bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Death and Life of Collaborative Planning Theory
Authors: Goodspeed Robert
Published: November 2016

It has been over 20 years since Judith Innes proclaimed communicative action to be the “emerging paradigm” for planning theory, a theoretical perspective which has been developed into what is known as collaborative planning theory (CPT). With planning theory shifting to a new generation of scholars, this commentary considers the fate of this intellectual movement within planning. CPT never achieved the paradigmatic status its advocates desired because of its internal diversity and limited scope. However, its useful combination of analytical and normative insights is attracting the interest of a new generation of researchers, who are subjecting it to rigorous empirical testing and addressing longstanding theoretical weaknesses. Like Jane Jacob’s classic book the Death and Life of Great American Cities, CPT has made an enduring impact on planning theory, even as it has failed to achieve a total revolution in thinking.
Autonomous Decentralized Control of Traffic Signals that can Adapt to Changes in Traffic
Authors: Kano Takeshi , Sugiyama Yuki , Ishiguro Akio
Published: November 2016

A major challenge for traffic signal control is adapting to unpredictable changes in traffic. To address this issue, we propose an autonomous decentralized control scheme for traffic signals that is based on physics. More specifically, “virtual impulses” given by red signals or preceding cars, which are defined in a similar manner as the impulses generally used in physics, are calculated at each traffic signal by using an optimal velocity model, and traffic signals are switched to reduce these virtual impulses. We performed simulations under various traffic conditions, and the results showed that the proposed control scheme works adaptively and resiliently in response to each set of circumstances. Thus, the virtual impulse can be a key physical quantity for designing adaptive traffic systems.
Vladimir V. Shyshkov. Curso fonético-introductorio a la lengua rusa para los hispanohablantes. Valencia: Filología Eslava–Universidad de Valencia. 2007.
Authors: Abakumova Olga
Published: November 2016

Vladimir V. Shyshkov. Curso fonético-introductorio a la lengua rusa para los hispanohablantes. Valencia: Filología Eslava–Universidad de Valencia. 2007.
Storytelling and Asperger Syndrome: A Key for Social Integration
Authors: Sahin Alain N.
Published: November 2016

Storytelling is a universal way of communication between human beings. It is inhibited when neurodevelopmental disorders hinder human reciprocity, the understanding of body language, and nuances of language. Asperger Syndrome (AS), one of these disorders, is characterized by social impairment and repetitive patterns of behaviour. Messages cannot be conveyed through storytelling, which causes social isolation and withdrawal of individuals with AS from society. The development of the mirror neuron system in the brain, which incites imitation of peers, might be altered in AS by a mechanism that is not entirely understood. Because mirroring the emotions of others is key to understanding their feelings and perceptions of the world, the “theory of mind” is not formed in individuals with AS as it normally would be. While studies have suggested this impediment, current views and evidence show that people with AS may use storytelling as a powerful tool to integrate themselves into society. Future research should investigate storytelling as an intervention to increase social interaction of individuals with AS.
Changement Climatique et Iniquités en Santé : L’apport de L’approche Interventionnelle en Santé des Populations dans un Contexte Québécois
Authors: Buetti David , Annous Rana
Published: November 2016

Dans un monde globalisé, le changement climatique vient s’ajouter à la plethora de problèmes complexes auxquels la santé publique doit faire face. Cet article propose de s’intéresser, à travers une perspective interventionnelle en santé des populations et dans un contexte québécois, aux conséquences du changement climatique sur les populations vulnérables ainsi qu’aux domaines d’action pouvant les mitiger. Une recherche documentaire a été effectuée dans sept banques de données liées à plusieurs disciplines en sciences sociales, de la santé et de l’environnement. Reconnaissant également l’apport des organismes non gouvernementaux pour la santé des populations, celle-ci a été complémentée par des rapports d'organisations militantes et citoyennes. Les résultats montrent que plusieurs secteurs peuvent collaborer avec les agences de santé publique et les organismes communautaires pour réduire, d’une part, le changement climatique et, de l’autre, les iniquités en matière de santé. Au Québec, trois domaines d’action semblent particulièrement prometteurs, soit : l’aménagement territorial en milieu urbain, le transport et la mobilité durable et l’agriculture urbaine et périurbaine. Préconisant un cadre social écologique et une collaboration multisec torielle, les interventions centrées sur la santé des populations permettent d’atténuer les conséquences du changement climatique sur les iniquités sociales et sanitaires. Quelques défis et pistes de recherche liés à leur implantation et à leur pérennité sont discutés.
Effects of Domain Boundaries on the Diffraction Patterns of One Dimensional Structures
Authors: Timmer Frederic , Wollschläger Joachim
Published: November 2016

Motivated by diffraction experiments on the 23×3R30∘ reconstructed Si(111) due to deposition of rare earth elements (Dy, Tb) and silicide formation we analyse the splitting and non-splitting of superstructure spots. For this purpose, we model diffraction patterns for one dimensional structures generated by the binary surface technique and use supercell models to keep the analysis simple. Diffraction pattern are calculated in the framework of the kinematical diffraction theory and they are analyzed as a function of the domains and domain boundaries. Basic properties of the diffraction pattern are analyzed for model systems of a two-fold and a three-fold periodicity. The rules derived from these calculations are applied to the "real-world" system of Si(111)-(23×3R30∘)-RESi2 (RE = Dy or Tb). Depending on the combination of domains and domain boundaries of different types a plethora of different features are observed in the diffraction patterns. These are analyzed to determine the sizes of both domain boundaries and domains from experimentally observed splitting of specific superstructure spots.
Enhanced Autophagy in the Kidney of AQP11 Null Mice Developing Polycystic Kidneys
Authors: Tanaka Yasuko , Watari Mayumi , Saito Tatusya , Morishita Yoshiyuki , Ishibashi Kenichi
Published: November 2016

Aquaporin-11 (AQP11) is an intracellular water channel expressed at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the kidney proximal tubule. Its gene disruption in mice leads to intracellular vacuole formation at one week old and the subsequent development of polycystic kidneys at three week old. As the damaged proximal tubular cells with intracellular vacuoles later form cysts, autophagy may play a role in their survival. We examined the autophagy activity before and after the development of cysts in AQP11(-/-) kidneys. We first observed an enhanced expression of LC3 gene (Map1lc3b) as well as other autophagy-related genes in AQP11(-/-) mice by quantitative PCR analysis. We then examined the formation of autophagosomes visualized by a green fluorescent fusion protein, GFP–LC3 in its transgenic mice. The expression of GFP-LC3 puncta was increased in the proximal tubule of AQP11(-/-) mice before the cyst formation. Interestingly, they were also observed in the cyst-lining epithelial cell. Further PCR analyses revealed the enhanced expression of apoptosis- and ER stress-related caspase genes before and after the cyst formation suggesting that ER stress may have enhanced autophagy. We conclude that autophagy will play an important role in the development and the survival of the kidney cysts in AQP11(-/-) mice.
A Generalized Constant Elasticity of Substitution Production Function Model and Its Application
Authors: Cheng Maolin
Published: November 2016

The constant elasticity of substitution production function describes the relationship between production results and production factors in the technological production process. The common production factors include capital and labor. In order to comprehensively reflect the input-output relationship, this paper generalizes the model and adds factors including energy, consumption, and import and export. With respect to estimating the parameters of the model, the paper proposes a high-precision and high-speed nonlinear regression method. The constant elasticity of substitution production function model is mainly used to calculate the contribution rates of economic growth factors, and this paper proposes a scientific and reliable calculating method. The final section of the paper proposes an empirical analysis of the contribution rates of Chinese economic growth factors.
The Effect of Visual Merchandising, Sensational Seeking and Collectivism on Impulsive Buying Behavior
Authors: Jalees Tariq , Kazmi Syed Hasnain Alam , Zaman Syed Imran
Published: November 2016

The aim of this paper is to measure the effect of sensational seeking, visual merchandising and collectivism on impulsive buying behavior. Valid sample size for this study was 300 comprising of all age groups. Mall intercept method which is a kind of convenience sampling was used for collecting the data. The data was collected by preselected enumerators. Scale used for this study had established reliabilities. After ascertaining the normality of data a typical multiple steps, procedure was adopted for this study. The conceptual framework tested through Structural equation modeling and was found to be relevant in understanding the impact of predictor variables on impulsive buying behavior. A strong and positive relationship was found between sensational seeking, and no relationships were found between, collectivism and impulsive buying, and visual merchandising and impulsive buying. One of the contributions of this study is that it has explored the relationships of collectivism, and sensational seeking with impulsive buying which have not been explored that extensively.
A Quantitative Method for Selection of Enterprise Cloud Computing Models
Authors: Yang Dehua
Published: November 2016

Targeting at methodological limitations in the decision-making of enterprise cloud computing adoption, this paper analyzes the main influence factors affecting enterprise cloud computing, builds up their hierarchical structures, and works out 8 key influence factors affecting cloud computing models, based on the structural model theory in system engineering. A quantitative method is provided for the selection of optimal or recommended enterprise cloud computing models, in terms of the relationship valuations among key influence factors, cloud computing models, and the factor weights for a specific enterprise.
The Command Decision Method of Multiple UUV Cooperative Task Assignment Based on Contract Net Protocol
Authors: Xiao Yujie , Zhang Dingxiong
Published: November 2016

With the help of multiple UCAV cooperative task control model, the mathematical model of multiple UUV cooperative task control is made. Variables related to decision are broken into goals, guidelines and programs levels by Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), on this basis; the command decision of multiple UUV task assignment is achieved. The correctness of task allocation algorithm is verified by case analysis. Time calculation formulas for a task assignment are given. The changes of overall effectiveness in the process of task allocation are analyzed, the time changes of each sub task allocation time in one task assignment are analyzed, the time changes of the number of tasks and platforms respectively fixed in task allocation are also discussed.
Shading and Container Effects on the Weight of theDioscorea sparsifloraTuber
Authors: Castañeda‐Nava José Juvencio , Santacruz‐Ruvalcaba Fernando , de Jesús Sánchez González José , Parra José Ron , De la Cruz Larios Lino , Barba‐González Rodrigo
Published: November 2016

Core Ideas

Effect of the light intensity in the weight of the tuber inD. sparsiflora.

Influence of the container in the development of the tuber inD. sparsiflora.

Response to shade‐house period on the tuber weight ofD. sparsiflora.

Crop managing inD. sparsiflora.

Dioscorea sparsifloraHemsley (camote de cerro) is a wild species with agricultural potential that is not exploited as a crop but is collected for consumption and sale in western Mexico. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the effect of different light intensities (26,000, 18,000, and 14,000 lux), three shading periods (60, 90, and 180 d), and five types of containers two cylindrical (7 and 9 L), one rectangular (60 L), and two hydroponic channels: one 30 cm wide (45 L), and the other, 40 cm wide (60 L) on twoD. sparsifloraaccessions. The performances of two accessions (751 and 112) in previous treatments were also evaluated. The tuber weight was highest, with 18,000 lux (6.9 t ha−1), and had the highest yield when cultivated with a 60 d shading (33 t ha−1) and in the rectangular container (40 t ha−1). Accession 751 obtained the highest averages for tuber weight and diameter (43 t ha−1and 73 mm, respectively).
Hydrologic and Geomorphic Aspects of High-magnitude Floods on the Par River in Western India
Authors: Patil Archana , Hire Priyanka , Hire Pramodkumar
Published: November 2016

The geomorphic effectiveness of floods is evaluated in terms of unit stream power (ω) and boundary shear stress (τ) for floods on the Par River. The highest values for ω and τ for a flood on the river are 52125 W/m2 and 3320 N/m2, respectively. The estimated Froude numbers are <1 indicating subcritical flows. It is >1 for a few constricted reaches showing supercritical or shooting flows. High values of Reynolds number reveal that the flood discharges were extremely turbulent. Values of critical velocity for the inception of cavitation (Vc) show that none of the powerful floods on the river, except two, exceed the conditions. Estimates of ω, τ and velocity associated with transported boulders indicate that all floods were competent to move large boulders of more than 5.5 m in diameter. The efficiency of high-magnitude flood events is evident from the presence of a variety of geomorphic features.
Bioremediation of Heavy Crude Oil Contamination
Authors: Al-Sayegh Abdullah , Al-Wahaibi Yahya , Joshi Sanket , Al-Bahry Saif , Elshafie Abdulkadir , Al-Bemani Ali
Published: November 2016

Crude oil contamination is one of the major environmental concerns and it has drawn interest from researchers and industries. Heavy oils contain 24-64% saturates and aromatics, 14-39% resins and 11-45% asphaltene. Resins and asphaltenes mainly consist of naphthenic aromatic hydrocarbons with alicyclic chains which are the hardest to degrade. Crude oil biodegradation process, with its minimal energy need and environmentally friendly approach, presents an opportunity for bioremediation and as well for enhanced oil recovery to utilize heavy oil resources in an efficient manner. Biodegradation entails crude oil utilization as a carbon source for microorganisms that in turn change the physical properties of heavy crude oil by oxidizing aromatic rings, chelating metals and severing internal bonds/chains between molecules. Biodegradation does not necessarily lower quality of crude oil as there are cases where quality was improved. This paper provides information on heavy crude oil chemistry, bioremediation concept, biodegradation enzymes, cases of Microbial Enhanced heavy crude Oil Recovery (MEOR) and screening criteria towards a better understanding of the biodegradation application. Through the utilization of single microorganisms and consortia, researchers were able to biodegrade single pure hydrocarbon components, transform heavy crude oil fractions to lighter fractions, remove heavy metals and reduce viscosity of crude oil.
Bioremediation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs): A Perspective
Authors: Gupte Akshaya , Tripathi Archana , Patel Helina , Rudakiya Darshan , Gupte Shilpa
Published: November 2016

Hydrocarbon pollution is a perennial problem not only in India but throughout the globe. A plethora of microorganisms have been reported to be efficient degraders of these recalcitrant pollutants. One of the major concerns of environmental problem is the presence of hydrocarbons due to the various anthropogenic activities. PAHs are ubiquitous in naturei.e.present in soil, water and air. Presence of PAHs in environment creates problem as their presence have deleterious effect on human and animals. They also have the ability to cause the tumors in human and animals. Some of the microorganisms are capable of transforming and degrading these PAHs and remove them from the environment. The present review describes about the sources, structure, fate and toxicity of PAHs as well as different bioremediation techniques involved in the removing of contaminants from the environment which are efficient and cost-effective. The conventional approaches used for removal of PAH are not only environment friendly but also are able to reduce the risk to human and ecosystem.
Dental Erosion and Dentin Hypersensitivity among Adult Asthmatics and Non-asthmatics Hospital-based: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Farag Zahra Hassan Abdelaziz , Awooda Elhadi Mohieldin
Published: November 2016

Background:

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the airways leading to spasm and swelling of the airways. The medications taken for the treatment of asthma can result in dental erosion and dentin hypersensitivity.

Objectives:

The aims of this study were to investigate the severity of dental erosion amongst adult asthmatics according to: gender, type and duration of medication taken and to compare dental erosion and dentin hypersensitivity between asthmatics and non-asthmatics.

Subjects and Methods:

Comparative, cross-sectional hospital based study among 40 asthmatics (M=15 & F=25) and 40 non-asthmatics (M=18 & F=22) in the age range of 18-60 year selected purposefully from Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital in Khartoum city. The Basic Erosive Wear Index was used for dental erosion assessment. Dentine hypersensitivity was determined by giving ice cold water and rated using the Visual Analogue Scale. Chi-square and Student’s t-test were used for statistical analysis with P value ≤.05.

Results:

There was an association between severity of dental erosion and presence of asthma (P=0.03), where asthmatics had a higher degree of erosion (moderate and severe) and non-asthmatics a lower degree. No significant association was found between dental erosion and gender, type and duration of medication among asthmatics group. A statistically significant difference was revealed in the degree of dentin hypersensitivity (P=0.00) among asthmatics (35.13%) and non-asthmatics (14.13%).

Conclusion:

Asthmatic patients had a higher degree of dental erosion and dentin hypersensitivity compared to non-asthmatics. Among asthmatic patients there was no association between severity of dental erosion and gender, type and duration medication was taken for.
The Cathedral Of Antigua Guatemala, a Colonial Painting, ca. 1718
Authors: Lamothe Eva S.
Published: November 2016

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Escultura y retablos coloniales de la ciudad de Durango
Authors: Bargellini Clara
Published: November 2016

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Los retablos novohispanos en opinión de don Diego Angulo Íñiguez
Authors: Vargaslugo Elisa
Published: November 2016

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Carl Gandolf Kaiser (1837-1895). Arquitecto de la Corte del Emperador Maximiliano
Authors: Drewes Michael
Published: November 2016

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La china mexicana, mejor conocida como china poblana
Authors: Vázquez Mantecón María del Carmen
Published: November 2016

Carmen Vázquez habla sobre un tipo de mujer que se hizo popular a mediados del siglo XIX en la ciudad de México. Con una forma de vestir muy llamativa y una conducta desenvuelta, la “china” se convirtió en el foco de atracción de los hombres de todas las clases sociales, e incluso llamó la atención de los extranjeros más encopetados que conocieron el país. Lo más probable es que el nombre de “china” proviniera de su pronunciado origen mestizo y no de algún nexo con las culturas orientales. Producto, pues, del mestizaje entre los tres grandes grupos étnicos que conformaron la actual población mexicana (indios, españoles y negros africanos), esta mujer era económicamente independiente y gozaba de una autonomía que se reflejó en sus actitudes sociales y, de manera especial, en su forma de concebir las relaciones sentimentales. Sin ninguna relación con la mítica Catarina de San Juan, traída de Asia en el siglo XVII y casada en Puebla con un esclavo chino, estas “chinas” decimonónicas fueron pronto conocidas como “chinas poblanas”, al parecer debido a una desviación lingüística y al recuerdo histórico de aquella china que murió en Puebla en olor de santidad. La autora de este artículo busca lo mismo en la etimología que en el folklore, lo mismo en la literatura que en la crónica, para documentar esta curiosa relación que hizo el imaginario popular del siglo XX entre un tipo de mujer ligera muy exitoso y aquella mujer oriental que por su vida extraña inició el camino de la beatificación religiosa en la Puebla del siglo XVII.
Increasing the reach of enterprises through electronic commerce: A focus group study aimed at the cases of Portugal and Spain
Authors: Gonçalves Ramiro , Martins José , Branco Frederico , Perez-Cota Manuel , Oliveira Au-Yong
Published: November 2016

E-commerce notably increases the reach of enterprises, bringing a firm's
products and services into the international arena. In times of shrinking
domestic markets, due to national crises, becoming available in global
markets is essential for survival and growth. We have thus held three focus
group interactions to produce a set of strategic recommendations with regards
to how to improve e-Commerce adoption levels in Iberian enterprises,
essential in times of local hardship and market contraction. Suggestions
include creating actions to influence governments to re-evaluate the
legislation that regulates e-Commerce, making it more transparent;
encouraging venture capitalists, banks and business angels to finance such
e-Commerce endeavors; encouraging higher education institutions (HEI) to
partner with Iberian enterprises to ensure knowledge transfer in both
directions; creating, with HEI and training organizations, a set of new
training courses directed at Iberian enterprises and focusing on concepts
such as Web 2.0 capabilities and a coherent online organizational identity.
Fundamental is the perspective that e-Commerce is a strategic issue,
warranting funds and qualified personnel, at different levels in the
hierarchy, for adequate strategic e-intent, e-vision, and e-mission
formulation, followed by effective e-process implementation.
Actual state of the coverage of Mexican software industry requested knowledge regarding the project management best practices
Authors: Muñoz Mirna , Negrón Pérez , Mejia Jezreel , López Lara
Published: November 2016

In Mexico, the small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) are key for the
software development industry. For them, having highly qualified personal for
the development of high quality software products is a fundamental piece to
guarantee their permanency in the market. Therefore, matching the software
industry requirements with the academy training represents a significant
problem that must be addressed for both sectors benefit. This paper presents
an analysis of the coverage between the Moprosoft norm, standard developed to
be used for software industry to ensure quality in Software Engineering
practices, and ten academic curricular programs of higher education related
to Computer Science and Informatics; to get an overview of the knowledge and
skills that Computer Science students acquire at universities, regarding
knowledge required in organizations that work under process models. In
addition, a survey to 32 SMEs was conducted to contrast the coverage results
with their hired, recently graduated, personal.
Indirect speech in Serbian and Russian
Authors: Maric Biljana
Published: November 2016

The paper discusses syntactic constructions with indirect speech in Serbian
and Russian and the models of representing somebody else`s speech with those
constructions in both languages. Contrastive analysis shows that Russian
models with indirect speech are more tightly related to modality (objective
modality in the use of the conjunction ctoby, and subjective modality by the
possibility of using the conjunction budto).
The Meanings of Mercy: Wife Assault and Spousal Murder in Post-Second World War Canada
Authors: Sangster Joan
Published: November 2016

This article analyzes the 1948 case of a British war bride convicted of manslaughter in the death of her abusive husband as a means of exploring the connection between social views of domestic violence and the legal treatment of wives charged with spousal murder. The case of Jean McAllister allows us an entrée to the legal responses to women's use of violence against abusive partners in the period in between “first” and “second” wave feminism. By examining responses to this high-profile trial, set against the background of other trials of battered wives, we can draw conclusions about the regulatory role of law vis-à-vis domestic violence and the ways in which the mercy accorded female defendants varied considerably with gender ideologies and class and ethnic relations. The article suggests other cases like McAllister's also ended in manslaughter convictions, which are less easily traced in the archives, and it also questions the idealized immigration narrative of war brides in the Canadian press.
Outline of the Design and Functioning of Green Shading Systems, Compared to Industrial Products
Authors: Pataky Rita
Published: November 2016

On the building of the BME-Odooproject, which participated in the Solar Decathlon competition in 2012, we were able to perform on-site impact measurements with deciduous (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Parthenocissus tricuspidata) and evergreen (Hedera helix) plant-shading systems. The analysis of the bio-shaders’ mechanism of action and data obtained during the research, proved that bio-shaders comply with the most important criteria of shading systems (to allow through the least energy ratio, reflect the largest share possible, minimise absorption and transmit the absorbed amount outward). This is due to the plant’s structure, physiological processes, evaporation, and air movement. The bio-shadings meet and in certain cases, approach or even exceed these requirements; their efficiency is comparable to industrial blinds. As well as being a new form of architectural element, they also have many other ecological benefits; bio-shaders can play an important role in the building’s energy balance, particularly in reducing the summer heat load.
Thermal Models for Box Type Windows: Part 1
Authors: Bakonyi Dániel , Dobszay Gergely
Published: November 2016

Techniques for the thermal modelling of contemporary single skin windows with insulating glass units are well developed, but their applicability for traditional box type windows is under investigated. Due to their different construction and dimensions, a different type of natural convection is encountered in their air cavity. In this article, a literature review is conducted to analyse the characteristics of this flow and its difference from the flows in contemporary windows. Finally, the best-known correlations used to quantify the convective heat transfer in glazing cavities are analysed with regards to their validity for the specific case of box type windows.
Alteration in the Awareness of Estonian City Space from Independence to Stalinism
Authors: Sultson Siim
Published: November 2016

The presented research focuses on the alteration of Estonian city space awareness within the period of the mid-1940s and 1950s. Soviet occupation changed Estonian city space as the materialisation of ideology. Paradoxically, regardless of the war’s destruction and occupying Soviet regime, Stalinist town planning principles generally matched with Estonian architects´ city visions. Some existing towns (for instance Tallinn, Pärnu, Narva) gained new centres due to the damage from the war and for ideological reasons. Meanwhile, new industrial towns, as examples of Stalinist utopia, were built in East-Estonia during 1940s-1950s by the Soviet regime to exploit local mineral resources. While the Tallinn, Pärnu, Tartu new Stalinist centres were designed by local architects, the new industrial towns represented so-called imperial city space principles elaborated under the guidance of the Leningrad construction departments. Was there any difference between the pre-war independence period city space and the Stalinist period city space? Where lies the alteration of Estonian city space awareness from independence to Stalinism?
Architectural Design through the Geometrical Principles of Biological Growth
Authors: Gago Ricardo Massena
Published: November 2016

This research is in the field of biological design; more specifically it deals with the decoding of geometrical patterns of ecological shape and their transfer to architectural design. The transfer of these qualities is made through the construction of a geometric design tool, based on biological organization principles (growth). The morphologic pattern is decoded using two distinct drawing tools: shape grammars and Voronoi diagrams. The design tool allows the separation of biologic design from its ecologic references (biological structures), by generating a wide range of human structures with their morphological identity. The tool aims at reaching a morphological coherence between biological and human structures by introducing in human design certain qualities of biological morphology, such as evolutionary balance, integration ability in the environment, structural fluidity and structural multifunctionality.
Oxygen Carrier Aided Combustion (OCAC) of Wood Chips in a Semi-Commercial Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler Using Manganese Ore as Bed Material
Authors: Rydén Magnus , Hanning Malin , Corcoran Angelica , Lind Fredrik
Published: November 2016

Oxygen Carrier Aided Combustion (OCAC) is realized by using an active oxygen-carrying bed material in fluidized bed boilers. The active material is reduced in fuel rich parts of the boiler and oxidized in air rich parts. Advantages could be achieved such as new mechanisms for oxygen transport in space and time. Here calcined manganese ore has been used as active bed material in a 12 MWth circulating fluidized bed boiler. The fuel was wood chips and the campaign lasted more than two weeks. From an operational point of view, manganese ore worked excellently. From the temperature profile of the boiler it can be concluded that fuel conversion was facilitated, especially in the dense bottom bed. The effect did not always translate to reduced emissions, which suggests that final combustion in the cyclone outlet was also influenced. Substituting 10% of the sand bed with manganese ore made it possible to reduce the air to fuel ratio without generating large amounts of CO. The use of 100% manganese ore resulted in higher emissions of CO than the sand reference, but, when combined sulphur feeding, dramatic reductions in CO emissions, up to 90% compared to sand reference, was achieved.
Moving Object Tracking and Its Application to an Indoor Dual-Robot Patrol
Authors: Shih Cheng-Han , Juang Jih-Gau
Published: November 2016

This paper presents an application of image tracking using an omnidirectional wheeled mobile robot (WMR). The objective of this study is to integrate image processing of hue, saturation, and lightness (HSL) for fuzzy color space, and use mean shift tracking for object detection and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader for confirming destination. Fuzzy control is applied to omnidirectional WMR for indoor patrol and intruder detection. Experimental results show that the proposed control scheme can make the WMRs perform indoor security service.
Recent Development of Carbonaceous Materials for Lithium–Sulphur Batteries
Authors: Gu Xingxing , Hencz Luke , Zhang Shanqing
Published: November 2016

The effects of climate change are just beginning to be felt, and as such, society must work towards strategies of reducing humanity’s impact on the environment. Due to the fact that energy production is one of the primary contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, it is obvious that more environmentally friendly sources of power are required. Technologies such as solar and wind power are constantly being improved through research; however, as these technologies are often sporadic in their power generation, efforts must be made to establish ways to store this sustainable energy when conditions for generation are not ideal. Battery storage is one possible supplement to these renewable energy technologies; however, as current Li-ion technology is reaching its theoretical capacity, new battery technology must be investigated. Lithium–sulphur (Li–S) batteries are receiving much attention as a potential replacement for Li-ion batteries due to their superior capacity, and also their abundant and environmentally benign active materials. In the spirit of environmental harm minimization, efforts have been made to use sustainable carbonaceous materials for applications as carbon–sulphur (C–S) composite cathodes, carbon interlayers, and carbon-modified separators. This work reports on the various applications of carbonaceous materials applied to Li–S batteries, and provides perspectives for the future development of Li–S batteries with the aim of preparing a high energy density, environmentally friendly, and sustainable sulphur-based cathode with long cycle life.
Performances and Coating Morphology of a Siloxane-Based Hydrophobic Product Applied in Different Concentrations on a Highly Porous Stone
Authors: Lettieri Mariateresa , Masieri Maurizio
Published: November 2016

Many polymers, able to confer a hydrophobicity to treated surfaces, have been proposed for the restoration and conservation of civil and monumental buildings. Polysiloxanes, and their precursors, the silanes, have been frequently employed for stone protection. To avoid decay of the treated surfaces, the effectiveness and harmlessness of the treatment need to be carefully evaluated before application in the field. In this study, a commercial alkyl-siloxane was tested as a protective treatment on a highly porous stone, starting from water solutions with different contents of the product. The treatments have been devised to try to balance the requirements and the sustainability of the conservative actions. Sustainability, in terms of costs and environmental impact, is regarded as a key factor in the 21st century. Morphological observations of the stone surface, static contact angle and colour measurements, water vapour transmission test, and tests of water absorption were carried out to characterize the untreated and treated stones. A concentration below the minimum level suggested by the manufacturer was still able to act as a good barrier against water. More concentrated solutions produced polymer accumulation and coatings with extended cracks. The properties of the treated stone were affected by the presence of cracks in the coating.
Reevaluating Bloom’s Taxonomy: What Measurable Verbs Can and Cannot Say about Student Learning
Authors: Stanny Claudia
Published: November 2016

Faculty and assessment professionals rely on Bloom’s taxonomy to guide them when they write measurable student learning outcomes and describe their goals for developing students’ thinking skills. Over the past ten years, assessment offices and teaching and learning centers have compiled lists of measurable verbs aligned with the six categories that comprise Bloom’s taxonomy. The author analyzed 30 compilations posted on web sites and evaluated how well these verbs aligned with categories in Bloom’s taxonomy. The author discusses the value of Bloom’s taxonomy as a heuristic for writing student learning outcomes and other factors faculty should consider when they articulate learning outcomes to describe levels of expertise attained by students who complete an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree.
Raman Spectral Characteristics of Oil-Paper Insulation and Its Application to Ageing Stage Assessment of Oil-Immersed Transformers
Authors: Zou Jingxin , Chen Weigen , Wan Fu , Fan Zhou , Du Lingling
Published: November 2016

The aging of oil-paper insulation in power transformers may cause serious power failures. Thus, effective monitoring of the condition of the transformer insulation is the key to prevent major accidents. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of confocal laser Raman spectroscopy (CLRS) for assessing the aging condition of oil-paper insulation. Oil-paper insulation samples were subjected to thermal accelerated ageing at 120 °C for up to 160 days according to the procedure described in the IEEE Guide. Meanwhile, the dimension of the Raman spectrum of the insulation oil was reduced by principal component analysis (PCA). The 160 oil-paper insulation samples were divided into five aging stages as training samples by clustering analysis and with the use of the degree of polymerization of the insulating papers. In addition, the features of the Raman spectrum were used as the inputs of a multi-classification support vector machine. Finally, 105 oil-paper insulation testing samples aged at a temperature of 130 °C were used to further test the diagnostic capability and universality of the established algorithm. Results demonstrated that CLRS in conjunction with the PCA-SVM technique provides a new way for aging stage assessment of oil-paper insulation equipment in the field.
Hydrodynamics of Highly Viscous Flow past a Compound Particle: Analytical Solution
Authors: Zhao Longhua
Published: November 2016

To investigate the translation of a compound particle in a highly viscous, incompressible fluid, we carry out an analytic study on flow past a fixed spherical compound particle. The spherical object is considered to have a rigid kernel covered with a fluid coating. The fluid within the coating has a different viscosity from that of the surrounding fluid and is immiscible with the surrounding fluid. The inertia effect is negligible for flows both inside the coating and outside the object. Thus, flows are in the Stokes regime. Taking advantage of the symmetry properties, we reduce the problem in two dimensions and derive the explicit formulae of the stream function in the polar coordinates. The no-slip boundary condition for the rigid kernel and the no interfacial mass transfer and force equilibrium conditions at fluid interfaces are considered. Two extreme cases: the uniform flow past a sphere and the uniform flow past a fluid drop, are reviewed. Then, for the fluid coating the spherical object, we derive the stream functions and investigate the flow field by the contour plots of stream functions. Contours of stream functions show circulation within the fluid coating. Additionally, we compare the drag and the terminal velocity of the object with a rigid sphere or a fluid droplet. Moreover, the extended results regarding the analytical solution for a compound particle with a rigid kernel and multiple layers of fluid coating are reported.
The Association between Alcohol Consumption and β-Cell Function and Insulin Sensitivity in Korean Population
Authors: Yoo Min-Gyu , Kim Hyo-Jin , Jang Han , Lee Hye-Ja , Park Sang
Published: November 2016

This cross-sectional study was performed to examine the association between alcohol consumption and insulin secretion and sensitivity using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Alcohol consumption levels were categorized into four groups: (i) abstainers, (ii) low (<5 g/day), (iii) intermediate (<30 g/day), and (iv) high (≥30 g/day) alcohol consumption. β-cell function and insulin sensitivity were estimated using the insulinogenic index (IGI60), and Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISI), respectively. IGI60 and ISI were dichotomized into high and low groups using median cut-off values and four groups were defined (G-I: high IGI60/high ISI; G-II: high IGI60/low ISI; G-III: low IGI60/high ISI; and G-IV: low IGI60/low ISI). Men consumed 26.5 g alcohol per day on average, whereas women only consumed 5.7 g/day, so women were excluded from subsequent analyses due to their low drinking levels. Alcohol consumption was positively associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and triglycerides (TG) in men, but was negatively associated with IGI60 (p < 0.05). TG levels were only increased in individuals with decreased insulin sensitivity (G-II) or decreased β-cell function (G-III) with high alcohol consumption. In addition, alcohol consumption increased HDL cholesterol in the four groups (p < 0.001). In subjects with decreased insulin sensitivity (G-II), intermediate and high alcohol consumption increased the risk of high cholesterol and TG. In individuals with decreased β-cell function (G-III), alcohol consumption increased the risk of high TG and high AST levels. High alcohol consumption was significantly associated with reduced insulin secretion. In addition, alcohol consumption was related to some metabolic risk factors depending on insulin secretion or sensitivity.
Paris Agreement on Climate Change: A Booster to Enable Sustainable Global Development and Beyond
Authors: Bhore Subhash
Published: November 2016

The global warming and its adverse effects on the atmosphere, the biosphere, the lithosphere, and the hydrosphere are obvious. Based on this fact, the international community is fully convinced that we need to fix the problem urgently for our survival, good health, and wellbeing. The aim of this article is to promote the awareness about the United Nations (UN) historic ‘Paris Agreement on Climate Change (PACC)’ which entered into-force on 4 November 2016. The expected impact of PACC on the global average temperature rise by 2100 as well as its role in enabling accomplishment of global sustainable development goals (SDGs) for the people and planet is also highlighted.
Diagnosed but Not Undiagnosed Diabetes Is Associated with Depression in Rural Areas
Authors: Li Zhao , Guo Xiaofan , Jiang Hongkun , Sun Guozhe , Sun Yingxian , Abraham Maria
Published: November 2016

Background: There is a lack of study on the relation between undiagnosed diabetes and depression in the general population. Methods: A total of 11,531 adults were examined using a multistage cluster sampling method to select a representative sample of individuals who were at least 35 years old. Subjects were classified into three groups: no diabetes (ND), diagnosed diabetes (DD), and undiagnosed diabetes (UD). The participants were surveyed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results: Of all the 11,531 participants, the prevalence of depression was higher in the DD group than in the other two groups. Multi variable logistic regression analyses show that the DD group had significantly higher odds for depression compared with the ND group (p < 0.01), while the UD group showed no significant differences compared to the ND group. Subgroup analyses show that diagnosed diabetes in subjects with a lower educational level, compared with subjects with an educational level of high school or above, had higher odds for a PHQ-9 score ≥5 (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In this general population, diagnosed but not undiagnosed diabetes was significantly associated with depression. Much higher odds for depression were found among diagnosed diabetic individuals with a lower level of education.
Efficient Geo-Computational Algorithms for Constructing Space-Time Prisms in Road Networks
Authors: Chen Hui-Ping , Chen Bi , Wang Yafei , Li Qingquan
Published: November 2016

The Space-time prism (STP) is a key concept in time geography for analyzing human activity-travel behavior under various Space-time constraints. Most existing time-geographic studies use a straightforward algorithm to construct STPs in road networks by using two one-to-all shortest path searches. However, this straightforward algorithm can introduce considerable computational overhead, given the fact that accessible links in a STP are generally a small portion of the whole network. To address this issue, an efficient geo-computational algorithm, called NTP-A*, is proposed. The proposed NTP-A* algorithm employs the A* and branch-and-bound techniques to discard inaccessible links during two shortest path searches, and thereby improves the STP construction performance. Comprehensive computational experiments are carried out to demonstrate the computational advantage of the proposed algorithm. Several implementation techniques, including the label-correcting technique and the hybrid link-node labeling technique, are discussed and analyzed. Experimental results show that the proposed NTP-A* algorithm can significantly improve STP construction performance in large-scale road networks by a factor of 100, compared with existing algorithms.
CPP-Assisted Intracellular Drug Delivery, What Is Next?
Authors: Ye Junxiao , Liu Ergang , Yu Zhili , Pei Xing , Chen Sunhui , Zhang Pengwei , Shin Meong-Cheol , Gong Junbo , He Huining , Yang Victor
Published: November 2016

For the past 20 years, we have witnessed an unprecedented and, indeed, rather miraculous event of how cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), the naturally originated penetrating enhancers, help overcome the membrane barrier that has hindered the access of bio-macromolecular compounds such as genes and proteins into cells, thereby denying their clinical potential to become potent anti-cancer drugs. By taking the advantage of the unique cell-translocation property of these short peptides, various payloads of proteins, nucleic acids, or even nanoparticle-based carriers were delivered into all cell types with unparalleled efficiency. However, non-specific CPP-mediated cell penetration into normal tissues can lead to widespread organ distribution of the payloads, thereby reducing the therapeutic efficacy of the drug and at the same time increasing the drug-induced toxic effects. In view of these challenges, we present herein a review of the new designs of CPP-linked vehicles and strategies to achieve highly effective yet less toxic chemotherapy in combating tumor oncology.
Effect of Post-Translational Amidation on Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Conformational Ensemble: Implications for Its Aggregation Early Steps
Authors: Tran Linh , Ha-Duong Tâp
Published: November 2016

The human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is an intrinsically disordered protein that can self-assemble into fibrillar aggregates that play a key role in the pathogenesis of the type II diabetes mellitus. hIAPP can transiently adopt α -helix and β -strand conformations that could be important intermediate species on the fibrillization pathway. However, experimental studies of the monomeric peptide conformations are limited due to its high aggregation propensity, and the early steps of the hIAPP association are not clearly characterized. In particular, the question of whether the aggregation-prone conformation is α -helical or β -strand-rich is still debated. In this study, combining extensive all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) and replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations in explicit water, we shed some light on the differences between the amidated and non-amidated hIAPP conformational ensembles. Our study shows that, when compared to the amidated monomer, the non-amidation of hIAPP induces a significantly lower propensity to form β -strands, especially aggregation-prone β -hairpins. Since the fibrillization of the non-amidated hIAPP is significantly slower than that of the amidated peptide, this indicates that the early steps of the peptide oligomerization involve the association of β -hairpins or β -strands structures.