressing EGFR and MOR at different rates in the so-called postoperative minimal residual disease (MRD; circulating tumor cells, micrometastasis, and positive surgical margins) could be modulated differently by the different opioids.

Our group has recently demonstrated that immediately after lung cancer surgery there is a profound depression of the innate immunity, which is characterized by a decrease in the function of the natural killer cells and it has been demonstrated that opioids in moderate and large amounts depress their function.

Although, this last explanation is merely speculative, similar results have been found with other perioperative interventions such as blood transfusions, which have immune-suppressive effects.


Fly ash (FA) is a byproduct obtained from electricity generation via carbon in thermoelectric plants and boilers in several industries. This material has become one of several solid wastes that are generated in large volumes worldwide (on the order of 600 million tons reported), primarily due to the growing global energy demand. The large volume generated, its effect on the environment, and the excessive costs for handling and disposal have led numerous researchers to focus their attention on looking for solutions to this problem. However, although the potential markets are known, the decision to use the material in specific applications implies strict quality control, and the resulting material must demonstrate its competitive power against the natural resource or raw material that is to be replaced [1] .

However, although the potential markets are known, the decision to use the material in specific applications implies strict quality control, and the resulting material must demonstrate its competitive power against the natural resource or raw material that is to be replaced.


The RR in first-line chemotherapy had a moderate correlation with TTP, regardless of treatment generation. The reported TTP ranging from 4.7 to 6.5 months seems to have reached a plateau at an RR near 40% (Figure 1) . Indeed, even in non-randomized phase II studies indicating the RR over 50% (51-74%), the TTP ranged from 4.8 months to 6.5 months [44] [45] [46] . When the RR exceeds a certain threshold point, maybe 40-50%, the quality of response, such as the rate of complete response, not the quantity of response such as RR, might contribute to the prolongation of TTP. Further studies are needed to confirm this speculation.

Indeed, even in non-randomized phase II studies indicating the RR over 50% (51-74%), the TTP ranged from 4.8 months to 6.5 months.


Individuals are now more eager to be the producers and readers of multimodal texts (Unsworth, 2003 , cited in Neville, 2006 . In addition, one of the findings that have emerged from conducted studies is that multimodal texts used during classes are more appreciated by students than printed texts (Tüzel, 2012) . Multimodal texts have both surrounded today's students and have become more preferable to them (Tüzel, 2013) .

In addition, one of the findings that have emerged from conducted studies is that multimodal texts used during classes are more appreciated by students than printed texts.

Multimodal texts have both surrounded today's students and have become more preferable to them.


In this century, the sources of literacy applications should be humans and materials: literacy skills should be advanced and meaning should be derived from texts (Wolfe & Flewitt, 2010) . Within the scope of the 21 st century concept of literacy, written words, oral communication, and visuals cannot stand out from each other in communication; rather, it is important to make people literate in multimodal text structures in which all three elements are used together (Tüzel, 2013) . Multimodal texts involve the use of many components and sign sources in order to form a coherent message (Klein & Shinas, 2012) . Multimodal literacy is reflected in the processes of interpreting texts, producing materials, and communicating in both our daily lives and on social networks. The changes in the perception of literacy with developing technology have changed the structure of the process of interpretation of texts.

In this century, the sources of literacy applications should be humans and materials: literacy skills should be advanced and meaning should be derived from texts.

Within the scope of the 21 st century concept of literacy, written words, oral communication, and visuals cannot stand out from each other in communication; rather, it is important to make people literate in multimodal text structures in which all three elements are used together.

Multimodal texts involve the use of many components and sign sources in order to form a coherent message.


Multimodal literacy refers to meaning-making that occurs through the reading, watching, understanding, interpreting, reacting, and interacting with digital texts and multimedia (Walsh, 2010) . In this type of literacy, the text has to be interpreted separately in terms of sounds, writing, and visuals, and then has to be interpreted as a whole as a multimodal entity (Kress, 2003) . The nature of literacy involves the analysis, review, and production of words and images as a whole rather than the separate interpretation of the words and images (Bearne & Wolstencroft, 2007) . These elements (tables, words, and images) each have a distinct potential to form meaning, and making sense of them involves mobility among the elements in the chain of signs (McKee, 2013) . Multimodal literacy is a strong access point for children to make interpretations (Pahl & Rowsell, 2006) . The change in the structure of the interpretation process in this kind of media involves a change in the structure of the production process of multimodal products, too.

Multimodal literacy refers to meaning-making that occurs through the reading, watching, understanding, interpreting, reacting, and interacting with digital texts and multimedia.

In this type of literacy, the text has to be interpreted separately in terms of sounds, writing, and visuals, and then has to be interpreted as a whole as a multimodal entity.

The nature of literacy involves the analysis, review, and production of words and images as a whole rather than the separate interpretation of the words and images.

These elements (tables, words, and images) each have a distinct potential to form meaning, and making sense of them involves mobility among the elements in the chain of signs.

Multimodal literacy is a strong access point for children to make interpretations.


Multimodal literacy involves changing the mode of communication as a result of the social network (Rowsell & Walsh, 2011) . Today, changing the perception of texts requires showing a deeper interest in every kind of sound, visual, writing, or multimodal structure; all are employed in making meaningful communication (Kurudayıoğlu & Tüzel, 2010) . Multimodal literacy is interpreted as an extended form of social semiology dealing with how society interprets and manages signs and symbols (Jewitt & Kress, 2003 , cited in Tüzel, 2013 .

Multimodal literacy involves changing the mode of communication as a result of the social network.

Today, changing the perception of texts requires showing a deeper interest in every kind of sound, visual, writing, or multimodal structure; all are employed in making meaningful communication.


The process includes reading, comprehending, and analyzing the texts shared in electronic media and then producing new texts through writing (Hocks, 2003 , cited in Tüzel & Tok, 2013 . This process involves multimodaled possibilities such as order, colors, images, tables, words, and sounds in order for individuals to produce their outputs (Jewitt, 2006) . The interpretation of the experiences of users on social networks through sharing helps users form images and interpretations in multimodaled situations (Bowen & Whithous, 2013) .

This process involves multimodaled possibilities such as order, colors, images, tables, words, and sounds in order for individuals to produce their outputs.

The interpretation of the experiences of users on social networks through sharing helps users form images and interpretations in multimodaled situations.


Present study also showed that oral administration of SHS augmented NK cell activity in splenocyte of the lower respiratory tract infected mice and also non-infected mice ( Figure 9 ). In this respect, SHS might augment cellular immunity and protect influenza virus infection, because NK cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that play a crucial role in the early host defense against various virus infections [41, 42] . We could not measure NK cell activity in the lung of influenza virus-infected mice after SHS administration in present study, because it was hard to collect enough amounts of lymphocytes from lung of mouse for NK cell assay. Elucidation of effect of SHS on NK cell activity in the lung must await further study.

In this respect, SHS might augment cellular immunity and protect influenza virus infection, because NK cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that play a crucial role in the early host defense against various virus infections.


Rønquist also proposed a block-Jacobi/deflation based scheme applied to the consistent Poisson operator governing the pressure for the unsteady case [17, 39] . To our knowledge, this is the first application of additive Schwarz methods directly to the consistent Poisson operator which governs the pressure in the lP N − lP N −2 spectral element method. In several large production runs, we have found this new method to yield a five-fold reduction in Navier-Stokes solution times over the deflation based scheme used previously [17, 18, 39] .

Rønquist also proposed a block-Jacobi/deflation based scheme applied to the consistent Poisson operator governing the pressure for the unsteady case.

In several large production runs, we have found this new method to yield a five-fold reduction in Navier-Stokes solution times over the deflation based scheme used previously.


During mate choice, one of the sexes is predicted to be more permissive than the other, depending on the costs of erroneous responses for either sex. Here we define permissiveness as having a higher propensity to engage in recognition errors. In túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus) males show a higher degree of permissiveness to calls projected by males on a speaker than by females (Bernal et al., 2007) . However, the differences in permissiveness in this system are task-specific rather than only sex-specific. For example male calling is more permissive than female or male phonotaxis (Bernal et al., 2007) . In the túngara frog system, female and male permissiveness in approaching an incorrect signal (heterospecific mate or heterospecific chorus) is a costly behaviour. By responding to an incorrect signal, females could risk mating with heterospecific males, and waste a significant amount of their reproductive effort, and males could risk spending a significant amount of energy chorusing with heterospecific individuals to a heterospecific female audience. For a male, joining an incorrect chorus is a more costly mistake than responding to a neighbouring male (Bernal et al., 2009) .

In túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus) males show a higher degree of permissiveness to calls projected by males on a speaker than by females.

For example male calling is more permissive than female or male phonotaxis.

For a male, joining an incorrect chorus is a more costly mistake than responding to a neighbouring male.


Species recognition and mate quality recognition are the two main processes involved in mate choice (Ryan & Rand, 1993) . However, these processes may interfere with each other when signals produced by heterospecifics overlap with mate signals of high quality conspecifics (Pfennig, 1998) . Conflict between species recognition and mate quality recognition may result in mis-mating with heterospecifics, which in turn will lower the fitness of the individuals that engage in heterospecific mating. Recognition is operationally defined to occur when an individual shows a behavioural response to a stimulus. Preference (or discrimination) is said to occur when an individual responds more (or less) strongly to one stimulus over another (Ryan & Rand, 1993) . The key difference between the two behavioural responses is that preference and discrimination imply a comparison between stimuli, whereas recognition can occur even if only one stimulus is presented at one time (Ryan & Rand, 1993) .

Species recognition and mate quality recognition are the two main processes involved in mate choice.

However, these processes may interfere with each other when signals produced by heterospecifics overlap with mate signals of high quality conspecifics.

Preference (or discrimination) is said to occur when an individual responds more (or less) strongly to one stimulus over another.

The key difference between the two behavioural responses is that preference and discrimination imply a comparison between stimuli, whereas recognition can occur even if only one stimulus is presented at one time.


Ground surveys and key informant interviews were conducted during April and August 2015 and combined with earlier field work (Sulieman 2015) . The reconnaissance field surveys were conducted during April and August 2015 to gather field evidence on land grabbing including soil degradation and changes in plant species composition. During the field survey, ground-truthing data were collected using a handheld GPS device for the identification of LSMA. Panoramic photos (Figure 2 ) were taken to give an impression about some LSMA sites in Butana. To understand the social aspects of the expansion of the LSMA in Butana, interviews were held with eight key informants from local communities. Questions were centred around historical background of land grabbing, factors that led to the encroachment of large-scale agriculture, LSFs involved in the process, and spatial and temporal patterns of the phenomenon.

Ground surveys and key informant interviews were conducted during April and August 2015 and combined with earlier field work.


The time frame for this study is 2000 to 2014, the period when LSMA investments started and, thereafter, flourished in the region. Until 2000, there was no broad expansion of LSMA in Butana; therefore, imagery from this date has been used as a benchmark. A primary tool used to identify the LSMA sites on the satellite imagery was an on-screen digitizing technique based on the physiognomic attributes of objects and their spatial relationships or associations (Campbell 2006) . Examples of physiognomic attributes included shape, size, colour, texture, and pattern. Also, the digitizing experience benefited from spatial relationships or associations of different natural and artificial objects such as water sources and road networks. Prior to use of this technique, both unsupervised and supervised image classifications were tried. Both image classification techniques provided indistinct boundaries of LSMA sites and spectral confusion -common in areas of sparse vegetation cover due to high background reflection from the soil, as is the case in Butana -led to mislabeling of land classes. Although time-consuming, onscreen digitization proved to be adequate for image interpretation processes in many situations (Alkan et al. 2010; Laliberte et al. 2011; Al-Bilbisi 2012; Disperati et al. 2015) . The accuracy of the on-screen digitizing was checked using ground-truthing points collected with handheld GPS device collected during the ground survey.

A primary tool used to identify the LSMA sites on the satellite imagery was an on-screen digitizing technique based on the physiognomic attributes of objects and their spatial relationships or associations.

Although time-consuming, onscreen digitization proved to be adequate for image interpretation processes in many situations.


Using class-based weighted fair queuing as a packet scheduling algorithm instead of strict-priority queuing appears as a plausible solution for providing better QoS to low-priority packets under increased network load since one of the goals of this scheduling technique is to increase fairness, giving low-priority queues the opportunity to transmit packets even though the high-priority queues are not empty. Class-based weighted fair queuing overcomes some limitations of weighted round-robin, namely, the fact that it cannot guarantee fair link sharing and the need to know the mean packet size of each connection in advance [41] . Insofar, however, there are no studies to quantify (a) the gains obtained for low-priority packets (and conversely the losses incurred for high-priority packets) by employing the classbased weighted fair queuing packet scheduling algorithm and (b) the effect of the individual queue weight assignment to the overall performance of the multistage interconnection network and the QoS offered to packets of different priority classes.

Class-based weighted fair queuing overcomes some limitations of weighted round-robin, namely, the fact that it cannot guarantee fair link sharing and the need to know the mean packet size of each connection in advance.


The membrane was procured from a placenta and cut to fit the defect [7] . The portion of the placenta utilized was from the amniotic membrane, which was the outer layer of the placenta without the chorion layer. This layer has been shown to have pluripotent cells [8] [9] . Care was taken to place the epithelial layer away from the bone defect, as this layer did not have pluripotent cells. The membrane was folded so that the pluripotent mesenchymal cellular layer faced the defect and the joint [4] [8] . Between the layers a small amount of sterilized demineralized human bone was placed in a sandwich-like manner. The membranes were fixed to the defects on the femoral condyles using micro bone anchors and fibrin glue. The membrane was fixed to the trochlear defects using fibrin glue alone. The wounds were closed and the sheep were allowed to bear weight as tolerated without immobilization immediately after surgery.

The membrane was procured from a placenta and cut to fit the defect.

This layer has been shown to have pluripotent cells.

The membrane was folded so that the pluripotent mesenchymal cellular layer faced the defect and the joint.


Multiple studies exist expounding on the potential uses of human amniotic cells in various platforms for tissue repair [1] - [4] . It has been shown that amniotic cells are pluripotent in nature and can be influenced to produce various cell lines including chondrocytes [1] [5] . Furthermore, it has been shown that demineralized bone can influence pluripotent cells to produce chondrocyte and osteoblast type cells [6] . The potential for this knowledge to be used in cartilage defect repair has not been explored to the knowledge of the authors up to this point.

Multiple studies exist expounding on the potential uses of human amniotic cells in various platforms for tissue repair.

It has been shown that amniotic cells are pluripotent in nature and can be influenced to produce various cell lines including chondrocytes.

Furthermore, it has been shown that demineralized bone can influence pluripotent cells to produce chondrocyte and osteoblast type cells.


The repair of cartilage defects in humans can be a difficult endeavor, and multiples options exist for the surgeon to approach this topic. The surgeon may choose to influence the defect with microfracture or abrasion techniques to stimulate a fibrocartilage patch in which to fill the defect. Alternatively, there are also options available that allow for the filling of the defect with hyaline-like cartilage with chondrocytes in the stromal matrix of variable sources, both of autograft and allograft origin [1] . The goal with all of these procedures is to replace cartilage defects with hyaline-like cartilage or cartilage-like cells that are as close to normal hyaline cartilage as possible. It has been posited that the use of human amniotic membrane may be an ideal choice for cartilage restoration and repair as it is readily available, easy to place in a defect, and induces minimal morbidity to the patient [1] .

Alternatively, there are also options available that allow for the filling of the defect with hyaline-like cartilage with chondrocytes in the stromal matrix of variable sources, both of autograft and allograft origin.

It has been posited that the use of human amniotic membrane may be an ideal choice for cartilage restoration and repair as it is readily available, easy to place in a defect, and induces minimal morbidity to the patient.


The samples were stained with both hemotoxylin and eosin (H & E) and Trichrome staining. Each of the samples (normal, control, and treated) was evaluated using the O'Driscoll score, which is a straightforward, validated scoring system used in cartilage evaluation [10] [11] . This evaluation method rates the sample on two levels. First, the sample is rated 0 -3 on overall appearance (0 = no cartilage present, 3 = mostly normal appearing cartilage), which was referred to as "simple score" [12] . Second, each sample was given a percent (%) value of cartilage-like tissue; these values were referred to as "% score". All samples were evaluated by both of the senior authors relative to a normal sample of cartilage (Figure 1) . The authors were blinded to the results of the other observer.

Each of the samples (normal, control, and treated) was evaluated using the O'Driscoll score, which is a straightforward, validated scoring system used in cartilage evaluation.

First, the sample is rated 0 -3 on overall appearance (0 = no cartilage present, 3 = mostly normal appearing cartilage), which was referred to as "simple score".


Observing the histological stains of the trochlear samples, the senior authors observed a strong correlation on the simple and % scores of cartilage in the HAM/DMB grafts ( Figure 5) . Exhibited by the Mantel-Haenszel, correlation coefficient, Fischer exact test (on simple score), Wilcoxon rank sum (on % score), Spearman rank correlation, paired t-test, signed rank test, and kappa statistic, there is a strong indicator that HAM/DMB has the potential to be influenced to make chondrocytes. As both senior authors determined, with statistical inter-rater agreement, the grafts appeared to be specifically of the mixed hyaline type of cartilage, though further tests of specific staining to highlight the presence of hyaline cartilage may be required in future studies. These correlation statistics clearly indicate a similarity between chondrocytes of the samples and hyaline cartilage. This study promotes promising results: human amniotic membrane is a potential source of pluripotent cells that can be influenced to produce specifically hyaline-like cartilage in sheep models. The implications for application in a human model are promising, potentially providing an alternative to microfracture or abrasion techniques of varying efficacy. The expectations are realistic, as many studies have already shown the potential uses of human amniotic cells in various platforms of tissue repair [1] - [4] . Harnessing the pluripotency of human amniotic cells to produce a stroma rich in chondrocytes and much like normal hyaline cartilage is potentially the next step in providing surgeons with a greater number of options for the varying degrees of surgical intervention needed.

The expectations are realistic, as many studies have already shown the potential uses of human amniotic cells in various platforms of tissue repair.


Future modifications to this study would be to increase the sample size to incorporate greater statistical power with which to make deductions, especially if all femoral grafts dislodge again. Missing from this study was the utilization of immunostaining techniques to quantitate levels of collagen I and collagen II in the samples. In addition, in an effort to monitor the sheep models more effectively, magnetic resonance imaging is advised periodically before sacrificing the sheep. Incorporating these changes will lend greater clarity on the already promising concept of using DMB with HAM to incite hyaline cartilage restoration in sheep models and eventually human patients. Due to the current lack of literature on the subject, it is difficult to evaluate the consistency of the overall results against similar studies. However, the histology results are consistent with the current amniotic membrane literature showing promising results in tissue repair [1] - [4] .

However, the histology results are consistent with the current amniotic membrane literature showing promising results in tissue repair.


The objective of this study was to determine and compare the profile of the periodontitis patients consulted in the Periodontic Clinic at the UCAD in Dakar. As with most retrospective studies, the one conducted here is subject to many biases. The patients were probed by different undergraduate students and their instructors, all of whom bring their own biases to the clinic. Diagnoses may not have been accurately recorded. Thus, the results of this study cannot be generalized beyond this particular group of patients. Smoking (consumption, duration) and diabetes were insufficiently documented in the records of this study. The lack of a single medical record for each patient and computerization may have led to inadvertent duplication. The non-homogeneous quality of radiographs did not allow for correctly measuring the real value of the bone loss and radiographic data should thus be analyzed as an approximation or a trend. The causes of tooth loss were not determined because they were insufficiently documented in the clinical records. The absence of necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis is not surprising, as it is shown in the literature that periodontal necrotizing disease reaches mainly young children in Africa and those living in disadvantaged areas in regard to necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis [23] . The clinical feature of necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis occurs in most cases in young adults and the proportion of males and females suffering from the disease is the same. However, it seems that white people are significantly more likely to have this condition than blacks [24] . Necrotizing periodontal diseases occur with varying but low frequency (less than 1%) in North American and European children. It is seen with greater frequency (2 to 5%) in certain populations of children and adolescents from developing areas of Africa, Asia, and South America [25] [26] [27] .

The absence of necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis is not surprising, as it is shown in the literature that periodontal necrotizing disease reaches mainly young children in Africa and those living in disadvantaged areas in regard to necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

However, it seems that white people are significantly more likely to have this condition than blacks.

It is seen with greater frequency (2 to 5%) in certain populations of children and adolescents from developing areas of Africa, Asia, and South America.


Considering the increasing environmental concerns and stringent emission standards, there is an imperative to develop new strategies for emission reduction [12] . Non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology has shown notable potential for emission control in various applications [3, 13, 14] . Plasma is the fourth state of matter that can be considered as an ionised gas. In the plasma state, sufficient energy is provided to free electrons from atoms or molecules and to allow species, ions and electrons, to coexist. Based on the relative temperature of the gas, plasmas can be classified into thermal and non-thermal plasma (NTP) [15] . In non-thermal plasma, the kinetic energy (temperature) of charged particles and kinetic energy (temperature) of background gas are similar [16] . In the NTP application for exhaust emission reduction, the input electrical energy is transferred to the electrons which generates free radicals through collisions of electrons and promotes the desired chemical changes in the exhaust gas. While the applied electric energy in NTP reactors will be consumed for the purpose of breaking the bonds in the parent molecules, there is no sensible heating of the gas, and discharged energy is not lost either in heating up the gas or to the surroundings [17] .

Considering the increasing environmental concerns and stringent emission standards, there is an imperative to develop new strategies for emission reduction.

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology has shown notable potential for emission control in various applications.

Based on the relative temperature of the gas, plasmas can be classified into thermal and non-thermal plasma (NTP).

In non-thermal plasma, the kinetic energy (temperature) of charged particles and kinetic energy (temperature) of background gas are similar.

While the applied electric energy in NTP reactors will be consumed for the purpose of breaking the bonds in the parent molecules, there is no sensible heating of the gas, and discharged energy is not lost either in heating up the gas or to the surroundings.


Instead, plasma was introduced into the air and the NTP-treated air was injected into the exhaust gas, which causes the NO oxidation to NO 2 . This induced NO 2 with other produced activated oxygen species by plasma oxidise deposited carbon soot on the DPF surface effectively. Furthermore, the simultaneous PM, HC and NO x removal efficiency of about 80%, 70% and 65%was reported in literature from the exhaust gas [21] .

Furthermore, the simultaneous PM, HC and NO x removal efficiency of about 80%, 70% and 65%was reported in literature from the exhaust gas.


It was well known that there are many important applications of SDMs in analog-to-digital conversions because only simple, robust and inexpensive components can achieve the objectives [1] [2] [3] . However, since SDMs consist of discontinuous nonlinear elements, which are quantizers, behaviors of SDMs could be very complex even though SDMs are as simple as second-order systems [4, 5] . One of the most common complex behaviors is the exhibition of irregular chaotic patterns on the phase portraits [4] . However, since both second-order double-loop SDMs and second-order interpolative bandpass SDMs would exhibit irregular chaotic patterns on the phase portraits, it is not easy to distinguish these two types of SDMs from their state vectors without solving the state equations and knowing the information of input signals. This problem is important because SDMs are sometimes disturbed by a mechanical shaking or an electric shocking. In these situations, filter parameters in SDMs may be corrupted. In order to reconstruct signals, it is required to estimate the corresponding filter parameters. Although there are infinite numers of choices of filter parameters, the most common one is either from second-order double-loop SDMs or second-order interpolative bandpass SDMs. By distinguishing these two types of SDMs, signals can be reconstructed.

It was well known that there are many important applications of SDMs in analog-to-digital conversions because only simple, robust and inexpensive components can achieve the objectives.

However, since SDMs consist of discontinuous nonlinear elements, which are quantizers, behaviors of SDMs could be very complex even though SDMs are as simple as second-order systems.

One of the most common complex behaviors is the exhibition of irregular chaotic patterns on the phase portraits.


In a continuous, single-phase flow, the reagents are mixed in micro-channels under diffusion-based laminar flow reaction conditions. In microfluidic devices, fluids normally flow through channels without turbulence and, as a result, layers of fluids containing different reagents are able to flow along together and mix only by diffusion. The mixing resulting from the laminar flow is around 100 times faster when a system is 10-fold smaller [5] . Based on the flow types in microfluidic devices, two kinds of microreactors have been developed and used to carry out the synthesis of nanoparticles: continuous and micro droplets/segmented flow reactors. Continuous microreactors are preferred as, they are more productive and the scale-up is easier compared to droplet reactors [6, 7] . Scale-up can be realized, either by increasing the throughput or running the reactor longer as shown in Figure 2 .

The mixing resulting from the laminar flow is around 100 times faster when a system is 10-fold smaller.

Continuous microreactors are preferred as, they are more productive and the scale-up is easier compared to droplet reactors.


Both, capillary tubes and coaxial flow microreactors made of glass or polymers have been successfully used for the synthesis of particles of a wide range of compositions and structures and an extensive range of parameters have been explored. However, problems such as adhesion to the walls and blockage of the channel are difficult to avoid because, at this small scale, the interactions with the surface are much more important than the particle motion [8] . In order to enhance mixing in continuous flow micro-reactors, channels of different shapes (Y and T) are used and, sometimes, a micro-mixer is integrated in the system as well. Micro-mixers can reduce the mixing time to milli-or even, nanoseconds [9] . However, due to non-uniform velocity profiles, there is a broad residence time distribution, leading to an equally broad particle size distribution. Mixing can be improved by introducing obstacles within the channels or grooves on the channel surfaces [10] . Instead of the continuous flow micro-reactors, in recent studies, segmented flow micro-reactors, that is, discrete droplets in a flowing immiscible carrier liquid are used as promising reaction vessels. Droplets are produced spontaneously, by injecting laminar streams of aqueous reagents into an immiscible carrier fluid, e.g., oil. Each liquid drop contains the reactants, while the carrier fluid serves only to segment the flow and induce mixing. The droplets are separated from each other and from the wall of the channel. Each droplet serves as a miniaturized reactor, enabling nanomaterial synthesis. The velocity of all the droplets along the channel is the same, thus eliminating velocity dispersion. The mixing is efficient and rapid and reagents can be transported by using chaotic mixing within droplets, by folding, stretching, and reorienting the fluid and also by using suitable channel geometries. Nanoparticles are encapsulated in the droplets and thus cannot adsorb and aggregate on the walls. Microfluidic synthesis compartmentalized within the droplets has been successfully used for the synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals and, in a limited extent, for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles of tailored shapes.

However, problems such as adhesion to the walls and blockage of the channel are difficult to avoid because, at this small scale, the interactions with the surface are much more important than the particle motion.

Micro-mixers can reduce the mixing time to milli-or even, nanoseconds.

Mixing can be improved by introducing obstacles within the channels or grooves on the channel surfaces.


The capillary destabilization of the rim induces liquid mass concentrations and depletions along the curved rim. The massive regions are preferentially centrifuged while keeping their axial velocity. Because the axial velocity has a positive gradient along the rim, the volume of these massive regions elongates and stretches in the form of ligaments, with their foot attached to the rim until they destabilize by capillarity. The transient development of the capillary instability at the early stages of a ligament elongation sets the corrugations of its section at the moment it detaches. These corrugations are more pronounced when the stretching is weak, hence giving a broader drop-size distribution. If the stretch is strong, the ligament is smoother, giving a narrower distribution. The size distributions pertain to the gamma family and are parameterized by the single quantity γ , the rate of stretch in the rim normalized by a capillary time scale, and depends both on the Weber number, and the collision angle ( § 6). These heuristic findings have a natural extension in the context of liquid propulsion in closed combustion chambers where impacting jets are frequently used (Yang & Anderson 1995) . Figure 28 illustrates such a real-world set-up.

These heuristic findings have a natural extension in the context of liquid propulsion in closed combustion chambers where impacting jets are frequently used.


The A, B and C scaling tests were carried out for seven traits indicated the presence of non-allelic interactions in almost all cases. The A and B scaling tests provided the evidence for the presence of additive x additive (i), additive x dominance (j) and dominance x dominance (l) type gene interactions. The C scaling test provided a test for type l epistasis. The type of epistasis was determined only when dominance (h) and dominance x dominance (l) effects were significant, when these effects had the same sign the effects were complementary while different signs indicated duplicate epistasis (Kearsey and Pooni, 1996) .

The type of epistasis was determined only when dominance (h) and dominance x dominance (l) effects were significant, when these effects had the same sign the effects were complementary while different signs indicated duplicate epistasis.


A relativistic description of classical gravity whether it is standard (metric) formulation or Palatini formulation is essentially based on the physical concept of general invariance principle. It is also known that the general theory of relativity is invariant under local Poincare transformation. Thus one argues that localization of Poincare symmetry leads to the principle of equivalence which is the central concept of all gravitational theories. In this approach each space time point is associated with a set of local inertial coordinates, mutually related by Lorentz transformation, which enables one to formulate the Poincare gauge theory of gravity [6, 7] .

In this approach each space time point is associated with a set of local inertial coordinates, mutually related by Lorentz transformation, which enables one to formulate the Poincare gauge theory of gravity.


It is well known that the solutions of equation (E λ ) are the critical points of the energy functional J λ in H 1 R N + (see Rabinowitz [36] ). This paper is organized as follows. In section 2, we give some notations and preliminaries. In section 3, we establish the existence of a positive solution for λ = 0. In section 4, we establish the existence of a positive solution for λ > 0. In sections 5, 6, we prove Theorem 1.1.

It is well known that the solutions of equation (E λ ) are the critical points of the energy functional J λ in H 1 R N + (see Rabinowitz).

This paper is organized as follows.

In sections 5, 6, we prove Theorem 1.1.


The multi-field analysis was restricted to flat field-space manifolds because most singlefield results could be generalized straightforwardly. A general field-metric induces further couplings between the fields resulting into more complex dynamics. The analysis for curvedfield spaces will be presented separately in a forthcoming publication [66] .

The analysis for curvedfield spaces will be presented separately in a forthcoming publication.


Whereas acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has been treated by clinicians at least since the age of antiquity, descriptions of the condition have undergone several paradigm shifts as understanding of disease pathophysiology evolved [1] . Today, ADHF is viewed as a complex heterogeneous clinical syndrome, with classifications that rely heavily on non-specific descriptors such as left ventricular ejection fraction cut-points (HF with preserved vs. reduced ejection fraction) and hemodynamic profiles that are based on bedside assessments of cardiac output ("cold" vs. "warm") and filling pressures ("wet" vs. "dry") [2] . This construct theoretically allows for treatment decisions to be linked to patient categorization; nevertheless, there is increasing recognition that such subjective classifications are discordant with our current understanding of HF and fail to provide adequate phenotyping of this complex syndrome [3, 4] . Inadequate phenotyping of disease is also suggested as a major reason for a dismal record of drug development for ADHF [5] .

Whereas acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has been treated by clinicians at least since the age of antiquity, descriptions of the condition have undergone several paradigm shifts as understanding of disease pathophysiology evolved.

Today, ADHF is viewed as a complex heterogeneous clinical syndrome, with classifications that rely heavily on non-specific descriptors such as left ventricular ejection fraction cut-points (HF with preserved vs. reduced ejection fraction) and hemodynamic profiles that are based on bedside assessments of cardiac output ("cold" vs. "warm") and filling pressures ("wet" vs. "dry").

This construct theoretically allows for treatment decisions to be linked to patient categorization; nevertheless, there is increasing recognition that such subjective classifications are discordant with our current understanding of HF and fail to provide adequate phenotyping of this complex syndrome.

Inadequate phenotyping of disease is also suggested as a major reason for a dismal record of drug development for ADHF.


Our findings also highlight the extreme heterogeneity that exists within advanced systolic HF, raising the question as to whether the efficacy of a single therapeutic approach can be tested appropriately in a population with such disparate characteristics and outcomes. For example, based on the results of the ESCAPE trial, the authors surmised that "addition of the PAC to careful clinical assessment increased anticipated adverse events, but did not affect overall mortality and hospitalization" [9] . We would argue that a more homogenous population of patients would be required to definitively test this hypothesis; for example, the competing risks of concomitant renal failure and comorbid conditions in Cluster 4 might make the achievement of optimal hemodynamics less important than in Cluster 3, where adverse hemodynamics and hypertension appeared to play a more central role in the clinical picture. Physicians involved in this study appeared to have acted along this preconceived notion by not enrolling patients with more advanced disease and concomitant renal failure into the trial [26] . As a result, it is possible that the optimal population, in whom PAC-guided therapy might be efficacious, still remains unknown.

For example, based on the results of the ESCAPE trial, the authors surmised that "addition of the PAC to careful clinical assessment increased anticipated adverse events, but did not affect overall mortality and hospitalization".

Physicians involved in this study appeared to have acted along this preconceived notion by not enrolling patients with more advanced disease and concomitant renal failure into the trial.


For situation (i) described above, one should use the readily economically interpretable cost or scoring function. Therefore, the only concern is situation (ii). In this paper, we consider predictions in a one-period setting, thus, dropping the index t. This is justified by our objectives to understand the properties of scoring functions S which do not change over time and is common in the literature (Murphy and Daan, 1985; Diebold and Mariano, 1995; Lambert et al., 2008; Gneiting, 2011) .

In this paper, we consider predictions in a one-period setting, thus, dropping the index t. This is justified by our objectives to understand the properties of scoring functions S which do not change over time and is common in the literature.


The result of the scaled χ 2 difference test shows that Model 1 is not significantly different from Model 2. However, if deriving a parsimonious model is a goal, then Model 2 seems to be a better choice, as its AIC (Akaike Information Criterion) is smaller [40] . Note that a model with more d.f.'s (degrees of freedom) generally offers more dimensions to disconfirm it [33] . Model 1 appears to be the preferred model. This aspect may be examined in further research.

However, if deriving a parsimonious model is a goal, then Model 2 seems to be a better choice, as its AIC (Akaike Information Criterion) is smaller.

Note that a model with more d.f.'s (degrees of freedom) generally offers more dimensions to disconfirm it.


Medicine has been a science-using and compassionate practice [4, [48] [49] [50] . Literally, physician performance may only be reliably evaluated from a sociotechnical perspective. This paper applies this principle to model a specific medical decision problem -HIT use. It proposes introducing a scale of perceptions about the impacts of HIT on care benefits into a model of judicious HIT use [7] . The statistical results suggest that professional concerns and perceptions influence intent to use HIT directly or indirectly to different extents. This implies that quantity of HIT use is not a comprehensive measure of HIT use.

Medicine has been a science-using and compassionate practice.

It proposes introducing a scale of perceptions about the impacts of HIT on care benefits into a model of judicious HIT use.


The research on alternative fuels is currently gaining worldwide attention due to the increasing energy demands and depleting fossil reserves. Moreover, the increasing global warming and other environmental hazards have forced almost all countries to reduce theie dependence on fossil fuels (Ramaraju and Kumar, 2011) . Biodiesel (Greek, bio, life + diesel from Rudolf Diesel) is currently the most common alternative fuel being developed and used as a replacement for petroleum-based diesel. It can be defined as a mixture of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids (FA) derived from renewable lipids such as vegetable oils and animal fats when reacted with an alcohol (methanol or ethanol) in presence or absence of a catalyst (Demirbas, 2009; Atabani et al., 2012; Kafuku and Mbarawa, 2013) . Biodiesel is biodegradable, non-toxic, renewable, and has low emissions of CO, SO2, particulates and hydrocarbons (HC) as compared to conventional diesel (Kafuku and Mbarawa, 2013) . The use of vegetable oils (edible and nonedible) plays an important role in biodiesel production. However, availability of these raw materials varies. This necessitates the search for new low-cost agricultural crops (Ibeto et al., 2012; Atabani et al., 2013c) . Globally, there are more than 350 oil-bearing crops identified for biodiesel production (Atabani et al., 2012) .

Moreover, the increasing global warming and other environmental hazards have forced almost all countries to reduce theie dependence on fossil fuels.

It can be defined as a mixture of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids (FA) derived from renewable lipids such as vegetable oils and animal fats when reacted with an alcohol (methanol or ethanol) in presence or absence of a catalyst.

Biodiesel is biodegradable, non-toxic, renewable, and has low emissions of CO, SO2, particulates and hydrocarbons (HC) as compared to conventional diesel.

This necessitates the search for new low-cost agricultural crops.

Globally, there are more than 350 oil-bearing crops identified for biodiesel production.


As third method the DAGMC approach for the direct use of CAD geometry in the MC transport simulation was applied. DAGMC adaptations to different MC radiation transport codes are available. For this work, the DAGMC patch for MCNP was applied. DAGMC converts the CAD geometry into facetted solids for the tracking of particles. The tracking algorithm implemented in DAGMC is based on the established raytracing technique. With this technique it is possible to perform simple calculations to determine the next surface boundary, depending on the particle position and its movement trajectory [6] .

With this technique it is possible to perform simple calculations to determine the next surface boundary, depending on the particle position and its movement trajectory.


The Helical-Axis Advanced Stellarator (HELIAS) is a conceptual design of a fusion power reactor proposed by the Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Greifswald, Germany. HELIAS-5B is a specific 5-field-period concept using the Deuterium-Tritium fusion reaction with a fusion power of 3000 MW [1] . A thorough neutronic design analysis has to be performed for this stellarator in order to provide the input required for the reactor design.

HELIAS-5B is a specific 5-field-period concept using the Deuterium-Tritium fusion reaction with a fusion power of 3000 MW.


In the present work, we provide a detailed height-dependent statistical analysis of the temperature, its fluctuations and spatial derivatives. Odd-order moments of spatial derivatives along an imposed outer mean scalar gradient have been used successfully to quantify deviations from local isotropy in shear flows or for the mixing of scalars in turbulence (Warhaft 2002; Pumir 1996; Schumacher & Sreenivasan 2003) . We adopt these ideas for the present active scalar case and discuss the dependence of these anisotropy measures on Ra and in different regions of the convection cell. Finally, we study the statistics of the thermal dissipation rate in the bulk and close to the bottom and top plates of the cell. The results are then related to findings from the passive scalar dissipation field. Our study is intended to build a bridge between the mixing of passive and active scalar fields by comparing the statistical properties for both cases. The outline of this paper is as follows. In the next section, we present the equations of motion and details of the numerical model. The third section discusses the statistics of the total temperature, temperature fluctuations and their gradients. The fourth chapter is on the statistics and Rayleigh number dependence of the thermal dissipation field. Concluding remarks are given at the end.

Odd-order moments of spatial derivatives along an imposed outer mean scalar gradient have been used successfully to quantify deviations from local isotropy in shear flows or for the mixing of scalars in turbulence.


When a Distributed Generator (DG) is injecting power to the grid, one feature that should be taken into account is the islanding condition. The condition of "Islanding" in DGs is an electrical phenomenon that occurs when the energy supplied by the power grid is interrupted due to various factors and the DGs continue energizing some or the entire load. Thus, the power grid stops controlling this isolated part of the distribution system, which contains both loads and generation. Therefore, islanding operation of grid connected inverters may compromise security, restoration of service and the reliability of the equipment [7] .

Therefore, islanding operation of grid connected inverters may compromise security, restoration of service and the reliability of the equipment.


In recent years, a major global priority is the development of renewable energy. These energy sources produce lower pollution in terms of CO2 emissions than conventional fossil fuels. From this point of view the distributed generation concept takes importance and it represents a paradigm shift from centralized power generation [1] [2] .

From this point of view the distributed generation concept takes importance and it represents a paradigm shift from centralized power generation.


More than one in every eight children born in WA in 1990-91 were reported and one in twelve investigated before reaching the age of eighteen. This is despite WA having the lowest annual rate of reports per thousand children in Australia due to its history of diverting children from the child protection system. This high level of monitoring of family life is lower than the 22.5% of all children reported in South Australia (Delfabbro et al., 2010) .

This high level of monitoring of family life is lower than the 22.5% of all children reported in South Australia.


There were respondents who expressed that there are things or ambitions in their lives which they have not achieved, and they have felt depressions, loneliness and regrets for the failures in their lives. The failures and regrets of the respondents about their past lives have contributed to their low levels of life satisfaction. These experiences would relate to the congruence between the desired and achieved goals and the mood tone factors of life satisfaction. These two factors are among the indicators of life satisfaction where the respondents have lower mean scores. The relative difference between the desired and the achieved goals of the older people caused the dissatisfaction (Neugarten, Havighurst, & Tobin, 1961) . Mood tone relates to the optimism and happiness of the older people (Neugarten, Havighurst, & Tobin, 1961) . The depressions and loneliness that the respondents in this study have experienced are feelings that result to their low satisfaction with life.

The relative difference between the desired and the achieved goals of the older people caused the dissatisfaction.

Mood tone relates to the optimism and happiness of the older people.


In this paper, we propose a new method for tackling the problem of answer fusion in multilingual QA. The proposed method is founded on a graph-based ranking approach inspired in the popular Google's PageRank algorithm [3] . Similar to previous related approaches, this method also centers on the idea of taking advantage of the redundancy of several answer lists. However, it models the fusion problem as a kind of recommendation task, where an answer is recommended or "voted" by similar answers occurring in different lists. In this model, the answer receiving the greatest number of votes is the one having the greatest relevance, and therefore, it is the one selected as the final answer.

The proposed method is founded on a graph-based ranking approach inspired in the popular Google's PageRank algorithm.


Additionally, in the first-in-patient study in patients with hematologic malignancies, signs of clinical activity were noted over a wide range of dose levels tested [5] . The clinical efficacy of the clinical dose of 100 mg QD was further established in a randomized Phase II study in patients with AML or high-risk MDS dosed with glasdegib without regard to food and use of pH altering agents that demonstrated survival benefit when in combination with chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone [16] . Therefore, food appeared to have a minimal effect on glasdegib exposure (16% reduction in AUC inf ) following a single oral dose, and its impact on the PK of glasdegib was not considered clinically meaningful.

Additionally, in the first-in-patient study in patients with hematologic malignancies, signs of clinical activity were noted over a wide range of dose levels tested.

The clinical efficacy of the clinical dose of 100 mg QD was further established in a randomized Phase II study in patients with AML or high-risk MDS dosed with glasdegib without regard to food and use of pH altering agents that demonstrated survival benefit when in combination with chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone.


Despite the Dat protocol's peer-to-peer nature, intellectual property laws still ascribe copyrights upon creation and do not allow copying of content except when explicitly permitted through non-restrictive licenses by the authors [42] . As such, intellectual property laws could be used to hamper widespread copying when licensing is neglected by authors. Legal uncertainty here might give rise to a chilling effect to use the Dat protocol to share scholarly information. Moreover, it seems virtually impossible to issue takedown notices for (retroactively-deemed) illicit content on the Dat protocol without removing all peer copies on the network. As a result of this, social perception of the Dat protocol might turn negative if high-profile cases of illicit or illegal sharing occur (regardless of whether that is scholarly information or something else). However, just as the web requires local copies in cache to function and which lawmakers made legal relatively quickly when the web was becoming widespread, the wider implementation of peer-to-peer protocols to share content might also require reforms to allow for more permissive copying of original content shared on the network. Regardless, legal issues need to be thought about beforehand, and users should be made aware that they carry responsibility for their shared content. Given its inherent open and unrestricted sharing design, it would make sense to use non-restrictive licenses on the scholarly modules by default to prevent these legal issues for researchers wanting to reuse and build on scholarly modules.

Despite the Dat protocol's peer-to-peer nature, intellectual property laws still ascribe copyrights upon creation and do not allow copying of content except when explicitly permitted through non-restrictive licenses by the authors.


The effect of vitamin D 3 supplementation on CRP levels, the most commonly reported marker of inflammation, was mixed. Survey results from a nationally representative sample, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), reported that vitamin D levels less than 21 ng/ml (< 52.42 nmol/L) had an inverse association with CRP levels among healthy adults in the United States; whereas, CRP levels greater or equal to 21 ng/ml had a positive association [62] . This cross-sectional finding aligns with the CRP results found in this systematic review. Furthermore, few trials measured changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. Vitamin D supplementation was shown to lower TNF-α levels in all trials from baseline albeit, the reduction was not always significant and the mean difference was never significant when compared to placebo. Similar inconsistencies have also been noted in other studies assessing the role of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D on inflammatory cytokines [23, 24, 63] .

Survey results from a nationally representative sample, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), reported that vitamin D levels less than 21 ng/ml (< 52.42 nmol/L) had an inverse association with CRP levels among healthy adults in the United States; whereas, CRP levels greater or equal to 21 ng/ml had a positive association.

Similar inconsistencies have also been noted in other studies assessing the role of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D on inflammatory cytokines.


These results obtained by Holtsmark and Chandrasekhar are purely static and limited to homogeneous systems. Some extensions to inhomogeneous systems have been derived [19, 8] . In these cases the average total field is the so-called Vlasov mean-field and the probability distribution of the total field at a given particle describes the fluctuations around the meanfield.

Some extensions to inhomogeneous systems have been derived.


It is well-known that the action of the mean-field on the time evolution of the one-particle phase-space distribution results in the Vlasov kinetic equation. However, the fluctuations of the total field around the mean-field should also have consequences on that evolution. This is the main object of this article. These fluctuations can be expected to have an effect on the dynamics of the system, at least, in a time regime in which binary collisions still play a negligible role in its evolution. More generally, processes involving Lévy distributions are well known to be connected with the presence of anomalous diffusion and, fractional kinetics [25, 24, 18] . However, up to our knowledge, the effect on the dynamics of the Chandrasekhar-Holstmark distribution has not been included in the kinetic description of these systems.

More generally, processes involving Lévy distributions are well known to be connected with the presence of anomalous diffusion and, fractional kinetics.


The combined use of formula (1) for the one-particle phase-space probability density, the integral form of the equations of motion (3) and the Fourier representation of the Dirac delta led us to expression (4) . This equation is the starting point of our approach. It can be made explicit by inserting in it different approximations of the solution of the equations of motion.

The combined use of formula (1) for the one-particle phase-space probability density, the integral form of the equations of motion (3) and the Fourier representation of the Dirac delta led us to expression.


With the raising demand of high-efficiency and environmental-friendly electric power supply, micro-grids have been widely applied as a new kind of distribution network structure, which significantly facilitates access for renewable distributed generation (DG) such as photo-voltaic plants and wind turbines [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] . Among various connecting methods, the single-phase grid-connected inverter is one of the commonly used interfaces for DGs [8, 9] . Due to the continuously-changing power output of the renewable resources, a better control performance is expected for the single-phase grid-connected inverter [10, 11] . In particular, the single-phase grid-connected inverter should achieve independent active/reactive power control, and has the rapid dynamic performance to track the changing output power of the renewable sources.

With the raising demand of high-efficiency and environmental-friendly electric power supply, micro-grids have been widely applied as a new kind of distribution network structure, which significantly facilitates access for renewable distributed generation (DG) such as photo-voltaic plants and wind turbines.

Among various connecting methods, the single-phase grid-connected inverter is one of the commonly used interfaces for DGs.

Due to the continuously-changing power output of the renewable resources, a better control performance is expected for the single-phase grid-connected inverter.


Hereditary renal cell cancer comprises an estimated 3-5% of RCCs, and to date, 10 HRC syndromes have been described [11] . Clear cell RCC is the most common type, accounting for 70-80% of all RCCs, and VHL inactivation is very common in both sporadic clear cell RCC and the hereditary cancer syndrome known as von Hippel-Lindau disease [12] . Papillary RCC accounts for 10-15% of all RCCs. Papillary RCCs are divided into type 1 and type 2, with the object of histopathological findings. The MET gene mutation occurs in both hereditary and sporadic papillary type 1 RCCs, whereas the FH gene mutation is detected only in hereditary papillary type 2 RCC as a germline mutation [8] .

Hereditary renal cell cancer comprises an estimated 3-5% of RCCs, and to date, 10 HRC syndromes have been described.

Clear cell RCC is the most common type, accounting for 70-80% of all RCCs, and VHL inactivation is very common in both sporadic clear cell RCC and the hereditary cancer syndrome known as von Hippel-Lindau disease.

The MET gene mutation occurs in both hereditary and sporadic papillary type 1 RCCs, whereas the FH gene mutation is detected only in hereditary papillary type 2 RCC as a germline mutation.


Now, a necessary condition to solve the previous equation is that the second term B must have the same structure of the first term Q 1 , this is what we call structural consistency. Translated in the language of Parisi matrices, it means that if the function q 1 (x) has a plateau for x greater that some x 1max the function b(x) must have a plateau for x greater than the same x 1max . For the standard Parisi solution it is easily seen that this is true because B is a function only of Q 1 , but in our case B depends also on Q 2 and P . If the functions q 1 (x),q 2 (x) and p(x) have different structures, i.e. they display plateaus of unequal lenght located at different positions, as in our case, it is not trivial that b(Q 1 , Q 2 , P )(x) has the same structure of q 1 (x). We will see that in general this is not true, however we will prove that when the three functions q 1 (x),q 2 (x) and p(x) has the structure we propose for them the function b(x) has the same structure of q 1 (x), i.e. our solutions fullfill the necessarity condition to solve the previous SP equation. This result is very general, it prevents the solutions we propose to break down due to structural inconsistencies. However it only states that B ab (Q 1 , Q 2 , P ) has the same structure of Q 1 , but doesn't say if it's really possible to tune the three functions q 1 (x),q 2 (x) and p(x) in such a way that B ab (Q 1 , Q 2 , P ) is exactly equal to τ 1 Q 1ab in order to solve the SP equation (1) . The arguments provided in section 4 and 5 are two necessary conditions for the existence of non-chaotic solutions; they are completely independent since the first is quantitative while the second is qualitative, however none of them is sufficient to prove that the solutions actually exist at all orders.

However it only states that B ab (Q 1 , Q 2 , P ) has the same structure of Q 1 , but doesn't say if it's really possible to tune the three functions q 1 (x),q 2 (x) and p(x) in such a way that B ab (Q 1 , Q 2 , P ) is exactly equal to τ 1 Q 1ab in order to solve the SP equation.


In this paper we shall address by analytical means the problem of the correlations between the equilibrium states at different temperatures of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin-glass model. At any temperature below the critical one there are infinitely many pure states defined by the local values of the magnetization. The correlation between two states are measured by the overlap q αβ = i m α i m β 1 wich according to the Parisi solution can take values between zero and some q EA which is the self-overlap of the states [1] .

The correlation between two states are measured by the overlap q αβ = i m α i m β 1 wich according to the Parisi solution can take values between zero and some q EA which is the self-overlap of the states.


Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) is one of the important parameter for the study of characteristic of atmospheric aerosol and it is related to the direct solar radiation by scattering and absorption process (Ranjan et al., 2007) . Hence it is highly dependent on meterological condition and altitude. Apart from this, there are two other important parameters Angostrom exponent (α) and Turbidity cofficient (β) which define the optical properties of aerosol. There are several studies in which both α and β are analysed in different spectral bands (Kaskaoutis et al., 2009) . The transportation of atmospheric aerosols over a wide range in horizental and vertical direction depends on air mass trajectories (Badarinath et al., , 2008 Kuniyal et al., 2009) .

Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) is one of the important parameter for the study of characteristic of atmospheric aerosol and it is related to the direct solar radiation by scattering and absorption process.

There are several studies in which both α and β are analysed in different spectral bands.

The transportation of atmospheric aerosols over a wide range in horizental and vertical direction depends on air mass trajectories.


The incidence rate of metabolic syndrome in this sample of Midwest adults was slightly greater than that observed in other populations (Santos et al., 2010; Hadaegh et al., 2013) . Over the relatively short 2-year timeframe, the development of metabolic syndrome was more common in those whose lifestyle habits worsened. Interestingly, maintaining a high HOLS over two years, as compared to improving HOLS over that same timeframe, was most helpful in terms of avoiding metabolic syndrome. Also, baseline CVD or diabetes was fairly strong predictors of incident metabolic syndrome at follow-up.

The incidence rate of metabolic syndrome in this sample of Midwest adults was slightly greater than that observed in other populations.


The diet of free-living bullfrogs is based on invertebrates and small vertebrates (Hirai, 2004; Silva et al., 2009; Leivas et al., 2012) . By contrast, captivity-reared bullfrogs consume balanced diets containing ingredients of animal and plant origins (Olvera-Novoa et al., 2007; Rodrigues et al., 2007; Castro et al., 2008) . Of the commercial diets, those that provide the best performance have a crude protein content higher than 40% (Casali et al., 2005; Fenerick Jr. and Stéfani, 2005) . However, the use of these commercial diets has caused some alterations in organs like the liver, which may compromise the animal performance (Seixas Filho et al., 2009; Seixas Filho et al., 2013) .

The diet of free-living bullfrogs is based on invertebrates and small vertebrates.

By contrast, captivity-reared bullfrogs consume balanced diets containing ingredients of animal and plant origins.

Of the commercial diets, those that provide the best performance have a crude protein content higher than 40%.

However, the use of these commercial diets has caused some alterations in organs like the liver, which may compromise the animal performance.


Histologically, MEC of the tracheobronchial tree consists of variable proportions of mucus secreting cells, squamous cells, and so-called intermediate cells that show no particular differentiating characteristics [2] . The tumor is histopathologically classified as a low-or highgrade malignancy. Mitoses, nuclear pleomorphism, and necrosis are usually absent or minimal (less than five mitoses per 50 high-power fields) in low-grade MEC [2] . In high-grade tumors mitoses are increased, averaging four per 10 high-power fields, and nuclear pleomorphism, hyperchromasia, and cellular necrosis are present.

Histologically, MEC of the tracheobronchial tree consists of variable proportions of mucus secreting cells, squamous cells, and so-called intermediate cells that show no particular differentiating characteristics.

Mitoses, nuclear pleomorphism, and necrosis are usually absent or minimal (less than five mitoses per 50 high-power fields) in low-grade MEC.


In actual clinical diagnosis, a single modal of image usually unable to provide enough information to doctors. So we need to have the step of different modal image fusion, thus providing more information to doctor, and then they can understand the comprehensive information from pathological tissue or organs, make better medical diagnosis. Moreover, image registration is a premise key in image fusion, so the multimodal medical image registration becomes a research hotspot in the field of medical image processing. Medical image registration is the ascertaining process of spatial mapping between two images that differs in image acquisition time, image properties, or viewpoint and subsequently producing a result image that is informative. At present, medical image registration methods can be classified as feature-based and intensity-based [1] . In intensity-based registration, mutual information (MI) is one of the intensity based measure, and does not require the definition of landmarks or features such as surfaces [2] . It is an automatic method and it applies to a variety of modal image registration [3] .

At present, medical image registration methods can be classified as feature-based and intensity-based.

In intensity-based registration, mutual information (MI) is one of the intensity based measure, and does not require the definition of landmarks or features such as surfaces.

It is an automatic method and it applies to a variety of modal image registration.


During investigation of acoustic dissipation, a frequency shift was observed during 1T-mode excitation, which manifested as an asymmetric amplitude response to a linear ramp of excitation frequency [11] . Examples of such asymmetric responses will be presented later in this paper (for example, in Fig. 4 ). In this work, the physical process leading to the frequency shift is investigated and Figure 1 Frequency of 1T eigenmode with on and o¨resonance excitation a hypothesis is formed. Based on the hypothesis, a 1D model was developed to demonstrate the phenomena and to investigate the mechanism.

During investigation of acoustic dissipation, a frequency shift was observed during 1T-mode excitation, which manifested as an asymmetric amplitude response to a linear ramp of excitation frequency.


High-frequency (HF) combustion instabilities are an ongoing challenge to rocket development programs. Signi¦cant progress in understanding has been made since combustion instabilities were ¦rst identi¦ed in the 1940s. However, due to the complicated processes present during rocket combustion, further research of the physical process that leads to combustion instabilities as well as development of tools to predict and limit the risk of combustion instabilities are still required [1] .

However, due to the complicated processes present during rocket combustion, further research of the physical process that leads to combustion instabilities as well as development of tools to predict and limit the risk of combustion instabilities are still required.


Understanding and prediction of eigenmode frequency shift under representative conditions are important for limiting the risk of combustion instabilities. The frequency shift observed in test data is well explained by a change in speed-of-sound distribution due to contraction of the §ame. Contraction of the §ame due to improved breakup and mixing processes through exposure to transverse acoustic oscillations has previously been observed in BKH [15] . A contracting §ame mechanism is consistent with the dependency of asymmetry on injection conditions, in particular, to VR which has been shown to in §uence the susceptibility of LOx core breakup to combustion instabilities [9, 10] .

Contraction of the §ame due to improved breakup and mixing processes through exposure to transverse acoustic oscillations has previously been observed in BKH.

A contracting §ame mechanism is consistent with the dependency of asymmetry on injection conditions, in particular, to VR which has been shown to in §uence the susceptibility of LOx core breakup to combustion instabilities.


Diamond films have unique mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties, and a variety of applications. In particular, the diamond is called the ultimate semiconductor material for electronic devices that may operate at high power and high frequency [1] [2] [3] . As the chemical bond of diamonds is very strong, diamond devices can work at high temperatures, as well as under strong chemical environments or in high-radiation conditions [4] .

In particular, the diamond is called the ultimate semiconductor material for electronic devices that may operate at high power and high frequency.

As the chemical bond of diamonds is very strong, diamond devices can work at high temperatures, as well as under strong chemical environments or in high-radiation conditions.


It is difficult to provide an exact estimate of the number of rs-fMRI papers that suffer from the issues raised in this work. This is in large part due to the wide variability in the reporting of preprocessing methods used in rs-fMRI studies (Waheed et al., 2016) . In general, methods sections are often extremely terse when discussing preprocessing, and neither specify the order or the manner in which the different steps are performed. In addition, even if the order is specified it is not always clear whether proper orthogonalization has been performed. That said we suspect that the problems outlined in this paper negatively impact a large number of papers published every year.

This is in large part due to the wide variability in the reporting of preprocessing methods used in rs-fMRI studies.


The complete preprocessing of rs-fMRI data can conveniently be separated into spatial and temporal pre-processing pipelines (Smith et al., 2013) . The goal of spatial pre-processing is to remove spatial artifacts from the data. Here the relevant steps include correction for spatial distortions caused by gradient nonlinearity, rigid-body correction for motion, correction for B 0 distortion, coregistration of structural and functional data, and normalization to a standard template (i.e., MNI-space). These steps are performed prior to temporal preprocessing, which includes motion regression, scrubbing, removal of WM and CSF signal, global signal removal, and temporal filtering. In this work we have focused entirely on potential problems with temporal preprocessing, and our geometrical framework is not explicitly designed for evaluating spatial preprocessing pipelines. Future work involves extending the framework, or alternatively developing a companion framework, for working in this setting.

The complete preprocessing of rs-fMRI data can conveniently be separated into spatial and temporal pre-processing pipelines.


Many chemicals have been screened in laboratory experiments to enhance the potential fibre/matrix interface, such as sodium hydroxide, peroxide, organic and inorganic acids, silane, anhydrides, acrylic monomers [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] . Different treatments cause a variation in the degree of impurities removed as well as the degree of structural disruption. In this research work, the influence of various chemicals (sodium hydroxide, acetic anhydride, maleic anhydride and silane) on fibre structure and tensile properties of industrial hemp fibres was investigated by x-ray diffraction and single fibre tensile test.

Many chemicals have been screened in laboratory experiments to enhance the potential fibre/matrix interface, such as sodium hydroxide, peroxide, organic and inorganic acids, silane, anhydrides, acrylic monomers.


Natural fibres such as hemp, sisal, flax, kenaf and jute are highly hydrophilic due to the presence of hydroxyl groups (OH) of anhydroglucose repeating unit in cellulose structure. However, these fibres are covered with pectin and waxy materials, thus hindering the hydroxyl groups from reacting with polymer matrices. This can lead to the formation of ineffective interfaces between the fibres and matrices, with consequent problems such as debonding and voids in resulting composites. Chemical treatments provide an important and effective means to remove non-cellulosic components in cellulose fibres and add functional groups to enable better bonding in polymer composites. In addition, treatment can alter the crystalline structure of the cellulose as well as fibre tensile properties [1] [2] [3] .

In addition, treatment can alter the crystalline structure of the cellulose as well as fibre tensile properties.


Previous work on CSI-based human detection focused mainly on human behavior or used different methods to detect moving and stationary human separately [26] . The above papers all make good use of the characteristics of CSI, but some require special equipment to improve the positioning accuracy [27] . Furthermore, the overall performance and detection rate need to be improved to effectively achieve the accuracy of human behavior detection [28] .

Previous work on CSI-based human detection focused mainly on human behavior or used different methods to detect moving and stationary human separately.

The above papers all make good use of the characteristics of CSI, but some require special equipment to improve the positioning accuracy.

Furthermore, the overall performance and detection rate need to be improved to effectively achieve the accuracy of human behavior detection.