bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Métodos de determinación de la velocidad crítica en corredores
Authors: Pereira-Guimaraes Miller , Hernández-Mosqueira Claudio Marcelo , Fernandes-Filho José , Fernandes-da-Silva Sandro
Published: November 2017

El creciente interés en la corrida como ejercicio, y particularmente como deporte de competición, demanda estudiar la eficiencia metabólica que presentan los corredores. La estimación de la velocidad crítica (VC) ha sido utilizada en diferentes estudios por ser de fácil aplicabilidad para determinar el umbral anaeróbico del corredor, considerando la intensidad del esfuerzo y el tiempo en que se ejecuta. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue identificar y comparar la eficiencia de los métodos que están siendo utilizados en la actualidad para la estimación de la VC en corredores. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de artículos científicos publicados durante el periodo 2011 a 2016. El análisis de literatura mostró que en la estimación de la VC se emplean diferentes estrategias: test máximos y submáximos, continuos e intermitentes, en pista de atletismo, trotadora y asfalto; con distintos grupos de corredores. La velocidad crítica permitió establecer eficazmente el umbral anaeróbico de las personas que practican la corrida, independientemente del grupo de individuos analizados, de forma simple, menos costosa, e igual de confiable que otros métodos de estimación del umbral anaeróbico más sofisticados, que requieren pruebas de laboratorio.
La posición geopolítica marroquí como frontera vertical de la Unión Europea
Authors: Soriano-Miras Rosa María
Published: November 2017

El siglo XXI está siendo protagonista de un cierre fronterizo sin precedentes a la libre circulación de personas, pero no de mercancías, bienes o capital, promovido por los países del norte, y en connivencia con los dirigentes de los países del sur, generando una grave fractura social. El objetivo del presente artículo fue analizar de qué manera la Unión Europea (UE), estáfavoreciendo la emergencia deuna frontera que cruza verticalmente Marruecos (entre otros países), imposibilitando a lo largo de su territorio la llegada a la UE, no sólo de su población, sino también la procedente del resto de África. Se analizaron diferentesfuentes secundarias, producidas por organismos internacionales como la Agencia Europea de la Guardia de Fronteras y Costas, la Comisión Europea, Amnistía Internacional y Médicos Sin Fronteras. La externalización de la fronterade la UE, en el plano político,junto a la deslocalización, en el plano económico, de empresas europeas en algunos países del sur de Europa, como Marruecos, está consolidando laexistencia de nuevos espaciosque configuran lo que se denomina frontera vertical, donde emergen nuevos escenariossocioeconómicos y simbólicos.
Reestructuración del proceso editorial de la revista CienciaUAT
Authors: Ramírez-de-Léon José Alberto
Published: November 2017

En esta nueva administración, CienciaUAT inicia un proceso de reestructuración con el objetivo de poder ingresar al Índice de Revistas Mexicanas Científicas y Tecnológicas del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT). Esta decisión obligó a cambios organizacionales y administrativos en el proceso editorial, mismos que deben ser documentados a través de tres años de producción ininterrumpida para lograr la distinción.
Las plantas de la marisma del parque nacional de Doñana (España): elemento clave para la conservación de un humedal europeo paradigmático
Authors: García-Murillo Pablo , Bazo Eduardo , Fernández-Zamudio Rocío
Published: November 2017

El Parque Nacional de Doñana (SW de España), es el espacio natural protegido más emblemático del Estado Español. Incluye uno de los humedales más extensos de Europa Occidental, la marisma, que también resulta ser el mayor santuario para las aves migratorias del continente europeo. El soporte trófico y estructural de este humedal lo constituyen las comunidades vegetales que allí se desarrollan. Sin embargo, a pesar de su importancia, el nivel de conocimiento sobre los vegetales de la marisma y sus comunidades es muy escaso. Por ello, se realizó un análisis florístico de la marisma, donde se tomaron en cuenta aquellos trabajos que corresponden a citas de plantas recolectadas en la marisma y depositadas en herbarios, así como observaciones debidamente contrastadas, contemplando además de las plantas vasculares, los briófitos y las macroalgas. El resultado proporcionó 247 taxones diferentes, que corresponden a 61 familias, y cuyo patrón se aparta del que presentan los hábitats mediterráneos típicos. También, a partir de los datos del catálogo, se muestra como en dicho hábitat son escasos los endemismos y predominan las especies con grandes áreas de distribución. Se describen las principales comunidades vegetales de la marisma y cómo se organizan en función del tiempo de inundación de los suelos y de la concentración de sales que estos presentan. Asimismo, se identifican diversos problemas que afectan a la conservación de los ecosistemas del Parque Nacional de Doñana, como la disminución del volumen de agua de la marisma, el deterioro de la calidad de sus aguas y la aparición de especies exóticas invasoras
¿Son efectivos los antiinflamatorios no esteroides en el tratamiento del dolor muscular tardío?
Authors: Candia-Luján Ramón , De Paz-Fernández José Antonio
Published: November 2017

Los antiinflamatorios no esteroides (AINEs) son uno de los grupos farmacológicos más conocidos y utilizados en la medicina moderna. En el contexto del ejercicio físico son usados por su acción antiinflamatoria y analgésica. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la efectividad de los antiinflamatorios no esteroides en el tratamiento del dolor muscular tardío (DMT), para lo cual se llevó a cabo una revisión durante los meses de octubre a diciembre de 2013 en las bases de datos electrónicas Pubmed, Scopus y SportDiscus, mediante una estrategia de búsqueda de artículos que incluyeran las siguientes palabras clave: antiinflammatory non steroid drugs, NSAIDs, delayed onset muscle soreness y DOMS. Se identificaron 31 estudios, de los cuales 30 eran investigaciones originales y un meta-análisis. Se recuperaron 26 artículos a texto completo y cinco únicamente el resumen. Después de analizar los trabajos se concluye, que si bien los AINEs muestran cierta efectividad real para aliviar el DMT, existe gran diversidad en la dosis, el tiempo de administración utilizado y las características generales de los sujetos en los estudios, por lo que se requieren más investigaciones para establecer su efectividad real.
Penataan Jalur Hijau di Surabaya Berdasarkan Karakteristik Jalan dan Kemampuan Visual Pengamat Studi Kasus: Jalan Mastrip Surabaya
Authors: Bararatin Kirami , Hayati Arina
Published: November 2017

The main streets and the city entrances of Surabaya support its economic activity as well as become a potential to generate 'first impression' or image of the city for its users. In line with the city government's program, the existence of the green line in the corridor of the main streets should be remarked to develop green space. Consequently,  visual objects on the green line, such as vegetation, need to meet the rules of the visual aesthetic arrangement based on the characteristics of the corridor  and visual capabilities of observers. Jalan Mastrip is  one of the main streets, which is crucial for the city economy and also becomes a city entrance of Surabaya. It has  potential to give a positive ‘first impression‘ for its users. However, the street condition is still beyond  expectation as a city entrance. Therefore, the aim of this study is to formulate the concept of arrangement of green line  in accordance with the characteristics of corridor space and visual capabilities of observers. Descriptive-qualitative method is used supported by the perception of observers / respondents. Then the observations and evaluation results were analyzed to get the arrangement concept of green line of Mastrip corridor, accordance with its characteristics as Surabaya entrance corridor with industry, trade and services concept.
Sustainable Urban Development and Social Sustainability in the Urban Context
Authors: Haqi Faruq Ibnul
Published: November 2017

Social sustainability and sustainable urban developments are major challenges across the world both developed and developing countries. In general there is a conflict between the approach of sustainable development and social sustainability in the urban context. The concept of sustainability brings a key framework for extensive literature on urban design, architecture and planning. Nevertheless there is a considerable overlap between the social dimensions of sustainability and the theories or notions, for instance the ‘sustainable societies’ that are highlighted in the midst of other aspects: social equity and justice. Such society is widely expected to offer a situation for long-term social relations and activities which are sustainable, inclusive and equitable in a wider perception of the term (environmentally, socially and economically). The method adopted to address this aim involves a content analysis of available academic literature, with focus on the planning sustainable development, built environment, social sustainability, and urban planning fields. The findings demonstrate that in spite of some opposing evidence, many studies have confirmed that there has been displacement of the debate on the term of ‘sustainability’ from ‘ecological and environmental aspects into social and economic aspects’. It is related to how the community feel safe and comfortable living in their own communities, how have they felt of proud of the place where they live. The aim of the paper is to improve our understanding of current theories and practices of planning sustainable development and discuss whether the approach of sustainable development aligns with social sustainability objectives.
Konsep Penataan Lingkungan Koridor Berbatas Pagar Perumahan Skala Besar
Authors: Nugrahini Fibria Conytin , Rofi'i Rofi'i
Published: November 2017

Kondisi koridor selatan Kejawan Putih Tambak Surabaya terkait posisinya yang berbatas pagar perumahan skala besar membuat koridor ini memiliki berbagai masalah akibat keberadaan pagar pembatas itu sendiri. Berbagai dampak akibat tidak jelasnya kewenangan terkait perawatan serta aktifitas penunjang koridor memunculkan berbagai permasalahan yang memprihatinkan seperti rusaknya kondisi lingkungan fisik. Kondisi tersebut menimbulkan kesan kumuh yang kontras dengan kondisi perumahan mewah yang berada tertata baik disepanjang sisi koridor. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengajukan konsep penataan lingkungan koridor selatan Kejawen Putih Tambak Surabaya yang berbatas pagar perumahan skala besar. Berdasarkan data yang telah dikumpulkan sebelumnya, kajian ini mencoba untuk membahas data dan melakukan analisis dengan pendekatan studi perilaku dan teori perancangan kota untuk menghasilkan konsep penataan lingkungan koridor Kejawen Putih Tambak Surabaya yang berbatas pagar perumahan skala besar.
Peningkatan Kualitas Permukiman Dengan Pendekatan Disain pada Bantaran Sungai Mergan di Kelurahan Kebonsari, Malang
Authors: Hapsari Oktavi Elok , Prianto Kusnul
Published: November 2017

The development of housing and settlement was not only intended for physical development but rather must be linked to the social, economic and cultural dimensions that support people's lives in a sustainable way. The settlement must provide environmental facilities for its citizens that accommodate the five basic elements; nature, people, society, places, and networks. The object studied was Kebonsari Village located on the southern border between Malang City and Malang Regency. Kebonsari village has an interesting topography because it is passed by two rivers, namely Mergan River and Sukun River which is located in eastern Kebonsari. However, a number of problems are encountered in Kebonsari urban village, including the unclean condition of Mergan River, poor condition of public facilities supporting settlements, such as arid and unkempt footpaths and lack of common space for residents. This study used a descriptive qualitative method with observational participatory technique.The outline of this study was the design concept of Mergan riverbank arrangement which includes the arrangement of paths and common space for the citizens who can improve the quality of settlements in Kebonsari urban village
Antígona y la productividad de lo negativo: el acto político y las paradojas de la ética
Authors: Cabrera Sánchez José
Published: November 2017

A partir de la lectura efectuada por Lacan de la tragedia de Sófocles, Antígona, se plantean los alcances políticos de un acto ético determinado por una perseverancia en el deseo. La tragedia de Antígona puede ser considerada un acto ético-político en la medida en que produce una suspensión de las coordenadas simbólicas en que se sustentan la comunidad y su ley, permitiendo con ello la reestructuración del espacio político. La morbidez del deseo, es decir, su relación indisociable con la muerte, moviliza una productividad paradójica, la que sin llegar a llenar el vacío inmanente del campo simbólico, permite una continua creación ex nihilo en la que una sociedad puede debatir la organización de sus relaciones y significaciones políticas.
Thermodynamic and Numerical Analysis of Tangentially Fired Boiler for Increasing Efficiency and Reducing Environmental Pollution
Authors: Abdollahi Navid , Haghighi-Khoshkhoo Ramin
Published: November 2017

The evaluation of heat transfer and fluid mechanics mechanisms to increase the thermal efficiency and combustion quality in heavy industries, such as power plants, are important and significant issues in the field of engineering sciences, which can lead to significant advances. In this regard, the present paper has been developed with thermodynamic and numerical simulations of the MONTAZER GHAEM Power Plant boiler to study the increase in efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. Also in this research, the results of practical tests have been used to verify the simulations. The thermodynamic simulation results show that the required fuel consumption of the burners in current operating conditions is not 9.1 kg/s, but it is 8.1 kg/s. The low efficiency of the set, which leads to the injection of more than the required amount of fuel to the boiler, cause the non-corresponding power generation for injected fuel, which results in the reduction of the plant thermal efficiency from 36.4% to 33.9%. The results of computational fluid dynamics show that the lightness of natural gas combustion products and, the no-flow accumulation in the lower parts of the furnace, reduce the produced steam, which results in power loss at the exit. Numerical results also show that the highest rate of NOX production occurs near the burners due to the high flame temperature and high oxygen mass fraction and consequently, the non-uniform distribution of heat in the furnace.
Reader, I Groomed Him: Gie Laenen's Juvenile Novels as Paedophile Seduction
Authors: Eecke Christophe Van
Published: November 2017

This article considers whether the youth novels of Gie Laenen, a Flemish author who was convicted of the sexual abuse of teenage boys, can be read as a grooming tool for the way they offer positive literary models for a range of intimate (but not explicitly sexual) man-boy relationships. Surveying most of Laenen's published work, the discussion identifies three recurring narrative tropes and several paratextual elements that can be read as attempts to seduce young male readers into a receptive attitude towards intergenerational intimacies. However, the article also acknowledges that such a reading might obscure the reasons why young readers were attracted to Laenen's work, which would impoverish our understanding of the books’ complex seductive appeal.
‘Worth Melting For’: The Legacy of Difference and Desire in Hans Christian Andersen's ‘The Snowman’
Authors: Miller Carl F.
Published: November 2017

While Walt Disney's Frozen (2013) has been prominently cited for its connection to Hans Christian Andersen's ‘The Snow Queen’ (1845), perhaps just as intriguing is the film's relationship with Andersen's lesser-known story ‘The Snowman’ (1861) – a work influenced by his desired (and doomed) relationship with Harald Scharff, a well-known dancer thirty years his junior. This article analyses Andersen's complicated usage of the snowman to illustrate alterity and inevitability, while also presenting a brief overview of the snowman's subsequent utilisation as an allegorical construct for taboo desire in international children's literature and film. ‘The Snowman’ offers a tragic resolution to the duelling concepts of difference and desire present in Andersen's own biography, and its dialectic of reality and utopia provides an existential model for the snowman's subsequent application in children's media.
Transforming Hawai‘i and its Children through Technologies of Adaptation
Authors: Ching Stuart , Pataray-Ching Jann
Published: November 2017

This article analyses the ways in which technologies such as literacy, picturebooks and feature films have appropriated Hawai‘i, its mythology and folklore and its indigenous people from early Western contact to the present. The article is divided into three parts: the first explains how the historical introduction of English literacy transformed Hawaiian mythology and folklore into a Western possession. The second describes the ways in which different genres of folklore and mythology in post-plantation-era children's picturebooks counter, extend and complicate that initial adaptation. The final part situates a critical reading of Disney's Moana within this longer history of appropriation. While most critical reviews of Moana have focused on specific aspects, this article situates key parts of the Moana narrative within the colonial and post-colonial story of Hawai‘i that Western adaptations have written from historical times to present.
The Impact of Volute Aspect Ratio on the Performance of a Mixed Flow Turbine
Authors: Lee Samuel , Barrans Simon , Jupp Martyn , Nickson Ambrose
Published: November 2017

Current trends in the automotive industry towards engine downsizing mean turbocharging now plays a vital role in engine performance. A turbocharger increases charge air density using a turbine to extract waste energy from the exhaust gas to drive a compressor. Most turbocharger applications employ a radial inflow turbine. However, mixed flow turbines can offer non-zero blade angles, reducing leading edge (LE) separation at low velocity ratios. The current paper investigates the performance of a mixed flow turbine with three different volute aspect ratio (AR) designs (AR = 0.5, 1 and 2). With constant A/r (ratio of volute area to centroid radius), the AR = 0.5 volute design produced a 4.3% increase in cycle averaged mass flow parameter (MFP) compared to the AR = 2 design. For the purpose of performance comparison, it was necessary to manipulate the volute A/r’s to ensure constant MFP for aerodynamic similarity. With the volute A/r’s manipulated to ensure constant MFP for aerodynamic similarity, the maximum variation of cycle averaged normalized efficiency measured between the designs was 1.47%. Purely in the rotor region, the variation in normalized cycle averaged efficiency was 1%. The smallest tested volute aspect ratio showed a significant increase in volute loss while the ARs of 1 and 2 showed similar levels of loss. The smallest AR volute showed significant secondary flow development in the volute. The resulting variation in LE incidence was found to vary as a result.
In-Vitro Inhibition of Pythium ultimum, Fusarium graminearum, and Rhizoctonia solani by a Stabilized Lactoperoxidase System alone and in Combination with Synthetic Fungicides
Authors: Hansen Zachariah R. , Donnelly Marie K. , Corgié Stéphane
Published: November 2017

Advances in enzyme stabilization and immobilization make the use of enzymes for industrial applications increasingly feasible. The lactoperoxidase (LPO) system is a naturally occurring enzyme system with known antimicrobial activity. Stabilized LPO and glucose oxidase (GOx) enzymes were combined with glucose, potassium iodide, and ammonium thiocyanate to create an anti-fungal formulation, which inhibited in-vitro growth of the plant pathogenic oomycete Pythium ultimum, and the plant pathogenic fungi Fusarium graminearum and Rhizoctonia solani. Pythium ultimum was more sensitive than F. graminearum and R. solani, and was killed at LPO and GOx concentrations of 20 nM and 26 nM, respectively. Rhizoctonia solani and F. graminearum were 70% to 80% inhibited by LPO and GOx concentrations of 242 nM and 315 nM, respectively. The enzyme system was tested for compatibility with five commercial fungicides as co-treatments. The majority of enzyme + fungicide co-treatments resulted in additive activity. Synergism ranging from 7% to 36% above the expected additive activity was observed when P. ultimum was exposed to the enzyme system combined with Daconil® (active ingredient (AI): chlorothalonil 29.6%, GardenTech, Lexington, KY, USA), tea tree oil, and mancozeb at select fungicide concentrations. Antagonism was observed when the enzyme system was combined with Tilt® (AI: propiconazole 41.8%, Syngenta, Basel, Switzerland) at one fungicide concentration, resulting in activity 24% below the expected additive activity at that concentration.
Determination of Micronutrient Accumulation in Greenhouse Cucumber Crop Using a Modeling Approach
Authors: Ramírez-Pérez Lino J. , Morales-Díaz América Berenice , De Alba-Romenus Karim , González-Morales Susana , Benavides-Mendoza Adalberto , Juárez-Maldonado Antonio
Published: November 2017

The control of micronutrient application in cucumber cultivation has great importance as they participate in many functions of metabolism. In addition, micronutrient application efficiency is fundamental to avoid periods of overconsumption or deficits in the crop. To determine micronutrient accumulation using a dynamic model, two cycles of Vitaly and Luxell cucumber crops were grown. During the development of the crop, micronutrient content (Fe, B, Mn, Cu, and Zn) in the different organs of the cucumber plant was quantified. The model dynamically simulated the accumulation of biomass and micronutrients using climatic variables recorded inside the greenhouse as inputs. It was found that a decrease in photosynthetically active radiation and temperature significantly diminished the accumulation of biomass by the cucumber plants. On the other hand, the results demonstrated that the model efficiently simulated both the accumulation of biomass and micronutrients in a cucumber crop. The efficiency evaluation showed values higher than R2 > 0.95. This dynamic model can be useful to define adequate strategies for the management of cucumber cultivation in greenhouses as well as the application of micronutrients.
The Mental Homologies of Mammals. Towards an Understanding of Another Mammals World View
Authors: Kiley-Worthington Marthe
Published: November 2017

Mammals’ mental homologies include that they look after their young, suckle and protect them; they acquire information about the world by learning. They have five types of sensory receptors and a brain to analyze the information and they feel: that is they are sentient. Mental homologies have been largely ignored by behavioural scientists since Darwin because of certain historical beliefs. This however has not been the case for people who have had to do with non-human mammals who have long recognized their mental similarities to humans. As a result, behavioural science has sponsored some inappropriate research (examples are given). The study of another mammal species epistemology, (knowledge and world view) requires a recognition of these mental homologies. The result of a 25 year multi-disciplinary study indicates that there are nine mammalian mental homologies which define mammals. These are discussed and reviewed and further mental aptitudes which logically follow from these are pointed out. A Conditional Anthropomorphic approach is proposed. By recognizing the body/mind, whole “being” homologies of mammals, we can advance in understanding other mammal species’ and individual’s epistemology (world view), and consequently better their welfare and enrich our own lives.
Carotenoids from Marine Organisms: Biological Functions and Industrial Applications
Authors: Galasso Christian , Corinaldesi Cinzia , Sansone Clementina
Published: November 2017

As is the case for terrestrial organisms, carotenoids represent the most common group of pigments in marine environments. They are generally biosynthesized by all autotrophic marine organisms, such as bacteria and archaea, algae and fungi. Some heterotrophic organisms also contain carotenoids probably accumulated from food or partly modified through metabolic reactions. These natural pigments are divided into two chemical classes: carotenes (such as lycopene and α- and β-carotene) that are composed of hydrogen and carbon; xanthophylls (such as astaxanthin, fucoxanthin and lutein), which are constituted by hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. Carotenoids, as antioxidant compounds, assume a key role in the protection of cells. In fact, quenching of singlet oxygen, light capture and photosynthesis protection are the most relevant biological functions of carotenoids. The present review aims at describing (i) the biological functions of carotenoids and their benefits for human health, (ii) the most common carotenoids from marine organisms and (iii) carotenoids having large success in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries, highlighting the scientific progress in marine species cultivation for natural pigments production.
Low-Complexity QRD-M with Path Eliminations in MIMO-OFDM Systems
Authors: Ro Jae-Hyun , Kim Jong-Kwang , You Young-Hwan , Song Hyoung-Kyu
Published: November 2017

The QR decomposition-M algorithm (QRD-M) is a popular signal detector which has similar error performance with maximum likelihood (ML) in multiple input multiple output-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) systems. The QRD-M uses M candidates at each layer, unlike the ML. However, the complexity of the QRD-M is high in huge MIMO-OFDM systems due to unnecessary survival paths at each layer. In this paper, a low-complexity QRD-M with variable number of survival paths at each layer is proposed. In the conventional QRD-M, path eliminations at the previous layer reduce the number of calculations for accumulated squared Euclidean distance (ASED) in subsequent layers. The proposed QRD-M eliminates unnecessary survival paths by comparing the ASED and the calculated threshold at each layer. The simulation results show that the proposed QRD-M maintains the error performance for the conventional QRD-M and has a very low complexity.
Long-Range Interactions for Hydrogen: 6P–1S and 6P–2S Systems
Authors: Jentschura Ulrich , Adhikari Chandra
Published: November 2017

The collisional shift of a transition constitutes an important systematic effect in high-precision spectroscopy. Accurate values for van der Waals interaction coefficients are required in order to evaluate the distance-dependent frequency shift. We here consider the interaction of excited hydrogen 6 P atoms with metastable atoms (in the 2 S state), in order to explore the influence of quasi-degenerate 2 P and 6 S states on the dipole-dipole interaction. The motivation for the calculation is given by planned high-precision measurements of the transition. Due to the presence of quasi-degenerate levels, one can use the non-retarded approximation for the interaction terms over wide distance ranges.
Catalytic Activities of Ribozymes and DNAzymes in Water and Mixed Aqueous Media
Authors: Nakano Shu-ichi , Horita Masao , Kobayashi Miku , Sugimoto Naoki
Published: November 2017

Catalytic nucleic acids are regarded as potential therapeutic agents and biosensors. The catalytic activities of nucleic acid enzymes are usually investigated in dilute aqueous solutions, although the physical properties of the reaction environment inside living cells and that in the area proximal to the surface of biosensors in which they operate are quite different from those of pure water. The effect of the molecular environment is also an important focus of research aimed at improving and expanding nucleic acid function by addition of organic solvents to aqueous solutions. In this study, the catalytic activities of RNA and DNA enzymes (hammerhead ribozyme, 17E DNAzyme, R3C ribozyme, and 9DB1 DNAzyme) were investigated using 21 different mixed aqueous solutions comprising organic compounds. Kinetic measurements indicated that these enzymes can display enhanced catalytic activity in mixed solutions with respect to the solution containing no organic additives. Correlation analyses revealed that the turnover rate of the reaction catalyzed by hammerhead ribozyme increased in a medium with a lower dielectric constant than water, and the turnover rate of the reaction catalyzed by 17E DNAzyme increased in conditions that increased the strength of DNA interactions. On the other hand, R3C ribozyme and 9DB1 DNAzyme displayed no significant turnover activity, but their single-turnover rates increased in many mixed solutions. Our data provide insight into the activity of catalytic nucleic acids under various conditions that are applicable to the medical and technology fields, such as in living cells and in biosensors.
The Role of Social Networks in Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture in Pakistan
Authors: Abid Muhammad , Ngaruiya Grace , Scheffran Jürgen , Zulfiqar Farhad
Published: November 2017

Incorporating adaptation into subsistence farming systems is an important strategy to reduce damages related to climate change and to protect livelihoods in developing countries. Using a dataset of 450 farm households collected from three agro-ecological zones, this study examines rural networks, assesses farm-level institutional support and documents any existing structural gaps on climate change adaptation in the agricultural sector of Pakistan. For this purpose, a social network analysis method is used. The study findings reveal that farmers reported a decrease in crop production and increase in pests and diseases due to climate change. Further, changing crop varieties, sowing dates, input mixes and planting trees are the key measures adopted by farmers. Lack of information, finances and resources are the key adaptation constraints. The study findings show that only 28% and 13% of the respondents do not have access to financial services and climate adaptation knowledge, respectively. Support to farmers mainly consists of marketing information and farm equipment from community-based organizations, while private institutions offer weather forecasting services. Public institutions are poorly represented in the network analysis. We also found that extension services are key institutions in the climate adaptation network, while agricultural credits, post-harvest services and marketing of produce were dominant but weakly connected in the financial support network. We also found that with an increase in the provision of services at the farm level, farmers not only adapt more but also move from low-cost and short-term measures to advanced measures. This study proposes an integrated framework to improve the stakeholders’ networking through different kind of partnerships and better adaptation to climate change.
A Statistical Analysis of the Relationship between Brown Haze and Surface Air Pollution Levels on Respiratory Hospital Admissions in Auckland, New Zealand
Authors: Dirks Kim Natasha , Scarfe James , Talbot Nicholas Philip , Marshall Roger , Salmond Jennifer Anne
Published: November 2017

Eleven years of hospital admissions data for Auckland, New Zealand for respiratory conditions are analyzed using a Poisson regression modelling approach, incorporating a spline function to represent time, based on a detailed record of haze events and surface air pollution levels over an eleven-year period, taking into account the daily average temperature and humidity, the day of the week, holidays and trends over time. NO2 was the only pollutant to show a statistically significant increase (p = 0.009) on the day of the haze event for the general population. Ambient concentrations of CO, NO and NO2 were significantly associated with admissions with an 11-day lag period for the 0–14 year age group and a 5–7 day lag period for the 65+ year age group. A 3-day lag period was found for the 15–64 year age group for CO, NO and PM10. Finally, the incidence of brown haze was linked to significant increases in hospital admissions. A lag period of 5 days was recorded between haze and subsequent increases in admissions for the 0–14 year age group and the 65+ group and an 11-day lag for the 15–64 year age group. The results provide the first statistical link between Auckland brown haze events, surface air pollution and respiratory health. Medical institutions and practitioners could benefit from improved capacity to predict Auckland’s brown haze events in order prepare for the likely increases in respiratory admissions over the days ahead.
Surface Roughness Reduction of Additive Manufactured Products by Applying a Functional Coating Using Ultrasonic Spray Coating
Authors: Slegers Sam , Linzas Mathias , Drijkoningen Jeroen , D’Haen Jan , Reddy Naveen , Deferme Wim
Published: November 2017

To reduce the high surface roughness of additive manufactured (AM) products, typically a post-treatment is required. Subtractive post-treatments are often performed by hand and are therefore expensive and time consuming, whereas conventional additive post-treatments, such as pneumatic spray coating, require large quantities of coating material. Ultrasonic spray coating, in contrast, is an additive post-treatment technology capable of applying coatings in an efficient way, resulting in less material usage. In this paper, we investigate the application of the ultrasonic spray coating process and the final properties of the coated AM part by applying a thin coating to reduce surface roughness of the AM substrate and to impart hydrophobic functionality. The hydrophobic coating is applied onto flat selective laser sintered (SLS) surfaces prepared from polyamide 12 (PA12) having a surface roughness of Ra = 20 µm. The hydrophobic coating consists of 5 wt % polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in acetone. The coated substrates are analyzed for roughness using a profilometer, a contact angle using a goniometer, and a coating uniformity and thickness using light and scanning electron microscopes. The layer formation applying the ultrasonic spray coating is studied and compared with layer formation using pneumatic spray coating. It is found that a roughness reduction down to 5 µm was achieved via an ultrasonic spray coating with 30 layers of PVDF solution. It is shown in cross-section electron microscopy pictures that, due to the nature of the ultrasonically generated droplets, the rough and porous surface of the SLS surface is filled with the PVDF material after which the roughness is reduced by adding a thin layer on top. In comparison to a standard industry-applied pneumatic spray coating process, the results obtained from ultrasonic spray coating show less material usage, a reduced roughness, and a better filling of the pores, obviously resulting in optimized adhesion.
Long-Term Corrosion Protection of a Cupro-Nickel Alloy Due to Graphene Coating
Authors: Tiwari Abhishek , Singh Raman R.
Published: November 2017

This study demonstrates the corrosion resistance of a Cu-Ni alloy coated with a multi-layer graphene. This is one of the first demonstrations of long-term corrosion resistance due to graphene coating, which is crucial since earlier studies have suggested graphene-coated copper to be considerably inferior to bare copper in terms of corrosion during long-term exposure to a corrosive environment. The inferior corrosion resistance of graphene-coated copper arises due to defects and poor surface coverage by graphene. Since it is prohibitively difficult to develop defect-free graphene on metals at a commercially feasible scale, this study investigated the hypothesis for an alternative approach, i.e., to develop multi-layer graphene with a reasonable assumption that the areas of defects/poor coverage of a layer will be masked by the subsequent over-layer(s). This study has validated this hypothesis. Electrochemical investigations have demonstrated multi-layer graphene to improve the corrosion resistance of a Cu-Ni alloy by an order of magnitude. However, the most striking finding of this study is that the improvement in corrosion resistance due to the multi-layer graphene coating sustained the entire duration of a long-term test (~350 h).
Dynamic Data-Driven Modeling for Ex Vivo Data Analysis: Insights into Liver Transplantation and Pathobiology
Authors: Sadowsky David , Abboud Andrew , Cyr Anthony , Vodovotz Lena , Fontes Paulo , Zamora Ruben , Vodovotz Yoram
Published: November 2017

Extracorporeal organ perfusion, in which organs are preserved in an isolated, ex vivo environment over an extended time-span, is a concept that has led to the development of numerous alternative preservation protocols designed to better maintain organ viability prior to transplantation. These protocols offer researchers a novel opportunity to obtain extensive sampling of isolated organs, free from systemic influences. Data-driven computational modeling is a primary means of integrating the extensive and multivariate data obtained in this fashion. In this review, we focus on the application of dynamic data-driven computational modeling to liver pathophysiology and transplantation based on data obtained from ex vivo organ perfusion.
Two-Party Zero-Error Function Computation with Asymmetric Priors
Authors: Guler Basak , Yener Aylin , Basu Prithwish , Swami Ananthram
Published: November 2017

We consider a two party network where each party wishes to compute a function of two correlated sources. Each source is observed by one of the parties. The true joint distribution of the sources is known to one party. The other party, on the other hand, assumes a distribution for which the set of source pairs that have a positive probability is only a subset of those that may appear in the true distribution. In that sense, this party has only partial information about the true distribution from which the sources are generated. We study the impact of this asymmetry on the worst-case message length for zero-error function computation, by identifying the conditions under which reconciling the missing information prior to communication is better than not reconciling it but instead using an interactive protocol that ensures zero-error communication without reconciliation. Accordingly, we provide upper and lower bounds on the minimum worst-case message length for the communication strategies with and without reconciliation. Through specializing the proposed model to certain distribution classes, we show that partially reconciling the true distribution by allowing a certain degree of ambiguity can perform better than the strategies with perfect reconciliation as well as strategies that do not start with an explicit reconciliation step. As such, our results demonstrate a tradeoff between the reconciliation and communication rates, and that the worst-case message length is a result of the interplay between the two factors.
SoC Estimation for Lithium-ion Batteries: Review and Future Challenges
Authors: Rivera-Barrera Juan , Muñoz-Galeano Nicolás , Sarmiento-Maldonado Henry
Published: November 2017

Energy storage emerged as a top concern for the modern cities, and the choice of the lithium-ion chemistry battery technology as an effective solution for storage applications proved to be a highly efficient option. State of charge (SoC) represents the available battery capacity and is one of the most important states that need to be monitored to optimize the performance and extend the lifetime of batteries. This review summarizes the methods for SoC estimation for lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). The SoC estimation methods are presented focusing on the description of the techniques and the elaboration of their weaknesses for the use in on-line battery management systems (BMS) applications. SoC estimation is a challenging task hindered by considerable changes in battery characteristics over its lifetime due to aging and to the distinct nonlinear behavior. This has led scholars to propose different methods that clearly raised the challenge of establishing a relationship between the accuracy and robustness of the methods, and their low complexity to be implemented. This paper publishes an exhaustive review of the works presented during the last five years, where the tendency of the estimation techniques has been oriented toward a mixture of probabilistic techniques and some artificial intelligence.
Modeling and Experimental Study of a Small Scale Olive Pomace Gasifier for Cogeneration: Energy and Profitability Analysis
Authors: Borello Domenico , Pantaleo Antonio , Caucci Michele , De Caprariis Benedetta , De Filippis Paolo , Shah Nilay
Published: November 2017

A thermodynamic model of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, fed by syngas produced by dry olive pomace gasification is here presented. An experimental study is carried out to inform the proposed model. The plant is designed to produce electric power (200 kWel) and hot-water by using a cogenerative micro gas turbine (micro GT). Before being released, exhausts are used to dry the biomass from 50% to 17% wb. The ChemCad software is used to model the gasification process, and input data to inform the model are taken from experimental tests. The micro GT and cogeneration sections are modeled assuming data from existing commercial plants. The paper analyzes the whole conversion process from wet biomass to heat and power production, reporting energy balances and costs analysis. The investment profitability is assessed in light of the Italian regulations, which include feed-in-tariffs for biomass based electricity generation.
Design and Performance Analysis of a Coal Bed Gas Drainage Machine Based on Incomplete Non-Circular Gears
Authors: Xu Guiyun , Hua Dezheng , Dai Weijun , Zhang Xiaoguang
Published: November 2017

In order to solve the problem of reciprocating motion in no beam supported mining machines, putting energy saving as a starting point in Coal Bed Methane (CBM) exploitation, this paper designs a completely non-circular gear automatic reversing vertical drainage machine based on the theory of non-circular gear transmission. In the field of CBM exploitation, the use of non-circular gears is an attempt at an innovation. First of all, according to the working conditions of the pump and use requirements, a scheme is established whereby the one-way rotary motion of the motor is changed into reciprocating motion so that it could drive the oil pumping rod to achieve the upper and lower mining. Secondly, this paper has designed a new type non-circular gear reversing box as the core component to replace the traditional four beam linkage mechanism and also provides elaborate calculations. Finally, the movement simulation of the non-circular gear reversing gear system is completed. Comparing the motion simulation results with the theoretical ones, the correctness of our theoretical analysis can be verified. Compared with the traditional devices, the new coal seam gas drainage machine model design has nearly 11% higher efficiency, which has obvious energy saving effects and reduces the cost of mining coal seam gas.
Sensorless Control of Late-Stage Offshore DFIG-WT with FSTP Converters by Using EKF to Ride through Hybrid Faults
Authors: Li Wei , Li Gengyin , Ni Kai , Hu Yihua , Li Xinhua
Published: November 2017

A hybrid fault scenario in a late-stage offshore doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbine (DFIG-WT) with converter open-circuit fault and position sensor failure is investigated in this paper. An extended Kalman filter (EKF)-based sensorless control strategy is utilized to eliminate the encoder. Based on the detailed analysis of the seventh-order dynamic state space model of DFIG, along with the input voltage signals and measured current signals, the EKF algorithm for DFIG is designed to estimate the rotor speed and position. In addition, the bridge arm open circuit in the back-to-back (BTB) power converter of DFIG is taken as a commonly-encountered fault due to the fragility of semiconductor switches. Four-switch three-phase (FSTP) topology-based fault-tolerant converters are employed for post-fault operation by considering the minimization of switching losses and reducing the circuit complexity. Moreover, a simplified space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique is proposed to reduce the computational burden, and a voltage balancing scheme is put forward to increase the DC-bus voltage utilization rate. Simulation studies are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink2017a (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) to demonstrate the validity of the proposed hybrid fault-tolerant strategy for DFIG-WT, with the wind speed fluctuation, measurement noises and grid voltage sag taken into consideration.
On Hybrid Energy Utilization in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Tala’t Mohammad , Yu Chih-Min , Ku Meng-Lin , Feng Kai-Ten
Published: November 2017

In a wireless sensor network (WSN), many applications have limited energy resources for data transmission. In order to accomplish a better green communication for WSN, a hybrid energy scheme can supply a more reliable energy source. In this article, hybrid energy utilization—which consists of constant energy source and solar harvested energy—is considered for WSN. To minimize constant energy usage from the hybrid source, a Markov decision process (MDP) is designed to find the optimal transmission policy. With a finite packet buffer and a finite battery size, an MDP model is presented to define the states, actions, state transition probabilities, and the cost function including the cost values for all actions. A weighted sum of constant energy source consumption and a packet dropping probability (PDP) are adopted as the cost value, enabling us to find the optimal solution for balancing the minimization of the constant energy source utilization and the PDP using a value iteration algorithm. As shown in the simulation results, the performance of optimal solution using MDP achieves a significant improvement compared to solution without its use.
Charge and Discharge Analyses of a PCM Storage System Integrated in a High-Temperature Solar Receiver
Authors: Giovannelli Ambra , Bashir Muhammad
Published: November 2017

Solar Dish Micro Gas Turbine (MGT) systems have the potential to become interesting small-scale power plants in off-grid or mini-grid contexts for electricity or poly-generation production. The main challenging component of such systems is the solar receiver which should operate at high temperatures with concentrated solar radiations, which strongly vary with time. This paper deals with the design and the analysis of a novel solar receiver integrated with a short-term storage system based on Phase Change Materials to prevent sudden variations in the maximum temperature of the MGT working fluid. Particularly, the charge and discharge behavior of the storage system was analyzed by means of Computational Fluid Dynamic methods to evaluate the potentiality of the concept and the component capabilities. Achieved results were highly satisfactory: the novel solar receiver has a good thermal inertia and can prevent relevant fluctuations in the working fluid temperature for 20–30 min.