bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laboratory and Full Boom-Based Investigation of Nozzle Setup Error Effects on Flow, Pressure, and Spray Pattern Distribution
Authors: Forney Shane   H. , Luck Joe   D. , Kocher Michael  F. , Pitla Santosh   K.
Published: October 2017

Abstract.

Pesticide application is an integral part of crop production, and ground-based agricultural boom sprayers are used extensively to apply pesticides to the crop canopy or soil surface across millions of acres in the United States. Efficient application is necessary to minimize costs and limit adverse environmental impacts. The goals of this study were to provide quantified measurements on the effects of nozzle setup errors on spray pattern uniformity and evaluate how laboratory patternator-based simulations would compare to measurements on a full spray boom. More specific objectives were to determine the effects of factors such as nozzle lateral angle, nozzle spacing, nozzle replacement, and nozzle pitch angle on spray pattern distribution and evaluate a simulation approach to predict the effects of single nozzle boom setup errors on full boom system pattern uniformity. Laboratory and sprayer-based tests were devised to quantify the impact of nozzle setup and operational errors on spray pattern uniformity, boom pressure, and nozzle flow rates. Results indicated that small variations in boom setup or nozzle operation (i.e., pressure or flow) can cause significant errors in spray nozzle distribution which may not be completely detectable by measuring spray pattern alone. Simulations using laboratory data from setup or operational errors reflected similar changes (differences less than 2.6%) in spray pattern CV as full boom data with similar setup errors. These findings were significant in that it may be possible to model errors within full boom spray distributions based on smaller laboratory-collected datasets. Keywords: Equipment, Equipment for crop protection, Patternator, Spray pattern distribution, Spraying.
Influence of Wild Blueberry Fruit Yield, Plant Height, and Ground Slope on Picking Performance of a Mechanical Harvester: Basis for Automation
Authors: Farooque Aitazaz Ahsan , Zaman Qamar Uz , Esau Travis , Chang Young Ki , Schumann Arnold Walter , Jameel Waqas
Published: October 2017

Abstract.

Spatial variability in fruit losses in relation to fruit yield, plant height, and ground slope can help to automate the wild blueberry harvester to improve picking performance. Currently, harvester operators adjust harvester’s head height, ground speed, and revolutions per minute (rpm) manually. This is not only laborious but also stressful for operators, as they encounter spatial variability during harvesting. The goal of this work was to identify the automation potential of the harvester to improve harvestable yield and reduce operator’s stress, keeping in view the spatial variability. Two fields were selected and test plots were constructed to examine the performance of the harvester in five zones of plant height, fruit yield, and ground slope. Fruit yield plant height and ground slope were recorded from each plot manually to examine their impact on total fruit loss. Keywords: Automation, Fruit losses, Spatial variability, Wild blueberry, Zonal analysis.

Results confirmed significant variability in fruit yield, plant height, and ground slope. Fruit losses were significantly influenced by the spatial variations. Fruit losses increased with an increase in fruit yield and ground slope during mechanical harvesting. The picking performance of the blueberry harvester was significantly lower in short and very tall plants within selected fields. The dependence of fruit losses on fruit yield, plant height, and ground slope emphasize the need for real-time adjustments in machine operating parameters to improve berry recovery. Based on the results, it is concluded that there is a significant advantage of harvester’s automation to increase profit margins for growers with no additional cost. Keywords: Automation, Fruit losses, Spatial variability, Wild blueberry, Zonal analysis.
Cost-effectiveness of routine imaging of suspected appendicitis
Authors: D’Souza N , Marsden M , Bottomley S , Nagarajah N , Scutt F , Toh S
Published: October 2017

Introduction

The misdiagnosis of appendicitis and consequent removal of a normal appendix occurs in one in five patients in the UK. On the contrary, in healthcare systems with routine cross-sectional imaging of suspected appendicitis, the negative appendicectomy rate is around 5%. If we could reduce the rate in the UK to similar numbers, would this be cost effective? This study aimed to calculate the financial impact of negative appendicectomy at the Queen Alexandra Hospital and to explore whether a policy of routine imaging of such patients could reduce hospital costs.

Materials and methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of all appendicectomies over a 1-year period at our institution. Data were extracted on outcomes including appendix histology, operative time and length of stay to calculate the negative appendicectomy rate and to analyse costs.

Results

A total of 531 patients over 5 years of age had an appendicectomy. The negative appendicectomy rate was 22% (115/531). The additional financial costs of negative appendicectomy to the hospital during this period were £270,861. Universal imaging of all patients with right iliac fossa pain that could result in a 5% negative appendicectomy rate would cost between £67,200 and £165,600 per year but could save £33,896 (magnetic resonance imaging), £105,896 (computed tomography) or £132,296 (ultrasound) depending on imaging modality used.

Conclusions

Negative appendicectomy is still too frequent and results in additional financial burden to the health service. Routine imaging of patients with suspected appendicitis would not only reduce the negative appendicectomy rate but could lead to cost savings and a better service for our patients.
The use of viable cryopreserved placental tissue in the management of a chronic rectovaginal fistula
Authors: Taylor JP , Gearhart S
Published: October 2017

We present a case of a chronic recurrent rectovaginal fistula that initially arose from complications of haemorrhoid surgery and had failed multiple prior surgical repairs. The fistula was successfully managed using viable cryopreserved placental tissue.
Neuroendocrine tumours within a Meckel’s diverticulum
Authors: Mora-Guzmán I , Muñoz de Nova JL , Martín-Pérez E
Published: October 2017

A Meckel’s diverticulum is a common anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. Although the majority of patients do not have any symptoms, malignancies can develop inside these diverticula, with neuroendocrine tumours being the most common. Diverticulectomy is the best option for complicated diverticula but prophylactic resection of asymptomatic diverticula in adults remains controversial. We present a case series of three patients with a neuroendocrine tumour found in a Meckel’s diverticulum. Given the number of asymptomatic diverticula not resected, it seems likely that incidental neuroendocrine tumours are more prevalent than thought previously. With the minimally invasive techniques now available and the low complication rate for incidental diverticulectomy, we believe that the benefits of resection of this high risk area for cancer outweigh the risks of surgery.
Informed consent and the readability of the written consent form
Authors: Sivanadarajah N , El-Daly I , Mamarelis G , Sohail MZ , Bates P
Published: October 2017

Introduction

The aim of this study was to objectively ascertain the level of readability of standardised consent forms for orthopaedic procedures.

Methods

Standardised consent forms (both in summary and detailed formats) endorsed by the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) were retrieved from orthoconsent.com and assessed for readability. This involved using an online tool to calculate the validated Flesch reading ease score (FRES). This was compared with the FRES for the National Health Service (NHS) Consent Form 1. Data were analysed and interpreted according to the FRES grading table.

Results

The FRES for Consent Form 1 was 55.6, relating to the literacy expected of an A level student. The mean FRES for the BOA summary consent forms (n=27) was 63.6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 61.2–66.0) while for the detailed consent forms (n=32), it was 68.9 (95% CI: 67.7–70.0). All BOA detailed forms scored >60, correlating to the literacy expected of a 13–15-year-old. The detailed forms had a higher FRES than the summary forms (p<0.001).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the BOA endorsed standardised consent forms are much easier to read and understand than the NHS Consent Form 1, with the detailed BOA forms being the easiest to read. Despite this, owing to varying literacy levels, a significant proportion of patients may struggle to give informed consent based on the written information provided to them.
Colonialism, postcolonialism and science fiction comics in the Southern Cone
Authors: Blanc-Hoang Henri-Simon
Published: October 2017

This article analyses the science fiction universes imagined by three major Latin American comic books writers: the Argentine Ricardo Barreiro (Bárbara, 1979–83), the Chilean Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Incal, 1983–2010) and the Brazilian Mozart Couto (O Viajante, 1989). I demonstrate that the race relations (between humans and non-humans) depicted in the selected graphic novels correspond to three different time frames of the colonization process: the Conquest, the colonial period, and contemporary times. In his Bárbara series, Ricardo Barreiro describes a future alien occupation of planet Earth, whose process finds its inspiration in the extremely violent Conquest of the Americas. Like the Spanish invasion of the New World, the violence imagined in Barreiro’s world occurs both at the physical and psychological levels. At the physical level, the natives must cope with the destruction of their environment, and being hunted by aliens. At the psychological level, the invaders impose a new language and a new religion on humans. In El Incal series, Alejandro Jodorowsky explores the humanity of aliens, robots, holograms and mutants, which parallels how the whiteness of mestizos and mulattos was questioned in the Iberian continent during the Colonial period. The way in which Jodorowsky uses specific ‘science fiction icons’ – as defined by Gary K. Wolfe in The Known and the Unknown: The Iconography of Science Fiction (Wolfe, 1979) – exposes the pigmentocratic system that has survived up to the twenty-first century. Such an approach helps us deconstruct the myth that defines Latin America as a ‘racial democracy’. Finally, in Mozart Couto’s O Viajante an apparently progressive, New-Age inspired message of wisdom, betrays a new kind of cultural plundering of the Americas. By relying on the contemporary myth of the Ancient Astronauts (i.e.: giving an outer-space origin to the pre-Colombian Civilizations) for the plot of his graphic novel, Macedo denies the native inhabitants of the Iberian continent any continuity with the cultural and architectural accomplishments of their forefathers.
The musicalization of graphic narratives and P. Craig Russell’s graphic novel operas, The Magic Flute and Salomé
Authors: Addis Victoria
Published: October 2017

The term ‘musicalization’ comes from Werner Wolf’s study of intermediality between music and fiction, The Musicalization of Fiction (1999), which proposes the musicalized text as one that has an intentional and sustained connection to music and musical form that moves beyond the purely diegetic or incidental. In this article I draw on Wolf’s arguments to consider the potential for ‘musicalization’ within graphic narratives, interrogating comics both as a unique medium, and through a comparative analysis with the operations of time, space, rhythm, repetition, harmony, dissonance, polyphony, and narrativity in music. I explore these ideas further in a close analysis of two of P. Craig Russell’s graphic novel operas, The Magic Flute (1989–90) and Salomé (1986), which I present as tentative examples of musicalized graphic narratives. These graphic novel operas draw on the affinities that we find between music and comics to translate their musical source texts into graphic narratives through the use of medium specific tools, e.g. manipulations of the panel and the grid, visual approximations of sound, and grammatextuality. This research highlights a long-standing desire among comic writers and artists to represent music in their work, and demonstrates the rich connections between music and graphic narratives, which can facilitate more nuanced representations moving forward.
La Putxeramobil, el día de gangas
Authors: Siles Ceballos Laurita
Published: October 2017

La Putxeramobil es una putxera sobre una bicicleta. La Putxeramobil nació con el objetivo de devolver el movimiento al proceso de preparación y cocción de las alubias a partir de la simple y ecológica tracción humana del pedaleo de una bicicleta. Las alubias se cocinan al ritmo del pedaleo mientras los bertsolaris dinamizan su preparado; se continúa con una suculenta comida popular y sigue un recital de sobremesa. A la vez que se reivindican elementos de la cultura popular local desde la práctica artística en un contexto festivo y participativo, se potencia el euskera en la zona de Enkarterri, invitando a los transeúntes a que se animen a participar en este recorrido a cambio de un suculento plato de alubias. Tanto en la producción como la ejecución de este proyecto han interferido un gran número de personas y entes locales, y se han generado abundantes interrelaciones humanas desde la experimentación colaborativa a partir de estrategias artísticas y sociales.
How you like my Cut?
Authors: Barkate Barreiro Nadia
Published: October 2017

Peaches es pop, ella es feminismo y es performance, también es placer y es peligro. Su trabajo tiene la habilidad espectacular de resumir un largo camino recorrido por la representación del cuerpo y por la evolución del pensamiento y de la acción feministas. Su propuesta refresca las paradojas presentes en la normalización de la sexualidad e incluso las más evidentes acaban encontrando su lugar, a través de las prácticas performativas. Es un discurso complejo que comparte elementos y estereotipos con cierto imaginario popular divergente y que a su vez reflexiona con experiencia la teoría más académica del feminismo y sus grietas o contradicciones. Los tres videoclips de la artista canadiense Peaches aquí comentados, sirven como ejemplo para señalar la capacidad que tiene el arte de abrir el discurso semiótico, atajando hacia las problemáticas más fundamentales de la formulación sexo-política. Como Beatriz Preciado (2007) dijo, el nuevo feminismo es lúdico y reflexivo, es posporno, punk y transcultural.
Sabotear el ‘big daddy mainframe’ en Internet: Ciberencuentro con Shu Lea Cheang
Authors: García-Oliveros Hedilla Elena
Published: October 2017

Artistas del entorno mujer han abierto caminos divergentes desde los años 70 con apuestas decididas en la relación arte-política. De modo específico, el debate en torno al género toma cuerpo en el nuevo espacio generado en Internet a partir de los años 90, lo que moverá a ciertos de estos grupos a crear lo que se denominará ‘Ciberfeminismo’. La idea utópica de que la red podía acoger una redefinición del modelo binario hombre-mujer desde postulados de lo queer es pronto abandonada pero las metodologías y obras net.art feministas continúan su trayectoria. Este artículo explora estas opciones y analiza las rupturas, reales o posibles, que implican tanto a nivel social como artístico. El caso de lx artista Shu Lea Cheang, colaboradorx de esta investigación, supone una conexión historiográfica que abarca desde la adopción de modelos colaborativos de creación hasta el abandono del arte objeto por lo digital, sostenido por el contexto de la red.
Polipropileno/poliamida nahasteen konpatibilizazioa: azterketa morfologiko eta erreologikoa
Authors: Sangroniz Leire , Palacios Jordana K. , Fernández Mercedes , Müller Alejandro J. , Santamaria Antxon
Published: October 2017

Polipropileno/Poliamida (PP/PA) nahasteak prestatu dira eta kopolimero- konpatibilizatzailea eta nanosilika gehitzeak nahaste horietan duen eragina aztertu da. Azterketa mikroskopikoak erakusten duenez, nahasteek emultsio antzeko morfologia dute, polipropilenoak fase jarraitua osatzen duelarik. Konpatibilizatzailea zein nanosilika gehitzeak PA tanten tamaina nabarmen murrizten duela antzematen da. Nahaste bitarrak fluxu jarraitu baten eraginpean daudenean, PA tanten koaleszentzia gerta daiteke eta, ondorioz, tanten tamaina handitu egiten da. Kopolimeroa zein nanosilika daukaten nahasteen kasuan, ordea, morfologia ez da eraldatzen fluxuaren eraginez. Fluxu oszilakorrak burutu dira nahaste desberdinen ezaugarri biskoelastikoak lortzeko. Neurketa biskoelastikoen bidez lortzen diren erlaxazio-espektroen azterketak morfologian gertatutako aldaketak detektatzeko gai direla frogatzen da.
Medikuntza-ezagutza poltsikoan
Authors: Nieto Jorge , Armendariz Anaje , Pérez Tomás A. , Pikatza Juan M. , Pérez-Yarza Eduardo G. , López-Cuadrado Javier
Published: October 2017

Gaur egun medikuntza arloan ezagutza handia dago, baina zabaltzea da zaila. Horretarako, erakundeek gida klinikoak egitea erabaki zuten; bertan mediku espezialistek gomendioak eta maila oneko erreferentziak ematen dituzte gaixotasun bakoitzaren inguruan. Gida asko daude eta ia ezinezkoa da denekin egunean egotea. Teknologiak aurrera egin duen heinean, gidak informatizatzea lagungarri dela ikusi da. Hasiera batean formatu elektronikora pasa ziren, baina gaur egun gida exekutagarriak daude, eta Erabaki Taldeak OsasunApp aurkezten du, automatikoki mugikorretako aplikazioak sortzen dituen sistema. Artikulu honetan OsasunApp azaltzen da; baita zer egin beharko litzatekeen etorkizunean ere.
Azido hialuroniko nanogelak
Authors: Maiz Fernández Sheila , Pérez Álvarez Leyre
Published: October 2017

Azido hialuronikoa (AH) izaki bizidun guztien zelulaz kanpoko matrizean (ECM) aurkitzen den polisakarido lineala da. Naturan dauden polimeroen artean aplikazio gehien dituena da. Biobateragarria, ez-zitotoxikoa eta biodegradagarria den makromolekula honek eskala nanometrikoan sintetizatzen denean, ezaugarri ezin hobeak aurkezten dituzten nanogelak garatzeko aukera paregabea eskaintzen du. Lan honetan azido hialuronikoaren eta bere nanogelen sintesi-metodoak, ezaugarriak eta erabilerak laburki deskribatuko dira, nanogel hauen potentziala biomedikuntzaren arloan jakinarazteko asmotan.
Noaingo oilategi-konpostagailua: etxeko soberakin organikoak aprobetxatzeko ikerkuntza parte-hartzailea
Authors: Ibarguren Ania , Irigoien Inazio , Arizmendiarrieta Joseba , Storino Francesco , Usanoz Monica
Published: October 2017

Bio-hondakinak lekuan bertan tratatzea ahalbidetzen duen konpostatze sistema berritzaile bat aurkezten da: Oilategi-Konpostagailua. Oilategi baten egitura du, eta konpostagailu bat edo gehiago eduki ditzake barnean, parte-hartzaileek etxean sortzen duten bio-hondakina konpostatzeko. Oiloek, moko eta atzaparren akzioa dela eta, konpostatze prozesua azkartzen dute. Noaingo Zentzumenen Parkean Noain (Nafarroan) aurkitzen den oilategi-konpostagailuaren 30 hilabetetako jarraipen emaitzak aurkezten dira. 30 familiak haien soberakinak eraman dituzte, datuak jaso dituzte eta trukean arrautzak, konposta eta egun batez oiloen zaintzaile izatearen esperientzia jaso dute. Ikerkuntza parte-hartzaile honetan datu gehienak familiek beraiek neurtu dituzte.
Analytical evaluation of technical and operational indicators impact on the transportation technology by automobile trailers
Authors: Tson Oleh
Published: October 2017

The impact of technological and operational indicators on the efficiency of using operational time during goods transportation by automobile trailers is analytically studied. The failure cause of automobile trailers undercarriages is analysed. The analytical dependences for the preliminary assessment of metal undercarriages performance in the design phases are developed. The proposed mathematical standard vehicle-performance test is compared with the obtained experimental data.
The hypoglycemic syndrome (insulinoma): pathogenesis, etiology, laboratory diagnosis (review, part 1)
Authors: Yukina Marina Yu. , Nuralieva Nurana F. , Troshina Ekaterina A. , Kuznetsov Nikolay S. , Platonova Nadezhda M.
Published: October 2017

Hypoglycemic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms developing due to imbalance in the glucose homeostasis system leading to hypoglycemia and that is corrected by glucose administration. A rapid and significant drop of glucose blood level may lead to life-threatening condition, hypoglycemic coma. Chronic hypoglycemia leads to irreversible changes in the central nervous system, while forced frequent meals with high carbohydrate content in order to correct hypoglycemia significantly increases body weight, until morbid obesity develops. Hence, the hypoglycemic syndrome is a topical problem of contemporary medicine. Insulinoma is the most common cause of pancreatogenous hypoglycemia in patients without diabetes mellitus. Exogenous administration of hypoglycemic agents, severe multiple organ and tumor pathologies, sequelae of bariatric surgery, deficiency of contrainsular hormones, genetically determined enzyme disorders and autoimmune diseases may also cause the hypoglycemic syndrome. The primary diagnostic tasks determining the choice of the treatment approach involve confirming the hypoglycemic syndrome and determining its etiology. The test after 3-day-long fasting and other tests are used for this purpose. In this review, we discuss the main causes and features of pathogenesis of the hypoglycemic syndrome, as well as criteria of differential diagnosis and the possibility of introducing new diagnostic tests and markers.
Relato de una mujer abusada: huellas en la construcción subjetiva, del lazo social
Authors: Velosa Forero Jaime , Rojas Rondon Ana Maria
Published: October 2017

Este artículo hace parte de un trabajo sobre la violencia, en el que se aborda el asunto de cómo deja marcas en la subjetividad y en el lazo social. La violencia pareciera estar siempre presente, tanto en la historia de la humanidad como en la de cada uno de nosotros. Basados en elementos conceptuales del psicoanálisis, se retoma el caso de una mujer abusada sexualmente en la infancia por su padre. Se plantean interrogantes sobre cómo repercute este hecho sobre su vida subjetiva, sobre su cuerpo y el lazo social. Finalmente, resalta lo importante que resulta que la violencia sea escuchada, resignificada y re-escrita en la historia personal, más aún en las circunstancias que vive Colombia.
El teatro, una alternativa pedagógica para fomentar la cultura de paz en la IERD Andes
Authors: Posso R Patricia , Mejía A. Matilde Inés , Prado E. Oscar Andres , Quiceno Luis Giovanni
Published: October 2017

El artículo presenta los resultados de investigación sobre de la incidenciade la práctica del teatro al interior de la escuela, para fomentar la culturade paz en los estudiantes de grado noveno de la Institución EducativaRural Departamental Andes, un colegio del Municipio de San Bernardo –Cundinamarca; a partir de argumentos teóricos y conceptuales, así comoel resultado de una propuesta pedagógica aplicada, centrada en el teatro.La metodología utilizada fue investigación-acción pedagógica, mediantela cual se comprobó que el teatro sirve como un instrumento didácticopara mejorar las relaciones de convivencia y el fortalecimiento de valoresesenciales para lograr una cultura de paz.
A formal semantics of SQL queries, its validation, and applications
Authors: Guagliardo Paolo , Libkin Leonid
Published: October 2017

While formal semantics of theoretical languages underlying SQL have been provided in the past, they all made simplifying assumptions ranging from changes in the syntax to omitting bag semantics and nulls. This situation is reminiscent of what happens in the field of programming languages, where semantics of formal calculi underlying the main features of languages are abundant, but formal semantics of real languages that people use are few and far between.

We consider the basic class of SQL queries --- essentially
SELECT-FROM-WHERE
queries with subqueries, set/bag operations, and nulls --- and define a formal semantics for it, without any departures from the real language. This fragment already requires decisions related to the data model and handling variable names that are normally disregarded by simplified semantics. To justify our choice of the semantics, we validate it experimentally on a large number of randomly generated queries and databases.

We give two applications of the semantics. One is the first formal proof of the equivalence of basic SQL and relational algebra that extends to bag semantics and nulls. The other application looks at the three-valued logic employed by SQL, which is universally assumed to be necessary to handle nulls. We prove however that this is not so, as three-valued logic does not add expressive power: every SQL query in our fragment can be evaluated under the usual two-valued Boolean semantics of conditions.
GRETA
Authors: Poppe Olga , Lei Chuan , Rundensteiner Elke A. , Maier David
Published: October 2017

Streaming applications from algorithmic trading to traffic management deploy Kleene patterns to detect and aggregate arbitrarily-long event sequences, called event trends. State-of-the-art systems process such queries in two steps. Namely, they first construct all trends and then aggregate them. Due to the exponential costs of trend construction, this two-step approach suffers from both a long delays and high memory costs. To overcome these limitations, we propose the Graph-based Real-time Event Trend Aggregation (GRETA) approach that dynamically computes event trend aggregation without first constructing these trends. We define the GRETA graph to compactly encode all trends. Our GRETA runtime incrementally maintains the graph, while dynamically propagating aggregates along its edges. Based on the graph, the final aggregate is incrementally updated and instantaneously returned at the end of each query window. Our GRETA runtime represents a win-win solution, reducing both the time complexity from exponential to quadratic and the space complexity from exponential to linear in the number of events. Our experiments demonstrate that GRETA achieves up to four orders of magnitude speed-up and up to 50--fold memory reduction compared to the state-of-the-art two-step approaches.
Parallel personalized pagerank on dynamic graphs
Authors: Guo Wentian , Li Yuchen , Sha Mo , Tan Kian-Lee
Published: October 2017

Personalized PageRank (PPR) is a well-known proximity measure in graphs. To meet the need for dynamic PPR maintenance, recent works have proposed a local update scheme to support incremental computation. Nevertheless, sequential execution of the scheme is still too slow for highspeed stream processing. Therefore, we are motivated to design a parallel approach for dynamic PPR computation. First, as updates always come in batches, we devise a batch processing method to reduce synchronization cost among every single update and enable more parallelism for iterative parallel execution. Our theoretical analysis shows that the parallel approach has the same asymptotic complexity as the sequential approach. Second, we devise novel optimization techniques to effectively reduce runtime overheads for parallel processes. Experimental evaluation shows that our parallel algorithm can achieve orders of magnitude speedups on GPUs and multi-core CPUs compared with the state-of-the-art sequential algorithm.
On maximal symplectic partial spreads
Authors: Kantor William M.
Published: October 2017

New types of maximal symplectic partial spreads are constructed.
Stabilitätsverhalten von zweistufig entworfenen zeitdiskreten PI-Zustandsreglern bei Stellgrößenbegrenzungen
Authors: Nuß Uwe
Published: October 2017

Nachweise für die Stabilität von Regelkreisen, deren
Stellgrößen an ihre Begrenzungen gelangen können und bei
denen die Regler Integratoren oder andere dynamische Glieder sowie
Anti-Windup-Maßnahmen enthalten, sind gewöhnlich sehr
aufwändig zu führen. Bei PI-Zustandsreglern, die mittels der
in [1]vorgestellten Methode in einem mehrstufigen Verfahren für
Regelstrecken entworfen wurden, die bis auf die
Stellgrößenbegrenzungen linear sind, lassen sich jedoch
äußerst hilfreiche allgemeine Stabilitätsaussagen treffen,
die den konkreten Stabilitätsnachweis für das Gesamtsystem
– selbst unter Einbeziehung von Beobachtern – erheblich
vereinfachen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die diesbezüglichen,
auf Steuerbarkeitsbetrachtungen beruhenden, Zusammenhänge für
zeitdiskrete Regelkreise aufgezeigt sowie daraus exemplarisch mittels
Ljapunow-Funktionen eine einfache Reglerformel für Zustandsregler
abgeleitet, die auch im Begrenzungsfall stabil arbeiten. Ein Beispiel
aus der elektrischen Antriebstechnik illustriert die Anwendbarkeit der
vorgestellten Methode.
Prime II1 factors arising from irreducible lattices in products of rank one simple Lie groups
Authors: Drimbe Daniel , Hoff Daniel , Ioana Adrian
Published: October 2017

We prove that if Γ is an icc irreducible lattice in a product of connected non-compact rank one simple Lie groups with finite center, then the

II
1

{\mathrm{II}_{1}}

factor

L
⁢

(
Γ
)

{L(\Gamma)}

is prime. In particular, we deduce that the

II
1

{\mathrm{II}_{1}}

factors associated to the arithmetic groups

PSL
2

⁢

(

ℤ
⁢

[

d

]

)

{\mathrm{PSL}_{2}(\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{d}])}

and

PSL
2

⁢

(

ℤ
⁢

[

S

-
1

]

)

{\mathrm{PSL}_{2}(\mathbb{Z}[S^{-1}])}

are prime for any square-free integer

d
≥
2

{d\geq 2}

with

d
≢

1

⁢

(

mod
⁡
 4

)

{d\not\equiv 1~{}(\operatorname{mod}\,4)}

and any finite non-empty set of primes S.
This provides the first examples of prime

II
1

{\mathrm{II}_{1}}

factors arising from lattices in higher rank semisimple Lie groups.
More generally, we describe all tensor product decompositions of

L
⁢

(
Γ
)

{L(\Gamma)}

for icc countable groups Γ that are measure equivalent to a product of non-elementary hyperbolic groups. In particular, we show that

L
⁢

(
Γ
)

{L(\Gamma)}

is prime, unless Γ is a product of infinite groups, in which case we prove a unique prime factorization result for

L
⁢

(
Γ
)

{L(\Gamma)}

.
Effects of preparation methods on the mechanical and thermal properties of graphene-modified HNBR composites
Authors: Yang Dejiang , Wei Chun , Gong Yongyang , Liu Tianxi , Lv Jian
Published: October 2017

Polymers modified by graphene have become an attractive method to enhance the matrix properties, wherein the dispersion of graphene in the matrix and the interfacial interactions between graphene and matrix are critical to influence the final performance. In the present work, graphene nanosheet (GNS)-modified hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (GNS/HNBR) composites were prepared via solution-mixing and mechanical-blending methods. The curing performance, mechanical properties and heat resistance of the prepared composites were studied. The results showed that when the content was 0.2 wt%, the tensile strength and modulus at 300% elongation of the GNS/HNBR composite prepared via solution-mixing method reached 19.36 and 3.62 MPa, which increased by 32% and 18% compared with those of pure HNBR, respectively. In addition, the swelling index of the composite in cyclohexane was decreased from 413% to 337%. On the other hand, the tensile property of GNS/HNBR composite prepared by mechanical-mixing method became poor. SEM observation showed that GNS was well dispersed and incorporated into HNBR via the solution-mixing method, resulting in a significant reinforcing effect.
Zu den Voraussetzungen für eine Teilnahme an der aktuellen internationalen Kommunikation: Beispiel Russisch
Authors: Fleischmann Eberhard
Published: October 2017

This paper shows, which development trends of the Russian language have enabled its speakers to take part in the current international communication. First, borrowings are mentioned, the formation of which, above all, has resorted to the English language. Then, abbreviations are mentioned, that can either be traced back to the non-Russian linguistic sign or have been created on the basis of the Russian translation. The so-called barbarisms have been taken over into the Russian language in their Latin notation. It is interesting to see how all these forms are used in word formation and embedded into grammatical procedures.
Simultaneous Interpreting (SI): the Holy Grail of Artificial Intelligence – An SI Practitioner’s Perspective
Authors: Zhang Ailing
Published: October 2017

Simultaneous Interpretation: a cognitive-pragmatic analysis.Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305392001_Simultaneous_Interpretation_a_cognitive-pragmatic_analysis [accessed Jun 8, 2017].

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been become a household expression, especially in the past couple of years thanks to Google’s AI Computer program AlphaGo defeating a couple of world-class Go masters from Korea and China. In recent years, machines have surpassed humans in the performance of certain specific tasks, such as some aspects of image recognition. Although it is unlikely that machines will exhibit broadly-applicable intelligence comparable to or exceeding that of humans in the near future, experts forecast that rapid progress in the field of specialized AI will continue, with machines reaching and exceeding human performance on an increasing number of tasks. Simultaneous interpreting, being among the most complex of human cognitive/linguistic activities, with all the associated ergonomic elements, has been discussed profusely as one of the most likely to be taken over by AI in a couple of years. Given that so much has to be there simultaneously, i. e. anticipation, restoration of the implicit-explicit balance, and communicative re-packaging (‘re-ostension’1) of the discourse, simultaneous interpreting (SI) has yet to be fully explained, not the least the rich pragmatic information guiding the construction of the appropriate contexts and the speaker’s underlying intentionalities, which is the centre piece of SI, given the illusive nature of meaning assembly could be quite beyond even the most intelligent robots. This paper discusses what SI is like, how AI has evolved, and concludes that AI is dramatically changing the profession, but given the rule-based nature of AI driven by data and algorithms, human intelligence as possessed by SI practitioners is still irreplaceable. SI practitioners can harness cutting-edge technologies such as AI to do a better job, which bears significance for trainers and would be SIs.
Artificial Intelligence, Smart Assistants and the Role of Language Professionals
Authors: Massion François
Published: October 2017

The article looks at the mechanisms of Artificial Intelligence related to the processing of human knowledge and natural language from a multilingual perspective. Undoubtedly, AI has made very impressing progresses in these areas, but they are unsatisfactory when it comes to what is called “the long tail”, i. e. the interpretation of less frequent words or concepts. In addition, AI has deficiencies when the context plays an important role, which is often the case. Most of the knowledge resources and methods actually used by AI have not been modelled to take multilingual and multicultural aspects into consideration. The article describes these issues and suggests some remedies, opening new opportunities for translators and interpreters.
Lithuanian foreign policy vis-à-vis Belarusian nuclear power plant in Ostrovets
Authors: Juozaitis Justinas
Published: October 2017

The development of nuclear power in Belarus is an important issue addressed by Lithuanian foreign policy due to a mixture of geographic, political and nuclear safety concerns. Despite the pronounced relevance, the topic has received very limited academic attention. The paper attempts to fill this gap by identifying key objectives of Lithuanian foreign policy towards Ostrovets NPP and strategy for attaining them. The research is based on the analysis of high-level meetings and statements of six Lithuanian decision makers and a wide range of official documents. The paper argues that despite the apparent focus on nuclear safety of Ostrovets NPP, Lithuanian foreign policy aims to prevent its construction or at least to prolong the process. In order to do this, Lithuanian pressures Belarus via European Union and other international organizations and platforms by highlighting the nuclear safety issues of the plant, Belarusian non-compliance with Espoo and Aarhus conventions and presenting it as matter of international concern.
Absolute reliability and concurrent validity of hand held dynamometry and isokinetic dynamometry in the hip, knee and ankle joint: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chamorro Claudio , Armijo-Olivo Susan , De la Fuente Carlos , Fuentes Javiera , Javier Chirosa Luis
Published: October 2017

The purpose of the study is to establish absolute reliability and concurrent validity between hand-held dynamometers (HHDs) and isokinetic dynamometers (IDs) in lower extremity peak torque assessment. Medline, Embase, CINAHL databases were searched for studies related to psychometric properties in muscle dynamometry. Studies considering standard error of measurement SEM (%) or limit of agreement LOA (%) expressed as percentage of the mean, were considered to establish absolute reliability while studies using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were considered to establish concurrent validity between dynamometers. In total, 17 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The COSMIN checklist classified them between fair and poor. Using HHDs, knee extension LOA (%) was 33.59%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 23.91 to 43.26 and ankle plantar flexion LOA (%) was 48.87%, CI 35.19 to 62.56. Using IDs, hip adduction and extension; knee flexion and extension; and ankle dorsiflexion showed LOA (%) under 15%. Lower hip, knee, and ankle LOA (%) were obtained using an ID compared to HHD. ICC between devices ranged between 0.62, CI (0.37 to 0.87) for ankle dorsiflexion to 0.94, IC (0.91to 0.98) for hip adduction. Very high correlation were found for hip adductors and hip flexors and moderate correlations for knee flexors/extensors and ankle plantar/dorsiflexors.
Muddy Waters: Cross Currents in Fundraising and Its Control – 1907–1954
Authors: Barber Putnam
Published: October 2017

During the first half of the 20th century, many of the techniques of modern fundraising were developed. During these decades, fundraising demonstrated its potential for supporting important community goals, financing efforts to combat dread diseases, and initiating change in public policies. In this same span of years, community leaders, journalists, and policy makers became increasingly concerned with growing opportunities for inefficient or even downright dishonest fundraising. Local governments, federated fundraising organizers, and nonprofit charity ratings agencies attempted to forestall abuses of the public’s generosity. Further, during the Second World War, the federal government imposed significant controls on fundraising for war-related activities. The year 1954 saw the passage of new laws in two states that anticipated the most common form of charitable solicitations regulation in the second half of the century, a form that is widespread today. This paper traces developments from the end of the 19th century to show how the ground was prepared for post-war efforts by state governments to regulate charitable fundraising.
Analytic Theology as Sapiential Theology: A Response to Jordan Wessling
Authors: Vanhoozer Kevin J.
Published: October 2017

This article responds to Jordan Wessling’s paper that engages a concern I expressed about analytic theology not doing justice to the sapiential requirements of theology. I examine Wessling’s summary of my paper, conclude that his description is accurate and fair, appreciate his proposed solution, then go on to restate why I think he may not have fully allayed my concern. I suggest that analytic theology is a vital tool in the theologian’s toolkit, but that ultimately more is needed in order to interpret Scripture theologically.
Frege on Multiple Analyses and the Essential Articulatedness of Thought
Authors: Bronzo Silver
Published: October 2017

Frege appears to hold both (a) that thoughts are internally articulated, in a way that mirrors the semantic articulation of the sentences that express them, and (b) that the same thought can be analyzed in different ways, none of which has to be more fundamental than the others. Commentators have often taken these theses to be mutually incompatible and have tended to polarize into two camps, each of which attributes to Frege one of the theses, but maintains that he is only apparently committed to the other. This paper argues (i) that there are good exegetical and philosophical reasons for reconciling the two theses; (ii) that this reconciliation can be achieved by rejecting an assumption shared by the two opposite camps of the exegetical debate, i.e., the assumption that essential articulatedness implies unique articulation; and finally (iii), that this crucial assumption can be resisted by appreciating Frege’s anti-atomistic and ‘organic’ conception of the internal complexity of thoughts.
Myo-inositol effects in women with PCOS: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Unfer Vittorio , Facchinetti Fabio , Orrù Beatrice , Giordani Barbara , Nestler John
Published: October 2017

Myo-inositol (MI) supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been evaluated over the last years. Many hormonal and reproductive impairments associated with this disorder seem relieved by the supplement. The objective of the meta-analysis was to assess the effects of MI alone or combined with d-chiro-inositol (DCI) on the endocrine and metabolic abnormalities of women with PCOS. Literature was retrieved from selected databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and Research Gate (up to November 2016). Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of MI alone or combined with DCI were reviewed. Nine RCTs involving 247 cases and 249 controls were included. Significant decreases in fasting insulin (SMD = −1.021 µU/mL, 95% CI: −1.791 to −0.251, P = 0.009) and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index (SMD = −0.585, 95% CI: −1.145 to −0.025, P = 0.041) were identified after MI supplementation. The trial sequential analysis of insulin meta-analysis illustrates that the cumulative z-curve crossed the monitoring boundary, providing firm evidence of the intervention effect. A slight trend toward a reduction of testosterone concentration by MI with respect to controls was found (SMD = −0.49, 95% CI: −1.072 to 0.092, P = 0.099), whereas androstenedione levels remained unaffected. Throughout a subgroup’s meta-analysis, a significant increase in serum SHBG was observed only in those studies where MI was administered for at least 24 weeks (SMD = 0.425 nmol/L, 95% CI: 0.050–0.801, P = 0.026). These results highlight the beneficial effect of MI in improving the metabolic profile of women with PCOS, concomitantly reducing their hyperandrogenism.
Efectos de la certificación Florverde Sustainable Flowers en las empresas floricultoras afiliadas a Asocolflores
Authors: Bogotá Roncancio Ricardo Andrés
Published: October 2017

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar las diferencias entre las empresas floricultoras certificadas con el esquema Florverde Sustainable Flowers (FSF) y las que no lo están, con respecto a sus prácticas sociales y ambientales en el marco de la responsabilidad social (RS). Con base en las prácticas de RS incluidas en FSF se aplica una encuesta de opinión a los directivos y se realizan entrevistas a los trabajadores. La identificación de diferencias entre las empresas certificadas y no certificadas permite establecer los efectos de la certificación FSF en las empresas estudiadas. Se encuentran diferencias en la implementación de prácticas de RS para 41 de las 74 variables analizadas en las categorías de medio ambiente, prácticas laborales y asuntos de consumidores. Los beneficios de la certificación FSF se analizan desde dos perspectivas; desde la perspectiva interna, FSF contribuye a la producción de flores con un enfoque sostenible, a organizar los procesos internos y a cumplir con la legislación aplicable. Desde la perspectiva externa, FSF mejora la imagen de las empresas ante el mercado internacional, los trabajadores y la comunidad. Las empresas del sector tienen en el esquema FSF una valiosa herramienta para aplicar las materias fundamentales y los asuntos de la RS en sus operaciones.
Progress and recent novelties of Ingeniería e Investigación Journal
Authors: Pavas Andres
Published: October 2017

In previous editorial letters, data regarding the Journal positioning, visibility and management have been presented. Regarding positioning in citational databases, in Pavas (2015), a comparison among the results in databases like Scimago Journal Rank (SJR), Journal Citation Report (JCR), and Google Scholar (GS) is shown. In Pavas (2016a), the h5 index of the Colombian engineering journals is highlighted. In terms of the journal’s visibility, in Pavas (2016b), indicators up to December 2016 are presented. The editorial team of Ingeniería e Investigación Journal (I&I for their initials in Spanish) wants to share with the authors and readers some of their recent results.
Continuous-Flow-Based Microfluidic Systems for Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody Production and Organ-on-a-Chip Drug Testing
Authors: Hajba Laszlo , Guttman Andras
Published: October 2017

Continuous-flow processing in the manufacturing of modern biotherapeutics represents a great potential and could significantly improve productivity and product quality as well as reduce operating costs. Microfluidic perfusion systems are not only capable for producing therapeutic proteins but also suitable for organ-on-a-chip based drug testing and toxicology studies. Integrating modular unit operations for protein purification in the microfluidic cell culture device can lead to point-of-care therapeutic protein production. The multi-organ microfluidic platforms that integrate several organ-on-a-chip microfluidic units will help in preclinical testing of drug substances and toxicological studies by producing highly reliable preclinical pharmacokinetic data. In this perspective, the current state of the art and future trends of continuous flow systems are summarized for biopharmaceutical production and organ-on-a-chip drug testing.
Influence of broth enrichment as well as storage and transport time on the sensitivity of MRSA surveillance in the tropics
Authors: Frickmann Hagen , Hahn Andreas , Schwarz Norbert Georg , Hagen Ralf Matthias , Dekker Denise , Hinz Rebecca , Micheel Volker , Hogan Benedikt , May Jürgen , Rakotozandrindrainy Raphael
Published: October 2017

Direct growth on blood and screening agar for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a tropical surveillance site was compared with broth enrichment and subsequent growth on selective MRSA agar after international sample transport.

In Madagascar, 1548 swabs from an MRSA surveillance study were assessed for growth on Columbia blood agar enriched with 5% sheep blood and MRSA screening agar at the surveillance site with subsequent cold storage of the samples and shipment to Germany. In Germany, 1541 shipped samples were analyzed by non-selective broth enrichment with subsequent culture on MRSA selective agar.

A total of 28 MRSA isolates were detected. Of these, 20 strains were isolated from direct culture on blood and MRSA screening agars at the surveillance site, 24 MRSA strains were isolated using the broth enrichment method in Germany, and 16 MRSA strains were identified by both approaches.

In spite of the observed die-off of individual strains due to long-term storage and transport, broth enrichment with subsequent screening on MRSA selective agar after international sample shipment led to comparable sensitivity of MRSA detection like streaking on blood and MRSA agar at the tropical surveillance site.