bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Impact of
Climate Change and Extreme Events on Slope
Land Hazard – A Case Study of Xindian Watershed in Taiwan
Authors: Wei Shih-Chao , Li Hsin-Chi , Shih Hung-Ju , Liu Ko-Fei
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The production and transportation of sediment in mountainous areas caused by extreme rainfall events triggered by climate change is a challenging problem, especially in watersheds. To investigate this issue, the present study adopted the scenario approach coupled with simulations using various models. Upon careful model selection, the simulation of projected rainfall, landslide, debris flow, and loss assessment were integrated by connecting the models' input and output. The Xindian watershed upstream from Taipei, Taiwan, was identified and two extreme rainfall scenarios from the late 20th and 21st centuries were selected to compare the effects of climate change. Using sequence simulations, the chain reaction and compounded disaster were analysed. Moreover, the potential effects of slope land hazards were compared between the present and future, and the likely impacts in the selected watershed areas were discussed with respect to extreme climate. The results established that the unstable sediment volume would increase by 28.81 % in terms of the projected extreme event. The total economic losses caused by the chain impacts of slope land disasters under climate change would be increased to US$ 358.25 million. Owing to the geographical environment of the Taipei metropolitan area, the indirect losses of water supply shortage caused by slope land disasters would be more serious than direct losses. In particular, avenues to ensure the availability of water supply will be the most critical disaster prevention topic in the event of a future slope land disaster. The results obtained from this study are expected to be beneficial, because they provide critical information for devising long-term strategies to combat the impacts of slope land disasters.
Storm surge forecasting: quantifying errors arising from the double-counting of radiational tides
Authors: Williams Joanne , Irazoqui Apecechea Maialen , Saulter Andrew , Horsburgh Kevin J.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Tide predictions based on tide-gauge observations are not just the astronomical tides, they also contain radiational tides – periodic sea level changes due to atmospheric conditions and solar forcing. This poses a problem of double-counting for operational forecasts of total water level during storm surges. In some surge forecasting, a regional model is run as tide-only, with astronomic forcing alone; and tide-and-surge, forced additionally by surface winds and pressure. The surge residual is defined to be the difference between these configurations and is added to the local harmonic predictions from gauges. Here we use the Global Tide and Surge Model based on Delft-FM to investigate this in the UK and elsewhere, quantifying the weather-related tides that may be double-counted in operational forecasts. We show that the global S2 atmospheric tide is captured by the tide-surge model, and observe changes in other key constituents, including M2. We also quantify the extent to which the Highest Astronomical Tide, which is derived from tide predictions based on observations, may contain weather-related components.
Warm winter, thin ice?
Authors: Stroeve Julienne C. , Schroder David , Tsamados Michel , Feltham Daniel
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Winter 2016/2017 saw record warmth over the Arctic Ocean, leading to the least amount of freezing degree days north of 70° N since at least 1979. The impact of this warmth was evaluated using model simulations from the Los Alamos sea ice model (CICE) and CryoSat-2 thickness estimates from three different data providers. While CICE simulations show a broad region of anomalously thin ice in April 2017 relative to the 2011–2017 mean, analysis of three CryoSat-2 products show more limited regions with thin ice and do not always agree with each other, both in magnitude and direction of thickness anomalies. CICE is further used to diagnose feedback processes driving the observed anomalies, showing 11–13 cm reduced thermodynamic ice growth over the Arctic domain used in this study compared to the 2011–2017 mean, and dynamical contributions of +1 to +4 cm. Finally, CICE model simulations from 1985 to 2017 indicate the negative feedback relationship between ice growth and winter air temperatures may be starting to weaken, showing decreased winter ice growth since 2012, as winter air temperatures have increased and the freeze-up has been further delayed.
INTERPRETATION OF THE TANδ PEAK HEIGHT FOR PARTICLE-FILLED RUBBER AND POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES WITH RELEVANCE TO TIRE TREAD PERFORMANCE BALANCE
Authors: Warasitthinon Nuthathai , Robertson Christopher G.
Published: May 2018

The aim of this research is to clarify the meaning of the peak height for the viscoelastic loss tangent (tanδ) in the glass transition region of particle-filled rubber, polymer nanocomposites, and polymer systems in general. Filler, oil, and curative loadings were systematically varied in a model styrene-butadiene rubber formulation with carbon black as the reinforcing filler. The dynamic mechanical responses of these compounds enabled a detailed study of the glass-to-rubber softening transition, which is known to play an important role with respect to the balance of traction, handling, and rolling resistance characteristics of tire treads. From the temperature-dependent viscoelastic results that were acquired at fixed frequency and small dynamic strain, it was demonstrated that a higher peak value for tanδ was correlated with a lower dynamic modulus in the rubbery state. Adjusting filler volume fraction was found to be an effective way of changing the rubbery modulus and hence the tanδ peak height. It was furthermore verified that such a correlation is a universal material-independent viscoelastic effect by mathematically producing a similar trend by varying the rubbery modulus parameter in the Havriliak–Negami viscoelastic model. This investigation also showed why glass transition temperature should be determined from the position of the loss modulus peak and not the tanδ peak. Cure behavior, tensile stress–strain properties, and extent of filler networking (Payne effect) for these rubber compounds will additionally be discussed.
Falsification of Theorizing in Operations Management Research
Authors: Khan Abdul Salam , Khan Iqbal Muhammad , Sadiq Muhammad , Khan Imran Ahmed
Published: May 2018

The practices of operations management research have been inclined towards practicality and pragmatism. Induction is core background of research in operations management. However, there are certain biases and critiques on the generalizability of data using the approach of Induction, of which falsification is more prominent. This study takes upon three major theories used in Operations Management (OM) research such as Resource Based View (RBV), Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) and Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) and discusses the falsification critiques such as tautology on the theories and theorization of Operations Management (OM) and how the body of research in operations management responds to the criticism. Our study suggests that there needs to be a domain limitation of the theorizing process wherein the theory is posit to hold and thus exposing the theory at hand to the critique of falsification. The theory needs not to capture every facet of the phenomena under examination. This study also highlight the importance of developing field specific theories and the improvement brought into the process of theorization and towards the end we describe courses of action for improving the balance between theory and practice approach in the field.
Exploring the Value Addition Strategies to Access Standards of Products of Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs in Jaffna District
Authors: Vaikunthavasan Sathana
Published: May 2018

After the local war, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been facing huge problems in Jaffna District and they have poor quality of product and services. The purpose of this paper is to explore the meaningful value addition strategies to access standards for products of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) for establishing a competitive advantage. Coconut is vital sector of SMEs and also one of the major resources in Jaffna district. This sector has the greatest prospects for growth and development. Value addition for coconut based productions leads to more quality and creates adequate demand for the products. Thus researcher scoped coconut sector among the MSMEs. The research is qualitative in nature with exploratory narrative research. Under purposive sampling technique, the owners or managers of enterprises and stake holders of MSMEs were interviewed by using unstructured questions to explore the value addition. The author proposed two momentous models; they are model of values addition strategies to access standards as a tool for competitive advantage and collaborative institutional model to access standards with the participation of government and non-government organizations. The findings are; first model induces MSMEs to access standards and second model explains the means to achieve the standard. Especially this research expresses the essential of sincere collaborative work of institutions towards the quality productions and development of MSMEs. Further this research points out that the notion of value addition practices has been evolved and is increasingly understood consideration for economic development of Sri Lanka.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 7 No. 2
Authors: Young Jenny
Published: May 2018

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development (EMSD) would like to thank the following reviewers for reviewing manuscripts from February 1, 2018, to May 1, 2018. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Many authors, regardless of whether EMSD publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Macrothink Institute appreciates the following reviewers’ rigorous and conscientious efforts for this journal. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review during this period.Aghop Der-KarabetianAnna Rita Bernadette CammerinoChristiane do Nascimento MonteD. BhagawanFarhaoui MohamedGabriel Jeremiah LingGehendra KharelGiacomo ChiesaJoão Fernando Pereira GomesManuel Mendoza-CarranzaMarwa Marwa ElkadyMona M. Amin Abdel-FatahMurat EyvazNaeema Mohamed AlhosaniPankaj MaheshwariTateda Masafumi
Visible Light Communication Kits for Education
Authors: Fuada Syifaul , Adiono Trio
Published: May 2018

The development of educational kit must be compiled on how to prepare undergraduate students in the engineering field in following the new trends globally and becoming an alternative to the technical education system based on practical approach. The primary motivation for this research is to design and implement the visible light communications (VLC) educational toolkit, especially in the analog front-end part. It consisted of six kits (transimpedance amplifier, pre-amplifier, DC-offset remover, analog filter, and AGC) in which each kit has one practicum task. There are six tasks and one task for the project by integrating these kits. The undergraduate students can use this educational kit to investigate the physical layer in a VLC system. It provides a low-complexity educational kit, so this is becoming an alternative as supplement course offered in this field. Then, it has a simple design and user-friendly. The development of educational kit must be compiled on how to prepare undergraduate students in the engineering field in following the new trends globally and becoming an alternative to the technical education system based on practical approach. The primary motivation for this research is to design and implement the visible light communications (VLC) educational toolkit, especially in the analog front-end part. It consisted of six kits (transimpedance amplifier, pre-amplifier, DC-offset remover, analog filter, and AGC) in which each kit has one practicum task. There are six tasks and one task for the project by integrating these kits. The undergraduate students can use this educational kit to investigate the physical layer in a VLC system. It provides a low-complexity educational kit, so this is becoming an alternative as supplement course offered in this field. Then, it has a simple design and user-friendly.
O polêmico espaço da argumentação inscrito no filme “Entre os muros da escola”
Authors: Silva Jonathan Raphael Bertassi da , Pacífico Soraya Maria Romano , Sousa Lucília Maria Abrahão e , Prandi Maria Beatriz Ribeiro
Published: May 2018

Neste trabalho, buscamos compreender o imaginário sobre argumentação e autoria na instituição escolar conforme inscrito em efeitos de sentido no filme Entre os Muros da Escola (2008), de Laurent Cantet, a partir dos pressupostos teóricos da Análise do Discurso (AD) francesa, de matriz pecheutiana. Através dos conceitos específicos da AD para a análise dos processos discursivos verbais e não verbais de acordo com suas respectivas materialidades significantes, mas sobretudo dos conceitos de argumentação e autoria também conforme tratados especificamente pelo arcabouço teórico da AD, mobilizamos recortes do filme que evidenciem a escola como um aparelho ideológico de Estado calcado num discurso autoritário, mas também, um espaço no qual pode irromper o novo, a ruptura com o já-lá, o acontecimento discursivo, enfim, a abertura para o discurso polêmico tal qual descrito por Orlandi (2003).
A matemática e a inter-relação com a educação ambiental: um projeto de formação de professores
Authors: Liell Cláudio Cristiano , Bayer Arno
Published: May 2018

O presente estudo parte de uma pesquisa de doutorado, analisa as implicações de um trabalho de formação continuada de 80 horas em educação ambiental e matemática para oito professores de matemática das séries finais do ensino fundamental das redes municipal e estadual de São Sebastião do Caí, RS. De acordo com os resultados, é possível perceber que a formação deu subsídios aos professores para um trabalho com a temática ambiental, por meio de construções de atividades que originaram projetos interdisciplinares e que foram desenvolvidas
nas aulas desses professores. Este artigo está fundamentado principalmente nas ideias de: L. Carvalho (2001), I. Carvalho (2012), Lima (2009), Guimarães (2000), Coll (2006), Skovsmose (1994), Penteado (2010), Schön (2000) e Behrens (1996). Com o trabalho da temática ambiental nas escolas, os alunos se sentiram incentivados
a participar com entusiasmo das aulas de matemática, os professores destacaram que os temas abordados contextualizaram os conteúdos matemáticos, e foi possível desenvolver a consciência ambiental de todos os envolvidos no processo.
Nós que aqui estamos por vós esperamos: a desejada aproximação entre educação básica e pesquisadores em ensino de ciências
Authors: Dos Anjos Maylta Brandão , Pereira Marcus Vinicius , Rôças Giselle
Published: May 2018

Inspirados no documentário Nós que aqui estamos por vós esperamos, observamos como são pensadas as estratégias e maneiras de aproximar professores da educação básica e pesquisadores em ensino de ciências. Dessa forma, as inquietações e os debates de três pesquisadores atuantes nessa área traçaram caminhos de diálogo e reflexão sobre a importância e a necessidade de aproximação entre a educação básica e as pesquisas realizadas no cerne dos cursos de pós-graduação stricto sensu brasileiros, assumindo o que se legitima e se sustenta como
base de qualidade no ensino de ciências e de sua prática nos pontos de ação das escolas. É dado destaque a tal pauta de discussão, tendo em vista as possibilidades e limitações entre pesquisadores (orientadores e orientandos) em ensino de ciências e os fazeres educativos constituídos nas escolas, uma vez que há uma demanda crescente que requer ação empenhada para realização de pesquisas nessa área de conhecimento, pois são nas expansões das ideias e nas relações que se estabelecem que o saber cresce. Apostamos na relação pesquisa e extensão para alcançar com mais eficiência a escola básica, refletindo sobre como o sistema nacional de pós-graduação pode e deve melhorar essa interface.
Corporate Strategy, Governance Structure and Organization Performance: A Research Agenda
Authors: Omar Fatuma B. , Kilika James M.
Published: May 2018

Corporate strategy plays a critical role in the proper functioning of an organization as it provides the blueprint that guides the corporate direction of an organization while governance structure presents an organization with a framework for the distribution of responsibilities and resources to achieve organization performance. While the constructs have been sufficiently studied and documented in various studies separately in relation to organization performance, few studies have been undertaken to study the two constructs together to understand how they jointly explain organization performance. This paper presents a review of the extant theoretical and empirical literature on the two constructs in relation to organization performance. Relevant underpinning theories are reviewed, constructs described and their operational indicators identified and compared with empirical work and emergent knowledge gaps identified. The paper finally proposes a multidisciplinary based theoretical model suitable to address the gaps identified to advance knowledge in the area and calls upon future research to empirically test the propositions of the study.
Teacher Induction Program: First Experience in Turkey
Authors: COBANOGLU Fatma , Ayvaz-Tuncel Zeynep
Published: May 2018

Perspectives on beginning teachers’ possible problems and their reasons force many of the countries to develop teacher induction programs. Teacher induction programs are extensive, consistent and ongoing professional processes aiming to train, support, and protect novice teachers. In Turkey, the process of “teacher induction program” which has been initiated in 2016 is a regulation to train novice teachers for six months. The rationale of the program for the novice teachers is to have more practical experience and in turn to teach effectively in their classrooms. As each new regulation can be accompanied by some obscurities, scientific research will serve to increase the quality of the processes and practices in teacher induction programs. In this sense, the current research aims to determine the views of 357 novice teachers on the goal achievement of the teacher induction program. A questionnaire form was developed to collect the data consisting of 43 questions one of which is an open-ended question. Results suggested that preservice education and teacher induction program have similar contributions in regard to the goal achievement of the teacher induction program. Moreover, considering the process as a whole, the mentor has an important role in the development of novice teachers.
Modeling Trend in Telecommunication in Sri Lanka: A Case study on Internet and Cellular Connections
Authors: Karunarathna K. A. N. K. , Brindha S. , Paramadevan P.
Published: May 2018

The telecommunication is one of the modes of communication, in which most investments are made. It consists of internet, mobile phones, wired and wireless fixed phones, fax, televisions, radio and some other. Among them, demand for internet and cellular phones rapidly increases. For a smooth function of this business, knowledge on demand is much important. Effective forecasts help a business to manage its supply efficiently. This study aimed to find out an accurate mechanism for prediction of demand for internet conections and cellualr phone collections.Based on the secondary data available in central bank reports from 1996 to 2016, several statistical forecasting models were evaluated for an accurate prediction. There can be seen an increasing demand for both internet and cellular phone connections. Number of internet connections has gone up from 4 110 to 4 921 000, while the usage of cellular phones has developed from 71 228 to 26 228 000 during this period. Rapid growth in internet usage has happened after 2009, while after year 2003, usage of cellular phone has increased rapidly. With compared to models fitted for original form of data, models for log transformed data show better performances. The best performance in prediction of internet connection was given by ARIMA (1,1,1) model fitted for log transformed data, meanwhile ARIMA (0,1,2) model fitted for log transformed data showed the best fit for series of cellular connections. Double exponential smoothing models also show better fit for both series.
Welke factoren bevorderen of belemmeren het gebruik van beleidsevaluaties?
Authors: Bouterse Marjolein , Pattyn Valérie
Published: May 2018

Welke factoren bevorderen of belemmeren het gebruik van beleidsevaluaties?

Alhoewel het gebruik van beleidsevaluaties (of het gebrek eraan) een van de meest besproken thema’s is in de evaluatieliteratuur, berust veel onderzoek over het thema enkel op anekdotisch bewijs, en zijn er nauwelijks studies beschikbaar die aandacht hebben voor de samenhang tussen verschillende factoren die impact kunnen hebben op het gebruik. In voorliggend artikel presenteren we de resultaten van een studie waarin we hebben getracht om op een systematische wijze inzicht te bieden in de combinaties van factoren die instrumenteel gebruik van beleidsevaluaties bevorderen of verhinderen. We onderzochten in dit verband alle evaluaties die in de periode 2013-2016 werden uitgevoerd bij de Inspectie Ontwikkelingssamenwerking en Beleidsevaluatie. Via Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) bekeken we welke combinaties van de volgende factoren als noodzakelijk en/of voldoende bleken voor evaluatiegebruik: (1) politiek gehalte van het onderwerp, (2) interesse van de beleidsmakers, (3) aanwezigheid van nieuwe kennis in de evaluatie, en (4) de timing van de evaluatie.

Voor de praktijk van beleidsmakers en evaluatoren benadrukken we het belang van tijdigheid en interesse voor een evaluatie. Onze analyse laat zien dat professionals die op deze factoren inzetten, een gunstig klimaat creëren voor het gebruik van evaluaties. Wat betreft tijdigheid lijkt het van belang de evaluatie te laten sporen met het schrijfwerk van een beleidsafdeling aan nieuw beleid of grote beleidsveranderingen. Goede anticipatie en een sterke institutionalisering van het evaluatieproces zijn hiertoe cruciaal. Of het thema van de evaluatie een sterke politieke gevoeligheid kent, is minder belangrijk. Mits sprake is van de juiste omgevingscondities, kunnen ook dergelijke evaluaties sterk instrumenteel worden benut.
Relationships between the fatigue
crack growth resistance characteristics
of a steel and the tread surface damage
of railway wheel
Authors: Ostash O.P. , Kulyk V.V. , Lenkovskiy T.M. , Duriagina Z.A. , Vira V.V. , Tepla T.L.
Published: May 2018

Purpose: The aim of the proposed research is to establish experimentally the relation between
damaging of the tread surface of model wheels and the characteristics of fatigue crack growth
resistance of wheel steels "KI th, "KII th, "KI fc, "KII fc), depending on its microstructure.
Design/methodology/approach: Characteristics of the fatigue crack growth resistance
have been determined on the specimens cut out from the hot rolled plate of thickness
10 mm of the steel which is an analogue of railway wheel steels. To obtain different steel
microstructures and its strength level, test specimens were quenched (820°C, in oil) and then
tempered at 400°C, 500°C, and 600°C for 2 h. The characteristics of Mode I fatigue crack
growth resistance of steel were determined on the basis of fatigue macrocrack growth rate
diagrams da/dN–"KI, obtained by the standard method on compact specimens with the
thickness of 10 mm at a frequency of 10-15 Hz and the stress ratio R = 0.1 of the loading
cycle. The characteristics of Mode II fatigue crack growth resistance were determined on
the basis of da/dN–"KII diagrams, obtained by authors method on edge notched specimens
with the thickness 3.2 mm at a frequency of 10-15 Hz and R = –1 taking account of the crack
face friction. The hardness was measured with a TK-2 hardness meter. Zeiss-EVO40XVP
scanning electron microscope was used for microstructural investigations. Rolling contact
fatigue testing was carried out on the model specimens of a wheel of thickness 8 mm and
diameter 40 mm in contact with a rail of length 220 mm, width 8 mm and height 16 mm.
Wheels were manufactured form the above-described steel after different treatment modes.
Rails were cut out from a head the full-scale rail of hardness 46 HRC. The damaging was
assessed by a ratio of the area with gaps formed by pitting and spalling to the general area
of the wheel tread surface using a special stand.
Findings: The growth of the damage of the tread surface of the model wheels correlates
uniquely with the decrease of the cyclic fracture toughness of the wheel steel "KI fc and
"KII fc, determined at Mode I and Mode II fracture mechanisms. These characteristics of the
wheel steel can be considered as the determining parameter of this process, in contrast to
the fatigue thresholds "KI th and "KII th.
Research limitations/implications: Investigations were conducted on model wheels
that simulate the damage of real railway wheels tread surface.
Practical implications: A relationship between the damage of tread surface of railway
wheels and the strength level of wheel steels is determined.
Originality/value: The damage of the tread surface of the model wheels during the rolling
contact fatigue of the pair wheel-rail increases with the growth of the strength (hardness) of
the wheel steel, which corresponds to the statistical data of the operation of the real railway
wheels.
Zeolitization characteristics of fly ash
and its use to manufacture porous
materials
Authors: David E. , Şandru C. , Armeanu A.
Published: May 2018

Purpose: At thermal power plants the fly ash (FA) is stored either through dry or wet
disposal systems. These storage practices result in different features for fly ashes, such as
their interaction with alkalis and hence the potential of zeolite synthesis will be different. With
the aim to demonstrate this, it was conducted some investigations to study the physical,
chemical, morphological and mineralogical characteristics of the fly ash residues, then were
used to synthesis zeolites by a double stage fusion-hydrothermal method.
Design/methodology/approach: The raw and converted fly ash samples were characterized
with respect to their composition, crystallinity and morphology, by SEM and XRD analysis. The
effects of environment conditions and process parameters on the zeolitization process were
studied and analysed.
Findings: The analysis of these residues showed that dry ash attains a high cation exchange
capacity (CEC) and SiO2 /Al2O3 ratios, which is in agreement to the formation of fly ash zeolites
as compared to its counterpart. The experimental results indicate that the fusion temperature
does not influence on the synthesis mechanism in range of 500-800 (°C) having only an effect of
acceleration. The increasing of alkaline activator/fly ash ratio enhances the zeolitization degree.
Research limitations/implications: The scientific basis for the issues on the zeolitization
characteristics of fly ash and its use to manufacture porous materials calls yet for further
elucidation and development.
Practical implications: This study helps to establish the superiority of dry ash over wet
ash for synthesizing porous materials and their enhanced quantity and quality.
Originality/value: A new route for the fly ash use is demonstrated and this can become an
unavoidable task for porous material manufacturing, a viable way to manage this industrial
waste and to protect the environment.
Development of treatment protocol
with selective laser melted fixed partial
dentures
Authors: Dzhendov Dzh. , Katreva Iv. , Ts. Dikova Ts.
Published: May 2018

Purpose: of the present paper is to offer treatment protocol with fixed partial dentures,
produced by selective laser melting, including clinical and laboratory parts.
Design/methodology/approach: The treatment protocols with selective laser melted
fixed partial dentures was developed on the basis of literature survey and our previous
research about accuracy and mechanical properties of dental bridges, manufactured by
additive technologies.
Findings: The treatment protocol with fixed partial dentures, produced by selective laser
melting, consisting of clinical and laboratory parts, was developed. The treatment procedures
with FPD made by SLM were classified as semi-digital when working with extraoral scanner
and fully-digital – with intraoral scanner.
Research limitations/implications: The introduction of the proposed treatment protocol
into the clinical and laboratory practice would lead to a systematic approach and working
optimization for prosthodontists and dental technicians when using selective laser melting.
Practical implications: Due to the elimination of multiple manual manipulations and
technological operations, treatment protocols with FPD, produced by SLM, ensure higher
accuracy and quality of the constructions and shorter time for their manufacturing compared
to the conventional procedure.
Originality/value: The developed clinical and laboratory protocols for the treatment and
manufacturing of FPD through SLM clearly show the benefits of the new technology in
dentistry and dental technician field.
Recent advance in appliances and
materials enhancing therapy of disorders
of the stomatognathic system
Authors: Sołtysiak-Niedziela M. , Kwieciński K. , Żmudzki J.
Published: May 2018

Purpose: Dysfunctions of the stomatognathic system are treated with a lot of appliances.
The aim of the work was to evaluate the current state in the field of diagnostic techniques
and technological advance in appliances and materials enhancing therapy of occlusion
disorders of the stomatognathic system.
Design/methodology/approach: The principles of appliances functioning, manufacturing
technology and materials were analysed. The analysis was made on the basis of the
literature review and patent databases, conducting searches for a combination of keywords:
dental material, occlusion, disorder, bruxism, clenching, grinding, appliance, therapy,
tongue, oral, exerciser, trainer, mandible muscle, bite splint, dental plate. In the case of
principles of functioning, devices that require insertion into the mouth are included in the
tests. In technology and materials, attention has been paid to necessity of involving a
dental technician or ability to perform appliance intra-orally ("chairside"), as well as mass
production with possibility of custom fit.
Findings: The most widespread in the treatment of disorders of the stomatognathic system
are thermoformed materials and devices that are introduced between the dental arches to
counteract occlusions of all teeth or selected teeth or force the position of the mandible in
relation to the maxilla. Devices that function differently are those in which therapeutic effects
result from toning of activity of the elevating mandibular muscles by provoking activity of
the opposing muscles lowering the mandible or reducing intra-oral space, for example, by
sublingual plates or tongue trainers. Appliances are mainly manufactured of: poly (ethylenevinyl
acetate) or polycarbonates, as also mouldable polymers such as: acrylics, polyesters
and rubbers.
Research limitations/implications: Electronic devices that are not intended to therapy
but used only to track mandible mobility or muscle activity during sleep were not taken into
account.
Practical implications: Solutions activating the action of the opposing muscles to the
muscles lifting the mandible are few, and among them one device is retained on teeth
without interfering in occlusion.
Originality/value: Dental materials for devices for treatment of occlusion disorders are
selected with no understanding the influence of elastic and frictional material properties and
structure stiffness on the distribution of occlusion forces between the teeth and reactions in
temporo-mandibular joints.
Composite material components damaged
by impact loading: a methodology
for the assessment of their residual
elastic properties
Authors: Belingardi G. , Cavatorta M.P. , Paolino D.S.
Published: May 2018

Purpose: Detection and evaluation of damage due to impact or fatigue loading in
components made by composite materials is one of the main concern for automotive
engineers. We focus on damage due to impact loading on long fibre, plastic matrix
composite, as they represent one of the most interesting development solution for
automotive components toward lightweight structure that in turn means reduction of fuel
consumption and of Green House Gas emissions.
Design/methodology/approach: An innovative simplified methodology is proposed,
based on the impact and repeated impact behaviour of composite material, for the evaluation
of the induced damage and of material residual elastic properties. The investigated
composite laminate is made of eight twill-wave carbon fabrics impregnated with epoxy resin.
The methodology consists of two phases: at first the identification of the impact response.
Composite plates have been impacted at different energy levels and residual elastic
properties measured through standard tensile tests. The relationship between impact energy
and residual elastic properties is obtained. Then the exploration impact load is identified,
large enough to give a well-defined picture of the suffered damage but soft enough to do
not induce further damage in the composite laminate.
Findings: This exploration impact test and the Damage Index (DI) value, as interpretation
key, leads to a prediction of the local residual elastic properties in the damaged area.
The proposed methodology has been validated on plate specimens. A strict correlation
is found between the predicted and the actual residual elastic properties of the damaged
composite plate.
Practical implications: Subsequently it has been applied to a composite beam, with a
omega shape transverse section, that can be considered as a demonstrator for a typical
beam used in the car body frame.
Originality/value: A selection on the following alternatives will be possible: a – don’t
care the damage is not affecting the structure performance; b – repair is needed but will be
sufficient; c – substitute the damaged component as soon as possible.
Determination of Eight Sulfonylurea Herbicide Residues by LC/MS/MS Using a Sample Separation Technique with Ethyl Acetate
Authors: Bempelou Eleftheria , Kappatos Petros , Liapis Konstantinos
Published: May 2018

Background: Sulfonylureas are an important group of systemic herbicides mainly used for the control of weeds in cereals and other crops in early growth stages of their cultivations. Sulfonylureas are characterized by their broad spectrum weed control and their good crop selectivity. Objective: In the present study, the determination of eight sulfonylureas has been tested in wheat flour by applying the SweEt multiresidue method modified for dry products. Method: The method involves sample preparation with extraction with ethyl acetate (EEA) and determination of the analytes with LC/MS/MS-electrospray ionization. Its performance was compared with the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. Both methods were validated in three fortification levels according to European Union requirements. Results: The proposed method gave acceptable results as far as validation criteria are concerned, while QuEChERS did not result in successful recoveries in the lowest validation level, which is equal to the respective maximum residue limits (MRLs). Conclusions: The obtained results showed that the tested method showed good separation, sensitivity, linearity, precision, and accuracy for quantitative and qualitative analysis of sulfonylurea herbicides in cereals at low levels, as required by legislation. The analytical techniques were successfully applied to different samples of cereals, and no residues were determined above the reporting limit, as established at the lowest concentration level of each analyte being validated with acceptable accuracy. Highlights: Low recoveries for QuEChERS in the concentrations equal to the MRL. Acceptable recoveries for the EEA method in all fortification levels. Correlation coefficients above 0.99. Positive findings only with EEA in real samples.
“Ask The Pathologist”: An Internet Forum Facilitating Communication Between Cancer Registrars and Pathologists
Authors: Strickland-Marmol Leah B. , Muro-Cacho Carlos A. , Washington Kay , Foulis Philip R.
Published: May 2018

Context.—

Cancer registrars should work closely with pathologists to ensure compliance with reporting standards. Many registrars, however, have little contact with pathologists, resulting in a lack of “real-time” interaction that is essential for their professional activities and development.

Objective.—

To facilitate registrars' case management, as cancer biology becomes more complex, we developed the ATP (Ask the Pathologist) forum as a place to ask pathology-related questions about neoplasms, such as terminology, biology, histologic classification, extent of disease, molecular markers, and prognostic factors.

Design.—

Questions posted are reviewed by the ATP multidisciplinary oversight committee, which consists of 3 pathologists, 4 cancer registrars, 1 internal medicine physician, the pathology resident member of the College of American Pathologists Cancer Committee, and 2 medical technologists. The oversight committee may answer the question. Alternatively, the committee may forward the question to a content expert pathologist, determine that the question is better suited for another reference Web site, or both.

Results.—

Since September 2013, when the ATP forum became available, users have posted 284 questions, of which 48 (17%) related to gastrointestinal tumors, 43 (15%) to breast tumors, and 37 (13%) to general pathology. The average turnaround time, from question posted to response, is 11.1 days.

Conclusions.—

The ATP forum has had a positive impact in the daily activities of cancer registrars. Of 440 registrars surveyed, more than 90% considered that questions were answered satisfactorily, and one-third reported that ATP answers affected how they managed a given case.
Cultivo de espécies hortícolas para a segurança alimentar e nutricional de famílias assentadas em Terenos (MS), Brasil
Authors: Oliveira Claudineia , Seabra Júnior Santino , Cereda Marney Pascoli , Neves Sandra Mara Alves da Silva
Published: May 2018

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar o cultivo e consumo das espécies hortícolas e sua importância na segurança alimentar e nutricional das famílias da Comunidade Jacob Fransiosi do Assentamento Emerson Rodrigues em Terenos, Mato Grosso do Sul. A pesquisa exploratória foi quanti-qualitativa, utilizando metodologia de pesquisa-ação, observação e entrevistas. O assentamento é formado por três comunidades, totalizando 136 famílias. Foi implantado no ano de 2005 e é distante aproximadamente 40 km da capital do Estado. A pesquisa foi realizada com 14 famílias, compreendendo 35% das famílias da Comunidade Jacob Fransiosi. Verificou-se a média de 3,8 indivíduos por domicílio, que não se diferenciou da média nacional rural, mas foi maior que a média rural do Centro Oeste. O critério para estabelecer a segurança alimentar e nutricional permitiu avaliar em 50% as famílias que podiam ser consideradas em segurança alimentar, enquanto que 50% enquadravam-se em insegurança alimentar (EM QUAIS CLASSES E/OU NIVEIS?), dos quais 35,8% em insegurança alimentar grave, 7,1% em moderada e 7,1% em insegurança alimentar leve. Entre as famílias que tinham acesso a hortas domésticas observou-se significante consumo de hortícolas, com possibilidade de aumentá-lo, através do consumo de algumas frutas e hortaliças produzidas nos próprios quintais. Concluiu-se como necessário a proposição de políticas públicas que incentivem e subsidiem a produção para o autoconsumo das famílias assentadas na perspectiva de minimizar os problemas relacionados à insegurança alimentar destes sujeitos.
Random Forest as a generic framework for predictive modeling of spatial and spatio-temporal variables
Authors: Hengl Tomislav , Nussbaum Madlene , Wright Marvin N , Heuvelink Gerard B.M. , Gräler Benedikt
Published: May 2018

Random forest and similar Machine Learning techniques are already used to generate spatial predictions, but spatial location of points (geography) is often ignored in the modeling process. Spatial auto-correlation, especially if still existent in the cross-validation residuals, indicates that the predictions are maybe biased, and this is suboptimal. This paper presents a random forest for spatial predictions framework (RFsp) where buffer distances from observation points are used as explanatory variables, thus incorporating geographical proximity effects into the prediction process. The RFsp framework is illustrated with examples that use textbook datasets and apply spatial and spatio-temporal prediction to numeric, binary, categorical, multivariate and spatiotemporal variables. Performance of the RFsp framework is compared with the state-of-the-art kriging techniques using 5 – fold cross-validation with refitting. The results show that RFsp can obtain equally accurate and unbiased predictions as different versions of kriging. Advantages of using RFsp over kriging are that it needs no rigid statistical assumptions about the distribution and stationarity of the target variable, it is more flexible towards incorporating, combining and extending covariates of different types, and it possibly yields more informative maps characterizing the prediction error. RFsp appears to be especially attractive for building multivariate spatial prediction models that can be used as 'knowledge engines' in various geoscience fields. Some disadvantages of RFsp are the exponentially growing computational intensity with increase of calibration data and covariates, sensitivity of predictions to input data quality and extrapolation problems. The key to the success of the RFsp framework might be the training data quality — especially quality of spatial sampling (to minimize extrapolation problems and any type of bias in data), and quality of model validation (to ensure that accuracy is not effected by overfitting). For many data sets, especially those with fewer number of points and covariates and close-to-linear relationships, model-based geostatistics can still lead to more accurate predictions than RFsp.
The newly described Araguaian river dolphins, Inia araguaiaensis (Cetartyodactyla, Iniidae), produce a diverse repertoire of acoustic signals
Authors: Melo-Santos Gabriel , Figueiredo Rodrigues Angélica Lúcia , Tardin Rodrigo Hipólito , de Sá Maciel Israel , Marmontel Miriam , Da Silva Maria Luisa , May-Collado Laura Johanna
Published: May 2018

The recent discovery of the Araguaian river dolphin (Inia araguaiaensis) highlights how little we know about the diversity and biology of river dolphins. In this study, we described the acoustic repertoire of this newly discovered species in concert with their behaviour in free-ranging, human-habituated individuals. We analysed 393 signals that we classified into 13 types of tonal sounds (n=15) and 66 types of pulsed calls (n=378). The most common sounds were short two-component calls. Thirty-five percent (n=140) of these calls were emitted by calves as they reunited with their mothers suggesting a key role in mother-calf communication. Our findings show that the acoustic repertoire of river dolphins is far from simple. Furthermore, the calls described here are similar in acoustic structure to those produced by social delphinids, such as orcas and pilot whales. Uncovering the context in which these signals are produced may help understand the social structure of this species and contribute to our understanding of the evolution of acoustic communication in whales.
Climate risks adaptation strategies for Indian Sundarbans
Authors: ghosh surajit , Chakraborty Debaraty , Patra Saikat , Dash Pratik , Nandy Payal , Mondal Partho Protim
Published: May 2018

Climate change has profoundly impacted tropical ecosystems, critical for sustaining economies and community livelihoods at local to global scales. Rapid population growth has further negatively impacted natural resource management and upsetting the socio-ecological balance. Sundarbans, world’s largest contiguous tract of mangroves, is not an exception. It is shared between Bangladesh (60%) and India (40%) but the later is much more populated. Indian Sundarbans (IS) is not only the home of 4.5 million people but also of 85% total Indian mangrove habitat and 1434 faunal species. Agriculture, fishery and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) from mangroves are their major sources of income. Inhabitants of this climatically vulnerable region are facing the risks of becoming environmental refugees due to land loss by shore line changes. Moreover, storm surges because of cyclones like Aila are becoming more frequent causing sudden heavy intrusion of saline water in the freshwater stock. Further, salt accumulation in soil and water often affect agricultural and aquaculture productions. Climate risks have thus severely affected the livelihoods along with this unique ecosystem. Man-Mangrove Interactions (MMI) in IS is also obstructed by unsustainable exploitation of NTFPs, embankments in mud-flats causing failure of propagules to survive, etc. However, the risks and impacts are not in the same degree in the entire region. Hence, location-based approach is urgently needed for increasing adaptation capacity to climate risks. Here, we propose to develop a Geo-smart management system model to reduce socio-climate risks at the landscape level. The model has five major objectives– 1. Develop index-based climate risks geospatial model 2. Conservation of traditional germplasms 3. Sustainable economic options generation for local people 4. Climate risks awareness programme and knowledge dissemination 5. Positive enhancement of man-mangrove interactions.
Recovering data from summary statistics: Sample Parameter Reconstruction via Iterative TEchniques (SPRITE)
Authors: Heathers James A , Anaya Jordan , van der Zee Tim , Brown Nicholas JL
Published: May 2018

Scientific publications have not traditionally been accompanied by data, either during the peer review process or when published. Concern has arisen that the literature in many fields may contain inaccuracies or errors that cannot be detected without inspecting the original data. Here, we introduce SPRITE (Sample Parameter Reconstruction via Interative TEchniques), a heuristic method for reconstructing plausible samples from descriptive statistics of granular data, allowing reviewers, editors, readers, and future researchers to gain insights into the possible distributions of item values in the original data set. This paper presents the principles of operation of SPRITE, as well as worked examples of its practical use for error detection in real published work. Full source code for three software implementations of SPRITE (in MATLAB, R, and Python) and two web-based implementations requiring no local installation (1, 2) are available for readers.
The smallest biggest theropod dinosaur: a tiny pedal ungual of a juvenile Spinosaurus from the Cretaceous of Morocco
Authors: Maganuco Simone , Dal Sasso Cristiano
Published: May 2018

We describe a nearly complete pedal ungual phalanx, discovered in the Kem Kem Beds (Cenomanian) of Tafilalt region, south-eastern Morocco. The bone is symmetric, pointed, low, elongate, and almost flat ventrally in lateral aspect. This peculiar morphology allows to refer the specimen to the smallest known individual of the genus Spinosaurus. The bone belongs to an early juvenile individual and it is proportionally identical to the ungual of the third digit of a large partial skeleton recently found, suggesting an isometric growth for this part of the pes and the retention of peculiar locomotor adaptations—such as traversing soft substrates or paddling—during the entire lifespan.