bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation Energy from Thermogravimetric Analysis of Certain Azopolyamides
Authors: Rajendiran T. V. , Jayanthi A.
Published: May 2018

Six new azopolyamides were synthesized from 2, 21–dimethoxy 4, 41–diaminoazobenzene [Benzenamine–(3, 31– dimethoxy–4, 41-azo) bis] condensed with any one of the following diacid chlorides viz. (i) terephthaloyl chloride. (ii) isophthaloyl chloride. (iii) 4, 41–azodibenzoyl chloride (iv) 3, 31-azo dibenzoyl chloride (v) 4, 41–stilbene dicarbonyl chloride and (vi) 4, 41–oxydibenzoyl chloride using low temperature solution method. These polyamides were characterized by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA and DTA). Activation energy has been calculated using Murray and white, coats and Redfern, Doyle's, Freeman and Carroll, Ozawa–Flyn–Waal's and modified Coats and Redfern's method.
Immunofluorescent Localization of Non-myelinating Schwann Cells and Their Interactions With Immune Cells in Mouse Thymus
Authors: Hu Dailun , Nicholls Philip K. , Yin Changfu , Kelman Khama , Yuan Qionglan , Greene Wayne K. , Shi Zhongli , Ma Bin
Published: May 2018

The thymus is innervated by sympathetic/parasympathetic nerve fibers from the peripheral nervous system (PNS), suggesting a neural regulation of thymic function including T-cell development. Despite some published studies, data on the innervation and nerve-immune interaction inside the thymus remain limited. In the present study, we used immunofluorescent staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) coupled with confocal microscopy/three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction to reveal the distribution of non-myelinating Schwann cells (NMSC) and their interactions with immune cells inside mouse thymus. Our results demonstrate (1) the presence of an extensive network of NMSC processes in all compartments of the thymus including the capsule, subcapsular region, cortex, cortico-medullary junction, and medulla; (2) close associations/interactions of NMSC processes with blood vessels, indicating the neural control of blood flow inside the thymus; (3) the close “synapse-like” association of NMSC processes with various subsets of dendritic cells (DC; e.g., B220+ DCs, CD4+ DCs, and CD8+ DCs), and lymphocytes (B cells, CD4+/CD8+ thymocytes). Our novel findings concerning the distribution of NMSCs and the associations of NMSCs and immune cells inside mouse thymus should help us understand the anatomical basis and the mechanisms through which the PNS affects T-cell development and thymic endocrine function in health and disease.
Activity-Based Concept to Screen Biological Matrices for Opiates and (Synthetic) Opioids
Authors: Cannaert Annelies , Vasudevan Lakshmi , Friscia Melissa , Mohr Amanda L A , Wille Sarah M R , Stove Christophe P
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

Detection of new highly potent synthetic opioids is challenging as new compounds enter the market. Here we present a novel screening method for the detection of opiates and (synthetic) opioids based on their activity.

METHODS

A cell-based system was set up in which activation of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) led to recruitment of β-arrestin 2, resulting in functional complementation of a split NanoLuc luciferase and allowing readout via bioluminescence. Assay performance was evaluated on 107 postmortem blood samples. Blood (500 μL) was extracted via solid-phase extraction. Following evaporation and reconstitution in 100 μL of Opti-MEM® I, 20 μL was analyzed in the bioassay.

RESULTS

In 8 samples containing synthetic opioids, in which no positive signal was obtained in the bioassay, quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed the MOR antagonist naloxone, which can prevent receptor activation. Hence, further evaluation did not include these samples. For U-47700 (74.5–547 ng/mL) and furanyl fentanyl (<1–38.8 ng/mL), detection was 100% (8/8) for U-47700 and 95% (21/22) for furanyl fentanyl. An analytical specificity of 93% (55/59) was obtained for the opioid negatives. From an additional 10 samples found to contain other opioids, 5 were correctly scored positive. Nondetection in 5 cases could be explained by very low concentrations (<1 ng/mL alfentanil/sufentanil) or presence of inactive enantiomers.

CONCLUSIONS

The MOR reporter assay allows rapid identification of opioid activity in blood. Although the cooccurrence of opioid antagonists is currently a limitation, the bioassay's high detection capability, specificity, and untargeted nature may render it a useful first-line screening tool to investigate potential opioid intoxications.
Sonic landscape of seggae: Mauritian sega rhythm meets Jamaican roots reggae
Authors: Pyndiah Gitanjali
Published: May 2018

Seggae is a music genre that developed on mainland Mauritius. It stems from Mauritian sega, which is a polymorphous practice of dance, music, rhythms, story-telling, and song in the Creole language, developed by enslaved Africans under French colonialism. In the 1980s, various sega artists (and Kaya especially, who was hailed as the father of seggae), developed a commitment to the new music genre from the influence of Jamaican Bob Marley’s roots reggae and the Rastafari philosophy. The sonic landscape and politics of seggae will be discussed through the framework of indigenization and epistemologies of resistance against the residual coloniality of power in Mauritius.
Forward march in the East: From ‘Wash-Wash-Ska’ (1965) to reggae outta Poland (2010s)
Authors: Wójcik Bartosz
Published: May 2018

Not unlike the Caribbean, where the syncopated rhythms provided the soundtrack to the lives of the disenfranchised, ‘in communist Poland and Czechoslovakia [...] reggae’s celebration of the dispossessed struck a chord that led to the formation of dozens of local groups playing Jamaican-structured music’ (Salewicz 2000). Similarly, though not propelled by the anti-authoritarian aesthetics of the revolutionary 1970s, but informed by the then novelty factor, ska found its way into the repertoire of Alibabki, an all-female vocal group that ruled the Polish charts in the 1960s. Focusing on contextualized, diachronic milestones, the article analyses selected manifestations of reggae music in Poland, including instances of its cross-pollination, commodification and normative co-option by global market forces. Defined by its genre-specific qualities and at the same time genre-defying, reggae has not only yielded a vibrant summer festival scene in Poland, but also given rise to a year-round sound system culture, signature radio shows and local dancehall queens, all of which will be duly discussed as well.
Novas responsabilidades do jornalismo face à liquidificação da profissão: fundamentos normativos, valores, formação
Authors: Camponez Carlos
Published: May 2018

O impacte das tecnologias no ecossistema mediático alterou alguns axiomas sobre o papel do jornalismo nas democracias contemporâneas e está a promover a diluição e a banalização da profissão. Essas alterações colocam o jornalismo perante a responsabilidade ética de se refundar, reforçando os seus laços com a democracia num mundo crescentemente global, definindo o núcleo de saberes mínimos e dos percursos formativos exigíveis e adotando modelos organizativos e de representação profissional consonantes com as suas novas responsabilidades sociais.
Identifikasi Kandungan Kimia dan Uji Aktivitas Antimikroba Kulit Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.)
Authors: Anggraeni Eka Vany , Anam Khairul
Published: May 2018

Ekstraksi, fraksinasi, uji aktivitas antimikroba dengan metode difusi agar serta identifikasi kandungan kimia dari fraksi aktif dari kulit durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) telah dilakukan. Dari maserasi dari kulit durian (Durio zibethinus Murr) yang dilakukan menggunakan pelarut etanol 96%, diperoleh ekstrak etanol kulit durian. Kemudian dilanjutkan dengan fraksinasi dengan pelarut n-heksana, kloroform, etil asetat, dan metanol sehingga diperoleh masing-masing fraksi n-heksana, kloroform, etil asetat, dan metanol. Dari ekstrak dan fraksi kulit durian, kemudian dilakukan uji aktivitas antimikroba, hingga diperoleh fraksi teraktif adalah fraksi etil asetat. Identifikasi kandungan kimia dalam fraksi aktif etil asetat kulit durian dilakukan dengan metode Kromatografi Lapis Tipis preparatif. Sedangkan uji kemurnian isolat  dianalisis menggunakan metode Kromatografi Lapis Tipis dan didapatkan isolat E.2.2.2. Isolat berbentuk serbuk putih dan karakterisasi menggunakan spektrofotometer UV-Vis menunjukkan panjang gelombang maksimum 205 nm, 236 nm, dan 270-300 nm. Analisis dengan spektofotometer FTIR menunjukkan adanya gugus O-H, =C-H aromatik, C=C aromatik, substitusi aromatik, C=O asam karboksilat, C=C alkena dan C-O eter. Sedangkan Analisis Kromatografi Lapis Tipis dengan pembanding senyawa standar asam fenolat, diduga bahwa isolat E.2.2.2 adalah asam ferulat.
Digital microscopic evaluation of vertical marginal discrepancies of CAD/CAM fabricated zirconia cores
Authors: Habib Syed Rashid
Published: May 2018

Objective:

The aim of this in vitro research study was to evaluate the vertical marginal discrepancies of zirconia (Zr) cores fabricated by five different computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems using a digital microscope.

Materials and methods:

A total of 60 specimens were prepared and randomly divided into five groups (n=12 each) using the following systems: Ceramill Motion 2 (CM, Amanngirrbach, Germany); Weiland (WI, Ivoclar Vivadent, USA); Cerec (CS, Sirona Dental, USA); Zirkonzahn (ZZ, Gmbh Bruneck, Italy) and Cad4dent (CD, Canada). The specimens were numbered and the vertical marginal discrepancies were evaluated with a digital microscope at 50× magnification.

Results:

A one-way analysis of variance showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.002) between the groups. The CM group exhibited the lowest values for the marginal gaps (31.30±15.12 μm), while the ZZ group exhibited the highest values for the marginal gaps (44.83±28.76 μm) compared to other groups. A post hoc Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons between the experimental groups showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the group CM and group CD with group ZZ. The rest of the groups showed no significant differences between them. Variations in the values were observed for the four sites measured with the highest and the least mean marginal gap value of 43.19±23.84 μm and 32.49±12.21 μm for buccal and lingual sites, respectively.

Conclusion:

Variations existed in the marginal discrepancy values for the CAD/CAM systems investigated in the study. Vertical marginal discrepancy values observed for various systems investigated in the study were well within the clinically acceptable range.
Existence and uniqueness of a problem in thermo-elasto-plasticity with phase transitions in TRIP steels under mixed boundary conditions
Authors: Boettcher Sören
Published: May 2018

In this paper a complex model describing thermo-elasto-plasticity, phase transitions (PT) and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) is studied. The main objective is the analysis of the corresponding initial and boundary value problem (IBVP) considering linearized thermo-elastic dissipation and a viscosity-like regularization.
Role of supraglacial lakes in recession of Himalayan glaciers: A case study of Dudh Koshi basin, Nepal
Authors: Tuladhar Florencia Matina , KC Diwakar
Published: May 2018

Climate change has been adversely affecting glaciers causing them to advance and recession worldwide. Existing studies have primarily attributed temperature as the leading factor causing glacier recession. However, detailed studies that investigate effect of other factors like presence of debris cover, slope, and contact with water bodies are still scarce. This research, thus investigated the role of supraglacial lakes in recession of debris-covered glaciers (DCG). Such glaciers were studied since these lakes are found in debris-covered glaciers only. For this purpose the interannual variation in area of supraglacial lakes of Dudh Koshi basin was computed to test the hypothesis that these lakes play a significant role in glacier recession.

Supraglacial lakes were delineated using Google Earth Pro at five year intervals to assess interannual variation in lake area. Slope, elevation and change in supraglacial lake area were the predictors influencing average decadal change in area of glaciers. Two models prepared using multiple linear regression in Excel were compared. The first model used elevation and slope as predictors while the second model used change in supraglacial lake area as the additional predictor. The second model had a higher coefficient of determination (R square) and Adjusted R-square values of 99 % and 96 % compared to the first model. Further test statistics from Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results were compared to test the hypothesis. Moreover the Root mean square error (RMSE) of second model was also less than the first one. Hence both the regression statistics and RMSE confirmed that change in area of supraglacial lakes was an important factor that influences overall recession of debris-covered glaciers.

Nevertheless, use of high spatial and temporal resolution imageries along-with increase in number of glaciers sampled should be incorporated in future studies to ensure robust outcomes. Thus this research can bolster the overall understanding between glacier and glacial lake dynamics which will improve the resilience of downstream inhabitants from climate induced hazards, such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
Performance Evaluation of Proposed WDM Optical Link Using EDFA and FBG Combination
Authors: Ahlawat Deepti , Arora Payal , Kumar Suresh
Published: May 2018

Analysis of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system utilizing erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) has been carried out by many researchers. In this paper, the performance analysis of 8-channel WDM system utilizing EDFA and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) combination is carried out in a wavelength band 1546–1552 nm at 10 Gbps. The performance of three apodization functions (Uniform, Gaussian and Tanh) of FBG is compared using return-to-zero (RZ) and non-return-to-zero modulation formats at fiber lengths 50, 60, 70 and 80 km. Also, the performance of FBG is compared for both aspects: with chirp and without chirp for grating lengths 5–10 mm. The Gaussian apodized and linearly chirped FBG outperformed the other two in compensating chromatic dispersion. Optimum values of Q-factor are also obtained using linearly chirped FBG with RZ modulation format at 10 mm of grating length.
Green synthesis, characterization and biological activities of silver nanoparticles using the bark extract of ailanthus altissima
Authors: Arshad Maria , Khan Abbas , Farooqi Zahoor H. , Usman Muhammad , Waseem M. Abdul , Shah Sayyar Ali , Khan Momin
Published: May 2018

Due to their potential application in various fields of science and technology, the eco-friendly bio-synthesis of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) is a growing area for researchers. In this study, we report the green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and their characterization by using various techniques. For the preparation of Ag particles, aqueous plant extract of ailanthus altissima was used as a reducing medium for Ag+ ions of silver nitrate to Ag0. UV-Vis spectrophotometry was used to trace the formation of Ag particles by noting their surface plasmon resonance peaks (400 nm to 440 nm). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was employed to reveal the chemical composition of Ag nanoparticles which were capped by plant extract. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to get the lattice image, morphology and average size of Ag particles. The average size distribution of Ag NPs dispersed in aqueous media was also measured using dynamic light scattering (DLS). It was found that DLS results are in good agreement with those obtained from SEM. The synthesized particles were then subjected to the antibacterial and antifungal activities by studying them against various species, such as bacillus cereus, staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli and A. parasiticus, A. niger and A. flavus fungi. It was noted from the growth curves of both bacteria and fungi that in the presence of silver nanoparticles they show more in-zone growth as compared to the plant extract.
Material platforms for optical metasurfaces
Authors: Choudhury Sajid M. , Wang Di , Chaudhuri Krishnakali , DeVault Clayton , Kildishev Alexander V. , Boltasseva Alexandra , Shalaev Vladimir M.
Published: May 2018

Optical metasurfaces are judicously engineered electromagnetic interfaces that can control and manipulate many of light’s quintessential properties, such as amplitude, phase, and polarization. These artificial surfaces are composed of subwavelength arrays of optical antennas that experience resonant light-matter interaction with incoming electromagnetic radiation. Their ability to arbitrarily engineer optical interactions has generated considerable excitement and interest in recent years and is a promising methodology for miniaturizing optical components for applications in optical communication systems, imaging, sensing, and optical manipulation. However, development of optical metasurfaces requires progress and solutions to inherent challenges, namely large losses often associated with the resonant structures; large-scale, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible nanofabrication techniques; and incorporation of active control elements. Furthermore, practical metasurface devices require robust operation in high-temperature environments, caustic chemicals, and intense electromagnetic fields. Although these challenges are substantial, optical metasurfaces remain in their infancy, and novel material platforms that offer resilient, low-loss, and tunable metasurface designs are driving new and promising routes for overcoming these hurdles. In this review, we discuss the different material platforms in the literature for various applications of metasurfaces, including refractory plasmonic materials, epitaxial noble metal, silicon, graphene, phase change materials, and metal oxides. We identify the key advantages of each material platform and review the breakthrough devices that were made possible with each material. Finally, we provide an outlook for emerging metasurface devices and the new material platforms that are enabling such devices.
Cluster and Principle Component Analysis of Soybean Grown at Various Row Spacings, Planting Dates and Plant Populations
Authors: Kahlon Charanjit Singh , Li Bin , Board James , Dia Mahendra , Sharma Parmodh , Jat Prahlad
Published: May 2018

Increased light interception (LI), along with concomitant increases in crop growth rate (CGR), is the main factor explaining how cultural factors such as row spacing, plant population, and planting date affect soybean yield. Leaf area index (LAI), LI, and CGR are interrelated in a “virtuous spiral” where increased LAI leads to greater LI resulting in a higher CGR and more total dry matter per area (TDM). This increases LAI, thus accelerating the entire physiological process to a higher level. A greater understanding of this complex growth dynamic process could be achieved through use of cluster analysis and principle components analysis (PCA). Cluster analysis involves grouping of similar objects in such way that objects in same cluster are similar to each other and dissimilar to objects in other cluster. PCA is a technique used to reduce a large set of variables to a few meaningful ones. Seasonal relative leaf area index (RLAI), relative light interception (RLI), and relative total dry matter (RTDM) response curves were determined from the data by a stepwise regression analysis in which these parameters were regressed against relative days after emergence (RDAE). Greatest levels of RLAI, RLI and RTDM were observed in soybean planted early on narrow row spacings and recorded greater plant population. In contrast, lower levels of these parameters occurred on plants with wide row spacings at late planting dates. For farmers, these results are useful in terms of adopting certain cultural practices which can help in the management of stress in soybean.
Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of some heterocyclic compounds from 3-aryl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes
Authors: Ramadan El Sayed , Sharshira Essam M. , El Sokkary Ramadan I. , Morsy Noussa
Published: May 2018

A new series of chalcones, pyrazolinyl-pyrazoles, pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde oximes, pyrazole-4-carbonitriles, 5-pyrazolyl-1,2,4-triazolidine-3-thiones, and Knoevenagel condensation products was synthesized from 3-aryl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes. Most reactions were carried out either without solvent or in the presence of water as a green solvent. The structure of synthesized compounds was characterized by spectral and elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans in comparison with imipenem (intravenous β-lactam antibiotic) and clotrimazole (antifungal medication) as reference drugs by using the agar diffusion technique. 3-Aryl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles 8b, 8c, and 8d showed significant antifungal activity against the fungus C. albicans.
Combined Geometric Hydraulic Criteria Approach for Piping and Internal Erosion in Cohesionless Soils
Authors: Ahlinhan Marx Ferdinand , Adjovi Codjo Edmond
Published: May 2018

Piping is an erosion mechanism that plays a significant role in river barrages, such as dikes and dams, that are founded on poorly graded cohesionless soils like, for instance, fine or medium sands. Likewise, in gap-graded or widely graded cohesionless soil, finer grains can pass through the pore matrix of coarse soil because of seepage. This phenomenon, which is called internal instability or suffusion, can occur in granular filter in or under dams, dikes, barrages, or any other water-retaining structure. For economic reasons, unstable soils are generally used in practice if the hydraulic force or the hydrodynamic energy is smaller than the critical hydraulic force or the critical hydrodynamic energy. Therefore, an approach of combined geometric-hydraulic criterion is expected to yield better results. Based on this premise, laboratory tests of piping and internal erosion are carried out using five cohesionless soils. An analysis of the results considering the instability index shows that the critical hydraulic gradient required to initiate the piping and internal erosion depends on the curve of the grain size distribution, the initial relative density of the soil, the seepage direction, and the initial stress condition in the soil. Based on these laboratory results and the results reported by several other authors, a combined geometric-hydraulic criterion with respect to piping and internal erosion in cohesionless soils is developed and proposed.
ANN Modeling of the Viscosity and Effective Thermal Conductivity of Non-Newtonian Nanofluids
Authors: Anil Kumar Naik B. , Venu Vinod A.
Published: May 2018

The aim of the study is to predict the apparent viscosity and effective thermal conductivity of non-Newtonian nanofluids using the artificial neural network (ANN) approach. Different nanofluids were prepared by dispersing iron oxide, γ-alumina, and copper oxide nanoparticles separately in an aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (base fluid). Three different base fluids containing 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 weight percent CMC were used. Nanofluids of different nanoparticles were prepared from the base fluid. The effect of the base fluid concentration, nanofluid concentration, temperature of nanofluid, and shear rate on the apparent viscosity were investigated. The effect of the concentration of the base fluid, nanofluid concentration, temperature, diameter of nanoparticles, and nature (thermal conductivity) of the material of nanopowder on effective thermal conductivity were investigated. Feed forward ANN has been used to predict the apparent viscosity and effective thermal conductivity of nanofluid. The network was trained, tested, and validated using a total of 3,600 experimental data points for shear viscosity and 225 experimental data points for effective thermal conductivity. ANN predictions are in good agreement with experimental results.
Experimental Testing and Evaluation of Neat Biodiesel and Heptanol Blends in Diesel Engine
Authors: Devarajan Yuvarajan , Munuswamy Dinesh Babu , Radhakrishnan Santhanakrishnan , Mahalingam Arulprakasajothi , Nagappan Beemkumar
Published: May 2018

Alcohol will be an exceptional alternative fuel for existing diesel engines because of its built-in fuel-improving properties (high cetane number and high energy content). Biosynthesis of N-heptanol by means of engineered microbes, such as the Clostridium species and Escherichia coli, is an active area of research. Hence, extensive investigation on the compatibility of N-heptanol in existing diesel engines is necessary. This study examined the effect of heptanol mustard oil biodiesel blends of varying proportions on the emission and performance patterns in a 1,800 r/min constant-speed immobile diesel engine. The main objective of this investigation was to investigate the reduction in all the emissions and increase the performance characteristics associated with neat mustard oil biodiesel when deploying three different fuels. Base catalyzed transesterification process was employed to convert the mustard oil into mustard oil biodiesel. Heptanol with 98.4 % purity was used as an oxygenated additive. The experimental results revealed that converting heptanol to mustard oil biodiesel caused a significant reduction in hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and smoke emissions when compared to mustard oil biodiesel in naturally aspirated conditions.
Reliability and Sensitivity Analysis of the Controllable Repair System with Warm Standbys under the Recovery Threshold Policy
Authors: Chen Wu-Lin
Published: May 2018

This article performs reliability and sensitivity analyses of a controllable repair system with M operating units, S warm standby units, and an unreliable repair server under the recovery threshold policy. Failure times and service times of an operating unit or a standby unit are assumed to follow exponential distributions. When the repair server normally operates, it is subject to breakdowns; while a breakdown occurs, the repair server requires repair at another repair facility, and the repair of the breakdown server cannot be initiated until there are more than or equal to q failed units. The times to breakdown and repair times of the server are also assumed to be exponentially distributed. A server during a breakdown period can provide partial service with lower service rates. This article derives expressions for system reliability as well as the mean time to failure. The sensitivity analyses of both system performance measures are performed. Finally, some numerical experiments are designed and performed to demonstrate how the system performance measures are affected by the change of each system parameter.
Securing the future in the anthropocene: A critical analysis of the
millennium ecosystem assessment scenarios
Authors: Marzec Robert P.
Published: May 2018

This commentary analyzes the ontological character of the United Nations’ Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) and its attempt to imagine business-as-usual and transformative human-environmental futures. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) constitutes the first and most significant attempt by an international political body to incorporate environmental concerns into the field of imaginative scenario building. In addition to its lengthy report on the threatened status of planetary ecosystems, the MA contains extensive “future scenarios” that imagine how human-environmental relations might unfold over the course of the twenty-first century. These scenarios arise out of the lineage of military scenarios generated during the Cold War, and continue to inform UN assessments in the present. This commentary explores how a politico-military concern for security informs the framework of the scenarios, and limits how the MA characterizes the fundamental human act of narration. In the process, the commentary explores alternative ontologies of narration and how these may lead to more transformative narratological interventions.
Vowel Space Area of Minangkabau Learners of English
Authors: Widagsa Rudha , Perwitasari Arum , Sari Mezia Kemala
Published: May 2018

Vowel spacearea (VSA) represents kinematic movements of the articulators and measures speech intelligibility. By looking at the vowel space area, the current study intends to examine the role of Minangkabau in the acquisition of English as a second language. We conducted a speech production experiment involving ten English monophthongs in isolated sentences. We measured the formant frequencies (F1/F2) values and computed the vowel quadrilateral. The results showed that the Minangkabau learners of English did not have similar VSA pattern when compared to the native English speakers. They did not open the jaws and move the tongues as similar as the native English speakers in pronouncing English vowels. The results were discussed in the area of second language acquisition.
Difusión científica ¿obligación o responsabilidad?: valoraciones del personal académico de la Universidad de Costa Rica
Authors: Castillo Vargas Andrés
Published: May 2018

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo principal conocer cuáles son las actitudes del personal docente que investiga en la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) en torno a la difusión científica. Para ello, se empleó la Teoría de la Acción Razonada (TAR) con miras a construir un modelo basado en la metodología de ecuaciones estructurales, que permitiera identificar los factores que facilitaron la intención de realizar conductas de difusión en dicho personal universitario. En términos metodológicos, se encuestó por medio de un cuestionario electrónico al personal investigador que trabajaba en veinticinco Centros e Institutos de Investigación de las áreas de Ciencias Básicas y Ciencias Sociales de la UCR. Entre los principales hallazgos encontrados se identifica una sobrevaloración de la difusión dentro de los sistemas de mérito universitario, en especial de actividades como la redacción de artículos científicos. Por otra parte, los factores que facilitaron en el personal investigador encuestado la intención de participar en actividades de difusión se encuentran asociados mayormente a la actitud y al control conductual percibido. Por último, tras el abordaje analítico esbozado, se concluye que es imperativa la necesidad de aportar a las comunidades académicas nuevos marcos referenciales que brinden una visión más amplia de los procesos de comunicación científica, desde la cual puedan cuestionar y modificar sus posicionamientos respecto a la valoración tradicional que realizan en torno a la difusión de la ciencia.
Factores para la preservación digital sustentable de archivos sonoros
Authors: Rodríguez Reséndiz Perla Olivia
Published: May 2018

La preservación de documentos digitales es uno de los retos más relevantes que tienen ante sí los archivos sonoros. La conservación y acceso a grandes volúmenes de información digital sonora que se resguarda en los archivos sonoros es una tarea compleja, que requiere un cambio de perspectiva en la forma tradicional de preservar los documentos sonoros. Para enfrentar este desafío, se propone la preservación digital sustentable como el procedimiento para conservar y dar acceso a largo plazo a los contenidos sonoros. La preservación digital sustentable se basa en tres factores: a) infraestructura tecnológica compartida; b) reducción del consumo de energía y del impacto ambiental y; c) continuidad y autogeneración de recursos económicos.
Ethical Challenges Raised by OpenNotes for Pediatric and Adolescent Patients
Authors: Bourgeois Fabienne C. , DesRoches Catherine M. , Bell Sigall K.
Published: May 2018

Sharing clinic notes online with patients and parents may yield many potential benefits to patients and providers alike, but the unprecedented transparency and accessibility to notes afforded by patient portals has also raised a number of unique ethical and legal concerns. As the movement toward transparent notes (OpenNotes) grows, clinicians and health care organizations caring for pediatric and adolescent patients wrestle with how to document confidential and sensitive information, including issues such as reproductive health, misattributed paternity, or provider and parent disagreements. With OpenNotes now reaching >21 000 000 US patients, pediatricians continue to query best portal practices. In this Ethics Rounds, we discuss 3 illustrative cases highlighting common pediatric OpenNotes concerns and provide guidance for organizations and clinicians regarding documentation practices and patient portal policies to promote patient engagement and information transparency while upholding patient and parent confidentiality and the patient- and/or parent-provider relationship.
Efeito do gradiente de salinidade na taxa fotossintética de Polysiphonia subtilissima, Cladophora vagabunda e Ulva flexuosa subsp. flexuosa na Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Authors: Loureiro Rafael R. , Reis Renata P.
Published: May 2018

RESUMO Este estudo tem o intuito de testar o desempenho fotossintético das espécies de algas bentônicas mais representativas da Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (Polysiphonia subtilissima, Cladophora vagabunda e Ulva flexuosa subsp. flexuosa) em diferentes salinidades, a fim de verificar seus limites de tolerância. Cada amostra foi incubada nas salinidades 10, 15 e 25. Para cada salinidade foram realizadas quatro repetições (luz e escuro). Amostras de 10 mg foram utilizadas para cada espécie, durante aproximadamente 30 minutos de incubação, sob irradiância de 500 ± 5 mmol.m-2·s-1. Polysiphonia subtilissima e Cladophora vagabunda tiveram maior produção fotossintética na salinidade de 15 (P < 0,05). Ulva flexuosa subsp. flexuosa não apresentou diferença em sua taxa fotossintética nas três salinidades (P = 0,09). Os resultados obtidos sugerem que alterações futuras na salinidade da lagoa poderão causar modificações na dinâmica das populações das algas locais.
SINOPSE DO GÊNERO PHYLLANTHUS (PHYLLANTHACEAE) NO NORDESTE DO BRASIL
Authors: Silva Marcos José da , Sales Margareth Ferreira de
Published: May 2018

RESUMO Este trabalho foi baseado na análise de materiais de herbário, documentações bibliográficas e coletas, revelando a ocorrência de 36 espécies do gênero Phyllanthus na Região Nordeste do Brasil. Parte destas espécies tem distribuição no domínio do semi-árido, estando oito delas dispersas na porção centro-sul da Bahia, quatro são mais comuns no Nordeste oriental e nove têm distribuição principalmente na faixa litorânea, na Floresta Atlântica. As demais espécies são amplamente distribuídas. É fornecida chave para identificação das espécies e comentários sobre distribuição geográfica e hábitats.
CHECKLIST DA FLORA DE MIRANDIBA, PERNAMBUCO: LEGUMINOSAE
Authors: Córdula Elisabeth , Queiroz Luciano Paganucci de , Alves Marccus
Published: May 2018

RESUMO (Checklist da Flora de Mirandiba, Pernambuco: Leguminosae) A família Leguminosae é a mais representativa da caatinga, compreendendo cerca de um terço da riqueza de espécies catalogadas. Devido à importância das Leguminosae no bioma, foi realizado um inventário florístico no município de Mirandiba-PE, área considerada prioritária para investigação científica devido à carência de informação sobre a flora e a fauna. A coleta de material botânico foi realizada entre março de 2006 e janeiro de 2008. Foram registradas 81 espécies distribuídas em 42 gêneros representando cerca de 25 % das leguminosas já citadas para o bioma. Destas, 17 são endêmicas da caatinga, representando 25% do total de espécies amostradas. A subfamília Caesalpinioideae contribuiu com 22 espécies distribuídas em sete gêneros, Mimosoideae com 23 espécies distribuídas em 13 gêneros e Papilionoideae com 36 espécies distribuídas em 22 gêneros. Os gêneros mais representativos foram Senna (8 spp.), Mimosa (7 spp.), Chamaecrista (6 spp.), Macroptilium (4 spp.), Aeschynomene, Caesalpinia, Centrosema, Senegalia e Zornia (3 spp. cada), Bauhinia, Chloroleucon, Crotalaria, Desmodium, Dioclea, Indigofera, Piptadenia e Stylosanthes (2 spp. cada), e os demais com uma espécie cada.
FENOLOGIA E BIOLOGIA FLORAL DE NEOGLAZIOVIA VARIEGATA (BROMELIACEAE) NA CAATINGA PARAIBANA
Authors: Pereira Flavio Robson de Lemos , Quirino Zelma Glebya Maciel
Published: May 2018

RESUMO Este trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer o padrão fenológico e a biologia floral de N. variegata. Foram realizadas observações em três populações na fazenda Aragão, município de Campina Grande, PB, no período de maio/ de 2004 a abril de 2005. Foram registrados dados de intensidade e duração das fenofases brotamento, floração e frutificação, e a morfologia das flores, seqüência e duração da antese, concentração e volume de néctar. O comportamento dos visitantes foi descrito através de observações diretas no campo. Neoglaziovia variegata possui flores autocompatíveis e a estratégia de floração é do tipo explosiva. O volume de néctar acumulado foi de 5µl, com concentração média de açúcares de 39%. O beija-flor Chlorostilbon aureoventris foi considerado o polinizador efetivo desta espécie. A ornitofilia em Bromeliaceae tem sido interpretada como possível mecanismo de evolução paralela entre bromélias e beija-flores. Neoglaziovia variegata caracteriza-se como mais um exemplo desta estreita relação.
COMPOSIÇÃO FLORÍSTICA E DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE EPÍFITAS VASCULARES EM UM REMANESCENTE ALTERADO DE FLORESTA ESTACIONAL SEMIDECIDUAL NO PARANÁ, BRASIL
Authors: Dettke Greta Aline , Orfrini Andréa Cristina , Milaneze-Gutierre Maria Auxiliadora
Published: May 2018

RESUMO Estudos em várias regiões do globo têm demonstrado que a abundância, riqueza e estrutura das comunidades de epífitas vasculares, importantes elementos das florestas tropicais, mostram relevantes modificações de acordo com o grau de interferência sobre a estrutura das florestas. Este estudo teve como objetivo o levantamento e análise da distribuição da flora epifítica vascular do Parque do Ingá (Maringá, PR), verificando a existência de mudanças nesta sinúsia em zonas alteradas ao longo do fragmento estudado. Foram registradas 29 espécies de epífitas vasculares, representadas pelas famílias Bromeliaceae (7), Cactaceae (6), Polypodiaceae (4), Viscaceae (4), Orchidaceae (3), Araceae (2), Piperaceae (2) e Commelinaceae (1). A maioria das espécies são epífitas verdadeiras e as síndromes de dispersão predominantes são a endozoocoria e anemocoria. Em estudo quantitativo, foram amostradas 22 espécies, sendo as famílias mais importantes, quanto ao valor de importância epifítico, Polypodiaceae, Cactaceae e Bromeliaceae, ocupando preferencialmente o fuste alto e a copa. O índice de diversidade de Shannon para o Parque do Ingá foi de 1,106. Nas áreas de zoneamento do Parque há uma distribuição diferenciada das espécies epifíticas, de acordo com a umidade e oferta de luminosidade e nas áreas com maior impacto antrópico a riqueza de espécies foi menor, confirmando estudos anteriores em outras regiões de florestas tropicais.
ESTUDO PALINOTAXONÔMICO DE ESPÉCIES DE SCHEFFLERA (ARALIACEAE) DA REGIÃO SUDESTE DO BRASIL
Authors: Fiaschi Pedro , Cruz-Barros Maria Amelia Vitorino da , Correa Angela Maria da Silva
Published: May 2018

RESUMO Foi estudada a morfologia dos grãos de pólen de 18 espécies de Schefflera ocorrentes na Região Sudeste do Brasil: S. angustissima, S. calva, S. capixaba, S. cordata, S. fruticosa, S. gardneri, S. glaziovii, S. longipetiolata, S. lucumoides, S. macrocarpa, S. malmei, S. morototoni, S. selloi, S. spruceana, S. succinea, S. villosissima, S. vinosa e Schefflera aff. varisiana. Os grãos de pólen estudados são geralmente médios, raramente pequenos, com âmbito triangular a subtriangular, anguloaperturados, oblato-esferoidais a prolato-esferoidais, 3colporados, exina reticulada heterobrocada ou rugulado-reticulada. Relações filogenéticas entre algumas das espécies estudadas são discutidas com base nos resultados obtidos.
Methodological Approaches to the Actualization of Professional Self-Determination in Students with Disabilities in the Context of Development of Inclusive Education
Authors: Bayramov V.D. , Bonkalo T.I. , Raidugin D.S. , Voevodina E.V.
Published: May 2018

The article deals with the problem of professional self-determination of persons with disabilities in the context of the transformational processes of the education system in Russia. The work consists of two semantic blocks. The first one provides a social analysis of the trial monitoring of accessibility and quality of inclusive higher education in Moscow, as well as in Belgorod, Lipetsk, Tambov and Tver regions. In addition, the educational needs of university applicants with disabilities in these regions are analyzed. The second part of the article reveals the main conceptual approaches to the organization of a system of professional and career guidance for students with disabilities in an inclusive university. The article also presents results of empirical psychological studies proving the importance of professional self-determination of students of the inclusive university as an integral goal of career guidance activities based on the coherent-synergetic approach developed by the authors.
Choice of Professional and Educational Route in High School Students with Disabilities: University Education in the Context of Motivation and Needs
Authors: Kantor V.Z. , Antropov A.P. , Gdalina T.G.
Published: May 2018

The article presents the results of a questionnaire survey in the context of the idea of continuity of school and university education of persons with disabilities. 90 senior students with visual, hearing and motor impairments were the respondents of the survey. The purpose of the survey was to study the motives, preferences and needs of school graduates among disabled people, which determine the choice of their vocational and educational route. The survey reveals features of motivation for professional choice of various categories of enrollees with disabilities and its informational support; assesses the level of these enrollees needs in helping by career counselors; identifies the preferred forms of higher education by persons with disabilities; characterizes the needs of people with disabilities in special equipment and services in obtaining higher education, as well as in adaptation of educational programs in the university. The resulting practical-oriented conclusions concern both purpose and content of the work with disabled enrollees from among school graduates as well as approaches to the organization of higher education for persons with disabilities.
Cord blood bilirubin used as an early predictor of hyperbilirubinemia
Authors: Ramamoorthy Kannan , Abilash M. S.
Published: May 2018

Background: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is among the commonest symptoms found in neonates. The information about risk of high bilirubin in infants allows simpler methods for reduction of bilirubin to be implemented before hyperbilirubinemia becomes significant and could help to take a decision for early discharge from Hospital. Thus, the authors were aimed at the assessment of the usefulness of the cord blood bilirubin as an early predictor of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and the usefulness of 1st day bilirubin in predicting the neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.Methods: The present study was planned to conduct in Department of Pediatrics, Government Thiruvarur Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvarur among neonates delivered from 1st August 2011 to 1st December 2013. These neonates were followed from birth to 2nd postnatal day. Cord blood was collected at birth and bilirubin estimation was done within 12 hours of collection of the blood.Results: Cord blood bilirubin level of ≥2.15 mg/dl has a sensitivity of 73.08% and specificity of 59.49%, positive predictive value 14.6% and negative predictive value of 95.88% in predicting the risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. 1st day bilirubin level of ≥5 mg/dl has a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 71.16% and positive predictive value of 23.3% and negative predictive value of 98.9% in predicting the risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.Conclusions: The use of the critical cord bilirubin level of 2 mg/dl in all healthy term newborns will predict significant hyperbilirubinemia.
Neural Extended State Observer Based Command Filtered Back-stepping Hypersonic Vehicle Integrated Guidance and Autopilot
Authors: Wang Liang , Peng Ke , Zhang Weihua , Wang Donghui
Published: May 2018

This paper focuses on the integrated guidance and autopilot design with control input saturation in the end-game phase of hypersonic flight. Firstly, uncertain nonlinear integrated guidance and autopilot model is developed with third actuator dynamics, where the control surface deflection has magnitude constraint. Secondly, neural network is implemented in extended state observer (ESO) design, which is used to estimate the complex model uncertainty, nonlinearity and state coupling. Thirdly, a command filtered back-stepping controller is designed with hybrid sliding surfaces to improve the terminal performance. In the process, different command filters are implemented to avoid the influences of disturbances and repetitive derivation, meanwhile solve the problem of unknown control direction caused by saturation. The stability of closed-loop system is proved by Lyapunov theory, and the principles abided by the controller parameters are concluded through the proof. Finally, series of 6-DOF numerical simulations are presented to show the feasibility and validity of the proposed controller.
PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT DALAM MEWUJUDKAN EFEKTIVITAS PENYELENGGARAAN PENDIDIKAN
Authors: Deswary Dwi
Published: May 2018

Nonformal education plays equal roles in educating people. However, in practice more attention and efforts are given to the formal education. This article discusses how to strengthen the role of non-formal education by enhancing communities’ participation. This could be successfully done if the personnel of nonformal institutions are dedicated, honest, innovative, dilligent, and intelligent. The empowerement of communities to support the non-formal education activities will improve the effectiveness and the efficiency of non-formal education programs.
Methodological bases of estimating the efficiency of economic security management of the enterprises in the global environment
Authors: D'yakonova Iryna , Nikitina Alina , Sukhonos Victor , Zhuravka Fedir
Published: May 2018

The article analyzes concepts to determining the essence of the economic security management at an enterprise. The main features of identifying the effectiveness of economic security management at the enterprise are stipulated. The theoretical and methodological approach to determining the effectiveness of economic security management of the enterprise is proposed, which allows to identify the threats and predict their consequences, to provide internal balance in the enterprise activity and the compliance of its mission and strategic direction of the activity with its key interests. Moreover, it is proposed to use the matrix of comparing the level of the enterprise economic security (EES) and the total impact on the EES level in one of the scenarios (pessimistic, optimistic, and most probable), which allows to assess the effectiveness of the economic security management of the enterprises and provide recommendations to increase the latter, minimizing destructive effects of dominant threats in the context of certain functional components of the economic security.