bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feature Analysis of the “Customer Relationship Management” Systems for Higher Education Institutions
Authors: De Juan-Jordán Hugo , Guijarro-García María , Hernandez Gadea Javier
Published: March 2018

Universities, business schools and other higher education institutions all over the world are experiencing deep changes in the way they work and interrelate with their ‘clients’, i.e. students and their relatives, alumni and donors, faculty and staff members, because these constituents are demanding more attention through different channels as well as immediate response and service. Technology - materialized in the form of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems - is the great promise for solving these demands.
This article summarizes the features a CRM system should possess to make educational institutions thrive in the current digital era, and points out the future trends on this topic. The final objective is neither an analysis of the applications available on the market nor a selection guide, but a recommendation for the end users to utilize a CRM system when considering achieving some of the business needs implied in the features available on these CRMs.
Present and Future of the E-Learning in Economics Schools and Faculties
Authors: Casasús Estellés T. , Ivars Escortell A. , López Rodríguez M.I.
Published: March 2018

The goal of this paper is to justify/motivate the existence of MOOCs of quantitative subjects, particularly of Mathematics and Statistics, in the degrees taught in Faculties of Economics and Business, complementary to the standard university courses. The changes in curricula carried out in Spain in the last decade have boosted access to these faculties’ degrees for all kind of students. However, some of these students lack skills and abilities enough to successfully tackle the first university Mathematics and Statistics courses, as these are currently designed. Empirical studies support the use of multimedia material as a very effective supporting tool for successful learning.

Thus, after assessing the student’s academic performance in quantitative subjects before and after the introduction of the Bologna process, and obtaining worrying results, the implementation of the use ICTs on a regular basis is proposed in order to optimize the teaching-learning process.

The data used in the study correspond to those obtained for students of the degree of Tourism and the degree in International Business, two degrees with very different characteristics and that, therefore, reflect a great diversity of the students of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Valencia.
Canvas Framework for Performing Systematic Reviews Analysis
Authors: Almeida Fernando
Published: March 2018

The systematic review of the literature is a fundamental methodology for analyzing critically the existing literature on a given research theme. They are designed to be methodical, replicable and guide the author in identifying the main lines of investigation and conclusions in each scientific domain and, in addition, help them in the identification of new directions of research. However, the systematic review process is typically viewed as too heterogeneous, complex and time-consuming. In this sense, it is pertinent to propose a new approach for conducting systematic reviews that may be more agile, not only in terms of development, but also in the analysis of the results of a systematic review process. This article presents a canvas framework for conducting a systematic review composed of nine blocks and based on a set of identified good practices found in the literature, in which it is possible to easily identify all the steps of the process, options taken, and main results.
Forecasting Construction Tender Price Index in Ghana using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous Variables Model
Authors: Kissi Ernest , Adjei-Kumi Theophilus , Amoah Peter , Gyimah Jerry
Published: March 2018

Prices of construction resources keep on fluctuating due to unstable economic situations that have been experienced over the years. Clients knowledge of their financial commitments toward their intended project remains the basis for their final decision. The use of construction tender price index provides a realistic estimate at the early stage of the project. Tender price index (TPI) is influenced by various economic factors, hence there are several statistical techniques that have been employed in forecasting. Some of these include regression, time series, vector error correction among others. However, in recent times the integrated modelling approach is gaining popularity due to its ability to give powerful predictive accuracy. Thus, in line with this assumption, the aim of this study is to apply autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous variables (ARIMAX) in modelling TPI. The results showed that ARIMAX model has a better predictive ability than the use of the single approach. The study further confirms the earlier position of previous research of the need to use the integrated model technique in forecasting TPI. This model will assist practitioners to forecast the future values of tender price index. Although the study focuses on the Ghanaian economy, the findings can be broadly applicable to other developing countries which share similar economic characteristics.
Perceived Effects of Prevalent Errors in Contract Documents on Construction Projects
Authors: Dosumu Oluwaseun Sunday
Published: March 2018

One of the highly rated causes of poor performance is errors in contract documents. The objectives of this study are to investigate the prevalent errors in contract documents and their effects on construction projects. Questionnaire survey and 51 case study projects (mixed method) were adopted for the study. The study also involved the use of Delphi technique to extract the possible errors that may be contained in contract documents; it did not however constitute the empirical data for the study. The sample of the study consists of 985 consulting and 275 contracting firms that engaged in the construction of building projects that were completed between 2013 and 2016 and were above the ground floor. The two-stage stratified random sampling technique was adopted for the study. The data for the study were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics (based on Shapiro-Wilk’s test). The results of the study indicate that errors in contract documents were moderately prevalent. However, overmeasurement in bill of quantities was prevalent in private, institutional and management procured projects. Traditionally procured projects contain 68% of the errors in contract documents among the procurement methods. Drawings contain the highest number of errors, followed by bill of quantities and specifications. The severe effects of errors in contract documents were structural collapse, deterioration of buildings and contractors’ claims among others. The result of the study implies that, management procurement method is the route to error minimization in developing countries, but it may need to be backed by law and guarded against overmeasurement.
Organizational Culture: Case of the Finnish Construction Industry
Authors: Teräväinen Ville Juhani , Junnonen Juha-Matti , Ali-Löytty Simo
Published: March 2018

Academic literature has long recognized the correlation between a company’s organizational culture and its quality performance. The Finnish construction industry is still a highly human powered industry, and thus, organizational culture is seen to have a significant effect on an organization’s efficiency as well. The aim of this study is to examine and determine organizational cultural profiles of organizations in the Finnish construction industry as they are currently perceived and preferred by professionals themselves. In all, 121 professionals working in organizations in the Finnish construction industry were surveyed using the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI). The reliability of characteristics was tested by calculating Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients, and the found differences between the response characteristics were analysed in-depth with paired and independent t-test analyses. The findings show that, on average, construction industry organizations in Finland currently operate with a mixture of clan and hierarchy cultures. Thus, the current organizational culture stresses the point of view of internal focus and integration. However, the organizations desired to emphasize more flexibility and discretion toward individuals. The novelty value of this paper is presenting existing and preferred culture profiles in the Finnish construction industry. These found profiles have the potential to improve management of organizations, which results in better efficiency of the industry through better performance of organizations in the construction industry.
Research Methods: A Practical Guide for Students and Researchers
Authors: Runeson Göran
Published: March 2018

Willie Tan

Research Methods: A Practical Guide for Students and Researchers

World Scientific Publishing, Singapore, 2017

ISBN: 978-981-3229-58-7 (hardcover), ISBN: 978-981-3229-61-7 (softcover). 228 pages
Contesting Accusations of ‘Foreign Interference’: New Agendas for Australian Civil Society
Authors: Goodman James
Published: March 2018

In 2017 the Australian Government announced a raft of measures designed to combat ‘foreign interference’ in the Australian political system. The measures propose new constraints on civil society advocacy and threaten to seriously curtail democratic rights. They form part of global trend towards the increased regulation of International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs), driven by fears of ‘foreign’ political influence. In response to the shrinking ‘civic space’, NGOs are defining new agendas. Recently in Australia and elsewhere NGO advocates have gained some traction in extending the legitimacy and scope for political advocacy. The new rhetoric of countering ‘foreign interference’ threatens NGO advocacy, but also creates new political possibilities. This article surveys the international trends and Australian contexts; it analyses recent legislative proposals in Australia to combat ‘foreign interference’, and outlines the public debate. The double standard for INGOs and multinational corporations is highlighted as a key theme, and the article ends with a concluding discussion about emerging possibilities for new political obligations for corporations in Australia
Calibrating the sqHIMMELI v1.0 wetland methane emission model with hierarchical modeling and adaptive MCMC
Authors: Susiluoto Jouni , Raivonen Maarit , Backman Leif , Laine Marko , Makela Jarmo , Peltola Olli , Vesala Timo , Aalto Tuula
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Estimating methane (CH4) emissions from natural wetlands is complex, and the estimates contain large uncertainties. The models used for the task are typically heavily parameterized and the parameter values are not well known. In this study, we perform a Bayesian model calibration for a new wetland CH4 emission model to improve the quality of the predictions and to understand the limitations of such models.The detailed process model that we analyze contains descriptions for CH4 production from anaerobic respiration, CH4 oxidation, and gas transportation by diffusion, ebullition, and the aerenchyma cells of vascular plants. The processes are controlled by several tunable parameters. We use a hierarchical statistical model to describe the parameters and obtain the posterior distributions of the parameters and uncertainties in the processes with adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), importance resampling, and time series analysis techniques. For the estimation, the analysis utilizes measurement data from the Siikaneva flux measurement site in southern Finland. The uncertainties related to the parameters and the modeled processes are described quantitatively. At the process level, the flux measurement data are able to constrain the CH4 production processes, methane oxidation, and the different gas transport processes. The posterior covariance structures explain how the parameters and the processes are related. Additionally, the flux and flux component uncertainties are analyzed both at the annual and daily levels. The parameter posterior densities obtained provide information regarding importance of the different processes, which is also useful for development of wetland methane emission models other than the square root HelsinkI Model of MEthane buiLd-up and emIssion for peatlands (sqHIMMELI). The hierarchical modeling allows us to assess the effects of some of the parameters on an annual basis. The results of the calibration and the cross validation suggest that the early spring net primary production could be used to predict parameters affecting the annual methane production. Even though the calibration is specific to the Siikaneva site, the hierarchical modeling approach is well suited for larger-scale studies and the results of the estimation pave way for a regional or global-scale Bayesian calibration of wetland emission models.
The Global Tobacco Epidemic, the Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products, and the World Trade Organization
Authors: Rimmer Matthew
Published: March 2018

In response to complaints by Ukraine, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Indonesia, the government of Australia has defended the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products in the World Trade Organization. This article focuses upon the legal defence of Australia before the WTO Panel. A key part of its defence has been the strong empirical evidence for the efficacy of plain packaging of tobacco products as a legitimate health measure designed to combat the global tobacco epidemic. Australia has provided a convincing case that plain packaging of tobacco products is compatible with the TRIPS Agreement 1994, particularly the clauses relating to the aims and objectives of the agreement; the requirements in respect of trade mark law; and the parallel measures in relation to access to essential medicines. Australia has also defended the consistency of plain packaging of tobacco products with the TBT Agreement 1994. Moreover, Australia has provided clear reasons for why the plain packaging of tobacco products is compatible with GATT. The position of Australia has been reinforced by a number of third parties — such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Canada, and others — which have also been pioneers in tobacco control and public health. Australia’s leadership in respect of tobacco control and plain packaging of tobacco products is further supported by larger considerations in respect of international public health law, human rights, and sustainable development.
Root-induced Changes in the Rhizosphere of Extreme High Yield Tropical Rice: 2. Soil Solution Chemical Properties
Authors: Purnomo Erry , Choiron Dodik , Yulia Raina , Halim Hakimah , Krisdianto . , Hairani Anna , Osaki Mitsuru
Published: March 2018

Our previous studies showed that the extreme high yield tropical rice (Padi Panjang) produced 3-8 t ha-1 without fertilizers. We also found that the rice yield did not correlate with some soil properties. We thought that it may be due to ability of root in affecting soil properties in the root zone. Therefore, we studied the extent of rice root in affecting the chemical properties of soil solution surrounding the root zone. A homemade rhizobox (14x10x12 cm) was used in this experiment. The rhizobox was vertically segmented 2 cm interval using nylon cloth that could be penetrated neither root nor mycorrhiza, but, soil solution was freely passing the cloth. Three soils of different origins (Kuin, Bunipah and Guntung Papuyu) were used. The segment in the center was sown with 20 seeds of either Padi Panjang or IR64 rice varieties. After emerging, 10 seedlings were maintained for 5 weeks. At 4 weeks after sowing, some chemical properties of the soil solution were determined. These were ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe2+) concentrations and pH, electric conductivity (EC) and oxidation reduction potential (ORP). In general, the plant root changed solution chemical properties both in- and outside the soil rhizosphere. The patterns of changes were affected by the properties of soil origins. The release of exudates and change in ORP may have been responsible for the changes soil solution chemical properties.Keywords: Ammonium, electrical conductivity, iron, nitrate, oxidation reduction potential, pH, phosphorus [How to Cite: Purnomo E, D Choiron, R Yulia, H Halim, Krisdianto, A Hairani and M Osaki. 2012. Adding Organic Matter Enhanced the Effectiveness of Silicate Rock Fertilizer for Food Crops Grown on Nutritionally Root-induced Changes in the Rhizosphere of Extreme High Yield Tropical Rice: 2. Soil Solution Chemical Properties. J Trop Soils, 17 (3): 67-74. doi: 10.5400/jts.2012.17.3.189][Permalink/DOI: www.dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2012.17.3.189]
Students’ Perception of Peer Review in an EFL Classroom
Authors: Harutyunyan Liliya , Poveda Maria Fernanda
Published: March 2018

Even though there is plenty of published information about the advantages of peer review, little can be found on what the beneficiaries (i.e. the students) feel about this method and what they might expect from it. In this paper, we present an analysis of the perceptions of 44 students at one of the largest universities in Ecuador, who had just undertaken a course in academic writing which used peer revision as the main tool for improving final essay compositions. The results show that participants of the groups who followed a peer revision approach do believe that they benefited from this method. This conclusion was reached after analysing students’ answers to a questionnaire which comprised closed option (multiple choice) questions as well as open-ended responses on the same three aspects pertaining to the impact of peer review: critical thinking, collaborative work and composition quality. This research is based on Vygotsky’s socio-cultural approach; it also supports and broadens previous investigations on this topic giving a more detailed and deep-rooted perspective, as participants who have used this methodology comment on its benefits and/or flaws.
Invisible Web and Academic Research: A Partnership for Quality
Authors: Alyami Huda Y. , Assiri Eman A.
Published: March 2018

The present study aims to identify the most significant roles of the invisible web in improving academic research and the main obstacles and challenges facing the use of the invisible web in improving academic research from the perspective of academics in Saudi universities. The descriptive analytical approach was utilized in this study. It covered all faculty members in Saudi universities. It applied a 20-paragraph questionnaire to a randomly selected sample of 168 academics. It concluded that the participants agreed on the role of the invisible web in improving academic research, with an arithmetic means of 3.91. They also agreed on the obstacles of using invisible web for the improvement of academic research, with an arithmetic means of 4.107. The study provides ideas that would develop the use of the invisible web in higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia, in particular, and the Arab countries, in general. Furthermore, it is hoped that such results may provide decision-makers, educational designers and programmers with solutions for the development of research engines and academic databases in Arabic.
Curriculum Orientations and Educational Philosophies of High School Arabic Teachers
Authors: Alsalem Abeer Saleh
Published: March 2018

This study aims to investigate the curriculum orientations of High school Arabic teacher in Riyadh city and to examine the relationship between curriculum orientation and their educational philosophies. The quantitative method (descriptive study) was adopted in this questionnaire survey-based study. Mean and standard deviation for the overall of the curriculum orientations and for each orientation were obtained and Pearson correlation coefficient was also used to examine the relationship between the curriculum orientations and their educational philosophies. The results show that Arabic teachers of High school considered all five curriculum orientations with the self-actualization/ Humanism ranked the highest orientation and the cognitive process ranked the lowest orientation. The current study also indicates that there is a positive relationship at the level of (0.05) between the curriculum orientations and the educational philosophies of the Arabic language teachers in High school.
The structural features of the amorphous
C14 HfNiAl Laves phase
Authors: Mudry S.I. , Shved O.V. , Kulyk Yu.O. , Bulyk I.I. , Borysiuk A.K.
Published: March 2018

Purpose: In order to clarify whether amorphization occurs in the pseudo-binary C14
HfNi0.6Al1.4 Laves phase a detailed investigation of the effect of hydrogen treatment on it
phase-structural state has been studied. This type of compounds is of interest due to their
high possibility to hydrogen absorption as Laves phase structures and as Hf-Ni alloys.
Design/methodology/approach: We used a combination of hydrogen treatment and
grinding methods for studying of the processes of controlled structure formation. High
temperature transformations of the HfNi0.6Al1.4 alloy were pointed out by means of XRD
analysis.
Findings: By combination of two amorphization methods and high temperature
measurements we have observed a phase structural transformation of the HfNi0.6Al1.4
alloy, which could be presented as: HfNi0.6Al1.4(cryst.) + H2 ® HfNi0.6Al1.4 (nanocryst.) +
HfNi0.6Al1.4 (amorphous) + H2 ® HfH2 (amorphous) + AlH3 (amorphous) + Ni. Ferromagnetic-
like properties of the pseudo-binary HfNi0.6Al1.4 Laves phase was found.
Research limitations/implications: Complex research of HfNi0.6Al1.4 alloy revealed
various structure features depending on phase content, thermodynamic parameters and
conditions of hydrogen treatment. Obtained results suppose that further studies of structure
and physical properties of Hf-Ni-Al alloys will allow to find the methods to control the
producing of materials with desired properties.
Practical implications: Using of hydrogen treatment is effective to produce Al-based
alloys with improved magnetic properties.
Originality/value: Treatment in hydrogen atmosphere allows improving the glass-forming
ability in Hf-Ni-Al alloys.
Statistical optimization of stress relieving
parameters on closed cell aluminium
foam using central composite design
Authors: Puspitasari D. , Ginta T.L. , Mustapha M. , Sallih N. , Puspitasari P.
Published: March 2018

Purpose: This study concerns about the influence of stress relieving parameters on the
hardness of closed cell aluminium foam using central composite design.
Design/methodology/approach: The responses of three stress relieving parameters:
heating temperature, holding time and stabilization temperature are studied and analysed
through 20 experimental runs designed according to central composite design. The results of
microhardness test corresponded to the microstructural evaluation of closed-cell aluminium
foam using optical microscope. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique is employed to study
the significance of each parameter on the microhardness property. In this process the design has
five levels for each parameter. The stress relieving process of the samples were performed using
a vacuum furnace. The hardness test was conducted using a micro hardness tester LM247AT
and the microstructure of the samples were obtained using optical microscopy technique.
Findings: It was found that the highest value of hardness of 192.78 HV was obtained when
the stress relieving process is set with the following parameters: heating (500°C); holding
time (120 min) and stabilization temperature (450°C). Since higher heating temperature and
longer holding time produce sample with larger grain size and has an adverse effect on the
hardness value.
Research limitations/implications: Liquid metal and powder metallurgical processing
still produces a non-uniform and poorly reproducible cellular structure. This cellular structure
demonstrates poor quality difference on decomposition and melting temperature, called
anisotropic early expansion.
Originality/value: To improve the poor cellular structure quality, stress relieving method is
proposed in this study. Stress relieving method can improve the microstructure of the material.
Application of spaghetti chart for
production process streamlining.
Case study
Authors: Hys K. , Domagała A.
Published: March 2018

Purpose: Improvement measures are taken unceasingly in organizations in order to optimize
the obtained results in each sphere of a company’s functioning. This article presents the results
of an improvement process conducted for a welding operation in the given production process.
Design/methodology/approach: Taking advantage of the Kaizen approach, the article
describes the results of this process and its visualization, which has been conducted with
the help of a Spaghetti Chart tool.
Findings: Initially, it has demonstrated that the analysis of real pathways of product value
creation at the given worksite through application of the mapped-out changes brings
about measurable effects. The applied worksite reorganization allowed for a limitation of an
employee’s excessive movements at the worksite. In order to conduct a benchmark – both
states “before” and “after” the introduction of improvement changes have been juxtaposed.
Research limitations/implications: The presented analysis has a temporally and
spatially limited dimension - this simultaneously being an impulse to extend research in the
future. While conducting an analysis of an operator’s work, the problem must be dealt with
in a broad perspective - we conduced type case study, so this is the limitation.
Practical implications: The conducted analysis has taken place in real organizational
conditions, using the example of a functioning worksite. Working with the “continuous
improvement” approach, the instruments for development have been initiated in all
spheres and levels of the given organization. Line employees have been motivated by
the management to carry out single modernizations at the given worksite, which has
influenced their own development. This in turn has stimulated their conscious need for active
participation in the process of change.
Originality/value: The conducted analysis has taken place in real organizational
conditions, using the example of a functioning worksite.
External Ballistics Simplified Model of the “RT – 400” Rocket Aerial Target
Authors: FEDARAVIČIUS Algimantas , RAČKAUSKAS Saulius , SURVILA Arvydas , ŠAMELIS Aistis
Published: March 2018

“RT-400” rocket aerial target system is described in the paper; research method of its simplified external ballistics characteristics is presented and the obtained results are discussed. This system was designed, tested, and produced by a research team of the Institute of Defence Technologies at Kaunas University of Technology and successfully implemented in practice. One of main aims of this paper was to develop external ballistics’ model of a rocket propelled aerial target which would enable obtaining various ballistic parameters of the investigated vehicle such as its acceleration, velocity, flight angle, flight range and trajectory using as input the internal ballistics data obtained at earlier experimental research of the “RV-12K” rocket motor in a static horizontal test stand for thrust measurements and determination of other internal ballistics’ characteristics such as combustion chamber temperature and pressure. During the experimental research process of the vehicle, under test site conditions, the main aim was to compare accuracy of the obtained external ballistics simulation data with the data obtained during experimental approaches using additional measurement techniques such as radar tracking and crash site and launch site GPS coordinates marking.
The Influence of the Bias on Mechanical Properties of a-C:H CVD Thin Films
Authors: KOTTFER Daniel , MARTON Marián , KACZMAREK Łukasz , Kuffova Mariana
Published: March 2018

In this study a-C:H (hydrogenated amorphous carbon) thin films were deposited on the 7075 Al alloy without an interlayer using a DC CVD (direct current chemical vapor deposition) method with varied negative substrate bias in order to improve the hardness and Young´s modulus. The highest values of films hardness and Young´s modulus were 25.6±3.5 GPa and 140.3±4.6 GPa, respectively. The measured results show a promising potential of the a-C:H coated 7075 Al alloy for low load (up to 10 N) applications.
The Impact of Damage to the Compressor on the Operating Parameters of the Pratt & Whitney 206B2 Turbine Engine
Authors: PRZYBYŁA Bartosz , ZAPAŁOWICZ Zbigniew
Published: March 2018

The article presents the impact of damage to the centrifugal compressor of the P&W 206B2 turbine engine, built in the EC-135p2 helicopters EC-135p2. The damages are caused by sucking the foreign bodies to the inlet, what results in the changes of exploitation parameters of the engine and thermodynamic parameters of operating medium. On the basis of the parameters, measured during engine operation, such as: rotation speed of the rotor of the compressor – n1, the rotation speed of the turbine shaft of the drive – n2, the gas temperature at the outlet of the turbine driving of the compressor – T4.2, and the fuel flow rate - m ̇_p, distributions of these parameters in various cross- sections of the engine were determined and compared. Then, on their basis, the CFD analysis of air flows in new and damaged compressors was performed.
Wykorzystanie wspomagania komputerowego w procesie projektowania silników elektrycznych
Authors: GRĘBOSZ Magdalena
Published: March 2018

Kompleksowe procesy projektowania maszyn i urządzeń są obecnie realizowane z zastosowaniem specjalistycznego oprogramowania. Celem artykułu jest omówienie możliwości wspomagania komputerowego w procesie projektowania silników elektrycznych. W artykule wykorzystano informacje pochodzące ze źródeł wtórnych oraz wyniki własnych badań empirycznych prowadzonych
w międzynarodowej firmie produkcyjnej.
Rękawica rzeczywistości wirtualnej. Budowa systemu śledzenia ruchu ręki oraz palców wykorzystywanego
w technice rzeczywistości wirtualnej
Authors: JANKOWSKI Jarosław , WELENC Hubert , GRABOWSKI Andrzej
Published: March 2018

System śledzenia ruchu ręki oraz palców jest powszechnie stosowany w immersyjnych aplikacjach rzeczywistości wirtualnej umożliwiając użytkownikowi symulacji interaktywne uczestnictwo poprzez manipulację wirtualnymi przedmiotami. W artykule zaprezentowano ww. system w postaci rękawicy wyposażonej w czujniki typu MEMS w celu rejestracji orientacji oraz marker wizyjnego systemu ruchu (przemieszczeń) w przestrzeni trójwymiarowej. Rękawica rzeczywistości wirtualnej została zintegrowana z oprogramowaniem Unity 3D do pracy w czasie rzeczywistym oraz przetestowana.
Nadir Görülen 48,XXYY sendromlu Olgu
Authors: ORAL Diclehan , ŞİMŞEK Selda , TÜRKYILMAZ Ayşegül , YÜCEL İlyas , İSİ Hilmi
Published: March 2018

Klinefelter sendromu ilk tanımlanan kromozom bozukluğu olup
temel olarak hipergonadotropik hipogonadizm ve önükoid vücut yapısı ile
karakterizedir. Sıklığı 500-1000 canlı doğumda birdir. Klinefelter sendromunun
genel özelliklerini uzun boy, önükoid vücut yapısı, jinekomasti, azalmış testis
volümü, yetersiz yüz ve pubik kıllanma, kişilik ve davranış problemleri olarak
sıralayabiliriz. 47, XXY karyotipi olguların % 80’inde, 47, XXY dışı sayısal
kromozom bozuklukları ise tüm olguların %20’sinde gözlenmektedir. 48, XXYY
sendromu nadir görülen bir seks kromozom bozukluğudur.Bazı bulguları ile Klinefelter sendromuna (47,XXY)
benzemekle birlikte, nöropsikiatrik belirtiler ve bir takım fenotipik bulgular
farklılık göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada klinik değerlendirme ve sitogenetik analizle
48,XXYY sendromu tanısı konan bir olgu sunulmuştur. Bu olgu sunumunda
hipergonadotropik hipogonadizm ve uzun boy nedeniyle kliniğimize başvuran ve
konvansiyonel sitogenetik analiz sonucunda karyotipi 48, XXYY olarak saptanan
Klinefelter sendromlu bir hastanın klinik ve laboratuar bulguları litaratür
bilgileri ile sunulmuştur.
Nanopartikül Karakterizasyon Yöntemleri ve Ekotoksisite Deneylerindeki Önemi
Authors: DAĞLIOGLU Yeşim
Published: March 2018

Nanoteknoloji önemli bir yenilikçi, bilimsel ve ekonomik büyüme alanıdır.
Bununla birlikte, nanopartiküller insan sağlığı ve çevre üzerinde zararlı
etkilere sahip olabilir. Şimdiye kadar, nanopartiküllerin toksisitesi üzerine
artan sayıda çalışma yapılmasına rağmen hala niceliksel ekotoksisite veri
eksikliği bulunmaktadır. Napartiküller en az bir boyutu ≤100 nm olup karbon,
silikon ve metaller gibi çok farklı temel materyalden oluşabilir. Nanopartikül
atomlarının yaklaşık % 40-50'si yüzeyde olmasından dolayı reaktivitesi yüksekdir.
Buna bağlı olarak da farklı biyolojik etkiler göstermesi beklenmektedir.
Ekotoksisite deneylerinde nanopartiküller ile nanopartikül agregatlarının
ayrıntılı bir şekilde karakterize edilmesi gerekir. Çünkü, nanopartiküllerin çevresel
konsantrasyonları hem etki derecelerini hem de maruz kalma değerlendirmelerini
değiştirmektedir. Çevredeki nanopartiküller ile agregat nanopartiküllerinin
yapısı son ürünlerin özellikleri ve ortamdaki davranışları üzerine büyük önem
taşımaktadır. Farklı ortamlardaki nanopartikülleri ölçerken, konsantrasyonlarla
ilgili veriler sağlamak tek başına yeterli değildir, aynı zamanda nanopartiküllerin
boyut dağılımı ve fizikokimyasal özellikleri hakkında da bilgi gereklidir. Tek
bir teknik bu bilgilerin hepsini sağlayamaz, bu nedenle farklı analitik teknikler
gereklidir. Bu
derlemede, nanopartikül toksisitesinin değerlendirilmesinde nanopartikül
karakterizasyonun önemi açıklanmıştır. Aynı zamanda, nanopartiküllerin mikroskopik, kromatografik, spektroskopik yöntemler, santrifüjleme ve
filtrasyon teknikleri ve diğer teknikler adı altında nanopartikül boyut ve fizikokimyasal
özellikleri dikkate alınarak karakterizasyonu ayrıntılı olarak tartışılmıştır.
National REDD+ outcompetes gold and logging: the potential of cleaning profit chains.
Authors: Overman Han , Cummings Anthony R , Luzar Jeffrey B , Fragoso José M V
Published: March 2018

While the potential contribution of a nationally implemented program for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) to developing countries’ budgets remains as yet obscure, two general concerns are that REDD+ will i) incentivize land grabbing and ii) remain financially uncompetitive against current commercial forest uses. However, based on data from Guyana’s, United Nations-approved, Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL) submission and national documents, we found that i) national REDD+ appears not to place value on forest, but financial penalties on forest damage, and ii) would be competitive when viewed from the perspective of the owner of the natural resources (national society), even against high value commodities such as gold and timber (the country’s main emission drivers), and at an intermediate US$5 carbon price. Hidden by the latter is a very skewed sharing of net revenue between the state and private sector supply chains (~1:99). Weak law enforcement, common across the tropics, enhances skewed sharing, and linked political leverage likely undermines any plans that would interfere with private income streams, including rural development, land tenure and conservation plans. We suggest that government or electorate pressure towards more equitable revenue sharing, i.e. ‘cleaning profit chains’, would both be justified and worthwhile, and unlikely to produce job losses. Investing this homegrown finance in better management and law enforcement of finite natural resources (under REDD+, including forests) could return significant REDD+ income while mitigating climate change and aiding rights of forest-dependent livelihoods. Along with cleaning supply chains and moving commodities out of natural forest areas, assessing and cleaning private profit chains may more generally be a promising approach for REDD+ and climate mitigation goals, along with its many associated social and environmental co-benefits.
Adaptive capacity of reef-associated fishes to Climate Change
Authors: Abas Marina , Reyes-Bonilla Hector
Published: March 2018

Climate change is affecting the structure and function of marine communities in the eastern Pacific, and to anticipate possible consequences of these modifications, a better understanding of the natural adaptation potential of the species is needed. This study aimed to build a metric of adaptive capacity of reef fishes, and evaluate it using data from fish assemblages from 12 rocky and coral reefs of western Mexico. The index was developed using six life history traits from 719 fish-species distributed along the tropical Eastern Pacific. Our results indicated low adaptive capacity for big sized carnivore fish such as the tunas, totoaba and most groupers (Mycteroperca spp.); conversely, high values were attributed to species with fast life strategies such as anchovies, gobies, and blennies. The application of the index to census data showed that the adaptive potential of fish assemblages had an inverse latitudinal trend (higher in the southern reefs), resulting from the abundance of large-sized carnivores in the central and northern Gulf of California, and of small herbivores in the tropical region. As the index allows to estimate reef-fish species and communities' adaptive capacity in a straightforward and simple way, it may be a useful tool for marine conservation.
HIV infected patients attendance in a Brazilian public health service: A short report
Authors: Silva dos Santos Larissa , Azevedo Kátia , Silva Licinio , Oliveira Solange , Oliveira Ledy
Published: March 2018

Background. Continuous health monitoring of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients is critical to allow uninterrupted access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and sustained viral suppression. Despite public health effort for patient retention in care, many HIV-infected patients fail to maintain effective engagement in Health Services. This study reports the attendance of HIV infected individuals for routine exams in a Brazilian outpatient clinic.

Methods. Patients were enrolled in two moments, 2010/2011 and 2014/2015, as they attended the public service for monitoring HIV infection status. The individuals that agreed to participate the study signed an informed consent and completed a structured questionnaire.

Results. Of 58 initially expected patients, only 31 participated in the second part of the study. The reasons for these individuals not returning to the health service during the study period were not related to death (1.7%) and the majority of them still remained enrolled in the service and in follow-up.

Discussion. The difficulty of HIV infected patients in returning to healthcare services have been reported by several authors. Among the barriers that prevent monitoring, we suggest that noncompliance may also be linked to years of study. However this subject needs more investigation.
Hypoxia shapes coral reefs
Authors: Blakeway David
Published: March 2018

The three-dimensional form of a coral reef emerges from thousands of years of ecological interactions between reef-building organisms and their environment. Time integrates those interactions, such that the predominant ecological processes are distilled into reef form, often as striking geometric patterns. Several of these patterns have a fractal appearance, exhibiting nested, scale-invariant structure. Cellular reefs are one fractal reef morphotype, characterised by the presence of subcircular, bowl-shaped, depressions (‘cells’) within the reef network. Cell diameters range from approximately 10 metres to 1 kilometre, the larger cells being compound structures containing multiple smaller cells. The common attribute shared by cellular reefs of all scales is an abundance of staghorn Acropora. Staghorn’s fast growth, fuelled by a correspondingly fast metabolism, allows them to rapidly fill lagoons, but leaves them vulnerable to reduced water flow as their own growth begins to impede lagoonal circulation. This article outlines a conceptual model of multi-scale cellular reef development, based on water quality and coral distribution data from the cellular reefs of Western Australia’s Houtman Abrolhos Islands. The key process in the model is density-stratification of the water column during extended periods of warm, calm, weather. Warm water in the shallows traps stable pools of cooler and denser water at depth. The trapped water is rapidly depleted of oxygen, which causes extensive mortality among staghorn colonies. This initiates a negative feedback process in which ongoing growth of colonies above the stratification boundary further reduces water circulation at depth, such that subsequent stratification events kill increasingly larger areas of the reef, eventually producing massive, stagnant cells in which few corals can survive. Investigating the many other reef patterns may provide similar insights into the predominant natural ecological processes occurring on those reefs.
Assessing the efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding for documenting patterns of metazoan communities in the Arctic.
Authors: Leduc Noémie , Bernatchez Louis , Archambault Philippe , Howland Kimberly , Dispas Antoine , Winkler Gesche , Lacoursière Roussel Anaïs
Published: March 2018

Arctic biodiversity has been for a long time underestimated, situated in a region considered as an austere environment combined to the lack of knowledge. The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA), a new method tracing DNA from macro-organisms, is changing the way we monitor aquatic biodiversity and has the potential to answer large-scale fundamental biodiversity questions in remote regions such as the Arctic. This study aims to evaluate the eDNA dispersal by contrasting the difference between eDNA metabarcoding and classical sampling methods of the alpha, beta and gamma biodiversity index across the Canadian Arctic latitudinal gradient. Water samples of 250mL were collected in 13 sites within three Arctic ports: Churchill, Iqaluit and Deception Bay. Our results showed a species richness of 422 marine invertebrates, while the number of species detected decreased with latitude with more than 100 less species in the northern port. Contrasting the alpha biodiversity index between eDNA metabarcoding and species spatial distribution may be used to evaluate the eDNA spatial dispersion, thus answering important questions related to the ecology of eDNA and improving the integration of this new molecular tool within applied sciences.
Genome comparison implies the role of Wsm2 in membrane trafficking and protein degradation
Authors: Zhang Guorong , Hua Zhihua
Published: March 2018

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) causes streak mosaic disease in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and has been an important constraint limiting wheat production in many regions around the world. Wsm2 is the only resistance gene discovered in wheat genome and has been located in a short genomic region of its chromosome 3B. However, the sequence nature and the biological function of Wsm2 remain unknown due to the difficulty of genetic manipulation in wheat. In this study, we tested WSMV infectivity among wheat and its two closely related grass species, rice (Oryza sativa) and Brachypodium distachyon. Based on the phenotypic result and previous genomic studies, we developed a novel bioinformatics pipeline for interpreting a potential biological function of Wsm2 and its ancestor locus in wheat. In the WSMV resistance tests, we found that rice has a WMSV resistance gene while Brachypodium does not, which allowed us to hypothesize the presence of a Wsm2 ortholog in rice. Our OrthoMCL analysis of protein coding genes on wheat chromosome 3B and its syntenic chromosomes in rice and Brachypodium discovered 4,035 OrthoMCL groups as preliminary candidates of Wsm2 orthologs. Given that Wsm2 is likely duplicated through an intrachromosomal illegitimate recombination and that Wsm2 is dominant, we inferred that this new WSMV-resistance gene acquired an activation domain, lost an inhibition domain, or gained high expression compared to its ancestor locus. Through comparison, we identified that 67, 16, and 10 out of 4,035 OrthoMCL orthologous groups contain a rice member with 25% shorter or longer in length, or 10 fold more expression, respectively, than those from wheat and Brachypodium. Taken together, we predicted a total of 93 good candidates for a Wsm2 ancestor locus. All of these 93 candidates are not tightly linked with Wsm2, indicative of the role of illegitimate recombination in the birth of Wsm2. Further sequence analysis suggests that the protein products of Wsm2 may combat WSMV disease through a molecular mechanism involving protein degradation and/or membrane trafficking. The 93 putative Wsm2 ancestor loci discovered in this study could serve as good candidates for future genetic isolation of the true Wsm2 locus.
Missing, delayed, and old: The status of ESA recovery plans
Authors: Malcom Jacob , Li Ya-Wei
Published: March 2018

Recovery planning is an essential part of implementing the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), but conservationists and government agencies recognize challenges with the current planning process. Using data from all U.S. domestic and transboundary ESA-listed species, we quantify the completeness, timeliness, age, and other variation among ESA recovery plans over the past 40 years. Among eligible listed taxa (n = 1,548), nearly 1/4 lack final recovery plans; half of plans have taken >5 years to finalize after listing; half of recovery plans are more than 20 years old; and there is significant variation in planning between agencies, and among regions and taxonomic groups. These results are not unexpected given dwindling budgets and an increasing number of species requiring protection, but underscore the need for systematic improvements to recovery planning. We discuss solutions—some already underway—that may address some of the shortcomings and help improve recovery action implementation for threatened and endangered species.
Size uniformity of animal cells is actively maintained by a p38 MAPK-dependent regulation of G1-length
Authors: Liu Shixuan , Ginzberg Miriam Bracha , Patel Nish , Hild Marc , Leung Bosco , Li Zhengda , Chen Yen-Chi , Chang Nancy , Wang Yuan , Tan Ceryl , Diena Shulamit , Trimble William , Wasserman Larry , Jenkins Jeremy L , Kirschner Marc W , Kafri Ran
Published: March 2018

Animal cells within a tissue typically display a striking regularity in their size. To date, the molecular mechanisms that control this uniformity are still unknown. We have previously shown that size uniformity in animal cells is promoted, in part, by size-dependent regulation of G1 length. To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying this process, we performed a large-scale small molecule screen and found that the p38 MAPK pathway is involved in coordinating cell size and cell cycle progression. Small cells display higher p38 activity and spend more time in G1 than larger cells. Inhibition of p38 MAPK leads to loss of the compensatory G1 length extension in small cells, resulting in faster proliferation, smaller cell size and increased size heterogeneity. We propose a model wherein the p38 pathway responds to changes in cell size and regulates G1 exit accordingly, to increase cell size uniformity.