bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Índice de processibilidade para tomada de decisão como apoio ao planejamento estratégico
Authors: Alberti Rafael Alvise , Nara Elpidio Oscar Benitez , Furtado João Carlos , Kipper Liane Mahlmann , Siluk Julio Cezar Mairesse
Published: July 2016

Constantes mudanças da economia instigam pensamentos empresariais sob o olhar dos processos organizacionais. Através de pesquisa exploratório-qualitativa foram reconhecidas as características das organizações horizontais, de processos e suas abordagens, a fim de obter uma definição de processibilidade em gestão. Posteriormente foi avaliado o Índice de Processibilidade (GONÇALVES, 2000b) através de análise lógico-dedutiva, verificando a não abrangência às principais características organizacionais. Foram acrescidos novos fatores, complementando-o e propondo um novo índice. A pesquisa logra perspectivas futuras, pois este índice apenas se faz relevante frente a uma base de dados que categorize o valor encontrado, desta forma, norteando melhores decisões gerenciais.
Currículo da formação de professores nas Ciências Biológicas: por uma abordagem discursiva para investigar a relação entre teoria e prática
Authors: Ferreira Marcia Serra , Dos Santos Andre Vitor Fernandes , Terreri Leticia
Published: July 2016

O artigo apresenta o modo como vimos produzindo uma abordagem discursiva para investigar a história de diferentes currículos e disciplinas acadêmicas, em meio às políticas voltadas para a formação de professores, com especial interesse na relação entre teoria e prática em cursos na área das Ciências Biológicas. Buscando compreender a produção das políticas como uma possibilidade de construção de uma história do (e no) tempo presente, investimos no diálogo com Michel Foucault e alguns de seus interlocutores no campo do Currículo. Aproximando-nos de Thomas Popkewitz, consideramos que a distinção entre teoria e prática é parte dos dispositivos que constroem os próprios professores, constituindo um par binário no qual a significação do primeiro termo alimenta o sentido do segundo e vice-versa, criando regras para a formação de professores. As reformas curriculares situam-se, então, em meio a um sistema de raciocínio no qual a distinção entre teoria e prática é parte da estrutura que fixa papéis, produzindo efeitos de verdade. Em relação às Ciências Biológicas, tais sentidos têm sido elaborados em meio a discursos que aproximam e, simultaneamente, afastam as práticas científica e docente, criando carga horária prática a partir de temáticas e metodologias advindas da ciência de referência ou, então, da cultura da escola. Nesse movimento, 'antigos' e 'novos' componentes curriculares produzem e legitimam noções de conhecimento, pesquisa, ensino e extensão que significam a teoria e a prática conjuntamente, em um sistema de relações por meio do qual nos definimos como bons ou maus professores de Ciências e Biologia.
Nutritional differences in malnourished patients according to their liquid-intake habits after hospital discharge
Authors: Casals Cristina , Vázquez Sánchez María Ángeles , Casals Sánchez José Luis , Suárez-Cadenas Ernesto
Published: July 2016

Introduction: Malnutrition is a serious and relatively common problem among hospitalized patients; moreover, it is known that a good hydration state contributes to health and wellbeing. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status, functional dependency, quality of life and liquid-intake habits in malnourished patients after hospital discharge. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study in 91 patients (45 males) who presented malnutrition at hospital discharge. The patients were grouped according to their liquid intake estimated through the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire: 3-5 glasses (n = 42), and > 5 glasses (n = 46); removing from analysis < 3 glasses of liquid intake (n = 3). The body mass index, weight, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), functional dependency (Barthel questionnaire), and quality of life (Short Form 12 Health Survey [SF-12]) were assessed 2-months after discharge. Results: The > 5 glasses liquid intake group showed better nutritional status than the 3-5 glasses intake group, for weight (p < 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.001), and MUST scale (p = 0.020). Additionally, the > 5 glasses liquid intake group signifi cantly scored higher values in the total SF-12 questionnaire (p = 0.013), presenting better self-reported quality of life, and higher functional independency in the Barthel index (p = 0.037) than the 3-5 glasses liquid intake group (p = 0.013). Conclusions: Although further research is needed to elucidate the characteristics of this relationship, descriptive comparisons between groups showed favorable nutritional status, functional independency and quality of life for the > 5 glasses of liquid intake compared with the 3-5 glasses of liquid intake group during a 2-months follow-up.
Induction of Herbicide resistance via seed-derived rice (Oryza sativa) Calli
Authors: Ekanayaka E. M. S. I. , Weerakoon S. R. , Silva T. D. , Somaratne S.
Published: July 2016

Herbicide resistant (HR) rice improves efficiency of weed management and HR varieties can develop through induced mutagenesis. The present investigation was focused on mutagenic response of seed-derived rice calli to different EMS concentrations and evaluation for HR. Seed-derived calli were obtained from glyphosate-susceptible rice variety (Bg250) and exposed to varying  concentrations of EMS  (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4%). EMS treated calli were exposed to glyphosate (0.2%) and Tetrazolium test (1% TTC) was applied to identify cell viability in calli. Fluorescent AFLP analysis was performed on EMS treated calli.  Results indicated that mutation of calli was higher at EMS concentration range of 0.1 – 0.2%.  Bg250 calli demonstrated resistance to glyphosate at 0.2%. FAFLP analysis revealed E11M32 marker was found to be a specific marker to identify the induced HR in rice. The results of the study revealed that in vitro application of EMS on callus has ability to develop HR rice calli. 
Exploring the Suicide Phenomenon: Basis for the Development of a Counseling Program
Authors: Palma Bonna S.
Published: July 2016

This qualitative study conducted in May 2010 sought to find out the characteristics of the eight suicide attempters, the precipitating factors that trigger them to attempt suicide, their coping mechanisms, the role of significant others in their health, the insights gained from the experience and the post intervention services availed after the incident. Data gathering strategies used were the researcher-made interview guide and the focused-group discussions using photo essay which summarized the commonalities among the informants. The informants were college students doing the usual activities of normal teenagers with varying circumstances of family background and economic status in life; they also experienced hardships, difficulties, pain, anger, joy, and happiness just like any average teenager but they lack the ability to cope with the overwhelming situations and problems; they experienced moments of emptiness and psychological hopelessness; and they also experienced severe physical maltreatment and varied emotional abuse. Strained or failed romantic relationship had added to the realization of their suicidal ideations, but then, they were able to cope with the aftermath by employing some coping strategies. Their friends became their shoulders to lean on; their immediate family members and relatives were their wings who offered financial, moral and emotional support; and their teachers and classmates were their lifeline. The informants’ painful experiences of their attempt to end their lives helped them gain insights and realized that there is more to life. Among the eight informants, only one received a formal post intervention service, while others received the usual care and acceptance from the significant others who accepted them for what happened and what they had done.
An Analytical and Numerical Investigation on Punching Shear Behaviour of SCC Slab
Authors: Kavinkumar V. , Elangovan R.
Published: July 2016

This research is to study the mechanical properties of Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) as well as punching shear failure of SCC slabs. Self compacting concrete was first invited in 1988 to achieve durable concrete structures .Design of Reinforced concrete slab is often compromised by their ability to resist shear stress at punching shear surface area. The connection between slabs and supporting columns could be susceptible to high shear stress and might cause sudden and brittle failure. Punching shear failure takes the form of truncated pyramid shape. This program includes investigating the effect of SCC, slab thickness on the punching shear behaviour in terms of load-deflection response and ultimate failure load, failure characteristic of punching shear failure (shape of failure zone and size of failure zone) of simply supported slabs of 1000 x 1000 x 50 and 75mm under concentrated load at centre of slab. The slabs are made with both SCC and Conventional concrete (CC). Investigation included two way specimens with different thickness to evaluate the performance of specimen with different thickness and the effect of thickness on punching shear capacity and performance.
Copper and Zinc Runoff from Land Application of Composted Poultry Litter
Authors: DeLaune P. B. , Moore P. A.
Published: July 2016

Regions with long‐term animal manure applications based on nitrogen (N) requirements have concerns regarding elevated nutrient levels. Most attention has focused on phosphorus (P), but heavy metal accumulation has received attention due to perceived environmental concerns. Composting is a potential management practice that can reduce total manure mass and volume while creating a stabilized product that has less odor and fewer pathogens. However, composting animal manures can lead to high N loss via ammonia volatilization and increased concentrations of nonvolatile nutrients. The objective of this study was to measure copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in runoff water from plots fertilized with composted and fresh poultry litter. Seven treatments were evaluated in the first year: (i) unfertilized control, (ii) fresh poultry litter, (iii) normal compost (no amendment), (iv) composted litter with alum, (v) composted litter with phosphoric acid, (vi) composted litter with a microbial mixture, and (vii) composted litter with alum + microbial mixture. Six of these treatments were evaluated in Year 2 (alum + microbial mixture was not evaluated in Year 2). Rainfall simulators were used to produce a 5 cm h−1 storm event sufficient in length to cause 30 min of continuous runoff. Concentrations of Cu and Zn were elevated in compost compared with fresh poultry litter. However, metal concentrations in compost did not correlate well with metal concentrations in runoff water and may have been affected by compost maturity and amendment. Total Cu and Zn concentrations in runoff water did not differ between alum‐amended compost and fresh poultry litter in each year.

Core Ideas

Composting poultry litter resulted in increased total Cu and Zn in the end product.

Metal concentrations in compost did not correlate well with those in runoff.

Compost maturity and amendment can affect metal concentrations in runoff.

Alum‐amended compost resulted in lower runoff metal concentrations than other compost treatments.

Metals in runoff did not differ between alum‐amended compost and fresh litter.
Importance of Soil Properties on Recommended Biosolids Management for Winter Wheat
Authors: Bamber Kevin W. , Evanylo Gregory K. , Thomason Wade E.
Published: July 2016

Core Ideas

Coarse soil texture should not restrict fall biosolids application to winter wheat.

Grain yield from biosolids is greater than or equal to that from urea.

Nitrogen recovery from biosolids is greater than or equal to that from urea.

Environmental concerns and regulatory guidelines about winter N leaching limit fall biosolids applications to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Virginia to a plant‐available N (PAN) rate of ≤50 kg PAN ha−1. Ten field studies were established in 2012 to 2014 in Virginia to determine the agronomic and environmental feasibility of fall biosolids applications to soft red winter wheat at the agronomic N rate (100 kg PAN ha−1). Anaerobically digested and lime‐stabilized biosolids were fall applied at rates of 100 and 50 kg PAN ha−1. The 50 kg PAN ha−1 biosolids treatments received 50 kg N ha−1 as urea in spring. Urea‐N was split applied at 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha−1, with 1/3 applied in fall and 2/3 in spring. Biosolids increased N use efficiency (NUE) by 0 to 27%, grain yield by 0 to 1.1 Mg ha−1, and N recovery by 0 to 38% compared with agronomic N rate urea in coarse‐textured soils, especially when lime‐stabilized biosolids were used. Biosolids and agronomic rate urea typically resulted in equal NUE, grain yield, and N recovery in fine‐textured soils, regardless of biosolids type or application strategy. Therefore, biosolids can be fall applied at the full agronomic N rate to winter wheat in coarse‐ and fine‐textured soils in Virginia.
O Efeito País de Origem e a Influência do Fortalecimento das Expectativas do Consumidor sobre a Qualidade Percebida e a sua Intenção de Compra
Authors: Lazzari Fernanda , Milan Gabriel Sperandio , Slongo Luiz Antonio
Published: July 2016

A pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar a influência do fortalecimento das expectativas do consumidor sobre o efeito país de origem na percepção de qualidade e na sua intenção de compra. Por meio de uma pesquisa experimental, que compreendeu 198 participantes, divididos em seis subgrupos, foi analisado o efeito gerado pelos estereótipos positivo e negativo do país de origem sobre a qualidade percebida e a intenção de compra de um produto (bebida energética). Na sequência, procedeu-se à análise da capacidade do fortalecimento das expectativas dos consumidores sobre estes efeitos. Os resultados evidenciam a importância do estereótipo do país de origem na percepção do consumidor quanto à qualidade percebida do produto e da sua intenção de compra. Verificou-se que o estereótipo positivo do país de origem foi capaz de promover uma diferença significante nos dois construtos avaliados (qualidade percebida e intenção de compra). Ao comparar os resultados do grupo de controle com o grupo que recebeu a informação de que se tratava de um produto cuja origem era os Estados Unidos (estereótipo positivo), este último apresentou médias superiores.
A mathematical model for distribution of calcium in silicon by vacuum directional solidification
Authors: Zheng D. , Wei K. , Ma W. , Sheng Z. , Dai Y.
Published: July 2016

Calcium is one of the main impurity elements in silicon. The removal of
calcium strongly affects the quality of the polycrystalline silicon ingot
produced by a vacuum directional solidification method. Based on the
considerations of the theory of segregation, mass transfer and evaporation
during vacuum directional solidification process, a mathematical model for
calcium distribution in silicon was proposed and it can be used to explain
the removal mechanism. In order to confirm the mathematical model, an
industrial scale experiment on UMG-Si with an initial purity of 99.98 wt. %
was performed. Since the reaction temperature strongly influences both the
evaporation and segregation of calcium, the dependences of effective
segregation coefficient (keff) and the evaporation coefficient (kE) on
temperature were carefully investigated. The results showed that the proposed
mathematical model was highly consistent with the experimental data and the
calcium removal efficiency mainly relied on the evaporation step.
Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the determination of adapalene in pharmaceutical forms for skin application
Authors: Dobricic Vladimir , Bubic-Pajic Natasa , Markovic Bojan , Vladimirov Sote , Savic Snezana , Vuleta Gordana
Published: July 2016

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of adapalene in
pharmaceutical forms for skin application were presented. The MS/MS analysis
of adapalene was performed by use of three mobile phases, consisted of
acetonitrile and (a) 0.1 % formic acid, (b) 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid and
(c) 20 mM ammonium acetate. The strongest signals of parent ion and dominant
product ion were obtained in negative mode by use of the mobile phase (c).
Validation of this method was performed according to the ICH guidelines.
Small variations of selected chromatographic parameters (concentration of
ammonium acetate, mobile phase composition, column temperature and flow rate)
did not affect qualitative and quantitative system responses significantly,
which proved method?s robustness. The method is specific for the
determination of adapalene. Linearity was proved in the concentration range
6.7 - 700.0 ng mL-1 (r = 0.9990), with limits of detection and quantification
2.0 ng mL-1 and 6.7 ng mL-1, respectively. Accuracy was confirmed by
calculated recoveries (98.4 % - 101.5 %). Precision was tested at three
levels: injection repeatability, analysis repeatability and intermediate
precision. Calculated relative standard deviations were less than 1, 2 and 3
%, respectively.
Dynamic modeling and simulation of power transformer maintenance costs
Authors: Ristic Olga , Iricanin Bratislav , Mijailovic Vladica
Published: July 2016

The paper presents the dynamic model of maintenance costs of the power
transformer functional components. Reliability is modeled combining the
exponential and Weibull's distribution. The simulation was performed with the
aim of corrective maintenance and installation of the continuous monitoring
system of the most critical components. Simulation Dynamic System (SDS)
method and VENSIM PLE software was used to simulate the cost. In this way,
significant savings in maintenance costs will be achieved with a small
initial investment.
Association Between Diabetes and Hippocampal Atrophy in Elderly Japanese: The Hisayama Study
Authors: Hirabayashi Naoki , Hata Jun , Ohara Tomoyuki , Mukai Naoko , Nagata Masaharu , Shibata Mao , Gotoh Seiji , Furuta Yoshihiko , Yamashita Fumio , Yoshihara Kazufumi , Kitazono Takanari , Sudo Nobuyuki , Kiyohara Yutaka , Ninomiya Toshiharu
Published: July 2016

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between diabetes and brain or hippocampal atrophy in an elderly population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 1,238 community-dwelling Japanese subjects aged ≥65 years underwent brain MRI scans and a comprehensive health examination in 2012. Total brain volume (TBV), intracranial volume (ICV), and hippocampal volume (HV) were measured using MRI scans for each subject. We examined the associations between diabetes-related parameters and the ratios of TBV to ICV (an indicator of global brain atrophy), HV to ICV (an indicator of hippocampal atrophy), and HV to TBV (an indicator of hippocampal atrophy beyond global brain atrophy) after adjustment for other potential confounders.

RESULTS

The multivariable-adjusted mean values of the TBV-to-ICV, HV-to-ICV, and HV-to-TBV ratios were significantly lower in the subjects with diabetes compared with those without diabetes (77.6% vs. 78.2% for the TBV-to-ICV ratio, 0.513% vs. 0.529% for the HV-to-ICV ratio, and 0.660% vs. 0.676% for the HV-to-TBV ratio; all P < 0.01). These three ratios decreased significantly with elevated 2-h postload glucose (PG) levels (all P for trend <0.05) but not fasting plasma glucose levels. Longer duration of diabetes was significantly associated with lower TBV-to-ICV, HV-to-ICV, and HV-to-TBV ratios. The subjects with diabetes diagnosed in midlife had significantly lower HV-to-ICV and HV-to-TBV ratios than those without and those diagnosed in late life.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that a longer duration of diabetes and elevated 2-h PG levels, a marker of postprandial hyperglycemia, are risk factors for brain atrophy, particularly hippocampal atrophy.
Multiple-beam laser patterning on aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, and hydroxyapatite ceramic materials using a microlens array
Authors: Berger Jana , Roch Teja , Pistillo Nicola , Lasagni Andrés Fabián
Published: July 2016

Microlens array patterning (MLAP) is a fabrication technology capable to generate simultaneously several thousands of features using a single laser beam. This is done by illuminating a microlens array (MLA) with a laser beam, consisting of several lenses with micrometer sizes which are arranged periodically. In this way, the resulting geometry on the irradiated material depends on the geometrical arrangement of the MLA. In this study, a nanosecond pulsed ultraviolet-laser is used for MLAP of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, and hydroxyapatite using an MLA with 150 μm lens pitch. It is shown that depending on the number of laser pulses and laser fluences, the pattern depth can be increased from less than one micrometer up to tens of micrometer. Different pattern geometries are also obtained by translating the ceramic material with X and Y stages. The MLAP speed is calculated and compared to direct laser writing using galvanometric scanning mirrors.
Quality attributes of chilled vacuum-packaged cold-smoked common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and cold-smoked bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) fillets
Authors: Milijašević Milan Petar , Babić Jelena Arandjel , Vranić Danijela Vojislav , Borović Branka Ranko , Moračanin Slavica Mirko Vesković
Published: July 2016

The aim of this research was to study the effect of vacuum packaging on selected microbiological, chemical and sensory properties of cold-smoked common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and cold-smoked bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) fillets stored at 3 ± 0.5 °C, and to determine the shelf life of the products. Fillets were analysed on days 1, 7, 10,12, 14, 15 and 16. The total viable count was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in common carp samples than in bighead carp samples from storage day 12. At the end of experiment, the numbers of TVC in both groups of samples had not reached the value of 7 logcfu/g. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were determined between the psychrotrophic viable counts in common carp and bighead carp samples during the whole period of storage. In cold-smoked bighead carp samples, lactic acid bacteria were the dominant micro-organisms at the end of storage period. Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were not detected in any of the examined samples. The pH values in both samples groups were quite stable and ranged from 5.97 ± 0.08 to 6.18 ± 0.07 in cold-smoked common carp, and from 5.80 ± 0.08 to 5.98 ± 0.06 in bighead carp samples. The total volatile basic nitrogen concentration increased during the storage period in both groups of samples. Based on sensory evaluation, it was concluded that vacuum-packaged cold-smoked common carp samples remained acceptable up to 15 days of storage, whereas vacuum-packaged cold-smoked bighead carp samples remained unchanged until the end of the experiment.
Elizabeth Mannion, The Urban Plays of the Early Abbey Theatre: Beyond O’Casey
Authors: Harris Susan Cannon
Published: July 2016

Mannion’s carefully researched and comprehensive history introduces us to an exciting body of dramatic work and demonstrates how and why the neglect of the Abbey Theatre’s urban plays has skewed dominant narratives about the Abbey Theatre and its audiences. It makes a genuinely new contribution to Irish theatre history.
Joanna Mansbridge, Paula Vogel
Authors: Brodie Meghan
Published: July 2016

Joanna Mansbridge’s Paula Vogel, an exploration of Vogel’s subversive dramaturgy and reappropriation of canonical male-authored texts, fills a significant hole in theatre studies scholarship and should appeal to both scholars and students across an array of disciplines.
Spots of Future Time: Tableaux, Masculinity, and the Enactment of Aging
Authors: Charise Andrea
Published: July 2016

This article proposes the utility of tableau as a terminological and conceptual contribution to age studies. I explore how the transgeneric appeal of this theatrical form enables stillness and fragmentation to be a part of the vocabulary of aging. Referring to the work of two twenty-first-century artists – French photocollagist Gilbert Garcin and American novelist David Markson – I demonstrate the applicability of the aesthetics of tableaux to non-theatrical enactments of aging. Despite their generic and formal differences, reading Garcin and Markson in tandem prepares readers to think of older age, and older masculinities especially, outside the framework of narrative and, instead, in terms of the visual aesthetics of stillness. Drawing new links among aging, play, and the tableau form, the article asserts the potential of the static as a way of imagining the aging subject in the context of age studies more generally. The tableau’s aesthetics of living stillness, I conclude, opens up drama and age studies alike to more playful possibilities for imagining aging and for enactments of self-creation in later life.
Influence of Cobalt Precursor on Efficient Production of Commercial Fuels over FTS Co/SiC Catalyst
Authors: De la Osa Ana , Romero Amaya , Dorado Fernando , Valverde José , Sánchez Paula
Published: July 2016

β-SiC-supported cobalt catalysts have been prepared from nitrate, acetate, chloride and citrate salts to study the dependence of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) on the type of precursor. Com/SiC catalysts were synthetized by vacuum-assisted impregnation while N2 adsorption/desorption, XRD, TEM, TPR, O2 pulses and acid/base titrations were used as characterization techniques. FTS catalytic performance was carried out at 220 °C and 250 °C while keeping constant the pressure (20 bar), space velocity (6000 Ncm3/g·h) and syngas composition (H2/CO:2). The nature of cobalt precursor was found to influence basic behavior, extent of reduction and metallic particle size. For β-SiC-supported catalysts, the use of cobalt nitrate resulted in big Co crystallites, an enhanced degree of reduction and higher basicity compared to acetate, chloride and citrate-based catalysts. Consequently, cobalt nitrate provided a better activity and selectivity to C5+ (less than 10% methane was formed), which was centered in kerosene-diesel fraction (α = 0.90). On the contrary, catalyst from cobalt citrate, characterized by the highest viscosity and acidity values, presented a highly dispersed distribution of Co nanoparticles leading to a lower reducibility. Therefore, a lower FTS activity was obtained and chain growth probability was shortened as observed from methane and gasoline-kerosene (α = 0.76) production when using cobalt citrate.
Modeling Fluid’s Dynamics with Master Equations in Ultrametric Spaces Representing the Treelike Structure of Capillary Networks
Authors: Khrennikov Andrei , Oleschko Klaudia , Correa López María
Published: July 2016

We present a new conceptual approach for modeling of fluid flows in random porous media based on explicit exploration of the treelike geometry of complex capillary networks. Such patterns can be represented mathematically as ultrametric spaces and the dynamics of fluids by ultrametric diffusion. The images of p-adic fields, extracted from the real multiscale rock samples and from some reference images, are depicted. In this model the porous background is treated as the environment contributing to the coefficients of evolutionary equations. For the simplest trees, these equations are essentially less complicated than those with fractional differential operators which are commonly applied in geological studies looking for some fractional analogs to conventional Euclidean space but with anomalous scaling and diffusion properties. It is possible to solve the former equation analytically and, in particular, to find stationary solutions. The main aim of this paper is to attract the attention of researchers working on modeling of geological processes to the novel utrametric approach and to show some examples from the petroleum reservoir static and dynamic characterization, able to integrate the p-adic approach with multifractals, thermodynamics and scaling. We also present a non-mathematician friendly review of trees and ultrametric spaces and pseudo-differential operators on such spaces.
Unconventional Gas: Experimental Study of the Influence of Subcritical Carbon Dioxide on the Mechanical Properties of Black Shale
Authors: Lyu Qiao , Long Xinping , Ranjith Pathegama , Kang Yong
Published: July 2016

An experimental study was performed to investigate the effect of subcritical carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption on mechanical properties of shales with different coring directions. Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted on shale samples with different CO2 adsorption time at a pressure of 7 MPa and a temperature of 40 °C. The crack propagation and the failure mechanism of shale samples were recorded by using acoustic emission (AE) sensors together with ARAMIS technology. According to the results, samples with parallel and normal bedding angles present reductions of 26.7% and 3.0% in UCS, 30.7% and 36.7% in Young’s modulus after 10 days’ adsorption of CO2, and 30.3% and 18.4% in UCS, 13.8% and 22.6% in Young’s modulus after 20 days’ adsorption of CO2. Samples with a normal bedding angle presented higher brittleness index than that with a parallel bedding angle. The strain distributions show that longer CO2 adsorption will cause higher axial strains and lateral strains. The AE results show that samples with a parallel angle have higher AE energy release than the samples with a normal angle. Finally, samples with longer CO2 adsorption times present higher cumulative AE energy release.
Can We Predict the Winner in a Market with Network Effects? Competition in Cryptocurrency Market
Authors: Gandal Neil , Halaburda Hanna
Published: July 2016

We analyze how network effects affect competition in the nascent cryptocurrency market. We do so by examining early dynamics of exchange rates among different cryptocurrencies. While Bitcoin essentially dominates this market, our data suggest no evidence of a winner-take-all effect early in the market. Indeed, for a relatively long period, a few other cryptocurrencies competing with Bitcoin (the early industry leader) appreciated much more quickly than Bitcoin. The data in this period are consistent with the use of cryptocurrencies as financial assets (popularized by Bitcoin), and not consistent with winner-take-all dynamics. Toward the end of our sample, however, things change dramatically. Bitcoin appreciates against the USD, while other currencies depreciate against the USD. The data in this period are consistent with strong network effects and winner-take-all dynamics. This trend continues at the time of writing.
The Extent of Consumer Product Involvement in Paediatric Injuries
Authors: Catchpoole Jesani , Walker Sue , Vallmuur Kirsten
Published: July 2016

A challenge in utilising health sector injury data for Product Safety purposes is that clinically coded data have limited ability to inform regulators about product involvement in injury events, given data entry is bound by a predefined set of codes. Text narratives collected in emergency departments can potentially address this limitation by providing relevant product information with additional accompanying context. This study aims to identify and quantify consumer product involvement in paediatric injuries recorded in emergency department-based injury surveillance data. A total of 7743 paediatric injuries were randomly selected from Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit database and associated text narratives were manually reviewed to determine product involvement in the injury event. A Product Involvement Factor classification system was used to categorise these injury cases. Overall, 44% of all reviewed cases were associated with consumer products, with proximity factor (25%) being identified as the most common involvement of a product in an injury event. Only 6% were established as being directly due to the product. The study highlights the importance of utilising injury data to inform product safety initiatives where text narratives can be used to identify the type and involvement of products in injury cases.
Challenges in the Accurate Surveillance of Booster Seat and Bicycle Helmet Usage by Children: Lessons from the Field
Authors: Pankratz Curt , Warda Lynne , Piotrowski Caroline
Published: July 2016

Motor vehicle collisions and bicycle collisions and falls are a leading cause of death by preventable injury for children. In order to design, implement and evaluate campaigns and programs aimed at improving child safety, accurate surveillance is needed. This paper examined the challenges that confront efforts to collect surveillance data relevant to child traffic safety, including observation, interview, and focus group methods. Strategies to address key challenges in order to improve the efficiency and accuracy of surveillance methods were recommended. The potential for new technology to enhance existing surveillance methods was also explored.
Evaluation of Housekeeping Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis of Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae)
Authors: Shi Caihua , Yang Fengshan , Zhu Xun , Du Erxia , Yang Yuting , Wang Shaoli , Wu Qingjun , Zhang Youjun
Published: July 2016

The soil insect Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) causes substantial damage to Chinese chive. Suitable reference genes in B. odoriphaga (Bradysia odoriphaga) have yet to be identified for normalizing target gene expression among samples by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). This study was focused on identifying the expression stability of 12 candidate housekeeping genes in B. odoriphaga under various experiment conditions. The final stability ranking of 12 housekeeping genes was obtained with RefFinder, and the most suitable number of reference genes was analyzed by GeNorm. The results revealed that the most appropriate sets of internal controls were RPS15, RPL18, and RPS18 across developmental phases; RPS15, RPL28, and GAPDH across temperatures; RPS15 and RPL18 across pesticide treatments; RSP5, RPS18, and SDHA across photoperiods; ACTb, RPS18, and RPS15 across diets; RPS13 and RPL28 across populations; and RPS15, ACTb, and RPS18 across all samples. The use of the most suitable reference genes versus an arbitrarily selected reference gene resulted in significant differences in the analysis of a target gene expression. HSP23 in B. odoriphaga was found to be up-regulated under low temperatures. These results will contribute to the standardization of qRT-PCR and will also be valuable for further research on gene function in B. odoriphaga.
Anti-Cancer Effect of Lambertianic Acid by Inhibiting the AR in LNCaP Cells
Authors: Lee Myoung-Sun , Lee Seon-Ok , Kim Sung-Hoon , Lee Eun-Ok , Lee Hyo-Jeong
Published: July 2016

Lambertianic acid (LA) is known to have anti-allergic and antibacterial effects. However, the anticancer activities and mechanism of action of LA have not been investigated. Therefore, the anticancer effects and mechanism of LA are investigated in this study. LA decreased not only AR protein levels, but also cellular and secretory levels of PSA. Furthermore, LA inhibited nuclear translocation of the AR induced by mibolerone. LA suppressed cell proliferation by inducing G1 arrest, downregulating CDK4/6 and cyclin D1 and activating p53 and its downstream molecules, p21 and p27. LA induced apoptosis and the expression of related proteins, including cleaved caspase-9 and -3, c-PARP and BAX, and inhibited BCl-2. The role of AR in LA-induced apoptosis was assessed by using siRNA. Collectively, these findings suggest that LA exerts the anticancer effect by inhibiting AR and is a valuable therapeutic agent in prostate cancer treatment.
Control of Appetite and Food Preference by NMDA Receptor and Its Co-Agonist d-Serine
Authors: Sasaki Tsutomu , Matsui Sho , Kitamura Tadahiro
Published: July 2016

Obesity causes a significant negative impact on health of human beings world-wide. The main reason for weight gain, which eventually leads to obesity, is excessive ingestion of energy above the body’s homeostatic needs. Therefore, the elucidation of detailed mechanisms for appetite control is necessary to prevent and treat obesity. N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a post-synaptic glutamate receptor and is important for excitatory neurotransmission. It is expressed throughout the nervous system, and is important for long-term potentiation. It requires both ligand (glutamate) and co-agonist (d-serine or glycine) for efficient opening of the channel to allow calcium influx. d-serine is contained in fermented foods and marine invertebrates, and brain d-serine level is maintained by synthesis in vivo and supply from food and gut microbiota. Although the NMDA receptor has been reported to take part in the central regulation of appetite, the role of d-serine had not been addressed. We recently reported that exogenous d-serine administration can suppress appetite and alter food preference. In this review, we will discuss how NMDA receptor and its co-agonist d-seine participate in the control of appetite and food preference, and elaborate on how this system could possibly be manipulated to suppress obesity.
Lateral Cross Localization Algorithm Using Orientation Angle for Improved Target Estimation in Near-Field Environments
Authors: Xu Penghao , Yan Bing
Published: July 2016

Passive positioning systems with a small aperture array exhibit poor accuracy of target estimation under strong interference in near-field environments. To improve this accuracy, we propose a novel cross localization algorithm for direction-finding using the orientation angle. Improved geometric and numerical target-positioning models are constructed after analyzing the mechanism of the conventional positioning algorithm. The target prediction equation is then derived using the constructed models, and the equation for nonlinear estimation is linearized using the Taylor series. An unbiased estimation of the target is obtained by optimizing the control of the iteration process, thus achieving an accurate positioning of the target. The performance of the proposed algorithm was evaluated in terms of its effectiveness and positioning accuracy under varying signal-to-noise conditions and orientation angle-measurement errors. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is capable of positioning the target effectively, and offers better positioning accuracy than traditional algorithms under the conditions of large orientation angle measurement errors or high-level background noise.
Methodology for Evaluating the Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) Methoprene on Packaging Films
Authors: Arthur Frank
Published: July 2016

The insect growth regulator methoprene can be mixed into the matrix used to comprise bags and other packaging materials. Different methodologies were utilized to evaluate the efficacy of different types of methoprene-treated packaging towards Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), the red flour beetle, and T. confusum Jacquelin duVal, the confused flour beetle, two common insect species that infest stored products. Tests were conducted by creating arenas in which larvae were exposed on the packaging surface along with a flour food source, and assessments were made on adults emerging from the exposed progeny. Tests were also done by exposing adults, again with a flour food source, removing the adults after one week, and assessing adult emergence of progeny from those parental adults. In tests with larvae exposed on methoprene-treated birdseed bags, the outside surface had more activity compared to the inside surface, especially on T. confusum. In other studies with different types of packaging materials, there was generally 100% inhibition of adult emergence of exposed larvae or of progeny adults when parental adults were exposed on the methoprene-treated packaging. The best technique for evaluation was to expose late-stage larvae as the test life stage. Results show the potential of using methoprene-treated packaging for bagged storage of processed grains and grain products.
In Vitro Corrosion Study of Friction Stir Processed WE43 Magnesium Alloy in a Simulated Body Fluid
Authors: Cao Genghua , Zhang Datong , Zhang Weiwen , Zhang Wen
Published: July 2016

Corrosion behavior of friction stir processing (FSP) WE43 alloy in a simulated body fluid (SBF) was investigated. Micro-galvanic corrosion was the dominated corrosion behavior, and the corrosion resistance of FSP WE43 alloy was improved compared to the cast counterpart. Furthermore, due to the fine-grained and homogeneous microstructure, uniform corrosion morphology was observed on FSP WE43 alloy. According to the tensile properties of specimens with different immersion time intervals, FSP WE43 alloy shows better performance to maintain the mechanical integrity in SBF as compared to the as-cast alloy.
Optimization Design and Performance Analysis of a PM Brushless Rotor Claw Pole Motor with FEM
Authors: Zhang Zhenyang , Liu Huijuan , Song Tengfei
Published: July 2016

A new type of permanent magnet (PM) brushless claw pole motor (CPM) with soft magnetic composite (SMC) core is designed and analyzed in this paper. The PMs are mounted on the claw pole surface, and the three-phase stator windings are fed by variable-frequency three-phase AC currents. The advantages of the proposed CPM are that the slip rings on the rotor are cast off and it can achieve the efficiency improvement and higher power density. The effects of the claw-pole structure parameters, the air-gap length, and the PM thinner parameter of the proposed CPM on the output torque are investigated by using three-dimensional time-stepping finite element method (3D TS-FEM). The optimal rotor structure of the proposed CPM is obtained by using the response surface methodology (RSM) and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method and the comparison of full-load performances of the proposed CPM with different material cores (SMC and silicon steel) is analyzed.
Impact of PAC Fines in Fouling of Polymeric and Ceramic Low-Pressure Membranes for Drinking Water Treatment
Authors: Oligny Laurent , Bérubé Pierre , Barbeau Benoit
Published: July 2016

This study assessed the issue of membrane fouling in a Hybrid Membrane Process (HMP) due to the export of powdered activated carbon (PAC) fines from a pretreatment contactor. Two parallel pilot-scale ceramic and polymeric membranes were studied. Reversible and irreversible foulings were measured following three cleaning procedures: Physical backwashing (BW), chemically enhanced backwashing (CEB) and Clean-in-Place (CIP). The impacts on fouling of membrane type, operation flux increase and the presence/absence of the PAC pretreatment were investigated. Membranes without pretreatment were operated in parallel as a control. In addition, CIP washwaters samples were analyzed to measure organic and inorganic foulants removed from the membranes. It was observed that for the polymeric membranes, fouling generally increased with the presence of the PAC pretreatment because of the export of fines. On the contrary, the ceramic membranes were not significantly impacted by their presence. The analysis of CIP washwaters showed a greater total organic carbon (TOC) content on membranes with a PAC pretreatment while no similar conclusion could be made for inorganic foulants.
One-Step Extraction of Antimony in Low Temperature from Stibnite Concentrate Using Iron Oxide as Sulfur-Fixing Agent
Authors: Li Yun , Chen Yongming , Xue Haotian , Tang Chaobo , Yang Shenghai , Tang Motang
Published: July 2016

A new process for one-step extraction of antimony in low temperature from stibnite concentrate by reductive sulfur-fixation smelting in sodium molten salt, using iron oxide as sulfur-fixing agent, was presented. The influences of molten salt addition and composition, ferric oxide dosage, smelting temperature and duration on extraction efficiency of antimony were investigated in details, respectively. The optimum conditions were determined as follows: 1.0 time stoichiometric requirement (α) of mixed sodium salt (αsalt = 1.0), WNaCl:Wsalt = 40%, αFe2O3 = 1.0, Wcoke:Wstibnite = 40%, where W represents weight, smelting at 850 °C (1123 K) for 60 min. Under the optimum conditions, the direct recovery rate of antimony can reach 91.48%, and crude antimony with a purity of 96.00% has been achieved. 95.31% of sulfur is fixed in form of FeS in the presence of iron oxide. Meanwhile, precious metals contained in stibnite concentrate are enriched and recovered comprehensively in crude antimony. In comparison to traditional antimony pyrometallurgical process, the smelting temperature of present process is reduced from 1150–1200 °C (1423–1473 K) to 850–900 °C (1123–1173 K). Sulfur obtained in stibnite is fixed in FeS which avoids SO2 emission owing to the sulfur-fixing agent. Sodium salt can be regenerated and recycled in smelting system when the molten slag is operated to filter solid residue. The solid residue is subjected to mineral dressing operation to obtain iron sulfide concentrate which can be sold directly or roasted to regenerate into iron oxide.
A Microchip for High-Throughput Axon Growth Drug Screening
Authors: Kim Hyun , Jeong Sehoon , Koo Chiwan , Han Arum , Park Jaewon
Published: July 2016

It has been recently known that not only the presence of inhibitory molecules associated with myelin but also the reduced growth capability of the axons limit mature central nervous system (CNS) axonal regeneration after injury. Conventional axon growth studies are typically conducted using multi-well cell culture plates that are very difficult to use for investigating localized effects of drugs and limited to low throughput. Unfortunately, there is currently no other in vitro tool that allows investigating localized axonal responses to biomolecules in high-throughput for screening potential drugs that might promote axonal growth. We have developed a compartmentalized neuron culture platform enabling localized biomolecular treatments in parallel to axons that are physically and fluidically isolated from their neuronal somata. The 24 axon compartments in the developed platform are designed to perform four sets of six different localized biomolecular treatments simultaneously on a single device. In addition, the novel microfluidic configuration allows culture medium of 24 axon compartments to be replenished altogether by a single aspiration process, making high-throughput drug screening a reality.