bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
VIRTUAL PLATFORMS FOR HERITAGE PRESERVATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST: THE CASE OF MEDIEVAL CAIRO
Authors: Abdelmonem Mohamed Gamal , Selim Gehan , Mushatat Sabah , Almogren Abdelaziz
Published: November 2017

Much of the effort in VH is directed towards accurate representation of historic structures, objects or artefacts. There is little attention is paid, however, to the human aspects of city life, the intangible heritage to which people can actually relate. Digital models of historic buildings and spaces only give a sense of precision. Yet, rituals, human attitude and cultural traditions remained a gap in current research and advanced technology in heritage visualization. Virtual Heritage Environments (VHE) suffer from the lack of ‘thematic interactivity’ due to the limited cultural content and engaging modules largely used in photorealistic video gaming systems. In order to approach virtual fidelity and accurate reproduction of historic environments, this paper reports on a research process to investigate and incorporate a Cultural-feed into digital platforms of Virtual Heritage. In doing so, the paper focuses on the Middle East in general and Medieval Cairo in particular. It discusses conceptual and practical framework for the development of virtual heritage platforms as a research, educational and engagement tool that brings historic spaces and buildings back to the recognition of the public eye of the ordinary user. It analyses current practices and projects of the virtual heritage technologies and reports on field work that took place in Islamic Cairo with Five Start-Up entrepreneurs.
EDUCATION OF TEACHERS IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES
Authors: Grabowska Barbara
Published: November 2017

What is explored in the text are the issues of educational politics concerning teacher training. The author characterizes the standards of education which prepares for the teaching work in Poland and (applying the results of the report Key Data on Teachers and School Leaders in Europe) discusses the parameters of teacher training in Europe. These results in indicating the marginalization of pedagogical-psychological and didactic preparation of future teachers in Poland.
MODERN MAGISTRACY IN UKRAINE AS AN ACMESYNERGETIC SYSTEM
Authors: Bateczko Nina
Published: November 2017

The article reveals the urgent problems of master’s degree training in Ukraine. It was highlighted the great scientifically-pedagogical potential of national higher school, active development of educational service market, the leading concept of magistracy in it. It was revealed the problems of master’s degree training in Ukraine as a pedagogical system with special peculiarities and features. It was adapted the basic principles of synergetics to the masters’ training process as an open pedagogic system, able to self-organization and self-development. It was taken the functional characteristics of system and peculiarities of its development on the present stage of higher educational system development in Ukraine. Phenomenon of self-organization in the process of master’s training as the possible direction of its optimization is studied. It was revealed the acmeological peculiarities to the masters’ training approach. Attention was paid to advantages of master’s degree as a suitable environment for the development of future specialist’s personality, able to constant self-education and self-perfection. In the result of analysis of self-cognition, self-education, self-development and self-perfection of masters were studied the stages of their professional and self-development. It was proved the organic unity of self-organization level of future specialist and the process of their professionalism formation. From the position of acmesynergetic approach was studied masters’ training as an open dynamic system, which constantly develops, changes, acquiring new personal and individual-psychological characteristics, providing future specialist with broad peculiarities of social and professional adaptation.
Caracterización de lixiviados productos de residuos sólidos de construcción
Authors: Nava-Vera C. Z. , Nieves-Mendoza D. , Rolón-Aguilar J. C. , Garza-Flores R.
Published: November 2017

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados obtenidos de pruebas de laboratorio realizadas a residuos sólidos de demolición de obras de concreto (viviendas, pavimentos, comercios) a través de una lixiviación (proceso de disolución de un sólido por un líquido) por medio mecánico, caracterizándolo con procedimientos de espectrofotometría y reacciones de óxido-reducción, con la finalidad de establecer la presencia de constituyentes o compuestos indicativos de contaminación y peligrosidad tanto para la salud humana como para el medio ambiente. Encontrándose que los residuos sólidos de demolición de obras presentan constituyentes peligrosos y contaminantes que pueden ser liberados por un medio líquido; por lo que en su gestión no pueden ser considerados como “residuos inertes”.
Formicidae (Himenoptera) del estado de Tamaulipas
Authors: Coronado-Blanco Juana María , Ruíz-Cancino Enrique , Flores-Maldonado Karla Yolanda , Vásquez-Bolaños Miguel , A. Dubovikoff Dmitry , Horta-Vega Jorge Victor
Published: November 2017

Las hormigas son insectos que participan en muchas de las cadenas alimenticias terres­tres; algunas especies son plagas, otras son enemigos naturales de diversos artrópodos. El objetivo de este artículo fue informar sobre los géneros y especies de hormigas presen­tes en el Museo de Insectos de la Facultad de Agronomía [hoy Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias (FIC)] de la Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas (MIFA-UAT), así como de los re­gistros para el Estado de Tamaulipas, México. Se determinó taxonómicamente el material de Formicidae del MIFA-UAT y se recopiló in­formación de diversas colecciones y publicaciones en México. Se encontró que, en el Estado de Tamaulipas, los formícidos se han colectado desde hace más de dos décadas, y que esta familia se encuentra representada por nueve subfamilias, 53 géneros y 155 es­pecies y en el MIFA-UAT por ocho subfamilias, 35 géneros y 60 especies. Los géneros con mayor diversidad son Pheidole (20 especies), Pseudomyrmex (12), Neivamyrmex (11), Cam­ponotus (10) y Crematogaster (8). El MIFA-UAT posee casi el 70 % de los géneros de hormi­gas registradas en Tamaulipas.
Principales contaminantes microbiológicos en formulas lácteas infantiles
Authors: Bejarano-Roncancio Jhon Jairo , Castillo-Quiroga Yuri Milena
Published: November 2017

La leche humana es el mejor ali­mento para el lactante, por lo que las fórmulas lácteas artificiales solo se deben suministrar en situaciones clínicas específicas de acuerdo al criterio médico basado en la eviden­cia científica y a los protocolos ins­titucionales. Es una opción en situa­ciones apremiantes, principalmente por que no existen Bancos de Leche Humana (BLH) en los hospitales. Otros escenarios donde se preparan y suministran dichas fórmulas, son los lactarios hospitalarios, jardines infantiles y en el hogar, donde es­tas actividades de manipulación, tambien requieren de importantes cuidados higiénicos y sanitarios. Desde hace muchos años este tipo de leches, dirigidas a reemplazar la leche materna, han sido cuestiona­das por su intención comercial. Sin embargo, poco se hace referencia a los contaminantes microbiológicos que contienen. El objetivo de esta revisión fue contextualizar los prin­cipales agentes microbiológicos en la producción de fórmulas lácteas infantiles como Salmonella enterica y Cronobacter sakazakii (anterior­mente Enterobacter); se hace énfa­sis en las precauciones, desde las buenas prácticas de manufactura (BPM), hasta los sistemas integrales de gestión de la calidad y otros  procesos durante la cadena productiva, para evitar una enfermedad trans­mitida por alimentos.
Efecto de las altas presiones hidrostáticas sobre los cambios poscosecha de mango (Mangifera indica) 'manila' en madurez fisiológica
Authors: Vargas-Ortiz Manuel A. , De la Cruz -Medina Javier , Oliart Ros Rosa M. , Rebolledo-Martínez Andrés , Ramírez José A. , S. García Hugo
Published: November 2017

El mango `Manila´ (Mangifera indica) cuenta con características organolépticas que lo hacen un fruto muy atractivo para su consumo en fresco, sin embargo, en México gran parte de la producción de este frutal es atacada por la mosca mexicana de la fruta (Anastrepha ludens). La alta presión hidrostática se emplea para garantizar la inocuidad de diferentes alimentos procesados y recientemente ha sido propuesta como método cuarentenario alternativo contra A. ludens. El objetivo del presente estudio fue establecer el efecto de las altas presiones hidrostáticas sobre la fisiología poscosecha del mango `Manila´ almacenado a temperatura ambiente. Se utilizaron dos niveles de presión: 75 y 150 MPa; con cuatro niveles de tiempo: 0, 5, 10 y 20 minutos. Se determinaron cambios en la velocidad de respiración, producción de etileno, sólidos solubles totales, pH, acidez titulable, pérdida de peso, color y apariencia general. La presurización causó una reducción en la velocidad de respiración y producción de etileno, asociada con cambios negativos en el color, acidez, pérdida de peso y apariencia general. Los resultados obtenidos señalaron que el mango manila no resiste las presurización como método cuarentenario al verse afectada negativamente su fisiología poscosecha.
RETRACTED : Decision support system in Predicting the Best teacher with Multi Atribute Decesion Making Weighted Product (MADMWP) Method
Authors: Solikhun Solikhun
Published: November 2017

Following a rigorous, carefully concerns and considered review of the article published in International Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research to article entitled “Decision support system in Predicting the Best teacher with Multi-Attribute Decision Making Weighted Product (MADMWP) Method” Vol 1, No 1, pp. 47-53, June 2017, DOI: https://doi.org/10.29099/ijair.v1i1.1This paper has been found to be in violation of the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research Publication principles and has been retracted.The article contained redundant material, the editor investigated and found that the paper published in JURASIK(Jurnal Riset Sistem Informasi dan Teknik Informatika) Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 56-63, 2016,  http://ejurnal.tunasbangsa.ac.id/index.php/jurasik/article/view/9The document and its content have been removed from International Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, and reasonable effort should be made to remove all references to this article.
Implementation of Data Mining on Rice Imports by Major Country of Origin Using Algorithm Using K-Means Clustering Method
Authors: Windarto Agus Perdana
Published: November 2017

Indonesia is a country where most of its people rely on the agricultural sector as a livelihood. Indonesia's rice production is so high that it can not meet the needs of its population, consequently Indonesia still has to import rice from other food producing countries. One of the main causes is the enormous population. Statistics show that in the range of 230-237 million people, the staple food of all residents is rice so it is clear that the need for rice becomes very large. This study discusses the application of datamining on rice import by main country of origin using K-Means Clustering Method. Sources of data of this study were collected based on import import declaration documents produced by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. In addition since 2015, import data also comes from PT. Pos Indonesia, records of other agencies at the border, and the results of cross-border maritime trade surveys. The data used in this study is the data of rice imports by country of origin from 2000-2015 consisting of 10 countries namely Vietnam, Thailand, China, India, Pakistan, United States, Taiwan, Singapore, Myanmar and Others. Variable used (1) total import of rice (net) and (2) import purchase value (CIF). The data will be processed by clustering rice imports by main country of origin in 3 clusters ie high imported cluster, medium imported cluster and low import level cluster. The clustering method used in this research is K-Means method. Cetroid data for high import level clusters 7429180 and 2735452,25, Cetroid data for medium import level clusters 1046359.5 and 337703.05 and Cetroid data for low import level clusters 185559.425 and 53089.225. The result is an assessment based on rice import index with 2 high imported cluster countries namely Vietnam and Thailand, 4 medium-level clusters of moderate import countries namely China, India, Pakistan and Lainya and 4 low imported cluster countries namely USA, Taiwan, Singapore and Myanmar. The results of the research can be used to determine the amount of rice imported by the main country of origin
Application to Determination of Scholarship Worthiness Using Simple Multi Attribute Rating Technique and Merkle Hellman Method
Authors: Nofriansyah Dicky
Published: November 2017

This research was focused on explaining how the concept of simple multi attribute rating technique method in a decision support system based on desktop programming to solve multi-criteria selection problem, especially Scholarship. The Merkle Hellman method is used for securing the results of choices made by the Smart process. The determination of PPA and BBP-PPA scholarship recipients on STMIK Triguna Dharma becomes a problem because it takes a long time in determining the decision. By adopting the SMART method, the application can make decisions quickly and precisely. The expected result of this research is the application can facilitate in overcoming the problems that occur concerning the determination of PPA and BBP-PPA scholarship recipients as well as assisting Student Affairs STMIK Triguna Dharma in making decisions quickly and accurately
Web Application To Monitor Logistics Distribution of Disaster Relief Using the CodeIgniter Framework
Authors: Jamil Mohamad , Lessy Mohammad Ridwan
Published: November 2017

Disaster management is the responsibility of the central government and local governments. The principles of disaster management, among others, are quick and precise, priorities, coordination and cohesion, efficient and effective manner. Help that is needed by most societies are logistical assistance, such as the assistance covers people's everyday needs, such as food, instant noodles, fast food, blankets, mattresses etc. Logistical assistance is needed for disaster management, especially in times of disasters. The support of logistical assistance must be timely, to the right location, target, quality, quantity, and needs. The purpose of this study is to make a web application to monitorlogistics distribution of disaster relefusing CodeIgniter framework. Through this application, the mechanisms of aid delivery will be easily controlled from and heading to the disaster site
Application of Smart Bats Algorithm for Optimal Design of Power Stabilizer System at Sengkang Power Plant
Authors: Djalal Muhammad Ruswandi , Yunus Muhammad Yunus , Nawir Herman , Imran Andi
Published: November 2017

The problem of using Power System Stabilizer (PSS) in generator excitation is how to determine the optimal PSS parameter. To overcome these problems, the authors use a method of intelligent bats based algorithm to design PSS. Bat Algorithm is an algorithm that works based on bat behavior in search of food source. Correlation with this research is, food sources sought by bats represent as PSS parameters to be optimized. Bat's algorithm will work based on a specified destination function, namely Integral Time Absolute Error (ITAE). In this research will be seen the deviation of velocity and rotor angle of each generator, in case of disturbance in bakaru generator. The analysis results show that the uncontrolled system produces a large overshoot oscillation, and after the addition of PSS oscillation control equipment can be muted. So that the overshoot and settling time of each generator can be reduced and the generator can quickly go to steady state condition
Representaciones de la sexualidad femenina en la ficción televisiva española
Authors: Lacalle Charo , Castro Deborah
Published: November 2017

The overrepresentation of sexual content on television and the debate raised by new femininities have transformed research on sexuality and TV fiction into a fruitful field of study. Content analyses demonstrate that television fiction offers a distorted image of sexuality and that information on relevant sex issues is barely considered. This article analyzes the sexual representations of female characters in Spanish TV fiction using a hybrid method that combines SPSS Statistics tools and socio-semiotics. The sample consists of 709 female characters from all the shows premiered in 2012 and 2013.  The sexual activity of the female characters is related to physical attractiveness and age, with the exception of children and adolescents. Young female characters in the sample identify empowerment with sexual assertiveness and control, while sexual depictions of women over 45 are almost non-existent. Sexual relations are presented as the “natural” outcome of romantic relationships and seduction.
Historical Research at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Authors: Gettler Brian
Published: November 2017

From 2008 to 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (trc) pursued a monumental public history project aimed at bringing widespread attention to Indian residential schools. This project resulted in the publication of the commission's six-volume final report that included nearly 2,000 pages on the history of residential schooling in Canada. Although required reading for anyone interested in this history, the trc report itself offers no indication of the methodology used in its composition. This article addresses this omission by drawing on an analysis of publicly available sources, along with the author's experience researching and writing for the trc. While admitting that the commission's primary functions lay elsewhere, the article proposes three main critiques of its historical research. First, it suggests the necessity of recognizing the trc's origins in litigation and the constraints this placed on the story it could tell. Second, the article points to major methodological issues concerning the collection of archival documents and survivor statements and how these informed the content of the commission's historical report. Third, it highlights the trc's inability to account for experience in any space other than the whole of that occupied by contemporaneous Canada.
Fasts, Thanksgivings, and Senses of Community in Nineteenth-Century Canada and the British Empire
Authors: Hardwick Joseph
Published: November 2017

On at least eighty-seven occasions between 1789 and 1901, Canadian state authorities set aside days so that their populations could thank God for blessings or implore divine intervention and assistance in periods of crisis. By Confederation, every Canadian colony and province had developed a tradition of marking exceptional occasions with days of fasting and thanksgiving. After 1867, the provincial governments, and then the dominion government, regularly called thanksgiving days for good harvests. Improvements in communication following the 1880s made the first genuinely empire-wide days of prayer possible. This article considers why days of fasting, humiliation, and thanksgiving were such an enduring aspect of nineteenth-century Anglo-Canadian life. Special acts of worship changed their character and purpose over the course of the century, but they survived because Protestant churchmen and civil officials continued to value their community-building potential. The doctrine of “national providentialism” – the idea that nations and peoples were rewarded or punished as a collective for their piety and sinfulness – nourished a range of community identifications in pre- and post-Confederation Canada. On the one hand, the article explores the varied senses of community that were stimulated by imperial, dominion, provincial, and regional holy days; on the other hand, it shows how these occasions could expose fault lines in Canadian society.
Teaching the West and Confederation: A Saskatchewan Perspective
Authors: Waiser Bill
Published: November 2017

This article provides an examination of the lengthy, at times protracted, attempt to bring western Canada into Confederation as provinces, with particular emphasis on how the Saskatchewan experience is handled in the university classroom.
De la création à la commémoration : le « Désormais… » de Paul Sauvé dans l'histoire du Québec, 1959–2010
Authors: Turgeon Alexandre
Published: November 2017

« Désormais… ». Il n'est pas de mots plus célèbres dans l'histoire du Québec. Par ce mot prononcé à l'automne 1959, alors qu'il succède à Maurice Duplessis, Paul Sauvé tire un trait définitif entre deux temps et deux mondes, entre la Grande Noirceur duplessiste et la Révolution tranquille. Or, Paul Sauvé n'a jamais prononcé le « Désormais… ». Loin d'avoir pris ses distances de Maurice Duplessis dans ses discours, il réitère au contraire son attachement envers son mentor. Comment expliquer que ce faux soit devenu un fait historique, au point de devenir un lieu de mémoire de la société québécoise lors du 50e anniversaire de la Révolution tranquille? À partir de quels moments, autour de quels axes, chez quels auteurs, le « Désormais… » s'est-il imposé dans l'histoire et dans la mémoire du Québec? Telles sont les questions auxquelles cet article répond, en s'intéressant à la place du « Désormais… » dans l'histoire du Québec.
A Non-Reference Image Denoising Method for Infrared Thermal Image Based on Enhanced Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Optimized by Fruit Fly Algorithm and Bilateral Filter
Authors: Liu Yiwen , Wang Zhongbin , Si Lei , Zhang Lin , Tan Chao , Xu Jing
Published: November 2017

To eliminate the noise of infrared thermal image without reference and noise model, an improved dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT), optimized by an improved fruit-fly optimization algorithm (IFOA) and bilateral filter (BF), is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the noisy image is transformed by DTCWT, and the noise variance threshold is optimized by the IFOA, which is enhanced through a fly step range with inertia weight. Then, the denoised image will be re-processed using bilateral filter to improve the denoising performance and enhance the edge information. In the experiment, the proposed method is applied to eliminate both addictive noise and multiplicative noise, and the denoising results are compared with other representative methods, such as DTCWT, block-matching and 3D filtering (BM3D), median filter, wiener filter, wavelet decomposition filter (WDF) and bilateral filter. Moreover, the proposed method is applied as pre-processing utilization for infrared thermal images in a coal mining working face.
Magnetic-Responsive Microparticles that Switch Shape at 37 °C
Authors: Uto Koichiro , Ebara Mitsuhiro
Published: November 2017

Shape-memory polymers have seen tremendous research efforts driven by the need for better drug carries and biomedical devices. In contrast to these advancements, fabrication of shape-memory particles which actuate at body temperature remains scarce. We developed a shape-memory microparticle system with dynamically tunable shapes under physiological temperature. Temperature-responsive poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microparticles were successfully prepared by an in situ oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion polymerization technique using linear telechelic and tetra-branched PCL macromonomers. By optimizing the mixing ratios of branched PCL macromonomers, the crystal-amorphous transition temperature was adjusted to the biological relevant temperature. The particles with a disk-like temporal shape were achieved by compression. The shape recovery from the disk to spherical shape was also realized at 37 °C. We also incorporated magnetic nanoparticles within the PCL microparticles, which can be remote-controllable by a magnet, in such a way that they can be actuated and manipulated in a controlled way.
South Asian Children Have Increased Body Fat in Comparison to White Children at the Same Body Mass Index
Authors: Eyre Emma L. J. , Duncan Michael J. , Nevill Alan
Published: November 2017

The ability of body mass index (BMI) to predict excess fat in South Asian children is unknown. This cross-sectional study examines the influence of ethnicity on body fatness in children. Weight status and body fat were determined using BMI, waist circumference (WC), two skinfold sites (SF; triceps and subscapula) and leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA; Tanita BF350, Tanita, Tokyo, Japan) in 194 children aged 8.47 ± 0.50 years from Coventry, United Kingdom. Biological maturity was also determined. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) identified significant differences between ethnic (p < 0.001) and gender groups’ BMI (p = 0.026), with a significant covariate for skinfold (p < 0.001) and bioelectrical impedance (p < 0.001). For a given body fat value, South Asian children and females had a lower BMI value (−1.12 kg/m2, p < 0.001 and −0.50 kg/m2, p = 0.026, respectively, when adjusted for SF; −1.56 kg/m2, p < 0.001 and −0.31 kg/m2, p = 0.16, respectively, when adjusted for BIA) compared with white children and boys. The prediction model including ethnicity, gender and BIA explained 80.4% of the variance in BMI. Maturation was not found to be a significant covariate (p > 0.05). To conclude, the findings suggest that BMI cut-points may need to be lowered in South Asian children, and thus age-by-sex-by-ethnicity specific BMI cut-points are needed in children. Further research examining body composition with health parameters in this population is needed.
Polarization and Segregation through Conformity Pressure and Voluntary Migration: Simulation Analysis of Co-Evolutionary Dynamics
Authors: Zusai Dai , Lu Futao
Published: November 2017

While conformity pressures people to assimilate in a community, an individual occasionally migrates among communities when the individual feels discomfort. These two factors cause segregation and cultural diversity within communities in the society. By embedding a migration dynamic into Kuran and Sandholm’s model (2008) of preference evolution, we build an agent-based model to see how the variance of preferences in the entire society quantitatively changes over time. We find from the Monte-Carlo simulations that, while preferences assimilate within a community, self-selected migrations enlarge the diversity of preferences over communities in the society. We further study how the arrival rate of migration opportunities and the degree of conformity pressures affect the variance of preferences.
Intra-Night Variability of OJ 287 with Long-Term Multiband Optical Monitoring
Authors: Zeng Wei , Zhao Qing-Jiang , Jiang Ze-Jun , Kong Zhi-Hui , Liu Zhen , Wang Dong-Dong , Geng Xiong-Fei , Yang Shen-Bang , Dai Ben-Zhong
Published: November 2017

We present long-term optical multi-band photometric monitoring of the blazar OJ 287 from 6 March 2010 to 3 April 2016, with high temporal resolution in the V R I -bands. The flux variations and colour-magnitude variations on long and short timescales were investigated to understand the emission mechanisms. In our observation, the major outbursts occurred in January 2016, as predicted by the binary pair of black holes model for OJ 287, with F v a r of 1.3∼2.1%, and variability amplitude (Amp) of 5.8∼9.0%. The intra-night variability (IDV) durations were from 18.5 to 51.3 min, and the minimal variability timescale was about 4.7 min. The colour-magnitude variation showed a weak positive correlation on the long timescale with Pearson’s r = 0 . 450 , while a negative correlation was found on intra-night timescales. We briefly discuss the possible physical mechanisms that are most likely to be responsible for the observed flux and colour-magnitude correlation variability.
A Virtual Geographic Environment for Debris Flow Risk Analysis in Residential Areas
Authors: Yin Lingzhi , Zhu Jun , Li Yi , Zeng Chao , Zhu Qing , Qi Hua , Liu Mingwei , Li Weilian , Cao Zhenyu , Yang Weijun , Zhang Pengcheng
Published: November 2017

Emergency risk assessment of debris flows in residential areas is of great significance for disaster prevention and reduction, but the assessment has disadvantages, such as a low numerical simulation efficiency and poor capabilities of risk assessment and geographic knowledge sharing. Thus, this paper focuses on the construction of a VGE (virtual geographic environment) system that provides an efficient tool to support the rapid risk analysis of debris flow disasters. The numerical simulation, risk analysis, and 3D (three-dimensional) dynamic visualization of debris flow disasters were tightly integrated into the VGE system. Key technologies, including quantitative risk assessment, multiscale parallel optimization, and visual representation of disaster information, were discussed in detail. The Qipan gully in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, China, was selected as the case area, and a prototype system was developed. According to the multiscale parallel optimization experiments, a suitable scale was chosen for the numerical simulation of debris flow disasters. The computational efficiency of one simulation step was 5 ms (milliseconds), and the rendering efficiency was approximately 40 fps (frames per second). Information about the risk area, risk population, and risk roads under different conditions can be quickly obtained. The experimental results show that our approach can support real-time interactive analyses and can be used to share and publish geographic knowledge.
Ensemble of Filter-Based Rankers to Guide an Epsilon-Greedy Swarm Optimizer for High-Dimensional Feature Subset Selection
Authors: Dowlatshahi Mohammad , Derhami Vali , Nezamabadi-pour Hossein
Published: November 2017

The main purpose of feature subset selection is to remove irrelevant and redundant features from data, so that learning algorithms can be trained by a subset of relevant features. So far, many algorithms have been developed for the feature subset selection, and most of these algorithms suffer from two major problems in solving high-dimensional datasets: First, some of these algorithms search in a high-dimensional feature space without any domain knowledge about the feature importance. Second, most of these algorithms are originally designed for continuous optimization problems, but feature selection is a binary optimization problem. To overcome the mentioned weaknesses, we propose a novel hybrid filter-wrapper algorithm, called Ensemble of Filter-based Rankers to guide an Epsilon-greedy Swarm Optimizer (EFR-ESO), for solving high-dimensional feature subset selection. The Epsilon-greedy Swarm Optimizer (ESO) is a novel binary swarm intelligence algorithm introduced in this paper as a novel wrapper. In the proposed EFR-ESO, we extract the knowledge about the feature importance by the ensemble of filter-based rankers and then use this knowledge to weight the feature probabilities in the ESO. Experiments on 14 high-dimensional datasets indicate that the proposed algorithm has excellent performance in terms of both the error rate of the classification and minimizing the number of features.
Partial Stator Overlap in a Linear Generator for Wave Power: An Experimental Study
Authors: Frost Anna E. , Ulvgård Liselotte , Sjökvist Linnea , Eriksson Sandra , Leijon Mats
Published: November 2017

This paper presents a study on how the power absorption and damping in a linear generator for wave energy conversion are affected by partial overlap between stator and translator. The theoretical study shows that the electrical power as well as the damping coefficient change quadratically with partial stator overlap, if inductance, friction and iron losses are assumed independent of partial stator overlap or can be neglected. Results from onshore experiments on a linear generator for wave energy conversion cannot reject the quadratic relationship. Measurements were done on the inductance of the linear generator and no dependence on partial stator overlap could be found. Simulations of the wave energy converter’s operation in high waves show that entirely neglecting partial stator overlap will overestimate the energy yield and underestimate the peak forces in the line between the buoy and the generator. The difference between assuming a linear relationship instead of a quadratic relationship is visible but small in the energy yield in the simulation. Since the theoretical deduction suggests a quadratic relationship, this is advisable to use during modeling. However, a linear assumption could be seen as an acceptable simplification when modeling since other relationships can be computationally costly.
Integral Phylogenomic Approach over Ilex L. Species from Southern South America
Authors: Cascales Jimena , Bracco Mariana , Garberoglio Mariana , Poggio Lidia , Gottlieb Alexandra
Published: November 2017

The use of molecular markers with inadequate variation levels has resulted in poorly resolved phylogenetic relationships within Ilex. Focusing on southern South American and Asian species, we aimed at contributing informative plastid markers. Also, we intended to gain insights into the nature of morphological and physiological characters used to identify species. We obtained the chloroplast genomes of I. paraguariensis and I. dumosa, and combined these with all the congeneric plastomes currently available to accomplish interspecific comparisons and multilocus analyses. We selected seven introns and nine IGSs as variable non-coding markers that were used in phylogenomic analyses. Eight extra IGSs were proposed as candidate markers. Southern South American species formed one lineage, except for I. paraguariensis, I. dumosa and I. argentina, which occupied intermediate positions among sampled taxa; Euroasiatic species formed two lineages. Some concordant relationships were retrieved from nuclear sequence data. We also conducted integral analyses, involving a supernetwork of molecular data, and a simultaneous analysis of quantitative and qualitative morphological and phytochemical characters, together with molecular data. The total evidence tree was used to study the evolution of non-molecular data, evidencing fifteen non-ambiguous synapomorphic character states and consolidating the relationships among southern South American species. More South American representatives should be incorporated to elucidate their origin.
Environmentally Friendly Compatibilizers from Soybean Oil for Ternary Blends of Poly(lactic acid)-PLA, Poly(ε-caprolactone)-PCL and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-PHB
Authors: Garcia-Campo María , Quiles-Carrillo Luis , Masia Jaime , Reig-Pérez Miguel , Montanes Nestor , Balart Rafael
Published: November 2017

Ternary blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with a constant weight percentage of 60%, 10% and 30% respectively were compatibilized with soybean oil derivatives epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), maleinized soybean oil (MSO) and acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO). The potential compatibilization effects of the soybean oil-derivatives was characterized in terms of mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical properties. The effects on morphology were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). All three soybean oil-based compatibilizers led to a noticeable increase in toughness with a remarkable improvement in elongation at break. On the other hand, both the tensile modulus and strength decreased, but in a lower extent to a typical plasticization effect. Although phase separation occurred, all three soybean oil derivatives led somewhat to compatibilization through reaction between terminal hydroxyl groups in all three biopolyesters (PLA, PHB and PCL) and the readily reactive groups in the soybean oil derivatives, that is, epoxy, maleic anhydride and acrylic/epoxy functionalities. In particular, the addition of 5 parts per hundred parts of the blend (phr) of ESO gave the maximum elongation at break while the same amount of MSO and AESO gave the maximum toughness, measured through Charpy’s impact tests. In general, the herein-developed materials widen the potential of ternary PLA formulations by a cost effective blending method with PHB and PCL and compatibilization with vegetable oil-based additives.
Systematic Overview of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. Dominant Poly-Herbal Formulas in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Kean James , Downey Luke , Stough Con
Published: November 2017

Background: The Ayurvedic medicinal system employs a holistic approach to health, utilising the synergistic properties of organic resources. Research into the Ayurvedic herb Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (B.monnieri) has reported improvements in cognitive outcomes in child and adult populations. The aim of current review is to systematically assess and critically summarize clinical trials investigating B.monnieri-dominant poly-herbal formulas and their effects on the cognition, memory, learning, and behaviour in children and adolescents. Methods: Key word searches were performed using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, DHARA, and CINAHL for publications meeting inclusion criteria up to November 2017. There were no restrictions in study design. Effect sizes were calculated for all significant findings to allow for direct comparisons, and each study was evaluated on design quality. Cognitive and behavioural outcomes were grouped into validated constructs for cross-study comparison. Results: Nine trials met inclusion criteria. Five studies reported sufficient data for effect size analysis with most improvements reported in behavioural outcomes. True cognitive abilities and behavioural constructs were reviewed in six studies, with visual perception, impulsivity, and attention demonstrating the greatest improvements. The veracity of the evidence for the formulations reviewed is weakened by inconsistent statistical design and under-reporting of safety and tolerability data (44%). Conclusions: The current review extends research supporting B.monnieri as a cognitive enhancer and provides modest evidence for the use of B.monnieri in poly-herbal preparations for improving cognitive and behavioural outcomes in child and adolescent populations. Greater emphasis on statistical vigour and the reporting of tolerability data are essential for future trials to adequately document poly-herbal treatment efficacy.
Review of the Functions of Archimedes’ Spiral Metallic Nanostructures
Authors: Guo Zhongyi , Li Zixiang , Zhang Jingran , Guo Kai , Shen Fei , Zhou Qingfeng , Zhou Hongping
Published: November 2017

Here, we have reviewed some typical plasmonic structures based on Archimedes’ spiral (AS) architectures, which can produce polarization-sensitive focusing phenomenon and generate plasmonic vortices (PVs) carrying controllable orbital angular momentum (OAM) because of the relation between the incident polarized states and the chiralities of the spiral structures. These features can be used to analyze different circular polarization states, which has been one of the rapidly developing researching topics in nanophotonics in recent years. Many investigations demonstrate that the multifunctional spiral-based plasmonic structures are excellent choices for chiral selection and generating the transmitted field with well-defined OAM. The circular polarization extinction ratio, as an evaluation criterion for the polarization selectivity of a designed structure, could be effectively improved by properly modulating the parameters of spiral structures. Such functional spiral plasmonic nanostructures are promising for applications in analyzing circular polarization light, full Stokes vector polarimetric sensors, near-field imaging, and so on.
Acute Effects of Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Juice on Blood Pressure, Hemostasis and Vascular Inflammation Markers in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study
Authors: Raubenheimer Kyle , Hickey Danica , Leveritt Michael , Fassett Robert , Ortiz de Zevallos Munoz Joaquin , Allen Jason , Briskey David , Parker Tony , Kerr Graham , Peake Jonathan , Pecheniuk Natalie , Neubauer Oliver
Published: November 2017

Aging is associated with a vasoconstrictive, pro-coagulant, and pro-inflammatory profile of arteries and a decline in the bioavailability of the endothelium-derived molecule nitric oxide. Dietary nitrate elicits vasodilatory, anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory effects in younger individuals, but little is known about whether these benefits are evident in older adults. We investigated the effects of 140 mL of nitrate-rich (HI-NI; containing 12.9 mmol nitrate) versus nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (LO-NI; containing ≤0.04 mmol nitrate) on blood pressure, blood coagulation, vascular inflammation markers, plasma nitrate and nitrite before, and 3 h and 6 h after ingestion in healthy older adults (five males, seven females, mean age: 64 years, age range: 57–71 years) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Plasma nitrate and nitrite increased 3 and 6 h after HI-NI ingestion (p < 0.05). Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure decreased 3 h relative to baseline after HI-NI ingestion only (p < 0.05). The number of blood monocyte-platelet aggregates decreased 3 h after HI-NI intake (p < 0.05), indicating reduced platelet activation. The number of blood CD11b-expressing granulocytes decreased 3 h following HI-NI beetroot juice intake (p < 0.05), suggesting a shift toward an anti-adhesive granulocyte phenotype. Numbers of blood CD14++CD16+ intermediate monocyte subtypes slightly increased 6 h after HI-NI beetroot juice ingestion (p < 0.05), but the clinical implications of this response are currently unclear. These findings provide new evidence for the acute effects of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on circulating immune cells and platelets. Further long-term research is warranted to determine if these effects reduce the risk of developing hypertension and vascular inflammation with aging.
“For the Salvation of This Girl’s Soul”: Nuns as Converters of Jews in Early Modern Italy
Authors: Herzig Tamar
Published: November 2017

This article argues that converting Jewish girls and women constituted an important expression of Italian nuns’ religiosity throughout the age of Catholic Reform. Unlike their male counterparts, however, converting nuns rarely left behind accounts of their conversionary efforts. Moreover, since these endeavors were directed exclusively at female Jews they are often obscured in the historical record and in modern historiography. The article tackles the difficulties of recovering the voices of converting nuns and presents examples that suggest how they could be circumvented. Exploring the potential of drawing on previously understudied texts, such as nuns’ supplications, the article calls for the integration of this specific manifestation of female devotion into the scholarship and teaching on women’s religious life in the early modern era.
Effects of Climate Change on 2-Methylisoborneol Production in Two Cyanobacterial Species
Authors: Zhang Junzhi , Li Luwei , Qiu Lijia , Wang Xiaoting , Meng Xuanyi , You Yu , Yu Jianwei , Ma Wenlin
Published: November 2017

2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB) is a common off-flavor metabolite, and it has a very low odor threshold value. 2-MIB is produced by a variety of cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria. In this study, Dolichospermum spiroides (Anabaena spiroides, FACHB 498) and Planktothrix sp. (FACHB 1371) were investigated. The influence of high temperature (27, 35, and 40 °C) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC, 18.4, 27.5, and 36.7 mg/L) on the two 2-MIB-producing cyanobacteria were simulated to study the effect of climate change on 2-MIB production. DIC had an effect on 2-MIB production by Planktothrix sp. The results showed that the highest DIC concentration (36.7 mg/L) led to the fastest algal growth, which increased 2-MIB production by Planktothrix sp. However, 40 °C killed all the cyanobacteria. The higher temperature (35 °C) shortened the lifecycle of the two cyanobacteria because it moved forward their logarithmic phase compared to 27 °C. The 2-MIB-producing potential of Dolichospermum spiroides may increase at 35 °C. The Dolichospermum spiroides results showed that the fluorescence intensity and the concentration of extracellular 2-MIB were highly correlated (r2 ≥ 0.90). At 35 °C, there was a stronger correlation between extracellular dissolved organic matters’ (DOMs, fulvic acid (P3 (r2 = 0.90)), humic acid (P4 (r2 = 0.92)) and the soluble microbial metabolites’ (P5 (r2 = 0.71)) fluorescence peak intensities and 2-MIB concentration. The Dolichospermum sproides 2-MIB-producing potential was affected by extracellular humus. The Planktothrix sp. 2-MIB-producing potential declined in general over the growth period. In addition, temperature had no significant effect on the Planktothrix sp. 2-MIB-producing potential and the extracellular 2-MIB component.
Impact of Combined Sewer Overflow on Wastewater Treatment and Microbiological Quality of Rivers for Recreation
Authors: Mascher Franz , Mascher Wolfgang , Pichler-Semmelrock Franz , Reinthaler Franz , Zarfel Gernot , Kittinger Clemens
Published: November 2017

Within the framework of a one-year study the treatment capacity of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was evaluated, with regard to fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and to their influence on the recipient. The logarithmic reduction rates for fecal coliforms (FC), Escherichia coli (EC) and intestinal enterococci (IE) were 2.84, 2.90 and 2.93. In the investigated period of time, the tested treatment plant released 4.3% of the total annual load flow volume as combined sewer overflow (CSO), that is, when the influent into the combined sewer exceeds the capacity of the treatment plant and coarsely cleaned wastewater arrives at the recipient. This CSO discharge increased the number of FIB significantly by 1.2 × 102 MPN/100 mL for EC, and by 1.8 × 101 MPN/100 mL for IE. For the Styrian part of the Mur River (1.6 million inhabitants), a calculation of FIB of all sewage treatment plants estimating the same ratio of CSO (4.3%) and a given mean flow rate (QM) results in a significant increase of the FIB load in the recipient: 3.8 × 103 MPN/100 mL for EC and 5.8 × 102 MPN/100 mL for IE. On the basis of these values the standards of water quality for recreational purposes cannot be met.
Rapid root responses of seedlings exposed to a postdrought water pulse
Authors: Nguyen Monica A. , Larson Julie E. , Blair Megan D. , Hardwick Darcy D. , Khurana Nilsha , Kim Joanne S. , Rosenfield Marc V. , Funk Jennifer L.
Published: November 2017

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Mediterranean‐type climate ecosystems experience significant variability in precipitation within and across years and may be characterized by periods of extreme drought followed by a brief, high‐intensity precipitation pulse. Rapid root growth could be a key factor in effective utilization of precipitation pulses, leading to higher rates of seedling establishment. Changes in root growth rate are rarely studied, however, and patterns in seedling root traits are not well explored. We investigated the influence of an extreme postdrought precipitation event on seedlings that occur in southern California coastal sage scrub.

METHODS:

We measured root elongation rate, root tip appearance rate, new leaf appearance rate, and canopy growth rate on 18 mediterranean species from three growth forms.

KEY RESULTS:

Root elongation rate responded more strongly to the precipitation pulse than did root tip appearance rate and either metric of aboveground growth. The majority of species exhibited a significant change in root growth rate within 1 week of the pulse. Responses varied in rapidity and magnitude across species, however, and were not generally predictable based on growth form.

CONCLUSIONS:

While the majority of species exhibited shifts in belowground growth following the pulse, the direction and magnitude of these morphological responses were highly variable within growth form. Understanding the implications of these different response strategies for plant fitness is a crucial next step to forecasting community dynamics within ecosystems characterized by resource pulses.