Silicon has generally not been considered essential for plant growth, although it is well recognized that many plants, particularly Poaceae, have substantial plant tissue concentrations of this element. For many years, silicon deficiency in crops went unrecognized, and this element was widely regarded as non-essential for plant growth, although often present in the highest concentration in inorganic constituents. However, there is now a greater consensus amongst scientists in the role of silicon as a "functional" plant nutrient. Silica content in the plant is reported to play an important role in strengthening the cell walls of plants [3] . In Florida, researchers found that after applying 20 t/ha of TVA slag to a muck soil, there was a significant decrease in leaf freckling in sugarcane. Furthermore, with improved silicon nutrition, there was an increase in sugarcane resistance to the stem borer Diatraea saccharalis F. [4] . In the greenhouse, sugarcane varieties were artificially inoculated with E. saccharina and treated with three doses (0, 5 and 10 t/ha) of calcium silicate. At 10 t/ha calcium silicate, there was a reduction of 30% in borer damage and 20% in borer mass. The most susceptible varieties showed the highest silicon uptake and the greatest response. Of the four carriers tested, stalkborer incidence declined as follows: South African calcium silicate > imported USA calcium silicate > local Slagment > flyash. In the field experiment, similar results were recorded [5] .

Silica content in the plant is reported to play an important role in strengthening the cell walls of plants.

Furthermore, with improved silicon nutrition, there was an increase in sugarcane resistance to the stem borer Diatraea saccharalis F..

In the field experiment, similar results were recorded.


This experiment was carried out at the laboratory of Arak Azad University. Red bean cultivar Akhtar was used as host plant. Cultivar was selected by advisement of plant protection experts in khomein research center. Seeds were drenched 24 h. before planting and they were planted in pots (10 liters in size) that were filled with cocopeat and perlite (1:1) in a hydroponic system. The pots were kept in a greenhouse at 28˚C ± 2˚C, with a light intensity of 13,000 Lux and were fed by the nutrient solution (Rash) three times daily [13] . The mites collected from greenhouse of Markazi province, Iran.

The pots were kept in a greenhouse at 28˚C ± 2˚C, with a light intensity of 13,000 Lux and were fed by the nutrient solution (Rash) three times daily.


In general, microorganisms like e.g. in yeasts contain large amounts of good quality protein and nutrients. The amino acid profile of the algae Spirulina platensis is comparable to that of other microorganisms [24] . However, the feeding of shrimp with bacterial biomass in this trial did not show any growth success, indicating a low nutritional value.

The amino acid profile of the algae Spirulina platensis is comparable to that of other microorganisms.


Liquefaction hazard has been considered with some extent for 41 operating NPPs at soil sites in the U.S. [13] . Basic finding of these analyses was that the liquefaction is generally not a safety issue. However, if it is the case, liquefaction could be an essential contributor to the core damage. Similar conclusion was made on the basis of seismic PSA for Paks NPP [14] .

Liquefaction hazard has been considered with some extent for 41 operating NPPs at soil sites in the U.S..

Similar conclusion was made on the basis of seismic PSA for Paks NPP.


An essential question is how large the margin should be to be accepted as adequate for complying with above requirements. According to the regulations, best-estimate approach can be adopted for the evaluation of this margin [2] . In case of earthquake, the High-Confidence-of-LowProbability-of-Failure (HCLPF) could be the measure of the seismic margin [3] [4] [5] . In the U.S. for new plants, a HCLPF capacity of at least 1.67 times the design basis peak ground acceleration (PGA) is required to be demonstrated [6] . In the European practice, a margin exceeding by 40% the design basis PGA has to be justified [7] . These acceptance criteria are based on the conservatism of the established nuclear design standards and justified by extensive studies.

According to the regulations, best-estimate approach can be adopted for the evaluation of this margin.

In case of earthquake, the High-Confidence-of-LowProbability-of-Failure (HCLPF) could be the measure of the seismic margin.

In the U.S. for new plants, a HCLPF capacity of at least 1.67 times the design basis peak ground acceleration (PGA) is required to be demonstrated.

In the European practice, a margin exceeding by 40% the design basis PGA has to be justified.


Microwave material characterization is a classical topic which has an extensive work published in the past few decades. Transmission line approach to extract microwave properties is a powerful technique which provides the complex permittivity of materials under interest within the desired frequency range. Many modifications are suggested to the transmission/reflection methods and reflection methods to extract complex permittivity accurately [1] [2] [3] [4] . The present work also falls under this category and will try to explore different possible ways to extract dielectric constant with a single measurement of S-parameters.

Many modifications are suggested to the transmission/reflection methods and reflection methods to extract complex permittivity accurately.


There has been some research on techniques that allow the user to interact with multiple displays seamlessly including mobile displays like notebook PCs or PDAs [12] . Steerable camera-projectors can also be used to create dynamic interactive displays on any plane of the environment (e.g. walls, tabletops and handheld white boards in an environment) [5] . However, in these systems the relationship between the user viewpoint and the display is not considered.

There has been some research on techniques that allow the user to interact with multiple displays seamlessly including mobile displays like notebook PCs or PDAs.

Steerable camera-projectors can also be used to create dynamic interactive displays on any plane of the environment (e.g. walls, tabletops and handheld white boards in an environment).


However, Hybrid algorithms which we mentioned above not only have complicated expressions, but also they can not insure the convergence of the approximation. Therefore, we need to improve it, especially for the Hybrid algorithm of rational triangular Bézier surfaces. It's just because that rational triangular Bézier surfaces are the most natural generalization of Bézier curves and offer a variety of applications for their flexible forms. Besides, they acclimatize themselves easily to scattered data interpolation and surface design on arbitrary topology mesh [8] . From the above, we can see that rational triangular Bézier surfaces have more widely application than tensor Bézier surfaces in geometric model design systems.

Besides, they acclimatize themselves easily to scattered data interpolation and surface design on arbitrary topology mesh.


For generalist herbivores, the habitat may rarely, if ever, consist of a high proportion of Bt crops, even if the adoption rate is high for one Bt crop. For example, in some parts of China, all of the cotton acreage is planted with Bt cotton to control the polyphagous pest Helicoverpa armigera (Hü bner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (Wu et al. 2004) . Resistance concerns are mitigated because other nearby crops such as non-Bt corn support large H. armigera populations (Wu et al. 2004) . Thus, if non-Bt corn makes up a substantial portion of the habitat, specialist parasitoids of H. armigera may not be affected much by Bt cotton. The situation seems to be different with Ostrinia nubilalis (Hü bner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidea), a polyphagous pest targeted by Bt corn. In the northeastern United States, alternate hosts occur but do not yield many O. nubilalis . Thus, specialist parasitoids of O. nubilias might be affected by large-scale planting of Bt corn, despite the wide host plant range of this pest.

For example, in some parts of China, all of the cotton acreage is planted with Bt cotton to control the polyphagous pest Helicoverpa armigera (Hü bner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Resistance concerns are mitigated because other nearby crops such as non-Bt corn support large H. armigera populations.


Our results apply only to the 9,000-ha regions that we modeled but do not rule out the possibility that parasitoids could be lost over larger areas. If traditional integrated pest management programs were ineffective at controlling the pests targeted by Bt crops, would loss of the pestsÕ specialist parasitoids be an acceptable trade-off with the beneÞts provided by Bt crops? This issue is complicated because many of the potentially affected parasitoids are not native species. For example, the parasitoids Macrocentrus cingulum Brischke (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Eriborus terebrans Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were released in the United States through a classical biological control program to control O. nubililas, a pest introduced to the United States (Brindley and Dicke 1963) . Consequently, the loss of these parasitoids might be acceptable in the United States, but perhaps not in their area of origin. If the goal is to conserve certain natural enemies, models such as ours may help to identify those at risk and to develop plans to mitigate that risk. Our results suggest that risk of regional parasitoid loss can be reduced by increasing the percentage of refuge Þelds, Þxing refuge locations, and increasing the insecticide spray threshold for target pests in refuges.

For example, the parasitoids Macrocentrus cingulum Brischke (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Eriborus terebrans Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were released in the United States through a classical biological control program to control O. nubililas, a pest introduced to the United States.


More precisely, the BMT invariant takes the form of the class (defined in the usual way) of a certain ideal of the ring Z[1/λ] where λ is a certain algebraic integer. Under a technical restriction involving the conductor of the order O := Z[λ] our first new invariant is defined as a certain element of the Picard group of O . This new invariant is shown to be equivalent to the BMT invariant when it is defined. Our second invariant is defined unconditionally as a certain element in the class group of the algebraic number field Q(λ). This second invariant is weaker than the BMT invariant in the sense that equality of BMT invariants implies equality of our second invariants, but it is computable by standard algorithms in algebraic number theory as implemented for instance in the computer algebra package Magma, [3] . This leads to an algorithmic approach to testing this necessary condition which, as we shall see, is quite efficient in disproving strong shift equivalence where all other invariants fail.

This second invariant is weaker than the BMT invariant in the sense that equality of BMT invariants implies equality of our second invariants, but it is computable by standard algorithms in algebraic number theory as implemented for instance in the computer algebra package Magma.


Aviation maintenance provides a supreme test of the handover process. The task itself has many opportunities for error, and sometimes twelve to fifteen shifts work on trouble-shooting and resolving a problem. All the while, detailed records have to be kept on each part and each change to the aircraft, since the consequences of error can be severe. Paperwork is a critical aspect of aviation maintenance, and documentation forms the basis of much information transfer between shifts (Parke and Kanki, 2008) .

Paperwork is a critical aspect of aviation maintenance, and documentation forms the basis of much information transfer between shifts.


Rice parboiling, if properly carried out can be an effective way of eliminating chalkiness in milled rice grains. In addition, adding value to low-grade broken rice by processing into other products like biscuits may also be an effective strategy of reducing the adverse effects of high temperatures and poor postharvest operations on the physical quality of the rice grain. Parboiled rice is rice that has its starch partially gelatinized by soaking paddy rice or brown rice in water followed by steaming and a drying process [8] . A major reason for parboiling rice in SSA is to reduce grain breakage during milling although it has also been shown that the water soluble minerals and vitamins content of parboiled rice are higher than that of non-parboiled rice [9] - [11] . Parboiling increases grain translucency and decreases chalkiness due to starch gelatinization. It also increases grain hardness and manages to reduce grain breakage as a result of the swelling of the starchy endosperm during gelatinization, which heals the pre-existing defects [12] . In Cameroon, rice parboiling is done mainly in the Northwest and Western regions. However, traditional parboiling does not consistently lead to superior rice quality because processors often have limited knowledge on the basic technicalities of parboiling, despite its simplicity [13] . Traditionally, paddy rice is often pre-cooked with excess water, which can have deleterious effects in terms of quality [14] . In this study, the level of chalky rice, fissures in rice grains and broken rice fractions in three contrasting "rice development hubs" in Cameroon are evaluated. The main factors responsible for reduced grain quality in each hub are identified. It was confirmed that the use of an improved parboiling technique and processing of rice with a high proportion of broken fractions into biscuits or other products generally accepted by the local population can be implemented as adaptation strategies to the effects of high temperatures and poor postharvest operations that result in poor quality milled rice in SSA countries.

Parboiled rice is rice that has its starch partially gelatinized by soaking paddy rice or brown rice in water followed by steaming and a drying process.

A major reason for parboiling rice in SSA is to reduce grain breakage during milling although it has also been shown that the water soluble minerals and vitamins content of parboiled rice are higher than that of non-parboiled rice.

It also increases grain hardness and manages to reduce grain breakage as a result of the swelling of the starchy endosperm during gelatinization, which heals the pre-existing defects.

However, traditional parboiling does not consistently lead to superior rice quality because processors often have limited knowledge on the basic technicalities of parboiling, despite its simplicity.

Traditionally, paddy rice is often pre-cooked with excess water, which can have deleterious effects in terms of quality.


HLBW is a Chinese herbal prescription that is just composed of two herbs, TFG and PC. Previous evidence from animal and clinical studies has suggested that TFG has the potential to treat hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and renal disease [7] [8] [9] [10] 18] . However, the comparisons between the effect of HLBW and its single components on DN have rarely been reported. In our study, the rat model of type 2 diabetes was successfully established by a high-fat diet accompanied by intravenous injection of relatively small doses of STZ. The animals manifested the characteristics of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. BUN, SCr, 24-hour urinary total protein, and albumin concentrations significantly increased at the same time, which indicated the development of DN. HLBW showed hypoglycemia, hypolipidemia, and renal protection against DN. Meanwhile, such the beneficial outcomes were also confirmed in DN rats treated with TFG or PC alone. With regard to renal morphology changes, the untreated diabetic rats were characteristized of remarkable glomerular expansion and fibrosis, extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, and effacement of the foot processes. HLBW, also similar to TFG and PC, attenuated these histopathological abnormalities in renal tissue in diabetic rats. However, HLBW, better than TFG and PC, reduced the expression of renal fibronectin protein and the level of SI. Since fibronectin is a predominant matrix protein representing the degree of renal fibrosis and SI represents the extent of glomerular sclerosis, this result indicates that HLBW may be promising at ameliorating renal fibrosis.

Previous evidence from animal and clinical studies has suggested that TFG has the potential to treat hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and renal disease.


The experimental conditions of transglutaminasemediated restoration of thermal aged silk have been determined by orthogonal experiment [29] . The present study has demonstrated the effectiveness of this reaction to restore historic silk. Due to their rarity and irregular shape, genuine historic silk fabrics were not appropriate for a large number of repeated tests. Instead, artificially aged silk samples were used as substitutes for the restoration experiments. Previous work has demonstrated that dry thermal ageing of modern silk samples under certain conditions can produce both proper residual tensile strength and chemical characteristics similar to that of genuine historic silk [29] . Therefore, the artificially aged samples used here were prepared using the same method. To simulate the conditions of archeological sites, an infrared lamp was used to control the reaction temperature instead of an incubator. The effects of restoration were characterised by means of tensile test, colour difference test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The ageing resistance of the restored samples was evaluated by standard methods. The method was then applied to genuine historic silk fabrics and achieved the desired results.

The experimental conditions of transglutaminasemediated restoration of thermal aged silk have been determined by orthogonal experiment.

Previous work has demonstrated that dry thermal ageing of modern silk samples under certain conditions can produce both proper residual tensile strength and chemical characteristics similar to that of genuine historic silk.


Silk is one of the most significant inventions in the history of human civilisation. Due to the long history of silk culture in China, a large number of valuable and fabulous silk fabrics have been discovered in various ancient tombs [1] . Most of the silk fabrics were made of degummed Bombyx mori silk, which is mainly composed of fibroin. A long time after burial, the condition of most historic silk fabrics is poor; some even turn into powder when touched. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop appropriate conservation techniques to restore the mechanical strength and ensure the long-term preservation of these fabrics.

Due to the long history of silk culture in China, a large number of valuable and fabulous silk fabrics have been discovered in various ancient tombs.


Hamond in 1968 added more confusion to the identity of A. echinicola. He reported 16 specimens associated with the sponge Halichondria panicea (Pallas) collected from Norfolk in 1959 and compared them with A. echinicola (as Ascomyzon parvum Sars) and A. latus (Brady, 1880) . Hamond claimed that there were two diVerent forms among the Norfolk specimens: the latus-like and the echinicola-like with intermediate states. Therefore, and according to Hamond, A. latus should also be considered as a synonym of A. echinicola.

He reported 16 specimens associated with the sponge Halichondria panicea (Pallas) collected from Norfolk in 1959 and compared them with A. echinicola (as Ascomyzon parvum Sars) and A. latus.


Barriers to performing cystoscopy at hysterectomy may include the lack of training in cystoscopy by the attending OB/GYN and a lack of hospital privileges to perform it. A 2005 survey, reported that the lack of cystoscopy privileges in 14% of cases was the reason for not performing cystoscopy. In the same survey, the most common reason for not performing a cystoscopy was lack of training [3] . OB/GYNs may be reluctant to consult a urologist to perform a cystoscopy, especially if no injury is suspected. Given the current requirement for cystoscopy performance during OB/GYN residency, all graduating OB/GYNs should have the surgical skills for basic cystoscopy. The residents who responded to our survey averaged having each already performed 44 cystoscopies. Given their training, hospital cystoscopy privileges will likely be granted to an increasing number of OB/GYNs.

In the same survey, the most common reason for not performing a cystoscopy was lack of training.


Mercury (Hg) status can be assessed by hair or blood biomarkers [1] . Humans who consume certain types of fish may have higher mercury concentrations in their system [2] . Methyl mercury is readily absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream, where it binds to red blood cells [3] . Previous analytical methods for measuring blood mercury tested only red blood cells; however whole blood methods are now gaining ground [4] . Use of whole blood reduces sample preparation time and eliminates uncertainty relating to cell number. Centrifugation and separation of red blood cells also present an opportunity for analyte loss and increases the overall uncertainty in measurement. Reducing the time and steps involved in sample preparation facilitates measurement of mercury in clinical settings.

Mercury (Hg) status can be assessed by hair or blood biomarkers.

Humans who consume certain types of fish may have higher mercury concentrations in their system.

Methyl mercury is readily absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream, where it binds to red blood cells.

Previous analytical methods for measuring blood mercury tested only red blood cells; however whole blood methods are now gaining ground.


The presented model accurately and consistently reproduces results from previous experimental studies [11] . Furthermore, in this paper we have compared the worst-case overheads due to local recovery with average case overheads due to global recovery for an increasing number of failures, and have shown that local recovery can be significantly beneficial with reasonable confidence levels. Finally, we have also provided an analysis of the probability of several levels of failure masking for different application profiles, using experiments injecting 10,000+ different failure combinations.

The presented model accurately and consistently reproduces results from previous experimental studies.


Empirically-derived airflow models have been used to estimate the impacts of changing envelope air-tightness on natural and mechanical ventilation rates in homes using a relatively limited set of housing characteristics (Wilson & Walker 1990; Chan et al. 2005; Chan et al. 2003; Sherman & McWilliams 2007) . These airflow models have also been used to estimate the ventilation impacts of adding mechanical ventilation to homes (Sherman et al. 2011; Sherman 2008) . However, there are no analogous energy models that can estimate the energy impact of changes in air exchange rate using a similarly limited set of housing characteristics.

Empirically-derived airflow models have been used to estimate the impacts of changing envelope air-tightness on natural and mechanical ventilation rates in homes using a relatively limited set of housing characteristics.

These airflow models have also been used to estimate the ventilation impacts of adding mechanical ventilation to homes.


Similar observations can be drawn from the trend of dP/dt max , a parameter that mirrors myocardial contractility whose normal values range between 0.9 -1 mmHg/msec [12, 15] . In our patients values of dP/dt max were high either before and after PCI ( Table 2 ) with a significant reduction after the procedure. We interpreted this reduction in dP/dt max at the end of PCI not as a negative effect of the procedure but as a return to normal values due to the decrease in sympathetic activity, usually high in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. Therefore, we can suppose that, despite a possible improvement in cardiac performance, we did not observe any increase in dP/dt max because this parameter was excessively high before PCI.

Similar observations can be drawn from the trend of dP/dt max , a parameter that mirrors myocardial contractility whose normal values range between 0.9 -1 mmHg/msec.


The energetic profi tability can be also considered taking into account the US Department of Energy's target for the industrial acceptable the energy yield, which should be not less than 60 g(H 2 )/kWh in 2020 [19] . During our experimental study, the best obtained result of the energy yield of hydrogen production is about 19 g(H 2 )/kWh. This could be improved by optimizing the way of introduction the liquid into the plasma. Currently, the works concerning that problem are in progress.

The energetic profi tability can be also considered taking into account the US Department of Energy's target for the industrial acceptable the energy yield, which should be not less than 60 g(H 2 )/kWh in 2020.


In accordance with the growing interest in the hydrogen production technologies, in this study, we propose an atmospheric pressure microwave plasma source (MPS) for hydrogen production via conversion of liquid compounds containing hydrogen. Microwave plasma has many advantages. The parameters (temperature of the gas, the electron density) can be adjusted over a wide range. Microwave atmospheric plasmas exhibit very high electron densities. A large number of inelastic electron-neutral collisions result in very effi cient Microwave plasma for hydrogen production from liquids dissociation at relatively high concentrations. Such inelastic collisions proceed permanently, with the consequence of also preventing the reformation of the initial molecules. As a result, high pollutant destruction and removal effi ciencies may be attained even at high concentrations [1] . The microwave plasma sources at atmospheric pressure stand out from the other plasma sources as being more effi cient in energy transfer [2] . Properly designed microwave plasma generators provide nearly one hundred percent energy transfer from the electromagnetic fi eld of microwaves into the plasma. Moreover, the costs of microwave discharge production are low due to the fact that for its generation standard commercial magnetron and microwave components could be used. Discharge at atmospheric pressure does not require the use of expensive vacuum pumps. Due to its specifi c features, fi elds of plasma application are very wide: from biomedicine (sterilization, deactivation of bacteria and viruses on living tissues) via UV and VUV radiation as well as visible light sources and in gas processing to typical technical application (treatment and modifi cation of various surfaces) [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] .

Microwave plasma has many advantages.

As a result, high pollutant destruction and removal effi ciencies may be attained even at high concentrations.

The microwave plasma sources at atmospheric pressure stand out from the other plasma sources as being more effi cient in energy transfer.

Due to its specifi c features, fi elds of plasma application are very wide: from biomedicine (sterilization, deactivation of bacteria and viruses on living tissues) via UV and VUV radiation as well as visible light sources and in gas processing to typical technical application (treatment and modifi cation of various surfaces).


Videotaping for Feedforward. After 3 or 4 weeks of tutoring, we recorded video footage during a regular session. As with any filmmaking effort, a specific plan and a knowledge of the intended finished product were essential to the success of the recording (Dowrick, 1991) . The footage was edited to show fluent passage reading of a challenging text and accurate recognition of sight words on flashcards. Each finished tape was less than 2 min long, beginning with the child's name and an attractive still frame, and finishing with "The End" but no frills or music. Similar tapes can be produced without specialized equipment, with more options available every day from the video industry.

Videotaping for Feedforward.

As with any filmmaking effort, a specific plan and a knowledge of the intended finished product were essential to the success of the recording.


The strategy of putting positive personal images of future competencies on videotape, in general, has been greatly underused in more than 25 years of study (Hitchcock et al., 2003) . The results of this study should encourage special educators and psychologists to adopt or adapt the use of such strategies in the context of literacy development. The combination of video and tutoring clearly was a support for these children. The net increases in oral reading fluency and rates of increase among such struggling readers are unusual. The number of individual outcomes registering significance is equally salient. The strength of these findings and the variability of individual response raise important questions yet to be answered: Who benefits most and under what circumstances?

The strategy of putting positive personal images of future competencies on videotape, in general, has been greatly underused in more than 25 years of study.


A typical ACE tutoring session, about 25 min, four times a week, was as follows (see key elements in Figure 1 ). Teachers would release students from class at a time of their preference. The tutor would walk the student to the library, making use of this time to further their friendship. Together they would choose a book from an appropriate selection available from the Title I program (Rigby Series for beginning readers) for scaffolded passage reading. This type of instruction improves reading fluency and comprehension more than traditional instruction (Kuhn & Stahl, 2003) . The selected books were at a frustrational level for these students. First, the tutor would read the story slowly and expressively while the child joined in (unison reading; 2 min.). Then the tutor would read a phrase, and the child would read it (echo reading) and repeat. For a minute, they would discuss the story, with simple questions to support comprehension and related skills. Finally, the student would read the story solo.

This type of instruction improves reading fluency and comprehension more than traditional instruction.


Curcumin is a liposoluble compound and can be easily dissolved into organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol, and acetone. However, poor water solubility often limits its biomedical uses using aqueous systems. For example, curcumin had to be dissolved in 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-containing culture medium when its antiangiogenic activity was investigated (Yoysungnoen et al., 2005) . It is conceivable that curcumin's water solubility could become a bioavailability issue which could limit clinical investigations. A traditional approach of structural modifications of curcumin to increasing its water solubility appears to be difficult and to date no such reports exists. This observation prompted us to examine turmeric extracts as a delivery system for curcumin and to examine the possibility of turmeric extract itself as candidate agent for pharmacologic evaluation. In this preliminary study, we used different solvents to extract the crude turmeric material and compared the curcumin concentrations in these extracts. A human placental vein angiogenesis model (HPVAM) was used to investigate the antiangiogenic activity of curcumin and the curcumincontaining extracts. This model attempted to compare curcumin's bioactivity in pure form and in the form of turmeric extracts.

For example, curcumin had to be dissolved in 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-containing culture medium when its antiangiogenic activity was investigated.


Turmeric is a spice that comes from the root Curcuma longa L., a member of the ginger family (Zingaberaceae). Its bright yellow pigment is used as a food coloring agent in the United States. It has been used for centuries as a spice and a food preservative, and for its various medicinal properties in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine (Ayurvedic) (Pierce, 1999) .

It has been used for centuries as a spice and a food preservative, and for its various medicinal properties in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine (Ayurvedic).


For flow redirections in pipelines, elbows and T-junctions are applied as common geometries as depicted in Figs. 1a and 1b, respectively. Both elbows and T-junctions are susceptible to erosion when abrasive solid particles are present in the flow. As depicted in Fig. 2 , the solid particles due to their higher density are exposed to a stronger centrifugal force than the surrounding liquid and thereby are moving down along a curved path to the outer wall. Compared to a straight pipe flow, in a bend or elbow due to the decomposition occurrence, a relatively small surface element of the wall is faced more severe to the solid particles, resulting in formation of wear in the form of a wear hollow which eventually leads to the breakthrough of the wall. In this article, it was found that the wear hollow is nearer to the bend outlet in the case of liquid-solid flow. Particularly in danger are the bends with a ratio of curvature to pipe radius between 4 and 7 which the erosion rates become reasonably greater [6] . The angle of curvature γ, as defined in Fig. 2 is another important factor for bend erosion. With increase in angle of curvature γ, the wear increases steadily and reaches the highest value at 90°. In the locations where application of a long radius elbow due to the space considerations is limited, T-shaped junctions are preferred to use rather than standard elbows.

Particularly in danger are the bends with a ratio of curvature to pipe radius between 4 and 7 which the erosion rates become reasonably greater.


In the case of Russia, the late integration of market actors into the global marketplace creates a specific environment for the Russian firms aiming to improve their innovativeness. On the one hand, significant spillover effects from the Multinational Corporations (MNCs) entering the growing Russian market and, on the other hand, the joint effect of lower competences, the lack of market knowledge and strategic delays in technological and infrastructure development make it more difficult to keep pace with the level of innovativeness demonstrated by global market players. The more firms aim for ambitious growth, the more important it is to become integrated into a wider network with significant learning and know-how effects. The motivation and identification of joint aims with external stakeholders thus becomes a crucial and vital point in a firm's strategy development and creation of cooperative competency (Sivadas and Dwyer, 2000) .

The motivation and identification of joint aims with external stakeholders thus becomes a crucial and vital point in a firm's strategy development and creation of cooperative competency.


Delays in dysphagia screening and specialist swallow assessment are known to be associated with increased risk of stroke-associated pneumonia [9] . Timely assessment is an example of how better care can lead to better outcomes for patients but also be cost saving [27] . The current study identified a range of staff and service factors, which contribute to these delays. Variations in admission route and clinical pathways all had implications for how quickly a patient would be screened by a trained professional, which then impacted on onward referral to SLT for a specialist assessment. Barriers to early dysphagia screening included lack of resources to support stroke nurses to screen patients and lack of ownership and responsibility for undertaking the screening and failure to check that patients had been screened. Lack of SLT 7-day working was identified as the main reason for delays in specialist assessment and patient's remaining NBM. To avoid this delay, two hospitals' dysphagia screening protocols involved screening patients with modified fluids and one hospital had trained stroke nurses to complete specialist swallow assessments in the same way as SLTs.

Delays in dysphagia screening and specialist swallow assessment are known to be associated with increased risk of stroke-associated pneumonia.

Timely assessment is an example of how better care can lead to better outcomes for patients but also be cost saving.


Natural matrices have been increasingly reported as effective alternatives to the current antimicrobial agents. In fact, the use of botanical preparation dates back from the beginning of human civilization, being effectively used in a wide variety of health conditions (Saranraj and Sivasakthi, 2014) . As a rich source of bioactive molecules, among them phenolic compounds, natural matrices are commonly defined as "prototypes of new antimicrobial agents" (Meléndez and Capriles, 2006) . Several studies have supported the effective use of botanical preparations against bovine mastitis pathogens, being aqueous and alcoholic extracts the most commonly used (Diaz et al., 2010; Doss et al., 2012; Mubarack et al., 2011; Rossi et al., 2011) . However, to the authors' best knowledge no previous studies have assessed the antibacterial activity of methanol: water plant extracts against S. aureus isolated from bovine mastitis. In this sense, the present work aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of fourteen methanol: water extracts against different S. aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis, towards providing new insights for an effective control of dairy industry contaminations; as also to perform the characterization in terms of phenolic compounds of the most effective plant extract.

In fact, the use of botanical preparation dates back from the beginning of human civilization, being effectively used in a wide variety of health conditions.

As a rich source of bioactive molecules, among them phenolic compounds, natural matrices are commonly defined as "prototypes of new antimicrobial agents".

Several studies have supported the effective use of botanical preparations against bovine mastitis pathogens, being aqueous and alcoholic extracts the most commonly used.


In fact, natural matrices have been increasingly recognized as a rich source of bioactive molecules, among them phenolic compounds with pronounced antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, being even reported their useful incorporation in new antimicrobial products development (Mordmuang et al., 2015) . Since E. globulus was the most effective plant extract tested, its phenolic characterization was performed aiming to determine which phenolic compounds were responsible for the observed antibacterial activity. Gallotannins, ellagic acid glycosides and quercetin derivatives were the most abundant phenolic compounds present in the E. globulus extract, and might be involved in the positive effects observed. These phytochemicals were already recognized as antimicrobial compounds namely against S. aureus and in some cases against biofilms cells, being possibly responsible for the bioactivity presented by E. globulus leaves hydroalcoholic extracts (Al-Zahrani, 2012; Amin et al., 2015; Fontaine et al., 2017) . Thus, the results obtained drew attention for the possible use of E. globulus and J. regia extracts in combination with other drugs, both to control bovine mastitis and even dairy food industry contaminations. In fact, through using a proper combination strategy, it will be possible to achieve a greater efficacy (synergy) using lower doses of chemical drugs, also reducing the development of microbial drug resistance and preventing side effects occurrence. On the other hand, these results also highlight the possible use of these natural antimicrobial agents as disinfectants for surfaces cleaning and disinfection, with the objective of ensuring a better control of pathogenic microorganisms, responsible for bovine mastitis and dairy food industry contaminations.

In fact, natural matrices have been increasingly recognized as a rich source of bioactive molecules, among them phenolic compounds with pronounced antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, being even reported their useful incorporation in new antimicrobial products development.

These phytochemicals were already recognized as antimicrobial compounds namely against S. aureus and in some cases against biofilms cells, being possibly responsible for the bioactivity presented by E. globulus leaves hydroalcoholic extracts.


Fractional calculus is a mathematical topic with more than 300 years old history but its application in physics and engineering has been reported only in the recent years. In the last decades, there are growing numbers of applications of fractional calculus in different areas of control engineering [5] , [6] . This fact is due to a better understanding of the fractional calculus potentialities.

In the last decades, there are growing numbers of applications of fractional calculus in different areas of control engineering.


Despite the significant developments of recent years in control theory and technology, Proportional-Integral Derivative (PID) controller is the most industrially used control algorithm. This can be explained by its simplicity, low cost and ability to solve most of control problems [1] . Difficulties are often faced, however, while controlling plants with resonance, integral or unstable transfer functions [2] .

This can be explained by its simplicity, low cost and ability to solve most of control problems.

Difficulties are often faced, however, while controlling plants with resonance, integral or unstable transfer functions.


The Scientific World Journal embolic material, and complete embolization of target arteries which supply blood to embryo. In some complicated cases, subsequent systemic MTX injection, D&C or laparotomy and excision are regarded as important measures after DSA operation. Hysterectomy may be required in cases of placental abnormalities and undetectable bleeding foci [18] . Individualized treatment respecting actual status of each patient should be the key principle of therapeutic approach toward CSP, and combination therapy probably has higher successful rate of preserving the future fertility.

Hysterectomy may be required in cases of placental abnormalities and undetectable bleeding foci.


Green note is one of the most attractive flavor in the aroma industry conferring freshness and authenticity to goods [1] . This odor is composed of different molecules collectively named green leaf volatiles (GLVs) suggesting that these compounds are usually synthesized in green organs of plants [2] . Chemically, GLVs are C6-or C9-aldehydes and alcohols formed through the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway. LOX catalyzes the stereospecific oxygenation of the ninth or thirteenth carbon of C18-(PUFAs) (poly unsaturated fatty acids) forming fatty acid hydroperoxides (HPOs) [3] . These hydroperoxy PUFAs are substrates for multiple enzymes leading to the synthesis of a diverse group of metabolites collectively called oxylipins. This group includes signaling compounds such as jasmonic acid, anti-microbials such as divinyl ethers, and a plant-specific blend of volatiles including GLVs produced by hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) [4] . The synthesized C6 and C9-aldehydes can be transformed in their corresponding diastereoisomers or in alcohols respectively by an isomerase (ISO) (or by spontaneous reactions) and by an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) [5, 6] . Stereospecificities of these reactions are essential, and aroma properties of the GLV clearly depend on the molecular structure. Among GLVs, (2E)-hexenal and (3Z)-hexenol are the most valuable products retaining various flavor applications and higher stability.

Green note is one of the most attractive flavor in the aroma industry conferring freshness and authenticity to goods.

This odor is composed of different molecules collectively named green leaf volatiles (GLVs) suggesting that these compounds are usually synthesized in green organs of plants.

LOX catalyzes the stereospecific oxygenation of the ninth or thirteenth carbon of C18-(PUFAs) (poly unsaturated fatty acids) forming fatty acid hydroperoxides (HPOs).

This group includes signaling compounds such as jasmonic acid, anti-microbials such as divinyl ethers, and a plant-specific blend of volatiles including GLVs produced by hydroperoxide lyase (HPL).

The synthesized C6 and C9-aldehydes can be transformed in their corresponding diastereoisomers or in alcohols respectively by an isomerase (ISO) (or by spontaneous reactions) and by an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH).


Based on a preliminary study about sugar beet valorization, we have observed that leaves contain significant amounts of 13-HPOT degrading HPL [21] . Therefore, attempts for GLVs production were performed at low scale; but the aromas produced were rapidly consumed by undesirable enzymatic reactions. In this present work, we study the optimization of the biotransformation of HPOs into GLVs using novel biotechnological improvements, such as modulated substrate addition and continuous products extraction. This novel reaction process reduces the influence of the HPL instability, the substrate inhibition and the parasitic consumption. Scaling up to 100 L and recuperation of the aroma is also successfully developed to complete the process. Finally to suppress any agricultural related restriction, use of recombinant BvHPL produced by prokaryote strains was also evaluated.

Based on a preliminary study about sugar beet valorization, we have observed that leaves contain significant amounts of 13-HPOT degrading HPL.


The discovery of GBM-initiating cells (GICs) has had a significant impact on GBM research [1] . GICs have a strong self-renewal capability and express stem cell markers, such as CD133 (also known as Prominin1), Sox2, CD15 (also known as Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen 1 and Lewis X), and CD49f (also known as integrin α6). In addition, GICs express various types of detoxifying factors, such as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and DNA repair factors, including Bmi1, thereby the cells are more resistant to radio-and chemo-therapies higher than non-GICs [2] [3] [4] .

The discovery of GBM-initiating cells (GICs) has had a significant impact on GBM research.

In addition, GICs express various types of detoxifying factors, such as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and DNA repair factors, including Bmi1, thereby the cells are more resistant to radio-and chemo-therapies higher than non-GICs.


Uveitis is potentially blinding with a chronic and often relapsing course. Almost 80% of patients have bilateral disease [16] . Risk factors include early age at onset, short disease duration, arthritis subtype, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) seropositivity [7, [17] [18] [19] [20] . Reported risk factors for vision loss include the presence of uveitis before arthritis, severe disease and complications at initial examination, short duration between arthritis onset and uveitis, young age, presence of one or more anterior chamber flares, and male gender [7, 17, 18, [21] [22] [23] [24] . The HLA-B27 gene can be associated with painful symptomatic uveitis in older children with enthesitis-related arthritis, which is different from asymptomatic eye disease in younger children [2, 25] .

Almost 80% of patients have bilateral disease.

Risk factors include early age at onset, short disease duration, arthritis subtype, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) seropositivity.

Reported risk factors for vision loss include the presence of uveitis before arthritis, severe disease and complications at initial examination, short duration between arthritis onset and uveitis, young age, presence of one or more anterior chamber flares, and male gender.

The HLA-B27 gene can be associated with painful symptomatic uveitis in older children with enthesitis-related arthritis, which is different from asymptomatic eye disease in younger children.


When a wind project is proposed in European countries, an environmental impact assessment is required by environmental authorities. These studies must include a section assessing the impact that the development is likely to have on the site's bird populations (Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 97/11/EC). Environmental authorities use the overall assessment to reach a declaration on the environmental impact stating the significance and acceptability of the predicted effects. These declarations identify additional measures to mitigate and compensate potential negative environmental consequences and other conditions that should be met by the project developer such as the monitoring of the environmental impacts. If properly enforced, the environmental impacts hierarchy ''avoid-minimize-compensate'' would provide the regulated community with incentives to prevent wildlife and habitat impacts in sensitive areas and, if necessary, compensate for residual impacts through restoration or conservation projects (Cole, 2011) . In Spain, wind-farm planning is competency of regional governments. In our case, the planning of wind-farm projects corresponds to the Andalusian government. Here, the project's location is evaluated considering spatial environmental data available in the area (i.e., statutory protected areas, Important Bird Areas, nest sites, roost sites, rubbish dumps, pre-migratory settlement areas, eagle dispersal areas). A large amount of digitized data is available in Andalusia and rarely should a breeding site of an endangered bird species be overlooked in this phase of planning. Risk areas are established around breeding sites using a ''risk radius'' based on available data of species' home ranges (Janss et al., 2010) . However, risk radii have been arbitrary or based on old-fashioned data (Carrete et al., 2010) . Consequently, observed mortality can be sometimes higher than that previously expected (Carrete et al., 2010) . Monitoring program of environmental impacts imposed on approved projects are thus an important complement whose results should be used to implement corrective measures such as powering down or removing risky turbines and/or farms, and by placing them outside areas critical for endangered birds. It is relevant to consider that, for example, in our study area all vultures were killed by 214 out of 799 turbines (ca. 27%) and more than 50% of those deaths occurred in only two wind-farms. Nevertheless, the current framework is proving ineffective for planning, and the reality is that removing or reforming existing wind-farms is virtually impossible due to the absence of regulatory and flexible administrative mechanisms (only the activity of three wind-farms in Spain in Navarra, Castilla-León and Valencia have been paralyzed because of high mortality rates of birds).

If properly enforced, the environmental impacts hierarchy ''avoid-minimize-compensate'' would provide the regulated community with incentives to prevent wildlife and habitat impacts in sensitive areas and, if necessary, compensate for residual impacts through restoration or conservation projects.

Risk areas are established around breeding sites using a ''risk radius'' based on available data of species' home ranges.

However, risk radii have been arbitrary or based on old-fashioned data.

Consequently, observed mortality can be sometimes higher than that previously expected.


The crystal structure of GDP-bound Rab8a in complex with Rabin8 provided molecular insights into the mode of this Rab-GEF-interaction [3] . Interestingly, in this 3D structure the S111 Rab8a is not directly interacting with Rabin8 (i.e. is not part of the interface). Hence, the decrease on the rate of Rab8a activation by Rabin8 due to S111 Rab8a -phosphorylation cannot be readily explained by a PTM-induced obstruction of the protein-protein interface.

The crystal structure of GDP-bound Rab8a in complex with Rabin8 provided molecular insights into the mode of this Rab-GEF-interaction.


The Rab subfamily of small GTPases is involved in the spatial and temporal regulation of of vesicular trafficking [1] [2] [3] [4] . The subfamily consists of ~60 Rab proteins in humans with specific intracellular localization to mediate signaling functions [5] . The basis for mediating signaling processes is a molecular switch between an inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP) bound and an active guanosine triphosphate (GTP) bound state. In order to switch from the inactive to the active state, the binding of and activation by guanine exchange factors (GEFs) is required [1] . GEFs are enzymes that stimulate the release of GDP and binding of free GTP to Rab proteins. Additional partner proteins, referred to as effectors, can recognize the active GTP form and promote cellular downstream processes. GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) eventually return Rabs back to their inactive state by stimulating the intrinsic GTPase activity [6, 7] . The Rab activity state is communicated to regulatory proteins and downstream interaction partners by two functionally important loop regions referred to as switch I and II.

The Rab subfamily of small GTPases is involved in the spatial and temporal regulation of of vesicular trafficking.

The subfamily consists of ~60 Rab proteins in humans with specific intracellular localization to mediate signaling functions.

In order to switch from the inactive to the active state, the binding of and activation by guanine exchange factors (GEFs) is required.

GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) eventually return Rabs back to their inactive state by stimulating the intrinsic GTPase activity.


Other studies have used images of only small parts of surfaces of carrots. These studies have shown that analyzing such images can be used, for instance, to evaluate the freshness of carrots (Arce-Lopera et al., 2015) . Using images of small pieces of surface has the advantage that they only contain information on the surface of the carrot and are thus more standardized. Participants who evaluate such images are not distracted by variations in background color, shape and orientation of the carrot, or the presence or absence of green leaves at the top of the carrot. On the other hand, by isolating the carrot surface from its context, the task is less natural, and the judgments may be of limited value in understanding consumers' evaluations of carrots in real life.

These studies have shown that analyzing such images can be used, for instance, to evaluate the freshness of carrots.


It was shown how the spacetime analogue of the Diósi-Penrose energy, the competition action, can be relativistically generalised with the help of the Einstein-Hilbert action. With this result, we will be able to formulate the Dynamical Spacetime approach in a covariant form in Part 2 [1] . Whether this result is also helpful for the still-missing relativistic generalisations of the approaches of Diósi and Penrose is still open.

With this result, we will be able to formulate the Dynamical Spacetime approach in a covariant form in Part 2.


The main purpose of this paper was to prepare, via our analysis of semiclassical gravity, the derivation of the Dynamical Spacetime approach to wavefunction collapse in Part 2 [1] . The concepts derived here, such as the competition and detuning actions, the classical scenarios and the decay rates of states and local bundles, will be used for the derivation of the Dynamical Spacetime approach in Part 2 [1] . The Dynamical Spacetime approach enhances semiclassical gravity and enables an explanation of wavefunction collapse by postulating that the spacetime region on which quantum fields exist and on which the wavefunction's evolution can be regarded is bounded towards the future by a spacelike hypersurface, which is dynamically expanding towards the future. Collapse is displayed in the way that the wavefunction's evolution becomes unstable at certain critical expansions of spacetime, at which it reconfigures via a selfreinforcing mechanism quasi-abruptly to an evolution resembling a classical trajectory, which can be described with our classical scenarios. The critical expansion of spacetime, at which the wavefunction's evolution becomes unstable for reconfiguration, can be determined with the competition action, which is determined on the available spacetime region. A superposition of two classical scenarios collapses when the competition action between them coincides with Planck's quantum of action. The probabilities with which the wavefunction's evolution reconfigures at the critical expansions of spacetime to one of the classical scenarios depend on smallest intensity fluctuations of the states, which can be described with the help of the decay rates of the states and local bundles described here.

The main purpose of this paper was to prepare, via our analysis of semiclassical gravity, the derivation of the Dynamical Spacetime approach to wavefunction collapse in Part 2.

The concepts derived here, such as the competition and detuning actions, the classical scenarios and the decay rates of states and local bundles, will be used for the derivation of the Dynamical Spacetime approach in Part 2.


Reservation and management of public land is only a partial solution for many conservation problems. Policy instruments are required that encourage private landholders to maintain and enhance biodiversity assets on their land, but identifying effective instruments is challenging. In any region, conservation outcomes are determined by thousands of diverse landholders, whose decisions are shaped by personal goals and the varied biophysical, social and economic conditions they face (Siebert et al., 2006) . Not only must policy instruments achieve conservation outcomes across this diverse audience, these instruments must be efficient, easily communicated to landholders, readily monitored and evaluated, and not cause unwanted impacts. Voluntary instruments must also be attractive to landholders to achieve widespread uptake.

In any region, conservation outcomes are determined by thousands of diverse landholders, whose decisions are shaped by personal goals and the varied biophysical, social and economic conditions they face.


The pelagic microbial food webs in the Arctic Ocean are commonly described to have distinct community structure and low diversity, with essentially no cyanobacteria, and high levels of endemism (Lovejoy et al., 2006; Pedrós-Alió et al., 2015) . The fate and partitioning of the enhanced primary production in the arctic pelagic food web is still largely unknown and only a few field studies exist (Vézina et al., 2000; Forest et al., 2011; Tremblay et al., 2012; Saint-Béat et al., 2018) . Food web integrates the transfer of matter and energy between organisms that eat, and are eaten by others, capturing thus essential information about species interactions, material flow, community structure, and ecosystem functioning. The seasonal progression of community maturation is reflected in food web reorganization, which can cause changes in ecosystem performance (Samhouri et al., 2009; Blais et al., 2017) .

The pelagic microbial food webs in the Arctic Ocean are commonly described to have distinct community structure and low diversity, with essentially no cyanobacteria, and high levels of endemism.

The fate and partitioning of the enhanced primary production in the arctic pelagic food web is still largely unknown and only a few field studies exist.

The seasonal progression of community maturation is reflected in food web reorganization, which can cause changes in ecosystem performance.


The European Arctic Ocean (Barents Sea and the Fram Strait) is highly influenced by the warm Atlantic water brought by the North Atlantic Current, causing it to be a relatively ice free area, and introducing also nutrient-rich waters as well as non-indigenous Atlantic species and living biomass (Chan et al., 2018; Neukermans et al., 2018) . The effect and fate of this advected biomass is not clear. The nutrients transported may become available for primary production through upwelling events, creating hotspots of increased productivity along the shelf breaks . The region north of Svalbard is projected to become a new productive hot spot in the Arctic Ocean due to the ice retreat.

The European Arctic Ocean (Barents Sea and the Fram Strait) is highly influenced by the warm Atlantic water brought by the North Atlantic Current, causing it to be a relatively ice free area, and introducing also nutrient-rich waters as well as non-indigenous Atlantic species and living biomass.


Concerning the first issue, it is known that the GW signal from a first-order electroweak phase transition could be enhanced by a period of strong supercooling. However, it has also been known since the demise of 'old inflation' that most of the Universe might remain trapped in the exponentially-expanding false vacuum, with bubbles of the true vacuum never percolating to complete the transition, the 'graceful-exit' problem [43] . We have provided a general treatment of bubble nucleation, growth and percolation, specifically discussing in Section 2.3 the constraint on the amount of supercooling imposed by successful percolation and completion of the electroweak phase transition for scenarios with polynomial potentials. This was then followed in Section 3 by a discussion of the implications of the percolation constraint for the possible strength of the GW signal, as well as the possible range for its peak frequency.

However, it has also been known since the demise of 'old inflation' that most of the Universe might remain trapped in the exponentially-expanding false vacuum, with bubbles of the true vacuum never percolating to complete the transition, the 'graceful-exit' problem.


The natural history of granulomatous hypophysitis is not well understood. Although most reported cases respond to high dose of steroid therapy, its treatment is still controversial [3] . Based on the benign nature of the disease and its transient course, conservative treatment with close clinical and radiological observation has been advocated as the primary therapeutic option [3] . Transsphenoidal surgery is indicated to decompress the mass lesion, thereby resolving headache and visual deficits, to obtain a descent tissue specimen for histological diagnosis, and facilitates the appropriate treatment. This should be applied for all patients whose clinical and radiological findings are not typical and diagnosis is not confirmed. In fact, majority of reported cases were misdiagnosed as pituitary adenomas preoperatively, and diagnosis was confirmed only after surgery [13, 14] .

Although most reported cases respond to high dose of steroid therapy, its treatment is still controversial.

Based on the benign nature of the disease and its transient course, conservative treatment with close clinical and radiological observation has been advocated as the primary therapeutic option.

In fact, majority of reported cases were misdiagnosed as pituitary adenomas preoperatively, and diagnosis was confirmed only after surgery.


Differences have been noted in the cell and capsule sizes of Cryptococcus isolated from diverse organs, such as lung and brain, observed in both human and mouse studies [31] . In this study, we necessarily assumed that capsular size in CSF is representative of that found in the brain and, specifically, the arachnoid villi. A small postmortem study demonstrated highly encapsulated cryptococci within arachnoid cells, whose numbers per high power field correlated with ICP [11] . The association between capsule size in arachnoid cells, fungal burden, and raised ICP in patients dying of CM needs to be explored in larger postmortem series.

Differences have been noted in the cell and capsule sizes of Cryptococcus isolated from diverse organs, such as lung and brain, observed in both human and mouse studies.

A small postmortem study demonstrated highly encapsulated cryptococci within arachnoid cells, whose numbers per high power field correlated with ICP.


Quality, safety, and reliability have always been a concern of designers. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) has become an important tool in ensuring quality, safety, and reliability by systematically determining the potential causes of failures and their effects on a system. FMEA was created in the 1960s as part of the U.S. Minuteman rocket program in order to find and mitigate unanticipated design problems (Goble, 2012) .

FMEA was created in the 1960s as part of the U.S. Minuteman rocket program in order to find and mitigate unanticipated design problems.


Water is the most critical parameter for life. Although 70 percent of the Earth's surface is water covered, the vast majority of the water (95 percent of it) is saline [1] . Therefore preserving the quality of fresh water is important. Almost 1 billion people lack access to a proper drinking water supply and 2 million deaths are annually attributed to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene [2] .

Although 70 percent of the Earth's surface is water covered, the vast majority of the water (95 percent of it) is saline.

Almost 1 billion people lack access to a proper drinking water supply and 2 million deaths are annually attributed to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene.


The paper is organized as follows: In Section II we review the dynamics of the standard LQC background. Section III is devoted to the analysis of the new approach of LQC obtaining the corresponding modified Friedmann equation and the dynamical equations. Finally, in the last Section we briefly discuss some features of cosmological perturbations in this new scenario using the so-called dressed effective metric approach [17] .

Finally, in the last Section we briefly discuss some features of cosmological perturbations in this new scenario using the so-called dressed effective metric approach.


A network with good performance has characteristics of reliable data transmission, efficient energy consumption, and low transmission delay. When the malfunction occurs, the network can adaptively adopt the reasonable fault-tolerant control scheme to deal with the failure and continue to provide highly credible computational service. So fault tolerance becomes the key technology to improve the transmission stability and reliability of the network. Now it attracts much attention and becomes one of the hot issues in wireless sensor networks [3] .

Now it attracts much attention and becomes one of the hot issues in wireless sensor networks.


The reliable transmission strategy with fault tolerance mainly contains multipath transmission routing, network coding, packets retransmission, and so forth [1, [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] . Unquestionably, the network has better performance when it adopts the optimal combination of some methods or combined control optimization with other layers [4, 11] . Therefore, the core of reliable transmission with fault tolerance is to establish an effective topology and data coding based multipath transmission mechanism. Multipath routing transmission technology with fault tolerance is to establish multiple transmission paths between the source node and the destination node to improve the load balance and transmission 2 International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks bandwidth. Network coding based redundancy transmission mechanism is to transmit the coded packets along multiple paths and to decode and to reconstruct the certain number of coded packets received at the destination node into the source data. Network coding should be combined with multipath transmission and load balance mechanism. Therefore, it is essential to establish the multipath data coding transmission based on an effective topology.

The reliable transmission strategy with fault tolerance mainly contains multipath transmission routing, network coding, packets retransmission, and so forth.

Unquestionably, the network has better performance when it adopts the optimal combination of some methods or combined control optimization with other layers.


It was clear that in the second stage, which dealt with the literature review, students exhibited more self-encouragement processes, which are vital at such a complex and challenging stage. Self-encouragement is vital to promoting the learning process; without it, there is less value to cognitive SR processes. For example, implementing a monitoring process when the student is inattentive motivationally, can lead to only partial success, if any (Zimmerman & Schunk, 2008) .

For example, implementing a monitoring process when the student is inattentive motivationally, can lead to only partial success, if any.


Our results show that the seminar motivated students to initiate contact and strengthen ties with their personal advisors. There is no doubt that awareness of the complexity of the advisor-student relationship is critical to maintaining a healthy rapport (Sullivan & Ogloff, 1998) . Advisors have an important part in motivating and guiding the writing, and therefore consistent, continuous contact with them is crucial cognitively and emotionally (Drennan & Clarke, 2009; Guerin, Kerr & Green, 2015) .

There is no doubt that awareness of the complexity of the advisor-student relationship is critical to maintaining a healthy rapport.

Advisors have an important part in motivating and guiding the writing, and therefore consistent, continuous contact with them is crucial cognitively and emotionally.


As mentioned, the findings demonstrate that peer work and a cooperative environment contribute to the emotional and motivational welfare of the students, something that is crucial for the drive required for postgraduate studies (Pintrich, 2004) . However, because students worked independently on their personal proposals, there was no exhibition of collaborative regulation (co-regulation), nor was their much requirement for processes of social regulation in the group environment. Regarding their concern for the social setting, this was more in the context of each one's personal environment, such as family or personal advisor. Nevertheless, regulating this aspect has been found to be significant for individual progress in writing assignments (Zimmerman, 2002) .

As mentioned, the findings demonstrate that peer work and a cooperative environment contribute to the emotional and motivational welfare of the students, something that is crucial for the drive required for postgraduate studies.

Nevertheless, regulating this aspect has been found to be significant for individual progress in writing assignments.


The performance and reliability of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that utilize dynamically operating electrical contacts depends critically on the ability of the contact interface to remain as conductive and non-adherent as possible. Surface contamination is a known cause of MEMS electrical contact failure due to highly resistive surface species that retard current flow [1] . MEMS electrical contacts are also particularly susceptible to surface contamination effects as the contact forces available to disrupt thin surface films are significantly constrained by actuator force limitations.

Surface contamination is a known cause of MEMS electrical contact failure due to highly resistive surface species that retard current flow.


As an advanced measurement method, MLS has the characteristics of fast, non-contact, real-time, dynamic, active, high density and high precision etc [1] . In the measurement of expressway, MLS can collect large area, high precision, high density surficial information of road surface, transport facilities, vegetation, road and affiliated objects. High-precision road terrain obtained by road point cloud data is basic data for further analysis of applications such as road surface settlement, pavement, slope collapse. And how to extract expressway terrain point cloud from the original MLS point cloud data quickly and accurately is the premise for these in-depth applications [2] .

As an advanced measurement method, MLS has the characteristics of fast, non-contact, real-time, dynamic, active, high density and high precision etc.

And how to extract expressway terrain point cloud from the original MLS point cloud data quickly and accurately is the premise for these in-depth applications.


It is important to have an ink formulation which is compatible with the particular ink-jet system chosen for deposition. When the colloidal inks are used, the particles should be small with no agglomeration tendency in order to prevent clogging of the jet nozzles, in addition to having properties such as viscosity and surface tension within the range specified for the ink jet. Generally, piezoelectric-driven ink-jet heads are more suitable for deposition techniques than thermal ink jets, where the drop is produced via formation of a bubble by locally overheating the precursor. Overheating can cause premature decomposition of the precursor inside the printer head and nozzles, thus compromising the performance of the jet [4] .

Overheating can cause premature decomposition of the precursor inside the printer head and nozzles, thus compromising the performance of the jet.


Community-based adaptation seeks to incorporate current and future climatic risks into the design of interventions that are key for local economies and overall well-being (Dumaru, 2010; Rojas Blanco, 2006) . While communities have extensive knowledge of local environmental changes, they often have limited knowledge of the causes and effects of exogenous change. Building and utilizing integrative models may, in some circumstances, help evaluate and manage trade-offs inherent in local adaptation options. This article has reviewed some tools and techniques available for this purpose.

Community-based adaptation seeks to incorporate current and future climatic risks into the design of interventions that are key for local economies and overall well-being.


Recent investigations have discovered innovative biological features of colorectal carcinomas which may explain the unfavourable outcome of subsets of patients. Tumor cells proliferation determined by the SPF revealed prognostic differences in patients with resected stage B2 and C colon cancer [4, 5] . The angiogenetic process sustained by the VEGF showed correlation with the metastatic potential of colon cancer and its prognosis [6, 7] . Also, the outcome of patients with colorectal cancer may depend on the sensitivity of tumor cells to fluoropyrimidines. The TS enzyme remains the main target of 5-FU, and in metastatic disease, the TS levels were found to be predictive of responsiveness to 5-FUbased chemotherapy [8] [9] [10] . Preliminary experiences suggest that the TS levels may predict the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy [11] .

Tumor cells proliferation determined by the SPF revealed prognostic differences in patients with resected stage B2 and C colon cancer.

The angiogenetic process sustained by the VEGF showed correlation with the metastatic potential of colon cancer and its prognosis.

The TS enzyme remains the main target of 5-FU, and in metastatic disease, the TS levels were found to be predictive of responsiveness to 5-FUbased chemotherapy.

Preliminary experiences suggest that the TS levels may predict the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy.


Besides measuring the value of our new design through the use of worst case scenarios, we conclude the paper by showing the potential of our work to speedup the execution of tabled programs. Other works have already showed the capabilities of the use of multithreaded tabling to speedup tabled execution [12] . Here, for each program, we considered a set of different queries and then we ran this set with different number of threads. To do that, we implemented a naive scheduler in Prolog code that initially launches the number of threads required and then uses a mutex to synchronize access to the pool of queries. We experimented with a Path program using a gridlike configuration and with two well-known ILP data-sets, the Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis data-sets. We used the same 32 Core AMD machine, experimented with intervals of 8 threads up to 32 threads and the results that follow are the average of 5 runs. Figure 7 shows the average execution time, in seconds, and the average speedup, compared against the respective execution time with one thread, for running the naive scheduler on top of these three programs with the LFHT design.

Other works have already showed the capabilities of the use of multithreaded tabling to speedup tabled execution.


Respirator comfort is another important characteristic. The most fundamental work on respirator comfort was done by Snook [9] . The assumption was that several locations on the face are more sensitive to forces than other locations. Twelve facial locations were selected and subjected to five different forces. Comfort was measured psychophysically. It showed that the force exerted against the face is a factor of discomfort.

The most fundamental work on respirator comfort was done by Snook.

Comfort was measured psychophysically.


Grids have emerged as a global cyber-infrastructure for the next-generation e-Science applications. Scientific communities utilize Grids to share, manage and process large data sets. Complex scientific experiments often require access to distributed resources such as computational resources, data repositories, third-party applications, and scientific instruments. The utilization of these resources requires multi-domain expertise which is beyond the common knowledge of a single scientist. Scientific workflows are designed to automate scientific processes based on data dependencies and their control. They also aim at abstracting the usage of the necessary underlying resources in order to help the scientist to focus on his own research [16] . A workflow management system provides the means to compose, execute and monitor the workflow. The core component of a workflow management system is an engine responsible for the execution of a scientific workflow.

They also aim at abstracting the usage of the necessary underlying resources in order to help the scientist to focus on his own research.


The development of target-tracking software over the past decade has made it possible to measure the swimming behaviour of fish in situ using information readily available from a split-beam echosounder. This technique provides a non-intrusive method of collecting and analysing data on the sequential, 3-dimensional (3-D) position of single targets for the study of fish behaviour in various ecological settings (Brede et al., 1990) . Although the 3-D position information from split-beam TS data is considerably more precise than previous technologies (e.g. single beam), the method has been criticized for weaknesses associated with the discrimination between single and multiple targets (Soule et al., 1995) . Under certain conditions, the common algorithms used to identify single targets can fail, accepting multiple targets with erratic amplitude and phase information.

This technique provides a non-intrusive method of collecting and analysing data on the sequential, 3-dimensional (3-D) position of single targets for the study of fish behaviour in various ecological settings.

Although the 3-D position information from split-beam TS data is considerably more precise than previous technologies (e.g. single beam), the method has been criticized for weaknesses associated with the discrimination between single and multiple targets.


It may also be argued that the large relationship between the RSSA TT , RSSA best , RSSA dec and peak power could possibly be due to the difference in their mode of exercise (i.e., cycle vs. running). Furthermore, handball players are more familiar with running exercises than with cycling, the lower limb cranking are essentially cyclic movements, whereas sprinting reflects the power output obtained from a single whole-body movement [25, 26] . This could reflect a difference in the respective contributions of the limbs to these types of events, with the lower limbs making a more decisive contribution to repeated sprint performance.

Furthermore, handball players are more familiar with running exercises than with cycling, the lower limb cranking are essentially cyclic movements, whereas sprinting reflects the power output obtained from a single whole-body movement.


The present results provide further evidence that the relative explosive leg power in the SJ is an important aspect of RSSA ability. The majority of research studies that have examined the relationships between jump performance and sprint ability at different distances have often used vertical or horizontal jump displacements as an indirect power measure with high correlations [28] . The few studies that have used more sensitive measures, such as height and power developed during the jump task, have all reported stronger correlations with sprint performance at shorter distances [23, 27, 28] . Other studies have reported significant correlations between vertical jumps and sprint speed [7, 8] . Surprisingly, the result of the present investigation shows that the ability to jump vertically (SJ and CMJ) is quite independent to the ability to perform a RSSA test. We expected that these two qualities would be related because of their similarity in muscle contraction (stretch shortening cycle) and to the many results reported in the scientific literature showing the relationships between sprint and jumping performance. The absence of any relationships between jumping and RSSA illustrate that they should be considered separately when evaluating an athlete.

The majority of research studies that have examined the relationships between jump performance and sprint ability at different distances have often used vertical or horizontal jump displacements as an indirect power measure with high correlations.

The few studies that have used more sensitive measures, such as height and power developed during the jump task, have all reported stronger correlations with sprint performance at shorter distances.

Other studies have reported significant correlations between vertical jumps and sprint speed.


It is possible that the small-to-moderate association between the aerobic fitness test and RSSA, may be due to partial depletion of creatine phosphate (CP) stores during the RSSA test. Indeed, during RSA tests involving longer duration efforts of high intensity exercise, with longer periods of recovery, modest associations have been found between tests of aerobic fitness and total sprinting time and the magnitude of fatigue [8, 22] . While speculative, a RSSA test involving longer efforts, and/or longer recovery durations may have resulted in a larger depletion of CP stores, possibly increasing activation of the aerobic system to resynthesise these stores.

Indeed, during RSA tests involving longer duration efforts of high intensity exercise, with longer periods of recovery, modest associations have been found between tests of aerobic fitness and total sprinting time and the magnitude of fatigue.


Because RSSA is considered a critical factor for performance in handball, strength and conditioning coaches are interested in how to develop this quality in their athletes. In order to do so, they need a strong understanding of the RSSA determinants and possible association with other specific explosive lower limb qualities. Unfortunately, while considerable attention has been devoted to the energetic requirements of RSSA, few studies have established the relationship between fitness parameters and RSSA [11, 12] . In addition, no study has evaluated these relationships in top-level handball players. It is likely that such information could be particularly important for coaches and fitness trainers working with elite handball players. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between measures of explosive power of the lower limb and the handball specific RSSA test in a sample of elite-level adolescent handball players.

Unfortunately, while considerable attention has been devoted to the energetic requirements of RSSA, few studies have established the relationship between fitness parameters and RSSA.


Nevertheless, an increase in leg muscle mass increases body mass and thus inertia, potentially restricting acceleration and the speed attained [17] . We can conclude that leg muscle strength is important for both acceleration and velocity over short distances [17] . These two characteristics must be well developed in adolescent handball players to allow the quick changes of direction over shorter sprint distances required in successful players. Sprinting, acceleration, and rapid changes in direction are inherent to both practice and competition in handball [4, 17] . Such efforts depend not only on peak power and agility, but also on maximal strength [7] . There is a velocity-specific effect, and for optimal performance, handball training should simulate the sport movements as closely as possible.

Nevertheless, an increase in leg muscle mass increases body mass and thus inertia, potentially restricting acceleration and the speed attained.

We can conclude that leg muscle strength is important for both acceleration and velocity over short distances.

Sprinting, acceleration, and rapid changes in direction are inherent to both practice and competition in handball.

Such efforts depend not only on peak power and agility, but also on maximal strength.


Most microbiological studies of wastewater treatment systems rely on cultivation, which quantifies a limited percentage of the microbial populations present (Schneider et al., 1998) . Incorrect conclusions concerning the function and structure of the microbial community in situ are consequently made. Due to the limitation of conventional microbiological methods, numerous alternative techniques that circumvent these limitations have been developed to characterise microbial communities in situ.

Most microbiological studies of wastewater treatment systems rely on cultivation, which quantifies a limited percentage of the microbial populations present.


In an age of increasing environmental problems, such as global warming and waste disposal, the change from fossil feedstock to renewable resources can considerably contribute to the sustainable development [1] . The differences in the resource consumption are so high that those products based on vegetable oils (VOs) could clearly be considered an environmentally benign alternative to petrochemical products [2] . In the chemical industry, VOs are used as ingredients or components in many manufactured products, such as surfactants (soaps), lubricants, plasticizers, cosmetic products, monomers (e.g., dimer acids and polyols) and agrochemicals. In addition, they have been used for decades in paint formulations, as fl ooring materials, coatings and resin applications [3] . VOs are part of a major family of chemical compounds known as fats or lipids, mainly conformed by triesters of glycerol and fatty acids, commonly known as triglycerides. Their composition and properties give them high versatility to permit their participation in the preparation of a sort of different poly meric materials [4] . However, VOs should be functionalized to increase their ability to form chemical bonds with other monomers and to serve as building blocks for polymers [5] . Triglycerides of vegetable oils, whose basic chemical structure is shown in Figure 1 , are highly functionalized molecules and consequently they have been used in the synthesis of crosslinked polymers by two main approaches. The fi rst one takes advantage of the naturally occurring functional groups present in triglycerides, such as the internal double bonds, hydroxyl groups and oxirane rings, which can be polymerized by different methods. The second strategy is based on chemical modifi cations taking place prior to polymerization [6] . Some of the VOs already studied and with industrial applications include soybean oil, palm oil, castor oil, linseed and saffl ower oils [1, 7] .

In an age of increasing environmental problems, such as global warming and waste disposal, the change from fossil feedstock to renewable resources can considerably contribute to the sustainable development.

The differences in the resource consumption are so high that those products based on vegetable oils (VOs) could clearly be considered an environmentally benign alternative to petrochemical products.

In addition, they have been used for decades in paint formulations, as fl ooring materials, coatings and resin applications.

Their composition and properties give them high versatility to permit their participation in the preparation of a sort of different poly meric materials.

However, VOs should be functionalized to increase their ability to form chemical bonds with other monomers and to serve as building blocks for polymers.

The second strategy is based on chemical modifi cations taking place prior to polymerization.

Some of the VOs already studied and with industrial applications include soybean oil, palm oil, castor oil, linseed and saffl ower oils.


Once confi rmed, the successful formation of polyols and polyurethanes were synthesized with diisocyanate indexes 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 (with both HDI and MDI). Figure 5 shows the infrared spectra of polyurethanes obtained from polyols of cottonseed and corn oils with MDI and HDI 1.2. It can be observed that the 3380-3400 cm -1 band corresponding to the stretching signal of the C-OH group in the polyols disappeared, while the appearance of the N-H urethane stretching signals at 3300 cm -1 is a clear indication of the successful reaction between biobased polyols and isocyanates. Combined stretching signals were obtained for urethane and carbonyl groups -NH-CO-O and CO-O at 1730 cm -1 and for N-H and C-N at 1540 cm -1 [14, 15] . The isocyanate group (-NCO) has a characteristic stretching signal at 2270 cm -1 , which could be indicative of isocyanate residues in polyurethanes and can be used to determine if the amount of isocyanate added is enough to complete the reaction with polyols [13, 14] . Only in the case of PUs synthesized with MDI residual isocyanate was observed, which could be attributed to the more rigid structure of MDI compared to that of HDI. This lack of fl exibility could restrict the interaction with OH moieties available in polyols, leaving some isocyanate groups unreacted [16] .

Combined stretching signals were obtained for urethane and carbonyl groups -NH-CO-O and CO-O at 1730 cm -1 and for N-H and C-N at 1540 cm -1.

The isocyanate group (-NCO) has a characteristic stretching signal at 2270 cm -1 , which could be indicative of isocyanate residues in polyurethanes and can be used to determine if the amount of isocyanate added is enough to complete the reaction with polyols.

This lack of fl exibility could restrict the interaction with OH moieties available in polyols, leaving some isocyanate groups unreacted.


PUs show a similar thermal behavior. The high thermal stability of polyurethanes obtained from corn and cottonseed polyols could be related with the ester linkages in these polyols, as already discussed and observed by FTIR. The high thermal stability of PUs is an advantage when considering their processing window. The T g values of both monomers were determined from the second heating scan in DSC analysis as −45.9 °C and −60.5 °C for corn and cottonseed polyols, respectively ( Table 2 ). Only one T g value was observed for each polyurethane, indicating the success in their synthesis, without the presence of excess polyol. The T g values for PUs obtained from corn polyol and both isocyanates (HDI and MDI) were between 10 °C and 48 °C, respectively; while those obtained for PUs based on cottonseed polyol and both isocyanates were between 13 °C and 43 °C. As can be observed, all T g values for those PUs synthesized with HDI were below room temperature, while those prepared with MDI were above room temperature. These results indicate that PUs prepared with MDI have a more rigid structure than those prepared with HDI due to the rigidity of phenyl groups in MDI compared with the fl exibility of CH 2 groups in HDI [16] . Furthermore, a slight effect of the polyol/isocyanate ratio was observed on these T g values. Polymer networks based on triglycerides contain dangling chains arising from the polyol. The increase in the glass transition temperature of polyurethanes with respect to those of the polyols is related to the nature of the monomer, and therefore, with the number of available hydroxyl groups in the polyols, the position of the hydroxyl group in the fatty acid chain (middle or end of the chain) and the isocyanate structure [5] . The SEM micrographs of the polyurethane surfaces are shown in Figure 7 . The PUs synthesized with cottonseed polyol and HDI 1.4 (a) and MDI 1.4 (b) showed irregular surfaces, but with a small quantity of pores (bubbles) in the latter case, which can be attributed to the effect of the vacuum during the curing process, since the micrographs were taken from the surface of the PU fi lms. In the case of PUs synthesized with corn polyol and HDI at 1.4 (c), irregular surfaces were observed, but no signals of the formation of pores during processing were appreciable. However, for the PU obtained with corn polyol and MDI 1.4 (d) a homogeneous and smooth surface, with no irregularities or pores, was observed. These results suggest that, in general, the polyurethanes obtained from biobased polyols are compact and nonporous materials. This apparent homogeneity could be attributed to the networks formed between isocyanates and hydroxyl groups of polyols, with no noticeable differences between all the formulations.

PUs show a similar thermal behavior.

These results indicate that PUs prepared with MDI have a more rigid structure than those prepared with HDI due to the rigidity of phenyl groups in MDI compared with the fl exibility of CH 2 groups in HDI.

The increase in the glass transition temperature of polyurethanes with respect to those of the polyols is related to the nature of the monomer, and therefore, with the number of available hydroxyl groups in the polyols, the position of the hydroxyl group in the fatty acid chain (middle or end of the chain) and the isocyanate structure.


In the case that both parameters in the Ermakov-Pinney Equation depends explicitly upon time the advantage of explicit integrability is lost. It is reasonable to ask whether such an equation makes any physical sense. In this respect refer to the interpretation in terms of angular momentum by Eliezer and Grey [8] . Their interpretation assumed a radial force for which the angular momentum is obviously a constant. However, should the angular component of the equation of motion be of the form rθ + 2ṙθ = k(t) r , a formal integral would exist, namely r 2θ − k(t)t . = constant and this would lead to (1.14).

In this respect refer to the interpretation in terms of angular momentum by Eliezer and Grey.


Healthy nutritional habits combined with exercise should be encouraged to maintain bone health [1] . However, dietary supplementation with calcium and vitamin D is recommended for postmenopausal women to decrease the risk of fracture [6] . Additional management for osteopenia or *Address correspondence to this author at the Orlando Health, 1222 Orange Avenue, 5th Floor, Orlando, Florida 32806, USA; Tel: 321.843.5271; Fax: 321.843.5298; E-mail: charles.price@orlandohealth.com osteoporosis may include medications, lifestyle changes, home safety modifications, hip protectors, and fall prevention. The purpose of this review is to identify several essential nutrients for bone health and compare the recommended intake to the dietary intake from the average North American diet. The role of exercise will also be identified as an important and frequently insufficient factor for bone health.

Healthy nutritional habits combined with exercise should be encouraged to maintain bone health.

However, dietary supplementation with calcium and vitamin D is recommended for postmenopausal women to decrease the risk of fracture.


A recent review concluded that: 1) both the risks and benefits of the use of antimicrobials in animals need to be considered, 2) currently available data are inadequate to enable (1) to be considered properly and that, 3) relevant policy making is impaired because of this (Rushton, 2015) . There does seem to be a bias in that often only the risks of AGP use are considered and comparatively little consideration of the benefits is given. A first step might be to assess the economics of AGP use, as well as the benefits and risks perceived by farmers and veterinarioans, including biological and socio-economic factors. If it is a cost then this will need to be countered by benefits such as animal welfare and reduced zoonoses. Reduction in the use of AGPs would seem to be of little use if the overall antimicrobial usage does not decrease in tandem, as seems to be the case in the EU, or at least for some countries.

A recent review concluded that: 1) both the risks and benefits of the use of antimicrobials in animals need to be considered, 2) currently available data are inadequate to enable (1) to be considered properly and that, 3) relevant policy making is impaired because of this.


Surface areas and pore size distributions were obtained from N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms at´196˝C (using a Micromeritics ASAP 2000 analyser, Micromeritics, Milan, Italy). Surface area was calculated from the N 2 adsorption isotherm by the BET equation, and pore size distribution was determined by the BJH method [32] . Total pore volume was taken at p/p 0 = 0.99.

Surface area was calculated from the N 2 adsorption isotherm by the BET equation, and pore size distribution was determined by the BJH method.