Studies show that low levels of health-related physical fitness (HrPF) during adolescence are associated with an increased risk of developing chronic degenerative diseases and a higher mortality risk in adulthood [1] . One way of preventing these negative outcomes is to regularly engage in a sufficient level of physical activity [2] . Despite this, research conducted in schools reports elevated prevalence rates of little to no physical activity among adolescents [3] [4] [5] .

Studies show that low levels of health-related physical fitness (HrPF) during adolescence are associated with an increased risk of developing chronic degenerative diseases and a higher mortality risk in adulthood.

One way of preventing these negative outcomes is to regularly engage in a sufficient level of physical activity.

Despite this, research conducted in schools reports elevated prevalence rates of little to no physical activity among adolescents.


Health-related physical fitness has been defined as the capacity to take part in daily physical activities without overexertion in combination with demonstrating a number of characteristics and abilities that are associated with low risk of developing hypokinetic diseases [6] . Therefore, an excellent level of HrPF does not demand extreme levels of physical fitness nor does it require individuals to perform similarly to athletes, who generally perform exceptionally well in a range of physical tests. The components of HrPF can be maintained at healthy levels through physical exercise directed at improving aerobic resistance, muscle strength, muscle resistance and flexibility and lowering overall body fat levels.

Health-related physical fitness has been defined as the capacity to take part in daily physical activities without overexertion in combination with demonstrating a number of characteristics and abilities that are associated with low risk of developing hypokinetic diseases.


Another important component of HrPF that has a significant impact on individuals' health is aerobic fitness. The high prevalence of adolescents with low levels of aerobic fitness observed in this study is of great concern because poor aerobic fitness is associated with lipid profile imbalances, metabolic disorders and an increased risk of obesity. After a 9-month case-control study of schoolchildren from Madison, Wisconsin (USA), it was shown that a school-based physical fitness program was capable of improving aerobic capacity. These results were associated with reductions in body fat and improvements in insulin resistance [24] . A school-based epidemiological study conducted in the south of Brazil observed that adolescents of both genders with low levels of aerobic fitness have a 4.10 times greater chance of abdominal obesity than their peers with healthy levels of aerobic fitness [25] .

These results were associated with reductions in body fat and improvements in insulin resistance.

A school-based epidemiological study conducted in the south of Brazil observed that adolescents of both genders with low levels of aerobic fitness have a 4.10 times greater chance of abdominal obesity than their peers with healthy levels of aerobic fitness.


This work is a revised and extended version of our previous work [1] . Additional proposals cover the enhancement in learning rate which is a significant improvement over the previous work, and applications to the estimation of popularity, arrival and departure rates. Furthermore, extended results of the network evaluation over different behaviors and comparisons with non-contextual models are given.

This work is a revised and extended version of our previous work.


OSDI has been shown to have a high reliability, reproducibility, and validity [7] . It correlates weakly but positively with objective markers of OSD such as tear film break-up time, Schirmer test, and lissamine green surface staining. It has been validated with good sensitivity and specificity to detect normal subjects and patients with a value of ≤12; scores 13 or greater indicate OSD [8, 9] .

OSDI has been shown to have a high reliability, reproducibility, and validity.

It has been validated with good sensitivity and specificity to detect normal subjects and patients with a value of ≤12; scores 13 or greater indicate OSD.


Overall, more electricity will be traded with changes in power plant availabilities in Europe under future climate and changes in power plant stock. Autonomous adaptation via the European electricity market provides opportunities to partly compensate for the loss of power generating capacity in one subsector or plant location by an increase in power generation in another sector or location (Rübbelke and Vögele 2013) . However, considering the high shares of hydropower, coal-fuelled and nuclear-fuelled power plants in most European countries, the vulnerability to declines in summer river flow and increased water temperatures can be high. Planned adaptation strategies are therefore highly recommended, especially in the southern, central and south-eastern parts of Europe, where overall largest impacts on thermoelectric and hydropower generating capacity are Figure 7 . Impacts of changes in hydropower and thermoelectric power useable capacity on mean annual wholesale prices, production, and producer surplus for a selection of countries with substantial economic impacts (>10% change). Impacts are presented for both the SRES A2 and B1 emission scenarios and for both the 'baseline setting' and 'adapt cooling'. Values in the maps show the change in mean annual wholesale electricity prices for SRES A2 with 'baseline setting' of power plants.

Autonomous adaptation via the European electricity market provides opportunities to partly compensate for the loss of power generating capacity in one subsector or plant location by an increase in power generation in another sector or location.


An increased diversification in the electricity sector, with a larger contribution of renewable energy resources that are independent from water availability and water temperature (e.g. solar PV, wind power), might reduce the vulnerability of the electricity sector to climate change, although wind power can also be negatively affected by climate change (Breslow and Sailor 2002) . Overall, solar PV and wind power have low production costs, but require considerable backup capacities to compensate for fluctuations in the electricity generation potential. In addition, grid extensions might be required for ensuring electricity supply if the shares of these electricity production technologies increase significantly. Considering the long design life of power plant infrastructure, short-term adaptation strategies are highly recommended to prevent misallocation of resources and to assure future energy security.

An increased diversification in the electricity sector, with a larger contribution of renewable energy resources that are independent from water availability and water temperature (e.g. solar PV, wind power), might reduce the vulnerability of the electricity sector to climate change, although wind power can also be negatively affected by climate change.


Anatase TiO 2 is a common agent used for the elimination of microbiological and toxic contaminants, for air, water and for self-cleaning surface applications [14] . In principle, TiO 2 has proven strong catalytic activity via UV-light photons absorption, where electronic delocalization in the TiO 2 generates electron/hole pairs, which, when exposed to water molecules, produce hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide anions (•O 2 ). These radicals have the ability to oxide organic and microbial matter [15] .

Anatase TiO 2 is a common agent used for the elimination of microbiological and toxic contaminants, for air, water and for self-cleaning surface applications.

These radicals have the ability to oxide organic and microbial matter.


Comparatively we observed of the Figure 3 exist a relation between Ag NPs amount and the intensity of peak at 102, 144, 259 and 519 cm −1 . To higher Ag NPs concentrations was consistent a higher intensity at 102 and 259 cm −1 peaks. On the other hand was observed that the peaks at 144 and 519 cm −1 belongs to TiO 2 , tended to overlap or even to disappear as result of the deposited Ag NPs amount increasing on surface TiO 2 . Additionally was observed a shift and broadening of TiO 2 peaks at 399 cm −1 (B 1g ) and 639 cm −1 (E g ). Researchers have referred to that Raman peaks become broader when decreases the size of nanoparticle. This effect has been attributed to a volume contraction and radial pressure increasing, which consequently changes the force constant and vibrational amplitude of the nearest neighbor bond [24] . Referring to this phenomenon of Raman vibrational restriction, we demonstrate that also could take place alterations in the TiO 2 interatomic distances with a surface pressure increasing to a more proportion Ag NPs deposited on TiO 2 surface. Figure 4 shows the UV-vis absorption spectrum for 5Ag/TiO 2 samples obtained by silver deposition-reduction reaction at fixed pH values of 4, 9 and 12, respectively. UV-Vis Spectrometry was employed to characterize the photocatalytic property and predict antimicrobial activity under light conditions of Ag/TiO 2 .

This effect has been attributed to a volume contraction and radial pressure increasing, which consequently changes the force constant and vibrational amplitude of the nearest neighbor bond.


Nowadays nanocomposites of Ag NPs supported on TiO 2 are promoted as some of the most powerful antibacterial agents; the reason is that by linking these two components the photocatalytic process could take place even under visible light [16] - [21] . However, it is still required to learn the nanocomposites performance beyond the photocatalytic contribution, since in the practice the use of antibacterial is limited to applications where they are not exposed to light radiation. Also, it is interesting to study how, by the use of a TiO 2 substrate, is it possible to enhance the contact of Ag NPs with the bacteria and understand if an Ag NPs smaller size increases the bactericidal effect of Ag/TiO 2 nanocomposite.

Nowadays nanocomposites of Ag NPs supported on TiO 2 are promoted as some of the most powerful antibacterial agents; the reason is that by linking these two components the photocatalytic process could take place even under visible light.


Web crawling is to filter and collect various information and resource from Internet, according to a certain theme, storage the information into the database, and construct the search engine for users. Because of the huge amount of information, the performance of search engine is mostly affected by storage form and the storage database. Web crawling requests great capacity of storage space and low hardware costs. Its requirements of consistency and integrity can be reduced, but need high availability, scalability and performance. The relational databases store data in the form of a two-dimensional table with strictly row and column format, and emphasize the consistency and integrity of data, thus the performance in the distributed data management has low efficient, resulting in poor horizontal scalability and high hardware costs when increasing the data storage [1] [2] [3] . With the increasing resources of information, the traditional relational database can no longer suffice requirement to query information [4, 5] . Several famous search engines implement their own databases, such as Google's BigTable [6] . That has brought a new generation of database --NoSQL database. This paper gives the solution of relational database and NoSQL to a certain meteorological BBS information collection system, and compares the advantage and disadvantage of them.

The relational databases store data in the form of a two-dimensional table with strictly row and column format, and emphasize the consistency and integrity of data, thus the performance in the distributed data management has low efficient, resulting in poor horizontal scalability and high hardware costs when increasing the data storage.

With the increasing resources of information, the traditional relational database can no longer suffice requirement to query information.

Several famous search engines implement their own databases, such as Google's BigTable.


Bladder cancer is the second most common genitourinary malignant disease, with an expected 73,510 newly diagnosed cases and 14,880 deaths in 2012 in America [1] . Many studies have suggested that several environmental factors such as cigarette smoking, aromatic amines contained in dyes, chronic inflammation due to infection, anticancer drugs and radiation are thought to be risk factors for bladder cancer [2] . However, most individuals with these known smoking habits, chemical or environmental exposures never develop bladder cancer while many bladder cancer cases develop among individuals without those known risk factors, suggesting that genetic factors also play an important role in bladder carcinogenesis [3] . Host factors including genetic polymorphisms, have been suggested as risk factors for the development of a variety of cancers, including bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is the second most common genitourinary malignant disease, with an expected 73,510 newly diagnosed cases and 14,880 deaths in 2012 in America.

Many studies have suggested that several environmental factors such as cigarette smoking, aromatic amines contained in dyes, chronic inflammation due to infection, anticancer drugs and radiation are thought to be risk factors for bladder cancer.

However, most individuals with these known smoking habits, chemical or environmental exposures never develop bladder cancer while many bladder cancer cases develop among individuals without those known risk factors, suggesting that genetic factors also play an important role in bladder carcinogenesis.


Ocean fronts are often close to thermal wind balance, but this equilibrium is unstable to a variety of submesoscale instabilities. Submesoscales are characterized by scales generally between 1-10 km and Rossby numbers of order unity. Submesocales play a major role in controlling the dynamics and structure of the upper ocean by enhancing the vertical exchange between the ocean surface and waters below, while re-stratifying the mixed layer. The resulting motion can have a strong influence on tracer transport and biological productivity (Lévy et al. 2012; Thomas et al. 2008) .

The resulting motion can have a strong influence on tracer transport and biological productivity.


Disturbances in glucose metabolism are more common in COPD patients than in subjects without COPD. COPD, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus type 2 are associated with advanced age. It is well known that offspring of affected parents are more likely to develop both COPD and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Smoking during pregnancy can in part explain the association between COPD and type 2 diabetes mellitus [11, 12] .

Smoking during pregnancy can in part explain the association between COPD and type 2 diabetes mellitus.


Leachate coming from the landfi ll is called the water of precipitation, which penetrated through the bed of waste. Leachate may also be a surface and underground waters, which have been in contact with the deposited waste. Moreover, these are also waters formed in the process of physicochemical and biochemical changes of organic compounds contained in waste [9] .

Moreover, these are also waters formed in the process of physicochemical and biochemical changes of organic compounds contained in waste.


There are many different methods used for leachate treatment. Both, biological and physicochemical processes can be applied for purifi cation of this kind of industrial wastewater. Biological methods are used for biodegradable compounds removal, therefore, these processes have found an application for treatment of leachate from "young" landfi ll. Moreover, the aim of aerobic biological methods is to remove nitrogen from leachate through the nitrifi cation and denitrifi cation processes [11, 12] .

Moreover, the aim of aerobic biological methods is to remove nitrogen from leachate through the nitrifi cation and denitrifi cation processes.


In the present study, gentamicin excretion was evaluated in the IPRK model, a versatile ex vivo technique that can be used to study numerous aspects of renal drug disposition. Some of the earliest evidence that luminal uptake was responsible for the renal tubular uptake of gentamicin came from IPRK experiments in filtering and non-filtering kidneys [18] . The present work extended application of the IPRK to assess dose-linearity of gentamicin excretion and to probe ways to reduce kidney accumulation.

Some of the earliest evidence that luminal uptake was responsible for the renal tubular uptake of gentamicin came from IPRK experiments in filtering and non-filtering kidneys.


A perfusate sample was collected 5 minutes post-dose and every 10 minutes thereafter for a total of 100 minutes. Urine was collected in 10-minute intervals throughout the experiment. After each collection interval, urine volume was determined gravimetrically and pH was measured. Perfusate and urine samples were analyzed for electrolytes (sodium, chloride) and glucose using a Beckman Synchron CX-3 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer (Beckman-Coulter, Brea CA). Inulin (GFR marker) was measured using colorimetric method [27] . Urine and perfusate samples were stored at −20˚C prior to the analysis of gentamicin.

Inulin (GFR marker) was measured using colorimetric method.


While further studies are needed to confirm the results of this investigation and to evaluate the synergistic protective effect of NaHCO 3 and cimetidine, an advantage of this approach over other proposed strategies is that both compounds are clinically available. A recent clinical study found that oral administration of sodium bicarbonate (4 g every 8 hours) was able to achieve a urine pH above 8 with no apparent adverse effects, although the authors acknowledge that more research is needed to investigate efficacy of longer periods of treatment [46] . Cimetidine is a commercially available medication used to treat gastric ulcers, gastroesophegeal reflux disease, and other conditions. While further studies are needed to confirm that kidney accumulation of gentamicin can be reduced at therapeutic doses of cimetidine, the findings of the present investigation are promising and merit continued exploration.

A recent clinical study found that oral administration of sodium bicarbonate (4 g every 8 hours) was able to achieve a urine pH above 8 with no apparent adverse effects, although the authors acknowledge that more research is needed to investigate efficacy of longer periods of treatment.


The Windkessel model presents the heart as a suction pump, whereas the function of elastic vessels is illustrated by an air-chamber, filled with compressed gas. A non-elastic hose, connected to the air-chamber, corresponds to the resistance vessels. The Windkessel model correctly reflects the problems with complete susceptibility of arteries and peripheral resistance (Kind, 2010) .

The Windkessel model correctly reflects the problems with complete susceptibility of arteries and peripheral resistance.


In the case of the hypertension initial stadium there is lack of clinical symptoms. The slow and destructive process causes endothelial dysfunction (Dominiczak et al., 1995; Panza et al., 1993) . Due to its unquestionably higher measurement sensitivity, the HSR PW may appear to be an excellent diagnostic tool.

The slow and destructive process causes endothelial dysfunction.


Currently, the interpretation of particular HSR PW peaks shape is at trial stage. So far the results lead to the suggestion, that the ratio of K1/K2 amplitudes characterizes the dynamics of the stroke volume from the left ventricle, as well as the functioning of the aortal valve and vascular resistance. Changes of the shape and K1/K2 relations were confirmed in tests of the pulse wave in the case of patients with fault aortal valve. The obtained results are presented in the Fig. 3 (Krzyminiewski, 2011b) . V/A parameter inform about the aorta's susceptibility to the blood pressure change, caused by the cramp of the left ventricle, whereas D1 and D2 peaks are responsible for dichotic notch, which represents the closing of the aortal valve and constitutes the beginning of the ventricular diastole. Next peaks are related to modifications of the pulse waves found from the moment of its creation to the registration place, illustrating the elastic function of the peripheral vessels. Such an interpretation corresponds to the provisions of the Windkessel model. The participation of the reflected wave, a fact confirmed in previous tests, does not influence the shape of the pulse wave measured at the finger, the end of the artery (Nichols, 1990) . The obtained results indicate that the HSR pulse oximetry method is definitely more sensitive than the standard pulse oximetry test (Krzyminiewski, 2012; Krzyminiewski, Szymił, Dobosz, Majewski, 2011c) .

The obtained results are presented in the Fig. 3.

The participation of the reflected wave, a fact confirmed in previous tests, does not influence the shape of the pulse wave measured at the finger, the end of the artery.

The obtained results indicate that the HSR pulse oximetry method is definitely more sensitive than the standard pulse oximetry test.


Delay systems represent a class of infinite-dimensional systems where mechanisms related to transport, propagation, or other effects related to a significant time-lag are present. One such example is in combustion systems where recent modeling efforts have shown that one of the most challenging factors for successful control is the presence of large time-delays [1] . In addition to this, even small perturbations in the operating conditions introduce large and unpredictable changes in the system dynamics mandating a controller that can adapt to these uncertainties. The field of adaptive control has addressed parametric uncertainties in various kinds of dynamic systems including linear and nonlinear, single and multivariable, continuous and discrete, deterministic and stochastic systems.

One such example is in combustion systems where recent modeling efforts have shown that one of the most challenging factors for successful control is the presence of large time-delays.


In this paper, the investigations on a proximity coupled microstrip antennas are reported where the square radiating patch was loaded by cutting a V-shaped slot on the patch. Then from this V-shaped slot loaded square radiating patch, small isosceles right angle triangular sections are removed from the diagonally opposite corners to produce orthogonal modes for the generation of circular polarization and this technique is used to design circularly polarized single layer patch antenna [17] . Then this truncated V-shaped slot loaded square radiating patch is proximity coupled by a microstrip line. The simulated impedance bandwidth, gain, and axial ratio bandwidth are compared with measured results. Results show that the proposed circularly polarized microstrip patch antenna has very small size, wide bandwidth, moderate gain and very good axial ratio bandwidth, required for the communication using HIPERLAN/2.

Then from this V-shaped slot loaded square radiating patch, small isosceles right angle triangular sections are removed from the diagonally opposite corners to produce orthogonal modes for the generation of circular polarization and this technique is used to design circularly polarized single layer patch antenna.


The need for wireless broadband communications has increased rapidly in recent years demanding quality of service, security, handover, and increased throughput for the Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). The main aim of future wireless communication is high speed networking services for multimedia communication. The most important high data rate wireless broadband networking systems for future wireless communications are High Performance Local Area Network type 1 (HIPERLAN/1) and High Performance Local Area Network type 2 (HIPERLAN/2) which use the frequency bands 5.150 GHz-5.350 GHz and 5.470 GHz-5.725 GHz respectively with omni-directional antennas [1] . But for short distance indoor LAN communication, directive antenna can be used. HIPERLAN/2 has a very high transmission rate up to 54 Mbit/s. The modern wireless communication systems require the antennas for different systems and standards with characteristics like compact, broadband, multiple resonant frequencies and moderate gain.

The most important high data rate wireless broadband networking systems for future wireless communications are High Performance Local Area Network type 1 (HIPERLAN/1) and High Performance Local Area Network type 2 (HIPERLAN/2) which use the frequency bands 5.150 GHz-5.350 GHz and 5.470 GHz-5.725 GHz respectively with omni-directional antennas.


The level of immediacy of a social robot can be varied by using different forms of responsiveness to the user's actions (Yanco and Drury, 2004) . Open-loop modes of interaction correspond to the lowest level of immediacy, where the robot executes scripted actions without processing any of the user's actions. In contrast, higher levels of immediacy are achieved when the robot implements closed-loop control by processing and adapting to user inputs. User inputs can either be invited by the robot at certain times (termed a synchronous mode of interaction) or provided whenever the user wants (an asynchronous mode of interaction).

The level of immediacy of a social robot can be varied by using different forms of responsiveness to the user's actions.


Owing to its reduced closure modeling and rich, high-fidelity data, coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) has become one of the most commonly applied numerical methods for the simulation of particle fluidization and related gas-solids multiphase flows [1] . There has been a push by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and other institutions to bring this promising technology to industrially relevant problems [2] . Unfortunately, the benefits of CFD-DEM come with associated drawbacks. Because the motion and collision of all particles in a given system is resolved explicitly, CFD-DEM is a computationally expensive technique which only increases with system size, making CFD-DEM simulations at pilot and industrial scales a seriously challenging problem.

Owing to its reduced closure modeling and rich, high-fidelity data, coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) has become one of the most commonly applied numerical methods for the simulation of particle fluidization and related gas-solids multiphase flows.

There has been a push by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and other institutions to bring this promising technology to industrially relevant problems.


Bias extension testing of NCF has shown that additional deformation mechanisms can also occur during fabric shear, such as fibre sliding [9, 10] . Hemisphere forming tests indicate that fibre sliding leads to ply deterioration, where only one primary yarn direction may remain in some regions around the ply perimeter. The slip distance is dependent on the modulus and pre-tension of the stitching thread. If the modulus is high, the slip distance is negligible, and the NCF deformation resembles that of a woven fabric.

Bias extension testing of NCF has shown that additional deformation mechanisms can also occur during fabric shear, such as fibre sliding.


Driven by the increasing demand for faster microprocessors and packing more transistors on a single chip, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) systems have been found a technology to extend the Moore's law in the coming decades (Celler and Cristoloveanu, 2003) . However, due to the difference in thermal and mechanical properties of silicon and insulating substrate, residual stresses in vapor deposited layers, by either physical or chemical methods, are inevitable. Such stresses could induce crystallographic defects, leading to higher resistance to the transportation of carriers or phonons, or macroscopic defects, such as buckling, cracking, and delamination, leading to the failure. Hence, understanding the origin of the residual stress variations in such systems is essential.

Driven by the increasing demand for faster microprocessors and packing more transistors on a single chip, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) systems have been found a technology to extend the Moore's law in the coming decades.


Current conveyors have become very popular as these devices provide high performance and greater functional versatility in realizations [1] . Several first-order voltage-mode all-pass sections (APSs) using current conveyors are available in technical literature [2] [3] [4] . However, current-mode (CM) circuits are also receiving much attention for their potential advantages such as inherent wider bandwidth, simple circuitry, lower power consumption, and wide dynamic range [5] . Considering these advantages of CM circuits, several CM-APSs using different active devices have been reported but many of them use large component count or matching conditions [6] [7] [8] .

Current conveyors have become very popular as these devices provide high performance and greater functional versatility in realizations.

Several first-order voltage-mode all-pass sections (APSs) using current conveyors are available in technical literature.

However, current-mode (CM) circuits are also receiving much attention for their potential advantages such as inherent wider bandwidth, simple circuitry, lower power consumption, and wide dynamic range.

Considering these advantages of CM circuits, several CM-APSs using different active devices have been reported but many of them use large component count or matching conditions.


Our discrete Schrödinger equation for the variable wave speed problem (28) can be viewed as a variable-mesh finite-difference approximation. Our work to date has started off with such discrete equations as the formulation of the actual problem to be solved [1, 2, 7] . In this previous work the discrete equations have clear finite-difference interpretations and therefore applications. In this paper, we are solving a discretized problem, which is an approximation to another continuous problem.

Our work to date has started off with such discrete equations as the formulation of the actual problem to be solved.


For all FDD studies of skin, human and animal, sections of collagenous tissue are carefully removed from the dermal layer of the skin. These samples are placed in a cell specially designed to allow the sample to be stretched slightly to remove the natural crimp and also to maintain 100% humidity during the exposure to the finely focussed X-ray beam [3] . The BioCAT beam-line at The Advanced Photon Source, the third generation synchrotron at the Argonne National Laboratory, USA, was used for this study. Synchrotron X-radiation has many advantages such as vastly increased flux and brilliance. It also offers a choice of a specific wavelength for any experiment; the latter is simply selected using a monochromator. For this study, a finely focussed X-ray beam, of energy 12 KeV was passed completely through the sample. Exposure times for the samples in this study were between 1 and 3 seconds. After background removal, the pattern arising from diffracting this finely focussed X-ray beam (0.1 × 0.4 mm) off the electron density distribution in the 3 week-old mouse samples, Figure 1 , was recorded on both a detector and on Fuji-Bas imaging plates.

These samples are placed in a cell specially designed to allow the sample to be stretched slightly to remove the natural crimp and also to maintain 100% humidity during the exposure to the finely focussed X-ray beam.


The flowers of safflower plant Carthamus tinctorius L. have been most promising in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders [7] . The extract of C. tinctorius contains several pigments, including hydroxy safflor yellow A (HSYA), safflor yellow B, safflomin A, safflomin C, and other pigments. HSYA, the main chemical component of the safflower yellow pigments, has been demonstrated to prevent dopaminergic neurodegeneration mediated through oxidative stress in rats by decreasing ROS production [8] . In addition, HSYA is also able to reduce myocardial injury in isolated perfused heart of rat through its antioxidant action by regulating nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase activity [9] . Moreover, HSYA has been shown to reduce brain injury caused by experimental cerebral stroke animal model by attenuating the elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreasing reduced glutathione (GSH) [10] . Further, recent in vitro data on isolated mitochondria from rat brain suggest that ATP levels and respiratory control ratio were enhanced, besides improving mitochondrial energy metabolism [11] . However, whether HSYA provides cerebroprotection against I/R injury affecting mitochondrial pathway remains poorly understood.

The flowers of safflower plant Carthamus tinctorius L. have been most promising in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders.

HSYA, the main chemical component of the safflower yellow pigments, has been demonstrated to prevent dopaminergic neurodegeneration mediated through oxidative stress in rats by decreasing ROS production.

In addition, HSYA is also able to reduce myocardial injury in isolated perfused heart of rat through its antioxidant action by regulating nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase activity.

Moreover, HSYA has been shown to reduce brain injury caused by experimental cerebral stroke animal model by attenuating the elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreasing reduced glutathione (GSH).

Further, recent in vitro data on isolated mitochondria from rat brain suggest that ATP levels and respiratory control ratio were enhanced, besides improving mitochondrial energy metabolism.


The nanoindentation by a Berkovich diamond indenter is used to study the mechanical properties of superhard materials at the nanoscale. It was found that nanohardness of (111) cBN single crystals is about 61 GPa (35 mN load and 200 nm displacement) [14] [15] [16] [17] . Moreover, nanoindentation allows one to study the onset of plasticity in nanodeformation of cBN and obtain the experimental estimates of a theoretical shear strength of (111) cBN [15, 17] . Unfortunately, with respect to the nanoindentation of diamond single crystals, the contact is elastic. Thus, only elastic properties of diamonds were studied [18] [19] [20] [21] .

It was found that nanohardness of (111) cBN single crystals is about 61 GPa (35 mN load and 200 nm displacement).

Moreover, nanoindentation allows one to study the onset of plasticity in nanodeformation of cBN and obtain the experimental estimates of a theoretical shear strength of (111) cBN.

Thus, only elastic properties of diamonds were studied.


Owing to the random nature of sequence editing during VDJ recombination, most rearrangements result in non-functional TCRβ genes: either a stop codon is created, the V and J gene segments are not in the same coding frame, or a pseudogenic gene segment that encodes a major defect outside the CDR3 region is incorporated. T cells in which the first VDJ rearrangement results in a non-functional TCRβ gene often undergo VDJ recombination of their second allele, thus allowing the cell a second chance to rearrange a functional TCRβ [10] . After gene rearrangement, positive selection in the thymus ensures that all mature T cells have at least one TCRβ allele encoding a functional TCRβ protein; T cells carrying only non-productive rearrangements undergo apoptosis [11] . In addition, some pseudogeneic alleles carry non-functional Recombination Signal Sequences (RSSs), which prevent their incorporation into rearranged genes [12, 13] .

T cells in which the first VDJ rearrangement results in a non-functional TCRβ gene often undergo VDJ recombination of their second allele, thus allowing the cell a second chance to rearrange a functional TCRβ.

After gene rearrangement, positive selection in the thymus ensures that all mature T cells have at least one TCRβ allele encoding a functional TCRβ protein; T cells carrying only non-productive rearrangements undergo apoptosis.

In addition, some pseudogeneic alleles carry non-functional Recombination Signal Sequences (RSSs), which prevent their incorporation into rearranged genes.


High rates of soil loss have been attributed to CT using an ox-drawn plough, which destroys soil structure (Thierfelder and Wall, 2009) . Conventional tillage weakens soil aggregation because it exposes SOC, which binds soil particles together, to microbial oxidation (Grandy and Robertson, 2006; Thierfelder and Wall, 2009) . Traffic during CT pulverises the soil and breaks down soil structure, which can result in clogging of soil pores, surface sealing, reduced infiltration rates and increased runoff and soil erosion (Sumner, 1992) . The increase in runoff losses 1 year after fallow termination in fallow treatments at Domboshawa ICRAF site and Chikwaka sites could be attributed to introduction of tillage. The leaf and grass litter that protected the soil surface during fallowing had disappeared through soil incorporation as a result of tillage.

High rates of soil loss have been attributed to CT using an ox-drawn plough, which destroys soil structure.

Conventional tillage weakens soil aggregation because it exposes SOC, which binds soil particles together, to microbial oxidation.

Traffic during CT pulverises the soil and breaks down soil structure, which can result in clogging of soil pores, surface sealing, reduced infiltration rates and increased runoff and soil erosion.


It is quite common that the physical objects involved in the WoT cannot be connected permanently, firstly for energy saving reasons but also because of mobility. In this paper, we consider mobile objects that communicate through shortrange radio interfaces (Wi-Fi, Buetooth, ZigBee, etc.) with other objects and with potential Internet gateways. Hence, they are subjects to disconnections while moving. To cope with this issue, ADTRS makes the requests and responses of Figure 1 . Example of traversal of a DTN involved in the call from a WoTApp to a Functionality HTTP or CoAP tolerant to disruptions by transporting them using a DTN (Delay or Disruption-Tolerant Networking) protocol [5] . Indeed, this kind of protocol does not assume that there always exists an end-to-end path between two devices in the network. Mobile devices can store messages, carry these messages while moving and deliver them to other devices when possible. Figure 1 illustrates this principle: an external WoTApp (running for example in a CoAP-enabled browser) invokes an ASAWoO functionality exposed as a RESTful Web service by robot C. With only direct radio transmissions (that is to say device to device transmission, e.g. with Bluetooth), a delay-tolerant network is formed by the three robots A, B and C. The CoAP request first reaches robot A (assuming that this one was close to the PC that hosts the WoTApp when the request was issued). The request traverses the network, through robot B, eventually reaching robot C, thanks to the radio contact between robots A and B, the movement of robot B (acting as a data mule), and finally the encounter between robots B and C.

Example of traversal of a DTN involved in the call from a WoTApp to a Functionality HTTP or CoAP tolerant to disruptions by transporting them using a DTN (Delay or Disruption-Tolerant Networking) protocol.


The main advantage of using the LTF converter as a detector in a VLC system lies in the low complexity to convert light intensity to an electrical signal, which can be directly processed in a digital In Figure 4 , we can appreciate the sensibility of the LTF converter to incident light. For slight variations of transmission reach, a considerate change in output frequency is observed. Nevertheless, we consider that having a receiver with high responsivity could limit the visible light communication system, if the application scenarios have light sources different to LED transmitters. Such stimulations may cause a frequency deviation of that mapped in the color-shift keying (CSK) constellation space [23] .

Such stimulations may cause a frequency deviation of that mapped in the color-shift keying (CSK) constellation space.


In this section, LTF characterization and the proposed VLC system performance analysis are evaluated, considering the input optical signal P in (t), variation of the link distance, LTF output frequency f O , and SNR. We assume that the VLC channel is corrupted by AWGN. First, the LTF performance was evaluated in function of the input constant optical signal, and we proceeded with the distance variation between the transmitter LED and the LTF receiver. Figure 3 depicts LTF output frequency and optical input power versus link distance. It can be seen in Figure 3a that LTF output maximum frequency was 780 kHz (LTF saturation frequency) at the 5 mW optical input power, with 5 cm minimum link distance. On the other hand, we can see in Figure 3b that when the power input is 10 µW, the link distance that achieves the minimum output LTF frequency 1.6 kHz is 110 cm. This result is consistent with the inverse-square law, as the LED is a Lambertian source [16] .

This result is consistent with the inverse-square law, as the LED is a Lambertian source.


Regarding the experiment, for each frequency f OOK value, we can see the link distance between the LED and the LTF converter, which would allow finding an LTF output frequency f o ≥ 4 f OOK . Figure 7 depicts an experimental estimation of the LTF output frequency f o versus link distance, for the different values f OOK . We can see that the maximum frequency f OOK of modulating signal is limited by transmission length, because the light intensity on the LTF is also a function of distance. The minimal link distance was 6.2 cm for a maximum frequency f OOK = 600 kHz, without the LTF output frequency operates in saturation mode. Such maximum frequency could be achieved at a greater distance (>6.2 cm), if we consider an optical concentrator in the receiver. For the case of less frequency f OOK = 1 kHz, the maximum distance was the 100 cm. In Figure 4 , we can appreciate the sensibility of the LTF converter to incident light. For slight variations of transmission reach, a considerate change in output frequency is observed. Nevertheless, we consider that having a receiver with high responsivity could limit the visible light communication system, if the application scenarios have light sources different to LED transmitters. Such stimulations may cause a frequency deviation of that mapped in the color-shift keying (CSK) constellation space [23] .

Such stimulations may cause a frequency deviation of that mapped in the color-shift keying (CSK) constellation space.


In recent years, polymeric micelles have received much attention, particularly due to the great potential as drug delivery vehicles in cancer chemotherapy [7] [8] [9] [10] . The amphiphilic copolymers can spontaneously form nanostructures with hydrophobic cores and a hydrophilic outer shell in aqueous medium. The hydrophobic core can act as the drug-loading depot, while the surrounding hydrophilic shell can increase stabilization. Moreover, the micelles possess unique properties such as increasing blood circulation time in vivo and passive accumulation in tumor tissue by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect [11] [12] [13] . In particular, the biodegradable and nontoxic polymeric conjugates, such as glycol chitosan-based amphiphiles, attracted considerable interests [14] [15] [16] . Glycol chitosan self-assembled nanoparticles demonstrated high tumor accumulation that was useful for in vivo delivery of hydrophobic drugs or genes [17] [18] [19] . In our previous study, amphiphilic cholesterol-modified glycol chitosan (CHGC) was synthesized and formed aggregated nanoparticles in aqueous solution [20] . Moreover, the DOXloaded CHGC nanoparticles showed the prolonged circulation in blood and exhibited stronger antitumor activity against S180 tumor-bearing mice by the EPR effect than doxorubicin hydrochloride. Further, the nanoparticle surface can be functionalized to attain active targeting, leading to improvement of drug intratumoral accumulation. This can be achieved by tagging target-specific moieties or ligands onto the micelle's surface [21] [22] [23] . Such ligands are recognized by specific receptors which are either uniquely expressed or overexpressed on certain types of cancer cell surfaces. Several targeting moieties, such as folate, aptamer, or peptides, have been successfully conjugated with the carriers to deliver antitumor drugs or genes for treatment of prostate cancer [24] [25] [26] .

In recent years, polymeric micelles have received much attention, particularly due to the great potential as drug delivery vehicles in cancer chemotherapy.

Moreover, the micelles possess unique properties such as increasing blood circulation time in vivo and passive accumulation in tumor tissue by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect.

In particular, the biodegradable and nontoxic polymeric conjugates, such as glycol chitosan-based amphiphiles, attracted considerable interests.

Glycol chitosan self-assembled nanoparticles demonstrated high tumor accumulation that was useful for in vivo delivery of hydrophobic drugs or genes.

In our previous study, amphiphilic cholesterol-modified glycol chitosan (CHGC) was synthesized and formed aggregated nanoparticles in aqueous solution.

This can be achieved by tagging target-specific moieties or ligands onto the micelle's surface.

Several targeting moieties, such as folate, aptamer, or peptides, have been successfully conjugated with the carriers to deliver antitumor drugs or genes for treatment of prostate cancer.


In the modern conservation framework, evolutionary distinctiveness is considered useful for the conservation prioritization (Isaac et al., 2007) . Evolutionary history should be clarified to know what should be conserved first (Collen et al., 2011) . In addition, adaptive ecological characteristics should also be considered in conservation biology (Ryder, 1986; de Guia and Saitoh, 2007; Isaac et al., 2007; Allendorf et al., 2010; Collen et al., 2011; Funk et al., 2012) . It is therefore of great importance to clarify the contribution of both phylogenetic and ecological effects to the formation of species assemblages underpinning regional biodiversity (Webb et al., 2002; Wiens and Donoghue, 2004; Wiens and Graham, 2005) .

In the modern conservation framework, evolutionary distinctiveness is considered useful for the conservation prioritization.

Evolutionary history should be clarified to know what should be conserved first.

In addition, adaptive ecological characteristics should also be considered in conservation biology.

It is therefore of great importance to clarify the contribution of both phylogenetic and ecological effects to the formation of species assemblages underpinning regional biodiversity.


The meta-model is extremely important because it describes the content and structure needed in the knowledge base for the CARE approach. First, the ontology is modeled in an object-oriented framework using UML: each construct is modeled as a class with data attributes; the classes are related to one another with associations and generalizations. Subsequently, the constructs are represented in a formal notation, O-Telos, in our knowledge based tool support. This representation allows us to reason about the entities. For example, we can reason about contradictory, nonfunctional goals using the Non-Functional Framework (NFR) [12] ] [21] .

For example, we can reason about contradictory, nonfunctional goals using the Non-Functional Framework (NFR)].


Wireless devices, such as smartcards, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, watches and the like, are gaining wide popularity. These devices can be connected to wireless networks and software development kits are available that can be used by third parties to develop applications [27] . Applications on these types of devices, however, present challenging problems to designers. Devices face temporary loss of network connectivity when they move; they discover other hosts in an ad-hoc manner; they are likely to have scarce resources, such as low battery power, slow CPU speed and little memory; they are required to react to frequent and unannounced changes in the environment, such as high variability of network bandwidth, transfer to a different device, new location, etc.

These devices can be connected to wireless networks and software development kits are available that can be used by third parties to develop applications.


The estimated coefficients and their associated standard errors for five of the six random utility equations are given in Appendix Table 2 ; the normalisation is on the parameter vector corresponding to the unemployed. Firstly, the estimated coefficient for ρ is 0.234 which is statistically significantly different from both 1 and 0. Rejecting the null hypothesis of ρ = 1 suggests that correlation across the neighbouring occupational outcomes is indeed present in the data. An estimated value of 0.234 for ρ indicates an correlation coefficient between 0.354 (ρ = 0.5) and 0.427 (ρ = 0.1) for the error terms of the neighbouring labour market outcomes (Small 1987) . In the final column of Table 3 we present model predicted probabilities for the various occupational categories, expressed as percentages and averaged over all individuals. These closely mimic the observed sample proportions in the data, suggesting that the model performs well.

An estimated value of 0.234 for ρ indicates an correlation coefficient between 0.354 (ρ = 0.5) and 0.427 (ρ = 0.1) for the error terms of the neighbouring labour market outcomes.


Public interest in such personality characteristics has been sufficiently high for several best-selling books to be published on the types of people who are likely to survive disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. For example, the concept of a "Survivor Personality" was proposed by the American author Al Siebert in his bestselling monograph of the same name [10] . Having interviewed many individuals who survived major life events, ranging from disruption of business activities to severe illness, he extracted key factors crucial for survival, including empathy, playful curiosity, a "synergistic personality" and emotional flexibility. Similarly, the investigative journalist Amanda Ripley identified some of the personality characteristics that are common in disaster survivors, including their tendencies to believe in their ability to influence situations, to find meaning in adversity, and to learn from both positive and negative experiences [11] .

For example, the concept of a "Survivor Personality" was proposed by the American author Al Siebert in his bestselling monograph of the same name.

Similarly, the investigative journalist Amanda Ripley identified some of the personality characteristics that are common in disaster survivors, including their tendencies to believe in their ability to influence situations, to find meaning in adversity, and to learn from both positive and negative experiences.


Day to day survival undoubtedly becomes the primary goal for anyone involved in a natural disaster, including earthquakes and tsunamis. The types of people who are likely to survive a natural disaster remain an unresolved issue in psychology; however, both cognitive and biological factors must play crucial roles. For example, high working-memory capacity (temporary storage and processing of various types of information) is considered a crucial factor in promptly responding to potential dangers under emergency conditions [1] [2] [3] . A sound physical condition is also crucial for escaping imminent dangers during disasters and enduring adverse conditions in their aftermath [4, 5] . Other biological factors such as age and sex of the individual are also critical, since the percentage of casualties in areas struck by disaster tends to be higher among elderly/female residents [6, 7] .

For example, high working-memory capacity (temporary storage and processing of various types of information) is considered a crucial factor in promptly responding to potential dangers under emergency conditions.

A sound physical condition is also crucial for escaping imminent dangers during disasters and enduring adverse conditions in their aftermath.

Other biological factors such as age and sex of the individual are also critical, since the percentage of casualties in areas struck by disaster tends to be higher among elderly/female residents.


To address the abovementioned problems, we first aimed to devise a shorter version of the Power to Live with Disasters questionnaire. To shorten the instrument substantially, we included only two questions for each factor; 16 questions were thus extracted such that the eight trait scores were as well-correlated with the original factor scores as possible. We confirmed the validity of the short-form instrument using the same survival indices as applied in our previous study [17] . Second, we aimed to determine the representability and reliability (internal consistency) of the short-form questionnaire data using another dataset from the general population. To confirm the utility of the short-form questionnaire as a concise alternative to the full version, we calculated Pearson correlation coefficients between their scores. Correlations exceeding 0.90 were taken to indicate sufficient representativeness of the short-form items. The Spearman-Brown coefficient of each factor was also calculated to evaluate the reliability of the two-item factor solution used in the short-form questionnaire. We also conducted a CFA to assess the discriminability of the eight factors in the short-and long-form questionnaires, based on normative data. Third, we aimed to confirm further the validity of the Power to Live with Disasters questionnaire as a tool for measuring personality characteristics pertinent to disaster survival by comparing the data of the survivors and general population. Assuming that the eight factors identified are truly representative of survival-related personality characteristics, we expected the scores of the survivor group to be higher than those of the respondents from the general population; differences between the two groups were analyzed while controlling for the effects of age and sex. Finally, we examined the discriminant validity of the two forms of the Power to Live questionnaire by utilising a widely accepted questionnaire considering the Big Five personality factors [17] .

We confirmed the validity of the short-form instrument using the same survival indices as applied in our previous study.

Finally, we examined the discriminant validity of the two forms of the Power to Live questionnaire by utilising a widely accepted questionnaire considering the Big Five personality factors.


To efficiently compute the injected noise, analysis tools typically use linear models for the victim and aggressor driver gates, as shown in Fig. 2 . The aggressor driver is represented with a Thevenin model, consisting of a ramp voltage source and Thevenin resistance R A , providing the same signal slope as the original aggressor driver. The victim driver gate is modeled with a grounded resistance, called the holding resistance R H . This resistance is computed using a small signal analysis of the driver with both driver input and output biased at stable supply voltages, i.e., V dd (GND) at the driver input and GND (V dd ) at the driver output). The use of such a linear model has several advantages. First, the entire circuit can be analyzed using efficient linear methods, such as reduced order modeling [8] . Second, superposition can be used to sum the noise injected from each individual aggressor, making it simple to align the noise pulse peaks from each aggressor.

First, the entire circuit can be analyzed using efficient linear methods, such as reduced order modeling.


By now there is a good understanding of many extensions of the original Maldacena's proposal. The AdS/CFT correspondence has been extended to theories with less or zero supersymmetries, as the β deformed ones 1 and the quiver theories with the Sasaki-Einstein gravity duals. On the other hand there have been found also several confining backgrounds at zero and finite temperature, aiming to provide the ground to understand better QCD. One important development in this direction was the understanding that fields which transform in the fundamental representation as the QCD quarks do, can be introduced by adding appropriate flavor branes in the gravity dual background [9] . Usually this is done in the probe limit where the backreaction of the flavor branes is neglected, and by studying the worldvolume of these branes one can observe in the gravity dual background many physically expected phenomena and to compute for example the meson spectrum 2 .

One important development in this direction was the understanding that fields which transform in the fundamental representation as the QCD quarks do, can be introduced by adding appropriate flavor branes in the gravity dual background.


We will repeat and extend the proof of this later. It was found that when a fair number of higher derivative terms are taken into account in the world-sheet action, the Lüscher term retains its universality but the string tension does get modified [19] . We review the results regarding α ′ corrections in Appendix B.

It was found that when a fair number of higher derivative terms are taken into account in the world-sheet action, the Lüscher term retains its universality but the string tension does get modified.


There is a worldwide tendency to create facilities on a national scale to collect and disseminate location-based information, usually called geo information [1] . Car navigation systems are a form of geo information used by the general public, and geo information is also applied in government and business organisations to make them more effective. Within organisations, this information is often managed by a Geographical Information System (GIS), and between organisations, through National Geo Information Infrastructures (NGIIs) with national governments playing a key role in their dissemination [2] [3] [4] [5] .

There is a worldwide tendency to create facilities on a national scale to collect and disseminate location-based information, usually called geo information.

Within organisations, this information is often managed by a Geographical Information System (GIS), and between organisations, through National Geo Information Infrastructures (NGIIs) with national governments playing a key role in their dissemination.


Delivering infrastructure seems to involve two contradictory aspects [97] . On the one hand there is a narrative of change, expressing the urge to work with the newest technology, and on the other hand there is a narrative of stability which sees infrastructure as predictable and stable and thus useful. These two narratives seem to fight for attention.

Delivering infrastructure seems to involve two contradictory aspects.


The analysis shows a cyclical storyboard: whenever new technology was tested and approved, newer technology was already virtually available to be tested and eventually to be confirmed as a new standard. The data shows two of these cycles, with the typical pattern being depicted in Figure 2 . This is the storyboard of the action occurring within the project, which can also be interpreted as a vicious circle [95] .

This is the storyboard of the action occurring within the project, which can also be interpreted as a vicious circle.


It has been suggested that when problems with the construction of infrastructures emerge it is necessary to focus on project designs in the light of cultural settings [98] . However, here there was more at stake. A GI community, seemingly preoccupied with innovation, desperately required a useable infrastructure. While one of those involved in the project suggested that infrastructures are always in a process of innovation and should be regarded as 'moving targets', in order to be used, infrastructures also need to be stable. Thus, the sector as a whole must find equilibrium between stability and change in relation to infrastructure. Now that these driving forces have been identified, a breakthrough is within reach.

It has been suggested that when problems with the construction of infrastructures emerge it is necessary to focus on project designs in the light of cultural settings.

However, here there was more at stake.


With the soaring requirement of building space in metropolises, high-rise building development is indispensable, and thus deep piles are imperative. Pile length can range from 20 m to 60 m due to large loads from upper structures needing to be transferred into soils. Apart from designing long pile foundations, which can provide more friction resistance, grouting technology is also a good way to increase the ultimate bearing capacity. Sometimes this technology is also applied in construction of large diameter deep piles. One example of this is the two bored piles with depths of 65 m and 91 m tested in western Bangladesh with test results showing increments of end bearing and shaft baring capacity and decreases of base settlements [1] . Another example is a skyscraper project in London, where the diameters of piles were 2.4 m with a length of 63 m [2] .

One example of this is the two bored piles with depths of 65 m and 91 m tested in western Bangladesh with test results showing increments of end bearing and shaft baring capacity and decreases of base settlements.

Another example is a skyscraper project in London, where the diameters of piles were 2.4 m with a length of 63 m.


Particularly, ESS are widely esteemed as potential solutions for high shares of vRES [25] [26] [27] . The available ESS technologies (e.g. batteries, pumped hydro storage and hydrogen) differ vastly in terms of investment costs per power capacity and per energy capacity, lifetime, storage losses, efficiency, ramping rates and reaction times [23, 25, 28] . Moreover, current research concludes that there is no single ideal -or even supreme-ESS technology [24, 25, [28] [29] [30] . Indeed, the requirements for ESS depend on the characteristics of the power system under study and on the characteristics of the vRES. Consequently, the key question is: what combination of storage technologies is needed to tackle the challenges of vRES integration?

Particularly, ESS are widely esteemed as potential solutions for high shares of vRES.

The available ESS technologies (e.g. batteries, pumped hydro storage and hydrogen) differ vastly in terms of investment costs per power capacity and per energy capacity, lifetime, storage losses, efficiency, ramping rates and reaction times.

Moreover, current research concludes that there is no single ideal -or even supreme-ESS technology.


In the area of multi-agent systems, norms are employed often to regulate and coordinate the behaviors of autonomous agents interacting in open environments [14, 16] . Norms are essentially rules that can be categorized as permissions, obligations and prohibitions and describe respectively what may be done, what should be done, and what should not be done. Normative systems are formalized often using deontic logic [11, 14] . The language TTL as a variant of reified order-sorted predicate logic, used for the formalization of properties in this paper, has a higher expressive power than any variant of deontic logic. Furthermore, the types of properties being checked on traces in the proposed approach are not restricted to permissions, obligations and prohibitions only. In particular, diverse causal relations on states of processes can be specified. Moreover, as shown in the paper, a set of properties to check the trace conformity to an organizational specification is identified based on an organizational specification in a systematic manner and its completeness can be ensured. On the contrary, the frameworks from normative systems literature known to the authors are not obtained from formal organizational specifications (e.g., workflow models) and the issue of completeness of sets of norms is not discussed in this literature.

In the area of multi-agent systems, norms are employed often to regulate and coordinate the behaviors of autonomous agents interacting in open environments.

Normative systems are formalized often using deontic logic.


This paper reports and analyses the findings of the 'Disappearing Women: Northwest ICT' project, which was one of several gender projects undertaken by the University of Salford, UK 3 to further understand why more women leave the sector than are being recruited. Whilst speaking to women working in the ICT sector, it became apparent to the research team that many of their colleagues who had left the sector had been pushed out or left due to a dissatisfaction with their work situations. This specific cohort of 'disappearing women' has been subject to little (if any) research so far. Overall, our qualitative study aims to continue the debate on the attrition of women from the sector by speaking directly to those that have left, attempting to understand the broader picture in the UK IT workforce (Platman and Taylor, 2004) . The project was based on the assumption that 'disappearing women', once found, may be able to facilitate a more in-depth understanding of why women leave the ICT sector.

Overall, our qualitative study aims to continue the debate on the attrition of women from the sector by speaking directly to those that have left, attempting to understand the broader picture in the UK IT workforce.


Integrated photonics systems at visible wavelengths have many wide-reaching potential applications, including image projection systems, underwater optical communications, and optogenetics [1] [2] . Generally, these visible-light integrated systems are based on silicon-nitride waveguides since silicon nitride has a low absorption coefficient within the visible spectrum and is CMOS compatible. However, silicon nitride has a low thermo-optic coefficient and does not exhibit any significant electro-optic properties, which makes integrated phase tuning at visible wavelengths a challenge.

Integrated photonics systems at visible wavelengths have many wide-reaching potential applications, including image projection systems, underwater optical communications, and optogenetics.


In this work, an integrated visible-light liquid-crystal phase modulator has been experimentally demonstrated. A low threshold voltage of ±1.2V is shown and 24π phase shift is achieved within ±2.5V in a 500-μm-long modulation region. This device enables integrated visible-wavelength modulation for a variety of applications, including visible image projection systems, underwater communications, and optogenetics [1] [2] .

This device enables integrated visible-wavelength modulation for a variety of applications, including visible image projection systems, underwater communications, and optogenetics.


The biopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) has been produced from Nostoc muscorum using various carbon sources (acetate, fructose, glucose, propionate, and valerate) with the PHBV yield being 28% when using 0.4% w/v acetate and 26% when using 0.4% w/v glucose, the yield rising to 60% when the carbon source was 0.4% acetate or valerate and the nitrogen source was restricted [22] . Lower yields of 9.5% have been reported for the cyanophyte Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 growing in BG-11 medium. However, when cultivated with sodium acetate, the yield increased to 14.6% under nitrogen limitation and 25.7% under phosphate limitation [23] .

The biopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) has been produced from Nostoc muscorum using various carbon sources (acetate, fructose, glucose, propionate, and valerate) with the PHBV yield being 28% when using 0.4% w/v acetate and 26% when using 0.4% w/v glucose, the yield rising to 60% when the carbon source was 0.4% acetate or valerate and the nitrogen source was restricted.

However, when cultivated with sodium acetate, the yield increased to 14.6% under nitrogen limitation and 25.7% under phosphate limitation.


Instability in the international price of oil and natural gas, coupled with geopolitical factors and environmental concerns, has led to the need to substitute nonrenewable petroleum products with those based on renewable resources. The production of polymers from petrochemicals is the second major use of oil after their utilization as a source of energy [1] . Biopolymers can be produced using biofixation of carbon dioxide by cyanobacterium and could reduce both dependency on petroleum and carbon dioxide emissions [2] .

The production of polymers from petrochemicals is the second major use of oil after their utilization as a source of energy.

Biopolymers can be produced using biofixation of carbon dioxide by cyanobacterium and could reduce both dependency on petroleum and carbon dioxide emissions.


Petrochemical-based plastics are resistant to degradation and most eventually end up in sanitary landfills, where they often compromise the circulation of gas and liquids and thus the decomposition of other materials within the site and may even make it unstable. Since landfill sites are becoming scarce, one solution is to substitute recalcitrant petrochemical-based plastics with biopolymers that do not cause such problems [3] . International Journal of Polymer Science excess while at least one other nutrient is limiting, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron being among the most common limiting nutrients [3] . Unlike crop plants, the cultivation of cyanobacteria does not require the use of large areas of ground and can occupy areas inappropriate for agriculture and thus does not compete with food production [10] .

Since landfill sites are becoming scarce, one solution is to substitute recalcitrant petrochemical-based plastics with biopolymers that do not cause such problems.

International Journal of Polymer Science excess while at least one other nutrient is limiting, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron being among the most common limiting nutrients.

Unlike crop plants, the cultivation of cyanobacteria does not require the use of large areas of ground and can occupy areas inappropriate for agriculture and thus does not compete with food production.


The yield of microbial biopolymers is quite variable and depends on the composition of the medium used. When we grew LEB 18 on sodium bicarbonate, glucose, or sodium acetate along with different concentrations of nitrogen we obtained biopolymer yields varying from 7.64% to 44.19% (Table 1 ). The cyanophyte Aulosira fertilissima has been investigated for PHB production using media containing 0.2% w/v to 0.4% w/v acetate or citrate plus from zero to 20 mg L −1 K 2 HPO 4 with an incubation period from 2 days to 14 days, with PHB yields ranging from 17% to 85.5% [24] .

The cyanophyte Aulosira fertilissima has been investigated for PHB production using media containing 0.2% w/v to 0.4% w/v acetate or citrate plus from zero to 20 mg L −1 K 2 HPO 4 with an incubation period from 2 days to 14 days, with PHB yields ranging from 17% to 85.5%.


Images obtained by satellites are useful in many environmental applications such as tracking of earth resources, geographical mapping, prediction of agricultural crops, urban growth, weather, flood and fire control etc [7] . Analysis of high resolution satellite images has been an important research topic for accurate and up-to-date road network information essential for urban planning [5] . One of the major objects that can be extracted from the images is roads that constitute an important layer of vector maps. Road extraction is so far done for highways or wide roads using high-resolution airborne images or low-resolution satellites images [9] .

Images obtained by satellites are useful in many environmental applications such as tracking of earth resources, geographical mapping, prediction of agricultural crops, urban growth, weather, flood and fire control etc.

Analysis of high resolution satellite images has been an important research topic for accurate and up-to-date road network information essential for urban planning.

Road extraction is so far done for highways or wide roads using high-resolution airborne images or low-resolution satellites images.


Road network information is required for a variety of applications. Such information is a necessary input to many decision processes. Manual extraction of road from remote sensing (RS) imagery is mostly time-consuming and costly [2] . Either no digital data is available or often very imprecise and not up to date data is available, i.e., incomplete, or even wrong, for road network in regions that consists of larger parts of desert or dry mountainous areas, e.g., northern Africa. Because of the large areas to be mapped, it is important to use highly automated means as well as cheap and readily available data [4] .

Manual extraction of road from remote sensing (RS) imagery is mostly time-consuming and costly.

Because of the large areas to be mapped, it is important to use highly automated means as well as cheap and readily available data.


Candidate Λ decays are reconstructed in the Λ → pπ − mode from two oppositely charged tracks that either both include information from the VELO (long candidates), or both do not include information from the VELO (downstream candidates). The Λ candidates must also have a vertex fit with a good χ 2 , a decay time of at least 2 ps and an invariant mass within 30 MeV/c 2 of the known Λ mass [38] . For long candidates, charged particles must have p T > 0.25 GeV/c and a further requirement is imposed on the particle identification (PID) of the proton using a likelihood variable that combines information from the RICH detectors and the calorimeters.

The Λ candidates must also have a vertex fit with a good χ 2 , a decay time of at least 2 ps and an invariant mass within 30 MeV/c 2 of the known Λ mass.


The study of Λ 0 b baryon decays is of considerable interest for several reasons. Firstly, as the Λ 0 b baryon has non-zero spin, there is the potential to improve the limited understanding of the helicity structure of the underlying Hamiltonian, which cannot be extracted from meson decays [1, 2] . Secondly, as the Λ 0 b baryon may be considered as consisting of a heavy quark combined with a light diquark system, the hadronic physics differs significantly from that of the B meson decay. A further motivation specific to the Λ 0 b → Λµ + µ − channel is that the polarisation of the Λ baryon is preserved in the Λ → pπ − decay 1 , giving access to complementary information to that available from meson decays [3] .

Firstly, as the Λ 0 b baryon has non-zero spin, there is the potential to improve the limited understanding of the helicity structure of the underlying Hamiltonian, which cannot be extracted from meson decays.

A further motivation specific to the Λ 0 b → Λµ + µ − channel is that the polarisation of the Λ baryon is preserved in the Λ → pπ − decay 1 , giving access to complementary information to that available from meson decays.


Theoretical aspects of the Λ 0 b → Λµ + µ − decay have been considered both in the SM and in some of its extensions [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] . Although based on the same effective Hamiltonian as that for the corresponding mesonic transitions, the hadronic form factors for the Λ 0 b baryon case are less well-known due to the less stringent experimental constraints. This leads to a large spread in the predicted branching fractions. The decay has a non-trivial angular structure which, in the case of unpolarised Λ 0 b production, is described by the helicity angles of the muon and proton, the angle between the planes defined by the Λ decay products and the two muons, and the square of the dimuon invariant mass, q 2 . In theoretical investigations, the differential branching fraction, and forward-backward asymmetries for both the dilepton and the hadron systems of the decay, have received particular attention [3, 11, [15] [16] [17] . Different treatments of form factors are used depending on the q 2 region and can be tested by comparing predictions with data as a function of q 2 .

Theoretical aspects of the Λ 0 b → Λµ + µ − decay have been considered both in the SM and in some of its extensions.

In theoretical investigations, the differential branching fraction, and forward-backward asymmetries for both the dilepton and the hadron systems of the decay, have received particular attention.


It can be argued that from a wider destination competitiveness viewpoint, leveraging events for positive event legacies are of greater value than gaining positive event impacts, because they imply the required longitudinal approach (Chalip, 2006; Jago et al., 2010; Preuss, 2007) . It is stated that an event should not be regarded as an 'intervention', but rather as a "temporary limited set of opportunities to foster and nurture longer-term outcomes" (O'Brien, 2006:258) and should be approached as part of long-term development and marketing planning (Canadian Tourism Commission, n.d) . This is especially relevant considering that an earlier study proved an expected net loss in economic terms for the host province of British Colombia and that "The Games cannot be justified on the basis of the estimated economic impacts" (Shaffer, Greer & Mauboules, 2003:4) .

It can be argued that from a wider destination competitiveness viewpoint, leveraging events for positive event legacies are of greater value than gaining positive event impacts, because they imply the required longitudinal approach.


Within a tourism management context, there is limited work focusing specifically on mega-events as contributors to destination competitiveness beyond economic, social and marketing aspects. Getz states that "… many planned events are produced with little or no thought given to their tourism appeal or potential ..., and sometimes there is simply no relationship established between events and tourism" (2008:408) . In some instances a mega-event can cause more harm than good to the destination at large (Chalip, 2004; Preuss, 2007) . Destination managers and event organisers may not be able to, through a given mega-event, replicate the legacies previously created by similar events and it is often difficult to predict event legacy (Preuss, 2007) . Even though successful host destinations may serve as benchmarks for others, they may not necessarily be at the forefront of competitiveness in terms of all the multiple dimensions encompassed in an international destination.

In some instances a mega-event can cause more harm than good to the destination at large.

Destination managers and event organisers may not be able to, through a given mega-event, replicate the legacies previously created by similar events and it is often difficult to predict event legacy.


Over the last decade, new high-energy synchrotron sources were constructed, which, in combination with advanced sample environments, provide novel tools and analysis methods for engineering and materials science [16] [17] [18] . Such synchrotron sources offer the possibility for time-resolved in situ studies during materials processing [19, 20] . In the current paper we have used a deformation dilatometer that has been modified for working in the synchrotron beamline to perform hot-compression experiments. In situ high-energy X-ray diffraction (HEXRD) measurements were performed during hot-forming. This setup enables an in situ observation of the interaction and evolution of several microstructural parameters during processing. In particular, we can directly observe the evolution of crystallographic texture, phase fractions, or grain size during deformation and simultaneously record the process parameters, like temperature, force, and length change. Thus, we have been able to systematically analyze texture evolution of a multi-phase alloy in different phase fields, both in situ and time resolved.

Over the last decade, new high-energy synchrotron sources were constructed, which, in combination with advanced sample environments, provide novel tools and analysis methods for engineering and materials science.

Such synchrotron sources offer the possibility for time-resolved in situ studies during materials processing.


Spatio-temporal reasoning has been investigated from a logic and constraint perspective, with applications in geographical information systems (GIS), computer vision, planning, etc [12] . Spatio-temporal reasoning over occupant tracks is similar to a higher-order Markov process, since the next state depends upon multiple previous states. When the transition function also updates the information in previous states, the resulting inference is closer to that of a Markov Random Field (MRF) analysis. In the MRF approach, the operation of a smart environment may be modeled by an undirected graph whose nodes correspond to space-time (or zone-event) points and edges capture space-time adjacency. Spatio-temporal reasoning with MRF is based upon a neighborhood analysis around the zone of occurrence of an event. While it is more general in principle, it is also computationally more complex than track-based reasoning, which is more specialized and hence can more efficiently incorporate a global view of the system.

Spatio-temporal reasoning has been investigated from a logic and constraint perspective, with applications in geographical information systems (GIS), computer vision, planning, etc.


In addition to providing interesting model systems for fundamental multidisciplinary studies on the characteristics of solid-gas systems, M-H materials have practical applications, some potential and some currently realized. Batteries based on M-H materials have been on the market for a number of years. M-H systems have been studied extensively for their potential use as media for the safe storage of combustible hydrogen in transportation applications [7] . M-H materials also have been looked at as possible non-mechanical refrigeration and heat pump systems owing to the exothermicity and endothermicity of the hydrogen absorption and desorption processes, respectively [8] . Also, M-H materials currently do play a very important role in the purification of hydrogen from its natural impure sources (e.g. generation of pure hydrogen gas from hydrocarbon sources) [9] .

M-H systems have been studied extensively for their potential use as media for the safe storage of combustible hydrogen in transportation applications.

M-H materials also have been looked at as possible non-mechanical refrigeration and heat pump systems owing to the exothermicity and endothermicity of the hydrogen absorption and desorption processes, respectively.

Also, M-H materials currently do play a very important role in the purification of hydrogen from its natural impure sources (e.g. generation of pure hydrogen gas from hydrocarbon sources).


Though not quite as well studied as the Pd-H system, the palladium-silver (Pd/Ag) alloy system has received a great deal of attention both as a model system to study the effects that alloying has on the hydrogen absorbing properties of palladium and for its possible uses in several areas of hydrogen-based technology. Prominent among these uses is as hydrogen purification materials [13] . Like pure palladium, Pd/Ag materials are virtually 100% selective to the absorption of hydrogen from a mixture of gases, making these alloys ideal for separating hydrogen from such a mixture. From several perspectives, Pd/Ag materials enjoy superior performance compared to pure palladium as hydrogen purification materials and in other potential applications of M-H systems. Pd/Ag materials have superior hydrogen transport properties than pure palladium [13] . Pd/Ag materials have more stable mechanical properties in the presence of hydrogen compared to pure palladium, including a reduc-tion in hydrogen embrittlement [13] . Because of these enhancements over pure palladium, Pd/Ag materials currently are the most common materials used for hydrogen purification/separation applications.

Prominent among these uses is as hydrogen purification materials.

Pd/Ag materials have superior hydrogen transport properties than pure palladium.

Pd/Ag materials have more stable mechanical properties in the presence of hydrogen compared to pure palladium, including a reduc-tion in hydrogen embrittlement.


As the schematic indicates, the width of the miscibility gap for the Pd/Ag (25 wt%)-hydrogen system is significantly smaller than that for the Pd-hydrogen system. Also, the critical temperature for the Pd/Ag (25 wt%)-hydrogen system is significantly lower than that for the Pd-hydrogen system. These findings are a manifestation of the more general observation that as the percent silver in palladium-silver alloys increases, the width of the alloy-hydrogen miscibility gap decreases and the critical temperature of the miscibility gap is lowered [17] . This trend is further illustrated in Figure 18 with the inclusion of the miscibility gap for Pd/Ag (15 wt%) and more fully illustrated in Table 2 which shows the critical temperatures, lattice constants for the limiting compositions of the α and β phases at 298 K, and the percent volume change due to the α → β (or β → α) transition at 298 K for pure Pd and several Pd/Ag alloys, including Pd/Ag (25 wt%) [17] .

These findings are a manifestation of the more general observation that as the percent silver in palladium-silver alloys increases, the width of the alloy-hydrogen miscibility gap decreases and the critical temperature of the miscibility gap is lowered.

This trend is further illustrated in Figure 18 with the inclusion of the miscibility gap for Pd/Ag (15 wt%) and more fully illustrated in Table 2 which shows the critical temperatures, lattice constants for the limiting compositions of the α and β phases at 298 K, and the percent volume change due to the α → β (or β → α) transition at 298 K for pure Pd and several Pd/Ag alloys, including Pd/Ag (25 wt%).


The decrease in the width of the Pd-H miscibility gap as temperature increases explains the results found in section 3.5. As temperature increases, the width of the Pd-H miscibility gap decreases and the difference in lattice constants between the α phase and the β phase decreases. This results in a decrease in the volume difference between the α phase and the β phase as temperature increases until at T c (and temperatures above) the discontinuity of the α → β (or β → α) transition is replaced with a continuous transition that does not involve an abrupt volume change. Thus as the temperature increases, the volume change during the α → β (or β → α) transition decreases and the amount of dislocations generated also decreases. The decrease in the dislocation density as the hydrogen exposure temperature increases results in a progressive muting of the increases in strength and hardness along with a similar muting of the decrease in ductility (i.e. a muting of the degree of embrittlement). This behavior is seen in plots of Figures 2-4 for temperatures from ~475 K to the (α + β) critical temperature of ~570 K. The displayed behavior of the mechanical properties of the Pd-H system outside this temperature range has been explained elsewhere [22] .

This behavior is seen in plots of Figures 2-4 for temperatures from ~475 K to the (α + β) critical temperature of ~570 K. The displayed behavior of the mechanical properties of the Pd-H system outside this temperature range has been explained elsewhere.


In preparation for the 8-dimensional, precessing SEOBNRv3 (v3) model's final incorporation into LALSuite, we have worked to increase the performance of the 4-dimensional SEOBNRv2 (v2) by ∼300x (Eq 1 and Table 3 ), so that PE can now be performed directly with SEOBNRv2 within weeks to months using standard, serialprocessing MCMC techniques, which could be reduced to days or weeks with minimal parallelization. Our optimization strategies have been shown to dramatically reduce the SEOBNRv2 run-time and over-sensitivity to initial conditions, while maintaining amplitude-weighted phase agreement with the original code to within 0.00790 rad (Table 3) , which is entirely dominated by roundoff errors. The work discussed in this paper is hoped to not only assist MCMC parameter estimation but be useful to others in the community who cannot use pre-optimized SEOBNR codes due to their slow speeds (e.g., the generation of stochastic template banks [33] ). Some of our optimizations have already been applied to the SEOBNRv3 code within LALSuite, leading to speed-ups of around 15x over its original version. We anticipate that overall speed-ups of ∼300x of v3 are likely once the remainder of our v2 optimizations have been incorporated, as the codes are identical in structure and inefficiencies.

The work discussed in this paper is hoped to not only assist MCMC parameter estimation but be useful to others in the community who cannot use pre-optimized SEOBNR codes due to their slow speeds (e.g., the generation of stochastic template banks).


To verify our NEO model and survey simulator we present (Section 3.1) a comparison between its output and the results of the actual Catalina Sky Survey, for which we had full disclosure on pointing history and NEO detection and identification efficiency. Then, in order to explore whether existing surveys can meet the Spaceguard Goal, we developed a simulation to mimic the performance of the LINEAR NEO survey (Stokes et al., 2000) . This search program is clearly the dominant existent NEO survey and modeling its performance is thus absolutely required in order to determine if the Spaceguard Goal can be achieved by existing systems. To within the limit of information available on LINEAR's NEO discoveries we showed that we could mimic LINEAR's performance and, serendipitously, we learned that we can create a model for undiscovered NEOs by running our LINEAR simulator on our model NEO population until the simulator discovers as many NEOs as are currently known (Section 4.2). With the model of undiscovered NEOs we then explore the performance of various idealized and pseudo-realistic surveys in Sections 4.3 through 4.6. We summarize with a comparison to pre-vious work and discussion of the findings in this paper in Section 5.

Then, in order to explore whether existing surveys can meet the Spaceguard Goal, we developed a simulation to mimic the performance of the LINEAR NEO survey.


In the modern society, people have greater access to nutritional information and awareness in food calories are continually increasing. College students, who start to live alone after leaving their parents, may have problems choosing food, so that they need to know more about portion sizes of foods and calories to maintain healthy life style. To help them, standardization of food portions and nutrition education should be carried out. In practice, it was reported that most college students overestimate food calories and knowledge of food energy content acquired from nutrition education and experience was not accurate [1] . For a balanced diet, knowledge on food energy content and energy allowances for an individual, and appropriate energy consumption are essential. As for male students, who live off-campus smoke more, eat irregularly and eat less fruit and seaweed compared to students living in dormitories [2] . As for female college students, preference for the skinny body shape forces them to diet, and exercise and limited portions of food are the main method to control their weight [3] . Recently, more collegians live in dormitories or off-campus rather than commuting from home, and a considerable number of restaurants provide delivery service. This trend encourages students to be interested in choosing food and food calories, and continuous nutrition education on calories and portion sizes of foods may be important.

In practice, it was reported that most college students overestimate food calories and knowledge of food energy content acquired from nutrition education and experience was not accurate.

As for male students, who live off-campus smoke more, eat irregularly and eat less fruit and seaweed compared to students living in dormitories.

As for female college students, preference for the skinny body shape forces them to diet, and exercise and limited portions of food are the main method to control their weight.


Current urban models such as the expansion of the city or the zoning of uses, constantly generate mobility problems [13] . Mobility is one of the first challenges of sustainability. The main objectives of mobility are to facilitate movement and reduce their needs by making better use of the physical proximity relations, as well as ensuring access to goods, jobs and different services [14] . Taking into account the broad social diversity, accessibility is not only an urgent way to tackle the problems of the city by counteracting the effects of urban blight, but also one of the main challenges to be faced in sustainable development, particularly in the fields of transport and urbanization [15, 16] . Accessibility is generally understood as the facilitation of efficient ways to connect origins and destinations for people with movement disabilities by creating suitable street designs, removing barriers and offering other supportive approaches [7, 17] .

Current urban models such as the expansion of the city or the zoning of uses, constantly generate mobility problems.

The main objectives of mobility are to facilitate movement and reduce their needs by making better use of the physical proximity relations, as well as ensuring access to goods, jobs and different services.

Taking into account the broad social diversity, accessibility is not only an urgent way to tackle the problems of the city by counteracting the effects of urban blight, but also one of the main challenges to be faced in sustainable development, particularly in the fields of transport and urbanization.

Accessibility is generally understood as the facilitation of efficient ways to connect origins and destinations for people with movement disabilities by creating suitable street designs, removing barriers and offering other supportive approaches.


The behaviour of cells is controlled in large part by the coordinated activation and inhibition of thousands of genes. This coordination is achieved via a complex network of gene regulation that enables a cell to express the appropriate set of genes for a particular environment and/or phenotype. The primary mode of gene regulation is through a class of genes that encode proteins which bind to regulatory regions on the DNA. These transcription factors (TFs) activate or inhibit the expression of typically a large number of downstream target genes. Genome-wide studies of TF binding allow the construction of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that summarize the global structure of genetic interactions; each node represents a gene and an arrow between two nodes denotes the regulation of a target gene by a TF-coding gene (which we will describe for brevity as a TF unless there is potential for confusion). The dynamics of transcriptional regulation are still not fully understood [1] . However, over relatively long time scales, transcriptional response is generally analogue, i.e. a stronger expression of a TF gene results in a higher nuclear concentration of the TF protein and thereby a stronger activation or inhibition of the target genes [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] .

The dynamics of transcriptional regulation are still not fully understood.

However, over relatively long time scales, transcriptional response is generally analogue, i.e. a stronger expression of a TF gene results in a higher nuclear concentration of the TF protein and thereby a stronger activation or inhibition of the target genes.


Recent rapid developments of computational technologies and optimization algorithms enabled us to optimize real-world structures under constraints that are required in design practice. In addition to optimizing structural systems, it is possible to find optimal shapes of structural components or parts discretized to finite elements; e.g. shapes of automobile suspensions, airfoil wings, and so on (Bendsøe and Sigmund, 2003) . In the civil engineering field, however, optimization of structural components has not been well investigated.

In addition to optimizing structural systems, it is possible to find optimal shapes of structural components or parts discretized to finite elements; e.g. shapes of automobile suspensions, airfoil wings, and so on.


The high spatial resolution of WV2 images allows discrimination of a lot of details, such as vehicles and individual trees, while the high spectral resolution provides detailed information that facilitates the identification of a greater number of ground cover classes (e.g. more variety of vegetation) as well as the detection of changes in the use of the soil (Baiocchi et al., 2011) . The integration of the classification maps derived by WV-2 with DTM that supplies the variability of the territorial morphology permits to produce 3D thematic models i.e. land cover . Also vegetation parameter maps at high spatial resolution of 2 m ground sampling distance can be created from the 8-bands WV-2 imagery after the conversion of the BVs (Brightness Values) into surface reflectance (Borel, 2010) . Applications of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) to WV-2 facilitate shoreline detection to monitor coastal erosion .

The high spatial resolution of WV2 images allows discrimination of a lot of details, such as vehicles and individual trees, while the high spectral resolution provides detailed information that facilitates the identification of a greater number of ground cover classes (e.g. more variety of vegetation) as well as the detection of changes in the use of the soil.

Also vegetation parameter maps at high spatial resolution of 2 m ground sampling distance can be created from the 8-bands WV-2 imagery after the conversion of the BVs (Brightness Values) into surface reflectance.