bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictions of Spectral Parameters by Several Inflationary Universe Models in Light of the Planck Results
Authors: Grøn Øyvind
Published: January 2018

I give a review of predictions of values of spectral parameters for a large number of inflationary models. The present review includes detailed deductions and information about the approximations that have been made, written in a style that is suitable for text book authors. The Planck data have the power of falsifying several models of inflation as shown in the present paper. Furthermore, they fix the beginning of the inflationary era to a time about 10−36 s, and the typical energy of a particle at this point of time to 1016 GeV, only a few orders of magnitude less than the Planck energy, and at least 12 orders of magnitude larger than the most energetic particle produced by CERN’s particle accelerator, LHC. This is a phenomenological review with contents as given in the list below. It includes systematic presentations of the different types of slow roll parameters that have been in use, and also of the N-formalism.
Higher Cytopathic Effects of a Zika Virus Brazilian Isolate from Bahia Compared to a Canadian-Imported Thai Strain
Authors: Alpuche-Lazcano Sergio , McCullogh Craig , Del Corpo Olivier , Rance Elodie , Scarborough Robert , Mouland Andrew , Sagan Selena , Teixeira Mauro , Gatignol Anne
Published: January 2018

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging pathogen from the Flaviviridae family. It represents a significant threat to global health due to its neurological and fetal pathogenesis (including microcephaly and congenital malformations), and its rapid dissemination across Latin America in recent years. The virus has spread from Africa to Asia, the Pacific islands and the Americas with limited knowledge about the pathogenesis associated with infection in recent years. Herein, we compared the ability of the Canadian-imported Thai strain PLCal_ZV and the Brazilian isolate HS-2015-BA-01 from Bahia to produce infectious ZIKV particles and cytopathic effects in a cell proliferation assay. We also compared the intracellular viral RNA accumulation of the two strains by quantitative RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) analyses. Our observations show that HS-2015-BA-01 is more cytopathic than PLCal_ZV in proliferation assays in Vero, Human Embryonic Kidney HEK 293T and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Quantitative RT-PCR shows that the level of viral RNA is higher with HS-2015-BA-01 than with PLCal_ZV in two cell lines, but similar in a neuroblastoma cell line. The two strains have 13 amino acids polymorphisms and we analyzed their predicted protein secondary structure. The increased cytopathicity and RNA accumulation of the Brazilian ZIKV isolate compared to the Thai isolate could contribute to the increased pathogenicity observed during the Brazilian epidemic.
Challenges and Achievements in Prevention and Treatment of Smallpox
Authors: Melamed Sharon , Israely Tomer , Paran Nir
Published: January 2018

Declaration of smallpox eradication by the WHO in 1980 led to discontinuation of the worldwide vaccination campaign. The increasing percentage of unvaccinated individuals, the existence of its causative infectious agent variola virus (VARV), and the recent synthetic achievements increase the threat of intentional or accidental release and reemergence of smallpox. Control of smallpox would require an emergency vaccination campaign, as no other protective measure has been approved to achieve eradication and ensure worldwide protection. Experimental data in surrogate animal models support the assumption, based on anecdotal, uncontrolled historical data, that vaccination up to 4 days postexposure confers effective protection. The long incubation period, and the uncertainty of the exposure status in the surrounding population, call for the development and evaluation of safe and effective methods enabling extension of the therapeutic window, and to reduce the disease manifestations and vaccine adverse reactions. To achieve these goals, we need to evaluate the efficacy of novel and already licensed vaccines as a sole treatment, or in conjunction with immune modulators and antiviral drugs. In this review, we address the available data, recent achievements, and open questions.
Identification of Genetic Regions Associated with Scrotal Hernias in a Commercial Swine Herd
Authors: Lago Luisa , Nery da Silva Arthur , Zanella Eraldo , Groke Marques Mariana , Peixoto Jane , Da Silva Marcos , Ledur Mônica , Zanella Ricardo
Published: January 2018

In this paper, we have used two approaches to detect genetic associations with scrotal hernias in commercial pigs. Firstly, we have investigated the effects of runs of homozygosity (ROH) with the appearance of scrotal hernias, followed by a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS). The phenotype classification was based on visual appearance of scrotal hernias. Each affected animal was matched to a healthy control from the same pen. In the total, 68 animals were genotyped using the Porcine SNP60 Beadchip, out of those, 41 animals had the presence of hernias and 27 were healthy animals. Fifteen animals were removed from the analysis due to differences in genetic background, leaving 18 healthy animals and 35 piglets with scrotal hernia. Further, the detection of extended haplotypes shared ROH were conducted for health (control) and affected (case) animals and a permutation test was used to test whether the ROH segments were more frequent in case/case pairs than non-case/case pairs. Using the ROH, we have identified an association (p = 0.019) on chromosome 2(SSC2) being segregated on animals with the presence of scrotal hernias. Using a GWAS, a region composed by 3 SNPs on the sexual chromosome X (SSCX) were associated with scrotal hernias (p < 1.6 × 10−5), this region harbors the Androgen Receptor Gene (AR).
Economic Cost of Ovine Johne’s Disease in Clinically Affected New Zealand Flocks and Benefit-Cost of Vaccination
Authors: Gautam Milan , Anderson Peter , Ridler Anne , Wilson Peter , Heuer Cord
Published: January 2018

The aims of this study were to estimate the on-fam economic cost of ovine Johne’s disease (OJD) based on collected incidence and mortality data, and the benefit-cost of OJD vaccination in typical OJD affected flocks in New Zealand after having vaccinated for a number of years. Owners of 20 sheep breeding and finishing farms known to be clinically affected by ovine Johne’s disease in New Zealand participated in the study and were monitored for up to two years. Farms were categorized as fine-wool (Merino, Half-Bred, Corriedale, n = 15), and other breeds (Romney, composite breeds, n = 5). Ovine JD was confirmed by gross- and histo-pathology in 358 ewes culled due to chronic progressive wasting. An additional 228 ewes with low body condition score (BCS), but not targeted for culling, were tested with ELISA to estimate the proportion of OJD in ewes in the lower 5% BCS of the flock. Calculations were done separately for fine-wool and other breeds. Based on the data, mortality due to OJD, its associated cost and the benefit-cost of vaccination were evaluated for a hypothetical farm with 2000 ewes by stochastic simulation. Total ewe mortality was similar in fine-wool and other breeds, but the estimated mortality due to OJD was 2.7 times as high in fine-wool (median 1.8%, interquartile range IQR 1.2–2.7%) than other breeds (median 0.69%, IQR 0.3–1.2%), but with large variation between farms. ELISA results demonstrated fine-wool sheep had a higher seroprevalence than other breeds (39%, 95% CI 18–61% vs. 9%, 95% CI 0–22%). Stochastic modelling indicated that the average annual cost of mortality due to OJD in a flock of 2000 ewes was NZD 13,100 (IQR 8900–18,600) in fine-wool and NZD 4300 (IQR 2200–7600) in other breeds. Vaccinating replacement lambs against OJD may be cost-effective in most flocks when the pre-vaccination annual ewe mortality due to OJD is >1%. To make the best-informed decision about vaccination it is therefore essential for farmers to accurately diagnose OJD to establish incidence.
Impact of Hydrodynamic Reconfiguration with Baffles on Treatment Performance in Waste Stabilisation Ponds: A Full-Scale Experiment
Authors: Coggins Liah , Sounness Jesse , Zheng Lianpeng , Ghisalberti Marco , Ghadouani Anas
Published: January 2018

Wastewater infrastructure is expensive to build and maintain, and there is a need to focus on improving and modernising existing infrastructure before large capital investments are made to service future population needs. Waste stabilisation ponds (WSPs) are used worldwide for the treatment of wastewater, but their performance is significantly affected by poor hydraulic control. Hydraulic reconfiguration of ponds is a possible solution to this problem, whereby the flow is controlled and short-circuiting is reduced. There is evidence to suggest that this approach has the potential to increase treatment performance, however in the absence of full-scale validation it is difficult to generalise this to a wide range of sites. For example, there is no consensus on the best baffle configuration to optimise hydraulic performance. The main objective of this study was to conduct a full-scale experiment of baffles in a WSP, and to investigate their impact on hydraulic performance. To achieve this objective, the approach combined high-resolution pond bathymetry and 2D hydrodynamic modelling, assessed with hydraulic indices, to determine the optimal baffle configuration for the site; it was shown that three baffles perpendicular to the inflow provided the greatest increase (up to 24%) in mean residence time. This configuration was then implemented in a working WSP. The effects of the baffles on the pond were then assessed using a combination of field tracer testing, revealing an increase in mean residence time of at least 20%, and further hydrodynamic modelling. Through the addition of wind data into the hydrodynamic model, it is shown that baffles not only improve the flow, but also attenuate the effect of wind on pond hydraulics. While the conclusions of this study are site-specific, the implementation of site-specific solutions is important for progress towards optimal pond design. The approach developed here is easily transferrable for use on other sites, and will enhance our ability to plan, design and operate WSP systems in the future.
Les services de transport à l'abbaye de Prum au IXème siècle
Authors: Devroey Jean-Pierre
Published: January 2018

Les transports à longue distance sont attestés dans le polyptyque de l'abbaye de Prûm sous la forme de deux prestations de services : Yangaria, charroi lourd de produits agricoles, en général des céréales ou du vin, et la scara, transport, à pied, à cheval ou en bateau de diverses marchandises ou objets de poids et de dimension minimes.

Scara et angaria obéissent à un plan d'ensemble, rendu indispensable par l'importance et la dispersion du temporel. Le surproduit global est centralisé à Prùm, après avoir été rassemblé, au niveau régional, dans des domaines-étapes. Il est indéniable qu'il fait l'objet d'une commercialisation. L'abbaye confie à certains tenanciers la vente de sel et de vin. Une partie des angariae et scarae est dirigée vers des centres urbains. Parallèlement, l'abbaye suscite l'apparition de marchés.

L'enquête menée montre la profonde interpénétration des économies domaniale et commerciale, des villes et des campagnes. Le recensement des mentions, après report sur la carte, permet de se rendre compte de l'extrême densité d'un trafic qui se fait sur terre comme sur eau, des forêts de l'Eifel au cours du Rhin, de la Moselle, du Main.
Fouilles occasionnées par les travaux du TGV Nord. 3e partie : synthèse. Les enclos quadrangulaires en Gaule Belgique
Authors: Leman Delerive Germaine
Published: January 2018

Les enclos révélés par des fouilles préventives dans les Flandres appartiennent à la longue série des enclos funéraires quadrangulaires de l'époque laténienne fouillés en Gaule Belgique. A partir d'un catalogue des principaux sites connus, sont examinés les caractères déterminants d'ordre morphologique et géographique : taille, répartition, juxtaposition, localisation... Ce tableau ne peut désormais évoluer qu'à partir d'examens rigoureux des fossés d'enclos et de leur mode de remplissage.
Fours à briques du XVIIe siècle à Tourcoing (Nord)
Authors: Barbieux J. , Thuillier Freddy
Published: January 2018

Les fouilles de sauvetage du couvent des Récollets de Tourcoing réalisées en 1996 par le Service archéologique de Tourcoing ont permis de mettre au jour trois fours à briques liés à la construction de l'établissement religieux (l'église a été érigée entre 1672 et 1674). Il s'agit de fours de type « en meule » installés dans une fosse. Ils appartiennent à deux groupes distincts. Les fours A et B (avec une surface utile respectivement de 71 m2 et d'environ 70 m2) sont dotés d'une avant-fosse et de canaux amorcés par des rigoles creusées. Le four C, aux dimensions exceptionnelles (surface utile de 120 m2), avait une avant-fosse à chacune de ses extrémités, sa base était plane. Ces trouvailles complètent les descriptions des auteurs des XVIIIe et XIXe siècles. L'étude se termine par une estimation de la capacité de ces fours, ainsi que par un inventaire régional (Nord - Pas-de- Calais) de ces structures de cuisson pour l'époque moderne.
A propos de la tombe de Ronchin. Un auxiliaire gaulois en terre étrangère
Authors: Deru Xavier
Published: January 2018

Xavier Deru, Het graf van Ronchin. Een gallische hulp- soldaat in vreemde grond.

In het graf van Ronchin, in Menapisch gebied, omvat de graf gift een zwaard en daarom neemt men aan dat het om een hulpsoldaat gaat. Aan de hand van het keramiek- materiaal kan men uitmaken dat hij gestorven is na de burgeroorlog, tijdens de regering van Augustus (10 voor tot 20 na Chr.). Hij is waarschijnlijk afkomstig van de middenvallei van de Loire. Bijna aile keramiek is uit die streek afkomstig, wat zeer verschilt van de lokale pro- ductie. Men kan zo denken aan een hulpsoldaat die in de vreemde gestorven is op grond die hij wegens zijn ver- dienste gekregen had.
Nanoparticle delivery to metastatic breast cancer cells by nanoengineered mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Saulite Liga , Pleiko Karlis , Popena Ineta , Dapkute Dominyka , Rotomskis Ricardas , Riekstina Una
Published: January 2018

We created a 3D cell co-culture model by combining nanoengineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with the metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MD-231 and primary breast cancer cell line MCF7 to explore the transfer of quantum dots (QDs) to cancer cells. First, the optimal conditions for high-content QD loading in MSCs were established. Then, QD uptake in breast cancer cells was assessed after 24 h in a 3D co-culture with nanoengineered MSCs. We found that incubation of MSCs with QDs in a serum-free medium provided the best accumulation results. It was found that 24 h post-labelling QDs were eliminated from MSCs. Our results demonstrate that breast cancer cells efficiently uptake QDs that are released from nanoengineered MSCs in a 3D co-culture. Moreover, the uptake is considerably enhanced in metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells compared with MCF7 primary breast cancer cells. Our findings suggest that nanoengineered MSCs could serve as a vehicle for targeted drug delivery to metastatic cancer.
Evidence-Based Practice Guideline: Delirium
Authors: Guthrie Patricia Finch , Rayborn Shelley , Butcher Howard K.
Published: January 2018

Delirium is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized older adults often superimposed on dementia. Older patients with delirium are more likely than other populations to develop hospital-acquired infections, pressure ulcers, and immobility and nutritional issues, as well as to have increased health care costs, longer hospital stays, and long-term care following discharge. Interventions that prevent or mitigate the effects of delirium while promoting recovery are essential for caring for hospitalized older patients. This article is a summary of an evidence-based guideline that includes a framework for addressing delirium that focuses on predisposing and precipitating factors for delirium. In addition, the guideline includes evidence-based assessment and intervention principles, along with a review of reliable and valid assessment instruments. The guideline also identifies measurable outcomes for managing delirium and a quality improvement approach for improving outcomes. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44
(2), 14–24.]
Mechanical Testing of Epiphysiodesis Screws
Authors: Normandin Brett M. , Tennent David J. , Baldini Todd H. , Blanchard Alesia M. , Rhodes Jason T.
Published: January 2018

Epiphysiodesis is performed to treat leg-length discrepancies and angular deformities in children. However, when placed across a physis to modulate growth, screws can bend or break postoperatively. This study evaluated the mechanical properties of 3 different screw designs commonly used when performing an epiphysiodesis. Six 4.0-mm cannulated, fully threaded; six 4.0-mm cannulated, partially threaded; and six 4.0-mm noncannulated, partially threaded cancellous screws underwent cantilever bending and tension testing in a simulated physis. All screws were tested in simulated cancellous bone foam blocks. All testing was performed using a servo-hydraulic testing machine to determine stiffness and ultimate load. For statistical analysis, one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's honestly significant difference test in post hoc analysis was used to assess significant differences among groups (
P
<.05). The noncannulated, partially threaded screws had a significantly lower stiffness than the 2 cannulated screw types in the tension test (
P
<.001) and bending test (
P
<.001). Additionally, the noncannulated, partially threaded screws had significantly higher ultimate load to failure than the 2 cannulated screw types in the tension test (
P
<.001) and the cannulated, partially threaded screws in the bending test (
P
=.045). The results indicate that noncannulated, partially threaded screws have a higher ultimate load capacity and are less stiff than both cannulated, partially threaded screws and cannulated, fully threaded screws. Surgeons should take into consideration that noncannulated, partially threaded screws are less likely to fail following epiphysiodesis. [
Orthopedics.
2018; 41(2):e240–e244.]
Factors Associated With Failure of Hip Arthroscopy in Patients With Hip Dysplasia
Authors: Bryan Andrew J. , Poehling-Monaghan Kirsten , Krych Aaron J. , Levy Bruce A. , Trousdale Robert T. , Sierra Rafael J.
Published: January 2018

The purpose of this study was to compare a group of dysplastic hips treated successfully with hip arthroscopy with a group of dysplastic hips treated unsuccessfully with hip arthroscopy to determine (1) preoperative patient characteristics and radiographic parameters and (2) intraoperative findings and treatment associated with outcome. The authors retrospectively reviewed a prospective database of 20 adult patients (17 female, 3 male) with hip dysplasia who underwent primary hip arthroscopy between January 2009 and February 2013. Modified Beck scores to quantify cartilage damage as well as preoperative and postoperative radiographic measurements (including alpha, Tonnis, and lateral center edge angles [LCEAs]) were compared between patients who failed hip arthroscopy (11 patients) and those who did not (9 patients). Failure after hip arthroscopy was defined as a modified Harris hip score of less than 80 or the need for subsequent hip arthroscopy, arthroplasty, or periacetabular osteotomy. The mean follow-up for the successful patients was 58 months (range, 37–82 months), with an average modified Harris hip score of 93 at most recent follow-up. Preoperative radiographs showed a lower mean LCEA (18.0° vs 21.3°;
P
=.02) in the failure group, and all successes occurred with a LCEA of 17° or greater. The failure group was more likely to have rim resection of greater than 3 mm performed (hazard ratio, 3.53;
P
=.04). Among the hips with dysplasia undergoing arthroscopic treatment, patients with a poor outcome were more likely to have an LCEA of less than 17° and intraoperative rim resection of greater than 3 mm. Furthermore, the labral repair group did substantially better than the labral debridement group. [
Orthopedics.
2018; 41(2):e234–e239.]
Perceptual variety linguistics: Jerezano speakers’ concepts and perceptions of phonetic variation in western Andalusian Spanish
Authors: Harjus Jannis
Published: January 2018

This article deals with the metalinguistic knowledge of Jerezano speakers about the phonetic variation within the Andalusian dialectal continuum, applying the perceptual variety linguistics. In particular, we investigate the metalinguistic knowledge about a possible phonic norm in western Andalusia that presumably diverges from the national standard of Peninsular Spanish. Methodologically, we distinguish between representations based on concrete perceptions and metalinguistic representations, in order to know if there are divergences between permanent metalinguistic knowledge and knowledge based on direct perceptions: both results show a clear division between a ceceante (Jerez and rural western Andalusia) and another seseante zone (the capital of Seville and the other provincial capitals of western Andalusia). Consequently, the speakers themselves believe in the non-existence of a Sevillian norm based on seseo for the community of speech analyzed. This metalinguistic knowledge strengthens more recent socio-phonic data on the speech community of Jerez. Therefore, the successful combination of the perspectives of linguists and the speakers themselves constitutes a very promising methodological triangulation for the phonetic-phonological research of the Hispanic varieties in general.
Using Species Distribution Models to Guide Field Surveys for an Apparently Rare Aquatic Beetle
Authors: Tronstad Lusha M. , Brown Kelsey M. , Andersen Mark D.
Published: January 2018

Surveying for rare animals can be difficult but using models to predict suitable habitat can guide sampling efforts. We used models to predict suitable habitat for the Narrow-footed Hygrotus Diving Beetle Hygrotus diversipes (diving beetle hereafter), a dytiscid beetle that is known from 10 streams in central Wyoming. The diving beetle was a category-2 Candidate species for listing as Threatened or Endangered in the Endangered Species Act between 1989 and 1996, and was petitioned for listing in 2007, 2008, and 2013. Suitable habitat for the diving beetle was predicted using Maximum Entropy and Random Forest models in Wyoming. Both models predicted that the diving beetle was more likely to occur in intermittent streams with a gentle gradient, shallow water table, variable precipitation pattern, and high soil electrical conductivity, and in the warmest areas of Wyoming. We conducted surveys for the diving beetle at sites where the species had previously been found, and in new areas that were predicted suitable by our models to evaluate whether it is more widely distributed than indicated by previous estimates. We sampled beetles using dip nets and bottle-traps, and assessed water quality at each site. We collected the diving beetle at three sites in central Wyoming between 2010 and 2012 in small, alkaline, intermittent streams with disconnected pools. The aquatic habitat of the diving beetle is dynamic and our results suggest that annual precipitation patterns have a strong influence on the biogeography of this habitat. Our results also suggest that maintaining the hydrologic integrity of prairie streams in Wyoming is vital to the conservation of the diving beetle.
Geographic Analysis of Domestic Violence Incident Locations and Neighborhood Level Influences
Authors: Bunch Rick L. , Murray Christine , Gao Xiaoli , Hunt Eleazer D.
Published: January 2018

Domestic violence is an important public health issue, and there is limited research to date that examines community-level influences on this serious form of violence. This article investigates the neighborhood characteristics of domestic violence incidents in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina. US Census block group boundaries and corresponding tables were used as proxies for neighborhoods. The article addresses an important gap in domestic violence research by combining geographic and statistical analyses at the block group level. Geographic data were analyzed using an Optimized Hot Spot Analysis (OHA) along with features selected by penalized Poisson regression model. The OHA was used to identify spatial clusters of high and low values while the penalized Poisson regression model was used to select the important variables from over 7000 candidates. The results of high-dimensional analysis produced six categories and 20 variables that were used to examine the characteristics of spatial clusters.
Economic Growth Potentials and Race/Ethnicity in Tennessee
Authors: Sharma Madhuri
Published: January 2018

This article establishes relationships between racial/ethnic diversity, segregation, and employment-by-industry-types in the counties of Tennessee. Using the American Community Survey and NAICS data, diversity scores, entropy indices, and location quotients for major-employment are computed for Tennessee's 95 counties. Cartographic analysis, followed by correlations, principal components and regression analyses help establish the above relationships. The north-east and west-central regions of Tennessee have concentration in primary-sectors of economy whereas counties with concentration in creative-class economy (e.g., Williamson, Davidson) have higher presence of Asians, and with greater human capital (education). Simultaneously, these are also the most segregated despite being diverse. Counties with higher diversity and higher share of African-Americans are segregated, despite having employment concentration in diverse set of industries. Enormous growth potentials exist in the sectors of education and health-care which can help Tennessee revitalize its economy.
Towards of Quantitative Model of Stacked Actor-Network Dynamics
Authors: Kopanov Peter , Tchalakov Ivan
Published: January 2018

This article further develops the stacked actor-networks (SAN) approach in modelling socio-economic and cultural dynamics. Following the Lee and Schiesser application of differential equation analysis in biological and social sciences, the authors used a basic SAN model. This model is composed of three subnetworks where each two subnetworks dominate over the third one to build a quantitative description that identifies three stable states in the dynamics of their interactions – cyclical development, linear, and exponential growth. Describing the latter, the notion of ‘technology growth' is introduced that bears on the pattern of hyper-fast growth.
A Business Writing OIL (Online International Learning)
Authors: Smith Simon , Keng Nicole
Published: January 2018

Online International Learning (OIL) helps to integrate soft skills into the academic curriculum, as well as providing students with international interaction opportunities. In this article, we evaluate the extent to which telecollaborative writing tasks between UK-based (mostly Chinese) and Finnish students over an online platform can benefit academic writing learning experience and contribute to curriculum and materials design in EAP. In the article, there are two groups of learners from different geographical contexts, Finland and the UK. The Finland-based students are almost all Finnish, while those studying in the UK are mostly from China. In both cases, the target language is English. The students in Finland worked in pairs to create authentic case study materials, and the students in the UK, in what we characterize as “stimulus writing”, produced reports based on the case studies they had been given.
Development of Language Accuracy Using Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning Activities
Authors: Pineda Jorge Eduardo
Published: January 2018

Language teaching is a field in constant evolution and the use of technology has boosted its development. This article explores the design and the implementation of synchronous and asynchronous learning activities to develop oral skills in an online English course. The article uses a mix-methods approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research methods. The participants in the study were 6 graduate students. The main findings of this investigation show that the synchronous learning activities prompt errors that translate into opportunities for learning. These results show that the use of asynchronous learning activities produce errors despite the fact that the participants have time to prepare and anticipate language inaccuracies. The results suggest that the use of asynchronous learning activities promotes the development of language awareness as participants can identify general categories of errors.
Blending Video Games Into Language Learning
Authors: Newcombe Jonathan , Brick Billy
Published: January 2018

Around 2 billion people worldwide engage in video games and a similar number of English language learners are anticipated by the year 2020. It can be assumed that many language learners are also ‘gamers', and that a language learner may play a video game to learn English. This article focuses on the language learning affordances in offline video games. General game-based learning principles identified by Gee are used as the method to identify and classify the learning affordances in a selection of video games. These learning principles are explained and then used to detail general learning opportunities inherent in a variety of video games. It suggests that language learning opportunities on video-games are too varied and that the scaffolding guidance of a teacher might be needed. It concludes by proposing that contextualized live video-game-like immersive experiences could also be conducive to language learning.
The Effect of Parental Demographics on Parental Assessment of Adolescent Internet Addiction
Authors: Ok Chiho , Lim Jisun
Published: January 2018

This article investigates how adolescent Internet addiction is assessed by parents based on children's Internet use time and parental demographic characteristics. The authors measured children's level of Internet addiction based on Young's scale evaluated by their parents to mitigate the social desirability bias in self-reported surveys when children evaluate themselves. Based on Korean General Social Survey data, which is nationally representative in South Korea, they analyzed 219 individuals and found that as the time of Internet use of children increased, the level of Internet addiction evaluated by parents increased. In addition, this relationship was moderated by parental demographic characteristics such that higher age, lower educational attainment, and higher Internet use time tend to decrease the parental evaluation of their children's Internet addiction. Results suggest that policies and programs related to children's Internet addiction should be focused more on parents from specific demographic groups.
Optimization of Micro-Grid Electricity Market Based on Multi Agent Modeling Approach
Authors: Heidari Alireza , Moradi Mehdi , Aslani Alireza , Hajinezhad Ahmad
Published: January 2018

Micro-grids are the key technologies known to solve challenges such as increased electric demand, fatigue electric installations, electrical leakage and pressures and opposition from environmental advocacy groups. The current article is presenting an improved optimization algorithm based on a differential evolution algorithm to achieve the optimal response for managing distributed energy resources in micro-grids. The simulation results show that: 1) The final cost of network management in systems based on the agent is very favorable compared to a network regardless of the agent and also are economically much more useful and effective in coordinating various energy sources. 2) The results of the proposed algorithm are much better in comparison with the results of the Fireflies optimization algorithm, a differential evolution algorithm and the particle swarm algorithm. This comparison proves the high performance of the algorithm.
Optimal Design of Power System Stabilizer Using a Novel Evolutionary Algorithm
Authors: Paul Sourav , Roy Provas
Published: January 2018

In this article, an Oppositional Differential search algorithm (ODSA) is comprehensively developed and successfully applied for the optimal design of power system stabilizer (PSS) parameters which are added to the excitation system to dampen low frequency oscillation as it pertains to large power system. The effectiveness of the proposed method is examined and validated on a single machine infinite bus (SMIB) using the Heffron-Phillips model. The most important advantage of the proposed method is as it reaches toward the optimal solution without the optimal tuning of input parameters of the ODSA algorithm. In order to verify the effectiveness, the simulation was made for a wide range of loading conditions. The simulation results of the proposed ODSA are compared with those obtained by other techniques available in the recent literature to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed algorithm.
FogLearn
Authors: Barik Rabindra K. , Priyadarshini Rojalina , Dubey Harishchandra , Kumar Vinay , Mankodiya Kunal
Published: January 2018

Big data analytics with the cloud computing are one of the emerging area for processing and analytics. Fog computing is the paradigm where fog devices help to reduce latency and increase throughput for assisting at the edge of the client. This article discusses the emergence of fog computing for mining analytics in big data from geospatial and medical health applications. This article proposes and develops a fog computing-based framework, i.e. FogLearn. This is for the application of K-means clustering in Ganga River Basin Management and real-world feature data for detecting diabetes patients suffering from diabetes mellitus. The proposed architecture employs machine learning on a deep learning framework for the analysis of pathological feature data that obtained from smart watches worn by the patients with diabetes and geographical parameters of River Ganga basin geospatial database. The results show that fog computing holds an immense promise for the analysis of medical and geospatial big data.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business
Authors: Duca Ioana , Gherghina Rodica
Published: January 2018

In this article, the authors propose an analysis of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) concept together with an emphasis on the role it plays in the context of sustainable development. The article includes a synthesis of the various theoretical approaches to CSR, an overview of the development of CSR practices at a national and an international level, certain authors' for and against arguments are related to generalising these practices, trends regarding CSR practices at international level, as well as an analysis of the CSR practices in Romania. The research conclusions express the author's own points of view on the development of corporate social responsibility initiatives at company level and the related benefits thereof.
A MapReduce-Based User Identification Algorithm in Web Usage Mining
Authors: Srivastava Mitali , Garg Rakhi , Mishra P.K.
Published: January 2018

This article contends that in the booming era of information, analysing users' navigation behaviour is an important task. User identification is considered as one of the important and challenging tasks in the data preprocessing phase of the Web usage mining process. There are three important issues with the reactive strategies of User identification methods that need to be focused: the first is dealing of sharing IP address problem in a proxy server environment, the second is distinguishing users from Web robots, and the third is dealing with huge datasets efficiently. In this article, authors have developed a MapReduce-based User identification algorithm that deals with the above mentioned three issues related to user identification methods. Moreover, the experiment on the real web server log shows the effectiveness and efficiency of the developed algorithm.
A Novel Approach for Multi-Cloud Storage for Mobile Devices
Authors: Bedi Rajeev Kumar , Singh Jaswinder , Gupta Sunil Kumar
Published: January 2018

Regardless of high embracing rate among users, Multi Cloud Storage Systems for mobile devices still have many limitations. From recent studies, it is clear that multi cloud storage systems work well for desktop PCs where there is no resource limitation but when accessed on mobile devices, these systems consumed a lot of resources of the mobile device. In this article, the authors reviewed three multi cloud storage systems for mobile devices ES File Explorer, Mult Cloud, Otixo and evaluate their performance on the basis of parameters Battery Consumption, CPU Usage, and Data Usage on Jio-Fi network using two mobile devices Micromax Canvas E352 and Redmi Note 4. Then, the authors propose an approach for multi cloud storage for mobile devices that will remove the limitations of previously discussed systems.
PowKMeans
Authors: Jindal Honey , Agarwal Shalini , Sardana Neetu
Published: January 2018

This article describes how recommender systems are software applications or web portals that generate personalized preferences using information filtering techniques, with a goal to support decision-making of the users. Collaborative-based techniques are often used to predict the unknown preferences of the user based upon his past preferences or the preferences of the similar users that have already been identified. A user which has a high correlation with any group of users is known as white user whereas the users which have less correlation with any group of users are known as gray-sheep users. The presence of gray-sheep users affects the accuracy of the model, and generates inaccurate predictions. To improve the prediction accuracy, it is important to differentiate graysheep users from white users. Experimental results show that PowKMeans is effective in improving the prediction accuracy by 4.62%. It has also shown reduction in Mean Absolute Error by 0.7757.
Adoption of Open Source Software in Libraries in Developing Countries
Authors: Chigwada Josiline Phiri
Published: January 2018

A survey on the adoption of open source software in libraries in developing countries was conducted. An online questionnaire was sent to Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa (SCAAP) participants for the Advanced Certificate Course in Modern Library Practices and the Lib@web participants of the Management of Electronic Information and Digital Libraries programme at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. The ITEC/SCAAP programme is sponsored by Government of India while the Lib@web programme is sponsored by Flemish Interuniversity Council – Belgian Development Council (VLIR-OUS). The data was collected from 31 librarians who attended these training programmes. The findings revealed that most libraries in developing countries which sent participants to these programmes have adopted open source software. The author recommends that librarians should continue upgrading their skills so that they are conversant with how the various open source software can be used in their institutions.
Fast HEVC Inter-Prediction Algorithm Based on Matching Block Features
Authors: Liu Meifeng , Zhong Guoyun , He Yueshun , Zhong Kai , Chen Hongmao , Gao Mingliang
Published: January 2018

A fast inter-prediction algorithm based on matching block features is proposed in this article. The position of the matching block of the current CU in the previous frame is found by the motion vector estimated by the corresponding located CU in the previous frame. Then, a weighted motion vector computation method is presented to compute the motion vector of the matching block of the current CU according to the motions of the PUs the matching block covers. A binary decision tree is built to decide the CU depths and PU mode for the current CU. Four training features are drawn from the characteristics of the CUs and PUs the matching block covers. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm achieves average 1.1% BD-rate saving, 14.5% coding time saving and 0.01-0.03 dB improvement in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), compared to the present fast inter-prediction algorithm in HEVC.
Green IT Adoption Practices in Education Sector
Authors: Hernandez Alexander A.
Published: January 2018

Green IT is a resource efficient and effective consumption to reduce organizations processes impacts to the environment using information technology. This article aims to explore GIT practices of higher education institutions in the Philippines, where a qualitative multiple-case study is used. The study found that higher education institutions Green IT adoption covers the use of paperless and digital archiving systems, resource efficient IT equipment, responsible electronic waste disposal, recycling and reuse, and initiated awareness programs to educate the employees about Green IT and sustainability. The study also found that these practices are in its early stage of adoption in higher education institutions in the Philippines. This article also presents practical and research implications to further the uptake of Green IT in higher education institutions.
Influence of Perceived Risks on Consumers' Online Purchase Behaviour
Authors: Katta Rama Mohana Rao , Patro Chandra Sekhar
Published: January 2018

This article describes how online shopping has been emerging as an important part of consumers' life style in almost all developed countries as well as developing countries. People can buy anything at any time and from anywhere through online shopping. Consumers have to deal with risks they perceive about the product, the environment, or the buying process. Beside the vast benefits of online shopping, consumers perceive different type of risks involved in online shopping environments. Therefore, consumers have to deal with the risks they perceive in relation to financial risk, product performance risk, convenience risk, security & privacy risk and health risk. These perceived risk factors determine the consumers' purchase behaviour towards online shopping. The purpose of this article is to analyze the dimensions of risk and the perceptions of the consumers in online shopping processes. The findings of the study would help the e-retailers to have a better understanding and to develop strategies to eliminate or reduce risk perceptions of the target consumers.
Forage yield of Coastcross-1 pastures inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense
Authors: Aguirre Priscila Flôres , Olivo Clair Jorge , Rodrigues Patricia Fernandes , Falk Débora Ribeiro , Adams Carine Beatriz , Schiafino Helena Parcianello
Published: January 2018

The high cost of nitrogen fertilizers increases the expenses in pasture-based animal production. The inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria is an alternative to reduce the costs. This study evaluated the forage yield of Coastcross-1 pastures inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense, fertilized with different levels of nitrogen and subjected to cuts. The experiment was a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The factors were the inoculation (without inoculation, inoculated only at planting and reinoculated in the second year), levels of nitrogen (0, 100 and 200 kg ha-1 year-1 N) and seasons (spring, summer, fall and winter) when cuts were made. Forage yield, forage accumulation rate, botanical and structural pasture composition were evaluated. Forage yield without nitrogen fertilizer in pastures was in the first year 9.1, 11.7 and 11.7 t ha-1 DM, and in the second year 8.6, 11.2 and 11.5 t ha-1 DM, for the factor inoculation, respectively. The forage yield rises with inoculation at pasture planting, without nitrogen fertilization. Reinoculation is not necessary.
Influence of Lactose Concentration in Bioethanol Production from Cheese Whey
Authors: Murari Cleidiane Samara , Silva Débora Cristina Moraes Niz da , Silva Bruna Lima da , Bianchi Vanildo Luiz Del
Published: January 2018

The present study aimed the utilization of the cheese whey as substrate for ethanol production by Kluyveromyces marxianus.  Was studied the effect of the initial concentration of cheese whey (M1 57,6 g L-1; M2 45,6 g L-1; M3 32,5 g L-1 e M4 18,8 g L-1) on the alcoholic fermentation. After sterilization, the medium were incubated at 30ºC for 48 hours, performing analysis of lactose, proteins, ethanol, cell growth and chemical oxygen demand. According to the results, the medium M1 (the highest concentration) showed a higher production and productivity of ethanol 16.9 g L-1 and 1.26 g L.h-1, respectively, and also obtained the highest production and productivity of cell of 5.8 g L-1 and 0.40 g L.h-1, respectively. However, in terms of ethanol yield, the most satisfactory result was obtained with the M3 medium with 82.30% in 12 hours of fermentation. The organic substances content has been reduced in relation to COD in the medium M4 in 82.28%, representing a promising alternative for valorization of cheese whey as an effective alternative to obtain a renewable source of biofuel.
Massively Parallel Sequencing of Peritoneal and Splenic B Cell Repertoires Highlights Unique Properties of B-1 Cell Antibodies
Authors: Prohaska Thomas A. , Que Xuchu , Diehl Cody J. , Hendrikx Sabrina , Chang Max W. , Jepsen Kristen , Glass Christopher K. , Benner Christopher , Witztum Joseph L.
Published: January 2018

B-1 cells are a unique subset of B cells that are positively selected for expressing autoreactive BCRs. We isolated RNA from peritoneal (B-1a, B-1b, B-2) and splenic (B-1a, marginal zone, follicular) B cells from C57BL/6 mice and used 5′-RACE to amplify the IgH V region using massively parallel sequencing. By analyzing 379,000 functional transcripts, we demonstrate that B-1a cells use a distinct and restricted repertoire. All B-1 cell subsets, especially peritoneal B-1a cells, had a high proportion of sequences without N additions, suggesting predominantly prenatal development. Their transcripts differed markedly and uniquely contained VH11 and VH12 genes, which were rearranged only with a restricted selection of D and J genes, unlike other V genes. Compared to peritoneal B-1a, the peritoneal B-1b repertoire was larger, had little overlap with B-1a, and most sequences contained N additions. Similarly, the splenic B-1a repertoire differed from peritoneal B-1a sequences, having more unique sequences and more frequent N additions, suggesting influx of B-1a cells into the spleen from nonperitoneal sites. Two CDR3s, previously described as Abs to bromelain-treated RBCs, comprised 43% of peritoneal B-1a sequences. We show that a single-chain variable fragment designed after the most prevalent B-1a sequence bound oxidation-specific epitopes such as the phosphocholine of oxidized phospholipids. In summary, we provide the IgH V region library of six murine B cell subsets, including, to our knowledge for the first time, a comparison between B-1a and B-1b cells, and we highlight qualities of B-1 cell Abs that indicate unique selection processes.