bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of the Complete Chloroplast Genome of Four Known Ziziphus Species
Authors: Huang Jian , Chen Ruihong , Li Xingang
Published: November 2017

Ziziphus Mill. (Rhamnaceae) is comprised of about 170 species that are mainly distributed in tropical to subtropical regions, with few in the temperate zone. Several Ziziphus fruit tree species are important energy, nutrient, and medicinal resources for human populations, particularly for those living in rural regions. To date, limited genomic information is available for this genus. Here, we assembled the complete chloroplast genomes of four best known Ziziphus species, i.e., Ziziphus jujuba, Ziziphus acidojujuba, Ziziphus mauritiana, and Ziziphus spina-christi, based on the Illumina Paired-end sequencing method. The chloroplast genomes of the four Ziziphus species are all very similar to one another, and exhibit structural, gene content, and order characteristics that are similar to other flowering plants. The entire chloroplast genome encodes 113 predicted unique genes (85 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA, and 37 tRNA), 17 of which are duplicated in the inverted repeat regions. Rich single sequence repeats loci (217) were detected in Z. jujuba and 106 SSR loci, composed of A/T, displayed polymorphism across the four species by comparative genomic analysis. We found only four genes under positive selection between Z. jujuba and Z. acidojujuba, and two genes for Z. mauritiana vs. Z. spina-christi, respectively, while half of the 78 protein-coding genes experienced positive selection between the two groups. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae) was sister to Elaeagnaceae, and the four species of Ziziphus were clustered into two groups (Z. jujuba and Z. acidojujuba, Z. mauritiana and Z. spina-christi). Our results provide genomic resources for intrageneric classifications of Ziziphus, and valuable genetic markers for investigating the population genetics and biogeography of closely related Ziziphus species.
Image-Based Histological Evaluation of Scaffold-Free 3D Osteoblast Cultures
Authors: Eggert Sebastian , Tuebel Jutta , Foehr Peter , Kuntz Lara , Obermeier Andreas , Marthen Carmen , Grosse Christian , Burgkart Rainer
Published: November 2017

The analysis of tissue network characteristics and cell distribution using histological methods is widely used. However, image analysis still relies on manual evaluation methods, known as semi-quantitative analysis, which are time-consuming and to a certain degree user-specific. For this reason, automated imaging processing methods have an enormous potential to increase sample processing and reduce the variation that is caused by a user-specific evaluation. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using a semi-automated image analysis process based on the open source software framework ImageJ and the plug-in Angiogenesis Analyzer to evaluate the quantitative degree of tissue damage within 3D cell constructs after mechanical loading. Within a proof-of-concept study, the semi-automated approach was applied to calculate the Node-to-Free Ratio (N/F-Ratio) and perform a strut analysis for histological evaluation of mechanically compressed samples of human osteoblast-derived 3D constructs. The N/F-Ratio revealed a median value of 1.29 for the control, whereas the values for the mechanically compressed samples decreased to 0.97 for 20% compression, 0.85 for 40%, and 0.86 for 60%. The strut analysis indicated a decrease of the connected branches with increasing compression rate. The newly developed and time-saving processing workflow was successfully established and can be carried out using available, open source software solutions.
Android-Based Verification System for Banknotes
Authors: Rahman Ubaid Ur , Sargano Allah Bux , Bajwa Usama Ijaz
Published: November 2017

With the advancement in imaging technologies for scanning and printing, production of counterfeit banknotes has become cheaper, easier, and more common. The proliferation of counterfeit banknotes causes loss to banks, traders, and individuals involved in financial transactions. Hence, it is inevitably needed that efficient and reliable techniques for detection of counterfeit banknotes should be developed. With the availability of powerful smartphones, it has become possible to perform complex computations and image processing related tasks on these phones. In addition to this, smartphone users have increased greatly and numbers continue to increase. This is a great motivating factor for researchers and developers to propose innovative mobile-based solutions. In this study, a novel technique for verification of Pakistani banknotes is developed, targeting smartphones with android platform. The proposed technique is based on statistical features, and surface roughness of a banknote, representing different properties of the banknote, such as paper material, printing ink, paper quality, and surface roughness. The selection of these features is motivated by the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of genuine and counterfeit banknotes. In this regard, two important areas of the banknote, i.e., serial number and flag portions were considered since these portions showed the maximum difference between genuine and counterfeit banknote. The analysis confirmed that genuine and counterfeit banknotes are very different in terms of the printing process, the ingredients used in preparation of banknotes, and the quality of the paper. After extracting the discriminative set of features, support vector machine is used for classification. The experimental results confirm the high accuracy of the proposed technique.
Wearable-Based Human Activity Recognition Using an IoT Approach
Authors: Castro Diego , Coral William , Rodriguez Camilo , Cabra Jose , Colorado Julian
Published: November 2017

This paper presents a novel system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) to Human Activity Recognition (HAR) by monitoring vital signs remotely. We use machine learning algorithms to determine the activity done within four pre-established categories (lie, sit, walk and jog). Meanwhile, it is able to give feedback during and after the activity is performed, using a remote monitoring component with remote visualization and programmable alarms. This system was successfully implemented with a 95.83% success ratio.
Permeability Study of Austenitic Stainless Steel Surfaces Produced by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Segura-Cardenas Emmanuel , Ramirez-Cedillo Erick , Sandoval-Robles Jesús , Ruiz-Huerta Leopoldo , Caballero-Ruiz Alberto , Siller Hector
Published: November 2017

Selective laser melting (SLM) is emerging as a versatile process for fabricating different metal components with acceptable mechanical properties and geometrical accuracy. The process has been used in the manufacturing of several parts (e.g., aerospace or biomedical components), and offers the capability to tailor the performance of several surface and mechanical properties. In this work, permeability properties and surface roughness of stainless steel (SS316L) surfaces were evaluated through experimentation with three different laser scanning patterns (chessboard, meander, and stripe), and different sloping angles between the fabricated surface and the laser beam incident on the process. Results showed that for each scanning pattern, the roughness decreased as the sloping angle increased consistently in all experimental trials. Furthermore, in the case of the permeability evaluation, the manufactured surfaces showed changes in properties for each series of experiments performed with different scanning patterns. The chessboard pattern showed a change of 67° to 107° in contact angle, while the meander and stripe patterns showed a variation in contact angle in a range of 65° to 85°. The different scanning strategies in the SLM process resulted in an alternative method for surface enhancement with different hydrophobicity properties, valuable for designing the most appropriate permeability characteristics for specific applications.
Effects of Phase Evolution on Mechanical Properties of Laser-Welded Ferritic Fe-Al-Mn-C Steel
Authors: Kang Minjung , Kim Young-Min , Han Heung Nam , Kim Cheolhee
Published: November 2017

In the present study, the evolution of microstructure in laser-welded joints of ferrite-based dual-phase Fe-Al-Mn-C steel sheets was analyzed and its effect on the mechanical properties of the joints was investigated. Laser welding was performed using different powers and welding speeds to attain different heat inputs. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) examinations and hardness measurements were used to characterize the microstructure of the welds. The tensile properties were found to depend on the heat input, but joint strength exceeding that of the base metal (BM) were obtained at low heat inputs. However, the fracture location shifted from the base metal to the heat-affected zone (HAZ) as the heat input was increased. The HAZ consisted of a mixture of austenite, ferrite and martensite, and its width increased with increasing the heat input. It was supposed that the incompatibility between the ferrite, austenite and martensite phases led to early void formation and fracturing of the phase interfaces in the wide HAZ.
Propulsion-Based Soft Robotic Actuation
Authors: Chua Matthew , Yeow Raye
Published: November 2017

The use of air propulsion to drive limb motion in soft robotics has been a largely untapped field even though the technology has been around since the 1700s. Air propulsion can generate greater degrees of motion in limb actuators compared to widely-experimented pneumatic actuators operating on expandable air channels, which are limited by air pressure input, minimum size and cyclic fatigue. To demonstrate the application of air propulsion in soft robotics motion, we developed a 3D-printed, tri-pedal, soft, air-driven robot that can perform biomimetic motions such as flexion and extension of limbs, crawling, rotation, grasping, kicking and picking of objects. To accomplish air-propelled actuation, milli-scale channels are incorporated throughout each limb that guides the pressurized air inflow to outlets of different directions. A Finite Element Model (FEM) approach to simulate the bending response of the limb due to varying pressure is proposed and evaluated. This study introduces the potential of using air propulsion as an alternate form of soft body actuation for longer cyclic lifespan and increased maximum air pressure input.
Prediction of Topsoil Organic Carbon Using Airborne and Satellite Hyperspectral Imagery
Authors: Peón Juanjo , Recondo Carmen , Fernández Susana , F. Calleja Javier , De Miguel Eduardo , Carretero Laura
Published: November 2017

The Airborne Hyperspectral Scanner (AHS) and the Hyperion satellite hyperspectral sensors were evaluated for their ability to predict topsoil organic carbon (C) in burned mountain areas of northwestern Spain slightly covered by heather vegetation. Predictive models that estimated total organic C (TOC) and oxidizable organic C (OC) content were calibrated using two datasets: a ground observation dataset with 39 topsoil samples collected in the field (for models built using AHS data), and a dataset with 200 TOC/OC observations predicted by AHS (for models built using Hyperion data). For both datasets, the prediction was performed by stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) using reflectances and spectral indices (SI) obtained from the images, and by the widely-used partial least squares regression (PLSR) method. SMLR provided a performance comparable to or even better than PLSR, while using a lower number of channels. SMLR models for the AHS were based on a maximum of eight indices, and showed a coefficient of determination in the leave-one-out cross-validation R2 = 0.60–0.62, while models for the Hyperion sensor showed R2 = 0.49–0.61, using a maximum of 20 indices. Although slightly worse models were obtained for the Hyperion sensor, which was attributed to its lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the prediction of TOC/OC was consistent across both sensors. The relevant wavelengths for TOC/OC predictions were the red region of the spectrum (600–700 nm), and the short wave infrared region between ~2000–2250 nm. The use of SMLR and spectral indices based on reference channels at ~1000 nm was suitable to quantify topsoil C, and provided an alternative to the more complex PLSR method.
L’impact des mécanismes de gouvernance sur la performance des banques marocaines
Authors: Sbai Hicham , Meghouar Hicham
Published: November 2017

L’objectif de notre étude est d’étudier l’impact des mécanismes de gouvernance sur la performance des banques marocaines. La validation empirique concernant un panel construit à partir de 6 banques commerciales marocaines cotées à la bourse de Casablanca et observées pour une période de 7 ans, de 2009 à 2015, montre que la taille du conseil d’administration, la présence des administrateurs étrangers ainsi que la dualité de direction influencent négativement la performance de ces banques. Par contre, le niveau d’endettement et la présence d’un comité de rémunération et de nomination influencent positivement cette performance.
Le syndicalisme dans le Bas-Rhin après 1918 jusqu’à la veille du Front populaire : du modèle allemand au modèle français ?
Authors: Roth Michel
Published: November 2017

Au tournant des XIXe-XXe siècles en Europe, le concept de modèle syndical, qui analyse le syndicalisme ouvrier selon son rapport au politique (orientation révolutionnaire ou réformiste, rapport aux partis), son audience et son organisation, distingue les syndicalismes allemand et français. Le premier est réformiste, étroitement lié aux partis politiques, dispose d’effectifs importants et de nombreux permanents. Le second se prononce pour le renversement du capitalisme, affirme son indépendance totale vis-à-vis des partis et ne compte que peu d’adhérents et de permanents. Avec le retour de l’Alsace à la France, le syndicalisme alsacien constitué sous le Reichsland passe-t-il du modèle allemand au modèle français ? L’exemple bas-rhinois analysé jusqu’à la veille du Front populaire montre qu’il y a emprunt aux deux modèles. Une forte expression sur les sujets politiques et la décrue des effectifs sur la période considérée participent du modèle français. Du modèle allemand persistent les liens étroits avec les partis, le monopole syndical de la grève, l’importance des permanents et des secours aux syndiqués. La pratique linguistique et l’intégration dans des structures syndicales couvrant le territoire de l’ex-Reichsland renforcent la spécificité du syndicalisme bas-rhinois. Pour autant, celui-ci s’implique entièrement dans la vie du syndicalisme français. (Michel Roth).
Une commande d’articles à Fustat rédigée dans le dernier tiers du iie siècle de l’Islam ou le premier du suivant
Authors: Rāġib Yūsuf
Published: November 2017

Le fragment de papyrus Jean David-Weill 22 conservé au Louvre, que l’écriture permet d’assigner au dernier tiers du iie/viiie siècle ou au premier tiers du suivant, porte au recto une liste d’articles commandés à Fustat, et au verso le détail de la marchandise envoyée, accompagné des prix et des frais de transport.
Sources idéologiques et iconographiques des architectures d’inspiration islamique dues à Ernesto Verrucci Bey
Authors: Godoli Ezio
Published: November 2017

Ernesto Verrucci Bey (1874-1945), a joué un rôle de premier plan dans l’architecture égyptienne en raison de sa fonction d’architecte des palais royaux. Représentant des derniers feux de l’éclectisme en architecture, il est l’auteur d’une œuvre protéiforme qu’on se propose d’éclairer par les multiples facettes de ses intérêts et de ses engagements, tels qu’ils ressortent de sa biographie ainsi que de sa bibliothèque de travail et de sa collection de photos. Les convictions idéologiques de ce patriote ont marqué ses travaux d’architecte et de décorateur, et en particulier ses réalisations d’inspiration mamelouke. Ernesto Verrucci est le dernier représentant d’une cohorte d’architectes italiens qui, en s’engageant depuis la fin du xixe siècle pour établir une claire identité nationale de l’architecture égyptienne, entendaient favoriser le développement sur le plan culturel du mouvement nationaliste.
An Epic Hero in the Maqāmāt?
Authors: Pomerantz Maurice A.
Published: November 2017

This article discusses the Maqāma qāhiriyya
from the Maqāmāt rayyāniyya of Šaraf
al-Dīn Abū ʿAbdallāh al-Ḥusayn b. Sulaymān b. Rayyān
(702-770/1302-1369). Ibn Rayyān’s Maqāma qāhiriyya
alludes to the popular epic (sīra) of
ʿAntar b. Šaddād. Discussing the motifs drawn from popular epic in
this maqāma, the article argues that Ibn
Rayyān’s maqāma references Sīrat ʿAntar b. Šaddād to foreground differences
and similarities between the maqāma and the
popular sīra. This, in turn, shows the Qāhiriyya to be a site where the ethics of elite
and popular forms contend.
Une réécriture sous contrainte : la traduction d’un roman japonais (Soleil couchant, de Dazai)
Authors: Chiche Didier
Published: November 2017

Traduire en français un roman japonais, c’est relever un défi. De toute évidence, la difficulté de la traduction tient d’abord à la distance linguistique entre français et japonais ; mais il y a aussi et surtout des difficultés d’ordre strictement littéraire, liées notamment à la manière dont le récit original est conçu et structuré. Le traducteur est souvent tenté de faire entrer à toute force l’œuvre originale dans le cadre de ses a priori littéraires : d’acclimater, en somme, le texte « étranger ». La conséquence d’un tel choix, c’est que le texte d’arrivée gagne en lisibilité, mais aussi que se perd tout ce qui pourrait infliger au lecteur un choc salutaire en l’amenant à découvrir une écriture radicalement nouvelle et susceptible de bousculer ses conceptions. Plutôt que de flatter le lecteur en le confortant dans ses habitudes de lecture, il me paraît salutaire de faire de la traduction l’occasion de découvrir une irréductible étrangeté : en ce sens traduire, et surtout retraduire, comme cela peut être le cas avec Soleil couchant, bref et célèbre roman de Dazai Osamu (1909-1948), c’est se contraindre à une créativité déconcertante, mais féconde. Le travail de traduction peut donner l’occasion de s’essayer à une écriture inédite, et constituer en soi une création originale, une œuvre qui éveille et qui ensemence.
Restitutions coraniques en question et imaginaires du Coran
Authors: Karjousli Soufian Al
Published: November 2017

Le message coranique est aujourd’hui diffusé à partir d’un texte de référence qui fait office de texte original. Issu d’une sélection opérée sous le règne du calife Uthman, ce dernier fait l’objet d’une multitude d’interprétations dont une bonne part valorise une sacralité à travers une lecture atemporelle. Celles qui, au contraire, cherchent à restituer les sens du message coranique travaillent à réintégrer les héritages historiques, linguistiques, culturels et politiques et proposent donc une recontextualisation de ce message. Les traductions données intègrent alors la spécificité d’un message sans texte premier figé et une autre copie originale peut même être proposée. Après avoir posé la question de l’invention, de l’imaginaire du Coran et montré comment son ré-assemblage pouvait être explosif, nous en proposons une lecture polysémique porteuse de tolérance.
Jacques Brault et la nontraduction, un Unland original
Authors: Suchet Myriam
Published: November 2017

Cet article propose de cheminer dans l’œuvre de Jacques Brault pour observer trois modalités différentes du réglage entre textes à traduire et versions traduites. Le recueil des Poèmes des quatre côtés déjoue la représentation de la traduction comme transfert interlinguistique pour la reconfigurer comme une double opération de désorientation et d’appropriation. La question du rapport à autrui, sous-jacente et non résolue, mène l’expérimentation dans une impasse. Quelques années plus tard, le recueil Transfiguration rejoue différemment le dispositif traductionnel et pose frontalement l’enjeu d’un « je » qui est aussi un « tu ». Cet agencement permet-il de proposer une lecture de l’énigmatique Agonie, qui se déroule comme une exégèse narrative à partir d’un poème traduit ? Ce dernier texte nous ramènera au point de départ : le Québec, mais pour mieux le déplacer : en poésie. Car dans le régime poétique de Brault, la traduction opère avant tout comme une redistribution des possibles, un frayage d’espaces interstitiels.
L’identité mouvante des œuvres littéraires de Kenneth White
Authors: Détrie Muriel
Published: November 2017

Kenneth White, écrivain d’origine écossaise mais vivant en France, écrit ses essais en langue française et ses œuvres littéraires (récits de voyage ou poèmes) en langue anglaise, mais celles-ci ont été publiées pour la plupart d’abord (voire uniquement) en France et en traduction française. L’étude des avatars éditoriaux de deux de ses « way-books » publiés pour la première fois en traduction française sous les titres Le Visage du Vent d’Est (1980) et Les Cygnes sauvages (1990), puis édités en anglais dans un volume commun intitulé Pilgrim of the Void (1992), avant d’être réédités séparément en français sous une forme remaniée, montre que pour l’auteur, les distinctions entre original et traduction, langue source et langue cible, auteur et traducteur, importent moins que l’ajustement constant de l’œuvre à son public et à son époque. En rééditant sans cesse ses œuvres sous une forme nouvelle et en accueillant en leur sein toutes les langues et les littératures, Kenneth White manifeste son rejet des identités nationales, littéraires et linguistiques au profit d’une écriture-monde en constante évolution.
En guise de postface. Les préquelles des enfants : questions d’origine dans une série et ses novellisations
Authors: Blanc Claudine Le
Published: November 2017

Très en vogue parmi les produits dérivés des séries télévisées, les préquelles bouleversent l’ordre de l’original et de la copie, non seulement parce qu’elles proposent une action antérieure à celle de l’œuvre première, mais aussi parce qu’elles s’inscrivent dans une structure régressive que donne à voir de façon exemplaire la série Twin Peaks. Alors qu’on use volontiers du modèle de la traduction pour penser la production transmédiatique, les constellations constituées par les séries télévisées, les livres et les sites internet qui leur sont attachés, invitent ainsi à envisager comme mythologie les notions d’origine et d’original sur lesquelles se fonde la pratique occidentale moderne de la traduction, et qu’elle contribue en retour à fonder.
Le dragon, le traducteur et la « copie originale ». Pseudo-traduction, littérature de fantasy et dispositifs multimédiatiques
Authors: François Anne Isabelle
Published: November 2017

L’article examine, à partir de l’œuvre de l’auteur allemand Walter Moers, les potentialités offertes par le dispositif de la copie « sans texte premier » dans les univers de fantasy. Ce dispositif offre un terrain fécond à la création et l’exploration de mondes fictionnels, mais aussi à leur diffusion dans le monde factuel. En plus d’une poétique et scénographie assez classique de la pseudo-traduction, Moers met également en œuvre des stratégies et processus trans- et multimédiatiques d’une remarquable efficacité où le « texte original » est au premier plan, mais uniquement par le biais de sa traduction. L’œuvre, en constante expansion, assume pleinement une poétique de la copie, poétique incarnée en particulier par le procédé de la pseudo-traduction qui devient ici une des modalités et un des vecteurs d’ouverture sur le monde imaginaire superlativement autre. La partie la plus originale de ce complexe fictionnel, notamment par le biais d’une controverse très médiatisée entre auteur et traducteur, propose une dissémination des « copies originales » et traductions sans langue première en une multitude de dispositifs médiatiques qui occupent largement la sphère publique.
Key competencies and characteristics of accommodation managers
Authors: Wessels Walter , Du Plessis Engelina , Slabbert Elmarie
Published: November 2017

Orientation: Tourism employees are trained by various higher education institutions, yet industry still voices its concern regarding the readiness of potential employees entering the tourism industry.Research purpose: This article aims to critically assess the key competencies and personal characteristics needed by accommodation managers in the South Africa tourism industry based on the opinions of the industry itself.Motivation for the study: Tertiary institutions in South Africa educate potential tourism employees in a variety of skills and knowledge. However, some employers are still of the opinion that these students are not adequately prepared for the demand of the industry. Therefore, the tourism industry feels that students are not employable, which creates challenges for students, tertiary institutions and the tourism industry.Research, design, approach and method: It was achieved by collecting 254 self-administered questionnaires from graded tourism accommodation establishments in South Africa.Main findings: Nine key competencies needed by accommodation managers were identified and the importance of certain personal characteristics was evident. Novel to this field of research, the latter was rated more important than the nine key competencies that hold implications for training institutions and the industry.Practical/managerial implications: The implication of the study is that accommodation managers should be trained in a different manner and higher education institutions should revise their training methods and selection strategies to address the needs of industry.Contribution: Effective selection and training of accommodation managers will improve not only business success but also contribute to the success and growth of the tourism industry.
Shade changing effectiveness of plasdone and blue covarine-based whitening toothpaste on teeth stained with chlorhexidine and black tea
Authors: Bergesch Vania , Baggio Aguiar Flávio Henrique , Turssi Cecilia Pedros , Gomes França Fabiana Mantovani , Basting Roberta Tarkany , Botelho Amaral Flávia Lucisano
Published: November 2017

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of toothbrushing with whitening toothpaste in altering the shade of stained human enamel. Materials and Methods: Thirty fragments of human enamel, stained with chlorhexidine/black tea underwent 1000 and 5000 brushing cycles (BC) with (n = 10): PLS (Gel Dental Day, Bitufo), Close Up White Now, Unilever (COVB) and regular (Gel Dental Night, Bitufo) toothpaste. Images were taken before staining (baseline), after staining (STN) and following 1000 and 5000 BC and were analyzed using the CIELAB parameters (ΔE, Δb and ΔL). Statistical Analysis Used: Data were submitted to two-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results: ΔE was higher from STN to baseline; 1000 BC to STN and 5000 BC to STN (P < 0.001). Significant differences in Δb values were found from 1000 BC to STN and 5000 BC to STN. For COVB, greater ΔL was observed from 1000 BC to STN, what differed statistically from the regular toothpaste (P < 0.05). There was no difference between toothpaste when ΔL was calculated from 5000 CB to STN. Conclusions: Toothpaste containing COVB or PLS in association with 5000 BCs showed similar effectiveness in changing enamel shade; but after the first 1000 toothbrushing cycles, the use of COVB toothpaste promoted higher lightness in stained enamel.
High-Temperature Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Fe-Cr-Ni Alloys in Simulated Pressurized Water Reactor Water
Authors: Zhang Le-fu , Wang Jia-mei
Published: November 2017

The electrochemical corrosion behavior of Cr, Ni, and Mo in Fe-Cr-Ni alloys in simulated pressurized water reactor water was investigated by thermodynamic calculation, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectra analysis. The results revealed that the corrosion potential of Fe-Cr-Ni alloys in Ar-deaerated water was between the and , affected most by the Fe anodic dissolution and water reduction. The oxidation current for Fe3O4 to Fe2O3 can be only detected when the potential crosses the Fe3O4/Fe2O3 phase boundary during potentiodynamic polarization. For both stainless steels and nickel-based alloys, rapid chromium oxide dissolution may be an important reason for the short stress corrosion cracking (SCC) initiation times and higher SCC susceptibility measured in oxygenated pure water. Mo and Cr additions in Fe-Cr-Ni alloys reduce the general corrosion rate of stainless steels in the passive region, but no effect is observed in the transpassive region where chromium oxide is dissolving. Mo may stabilize the inner compact Cr/Ni-rich layer oxides of Mo-containing stainless steels.
Bibliometric Analysis of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) of Oil and Gas Engineering Systems
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Javad , Bak Nicholas , Khan Faisal , Hawboldt Kelly , Lefsrud Lianne , Wolodko John
Published: November 2017

Managing microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is both an economic and technological challenge for the oil and gas industry. There are studies and data generated regarding the corrosion mechanism, microbial species involved, and chemicals that may enhance/inhibit MIC. However, these data are diffuse, sometimes having contradictory conclusions and ignoring one or more key factors that drive MIC. This paper investigates the evolution of MIC knowledge in the past decades by conducting a bibliometric analysis of the literature. The paper also identifies current knowledge gaps and proposes future research directions. Although MIC mechanisms, monitoring, and control have been active areas of research in recent years, linking microbiological activities, the chemical environment (e.g., produced water lines vs. crude lines), and the corrosion mechanisms is still an important knowledge gap. The importance of a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to develop integrated knowledge, MIC mechanistic models, and integration of these factors in effective decision-making is also discussed in this paper.
A new instrument for stable isotope measurements of 13C and 18O in CO2 – instrument performance and ecological application of the Delta Ray IRIS analyzer
Authors: Braden-Behrens Jelka , Yan Yuan , Knohl Alexander
Published: November 2017

Abstract. We used the recently developed commercially available Delta Ray isotope ratio infrared spectrometer (IRIS) to continuously measure the CO2 concentration c and its isotopic composition δ13C and δ18O in a managed beech forest in central Germany. Our objectives are (a) to characterize the Delta Ray IRIS and evaluate its internal calibration procedure and (b) to quantify the seasonal variability of c, δ13C, δ18O and the isotopic composition of nighttime net ecosystem CO2 exchange (respiration) Reco13C and Reco18O derived from Keeling plot intercepts. The analyzer's minimal Allan deviation (as a measure of precision) was below 0.01 ppm for the CO2 concentration and below 0.03 ‰ for both δ values. The potential accuracy (defined as the 1σ deviation from the respective linear regression that was used for calibration) was approximately 0.45 ppm for c, 0.24 ‰ for 13C and 0.3 ‰ for 18O. For repeated measurements of a target gas in the field, the long-term standard deviation from the mean was 0.3 ppm for c and below 0.3 ‰ for both δ values. We used measurements of nine different inlet heights to evaluate the isotopic compositions of nighttime net ecosystem CO2 exchange Reco13C and Reco18O in a 3-month measurement campaign in a beech forest in autumn 2015. During this period, an early snow and frost event occurred, coinciding with a change in the observed characteristics of both Reco13C and Reco18O. Before the first snow, Reco13C correlated significantly (p  <  10−4) with time-lagged net radiation Rn, a driver of photosynthesis and photosynthetic discrimination against 13C. This correlation became insignificant (p  >  0.1) for the period after the first snow, indicating a decoupling of δ13C of respiration from recent assimilates. For 18O, we measured a decrease of 30 ‰ within 10 days in Reco18O after the snow event, potentially reflecting the influence of 18O depleted snow on soil moisture. This decrease was 10 times larger than the corresponding decrease in δ18O in ambient CO2 (below 3 ‰) and took 3 times longer to recover (3 weeks vs. 1 week). In summary, we conclude that (1) the new Delta Ray IRIS with its internal calibration procedure provides an opportunity to precisely and accurately measure c, δ13C and δ18O at field sites and (2) even short snow or frost events might have strong effects on the isotopic composition (in particular 18O) of CO2 exchange on an ecosystem scale.
Combining physical and geochemical methods to investigate lower halocline water formation and modification along the Siberian continental slope
Authors: Alkire Matthew B. , Polyakov Igor , Rember Robert , Pnyushkov Andrey , Ivanov Vladimir , Ashik Igor
Published: November 2017

Abstract. A series of cross-slope transects were occupied in 2013 and 2015 that extended eastward from St. Anna Trough to the Lomonosov Ridge. High-resolution physical and chemical observations collected along these transects revealed fronts in the potential temperature and the stable oxygen isotopic ratio (δ18O) that were observed north of Severnaya Zemlya (SZ). Using linear regressions, we describe mixing regimes on either side of the front that characterize a transition from a seasonal halocline to a permanent halocline. This transition describes the formation of lower halocline water (LHW) and the cold halocline layer via a mechanism that has been previously postulated by Rudels et al. (1996). Initial freshening of Atlantic Water (AW) by sea-ice meltwater occurs west of SZ, whereas higher influences of meteoric water and brine result in a transition to a separate mixing regime that alters LHW through mixing with overlying waters and shifts the characteristic temperature–salinity bend from higher (34.4  ≤  S  ≤  34.5) toward lower (34.2  ≤  S  ≤  34.3) salinities. These mixing regimes appear to have been robust since at least 2000.
Validation of the actuator disc approach using small-scale model wind turbines
Authors: Simisiroglou Nikolaos , Breton Simon-Philippe , Ivanell Stefan
Published: November 2017

Abstract. The aim of the present study is the validation of the implementation of an actuator disc (ACD) model in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code PHOENICS. The flow behaviour for three wind turbine cases is investigated numerically and compared to wind tunnel measurements: (A) the flow around a single model wind turbine, (B) the wake interaction between two in-line model wind turbines for a uniform inflow of low turbulence intensity and (C) the wake interaction between two in-line model wind turbines at different separation distances in a uniform or sheared inflow of high turbulence intensity. This is carried out using Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations and an ACD technique in the CFD code PHOENICS. The computations are conducted for the design condition of the rotors using four different turbulence closure models and five different thrust distributions. The computed axial velocity field as well as the turbulence kinetic energy are compared with hot-wire anemometry (HWA) measurements. For the cases with two in-line wind turbines, the thrust coefficient is also computed and compared with measurements. The results show that for different inflow conditions and wind turbine spacings the proposed method is able to predict the overall behaviour of the flow with low computational effort. When using the k-ε and Kato–Launder k-ε turbulence models the results are generally in closer agreement with the measurements.
Hegemonía y desarrollo rural: análisis territorial de políticas de desarrollo rural en Benito Juárez (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Authors: González Fernando
Published: November 2017

En las últimas décadas ha tomado relevancia la dimensión territorial del desarrollo rural. En este marco surgen instituciones estatales y mecanismos dirigidos a obtener y organizar consensos en los diferentes niveles de aplicación de las políticas (regional, nacional, provincial y local). Se promueve la idea del territorio como un ámbito de unión entre múltiples agentes públicos y privados. Partiendo de que el mismo debe ser concebido como un ámbito de ejercicio del poder, analizamos las políticas públicas como un proceso de construcción de hegemonía. Para ello, partiendo de las diferentes contribuciones de la geografía crítica y de otras disciplinas de las ciencias sociales, analizamos el surgimiento de las políticas para la agricultura familiar (AF) como elemento novedoso del desarrollo rural en Argentina —y en la región—. Lo hacemos con base en un estudio de caso en el partido de Benito Juárez (Provincia de Buenos Aires) donde realizamos una investigación cualitativa con base en trabajos de campo y entrevistas a informantes calificados. Las conclusiones a las que llegamos ponen de relieve cómo los mecanismos de inclusión (económica y/o política) buscan producir nuevos sujetos, acordes a las necesidades de los actores hegemónicos.
Movilidad por salud entre Arica y Tacna: análisis de una demanda no satisfecha y de una oferta atractiva del otro lado de la frontera
Authors: Liberona Concha Nanette , Tapia Ladino Marcela Aurora , Contreras Gatica Yasna
Published: November 2017

En este artículo se abordan las razones que explican la movilidad por salud de los habitantes de Arica hacia la ciudad de Tacna basado en una metodología mixta (encuesta y entrevistas). Este movimiento corresponde a las personas que cruzan la frontera con fines médicos, tanto para atenderse en servicios de salud peruanos como para comprar medicamentos, lentes u otros en la ciudad de Tacna. Se parte del supuesto que dichos cruces ocurren con independencia de los litigios fronterizos y están motivados por la mercantilización y deficiencias del sistema chileno de salud pública y por una oferta tacneña más económica, de mejor trato y de acceso rápido a especialistas y exámenes médicos. Sin embargo, la movilidad por salud responde a controles rutinarios, chequeos médicos o de segunda opinión y en menor medida a procedimientos médicos de mayor complejidad debido a la inexistencia de cobertura por seguros, desconocimiento y en algunos casos, desconfianza por los resultados.
Las huellas del Neurosexismo en la literatura del management dirigida a mujeres
Authors: Medina-Vicent Maria , Pallarés-Domínguez Daniel Vicente
Published: November 2017

La literatura del management dirigida a mujeres actúa como una herramienta divulgativa que pretende definir los modos en que una mujer debe desarrollar su liderazgo en el seno de la empresa. Ejerce pues, de herramienta educativa para aquellas mujeres que desean hacerse un hueco en la alta dirección empresarial. Teniendo en cuenta este hecho, resulta vital plantearse cuáles son los valores y comportamientos que se están promoviendo desde esta literatura. En este sentido, cabe remarcar que dicha literatura se nutre de las neurociencias para justificar diferentes afirmaciones. Así, se utilizan los resultados de experimentos neurocientíficos como si se tratase de descubrimientos irrefutables. Mediante dicha operación, se corre el riesgo de perpetuar neuromitos que atentan contra la búsqueda de igualdad del feminismo y que legitiman un modelo de mujer líder que poco puede aportar a una verdadera transformación de la empresa. Así pues, el objetivo del presente trabajo es examinar obras de la literatura del management dirigida a mujeres, especialmente las que presentan justificaciones que se apoyan en “evidencias” neurocientíficas, para posteriormente señalar los riesgos que entrañan para una presencia igualitaria de las mujeres en la dirección de las empresas.
Paradigmas y prevención del terrorismo: una aproximación al Plan Estratégico Nacional de Lucha contra la Radicalización Violenta (PEN-LCRV 2015)
Authors: De Mosteyrín Laura Fernández , Limón López Pedro
Published: November 2017

El proceso de radicalización se ha convertido en el epicentro explicativo del terrorismo y en la clave sobre la que descansa la política preventiva en los países de nuestro entorno. No obstante,  como objetos de estudio suscitan más controversia que acuerdo, y no hay evidencia empírica concluyente. Por ello, empieza a emerger literatura que evalúa las políticas antirradicalización señalando sus impactos negativos. Esta ponencia profundiza en nuestro conocimiento de la política antiterrorista española y examina el Plan Nacional de Prevención de la Radicalización Violenta evaluando sus bases conceptuales. El argumento que desarrollamos es que, a pesar de la larga experiencia española en la lucha antiterrorista, el Plan responde a una conceptualización limitada,  aunque consensuada en la investigación académica ortodoxa  y que muestra de manera generalizada en los países de nuestro entorno, gran influencia en las políticas de seguridad.
Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty: Leading Super Markets in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka
Authors: V. Kumaradeepan , M G S Pathmini,
Published: November 2017

The topic of the research is Customer Satisfaction (CS) and Customer Loyalty (CL); special reference to the leading supermarkets in Jaffna. The objective of the research is to identify the impact of Customer Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty of leading Supermarkets in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The research is simply deductive approach to find out the impact between Customer satisfaction and Customer loyalty. Quantitative method is available based on primary data. At present there are 08 numbers of supermarkets functioning in Jaffna district and popular three were selected. Random sampling technique is used to collect the data from customers of supermarkets in selected area. The analysis is carried out using a sample of 240 customers in Jaffna and only 218 were taken to analyze. ‘Statistical Package for Social Sciences’ (SPSS) 22.0 version was used in order to analyze the data. Correlation was used to find the connection between Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty. Also Regression analysis is used to predict the value of a variable based on the value of two or more other variables. Also found that about 40 percent connection between Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty and also found around 16% affect by Customer satisfaction to Customer loyalty.
Effect of application of peer learning strategy on obstetric and gynecological nursing students' clinical performance
Authors: Essa Rasha Mohamed , Al-Battawi Jilan Ibrahim , El demerdash Doaa  Ali  Abd El Salam , Ahmed Hend Abo Elsoud
Published: November 2017

Background and objective: Peer learning is an efficient educational technique for nursing students. It equips them up for their future roles as instructors, promotes their psychomotor skills, and establishes their self-esteem. The current study aims to determine the effect of application of peer learning strategy on obstetric and gynecological nursing students' clinical performance.Methods: Quasi-experimental design was utilized. The study was carried out in the obstetric and gynecology skills lab at the Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University, Albehera Governorate. It comprised a purposive sample of 160 undergraduate nursing students, enrolled in the Obstetric and Gynecology Nursing Department (second semester of the third year in academic year 2014-2015). They were equally randomly assigned to either one of two groups, intervention group (80) and control group (80). Three tools were used: First, a personal and academic questionnaire sheet. Second, students’ performance observational checklist. Third, student feedback and satisfaction questionnaire. Results: It was shown that there was a statistically significant difference in clinical performance scores concerning the five tested clinical obstetric and gynecological procedures among the intervention and control group, where the intervention group was more satisfied and have positive feedback than the control group.Conclusions: Peer learning strategy is an efficient strategy in the improvement of nursing students’ performance than traditional learning. The study recommended that implementation of peer learning strategy in clinical setting to increase the level of students’ knowledge and clinical performance.
The Prioritization of Verb over Subject in Teaching the Sentence Structure
Authors: Muhammad Imran , Ghani Mamuna
Published: November 2017

The prior contribution of present study is its focus on verb rather than subject in commencing teaching sentence structure. Firstly, this paper deals with a detailed analysis of stative and dynamic verbs and stipulates how the difference between subject and agent comes down to is, by projection on the part of either stative verb or dynamic verb. Secondly, in Pakistan where more often than not, ELT practices in class rooms from grass root level to master’s level look to grammar translation method, two theta roles i.e. subject and agent are conspicuous by their absence. Therefore, this paper reasons out their absence and the difficulty, in explaining the subject and agent, faced by the teaching staff members working in schools and colleges in the south southern part of Punjab, Pakistan. Finally, the study culminated that the teaching of verb prior to subject is sine qua non for teaching the sentence structure.
Between biology and medicine: perspectives on the use of dendritic cells in anticancer therapy
Authors: Szczygieł Agnieszka , Pajtasz-Piasecka Elżbieta
Published: November 2017

Dendritic cells (DCs), as a link between innate and adaptive immunity, play a pivotal role in maintaining
homeostasis of the immune system. The DC population is characterized by heterogeneity;
it consists of many subpopulations which, despite their phenotypic and localization differences,
play an essential function – they are professional antigen presenting cells.
Due to their role, DCs can be utilized in a new cancer treatment strategy. Their main purpose is to
generate an anticancer response leading to the elimination of cancer cells.
The tumor microenvironment, abundant in immunosuppressive factors (e.g. IL-10, TGF-β, Arg1,
IDO), impairs the proper function of DCs. For this reason, various strategies are necessary for ex
vivo preparation of DC-based vaccines and for the support of in vivo DCs to fight against tumors.
DC-based vaccines are combined with other forms of immunotherapy (e.g. blockade of immune
checkpoint molecules, e.g. PD-1 or CTLA-4) or conventional types of therapies (e.g. chemotherapy).
Despite the enormous progress that has been made in anticancer therapy in the past two decades,
there are still many unresolved issues regarding the effectiveness of the DCs usage.
In this paper we described, in both a mouse and a human subject, a series of DC subpopulations,
differentiating in normal conditions or under the influence of cancer microenvironment. We
listed factors affecting the quality of the in vivo and ex vivo generations of antitumoral responses,
significant from a therapeutic point of view. Moreover, the most important strategies for the use
of DCs in anticancer therapies, as well as further developments on this field, have been discussed.
THE METHOD OF SIMILARITY IN THE STUDY OF WEAR RESISTANCE OF MACHINE ELEMENTS
Authors: BEZYAZYCHNY Vyacheslav , SZCZEREK Marian
Published: November 2017

The paper describes methods to estimate wear rate of the surfaces machined with an edge tool, using dimensionless numbers that characterize the cutting process and the quality of the machined surface, which allowed using the ideas of the theory of similarity.