Understanding which phenostages and ploidy levels are most likely to be used by herbivores is important for the assessment of herbivore impact, specifically with regard to the direct impact of biological control agents and for predicting the ultimate impact on the population dynamics of the target plant (Smith and Story, 2003) . Our results suggest that the combined release of A. zoegana and C. achates may have a cumulative negative feedback on C. stoebe plant fitness as A. zoegana oviposits on younger rosettes (regardless of ploidy level) and infects all phenostages while C. achates feeds (and we assume from previous work oviposits) on larger multiple-stem (4Â) plants. Taken together, the two specialist herbivores may reduce the fitness of both young and old phenostages and thus provide effective control of the weed. Furthermore, generalist herbivores in the local community, such as A. lusitanicus, may also contribute to control, particularly by damaging rosette plants whose survival rate determines knapweed densities (Myers and Risley, 2000) . What remains unclear is how damage levels impact the long-term survival and fitness of rosette, one-stem and multiple-stem plants. Future studies should thus measure the reproductive output and survivorship of the pants to build more detailed demographic models that will allow more accurate determination of the long term impact of these biological control agents.

Understanding which phenostages and ploidy levels are most likely to be used by herbivores is important for the assessment of herbivore impact, specifically with regard to the direct impact of biological control agents and for predicting the ultimate impact on the population dynamics of the target plant.

Furthermore, generalist herbivores in the local community, such as A. lusitanicus, may also contribute to control, particularly by damaging rosette plants whose survival rate determines knapweed densities.


The gel point is defined as the time needed to reach the inflection point on the viscosity vs. time curve (Figure 1 ). This method has been widely used by several authors [7, 16] . Before the gel formation, the viscosity of the gelling solution is relatively low; therefore, it can be measured accurately. After the gel formation, it will be hard to get an accurate viscosity value. Generally speaking, the strength of the cross-linking polymer solution is hard to measure and also hard to define. When the gel has reached a certain high strength, the gel will deform and is easily transferred in various mechanical viscometers, which will bring some damage to the gel performance. Unless this gelling solution allows gelation in the viscometer, the value of the measurement cannot represent its real strength.

This method has been widely used by several authors.


Gelation behavior is a fundamental parameter in oil-field application. The gelation behavior will determine the injection period and how deep into the formation the gel solution can be placed. For the study of gelation behavior, several methods like bottle testing method, sealed tube method, dynamic shear method (rheometer), and steady shear method (viscometer) are reported in the literatures [23] . Different equations have been used to describe the flow behavior of polymer gel system. The rheological behavior of polymer gel system is non-Newtonian, in which there is a nonlinear relationship between shear stress and shear rate. These polymer gel systems do not display simple behavior and require more complex models for their characterization [24] .

For the study of gelation behavior, several methods like bottle testing method, sealed tube method, dynamic shear method (rheometer), and steady shear method (viscometer) are reported in the literatures.

These polymer gel systems do not display simple behavior and require more complex models for their characterization.


The polymer gel treatment is one of the most useful chemical methods to reduce water production [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . Polymer gels are typically composed of a water soluble polymer and cross-linking agents which are dissolved in brine. After allowing sufficient time, the gelant solution sets into a semisolid mass and behaves as flow-diverting or blocking agent [10] [11] [12] . The selection of a polymer gel system for a given well treatment strongly depends on reservoir conditions such as temperature, salinity, hardness, and the pH of the water used for the preparation of the gelant [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] . Other parameters to be considered for the proper selection of a given polymer gel system include salinity of the formation water, permeability of the target zone, and the lithology of the formation [20, 21] .

The polymer gel treatment is one of the most useful chemical methods to reduce water production.

After allowing sufficient time, the gelant solution sets into a semisolid mass and behaves as flow-diverting or blocking agent.

The selection of a polymer gel system for a given well treatment strongly depends on reservoir conditions such as temperature, salinity, hardness, and the pH of the water used for the preparation of the gelant.

Other parameters to be considered for the proper selection of a given polymer gel system include salinity of the formation water, permeability of the target zone, and the lithology of the formation.


The excessive water production in association with crude oil is one of the major production difficulties for the oil industries worldwide. The costs of lifting, handling, separation, and disposal of large amounts of produced water increase the operating cost of the crude oil production and decrease the economic life of a well. Therefore, there is a need to reduce excessive water production [1] [2] [3] [4] .

Therefore, there is a need to reduce excessive water production.


The intuition behind our results is straightforward. If banks are present in the economy, the financial constraints of firms are relaxed. They can therefore perform more R&D, and ultimately introduce at a higher pace innovative technologies that quickly diffuse in the economy. This has a positive impact on the average growth rate of the economy. However, if banks excessively finance R&D activity, firms perform too much exploration of the technological space and the amount of loans booms. In turn, a larger flow of loans might imply a waste of resources, due to many unsuccessful R&D projects (Dosi and Lovallo, 1997) . In other words, finance may tilt the balance between exploration and exploitation in favor of the former. That is beneficial when agents are over-exploiting the existing techniques, but it may become detrimental to growth when resource accumulation via production is not strong enough due to excessive exploration.

In turn, a larger flow of loans might imply a waste of resources, due to many unsuccessful R&D projects.


We run an extensive set of Montecarlo experiments to study the simulated behavior of our economy. Our results show that, in general, the introduction of a banking sector allows for higher growth (and lower output volatility) in the long-run. We then study the effects of increasing the degree of financialization in the economy. In order to measure financialization, we focus on financial depth, defined as total amount of loans over GDP (Beck and Levine, 2004) . We find that the relation between financial depth and growth is non-linear and bell shaped. This implies that, for low financialization levels, increasing financialization has a positive marginal effect on growth, while the sign is reversed for larger financial-depth values.

In order to measure financialization, we focus on financial depth, defined as total amount of loans over GDP.


In order to satisfy the power demand of most applications, several PEM fuel cells must be connected in series to form a PEM fuel cell stack. However, heat and water management strategies, which are successful for single PEM fuel cells, are difficult to implement in a stack environment; the efficiency and power output of a PEM fuel cell operating within a stack are lower than the performance of a PEM fuel cell operating independently [3] . Thus, single cell PEM fuel cell models cannot be directly applied for PEM fuel cell stack optimization. This is because the operating conditions for each cell in a stack are typically not the same as the conditions at the stack inlet, and are different among the cells themselves due to the non-uniform reactant flow distribution among the cells, influenced by the pressure loss associated with each flow passage.

However, heat and water management strategies, which are successful for single PEM fuel cells, are difficult to implement in a stack environment; the efficiency and power output of a PEM fuel cell operating within a stack are lower than the performance of a PEM fuel cell operating independently.


This study formulates a PEM fuel cell stack model. The reactant distribution within the stack is modeled by treating the stack manifold and gas flow channels as a pipe network, and the voltages of the cells in the stack are determined with the single cell, steady state, isothermal model developed previously by the present authors [15] . U and Z configuration stacks operating with humidified hydrogen or reformate as the fuel and humidified oxygen or air as the oxidant are simulated, strategies for reducing the unequal distribution of reactants within the stack are examined, and methods for the improvement of stack performance are described based on the results of the present study.

The reactant distribution within the stack is modeled by treating the stack manifold and gas flow channels as a pipe network, and the voltages of the cells in the stack are determined with the single cell, steady state, isothermal model developed previously by the present authors.


The crystalline size of ZrO 2 is calculated to be equal to 45.3 nm and for ZrO 2 /GR it is 33.9 nm. Interaction between ZrO 2 and GR is verified using Raman analysis. ZrO 2 has 18(9A g + 9B g ) Raman active modes for the monoclinic phase according to the factor group theory (Damilola et al., 2010) . Raman spectrum of ZrO 2 shows monoclinic peaks corresponding to A g at 177 cm −1 , B g at 333 cm −1 , B g at 381 cm −1 , A g at 475 cm −1 , A g at 558 cm −1 and A g at 637 cm −1 as shown in Fig. 2 . In ZrO 2 /GR D band is observed at 1345 cm −1 as compared to GO where D band has been prominent at 1353 cm −1 (not shown in figure) . G peak at 1579 cm −1 and second-order two-phonon mode corresponding to GR at 2167 cm −1 suggest interaction between GR and ZrO 2 . Small shift in the ZrO 2 peaks of ZrO 2 /GR is due to the interaction between GR and ZrO 2 . The I D /I G is 1.05 for ZrO 2 /GR composite suggesting efficient interaction of GR with ZrO 2 .

ZrO 2 has 18(9A g + 9B g ) Raman active modes for the monoclinic phase according to the factor group theory.


Our system diverges from previous approaches most strongly by focusing upon false entailments; rather than assuming that a given entailment is false until proven true, we make the opposite assump-tion, and instead focus on applying knowledge-free heuristics that can act locally on a subgraph of syntactic dependencies to determine with high confidence that the entailment is false. Our approach is inspired by an analysis of the RTE dataset that suggested a syntax-based approach should be approximately twice as effective at predicting false entailment as true entailment (Vanderwende and Dolan, 2006) . The analysis implied that a great deal of syntactic information remained unexploited by existing systems, but gave few explicit suggestions on how syntactic information should be applied; this paper provides a starting point for creating the heuristics capable of obtaining the bound they suggest 2 .

Our approach is inspired by an analysis of the RTE dataset that suggested a syntax-based approach should be approximately twice as effective at predicting false entailment as true entailment.


Norm 10 carries two major genes for short straw (Allan and Vogel, 1968) . Dwarfism in Tom Thumb is controlled by a single gene carried on chromosome 4A (Morris, Schmidt and Johnson, 1972) . These genes are known as Rht 1, Rht 2 and Rht 3 respectively.

Norm 10 carries two major genes for short straw.

Dwarfism in Tom Thumb is controlled by a single gene carried on chromosome 4A.


The model computed in section 5 with negative discrete torsion turns out to have four generations and two adjoint representations. Phenomenologically, supersymmetric four generation models are not strictly ruled out, if one allows one neutrino to be quite different and heavier compared to the others. Such models have been constructed in References [31] .

Such models have been constructed in References.


The obtained SO(10) spectra are summarized in Table 3 . Inspection of the Table shows that models II and IV with negative torsion are equivalent. Also model I with either torsion is equivalent to model III + , where the superscript denotes the torsion sign. The mirror model of those is given by model III − . Hence, there are 4 physically distinguishable models. These equivalences lead to an important observation: some of the adjoint representations arose as the twist survivors inside a 248 of E 8 . Others resulted as the antisymmetric combination in the product of two vectors of SO (10) . The former are known to correspond to flat directions in the effective field theory. For example, if they are untwisted adjoint fields, then they are easily seen to correspond to continuous Wilson lines. But due to the equivalences just enumerated 9 , the same conclusion must hold also for the latter type of adjoints. II + has 32 generations, 24 10 and a 54 of SO(10), but no adjoints. II − has 2 adjoints, 12 decouplets and a 54 but net generation number zero. IV + has even 4 adjoints and at the same time a 54, but also vanishing net generation number, as well as no 10. The most interesting case is represented by models I and III with 8 net generations, 2 adjoints, 22 decouplets and no 54. However, none of the above spectra looks phenomenologically promising. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that in this class of models the appearance of multiple adjoint representations is rather generic. This is to be compared with symmetric orbifolds where only one GUT Higgs field of SO(10), either a 54 or 45 can be obtained [17] .

This is to be compared with symmetric orbifolds where only one GUT Higgs field of SO(10), either a 54 or 45 can be obtained.


The establishment of exotic organisms often has a detrimental effect on native species (Elliott et al. 1996) . Although we have no record of H. convergens population levels in Georgia tobacco before invasion by C. septempunctata and H. axyridis, these exotic coccinellids do not as yet appear to have had any adverse effects on H. convergens populations in Georgia tobacco. H. axyridis may be more efÞcient predators of other prey species such as cotton aphids or pecan aphids than of tobacco aphids. Both species have been observed in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), when aphids are present on this crop (Knutson and Ruberson 1996) . H. axyridis is 1 of the most abundant coccinellids in pecan and has been considered to be an efÞcient biological control agent of pecan aphids (Tedders and Schaefer 1994) . The availability of alternate prey may cause these predators to move to and from a diet of tobacco aphids, depending on the presence of more suitable prey on other crops; however, this hypothesis needs to be examined in more detail.

The establishment of exotic organisms often has a detrimental effect on native species.

Both species have been observed in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), when aphids are present on this crop.

H. axyridis is 1 of the most abundant coccinellids in pecan and has been considered to be an efÞcient biological control agent of pecan aphids.


The tobacco companies individually strategically organized to influence the IOM committee to win their favored scientific and regulatory recommendations. Using the advice of lawyers and consultants, PM initiated contact with the IOM committee by citing the precedent set by Canada's Expert Committees, which included industry scientists and stressed the importance of involving all stakeholders, as a reason why they should be asked to contribute their expertise to the IOM committee. Motivated to gather input from all stakeholders, the IOM committee invited PM and other tobacco companies to share information. This stance positioned the ''health establishment'' and the ''tobacco industry'' as two legitimate but polarized positions that needed to be skillfully mediated, a dynamic encouraged by the industry [155] .

This stance positioned the ''health establishment'' and the ''tobacco industry'' as two legitimate but polarized positions that needed to be skillfully mediated, a dynamic encouraged by the industry.


Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetically autosomal dominant inherited condition in which tumours grow from nerve tissue [1] . There are two types of NF. NF type I, also known as Von Recklinghausen's disease, causes mostly neurocutaneous lesions. It is also the most common type, accounting for 90% of all neurofibromatosis cases, with an incidence of 1 in 3000. NF type II is seen in the central nerve system and is less common with an incidence of 1 in 45000. The clinical manifestations of NF1 are extremely variable. The hallmarks of NF1 are multiple "café-au-lait" spots and associated cutaneous neurofibromas. Four types of neurofibromas can be distinguished mainly based on their origin: cutaneous, subcutaneous, nodular, and diffuse plexiform types.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetically autosomal dominant inherited condition in which tumours grow from nerve tissue.

There are two types of NF.


The tibial nerve is a long mixed nerve and represents the more caudal terminal branch of the sciatic nerve. In the present study, this nerve was chosen because its investigation may help in clarifying the nature of hindlimb paresis often reported in this species. Further, it has the advantage over the other nerves of the posterior limb that the distance between the points of stimulation of MNCS is longer and this improves the accuracy of determination of conduction velocity [5] . The stimulation and recording sites of this nerve were similar to those commonly used in dogs and cats, as were the waveforms recorded (Figures 1-5) . MNCS was the first test performed to precisely identify the optimal stimulation sites. This test studies the motor fibres of the nerve and may help to identify the nature of the lesion (mainly demyelinating versus mainly axonal features). In neuropathies, a generalized reduction in CMAP amplitudes is usually indicative of axonopathy, while a slowed conduction velocity and a prolonged duration of CMAP are features of demyelination. At the authors' knowledge, this is the only electrodiagnostic test for which some normal values were recently reported [4] . The reference values provided in this case report (CMAP amplitudes and conduction velocity) were slightly less than those founded in our subjects. The reduced amplitudes were probably dependent from the use of surface cutaneous electrodes for recording instead of the monopolar needles used in our study. It can be hypothesized that other factors not described in detail in this clinical case, like the methods of stimulation and the composition of the control group, were responsible for the difference with our normal values of conduction velocity.

Further, it has the advantage over the other nerves of the posterior limb that the distance between the points of stimulation of MNCS is longer and this improves the accuracy of determination of conduction velocity.

At the authors' knowledge, this is the only electrodiagnostic test for which some normal values were recently reported.


Respondents in this study gave accounts of over-scrutiny, discrimination, low expectations and a general lack of support in relation to their practice learning opportunities. It is not within the scope of this paper to attempt to rationalise the acts or omissions by PEs and other people involved in these students' placement learning; neither is it consistent with narrative inquiry to ask informants why they felt they experienced what they did. Instead, the aim is to provide these black African students of social work an opportunity to counter existing stories about their achievements or failures on placement, which may have been told by others. The experiences, discussed around major themes, are unsurprising and perhaps go some way in explaining why this group of students generally take longer to complete their studies. Ramatu, for example, will require another placement whilst Shola's instigation of a termination of her placement went through a series of inquiries and investigations by the university, which eventually did not uphold the fail grade proposed by the PE. The length of time taken by all stakeholders to resolve both cases impacts on completion and graduation timescales for students. In addition to this, final degree classifications are likely to be impacted by repeat placements and all this ultimately will have repercussions on employment and employability, another area of growing disadvantage for graduates from BME backgrounds (Richardson 2008) . The emotional impact of these practice learning experiences on participants requires further detailed analysis; however, for participants in this study, the extent of emotional impact was apparent through their feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, resulting in Ramatu and Shola becoming tearful during interviews.

In addition to this, final degree classifications are likely to be impacted by repeat placements and all this ultimately will have repercussions on employment and employability, another area of growing disadvantage for graduates from BME backgrounds.


Previously, we reported that many mutant alleles contribute to alter the fatty acid content in soybean oil . The palmitic acid content, which is involved in oil plasticity, has been altered in soybean by the formation of mutant alleles through the use of chemical mutagens or Xrays. LPKKC-3, the recombinant with a reduced content of palmitic acid, and HPKKC-7, the recombinant with an elevated content of palmitic acid, were developed by combining the alleles fap1 and sop1 , and fap2 and fapx (Rahman et al. 1999) , respectively. DHL, the recombinant with elevated oleic acid and reduced linolenic acid, was developed by combining the alleles ol, fan and fanx a (Rahman et al. 2001) . The proportion of these unsaturated fatty acids is known to have a good correlation with oil stability against oxidation.

LPKKC-3, the recombinant with a reduced content of palmitic acid, and HPKKC-7, the recombinant with an elevated content of palmitic acid, were developed by combining the alleles fap1 and sop1 , and fap2 and fapx, respectively.

DHL, the recombinant with elevated oleic acid and reduced linolenic acid, was developed by combining the alleles ol, fan and fanx a.


We have presented a framework for including multiple translation models in one decoder. Representing search space as a translation hypergraph, individual models are accessible to others via sharing nodes and even hyperedges. As our decoder accounts for multiple derivations, we extend the MERT algorithm to tune feature weights with respect to BLEU score for max-translation decoding. In the future, we plan to optimize feature weights for max-translation decoding directly on the entire packed translation hypergraph rather than on n-best derivations, following the latticebased MERT (Macherey et al., 2008) .

In the future, we plan to optimize feature weights for max-translation decoding directly on the entire packed translation hypergraph rather than on n-best derivations, following the latticebased MERT.


The critical question of what mechanism(s) underlies dominance remains. One limitation of the current work is that it used a single assay of women's testosterone levels that was taken in the late afternoon. Future research utilizing a larger range of hormone assays and multiple samples and including, for example, measurements of waking testosterone levels, are thus warranted. While our sample size is modest, our results emphasise the idea that while dominance among women may be correlated with testosterone level, and thus is biologically based, its expression is also contingent on social variables. Understanding whether and how hormonal contraception influences, or interacts to influence, dominance levels is potentially important for women's ability to make an informed decision about using this modern intervention (Cobey & Buunk, 2012) . We hope that our results stimulate further studies that consider a broader range of social variables that may impact the expression of women's social dominance.

Understanding whether and how hormonal contraception influences, or interacts to influence, dominance levels is potentially important for women's ability to make an informed decision about using this modern intervention.


When plants suffer water deficiency, receptors from the cell membrane/cell wall sense the extracellular stress signals and convert them into intracellular secondary messengers such as Ca 2+ and inositol phosphate [29] . How exactly the signal is transmitted toward gene activation is still poorly understood and is a subject of intensive multidisciplinary investigations. However, it is well agreed that plant hormones, especially abscisic acid (ABA), play significant role in drought stress-related transcription, in many cases through modulating phosphorylation status of transcription factors and other regulatory proteins.

When plants suffer water deficiency, receptors from the cell membrane/cell wall sense the extracellular stress signals and convert them into intracellular secondary messengers such as Ca 2+ and inositol phosphate.


In the last five years, there has been an explosion of articles about, and interest in, the learning organization. Clearly the concept has caught the imagination of writers on management and of many managers themselves. This is not surprising for it is clear from a range of research around the world that many contemporary organizations are faced with unprecedented environmental change and that speedy and effective adaptation is the key to survival [1] [2] [3] . That enterprises must organize to learn in such circumstances is virtually selfevident.

This is not surprising for it is clear from a range of research around the world that many contemporary organizations are faced with unprecedented environmental change and that speedy and effective adaptation is the key to survival.


Perceived negative environment for women did not predict academic attributional style as assessed by the AASQ (Peterson & Barrett, 1987) . Negative environments for women might have less influence on more deliberative assessments of attribution because the influence of gender-STEM stereotypes activated by the setting might be more controllable on such measures. Moreover, the AASQ measures responses to general academic outcomes, whereas our measure focused on STEM-specific events, suggesting that perceived negative environments for women may have a stronger relation to attributions for STEM-specific events than for general academic events. Furthermore, the academic events presented in the AASQ are imagined to have occurred to one's self, whereas the SSAB measures responses to outcomes described as happening to other men and women. It could be the case that in settings where the implications of one's performance are highlighted (such as giving an STEM performance in a small group), deliberative attribution styles may also be influenced by perceived negative environments for women. To address such possibilities, we retained the AASQ in Study 2, which examined STEM outcomes in small groups that varied in perceived negativity towards women.

Perceived negative environment for women did not predict academic attributional style as assessed by the AASQ.


Mode-stirred chambers (MSCs) have since about a decade come to widespread use for antenna characterization and tests of wireless terminals [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Lately, much research has focused on how to make MSCs more flexible and versatile. One example is the sample selection technique [6] [7] [8] . It has been demonstrated in previous work to be applicable to the amplitude distribution of a measured signal. This paper presents an extension of the sample selection technique, in which it is applied to the correlation coefficient between the received signals from two antennas. The fundamental principle of the sample selection technique is the same as in previous work; it is merely applied to another parameter. Applying it to the correlation coefficient improves the usefulness of the sample selection technique in tests of diversity and/or MIMO antennas, where the correlation coefficient is critical. The aim of the presented work is to study the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed technique and demonstrate its practical usefulness.

Mode-stirred chambers (MSCs) have since about a decade come to widespread use for antenna characterization and tests of wireless terminals.

One example is the sample selection technique.


It should be pointed out that of the new parameters calculated in this paper that were not determined in the previous one, this factor includes ITDG and IACC L3 ,although the latter has little statistical significance. This is interesting since ITDG is considered to be statistically independent by most of the scientific community [29] , [10] . Accordingly, it should be noted that correlation with RT mid is low, i.e. of 0.62. However, it should also be pointed out that this has been determined in all measured points (which as shown is a high number) and not a single point in accordance with the Beranek procedure [10] . The fact that ITDG and reverberation times are correlated, might be simply because they would both tend to increase with increasing room volume. This new result may be due to the larger range of room volumes included in the current study and which is larger than in most previous work.

This is interesting since ITDG is considered to be statistically independent by most of the scientific community.

However, it should also be pointed out that this has been determined in all measured points (which as shown is a high number) and not a single point in accordance with the Beranek procedure.


We proposed a novel estimator for the height of the hill of vision, the GH-rank estimator, or GHr estimator, and compared it against the conventional general-height estimator, or GH estimator [11, 12] . The novel GHr estimator is available from the free R package visualFields [25] . Since the GH estimator has been shown to underestimate the height of the hill of vision so that PD maps underestimate the severity of glaucomatous focal loss, improved methods are desirable [20] . The GHr estimator is conceptually similar to the GH estimator, and was developed to overcome, or at least reduce, such underestimation problems. Even though underestimation is effectively reduced (see Fig 2) , it was at a cost: with the novel GHr estimator, for eyes with very severe cataract (so that there are less than two TD values within normal limits), PD maps cannot be calculated. Moreover, in the case where there is only diffuse loss without focal loss, the GHr estimator will either return very similar values to the GH estimator or be regarded as unsuitable for estimation. In cases where there is only diffuse loss without focal loss, the conventional GH estimator is the better estimator to use. For cases when there is substantial diffuse loss mixed with focal loss, neither of the two estimators is reliable: the GHr will be deemed as unsuitable, and the GH estimator, whereas it gives an estimate, it is probably an overestimation of the true height [20] . Both estimators were significantly different from each other for visual fields with MD values below −5.5 dB, with GH estimates consistently greater than GHr estimates (see Fig. 2 ). For MD below approximately −14.0 dB, the difference between GH and GHr estimates increased as MD decreased.

We proposed a novel estimator for the height of the hill of vision, the GH-rank estimator, or GHr estimator, and compared it against the conventional general-height estimator, or GH estimator.

The novel GHr estimator is available from the free R package visualFields.

Since the GH estimator has been shown to underestimate the height of the hill of vision so that PD maps underestimate the severity of glaucomatous focal loss, improved methods are desirable.

For cases when there is substantial diffuse loss mixed with focal loss, neither of the two estimators is reliable: the GHr will be deemed as unsuitable, and the GH estimator, whereas it gives an estimate, it is probably an overestimation of the true height.


In conformal field theories with boundaries (bCFTs) the notion of conformal blocks becomes more interesting [3] . The presence of a conformally invariant boundary reduces the conformal group in d spacetime dimensions from SO(d, 2) to SO(d − 1, 2). The reduced symmetry allows for the appearance of a non-trivial function depending on a single conformally invariant cross-ratio already at the level of the 2-pt function. This correlator can be decomposed into conformal blocks in two distinct ways: in the "ambient space channel" one uses the standard ambient space 1 OPE to re-express the two-point function as a sum over one-point functions (which need not vanish in a bCFT). The contribution of a given primary and its descendants gets summed up into an "ambient block". In the "boundary channel" one uses a novel operators expansion, the BOPE or boundary operator expansion, to expand any ambient operators in terms of boundary localized operators [3] . This way the full ambient space 2-pt functions gets reduced to a sum over 2-pt functions of boundary localized operators. Once again, the contribution of a given primary and its descendants can be summed up into a "boundary block". Demanding equality of the decompositions into ambient blocks and boundary blocks gives interesting constraints on the bCFT data, as encapsulated in the boundary bootstrap program [5] .

In conformal field theories with boundaries (bCFTs) the notion of conformal blocks becomes more interesting.

In the "boundary channel" one uses a novel operators expansion, the BOPE or boundary operator expansion, to expand any ambient operators in terms of boundary localized operators.

Demanding equality of the decompositions into ambient blocks and boundary blocks gives interesting constraints on the bCFT data, as encapsulated in the boundary bootstrap program.


The Nigeria DHS 2013 used a stratified sampling technique selection which was performed in three stages. Stratification was achieved by separating each state into urban and rural areas in the survey. In the first stage, 893 localities were selected with proportionate to size allocation, in the second stage; one Enumeration Area was randomly selected from the selected localities. In larger localities with more than 80 clusters, more than one enumeration area was selected. In total, 904 Enumeration areas were selected. In the third stage of selection a fixed number of households (45 households) were selected in every urban and rural cluster, through equal probability systematic sampling. Eligible women were then selected from each household per cluster [5] . We selected women with a live birth in the two years preceding the survey. Our dependent variable was number of women, who had received two or more doses of IPTp-SP one of which was during ANC. The independent variables comprised age groups, the level of education, marital status, occupation, type of residence, region, wealth index, spouse level of education, where ANC was utilized, the number of ANC visits, when SP was first used and the birth order.

Eligible women were then selected from each household per cluster.


Once the filter cavity is locked to the cooling laser, it is straightforward to rotate the polarization of the output light and pass it through the filter cavity again with no additional feedback [34] . This enables four poles of passive filtering, and would further reduce the cooling laser noise. Such a double-filtered cooling laser would allow the membrane to be laser cooled very close to its quantum mechanical ground state, as shown in Fig. 3b .

Once the filter cavity is locked to the cooling laser, it is straightforward to rotate the polarization of the output light and pass it through the filter cavity again with no additional feedback.


In currents with the presence of low-order harmonics, the minimum tripping current varies with harmonic content, as well as the phase angle of the harmonic component [1, 2] . RCCB tripping is primarily determined by the peak value of the current. Low-order harmonic components with angles that increase the peak value of the current facilitate RCCB tripping. In contrast, a desensitization of the RCCB is produced by the presence of high-order harmonics and the minimum tripping current generally increases with increasing harmonic frequency [1] .

In currents with the presence of low-order harmonics, the minimum tripping current varies with harmonic content, as well as the phase angle of the harmonic component.

In contrast, a desensitization of the RCCB is produced by the presence of high-order harmonics and the minimum tripping current generally increases with increasing harmonic frequency.


Nuisance tripping of residual current circuit breakers (RCCB) is often related to the presence of electronic loads, especially computers [1] . In some facilities, a common solution is to install immunised residual current circuit breakers (known as SI RCCBs following the commercial acronym for an improved type A RCCB -such those as manufactured by Schneider Electric). However, SI RCCBs are much more expensive than type A or AC standard residual current circuit breakers (A RCCBs or AC RCCBs).

Nuisance tripping of residual current circuit breakers (RCCB) is often related to the presence of electronic loads, especially computers.


As the planet becomes increasingly connected, international trade has become an ever-growing part of the world's economy, often outstripping growth in output [1] . An array of literature examines the links between certification (organic and Fairtrade) and this expansion of trade, sustainable production, environmental services, and social benefits for producers [2] . In addition to global trends, trade is encouraged in the Americas through agreements such as CAFTA-the Central America Free Trade Agreement-which promotes economically, environmentally, and socially responsible trade between the United States and Central America. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) is one of the more promising products that could benefit small landowners and producers in Central America and has a high market demand in the United States.

As the planet becomes increasingly connected, international trade has become an ever-growing part of the world's economy, often outstripping growth in output.

An array of literature examines the links between certification (organic and Fairtrade) and this expansion of trade, sustainable production, environmental services, and social benefits for producers.


Two of the earliest market-based programs for increasing the environmental, social, and perhaps economic benefits of cocoa production are certified organic production and Fairtrade, as summarized in Table 1 . Considerable literature summarizes the expected and realized environmental and social benefits of organic and Fairtrade certification [3] . As the general public has become ever more informed about not only the origin of their goods but also the conditions under which they are produced, value-added certification systems such as these have become more popular. As such, organic and Fairtrade certifications represent two possible ways to ensure that goods align with increasingly sensitive consumer values. Organic certification has seen considerable commercial success, having grown from approximately $6 billion in 2000 to an estimated $25 billion industry in 2010 in the United States [6] . A purely environmentally focused program, organic certification varies from country to country. However, there are standards meant to link and serve internationally, such as the International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM) and the Codex Alimentarius organic standards. Most organic standards have common areas of focus, for example the prohibition of most chemical herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers; an emphasis on active building of soil structure and microbial activity; the effective use and incorporation of organic matter into the soil; and minimization of off-farm inputs.

Considerable literature summarizes the expected and realized environmental and social benefits of organic and Fairtrade certification.

Organic certification has seen considerable commercial success, having grown from approximately $6 billion in 2000 to an estimated $25 billion industry in 2010 in the United States.


Nanoparticles differ from that of the fine particles as regard physicochemical properties. They have smaller size, large number of atoms on their surface and different surface characteristics, as level of energy. These differences attract more attentions to study adverse effects of nanoparticles (Shi et al., 2013 and Yang et al., 2017) .

These differences attract more attentions to study adverse effects of nanoparticles.


Small intestine is considered as an important site in which most nutrient digestion and absorption of different food types as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats occur. It provides as well secretory and protective immune functions. So that, disturbance in this complex system can result in multiple adverse effects (Bergin and Witzmann, 2013) .

So that, disturbance in this complex system can result in multiple adverse effects.


Few papers on the interaction of a driver's neuromuscular system (NMS) with the steering system while driving two or fourwheeled vehicles have been published so far. Nevertheless the NMS dynamics affect the response of the driver-vehicle system and in the case of single-track vehicles significant effects on stability have been documented [1] . In addition, theoretical understanding of human steering control behavior is essential when using numerical simulation to develop sophisticated systems that actively modify the steering angle and torque in fourwheeled vehicles [2] .

Nevertheless the NMS dynamics affect the response of the driver-vehicle system and in the case of single-track vehicles significant effects on stability have been documented.

In addition, theoretical understanding of human steering control behavior is essential when using numerical simulation to develop sophisticated systems that actively modify the steering angle and torque in fourwheeled vehicles.


The LEAP model is selected as the preferred framework for expanding scenarios. LEAP is a comprehensive, integrated, scenario-based energy environment modelling tool to calculate future energy demand, supply and emissions at the local, national, regional or global levels. LEAP supports a wide range of different modelling methodologies, from bottom-up, end-use accounting to top-down, and provides a range of accounting, simulation and optimization methodologies [35] . In the LEAP model framework, it provides flexibility in using various input data "these can range from highly disaggregated end-use oriented structure to highly aggregate analyzes. Typically a structure would consist of sectors including households, industry, commerce, transport and agriculture each of which might be broken down into different sub-sectors, end-uses and fuel-saving devices" [35] .

LEAP supports a wide range of different modelling methodologies, from bottom-up, end-use accounting to top-down, and provides a range of accounting, simulation and optimization methodologies.

Typically a structure would consist of sectors including households, industry, commerce, transport and agriculture each of which might be broken down into different sub-sectors, end-uses and fuel-saving devices".


ManA gene was originally isolated from Escherichia coli, which encodes phosphomannose isomerase (PMI). PMI can convert 6-mannose phosphate to fructose 6-diphosphate mannose (Joersbo et al. 1998) . In medium using mannose as a carbon source, the PMI transformants can grow normally, while non-transformed tissues either stop on PMI enzyme activity, which is obviously affected by the fluctuation of environmental factors, like temperature and storage condition. At present, detections of molecular features for genetically modified organism (GMO) are mainly based on the detection of nucleic acids or proteins. PCRbased techniques are usually the first choice of selection because of its high sensitivity. However, its disadvantages were also noted, e.g., high false positive rate. Notably, the status of post-translational expression of a target gene can not be revealed. In contrast, the detection of protein via immunological methods is quite convenient, with low cost and pretty high sensitivity in many instances. Moreover, immunological methods do not depend on the enzyme activity, so the detection procedures are repeatable and can be standardized. Actually, immunological methods are widely used in pathogen detection and diagnostic of human diseases (Priya et al. 2014) . A few applications were also reported in the detection of exogenous protein expression in transgenic plants (Bakhsh et al. 2010; Gui et al. 2014) .

PMI can convert 6-mannose phosphate to fructose 6-diphosphate mannose.

Actually, immunological methods are widely used in pathogen detection and diagnostic of human diseases.

A few applications were also reported in the detection of exogenous protein expression in transgenic plants.


Transgenic technology can transfer a beneficial gene across plant species, and the application of transgenic technology has broad impact on agricultural production. It is reported that the area planting genetically modified organism (GMO) crops increased steadily every year (Prado et al. 2014) . PMI is a non-antibiotic selection marker, genetically modified plants or sections of callus with PMI can grow on medium in which mannose is the only carbon source. PMI can be used as selection marker in plant genetic transformation as most of plants do not confer PMI gene in nature (Boscariol et al. 2003) . Thus, the establishment of convenient, accurate and sensitive PMI detection method has an important practical significance and application value. In this study, PMI-specific monoclonal antibody was generated and immunoblot assay was established, which can detect as little as 0.5 ng recombinant His-tagged PMI protein or rice-expressed PMI protein in 0.4% single grain. It was found that PMI protein accounts for 0.036% of total protein in leaves at seedling stage. The detection of PMI protein can be carried out using any part of rice plant, as it was constitutively expressed under the regulation of CaMV-35S promoter. Moreover, the obtained antibody will provide a key reagent for the establishment of alternative immunological method. The data collected by different laboratories can be compared if a standard operation protocol and common internal control were used. Obviously, the established method has significant practical value.

It is reported that the area planting genetically modified organism (GMO) crops increased steadily every year.

PMI can be used as selection marker in plant genetic transformation as most of plants do not confer PMI gene in nature.


The MAPE is the most widely used statistical indicator in the literature on electric charge. The lower the value of MAPE, the better the performance forecast (Hippert et al., 2001; Santos et al., 2007) . Table 1 presents the maximum value of and MAPE for the study cases corresponding to registered in the city of Évora. The period under review belongs to winter of 2014 and was: One day (4 th of February), one week (3 rd to 9 th of February) and two weeks (3 rd to 16 th of February). The results are satisfactory considering that the maximum value of MAPE in the forecast studies of this type should not exceed 5% (Giacometto et al., 2012; Hippert et al., 2001) . Figure 7 illustrates the evolution of the error percentage error for the two-week period of February 2014. Regarding the analysis of error applied to the maximum load (peak) of the city of Évora, it occurred on January 21 st at 20:00. The at this point was small: 0.70%. The MAPE of 10 records with higher loads of the same year is 0.94%. Statistical error indicators were below 5%, meaning that the results for the forecast model remain accurate.

The lower the value of MAPE, the better the performance forecast.

The results are satisfactory considering that the maximum value of MAPE in the forecast studies of this type should not exceed 5%.

The at this point was small: 0.70%.


The electrical energy to be produced must be consumed simultaneously. Unlike other goods in human society (oil, gas, etc.), electrical energy cannot be efficiently stored and, therefore, excesses should not be produced (Bielecki et al., 2004) . On the other hand, its shortage will lead to lack of electricity supply with negative impact for consumers, producers and distribution electrical companies.

Unlike other goods in human society (oil, gas, etc.), electrical energy cannot be efficiently stored and, therefore, excesses should not be produced.


In order to answer the questions above, a research project was conducted in the period 2014-2017. In the first step, based on the available literature, negative phenomena were selected and project portfolio risks were identified and named using the Delphi method [28] . In the second step, likelihood and impact were measured for the identified risks. The last stage comprised an analysis of theoretically foreseen interdependencies between project portfolio risks and negative phenomena, conducted with the use of structural equation modelling [29] . Using this statistical procedure, types and strengths of risks and negative phenomena dependencies were identified. The calculated structural equations also confirmed the existence and quality of constructs describing the causal connections between risks and negative phenomena, as well as the models describing such predicted connections among phenomena. Therefore, it may be stated that this paper aims to identify risks, as well as find a match between the theoretical models describing the relationships between project portfolio risks and the negative phenomena that the empirical data revealed. In the opinion of the authors, the research conducted contributes to the analysis of theoretically suggested and predicted project portfolio risks relations, and the results have significant application value.

In the first step, based on the available literature, negative phenomena were selected and project portfolio risks were identified and named using the Delphi method.

The last stage comprised an analysis of theoretically foreseen interdependencies between project portfolio risks and negative phenomena, conducted with the use of structural equation modelling.


Described phenomena (i.e., insufficient control over the portfolio environment, limited material and financial resources, information flow disturbances, occurrence of interpersonal conflicts, improper portfolio structure, and irregularities in the portfolio balance), together with the associated risks, were treated as theoretical constructs (latent variables). Then, relations within the construct (between risks and the latent variable) and interdependencies among latent variables (i.e., phenomena) suggested in the literature were tested and confirmed, while the match between models and the obtained empirical data was tested as well [29, 74] . This allowed for the confirmation of interdependencies between the identified project portfolio risks that had been foreseen in theory. The fit of the models with the empirical data were evaluated using Chi-Square (χ2), Root Mean Square Error Approximation (RMSEA), and the Comparative Fit Index (CFI). The χ2 statistic is used to test the alternative hypothesis of no fit, assuming a perfect model fit. Thus, the value of the test statistic will be statistically insignificant, i.e., p > 0.05, for a good-fit model. We must bear in mind, however, that numerous analyses indicated that these statistics were not of key importance. Conversely, a value of RMSEA < 0.05 confirms good model fit. In turn, RMSEA within the 0.06-0.08 range points to a satisfactory model fit, while RMSEA within the 0.08-0.10 range indicates inadequate model fit. RMSEA > 0.10 means that the model poorly fits the empirical data. The group of absolute measures also includes the Comparative Fit Index. In older works, values of this indicator ≥ 0.90 describe models which fit the empirical data well. Analysis of current literature shows that CFI values ≥ 0.95 are now considered necessary for a well-fitting model [29, 75, 76] .

Then, relations within the construct (between risks and the latent variable) and interdependencies among latent variables (i.e., phenomena) suggested in the literature were tested and confirmed, while the match between models and the obtained empirical data was tested as well.

Analysis of current literature shows that CFI values ≥ 0.95 are now considered necessary for a well-fitting model.


As mentioned above, the assessment that respondents having multi-project management professional experience undertook constituted the 36 risks. Operationalisation of every assessed risk, according to the approach suggested in the literature on the subject, included two variables: risk likelihood and risk impact on portfolio objectives [3] (pp. 143-145), [1] (pp. 91-93), [72] (pp. 242-252), [73] (p. 47). The variables were described on the ordinal scale. The risk likelihood variable was expressed on a 5-point scale, where: 1 meant very low risk likelihood, 2-low, 3-average, 4-high, and 5-very high risk likelihood. The risk impact variable was also assessed on a 5-point scale, where: 1 meant insignificant risk impact on portfolio objectives, 2-minor impact, 3-moderate impact, 4-major impact, and 5-very high impact on portfolio objectives. Respondents, while assessing those variables based on their experience of recently managed programs or portfolios (ex post approach), anticipated the likelihood of occurrence and impact of particular risks on objectives of a hypothetical portfolio (ex ante approach).

Operationalisation of every assessed risk, according to the approach suggested in the literature on the subject, included two variables: risk likelihood and risk impact on portfolio objectives(pp. 143-145),(pp. 91-93),(pp. 242-252),(p. 47).


The electrochemical model, chemical model and the CFD model have been validated respectively in the previous publications, by comparing the modeling results with data from the literature [61, 64] . Numerical simulations have been carried out to ensure grid independence of the results. The dimensions and typical structural/operating parameters used are summarized in Table 1 . As mentioned in the introduction, a carbon-steam ratio of 2.0 is used in the present study in order to avoid carbon deposition. In terms of molar fraction, 0.667 and 0.333 are used for H 2 O and CH 4 at the anode inlet.

The electrochemical model, chemical model and the CFD model have been validated respectively in the previous publications, by comparing the modeling results with data from the literature.


Among a lot of alternative fuels, methane (CH 4 ) is extensively studied for SOFC as it is the major component in natural gas (about 90%) and one of the major components in biogas [28] . As direct electrochemical oxidation of methane is still difficult in SOFC, methane is usually reformed either externally or internally. External reforming requires additional fuel processing units for methane steam reforming and water gas shift (WGS) reactions, thus increasing the system's overall cost and complexity [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] . For comparison, direct internal reforming (DIR) eliminates the need of an external reformer as the high working temperature enables DIR reaction as well as WGS reaction for H 2 production [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] . Thus the SOFC system can be simpler and compact. In addition, part of the thermal energy requirement for DIR reaction can be provided by heat generation in SOFCs, thus a higher overall efficiency can be obtained. However, the endothermic DIR reaction and exothermic WGS reaction complicate the SOFC temperature field and more importantly, both DIR and WGS reactions require steam in the anode, thus diluting the fuel concentration and reducing the SOFC performance. In addition, carbon deposition may occur in a hydrocarbon-fueled SOFC with DIR and WGS, which in turn can deteriorate the SOFC performance considerably [53] . In order to solve the problem of carbon deposition and long term stability, extensive research works have been conducted both experimentally and theoretically. In addition to development of new anode materials, one common way of tackling the carbon deposition problem is to supply sufficient amount of steam in the anode. Based on thermodynamic analysis in the literature, the steam-carbon ratio of no less than 2.0 is usually recommended in order to avoid carbon formation [28, 42] .

Among a lot of alternative fuels, methane (CH 4 ) is extensively studied for SOFC as it is the major component in natural gas (about 90%) and one of the major components in biogas.

External reforming requires additional fuel processing units for methane steam reforming and water gas shift (WGS) reactions, thus increasing the system's overall cost and complexity.

For comparison, direct internal reforming (DIR) eliminates the need of an external reformer as the high working temperature enables DIR reaction as well as WGS reaction for H 2 production.

In addition, carbon deposition may occur in a hydrocarbon-fueled SOFC with DIR and WGS, which in turn can deteriorate the SOFC performance considerably.

Based on thermodynamic analysis in the literature, the steam-carbon ratio of no less than 2.0 is usually recommended in order to avoid carbon formation.


The broiler production in our country is increasing in a faster pace. Similarly, the number of broiler spent hens in poultry industry is also increasing. These birds are heavier in weight and their meat is high in fat contents (10 to 15%) (Kondaiah, 1990) . The meat of such birds is poor in quality similar to the spent hen's meat. Very few workers have attempted the still inconclusive study of chicken snacks from spent hens, particularly from broiler spent hens meat. Thus, the study was conducted and chicken snacks prepared were envisaged to evaluate the effect of vacuum packaging to know the suitability of its storage at ambient temperature.

These birds are heavier in weight and their meat is high in fat contents (10 to 15%).


There is a growing literature relating to observation of human pharmaceuticals in the environment [1] . Drugs and drug metabolites are a new class of organic micropollutants which have been found in low concentrations in wastewater, ground and surface water [2] [3] [4] . In the recent years the importance of nonbiological alteration in the breakdown of drugs has been widely observed and has stimulated a large number of researches concerning degradation mechanisms, kinetics, isolation, and toxicity of degradation products. The last aspect is of particular interest since the metabolites may be even more toxic than the parent molecule. A regulation on the environmental effects of new pharmaceuticals is operative from 1995 in the USA [5] . The European Scientific Committee on toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment (CSTEE) has proposed in 2001 a draft on the environmental risk assessment of medicinal products, and the need to take into account not only the drugs but also their transformation products is recommended [6] . In this context we have studied the abiotic transformation of some anti-inflammatory drugs in the aquatic environment and we have found that some byproducts are more harmful than the parent compounds [7] .

There is a growing literature relating to observation of human pharmaceuticals in the environment.

Drugs and drug metabolites are a new class of organic micropollutants which have been found in low concentrations in wastewater, ground and surface water.

A regulation on the environmental effects of new pharmaceuticals is operative from 1995 in the USA.

The European Scientific Committee on toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment (CSTEE) has proposed in 2001 a draft on the environmental risk assessment of medicinal products, and the need to take into account not only the drugs but also their transformation products is recommended.

In this context we have studied the abiotic transformation of some anti-inflammatory drugs in the aquatic environment and we have found that some byproducts are more harmful than the parent compounds.


In the present study we have examined the photochemical behavior of amlodipine (1) besylate [3-ethyl 5-methyl-2-(2-aminoethoxy)methyl-4-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate benzenesulfonate] (see Scheme 1) under different conditions to mimic the environmental abiotic transformations. Amlodipine belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers [8] . Its besylate salt is a white crystalline powder slightly soluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol, commercialized as Norvasc. It is among the world wide more prescript pharmaceuticals. The drug exhibits a long wavelength UV band with a maximum at 366 nm (log ε 3.78); its photolability is known and causes difficulties during manufacturing and in analytical determinations [9] . Therefore, amlodipine has been exposed to solar and UV light in aqueous solution, at different pHs and in the presence of humic acid or nitrate. The photoproduct formed has been identified and the acute and chronic toxicity of the parent compound and its derivative on different organisms of the freshwater chain, rotifers (Brachionus calyciflorus) and crustaceans (Daphnia magna Straus, Thamnocephalus platyurus, Ceriodaphnia dubia), have been evaluated.

Amlodipine belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.

The drug exhibits a long wavelength UV band with a maximum at 366 nm (log ε 3.78); its photolability is known and causes difficulties during manufacturing and in analytical determinations.


Amlodipine undergoes an easy light-induced aromatization to pyridine derivative 2, the conversion being particularly favoured by the aqueous media. Generally less toxic than the parent drug, the photoproduct exhibited higher long-term toxicity towards C. dubia. This finding is of particular concern for the environment where drugs may be phototransformed in more toxic compounds whose occurrence data are, moreover, unknown and may cause serious adverse impact on the organisms exposed. The possibility for continual but undetectable or unnoticed effects on aquatic organisms is particularly worrisome because effects could accumulate so slowly that major change goes undetected until cumulative level of these effects finally cascades to irreversible change-change that would otherwise be attributed to natural adaptation or ecological succession [21] . Nowadays ecotoxicological studies are limited and particularly based acute toxicity tests on single aquatic organisms [2, 21] .

The possibility for continual but undetectable or unnoticed effects on aquatic organisms is particularly worrisome because effects could accumulate so slowly that major change goes undetected until cumulative level of these effects finally cascades to irreversible change-change that would otherwise be attributed to natural adaptation or ecological succession.

Nowadays ecotoxicological studies are limited and particularly based acute toxicity tests on single aquatic organisms.


Aspect-Oriented Software Development (AOSD) and Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) can be used to face the issue of continuous infinite life cycle. AOSD and MDE follow the well-known separation of concerns principle, which has been proven to provide many benefits, including reduced complexity, improved reusability, and easier evolution [9] . Thanks to AOSD, software systems can be modularized using orthogonal aspects that are woven at the production time [10] . MDE deals with levels of abstraction and considers any software artifact produced at any step of the development process as a valuable asset by itself to be reused across different systems and implementation platforms [11] .

AOSD and MDE follow the well-known separation of concerns principle, which has been proven to provide many benefits, including reduced complexity, improved reusability, and easier evolution.

Thanks to AOSD, software systems can be modularized using orthogonal aspects that are woven at the production time.

MDE deals with levels of abstraction and considers any software artifact produced at any step of the development process as a valuable asset by itself to be reused across different systems and implementation platforms.


This shift has been characterized by an emphasis on the effective management and control of vehicular travel demand as the continued expansion of highway facilities is curtailed by social, economic, and environmental factors. In the United States, the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act are key examples of legislative mandates signifying the change in planning emphasis (Weiner, 1997) . In this context, transportation planners have turned their attention to the formulation and implementation of travel-demand management (TDM) strategies and transportation control measures (TCMs) that curb automobile travel and promote alternative modes of transportation. Examples of such strategies and measures include increased parking pricing, peak-period road pricing, alternative work arrangements (for example, telecommuting), traffic calming, intelligent transportation systems, improvements to alternative modes of transportation, and land-use development restrictions.

In the United States, the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act are key examples of legislative mandates signifying the change in planning emphasis.


Our study mainly investigates into the second group. To model the envelop distribution, a specific distribution model is chosen. The QUS parameters are the fit parameters of the observed signal envelop distribution. Previous studies have used different models, such as Gaussian, Rayleigh, Nakagami and homodyned-K distribution models [3] , [4] . Among these models, Nakagami model has been praised by its analytical simplicity. This model is defined by two parameters: is related to the scatterer density and is a measurement of the scattered energy. Previous studies demonstrate that QUS using the envelop statistics has the ability to quantify tumors [5] .

Previous studies have used different models, such as Gaussian, Rayleigh, Nakagami and homodyned-K distribution models.

Previous studies demonstrate that QUS using the envelop statistics has the ability to quantify tumors.


However, these studies are mainly based on the analysis of the whole backscattered signals. Considering that the ultrasound propagation is a nonlinear process and the harmonic signals can therefore reveal the nonlinear nature of a biological medium [6] . The present study investigates into the statistics of harmonic signal envelopes to relate the distribution parameters to the nonlinear coefficients.

Considering that the ultrasound propagation is a nonlinear process and the harmonic signals can therefore reveal the nonlinear nature of a biological medium.


Alkali-activated slag (AAS) has a great potential for using industrial byproducts. The production of AAS concretes is associated with low energy consumption and low CO 2 emission. The alkaline activation of slag has been studied [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] . Its main reaction product is a low-crystalline hydrated calcium silicate. When compared with Portland cements and concretes, AAS cements and concretes present several advantages, such as earlier and higher strengths, lower hydration heat, and stronger resistance to chemical attack. However, they also have some disadvantages, such as quick setting and high shrinkage rate with formation of microcracking [7] .

The alkaline activation of slag has been studied.

However, they also have some disadvantages, such as quick setting and high shrinkage rate with formation of microcracking.


Given the wide variety of universities and countries from which students can choose, universities face challenges caused by an increase in the mobility of students worldwide. Universities should view these challenges as threats as well as opportunities. International education has widened the scope in cross-border education with increasing student mobility, academic mobility, program mobility and institutional mobility (Naidoo, 2006) . Contributions to the expansion of international higher education include the setting up of off-shore campuses by foreign institutions through branch campuses, subsidiaries or partnership arrangements, which provide courses and qualifications to local students. Reforms in financing and governance of worldwide higher educational institutions affected the delivery of educational services and the operations of institutions including curriculum reforms, student exchange programs, development of new skills compatible with global and international competencies, promotion of intercultural activities on campus, and the introduction of new processes to absorb intercultural dimensions in teaching, research and service (Naidoo, 2006) . The key objective of universities is not only to attract but also to retain students through superior service delivery and to maintain student satisfaction and loyalty.

International education has widened the scope in cross-border education with increasing student mobility, academic mobility, program mobility and institutional mobility.

Reforms in financing and governance of worldwide higher educational institutions affected the delivery of educational services and the operations of institutions including curriculum reforms, student exchange programs, development of new skills compatible with global and international competencies, promotion of intercultural activities on campus, and the introduction of new processes to absorb intercultural dimensions in teaching, research and service.


One of the major goals of universities is student satisfaction. The source of competitive advantage comes from a satisfied student population with positive outcomes such as positive word of mouth (WOM) communication, student retention and loyalty (Arambewela and Hall, 2009) . Superior customer value delivered to international students has become is important in creating continuous advantage in a highly competitive international education market. Besides providing superior educational services, however, universities are expected to overcome challenges like cultural diversity, differences in learning styles, changing demands of students provided with greater choice of study destinations, educational programs and study environments. The international education market has become attractive to universities and is concerned with market share, productivity, return on investment and the quality of services offered to customers (LeBlanc and Nha, 1997) . Therefore, service quality is an important performance measure of excellent education, as well as a major strategic variable for universities in providing quality service to increase their market share.

The source of competitive advantage comes from a satisfied student population with positive outcomes such as positive word of mouth (WOM) communication, student retention and loyalty.

The international education market has become attractive to universities and is concerned with market share, productivity, return on investment and the quality of services offered to customers.


For the present study, an internal protocol and statistical analysis plan was written prior to the analyses. We included all the 1034 patients in the SUP-ICU cohort study database and extracted the following data: Age, gender, SAPS II, initial SOFA score, comorbidities, interventions given at ICU admission, in-hospital mortality and 90-day mortality. The present manuscript was prepared according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement [23] .

The present manuscript was prepared according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement.


In general, analytic method and iterative method are usually used to reconstruct the image in OCT. The foundation of analytic method is continuous signal model, which is sensitive to noise and requires complete projection data [5] . However, the complete projection data are often not available in clinical application, which are restricted by these factors of the detection environment, detection time, and the characteristics of the detected object. For example, it is necessary to scan the breast quickly due to safe radiation dose, and only sparse projection data can be obtained [21] [22] [23] . The complete projection data also cannot be obtained in dental diagnosis due to limited sampling angle [18] [19] [20] . From the view of mathematics, the problem of reconstructing an image from incomplete data is usually considered as an underdetermined problem.

The foundation of analytic method is continuous signal model, which is sensitive to noise and requires complete projection data.

For example, it is necessary to scan the breast quickly due to safe radiation dose, and only sparse projection data can be obtained.

The complete projection data also cannot be obtained in dental diagnosis due to limited sampling angle.


Despite the appearance of so(4, 1), the scenario is not equivalent to inflation. The mechanism is intrinsically non-gravitational, and to a good approximation can be described on flat, Minkowski space-time. In the presence of gravity, the Einstein-frame scale factor to which the CFT minimally couples is either very slowly contracting or expanding, corresponding to an equation of state |w| ≫ 1. Such a phase of slow contraction (or expansion) is well-known to make the universe increasingly flat, homogeneous and isotropic, akin to the smoothing mechanism in ekpyrotic cosmology [14] .

Such a phase of slow contraction (or expansion) is well-known to make the universe increasingly flat, homogeneous and isotropic, akin to the smoothing mechanism in ekpyrotic cosmology.


Using this general effective action, we checked that the two-point function for the Goldstone π and a fiducial weight-0 field χ correctly reproduces known results [50] [51] [52] . We also computed the three-point correlation functions χχχ and πχχ , and checked their invariance under the unbroken so(4, 1) symmetries. As mentioned in the Introduction, the correlation functions are also constrained by the full so(4, 2) symmetries, which should imply Ward identities relating N and N − 1 point correlators. These novel constraints should in principle yield distinguishing relations that the smaller symmetry algebra of inflation cannot reproduce. The general effective action derived here offers a useful laboratory with which to identify and test such relations.

Using this general effective action, we checked that the two-point function for the Goldstone π and a fiducial weight-0 field χ correctly reproduces known results.


The rapidly burgeoning nanotechnology field has brought a new era of many advances, especially in the development of biomedical engineering field through various challenging research in the last few years. Many studies have been conducted to explore simple, convenient, and costeffective methods to produce nanoparticles from various range of biomaterials for various industrial purposes [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . One of the leading biomaterials which has been intensely investigated is the inorganic calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) material. In general, it is well documented that calcium carbonate exists in three types of polymorph, which are calcite, aragonite, and vaterite [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] . Each of these polymorphisms possesses different properties which determine their special characteristics [5] . In fact, numerous studies on both the physical and chemical properties of calcium carbonate polymorphisms have been accomplished since several decades ago [2, 3, 5, [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] .

Many studies have been conducted to explore simple, convenient, and costeffective methods to produce nanoparticles from various range of biomaterials for various industrial purposes.

In general, it is well documented that calcium carbonate exists in three types of polymorph, which are calcite, aragonite, and vaterite.

Each of these polymorphisms possesses different properties which determine their special characteristics.

In fact, numerous studies on both the physical and chemical properties of calcium carbonate polymorphisms have been accomplished since several decades ago.


A high number of service requirements may cause logistical difficulties. Depending upon parents' economic, transportation, employment, and social support circumstances, as well as the degree to which they are struggling with other treatment problems and life challenges, getting to multiple service locations could be difficult. Additionally, the very problems that prompt the orders for treatment services may themselves hinder parents' ability to access services, including more general services like parenting classes or counseling. In some sense it seems logical that parents with more treatment problems need more assistance to treat those problems, and a well-intentioned caseworker may see a parent struggling with multiple problems and recommend services targeting all of them. However, it also seems likely that parents with more problems would have more difficulty accessing multiple services, and an "everything but the kitchen sink" approach could be problematic. At least one study has found negative associations between receipt of comprehensive intensive services and outcomes of time to reunification and re-entry (Brook & McDonald, 2007) .

At least one study has found negative associations between receipt of comprehensive intensive services and outcomes of time to reunification and re-entry.


In terms of targeting, most parents with treatment problems of substance use, domestic violence and mental health were ordered services targeting those problems; the high rate was similar to other studies of the topic (Staudt & Cherry, 2009) . A substantial proportion of parents were ordered to receive services targeting problems they were not known to have. The accuracy of targeting varied somewhat across problem constellation, with parents at either end of the problem continuum -those with no identified problems or those with all three -least likely to have all appropriate and only appropriate services ordered. Overall, just under 60% of parents had all appropriate and only appropriate services ordered.

In terms of targeting, most parents with treatment problems of substance use, domestic violence and mental health were ordered services targeting those problems; the high rate was similar to other studies of the topic.


Finally, findings illuminate the important role substance use plays in the reunification process. It was the most common problem experience by reunifying parents; it seemed to complicate parents' circumstances with additional life challenges more than other treatment problems; and treatment services ordered for substance use resulted in a substantially greater number of requirements on parents' case plans. Two of the three services that often required attendance multiple times per week were substance use treatment interventions of drug testing and 12 step program attendance, so even parents struggling only with the single treatment problem of substance use had high weekly service attendance requirements. Thus a kind of "perfect storm" existed for parents with substance use issues: they had more life challenges than other parents, and higher case plan requirements as well. This combination may be contributing to the lower likelihood of reunification that has been found for substance using parents (Glisson, Bailey & Post, 2000) .

This combination may be contributing to the lower likelihood of reunification that has been found for substance using parents.


In order to solve the aforementioned problem, a new method for picking tumors' TOFs is developed in this paper. The proposed method introduces an idea of separate extraction to pick tumors' TOFs based on the W-AIC picker. The idea of separate extraction is that the ultrasonic signals induced by different tumors are firstly truncated from the received data by using different time windows. Then tumors' TOFs are picked separately by using W-AIC picker from the truncated signals. To summarize, the proposed method decomposes a multiple sources problem into several single source problems. With the TOFs picked by the proposed method, the image of microwave absorption properties of tumors is reconstructed by using an iterative reconstruction method [12] . Some simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

With the TOFs picked by the proposed method, the image of microwave absorption properties of tumors is reconstructed by using an iterative reconstruction method.


Natural circulation loop is a simple device in which the flow is driven by thermally generated buoyancy force without any pumped power. The circulation loop filled with liquid nitrogen can serve as an effective heat transfer medium between HTS (high temperature superconductor) elements and a cryocooler located at elevated location, as schematically shown in FIGURE 1. Since no circulation pump is required, the natural circulation systems have an obvious advantage in mechanical reliability over the pumped systems. On the other hand, the heat transfer capability of the natural circulation loop may be limited, depending upon the relative magnitude of buoyancy force with respect to flow resistance of liquid nitrogen in the loop. In this paper, a special attention is focused on a single-phase liquid loop for HTS power devices under current development, such as HTS fault current limiters because subcooled liquid is keen for the purpose of effective electrical insulation and fast recovery at high-voltage applications [1] [2] [3] [4] . FIGURE 2 shows the intended subcooled liquid region on the phase diagram of nitrogen for those applications.

In this paper, a special attention is focused on a single-phase liquid loop for HTS power devices under current development, such as HTS fault current limiters because subcooled liquid is keen for the purpose of effective electrical insulation and fast recovery at high-voltage applications.


Strategic advantages of networking were also found from the PLN work similar to networks in the private sector (Ibarra & Hunter, 2007) . The PLN participants felt the network helped them explore emerging issues and respond to these issues with unified action. Part of this process included benchmarking and comparing individual institutional strategies with peer institutions across the region that led to more strategic local, regional, and national work.

Strategic advantages of networking were also found from the PLN work similar to networks in the private sector.


The findings from this study also affirmed previous research that partnerships resulting from networks promote employee interest in the common good (Osborne, 2000; Avolio, 1997; Bass, 1985) . In particular, the PLN helped a diverse set of Extension systems in the southern United States work together to realize regional and national improvements to programming and program infrastructure. Of specific note are the stronger relationships between 1862 and 1890 Extension systems. The organizational differences in history, target audiences, and institutional resources can make it difficult for these institutions to work together on a common issue or problem. These partnerships, processes, and products would most likely not have taken place or been accomplished on such a large scale without the PLN.

The findings from this study also affirmed previous research that partnerships resulting from networks promote employee interest in the common good.


This paper systematically reviews the impact of the most important urban design indicators of urban geometry and vegetation at the pedestrian level outdoor thermal environment. The studies entailing urban geometry and vegetation are included and compared. Various urban design indicators have been developed to quantify urban geometric structure characteristics. According to the design feature that the parameters address, they are classified into five groups in the present paper, addressing land use intensity, building form, canyon geometry, space enclosure and descriptive characteristics. Aside from that, all vegetation descriptors are reviewed in one group in this paper. For the vegetation part, only the greenery types on the ground are addressed in this paper. Other greenery types, such as the green wall, green roof and sky garden are excluded since they have very limited influence on the pedestrian level thermal environment [24] .

Other greenery types, such as the green wall, green roof and sky garden are excluded since they have very limited influence on the pedestrian level thermal environment.


Power demand-side management (DSM) techniques and other balancing methods, under the smart grid environment, are generally successful with optimization issues at various energy levels [20] . In this paper, we focus our research on the smallest of the smart grid unit, a "smart home". The smart home concept as a smart grid elementary unit was chosen here to describe the principles, interconnections and relationships of DSM. The application of DSM techniques to the optimization of smart home appliance switching scheme according to local renewable energy production is one of the main goals of this paper.

Power demand-side management (DSM) techniques and other balancing methods, under the smart grid environment, are generally successful with optimization issues at various energy levels.


Zhao and Govindan conduct a comprehensive study of packet delivery performance in wireless sensor networks [29] . Their study focuses on the physical and link layers, evaluating packet loss, packet loss correlations, and link asymmetry. Our study of congestion complements their work, studying end-to-end performance when sensors participate in multihop routing and congestion avoidance protocols. Our congestion control algorithms operate in a network with a wide range of link loss rates and asymmetries, as in their work.

Zhao and Govindan conduct a comprehensive study of packet delivery performance in wireless sensor networks.


Hop-by-hop flow control protocols have been extensively studied in the context of ATM and local-area networks [9, 14, 16, 17] . The motivation in these high-speed networks is to avoid the burst behavior of end-to-end protocols like TCP at small round-trip times. In sensor networks, hop-by-hop flow control is attractive because it allows good congestion adaptation without incurring losses or requiring the expensive end-to-end acknowledgments that are unnecessary for many streams that don't require TCP-style reliability.

Hop-by-hop flow control protocols have been extensively studied in the context of ATM and local-area networks.


With the growing population and life expectation, energy demand is predicted to increase rapidly in the future. Currently, the energy production from fossil fuels is predominant and it raises a lot of severer issues such as global warming and environmental pollutions. Developing sustainable energy techniques is the only solution to maintain the long-term prosperity of our society. In 1954, the concept of harvesting electric power from mixing fresh and salt water was proposed by Pattle for the first time [1] . A maximum energy of 0.8 kW m -3 can be captured when 1.0 m 3 river water is mixed with 1.0 m 3 seawater or with a large surplus of seawater and the global reservation of the osmotic energy is around 2.5 terawatts [2, 3] . However, 980 GW of this osmotic energy is accessible using PRO technique [2] . So far, the development of osmotic power is still in infancy. Compared to other renewable energy techniques (e.g. Wind turbine and Solar cell), PRO has several advantages including stable power out-put and low cost (construction and daily operation).

In 1954, the concept of harvesting electric power from mixing fresh and salt water was proposed by Pattle for the first time.

A maximum energy of 0.8 kW m -3 can be captured when 1.0 m 3 river water is mixed with 1.0 m 3 seawater or with a large surplus of seawater and the global reservation of the osmotic energy is around 2.5 terawatts.

However, 980 GW of this osmotic energy is accessible using PRO technique.


Previous research showed some success with muscle activity recognition using arm-worn pressure sensors [2] . However, we are not aware of any projects that explored finger gesture recognition from wrist-worn pressure sensors and developed a real-time system. Several projects focused on inferring finger and hand gestures from the wrist, and were inspirational for our work. Gesturewrist project looked at sensing capacitive changes around the wrist to detect gestures [13] . This method can be low power, but it was tested with two hand gestures, and did not distinguish individual finger movements. Similarly, another study placed photodiodes and infrared LEDs around the wrist to infer gestures from infrared reflectance [5] . This approach worked for classifying 8 hand gestures, but reflectance can be affected by sweat and dirt, and might not be energy efficient since it requires pulsing of high power infrared LEDs.

Previous research showed some success with muscle activity recognition using arm-worn pressure sensors.

Gesturewrist project looked at sensing capacitive changes around the wrist to detect gestures.

Similarly, another study placed photodiodes and infrared LEDs around the wrist to infer gestures from infrared reflectance.


In contrast, PCBs have a very minute effect or no effect on PGE 2 secretion while all three phytoestrogens could clearly decrease the secretion of this prostaglandin. Merely coumestrol reduced the influence of PCB-126 and PCB-153 on PGE 2 secretion. On the other hand, coumestrol jointly with each PCB congener and daidzein with Ar 1248 can decrease PGE 2 secretion below the control values. The ratio of PGF 2α : PGE 2 is crucial for the establishment of pregnancy and its maternal recognition (Bazer, 1992; McCracken et al., 1999) . Thus PCBs, via the influence on PG secretion, can impair the process of fertilization and embryo implantation. However, phytoestrogens may have a direct effect on endometrial PG secretion but they can also reduce the action of PCBs on PG release.

The ratio of PGF 2α : PGE 2 is crucial for the establishment of pregnancy and its maternal recognition.


Electronic industry has undergone a tremendous market expansion due to the embedding of electronic devices in various systems such as automobiles, home appliances and communication equipment (De Micheli, and Sami 1996) . The complexity of these devices and the ever shorter time-tomarket brought the need to efficient design environments, which can help designers to quickly put their prototypes up to work. Thus, the need for an efficient design environment to which the designer could inform what the system functionality should be like and from which a prototype could be obtained at the end of the design process grow. Such design environments began to appear more than a decade ago and are named hardware-software co-design (Wolf 2003) . They can be used for a large variety of digital systems including embedded systems, which is the goal of our work.

Electronic industry has undergone a tremendous market expansion due to the embedding of electronic devices in various systems such as automobiles, home appliances and communication equipment.

Such design environments began to appear more than a decade ago and are named hardware-software co-design.


Correlational research has also shown that music can awaken children's minds to the written word in pre-school. Studies have demonstrated that children between the ages of four to eight who obtain higher scores in various musical aptitude tests, more specifically in melodic tests, also obtain superior results in phonological awareness and word recognition (Anvari, Trainor, Woodside, & Levy, 2002; Bolduc & Montesinos-Gelet, 2005; Lamb & Gregory, 1993) . However, few quasi-experimental studies have managed to establish a causal effect between music learning and emergent literacy (Bolduc, 2006; Gromko, 2005; Standley & Hughes, 1997; Register, 2001) .

Studies have demonstrated that children between the ages of four to eight who obtain higher scores in various musical aptitude tests, more specifically in melodic tests, also obtain superior results in phonological awareness and word recognition.

However, few quasi-experimental studies have managed to establish a causal effect between music learning and emergent literacy.


Gambia for instance, women used to be traditional rice growers and were given formal land titles. It was assumed that the introduction of better technology for rice in the form of pump irrigation would have a productivity enhancing effect on women. However, faced with constraints on access to credit and hired labour, women failed to adopt the new technology and remained traditional rice producers. By contrast, male allocation to the irrigated rice sector increased. This contributed to the increase in annual per capita income and food consumption, but on account of male allocation to the sector. Female economic empowerment played no role in it (von Braun, Puetz and Webb, 1989) .

Female economic empowerment played no role in it.


Enzymes are biocatalysts produced by living cells to bring about specific biochemical reactions generally forming parts of the metabolic processes of the cells. Enzymes are highly specific in their action on substrates and often many different enzymes are required to bring about, by concerted action, the sequence of metabolic reactions performed by the living cell. All enzymes which have been purified are protein in nature and may or may not possess a nonprotein prosthetic group (Underkofler et al., 1957) .

All enzymes which have been purified are protein in nature and may or may not possess a nonprotein prosthetic group.


It is apparent that innovation is of increasing importance for managers to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in the hospitality industry [2, 3] . While innovation is critical in both manufacturing and service sectors, prior studies have shown that the innovation antecedents and processes vary between the two sectors [4] . For example, management skills are found to have a greater influence on innovation in the latter, such as the hotel industry [5] . On the other hand, studies on manufacturing firms reveal that employee training can negatively affect innovation performance [6] .

It is apparent that innovation is of increasing importance for managers to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in the hospitality industry.

While innovation is critical in both manufacturing and service sectors, prior studies have shown that the innovation antecedents and processes vary between the two sectors.

For example, management skills are found to have a greater influence on innovation in the latter, such as the hotel industry.

On the other hand, studies on manufacturing firms reveal that employee training can negatively affect innovation performance.


An important factor of innovation is knowledge that can be classified as technological and non-technological. Similarly, innovations can be distinguished between the technological and non-technological types. In the service sector, technological innovation is typically dominated by suppliers, and hence involves external knowledge that can be easily acquired and imitated by competitors [7] . Competitive advantage built on this kind of external technological innovation is hard to sustain. Technological innovation is likely the most prevalent form of innovation across industries, and the most studied type of innovation in the manufacturing sector [3] . However, innovation that can sustain superior performance in the hospitality industry tends to be internal and non-technical, involving business models.

In the service sector, technological innovation is typically dominated by suppliers, and hence involves external knowledge that can be easily acquired and imitated by competitors.

Technological innovation is likely the most prevalent form of innovation across industries, and the most studied type of innovation in the manufacturing sector.


To ensure greater robustness in our results for H2, we applied Preacher and Hayes' procedures for testing mediation [47] . Table 5 highlights that indirect effect is significant, with the direct effect still significant when the mediator BMI is included in the model, thereby supporting partial mediation in H2. The analysis reported in Tables 4 and 5 was also conducted with industry turbulence, BMI, and sustainable competitive, which were measured by taking the average of the three, four, and three items respectively that compose the independent, mediating, and dependent variables. The results from this robustness check were consistent with the findings obtained using the component scores.

To ensure greater robustness in our results for H2, we applied Preacher and Hayes' procedures for testing mediation.