bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MOOC Success Factors: Proposal of an Analysis Framework
Authors: Azevedo Jose , M. Marques Margarida
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: From an idea of lifelong-learning-for-all to a phenomenon affecting higher education, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) can be the next step to a truly universal education. Indeed, MOOC enrolment rates can be astoundingly high; still, their completion rates are frequently disappointingly low. Nevertheless, as courses, the participants’ enrolment and learning within the MOOCs must be considered when assessing their success. In this paper, the authors’ aim is to reflect on what makes a MOOC successful to propose an analysis framework of MOOC success factors.

Background: A literature review was conducted to identify reported MOOC success factors and to propose an analysis framework.

Methodology: This literature-based framework was tested against data of a specific MOOC and refined, within a qualitative interpretivist methodology. The data were collected from the ‘As alterações climáticas nos média escolares - Clima@EduMedia’ course, which was developed by the project Clima@EduMedia and was submitted to content analysis. This MOOC aimed to support science and school media teachers in the use of media to teach climate change

Contribution: By proposing a MOOC success factors framework the authors are attempting to contribute to fill in a literature gap regarding what concerns criteria to consider a specific MOOC successful.

Findings: This work major finding is a literature-based and empirically-refined MOOC success factors analysis framework.

Recommendations for Practitioners: The proposed framework is also a set of best practices relevant to MOOC developers, particularly when targeting teachers as potential participants.

Recommendation for Researchers: This work’s relevance is also based on its contribution to increasing empirical research on MOOCs.

Impact on Society: By providing a proposal of a framework on factors to make a MOOC successful, the authors hope to contribute to the quality of MOOCs.

Future Research: Future work should refine further the proposed framework, by in testing it against data collected in other MOOCs.
PENGARUH KARAKTERISTIK KEUANGAN DAN HASIL PEMERIKSAAN PADA KESEJAHTERAAN MASYARAKAT DI PROVINSI SUMATERA UTARA
Authors: Mangkunegara Irfan
Published: October 2017

One of the implications of decentralization is a performance measurement of local government. Local government performance can be seen from the Evaluation of Local Government Performance score (Mustikarini & Fitriasari, 2012), the efficiency ratio (Marfiana & Kurniasih, 2013), and the Human Development Index (Prasetyaningsih, 2015). HDI is also an indicator of public welfare, so it can be concluded that local government performance can be measured from the level of its public welfare. This research aimed to describe the relationship between the financial characteristics of local government and BPK's audit findings. It uses 34 data from local governments in North Sumatera from 2011 to 2013 and refers to a research model that is composed of Prasetyaningsih (2015). Research shows that the financial characteristics of local government (total asset and capital expenditure) and audit findings have a significant effect on HDI in the local government of North Sumatera Province within the 2011-2013 period. AbstrakSalah satu implikasi dari desentralisasi adalah pengukuran kinerja pemerintah daerah. Kinerja pemerintah daerah dapat dilihat dari nilai Evaluasi Kinerja Penyelenggaraan Pemerintah Daerah (Mustikarini dan Fitriasari, 2012), rasio efisiensi (Marfiana dan Kurniasih, 2013) dan Indeks Pembangunan Manusia (Prasetyaningsih, 2015). IPM juga merupakan indikator kesejahteraan masyarakat, sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa kinerja pemerintah daerah dapat diukur dari tingkat kesejahteraan masyarakatnya. Kajian ini dilakukan untuk menggambarkan hubungan karakteristik keuangan pemerintah daerah dan hasil pemeriksaan BPK terhadap kinerja pemerintah daerah dalam mewujudkan kesejahteraan masyarakat yang diproksikan dengan IPM. Kajian ini mengacu pada model penelitian yang disusun oleh Prasetyaningsih (2015) dengan data panel dari 34 pemerintah daerah di Sumatera Utara selama tahun 2011-2013. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapatpengaruh yang signifikan antara karakteristik keuangan daerah (total aset dan belanja) dan hasil pemeriksaan atas IPM di Pemerintah Daerah Sumatera Utara periode Tahun 2011-2013.
ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMENGARUHI TRANSFORMASI KAPABILITAS ORGANISASI DAN PERAN BADAN PEMERIKSA KEUANGAN RI
Authors: Pramono Agus Joko
Published: October 2017

This study is aimed to study the influencing factors of the Audit Board of Republic Indonesia's roles and capabilities transformation to meet the national development goals. This study uses a qualitative approach with the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method, to map out the interrelated factors of nodes within 3 clusters, which are the external, internal, and supporting factors. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted to design a Framework Analysis. The participants of the FGD were BPK RI officials and its stakeholders including relevant external experts. The FGD has made a quantification framework as an ideal approach to use for data processing on software super decisions. This process has brought about the priorities as follows: external stakeholder engagement, leadership and governance system, communication, and the management of information system. The research has found out that the most significant and urgent factor is the concern of, and support from, the external stakeholders for BPK RI. Therefore, BPK RI has to design a strategy and communication program that can effectively improve the external support and concern.AbstrakPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji faktor-faktor yang berpengaruh terhadap transformasi kapabilitas dan peran Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan Republik Indonesia. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode Analytic Network Process (ANP) untuk mendapatkan hubungan antar node dalam 3 cluster (faktor eksternal, internal dan penunjang) yang bersifat network. Framework analysis disusun melalui FGD para pakar dari eksternal dan internal BPK RI. Kuantifikasi framework dihasilkan dari FGD para pakar internal BPK RI. Olah data pada software superdecisions menghasilkan prioritas-prioritas sebagai berikut: faktor eksternal prioritasnya Stakeholders Engagement; faktor internal prioritasnya Kepemimpinan dan Sistem Tata Kelola; faktor penunjang prioritasnya Komunikasi dan Sistem Informasi Manajemen. Berdasarkan hasil kajian ini diketahui bahwa hal paling penting dan mendesak adalah adanya kepedulian dan dukungan dari stakeholders eksternal terhadap BPK RI sehingga perlu segera disusun strategi, perencanaan, dan program komunikasi yang mampu secara efektif meningkatkan kepedulian dan dukungan stakeholders eksternal terhadap BPK RI.
Volume 3, Nomor 1, Jan - Juni 2017 (Full)
Authors: TAKEN Jurnal
Published: October 2017

Perjalanan Akuntansi Aset Tetap pada Pemerintah Daerah di Indonesia dan Capital Charging sebagai Wacana Pengembangannya
PENGARUH EARNING PERFORMANCE DAN PROPORSI PAD LKPD 2015 TERHADAP KEMANDIRIAN DAERAH DI JAWA TENGAH
Authors: Hadi Waskito
Published: October 2017

Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan data sekunder berupa Laporan Keuangan Pemerintah Daerah (LKPD) TA 2015 di Jawa Tengah yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui besar pengaruh Earning Performance dan proporsi PAD terhadap kemandirian daerah baik secara parsial maupun simultan menggunakan analisis jalur (path analysis) dengan metode sensus. Populasi penelitian ini adalah sebanyak 36 LKPD TA 2015 di Jawa Tengah yang telah diperiksa oleh BPK Perwakilan Provinsi Jawa Tengah dan hasil pemeriksaannya telah disampaikan ke lembaga perwakilan rakyat, dalam hal ini DPRD provinsi/kota/kabupaten di Jawa Tengah. Seluruh elemen populasi diteliti dan menjadi sasaran akhir populasi dalam penelitian ini. Hasil analisis data dengan SPSS versi 15.0 menunjukkan bahwa earning performance mempengaruhi kemandirian daerah sebesar 3,1% dan besar pengaruh proporsi PAD terhadap kemandirian daerah adalah sebesar 82,4%. Earning performance dan proporsi PAD secara simultan mempengaruhi kemandirian daerah sebesar 89,7% yang ditunjukkan dengan nilai koefisien determinasi (R2) sebesar 0,897 sedangkan variabel independen lain yang tidak dimasukkan dalam model penelitian ini dapat mempengaruhi kemandirian daerah (e) sebesar 10,3%. Hasil analisis menyimpulkan bahwa earning performance dan proporsi PAD berpengaruh terhadap kemandirian daerah baik secara simultan maupun parsial.
Smart Arrival Notification System for Americans with Disabilities Act Passenger Paratransit Service with a Consumer Mobile Device
Authors: Gutesa Slobodan , Dimitrijevic Branislav , Lee Joyoung , Zhang Yuchuan , Feeley Cecilia , Spasovic Lazar
Published: October 2017

This research presents an arrival notification system for paratransit passengers with disabilities. Almost all curb-to-curb paratransit services have a significantly large pickup time window, ranging from 20 to 40 min from the scheduled time and producing substantial passenger waiting times. The arrival notification system presented in this study delivers an automated voice call to a registered user once the paratransit vehicle is in proximity to the pickup location. The system utilizes the Google Traffic application programming interface (API) for the vehicle arrival estimation. Unlike other vehicle arrival notification systems in the state of the practice, the proposed system is compact and does not require additional equipment such as radio transmitting and positioning devices. The proposed system, which uses consumer mobile devices with the Android or iOS platform, is designed to exploit commercial cellular network service (i.e., 3G and 4G-LTE). In addition to the passenger notification, the proposed system provides paratransit drivers with real-time route guidance information developed through the Google Maps API. Field evaluation conducted in Essex County, New Jersey, revealed significant reduction in passenger waiting time. The passenger waiting time was reduced by 15 to 20 min. In addition, the accuracy of the notification system was tested. During the test, in almost all cases, the vehicle arrived 1 min earlier than the proposed arrival time.
Carsharing Versus Bikesharing
Authors: Wielinski Grzegorz , Trépanier Martin , Morency Catherine
Published: October 2017

Shared mobility services such as carsharing and bikesharing have gained significant traction in recent years. The services offer efficiency and flexibility to their members while providing benefits to society. In fall 2013, two origin–destination web surveys were carried out on carsharing and bikesharing members in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. These data were used to analyze the typical travel behaviors of members of one or both services. Service provider data were supplied to complement the analyses. The study controlled for factors such as age, gender, home location, and intensity of use of the service. Person and household characteristics showed that bikesharing users differed by being younger, more often male, and more connected (smartphones), and having a higher income. Carsharing users possessed more transit passes, had driving licenses in a higher proportion, and belonged to households with more children and fewer cars. Differences were also found when the intensity of the use of the service was accounted for. On travel behaviors, the study analyzed mode share when the bikesharing service was in operation and when the service ceased operations. On the former, both groups had high shares of public transit and walking, but bikesharing users were more car (driver)-oriented and carsharing members had a higher use of bikes. On the latter, carsharing users increased their use of walking, and bikesharing users increased their use of cars (driver). Finally, the study used a multinomial logit model to evaluate the performance of several variables on the odds of being a carsharing-only member, a bikesharing-only member, or a member of both services.
Swedish Burghers' Dress in the Seventeenth Century
Authors: Andersson Eva I.
Published: October 2017

This article discusses dress, and the consumption of clothing among the burghers of seventeenth-century Stockholm. Clothing was one of the most important ways in which early modern people displayed and claimed their position in society. Through fine materials and fashionable cut, wealth and status, as well as the less tangible capital of knowledge of style and trends, could be expressed in a way that was visible to all. Clothing was therefore also a way that society was made comprehensible.
Vetting Bills in the Scottish Parliament for Legislative Competence
Authors: McCorkindale Christopher , Hiebert Janet L
Published: October 2017

In this article, Christopher McCorkindale and Janet Hiebert present the first empirical examination of the process by which bills in the Scottish Parliament undergo vetting for legislative competence. Based on a series of interviews with officials in the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and UK Government the paper makes a two-fold argument. First, that – despite the susceptibility of Acts of the Scottish Parliament to strong-form judicial review – the statutory requirement that the responsible minister and the Presiding Officer report to parliament on the competence of every bill, and the discretion of the Scottish and UK Government Law Officers to refer any bill to the Supreme Court before Royal Assent, align the devolution scheme with an emerging family of systems that favour legislative to judicial constitutional review. Second, that the deference shown by political actors to the advice of officials on questions of competence at each stage supplants legislative review – and its aspiration to engender a new culture of constitutional engagement – with a more closed form of bureaucratic review.
Guests, Hosts, Strangers:Far From Menand Camus' Algerians
Authors: Sharpe Matthew
Published: October 2017

I argue that David Oelhoffen's 2014 film Far From Men (Loin des Hommes), while departing from the letter of Camus' 1957 story, “The Guest/Host”, does remarkable cinematic justice to its spirit. Oelhoffen's Daru and the Arab character Mohamed, it is suggested, represent embodiments of Camus’ idealised Algerian “first men”, in the vision Camus was developing in Le Premier Homme at the time of his death in January 1960. Part 1 frames the film in light of Camus’ “The Guest/Host”, and Part 2 frames Camus’ story in light of Camus’ agnonised struggle to come to terms with the Algerian situation. Part 3 makes the case that Oelhoffen's departures from Camus’ original story present in cinematic form Camus’ ideal of a post-colonial, post-ethnic solidarity between people, predicated on the overcoming of all arche-ideological fantasies of untained prelapsarian community.
A Vision of Blindness: Blade Runner and Moral Redemption
Authors: Macarthur David
Published: October 2017

Despite its oft-noted ambiguities, critical reception of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (Theatrical Cuts (1982); Director's Cut (1992); Final Cut (2007)) has tended to converge upon seeing it as a futuristic sci-fi film noir whose central concern is what it means to be human, a question that is fraught given the increasingly human-like replicants designed and manufactured by the Tyrell Corporation for human use on off-world colonies. Within the terms of this way of seeing things a great deal of discussion has been devoted to putative criteria of being human and the question whether the once-retired blade runner, Rick Deckard, is or is not a replicant. I aim to explore a radically different course of interpretation, which sees the film in fundamentally moral and religious terms. Put in the starkest light, the film is not about what makes us human but whether we can be saved from ourselves, from our terrifying inhumanity, our moral blindness.
The Look of Silence and the Problem of Monstrosity
Authors: Abbott Mathew
Published: October 2017

In Beyond Moral Judgment, Alice Crary defends a version of moral objectivism which turns on the idea that participation in moral life involves acquired affective proclivities: subjective capacities which nevertheless allow us to be receptive to objective features of the world. In this article, I draw out key aspects and implications of her account with reference to Joshua Oppenheimer's 2014 film The Look of Silence, a companion piece to 2012's The Act of Killing. The film depicts a series of confrontations between optometrist Adi Rukun and warlords and gangsters involved in massacres perpetrated during Indonesia's anti-communist purges. Many of the interviews were carried out under the pretext of conducting eye tests, and the optometric equipment Rukun affixes to the faces of the perpetrators – who often appear quite cavalier about or even proud of their deeds – functions as a stark metaphor for their failures to see the meaning and consequences of their actions. As I work to show, there is something disquieting for philosophy about these men, and the urge to call them monsters. In particular, they cause disquiet by tempting us to say that there are agents who lack the means to see all moral features of the world, or who simply do not feel anything in response to them. As I argue, these explanations are not open to Crary, but that may be a sign not of the weakness of her account but of the glibness of accounts to which they are.
Advances in Precision Medicine: Tailoring Individualized Therapies
Authors: Matchett Kyle , Lynam-Lennon Niamh , Watson R. , Brown James
Published: October 2017

The traditional bench-to-bedside pipeline involves using model systems and patient samples to provide insights into pathways deregulated in cancer. This discovery reveals new biomarkers and therapeutic targets, ultimately stratifying patients and informing cohort-based treatment options. Precision medicine (molecular profiling of individual tumors combined with established clinical-pathological parameters) reveals, in real-time, individual patient’s diagnostic and prognostic risk profile, informing tailored and tumor-specific treatment plans. Here we discuss advances in precision medicine presented at the Irish Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, highlighting examples where personalized medicine approaches have led to precision discovery in individual tumors, informing customized treatment programs.
Duplex Alu Screening for Degraded DNA of Skeletal Human Remains
Authors: Haß Fabian , Hummel Susanne , Piskurek Oliver
Published: October 2017

The human-specific Alu elements, belonging to the class of Short INterspersed Elements (SINEs), have been shown to be a powerful tool for population genetic studies. An earlier study in this department showed that it was possible to analyze Alu presence/absence in 3000-year-old skeletal human remains from the Bronze Age Lichtenstein cave in Lower Saxony, Germany. We developed duplex Alu screening PCRs with flanking primers for two Alu elements, each combined with a single internal Alu primer. By adding an internal primer, the approximately 400–500 bp presence signals of Alu elements can be detected within a range of less than 200 bp. Thus, our PCR approach is suited for highly fragmented ancient DNA samples, whereas NGS analyses frequently are unable to handle repetitive elements. With this analysis system, we examined remains of 12 individuals from the Lichtenstein cave with different degrees of DNA degradation. The duplex PCRs showed fully informative amplification results for all of the chosen Alu loci in eight of the 12 samples. Our analysis system showed that Alu presence/absence analysis is possible in samples with different degrees of DNA degradation and it reduces the amount of valuable skeletal material needed by a factor of four, as compared with a singleplex approach.
Control Applied to a Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine Test Bench under Transient Operation: Impact on Engine Performance and Pollutant Emissions
Authors: Payo Ismael , Sánchez Luis , Caño Enrique , Armas Octavio
Published: October 2017

This work presents a methodology to adjust the electronic control system of a reciprocating internal combustion engine test bench and the effect of the control parameters on emissions produced by the engine under two extreme situations: unadjusted and adjusted, both under transient operation. The aim is to provide a tuning guide to those in charge of this equipment not needed to be experts in control engineering. The proposed methodology covers from experimental plant modelling to control parameters determination and experimental validation. The methodology proposed includes the following steps: (i) Understanding of test bench and mathematical modeling; (ii) Model parameters identification; (iii) Control law proposal and tuning from simulation and (iv) Experimental validation. The work has been completed by presenting a comparative experimental study about the effect of the test bench control parameters on engine performance profiles (engine speed, engine torque and relative fuel air ratio) and on regulated gaseous emissions (nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons concentrations) and the profile of number of particles emitted. The whole process, including experimental validation, has been carried out in a test bench composed of a turbocharged, with common rail injection system, light duty diesel engine coupled to a Schenck E-90 eddy current dynamometric brake and its related Schenk X-act control electronics. The work demonstrates the great effect of the test bench control tuning under transient operation on performance and emissions produced by the engine independently of the engine accelerator position demanded before and after the test bench tuning.
A Review of Online Partial Discharge Measurement of Large Generators
Authors: Luo Yuanlin , Li Zhaohui , Wang Hong
Published: October 2017

Online partial discharge (PD) measurements have long been used as an effective means to assess the condition of the stator windings of large generators. An increase in the use of PD online measurement systems during the last decade is evident. Improvements in the detection capabilities are partly the reason for the increased popularity. Another reason has been the development of digital signal processing techniques. In addition, rapid progress is being made in automated single PD source classification. However, there are still some factors hindering wider application of the system, such as the complex PD mechanism and PD pulse propagation in stator windings, the presence of detrimental noise and disturbances on-site, and multiple PD sources occurring simultaneously. To avoid repetition of past work and to provide an overview for fresh researchers in this area, this paper presents a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art knowledge on PD mechanism, PD pulse propagation in stator windings, PD signal detection methods and signal processing techniques. Areas for further research are also presented.
A Comparison Study of a Generic Coupling Methodology for Modeling Wake Effects of Wave Energy Converter Arrays
Authors: Verbrugghe Tim , Stratigaki Vicky , Troch Peter , Rabussier Raphael , Kortenhaus Andreas
Published: October 2017

Wave Energy Converters (WECs) need to be deployed in large numbers in an array layout in order to have a significant power production. Each WEC has an impact on the incoming wave field, by diffracting, reflecting and radiating waves. Simulating the wave transformations within and around a WEC array is complex; it is difficult, or in some cases impossible, to simulate both these near-field and far-field wake effects using a single numerical model, in a time- and cost-efficient way in terms of computational time and effort. Within this research, a generic coupling methodology is developed to model both near-field and far-field wake effects caused by floating (e.g., WECs, platforms) or fixed offshore structures. The methodology is based on the coupling of a wave-structure interaction solver (Nemoh) and a wave propagation model. In this paper, this methodology is applied to two wave propagation models (OceanWave3D and MILDwave), which are compared to each other in a wide spectrum of tests. Additionally, the Nemoh-OceanWave3D model is validated by comparing it to experimental wave basin data. The methodology proves to be a reliable instrument to model wake effects of WEC arrays; results demonstrate a high degree of agreement between the numerical simulations with relative errors lower than 5 % and to a lesser extent for the experimental data, where errors range from 4 % to 17 % .
The Fuzzy Logic Method to Efficiently Optimize Electricity Consumption in Individual Housing
Authors: Bissey Sébastien , Jacques Sébastien , Le Bunetel Jean-Charles
Published: October 2017

Electricity demand shifting and reduction still raise a huge interest for end-users at the household level, especially because of the ongoing design of a dynamic pricing approach. In particular, end-users must act as the starting point for decreasing their consumption during peak hours to prevent the need to extend the grid and thus save considerable costs. This article points out the relevance of a fuzzy logic algorithm to efficiently predict short term load consumption (STLC). This approach is the cornerstone of a new home energy management (HEM) algorithm which is able to optimize the cost of electricity consumption, while smoothing the peak demand. The fuzzy logic modeling involves a strong reliance on a complete database of real consumption data from many instrumented show houses. The proposed HEM algorithm enables any end-user to manage his electricity consumption with a high degree of flexibility and transparency, and “reshape” the load profile. For example, this can be mainly achieved using smart control of a storage system coupled with remote management of the electric appliances. The simulation results demonstrate that an accurate prediction of STLC gives the possibility of achieving optimal planning and operation of the HEM system.
Challenges When Using Jurimetrics in Brazil—A Survey of Courts
Authors: Armonas Colombo Bruna , Buck Pedro , Miana Bezerra Vinicius
Published: October 2017

Jurimetrics is the application of quantitative methods, usually statistics, to law. An important step to implement a jurimetric analysis is to extract raw data from courts and organize that data in a way that can be processed. Most of the raw data is unstructured and written in natural language, which stands as a challenge to Computer Science experts. As it requires expertise in law, statistics, and computer science, jurimetrics is a multidisciplinary field. When trying to implement a jurimetric system in Brazil, additional challenges were identified due to the heterogeneity of the different court systems, the lack of standards, and how the open data laws in Brazil are interpreted and implemented. In this article, we present a survey of Brazilian courts in terms of readiness to implement a jurimetric system. Analyzing a sample of data, we have found, in light of Brazil’s open data regulation, privacy issues and technical issues. Finally, we propose a roadmap that encompasses both technology and public policy to meet those challenges.
The Interaction of Two Surface Vortices Near a Topographic Slope in a Stratified Ocean
Authors: De Marez Charly , Carton Xavier , Morvan Mathieu , Reinaud Jean
Published: October 2017

We study the influence of bottom topography on the interaction of two identical vortices in a two-layer, quasi-geostrophic model. The two vortices have piecewise-uniform potential vorticity and are lying in the upper layer of the model. The topography is a smooth bottom slope. For two cyclones, topography modifies the merger critical distance and the merger efficiency: the topographic wave and vortices can advect the two cyclones along the shelf when they are initially far from it or towards the shelf when they are initially closer to it. They can also advect the two cyclones towards each other and thus favour merger. The cyclones deform, and the potential vorticity field undergoes filamentation. Regimes of partial vortex merger or of vortex splitting are then observed. The interaction of the vorticity poles in the two layers are analysed to explain the evolution of the two upper layer cyclones. For taller topography, two new regimes appear: vortex drift and splitting; and filamentation and asymmetric merger. They are due to the hetonic coupling of lower layer vorticity with the upper layer vortices (a heton is a baroclinic vortex dipole, carrying heat and momentum and propagating horizontally in the fluid), or to the strong shear that the former exerts on the latter. The interaction of two anticyclones shows regimes of co-rotation or merger, but specifically, it leads to the drift of the two vortices away from the slope, via a hetonic coupling with oppositely-signed vorticity in the lower layer. This vorticity originates in the breaking of the topographic wave. The analysis of passive tracer evolution confirms the inshore or offshore drift of the fluid, the formation of tracer fronts along filaments and its stirring in regions of vortex merger. The trajectories of particles indicate how the fluid initially in the vortices is finally partitioned.
Interplay of Socioeconomic Status and Supermarket Distance Is Associated with Excess Obesity Risk: A UK Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Burgoine Thomas , Mackenbach Joreintje , Lakerveld Jeroen , Forouhi Nita , Griffin Simon , Brage Søren , Wareham Nicholas , Monsivais Pablo
Published: October 2017

U.S. policy initiatives have sought to improve health through attracting neighborhood supermarket investment. Little evidence exists to suggest that these policies will be effective, in particular where there are socioeconomic barriers to healthy eating. We measured the independent associations and combined interplay of supermarket access and socioeconomic status with obesity. Using data on 9702 UK adults, we employed adjusted regression analyses to estimate measured BMI (kg/m2), overweight (25 ≥ BMI < 30) and obesity (≥30), across participants’ highest educational attainment (three groups) and tertiles of street network distance (km) from home location to nearest supermarket. Jointly-classified models estimated combined associations of education and supermarket distance, and relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Participants farthest away from their nearest supermarket had higher odds of obesity (OR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.58), relative to those living closest. Lower education was also associated with higher odds of obesity. Those least-educated and living farthest away had 3.39 (2.46–4.65) times the odds of being obese, compared to those highest-educated and living closest, with an excess obesity risk (RERI = 0.09); results were similar for overweight. Our results suggest that public health can be improved through planning better access to supermarkets, in combination with interventions to address socioeconomic barriers.
Stock Price Manipulation: The Role of Intermediaries
Authors: Siddiqi Hammad
Published: October 2017

We model a scenario in which there are three types of investors: fundamentalists, speculators, and trend-followers and an intermediary who cares about his reputation. Fundamentalists are rational investors with long horizons who are interested in the dividend stream. Speculators are rational investors who have short horizons and are interested in profiting from short-term price movements or capital gains. Trend-followers are behavioral investors who extrapolate price trends, and, consequently, are late entrants in the market. We show that an informed intermediary (broker) can manipulate demand (consequently stock price) without losing his reputation when there is information asymmetry. We also show that there is a trade-off between broker level competition for reputation and market liquidity. Broker level competition checks manipulation, but it adversely affects market liquidity.
Chemoenzymatic Preparation and Biophysical Properties of Sulfated Quercetin Metabolites
Authors: Valentová Kateřina , Káňová Kristýna , Di Meo Florent , Pelantová Helena , Chambers Christopher , Rydlová Lenka , Petrásková Lucie , Křenková Alena , Cvačka Josef , Trouillas Patrick , Křen Vladimír
Published: October 2017

Sulfated quercetin derivatives are important authentic standards for metabolic studies. Quercetin-3′-O-sulfate, quercetin-4′-O-sulfate, and quercetin-3-O-sulfate as well as quercetin-di-O-sulfate mixture (quercetin-7,3′-di-O-sulfate, quercetin-7,4′-di-O-sulfate, and quercetin-3′,4′-di-O-sulfate) were synthetized by arylsulfotransferase from Desulfitobacterium hafniense. Purified monosulfates and disulfates were fully characterized using MS and NMR and tested for their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) and N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD) radical scavenging, Folin-Ciocalteau reduction (FCR), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and anti-lipoperoxidant activities in rat liver microsomes damaged by tert-butylhydroperoxide. Although, as expected, the sulfated metabolites were usually less active than quercetin, they remained still effective antiradical and reducing agents. Quercetin-3′-O-sulfate was more efficient than quercetin-4′-O-sulfate in DPPH and FCR assays. In contrast, quercetin-4′-O-sulfate was the best ferric reductant and lipoperoxidation inhibitor. The capacity to scavenge ABTS+• and DMPD was comparable for all substances, except for disulfates, which were the most efficient. Quantum calculations and molecular dynamics simulations on membrane models supported rationalization of free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition. These results clearly showed that individual metabolites of food bioactives can markedly differ in their biological activity. Therefore, a systematic and thorough investigation of all bioavailable metabolites with respect to native compounds is needed when evaluating food health benefits.
Phospholamban Is Downregulated by pVHL-Mediated Degradation through Oxidative Stress in Failing Heart
Authors: Yokoe Shunichi , Asahi Michio
Published: October 2017

The E3 ubiquitin ligase, von Hippel–Lindau (VHL), regulates protein expression by polyubiquitination. Although the protein VHL (pVHL) was reported to be involved in the heart function, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we show that pVHL was upregulated in hearts from two types of genetically dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) mice models. In comparison with the wild-type mouse, both DCM mice models showed a significant reduction in the expression of phospholamban (PLN), a potent inhibitor of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, and enhanced interaction between pVHL and PLN. To clarify whether pVHL is involved in PLN degradation in failing hearts, we used carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), a mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)-lowering reagent, to mimic the heart failure condition in PLN-expressing HEK293 cells and found that CCCP treatment resulted in PLN degradation and increased interaction between PLN and pVHL. However, these effects were reversed with the addition of N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Furthermore, the co-transfection of VHL and PLN in HEK293 cells decreased PLN expression under oxidative stress, whereas knockdown of VHL increased PLN expression both under normal and oxidative stress conditions. Together, we propose that oxidative stress upregulates pVHL expression to induce PLN degradation in failing hearts.
On the Hole Injection for III-Nitride Based Deep Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes
Authors: Li Luping , Zhang Yonghui , Xu Shu , Bi Wengang , Zhang Zi-Hui , Kuo Hao-Chung
Published: October 2017

The hole injection is one of the bottlenecks that strongly hinder the quantum efficiency and the optical power for deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (DUV LEDs) with the emission wavelength smaller than 360 nm. The hole injection efficiency for DUV LEDs is co-affected by the p-type ohmic contact, the p-type hole injection layer, the p-type electron blocking layer and the multiple quantum wells. In this report, we review a large diversity of advances that are currently adopted to increase the hole injection efficiency for DUV LEDs. Moreover, by disclosing the underlying device physics, the design strategies that we can follow have also been suggested to improve the hole injection for DUV LEDs.
Surface Modification of Direct-Current and Radio-Frequency Oxygen Plasma Treatments Enhance Cell Biocompatibility
Authors: Chou Wan-Ching , Wang Rex , Liu Cheng , Yang Chyun-Yu , Lee Tzer-Min
Published: October 2017

The sand-blasting and acid etching (SLA) method can fabricate a rough topography for mechanical fixation and long-term stability of titanium implant, but can not achieve early bone healing. This study used two kinds of plasma treatments (Direct-Current and Radio-Frequency plasma) to modify the SLA-treated surface. The modification of plasma treatments creates respective power range and different content functional OH groups. The results show that the plasma treatments do not change the micron scale topography, and plasma-treated specimens presented super hydrophilicity. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)-examined result showed that the functional OH content of the RF plasma-treated group was higher than the control (SLA) and DC treatment groups. The biological responses (protein adsorption, cell attachment, cell proliferation, and differentiation) promoted after plasma treatments, and the cell responses, have correlated to the total content of amphoteric OH groups. The experimental results indicated that plasma treatments can create functional OH groups on SLA-treated specimens, and the RF plasma-treated SLA implant thus has potential for achievement of bone healing in early stage of implantation.
Effect of Dentin Wetness on the Bond Strength of Universal Adhesives
Authors: Choi An-Na , Lee Ji-Hye , Son Sung-Ae , Jung Kyoung-Hwa , Kwon Yong , Park Jeong-Kil
Published: October 2017

The effects of dentin wetness on the bond strength and adhesive interface morphology of universal adhesives have been investigated using micro-tensile bond strength (μTBS) testing and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Seventy-two human third molars were wet ground to expose flat dentin surfaces. They were divided into three groups according to the air-drying time of the dentin surfaces: 0 (without air drying), 5, and 10 s. The dentin surfaces were then treated with three universal adhesives: G-Premio Bond, Single Bond Universal, and All-Bond Universal in self-etch or etch-and-rinse mode. After composite build up, a μTBS test was performed. One additional tooth was prepared for each group by staining the adhesives with 0.01 wt % of Rhodamine B fluorescent dye for CLSM analysis. The data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests (α = 0.05). Two-way ANOVA showed significant differences among the adhesive systems and dentin moisture conditions. An interaction effect was also observed (p < 0.05). One-way ANOVA showed that All-Bond Universal was the only material influenced by the wetness of the dentin surfaces. Wetness of the dentin surface is a factor influencing the micro-tensile bond strength of universal adhesives.
Effect of Built-Up Edge Formation during Stable State of Wear in AISI 304 Stainless Steel on Machining Performance and Surface Integrity of the Machined Part
Authors: Ahmed Yassmin Seid , Fox-Rabinovich German , Paiva Jose Mario , Wagg Terry , Veldhuis Stephen Clarence
Published: October 2017

During machining of stainless steels at low cutting -speeds, workpiece material tends to adhere to the cutting tool at the tool–chip interface, forming built-up edge (BUE). BUE has a great importance in machining processes; it can significantly modify the phenomenon in the cutting zone, directly affecting the workpiece surface integrity, cutting tool forces, and chip formation. The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 304 stainless steel has a high tendency to form an unstable BUE, leading to deterioration of the surface quality. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the nature of the surface integrity induced during machining operations. Although many reports have been published on the effect of tool wear during machining of AISI 304 stainless steel on surface integrity, studies on the influence of the BUE phenomenon in the stable state of wear have not been investigated so far. The main goal of the present work is to investigate the close link between the BUE formation, surface integrity and cutting forces in the stable sate of wear for uncoated cutting tool during the cutting tests of AISI 304 stainless steel. The cutting parameters were chosen to induce BUE formation during machining. X-ray diffraction (XRD) method was used for measuring superficial residual stresses of the machined surface through the stable state of wear in the cutting and feed directions. In addition, surface roughness of the machined surface was investigated using the Alicona microscope and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to reveal the surface distortions created during the cutting process, combined with chip undersurface analyses. The investigated BUE formation during the stable state of wear showed that the BUE can cause a significant improvement in the surface integrity and cutting forces. Moreover, it can be used to compensate for tool wear through changing the tool geometry, leading to the protection of the cutting tool from wear.
Recrystallization-Induced Surface Cracks of Carbon Ions Irradiated 6H-SiC after Annealing
Authors: Ye Chao , Ran Guang , Zhou Wei , Shen Qiang , Feng Qijie , Lin Jianxin
Published: October 2017

Single crystal 6H-SiC wafers with 4° off-axis [0001] orientation were irradiated with carbon ions and then annealed at 900 °C for different time periods. The microstructure and surface morphology of these samples were investigated by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ion irradiation induced SiC amorphization, but the surface was smooth and did not have special structures. During the annealing process, the amorphous SiC was recrystallized to form columnar crystals that had a large amount of twin structures. The longer the annealing time was, the greater the amount of recrystallized SiC would be. The recrystallization volume fraction was accorded with the law of the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami equation. The surface morphology consisted of tiny pieces with an average width of approximately 30 nm in the annealed SiC. The volume shrinkage of irradiated SiC layer and the anisotropy of newly born crystals during annealing process produced internal stress and then induced not only a large number of dislocation walls in the non-irradiated layer but also the initiation and propagation of the cracks. The direction of dislocation walls was perpendicular to the growth direction of the columnar crystal. The longer the annealing time was, the larger the length and width of the formed crack would be. A quantitative model of the crack growth was provided to calculate the length and width of the cracks at a given annealing time.
On the Achievable Stabilization Delay Margin for Linear Plants with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Zhu Jing
Published: October 2017

The paper contributes to stabilization problems of linear systems subject to time-varying delays. Drawing upon small gain criteria and robust analysis techniques, upper and lower bounds on the largest allowable time-varying delay are developed by using bilinear transformation and rational approximates. The results achieved are not only computationally efficient but also conceptually appealing. Furthermore, analytical expressions of the upper and lower bounds are derived for specific situations that demonstrate the dependence of those bounds on the unstable poles and nonminumum phase zeros of systems.
The Continuous Concentration of Particles and Cancer Cell Line Using Cell Margination in a Groove-Based Channel
Authors: Yan Sheng , Yuan Dan , Zhao Qianbin , Zhang Jun , Li Weihua
Published: October 2017

In the capillary venules, blood cells auto-separate with red blood cells aggregating near the centre of vessel and the nucleated cells marginating toward the wall of vessel. In this experiment, we used cell margination to help enrich the Jurkat cells via a groove-based channel which provides a vertical expansion-contraction structure, wherein the red blood cells invade the grooves and push the Jurkat cells to the bottom of the channel. The secondary flows induced by the anisotropic grooves bring the Jurkat cells to the right sidewall. Rigid, 13-µm diameter polystyrene particles were spiked into the whole blood to verify the operating principle under various working conditions, and then tests were carried out using Jurkat cells (~15 µm). The performance of this device was quantified by analysing the cell distribution in a transverse direction at the outlet, and then measuring the cell concentration from the corresponding outlets. The results indicate that Jurkat cells were enriched by 22.3-fold with a recovery rate of 83.4%, thus proving that this microfluidic platform provides a gentle and passive way to isolate intact and viable Jurkat cells.
Studies on the Synthesis, Photophysical and Biological Evaluation of Some Unsymmetrical Meso-Tetrasubstituted Phenyl Porphyrins
Authors: Boscencu Rica , Manda Gina , Radulea Natalia , Socoteanu Radu , Ceafalan Laura , Neagoe Ionela , Ferreira Machado Isabel , Basaga Selma Huveyda , Vieira Ferreira Luís
Published: October 2017

Abstract: We designed three unsymmetrical meso-tetrasubstituted phenyl porphyrins for further development as theranostic agents for cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT): 5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (P2.2), Zn(II)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (Zn(II)2.2) and Cu(II)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (Cu(II)2.2). The porphyrinic compounds were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, EPR and NMR. The compounds had a good solubility in polar/nonpolar media. P2.2 and, to a lesser extent, Zn(II)2.2 were fluorescent, albeit with low fluoresence quantum yields. P2.2 and Zn(II)2.2 exhibited PDT-acceptable values of singlet oxygen generation. A “dark” cytotoxicity study was performed using cells that are relevant for the tumor niche (HT-29 colon carcinoma cells and L929 fibroblasts) and for blood (peripheral mononuclear cells). Cellular uptake of fluorescent compounds, cell viability/proliferation and death were evaluated. P2.2 was highlighted as a promising theranostic agent for PDT in solid tumors considering that P2.2 generated PDT-acceptable singlet oxygen yields, accumulated into tumor cells and less in blood cells, exhibited good fluorescence within cells for imagistic detection, and had no significant cytotoxicity in vitro against tumor and normal cells. Complexing of P2.2 with Zn(II) or Cu(II) altered several of its PDT-relevant properties. These are consistent arguments for further developing P2.2 in animal models of solid tumors for in vivo PDT.