The view of emotions as an irrational force that opposes cognition and reasoned thought dominated in philosophy for many centuries (see, e.g., the writings by Plato or Descartes), and still today survives in many academic disciplines as well as in lay theories of emotion. However, over the last two decades, psychological and neuroscientific research on emotions has made great strides toward a revision of this conceptualization. Recent theories on the functioning of emotions consider emotion and cognition not as separate, opposing entities, but as strongly intertwined and complementary (Scherer, 2009; Brosch, 2013; Sander, 2013) . Cognitive appraisal processes that automatically and continuously evaluate our environment to detect relevant information play a crucial role in the elicitation of emotions. Emotional responses carry important information about the value of objects or events in our environment, and help us focus on the most important aspects of the surrounding environment by adaptively modulating our cognitive systems . Affective processes and emotions thus should not be considered as irrational forces that are counterproductive to our decision-making, but to the contrary as processes yielding important information that, together with cognitive considerations, can help us make very "rational" (i.e., adaptive and useful) decisions. Given the fundamental interest of society to understand energy-related decisions and behaviors, it may be fruitful and important to take into account affective and emotional processes, as they may contribute to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms, improved predictions of the resulting choices and behaviors, as well as potential leverage for more effective interventions.

Recent theories on the functioning of emotions consider emotion and cognition not as separate, opposing entities, but as strongly intertwined and complementary.


Energy-related decisions and behaviors are driven by a combination of different factors and motivations that need to be weighed and balanced. For example, a person who chooses a very high standard of living requiring intense energy consumption will experience immediate personal benefits (life comfort), while in the long run causing disadvantages both for the individual and at the group level (need for high energy production, potential energy shortages, environmental damage). However, giving up on a high standard of living to save energy will initially lead mainly to personal disadvantages (loss of comfort), with positive outcomes experienced by society only in the long run. The immediate incentive structure thus will not motivate a self-interested individual to reduce energy consumption (as long as the energy prices are held constant). Nevertheless, recent economic work has demonstrated that individuals are actually willing to sacrifice their immediate benefits in order to promote behavior that is beneficial for the group in the long run (Fehr and Gachter, 2002) . Importantly, neuroimaging results indicate that the trade-off of immediate individual gain for the long-term advantage of the group is driven by neural regions involved in the experience of reward and emotions (Sanfey et al., 2003; de Quervain et al., 2004) . These results not only indicate the potential importance of considering emotions in the governance of public goods such as unmined energy resources and clean air, but also open up a path for the integration of energy conservation into classic economic perspectives: emotional reactions may actually add utility value to energy conservation. The appraisalemotion model specifies a sparse set of appraisals that underlie the elicitation of individual emotional responses in the energy domain. It may be a promising approach to develop interventions targeting the specific set of appraisal criteria proposed here. Modifying an individual's appraisal of the implications of energy overconsumption, for example through targeted information provision campaigns, may change his/her emotional response, which may in turn increase the utility value for certain decision options, either via immediate emotions or anticipated emotions. This may be an avenue to integrate affective processing and emotions into economical and psychological rational choice models based on utility and self-interested considerations such as the TPB.

Nevertheless, recent economic work has demonstrated that individuals are actually willing to sacrifice their immediate benefits in order to promote behavior that is beneficial for the group in the long run.

Importantly, neuroimaging results indicate that the trade-off of immediate individual gain for the long-term advantage of the group is driven by neural regions involved in the experience of reward and emotions.


One qualification of the work presented here is that the evidence supporting the appraisal-emotion model so far is based exclusively on self-report measures, i.e., participants were asked to report their appraisal structure and to remember their emotional experience in relevant situations. This is problematic both for methodological and conceptual reasons. At the methodological level, participants may have been prone to a number of response biases that come with the self-report format. For example, participants may have been motivated to respond in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others and thus exaggerated their intentions to reduce energy use, or in a manner coherent with their personal theories about emotion and thus exaggerated the link between appraisals, emotions, and decisions. However, this problem is shared by most empirical research in this field, which, given the variables that researchers are interested in, is strongly based on self-report and questionnaire data. An important next research step will be to link individual appraisal structures and emotions not only to intentions to reduce energy use, but also to objective measures of actual behavior (e.g., actual energy use). At the conceptual level, psychological and neuroimaging research has shown that the appraisal process occurs very rapidly and in a partially automatic fashion (Grandjean and Scherer, 2008; Brosch and Sander, 2013a) . Thus, not all aspects of the appraisal process are necessarily accessible to introspection and can be reported in a questionnaire. The aspects of appraisal that reach consciousness may only represent the "tip of the iceberg" (Scherer, 2005) . This issue needs to be tackled by combining multiple methods over and above self-report, such as the measurement of energyrelated appraisal processes at the neural level and an assessment of the different components of the emotional response as it occurs, including physiological responses and elicited action tendencies.

At the conceptual level, psychological and neuroimaging research has shown that the appraisal process occurs very rapidly and in a partially automatic fashion.

The aspects of appraisal that reach consciousness may only represent the "tip of the iceberg".


Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most widely used commodity polymers with the high heat distortion temperature and economic merits. However, the use of the PP is restricted by the low impact strength at the subambient temperature [8] . A blend of POM/PP is significant interesting, thus this work studies the mechanical and morphological properties of PP/POM blends. The phase morphology of one polymer and the blends was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

However, the use of the PP is restricted by the low impact strength at the subambient temperature.


University communities contain an "at-risk population" for mental ill-health. This occurs because the age at which young adults are engaged in higher education tends to coincide with the age of onset of a number of mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, as well as substance abuse problems (Kessler et al., 2007) . The transition to higher education is also associated with a range of emotional, social and academic demands that may increase students' levels of psychological distress (Palmer & Puri, 2006) . The presence of mental health problems in university students is increasingly highlighted in international literature as an area of importance. Moreover, mental health problems in this cohort appear to be increasing in numbers and severity and it is imperative that universities become more proactive in the provision of support and services to facilitate early intervention with this group of students (Kim et al., 2011) .

This occurs because the age at which young adults are engaged in higher education tends to coincide with the age of onset of a number of mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, as well as substance abuse problems.

The transition to higher education is also associated with a range of emotional, social and academic demands that may increase students' levels of psychological distress.

Moreover, mental health problems in this cohort appear to be increasing in numbers and severity and it is imperative that universities become more proactive in the provision of support and services to facilitate early intervention with this group of students.


These materials are usually called aluminosilicates differed by their alumina content [2] . Furthermore, in anode baking furnaces, refractory bricks of the flue walls are subjected to various destructive forces, both chemical and thermo-mechanical in nature, during their operation. These include high temperature environment, stresses induced by inadequate expansion allowance, thermal cycling, air infiltration, reaction with alkali and aluminium fluorides present in recycled anode butts, mechanical damage during anodes loading and unloading, damage from removal of graphitized carbon build-up on pits walls [3] [4] [5] .

These materials are usually called aluminosilicates differed by their alumina content.

These include high temperature environment, stresses induced by inadequate expansion allowance, thermal cycling, air infiltration, reaction with alkali and aluminium fluorides present in recycled anode butts, mechanical damage during anodes loading and unloading, damage from removal of graphitized carbon build-up on pits walls.


Studies concerning data mining have been intensively conducted in carsharingrelated research areas. In particular, the forecasting technique is used to predict the net flow of vehicles in a three-hour period by using neural networks and support vector machines (SVM) , and the results show that multilayer perceptron has slightly better accuracy compared to SVM. In another case, such as the one-way type, it is difficult to maintain the distribution balance of parked vehicles among stations. A method for the optimization of vehicle assignment is used according to the distribution balance of parked vehicles; thus, it is possible to maintain distribution balance of parked vehicles and keep the convenience of the carsharing system (Uesugi et al. 2007) .

A method for the optimization of vehicle assignment is used according to the distribution balance of parked vehicles; thus, it is possible to maintain distribution balance of parked vehicles and keep the convenience of the carsharing system.


Because of these benefits, carsharing as an alternative transportation paradigm has become increasingly popular in many countries (Barth and Todd 1999) . Previous research has demonstrated that the benefits of carsharing include reducing costs and the negative impacts of private vehicle ownership and the environmental impacts of auto usage (e.g., congestion, energy consumption, vehicle emissions, and inefficient land use). In North America, the impact of carsharing includes the reduction of emissions as a result of less driving and a 27 percent reduction in the average number of observed vehicle kilometers traveled per year (Martin and Shaheen 2011) . According to another review, an additional benefit is cost savings, which was reported to be the main motivation for new memberships from 2006 to 2010. In addition, there has been a change in carsharing activity, as can be seen from the number of worldwide carsharing memberships. In 2006, Europe was the epicenter, but it shifted to North America in late 2010. Stabilized growth in neighborhood residential carsharing and rapid growth in the business and university markets in North America from 2006-2011 was the key trigger. Importantly, there was a worldwide increase in the number of carsharing memberships and in total vehicles and member-vehicle ratios from 2006-2010. As carsharing increasingly becomes a mainstream transportation mode, it is expected that it will be further integrated into metropolitan transportation, land use strategies, and multimodal nodes (Shaheen and Cohen 2013) .

Because of these benefits, carsharing as an alternative transportation paradigm has become increasingly popular in many countries.

In North America, the impact of carsharing includes the reduction of emissions as a result of less driving and a 27 percent reduction in the average number of observed vehicle kilometers traveled per year.

As carsharing increasingly becomes a mainstream transportation mode, it is expected that it will be further integrated into metropolitan transportation, land use strategies, and multimodal nodes.


Argon is one of the most abundant rare gases in the universe (its abundance is being 3.8 * 10 −6 times smaller than that of hydrogen). Argon ion lines are observed in solar and astrophysical plasmas as well as in the laboratory [6] . The argon spectral lines are important in determining chemical abundances of elements and for estimation of the radiative transfer through stellar plasmas [7] . Argon plasma sources are required in various fields [8] [9] [10] [11] . For this reason, the data on the transition parameters in multiply ionized argon ions is important for argon plasma modeling and laser physics [12, 13] .

Argon ion lines are observed in solar and astrophysical plasmas as well as in the laboratory.

The argon spectral lines are important in determining chemical abundances of elements and for estimation of the radiative transfer through stellar plasmas.

Argon plasma sources are required in various fields.

For this reason, the data on the transition parameters in multiply ionized argon ions is important for argon plasma modeling and laser physics.


The aim of this work is to investigate the forbidden transitions (M1 and E2) between energy levels within the ground state configuration of doubly ionized argon (Ar III) using multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock approach within the framework of Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian [38] . We have obtained the M1 and E2 transition parameters such as transition energies, line strengths, and transition probabilities (or rates) using the MCHF atomic structure code [39] . Although Ar is not a heavy element, the relativistic contributions to the wave functions and energies of levels must be involved. Also an accurate atomic structure via large configuration interaction (CI) basis is required. Therefore, our calculations include the relativistic contributions and correlation effects.

The aim of this work is to investigate the forbidden transitions (M1 and E2) between energy levels within the ground state configuration of doubly ionized argon (Ar III) using multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock approach within the framework of Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian.

We have obtained the M1 and E2 transition parameters such as transition energies, line strengths, and transition probabilities (or rates) using the MCHF atomic structure code.


Along with the improvement of the component level model precision and the increase of the hardware calculation speed, the use of an engine model for the performance estimation and fault diagnosis has been a key concept in the engine health management [17] [18] [19] . Due to utilizing all model information available, the model-based approaches are more accurate and can be used to deal with faults that may be unknown. A linear point design methodology for minimizing the error in an online Kalman filter-based aircraft engine performance estimation applications is presented by Simon [20] . An approach based on the constant gain extended Kalman filter (CGEKF) technique for the in-flight estimation of non-measurable performance parameters of aircraft engines is investigated by Kobayashi [21] . Nevertheless, the KF method and the improved methods based on it, such as extended Kalman filter (EKF) and unscented Kalman filter (UKF), are not suitable while the system is non-Gaussian. Bongjun applied a nonlinear, non-Gaussian Particle filter (PF) for engine health parameter estimation [22] . However, the estimation accuracy is limited by the low searching efficiency of PF methods in high-dimensional space, and the fact that the health parameters of the turbofan engine is bound to have a high-dimensional feature on account of the complexity of multiple component systems.

Along with the improvement of the component level model precision and the increase of the hardware calculation speed, the use of an engine model for the performance estimation and fault diagnosis has been a key concept in the engine health management.

A linear point design methodology for minimizing the error in an online Kalman filter-based aircraft engine performance estimation applications is presented by Simon.

An approach based on the constant gain extended Kalman filter (CGEKF) technique for the in-flight estimation of non-measurable performance parameters of aircraft engines is investigated by Kobayashi.

Bongjun applied a nonlinear, non-Gaussian Particle filter (PF) for engine health parameter estimation.


The operation condition of aircraft turbofan engine is tough due to the extreme temperature, strong vibration environment, broad load range and so on and the reliability of aircraft turbofan engine must be ensured over the lifetime [1] . Much research has been conducted in prognostics and health management (PHM), an emerging field in mechanical engineering that is gaining interest from both academia and industry [2] . Condition-monitoring plays an increasingly important role for technical processes in order to improve reliability, availability, maintenance and lifetime of equipment [3] . The detection of engine performance and gas path performance analysis are considered to be effective approaches to enhance the reliability and safety of the turbofan engine [4, 5] . Additionally, the detection systems can also be used for the scheme of on-condition maintenance for the purpose of decreasing the maintenance costs [6] .

The operation condition of aircraft turbofan engine is tough due to the extreme temperature, strong vibration environment, broad load range and so on and the reliability of aircraft turbofan engine must be ensured over the lifetime.

Much research has been conducted in prognostics and health management (PHM), an emerging field in mechanical engineering that is gaining interest from both academia and industry.

Condition-monitoring plays an increasingly important role for technical processes in order to improve reliability, availability, maintenance and lifetime of equipment.

The detection of engine performance and gas path performance analysis are considered to be effective approaches to enhance the reliability and safety of the turbofan engine.

Additionally, the detection systems can also be used for the scheme of on-condition maintenance for the purpose of decreasing the maintenance costs.


Toad-headed lizards of the genus Phrynocephalus Kaup (Family Agamidae), currently including more than forty species, are widely distributed in desert, arid or semi-arid regions in Central and West Asia [westwards to southern Jordan (P. arabicus Anderson)] and North-Northwest China [eastwards to Hebei Province (P. versicolor Strauch)] (Zhao 1999) . Eighteen species have been found in China, twelve of which are small-sized [often smaller than 60 mm adult snout-vent length (SVL)], and the remaining six are medium or large-sized species (Zhao 1979 (Zhao , 1997a (Zhao , 1997b (Zhao , 1999 Wang et al. 2002; Xiong et al. 2005) . Toad-headed lizards found in China are either oviparous or viviparous, with all the six currently known viviparous species (P. erythrurus Zugmayer, P. forsythii Anderson, P. putjatae Bedriaga, P. theobaldi Blyth, P. vlangalii Strauch and P. zetangensis Wang, Zeng & Wu) endemic to China (Zhao 1999) .

Toad-headed lizards of the genus Phrynocephalus Kaup (Family Agamidae), currently including more than forty species, are widely distributed in desert, arid or semi-arid regions in Central and West Asia [westwards to southern Jordan (P. arabicus Anderson)] and North-Northwest China [eastwards to Hebei Province (P. versicolor Strauch)].

Eighteen species have been found in China, twelve of which are small-sized [often smaller than 60 mm adult snout-vent length (SVL)], and the remaining six are medium or large-sized species.

Toad-headed lizards found in China are either oviparous or viviparous, with all the six currently known viviparous species (P. erythrurus Zugmayer, P. forsythii Anderson, P. putjatae Bedriaga, P. theobaldi Blyth, P. vlangalii Strauch and P. zetangensis Wang, Zeng & Wu) endemic to China.


To put the study in context, we remark that there has been recent interest in including next-to-leading order (NLO) corrections into dark matter computations. Here we are more concerned with the fact that most computations are formally incomplete even at leading order (LO), as far as near-threshold thermal effects go [2] . In principle, the inclusion of NLO corrections is also possible within the same formalism, notably by adding operators suppressed by ∼ ∇ 2 /M 2 to eq. (2.3) and NLO corrections to the coefficients given in eqs. (2.4)-(2.6), however this is not pursued here.

Here we are more concerned with the fact that most computations are formally incomplete even at leading order (LO), as far as near-threshold thermal effects go.


This study, using a randomized control trial design involving 100 couples, sought to assess the efficacy of the CCET over a time span of 1 year. The purpose of this study was to replicate previous findings that indicated that the CCET is able to improve marital quality and partner competencies in distressed couples (Bodenmann & Shantinath, 2004) . In contrast to previous studies, where the presence and age of children had not been controlled for, this study focused exclusively on parents of preadolescent children (aged 2-12 years) who were interested in investing in their close relationship by participating in the CCET. Although our intention was to recruit couples who were generally happy with their relationship and not distressed (as was the case in previous studies evaluating the CCET), nearly half of the participants in this study reported DAS scores below the cutoff point for unhappy couples. Thus, an association between child-related stress experiences and marital distress could be observed. This also was reflected by the significant correlation between conflicts related to children and marital quality (r = -.44). Given these facts, the current study served in a way as a replication of previous findings, but in this instance controlled for the presence and age of children. A further advantage of this study (in contrast to previous studies evaluating the efficacy of the CCET) was the randomized assignment of couples to the CCET or control condition.

The purpose of this study was to replicate previous findings that indicated that the CCET is able to improve marital quality and partner competencies in distressed couples.


In situ incorporation is an effective route to obtain polystyrene/clay nanocomposites [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] . Nonetheless, the compatibility between monomer and organoclay is a critical factor in determining the microstructure of nanocomposites obtained through in situ incorporation [1] . A good compatibility between monomer and organoclay is fundamental to disperse the clay in the reaction medium, avoiding its agglomeration. In addition, the penetration of the monomer into the basal space of lamellae allows the entrance of oligomeric radicals and the consequent intercalation of lamellae with polymer. If the separation of the lamellae is high enough, delamination (exfoliation) occurs.

In situ incorporation is an effective route to obtain polystyrene/clay nanocomposites.

Nonetheless, the compatibility between monomer and organoclay is a critical factor in determining the microstructure of nanocomposites obtained through in situ incorporation.


The effect of parental labor force participation on child development likely depends on the substitutability of parental care (Becker 1981) . Even if not conclusive, our study indicates that parental care is not easily substituted. This suggests that the increases in female labor force participation in Europe and the USA may affect child development. At least in Norway, the after school care that was available to the students in our sample does not seem to be of sufficient quality -in scholastic termsto be an adequate substitute for parental care with respect to educational achievement. This suggests that in a world with historically high and still increasing female labor force participation, policies that provide high-quality care options for school children during parents' work hours could be positive for child development. However, even if our study indicates that parental care is not easily substituted, more research is needed on the substitutability between formal and informal after school care and parental time.

The effect of parental labor force participation on child development likely depends on the substitutability of parental care.


This article has offered an overview on what has been said about paraphrasing in linguistics, how computational linguistics has used this knowledge as a base for its systems, and new insights on paraphrase characterization derived from computational linguistics methods. This analysis has shown that, given the vague and multifaceted nature of paraphrasing, a precise and commonly accepted definition of the phenomenon does not exist. This has complicated paraphrase tasks in NLP on many occasions: "the difficulty when working with paraphrases lies on its own definition" (Herrera, Peñas, & Verdejo, 2007) .

This has complicated paraphrase tasks in NLP on many occasions: "the difficulty when working with paraphrases lies on its own definition".


Considerable research has concentrated on remediation of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) preservative treated wood in recent years due to release of chromium, copper, and arsenic from wood during recycling or disposal of such waste wood. As a result of public awareness about CCAtreated waste wood, substantial progress has been made in its remediation by chemical methods using mineral and organic acids and biological methods using bacteria and fungi in recent years [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] . However, such methods are becoming costly due to the cost of chemicals and nutrient media for fungal and bacterial cultures. Eliminating or reducing the cost of chemical or biological processes will make remediation of CCA-treated waste wood more economically and environmentally acceptable.

As a result of public awareness about CCAtreated waste wood, substantial progress has been made in its remediation by chemical methods using mineral and organic acids and biological methods using bacteria and fungi in recent years.


The most well-known language family for BX programming is lenses [13] . A lens captures transformations between sources S and views V via a pair of functions get : S → V and put : V → S → S. The get function extracts a view from a source and put takes an updated view and a source as inputs to produce an updated source. The asymmetrical nature of get and put makes it possible for put to recover some of the source data that is not present in the view. In other words, get does not have to be injective to have a corresponding put.

The most well-known language family for BX programming is lenses.


Although we may detect signs of budding awareness about the importance of environmental aspects, modernists were primarily concerned with the universal hygienic and ecological principles in designing settlements under the rules of modernism, almost completely neglecting the local ecological and cultural characteristics of the context. In modernism, in accordance with the principles of socialist ideology, the priority was to build as many units as possible, which inevitably led to unification, universality and the lowering of standards in residential construction. In addition, socialist ideology inspired a breach with tradition and traditional values with the aim of representing new social values in the creation of a new socialist way of life and the efficiency of construction. This is especially related to the belief that architects, urbanists and planners had the ability to change the environment and also the society through their projects [38] . The fact that the architecture of socialist Yugoslavia became a tool in forming the identity of a new social working class was based on this assumption. As a consequence of this approach, the idea was to proclaim the new society's values praising virtues such as equality, technological progress, social justice, post-war reconstruction of the country, etc. Residential ambiences thus became much poorer and the residential areas insensitive to the ecological and cultural characteristics of the context. Contrary, in the architectural design and the theoretical works of the postmodern period, sustainability issues were recognized in the attitude towards the ecological and social contexts, ambience, tradition, resident needs, natural elements and the initiative to investigate and promote the relations and interactions between residents and the environment [22] . In the postmodern period, settlements did not primarily have political character or a role in the formation of the new society, and architects were thus allowed to draw attention to other topics and focus on more pressing environmental issues of living in settlements.

This is especially related to the belief that architects, urbanists and planners had the ability to change the environment and also the society through their projects.

Contrary, in the architectural design and the theoretical works of the postmodern period, sustainability issues were recognized in the attitude towards the ecological and social contexts, ambience, tradition, resident needs, natural elements and the initiative to investigate and promote the relations and interactions between residents and the environment.


Research of residential settlements from the analyzed period clearly demonstrates the necessity of improving the architectural practice and the awareness of the importance of issues of tradition and ambience in architecture, while also revealing the problems and the lack of adequate implementation of these issues in the architecture of this specified period. In its final consequences, the results of research confirm the significance of local cultural-ecological contexts in the architectural design of residential settlements and its potential to endure the often unpredictable characteristics of human behavior and local context. The examples given show that disregard for these aspects was sharply criticized first of all by the residents, but also by the expert community, i.e., that their neglect led to a dissatisfying degree of ecological and cultural sensitivity. With the goal of promoting and improving the ecological and cultural sensitivity of architectural practice, issues were raised of the operationalization of existing environmental knowledge in architectural practice and overcoming the gap between the positions of architecture as art and environmental practice. The basic problem in overcoming this gap was that most architects and institutions in charge of educating architects did not recognize it as a problem, and its recognition is crucial for promoting the application of sustainable theories in architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture [65, 66] . It is important to overcome this difference in order to promote sustainability, as it contributes to a simultaneous focus on the aesthetic and environmental aspects of residential surroundings, focus on the perception of the object and the environmental perception, on the visual and environmental qualities of objects, but also on the desire to provide residents with adequate living conditions by promoting the human habitat as a whole. Along these lines, sustaining environmental aspects through the residential environment benefits the overall quality of life as it helps raise ecological and cultural sensitivity and awareness, helping to preserve the diversity of cultural heritage that enriches our environments.

The basic problem in overcoming this gap was that most architects and institutions in charge of educating architects did not recognize it as a problem, and its recognition is crucial for promoting the application of sustainable theories in architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture.


In addition, it is important to highlight that the models on which architects relied when designing differed greatly. For example, analyses show that under the influence of modernism such models were most often oversimplified, both with regard to humans and environment. Most importantly, as key theorists claim, the model of the relation between residents and the environment was not only oversimplified but to a large extent also wrong. The environment in general was considered a physical parameter of human behavior; however, from today's perspective, it is clear that the environment is much more complex, including also cultural and social components [10] . Besides, the physical, cultural and social contexts were firmly connected to form an open rather than a closed system [22] . The general view was that environment, especially its artificial architectural component, had a deterministic influence on many aspects of human life. This is a highly simplified and naive model of observing the environment-behavior interface, though today still often present in architectural thought. Regardless of such a simplified model of the ecological contexts of an object, however, we cannot disregard the fact that the idea and awareness of environmentally responsible architecture developed during the modernist era. In this period, in the architectural design of the time we may recognize a desire to provide a healthy habitat providing sun, fresh air and greenery. Although there is significant resemblance to the contemporary principles of sustainable design, residential settlements in Belgrade built under the influences of modernism have still been sharply criticized for their neglect of the characteristics of local context, climate, place, etc.

The environment in general was considered a physical parameter of human behavior; however, from today's perspective, it is clear that the environment is much more complex, including also cultural and social components.

Besides, the physical, cultural and social contexts were firmly connected to form an open rather than a closed system.


Since definitions of the concept of ambience are based on the phenomenological aspects of the constitution of architectural ambiences, the role of the environmental experience is very important for the quality of ambience. The concept of ambience is largely tied to the positive connotations of a pleasant experience of space [15] . One of the basic characteristics of ambience is a sense of belonging and dedication to the senses [16] . Pallasmaa considers ambience as sensory characteristics emitted by a space. The immediate form of physical perception is always related to the emotional sensitivity of the observer [17] . Ambience is a mental backdrop, experiential quality or characteristic, stretched between the subject and the object observed. Thus, ambience is not a passive layer of the everyday life, but essentially its integral part [18] .

The concept of ambience is largely tied to the positive connotations of a pleasant experience of space.

One of the basic characteristics of ambience is a sense of belonging and dedication to the senses.

The immediate form of physical perception is always related to the emotional sensitivity of the observer.

Thus, ambience is not a passive layer of the everyday life, but essentially its integral part.


The relevance of this research topic reflects the need to improve the environmental aspects of architecture in accordance with the global issues of sustainability, as well as with the changing position of nature in contemporary culture [8, 9] . Regarding the concept of sustainability and its widely recognized contested nature, we consider it a holistic response to the environmental crisis that makes much-needed connections between nature, culture, values, power relationships, and technology [6] . Accordingly, this paper studies environmental aspects considering the varying degrees of the power struggle between dominant cultural ideology and architectural positions. Thus, by adopting an interpretative framework, the paper highlights the social production of space, place and the environment [10, 11] . Furthermore, recent decades have seen a constant emphasis on the importance of environmental knowledge and interpretation within architectural theory in order to create an ecologically and culturally sensitive environment [10] . As Nikezić and Marković state, the need for a holistic approach, and hence the integration of a wide scope of environmental knowledge in architects' education, becomes vital and urgent, and the architect is perceived as one of the key agents involved in the process of creating a sustainable environment [12] .

The relevance of this research topic reflects the need to improve the environmental aspects of architecture in accordance with the global issues of sustainability, as well as with the changing position of nature in contemporary culture.

Regarding the concept of sustainability and its widely recognized contested nature, we consider it a holistic response to the environmental crisis that makes much-needed connections between nature, culture, values, power relationships, and technology.

Thus, by adopting an interpretative framework, the paper highlights the social production of space, place and the environment.

Furthermore, recent decades have seen a constant emphasis on the importance of environmental knowledge and interpretation within architectural theory in order to create an ecologically and culturally sensitive environment.

As Nikezić and Marković state, the need for a holistic approach, and hence the integration of a wide scope of environmental knowledge in architects' education, becomes vital and urgent, and the architect is perceived as one of the key agents involved in the process of creating a sustainable environment.


We consider sensitivity in the architecture of residential settlements as an ability to accommodate diverse ecological and cultural values, and different ways of living. Research indicates that ecologically and culturally insensitive housing, and building in general, with the accompanying loss of traditional and ambience values can lead to various problems regarding a sustainable relationship between residents and their environment. This dynamic relationship constitutes not only the physical aspect of space, but also its function, behavioral aspects, temporality, and its sensory aspects. Human presence is central to the environment. Accordingly, Hawkes states that environmental experience is of crucial importance to architecture, though the formal and technological aspects of architectural research tend to ignore it [13] . It is therefore important to emphasize that in this paper the environment is studied not as a technological and scientific, but primarily as a social and cultural topic. It acknowledges the wholeness of environment, and also the inseparability of nature and culture as its integral parts. This implies a social and cultural approach to nature, as opposed to regarding nature as a physical entity, or merely people's surroundings [14] .

Accordingly, Hawkes states that environmental experience is of crucial importance to architecture, though the formal and technological aspects of architectural research tend to ignore it.

This implies a social and cultural approach to nature, as opposed to regarding nature as a physical entity, or merely people's surroundings.


This paper advocates the stance that rational action in further urban development can be planned only if we understand the meaning of the phenomena, processes, conditions and planning strategies of the city throughout history. Although Van der Ryn and Couvan claim that before the 1970s architects did not have an environmental vocabulary, there is a whole set of architectural works related to the position of man in the context of ecology that was created before the emergence of environmentalism in the 20th century [6] . Research and identification of environmental aspects in the architecture of the 20th century are very important. Anker and Farmer emphasize that environmental aspects have a very complex relationship with the history of modern architecture and urbanism [3, 7] . Having in mind that the environmental crisis is also a crisis of design, in many ways, it is a consequence of how things are made, buildings are constructed, and landscapes are used [6] . Accordingly, research of the environmental aspects of Belgrade's residential settlements from the socialist era may greatly contribute to understanding and improving these aspects in architectural practice.

Although Van der Ryn and Couvan claim that before the 1970s architects did not have an environmental vocabulary, there is a whole set of architectural works related to the position of man in the context of ecology that was created before the emergence of environmentalism in the 20th century.

Anker and Farmer emphasize that environmental aspects have a very complex relationship with the history of modern architecture and urbanism.

Having in mind that the environmental crisis is also a crisis of design, in many ways, it is a consequence of how things are made, buildings are constructed, and landscapes are used.


To relieve parental and patient anxiety, it is important to recognize an innocent murmur as soon as it is detected [7, 8] . However, without diagnosis by a doctor with experienced auscultation skills or a cardiologist, innocent and pathological heart murmurs cannot be readily distinguished [9] [10] [11] . As many as 87% of the patients with heart murmurs referred to cardiologists for evaluation turn out to have benign murmurs [12] . The standard clinical method for diagnosing cardiac disease is echocardiography. However, ordering an echocardiogram is costly, usually between US$750 and 1500 [13] . Therefore, there is a need to develop a reliable and affordable method that is capable of distinguishing innocent from pathological murmurs, as an assistive confirming tool of diagnosis.

To relieve parental and patient anxiety, it is important to recognize an innocent murmur as soon as it is detected.

However, without diagnosis by a doctor with experienced auscultation skills or a cardiologist, innocent and pathological heart murmurs cannot be readily distinguished.

As many as 87% of the patients with heart murmurs referred to cardiologists for evaluation turn out to have benign murmurs.

However, ordering an echocardiogram is costly, usually between US$750 and 1500.


In recent years, solving large scale computational problems via volunteer computing projects gained a lot of popularity. Nowadays there are about 70 active projects, the majority of them are based on the BOINC platform [1] . Total performance of all BOINC projects is more than 7 petaflops. The most important results obtained in volunteer computing projects include the discovery of new pulsars in the Einstein@home, and of large prime numbers of a special kind in the PrimeGrid project.

Nowadays there are about 70 active projects, the majority of them are based on the BOINC platform.


The results of the finite element models are presented for a variety of interferences. The contact area and the interference are normalized by the mean area of 0.785E-6 m 2 and critical interference of 0.462E-6 m respectively. The contact forces obtained for all models are normalized by the Hertzian contact force of 0.011800474 N as obtained from the equation (3) . In order to improve the computational efficiency, the radii of the asperity peaks are assumed to be constant. In Figure 3 , the dimensionless contact force is plotted as a function of interfere.

The contact forces obtained for all models are normalized by the Hertzian contact force of 0.011800474 N as obtained from the equation.


Despite the general efficacy of the bioaugmentation treatment of AEC, here we found that the removal of contaminants by microbial degradation becomes progressively less efficient with increasing AEC concentration in MSLM ( Fig. 2; Table 2 ). At the smallest AEC concentration (30 %), both microbial strains totally removed 3methyl 2-(2-oxopropyl)furan (1), tritetracontane (4), 1,2 benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl)ester (5), and heptadecanoic acid 16-methyl-, methylester (8) . At the same AEC concentration, A. sydowii VP4 was able to remove up to 78 and 76 % of 2,5-dichlorobenzenamine (2) and its 2,4 dichlorobenzenamine (3) isomer, respectively, whereas M. populi VP2 removed only 32 and 18 % of the two compounds, respectively.

At the smallest AEC concentration (30 %), both microbial strains totally removed 3methyl 2-(2-oxopropyl)furan (1), tritetracontane (4), 1,2 benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl)ester (5), and heptadecanoic acid 16-methyl-, methylester.


Very little is known about the large-scale movements of Australian land birds. However, understanding the nature of their movements is imperative to understanding their ecology and thus their conservation (Myers et al. 1987) . Unfortunately, much recent ornithological research in Australia has been biased towards sedentary species (Clarke 1997) . While many studies have described the patterns of movements of one or a few species, there is little information about the general patterns of large-scale bird movements in Australia.

However, understanding the nature of their movements is imperative to understanding their ecology and thus their conservation.

Unfortunately, much recent ornithological research in Australia has been biased towards sedentary species.


Poultry and egg production is one of the most important sectors of Polish agricultural production. Poland is an important and still growing exporter of poultry meat to the European market. Care for the highest possible quality of final product requires the maintenance of high standards of microbiological hygiene by poultry producers. It is absolutely essential to observe a strict hygiene regime in the stages of egg incubation and chicken hatching as it determines the hatching yields. Additionally, eggshell contamination favors the transmission of pathogens inducing respiratory and alimentary diseases in chickens [1] . To maintain high biological safety and hygiene, the disinfection of hatchers and eggs meant for hatching is indispensable. Eggshell disinfection is designed to eliminate microorganisms with minimal interference in embryonic growth. The most common disinfectant used is formaldehyde, a relatively low cost biocide with high effectiveness. However, this agent displays high toxicity, carcinogenicity and irritating activity and, therefore, alternative disinfection procedures that are environmentally friendly and safe are being investigated [2] .

Additionally, eggshell contamination favors the transmission of pathogens inducing respiratory and alimentary diseases in chickens.

However, this agent displays high toxicity, carcinogenicity and irritating activity and, therefore, alternative disinfection procedures that are environmentally friendly and safe are being investigated.


The unique spatial arrangement and dimension of nanoscale silver contributes to its high bioavailability [3, 10] . Nanoparticles are able to readily penetrate biological membranes, which makes them a powerful weapon against microorganisms, yet at the same time, poses a hazard to higher organism cells when they enter and cause serious damage to cellular structures [3] . Silver nanoparticles can induce chromosomal aberrations, mitosis disturbances and changes to cell morphology. The mechanism of the antimicrobial action of nanoscale silver consists of large amounts of ROS (reactive oxygen species) [8, 11, 12] . Studies on gene expression have also shown that, in cultured human cells, protein coding genes associated with cell defense against oxidative stress are activated by nanostructured silver. This is recognized as one of the crucial mechanisms for silver nanoparticle toxicity [8, 13] . Any disturbances in redox homeostasis can lead to serious biological effects, i.e. the initiation of cell type-specific pathways of the inflammatory response and apoptotic death [7, 12] .

The unique spatial arrangement and dimension of nanoscale silver contributes to its high bioavailability.

Nanoparticles are able to readily penetrate biological membranes, which makes them a powerful weapon against microorganisms, yet at the same time, poses a hazard to higher organism cells when they enter and cause serious damage to cellular structures.

The mechanism of the antimicrobial action of nanoscale silver consists of large amounts of ROS (reactive oxygen species).

This is recognized as one of the crucial mechanisms for silver nanoparticle toxicity.

Any disturbances in redox homeostasis can lead to serious biological effects, i.e. the initiation of cell type-specific pathways of the inflammatory response and apoptotic death.


Serum uric acid constitutes a valuable source of information on the intensity of protein catabolic reactions and has been frequently mentioned as a marker of oxidative stress in an organism [25] . Increased serum levels of uric acid may result from the adaptive response triggered by an organism to oxidative stress conditions and the production of ROS [26] . It has been estimated that UA is responsible for 60% of the serum total antioxidant status (TAS) [27] . Moreover, the presence of uric acid in serum (at physiological concentrations) prevents the inactivation of extracellular superoxide dismutase by hydrogen peroxide [14, 28] .

Serum uric acid constitutes a valuable source of information on the intensity of protein catabolic reactions and has been frequently mentioned as a marker of oxidative stress in an organism.

Increased serum levels of uric acid may result from the adaptive response triggered by an organism to oxidative stress conditions and the production of ROS.

It has been estimated that UA is responsible for 60% of the serum total antioxidant status (TAS).

Moreover, the presence of uric acid in serum (at physiological concentrations) prevents the inactivation of extracellular superoxide dismutase by hydrogen peroxide.


Considering the criteria derived from the comments received from the TripAdvisor site, it can be deduced that the recommendation effect is minimized, and that the criteria set by the users, or, in other words, by the potential customers, are influenced by the interpretations reviewed, and it can be deduced that they make their own decision according to these criteria, it may show that they are not affected by inferences like "I recommend" or "I do not recommend" in the comments made. Moreover, it is seen that the price-performance measures under the recommendation effect are not taken into consideration in the literature, and this does not parallel the results in the literature (Barriocanal et al. 2010; O'Connor 2010; Limberger et al. 2014) . When this is generally interpreted, it can be explained that the potential customers have taken into account the specified criteria, but made their own decision without depending on the recommendations given.

Moreover, it is seen that the price-performance measures under the recommendation effect are not taken into consideration in the literature, and this does not parallel the results in the literature.


One of the world's most popular travel sites, TripAdvisor, was founded in early 2000s in the United States of America (Law 2006) . This site aims to publish an e-consulting service without online booking, aiming to holistically publish the contents created by users for accommodation and travel destinations (Vásquez 2011) . With thousands of hotels, interesting and historic sites, cities, restaurants, and traveller photos, this site is also a channel where millions of consumers look for travel plans (Law 2006) .

One of the world's most popular travel sites, TripAdvisor, was founded in early 2000s in the United States of America.

This site aims to publish an e-consulting service without online booking, aiming to holistically publish the contents created by users for accommodation and travel destinations.

With thousands of hotels, interesting and historic sites, cities, restaurants, and traveller photos, this site is also a channel where millions of consumers look for travel plans.


We conducted numerical experiments in which we simulated population dynamics and fishery data sets by using a datagenerating model, estimated abundance and F by using several SPMs, and compared SPM estimates with true values to determine SPM accuracy. The population dynamics were based on stylized fish stocks and followed a deterministic logistic growth model. The data-generating model described the population dynamics for a range of MPA sizes and z-values and produced a 50-year time series of catch and indices of abundance. The assessment models were spatially explicit or spatially aggregated versions of SPMs and were fitted to the indices of abundance by using a maximum likelihood approach. Each SPM was fitted to 200 replicate data sets for each scenario that differed in their random observation errors. All of the models were written in AD Model Builder (Fournier et al. 2012) .

All of the models were written in AD Model Builder.


Artificial neural network (ANN), which is constructed by a large number of neurons nodes and corresponding weights, is an artificial system to simulate the neural network of animals and plants in nature. Because of its good nonlinear characteristic, ANN can simulate the nonlinear function. But its accuracy is low and convergence speed is also not very ideal [12] . Since the ANN system is composed of a large number of individual neurons, the system has strong expansibility and evolutional ability. Due to the existence of multiple equilibrium position, ANN may be trapped in local minimum problem in optimization. It is difficult to obtain the global optimal value [13] .

But its accuracy is low and convergence speed is also not very ideal.

It is difficult to obtain the global optimal value.


In order to find the global optimal solution, SVM method, which was founded on the statistical learning theory, was put forward in the 1990s [14, 15] . By solving a quadratic programming problem, SVM can find the global optimal solution. But when the samples are a lot, it leads to a higher complexity. For solving the problems of less number of samples, sample data is nonlinear and samples have high dimensions; SVM has great advantages. SVM not only has a strong learning ability but also has a strong generalization ability. SVM is mainly solving classification and regression problems. For the linear undivided sample data, SVM mapped the samples to a high-dimensional space to make them linear separable [16] . LSSVM is the improved results of SVM [17] . By changing the inequality constraints in the SVM into equality constraints, the original quadratic programming problem becomes a problem to solving system of linear equations. When compared with SVM, LSSVM not only reduced the complexity of the calculation but also improved the efficiency of calculation. In addition, the parameters that need to be adjusted in LSSVM are less. But LSSVM lost the sparse characteristic of SVM [18] . PLS is put forward by Wold to solve chemical sample analysis problems in the late 1960s. It has a lot of advantages in solving the problem of multiple variables, especially when all sample variables exhibit serious internal correlations. PLS algorithm is simple and has strong explanatory power. So it was gradually applied to other aspects besides the area of chemistry [19] .

In order to find the global optimal solution, SVM method, which was founded on the statistical learning theory, was put forward in the 1990s.

For the linear undivided sample data, SVM mapped the samples to a high-dimensional space to make them linear separable.

LSSVM is the improved results of SVM.

But LSSVM lost the sparse characteristic of SVM.

So it was gradually applied to other aspects besides the area of chemistry.


Consequently, fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) reinforcement has been increasingly adopted in construction due to its nonmagnetic and corrosion resistance (Sugita 1993) . Another major advantage of FRP reinforcement is the ease of embedding fiber optic strain measurement devices for structural health monitoring purposes. This ability can eventually introduce monitoring systems that mimic nervous systems in living organisms with the capacity to monitor loading and damage in real time.

Consequently, fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) reinforcement has been increasingly adopted in construction due to its nonmagnetic and corrosion resistance.


The presented study investigated the damage characteristics ofbeam-columnjoints constructed using GFRP reinforcement compared to joints with conventional steel reinforcement under simulated earthquake loading. The GFRP-RC specimen exhibited very low plasticity resulting in lower energy dissipation compared to that of the steel-reinforced specimen. The elastic nature and low modulus of elasticity of the GFRP reinforcement distinctly defined its behavior with respect to the steel reinforced specimen in terms of deformation and damage. This also reflected on the manner both specimens failed. While the steel reinforced specimen underwent significant damage in the plastic hinge zone, the damage in the FRP-RC specimen was localized and very limited. Nonetheless, the GFRP-RC specimen's behavior is deemed satisfactory in terms of drift (Corley 1995) .

Nonetheless, the GFRP-RC specimen's behavior is deemed satisfactory in terms of drift.


The chiral truncation that we are making is possible only if the signature of the fourdimensional spacetime is (2, 2) . In this case, the SO(2, 2) Lorentz group is the direct product SL(2, R) L × SL(2, R) R , with dotted spinorial indices transforming under SL(2, R) L , and undotted indices transforming under SL(2, R) R . The bosonic currents are singlets under the entire Lorentz group, but the two fermionic currents form a doublet under SL(2, R) L .

The chiral truncation that we are making is possible only if the signature of the fourdimensional spacetime is.


Therefore we used genetic optimization for maximization of MI in a general feature space. We propose a multi-scale genetic optimization and implemented a master/slave parallelization scheme [8] . The genetic optimization itself is based on the open source library written by Matthew Wall [9] . We added the communication utilities for distributed memory architectures using the MPICH implementation of the "Message Passing Interface" (MPI) [10] , [11] .

We propose a multi-scale genetic optimization and implemented a master/slave parallelization scheme.

The genetic optimization itself is based on the open source library written by Matthew Wall.

We added the communication utilities for distributed memory architectures using the MPICH implementation of the "Message Passing Interface" (MPI).


Bone giant-cell reparative granuloma (GCRG) is a rare non-neoplastic lesion. Histologically, stromal cells between larger or smaller clusters of giant cells display storiform, matted or herringbone growth patterns (Huvos, 1991) . The fibrous stroma is prominent, with fusiform cells, areas of hemorrhage and giant cell clusters or nests smaller than a true giant cell tumor (Schajowicz, 2000) . The incidence of this lesion is higher at the beginning of the second decade of life. Craniofacial bones, the mandible and maxilla are usually affected, whereas the lesion is extremely rare in long tubular bones and vertebrae (Dorfman and Czerniak, 1998) .

Histologically, stromal cells between larger or smaller clusters of giant cells display storiform, matted or herringbone growth patterns.

The fibrous stroma is prominent, with fusiform cells, areas of hemorrhage and giant cell clusters or nests smaller than a true giant cell tumor.

Craniofacial bones, the mandible and maxilla are usually affected, whereas the lesion is extremely rare in long tubular bones and vertebrae.


Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (sorghum) is an economically important crop grown for grain and for forage. Sorghum is the only crop from which ethanol can be produced from grain (starch), juice (sweet sorghums) and biomass (lignocellulose). Sorghum is also promising as a bioethanol crop because it is water-use efficient and well adapted to semi-arid regions where soil salinity is too high for most common economically important crops and groundwater with high salinity is the major water source. Most of the lands in semi-arid regions are referred to as marginal lands because they have low inherent productivity and have been abandoned or degraded (Tang, Xie, & Geng, 2010) . Growing sorghum on marginal lands would be an alternative way to conserve fresh water, reduce fossil fuel pollution, and secure food safety. Therefore, identifying salt tolerant sorghum genotypes and improving their salt tolerance for salt affected lands is critically important.

Most of the lands in semi-arid regions are referred to as marginal lands because they have low inherent productivity and have been abandoned or degraded.


Approximately 180 trichothecenes are known to exist but only a few are significant to human health. This summary focuses on DON, the most prevalent of trichothecenes in human foods. Among the fungi producing trichothecenes such as DON, the species F. graminearum were predominantly strains, which are widely distributed in the crop field (Creppy, 2002; Edwards, 2004; Ayalew et al., 2006; Al-Hazmi, 2011) .

Among the fungi producing trichothecenes such as DON, the species F. graminearum were predominantly strains, which are widely distributed in the crop field.


According to the adaptability of quinoa to the different geographical contexts of the Andean region, five ecotypes have been described, which differ in phenology, morphology, adaptation to biotic and abiotic factors and its use. These ecotypes correspond to (i) Inter Andean valleys quinoa (in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru); (ii) Highlands quinoa (in Peru and Bolivia); (iii) Yungas quinoa (in Bolivian subtropical forest); (iv) Salares quinoa in salt flats (in Bolivia, northern Chile, and Argentina); and (v) Coastal quinoa, from lowlands or sea level (in central and southern Chile) (Risi and Galway 1984; Fuentes et al., 2012) . The expansion routes from the Titicaca Lake have been supported with genetic data as revealed with the use of molecular markers and genomic resources of the quinoa genome (Fuentes et al., 2009 Jarvis et al., 2017) .

These ecotypes correspond to (i) Inter Andean valleys quinoa (in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru); (ii) Highlands quinoa (in Peru and Bolivia); (iii) Yungas quinoa (in Bolivian subtropical forest); (iv) Salares quinoa in salt flats (in Bolivia, northern Chile, and Argentina); and (v) Coastal quinoa, from lowlands or sea level (in central and southern Chile).

The expansion routes from the Titicaca Lake have been supported with genetic data as revealed with the use of molecular markers and genomic resources of the quinoa genome.


There is extensive evidence of similarities in criminal behavior within members of the same family and between households in the same neighborhood. For instance, The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that approximately 50 percent of fathers and mothers in state prison had at least one other family member that had also been incarcerated: 6 percent had an incarcerated mother, 19 percent had an incarcerated father, 34 percent had an incarcerated brother, 7 percent had an incarcerated sister, 2 percent had an incarcerated child, and 2 percent had an incarcerated spouse (Glaze and Maruschak 2008) . What is it about these individuals that cause them to engage in similar anti-social behaviors? Answering this question and identifying the relative contribution of different family and community factors to criminal behavior is crucial in our quest to both identify the fundamental causes of criminal behavior and for developing public policies to combat rising crime rates. If, for instance, parental criminality is the most important background factor in explaining criminal activity, then policymakers may want to use a different set of policies and target a different group of individuals than if neighborhood influences turn out to be the strongest determinants of crime.

For instance, The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that approximately 50 percent of fathers and mothers in state prison had at least one other family member that had also been incarcerated: 6 percent had an incarcerated mother, 19 percent had an incarcerated father, 34 percent had an incarcerated brother, 7 percent had an incarcerated sister, 2 percent had an incarcerated child, and 2 percent had an incarcerated spouse.


The investigated events took place during solar activity minimum conditions. Even so, it was not a straightforward matter to relate the solar and in-situ observations. From an analysis of the solar observations, the LASCO CME catalog, and the clouds' speeds at the spacecraft, we found that MC1 was most likely associated with the solar eruptions (filament, flare, and CME) on 19 May at about 13 UT and MC2 was mostly likely associated with the solar eruptions (filament, flare, and CME) on 20 May at about 4 UT. These events originated from active region 10956, which consisted of a multipolar, nested flux system (Li et al., 2008) . The 19 May fast CME appeared to be part of a complex eruption that included a slow CME observed very close in time and space to the fast CME. These CMEs were difficult to separate in coronagraph measurements and it is unclear whether they are part of the same eruption. In-situ observations by STEREO B and Wind also support the interpretation of a complex eruption: Immediately following the MC1 end boundary, a small magnetic cloudlike region with counterstreaming electrons was identified.

These events originated from active region 10956, which consisted of a multipolar, nested flux system.


It is well documented that microglia produces NO in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli, and iNOS, an important mediator of inflammation speeds up the production of NO [16] . NO which is a neurotransmitter in the CNS has protective functions in anti-inflammatory pathways but at high concentrations it produces nitrite free radicals therefore being neurotoxic [16] . It was reported that COX-2 was markedly up regulated in rodent brain microglia and in BV-2 microglial cells after LPS treatment [17] . Unlike COX-1, COX-2 is normally not present in most cells, but its expression is induced in response to inflammatory cytokines linked to pathological events [18] . In our study, it was observed that CCE significantly suppressed nitrite production in LPS-stimulated BV-2. Further CCE attenuated the increased iNOS and COX-2 expressions without altering the COX-1 expression in LPSstimulated BV-2 cells.

It is well documented that microglia produces NO in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli, and iNOS, an important mediator of inflammation speeds up the production of NO.

NO which is a neurotransmitter in the CNS has protective functions in anti-inflammatory pathways but at high concentrations it produces nitrite free radicals therefore being neurotoxic.

It was reported that COX-2 was markedly up regulated in rodent brain microglia and in BV-2 microglial cells after LPS treatment.

Unlike COX-1, COX-2 is normally not present in most cells, but its expression is induced in response to inflammatory cytokines linked to pathological events.


NF-κB is an essential and ubiquitous transcription factor for the expression of many inflammation-related genes, including iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. LPS has also been reported to activate NF-κB in microglia [20] . Here, we confirmed that LPS significantly activated NF-κB in BV-2 microglial cells and this activation was inhibited by CCE. It is well established that the nuclear accumulation of NF-κB relies in large part upon IκB kinase-dependent phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of the cytosolic inhibitor, IκB-α. Our result showed that CCE inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation/degradation of IκBα and translocation of NF-κB/p65 sub-unit in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore we believe that CCE majorly targets in regulating NF-κB signaling.

LPS has also been reported to activate NF-κB in microglia.


Experimental studies have revealed several benefits of C. carvi such as anti-dyspeptic, antispasmodic, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties [3, 4] . Earlier reports from our group demonstrated that the aqueous extract of C. carvi fruit exhibited strong anti-oxidant, adaptogenic and memory enhancing effects in in vitro and in vivo experimental models [5, 6] . However, till date the effect of C. carvi on microglia-mediated neuroinflammation was not elucidated.

Experimental studies have revealed several benefits of C. carvi such as anti-dyspeptic, antispasmodic, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Earlier reports from our group demonstrated that the aqueous extract of C. carvi fruit exhibited strong anti-oxidant, adaptogenic and memory enhancing effects in in vitro and in vivo experimental models.


The main constituents of C. carvi are the volatile oils including carvone (40-60 %), limonene, carveol, terpinene, pinene, linalool, cymene, dihydrocarveol and thymol in addition to other glycosides and flavonoids [21, 22] . C. carvi and its active constituents are reported to possess strong anti-oxidant properties [3, 5, 6] . Furthermore, carvone which is majorly present in C. carvi is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the synthesis of leukotrienes and prostaglandins [3] . In light of such reports, our present data support the notion that CCE might play a promising role in exhibiting anti-neuroinflammatory properties in LPSstimulated BV-2 cells.

The main constituents of C. carvi are the volatile oils including carvone (40-60 %), limonene, carveol, terpinene, pinene, linalool, cymene, dihydrocarveol and thymol in addition to other glycosides and flavonoids.

C. carvi and its active constituents are reported to possess strong anti-oxidant properties.

Furthermore, carvone which is majorly present in C. carvi is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the synthesis of leukotrienes and prostaglandins.


A single block pulled by a spring on a rough surface reproduces the simple Reid's elastic rebound mechanism. Following models have mainly explored two possibilities. One is the role of the constitutive equation of the fault. The simplest friction law that generates a stick-slip behaviour is a piecewise constant function of slip rate, with friction assuming a static or a dynamic value. Many models have assumed more complicated friction laws which are obtained from laboratory experiments (Byerlee, 1978; Ruina, 1983; Rice and Tse, 1986; Gu and Wong, 1991; de Sousa Vieira, 1995; Belardinelli and Belardinelli, 1996; Erickson et al., 2008) .

Many models have assumed more complicated friction laws which are obtained from laboratory experiments.


Researchers have been studying the optimisation of the cure stage by seeking optimal cure profiles to minimise either cost related objectives (i.e. process time) or quality related objectives (i.e. temperature overshoot, degree of cure/temperature gradients [1] [2] [3] ). Attempts have also been made in the direction of addressing multiple objectives simultaneously. Optimal cure cycles for the minimisation of cure time have been addressed in literature for composite laminates made with epoxy resin and either glass or carbon fibre. The mechanical performance of the parts was ensured by setting quality control constraints such as maximum overshoot temperature allowed or cure uniformity through thickness. The thicknesses were in the range of 10-50 mm [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] . The optimisation problem of maximising performance has been investigated either by maximising final degree of cure of the part or by minimising residual stresses and distortion for part thicknesses in the range of 4-60 mm. Cure time constraints were applied to ensure reasonable duration of the process [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] . In the attempt to address both cost related and quality related objectives, researchers have been designing single weighted fitness functions to be minimised by finding optimal cure profiles. Thicknesses were in the range of 5-25 mm [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] . A multi-objective optimisation problem to minimise cure time and maximum overshoot temperature by finding optimal cure cycles was carried out for 24 mm and 60 mm components. In addition to this, it was shown that variation in convection coefficient could significantly affect the outcome of the cure process [4] . A stochastic model of the cure process using surrogate model representation had been undertaken; the model had been linked with a GA for multi-objective problems. Optimal cure cycles were identified and reductions of about 40% were achieved in both temperature overshoot and cure time compared to standard cure profiles. Furthermore the reduction was accompanied by 20% variability reduction in both objectives [29] . However, little attention has been devoted to the influence of convection coefficient and to thicknesses reaching up to 100 mm on the VARTM process and on its optimal cure cycle solutions.

Researchers have been studying the optimisation of the cure stage by seeking optimal cure profiles to minimise either cost related objectives (i.e. process time) or quality related objectives (i.e. temperature overshoot, degree of cure/temperature gradients).

The thicknesses were in the range of 10-50 mm.

Cure time constraints were applied to ensure reasonable duration of the process.

Thicknesses were in the range of 5-25 mm.

In addition to this, it was shown that variation in convection coefficient could significantly affect the outcome of the cure process.

Furthermore the reduction was accompanied by 20% variability reduction in both objectives.


The manufacturing of structural parts for wind turbine blades poses serious challenges to the composite manufacturing industry due to the large thicknesses involved. The main girder, which is made by either carbon or glass fibre laminates, of a wind turbine is responsible to carry the bending loads and therefore its quality is crucial. Typical laminate thicknesses for these parts are about 50 mm whilst the root section that connects the blade with the hub goes up to 100 mm. The preferred manufacturing process in the wind industry is Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding (VARTM). Given the dimension of the wind blades (up to 88 m in length to date), the single-mould nature of the VARTM process allows to contain the tooling cost. However, with the thicknesses at play, the curing stage of the Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding (VARTM) manufacturing process of such parts becomes complex. The final mechanical performance of a composite laminate highly depends on a successful cure stage. Due to the low thermal conductivity in transverse direction of the composite laminates detrimental exothermic reaction and overshoot temperature are likely to happen as the thickness increases. The occurrence of violent temperature overshoots leads to significant differences in thermal history and therefore differences in degree of cure through thickness. This introduces different chemical shrinkage and thermal expansion which affects mechanical performance and life span of the part [1] [2] [3] . This phenomenon becomes even more pronounced when dealing with thick and ultra-thick components [4] . It is therefore crucial that the thermochemical properties of the part are accurately modelled to simulate the cure stage and that the cure profile selected is optimised to avoid or reduce the gradient in degree of cure through the thickness. Furthermore process time considerations need to be taken into account as they drive process costs. Identification of optimal cure cycles to address these objectives is needed as a trial and error approach or experience driven design choices may fail in producing reliable outcomes.

This introduces different chemical shrinkage and thermal expansion which affects mechanical performance and life span of the part.

This phenomenon becomes even more pronounced when dealing with thick and ultra-thick components.


The parametric stability methods have good properties under certain statistical assumptions, like normal distribution of errors and interaction effects; however, they may not perform well if these assumptions are violated (Huehn, 1990) . That means parametric tests for significance of variances and variance-related measures could be very sensitive to the underlying assumptions. Thus, it is wise to search for alternative approaches that are more robust to departures from common assumptions, such as nonparametric measures (Nassar and Huehn, 1987) . Thus, the level of association between the estimates of stability and adaptability from different models is the indicative if one or more statistics could be used for reliable prediction of responses in different environments. This association can also help breeders to choose statistics that better obey the concept of stability (Duarte and Zimmermann, 1995) .

The parametric stability methods have good properties under certain statistical assumptions, like normal distribution of errors and interaction effects; however, they may not perform well if these assumptions are violated.

Thus, it is wise to search for alternative approaches that are more robust to departures from common assumptions, such as nonparametric measures.

This association can also help breeders to choose statistics that better obey the concept of stability.


GEI is a universal phenomenon existing in MEYTs and complicates the selection of superior genotypes (Ebdon and Gauch, 2002; Yan and Kang, 2003) . Various methods are used for reducing GEI effects and facilitating genotype characterization, as selection criteria together with the mean yield of the genotypes. Accordingly, genotypes with minimal variance for yield across environments are considered stable. This idea of stability may be considered as a biological or static concept of stability (Becker and Leon, 1988) . This concept of stability is not acceptable to most breeders and agronomists, who prefer genotypes with high mean yields and the potential to respond to agronomic inputs or better environmental conditions (Becker, 1981) . The high yield performance of released cultivars is one of the most important targets of breeders; therefore, they prefer a dynamic concept of stability (Becker and Leon, 1988) .

GEI is a universal phenomenon existing in MEYTs and complicates the selection of superior genotypes.

This idea of stability may be considered as a biological or static concept of stability.

This concept of stability is not acceptable to most breeders and agronomists, who prefer genotypes with high mean yields and the potential to respond to agronomic inputs or better environmental conditions.

The high yield performance of released cultivars is one of the most important targets of breeders; therefore, they prefer a dynamic concept of stability.


There are two major approaches to studying GEI and determining adaptation of genotypes (Huehn, 1996) . The first and most common approach is parametric, which relies on distributional assumptions about genotypic, environmental and GEI effects. The second major approach is the nonparametric or analytical clustering approach, which relates environments and phenotypes relative to biotic and abiotic environmental factors without making specific modeling assumptions. For practical applications, however, most breeding programs incorporate some elements of both approaches (Becker and Leon, 1988) .

There are two major approaches to studying GEI and determining adaptation of genotypes.

For practical applications, however, most breeding programs incorporate some elements of both approaches.


The transverse spatial profile of the 578 nm laser at the maximum output power was measured with the knife-edge method using a M 2 -200s-FW (Ophir-Spiricon, Inc.) laser beam analyzer. The M 2 factors were approximately 1.4 and 1.2 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, which showed that the laser output at 578 nm was operating in the near TEM 00 mode (Fig. 6) . We considered that the asymmetry of the M 2 factors in the two directions was a result of the walk-off between the fundamental wave and the frequency mixed wave in the direction of LBO [23] .

We considered that the asymmetry of the M 2 factors in the two directions was a result of the walk-off between the fundamental wave and the frequency mixed wave in the direction of LBO.


The author deems that aware science or technology is still on the way to maturation and therefore that now it should foster various kinds of approaches. The model of human cognition employed in MIDST is formalized based on declarative knowledge representation in symbolic logic which has almost been discarded in this research area so far and instead certain approaches based on procedural knowledge representation has been prevalent. The author's very intention here is to present some prospective possibility of his original theory MIDST in aware science. The example presented in Section 8 is rather simple but one of the most complicated spatial relations displayable in this version of the intelligent system IMAGES-M because it was programmed exclusively to check the efficacy of PSDKS. Another extended version of the system is now under construction and some examples of further complicated human-system interaction in natural language have already been presented in another paper [15] .

Another extended version of the system is now under construction and some examples of further complicated human-system interaction in natural language have already been presented in another paper.


Application of carbon capture and storage (CCS) at fossil fuel burning plants could significantly reduce the global emission of anthropogenic CO 2 . However, using the current state-of-art technology, this would result in an increase in the cost of electricity by 35-85%, mainly due to high cost of CO 2 capture which are making up around 80% of the total cost of CCS [1] . This large increase in cost of electricity is considered unacceptable and the development of a more cost-effective capture technology is now the main objective of CO 2 capture research. We aim to reduce the CO 2 capture costs by developing an adsorption based post combustion CO 2 capture process using supported amine sorbents (SAS), anticipated to have a lower energy requirement than the conventional amine scrubbing technology. A large part of the energy required in this absorption based process, is associated with heating of the aqueous amine solution from the absorption temperature to the desorption temperature and with the evaporation of solvent in the desorber column.

However, using the current state-of-art technology, this would result in an increase in the cost of electricity by 35-85%, mainly due to high cost of CO 2 capture which are making up around 80% of the total cost of CCS.


We studied the technical feasibility of sorbent regeneration at high pressure as an option to further improve the energy efficiency of this novel CO 2 capture process. Compression of the captured CO 2 , required for cost effective transportation and storage, adds around 20-25% to the total electrical energy requirement of the CO 2 capture facility [15] . Releasing CO 2 at 5 bar in the sorbent regeneration step would reduce the electrical energy required for compression.

Compression of the captured CO 2 , required for cost effective transportation and storage, adds around 20-25% to the total electrical energy requirement of the CO 2 capture facility.


The experiment utilised 36 juvenile B. barbus that originated from pond aquaculture where they had been reared in outdoor ponds and fed a mixture of natural food resources supplemented with formulated feeds. Their initial fork lengths and weights ranged between 75 and 85 mm and 4 and 7 g, respectively. Following their transfer to the laboratory, they were acclimated to conditions for 10 days before being measured and tagged with 12 mm passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to enable their subsequent individual identification. The fish were then measured (fork length, nearest mm) and weighed (to 0.01 g). The experimental design then incorporated two feeding periods. The first was on a set formulated diet, to provide all fish with similar isotopic values, and lasted 125 days; the second immediately followed this and consisted of an alternative formulated feed for a further 125 days during which the changes in the isotopic values of the fish were measured. These timescales were used because 125 days was assumed to have provided at least four isotopic half-lives according to the starting mass of individual fish (\10 g) and according to values in literature (Hobson & Clark, 1992; Thomas & Crowther, 2015) . Consequently, the fish should have been close to isotopic equilibrium at the end of each of these periods.

These timescales were used because 125 days was assumed to have provided at least four isotopic half-lives according to the starting mass of individual fish (\10 g) and according to values in literature.


Estimating the relative contributions of growth and metabolism to isotopic turnover rates is important, as both play important roles in the isotopic replacement of tissues following a diet-switch (Xia et al., 2013a, b) . Growth rate represents the synthesis of new tissue from the new diet, whereas the metabolic rate represents the balanced rate of breakdown of old tissue, synthesised during feeding on a previous diet, and the re-synthesis of tissue components made from the new diet (Hesslein et al., 1993) . Thus, with known growth rates, the proportional contributions of metabolism and growth to stable isotopic turnover are estimated from non-linear regression of the isotopic turnover trajectories (Buchheister & Latour, 2010) . The change in isotopic content within the tissues can, therefore, be modelled as a function of time or growth using a range of different models (Fry & Arnold, 1982; Hobson & Clark, 1992; Hesslein et al., 1993) .

Estimating the relative contributions of growth and metabolism to isotopic turnover rates is important, as both play important roles in the isotopic replacement of tissues following a diet-switch.

Growth rate represents the synthesis of new tissue from the new diet, whereas the metabolic rate represents the balanced rate of breakdown of old tissue, synthesised during feeding on a previous diet, and the re-synthesis of tissue components made from the new diet.

Thus, with known growth rates, the proportional contributions of metabolism and growth to stable isotopic turnover are estimated from non-linear regression of the isotopic turnover trajectories.

The change in isotopic content within the tissues can, therefore, be modelled as a function of time or growth using a range of different models.


Microscopic models can be divided into several categories: physical-based models, cellular automata models (CA), rule-based models, and multiagent models. Physicalbased models recognize crowds as individuals reacting to surrounding events and have been used to study the emergency and panic situations, where optimal acceleration is controlled by varying physical force. The magnetic force model, NOMAD (Normative Pedestrian Behavior Theory), and social force model are examples of physical-based models [12] . CA models, also known as matrix-based models, divide a building floor into grids or cells. Each individual evacuee occupies one or multiple cells and moves forward when there are empty cells available. CA models can be further divided into either coarse-grid models or fine-grid models based on the size of the grids. Rule-based models have been widely used in computer graphics for modeling groups of animals and virtual crowds. An example of this is Reynolds' "birds" model which followed three local rules [19] . These rules separation, alignment, and cohesion are used to simulate flocking behavior in the model. Multiagent models allow the environment to be populated with interactive and autonomous agents, which is a preferred approach for large scale and complex evacuation simulation.

The magnetic force model, NOMAD (Normative Pedestrian Behavior Theory), and social force model are examples of physical-based models.

An example of this is Reynolds' "birds" model which followed three local rules.


Recall that the knowledge-sharing spiral involves knowledge conversion processes that go from Socialisation to Externalisation to Combination to Internalisation (S-E-C-I) (see Figure 2) . The highest correlation was between Socialisation and Internalisation (S-I) (0.765, a strong correlation), followed by the correlation between Socialisation and Externalisation (S-E) (0.746, a strong correlation). The next highest correlation was between Combination and Internalisation (C-I) (0.647, a moderate correlation) followed by the correlation between Externalisation and Internalisation (E-I) (0.617, a moderate correlation). Then, the two lowest correlations were evident between Combination and Socialisation (C-S) (0.520, a moderate correlation), with the lowest correlation being between Combination and Externalisation (C-E) (0.390, a weak correlation). Correlations between 0 and 0.20 are considered weak to negligible; correlations between 0.20 and 0.40 show weak to low relationships; correlations between 0.40 and 0.70 are considered moderate; correlations between 0.70 and 0.90 show strong and high relationships; and correlations between 0.90 and 1.0 reflect very strong and very high relationships (Rowntree, 2004) .

Correlations between 0 and 0.20 are considered weak to negligible; correlations between 0.20 and 0.40 show weak to low relationships; correlations between 0.40 and 0.70 are considered moderate; correlations between 0.70 and 0.90 show strong and high relationships; and correlations between 0.90 and 1.0 reflect very strong and very high relationships.


For companies to transform knowledge from E-C, they need to be innovative and creative in codifying project management metaphors and analogies into explicit knowledge for organisation-wide use (Combination). Creating such new knowledge of the Combination type may be difficult, partly if companies are in a core rigidity mode in terms of both the value of codified and explicit knowledge in project management and the predominant emphasis on project execution over concept creation, initiation and extensive planning. A core rigidity refers to a company's having capabilities that, although useful in the past with previous projects, are no longer useful and instead, become practices that are difficult to overcome and change (Leonard-Barton, 1992) . The emphasis on explicit knowledge and codified practices may make it difficult for companies to transform knowledge from tacit to explicit.

A core rigidity refers to a company's having capabilities that, although useful in the past with previous projects, are no longer useful and instead, become practices that are difficult to overcome and change.


In this paper, we report on the knowledge-sharing correlations from a multivariate study we completed in 2005 on project management as a source of competitive advantage as assessed using the VRIO framework (Jugdev and Mathur, 2006) . In that study (where we gathered the knowledge-sharing data), we invited 2,000 randomly selected North American Project Management Institute ® members to participate. Copies of the study instrument and/or a white paper on the study are available upon request. We mailed these members an invitation to the study and included a consent form, as well as a stamped, self-addressed return letter so that they could provide us with their email address to participate. We sent interested individuals an email with the link to the survey hosted at Zoomerang ® . From the initial 2,000 letters mailed, only 44 were returned by the post office due to old mailing addresses, which indicated that the Project Management Institute's ® mailing list was very up to date. We received responses from 241 people indicating an interest in completing the survey, and 202 people completed the survey for a true response rate of 10.1% (202/2000 100). This is a very acceptable response rate for an internet survey (Dillman, Sinclair and Clark, 1993; Schaefer and Dillman, 1998; Boyer et al., 2001; Couper, Traugott, and Lamias, 2001; Simsek and Veiga, 2001) .

In this paper, we report on the knowledge-sharing correlations from a multivariate study we completed in 2005 on project management as a source of competitive advantage as assessed using the VRIO framework.

This is a very acceptable response rate for an internet survey.


Several established mesh simplification algorithms are available [5] , [6] . The techniques include merging coplanar facets, decimation, re-tiling, local re-meshing, vertex clustering, energy function optimization, wavelet-based methods and many other. They are very useful in downsizing of oversampled input meshes, such methods do not aim, however, to improve the input mesh quality.

Several established mesh simplification algorithms are available.


It has been proposed that professional gender inequalities will diminish with the growing proportion of females in the medical profession (cohort or generation effect) [24] . However, although all categories of the professional hierarchy are feminizing, there is evidence that women remain disadvantaged in their access to the highest levels [24, 25] . Thus, it has been reported the leadership levels now achieved by female physicians are no higher than they were some decades ago, and that this phenomenon cannot be explained by a so-called "period" or "environmental" effect [18] .

It has been proposed that professional gender inequalities will diminish with the growing proportion of females in the medical profession (cohort or generation effect).

However, although all categories of the professional hierarchy are feminizing, there is evidence that women remain disadvantaged in their access to the highest levels.

Thus, it has been reported the leadership levels now achieved by female physicians are no higher than they were some decades ago, and that this phenomenon cannot be explained by a so-called "period" or "environmental" effect.


High concentrations of Na + cause osmotic imbalance, membrane disorganization, reduction in growth and inhibition of cell division and expansion (Mahajan & Tuteja 2005) . High Na + levels also lead to reduction in photosynthesis and to higher production of ROS (Greenway & Munns 1980; Yeo 1998; Mahajan & Tuteja 2005) . Na + accumulation in tomato under saline conditions is under genetic control, attributable to additive effects -dominance has a small influence (Foolad et al. 1997; Flowers 2004) . In our experiment, CM 142 accumulated the significantly highest Na + concentration during both samplings (Table 2) . During the first sampling, PEHM 3 had insignificantly lower Na + content compared to CM 213 (Table 2 ) and during the second sampling PEHM 3 showed significantly lower Na + content compared to CM 213 in both salinity levels (Table 2). This implies that Na + accumulation could be one of the important physiological selection traits for plant breeders.

High concentrations of Na + cause osmotic imbalance, membrane disorganization, reduction in growth and inhibition of cell division and expansion.

High Na + levels also lead to reduction in photosynthesis and to higher production of ROS.

Na + accumulation in tomato under saline conditions is under genetic control, attributable to additive effects -dominance has a small influence.


For the estimation of Na + , samples were prepared by digesting 1 g of dry leaf material in 100 ml Pyrex digestion tubes with 10 ml of 2:1 (v/v) mixture of nitric acid to perchloric acid, and allowed to stand overnight. After the preliminary digestion, the tubes were placed in a block digester, where temperature was raised to 150°C for 1 h and subsequently to 235°C. Volume was made up to 100 ml with distilled water. Na + content was estimated using flame spectrophotometer (Tandon 1995) .

Na + content was estimated using flame spectrophotometer.


In our experiment, a heterotic effect occurred after the crossing of comparatively sensitive CM 142 with tolerant CM 213 maize lines. There are no well-defined plant indicators for salinity tolerance that could practically be used by plant breeders for the improvement of salinity tolerance in agricultural crops (Ashraf & Harris 2004) . Our results suggest that together with cell protecting factors, superoxide radical and Na + contents along with indicators of stress damage (i.e. MSI) might be considered in maize salinity tolerance improvement breeding programmes.

There are no well-defined plant indicators for salinity tolerance that could practically be used by plant breeders for the improvement of salinity tolerance in agricultural crops.