bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth and instability of pineapple production in Manipur, India
Authors: Singh Ningombam Anandkumar , Singh Ram , Feroze S. M. , Singh Rajkumar Josmee , Rani P. Mercy Nesa
Published: January 2016

The present study was undertaken to study the trends of area, production and productivity of pineapple in Manipur. The study was based on the secondary data from 2001 to 2011. To analyze the trend of area, production and productivity of pineapple in Manipur, semi log linear functional form was used. Beside these, compound growth rate and instability index was also estimated. The effect of area, production and their interaction towards increasing production were also estimated in the present study. The instability indices for area, production and productivity of pineapple crop in Manipur were positive there by indicating less risk for growing pineapple in the State.
Plant regeneration through callus initiation from mature and immature embryos of maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Guruprasad M. , Sridevi V. , Vijayakumar G. , Kumar M. Satish
Published: January 2016

An efficient regeneration was developed using mature and immature embryos by using Maize (Zea mays L) variety MU 2092. Mature embryos are removed from surface sterilized seeds, slice them into halves and immature embryos are detached from seed endosperm. Both are used as explants to initiate callus on N6 medium supplemented with 2,4 D @ 4.0 mg.L-1. The induction frequency of primary calli i.e embryogenic callus was 90% in maize. The embryogenic calli on N6 medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) @ 0.5 mg.L-1 and kinetin @ 0.5 mg.L-1 was more effective in producing shoots. The culture expressed maximum plant regeneration potential with eight shoots per embryo on regeneration. Green shoots thus developed were successfully rooted within 20 days on MS media containing IBA (Indole-3-Butyric acid) 1mg L-1. Over 86 % of rooted plants grew well and produced seeds normally when transferred to green house. The important advantage of this improved method is shortening of regeneration time by providing an efficient and rapid regeneration tool for mature and immature embryos.
Genetic relationship between yield and battering quality in blackgram (Vigna Mungo L.)
Authors: Veni K. , Murugan E. , Mini M. L. , Vanniarajan C. , Radhamani T.
Published: January 2016

An experiment was carried out to study the genetic divergence of 39 genotypes of blackgram. Biochemical parameters such crude protein, albumin and globulin content and yield attributing traits such as hundred seed weight and single plant yield were estimated. Grouping of genotypes into various clusters was done by Mahalnobis D2 statistics. The 39 genotypes were grouped into five clusters. Among the five clusters, cluster V had more number of genotypes. The highest value of intra cluster distance was recorded in cluster V while cluster I had minimum intra cluster distance and maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster II and cluster III. Among the nine characters single plant yield and hundred seed weight contributed maximum towards divergence. The study showed that the genotypes UH04-4, CO 5, KKB05011 and ACM07002 could be used for hybridization to develop high yielding blackgram varieties with good battering quality.
GJCS Masthead
Authors: Ibrahim Dogan
Published: January 2016

GJCS Masthead
GJFLT Masthead
Authors: Rahimi Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali
Published: January 2016

GJFLT Masthead
EVALUATION BY TEACHERS COMMENTS TURKISH LITERATURE 9-10-11-12. THE SCHOOL TEXTBOOK
Authors: Işıktaş Serdal
Published: January 2016

This study reaches located in Cyprus and Turkish Literature teacher of 54 people, Opinions on the compatibility of Turkish Literature Textbook program was discussed. The main purpose of the study; Turkish Literature teacher is evaluated according to the opinions of the textbooks conform to the curriculum. Therefore, research in qualitative research involving 54 Turkish literature that has been studied in descriptive research model purchased from the teacher. Opinion on the specific dimensions according to the scale of the research are outlined. This sub dimensions, course objectives, comprehensiveness are features such as text selection program approach. Their views on the gender scale of teachers who participated in the study were analyzed according to seniority and type of school. Data analysis, t-test and ANOVA were used in the study. Therefore; According to the findings obtained from research They are not find literature teacher education programs in line with the general Turkish literature textbooks. Keywords: Turkish Literature, Textbook , Curriculum , Teaching , Teachers
An investigation of digital native children’s views towards digital technology
Authors: Cabı Emine
Published: January 2016

The aim of this study was to determine the views of students at the elementary level to be accepted as a digital native. The participants of the study were 103 students enrolled in four different elementary level schools in Ankara in the spring semester of the 2013-2014 academic year. Data were collected through open ended questions that were answered by students. The results of the study were analyzed by use of content analyses procedure. Firstly, in research, base and sub-categories were determined, then emerge as new categories were added. %95 of the Commercial Vocational High School students demand SMART Board and tablets as with other three schools. It is observed that Blocking access to YouTube and twitter is a significant problem for digital native children.Students reported opinions about the conscious use of technology, the use of more technology in education, computer courses should be taught at an advanced level for the profession of the future wil be technology-based.Keywords: Digital technology, adolescents’ attitudes towards digital technology, adolescence and technology, digital natives, technology.
Evaluation of Turkish insurance sector in terms of competition
Authors: Yalaz Özlem
Published: January 2016

The insurance sector is drawing a rapidly rising graph in all over the world in recent years. Especially in developed economies, the additional value of the insurance system in micro and macro economics can not be ignored. Fundraising capacity, creating safety and stability effects for all economic activities, contributing to the development of international trade are some of the benefits that the sector brings to the economy. Reaching severe levels of The size of the funds created by the insurance sector, resulting in increaing and deepening the competition in the sector and as a result of this, causing to emerge of restrictive or obstructive behaviours. It is known as the Turkish insurance sector is within the scope of the law on the protection of Competition Act No. 4054. It is understood when the lawsuits being proceeded within the framework of this law are examined that, a large number of cases opened on suspicion of contravention of competition, in the mean·time, the cases opened for mergers and acquisitions also can be seen. In this study we aim that lighting the way for all studies which will be taken an active role for making the Turkish insurance sector as effective as other advanced economies ones, at the same time for all studies which will be carried out for the removal of actions and behavior that are restrictive for competition.Keywords:Turkish insurance sector, competition, competition law
Malamih al-Ashwat al-'Arabiyyah wa Makharijaha
Authors: Kasim Amrah Muhammad
Published: January 2016

This writing discusses on al-ashwat al-‘arabiyyah that is known with “phonetic” term. It talks and interprets makharij al-huruf or place for producing sounds and also processing production of sounds by parts of mouth in Arabic language. The problems of sounds and its systems in Arabic language have been conducted by the scholars of al-ashwat al-‘arabiyyah attractively, neatly, and detail and gotten ahead the phonetic western scholars. Part of their analysis results formulate the study about al-ashwat al-sakinah (al-Shamit) is known with vocal and consonant sounds in research questions shawait – shawamit. Ibnu Jinni has formulated “harakat”(wowel in Arabic language) and dimension of letter  mad and liyn on alif  letter - waw - ya’ (ا و ي), from these letters create  harakat fathah, dammah, and kasrah. Moreover, in this writing also exist the description of hija’i letters and its makhraj that are correct from parts of mouth and the unity of coordinative sounds that produce sounds in morphemes arrangement, in one word that produces meaning. The result of phonological study has divided al-ashwat to be kinds of sound like the pronounced sounds, produced sounds from mouth, and heard sound.

 
Viruses Causing Hemorrhagic Fever. Safety Laboratory Procedures
Authors: Cobo Fernando
Published: January 2016

Viral hemorrhagic fevers are diseases caused by viruses which belong to different families, many of them causing severe diseases. These viruses may produce different symptomatology together with a severe multisystem syndrome, and the final result might be the production of hemorrhages in several sites of the body. The majority of them have no other treatment than supportive therapy, although some antiviral drugs can be used in some circumstances. Transmission of VHF has been demonstrated through contact with animal vectors or person-to-person through the contact with body fluids. No risk of transmission has been found during the incubation period, but when the viral load is high the risk of transmission is greatest. Both health care and clinical laboratory workers must safely handle patients and specimens by taking all required precautions during their management.
Hume’s understanding of causal explanation
Authors: Stefanovic Igor
Published: January 2016

This article deals with actuality of Hume?s positive thesis about causality,
specifically in modern science. According to Dauer, Hume in his Treatise of
Human Nature does not deal with scientific theory which allows us, in modern
times, to come to the truth, and then necessity. Also, he claims that
observation alone, without theory is useless, which is the reason why we
need science to predict future events. I intend to show that all three
claims are incorrect, and to show an intimate connection of causality and
our intuitions.
Metaethical expressivism and deflationary concept of truth
Authors: Sumonja Milos
Published: January 2016

In order to solve the Frege-Geach problem, most proponents of metaethical
expressivism accept deflationary concept of truth. Yet, Paul Boghossian and
Ronald Dworkin argue that those two theories are incompatible because
deflationism subverts expressivism by making it too easy for ethical
sentences to be truth-apt. Taking the tension between expressivism and
deflationism to be the indicator of their conflict in theoretical motivations
- revisionist and antirevisionist - I will try to show that they indeed are
incompatible, but not for reasons that Boghossian and Dworkin point out.
Namely, although expressivist can use deflationism to globalise his view on
the whole of language, motivational conflict breaks out anew in an unexpected
way - once deflationism and expressivism are fully integrated, expressivist
is no longer able to explain what sets him apart from methaethical realist.
Epicurus and sense data
Authors: Nisavic Ivan
Published: January 2016

Epicurean epistemology, which gives perception full credibility as a key
factor and an infallible source of receiving information regarding the
external word, is completely dependable on materialist-atomistic view of
natural science. As such, it is fundamental for a clear understanding of
Epicurus' ethical ideas. This paper seeks to reconstruct his position and
subsume it under one of the contemporary theories of perception, as an
apologetic view on Epicurus and his, at first glance, rigid standpoints.
Insistence on the truth of all perceptions is attempted to be alleviated and
understood by modern perspective. Thus, classifying Epicurean views of
perception as a certain form of indirect realism provides to the seemingly
unacceptable Epicurus' theory of perception a shape which may be plausible
and acceptable.
Rousseau's idea of the general will and contemporary understanding of the nature of democracy
Authors: Stupar Milorad
Published: January 2016

This paper explores the sense in which contemporary understanding of
democracy is present in the work of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The author claims
that difficulties in understanding the concept of general will comes from the
fact that Rousseau runs two ideas of democracy together: the idea which
values democracy in positive terms because it instantiates fundamental human
values such as freedom and rights, as well as the idea that democracy is
important because it enlarges our collective wisdom. The end of the paper
traces the way with respect to a possible coherent interpretation of the
relationship between democracy and the content of the general will in
Rousseau?s work.
Equations with Solution in Terms of Fibonacci and Lucas Sequences
Authors: Andreescu Titu , Andrica Dorin
Published: January 2016

The main results characterize the equations (2.1) and (2.10) whose solutions are linear combinations with rational coefficients of at most two terms of classical Fibonacci and Lucas sequences.
A posteriori analysis of the spectral element discretization of heat equation
Authors: Chorfi Nejmeddine , Abdelwahed Mohamed , Ben Omrane Ines
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we present a posteriori analysis of the discretization of the heat equation by spectral element method. We apply Euler’s implicit scheme in time and spectral method in space. We propose two families of error indicators both of them are built from the residual of the equation and we prove that they satisfy some optimal estimates. We present some numerical results which are coherent with the theoretical ones.
Closed graphs are proper interval graphs
Authors: Crupi Marilena , Rinaldo Giancarlo
Published: January 2016

Let G be a connected simple graph. We prove that G is a closed graph if and only if G is a proper interval graph. As a consequence we obtain that there exist linear-time algorithms for closed graph recognition.
Symmetric Besov-Bessel Spaces
Authors: Houissa Khadija , Sifi Mohamed
Published: January 2016

In this paper we introduce the symmetric Besov-Bessel spaces. Next, we give a Sonine formula for generalized Bessel functions. Finally, we give a characterization of these spaces using the Bochner-Riesz means.
(∈γ, ∈γ ∨
qδ
)-fuzzy right ideals of Intra-Regular Abel Grassmann’s-Groupoids
Authors: Khan Madad , Leoreanu-Fotea Violeta , Kokab Syeda
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we introduce (∈γ, ∈γ ∨
qδ
)-fuzzy right ideals in an AG-groupoid. We characterize intra-regular AG-groupoids using the properties of (∈γ, ∈γ ∨
qδ
)-fuzzy subsets and (∈γ, ∈γ ∨
qδ
)-fuzzy right ideals.
n–ary hyperstructures constructed from binary quasi–ordered semigroups
Authors: Novák Michal
Published: January 2016

Based on works by Davvaz, Vougiouklis and Leoreanu-Fotea in the field of n–ary hyperstructures and binary relations we present a construction of n–ary hyperstructures from binary quasi-ordered semigroups. We not only construct the hyperstructures but also study their important elements such as identities, scalar identities or zeros. We also relate the results to earlier results obtained for a similar binary construction and include an application of the results on a hyperstructure of linear differential operators.
Tripled and coincidence fixed point theorems for contractive mappings satisfying Φ-maps in partially ordered metric spaces
Authors: Shatanawi Wasfi , Postolache Mihai , Mustafa Zead
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we study some tripled fixed and coincidence point theorems for two mappings F : X × X × X → X and ɡ : X → X satisfying a nonlinear contraction based on ϕ-maps. Our results extend and improve many existing results in the literature. Also, we introduce an example to support the validity of our results.
Dirac Structures on Banach Lie Algebroids
Authors: Vulcu Vlad-Augustin
Published: January 2016

In the original definition due to A. Weinstein and T. Courant a Dirac structure is a subbundle of the big tangent bundle T M ⊕ T* M that is equal to its ortho-complement with respect to the so-called neutral metric on the big tangent bundle. In this paper, instead of the big tangent bundle we consider the vector bundle E ⊕ E*, where E is a Banach Lie algebroid and E* its dual. Recall that E* is not in general a Lie algebroid. We define a bilinear and symmetric form on the vector bundle E ⊕ E* and say that a subbundle of it is a Dirac structure if it is equal with its orthocomplement. Our main result is that any Dirac structure that is closed with respect to a type of Courant bracket, endowed with a natural anchor is a Lie algebroid. In the proof the differential calculus on a Lie algebroid is essentially involved. We work in the category of Banach vector bundles.
Waste to Energy: Management of Biodegradable Healthcare Waste through Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: Dhakal Nimesh , Karki Amrit Kumar , Nakarmi Mahesh
Published: January 2016

This research was carried out in 21m3 Technology for Economic Development (TED) model biogas plant constructed   and operated at Bir Hospital, Kathmandu. The digester was fed with 95 kg of mixed waste per day in average   generated at Bir Hospital. Average biogas production recorded per day was 5.78 m3 which increased to 8.09m3 per   day after the feeding reached 15 tons after five months of regular feeding. The recorded burning time for this   volume of gas was 12-14 hours per day in a stove of 0.22m3. Methane content in the gas reached up to 54% of the   total volume and pH in the biodigester was maintained in a range of 6-7. The retention time of the biodigester was 147 days and the average energy content of biogas has been found as 4.38 Kwhth/m3. The payback period of the biodigester installed is 4 years when compared with LPG, since most of the hospitals use LPG as their cooking fuel it was only analyzed with the LPG. The total reduction of the GHGs was found to be 75.8 tons of CO2 equivalents  per annum and the total reduction in terms of monetary benefits was 531.18 USD per annum. Except in one case the presence of E.coli was identified, beside its presence none of other harmful pathogens were detected in the slurry obtained.Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 16, No.1 (2015) pp. 41-48
Climate Change Dry Spell Impact on Agriculture in Salyantar, Dhading, Central Nepal
Authors: Paudyal Pramila , Bhuju Dinesh Raj , Aryal Manoj
Published: January 2016

Understanding the problem increasingly posed by climatic change is one of the critical challenges of our time. A study was carried out in Salyantar village in Dhading district of central Nepal to understand and assess the extent of climate change impacts on agriculture. The impact assessment was performed through analysis of meteorological data, Landsat images, and people’s perception on changes relative to agriculture sector. Mann-Kendall statistical trend test was used to assign statistical significance to the trend whereas temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI) was used to identify soil moisture condition as an assessment criterion. The perception of local people on climate change and its impacts was studied through generalized questionnaire survey and participatory rural appraisal. The results of the study portrayed rise in temperature in the study area in the recent years in comparison to the past. The maximum temperature increment was 0.03p C per year. As for precipitation, it showed decreasing trend by 1.855mm per year. The TVDI obtained from Landsat image, showed decreasing trend of soil moisture in different years, which indicate an increased longer dry spell. This has unswerving effect on agriculture as the entire Salyantar village is dependent upon rain-fed agriculture. The perceived impacts on agriculture were decreased crop yield, reduced soil moisture, and increased incidence of new pests and invasive plant species. Such impacts were fairly heterogeneous in distribution. The Salyantar village, a raised flat-land of river deposition already stuck in the grip of water stress, was found exacerbated by the effect of climate change.Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 16, No.1 (2015) pp.59-68
Alteration due to Prolonged Food Deprivation in Protein Content of Muscles and Brain of Clarias batrachus
Authors: Prasad Nayan K.
Published: January 2016

The present paper deals with the impact of starvation on fish which has a great ability to adapt in the prolonged starvation condition. In the present investigation, the impact of starvation on protein contents of muscle and brain tissues has been observed in both the sexes of Clarias batrachus. The level of protein content was relatively higher in females than in males. The brain showed higher value of protein in normal condition (138mg/g in male and 153mg/g in female) in comparison to the muscles (132 mg/g in male and 140mg/g in female). During prolonged food deprivation, the gradual decrease in protein level has been noticed in all types of tissues which can be related to blocking of RNA synthesis, enhanced gluconeogenesis and increased rate of transamination and deamination. The maximum depletion has been observed in muscles (48% in male and 46% in female) and the least depletion in the brain (3% in male and 6% in female) after 40 days of starvation.Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 16, No.1 (2015) pp. 95-98
Beta Lactamase Producing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Uropathogens
Authors: Singh V. K. , Tuladhar R. , Chaudhary M. K.
Published: January 2016

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the leading cause of morbidity and health care expenditures in persons of all the ages. The impact of disease is high in the low-resource developing countries due to lack of awareness about the UTIs caused by extended spectrum beta lactamase producing pathogens and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This study represents a cross-sectional analysis of UTI prevalence in patients attending at KIST Medical College Teaching Hospital, Imadole, Lalitpur. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard biochemical tests. The antimicrobial susceptibility to various drugs and confirmation of the extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) production was done following Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. During the study period, 303 (24.08% of urine submissions) UTIs were confirmed. Among these 303 strains, E. coli was the most common, representing 65.34% of the isolates, followed by S. aureus (6.93%) and other pathogens (27.72%). Prevalence of ESBL E. coli, K. pneumoniae and MRSA in the urinary isolates were found to be 38.38 %, 35 % and 47.61 % respectively. Empiric treatment for UTIs in Nepal should be reconsidered and prudent use of antibiotics, particularly Gentamycin, is highly recommended. The recent spread of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MRSA is striking and underlines the need for further studies.Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 16, No.1 (2015) pp.105-112
Metallurgical Failure Investigation of a Deformed and Cracked Lashing-Load Ring of a Heavy-Duty Gas Turbine Engine
Authors: Neidel A. , Riesenbeck S.
Published: January 2016

A severely deformed and cracked lashing-load ring of a heavy-duty gas turbine engine was received from the client as-delivered from the site. The damage was found upon a regular non-destructive inspections (NDT). A metallurgical failure investigation was ordered to determine whether there was microstructural damage due to excessive thermal loads, whether there were any other material defects that could have contributed to the failure, or whether the lifting lug was abused or overloaded in any way, and whether this was the only cause of failure. It was determined that the subject lifting lug failed by tensile/bending overload.
Friction Stir Welding of 7075-T651 Aluminium Alloy
Authors: Çevik B. , Özçatalbaş Y. , Gülenç B.
Published: January 2016

The microstructural changes, mechanical properties and residual stress distribution of 7075-T651 Al alloy joined using friction stir welding were investigated in this study. Welding was performed at 900, 1 250, and 1 600 rev/min and 20, 40, and 60 mm/min welding speeds. Mechanical tests were carried out on the welded joints in addition to microstructural examinations performed using a scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, residual stress distribution of the joints was determined by the hole drilling method. Generally, higher tensile strength was obtained at medium rotational and welding speeds. Tunnel defects were formed in the root of the weld seam. At high welding speeds, insufficient filling in the joints led to microvoids and large grain bands on the retreating side of the weld seam. The tensile strength of the welded specimens decreased at the rate of 26 – 45 % compared to the reference material. Lower residual stresses were determined in the specimens joined at a high rotational speed.
Varying levels of difficulty index of skills-test items randomly selected by examinees on the Korean emergency medical technician licensing examination
Authors: Koh Bongyeun , Hong Sunggi , Kim Soon-Sim , Hyun Jin-Sook , Baek Milye , Moon Jundong , Kwon Hayran , Kim Gyoungyong , Min Seonggi , Kang Gu-Hyun
Published: January 2016

Purpose: The goal of this study was to characterize the difficulty index of the items in the skills test components of the class I and II Korean emergency medical technician licensing examination (KEMTLE), which requires examinees to select items randomly. Methods: The results of 1,309 class I KEMTLE examinations and 1,801 class II KEMTLE examinations in 2013 were subjected to analysis. Items from the basic and advanced skills test sections of the KEMTLE were compared to determine whether some were significantly more difficult than others. Results: In the class I KEMTLE, all 4 of the items on the basic skills test showed significant variation in difficulty index (P< 0.01), as well as 4 of the 5 items on the advanced skills test (P< 0.05). In the class II KEMTLE, 4 of the 5 items on the basic skills test showed significantly different difficulty index (P< 0.01), as well as all 3 of the advanced skills test items (P< 0.01). Conclusion: In the skills test components of the class I and II KEMTLE, the procedure in which examinees randomly select questions should be revised to require examinees to respond to a set of fixed items in order to improve the reliability of the national licensing examination.
Electric Blues: The Rise and Fall of Britain's First Pre-recorded Videocassette Distributors
Authors: Upton Julian
Published: January 2016

This article charts the first years of the films-on-videocassette market in Britain, from the launch of Sony's Betamax and JVC's VHS systems in 1978 to the beginnings of the British ‘video nasty’ panic in 1982. It is not concerned with revisiting the ‘video nasty’ debate per se; instead it looks at how a link between video and pornography was routinely emphasised long before this controversy took hold and explores how a sense of ‘degeneracy’ surrounding the new technology crossed over from the US to shape media and government hostility towards the medium in Britain. Voices that were strongly resistant to the ‘permissive’ social and cultural changes of the late 1960s began to mobilise in the mid-1970s and found in 1979's incoming Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher a powerful ally. With the burgeoning video market powered, however, by a business ethos that exemplified much of what would soon be called ‘Thatcherite’, the early tensions between the video pioneers and the would-be censors on the right reveal how the entrepreneurial spirit of the times could be seen to blossom only if it fell in line with the new moral order.
‘The shit just got real’: Parody and National Film Culture inThe StrikeandHot Fuzz
Authors: Archer Neil
Published: January 2016

This article argues for the productive function of parody within British film-making, both as an aesthetic strategy for wider distribution, but also as an important approach to the depiction and construction of a national film culture. Going against the conception that parody in the British context negatively signifies what British film is not (in this case, Hollywood), and implicitly asserts a more authentic model for a national cinema (typically, realism), the article argues for parody's value as a mode of representation, particularly within the broader contexts of globalisation. Using the Channel 4 film The Strike (1988) and Working Title's Hot Fuzz (2007) as case studies, it shows parody as responding in specific ways to distinct and changing circumstances of film production, film viewing and British film culture's relationship to Hollywood. The article argues that The Strike's negative uses of parody, while seemingly aligned with an anti-Hollywood discourse pertinent to its contexts, disavows both its own resistance to realism and its own playful use of popular generic modes. Meanwhile, Hot Fuzz, though superficially employing the same approach, can be seen to offer a more nuanced reflection on the limitations and possibilities of ‘national film’ in the early twenty-first century, both as discourse and product. As the article concludes, uses of parody in both texts bring into focus ways of reconciling industrial and cultural frameworks for national cinemas, especially within an increasingly globalised economy.
On the Maternal ‘Creaturely’ Cinema of Andrea Arnold
Authors: Jacobs Amber
Published: January 2016

This article argues that Andrea Arnold's cinematic treatment of the maternal body is transgressive and innovative. Through a close analysis of Arnold's first film Milk (1998) and using an example from Fish Tank (2009) I analyse Arnold's production of what I call a specifically maternal, embodied, sexualised viewing experience. I suggest that the viewer is addressed and positioned as always in a state of being-with the maternal sexual subject on a corporeal, intimate level. I develop a notion of ‘maternal creaturely cinema’ of which, I suggest, Arnold's work is exemplary, and discuss how this particular creaturely cinematic treatment of the maternal is inaugurated in Milk, as well as indicating how it can be traced through in the later Fish Tank. I argue that Arnold's maternal creaturely cinema, through a complex interaction between form and content, transmits to the viewer a mode of ethical relatedness, or hospitality towards the stranger/other, that is situated in a specifically maternal, sexual and corporeal experience.
NBTI-Aware Transient Fault Rate Analysis Method for Logic Circuit Based on Probability Voltage Transfer Characteristics
Authors: Yang Zhiming , Li Junbao , Yu Yang , Peng Xiyuan
Published: January 2016

The reliability of Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits has become increasingly susceptible to transient faults induced by environmental noise with the scaling of technology. Some commonly used fault tolerance strategies require statistical methods to accurately estimate the fault rate in different parts of the logic circuit, and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is often applied to complete this task. However, the MC method suffers from impractical computation costs due to the size of the circuits. Furthermore, circuit aging effects, such as negative bias temperature instability (NBTI), will change the characteristics of the circuit during its lifetime, leading to a change in the circuit’s noise margin. This change will increase the complexity of transient fault rate estimation tasks. In this paper, an NBTI-aware statistical analysis method based on probability voltage transfer characteristics is proposed for combinational logic circuit. This method can acquire accurate fault rates using a discrete probability density function approximation process, thus resolving the computation cost problem of the MC method. The proposed method can also consider aging effects and analyze statistical changes in the fault rates. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared to the MC simulation, our method can achieve computation times that are two orders of magnitude shorter while maintaining an error rate less than 9%.
Comparison of the Pulmonary Oxidative Stress Caused by Intratracheal Instillation and Inhalation of NiO Nanoparticles when Equivalent Amounts of NiO Are Retained in the Lung
Authors: Horie Masanori , Yoshiura Yukiko , Izumi Hiroto , Oyabu Takako , Tomonaga Taisuke , Okada Takami , Lee Byeong-Woo , Myojo Toshihiko , Kubo Masaru , Shimada Manabu , Morimoto Yasuo
Published: January 2016

NiO nanoparticles were administered to rat lungs via intratracheal instillation or inhalation. During pulmonary toxicity caused by NiO nanoparticles, the induction of oxidative stress is a major factor. Both intratracheal instillation and inhalation of NiO nanoparticles induced pulmonary oxidative stress. The oxidative stress response protein, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), was induced by the administration of NiO nanoparticles at both the protein and gene expression level. Additionally, certain oxidative-stress markers in the lung, such as 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, thioredoxin, and inducible nitric oxide synthase were increased. Furthermore, the concentration of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the lung was also increased by the administration of NiO nanoparticles. When the amount of NiO in the lung is similar, the responses against pulmonary oxidative stress of intratracheal instillation and inhalation are also similar. However, the state of pulmonary oxidative stress in the early phase was different between intratracheal instillation and inhalation, even if the amount of NiO in the lung was similar. Inhalation causes milder oxidative stress than that caused by intratracheal instillation. On evaluation of the nanoparticle-induced pulmonary oxidative stress in the early phase, we should understand the different states of oxidative stress induced by intratracheal instillation and inhalation.
Effect of Different Heating Process on the Photoluminescence Properties of Perovskite Eu-Doped BaZrO3 Powder
Authors: Chen Kun-Neng , Hsu Chao-Ming , Liu Jing , Chiu Yi-Tang , Yang Cheng-Fu
Published: January 2016

In this study, BaZrO3:Eu0.025 powder was synthesized through the solid-state reaction method with two different heating processes. For the one-step process, the BaZrO3:Eu0.025 powder was heated to 1000 °C–1400 °C for 2 h. For the two-step heating process, the BaZrO3:Eu0.025 powder was pre-heated at 800 °C for 2 h, after being cooled to room temperature and ground, then the powder was heated to 1000 °C–1400 °C again for 2 h. The optimum excitation optical wavelength of BaZrO3:Eu0.025 powders were 271 nm and the maximum intensity of the emission spectrum of BaZrO3:Eu0.025 powders increased with increasing heating temperature. The all-heated BaZrO3:Eu0.025 powders showed two strong orange emission bands peaking at the wavelengths of 574 and 596 nm and two weak emission bands peaking at 620 and 650 nm. As the heating temperatures were 1300 °C and 1400 °C, the maximum intensity of one-step heating BaZrO3:Eu0.025 powders appeared at the 5D0–7F0 (574 nm) and the maximum intensity of one-step heating BaZrO3:Eu0.025 powders appeared at the 5D0–7F1 (596 nm) transitions of Eu3+ ions, respectively.
An Exploratory Qualitative Exploration of the Personal Values Underpinning Taiwanese and Malaysians’ Wine Consumption Behaviors
Authors: Mirosa Miranda , Tang Sharon
Published: January 2016

Augmented buying power of East Asian consumers has resulted in increased interest in these markets. Wine is a particularly promising sector to target as the number of East Asians choosing to drink wine rises. In order to serve these markets, companies must understand factors influencing consumers’ choices. The objective of this research was to understand how Taiwanese and Malaysian consumers’ personal values influenced their consumption decisions about wine. The means–end chain framework and associated semi-structured interview technique, value laddering, was used to elicit consumers’ preferred product attributes, the consequences of these attributes and the values that underpin these consequences. Data collection involved intercepting foreign travelers from Malaysia and Taiwan in New Zealand (20 Taiwanese and 20 Malaysian) to partake in a wine choice interview. The resulting findings are exploratory in nature. Analysis revealed the most preferred wine attributes for Taiwanese were “Price” and “Sensory Aspects”—that these attributes were linked to consequences “Financial Considerations” and “Satisfy Senses”—which in turn were linked to personal values “Self Direction” and “Achievement”. For the Malaysian participants, the attribute “Sensory Aspects” of wine was most important, as was the value “Hedonism”. This study adds to literature related to beverage consumption decision making by exploring cultural aspects. It also offers suggestions for practitioners interested in targeting these consumers.
Notch-Mediated Cell Adhesion
Authors: Murata Akihiko , Hayashi Shin-Ichi
Published: January 2016

Notch family members are generally recognized as signaling molecules that control various cellular responses in metazoan organisms. Early fly studies and our mammalian studies demonstrated that Notch family members are also cell adhesion molecules; however, information on the physiological roles of this function and its origin is limited. In this review, we discuss the potential present and ancestral roles of Notch-mediated cell adhesion in order to explore its origin and the initial roles of Notch family members dating back to metazoan evolution. We hypothesize that Notch family members may have initially emerged as cell adhesion molecules in order to mediate multicellularity in the last common ancestor of metazoan organisms.
The Evolution of the Classification of Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Surís Alina , Holliday Ryan , North Carol
Published: January 2016

This article traces the history of classification systems for mental illness and then reviews the history of the American diagnostic system for mental disorders. The steps leading up to each publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) are described including leaders, timelines, pre-publication meetings, and field trials. Important changes in the purpose of the manuals are described with a focus on events leading to the manual’s third edition (DSM-III), which represented a paradigm shift in how we think about, and use, the classification system for mental illness. For the first time, DSM-III emphasized empirically-based, atheoretical and agnostic diagnostic criteria. New criticisms of the DSM-III and subsequent editions have arisen with a call for a new paradigm shift to replace diagnostic categories with continuous dimensional systems of classification, returning to etiologically-based definitions and incorporating findings from neurobiological science into systems of diagnosis. In the foreseeable future, however, psychiatric diagnosis must continue to be accomplished by taking a history and assessing the currently established criteria. This is necessary for communication about diseases and education of clinicians and scientists in medical fields, as well as advancement of research needed to further advance the diagnostic criteria of psychiatry.
Formation Mechanism of Porous Cu3Sn Intermetallic Compounds by High Current Stressing at High Temperatures in Low-Bump-Height Solder Joints
Authors: Lin Jie-An , Lin Chung-Kuang , Liu Chen-Min , Huang Yi-Sa , Chen Chih , Chu David , Tu King-Ning
Published: January 2016

Electromigration tests of SnAg solder bump samples with 15 μm bump height and Cu under-bump-metallization (UBM) were performed. The test conditions were 1.45 × 104 A/cm2 at 185 °C and 1.20 × 104 A/cm2 at 0 °C. A porous Cu3Sn intermetallic compound (IMC) structure was observed to form within the bumps after several hundred hours of current stressing. In direct comparison, annealing alone at 185 °C will take more than 1000 h for porous Cu3Sn to form, and it will not form at 170 °C even after 2000 h. Here we propose a mechanism to explain the formation of this porous structure assisted by electromigration. The results show that the SnAg bump with low bump height will become porous-type Cu3Sn when stressing with high current density and high temperature. Polarity effects on porous Cu3Sn formation is discussed.
Distributed Consensus of Nonlinear Multi-Agent Systems on State-Controlled Switching Topologies
Authors: Chen Kairui , Wang Junwei , Zhang Yun
Published: January 2016

This paper considers the consensus problem of nonlinear multi-agent systems under switching directed topologies. Specifically, the dynamics of each agent incorporates an intrinsic nonlinear term and the interaction topology may not contain a spanning tree at any time. By designing a state-controlled switching law, we show that the multi-agent system with the neighbor-based protocol can achieve consensus if the switching topologies jointly contain a spanning tree. Moreover, an easily manageable algebraic criterion is deduced to unravel the underlying mechanisms in reaching consensus. Finally, a numerical example is exploited to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed theoretical results.
An Algorithm to Translate Building Topology in Building Information Modeling into Object-Oriented Physical Modeling-Based Building Energy Modeling
Authors: Jeong WoonSeong , Son JeongWook
Published: January 2016

This paper presents an algorithm to translate building topology in an object-oriented architectural building model (Building Information Modeling, BIM) into an object-oriented physical-based energy performance simulation by using an object-oriented programming approach. Our algorithm demonstrates efficient mapping of building components in a BIM model into space boundary conditions in an object-oriented physical modeling (OOPM)-based building energy model, and the translation of building topology into space boundary conditions to create an OOPM model. The implemented command, TranslatingBuildingTopology, using an object-oriented programming approach, enables graphical representation of the building topology of BIM models and the automatic generation of space boundaries information for OOPM models. The algorithm and its implementation allow coherent object-mapping from BIM to OOPM and facilitate the definition of space boundaries information during model translation for building thermal simulation. In order to demonstrate our algorithm and its implementation, we conducted experiments with three test cases using the BESTEST 600 model. Our experiments show that our algorithm and its implementation enable building topology information to be automatically translated into space boundary information, and facilitates the reuse of BIM data into building thermal simulations without additional export or import processes.
Decolonization of Trauma and Memory Politics: Insights from Eastern Europe
Authors: Budryte Dovile
Published: January 2016

The movement to decolonize trauma theory conceptualizes traumas as rooted in particular contexts. Scholars working within this framework caution against the monumentalism of traumas as singular events and press for the acknowledgment of traumas experienced by minorities and liminal groups. In addition, this body of literature suggests a question of fundamental significance to memory politics: How to make sure that postcolonial attempts to memorialize the traumatic histories of colonialism do not become sources of state subjugation and oppression? Using examples from Eastern Europe, this article analyzes the complexity of memory landscapes in this region and the difficulty of acknowledging traumas of “non-Western” groups on their own terms. Drawing on works by three authors from the region (Ene Kõresaar, Svetlana Aleksievich and Jasmina Husanović), this essay identifies alternative ways of thinking about the nexus of trauma and difference by addressing how complexity and vulnerability can help to transcend competing victimhoods in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
Lifestyle and Depression among Hong Kong Nurses
Authors: Cheung Teris , Yip Paul
Published: January 2016

Recent longitudinal data suggest a close association between depression and lifestyle. Little work to date has estimated the prevalence of depression in the nursing workforce in China, nor considered what lifestyle factors might be correlated with it—a gap filled by the present study. The study’s web-based cross-sectional survey solicited data from qualified nurses aged between 21 and 65 registered with the Hong Kong Nursing Council. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 was used to measure 850 nurses for depression, anxiety and symptoms of stress; a generalized linear regression model examined associations between lifestyle factors and depression. Mean depression symptom scores show a downward linear trend for male and female participants. Gender and age, however, did not emerge as significant predictors of depression. Three lifestyles factors (sleep, entertainment and hobbies) showed a significant association with depression. Nurses should make therapeutic lifestyle changes to improve their work-life balance and safeguard their functioning at work and personal well-being.
Human Health Risk Assessment of Artisanal Miners Exposed to Toxic Chemicals in Water and Sediments in the PresteaHuni Valley District of Ghana
Authors: Obiri Samuel , Yeboah Philip , Osae Shiloh , Adu-kumi Sam , Cobbina Samuel , Armah Frederick , Ason Benjamin , Antwi Edward , Quansah Reginald
Published: January 2016

A human health risk assessment of artisanal miners exposed to toxic metals in water bodies and sediments in the PresteaHuni Valley District of Ghana was carried out in this study, in line with US EPA risk assessment guidelines. A total of 70 water and 30 sediment samples were collected from surface water bodies in areas impacted by the operations of artisanal small-scale gold mines in the study area and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters such as pH, TDS, conductivity, turbidity as well as metals and metalloids such as As, Cd, Hg and Pb at CSIR—Water Research Institute using standard methods for the examination of wastewater as outlined by American Water Works Association (AWWA). The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in water samples ranged from 15 μg/L to 325 μg/L (As), 0.17 μg/L to 340 μg/L (Cd), 0.17 μg/L to 122 μg/L (Pb) and 132 μg/L to 866 μg/L (Hg), respectively. These measured concentrations of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were used as input parameters to calculate the cancer and non-cancer health risks from exposure to these metals in surface water bodies and sediments based on an occupational exposure scenario using central tendency exposure (CTE) and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) parameters. The results of the non-cancer human health risk assessment for small-scale miners working around river Anikoko expressed in terms of hazard quotients based on CTE parameters are as follows: 0.04 (Cd), 1.45 (Pb), 4.60 (Hg) and 1.98 (As); while cancer health risk faced by ASGM miners in Dumase exposed to As in River Mansi via oral ingestion of water is 3.1 × 10−3. The hazard quotient results obtained from this study in most cases were above the HQ guidance value of 1.0, furthermore the cancer health risk results were found to be higher than the USEPA guidance value of 1 × 10−4 to 1 × 10−6. These findings call for case-control epidemiological studies to establish the relationship between exposure to the aforementioned toxic chemicals and diseases associated with them as identified in other studies conducted in different countries as basis for developing policy interventions to address the issue of ASGM mine workers safety in Ghana.