bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Upscaling the “ETH House of Natural Resources”
Authors: Wanninger Flavio , Hamm Jan , Frangi Andrea
Published: July 2016

The “ETH House of Natural Resources” is an office building on the campus site “Hönggerberg” of ETH Zurich. Moreover, it is a pilot building, promoting structural elements made of hardwood. The building comprises several innovative structural systems; a post-tensioned timber frame, two composite slab systems made of beech laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and a biaxial timber slab made of cross laminated timber (CLT) and beech LVL. The building serves as an office building for the laboratory of hydraulics, hydrology and glaciology of ETH Zurich and as a “living lab” for the testing and demonstration of new building technologies. Construction time of the timber structure was minimized by using pre-fabricated elements for the frame and the slabs. The system was assembled on site with only few construction workers showing the great potential for multi-storey timber buildings.

The next step is the upscaling of the building to a multi-storey timber structure. The structure in mind consists of post-tensioned timber frames forming a skeleton in combination with a core. The slabs are planned as composite slabs made of timber and concrete. The whole structural system can be pre-fabricated and quickly assembled on site. This guarantees a high quality of the elements and a short construction time.
Contact! Contact! Nature Preservation as the Preservation of Meaning
Authors: Deliège Glenn
Published: July 2016

In this paper, I reinterpret the conflict between rewilders and those who want to preserve traditional agricultural landscapes. By showing that underlying both positions is a common outlook in which nature preservation can be described as a primarily interpretative act geared towards the preservation of meaning by establishing a successful contact with external reality, I hope to refocus the debate away from the current stalemate. Too often, the debate ends in a dispute about what counts as ‘real nature’. By interpreting nature preservation – whether it is directed at rewilding or at preserving old agricultural landscapes – as an act that is a response to nature's meanings, we will refocus attention on the real issue underlying preservation: articulating the ways nature is meaningful to us.
Animals, Relations, and the Laissez-Faire Intuition
Authors: Hedberg Trevor
Published: July 2016

In Animal Ethics in Context, Clare Palmer tries to harmonise two competing approaches to animal ethics. One focuses on the morally relevant capacities that animals possess. The other is the Laissez-Faire Intuition (LFI): the claim that we have duties to assist domesticated animals but should (at least generally) leave wild animals alone. In this paper, I critique the arguments that Palmer offers in favour of the No-Contact LFI – the view that we have ( prima facie) duties not to harm wild animals but no duties to assist them. I argue that Palmer's endorsement of the No-Contact LFI is unwarranted. Her arguments actually provide strong reasons to endorse what I call the Gradient View – a position that posits weak presumptive duties to assist wild animals that become stronger as our relations with the animals grow stronger.
Indigenous Trees and Forests: Contradictions, Conflict and Conservation in Natal and Zululand (1900-1960)
Authors: Witt Harald
Published: July 2016

At the turn of the nineteenth century, it was estimated that nine-tenths of the identified forests in Natal had been permanently alienated from the Crown through their incorporation into private lands and Native Trust Lands. The entrenchment of the political power of white land-owners in the twentieth century ensured that official attempts at restraining private land-owners from destroying indigenous forests on their lands were doomed to fail. Trust forests, as quasi state forests, were however, more accessible to Forestry officials, who remained convinced that the management and ultimately preservation of these forests could best be controlled and managed by themselves. This article examines the manner in which the conservation and administrative control of the various forests on Trust lands became the subject of dispute between various organs of the state in the first half of the twentieth century. This contestation was characterised, on one level, by a general shift from a conservationist and utilitarian approach in regard to the management of indigenous forests to one that was far more preservationist in definition while, at the same time, illustrating fierce administrative tensions between a relatively compassionate Department of Native Affairs and a Department of Forestry that subscribed to a more racialised agenda.
'Original Lords of the Soil'? The Erosion of Amerindian Territorial Rights in Guyana
Authors: Bulkan Janette
Published: July 2016

The consequences of State claims to, and controls over, the territories of Guyana's Indigenous Peoples (Amerindians) are traced through successive Dutch and British colonial to post-Independence governments. From the mid-eighteenth century, a numerically small sugar plantocracy wielded influence within local government and ensured that colonial policy served its interests located on the coastland. Hinterland policies extended the capitalist approach to natural resources extraction and favoured the dominance of the small stratum of monied interests over the majority of Crown licences for forestry, mining and ranching, which were superimposed on claimed Indigenous lands. The colonial governments' approach to Amerindians was protectionist, but the Amerindian land rights were not codified in law. Authoritarian post-Independence governments have used the discretionary power in the legislative framework inherited from the colonial times to expand the numbers of, and areas covered by, logging and mining licences. The State is aided by the lack of a participatory reservation process for forests and/or a formal settlement process to determine and codify pre-existing customary rights of Indigenous Peoples, twin processes that were instituted in the majority of British colonies. Indigenous rights and privileges on their customary lands have been steadily eroded in law, policy and practice. Amerindians receive few economic benefits from natural resources operations on either their legally titled communal lands or customary lands.
Australian Aboriginal Traditions about Coastal Change Reconciled with Postglacial Sea-Level History: A First Synthesis
Authors: Nunn Patrick D.
Published: July 2016

Like some other oral traditions of Australian Aborigines, those that relate to widespread and enduring coastal inundation appear to be several thousand years old. The best-documented traditions, some mythologised, are presented for six sites around the Australian coast (Bathurst and Melville Islands, Northern Territory; Rottnest, Carnac and Garden Islands, Western Australia; Spencer Gulf, South Australia; Kangaroo Island, South Australia; Port Phillip Bay, Victoria; Cairns and Fitzroy Island, Queensland). The minimum depths at which each tradition would have been true is determined from local bathymetry. These depths are then compared to postglacial sea-level history and minimum ages for each tradition calculated. These range from 7,500-13,400 years Before Present and represent unique observations of postglacial sea-level rise and its effects that have significant implications for an appreciation of the longevity of such traditions in preliterate societies.
The Entangled Relations of Humans and Nile Crocodiles in Africa, c.1840-1992
Authors: Pooley Simon
Published: July 2016

The nature of European explorers' and hunters' perceptions of the wildlife they encountered during their travels, and how this shaped their responses to it, has been surprisingly little studied. This may in part be because of the wealth of primary material and the dearth of secondary sources. Animal studies has come of age in recent decades, with a focus on how humans have conceptualised and related to animals, but much of this new field concerns domesticated or captive animals and has tended towards philosophical, political and theoretical approaches. Yet there is much to be gained from a historical exploration of the abundant sources on Europeans' encounter with wildlife, notably during the height of colonial exploration and adventuring in Africa. This review focuses on the Nile crocodile (
Crocodylus niloticus
) in Africa. Crocodiles had a major impact on European travellers, elicited extreme reactions and reveal an irrational difference in attitudes to large mammalian predators, as opposed to reptilian. The oft-repeated statement that Nile crocodiles kill more humans and are more hated than any other predator (or even, all other predators) in Africa is still current. The expansion of human settlement and activities into the habitats of crocodiles and increasing demands on water supplies is resulting in escalating conflicts and some experts regard crocodiles as a 'growing threat to rural livelihoods and development'. If these important apex predators of the continent's waterways are to be conserved, then a good place to start then a good place to start is with an exploration of the long history of human-crocodile interactions that have shaped expert and public perceptions of crocodiles.
People in Peril, Environments at Risk: Coolies, Tigers, and Colonial Singapore's Ecology of Poverty
Authors: Powell Miles Alexander
Published: July 2016

In recent years, scholars have demonstrated that affluent societies have a disproportionate environmental impact. A focus on wealth, however, can obscure how poverty also propels ecosystem destruction, particularly when combined - as in colonial Singapore - with uncaring administrators and the ruthless logic of imperialism. In this colony, poor Chinese, Malays, archipelagic South-east Asians and Indians struggled to eke out a living by razing rainforest, because they possessed no better options. As these workers struggled to transform forests into farms, houses and roads, they created an ecology of poverty that had catastrophic consequences for humans and tigers alike. Finding ever less forest in which to hide from humans, the mighty cats instead began to regard some people as prey. Unable to flee, poor Chinese, Malays, archipelagic South-east Asians and Indians sought to protect themselves by killing tigers. In the end, the humans vanquished the cats, but not without enduring hundreds of fatalities. Colonial Singapore's environmental history reminds us that the people who carry out the work of eradicating nature often do so because they possess limited alternatives for survival. As a corollary, caring for and protecting the environment is inseparable from aiding and respecting people.
Clinical Significance of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 for Breast Cancer & Adenocarcinomas of Various Internal Organs and Alzheimer's Brain with Increased β-amyloid (1-42); Combined Use of Optimal Doses of Vitamin D3 and Taurine 3 times/day Has Significant Beneficial
Effects of Anti-Cancer, Anti-Ischemic Heart, and Memory & Other Brain Problems By Significant Urinary Excretion of Viruses, Bacteria, and Toxic Metals & Substances
Authors: Omura Yoshiaki
Published: July 2016

Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) has a significant role in various cancers and Alzheimer's disease. 500 breast cancer mammograms as well as 3 cases of adenocarcinomas of esophagus, stomach, colon, prostate gland, uterus, ovary that was examined had significant infection of HPV-16
with significantly increased β-amyloid (1-42). When a strong HPV-16 infection is found in the oral cavity, repeated exposure to the infected individual's coughing can infect others easily through saliva. Just like all of above cancer tissues, all 20 Alzheimer's cases that were examined
had significantly increased HPV-16 of 1500∼3000ng with markedly reduced Acetylcholine of 0.5∼1.5ng and significantly increased β-amyloid (1-42) of 7.5ng or higher. Since every cancer and Alzheimer's patient examined had significantly reduced amounts of Vitamin D3 and
Taurine, the author examined the effects of Vitamin D3 and Taurine independently, or by combination. Each of optimal doses of Vitamin D3 and Taurine had significant beneficial effects that were anti-cancer, anti-cardiac ischemia, and memory loss & other brain problems,
with significant excretion of HPV-16 and bacteria such as Borrelia Burgdorferi, if it exists, through the urine, without using any anti-viral or anti-bacterial agents. However, when optimal doses of Taurine and Vitamin D3 were used together, 3 times/day, there was reduction of cancer-associated
Oncogene CfosAB-2 or Integrin α5β1 with significantly high values of 200∼500ng which were reduced to 0.001∼0.004ng. Memory and brain function improved by increasing markedly reduced abnormal Acetylcholine of 1.5ng or less to a few hundred∼2500ng with increase in DHEA.
Abnormally increased β-amyloid (1-42) is markedly reduced. Ischemic heart, where there is abnormally increased Cardiac Troponin I, reduced significantly. In addition, abnormally reduced DHEA levels often increase. HPV-16 in urine increased from an average of 100∼115ng to an average
of 4000ng and cancer related parameters in the urine significantly increased. Thus, the author found combined use of optimal dose of Vitamin D3 400 I.U. and optimal dose of Taurine 175mg, 3/day, was found to be one of the safest, most effective treatments for cancer, memory problems
& other brain abnormality, and Ischemic heart problems, and this combination seems to improve any part of the body. One should try this method before using any other treatment, which has a potential side effect.
A Qualitative Assessment of Mismatch between Dialysis Modality Selection and Initiation
Authors: Ziolkowski Susan , Liebman Scott
Published: July 2016

At our institution, we have noted that end-stage renal disease patients choosing a home dialysis modality after education often initiate renal replacement therapy with in-center hemodialysis (HD) instead. We interviewed 24 such patients (23 choosing peritoneal dialysis [PD], one choosing home HD) to determine reasons for this mismatch. The most common reasons cited for not starting home dialysis were: lack of confidence/concerns about complications, lack of space or home-related issues, a feeling of insufficient education, and perceived medical or social contraindications. We propose several potential strategies to help patients start with their preferred modality.
A terahertz-vibration to terahertz-radiation converter based on gold nanoobjects: a feasibility study
Authors: Moldosanov Kamil , Postnikov Andrei
Published: July 2016

Background: The need for practical and adaptable terahertz sources is apparent in the areas of application such as early cancer diagnostics, nondestructive inspection of pharmaceutical tablets, visualization of concealed objects. We outline the operation principle and suggest the design of a simple appliance for generating terahertz radiation by a system of nanoobjects – gold nanobars (GNBs) or nanorings (GNRs) – irradiated by microwaves.

Results: Our estimations confirm a feasibility of the idea that GNBs and GNRs irradiated by microwaves could become terahertz emitters with photon energies within the full width at half maximum of the longitudinal acoustic phononic DOS of gold (ca. 16–19 meV, i.e., 3.9–4.6 THz). A scheme of the terahertz radiation source is suggested based on the domestic microwave oven irradiating a substrate with multiple deposited GNBs or GNRs.

Conclusion: The size of a nanoobject for optimal conversion is estimated to be approx. 3 nm (thickness) by approx. 100 nm (length of GNB, or along the GNR). This detailed prediction is open to experimental verification. An impact is expected onto further studies of interplay between atomic vibrations and electromagnetic waves in nanoobjects.
From N-vinylpyrrolidone anions to modified paraffin-like oligomers via double alkylation with 1,8-dibromooctane: access to covalent networks and oligomeric amines for dye attachment
Authors: Obels Daniela , Lievenbrück Melanie , Ritter Helmut
Published: July 2016

The double alkylation of N-vinylpyrrolidone (N-VP) with 1,8-dibromooctane yields paraffin-like oligomeric chains bearing polymerizable vinyl moieties. These oligomers were radically crosslinked in bulk with N-VP as co-monomer yielding swellable polymer disks. The vinylic side groups of the N-VP oligomers allow thiol–ene click reactions with 2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride to obtain reactive amino-functionalized oligomers. Further modification of the free amino groups with 1,4-difluoro-9,10-anthraquinone (DFA) yields red-colored oligomeric anthraquinone dyes. The final reaction of DFA-substituted N-VP oligomers with Jeffamine® M 600 leads to blue-colored and branched oligomers with poly(ethylene glycol) side chains.
DYNAMICAL ACCRETION OF PRIMORDIAL ATMOSPHERES AROUND PLANETS WITH MASSES BETWEEN 0.1 AND 5 M⊕ IN THE HABITABLE ZONE
Authors: Stökl Alexander , Dorfi Ernst A. , Johnstone Colin P. , Lammer Helmut
Published: July 2016

In the early, disk-embedded phase of evolution of terrestrial planets, a protoplanetary core can accumulate gas from the circumstellar disk into a planetary envelope. In order to relate the accumulation and structure of this primordial atmosphere to the thermal evolution of the planetary core, we calculated atmosphere models characterized by the surface temperature of the core. We considered cores with masses between 0.1 and 5 M
⊕ situated in the habitable zone around a solar-like star. The time-dependent simulations in 1D-spherical symmetry include the hydrodynamics equations, gray radiative transport, and convective energy transport. Using an implicit time integration scheme, we can use large time steps and and thus efficiently cover evolutionary timescales. Our results show that planetary atmospheres, when considered with reference to a fixed core temperature, are not necessarily stable, and multiple solutions may exist for one core temperature. As the structure and properties of nebula-embedded planetary atmospheres are an inherently time-dependent problem, we calculated estimates for the amount of primordial atmosphere by simulating the accretion process of disk gas onto planetary cores and the subsequent evolution of the embedded atmospheres. The temperature of the planetary core is thereby determined from the computation of the internal energy budget of the core. For cores more massive than about one Earth mass, we obtain that a comparatively short duration of the disk-embedded phase (∼105 years) is sufficient for the accumulation of significant amounts of hydrogen atmosphere that are unlikely to be removed by later atmospheric escape processes.
2D RADIATION-HYDRODYNAMIC SIMULATIONS OF SUPERNOVA SHOCK BREAKOUT IN BIPOLAR EXPLOSIONS OF A BLUE SUPERGIANT PROGENITOR
Authors: Suzuki Akihiro , Maeda Keiichi , Shigeyama Toshikazu
Published: July 2016

A two-dimensional special relativistic radiation-hydrodynamics code is developed and applied to numerical simulations of supernova shock breakout in bipolar explosions of a blue supergiant. Our calculations successfully simulate the dynamical evolution of a blast wave in the star and its emergence from the surface. Results of the model with spherical energy deposition show a good agreement with previous simulations. Furthermore, we calculate several models with bipolar energy deposition and compare their results with the spherically symmetric model. The bolometric light curves of the shock breakout emission are calculated by a ray-tracing method. Our radiation-hydrodynamic models indicate that the early part of the shock breakout emission can be used to probe the geometry of the blast wave produced as a result of the gravitational collapse of the iron core.
Congenital Cataract, Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction, and Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Conjunctivitis: When to Operate?
Authors: Siddiqui Sorath Noorani , Zafar Saemah Nuzhat
Published: July 2016

Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
is one of the toughest organisms to treat, especially in cases where intraocular surgery is contemplated, because the risks are aggravated. Conjunctival swab culture and sensitivity tests are significant when there is history of recent hospitalization. In this report, an infant with successful cataract surgery after elimination of the organism is presented.

[
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus
. 2016;53:e29–e31.]
Las carreras profesionales de las primeras universitarias españolas (1910-1936)
Authors: Montero Mercedes
Published: July 2016

El artículo está centrado en la presencia progresiva de la mujer española en el mundo profesional, como consecuencia del libre acceso a la Universidad (1910). Metodológicamente es un estudio historiográfico que compara las distintas tendencias en la literatura científica generada sobre el tema. Los resultados apuntan a la existencia de dos momentos importantes. En el primero (años 20), las mujeres trabajaron en especialidades médicas (preferentemente ginecología, pediatría u oftalmología) y empezaron a ganar oposiciones tanto para el cuerpo oficial de Archivos y Bibliotecas como para los institutos de enseñanza media. En el segundo (años 30), las mujeres alcanzaron la investigación científica, y el ejercicio profesional del periodismo, el derecho y la política. La discusión científica está en cómo se alcanzaron estas metas en el contexto social, político y cultural de aquellos años, concluyendo que se debió al propio empuje de las mujeres, apoyadas por corrientes sociales ajenas al feminismo.
Ecofeminismo: una nueva manera de mirar la naturaleza
Authors: Bel Bravo María Antonia
Published: July 2016

El intento de erradicar la violencia en todas sus vertientes, que define a nuestro mundo, ha tenido su reflejo en el movimiento ecofeminista que, con diferentes perspectivas, ha tratado de conectar ambas cuestiones, feminismo y ecología por las muchas implicaciones que conllevan entre sí. En este artículo se analizan algunas de ellas desde una perspectiva interdisciplinar y se apuesta claramente por un ecofeminismo personalista y no constructivista.
Cuerpos silenciados. El ingreso de restos humanos al Museo Etnográfico entre 1904 y 1916 durante las campañas militares al Gran Chaco argentino
Authors: Tolosa Sandra , Dávila Lena
Published: July 2016

En este artículo analizamos el ingreso de restos humanos al Museo Etnográfico entre 1904 y 1916, por pedido de su director Juan B. Ambrosetti a diferentes personas e instituciones. Nos centramos en aquellos pertenecientes a indígenas del Gran Chaco argentino, en el contexto del avance militar sobre ese territorio y la consecuente desarticulación de sus pueblos originarios. En este sentido, destacamos cómo miembros del mismo Ejército enviaron objetos etnográficos y restos óseos al Museo, respondiendo a una solicitud directa de Ambrosetti a dicha fuerza armada. En particular, examinamos algunos datos acerca de los únicos de estos restos identificados, el cacique Carayá y el cacique Illirí, este último asesinado en una emboscada y enviado directamente al Museo una vez descarnado. Los casos permiten poner de relieve el vínculo entre la ciencia antropológica y las campañas militares, en el marco de la acción de avance territorial del Estado-nación a principios del siglo XX.
Identidad étnica de preparatorianos universitarios indígenas en México ante las representaciones mediáticas de "lo indígena"
Authors: Doncel de la Colina Juan Antonio
Published: July 2016

El reciente pero intenso flujo de migración indígena al industrial estado mexicano de Nuevo León plantea un doble reto: social y académico. Aquí presentamos los resultados de una investigación mayor con la que pretendemos analizar el proceso de reconfiguración identitaria que viven estos inmigrantes indígenas; específicamente aquellos que logran superar el estigma que su condición étnica les impone alcanzando los niveles superiores de educación (Educación Media Superior y Superior). Concretamente, en este artículo analizamos el papel de los medios masivos de comunicación entendidos como esencial agente socializador y, en consecuencia, factor destacado en el proceso de construcción de las identidades étnicas. De este modo, tratamos aquí de entender cómo son interpretadas y significadas por los protagonistas de nuestra investigación las representaciones que los medios de comunicación elaboran de las expresiones y prácticas culturales de los diversos pueblos indígenas presentes en el actual territorio mexicano. Tras establecer las bases teóricas y hacer un breve repaso por algunos de los antecedentes empíricos, ofrecemos los resultados de un amplio trabajo de campo (veintinueve entrevistas semidirigidas), analizando el modo en el que estos estudiantes consumen y valoran la presencia de sus lenguas maternas en los medios de comunicación (entendida la lengua como eje estructurador de la cultura) y de cómo valoran y significan la forma en la que los medios que consumen muestran a la audiencia su propios rasgos culturales. Trasversalmente a este análisis pretendemos comenzar a establecer el impacto que esta proyección mediática tiene sobre la construcción, o reconstrucción, de sus propias identidades étnicas.
Virtual Designing of Robotic Workstations
Authors: Sobaszek Łukasz , Gola Arkadiusz , Varga Jozef
Published: July 2016

The number of companies that decide to employ industrial robots to facilitate their production process is on the constant increase. Implementation of such solutions requires deep analysis of manifold aspects of such an endeavour. Apart from the economical face of the problem, there appear issues connected with integration of robots with the existing manufacturing infrastructure. Hence software enabling simulation and analysis of a robot work in the future environment is in demand. The following article is devoted to the problem of virtual designing of robotic workstations. The work presents basic information regarding application of robots in manufacturing companies and introduces typical software for simulation and programming of industrial robots. What is more, the process of designing a virtual environment and conducting analysis of robot work analysis is presented based on the laboratory set-up with Kawasaki RS003N robot. Finally, other examples of virtually designed robotic workstations are introduced.
Simulation Based Analysis of Reconfigurable Manufacturing System Configurations
Authors: Gola Arkadiusz , Świć Antoni
Published: July 2016

Nowadays, manufacturers seek customers’ satisfaction by increasing products variety and customization while striving for agility and productivity. To remain competitive, companies must design manufacturing systems that not only produce high-quality products at low cost, but also respond to market changes in an economical way. One of the critical problems of manufacturing systems design is to decide which of possible configurations is the most advantageous for a company. This article presents the possibility of using simulation methods in the process of analysis of possible configurations of Reconfigurable Manufacturing System according to maximization the productivity of the system.
Positioning of Randomly Distributed Objects with Camera Omron F150-3
Authors: Jánoš Rudolf
Published: July 2016

This article describes the possibilities of OMRON F150-3 inspection system for the detection position of the object manipulation in the workspace, so that the coordinates of the center of gravity of the target object (x, y, z) be able to sell an industrial robot control system for the purpose of transposition. A specific feature of this work is that the installation is carried out with the robot SCARA, which take parts from the conveyor. Parts on the conveyor are unoriented, therefore it is necessary to use a camera system to detect the position and orientation of parts. Recognition, identification, location and orientation of the proposed method is sufficiently robust and easily adaptable to the different type of components.
Verification of Parameter Camera System Omron F150 Robotized Workplace with SCARA Robot
Authors: Semjon Ján
Published: July 2016

The article deals with verifying the characteristics of the camera system located on robotized workstation equipped with SCARA robot.In the workplace, it is necessary to follow the existence of good parts and bad parts and subsequently evaluated and properly store these parts on the system pallets.The role of the article is to verify the suitability of purchased lighting technology at work camera system, so that identification of parts was the most optimal.
Numerical Simulation of Leakage of Oil in a Submerged Duct and the Behavior of Oil in a Marine Environment
Authors: Moreira Gicélia , Araújo Morgana Vasconcellos , Buriti Cidronia J. de Oliveira , Farias Neto Severino Rodrigues , Lima Antonio Gilson Barbosa
Published: July 2016

Oil spill at sea by pipeline cracks can cause environmental damage. Knowledge of interfacial phenomena of immiscible liquids helps to study the dispersion of pollutants in oceans, favoring thus flow behavior of the forecast in the vicinity of the leak in submerged pipelines. This study aims to numerically study the leakage of behavior in a submerged pipeline carrying oil. It adopted a two-dimensional model based on mass conservation equations, linear momentum and the model k-ε standard turbulence. We used the Ansys CFX for meshing with 40,510 hexahedral elements. The results of pressure fields and volumetric fraction of oil are analyzed and discussed.
A Theoretical Investigation of Banana Drying Using Diffusion Model
Authors: Pereira de Farias R. , Pinheiro Neto R. , Pereira da Silva W. , Barbosa de Lima A.G.
Published: July 2016

This work presents a drying theoretical study of banana fruit using diffusion model (Fick ́s law). The governing equation was solved by using the separation of variables technique. For validation, whole banana were peeled manually and dried in an oven at temperatures 40 and 70°C. Predicted results were obtained by fitting to experimental data using the least square error technique. Results revealed which air temperature affect significantly drying of banana. The fitted results presented good concordance with the experimental data.
Indoor Environmental Quality of School Buildings
Authors: Delgado J.M.P.Q.
Published: July 2016

School buildings energy efficiency is crucial but also environmental, aesthetics, acoustics, accessibility and comfort requirements will be valued. Focus will be on creating value for all the users involved not only in terms of economics, but also in terms of comfort, health, environment, academic success, etc...Various attempts to optimize school buildings design have been made throughout Europe. However, the in-use performance of these buildings revealed very different than the expected. It is crucial to minimize the gap between computer simulation and measured performance. Moreover, the maintenance and operation costs of the recently rehabilitated buildings revealed unaffordable for the limited school budgets. Therefore, cost-effective, high-performing, and minimally invasive solutions should be developed and monitored to ensure their performance during the service life and guaranteeing the full performance predicted at the design stage. This will be achieved by combining innovative construction with real performance information and users’ feedback.This work intends to present a short critical review of several works presented in literature.
Optical Microconcentrator System for Enhancing Solar Cell Photovoltaic Performances
Authors: Manea Elena , Parvulescu Catalin , Purica Munizer , Budianu Elena , Tibeica Constantin
Published: July 2016

In this paper, we present two optical microconcentrator systems consisting of an array of microlenses formed with an intermediate layer deposited between a textured glass plate and the front surface of a silicon solar cell and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microlenses based on replication of molds etched on glass. The optical coupling microlenses are fabricated using simple photolithography techniques that make the design compatible with silicon technology and large-scale manufacturing.We experimented with a honeycomb texturization on Corning glass plate having an area of 2x2 cm2. A wet etching process that led to a transparent surface with micro-cavities of 20 μm diameter and a depth of 6 μm was used. The intermediate layer was chosen depending on the refractive index. Materials with the refractive index in the range of 1 - 1.43 were experimented. The structures of silicon solar cells covered with the intermediate layer and texturized glass were characterized by illuminating and measuring the short-circuit photocurrent. It was obtained an improvement of 6.7 % of the short-circuit photocurrent for the optical microconcentrator system solar cells as compared to a structure covered with an untextured glass plate without intermediate layer. The microconcentrator consisting of the PDMS microlenses gave better results, an increase of the photocurrent of over 9%.The simulations of this system were done by using an OptiFTDT software. The aim of the simulations was to establish the distribution of the radiation which crosses the optical microconcentrator system and hits the solar cells surface. The simulation results are in agreement with the obtained experimental data.
High Temperature Oxidation Behavior of High Strength Steel Plates
Authors: Park Soon Yong , Yadav Poonam , Lee Dong Bok
Published: July 2016

Three kinds of high-strength steel plates containing (less than 0.07%, or 0.024%, or 0.057%)-Si were oxidized at 700-900 °C isothermally and cyclically in atmospheric air, and their oxidation behavior was compared. The composition of the steels significantly affected the scaling rates, thickness, and adherence of the formed scales. The most important element in terms of oxidation was Si because Si affected the oxidation rates and scale adherence much. Silicon formed quite slowly a growing SiO2–containing scale around the scale/matrix interface. In the Si-deficient steel, quite thick oxide scales formed, and their adherence was poor. An optimum amount of Si was necessary in order to decrease the oxidation rate, and improve the scale adherence.
Effects of the availability of new oral anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in the real world: the NAIF study
Authors: Ventrella Francesco , Mastroianni Franco , Cappello Sergio , Iamele Luigi , Errico Samantha , Errico Massimo
Published: July 2016

Guidelines recommend anticoagulation to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). In the real world, this treatment is underused, probably for pharmacologic limitations of vitamin-K-antagonist (VKA). The New Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC) overcome many limitations of VKA. The aim of this study was to assess if, after introduction of NOAC, anticoagulated patients are increased. We performed an observational retrospective cohort study about patients with NVAF, hospitalized in Internal Medicine or Geriatrics for any cause in two years, before and after the marketing of NOAC. The results showed: 640 patients enrolled (289 in 2012, 351 in 2015), elderly population (83+7), males 42% females 58%, high morbidity, high thromboembolic (CHA2DS2VASc 5+1,6) and haemorrhagic (HASBLED 2.7+1.2) risks, with frequent chronic renal disease (51% stage >3) and contraindications to anticoagulants (21,6%). Therapy at discharge 2012 vs 2015: VKA 124/289 (43%) vs VKA or NOAC 187/351 (53%) (p<0,01); antiplatelet 114/289 (39%) vs 70/351 (20%) (p<0,0001). For the high comorbidity, frequent use of LMWH: 42/289 (15%) in 2012 vs 77/351 (22%) in 2015. NOAC have increased the adherence to guidelines in prescribing oral anticoagulants in patients with NVAF.
Quantitative Perfusion and Permeability Biomarkers in Brain Cancer from Tomographic CT and MR Images
Authors: Eilaghi Armin , Yeung Timothy , d'Esterre Christopher , Bauman Glenn , Yartsev Slav , Easaw Jay , Fainardi Enrico , Lee Ting-Yim , Frayne Richard
Published: July 2016

Dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion and permeability imaging, using computed tomography and magnetic resonance systems, are important techniques for assessing the vascular supply and hemodynamics of healthy brain parenchyma and tumors. These techniques can measure blood flow, blood volume, and blood-brain barrier permeability surface area product and, thus, may provide information complementary to clinical and pathological assessments. These have been used as biomarkers to enhance the treatment planning process, to optimize treatment decision-making, and to enable monitoring of the treatment noninvasively. In this review, the principles of magnetic resonance and computed tomography dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion and permeability imaging are described (with an emphasis on their commonalities), and the potential values of these techniques for differentiating high-grade gliomas from other brain lesions, distinguishing true progression from posttreatment effects, and predicting survival after radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and antiangiogenic treatments are presented.
Significance of HbA1c Test in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Diabetic Patients
Authors: Sherwani Shariq I. , Khan Haseeb A. , Ekhzaimy Aishah , Masood Afshan , Sakharkar Meena K.
Published: July 2016

Diabetes is a global endemic with rapidly increasing prevalence in both developing and developed countries. The American Diabetes Association has recommended glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a possible substitute to fasting blood glucose for diagnosis of diabetes. HbA1c is an important indicator of long-term glycemic control with the ability to reflect the cumulative glycemic history of the preceding two to three months. HbA1c not only provides a reliable measure of chronic hyperglycemia but also correlates well with the risk of long-term diabetes complications. Elevated HbA1c has also been regarded as an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke in subjects with or without diabetes. The valuable information provided by a single HbA1c test has rendered it as a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of diabetes. This review highlights the role of HbA1c in diagnosis and prognosis of diabetes patients.
Outcomes of DES in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients with Complex Coronary Artery Disease after Risk Stratification by the SYNTAX Score
Authors: Loutfi Mohamed , Sadaka Mohamed A. , Sobhy Mohamed
Published: July 2016

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of adverse outcomes after coronary revascularization. Controversy persists regarding the optimal revascularization strategy for diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD).

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of drug-eluting stent (DES) insertion in DM and non-DM patients with complex coronary artery disease (CAD) after risk stratification by the percutaneous coronary intervention with taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score.

Methods and Results

We performed multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for 601 lesions in 243 DM patients and 1,029 lesions in 401 non-DM patients. All included patients had MVD and one or more lesions of type B2/C. The two-year outcomes and event rates were estimated in the DM and non-DM patients using Kaplan–Meier analyses. The baseline SYNTAX score was ≤22 in 84.8% vs. 84%, P = 0.804, and 23-32 in 15.2% vs. 16%, P = 0.804, of the DM and non-DM patients, respectively. The number of diseased segments treated (2.57 ± 0.75 vs. 2.47 ± 0.72; P = 0.066) and stents implanted per patient (2.41 ± 0.63 vs. 2.32 ± 0.54; P = 0.134) were similar in both groups. After a mean follow-up of 642 ± 175 days, there were no differences in the major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE; 26.7% vs. 20.9%; P = 0.091), composite end point of all-cause death/myocardial infarction (MI)/stroke (12.3% vs. 9%; P = 0.172), individual MACCE components of death (3.7% vs. 3.2%; P = 0.754), MI (6.6% vs. 4%; P = 0.142), and absence of stroke in the DM and non-DM patients. An increased need for repeat revascularization was observed in DM patients (18.5% vs. 10.2%; P = 0.003). In the multivariate analysis, DM was an independent predictor of repeat revascularization (hazard ratio: 1.818; 95% confidence interval: 1.162-2.843; P = 0.009).

Conclusions

DES implantation provides favorable early and mid-term results in both DM and non-DM patients undergoing PCI for complex lesions. After a mean follow-up of two years, DM and non-DM patients with complex CAD treated by PCI using new-generation DES showed no differences with regard to MACCE and other secondary end points. However, higher rates of ischemia-driven repeat revascularization were observed in DM patients.
Health-Care Workers' Perspectives on Ebola Virus Vaccine: A Focus Group and In-Depth Interview Interventional Study
Authors: Esangbedo Dorothy O. , Ughasoro Maduka D. , Tagbo Beckie N. , Olowu Adebiyi , Anikene Chukwuemeka , Iwegbulam Chimaobi C.
Published: July 2016

Health-care workers (HCWs) will require Ebola virus vaccine (EVV) when it is introduced because of the high risk of exposure to the disease. Evaluations of factors that facilitate or limit vaccine uptake are critical for a successful vaccine program. Nigerian HCWs were interviewed to evaluate their knowledge, levels of acceptance, determinants of acceptance, and willingness to pay for EVV. The significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05. None of the 193 participating HCWs had correct knowledge of EVV; 34.7% (67/193) of workers thought that EVV was an extract of the serum of Ebola virus patients. About 77.3% (51/66) of workers in a region that reported Ebola cases (Lagos) were willing to be vaccinated, compared with 4.7% (3/61) in Enugu and 13.6% (9/66) in Abia (P = 0.0001). After health education, the proportion of HCWs willing to receive EVV increased (P = 0.006) except for doctors (P < 0.1). The percentage of HCWs willing to pay for EVV was 86.4%, 72.1%, and 59% in Lagos, Enugu, and Abia, respectively. The workers had fears about EVV based on nonfactual assumptions. Therefore, the EVV introduction strategy should include a strong awareness campaign with adequate explanation about the content of EVV.
Attentional Bias towards Threatening and Neutral Facial Expressions in High Trait Anxious Children
Authors: Kelly Lauren C. , Maratos Frances A. , Lipka Sigrid , Croker Steve
Published: July 2016

Research suggests anxious children display increased attentional biases for threat-related stimuli. However, findings based upon spatial domain research are equivocal. Moreover, few studies allow for the independent analysis of trials containing neutral (i.e., potentially ambiguous) faces. Here, we report two temporal attentional blink experiments with high trait anxious (HTA) and low trait anxious (LTA) children. In an emotive experiment, we manipulated the valence of the second target (T2: threatening/positive/neutral). Results revealed that HTA, relative to LTA, children demonstrated better performance on neutral trials. Additionally, HTA children demonstrated a threat-superiority effect whereas LTA children demonstrated an emotion-superiority effect. In a non-emotive control experiment, no differences between HTA and LTA children were observed. Results suggest trait anxiety is associated with an attentional bias for threat in children. Additionally, the neutral face finding suggests HTA children bias attention towards ambiguity. These findings could have important implications for current anxiety disorder research and treatments.
Attention and Interpretation Biases and Attention Control in Youth with Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Pergamin-Hight Lee , Bitton Shani , Pine Daniel S. , Fox Nathan A. , Bar-Haim Yair
Published: July 2016

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is associated with threat-related attention and interpretation biases. Recent research suggests that attention control abilities moderate these associations. The current study examines threat-related attentional engagement and disengagement biases, negative interpretation bias, and attention control among youth with SAD (n=71) and non-anxious youth (n=42). We further explore interactions between cognitive biases, and between these biases and attention control, in predicting SAD. Relative to non-anxious youth, youth with SAD had poorer attention control, p=.001, greater difficulty disengaging from angry faces, p=.05, and a negative biased interpretation of ambiguous social scenarios, p =.01. However, no interactions were found among these factors in relation to SAD diagnosis or symptoms. The present results add to research on cognitive biases in anxious children, emphasizing a distinct contribution of each of these cognitive mechanisms, rather than their interactional influences. Findings are discussed in relation to cognitive developmental models of anxiety.
New insight into the spatiotemporal variability and source apportionments of
C1–C4 alkyl nitrates in Hong Kong
Authors: Ling Zhenhao , Guo Hai , Simpson Isobel Jane , Saunders Sandra Maria , Lam Sean Ho Man , Lyu Xiaopu , Blake Donald Ray
Published: July 2016

Abstract. C1–C4 alkyl nitrates (RONO2) were measured concurrently at a mountain site, Tai Mo Shan (TMS), and an urban site, Tsuen Wan (TW), at the base of the same mountain in Hong Kong from September to November 2010. Although the levels of parent hydrocarbons were much lower at TMS (p  <  0.05), similar alkyl nitrate levels were found at both sites regardless of the elevation difference, suggesting various source contributions of alkyl nitrates at the two sites. Prior to using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, the data at TW were divided into "meso" and "non-meso" scenarios for the investigation of source apportionments with the influence of mesoscale circulation and regional transport, respectively. Secondary formation was the prominent contributor of alkyl nitrates in the meso scenario (60 ± 2 %, 60.2 ± 1.2 pptv), followed by biomass burning and oceanic emissions, while biomass burning and secondary formation made comparable contributions to alkyl nitrates in the non-meso scenario, highlighting the strong emissions of biomass burning in the inland Pearl River delta (PRD) region. In contrast to TW, the alkyl nitrate levels measured at TMS mainly resulted from the photooxidation of the parent hydrocarbons at TW during mesoscale circulation, i.e., valley breezes, corresponding to 52–86 % of the alkyl nitrate levels at TMS. Furthermore, regional transport from the inland PRD region made significant contributions to the levels of alkyl nitrates (∼  58–82 %) at TMS in the non-meso scenario, resulting in similar levels of alkyl nitrates observed at the two sites. The simulation of secondary formation pathways using a photochemical box model found that the reaction of alkyl peroxy radicals (RO2) with nitric oxide (NO) dominated the formation of RONO2 at both sites, and the formation of alkyl nitrates contributed negatively to O3 production, with average reduction rates of 4.1 and 4.7 pptv pptv−1 at TMS and TW, respectively.