In applying the DAPP model and method developed here, one needs to choose the binning interval width to carry out the time discretization of spiking activity. While shorter bins allow more flexible estimation of the time varying dynamics of the α curves, the increased number of bins adds to computing cost. Shorter bins, with fewer spike counts in each, also pose some difficulty to our two-stage estimation process for the λ A and λ B curves. Specifically, the second stage prior in (12) which assumes conditional independence of the curve values across bins, do not offer adequate smoothing. There is potential to remedy this problem by replacing the product gamma prior in (12) with an autoregressive gamma prior (Wolpert and Ickstadt, 1998) . Our choice of 50 ms for bin width was based on our understanding of the scale of IC firing rate. We also repeated the analyses in Section 6.2 with 25 ms bins and the results were robust to this change in bin width.

There is potential to remedy this problem by replacing the product gamma prior in (12) with an autoregressive gamma prior.


To collect effectiveness-in-use metrics, users were given some defined tasks and their task completion rates and task error rates were measured. Also, to capture efficiency of use metric, from the same usability test, the user's task times were collected. The satisfaction in use metrics includes task ease metrics captured from users after each task scenario and the system satisfaction metrics collected after the entire test session. A single question questionnaire was used to get the task ease metric. The questionnaire is a 7-point Likert-type instrument that ranges from 1-strongly disagree to 7-strongly agree. The question is "Overall, how difficult or easy did you find this task Higher scores indicate task ease while lower scores indicate task difficulty. The System Usability Scale (SUS) was used as a proxy to measure satisfaction in use. The scale comprises of ten items, eight of which measures perceived usability and the remaining two measures perceived learnability [4] .

The scale comprises of ten items, eight of which measures perceived usability and the remaining two measures perceived learnability.


Acute pancreatitis (AP) represents an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas [1] . Due to the possibility of local and systemic complications, these patients are admitted to departments of internal medicine or surgical wards for further monitoring and treatment. The exact place of patient's admission depends on the country's tradition, or/and institutional work organization. Knowledge of the disease etiology is important, as early treatment can prevent local and systemic complications [2] .

Acute pancreatitis (AP) represents an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas.

Knowledge of the disease etiology is important, as early treatment can prevent local and systemic complications.


Adaptation is a dependent dummy-variable in the data. The dummy was determined by assigning a value of 1 for farmers who indicated that they had taken adaptive measures in response to negative effects of climate change and a value of 0 for farmers who indicated they did not engage in any adaptive measures at all in response to negative effects of climate change. For instance, if a farmer uses at least one coping strategy to abate the negative consequences of climate change then that famer is considered to have "adapted" (1) . During the enumeration of the survey, respondents were presented with an scripted explanation of practices and behaviors vis-à-vis climate change adaptation strategies, then presented with a simple dichotomous ("yes/no" response) question about whether or not they had adopted any of these behaviors due to changing climate in the region, making results here self-reported.

For instance, if a farmer uses at least one coping strategy to abate the negative consequences of climate change then that famer is considered to have "adapted".


MiRNAs play a critical role in the regulation of innate immunity and inflammation in lung diseases such as asthma [7] . It has been reported that the pathological changes of airway smooth muscle (ASM) contribute to airway remodeling during asthma. It has also been reported that an over expression of microRNA-145 (miR-145) in ASM cells significantly inhibits KLF4 and subsequently, affects downstream cytokines leading to an enhanced proliferation and migration of ASM cells in vitro [8] . Accumulating evidence also shows the critical effect miR-145 has on asthma and lung disease via airway remodeling [9, 10] . Mucins are high molecular weight glycol proteins at the surface of most epithelial cells which have the function of protecting and lubricating. The expressions of mucins are implied to have associations with clinicopathological findings [11] . Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) is a major airway mucin which is primarily expressed in goblet cells. Patients with asthma have been reported to produce rich MUC5AC mucus [12] . Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a membrane glycoprotein (170-kDa) which contains an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane lipophilic domain and an intracellular domain with tyrosine kinase activity [13] . EGFR signaling has been reported to participate in asthma tissue repair and airway remodeling [14] . Additionally, EGFR activation and the down-regulation of miR-145 has been shown to have a relation to lung cancer [15] . It is also reported that they are localized in human bronchi goblet cells and that there is a positive correlation between EGFR and MUC5AC expression [16] . The molecular mechanism of EGFR regulating MUC5AC expression is shown in Figure 1 . From it, we hypothesize that miR-145 is involved in airway remodeling via EGFR. Hence, in our study, we explore whether miR-145 can affect airway remodeling by targeting EGFR to regulate MUC5AC. We aim to discuss the effect of miR-145 on airway remodeling and cytokine expression in hope that it can be clinically applied to treat asthma.

MiRNAs play a critical role in the regulation of innate immunity and inflammation in lung diseases such as asthma.

It has also been reported that an over expression of microRNA-145 (miR-145) in ASM cells significantly inhibits KLF4 and subsequently, affects downstream cytokines leading to an enhanced proliferation and migration of ASM cells in vitro.

Accumulating evidence also shows the critical effect miR-145 has on asthma and lung disease via airway remodeling.

The expressions of mucins are implied to have associations with clinicopathological findings.

Patients with asthma have been reported to produce rich MUC5AC mucus.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a membrane glycoprotein (170-kDa) which contains an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane lipophilic domain and an intracellular domain with tyrosine kinase activity.

EGFR signaling has been reported to participate in asthma tissue repair and airway remodeling.

Additionally, EGFR activation and the down-regulation of miR-145 has been shown to have a relation to lung cancer.

It is also reported that they are localized in human bronchi goblet cells and that there is a positive correlation between EGFR and MUC5AC expression.


The position of [ 125 I]IACoc binding of the guinea pig -1 receptor has been identified previously in the third hydrophobic region of the -1 receptor, which has high sequence homology to the yeast and fungal sterol isomerase (Chen et al., 2007) . The specific amino acid that was identified as a photo-insertion site with [ 125 I]IACoc was Asp188. We have designated this region as SBDLII (amino acids 176 -194) (Chen et al., 2007) . From similar sequence homology considerations, a second region of the guinea pig and rat -1 receptor (amino acids 91-109), which matches the sequence of the yeast sterol isomerase, has been designated as SBDLI (Chen et al., 2007) .

The position of [ 125 I]IACoc binding of the guinea pig -1 receptor has been identified previously in the third hydrophobic region of the -1 receptor, which has high sequence homology to the yeast and fungal sterol isomerase.

We have designated this region as SBDLII (amino acids 176 -194).

From similar sequence homology considerations, a second region of the guinea pig and rat -1 receptor (amino acids 91-109), which matches the sequence of the yeast sterol isomerase, has been designated as SBDLI.


GWO and G+O are subclasses of just-in-time instruction (JITI): dialogs explain security concepts only when the user needs to apply them. Whitten and Tygar advocate an opposite approach, safe staging: dialogs encourage the user to learn security concepts before the user progresses to a stage where those concepts are needed [14] . Xia and Brustoloni's user studies found safe staging as effective as G+O in decisions about sending passwords in plaintext, but less effective than GWO in decisions about accepting unverified certificates [5] . It would be interesting to perform a similar comparison in decisions about email attachments.

Whitten and Tygar advocate an opposite approach, safe staging: dialogs encourage the user to learn security concepts before the user progresses to a stage where those concepts are needed.

Xia and Brustoloni's user studies found safe staging as effective as G+O in decisions about sending passwords in plaintext, but less effective than GWO in decisions about accepting unverified certificates.


Computer applications often need to make context-dependent security decisions. Consider, for example, an email agent, such as Mozilla Thunderbird [1] . If a user receives an email attachment containing a Microsoft Word file, should the email agent allow the user to open it or not? Many viruses propagate by exploiting Word vulnerabilities [2] . Anti-virus software may not detect new virus strains. The risk of opening the attachment may be justified if the user knows the sender and is expecting such a document from her, but not otherwise [3, 4] .

Consider, for example, an email agent, such as Mozilla Thunderbird.

Many viruses propagate by exploiting Word vulnerabilities.

The risk of opening the attachment may be justified if the user knows the sender and is expecting such a document from her, but not otherwise.


Some applications translate this need into complete delegation of the security decision to the user. The application warns the user of the risk and asks whether the user wants to accept it. We call such dialogs warn-and-continue (W&C). Unfortunately, users typically do not know how to make such decisions responsibly. More often than not, users click continue automatically. Users thereby accept many unjustified risks that enable successful attacks [5] .

Users thereby accept many unjustified risks that enable successful attacks.


In view of the processes like hemodialysis and oxygenation, some progress is shown in the theory of peristalsis with heat transfer [6] [7] [8] . Such analysis of heat transfer is of great value in biological tissues, dilution technique in examining blood flow, destruction of undesirable cancer tissues, metabolic heat generation, and so forth. In addition, the mass transfer effect on the peristaltic flow of viscous fluid has been examined in the studies [9] [10] [11] . The effect of magnetic field on a Newtonian fluid has been reported for treatment of gastronomic pathologies, constipation, and hypertension.

In view of the processes like hemodialysis and oxygenation, some progress is shown in the theory of peristalsis with heat transfer.

In addition, the mass transfer effect on the peristaltic flow of viscous fluid has been examined in the studies.


The overall picture of the otter's diet as revealed by these studies is similar to that discovered elsewhere, with fish forming the bulk of the diet, and the different species of fish being taken according to their abundance and availability. It is interesting to note that on the eutrophic lake where three species are common, the otter is able to vary its diet through the year to take advantage of seasonal changes in availability. On the oligotrophic stream, however, where salmonid fish are the only abundant source of food, seasonal variation is much less marked. It is also evident that on the Teign, eels are taken more frequently than one would expect from their relative abundance and this may reflect the fact that eels are more easily caught by otters than the fast-swimming salmonids (Erlinge, 1968) .

It is also evident that on the Teign, eels are taken more frequently than one would expect from their relative abundance and this may reflect the fact that eels are more easily caught by otters than the fast-swimming salmonids.


The SPSCM allows more flexibility than a parametric model and the sample size required to obtain a reliable estimation is not as large as required for estimating a purely nonparametric model, while bandwidth can be selected via least-squares cross-validation (LSCV) method (Li and Racine, 2010) . When it comes to panel data modeling, the standard practice is to make parameters heterogeneous by adding fixed or random effect or making all the coefficients random. However, these models do not capture heterogeneity as well as a SPSCM does in the sense that the SPSCM captures heterogeneity in intercept and slopes through some covariates.

The SPSCM allows more flexibility than a parametric model and the sample size required to obtain a reliable estimation is not as large as required for estimating a purely nonparametric model, while bandwidth can be selected via least-squares cross-validation (LSCV) method.


The total number of fluorescence photons that a molecule can emit is typically limited by photobleaching, i.e. irreversible photochemical reactions occurring from the excited state. Therefore, enhancing the radiative rate reduces the time spent in an excited state, and hence, a higher radiative rate increases the total number of fluorescence photons. In addition, other strategies to increase photostability include the use of OAs to reduce the time spent in long-lived states such as triplet states [10] . This is a key function of OAs, as the amount of information obtainable from a fluorescence measurement is determined by the total number of detected photons.

In addition, other strategies to increase photostability include the use of OAs to reduce the time spent in long-lived states such as triplet states.


In order to obtain the total number of photons emitted by each single fluorophore, its emission was recorded until photobleaching occurred. From the fluorescence transients, the total number of emitted photons for each structure was extracted. Figure 2 shows a semi-log histogram plotting the relative number of fluorophores (frequency) versus the number of photons emitted before bleaching. In Figures 2A and B (samples A and B) , the probability distributions follow a mono-exponential trend, whereas for sample C ( Figure 2C ), a bi-exponential dependence is observed. This is in agreement with the type of structures ± respectively, which translate into a radiative enhancement of 4× for the monomer structure. This number is comparable to our previous report on gold NPs [9] .

This number is comparable to our previous report on gold NPs.


The solution of EM scattering by objects which are small compared to the wavelength becomes highly simplified, relative to the full arbitrary-size solution, since retardation effects can be neglected and only one scattering mode-the dipole mode-is excited. Therefore, scatterers in this regime produce very similar field patterns (dipolar-like), independently of their geometry [11, 14] . When the particle size approaches the wavelength, higher order modes are excited producing additional features in the field pattern which are highly dependent on the scatterer geometry. In this paper we provide a numerical study of scattering by spheroidal particles with sizes comparable to the wavelength, which are seen to be able to produce scattered fields with magnitudes significantly higher than the incident field. Besides, unlike subwavelength particles in the dipolar regime, the position and extensión of the field enhancement can be controlled according to the particle geometry.

Therefore, scatterers in this regime produce very similar field patterns (dipolar-like), independently of their geometry.


In this regard, previous studies have proven that LULC changes, particularly forest conversion to farmland and human settlement, can adversely affect the soil's physical and chemical characteristics and consequently soil quality [47] [48] [49] . One important factor in our study landscape which is expected to be influenced by LULC changes is soil erodibility. This is a measure of the susceptibility of soil particles to detachment and transport by rainfall and runoff. It varies from 70/100 for the most fragile soils and 1/100 for the more stable soils [41] . One previous unpublished report in our study area has calculated the average soil erodibility for forest cover to equal 0.07 in soil depths of 0-10 cm [50] . This shows that soil erodibility will increase to about 86% in agricultural land uses in comparison with natural forest covers in the study area. These dramatic changes can certainly impact on soil erosion as well as the decline in water quality in the future. To more accurately estimate the extent of these changes in the study area and its effects on regulating services, sediment retention needs to be modelled in future studies.

In this regard, previous studies have proven that LULC changes, particularly forest conversion to farmland and human settlement, can adversely affect the soil's physical and chemical characteristics and consequently soil quality.

It varies from 70/100 for the most fragile soils and 1/100 for the more stable soils.

One previous unpublished report in our study area has calculated the average soil erodibility for forest cover to equal 0.07 in soil depths of 0-10 cm.


In this regard, an assessment of ES demands by local communities compared to ES supply by the forested landscape is required. This can equip planners and decision makers with spatial-temporal data and lead to a revision in management policies to create a balance between these two facets. ES assessment based on this study and method has the capability of promoting public participation and incorporating the public's opinions in conservation programs. Inevitably though, there needs to be concerted efforts to use new tools to address the existing and potential conflicting land uses. This area should be examined with a view to multifunctional land use just as in other parts of the world, where resolutions of such conflicts have been achieved [56] . With regards to the structural characteristics of the Sarvelat and Javaherdasht study area, most ES were found to flow from upstream to downstream areas. As such, future research needs to identify synergies and trade-offs between them, and even among different plausible development options and scenarios, in order to provide the context to design and execute payment mechanisms for ES that could provide a range of options to promote increased conservation of ES within the area in the future.

This area should be examined with a view to multifunctional land use just as in other parts of the world, where resolutions of such conflicts have been achieved.


One critical issue that we could not investigate in this paper is the potential impacts of climate change on the Hyrcanian forests and the services provided by this unique ecosystem. There is high confidence that a number of weather anomalies and environmental changes observed in the Middle East, including Iran, in recent decades have been caused by global warming. The Hyrcanian threatened relic fauna and flora is considered as one of the most vulnerable biotas to the combined effect of climate and socioeconomic changes, thus becoming a priority target for urgent adaptation efforts [53] . Considering the complex climate factors outside of the immediate region that the region's people have little or no control over, as well as land allocation decisions among different human objectives (regarding land uses), it is obvious that we are at risk of aggravating unwanted trade-offs, and possibly experiencing dramatic changes in provision of ES in the not too distant future. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research that will help to fill the existing knowledge gap related to formulating effective land-based policy to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change on this natural forest, its ecosystem services, and human well-being.

The Hyrcanian threatened relic fauna and flora is considered as one of the most vulnerable biotas to the combined effect of climate and socioeconomic changes, thus becoming a priority target for urgent adaptation efforts.


Qualitatively, TLPs are easily understood; a full description of the underlying physical processes is given by MacDonald and Eagar [1] . The essential requirement is that the liquidus temperature of an alloy varies with composition. It is then possible for the variation in composition of an inhomogeneous alloy to cause localised melting at temperatures where the bulk of the material remains solid. If liquid and solid of different compositions are in contact, diffusion will change the concentration profile and can cause an initial widening of the liquid layer, followed by solidification, even during an isothermal heat treatment. Such diffusion-controlled solidification can be used to bond particles in a powder compact (TLP sintering) or to join larger objects (TLP bonding).

Qualitatively, TLPs are easily understood; a full description of the underlying physical processes is given by MacDonald and Eagar.


However, storage of fruit at chilling temperature (2°C) did not show to induce a significant increase in POD activity along the 25 days of storage. The increase in POD activity detected in fruits stored at 10 and 20°C, could be influenced by the observed accelerated metabolism and decay. Even when PPO and POD are involved in deteriorative processes of tissue such as browning, activity of both enzymes could vary depending upon the fruit, cultivar and storage conditions. Previous results suggest that POD activity was inhibited in pulp of mamey fruits chilled at 2°C, while PPO activity was not affected [27] . It has been shown that increased resistance to CI is strongly associated with the carbohydrate content [28, 29] . A significant and uniform decrease of sucrose content was observed in fruits stored at 10°C along the last three periods of sampling (days 10, 15 and 20) . The relative increase in sucrose content at 2 and 10°C in the first period of storage (day five) could be attributed to a physiological response of tissues to chilling injury [30, 31] . The trend of fructose content at 2°C showed a similar behavior than the group stored at 10°C; this occurrence could be attributed to a response to chilling stress. Nevertheless, the relationship between chilling injury and content of sucrose, fructose and soluble sugars varies respect the fruit and is not clear yet.

Previous results suggest that POD activity was inhibited in pulp of mamey fruits chilled at 2°C, while PPO activity was not affected.

It has been shown that increased resistance to CI is strongly associated with the carbohydrate content.

The relative increase in sucrose content at 2 and 10°C in the first period of storage (day five) could be attributed to a physiological response of tissues to chilling injury.


Tropical fruit normally develop chilling injury symptoms below 10°C. Results obtained in the present study, confirmed those obtained previously in Mamey sapote where CI symptoms were observed on fruit stored at 10°C [15] . Nevertheless, other authors reported that lower temperatures (5°C) develop this physiological disorder in this tropical fruit [6] . In this study we observed that fruits stored at 2 and 10°C presented similar patterns of CI symptoms development. However, mamey fruits stored at 12°C did not show chilling injury development [16] . These results confirmed that storage duration and temperature are critical factors for CI development in sensitive fruits.

Results obtained in the present study, confirmed those obtained previously in Mamey sapote where CI symptoms were observed on fruit stored at 10°C.

Nevertheless, other authors reported that lower temperatures (5°C) develop this physiological disorder in this tropical fruit.

However, mamey fruits stored at 12°C did not show chilling injury development.


It has been reported that firmness of tropical fruits decreased during ripening and senescence processes [2] . Different enzymes are involved in the firmness reduction of flesh tissue and their activity increase along with increases in storage temperature. Therefore, it is expected that fruits stored at higher temperatures had the highest firmness and weight losses as observed in the present study. Firmness could be an important physical indicator for mamey fruit quality. However, the firmness evaluation on mamey sapote pulp, necessarily involves a destructive technique and the major problem of mamey fruit is the variation in fruit maturation. Recently, it has been reported that a nondestructive technique such as vibration, may be useful to detect slight changes in firmness of tomatoes treated with methyl jasmonate and stored at different temperatures [14] . This technique could be used as an alternative to evaluate mamey firmness. However further studies are needed in order to demonstrate the advantages that offer these techniques in this type of fruit.

It has been reported that firmness of tropical fruits decreased during ripening and senescence processes.

Recently, it has been reported that a nondestructive technique such as vibration, may be useful to detect slight changes in firmness of tomatoes treated with methyl jasmonate and stored at different temperatures.


The demand of tropical and subtropical fruits has been increased in the last two decades due to its good sensorial characteristics and high nutrimental value. Particularly, mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota) has been considered to have great economic potential because of its typical taste and aroma [1] . However, the postharvest storage life of this kind of tropical fruits is limited by temperature exposure; therefore temperatures below 12°C are commonly used. Exposure of mamey fruit to temperatures below 5°C for more than 10 days causes Chilling Injury (CI) as indicated by dark-brown spots on the peel, failure to ripen, off-flavor development and increased decay incidence after transferring the fruit to higher temperatures [2] . There is a lack of reports regarding the causes of CI symptoms developed in mamey fruit [3] . Under stress conditions such as cold storage, different biochemical changes are associated with fruit physiological disorders. The oxidases, peroxidases (POD; E.C.1.11.1.7), polyphenoloxidase (PPO; E.C.1.14.18.1) and the induction of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; E.C.4.3.1.5) have been considered to be a defensive mechanism of plants against stress [4] . These enzymes have been involved in the development of physiological disorders such as CI in many vegetables [5] . Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the major physiological and biochemical changes of mamey fruit during storage at chilling (2 and 10°C) and non-chilling (20°C) temperatures.

Particularly, mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota) has been considered to have great economic potential because of its typical taste and aroma.

Exposure of mamey fruit to temperatures below 5°C for more than 10 days causes Chilling Injury (CI) as indicated by dark-brown spots on the peel, failure to ripen, off-flavor development and increased decay incidence after transferring the fruit to higher temperatures.

There is a lack of reports regarding the causes of CI symptoms developed in mamey fruit.

The oxidases, peroxidases (POD; E.C.1.11.1.7), polyphenoloxidase (PPO; E.C.1.14.18.1) and the induction of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; E.C.4.3.1.5) have been considered to be a defensive mechanism of plants against stress.

These enzymes have been involved in the development of physiological disorders such as CI in many vegetables.


These authors reported a maximum POD activity of 2400 U g −1 , after 25 days at 10°C. In this research, no appreciable changes in POD activity in fruit stored at 2°C were observed. The arise on POD activity was correlated with the deterioration of fruits stored at 10 and 20°C but not with the CI symptoms observed in those fruits stored at 2 C. In previous studies on mamey sapote fruit, the high POD activity was related with the CI development observed at the end of storage [27] . Some authors mentioned a relationship between POD activity and some physiological disorders in vegetables [4, 5] .

The arise on POD activity was correlated with the deterioration of fruits stored at 10 and 20°C but not with the CI symptoms observed in those fruits stored at 2 C. In previous studies on mamey sapote fruit, the high POD activity was related with the CI development observed at the end of storage.

Some authors mentioned a relationship between POD activity and some physiological disorders in vegetables.


PAL activity is a key enzyme of secondary metabolism, expressed as a defense mechanism in response to different stresses. In 'Fortune' mandarins fruits, PAL activity could be a protective response of the fruit to repair the damage originated by chilling [22] . It was observed that PAL activity was higher in mamey fruit after five days of storage at 10 and 20°C and decreased along the further 10 days of storage. Moreover, PAL activity increased after 15 and 25 days of storage. This behavior at 20°C probably indicates a physiological response to fruit senescence and to mold attack by regulating the defense mechanisms. Fruits stored at 10°C showed an initial decrease in PAL activity between days 5 and 25 and then a slowly increase was observed after 25 days. Probably PAL enzyme was activated by chilling at 10°C at the middle of storage and inhibited at the beginning [23, 24] . Studies in Fortune mandarins have indicated that the effect of cold stress in increasing PAL activity was clearly higher in fruit harvested in February (1400 n mol g −1 h −1 ) than in those harvested in January (400 n mol g −1 h −1 ) [25] . With these results we concluded that PAL activity was not a good biochemical marker for chilling susceptibility in mamey sapote fruits.

In 'Fortune' mandarins fruits, PAL activity could be a protective response of the fruit to repair the damage originated by chilling.

Probably PAL enzyme was activated by chilling at 10°C at the middle of storage and inhibited at the beginning.

Studies in Fortune mandarins have indicated that the effect of cold stress in increasing PAL activity was clearly higher in fruit harvested in February (1400 n mol g −1 h −1 ) than in those harvested in January (400 n mol g −1 h −1 ).


Of all MAIA scales, Attention Regulation, defined as the ability to sustain and control attention to body sensations, shows the strongest correlations with the FFMQ-OBS and NOR subscales. Skills in attention regulation are a precondition for the capacity to be nonreactive and accepting of body sensations, key elements of more general mindfulness [97] . This scale appears to measure skills related to but distinguishable from aspects of mindfulness captured by the FFMQ. The highest correlations with PCS rumination, anxiety sensitivity, and trait anxiety are only moderate (between .30 and .38), confirming that this scale measures aspects of body awareness independent from anxiety. The moderate correlations with measures of emotional connection, awareness, and clarity suggest that the ability to sustain and control awareness in the body may go along with emotional attunement.

Skills in attention regulation are a precondition for the capacity to be nonreactive and accepting of body sensations, key elements of more general mindfulness.


We preproce The paper's arrangement is as follows: Related work is summarized briefly in Section II. Dataset for this paper is described in Section III. The methods for segmentation are presented in section IV. The nodule segmentation is introduced in Section V based on U-Net architecture. Section VI presents 3D Convolutional Neural Network for nodule classification and II. RELATED WORK Recently, deep artificial neural networks have been applied in many applications in pattern recognition and machine learning, especially, Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) which is one class of models [3] . Another approach of CNNs was applied on ImageNet Classification in 2012 is called an ensemble CNNs which outperformed the best results which were popular in the computer vision community [4] . There has also been popular latest research in the area of medical imaging using deep learning with promising results.

RELATED WORK Recently, deep artificial neural networks have been applied in many applications in pattern recognition and machine learning, especially, Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) which is one class of models.

Another approach of CNNs was applied on ImageNet Classification in 2012 is called an ensemble CNNs which outperformed the best results which were popular in the computer vision community.


Generallly the sulphur content in biomass fuels is low which leads to a low sulphur dioxide content in the flue gas which will less corrode duct and plant. However, the ER fuel has a relatively high sulphur content and also contains some chlorine. Chlorine and sulphur influence each other. They can be removed by adding Ca-additives, e.g. CaO or CaCO 3 as described below [1, 11] .

They can be removed by adding Ca-additives, e.g. CaO or CaCO 3 as described below.


Using CBL prepares students for the principles of CT, which has become an essential outcome in most schools of nursing today. No matter what type of program students attended previously this skill has been fundamental to their practice. Nursing faculty strive to prepare nurses who think critically in order to elicit and interpret information, integrate multiple sources of data; solve clinical problems, make sound clinical judgment and provide logical scientific rationale for their decision-making process (Gentner, Loewenstein, & Thompson, 2003) .

Nursing faculty strive to prepare nurses who think critically in order to elicit and interpret information, integrate multiple sources of data; solve clinical problems, make sound clinical judgment and provide logical scientific rationale for their decision-making process.


Land surfaces at higher latitudes in the northern hemisphere support a range of forest, scrub, tundra and peatland communities at the present day that may collectively be called the ''coldland complex''. Physiognomically and floristically similar communities also occur at higher elevations of mountains further south (Tallis 1991) . Current disjunct distribution of some spider species is a result of their withdrawal from Central Europe caused by changing climatic conditions in the Pleistocene. Twenty-seven spider species of the Czech arachnofauna exhibit boreo-montane type of geographical distribution (Růžička in prep.) . They occur in higher latitudes and have disjunct, island-like populations in Central Europe. The present findings indicate that some scree spiders in Central Europe could be regarded as relicts of former climatic periods (''glacial relicts''). Four of these species occur exclusively in scree slopes (Buchar & Růžička 2002) .

Physiognomically and floristically similar communities also occur at higher elevations of mountains further south.

Four of these species occur exclusively in scree slopes.


The planar fit (PF) method works well for relatively flat, uniform sites. By choosing a coordinate system averaged over the whole data set it avoids problems with unphysically large tilt angles in light wind conditions which can be seen with streamwise coordinate rotations (Wilczak et al., 2001) . A further benefit of the planar fit method is that it provides an estimate of the instrument vertical velocity offset.

By choosing a coordinate system averaged over the whole data set it avoids problems with unphysically large tilt angles in light wind conditions which can be seen with streamwise coordinate rotations.


The Ocimum genus, belonging to the Lamiaceae family, includes herbs and shrubs distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and the Americas. The most important species of Ocimum genus is O. basilicum L.; this species, usually named common basil or sweet basil, is considered economically useful because of their basic natural characteristics as essential oil producers (Lawrence, 1993) . Sweet basil is a popular culinary herb used in food and oral care products (Machale et al., 1997) . The essential oil of the plant is also used as perfumery. Also, basil is well known as a plant of a folk medicinal used as carminative, galactogogue, stomachic and antispasmodic tonic and vermifugem, In addition, basil tea taken hot is good for treating nausea, flatulence and dysentery. Basil is used in pharmacy for diuretic and stimulating properties, in perfumes and cosmetics for its smell; in fact, it is a part of many fragrance compositions (Khatri et al., 1995) . Therefore, the objectives of this study were to study the effect of salinity levels on plant growth, photosynthetic pigments and osmotic components in two genotypes of basil.

The most important species of Ocimum genus is O. basilicum L.; this species, usually named common basil or sweet basil, is considered economically useful because of their basic natural characteristics as essential oil producers.

Sweet basil is a popular culinary herb used in food and oral care products.

Basil is used in pharmacy for diuretic and stimulating properties, in perfumes and cosmetics for its smell; in fact, it is a part of many fragrance compositions.


Environmental stresses including salinity and temperature affect nearly every aspect of the physiology and biochemistry of plants and significantly diminish the yield. At present, about 20% of the world's cultivated land and approximately half of all irrigated land are affected by salinity (Zhu, 2001) . Therefore, salinity is one of the most significant abiotic factors limiting crop productivity (Munnas, 1993) . The most important process that is affected in plants, growing under saline conditions is photosynthesis. Reduced photosynthesis under salinity is not only attributed to stomata closure leading to a reduction of intercellular CO 2 concentration, but also to non-stomata factors. There is strong evidence that salt affects photosynthetic enzymes, chlorophyll and carotenoids (Stepien and Klobus, 2006) . High salt concentrations, usually sodium chloride cause osmotic stress by decreasing water potential within the cells, and ionic stress due to specific inhibition of metabolic processes.

At present, about 20% of the world's cultivated land and approximately half of all irrigated land are affected by salinity.

Therefore, salinity is one of the most significant abiotic factors limiting crop productivity.

There is strong evidence that salt affects photosynthetic enzymes, chlorophyll and carotenoids.


Plants respond to salinity by sequestering toxic ions in the vacuoles and accumulation of compatible solutes in the cytoplasm to balance the decrease of water potential (Di Martino et al., 2003) . Biochemical studies have shown that plants under salinity stress accumulate a number of metabolites, which are termed compatible solutes because they do not interfere with biochemical reactions. These metabolites include carbohydrates, such as mannitol, sucrose and raffinose oligosaccharides, and nitrogen-containing compounds, such as amino acids and polyaminies (Bohnert et al., 1995) .

Plants respond to salinity by sequestering toxic ions in the vacuoles and accumulation of compatible solutes in the cytoplasm to balance the decrease of water potential.

These metabolites include carbohydrates, such as mannitol, sucrose and raffinose oligosaccharides, and nitrogen-containing compounds, such as amino acids and polyaminies.


Information is an important issue in economic literature for more than 40 years, see e.g. the important book by the Nobel Laureate J. Stiglitz [34] . Information economics is based on the fundamental consent that information has a value or price. The processing, transfer and use of information, as well as the consequences of information costs on classical economic results, such as the "fundamental theorem of welfare economics" or the "law of the single price", was deeply analyzed over the last decades.

Information is an important issue in economic literature for more than 40 years, see e.g. the important book by the Nobel Laureate J. Stiglitz.


To improve the properties of a cement based matrix using nanoparticles, one of the main issues that has to be addressed is the adequate dispersion of the nanoparticles throughout the matrix [5] . Depending on the type, amount and pH of the media, among other factors, nanoparticles are more prone to form agglomerations [6] [7] . When the nanoparticles are not adequately dispersed in the matrix, they act as filler in the nano pores. When properly dispersed, nanoparticles act as nucleation spots for hydration products, accelerating the hydration process, increasing the viscosity of the suspension, helping to maintain the cement grains and aggregates suspended, decreasing the vulnerability to segregation, and increasing the workability of the system [1] . In some cases, it has been reported that poorly dispersed nanoparticles have a tendency to worsen the properties of the cement based matrices [8] .

To improve the properties of a cement based matrix using nanoparticles, one of the main issues that has to be addressed is the adequate dispersion of the nanoparticles throughout the matrix.

Depending on the type, amount and pH of the media, among other factors, nanoparticles are more prone to form agglomerations.

When properly dispersed, nanoparticles act as nucleation spots for hydration products, accelerating the hydration process, increasing the viscosity of the suspension, helping to maintain the cement grains and aggregates suspended, decreasing the vulnerability to segregation, and increasing the workability of the system.

In some cases, it has been reported that poorly dispersed nanoparticles have a tendency to worsen the properties of the cement based matrices.


The materials used in the experimental campaign were multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) functionalized with acid groups produced by Nanoamor, nanosilica particles (NS) dispersed in water produced by BASF Chemicals, reactive grade Ca(OH)2 produced by Merck, a superplasticizer additive (SP) produced by BASF Chemicals, and type III Portland cement (Cto) produced by Cementos Argos. Aqueous dispersions of MWCNT with a solids concentration of 0.25% wt were produced using an ultrasonic tip processor and SP as a dispersing agent in a 4:1 proportion of SP to MWCNT. The aqueous dispersions were sonicated in 20 second on/off cycles to avoid any overheating until a total amount of energy of 40,000 J was applied to the system. Details of how the dispersions parameters were determined as well as the quantification of the obtained dispersion degree have been published separately [9] . Ca(OH)2 pastes with a water-to-Ca(OH) 2 ratio of 1 were produced to identify the influence of MWCNT and NS on the production of C-S-H due to the pozzolanic activity of the NS particles. Due to the fact that both MWCNT and NS were dispersed in water, there is a maximum amount of solid nanoparticles that can be added to the Ca(OH) 2 paste without surpassing the fixed water-to-Ca(OH) 2 ratio. Taking into account that the solid concentration of the aqueous MWCNT dispersion was 0.25%, and the solid concentration of the NS aqueous dispersion was 49.5%, it was calculated that the maximum possible solid additions of MWCNT and NS were 0.025% and 9.5%, respectively. The pastes were prepared first by mixing the liquid components in a glass beaker and later by adding Ca(OH)2, which was hand-mixed with a spatula until a homogeneous paste was obtained. Finally, the samples were stored in airtight plastic containers that were to be tested after 1, 3, 7, and 21 days of hydration. At each testing age the hydration of the pastes was stopped by grinding them in acetone, oven drying at them at 60 °C, and sieving them though a No 200 mesh. The response variable chosen was the mass loss at 230°C, which was measured in a Precisa Master XM 60 moisture analyzer. Each sample was heated at a rate of 85 °C/min up to the maximum temperature, which was held constant for 3.5 minutes or until the sample reached constant mass. We considered that the sample reached constant mass when in a period of 60 seconds the sample lost 2.0 mg or less.

Details of how the dispersions parameters were determined as well as the quantification of the obtained dispersion degree have been published separately.


However, as previously stated, the concept of RRI goes way beyond the traditional understanding of governance based upon risk assessment [3] . The adoption of RRI additionally includes proactive consideration of "what kind of future we want innovation to bring into the world" [66] (p. 758). This conceptualisation is more aligned with those in our category of "profit plus". For participants in this category, it appears that motivations included more virtuous/idealistic factors; they pay attention to the ethical and social implications associated with their developments for the good of humanity, society, or the environment. This does not preclude attention to economic factors but they do not constitute the primary or sole motivation. We surmise from our analysis that these companies are already more in tune with RRI values than those in the "profit assurance" category.

However, as previously stated, the concept of RRI goes way beyond the traditional understanding of governance based upon risk assessment.

The adoption of RRI additionally includes proactive consideration of "what kind of future we want innovation to bring into the world"(p. 758).


In the interviews, participants were questioned in an open manner, allowing them the freedom to focus upon the issues that were of most relevance to them. Typically, in this type of interview situation, people speak most enthusiastically about the things they feel most strongly about [62] . Interestingly, even though the interviewees were asked directly about their procedures for assessment of risks, there is comparatively little acknowledgement, from some, of the potential risks associated with their R&I activities. It is clear that both attitudes towards, and awareness of risks, varied greatly. On the one hand, we have participants who report that there is no formal consideration, at all, of the consequences of their R&I activities, and on the other hand, we have those who describe well-developed systems and motivations. Additionally, we hear that risk assessment is a big problem for R&I in ICT because of the lack of relevant ethical guidelines for all new and emerging technologies.

Typically, in this type of interview situation, people speak most enthusiastically about the things they feel most strongly about.


Our investigation is inspired by the discourse surrounding responsible research and innovation (RRI). RRI is a field of study and practice that has gained prominence over the last decade, its aim being to ensure that R&I activities are socially acceptable, desirable, and sustainable [3] . A number of research funding organisations, including the European Commission, have adopted RRI as both a subject of study and a condition of funding [4] . However, to date, the promotion of RRI has focused predominantly on publicly funded research, omitting a substantial proportion of the company-based innovation activities, occurring at a more advanced technology readiness level in preparation for market entry [5] .

RRI is a field of study and practice that has gained prominence over the last decade, its aim being to ensure that R&I activities are socially acceptable, desirable, and sustainable.

A number of research funding organisations, including the European Commission, have adopted RRI as both a subject of study and a condition of funding.

However, to date, the promotion of RRI has focused predominantly on publicly funded research, omitting a substantial proportion of the company-based innovation activities, occurring at a more advanced technology readiness level in preparation for market entry.


Persea americana, commonly known as avocado, first appeared in Mexico thousands of years ago, but it was not until 1871 that it was brought to California, United States. By the 1950s, there were dozens of varieties being sold in the markets of the country, with Fuerte being the most consumed variety. About twenty years later, this situation changed, and the Hass avocado started to be the most consumed variety in the country and in the world. At present, avocado consumption happens not only due to its flavor, but also due to its healthy contribution to people's diets [1] .

At present, avocado consumption happens not only due to its flavor, but also due to its healthy contribution to people's diets.


Currently, 85% of the avocados produced and sold in the world are of the Hass variety. This variety grows almost the whole year round and in different regions. Some of the leading producing countries are Mexico, United States, Chile, Australia, South Africa and Israel, with Mexico being the largest producer in the world, representing about a third of the worldwide production [2] . The United States is the leading country concerning imports, and has evolved towards a market of almost a million tons of avocados [3] . The avocado market has grown 16% every year since 2008 in the United States, and this trend is expected to continue, at least in the medium term. States like Florida, California and Hawaii are producers of avocado in this country, but the production does not meet the market demands, so avocados are imported from Mexico, Chile, Peru, New Zealand and the Dominican Republic, among other countries. However, avocado consumption is not uniform across the country. For example, about 90% of the families in California consume avocados, in a proportion of more than three units per month. However, in some states of the Great Plains, only a little more than half of the families consume this fruit, in a proportion of no more than two units per month [3] .

Some of the leading producing countries are Mexico, United States, Chile, Australia, South Africa and Israel, with Mexico being the largest producer in the world, representing about a third of the worldwide production.

The United States is the leading country concerning imports, and has evolved towards a market of almost a million tons of avocados.

However, in some states of the Great Plains, only a little more than half of the families consume this fruit, in a proportion of no more than two units per month.


Studies on MALL in Indonesian IHE have not been conducted extensively. Some articles had been published to report MALL implementation in Indonesian IHE. Mobile technology with several features and benefits helps students to deal with the process of learning English in IHE (Yudhiantara; Nasir, 2017) . Some features and applications such as monolingual electronic dictionaries can be installed and used in students' mobile phones and they can seize the applications in assisting English learning process (Yudhiantara; Saehu, 2017) . Furthermore, social media applications such as twitter can be optimized its use and benefit to help English learning and educational activities in general (Yudhiantara, 2017) .

Mobile technology with several features and benefits helps students to deal with the process of learning English in IHE.

Some features and applications such as monolingual electronic dictionaries can be installed and used in students' mobile phones and they can seize the applications in assisting English learning process.

Furthermore, social media applications such as twitter can be optimized its use and benefit to help English learning and educational activities in general.


To make it clear, there is a distinction among participation, interaction and collaboration in the context of social media use for language learning purposes. Participation refers to a message sent in a discussion without generating any peer response. While interaction may result a response when a message get feedback from colleagues. This simple interaction and stops there. It means that there is no response following this from the sender of the message or from other colleagues. The ultimate type is collaboration and it happens when interaction is plural. It implies that the message sender gets peer feedback that is forwarded with comments from other colleagues. Further studies are encouraged to investigate the development of interaction and collaboration among language learners in using social media (Zhao, Sullivan, & Mellenius, 2014) .

Further studies are encouraged to investigate the development of interaction and collaboration among language learners in using social media.


Online collaboration learning has been studied by researchers and language practitioners. To allow this to happen, project groups are made online to provide opportunities for learner to conduct online collaborative learning (Paulus, 2005) . There is a call for language teachers to design and provide task that trigger language learners to produce authentic foreign language learning. The task must be well-designed to ensure students to do tasks and simultaneously use language to accomplish the mission.

To allow this to happen, project groups are made online to provide opportunities for learner to conduct online collaborative learning.


The pattern of participation in using social media for language learning has been investigated by language researchers in several studies. Online discussions among students regarding the task they are undergoing also show that language learners' online discussions happen. Contributing content among language learners takes place and it generates multiple messages to show how participation and interaction between language learner take place (Hara, Bonk, & Angeli, 2000) .

Contributing content among language learners takes place and it generates multiple messages to show how participation and interaction between language learner take place.


Speaking of online interaction in social media, there several types of interaction. At least there are three types of interaction, namely participation, interaction and collaboration. These types may occur in social media for the purposes of learning English. Students' participation in social media have been reported by several studies. Language learners integrate mobile phone technology into their language learning and they perform this by the high interaction among students. Their focus is to accomplish task. Their efforts can be viewed from many comment messages and readings in their interactions (Sing & Khine, 2006) .

Their focus is to accomplish task.

Their efforts can be viewed from many comment messages and readings in their interactions.


The development of information and communication technology in the world of higher education (HE) institutions lead to virtual learning environment including mobile device support for mobile learning (Panagiotidis, 2013) . To make this happens, various stakeholders who are concerned with teaching and learning should support each other. This is not an easy mission. The challenge of implementing mobile learning among English education students is severe since there are many obstacles existed in many institutions (Graziano, 2018) . The challenge requires creativity and extra efforts on the part of teacher and students to conduct mobile-assisted language learning (MALL). Therefore, students need to gain experience how to use social media for their language learning purposes. MALL offers wide opportunity in terms of social media use like twitter that can be used for English learning related purposes (Yudhiantara, 2017) .

The development of information and communication technology in the world of higher education (HE) institutions lead to virtual learning environment including mobile device support for mobile learning.

This is not an easy mission.

The challenge of implementing mobile learning among English education students is severe since there are many obstacles existed in many institutions.

MALL offers wide opportunity in terms of social media use like twitter that can be used for English learning related purposes.


Several electronic gadget for communication and information in foreign language teaching and learning have been the focus of MALL research and practice. Mobile devices like cell phones and tablets undoubtedly have boosted foreign language learning activities both in class and beyond class (Arvanitis, Krystalli, & Panagiotidis, 2016) . Tablet computers with the strength of possible access everywhere and everytime have also demonstrated to be pivotal learning tool for creating and collaborating content in language learning (Chen, 2013) . In Germany, language teacher and learner used iPod to facilitate language conversation learning and cater interaction and scaffolding (Lys, 2013) .

Mobile devices like cell phones and tablets undoubtedly have boosted foreign language learning activities both in class and beyond class.

Tablet computers with the strength of possible access everywhere and everytime have also demonstrated to be pivotal learning tool for creating and collaborating content in language learning.

In Germany, language teacher and learner used iPod to facilitate language conversation learning and cater interaction and scaffolding.


There are various social media platform and one of them is facebook which has inspired researchers and language practitioners to integrate the power of social media in foreign language learning. The power of this platform provides space for students to participate and interact on facebook for the purposes of language development (Warner, 2017) . In addition it supports students in online interaction by expressing their social presence and interact to discuss taught material in the classoom (Arnold & Ducate, 2006) . If properly designed, it has the power to trigger better learning discussions among students beyond classroom because they can share material, interact and reflect on their foreign language learning (Chawinga, 2017) .

The power of this platform provides space for students to participate and interact on facebook for the purposes of language development.

In addition it supports students in online interaction by expressing their social presence and interact to discuss taught material in the classoom.

If properly designed, it has the power to trigger better learning discussions among students beyond classroom because they can share material, interact and reflect on their foreign language learning.


In Indonesia, especially in the context of Islamic education institutions, English language teaching and learning conditions vary. Schools with creative and professional teachers can help their students improve the four language skills (Nurjaman, 2013) . At the level of Islamic higher education (IHE), learning listening skill needs to be designed with some interesting activities to improve students' listening skills (Saehu, 2016) . Reading skills can be improved to meet the curriculum's desires and this needs to be supplemented by additional materials to develop students' reading skills in IHE (Riswanto & Febriani, 2016) .

Schools with creative and professional teachers can help their students improve the four language skills.

At the level of Islamic higher education (IHE), learning listening skill needs to be designed with some interesting activities to improve students' listening skills.

Reading skills can be improved to meet the curriculum's desires and this needs to be supplemented by additional materials to develop students' reading skills in IHE.


The notion of online interaction has been burning issue among language researchers. The development of Web-based learning can support face-to-face and also improve students' online interaction skills (Satar & Akcan, 2018) . Its development brings more advantages and opportunities for students to produce content in digital form. These creations provide a wider autonomous on the part of language learners by the existence of the technology. Along with the content in digital form, the term multimodal comes into existence. The term multimodal refers to an emerging product which is the result of combination of file types such as audio and video texts. These file serve as media to facilitate language learners (Blake, 2016) .

The development of Web-based learning can support face-to-face and also improve students' online interaction skills.

These file serve as media to facilitate language learners.


This study show that EPST were ready to explore the potential benefits of instagram for their language learning. In focus group discussion, this study found their daily habit of using gadget or smartphone including instagram use. It is widely known that this generation belongs to digital natives (Prensky, 2001) . Their daily life has been fully occupied by gadget and various application to fulfill their leisure and other purposes.

It is widely known that this generation belongs to digital natives.


Online collaboration requires task on the part of student to collaborate. Online task-based language learning (OTBLL) is the possible option to offer to language learners. With the help of social media like instagram, task-based language learning caters students with the freedom to create content or multimodal file that matches and meet the requirement of a particular task. While the task of being open gives a lot of freedom to create the content (Lee, 2016) . The possibility to collaborate in the social media platform to complete the task is very promising and worth exploring for language teachers. Language learners perform better interaction and collaboration in completing tasks because they are assisted by social media applications (Sun, Liu, Luo, Wu, & Shi, 2017) .

While the task of being open gives a lot of freedom to create the content.

Language learners perform better interaction and collaboration in completing tasks because they are assisted by social media applications.


Interaction can arise because of the shared content from EPST. They got response from their collaborator concerning sentences spoken in their video. These comments are a good chance to develop online collaboration (Sing & Khine, 2006) . The large number of comments from a collaborating friend helps the task get done right away. The contribution of many comments will give input to students completing their tasks (Hara et al., 2000) .

These comments are a good chance to develop online collaboration.

The contribution of many comments will give input to students completing their tasks.


This study has found online interaction occuring in the content that EPST shared. In some contents, they shared a video showing their performance and asked viewer to collaborate by writing sentences spoken in the video. This interaction developed online collaboration in its simple way. Careful task given to EPST could initiate their effort to conduct online collaboration (Paulus, 2005) . They should be given ample opportunities to explore their creativity in producing content (Lee, 2016) . In addition some students wanted to explore and bring their creativity to higher level in producing particular content. This shows that the ability to use social media and content selection is a benefit that students can gain in collaborative learning online using social media (Zheng & Warschauer, 2015) . Instagram platform can facilitate this collaboration to happen.

Careful task given to EPST could initiate their effort to conduct online collaboration.

They should be given ample opportunities to explore their creativity in producing content.

This shows that the ability to use social media and content selection is a benefit that students can gain in collaborative learning online using social media.


Compared to other devices, mobile phone has been the most favorable gadget among language learners. It was powerful to assist learning English as well as other activities outside the classroom (Yudhiantara; Nasir, 2017) . In the process of learning a foreign language, it played important role as an additional tool to a laptop device for students while they accomplish simple task of searching and communicating with peers to accomplish their tasks (Vasudeva, Colthorpe, & Ernst, 2017) . When it comes to learn language component and skill like reading and grammar, mobile phone provides an impressive experience in language learning (Wang & Smith, 2013) . In addition, it also offers benefit from some applications available to explore by language learners to support their language learning activities (Yudhiantara; Saehu, 2017) .

It was powerful to assist learning English as well as other activities outside the classroom.

In the process of learning a foreign language, it played important role as an additional tool to a laptop device for students while they accomplish simple task of searching and communicating with peers to accomplish their tasks.

When it comes to learn language component and skill like reading and grammar, mobile phone provides an impressive experience in language learning.

In addition, it also offers benefit from some applications available to explore by language learners to support their language learning activities.


Phytoplankton and water chemistry samples were collected by lowering, capping, and withdrawing a 5.1 cm ϫ 1.5 m PVC tube through the water column in the center of each pond. The depths of the ponds varied between 1.5 and 2 m through the summer, and care was taken to prevent the sampling tube from contacting the benthos. Phytoplankton samples (1 liter) were collected every other day and preserved in acid Lugol's solution (Wetzel and Likens 1991) . Each pond was sampled for chlorophyll a, total P (TP), and soluble reactive P (SRP) on a weekly basis. Samples for Chl a were collected on pre-ashed (500ЊC for 4 h) 47-mm Whatman GF/F filters and stored frozen until analysis (within 1 week). The filtrate from the chlorophyll sample was collected in acid-washed 125-ml polyethylene bottles and refrigerated until analysis for SRP. Unfiltered water samples for TP analyses were stored frozen in acid-washed 125-ml polyethylene bottles. Water temperature at 0.5 and 1.5 m depths was measured every other day (between 0900 and 1100 h) using a YSI model 57 O 2 /temperature meter. A portable open-diaphragm bilge pump was used to collect macrozooplankton samples from the center of each pond once per week (Pace 1984) . To sample the water column effectively, a rigid 2-m (2.5 cm diameter) PVC intake pipe was raised and lowered from the surface to ϳ0.33 m from the bottom. Sixty liters of water were pumped and filtered through a 25-cm diameter funnel fitted with 70 m mesh side panels. Collected macrozooplankton were preserved in 75% ethanol.

Phytoplankton samples (1 liter) were collected every other day and preserved in acid Lugol's solution.

A portable open-diaphragm bilge pump was used to collect macrozooplankton samples from the center of each pond once per week.


In the Alps, recolonisation of A. alpina after glaciation has occurred at least twice, with an early postglacial recolonisation of the western Alps from a refugium presumably located in the Maritime Alps, followed by a second recolonisation of the central Alps from the Balkans (Koch et al. 2006; Ansell et al. 2008) . Central areas of the Alps thus likely represent a melting pot of divergent lineages, but the coarse resolution of available studies prevents firm conclusions on where different recolonisation routes met or whether more local refugia also occurred. Furthermore, most of these studies either used uniparentally inherited cpDNA sequences or dominant amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) as molecular markers. No study has yet been undertaken to investigate the spatial genetic structure of A. alpina across the Alps using highly polymorphic codominant markers such as microsatellites. These co-dominant markers with large numbers of alleles per locus should allow for a more detailed analysis of admixture zones among evolutionary lineages stemming from different refugia as well as inferring unusual genotypes potentially pointing to local glacial refugia.

In the Alps, recolonisation of A. alpina after glaciation has occurred at least twice, with an early postglacial recolonisation of the western Alps from a refugium presumably located in the Maritime Alps, followed by a second recolonisation of the central Alps from the Balkans.


When studying local adaptation or, more distinctly when identifying loci of adaptive relevance, it is pertinent to also take into account genetic patterns caused by demographic processes such as dispersal and gene flow ). Demography and adaptation can indeed cause similar genetic patterns, as illustrated by postglacial recolonisation of Europe out of southern refugia that might be confounded with parallel adaptation to lower temperatures from the South to the North. It is thus important to discriminate demographic from adaptive genetic patterns (Sillanpää 2011) . Knowing the neutral genetic structure of a study species a priori may thus be helpful when designing the sampling strategy, as it allows for selecting appropriate regions where genetic structure best matches the respective aims of a study.

It is thus important to discriminate demographic from adaptive genetic patterns.


With regard to the critical review, ignoring the different dimensions of AL and the absence of a clear and consensual definition of EI, we found for example that the most dominant AL dimensions were self-awareness, balanced processing and relational transparency, while the most dominant EI dimensions were self confidence, empathy and social skills. The explanation for these findings may rest in the Israeli educational system, which is very centralized and bureaucratically controlled by the Israeli Ministry of Education (Tubin, 2011) . In this case the mentors need to be personally aware of their strengths in order to attain their mentoring goals, in the event that they do not conform neatly to Ministry of Education goals. Moreover, mentors need to analyze all relevant data objectively (balanced processing) and share information openly (relational transparency) in order to convince the authorities to support their mentoring goals.

The explanation for these findings may rest in the Israeli educational system, which is very centralized and bureaucratically controlled by the Israeli Ministry of Education.


Potential applications mainly include auxiliary power units (APUs) for telecommunications and campers, consumer electronics (1-50 W), e.g., smartphones and laptop computers, wireless devices (<1.5 kW), and some niche use in the transport sector, in particular marine and submarine vessels and scooters [2, 4] . Taking into consideration the constant technological progress in all these fields with a proportional need for specific power supplies, APUs could sustain the ever-increasing electrical power demand of vehicles and electronic equipment. However, this technology is not yet widely deployed due to specific issues such as those mentioned above, i.e., slow anode reaction, methanol crossover through the membranes, causing a reduction of fuel utilization, but also unsatisfactory product longevity and lack of commercial viability [4] .

Potential applications mainly include auxiliary power units (APUs) for telecommunications and campers, consumer electronics (1-50 W), e.g., smartphones and laptop computers, wireless devices (<1.5 kW), and some niche use in the transport sector, in particular marine and submarine vessels and scooters.

However, this technology is not yet widely deployed due to specific issues such as those mentioned above, i.e., slow anode reaction, methanol crossover through the membranes, causing a reduction of fuel utilization, but also unsatisfactory product longevity and lack of commercial viability.


Significant research efforts have recently been dedicated to direct alcohol fuel cells, especially in consideration of the fact that this technology is characterised by specific advantages with respect to competing technologies in terms of fuel handling, distribution, high energy density, and reduced environmental impact. Alcohol fuels are characterized by high energy density, easy handling and storage properties, and good electromotive force when used in electrochemical systems [1] [2] [3] . Methanol electro-oxidation occurs even at low temperatures, guaranteeing rapid start-up for these fuel cell devices.

Alcohol fuels are characterized by high energy density, easy handling and storage properties, and good electromotive force when used in electrochemical systems.


Metformin is one of the most widely prescribed oral anti-diabetic medications. It is the first line therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus [1] . It has an anti-hyperglycemic effect which is mediated by inhibiting gluconeogenesis, decreasing glucose absorption from the small intestine, increasing glucose uptake in cells, and decreasing plasma free fatty acid concentration [2] . Metformin also increases insulin induced translocation of glucose transporters to the cellular plasma membrane, thus reducing insulin resistance [3] . Use of metformin has been found to be generally safe, with mild gastrointestinal symptoms being the most common adverse effects [4] .

It is the first line therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

It has an anti-hyperglycemic effect which is mediated by inhibiting gluconeogenesis, decreasing glucose absorption from the small intestine, increasing glucose uptake in cells, and decreasing plasma free fatty acid concentration.

Metformin also increases insulin induced translocation of glucose transporters to the cellular plasma membrane, thus reducing insulin resistance.

Use of metformin has been found to be generally safe, with mild gastrointestinal symptoms being the most common adverse effects.


Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine whose primary physiological function involves coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses (Kalliolias and Ivashkiv, 2016) . TNF activates the canonical NF-κB pathway (Mitchell et al., 2016) . The RelA:p50 NF-κB heterodimer is sequestered in the cytoplasm of the unstimulated cells by the inhibitor of κB (IκB) α, β and ε proteins. In the canonical pathway, the IκB kinase (IKK) complex consisting of NEMO and IKK2 (or IKKβ) phosphorylates IκBs that promotes their degradation and nuclear activation of RelA:p50. Once in the nucleus, RelA:p50 mediates the expression of pro-inflammatory and immune response genes.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine whose primary physiological function involves coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses.

TNF activates the canonical NF-κB pathway.


A new energy policy strategy for 2011-2020, containing new legislative initiatives and relative proposals, is still under discussion within the European Union (EU) Commission. In particular, such discussion process started with the publication of the stocktaking document 'Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020' in March 2010 [1] . EU countries are expected to achieve the ambitious EU's 2020 targets and show the world their leadership role in climate change mitigation. Five priority areas have been highlighted for the future energy policy: i) leadership in technological innovation, ii) modern integrated grid, iii) progress toward a low-carbon system, iv) a strong and coordinated external policy to improve relations with producers, consumers and transit countries as Russia, Ukraine, Mediterranean and African countries, v) availability of affordable and sustainable energy for citizens.

In particular, such discussion process started with the publication of the stocktaking document 'Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020' in March 2010.


As previously introduced, particular attention has been paid to municipal ownership. The second step identifi es the low-carbon actions. Each initiative has been assessed from a technical, environmental and economic point of view in order to measure the potential primary energy reduction, the consequent emission reduction and the investment required. The analysis of operating costs and potential savings in operating costs is also necessary to correctly evaluate the profi tability of each energy-saving initiative. The present paper focuses on the assessment of the investments, while a more detailed economic analysis has been developed in a previous work by the same authors [9] . On the basis of the analysis developed a GHG emission target is defi ned.

The present paper focuses on the assessment of the investments, while a more detailed economic analysis has been developed in a previous work by the same authors.


Studies on proprioception have indicated that athletes are characterized by greater proprioceptive differentiation than individuals not involved any sports [4, 8, 18] . This difference between a trained and untrained population was explained by the specificity of the practiced sport. However, these differences may in fact result from the development of proprioceptive ability during the training process typical of a given sport. In addition, a higher level of this ability may also result from the general recruitment and selection criteria of a given sport, as evidenced by the relationship found between proprioceptive ability and skill level [1, 3, 22] .

Studies on proprioception have indicated that athletes are characterized by greater proprioceptive differentiation than individuals not involved any sports.

In addition, a higher level of this ability may also result from the general recruitment and selection criteria of a given sport, as evidenced by the relationship found between proprioceptive ability and skill level.


However, little research has assessed the level and significance of proprioceptive ability in both sports, where the role of such features as sensing (sensing time, the table tennis ball, or weapon) are very important [12, 15] . Those few studies in the literature suggest that proprioceptive ability significantly affects technical skills and sporting success in table tennis [9, 13, 16] . These include skills such as selecting the paddle's position and angle, the selection and strength intensity of a stroke, and discerning the ball's rotation [9, 14] . In fencing, notions such as the sense of the weapon, distance, and pace have been analyzed [17] . Other aspects of particular significance include 'sensing the steel', sensing the position of the upper limb (forearm, arm, hand) when thrusting or controlling the weapon, directing thrusts towards the target area, movement precision when parrying, the speed at which the arm is straightened, and "sensing the steel" are of great significance [17] . Due to the fact that the skills related to effective proprioceptive ability seem important both in table tennis and fencing, it would be interesting to determine whether athletes involved in these sports display a high level of motor skills (measured by known and available methods). An answer in the affirmative would emphasize the significance of kinesthetic diversity in both sports and may prompt its inclusion and development in the training process. An assessment of the level of proprioceptive ability could also serve in monitoring training in fencing and table tennis.

However, little research has assessed the level and significance of proprioceptive ability in both sports, where the role of such features as sensing (sensing time, the table tennis ball, or weapon) are very important.

Those few studies in the literature suggest that proprioceptive ability significantly affects technical skills and sporting success in table tennis.

These include skills such as selecting the paddle's position and angle, the selection and strength intensity of a stroke, and discerning the ball's rotation.

In fencing, notions such as the sense of the weapon, distance, and pace have been analyzed.

Other aspects of particular significance include 'sensing the steel', sensing the position of the upper limb (forearm, arm, hand) when thrusting or controlling the weapon, directing thrusts towards the target area, movement precision when parrying, the speed at which the arm is straightened, and "sensing the steel" are of great significance.


Similar conclusions can be inferred by the results of the present study, although better movement execution by the two athlete groups was only observed in the dominant limb when compared with the control group. The table tennis players and fencers displayed lower mean and median precision rates than the control group for the dominant limb in the supination movement, albeit these differences were not unequivocally statistically significant as determined by post-hoc testing. This may suggest a relationship between the practice of swordplay and table tennis and the level of proprioceptive ability. The differences in executing these movements with the dominant limb may result from the specific character of both sports (hitting a ball with a paddle, holding and wielding a blade) being performed with the dominant limb. It is possible that practicing a sport that involves numerous repetitions of precise arm, forearm, hand, or finger movements may increase the proprioceptive sensitivity of the more frequently used limb, and may 'solidify' or 'refresh' kinesthetic sensation [1] . This may account for the better results (especially in the case of the fencers) in the supination movement. In the case of the non-dominant limb, the two athlete groups did not differ from the control group.

It is possible that practicing a sport that involves numerous repetitions of precise arm, forearm, hand, or finger movements may increase the proprioceptive sensitivity of the more frequently used limb, and may 'solidify' or 'refresh' kinesthetic sensation.


In table tennis, supination and pronation movements are performed to change the angle of the paddle [13] . In fencing, supination and pronation movements at the elbow joint are characteristic during parrying, especially in the Quarte (parry 4) and Sixte (parry 6) [17] . The results of the present study may corroborate the extensive use of these types of parries in training and competition by the examined fencers, while at the same time, give rise the use of the research methodology herein to monitor training progression.

In table tennis, supination and pronation movements are performed to change the angle of the paddle.

In fencing, supination and pronation movements at the elbow joint are characteristic during parrying, especially in the Quarte (parry 4) and Sixte (parry 6).


There is a growing body of knowledge developing addressing process engineering in smaller organizations and teams. The primary reason for the attention on smaller organizations is that they face specific difficulties related to the limited resource they can put towards any initiative. The implementation of software engineering techniques is a difficult task for small organizations as they often operate on limited resources and with strict time constraints [6] . CMMI and other methods appear to overwhelm SMEs as the resources required to implement the detailed processes is too much [11] . And so often before they start small business abandon SPI and never benefit from process capability maturity because "they consider it infeasible to adopt" [9, p.891] . To address these difficulties researchers have proposed alternative approaches for SMEs. A number of lightweight or agile approaches have been suggested [For example : 5, 6, 7, 12] .

The implementation of software engineering techniques is a difficult task for small organizations as they often operate on limited resources and with strict time constraints.

CMMI and other methods appear to overwhelm SMEs as the resources required to implement the detailed processes is too much.


Software process improvement (SPI) programs support the definition and enhancement of the processes adopted by the software organization. To address these needs the Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) has been developed by the Software Engineering Institute for organizations to adopt / be evaluated against [2] . Organizations adopted CMMI based SPI mainly to improve their product quality and project performance but also to improve process management [8] .

To address these needs the Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) has been developed by the Software Engineering Institute for organizations to adopt / be evaluated against.

Organizations adopted CMMI based SPI mainly to improve their product quality and project performance but also to improve process management.


Our finding that many more stoats were collected during the May checks than the November ones is consistent with the likely patterns of abundance and dispersal of stoats. Young stoats first leave their mother's dens in late spring or early summer and become independent during the late summer and autumn (King & Murphy 2005) . Stoats are both more abundant and more likely to disperse between November and May than they are between May and November.

Young stoats first leave their mother's dens in late spring or early summer and become independent during the late summer and autumn.


Gaining a better insight on renewable investors at the community level first has to start with the investigation of their motivations that can help policy makers to develop more effective supporting mechanisms to address them. Scholars have been studying motivations for investing in renewables for 4 more than a decade [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] . These articles focus on motivations and barriers for adopting or installing renewable energy technologies at the individual level. Even though these studies are useful, they don't help us understand motivations for contributing to joint investment projects. Motivations to participate in renewable energy communities are more related to group projects. At the group level, there have been also a few studies, which explore the reasons communities have to engage in renewable energy projects [9, 10, 11] . Although, these articles provide a good starting point for understanding motivations for such collective action, they do not present the individual citizen's perspective [e.g . 11] .

Scholars have been studying motivations for investing in renewables for 4 more than a decade.

At the group level, there have been also a few studies, which explore the reasons communities have to engage in renewable energy projects.


All the interviews were taken in 2013, years after the realization of the projects. We are aware that our interviewees might have had different motivations when making the decisions than the ones they communicate in retrospect. In addition, there may be a recall bias, as in all other interview-based studies [23] . Nevertheless, we are here interested in the perceptions of the participants themselves and their interpretations.

In addition, there may be a recall bias, as in all other interview-based studies.


Based on our empirical data gained in all four cases, in general we can conclude that mostly gain, but also normative motivations were the key drivers for joint energy production, and hedonic considerations were less important. However, while in the case of Jühnde and Amsterdam Zuid there is a clear dominance of gain motivations, followed by normative ones, in the case of Freiamt and Thermo Bello gain and normative motivations were equally present. Hedonic motivations were evident in Juhnde, Amsterdam Zuid, and Thermobello, but somewhat absent in Freiamt. The most frequent gain motivation in all cases was cutting energy costs. Specifically, the respondents expected lower energy prices after the projects and thereby saving some money in the long run. It was in several cases related to the independence from big energy companies and from increasing fossil prices. Besides the cost reduction, in Jühnde and Freiamt people also hoped for some profit from the investment, which is indeed more probable in Germany than in the Netherlands due to the German feed-in tariff (EEG), the most established feed-in policies worldwide that guarantees a fixed price for the sold renewable energy, above the market price [27] . The Dutch feed-in system is less favorable in this sense (Authors). Therefore, it is not surprising that the influence of this policy on the motivations was visible, although it rather reinforced the already existing gain motivations. We also found an influential regulation in the Netherlands, namely the saldering law that also strengthened gain motivations in the Amsterdam Zuid case (saldering is applicable only on electricity produced by solar PVs). Finally, reducing transaction costs and risks was also an important factor in the decision making, which also belongs to the gain goal-frame.

Besides the cost reduction, in Jühnde and Freiamt people also hoped for some profit from the investment, which is indeed more probable in Germany than in the Netherlands due to the German feed-in tariff (EEG), the most established feed-in policies worldwide that guarantees a fixed price for the sold renewable energy, above the market price.


With respect to the difference between frontrunners and average members of these communities, we observed no remarkable differences in any of the cases. It seems that the different roles in the project had no influence on the motivations. This is quite intriguing: our data do not support a differentiation between frontrunners and average members on the basis of motivations. In other words, frontrunners do not necessarily become frontrunners because they are more or differently motivated. Personal characteristics, such as style of leadership, or even contingent factors, such as free time available, may play a big role here. Further research is needed to clarify what makes a community member a frontrunner, since a lot of schemes, such as transition management or strategic niche management are relying on attracting and engaging these frontrunners [25, 28] .

Further research is needed to clarify what makes a community member a frontrunner, since a lot of schemes, such as transition management or strategic niche management are relying on attracting and engaging these frontrunners.


Age was strongly and negatively related to risk appraisal of the adult situations. With increased age, children perceived situations as having less risk involved. This coincides with other studies reporting age-related decreases in risk appraisals (Peterson et al., 1994; Peterson et al., 1997) . Compared to younger children, older children are likely to possess greater knowledge of the adult occupational world as represented in the adult risk stimuli. With this increased familiarity, they may realize that even risky adult occupations are commonly performed with a relatively low occurrence of injury, and thus they perceive less risk in those situations.

This coincides with other studies reporting age-related decreases in risk appraisals.


Overall, in the simulation models, kinetic constants, effective absorption area or heat loss (desorber) are often adjusted to make the simulations fit the experimental data [4, 5] . Often the data is fitted to very few experimental runs and the rest of the runs from the same campaign are thereafter simulated using the adjusted model. Finally simulations of industrial size plant are made [10] . However, when the fitted model is used to simulate other pilot data, considerable deviation might be seen [11] . The literature clearly shows that the choices related to the equilibrium model, mass transfer coefficients, and kinetic parameters influence the model predictions heavily making important to validate the simulation model using data from several pilot plants, with various operating conditions before using the model for process design or optimization [6, 9, 12] .

Overall, in the simulation models, kinetic constants, effective absorption area or heat loss (desorber) are often adjusted to make the simulations fit the experimental data.

Finally simulations of industrial size plant are made.

However, when the fitted model is used to simulate other pilot data, considerable deviation might be seen.

The literature clearly shows that the choices related to the equilibrium model, mass transfer coefficients, and kinetic parameters influence the model predictions heavily making important to validate the simulation model using data from several pilot plants, with various operating conditions before using the model for process design or optimization.


However, comprehensive evaluation of risks associated with poor asthma control in Chinese asthmatic patients concomitant with nasal diseases was still very limited. A study showed that 69.9% of Chinese asthma patients over the age of 14 years reported AR symptoms and that the presence and severity of AR were negatively associated with asthma control [18] . Due to the limited information on the state of asthma management in Chinese patients with comorbid nasal diseases and the high prevalence of comorbid nasal diseases, it is important to advise clinicians and patients about the best evidence based management of asthma in patients with concomitant nasal diseases in China. This study aims to provide a comprehensive estimate of asthma control in Chinese asthma patients with combined nasal diseases, to explore the effect of kinds of nasal diseases to the asthma control, and to identify risk factors associated with uncontrolled asthmatic patients with combined nasal diseases.

A study showed that 69.9% of Chinese asthma patients over the age of 14 years reported AR symptoms and that the presence and severity of AR were negatively associated with asthma control.


In the long-range one-dimensional setting the Imry & Ma argument is the following: the deterministic cost to create a run of −1 in an interval of length L with respect to the state made of +1 at each site, is of order L α , while the cumulative effect of the random field inside this interval is just L 1/2 . So when 0 ≤ α ≤ 1/2 the randomness is dominant and there is no phase transition. This has been proved by Aizenman & Wehr [2] . They show that the Gibbs state is unique for almost all realizations of the randomness.

This has been proved by Aizenman & Wehr.


They generally present the advantages of being lightweight, being small in size, having a low power consumption and low cost, due to standard IC fabrication techniques. With these benefits, research in MEMS gyroscopes has been accelerated and the performance of MEMS gyroscopes has been improved [2] . Most MEMS gyroscopes are silicon-based vibratory sensors, which utilize the energy transfer between two vibrating modes of a mechanical structure. Therefore, to achieve high sensitivity, it is imperative that the two oscillatory modes have to be easily transferable from each other with high Q when subjected to rotation [3] [4] [5] [6] . Considerable design and fabrication efforts are also required for both the resonating structures to achieve a resolution of sub-degrees per second.

With these benefits, research in MEMS gyroscopes has been accelerated and the performance of MEMS gyroscopes has been improved.

Therefore, to achieve high sensitivity, it is imperative that the two oscillatory modes have to be easily transferable from each other with high Q when subjected to rotation.


There have been an increasing number of applications for smaller and inexpensive gyroscopes or angular rate sensors due to the emergence of new consumer and automotive products that demand angular velocity information. Rotating wheel gyroscopes, fiber optic gyroscopes and laser gyroscopes have been extensively used for inertial navigation and guidance systems. However, they are bulky and expensive for newly emerging applications, despite their improved performance over many decades. Applications that require a smaller and cheaper gyroscope are found in automotive safety products (anti-skid systems, ABS, airbag systems), consumer products (3D pointer, camcorder, GPS, sports equipment), industrial products (robots, machine control, guided vehicles), medical products (wheel-chairs, surgical tools, body movement monitoring), and military products (smart ammunition, new weapon systems) [1] .

Applications that require a smaller and cheaper gyroscope are found in automotive safety products (anti-skid systems, ABS, airbag systems), consumer products (3D pointer, camcorder, GPS, sports equipment), industrial products (robots, machine control, guided vehicles), medical products (wheel-chairs, surgical tools, body movement monitoring), and military products (smart ammunition, new weapon systems).


The gyroscope presented in this paper can overcome those limitations since this gyroscope has no suspended mechanical structure. The gyroscope constructed is based on the combination of a surface acoustic wave resonator (SAWR) and a surface acoustic wave sensor (SAWS), which operates at the Rayleigh mode [7] [8] [9] . The Rayleigh wave is a SAW which has its energy concentrated within one wavelength of the substrate surface. The displacement of particles near the surface due to the Rayleigh wave has an out-of-surface motion that traces an elliptical path [10] . The Rayleigh wave can be generated at the surface of piezoelectric material by applying a voltage to an interdigital transducer (IDT) patterned on the substrate [11] .

The gyroscope constructed is based on the combination of a surface acoustic wave resonator (SAWR) and a surface acoustic wave sensor (SAWS), which operates at the Rayleigh mode.

The displacement of particles near the surface due to the Rayleigh wave has an out-of-surface motion that traces an elliptical path.

The Rayleigh wave can be generated at the surface of piezoelectric material by applying a voltage to an interdigital transducer (IDT) patterned on the substrate.