bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Egy sikeres felnőttoktatási kezdeményezés nyomában – A hevesi Nyugdíjasok Középiskolája az 1980-as évek végén
Authors: Bognárné Szigeti Edit
Published: May 2017

Az 1980-as évek végén Magyarországon egy vidéki középiskolában nagy sikerrel valósította meg azt a manapság már, a demográfiai változásoknak köszönhetően, egyre inkább szükségszerűnek tekinthető társadalmi feladatot, hogy az idősödő népességet minél nagyobb mértékben vonjuk be az egész életen át tartó tanulásba. A kezdeményezés azon a felismerésen alapult, hogy az idős nyugdíjasok aktív tanulással, vagyis testi-lelki-szellemi egészségük fenntartásával, nem csak a saját életminőségüket javíthatják, hanem unokáik szakszerű nevelésével, tanításával, tudásuk átadásával az intergenerációs tanulási folyamatban is hasznos szerepet tölthetnek be.  Az időskori tanulás résztvevői sokszor megfogalmazzák, hogy végre kedvtelésből tanulhatnak valami olyasmit, amit mindig is szerettek volna, de a munka és a családi kötöttségek miatt korábban nem tehették. Az észak-magyarországi Hevesen 1985-től 1989-ig működő úgynevezett Nyugdíjasok Középiskolájában 47 időskorú, 60-80 éves nyugdíjas tapasztalhatta meg újra, önkéntes elhatározásból, „az iskolapadban” való tanulás élményét. Interjúalanyom a mindössze két induló évfolyam osztályfőnöke Dr. Giller Lászlóné, Ildikó, akkoriban fiatal magyar nyelv és irodalom és angol nyelv szakos gimnáziumi tanárnő, ma már maga is nyugdíjas nagymama. Ildikó részletesen beszámol a kedves „nagymama-nagypapa korú” tanítványaival töltött 4 iskolai év különleges tapasztalatairól, a példaértékű kezdeményezés hátteréről és eredményeiről.
Welcome note
Authors: Benedek András
Published: May 2017

Welcome note
A hatékony és eredményes vezető (kutatás, felmérés, elemzés)
Authors: Cseh Gyöngyi
Published: May 2017

A hatékony és eredményes vezető (kutatás, felmérés, elemzés)
"Így nevelnek ők" - Svájc, Ausztria és Észtország közoktatási intézkedéseinek elemzése a 2012. évi PISA- vizsgálatokban elért tanulói teljesítményeivel összefüggésben
Authors: Bereczky Judit
Published: May 2017

"Így nevelnek ők" - Svájc, Ausztria és Észtország közoktatási intézkedéseinek elemzése a 2012. évi PISA- vizsgálatokban elért tanulói teljesítményeivel összefüggésben
Az izlandi, a romániai és a magyarországi zeneoktatás egyes elemeinek összehasonlító elemzése és ezek hatása a zenei kultúrára
Authors: Szentkirályi Aladár
Published: May 2017

Az izlandi, a romániai és a magyarországi zeneoktatás egyes elemeinek összehasonlító elemzése és ezek hatása a zenei kultúrára
Nagy gyárak és iskolák
Authors: Fenyeres Tamásné
Published: May 2017

Nagy gyárak és iskolák
A szerb nemzeti kisebbség jogainak érvényesítése a köznevelésben
Authors: Herczeghné Melinda Orbán Éva
Published: May 2017

Abstract
The meaning and importance of Thomas Kuhn’s concept of ‘paradigm shift’. How does it apply in Education?
Authors: Kalman Aniko
Published: May 2017

The meaning and importance of Thomas Kuhn’s concept of ‘paradigm shift’. How does it apply in Education?
Formative feedback as a tool for learning and growing
Authors: Zorman Rachel
Published: May 2017

Formative feedback as a tool for learning and growing
Változó szakképzés, változó pedagógiai környezet
Authors: Tóth Péter
Published: May 2017

Az 1980-as évek közepe óta a szakképzést a folyamatos útkeresés jellemzi. Törvényalkotási ciklusonként jelentős törvényi és rendeleti korrekciók, folyamatosan változó szakmai és vizsgakövetelmények, két-három évente új képzési jegyzék megjelenése volt a jellemző. Mindeközben bizonytalan gazdasági hátteret, kidolgozatlan és megfogalmazatlan munkaerő-piaci igényeket látunk.
Visual Arguments: Moving vs. Still Images in WWF’S Campaigns
Authors: Jasz Borbala
Published: May 2017

Visual Arguments: Moving vs. Still Images in WWF’S Campaigns
Feminine Rhetoric: Feminine and Masculine dimensions in the context of Rhetoric, Gender and Social Spheres
Authors: Komar Zita
Published: May 2017

Feminine Rhetoric: Feminine and Masculine dimensions in the context of Rhetoric, Gender and Social Spheres
Implementation of professional tasks in Project No. TÁMOP-4.1.2.B.2
Authors: Molnar Gyorgy
Published: May 2017

Implementation of professional tasks in Project No. TÁMOP-4.1.2.B.2
Életminőség vizsgálat nehéz fizikai és mentális körülmények között dolgozók körében
Authors: Nagyváradi Katalin , Mátrai Zsuzsa
Published: May 2017

Életminőség vizsgálat nehéz fizikai és mentális körülmények között dolgozók körében
Deconstruction and the Problem of Sovereignty
Authors: Patton Paul
Published: May 2017

This paper surveys Derrida's discussions of political sovereignty in order to highlight his preference for a cosmopolitan world order and show how the deconstruction of sovereignty cannot proceed on the model of his earlier analyses of concepts such as justice, hospitality, forgiveness and democracy. How does one deconstruct the unconditional and apparently undeconstructible concept and institution of sovereignty? Two elements of Derrida's response are then critically examined. First, I explore his qualified defence of the principle of sovereignty and his reluctance to unconditionally reject it on the grounds that it is implied in the ‘classical principles of freedom and self-determination’. I argue that the critique of the ideals of personal agency and freedom based on a conception of individual sovereignty ought to be pursued but that this need not imply rejection of the normative priority of individuals. Second, I examine his efforts to distinguish between sovereignty and the unconditioned that he aligns with deconstructive thought. I argue that, while the institutions and exercise of sovereignty are deconstructible, there is a sense in which pure sovereignty remains a necessary foundation for political liberalism and for a cosmopolitan world order.
Danto, Derrida and the Artworld Frame
Authors: Thwaites Denise
Published: May 2017

This paper examines the hitherto neglected resonance between Danto's and Derrida's concepts of the Artworld and the Frame. In doing so, I challenge prevalent understandings of Danto's theoretical framework, highlighting the necessary instability that he integrates into his definition of the art object. Equally, I emphasise the applicability of Derrida's deconstructive concept to the concrete conditions of contemporary artistic practice.

I begin by examining the tensions present in Danto's definitional approach, as it demands a complex vision of Artworld relations. I then consider how the ontologically constitutive character of Danto's Artworld may be re-examined through Derrida's concept of the parergon, as a supplementary techné that is fundamentally unstable and fragmented. Through this comparative reading I show that despite their different approaches, Danto's and Derrida's philosophies of art advance similar ontological conclusions. I thus argue that while their differences should not be minimised, our understanding of Danto's and Derrida's aesthetic concepts is enriched through recognition of their unforeseen correspondences.
Satire and Social Change: The Bard, the Schoolmaster and the Drover
Authors: Beard Ellen L.
Published: May 2017

Despite his lack of formal education, Sutherland bard Rob Donn MacKay (1714–78) left over 220 published poems, far more than any other contemporary Gaelic poet. During his lifetime he was equally esteemed for well-crafted satires and well-chosen (or newly-composed) musical settings for his verse. This article examines a group of related satires attacking the schoolmaster John Sutherland and the drover John Gray, comparing them to Rob Donn's views on other schoolmasters and cattle dealers, and considering both what conventional historical sources tell us about the poetry and what the poetry tells us about history, particularly literacy, bilingualism, and the cattle trade in the eighteenth-century Highlands.
Developing Electrolyte for a Soluble Lead Redox Flow Battery by Reprocessing Spent Lead Acid Battery Electrodes
Authors: Orapeleng Keletso , Wills Richard , Cruden Andrew
Published: May 2017

The archival value of this paper is the investigation of novel methods to recover lead (II) ions from spent lead acid battery electrodes to be used directly as electrolyte for a soluble lead flow battery. The methods involved heating electrodes of spent lead acid batteries in methanesulfonic acid and hydrogen peroxide to dissolve solid lead and lead dioxide out of the electrode material. The processes yielded lead methanesulfonate, which is an electrolyte for the soluble lead acid battery. The lead (II) ions in the electrolyte were identified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy and their electrochemistry confirmed using cyclic voltammetry. The concentration of lead (II) ions was determined and it was found that using the higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide yielded the highest concentration of lead (II) ions. The method was therefore found to be sufficient to make electrolyte for a soluble lead cell.
Developmental Control of NRAMP1 (SLC11A1) Expression in Professional Phagocytes
Authors: Cellier Mathieu
Published: May 2017

NRAMP1 (SLC11A1) is a professional phagocyte membrane importer of divalent metals that contributes to iron recycling at homeostasis and to nutritional immunity against infection. Analyses of data generated by several consortia and additional studies were integrated to hypothesize mechanisms restricting NRAMP1 expression to mature phagocytes. Results from various epigenetic and transcriptomic approaches were collected for mesodermal and hematopoietic cell types and compiled for combined analysis with results of genetic studies associating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with variations in NRAMP1 expression (eQTLs). Analyses establish that NRAMP1 is part of an autonomous topologically associated domain delimited by ubiquitous CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) sites. NRAMP1 locus contains five regulatory regions: a predicted super-enhancer (S-E) key to phagocyte-specific expression; the proximal promoter; two intronic areas, including 3′ inhibitory elements that restrict expression during development; and a block of upstream sites possibly extending the S-E domain. Also the downstream region adjacent to the 3′ CTCF locus boundary may regulate expression during hematopoiesis. Mobilization of the locus 14 predicted transcriptional regulatory elements occurs in three steps, beginning with hematopoiesis; at the onset of myelopoiesis and through myelo-monocytic differentiation. Basal expression level in mature phagocytes is further influenced by genetic variation, tissue environment, and in response to infections that induce various epigenetic memories depending on microorganism nature. Constitutively associated transcription factors (TFs) include CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPb), purine rich DNA binding protein (PU.1), early growth response 2 (EGR2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) while hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) may stimulate iron acquisition in pro-inflammatory conditions. Mouse orthologous locus is generally conserved; chromatin patterns typify a de novo myelo-monocytic gene whose expression is tightly controlled by TFs Pu.1, C/ebps and Irf8; Irf3 and nuclear factor NF-kappa-B p 65 subunit (RelA) regulate expression in inflammatory conditions. Functional differences in the determinants identified at these orthologous loci imply that species-specific mechanisms control gene expression.
About the Concept of Quantum Chaos
Authors: Gomez Ignacio , Losada Marcelo , Lombardi Olimpia
Published: May 2017

The research on quantum chaos finds its roots in the study of the spectrum of complex nuclei in the 1950s and the pioneering experiments in microwave billiards in the 1970s. Since then, a large number of new results was produced. Nevertheless, the work on the subject is, even at present, a superposition of several approaches expressed in different mathematical formalisms and weakly linked to each other. The purpose of this paper is to supply a unified framework for describing quantum chaos using the quantum ergodic hierarchy. Using the factorization property of this framework, we characterize the dynamical aspects of quantum chaos by obtaining the Ehrenfest time. We also outline a generalization of the quantum mixing level of the kicked rotator in the context of the impulsive differential equations.
Coarse Graining Shannon and von Neumann Entropies
Authors: Alonso-Serrano Ana , Visser Matt
Published: May 2017

The nature of coarse graining is intuitively “obvious”, but it is rather difficult to find explicit and calculable models of the coarse graining process (and the resulting entropy flow) discussed in the literature. What we would like to have at hand is some explicit and calculable process that takes an arbitrary system, with specified initial entropy S, and that monotonically and controllably drives the entropy to its maximum value. This does not have to be a physical process, in fact for some purposes it is better to deal with a gedanken-process, since then it is more obvious how the “hidden information” is hiding in the fine-grain correlations that one is simply agreeing not to look at. We shall present several simple mathematically well-defined and easy to work with conceptual models for coarse graining. We shall consider both the classical Shannon and quantum von Neumann entropies, including models based on quantum decoherence, and analyse the entropy flow in some detail. When coarse graining the quantum von Neumann entropy, we find it extremely useful to introduce an adaptation of Hawking’s super-scattering matrix. These explicit models that we shall construct allow us to quantify and keep clear track of the entropy that appears when coarse graining the system and the information that can be hidden in unobserved correlations (while not the focus of the current article, in the long run, these considerations are of interest when addressing the black hole information puzzle).
Networked Control of Electric Vehicles for Power System Frequency Regulation with Random Communication Time Delay
Authors: Guo Yunpeng , Zhang Liyan , Zhao Junhua , Wen Fushuan , Salam Abdus , Mao Jianwei , Li Liang
Published: May 2017

Electric vehicles (EVs) can have noteworthy impact on power system dynamic performance. This paper develops two novel controllers which can take into account the random time delay in the communication channel of the control system. With the designed robust controller, the system can utilize EVs to participate in automatic generation control (AGC) processes so as to assist conventional thermal power units to respond rapidly and accurately to load fluctuations, as well as to enhance the capability of a power system to accommodate renewable energy forms such as wind power. Owing to the distributed nature of EVs, a networked control scheme for EVs’ participation in frequency regulation is first proposed in the paper. A closed-loop block diagram, which incorporates EVs and wind power, is then developed. Two controllers are then designed based on rigorous linear matrix inequalities (LMI) theory to ensure the robustness and stability of the system. Finally, comprehensive case studies based on a two-area equivalent of the IEEE 39-bus test system are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Mycoviruses in the Plant Pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens Are Not Correlated with the Genetic Backgrounds of Its Hosts
Authors: Zhong Jie , Cheng Chuan , Gao Bi , Zhou Qian , Zhu Hong
Published: May 2017

Ustilaginoidea virens, the causal agent of rice false smut, is one of the most devastating grain diseases that causes loss of yield in most rice-growing areas worldwide. In this study, we performed a dsRNA screen to isolate mycoviruses from 35 U. virens strains. The results revealed that 34 of the tested isolates were infected by various dsRNA elements, displaying highly viral diversity and mixed infections. We characterized a 5.3 kbp dsRNA from a typical isolate containing dsRNA segments with sizes ranging from 0.5 to 5.3 kbp. Sequence analysis of its genomic properties indicated that it is a novel victorivirus, named Ustilaginoidea virens RNA virus 5 (UvRV5), that belongs to the family Totiviridae. RT-PCR detection was performed and indicated that not all the dsRNA bands that were 5.3 kbp in size contained UvRV5. Moreover, the genetic relatedness of all the U. virens strains was estimated according to phylogenetic analysis of the partial intergenic spacer region (IGS) sequences. However, concordance was not found between the dsRNA profiles and the IGS-based genetic relatedness of their host fungi.
Effects of Hydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Developing Zebrafish Are Indicative of Disruption of Oxidative Phosphorylation
Authors: Legradi Jessica , Pomeren Marinda , Dahlberg Anna-Karin , Legler Juliette
Published: May 2017

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) have been detected in humans and wildlife. Using in vitro models, we recently showed that OH-PBDEs disrupt oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), an essential process in energy metabolism. The goal of the current study was to determine the in vivo effects of OH-PBDE reported in marine wildlife. To this end, we exposed zebrafish larvae to 17 OH-PBDEs from fertilisation to 6 days of age, and determined developmental toxicity as well as OXPHOS disruption potential with a newly developed assay of oxygen consumption in living embryos. We show here that all OH-PBDEs tested, both individually and as mixtures, resulted in a concentration-dependant delay in development in zebrafish embryos. The most potent substances were 6-OH-BDE47 and 6′-OH-BDE49 (No-Effect-Concentration: 0.1 and 0.05 µM). The first 24 h of development were the most sensitive, resulting in significant and irreversible developmental delay. All substances increased oxygen consumption, an effect indicative of OXPHOS disruption. Our results suggest that the induced developmental delay may be caused by disruption of OXPHOS. Though further studies are needed, our findings suggest that the environmental concentrations of some OH-PBDEs found in Baltic Sea wildlife in the Baltic Sea may be of toxicological concern.
Machine Learning and Optimality in Multi Storey Reinforced Concrete Frames
Authors: Bekas Georgios , Stavroulakis Georgios
Published: May 2017

The present study investigates the potential of the implementation of machine learning techniques in optimized multi storey reinforced concrete frames. The variables that are taken into account in the objective function of the optimization problem are the following: the frame type (frame bay length optimality) and dimensioning of the cross sections. The objective function has the goal of attaining a minimum cost design based on market data, after a structural analysis of the frames. A number of optimized examples with widely encountered cases of total lengths of frames and with various loadings are presented. Modeling is based on Eurocode 2. Optimization takes place with the use of evolutionary algorithms. The optimized results are subjected to predictive modeling based on neural networks. The objective of the study is to create predictive models with the aim of minimizing the usage of scarce resources.
The Mechanical Behavior of HAVAR Foils Using the Small Punch Technique
Authors: Haroush Shlomo , Moreno Daniel , Silverman Ido , Turgeman Asher , Shneck Roni , Gelbstein Yaniv
Published: May 2017

Prediction of the mechanical behavior of thin foils (~25 µm) requires special characterization techniques. The current work is focused on the mechanical and microstructural characterization of 25 µm HAVAR alloy foils following annealing, cold rolling, and subsequent heat treatments, using small punch testing (SPT), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission-scanning electron microscopy (TEM). The SPT technique revealed that the annealed specimens exhibited the largest maximal load to failure and deformation (more than two-fold), compared to the cold rolled and heat treated conditions. The microscopy observations revealed high dislocation density following cold rolling and subsequent heat treatments. Following annealing, a cubic crystallographic structure (FCC) with equiaxed grains and a limited dislocation population was observed. Following cold rolling and subsequent thermal treatment, a preferred orientation texture (i.e., ‘deformation texture’) was observed with a very high dislocation density. The correlation between the mechanical behavior and the microstructural observations is discussed in detail.
Prediction Model for the Carbonation of Post-Repair Materials in Carbonated RC Structures
Authors: Lee Hyung-Min , Lee Han-Seung , Singh Jitendra
Published: May 2017

Concrete carbonation damages the passive film that surrounds reinforcement bars, resulting in their exposure to corrosion. Studies on the prediction of concrete carbonation are thus of great significance. The repair of pre-built reinforced concrete (RC) structures by methods such as remodeling was recently introduced. While many studies have been conducted on the progress of carbonation in newly constructed buildings and RC structures fitted with new repair materials, the prediction of post-repair carbonation has not been considered. In the present study, accelerated carbonation was carried out to investigate RC structures following surface layer repair, in order to determine the carbonation depth. To validate the obtained results, a second experiment was performed under the same conditions to determine the carbonation depth by the Finite Difference Method (FDM) and Finite Element Method (FEM). For the accelerated carbonation experiment, FDM and FEM analyses, produced very similar results, thus confirming that the carbonation depth in an RC structure after surface layer repair can be predicted with accuracy. The specimen repaired using inhibiting surface coating (ISC) had the highest carbonation penetration of 19.81, while this value was the lowest for the corrosion inhibiting mortar (IM) with 13.39 mm. In addition, the carbonation depth predicted by using the carbonation prediction formula after repair indicated that that the analytical and experimental values are almost identical if the initial concentration of Ca(OH)2 is assumed to be 52%.
A Large-Size MEMS Scanning Mirror for Speckle Reduction Application
Authors: Li Fanya , Zhou Peng , Wang Tingting , He Jiahui , Yu Huijun , Shen Wenjiang
Published: May 2017

Based on microelectronic mechanical system (MEMS) processing, a large-size 2-D scanning mirror (6.5 mm in diameter) driven by electromagnetic force was designed and implemented in this paper. We fabricated the micromirror with a silicon wafer and selectively electroplated Ni film on the back of the mirror. The nickel film was magnetized in the magnetic field produced by external current coils, and created the force to drive the mirror’s angular deflection. This electromagnetically actuated micromirror effectively eliminates the ohmic heat and power loss on the mirror plate, which always occurs in the other types of electromagnetic micromirrors with the coil on the mirror plate. The resonant frequency for the scanning mirror is 674 Hz along the slow axis, and 1870 Hz along the fast axis. Furthermore, the scanning angles could achieve ±4.5° for the slow axis with 13.2 mW power consumption, and ±7.6° for the fast axis with 43.3 mW power consumption. The application of the MEMS mirror to a laser display system effectively reduces the laser speckle. With 2-D scanning of the MEMS mirror, the speckle contrast can be reduced from 18.19% to 4.58%. We demonstrated that the image quality of a laser display system could be greatly improved by the MEMS mirror.
Effects of Copper Pollution on the Phenolic Compound Content, Color, and Antioxidant Activity of Wine
Authors: Sun Xiangyu , Ma Tingting , Han Luyang , Huang Weidong , Zhan Jicheng
Published: May 2017

The effects of copper pollution on the polyphenol content, color, and antioxidant activity of wine, as well as correlations among these factors, were investigated. Copper had clear influences on wine polyphenol content. At low copper concentrations, the concentrations of nearly all polyphenols increased, and the antioxidant activity values of the wine also increased. When the copper concentration reached the lowest level of the medium copper range (9.6~16 mg/L), most of the indices also improved. When the copper concentrations reached the latter part of the medium copper range (19.2 and 22.4 mg/L), many of the tested indices began to decrease. Furthermore, when the copper concentration reached the high ranges (32, 64, and 96 mg/L), the polyphenol content, CIELAB color parameters, and antioxidant activity of wine were substantially decreased, indicating the need to control increasing copper content in grape must.
On the Many Actions of Ouabain: Pro-Cystogenic Effects in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Venugopal Jessica , Blanco Gustavo
Published: May 2017

Ouabain and other cardenolides are steroidal compounds originally discovered in plants. Cardenolides were first used as poisons, but after finding their beneficial cardiotonic effects, they were rapidly included in the medical pharmacopeia. The use of cardenolides to treat congestive heart failure remained empirical for centuries and only relatively recently, their mechanisms of action became better understood. A breakthrough came with the discovery that ouabain and other cardenolides exist as endogenous compounds that circulate in the bloodstream of mammals. This elevated these compounds to the category of hormones and opened new lines of investigation directed to further study their biological role. Another important discovery was the finding that the effect of ouabain was mediated not only by inhibition of the activity of the Na,K-ATPase (NKA), but by the unexpected role of NKA as a receptor and a signal transducer, which activates a complex cascade of intracellular second messengers in the cell. This broadened the interest for ouabain and showed that it exerts actions that go beyond its cardiotonic effect. It is now clear that ouabain regulates multiple cell functions, including cell proliferation and hypertrophy, apoptosis, cell adhesion, cell migration, and cell metabolism in a cell and tissue type specific manner. This review article focuses on the cardenolide ouabain and discusses its various in vitro and in vivo effects, its role as an endogenous compound, its mechanisms of action, and its potential use as a therapeutic agent; placing especial emphasis on our findings of ouabain as a pro-cystogenic agent in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
The Effect of a Mediterranean Diet on the Incidence of Cataract Surgery
Authors: García-Layana Alfredo , Ciufo Gianfranco , Toledo Estefania , Martínez-González Miguel , Corella Dolores , Fitó Montse , Estruch Ramon , Gómez-Gracia Enrique , Fiol Miguel , Lapetra José , Serra-Majem Lluís , Pintó Xavier , Portillo Maria , Sorli José , Bulló Mónica , Vinyoles Ernest , Sala-Vila Aleix , Ros Emilio , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Arós Fernando
Published: May 2017

Background: Cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment worldwide, and surgery is the only available treatment. The process that initiates lens opacification is dependent on the oxidative stress experienced by the lens components. A healthy overall dietary pattern, with the potential to reduce oxidative stress, has been suggested as a means to decrease the risk of developing cataract. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that an intervention with a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) rather than a low-fat diet could decrease the incidence of cataract surgery in elderly subjects. Methods: We included 5802 men and women (age range: 55–80 years) from the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea study (multicenter, parallel-group, randomized controlled clinical trial) who had not undergone cataract surgery. They were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: (1) a MedDiet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) (n = 1998); (2) a MedDiet enriched with nuts (n = 1914), and a control group recommended to follow a low-fat diet (n = 1890). The incidence of cataract surgery was recorded yearly during follow-up clinical evaluations. Primary analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. Cox regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between the nutritional intervention and the incidence of cataract surgery. Results: During a follow-up period of 7.0 years (mean follow-up period: 5.7 years; median: 5.9 years), 559 subjects underwent cataract surgery. Two hundred and six participants from the MedDiet + EVOO group, 174 from the MedDiet + Nuts group, and 179 from the control group underwent cataract surgery. We did not observe a reduction in the incidence of cataract surgery in the MedDiet groups compared to the control group. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratios were 1.03 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84–1.26, p = 0.79) for the control group versus the MedDiet + EVOO group and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.86–1.31, p = 0.58) for the control group versus the MedDiet + Nuts group. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first large randomized trial assessing the role of a MedDiet on the incidence of cataract surgery. Our results showed that the incidence of cataract surgery was similar in the MedDiet with EVOO, MedDiet with nuts, and low-fat diet groups. Further studies are necessary to investigate whether a MedDiet could have a preventive role in cataract surgery.
Potential Benefits of Combining Anomaly Detection with View Planning for UAV Infrastructure Modeling
Authors: Martin R. , Blackburn Landen , Pulsipher Joshua , Franke Kevin , Hedengren John
Published: May 2017

This paper presents a novel method for UAV-based 3D modeling of large infrastructure objects, such as pipelines, canals and levees, that combines anomaly detection with automatic on-board 3D view planning. The study begins by assuming that anomaly detections are possible and focuses on quantifying the potential benefits of the combined method and the view planning algorithm. A simulated canal environment is constructed, and several simulated anomalies are created and marked. The algorithm is used to plan inspection flights for the anomaly locations, and simulated images from the flights are rendered and processed to construct 3D models of the locations of interest. The new flights are compared to traditional flights in terms of flight time, data collected and 3D model accuracy. When compared to a low speed, low elevation traditional flight, the proposed method is shown in simulation to decrease total flight time by up to 55%, while reducing the amount of image data to be processed by 89% and maintaining 3D model accuracy at areas of interest.
A Capacitive Humidity Sensor Based on an Electrospun PVDF/Graphene Membrane
Authors: Hernández-Rivera Daniel , Rodríguez-Roldán Grissel , Mora-Martínez Rodrigo , Suaste-Gómez Ernesto
Published: May 2017

Humidity sensors have been widely used in areas such as agriculture, environmental conservation, medicine, instrumentation and climatology. Hydrophobicity is one of the important factors in capacitive humidity sensors: recent research has shown that the inclusion of graphene (G) in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) improves its hydrophobicity. In this context, a methodology to fabricate electrospun membranes of PVDF blended with G was developed in order to improve the PVDF properties allowing the use of PVDF/G membrane as a capacitive humidity sensor. Micrographs of membranes were obtained by scanning electron microscopy to analyze the morphology of the fabricated samples. Subsequently, the capacitive response of the membrane, which showed an almost linear and directly proportional response to humidity, was tested. Results showed that the response time of PVDF/G membrane was faster than that of a commercial DHT11 sensor. In summary, PVDF/G membranes exhibit interesting properties as humidity sensors.
A Fast, Efficient Domain Adaptation Technique for Cross-Domain Electroencephalography(EEG)-Based Emotion Recognition
Authors: Chai Xin , Wang Qisong , Zhao Yongping , Li Yongqiang , Liu Dan , Liu Xin , Bai Ou
Published: May 2017

Electroencephalography (EEG)-based emotion recognition is an important element in psychiatric health diagnosis for patients. However, the underlying EEG sensor signals are always non-stationary if they are sampled from different experimental sessions or subjects. This results in the deterioration of the classification performance. Domain adaptation methods offer an effective way to reduce the discrepancy of marginal distribution. However, for EEG sensor signals, both marginal and conditional distributions may be mismatched. In addition, the existing domain adaptation strategies always require a high level of additional computation. To address this problem, a novel strategy named adaptive subspace feature matching (ASFM) is proposed in this paper in order to integrate both the marginal and conditional distributions within a unified framework (without any labeled samples from target subjects). Specifically, we develop a linear transformation function which matches the marginal distributions of the source and target subspaces without a regularization term. This significantly decreases the time complexity of our domain adaptation procedure. As a result, both marginal and conditional distribution discrepancies between the source domain and unlabeled target domain can be reduced, and logistic regression (LR) can be applied to the new source domain in order to train a classifier for use in the target domain, since the aligned source domain follows a distribution which is similar to that of the target domain. We compare our ASFM method with six typical approaches using a public EEG dataset with three affective states: positive, neutral, and negative. Both offline and online evaluations were performed. The subject-to-subject offline experimental results demonstrate that our component achieves a mean accuracy and standard deviation of 80.46% and 6.84%, respectively, as compared with a state-of-the-art method, the subspace alignment auto-encoder (SAAE), which achieves values of 77.88% and 7.33% on average, respectively. For the online analysis, the average classification accuracy and standard deviation of ASFM in the subject-to-subject evaluation for all the 15 subjects in a dataset was 75.11% and 7.65%, respectively, gaining a significant performance improvement compared to the best baseline LR which achieves 56.38% and 7.48%, respectively. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method relative to state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, computational efficiency of the proposed ASFM method is much better than standard domain adaptation; if the numbers of training samples and test samples are controlled within certain range, it is suitable for real-time classification. It can be concluded that ASFM is a useful and effective tool for decreasing domain discrepancy and reducing performance degradation across subjects and sessions in the field of EEG-based emotion recognition.
ZnO Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator for the Kinetics Study of Human Blood Coagulation
Authors: Chen Da , Zhang Zhen , Ma Jilong , Wang Wei
Published: May 2017

Miniaturized and rapid blood coagulation assay technologies are critical in many clinical settings. In this paper, we present a ZnO film bulk acoustic resonator for the kinetic analysis of human blood coagulation. The resonator operated in thickness shear resonance mode at 1.4 GHz. When the resonator contacted the liquid environment, the viscous loading effect was considered as the additional resistance and inductance in the equivalent circuits, resulting in a linear relationship with a slope of approximately −217 kHz/cP between the liquid viscosity and the frequency of the resonator. The downshift of the resonant frequency and the viscosity change during the blood coagulation were correlated to monitor the coagulation process. The sigmoidal trend was observed in the frequency response for the blood samples activated by thromboplastin and calcium ions. The coagulation kinetics involving sequential phases of steady reaction, growth and saturation were revealed through the time-dependent frequency profiles. The enzymatic cascade time, the coagulation rate, the coagulation time and the clot degree were provided by fitting the time-frequency curves. The prothrombin times were compared with the results measured by a standard coagulometer and show a good correlation. Thanks to the excellent potential of integration, miniaturization and the availability of direct digital signals, the film bulk acoustic resonator has promising application for both clinical and personal use coagulation testing technologies.
Relationships between Soil Crust Development and Soil Properties in the Desert Region of North China
Authors: Niu Jiping , Yang Kai , Tang Zejun , Wang Yitong
Published: May 2017

This study investigated the effects of soil crust development on the underlying soil properties. The field sampling work was conducted in June 2016 in the Hobq Desert in Inner Mongolia, North China. Soil crust samples and 0–6, 6–12, 12–18, 18–24, and 24–30 cm deep underlying soil samples were taken from five representative areas of different soil crust development stages. All samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties, including water content, bulk density, aggregate content, organic matter content, enzyme activities, and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen. The results showed that the thickness, water content, macro-aggregate (>250 μm) content, organic matter content, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities of the soil crusts gradually increased along the soil crust development gradient, while the bulk density of the soil crusts decreased. Meanwhile, the physicochemical and biological properties of the soils below the algal and moss crusts were significantly ameliorated when compared with the physical crust. Moreover, the amelioration effects were significant in the upper horizons (approx. 0–12 cm deep) and diminished quickly in the deeper soil layers.
Examining PM2.5 Emissions Embodied in China’s Supply Chain Using a Multiregional Input-Output Analysis
Authors: Wu Leying , Zhong Zhangqi , Liu Changxin , Wang Zheng
Published: May 2017

Haze has become an urgent problem for China’s highly populated cities. Regional collaboration is an effective method for controlling air pollution. Because air pollution diffuses freely, it is necessary to distribute the responsibility for pollution with a common and differentiated rule. Based on a multiregional input-output model, this article calculated the PM2.5 emissions embodied in provincial trade (EEPT) of China’s 30 provinces in 2007 and 2010. The results show that the PM2.5 EEPT accounts for almost one-third of the production-based PM2.5 emissions of China. The economic crisis lowered the EEPT, while the ratio between the EEPT and production-based PM2.5 emissions has increased. The EEPT values of the eastern provinces are mainly due to the EEPT embodied in final consumption, while the EEPT values of the central, northeastern, and the western provinces are due to the EEPT embodied in the intermediate input. We also analyzed different compositions of EEPT, such as fixed capital formation and consumption. The emissions embodied in provincial imports are mainly due to fixed capital formation. Due to the policies of the West Development, the Rising of Central China, and Promoting the Old Industrial Base in the Northeast, the central government increased the investment to these areas. The ratios of the EEPT embodied in the fixed capital formation to the total EEPT of the central (0.64), northeastern (0.69), and the western provinces (0.65) are higher than that of the eastern provinces (0.62). This indicates that the government need to establish different policies to control the effects of EEPT. In addition to the challenges of regional collaboration, environmental damage and the EEPT should be taken into account. The importers in the collaboration should consider providing compensation to the exporters in the collaboration.
Ground Deposition and Airborne Spray Drift Assessment in Vineyard and Orchard: The Influence of Environmental Variables and Sprayer Settings
Authors: Grella Marco , Gallart Montserrat , Marucco Paolo , Balsari Paolo , Gil Emilio
Published: May 2017

Spray drift assessment encompasses classification of the capacity of each sprayer/technology/setting combination to reduce or avoid the spray drift risk, as well as drift measurement to define buffer zones mandated during pesticide application. Compounding the challenge of these tasks is the great variability of field evaluation results from environmental conditions, spray application technology, canopy structure, and measurement procedures. This study, performed in Spanish context, evaluates the effects of different parameters on comparative measurements of ground and airborne spray drift employing the ISO22866:2005 protocol. Four configurations of air blast sprayers, derived from two fan airflow rates and two nozzle types (conventional and air-induction), were tested in orchard and vineyard at late growth stage. Spray drift curves were obtained, from which corresponding Drift Values (DVs) were calculated using an approximation of definite integral. Both sprayer settings and environmental variables statistically affect spray drift total amounts and result variability. PCA analysis showed that nozzle type and wind speed characteristics explained 51% and 24% of the variance, respectively. In particular, mean wind direction influence ground sediments (Pr < 0.01) and maximum wind speed strongly influence airborne drift value (Pr < 0.0001). The wind characteristics concealed the influence of adopted fan airflow rates on final spray drift assessment results. The effect of uncontrollable environmental conditions makes objective and comparative tests difficult.
ESCoBox: A Set of Tools for Mini-Grid Sustainability in the Developing World
Authors: Boait Peter , Gammon Rupert , Advani Varun , Wade Neal , Greenwood David , Davison Peter
Published: May 2017

Mini-grids powered by photovoltaic generators or other renewable energy sources have the potential to bring electricity to the 17% of the world’s population, mainly in rural areas, that are currently un-served. However, designing and managing a mini-grid so that it is reliable and economically sustainable is difficult because of the high variability of demand that arises from the small population of consumers. We describe an integrated set of four tools to assist mini-grid operators to predict and manage demand. These comprise a decision support tool to predict peak and average demand from a consumer population, a demand disaggregation tool that allows the key statistical properties of connected electricity-consuming appliances to be identified, a battery condition modeling tool which allows the impact on battery life of a planned operating regime to be predicted and a demand control sub-system which limits the operating time of high demand appliances to intervals when they can be supported. Results from application of the tool set to mini-grids in Kenya and The Gambia are presented. We conclude that accessible, usable and low cost tools of this form can improve mini-grid sustainability.
The Spatiotemporal Variation of Tree Cover in the Loess Plateau of China after the ‘Grain for Green’ Project
Authors: Wang Yuhang , Kang Muyi , Zhao Mingfei , Xing Kaixiong , Wang Guoyi , Xue Feng
Published: May 2017

Analyzing spatiotemporal variation of tree cover could enhance understanding of the environment and promote a sustainable resource use of ecosystems. This study investigated the variation in tree cover in the Loess Plateau after an ecological restoration effort called the ‘Grain for Green Project’ (GGP). The results show that the proportion of tree covered area in the Loess Plateau changed from 73% to 88%, with the cumulative tree cover fluctuating from approximately 7% to 11%, and the average annual tree cover increased from 10% in 2000 to 12% in 2014. Based on tree cover values over the course of 15 years, the study area was classified into five regions, which provide much more information for spatial assessment of tree cover change in the Loess Plateau spatially. The increase in tree cover value was mainly in the core part of Loess Plateau, the mountains, and the edge of the mountain areas; whereas the values were stable in 36.21% of the area, and a decrease was noted in 5.63% of the area, primarily located in the low plain areas. Approximately 26.36% of the Loess Plateau will show a sustained increase in tree cover in the future. The results of this study will facilitate us to understand the current conditions and development of the GGP’s effects, and offer a valuable reference for future detection of tree cover change through geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) tools.
The Therapeutic Potential of Stimulating Endogenous Stem Cell Mobilization
Authors: Lichtbroun Alan
Published: May 2017

The past few years have seen extensive interest in treatment of various diseases with adult stem cells (ASC). This paper will not discuss umbilical cord or adipose tissue derived stem cells, but rather peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). We will demonstrate that one of the natural roles
of stem cells is to participate in tissue repair both due to injury or degenerative disease. We will review the mechanisms involved with stem cell release and activation and present two new natural triggers for this release and possible differentiation. The clinical relevance of mobilizing
endogenous bone marrow derived stem cells would be to increase the number migrating into damaged organs, becoming affective cells and contributing to tissue repair. This approach overcomes the problems of growing autologous stem cell cultures and their implantation. It also may release other
progenitor cells that appears to be playing a vital role in organ regeneration. We present examples of tissue repair using these new modalities. Part of this paper was first presented at the international conference of acupuncture and electrotherapeutics held at Columbia University Oct. 2013.
Since then the field has exploded and we will try to include some of the most relevant discoveries.
Rising rates of colorectal cancer among younger Iranians: is diet to blame?
Authors: Hessami Arani S. , Kerachian M.A.
Published: May 2017

Background Colorectal cancer (crc) is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world. Although the incidence of crc is currently very low in the older Iranian population compared with Western populations, young Iranians show a rising trend of crc—that is, the age-adjusted rate is close in the young Iranian population compared with the U.S. population, and the rate in older Iranians is much lower.Methods To assess a putative relationship between diet and a rising rate of crc in younger Iranians, a combined text word and mesh heading search strategy identified relevant studies through Google Scholar and medline.Results A critical look at diet among Iranians shows major issues that might be raising the risk for crc. There are also scenarios other than diet for the rise, such as the young age structure of the country. However, the actual scenario is more complex.Conclusions In Iran, crc is one of the most common incident cancers and a common cause of cancer death. Primary and secondary prevention—with attention to a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, and screening—should be enhanced in the general population.