bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DISRUPTING UNEMPLOYMENT : RE-ENGINEERING JOB CREATION AND LABOUR SUPPLY-CHAINS
Authors: Priyanka Panday  , Shagun Tripathi
Published: June 2018

The world economy is experiencing unpredictable economic volatility and uncertainty, with possible calamitous social, political and economic consequences. One of the greatest challenges of our times is unemployment. Job creation in the 21st century has been inhibited by the recent global economic meltdown, the unprecedented rise in automation and absence of a framework to reconcile labour demand with labour supply even as skills and nature of jobs undergo fast paced change.The current global scenario of growing unemployment blues poses a tremendous threat to inclusive global economic growth. Political eco-systems have shown inclination towards protectionism in major world economies, propelled by the idea that immigration reduces the number of available jobs. However, in this paper we identify skill gap, lack of industry-academia partnership and absence of life-long learning opportunities as key detriments to employment opportunities in the knowledge economy. We try to elucidate the process of disrupting unemployment in an era marked by constant change and uncertainty for most economies. We suggest re-engineering of job creation methods and restructuring of labour supply chains as two possible solutions to it.
MATERNITY LEGISLATIONS : A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN INDIA AND USA
Authors: Jayita Mondal  , Mrinalini Pandey
Published: June 2018

The changing status quo at the labour front, which envisages a world with continuous improvement and modernization in all spheres, vouches for participation of men and women alike. Thus, necessitated attention is to be given to the workforce involvement of the ‘fairer gender’ and ensure that the conditions and policies governing women employment are just and humane. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has set norms that segments the aspects that need to be considered while making policies and statements that serve as framework to ensure workforce-friendly policies and provide due considerations in maintaining the basic standards of life for the women workers. Most industrial and developing countries abide by the norms- except for the highly industrialized nations as Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Maternity relief is not only a basic right of any women, but also “an element of health and economic protection”. This study seeks to review and compare the maternity provisions as practiced by USA and India. As per the ILO Reports,in the United States 55 per cent of working women comprise the main earners with respect to their family earnings. In India alone, an approximate of 60 million people live in households maintained only by women. The Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183) of ILO provides for 14 weeks of maternity benefit. It provides for monetary benefit of the expecting mother that is not less than two third of her drawn wages. In USA, the provision of maternity falls under the Family and Medical Leave Act, 1993 (FMLA), only employers covered by the act provides for unpaid but job-protected leave up to 12 weeks per year to their female employees. In India, as per the Amendment 2017, The Maternity Benefit Act, requires the employers to mandate 26 weeks long paid maternity benefit to the women employee. If the employers do not provide for pre and post-natal care, then the employee is eligible for monetary relief. Hence, the legislatures governing maternity relief are viewed considering the current situation of the countries being studied.
RESTRUCTURING OF INDIAN TELECOM INDUSTRY : EMERGENCE OF RELIANCE JIO AND M&A CASES INVOLVING AIRTEL-TELENOR AND VODAFONE-IDEA
Authors: Saurav Kumar
Published: June 2018

Mobile industry has become one of the fastest developing industries in India. Indian mobile subscribers have become used to touch mobiles within a relatively short span of time. India is the second biggest market in the world for mobile services and it is a good avenue for network providers from India and abroad. Global providers too have occupied and earned reasonable market shares in the Indian mobile industry. Jio’spractically free offers have created fundamental changes in consumer behavior along with competitor strategies. The moves made by this new entrant has affected the equilibrium in the mobile industry and made rival players vulnerable, so much so that many of them have resorted to mergers and acquisitions to avoid bleeding away to bankruptcy. All major players in the industry, e.g. Airtel, Idea, Vodafone etc. are strategically responding to Jio’s market penetration move. To come to a position of strength in the industry, Idea and Airtel are entering into ventures with Vodafone and Telenor respectively. Through this paper, the author wishes to make an attempt to examine the impact of Jio on competitive strategies of rivals in the Indian telecom industry
Emergence of New Predictors Projecting the Definite Article Variability: Evidence from Nigerian English
Authors: Akinlotan Mayowa
Published: June 2018

An important syntactic system in the noun phrase (NP) is the definite article system. The definite article system in emerging varieties of English, such as Nigerian and Indian, have been shown to manifest varying degrees of variability in their usages, given different contexts (Platt, Weber and Ho, 1984; Wahid, 2013; Akinlotan, 2016b; Akinlotan 2017). In addition to the fact that little has been done in quantifying this phenomenon, too little number of predictors explicating the scenarios where we might find certain definite article usages in different but specific contexts in emerging varieties has also been put forward. Following Wahid (2013), a revision of Hawkins’s (1978) theoretical framework for the definite article usages, together with test statistic, the present study investigated 19276 tokens of the, spread across seven text types of academic, media, learner, interactional, popular, literary, and administrative. The study which Akinlotan expands (2017) shows that previously untested predictors of presence/absence of premodification and determiner structure, animacy and class of the head noun, and syntactic function of the NP, account for variability in the definite article usage in our corpus. In fact, these newly tested predictors show stronger influence than a well-known predictor of register (Biber et al., 1999; Wahid, 2013).
GREEN ACCOUNTING: A MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IMPLEMENTATION
Authors: Purnamawati I Gusti Ayu
Published: June 2018

This activity aims to know the implementation of Green Accounting As Management Strategy and Form of Social Responsibility Implementation at the Village Owned Enterprises in Buleleng Regency (BUMDes). This descriptive quantitative research was carried out with the purpose of mapping the academic works published on the environmental accounting and environmental costs areas and, fundamentally, describing the type of study (creation of a model or descriptive study) and the type of strategy (case study or non-identified). The sample is the managers of BUMDes which amounted to 10 people. With the application of environmental accounting in all operational activities and directly oriented to the interests of profit, people (community) and the planet (environmental sustainability). The results show that: 90% of the level of achievement that Bumdes managers have been able to apply environmental accounting properly.
Consideraciones sobre el comercio y el papel de la plata hispanoamericana en la temprana globalización, siglos XVI-XIX
Authors: Bonialian Mariano , Hausberger Bernd
Published: June 2018

El presente texto analiza algunos aspectos económicos de la inserción de América Latina en la temprana globalización, a través de una estructura de ejes geohistóricos suprarregionales. Se concentrará en el comercio como uno de los mecanismos globalizadores más importantes, y destacará algunos de las consecuencias claves de los flujos de mercancías y metales preciosos entre los continentes. Por un lado, mostrará cómo el espacio americano, después de las conquistas ibéricas, llegó a reestructurarse y transformarse a partir de inserción en los circuitos de intercambio globales. Por otro lado, se explorará cómo el Nuevo Mundo aportó a la vinculación y transformación de las grandes áreas del globo. Para mostrar el alcance de este impacto se presentarán algunas consideraciones sobre el papel de los metales preciosos americanos en los inicios de la industrialización y los efectos que causó este trascendental fenómeno productivo en la economía hispanoamericana.
Israel Cavazos (1923-2016)
Authors: Vázquez Josefina Zoraida
Published: June 2018

-
Face, construct, and concurrent validity of a simulation model for laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing horses
Authors: Elarbi Mustafa M. , Ragle Claude A. , Fransson Boel A. , Farnsworth Kelly D.
Published: June 2018

OBJECTIVE To develop and validate a simulation model for laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing horses.

DESIGN Prospective cohort study.

SAMPLE 15 third-year veterinary students and 4 equine surgeons with experience in laparoscopy.

PROCEDURES A simulation model that mimicked laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing horses was developed. Face validity of the model was determined with a questionnaire completed by the equine surgeons. Construct validity was determined by comparing performance scores (based on time to completion and accuracy completing various operative tasks) for simulated laparoscopic ovariectomy performed in the model for the students with scores for the equine surgeons. Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing performance scores with scores obtained with the validated McGill Inanimate System for Training and Evaluation of Laparoscopic Skills (MISTELS).

RESULTS Questionnaire responses indicated that the simulation model replicated the operative experience to a high degree (face validity). Performance scores for simulated laparoscopic ovariectomy performed in the model were significantly different between the students and the equine surgeons (construct validity). Performance scores for the simulation model were significantly correlated with scores for the MISTELS (concurrent validity).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that the simulation model had face, construct, and concurrent validity, suggesting that it may be useful when training students to perform laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing horses.
British Digital Game Studies
Authors: Crawford Garry , MacCallum-Stewart Esther , Ruffino Paolo
Published: June 2018

This paper provides a short and potted recent history of digital games research in Great Britain. We begin this story in 2001. Though a substantial amount of research and writing on digital games has been taking place in Britain since at least the 1980s, for us the turn of the new millennium marks a logical starting point of our recent history. Not only was this the year that Aarseth (2001) marked as ‘year one’ for ‘computer game research’, it was also the year that the first major international conference on digital games took place in the UK (in Bristol), and the first time a major British government grant was awarded to undertake research on digital gaming. The paper then charts the significant role Britain played in hosting major early international gatherings of (now leading) games researchers, such as those in Bristol and also Manchester. As well as the important crop of early British-authored (text) books that helped shape the direction of this new and emerging discipline. What we then see is a significant growth in British digital games studies focused on a number of key events, research clusters, and publications, and the development of a particular framing of digital games within a wider social, cultural and political context. It is this, we would suggest, that has given British digital game studies its particular flavour and also its important global role in pushing forward research, theory, and key debates.
Game Design Lineages: Minecraft’s Inventory
Authors: Bateman Chris , Zagal José P.
Published: June 2018

Game design is conditioned by the practice, both formal and inormal, of drawing from previous designs as a source of knowledge and inspiration. Innovation in game design is thus often the result of old ideas recombined in novel ways. We propose the concept of the game design lineage as a framework for tracing, analyzing, understanding and explaining the historical significance of specific design elements in games. In addition to game design elements, a design lineage should consider a game’s socio-cultural context, including the design and player practices of its creators, and the relationship between these and the prevailing player practices of the time. We contrast this with approaches that consider individual games  as their unit of analysis – e.g. comparing different games with each other and establishing connections between them without considering the historical context of their player practices. We feel this approach, while insightful for understanding changes between games that are superficially similar, risks implying a strict Linnaean-style inheritance pattern (inheritance by genre), and thus struggles to account for games with a diversity of design elements that originate elsewhere. We argue that the flow of influences in game design is typically fluid and heterogeneous, and not constrained by genre. Key to this concept of a game design lineage is the role of player practices; i.e. how players receive, perceive and interact with games, and the ways these have shaped the ideas that are then implemented. We illustrate the game design lineage approach with an analysis of Minecraft’s inventory system, tracing its different elements across multiple games, genres, designers, and player practices.
НАУКОВО-ПРАКТИЧНІ ЗАСАДИ ФОРМУВАННЯ ФАХОВИХ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТЕЙ ДИЗАЙНЕРІВ КОСТЮМА
Authors: Грищенко І. М. , Колосніченко М. В. , Ніколаєва Т. В.
Published: June 2018

The article deals with the stages of formation and development of the specialty "Design" at the Kiev National University of Technology and Design, describes the experience of training costume designers at the Department of Artistic Designing of Costume, the main directions of scientific research on the development of problems of theory, methods and practices of artistic designing costume, methodological base of design and art education in Ukraine
The English Vocabulary Acquisition of the Students of State Junior High School 2 Parepare
Authors: Rafiqa Rafiqa
Published: June 2018

The Objective of the research: to get information about the English vocabulary acquisition of the seventh, the eight and the ninth grade of students of state junior high school 2 Parepare. The researcher applied cross-sectional design to investigate differences between participants that vary by  grade. The research population were all pupils who learned English, so the population of this research were students of State Junior High School 2 Parepare. They are the seventh grade which consist of 210 students, eight grade which consist of 208 students, and ninth grade consist of 234 students. The total number of population are 652.The researcher took sample from each grade by using random sampling technique. At the seventh grade consist of 36 students, at the ninth grade consist of 34 students, and the ninth grade consist of 32 students, so total number of sample are 102.

The result of this research showed that mean score of each grade were different. Mean score of seventh grade were 6,0778, it was lower than eight grade and ninth grade. Mean score of eight grade were 8,1088 means that it was in the middle between seventh  and ninth group. And then mean score at ninth grade were 9,2500, it was a higher mean score than eight grade and seventh grade. Based on mean score from students of each grade showed that students of higher grade would they have higher vocabulary size.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM THE STANDPOINT OF DETERMINISTIC SOCIAL SENSE (ARCHETYPAL APPROACH)
Authors: Dovgan’ Aleksej Valentinovich
Published: June 2018

The features and the role of deterministic social sense in the context of the archetypical approach are considered in the article; the specifics of the existence of the above-mentioned phenomenon in relation to public administration are presented. The nature, principles of the functioning of archetypes as a direct, pragmatic decision-making factor of the personality are represented. It is argued that archetypes are significantly different from those historically established or transformed by human characters, whose senses are not mentally inherited, but transmitted from generation to generation. The emphasis is placed on the relevance of the archetypal approach for research in the management sector in general and deterministic social sense — in particular. The author emphasizes that the archetype is a direct pragmatic factor in personal decision-making, acting as a created internal complication that ensures the course of certain socially deter mined processes in the human brain. Attention is focused on the continuity of the concepts of “sense” and “culture”: from the moment of alienation of a person from the surrounding natural world, all thoughts, created things, found and used means and methods of actions are given meanings. Thus, the decision, that is, the choice, appears to be the natural basis for an individual’s being in ontological reality, acting as a necessary precondition for structuring his administrative, legal and so on needs in modern society. Further investigation of the archetypal approach to the study of the phenomenon of deterministic social sense is seen in the study of the features of citizens’ reflection on the images and symbols created by the government in order to achieve some behavioral manifestations in the latter, allowing more deeply and clearly understand the needs of the people, and also to update the relevant role of public administration in his life. At the same time, from the standpoint of social, psychological, culturological pragmatics etc., the archetype is the primary form of sense stratified according to the types described by Jung. This differentiation of this phenomenon is natural, due to its universalism, which allows us to speak about the degree of social adaptability of the latter.
THE ARCHETYPE OF CONSUMPTION AND ITS CONTRADICTIONS IN THE CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN SPACE OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
Authors: Lapina Viktoria Viktorovna
Published: June 2018

The analysis of the theoretical interpretations of the contradictions of the consumption archetype in the contemporary European space of economic and social interactions is presented in the article. The importance of the further development of scientific research on the newest consumption practices under the context of globalization and European integration is substantiated. The scientific understanding of consumption as the fundamental civilizational transcultural archetype which defined as determining factor for organization and technological development of contemporary production systems of production and as the stimulus of resource exchange between individual and collective subjects of public life is proved by the author. Also presented argumentation that the development of main practices of consumption reproduce in the globalized public space of the separate regions, and the European public space is the evident example of such region. It is proved that the main contradictions of the functional manifestations of the consumption archetype in the European public space of economic and social interactions are determined by the processes of real competition of various models of consumption, and by the increased manipulative influence of the media and advertising, which translate the values of the ideology of consumerism and the standards of elitist consumption without taking into account the existing deep socioeconomic inequality in most European societies. In this article is presented by the author the scientific argumentation of the conceptual position that internationalization of individual and collective practices of consumption determines the radical changes of the spatial conditions of social reproduction of these practices. Under contemporary conditions of the intensive global resource exchange, which is caused by the activities of TNCs and by the global migration, the development of basic consumption practices stimulate the new social transformations in the globalized public space of the different regions, and the European public space is also the one of such regions.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL MANAGEMENT CONTEMPORARY: GENERATION OF SOCIAL MEANINGS FOR A NEW COLLECTIVE IDENTITIES
Authors: Semenets-Orlova Inna Andriivna , Kyselova Yaroslava Yaroslavivna
Published: June 2018

The article is devoted to the analysis of the process of generating social meanings on the area of European civilization. Authors assign a separate place to the research of the tendency of increasing social activity in local communities, which accompanies decentralization processes in modern Ukraine. The article analyzes the characteristic features of non-tribes, based on the M. Maffesoli’s concept of “neo-tribalism”, and traces the tendency of reactualization a partly transformed communal way of life of modern tribes. The authors investigate the retrieval of the request for a valuable education in society. It is emphasized on the growing tendency of the filling of the meaning of the professional activity of public administrators, according to the significant request of providing public interests and collective goals by citizens. The authors singled out a new role of public administration — providing public education. In the context of this problem, the authors substantiate the critical need for a successful completion of the authority decentralization reform in Ukraine. Proceeding from the process of neo-tribalism that covers modern Europe, the authors predict the emergence of a new collective identities on the European area. The authors point to a characteristic tendency: Ukrainians are deeply embedded in solving internal problems of society, which manifests in the correction of gaps in cultural and educational policies of past years, self-organization (through volunteer and volunteer movements), civil responsibility for the welfare of their communities, and participation in the management of local affairs. According to the authors, this tendency influences the dominant type of future sociality (it is not the individual “Me”, but “Me as a part of community”).
SOCIAL ARCHETYPIC IN THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROBLEM FIELD: CONTEMPORARY STATE AND PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMEN
Authors: Sushyi Olena Vladimirovna
Published: June 2018

This article surveys the development process of social archetypes as a new direction for interdisciplinary research in the public administration problem field, that implemented in the framework of scholarly sessions of Ukrainian School of Archetypes (USArch), namely: International Theoretical and Methodological Seminars and International Competitions for Young Scholars “Archetypes and Public Administration” (2010–2018), International Lectures Cycle “Patterns and Characteristics of Ukrainian Social Transformation” (2016), Internet discussions and skype conferences. Program sessions themes of the listed scholary forms are summarized as well as prospects for further movement of USArch and development of social archetypes as a new direction for interdisciplinary research are defined.Attention is drawn to the fact that the post-soviet scholarly community doesn’t have a sufficiently developed opinion on social archetypes as an interdisciplinary field of research and its methodological foundations. The basis for criticism is an ambiguous attitude both to the teachings of K. Jung about the archetypes of the collective unconscious, and to the psychoanalytic trend as a whole. It is suggested that reducing the degree of critical attitude to social archetypes as an interdisciplinary field of research in the subject field of public administration depends on a number of conditions. Firstly, using the common formulation and interpretation of the ideas that influenced its formation and development. Secondly, from an adequate understanding of both the possibilities of social archetypes which are determined by its original methods of explanation and methods of analysis of subtle social phenomena which can serve as a key point for further theoretical and empirical research, and the theoretical and practical limitations of the archetypal approach. That is why social archetypes is positioned as an interdisciplinary research area. I argued that the social archetypes is not a universal scholarly apparatus and not an orthodox inheritance of the ideas of Jungianism. Finally, it is a methods that allows us to establish patterns and features of modern social development, the practical application of which expands the possibilities of public-management’s activity. At the same time, it is a metaphor through which the researcher is invited to plunge into the wider psychosocial and sociocultural context of social phenomenas and processes.
Syndrome d’activation macrophagique d’origine infectieuse : le point de vue du réanimateur
Authors: Valade S. , Canet E. , Mariotte E.
Published: June 2018

Le syndrome hémophagocytaire (SH) se présente classiquement sous la forme de cytopénies fébriles accompagnées d’un syndrome tumoral, le plus souvent dans le cadre d’un déficit immunitaire sous-jacent. Les formes les plus sévères s’accompagnent de défaillances d’organes qui peuvent conduire le patient en réanimation. Les principales étiologies de SH sont les infections, les hémopathies et les maladies de système. Les infections associées au SH sont majoritairement virales, liées à l’EBV, au CMV et aux autres virus du groupe herpes. Les infections bactériennes sont dominées par les mycobactéries, et les parasites sont essentiellement représentés par la leishmaniose et la toxoplasmose. Enfin, parmi les infections fongiques, l’histoplasmose est à rechercher en priorité. La prise en charge thérapeutique du SH associé aux infections comprend trois volets : le traitement de l’infection, les traitements de support et le traitement du SH. Les principaux traitements proposés dans le cadre du SH associé aux infections sont les corticoïdes, les immunoglobulines polyvalentes et l’étoposide. À la phase initiale, c’est principalement la gravité des patients (défaillances d’organes) qui guidera la décision d’administrer ou non un traitement spécifique du SH. Un aspect important de la prise en charge thérapeutique est la recherche systématique d’un déficit immunitaire sous-jacent, qui pourra faire l’objet d’une prise en charge spécifique. Le bilan minimal comprendra la recherche d’une infection par le VIH, la recherche d’une hémopathie lymphoïde sous-jacente (maladie de Hodgkin, lymphome non hodgkinien, maladie de Castleman) et la recherche d’arguments en faveur d’une maladie systémique (Lupus et maladie de Still).
The Effects of Knowledge Sharing on Individual Creativity in Higher Education Institutions: Socio-Technical View
Authors: Lee Joosung
Published: June 2018

Knowledge sharing has multifaceted effects on organizations, such as improving work performance, among which creativity is apparently one of the most important parts. Nevertheless, the effects of knowledge sharing on individuals has not been paid attention sufficiently by previous research. Furthermore, knowledge sharing research mainly concerns business organizations rather than public organizations. This study aims to examine the effects of knowledge sharing on individuals in a higher institution of education in Korea, for which a socio-technical view and social capital theory is used to investigate the important antecedents of knowledge contribution, as well as to examine social and technical facets. This study is the first research regarding the relationship between knowledge sharing and individual creativity, and it also identifies the mediating effects of knowledge sharing on individual creativity at an individual level in a higher education institution.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Thioesters from Thiols and Vinyl Esters in a Continuous-Flow Microreactor
Authors: Zhou Nani , Shen Le , Dong Zhen , Shen Jiahong , Du Lihua , Luo Xiping
Published: June 2018

The preparation of thioesters through the lipase-catalysed transesterification reaction of thiols with vinyl carboxyl esters is described. The reactions were carried out by Lipase TL IM from Thermomyces lanuginosus as a catalyst and performed under a continuous flow microreactor. We first found that lipase TL IM can be used in the reaction of thioester synthesis with high efficiency. Various reaction parameters were investigated including substrate molar ratio, reaction time, and temperature. Maximum conversion (96%) was obtained under the optimal condition of a substrate molar ratio of 1:2 (4-methylbenzyl mercaptan:vinyl esters) at 50 °C for about 30 min. Compared with other methods, the salient features of this work include mild reaction conditions (50 °C), short reaction times (30 min), high yields, and environment-friendliness.
The Rigid-Shield Technique: A New Contour and Clot Stabilizing Method for Ridge Preservation
Authors: Mattiola Alessandro , Bosshardt Dieter , Schmidlin Patrick R.
Published: June 2018

Tooth extraction causes vertical and horizontal alveolar bone loss and consequent remodeling. Several methods have been introduced in terms of so-called “ridge preservation” techniques, which mostly resemble guided bone regenerative (GBR) procedures using filler materials and membranes in order to stabilize the respective sites. This conceptual case report describes a novel approach using a degradable polylactic acid membrane covered with a collagen matrix, which aims to reshape the resorbed alveolar wall and thereby to stabilize the soft tissues during matrix formation and socket mineralization. Clinical re-entry, radiographic (CBCT) and histologic evaluation proved adequate for osteoneogenesis despite an unfavorable initial situation: An implant could be ideally placed, which was circumferentially covered by bone. This minimally invasive method could offer a new method to approach socket preservation without using filler materials and coverage of the socket entrance. However, more controlled research on this topic is needed.
Analytic Solution for a Complex Network of Chaotic Oscillators
Authors: Blakely Jonathan N. , Milosavljevic Marko S. , Corron Ned J.
Published: June 2018

Chaotic evolution is generally too irregular to be captured in an analytic solution. Nonetheless, some dynamical systems do have such solutions enabling more rigorous analysis than can be achieved with numerical solutions. Here, we introduce a method of coupling solvable chaotic oscillators that maintains solvability. In fact, an analytic solution is given for an entire network of coupled oscillators. Importantly, a valid chaotic solution is shown even when the coupling topology is complex and the population of oscillators is heterogeneous. We provide a specific example of a solvable chaotic network with star topology and a hub that oscillates much faster than its leaves. We present analytic solutions as the coupling strength is varied showing states of varying degrees of global organization. The covariance of the network is derived explicity from the analytic solution characterizing the degree of synchronization across the network as the coupling strength varies. This example suggests that analytic solutions may constitute a new tool in the study of chaotic network dynamics generally.
Heat Transfer Enhancement of TiO2/Water Nanofluid at Laminar and Turbulent Flows: A Numerical Approach for Evaluating the Effect of Nanoparticle Loadings
Authors: Kristiawan Budi , Santoso Budi , Wijayanta Agung , Aziz Muhammad , Miyazaki Takahiko
Published: June 2018

Titania-based nanofluid flowing inside a circular tube under the boundary condition of a horizontal uniformly heated wall was investigated numerically for both laminar and turbulent flows. In this work, an innovative numerical method using an Eulerian approach for the two-phase mixture model was used to simulate the flow and convective heat transfer characteristics. The effect of nanoparticle loading and Reynolds number on the flow and heat transfer characteristics was observed. The Reynolds number was 500 and 1200 for laminar flow, while for turbulent flow, the Reynolds number was varied in the range from 4000 to 14,000. A comparison with the established empirical correlations was made. The results clearly showed at the laminar and turbulent flows that the existing nanoparticles provided a considerable enhancement in the convective heat transfer. For laminar flow, the numerical results found that the enhancement in the convective heat transfer coefficient of nanofluids were 4.63, 11.47, and 20.20% for nanoparticle loadings of 0.24, 0.60, and 1.18 vol.%, respectively. On the other hand, for turbulent flow, the corresponding heat transfer increases were 4.04, 10.33, and 21.87%.
The Integration of 3D Modeling and Simulation to Determine the Energy Potential of Low-Temperature Geothermal Systems in the Pisa (Italy) Sedimentary Plain
Authors: Sbrana Alessandro , Marianelli Paola , Pasquini Giuseppe , Costantini Paolo , Palmieri Francesco , Ciani Valentina , Sbrana Michele
Published: June 2018

Shallow, low-temperature geothermal resources can significantly reduce the environmental impact of heating and cooling. Based on a replicable standard workflow for three-dimensional (3D) geothermal modeling, an approach to the assessment of geothermal energy potential is proposed and applied to the young sedimentary basin of Pisa (north Tuscany, Italy), starting from the development of a geothermal geodatabase, with collated geological, stratigraphic, hydrogeological, geophysical and thermal data. The contents of the spatial database are integrated and processed using software for geological and geothermal modeling. The models are calibrated using borehole data. Model outputs are visualized as three-dimensional reconstructions of the subsoil units, their volumes and depths, the hydrogeological framework, and the distribution of subsoil temperatures and geothermal properties. The resulting deep knowledge of subsoil geology would facilitate the deployment of geothermal heat pump technology, site selection for well doublets (for open-loop systems), or vertical heat exchangers (for closed-loop systems). The reconstructed geological–hydrogeological models and the geothermal numerical simulations performed help to define the limits of sustainable utilization of an area’s geothermal potential.
The Role of Communities in Mental Health Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Meta-Review of Components and Competencies
Authors: Kohrt Brandon A. , Asher Laura , Bhardwaj Anvita , Fazel Mina , Jordans Mark J. D. , Mutamba Byamah B. , Nadkarni Abhijit , Pedersen Gloria A. , Singla Daisy R. , Patel Vikram
Published: June 2018

Community-based mental health services are emphasized in the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Action Plan, the World Bank’s Disease Control Priorities, and the Action Plan of the World Psychiatric Association. There is increasing evidence for effectiveness of mental health interventions delivered by non-specialists in community platforms in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). However, the role of community components has yet to be summarized. Our objective was to map community interventions in LMIC, identify competencies for community-based providers, and highlight research gaps. Using a review-of-reviews strategy, we identified 23 reviews for the narrative synthesis. Motivations to employ community components included greater accessibility and acceptability compared to healthcare facilities, greater clinical effectiveness through ongoing contact and use of trusted local providers, family involvement, and economic benefits. Locations included homes, schools, and refugee camps, as well as technology-aided delivery. Activities included awareness raising, psychoeducation, skills training, rehabilitation, and psychological treatments. There was substantial variation in the degree to which community components were integrated with primary care services. Addressing gaps in current practice will require assuring collaboration with service users, utilizing implementation science methods, creating tools to facilitate community services and evaluate competencies of providers, and developing standardized reporting for community-based programs.
Quercetin Lowers Plasma Triglycerides Accompanied by White Adipose Tissue Browning in Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Authors: Kuipers Eline N. , Dam Andrea D. van , Held Ntsiki M. , Mol Isabel M. , Houtkooper Riekelt H. , Rensen Patrick C.N. , Boon Mariëtte R.
Published: June 2018

Obesity and dyslipidemia are major risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, lowers plasma triglycerides (TG) in human intervention studies, and its intake is associated with lower CVD risk. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which quercetin lowers plasma TG levels in diet-induced obesity. C57Bl/6J mice received a high-fat diet (45% of calories derived from fat) with or without quercetin (0.1% w/w) for 12 weeks. Quercetin decreased plasma TG levels from nine weeks onwards (−19%, p < 0.05), without affecting food intake, body composition, or energy expenditure. Mechanistically, quercetin did not reduce intestinal fatty acid (FA) absorption. Rather, quercetin induced a slight reduction in liver Apob expression (−13%, p < 0.05), which suggests decreased very-low density lipoprotein-TG production. Interestingly, quercetin also markedly increased the uptake of [3H]oleate, which was derived from glycerol tri[3H]oleate-labeled lipoprotein-like particles by subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT, +60%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, quercetin also markedly increased mRNA expression of Ucp1 (+229%, p < 0.05) and Elovl3 (+138%, p < 0.05), specifically in sWAT. Accordingly, only quercetin-treated animals showed uncoupling protein-1 protein-positive cells in sWAT, which is fully compatible with increased browning. Taken together, the TG-lowering effect of quercetin may, at least in part, be due to increased TG-derived FA uptake by sWAT as a consequence of browning.
Big Lessons from Tiny Flies: Drosophila melanogaster as a Model to Explore Dysfunction of Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Neurotransmitter Systems
Authors: Kasture Ameya Sanjay , Hummel Thomas , Sucic Sonja , Freissmuth Michael
Published: June 2018

The brain of Drosophila melanogaster is comprised of some 100,000 neurons, 127 and 80 of which are dopaminergic and serotonergic, respectively. Their activity regulates behavioral functions equivalent to those in mammals, e.g., motor activity, reward and aversion, memory formation, feeding, sexual appetite, etc. Mammalian dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons are known to be heterogeneous. They differ in their projections and in their gene expression profile. A sophisticated genetic tool box is available, which allows for targeting virtually any gene with amazing precision in Drosophila melanogaster. Similarly, Drosophila genes can be replaced by their human orthologs including disease-associated alleles. Finally, genetic manipulation can be restricted to single fly neurons. This has allowed for addressing the role of individual neurons in circuits, which determine attraction and aversion, sleep and arousal, odor preference, etc. Flies harboring mutated human orthologs provide models which can be interrogated to understand the effect of the mutant protein on cell fate and neuronal connectivity. These models are also useful for proof-of-concept studies to examine the corrective action of therapeutic strategies. Finally, experiments in Drosophila can be readily scaled up to an extent, which allows for drug screening with reasonably high throughput.
Graviola (Annona muricata) Exerts Anti-Proliferative, Anti-Clonogenic and Pro-Apoptotic Effects in Human Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer UW-BCC1 and A431 Cells In Vitro: Involvement of Hedgehog Signaling
Authors: Chamcheu Jean , Rady Islam , Chamcheu Roxane-Cherille , Siddique Abu , Bloch Melissa , Banang Mbeumi Sergette , Babatunde Abiola , Uddin Mohammad , Noubissi Felicite , Jurutka Peter , Liu Yong-Yu , Spiegelman Vladimir , Whitfield G. , El Sayed Khalid
Published: June 2018

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the leading cause of skin cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Effective strategies are needed to control NMSC occurrence and progression. Non-toxic, plant-derived extracts have been shown to exert multiple anti-cancer effects. Graviola (Annona muricata), a tropical fruit-bearing plant, has been used in traditional medicine against multiple human diseases including cancer. The current study investigated the effects of graviola leaf and stem extract (GLSE) and its solvent-extracted fractions on two human NMSC cell lines, UW-BCC1 and A431. GLSE was found to: (i) dose-dependently suppress UW-BCC1 and A431 cell growth, motility, wound closure, and clonogenicity; (ii) induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by downregulating cyclin/cdk factors while upregulating cdk inhibitors, and (iii) induce apoptosis as evidenced by cleavage of caspases-3, -8 and PARP. Further, GLSE suppressed levels of activated hedgehog (Hh) pathway components Smo, Gli 1/2, and Shh while inducing SuFu. GLSE also decreased the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax while decreasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. We determined that these activities were concentrated in an acetogenin/alkaloid-rich dichloromethane subfraction of GLSE. Our data identify graviola extracts and their constituents as promising sources for new chemopreventive and therapeutic agent(s) to be further developed for the control of NMSCs.
Regulation and Function of TMEM16F in Renal Podocytes
Authors: Schenk Laura K. , Ousingsawat Jiraporn , Skryabin Boris V. , Schreiber Rainer , Pavenstädt Hermann , Kunzelmann Karl
Published: June 2018

The Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblase and ion channel TMEM16F is expressed in podocytes of renal glomeruli. Podocytes are specialized cells that form interdigitating foot processes as an essential component of the glomerular filter. These cells, which participate in generation of the primary urine, are often affected during primary glomerular diseases, such as glomerulonephritis and secondary hypertensive or diabetic nephropathy, which always leads to proteinuria. Because the function of podocytes is known to be controlled by intracellular Ca2+ signaling, it is important to know about the role of Ca2+-activated TMEM16F in these cells. To that end, we generated an inducible TMEM16F knockdown in the podocyte cell line AB8, and produced a conditional mouse model with knockout of TMEM16F in podocytes and renal epithelial cells of the nephron. We found that knockdown of TMEM16F did not produce proteinuria or any obvious phenotypic changes. Knockdown of TMEM16F affected cell death of tubular epithelial cells but not of glomerular podocytes when analyzed in TUNEL assays. Surprisingly, and in contrast to other cell types, TMEM16F did not control intracellular Ca2+ signaling and was not responsible for Ca2+-activated whole cell currents in podocytes. TMEM16F levels in podocytes were enhanced after inhibition of the endolysosomal pathway and after treatment with angiotensin II. Renal knockout of TMEM16F did not compromise renal morphology and serum electrolytes. Taken together, in contrast to other cell types, such as platelets, bone cells, and immune cells, TMEM16F shows little effect on basal properties of podocytes and does not appear to be essential for renal function.
Association of Low Fecal Elastase-1 and Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia
Authors: Tahtaci Mustafa , Koseoglu Huseyin , Alisik Murat , Tayfur Yurekli Oyku , Tahtaci Gozde , Erel Ozcan , Ersoy Osman
Published: June 2018

Non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) is a term used to define a set of symptoms that are believed to originate from the gastroduodenal region, and no underlying organic, systemic, or metabolic reason can be found. The majority of patients suffer from chronic symptoms although half of the patients report improvement in symptoms with time. The potential role exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in NUD patients has not been clarified yet. We aimed to identify exocrine pancreas function with pancreatic fecal elastase-1 in patients diagnosed with non-ulcer dyspepsia and no typical exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) symptoms. Thirty-five patients referred to gastroenterology clinics with NUD and 35 people with no dyspeptic symptoms as a control group were included in this prospective study. Non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were classified as group 1 and control subjects classified as group 2. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed in both groups. Assessment of exocrine pancreatic function was performed by measuring fecal elastase-1 concentration with a commercial ELISA kit using polyclonal antibodies (BioServ Diagnostics) in NUD patients compared to control subjects. Mean fecal elastase-1 levels were significantly lower in group 1 patients compared with group 2 (367.47 ± 43.27; 502.48 ± 50.94 respectively; p = 0.04). The percentage of the patients with EPI was significantly higher in group 1 (p = 0.02). Patients with NUD should be re-evaluated if they do not show satisfactory improvement with treatment. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was significantly higher in patients with NUD in our study. Evaluation for the presence of EPI can be a cost effective approach in management of refractory patients during the process of ruling out organic reasons.
Concrete Properties Comparison When Substituting a 25% Cement with Slag from Different Provenances
Authors: Parron-Rubio María Eugenia , Perez-García Francisca , Gonzalez-Herrera Antonio , Rubio-Cintas María Dolores
Published: June 2018

Concrete consumption greatly exceeds the use of any other material in engineering. This is due to its good properties as a construction material and the availability of its components. Nevertheless, the present worldwide construction increases and the high-energy consumption for cement production means a high environmental impact. On the other hand, one of the main problems in the iron and steel industry is waste generation and byproducts that must be properly processed or reused to promote environmental sustainability. One of these byproducts is steel slag. The cement substitution with slag strategy achieves two goals: raw materials consumption reduction and waste management. In the present work, four different concrete mixtures are evaluated. The 25% cement substitution is carried out with different types of slag. Tests were made to evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of each mixture. Depending on the origin, characteristics, and treatment of the slag, the concrete properties changed. Certain mixtures provided proper concrete properties. Stainless steel slag produced a fluent mortar that reduced water consumption with a slight mechanical strength loss. Mixtures with ground granulated blast furnace slag properties are better than the reference concrete (without slag).