bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An E-Commerce Customer Service Robot Based on Intention Recognition Model
Authors: Peng Minjing , Qin Yanwei , Tang Chenxin , Deng Xiangming
Published: June 2017

There are three defects for providing human-labor customer services in e-commerce operations: high costs of human labors, staff turnover, and lack of service quality assurance. Breakthroughs made in artificial intelligence, natural language processing and related fields make it possible to replace human labors with online artificial intelligent robots to provide the e-commerce customer service, which indicates the online robots are the future of e-commerce customer services. However, most of the current robots are designed to reply with knowledge matching the key words in question sentences from the database, rarely involving in research on customer intentions that are key factors influencing user experience and online sales. In this research, an intention recognizing model was proposed to obtain intentions of e-commerce consumers by computing the strengths of candidate intention nodes in the intention graph, which was used to describe relations between different goods that could be the intentional targets of e-commerce consumers. The proposed robot was constructed based on the intention recognizing model to identify intentions of consumers and use the located knowledge combined with the AIML based sentence composition template to produce the response sentences for consumers. At last, the proposed robot was evaluated using F3 and ROUGE metrics by comparing with a keyword matching robot. And the evaluation results proved the validity of the proposed robot.
Essential Functionalities for Commercial Internet Presence
Authors: Ferreira Alexandre , Antunes Francisco
Published: June 2017

A balanced implementation of functionalities within a commercial internet presence is important, because of not only the involved complexity and cognitive load required in their use, but also for financial reasons. Investing money on features (e.g., software modules, programming time, maintenance and update, etc.) that are not valued by online consumers, hinders an efficient allocation of resources, especially when financial resources are scarce, a situation that corresponds too many small businesses operating on the internet. However, literature provides little help for managers to decide which functionalities should be implemented, according to a rational basis. Within this context, this research sought to fill in the gap between literature review and the need for helping companies to understand better how to build and keep online businesses. The authors work identified 16 essential functionalities grouped into four sets: order processing, advertising and prominence, product analysis, and payment.
Applications of Intelligent Agents in Mobile Commerce
Authors: Sankaranarayanan Suresh , Ganesan Subramaniam
Published: June 2017

Mobile phone usage and its adoption have been growing at exponential rates. It is this exponential growth rate that has led many to predict Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce) as the next major evolution of Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce). While M-Commerce comes rich with unique features, it is currently lacking in usage when compared to traditional e-commerce. There are many challenges that must be addressed in this respect. These challenges are mostly inherent in the mobile devices, communication network, legal and regulatory infrastructure. The use of agents in e-commerce has long been explored in the context, resulting in a number of agent based e-commerce systems. It is not surprising then to note that many researchers believe that the problems that the M-Commerce now faces can be addressed well using agent technology. While there is an abundance of information on the use of agent based systems in other areas, there has been no great surge yet in the use of agent based systems in real world M-Commerce applications. We believe that this slow adoption of this agent technology is due to a lack of standards. There has been a quite an amount of research work carried out in the use of software intelligent agents in the M-Commerce applications like Shopping, Hotel, and Airline industries. These are outlined in the paper with appropriate screenshots and descriptions.
Security for Hybrid Mobile Development
Authors: Tanque Marcus
Published: June 2017

In recent decades, vendors developed technology infrastructure solutions to integrate with enterprises and consumers' mobile devices. Hybrid development platforms are solution architecture designed to enhance developers' capabilities and provide organizations as well as customers the level of services to support mobile devices capabilities. Hybrid development platform solutions are easy to deploy at various enterprises. These capabilities can be distributed to/or integrated with mobile devices as agile applications and system interfaces. Hybrid mobile devices are designed to further provide users with enhanced technology solutions: cloud computing, big data, the Internet, physical and/or virtual network systems. The development of hybrid mobile platforms provides developers with advanced technology capabilities, necessary for supporting mobile devices once deployed to the marketplace. Technical and security features affecting the development and security of mobile devices are also discussed in this chapter.
A Perspective of Adoption of Mobile Applications in Rural India
Authors: Roy Debasish
Published: June 2017

Rural mobile application are designed for various purposes, ranging from reaching information regarding government schemes, agricultural best practices, market prices, fishing zones and weather forecasts, to facilitating money transfer, opening and operating a bank account for saving money and to receive money directly to the bank account for various government schemes and subsidies. This paper examines the critical success factors and inhibitors that affect adoption of the mobile applications and the effect on continued usage. A questionnaire survey was done to gather data for this study. Results indicate that last mile barriers act as inhibitors to adoption. Adoption behavior of rural people do not exhibit a correlation with the ease of use of the application. Social influence has a strong influence on adoption behavior, which will enable policy makers and practitioners to evolve the right penetration strategy. Perceived usefulness has a strong influence on adoption. The results reiterate the increasing positive impact of rural mobile applications on day to day working of rural people.
Exploring M-Commerce and Social Media
Authors: Papadopoulou Panagiota
Published: June 2017

The proliferation of mobile phones and tablets shape a new arena for online commercial activity with unprecedented opportunities and challenges. In this omnipresent mobile environment, understanding consumer behavior constitutes a challenge for m-commerce vendors, as they seek to understand factors that affect it, positively and negatively, and to integrate social media in their mobile strategy and across mobile devices. This paper presents an exploratory qualitative research examining separately mobile phones and tablets and the use of social media, in the context of m-commerce. The results of our qualitative analysis show important factors for m-commerce and social media adoption and use, highlighting the similarities and differences between mobile phones and tablets. Our qualitative results also reveal factors having a negative effect to m-commerce, for both mobile devices. Business opportunities enabled by social media for m-commerce and how these can be leveraged in this promising multiple-device mobile context are also discussed.
Business and Mobile
Authors: Ibadildin Nygmet , Harvey Kenneth E.
Published: June 2017

This chapter will explore the peculiarities of business applications of mobile technologies, including a short history and a review of the current state of affairs, major trends likely to cause further change over the coming years, key theories and models to help understand and predict these changes, and future directions of research that may provide deeper scientific insight. M-commerce has many aspects from design and usability of the devices to monetization issues of mobile applications. M-enterprise is about drastic changes in internal and external communications and efficiency in the work of each business unit. M-industry reviews the impact of mobile technologies on traditional industries and the development of entirely new industries. M-style is how our everyday lives are changing in behavior, choices and preferences. After reading this chapter you will be able to differentiate m-business in many important areas: why is it important, where it is going, what is the value to consumers.
Explaining Online Customer Repurchase Intentions from a Relationship-Marketing Perspective
Authors: Lin Mei-Ju , Wang Wei-Tsong
Published: June 2017

Due to the low cost of searching for alternatives online, it is difficult to increase customer repurchase intention in the business-to-customer context. Relationship marketing (RM) is seen as an important way to foster customer trust, and in turn encourage repurchase intentions, which is consistent with the RM tactics-relational mediator-outcome paradigm in the offline context. Several studies have noted that the 4Rs marketing strategy both reflects and implements the concept of RM. This study thus examines whether RM-related constructs based on the 4Rs marketing strategy (i.e., assurance, customer satisfaction, perceived usefulness, corporate image, and perceived value) positively affect online customer repurchase intention; it also adopts trust as a relational mediator to investigate whether trust mediates the effect of the 4Rs marketing strategy on repurchase intention. The results of an online survey indicated that satisfaction, perceived usefulness, corporate image, perceived value, and trust were antecedents of repurchase intention. Additionally, this study statistically confirms that trust is a critical mediator of the indirect effects of RM-related constructs on repurchase intention. The theoretical and practical implications of this work are also discussed.
New Market Segmentation Paradigms and Electronic Commerce Adoption
Authors: Agudo-Peregrina Ángel F. , Chaparro-Peláez Julián , Hernández-García Ángel
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this chapter is to offer a better understanding of online shoppers' behaviour, so that virtual shops may improve and adapt their product offering to effectively reach their target segments. In order to achieve this goal, a characterization of motivations to shop online is proposed as a basis for motivation-based customer segmentation. Building upon this segmentation, acceptance models—namely, an adaptation of UTAUT2 to e-commerce—have been used to look further into the purchasing behavior of each identified segment. The results from the empirical study based on responses to an online questionnaire from a sample of 718 Spanish shoppers shows seven different groups of motivations and five different customer segments, and confirms different behavioral patterns in the adoption of e-commerce for different segments of customers, with special influence of effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, and perceived risk in the online shopping behaviour of individuals.
Are Signals a Solution to Perceived Risk and Opportunism in Mobile Shopping?
Authors: San-Martín Sonia
Published: June 2017

There is usually a situation of information asymmetry in mobile shopping. According to signaling theory and applying it to a mobile commerce context, the authors propose a model with some cognitive and experiential quality signals from the vendor and the site that can reduce shopper perceived risk and fear of opportunism: vendor reputation, site design, personalized service, and personalized information. However, as some literature states that male and female behaviour is somewhat different, the authors analyze differences and similarities between men and women in those perceptions of signals, risk, and opportunism. The authors collected information from 447 mobile shoppers, and results show some gender differences, which involve implications for managers when segmenting their potential market of mobile shoppers by gender. Women are more sensitive to signals, whereas for men the reduction of risk is key to less perceived opportunism.
Information Technology Outsourcing Risk Factors and Provider Selection
Authors: Lahmiri Salim
Published: June 2017

Information technology outsourcing has become a major issue in business and received a large attention from both business managers and scholars. Indeed, it helps a business company to reduce it costs and to maintain its competitiveness. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the utility of information technology outsourcing for the enterprise and to review some recent works in outsourcing risk factors identification and provider selection. Finally, drawbacks of information technology outsourcing will be presented along with future research directions.
Digital Diorama
Authors: Poli Annamaria , Gambini Annastella , Pezzotti Antonella , Broglia Alfredo , Mazzola Alessandra , Muschiato Sabrina , Standoli Carlo Emilio , Zambarbieri Daniela , Costa Fiammetta
Published: June 2017

Digital technologies that increase communication among students/users are viewed as interactive resources for enhancing learning, especially in the field of science teaching. The new digital mission is to produce innovative learning environments and educational tools to enhance the traditional teaching methods still widely used today. The Digital Diorama project reproduces a set of Natural History Museum dioramas for IWBs and other electronic devices. Using the Digital Diorama enhances cooperative learning. This comes from the students/users' explorations of the Digital Diorama and from strategies that we recommend to teachers.
Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning
Authors: Manzoor Amir
Published: June 2017

Today, open and distance-learning universities are regarded as a groundbreaking option to expand access to higher education. Economies of scale supported by a large number of enrolments have fueled the growth of open and distance learning institutions (ODLIs) across the globe. At the same time, many have raised serious concerns about the quality of education provided by ODLIs. This chapter presents a comparative case analysis of quality assurance (QA) programs in distance education at two large open and distance learning universities in Pakistan. The study explored QA policies and their implementation in the context of management practices and structures and internal and external environmental factors.
Private Universities' Participation in Open and Distance Learning for Enhanced Access to Higher Education Among Underserved in India
Authors: Pandey Akhilesh Kumar , Rizvi Syed Mohammad Haider
Published: June 2017

It is now well recognised and understood that the higher education is one of the important components in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations for the countries. However this important sector continues to remain a matter of concern in India primarily because of supply demand gaps, poor quality of teaching-learning, disparities in access and constraints on research & innovation. The conventional mainstream systems of education are able to serve a very small segment of the society. Alongside, new demands of education are fast emerging from the working class and who are away from the centre of activities. The scarce financial allocations from the Government are not able to meet the demand of education. Such a scenario threatens the sustained high growth of the Indian economic engine. The advent of private sector and the opening of private universities and other institutions for higher and professional education has now emerged as important factors that are, now, running sizeable number of professional degree programmes particularly management and engineering and accounts for 59% of all the tertiary enrolments in India. Despite a lot of scepticism about the role of private sector, there has been a policy thrust for private sector's participation in higher education. This paper discusses the needs of private universities and their roles in making access of higher education in masses. The authors have tried to explore the roles of vast network of private universities in expansion of open and distance learning in accordance with the issues and challenges.
Skill Training Process in Medicine Through Distance Mode
Authors: Jena Tapan Kumar
Published: June 2017

Skill training can take place whereever trainer, trainee and clinical material is present. In a residential training, all the pedagogic steps of pedagogy are implemented in the same institution. In distance mode, each level of pedagogy is linked to separate settings to provide flexibility, and thus provides an alternate model to residential mode of medical education. While cognitive domain can be taken care by the Distance education institutions, the psycho-motor domain can be taken care through a integrated network of the tertiary level, secondary level and the primary level health set up in a sequential manner. Thus, every health institution of a nation and the clinical learning materials available in those settings can be utilised to impart medical education. Similar principle can be followed for imparting surgical training through distance mode. Skill training in medical education is a very sensitive issue. Its implementation through ODL mode needs conviction and a lot of expertise.
Integrating Digital Learning Management System (LMS) Into Institutional Policies on Open Education in India for the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Authors: Rajesh M. , Nair Sindhu P. , V T JalajaKumari
Published: June 2017

India is home to millions of potential learners at various levels. The current educational system and its infrastructure is bursting at its seams due to the bourgeoning pressure of demands on it. Open education is often touted as the way out of this immense demand generated pressure. However, the slow assimilation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) stays put on such expectations. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the UN lays down the road map for making the world a better place to dwell in all aspects of human existence. Education lies at the heart of attaining the goal of sustainable development. The limitations imposed by time, place and other barriers can be effectively met only by the infusion of new technology into open education systems, in countries like India. The substantial internet penetration in India gives it a unique advantage to affect a massive technology driven growth in high quality education.
Urbanization, Financial Development, and Sustainable Development in West Africa
Authors: Adams Samuel , Klobodu Edem Kwame Mensah
Published: June 2017

This study examines the effect of urbanization and financial development on sustainable development in West Africa over the period 1981-2011. Using seemingly unrelated regression technique to solve our system of equations, the findings of the study show that both urbanization and financial development are positively and significantly related to economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions. A test of equality of parameters, however, suggests that financial development and urbanization are not equal in both equations. This suggests that both urbanization and financial sector liberalization have been pro-growth at the expense of environmental quality. The main implication is that policies must be put in place to control rapid urbanization and liberalization of the economy such that they contribute not just to growth but also environmental sustainability.
Industrial Parks as a Solution to Expanding Urbanization
Authors: Kihiko Moses Kibe
Published: June 2017

In a bid to foster the continent's industrialization, Sub-Saharan Africa launched industrial clusters or parks for channeling foreign know-how and capital and are bypassing the many obstacles of domestic business environments. Due to the high degree of failure experienced in many parts Africa, the China model of success story can serve as a case study of commitment top leadership, political goodwill, focused legal and regulatory framework, setting up favorable location advantages, tax breaks, duty-free imports of raw materials, export tax exemption, updated and modern technologies. It is also important African industrial development to build local manufacturing capacity, skilled people, including strengthening the concept of public-private partnership, but above all, investing in infrastructure.
Meaning of Green for 3PL Companies
Authors: Ersoy Pervin
Published: June 2017

In today's competitive environment managing green, becoming environmentally friendly and sustainable has become main topic for all industries and companies. Therefore, in this chapter it will be addressed how green logistics solutions and practices can help companies to increase their performance with specific practices, cases and results from Turkey's 3PL service providers' side. This chapter will discuss why being green is important for 3PL companies and the benefits of being green from the business and environment side with current data and real life examples. The main purpose of this chapter is to shed light on green performance indicators and to identify benefits of being green for 3PL companies in Turkey.
Sustainability Evaluation of Green Urban Logistics Systems
Authors: Gonzalez-Feliu Jesus
Published: June 2017

This paper aims to propose a systemic vision of literature on sustainable urban logistics assessment and evaluation. Although non-extensive, this overview pretends lack of unification in the subject of assessing and evaluating the impacts of green urban logistics systems, and, through the proposal of a general assessment and evaluation framework, the steps done and being in course towards standards on this field. First, an overview of the research in urban logistics is provided, after what the main visions of sustainable development and their derived issues for urban logistics assessment and evaluation are presented. Then, a framework to assess and evaluate green urban logistics systems via scenario comparison is proposed. This framework aims to propose a methodological framework to use and combine existing methods to assess scenarios, and not a “black-box” model of software ready to use. This is done to make synergies between existing methods, and to show that, although they remain at an initial stage, steps on the way of defining standards are made. After that, the main applicability and application issues of the proposed methodological framework are addressed, showing those principles of standard from the literature. Finally, and to conclude, future developments on urban logistics research are proposed.
HR Mediated Reverse Innovation
Authors: Bhattacharyya Dipak Kumar
Published: June 2017

This book chapter at the outset explains the concept of reverse innovation, through literature review and review of the practices in different organizations. The chapter then examines the reverse innovation initiatives for business sustainability and value creation of two multinationals in India; one in manufacturing and the other one is in processing (chemical). The chapter then assesses how these two organizations could achieve success, and to what extent such success can be attributed to their sustainable human resource management (HRM) practices. Through critical review of HRM practices, the study documents the best HRM practices, and concludes how multinationals in developing countries can emulate such practices for achieving results in reverse innovation for business sustainability and value creation.
A Proposition of Strategy Making in Global Firms
Authors: Gürbüz Fatma Gülruh , Ergun Hande Sinem , Samur-Teraman Seray Begum
Published: June 2017

Strategy as Practice (hereafter S-As-P) is referred as a research topic concerning with the doing of strategy; who does it, what they do, how they do it, what they use and what implications this has for shaping strategy. The developing field has taken the concern of “humanize management” seriously by bringing human actors to the center of the strategy (Jarzabkowski & Spee, 2009). This study aims to furnish insights into the S-as-P approach. In this sense, it considers extended mainstream strategy research and focuses on light practices that have largely passed and unnoticed (Vaara & Whittington, 2012). Furthermore, its reflections on businesses operating in global economy are discussed.
Efficacy of Organizational Learning and Social Capital in Online Communities of Practice
Authors: Gürsoy Serkan , Yücelen Murat
Published: June 2017

This chapter deals with the evolution of communities of practice by considering two key components which facilitate knowledge sharing: Organizational Learning and Social Capital. Dualities and intersections between the building blocks of these two components are investigated by discussing organizational learning in its explorative and exploitative forms, while considering social capital in its bridging and bonding forms. As a critical contemporary step of evolution, information and communication technologies are also elaborated in order to examine the impact of constant and instant tools on these facilitators of knowledge sharing. The study aims to derive proxies among these components of organizational learning and social capital in order to design an integrated framework that reflects the nature of online communities of practice.
Project and Risk Management in a Global Context
Authors: Perano Mirko , Della Piana Bice , Casali Gian Luca
Published: June 2017

Project management is one of the possible ways to improve the organizational reputation and create value. The control achievable on each project' constrains (time, cost and quality) and the actions consequent by assessment process can represent in theory a guarantee for the success of a project. In practical, there are many risks capable of upsetting the project dynamics leading to failures. Risk management, or the specific area of knowledge of Project Risk Management, are useful to prevent this possible occurrence. The global dimension of organizations' networks that use PM, moves this quality to the project that this organizations do. A definition of global project is provided as well as also the consequent considerations about the cross-cultural aspect within the peoples involved in this type of project. It is framed and proposed a new category of risk related to management of global project: cultural risk analysis.
Medical Semiotics
Authors: Colaguori Robert , Danesi Marcel
Published: June 2017

Medical semiotics, as a branch of general semiotics, has never really gained a firm foothold in either semiotics itself or medical science. Despite the fact that the discipline of semiotics traces its roots to the medical domain in the ancient world, it has been largely relegated to the margins, with several key exceptions starting with Jakob von Uexküll and more recently Thomas A. Sebeok and the biosemiotic movement. However, there is no evidence that it is a significant and growing autonomous area of research either within biosemiotics or medical practice. The purpose of this paper is to revive interest in medical semiotics examining at the historical principles that would make it highly relevant today in the global village where conceptions of disease and health are in constant flux.
Modals and Modality in Legal Discourse
Authors: Cheng Le , Wang Xin
Published: June 2017

In this study, parallel corpora of the Civil and Commercial Laws and the English translation of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter P. R. C.) are built. Modal verbs in the legal texts are examined from the perspective of genre analysis and semantics. Moreover, a comparative study on different variations of legal genre is adopted. This study further explores the findings from a sociosemiotic perspective in terms of the distinctions on modal verbs and modality between different variations of legal genre. The authors have noticed the disparity of modal verbs in different situations depends on distinct functions of situations. Although linguistic and textual analyses are significant in exploring issues of legal texts, it is not enough to linger within these domains.
Um projeto político via instrução: 100 anos da Carta Pastoral de D. Leme
Authors: Martins Marco Aurélio Corrêa
Published: June 2017

A releitura da centenária Carta Pastoral de saudação de D. Leme aos seus diocesanos na arquidiocese de Olinda, em 1916,permite compreender, a partir de aspectos históricos e historiográficos, a composição entre ultramontanismo e tradicionalismo no texto de forte viés político, no qual o arcebispo pretendia um projeto de instrução religiosa sobre o povo católico. A análise situa alguns aspectos do texto nas questões educacionais e ideológicas do período de sua produção, destacando a separação entre educação e instrução havida no texto. O referencial teórico no conceito de temporalidade de Paul Ricoeur, além dos fundamentos da filosofia da história desse autor, por sua vinculação fenomenológica, permitiu uma compreensão específica das propostas do arcebispo. Tratou-se de um estudo bibliográfico no qual a Carta Pastoral é um documento e um vestígio daquele tempo, estudada com algumas encíclicas papais, também tratadas documentalmente.
Reflexo e refração sígnica no espaço público de Arendt: interferências bakhtinianas
Authors: Bortolotti Ricardo Gião
Published: June 2017

O objetivo deste texto é analisar e caracterizar a importância da palavra enquanto ação desenrolada no espaço público. Para isso, partimos das noções bakhtinianas de reflexo e refração, aplicadas à questão da comunicação no mundo comum, de suma importância para Bakhtin e Arendt. Com efeito, supomos que essas noções possam fornecer elementos para se pensar no ato de enunciação do juízo, sem ferir a sua característica particular, pois parecem contribuir para o desarranjo de modos fossilizados de pensamento.
Risk assessment of ulcer development by pressure in elderly institutionalized in Brazil
Authors: Reffatti Kamari Ana , Baratieri Tatiane , Lentsck Maicon Henrique , Sangaleti Carine Teles
Published: June 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the risk of developing pressure ulcers (PU) and related factors in elderly residents in LTI of a medium-sized municipality in southern Brazil. The method applied was a cross-sectional study with elderly residents in a long-term institution (LTI) in Brazil, using sociodemographic questionnaire, health conditions questionnaire and Braden Scale. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that most seniors had some degree of risk (57.2%) to develop PU, but no elderly presented the condition. Among the elderly at risk for PU, 54.5% of them rate their health as good, 46.7% participate in activities and 52.6% are satisfied with the institution. Conclusions: The absence of PU and positive evaluations of the elderly may be a result of the care offered by the LTI. The Braden Scale is an instrument that enables the planning and implementation of actions to improve the health of institutionalized elderly.
Balance in seniors who exercise, considering different levels of fear of falling
Authors: Hauser Eduardo , Silva Lislayne Luiza da , Paiva Paula Bertolini de , Souza Ana Carolina Silva de , Cardoso Fernando Luiz , Mazo Giovana Zarpellon
Published: June 2017

The aging process brings changes to one’s body balance and may trigger a fear of falling. The aim of this study was to compare and verify correlation between different methods that assess body balance among elderly individuals who exercise, according to different levels of fear of falling. The sample was composed of 186 individuals (68.28±6.years) who exercise. Balance assessment used Timed Up and Go, Unipedal Stance, Sitting-Rising and Functional Reach tests. A question about fear of falling was applied in the form of an interview. Statistical analysis used Spearman and Kruskall Wallis correlation. In results, Timed Up and Go (7.13±1.6s), Unipedal Stance (20.52±9.9s), Sitting-Rising (12.43s±3.2s) and Functional Reach (29.51±6.5) showed significant correlation with fear of falling. Individuals less afraid of falling showed better balance performance when compared to those not afraid of falling. In conclusion, better balance performance can contribute to decreasing fear of falling.
Trajetória de migrações no Brasil
Authors: Figueredo Luiz Orencio , Zanelatto João Henrique
Published: June 2017

Desde a virada do milênio o Brasil vem recebendo consideráveis parcelas de imigrantes procedentes de vários países e continentes. Isso se deve por razões socioeconômicas dos países de origem dos migrantes, mas em especial pela conjuntura socioeconômica do Brasil na última década. A história de imigração/emigração no Brasil é recheada de singularidades e especificidades, tendo o país experimentado processos de imigração significativos ao longo de sua história e, em um período recente, vivenciado um processo de emigração. Portanto, o escrito buscou contextualizar estes processos migratórios que permearam a história social, econômica, política e cultural do Brasil.
Deposition and Characterization of Reactive Magnetron Sputtered Tungsten Carbide Films
Authors: Du Su Xuan , Wen Mao , Ren Ping , Meng Q.N. , Zhang Kan , Zheng Wei Tao
Published: June 2017

Tungsten carbide thin films were deposited on silicon (100) substrates by DC reactive magnetron sputtering using CH4 as a carbon source. The microstructure, compressive stress, hardness and tribological behaviors showed great dependences on the rates of CH4 flow (FCH4). Increasing the FCH4 from 2 to 5 sccm, the film exhibited a phase transition from hexagonal-W2C to cubic-WC1-x. Further increasing the FCH4 larger than 10sccm, the film presented amorphous state. As the FCH4 increased, the Raman revealed that the films showed a graphitization trend, meanwhile, the surface of the films became smoother and smoother. The hardness of tungsten carbide films first increased, and then decreased after reaching the maximum 38.5GPa (FCH4=10 sccm). While the sample deposited at 15 sccm obtained the lowest wear rate (2.17×10-6 mm3/Nm) and low coefficient of friction (CoF, 0.24) and still maintained a high hardness of 32.1 GPa. The lowest wear rate could be ascribed to the highest ratio of H3/E2.
Catalytic Activity of Fe-SBA-15 Prepared by Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly (EISA) Method
Authors: Zhang Tie Ming , Li De Yong , Liu Wen
Published: June 2017

Fe-SBA-15 materials with different Fe content have been prepared using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and iron nitrate (Fe (NO3)3·H2O as precursors and Pluronic P123 as structure directing agent through evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method. The materials were characterized by nitrogen sorption, powder X-ray diffraction and TEM. All the Fe-SBA-15 samples appeared ordered 2D hexagonal mesostructure. The BET surface area and pore diameter were about 500 m2/g and 4 nm respectively. In the reaction of phenol hydroxylation to dihydroxybenzenes, the Fe-SBA-15 materials showed good catalytic activity, giving 20.2% of phenol conversion, 58.2% of selectivity for o-dihydroxy benzene and 41.8% of selectivity for p-dihydroxy benzene. After five cycles, the product yield was 25.2%, while selectivities of o-dihydroxy benzene and p-dihydroxy benzene were 58.2% and 41.8%, respectively. All these findings indicated the potential of Fe-SBA-15-10 could be used as a cost-effective, environment-friendly catalyst.
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Chinese Radial Passenger Vehicle Tire
Authors: Sun Xin , Zheng Ji Hu , Zhang Peng , Zhao Ming Nan , Wu He Xia , Yan Yu Ting
Published: June 2017

The life cycle environmental impacts of the new model radial passenger vehicle tire product was evaluated and compared. the silicon dioxide was added to replace part of the carbon black as filler, with its previous model tire product. The study covers all relevant life cycle stages: from the acquisition of raw materials to the production, use, and end-of-life. The data collected onsite in 2014 by one of the largest Chinese tire companies were used in the assessment. The evaluation is presented in terms of individual impact category according to the CML model. Five impact categories (i.e., global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), photochemical oxidant creation potential (POCP), eutrophication potential (EP), and human toxicity potential (HTP)) were considered. The research was conducted in accordance with the ISO 14040/14044 standards. The results showed that In all the five impact categories, new model tire product is lower than the previous model in the whole life cycle. It is mostly due to the reduction of the fuel consumption during the use stage, which resulted in replacing part of the carbon black with silicon dioxide. Fuel (gasoline) consumption represents an important contribution to most impact categories, including the GWP, AP, POCP, and EP, during the use stage. Vehicle fuel consumption and its proportion consumed by the tires during the use stage are key factors that contribute to environmental impact during tire life time. The largest contributor to the HTP category is raw material acquisition, mainly because of the impact of the production of organic chemicals. During the raw material acquisition stage, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, carbon black, and organic chemicals represent the largest contribution to the environmental impact categories, which could be mitigated by reducing the use of raw materials, replacing the aromatic oil with environmental oil in the new model tire product.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of VTaTiMoAlx Refractory High Entropy Alloys
Authors: Qiao Dong Xu , Jiang Hui , Chang Xiao Xue , Lu Yi Ping , Li Ting Ju
Published: June 2017

A series of refractory high-entropy alloys VTaTiMoAlx with x=0,0.2,0.6,1.0 were designed and produced by vacuum arc melting. The effect of added Al elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of refractory high-entropy alloys were investigated. The X-ray diffraction results showed that all the high-entropy alloys consist of simple BCC solid solution. SEM indicated that the microstructure of VTaTiMoAlx changes from equiaxial dendritic-like structure to typical dendrite structure with the addition of Al element. The composition of different regions in the alloys are obtained by energy dispersive spectroscopy and shows that Ta, Mo elements are enriched in the dendrite areas, and Al, Ti, V are enriched in inter-dendrite areas. The yield strength and compress strain reach maximum (σ0.2=1221MPa, ε=9.91%) at x=0, and decrease with the addition of Al element at room temperature. Vickers hardness of the alloys improves as the Al addition.
Hot Deformation and Dynamic Recrystallization Behavior of Fe-8Mn-6Al-0.2C Steel
Authors: Li Xuan , Song Ren Bo , Kang Tai , Zhou Nai Peng
Published: June 2017

Hot deformation and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behaviors of Fe-8Mn-6Al-0.2C steel were investigated by means of single-pass compression experiments at temperature ranging from 850 °C to 1150 °C and different strain rate of 0.01~10 s-1. The flow strain curves were analysed and showed that the higher temperature and lower strain rate led to the smaller critical stress, which meant softening mechanism was easier to occur; The constitutive equation of experimental steel was established and the relationship between peak strain and Z parameter was figured out; A hot processing map of experimental steel was developed over a power dissipation map for the typical strain of 0.9, indicating the best region of high workability in the study conditions. DRX was promoted with increase of deformation temperature and decrease of strain rate, and the banded grains had been broken and grew up obviously.
Effect of Boron on Microstructure and Properties of Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu Low-Silver Lead-Free Solder
Authors: Wang Ruo Da , Zhang Shao Ming , Hu Qiang , Zhang Fu Wen
Published: June 2017

In this work, B (boron) was added into Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC105) solder alloy using mechanical alloying method in order to develop a new low-silver lead-free solder, Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu-xB, where B ranges from 0wt% to 0.2wt%. The melting characteristics, wettability, mechanical properties of welded joints, and microstructure of this solder were studied. The results showed that with adding B into SAC105 alloy, the melting point and melting range was not obviously changed. Although the wettability decreases with the B content increasing, the solder joints exhibited higher shear strength. As a result, the shear strength was the highest at the B content of 0.2wt%. For example, the shear strength of the Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu-0.2B solder was 35.12MPa, while that of the B free SAC105 solder was only 28.94MPa. Furthermore, adding B had a significant effect on grain refinement on the SAC105 solder . Observations on solder matrix and weld joints by SEM showed that the IMC thickness of solder joints with the addition of B was less than the SAC105 lead-free solder. Moreover, with the addition of B, the solder grains were refined obviously which had the effect of refining straitening, and the growing rate of brittle IMC in solder joint could be effectively reduced during soldering and aging process. Thus solder joint performance can be improved significantly.
Idiopathic pulmonary embolism in a case of severe family ANKRD26 thrombocytopenia
Authors: Guison Jérôme , Blaison Gilles , Stoica Oana , Hurstel Remy , Favier Marie , Favier Remi
Published: June 2017

Venous thrombosis affecting thrombocytopenic patients is challenging. We report the case of a thrombocytopenic woman affected by deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism leading to the discovery of a heterozygous mutation in the gene encoding ankyrin repeat domain 26 (ANKRD26) associated with a heterozygous factor V (FV) Leiden mutation. This woman was diagnosed with left lower-limb deep vein thrombosis complicated by pulmonary embolism. Severe thrombocytopenia was observed. The genetic study evidenced a heterozygous FV Leiden mutation. Molecular study sequencing was performed after learning that her family had a history of thrombocytopenia. Previously described heterozygous mutation c-127C>A in the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of the ANKRD26 gene was detected in the patient, her aunt, and her grandmother. ANKRD26-related thrombocytopenia and thrombosis are rare. This is, to our knowledge, the first case reported in the medical literature. This mutation should be screened in patients with a family history of thrombocytopenia.
Assessment of resin-dentin interfacial morphology of two ethanol-based universal adhesives: A scanning electron microscopy study
Authors: Awad Mohamed Moustafa
Published: June 2017

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the resin-dentin interfacial morphology created by two universal adhesives using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Materials and Methods: The occlusal surfaces of ten (n = 5) molars were reduced to expose a flat surface of dentin. Two universal adhesives, Scotchbond Universal Adhesive and Tetric N-Bond Universal, were independently applied to air-dried dentin. Light-cured resin-based composite restorative materials were used to incrementally build a composite “buildup.” The specimen was sectioned mesiodistally to expose the resin-dentin interface. The inner surfaces of the specimens were polished. Samples were immersed in hydrochloric acid and then rinsed using distilled water. This was followed by immersion of the samples in 1% sodium hypochlorite solution. Then, samples were thoroughly rinsing with distilled water. Dehydration of samples was performed using ascending concentration of ethyl alcohol. Prepared samples were observed SEM at magnifications ×1500 and x4000. Results: Both universal adhesives could penetrate dentin-forming well-defined resin tags, lateral branches as well as a uniform hybrid layer. Conclusions: Two tested universal adhesives applied in self-etch mode can infiltrate into dentin-producing high-quality interfacial morphology. Similar interfacial morphology may be due to the similarity in composition and application mode.
Evaluation of salivary flow rate and gustatory function in HIV-positive patients with or without highly active antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Verma Neha , Patil Ranjitkumar , Khanna Vikram , Singh Vandana , Tripathi Anurag
Published: June 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the salivary flow rate and gustatory changes in HIV-positive patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and without HAART. We also correlated CD4 count and salivary flow rate and gustatory function in both groups. Methods: Sample size for each group was thirty. After obtaining informed consent, we measured salivary flow rate using Schimer's method and gustatory function using four tastants (sweet, sour, bitter, and salty) of different concentrations. The readings were recorded at 0 month, 2nd, 4th, and 6th month interval. The data obtained was statistically analyzed. Results: The mean salivary flow rate was decreased more in Group I as compared to Group II. The mean identification score for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter was significantly higher in Group II than Group I. The mean detection threshold score for sweet, salty, sour and bitter taste was comparatively higher in Group I than Group II. The Pearson's correlation analysis showed inverse relation between age and salivary flow rate in Group II. No significant correlation was observed in CD4 count and salivary flow rate. Conclusion: Along with routine oral health appraisal in seropositive patients, evaluation of salivary flow rate, and taste abnormalities should also be considered an integral part of patient assessment.
Об одном семействе 0/1-многогранников с NP-полным критерием несмежности вершин
Authors: Maksimenko Aleksandr Nikolaevich
Published: June 2017

В 1995 году Т. Мацуи рассмотрел специальное семейство 0/1-многогранников с NP-полным критерием несмежности вершин. В 2012 году автор настоящей работы установил, что все многогранники этого семейства присутствуют в качестве граней в многогранниках, ассоциированных со следующими NP-полными задачами: задачей коммивояжера, задачей 3-выполнимость, задачей о рюкзаке, задачей о покрытии множества, задачей о частичном упорядочивании, задачей о кубическом подграфе и некоторыми другими. В работе показано, что ни один из многогранников упомянутого выше специального семейства, за исключением одномерного отрезка, не может быть гранью многогранников, ассоциированных с задачами о независимом множестве в графе, об упаковке и разбиении множества и с трехиндексной задачей о назначениях.
Нижние оценки длин единичных тестов для схем из функциональных элементов
Authors: Popkov Kirill Andreevich
Published: June 2017

Получены нетривиальные нижние оценки длин минимальных единичных проверяющих и диагностических тестов для схем из функциональных элементов в широких классах базисов при однотипных и произвольных константных неисправностях на выходах элементов.
О средней сложности недоопределенных функций
Authors: Chashkin Aleksandr Viktorovich
Published: June 2017

Рассматривается средняя сложность вычисления недоопределенных функций неветвящимися программами с условной остановкой в базисе из всех не более чем двухместных булевых функций. Установлены точные по порядку формулы для средней сложности функций, имеющих максимальную среднюю сложность среди всех недоопределенных функций, в зависимости от степени их определенности, размера области определения и размера носителя.