bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fitness, Extrinsic Complexity and Informing Science
Authors: Gill Grandon , Mullarkey Matthew
Published: October 2017

[This Proceedings paper was revised and published in Informing Science: the International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline (InfoSci)]

Aim/Purpose: We establish a conceptually rigorous definition for the widely used but loosely defined term “fitness”. We then tie this definition to complexity, highlighting a number of important implications for the informing science transdiscipline.

Background: As informing science increasingly incorporates concepts of fitness and complexity in its research stream, rigorous discussion and definition of both terms is essential to effective communication.

Methodology: Our analysis consists principally of a synthesis of past work in the informing science field that incorporates concepts from evolutionary biology, economics and management.

Contribution: We provide a rigorous approach to defining fitness and introduce the construct “extrinsic complexity”, as a measure of the amount of information required to predict fitness, to more fully differentiate this form of complexity from other complexity constructs. We draw a number of conclusions regarding how behaviors under low and high extrinsic complexity will differ.

Findings: High extrinsic complexity environments are likely to produce behaviors that include resistance to change, imitation, turbulence and inequality.

Recommendations for Practitioners: As extrinsic complexity grows, effective search for problem solutions will increasingly dominate employing recommended solutions of “best practices”.

Recommendation for Researchers: As extrinsic complexity grows, research tools that rely on decomposing individual effects and hypothesis testing become increasingly unreliable.

Impact on Society : We raise concerns about society’s continuing investment in academic research that discounts the extrinsic complexity of the domains under study.

Future Research: We highlight a need for research to operationalize the concepts of fitness and complexity in practice.
Massive Open Online Course: International Experiences and Implications in Vietnam
Authors: Thị Thảo dang ly , Watts Sean , Quang Nguyen Trung
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: This research critically reviews literature examining the prior empirical and case study research studies to help educators and to shape the conceptual framework of what and how to prepare for MOOCS (Massive Open Online Courses), especially in Vietnam, SouthEast Asia, and developing countries.

Background: MOOCs are a disruptive trend in education. Several initiatives have emerged recently to support MOOCS, and many educational institutions started offering courses as MOOCS. Designing a MOOC is not an easy task. Educators need to face not only pedagogical issues, but logistical, technological, and financial issues, as well as how these issues relate and constrain each other. The ‘MOOC’ phenomenon is only just beginning to register with many educational policy makers in Vietnam. Currently, little guidance is available for educators to address the design of MOOCs from scratch keeping a balance between all these issues.

Methodology: This study is a qualitative, case study and participant observation research with critical analysis of literature on MOOCs toward implementation of online learning in Vietnam. It began as a broad search for research on online teaching and the authors went into participant observation in courses in Vietnam and elsewhere.

Contribution: Until now, designing a MOOC has not yet fully considered applications in non-native English speaking countries, such as Vietnam. This study gives guidance for educators to address the design of MOOCs from scratch keeping a balance between identified issues to shape the conceptual framework of what and how to prepare for MOOCS. Main MOOC development foci should be teachers and learners’ attitudes, as well as infrastructure toward teaching and learning in cyberspace specifically in Vietnam and SouthEast Asia.
The Relationships between Doctoral Students’ Perceptions of Supervision and Burnout
Authors: Cornér Solveig , Löfström Erika , Pyhältö Kirsi
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: Both the quality and the quantity of doctoral supervision have been identified as central determinants of the doctoral journey. However, there is a gap in our understanding of how supervision activities are associated with lack of wellbeing, such as burnout, and also to completion of the studies among doctoral students.

Background: The study explored doctoral students’ perceptions of different aspects of supervision including the primary sources, frequency, expressed satisfaction and their interrelation with experienced stress, exhaustion and cynicism.

Methodology: Altogether 248 doctoral students from three Finnish universities representing social sciences, arts and humanities, and natural and life sciences responded to an adapted version of a Doctoral Experience Survey. A combination of several measures was used to investigate the students’ experiences of supervision and burnout.

Contribution: The results showed that students benefit from having several and different kinds of supervision activities. Various sources contribute not only to experiences of the doctoral journey and burnout, but also to the completion of the studies.

Findings: Experienced lack of satisfaction with supervision and equality within the researcher community and a low frequency of supervision were related to experiences of burnout. Experiences of burnout were connected to students’ attrition intentions. Attrition intentions were related to source of supervision, the form of thesis, and inadequate supervision frequency. Frequency was related to both experience of burnout and likelihood of attrition.

Recommendations for Practitioners: A recommendation developed from this research is to assist doctoral students with sufficient support, especially equality within the scholarly community and frequency of supervision. Further, greater emphasis could be put on group supervision and other collective forms of supervision. It is important that doctoral students develop networks both nationally and internationally.

Recommendation for Researchers: A recommendation emanating from this research is to put greater emphasis on further investigation of the role of other predictors in burnout in order to enhance doctoral students’ well-being.

Impact on Society: A better understanding of factors that promote lower attrition rates and enhance well-being for doctoral students is likely to lead to more efficient use of finacial and intellectual resources in academia and society more broadly.

Future Research: Given the results of this study, qualitative interviews might be helpful in mapping out the dynamics that lead to attrition and to identify the mechanisms in the researcher community that support the doctoral students and enhance well-being in their doctoral journey.
Enhancing Students’ Learning through Early Class Preparation
Authors: A.  Nkhoma Clara , Nkhoma Mathews , ulhaq Irfan , Q Mai Sang
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: Development of a conceptual model linking early class preparation to improve class participation and performance.

Background: Class preparation and class participation are precursors for the students’ performance.

Methodology: Literature review.

Findings: In a student-centered class environment, class preparation remains essential for the successful collaboration and participation. The literature review in this stream reveals that little attention has been paid to undergraduate class levels.

Recommendation for Researchers: The literature review shows that there is a need for more research using undergraduate classes.

Future Research: Validation and application of model in different educational program and discipline settings
Technology versus Quality Education in an Underdeveloped Region: A Case Study of UNISA Students in Former Ciskei Homeland in Eastern Cape
Authors: Fosu Agyei
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: This paper seeks to show how University of South Africa (UNISA) is using technology to connect lecturers, tutors and students of [UNISA] in an underdeveloped region in South Africa (SA) to reduce cost and time of travelling to access information, tutorials and help [available] in designated centers, hence making quality and higher education more accessible and less costly.

Background: This empirical study gives evidence to back the effectiveness, helpfulness and cost reduction of using technology as a medium of making quality and higher education accessible to under developed regions.
Methodology Quantitative and purposeful sampling was deemed appropriate for the study, whereby 200 questionnaires was developed and specifically distributed to UNISA students from former Ciskei towns at East London Tutorial Center.

Contribution: The paper is about the usage of mobile technology for knowledge creation and dissemination, instruction and learning, The data generated and presented add to the knowledge base about underdeveloped countries. This data and the conclusions reached based the analysis could be of interest to researchers, university administrators, politicians, planners and policy makers in underdeveloped countries.

Findings: Evaluation of the overall effectiveness, helpfulness and cost reduction of e-tutorials show a slight advantage over the face-face tutorials.

Recommendations for Practitioners: In the quest for ways and means of making quality and higher education accessible to underdeveloped regions, no matter which medium is chosen, the periodic measurement of success in terms of effectiveness, helpfulness, and cost implication in relation to the learner cannot be over looked.

Recommendation for Researchers: More work needs to be done to check the effectiveness of technology as an efficient medium to provide access to quality and higher education to underdeveloped regional economies.
Impact on Society The results could have significant implications for raising the level of education and advancing employment equity by improving the delivery and accessibility to quality and higher education to underdeveloped regional economies.

Future Research: The analysis of cost efficiency and effectiveness done in this work is just representative of one point of view: the student one of accessibility and cost. There is, however, need in future work to research the implications for the institutions of higher education (in terms teaching design, curriculum design, knowledge of individual learning types, need for change in and rate of change in knowledge view, learning philosophies), individual stakeholders, and the competitive repositioning of society.
Incorporating IStation into Early Childhood Classrooms to Improve Reading Comprehension
Authors: Luo Tian , Lee Guang-Lea , Molina Cynthia
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: IStation is an adaptive computer-based reading program that adapts to the learner’s academic needs. This study investigates if the Istation computer-based reading program promotes reading improvement scores as shown on the STAR Reading test and the IStation test scaled scores for elementary school third-grade learners on different reading levels.

Background: Prior literature provided a limited evidence base for incorporating computer-adaptive learning technologies to improve reading comprehension in the con-text of early childhood education.

Methodology: Using a mixed-method case study research approach, this study purports to investigate the effects of IStation and examine the perspectives of teachers and students. Supported by survey and interview data, this case study employed a sample of 98 public school third-grade students in an urban elementary school in the southeastern United States as well as the three classroom teachers.

Contribution: This study has provided a) additional data to show evidence for the effectiveness of a computer-based reading program, IStation, by using the students’ and teachers’ viewpoints as well as reading comprehension test scores data; and b) recommendations for practitioners and researchers regarding professional development for IStation implementation.

Findings: The results of this study show a strong correlation between the usage of IStation and the rise of STAR reading scores during the time IStation was integrated. There were differing opinions regarding the effectiveness of IStation between students and teachers, as well as between low and high achieving students. Teachers recognized that intervening variables of teachers’ whole and small group lessons individualized for each class, as well as students’ practice sessions both at home and at school, could have also resulted in improved STAR reading scores.

Recommendations for Practitioners: There is no one-size-fits-all solution when implementing such technology to a diverse array of learners on different reading levels, such as Tier 1 (high reader), Tier 2 (medium average benchmark reader), and Tier 3 (low reader). It is essential to provide professional development and training opportunities for teachers. Teachers can also train and elevate the higher achieving students with using IStation to monitor their own progress as well as set their own individual learning goals.

Recommendation for Researchers: We recommend studies with a larger sample size that would likely yield more definitive and generalizable results, studies using a randomized control group that would have teased out extraneous factors and truly measuring the effects of IStation alone on STAR, as well as longitudinal studies examining the long-term effects of IStation.
Quantitative Preparation in Doctoral Education Programs: A Mixed-Methods Study of Doctoral Student Perspectives on their Quantitative Training
Authors: L Ferguson Sarah , A Hovey Katrina , K Henson Robin
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of the current study is to explore student perceptions of their own doctoral-level education and quantitative proficiency.

Background: The challenges of preparing doctoral students in education have been discussed in the literature, but largely from the perspective of university faculty and program administrators. The current study directly explores the student voice on this issue.

Methodology: Utilizing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods research design, the present study seeks to better understand doctoral-level education students’ perceptions of their quantitative methods training at a large public university in the southwestern United States.

Findings: Results from both phases present the need for more application and consistency in doctoral-level quantitative courses. Additionally, there was a consistent theme of internal motivation in the responses, suggesting students perceive their quantitative training to be valuable beyond their personal interest in the topic.

Recommendations for Practitioners: Quantitative methods instructors should emphasize practice in their quantitative courses and consider providing additional support for students through the inclusion of lab sections, tutoring, and/or differentiation. Pre-testing statistical ability at the start of a course is also suggested to better meet student needs.

Impact on Society: The ultimate goal of quantitative methods in doctoral education is to produce high-quality educational researchers who are prepared to apply their knowledge to problems and research in education. Results of the present study can inform faculty and administrator decisions in doctoral education to best support this goal.

Future Research: Using the student perspectives presented in the present study, future researchers should continue to explore effective instructional strategies and curriculum design within education doctoral programs. The inclusion of student voice can strengthen and guide future work in this area.
Small Business Conformity with Quality Website Design Criteria in a Marketing Communication Context
Authors: Robinson Beachboard Martine
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: Professional companies selling persuasive-communication services via the World Wide Web need to be exemplars of effective informing practices. Their credibility is at risk if their websites do not excel in marketing message and use of medium. Their unique brands need to be expressed through website technology and content, or they cannot compete successfully.

Background: Compares marketing communication consultants’ websites with expert criteria.

Methodology: Content analysis of 40 advertising agency websites.

Contribution: Links an evaluation of advertising agency compliance with expert website criteria to established branding constructs.

Findings: Most small advertising agencies could improve their brand reputations through better compliance with experts’ recommended website design and content criteria.

Recommendations for Practitioners: A hierarchy of recommendations for practitioners is offered, addressing ease and importance.

Impact on Society: Clarity and credibility of message and medium improve our ability to practice effective informing.

Future Research: Explore online communications of specialized populations such as digital marketing experts.
Focusing the Lens to Share the Story: Using Photographs and Interviews to Explore Doctoral Students’ Sense of Well-being
Authors: Benjamin Stefanie , Williams James , A Maher Michelle
Published: October 2017

Aim/Purpose: This study explores PhD students’ transition into graduate school, which can be a challenging experience for many.

Background: Using photographs and in-depth interviews, this study provides nuanced insight into influences on first-year PhD students’ lived experiences, with a specific focus on these students’ perceptions of doctoral student well-being.

Methodology: Twenty-nine first-year biomedical science PhD students from 15 research institutions were asked to take photographs (Participant Produced Images) to illuminate significant influences on their research skill acquisition. The participant-produced photographs were discussed within in-depth phone interviews allowing for a deeper understanding of their lived experiences.

Contribution: While students were asked to identify factors influencing their research skill acquisition, unexpectedly, what emerged from these data was students’ clear focus on their concern for their physical and mental well-being. The researchers posit that students’ ability to create a “work-life balance” is the foundation of doctoral student success, especially in the early years of doctoral training.

Findings: Findings suggest that it is essential to create a PhD culture in which students feel valued, supported, and nourished, both physically and mentally, for them to develop into successful researchers, teachers, and mentors.

Recommendations for Practitioners: Findings suggest that doctoral programs must support a more collaborative work environment for students and help novice students create a work life balance, perhaps by encouraging them to pursue stimulating or fun activities outside their school environment. It is imperative for doctoral students to be confident during their doctoral studies, as a lack of confidence tends to breathe life into poor work habits that stymie well-being and happiness.

Recommendation for Researchers: If doctoral programs support a culture that facilitates student well-being, those programs will likely produce happier researchers and teachers who see scholarship and learning as fun. This positive mindset is likely to cascade down within their learning environments and foster positive and productive scholarship and instruction. This mindset and paradigm shift will set a significant precedence for future doctoral learners.

Impact on Society: This study encourages and advances timely and “actionable” dialogue around how to better support doctoral students’ sense of well-being, especially in science disciplines.

Future Research: Given study results, exploring mental health and well-being issues with faculty can help elevate mental health awareness in academia.
PENILAIAN INDEKS AKUNTABILITAS INSTANSI PEMERINTAH
Authors: Afriyanti Dwi , Sabanu Harpanto Guno , Noor Fahrizal
Published: October 2017

Accountability has been presumed by government agencies as limited to budget realization reporting through the preparation of the financial statements. The entities believe that activities have been adequately accountable if they were fairly presented through financial statements, regardless of whether they improve people's welfare or not. This presumption is different from the accountability perceived by the public. This research aimed to obtain information about accountability measurement best practices that have been applied in government institutions and other countries, that might be useful to formulate a methodology of accountability index measurement in Indonesia government institutions. The research concluded that a system that can assess the level of the government institution's accountability is needed. This system is in the form of indexes which can be used to measure the level of government's ability to achieve its performance for people's welfare. The assessment of the government accountability level could be more comprehensive if the accountability indexes were managed in an integrated way which will lead to obtaining final results or quantitative conclusions. ABSTRAKSelama ini akuntabilitas dipahami oleh instansi pemerintah hanya sebatas pada pelaporan penggunaan anggaran melalui penyusunan laporan keuangan. Entitas tersebut menganggap pertanggungjawaban kegiatan telah dilaksanakan secara memadai, terlepas dari apakah kegiatan yang dilaksanakan memberi manfaat atau tidak terhadap peningkatan kesejahteraan masyarakat. Hal ini berbeda dengan akuntabilitas yang diharapkan masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh informasi tentang bestpractices pengukuran akuntabilitas yang sudah berjalan di instansi pemerintah dan dari negara lain sehingga dapat digunakan untuk merumuskan metodologi penilaian Indeks Akuntabilitas instansi Pemerintah di Indonesia. Hasil penelitian menyimpulkan bahwa diperlukan suatu sistem yang dapat menilai tingkat akuntabilitas instansi pemerintah. Sistem tersebut berupa indeks-indeks yang dapat dipergunakan untuk mengukur tingkat kemampuan pemerintah dalam mencapai kinerjanya bagi kesejahteraan masyarakat. Penilaian atas tingkat akuntabilitas pemerintah dapat lebih komprehensif, bila indeks-indeks penilaian yang sudah dilakukan instansi-instansi tersebut dikelola secara terintegrasi, sehingga memperoleh hasil akhir atau simpulan kuantitatif atas penilaian-penilaian tersebut.
Volume 1, Nomor 1, Juni 2015 (Full)
Authors: TAKEN Jurnal
Published: October 2017

Sesuai amanat konstitusi, BPK bertugas untuk melakukan pemeriksaan pengelolaan dan tanggungjawab keuangan negara. BPK bertanggungjawab untuk memastikan bahwa keuangan negara yang digunakan dalam tujuan bernegara telah dipergunakan dan dipertanggungjawabkan secara transparan dan akuntabel melalui pemeriksaan keuangan, pemeriksaan kinerja dan pemeriksaan dengan tujuan tertentu. Pemeriksaan yang dilakukan BPK diharapkan membantu pemerintah untuk perbaikan kinerja pemerintah pusat maupun daerah dalam mengelola keuangan negara, sehingga pemerintah dapat melaksanakan program -program pro rakyat dengan lebih baik, yang pada akhirnya akan memberikan sumbangsih bagi kesejahteraan rakyat. Jurnal Tata Kelola & Akuntabilitas Keuangan Negara, merupakan jurnal yang diterbitkan BPK, sebagai salah satu bentuk sumbangsih BPK dalam membantu tercapainya tujuan bernegara. Melalui artikel-artikel ilmiah di dalam jurnal ini, diharapkan dapat memberikan gagasan dan ide untuk perbaikan tata kelola dan akuntabilitas keuangan negara, sehingga dapat tercapai kehidupan negara yang semakin sejahtera.
KESIMPULAN DALAM PEMERIKSAAN KEPATUHAN YANG BERDIRI SENDIRI
Authors: Kariningsih Catharina Sri , Asfaroyani Nalini , Tutiana Latifah Dewi
Published: October 2017

BPK has the mandate to conduct audits over management and accountability of the state finance, with one of the audit types is Special Purpose Audit (PDTT). Based on the results of studies conducted by the Directorate of Research and Development of PDTT (Litbang PDTT) in 2011, PDTT consists of, among others, investigative and compliance audit. Compliance audit intended is a compliance audit performed independently. This study aims to provide information about the conclusions in the compliance audit which performed independently. The methodology used is literature study, audit reports analysis, data and information collection through questionnaires and interviews, as well as focus group discussions with practitioners and academician. Based on the study, it can be inferred that factors affecting the quality of the conclusion is the audit objective, the scope of the examination, criteria, materiality, sample and evidence. This study suggests to use ISSAI 4100 Compliance Audit Guidelines â€“For Audits Performed separately from the Audit of Financial Statements as a reference for the conclusion format.ABSTRAKBPK memiliki mandat untuk melakukan pemeriksaan atas pengelolaan dan tanggung jawab keuangan negara, diantaranya melalui Pemeriksaan Dengan Tujuan Tertentu (PDTT). Berdasarkan hasil kajian yang dilakukan Direktorat Litbang PDTT pada tahun 2011, pemeriksaan yang termasuk dalam PDTT adalah pemeriksaan investigatif dan kepatuhan. Pemeriksaan kepatuhan yang dimaksudkan adalah pemeriksaan kepatuhan yang berdiri sendiri. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk memberikan informasi tentang penarikan kesimpulan dalam pemeriksaankepatuhan yang berdiri sendiri tersebut. Metodologi yang digunakan yaitu studi literatur, telaah LHP, pengumpulan data dan informasi melalui kuesioner dan wawancara, serta Focus Group Discussion dengan praktisi dan akademisi. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa faktor-faktor yang mendukung kualitas penarikan kesimpulan dalam pemeriksaan kepatuhan yang berdiri sendiri adalah tujuan, lingkup atau cakupan pemeriksaan, kriteria, materialitas, sampel dan bukti pemeriksaan. Studi ini mengusulkan bentuk kesimpulan yang mengacu pada ISSAI 4100 Compliance Audit Guidelinesâ€“For Audits Performed separately from the Audit of Financial Statements.
UNDERSTANDING AUDIT METHODS TO ASSIST PLANNING ON PROGRAM EVALUATION: SHARING GAO'S EXPERIENCE ON NATIONAL HEALTH SECURITY PROGRAM
Authors: Adnyana I Gede Sudi
Published: October 2017

BPK has a mandate to conduct a performance audit for examining whether government agencies have implemented their critical programs in the possible aspects of efficiency, effectiveness, or economy. Nevertheless, the current audit methods for those government programs designed at the planning stages by the audit teams have not been fully emphasized on one or a combination of four main types of evaluation, such as process and/or implementation evaluation; outcome evaluation; impact evaluation; and cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses. They can be identified by using measures of program performance, along with other information, to study the benefits of a program or how to improve it. The program chosen is the NHS program, evaluated by using GAO's experience which was empirically implemented and observed by the author during the fellowship program in the Agency. This study discusses the evaluation of FOD evaluation and a general guide to address researchable questions derived from NHS program stage evaluation, analysis of researchable question types, and to consider some challenges at designing evaluations. Further, BPK could improve the methods and design of its performance audit plan as regards program evaluation by considering such variables that have been applied in their best practices.
Taxicab Availability
Authors: Yang Shu , An Chengchuan , Wu Yao-Jan , Xia Jingxin
Published: October 2017

Because of the popularity and necessity of taxicabs, taxicab-related research has received increasing attention over the past decade. However, few studies have highlighted the value of taxicabs as an important component of public transportation systems, and the measurement and evaluation of taxicab systems have been largely missing in the previous literature. Two measures, from a demand and supply perspective, intuitively can serve as the measures for evaluating taxicab service performance, including loading and availability. Since the concept of taxicab availability has not been clearly defined in previous research, this study proposes a new concept of taxicab availability based on the concept of transit availability. Four taxicab availabilities—namely, spatial, temporal, capacity, and information availability—are further defined and introduced. The study used a large amount of taxicab GPS-based data to measure these availabilities. A framework is proposed to investigate statistically whether there are mathematical patterns behind loading and availability. The results show that patterns can be found and mathematically described, and statistically accurate and reliable taxicab information can be produced based on the patterns. Two presentation aids were selected to present the information: taxicab timetables produced for the general public and loading and availability heat maps produced for decision makers. The research provides detailed insight into taxicab system performance. The contributions of this research are to provide ( a) guidelines for evaluating system performance in a city or region and ( b) taxicab timetables for the general public.
Investigating the Characteristics of Carsharing Usage Patterns for Public Rental Housing Complexes
Authors: Kim Do-Gyeong , Park Jaeyoung , Woo Dong-Joon , Lee Chungwon
Published: October 2017

The primary objective of this study was to investigate which attributes of HappyCar, a closed carsharing service implemented in rental housing complexes in South Korea, should be improved to become an alternative transportation mode for low-income households. The study also aimed to identify what kinds of characteristics of rental housing complexes influenced the vehicle usage rate. For the analysis, two types of data were collected: survey data from carsharing members and operation record log files provided by a service operator. For the methodology, the study employed an importance-performance analysis (IPA) technique to analyze which attributes of HappyCar require improvement. A beta regression model was estimated to identify factors affecting the vehicle usage rate. The IPA results showed that three attributes—the appropriateness of rental rates, thorough vehicle maintenance, and increase in the number of vehicles operated—should be improved with top priority to make the HappyCar service more convenient and comfortable. Five variables were found to be associated positively with the vehicle usage rate: rental housing type, number of households per complex, ratios of one- and two-person households, and ratio of five or more person households. The study enabled a better understanding of the characteristics of carsharing, including use by low-income residents in rental housing, and provided recommendations for HappyCar service providers and traffic policy decision makers.
Development of a Mode Choice Model for General Purpose Flexible-Route Transit Systems
Authors: Chavis Celeste , Gayah Vikash V.
Published: October 2017

This study developed a mode choice model that can be used to describe how transit users select emerging competitive transit options. Specifically, the mode choice model considers the selection of traditional fixed-route transit systems, flexible-route systems in which vehicles are shared but routes are flexible to prevailing demands, and individual transit systems that provide door-to-door and demand-responsive service (e.g., taxis, Uber, or Lyft). A stated preference survey was performed: survey participants were provided a specific scenario and were asked to select the most attractive transit option. Each scenario was presented with the following attributes: walking time required, waiting time (including variability), in-vehicle travel time (including variability), monetary cost, and availability of GPS tracking services. Various statistical modeling frameworks were considered and applied to these survey data to describe the mode choice decision-making process. The results revealed that some individuals always selected the same mode, regardless of the parameters, perhaps because of familiarity or personal preference. However, the models also revealed that monetary cost, expected in-vehicle waiting time, expected waiting time, and walking time were statistically significant predictors of the type of flexible transit option selected.
Hands Deep in History: Pockets in Men and Women's Dress in Western Europe, c. 1480–1630
Authors: Unsworth Rebecca
Published: October 2017

Pockets are now standard and accepted aspects of clothing, but their presence in dress has not always been so assured. This article examines the use of pockets in western Europe from the late fifteenth to the early seventeenth centuries, demonstrating that pockets were adopted into clothing much earlier than has often been believed. It discusses the physical form of pockets in the dress of both genders and the types of garments into which they were inserted. It also explores the possible reasons for the uptake of pockets, the uses to which they were put and the sorts of objects which were kept in pockets, showing that pockets provided the wearer with an individual and personal space which they could use to transport a wide range of goods hands-free.
Making ‘everything they want but boots’: Clothing Children in Victoria, Australia, 1840–1870
Authors: Cramer Lorinda
Published: October 2017

Dress was charged with meaning in the British colonies. Its visual cues made dress an obvious vehicle for formulating identity in material ways, and as a communicative device it was a means to measure migrants of unknown social origin — though not always with success. This article explores children's clothing in south-eastern Australia during the decades spanning the mid-nineteenth century, when the Port Phillip District transformed from a pastoral settlement into the thriving gold-rush colony of Victoria, attracting migrants from around the globe. In particular, it focuses on the material practices of mothers in clothing their children. In considering the links between a mother's domestic needlework and expressions of identity, it develops the concept of clothing as a visible indicator to observers of a mother's care of and devotion to her children, while acknowledging the circumstances that may have influenced her sewing — shortages of labour and materials, isolation and the financial uncertainty of life in a new colony.
Léon Bakst and Fashion: Beyond and After the Ballets Russes
Authors: Bartlett Djurdja
Published: October 2017

Shortly after designing costumes for the Ballets Russes' piece Jeux, Léon Bakst collaborated with the couture house Paquin in 1913, and continued to engage with dress and textile design up to his death in 1924, variously embracing oriental, neo-classical and Russian ethnic aesthetic idioms. Due to his symbolist artistic education, personal tastes and financial circumstances, Bakst did not fulfil his dream to design new fashions for the woman of the future within the commercial world of haute couture. Instead, most of his dress designs during the First World War until his death were created as one-off pieces for a group of very rich, extravagant women. Bakst was nevertheless a passionate advocate of modernity, and a skilful manipulator in the field of contemporary media, in which he equally vigorously promoted his own oeuvre, the phenomenon of fashion and the concept of a new emancipated woman. Bakst's retrograde aesthetic and his progressive writings show him as a striving modernist, carefully navigating his personal interests and business opportunities in the rapidly changing times at the beginning of the twentieth century. This article integrates Bakst's dress designs and his thoughts in the global discourse on the concepts of fashion, modernity, feminism and cosmopolitanism.
Antibodies and Derivatives Targeting DR4 and DR5 for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Dubuisson Agathe , Micheau Olivier
Published: October 2017

Developing therapeutics that induce apoptosis in cancer cells has become an increasingly attractive approach for the past 30 years. The discovery of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily members and more specifically TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), the only cytokine of the family capable of eradicating selectively cancer cells, led to the development of numerous TRAIL derivatives targeting death receptor 4 (DR4) and death receptor 5 (DR5) for cancer therapy. With a few exceptions, preliminary attempts to use recombinant TRAIL, agonistic antibodies, or derivatives to target TRAIL agonist receptors in the clinic have been fairly disappointing. Nonetheless, a tremendous effort, worldwide, is being put into the development of novel strategic options to target TRAIL receptors. Antibodies and derivatives allow for the design of novel and efficient agonists. We summarize and discuss here the advantages and drawbacks of the soar of TRAIL therapeutics, from the first developments to the next generation of agonistic products, with a particular insight on new concepts.
Does Hypoxia Cause Carcinogenic Iron Accumulation in Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD)?
Authors: Silva Inês , Rausch Vanessa , Seitz Helmut-Karl , Mueller Sebastian
Published: October 2017

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a leading health risk worldwide. Hepatic iron overload is frequently observed in ALD patients and it is an important and independent factor for disease progression, survival, and the development of primary liver cancer (HCC). At a systemic level, iron homeostasis is controlled by the liver-secreted hormone hepcidin. Hepcidin regulation is complex and still not completely understood. It is modulated by many pathophysiological conditions associated with ALD, such as inflammation, anemia, oxidative stress/H2O2, or hypoxia. Namely, the data on hypoxia-signaling of hepcidin are conflicting, which seems to be mainly due to interpretational limitations of in vivo data and methodological challenges. Hence, it is often overlooked that hepcidin-secreting hepatocytes are physiologically exposed to 2–7% oxygen, and that key oxygen species such as H2O2 act as signaling messengers in such a hypoxic environment. Indeed, with the recently introduced glucose oxidase/catalase (GOX/CAT) system it has been possible to independently study hypoxia and H2O2 signaling. First preliminary data indicate that hypoxia enhances H2O2-mediated induction of hepcidin, pointing towards oxidases such as NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4). We here review and discuss novel concepts of hypoxia signaling that could help to better understand hepcidin-associated iron overload in ALD.
A New Definition of t-Entropy for Transfer Operators
Authors: Bakhtin Victor , Lebedev Andrei
Published: October 2017

This article presents a new definition of t-entropy that makes it more explicit and simplifies the process of its calculation.
Forewarning Model of Regional Water Resources Carrying Capacity Based on Combination Weights and Entropy Principles
Authors: Zhou Rongxing , Pan Zhengwei , Jin Juliang , Li Chunhui , Ning Shaowei
Published: October 2017

As a new development form for evaluating the regional water resources carrying capacity, forewarning regional water resources of their carrying capacities is an important adjustment and control measure for regional water security management. Up to now, most research on this issue have been qualitative analyses, with a lack of quantitative research. For this reason, an index system for forewarning regional water resources of their carrying capacities and grade standards, has been established in Anhui Province, China, in this paper. Subjective weights of forewarning indices can be calculated using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, based on an accelerating genetic algorithm, while objective weights of forewarning indices can be calculated by using a projection pursuit method, based on an accelerating genetic algorithm. These two kinds of weights can be combined into combination weights of forewarning indices, by using the minimum relative information entropy principle. Furthermore, a forewarning model of regional water resources carrying capacity, based on entropy combination weight, is put forward. The model can fully integrate subjective and objective information in the process of forewarning. The results show that the calculation results of the model are reasonable and the method has high adaptability. Therefore, this model is worth studying and popularizing.
A New Platform for Automatic Bottom-Up Electric Load Aggregation
Authors: Bartolozzi Alfredo , Favuzza Salvatore , Ippolito Mariano , La Cascia Diego , Riva Sanseverino Eleonora , Zizzo Gaetano
Published: October 2017

In this paper, a new virtual framework for load aggregation in the context of the liberalized energy market is proposed. Since aggregation is managed automatically through a dedicated platform, the purchase of energy can be carried out without intermediation as it happens in peer-to-peer energy transaction models. Differently from what was done before, in this new framework, individual customers can join a load aggregation program through the proposed aggregation platform. Through the platform, their features are evaluated and they are clustered according to their reliability and to the width of range of regulation allowed. The simulations show the deployment of an effective clustering and the possibility to meet the target power demand at a given hour according to each customer’s availability.
Critical Speed Control for a Fixed Blade Variable Speed Wind Turbine
Authors: Rossander Morgan , Goude Anders , Eriksson Sandra
Published: October 2017

A critical speed controller for avoiding a certain rotational speed is presented. The controller is useful for variable speed wind turbines with a natural frequency in the operating range. The controller has been simulated, implemented and tested on an open site 12 kW vertical axis wind turbine prototype. The controller is based on an adaptation of the optimum torque control. Two lookup tables and a simple state machine provide the control logic of the controller. The controller requires low computational resources, and no wind speed measurement is needed. The results suggest that the controller is a feasible method for critical speed control. The skipping behavior can be adjusted using only two parameters. While tested on a vertical axis wind turbine, it may be used on any variable speed turbine with the control of generator power.
Strengthening the Referral System through Social Capital: A Qualitative Inquiry in Ghana
Authors: Amoah Padmore Adusei , Phillips David R.
Published: October 2017

The referral system in health care has been noted as very influential in determining which services are accessed and when. Nonetheless, existing studies have relied on specific measurable factors relating to health personnel, transportation and communication infrastructure, and finance to explain the challenges facing the referral policy in developing countries. While this is understandable, the role of social capital remains mostly uncharted even though it is implicit in the well-known lay referral system. Using various facets of the social capital concept, this paper empirically examines how the resources embedded in both structural and cognitive aspects of social relationships influence knowledge of, and adherence to, referral policy. This study is based on semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with 79 adults in the Ashanti Region of Ghana in 2015. Of the 79 participants, 28 lived in urban areas and 51 in rural localities. Eight health personnel and eight community leaders also contributed to the study. Additionally, six focus group discussions were held. The findings indicated that both cognitive and structural forms of social capital considerably underpinned the ability and willingness of people to adhere to the referral process. Moreover, the role of social capital was double-barrelled. It contributed in a significant way to encouraging or dissuading potential patients from rightly embracing the policy. In addition, precepts of social capital reinforced both positive and adverse effects of the other determinants of the policy such as finance and transportation. However, the magnitude of such impact was linked to how ‘resourceful’ and ‘trustworthy’ one’s available social acquaintances were. The paper suggests that a cautious engagement with social capital will make it a potentially powerful tool for understanding the gaps in and improving the effectiveness of referral policy.
Monitoring of Fluorescence Characteristics of Satsuma Mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) during the Maturation Period
Authors: Muharfiza  , Al Riza Dimas , Saito Yoshito , Itakura Kenta , Kohno Yasushi , Suzuki Tetsuhito , Kuramoto Makoto , Kondo Naoshi
Published: October 2017

Monitoring the maturation process of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) by determining the soluble solids (SS) and acid content non-destructively is needed. Fluorescence components potentially offer such means of accessing fruit maturity characteristics in the orchard. The aim of this study was to determine the potential of fluorescence spectroscopy for monitoring the stage of citrus maturity. Four major fluorescent components in peel and/or flesh were found including chlorophyll-a (excitation (Ex) 410 nm, emission (Em) 675 nm) and chlorophyll-b (Ex 460 nm, Em 650 nm),polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) (Ex 260 nm and 370 nm, Em 540 nm), coumarin (Ex 330 nm, Em 400 nm), and a tryptophan-like compound (Ex 260 nm, Em 330 nm). Our results indicated a significant (R2 = 0.9554) logarithmic ratio between tryptophan-like compoundsExEm and chlorophyll-aExEm with the SS:acid ratio. Also, the log of the ratio of PMFs from the peel (ExExEm was significantly correlated with the SS:acid ratio (R2 = 0.8207). While the latter correlation was not as strong as the former, it does demonstrate the opportunity to develop a non-destructive field measurement of fluorescent peel compounds as an indirect index of fruit maturity.
A Study of The Effect of Demand Uncertainty for Low-Carbon Products Using a Newsvendor Model
Authors: Qu Shaojian , Zhou Yongyi
Published: October 2017

This paper studies the effect of uncertain demand on a low-carbon product by using a newsvendor model. With two different kinds of market scales, we examine a game whereby a manufacturer produces and delivers a single new low-carbon product to a single retailer. The retailer observes the demand information and gives an order before the selling season. We find in the game that if the retailer shares truthful (or in contrast unreal or even does not share) forecast information with the manufacturer, the manufacturer will give a low (high) wholesale price through the sequence of events. In addition, as a policy-maker, the government posts a subsidy by selling the low-carbon product per unit. The manufacturer creates a new contract with a rebate for the retailer. We also take the consumer aversion coefficient and truth coefficient as qualitative variables into our model to study the order, pricing, and expected profit for the members of supply chain. The research shows that uncertain demand causes a the major effect on the new low-carbon product. Thereby, we suggest the retailer should share more truthful information with the manufacturer.
Indoor Air Quality and Health
Authors: Cincinelli Alessandra , Martellini Tania
Published: October 2017

In the last few decades, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has received increasing attention from the international scientific community, political institutions, and environmental governances for improving the comfort, health, and wellbeing of building occupants.[...]