The blue gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) belongs to the Labyrinthici suborder (characterized by the presence of an air-filled breathing cavity [the labyrinth], located above the gills under the operculum) and the Osphronemidae family. This fish serves as a useful model for studying the role of endocrine regulation on reproduction, since it is multi-spawning and male-dependent, having asynchronic ovary development [10] . Thus, each stage of its gonadal development can be controlled and examined separately in the laboratory [11] - [14] . The profiles of βFSH, βLH and GH secretion and gene expression, as well as the pattern of sex steroid secretion during gonadal development in male and female blue gourami, have been previously reported [15] . The highest levels of blue gourami GH (bgGH) mRNA were found in non-reproductive, active males and in female pituitaries during high vitellogenesis and maturation. These results suggest that GH may play a role in the gonadal cycle and sexual behavior of the blue gourami [16] [17] . The hypothesis examined in the current study is that the autocrine/paracrine of RnRH 1 and 3, as well as FSH and LH and the mRNA of these hormones, change during oogenesis.

This fish serves as a useful model for studying the role of endocrine regulation on reproduction, since it is multi-spawning and male-dependent, having asynchronic ovary development.

Thus, each stage of its gonadal development can be controlled and examined separately in the laboratory.

The profiles of βFSH, βLH and GH secretion and gene expression, as well as the pattern of sex steroid secretion during gonadal development in male and female blue gourami, have been previously reported.

These results suggest that GH may play a role in the gonadal cycle and sexual behavior of the blue gourami.


Fiber lasers are mostly known for two well-separate regimes of operation, namely CW and short pulse mode-locked regimes. Short pulse fiber lasers generate optical solitons or dissipative pulses, and can be well modelled in terms of the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation (GLE) with a cubic nonlinear gain term and quintic nonlinear gain saturation term [1] . There is also another mode of operation of pulsed fiber lasers, namely the weak or partially mode-locking regime, where noise-like pulses are generated [2] . In experiments, noise-like pulses could be easily achieved by elongating the cavity, which results in a number of operational regimes depending strongly on cavity length, polarization controller settings and pump power [3] . By modelling mode-locked lasers within the GLE framework in which cubic nonlinear gain is replaced by a nonlinear loss term, one may obtain a variety of mode-locked regimes, including those of very irregular time dynamics which could be referred to as turbulent emission [4] .

Short pulse fiber lasers generate optical solitons or dissipative pulses, and can be well modelled in terms of the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation (GLE) with a cubic nonlinear gain term and quintic nonlinear gain saturation term.

There is also another mode of operation of pulsed fiber lasers, namely the weak or partially mode-locking regime, where noise-like pulses are generated.

In experiments, noise-like pulses could be easily achieved by elongating the cavity, which results in a number of operational regimes depending strongly on cavity length, polarization controller settings and pump power.

By modelling mode-locked lasers within the GLE framework in which cubic nonlinear gain is replaced by a nonlinear loss term, one may obtain a variety of mode-locked regimes, including those of very irregular time dynamics which could be referred to as turbulent emission.


There could be another option for the joint description of lasers of different types. Indeed, optical turbulence in long RFLs has been previously described in the frequency domain by means of the wave kinetic equation, thus highlighting the role of nonlinear four-wave mixing (among the large number of cavity modes) in the formation of noise-like generation [11] . The proposed here GLE approach provides a dual, time-domain based description of the turbulent dynamics in quasi-CW lasers [26] . In passively mode-locked lasers, which are dynamically described in time domain by GLE approach, the frequency-domain description in terms of the weak wave turbulence approach could be also fruitful. Indeed, besides the small section of the laser where the gain and mode synchronization mechanisms are important, the rest of the cavity length in long passively mode-locked fiber lasers could be potentially treated as an effectively conservative Hamiltonian system. Hence the stochastic processes leading to the noise-like filling of mode-locked pulses could be also described by means of the weak wave turbulence theory, i.e., in the frequency-domain. The origin of noise-like pulses in passively mode-locked lasers is still unknown.

Indeed, optical turbulence in long RFLs has been previously described in the frequency domain by means of the wave kinetic equation, thus highlighting the role of nonlinear four-wave mixing (among the large number of cavity modes) in the formation of noise-like generation.

The proposed here GLE approach provides a dual, time-domain based description of the turbulent dynamics in quasi-CW lasers.


Electron bunches in the order of 10 fs have been achieved with plasma-wakefield accelerators [3, 4] . Recently, incoherent high-energy emission from optical undulators (OPU) has been demonstrated using a 100 TW driving laser [5] . Certain properties of the wakefield technique, like instabilities of the non-linear interactions or a plasmalimited compression rate, currently limit the bunch quality and therefore prevent coherent enhancement in OPUs. On the other hand, few-femtosecond bunches have been predicted for vacuum laser acceleration approaches exploiting the ponderomotive force [6, 7] . However, the efficiency of this indirect laser-electron-interaction is limited, and quiver motions distort the transverse phase space [8] .

Electron bunches in the order of 10 fs have been achieved with plasma-wakefield accelerators.

Recently, incoherent high-energy emission from optical undulators (OPU) has been demonstrated using a 100 TW driving laser.

On the other hand, few-femtosecond bunches have been predicted for vacuum laser acceleration approaches exploiting the ponderomotive force.

However, the efficiency of this indirect laser-electron-interaction is limited, and quiver motions distort the transverse phase space.


There are methodologies that can determinate the cell viability. Among them the coupling of Direct Viable count (DVC) with Fluorescence in situ Hybridation (FISH) seems to be effective to determinate viability of waterborne bacterial cells [14] . Moreover the coupling of DVC with FISH has successfully been used to determinate viability in Escherichia coli cells from natural waters and seems to be a powerful technique to evaluate the viability of waterborne enteric bacteria [15, 16] .

Among them the coupling of Direct Viable count (DVC) with Fluorescence in situ Hybridation (FISH) seems to be effective to determinate viability of waterborne bacterial cells.

Moreover the coupling of DVC with FISH has successfully been used to determinate viability in Escherichia coli cells from natural waters and seems to be a powerful technique to evaluate the viability of waterborne enteric bacteria.


The Lidar-In-space Technology Experiment (LITE) in September 1994 was the first experiment to yield a dataset of lidar backscatter that nicely revealed the vertical structures of aerosols and clouds at high resolution and with a large coverage (Winker et al., 1996) . LITE was however limited to a 2-week period in September and its coverage limited to +/−52 degrees latitude, thus missing the polar regions and large parts of the mid-latitude (storm-track) regions. The successor of LITE the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) carried on the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), launched on 13 January 2003, does provide a global coverage of atmospheric aerosol and cloud data extending from the surface up to 41 km with a 172 m horizontal and 77 m vertical resolution (Spinhirne et al., 2005) . Instrument degradation however limits the dataset of high-quality measurements to the period 20 February until 18 November 2003.

The Lidar-In-space Technology Experiment (LITE) in September 1994 was the first experiment to yield a dataset of lidar backscatter that nicely revealed the vertical structures of aerosols and clouds at high resolution and with a large coverage.

The successor of LITE the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) carried on the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), launched on 13 January 2003, does provide a global coverage of atmospheric aerosol and cloud data extending from the surface up to 41 km with a 172 m horizontal and 77 m vertical resolution.


In line with the above mentioned studies, it was concluded that leadership is one of many factors that may have an impact on work performance behaviors. In fact, leadership is the key element to direct the organization including its human element to achieve its intended goals, accordingly, it is essential to examine leadership theories and styles and select the best leadership theory that is suitable in dealing with human and related behaviors. Among large diversity of leadership theories, such as Trait Theory, Behavioral Theories, Situational Leadership, Contingency Theories and, Transactional Leadership Theory, Transformational Leadership, is the most suitable theory in dealing with human element in organizational outcomes that include individual work performance. Many recent studies have supported this leadership theory in this type of situation (Bass, 1985; Bass & Avolio, 1994; Burns, 1978; Kouzes & Posner, 2007) . The above scholars concluded that transformational leadership is the most ideal way of leading organizations with the current economical situation and constraints where performance is one of most demanded factors to overcome this situation.

Many recent studies have supported this leadership theory in this type of situation.


Creativity is a process incorporating originality, adaptation and realization; it is also relates to a person's capacity to produce new original opinions, insights, inventions or productions that are considered by experts as being of scientific, social and technological value. In learning environments in which creativity is recognized, it is not because the teachers carefully organize a creative atmosphere in the process; it is because creative approaches and possibilities support the relationship between teachers, students and the atmosphere of the class (Jones & Wyse, 2004) . Thus, teachers, students and the learning environment need to work together so as to ensure a well-balanced relationship. The current paper aims to pay attention to the subject of creativity, and to determine the impact of creativity on academic success and learning retention.

In learning environments in which creativity is recognized, it is not because the teachers carefully organize a creative atmosphere in the process; it is because creative approaches and possibilities support the relationship between teachers, students and the atmosphere of the class.


For the emotional disorder group, along with family therapy, individual child centred therapy was commonly offered. The mixed disorder group rarely received family therapy and commonly were offered a combination of individual child focused and parent focused treatment. These distinctive profiles are probably determined in part by case characteristics and in part by the expertise of the clinic's staff. It is worth mentioning that a retrospective comparative group outcome study conducted in the Department of Psychiatry where this research was completed, found little difference in outcome for similar heterogeneous groups of cases receiving family therapy or a combination of individual parent and child focused therapy (Fitzpatrick, NicDhomnaill, & Power, 1990) . The treatment profiles of the different diagnostic groups studied in this project are difficult to interpret in the light of available international literature because there is such little consensus about the most appropriate way to combine treatments such as family therapy, behaviour therapy, and individual child or parent focused therapy in the treatment of each of the three categories of disorder studied (Callias, 1994; Carr, 1991; Herbert, 1994; Kazdin, 1990; Lask, 1994) .

It is worth mentioning that a retrospective comparative group outcome study conducted in the Department of Psychiatry where this research was completed, found little difference in outcome for similar heterogeneous groups of cases receiving family therapy or a combination of individual parent and child focused therapy.

The treatment profiles of the different diagnostic groups studied in this project are difficult to interpret in the light of available international literature because there is such little consensus about the most appropriate way to combine treatments such as family therapy, behaviour therapy, and individual child or parent focused therapy in the treatment of each of the three categories of disorder studied.


The comparable demographic profiles of the emotional disorder cases and the cases from both groups with conduct problems is unusual. Typically social classes 1 and 2 are underrepresented and social classes 5 and 6 are over represented in cohorts of cases of conduct disorder or mixed disorders of emotions and conduct while usually no such pattern is associated with emotional disorders (Kazdin, 1991) . In the present study all three groups showed the distribution typical for conduct disorders. While 24% of the general population fall into classes 1 and 2 only 12% of the 84 cases in the present study fell into these top socio-economic groups. This suggests that either the distribution of emotional disorders across socio-economic groups in the Hospital's catchment area is similar to that for conduct disorders and mixed disorders or that some of the youngsters with emotional disorders from social classes 1 and 2 are treated elsewhere, probably privately.

Typically social classes 1 and 2 are underrepresented and social classes 5 and 6 are over represented in cohorts of cases of conduct disorder or mixed disorders of emotions and conduct while usually no such pattern is associated with emotional disorders.


Those who consider developing governance strategies to respond to the emerging global water crises must first determine what sort of water future they would prefer, i.e., how they would like to ensure that the two overarching principles of global water governance are met: access for all and sustainable water resource management. Current and expected trends such as rising demand or future pressures stemming from global environmental change, including climate change, which will limit the options at hand, will have to be taken into account, too. Then they must determine what mix of global governance options would be most suitable for bringing about the desired outcomes. Finally, they must pursue strategies that have a chance of bringing those options into effect. We argue that if the scientific evidence of cumulative and systemic water problems shows that we are facing a major structural challenge, we must not shy away from considering structural governance options. However unrealistic such options may appear to be to neorealist international relations scholars or to positivist lawyers, however undesirable such options may appear to be to neoliberals, history shows that there have been transformations of governance systems in the past (Dellapenna and Gupta 2009) . The challenge here is to use all relevant knowledge to frame a narrative that can appeal to people and to create a movement, mobilize policy entrepreneurs, and generate leaders.

However unrealistic such options may appear to be to neorealist international relations scholars or to positivist lawyers, however undesirable such options may appear to be to neoliberals, history shows that there have been transformations of governance systems in the past.


Another direction explored in recent years is quantum simulation of gauge theories [17, [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] . The proposals for quantum simulators typically work as well with the Hamiltonian formulation of the LGT and map the gauge theory to the physical degrees of freedom of another quantum system which can be controlled experimentally thus being free from purely numerical limitations. Although a fully fledged quantum simulator is not available yet, this route seems promising for the future as the first proposals might come into reach with nowadays high level of experimental control.

Another direction explored in recent years is quantum simulation of gauge theories.


In this work, we consider a non-Abelian lattice gauge theory with dynamical charges in one spatial dimension. The Hamiltonian we simulate realizes an exact SU(2) gauge symmetry using a finite-dimensional representation for the bosonic degrees of freedom [47, 48] . This model is hence a suitable candidate for the design of an atomic quantum simulator of SU (2) LGT. The finite dimension of the link Hilbert spaces allows the simulation of the model via direct application of MPS techniques, which we employ here in order to numerically explore the statical and dynamical aspects of the string breaking phenomenon.

The Hamiltonian we simulate realizes an exact SU(2) gauge symmetry using a finite-dimensional representation for the bosonic degrees of freedom.


There is a lot of research on bond behavior of FRP reinforcement to concrete based mainly on: the direct pull-out test, the beam test, the splice test and the ring pullout test [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] . The setups of direct and ring pullout test do not correspond to the real bond conditions existing in a reinforced concrete element. Hence, only the beam test and splice test can reflect the real evaluation of the reinforcement bond behavior.

There is a lot of research on bond behavior of FRP reinforcement to concrete based mainly on: the direct pull-out test, the beam test, the splice test and the ring pullout test.


A type of the bar surface had the most significant influence on the bond behavior [7] . GFRP bars showed lower shear bond stress than steel bars with the same diameter [8] . The ribs in GFRP bars were superficially sheared off, which confirms that bond behavior strongly depends on the concrete strength of the bar ribs. The increase in a slip loaded end s lp and the bond length L b is more pronounced in the ribbed bars than in the sand coated bars [7] . Moreover, the ribbed bars have a higher bond stiffness and the bond shear stress than the sand-coated bars [8] . An increase in the bar diameter caused a decrease in the shear bond stress and a decrease in the ultimate bar slip.

A type of the bar surface had the most significant influence on the bond behavior.

GFRP bars showed lower shear bond stress than steel bars with the same diameter.

The increase in a slip loaded end s lp and the bond length L b is more pronounced in the ribbed bars than in the sand coated bars.

Moreover, the ribbed bars have a higher bond stiffness and the bond shear stress than the sand-coated bars.


The next step in the analogy between regeneration for LeTID and BO regeneration would be the assumption that hydrogen plays an important role, too. As shown for BO regeneration, the presence of hydrogen in the Si bulk seems to be a prerequisite for the regeneration to occur and its concentration influences the regeneration kinetics [16] . The significantly different time scale could, for exam ple, be explained by the different effective diffusion con stant of hydrogen at relatively low temperatures in mc Si compared to monocrystalline Si because of trapping (trap assisted diffusion). But this hypothesis still has to be con firmed in future experiments.

As shown for BO regeneration, the presence of hydrogen in the Si bulk seems to be a prerequisite for the regeneration to occur and its concentration influences the regeneration kinetics.


Due to iatrogenic procedural errors associated with the material stiffness of stainless-steel instruments, nickel-titanium (NiTi) material was introduced in the production of endodontic files [1] . The main characteristics of NiTi rotary instruments include memory shape, superior elasticity, and a centered canal preparation. In particular, the elastic flexibility of NiTi instruments is two to three times higher than that of stainless-steel instruments due to their lower modulus of elasticity [2, 3] . The material properties of NiTi and stainlessness rotary files are presented in Table 1 [4] .

Due to iatrogenic procedural errors associated with the material stiffness of stainless-steel instruments, nickel-titanium (NiTi) material was introduced in the production of endodontic files.

In particular, the elastic flexibility of NiTi instruments is two to three times higher than that of stainless-steel instruments due to their lower modulus of elasticity.

The material properties of NiTi and stainlessness rotary files are presented in Table 1.


In the literature a large number of different culture media are described differing mainly in mineral nutrition. One of the most important components of the basal medium is nitrogen. In general, because of its toxicity there is a tendency to use lower levels of NH 4 + than NO 3 -in plant tissue culture media (Franklin & Dixon 1994) . For type 2 explants of S. allagophylla the effect of different basal media, MS, B5 and half strength B5 on dry matter of shoots and roots can be seen in table 2. In B5 medium (full and half-strength) roots grew better achieving higher dry weight values than roots in MS medium.

In general, because of its toxicity there is a tendency to use lower levels of NH 4 + than NO 3 -in plant tissue culture media.


Depending on the characteristics of wastewater and its waste content or pollutant content, treatment techniques may vary. Treatment of wastewater from a textile industry will be different from treatment of waste water from a fertilizer plant or from a Tannery [2] [3] [4] . The upstream (discharged from industry) water quality mainly determines how the treatment should be carried out and also the most important factor for treatment is the chemical doses. Another important consideration is whether the treated effluent will be discharged or it will be reused or it will be recycled back to mix-up with the main stream to meet the zero discharge regulation.

Treatment of wastewater from a textile industry will be different from treatment of waste water from a fertilizer plant or from a Tannery.


Stormwater retention basins (SRBs) are reservoirs, with or without permanent water storage, used to store stormwater, reduce outflow peaks and enhance stormwater quality by physical, chemical and biological processes (Marsalek and Chocat 2002) . In the city of Winnipeg, Canada, SRBs have been implemented as hydraulic-control structures since the 1960s. Over 70 have been constructed and they act as permanently full, land-drainage storage reservoirs that attenuate hydrograph runoff peaks.

Stormwater retention basins (SRBs) are reservoirs, with or without permanent water storage, used to store stormwater, reduce outflow peaks and enhance stormwater quality by physical, chemical and biological processes.


The two most important nutrients that affect the health of ecosystems are nitrogen and phosphorus. Increased nutrient loading transforms a lake from a clear-water, macrophyte-dominated state to a more turbid one consisting, for the most part, of planktonic algae (Scheffer et al. 1993) . In addition to external inputs of the two nutrients, the magnitude and rate of internal nutrient release (from dead and decaying biomass) is dependent upon both the bacteria present through which they are mineralized as well as physical conditions (Mitchell 1974) . Physical conditions are particularly important because respiration rates tend to be faster in shallower lakes, resulting in more rapid turnover of nutrients and quicker production of biomass (Nixdorf and Deneke 1997) . Finally, the type of vegetation present in a lake is also important as the breakdown and turnover of nutrients present in algae occur at a faster rate than in aquatic macrophytes due to the smaller amount of difficult-to-digest material (Reimer 1984) .

Increased nutrient loading transforms a lake from a clear-water, macrophyte-dominated state to a more turbid one consisting, for the most part, of planktonic algae.

In addition to external inputs of the two nutrients, the magnitude and rate of internal nutrient release (from dead and decaying biomass) is dependent upon both the bacteria present through which they are mineralized as well as physical conditions.

Physical conditions are particularly important because respiration rates tend to be faster in shallower lakes, resulting in more rapid turnover of nutrients and quicker production of biomass.

Finally, the type of vegetation present in a lake is also important as the breakdown and turnover of nutrients present in algae occur at a faster rate than in aquatic macrophytes due to the smaller amount of difficult-to-digest material.


In this article, we analyze the banking efficiency levels estimated for each group of private ownership (we have excluded public ownership because the empirical evidence has reached a certain consensus on its lower levels of efficiency compared to private ownership; [1, 7] ). We also analyze the impact on banking efficiency levels of incorporating a strategic foreign owner into the ownership structure. In this way, we hope to provide empirical evidence about whether, as popular belief would have it, foreign banks are more efficient than their domestic counterparts or whether, as a consequence of the European integration process, these differences have gradually disappeared.

In this article, we analyze the banking efficiency levels estimated for each group of private ownership (we have excluded public ownership because the empirical evidence has reached a certain consensus on its lower levels of efficiency compared to private ownership;).


Pharmacokinetic data for fluvastatin from clinical trials of the drug, suggest that a more cautious interpretation may warranted. From the early pharmacokinetic studies in man, it is estimated that the peak daily serum levels of fluvastatin after a 40 mg dose is in the low single micromolar range [21] . The results of the fluvastatin dose response studies we report here provide evidence that the drug concentration necessary to produce 50% toxicity for spinal motoneurons in culture is less than 1 μM. Taken together, these data suggest that systemic levels of statins may approach levels that are toxic to spinal motoneurons and that particular mechanisms must account for the relatively infrequent occurrence of clinically demonstrable toxicity. Perhaps sequestration of spinal motoneurons in the spinal space is one such mechanism.

From the early pharmacokinetic studies in man, it is estimated that the peak daily serum levels of fluvastatin after a 40 mg dose is in the low single micromolar range.


A commercial colloidal-based silver ink (ANP 40LT15C) has been used as received. Note that this ink is frequently used for numerous printed electronics applications. Its chemical composition has been kept constant for all the study. The wetting behavior of substrates has been controlled using UV-ozone treatment. Droplets of silver-based ink have been printed on a 400-nm-thick polymeric film (epoxy photoresist: Su8 2002 Microchem) using spin coating technique. Su8 films offer high chemical resistance and structural stability [42] . Moreover, it allows the fabrication of electronic devices [43] .

Su8 films offer high chemical resistance and structural stability.

Moreover, it allows the fabrication of electronic devices.


To accommodate this, Bayesian-frequentist compromises have been proposed which force dependency between the outcome and assignment models (Hoshino, 2008; McCandless et al., 2009; Graham et al., 2016) . In future work, we will study causal discrepancies which are of the general form of Eq.5, i.e., which depend simultaneously on assignments and potential outcomes. Such discrepancies could also be applied to check causal models with a non-ignorable assignment mechanism.

To accommodate this, Bayesian-frequentist compromises have been proposed which force dependency between the outcome and assignment models.


Assumptions are important to all probabilistic modeling, but especially for making causal inferences. In such inferences, we make strong assumptions about how treatments are assigned to individuals and each individual's distribution of potential outcomes. Given assumptions about the data, there are myriad methods for model-based causal inference (Pearl, 2000; Robins et al., 2000; Morgan and Winship, 2014; Imbens and Rubin, 2015) .

Given assumptions about the data, there are myriad methods for model-based causal inference.


Institutional and policy change Interventions of this type involve reforming and/or putting in place new polices, laws, regulations, and institutions more broadly to facilitate greater uptake of and benefits from agroforestry. Such efforts are designed to address existing policy and institutional constraints such as, for example, prevailing forestry regulations-designed for forest management areas-that may frustrate smallholder efforts to grow particular high-return tree species or insecure land tenure that may similarly deter long-term investments in tree planting Fig. 1 Illustrative theory of change for an agroforestry (AF) intervention, as adapted from [15] germplasm. The first of these and, in many cases, both, are required for significant and effective adoption of promoted agroforestry practices. Following such adoption, several intermediary outcomes are then expected. For example, farmers may see improved soil health and other ecosystem services, such as water infiltration, which then increase crop productivity or reduce production costs and, therefore, increase returns. Some participants may find that increased use and availability of tree/shrub fodder leads to increases in milk production and returns. Selling other agroforestry products such as timber, firewood, and fruit, can increase and diversify income and food sources [3, 31, 32] . These changes may have differential effects depending on gender, socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, or education/literacy level. Together, these intermediate outcomes are expected to bolster resilience to shocks, as well as boost overall household income and food security. These positive benefits along with features of the broader context in which participants operate will shape household investment in agroforestry. Our theory of change diagram presents positive pathways linking agroforestry interventions, adoption, and beneficial impacts; however, we also note that there are potentially negative tradeoffs to agroforestry, such as a reduction in area of crop production and negative treecrop interactions. By mapping the existing evidence of agroforestry practices in high-income countries with their impacts on agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and human well-being, we will create an easily-navigable database of relevant research related to agroforestry impacts as well as form a clearer picture on key areas of interest for further research. The results will encompass research from all high-income countries, which will allow policymakers to utilize knowledge gained from around the globe as well as make the study relevant to all developed nations.

Such efforts are designed to address existing policy and institutional constraints such as, for example, prevailing forestry regulations-designed for forest management areas-that may frustrate smallholder efforts to grow particular high-return tree species or insecure land tenure that may similarly deter long-term investments in tree planting Fig. 1 Illustrative theory of change for an agroforestry (AF) intervention, as adapted from germplasm.

Selling other agroforestry products such as timber, firewood, and fruit, can increase and diversify income and food sources.


Hybrid fiber wireless (FiWi) access networks hold great promise to support a number of future and emerging broadband services and applications [1] . There are two technologies to build FiWi networks. The first one is radio over fiber (RoF), and the second one is free space optical (FSO). Because FSO communication employs the visible or infrared (IR) wave band as the transmisson carrier, compared with RoF, FSO communication is of more security and more tolerance to electromagnetic interference (EMI). Meanwhile, FSO communication system doesn't generate electromagnetic radiation and doesn't require spectrum license [2] . Over the past ten years, light emitting diode (LED) based visible light communication (VLC), which inherits the advantages of the FSO communication, has become an attractive and a hot research theme [3] - [6] . It can provide illumination and communication at the same time. However, the modulation bandwidth of LED is generally limited at several megahertz (MHz). Recently, visible laser light communication (VLLC) based on laser diode (LD) or vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) has attracted a lot of attention [7] - [11] . Benefiting from the light source, the bandwidth of VLLC system can be approximately or beyond 1 gigahertz (GHz) [8] . Thus, VLLC system can achieve a higher data rate compared with LED-based VLC system. Meanwhile, white light can also be generated and used in VLLC system to provide illumination [9] - [10] . Therefore, by combining with VLLC and fiber communication, highspeed hybrid FiWi system can be implemented and used for indoor last-mile end-user applications [12] , [13] .

Hybrid fiber wireless (FiWi) access networks hold great promise to support a number of future and emerging broadband services and applications.

Meanwhile, FSO communication system doesn't generate electromagnetic radiation and doesn't require spectrum license.

Over the past ten years, light emitting diode (LED) based visible light communication (VLC), which inherits the advantages of the FSO communication, has become an attractive and a hot research theme.

Recently, visible laser light communication (VLLC) based on laser diode (LD) or vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) has attracted a lot of attention.

Benefiting from the light source, the bandwidth of VLLC system can be approximately or beyond 1 gigahertz (GHz).

Meanwhile, white light can also be generated and used in VLLC system to provide illumination.

Therefore, by combining with VLLC and fiber communication, highspeed hybrid FiWi system can be implemented and used for indoor last-mile end-user applications.


We reported here the construction of a barley BAC library consisting of 294,912 clones, using the Japanese malting barley variety 'Haruna Nijo'. This library consisted of 768 384-well MTPs. We estimated that the genome coverage was about 6.6 genome-equivalents, based on an investigation of the average insert size of randomly selected clones, the level of chloroplast DNA contamination and the number of empty clones. By screening the library using EST-derived genetic markers distributed over the barley genome, we found that the 'Haruna Nijo' BAC library provided a genome coverage similar to that of the 'Morex' library (Yu et al. 2000) . Thus, the 'Haruna Nijo' BAC library could be useful as a new resource for molecular genetics and genomics studies in barley. Despite the utilization of different accessions in the course of library construction, more than can be identified by colony hybridization of HDRMs using locus-specific probes. The pictures show the results for HDRM #441-#448 (left) and #569-#576 (right), after hybridization using the k02080-specific probe. Arrows indicate positive BAC clones (448D06 and 569O17). Low level, background hybridization to the pBAC-Lac vector was used to position the colonies in the blots. In this experiment, we did not identify a positive clone from the candidate 384-well MTP #401 (data not shown).

By screening the library using EST-derived genetic markers distributed over the barley genome, we found that the 'Haruna Nijo' BAC library provided a genome coverage similar to that of the 'Morex' library.


Sudden unexpected nocturnal death among patients with diabetes is greatly feared and poorly understood, occurring approximately ten times more commonly than in the general population [1] . The "dead-in-bed" syndrome, by definition, has a negative autopsy and accounts for up to 6% of all deaths in type I diabetics under the age of 40 years [2] . Hypoglycaemia has been put forward as the most likely explanation but has been excluded in some cases [2] [3] [4] . The possibility that a cardiac ion channelopathy such as long QT syndrome or Brugada syndrome may cause death through a malignant arrhythmia in individuals with diabetes has been considered but never proven [5] .

Sudden unexpected nocturnal death among patients with diabetes is greatly feared and poorly understood, occurring approximately ten times more commonly than in the general population.

The "dead-in-bed" syndrome, by definition, has a negative autopsy and accounts for up to 6% of all deaths in type I diabetics under the age of 40 years.

Hypoglycaemia has been put forward as the most likely explanation but has been excluded in some cases.

The possibility that a cardiac ion channelopathy such as long QT syndrome or Brugada syndrome may cause death through a malignant arrhythmia in individuals with diabetes has been considered but never proven.


Brushless doubly-fed induction generator (BDFIG), regarding to be an alternative of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG), has gained broad appeal to be ideal future generators in wind turbines. The advantages of the BDFIG-based wind turbines includes eliminating brush and slip rings, lower operation and maintenance fees, taking fractional rated capacity of converters and superior crowbarless fault ride-through (FRT) capability [1] [2] [3] . Owing to these clear superiorities, the commercial potential of BDFIG is enormous.

The advantages of the BDFIG-based wind turbines includes eliminating brush and slip rings, lower operation and maintenance fees, taking fractional rated capacity of converters and superior crowbarless fault ride-through (FRT) capability.


The experiments have been implemented on a 700kW Fig. 13 . It is evident that, intermediate the stator two windings, the optimized winding arrangement (Case 5) owns a more sufficient ability for creating cross coupling. Before the proposed wound rotor type BDFIG construction, the most widely used type is the nested-loop cage rotor BDFIG which makes a great contribution to BDFIG analysis [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] . The nested-loop cage rotor contains multiple loops and can be regarded as a concentrated winding, thus, it is difficult to obtain high winding factors for both two pole pairs. Under the conditions of the consistent rotor slot area, the consistent number of rotor conductors and excited by the same value current, compare with the nested-loop cage rotor, the proposed wound rotor BDFIG will obtain higher copper usage efficiency due to the higher winding factors of the two pole pairs.

Before the proposed wound rotor type BDFIG construction, the most widely used type is the nested-loop cage rotor BDFIG which makes a great contribution to BDFIG analysis.


The pattern of correlations found not only for EB-related but also for non-EB-related scales is in favor of the inclusion of the 3AAP assessment procedure in a multi-method, multi-informant approach [12] . Limited agreement between informants and methods has been consistently reported in previous literature [2, 16] . The correlations that have been reported in the current study between the 3AAP scores and EB-related scales were slightly higher than those usually found between methods and informants, with only a few exceptions. In particular, unexpected associations were found with UGC scores for positive affect, which may reveal that in a computer game of this kind, a certain overlap exists between children's pleasure expression and motor activity.

The pattern of correlations found not only for EB-related but also for non-EB-related scales is in favor of the inclusion of the 3AAP assessment procedure in a multi-method, multi-informant approach.

Limited agreement between informants and methods has been consistently reported in previous literature.


Far less research has been conducted among undiagnosed preschoolers, for whom we still need to accumulate evidence for the validity of an objective measure of motor activity. This could be helpful for the early identification of EB problems through its inclusion in a multi-method, multi-informant approach and by providing a benchmark for conventional questionnaire-based assessment, which is affected by respondents' subjectivity [23] . It may also be helpful for objectively estimating treatment or intervention efficacy [26] .

This could be helpful for the early identification of EB problems through its inclusion in a multi-method, multi-informant approach and by providing a benchmark for conventional questionnaire-based assessment, which is affected by respondents' subjectivity.

It may also be helpful for objectively estimating treatment or intervention efficacy.


A particularly interesting discovery is that there are gravitational systems which have a dual interpretation in terms of superconductors or superfluids in 2 + 1 dimensions [18] [19] [20] . Here, the dual gravitational description is in terms of an Abelian Higgs model on and coupled to a (3 + 1)-dimensional spacetime of negative cosmological constant, an Antide Sitter spacetime. The breaking of the Abelian U (1) symmetry at low temperature is associated with the condensation of an order-parameter field and can be interpreted as the emergence of superconductivity or superfluidity.

A particularly interesting discovery is that there are gravitational systems which have a dual interpretation in terms of superconductors or superfluids in 2 + 1 dimensions.


Previous SUHI studies have evidenced that various kinds of methods and techniques have been facilitated to study the spatial variation of SUHI around the world. Among them, the researches which is combing with geo-informatics were popular than others [11] [12] [13] . The built-up index (NDBI) and the vegetation index (NDVI) of normalized difference are frequently used as spectral indices for examining the urban surface characteristic (USC) on SUHI [11, 13, 14] . Moreover, these two spectral indices can also be derived from RS data and alternative indicators for land use and land cover [15] . As explained above, socio-economic variables play an extensive role for the formation of SUHI directly and indirectly, and the past studies also emphasized that importance of usages of the socio-economic variables including emission of GHG and population density (PD) on SUHI studies [11] . Additionally, gradient analysis was facilitated to study the variation of LST, Built-up areas and green surface (GS) from the city center to the rural area. Scatter plots and partial least square regression analysis were performed to assess the correlation and statistical significance of the variables.

Among them, the researches which is combing with geo-informatics were popular than others.

The built-up index (NDBI) and the vegetation index (NDVI) of normalized difference are frequently used as spectral indices for examining the urban surface characteristic (USC) on SUHI.

Moreover, these two spectral indices can also be derived from RS data and alternative indicators for land use and land cover.

As explained above, socio-economic variables play an extensive role for the formation of SUHI directly and indirectly, and the past studies also emphasized that importance of usages of the socio-economic variables including emission of GHG and population density (PD) on SUHI studies.


A method has been proposed to estimate the current distribution on a multi-layer PCB [7] . In this method, the microstrip transmission line is divided into several current segments which are electrically small. Mutual impedance between each segment and the receiving probe is numerically evaluated by finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. By measuring the near-field on the PCB and solving the inverse problem, current distribution on the multilayer PCB can be obtained. However, so far, this method has been only applied to a microstrip line, or a microstrip line with a slit which is equivalent to a series capacitance. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of this method in dealing with the real lumped circuits whose electrical parameters are usually unknown. In this paper, the present method is applied to a 2-layer PCB with various kinds of lumped circuits. First, it is described how to establish the current estimation model when lumped circuits are inserted into microstrip line. Then, an experiment is performed to three kinds of PCB which have a capacitor, an inductor and a resistor, respectively. Experimental estimation results are presented and compared with numerical results calculated by FDTD method to demonstrate the validity of the present estimation method.

A method has been proposed to estimate the current distribution on a multi-layer PCB.


However, the precise antiproliferative activity and apoptosis induction mechanisms of this terpenoid remain unclear, but we believe that the terpenoid induces apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell lines through an intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Moreover, it is reported that the intrinsic pathway requires disruption of the mitochondrial membrane and the release of mitochondrial protein, such as cytochrome-c. Once cytochrome-c is in the cytosol, together with Apaf-1 activates caspase-9, then activates caspase-3, and the latter then induces apoptosis [24] - [26] .

Once cytochrome-c is in the cytosol, together with Apaf-1 activates caspase-9, then activates caspase-3, and the latter then induces apoptosis.


The ever rising of the global population with a slow food production threatens food security, especially in developing countries [1] [2] [3] [4] . The number of people suffering from malnutrition is about 795 million, and the developing countries are the most vulnerable regions where most of the population lives in rural areas [5, 6] . The over-reliance of the global agricultural production on very few crop species has led to genetic erosion and the loss of biocultural diversity [7] . Such situation affects the ability of farmers to face challenges of changing climatic conditions and food insecurity [8] [9] [10] . In order to ensure more nutritious diets, enhanced livelihoods for farming communities and more resilient and sustainable farming systems, appropriate use of agricultural biodiversity is one of the key pillar identified to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2, which is termed "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture" [11] . In recent years, there has been a growing interest for sustainable agricultural production through crop diversification with an emphasis on the promotion of so-called neglected, minor or underutilized crop species [6, 7, [12] [13] [14] [15] . These crops, important in local production systems and diets, have been for long overlooked by research in terms of technology development. In addition, policy makers fail to create favorable conditions for the promotion of the economic potential of underutilized crop species. Neglected crop species are under-represented in conservation efforts both in situ and ex situ, and even the direct stakeholders involved in their production, commercialization and processing have limited knowledge on their economic potential [6, 16, 17] . However, many of these crop species are particularly well adapted to low-input agriculture and they are, as such, important to ensure food and nutritional security in regions where farmers have limited access to agricultural inputs [12, 18, 19] . One of these crop species is Kersting's groundnut.

The ever rising of the global population with a slow food production threatens food security, especially in developing countries.

The number of people suffering from malnutrition is about 795 million, and the developing countries are the most vulnerable regions where most of the population lives in rural areas.

The over-reliance of the global agricultural production on very few crop species has led to genetic erosion and the loss of biocultural diversity.

Such situation affects the ability of farmers to face challenges of changing climatic conditions and food insecurity.

In order to ensure more nutritious diets, enhanced livelihoods for farming communities and more resilient and sustainable farming systems, appropriate use of agricultural biodiversity is one of the key pillar identified to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2, which is termed "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture".

In recent years, there has been a growing interest for sustainable agricultural production through crop diversification with an emphasis on the promotion of so-called neglected, minor or underutilized crop species.

Neglected crop species are under-represented in conservation efforts both in situ and ex situ, and even the direct stakeholders involved in their production, commercialization and processing have limited knowledge on their economic potential.

However, many of these crop species are particularly well adapted to low-input agriculture and they are, as such, important to ensure food and nutritional security in regions where farmers have limited access to agricultural inputs.


Generically, on orbits of G in X SFI reduces the computation of the Feynman integral to a line integral over simpler diagrams (up to some boundary or initial condition such as a base point). However, at some locus in X the equations set is singular and produces algebraic rather than differential equations [5] . On some components of this locus the algebraic equation allows to reduce I into a linear combination of simpler diagrams (instead of a line integral).

However, at some locus in X the equations set is singular and produces algebraic rather than differential equations.


The relative values of the variances of soil properties in Bom Jardim(RJ) (Figure 3) were expressed as percentage of the global variance, obtained from the soil database WISE (Batjes, 2008; Gray et al., 2009) . Greater variance was noted in clay and OC than in sand, silt and pH(H 2 O). In addition, for pH and OC the variation was greater in the surface (0-30 cm) than in the subsurface layer (30-200 cm) . In general, analysis of variance of the data studied compared to the WISE data showed that the variance of the variables analyzed in the study area was small.

The relative values of the variances of soil properties in Bom Jardim(RJ) (Figure 3) were expressed as percentage of the global variance, obtained from the soil database WISE.


Currently, the uranian satellites remain largely unexplored. So far, there have been no attempts to use topographic data on Ariel to estimate heat fluxes, although a study of Miranda rift flank topography from limb profiles yielded an effective elastic thickness of about 2 km (Pappalardo et al., 1997) . The present-day uranian system differs from the Galilean and saturnian systems in that none of its satellites are currently in stable orbital resonances. Past papers on Ariel have investigated potential mean motion resonance configurations with the other satellites to isolate a heat source that could explain the inferred resurfacing (Dermott et al., 1988; Tittemore and Wisdom, 1989; Tittemore, 1990) . However, below we conclude that neither Ariel's present eccentricity, nor radioactive heating, nor any of the previously calculated ancient resonances (2:1 with Umbriel, 5:3 with Miranda, or 4:1 with Titania) are sufficient to explain the inferred heat fluxes.

So far, there have been no attempts to use topographic data on Ariel to estimate heat fluxes, although a study of Miranda rift flank topography from limb profiles yielded an effective elastic thickness of about 2 km.

Past papers on Ariel have investigated potential mean motion resonance configurations with the other satellites to isolate a heat source that could explain the inferred resurfacing.


The source of energy needed to produce our inferred heat fluxes is not well-understood. The amount of internal energy generated by radioactive decay, assuming a chondritic composition for the silicate core and a silicate mass fraction of 0.56, is only 5-8 mW/m 2 shortly after formation, and today only produces 0.6-1 mW/m 2 (Hussmann et al., 2010) . Combined with accretionary energy, it is possible that this could account for some resurfacing. Even so, Umbriel shares a similar size and density but appears to be geologically undisturbed. As such, it seems more likely that the source of endogenic heat is due to an episode of tidal heating at some point in Ariel's orbital history.

The amount of internal energy generated by radioactive decay, assuming a chondritic composition for the silicate core and a silicate mass fraction of 0.56, is only 5-8 mW/m 2 shortly after formation, and today only produces 0.6-1 mW/m 2.


Wetting structurally inhomogeneous surface of leather, the mechanisms of spreading and absorption of water droplets will largely depend on the hydrophilicity of the individual elements of its structure (capillaries, pores, collagen, etc.). Additionally, surface irregularities and, as a result, air contained in the surface layer, are factors, which contribute to the heterogeneous regime wetting (the wetting model of Cassie-Baxter). The latter refers to one of the necessary conditions for achieving the hydrophobicity of the surface [10] [11] [12] . Investigation of leather morphology with a rough, heterogeneous facial layer and its influence on the hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties will set the peculiarities of the formation of water-repellent characteristics and conditions of hydrophobic treatment. Present study deals with the kinetics of wetting, spreading and absorption of water droplets to determine the impact of the surface morphology of initial and hydrophobized leather on its hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties.

The latter refers to one of the necessary conditions for achieving the hydrophobicity of the surface.


Recently, systems have been developed to automatically detect stereotypical behaviors using accelerometers and pattern recognition algorithms [5, 6] . The results have been promising, but it is necessary to worn the sensors on the wrists and torso using elastic armbands, a situation that may not be well accepted by the child. The Kinect sensor may suppress the disadvantages referred, as the sensor is based on the concept of Human-Device interaction through the user's senses, especially gestures and vision.

Recently, systems have been developed to automatically detect stereotypical behaviors using accelerometers and pattern recognition algorithms.


For sectoral level our findings show that the new innovative entry can support the patent application of technological class except when the entrants arrive in market by large participation in patent application. In this case, the patent application decreases. We assume that the entry of new innovative firms can increase the innovation intensity of a sector except for when their innovations are competence-destroy innovations. We should note here that the firms' formation and technological entry are conceptually different. A new entrant to our models may be a long established firm that innovates for first time. This is not an indicator for start up but instead for technological entry. As we take into account all of the technological entries, the failure of the entry may not be a problem to our models [69] .

As we take into account all of the technological entries, the failure of the entry may not be a problem to our models.


A key insight from our work here is the need to critically assess the hidden impact of the software platforms used in determining both curriculum and community. We spoke earlier about Facebook being a less than ideal environment for fruitful dialogue because in its design it connects those who already think alike (Kirschner 2015) . If we add to this the 'more by fewer' effect found in our data (see Table 2 for details) and the stated design principle of both community and curriculum emerging within the course in Rhizo14, we can see how tensions and contradictions can remain hidden from view as those who are not 'likeminded' may be silenced by default, if not design.

We spoke earlier about Facebook being a less than ideal environment for fruitful dialogue because in its design it connects those who already think alike.


We started by independently inductively coding the 47 survey responses (Thomas 2006) . As new codes emerged, we rechecked the previous data to see if new occurrences could be found and created an initial clustering of codes. We checked and amended the coding where errors and inconsistencies emerged, and reviewed the clustering, revising and collapsing codes where appropriate. We then independently coded the follow-up interview data identifying core themes that emerged from our inductive analysis of survey responses and follow-up interviews. We developed narratives for these core themes.

We started by independently inductively coding the 47 survey responses.


Against this background we want to discuss in this book chapter several policy instruments that aim to increase the reuse of WEEE as well as the use of secondary plastics in EEE. Taking the case study of Germany we evaluate instruments theoretical quantity effects and their feasibility. In reality, instruments are often weak and scattered implemented. To identify a policy mix without the risk of creating expensive policies with the potential for inefficient outcomes, we make two complementary conceptual proposes, which first open up perspectives for possible synergies of instruments and second allow an integrated understanding of the regional context in which instruments are implemented. The discussion of the case study of promoting reuse within this framework makes clear, that such an integrated understanding is the basis for any appropriate, targeted and efficient stimulation and bridges the gap between theoretical policy formulation and practically implementation [17] .

The discussion of the case study of promoting reuse within this framework makes clear, that such an integrated understanding is the basis for any appropriate, targeted and efficient stimulation and bridges the gap between theoretical policy formulation and practically implementation.


The developed framework to base instruments on an integrated understanding of material flows, the underlying socio-technical system and environmental effects highlights the institutional-ecological nexus -the waste regime, in which the waste is generated, forms the way in which the waste is managed by the actors and therewith the environmental effects. The technological waste management perspective is shifted to a version, in which social aspects are no exogenous factors, but elementary parts of the system [54] . Analytical approaches to increase the transparency in these systems can be seen as a crucial element for transformation towards a circular economy that avoid the implementation of single instruments with inefficient outcomes.

The technological waste management perspective is shifted to a version, in which social aspects are no exogenous factors, but elementary parts of the system.


Action research is a paradigm of inquiry where the researcher's primary purpose is to improve the capacity and subsequent practices of the researcher rather than to produce theoretical knowledge (Elliott, 1991) . A defining characteristic of action research is that the researcher initiates change, based on a feeling and ambition to create a 'better' human situation (Freire, 2005) . Teacher educators in the UK have readily embraced and effectively utilised action research to challenge understanding, and subsequent transformation of, their own practice (Casey & Dyson, 2009; Rossi & Tan, 2012; Tinning, 1992) . By contrast however, examples of action research from the field of coach education are sparse.

Action research is a paradigm of inquiry where the researcher's primary purpose is to improve the capacity and subsequent practices of the researcher rather than to produce theoretical knowledge.

A defining characteristic of action research is that the researcher initiates change, based on a feeling and ambition to create a 'better' human situation.

Teacher educators in the UK have readily embraced and effectively utilised action research to challenge understanding, and subsequent transformation of, their own practice.


Recent whole genome sequencing studies of pediatric brain tumors have identified few, recurrent oncogenic point mutations targetable therapeutically [8, 9, 12] . Rather, these tumors contain large chromosomal copy number changes or aberrant epigenomes. Therefore epigenetic regulators might provide attractive targets, since they may re-establish normal gene expression profiles, including those of tumor suppressors [19, 20] . We used a preclinical drug development pipeline ( Fig. 1) to evaluate compounds that modulate the epigenome. Of the nine compounds tested, the nucleoside analogue 5-fluoro-2-deoxycytidine (FdCyd) showed the most activity in vitro. The results of extensive PK studies optimized the dosing and scheduling for preclinical efficacy studies. However, FdCyd co-administered with THU failed to produce significant tumor responses in vivo in each of the brain tumor models. Thus, the use of the combination of FdCyd and THU was deprioritized for the clinic providing an example of the utility of our drug development pipeline.

Recent whole genome sequencing studies of pediatric brain tumors have identified few, recurrent oncogenic point mutations targetable therapeutically.

Therefore epigenetic regulators might provide attractive targets, since they may re-establish normal gene expression profiles, including those of tumor suppressors.


The reporting quality of validation studies included in the present study sample was poor. Inadequate descriptions of study site, reliability, and clinical prediction rule were highly prevalent. The results presented with confidence intervals and follow-up of study participants using flow diagram were found only in a small number of validation studies which is consistent with the findings from a recent systematic review [18] . Many validation studies did not describe whether blind assessments of clinical prediction rule and outcome were carried out.

The results presented with confidence intervals and follow-up of study participants using flow diagram were found only in a small number of validation studies which is consistent with the findings from a recent systematic review.


The auto-lock feature is a tradeoff between security and usability. At one extreme, when the auto-lock is set to kick in immediately, it provides better physical security, while sacrifices usability, by requiring users to authenticate on each device unlock. At the other extreme, setting the timeout to some extensive value, e.g., 30 min, might greatly reduce the frequency, and, as a result, the burden, of unlocking. The results of our study suggest that while almost half of the subjects set auto-lock timeout to immediately, most of whom used Pattern, others set it to some extensive values, thus, increasing the chances for an attacker. In particular, we found that on average 11% of all device locks are due to auto-lock, and on average the device is not locked for 65 s after the screen is turned off. This provides an opportunity window for so called lunch-time attacks, when someone sneaks into an unattended smartphone. We suggest that the investigation of implicit authentication is one possible option to tackle that tradeoff [24, 25, 12] .

We suggest that the investigation of implicit authentication is one possible option to tackle that tradeoff.


Smartphones have become ubiquitous personal devices, widely used by a very broad and diverse population, from teenagers, to students, to business users, to senior citizens. Due to this diversity of users as well as smartphones' inherit customizability and extensibility, the patterns of their usage vary widely. Yet, one trait is more and more common for all these users: the smartphones are becoming very personal devices that store a plethora of sensitive personal information and serve as gateways to many online services, from e-mail, to banking, to social media, to online dating. Unsurprisingly, unauthorized access to the device is the highest security risk for smartphone users [1] [2] [3] .

Unsurprisingly, unauthorized access to the device is the highest security risk for smartphone users.


For this purpose, we proposed to use graphemes for automatically aligning speech and text data [9] . This approach automatically aligns a sequence of words corresponding to given audio segments. We have demonstrated that this method can correctly transcribe around 55% of the initial speech data. To use this approach, however, we need to segment a long audio file into smaller segments corresponding preferably to individual sentences beforehand.

For this purpose, we proposed to use graphemes for automatically aligning speech and text data.


There are relatively few studies in the literature that evaluate the impact of composting process conditions and the extent of compost decomposition on soil C and N mineralization after compost incorporation. This study evaluated postincorporation effects, using composts from experiments that examined the effects of moisture, C/N ratio, and two alternative strategies on N conservation during the composting process. The alternative strategies examined were (1) incorporation of moderate-to-high cation exchange capacity soil in the compost mixture and (2) use of a layer of stabilized compost on the surface of the pile as a passive "biofilter" to trap ammonia as it exits the pile [23] . These strategies are applicable for simple on-farm windrow composting technology and can be accomplished using readily available materials.

The alternative strategies examined were (1) incorporation of moderate-to-high cation exchange capacity soil in the compost mixture and (2) use of a layer of stabilized compost on the surface of the pile as a passive "biofilter" to trap ammonia as it exits the pile.


The ␤-TC6 insulinoma cells seem to represent an atypical insulinoma cell line, because two other insulinoma cell lines, namely HIT-T15 and RINm5F, did not express detectable levels of nicotinic receptors as assayed with 125 I-epibatidine (data not shown). In addition, nicotine did not elicit elevation of calcium or insulin release in those cells (data not shown). Membranes of mouse pancreatic islets also did not have detectable levels of nicotine receptors (data not shown). However, 100 M nicotine did elicit a slight increase in intracellular calcium in mouse pancreatic islets in three independent experiments (data not shown). A recent study reported that nicotine had marginal inhibitory effects on insulin release in rat and human islet cells (Yoshikawa et al., 2005) . Specific binding of [ 3 H]nicotine to intact islets or to insulinoma INS-1 cells was reported to be very low (50 -80 dpm/islet), as was binding of 125 I-␣-bungarotoxin (20 dpm/islet). RT-PCR data on total RNA indicated that ␣2, ␣3, ␣4, ␣5, ␣7, and ␤2 nicotinic subunits were expressed in the INS-1 cells.

A recent study reported that nicotine had marginal inhibitory effects on insulin release in rat and human islet cells.


Influx of calcium seemed essential for nicotine-elicited insulin release, because it did not occur in calcium-free media. There was an inhibitory effect of the L-type calcium-channel blocker nifedipine, even at a low concentration of 1 M, on the nicotine-elicited elevation of calcium and on nicotineelicited release of insulin. Thus, the effect of nicotine on membrane potential may lead to the opening of voltagesensitive calcium channels. It should be noted that nifedipine at micromolar concentrations does have activity as a noncompetitive blocker of nicotinic channels (Donnelly-Roberts et al., 1995) .

It should be noted that nifedipine at micromolar concentrations does have activity as a noncompetitive blocker of nicotinic channels.


Nicotinic 3 H]epibatidine was ϳ150 pM, which is only slightly higher than the K d value reported for rat ␣3␤4 nicotinic receptors (ϳ100 pM) of rat pineal gland (Hernandez et al., 2004) . The density of [ 3 H]epibatidine binding sites in ␤-TC6 cell membrane homogenates was ϳ250 fmol/mg of protein. Thus, the density was approximately 4-fold higher than that reported for rat forebrain membranes (Xiao et al., 1998) . There was no significant binding of 125 I-A-85380 to Fig. 6 . The effect of a prestimulation with nicotine on increases in intracellular subsequent elicited by nicotine, oxotremorine M, and carbamylcholine in ␤-TC6 cells. The traces are from a representative assay. The cells were either not stimulated or stimulated with 100 M nicotine before a subsequent addition of nicotine (A), oxotremorine M (C), or carbamylcholine (E). B, the subsequent response to nicotine was eliminated in A or significantly reduced: ,ءء P Ͻ 0.001 (n ϭ 12) by the prior nicotine stimulation. D, the response to oxotremorine was marginally reduced: ,ء P Ͻ 0.05 (n ϭ 12). F, the response to carbamylcholine was reduced by the prior nicotine stimulation: ,ءء P Ͻ 0.01 (n ϭ 12). Compared with affinities of these ligands at six heterologously expressed nicotinic receptor subtypes , the binding properties of the sites in mouse ␤-TC6 cell membrane homogenates were most similar to those reported for the rat ␣3␤4 nicotinic receptors (Parker et al., 1998; Xiao and Kellar, 2004) .

Nicotinic 3 H]epibatidine was ϳ150 pM, which is only slightly higher than the K d value reported for rat ␣3␤4 nicotinic receptors (ϳ100 pM) of rat pineal gland.

Thus, the density was approximately 4-fold higher than that reported for rat forebrain membranes.

Compared with affinities of these ligands at six heterologously expressed nicotinic receptor subtypes , the binding properties of the sites in mouse ␤-TC6 cell membrane homogenates were most similar to those reported for the rat ␣3␤4 nicotinic receptors.


Functional Responses: Insulin Secretion. Nicotine at 100 M elicited a marked increase in insulin secretion from ␤-TC6 cells (Fig. 8) . A threshold effect occurred at a nicotine concentration of 10 M. These results were obtained in media with a physiological concentration (5.5 mM) of glucose. In the absence of glucose, basal release of insulin was greatly decreased, and even 100 M nicotine had no effect (Fig. 8) . The absence of extracellular calcium also prevented any response to 100 M nicotine (data not shown). In the presence of a high concentration (16.7 mM) of glucose, even 100 M nicotine had no significant effect (Fig. 8) . The glucose-elicited release of insulin in ␤-TC6 cells appeared near maximal at 1.3 mM glucose (Fig. 8) , unlike pancreatic B cells, in which glucose levels near 15 mM are required for a maximal response. A prior report with ␤-TC6 cells indicated that the maximal release of insulin occurred at approximately 3 mM glucose (Poitout et al., 1995) .

A prior report with ␤-TC6 cells indicated that the maximal release of insulin occurred at approximately 3 mM glucose.


Nicotine at a threshold concentration of approximately 10 M elicited an increase of calcium in ␤-TC6 cells, and this calcium response reached a maximum at 100 M nicotine (Fig. 2, A and B) . The response to 100 M nicotine was virtually eliminated by the nicotinic blocker mecamylamine at a concentration of 10 M but was unaffected by a high concentration (10 M) of the muscarinic antagonist atropine (Fig. 2, C and D) . The IC 50 value for mecamylamine was approximately 3 M (data not shown). The elevation of intracellular calcium elicited by 100 M nicotine was dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium. There was no significant nicotine response in the absence of calcium, whereas the response was nearly maximal at 1.26 mM calcium compared with 10 mM calcium (data not shown). The selective ␣ 4 ␤ 2 antagonist dihydro-␤-erythroidine at 10 M and the selective ␣7 antagonist methyllycaconitine at 10 M did not significantly block either nicotine-elicited membrane depolarization or the elevation of intracellular calcium (Fig. 3) . Both responses were nearly completely blocked by 10 M mecamylamine. The calcium response to nicotine was partially blocked by a high concentration (10 M) of the L-type calcium channel blocker nifedipine (Fig. 4) and by 10 M concentrations of the calcium release-activated calcium-channel blockers SKF 96365 and MRS 1845 (data not shown). Nifedipine at such a high concentration can block nicotinic receptor channels (Donnelly-Roberts et al., 1995) . However, at a 1 M concentration that should effectively block L-type calcium channels but have little effect on nicotinic channels, nifedipine still partially inhibited the response to 100 M nicotine (Fig. 4) .

Nifedipine at such a high concentration can block nicotinic receptor channels.


Stated preference methods are widely used by marketers and applied economists to estimate the willingnessto-pay (WTP) for private goods, such as new or improved goods or food novelties [1] [2] . The simplest form is open-ended questions about the respondent's WTP for good or closed-ended, multiple-choice questions. More elaborate techniques, inspired from the passive-use values literature, such as choice experiments, are also common [3] .

Stated preference methods are widely used by marketers and applied economists to estimate the willingnessto-pay (WTP) for private goods, such as new or improved goods or food novelties.

More elaborate techniques, inspired from the passive-use values literature, such as choice experiments, are also common.


The products used in each treatment of this study were 2-litre cartons of 2%-fat milk: a regular version and a rich-in-DHA alternative. The regular milk was easily accessible in supermarkets, while the specialty milk containing DHA was only found in small volumes in few retail outlets 2 . No brand of milk was mentioned to avoid framing effects associated with product presentation [25] .

No brand of milk was mentioned to avoid framing effects associated with product presentation.


This need has motivated work on provenance in databases, scientific workflow systems, and many other settings [7, 26] . There is now a great deal of research on extending such systems with rich provenance-tracking features. Generally, these systems aim to provide high-level explanations intended to aid the user in understanding how a computation was performed, by recording and presenting additional "trace" information.

This need has motivated work on provenance in databases, scientific workflow systems, and many other settings.


The metarule means that it uses only two different predicates on a multidimensional database where A and B are the predicate values specifically where customers only buy Games Software with minimum support of 40% and minimum confidence of 40%. The example of the rule states that on the predicate Lives in Melbourne with Occupation as a student it has support of 45% and confidence of 50% to buy Games Software. That example satisfies the user metarule. Moreover, this mining concept is suitable for non-Boolean data where it uses multidimensional data as the main resources for mining association rules; it has no taxonomical or classification of data abstraction; all attributes are put into the same level; and are also only applicable to an inter-association rules relationship with a distinct predicate (Kamber, Han, & Chiang, 1997) .

Moreover, this mining concept is suitable for non-Boolean data where it uses multidimensional data as the main resources for mining association rules; it has no taxonomical or classification of data abstraction; all attributes are put into the same level; and are also only applicable to an inter-association rules relationship with a distinct predicate.


Bear responses, such as the decision to stay, exhibit stress-related behaviours, or flee, are influenced by the behaviour of visitors at viewing sites (DeBruyn et al., 2004) . Management policies should not overlook the education of visitors on-site, as rules are generally better followed when visitors understand the reasoning behind them. When viewing sites are in places where animals are observed from close distance or they are close to key areas for bears, we recommend that the presence of people should be concealed. While the use of concealed observatories or blinds is well-known to birdwatching and it is also found in other kinds of wildlife viewing, they are not often used for bear viewing (Knight, 2009) . We also encourage development and application of guidelines for responsive bear viewing, similar to those developed for example in British Columbia, Canada (Commercial Bear Viewing Association of British Columbia; http://goo.gl/enuemb) or Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia and Croatia .

Bear responses, such as the decision to stay, exhibit stress-related behaviours, or flee, are influenced by the behaviour of visitors at viewing sites.

While the use of concealed observatories or blinds is well-known to birdwatching and it is also found in other kinds of wildlife viewing, they are not often used for bear viewing.


Up to now, a series of research achievements related to rules and behaviors modeling have been made. A rules modeling method base on definite events set is proposed by Li Tao [3] . Different actions are classified to different sets and three definite action event sets are defined in accordance with frequency and sequence of actions in the method. For enhancing immersive and interactive of equipment virtual training system, a behavior modeling method based on expert rule is put forward by Liu Yuhai [4] . Within the method, production knowledge representation method was adopted to describe equipment operation action procedure, and action model was implemented by forward reasoning mechanism. In order to portray the training operation regulation of missile launching simulation system, the built-in operation state diagram was used to define the sequence and time of operation precisely by Liu Shenglin [5] . A hybrid modeling approach is proposed by Zhang Xiaodong and the event-driven business rules as a backbone of modeling process [6] . According to software methodology, behavior modeling technologies of virtual environment were categorized into three classes by Su Shaoyong [7] . These classes are procedure-based behavior modeling, object-based behavior modeling and agent-based behavior modeling.

A rules modeling method base on definite events set is proposed by Li Tao.

For enhancing immersive and interactive of equipment virtual training system, a behavior modeling method based on expert rule is put forward by Liu Yuhai.

In order to portray the training operation regulation of missile launching simulation system, the built-in operation state diagram was used to define the sequence and time of operation precisely by Liu Shenglin.

A hybrid modeling approach is proposed by Zhang Xiaodong and the event-driven business rules as a backbone of modeling process.

According to software methodology, behavior modeling technologies of virtual environment were categorized into three classes by Su Shaoyong.


The psoas-muscle sign, the triad of fever, flank pain, and limitation of hip movement, is noted in only 30% patients [5] . Because of the rapid progress in advanced imaging techniques, such as gallium-67 scanning, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance image (MRI) in recent years, early diagnosis of IPA has become easier despite initial clinical presentation that is frequently ambiguous [6] [7] [8] . Although origin-based IPA classification has been adopted in clinical practice, it does not help clinicians make appropriate treatment decisions. Currently, whether percutaneous drainage (PCD) or surgical intervention should be used in IPA patients remains controversial because few studies with large sample sizes have been performed. At present, PCD is considered preferable to surgical intervention for the treatment of IPA [9] [10] [11] .

The psoas-muscle sign, the triad of fever, flank pain, and limitation of hip movement, is noted in only 30% patients.

Because of the rapid progress in advanced imaging techniques, such as gallium-67 scanning, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance image (MRI) in recent years, early diagnosis of IPA has become easier despite initial clinical presentation that is frequently ambiguous.

At present, PCD is considered preferable to surgical intervention for the treatment of IPA.


Researchers have theoretically investigated photonic crystal with an array of dielectric rods in air. Based on this concept the T-junction, Y-junction and MMI effects have already been extensively studied [3, 4] . Unfortunately, the "rod in air" approach does not provide sufficient vertical confinement and is difficult to implement for most practically useful device implementations in the optical regime. A slab waveguide structure consists of air holes etched into a dielectric medium such as silicon, GaAs/AlGaAs hetero structure or a semiconductor membrane which remedies this problem and allows waveguides with tolerable losses [5, 6] . This Multimode leads to mode-mixing problem at the intersection of the PCW which creates a mismatch between input and output fields and introduces large reflections at the interface.

Based on this concept the T-junction, Y-junction and MMI effects have already been extensively studied.

A slab waveguide structure consists of air holes etched into a dielectric medium such as silicon, GaAs/AlGaAs hetero structure or a semiconductor membrane which remedies this problem and allows waveguides with tolerable losses.


In the recent years, a lot of research has been focused on developing micro and nano photonic devices by using Photonic Crystals (PCs). Photonic Crystals (PCs) are artificial structure in which the periodic variation of dielectric constant is used to control the flow of light. PCs may be 1D, 2D & 3D crystal structure. Unlike electronic crystals (which are natural structure) that control the flow of electron by periodic variation of electron potential and follow Schrödinger equation, PCs follow Maxwell's equation [1] . Now a day, from the idea of controlling light by means of Photonic Crystal (PC) has led to many proposals and implementations for novel devices including different types of power splitters has generated wide interests in the communication field. This is possible only for periodic variation of the refractive index causes photonic band gap and artificially introduced defects to divide the input power equally into the output channels without significant reflection or radiation losses with compact in size. The traditional limitation on power splitter based optical fiber on is on transmission loss can be minimized by the photons splitter as optimal one [2] . It has many advantages such as low loss, good uniformity, insensitive to operation wavelength, polarization, large bandwidth, simple fabrication technique, larger tolerance, minimized structure, temperature and other environmental factors.

Unlike electronic crystals (which are natural structure) that control the flow of electron by periodic variation of electron potential and follow Schrödinger equation, PCs follow Maxwell's equation.

The traditional limitation on power splitter based optical fiber on is on transmission loss can be minimized by the photons splitter as optimal one.


The basal autonomic state, i.e., during non-challenging conditions, can be considered an index of the susceptibility of an individual to stress, since individuals exposed to stressful situations show lower vagal tone, potentially being more vulnerable to stress (Porges, 1995) . Recently, HRV was used as a method to assess the impact of the ANS on cardiac activity in pigs in relation to tail biting (Zupan et al., 2012) . It was found that both victims of tail biting and biters might have a dysfunctional autonomic regulation.

The basal autonomic state, i.e., during non-challenging conditions, can be considered an index of the susceptibility of an individual to stress, since individuals exposed to stressful situations show lower vagal tone, potentially being more vulnerable to stress.

Recently, HRV was used as a method to assess the impact of the ANS on cardiac activity in pigs in relation to tail biting.


It is well known that four dimensional, perturbative Yang-Mills theory with maximal supersymmetry (SYM) has a worldsheet description in terms of the superconformal sigma model (SCFT) of type II superstring theory on a D3 brane. Furthermore, pointlike instantons have an equivalent description as bound states of D(-1) branes localized inside this D3 brane [1] [2] [3] [4] . Consequently, these configurations, in spite of being non-perturbative from the fourdimensional, or D3 brane, point of view, have a simple description in terms of a worldsheet SCFT with mixed Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions [5] . In particular, the SCFT on the D(-1) brane reproduces the ADHM constraints for zero size instantons [6] [7] [8] .

Furthermore, pointlike instantons have an equivalent description as bound states of D(-1) branes localized inside this D3 brane.

Consequently, these configurations, in spite of being non-perturbative from the fourdimensional, or D3 brane, point of view, have a simple description in terms of a worldsheet SCFT with mixed Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions.

In particular, the SCFT on the D(-1) brane reproduces the ADHM constraints for zero size instantons.


While we considered the specific case of the D(-1)-D3 brane bound state in this paper, our approach applies equally well to generic Dp-D(p + 4) brane bound states. Another interesting extension concerns the blow up of orbifold singularities in closed super string field theory [29] [30] [31] [32] . We hope to come back to this question in the near future.

Another interesting extension concerns the blow up of orbifold singularities in closed super string field theory.


When a synchronizing cue is absent, diapause usually ends over a broad span of time (Tauber et al., 1986) . This applies for O. insidiosus kept at 18 ~ C/10L: 14D continuously. Increases of the temperature and the daylength affect termination of diapause in a different way. Whereas extension of daylength seems to have a accelerating as well as a synchronizing effect on termination, a rise of temperature only accelerates termination (cf. Fig. 2b for the simultaneous effect of both cues).

When a synchronizing cue is absent, diapause usually ends over a broad span of time.


These virtual worlds enable users to interact often with each other in an enjoyable and realistic environment; they can reflect the user's own experiences in daily life [15] . Virtual reality technology has more use than the traditional learning environment of chalk and blackboard. Individuals can interact or communicate with others through the systems or software, thus, it signifies great progress in the field of education. The virtual chemical laboratory is significantly effective in education, as it can promote learners to actively learn themselves and avoid the higher cost of real experiments [16] [17] [18] . A past study suggests that different fields of learning should identify whether other learning systems can cause positive outcomes [19] . As it is difficult for students to understand the concepts of chemistry, they must learn them through experiments [18] . Moreover, compared to virtual experiments, the costs of real experiments are much higher and require space where they can take place, as well as human and laboratory scheduling and security [20] .

These virtual worlds enable users to interact often with each other in an enjoyable and realistic environment; they can reflect the user's own experiences in daily life.

The virtual chemical laboratory is significantly effective in education, as it can promote learners to actively learn themselves and avoid the higher cost of real experiments.

A past study suggests that different fields of learning should identify whether other learning systems can cause positive outcomes.

As it is difficult for students to understand the concepts of chemistry, they must learn them through experiments.

Moreover, compared to virtual experiments, the costs of real experiments are much higher and require space where they can take place, as well as human and laboratory scheduling and security.


SLs are conventionally produced by submerged fermentation (SmFs) using glucose as the hydrophilic carbon source and a high oleic acid feedstock (C18:1) as the hydrophobic carbon source (Kim et al., 2009; Koh et al., 2016) . Glucose can be replaced by sugarcane, sugar beet or soy molasses, which are substrates rich in sugars and nitrogen, allowing the exclusion of costly yeast extract and urea from fermentation media (Jiménez-Peñalver et al., 2016; Solaiman et al., 2004; Takahashi et al., 2011) . SL molecules consist of a sophorose bound to a hydroxylated fatty acid (mainly C18:1) through a glycosidic linkage ( Fig. 1 ) (Jiménez-Peñalver et al., 2016) . It is well-known that SLs are produced as a mixture of slightly different molecules with two main points of variation: acetylation in the sophorose moiety and lactonization . Other variations that occur are the fatty acid chain length (generally 16 or 18 carbon atoms) and degree of unsaturation (0, 1, or 2 double bonds) ( Fig. 1 ).

SLs are conventionally produced by submerged fermentation (SmFs) using glucose as the hydrophilic carbon source and a high oleic acid feedstock (C18:1) as the hydrophobic carbon source.

Glucose can be replaced by sugarcane, sugar beet or soy molasses, which are substrates rich in sugars and nitrogen, allowing the exclusion of costly yeast extract and urea from fermentation media.

SL molecules consist of a sophorose bound to a hydroxylated fatty acid (mainly C18:1) through a glycosidic linkage ( Fig. 1 ).


As knowledge about the needs of adopted children and their families has grown, so too has the recognition that many adoptive families will require on-going support, or will have support needs that wax and wane. Post-placement adoption support literature reflects a mixed picture in terms of the nature of support available to adoptive families across England and Wales, and in their satisfaction with what is provided (Bell and Kempenaar, 2010; Pennington, 2012; Holmes et al., 2013; Ottaway et al., 2014; Selwyn et al., 2015) . The need for better investment in adoption support resonates throughout the literature.

Post-placement adoption support literature reflects a mixed picture in terms of the nature of support available to adoptive families across England and Wales, and in their satisfaction with what is provided.


Is it correct to assume that multiple convolutions can occur within a single cortical area? Each neocortical area contains six cortical layers, with neurons in each layer potentially involved in different types of computations. Because neural types in each layer are replicated laterally across the cortical area, similar operations are thought to be applied across the area within each layer. Because the convolution operator is one way to model this, it is not unreasonable to assume that each cortical area includes the functional equivalent of multiple convolutions applied to the incoming sensory "image" transmitted from the previous area. Areas in CORnet-S can thus be thought to very crudely approximate the functions of the cortical microcircuitry considered at the level of the entire cortical area. For feedforward processing only, the minimum number of convolutions is two per area (one for layer IV and one for layer II/III) to create a new "image" transmitted to the next cortical area. However, one must keep in mind that biological neurons themselves need not be characterized as performing a single weighted sum, followed by a non-linearity. Rather, such computations could be performed by multiple groups of dendrites, effectively reconceptualizing each biological neuron as a multilayer perceptron (Mel, 2016) . Thus, it is currently difficulty to experimentally estimate how many convolutions (or convolution-like) operations are achieved by each cortical area, but the number enacted in each area of CORnet-S (namely, four) is not out of the range of possibilities.

Rather, such computations could be performed by multiple groups of dendrites, effectively reconceptualizing each biological neuron as a multilayer perceptron.


To have further evidence of the influence of the sonication time on the grade of exfoliation and dispersion of the EG nanoparticles in the chitosan matrix, UV-visible transmittance (UV-VIS) measurements were also performed on each water dilute EG-chitosan suspension. The results are reported in Figure 4 . UV-VIS absorption spectra of the EG-chitosan dispersions at different exfoliation time are presented. In literature is reported that graphene has got a peak centered at 300 nm corresponds to the C=C of graphene sheet [54] . Increasing in absorbance values is correlated with a further exfoliation of EG in the solution. Thus, the absorbance of graphene dispersions after 2 h sonication is not effective in the exfoliation process. Correlating the absorbance with the concentration of the synthesized EG-chitosan samples, it is evident that the absorbance increased remarkably with the increasing sonication time with a maximum for 6 h sonication. In contrast, 8 h sonication seems to have a destructive effect on the EG sheets. This result is in agreement with DLS analyses, and confirms that 6 h of sonication represent the more suitable time to obtain a good exfoliation and dispersion of the filler in the chitosan matrix.

The results are reported in Figure 4 .

In literature is reported that graphene has got a peak centered at 300 nm corresponds to the C=C of graphene sheet.


To have further evidence of the influence of the sonication time on the grade of exfoliation and dispersion of the EG nanoparticles in the chitosan matrix, UV-visible transmittance (UV-VIS) measurements were also performed on each water dilute EG-chitosan suspension. The results are reported in Figure 4 . UV-VIS absorption spectra of the EG-chitosan dispersions at different exfoliation time are presented. In literature is reported that graphene has got a peak centered at 300 nm corresponds to the C=C of graphene sheet [54] . Increasing in absorbance values is correlated with a further exfoliation of EG in the solution. Thus, the absorbance of graphene dispersions after 2 h sonication is not effective in the exfoliation process. It is also evident that the smallest particle size, showed by DLS data and reported in the table of Figure 3 , reversibly increased at 8 h. This latter result is evidence that a time sonication longer than 6 h could cause structural defects in the chitosan matrix, with the formation of graphite micrometric aggregates [54] .

The results are reported in Figure 4 .

It is also evident that the smallest particle size, showed by DLS data and reported in the table of Figure 3 , reversibly increased at 8 h. This latter result is evidence that a time sonication longer than 6 h could cause structural defects in the chitosan matrix, with the formation of graphite micrometric aggregates.