It is well known that triangular shell finite elements give very different solution accuracy depending on the mesh pattern used for a shell problem [1, 10] . Hence, to evaluate a triangular shell finite element, specific different meshes should be used to test the element performance. In addition also an appropriate norm need be used to measure the error [11] .

It is well known that triangular shell finite elements give very different solution accuracy depending on the mesh pattern used for a shell problem.

In addition also an appropriate norm need be used to measure the error.


Recently, using the MITC 1 (Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components) technique for triangular shell finite elements, a 3-node MITC triangular shell finite element (MITC3) has been developed [9] . Its performance has been studied for various shell problems using well-established benchmark procedures. The element is very attractive because its formulation is simple and general, and, in particular, the behavior of the element is isotropic, that is, the stiffness matrix of the triangular element does not depend on the sequence of node numbering. However, the element is not ''uniformly optimal'', that is, some locking is present and seen in the solution of the clamped plate problem and the hyperboloid shell problem [9] . This deficiency provides a motivation to further study the element behavior.

Recently, using the MITC 1 (Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components) technique for triangular shell finite elements, a 3-node MITC triangular shell finite element (MITC3) has been developed.

However, the element is not ''uniformly optimal'', that is, some locking is present and seen in the solution of the clamped plate problem and the hyperboloid shell problem.


When modeling general engineering structures, some triangular finite elements are frequently used. Typically, to mesh complex shell structures, the mesh generation scheme establishes by far mostly quadrilateral elements but when these become too distorted because of geometric complexities, triangular elements are used instead. Also, triangular shell elements may be effective when these are used to represent a thin structure within tetrahedral three-dimensional element meshes, like in the analysis of rubber media reinforced by thin steel layers, or in the solution of fluid-structure interactions [5] . Of course, in general, quadrilateral elements can have a higher predictive capability, and therefore more research effort has been expended to develop quadrilateral shell finite element discretizations and more progress has also been achieved. Since quadrilateral elements have simpler coordinate systems and richer strain fields than triangular elements, quadrilateral shell finite elements that overcome the locking phenomenon are also easier to establish. Indeed, some quadrilateral shell elements are close to ''uniformly optimal'' [1, 2] .

Also, triangular shell elements may be effective when these are used to represent a thin structure within tetrahedral three-dimensional element meshes, like in the analysis of rubber media reinforced by thin steel layers, or in the solution of fluid-structure interactions.

Indeed, some quadrilateral shell elements are close to ''uniformly optimal''.


Yield loss from planting full-season dent corn hybrids after optimal dates is well known (Benson, 1990; Darby and Lauer, 2002; Lauer et al., 1999; Swanson and Willhelm, 1996) . Considerably fewer reports are available on yield response of relatively shortmaturing sweet corn hybrids to the wide range of planting dates common to sweet corn production. Per plant yield, of four short-season sweet corn hybrids, was unaffected by planting dates spread over more than 4 weeks in Newfoundland (Kwabiah, 2004) . Yield of late June-planted sweet corn was comparable to early May planting in 1 year in Urbana, IL, but in another year, yield was reduced proportional to the lower water supply in the late June planting (Williams, 2006) . Because hybrid 'BC0805' in this study was highly susceptible to MDMV and tested positive for MDMV symptoms observed only in the early July planting date, the effect of growth and yield losses resulting from viral infection from inherently poorer growing conditions of the last planting date could not be separated.

Yield loss from planting full-season dent corn hybrids after optimal dates is well known.

Per plant yield, of four short-season sweet corn hybrids, was unaffected by planting dates spread over more than 4 weeks in Newfoundland.

Yield of late June-planted sweet corn was comparable to early May planting in 1 year in Urbana, IL, but in another year, yield was reduced proportional to the lower water supply in the late June planting.


Several authors have developed different methods for increasing the resistance to aging, as long as LTD sensitivity is affected by many variables such as grain size, stabilizer type and content, composition and homogeinity, residual stresses, temperature and environment, porosity and phase separation [7] . The use of stabilizers like Cerium oxide seems to be a promising way to reduce LTD [10] . The slower kinetics of degradation related with the use of Ce stabilizer appears to be due to the lower content of vacancies (Ce 4+ does not generate vacancies in ZrO 2 lattice), which allows a reduced mobility of water species responsible for the LTD, if compared with the yttria stabilized material. Nevertheless, the addition of such stabilizers tends to compromise mechanical properties of 3Y-TZP, especially in terms of strength, as a result of grain growth [11] , [12] . A way to improve aging resistance and maintain the bulk mechanical properties of the base material is represented by the diffusion of Cerium oxide from the surface after sintering [13] .

Several authors have developed different methods for increasing the resistance to aging, as long as LTD sensitivity is affected by many variables such as grain size, stabilizer type and content, composition and homogeinity, residual stresses, temperature and environment, porosity and phase separation.

The use of stabilizers like Cerium oxide seems to be a promising way to reduce LTD.

Nevertheless, the addition of such stabilizers tends to compromise mechanical properties of 3Y-TZP, especially in terms of strength, as a result of grain growth.

A way to improve aging resistance and maintain the bulk mechanical properties of the base material is represented by the diffusion of Cerium oxide from the surface after sintering.


Zirconia-based ceramics have been used in different engineering applications because of their excellent strength, fracture toughness, hardness and chemical stability. In the 90's, biomedical grade 3 mol% yttria-tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia (3Y-TZP) became an alternative to alumina as structural bio-inert ceramic in orthopaedics because of its substantially higher fracture toughness. The use of 3Y-TZP in orthopaedics paved the way to new implant designs that were not possible with alumina, which is more brittle. Examples of medical applications are smaller 3Y-TZP femoral heads, 3Y-TZP knees and, more recently, a large range of dental devices (crowns, bridges, abutments and dental implants) [1] - [3] .

Examples of medical applications are smaller 3Y-TZP femoral heads, 3Y-TZP knees and, more recently, a large range of dental devices (crowns, bridges, abutments and dental implants).


The finding that primary psychopathic individuals had experienced cold and controlling mothering is to be expected. If fluctuations in PT are caused by maternal stress, then unless the status of the rearing environment had improved between pregnancy and post-birth, there should be a continuation of factors that encourage a "tough-minded" personality that is adaptive for a hostile environment. Actually, psychopathic behaviour in children lessens if their parents receive parent training and emotional support, and worsens in the absence of such interventions (McDonald, Dodson, Rosenfield, & Jouriles, 2011) . If levels of PT were attributed more to RUNNING HEAD: 2D:4D, PRIMARY, SECONDARY PSYCHOPATHY, MATERNAL BONDING 15 genetic influences, then it is possible that the same genes could also contribute to a mother who is less empathetic and more controlling of her children. Furthermore, controlling mothers producing primary psychopathic children may be attributed to passive gene x environment correlation. Indeed, it is interesting that secondary psychopathic individuals also reported uncaring mothers, but had not been subject to controlling behaviour. It is possible then that these mothers do not exhibit primary psychopathic behaviour but are less caring due to environmental circumstances.

Actually, psychopathic behaviour in children lessens if their parents receive parent training and emotional support, and worsens in the absence of such interventions.


Abiotic stresses are known to reduce plants´vegetative growth and reproductive success by decreasing the energy generated from photosynthesis and diverting resources and metabolic precursors from primary metabolism and biomass accumulation toward activation of the stress response mechanism [1] . These stresses include cold, heat, and alkalinity, among others: However, tolerance in Silene populations would be dependent on the efficiency of the mechanisms activated to maintain cellular osmotic balance and to alleviate oxidative stress under the applied stress treatments. Furthermore, we expected to correlate differences in tolerance level with the populations' geographical distributions and the ecological characteristics of their natural habitats. The main aim of the work was meant to identify salt and drought stress biochemical markers in S. vulgaris associated with the most relevant mechanisms of stress tolerance in this species, which would facilitate the selection of tolerant genotypes. For this, we measured the contents of several metabolites associated with specific stress responses, such as monovalent ions, proline and total soluble sugars (as putative osmolytes involved in osmotic adjustment), malondialdehyde (MDA, a reliable marker of oxidative stress), and total phenolic compounds and flavonoids (as examples of relevant non-enzymatic antioxidants), in leaves of the stressed plants and the corresponding controls.

Abiotic stresses are known to reduce plants´vegetative growth and reproductive success by decreasing the energy generated from photosynthesis and diverting resources and metabolic precursors from primary metabolism and biomass accumulation toward activation of the stress response mechanism.


Examining power through the framework used here expands the scale of analysis from the collaborative group itself to include broader, socioeconomic and hegemonic factors that shape collaborative processes and outcomes. This addresses a challenge identified in the literature related to the need to identify and account for such factors across political and geographic scales (Emerson, et al. 2012) . Meeting this challenge is important because the success or failure of collaborative approaches to environmental problem solving is closely linked to a host of powerrelated considerations. Explicit attention to power recognizes that collaborative processes do not exist in isolation. Instead, they are nested within broader social, political and economic contexts that shape processes and outcomes in ways that are often pervasive and hidden (Lubell and Lippert 2011; Memon and Kirk 2012) . Theorizing, designing and conducting collaboration in the absence of attention to power risks incomplete understanding of how and why processes progress and produce outcomes, successful or otherwise. This paper explored power in collaborative approaches to water governance. However, the issues explored here are equally relevant in other settings where diverse actors come together to address shared environmental problems.

This addresses a challenge identified in the literature related to the need to identify and account for such factors across political and geographic scales.

Instead, they are nested within broader social, political and economic contexts that shape processes and outcomes in ways that are often pervasive and hidden.


A systematic review was used to explore the extent to which literature addressing collaborative approaches to water governance accounts for issues of power. Systematic reviews are structured literature reviews that are useful in reviewing large bodies of material, synthesizing major findings and identifying knowledge gaps. In this paper, a protocol suited to social science inquiry is used (Petticrew and Roberts 2006) .

In this paper, a protocol suited to social science inquiry is used.


A number of different fields examine collaborative approaches to governance (e.g., planning, public administration, environmental management). While differences in label, language and approach exist, there are several characteristics common to collaborative governance processes that serve to bound its definition. These include broad stakeholder inclusion, face-to-face deliberation, shared learning, a willingness to reconsider assumptions, pooling of resources, construction of long term relationships, and consensus-focused decision-making (Ansell and Gash 2007; Conley and Moote 2003; Holley, et al. 2012; Kallis, et al. 2009; Margerum 2008) .

These include broad stakeholder inclusion, face-to-face deliberation, shared learning, a willingness to reconsider assumptions, pooling of resources, construction of long term relationships, and consensus-focused decision-making.


Water presents a useful lens for exploring the impacts of power on collaboration. The governance of water is characterized by interconnected and overlapping political, social and legal structures as sites for the contestation and reproduction of power (Zeitoun and Allan 2008) . In addition, a long tradition of using collaborative approaches in the context of water provides a rich pool of scholarship for study.

The governance of water is characterized by interconnected and overlapping political, social and legal structures as sites for the contestation and reproduction of power.


In this research, a capacitive humidity sensor structure was demonstrated with a simple fabrication process for a potential application in a two-dimensional array implementation. Polyimide was used as the humiditysensitive insulating layer because the change of its dielectric constant is linearly proportional to the amount of water absorbed [22] . Also, it has high inertness to many interfering chemicals. To verify the sensor operation, we measured capacitance changes due to humidity variations and frequency characteristics of the fabricated sensors.

Polyimide was used as the humiditysensitive insulating layer because the change of its dielectric constant is linearly proportional to the amount of water absorbed.


In the last two decades the poultry industry has grown from a handful of medium sized operations to a large industry in Bangladesh. Poultry farms having sizes ranging from a few hundred birds to several hundred thousand birds are mushrooming throughout the country. Side by side small-scale family poultry system (backyard poultry) is also one of the most important income-generating source for rural women, landless poor and marginal farmers. In 1997-98 the small-scale family poultry system in Bangladesh has been estimated to account for about 80% of the total poultry population (Huque, 1999) . Different infectious and non-infectious diseases have been affecting both native and high performing commercial poultry across the country round the year (Giasuddin et al., 2002) . Data generated by the Department of Livestock Service shows that the loss of livestock due to various diseases resulted in losses of approximately 140000 million taka per year in the mid eighties (Hassan, 1985) .

In 1997-98 the small-scale family poultry system in Bangladesh has been estimated to account for about 80% of the total poultry population.

Different infectious and non-infectious diseases have been affecting both native and high performing commercial poultry across the country round the year.

Data generated by the Department of Livestock Service shows that the loss of livestock due to various diseases resulted in losses of approximately 140000 million taka per year in the mid eighties.


One of the most difficult aspects of assisted reproductive treatment (ART) is to identify and counsel patients with very low or virtually no chance of achieving live birth. A report by the Ethics Committee of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) nevertheless has provided a valuable guideline when considering fertility treatment for patients with extremely poor prognosis. According to the report, patients are defined as having "poor prognosis" when the likelihood of a given ART treatment achieving live birth is very low but not nonexistent (>1% and ≤ 5% per cycle); while those with essentially no chance of achieving live birth with ART treatment (≤ 1% per cycle) are considered as "futility" [1] .

According to the report, patients are defined as having "poor prognosis" when the likelihood of a given ART treatment achieving live birth is very low but not nonexistent (>1% and ≤ 5% per cycle); while those with essentially no chance of achieving live birth with ART treatment (≤ 1% per cycle) are considered as "futility".


The increased availability of whole-genome data is providing more comprehensive insights into microbial evolution (Toft and Andersson 2010) . One phenomenon of bacterial evolution concerns a process known as horizontal gene transfer (HGT), where bacteria transfer genetic material to related or to unrelated bacterial lineages (Doolittle 1999; Doolittle et al. 2003) . From a biological perspective, HGT is vital for the origination of new bacterial functions, including virulence, pathogenicity or antibiotic resistance (Barlow 2009; Gophna et al. 2004; Koonin et al. 2001) .

The increased availability of whole-genome data is providing more comprehensive insights into microbial evolution.

One phenomenon of bacterial evolution concerns a process known as horizontal gene transfer (HGT), where bacteria transfer genetic material to related or to unrelated bacterial lineages.

From a biological perspective, HGT is vital for the origination of new bacterial functions, including virulence, pathogenicity or antibiotic resistance.


In the past decade the awareness and usage of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased exponentially, with over 2.6 million adults using the devices in the United Kingdom as surveyed in 2015 [6] . A study funded by Cancer Research UK further suggests there is now 'near universal awareness of e-cigarettes' [9] . Around 12% of Europeans have tried e-cigarettes at some point, and roughly 2% report continued use [13] . The use of electronic-cigarettes and other vapourising devices by those in the United States is also on the rise, with estimations from a recent survey suggesting that 2.6-10% of adults in the US now vape [35] . Public Health England recently reported that compared to cigarettes, electronic cigarettes may be about 95% less harmful and could be a potential aid for smokers trying to quit [27] .

In the past decade the awareness and usage of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased exponentially, with over 2.6 million adults using the devices in the United Kingdom as surveyed in 2015.

A study funded by Cancer Research UK further suggests there is now 'near universal awareness of e-cigarettes'.

Around 12% of Europeans have tried e-cigarettes at some point, and roughly 2% report continued use.

The use of electronic-cigarettes and other vapourising devices by those in the United States is also on the rise, with estimations from a recent survey suggesting that 2.6-10% of adults in the US now vape.

Public Health England recently reported that compared to cigarettes, electronic cigarettes may be about 95% less harmful and could be a potential aid for smokers trying to quit.


For the e-cigarette, mean nicotine concentration at source was 0.049 ± 0.006 mg/puff on the RM20S and 0.053 ± 0.012 mg/puff on the VC 10 (3.5 and 3.6 times less than the cigarette respectively) ( Fig. 4a; Table 3 ). The mean analytical value for 3R4F reference cigarette nicotine concentration per puff at the HCI regime was published at 0.189 mg/puff (1.97 mg/cig at 10.4 puffs/cig) [12] . As demonstrated, our obtained source nicotine data per puff for the cigarette on both machines was at the expected analytical values previously obtained (Fig. 4a  dotted line) .

The mean analytical value for 3R4F reference cigarette nicotine concentration per puff at the HCI regime was published at 0.189 mg/puff (1.97 mg/cig at 10.4 puffs/cig).


The in vitro aerosol exposure environment was established to enable the testing of tobacco smoke and other aerosol products in a more physiologically relevant manner-with whole smoke and whole aerosols delivered to in vitro cultures at the ALI. There are various exposure systems available for such tests, many summarised in Thorne and Adamson [40] . However, most of these commercially available systems were originally designed and intended for use with cigarettes only, well before e-cigarettes and other next generation nicotine and tobacco products became commonplace. These systems can easily be adapted to enable the assessment of e-cigarettes, tobacco heating products (THPs) or even medicinal nicotine inhalers; however careful characterisation of the generated aerosol is required (at the point of generation and at the point of exposure) to enable comparisons before conclusions can be made from the associated biological responses.

There are various exposure systems available for such tests, many summarised in Thorne and Adamson.


Ratio differences between the cigarette and the e-cigarette were calculated for mass and nicotine on both machines, to get an insight into the relationship between the two different nicotine delivery products and how their diluted aerosols behaved across both systems. Absolute values between the two exposure systems were clearly different but the relationship between products for deposited mass and nicotine was mostly similar and consistent across dilutions and between machines (Tables 4, 5 , ratio values). The ratio difference in deposited mass between cigarette and e-cigarette (3R4F/ePen) on the RM20S at the dilutions tested ranged 0.60-0.81. The ratio difference in deposited nicotine concentration between cigarette and e-cigarette on the RM20S at the dilutions tested was higher and ranged 2.58-3.60. On the VC10, those deposited mass ratios (3R4F/ePen) were in the same range as the RM20S in the lower dilutions (0.125-0.250 l/min) at 0.63 and 0.68 respectively, but diverged from the RM20S in the higher dilutions (0.500-1.000 l/min) at 0.92 and 1.07 respectively. The ratio difference in deposited nicotine concentration between cigarette and e-cigarette on the VC 10 ranged 7.65-10.03 at the first three dilutions but decreased to 2.52 at 1 l/ min. These ratio comparisons show agreement at all dilutions on the RM20S; the VC 10 shows parity but there are greater product differences at higher air flow rates and we have previously reported variances in dose delivery from flow rates around 0.5 l/min [1] . A final graphic representation of the linear relationship between deposited mass and nicotine concentration in vitro was produced when all data (from both machines) was plotted for the two products in a regression (Fig. 7) . The higher the deposited mass delivered from the cigarette the higher the concentration of nicotine (R 2 = 0.93); conversely, the e-cigarette delivered a much greater mass and a lower concentration of nicotine in the same dilution ranges tested (R 2 = 0.77). The chart also confirms the difference in dose delivery between the machines, with the VC 10 (crosses and circles) demonstrating a greater range of mass and nicotine delivery than the RM20S (solid markers), based on the low dilutions chosen for this study (Fig. 7) .

These ratio comparisons show agreement at all dilutions on the RM20S; the VC 10 shows parity but there are greater product differences at higher air flow rates and we have previously reported variances in dose delivery from flow rates around 0.5 l/min.


The Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) is a linear algebra procedure used to factorize a matrix A as a product of three matrices, U,V, and S, where the matrices U and V are orthonormal and S is a diagonal matrix that contains the so-called singular values [1] . This matrix decomposition has found multiple applications in both engineering and scientific disciplines [2] [3] [4] . In the geosciences, SVD helps to identify structure when analyzing a spatial field for a single time period. In many real-world applications, however, spatial fields include multiple time periods or contain multiple thematic attributes such as spectral bands. In these cases, an SVD can help to eliminate some of the redundancy between time periods or attributes as well as between neighboring locations (pixels in images and grid cells in rasters). The SVD can thus be seen as an efficient dimensionality reduction technique which facilitates further analysis. For instance, the SVD helps to obtain accurate products of spatio-temporal fields (matrices), and to reduce the deficiencies of the acquired data (noise or non-linear nature) [5] . Moreover, several analytical approaches commonly used in the geosciences are based on the SVD, such as the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method in classification and regression tasks and the Maximum Covariance Analysis (MCA) and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) methods, which are often used to analyze multi-temporal datasets [6] [7] [8] . A combination of CCA with Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) has proven successful at filtering out noise from images [9] . Finally, the SVD has been used to compare ground data and measurements done by Earth observation satellites [10, 11] . This is because SVD offers an effective method to find frequent and simultaneous patterns between two spatio-temporal fields [12, 13] .

The Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) is a linear algebra procedure used to factorize a matrix A as a product of three matrices, U,V, and S, where the matrices U and V are orthonormal and S is a diagonal matrix that contains the so-called singular values.

This matrix decomposition has found multiple applications in both engineering and scientific disciplines.

For instance, the SVD helps to obtain accurate products of spatio-temporal fields (matrices), and to reduce the deficiencies of the acquired data (noise or non-linear nature).

Moreover, several analytical approaches commonly used in the geosciences are based on the SVD, such as the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method in classification and regression tasks and the Maximum Covariance Analysis (MCA) and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) methods, which are often used to analyze multi-temporal datasets.

A combination of CCA with Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) has proven successful at filtering out noise from images.

Finally, the SVD has been used to compare ground data and measurements done by Earth observation satellites.

This is because SVD offers an effective method to find frequent and simultaneous patterns between two spatio-temporal fields.


Given the putative role of PON1 in protecting against the development of atherosclerosis by hydrolysing lipid peroxides generated during the oxidation of LDL, it is surprising that such large differences in activity between the PON1 -108T/C alleles are not reflected in a genetic association with CHD. We were also unable to show any interactions between the promoter polymorphisms and plasma lipid/lipoprotein concentrations as has been recently suggested [30] . Correcting for any possible influence of the -909 polymorphism in the haplotype analysis failed to strengthen any association. This analysis did, however, show that in people with CHD, the -909 polymorphism negates the influence of the -108 polymorphism on PON1 activity (Figure 1 ), which may be the reason why there is no relationship between the PON1 promoter polymorphisms studied here and CHD. A similar analysis of the odds of having CHD by -108/55 and -108/192 haplotypes also showed no significant genetic association with CHD (result not shown). Such problems of inconsistency in results will only be clarified when large prospective studies of PON1 promoter polymorphisms and CHD are reported.

We were also unable to show any interactions between the promoter polymorphisms and plasma lipid/lipoprotein concentrations as has been recently suggested.


Reducing the response of buildings or bridges to strong earthquakes is of great concern for structural engineers in preventing large damage or collapse. The application of structural control technologies for protection of civil structures has been growing in interest over the last four decades, not only to reduce the response under extreme dynamic loads but also to increase the system reliability and provide human comfort during everyday environmental loads [1] . The response of structures under strong dynamic loads is highly unpredictable and then difficult to model, it becomes even more complex when designing infrastructures which include some kind of anti-vibration systems.

The application of structural control technologies for protection of civil structures has been growing in interest over the last four decades, not only to reduce the response under extreme dynamic loads but also to increase the system reliability and provide human comfort during everyday environmental loads.


Microbial food webs have recently been viewed as primarily regenerative in the sense that nutrients contained in picoplankton are rapidly turned over by the microbial phagotrophs that consume picoplankters (Pomeroy and Wiebe 198 8) . A correlate of this idea is that processes mediated by heterotrophic bacteria are "loops" wherein matter cycles rapidly and is only passed up the food web by protozoan intermediaries. These concepts have been developed primarily in marine systems where the dominant zooplankton are copepods. Copepods cannot graze as effectively as Daphnia on small particles-including in some cases the smallest heterotrophic flagellates. Daphnia, because of their broad feeding abilities, are able to "break" the microbial loop and directly consume both algae and a broad spectrum of heterotrophic microbes (Porter et al. 1979) . Microbial food webs may differ between systems with and without abundant populations of Daphnia (Stockner and Porter 1988) .

Daphnia, because of their broad feeding abilities, are able to "break" the microbial loop and directly consume both algae and a broad spectrum of heterotrophic microbes.

Microbial food webs may differ between systems with and without abundant populations of Daphnia.


China and Vietnam have been thrust into the global spotlight for the rapid development of their incentive-based environmental policy programs, which have come in the form of what the central governments of both countries call ecocompensation or PES. There has been substantial political determination to expand pilot programs and learn from experiences from local diversification of national schemes for informing both domestic and international environmental policy development (Zhang et al. 2008) . Within the last 30 years, these nations have emerged from centrally planned and command economies to become two of the fastest growing economies in East Asia (Van An and Duc 2007) . The distinctive feature of the political and economic transitions under way has been a reorientation toward a market economy and parallel decentralization within a set of economic, political, and cultural institutions that remain embedded in a top-down, command configuration. In other words, it has been the opening up of global trade that has dynamically impinged upon traditional political and economic ideologies without necessarily altering the role and influence of the state in directing the process (Painter 2008) . This has resulted in mixed public-private arrangements, significant local innovation resulting from increasing demands for services, and an innovative response to the environmental consequences associated with rapid economic development.

There has been substantial political determination to expand pilot programs and learn from experiences from local diversification of national schemes for informing both domestic and international environmental policy development.

Within the last 30 years, these nations have emerged from centrally planned and command economies to become two of the fastest growing economies in East Asia.

In other words, it has been the opening up of global trade that has dynamically impinged upon traditional political and economic ideologies without necessarily altering the role and influence of the state in directing the process.


The most significant complication that can develop in HoLEP is bladder injury during morcellation. Generally, its frequency is less than 10%, and most degrees of the injury are not severe [22] . However, introduction of morcellation by the inverse (downward) technique was effective at reducing bladder injury. The inverse (downward) technique could prevent blocking of the view of the posterior wall of the bladder by the tissues during morcellation and helped to maintain a sufficient distance of the morcellator from the bladder wall. A bladder wall injury by the blade during HoLEP would grasp the bladder trigon area, which is relatively safer, thus preventing the worst scenario or sequelae. In the case of our study, the morcellation time was significantly reduced and bladder injury and urethral catheterization time were also distinctively reduced ( Table 6 ).

Generally, its frequency is less than 10%, and most degrees of the injury are not severe.


The correlation matrix showed that the FACT-G SFWB subscale had no relationship with EQ-5D responses and utility scores. This means that utility scores measured by the EQ-5D do not reflect social and family well-being. A similar result was reported by a study group in Singapore [19] . We found strong correlations between FACT-PWB subscale and utility scores and between FACTTaxane and utility scores. The correlation coefficient between FACT-PWB subscale and utility scores was greater than that between FACT-G total scale and utility scores because FACT-PWB includes questions similar to those of the EQ-5D; for example, "I am forced to spend time in bed" (GP7) and mobility, "I have pain" (GP4) and pain/discomfort, and "I feel ill" (GP6) and anxiety/depression. The significant correlation between FACT-Taxane and utility scores may suggest that the toxicity of taxane has a great influence on the utility scores.

A similar result was reported by a study group in Singapore.


A new tripod-based machine with a passive leg has been proposed by the author, and the details of design methodologies and assistive design toolbox have been reported [16, 17] . In this paper, the control method and implementation of this machine tool will be focused. The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. In Section 2, the hybrid machine structure is introduced, the parallel structure for positioning is specially examined, and its kinematic model is overviewed. In Sections 3 and 4, the requirements of system control are discussed, and control architecture is proposed accordingly. The control model is developed for the machine tool, and the implementation of system control is discussed. In Section 5, a calibration approach for system reconfiguration is introduced. Finally in Section 6, the research works presented in this paper are summarized. This machine tool is hybrid, the positioning structure is a tripod-based PKM with three DOF, and the orienting structure is a serial wrist with two DOF. The tripod-based PKM is the most important module. The modularized tripod-based PKM includes three linear actuators; these actuators can be reconfigured and integrated Journal of Robotics 3 with the customisable base and end-effector platforms. The geometries of the base and end-effector platforms can change the behaviours of the parallel structure significantly. The tripod-based PKM structure is expected to provide the rotations about X axis and Y axis and the translation along the Z axis. Reconfigurability of the machine tool can be further enhanced by the adjustments of the X-Y table and reconfigurable arch. Both of them are reconfigurable. The X-Y table provides various motion ranges of translation along X and Y axes, and its height along the Z axis can be reconfigured offline. The arch is an assembly of three components: two vertical columns and a horizontal beam. The orientation of the horizontal beam can be reconfigured to accommodate the changes of location and orientation of the working volume.

A new tripod-based machine with a passive leg has been proposed by the author, and the details of design methodologies and assistive design toolbox have been reported.

Both of them are reconfigurable.


Tripod-based PKMs can perform many different machining operations since the majority of the machining operations require a motion with five or less DOF [9] . A tripod-based PKM can be used as a stand alone machine or a module in a system. As a stand-alone machine, it can be a substitution of a traditional machine tool with three or less DOF. As a system module, it can be combined with other actuated modules or subsystems.

Tripod-based PKMs can perform many different machining operations since the majority of the machining operations require a motion with five or less DOF.


Failures caused by stator winding insulation deterioration of high voltage (HV) motors operating in power plant facilities can have a serious impact on the power system reliability. In an operating motor, several stresses including thermal, electrical, mechanical, and environmental stresses can give rise to defects like void in insulating materials. As the continuous and diverse motor operating stresses gradually accelerate the insulation deterioration, the voids grow in quality and size. This process triggers a sharp decrease in dielectric strength and ultimately results in the insulation breakdown [1] .

This process triggers a sharp decrease in dielectric strength and ultimately results in the insulation breakdown.


When the stator insulation is dry, the PI will also tend to be high, in the range of 2.16 to 10.81 as shown in Table 2 . The PI (above 2.0) of all eleven motors indicated that the stator insulation is in dry condition [5] . Fig.   1 (a) shows the change in current where the three phases encapsulated AC voltage was gradually increased in motors 1, 3 and 7~9 until insulation breakdown occurred.

The PI (above 2.0) of all eleven motors indicated that the stator insulation is in dry condition.


For the eleven HV motors, the ΔI and Δtanδ measurements are compared at 6.6kV and 13kV as shown in Tables 2 and 3 . When the values of ΔI and Δtanδ are high, the breakdown voltages is low (between 13.8kV to 16.4kV), as can be seen for motors 1, 3, and 8. If dielectric strength of 6kV motors is above 2E+1kV or 13kV, its insulation condition is generally considered to be good enough for operation. Thus motors 1, 3, and 8 were qualified to be operated although the tests showed signs of dielectric strength deterioration. For significantly degraded insulation, almost all the defects may contribute to high dissipation factor even at low voltage [4] . Motors 1 and 3 have been in operation for more than 35 years and these motors were subjected to excessive insulation aging by thermal, electrical or mechanical stresses. When exposed to thermal stress for a long period of time, the internal gas pressure increases and adhesive strength of epoxy to mica surface decreases causing insulation structural defects, which leads to delamination at the interface between mica and epoxy.

For significantly degraded insulation, almost all the defects may contribute to high dissipation factor even at low voltage.


As in the cases of ΔI and Δtanδ measurements, PD magnitude had to be calculated based on the data from the 6.6kV motor to apply its insulation deterioration criteria to the 6kV motor, as there was no criteria for the 6kV. The PD magnitude of the stator windings form all eleven motors ranged between 1,300 and 9,200pC at 4.76kV (1.25 times of the line-to-ground voltage). Since the PD magnitude under 10,000pC at 4.76kV is considered to indicate good insulation condition, all eleven motors were assessed to be in fair condition [6] . From the results of the ΔI, Δtanδ and PD magnitude measurements analyzed at 6.6kV, insulation deterioration evaluation criteria for 6.6kV motor were proved to be valid for the 6kV motor.

Since the PD magnitude under 10,000pC at 4.76kV is considered to indicate good insulation condition, all eleven motors were assessed to be in fair condition.


We have also calculated the values of j ae expected from Eq. 6 for each SAW mode. To do this, we used the graphene carrier mobility and electric conductivity at room temperature from Eq. 1 and Fig. 4 , respectively. We estimated K 2 eff by numerically solving the coupled mechanical and electromagnetic differential equations of a λ = 2.8 µm SAW propagating along our multilayer, and comparing the velocity difference between SAWs propagating along a short-circuited or open-circuited top surface [3] . The results are K 2 ef f (f a ) = 0.314 % and K 2 ef f (f b ) = 1.04 %, cf. Fig. 2(a) , in qualitative agreement with the experimental data of Fig. 5 , where the generation efficiency of the f b mode is stronger than the f a mode. We have displayed the theoretical prediction of j ae as dashed lines in Fig. 7 , obtaining a reasonable agreement in the order of magnitude with the experimental results.

We estimated K 2 eff by numerically solving the coupled mechanical and electromagnetic differential equations of a λ = 2.8 µm SAW propagating along our multilayer, and comparing the velocity difference between SAWs propagating along a short-circuited or open-circuited top surface.


The mechanisms that create the diversity-productivity patterns are not fully resolved. It seems that diversity increases as productivity increases, and this trend grows monotonically or decays in more productive sites, in agreement with the unimodal model. Along many productivity gradients, there is a clear tendency for diversity to diminish under highly productive conditions. That is, sites with intermediate productivity have greater species diversity than more productive sites [6, 7, 11, 13] .

That is, sites with intermediate productivity have greater species diversity than more productive sites.


The species richness of seedlings and sprouts after a year of growth following complete harvest was 37 species, distributed in 10 families and 31 orders ( Table 1 ). The growth forms of these species are characterized as 70% shrubs, 18.9% small shrub, 5.4% herbaceous, and 2.7% trees and lianas (Table 1) . In this early stage of succession, the legume family was the most abundant and most dominant. The mean number of species per 25 m 2 across landforms was 8, with a standard deviation of 2 species. There was an observed tendency for increased species diversity from the plateaus to the 4 International Journal of Ecology floodplains, with means and standard deviations of ( = 7±2) in the plateau, ( = 7±1) in the slopes, ( = 6±1) in the valley, ( = 7 ± 3) in the ephemeral floodplain, and ( = 10 ± 2) in the intermittent floodplain. The total number of species in all three sites per landform also increased from the plateau (7) to the intermittent floodplain (18) . The total number of species increased nonlinearly as a function of productivity. However this relationship fitted an opposite nonlinear trend for the mature stages of succession. Total aboveground biomass and stand density increased from dry to riparian plots and so did mean basal diameter and mean top height but only for the mature succession stages ( Table 2) .

The total number of species in all three sites per landform also increased from the plateau (7) to the intermittent floodplain.


Going deeper into the ''rabbit hole'', a large number of simulation experiments were conducted to study the effect of the number of robots and the communication constraints of the five algorithms. The mission consisted of exploring and mapping a 2000 m 2 scenario in which robots needed to minimize the map's entropy [50] . More than to just state the obvious phenomenon that a larger population of robots improves the overall performance, those experiments were useful to understand the influence of a more constrained communication network on the five swarm algorithms. Through Fig. 3 it was possible to observe a lower variability of the exploration ratio for a larger maximum communication distance feasible between robots, i.e., the outcome became more consistent for a less constrained communication network. Such a phenomenon was more perceptible using the EPSO and PPSO algorithms, thus suggesting their higher susceptibility over the communication constraints. Associating this aspect to the fact that both algorithms work on a broadcast communication basis (cf., Table 1 ), the authors dissuade the use of those algorithms on applications that may require a larger number of robots (above 20 in the experiments in Section 3) or too limited communication constraints (below an inter-robot distance of 100 m in the experiments in Section 3).

The mission consisted of exploring and mapping a 2000 m 2 scenario in which robots needed to minimize the map's entropy.


In this study, Heat Transfer Devices (HTD) were integrated into the passive terminal of a commercial wind tower to reduce the temperature of supply air. As shown in Fig 1b, the hot outdoor air (1) enters the wind tower through the louvers. The louvers are used to deflect the impact of weather and direct sunshine from entering the device. The airflow is driven downwards and passed through a series of HTD (2), which absorbs heat from the air and transfers it into a parallel cooling system (3). This is similar to the evaporative cooling system, but unlike the traditional method, the water is recirculated inside the cold sink and source (4) . Adjustable dampers are mounted at the bottom of the unit to control the delivery rate (5) . The cooled air is supplied to the room beneath the channel via ceiling diffusers (6). A number of studies have assessed the natural ventilation performance of wind towers using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel analysis. CFD played a major role in development of wind towers due to the low computation resources required for the design and simulation of prototypes [1, 3] . The optimal design of various components of wind towers has been conducted including the damper and louver. Complimentary wind tunnel experiment of a smaller scale model validates the CFD simulation to improve the reliability [4, 5] .

This is similar to the evaporative cooling system, but unlike the traditional method, the water is recirculated inside the cold sink and source.

Adjustable dampers are mounted at the bottom of the unit to control the delivery rate.

CFD played a major role in development of wind towers due to the low computation resources required for the design and simulation of prototypes.

Complimentary wind tunnel experiment of a smaller scale model validates the CFD simulation to improve the reliability.


In hot regions such as the Middle East, there is a huge dependency on electricity to run mechanical ventilation systems. In these areas, using wind towers is a well-known technique. However, the cooling capabilities of wind towers, which depend only on the structural design, are limited. Therefore it is essential to cool the air in order to reduce the building heat load and to improve the thermal comfort of occupants during summer months [2] . Traditionally, wind towers have been integrated with evaporative cooling to reduce the air temperature. The induced hot air is sprayed with water or passed through cooling pads, evaporating the water in the process. Thus, the air becomes heavier and sinks to the bottom of the channel (Fig 1a) . However, the addition of these cooling devices may reduce the airflow rate inside the channel. Another disadvantage of this configuration is the requirement of taller towers to have sufficient contact time. Furthermore, evaporative coolers use a substantial amount of water to run [2] .

Therefore it is essential to cool the air in order to reduce the building heat load and to improve the thermal comfort of occupants during summer months.

Furthermore, evaporative coolers use a substantial amount of water to run.


According to the International Olive Council, the basic grades of olive oils suitable for consumption are: virgin olive oil, olive oil and olive pomace oil (IOC, 2011) . Virgin olive oil is obtained from the fruit of the olive tree solely by mechanical or physical means under conditions that do not lead to alterations in the oil. Only minimal treatment such as washing, pressing, decantation, centrifugation and filtration is acceptable. The acidity of extra virgin olive oil can not exceed 0,8% (w/w) of free fatty acid content calculated as oleic acid and the oil must possess perfect sensory characteristics. Oils labeled as olive oil are usually a blend of refined olive oil and small amounts of virgin olive oil. Olivepomace oil, the lowest grade of olive-based oils, is a blend of refined pomace olive oil and a small amount of virgin oil fit for consumption (IOC, 2011) .

According to the International Olive Council, the basic grades of olive oils suitable for consumption are: virgin olive oil, olive oil and olive pomace oil.

Olivepomace oil, the lowest grade of olive-based oils, is a blend of refined pomace olive oil and a small amount of virgin oil fit for consumption.


Persian oak covers more than half of the Zagros forest area (west Iran), representing the most important tree species of this region (Bordbar et al., 2010; Hassanzad-Navroodi et al., 2015) . These forests support valuable ecological and economic resources, as for instance the use of seeds in traditional medicine, fuel wood, charcoal, and timber hardwood (Fatahi, 1995) . As a consequence, conservation of Persian oak forests is an impending management concern, currently challenged by drought-induced tree mortality and insect outbreaks.

Persian oak covers more than half of the Zagros forest area (west Iran), representing the most important tree species of this region.

These forests support valuable ecological and economic resources, as for instance the use of seeds in traditional medicine, fuel wood, charcoal, and timber hardwood.


Fortunately, the emergence of the cloud offers us an opportunity to revisit this problem. By the cloud, we refer to a distributed network of data centers (DCs), inter-connected through a private network (e.g., Azure, EC2, Google Cloud). For any communication between two end-points, we can potentially use the cloud as an overlay, with DCs acting as an insertion point for in-network services [29, 34] . A cloudbased overlay offers unique opportunities: cloud paths are well-provisioned, offering low jitter and very high reliability; and each DC has visibility into many users and applications, so it can act as a unique vantage point for control and insertion of in-network services. On the flip side, using the cloud as an overlay can be costly: cloud providers charge for the use of their resources (e.g., processing, network connectivity), with wide area network (WAN) bandwidth being particularly expensive [31, 49, 29] . Therefore, we argue that the most effective use of the cloud as an overlay is one that does so in a judicious manner, in conjunction with the cheaper, best effort Internet paths.

For any communication between two end-points, we can potentially use the cloud as an overlay, with DCs acting as an insertion point for in-network services.

On the flip side, using the cloud as an overlay can be costly: cloud providers charge for the use of their resources (e.g., processing, network connectivity), with wide area network (WAN) bandwidth being particularly expensive.


Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is one of the most recommended evidence-based treatment for children diagnosed with hemiparesis or unilateral CP (Novak et al., 2013; Sakzewski, Ziviani, & Boyd, 2013) . CIMT has been employed as a therapy technique for almost two decades with this population and involves placing the non-paretic arm in a cast for a prescribed period of time with guided therapy to encourage use of the paretic arm (Taub, Ramey, DeLuca, & Echols, 2004) . This therapy aims to create unimanual gains, with the goal of skill transfer to bimanual gains outside of the clinical setting.

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is one of the most recommended evidence-based treatment for children diagnosed with hemiparesis or unilateral CP.

CIMT has been employed as a therapy technique for almost two decades with this population and involves placing the non-paretic arm in a cast for a prescribed period of time with guided therapy to encourage use of the paretic arm.


Because CP encompasses such a heterogeneous population, there may not be enough children in this cohort to represent trends for the entire CP population. Furthermore, because of the small sample size, conclusions regarding which children benefit most from this therapy cannot be drawn. Independent factors including age, onset of hemiplegia, location of brain injury, or side of hemiplegia may influence the benefits of CIMT, but these trends cannot be determined from the current data set. Additionally, there are numerous variations of CIMT with different frequencies, intensities, and total durations (Sakzewski, Provan, Ziviani, & Boyd, 2015) . The data and analysis outcomes presented here are only applicable for this specific protocol, with a total dosage time of 30 hours. The accelerometry results described in this report were recorded from wrist-worn accelerometers; giving only overall arm movements. This analysis assumed if a child improved their finger movements they also would have improved their arm movements; at this time we do have the technology to measure finger movements accurately outside of the clinic.

Additionally, there are numerous variations of CIMT with different frequencies, intensities, and total durations.


To test the sensitivity of pups to LPS-induced sickness behavior, we administered an additional dose of LPS and observed exploratory behavior in the open field. Prenatally saline-treated pups challenged with LPS at weaning exhibited an increased duration of immobility compared with the other groups. No changes were observed in the other open field parameters compared with the other groups. This effect on immobility may be correlated with the development of sickness behavior. However, prenatally LPS-treated pups that were also treated with LPS at weaning (LPS+LPS group) exhibited no changes in immobility, suggesting lower sensitivity to LPS-induced sickness behavior. Thus, activation of the immune system at the end of pregnancy may decrease the sensitivity to LPS-induced sickness behavior in prepubertal rats. To verify this hypothesis, we measured serum TNF-α levels. Surprisingly, pups that were prenatally treated with LPS did not exhibit LPS-induced immune system activation at weaning. Thus, prenatal exposure to LPS may induce immunological tolerance to LPS early in life. Lipopolysaccharide exposure during late pregnancy may negatively regulate LPS signaling and cause the development of tolerance. Antiinflammatory cytokines might play important roles in such a process. In vitro tolerance in human monocytes can be partially mimicked by interleukin-10 (IL-10) and TGF-β, and the use of anti-IL-10 and anti TGF-β antibodies during the development of tolerance can prevent endotoxin tolerance (Randow et al., 1995) .

In vitro tolerance in human monocytes can be partially mimicked by interleukin-10 (IL-10) and TGF-β, and the use of anti-IL-10 and anti TGF-β antibodies during the development of tolerance can prevent endotoxin tolerance.


In the present study, LPS treatment on GD 18 impaired the preference of male pups for maternal odor. We studied maternal odor preference only in male offspring because maternal behavior is much higher toward male pups than female pups (Francis, Champagne, & Meaney, 2000) . Therefore, we evaluated only male pups because any deficit in maternal behavior may be more apparent. Transient motor effects of prenatal LPS treatment were observed only in the first session in which the time to reach one side decreased in experimental pups compared with the control group. Therefore, the impaired olfactory preference was likely unrelated to impaired motor behavior. This hypothesis is supported by data collected at weaning when locomotor behavior in the prenatal LPS group (LPS+S group) did not differ from the control group.

We studied maternal odor preference only in male offspring because maternal behavior is much higher toward male pups than female pups.


Data from the maternal aggressive behavior test are apparently contradictory when compared with data from the maternal behavior test. However, the reduced number of attacks and reduced fight duration can be interpreted as an effect of LPS on motivation (i.e., a central state that organizes perception and action (Spencer, Martin, Mouihate, & Pittman, 2006) . We suggest that LPS may induce a competing motivational state characterized by reduced attention toward external events or an increased sensitivity threshold to external cues such as pup vocalizations, leading to increased preference to care for the pups and decreased aggressive responses toward intruders. Direct behavioral observations of the intruders indicated no aggressive behavior directed toward the pups.

However, the reduced number of attacks and reduced fight duration can be interpreted as an effect of LPS on motivation (i.e., a central state that organizes perception and action.


Maternal care was evaluated on LD 5 and LD 6 of the F1 generation because the degree of maternal behavior at these time points gradually decreases, and changes in maternal care can be revealed (Teodorov, Felício, & Bernardi, 2010) . Maternal odor preference reflects activity of a sensory system that is critical for mother/pup interactions (Slotnick & Restrepo, 2005) . We previously found that prenatal LPS treatment on GD 9.5 impaired maternal odor preference and cat odor aversion, both of which were related to decreased dopamine levels in the olfactory bulb (Kirsten et al., 2011) . Finally, we administered 50 μg/ kg LPS intraperitoneally on LD 21 to challenge F1-generation pups' immune systems and assess whether prenatal exposure to LPA alters behavior and TNF-α levels.

Maternal care was evaluated on LD 5 and LD 6 of the F1 generation because the degree of maternal behavior at these time points gradually decreases, and changes in maternal care can be revealed.

Maternal odor preference reflects activity of a sensory system that is critical for mother/pup interactions.

We previously found that prenatal LPS treatment on GD 9.5 impaired maternal odor preference and cat odor aversion, both of which were related to decreased dopamine levels in the olfactory bulb.


This paper introduces a novel approach to the diffusion of energy efficient technologies, following a line resembling the diffusion of many processes in nature. The abstraction needed to define the medium in which diffusion of innovations takes place might be one of the reasons why this approach has not previously been used. This approach makes it possible to describe how the main drivers of innovation are hampered by barriers or supported by the traits of the medium and, at the same time, opens new paths of research to fill some gaps in the representation of technology diffusion in energy-system models [1] . The main scope of this paper is to present this novel approach; this is done in the second section. The rest of the introduction is devoted to framing the approach proposed in this paper within the state of research on the diffusion of technology innovations. The third section applies the proposed approach to the case of the diffusion of electric arc furnaces in Japan. Finally, the fourth section includes a discussion of new paths for research that this model opens up in terms of assessing the impact of drivers or deterrents on the diffusion of innovative technologies.

This approach makes it possible to describe how the main drivers of innovation are hampered by barriers or supported by the traits of the medium and, at the same time, opens new paths of research to fill some gaps in the representation of technology diffusion in energy-system models.


The woven reinforced composite material exhibits a specific damage scheme that is highly dependent on both the loading direction and the fiber orientation [15, 16] . In this work, the damage characterization and evolution was performed on samples made of co-polyamide 6.6/6 based composites reinforced with woven glass fibers and submitted to tension tests interrupted at different stress levels. Two configurations of material samples were tested: (i) samples oriented at 0 • with respect to the warp direction and (ii) samples oriented at 45 • from the warp direction corresponding to the mold flow direction. A first damage estimation for the two samples configurations was carried out using the elastic modulus reduction. Various nondestructive tests were performed on the samples after loading, such as ultrasonic Cscan imaging that was not able to capture the damage zone in all tested samples. To address this aspect, the damage mechanisms induced by the different tensile tests were investigated by X-ray micro-computed tomography (mCT). This provided a qualitative description of the main damage mechanisms and the quantitative estimation of void volume fraction evolution. The latter was compared to the damage indicators evolution obtained with the ultrasonic technique.

The woven reinforced composite material exhibits a specific damage scheme that is highly dependent on both the loading direction and the fiber orientation.


An alternative method, somewhat similar to the method proposed by Markham, is the polar-scan method [13, 14] . As indicated by its name, a specific point of a sample is scanned for all accessible angles of incidence. For each polar angle, the signal amplitude is recorded and represented in a polar plot. Information such as damage level, stiffness, fiber misalignment, etc can be extracted from this polar figure. However, this technique requires a more complex apparatus than the one proposed by Markham because of the unavoidable double angular rotations. This limits therefore its application on site (in-service). Due to this limitation, the present approach measures the elastic constants using the ultrasonic method based on wave velocities measurement and described in the preceding paragraph. The aim of this study is then to propose an ultrasonic methodology to detect and to quantify damage growth, even when the cracks that propagate inside the sample cannot be detected by classical ultrasonic imaging techniques. As mentioned, this method could provide the whole stiffness tensor of a sample. However, it is more interesting to obtain a sole value to efficiently transcribe the global damage state of a tested sample. Two different experimental damage indicators are proposed for this purpose: The first is the norm of the stiffness tensor and the second is the phase angle shift between wave signals propagated through a damaged and an undamaged sample. It is worth noting that the time required to analyze the experimental results in order to obtain the first indicator can be quite long.

An alternative method, somewhat similar to the method proposed by Markham, is the polar-scan method.


Using the design forms (such as the width, interval and temporal frequency) of speed reduction markings to control a driver's speed has a number of practical applications and can obtain effective results. However, existing studies always chose the speed index to evaluate the effectiveness of speed reduction markings, especially concerning the maximum speed overestimation (Shen et al. 2005) . However, a high level of speed overestimation can easily lead to drivers to experience nervous feelings and increase their mental workload. Therefore, an appropriate level of speed overestimation is beneficial in reducing speeding behaviour and improving traffic safety. Further research is still required to determine exactly what degree of the speed overestimation is most beneficial to traffic safety. This paper introduced the reaction time index from experimental psychology to analyse the workload of speed perception. A shorter reaction time indicates that speed perception is easier, which helps the driver understand and interpret the design of traffic markings. Generally, the closer the real driving speed in a comparison scene matches the SSES, the longer reaction time the subjects will take to make a speed judgment between the comparison scene and standard scene. Therefore, the maximum reaction time occurs at the speed x = x c . However, the low threshold of reaction time can leave drivers more time to deal with emergencies and improve driver's sensitivity to speed variation, which is beneficial to driving safety in highway tunnels.

However, existing studies always chose the speed index to evaluate the effectiveness of speed reduction markings, especially concerning the maximum speed overestimation.


There are many speed control methods, such as setting speed limit signs, auxiliary driving system, etc. The real-time speed limit sign is underdeveloped. Therefore, it is difficult to be followed by the drivers. Because of the high cost, the current penetration rate of auxiliary driving system is very low. As an alternative low-cost solution for traffic safety, pavement markings can use the visual illusion to control the driving speed. It is easy for the drivers to understand and accept, and it also has a good visual recognition under low luminance environment. Transverse pavement markings installed on both sides of the lane or shoulder and placed at an angle to the driving direction can make drivers overestimate their real speed and feel that the lane is gradually narrowing. Such marking treatment can regulate driving behaviour and ensure traffic safety effectively (Drakopoulos, Vergou 2003; Galante et al. 2010) . However, the enclosed environment in highway tunnels is conducive to dust accumulation on pavement caused by vehicle exhaust, which decreases the reflectivity of such pavement marking treatments. Fortunately, installing marking treatments on the tunnel sidewall can mitigate these adverse effects to a certain extent.

Such marking treatment can regulate driving behaviour and ensure traffic safety effectively.


By means of driving simulator experimentation, Domenichini analysed the driving performance in Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighted tunnels and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lighted tunnels, the results revealed that simulated LED lights often induced a better driving behaviour under some aspects (Domenichini et al. 2017) . However, the lighting system represents the most expensive operative cost of a tunnel. It is essential to find solutions and technologies that can reduce energy costs without affecting traffic safety.

By means of driving simulator experimentation, Domenichini analysed the driving performance in Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighted tunnels and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lighted tunnels, the results revealed that simulated LED lights often induced a better driving behaviour under some aspects.


This paper studied the short-term reaction of drivers to various stimuli. Whereas adaptation causes an underestimation of speed, attention leads to an overestimation of speed (Anton-Erxleben et al. 2013) . If the drivers accumulate greater exposure, they may get familiar with the traffic and environmental conditions in highway tunnels. This familiarity could reduce the speed control effect of traffic markings, decrease the accuracy of speed perception and increase the reaction time (Manser, Hancock 2007; Gates et al. 2008) . However, the lengths of most highway tunnels are less than 1.0 km and the normal travel time in highway tunnels in China does not regularly exceed 30-40 sec. Overall, the improvements suggested in this paper are beneficial to control speed.

Whereas adaptation causes an underestimation of speed, attention leads to an overestimation of speed.

This familiarity could reduce the speed control effect of traffic markings, decrease the accuracy of speed perception and increase the reaction time.


Baboons, as highly intelligent and ecologically flexible animals, exploit diverse habitats. They forage on a wide variety of plant species, insects, reptiles and often mammals. Although baboons are mainly vegetarian, the main feature of their diet is the ability to adapt to any environment and to utilise whatever food is available (De Vore & Hall 1965) . Part of this flexibility has the consequence that they exploit human habitats, often causing damage to crops and forest plantations as well as to human dwellings. This has led to baboons being regarded as problem animals that should be eradicated from these areas.

Although baboons are mainly vegetarian, the main feature of their diet is the ability to adapt to any environment and to utilise whatever food is available.


Although a broad vegetation map exists for the BCNR, no detailed vegetation study has been conducted within the reserve. Previous vegetation studies were conducted on broader plant communities in the region (Deall 1985; Deall et al. 1989b; Matthews 1991) . By using Braun-Blanquet procedures a total of 13 different and clearly distinguishable plant communities were identified, described and mapped within the Bourke's Luck section of the Reserve.

Previous vegetation studies were conducted on broader plant communities in the region.


Plant communities represent ecosystems and form the basis of any management plan for natural areas. If these ecosystems and their different potentials are unknown, they cannot be managed successfully (Brown & Brand 2004) . Various animal species occupy and utilise different plant communities for different activities such as sleeping, feeding and reproducing. The study of the vegetation (plant communities) of the home range of any animal must therefore form the basis when investigating its ecology, social interaction and dietary requirements (Brown 2003) .

If these ecosystems and their different potentials are unknown, they cannot be managed successfully.

The study of the vegetation (plant communities) of the home range of any animal must therefore form the basis when investigating its ecology, social interaction and dietary requirements.


Another interesting observation is that for the same equivalence ratio, ø = 2, but for a different set temperatures 750 °C and 910 °C, the highest peak HCN concentration occurs for the highest furnace temperature. At the same time the decrease in HCN concentration with distance along the furnace is most important for the highest temperature. Again the curves cross and the operating conditions with highest peak HCN concentration inside the furnace end up with a lower HCN concentration near the tunnel exit. These are all observations which support the existing models for HCN production and consumption [2] .

These are all observations which support the existing models for HCN production and consumption.


In the case of gas sampling techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) the measurements are conducted in a chamber that is physically separated from the sampling point, at least by the length of the probe. This means that reactive molecules can react or stick to the probe on their way to the measurement chamber, e.g. this is a well known problem with acid gases [4] . In particular, the extensive filtration required when using FTIR spectroscopy, due to the need to remove all soot from the sample prior to entry into the measurement cell, can result in sample loss or change [13] . Using laser diagnostics it is possible to study the chemistry in situ, without gas sampling. Thus, laser diagnostics and chemical modeling are often the combination of choice in combustion sciences [14] . Various laser techniques have been developed and applied to the measurement of temperature, species concentration and velocities etc. in recent years. These techniques have been important in the diagnostics of various phenomena in combustion [15] . Several techniques have shown outstanding features, e.g., nonintrusiveness in combination with high temporal (~10 ns) and spatial resolution (~50-100 μm).

This means that reactive molecules can react or stick to the probe on their way to the measurement chamber, e.g. this is a well known problem with acid gases.

In particular, the extensive filtration required when using FTIR spectroscopy, due to the need to remove all soot from the sample prior to entry into the measurement cell, can result in sample loss or change.

Thus, laser diagnostics and chemical modeling are often the combination of choice in combustion sciences.

These techniques have been important in the diagnostics of various phenomena in combustion.


The dependence of HCN levels on temperature is illustrated in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 . When Fig. 6 is compared to Fig. 7 it is seen that the total integrated absorption by HCN, i.e. the resonant absorption, increases with increasing temperature. On the other hand the measured concentration of HCN at x = 600 mm, i.e., far downstream of the fire plume, decreased with increasing temperature. An explanation for this is that more HCN is produced in the pyrolysis and/or combustion process when the temperature increases but at the same time the destruction of HCN in the hot gases increases with temperature [1, 2] . Figure 8 and Fig. 9 show the dependence of HCN levels on the equivalence ratio. Comparing Fig. 8 with Fig. 9 it is observed that the amount of HCN, both totally integrated (resonant absorption) as well as that measured at x = 530 mm with PS, increases significantly when the equivalence ratio increases from 0.5 to 1. The increase in HCN with increasing equivalence ratio can be due both to an increased production in the pyrolysis and combustion zone but also to a decreased destruction in the hot gases.

An explanation for this is that more HCN is produced in the pyrolysis and/or combustion process when the temperature increases but at the same time the destruction of HCN in the hot gases increases with temperature.


Our main theorem appeared again as Conjecture 1 in another paper by Rains [7] . In this case it is obtained as an integral analogue of a elliptic hypergeometric series identity (which Rains proves). This series identity is a special case of the complementation symmetry for the skew interpolation function defined there. This series identity can also be seen as a kind of dual Karlsson-Minton sum.

Our main theorem appeared again as Conjecture 1 in another paper by Rains.


The implementation of an isotropic constitutive law to model soft tissues which have rather a transverse isotropic behaviour should be performed with caution in numerical simulation. Misleading numerical results could be obtained in situations were multi-axial stresses are present. Indeed, the development of an isotropic constitutive law was imposed by experimental limitations. In view of the lateral specimen size (10 mm) and the difficulty to have effective clamps on soft tissues, lateral tractions (necessary for determining the extra parameters of a transverse isotropic law) would induce important artefacts rendering the identification process imprecise. The development of transverse isotropic constitutive law would be possible in the theoretical framework proposed. For the elastic potential, five parameters (at least for the linear case) would be needed (Boehler, 1987) . For the short and long time memory, a transverse isotropic description would be too cumbersome to be generally postulated and the number of parameters to be identified would probably necessitate too many experiments to be feasible.

For the elastic potential, five parameters (at least for the linear case) would be needed.


The PandaX-III project plans to construct a ton-scale NLDBD experiment in the China Jin-Ping underground Laboratory (CJPL) using time projection chambers (TPCs) filled with high pressure xenon gas with enriched 136 Xe [5] . The first detector will have 200 kg xenon gas at 10 bar pressure and read out ionized electrons directly with Micromegas (Micro-MEsh Gaseous Structure) detectors. Trimethylamine (TMA) mixed with xenon converts part of the scintillation in xenon to ionization and improves energy resolution of the TPC. The energy resolution at 136 Xe NLDBD Q-value (2.458 MeV) is expected to reach 3% (Full-Width-Half-Maximum, FWHM). The admixture also suppresses diffusion of ionized electrons and improves the tracking capability.

The PandaX-III project plans to construct a ton-scale NLDBD experiment in the China Jin-Ping underground Laboratory (CJPL) using time projection chambers (TPCs) filled with high pressure xenon gas with enriched 136 Xe.


The In ions are into a good coincidence with the O ions of the substrates, leading to a lower interfacial energy which would favour this configuration [5] . However, with the first epitaxial relationship (hexagon on hexagon), the minimum size of the epitaxial domain, which is deduced from the lattice matching, is rather limited (1.4038 nm as deduced from Table 2 ), while the corresponding minimum size of the domain in the other epitaxial relationship is much higher, 5.7232 nm. As a result, for T≤300 1C, the diffusion of the incident species at the surface of the growing film will be limited and the low size epitaxial domain will be favoured in these conditions, i.e. the 1−10 ½ In 2 O 3 ∥ 1−210 ½ Al 2 O 3 epitaxial relationship will be observed. For increasing temperature, the incident species could diffuse on longer distances and therefore the formation of an extended epitaxial domain will occur, i.e. the ½1−10 In 2 O 3 ∥½0−110 Al 2 O 3 epitaxial relationship will be thus favoured. It is worth noticing that such a situation corresponds to limited deposition rate. Indeed for large value of deposition rate (1 nm per pulse) the high flux of species on the film surface will "quench" at least partly the film structure, as atoms will not have sufficient time to migrate at the film surface. As a result the bixbyite and disordered bixbyite phases would be observed even at T ¼500 1C, as reported in Fig. 3 .

The In ions are into a good coincidence with the O ions of the substrates, leading to a lower interfacial energy which would favour this configuration.


Considering the surface free energy of formation of the main planes of the In 2 O 3 bixbyite phase, the (111) texture is expected since the high atomic density (111) plane of the bixbyite presents a lower surface free energy than the polar (001) plane, as it has been previously discussed [24] . The presence of the (001) texture is a priori unexpected from surface energy considerations, but other parameters like the fact that the c-cut sapphire plane is a polar plane and/or possible epitaxy of the (001) oriented In 2 O 3 on the c-cut sapphire may play a role (see below). Table 1 summarises the main insights drawn from these XRD patterns. The 2θ values of the (222) plane were found lower than the bulk value (30.5811), even more and more lower for increasing growth temperature. The corresponding increase in axis parameter could be due to a slight oxygen deficiency and/or the existence of stresses in the grown films. The crystallite size (coherence length) was estimated from the (222) line width using the Debye-Scherrer formulae, and was found roughly constant as a function of the growth temperature. The FWHM of rocking curves are presented in Table 1 and show decreasing values with increasing growth temperature, which means an increase in the crystalline quality of the In 2 O 3 films, as it is generally observed.

Considering the surface free energy of formation of the main planes of the In 2 O 3 bixbyite phase, the (111) texture is expected since the high atomic density (111) plane of the bixbyite presents a lower surface free energy than the polar (001) plane, as it has been previously discussed.


Let us recall that in the bixbyite structure, indium atoms are located on two non-equivalent sites and that 25% of the oxygen sites are not occupied. This leads to a specific arrangement of "constitutional" oxygen vacancies network, along the body diagonal and face diagonal of the cubic cell [28] . In this bixbyite structure, this arrangement leads to a three-fold symmetry in the (111) plane. However, if some disorder is introduced in the network of "constitutional" oxygen vacancies (random distribution of the vacancies in the plane), the three-fold symmetry is no longer preserved, and a six-fold symmetry will appear in the (111) plane as it is the case in the fluorite structure [28] . We can thus assume that in the low temperature range, the film growth leads to the formation of both ordered bixbyite crystallites with a threefold symmetry, and disordered bixbyite crystallites with a six-fold symmetry. Such an assumption can explain the pole figure presented in Fig. 2a . For T¼ 500 1C, the six poles present in the pole figure show the same intensity (as it can be checked on the phi scan presented in Fig. 3c ), meaning that a sole phase is present, i.e. the disordered bixbyite phase with a six-fold symmetry in the (111) plane. In this frame, the pole figure recorded on the film grown at 400 1C corresponds to the transition from the low temperature (both ordered and disordered bixbyite) to high temperature (only disordered bixbyite) behaviour. The transition temperature from ordered to disordered bixbyite structure depends upon the film growth rate. Indeed, growth rates as high as 1 nm per pulse can be obtained by PED, thanks to the high efficiency of energy transfer from incident polyenergetic (up to 15 keV) electrons to the target. In the case of a very high deposition rate, the pole figure recorded on a film grown at 500 1C with such a high growth rate (Fig. 4a) is similar to that presented in Fig. 2c , with three series of three poles. This point can be checked on the corresponding phi scan presented in Fig. 4b . It follows that at least two experimental parameters play a role on the nature (ordered or disordered) of bixbyite phase which can be grown: the substrate temperature and the deposition rate which is related to the flux of incident species coming from the target.

This leads to a specific arrangement of "constitutional" oxygen vacancies network, along the body diagonal and face diagonal of the cubic cell.

However, if some disorder is introduced in the network of "constitutional" oxygen vacancies (random distribution of the vacancies in the plane), the three-fold symmetry is no longer preserved, and a six-fold symmetry will appear in the (111) plane as it is the case in the fluorite structure.


The fact that the 6 poles corresponding to the (111) oriented crystallites observed at 200 and 300 1C are not equivalent (three of them present a higher intensity) has to be commented. Indeed, taking into account the 3-fold symmetry of the (0001) plane of the sapphire substrate, and the 3-fold symmetry of the (111) planes of the cubic bixbyite structure, only 3 poles should be present, while 6 are observed in Fig. 2 . The presence of six poles has been previously observed in various oxide films grown on c-cut sapphire substrate and has been explained by the real surface of the ccut sapphire which is usually stepped, leading to unconventional number of variants in epitaxial films [27] . Moreover, previous studies of the epitaxial growth of cubic In 2 O 3 (111) on c-cut sapphire substrates reported poles figures or phi scans showing a six-fold symmetry and discrete peaks [8, 9, 11] . These results were interpreted by the existence of two different symmetry-equivalent twinned crystal orientations shifted by 601. High resolution TEM images on indium based oxide films grown on c-cut sapphire substrates were recorded showing the domain boundary of such twin crystals [9, 12] .

The presence of six poles has been previously observed in various oxide films grown on c-cut sapphire substrate and has been explained by the real surface of the ccut sapphire which is usually stepped, leading to unconventional number of variants in epitaxial films.

Moreover, previous studies of the epitaxial growth of cubic In 2 O 3 (111) on c-cut sapphire substrates reported poles figures or phi scans showing a six-fold symmetry and discrete peaks.

High resolution TEM images on indium based oxide films grown on c-cut sapphire substrates were recorded showing the domain boundary of such twin crystals.


This study has explored the views on male circumcision as a potential HIV prevention option in India. Religion emerged as a major determinant of acceptability of circumcision in India as MC is universally associated with Islam religion and could have major challenges in its acceptability among followers of other religions in the country [30, 31] . Traditional circumcision is an important rite de passage ceremony celebrated for neonates and infants and sometimes children up to 7-8 years. It is practiced and celebrated among both poor and rich classes in the circumcising community. Traditionally, circumcision is performed by traditional circumcisers often without an anesthetic as reported by several other authors [31, 32, 33, 34, 35] .

Religion emerged as a major determinant of acceptability of circumcision in India as MC is universally associated with Islam religion and could have major challenges in its acceptability among followers of other religions in the country.

Traditionally, circumcision is performed by traditional circumcisers often without an anesthetic as reported by several other authors.


Images of high angular resolution and high dynamic range are required for the new fields of astrophysics such as exoplanet detection and cartography of stellar photospheres. Multi-aperture interferometry has been used for many years with increasing success. However, in the visible domain, interferometric arrays are still limited to small numbers of apertures: the maximum today being eight, at VLTI. This relatively modest number of apertures limits the field-resolution ratio in reconstructed images, according to a theoretical limit based on the Shannon theory of information (Koechlin, Perez 2002) .

This relatively modest number of apertures limits the field-resolution ratio in reconstructed images, according to a theoretical limit based on the Shannon theory of information.


During the past years, laser sintering of polymers has developed and grown into a viable prototyping tool and production method for customized, noncritical products (e.g., figurines, phone cases, and jewellery). The industry has seen the potential of selective laser sintering, which raised the question whether it is possible to apply SLS to produce fully functional products with reproducible mechanical properties. SLS has the potential to become the number one choice for small series production of high strength polymer parts. Comparison between conventional injection moulding and SLS has shown that up to 1,000 parts SLS is more economical [1] . A schematic visualization of the SLS fabrication process and an overview of the production process are given in Figures 1 and 2 .

Comparison between conventional injection moulding and SLS has shown that up to 1,000 parts SLS is more economical.


The present paper proposes structuring primitives and the accompanying type discipline, as a basic structuring method for communication-based concurrent programming. The proposed constructs have a simple operational semantics, and various communication patterns, including those of the conventional primitives as well as those which go beyond them, are representable as their combination with clarity and rigor at the high-level of abstraction. The type discipline plays a fundamental role, guaranteeing compatibility of interaction patterns among processes via a type inference algorithm in the line of ML [23] . Concretely our proposal consists of the following key ideas.

The type discipline plays a fundamental role, guaranteeing compatibility of interaction patterns among processes via a type inference algorithm in the line of ML.


In this work we present an application of single-pixel imaging to the field of microscopy [2] . Microscopy is typically performed in the visible region of the spectrum where camera technology is extremely well developed. Microscopy in other regions of the spectrum, such as infrared or ultraviolet, traditionally requires expensive cameras. Single-pixel imaging is, therefore, an attractive prospect as it allows the development of imaging systems that can be significantly cheaper than current camera technology. This may allow imaging at previously undeveloped wavelengths, increasing the range of spectral imaging [3] .

In this work we present an application of single-pixel imaging to the field of microscopy.

This may allow imaging at previously undeveloped wavelengths, increasing the range of spectral imaging.


As an alternative to a detector array, single-pixel imaging shifts the spatial information away from the detector and onto a set of masks. If the image is masked such that some of the light is blocked and some passes to create a signal on a single detector, then this signal contains information about how similar the mask is to the image. If many different masks are used, their shapes and corresponding signals can be combined to infer a reconstruction of the image. An intuitive set of masks would scan a single bright pixel to build up the image as in confocal microscopy [10] . However, for systems in which the source is not also scanned, these masks waste most of the light, resulting in very poor signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). An ideal set of masks would therefore have an equal amount of bright and dark pixels.

An intuitive set of masks would scan a single bright pixel to build up the image as in confocal microscopy.


In this paper, we experimentally study techniques to efficiently process iterated spatial joins for moving object applications. Determining the most efficient techniques to process these spatial joins is challenging for a variety of reasons. First, there have been a tremendous number of join algorithms proposed in the literature, many of which have never been compared directly. A number of existing algorithms are based on an index nested loops join, and thus require that we select from a wide variety of spatial indices for the inner relation [9, 14, 21, 22, 29, 30, 37, 38] . Other approaches process the entire join in bulk, relying on lightweight auxiliary structures instead of a full-blown spatial index [3, 5, 17, 31] .

A number of existing algorithms are based on an index nested loops join, and thus require that we select from a wide variety of spatial indices for the inner relation.

Other approaches process the entire join in bulk, relying on lightweight auxiliary structures instead of a full-blown spatial index.


The diamondback terrapin is an estuarine turtle in North America that ranges from the Gulf Coast of Texas to Cape Cod of Massachusetts. Terrapins inhabit shallow estuarine, bays, lagoons, creeks, and marshes (Carr 1952) . Because terrapins are air breathing reptiles, traps and nets used to capture terrapins must maintain access to air. The terrapin's range and habitat overlaps with that of the blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus ), an important commercial and recreational fishery species. Terrapins and blue crabs are attracted by razor clams, menhaden, and other fish species commonly used as bait in crab pots. Because blue crabs obtain oxygen directly from the water through gills, there is no need for standard crab pots to have access to air. Therefore, turtles caught in crab pots are vulnerable to drowning.

Terrapins inhabit shallow estuarine, bays, lagoons, creeks, and marshes.


For the closed-loop supply chain with the manufacturer collecting used products, it is difficult for the supply chain members to make decisions of price and production in the face of a highly uncertain market environment, due to the rapid changes in economic and business conditions. Consequently, supply chain members try to forecast the market demand by using information technology. For example, manufacturers could acquire historical data of the past three years through the Collaborative Retail Exchange datasharing program and convert it into demand information through the third-party data service provider. After obtaining demand information, whether to share it generally vexes the supply chain members. For instance, according to a study of Forrester Research in 2006, only 27% of retailers among 89 retailers shared the point-of-sales (POS) data with their manufacturers [3] .

For instance, according to a study of Forrester Research in 2006, only 27% of retailers among 89 retailers shared the point-of-sales (POS) data with their manufacturers.


In the area of data encoding, ciphertexts encoded as real numbers represent the most practical solution for most application areas. Techniques to represent fixed point numbers (encoded as polynomials) include scaled integer and fractional representations [11] . Encoding floating point numbers require independent storage of the encrypted significand from the exponent, necessitating separate homomorphic operations on each during calculations [12, 13] . Options also exist for encoding negative numbers, using either a sign-magnitude or two's complement approach [9] . The approaches used to represent real numbers (fixed or floating point) in either type of plaintext message space (Z 2 or Z p ) can have a significant impact on the efficiency of numeric and/or logical operations [9] .

Techniques to represent fixed point numbers (encoded as polynomials) include scaled integer and fractional representations.

Encoding floating point numbers require independent storage of the encrypted significand from the exponent, necessitating separate homomorphic operations on each during calculations.

Options also exist for encoding negative numbers, using either a sign-magnitude or two's complement approach.

The approaches used to represent real numbers (fixed or floating point) in either type of plaintext message space (Z 2 or Z p ) can have a significant impact on the efficiency of numeric and/or logical operations.


Alongside the cited advantages, there are also many criticisms of MOOCs, one of them being its dismal completion rates. Reports indicate that the completion rates of MOOCs are usually lower than 10%, with a steep participation drop in the first week; even steeper in the first few days (Catropa, 2013) . For example, in the bioelectricity course, offered at Duke University during the fall of 2012, 12,725 students enrolled, but only 7,761 watched a video, 3,658 attempted a quiz, 345 attempted the final exam, and 313 passed and earned a certificate (Catropa, 2013) . The low completion rates mean that there are limited active learners participating in MOOCs learning. This is a substantial problem, because user participation is an important indicator to measure the sustainability of virtual communities (Chang & Chen, 2014; Zhou, Zuo, Yu, & Chai, 2014) . Scholars are thus curious about MOOCs' effectiveness and sustainability in their early stages (Alraimi, Zo, & Ciganek, 2015) . So, what are the factors influencing learners' continuance intention of MOOCs?

Reports indicate that the completion rates of MOOCs are usually lower than 10%, with a steep participation drop in the first week; even steeper in the first few days.

For example, in the bioelectricity course, offered at Duke University during the fall of 2012, 12,725 students enrolled, but only 7,761 watched a video, 3,658 attempted a quiz, 345 attempted the final exam, and 313 passed and earned a certificate.

This is a substantial problem, because user participation is an important indicator to measure the sustainability of virtual communities.

Scholars are thus curious about MOOCs' effectiveness and sustainability in their early stages.


Although MOOCs have many prominent advantages, the average completion rate is lower than 10% (Catropa, 2013) . Skeptics even doubt the real learning effects and sustainability for the future (Alraimi, Zo, & Ciganek, 2015) . So, there is an interesting paradox about MOOCs learning. On the one hand, MOOCs are a representation of those course qualifications. On the other hand, few learners complete their enrolled courses, making the continuance of MOOCs become a problem. Thus we are curious about what are the factors influencing the learners' continuance intention in MOOCs. This paper aims to answer this question.

Although MOOCs have many prominent advantages, the average completion rate is lower than 10%.

Skeptics even doubt the real learning effects and sustainability for the future.


This trend triggered a hot discussion about the relationship between MOOCs and traditional education. Some scholars hold that MOOCs are open platforms and everyone can access them if they wish (Jacobs, 2013) . In their eyes, openness will oblige universities to revisit their business models and missions, and then focus on teaching quality and students as never before (Daniel, 2012) . They thus believe that MOOCs will flip our traditional classroom, and some higher education institutions will definitely disappear if they continue to embrace the status quo (Lucas, 2013) .

Some scholars hold that MOOCs are open platforms and everyone can access them if they wish.

In their eyes, openness will oblige universities to revisit their business models and missions, and then focus on teaching quality and students as never before.

They thus believe that MOOCs will flip our traditional classroom, and some higher education institutions will definitely disappear if they continue to embrace the status quo.