bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Method of Surface Interception To Access Annulus With Abnormal Gas Pressure
Authors: Wilson Adam
Published: December 2016

This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper IPTC 18122, “A Safe and Efficient Method of Surface Interception To Access Outermost Sealed Annulus Charged With Abnormal Gas Pressure Relieves Well- Integrity Concerns,” by Prashun Kumar Das and Wael Moneer El-Mandrawy, Qatargas, prepared for the 2014 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, 10–12 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

One of the operator’s newly acquired ventures is in the North field offshore Qatar. Abnormal rise in Annuli C and D pressures during the last phase of drilling highlighted the need to investigate the condition of producing wells on other platforms. The chances of inner annuli becoming charged with shallow-gas pressure and possible communication to Annulus D was thought to be a well-integrity concern. Establishing safe access to the sealed and potentially gas-charged Annulus D thus posed a challenge.

Introduction

The North field is offshore northeast of Qatar and is the world’s largest nonassociated-gas field. The wells are typically 7-in. monobore completed with a 26-in. conductor and three casing strings. Wells are completed with a liner-top isolation packer, tied back to the surface with 7-in. corrosion-resistant-alloy tubing.

The annuli between the well casings are labeled A (7×10¾ in.), B (10¾×13? in.), C (13?×18? in.), and D (18?×26 in.). Provisions were made for monitoring and bleeding off pressures in Annuli A, B, and C.

Background

During the drilling and well-completion phase, some of the wells developed unusual pressures in Annulus C. Attempts were made to bleed off gas through the drilling facility. However, pressures built up every time, indicating a continuous intrusion of gas. Further pressure bleedoff was not attempted because of concerns that it may open up the communication channels and aggravate the situation.

Several attempts were then made to lubricate and fill Annulus C with treated brine, but these attempts did not help to subdue the gas pressure. A proposal was then made to operate the wells with modified maximum-allowable-annulus- surface-pressure and maximum-allowable- wellhead-operating-pressure techniques for Annulus C, considering it fully charged with gas.

With time, it was established that the same wells also developed gas pressure in Annulus D.
Exploratory Assessment of Aerial Gamma Radiometrics across the Conterminous United States
Authors: Rouze Gregory S. , Morgan Cristine L.S. , McBratney Alex B. , Neely Haly L.
Published: December 2016

Core Ideas

US aerial gamma radiometrics were analyzed with legacy soil data.

Relationships for aerial gamma and soils data differed by physiography and geology.

Gamma radiometrics could best map soil texture within relatively flat landscapes.

A US map where aerial radiometrics is most useful for soil mapping is provided.

Gamma radiometrics have recently been connected with soil properties at field scales (10 m) and thus may have potential to characterize soil across regional scales using data from preexisting aerial surveys. However, the relationship between γ radiometrics and soil properties across these larger spatial extents (100–1000 km) has been largely unexplored, particularly within the United States. Thus, the overall purpose of this work was to test the effectiveness of aerial γ radiometrics in modeling soil properties across the conterminous United States. After discovering that up to 19% of aerial γ radiometric variability could be explained by variations in physiography and parent material type, linear regression models were created between soil properties (clay and sand contents, cation exchange capacity, CaCO3 equivalent, and pH) and aerial γ dose rate based on physiography and parent material type. Overall, aerial γ radiometrics was most frequently suitable for mapping clay content within flat landscapes of unconsolidated and sedimentary parent materials. Suitability maps for all investigated soil properties are presented. The importance of aerial γ radiometrics relative to other covariates was then assessed. The predictive power of aerial γ radiometrics, relative to other covariates, was mixed due to a non‐optimized sampling scheme. Results suggest that aerial γ radiometrics can be useful in predicting soil properties across large spatial extents after considering both physiography and parent material type. However, a true assessment of the utility of aerial γ radiometrics across the United States requires a soil sampling strategy that represents its feature space.
Improving a graduate Marketing Management course: a case study with input from students
Authors: M. Dubas Khalid , D. Cerra Maria
Published: December 2016

The authors develop a conceptual model of a student’s course satisfaction based on several factors that influence course learning outcomes and student’s satisfaction. This model provides a general framework to guide course design and to influence students’ course outcomes. A Marketing Management course is a part of a typical MBA program. This paper presents ideas for enhancing the design and teaching of such a course in an online setting based on teaching experience at MBA programs at several universities in the USA. Suggestions are also presented for improving team productivity and the quality of team output in an online setting. As a case study, the authors discuss a graduate Marketing Management course that was taught at a private US university in spring 2016. They discuss the design, teaching and strategies for enhancing student learning outcomes in this course. Suggestions by students to improve this course are also presented.
Keywords: marketing, student’s satisfaction, higher education, universities. JEL Classification: M3, M1, I23
Role of consumer personality and involvement in understanding customer experience
Authors: Rawat Jyoti , Jit Singh Mann Bikram
Published: December 2016

The objective of this study is to understand customer experience which is a construct made up of experiential elements created by the organization such as product, service scape, and brand and that of consumer’s personal values and preferences. When the experiential element interacts with the consumer construct, it starts an involvement process that makes the consumer evaluate the product (as a measure) on hedonic and utilitarian dimensions. The product/brand, when used, elicits emotions that lead to purchase intention behavior which is presented in the structural model. The authors have followed Tan, Foo and Kwek (2004) nested model approach in order to achieve the best fitting model for testing our hypothesis.
Keywords: customer experience, personality traits, consumer involvement, product evaluation, emotions and satisfaction. JEL Classification: M3, D11, D12
Developmental obstacles adversely affecting emerging contractors in the construction industry of Limpopo province
Authors: Worku Zeleke
Published: December 2016

This study attempts to identify and quantify factors that adversely affect the growth and development of emerging contractors in the construction industry of Limpopo Province in South Africa. The study is based on a stratified random sample of 229 emerging contractors who operate in the construction industry of Limpopo Province. The degree of entrepreneurial skills in emerging contractors was assessed by using a composite index defined by Beck and Demirguc-Kunt (2012). Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used for data collection and analysis. The study found that 139 of the 229 emerging contractors selected for the study (60.70%) lacked entrepreneurial skills by the standards of Beck and Demirguc-Kunt (2012), whereas 90 of them (40.18%) had adequate entrepreneurial skills by the same standards. The study also showed that 141 of the 229 emerging contractors in the study (61.57%) lacked basic skills in construction engineering. More than half of the contractors in the study had disadvantaged backgrounds in terms of technical and entrepreneurial skills as well as capital and access to finance. The study found that 122 of the 229 emerging contractors (53.28%) were viable financially while the remaining 107 emerging contractors (46.72%) were not viable financially. Results obtained from the study showed that viability in emerging contractors was significantly influenced by barriers such as lack of construction engineering skills, lack of entrepreneurial skills, lack of access to finance, inability to network with well-established contractors, inability to draw up business plans, and delay in payment for services rendered, in a decreasing order of strength.
Keywords: construction industry, emerging contractors, Limpopo Province. JEL Classification: C5, M21
Factors that influence ethical and legal practice of competitive intelligence in the property sector a conceptual model
Authors: Eric Nenzhelele Tshilidzi
Published: December 2016

In spite of ethical concerns surrounding the practice of competitive intelligence (CI), firms in the property sector practise CI ethically and legally. No research has been conducted to establish the factors that influence firms in the property sector to practice CI ethically and legally. This research aimed to explore the literature to establish factors that may influence property practitioner firms to practise CI legally and ethically. The research was qualitative in nature and used content analysis to analyze the collected data. The research established eight factors that may influence property practitioner firms to practise CI ethically and legally.
Keywords: competitive intelligence, competitive intelligence ethics, competitive intelligence code of ethics, competitive advantage, decision making, property sector, real estate JEL Classification: M54
Forecasting the development of leasing market (on the example of Ukraine)
Authors: Hontar Daria , Opeshko Nataliya , Kolodizieva Svitlana
Published: December 2016

The purpose of the study consists in the investigation of the leasing market and determining the prospects of its development in Ukraine, which will make possible for lessors to justify the choice of their strategies. There were forecasted values of the analyzed indicators of leasing market for the following three periods: the third quarter of 2016, fourth quarter of 2016, first quarter of 2017. It was proposed to calculate the integral development index of leasing services in Ukraine based on the amount of leasing companies in Ukraine, the amount of financial leasing contracts, the share of long-term lease agreements, the value of financial leasing contracts, the proportion of borrowed funds in the structure of leasing transactions financing, the share reward the lessor for the leased property in the structure of the lease payments, in the amount of leasing companies in Ukraine, the amount of financial leasing contracts, the share of long-term lease agreements, the value of financial leasing contracts, the proportion of borrowed funds in the structure of leasing transactions financing, the share reward the lessor for the leased property in the structure of the lease payments. The authors defined the growth of Ukrainian leasing market in the first quarter of 2017. The proposed integral development index is applicable both on regional and international level. The results of study can be used for substantiation of the choice of lessors’ strategies by developing alternative strategic decisions, the optimal use of which should lead to a further growth of the leasing market.
Keywords: leasing, leasing companies, methods of multivariate statistical analysis, forecasting, market of leasing services. JEL Classification: C53, G17, G21
The Courtyard House: Can a Sustainable Future Learn from a Context Relevant Past
Authors: Bougdah Hocine
Published: December 2016

This paper looks at the courtyard house as a traditional urban dwellings of yesteryears with a view to explore its potential in informing the housing developments of the future.Â  In order to address the question, the paper starts with a historical overview of this built form as an urban dwellings that fulfilled its functional and spatial requirements in times gone by. It then goes on to highlight the inadequcy of post colonial housing solutions in Algeria and to look into two important aspects of this traditional housing typology; its socio-cultural relevance and environmental performance. The analysis is carried out using both secondary research in the form of three examples from the literature. and primary research carried out as field work in the form of temperature measurements inside a house, during the hot season, in Boussaada (Algeria). The discussion and concluding remarks attempts to make an arguments for re-considering what could be learned from such traditional housing typology to inform future urban development that would subscribe to the values of sustainable development. Â Courtyard house, urabn development, typology, cultural relevance, environmental performance, traditional architecture, sustainable development
Transboundary water allocation under water scarce and uncertain conditions: a stochastic bankruptcy approach
Authors: Degefu Dagmawi Mulugeta , He Weijun , Zhao Jian Hua
Published: December 2016

Designing a feasible and stable water sharing mechanism for transboundary river basins is a big challenge. The stochastic and uncertain characteristics of water flow in these rivers is among the main reasons which make the formation of cooperative coalitions with feasible water allocations and self-enforceable allocation agreements difficult. When the water in these river basins is scarce the task becomes even more challenging. This article focuses on the application of stochastic game theoretic extension of the bankruptcy concept to transboundary water resource sharing under water scarce and uncertain conditions. Among the water allocation vectors obtained from stochastic bankruptcy rules only the ones from the stochastic constrained equal awards rule were self-enforcing under uncertainty. Furthermore, the authors also proposed an allocation rule that can be used under a stochastic setting. The proposed rule provides water allocations that are self-enforcing in the absence of uncertainty. Generally, the application of the stochastic bankruptcy approach could be a source of important strategic information which can serve for the sustainable sharing and management of these vital sources of fresh water, particularly during water scarcity.
Optimization of copper removal from aqueous solutions in a continuous electrochemical cell divided by cellulosic separator
Authors: Najafpoor Ali Asghar , Davoudi Mojtaba , Salmani Elham Rahmanpour
Published: December 2016

Copper, as an inseparable part of many industrial discharges, threatens both public and environmental health. In this work, an electrochemical cell utilizing a cellulosic separator was used to evaluate Cu removal using graphite anodes and stainless steel cathodes in a continuous-flow mode reactor. In the experimental matrix, Cu concentration (1–5 mg L−1), electrolysis time (20–90 min), and current intensity (0.1–0.4 A) were employed. Results showed that the maximum removal efficiency of copper was obtained as 99%. The removal efficiency was independent of initial copper concentration and directly related to electrolysis time and current intensity. Energy consumption was more dependent on current intensity than electrolysis time. Under optimal conditions (75.8 min electrolysis time, 0.18 A current intensity, and 3 mg L−1 copper concentration), the removal efficiency was obtained as 91% while 7.05 kWh m−3 electrical energy was consumed. The differences between the actual and predicted data under optimal conditions were 0.42% for copper removal and 0.23% for energy consumption, which signify the performance and reliability of the developed models. The results exhibited the suitability of the electrochemical reduction for copper removal from aqueous solutions, which was facilitated under alkaline conditions prevailing in the cathodic compartment due to applying a cell divided by a cellulosic separator.
Characterization of a Polymeric Membrane for the Separation of Hydrogen in a Mixture with CO2
Authors: Malagón-Romero Dionisio H. , Ladino Alexander , Ortiz Nataly , Green Liliana P.
Published: December 2016

Hydrogen is expected to play an important role as a clean, reliable and renewable energy source. A key challenge is the production of hydrogen in an economically and environmentally sustainable way on an industrial scale. One promising method of hydrogen production is via biological processes using agricultural resources, where the hydrogen is found to be mixed with other gases, such as carbon dioxide. Thus, to separate hydrogen from the mixture, it is challenging to implement and evaluate a simple, low cost, reliable and efficient separation process. So, the aim of this work was to develop a polymeric membrane for hydrogen separation. The developed membranes were made of polysulfone via phase inversion by a controlled evaporation method with 5 wt % and 10 wt % of polysulfone resulting in thicknesses of 132 and 239 micrometers, respectively. Membrane characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ASTM D882 tensile test. Performance was characterized using a 23 factorial experiment using the time lag method, comparing the results with those from gas chromatography (GC). As a result, developed membranes exhibited dense microstructures, low values of RMS roughness, and glass transition temperatures of approximately 191.75 °C and 190.43 °C for the 5 wt % and 10 wt % membranes, respectively. Performance results for the given membranes showed a hydrogen selectivity of 8.20 for an evaluated gas mixture 54% hydrogen and 46% carbon dioxide. According to selectivity achieved, H2 separation from carbon dioxide is feasible with possibilities of scalability. These results are important for consolidating hydrogen production from biological processes.
Height growth characteristics of one-year-old northern red oak seedlings (Quercus rubra L.) in full light conditions
Authors: Šušić Nikola Miroljub , Bobinac Martin , Kerkez Ivona , Bauer Živković Andrijana , Vojinović Nikola
Published: December 2016

In this nursery experiment, 100 one-year-old northern red oak seedlings were measured at the end of the 2016 growing season. Measured growth elements were: total height, root collar diameter and total leaf area. All seedlings were classified according to the presence of polycyclism into four types: one-flush growth, two-flush growth, three-flush growth, and four-flush growth type. The number of new flushes (shoots) is a good indicator of total height, root collar diameter and total leaf area.
GLOBAL MARKETING AND ADVERTISING UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL PARADOXES
Authors: Parmita Widya
Published: December 2016

A book review on Global Marketing and Advertising to Understand Cultural Paradoxes.
Dynamic Changes of Sp6 Transgene Expression in Dental Epithelial Cells during Long-term Culture
Authors: Utami Trianna W. , Miyoshi Keiko , Hagita Hiroko , Yanuaryska Ryna D. , Horiguchi Taigo , Noma Takafumi
Published: December 2016

To investigate the function of specificity protein 6 (SP6) transcription factor by gain-of-function procedure, we established cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-driven Sp6 stable transformants, C9 cells, using dental epithelialderived cells. Initially, C9 cells produced a significant amount of SP6 protein. However, SP6 expression was reduced in these cells upon long-term culture. We could detect Sp6 transcripts in C9 cells by RT-PCR throughout the passages, although the CMV promoter is known to be epigenetically silenced. We recently found that SP6 was a short-lived protein that was degraded by a ubiquitin-independent proteasome pathway, although it is yet unclear how Sp6 expression was regulated during culture. Thus, we studied the possibility of epigenetic regulation of Sp6 expression. Comparative analysis of endogenous and exogenous Sp6 mRNA expressions demonstrated the specific down-regulation of exogenous Sp6 mRNA levels during culture passages. A DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5AC), and a histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid (VPA), enhanced or induced SP6 protein expression up to passage 28 without enhancing the mRNA level. The dramatic up-regulation of exogenous Sp6 mRNA was uniquely observed only at passage 50 by 5AC or VPA treatment. These findings indicate that multiple epigenetic regulatory mechanisms operate to fine-tune Sp6 expression during long-term culture.
Chemical Effectiveness of Salvadora persica and Commercially Available Whitening Toothpaste on Preventing Tea and Chlorhexidine Stain (in vitro study)
Authors: Mahanani Erlina Sih , Arief Erry Mochamad , Ismail Puteri Ezdiani Binti Mohamed
Published: December 2016

Salvadora persica, a plant that contains a wide range of healthy components, has been used as chewing stick for ages to maintain good oral hygiene and currently has been approved to remove stains. However, its stain-preventing effect is still under investigation. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Salvadora persica and commercially available whitening toothpastes on preventing tea and chlorhexidine stains. Sixty clear acrylic blocks were used and divided into 3 groups, 20 for each group. First group was treated with drinking water, second with commercially available whitening toothpaste and third with whitening toothpaste containing Salvadora persica extract. Baseline measurement by spectrophotometer was taken before starting the procedure. All specimens were immersed in artificial saliva for 2 minutes, rinsed in distilled water and exposed in 0.2% chlorhexidine and tea solution. These cycles were performed 8 times a day for 5 days. Intervention with whitening toothpaste was done for 2 minutes; twice a day. Eventually, all blocks were removed, washed and dried. Stain was assessed by spectrophotometer and visual assessment using Lobene stain index (1968). This study results showed significant differences among groups (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<0.001) and Salvadora persica extract was found to be more effective than commercially availablewhitening toothpaste on preventing stain formation
The Preliminary Study on Klungsu (Tamarind Seed) as An Alternative Material for Dental Calculus Remover
Authors: Hendari Ratnawati , Sukendro Sulur Joyo , Sadimin Sadimin
Published: December 2016

This study was aimed at knowing the availability of Klungsu (Tamarind seed) as remover and cleaner for dental calculus. The study followed Completely Randomized Design with three treatments and tested with Ftest and Duncan Multiple Range Test. The availability was studied by soaking the calculus and enamel at two concentrations (0 and 25%) of Klungsu and one group without soaking (dry group). The results showed that soaking in Klungsu solution significantly decreased (p<0.05) the strength of dental calculus, but no significantly differences (p>0.05) were found for enamel. The conclusion could be drawn from this study was klungsu could be used as an alternative cleaning material for removing dental calculus and safe for dental enamel.
Isolation and Characterization of Mouse Specificity Protein 6 Promoter
Authors: Wahyudi Ivan Arie , Horiguchi Taigo , Miyoshi Keiko , Muto Taro , Utami Trianna Wahyu , Hagita Hiroko , Noma Takafumi
Published: December 2016

Specificity protein 6 (SP6) is a member of the SP/Krüppel-like transcription factor family and plays key roles in tooth development. To study its biological roles, it is important to understand the spatiotemporal regulation of Sp6 gene expression. For this purpose, we first identified two separate 5' ends of the Sp6 cDNA by 5' RACE analysis using mouse mandibular RNA. Next, we isolated mouse genomic DNA fragments covering the Sp6 gene including two putative mouse Sp6 promoter regions and generated a series of luciferase reporter constructs. We confirmed the activity of both promoters by a luciferase assay and found strong second promoter activity in dental epithelial cells. Unexpectedly, we also detected potential third promoter activity in the intron 2 of the Sp6 gene. Last, we also found that bone morphogenetic protein and wingless signals could enhance Sp6 promoter activity in dental epithelial cells, suggesting the regulatory roles of two cytokines in Sp6 gene expression during tooth development. Our findings may shed new light on the regulatory mechanisms of Sp6 gene expression and provide a possible linkage between cytokine regulation of Sp6 expression and inductive epithelial and mesenchymal interactions.
The Effect of Anchovy Stolephorus baganensis on Salivary Mutans Streptococci
Authors: Agunawan Harun , Mangundjaja Soeherwin
Published: December 2016

A clinical trial was carried out to investigate the effect of Anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis on mutans streptococci inhibiting the growth of the salivary mutans streptococci for a period of one week consumption.Before enrolled in the study, respondents filled out and signed the informed consent. Twenty respondents participated as the subjects on the clinical trial, conducting two times of treatment as follows: twenty astreatment groups before and after consuming anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis and the twenty subjects as control groups before and after consuming non-anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis. Saliva samples werecollected before and after consuming anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis and with a non-anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis. A serial dilution was made, followed by inoculating on TYS20B medium). Data which were obtained from colony forming units of salivary mutans streptococci grew on the TYS20B medium before and after consuming anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis were analyzed in a descriptive and “t” test.Results showed that there was no significance in the average amount of Streptococcus mutans colonies between before and after consuming non-anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis. However, a significant difference wasfound respectively as results before and after consuming anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis. We concluded that Anchovy of Stolephorus baganensis has antimicrobial activity against local strains of Streptococcus mutans isolated from human harboring species. Therefore in a long term of consuming Anchovy fish of Stolephorus baganensis, caries can be prevented.
An in vitro genotoxicity study of silver amalgam on Ames test
Authors: Hassan Akram , Omar S.A , Ariffin Zaihan
Published: December 2016

Silver amalgam/Silverfil Argentum® is a ‘Malaysian made amalgam’ has already been approved to be free from cytotoxicity, however its genotoxic effect has not been explored yet as biocompatible material. The objective of this study was to identify the genotoxic characteristic of silver amalgam by using Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay (Ames test). This was a descriptive experimental study involving one strain of mutated Salmonella. The test material was evaluated in one mutated strain of Salmonella typhimurium TA1538 with and without an external metabolic activation system (S9 Mix). The bacteria were incubated for 48 hours at 37±0.5ºC before the colony growth or revertant colonies were counted. Data obtained were analyzed by using non-statistical method. The investigation of the genotoxic reaction on the test material revealed thatthe number of revertant colonies in both strains with and without S9 Mix were less than twice of the negative control even in the presence of high silver amalgam concentrations (5.0μg/ml). This study demonstratedthat the test material did not exhibit any mutagenic activity under the chosen conditions. Thus, silver amalgam could be considered to have no genotoxicity effect.
Oral Health Status Among Schoolchildren: Does Partnership With School of Dentistry Make A Difference?
Authors: Widiati Sri
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the partnership between 26 primary schools with the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, during the past 12 years improved oral health status of the schoolchildren. A sample survey was carried out, involving 106 fifth and sixth graders from 9 schools which have been participating in the partnership and 90 schoolchildren from non-participating schools. They were examined by trained dental students. Oral health status was represented by OHI-S and DMF-t measurement. Knowledge and attitude of oral health were measured using structured questionnaires. The study indicated that the means of OHI-S and DMF-t among schoolchildren participating in the partnership were 0.11 and 0.01 lower respectively compared to those of their counterparts, although the differences were not significant statistically. The knowledge and attitude among schoolchildren in the partnership were 2.49, 4.18, and 3.86 higher, all were highly significant (p < 0.001). Path analyses showed that the partnership reduced OHI-S and DMF-t with an overall path coefficients – 0.086 and -0.076 respectively. Although knowledge was associated with DMF-t and attitude with OHI-S, there were other unmeasured variables which were more strongly associated with oral health status of the schoolchildren.
The Effect of Calcium Hydroxide on Fibroblast Cells Viability
Authors: Paramitta Vincentia Adya , Heni Tetiana Haniastuti , Susilowati Susilowati
Published: December 2016

Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] is widely used as medicament in dental pulp and root canal therapy. Previous studies demonstrate the ability of calcium hydroxide to induce necrosis in dental pulp tissue. However, the mechanism of tissue destruction remains unknown.  The aim of this study was to investigate fibroblast cell viability in response to calcium hydroxide exposure. In this study, Vero fibroblast cell line was treated with various concentrations of calcium hydroxide for 24 hours.  Cell viability was measured by using MTT assay. Our results showed significant decrease in cell viability after exposed with calcium hydroxide at concentration 62.5 and 125 µg/ml. The result indicated that calcium hydroxide induced cell death in Vero cell line in a dosedependent manner. This study suggests that fibroblast cell death may involved in the mechanism of pulp tissue necrosis caused by calcium hydroxide
Ceramic-ware along the Ancient Silk Trade Route—A Short Study of Cross-Cultural Influences on Product Form
Authors:   Dept. of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India, Punekar Ravi Mokashi , Ji Shiva ,   Dept. of Planning & Architecture, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
Published: December 2016

The exchange of goods and materials by way of trading and exchanges were common in ancient times between India and China via silk route and other trading routes. The movement of people from one place to another brought exchange of not only materials but also techniques and processes and helped to establish their own manufacturing facilities and craftsmanship. This has resulted into a cross-cultural influence over the craft forms as reflected in many resemblances of material culture, annotations and apologies seen in various forms and shapes in multiple domains such as ceramic pottery, glazed pottery, metalware, ship buildings, printing, silk and other fabrics, patterns and motifs etc. Observations of ancient remains from Belitung and artifacts from Indian cities along secondary and tertiary Silk routes, show significant influence in the similarities in techniques, materials, surface treatments, kiln processes, colors, motifs , etc. This paper examines a cross-cultural resemblance of product form factor between Changsha pottery and pots to ceramic ware from eastern parts and metalware from western regions of India like Gujarat and Rajasthan. The spread of Buddhism from India to China and other eastern and south eastern countries during this period must also form a strong reason for this cultural exchange.
Germination and Growth Behaviour of Seedlings of Emblica ofƒicinalis Gaertn under Different Light and Nutrient Regimes in Field Conditions
Authors:   Department of Forestry, School of Earth Sciences & Natural Resource Management, Mizoram University, Aizawl–796004, India, Lilabati Laishram , Sahoo U.K.
Published: December 2016

Emblica officinalis Gaertn. is an important non-timber forest product plant which is known in improving livelihood of the people of north-east India. This plant is widely used in the Indian system of medicines and believed to increase the body immunity against diseases. A trial was made to assess the initial growth performance of seedlings of E. officinalis under three light regimes viz. Open-100% ambient sunlight (FAL), partial-80% ambient sunlight (PAL) and deep shade-40% ambient sunlight (DAL) and four nutrient conditions (NPK, saw dust biochar, cowdung and untreated) during a 3-months period in the Department of Forestry Mizoram University, Mizoram India. After 12 weeks of exposure to different light regimes and nutrient conditions, initial growth parameters of the seedlings like number of leaves, shoot length, root length, biomass and vigour index measured in order to understand the best growth conditions for the plant. The results reveal that seed germination and other growth parameters were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by light regimes and nutrient treatments. The seedling height, number of leaves, shoot length, root length and biomass was significantly higher under FAL. All growth parameters including seed germination were poor under DAL.
Design of a Low Noise Active Pixel Sensor using Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Technology
Authors:   Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Mizoram University, Aizawl–796004, India, Maity N.P. , Maity Reshmi ,   Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Mizoram University, Aizawl–796004, India, Baishya Srimanta ,   Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Silchar–788010, India
Published: December 2016

In this paper, our focus is on designing of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) photodiode based active pixel sensor (APS) and performance analysis and achievements for CMOS image sensor. Different important design parameters like photocurrent, conversion gain, conversion factor, dynamic range, readout speed, and quantum efficiency have been calculated. Noise is also considered for the design at different phase of operations of CMOS APS. Various design parameters of our design are computed and compared with simulated results. Noise calculation shows that the pixel noise is dominated by reset noise.
Transport and Surface Properties of Liquid Metals using their Diffusion Data
Authors:   Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, Mizoram University, Aizawl–796004, India, Lalneihpuii R. , Mishra Raj Kumar
Published: December 2016

The atomic diffusion in liquid Na, K, Cs, Mg, Al, In and Pb have been evaluated from the well-known Einstein’s formula of self-diffusion coefficient, D  D  kBT ⎞ under square well (SW) interaction. The friction coefficient, ( of liquid    ⎝ ⎠ metals has been computed on the basis of Helfand-Rice-Nachtrieb approach under Helfand’s linear trajectory (LT) approximation. Shear viscosity of liquid metals were determined using modified Stokes-Einstein equation for SW potential. Dzugutov’s scaling was modified for SW interaction and has been employed to compute excess entropy of the considered liquids. The isothermal compressibility of liquid metals was determined using equation of state of SW potential. Surface entropy of these liquids has been determined through temperature derivative of surface tension. Dzugutov’s scaling law has also been tested in these liquid metals. It is found that the various transport and surface properties of these liquid metals extracted from the diffusion coefficients are in a good agreement with the experimental data.
Plane Waves in Micropolar thermoelastic Materials with Voids
Authors:   Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl–796004, Mizoram, India, Singh S.S. , Lianngenga R.
Published: December 2016

The problem of plane waves in micropolar thermoelastic materials with voids has been investigated. Using the linear theory of micropolar thermoelastic materials with voids developed by Passarella [27], we come to know that there exist six waves, which are three coupled dilatational waves, two coupled shear waves and micropolar dilatational wave, in the materials. The phase velocities and their attenuation coefficients of the three coupled and micropolar dilatational and two coupled shear waves are obtained numerically and analytically.
Sustainability Assessment Method of GRIHA for Sustainable Built Environment: A Review Based on a Design Perspective
Authors:   Department of Planning and Architecture, Mizoram University, Aizawl–796004, India, Ji Shiva , Punekar Ravi Mokashi ,   Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati–781039, India
Published: December 2016

Building industry is the largest world energy consumer at 40% of total world energy. Various agencies across the world have formulated Sustainability Assessment (SA) methods for its assessment. In India, TERI and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India, have established GRIHA as the assessment guideline for the built environment. SA methods recommend a pre-design check list and post completion assessment of the projects. The major parameters of evaluation aim to address environmental, social and economic impact on well- being of society. A comparison is drawn on the broader definition of sustainability which has been adopted world over and it is felt by local practitioners that the parameters need to be adapted to deal with local situations and conditions for effective results. This paper attempts to review the various assessment parameters considered under the GRIHA model in the design evaluation of the built environment considering local conditions in specific locations in the north east. The paper infers to devise a normalization factor to help achieve equalized balance in achieving sustainability.
PHONETIC MEANS OF SIGNALING "NEW" SUBJECT IN SPANISH
Authors:   Elena N. Makarova Ural State University of Economics, Makarova Elena N.
Published: December 2016

The article deals with the means of signaling «new» subject in the Spanish utterance. The function of phrasal accent and its role in subject marking are under discussion. The «new» subject phonetic prominence accompanies its moving to phrasal-final position. At the same time phonetic prominence of the initial subject in Spanish has been registered. The article presents the results of three-step experiment with Mexican speakers of Spanish, including the analyses of their written translation, reading and non-prepared speech. The possibility of «new» subject phonetic prominence in non-final position is proved.
Neoliberalism, Governmentality, and Ethics
Authors: Hamann Trent H.
Published: December 2016

This paper illustrates the relevance of Foucault’s analysis of neoliberal governance for a critical understanding of recent transformations in individual and social life in the United States, particularly in terms of how the realms of the public and the private and the personal and the political are understood and practiced. The central aim of neoliberal governmentality (“the conduct of conduct”) is the strategic creation of social conditions that encourage and necessitate the production of Homo economicus, a historically specific form of subjectivity constituted as a free and autonomous “atom” of self-interest. The neoliberal subject is an individual who is morally responsible for navigating the social realm using rational choice and cost-benefit calculations grounded on market-based principles to the exclusion of all other ethical values and social interests. While the more traditional forms of domination and exploitation characteristic of sovereign and disciplinary forms of power remain evident in our ”globalized” world, the effects of subjectification produced at the level of everyday life through the neoliberal “conduct of conduct” recommend that we recognize and invent new forms of critique and ethical subjectivation that constitute resistance to its specific dangers.
The Work of Neoliberal Governmentality: Temporality and Ethical Substance in the Tale of Two Dads
Authors: Binkley Sam
Published: December 2016

This paper considers debates around the neoliberal governmentality, and argues for the need to better theorize the specific ethical practices through which such programs of governmentality are carried out. Arguing that much theoretical and empirical work in this area is prone to a “top down” approach, in which governmentality is reduced to an imposing apparatus through which subjectivities are produced, it argues instead for the need to understand the self-production of subjectivities by considering the ethical practices that make up neoliberal governmentality. Moreover, taking Robert T. Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad/Poor Dad as an illustrative case, the point is made that the work of neoliberal governmentality specifically targets the temporalities of conduct, in an attempt to shape temporal orientations in a more entrepreneurial form. Drawing on Foucault’s lecture courses on liberalism and neoliberalism, and Jacques Donzelot’s work on the social, the case is made that neoliberal governmentality exhorts individuals to act upon the residual social temporalities that persist as a trace in the dispositions of neoliberal subjects. Moreover, the paper concludes with a discussion of the potentials for resistance in this relation, understood as temporal counter-conducts within neoliberalism.
Foucault and the Invisible Economy
Authors: Tellmann Ute
Published: December 2016

This paper discusses the extent to which governmentality provides a critical visibility of the economy beyond its liberal imaginary. It argues that Foucault’s conceptual and historical understanding of liberal governmentality has two traits that encumber a de-centering of the economy from a Foucauldian perspective. The first obstacle results from a persistent asymmetry of the concept of governmentality as it remains solely geared towards replacing the monolithic account of the state. Governmentality is therefore in danger of rendering the economic invisible instead of advancing an analytics of power appropriate to the specificity of this field. The second impediment relates to how Foucault reads the invisibility of the economy asserted in liberal discourse. While Foucault emphasizes how the “invisible hand” imparts a critical limitation towards the sovereign hubris of total sight, the paper unearths a more complex politics of truth tied to the invisible economy. Drawing on selected historical material, the papers shows that the liberal invisibility of the economy rather functions as a prohibitive barrier towards developing novel and critical visibilities of the economy. A Foucauldian perspective on economy, the paper concludes, benefits from piercing through this double invisibility of the economy.
Getting the Human Factor into Traffic Flow Models: New Open-Source Design to Simulate Next Generation of Traffic Operations
Authors: van Lint Hans , Schakel Wouter , Tamminga Guus , Knoppers Peter , Verbraeck Alexander
Published: December 2016

Automated driving may lead to much higher road capacities, combined with increased road safety, increased driver comfort, and lower costs. Although this vision may hold ground in the long run, first a transitional period will take place in which increasing percentages of vehicles with many levels of automation will drive on the world’s road networks. This transition poses a fundamental scientific challenge. The models used today to simulate and predict vehicular traffic are not valid to predict emergent properties of traffic flows under increasing amounts of vehicle automation. For example, there is no idea of how drivers of nonautomated vehicles will respond to other drivers reading their morning papers behind the steering wheel or the consequences of such interactions on traffic safety and capacity. In this paper, the authors do not propose a new behavioral theory with which the effects of increasing vehicle automation can be predicted. What the authors propose is an advanced open-source simulation framework, OpenTrafficSim, which makes it possible to extend microscopic models incrementally with explanatory mental models, such that new behavioral theories can be tested and shared within the community. Given the societal importance of predicting the effects on safety and efficiency of vehicle automation, the authors sincerely hope this paper will fuel the discussion on how both open-source and closed-source simulation software can be adapted and made ready for the next generation of traffic simulation models that are needed in the coming decades.
Development of a Transportation System Simulation Manual Framework: From Theory to Practice
Authors: List George , Mashayekhi Mehdi , Bertini Robert L. , Nevers Brandon
Published: December 2016

After several decades of advances, simulation has become an important tool in the modeling of transportation systems and is widely applied in practice. Guides have been created by organizations in several countries, and dozens of papers have been published in scientific journals on the theory and application of transport simulation; these works are aimed at guiding practitioners in the use of simulation tools. However, transport simulation still lacks a unified and comprehensive guide for use in practice. The lack of such a document leads to conflicts between modelers, agencies, and decision makers and allows inappropriate use of the models. The outcome is often inaccurate results, inefficient use of resources, and conflict. This paper reviews and analyzes the existing transportation simulation guides. It identifies gaps and limitations and proposes an outline for a comprehensive simulation manual that is based on stakeholder input. Review of the existing guidance documents reveals that almost all these documents focus on traffic operations, and they provide either broad guidelines for building simulation models or advice on using a specific software product. Other issues, particularly those related to topics such as safety assessments, environmental impacts, public transportation, pedestrians, bicycles, simulation algorithms, agent-based simulation, and multimodal simulation, are addressed in only a cursory fashion. This paper proposes a possible structure for a transportation system simulation manual that would cover the limitations and gaps in the existing literature. The proposed document would consist of five volumes: concepts, model building, verification and validation, results analysis, and case studies and supplementary materials.
Tradable Credit Scheme to Control Bottleneck Queue Length
Authors: Shirmohammadi Nima , Yin Yafeng
Published: December 2016

This paper proposes to use tradable credits to control the maximum queue length at a bottleneck. Given a queue length threshold specified by the traffic authority, the authors designed a tradable credit scheme to maintain the queue length of the bottleneck to be less than the threshold for homogenous travelers. The scheme was compared against a multistep tolling scheme under demand uncertainty. The authors then studied the capability of the tradable credit scheme in the presence of two types of user heterogeneity: proportional heterogeneity and heterogeneity in unit schedule penalty associated with late arrival (γ heterogeneity). It was found that the proposed scheme could successfully maintain the queue length under proportional heterogeneity, but not necessarily under γ heterogeneity. However, if the distribution of γ heterogeneity were known in advance, the scheme could be modified to ensure success in controlling queue length.