bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Do Human Resource Management Practices Predict Employee Turnover Intentions: An Empirical Survey of Teacher Training Colleges in Kenya
Authors: Manthi Kyalo Abigail , Kilika James M. , Kimencu Linda
Published: July 2018

This study sought to establish how Human Resource Management practices predict tutor turnover intentions in primary Teacher Training colleges (PTTCs) in Kenya. The objectives of the study were: to establish the influence of Training, Compensation, Career development and Performance management on tutor turnover intentions in PTTCs in Kenya. The scope of the study was the Nairobi Metropolitan region. Multi stage sampling was used to obtain a sample size of 152 respondents where the actual response rate was 74.3%. The findings of the study showed that training, compensation, career development and performance management were poorly practiced and that they significantly and negatively predict tutor turnover intentions in PTTCs as they collectively accounted for 28% variation in the experienced turnover intentions among the tutors. The findings raise both theoretical and practical implications for underpinning HRM practice, behavioral science theories and personnel administrative responsibilities to college principals respectively. The study calls on future research to consider the contingent effects of the tutors' demographic characteristics and the contextual factors surrounding HRM Practice in the Colleges.
Nexus Between Pension Fund Size, Design and Investment Strategy: A Review of Occupational Retirement Benefits Schemes in Kenya
Authors: Ngugi Wilson , Njuguna Amos
Published: July 2018

The funding risk borne by sponsors of defined benefit pension funds and the residual risk borne by members of defined contribution pension funds have necessitated focus on the investment strategies employed by pension funds. We use secondary data from 206 pension funds in Kenya, to determine the nexus between the investment strategy, size and design. We then validate the results using focused group discussions with industry experts. Results from the regression models indicate that larger schemes adopted a riskier investment strategies compared to their smaller counterparts. However, the investment strategies are not informed by the fund designs. Trustees of retirement benefit schemes are therefore advised to focus their investment strategies to avoid exposing the residual claimants to excessive risk.
Pedagogia hospitalar: intervenções na unidade pediátrica a partir da contação de histórias
Authors: Rodrigues Kátia Regiane , Belancieri Maria Fatima , Capellini Vera Lucia Messias Fialho , Dos Reis Verônica Lima
Published: July 2018

A criança ao ser hospitalizada por longo período de tempo perde o contato com o seu cotidiano, deixando de ir à escola, de brincar, o que poderá afetar suas condições psicoemocionais e sociais. Visando amenizar tais repercussões, diversas atividades lúdicas podem ser desenvolvidas durante o período de hospitalização, como a contação de histórias, por exemplo. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo estruturar e avaliar o desenvolvimento de uma proposta de intervenção a partir da Contação de Histórias para pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados. O estudo foi realizado na brinquedoteca de um hospital do interior paulista, a partir de 10 encontros, com duração de 40 a 60 minutos, utilizando-se diversos recursos lúdicos e histórias infantis. Participaram do estudo 50 crianças de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 1 e 13 anos. Os resultados apontaram que a Pedagogia Hospitalar e, especificamente, a Contação de Histórias pode trazer contribuições à instituição hospitalar e as crianças internadas, facilitando o enfrentamento do processo cirúrgico e hospitalização, bem como pode promover uma aproximação com o cotidiano escolar e a aprendizagem.
Agenda legislativa da Confederação Nacional da Indústria no período da 54a e 55a legislatura federal
Authors: Borck Igor Sulaiman Said Felicio
Published: July 2018

Entender a dinâmica de funcionamento da democracia brasileira, perpassa compreender, como um grupo de pressão, detentor do capital privado nacional de cunho industrial, se organiza, para influenciar as tomadas de decisão na esfera legislativa federal, com intuito de favorecer seus interesses enquanto grupo social economicamente orientado e atuante, ou seja, organizado. Para realizar esse objetivo, procuramos nortear nosso trabalho a partir de algumas questões de pesquisa: 1) Como o empresariado industrial representado pela Confederação Nacional da Indústria (CNI) no período de 2010 a 2017 avalia sua relação com o poder legislativo? 2) Como essa avaliação revela padrões de ação política do empresariado industrial brasileiro, representado pela CNI no período estudado? Para responder a essas questões utilizamos como fonte de pesquisa, os relatórios da Confederação Nacional da Indústria (CNI), chamados Agenda Legislativa da Indústria 2010 a 2017, que são documentos construídos a partir dos Seminários RedIndústria da CNI. Como resultados, a pesquisa apontou que no total foram produzidas pelo Congresso Nacional, 158 decisões legislativas de um total de 502 projetos mapeados na agenda legislativa da CNI, sendo que desses, 96 casos são correspondência com a CNI, divididos em 44 correspondências positivas, mais, 52 correspondências negativas, contra 62 casos não-correspondência. A pesquisa concluiu que os dados permitem pensar em alguns padrões de ação política do empresariado industrial, como por exemplo, a ideia de que talvez, o esforço empreendido pela CNI para defender seus interesses perante o Congresso Nacional, seja mais efetivo no sentido de barrar propostas contrárias seus interesses, como nos casos das correspondências negativas que superam os casos positivos.
O Inquiridor e as Dificuldades na Obtenção de Respostas para o Atlas Linguístico do Brasil: o caso de doido
Authors: Aguilera Vanderci De Andrade , Martins Mariana Spagnolo
Published: July 2018

This study relates to the methodology of the Linguistic Atlas of Brazil (Atlas Linguístico do Brasil) (ALiB), which is an interinstitutional research project aiming at describing the Brazilian linguistic reality by means of dialectal records gathered in 250 localities distributed around all the Regions of the country. Due to the increasing expansion of researches of lexical, phonetic-phonological, morphologic and pragmatic nature and many others based on the Project ALiB’s database, this article aims at analyzing the methodology of this project. It also proposes: (i) to analyze the answers given by the informants from the capitals of the North and South Regions to the Question 138 of the ALiB’s Phonetic-Phonological Questionnaire (QFF) (COMITÊ NACIONAL DO PROJETO ALiB, 2001); (ii) to discuss the difficulties encountered by the inquirers in obtaining the answers; and (iii) to verify the strategies utilized by the interviewer to obtain the desired item. For that purpose, the studies by Pop (1950), Buesa Oliver and Flórez (1954), Aguilera (1992, 1998, 2000), Brandão and Moraes (1998), Pontes and Aguilera (1999), Aguilera, Amâncio and Paes (2003) and Aguilera and Yida (2008) served as a basis. The study indicated that, in both Brazilian Regions and particularly in the South Region, the informants had some difficulty in immediately registering, as a first answer, the form doido (madman). It also demonstrated that there is not a way to predict the possibility of the informant, despite knowing the word in question, to use it in a different context other than to say that a person is furious or aggressive. We cannot discard, however, the interviewer’s difficulty in reformulating the question in order to make it clearer to the informant, given that each informant has his/her own personal history.
Considerações Acerca da Poluição do Ar e Circulação de Veículos na Região Central de Curitiba/PR
Authors: Castelhano Francisco Jablinski
Published: July 2018

Este trabalho tratará da poluição atmosférica no município de Curitiba, Estado do Paraná, e sua relação com o volume de veículos na região central da mesma. Segundo dados da Prefeitura do Município (2016), os veículos são sua principal fonte de poluição, o que torna as regiões com tráfego mais intenso as piores neste quesito. Foram selecionados dados relativos a material particulado fino (PM10), Ozônio Troposférico O3) e Dióxido de Nitrogênio (NO2), coletados pela estação de monitoramento da qualidade do ar do Instituto Ambiental do Paraná (IAP), localizada na Praça Ouvidor Pardinho, região central da capital para o ano de 2013. Tais dados foram cruzados com informações de trânsito referentes a volume de tráfego total, através de radares dispostos em vias no entorno da referida estação para o mesmo período. Foram organizados gráficos mostrando as oscilações em escalas mensais, semanais e diárias de ambas estas variáveis. Em escala mensal, a relação entre volume de veículos e poluição do ar não ficou suficientemente clara uma vez que nesta escala de análise, os fenômenos climáticos exercem maior influencia sobre a qualidade do ar, contudo observando a escala semanal e diária pode-se observar a influencia do amonte de veículos e dos picos de poluição.
Relações entre o comportamento climático e doenças respiratórias em Barreiras/BA
Authors: Porto Eneas Denieste de Oliveira , Latuf Marcelo de Oliveira
Published: July 2018

A influência de parâmetros meteorológicos e antrópicos nas condições da saúde da população permitem, à ciência geográfica, analisar essa relação, seja por meio de métodos estatísticos ou técnicas de análise espacial. Na cidade de Barreiras, localizada na região Oeste da Bahia, o incremento populacional nas últimas quatro décadas foi expressivo com aproximadamente 3.100 hab.ano-1 no período de 1980 a 2015. As condições atmosféricas podem ser apontadas como um dos principais condicionantes a problemas de saúde pública a esta população, com destaque para as doenças do aparelho respiratório, que ocupam a terceira posição das causas de internações na cidade de Barreiras/BA, o que demanda ações das diversas esferas de gestão. Desta forma, buscou-se neste trabalho realizar uma análise geográfica, com investigação da ocorrência das principais doenças respiratórias e os períodos de maior incidência, a partir dos dados disponíveis no sistema DATASUS, bem como a verificação de dados meteorológicos utilizados na associação entre os mesmos, no período de 2000 a 2010. Resultados apontam a existência de uma associação entre o comportamento das condições atmosféricas e a ocorrência de doenças do aparelho respiratório, com destaque para as faixas etárias de crianças e idosos.
O Ensino de conteúdos geográficos a partir do hip hop
Authors: Marques Ana Carolina dos Santos , Fonseca Ricardo Lopes
Published: July 2018

O Hip Hop é um movimento cultural praticado majoritariamente pela população negra e, assim como o racismo, se manifesta no espaço geográfico e consequentemente pode ser estudado pela Geografia, possibilitando trabalhar inúmeros conteúdos. Desta forma, o presente artigo tem por objetivo investigar e compreender como o Hip Hop, por meio do pilar rap, pode ser abordado no ensino de Geografia, auxiliando na construção dos conhecimentos geográficos. O referencial teórico traz a questão racial presente no Brasil, para então conceituar o movimento Hip Hop, bem como apresentar suas características e contribuições no ensino de Geografia. Há ainda um relato acerca de uma oficina pedagógica realizada no Colégio Estadual Marcelino Champagnat em Londrina (PR) com educandos do 2º ano matutino, em que foi abordado o Hip Hop e ocorreu a construção de raps por parte dos educandos. Por fim, os raps elaborados são analisados por meio da Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin (1977), buscando identificar os conteúdos da ciência geográfica presentes nestes e a importância do rap na construção e compreensão dos conteúdos no ensino de Geografia, entre eles: os problemas sociais, a economia e a luta por uma educação de qualidade.
Aplicação de índices morfométricos para análise geomorfológica e neotectônica da Bacia do Rio Marés –PB, Brasil
Authors: Barbosa Tamires Silva , Furrier Max
Published: July 2018

Os estudos morfométricos e neotectônicos na bacia do rio Marés se justificam pelo fato da mesma estar situada sobre uma única litologia –a Formação Barreiras, e apresentar mudanças ao longo do perfil longitudinal, não justificáveis pelos fatores climáticos ou litológicos. Apesar de não possuir volume de água significativo em seu canal principal, este tem entalhado seu vale significativamente, apontando para a possível influência neotectônica na área. Para análise da bacia foram utilizados: a carta topográfica Santa Rita na escala 1:25.000 e o software Spring5.2, para a confecção dos mapas temáticos e execução dos cálculos morfométricos. Os valores obtidos como resultado e as características morfológicas da bacia apontam para a influência de atividade tectônica recente sobre a área.
La gestión de la responsabilidad social corporativa: Propuesta de un modelo teórico.
Authors: Barrio Fraile Estrella
Published: July 2018

En el presente artículo se realiza una revisión de la literatura que aborda la gestión de la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC), con el objetivo de realizar una propuesta de modelo teórico de la gestión de la RSC. En el actual panorama empresarial en el que nos encontramos con una creciente desconfianza hacia las organizaciones y la llegada de una nueva relación multilateral entre las empresas y sus stakeholders, la instauración de un modelo de gestión de la RSC permite a las organizaciones dar respuesta a los intereses de sus stakeholders y restablecer la confianza en la ciudadanía.
Innovation culture as the basis for innovative environment of the enterprise
Authors: Illiashenko Sergii , Shypulina Yuliia , Illiashenko Nataliia
Published: July 2018

The purpose of the article is to clarify the essence, content, structure and components of the innovation culture of the enterprise, the development of an approach to the diagnosis of its condition. A comparative, systemic-structural and statistical analysis were used to attain it. The author’s model of the innovative culture structure of an industrial enterprise was offered. Problems in understanding of its role by middle and top managers of innovative industrial enterprises were outlined. The methodical approach to multifactorial diagnostics of the state of innovation culture of an industrial enterprise was developed and tested in general, as well as its separate components. The place of innovation culture of the industrial enterprise in the system of mechanisms of innovative environment formation was determined. The structural-logical scheme of the management mechanism of innovative environment formation and introduction at an industrial enterprise based on its innovation culture was developed.
Implementation of lean management concept at the university
Authors: Detyna Beata
Published: July 2018

Presentation of proposals implementing the concept of lean management in high school is the purpose of this article. The publication underlines the essence of Lean concept, which boils down to the effective management of available resources, without unnecessary waste – in accordance with Kaizen’s continuous improvement philosophy. The studies carried out included analysis of the organizational structure of selected university, its functional are¬as, management functions, number of employees, range of management, as well as tasks of individual cells and responsibilities at selected positions. Author recommends selected Lean tools in the office and service processes implemented by chosen university. Proposals for im¬plementation of selected tools concern organizational units such as: Department of Teaching and Student Affairs, Department of Human Resources and Staff, Financial Department and institutes. The author points universality and usefulness of the Lean concept, which was pro¬perly implemented and executed by the university could bring beneficial changes in the form of time savings as well as rationalization and greater efficiency of processes.
Remuneration and employment in microenterprises
Authors: Kowalska Sylwia
Published: July 2018

Micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises are the engine of the Polish economy. They are the main source of employment, arouse entrepreneurial spirit and innova¬tion, and they are essential to increase competitiveness and employment. The aim of this article is to analyze selected data, among others. the level of remuneration and employment in microen¬terprises in Poland and the comparison of wages in micro-entities with average remuneration in the national economy, in the EU and in the USA in 2014-2016. The purpose of the work was sub¬ordinated to the individual parts, in which the essence of the micro enterprise and its importance to the economy were presented, and data on the number of micro-entities, their salaries and their level of employment were presented against the background of selected years.
Chosen aspects of it resources security in sme sector enterprises – results of the research
Authors: Kobis Paweł
Published: July 2018

As enterprises process more and more information and to do so they use infor¬matic systems, this forces them to apply protective measures at the level which makes it possible to eliminate threats at the level of the local organizational network and the global one – the Internet. The goal of the present article is to show basic principles in the scope of protecting informatic systems which support information management. It presents models illustrating optimum solutions in the scope of data protection in economic entities which make use of traditional IT departments as well as entities that have decided to use in their operations cloud computing. The empirical part presents the results of the research concern¬ing application of selected protection elements in the SME sector enterprises.
Concept of threat model in systems warning of organizations
Authors: Ćwik Bogdan
Published: July 2018

Warning systems in organizations standing before the requirement of efficiency and re¬liability of the issuing of warnings, they must have sufficient theoretical and methodological reso¬urces to carry out their tasks. Used until now the theoretical resources and methods, have based mainly on the theory and methodology of risk, which is based on data resources on the repeatabi¬lity of monitored events. Their effectiveness is significantly reduced in the so-called nondetermini¬stic situations. The limitation in the implementation of these tasks may be lack of consistency and incomplete interpretation of basic concepts in this area. One such concept is the threat. The aim of the article is to present a concept of universal approach to interpretation of the concept of threat, allowing for more effective perception of warning signals, and to develop a more effective metho¬dology for their reading and recognition. This work uses the following scientific methods: analysis and criticism of literature, analysis and logical construction, as well as the heuristic methods: “new look” method and the analogue transfer method. Most of the analyzes were based on the results of own research obtained during the financial crisis in 2008-2010 and on the basis of research among members of the dispositional groups. The work resulted in the concept of threat model, providing division into causal and consequential threats, as well as partial models: the model of threat deve¬lopment and the model of perception of consequential threats.
CAMPILLO, A. (2015): Tierra de nadie. Cómo pensar (en) la sociedad global. Barcelona: Herder. BROWN, W. (2015): Estados amurallados, soberanía en declive. Barcelona: Herder
Authors: Blanco Brotons Francisco
Published: July 2018

Reseña de los libros Tierra de nadie. Cómo pensar (en) la sociedad global de Antonio Campillo y de Estados amurallados, soberanía en declive, de Wendy Brown.
UNAMUNO, Miguel de (2017): Escritos sobre la ciencia y el cientificismo, ed. de Alicia Villar, Madrid: Tecnos.
Authors: Gómez Sánchez Carlos
Published: July 2018

Reseña de M. de Unamuno, Escritos sobre la ciencia y el cientificismo, ed. de Alicia Villar, Madrid, Tecnos, 2017, 426pp.
SANTAMARÍA VELASCO, Freddy (2016): Hacer mundos: el nombrar y la significatividad. Bogotá: Siglo del hombre editores; Universidad Santo Tomás & Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. Segunda edición revisada., 296 pp. Prólogo de Mauricio Beuchot.
Authors: Rodríguez Ortiz Angélica María
Published: July 2018

Esta es una reseña del libro:Freddy Santamaría Velasco. Hacer mundos: el nombrar y la significatividad. Siglo del hombre editores; Universidad Santo Tomás & Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. Bogotá: 2016, 296 pp . Prólogo: Mauricio Beuchot. Un aporte para la filosofía del lenguaje. El libro es producto de un proceso de investigación doctoral del autor, y aquí se presenta una reseña de la segunda edicación. 

 
Coléoptères, poux et puces subfossiles provenant d’habitats de chasseurs-cueilleurs
Authors: Forbes Véronique , Dussault Frédéric , Lalonde Olivier , Bain Allison
Published: July 2018

L’archéoentomologie, l’analyse des restes d’insectes préservés en contexte archéologique, est une approche relativement méconnue en Amérique du Nord. Bien qu’une première étude d’insectes subfossiles provenant d’un site paléoesquimau ait été conduite à la fin des années 1960 au Groenland, il s’est écoulé près de trois décennies avant que de telles études se réalisent dans l’Arctique nord-américain. Depuis, une vingtaine de sites de cultures paléoesquimaudes (Saqqaq, Dorset) et néoesquimaudes (thuléennes, inuites, yup’iks) ont fait l’objet d’analyses archéoentomologiques, produisant des milliers de spécimens de coléoptères, de poux et de puces. Ces données permettent d’examiner les pratiques de subsistance et d’hygiène des anciens peuples autochtones de l’Alaska, du Nord canadien et du Groenland, ainsi que leurs effets sur la faune et la flore locale. Cet article présente un bilan de l’apport des analyses archéoentomologiques à l’étude des modes de vie des chasseurs-cueilleurs du Nord circumpolaire.
La légende de Wemishoosh
Authors: Fulford George , Cancel Carole
Published: July 2018

Les Moskégons des basses terres de la baie James et de la baie d’Hudson, ainsi que de l’Ontario et du Manitoba, possèdent un riche patrimoine de légendes. Nombre d’entre elles constituent une source précieuse en matière de savoir écologique. Dans cette note de recherche, l’auteur établit une comparaison entre une légende rapportant l’origine de la phrygane, et les connaissances entomologiques sur cet insecte. Au moyen d’un dialogue de médiation faisant intervenir l’auteur ainsi que Louis Bird, conteur moskégon, et Glenn Wiggins, entomologiste de renom, ce texte explore la complémentarité entre narration traditionnelle, sciences sociales et sciences naturelles.
A survey on authentication methods for the Internet of Things
Authors: Sey Dylan
Published: July 2018

This survey focuses on authentication methods for the Internet of Things (IoT). There are many different authentication methods that are used in the IT industry but not all of these can be adapted for the IoT. Lightweight and mutual authentication methods will be covered in this paper, alongside two authentication methods that are commonly used in other areas of the industry, rather than the IoT area, which are Kerberos and Group audio-based authentication. The survey will find that Mutual authentication is vital for the IoT and, due to the constraints that are apparent within the IoT devices; the lightweight option is very useful when it comes to dealing with areas like low bandwidth. As a result, there will be gaps that could be further investigated such as the advancement of the IoT technology so that more types of authentication are feasible. A conclusion to this paper is that, by combining different methods of encryption and authentication methods, there are always possibilities to make the proposed protocols more lightweight and secure.
Rapid increase in soil pH solubilises organic matter, dramatically increases denitrification potential and strongly stimulates microorganisms from the Firmicutes phylum
Authors: Anderson Craig R , Peterson Michelle E , Frampton Rebekah A , Bulman Simon R , Keenan Sandi , Curtin Denis
Published: July 2018

Rapid and transient changes in pH frequently occur in soil, impacting dissolved organic matter (DOM) and other chemical attributes such as redox and oxygen conditions. Although we have detailed knowledge on microbial adaptation to long-term pH changes, little is known about the response of soil microbial communities to rapid pH change, nor how excess DOM might affect key aspects of microbial N processing. We used potassium hydroxide (KOH) to induce a range of soil pH changes likely to be observed after livestock urine or urea fertilizer application to soil. We also focus on nitrate reductive processes by incubating microcosms under anaerobic conditions for up to 48 hours. Soil pH was elevated from 4.7 to 6.7, 8.3 or 8.8, and up to 240-fold higher DOM was mobilized by KOH compared to the controls. This increased microbial metabolism but there was no correlation between DOM concentrations and CO2 respiration nor N-metabolism rates. Microbial communities became dominated by Firmicutes bacteria within 16 hours, while few changes were observed in the fungal communities. Changes in N-biogeochemistry were rapid and denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) increased up to 25-fold with the highest rates occurring in microcosms at pH 8.3 that had been incubated for 24-hour prior to measuring DEA. Nitrous oxide reductase was inactive in the pH 4.7 controls but at pH 8.3 the reduction rates exceeded 3000 ng N2-N g-1 h-1 in the presence of native DOM. Evidence for dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium and/or organic matter mineralisation was observed with ammonium increasing to concentrations up to 10 times the original native soil concentrations while significant concentrations of nitrate were utilised. Pure isolates from the microcosms were dominated by Bacillus spp. and exhibited varying nitrate reductive potential.
High tempo music prolongs high intensity exercise
Authors: Maddigan Meaghan , Sullivan Kathleen M , Basset Fabien A , Halperin Israel , Behm David G
Published: July 2018

Music has been shown to reduce rating of perceived exertion, increase exercise enjoyment and enhance exercise performance, mainly in low-moderate intensity exercises. However, the effects of music are less conclusive with high-intensity activities. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of high tempo music (130 bpm) to a no-music condition during repeated high intensity cycling bouts (80% of peak power output (PPO)) on the following measures: time to task failure (TTF), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), breathing frequency, ventilatory kinetics and blood lactate (BL). Under the music condition, participants exercised 10.7% longer (p = 0.035; Effect size (ES)= 0.28) (increase of one minute) and had higher HR (4%; p= 0.043; ES= 0.25), breathing frequency (11.6%; p= 0.0006; ES= 0.57), and RER (7% at TTF; p= 0.021; ES=1 .1) during exercise. Trivial differences were observed between conditions in RPE and other ventilatory kinetics during exercise. Interestingly, HR recovery was 13.0% faster following the music condition (p< 0.05). These results strengthen the notion that music can alter the association between central motor drive, central cardiovascular command and perceived exertion, and contribute to prolonged exercise duration at higher intensities along with a quicken HR recovery.
Mitochondrial genomes organization in alloplasmic lines of sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) with various types of cytoplasmic male sterility
Authors: Makarenko Maksim S. , Kornienko Igor V. , Azarin Kirill V. , Usatov Alexander V. , Logacheva Maria D. , Markin Nicolay V. , Gavrilova Vera A.
Published: July 2018

Background

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a common phenotype in higher plants, that is often associated with rearrangements in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and is widely used to produce hybrid seeds in a variety of valuable crop species. Investigation of the CMS phenomenon promotes understanding of fundamental issues of nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions in the ontogeny of higher plants. In the present study, we analyzed the structural changes in mitochondrial genomes of three alloplasmic lines of sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.). The investigation was focused on CMS line PET2, as there are very few reports about its mtDNA organization.

Methods

The NGS sequencing,de novoassembly, and annotation of sunflower mitochondrial genomes were performed. The comparative analysis of mtDNA of HA89 fertile line and two HA89 CMS lines (PET1, PET2) occurred.

Results

The mtDNA of the HA89 fertile line was almost identical to the HA412 line (NC_023337). The comparative analysis of HA89 fertile and CMS (PET1) analog mitochondrial genomes revealed 11,852 bp inversion, 4,732 bp insertion, 451 bp deletion and 18 variant sites. In the mtDNA of HA89 (PET2) CMS line we determined 27.5 kb and 106.5 kb translocations, 711 bp and 3,780 bp deletions, as well as, 5,050 bp and 15,885 bp insertions. There are also 83 polymorphic sites in the PET2 mitochondrial genome, as compared with the fertile line.

Discussion

The observed mitochondrial reorganizations in PET1 resulted in only one new open reading frame formation (orfH522), and PET2 mtDNA rearrangements led to the elimination oforf777, duplication ofatp6gene and appearance of four new ORFs with transcription activity specific for the HA89 (PET2) CMS line—orf645,orf2565,orf228andorf285.Orf228andorf285are theatp9chimeric ORFs, containing transmembrane domains and possibly may impact on mitochondrial membrane potential. Soorf228andorf285may be the cause for the appearance of the PET2 CMS phenotype, while the contribution of other mtDNA reorganizations in CMS formation is negligible.
The Mechanical Characteristics of Monolithic Nanoporous Copper and Its Composites
Authors: Ji Yu , Xing Yufeng , Zhou Fan , Li Xuequan , Chen Yuli , Shao Li‐Hua
Published: July 2018

Nanoporous noble metals, have shown great advantages due to the high specific surface area and many advanced properties. However, the high cost is an impediment to applications. Looking for the low cost nanoporous metals and studying their mechanical properties play important roles. In this paper, the inexpensive monolithic nanoporous copper (NPC) materials are fabricated by dealloying. Microscopically, both of the bicontinuous hierarchical structures and the homogeneous porous structures at micro/nano scales are achieved. The influences of dealloying temperatures and the Cu contents in the alloy on the mechanical property of NPC are systematically studied. The engineering stress–strain curves show that the compressive yield strengths of the NPC depend on the ligament sizes with the “smaller is stronger” effect. In order to improve the yield strength of NPC, an epoxy is impregnated into the pores as the reinforced phase. The mechanical property of NPC/epoxy composites is consistent with the expected rule‐of‐mixture behavior in a multiphase composite material. Furthermore, the theoretical equations are given which could accurately predict the yield strengths of the pure NPC and its composites.
A Flexible Dual‐Ion Battery Based on PVDF‐HFP‐Modified Gel Polymer Electrolyte with Excellent Cycling Performance and Superior Rate Capability
Authors: Chen Guanghai , Zhang Fan , Zhou Zhiming , Li Jinrui , Tang Yongbing
Published: July 2018

Dual‐ion batteries (DIBs) have attracted increasing attention owing to their merits of high working voltage, low cost, and especially environmental friendliness. However, the cycling stability of most DIBs is still unsatisfying due to the decomposition of conventional liquid carbonate electrolytes under high working voltages. Exploration of gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) with good electrochemical stability at high voltage is a possible strategy to optimize their cycling stability. A high‐performance flexible DIB based on a poly(vinylidene fluoride‐hexafluoro propylene) GPE codoped with poly(ethylene oxide) and graphene oxide via weak bond interactions is herein reported for the first time. The prepared polymer electrolyte shows a 3D porous network with significantly improved ionic conductivity up to 2.1 × 10−3 S cm−1, which is favorable for fast ionic transportation of both cations and anions. As a result, this DIB exhibits excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 92% after 2000 cycles at a high current rate of 5C (1C is corresponding to 100 mA g−1), which is among the best performances of DIBs. Moreover, good flexibility and thermal stability (up to 90 °C) are also achieved for this battery, indicating its potential applications for high‐performance flexible energy storage devices.
Impact of lenalidomide use among non‐transfusion dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Brunner Andrew M. , Weng Shicheng , Cronin Angel , Fathi Amir T. , Habib Anand R. , Stone Richard , Graubert Tim , Steensma David P. , Abel Gregory A.
Published: July 2018

Chemotherapies approved for defined subgroups promise personalized oncologic care, but their off‐label impact is unclear. Lenalidomide is approved for lower‐risk, transfusion‐dependent (TD) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with del(5q), but frequently used in MDS outside this indication. We characterized lenalidomide use and outcomes among non‐TD patients with MDS. Patients 65 or older diagnosed with MDS between 2007 and 2013 were identified using SEER; linked Medicare claims were evaluated for transfusions, lenalidomide use, and incident toxicities. TD was ≥2 transfusion episodes within an 8‐week period; responses were transfusion independence (TI) and ≥50% transfusion reduction (minor response). We compared overall survival for non‐TD patients receiving lenalidomide versus those not receiving lenalidomide, matched on disease and patient characteristics. We identified 676 patients who had received lenalidomide, including 275 (40.7%) TD and 401 (59.3%) non‐TD; 18.5% (125/676) had zero claims for RBC transfusion prior to receiving lenalidomide. Incident toxicities among patients prescribed lenalidomide were similar in TD and non‐TD groups, except incident thromboembolic events were higher among non‐TD patients (10.8% vs. 6.0%, P = .04). Comparing 191 non‐TD patients receiving lenalidomide within 6 months of MDS diagnosis to risk‐matched MDS controls, lenalidomide was not associated with improved OS (P = .78). Among TD patients (n = 275), 31% achieved TI, and 30% achieved minor hematologic response, with a median time to TI of 4.1 weeks. In conclusion, we confirmed the benefit of lenalidomide among TD patients with MDS; however, many non‐TD patients also received lenalidomide. These patients experienced accompanying toxicity without evidence of benefit in terms of transfusion needs or overall survival.
Olive Oil Quality and Sensory Changes During House‐Use Simulation and Temporal Assessment Using an Electronic Tongue
Authors: Rodrigues Nuno , Oliveira Letícia , Mendanha Lorena , Sebti Mohamed , Dias Luís G. , Oueslati Souheib , Veloso Ana C. A. , Pereira José A. , Peres António M.
Published: July 2018

During domestic usage, olive oil bottle manipulation may lead to a quality decrease due to agitation and oxygenation. Therefore, assessing the domestic consumption time period during which the initial quality grade is retained may allow including this information as a recommendation, ensuring olive oil consumers’ satisfaction. Temporal changes of physicochemical, chemical, and sensory parameters of extra‐virgin olive oils (EVOO) were monitored during 1‐month simulated house‐use conditions. It was observed that K232 (R‐Pearson ≥+0.81) and ΔK increased resulting in a significant olive oil quality decrease from EVOO (during the initial 21 days of simulated usage) to lampante olive oil (after 28 days of simulated usage) as well as the appearance of rancid sensation. As lampante olive oils cannot be commercialized, it is pertinent to establish olive oil shelf life under usual home‐use conditions. Principal component analysis allowed grouping the olive oils according to home‐use time period and how bottles are stored after their first opening, showing that the overall olive oil physicochemical and sensory characteristics changed with the domestic‐use time period. Finally, a potentiometric electronic tongue coupled with linear discriminant analysis was used to discriminate olive oils according to the domestic‐use time period (leave‐one‐out cross‐validation sensitivities ≥95%). Thus, this device could be used to indirectly assess the quality of the remaining bottled olive oil by establishing for how long an olive oil bottle has been used under domestic conditions.
Electrolyte Additives for Room‐Temperature, Sodium‐Based, Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Eshetu Gebrekidan Gebresilassie , Martinez‐Ibañez Maria , Sánchez‐Diez Eduardo , Gracia Ismael , Li Chunmei , Rodriguez‐Martinez Lide M. , Rojo Teófilo , Zhang Heng , Armand Michel
Published: July 2018

Owing to resource abundance, and hence, a reduction in cost, wider global distribution, environmental benignity, and sustainability, sodium‐based, rechargeable batteries are believed to be the most feasible and enthralling energy‐storage devices. Accordingly, they have recently attracted attention from both the scientific and industrial communities. However, to compete with and exceed dominating lithium‐ion technologies, breakthrough research is urgently needed. Among all non‐electrode components of the sodium‐based battery system, the electrolyte is considered to be the most critical element, and its tailored design and formulation is of top priority. The incorporation of a small dose of foreign molecules, called additives, brings vast, salient benefits to the electrolytes. Thus, this review presents progress in electrolyte additives for room‐temperature, sodium‐based, rechargeable batteries, by enlisting sodium‐ion, Na−O2/air, Na−S, and sodium‐intercalated cathode type‐based batteries.
Algebraization and Optimization of Networked Evolutionary Boxed Pig Games with Passive Reward and Punishment
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Zhao Jianli , Fu Shihua
Published: July 2018

This paper investigates the evolutionary dynamics and optimization problem of the boxed pig games with the mechanism of passive reward and punishment by using the semi‐tensor product method. First, an algorithm is provided to construct the algebraic formulation for the dynamics of the networked evolutionary boxed pig games with the mechanism of passive reward and punishment. Then, the impact of reward and punishment parameters on the final cooperation level of the whole network is discussed. Finally, an example is provided to show the effectiveness of our results.
Comment and Further Result on “Fault Detection and Isolation Method Based on H−/H∞ Unknown Input Observer Design in Finite Frequency Domain”
Authors: Li Jitao , Wang Zhenhua , Shen Yi
Published: July 2018

This paper considers the work entitled “Fault detection and isolation method based on H−/H∞ unknown input observer design in finite frequency domain”, published previously in the Asian Journal of Control. We point out that some design matrices in the above mentioned article have no effect on the design result. Furthermore, we show that the conditions proposed therein for H∞ design are conservative and propose an improved design method.
Approximate Controllabilty of Semilinear Dynamic Equations on Time Scale
Authors: Duque Cosme , Uzcátegui Jahnett , Leiva Hugo
Published: July 2018

In this paper we study the approximate controllability of semilinear systems on time scale. In order to do so, we first give a complete characterization for the controllability of linear systems on time scale in terms of surjective linear operators in Hilbert spaces. Then we will prove that, under certain conditions on the nonlinear term, if the corresponding linear system is exactly controllable on
, for any
, then semilinear system on time scale is approximately controllable on
.
Culture temperature modulates half antibody and aggregate formation in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line expressing a bispecific antibody
Authors: Gomez Natalia , Wieczorek Agatha , Lu Fang , Bruno Richele , Diaz Luis , Agrawal Neeraj J. , Daris Kristi
Published: July 2018

Therapeutic bispecific antibodies are formed by assembly of multichain polypeptides. In general, a bispecific antibody has two different light chains and two different heavy chains that fold and correctly pair via engineered interchain interactions. Because of some incorrect assembly, product‐related impurities can be prevalent (e.g., half molecules, mispaired light chains, homodimers), requiring its removal during subsequent purification. In this study, we investigated the modulation of impurity levels in a stable Chinese hamster ovary cell line X expressing a bispecific antibody A formed by two light chains (LC1 and LC2) and two heavy chains (HC1 and HC2) that assembled intracellularly into a heterodimer (LC1–HC1 + LC2–HC2) via engineered charged residues. Cell line X exhibited the best volumetric productivity, growth, and viability in culture compared with other clones but also showed higher levels of half antibody species (>10%); therefore, to minimize process yield loss, better understanding, and control of impurity formation was pursued. We found this cell line decreased half antibody levels from 16% to 1% when temperature changed from 36°C to 32.5°C or 31.5°C. However, lower temperature also increased high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) species from 4% to 12%. To determine the impurity species composition, we characterized enriched fractions with half antibody or HMW. Intact mass spectrometry analysis revealed half antibody was LC2–HC2, whereas HMW was a mixture with ~50% as LC1–HC1 homodimer. Results suggested LC2–HC2 was easily folded and could be secreted as half antibody, especially at 36°C. On the contrary, LC1–HC1 was more susceptible to misfold or aggregate, a phenomenon more acute for cell line X at lower culture temperature because of 60% increased LC1 and HC1 messenger RNA levels. Although temperature modulation was cell line X‐specific, the propensity of LC2–HC2 to form half antibodies and LC1–HC1 to aggregate appeared in other cell lines also expressing bispecific antibody A, suggesting an amino‐acid sequence‐dependent mechanism. In summary, impurity formation in cell line X was temperature‐dependent and was influenced by different molecule characteristics between the LC1–HC1 and LC2–HC2 parts. Ultimately, we selected a biphasic cell culture process with a growth phase followed by a lower temperature phase to improve product quality and purification yield.
Pd‐Ni BMNPs Encapsulated in UiO‐66 as an Efficient Catalyst for the Activation of “Inert” C−O Bonds
Authors: Zhang Jia‐Wei , Li Dan‐Dan , Lu Guo‐Ping , Deng Tao , Cai Chun
Published: July 2018

A catalytic system based on Pd−Ni bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) encapsulated in the nanocavities of UiO‐66 was established for the activation of C−O bonds in ethers. Pd0.25Ni4@UiO‐66 catalyst show excellent catalytic performance in the directly methylation and arylation of ethers under a mild reaction condition. High catalytic activity of the catalyst could be ascribed to the “synergistic effect” between the two metal components and strong interaction between BMNPs and the carrier (UiO‐66). BMNPs encapsulated in UiO‐66 also guarantee a good reusability of the catalyst, the catalyst delivered high catalytic activity for at least four cycles. Our work highlights the great potential value of ethers as powerful alternatives for aryl halides as well as the bright future of BMNPs and MOFs in the catalysis field.
Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Thermal Decomposition Mechanism of 1,3,3‐Trinitroazetidine
Authors: Junying WU , Yanxi HUANG , Lijun YANG , Deshen GENG , Fuping WANG , Heqi WANG , Lang CHEN
Published: July 2018

1,3,3‐Trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) has a molecular formula of C3H4N4O6 and the characteristics of low melting point, low impact sensitivity and good thermal stability. It is suitable for melt casting and pressed charges, and it has broad prospects for applications in low‐sensitivity ammunition. In this study, the thermal decomposition of TNAZ crystals at high temperature was calculated by molecular dynamics simulation with the ReaxFF/lg reactive force field. The change in the potential energy of TNAZ, the formation of small‐molecule products and clusters, and the initial reaction path of TNAZ were analysed. The kinetic parameters of different reaction stages in TNAZ thermal decomposition were obtained. The primary thermal decomposition reaction of TNAZ was found to be as follows: N−NO2 and C−NO2 bonds broke; a H atom on the quaternary ring was transferred to the nitro group; and the C‐HNO2 and N‐HNO2 bonds broke. The main decomposition products of TNAZ were thus NO2, NO, N2, H2O, CO2 and HNO2, as well as macromolecular clusters. The size of the cluster structure was related to the reaction temperature, and the higher the temperature was, the smaller the cluster size was.
3D Edge‐Enriched Fe3C@C Nanocrystals with a Core–Shell Structure Grown on Reduced Graphene Oxide Networks for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Li Jianyang , Mao Shun , Hou Yang , Lei Lecheng , Yuan Chris
Published: July 2018

The design of highly active, stable, and low‐cost oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts to replace platinum‐based materials is crucial to the development of renewable energy technologies. Herein, novel 3D edge‐enriched Fe3C@C nanocrystals with a core–shell structure grown on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) networks (Fe3C@C/rGO) are reported as highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts for the ORR. The rGO nanosheets act as a host and provide vital support for local growth of edge‐enriched Fe3C@C nanocrystals, leading to a large surface area of 263 m2 g−1 and superstable hybrid structure. The unique structural design of the Fe3C@C/rGO hybrid enables fast mass transport and a substantial number of exposed active edge sites for electrocatalytic reaction. The Fe3C@C/rGO hybrid exhibits excellent ORR catalytic activity, with a high positive onset potential close to 1.0 V, a Tafel slope of 65 mV dec−1, and excellent durability with only about 8 % current density decay at 0.8 V after 20 000 s continuous operation, which is superior to that of commercial Pt/C catalyst in an alkaline electrolyte.
Sea‐level rise, habitat loss, and potential extirpation of a salt marsh specialist bird in urbanized landscapes
Authors: Rosencranz Jordan A. , Thorne Karen M. , Buffington Kevin J. , Takekawa John Y. , Hechinger Ryan F. , Stewart Tara E. , Ambrose Richard F. , MacDonald Glen M. , Holmgren Mark A. , Crooks Jeff A. , Patton Robert T. , Lafferty Kevin D.
Published: July 2018

Sea‐level rise (SLR) impacts on intertidal habitat depend on coastal topology, accretion, and constraints from surrounding development. Such habitat changes might affect species like Belding's savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi; BSSP), which live in high‐elevation salt marsh in the Southern California Bight. To predict how BSSP habitat might change under various SLR scenarios, we first constructed a suitability model by matching bird observations with elevation. We then mapped current BSSP breeding and foraging habitat at six estuarine sites by applying the elevation‐suitability model to digital elevation models. To estimate changes in digital elevation models under different SLR scenarios, we used a site‐specific, one‐dimensional elevation model (wetland accretion rate model of ecosystem resilience). We then applied our elevation‐suitability model to the projected digital elevation models. The resulting maps suggest that suitable breeding and foraging habitat could decline as increased inundation converts middle‐ and high‐elevation suitable habitat to mudflat and subtidal zones. As a result, the highest SLR scenario predicted that no suitable breeding or foraging habitat would remain at any site by 2100 and 2110. Removing development constraints to facilitate landward migration of high salt marsh, or redistributing dredge spoils to replace submerged habitat, might create future high salt marsh habitat, thereby reducing extirpation risk for BSSP in southern California.