bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Non-Dairy Food Matrices on the Survival of Probiotic Bacteria during Storage
Authors: Min Min , Bunt Craig , Mason Susan , Bennett Grant , Hussain Malik
Published: August 2017

The viability of probiotics in non-dairy food products during storage is required to meet content criteria for probiotic products. This study investigated whether non-dairy foods could be matrices for probiotics. Selected probiotic bacteria were coated on non-dairy foods under two storage conditions, and viabilities were assessed. The non-dairy foods were coated with 5–7 log cfu g−1 of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC4356T, Lactobacillus plantarum RC30, and Bifidobacterium longum ATCC15707T. The coated non-dairy foods were stored at 20 °C and 20% relative humidity (RH) or 30 °C and 50% RH. Viability of probiotic bacteria was determined after 0, 2, and 4 weeks of storage. B. longum showed the highest survival at week 4 of 6.5–6.7 log cfu g−1 on wheat bran and oat, compared with 3.7–3.9 log cfu g−1 of L. acidophilus and 4.2–4.8 log cfu g−1 of L. plantarum at 20 °C 20% RH. Under the storage conditions of 30 °C 50% RH, survival of 4.5 log cfu g−1 of B. longum was also found on oat and peanut. This was two and four times higher than the population of L. acidophilus and L. plantarum, respectively. The results suggest that probiotics can survive on non-dairy foods under ambient storage conditions. However, the storage conditions, food matrices, and probiotic strains should be carefully chosen to maximize probiotic bacteria survival.
Versatility of Pyridoxal Phosphate as a Coating of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Bonvin Debora , Aschauer Ulrich , Bastiaansen Jessica , Stuber Matthias , Hofmann Heinrich , Mionić Ebersold Marijana
Published: August 2017

Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) is the most important cofactor of vitamin B6-dependent enzymes, which catalyses a wide range of essential body functions (e.g., metabolism) that could be exploited to specifically target highly metabolic cells, such as tumour metastatic cells. However, the use of PLP as a simultaneous coating and targeting molecule, which at once provides colloidal stability and specific biological effects has not been exploited so far. Therefore, in this work iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were coated by PLP at two different pH values to tune PLP bonding (e.g., orientation) at the IONP surface. The surface study, as well as calculations, confirmed different PLP bonding to the IONP surface at these two pH values. Moreover, the obtained PLP-IONPs showed different zeta potential, hydrodynamic radius and agglomeration state, and consequently different uptake by two metastatic-prostate-cancer cell lines (LnCaP and PC3). In LnCaP cells, PLP modified the morphology of IONP-containing intracellular vesicles, while in PC3 cells PLP impacted the amount of IONPs taken up by cells. Moreover, PLP-IONPs displayed high magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) r2 relaxivity and were not toxic for the two studied cell lines, rendering PLP promising for biomedical applications. We here report the use of PLP simultaneously as a coating and targeting molecule, directly bound to the IONP surface, with the additional high potential for MRI detection.
Effects of Australian Economic Activities on Waste Generation and Treatment
Authors: He He , Reynolds Christian , Piantadosi Julia , Boland John
Published: August 2017

Understanding the relationships between the Australian economic system and waste generation from intermediate sectors and households is a prerequisite for planning and implementing waste management strategies at a national scale. Data of waste generation accounts link to those of national economic accounts. However, in Australia, some years’ data are absent and so these links cannot be made. To rectify this data gap, this paper interpolates and extrapolates the Australian input-output table (IOT) of 2010–2011. Waste input-output (WIO) analysis is then used to assess the effects of the Australian economy on waste generation and treatment between 2009–2010 and 2010–2011. Analysis indicated that the result of interpolation was more reasonable than that of extrapolation, and the interpolation of the Australian IOT of 2010–2011 can be applicable. This comparative analysis of the time series data in WIO model has identified that: (1) per million $AUD of output of the Construction sector generated the most amount of direct and total waste during the period; (2) the relationships between the development of Australian economy and waste generation illustrate that the Australian economy is currently a traditional linear economy; (3) the effectiveness of waste-related policies are shown by the growth of the sums of direct and total effects of intermediate sectors on the Recovery sector; and (4) the amount of waste generated by households increased sharply over the two years. The physical flows of waste footprint show details of waste generation and treatment in the Australian economic system. The information provided in this paper is beneficial to formulate tailor-made policies for waste management in Australia.
Prudential Versus Probative Arguments for Religious Faith: Descartes and Pascal on Reason and Faith
Authors: Sansom Dennis
Published: August 2017

In this article, I show that Pascal’s prudential agenda, centered on the Wager, more successfully overcomes the restrictions of Pyrrhonic skepticism expressed by Montaigne than Descartes’ probative philosophy, which was based on his “ontological argument” for God’s existence. Descartes’ attempt to base natural science on the metaphysical certainty of a non-deceiving God fails because he cannot prove that a non-deceiving Perfect Being is a “clear and distinct” idea. Pascal’s attempt to base the knowledge of God upon the “reasons of the heart” accepts the epistemological restrictions of skepticism but provides a reason to develop passionate faith, thereby overcoming skepticism. I also show that Descartes and Pascal had different assumptions about the workings of the mind; Descartes relied on a model of the mind as a “theater,” which hindered his agenda, and Pascal upon a “holistic” model, which enabled him to make a prudential argument which was cognitively convincing.
Race, the Condition of Neo-Liberalism
Authors: Singh Vikash
Published: August 2017

This article addresses the social and historical relation between Chicago School neo-liberalism and contemporary racism, and its connections with the formations of racism in classical liberalism and its colonial character. I show the pragmatic and discursive operations of neo-racism in the context of this shift to a neo-liberal discourse, drawing particularly on Michel Foucault’s seminars, Society Must be Defended, and Birth of Bio-politics. Insofar as “race” cannot be understood as a discrete category outside its social, economic, moral, and political embeddedness in liberalism, I argue that methodological individualism and expectations of high-specialization constrain the theorization of race in U.S. scholarship. Racial lines will continue to be (re)excavated, borrowed, or inscribed afresh to channel, reinforce, and institutionalize the social violence that neo-liberalism must unleash.
How Is Environmental Proactivity Accomplished? Drivers and Barriers in Firms’ Pro-Environmental Change Process
Authors: Valero-Gil Jesús , Rivera-Torres Pilar , Garcés-Ayerbe Conchita
Published: August 2017

The contaminating effects of economic activity and the scarcity of natural resources has led firms to a situation in which corporate strategy has been compromised by environmental issues. The objective of this paper is to analyse some of the factors determining the pro-environmental change process by considering the drivers encouraging firms to progress in environmental protection and the barriers that curb this progress. Using a structural equation model implemented on a sample of 303 firms, our results confirm a direct and positive effect of stakeholder pressure and of the expectations of obtaining competitive advantages from the pro-environmental change process. The results also confirmed the indirect effect of stakeholder pressure on pro-environmental change through managers’ expectations of obtaining competitive advantages, which play a mediating role in the firm’s response. Although managers interpret the barriers we have studied as obstacles to adopting environmental protection measures, they do not prevent any firm from reaching advanced levels of pro-environmental change.
Impact of Deforestation on Agro-Environmental Variables in Cropland, North Korea
Authors: Lim Chul-Hee , Choi Yuyoung , Kim Moonil , Jeon Seong , Lee Woo-Kyun
Published: August 2017

Deforestation in North Korea is becoming the epitome of the environmental change occurring in the Korean Peninsula. This study estimates the agro-environmental variables of North Korea’s croplands and analyzes the impact of deforestation using the GEPIC (GIS-based EPIC (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate)) model and time-series land cover maps. To identify the changes in agricultural quality under deforestation, wind erosion, water erosion, organic carbon loss, and runoff were selected as the agro-environmental variables having an impact on cropland stability and productivity. Land cover maps spanning the past three decades showed that 75% of the forests were converted to croplands and that 69% of all converted croplands were originally forests, confirming the significant correlation between deforestation and cropland expansion in North Korea. Despite limitations in the verification data, we conducted qualitative and quantitative validation of the estimated variables and confirmed that our results were reasonable. Over the past 30 years, agro-environmental variables showed no clear time-series changes resulting from climate change, but changes due to spatial differences were seen. Negative changes in organic carbon loss, water erosion, and runoff were observed, regardless of the crop type. On newly-converted agricultural lands, runoff is 1.5 times higher and water-driven erosion and soil organic loss are more than twice as high compared to older croplands. The results showed that the agro-environment affected by deforestation had an impact on cropland stability and productivity.
Towards the Conceptual Changes in Architectural Education: Adjusting to Climate Change
Authors: Stupar Aleksandra , Mihajlov Vladimir , Simic Ivan
Published: August 2017

This article gives an insight into the problem of climate change awareness in the process of architectural education. The course Urban Structure at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture, is used as a case study that reveals a sensitive relationship between the university curriculum, teaching methodologies, students’ experiences/obtained knowledge and the local background. The course included Problem Based Learning method in order to increase applicability of up-to-date knowledge on climate change. The results were tested before and after taking the course, via survey based on the semi-open type of questionnaire, distributed among 246 course attendees. The testing was conducted twice, during the school years 2013–2014 and 2014–2015. The comparison between the knowledge acquire via theory (the test results provided at the beginning of the course) and the knowledge obtained by Problem Based Learning (the results obtained after the course ended) confirmed the increased level of student’s awareness of environmental problems, as well as the extended scope of their ability to respond to occurring problems caused by climate change. Furthermore, the results obtained by a questionnaire are used for setting of new educational guidelines.
Do We Live in the Best of All Possible Worlds? The Fine-Tuning of the Constants of Nature
Authors: Naumann Thomas
Published: August 2017

Our existence depends on a variety of constants which appear to be extremely fine-tuned to allow for the existence of life as we know it. These include the number of spatial dimensions, the strengths of the forces, the masses of the particles, the composition of the Universe, and others. On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the death of G.W. Leibniz, we discuss the question of whether we live in the “Best of all possible Worlds”. The hypothesis of a multiverse could explain the mysterious fine tuning of so many fundamental quantities. Anthropic arguments are critically reviewed.
Maternal Immunization: New Perspectives on Its Application Against Non-Infectious Related Diseases in Newborns
Authors: Riccardo Federica , Réal Aline , Voena Claudia , Chiarle Roberto , Cavallo Federica , Barutello Giuseppina
Published: August 2017

The continuous evolution in preventive medicine has anointed vaccination a versatile, human-health improving tool, which has led to a steady decline in deaths in the developing world. Maternal immunization represents an incisive step forward for the field of vaccination as it provides protection against various life-threatening diseases in pregnant women and their children. A number of studies to improve prevention rates and expand protection against the largest possible number of infections are still in progress. The complex unicity of the mother-infant interaction, both during and after pregnancy and which involves immune system cells and molecules, is an able partner in the success of maternal immunization, as intended thus far. Interestingly, new studies have shed light on the versatility of maternal immunization in protecting infants from non-infectious related diseases, such as allergy, asthma and congenital metabolic disorders. However, barely any attempt at applying maternal immunization to the prevention of childhood cancer has been made. The most promising study reported in this new field is a recent proof of concept on the efficacy of maternal immunization in protecting cancer-prone offspring against mammary tumor progression. New investigations into the possibility of exploiting maternal immunization to prevent the onset and/or progression of neuroblastoma, one of the most common childhood malignancies, are therefore justified. Maternal immunization is presented in a new guise in this review. Attention will be focused on its versatility and potential applications in preventing tumor progression in neuroblastoma-prone offspring.
Activation of Vimentin Is Critical to Promote a Metastatic Potential of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells
Authors: Saentaweesuk Waraporn , Araki Norie , Vaeteewoottacharn Kulthida , Silsirivanit Atit , Seubwai Wunchana , Talabnin Chutima , Muisuk Kanha , Sripa Banchob , Wongkham Sopit , Okada Seiji , Wongkham Chaisiri
Published: August 2017

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly metastatic tumor, and the majority of patients with CCA have a short survival time because there are no available effective treatments. Hence, a better understanding regarding CCA metastasis may provide an opportunity to improve the strategies for
treatment. A comparison study between the highly metastatic cells and their parental cells is an approach to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the metastatic process. In the present study, a lung metastatic CCA cell line, KKU-214L5, was established by the in vivo selection of the
tail vein-injected mouse model. KKU-214L5 cells possessed mesenchymal spindle-like morphology with higher migration and invasion abilities in vitro than the parental cells (KKU-214). KKU-214L5 also exhibited extremely aggressive lung colonization in the tail vein-injected metastatic model.
Epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) was clearly observed in KKU-214L5 cells. Significant downregulation of epithelial markers (ZO-1 and claudin-1), with unique upregulation of E-cadherin and mesenchymal markers (vimentin, β-catenin, and slug), was observed in KKU-214L5. Increasing
MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and CD147 expression reflected the high invasion activity in KKU-214L5 cells. Suppression of vimentin using siRNA significantly decreased the migration and invasion capabilities of KKU-214L5 to almost the basal levels of the parental cells without any change on the
expression levels of other EMT markers and the activities of MMPs. These results suggest that vimentin activation is essential to potentiate the metastatic characters of CCA cells, and suppression of vimentin expression could be a potential strategy to improve the treatment of CCA, a highly
metastatic cancer.
Nonlinear Effects in Three-minute Oscillations of the Solar Chromosphere. I. An Analytical Nonlinear Solution and Detection of the Second Harmonic
Authors: Chae Jongchul , Litvinenko Yuri E.
Published: July 2017

The vertical propagation of nonlinear acoustic waves in an isothermal atmosphere is considered. A new analytical solution that describes a finite-amplitude wave of an arbitrary wavelength is obtained. Although the short- and long-wavelength limits were previously considered separately, the new solution describes both limiting cases within a common framework and provides a straightforward way of interpolating between the two limits. Physical features of the nonlinear waves in the chromosphere are described, including the dispersive nature of low-frequency waves, the steepening of the wave profile, and the influence of the gravitational field on wavefront breaking and shock formation. The analytical results suggest that observations of three-minute oscillations in the solar chromosphere may reveal the basic nonlinear effect of oscillations with combination frequencies, superposed on the normal oscillations of the system. Explicit expressions for a second-harmonic signal and the ratio of its amplitude to the fundamental harmonic amplitude are derived. Observational evidence of the second harmonic, obtained with the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph, installed at the 1.6 m New Solar Telescope of the Big Bear Observatory, is presented. The presented data are based on the time variations of velocity determined from the Na i D2 and Hα lines.
Kinematics of the Optically Visible YSOs toward the Orion B Molecular Cloud
Authors: Kounkel Marina , Hartmann Lee , Mateo Mario , Bailey John I.
Published: August 2017

We present results from high-resolution optical spectra toward 66 young stars in the Orion B molecular cloud to study their kinematics and other properties. Observations of the Hα and Li i 6707 Å lines are used to check membership and accretion properties. While the stellar radial velocities of NGC 2068 and L1622 are in good agreement with that of the molecular gas, many of the stars in NGC 2024 show a considerable offset. This could be a signature of either the expansion of the cluster, the high degree of the ejection of the stars from the cluster through dynamical interaction, or the acceleration of the gas due to stellar feedback.
Large-scale Map of Millimeter-wavelength Hydrogen Radio Recombination Lines around a Young Massive Star Cluster
Authors: Nguyễn-Lu’o’ng Q. , Anderson L. D. , Motte F. , Kim Kee-Tae , Schilke P. , Carlhoff P. , Beuther H. , Schneider N. , Didelon P. , Kramer C. , Louvet F. , Nony T. , Bihr S. , Rugel M. , Soler J. , Wang Y. , Bronfman L. , Simon R. , Menten K. M. , Wyrowski F. , Walmsley C. M.
Published: July 2017

We report the first map of large-scale (10 pc in length) emission of millimeter-wavelength hydrogen recombination lines (mm-RRLs) toward the giant H ii region around the W43-Main young massive star cluster (YMC). Our mm-RRL data come from the IRAM 30 m telescope and are analyzed together with radio continuum and cm-RRL data from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array and HCO+ 1–0 line emission data from the IRAM 30 m. The mm-RRLs reveal an expanding wind-blown ionized gas shell with an electron density ∼70–1500 cm−3 driven by the WR/OB cluster, which produces a total Lyα photon flux of

s−1. This shell is interacting with the dense neutral molecular gas in the W43-Main dense cloud. Combining the high spectral and angular resolution mm-RRL and cm-RRL cubes, we derive the two-dimensional relative distributions of dynamical and pressure broadening of the ionized gas emission and find that the RRL line shapes are dominated by pressure broadening (4–55

) near the YMC and by dynamical broadening (8–36

) near the shell’s edge. Ionized gas clumps hosting ultra-compact H ii regions found at the edge of the shell suggest that large-scale ionized gas motion triggers the formation of new star generation near the periphery of the shell.
The role of consultancies in the transformation of the Dutch banking sector, 1950s to 1990s
Authors: Arnoldus Doreen
Published: August 2017

Cet article examine le rôle joué par les cabinets de consultants en Hollande dans le secteur bancaire dans la seconde moitié du XX e siècle. Cette recherche se fonde sur des études de cas de deux banques commerciales (Amro Bank et ABN Bank) et d’une banque mutualiste (Rabobank). Les consultants sont notamment intervenus dans ces sociétés pour les aider à gérer les opérations postérieures aux fusions. La différence de nature de ces établissements bancaires peut permettre de comprendre l’intensité et le type de missions mises en œuvre, bien que les pratiques diffèrent à l’intérieur même de la catégorie des banques commerciales.
Espaces collaboratifs ruraux et émergence de l’entrepreneur « alter »
Authors: Fasshauer Ingrid , Zadra-Veil Cathy
Published: August 2017

Le mouvement du coworking, qui touche aussi le monde rural, ne s’adresse pas au même public ni ne développe les mêmes usages qu’en ville. Néanmoins, dans les deux cas, les entrepreneurs sont une des cibles privilégiées de ces espaces. À partir de l’étude d’un espace situé en milieu rural, nous identifions trois catégories d’entrepreneurs selon leurs attentes. Emerge alors la figure de l’entrepreneur « alter », qui vise à transformer la société en commençant par le territoire où il vit. En mettant la collaboration et la co-création au cœur de son projet entrepreneurial, il est un « interacteur 1  » qui favorise les échanges d’un monde à l’autre. Il est capable de tirer parti de la diversité des publics de l’espace, de combiner les ressources du territoire pour produire de l’innovation sociale.
Quoi de neuf, Docteur ? Les Living Labs en santé
Authors: Le Chaffotec Alexandra
Published: August 2017

Pourquoi et de quelle manière les living labs permettent-ils d’innover en santé, quels changements importants apportent-ils à l’organisation de notre système de santé ? L’analyse présentée ici repose sur des études de cas basées sur des entretiens in situ menés dans deux types de structures : les centres de référence maladies rares et les living labs santé et autonomie. Ces études montrent que la propension à innover repose notamment sur la séquence de travail des living labs (analyse des besoins, co-conception, prototypage et déploiement de la solution), dans un cadre temporel et spatial défini, réunissant la contribution d’une variété d’acteurs (professionnels de santé, usagers, entreprises, universitaires, etc.). Ces méthodes inédites en santé font évoluer à la fois le rapport à l’usager, dont la place dans le processus de création devient centrale, le rôle et la place du médecin placé au cœur de relations plus horizontales que hiérarchiques, et enfin le rapport à l’industrie.
Réalités africaines des pratiques promotionnelles.
Authors: Fongue Ndjioze Hymette Laure , Nga Nkouma Tsanga Rosalie Christiane
Published: August 2017

La littérature spécialisée révèle que depuis le moyen âge, la promotion des ventes est une pratique courante au sein des entreprises. En occident notamment, cette pratique connait un développement rapide dans ses techniques et dans sa mise œuvre. A partir d’une revue de la littérature sur le sujet et des études menées au Cameroun, il ressort que même si la pratique prend de l’ampleur en Afrique subsaharienne, elle demeure encore dans une phase embryonnaire et se traduit par ses particularités. Ainsi, les techniques promotionnelles les plus utilisées en Afrique sont les techniques de Jeux/concours, de réductions de prix, de ventes avec prime et les essais. De même, les lots offerts peuvent être classés en trois catégories (A, B et C) en fonction de leur valeur. Enfin, une typologie des promotions de vente a été élaborée en fonction du but, de la légalité des pratiques ainsi que la couverture géographique de l’action.
Analyse de la position concurrentielle de FAAKI-CONGO sur le marché de la distribution du gaz butane à Brazzaville
Authors: Eboumbola Essanga Blanche Émeline , Mbaloula Marcel
Published: August 2017

Le marché de la distribution du gaz butane devient de plus en plus un marché oligopolistique au point où la société FAAKI CONGO , considérée en situation de monopole, se trouve confrontée à une concurrence selon la modèle de Michael Porter. Cette concurrence tient au fait que le secteur pétrolier aval et amont est rentable. L’article se propose d’analyser la position concurrentielle de FAAKI CONGO sur le marché concurrentiel de la distribution de gaz à Brazzaville. Il vise aussi à identifier les problèmes auxquels l’entreprise est confrontée.
La Iglesia de Toledo en la Edad Media: organización institucional y formas de vida religiosa. Estado de la cuestión: archivos y descripción de manuscritos
Authors: Torija Rodríguez Enrique
Published: July 2017

Este trabajo presenta un estado de la cuestión sobre el estudio del arzobispado de Toledo en la Edad Media, sin referirnos al resto de sus diócesis sufragáneas, tras la conquista de esta ciudad en 1085 por el rey Alfonso VI de León y Castilla. Incluye los principales archivos (en Toledo, en España y en el mundo) necesarios para abordar su estudio así como un apartado con la descripción de manuscritos acerca de la Iglesia de Toledo en la Edad Media.
Un fénix para los años de hierro. Lope de Vega y la Orden de los Dominicos
Authors: González-Barrera Julián
Published: July 2017

En 1618 Lope de Vega publicaba El triunfo de la fe en los reinos del Japón, una historia de mártires inspirada en la relación de un misionero dominico en aquellas lejanas tierras. El propio poeta confiesa que le fue enviada desde Manila, pero no aporta más detalles. Ahora, por primera vez, todo el proceso de encargo se desvela: qué frailes participaron, cómo le convencieron y por qué necesitaron de la ayuda de un poeta de vida y ejemplo no precisamente piadoso.
Design and Implementation of English Learning System Based on Computer Network Platform
Authors: Gao Hu , Ma Yanbin , Geng Peng
Published: August 2017

With the popularity of English across the world, demands grow for English of daily use. By reviewing the English learning methods and its patterns at home and abroad, this paper conducted a major analysis on the status of English self-learning in China. On this basis, a computer network platform based English learning system was designed and realized by using software engineering approaches, whose development techniques are discussed subsequently. Finally, the performance and safety of the online English learning platform are tested. The test results show that the system is effective in improving students' ability to learn English by themselves.
Study on the Effectiveness of the ASR-Based English Teaching Software in Helping College Students’ Listening Learning
Authors: Zhao Hongyan
Published: August 2017

The development of automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology makes the human-computer interaction possible. Considering the deficiencies currently in the English pronunciation teaching, this paper employs relevant principles of speech recognition, proposes the design of an automatic English pronunciation grading system in the English teaching field, describes in detail the system structure, functions and processes and introduces the key technologies and steps to implement the system: dynamic time warping algorithm, establishment of corpuses, consonant/vowel (C/V) segmentation technology and grading standards. Results of a small-scale test show that the system is useful to testing the English pronunciation of international students.
Test Suite Optimization Using Chaotic Firefly Algorithm in Software Testing
Authors: Pandey Abhishek , Banerjee Soumya
Published: August 2017

Software testing is time consuming and a costly activity. Effective generation of test cases is necessary in order to perform rigorous testing. There exist various techniques for effective test case generation. These techniques are based on various test adequacy criteria such as statement coverage, branch coverage etc. Automatic generation of test data has been the primary focus of software testing research in recent past. In this paper a novel approach based on chaotic behavior of firefly algorithm is proposed for test suite optimization. Test suite optimization problem is modeled in the framework of firefly algorithm. An Algorithm for test optimization based on firefly algorithm is also proposed. Experiments are performed on some benchmark Program and simulation results are compared for ABC algorithm, ACO algorithm, GA with Chaotic firefly algorithm. Major research findings are that chaotic firefly algorithm outperforms other bio inspired algorithm such as artificial bee colony, Ant colony optimization and Genetic Algorithm in terms of Branch coverage in software testing.
An Empirical Analysis of Delhi - Mumbai Sector Flight Fares
Authors: Godwin T.
Published: August 2017

Revenue management is the art and science of making the right product or service available to the right customer at the right time through the right channel at right price. Dynamic pricing plays a crucial role in the implementation of revenue management in passenger airline reservation system. The liberalization of domestic aviation sector in countries such as India has seen many new market entrants resulting in higher competition while setting the flight fares. The variation in flight fares of Delhi – Mumbai passenger airline sector is studied for a departure date based on the number of days in advance the booking is made. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses of the fares reveal the impact of airlines, booking channels and departure time windows on the pricing decisions of flight fares. The analysis framework of this study could be used as a basis for a continuous tracking study of flight fares by airline revenue managers to help them arrive at the right fare for each fare class of a flight.
Contour Based High Resolution 3D Mesh Construction Using HRCT and MRI Stacks
Authors: Mukundan Ramakrishnan
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we consider the problem of extracting shape contours from High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) stacks and using them to construct a three-dimensional mesh surface of the underlying geometry to a high level of detail. While many reconstruction algorithms adopt volumetric approaches and ray casting methods, we propose a novel algorithm for automatic segmentation of large volume sets, and a contour-based construction of a mesh representation that could be used in any rendering application or combined with larger meshes of anatomical parts. Several acceleration structures to reduce the complexity of the algorithm are also presented. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides a high level of detail and quality of rendering that may find useful applications in the field of visualization and graphics.
Inferring Intent and Action from Gaze in Naturalistic Behavior
Authors: Lukander Kristian , Toivanen Miika , Puolamäki Kai
Published: August 2017

We constantly move our gaze to gather acute visual information from our environment. Conversely, as originally shown by Yarbus in his seminal work, the elicited gaze patterns hold information over our changing attentional focus while performing a task. Recently, the proliferation of machine learning algorithms has allowed the research community to test the idea of inferring, or even predicting action and intent from gaze behaviour. The on-going miniaturization of gaze tracking technologies toward pervasive wearable solutions allows studying inference also in everyday activities outside research laboratories. This paper scopes the emerging field and reviews studies focusing on the inference of intent and action in naturalistic behaviour. While the task-specific nature of gaze behavior, and the variability in naturalistic setups present challenges, gaze-based inference holds a clear promise for machine-based understanding of human intent and future interactive solutions.
Clustering Based on Two Layers for Abnormal Event Detection in Video Surveillance
Authors: Fendri Emna , Ghrab Najla Bouarada , Hammami Mohamed
Published: August 2017

Abnormal event detection has attracted great research attention in video surveillance. In this paper, the authors presented a robust method of trajectories clustering for abnormal event detection. This method is based on two layers and benefits from two well-known clustering algorithms: the agglomerative hierarchical clustering and the k-means clustering. Facing to the challenges related to the trajectories, e.g., different sizes, the authors introduce a preprocessing step to unify their sizes and reduce their dimensionality. The experimental results show the performance and accuracy of their proposed method.
Enhanced Frequent Itemsets Based on Topic Modeling in Information Filtering
Authors: Wai Than Than , Aung Sint Sint
Published: August 2017

In order to generate user's information needs from a collection of documents, many term-based and pattern-based approaches have been used in Information Filtering. In these approaches, the documents in the collection are all about one topic. However, user's interests can be diverse and the documents in the collection often involve multiple topics. Topic modeling is useful for the area of machine learning and text mining. It generates models to discover the hidden multiple topics in a collection of documents and each of these topics are presented by distribution of words. But its effectiveness in information filtering has not been so well explored. Patterns are always thought to be more discriminative than single terms for describing documents. The major challenge found in frequent pattern mining is a large number of result patterns. As the minimum threshold becomes lower, an exponentially large number of patterns are generated. To deal with the above mentioned limitations and problems, in this paper, a novel information filtering model, EFITM (Enhanced Frequent Itemsets based on Topic Model) model is proposed. Experimental results using the CRANFIELD dataset for the task of information filtering show that the proposed model outperforms over state-of-the-art models.
Thermal Conductivity and Charging & Discharging Characteristics of a Thermal Energy Storage System Blended with Al2O3 Nanoparticles
Authors: Karunamurthy K. , Rajesh M. Rachit , Vijaypal B. , Kumar Ayush
Published: August 2017

Phase change material (PCM) based thermal energy storage systems (TES) are mandatoryto utilize solar energy efficiently and effectively. Paraffin is widely used phase change material and the only disadvantage with paraffin is that its poor thermal conductivity. The objective of the study is to increase the thermal conductivity of the PCM based TES. The thermal conductivity of the paraffin PCM blended with Al2O3 nanoparticle with different proportions was determined both experimentally and analytically for solid and liquid states. The different volume concentrations of Al2O3 nanoparticle blended with paraffin are 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 and 0.1. The charging and discharging characteristics of the thermal energy storage system was also determined for the above mentioned different volumetric concentrations of nanoparticles blended with paraffin using an experimental set up fabricated. It was found that, Al2O3 nanoparticle can be blended to maximum of 0.1% volume concentration with n-tricosane paraffin without any agglomeration. The significant improvement in thermal conductivity, charging & discharging characteristics of the thermal energy storage system was observed corresponding to this proportion of blending.
Preparation, Characterization and Photo Activity of Copper Oxide Doped Titania Nano Catalyst
Authors: Nair Radhika R. , Sunaja Devi K.R.
Published: August 2017

Copper oxide doped titania nanocatalysts preparation was carried out by combustion synthesis method. The precursor compounds for the preparation of these nanocatalysts were titanium iso propoxide, glycine, copper nitrate and strontium nitrate. The prepared catalysts were characterized by Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET Surface area measurement and Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Total acidity of the prepared catalysts were determined by temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (TPD-NH3). There was no characteristic peak of copper oxide in the XRD pattern. The photo activity of these prepared catalysts was examined for the degradation of methylene blue dye, which is a common environmental pollutant. These catalysts can be used to degrade the dye from water and thus helps the aquatic life.
Gallstone Ileus: Dilemma in the Management
Authors: Bakhshi Girish D. , Chincholkar Rajesh G. , Agarwal Jasmine R. , Gupta Madhukar R. , Gokhe Prachiti S. , Nadkarni Amogh R.
Published: August 2017

Gallstone ileus is a mechanical intestinal obstruction caused due to impaction of a large gallstone within the bowel. The ideal treatment of gallstone ileus remains controversial, with the main dilemma being between a one-stage and a two-stage surgical procedure. A 69-year old male patient presented with gallstone ileus. A one-stage procedure with enterolithotomy and primary closure of duodenal fistula was done. His immediate postoperative recovery was uneventful, but after 3 weeks of surgery, he developed respiratory complications and expired of multi-organ failure. In gallstone ileus, patient presents with symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Enterolithotomy alone remains the most common operative method, but the definitive surgical management is still under research. An intraoperative dilemma between a one-stage or twostage surgery is difficult to resolve in absence of clear guidelines. Hence, more studies are required to come to a consensus in deciding its definitive management.
Barbel species arrangement in a regional Natura 2000 network (Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy): An altitudinal perspective
Authors: Piccoli Federica , Burgazzi Gemma , Laini Alex , Ferrari Claudio , Filonzi Laura , Bolpagni Rossano , Nonnis Marzano Francesco
Published: August 2017

Southern Europe hosts a large number of critical catchments for freshwater biodiversity, including endemic fish species. Unfortunately, these areas are severely threatened due to direct and indirect anthropogenic effects. In this context, with the aim to improve the effectiveness of threatened fish protection, the Life project BARBIE (LIFE13 NAT/IT/001129) started in 2014 and focused on three congeneric species of the genus Barbus: two of “priority interest” sensu Habitats Directive [Barbus caninus (Bonaparte, 1839), and B. plebejus (Bonaparte, 1839)], and one alien [Barbus barbus (Linnaeus, 1758)]. Our main objective was to assess the contribution of a complex of protected areas included in the Natura 2000 network – located in the provinces of Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia (Norther Italy) – to support the presence of the three barbel species in analysis. Additionally, we explored the role of a set of environmental variables (i.e., physical, chemical, biological, and land-use descriptors) to drive the current conditions of the study sites and the responses of Barbus species. As a general rule, the present study confirmed a clear decline of the local native barbel populations, and confirmed the existence of a zonation pattern of the barbel taxa. Hence, we observed a strong altitude segregation between native vs. alien species, with the exotic B. barbus currently limited to plain and only sporadically present in the Apennine areas as genetic introgression. These evidences mirrored the altitudinal gradients of anthropogenic disturbance. The main causes were the progressive disappearance of well-structured riparian stripes, and the intense land use change, ranging from semi-natural patches (mountain and hill sectors) to land clearing for intensive agriculture (lowland sectors). This highlights the need to take into account the spatial dynamics of alien invasive species in programming recovery actions that could have unexpected impacts to the native fish populations, for example the reduction of the hydraulic fragmentation along rivers.
National laboratory policies and plans in sub-Saharan African countries: gaps and opportunities
Authors: Ondoa Pascale , Van der Broek Ankie , Jansen Christel , De Bruijn Hilde , Schultsz Constance
Published: July 2017

Background: The 2008 Maputo Declaration calls for the development of dedicated national laboratory policies and strategic plans supporting the enhancement of laboratory services in response to the long-lasting relegation of medical laboratory systems in sub-Saharan Africa.Objectives: This study describes the extent to which laboratories are addressed in the national health policies and plans created directly following the 2008 momentum for laboratory strengthening.Method: National health policies and plans from 39 sub-Saharan African countries, valid throughout and beyond 31 December 2010 were collected in March 2012 and analysed during 2013.Results: Laboratories were addressed by all countries. Human resources were the most addressed topic (38/39) and finances and budget were the least addressed (< 5/39). Countries lagging behind in national laboratory strategic planning at the end of 2013 (17/39) were more likely to be francophone countries located in West-Central Africa (13/17) and have historically low HIV prevalence. The most common gaps anticipated to compromise the implementation of the policies and plans were the disconnect between policies and plans, under-developed finance sections and monitoring and evaluating frameworks, absence of points of reference to define gaps and shortages, and inappropriate governance structure.Conclusion: The availability of laboratory policy and plan implementation can be improved by strictly applying a more standardised methodology for policy development, using harmonised norms to set targets for improvement and intensifying the establishment of directorates of laboratory services directly under the authority of Ministries of Health. Horizontal programmes such as the Global Health Security Agenda could provide the necessary impulse to take the least advanced countries on board.
Social support and coping in adults with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ramkisson Samantha , Pillay Basil J. , Sibanda Wilbert
Published: July 2017

Background: The diagnosis of diabetes has been described as a lifelong psychological burden on the patient and his or her family. Social support plays a pivotal role in patients with diabetes and is important in enabling them to cope effectively with the disease. There is a dearth of research on social support and coping in patients with diabetes in South Africa.Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore whether patients with poor perceived social support have lower levels of well-being and coping than patients with good social support.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at both public and private facilities on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Diabetes Care Profile (DCP), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) and the WHO-5 Well-being Index (WHO-5) were administered to 401 participants.Results: The findings indicate that there is an inverse relationship between social support and coping, which suggests that an increase in social support is associated with a decrease in emotional distress. There was a small positive correlation between the SSQ and the WHO-5, which suggests participants who had good support endorsed better levels of well-being. Although participants indicated that they were satisfied with their level of support, they had poor coping as indicated by the high mean score on the GHQ and the high HbA1c level. There was a small positive correlation between GHQ and HbA1c. There was no association between social support and HbA1c.Conclusion: Social support is important in helping the patient with diabetes cope with the disease and to improve adherence to treatment. Health care providers should take cognisance of psychosocial factors in the treatment regime of the patient. Family members should be educated about diabetes, the importance of adherence and long-term complications of the disease.
$\mathrm{MF}$-свойство для счетных дискретных групп
Authors: Korchagin Anton Igorevich
Published: August 2017

Будем говорить, что группа обладает $\mathrm{MF}$-свойством,
если она вкладывается в группу унитарных элементов
$C^*$-алгебры $\prod M_n/\bigoplus M_n$. В данной статье
доказывается $\mathrm{MF}$-свойство для группы Баумслага
$\langle a,b \mid a^{a^b}=a^2\rangle$,
а также некоторые общие утверждения, касающиеся
этого свойства.
Библиография: 14 названий.
Creating Online Training for Procedures in Global Health with PEARLS (Procedural Education for Adaptation to Resource-Limited Settings)
Authors: Bensman Rachel S. , Slusher Tina M. , Butteris Sabrina M. , Pitt Michael B. , _ _ , Becker Amanda , Desai Brinda , George Alisha , Hagen Scott , Kiragu Andrew , Johannsen Ron , Miller Kathleen , Rule Amy , Webber Sarah
Published: August 2017

The authors describe a multiinstitutional collaborative project to address a gap in global health training by creating a free online platform to share a curriculum for performing procedures in resource-limited settings. This curriculum called PEARLS (Procedural Education for Adaptation to Resource-Limited Settings) consists of peer-reviewed instructional and demonstration videos describing modifications for performing common pediatric procedures in resource-limited settings. Adaptations range from the creation of a low-cost spacer for inhaled medications to a suction chamber for continued evacuation of a chest tube. By describing the collaborative process, we provide a model for educators in other fields to collate and disseminate procedural modifications adapted for their own specialty and location, ideally expanding this crowd-sourced curriculum to reach a wide audience of trainees and providers in global health.
Rollover Testing Methods
Authors:   Impact and Rollover Test Procedures Standards Committee
Published: July 2017

The scope of this document is to provide an overview of the techniques found in the published literature for rollover testing and rollover crashworthiness evaluation at the vehicle and component levels. It is not a comprehensive literature review, but rather illustrates the techniques that are in use or have been used to evaluate rollover crashworthiness-related issues.
Levantamento de requisitos para a proposta de um aplicativo para acompanhamento dos quesitos do Sistema de Avaliação da CAPES
Authors: Maccari Emerson Antonio , Junior José Carmino Gomes , Kniess Claudia Terezinha , Biancolino Cesar Augusto
Published: August 2017

A gestão dos Programas de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu com vistas ao atendimento aos critérios da CAPES tem se mostrado como uma atividade complexa, pois se baseia em parâmetros dinâmicos e heterogêneos ao longo do tempo. O artigo teve como base o método da pesquisa-ação que levantou os requisitos para o desenvolvimento de um sistema de acompanhamento dos quesitos do sistema de avaliação da CAPES com vistas a auxiliar a gestão estratégica dos Programas Stricto Sensu. Identificou-se que este aplicativo pode ser incorporado à rotina dos coordenadores dos Programas visando dar suporte ao planejamento estratégico em busca do seu aperfeiçoamento. Como resultado, vislumbra-se uma melhor gestão dos indicadores de produção científica e de formação dos alunos, critérios estes fundamentais para que o programa possa cumprir sua missão perante a sociedade.