Semiconductor lasers with ring or disk resonator geometries are one of the most attractive on-chip light sources for optoelectronic integrated circuits since no gratings or Fabry-Perot (FP) facets are required for optical feedback. Small footprint, flexibility in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), and bistability are their intrinsic advantages as well. The recent desperate request to deploy a low-power consumption, high-speed optical interconnect system for silicon-based microelectronic chips has lead to research efforts to build compact microring or microdisk lasers on the silicon substrate [1] - [4] .

The recent desperate request to deploy a low-power consumption, high-speed optical interconnect system for silicon-based microelectronic chips has lead to research efforts to build compact microring or microdisk lasers on the silicon substrate.


It is known that topological gravity coupled to twisted topological matter reproduces the critical exponents of the minimal unitary models with central charge c < 1 coupled to ordinary two-dimensional gravity [12] . The appropriate supersymmetric quantum field theories to twist are the minimal N = 2 superconformal field theories at central charge c = 3 − 6/k c where k c is a positive integer [13] [14] [15] [16] . In the N = 2 topological formulation, the central charge barrier is therefore located at c = 3. From the perspective of two-dimensional gravity coupled to ordinary matter, the central charge barrier (c = 1) is hard to surmount. This provides one motivation for our study of the topological phase of gravity based on an N = 2 superconformal field theory with central charge c > 3. We will discuss to what extent moving beyond the topological central charge barrier gives insight into matter with central charge c > 1 coupled to ordinary two-dimensional gravity.

It is known that topological gravity coupled to twisted topological matter reproduces the critical exponents of the minimal unitary models with central charge c < 1 coupled to ordinary two-dimensional gravity.

The appropriate supersymmetric quantum field theories to twist are the minimal N = 2 superconformal field theories at central charge c = 3 − 6/k c where k c is a positive integer.


Clearly, more work is needed on various fronts. Technically, one would like to exploit the dispersionful KP hierarchy and its tau-function to compute correlation functions at higher genera. Conceptually, it would be interesting to clarify further to what extent going beyond the topological central charge barrier relates to ordinary gravity coupled to matter with central charge larger than one. The latter theory is expected to develop tachyons, or an instability towards the creation of macroscopic holes, while our topological gravity theory coupled to noncompact matter is manifestly well-defined. What is the relation between these phases of twodimensional gravity ? Furthermore, there is a challenge posed to the matrix model formulation of two-dimensional gravity to reproduce the amplitudes of non-compact topological gravity. In this context, we can mention a tentative connection between analytically continued matrix models and the cigar coset conformal field theory [38, 39] .

In this context, we can mention a tentative connection between analytically continued matrix models and the cigar coset conformal field theory.


Interferometric ISAR (InISAR) employs more than one phase centre in the radar instrument to reconstruct a 3-D target [11] [12] [13] . Typically, two vertically displaced receivers are used to retrieve the height information from the phase difference of a pair of ISAR images. Using interferometry to obtain the height information makes possible to obtain a 3-D reconstruction of a target with a simple and realistic motion and can also aid image focusing, image interpretation and target classification [14] [15] [16] [17] . However, the information and utility of the ISAR image and the interferometric information depends highly on geometry and target dynamics.

Interferometric ISAR (InISAR) employs more than one phase centre in the radar instrument to reconstruct a 3-D target.

Using interferometry to obtain the height information makes possible to obtain a 3-D reconstruction of a target with a simple and realistic motion and can also aid image focusing, image interpretation and target classification.


Laboratory experience is an important supplement of Electrical Engineering (EE) education. Laboratory works are provided by means of face-to-face training in particular laboratories as a classical method. Face-to-face training may have many limitations both at the provider and at the learner sides [1] . Among the limitations for the provider side, the requirement for more educators and supporting personnel, high establishment and maintenance costs for some of EE laboratories such as the ones covering radio frequency and microwave techniques are well-known [2] . Laboratory works are important supplement of theory in training of engineers and technicians. In most of vocational training schools, there are many radio communications related courses for teaching the theory but not enough laboratory equipment/experiments to support and demonstrate the application of the theory. As a consequence, these courses are supported by practical studies [3] . They also tend to have very limited opportunities to analyze the data collected by means of the experiments mathematically: usually the measurement device itself is unable to deal with a large amount of data. When time constraints do not exist, the students may process the experiment data by use of powerful analysis software tools, gaining a clearer general picture of the functionality of a certain device or a setup [1] . Besides these requirements, educational opportunities that have been offered in e-education environments, made practical opportunities that are given in laboratory environments necessary.

Face-to-face training may have many limitations both at the provider and at the learner sides.

Among the limitations for the provider side, the requirement for more educators and supporting personnel, high establishment and maintenance costs for some of EE laboratories such as the ones covering radio frequency and microwave techniques are well-known.

As a consequence, these courses are supported by practical studies.

When time constraints do not exist, the students may process the experiment data by use of powerful analysis software tools, gaining a clearer general picture of the functionality of a certain device or a setup.


Another relevant area for this paper are Natural Language Interfaces for Databases (NLIDBs). NLIDBs have been studied in the database research community since the 1990's [15, 10, 16, 1] . Most of this work relied on classical techniques for semantic parsing and used rule-based approaches for the translation into SQL. However, these approaches have commonly shown poor flexibility for the users who phrase questions with different linguistic styles using paraphrases and thus failed to support complex scenarios.

NLIDBs have been studied in the database research community since the 1990's.


However, some discrepancies were found between the analytical results and the results of finite element simulations. As suggested in Section 4.4, it seems to be the case that the elasticity required by Abaqus is the main reason for the difference. There have been previous attempts to incorporate elastic stresses in analytical models, particularly by considering a small elastic region at the start of a constriction in extrusion [10] . In that paper, the authors simply equate the elastic stress to the plastic stress at an arbitrary point near the entrance to the roll gap, creating an abrupt transition in material behaviour. While this seems to agree reasonably with their data, their data are relatively sparse and noisy. A more detailed treatment would be to consider elastic stresses alongside plastic stresses throughout the roll gap. This would add significant complication to the equations for sandwich rolling, and is perhaps better illustrated for traditional, homogeneous rolling. Such an analysis has not yet been presented in the literature.

There have been previous attempts to incorporate elastic stresses in analytical models, particularly by considering a small elastic region at the start of a constriction in extrusion.


Previous research has confirmed that with a highly uncertain environment, open innovation has evolved into a complex activity [7, [10] [11] [12] . This complexity makes it very important for firms to choose an appropriate type of innovation based on the degree of innovation openness. A low degree of innovation openness means that firms cannot break through the limitations of traditional closed innovation and realize their own fundamental innovation advantages. Excessive openness may cause problems, such as internal distractions and excessive dependence on external technologies. Firms can fail to select a truly suitable innovation type for their business development [13] . However, the existing literature keeps rather silent about how the degree of innovation openness influences the choice of firms' innovation type and in what way the degree of innovation openness effects innovation types, namely exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation. The choice of innovation type is particularly important for firms, because the particular innovation type must be consistent with a firm's strategy. It is related to a firm's future competitiveness and-together with strategic orientation-forms the core content of a business strategy [14, 15] . Further research is needed on how the openness of a firm's external search strategy influences its innovation capability and innovation type (i.e., exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation).

Previous research has confirmed that with a highly uncertain environment, open innovation has evolved into a complex activity.

Firms can fail to select a truly suitable innovation type for their business development.

It is related to a firm's future competitiveness and-together with strategic orientation-forms the core content of a business strategy.


Further, our study provides a new insight to confirm that the industry has a positive and significant effect on innovation capability and innovation types under the openness of firms' external search strategies [60, 65] . Firms engaging in high-tech industries and high-medium-technology industries have a higher innovation capability, which promotes generating greater exploratory and exploitative innovation. However, firm location, age, size, and ownership have been found to have no discernible impact on the capability and types of innovation. After over one decade of the implementation of "The Development of the West China" and "The Rise of Central China" strategies, the Central-Western regions have been upgrading their innovation capability and innovation types. The Eastern region is more export-oriented than the Central-Western regions and traditionally holds more advantages in human resources, capital, technology, openness, and geography. However, the region has suffered a lot from the financial crisis originated from the USA and the current trade war between the USA and China. Also, some big cities in the Central-Western regions, like Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Xi'an, driven by the huge local economic potential, have been increasingly attracting the inflow of firms, talents, and capital. This is helping to decrease the innovation gap between the East and the Central -West. Both the East and the Central-West are improving innovation capability and can conduct the ambidexterity of exploratory and exploitative innovation. As for the firm age, it has a negative but insignificant effect on innovation capability and innovation types. This may be because older firms are less motived to conduct innovation than younger firms. They tend to follow routines, established procedures, and rules, which are related to exploitative innovation, but do not support exploratory innovation [63] . China launched a mass innovation and entrepreneurship initiative in 2014, which generated thousands of new ventures every year. Some of these new ventures have become unicorns, such as Cloudwalk (AI & robotics), Caocao Zhuanche (transportation), Du Xiaoman (fintech), Hello Bike (sharing transportation), and Luckin Coffee (consumer upgrade). These young high-tech firms are an engine to bring in exploratory and exploitative innovation and improve society welfare. Similar to firm age, we found that firm size has a positive but insignificant effect on innovation capability and innovation types. This is consistent with the research findings in the existing literature [71, 72] . More information about the effect of these control variables on innovation capability can be found in Appendix A Table A3 .

Further, our study provides a new insight to confirm that the industry has a positive and significant effect on innovation capability and innovation types under the openness of firms' external search strategies.

They tend to follow routines, established procedures, and rules, which are related to exploitative innovation, but do not support exploratory innovation.

This is consistent with the research findings in the existing literature.


China aims to become an innovation society by 2020 and an innovation power by 2050. These ambitious objectives cannot be achieved without the contribution of Chinese manufacturing firms. According to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, secondary industries contributed 40.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, and the manufacturing industry made up 72.4% of that contribution (data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics: http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/zxfb/ 201901/t20190122_1646082.html). As the cornerstone of China's economy, manufacturing firms are required to shift from low-cost production to more sustainability-oriented and knowledge-intensive production that will help them to upgrade their innovation capability. Innovation is not merely an alternative but rather a necessity for business sustainability and competitiveness [1] [2] [3] [4] . To enhance their competitiveness, firms need the capability to identify, absorb, and integrate new potential sources of innovation [5] .

Innovation is not merely an alternative but rather a necessity for business sustainability and competitiveness.

To enhance their competitiveness, firms need the capability to identify, absorb, and integrate new potential sources of innovation.


Some firms engage more in exploratory innovation, because it helps them to differentiate their products and services from the competition [63] . The novel products, services, or business models as the result of exploratory innovation enable firms to go one step ahead of the rivals in the current market. Exploratory innovation enables firms to enter markets that are new to them, or to create new markets that do not yet exist at all. However, focusing exclusively on exploration innovation can exhaust the financial resources before the organizations can have benefits [69] . Therefore, some other firms in the same industry may prefer to balance exploitation and exploration activities in order to obtain a better competitive position compared with the direct competitors. In doing so, a specific unit of the company may devote more to exploration activities, while another unit deals with exploitation activities simultaneously.

Some firms engage more in exploratory innovation, because it helps them to differentiate their products and services from the competition.

However, focusing exclusively on exploration innovation can exhaust the financial resources before the organizations can have benefits.


In recent years, the use of multiantenna systems provides large spectral efficiency for wireless communications in the presence of multipath fading environments. Multiple antennas can be used at the transmitter (MISO), the receiver (SIMO), or at both of them (MIMO). A SIMO system can be viewed as an antenna diversity scheme (diversity in space). Also, diversity combining is known to be a powerful technique to improve system performance in the presence of fading [1] .

Also, diversity combining is known to be a powerful technique to improve system performance in the presence of fading.


The higher herbivory rate by experimentally moved caterpillars likely supported the higher growth rates as suggested by the strong correlation between these two variables. Higher herbivory rates do not always promote greater RGRs, for example when insects consume more due to low quality resources (Flores et al. 2014) . This compensation behaviour could explain the greater proportion of available eaten leaf fascicles consumed by experimentally moved caterpillars, where stationary caterpillars possibly had higher quality leaves to eat and so did not have to compensate. However, the negative growth rate exhibited by the stationary caterpillars suggests otherwise. The negative growth rate of stationary caterpillars was likely caused by a combination of fewer available leaf fascicles (on average experimentally moved caterpillars had 19 leaf fascicles and stationary caterpillars had 14) and reduced proportion of available leaf fascicles eaten. An alternative explanation could be an experimental artefact, whereby the food exhaustion frequency is higher for the stationary caterpillars. However, the proportion of available eaten leaf fascicles does not support this because lower proportions were found for the stationary caterpillars. Instead, herbivory by stationary caterpillars may have adversely affected leaf quality, causing the stationary caterpillars to eat less of a browsed willow.

Higher herbivory rates do not always promote greater RGRs, for example when insects consume more due to low quality resources.


An alternative but not mutually exclusive hypothesis to explain the differences in RGR is within plant quality differences not caused by induced quality changes. Caterpillars and other insects can exhibit preference between leaves with differing quality on a plant individual (Gutbrodt et al. 2012; Johns et al. 2012) . Arctic caterpillars may forage first on the higher quality leaves on a single Arctic willow and either stop eating or continue to eat the lower quality leaves. Experimentally moved caterpillars would likely have had greater access to higher quality leaves compared to stationary caterpillars allowing greater RGR. Further research would be required to examine the effects of within plant quality differences on RGR and to differentiate induced plant quality changes from within plant quality differences. Seemingly, Arctic caterpillars move to access new foliage, but a more comprehensive survey of plant traits between and within individuals is required to ascertain exactly what promotes leaving one willow and choosing another.

Caterpillars and other insects can exhibit preference between leaves with differing quality on a plant individual.


Growing worldwide demand for agricultural commodities has led to a steep increase in global trade volumes in the last decades [1] . On average, a fifth of the global harvested cropland area was dedicated to export production in the 2000s [2, 3] . Especially in some countries of South America and Southeast Asia, production for export markets has come to comprise a substantial share of total agricultural output. Indonesia and Malaysia alone produce over 90% of all palm oil consumed in the world, and Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay together account for nearly all the soybean and over 80% of beef exports from Latin America [1] .

Growing worldwide demand for agricultural commodities has led to a steep increase in global trade volumes in the last decades.

On average, a fifth of the global harvested cropland area was dedicated to export production in the 2000s.

Indonesia and Malaysia alone produce over 90% of all palm oil consumed in the world, and Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay together account for nearly all the soybean and over 80% of beef exports from Latin America.


The present study is extended to various electronical and optical modifications of amorphous silica layers as they are applied in microelectronics, optoelectronics, as well as in the forthcoming photonics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and cathodoluminescence (CL) have been used to investigate thermally grown pure amorphous silicon dioxide and ionimplanted layers. The main luminescent centers in silicon dioxide layers are the red luminescence (1.85 eV) of the nonbridging oxygen hole center (NBOHC; ≡Si-O•), a blue (2.7 eV) and an ultraviolet luminescence (4.3 eV) of the oxygen-deficient centers (ODCs; ≡Si· · · Si≡), and a yellow luminescence (2.2 eV) appears especially in hydrogen-treated silica indicating water molecules, and on the other hand, in silicon excess samples indicating higher silicon aggregates. A quite different CL dose behavior of the red luminescence is observed in dry and hydrogen-treated samples due to dissociation and reassociation of mobile hydrogen and oxygen to radicals of the silica network. Additionally implanted hydrogen diminishes the red luminescence in wet oxide but maintains the blue and the UV bands. Thus hydrogen passivates the NBOHC and keeps the ODCs in active emission states. A model of luminescence center transformation is proposed based on radiolytic dissociation and reassociation of mobile oxygen and hydrogen at the centers as well as formation of interstitial H 2 , O 2 , and H 2 O molecules [13] .

A model of luminescence center transformation is proposed based on radiolytic dissociation and reassociation of mobile oxygen and hydrogen at the centers as well as formation of interstitial H 2 , O 2 , and H 2 O molecules.


Typical CL spectra of dry-and wet-oxidized SiO 2 layers measured at room temperature (RT) are shown in Figure 2 . Besides the main silica luminescence bands (1.9 eV the red, 2.7 eV the blue, and 4.3 eV the UV), a yellow band at 2.2 eV has been recognized, increasing at RT after a longer time of irradiation especially in wet oxide [13] . An additional luminescence band can be distinguished in wet oxide silica layer at around 2.5 eV. The red and the blue luminescence bands are the most investigated bands in all kinds of silica material, where it is thought that the first one is an oxygen excess-related center and the second one is an oxygen deficiency-related center (ODC) [10] .

Besides the main silica luminescence bands (1.9 eV the red, 2.7 eV the blue, and 4.3 eV the UV), a yellow band at 2.2 eV has been recognized, increasing at RT after a longer time of irradiation especially in wet oxide.

An additional luminescence band can be distinguished in wet oxide silica layer at around 2.5 eV. The red and the blue luminescence bands are the most investigated bands in all kinds of silica material, where it is thought that the first one is an oxygen excess-related center and the second one is an oxygen deficiency-related center (ODC).


Currently there is growing concern over the extent of shark catches in the Mediterranean, as their Kselected life-history characteristics make them intrinsically vulnerable to fishing pressure (Dulvy et al., 2008) . The available evidence indicates that sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are generally declining in abundance, and are possibly facing a worse scenario than shark populations elsewhere in the word. This decline can be attributed to a number of factors, including their life history characteristics in combination with the semi-closed nature of the Mediterranean Sea and intense fishing activity. In Greece and other Mediterranean countries, the longnose spiny dogfish is a commercial species that is obtained from incidental catches of bottom trawl and long line vessels; however, there are no official records of its landings and limited information on its population characteristics. Attempts to manage longnose spiny dogfish resources will require, among other demographic data, information on its reproductive parameters. For the above reasons, the aim of the present study is to provide new information on the reproductive strategy of the longnose spiny dogfish in the eastern Mediterranean Sea along with important reproductive parameters of its life history traits. This study focuses on the minimum size at first maturity, mean total length at 50% maturity, fecundity, litter size, embryonic development, and reproductive cycle. Two biological indices, the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI), were examined to test how they change during the year and the reproductive cycle.

Currently there is growing concern over the extent of shark catches in the Mediterranean, as their Kselected life-history characteristics make them intrinsically vulnerable to fishing pressure.


Many studies in vitro have shown that arachidonic acid metabolites influence on cell proliferation although the effects seems to be cell-type specific [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] . Cysteinyl leukotrienes, products of the 5-LOX pathway, have been implicated in various stages of airway inflammation. In this study we found that the mitogenic effect of platelet membranes on ASMC proliferation could be inhibited by the 5-LOX inhibitor AA-861 and reduced, albeit not significantly, by the PLA 2 inhibitor ATK. These results demonstrate that platelet membranes activate 5-LOX located in ASMC and that this activation results in enhanced proliferation. The PLA 2 inhibitor ATK did not inhibit the platelet membrane-induced ASMC proliferation, indicating that PLA 2 is not the major enzyme for releasing arachidonic acid from the plasma membrane. The mechanism by which the membrane fraction brings about the 5-LOX activation is not clarified but one possible explanation is that platelet membranes serve as a lipid reservoir for biosynthesis of mitogenic lipids. PMP contain bioactive lipids such as arachidonic acid (AA) that PMP deliver to different cells, e.g. platelets and endothelial cells resulting, in a metabolization of AA to other more active lipid metabolites, e.g. TXA 2 [33] . The membrane fraction could also interact with surface structures on the ASMC and trigger intracellular events that activate 5-LOX.

Many studies in vitro have shown that arachidonic acid metabolites influence on cell proliferation although the effects seems to be cell-type specific.

PMP contain bioactive lipids such as arachidonic acid (AA) that PMP deliver to different cells, e.g. platelets and endothelial cells resulting, in a metabolization of AA to other more active lipid metabolites, e.g. TXA 2.


As suggested by the results of this study, a respondent's country, entrepreneurial exposure and social norms help explain students' entrepreneurial intentions. Students with family members who are entrepreneurs are more likely to intend to start their own businesses. Unsurprisingly, the expected supportiveness of family reactions to entrepreneurship is positively related to intentions. Conversely, students who expect that their families will react negatively are less likely to intend to pursue entrepreneurship. These effects are modest but they remain even after controlling for the effect of country. Country itself has a significant but relatively small impact on intentions. Chinese students are more likely to expect their families to be opposed to or unsupportive of entrepreneurship. However, cultural values associated with country and expected family support had very modest influences on entrepreneurial intentions. This seems to indicate that variables about personal characteristics are more important. This finding meshes with prior research that found social norms to be unrelated to entrepreneurial behavioral intentions (Krueger et al., 2000) .

This finding meshes with prior research that found social norms to be unrelated to entrepreneurial behavioral intentions.


The data for our study were collected through a survey instrument. Respondents provided data about entrepreneurial disposition, entrepreneurial aspirations, exposure and other situational factors, and perceived barriers and motivations for entrepreneurship. All the observed relationships were reported by the same group of respondents. Therefore, any observed relations may be in part a result of common method effect (Fiske, 1982) . However, this limitation is consistent with the limitations of prior empirical studies in this area and of most survey research. A second limitation is that the sample came from three universities. Faculty and education programs at other schools will need to assess the applicability of our results to their specific institutions. A third limitation lies in our use of group-level cultural value orientation as a post hoc explanation of our findings without directly measuring cultural value orientations of study participants. It would have been advantageous to measure cultural value orientation of study participants at the individual-level models so as to provide more useful guidance in how culture influences behavior. This was, however, not possible given the length of the instrument and time limitations. Fourth, it will be desirable to pursue further work on the survey instrument itself. For example, additional development in the area of scaled items regarding motives and barriers may lead to higher explanatory power and reliability for the extracted factors, which would simplify interpretation and further strengthen the robustness of models.

Therefore, any observed relations may be in part a result of common method effect.


Algae are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, fatty acids (e.g., eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and γ-linoleic acid), as well as in polyphenols, terpenoids, carotenoids, and tocopherols (Michalak and Chojnacka, 2015) . However, the chemical composition of the marine algae depends on the species, place of cultivation, atmospheric conditions, and harvest period. Moreover, nutritional facts of these marine organisms such as the content of dietary fiber (33%-50% dry weight), protein (brown 5%-24%, red and green 10%-47%), minerals (8%-40%), and low-lipid content (1%-2%) are interesting (Rupérez and Saura-Calixto, 2001) . The polysaccharides are one of the most interesting components of the algae because of their biological activities (de Almeida et al., 2011; Kraan, 2012; Lee et al., 2010; Senni et al., 2011) . Additionally, the marine algae are recognized as a rich source of sulfated polysaccharides. Most of them are easily transformed into nanoparticles, nanofibers, microparticles, scaffolds, membranes, gels, beads, and sponges (Jayakumar et al., 2010) .

Algae are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, fatty acids (e.g., eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and γ-linoleic acid), as well as in polyphenols, terpenoids, carotenoids, and tocopherols.

Moreover, nutritional facts of these marine organisms such as the content of dietary fiber (33%-50% dry weight), protein (brown 5%-24%, red and green 10%-47%), minerals (8%-40%), and low-lipid content (1%-2%) are interesting.

The polysaccharides are one of the most interesting components of the algae because of their biological activities.

Most of them are easily transformed into nanoparticles, nanofibers, microparticles, scaffolds, membranes, gels, beads, and sponges.


There has been considerable progress in the past decades on the understanding and numerical prediction of extratropical cyclogenesis, especially those rapidly deepening oceanic storms that occurred at a scale of greater than the Rossby radius of deformation or 3000 km (the so-called large-scale cyclogenesis). A comprehensive review of the advances in knowledge by theoretical, observational, and modeling approaches was published following the Palmén Memorial Symposium (Newton and Holopainen 1990) . Previous studies have clearly shown the importance of diabatic heating (stratiform and convective), surface characteristics, the air-sea interaction, and other physical processes in determining the final intensity of oceanic cyclones, although their relative significance varies from case to case (Kuo and Low-Nam 1990) . In particular, numerical sensitivity studies have led to the recognition that individual physical and dynamical processes are not sufficient, when acting in isolation, to produce rapid cyclogenesis despite the presence of extremely intense baroclinicity.

A comprehensive review of the advances in knowledge by theoretical, observational, and modeling approaches was published following the Palmén Memorial Symposium.

Previous studies have clearly shown the importance of diabatic heating (stratiform and convective), surface characteristics, the air-sea interaction, and other physical processes in determining the final intensity of oceanic cyclones, although their relative significance varies from case to case.


Defects caused by corrosion, erosion, mechanical damage or crack polishing also reduce the structural integrity of pipelines and may affect the safe operation of the system. Calculation of the limit loads of elbows with defects is essential to evaluate the safe operation of structures (Han and Liu, 1998) . The limit load acceptance criteria of a straight pipe with defects cannot be used to assess an elbow with identical defects due to elbows' characteristic stress intensity (Zhang et al., 2001) . Results have been obtained through experimental evaluation of the effect of local wall thinning on the failure pressure of several elbows , and a series of burst tests using real-scale elbows were performed to develop a numerical formula.

Calculation of the limit loads of elbows with defects is essential to evaluate the safe operation of structures.

The limit load acceptance criteria of a straight pipe with defects cannot be used to assess an elbow with identical defects due to elbows' characteristic stress intensity.


The CBT focuses on performing memory-efficient aggregation because recent hardware trends indicate that memory capacity is growing slowly relative to compute capacity [35] . Moreover, our analysis in Table 1 of prices charged by Amazon for different resources in EC2 instances shows that for most instances, memory costs already dominate, in terms of the proportion of total instance cost. In other words, with Amazon's standard configurations, it is far cheaper to double the CPU capacity than to double the memory capacity. This trend, seen in the context of heavy demand for memory capacity for fast analytics, naturally motivates the development of techniques that can trade off additional CPU use in return for reduced memory consumption.

The CBT focuses on performing memory-efficient aggregation because recent hardware trends indicate that memory capacity is growing slowly relative to compute capacity.


Technical developments in radiotherapy techniques like intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have now the potential to spare organs at risk (OARs) as kidneys, liver, and bone marrow [35, 36] . Hence, these techniques might significantly decrease the toxicity while still adequately covering the peritoneal cavity with a homogenous dose [37] . Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a relatively new but increasingly accepted technology delivering radiation more precisely to the tumour while sparing surrounding normal tissue [18, 19, 21, 22, [38] [39] [40] . Treatment planning and delivery with IMRT are a standard treatment technique now used for sites such as prostate, paraspinal tumours, tumours of the brain, and head&neck tumours. This technique is also increasingly explored for more challenging sites like gastro-intestinal tumours or breast cancer [35, [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] . The challenge of this study is the application of this technique to a large and complexly shaped target volume like the peritoneal cavity [49, 50] .

Technical developments in radiotherapy techniques like intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have now the potential to spare organs at risk (OARs) as kidneys, liver, and bone marrow.

Hence, these techniques might significantly decrease the toxicity while still adequately covering the peritoneal cavity with a homogenous dose.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a relatively new but increasingly accepted technology delivering radiation more precisely to the tumour while sparing surrounding normal tissue.

This technique is also increasingly explored for more challenging sites like gastro-intestinal tumours or breast cancer.

The challenge of this study is the application of this technique to a large and complexly shaped target volume like the peritoneal cavity.


Animal studies suggest that glutathione, melatonin, vitamin C, beta-carotene and possibly other antioxidants may play an effective role in allevating the effects of reactive oxidant species caused by phosphine gas [12] . On the other hand, the protective role of lipoic acid against aluminium phosphide induced negative changes in serum, liver and kidney biochemical, lipid peroxidation and enzymatic activities of male rats have not so far been fully understood. Therefore, the present work was carried out to investigate: (1) the alterations in biochemical parameters, free radicals and enzyme activities induced by aluminium phosphide in plasma, kidney and liver of male rats, (2) the role of lipoic acid in reducing the negative effects of aluminium phosphide, and (3) the effect of lipoic acid alone on the tested parameters.

Animal studies suggest that glutathione, melatonin, vitamin C, beta-carotene and possibly other antioxidants may play an effective role in allevating the effects of reactive oxidant species caused by phosphine gas.


Aluminium phosphide is a potent respiratory chain enzyme inhibitor. Its most important effect is the inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase. The inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase and other enzymes leads to the generation of superoxide radicals and cellular peroxides, and subsequent cellular injury through lipid peroxidation and other oxidant mechanisms [7] . It stimulates the production of hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species, malonyldialdehyde (MAD), increases superoxide dismutase and inhibits *Address correspondence to these authors at the University of Alexandria, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Department of Environmental Studies, 163 Horreya Avenue, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; Tel: (0100) 4830165; E-mail: dr_naglaa.farag@yahoo.com catalase, peroxidase and glutathione [8, 9] . Oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms of action of aluminium phosphide toxicity [10] .

The inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase and other enzymes leads to the generation of superoxide radicals and cellular peroxides, and subsequent cellular injury through lipid peroxidation and other oxidant mechanisms.

It stimulates the production of hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species, malonyldialdehyde (MAD), increases superoxide dismutase and inhibits *Address correspondence to these authors at the University of Alexandria, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Department of Environmental Studies, 163 Horreya Avenue, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; Tel: (0100) 4830165; E-mail: dr_naglaa.farag@yahoo.com catalase, peroxidase and glutathione.

Oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms of action of aluminium phosphide toxicity.


The present study showed that aluminium phosphide caused liver damage which increased the activities of AST, ALT, AlP and AcP in both plasma and liver. Liver is one of the important target organs of phosphine poisoning in the human body [1] . After ingestion, phosphine gas is rapidly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and it is partly carried to the liver by the portal vein. Phosphine can cause liver dysfunction, especially after the first day of poisoning [39] .

Liver is one of the important target organs of phosphine poisoning in the human body.

Phosphine can cause liver dysfunction, especially after the first day of poisoning.


Infant and young child nutrition, including micronutrient supplementation, has gained much attention over the previous decades, in part due to an increase in the understanding of the health benefits of nutrition in the first 1000 days of life. Breastfeeding, supplemental feeding and micronutrient fortification practices can benefit the health of young children through improved immune system response and adequate protection against infections [9, 10] . Micronutrient deficiency, specifically vitamin A deficiency, is estimated to cause more than a half million deaths among children under age five [1] . It is clear that poor health conditions are the result of a multitude of factors including child nutrition and maternal and household characteristics [11] . The continued high prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting across East Africa, including Kenya, emphasizes the importance of distinguishing the specific determinants of poor health status. By fully identifying and understanding the key risk factors that influence child health, it is possible to guide national policy and to better meet the needs of children.

Breastfeeding, supplemental feeding and micronutrient fortification practices can benefit the health of young children through improved immune system response and adequate protection against infections.

Micronutrient deficiency, specifically vitamin A deficiency, is estimated to cause more than a half million deaths among children under age five.

It is clear that poor health conditions are the result of a multitude of factors including child nutrition and maternal and household characteristics.


In this work, we obtained a closed-form expression to compute the Fourier-ring correlation (FRC) in the continuous domain for SMLM. Our method allows us to compute a parameter-free FRC. We showed that the conventional FRC computation reaches the closed-form FRC when the sampling parameters are set appropriately. Moreover, our approach could allow for an accurate computation of the local FRC [18] . Future works should consider other image-based metrics such as SNR.

Moreover, our approach could allow for an accurate computation of the local FRC.


Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is a superresolution microscopy technique capable of imaging objects of the order of tens of nanometers. This modality, also known as PALM or STORM, has become a standard tool in cell biology [1] . This computational imaging combines an optical setup and a localization algorithm to render an image reconstructed from a set of estimated positions. The rendering process usually involves a kernel that determines the contribution of each position to the reconstructed image [2, 3] . Since the emergence of SMLM, the determination of image resolution has become a primordial matter as the reconstructed image is a combination of optics and numerics.

This modality, also known as PALM or STORM, has become a standard tool in cell biology.

The rendering process usually involves a kernel that determines the contribution of each position to the reconstructed image.


Spatial assortment may be a signal of rank in some systems [69] . However, we found no evidence that parakeets use either spatial assortment or physical size to structure their aggression. Instead, our work suggests that the formation of a hierarchy relies on cognitive inference over complex relationships. Our work has found that aggression motifs contain a substantial amount of information that could be used infer relative rank.

Spatial assortment may be a signal of rank in some systems.


Previous work on transitive inference by non-human animals has often focused on experimental manipulation of trained subjects [67, 70] . These experiments are generally removed from social situations. They can provide critical evidence that individuals have the necessary cognitive skills, but usually cannot show a direct link between those abilities and an understanding of the social landscape of an actual group and its e↵ect in real-world situations. Our work provides new evidence for the importance of transitive inference in the real-world problem of directing aggression.

Previous work on transitive inference by non-human animals has often focused on experimental manipulation of trained subjects.


According to its conventional definition, risk is considered to be quantifiable. An objective measurement of risk can be produced by analysing probabilities and consequences (Helm 1996) . The most widely used equation to express risk is probability multiplied by (negative) consequence, although many more definitions with other combinations of probability and consequence are available in the literature (Blaikie et al. 1994; Green 2004) . However, in the Bayesian way of thinking, objectivity does not exist in the context of measuring. Furthermore, risk can be considered both as a way of expressing uncertainty, and as a collection of perceptions. This means that risk should be considered to be a judgement rather than a fact (Aven and Kristensen 2005) . In this approach, 'probability' is an expression for the state of knowledge, that depends on the information and the knowledge of the individual who assigns it. Hence, no universal and true probability exists.

An objective measurement of risk can be produced by analysing probabilities and consequences.

The most widely used equation to express risk is probability multiplied by (negative) consequence, although many more definitions with other combinations of probability and consequence are available in the literature.

This means that risk should be considered to be a judgement rather than a fact.


CPW EBG structures with rectangular aperture patterns etched on the ground plane and located adjacent to the gap between the signal and ground have been reported [12] . The dimensions of the rectangular aperture are the only parameters that can be adjusted. CPW defected ground structures (DGS) have been employed for bandpass filter applications [13] . Fortunately, there exists another CPW EBG structures that offer greater design flexibility, whereby a pattern consisting of slots and square apertures are etched on the ground plane [9] . Initial studies in EBG structures fabricated on the silicon substrate have been investigated [14] . Most researchers have focussed mainly on the possibility of obtaining a stop-band in EBG structures but little has been reported on the modelling and the performance of the band-stop filters.

CPW EBG structures with rectangular aperture patterns etched on the ground plane and located adjacent to the gap between the signal and ground have been reported.

CPW defected ground structures (DGS) have been employed for bandpass filter applications.

Fortunately, there exists another CPW EBG structures that offer greater design flexibility, whereby a pattern consisting of slots and square apertures are etched on the ground plane.

Initial studies in EBG structures fabricated on the silicon substrate have been investigated.


The technique works best when the diffusion of the fluorescent probe through the thickness of the film is small, i.e. when the Peclet number is large. Low Peclet number conditions can be accommodated to an extent by incorporating the effect of the through-thickness diffusion of fluorescent probes in the velocity profile reconstruction scheme. This will be implemented in future work. If the Peclet number is small, the technique can also be used to measure diffusion coefficients using an alternative analysis [30] .

If the Peclet number is small, the technique can also be used to measure diffusion coefficients using an alternative analysis.


Breeding progress in economically successful European winter wheat was investigated in field trials with respect to production intensity, including the impact of fungal pathogens [23] . Accordingly, a steady decrease in susceptibility to stripe rust and powdery mildew of adult plants was detected in the past five decades. These results confirmed a previous report of a significant improvement of German wheat cultivars relative to several fungal pathogens, including leaf rust, over the same period [24] .

Breeding progress in economically successful European winter wheat was investigated in field trials with respect to production intensity, including the impact of fungal pathogens.

These results confirmed a previous report of a significant improvement of German wheat cultivars relative to several fungal pathogens, including leaf rust, over the same period.


Tree species can significantly modify most of these soil characteristics [25] [26] [27] [28] . For instance, N2-fixing tree species as Alnus glutinosa with high nitrification rates can acidify the topsoil, which hampers the activity of burrowing earthworms despite the high nutrient content of alder litter [27] . It is known that the quality of litter as a substrate for earthworms increases with N, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations and decreases with increasing lignin, lignin:N, and C:N ratios [29] . Tree species can reinforce patterns of soil fertility through positive and/or negative litter feedbacks on earthworm activity and the rate of nutrient cycling [30] . For example, several common garden experiments have shown that in just a few decades, tree species with slowly decomposing litter of poor quality for earthworms as Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur acidify soils and create humus forms very different from those under species with fast decomposing nutrient-rich litter such as Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus and Tilia cordata [27, 31, 32] . The latter tree species thus lead to a higher earthworm species diversity and total earthworm biomass (4-6 species, 11-37 g·m −2 ) compared to species with more nutrient-poor litter (1-2 species, 0-4 g·m −2 [33] ).

Tree species can significantly modify most of these soil characteristics.

For instance, N2-fixing tree species as Alnus glutinosa with high nitrification rates can acidify the topsoil, which hampers the activity of burrowing earthworms despite the high nutrient content of alder litter.

It is known that the quality of litter as a substrate for earthworms increases with N, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations and decreases with increasing lignin, lignin:N, and C:N ratios.

Tree species can reinforce patterns of soil fertility through positive and/or negative litter feedbacks on earthworm activity and the rate of nutrient cycling.

For example, several common garden experiments have shown that in just a few decades, tree species with slowly decomposing litter of poor quality for earthworms as Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur acidify soils and create humus forms very different from those under species with fast decomposing nutrient-rich litter such as Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus and Tilia cordata.

The latter tree species thus lead to a higher earthworm species diversity and total earthworm biomass (4-6 species, 11-37 g·m −2 ) compared to species with more nutrient-poor litter (1-2 species, 0-4 g·m −2).


Sulfentrazone is a protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitor herbicide that is recently registered for use in Ontario soybean (Glycine max L.). Sulfentrazone inhibits the PPO enzyme, causing an excess of protoporphyrinogen IX in the chloroplast of the cell [6] . The excess then leaks out of the chloroplast into the cyto-phyrinogen, where various reactions convert it to free oxygen radicals. These radicals disrupt cell membranes, resulting in cellular leakage, loss of cell function, and cell death [7] . Sulfentrazone controls broadleaf weeds such as pigweeds (Amaranthus spp.), common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) and wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus L.), and grasses such as giant foxtail (Setariafaberii Hermm.), fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.) and witchgrass (Panicum capillare L.) [8] - [11] .

Sulfentrazone inhibits the PPO enzyme, causing an excess of protoporphyrinogen IX in the chloroplast of the cell.

These radicals disrupt cell membranes, resulting in cellular leakage, loss of cell function, and cell death.

Sulfentrazone controls broadleaf weeds such as pigweeds (Amaranthus spp.), common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) and wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus L.), and grasses such as giant foxtail (Setariafaberii Hermm.), fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.) and witchgrass (Panicum capillare L.).


The paper is organized as follows. In Section 2, we give some preliminary results that will be used in the proof of the main results. In Section 3, we establish the uniqueness and existence of a solution for the nonlinear fractional differential equation boundary value problem (1) . In last section, we give two examples to illustrate our work.

The paper is organized as follows.

In Section 3, we establish the uniqueness and existence of a solution for the nonlinear fractional differential equation boundary value problem.


The demand of flexibility in the CNC systems was increased in late 1970's and early 1980's, because of the rapid growth in the manufacturing world to enable low bunch manufacturing of the extensive variety of parts. In the progression towards the realization of the flexible manufacturing environment, the CNC machines were found to be a critical resource because of their capability of being reprogrammed to produce different parts [4] . In order to overcome that demand, a new ISO standard was developed which is formally known as Standard for The Exchange of Product Data (STEP) or ISO 10303 [5] . The objective of STEP is to provide the means of describing product data throughout the life cycle that is independent from any particular computer system. ISO 10303 significantly improved the interoperability between CAD systems and had also created the need of a similar standard for exchange of information between CNC machines as well as CAM systems. Consequently, in 1999 an international project was started to specify a new standard entitled ISO 14649 formally known as STEP-(Numerical Control)NC to bring the benefits of STEP to CAM and CNC [6] . The ISO 14649 standard is an extension of ISO 10303. It allows the connections between STEP based Computer Aided Systems (CAx) and CNC machines. The concept of Standard for The Exchange of Product DataNumerical Control (STEP-NC) is based on "Design anywhere, build anywhere and support anywhere" [7] . The introduction of ISO 14649 provides a platform to recover the information loss between CAD/CAM/CNC and opens the doors for the development of next generation (modern and flexible) CNC systems [4] .

In the progression towards the realization of the flexible manufacturing environment, the CNC machines were found to be a critical resource because of their capability of being reprogrammed to produce different parts.

In order to overcome that demand, a new ISO standard was developed which is formally known as Standard for The Exchange of Product Data (STEP) or ISO 10303.

Consequently, in 1999 an international project was started to specify a new standard entitled ISO 14649 formally known as STEP-(Numerical Control)NC to bring the benefits of STEP to CAM and CNC.

The concept of Standard for The Exchange of Product DataNumerical Control (STEP-NC) is based on "Design anywhere, build anywhere and support anywhere".

The introduction of ISO 14649 provides a platform to recover the information loss between CAD/CAM/CNC and opens the doors for the development of next generation (modern and flexible) CNC systems.


In this study a new method for the development of sustainable manufacturing environment based CNC system has been introduced. The system is of open nature that allows different vendors to integrate custom hardware and software module with CNC core. The proposed technique is composed of hardware and software configuration. In proposed study different vendors hardware and software are integrated into a single PC based CNC unit to enable more open, interoperable, intelligent and modern CNC environment at a low cost. This integration has been implemented on old CNC machine and successfully converted into a modern CNC system. This integration and conversation reflects towards the sustainability of this study. The system is composed of various software modules, which were developed by various NI LabVIEW functional blocks. The system is based on new ISO data interface model formally known as STEP-NC, it is able to work with STEP part 21 physical file. However, for ISO 6983 a similar approach was adopted in past for that please refer [30] .

However, for ISO 6983 a similar approach was adopted in past for that please refer.


Tamarisk is able to maintain high leaf gas exchange rates under extremely hot and dry conditions (high vapor pressure deficit, high temperature and low soil water availability) relative to native species (Horton et al., 2001) . Results from this study support this point. P N remained stable when soil moisture decreased from 40 to 20% FC (Figure 3a) . Decreased P N at noon was observed in the study. For S0W2, g s varied simultaneously, implying that photosynthetic limitations were mainly contributed by stomatal closure; while for S0W3, nonstomatal limitations occurred (Figures 3a and 4c) . Tamarix are typical salt-secreting plants, which secretes actively even under low salt conditions, and the composition of the secretions is highly dependent on the composition of the root environment (Berry, 1970) . Leaflets of T. chinensis had large amount of salt glands, which play an important role in regulating iron balance, maintaining osmotic pressure and improving salt endurance (Thomson et al., 1969) . For S0W1 and S0W2, stomatal regulation were observed at noon, while for S0W3 it was not observed, implying that water deficit may influence the ability of countering high temperature and excessive heat at noon, and stomotal and salt glands cells might be damaged when soil moisture decreased to 20% FC. This might be why stoma did not close timely, so high transpiration rate and lower WUE were observed. Further anatomical studies may provide more information of the relationships between stomatal regulation and water deficit.

Tamarisk is able to maintain high leaf gas exchange rates under extremely hot and dry conditions (high vapor pressure deficit, high temperature and low soil water availability) relative to native species.

Tamarix are typical salt-secreting plants, which secretes actively even under low salt conditions, and the composition of the secretions is highly dependent on the composition of the root environment.

Leaflets of T. chinensis had large amount of salt glands, which play an important role in regulating iron balance, maintaining osmotic pressure and improving salt endurance.


Data mining, the efficient discovery of previously unknown patterns in large databases, has become a hot topic for decision makers. As an important and popular data mining technique, classification has been widely applied in business, medicine, industry, etc. In the past years, different classification methods have been proposed. None of classification approaches is always superior to the others in terms of classification accuracy. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to the use of each. The KNN technique requires only that the data be such that distances can be calculated. Bayesian classification assumes that the data attributes are independent with discrete values. Thus, although it is easy to use and understand, results may not be satisfactory. Decision tree techniques are easy to understand, but they may lead to overfitting. To avoid this, pruning techniques may be needed [1] .

To avoid this, pruning techniques may be needed.


Recent papers in the literature suggest that this rule of thumb overprovisions buffers by several orders of magnitude [4, 5, 6, 7, 8] . In fact, as the number of TCP flows becomes extremely large, they are much less synchronized, and therefore their sum is smoother than for synchronized flows, hence incurring smaller buffer needs. More precisely, these papers argue that the TCP flows can be modeled as independent, and therefore, by the law of large numbers, the total number of TCP packets in the network converges to a Gaussian distribution. As a consequence, in this model, also known as the Stanford model, it is hypothesized that the needed buffer size is smaller by a factor of about √ n than the rule of thumb for synchronized flows, where n is the number of TCP flows going through the buffer. For instance, given a million flows, the example above yields a buffer size of about 10 Mb in the Stanford model, which can be implemented in SRAM instead of DRAM. If true, such a result would obviously incur significant architectural changes in backbone routers: for the same power budget, it would be possible to pack more lines, thus increasing the router capacity. The memory architecture would be much simplified. And the input and output queues might be packed together with the switch fabric in a single chip, hence increasing its modularity as well.

Recent papers in the literature suggest that this rule of thumb overprovisions buffers by several orders of magnitude.


Although the primary focus of the farmlet experiment was sheep production, some cattle were included on each farm, as it is a common practice to incorporate cattle on typical grazing properties in the region (Alford et al. 2003) . Thus, during periods when excess feed was available, such as early summer in some years, weaner cattle were purchased and the weight gain recorded up to the point of sale, which was generally from late summer to autumn. Upon purchase, cattle were allocated randomly among the farmlets to avoid bias. Where possible, the ratio of sheep to cattle stock units was maintained at similar levels between farmlets.

Although the primary focus of the farmlet experiment was sheep production, some cattle were included on each farm, as it is a common practice to incorporate cattle on typical grazing properties in the region.


In the western North Pacific (WNP) basin, few tropical cyclones (TCs) develop prior to June (i.e., the onset of the Asian monsoon), even though the necessary conditions for tropical cyclogenesis (TCG) persist year round (Gray 1998) . Instead, trade easterlies dominate the WNP during the spring months, and the rare TCs that do develop during this premonsoon period are often associated with anomalous westerly equatorial winds that modulate the formation of TC precursor disturbances (Ritchie and Holland 1999) . This is the case for Typhoon Chanchu, which developed in early May 2006.

In the western North Pacific (WNP) basin, few tropical cyclones (TCs) develop prior to June (i.e., the onset of the Asian monsoon), even though the necessary conditions for tropical cyclogenesis (TCG) persist year round.

Instead, trade easterlies dominate the WNP during the spring months, and the rare TCs that do develop during this premonsoon period are often associated with anomalous westerly equatorial winds that modulate the formation of TC precursor disturbances.


Endometrial carcinoma is the most common pelvic gynaecological malignancy in industrialised countries, and the incidence is increasing [1] . Treatment and prognosis are influenced by surgical International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage including depth of myometrial invasion, cervical stroma infiltration, and lymph node, pelvic or distant metastases. Also, histological subtype and tumour grade have a prognostic impact [1] . Depending on tumour stage, the 5-year survival for endometrial carcinoma patients ranges from 20% to 91%, with 80% survival for all stages [2] . Approximately 75% of tumours are confined to the uterine corpus at primary treatment [1, 2] .

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common pelvic gynaecological malignancy in industrialised countries, and the incidence is increasing.

Also, histological subtype and tumour grade have a prognostic impact.

Depending on tumour stage, the 5-year survival for endometrial carcinoma patients ranges from 20% to 91%, with 80% survival for all stages.

Approximately 75% of tumours are confined to the uterine corpus at primary treatment.


Major impacts to the United States from Hurricane Sandy went beyond damage from storm surge flooding and high winds (Blake et al. 2013) . As remnants of Sandy tracked northwestward and inland over the mid-Atlantic region of the United States on 29-31 October 2012 ( Fig. 1 ) while interacting with a strong midlatitude upperlevel trough digging southeastward from Canada, historic early season snowfall with blizzard conditions occurred over much of the southern Appalachian Mountains (SAMs). Northwest winds associated with the strong pressure gradient on the periphery of Sandy intensified the cold-air advection and enhanced orographic lift on the western slopes of the mountain ridges, leading to a changeover from rain to snow and increasing precipitation rates from the strengthening upward motion.

Major impacts to the United States from Hurricane Sandy went beyond damage from storm surge flooding and high winds.


Fault detection and isolation FDI has been studied for more than three decades, and many approaches have been proposed to solve this problem for nonlinear systems 1, 2 . Among the model-based FDI approaches, the observer-based technique 3 is the most popular. Many different models have been used to generate the so-called residual vector that provides a measure of the deviation between estimated and measured signals. In general, a fault is declared if the length of the residual vector exceeds a certain threshold value 4, 5 . A useful alternative to residual generation is fault reconstruction, which not only detects and isolates the fault, but also provides an estimate of the fault so that its shape and magnitude can be better understood 6, 7 . A consequence of fault reconstruction is that more precise corrective action can be taken. This approach is very useful for incipient faults and slow drifts, which are very difficult to detect. Also, the detail of the fault's shape, obtained from fault reconstruction, can significantly facilitate the fault tolerant control FTC design. The notion of fault reconstruction has been considered in many papers and much pioneering research in this area has been published [8] [9] [10] [11] . It should be emphasized that fault reconstruction is still very challenging for many nonlinear systems, especially considering model uncertainties, noise, and other types of disturbances. Therefore, it is necessary to design a scheme so that the reconstruction is robust to disturbances in nonlinear systems.

The notion of fault reconstruction has been considered in many papers and much pioneering research in this area has been published.


In our study on childhood non-infant acute leukemias we confirmed that the prenatal origin is common in ALL patients (25% in our cohort) while all neonatal blood spots in our AML cohort were negative. Although we found all of the Guthrie cards from AML patients negative, we do not think that our results completely contradict the previous reports with positive neonatal blood spots of AML patients [18] [19] [20] . However, we feel that with the exception of AML1/ETO fusion gene, where the prenatal origin has been proven reliably, reports of prenatal origin in non-infant childhood AML are isolated single cases. These should be confirmed by other studies or reports as a false-positivity can not be ruled out completely with the approach used. For example the E2A/PBX1 fusion gene was found to be "weakly" positive in Guthrie cards of 2 out of 15 patients tested, and, nevertheless, the data on E2A/PBX1 are interpreted as being suggestive of a postnatal origin of this fusion gene [32] .

Although we found all of the Guthrie cards from AML patients negative, we do not think that our results completely contradict the previous reports with positive neonatal blood spots of AML patients.

For example the E2A/PBX1 fusion gene was found to be "weakly" positive in Guthrie cards of 2 out of 15 patients tested, and, nevertheless, the data on E2A/PBX1 are interpreted as being suggestive of a postnatal origin of this fusion gene.


Memorability is a crucial issue when it comes to the usability of authentication mechanisms. Since BoD Shapes is patternbased, we argue that it has similarly high memorability properties as related systems [27] . However, we did not evaluate this yet as this requires a long-term study (in the real world if possible).

Since BoD Shapes is patternbased, we argue that it has similarly high memorability properties as related systems.


Poultry feathers consist to 90% of keratin, which is rich in hydrophobic amino acids, but also contains important amino acids like cysteine, arginine, and threonine [2] . The feather waste can be processed to feather meal, hydrothermal processes or chemical treatments being the most popular methods. These processes result however in the destruction of essential amino acids, yielding a product with poor digestibility and low nutritional value [3, 4] . Bioconversion of feather represents an alternative method for improving the nutritional value of feather waste [5] .

Poultry feathers consist to 90% of keratin, which is rich in hydrophobic amino acids, but also contains important amino acids like cysteine, arginine, and threonine.

These processes result however in the destruction of essential amino acids, yielding a product with poor digestibility and low nutritional value.

Bioconversion of feather represents an alternative method for improving the nutritional value of feather waste.


Also sheep production and wool processing generate a significant amount of keratin waste, and as the world market for wool has dropped dramatically, this has brought about a huge amount of wool waste that cannot be processed [6] . Wool contains a different kind of keratin (α-keratin) than feather, due to the high concentration of cysteine crosslinking in the exocuticle of the wool fiber, and it is consequently not as rigid as feather keratin (β-keratin) [7] . Both types of keratin are intensively cross-linked with disulfide bridges, hampering their degradation by common proteases such as trypsin, pepsin, and papain [8] .

Also sheep production and wool processing generate a significant amount of keratin waste, and as the world market for wool has dropped dramatically, this has brought about a huge amount of wool waste that cannot be processed.

Wool contains a different kind of keratin (α-keratin) than feather, due to the high concentration of cysteine crosslinking in the exocuticle of the wool fiber, and it is consequently not as rigid as feather keratin (β-keratin).

Both types of keratin are intensively cross-linked with disulfide bridges, hampering their degradation by common proteases such as trypsin, pepsin, and papain.


The Remote Maintenance Shell (RMS) is a solution for remote software operations and maintenance [12] . It a represents the protected environment for software operations performed by mobile agents. The Multi-Agent Remote Maintenance Shell (MA-RMS) is based on a Mobile Agent Network (MAN) and is organized as a team-oriented multi-agent system. It consists of a master agent and a team of agents, where knowledge of the system is shared between the master and team agents. In systems with a high level of complexity, such as the MA-RMS, it is difficult to verify its properties formally or in a real system. In order to check various behavior of a multi-agent system such as different agent coordination strategies, creating a simulation is the only viable approach. Simulations are capable of simulating the functionality of the system and therefore be used to perform system analysis faster and cheaper.

The Remote Maintenance Shell (RMS) is a solution for remote software operations and maintenance.


An interesting target population for preconception preventative interventions is represented by women of childbearing age who are engaged on the web: a large proportion of this group of women frequently search for health information online [11] . In a recent survey, we showed that web-engaged women planning a pregnancy search for information on Google using preconceptionrelated and pregnancy-related keywords [12] . This population is probably characterized by a peculiar profile and by specific preconception risk factors. A characterization of this profile can inform tailored, possibly cheap web-based prevention interventions.

An interesting target population for preconception preventative interventions is represented by women of childbearing age who are engaged on the web: a large proportion of this group of women frequently search for health information online.

In a recent survey, we showed that web-engaged women planning a pregnancy search for information on Google using preconceptionrelated and pregnancy-related keywords.


The power system simulator for engineering (PSS/E) is a powerful time-domain simulator for the analysis of AC grids and associated controllers. It provides transmission planning and operation engineers with a broad range of methods for the design and operation of reliable networks. Many companies have therefore used PSS/E to analyze large-scale power grids. Moreover, PSS/E enables use of real AC grid data to describe interactions between an HVDC system and the AC power grid. There are also a few useful examples of HVDC models such as CDC4T, CDC6T, and CDC7T in PSS/E [24] . However, these models require large sets of parameters, which are typically difficult to obtain from real HVDC systems because of modeling discrepancies and confidentiality issues imposed by device manufacturers. Power grid operators and utility companies therefore require new PSS/E models for real-time analysis of practical HVDC systems; in designing such a model, we focused on the Jeju-Haenam HVDC system in Korea.

There are also a few useful examples of HVDC models such as CDC4T, CDC6T, and CDC7T in PSS/E.


In addition, several digital simulators have been adopted for simulation studies on LCC-HVDC systems. In particular, power systems computer aided design/electromagnetic transients including DC (PSCAD/EMTDC, or simply PSCAD) and MATLAB/SIMULINK have been used to elaborate the control schemes of CIGRE HVDC benchmark system models [21] [22] [23] . However, the AC network models used in these studies were simplified by using voltage sources and equivalent impedances, primarily because of the models' limited ability to model complex, large-scale AC networks. Therefore, real power grids-such as those on the Korean mainland and Jeju Island connected via the Jeju-Haenam HVDC system-are difficult to model using these simulators; i.e., real-time analysis of the HVDC systems will become computationally onerous.

In particular, power systems computer aided design/electromagnetic transients including DC (PSCAD/EMTDC, or simply PSCAD) and MATLAB/SIMULINK have been used to elaborate the control schemes of CIGRE HVDC benchmark system models.


Infectious diseases are still among the leading causes of death worldwide, despite numerous advances in medical research [1] . The increasing global spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, and the prevalence of nosocomial infections, cause increased morbidity and mortality in patients and constitute a serious problem for public health [2] . New antibiotic resistance mechanisms are constantly emerging and compromise our ability to treat even common infectious diseases, which results in prolonged illness, disability, and ultimately death. For example, resistance of E. coli to fluoroquinolone antibiotics, among the most widely used and highest potency medicines for the treatment of urinary tract infections, is already widespread; there are currently parts of the world where treatment is virtually ineffective in more than half of patients [3] .

Infectious diseases are still among the leading causes of death worldwide, despite numerous advances in medical research.

The increasing global spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, and the prevalence of nosocomial infections, cause increased morbidity and mortality in patients and constitute a serious problem for public health.

For example, resistance of E. coli to fluoroquinolone antibiotics, among the most widely used and highest potency medicines for the treatment of urinary tract infections, is already widespread; there are currently parts of the world where treatment is virtually ineffective in more than half of patients.


The establishment of bacterial infections involves several mechanisms, which require the initial adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to host cells (through the action of specific lectin-carbohydrate interaction motifs), followed by colonization and biofilm formation at the site of infection [4] [5] [6] . Several pathogens associated with chronic infections are linked to biofilm formation, including those causing periodontitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, chronic urinary tract infections, chronic otitis media, and chronic wound infections [7] . Chronic infections arise in part because bacteria in biofilms can effectively resist the host immune response as well as antibiotic treatment, which imparts them with the ability to persist for a long time in the human body [8] .

The establishment of bacterial infections involves several mechanisms, which require the initial adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to host cells (through the action of specific lectin-carbohydrate interaction motifs), followed by colonization and biofilm formation at the site of infection.

Several pathogens associated with chronic infections are linked to biofilm formation, including those causing periodontitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, chronic urinary tract infections, chronic otitis media, and chronic wound infections.

Chronic infections arise in part because bacteria in biofilms can effectively resist the host immune response as well as antibiotic treatment, which imparts them with the ability to persist for a long time in the human body.


In modern wireless communication applications, multiple-input multiple-out technique regarded as a practical method to implement reliability and extend channel capacity without adding additional power or spectrum has drawn much interest [1] . However, when the antennas are placed closely, strong mutual coupling among antenna elements will degrade the performance of a MIMO system. Thus, improving isolation is desirable in a MIMO system. Furthermore, the antennas must be as compact as possible to be easily integrated in a MIMO system.

In modern wireless communication applications, multiple-input multiple-out technique regarded as a practical method to implement reliability and extend channel capacity without adding additional power or spectrum has drawn much interest.


One of the central objectives of the Eccerobot project is to employ physicsbased robot simulation both off-line for controller development as well as online as an internal model for robot control [6, 5] . Our motion capture system is therefore of great use for simulation parameter estimation and creation of a simulation model. Evolution strategies are currently applied in order to optimize the physics-based simulation model based on our joint angle measurements [13] .

One of the central objectives of the Eccerobot project is to employ physicsbased robot simulation both off-line for controller development as well as online as an internal model for robot control.

Evolution strategies are currently applied in order to optimize the physics-based simulation model based on our joint angle measurements.


We then turn to the question of whether reciprocal inclinations tend to foster individual success. Since reciprocal individuals are willing to reward and sanction fair or unfair behaviour even if this is costly, one might speculate that such behaviour could lead to a strategic disadvantage, because of resources "wasted" on rewards and sanctions. On the other hand, it is known from evolutionary game theory that if types can be signaled it can be an advantage to credibly signal that one is willing to punish unfair behaviour or to reward fair treatments. For example, firms that expect reciprocal actions by their workers may have a reason to pay higher wages or to treat workers with respect (Akerlof, 1982; Bewley, 1999) .

For example, firms that expect reciprocal actions by their workers may have a reason to pay higher wages or to treat workers with respect.


Our analysis of wage and unemployment outcomes provides a first piece of evidence on the success of reciprocity as an individual trait. We investigate the issue further by taking a broader perspective on success, showing that reciprocal types have a larger number of close friends, and a higher degree of subjective well-being. The latter finding is particularly relevant because many social scientists agree that happiness is an important goal of human life and perhaps best summarizes success and achievement in a general way (Frey and Stutzer, 2002) .

The latter finding is particularly relevant because many social scientists agree that happiness is an important goal of human life and perhaps best summarizes success and achievement in a general way.


The initial sensor location(s) which was tested were determined by studying the configuration and dimensions of the pneumatic conveying pipe. The best sensor location in a system has been discussed to be a consequence of several dynamical issues [29] . It is however, recommended to investigate the optimal location(s) in each application because several factors such as type of medium (liquid, gas, particulate, fluid) and nature of the test system are the determinant factors. The localization of the four sensors used in this work was primarily a result of acquiring the acoustic signal within the vicinity of the section modified for the video capture such that comparison of the data from the sensors and the video could be made. Sensor number three was identified as the best sensor location for prediction of both pellet velocity and airflow rate. The reason why sensor three and four showed significantly better results than the other sensor pair (sensor one and two) most likely results from the fact that sensor three and four are located closer to the bend (see Figure 1) than the other sensor pair (sensor one and two). Pellets impacting the inner wall of the bend generate acoustic vibrations which have much higher amplitudes than what is the case in the other section (where sensor one and two are located) which is straight. The transparent section made of plastic -together with the rubber gaskets used between the flanges -isolate a relevant part of the signal picked up by sensor 3 and 4 from propagating to the other side of the transparent section where sensor 1 and 2 were mounted. Table 1 and 2 shows that the PLS-R models based on sensor three and four, three PLScomponents are utilized, while the PLS-R models based on sensor one and two, only one PLScomponent is used. As described above regarding optimal sensor location, one can deduce that the signal to noise ratio in the acoustic signals from sensor one and two is significantly lower than for the other sensor pair (sensor three and four). This is one of the reasons why also the models based on sensor one and two only can utilize one component as component two and three were not stable enough to be considered in the interpretation of components as described in the PLS-R method section.

The best sensor location in a system has been discussed to be a consequence of several dynamical issues.


Currently, the development and application of social robots in real-life settings rapidly increases. Whereas robots initially were the domain of science-fiction, today, social robots are tried out in service-oriented professions in healthcare, education, and commerce (Broadbent, 2017) . Habitually, general-purpose robots are readied for a particular task in a particular environment such as guidance through an exhibition or reception in a hotel (Broadbent, 2017) .

Whereas robots initially were the domain of science-fiction, today, social robots are tried out in service-oriented professions in healthcare, education, and commerce.

Habitually, general-purpose robots are readied for a particular task in a particular environment such as guidance through an exhibition or reception in a hotel.


The fact that significant convection developed above a cool stable boundary layer leads to the conclusion that the thunderstorms that made up the MCS in question were of the elevated variety. It is posed that the type of elevated convection that occurred over Missouri on 6 June 1993 was not the type commonly noted by Colman (1990a,b) . The main difference between most of his case studies and the present one is the fact that the majority of Colman's elevated thunderstorms occurred in an environment where there was no CAPE present, appearing to be the result of frontogenetical forcing in the presence of weak symmetric stability (Colman 1990b) . While the thunderstorms in question here and in Colman's (1990a,b) study are both detached from the atmospheric boundary layer, occurring above a frontal surface, the MCS of 6 June 1993 developed in an environment characterized by elevated convective instability.

The main difference between most of his case studies and the present one is the fact that the majority of Colman's elevated thunderstorms occurred in an environment where there was no CAPE present, appearing to be the result of frontogenetical forcing in the presence of weak symmetric stability.


During the morning of 6 June 1993, a mesoscale convective system (MCS) developed over north-central Missouri and moved southeastward, resulting in up to 150 mm (6 in.) of rain in a 200 km 1 400 km band across the state. Figure 1 illustrates the 24-h distribution of rainfall over Missouri resolved by the National Weather Service (NWS) cooperative network, with 73 stations reporting. The heavy rainfall episode of 6 June 1993 was one of many such events that contributed to the catastrophic flooding in the midwestern United States that summer, which resulted in damages in excess of $10 billion. While this storm proved not to be as prolific with respect to rainfall as other storms that would occur later that summer, this was a particularly interesting situation for two reasons. First and foremost, the thunderstorms associated with the heavy rainfall developed several hundred kilometers north of a surface warm front above a cool, stable boundary layer. Second, the storms developed during the early morning hours and reached maximum intensity during the late morning and early afternoon. The behavior of this MCS differs from most heavy-rainfall-producing thunderstorms, which occur mainly at night (Maddox et al. 1979) . These factors contributed to the poor handling of this heavy rainfall event by the local operational community.

The behavior of this MCS differs from most heavy-rainfall-producing thunderstorms, which occur mainly at night.


Differential difference current conveyors (DDCCs) are useful current-mode building blocks and many authors have demonstrated their versatility in CMOS analog circuit esign [1] . Generalized impedance converter, filter, oscillator, quadrature oscillator, floating or grounding resistor and inductance simulation are an important domain of application of DDCCs [2] [3] [4] . Indeed, the realizetion of voltage-mode (VM) first-order all-pass filters is quite recent [5] . These structures present some advantages, such as the possibility to control the frequency or the gain after integration [6] [7] [8] . DDCC-based filter or quadrature oscillator presents a good solution to avoid limitations of Surface Acoustic Wave, such as problems of integration, impedance matching, tuning, linearity, etc [3, 6] .

Differential difference current conveyors (DDCCs) are useful current-mode building blocks and many authors have demonstrated their versatility in CMOS analog circuit esign.

Generalized impedance converter, filter, oscillator, quadrature oscillator, floating or grounding resistor and inductance simulation are an important domain of application of DDCCs.

Indeed, the realizetion of voltage-mode (VM) first-order all-pass filters is quite recent.

These structures present some advantages, such as the possibility to control the frequency or the gain after integration.

DDCC-based filter or quadrature oscillator presents a good solution to avoid limitations of Surface Acoustic Wave, such as problems of integration, impedance matching, tuning, linearity, etc.


In this work, we present a novel method for normalizing informal word to their formal equivalents. Specifically, given an informal word with its context as input, we generate hypotheses for its formal equivalents by searching the Google Web 1T corpus (Brants and Franz, 2006) . Prospective informal-formal pairs are further classified by a supervised binary classifier to identify correct pairs. In the classification model, we incorporate both rule-based and statistical feature functions that are learned from both gold-standard annotation and formal domain synonym dictionaries. Also importantly, our method does not directly use words or lexica as features, keeping the learned model small yet robust to inevitable vocabulary change.

Specifically, given an informal word with its context as input, we generate hypotheses for its formal equivalents by searching the Google Web 1T corpus.


The hydrodynamization of the QGP can be understood by studying the approach of different initial conditions to a non-equilibrium attractor [38] . For example, one finds in practice that the pressure anisotropy (P L /P T ) developed from a set of different initial conditions all approach a universal attractor solution in a time on the order of a few fm/c with the time scale increasing as one decreases the effective coupling or initial temperature. Once the solutions have collapsed onto the attractor, information about the details of the initial condition used are wiped out, suggesting a kind of pseudo-thermalization of the system [47] . One shortcoming of prior works is that, when discussing the attractor, past authors (including this author) have restricted their attention to the amplitude, ϕ, which can be related to a particular ratio of a linear combination of low-order moments of the oneparticle distribution function. A natural question is whether or not attractor-like behavior is observed in the evolution of all moments of the one-particle distribution function and, if an attractor for higher-moments exists, what is the timescale for a generic initial condition to approach the attractor for a given moment.

The hydrodynamization of the QGP can be understood by studying the approach of different initial conditions to a non-equilibrium attractor.

Once the solutions have collapsed onto the attractor, information about the details of the initial condition used are wiped out, suggesting a kind of pseudo-thermalization of the system.


The performance of the current ICP-TOF-MS instruments was improved by a specially designed entrance optics with a variable entrance slit. This makes it possible to select a portion of ions with better homogeneity of ion energy. By this way the velocity spread of ions will be reduced, both along and perpendicular to the flight tube, which results in small lines, better resolution and lower background. Based on this improvement an ICP-TOF-MS instrument has been developed and built up in our laboratory and used in the present study [10] .

Based on this improvement an ICP-TOF-MS instrument has been developed and built up in our laboratory and used in the present study.


The OpenFlow switching element is based on OpenVSwitch [12] . The ''Super virtual WLAN card'' is a bridge device connected to OpenVSwitch. All user-space applications (handover manager, video player, control server) were written in Python. The scanning module uses a rawsocket to inject probe messages into the WLAN card driver. The video player application is based on the Gstreamer framework and has a socket interface, which allows the handover manager to query its current buffer level and QoS statistics such as frame drop rate. We use VLC as streaming server and HTTP streaming.

The OpenFlow switching element is based on OpenVSwitch.


Most theories of intelligence center around the concept of the existence of a general factor known as "g" (Spearman, 1904) . This "g" can be measured and is correlated to things such as level of education, occupation, and economic status (Gottfredson, 1998) . With the push in schools for all students to be college-ready by the time they graduate from high school, measurements of "g" could explain why being college ready is more difficult for some students than others.

Most theories of intelligence center around the concept of the existence of a general factor known as "g".

This "g" can be measured and is correlated to things such as level of education, occupation, and economic status.


Understanding intelligence and its relationship to achievement is also crucial for educators charged with identifying and providing services to gifted students. Though it is common to use both an intelligence test and an achievement test in the identification process, when school districts are faced with large numbers of students from low socio-economic (SES) communities, they often resort to using a nonverbal intelligence test instead of a complete intelligence battery (Lewis, DeCamp-Fritson, Ramage, McFarland, & Archwamety, 2007) . These districts soon discover many low SES children are not able to keep pace with other gifted students and often leave the gifted program within a few years (Moore, Ford, & Milner, 2005) .

Though it is common to use both an intelligence test and an achievement test in the identification process, when school districts are faced with large numbers of students from low socio-economic (SES) communities, they often resort to using a nonverbal intelligence test instead of a complete intelligence battery.

These districts soon discover many low SES children are not able to keep pace with other gifted students and often leave the gifted program within a few years.


The research performed thus far on intelligence and achievement has provided a firm foundation for understanding the relationship between these two constructs (Jensen, 1998) . Primary cognitive abilities are organized into two main types of intelligence: fluid (nonverbal) and crystallized (verbal) (Horn & Cattell, 1966) . Verbal and nonverbal abilities can be assessed by many contemporary intelligence tests. The literature also evidences that verbal abilities have stronger correlation with academic achievement than nonverbal abilities. Furthermore, verbal abilities are related to readiness to learn while nonverbal abilities are related to potential to learn. If intelligence scores are used to predict any kind of future academic performance, both verbal (readiness) and nonverbal (potential) abilities should be evaluated.

The research performed thus far on intelligence and achievement has provided a firm foundation for understanding the relationship between these two constructs.

Primary cognitive abilities are organized into two main types of intelligence: fluid (nonverbal) and crystallized (verbal).


In a broad sense, the resonant scattering may be viewed in terms of the constructive scattering resulting in the enhancement and the destructive scattering resulting in the suppression. Despite the recent research progress in near-field interaction with novel artificial composites such as plasmonic metamaterials, it would be necessary to theoretically characterize the resonant far-field diagrams. In the present paper, we focus on the role of the core-shell ratio in the resonant scattering in the far zone induced by a distributed coated system. As for suppression, the cloaking technique has received increasing attention since the object with the cloak appears transparent to the external illumination. However, the design of cloaking materials to achieve exact invisibility requires the coating to be inhomogeneous and/or anisotropic [5, 15, 16] . A central concern is how to realize such inhomogeneous materials and control the tensorial elements in anisotropic materials independently.

However, the design of cloaking materials to achieve exact invisibility requires the coating to be inhomogeneous and/or anisotropic.


In this study, it was found that N 2 plasma treatment functionalises the cotton fabric with N-containing groups and C=O groups, according to the FTIR study [43] . The formation of carboxyl groups on fabric after plasma treatment is caused by the oxidation of hydroxyl groups by particles in N 2 plasma, and they can react with amide groups in a hydantoin ring [44] . The higher absorbance peak of C=O in Figure 7c means the content of C=O in Figure 7c is 1.7 times higher than that in Figure 7b and 1 time in Figure 7d . According to the Beer-Lambert law, A = log 10 (I 0 /I) = abc (where A is the absorbance of functional groups; I 0 is the intensity of source radiation; I is the intensity of transmitted radiation; a is the absorpitivity co-efficient, b is the thickness of the path length; and c is the concentration of the absorber), the height of a second-derivative peak in the FTIR spectrum is proportional to the square of the original peak height with an opposite sign [44] .

In this study, it was found that N 2 plasma treatment functionalises the cotton fabric with N-containing groups and C=O groups, according to the FTIR study.

The formation of carboxyl groups on fabric after plasma treatment is caused by the oxidation of hydroxyl groups by particles in N 2 plasma, and they can react with amide groups in a hydantoin ring.

According to the Beer-Lambert law, A = log 10 (I 0 /I) = abc (where A is the absorbance of functional groups; I 0 is the intensity of source radiation; I is the intensity of transmitted radiation; a is the absorpitivity co-efficient, b is the thickness of the path length; and c is the concentration of the absorber), the height of a second-derivative peak in the FTIR spectrum is proportional to the square of the original peak height with an opposite sign.