bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blockchain Readiness
Authors: Broni Jr. Frederick Edem , Owusu Acheampong
Published: April 2020

Blockchain technology is an emerging innovation, and it is viewed as a better approach to help the necessities of people and institutions in terms of record management. Using the Delphi technique and the PERM model, this chapter seeks to present the perspectives of experts in the field of blockchain on the readiness of the institutions in developing economies to adopt and implement it. The findings suggest that the understanding of the technology, knowledge on how to use it, availability of skilled personnel, availability of technical components, risk, capital, management support, business process, policies and regulations, and government initiatives on technology are key influencing factors assessing the readiness to adopt blockchain in a developing economy. It is expected that these findings will enlighten practitioners on the prospects of the application of blockchain in all sectors. The originality of this study lies in the fact that it is a maiden exploratory study that examines the factors that influence the readiness to adopt and implement blockchain technology in a developing economy.
Counterfeiting and Piracy
Authors: Twumasi Yaa Amponsah , Ofori-Amanfo Joshua
Published: April 2020

The chapter seeks to examine how IT enables or constrains counterfeiting and piracy in the fashion and beauty industry in two developing countries. The chapter also highlights the types of IT used in the industry and how IT aids in the ascendance of counterfeiting/piracy. The findings suggest that the escalation of counterfeiting/piracy in the industry is as a result of globalisation and the predominance of technological innovation such as IT, specifically the internet and social media platforms. This chapter contributes to the strategies that the industry in developing countries use in combating counterfeiting/pricy in their business. In academia, arguably, no research has been conducted yet on counterfeiting/piracy in the fashion industry in Ghana and Nigeria, as far as the role of IT is a concern.
Riders' Participation in the Ride-Hailing Sector of the Gig Economy
Authors: Penu Obed Kwame Adzaku
Published: April 2020

This chapter focuses on riders (consumers) who use the Uber ride-hailing application as a gig platform for accessing transportation services, thereby assigning drivers the task of transporting them from one location to another. Respondents were sampled using a multiple sampling approach comprising convenience, random, and purposive sampling. 20 out of 40 respondents were purposely selected for in-depth interviewing and thematic analysis. The findings suggest that riders found the platform to offer both personal and shared convenience, cost and time saving, as well as trustworthiness. The platform also substituted the means of finding transportation for some of the riders, while for other riders it complemented their means of finding transportation. With these findings, this study contributes to the few scholarly studies that have sought to explore, in detail, user perceptions on gig platforms from a developing economy context and provides stimulating insights on the gig economy and its adoption in developing economies.
Using a Qualitative Interpretive Approach in Educational Technology Implementation
Authors: Adam Ibrahim Osman
Published: April 2020

This chapter presents some methodological issues raised in the research process of an interpretive researcher in a maiden doctoral programme in a developing country. The chapter draws on a doctoral research experience which employed an interpretive case study approach as the methodology and a combined lens of activity and agency theories as to the theoretical foundation. The research relied on a single case study in a developing country context. The chapter offers an overview of some practicalities of carrying out a single case study research using an interpretive philosophy by presenting the different viewpoints using semi-structured interviews, documents and participant observation, and analysing the data through hermeneutics. The chapter presents some challenges and how interpretive research methods can be used as a clear methodological strategy, especially in an environment where many researchers are not familiar with this research approach. This reflective account provides lessons for others who wish to go through an interpretive process of researching an information systems phenomenon.
Development Impacts of Free Public Wi-Fi in Johannesburg
Authors: Backhouse Judy , Chauke Hlelo
Published: April 2020

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) promise development gains, yet the complexity and opacity of the relationships between ICT initiative and development effect makes it difficult to identify these development gains or to theorize connections. This case study does both. First, it identifies the connections between the roll-out of free public Wi-Fi by the City of Johannesburg and changes that have resulted in city residents' lives. Second, it uses the choice framework to explain how these changes come about. This qualitative case study conducted interviews with users of the city's free public Wi-Fi service to understand how the service has changed the choices they have, leading to development in the sense of increased capabilities. Benefits identified included easier communications, savings in time and money, social and psychological benefits, as well as increased knowledge, business ideas, access to markets, access to job opportunities, and increased income. This study demonstrates how the linkages can be understood, albeit not in a linear fashion.
Exploring Factors Influencing Big Data and Analytics Adoption in Healthcare Management
Authors: Edu Sampson Abeeku , Agozie Divine Q.
Published: April 2020

Demand for improvement in healthcare management in the areas of quality, cost, and patient care has been on the upsurge because of technology. Incessant application and new technological development to manage healthcare data significantly led to leveraging on the use of big data and analytics (BDA). The application of the capabilities from BDA has provided healthcare institutions with the ability to make critical and timely decisions for patients and data management. Adopting BDA by healthcare institutions hinges on some factors necessitating its application. This study aims to identify and review what influences healthcare institutions towards the use of business intelligence and analytics. With the use of a systematic review of 25 articles, the study identified nine dominant factors driving healthcare institutions to BDA adoption. Factors such as patient management, quality decision making, disease management, data management, and promoting healthcare efficiencies were among the highly ranked factors influencing BDA adoption.
Technology Addictions, Model Development, Measurement, and Effect on Performance From a Developing Country Context
Authors: Nyamadi Makafui
Published: April 2020

Technology addictions (TA) have become a global scourge in recent times, yet in information systems (IS) literature, while a lot of research is being done from developed countries and health-related disciplines, little attention is being paid to this menace by IS scholars from developing countries. To address this issue, this chapter provides a viewpoint on the future research that seeks to investigate from a multidisciplinary and stakeholder perspective what the nature of TA from developing country context is. It will also determine how the socio-technical interaction between human motivations and technology features result in TA, which is novel in IS literature.
Cybercrime Research
Authors: Barnor Jonathan Nii , Patterson Alfred A.
Published: April 2020

Technological advancements have transformed the way people go about their daily lives. However, this development is not without unintended consequences, as cyber-criminals have also devised ways to gain leverage. The authors conducted a literature review on 106 articles across 40 journals to bring to fore cybercrime studies that have been conducted according to the research themes, methodological approaches, level of analysis, geographical focus, and publication outlets. Themes identified in the review were categorized under an existing typology of cybercrime: cyber-trespass, cyber-deception/theft, cyber-pornography and obscenity, and cyber-violence. This review suggested two main directions for future research in terms of socio-technical and theoretical approaches with five research questions. The originality of this review stems from the fact that it is arguably one of the first reviews that have reviewed cybercrime from a holistic perspective.
The Political Use of Social Networking Sites in Turkey
Authors: Gökalp Burak , Karkın Naci , Calhan Huseyin Serhan
Published: April 2020

There are many developments affecting societal, cultural, and political relations. The ubiquitous spread of information and communication tools (ICTs) are among these developments. Studies in literature are not indifferent to the impacts brought about in politics by ICTs, particularly by social networking sites (SNSs). During the research, many studies were found that focus on changes and transformations induced by ICTs that unprecedentedly affect interactions and relationships in political life. SNSs, a part of ICTs, have transformative effects on elected and their voters. Though there are many papers that focus on SNSs and political use of SNSs, a void was observed in relevant literature focusing on synthesizing the literature on particular country cases. For this reason, a systematic literature analysis was performed. Findings of this chapter on the political use of SNSs in Turkey indicate that political actors do not fully take advantage of SNSs and their potentialities. The political use of SNSs presents a rhizomatic formation rather than being hierarchical.
Security of Water Critical Infrastructure
Authors: Birkett David
Published: April 2020

There is an identified and elevated threat level to water services by modern terrorists, in consideration of increasing levels of observed violence in recent terrorist attacks across Europe. This chapter raises significant aspects related to the security of the water critical infrastructure (water CI). Initially, dependencies and interdependencies of water CI, with other CIs, are highlighted as a potential incubating risk, which may well be hidden within the complexities of the modern water value chain of logistics and services. Threats to water CI including single points of failure are further described, followed by terrorist water attack planning methodologies and strategies. Finally, the water CI protection that may be considered to reduce any future threat levels from acts of terrorism is discussed.
Effects of Human Factors in Process Safety
Authors: Bhattacharjee Gargi , Das Sudip Kumar
Published: April 2020

Accidents and near-miss accidents in chemical industries are widespread. Most of the incidents occurred due to combinations of organizational and human factors. To identify the causes for an incident of an accident analysis is needed, because it reveals the possible causes behind the accidents. Accident analysis shows the human and organizational factors that support learning from the events. Literature review shows that human error plays an important role of accidents in process industries. The chapter discusses some case studies which are received very little media publicity and also no proper assessment. At first reports on the incidents were collected from newspapers and then the place was visited to conduct an interview with local people and present and past workers with the help of the PESO (M/S Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization, Eastern Region, Govt. of India).
Explosion Process Safety
Authors: Gabel Dieter
Published: April 2020

Explosions can be considered to be the most devastating events in industry. Reasons that lead to such an event are often very complex. Nonetheless, the basic phenomenon is generally simple. To understand what leads to an explosion and how this can be prevented, the underlying physical and chemical processes as well as the basic steps that lead to an explosion are clarified. Practically a system of standards and regulations ensures a framework to avoid unwanted events. This together with typical sequence of events will be given and lead to a general overview of explosion process safety.
Simulation and Modelling in Fire Safety
Authors: Hozjan Tomaz , Kempna Kamila , Smolka Jan
Published: April 2020

Actual and future concerns in fire safety in buildings and infrastructure are challenging. Modern technologies provide rapid development in area of fire safety, especially in education, training, and fire-engineering. Modelling as a tool in fire-engineering provides possibility to design specific fire scenarios and investigate fire spread, smoke movement or evacuation of occupants from buildings. Development of emerging technologies and software provides higher possibility to apply these models with interactions of augmented and virtual reality. Augmented reality and virtual reality expand effectivity of training and preparedness of first (fire wardens) and second (firefighters) responders. Limitations such as financial demands, scale and scenarios of practical training of first and second responders are much lower than in virtual reality. These technologies provide great opportunities in preparedness to crisis in a safety way with significantly limited budget. Some of these systems are already developed and applied in safety and security area e.g. XVR (firefighting, medical service).
Materials for Safety and Security
Authors: Martinka Jozef , Dibdiakova Janka
Published: April 2020

This chapter deals with materials used in safety and security engineering. The most commonly used materials in this field include shielding materials, materials for protective suits, electrically insulating materials and materials for fire protection. The first part of the chapter describes the properties of materials used in the above applications. The second part of the chapter focuses on characteristics of materials that accurately describe their fire risk. The fire risk of a material is quantified by its resistance to ignition (determined generally by critical heat flux and ignition temperature) and by the impact of the fire on the environment. The impact of fire is usually determined by the heat release rate, toxicity of combustion products (primarily determined by carbon monoxide yield and for materials that contain nitrogen, also through the hydrogen cyanide yield) and the decrease of visibility in the area (depending on the geometry of the area and the smoke production rate).
Uncertainties in Safety and Security
Authors: Kovács Tünde Anna , Nyikes Zoltán
Published: April 2020

In today's world, critical infrastructure encompasses facilities vital to the economy, politics, and population. Their maintenance and safe operation can ensure the supply for the population. These facilities are at risk due to climate change, natural disasters, terror attacks, or wars which are increasingly affecting countries around the world. In addition, the human factor can also cause uncertainty and damages. The function of the world depends on human activities. In this chapter the uncertainties in safety and security are introduced. Security is the most important part as it is the critical infrastructure protection and human safety . The important pillars of safety and security and these uncertainties are introduced in this chapter.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Primitive as a Model of an Expanded Narrative
Authors: Expósito Barea Milagros
Published: April 2020

Primitive is a multi-screen video installation created by the independent filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The multi-platform project presents strong ties to Thai culture and consists of a video installation with simultaneous interrelated screens, two short films, a book of art that includes a series of photographs, a journal, a draft text, and its final product, one of his most recognized films, Uncle Boonmee, Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010), which was awarded the Palme D'Or at the Cannes film festival. The project aims to convey is a unified idea and achieves this through stimulating the spectator in various formats. Apichatpong's films use non-conventional narrative structures which explore the juxtapositions between man and nature; rural life and city life; and personal memories alongside political ones. The film maker creates his own universe, which is a recurring theme throughout his filmography. Primitive is destined to be experienced as a dream of “reincarnation and transformation.”
An Epistemology of the Event for the Digital Media
Authors: Vargas-Iglesias Juan J.
Published: April 2020

Since the end of the twentieth century, game studies have concentrated on epistemological positions seemingly unable to make significant distinctions between traditional games and video games. This approach has hindered the development of a post-modern ontology for decades, in a medium—video games—that is decidedly postmodern. This chapter proposes going beyond the mechanistic notion of considering observable reality as a combination of a determined state of things, which is a prevalent feature in today's game studies. To achieve this, the author argues from the Deleuzian notion of the “event.” When referring to the concept of the “ideal game,” as proposed by Deleuze, is intended to enunciate an epistemology that describes the implicit potentialities of digital media in general. The application of the epistemology would comprise memetic and viral statements, generative aesthetics and the forms of video games themselves.
The Role of Prosumers in the Interactive and Digital Processes of Public Relations
Authors: Pulido Polo Marta
Published: April 2020

Public relations describe strategic processes of relationship management that organizations that seek excellence promote with their stakeholders. The purpose of these processes is to generate and maintain a dialogic communication system through which to generate a climate of reciprocity based on the search for common interests, agreements, and expectations. Under this approach, this chapter analyzes the figure of the influencer as a new category of emerging stakeholder, an opinion leader 2.0 capable of generating a state of opinion in the digital community that transcends the general traditional public opinion, surpassing the traditional model two-step flow of communication.
Lux Radio Theatre
Authors: Rodríguez-Centeno Juan Carlos
Published: April 2020

Lux Radio Theatre was a radio program that remained on the air in the United States of America for more than twenty years (1934-1955). It aired radio plays which were adaptations of hit movies. Dozens of Hollywood movie stars were involved in the program, which was created by an advertiser and its agency, at the service of a sole product: Lux toilet soap. This chapter provides a discussion about the complex and costly, in terms of production, mode of advertising that were these radio plays, a unique encounter between Hollywood and advertising.
360° Video as an Opportunity for the Inclusion of Product Placement
Authors: Pavlič Jani , Tomažič Tina
Published: April 2020

This chapter focuses on 360 ° video in the context of product placement. At the beginning, a description of advertising related to profitability as an important factor for organizations' success is given, and the need is exposed for effective advertising approaches. This is followed by a description of 360° video, including all relevant theoretical concepts. The latter serves for placing the modality of the medium between traditional video and virtual reality. The following section focuses on the essential aspects of product placement characteristics for studying in terms of 360° video. Finally, the topics are linked by examining the correlation between concepts and analyzing existing videos across certain platforms intended for immersive story-telling. 360° video is identified as an immersive medium with potential for the inclusion of product placement. At the end, there is a discussion including theoretical implications, future directions, and limitations are exposed, and a conclusion is reached.
Post-Truths and Fake News in Disinformation Contexts
Authors: Ramirez-Alvarado Maria del Mar
Published: April 2020

This chapter analyses the concept of post-truth related to the circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in the formation of public opinion than emotional appeals and personal beliefs, and the subsequent projection of this phenomenon in social media, as various studies have demonstrated that some fake news stories generate more engagement from users than vetted reporting from reliable news sources. This will start from a general introduction and an associated theoretical reflection, and then focus on the case of Venezuela and its recent historical circumstances in order to analyze how fake news circulates in this country stimulated by a context of widespread disinformation.
The Uncertain Participatory Geoweb
Authors: Corbett Jon , Brennan Samantha , Whitely Aidan
Published: April 2020

Communities in the Okanagan Valley, Canada are increasingly under threat from forest fires due to climate change and expanding urban development into fire interface zones. The effects of forest fires are not always quantifiable ‘hard' impacts. The fluid and chaotic ‘soft' impacts can have a profound effect on the collective consciousness of the people living close to those fires. To make sense of these impacts and understand where and when these forest fires have taken place, authors developed and implemented a participatory geoweb tool to support citizen-to-citizen dialogue and tell the stories of these impacts. The tool was launched in 2014. This chapter explores the interlinked ‘chaos' that exists between forest fires, volunteered geographic information, and the participatory geoweb. It further examines how academics and practitioners understand the post-project and longer-term impact of participatory geoweb projects and reflects on how the contemporary state of its practice contributes to transformative social change.
Emotional Mapping in Local Neighbourhood Planning
Authors: Pánek Jiří , Pászto Vít
Published: April 2020

Urban planning and decision-making can often be elitist and non-participatory processes. Citizens are frequently a neglected part of these activities and are usually only involved in and considered before elections, or are informed about the planned changes at the very last stage, often beyond the possibility to change anything. Nevertheless, citizens have a relevant role in the processes of town planning and administration; and this chapter describes the implementation of a web-based crowdsourcing tool for the collection and visualisation of emotion-based and subjective information on maps used in the neighbourhood planning and revitalisation. The tool was used in four case studies of neighbourhood development consultations in various locations in the Czech Republic in 2015-2018. The results presented in this chapter allow for the replication of the research methodology in other areas, both location-wise as well as topic-wise.
Smart Technologies, E-Participation, and the ‘Right to the Territory'
Authors: Graziano Teresa
Published: April 2020

The chapter is finalized to scrutinize the capacity of netizens' e-participation and/or online activism to effectively influence territorial governance, by analyzing the role and the relevance of the Web in shaping new and variegated forms of “social movements” both in urban and in rural/marginal contexts trough a comparative analysis of four case studies in Italy. The main aim is to critically rethink - conceptually and politically - the intersection among sustainability, smart technologies, local communities, and the “right to the territory”, to provide new theoretical insights about bottom-up and “participative” concepts of smartness.
Game Mechanics as Thinking Mechanisms for Urban Development
Authors: Constantinescu Teodora , Devisch Oswald , Kostov Georgi
Published: April 2020

We witness a growing interest from urban designers in technology to understand cities as complex systems. However, more than often, the use of such technologies is a one-way knowledge generation, meaning that the urban designer is the one benefiting the most. Serious games have the ability to create concepts that lead to a better understanding of the issues that arise in urban development, improving society's implication in the process. This chapter addresses the potential of serious game mechanics to produce mutual transfer of knowledge and solutions able to enhance urban development strategies. Serious games can be one possible answer to motivate citizens and create social awareness and appropriation. Discussing the City Makers game prototype, authors underline the advantages of game mechanics as thinking mechanisms in improving urban development dynamics.
Durable Civic Technology
Authors: Ward Mather Lisa , Robinson Pamela
Published: April 2020

Minecraft is a video game that allows players to interact with a 3D environment. Launched in 2009, Minecraft has surprisingly durable popularity. Users report that Minecraft is easy to learn and understand, engaging and immersive, and adaptable. Outside North America it has been piloted for urban planning public consultation processes. Five years ago, authors conducted research using key informant interviews. This study asked practicing urban planners in Canada to assess Minecraft's potential. Key findings address Minecraft's usefulness as a visualization tool, its role in building public trust in local planning processes, the place of play in planning, and the challenges associated with its use in public consultation. This chapter explores Minecraft's ongoing use, offers reflections as to how this game could effectively be used for public consultation, and concludes with key lessons for urban planners whose practice intersects with our digitally-enabled world, with a particular focus on new application possibilities in smart city planning projects.
Developing Cultural Competence
Authors: Smith Erika Cornelius
Published: April 2020

The growing popularity of short-term study abroad and faculty-led immersion offer scholars and educators a new opportunity to study the impact of cross-cultural experiential learning practices on fostering cross-cultural competency among business students. Rising foreign direct investment, international trade, the growing significance of emerging markets, and other socio-political elements of globalization are reshaping 21st century business practices. Pedagogies of business education, including sales and marketing education, must adapt to these changes and provide an emphasis on cross-cultural understanding and its impact on business decision making, along with fostering skills for cultural sensitivity. This article will review two relevant theoretical frameworks, transformative learning theory, and experiential learning theory, which describe the processes by which students develop intercultural competence, particularly with respect to faculty-led, short-term study immersion programs. It will outline a series of best practices for designing, measuring, and implementing such programs in higher education and conclude with brief recommendations for future research.
Teaching and Learning Cultural Metacognition in Marketing and Sales Education
Authors: Phelan James E.
Published: April 2020

Thinking about cultural assumptions, referred to as cultural metacognition, can help increase awareness, build trust, and create successful marketing and sales outcomes. The role of cultural metacognition in marketing and sales education helps students build a cultural metacognition knowledge base and promotes appreciation of its importance and effect on business enhancement. The context of this article will help amplify knowledge, ideas, and skills necessary to connect various issues of teaching and learning cultural metacognition. This article will facilitate business educators' teaching practices that foster learning cultural metacognition and its effects on marketing and sales. The ultimate goal is to help elevate teaching, learning, and assessment practices related to the topic of cultural metacognition in marketing and sales education.
Intelligent Authentication and Message Forwarding in VANET
Authors: Godse Sachin Pandurang , Mahalle Parikshit N.
Published: April 2020

Vehicle ad hoc networks face the challenging issue of vehicle communication and its security. So, these issues become key research topics for global VANET researchers. Researcher's current solutions mostly focus on either of the problems but currently they are now heading towards finding satisfactory solutions for both of the above-mentioned problems. VANET networks should be robust and strongly dependent on their communication rapidness, message authentication, priority messaging, and security. Here, the authors discuss four VANET issues: authentication delays, fake messages, priority-based messaging, and VANET security, with respective solutions. This article presents an enhanced ECC-based algorithm to minimize authentication delays and provide secure VANET. Result analysis shows that the algorithm is effective in reducing the authentication delays and improves communication rapidness, improves the security model operation to detect Sybil and reply attack, and promotes intelligent message forwarding to block fake messages and increases message delivery performance.
Analyzing Decomposition Procedures in LP and Unraveling for the Two Person Zero Sum Game and Transportation Problems
Authors: Das Haridas Kumar , Dhar Abir Sutra
Published: April 2020

This paper studies some decomposition methods, including Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition (DWD), decomposition-based pricing (DBP), Benders decomposition (BD), and a recently proposed improved decomposition (ID) method for solving linear programs (LPs). The authors then develop a new decomposition algorithm for solving LPs in a general form, allowing authors to combine the concept of Benders decomposition and decomposition-based pricing methods. The authors generate conditions for solving problems that have either infeasible or unbounded solutions. As an illustration, the authors give the corresponding models and numerical results for two standard mathematical programs: the two-person zero-sum game and the transportation problem. The authors compare several procedures and identify which one produces the best solution by giving the authors the smallest iteration number. This study reveals that the algorithm along with Benders decomposition produce the most efficient computational solutions of LPs.
Comparação da carga de treinamento de atletas profissionais entre modos de treinos específicos do voleibol e de força
Authors: De Faria Bruno Silveira Homem , Costa Campos Yuri De Almeida , Toledo Heglison , Miranda Renato , Vianna Jeferson Macedo , Bara Filho Maurício Gattás
Published: April 2020

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a carga de treinamento em três tipos de treinamentos de uma equipe de voleibol profissional.. Participaram do estudo 28 jogadores (26,6 ± 4,7 anos; 91,5 ± 8,5 Kg; 194,1 ± 6,0 cm). Foi realizada uma análise descritiva de 29 sessões de treino técnico, 84 tecnico-tático e 75 de musculação e isoladamente das variáveis que compõem a carga de treinamento, PSE e o tempo de duração da sessão, posteriormente sendo reunidos em média e desvio padrão de acordo com tipo de treino. Para análise dos dados foi adotado o teste de Shapiro-Wilk e em seguida aplicou-se o teste Anova Two-Way com o Post Hoc de Tamhane e também foi utilizado o tamanho do efeito para análise das comparações. Os resultados demonstraram respostas significativas e grande tamanho de efeitos quando comparados técnico e técnico-tático com a musculação na carga interna de treinamento TxM (TE=1,2: grande; p= 0,002); TTxM (TE=1,3: grande; p= 0,001) e no tempo de duração da sessão TxM (TE=1,7: grande; p= 0,001); TTxM (TE=2,0: grande; p= 0,001), já a PSE da sessão apresentou apenas uma diferença sigifcativa TTxM (TE= 0,8: moderado; p= 0,001). Os estímulos de treinamentos específicos de quadra como técnico e técnico-tático promoveram maior carga interna nos atletas do que o treino de força, através principalmente pela influencia da variável tempo de duração da sessão que refletiu a carga externa.
Tensile and Compressive Creep Behavior of IN718 Alloy Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Xu Zhen , Guo Chuan , Yu Zhen Rong , Li Xin , Hu Xiao Gang , Zhu Qiang
Published: April 2020

Tensile and compressive creep behavior of SLMed IN718 alloy under 973K (700°C) were investigated. Crept samples were analyzed by SEM and TEM to expose evolution of microstructure, precipitates and dislocation structure during the creep process. Results show that initial creep rate under compression is higher than under tension for the same creep conditions. Minimum creep rates are approximately the same both in tensile and compressive creep tests. The different creep behaviors may be related to the fact that tension stress promotes precipitations of fine needle-like γ′′ phases, while compression stress promotes precipitations of large size δ phases. The tension-compression asymmetry owns to the increment of chemical potential varying with the stress orientation.
Studying the Effect of Fine Particles of Tungsten Carbide on the Macro-Structure, Hardness and Microhardness of Gradient Steel Billets
Authors: Anikeev Andrey N. , Chumanov Ilia V. , Sedukhin Vadim
Published: April 2020

Creating a gradient of properties in a single material is challenging for scientists and engineers. For this purpose, such methods are used as: welding of steels of different chemical compositions, joint rolling of steel sheets, sealing and surfacing of various kinds. All of these methods have a big disadvantage: under load, the material is destroyed in the weakest place - the place where the layers join. In this article, the authors proposed to obtain a gradient of properties in steel castings due to the introduction of dispersed particles of tungsten carbide into the crystallizing melt during centrifugal casting. The particles introduced serve as crystallization centers, accelerate the crystallization process and increase certain types of mechanical properties (hardness, microhardness, tensile strength). In addition, the particles of tungsten carbide have high hardness; therefore, in the structure of the workpieces they serve as reinforcing elements that strengthen the structure. The uneven distribution of particles in the preform being formed is possible for two reasons: tungsten carbide has a density greater than the melt, and besides, centrifugal force acts on them. The article describes the experiment and its results on the production of metal preforms with a gradient of properties. The introduced particles significantly influenced the macro-structure of the prepared castings. The article also presents the results of a study of the effect of particles on the hardness and micro-hardness of the resulting blanks.
Influence of Special Additives on Characteristics of Concrete with SiC Based Filler
Authors: Pernicova Radka , Kolomaznik Tomas
Published: April 2020

This document explains and demonstrates the influence of plasticizing additives on concrete – wet cured concrete with aggregate based on silicon carbide specifically. These special products have been designed for the foundry industry and have specific requirements for treatment in their early curing stage. The paper deals with the optimization of the currently used formula in order to increase their mechanical and surface properties by adding several different types of plasticizing additives and/or combinations thereof. Indicators of the measured characteristics have been mechanical tests, surface properties, and bulk density, which represented the SiC indicator of the mixture. With regard to the measured data, it can be stated that the effect of the plasticizing additive on special concrete with SiC aggregate have been considerable and depended very much on the type of additive used and its dosage, as the resulting mechanical properties differed by up to 40%.
Influenza Species and Subtypes Circulation among Hospitalized Patients in Laleh Hospital during Two Influenza Seasonal (2016-2017 and 2017-2018) Using a Multiplex Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Azhar Iman Rezaee , Mohraz Minoo , Mardani Masoud , Tavakoli Mohammad Ali , Afshar Amin Ehteshami , Zamani Mohammad , Sadeghpoor Simin , Safari Saeid , Dadashpoor Roozbeh , Rezaee Mahsa , Shirvani Fariba , Azimi Shohreh , Heydarifard Zahra , Ranjbar Hamidreza Hagh , Lotfi Amir Hossain , Mosadegh Farhad , Hashemnejad Farhad , Jazayeri Seyed Mohammad
Published: April 2020

The introduction of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques has improved the detection of respiratory viruses, particularly with the use of multiplex real-time technique with the capability of simultaneous detection of various pathogens in a single reaction. The aim of this study was to apply the above technology for the diagnosis of influenza infections and at the same time to differentiate between common flu species between hospitalized patients in Laleh hospital (Iran) between two flu seasons (2016- 2017 and 2017-2018). Different respiratory specimens were collected from 540 patients from a period of December 2016 to May 2018 and were sent to the laboratory for molecular diagnosis. RNAs were extracted and subsequently, a multiplex real time PCR identifying flu A, flu B and typing flu A (H1N1) was carried out. The mean age of patients was 47.54±23.96. 216 (40%) and 321 (60%) of subjects were male and female, respectively. 219 out of 540 (40.5%) were positive for influenza infection including flu A (n=97, 44.3%), flu A (H1N1) (n=45, 20.7%) and flu B (n=77, 35%). Flu A was the dominant species on 2016-2017 and flu B was the major species on 2017-2018. Flu A (H1N1) was comparable in both time periods. Flu infections were most frequently diagnosed in age groups 21-40. Flu-positive patients suffered more from body pain and sore throat than flunegative patients with significant statistical difference (P values <0.001). The mean duration of hospitalization was shorter for flu-positive patients (P value = 0.016). Application of multiplex real time PCR could facilitate the influenza diagnosis in a short period of time, benefiting patients from exclusion of bacterial infections and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic therapy. Influenza diagnosis was not achieved in up to 60% of flu-like respiratory infections, suggesting the potential benefit of adopting the same methodology for assessing the involvement of other viral or/and bacterial pathogens in those patients.
A new species of the catfish genus Cambeva from the Paranapanema river drainage, southeastern Brazil (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)
Authors: Katz Axel M. , Costa Wilson J.E.M.
Published: April 2020

The recently described catfish trichomycterid genus Cambeva comprises about 25 valid species, occurring mostly in river basins of south-eastern and southern Brazil. Fifteen species are endemic to the Paraná river basin, of which three are endemic to the Paranapanema river drainage. Herein we describe a fourth new species, Cambeva guareiensis n. sp., known only from the Guareí river. Cambeva guareiensis is similar to C. brachykechenos, C. cubataonis, C. diabola, C. davisi, C. diatropoporos, C. pascuali, C. poikilos and C. stawiarski by having a colour pattern consisting of dark brown spots scattered on the flank and can be differentiated by an exclusive combination of characters, including: the shape of the autopalatine; number of branchiostegal, anal-fin, dorsal-fin, dorsal and ventral caudal procurrent, and pectoral-fin rays; number of interopercular and opercular odontodes; number of vertebrae; and, insertion of anal fin, pelvic fin and urogenital papillae. This study indicates the potential for discovering a greater still unknown trichomycterid species diversity in the Paraná river basin.
A SEA BREEZE NUMERICAL SIMULATION AND CIRCULATION ANALYSIS IN ORAN, ALGERIA, URBAN ATMOSPHERE
Authors: Benlefki Abdelkrim , Douaiba Benouada , Abbes Azzi
Published: April 2020

In this paper the sea breeze dynamics in Oran agglomeration atmosphere, in the north Algeria, is investigated and analyzed by a numerical simulation of Oran agglomeration atmosphere, using SUBMESO model during diurnal cycle of June 24, 2010, in order to predict the spatio-temporal starting of sea breeze, its intensity and relative direction through atmospheric flow variations analysis, and to evaluate the role of thermal circulations on sea breeze direction, intensity and ventilation and its effect on pollutant transport. The study of this area has not been investigated or analyzed in any framework, the numerical simulation was preceded by a topographic and surface data processing in order to generate the grid simulation, with a specific characteristics used by the SUBEMESO and SM2-U (Soil Model for Sub-Meso scales Urbanized) models. This simulation allowed us to know all sea breeze characteristics during the study period.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF LAKE HAWASSA FOR MULTIPLE DESIGNATED WATER USES
Authors: Worako Adimasu Woldesenbet
Published: April 2020

Lake Hawassa is one of the Major Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes which is situated in southern regional state, which has a closed basin system and receives water from only Tikurwuha River and runoff from the catchment. Quality of the lake water is vital for the surrounding community for proper and safe use of the lake. The present study was designed to examine the physicochemical and biological water quality suitability for multiple purposes and to determine trophic state index of the lake for a period of three months from December to February, 2011/12. Water samples were collected from the lake on monthly basis and analyzed for all water quality parameters by using standard methods. Data analysis was performed by descriptive, multivariate analysis (MANOVA%
CFD Simulation of the Dispersion of Exhaust Gases in a Traffic Loaded Street of Astana, Kazakhstan
Authors: Akhatova Ardak , Kassymov Assylan , Kazmaganbetova Meruyert , Rojas-Solórzano Luis Ramon
Published: April 2020

The aim of this paper is to consider one of the most traffic-loaded regions of Astana city (Kazakhstan) and to determine the concentration of carbon-monoxide (CO) in the air during the peak hours. CFD analysis based on the SolidWorks-EFD platform was used to simulate the dispersion of contaminants given the estimated emission rates and weather conditions at the crossroad of Bogenbay Batyr and Zhenis Avenues in Astana. Turbulence prediction was based on k-ε model with wall functions. The governing equations were discretized using the finite volume method and a 2nd order spatial scheme. The mesh verification was based on 1% convergence criterion for a 50% of mesh density increment; air pressure near the wall of a selected building was chosen as the parameter to control the convergence. Numerical results are presented for prevailing conditions during all 4 seasons of the year, demonstrating that the highest levels of CO are recorded in summer and reach the values up to 11.2 ppm which are still lower than the maximum level admitted for humans. Nevertheless, obtained results show that Astana is gradually becoming a city that is likely to reach the critical levels of pollutants in the nearest future if control measures are not taken with enough anticipation. As for a future work, it is proposed to perform in-situ validation of specific scenarios to check and support the results obtained with CFD and to develop then specific policies for tackling the problem before it becomes evident.
Future scenarios (2011-2040) of temporal and spatial changes in precipitation in the Paraitinga and Paraibuna watersheds, São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Silva Rodrigo Cesar da , Fisch Gilberto , Santos Thiago Adriano dos
Published: April 2020

The alteration of global climate regimes due to anthropic action and excessive emission of greenhouse gases has been widely researched because it alters the patterns of climatological normals, generating changes in temperatures and precipitation worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of precipitation in the Paraitinga and Paraibuna watersheds that together form the Paraibuna Dam, the main one of the Paraiba do Sul river watershed. This dam supplies the São Paulo Metropolitan Region by transporting water to the Cantareira System, the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region by transporting water to the Guandu watershed, and the Paraiba Valley Metropolitan Region, one of the most industrialized in Brazil. To investigate future precipitation trends, past and future climate simulations were used from the HadCM3/Eta model using the SRES (Special Report Emission Scenarios) A1B, and precipitation analysis using Quantis techniques to determine extreme rainfall and drought periods. The results point to an increase in precipitation averages in the region, followed by a greater intensity of extreme rainfall, which may lead to a higher occurrence of natural disasters such as landslides.
Performance of sewage treatment plant with septic tank, anaerobic filter and constructed wetland with Typha spp
Authors: Neto Paulo Fortes , Fortes Nara Lucia Perondi , Duarte Elizabeth Da Costa Neves Fernandes de Almeida , Fragoso Rita Do Amaral , Henriques Ana Catarina Marcos , Lopes Sofia Helena Lewis , Pereira Luiza Fernanda dos Santos
Published: April 2020

The study reports the performance of a sanitary effluent treatment constituted by a septic tank, anaerobic filter and constructed wetland. The study monitored nutrient’s, carbonaceous material’s and thermotolerant coliform’s (CT) removal efficiency during 12 months. The treatment system included a septic tank, an anaerobic filter and a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland cultivated with Typha spp. Effluent samples were monthly collected before and after the septic tank, anaerobic filter and wetland. The removal efficiency for N-NH+4 was 37.6%, 66.3% for total P, 37% for COD, 54% for BOD and 99.4% for CT. The anaerobic filter and wetland were more efficient than the septic tank. P-total reduction was higher in the constructed wetland than in the anaerobic filter. Climatic conditions influenced the evaluated constituent’s removal being the highest values during hot months.
Biomass burning and cardiovascular diseases in Mato Grosso State: a spatial approach
Authors: Santos Junior Antônio Carlos Pereira dos , Nascimento Luiz Fernando Costa , Almeida Ana Aparecida da Silva , Targa Marcelo Dos Santos
Published: April 2020

Environmental factors have influenced human health leading to illness due to cardiovascular diseases. This ecological and exploratory study analyzes the spatial distribution of burn outbreaks and rates of hospitalizations due to cardiovascular diseases in the municipalities of the State of Mato Grosso between the years of 2012 and 2015. Thematic and kernel maps were created for the outbreaks of fires and for hospitalizations for the years 2012 to 2015. Moran Global indices, were calculated for these variables. During the study period, 758023 outbreaks of fires and 57269 hospitalizations were identified; Moran index were significant for burn outbreaks, but for hospitalization rates, except for 2012, there was no significant spatial autocorrelation. Thematic and kernel maps show higher occurrences of fires in the north of the state, in the so-called arch of deforestation, and higher hospitalization rates in the southern region of the state, possibly due to the action of winds, displacing pollutants generated by the fires to the south of the state.