bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-Acquisition Integration Strategies– Some illustrative evidence from Chinese acquisitions of Italian luxury firms
Authors: Vecchi Alessandra
Published: February 2018

Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI) from emerging economies has begun to increase significantly and has been growing at a faster pace than FDI from the developed world. This research seeks to assess the impact of Chinese acquisitions and their implications for the Italian firms in the luxury sector. By relying on two in-depth case-studies, this paper presents a cross-case analysis of four Chinese acquisitions in order to provide some in-depth insights into the post-acquisition integration strategies implemented by the Chinese investors in the luxury Made in Italy sector. The study contributes to our understanding of how emerging market firms implement post-acquisition integration strategies when acquiring firms from advanced economies. To this end, the benefits and challenges associated with the post-acquisition integrations strategies implemented by the Chinese investors were identified.

Keywords: OFDI, Chinese acquisitions, Post-acquisition strategy, Integration strategy, Made in Italy, luxury manufacturing sector
Global Work Arrangements in the Virtual Enterprise – Some Lessons from Automattic
Authors: Vecchi Alessandra
Published: February 2018

Global work arrangements tend to be particularly problematic for Virtual Enterprises, to the extent that there is a vast literature emphasising the challenges that these companies need to face in identifying, attracting, developing and retaining talent on a global scale. Drawing on the experience of Automattic, the paper outlines how the company has successfully addressed such challenges by implementing Global Talent Management in a very peculiar way. From the findings, it emerges that stemming from their experience there are some exemplary and valuable lessons for companies from all sectors on how to embrace Global Talent Management in a more creative way and the great benefits in terms of efficiency and effectiveness that can flow from doing so.

Keywords: Global Talent Management, Virtual Enterprise, Distributed Company, Automattic
Profiting from the Authorized Economic Operator Paradigm in the Era of Global Value Chains: A Conceptual and Legal Analysis
Authors: Kafeero Edward
Published: February 2018

This paper analyses the conceptual and legal development of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) paradigm over the past three decades. Compliance management, supply chain security and trade facilitation are found to be the underlying objectives behind AEO programs. The paper examines the dynamics of global value chains (GVCs) and concludes that AEO programs are beneficial to GVCs. The Revised Kyoto Convention, The SAFE Framework of Standards and the Trade Facilitation Agreement are identified as the basic international legal (and regulatory) framework that guides AEO programs.

Key words: Authorized Economic Operator;  Global Value Chains;  Supply Chain Security; Trade Facilitation; Customs Compliance Management.
Pengaruh Penerapan Sistem Manajemen Mutu Terhadap Budaya Kerja Karyawan
Authors: Rini Erma Sulistyo
Published: February 2018

Abstrak 

Budaya kerja karyawan merupakan nilai-nilai dominan yang disebar luaskan didalam organisasi dan dijadikan acuan sebagai filosofi kerja karyawan atau merupakan sebuah sistem penyebaran kepercayaan dan nilai - nilai yang berkembang dalam suatu organisasi untuk mengarahkan prilaku para anggotanya [1] penelitian ini akan melihat apakah ada pengaruh signifikan penerapan sistem manajemen mutu ISO 9001:2008 untuk klausul 3.2 tentang Struktur Organisasi, klausul 6.2 tentang Sumber Daya Manusia dan Klausul 6.4 tentang Iklim Organisasi atau lingkungan kerja organisasi terhadap budaya kerja karyawan atau kinerja karyawan setelah STIKOM Bali menerapkan sistem manajemen mutu pada proses akademik. Studi tentang Sistem Manajemen Mutu yang dikaitkan dengan faktor budaya kerja karyawan menarik untuk dijadikan permasalahan, mengingat perusahaan yang direncanakan akan dijadikan obyek dalam penelitian ini sudah cukup lama mengimplementasikan sistem manajemen mutu dalam semua proses yang dijalankan selain itu setiap perusahaan memiliki karakteristik budaya yang berbeda satu dengan lainnya. sehingga diharapkan hasil dari penelitian ini dapat dijadikan bahan evaluasi bagi perusahaan jika ingin melakukan pengembangan program sistem manajemen mutu kedepannya sehingga setiap pengembangan dapat diikuti juga dengan peningkatan kompetensi karyawan 

Kata kunci: ISO 9001:2008, Klausul 3.2 ; 6.2 & 6.4, Budaya Kerja Karyawan
Pemanfaatan Aplikasi Jotform Sebagai Media Request Pengambilan Donasi Pada Sistem ZFord
Authors: Rahardja Untung , Handayani Indri , Shofroh Sarah Riwanda
Published: February 2018

Abstrak
Crowdfunding atau penggalangan dana kini merambah ke dunia virtual untuk merealisasikan sebuah project, penggalangan dana dengan mudah dan aman diperlukan demi terealisasinya project. Namun masih terdapatnya beberapa permasalahan yang dihadapi saat ini, mengenai form request untuk pengambilan hasil donasi yang masih dilakukan melalui request email pribadi. Oleh karena itu dengan menerapkan suatu sistem form request untuk pengambilan hasil donasi menggunakan Jotform, sehingga pengguna yang ingin request tidak lagi harus email pribadi sehingga laporan akan tersusun rapih dan jelas. Adapun pengembangan aplikasi ini mengunakan aplikasi Jotform untuk request pengambilan hasil donasi merupakan salah satu sarana form pengajuan dari pengguna ke bagian admin, dimana setelah pengguna mengisi form tersebut terdapat notifikasi email yang telah tertuju ke admin. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah dimana dapat digunakan users agar lebih mudah dalam merequest pengambilan hasil donasi. Maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa form request pengambilan hasil donasi menggunakan Jotform dapat memaksimalkan pelayanan request dalam menunjang pengambilan hasil donasi.
Kata kunci - Crowdfunding, Pengambilan donasi, Jotform, Project, Penggalangan dana
Pembangkitan Kunci pada Algoritma Asimetris ElGamal untuk Meningkatkan Keamanan Data bertipe .docx
Authors: Karima Aisyatul , Saputro Ari
Published: February 2018

Abstrak

Pencurian data melalui plagiasi dan modifikasi dokumen .docx sering terjadi dalam kehidupan digital. Hal ini dikarenakan dokumen tersebut mudah dimodifikasi oleh siapapun. Oleh karena itu dibutuhkan sebuah keamanan berupa penyandian data untuk mengamankan dokumen .docx yang bersifat rahasia dari pihak yang tidak bertanggung jawab. Teknik algoritma pengkodean yang digunakan yaitu algoritma ElGamal yang bersifat asimetris. Adapun tahapan metode penelitian terbagi dalam proses pembangkitan kunci, enkripsi dan dekripsi. Metode ini menggunakan pembangkitan kunci untuk menghasilkan kombinasi kunci yang variatif. Kunci yang dihasilkan berupa kunci privat, kunci public, bilangan prima serta bilangan acak. Berdasarkan hasil percobaan, proses pembangkitan kunci pada algoritma ElGamal mampu mengacak isi pesan berekstensi .docx secara aman. Hal ini terbukti dengan percobaan menggunakan beberapa kombinasi bilangan prima dan kunci private terhadap data yang sudah dienkripsi, kunci belum mampu terpecahkan. Pengujian penyerangan dilakukan dalam waktu lebih dari 15 jam, namun algoritma ElGamal belum mampu terpecahkan. Selain itu, sebagai dampak dari pengujian terhadap file, menghasilkan perbedaan ukuran file asli dengan file yang telah dienkripsi ratarata 7 kali lipat. Perubahan ukuran tersebut tidak berpengaruh, sebab file akan kembali ke ukuran semula setelah proses dekripsi. Dari segi keamanan, penggunaan algoritma ElGamal ini dinyatakan cukup kuat sebagai alternatif untuk membantu meningkatkan keamanan data .docx.

Kata kunci— Pembangkitan kunci,Kunci Asimetris, Algoritma ElGamal, Keamanan data, .docx 
Penggunaan SPSS Untuk Pembuktian Kebenaran Hukum Ohm
Authors: Ilmi Ulul
Published: February 2018

Dalam penelitian ini pembuktian kebenaran hukum ohm akan diselesaikan dengan bantuan softwaere SPSS dengan menggunakan uji validasi korelasi pearson.Adapun data yang akan diuji kebenarannya bersumber dari hasil percobaan Tuan Ohm pada lampu 1. Untuk menyelesaikan persoalan pembuktian kebenaran hukum Ohm maka dapat digunakan bantuan SPSS ditempuh melalui beberapa tahapan sebagai berikut : (1) Menformulasikan persoalan pembuktian kebenaran hukum ohm ke dalam tabel SPSS, (2) Menuliskan koefisien dari variabel arus dan beda potensial listrik pada tabel SPSS sebagai representasi dari percobaan Tuan George Simon Ohm (3) Menuliskan simbol dari variabel arus dan beda potensial listrik pada tabel SPSS sebagai representasi dari percobaan Tuan George Simon Ohm, (5) Melakukan running program SPSS sebagai jawaban atas persoalan pembuktian kebenaran hukum ohm, (6) Nilai hasil perhitungan SPSS merupakan nilai korelasi arus dan beda potensial listrik sebagai solusi dari persoalan pembuktian kebenaran hukum ohm, (7) Jika diinginkan bisa menuangkan hasil penelitian dalam bentuk web.
Studi Analisis Gangguan Petir Terhadap Kinerja Arrester Pada Sistem Distribusi Tegangan Menengah 20 KV Menggunakan Alternative Transient Program (ATP)
Authors: Abidin Zainal
Published: February 2018

Surja (surge) Petir merupakan faktor yang lebih dominan dalam menimbulkan tegangan lebih transien pada jaringan tenaga listrik dengan tingkat tegangan di bawah 230 kV, dibandingkan dengan faktor surja hubung. Untuk menentukan penempatan arrester diketahui dari pencarian data gangguan yang terjadi di PT.PLN (Persero) Rayon Sidayu karena kadar tanah lembab dan banyak pohon-pohon besar pada feeder Lowayu. Oleh karena itu, pemahaman tentang pengaruh sambaran petir yang terjadi di jaringan distribusi tegangan menengah 20 kV sangat diperlukan agar efek sambaran petir bisa diantisipasi sehingga peralatan dan komponen yang ada di jaringan ditribusi tersebut tidak rusak. Pada penelitian ini, dilakukan simulasi sambaran petir terhadap jaringan distribusi tegangan menengah 20 kV Feeder (penyulang) Lowayu pada PT.PLN (Persero) Rayon Sidayu.. Hasil simulasi menunjukkan bahwa tagangan lebih di tunjukan program ATP adalah 67 kV. Nilai tersebut juga bisa dihitung dengan teori gelombang berjalan dan gelombang pantul dan terjadi tegangan lebih di fasa trafo 291 adalah 66,25 kV sehingga erorr yang terjadi ketika surge petir mencapai 1,1875%.
Canadian Bilingual Program Teachers’ Understanding of Immersion Pedagogy: A Nexus Analysis of an Early Years Classroom
Authors: Dressler Roswita
Published: February 2018

Bilingual language education in Canada comprises Bilingual Programs in minority languages and programs in official languages (e.g., French immersion). However, pedagogy in Bilingual Programs has not been studied to the same depth as it has been in French Immersion, so little is known about the teaching practices within them. Immersion pedagogy, the integration of content and language education, fosters teaching practices that encourage language development but sometimes also monolingual instructional practices that discourage the use of flexible bilingualism strategies. This research in an early years German Bilingual Program classroom examines what teachers understand as “immersion pedagogy.” This nexus analysis draws on data from curriculum documents, classroom observation, interviews, and stimulated recall sessions. The rationale for this study is to address the lack of studies examining teaching practices within Bilingual Programs as a unique form of bilingual education. The findings reveal teachers’ understanding of immersion pedagogy as content- and language-integrated instruction with strong discourses in place that include the separation of languages. The conclusions shed light on the need for teachers to further explore their understanding of immersion pedagogy and identify potential strategies and innovations to explore in-school professional learning communities (e.g., flexible bilingual strategies).
Correlating the Physical Activity Patterns of People with Moderate to Severe Multiple Sclerosis Disability and Their Family Caregivers
Authors: Fakolade Afolasade , Finlayson Marcia , Parsons Trisha , Latimer-Cheung Amy
Published: February 2018

Purpose: People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and their family caregivers often react to the impact of the disease as an interdependent dyad. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine interdependence in the physical activity (PA) patterns of dyads affected by moderate to severe MS disability. Method: A total of 15 pairs of PwMS and their family caregivers wore accelerometers for 7 days. By collecting data simultaneously from both partners, we tested interdependence using the dyad as the unit of analysis. Results: PwMS and caregivers averaged 4,091.3 (SD 2,726.3) and 6,160.2 (SD 1,653.0) steps per day, respectively. The mean number of minutes per day of sedentary, light, and moderate to vigorous activity for PwMS was 566.3 (SD 97.7), 167.4 (SD 94.0), and 7.6 (SD 12.4), respectively, and 551.9 (SD 92.4), 199.6 (SD 63.4), and 21.4 (SD 18.2), respectively, for caregivers. Interdependence between dyads for sedentary, light, moderate to vigorous activity, and step count was low and non-significant (rs=0.20, 0.26, 0.13, and –0.27, respectively; p>0.05). Conclusions: Although our findings do not support the interdependence of PA between caregivers and care recipients with MS, they do show that both partners are not engaging in sufficient PA to achieve important health benefits. These findings are important because they indicate that the dyads are likely to benefit from interventions for changing PA behavior.
Research on Degeneration Model of Neural Network for Deep Groove Ball Bearing Based on Feature Fusion
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Tao Junyu
Published: February 2018

Aiming at the pitting fault of deep groove ball bearing during service, this paper uses the vibration signal of five different states of deep groove ball bearing and extracts the relevant features, then uses a neural network to model the degradation for identifying and classifying the fault type. By comparing the effects of training samples with different capacities through performance indexes such as the accuracy and convergence speed, it is proven that an increase in the sample size can improve the performance of the model. Based on the polynomial fitting principle and Pearson correlation coefficient, fusion features based on the skewness index are proposed, and the performance improvement of the model after incorporating the fusion features is also validated. A comparison of the performance of the support vector machine (SVM) model and the neural network model on this dataset is given. The research shows that neural networks have more potential for complex and high-volume datasets.
Investigation of Physical Phenomena and Cutting Efficiency for Laser Cutting on Anode for Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Lee Dongkyoung
Published: February 2018

Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density than other secondary batteries. Among the lithium-ion battery manufacturing process, electrode cutting is one of the most important processes since poor cut quality leads to performance degradation, separator protrusion, and local electric stress concentration. This may, eventually, lead to malfunction of lithium-ion batteries or explosion. The current mechanical cutting technology uses a contact process and this may lead to process instability. Furthermore, there are additional costs if the tools and cell design are changed. To solve these issues, laser cutting has been used. Conventional dependent parameters have limitations in investigating and explaining many physical phenomena during the laser cutting of electrodes. Therefore, this study proposes specific widths such as melting, top, and kerf width. Moreover, the relationship between laser parameters and multiphysical phenomena with the proposed widths are investigated. Five types of classification with regard to physical phenomena are presented and explained with SEM images. Cutting efficiency is estimated with the proposed widths. The proposed specific cutting widths, five types of geometrical classification, and cutting efficiency can be used as standardized parameters to evaluate the cutting quality.
Driving Control of a Powered Wheelchair Considering Uncertainty of Gaze Input in an Unknown Environment
Authors: Ishizuka Airi , Yorozu Ayanori , Takahashi Masaki
Published: February 2018

This paper describes the motion control system for a powered wheelchair using eye gaze in an unknown environment. Recently, new Human-Computer Interfaces (HCIs) that have replaced joysticks have been developed for a person with a disability of the upper body. In this paper, movement of the eyes is used as an HCI. The wheelchair control system proposed in this study aims to achieve an operation such that a passenger gazes towards the direction he or she wants to move in the unknown environment. Implementation of such an operating method facilitates easy and accurate movement of the wheelchair even in complicated environments comprising passages on the same side. This paper presents a system based on gaze detection and environment recognition that are integrated by the fuzzy set theory in real time. In the fuzzy set theory, we achieve the movement to the passage which a passenger gazes towards among some passages by integrating the information of some passages and gaze. Moreover, we design it with consideration of uncertain gaze input by using the value of gaze detection accuracy. Moreover, we achieve obstacle avoidance by integrating the information of obstacles. This motion control system can support safe and smooth movement of the wheelchair by automatically calculating its direction of motion and velocity, to avoid obstacles and move in the gaze direction of the passenger. The effectiveness of the proposed system is demonstrated through experiments in a real environment.
Energy-Based Design Criterion of Dissipative Bracing Systems for the Seismic Retrofit of Frame Structures
Authors: Terenzi Gloria
Published: February 2018

Direct sizing criteria represent useful tools in the design of dissipative bracing systems for the advanced seismic protection of existing frame structures, especially when incorporated dampers feature a markedly non-linear behaviour. An energy-based procedure is proposed herein to this aim, focusing attention on systems including fluid viscous devices. The procedure starts by assuming prefixed reduction factors of the most critical response parameters in current conditions, which are evaluated by means of a conventional elastic finite element analysis. Simple formulas relating the reduction factors to the equivalent viscous damping ratio of the dampers, ξeq, are proposed. These formulas allow calculating the ξeq values that guarantee the achievement of the target factors. Finally, the energy dissipation capacity of the devices is deduced from ξeq, finalizing their sizing process. A detailed description of the procedure is presented in the article, by distinguishing the cases where the prevailing structural deficiencies are represented by poor strength of the constituting members, from the cases having excessive horizontal displacements. A demonstrative application to the retrofit design of a reinforced concrete gym building is then offered to explicate the steps of the sizing criterion in practice, as well as to evaluate the enhancement of the seismic response capacities generated by the installation of the dissipative system.
Bio-Inspired Optimal Control Framework to Generate Walking Motions for the Humanoid Robot iCub Using Whole Body Models
Authors: Hu Yue , Mombaur Katja
Published: February 2018

Bipedal locomotion remains one of the major open challenges of humanoid robotics. The common approaches are based on simple reduced model dynamics to generate walking trajectories, often neglecting the whole-body dynamics of the robots. As motions in nature are often considered as optimal with respect to certain criteria, in this work, we present an optimal control-based approach that allows us to generate optimized walking motions using a precise whole-body dynamic model of the robot, in contrast with the common approaches. The optimal control problem is formulated to minimize a set of desired objective functions with respect to physical constraints of the robot and contact constraints of the walking phases; the problem is then solved with a direct multiple shooting method. We apply the formulation with combinations of different objective criteria to the model of a reduced version of the iCub humanoid robot of 15 internal DOF. The obtained trajectories are executed on the real robot, and we carry out a discussion on the differences between the outcomes of this approach with the classic approaches.
Seasonal Variations and Sources of Airborne Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Chengdu, China
Authors: Yang Ju , Xu Wenlai , Cheng Huiyu
Published: February 2018

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the air of Chengdu, a southwest city of China, were determined from March 2015 to February 2016. Here, two diagnostic ratios (DR) were determined and a principal component analysis/multiple linear regression (PCA/MLR) analysis was performed to identify the sources of PAHs during the four seasons. The gaseous and particle phase samples were analyzed separately. The sampled air had a gas-to particle ratio of 4.21, and between 18.7% and 31.3% of the total detected PAHs were found in the particulate phase. The total concentration of all 16-PAHs combined (gas + particles) varied from 176.94 in summer to 458.95 ng·m−3 in winter, with a mean of 300.35 ± 176.6 ng·m−3. In the gas phase, phenanthrene(Phe) was found at the highest concentrations in all four seasons, while benzo[b]fluoranthene(BbF) and (in winter) chrysene(Chr) were the highest in the particle phase. The DR of Fluroanthene (Flua)/(Flua + Pyrene (Pyr)) was higher in the gas phase than in the particle phase, while the Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene(IcdP)/(IcdP + Benzo[ghi]perylene (BghiP)) ratio was more variable in the gas than that in the particle phase. The main sources for both phases were a mixture of liquid fossil fuel combustion and the burning of biomass and coal, with clear seasonal variation. Principal Component Analysis/Multiple Linear Regression (PCA/MLR) analysis identified the main PAH sources as coal burning (52%) with motor vehicle exhaust and coke (48%) in spring; coal (52%), coke (21%), and motor vehicle exhaust (27%) in summer; coal (47%), vehicle exhaust (34%), and coke (19%) in autumn; and coal (58%) and vehicle exhaust (42%) in winter.
Reimaging Research Methodology as Data Science
Authors: Daniel Ben
Published: February 2018

The growing volume of data generated by machines, humans, software applications, sensors and networks, together with the associated complexity of the research environment, requires immediate pedagogical innovations in academic programs on research methodology. This article draws insights from a large-scale research project examining current conceptions and practices of academics (n = 144) involved in the teaching of research methods in research-intensive universities in 17 countries. The data was obtained through an online questionnaire. The main findings reveal that a large number of academics involved in the teaching of research methods courses tend to teach the same classes for many years, in the same way, despite the changing nature of data, and complexity of the environment in which research is conducted. Furthermore, those involved in the teaching of research methods courses are predominantly volunteer academics, who tend to view the subject only as an “add-on” to their other teaching duties. It was also noted that universities mainly approach the teaching of research methods courses as a “service” to students and departments, not part of the core curriculum. To deal with the growing changes in data structures, and technology driven research environment, the study recommends institutions to reimage research methodology programs to enable students to develop appropriate competences to deal with the challenges of working with complex and large amounts of data and associated analytics.
Decoration of Cotton Fibers with a Water-Stable Metal–Organic Framework (UiO-66) for the Decomposition and Enhanced Adsorption of Micropollutants in Water
Authors: Schelling Marion , Kim Manuela , Otal Eugenio , Hinestroza Juan
Published: February 2018

We report on the successful functionalization of cotton fabrics with a water-stable metal–organic framework (MOF), UiO-66, under mild solvothermal conditions (80 °C) and its ability to adsorb and degrade water micropollutants. The functionalized cotton samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). UiO-66 crystals grew in a uniform and conformal manner over the surface of the cotton fibers. The cotton fabrics functionalized with UiO-66 frameworks exhibited an enhanced uptake capacity for methylchlorophenoxypropionic acid (MCPP), a commonly used herbicide. The functionalized fabrics also showed photocatalytic activity, demonstrated by the degradation of acetaminophen, a common pharmaceutical compound, under simulated sunlight irradiation. These results indicate that UiO-66 can be supported on textile substrates for filtration and photocatalytic purposes and that these substrates can find applications in wastewater decontamination and micropollutant degradation.
Detection and Enhancement of Ketocarotenoid Accumulation in the Newly Isolated Sarcinoid Green Microalga Chlorosarcinopsis PY02
Authors: Cherdchukeattisak Peelada , Fraser Paul , Purton Saul , Brocklehurst Thanyanan
Published: February 2018

The sarcinoid alga PY02 is a newly isolated soil alga native to western Thailand. In this study PY02 is described, the carotenoid profile of the green and red forms of the algal cells are compared, and the effect of nitrogen reduction and media volume on ketocarotenoid production are reported. Partial sequences of the genes from elongation factor Tu (tufA) and 18S rRNA reveal that the alga is from the Chlorosarcinopsis genus. Growth studies demonstrated that Chlorosarcinopsis PY02 is capable of photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth. A gradual change in colony colour from green to red was observed over a period of four weeks under mixotrophic conditions. Pigment analysis of lyophilized red cells using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with Photo Diode Array Detection (PDA), showed for the first time that an alga from the genus Chlorosarcinopsis is capable of producing ketocarotenoids such as adonixanthin and 3-OH-echinenone, with canthaxanthin as the dominant pigment. Interestingly, a reduction of nitrogen in the medium exerts a positive effect on the rate of colour change from one month to less than seven days. Enhancements of the canthaxanthin content from 520 to 1504 or 1427 µg·gDW−1 were detected under 50% and 10% nitrogen content, respectively. An increase of 16% in biomass production of PY02 was unexpectedly detected from a 50% nitrogen reduction under mixotrophic culture. Notably, in liquid mixotrophic media with volumes of 15, 30 and 60 mL, the lowest volume produced a significantly higher biomass and canthaxanthin content.
Bryonolic Acid Blocks Cancer Cell Clonogenicity and Invasiveness through the Inhibition of Fatty Acid: Cholesteryl Ester Formation
Authors: Khallouki Farid , Owen Robert , Silvente-Poirot Sandrine , Poirot Marc
Published: February 2018

Bryonolic acid (BrA) is a pentacyclic triterpene present in several plants used in African traditional medicine such as Anisophyllea dichostyla R. Br. Here we investigated the in vitro anticancer properties of BrA. We report that BrA inhibits acyl-coA: cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) activity in rat liver microsomes in a concentration-dependent manner, blocking the biosynthesis of the cholesterol fatty acid ester tumour promoter. We next demonstrated that BrA inhibits ACAT in intact cancer cells with an IC50 of 12.6 ± 2.4 µM. BrA inhibited both clonogenicity and invasiveness of several cancer cell lines, establishing that BrA displays specific anticancer properties. BrA appears to be more potent than the other pentacyclic triterpenes, betulinic acid and ursolic acid studied under similar conditions. The inhibitory effect of BrA was reversed by exogenous addition of cholesteryl oleate, showing that ACAT inhibition is responsible for the anticancer effect of BrA. This report reveals new anticancer properties for BrA.
Synchronization, Attention and Transformation: Multidimensional Exploration of the Aesthetic Experience of Contemporary Dance Spectators
Authors: Joufflineau Coline , Vincent Coralie , Bachrach Asaf
Published: February 2018

The co-presence of bodies in intersubjective situations can give rise to processes of kinesthetic empathy and physiological synchronization, especially in the context of dance: the body and attention of the spectators are oriented towards the dancers. In this study, we investigate the processes of “body-mind” resonance between a choreography and its spectators, and more specifically the lasting impact of this resonance post-performance. We then explore the relation between the observed effects and subjective measures of attention. The study focuses on the work of the French choreographer Myriam Gourfink, who develops a unique movement, based on the slower breathing of dancers: the breathing generates an extremely slow movement without rhythmic ruptures. Phenomenological studies of her work report changes in temporal perception and changes in bodily attentional states. We made use of two cognitive tasks in order to quantify this change in temporal perception: Spontaneous Motor Tempo (SMT) and Apparent Motion effect (AM) before and after a 40-min live performance. Subjective reports were collected at the end of the performance. Physiological data were recorded before and after the performance. We performed a control experiment with a choreography of a distinctly different quality of movement. Post-Gourfink performance, we observed a significant deceleration of SMT and a decrease in its variability, while AM was reported with longer temporal intervals. Neither of these effects was observed in the control condition. Furthermore, an increase in perception of AM was correlated with a slower breathing rate after the performance. Correlations with subjective reports suggest a link between changes in cognitive and physiological dynamics and the degree of absorption of the spectators in the performance. In addition, these changes were related to specific reported attentional dispositions that we interpret as a form of attentional resonance. The ensemble of the results suggests an expansion of the “specious present” that is related to the slowing of physiological rhythms, and an attentional resonance between spectators and the choreography. The intricate relation we observed between inter-personal resonance and temporal cognition, foregrounds the notion of shared present as a neurophenomenological construct.
Early Diagnosis to Improve the Poor Prognosis of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Kikuyama Masataka , Kamisawa Terumi , Kuruma Sawako , Chiba Kazuro , Kawaguchi Shinya , Terada Shuzo , Satoh Tatsunori
Published: February 2018

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis due to delayed diagnosis. Early diagnosis is the most important factor for improving prognosis. For early diagnosis of PC, patients with clinical manifestations suggestive of PC and high risk for developing PC need to be selected for examinations for PC. Signs suggestive of PC (e.g., symptoms, diabetes mellitus, acute pancreatitis, or abnormal results of blood examinations) should not be missed, and the details of risks for PC (e.g., familial history of PC, intraductal mucin producing neoplasm, chronic pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis, or life habit) should be understood. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be performed for diagnosing PC, but the diagnostic ability of these examinations for PC is limited. Endoscopic diagnostic procedures, such as endoscopic ultrasonography, including fine-needle aspiration, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatocholangiography, including Serial Pancreatic-juice Aspiration Cytologic Examination (SPACE), could be recommended for a detailed examination to diagnose pancreatic carcinoma earlier.
VUV Pump and Probe of Phase Separation and Oxygen Interstitials in La2NiO4+y Using Spectromicroscopy
Authors: Bianconi Antonio , Marcelli Augusto , Bendele Markus , Innocenti Davide , Barinov Alexei , Poirot Nathalie , Campi Gaetano
Published: February 2018

While it is known that strongly correlated transition metal oxides described by a multi-band Hubbard model show microscopic multiscale phase separation, little is known about the possibility to manipulate them with vacuum ultraviolet (VUV), 27 eV lighting. We have investigated the photo-induced effects of VUV light illumination of a super-oxygenated La2NiO4+y single crystal by means of scanning photoelectron microscopy. VUV light exposure induces the increase of the density of states (DOS) in the binding energy range around Eb = 1.4 eV below EF. The photo-induced states in this energy region have been predicted due to clustering of oxygen interstitials by band structure calculations for large supercell of La2CuO4.125. We finally show that it is possible to generate and manipulate oxygen rich domains by VUV illumination as it was reported for X-ray illumination of La2CuO4+y. This phenomenology is assigned to oxygen-interstitials ordering and clustering by photo-illumination forming segregated domains in the La2NiO4+y surface.
Specific Structural Disorder in an Anion Layer and Its Influence on Conducting Properties of New Crystals of the (BEDT-TTF)4A+[M3+(ox)3]G Family, Where G Is 2-Halopyridine; M Is Cr, Ga; A+ Is [K0.8(H3O)0.2]+
Authors: Prokhorova Tatiana G. , Yagubskii Eduard B. , Zorina Leokadiya V. , Simonov Sergey V. , Zverev Vladimir N. , Shibaeva Rimma P. , Buravov Lev I.
Published: February 2018

New crystals (1–4) of organic conductors based on the radical cation salts of the bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF) with paramagnetic and diamagnetic tris(oxalato)metallate anions {A+[M3+(ox)3]3−G}2−, where M is Cr, Ga; G is 2-chloropyridine, 2-bromopyridine; and A+ is [K0.8(H3O)0.2]+ have been prepared and their crystal structure and transport properties were studied. All crystals belong to the monoclinic group of the (BEDT-TTF)4A+[M3+(ox)3]G family with β″-packing type of conducting BEDT-TTF layers. In contrast to the known superconducting crystals with M3+ = Fe3+ and G = 2-chloro- or 2-bromopyridine (Tc = 4.0–4.3 K), crystals with Cr3+ and Ga3+ ions exhibit metallic properties down to 0.5 K without superconducting transition. Upon cooling these crystals, the incommensurate superstructure appears, which has never been observed before in the numerous β″-salts of the family. In addition, orthorhombic (sp. group Pbca) semiconducting crystals α″-(BEDT-TTF)5[Ga(ox)3]·3.4·H2O·0.6 EtOH (5) were obtained. It is a new compound in the family of BEDT-TTF crystals with tris(oxalato)metallate anions.
Design of Distributed Multi-Actuator Systems with Incomplete State Information for Vibration Control of Large Structures
Authors: Palacios-Quiñonero Francisco , Rubió-Massegú Josep , Rossell Josep , Rodellar José
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we investigate the design and performance of static feedback controllers with partial-state information for the seismic protection of tall buildings equipped with incomplete multi-actuation systems. The proposed approach considers a partially instrumented multi-story building with an incomplete system of interstory force–actuation devices implemented on selected levels of the building, and an associated set of collocated sensors that measure the corresponding interstory drifts and interstory velocities. The main elements of the proposed controller design methodology are presented by means of a twenty-story building equipped with a system of ten interstory actuators arranged in three different layouts: concentrated, semi-distributed and fully-distributed. For these control configurations, partial-state controllers are designed following a static output-feedback H-infinity controller design approach, and the corresponding frequency and time responses are investigated. The obtained results clearly indicate that the proposed partial-state controllers are effective in mitigating the building seismic response. They also show that a suitable distribution of the instrumented stories is a relevant factor in the control system performance.
Exergy Analysis of the Musculoskeletal System Efficiency during Aerobic and Anaerobic Activities
Authors: Spanghero Gabriel , Albuquerque Cyro , Lazzaretti Fernandes Tiago , Hernandez Arnaldo , Keutenedjian Mady Carlos
Published: February 2018

The first and second laws of thermodynamics were applied to the human body in order to evaluate the quality of the energy conversion during muscle activity. Such an implementation represents an important issue in the exergy analysis of the body, because there is a difficulty in the literature in evaluating the performed power in some activities. Hence, to have the performed work as an input in the exergy model, two types of exercises were evaluated: weight lifting and aerobic exercise on a stationary bicycle. To this aim, we performed a study of the aerobic and anaerobic reactions in the muscle cells, aiming at predicting the metabolic efficiency and muscle efficiency during exercises. Physiological data such as oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, skin and internal temperatures and performed power were measured. Results indicated that the exergy efficiency was around 4% in the weight lifting, whereas it could reach values as high as 30% for aerobic exercises. It has been shown that the stationary bicycle is a more adequate test for first correlations between exergy and performance indices.
Kinetic Energy of a Free Quantum Brownian Particle
Authors: Bialas Paweł , Łuczka Jerzy
Published: February 2018

We consider a paradigmatic model of a quantum Brownian particle coupled to a thermostat consisting of harmonic oscillators. In the framework of a generalized Langevin equation, the memory (damping) kernel is assumed to be in the form of exponentially-decaying oscillations. We discuss a quantum counterpart of the equipartition energy theorem for a free Brownian particle in a thermal equilibrium state. We conclude that the average kinetic energy of the Brownian particle is equal to thermally-averaged kinetic energy per one degree of freedom of oscillators of the environment, additionally averaged over all possible oscillators’ frequencies distributed according to some probability density in which details of the particle-environment interaction are present via the parameters of the damping kernel.
The Flipped MOOC: Using Gamification and Learning Analytics in MOOC Design—A Conceptual Approach
Authors: Klemke Roland , Eradze Maka , Antonaci Alessandra
Published: February 2018

Recently, research has highlighted the potential of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) for education, as well as their drawbacks, which are well known. Several studies state that the main limitations of the MOOCs are low completion and high dropout rates of participants. However, MOOCs suffer also from the lack of participant engagement, personalization, and despite the fact that several formats and types of MOOCs are reported in the literature, the majority of them contain a considerable amount of content that is mainly presented in a video format. This is in contrast to the results reported in other educational settings, where engagement and active participation are identified as success factors. We present the results of a study that involved educational experts and learning scientists giving new and interesting insights towards the conceptualization of a new design approach, the flipped MOOC, applying the flipped classroom approach to the MOOCs’ design and making use of gamification and learning analytics. We found important indications, applicable to the concept of a flipped MOOC, which entails turning MOOCs from mainly content-oriented delivery machines into personalized, interactive, and engaging learning environments. Our findings support the idea that MOOCs can be enriched by the orchestration of a flipped classroom approach in combination with the support of gamification and learning analytics.
Risk Assessment of Power System Considering Frequency Dynamics and Cascading Process
Authors: Luo Chao , Yang Jun , Sun Yuanzhang
Published: February 2018

Frequency security is vital to the safety of power systems and has been scrutinized for many years. The conventional frequency security analysis only checks whether the frequency after anticipated initial failures can remain in the normal range based on some aggregated models, but the influence of potential cascading failures has not been considered yet. This is not enough, especially when the modern power system suffers the increasing threat of cascading failures. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel frequency simulation model considering the influence of cascading failure to reveal the security level of power systems comprehensively. The proposed model is based on a platform on which the frequency dynamics and the power flow distributions can be calculated jointly. Moreover, simulation models of protection devices and some supervisory operation-control schemes are also taken into account. Case studies validate the effectiveness of the proposed model on the IEEE 39-bus system. Moreover, the results of some further probabilistic simulations under different operation parameters are obtained, which show the great significance of improving the frequency regulation performance to cope with challenges of blackouts.
Virtual Career Fairs: Perspectives from Norwegian Recruiters and Exhibitors
Authors: Vik Ådne , Nørbech Bjørn , Jeske Debora
Published: February 2018

The present work introduces virtual fairs, particularly the perceived benefits, challenges, and relevance of such fairs for recruitment and employer branding. These aspects were explored in a semi-structured interview with an organizer of virtual fairs across Scandinavia, and a focus group composed of Norwegian recruiters and exhibitors. The results of the data collection can be summarized in the form of themes that relate to web analytics, web services and optimization. The benefits of virtual fairs pertain to the (a) visibility and branding; (b) costs; and (c) analytics-based customization. Challenges of virtual career fairs pertain to the (a) lack of online engagement, (b) preparation and staffing costs; (c) lack of guidelines; (d) talent access and identification; (e) security and infrastructure; (f) long-term planning; (g) and inter-dependencies. The discussion summarizes the implications of branding and recruitment and the value they add to business, also noting how context effects may come into play. The article concludes by exploring the possibility that virtual fairs will complement or become the new standard in recruitment and outlines future avenues for research and practice.
An Overview of Chemical Profiles, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Commercial Vegetable Edible Oils Marketed in Japan
Authors: Xuan Tran , Gangqiang Gu , Minh Truong , Quy Tran , Khanh Tran
Published: February 2018

This study analyzed chemical components and investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of fourteen vegetable edible oils marketed in Japan. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify and quantify principal phenolic acids and flavonoids. In the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, sunflower, safflower, canola, soybean, Inca inchi, sesame, and rice bran showed markedly greater activity, whilst the percentage of lipid peroxidation inhibition (LPI%) in sunflower, canola, cotton, grape, flax, perilla, Inca inchi, perillartine, and rice bran were significantly higher than other oils. Maximum total phenol content (TPC) was recorded in flax, followed by perillartine, rice bran, and perilla, whereas total flavonoid content (TFC) was the greatest in Inca inchi and sesame. Benzoic acid was the most common constituent, followed by vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid. On the other hand, luteolin was the most abundant flavonoid, followed by esculetin, myricetin, isoquercetin, and kaempferol, while fisetin was detected only in sunflower. In general, all of the edible oils showed antimicrobial activity, but the growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli of cotton, grape, chia, sesame, and rice bran were greater than other oils.
Monitoring Liquid-Liquid Mixtures Using Fractional Calculus and Image Analysis
Authors: Lenzi Ervin , Ryba Andrea , Lenzi Marcelo
Published: February 2018

A fractional-calculus-based model is used to analyze the data obtained from the image analysis of mixtures of olive and soybean oil, which were quantified with the RGB color system. The model consists in a linear fractional differential equation, containing one fractional derivative of order α and an additional term multiplied by a parameter k. Using a hybrid parameter estimation scheme (genetic algorithm and a simplex-based algorithm), the model parameters were estimated as k = 3.42 ± 0.12 and α = 1.196 ± 0.027, while a correlation coefficient value of 0.997 was obtained. For the sake of comparison, parameter α was set equal to 1 and an integer order model was also studied, resulting in a one-parameter model with k = 3.11 ± 0.28. Joint confidence regions are calculated for the fractional order model, showing that the derivative order is statistically different from 1. Finally, an independent validation sample of color component B equal to 96 obtained from a sample with olive oil mass fraction equal to 0.25 is used for prediction purposes. The fractional model predicted the color B value equal to 93.1 ± 6.6.
Landslides and Subsidence Assessment in the Crati Valley (Southern Italy) Using InSAR Data
Authors: Cianflone Giuseppe , Tolomei Cristiano , Brunori Carlo , Monna Stephen , Dominici Rocco
Published: February 2018

In this work, we map surficial ground deformations that occurred during the years 2004–2010 in the Crati Valley (Southern Italy). The valley is in one of the most seismically active regions of the Italian peninsula, and presents slope instability and widespread landslide phenomena. We measured ground deformations by applying the small baseline subset (SBAS) technique, a multi-temporal synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) methodology that is used to process datasets of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Ground displacements are only partially visible with the InSAR technique. Visibility depends on the geometry of the acquisition layout, such as the radar acquisition angle view, and the land use. These two factors determine the backscattering of the reflected signal. Most of the ground deformation detected by InSAR can be attributed to the gravitational mass movements of the hillslopes (i.e., landslides), and the subsidence of the quaternary deposits filling the valley. The movements observed along the valley slopes were compared with the available landslide catalog. We also identified another cause of movement in this area, i.e., ground subsidence due to the compaction of the quaternary deposits filling the valley. This compaction can be ascribed to various sources, such as urban population growth and sprawl, industrial water withdrawal, and tectonic activity.