bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Questioning The Fidelity Of The Next Generation Science Standards For Astronomy And Space Sciences Education
Authors: Slater Stephanie J. , Slater Timothy F.
Published: December 2015

Although the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are not federally mandated national standards or performance expectations for K-12 schools in the United States, they stand poised to become a de facto national science and education policy, as state governments, publishers of curriculum materials, and assessment providers across the country consider adopting them. In order to facilitate national buy-in and adoptions, Achieve, Inc., the non-profit corporation awarded the contract for writing the NGSS, has repeatedly asserted the development of the Standards to be a state-driven and transparent process, in which the scientific content is taken "verbatim", from the 2011 NRC report, Frameworks for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. This paper reports on an independently conducted fidelity check within the content domain of astronomy and the space sciences, conducted to determine the extent to which the NGSS science content is guided by the Frameworks, and the extent to which any changes have altered the scientific intent of that document. The side-by-side, two-document comparative analysis indicates that the science of the NGSS is significantly different from the Frameworks. Further, the alterations in the science represent a lack of fidelity, in that they have altered the parameters of the science and the instructional exposure (e.g., timing and emphasis). As a result the NGSS are now poised to interfere with widely desired science education reform and improvement. This unexpected finding affords scientists, educators, and professional societies with an opportunity, if not a professional obligation, to engage in positively impacting the quality of science education by conducting independent fidelity checks across other disciplines. This could provide a much needed formal support and guidance to schools, teachers, curriculum developers, and assessment providers.
On the road to a new stormwater planning approach:from Model A to Model B
Authors: Geldof G.D. , Stahre P.
Published: December 2015

Traditional models for planning urban water systems are to great extent based on technical and economic considerations (Model A). This approach is adequate for planning isolated and well-defined water systems. With the introduction of the concept of sustainability, the water systems interact with societal processes in the urban environment. We are not any more dealing with an isolated water system but with a complex adaptive system. For such systems the traditional planning models are not good enough. A more integrated planning approach is needed (Model B). An important characteristic of this new approach is that the complexity of the planning process is not combated but made manageable. As a result, during the process different space scales are handled parallel, time plays a more important role and more actors are involved. It is an open process. Also more values of water are taken into account. Different techniques for sustainable stormwater drainage are described. Based on experiences in the city of Malmö in Sweden a practical approach for integrated planning of these types of drainage systems has evolved (Model B). As a result multiple use of stormwater facilities has today been general practice in Malmö. The outcome of some sustainable stormwater projects is presented.
Mitigation measures towards morphological alterations of rivers: The receiving water as part of the integrated wastewater system
Authors: Engelhard C. , Achleitner S. , Lek I. , Rauch W.
Published: December 2015

Measures in the rivers, their potential to mitigate morphological alterations caused by overflow events of urban drainage structures and their cost-effectiveness have been investigated. The receiving water is seen as part of the urban wastewater system since integrated management of the system has to consider measures in the receiving water as an option for improvement of the system. In this study the measures were evaluated using the software tool REBEKA. It has been found that increase of combined sewer overflow storage volume is less cost-effective than the investigated in-stream measures. Bed paving with coarse material is an effective and cheap method to reduce erosion problems. Reduction of slope required the smallest relative changes but has to be transferred into applicable methods like ‘increase of meandering’. The effectiveness of the methods for reduction of slope as well as of the measure ‘channel widening’ strongly depends on the dimension of the erosion problem- their applicability is limited for huge impacts. Evaluation of measures in different sub systems of the wastewater system with simulation tools can reveal interesting alternatives. Measures in the receiving water can be cost-effective and enhance the ecological quality which is an important aspect in the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive
Sewer rehabilitation planning - priority and cost planning using GIS
Authors: Burkhard R. , González Lakehal S.
Published: December 2015

Rehabilitation priority and cost planning are an important and integral part of urban drainage master planning in Switzerland. Although Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich (ERZ), the sewer-age utility of the city of Zürich, has considerable financial means available for the rehabilita-tion of its sewers, it has so far not established a continuous leading role in triggering rehabili-tation projects among the city’s utilities departments, which results in a suboptimal qualitative improvement of the sewer network. This was due to organisational as well as technical rea-sons. It was thus decided in late 2003 to develop a decision support tool for rehabilitation and cost planning, which visualises the most urgent rehabilitation needs. A lot of data necessary for rehabilitation and cost planning is readily available on different databases and servers, but was so far never linked to provide a semi-automatic tool that combined all the information. This paper describes the basics and the methods for the design of a rehabilitation- and cost-planning prototype.
Evaluation of Economic Viability and Benefits of Urban Water Reuse and its Contribution to Sustainable Development
Authors: Lazarova Valentina , Rougé Phillippe , Sturny Vincent , Arcangeli Jean-Pierre
Published: December 2015

The main objective of this paper is to present and discuss the results of full-scale operation of five water reuse schemes using membranes for the production of high-quality recycled water for golf courses, landscape irrigation and other urban uses. The most important benefit is that it frees an equivalent volume of potable water for basic human needs. Reliability of supply of recycled water in times of drought, when potable water may be withheld from use for landscape irrigation, becomes a particularly important benefit to those for whom maintenance of an attractive landscape at all times is critical and when strong restrictions on water consumption are applied. In this context, membrane tertiary treatment appears as economically viable solution with addition al benefit of increasing the trust of end-users in health safety of recycled water.
Household-Based Ceramic Water Filters for the Treatment of Drinking Water in Disaster Response: An Assessment of a Pilot Programme in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Clasen T. , Boisson S.
Published: December 2015

As part of its response to flooding in the Dominican Republic in 2003, Oxfam GB distributed ceramic “candle” water filters to householders in 7 affected communities. In a randomized, controlled trial conducted among 80 householders in one community during the six-month design life of the ceramic filter elements, faecal water contamination was consistently lower among intervention households than control households (geometric mean themotolerant coliform (TTC) of 2.9/100 ml vs 32.9/100 ml, p<0.0001). Overall, 70.6% of samples from the intervention households met WHO guidelines for zero TTC/100 ml compared to 31.8% for control households (p < 0.001). A cross-sectional study 16 months following filter distribution revealed that 88.7% of the filters were still in the recipient households; 48.7% were still operating properly, the others failing mainly due to breakage, clogging or expiration of the useful life of the candle elements. While source waters were still highly contaminated, 54% of samples from working filters were free of TTC. These results suggest that ceramic water filters can be an effective intervention for providing populations affected by disasters with safe drinking water during resettlement. They may also be a potentially sustainable long-term solution, provided householders have access to affordable replacement filter elements.
Suspended particle effects on ultraviolet light disinfection of effluent and the improvement
Authors: Wang J. L. , Wang L. , Wang B. Z. , Zhang J. S. , Huang W. Z.
Published: December 2015

The concentration of suspended solids of effluent from secondary clarifiers often varies in a wide range, therefore the dose of ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection process need to be adjusted to meet the disinfection criterion at high frequency, and the desired disinfection effect is difficult to be ensured. The particles size and particle-associated Fecal Coliform (F.C.) contribution, and their influence on UV disinfection effects were investigated, and chlorination/UV combined disinfection process (chlorination/UV disinfection process) was used. The results showed that suspended solids content has a major impact on UV disinfection efficiency, especially the large particle size fraction. D>10µm particles associated F.C. is difficult to be disinfected and is the main part of the tailings of F.C. inactivation curve. Pre-chlorination could reduce the number of particles in effluent, and make large particles decrease to small ones. Therefore, the influence of particles on UV disinfection could be reduced after pre-chlorination, and the resistance ability to particle loadings of combined process was enhanced. Furthermore, the combined process has the advantage of low toxicity, low operational/maintenance costs, and is easy to be established not only in wastewater plants constructed already but ones to be about to be constructed.
An innovative constructed wetland system for small stream water restoration
Authors: Kim S.J. , Hong S.W. , Choi Y.S. , Bae W.K. , Lee S.H.
Published: December 2015

The newly designed wetland system for the restoration of polluted stream water combines a surface and subsurface flow. It is composed of two wetlands connected in series by the flow shifter in the middle of the constructed wetland (CW) system. The flow shifter, which converts the flow direction of a surface and subsurface within the system, was able to enhance the treatability of organic contaminants and total nitrogen (TN) via nitrification and denitrification. In this system, the suspended solids (SS) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies were considerably improved by the yellow-soil media and the flow shifter. Untreated SS and TP in an upper layer of the former wetland could be eliminated in the following wetland by filtration, precipitation and adsorption onto the yellow-soil media while they flowed into a lower layer of the latter one via the shifter. At a hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 222 cm/day and 5.02 hr, respectively, the average removal efficiencies of COD and TN were 63.4 and 48%, respectively, during the summer period. These values are 2 to 4 times higher than those efficiencies from the previous experimental period without the shifter.
Pre-Treatment of Municipal MBR Applications in Germany- Current Status and Treatment Efficiency
Authors: Frechen F.B. , Schier W. , Wett M.
Published: December 2015

Since mid 1999 MBR technology is introduced into domestic wastewater treatment in Germany. First wwtps went in operation performing a conventional mechanical treatment (covering screens, grit chambers and grease traps) without any advanced mechanical pre-treatment stage. After a short operation period module-clogging and hence module sludging was observed. Thus, mechanical pre-treatment was upgraded introducing sieves, first of all to reduce hairs and fibrous substances. But today knowledge is relatively poor concerning effectiveness and treatment efficiency of the whole bunch of aggregates that had been brought to market and vary e.g. in gap size and gap geometry. This paper gives the basics of sieving, the current status of mechanical pre-treatment on German municipal MBR plants and exemplifies an investigation to determine treatment efficiency of two different sieve aggregates.
Operational Retrofits of AB Process for Biological Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Authors: Wenyi Dong , Hong Du , Li-an Zou , Jia Miao , Baozhen Wang
Published: December 2015

The operational retrofits to improve nitrogen and phosphorus removal of AB process treating low concentration municipal wastewater in Luofang WWTP, in Shenzhen China, are described in this paper. The problems occurred during the 5-year operation since its start-up and the specific efforts devoted to the troubleshooting are presented roundly as well. As a result, a steady and efficient performance of AB process can be assured and a novel method of operation to improve phosphorus and nitrogen removal is developed. With the effluent quality of TN <14mg/L, NH3-N<2.5mg/L and TP<1.0mg/L, the operational retrofits are surely of practical value to those facilities that apply AB process and are poorly operated.
A Semi-Quantitative Method for Prediction of the Rejection of Uncharged Organic Micropollutants with Nanofiltration
Authors: Verliefde A. , Van Vliet N. , Amy G. , Van der Bruggen B. , van Dijk J.C.
Published: December 2015

A method for predicting the rejection of uncharged organic pollutants with nanofiltration, based on solute-membrane interactions affecting this rejection and on readily available knowledge about solute- and membrane parameters, was developed. Rejection values of model organic contaminants were measured with bench-scale NF experiments, using Trisep TS80-TSF membranes. Organic contaminants were subdivided into different categories, based on their hydrophobicity (expressed as log Kow-value). Predicted rejection curves, modeled with a log-normal model based on the molecular weight of the solutes, were in close agreement with the experimental data for the different categories of solutes. However, large differences were found between rejection curves for hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules: rejection curves for hydrophobic molecules have an inflection point at higher molecular weight values compared to hydrophilic molecules and the incline of the rejection curves is less steep for hydrophobic molecules compared to hydrophilic molecules. This indicates that hydrophobic and hydrophilic solutes demonstrate different molecular weight cut-off values on a single membrane and that hydrophobic-hydrophobic interactions between solute and membrane affect rejection of hydrophobic solutes, while rejection is mainly a sieving phenomenon for hydrophilic solutes.
Reducing Apparent Losses Caused By Meters Inaccuracies
Authors: Arregui F.J , Cabrera E. , Cobacho R. , García-Serra J.
Published: December 2015

Apparent losses caused by meters inaccuracies can be reduced by analysing meters performance in the water supply and identifying the main causes of inaccuracies. These can have its origin on the meters design and accuracy curves, users’ consumption patterns, or specific characteristics of the water supply system.
Perspectives of cultural tourism in the modern tourism market
Authors: Ilincic Marina , Jovicic Dobrica
Published: December 2015

The last decades of the XX century, which the United Nations declared the
decade of cultural tourism in the world, have contributed to encouraging
people to think about the question of how tourism can contribute to the
development of heritage and culture, or how tourism the same may compromise.
However, the cultural offer today, is an essential and important part of a
modern tourist offer, without which it can no longer be imagined, as cultural
tourism is becoming an increasingly important segment of the global tourism
market. It had a great share in the expansion of a tourist demand and tourist
offer and their profiling, leading to a whole series of specific forms of
tourism in its embrace, and today more attention is paid to the industrial
heritage, cultural routes, cultural landscapes and similar, as current forms
of cultural tourism in the modern tourism market. In fact, theorists of
tourism are now faced with a number of new types of tourist movements which
have resulted in the creation of various forms of cultural tourism that were
not even discussed in the last century, and the fact is that a change in
tourist demand brings new habits and new needs that can be implemented only
through special forms of tourism.
Adverse event reporting in Slovenia - the influence of safety culture, supervisors and communication
Authors: Birk Karin , Padjen Ljubisa , Markic Mirko
Published: December 2015

Background/Aim. The provision of safe healthcare is considered a priority in
European Union (EU) member states. Along with other preventative measures in
healthcare, the EU also strives to eliminate the ?causes of harm to human
health?. The aim of this survey was to determine whether safety culture,
supervisors and communication between co-workers influence the number of
adverse event reports submitted to the heads of clinical departments and to
the management of an institution. Methods. This survey is based on
cross-sectional analysis. It was carried out in the largest Slovenian
university hospital. We received 235 completed questionnaires. Respondents
included professionals in the fields of nursingcare, physiotherapy,
occupational therapy and radiological technology. Results. Safety culture
influences the number of adverse event reports submitted to the head of a
clinical department from the organizational point of view. Supervisors and
communication between co-workers do not influence the number of adverse event
reports. Conclusion. It can be concluded that neither supervisors nor the
level of communication between co-workers influence the frequency of adverse
event reporting, while safety culture does influence it from an
organizational point of view. The presumed factors only partly influence the
number of submitted adverse event reports, thus other causes of
under-reporting must be sought elsewhere.
Charles Bonnet syndrome
Authors: Stojanov Oliver
Published: December 2015

Introduction. Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition that causes visual
hallucinations in patients without any mental illnesses. CBS is characterized
by the presence of vivid, complex and recurrent visual hallucinations, and do
not occur in the setting or as part of delirium or other psychological
illnesses. The condition is present in patients who have visual loss due to
age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and/or other ocular
diseases that influence vision. Case report. A 81-year-od woman reported to
ophthalmologist complaining of visual hallucinations that consisted of white
pigeons. Hallucinations were present for two years and she was well aware
that hallucinations were unreal. Mental illnesses were excluded by the
psychiatrist. Complete ophthalmologic examination was performed, and finding
revealed visual acuity of 0.3 (right eye) and 0.5 (left eye), in both eyes
cataracts and AMD (wet form). Optical coherence tomography confirmed the
fundoscopic finding of AMD. The patient rejected treatment of cataracts and
AMD due to old age, and hallucinations persisted. Conclusion. CBS should be
considered in patients with visual hallucinations and ocular diseases that
influence vision. It is essential to distinguish CBS from mental illnesses,
since patients with CBS are fully aware that hallucinations are not real.
Awareness of CBS could help physicians upon referring patients to
ophthalmologists instead of psychiatrists, and therefore avoid patients being
misdiagnosed.
Atherosclerosis and coronary artery bifurcation lesions: Anatomy and flow characteristics
Authors: Stankovic Goran , Vukcevic Vladan , Zivkovic Miroslav , Mehmedbegovic Zlatko , Zivkovic Milorad , Kanjuh Vladimir
Published: December 2015

nema
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Early Pregnancy: Evidence for Poor Pregnancy Outcomes Despite Treatment
Authors: Sweeting Arianne N. , Ross Glynis P. , Hyett Jon , Molyneaux Lynda , Constantino Maria , Harding Anna Jane , Wong Jencia
Published: December 2015

OBJECTIVE

Recent guidelines recommend testing at <24 weeks of gestation for maternal dysglycemia in “high-risk” women. Evidence to support the early identification and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is, however, limited. We examined the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes of high-risk women with GDM diagnosed at <24 weeks of gestation (early GDM) and those with pre-existing diabetes compared with GDM diagnosed at ≥24 weeks of gestation, in a large treated multiethnic cohort.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Outcomes from 4,873 women attending a university hospital antenatal diabetes clinic between 1991 and 2011 were examined. All were treated to standardized glycemic targets. Women were stratified as pre-existing diabetes (n = 65) or GDM diagnosed at <12 weeks of gestation (n = 68), at 12–23 weeks of gestation (n = 1,247), or at ≥24 weeks of gestation (n = 3,493).

RESULTS

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy including pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, cesarean section, and neonatal jaundice (all P < 0.001) were more prevalent in women with pre-existing diabetes and early GDM. Macrosomia (21.8% vs. 20.3%, P = 0.8), large for gestational age (39.6% vs. 32.8%, P = 0.4), and neonatal intensive care admission (38.5% vs. 39.7%, P = 0.9) in women in whom GDM was diagnosed at <12 weeks of gestation were comparable to rates seen in women with pre-existing diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite early testing and current best practice treatment, early GDM in high-risk women remains associated with poorer pregnancy outcomes. Outcomes for those in whom GDM was diagnosed at <12 weeks of gestation approximated those seen in pre-existing diabetes. These findings indicate the need for further studies to establish the efficacy of alternative management approaches to improve outcomes in these high-risk pregnancies.
The Relationship Between Component Skills and Writing Quality and Production Across Developmental Levels
Authors: Kent Shawn C. , Wanzek Jeanne
Published: December 2015

Theories of writing development posit several component skills as necessary to the writing process. This meta-analysis synthesizes the literature on the correlation between these proposed component skills and writing outcomes. Specifically, in this study, we examine the bivariate relationships between handwriting fluency, spelling, reading, and oral language and students’ quality of writing and writing production. Additionally, the extent to which such relationships are moderated by student grade level and type of learner is also investigated. The findings document that each of the component skills demonstrates a weak to moderate positive relationship to outcomes assessing writing quality ( rs = .33−.49) and the amount students write ( rs = .20−.48). Moderator analyses were generally not significant with the exception that the relationship between reading and writing production was significantly higher for students in the primary grades. The implications of these findings to current theories and future research are discussed.
Temperature and Moisture Conditions That Affect Aflatoxin Contamination of Peanuts
Authors: Bowen K.L. , Hagan A.K.
Published: December 2015

Reliable prediction of aflatoxin occurrence in peanut is needed so that growers can make appropriate management decisions when contamination risk is high. The goal of this study was to develop such a prediction system. Aflatoxin concentrations were monitored in rainfed peanuts over 5 yr at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in SE Alabama; in each year, 4 planting dates subjected the crop to different temperatures and rainfall patterns. The first planting in each year was in late April with subsequent plantings scheduled at 2 wk intervals. Daily maximum temperatures averaged over the final 6 wk prior to inversion (MaxT.6wk) and cumulative 3-d-dry periods during the 4 wk prior to inversion (d3d.4wk) were better correlated to aflatoxin levels than other temperature and moisture variables including rain days and total precipitation. When MaxT.6wk > 31.5 C and d3d.4wk ≥17, there was a high risk (≥30% chance of >20 ppb) of aflatoxin contamination in peanuts; when neither of these conditions were met, the risk was lower. Further, when MaxT.6wk > 31.5 C, d3d.4wk could be used to predict the risk for aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. Specifically, the proportion of samples with >20 ppb (PGT20) was used to reflect the risk for aflatoxin contamination; when MaxT.6wk > 31.5 C, PGT20  =  14.03 × d3d.4wk – 209.48 (0 ≥ PGT20 ≤ 100; R2  =  0.77, P  =  0.0097). Knowing the precise temperature and moisture thresholds for aflatoxin occurrence in peanuts, and the ability to predict the risk for aflatoxin problems in peanuts, can contribute to improving crop management for minimizing aflatoxin contamination in peanuts and reducing the number of aflatoxin contaminated loads accepted by shellers.
The Role of Canadian Agriculture in Meeting Increased Global Protein Demand with Low Carbon Emitting Production
Authors: Dyer James , Vergé Xavier
Published: December 2015

Although the demand on agriculture to produce food could double by 2050, changing diets will expand the global demand for protein even faster. Canadian livestock producers will likely expand in response to this market opportunity. Because of the high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from animal protein production, the portion of this protein demand that can be met by pulse crops must be considered. The protein basis for GHG emission intensity was assessed for 2006 using a multi-commodity GHG emissions inventory model. Because arable land is required for other agricultural products, protein production and GHG emissions were also assessed on the basis of the land use. GHG emissions per unit of protein are one or two orders of magnitude higher for protein from livestock, particularly ruminants, than for protein from pulses. The protein production from pulses was moderately higher per unit of land than the protein from livestock. This difference was greater when soybeans were the only pulse in the comparison. Protein from livestock, especially ruminants, resulted in much higher GHG emissions per unit of land than the protein from pulses. A shift towards more protein from pulses could assure a better global protein supply and reduce GHG emissions associated with that supply.
Testing the Effects of DL-Alpha-Tocopherol Supplementation on Oxidative Damage, Total Antioxidant Protection and the Sex-Specific Responses of Reproductive Effort and Lifespan to Dietary Manipulation in Australian Field Crickets (Teleogryllus commodus)
Authors: Archer C. , Hempenstall Sarah , Royle Nick , Selman Colin , Willis Sheridan , Rapkin James , Blount Jon , Hunt John
Published: December 2015

The oxidative stress theory predicts that the accumulation of oxidative damage causes aging. More generally, oxidative damage could be a cost of reproduction that reduces survival. Both of these hypotheses have mixed empirical support. To better understand the life-history consequences of oxidative damage, we fed male and female Australian field crickets (Teleogryllus commodus) four diets differing in their protein and carbohydrate content, which have sex-specific effects on reproductive effort and lifespan. We supplemented half of these crickets with the vitamin E isoform DL-alpha-tocopherol and measured the effects of nutrient intake on lifespan, reproduction, oxidative damage and antioxidant protection. We found a clear trade-off between reproductive effort and lifespan in females but not in males. In direct contrast to the oxidative stress theory, crickets fed diets that improved their lifespan had high levels of oxidative damage to proteins. Supplementation with DL-alpha-tocopherol did not significantly improve lifespan or reproductive effort. However, males fed diets that increased their reproductive investment experienced high oxidative damage to proteins. While this suggests that male reproductive effort could elevate oxidative damage, this was not associated with reduced male survival. Overall, these results provide little evidence that oxidative damage plays a central role in mediating life-history trade-offs in T. commodus.
BIM-Based Decision Support System for Material Selection Based on Supplier Rating
Authors: Akanmu Abiola , Asfari Bushra , Olatunji Oluwole
Published: December 2015

Material selection is a delicate process, typically hinged on a number of factors which can be either cost or environmental related. This process becomes more complicated when designers are faced with several material options of building elements and each option can be supplied by different suppliers whose selection criteria may affect the budgetary and environmental requirements of the project. This paper presents the development of a decision support system based on the integration of building information models, a modified harmony search algorithm and supplier performance rating. The system is capable of producing the cost and environmental implications of different material combinations or building designs. A case study is presented to illustrate the functionality of the developed system.
Optical Properties of Silicon-Rich Silicon Nitride (SixNyHz) from First Principles
Authors: Tao Shu , Theulings Anne , Prodanović Violeta , Smedley John , Van der Graaf Harry
Published: December 2015

The real and imaginary parts of the complex refractive index of SixNyHz have been calculated from first principles. Optical spectra for reflectivity, absorption coefficient, energy-loss function (ELF), and refractive index were obtained. The results for Si3N4 are in agreement with the available theoretical and experimental results. To understand the electron energy loss mechanism in Si-rich silicon nitride, the influence of the Si/N ratio, the positions of the access Si atoms, and H in and on the surface of the ELF have been investigated. It has been found that all defects, such as dangling bonds in the bulk and surfaces, increase the intensity of the ELF in the low energy range (below 10 eV). H in the bulk and on the surface has a healing effect, which can reduce the intensity of the loss peaks by saturating the dangling bonds. Electronic structure analysis has confirmed the origin of the changes in the ELF. It has demonstrated that the changes in ELF are not only affected by the composition but also by the microstructures of the materials. The results can be used to tailor the optical properties, in this case the ELF of Si-rich Si3N4, which is essential for secondary electron emission applications.
An Information-Based Approach to Precision Analysis of Indoor WLAN Localization Using Location Fingerprint
Authors: Zhou Mu , Qiu Feng , Tian Zengshan , Wu Haibo , Zhang Qiao , He Wei
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we proposed a novel information-based approach to precision analysis of indoor wireless local area network (WLAN) localization using location fingerprint. First of all, by using the Fisher information matrix (FIM), we derive the fundamental limit of WLAN fingerprint-based localization precision considering different signal distributions in characterizing the variation of received signal strengths (RSSs) in the target environment. After that, we explore the relationship between the localization precision and access point (AP) placement, which can provide valuable suggestions for the design of the highly-precise localization system. Second, we adopt the heuristic simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to optimize the AP locations for the sake of approaching the fundamental limit of localization precision. Finally, the extensive simulations and experiments are conducted in both regular line-of-sight (LOS) and irregular non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments to demonstrate that the proposed approach can not only effectively improve the WLAN fingerprint-based localization precision, but also reduce the time overhead.
Evolution Characteristics of Complex Fund Network and Fund Strategy Identification
Authors: Yang Honglin , Fang Penglan , Wan Hong , Liu Yucan , Lei Hui
Published: December 2015

Earlier investment practices show that there lies a discrepancy between the actual fund strategy and stated fund strategy. Using a minimum spanning tree (MST) and planar maximally-filtered graph (PMFG), we build a network of open-ended funds in China’s market and investigate the evolution characteristics of the networks over multiple time periods and timescales. The evolution characteristics, especially the locations of clustering central nodes, show that the actual strategy of the open-ended funds in China’s market significantly differs from the original stated strategy. When the investment horizon and timescale extend, the funds approach an identical actual strategy. This work introduces a novel network-based quantitative method to help investors identify the actual strategy of open-ended funds.
Fast Modeling of Large Wave Energy Farms Using Interaction Distance Cut-Off
Authors: Göteman Malin , Engström Jens , Eriksson Mikael , Isberg Jan
Published: December 2015

In many wave energy concepts, power output in the MW range requires the simultaneous operation of many wave energy converters. In particular, this is true for small point-absorbers, where a wave energy farm may contain several hundred devices. The total performance of the farm is affected by the hydrodynamic interactions between the individual devices, and reliable tools that can model full farms are needed to study power output and find optimal design parameters. This paper presents a novel method to model the hydrodynamic interactions and power output of very large wave energy farms. The method is based on analytical multiple scattering theory and uses time series of irregular wave amplitudes to compute the instantaneous power of each device. An interaction distance cut-off is introduced to improve the computational cost with acceptable accuracy. As an application of the method, wave energy farms with over 100 devices are studied in the MW range using one month of wave data measured at an off-shore site.
Transient Oscillations Analysis and Modified Control Strategy for Seamless Mode Transfer in Micro-Grids: A Wind-PV-ES Hybrid System Case Study
Authors: Zhang Tengfei , Yue Dong , O’Grady Michael , O’Hare Gregory
Published: December 2015

With the rapid development of the micro-grid associated with new and clean energies, the smooth switching between grid-connected and islanded operation modes of the micro-grid is a key issue that needs to be addressed urgently. In traditional solutions, V/f (Voltage/frequency) control is adopted for the master micro sources when the micro-grid works in islanded mode, while PQ (real and reactive power) control is adopted when in grid-connected mode. However, when the two controllers switch when mode transfer occurs, transient oscillations usually occur and thereafter the dynamic response will be degraded. This paper considers an archetypical micro-grid with Wind-PV-ES (Wind, Photovoltaic and Energy Storage) hybrid system, which forms the basis of our case study. The underlying reason for such transient oscillation is analyzed in this paper. Thereafter a modified control strategy for seamless mode transfer is designed and implemented. An improved PQ control method is designed by which the output of the PQ controller always synchronously tracks the output of the V/f controller for micro-grid switches from islanded mode to grid-connected; furthermore, a dq rotating coordinate synchronization based V/f control method is proposed for transition from grid-connected mode to islanded mode. Finally, experiments and analysis are undertaken on some basic and important operating cases; the results in our case study indicate that the modified control strategy is effective in dominating the micro-grid during mode transfer and thus yielding significantly better performances.
A Simple Expression for the Tortuosity of Gas Transport Paths in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells’ Porous Electrodes
Authors: Kong Wei , Zhang Qiang , Xu Xiuwen , Chen Daifen
Published: December 2015

Based on the three-dimensional (3D) cube packing model, a simple expression for the tortuosity of gas transport paths in solid oxide fuel cells’ (SOFC) porous electrodes is developed. The proposed tortuosity expression reveals the dependence of the tortuosity on porosity, which is capable of providing results that are very consistent with the experimental data in the practical porosity range of SOFC. Furthermore, for the high porosity (>0.6), the proposed tortuosity expression is also accurate. This might be helpful for understanding the physical mechanism for the tortuosity of gas transport paths in electrodes and the optimization electrode microstructure for reducing the concentration polarization.
A Meta-Analysis of the Association between Polymorphisms in MicroRNAs and Risk of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Xiao Yan , Bao Mei-Hua , Luo Huai-Qing , Xiang Ju , Li Jian-Ming
Published: December 2015

Ischemic stroke (IS) is responsible for a high death rate and for adult disability worldwide. MiR-146a (rs2910164), miR-149 (rs2292832), miR-196a2 (rs11614913) and miR-499 (rs3746444) are found to be associated with ischemic stroke. However, the results were inconsistent and inconclusive. The present study performed a meta-analysis to get a more precise and comprehensive estimation of the association between the four polymorphisms and IS risk. The databases Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched for related studies. A total of five studies including 2230 cases and 2229 controls were identified for the meta-analysis. The results indicate that TT genotype and T allele of miR-149 (rs2292832) are associated with significantly lower risks of IS in a homozygous model (OR = 0.70) and an allelic model (OR = 0.86). No significant associations were found between miR-146a (rs2910164), miR-196a2 (rs11614913), miR-499 (3746444) and IS susceptibility in any of the studies. However, subgroup analysis by sample size indicates a significant decrease in risks of IS for CC genotype and C allele of miR-146a (rs2910164) in the large sample size group. Therefore, miR-149 (rs2292832) might be recommended as a predictor for IS risk, while miR-146a (rs2910164), miR-196a2 (rs11614913), miR-499 (3746444) are not.
Wittgenstein, Marx, and Marxism: Some Historical Connections
Authors: Gakis Dimitris
Published: December 2015

The present article aims at highlighting the connections that can be drawn between Wittgenstein and Marx(ism) from a historical point of view, through developing a synoptic account of the available relevant historical and biographical data. Starting with a discussion of Wittgenstein’s relation to the Italian Marxist economist Piero Sraffa, it then moves to a presentation of Wittgenstein’s broader circle of Marxist friends. Our account continues and concludes by examining and comparing Wittgenstein’s stance towards the Two World Wars and Stalin’s U.S.S.R. The approach developed in this article not only challenges the widespread image of Wittgenstein as a philosopher indifferent to issues of a political nature. It also traces Marxism as a significant aspect of the context in which Wittgenstein’s philosophy, and particularly its later phase, was developed.
Influenza Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices among the Lebanese Adult Population
Authors: El Khoury Ghada , Salameh Pascale
Published: December 2015

Background: Influenza is a common preventable infectious disease associated with high mortality and morbidity. Vaccination is the most cost-effective measure to prevent influenza, yet the vaccine uptake is known to be low. No previous studies have assessed the rate of seasonal influenza vaccination use among the Lebanese population, nor examined the knowledge and attitudes towards the influenza vaccine. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in 30 pharmacies randomly selected across Lebanon. A 19-item questionnaire was used to record influenza vaccination status, knowledge and attitudes towards the influenza vaccine among the Lebanese general population. Results: The survey response rate was 93%. Among the 640 study participants, the overall 2014-2015 seasonal influenza vaccination rate was 27.6%. The majority of participants (72.4%) reported irregular uptake of the vaccine. Results of the multivariate analysis revealed that elderly people (OR = 2.25, CI = 1.08–4.71), with higher education (OR = 1.42, CI = 1.09–1.84), higher physical activity (OR significantly higher than 1 for all categories), and chronic respiratory disease (OR = 3.24, CI = 1.58–6.62) were more regularly vaccinated, while those who visit the doctor “only when needed” (OR = 0.55, CI = 0.34–0.88) and those who consume more than seven drinks/week (OR = 0.24, CI = 0.09–0.65) were less regularly vaccinated. When introducing knowledge and attitude variables to the model, “thinking that the vaccine was not needed” was the only correlate that demonstrated a significant inverse association with regular influenza vaccination (OR = 0.15; p = 0.017). Conclusions: Suboptimal vaccination rates exist among the Lebanese ambulatory adult population. Clear misinformation on the importance of regular influenza immunization is also highlighted. This evidence underscores a compelling need to raise public awareness regarding the efficacy of the influenza vaccine.
Primary Phenomenon in the Network Formation of Endothelial Cells: Effect of Charge
Authors: Arai Shunto
Published: December 2015

Blood vessels are essential organs that are involved in the supply of nutrients and oxygen and play an important role in regulating the body’s internal environment, including pH, body temperature, and water homeostasis. Many studies have examined the formation of networks of endothelial cells. The results of these studies have revealed that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) affects the interactions of these cells and modulates the network structure. Though almost all previous simulation studies have assumed that the chemoattractant VEGF is present before network formation, vascular endothelial cells secrete VEGF only after the cells bind to the substrate. This suggests VEGF is not essential for vasculogenesis especially at the early stage. Using a simple experiment, we find chain-like structures which last quite longer than it is expected, unless the energetically stable cluster should be compact. Using a purely physical model and simulation, we find that the hydrodynamic interaction retard the compaction of clusters and that the chains are stabilized through the effects of charge. The charge at the surface of the cells affect the interparticle potential, and the resulting repulsive forces prevent the chains from folding. The ions surrounding the cells may also be involved in this process.
Preparation of a Near-Infrared Ray Absorption Film from N-Phenylthiocarbamoyl Chitosan Derivative
Authors: Nishida Shouko , Shibano Masaya , Kamitakahara Hiroshi , Takano Toshiyuki
Published: December 2015

We recently observed that the decanoylation of N-phenylthiocarbamoyl chitosan (2) with a mixture of decanoic anhydride and pyridine at 60 °C for 24 h afforded N,N-(decanoyl)phenythiocarbamoyl-/2-isothiocynato chitosan decanoate (3b) rather than the expected product N,N-(decanoyl)phenylthiocarbamoyl chitosan decanoate (3a). This result suggested that some of the N,N-(decanoyl)phenylthiocarmbamoyl groups had been converted to isothiocyanate groups during the decanoylation process. The subsequent reaction of compound 3b with aniline gave N,N-(decanoyl)phenylthiocarbamoyl/N-phenylthiocarbamoyl chitosan decanoate (4) in high yield. A solution of compound 4 in CHCl3 was then added to a solution of copper decanoate (5) in the same solvent, and the resulting mixture was cast onto a glass plate to give a cast film. The film was annealed at 200 °C in an oven to give a greenish film, which showed good near-infrared absorption characteristic in the range of 800–2200 nm.
Allyl Isothiocyanate Inhibits Actin-Dependent Intracellular Transport in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sporsheim Bjørnar , Øverby Anders , Bones Atle
Published: December 2015

Volatile allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) derives from the biodegradation of the glucosinolate sinigrin and has been associated with growth inhibition in several plants, including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms of this feature remain scarcely investigated in plants. In this study, we present evidence of an AITC-induced inhibition of actin-dependent intracellular transport in A. thaliana. A transgenic line of A. thaliana expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged actin filaments was used to show attenuation of actin filament movement by AITC. This appeared gradually in a time- and dose-dependent manner and resulted in actin filaments appearing close to static. Further, we employed four transgenic lines with YFP-fusion proteins labeling the Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), vacuoles and peroxisomes to demonstrate an AITC-induced inhibition of actin-dependent intracellular transport of or, in these structures, consistent with the decline in actin filament movement. Furthermore, the morphologies of actin filaments, ER and vacuoles appeared aberrant following AITC-exposure. However, AITC-treated seedlings of all transgenic lines tested displayed morphologies and intracellular movements similar to that of the corresponding untreated and control-treated plants, following overnight incubation in an AITC-absent environment, indicating that AITC-induced decline in actin-related movements is a reversible process. These findings provide novel insights into the cellular events in plant cells following exposure to AITC, which may further expose clues to the physiological significance of the glucosinolate-myrosinase system.
Oncogenic MicroRNAs Characterization in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Petrozza Vincenzo , Carbone Antonio , Bellissimo Teresa , Porta Natale , Palleschi Giovanni , Pastore Antonio , Di Carlo Angelina , Della Rocca Carlo , Fazi Francesco
Published: December 2015

A key challenge for the improvement of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) management could derive from a deeper characterization of the biology of these neoplasms that could greatly improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment choice. The aim of this study was to identify specific miRNAs that are deregulated in tumor vs. normal kidney tissues and that could impact on the biology of ccRCC. To this end we selected four miRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-210-3p, miR-185-5p and miR-221-3p) and their expression has been evaluated in a retrospective cohort of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from 20 ccRCC patients who underwent surgical nephrectomy resection. miR-21-5p and miR-210-3p resulted the most significantly up-regulated miRNAs in this patient cohort, highlighting these onco-miRNAs as possible relevant players involved in ccRCC tumorigenesis. Thus, this study reports the identification of specific oncogenic miRNAs that are altered in ccRCC tissues and suggests that they might be useful biomarkers in ccRCC management.