Sugarcane bagasse is the byproduct of sugarcane industry and characterized with high content of its structural carbohydrates. The digestibility of sugarcane bagasse is well known to be low in ruminants because hemicellulose and cellulose content are tightly linked to its lignin component (Ramli et al., 2005) . Dietary cellulose and hemicellulose in the rumen are fermented to become volatile fatty acids which in turn providing carbon skeleton for microbial amino acid synthesis (Preston and Leng, 1987) . Therefore, it is postulated that higher bagasse portion in a diet may lower synthesis of microbial protein. The goal of this experiment was to determine some parameters of protein metabolism in goats fed different portion of sugarcane bagasse. Such study may give information about the use of bagasse as fiber sources in a total mixed ration for goats.

The digestibility of sugarcane bagasse is well known to be low in ruminants because hemicellulose and cellulose content are tightly linked to its lignin component.

Dietary cellulose and hemicellulose in the rumen are fermented to become volatile fatty acids which in turn providing carbon skeleton for microbial amino acid synthesis.


Numerous studies have documented age-related inflammatory marker expression in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and IL6, as well as microglial activation markers Cd11b (C3A receptor) and MHCII and the astrogliosis marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in various brain regions of healthy animals, including rats, mice, primates and in post-mortem human samples [1] [2] [3] [4] . Challenging the senescent CNS with stimuli that mimic infection or stress, such as LPS, induce exaggerated neuroinflammatory responses [4, 5] . These results suggested a pre-existing incipient or para-inflammatory state that predisposes the CNS to deleterious neurotoxic response in older animals and humans, and have led to the idea that the CNS undergoes a process of "inflammaging", with important implications for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's dementia and Parkinson's disease [2, 6, 7] .

Numerous studies have documented age-related inflammatory marker expression in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and IL6, as well as microglial activation markers Cd11b (C3A receptor) and MHCII and the astrogliosis marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in various brain regions of healthy animals, including rats, mice, primates and in post-mortem human samples.

Challenging the senescent CNS with stimuli that mimic infection or stress, such as LPS, induce exaggerated neuroinflammatory responses.

These results suggested a pre-existing incipient or para-inflammatory state that predisposes the CNS to deleterious neurotoxic response in older animals and humans, and have led to the idea that the CNS undergoes a process of "inflammaging", with important implications for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's dementia and Parkinson's disease.


There is some evidence that, in lieu of complex numbers, some other division ring might suffice to produce the Myers-Perry solution. The so-called Newman-Janis trick, which generates the Kerr solution from the Schwarzschild solution via complex coordinate redefinitions, can be extended to the five-dimensional Myers-Perry solution using quaternions [21] . The full quaternion algebra is not necessary for this construction; we only need to extend R by a set of scalars which square to -1 and anticommute amongst themselves (in this case, {i, j}). This possibility is worthy of further exploration, and may aid in generating some subset of the Kerr-Schild black hole solutions in higher dimensions.

The so-called Newman-Janis trick, which generates the Kerr solution from the Schwarzschild solution via complex coordinate redefinitions, can be extended to the five-dimensional Myers-Perry solution using quaternions.


It is conceivable that further constraints or generating techniques for Kerr-Schild solutions can be derived using the classical double copy. Thinking of Kerr-Schild metrics as double copies of gauge fields provides a new and illuminating way of studying geometries which have long been known to be especially simple, owing to linearization of the Einstein equations, yet which harbor a rich class of exact black hole solutions. Furthermore, it may be possible to extend the blueprint of Fig. 1 to the more general Weyl double copy, thus providing insight into all spacetimes of Petrov type D [16] . We leave all these questions to future work.

Furthermore, it may be possible to extend the blueprint of Fig. 1 to the more general Weyl double copy, thus providing insight into all spacetimes of Petrov type D.


We can also consider Kerr-Schild solutions on curved backgrounds. Many instances of the classical double copy have been described on maximally symmetric background [9] . In four dimensions, we might expect a complexification of the (A)dS manifold to yield a method for generating the (A)dS-Kerr solution via a complex shift of the (A)dS-Schwarzschild solution. The primary difficulty is determining what we mean by a complex shift in this case. In Minkowski space, the affine structure allows us to shift a worldline by i a, but there is no such structure in (A)dS space.

Many instances of the classical double copy have been described on maximally symmetric background.


The key to extending our procedure to higher dimensions would be generalizing Newman's theorem to classify the Maxwell fields with geodesic and shear-free principal vectors in higher dimensions. One of these Maxwell fields is the single copy of the Myers-Perry black hole, a generalization of the Kerr black hole to arbitrary dimensions which admits a Kerr-Schild form [5] . However, the use of a complex shift to generate twisting Maxwell fields does not easily extend to generating the Myers-Perry single copy. In four dimensions, when shifting by i a, the vector a was dual to the angular momentum 2-form. Such duality does not hold in other dimensions, and so a different formalism would be required to generate the twisting Maxwell fields in D = 4.

One of these Maxwell fields is the single copy of the Myers-Perry black hole, a generalization of the Kerr black hole to arbitrary dimensions which admits a Kerr-Schild form.


The restriction of the Wronski map to Y has the interesting property that Wr(y; z) is a perfect square for all y ∈ Y [8] . This raises the following question. Suppose that x ∈ X has the property that Wr(x; z) is a perfect square. Under what conditions can we conclude that x ∈ Y ?

The restriction of the Wronski map to Y has the interesting property that Wr(y; z) is a perfect square for all y ∈ Y.

This raises the following question.


In this paper, we present a study carried out to provide some empirical basis for such an instruction-giving algorithm. Our aim is to compare the effectiveness of landmark-based instructions with relative direction (left/right/straight) instructions (and with combinations such as "Turn left towards the X"). Several studies have pointed out that landmarks play a special role in the communication of route directions [2, 5, 9, 17, 19, 21, 24] . However, direction givers do not always prefer to give a landmark-based instruction and by studying in situ route instructions given by people, we noted that this seems to depend on where the instruction is given. We are now interested in how such relative directions are interpreted by someone who has to follow them, and under which circumstances such instructions work well.

Several studies have pointed out that landmarks play a special role in the communication of route directions.


Laying aside such normative concerns, future research on the CIR can advance our understanding of this process by moving beyond the limits of the present study. Future experimental work could attempt to disentangle the content of the CIR Statement from the source. Varying the description of the CIR process could, for instance, contrast identical content alleged to flow from a panel of policy experts, a deliberative panel, a crowdsourced process, or a bipartisan commission. The point of such comparisons would be to clarify whether the key to the CIR's impact is the content itself, or the electoral neutrality of the source, or the origin of the content as the fruit of a deliberative minipublic (Goodin & Dryzek, 2006; Ingham & Levin, 2017; MacKenzie & Warren, 2012) .

The point of such comparisons would be to clarify whether the key to the CIR's impact is the content itself, or the electoral neutrality of the source, or the origin of the content as the fruit of a deliberative minipublic.


Power and missing data analysis. Of the 550 survey respondents, 38 individuals (6.9%) declined to state their attitude on the sentencing measure and were dropped from subsequent analysis. This left an effective sample size of N = 512, which was still sufficient to detect even small effect sizes in the sample (Cohen, 1988) . Eighty-three percent of the remaining cases had complete data on all variables, with 2.5% of all possible data points missing. The only variable missing in more than 5% of cases was age (26 cases). A linear regression model with five imputations was used to substitute missing values, though 14 cases could not be plausibly imputed owing to nonresponse across multiple items. Results were approximately equivalent to nonimputed analyses, with any changes in statistical significance noted in the analysis.

Power and missing data analysis.

This left an effective sample size of N = 512, which was still sufficient to detect even small effect sizes in the sample.


Biomass could originate from energy crops or from residues of agricultural and agro-industrial activities. Biomasses originating from energy crops are often criticised as non-sustainable, since they are deemed responsible for the depletion of the soil of principal nutrients and competing with food crops [12] [13] [14] . The use of agro-industrial residues as a fuel does not imply such a "side-effect", as agro-industrial firms produce wastes that could be used as low-cost low impact fuel [15] . Sicilian olive oil industry wastes are a good example of biomass that could be used for energy production [16] . A potentially low cost biomass, that, when used in virtual cycles, could help to find solutions to the final disposal of products that currently constitute a hazardous waste [17, 18] .

Biomasses originating from energy crops are often criticised as non-sustainable, since they are deemed responsible for the depletion of the soil of principal nutrients and competing with food crops.

The use of agro-industrial residues as a fuel does not imply such a "side-effect", as agro-industrial firms produce wastes that could be used as low-cost low impact fuel.

Sicilian olive oil industry wastes are a good example of biomass that could be used for energy production.

A potentially low cost biomass, that, when used in virtual cycles, could help to find solutions to the final disposal of products that currently constitute a hazardous waste.


A broad variety of different viewpoints and preferences on RGs for qualitative research has been identified and analyzed in our Delphi study. Our sample of experts was small but adhered to the principle of maximum variety in expertise on the level of research paradigm, design and techniques, and scientific discipline. Consequently, we were able to extract a rich pallet of challenges, concerns, obstacles, and facilitators from these experts. For further research, the questionnaire could be adapted for a large-scale roll out, for example, a survey study in which a representative sample of experts in qualitative research spanning a broader geographical region is consulted on the topics of interest identified. Our study reveals that there is a considerable amount of topics where individual experts oppose each other in whether or not RGs are desirable, in what particular situations they should or should not be considered and in what form they should be presented. This variety in opinions was expected in advance. We opted for a maximum variation type of sampling approach. Maximum variation samples aim at capturing and describing the central themes or principal outcomes that cut across a great deal of participant or program variation. We acknowledge that a great deal of heterogeneity can be a problem when dealing with small samples, mainly because individual cases are very different from each other. The maximum variation sampling strategy, however, turns that apparent weakness into a strength (Patton, 1990) . Any common patterns that emerge from the variation between experts are of particular interest and value in capturing the core opinions about and potential of RGs for qualitative research. Our findings reveal the many different ways of thinking about qualitative research. The researchers included in our sample utilize a variety of perspectives when studying their phenomena of interest, with some subscribing to a particular methodology and others taking a more eclectic approach that incorporates multiple techniques of data collection and analysis. One particular approach is not necessarily ''better'' than another, each simply emphasizes different views on how to methodologically approach things. The expected variety in the viewpoints between the experts is the main reason why the research team opted for an argument Delphi study rather than trying to gain consensus (i.e., the aim of traditional Delphi approaches) and moving toward a saturation point. The logic behind our choice for a maximum variation strategy was valorized in practice through spotting the tendency toward agreement between experts on a proportion of statements concerning RGs. The percentages revealing the support or nonsupport of experts for particular criteria and statements led us into developing a line of argument based on emerging areas of consensus and opposition that would otherwise have remained hidden.

The maximum variation sampling strategy, however, turns that apparent weakness into a strength.


A greenhouse is a building with a roof and walls made of translucent plastic or glass to grow the plants that need moderate climatic conditions. The technology of greenhouse is a breakthrough point in the technology of agricultural production [1] . The greenhouses designed for the purpose to provide crop control, in addition, to maintain temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and carbon dioxide rate in the Aerial climate [2] . Greenhouse micro-climate is defined by a group of average values of climatic factors, which is affected directly to the action plant growth, development, moisture contents and several other effect such as latitude, plant canopy, orientation, the area of greenhouse, shape of greenhouse and the bare area inside the greenhouse. Also, natural or forced, ventilation affect the greenhouse microclimate [3] . Ventilation is a necessary process to removes excess heat, reduce the temperature stratification, and increase carbon dioxide [4] .

The technology of greenhouse is a breakthrough point in the technology of agricultural production.

The greenhouses designed for the purpose to provide crop control, in addition, to maintain temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and carbon dioxide rate in the Aerial climate.

Also, natural or forced, ventilation affect the greenhouse microclimate.

Ventilation is a necessary process to removes excess heat, reduce the temperature stratification, and increase carbon dioxide.


Transient models are more accurate for simulating the thermal condition and climate of greenhouse and its response on a small timescale. They require a proper representation of the heat transfer and mass transfer action between the different active and radiant components. The coefficients of heat transfer, as well as the mass transfer, are depending on the system variables [9] .

The coefficients of heat transfer, as well as the mass transfer, are depending on the system variables.


Grazing heptageniid mayflies were the most abundant family and comprised greater than 90% of a feeding group that primarily eats v www.esajournals.org periphyton. Higher heptageniid abundances may be supported by enhanced growth or a higher nutritional quality of periphyton. All three variables that best explained heptageniid abundance could positively influence the growth, nutritional quality, or availability of stream periphyton in our region. First, higher temperatures can increase periphyton growth by raising metabolic rates (DeNicola 1996) . Second, substrate size has been shown to mediate the scouring effect of disturbance events, particularly the disturbance caused by spawning salmon (Tiegs et al. 2008) . As a result, streams with larger substrate may experience less scouring, thus facilitating increased periphyton abundance as well as protecting the mayflies themselves from the negative effects of disturbance by spawning salmon. Finally, the growth and nutritional quality of periphyton can be increased by nutrient availability, which could be influenced by the retention of salmon nutrients in the watershed.

First, higher temperatures can increase periphyton growth by raising metabolic rates.

Second, substrate size has been shown to mediate the scouring effect of disturbance events, particularly the disturbance caused by spawning salmon.


While a previous study of periphyton across 24 streams in the region did not find a higher standing stock of periphyton in streams with more salmon, this study was conducted in the fall, 6 weeks after spawning, when effects of salmon scouring the substrate may have been important (Verspoor et al. 2010) . Circumstantial support for the hypothesis of a positive link from salmon to periphyton to grazing heptageniid mayflies comes from three lines of evidence. First, periphyton abundance in the fall was positively related to dissolved phosphorus levels, suggesting growth in these streams can be nutrient limited (Verspoor et al. 2010) . Second, stable isotope analyses of periphyton in the fall showed the incorporation of salmon nitrogen that was delivered in previous years, indicating that long-term salmon nutrient retention does occur in these streams (Verspoor et al. 2010) . Finally, there is a moderate correlation between 2006 salmon density and 2007 summer soluble reactive phosphorus levels in the study streams (r ¼ 0.48, p ¼ 0.033, n ¼ 20), which could be influenced by salmon nutrients retained in the watersheds.

While a previous study of periphyton across 24 streams in the region did not find a higher standing stock of periphyton in streams with more salmon, this study was conducted in the fall, 6 weeks after spawning, when effects of salmon scouring the substrate may have been important.

First, periphyton abundance in the fall was positively related to dissolved phosphorus levels, suggesting growth in these streams can be nutrient limited.

Second, stable isotope analyses of periphyton in the fall showed the incorporation of salmon nitrogen that was delivered in previous years, indicating that long-term salmon nutrient retention does occur in these streams.


An example of a long-term pollution event that has generated changes in the community like those indicated above has been well documented in the northern coast of Chile, where the bay of Chañaral has received wastes from the El Salvador copper mine since 1938, directly affecting more than 20 km of coastline (Castilla 1983; Paskoff and Petiot 1990) . From 1976 to 1989, the discharge point was moved 10 km north from the bay to Caleta Palito (26 • 16 S, 70 • 41 W), a rocky cove that received ≈130 × 10 6 metric tonnes of tailings in 13 years. After the construction of an inland sedimentation dam in 1990, sediment-free wastewaters have been channelled from the dam to Caleta Palito. Studies along this area have shown a variable but persistently high concentration of total dissolved copper in coastal seawater (from 8.7 µg L −1 to 30.7 µg L −1 ), beach progradation, severe reduction in species richness and a complete modification of the intertidal community structure (Medina et al. 2005) .

An example of a long-term pollution event that has generated changes in the community like those indicated above has been well documented in the northern coast of Chile, where the bay of Chañaral has received wastes from the El Salvador copper mine since 1938, directly affecting more than 20 km of coastline.

Studies along this area have shown a variable but persistently high concentration of total dissolved copper in coastal seawater (from 8.7 µg L −1 to 30.7 µg L −1 ), beach progradation, severe reduction in species richness and a complete modification of the intertidal community structure.


Since version 2.7 the RKToolbox supports the conversion of rational interpolants from their barycentric form into the RKFUN format. In this brief note we explain this conversion and also establish an explicit relation to rational Newton interpolation. We then apply these connections to the problem of sampling a nonlinear eigenvalue problem, making use of the recently developed AAA algorithm [11] . But let us first review the various rational function representations.

We then apply these connections to the problem of sampling a nonlinear eigenvalue problem, making use of the recently developed AAA algorithm.


We have also compared our results based on the first integral method with Runge-Kutta method. Our studies show good agreement between the analytical and the numerical results. The corresponding results are presented in Fig. 4 . As was recently shown, the direction of the total energy flow of the SWs can be forward or backward in the presence of LHM [21] . Due to the localized nature of the SWs, the total energy flow of the SWs normal to the interface is zero. So, it is interesting to study the total energy flow of the nonlinear SWs along the interface. To demonstrate the backward or forward nature of the nonlinear surface modes we plotted the total energy flow of the modes as a function of β for different values of the parameter |γ 0 | (or different exciting intensity) in Fig. 5 . As it is clear from Fig. 5(a) , the energy flow of the SWs are in the backward or the forward directions at the region 1.065 < β < 1.177 depending on the intensity. So, the forward SWs can be switched to the backward ones or vice versa by adjusting the intensity of the exciting field in the case of LH slab.

As was recently shown, the direction of the total energy flow of the SWs can be forward or backward in the presence of LHM.


A theoretical interpretation of the 2014-15 and 2017 neutrino flares should predict the right flux and event rate. Since only one neutrino event was observed in 2017, there is substantial uncertainty on the expected neutrino flux from the source, and there are good reasons to expect that the predicted neutrino event rate should be much smaller. In short, if many similarly neutrino-faint objects existed, as expected from gamma-ray population studies, many such coincidences would be expected if each source really produces one neutrino event on average [18, 19] . Another uncertainty comes from a difference between the effective area of the alert system and that of the throughgoing muon analysis (triggering the alert system requires a substantially higher flux because of quality cuts). From these considerations, the theoretical model probably needs to predict between about 0.01 and 0.1 events per source for the 2017 period. The situation is very different for the 2014-15 neutrino flare, for which archival muon track data detected with the corresponding muon neutrino effective area were used. Because of the high statistics (13 events) the predicted neutrino event number needs to be of a similar magnitude. Note, however, that a power law assumption for the extraction of this event number was used in the analysis, and it is unclear if the event rate extraction changes for different assumptions on the spectral shape.

In short, if many similarly neutrino-faint objects existed, as expected from gamma-ray population studies, many such coincidences would be expected if each source really produces one neutrino event on average.


Model Predictive Control (MPC) is one of the frequently applied advanced optimal control methods in industry. Recently, with the advent of powerful microcontroller and small-size sensors, it has become possible to extend the MPC method to UAV systems which exhibit relatively fast dynamics. Many works have addressed the "decentralized MPC" in UAV cooperative control [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] . Although the control optimization for the UAVs are all performed sequentially, these published works can be sorted in two groups based on their input update scheme.

Many works have addressed the "decentralized MPC" in UAV cooperative control.


To investigate the biological effect of ectopic ODC targeting in planta, transgenic tobacco plants were generated in which the human ODC enzyme was targeted to apoplast. This atypical localization was confirmed by analysis of intercellular washing fluids by immunoblot (Fig. 3) and enzymatic activity (data not shown). Biochemical analysis of transgenic T 2 plants producing recombinant apoplastic ODC demonstrated that the human enzyme was enzymatically active. The ODC activity in transgenic lines was 18-to 32-fold higher compared to wild type plants, leading to a 4.6-8.4-fold (P<0.05) increase in putrescine levels. Molecular and biochemical analysis revealed a strong correlation between the level of recombinant ODC in the apoplast, the increased enzymatic activity and the elevated levels of putrescine, confirming that the ODC is functional in the apoplast and is responsible for the modulation of the polyamine metabolism. In contrast a linear correlation between ODC mRNA levels, enzymatic activity and polyamine accumulation was not observed when human ODC was directed to the cytosol of rice plants [13] .

In contrast a linear correlation between ODC mRNA levels, enzymatic activity and polyamine accumulation was not observed when human ODC was directed to the cytosol of rice plants.


Polyamines are ubiquitous, low-molecular-weight, polycationic compounds involved in crucial developmental, physiological and metabolic processes [1] . The polyamine biosynthesis pathway is complex and regulated at multiple levels [2] . In plants, the polyamine putrescine can be synthesized from either ornithine or arginine through the activities of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and arginine decarboxylase (ADC), respectively. In a step common to most organisms, spermidine is formed from putrescine by the addition of an aminopropyl group donated by decarboxylated Sadenosylmethionine. This reaction is catalysed by spermidine synthase (SPDS), an aminopropyl-transferase. Spermine is formed by the addition of a second aminopropyl moiety to spermidine, catalyzed by another aminopropyl transferase, spermine synthase (SPMS) [3] .

Polyamines are ubiquitous, low-molecular-weight, polycationic compounds involved in crucial developmental, physiological and metabolic processes.

The polyamine biosynthesis pathway is complex and regulated at multiple levels.

Spermine is formed by the addition of a second aminopropyl moiety to spermidine, catalyzed by another aminopropyl transferase, spermine synthase (SPMS).


In higher plants, cells are equipped with an efficient transport system for the uptake of the exogenous polyamines. Considering that polyamine transport plays an important role on the regulation of the cellular polyamines, we hypothesize that the putrescine produced in the apoplast is transported inside the cell through a putrescine-preferential transporter possibly initiated from the apoplastic putrescine accumulation and diffusion across a concentration gradient. This hypothesis is supported by a recent study in soybean demonstrating that not only the activity of polyamine biosynthestic enzymes, but also the translocation of the precursors can regulate the metabolism of polyamine [49] . The polyamine uptake at the cellular level is a very rapid active mechanism, reaching saturation after 1-2 min and the absorbed polyamines are mostly stored in vacuoles [50] . At least two polyamine transporters including the plasma membrane localized putrescine-preferential transporter (LmPOT1) have been identified in several eukaryotic cell types [51, 52] .

This hypothesis is supported by a recent study in soybean demonstrating that not only the activity of polyamine biosynthestic enzymes, but also the translocation of the precursors can regulate the metabolism of polyamine.

The polyamine uptake at the cellular level is a very rapid active mechanism, reaching saturation after 1-2 min and the absorbed polyamines are mostly stored in vacuoles.

At least two polyamine transporters including the plasma membrane localized putrescine-preferential transporter (LmPOT1) have been identified in several eukaryotic cell types.


Despite the economic and financial crisis, statistics show that merchant fleets are growing: more than 138,000 seagoing commercial ships are currently in service [1] . These data prove the crucial role of seaports for both national and international trade. In this framework, the Mediterranean Sea represents one of the most strategic areas with 15% of global shipping activities taking place at mainly western and central Mediterranean ports [2] . Therefore decision making in seaports requires the support of powerful tools allowing performance measurement and analysis. To this end, the main goal of this research work is to propose a simulation-based tool of a mediumsize Mediterranean seaport that could be used by the main port administrators (i.e. port managers, the port authority, etc.) to support decision making and process management. Indeed, all port stakeholders need to monitor their performance taking into account quantitative and qualitative aspects, determining whether their strategies produce the desired outcomes, and correcting any misallocations and malfunctions [3] .

Despite the economic and financial crisis, statistics show that merchant fleets are growing: more than 138,000 seagoing commercial ships are currently in service.

In this framework, the Mediterranean Sea represents one of the most strategic areas with 15% of global shipping activities taking place at mainly western and central Mediterranean ports.

Indeed, all port stakeholders need to monitor their performance taking into account quantitative and qualitative aspects, determining whether their strategies produce the desired outcomes, and correcting any misallocations and malfunctions.


Variable illumination is another major issue in machine vision applications in natural daylight conditions. An environmentally adaptive algorithm was used to classify weeds from plants and soil (Tian and Slaughter, 1998) . To find out the size of the fruit in the images, the distance from the tree to the camera should be known. A laser ranging system was used to find the distance of the end effector of the harvesting robot from the tree (Bulanon et al., 2004; Jimenez et al., 2000) . Using stereo cameras, range information could be also found, however it is computationally intensive.

An environmentally adaptive algorithm was used to classify weeds from plants and soil.

A laser ranging system was used to find the distance of the end effector of the harvesting robot from the tree.


A salient feature of a living cell is that its resting membrane potential is more negative inside than outside. Electrical signaling is mediated by voltage-gated ion channels which are activated by membrane depolarization in response to a variety of stimuli (Hodgkin and Huxley, 1952) . However, a subclass of these channels which include the closely related hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are activated by the moving the potential in the negative direction, away from the threshold for generating electrical impulses. These channels play a unique role in setting the "resting" membrane potential in a variety of cells (Ludwig et al., 1998; Santoro et al., 1998) . In autonomously rhythmic cells, such as the sinoatrial node, they drive the membrane potential towards threshold and are, therefore, also known as pacemaking channels (Brown et al., 1979) . New cryo-EM structures show that despite some clear differences, the overall structures of the human HCN channel and depolarization-activated channels are remarkably similar (Lee and MacKinnon, 2017) . This naturally raises questions regarding the nature of structural and molecular determinants of gating polarity in the voltage-gated ion channel superfamily (VGIC).

Electrical signaling is mediated by voltage-gated ion channels which are activated by membrane depolarization in response to a variety of stimuli.

These channels play a unique role in setting the "resting" membrane potential in a variety of cells.

In autonomously rhythmic cells, such as the sinoatrial node, they drive the membrane potential towards threshold and are, therefore, also known as pacemaking channels.

New cryo-EM structures show that despite some clear differences, the overall structures of the human HCN channel and depolarization-activated channels are remarkably similar.


Bees have been studied as for their ability in adding and discriminating odors, essentially at a physiological and neuronal level, the functioning of their brain under olfactory stimulation having been investigated (Sandoz, 2011; Lachnit, Giurfa, & Menzel, 2004) . Classical conditioning experiments on restrained bees showed that they learn and recognize the odor of flowers thanks to key odorant (Reinhard, Sinclair, Srinivassan & Claudianos, 2010) . They can 'sum' and 'extract' odors. Other works more or less linked to the present one on ants, as well as extended information on the subject will be reported in the 'Discussion' section, after having related our methods and results, and having discussed them.

Bees have been studied as for their ability in adding and discriminating odors, essentially at a physiological and neuronal level, the functioning of their brain under olfactory stimulation having been investigated.

Classical conditioning experiments on restrained bees showed that they learn and recognize the odor of flowers thanks to key odorant.

They can 'sum' and 'extract' odors.


Many animal species produce chemical signals for communicating with congeners as well as for marking their territory. An acute sense of smell often enables them to find food and navigate (Leroy, 1987) . This is of course valid for insects, and especially for social insects. Several types of olfactory sensilla, essentially located on the antennae, collect odorous information which is transmitted to specific parts of the brain, what in turn induces adequate behavior (Renau, 2014) .

An acute sense of smell often enables them to find food and navigate.

Several types of olfactory sensilla, essentially located on the antennae, collect odorous information which is transmitted to specific parts of the brain, what in turn induces adequate behavior.


It is widely known that the most common forms of cancer develop as a result of interactions between endogenous and environmental factors such as the diet [51] . Environmental factors might be related to the high incidence of these neoplasms in the northern and northeastern regions, or for some reason the HDGC frequency is higher than elsewhere in the world, where sporadic gastric cancer is also endemic, such as Japan and Korea. In particular, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection during childhood as well as the high consumption of salt-preserved foods, infrequent use of refrigeration and low consumption rates of cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables are considered risk factors for gastrointestinal tumors [52] [53] [54] [55] .

It is widely known that the most common forms of cancer develop as a result of interactions between endogenous and environmental factors such as the diet.

In particular, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection during childhood as well as the high consumption of salt-preserved foods, infrequent use of refrigeration and low consumption rates of cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables are considered risk factors for gastrointestinal tumors.


It is important to note that the instructional program used in the present study did not explicitly teach students how to interpret the abstract diagrams included in the program. Students in Group C-A may have needed more guidance on mapping the abstract representations to the word problems. As noted in previous research, novices are unable to effectively use diagrams that make use of abstract conventions without appropriate experience (Petre & Green, 1993) . It is possible that students in Group C-A would have produced higher transfer scores had they received appropriate support in mapping the concrete electrical circuit elements described by the cover stories and the corresponding abstract diagrams. A test of this interpretation is one of the directions of our future research.

As noted in previous research, novices are unable to effectively use diagrams that make use of abstract conventions without appropriate experience.


The findings from Experiment 2 replicate the pattern of results found in Experiment 1 in the following ways. First, we found that Group AC outperformed Groups C and A during the practice session. Second, Group AC outperformed Group C on the transfer measure. A difference between the findings of the two studies is that Group A in Experiment 2 also outperformed Group C on the transfer measure. This result is consistent with the results of a prior study in which comparisons on a transfer test were made between gifted high-school students who learned with abstract versus concrete diagrams (Moreno et al., 2009b) . Third, in line with the results from Experiment 1, the participants in Groups A and AC who spontaneously drew diagrams during the transfer test chose to use the conventional engineering symbols to represent the transfer problems, whereas Group C chose to represent the transfer problems with real-life drawings. Fourth, Experiment 2 showed a positive correlation between the quality of the diagrams drawn and students' transfer scores. Finally, similar to Experiment 1, there were no significant differences among groups on students' positive perceptions about the program's diagrams.

This result is consistent with the results of a prior study in which comparisons on a transfer test were made between gifted high-school students who learned with abstract versus concrete diagrams.


The intrinsic importance of the problem of resonance energy transfer (RET) is evident from its formulation, as stated above and the fact that it manifests in an inordinately large number of varied scientific and engineering situations and applications ranging from revealing structural information on biomolecules, to improving the functionality and efficiency of devices fabricated at the nanoscale [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . A considerable amount of theoretical work has been carried out over the years in order to understand the basic mechanism by which energy is transferred in biological, chemical and physical systems. Here we give an overview of the application of the theory of molecular quantum electrodynamics (QED) to RET, concentrating first on the pair transfer rate before going on to examine the role of an additional microscopic particle or a medium on the exchange process.

The intrinsic importance of the problem of resonance energy transfer (RET) is evident from its formulation, as stated above and the fact that it manifests in an inordinately large number of varied scientific and engineering situations and applications ranging from revealing structural information on biomolecules, to improving the functionality and efficiency of devices fabricated at the nanoscale.


Salinity caused growth inhibition and decreased efficiency in photosynthetic energy conversion (Ф PSII ) in E. crus-galli seedlings ( Figs. 2A and B) . However, the growth inhibition and damage symptoms in E. crus-galli were not as severe as those in rice seedlings (Fig. 1) . The preliminary experiment using rice seedlings showed that 120 mM of NaCl caused a striking decrease in the leaf blade Ф PSII value (a 37% and 64% decrease after three and six days, respectively). The present results supported the results of an earlier report showing that the gramineous weed E. crus-galli is more tolerant of salt stress than rice [19] . The decrease in Ф PSII accounts for the occurrence of the disorder in photosynthetic electron transport, which leads to the generation of ROS such as O 2 ・-and H 2 O 2 [29] . Thus, it appeared that the difference in salt tolerance between rice and E. crus-galli might be associated with the difference in their ability to scavenge cytotoxic ROS.

The present results supported the results of an earlier report showing that the gramineous weed E. crus-galli is more tolerant of salt stress than rice.

The decrease in Ф PSII accounts for the occurrence of the disorder in photosynthetic electron transport, which leads to the generation of ROS such as O 2 ・-and H 2 O 2.


Proving termination of term rewrite systems has been an active research area for several decades. In recent years the emphasis has shifted towards the development of powerful methods for automatically proving termination. The traditional methods for automated termination proofs of rewrite systems are simplification orders like the recursive path order, the Knuth-Bendix order, and (most) polynomial orders. The termination proving power of these methods has been significantly extended by the dependency pair method of Arts and Giesl [2] . In this method, depicted in Fig. 1, a rewrite system is transformed into groups of ordering constraints such that termination of the system is equivalent to the (separate) solvability of these groups. The number and size of these groups is determined by the approximation used to estimate the dependency graph and, more importantly, by the cycle analysis algorithm that is used to extract the groups from the approximated dependency graph. Typically, the ordering constraints in the obtained groups must be simplified before traditional simplification orders like the recursive path order or the Knuth-Bendix order are applicable. Such simplifications are performed by so-called argument filterings. It is fair to say that the dependency pair method derives much of its power from the ability to use argument filterings to simplify constraints. The finiteness of the argument filtering search space has been stressed in many papers on the dependency pair method, but we do not hesitate to label the enormous size of this search space as the main obstacle for the successful automation of the dependency pair method when using strongly monotone simplification orders.

The termination proving power of these methods has been significantly extended by the dependency pair method of Arts and Giesl.


Given Earth's limited stores of fossil fuels and the consequences of their usage in the environment, various alternative energy sources have now been explored and developed. Unfortunately, multiple complications exist with such energy sources: for example, fuel cells and photovoltaic modules cannot accept currents in the reverse direction, do not perform well with current ripples, and have low voltage characteristics [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] . For these reasons, normally a boost converter is required to step-up and regulate the input voltage to a higher value [3, 4, [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] . However, the inherent inductor current ripple of the boost converter causes a high frequency input in the current ripple [6, 7, 9] .

Unfortunately, multiple complications exist with such energy sources: for example, fuel cells and photovoltaic modules cannot accept currents in the reverse direction, do not perform well with current ripples, and have low voltage characteristics.

For these reasons, normally a boost converter is required to step-up and regulate the input voltage to a higher value.

However, the inherent inductor current ripple of the boost converter causes a high frequency input in the current ripple.


One common method is to adopt interleaved boost converters to minimize the high frequency input ripples [8] [9] [10] [11] . Nevertheless, the interleaved control still suffers from several disadvantages. First, as a single converter module, it is not possible to implement the corresponding interleaved control strategy. Second, there is no guarantee that the various inductors have identical characteristics, so harmonic current elimination may not be optimal and current balancing issues should be considered [8, 10, 11] .

One common method is to adopt interleaved boost converters to minimize the high frequency input ripples.

Second, there is no guarantee that the various inductors have identical characteristics, so harmonic current elimination may not be optimal and current balancing issues should be considered.


The conventional technique of AC-DC conversion using a diode rectifier with bulk capacitor is no longer in use due to numerous problems such as low order harmonics injection into AC power supply, low power factor, high peak current, line voltage distortion, increased electromagnetic interference, extra burden on lines, and additional losses [1] . Many new topologies have been introduced which not only overcome these drawbacks, but establish some attractive features for AC-DC rectification with different level output voltages. A boost converter is most widely used for this purpose due to its simple circuitry and easy control, which can be implemented effortlessly with available ICs. However, some applications require the high frequency isolation with various levels of output voltage. In recent years, single stage AC-DC power converters such as Flyback, Cuk, SEPIC, and Zeta converters have been widely used for PFC where drawbacks of the boost converter are nicely addressed [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] .

The conventional technique of AC-DC conversion using a diode rectifier with bulk capacitor is no longer in use due to numerous problems such as low order harmonics injection into AC power supply, low power factor, high peak current, line voltage distortion, increased electromagnetic interference, extra burden on lines, and additional losses.

In recent years, single stage AC-DC power converters such as Flyback, Cuk, SEPIC, and Zeta converters have been widely used for PFC where drawbacks of the boost converter are nicely addressed.


This project aims to contribute to the development of that evidence base by studying in depth the implementation of changes to orthopaedic services. The new DHcommissioned programme, which commenced in January 2016, will continue the work trialled in the national pilot. We will therefore evaluate the intervention as a whole, including the pilot and the work currently being planned. We will focus on outcomes directly relating to patient care, for the commonest elective orthopaedic procedures: THR and TKR [12] . Through this, we will identify lessons to inform future service improvement efforts. In line with Medical Research Council guidance about the evaluation of complex interventions, key goals will be to refine our current understanding of the details and timing of the intervention, as well as the programme theory underpinning its implementation, to inform decisions about which impacts that should be measured [5] . Programme theory sets out the rationale and assumptions about the mechanisms that link an intervention's processes and inputs to outcomes. Articulation of this theory helps improve the measurement of the intervention's impacts [13] .

We will focus on outcomes directly relating to patient care, for the commonest elective orthopaedic procedures: THR and TKR.

In line with Medical Research Council guidance about the evaluation of complex interventions, key goals will be to refine our current understanding of the details and timing of the intervention, as well as the programme theory underpinning its implementation, to inform decisions about which impacts that should be measured.

Articulation of this theory helps improve the measurement of the intervention's impacts.


Reformulation of traditional, refined grain foods to include whole grain is a novel approach to reducing refined grain and increasing whole grain intakes. Selection and acceptance of a reformulated, traditional product depends on many factors, including texture and sensory attributes [17] . The objective of this study was to determine the texture, color, and sensory properties of reformulated idli products, replacing white rice with brown rice. Successful reformulation of this commonly consumed, well-liked food can serve as a model for the development of other whole grain products to increase overall consumption of whole grains throughout the world.

Selection and acceptance of a reformulated, traditional product depends on many factors, including texture and sensory attributes.


To increase whole grain consumption, acceptable whole grain counterparts to commonly consumed refined grain staple foods are needed [12] . Traditional, refined grain foods selected for reformulation as whole grain foods should be a staple in the diet, well liked, and have the potential to mask any unfamiliar flavors. For example, idli is a common, fermented breakfast food in southern India and a popular food throughout the country. It is preferred because of its spongy texture, appearance, mouth feel, taste, and aroma [13] . The major ingredients in idli are white rice (Oryza sativum) (75%-80%), and black gram (Phaseolus mungo) (20%-25%) [14] . Preparing idli involves soaking and grinding rice and black gram separately, mixing batters of rice and black gram together, fermenting the batter overnight at room temperature, and steam cooking [15] . Idli is a circular approximately 7-10 cm in diameter (based on mold size), and flat with a convex lower and upper surface of 2-3 cm thickness, and is tapered toward the periphery [16] . Home preparation of idli is convenient because the fermented batter can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week and idli can be cooked within a short time. In some places, this stored batter is used to prepare breakfast (idli) and supper (dosa, another traditional food made with the same batter). Idli and dosa are consumed with various chutneys, which can mask the unfamiliar flavors of a reformulated product.

To increase whole grain consumption, acceptable whole grain counterparts to commonly consumed refined grain staple foods are needed.

It is preferred because of its spongy texture, appearance, mouth feel, taste, and aroma.

The major ingredients in idli are white rice (Oryza sativum) (75%-80%), and black gram (Phaseolus mungo) (20%-25%).

Preparing idli involves soaking and grinding rice and black gram separately, mixing batters of rice and black gram together, fermenting the batter overnight at room temperature, and steam cooking.

Idli is a circular approximately 7-10 cm in diameter (based on mold size), and flat with a convex lower and upper surface of 2-3 cm thickness, and is tapered toward the periphery.


There are still some missing ingredients needed for the constructions of a fully differential N 3 LO subtraction scheme. Firstly, the quark initiated channels are still unavailablethey are not directly accessible from the H + 2j amplitudes since they have been computed in the effective theory where the Higgs couples only to gluons. The necessary splitting amplitudes could be extracted from the vector boson plus four parton one-loop amplitudes [71] .

The necessary splitting amplitudes could be extracted from the vector boson plus four parton one-loop amplitudes.


The dual purpose of zoos as sites of entertainment and displays of power and wealth was prevalent in the medieval and early modern menageries of Europe. The late 18 th and early 19 th century witnessed an important milestone in the evolution of the zoo with the creation of zoological societies such the Zoological Society of London that gave a scientific raison d"être for zoos and opened the first truly public zoos (Turley 1998) . Whilst stressing the scientific importance of zoos it is thanks at least in part to the efforts of zoological societies that these places have become a mass tourism and leisure experience (Mullan and Marvin 1999) .

The late 18 th and early 19 th century witnessed an important milestone in the evolution of the zoo with the creation of zoological societies such the Zoological Society of London that gave a scientific raison d"être for zoos and opened the first truly public zoos.

Whilst stressing the scientific importance of zoos it is thanks at least in part to the efforts of zoological societies that these places have become a mass tourism and leisure experience.


From the late 1990s, a new round of international industrial transfer, which is characterized by the transfer of manufacturing industry from developed countries to China as well as other eastern Asian countries, has been on the increase with the rise of knowledge economy and the acceleration of global economy. This has accelerated the globalization of supply chains, and hence has made regional logistics more demanding [1] . The level of logistics industry development has become an important indicator, which is used to measure the quality of the regional investment environment, but also becomes an accelerator to the regional economy. To enhance the capability of regional logistics system under supply chain globalization environments and to improve the investment environment so that to attract more investment capital, each region should accelerate the construction of infrastructure investment, based on the scientific and rational planning of the regional logistics development, and integrate and optimize the traditional logistics industry and improve the concentration of regional logistics industry, which plays an important role in enhancing the regional comprehensive competitiveness and the sustainable development of regional economy under supply chain globalization environments.

This has accelerated the globalization of supply chains, and hence has made regional logistics more demanding.


The presented solution should serve also as a building block to describing more complex behaviour. It has previously been shown that manipulating the detuning gradient during the output stage can be used to modify the output pulse [42] . Going further than this, by incorporating a general detuning function (dependent on time and space) beyond a simple gradient, it should be possible to model general transformations on a light pulse, including correcting the nonlinear phase-shift using no external components. This would be experimentally realizable by using complex electrode or solenoid arrangements. In this respect, our analysis in terms of transfer functions is also helpful as it establishes a strong connection with signal processing theory and, with it, the possibility of using the plethora of methods in the field to manipulate the input signal via GEM. It is hoped that our approach will be accessible to those in the signal processing field. Finally, as the model fully accounts for quantum mechanics it will be useful for describing conditional measurements and storage of non-classical states.

It has previously been shown that manipulating the detuning gradient during the output stage can be used to modify the output pulse.


The presented solution will be helpful as-is to understand and optimize high efficiency memory experiments in the weak atomic excitation regime. The nonlinear phase-shift investigated here has previously been identified as a major limiting factor for the practical use of GEM [31] . Accurate predictions of this shift should aid general correction or accounting for it. In the long term, our model is a starting point to investigate the designing of complex networks containing GEM.

The nonlinear phase-shift investigated here has previously been identified as a major limiting factor for the practical use of GEM.


Closed itemsets are a solution to this problem. They are a condensed, i.e. both concise and lossless, representation of a collection of frequent itemsets. They are concise since a collection of closed itemsets is orders of magnitude smaller than the corresponding collection of frequents. This allows to use very low minimum support thresholds, which would make the extraction of all the frequent itemsets intractable. Moreover, they are lossless, because it is possible to derive the identity and the support of every frequent itemset in the collection from them. Since when we mine closed itemsets, we implicitly discard redundancies, extracting association rules directly from them has been proven to be more meaningful for analysts [18, 20] . Hence, many efficient Frequent Closed Itemsets Mining (FCIM) algorithms have been recently proposed [10, 15, 19, 4, 13, 22, 20] .

Since when we mine closed itemsets, we implicitly discard redundancies, extracting association rules directly from them has been proven to be more meaningful for analysts.

Hence, many efficient Frequent Closed Itemsets Mining (FCIM) algorithms have been recently proposed.


Contribution With this paper we contribute the first algorithm for mining closed itemsets in external memory. We base our algorithm on DCI CLOSED, a previously proposed, in-core FCIM algorithm [10] . Given a dataset and a minimum support threshold, DCI CLOSED efficiently performs the mining task using a bounded and predictable amount of memory. This allow us to determine precise bounds on the size of partitions, and to be sure that they can be surely stored and processed separately in main memory using DCI CLOSED as a mining engine.

We base our algorithm on DCI CLOSED, a previously proposed, in-core FCIM algorithm.


Increasing pressures on biodiversity will increase the frequency and magnitude of HWC events. An understanding of the causes of these conflicts is a prerequisite for developing effective and costefficient management strategies to ensure achievement of conservation goals. People are a part of all HWC problems meaning social research methods are essential for understanding what solutions are more likely to be effective because congruence between attitudes and policies are essential (Heberlein, 2012) . Surveys and interviews can provide quantitative assessments of the attitudes of stakeholders and this information can guide management strategies (Decker et al., 2012; Heberlein, 2012; Manfredo et al., 2009) . Quantitative surveys are particularly useful to identify the extent and magnitude of a problem because without such surveys powerful individuals or groups can distort reality. However, for research to usefully contribute to providing solutions to HWC problems, research must be targeted on the most soluble dimensions of these problems.

People are a part of all HWC problems meaning social research methods are essential for understanding what solutions are more likely to be effective because congruence between attitudes and policies are essential.

Surveys and interviews can provide quantitative assessments of the attitudes of stakeholders and this information can guide management strategies.


The cacao, Theobroma cacao L., is an allogamous and perennial species of great social and economic-ecological importance in the producing regions of Brazil, where close to 3 million people depend directly or indirectly on this crop. Cacao is an important source of receipts, income and employment, moving, in beans and derivatives, nearly 1.5 billion dollars an year. The South of Bahia is the main cacao producing region of Brazil, where practically 100 counties are economically cacao based. The cacao is cultivated on some 29 thousand farms, covering an area of over 700 thousand hectares (Souza and Dias 2001) .

The cacao is cultivated on some 29 thousand farms, covering an area of over 700 thousand hectares.


The ALT elevation in our study was mostly mild (grade 1-2, 98.4%). There was no report of serious liver disease or hepatic encephalopathy, however, its longterm deleterious consequence is not well defined. The majority of previous studies mainly reported patients with severe elevation of ALT (≥ 5 times, UNL) who also tended to have symptomatic disease [19] . In general, chronic liver disease in HIV usually presents with no or mild symptoms with rising serum transaminase levels. Because such individuals are mostly asymptomatic, delayed diagnosis is common [5, 20] . Delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to long term consequences from chronic hepatitis such as liver fibrosis, resulting in cirrhosis and importantly liver cancer [21, 22] . We found that the median time from ARV initiation to chronic hepatitis was 1.3 years (IQR, 0.5-3.5) which was similar to previous report of 1.2 year [9] . As our definition required two consecutive abnormal ALT 6month apart, this suggests that early detection of chronic hepatitis will require monitoring of symptoms and liver enzymes within the first year of ARV initiation.

The majority of previous studies mainly reported patients with severe elevation of ALT (≥ 5 times, UNL) who also tended to have symptomatic disease.

Because such individuals are mostly asymptomatic, delayed diagnosis is common.

Delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to long term consequences from chronic hepatitis such as liver fibrosis, resulting in cirrhosis and importantly liver cancer.

We found that the median time from ARV initiation to chronic hepatitis was 1.3 years (IQR, 0.5-3.5) which was similar to previous report of 1.2 year.


Forest plantations in Ethiopia are mainly mono-culture of exotic species. Nevertheless, they are predominantly mono-culture of Eucalyptus species that are estimated to cover about 93% of the total plantation area in the country [1] . Nowadays, many people in Ethiopia are dependent on Eucalyptus for fuel wood, construction wood, income generation and it is highly favored for planting near and outside the croplands [2] .

Nevertheless, they are predominantly mono-culture of Eucalyptus species that are estimated to cover about 93% of the total plantation area in the country.

Nowadays, many people in Ethiopia are dependent on Eucalyptus for fuel wood, construction wood, income generation and it is highly favored for planting near and outside the croplands.


To understand the importance of including a carbon emissions objective in the optimization model, the results of the optimization model described previously, abbreviated as OM1, are compared with the results of the optimization model OM2 that do not include carbon emissions as an objective to minimize. OM1 (described in Section 3) has three objective functions included in expressions (1), (2), and (3), to minimize costs, pressure deficits, and carbon emissions, respectively. The OM2 model has the two objective functions presented in expressions (15) . These expressions are equal to expressions (1) and (2) of OM1.

The OM2 model has the two objective functions presented in expressions.


Tools have been also developed to support the analysis of NL requirement specification to enlighten potential defects due to the above aspects [13, 1, 14] . However, ambiguity or under-specification at requirement level can in some cases give an indication of possible variability, either in design choice, in implementation choices or configurability. This paper is focused on those cases in which ambiguity in requirements is particularly due to the need to postpone choices for later decisions in the implementation of the system. Ambiguity becomes hence a means to enlighten possible variation points in an early phase of software and system development. In this paper we investigate this possibility by analysing the outcomes of automated ambiguity detection applied to some set of requirements, and we outline a process to elicit variability starting from system or software requirement documents.

Tools have been also developed to support the analysis of NL requirement specification to enlighten potential defects due to the above aspects.


Meiotic drive acts here in an unusual chromosome system of sex determination which has been described earlier (Gileva and Chebotar, 1979; Gileva, 1980) . This system (with some modification) was found in many Palaearctic and Nearctic populations of the varying lemming (Rausch and Rausch, 1972; Kozlovsky, 1974; Gileva, 1983; Jarrell, 1985) . A similar mechanism has been discovered in the wood lemming, Myopus schisticolor (Fredga et a!., 1976) . Briefly the system can be delineated as follows.

Meiotic drive acts here in an unusual chromosome system of sex determination which has been described earlier.

This system (with some modification) was found in many Palaearctic and Nearctic populations of the varying lemming.

A similar mechanism has been discovered in the wood lemming, Myopus schisticolor.


Thus, the segregation distortion in the varying lemming is most likely the result of some of Xbearing sperm being eliminated from the competition at a time interval from the end of meiosis to fertilization. It cannot be excluded that this elimination is a consequence of certain concealed disturbance of meiosis, as it was inferred for the SD-system in Drosophila (Zimmering et a!., 1970) . In Aedes meiotic drive is associated with the breakage of the X during male meiosis (Wood, Newton, 1982) .

It cannot be excluded that this elimination is a consequence of certain concealed disturbance of meiosis, as it was inferred for the SD-system in Drosophila.

In Aedes meiotic drive is associated with the breakage of the X during male meiosis.


We studied the spatially flat Friedmann model containing a pressureless perfect fluid (dust) and a minimally coupled scalar field with an unbounded from below potential of the form V (ϕ) = W 0 − V 0 sinh λ √ 8πG N ϕ , where the parameters W 0 and V 0 are arbitrary. The parameter λ is chosen to be 3/2 in order to integrate the model in the explicit form. All exact solutions describe the recollapsing universe. The behavior of the model near both initial and final points of evolution is analyzed. Near the singularity the scale factor a ∼ t 1/3 for almost all solutions. In this case the constraint Eq. (1) is dominated by the kinetic energy of the scalar field. Such solutions are called kinetic dominated [9] . There exists a special solution with a ∼ t 2/3 near the singularity. It appears when the constraint Eq. (1) is dominated by the density of dust. It's so called fluid dominated solution [9] . The scalar field typically diverges to ±∞ as the time tends to the initial or final values. However, there is a special solution where the scalar field tends to some constant.

Such solutions are called kinetic dominated.

It's so called fluid dominated solution.


For discontinuous anisotropic media, the far-field pattern determines the medium structure uniquely provided that the jump of discontinuity is positive-definite [18] . This condition can be weakened in two dimension such that the determinants of the background and obstacle are different as far as the anisotropy near the boundary of the obstacle is known [31] . In the present paper, uniqueness is obtained without knowing the anisotropy at the boundary for discontinuous anisotropic homogeneous medium in R 2 .

For discontinuous anisotropic media, the far-field pattern determines the medium structure uniquely provided that the jump of discontinuity is positive-definite.

This condition can be weakened in two dimension such that the determinants of the background and obstacle are different as far as the anisotropy near the boundary of the obstacle is known.


Fundamental solutions of general elliptic partial differential and Lippmann-Schwinger-type equations are used in the analysis of inverse scattering problems [17, 31] , respectively. We again make use of real-valued functions of O(log |x|) which have the same type of singularity as fundamental solutions. The relation between the far-field operator and Dirichlet-to-Neumann map enables to apply to inverse scattering problem the analysis carried out for our inverse conductivity problem [17, 19] .

Fundamental solutions of general elliptic partial differential and Lippmann-Schwinger-type equations are used in the analysis of inverse scattering problems, respectively.

The relation between the far-field operator and Dirichlet-to-Neumann map enables to apply to inverse scattering problem the analysis carried out for our inverse conductivity problem.


The survey results also showed a significant increase in self-reported level of care about animals and the environment. A person who has knowledge and skills to help, but does not care, will not likely put the knowledge and skills to use to help solve problems. This finding is also important because it supports and reflects the literature on children's relationships with animals (Melson, 2000; Myers, 2007) . A critical aspect of the camp is to foster a natural care for animals, care that may otherwise be lost as children learn negative beliefs and behaviors toward animals from society.

This finding is also important because it supports and reflects the literature on children's relationships with animals.


The aging population, with its increase of patients in need of complex care demands a new way of organising health care [1] . The health care sector has to deal with limited resources, while costs continue to rise. This combination forces policy makers and health care planners to develop sustainable health care systems that can deal with these factors in the future [2] .

The aging population, with its increase of patients in need of complex care demands a new way of organising health care.

This combination forces policy makers and health care planners to develop sustainable health care systems that can deal with these factors in the future.


Few studies report on the weathering performance of wood modified with crosslink agents. Recently, 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU), a cross-link agent used to impart easy-care properties to textiles, has been tested regarding its effect on the weathering performance of modified wood. DMDHEU treatment of thin veneer strips partially reduced the degradation of lignin and cellulose and stabilised the wood cell walls during artificial weathering (Xie et al. 2005) . During outdoor weathering, DMDHEU enhanced the dimensional stability and reduced water uptake, deformation and crack formation of Scots pine boards (Xie et al. 2008) . Still, the main reaction of DMDHEU in wood is assumed to be the auto-condensation in the cell wall rather than cross-link of cell wall polymers; the treatment is therefore referred to as impregnation modification (Hill 2006) .

DMDHEU treatment of thin veneer strips partially reduced the degradation of lignin and cellulose and stabilised the wood cell walls during artificial weathering.

During outdoor weathering, DMDHEU enhanced the dimensional stability and reduced water uptake, deformation and crack formation of Scots pine boards.

Still, the main reaction of DMDHEU in wood is assumed to be the auto-condensation in the cell wall rather than cross-link of cell wall polymers; the treatment is therefore referred to as impregnation modification.


When a complex system can be decomposed into disjoint subsystems, a set of local controllers may be independently obtained to design a decentralized controller. Design and operation of local controllers requires lowerdimension computation, minimizes the information exchange, and increases the global robustness by reducing the effect of perturbations and failures on communications. However, all these potential benefits are severely attenuated by the fact that systems encountered in practical applications rarely admit a perfect disjoint decomposition (Siljak, 1991) .

However, all these potential benefits are severely attenuated by the fact that systems encountered in practical applications rarely admit a perfect disjoint decomposition.


The overlapping decomposition can help to overcome this serious drawback by allowing the subsystems to overlap; that is, the requirement of strict disjoint decomposition is relaxed to permit a restricted sharing of states, inputs, and outputs among the subsystems. For systems admitting an overlapping decomposition, the Inclusion Principle allows to design semi-decentralized controllers which are in accordance with the system structure, and which partially maintain the positive features of decentralized controllers. This approach has proven to be useful in a variety of complex control problems appearing in different fields, such as macroeconomic modeling, electric power generation, automated highway traffic management, civil structural engineering, aerospace structural engineering, and multiagent robotics (Aybar et al., 1994; Ataslar andİftar, 1999; Bakule and Rodellar, 1995; Bakule et al., 2005; Chen and Stanković, 2005b; Li et al., 1999; Siljak et al., 1999; Stanković et al., 2000; Stipanović et al., 2004) . Structural Vibration Control (SVC) of buildings and civil structures is one of the best examples of largescale and complex control systems. SVC systems have proved to be effective in mitigating the dynamic response of large-scale structures to earthquake and wind excitations (Chu et al., 2005; Preumont and Seto, 2008) . Last generation SVC systems typically involve a large number of actuation devices and sensors, and a wide and sophisticated communication network. The state-of-the-art actuation devices are semi-active dampers which are capable to produce large actuation forces using only battery power supply. Two good examples of this kind of SVC systems are the 54-story Mori Tower in Tokyo, Japan, with 356 semi-active hydraulic dampers, and the Dongting Lake Bridge in Hunan, China, with 312 semi-active magnetorheological dampers (Housner et al., 1997; Spencer and Nagarajaiah, 2003) .

This approach has proven to be useful in a variety of complex control problems appearing in different fields, such as macroeconomic modeling, electric power generation, automated highway traffic management, civil structural engineering, aerospace structural engineering, and multiagent robotics.

SVC systems have proved to be effective in mitigating the dynamic response of large-scale structures to earthquake and wind excitations.

Two good examples of this kind of SVC systems are the 54-story Mori Tower in Tokyo, Japan, with 356 semi-active hydraulic dampers, and the Dongting Lake Bridge in Hunan, China, with 312 semi-active magnetorheological dampers.


The second issue of note pertains to the potential impact of ITPS on LLIN utilization. The installation team were careful to advise all participants that they should continue to use their LLINs following ITPS installation; however, many participants reportedly ignored this advice and ceased or reduced mosquito net use. The observed effectiveness of the ITPS and the resulting reduction in insect numbers contributed to this change in behaviour and it is likely that other factors contributed to this decision as well. The ITPS, once installed, requires little effort to maintain on the owner's part and does not encroach on living space. Lack of space and attitudinal indifference have previously been reported as barriers to mosquito net use in PNG [9] . Thus, the convenience and space maximizing properties of ITPS relative to LLINs may further reduce (the often already low) motivation to reliably use a mosquito net.

Lack of space and attitudinal indifference have previously been reported as barriers to mosquito net use in PNG.


Statistical analysis was performed with STATA version 14 (College Station, TX). Parametric and nonparametric statistics were run despite the nonnormal statistical distribution. The results were similar between statistical analyses as the sample size was large [14] . For ease of reporting, parametric tests were reported. Specifically, a student's t-test was used to compare mean ratings for violations. A rating below 3 was considered low and logistic univariable and multivariable regression analyses were done to determine predictors for low rating. We determined covariates including age, gender, type of specialty, and type of violation to be included in the multivariable model a priori. All tests were two-sided and P values <.05 were considered significant.

The results were similar between statistical analyses as the sample size was large.


Rationales for probation were independently categorized into nine types of infractions by five independent reviewers (MAA, TWG, TC, SLW, and GPM). After reviewing all infractions, we used an inductive approach to create nine probation categories [13] . If there were any questions as to the appropriate categorization by an individual reviewer, this was brought to the group and a consensus decision was made. Nonprobation controls were matched by zip code and specialty with probation cases in a 2:1 ratio using the California Department of Consumer Affairs website. Web-based reviews were recorded from vitals.com, healthgrades.com, and ratemds.com. Ratings on these websites ranged from 1 to 5 and were weighted by the number of ratings so as not to overemphasize a small number of outlier ratings.

After reviewing all infractions, we used an inductive approach to create nine probation categories.


A main contribution of our work is the integration of object category detection and figure-ground segmentation into a common probabilistic framework. As shown in our experiments, the tight coupling between those two processes allows both to benefit from each other and improve their individual performances. Thus, the initial recognition phase not Fig. 23 Example detections on difficult test images from the MIT LabelMe data set (Russell et al. 2005) . All images were processed at their original resolution of 2048 × 1536 pixels. The results confirm our approach's ability to yield accurate detections in such complex scenes with only very few false positives, as the enlargements in the bottom rows show only initializes the top-down segmentation process with a possible object location, but it also provides an uncertainty estimate of local measurements and of their influence on the object hypothesis. In return, the resulting probabilistic segmentation permits the recognition stage to focus its effort on object pixels and discard misleading influences from the background. Altogether, the two processes collaborate in an iterative evidence aggregation scheme which tries to make maximal use of the information extracted from the image.

Thus, the initial recognition phase not Fig. 23 Example detections on difficult test images from the MIT LabelMe data set.


We identified the formation of singularities by measuring the rate of change of the gradients, dσ 11 /dt. Negative rates of change drive σ 11 to minus infinity through the sling effect. We did not observe individual particles for long enough to trace the evolution toward singularities in individual realizations. Therefore, we consider the statistical quantities σ 0 and s 0 , which are the averages of σ 11 and s 11 conditioned on small intervals of σ 11 . These averages also satisfy Eq. 1, since the intervals are small. We show in the supplementary information that the σ 12 σ 21 and σ 13 σ 31 terms were negligible when |τ p σ 0 | was large, which is the focus of our analysis. During a sling, the σ 2 0 term dominates, so that a graph of dσ 0 /dt versus σ 0 is an upside-down parabola. The parabola is shifted to the left by the damping term, −σ 0 , and to the right by the driving term, s 0 . Figure 4A shows that the data indeed fall on a parabola so that large negative gradients grew increasingly negative. These are the dynamics of slings, that is, of nascent singularities or caustics. The parabolic shape of the data, with dσ 0 /dt ∼ −σ 2 0 , implies that the time until the divergence of the gradients was given by their initial values, up to a logarithmic correction. That is, the gradients diverged approximately as (t − t 0 ) −1 , where t 0 is the time at which the singularity formed. After t 0 , pockets like the ones in Figs. 1 and 2 formed [8, 17] . There is a systematic deviation in Fig. 4A between the data and the theoretical model, which we interpret in what follows.

After t 0 , pockets like the ones in Figs. 1 and 2 formed.


To find the 3D positions of the particles in real space, we combined the two-dimensional coordinates of the particles' images in two cameras [35] . From each realization of the experiment, the data consisted of particle positions and sizes at a series of times. We sorted these data by particle size, and split the data into two parts. The large particles and small particles were thereafter processed separately. Particles were tracked in three-dimensions using a three-frame predictive algorithm, whereby particle accelerations were minimized [13] .

To find the 3D positions of the particles in real space, we combined the two-dimensional coordinates of the particles' images in two cameras.

Particles were tracked in three-dimensions using a three-frame predictive algorithm, whereby particle accelerations were minimized.


The importance of the sling effect is that it provides a way to organize thinking about collisions. The pockets are distinct objects and have properties independent of the turbulence that predict the number of collisions they produce [27] . As a matter of principle, the pockets rule out an accurate description of the particle flow by a single-valued field. The global Stokes numbers for cloud droplets are lower than those for which we observed the sling effect experimentally, but it is the local Stokes number that is the relevant parameter. We expect slings and pockets to become more prevalent as the Reynolds number increases, as extreme events in the flow become more common. In particular, their prevalence in clouds should be higher than in our experiment because Reynolds numbers in clouds are much larger than those in our experiment.

The pockets are distinct objects and have properties independent of the turbulence that predict the number of collisions they produce.


Clouds are water particles dispersed by a complex turbulent air flow, and are the primary source of uncertainty in the prediction of the climate [1] . Underlying the uncertainty is lack of understanding of cloud particle size evolution, which is mediated by a strong coupling between air turbulence and microphysical processes [2] . In particular, turbulence controls the growth and decay of the particles that compose the cloud. The growth of the particles is caused in part by the collision and coalescence of smaller particles [3] .

Clouds are water particles dispersed by a complex turbulent air flow, and are the primary source of uncertainty in the prediction of the climate.

Underlying the uncertainty is lack of understanding of cloud particle size evolution, which is mediated by a strong coupling between air turbulence and microphysical processes.

The growth of the particles is caused in part by the collision and coalescence of smaller particles.


Proposed approach Action bank + 99.87 Sparse Dictionaries and action-gons [28] . All these representations are based on spatio-temporal interest points but yield lower performance than action bank. This shows that features that highlight similarities or dissimilarities across classes enhances the dictionary representation providing higher classification performance.

Proposed approach Action bank + 99.87 Sparse Dictionaries and action-gons.


Data were obtained by conducting structured interviews in the households of the interviewees. People took part voluntarily in this study, without receiving anything for participating. Interviewees were chosen by means of random route sampling (Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik, 2003) . This means that the interviewers (who were local citizens from around Harare and chosen based on their qualifications and work experience) went to every third household as they worked their way through their assigned area. In this way, 10 interviewers completed five to eight interviews a day, each taking about 45 minutes. Interviewers were not also promoters. The promoters for the interventions were chosen from amongst the inhabitants of the high-density areas, while the interviewers had bachelor's degrees and experience carrying out social science interviews. Except for the two supervisors of the project, the research team was kept separate from the intervention team to avoid interference. Research supervisors trained the interviewers extensively on how to use the PROMOTION OF BEHAVIOUR CHANGE 5 questionnaires and how to fill in the answers. Interviews were conducted in Shona, the primary language of Zimbabwe. Of the 926 people who were asked to participate, 48 refused (rejection rate of 5%). This left an initial figure of 878 study participants for the survey. The person in the household who was interviewed was responsible for the drinking water for the other members of the household.

Interviewees were chosen by means of random route sampling.

Interviewers were not also promoters.


The dramatic increase in life expectancy during the last century is unprecedented in human history. Many of the early gains in life expectancy can be attributed to decisive victories against childhood infectious diseases, but in the second part of the 20th century, gains shifted to chronic diseases that essentially affected the elderly (Oeppen and Vaupel 2002) . Reduction of death rates above age 65 played a larger role, accounting for 30% of the improvements (Bourbeau and Smuga 2003) . Overall, data from various countries indicate that progress has been greater for women than for men, and more rapid in recent than in earlier decades ).

Many of the early gains in life expectancy can be attributed to decisive victories against childhood infectious diseases, but in the second part of the 20th century, gains shifted to chronic diseases that essentially affected the elderly.

Reduction of death rates above age 65 played a larger role, accounting for 30% of the improvements.


The possible inclusion level of FRB in broiler chicks is 20% (Warren and Farrell, 1990; Farrell, 1994) . In our study, the inclusion level of rice bran was 10% during finisher period, but feed intake was reduced as compared to the control diet containing defatted rice bran. It is therefore concluded that rice bran should be included at the level less than 10% in the broiler diets.

The possible inclusion level of FRB in broiler chicks is 20%.


The comparison of results from all these methods offer the potential for a more complete understanding of the preparatory layers in Girl with a Pearl Earring. The role of the underlayers-in this case, the underlayers beneath the Girl's jacket-is discussed to demonstrate how Vermeer established the fall of light and shade, and subtle colour nuances by exploiting the visual effects from this dark paint beneath the surface. This helps to answer the third research question posed by the Girl in the Spotlight project: Which techniques did Vermeer use to create subtle optical effects, including the transition between light and shadow? The role of the underlayers in other areas of the painting are discussed in greater detail in other articles in this digital volume [5] [6] [7] [8] .

The role of the underlayers in other areas of the painting are discussed in greater detail in other articles in this digital volume.


The researchers who examined Girl with a Pearl Earring in 1994 described contours where the shadow on the Girl's back meets the background as follows: "the edge of the figure seems blurred; it is not altogether clear where the figure stops and the background starts" [4] . Samples taken from the contour along the back of her neck and back of her headscarf show that Vermeer incorporated more oil and only a small amount of (translucent) pigments in the upper layer of paint as it approached the edge of the forms [4] . This created a gradual transition from the figure to the dark background. Several of his other works seem to have achieved the same effect using similar technical means. In Art of Painting (1666, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna), a toned preparation creates a "diffused border between adjacent colour elements. The resulting effect is used by the artist, within darker passages, to simulate the passage of light circulating around objects in space" [27] .

The researchers who examined Girl with a Pearl Earring in 1994 described contours where the shadow on the Girl's back meets the background as follows: "the edge of the figure seems blurred; it is not altogether clear where the figure stops and the background starts".

Samples taken from the contour along the back of her neck and back of her headscarf show that Vermeer incorporated more oil and only a small amount of (translucent) pigments in the upper layer of paint as it approached the edge of the forms.

The resulting effect is used by the artist, within darker passages, to simulate the passage of light circulating around objects in space".


In addition, it should be noted that the marginalisation of rural area of Western Poland is less negative than this ongoing phenomenon in the Eastern part of the country (Leszczewska, 2010) . The marginalisation of the rural area of Eastern Poland observed over the post-war period was a result of urban development and the industrialisation of neighbouring land. In contrast, the first clear symptom of the marginalisation of the Western fringes was in the decade of the 1990s. However, here the starting point of agricultural extensification was the collapse of the state farms (Jasiulewicz, 2011) . Also in terms of the socio-demographic aspects, the Western periphery is much more advantageous than the Eastern one, where depopulation and an imbalance of the age structure is an acute problem (Bański, 2007) .

In addition, it should be noted that the marginalisation of rural area of Western Poland is less negative than this ongoing phenomenon in the Eastern part of the country.

However, here the starting point of agricultural extensification was the collapse of the state farms.

Also in terms of the socio-demographic aspects, the Western periphery is much more advantageous than the Eastern one, where depopulation and an imbalance of the age structure is an acute problem.


It is worth to noting that the marginalisation of rural area in Poland is quite different from a similar phenomenon observed in other countries located on the edge of Europe, as for example the Mediterranean states (Portugal, Greece) or the Scandinavian countries (Finland, Sweden) (Vihinen et al., 2005) . It is a consequence of dissimilar historical, economic and political conditions. Furthermore, even considering the same diagnostic features, it would turn out that the marginalisation trends in different countries are difficult to compare, which confirms the argument about the leading role of local conditions. Accordingly, rural marginalisation has no uniform model; it works differently in different regions, depending on specific circumstances intensifying the nature and course of this phenomenon.

It is worth to noting that the marginalisation of rural area in Poland is quite different from a similar phenomenon observed in other countries located on the edge of Europe, as for example the Mediterranean states (Portugal, Greece) or the Scandinavian countries (Finland, Sweden).


Additionally, it must be kept in mind that the economic activity of a given region, including a temporary decline of agrarian activities, strongly depends on external factors. For this reason, even if some disturbing symptoms of the weakening of intensive agrarian activity are observed, it does not necessary mean permanent abandonment, because in this way farming is adjusting to new conditions (Brouwer, 2006; Markuszewska, 2013) . Besides, marginalisation has a multilayered nature, and despite the fact that marginalisation can be observed locally, the general trend may actually be intensification, and the opposite, in a region affected by marginalisation, there can be locally poles of intensification (Pinto-Correia, Breman, 2008) . Thus, only analysis of the diagnostic features relating to a specific field can show a more insightful view of the different aspects of marginalisation.

For this reason, even if some disturbing symptoms of the weakening of intensive agrarian activity are observed, it does not necessary mean permanent abandonment, because in this way farming is adjusting to new conditions.

Besides, marginalisation has a multilayered nature, and despite the fact that marginalisation can be observed locally, the general trend may actually be intensification, and the opposite, in a region affected by marginalisation, there can be locally poles of intensification.


Economic evaluations of health technologies compare the efficiency of a new health intervention with one or more alternatives in cost-effectiveness analyses with qualityadjusted life years (QALYs) as outcomes. In order to be relevant for decision making clinical efficacy, generic quality of life (QOL), and cost data are often synthesized in a decision-analytic modelling framework [1] . Decisionanalytic models used to evaluate cost-effectiveness are often based on clinically-defined health states, each of which has a cost and QOL profile [2] . Although establishing the relationship between measures of clinicallydefined disease severity and QOL measures is an essential part of an economic evaluation, real-world datasets such as registers are underutilised and the methodologies employed often admit avoidable sources of bias.

In order to be relevant for decision making clinical efficacy, generic quality of life (QOL), and cost data are often synthesized in a decision-analytic modelling framework.

Decisionanalytic models used to evaluate cost-effectiveness are often based on clinically-defined health states, each of which has a cost and QOL profile.


Medicinal properties of mushrooms have been known and used for centuries. In the Far East, where herbal medicine and other natural methods have been applied in the treatment of many diseases, fungi traditionally have been also included in therapy. In Orient, mainly two species have been used: Ganoderma lucidum and Lentinula edodes. Folk medicine in Eastern Europe was based on four mushroom species: Inonotus obliquus, Fomitopsis officinalis, Piptoporus betulinus and Fomes fomentarius. These species were used in gastrointestinal disorders, as well as various cancers, asthma and night sweats. Medicinal use of mushroom also has a long history in Central America and Africa. Health-promoting potential of mushrooms has increased when fruitbodies started to be collected not only from the natural environment, but also from large-scale production cultures [1] .

Health-promoting potential of mushrooms has increased when fruitbodies started to be collected not only from the natural environment, but also from large-scale production cultures.


Fruitbodies of medicinal mushrooms constitute raw materials for the production of dietary supplements, particularly in Far East. Several hundred preparations are commercially available in the form of tablets, capsules or teas, which are used mainly to boost the immune system [4] . The market offer includes also preparations containing extracts from one or several different species of fungi [5] . At present, conventional medicine in many countries, e.g. Japan, China, Korea and Russia, allows for the use of fungal preparations in treatment of many diseases, e.g. in cancer therapy in combination with chemo-or radiotherapy [1] .

Several hundred preparations are commercially available in the form of tablets, capsules or teas, which are used mainly to boost the immune system.

The market offer includes also preparations containing extracts from one or several different species of fungi.

At present, conventional medicine in many countries, e.g. Japan, China, Korea and Russia, allows for the use of fungal preparations in treatment of many diseases, e.g. in cancer therapy in combination with chemo-or radiotherapy.


Since the objective function of the k-means algorithm is not convex, this algorithm has many local minimum points. To overcome these type problems of the k-means algorithm evolutionary algorithms are widely used [9, 10] . PSO is one of the evolutionary algorithms and based on the thinking and behavior of the swarm. Literature analysis shows that PSO based clustering allows getting higher results compared to existing clustering methods [11] .

To overcome these type problems of the k-means algorithm evolutionary algorithms are widely used.

Literature analysis shows that PSO based clustering allows getting higher results compared to existing clustering methods.


In addition, the relationship between language and the ability to read and think critically in a specific discipline are directly linked to students' academic success at tertiary level. This implies that academic literacy entails a meaning making process based on written texts for a particular programme directed at a specific group. For many South African students, the use of English as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT) creates a barrier to effective comprehension. English for instance, is the language in which students have to write, read and learn. However, English language is usually their second, third or even fourth language. To complicate the issue even further, these students are expected to read and write discourses that are specific to a particular discipline. In spite of the many intervention programmes to support students, their reading comprehension abilities at tertiary level are fairly low (Ngwenya, 2010; Pretorius, 2000) .

In spite of the many intervention programmes to support students, their reading comprehension abilities at tertiary level are fairly low.


A number of students are concerned that the module is not offered in their home language and texts are all in English. It seems that the complexity of texts and the new concepts that students have to grapple with are compounded by the language issue. Perhaps, if concepts are first explained in students' home language before the students engage with the concepts in English, a better understanding could be generated. The strategy of translanguaging may be a possible solution. Translanguaging as a pedagogical strategy allows students to use different languages and practices in the classroom to aid comprehension (Garcia, 2009a; Lewis, Jones, & Baker, 2012) . This strategy could be used in a scaffolded manner to improve students' understanding.

Translanguaging as a pedagogical strategy allows students to use different languages and practices in the classroom to aid comprehension.