AFM Analysis was carried out in order to understand the influence of the type of PDMS soft segments on the surface topography and heterogeneity relief of SPU-PDMS copolymers. The height and phase AFM images for SPU-PDMS copolymers are shown in Figure  2 . Based on prior studies, it is known that the bright regions represent the hard phase, while the darker regions represent the soft PDMS phase. Height images show different surface topography for the synthesized copolymers. The topographies of SPU-PDMS HP -20, SPU--PDMS EO -20 and SPU-PDMS EO -45 samples display spherullite particulate formations of tens of nm in size, SPU--PDMS HP -45, SPU-PDMS HP -55, SPU-PDMS EO -55 show agglomerates of µm in size. Phase images (i.e., maps of tip-sample interactions) enable qualitative insight into the homogeneity relief of samples. The synthesized copolymers based on EO-PDMS are characterized by two-phase morphology consisting of a hard segmentrich phase and a soft segment-rich phase. Therefore, the EO-PDMS based copolymers are distinguished by heterogeneous character, apparently connected with the good microphase separation. On the contrary, the copolymers based on HP-PDMS do not have sharp interfaces between the two phases, i.e., they have mostly homogeneous character, apparently connected with the weak microphase separation. Investigation of biocompatibility using endothelial cells and protein adsorption assays is paramount for further development of non-toxic, thromboresistant surfaces, given that almost all currently available biomaterials (e.g., commercial PDMS/polyether based SPUs Elast-Eon TM ) have biocompatibility that is limited by inflammatory responses contributing to thrombosis formation, as well as low level of cell attachment [1, 12] . In our study, the biocompatibility of copolymers was evaluated using endothelial EA.hy926 cell line by direct contact assay, before and after pre-treatment of copolymers with multicomponent protein mixture, as well as by a competitive blood-protein adsorption assay. Namely, in our research, we used EA.hy926 endothelial cell line to investigate cytocompatibility of the synthesized copolymers. Endothelial cells are the major cell type of the microvasculature, and they play a role in regulation of vascular tone and permeability, coagulation, inflammation and angiogenesis [1] . The response of these cells to a material is of great importance, and the endothelial cells are often used in in vitro evaluation of cytocompatibility of materials that might be used as medical devices, in particular, for the devices designed for cardiovascular applications aimed to have long-term close contacts with blood vessels.

Investigation of biocompatibility using endothelial cells and protein adsorption assays is paramount for further development of non-toxic, thromboresistant surfaces, given that almost all currently available biomaterials (e.g., commercial PDMS/polyether based SPUs Elast-Eon TM ) have biocompatibility that is limited by inflammatory responses contributing to thrombosis formation, as well as low level of cell attachment.

Endothelial cells are the major cell type of the microvasculature, and they play a role in regulation of vascular tone and permeability, coagulation, inflammation and angiogenesis.


In some mammals, there have been suggestions that a narrow sensitive period exists during which mother-offspring bonding happens very quickly. This is particularly the case when animals are able to walk independently within minutes after birth, providing a higher risk for the accidental confusion of offspring (Lamb & Hwang, 1982) . However, researchers have proposed that the motoric limitations faced by human infants (which remove some of the risks of accidental confusion caused by animals being quickly mobile) render a rapid mother-infant bonding process not evolutionarily necessary (Lamb & Hwang, 1982; Myers, 1984) . Consequently, while the immediate postpartum period is important for the bonding process and is characterized by a sensitive period of heightened maternal motivation to interact with their infants and receptiveness to the formation of this bond, bonding activities continue to be important over the following weeks and months (Maestripieri, 2001) .

This is particularly the case when animals are able to walk independently within minutes after birth, providing a higher risk for the accidental confusion of offspring.

However, researchers have proposed that the motoric limitations faced by human infants (which remove some of the risks of accidental confusion caused by animals being quickly mobile) render a rapid mother-infant bonding process not evolutionarily necessary.

Consequently, while the immediate postpartum period is important for the bonding process and is characterized by a sensitive period of heightened maternal motivation to interact with their infants and receptiveness to the formation of this bond, bonding activities continue to be important over the following weeks and months.


Bonding not only has implications for babies but is also associated with psychological and behavioral states in mothers. For example, bonding and anxiety have been linked, with different mother-infant interactions recorded for mothers experiencing anxiety, leading to alterations in infant behavior and coping responses to social challenges (Kaitz, Maytal, Devor, Bergman, & Mankuta, 2010) . Bonding during pregnancy and post-birth has been associated with mental health, with mothers categorized as anxiousambivalent in their bonding styles exhibiting poorer mental health than women with more secure bonding (Mikulincer & Florian, 1999) . More specifically, mothers affected by perinatal mental health problems show decreased levels of affective communication with their babies (Kumar, 1997; Milligan, Atkinson, Trehub, Benoit, & Poulton, 2003) . For example, mothers with postnatal depression have been shown to exhibit decreased activation in Brodmann's area of the brain when their infants cry (Leibenluft & Yonkers, 2010) . While the direction of causality between bonding and mental health is hard to confirm, psychopharmacologic studies in postnatal depression, while showing effects of medication on postnatal depression itself, have not shown strong effects of medication on mother-infant interactions and bonding, suggesting that enhanced mental health is not enough on its own to increase bonding (Wisner et al., 2006; Yonkers, Lin, Howell, Heath, & Cohen, 2008) . Consequently, there is a need to identify interventions that can support mother-infant bonding, not just from a research perspective but also in order to support the wider health and well-being of both mothers and babies.

For example, bonding and anxiety have been linked, with different mother-infant interactions recorded for mothers experiencing anxiety, leading to alterations in infant behavior and coping responses to social challenges.

Bonding during pregnancy and post-birth has been associated with mental health, with mothers categorized as anxiousambivalent in their bonding styles exhibiting poorer mental health than women with more secure bonding.

More specifically, mothers affected by perinatal mental health problems show decreased levels of affective communication with their babies.

For example, mothers with postnatal depression have been shown to exhibit decreased activation in Brodmann's area of the brain when their infants cry.

While the direction of causality between bonding and mental health is hard to confirm, psychopharmacologic studies in postnatal depression, while showing effects of medication on postnatal depression itself, have not shown strong effects of medication on mother-infant interactions and bonding, suggesting that enhanced mental health is not enough on its own to increase bonding.


Malaysia is facing a trend of increasing CO 2 emission and energy consumption per capita (Begum et al., 2015) . According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Malaysia's building sector consumed approximately 7750 GW h of electricity and emitted 5301 kt of GHG in 2008 (UNDP, 2011 . As shown in Fig. 1 , the forecast predicts that there is an annual increase of energy consumption and CO 2 emissions in the Malaysian building sector.

Malaysia is facing a trend of increasing CO 2 emission and energy consumption per capita.


There are several important stages in the development of a new assessment scheme. The first stage is the comprehensive review and comparison of the most prominent and latest environmental assessment schemes to identify similarities and differences. This is the starting point for identifying the themes and sub-themes to define the assessment trend (second stage). In the third stage, it is crucial to select the assessment themes applicable to the Malaysian context and refurbishment practice. Previous studies confirmed that the Delphi technique is the most applicable method to develop comprehensive and effective building environmental assessment themes (Chew and Das, 2008; Alyami and Rezgui, 2012) . The Delphi technique uses two to three systems, appointing experts from the field based to examine questionnaire results in order to reach consensus on the most applicable themes. In order to develop a weighting system that reflects local needs, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is viewed as suitable method (Alyami and Rezgui, 2012) . Fifthly, a new environmental assessment scheme for building refurbishment is developed, which should be subject to a rigorous testing stage for validation and adaptability. This model (Fig. 2) serves as a guideline and reference point for other countries' scheme developers, policy makers and researchers, for developing environmental assessment schemes in the local context.

Previous studies confirmed that the Delphi technique is the most applicable method to develop comprehensive and effective building environmental assessment themes.

In order to develop a weighting system that reflects local needs, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is viewed as suitable method.


In addition to the changes in peak intensities observed in the XRD spectra, peak shifts toward higher 2h angles can be seen for all three diffraction peaks as energy densities increase. This signifies a decrease in d-spacing normal to the film surface caused by a likely increase in the in-plane tensile stress within the film. This effect is thought to be due to the contraction of the film during solidification against the stiff underlying substrate which experiences very little temperature change. It has been observed that stresses within materials may cause abnormal grain growth in grains under a biaxial stress state due to anisotropic strain energy densities [30] . This is driven by the anisotropies in the biaxial modulus of the material. For NiTi, strain energy densities are minimized for grains with (100) normal texture and maximized for grains with (111) normal texture and thus a (100) texture would be predicted if strain energy were to have a significant effect on grain growth.

It has been observed that stresses within materials may cause abnormal grain growth in grains under a biaxial stress state due to anisotropic strain energy densities.


One effect of this configuration is the stabilization of the liquid-solid interface to fluctuations. Solidification of a lasermelted film on a cool substrate can be represented by the thermal gradient being positive in the direction of growth. This causes the interface to become stable as protrusions in the interface encounter higher temperatures farther into the liquid and their growth slows. Growth of a solid into an undercooled liquid, on the other hand, can result in a dendritic or cellular growth structure due to destabilization of the interface. In NiTi, which undergoes a congruent transformation between liquid and solid, no solute partitioning is expected to occur during solidification and thus constitutional supercooling is not a factor in destabilizing the interface [17] . Thus, the solid-liquid interface during laserinduced rapid solidification of NiTi is expected to be planar in geometry. The textures generated by dendritic and planar growth will differ due to the varying mechanisms of growth. During dendritic solidification texture is created by the higher growth velocity of dendrites with preferred orientations. In cubic materials this generally results in a (100) normal texture.

In NiTi, which undergoes a congruent transformation between liquid and solid, no solute partitioning is expected to occur during solidification and thus constitutional supercooling is not a factor in destabilizing the interface.


Originally considered for use in bulk form, shape memory alloys have garnered enhanced interest as materials for use in microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices due to their strong actuating force and large displacement capabilities [1] . Particular emphasis has been placed on the use of shape memory alloys in thin film form to create active and passive MEMS devices due to their reduced thermal mass, and thus decreased response time. The use of these materials, however, requires careful control over their composition, microstructure, and mechanical loading which can all significantly affect their shape memory responses.

Originally considered for use in bulk form, shape memory alloys have garnered enhanced interest as materials for use in microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices due to their strong actuating force and large displacement capabilities.


In this work, we provide, for the first time, evidence for a photocycle of animal-type cryptochromes such as found in insects and mammals. Cryptochrome-bound flavin is found in an oxidized redox state in vivo, and light activation results in flavin photoreduction to a radical intermediate that represents the likely signaling state. The biological significance of this reaction is supported by the observation of antagonistic effects of green light on Dmcry function, which reduces levels of radical intermediate [17, 18, 40] . This mechanism contrasts with that of DNA photolyases in which flavin is fully reduced for catalytic activity. Most importantly, Hscry1 from a cryptochrome subfamily with no established light response also has the capacity to undergo this photoreaction in living cells, suggesting the possibility of novel light-sensing capabilities in humans.

The biological significance of this reaction is supported by the observation of antagonistic effects of green light on Dmcry function, which reduces levels of radical intermediate.


Subsequent to their discovery in plants, cryptochromes were identified in animal (human and mouse) systems by isolation of homologous cDNAs whose encoded proteins were likewise not functional in DNA repair [8] . Interestingly, these animal-type cryptochromes were more similar to a type of DNA photolyase that repairs 6-4 photoproducts, than to the type I cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD)-repairing DNA photolyases to which the plant cryptochromes are most closely related. Therefore, animal-type cryptochromes are thought to have evolved independently from different photolyase ancestors than plant cryptochromes [9] . A signaling role for animal-type cryptochromes was first identified in insects, Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster), through isolation of a mutation in the D. melanogaster cryptochrome (Dmcry) resulting in failure to properly entrain the peripheral circadian clock [10, 11] . The role of Dmcry as a lightsensing input to the circadian clock is now well established, occurring by interaction of Dmcry with known clock proteins such as timeless or period [12, 13] . Thus, although derived from different evolutionary photolyase ancestors, both plant Atcry1 and Dmcry act as signaling molecules that undergo light-sensitive interactions with partners to initiate signaling reactions. A schematic of the basic structural characteristics and evolutionary relation of cryptochromes and photolyases is presented in Figure 1A .

Subsequent to their discovery in plants, cryptochromes were identified in animal (human and mouse) systems by isolation of homologous cDNAs whose encoded proteins were likewise not functional in DNA repair.

Therefore, animal-type cryptochromes are thought to have evolved independently from different photolyase ancestors than plant cryptochromes.

A signaling role for animal-type cryptochromes was first identified in insects, Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster), through isolation of a mutation in the D. melanogaster cryptochrome (Dmcry) resulting in failure to properly entrain the peripheral circadian clock.

The role of Dmcry as a lightsensing input to the circadian clock is now well established, occurring by interaction of Dmcry with known clock proteins such as timeless or period.


Various options of frequency allocation are considered for the FAPs and MBS [4] . First, separate frequency for the MBS and FAPs can be utilized. Consequently, no interference between MBS and FAPs occurs. On the other hand, this option is not always possible, as free radio spectrum may not be available for the FAPs. More than that, this approach significantly reduces the spectrum efficiency. The second option of the frequency allocation is to use the same 2 EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking frequency for both MBS and FAPs. The benefit of this approach is high spectral efficiency, since all FAPs fully reuse frequency spectrum of the MBS. The evident drawback is the increase of cochannel interference between the MBS and FAPs. The last option of the frequency allocation partially shares specific amount of the bandwidth between the MBS and FAPs. The rest of the bandwidth is solely dedicated to the MBS. Thus, users attached to the MBS close to the FAPs can use different frequency spectrum than the interfering FAPs.

Various options of frequency allocation are considered for the FAPs and MBS.


The principle of the proposed scheme and performed simulations are described for LTE-A system according to release 10 [8] . However, the general principle may be used in other contemporary technologies such as WiMAX or former LTE versions. In LTE-A technology, the data can be transmitted either in TDD or FDD manner. Without loss of generality, the rest of the paper assumes only FDD frame, since TDD frame has only different structure. In addition, the paper assumes only FAPs with open access. Nonetheless, the whole idea can be applied to FAPs with closed access as well.

The principle of the proposed scheme and performed simulations are described for LTE-A system according to release 10.


Our findings showed that the CS and HS conditions had similar negative effects on growth performance of broiler chickens. Nevertheless, although nonsignificantly, CS had lower negative effects in comparison to HS. Many authors have informed about the adverse effects of CS and HS on the productive performance of poultry (Sahin et al., 2002; Star et al., 2008; Mujahid & Furuse, 2009; Sohail et al., 2012; Fu et al., 2013; Habibian et al., 2014; Tawfeek et al., 2014) .

Many authors have informed about the adverse effects of CS and HS on the productive performance of poultry.


Another thing to note is the rather long time it takes for the S q currents in the south to return to normal configuration. The IHFACs out of the eclipse region only start when the shadow is almost overhead and peak in the wake of it. The restoration of the hemispheric imbalance peaks several (∼3) hours after the core shadow had passed the noon meridian, and even 5 h later and 70 • in longitude away this rebounce process is still going on. This implies that the thermospheric winds driving the S q current system have a large inertia. Now turning to the event on 21 June 2001, where CHAMP is sampling the morning sector (07:25 LT orbit). In this case the moon shadow is reducing further the solar insulation in the winter hemisphere, thus augmenting the seasonal conductivity difference. As illustrated in the previous chapter a variety of different currents are detected by CHAMP on its pass A3 which leads right through the core shadow (see Fig. 10 ). We regard the vertical upward current as deduced from the negative slope of the D component in Fig. 7 , as a key element for the interpretation of the whole current system. Such a current system is indicative of the action of the F-region dynamo (Risbeth, 1971; Lühr and Maus, 2006) . Zonal winds at low latitudes cause a charge separation in vertical direction and set up a current system as illustrated in Fig. 9 (Heelis, 2004; Lühr and Maus, 2006) . In our case we need an eastward wind to drive the observed upward current. This is somewhat unexpected since during the morning hours typically westward winds are prevailing in the thermosphere (Drob et al., 2008) . The current driven by the F-region dynamo is routed along the field lines to the E-layer for closing as Pedersen current. The magnetic signature in the D component (cf. Fig. 7 ) (persistent negative deviation) suggests a current closure exclusively in the sun-lit Northern Hemisphere and nothing in the winter and eclipse shaded hemisphere.

Such a current system is indicative of the action of the F-region dynamo.

Zonal winds at low latitudes cause a charge separation in vertical direction and set up a current system as illustrated in Fig. 9.

This is somewhat unexpected since during the morning hours typically westward winds are prevailing in the thermosphere.


Limited literature is available on the classification of seas by the analysis of Forel-Ule observations. A few geographical maps, based on interpolation of a limited set of Forel-Ule data, exist from before nineteen-hundred [16] - [19] . Furthermore, the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office published three atlases on marine geography, including Forel-Ule contours of the Sea of Japan, Korea and Indochina [20] - [22] . In her 1970 Masters thesis, Margaret Ann Frederick presented the first extended atlas on Forel-Ule scale numbers for some of the world seas [23] . To create this atlas on the colours of the sea, Frederick had around 24000 Forel-Ule observations, collected globally, to her disposal. Frederick analysed her data per Marsden square, but did not look for trends.

A few geographical maps, based on interpolation of a limited set of Forel-Ule data, exist from before nineteen-hundred.

Furthermore, the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office published three atlases on marine geography, including Forel-Ule contours of the Sea of Japan, Korea and Indochina.

In her 1970 Masters thesis, Margaret Ann Frederick presented the first extended atlas on Forel-Ule scale numbers for some of the world seas.


The large-scale application of new technologies for the provision of basic services, such as transportation and sanitation, has been made with the best intentions and enabled industrialization, urbanization, a greater human population and increased welfare. However, over time, environmental impacts have become huge -unintended consequences‖ and a driving force for further development. This is certainly the case for systems providing clean water and treatment of sewage in urban and rural settings. The expansion of piped water and sewage first occurred in cities and, later from the mid-20th century onwards, in the scattered rural settlements of Sweden [1] . Their benefits included improved hygiene in homes but they have, over time, been increasingly recognized as a cause of eutrophication, due to their nutrient-rich effluents and their increasing loads relative to other contributing sources [2, 3] .

The expansion of piped water and sewage first occurred in cities and, later from the mid-20th century onwards, in the scattered rural settlements of Sweden.

Their benefits included improved hygiene in homes but they have, over time, been increasingly recognized as a cause of eutrophication, due to their nutrient-rich effluents and their increasing loads relative to other contributing sources.


In the studied case we identify three eras with distinctly different socio-technical regimes with technological and environmental implications. The first era begins in the early 20th century, though most activities that directly feed technological and environmental change appear from the 1940s, and resulted in a large-scale introduction of piped water and to a large extent also the water closet (WC). The second era begins in the 1960s, largely characterized by the discovery of environmental problems and the institutionalization of water-based treatment technologies. The third era begins in the early 1990s, when sustainable development and resource problems were increasingly discussed, and thus implies increasing awareness that technological change was not occurring to a sufficient extent and pace to substantially mitigate nutrient loads. The treatment potential of the hitherto dominant technology is increasingly questioned [16] . In this recent period, there are indications of larger-scale environmental improvements of existing OSSs because of strengthened formal institutions (stricter rules and active enforcement), especially in the last decade. However, the new rules of the last era can be flexibly interpreted something that, together with a political context in which market solutions are increasingly promoted, alter the power balance between regulative actors and market actors in favor of the latter group.

The treatment potential of the hitherto dominant technology is increasingly questioned.


To date there are four species of the slave-making ants Rossomyrmex and, to our knowledge, each parasite species has a single host from the genus Proformica, thus forming unique coevolving pairs: R. proformicarum Arnoldi 1928 parasite-host pairs live mostly in extended plains whereas the Spanish pair R. minuchae Tinaut 1981-P. longiseta Collingwood 1978 inhabits the top of three high mountains in southern Spain (Figure 1 ). Despite this apparent difference in habitat (extended plains versus high mountains), the abiotic conditions are quite similar and are consistent with a typical arid steppe [7, 18, 19] . However, the main difference comes from the fact that the Spanish populations are small and are geographically isolated from each other [20] . The most studied pair is R. minuchae-P. longiseta, and in the last years we obtained data on Asian R. anatolicus-P. korbi and R. quandratinodum-P. sp. pairs. Dispersal ability of hosts and parasites and how this trait conditions the genetics and distribution of the species and its coevolution are principal goals of many of the articles recently published in slavemaking ants.

Despite this apparent difference in habitat (extended plains versus high mountains), the abiotic conditions are quite similar and are consistent with a typical arid steppe.

However, the main difference comes from the fact that the Spanish populations are small and are geographically isolated from each other.


Ultrasonic laboratory studies as well as seismic field investigations have shown that many geological materials and subsurface structures are elastically anisotropic. It is well known that a shear wave passing through an anisotropic material splits into two mutually orthogonal waves, which propagate at different velocities. Therefore, seismic waves propagate through the earth as a superposition of three body wave modes, one P-wave and two S-waves. Generally they are polarized neither parallel to nor perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, thus are called quasi-P (qP) and Propagate separated qS-wave modes quasi-S (qS) waves, with quasi-means similar to but not exactly. P-and S-waves were originally named for their arrival times, with P for the first (primary) and S for the second. Today, the indicators P and S are often connected with polarization, i.e., P with compressional (or longitudinal) and S with shear (or transverse), with the specification SH and SV for waves with transverse displacements in the horizontal and vertical planes, respectively (Winterstein, 1990) . For vertical transversely isotropic (VTI) media, one often uses this terminology with qP, qSV, and SH, since the first two of these waves are generally not purely longitudinal and transverse, respectively.

Today, the indicators P and S are often connected with polarization, i.e., P with compressional (or longitudinal) and S with shear (or transverse), with the specification SH and SV for waves with transverse displacements in the horizontal and vertical planes, respectively.


Because seismic anisotropy by nature is an elastic phenomenon, the full elastic wave equation is usually more accurate for wavefield extrapolation than the acoustic equation. However, seismic imaging using the elastic wave equation involve high computational cost and many challenges in decoupling wave modes to get physically interpretable images of the subsurface (Dellinger and Etgen, 1990; Zhang and McMechan, 2010; Yan and Sava, 2011; Cheng and Fomel, 2014) . For real-sized applications of seismic imaging and inversion, it is necessary to resort to a simplified description of wave propagation in anisotropic media.

However, seismic imaging using the elastic wave equation involve high computational cost and many challenges in decoupling wave modes to get physically interpretable images of the subsurface.


Improvement of a management system is a domain that is devoted to the development of an organisation. Improvements to operations in an organisation can vary from slight changes, introduced in a continuous manner, to continuous improvement measures (Peiro-Signes et al. 2013; Medineckiene et al. 2010; Radziszewska-Zielina 2011; Tamošaitienė et al. 2013) . Regardless of the type of the improvement process, it should be carried out in accordance with the stipulations of the Deming cycle: Plan-Do-CheckAct (PDCA).

Improvements to operations in an organisation can vary from slight changes, introduced in a continuous manner, to continuous improvement measures.


Laminated composite structural components are extensively preferred over conventional materials in today's high-performance engineering applications (aerospace, aircraft, automobile and marine engi- neering) not only for their specific strength and stiffness properties but also largely due to their light weight characteristic which is highly desirable according to the present demand. However, the reduction in weight of the structure may lead to increased levels of noise which is proportional to the magnitude and frequency of the structural vibrations. Therefore, the designer quest to minimize the noise radiated into the surroundings during the design and fabrication of the light-weight laminated structural components due to their paramount importance in such applications. Hence, the sound radiation characteristics need to be investigated judiciously and the design together with the fabrication process must be handled suitably. It is well known that, a radiation response indicator is essential for the representation of the acoustic radiation via a vibrating structure so that the velocity on the boundary and the sound radiation can be related. Thus, it plays an important role in the evaluation of the magnitude of the acoustic disturbances accurately. In this regard, various acoustic radiation mode theories including the structure dependent radiation mode analysis steps have been evolved in the past with an intention to figure out the realistic acoustic radiation in the surrounding medium due to the vibrating structures (baffled and un-baffled plates and beams) (Atalla and Sgard, 2015) . The acoustic radiation of the flat rectangular plate in a rigid baffle is usually obtained by Rayleigh integral formulation and often used as the basis for the analysis of sound radiation analysis for more complex structures. This scheme is further extended by other researchers successively in the past to explore the possible effect of angle of the baffle and the end constraint conditions on the acoustic radiation behaviour (Putra and Thompson, 2010) . The first radiation mode amplitude of the composite and the isotropic plate structures have frequently been employed to account the acoustic behaviour (Petrone et al., 2014) . However, so far as the analysis of laminated and sandwich structures is concerned, the existing and/or refined 2D and shear deformation theories are mainly employed to obtain the vibration responses of the structure and the acoustic radiation is computed using Rayleigh integral (Petrone et al., 2014) . However, we also note that, in those studies the use of structure dependent radiation modes is preferred over the conventional acoustic radiation modes to quantify the acoustic radiation from the vibrating structures (Ohlrich and Hugin, 2004) .

In this regard, various acoustic radiation mode theories including the structure dependent radiation mode analysis steps have been evolved in the past with an intention to figure out the realistic acoustic radiation in the surrounding medium due to the vibrating structures (baffled and un-baffled plates and beams).

This scheme is further extended by other researchers successively in the past to explore the possible effect of angle of the baffle and the end constraint conditions on the acoustic radiation behaviour.

The first radiation mode amplitude of the composite and the isotropic plate structures have frequently been employed to account the acoustic behaviour.

However, so far as the analysis of laminated and sandwich structures is concerned, the existing and/or refined 2D and shear deformation theories are mainly employed to obtain the vibration responses of the structure and the acoustic radiation is computed using Rayleigh integral.

However, we also note that, in those studies the use of structure dependent radiation modes is preferred over the conventional acoustic radiation modes to quantify the acoustic radiation from the vibrating structures.


The objectives of this research are to develop sustainable packaging design methodology at the conceptual design phase, and to enhance the new guidelines to quantify efficient to life cycle evaluation process. This paper contains an approach for the increasing of environmental consciousness in packaging design main concepts, which is the systematic integration of environmental considerations into packaging and process design. It is encompassed by the sustainable packaging design approach and evaluation process concept, which have been developed. This paper proposes an approach to qualify the conceptual sustainable packaging design phase and evaluate the packaging process design systematically. The conceptual is presented in Figure 1 , this conceptual is an integrated function, economics and environmentally conscious in packaging stakeholders leading to sustainable design and development by using the life cycle thinking [7] .

The conceptual is presented in Figure 1 , this conceptual is an integrated function, economics and environmentally conscious in packaging stakeholders leading to sustainable design and development by using the life cycle thinking.


As part of these interviews, I asked interviewees about their role in the production, regulation, and reuse of food waste. Next, I utilized a triangulation method to analyze interview data across different sources in relation to each other in order to understand the relative importance of what they said and the context in which they disclosed information [58] . These data were then used to generalize about the structure of food waste governance in LA.

Next, I utilized a triangulation method to analyze interview data across different sources in relation to each other in order to understand the relative importance of what they said and the context in which they disclosed information.


Additionally, this idea persists even as scholars have suggested that the privatization, decentralization, and devolution of food waste governance to local food organizations and households may not reduce food waste [20, 21, 31] . In addition, consumer food waste is often theorized as a separate and unrelated process from corporate food system flows and key manufacturers, retailers, and other food businesses, even though scholars have argued that these institutions clearly shape how, where, and when people access, consume, and waste food [26, 41, 50] . Although responsible consumer practices are clearly an important aspect of food waste reduction, survey results interpreted through an urban political ecology lens may suggest that food waste governance could be limited by a narrow local consumer focus.

Additionally, this idea persists even as scholars have suggested that the privatization, decentralization, and devolution of food waste governance to local food organizations and households may not reduce food waste.

In addition, consumer food waste is often theorized as a separate and unrelated process from corporate food system flows and key manufacturers, retailers, and other food businesses, even though scholars have argued that these institutions clearly shape how, where, and when people access, consume, and waste food.


In 1995, a last experiment was performed by Wickens, Campbell, Liang and Merwin [38] . This time, they focused on bad weather. When subjects were asked to assign a single heading vector in order to avoid a weather formation, there was no difference in the response time between the PVD and the perspective 3D interfaces. However, test subjects were less conservative with the 2D interface, meaning that they tried to vector the aircrafts closer to the weather formation. Apparently, in this case, they felt more confident in their distance estimation capability. In a second assignment, having a final destination point as a target, subjects had to clear a set of vectors in order to safely avoid a weather formation. This time both changes in altitude and heading were allowed. When relying on 3D formats, test subjects issued a smaller number of vectors. On the contrary, when dealing with the PVD format, the number of vectors was higher and trajectories were less conservative. To be onset, the authors themselves somehow discredited the results of this study. Indeed, they acknowledged having experienced problems with the stereo 3D interface, which "had not consistently produced true and 'fused' stereo images". Also, many test subjects said they were unsatisfied with the 3D interface because of the visual clutter. Nevertheless, the spontaneous comment of a controller showed interest toward this technology. He believed it could be used for training purposes. Interestingly, this supposition found empirical evidence when the authors observed what they called the 'asymmetric transfer effect': test subjects who had begun the experiment with the 3D interface, improved their performance in the subsequent trials with the PVD, whereas the opposite effect was not observed.

In 1995, a last experiment was performed by Wickens, Campbell, Liang and Merwin.

This time, they focused on bad weather.


In 2010, Cooper, Fridlund, Andel, Bojan and Hardy provided some evidence in favour of the perspective interface concept [56] . In their study, a standard training scenario was more easily solved thanks to the 3D interface. However, for some people, the very same interface was found confusing. Indeed, during the test, a couple of controllers became very bewildered about the lateral separation between two aircrafts and had a hard time trying to solve a situation which was actually quite simple.

In 2010, Cooper, Fridlund, Andel, Bojan and Hardy provided some evidence in favour of the perspective interface concept.


Unfortunately, there does not exist any set of features for the AI Planning problem that are sufficient to describe the characteristics of a planning task, like mentioned above for the SAT domain [17] . The goal of this paper is hence less ambitious, though it can be seen as a first step in the direction of automatic parameter setting for the Evolutionary AI planner considered here. We will investigate the generality of behavioral parameters, i.e. parameters of the algorithm that directly impact on its behavior during the run (mainly the parameters related to the different variation operators, from their application rates to their internal parameters). We will also consider some structural parameters, namely here the set of predicates that are used to build the candidate solutions in the Evolutionary planner at hand, and analyze whether this set can be reduced, based on the analysis of previous runs, in order to reduce the size of the search space, and, hopefully, the computational cost of the optimization, without degrading the quality of the resulting solutions.

Unfortunately, there does not exist any set of features for the AI Planning problem that are sufficient to describe the characteristics of a planning task, like mentioned above for the SAT domain.


Several remedial measures are usually suggested to reduce vibrations induced by road traffic. They include periodic maintenance of road surfaces, traffic flow control, vehicle weight and speed control, improvement of road-subbase structure, soil improvement, screening of vibration using in-ground barriers, and the use of building isolation systems. Most of these meas-ures, including road maintenance and speed control, are usually considered impractical or not cost effective. Consequently, the problem continues to exist to this day. It is also believed that complaints about traffic vibrations will increase in the future for the following reasons. First, in order to maintain traffic-induced vibrations at low levels, roads have to be resurfaced more frequently than what is normally required for good rider comfort, safety, and appearance -this is becoming increasingly difficult under present constraints on maintenance budgets of most cities. Second, traffic volume and axle weights of heavy vehicles are increasing. From 1972 to 1992, for example, axle weights of transit buses in Canada increased by more than 25% (Corbeil et al. 1995) . Finally, new residential homes are more than ever incorporating lighter construction material and are being built closer to streets.

From 1972 to 1992, for example, axle weights of transit buses in Canada increased by more than 25%.


Field studies in ecology are often inconclusive with regard to the ultimate cause of a given change due to the intricacy of environmental factors and the scarcity of appropriate data. This provides scope to develop experimental studies designed to investigate the effects of interacting environmental factors. Experimental ecology approach (EEA) could be defined as an experimental work carried out in laboratory or in the field in order to test hypothesis settled in the wild. By completing field observations, EEA helps to draw conclusions concerning the effects of some environmental factors on animal functions such as reproduction or growth. EEA is situated between mimicking the natural environment and using a small scale experimental design to control the effects of environmental factors (Ylönen and Wolff 1999) . This approach uses experimental microcosms varying in size from test tubes to large tanks, thus reducing the complexity of the natural environment.

EEA is situated between mimicking the natural environment and using a small scale experimental design to control the effects of environmental factors.


An important problem in the common-rail fuel system is the calibration of the fuel amounts injected into the individual cylinders. Because of the varying characteristics of the solenoid valves, oscillating pressure differences between the rail and cylinders or clogging of the injector nozzles, there may exist a considerable discrepancy between the demanded and actual fuel amount injected into the cylinders. In automotive applications, this discrepancy can reportedly be as high as 25% [2] . The resulting nonuniform cylinder-wise torque contributions cause considerable crankshaft torsional vibrations, increasing the wear of mechanical components. Although the automotive industry has addressed this problem by using automatic calibration methods, medium-speed marine engines are today calibrated manually by periodically adjusting the fuelinjection durations in such a way that the exhaust-gas temperatures, or the cylinder pressures are aligned. For engines with a large number of cylinders, this is a tedious and difficult task. Moreover, cylinder balancing based on temperature and pressure measurements does not guarantee that the torsional vibrations are minimised.

In automotive applications, this discrepancy can reportedly be as high as 25%.


The introduction of a common-rail fuel system for diesel engines has made it possible to control cylinder-wise fuelinjection durations and timings. As the fuel is stored under constant high pressure and distributed to the cylinders by means of fast-switching electromagnetic solenoid valves, optimal fuel combustion can be achieved regardless of the engine load, as opposed to conventional fuel systems. The opportunities for better control have resulted in significant reductions of emitted air pollutants and soot generation. Common-rail fuel systems are now well established in automotive applications, and have in recent years also been increasingly applied to heavy fuel medium-speed marine diesel engines, [1] .

Common-rail fuel systems are now well established in automotive applications, and have in recent years also been increasingly applied to heavy fuel medium-speed marine diesel engines.


Because the portal allows only linear displacement, application of a point load at A simply translates the grating. The cantilever allows both translation and rotation, so application of a load at B rotates the grating about a remote point. Electrostatic comb drives can conveniently provide the loads. A Littrow cavity laser may be constructed from a semiconductor optical amplifier, a lens, and a MEMS tuning element, with the output taken from a lensed fibre as shown in figure 1(b). The optimum pivot lies at the intersection of the grating tangent and a line perpendicular to the cavity axis at a distance L c from the grating. Here, L c is the optical length of the cavity, and may be significantly different from L c , the physical length. The pivot radius R provided by the flexure depends on the elastic elements. For a simple cantilever of length L, the pivot is L/3 from the root. For a compound flexure as shown here, with beams of equal cross-sections, the pivot may be located exactly at the root, if the lengths L 1 and L 2 of the portal and cantilever satisfy L 1 = 3.62L 2 [18] .

For a compound flexure as shown here, with beams of equal cross-sections, the pivot may be located exactly at the root, if the lengths L 1 and L 2 of the portal and cantilever satisfy L 1 = 3.62L 2.


Recently, we showed that high-order blazed gratings etched vertically into silicon are reflective and selective enough for use in external cavity lasers [17] . We also showed that such a grating may be independently rotated and translated by mounting it on a compound flexure based on a cantilever in series with a portal frame, as shown in figure 1(a) [18] . An electrostatically tunable Littrow cavity laser with a more conventional rotary MEMS actuator has also been demonstrated, and shown to have excellent performance [19] [20] [21] .

Recently, we showed that high-order blazed gratings etched vertically into silicon are reflective and selective enough for use in external cavity lasers.

We also showed that such a grating may be independently rotated and translated by mounting it on a compound flexure based on a cantilever in series with a portal frame, as shown in figure 1(a).

An electrostatically tunable Littrow cavity laser with a more conventional rotary MEMS actuator has also been demonstrated, and shown to have excellent performance.


It is also possible that students may vary in their rate of learning so that some students' expectations may be quite adaptable while others are not or that students may require a large amount of pertinent information to accumulate over time before adapting their expectations (Morgan 2005) . These possibilities are interesting but do not fit our results. Recall that autoregressive pathways in educational expectations are quite high across time. This suggests that even if we were able to model the effects of differences in rates of student learning or the effects of different accumulations of information on educational expectations with our data we would not observe more adaptation in educational expectations over time. Moreover, these variations of Bayesian learning theory still highlight executive decision-making processes that find little support in research across a wide array of literatures vis-à-vis adolescent students. It is hard to imagine that variants of adaptation in expectations such as these would represent a dominant source of expectation formation given the weight of evidence against them.

It is also possible that students may vary in their rate of learning so that some students' expectations may be quite adaptable while others are not or that students may require a large amount of pertinent information to accumulate over time before adapting their expectations.


Most of the research on learning has so far focused on changes in knowledge and behavior occurring over long periods of time, such as over a period of hours, weeks, months and years. However, learning-contingent changes in knowledge and behavior are mediated by neural processes occurring at much shorter timeframes (e.g. milliseconds), including the time between a single observable behavioral event, that help determine whether learning occurs (Anderson, 2002; Fincham, Anderson, Betts, & Ferris, 2010) . Furthermore, every moment during which a teacher interacts with a student, he/she makes decisions about the provision of support such as scaffolding and feedback that influence learning efficacy (VanLehn, 2011) . Indeed, events occurring at the grain size of social interaction are related to events occurring at the grain size of learning (Anderson, 2002) .

However, learning-contingent changes in knowledge and behavior are mediated by neural processes occurring at much shorter timeframes (e.g. milliseconds), including the time between a single observable behavioral event, that help determine whether learning occurs.

Furthermore, every moment during which a teacher interacts with a student, he/she makes decisions about the provision of support such as scaffolding and feedback that influence learning efficacy.

Indeed, events occurring at the grain size of social interaction are related to events occurring at the grain size of learning.


The stimuli were presented in the center of a computer screen using the Psyscope software (Cohen, MacWhinney, Flatt, & Provost, 1993) . Items appeared as black characters on a white background and were displayed in Courier 24 font. The target word covered approximately 2.4°of visual angle from a viewing distance of 60 cm. Each trial consisted of a sequence of four visual events presented at exactly the same screen location. First, a forward mask (&&&&&&) was presented for 500 ms. It was immediately followed by the presentation of the prime for 30 ms, a backward mask (&&&&&&) for 15 ms, and finally, by the target word which remained on the screen until the participantÕs response. Primes were presented in lowercase letters, while targets were presented in uppercase letters. The participants were asked to concentrate on the middle of the forward mask. They were instructed to name the target words as rapidly and as accurately as possible. The presence of primes was not mentioned. Naming times were recorded from the target onset to the triggering of the voice key by the participantÕs response. Naming errors and voice key problems were noted by the experimenter. Stimulus presentation was randomized for each participant, with the restricting condition that one target could not appear twice within 10 trials. The experimental list was preceded by 10 practice trials.

The stimuli were presented in the center of a computer screen using the Psyscope software.


The process of drug dissolution proceeds through migration of drug molecules into the cavity of liquid dissolution medium and subsequent formation of bonding between drug and water molecules [13] . The lattice theory postulates that a liquid medium has crystalline or quasi-crystalline structures [14] . A proportion of volume occupied by the liquid is empty in liquid lattice network which constitutes free volume of liquid. The dissolution and diffusion of drug molecules are accompanied by solute molecules moving from one empty cavity to another within a liquid lattice. Technically, a higher fraction of free cavity may be formed in bulk water following the transmission of microwave to water which results in vibration of water molecules, local superheating and lost of crystalline structure of water network [15] . It is hypothesized that the propensity of drug dissolution can be enhanced through employing microwave-treated liquid as dissolution medium. As dissolution profile of a drug can dictate its bioavailability, the present study sets to investigate the effects of microwave on aqueous dissolution medium and its influence on dissolution profiles of free drugs of varying degrees of hydrophobicity as well as encapsulated drugs in alginate beads.

The process of drug dissolution proceeds through migration of drug molecules into the cavity of liquid dissolution medium and subsequent formation of bonding between drug and water molecules.

The lattice theory postulates that a liquid medium has crystalline or quasi-crystalline structures.

Technically, a higher fraction of free cavity may be formed in bulk water following the transmission of microwave to water which results in vibration of water molecules, local superheating and lost of crystalline structure of water network.


In the past few years, increasing attention has been devoted to the coordination of multiagent systems due to its wide applications for sensor network and multirobot systems [1] . As one of the most important problems in the issue of distributed coordination, consensus has even attracted much more interest from researchers. And many profound results are reported [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] .

In the past few years, increasing attention has been devoted to the coordination of multiagent systems due to its wide applications for sensor network and multirobot systems.

And many profound results are reported.


Representability is difficult to characterise for relation algebras. Monk proved that no finite set of first-order sentences can define the class RRA of representable relation algebras [21] . Various strengthenings of this result have been obtained [13] , [1] , [25] . Furthermore, the representability problem is known to be undecidable for finite relation algebras [11] . On the other hand, representability is quite easily characterised for boolean algebras: every field of sets is a boolean algebra, and by Stone's theorem, every boolean algebra can be represented as a field of sets.

Monk proved that no finite set of first-order sentences can define the class RRA of representable relation algebras.

Various strengthenings of this result have been obtained.

Furthermore, the representability problem is known to be undecidable for finite relation algebras.


The population can either occupy a highly aggressive state, the population of policers can grow to take over the population in order to control aggression, or policing and passive individuals can coexist at comparable numbers. The solutions are determined by the balance between spontaneous policing and the corruption of police following failed interventions. Our empirical data suggest that policing is a relative state dependent strategy, in so far as it appears to require a high variance in the distribution of power, or some other analog measure of resource disparity, to arise. Hence the second and third of the equilibrium states of this model are unlikely to be realized as these states assume that many individuals assume a policing role -albeit somewhat ineffectively. The first equilibrium state -a transition to high aggression when policing fails-is consistent with experimental findings showing that when policing is disabled, aggression increases, and hence that effective policing is critical to preventing social destabilization in systems in which policing is the primary conflict management mechanism [7, 23] .

The first equilibrium state -a transition to high aggression when policing fails-is consistent with experimental findings showing that when policing is disabled, aggression increases, and hence that effective policing is critical to preventing social destabilization in systems in which policing is the primary conflict management mechanism.


In this study we found that there was degradation in timing adjustment to a pitched ball during virtual softball batting when the pitcher's motion and ball type (change-up or fast ball) were mismatched, especially as regards fast ball motion and change-up trajectory condition. This result suggests that an expert batter utilizes information related to the pitcher' motion when making a "swing or wait" decision probably related to fast ball-based timing control strategy [5] . Interestingly, no participants were aware of the mismatches. Thus, this cognitive judgement regarding the pitcher's motion would be made in an unconscious manner and contribute to any adjustment of the swing timing. Many studies have suggested the importance to batting information about the pitcher's motion [6, 7] . Our result directly supports this suggestion using virtual space.

This result suggests that an expert batter utilizes information related to the pitcher' motion when making a "swing or wait" decision probably related to fast ball-based timing control strategy.

Many studies have suggested the importance to batting information about the pitcher's motion.


Geographical spread of ash begins from South East Europe, and reaches to Turkey, Iran and Turkestan. This species is more common in different forest regions in our country. Süleymaniye Forest at the stuffed areas at the mouth of Sakarya River near Adapazarı and Çilinkoz Forest near Demirköy are the most beautiful forests of this type. They have been formed from the 1940s to the present day as a plantation forest (Sahin 2013) .

They have been formed from the 1940s to the present day as a plantation forest.


One problem associated with the long time storage of biodiesel is change in its properties and this may result into a decrease in its quality. As recommended by ASTM, high quality biodiesel has zero or negligible free fatty acid content (0.05% maximum), zero or negligible moisture content (0.05% maximum), high cetane number (47.0 minimum) and low level of impurities (0.0015% mass maximum) [10, 13] . The storage environment in which biodiesel is subjected to can contribute to the nature and extent of impurities found in the biodiesel. This is because biodiesel (an oxygenated and unsaturated compound) can undergo certain reactions with certain compounds in such environment, depending on the environmental condition [17] [18] [19] [20] .

As recommended by ASTM, high quality biodiesel has zero or negligible free fatty acid content (0.05% maximum), zero or negligible moisture content (0.05% maximum), high cetane number (47.0 minimum) and low level of impurities (0.0015% mass maximum).

This is because biodiesel (an oxygenated and unsaturated compound) can undergo certain reactions with certain compounds in such environment, depending on the environmental condition.


Energy production from biomass (such as woods, seed oils, agricultural residues) has a wide range of great advantages over fossil fuel [1] [2] [3] [4] . The benefits include energy sustainability, reduction in pollution and global warming effects, increased energy diversification and economic security [5] [6] [7] . Biodiesel is a renewable biomass energy source. It can be produced through transesterification process which involves reversible chemical reaction between the triglycerides of plant oils or animal fats and short chain alcohol, in the presence of a catalyst (homogeneous or heterogeneous in nature) [8] [9] [10] .

Energy production from biomass (such as woods, seed oils, agricultural residues) has a wide range of great advantages over fossil fuel.

The benefits include energy sustainability, reduction in pollution and global warming effects, increased energy diversification and economic security.

It can be produced through transesterification process which involves reversible chemical reaction between the triglycerides of plant oils or animal fats and short chain alcohol, in the presence of a catalyst (homogeneous or heterogeneous in nature).


Research has shown that homogenous catalysis (involving NaOH or KOH) produces higher conversion or yield of biodiesel, lower reaction temperature and lower reaction time when compared to heterogenous catalysis [12] [13] . Also, base catalyzed process eliminates engine corrosion problem associated with the acid catalyzed process [14] [15] . For base catalyzed methanolysis process, the optimal condition ranges are 55-62°C reaction temperature, 60-90 min reaction time and 250-350 rpm [1] [2] [3] [14] [15] .

Research has shown that homogenous catalysis (involving NaOH or KOH) produces higher conversion or yield of biodiesel, lower reaction temperature and lower reaction time when compared to heterogenous catalysis.

Also, base catalyzed process eliminates engine corrosion problem associated with the acid catalyzed process.

For base catalyzed methanolysis process, the optimal condition ranges are 55-62°C reaction temperature, 60-90 min reaction time and 250-350 rpm.


Radical pericardiectomy involves wide resection of the anterior surface of the heart between the phrenic nerves and the diaphragmatic surface. Other smaller excisions with more limited scope are considered to be partial. The extent of pericardiectomy needed for constrictive pericarditis has been discussed [3, 4, 10, 11] . The point at discussion is the necessity of decortication of the right atrium and the vena cava.

The extent of pericardiectomy needed for constrictive pericarditis has been discussed.


As inter-municipal cooperation has grown in popularity, increased scholarly attention has been paid to this phenomenon in recent years. American studies have largely focused on the driving forces behind the process of inter-municipal cooperation and its objectives. By contrast, European studies have focused more on the outcomes (Bel and Warner, 2014) .

By contrast, European studies have focused more on the outcomes.


In this paper we shall present two methods for constructing Reiter nets for semidirect products of locally compact groups. Both methods provide a Reiter net for a semidirect product based upon Reiter nets for the original two groups. These results can be applied to construct Følner nets for semidirect products providing new insights on a result of Janzen [8] .

These results can be applied to construct Følner nets for semidirect products providing new insights on a result of Janzen.


The dynamic stiffness methods and the SFEM are also a good option to deal with the study of structural vibration in a wide frequency range. They have been used, among others, to predict the vibration behaviour of structures composed of panels [40] . Most of these methods require the assumption of some geometry simplification. But recent formulations try to extend their use to more general structures, for example composed of rectangular plates [41, 42, 43] .

They have been used, among others, to predict the vibration behaviour of structures composed of panels.

But recent formulations try to extend their use to more general structures, for example composed of rectangular plates.


The F16 flight dynamics are non-linear, time varying, and traditionally flight controllers have been designed by utilizing linearized aircraft models operating at a variety of set-point operating conditions [1] . These linearized, time-invariant models yield gainscheduled controllers, which do not exhibit globally acceptable performance [2] . In order to address these problems, non-linear techniques such as feedback linearization have become a de-facto standard as an alternative to gain scheduling [3] . In this article, an existing feedback linearization scheme is augmented by a fuzzy logic controller that has been designed and optimized by a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) in order to take advantage of the inherently stable aspects of the feedback linearized controller, merged with the aggressive flight control aspects of the fuzzy controller.

The F16 flight dynamics are non-linear, time varying, and traditionally flight controllers have been designed by utilizing linearized aircraft models operating at a variety of set-point operating conditions.

These linearized, time-invariant models yield gainscheduled controllers, which do not exhibit globally acceptable performance.

In order to address these problems, non-linear techniques such as feedback linearization have become a de-facto standard as an alternative to gain scheduling.


The idealised figure in Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring (c. 1665, Mauritshuis, the Netherlands, Fig. 1a ) conveys a sense of timeless beauty. The painting does not depict a specific person, but was intended as a tronie: a character study of a girl dressed in exotic costume [1] . Her skin is soft and smooth, with an impeccable transition from light to dark from one side of her face to the other. The softening of transitions and contours in the face, rather than using sharp lines and definitions, creates the effect of sfumato (after Leonardo da Vinci) [2, 3] . In contrast to the face, the headdress and jacket are painted in a more free and spontaneous manner. The Girl is silhouetted against a dark background, which makes her face appear lighter, enhancing the three-dimensional effect of the composition [4] . Girl with a Pearl Earring holds a special place in Vermeer's oeuvre, which for the most part is comprised of domestic interior scenes. The only other painting in which he depicted a single female half-figure against a dark background is Study of a Young Woman (c. 1665-1667, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York). These works are of a similar size, were almost certainly painted at around the same time, and are both considered to be tronies [5] . Vermeer developed the techniques to render soft flesh tones around 1665, in paintings such as Woman Holding a Balance (c. 1664, National Gallery of Art, Washington) and Young Woman with a Water Pitcher (c. 1662, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) [6] . The soft modelling is also the main argument to date the Mauritshuis' Girl with a Pearl Earring to c. 1665 [3] .

The painting does not depict a specific person, but was intended as a tronie: a character study of a girl dressed in exotic costume.

The softening of transitions and contours in the face, rather than using sharp lines and definitions, creates the effect of sfumato (after Leonardo da Vinci).

The Girl is silhouetted against a dark background, which makes her face appear lighter, enhancing the three-dimensional effect of the composition.

These works are of a similar size, were almost certainly painted at around the same time, and are both considered to be tronies.

Vermeer developed the techniques to render soft flesh tones around 1665, in paintings such as Woman Holding a Balance (c. 1664, National Gallery of Art, Washington) and Young Woman with a Water Pitcher (c. 1662, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).

The soft modelling is also the main argument to date the Mauritshuis' Girl with a Pearl Earring to c. 1665.


Vermeer exploited the 'turbid medium effect' (bluehued scattering) to create cool midtones. Applying a thin light paint layer on top of a warm dark underpaint, so that the underlayer remains somewhat visible, makes the upper layers appear cooler in tone: the shorter (blue) wavelengths are reflected by the lead white particles, while the longer (red) wavelengths penetrate deeper in the layer structure and are absorbed by the dark underpaint [7, 8] . In his later paintings, Vermeer seems to have changed his approach, using a technique that sets him apart from his Dutch contemporaries. He applied paint containing the pigment green earth on top of the other flesh colours to create shadows in the skin tones [7, 9] . Gifford and Glinsman reported the use of green earth in at least fifteen of his works, mainly in the skin tones [10] . Girl with a Pearl Earring appears to conform more closely to the techniques used in the 1660s, rather than his later works.

Applying a thin light paint layer on top of a warm dark underpaint, so that the underlayer remains somewhat visible, makes the upper layers appear cooler in tone: the shorter (blue) wavelengths are reflected by the lead white particles, while the longer (red) wavelengths penetrate deeper in the layer structure and are absorbed by the dark underpaint.

He applied paint containing the pigment green earth on top of the other flesh colours to create shadows in the skin tones.

Gifford and Glinsman reported the use of green earth in at least fifteen of his works, mainly in the skin tones.


Synchrotron radiation µ-XRPD, SEM-EDX, and FTIR-ATR revealed that Vermeer used a lead white with finer particles and higher cerussite content in the surface paint layers. The finest quality was found in the thin, light-coloured layer (scumble) that was applied over the reddish-brown underpaint in the shadow tone. This shows that Vermeer was highly selective in the particle size of his lead white. Lead isotope analysis of eight different lead white-containing paints in Girl with a Pearl Earring showed very little variation in the isotope ratios. It identified the region of Peak District of Derbyshire in UK as most likely source of the lead used to produce the different qualities of lead white found in Girl with a Pearl Earring. SEM-EDX, FIB-STEM, and FTIR-ATR also identified lead-containing reaction products in the flesh paints: lead soaps and a compound rich in lead, potassium and sulphur-probably palmierite (K 2 Pb(SO 4 ) 2 ), here associated with the substrate of red lake pigment. In conclusion, Vermeer worked in a very structured and effective manner to paint the smooth flesh tones of Girl with a Pearl Earring. It has been noted by previous researchers that, although Vermeer used a variety of techniques to render flesh tones and subtle light effects, he would never repeat himself; instead, he "continued to see things afresh" [7] .

It has been noted by previous researchers that, although Vermeer used a variety of techniques to render flesh tones and subtle light effects, he would never repeat himself; instead, he "continued to see things afresh".


Earlier solutions of automated diabetic retinopathy detection system were based on hand-crafted feature extraction and standard machine learning algorithm for prediction [3] . These approaches were greatly suffer due to the handcrafted nature of DR features extraction since feature extraction in color fundus images are more challenging compared to the traditional images for object detection task. Moreover, these hand-crafted features are highly sensitive to the quality of the fundus images, focus angle, presence of artifacts, and noise. Thus, these limitations in traditional hand-crafted features make it important to develop an effective feature extraction algorithm to effectively analyze the subtle features related to the DR detection task.

Earlier solutions of automated diabetic retinopathy detection system were based on hand-crafted feature extraction and standard machine learning algorithm for prediction.


Myoepithelial carcinoma of the breast is extremely rare. A limited number of published reports have described myoepithelial carcinomas originating from the breast [7] . Therefore, little is known about its biological behavior. Light microscopy revealed interlacing bundles of spindle cells sometimes arranged in a storiform pattern. The cytoplasm tended to be eosinophilic or sometimes clear. An infiltrative growth pattern may be present at the periphery of the tumor [4] .

A limited number of published reports have described myoepithelial carcinomas originating from the breast.

An infiltrative growth pattern may be present at the periphery of the tumor.


Active and passive microwave instruments are useful for measuring the mass of ice hydrometeors. This is for example relevant 25 for deep convection systems and associated anvil cirrus (high altitude ice clouds), which are dominant features of the intertropical convergence zone and play a major role in the earth radiative energy budget, climate, and hydrological cycle. Accurate measurements of these tropical clouds are important from a weather and climate prediction point of view. Because clouds are semi-transparent at microwave frequencies, measured signals are related to the integrated column of ice hydrometeors. Depending on the exact measurement frequency, sensitivity to different particle sizes is gained. Radars utilize frequencies up to 30 95 GHz and are predominantly sensitive to larger, presumably precipitating hydrometeors, e.g., snow. Radiometers that make use of frequencies above 300 GHz, i.e., sub-millimetre frequencies, are instead sensitive to smaller particles, useful for measuring ice clouds (Buehler et al., 2007) . In order to estimate the total ice mass accurately, a suitable combination of frequencies should be chosen in order to offer sensitivity to the particle sizes contributing the most to the total mass for varying conditions.

Radiometers that make use of frequencies above 300 GHz, i.e., sub-millimetre frequencies, are instead sensitive to smaller particles, useful for measuring ice clouds.


We first addressed these theoretical and empirical issues by examining the basic relationships between gratitude, savoring, and the four humor styles. In line with our expectations, we found that higher gratitude and savoring were positively linked with higher levels of both adaptive humor styles (affiliative, self-enhancing), along with lower levels of aggressive humor. Higher trait gratitude was also associated with lower levels of the maladaptive style of self-defeating humor that has predominantly been implicated in negative well-being (Martin et al., 2003) . We also found that two more fundamental dimensions appear to underlie all of these relationships. The first dimension corresponds to a broad, positive orientation for perceiving, interpreting and reflecting upon one's life situations and experiences. Conversely, the second dimension, which captures more aggressive and self-defeating humor, coupled with lower levels of gratitude, appears to reflect a broad negative orientation to approaching and dealing with life events and experiences. Overall, these patterns of findings clearly reinforce the interwoven nature of the various individual difference constructs examined in our study. In addition, they also highlight the need to consider constructs from these two domains of psychology in a more unified manner. In this integrated approach, each individual construct is acknowledged as part of a more fundamental positive or negative orientation for dealing with a wide variety of life circumstances and experiences.

Higher trait gratitude was also associated with lower levels of the maladaptive style of self-defeating humor that has predominantly been implicated in negative well-being.


A similar pattern emerged for the positive indicators of well-being, which once again implicated gratitude and the self-focused humor styles as prominent predictors of higher levels of subjective happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect. In this case, however, there seems to be a much stronger role for savoring, with this individual difference construct being a significant predictor of two of the three positive indicators of well-being. It was particularly interesting that savoring played the predominate role in determining positive affect levels, in spite of humor's traditional very strong association with mirth and positive affect (Martin, 2007) . If this pattern replicates in future studies, it might help elucidate some of the critical distinctions between savoring as a strategy and the role of adaptive humor styles, such as affiliative and self-enhancing humor.

It was particularly interesting that savoring played the predominate role in determining positive affect levels, in spite of humor's traditional very strong association with mirth and positive affect.


Kanazawa University introduced the da Vinci surgical system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) in 2005 and the Radius surgical system (Tuebingen Scientific Medical GmbH, Germany) in 2006 [1] [2] [3] . The university is the only facility in Japan in which both innovative endoscopic surgery systems are in use. While surgeons unfamiliar with both systems may feel that the da Vinci is unnecessary if the Radius system is already being employed, this facility has benefited from the use of both innovative endoscopic surgery systems in Japan. We have therefore compared the advantages and disadvantages of each system.

Kanazawa University introduced the da Vinci surgical system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) in 2005 and the Radius surgical system (Tuebingen Scientific Medical GmbH, Germany) in 2006.


Even though the Malaysian Education Blueprint (MEB 2013 (MEB -2025 highlights the use of Autonomous Language Learning (ALL) to improve language proficiency among students, autonomous learning remains a crucial element that is missing from English language classrooms due to the exam-oriented system, as well as traditional teacher-centered approaches, widely used in Malaysia (Yunus and Arshad, 2014) . It is fairly common to observe students assuming a passive role in the process of learning, waiting for their teachers to provide them with information and examination tips in schools. The ramification is students in this context become devout rote learners; memorising facts to pass examinations and not for long-term knowledge or skills gain.

Even though the Malaysian Education Blueprint (MEB 2013 (MEB -2025 highlights the use of Autonomous Language Learning (ALL) to improve language proficiency among students, autonomous learning remains a crucial element that is missing from English language classrooms due to the exam-oriented system, as well as traditional teacher-centered approaches, widely used in Malaysia.


In Lemma 1.1, we particularly note that the statement (3) is a local condition of L which determines a global structure of L as the statement (2) . This implies the following theorem. Here, based on this idea, we investigate a finite graph which is the 1-skeleton of some simplicial flag complex which is a homology manifold as an extension of a generalized homology sphere, and we show the following theorem.

In Lemma 1.1, we particularly note that the statement (3) is a local condition of L which determines a global structure of L as the statement.

This implies the following theorem.


The hypothesis to be investigated in this work can be formulated as follows: is the nose geometry leading to a gradient in air-flow velocities and contact-area profiles inside the nose which are beneficial for the animal in a thermodynamic sense? Does this structure lead to more efficient heat and water recovery than a simple nose structure? In order to answer these questions, we will examine a model that mimics the real structure of the reindeer nose ( Figure 1 ) and compare it to a reference case, where we model a nose with uniform geometrical properties but with the same total contact areas and volume as the reindeer nose. We shall address the questions by using non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and we discuss the issue of optimal design from an evolutionary perspective. With non-equilibrium thermodynamics, we can objectively assess whether the complicated geometry of the reindeer nose is advantageous with respect to the thermodynamic efficiency. The overall idea is that further knowledge on natural systems can inspire the engineering of, for instance, new and more efficient heat and water exchangers. This is of relevance for the treatment of the exhausted air from ventilation systems of buildings. Similar ideas have already led to the proposal of a new improved fuel cell design [12, 13] .

Similar ideas have already led to the proposal of a new improved fuel cell design.


It should be noted that curved and elliptical neutron guides were tested for IMAT. The curved neutron guide produces an asymmetric image on the monitor due to Garland reflections [8] . The elliptical guide produces a large divergence which is unfavourable for strain scanning diffraction measurements compared to the straight guide.

The curved neutron guide produces an asymmetric image on the monitor due to Garland reflections.


The global well-posedness of classical solutions with damping and rotations has been well-known under certain smallness assumptions on the initial data; see for examples [3, 20, 25, 35] . This is in sharp contrast with the Euler system whose classical solutions generally develop singularities no matter how smooth and small the initial data are; see for examples [26, 30] . The main aim of this paper is to investigate whether these lower order dissipations or dispersions can prevent the loss of uniqueness for admissible weak solutions. Our next aim is to construct wild solutions with special structures in order to gain a better understanding for the fine properties of weak solutions.

The global well-posedness of classical solutions with damping and rotations has been well-known under certain smallness assumptions on the initial data; see for examples.

This is in sharp contrast with the Euler system whose classical solutions generally develop singularities no matter how smooth and small the initial data are; see for examples.


Rotor systems with pedestal looseness can be described by a nonlinear mathematical model containing stiffness and damping forces with trilinear forms [28] . Due to the existence of nonlinear bearing forces within the system, a bearing-rotor system with pedestal looseness demonstrates nonlinear dynamic behaviors, with complex and nonstationary vibration characteristics. When rub-impact occurs in rotor systems with pedestal looseness, the nonlinear rubbing forces with a piecewise linear form of stiffness are also considered in the system [29, 30] . Rotor systems with pedestal looseness coupled with rub-impact will become much more complicated, and its nonlinearity effects on the dynamics of the system will become increasingly more serious. Numerically, the severity of the nonlinearity can be quantified by a nonlinearity evaluation (also called a nonlinearity measure or a nonlinearity test), which represents an approach to systematically quantify the degree of nonlinearity of a dynamical system [31, 32] .

Rotor systems with pedestal looseness can be described by a nonlinear mathematical model containing stiffness and damping forces with trilinear forms.

When rub-impact occurs in rotor systems with pedestal looseness, the nonlinear rubbing forces with a piecewise linear form of stiffness are also considered in the system.

Numerically, the severity of the nonlinearity can be quantified by a nonlinearity evaluation (also called a nonlinearity measure or a nonlinearity test), which represents an approach to systematically quantify the degree of nonlinearity of a dynamical system.


In this paper, we analyse technological progress and marginal cost developments for energy efficiency measures related to the building envelope, drawing heavily from a recent and extensive techno-economic study for Switzerland [3] . In particular, we study learning effects concerning innovative products (e.g. insulation materials, construction elements) and processes (e.g. concerning production, planning, logistics, and mounting) relevant for a more energy-efficient building envelope, including windows. The results from our analysis are then put into a somewhat broader perspective, in order to improve our understanding of experience curves related to a more energy-efficient insulation of the building envelope, and how this can be used in policy design and impact analyses. Many of the insights gained from the Swiss experience and prospects can be taken up and adapted to other countries, provided that the differences in the framework conditions are appropriately taken into account.

In this paper, we analyse technological progress and marginal cost developments for energy efficiency measures related to the building envelope, drawing heavily from a recent and extensive techno-economic study for Switzerland.


The paper is organized as follows. We start with introducing in Section 2 some notation that will be used throughout the paper. In Section 3, we derive Wald's tests for the two-type GW process describing the genealogy of the cells. In Section 4, we derive Wald's test for the BAR process, to test asymmetry of its parameters. In section 5 we apply our tests to simulated data. Finally, in Section 6 we apply our tests to (Stewart et al., 2005) data.

The paper is organized as follows.

Finally, in Section 6 we apply our tests to data.


Hulled wheat species (einkorn, emmer and spelt) are among the most ancient cereal crops of the Mediterranean region. Einkorn (Triticum monococcum) is genetically the most basic wheat type with a diploid chromosome number (2n=14) and contains two sets of a single genome. Emmer (Triticum dicoccum), another ancient wheat, is tetraploid (2n=28) and combines two distinct genomes, whereas spelt wheat (Triticum spelta) and common wheat (triticum aestivum) are hexaploid (2n=42) and contain 2 sets of three different genomes (Kimber and Sears 1983) . Einkorn and emmer were instrumental in the rise and spread of agriculture and a significant food source for several thousand years, before it was replaced by the more productive polyploid wheat during the Eneolithic period (Nesbitt and Samuel 1996) . Hulled wheat is a typical example of an underutilized plant species. These species have a considerable importance in terms of food security and local cultural value, but are relatively unknown and undervalued in commercial production. Most underutilized species, often neglected by researchers and policy makers, are in danger of disappearing due to different reasons, from agronomic and genetic, to economic and cultural factors (Padulosi et al. 2002) .

Emmer (Triticum dicoccum), another ancient wheat, is tetraploid (2n=28) and combines two distinct genomes, whereas spelt wheat (Triticum spelta) and common wheat (triticum aestivum) are hexaploid (2n=42) and contain 2 sets of three different genomes.

Einkorn and emmer were instrumental in the rise and spread of agriculture and a significant food source for several thousand years, before it was replaced by the more productive polyploid wheat during the Eneolithic period.

Most underutilized species, often neglected by researchers and policy makers, are in danger of disappearing due to different reasons, from agronomic and genetic, to economic and cultural factors.


The text messages were entered using an XDA IIs handset that deploys a representative example of today's thumb-based keyboards, as illustrated in Figure 1 . In order to capture the keystroke data, appropriate software was developed using Microsoft's Visual Basic .NET, and deployed on the handset. A screenshot of the software is illustrated in Figure 2 . As usual in keystroke analysis studies, corrections were not permitted in case the user misspelled a word as this would undesirably interfere with the data [7] . Instead, the whole word had to be retyped in the correct form. Although it would be preferred to collect the data during multiple sessions, as a more indicative typing profile of the users could be captured, the data collection was performed in a single session, to maximise the number of participants that completed the study.

As usual in keystroke analysis studies, corrections were not permitted in case the user misspelled a word as this would undesirably interfere with the data.


Hence, this paper responds to the growing need to understand how different elements of online information searching and booking influence consumer behaviour, mainly the propensity to book a hotel room (Vermeulen and Seegers 2009) . The current paper contributes to the literature by examining the effect of interactions between eWOM and brand and price within the context of a service business. Gaining a better understanding of how these factors influence consumers' booking behaviour under realistic conditions is relevant for both practitioners and academics.

Hence, this paper responds to the growing need to understand how different elements of online information searching and booking influence consumer behaviour, mainly the propensity to book a hotel room.


In conventional portable electronic devices, electrochemical batteries have been dominant due to their high energy density. Although the development of ultra-low power electronics extend lifetime of such batteries, recharging and replacing them are usually inevitable for long-time sensor monitoring nodes. In certain applications, such as implantable electronics and wireless sensor nodes, charging and replacing batteries can be both impractical and costly [1] . In order to feed the needs for energy of such devices, harvesting energy from environmental kinetic vibration has attracted increasing attention as a promising alternative method in recent years [2] [3] [4] [5] . Commonly used transduction mechanisms for vibration energy harvesting include electromagnetic, electrostatic and piezoelectric effects. Piezoelectric transducers have attracted much research interest due to its relatively high power density and compatibility with conventional micro fabrication techniques.

In certain applications, such as implantable electronics and wireless sensor nodes, charging and replacing batteries can be both impractical and costly.

In order to feed the needs for energy of such devices, harvesting energy from environmental kinetic vibration has attracted increasing attention as a promising alternative method in recent years.


The theoretical electric power generated by a piezoelectric harvester is given as P = (1/2)I 2 0 Z int , where I 0 is the amplitude of the current source and Z int is the equivalent internal impedance of the harvester. In most of reported PVEHs, the two electrode layers usually cover all the piezoelectric layer in order to extract as much power as possible [12, 13] . However, according to the distribution of strain in the piezoelectric layer while vibrating, the volumetric strain is higher near the clamped end and very little near the free end of the cantilever, as shown in Fig. 2 . Furthermore, larger electrode area means larger C P capacitance and smaller R P resistance, hence smaller internal impedance. Therefore, the piezoelectric area near the clamped end should obviously be covered by electrodes due to the high strain density in this area, but the electrodes do not need to cover the free end. Because of the nonuniformly distributed strain along axis x, there should exists an optimal value for the area of electrode to maximize the generated power [14] . Although a proof mass is usually added at the tip of the cantilever, the maximum strain still stays at the clamped end and keeps decreasing along the x axis. Hence, the optimal electrode coverage still exists for cantilevered PVEHs. In this paper, the optimal area of electrode layers for a maximum power output is theoretically calculated and experimentally verified with MEMS piezoelectric harvesters.

In most of reported PVEHs, the two electrode layers usually cover all the piezoelectric layer in order to extract as much power as possible.

Because of the nonuniformly distributed strain along axis x, there should exists an optimal value for the area of electrode to maximize the generated power.


In order to reduce the requirements of a conventional seat suspension with linear dampers, this paper proposes a new seat suspension structure using a rotary MR damper. The seat suspension with a linear MR damper has been widely investigated but the research on semi-active seat suspension utilising a rotary MR damper is very rare. Compared with conventional seat suspension with a linear MR damper, which needs large amounts of MR fluids to fill the reserve of the linear MR damper, a rotary damper based seat suspension only utilizes a smaller quantity of MRF because the reserve of the rotary MR damper is much smaller than that of a linear one. This advantage significantly reduces the cost of the seat suspension [21] . Another advantage over linear dampers is the lack of need for sealing the rotary MR damper. The working mechanism of the linear MR damper relies on the pressure difference between the two sides of the piston, which means the pressure of at least one side is quite high and thus needs good sealing. . In terms of the rotary MR damper, the working mechanism is different and the MRF pressure is quite low, thus it is much easier to solve the sealing problem. The advantages of compact structure, anti-sedimentation of MR fluids and easy assembly of rotary MR dampers should also be noted.

This advantage significantly reduces the cost of the seat suspension.


Recent developments in outcome measures in the rheumatic diseases have been promoted by the development of successful treatments in the past decade. For diseases for which there already was effective treatment available, new, more effective or less toxic treatments have been tested and introduced [1] . For diseases for which there was no effective treatment, new treatments have been developed and shown to be effective [1] . A well-known example of this is anti-tumor necrosis factor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis. The ultimate goal of pharmacological treatment in the inflammatory rheumatic diseases nowadays is to reach and sustain remission, including the complete suppression of inflammation and pain and the prevention of excess disability and organ damage. However, sustained remission, not to mention cure, is still difficult to reach.

For diseases for which there already was effective treatment available, new, more effective or less toxic treatments have been tested and introduced.

For diseases for which there was no effective treatment, new treatments have been developed and shown to be effective.


A number of studies have highlighted the role that mentors could play with overcoming Imposter Syndrome (Coryell et al, 2013) . These could be final year students with similar backgrounds and circumstances, who can empathise and offer advice. Peer support is also crucial. Many institutions have Mature Student Groups within the Students' Union which can help with isolation. Belonging to an institution/subject discipline/body of students is crucial for progression and retention, and the assessment/feedback cycle helps the student engage with their community of practice. Mature students have 'layers of identities' that need to be juggled and manipulated. Unpicking students' wider life challenges and helping them to cope, especially those student-parents or student-carers, acknowledges their many roles and gives them validity and entitlement to be in higher education. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome may be a personal challenge but is one that institutions need to recognise and resource.

A number of studies have highlighted the role that mentors could play with overcoming Imposter Syndrome.

Peer support is also crucial.


Bone fracture exists throughout the human history. People's understanding and therapy of bone fracture is developing continuously. There's written record in western countries that mixture of earth and gum as well as mixture of egg white and flour was used for fixing a fracture. The popular fracture treatment with gypsum and bandage was invented by European. This treatment is known as today's closed reduction and external fixation [1] . Closed reduction and external fixation is to restore broken bones firstly by tact or continuous traction, followed by external fixation with gypsum and bandage. The external fixation must cover adjacent joints to the bone fracture. Such treatment avoids open reduction and thereby protects fracture hematoma and periosteum, beneficial for fracture healing. However, although it heals fracture quicker than open reduction. Its long-time external fixation will cause anchylosis and muscular atrophy which take a long time for physiotherapy and exercise to recover functions. Elders are even difficult to recover completely.

This treatment is known as today's closed reduction and external fixation.


Bats make up one of the most diversified groups of mammals in the world (Simmons 2005) . The most highly adapted aspects of bats are their wings. Although bats are under several stressors related to land use changes, possible asymmetry in these structures has not been systematically investigated, nor has the possible effect of such asymmetry on the wings function.

Bats make up one of the most diversified groups of mammals in the world.


The present paper is organized as follows. In Section 2, we formulate our main results, concerning the following issues: (a) the existence of a solution taking values in a given bounded domain of configuration space and possessing a bounded derivative; (b) the hyperbolicity of such a solution; (c) the uniqueness and, as a consequence, the quasiperiodicity of such a solution. In Section 3, a number of important auxiliary propositions are proved, including the Landau type inequality for the derivative of the bounded solution. The main theorems are proved in Section 4. In particular, here we present an ad hoc proof of quasiperiodicity without referring to the well known Amerio theorem [1] . Finally, in Section 5, the results obtained are applied to establish conditions under which the system governing the motion of charged particle in time-quasiperiodic electric field has a hyperbolic quasiperiodic solution. We also show that the perturbation of the system by sufficiently small time-quasiperiodic magnetic field together with the force of friction does not destroy such a quasiperiodic solution. The admissible magnitude of perturbation is estimated.

In particular, here we present an ad hoc proof of quasiperiodicity without referring to the well known Amerio theorem.