bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Banca Ética y Banca Tradicional. Comparativa entre Triodos Bank y Banco Santander
Authors: Climent Diranzo Francisco José , Escrivá Llidó María Vicenta
Published: November 2018

La crisis financiera de 2008 ha provocado cambios en la estructura bancaria tradicional, generando una desconfianza por parte de los ciudadanos con el sistema financiero tradicional, como consecuencia de ello ha surgido otro tipo de banca, la Banca Ética. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar si la Banca Ética puede llegar a ser igual de rentable que la Banca Tradicional, invirtiendo principalmente en valores sociales. Para ello, se realiza un análisis comparativo entre la Banca Ética (Triodos Bank) y la Banca Tradicional (Banco Santander). Para alcanzar el objetivo propuesto se realiza un análisis económico centrado en la actividad financiera de ambas tipologías de bancos durante el período 2011-2017 y se analizan el Balance de Situación, la Cuenta de Pérdidas y Ganancias y las Ratios de Liquidez, Endeudamiento y Rentabilidad de ambos bancos. Se comprueba que la Banca Ética no llega a ser tan rentable como la Banca tradicional, pero ha conseguido atraer a los clientes con sus inversiones sociales y la transparencia total de sus acciones financieras.
Investigating the Perceptions of L2 Learners on Language Learning Anxiety: A Study of Undergraduate Students at Public Sector University, Sindh Pakistan
Authors: Bhatti Amina Bibi , Pathan Habibullah , Ali Shah Syed Waqar , Faryal Aisha , Bhatti Aisha
Published: November 2018

English has got the position of authorized language in Pakistan, widely used in various domains. In academic studies it is mandatory to teach English up to higher education. Mansoor (2004) estimates that newly graduate have studied English for at least 9 years recently. English is used as means for instruction in professional education like medicine, engineering and law.One of the most common issues in learning a foreign language is anxiety. Among the three affective factors (attitudes, motivation, anxiety), language anxiety is the most common issue. It is also one of the factors which influence language learning (Henter, 2013). Anxiety is defined as “the subjective feeling of tension, apprehension, nervousness, and worry associated with an arousal of the autonomic nervous system” (cited by Spielberger.1983). Horwitz (1986) revealed that in academic as well as social context anxiety in a foreign language is related to performance and suggested three kinds of anxiety. (1) Communication apprehension (2) Fear of negative evaluation (3) Test anxiety. This study aims to know the perceptions of English Language Learners on Language learning Anxiety in EFL classroom. The purpose of this study is to find or reveal the type of anxiety that learners feel in English as a foreign language classroom at University level.The participants in this research are from one engineering university (MUET Jamshoro) of the Sindh and the size of the sample is also little (n=140). For a clear view of this area further large scale studies in different contexts of the country are needed for having a good platform for foreign language learning.The present study used quantitative method for data collection to get unbiased results. Participants of the study are first year students of different engineering fields of Mehran University who learn English as a foreign language. The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) given by (Horwitz, 1986) has been adapted and applied for data collection. The questionnaire was bifurcated into two parts, the initial part of questionnaire was for demographic information and the second part was for knowing the perceptions of students on anxiety. The data results were evaluated after doing different tests in SPSS software. The findings of the study reveal the learners feel anxiety during EFL classrooms and communication apprehension anxiety experienced by students is at a higher level from the learner’s perspective.This will be beneficial for learners, educators and helpful to policy makers of the education system to make good and valid policies that will improve the learning of foreign language in a better way and suitable environment. It will be a significant contribution in the research domain.
Reading Needs Analysis of EFL Learners in the Saudi Context: Identifying Needs and Deficiencies
Authors: A. AlGhamdi Asmaa , Z. AlQadi Sundus , M. AlHammad Jumana , A. Shukri Nadia
Published: November 2018

The aim of the current study is to do a reading needs analysis of preparatory-year students in the Saudi context. The scope is to identify the reading needs and deficiencies of EFL learners at King Abdulaziz University. The instrument used is a paper-based questionnaire that was distributed among the participants. A total of sixty-three female students participated in the study. The questionnaire is adapted from the needs analysis questionnaire for non-English learners (Gravatt, Richards & Lewis, 1997). Two open-ended questions were added in order to get in-depth data from the participants. The statistical analysis was utilized for the quantitative data via SPSS whereas the open-ended questions were analyzed thematically using NVivo. The results demonstrate that EFL learners in the Saudi context have deficiencies of some reading strategies such as reading speed and reading to respond critically. However, they do not have difficulties with general comprehension of reading texts and they are able to read slowly in order to understand the details of the text. Regarding preferences, they mostly like to read works of fiction such as stories or novels but they do not prefer to read long texts. Based on the findings, this study was able to draw a number of implications and propose several recommendations.
CONHECIMENTO E PERCEPÇÃO DE RISCO EM RELAÇÃO ÀS INFECÇÕES SEXUALMENTE TRANSMISSÍVEIS ENTRE JOVENS UNIVERSITÁRIOS
Authors: Da Fonte Vinícius Rodrigues Fernandes , Spindola Thelma , Lemos Adriana , Francisco Márcio Tadeu Ribeiro , Oliveira Claudia Silvia Rocha
Published: November 2018

Objetivo: analisar o conhecimento acerca das Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis e sua influência na percepção de risco entre jovens universitários. Método: estudo transversal, realizado em uma universidade privada no Rio de Janeiro, com 768 estudantes na faixa etária de 18 a 29 anos. O instrumento de coleta de dados utilizado foi um questionário. Os dados foram analisados com auxílio do Software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, sendo aplicados os testes qui-quadrado de Pearson e a análise de variância. Resultados: os jovens universitários possuíam conhecimento abaixo da média em relação às infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. No que diz respeito à percepção de risco, os jovens acreditam que é impossível ou pouco possível a chance de serem infectados. Conclusão: o conhecimento dos estudantes universitários acerca das formas de transmissão das infecções sexualmente transmissíveis ficou abaixo do esperado, podendo, dessa forma, refletir na baixa percepção de risco acerca das infecções.
For Philippe Lejeune
Authors: Howes Craig
Published: November 2018

A Festschrift for Philippe Lejeune
Un Esprit Démocratique: les dérives de Lejeune, chiffonnier et collectionneur des autobiographies
Authors: Ashplant T.G.
Published: November 2018

A Festschrift for Philippe Lejeune
Impossible Autobiography: For Philippe Lejeune
Authors: Ortiz-Vilarelle Lisa
Published: November 2018

A Festschrift for Philippe Lejeune
El papel del folding back en el proceso de comprensión del concepto de área: un estudio de caso
Authors: Garcia Amadeo Graciela Beatriz , Muñoz Catalán Maria de la Cinta , Carrillo Yañéz José
Published: November 2018

Este artículo presenta un estudio de caso en el que pretendemos comprender, desde una perspectiva interpretativa, el proceso de comprensión del concepto de área de una niña de quinto curso de Primaria, Cecilia, en el contexto de una unidad de enseñanza cuya estrategia metodológica es consistente con la resolución de problemas. Abordamos este proceso considerando la teoría dinámica para el crecimiento de la comprensión matemática (Pirie & Kieren, 1994, 1999) como herramienta analítica. El folding back ha emergido como una herramienta conceptual eficaz para asimilar el proceso de comprensión del concepto de área, permitiéndonos identificar los diferentes papeles que ciertos indicadores del concepto han jugado en dicho proceso. Así, para el caso de Cecilia, se han identificado tres tipos diferentes de indicadores para el concepto de área: generadores, impulsores y derivados.
THE ASSESSMENT OF USEFULNESS OF LIMESTONES FROM THE KLESZCZÓW GRABEN (BEŁCHATÓW LIGNITE DEPOSIT – SZCZERCÓW FIELD) AS POTENTIAL SO2 SORBENTS IN THE POWER INDUSTRY – PROBLEMS OF GEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTING
Authors: HYCNAR Elżbieta , MUCHA Jacek , RATAJCZAK Tadeusz , Wasilewska-Błaszczyk Monika
Published: November 2018

Jurassic limestones of the Kleszczów Graben are among the most important accompanying raw materials in the Bełchatów lignite deposit. In recent years, there has been a need to recognize their suitability as SO2 sorbents for use in the energy industry. The limestones are characterized by high lithological variability. They show both high hardness and compactness, and are weakly concise or even silty. At the top parts, they are subjected to karst processes. The lower parts are affected by secondary mineralization processes, among which the silicification process is most advanced. The effects of other transformation processes, such as compaction, cementation, dissolution and recrystallization of calcite are also visible. These processes contributed to a significant diversification of the mineral and chemical composition of limestone, and differentiation of physico-chemical and physical-mechanical parameters responsible for assessing the suitability for their commercial use as a raw material for the production of SO2 sorbents. Other problems associated with documenting the limestones in the Bełchatów deposit are related to their lesser importance compared to the main mineral. Its degree of exploration is low, characterized by a lower density of exploratory boreholes and significantly longer average lengths of samples collected from drill cores. At the present stage of the accompanying mineral exploration, only a preliminary estimation of limestone resources as potential SO2 sorbents is possible. The precise estimation will be possible after constructing a 3D model of criterion parameters and developing an extraction scenario.
Geology of selected salt domes in Poland and their ability for construction of hydrogen storage caverns
Authors: Czapowski Grzegorz , Tarkowski Radosław
Published: November 2018

Underground hydrogen gas storage might be the alternative energy supplier. Filled-up during energy surplus could be utilized during energy shortage by combustion in special installations. Salt caverns within the salt domes are being considered as one of the optimal places for such energy storage. Caverns within the domes of Zechstein salts that intruded into the surrounding Mesozoic strata of the Polish Lowlands are among the most effective underground storages.
Seven out of 27 analyzed salt domes have been recommended for hydrogen storage construction based on the geological parameters (i.e. minimum thickness of the salt body should be about 1 km and its top at a depth less than 1 km). The best structures are the Rogóźno and Damasławek domes and two twin-forms – the Lubień and Łanięta domes of equal usefulness. Less perspective structures, based on the present geological knowledge, are the Goleniów and Izbica Kujawska domes. The latter would still require basic geological work. The last analyzed structure, the Dębina dome, located in the centre of the active lignite open-pit “Bełchatów”, has been excluded from future consideration. These salt domes are also suitable for the storage of other gases, i.e. natural gas and air, as their storage requires similar geological setting.
The impact of lithological variability of reservoir rocks on the quality parameters of the Cu-Ag deposit, Lubin–Głogów Copper District (LGCD)
Authors: Kaczmarek Wojciech , Wasilewska-Błaszczyk Monika , Dudek Mariusz
Published: November 2018

The article discusses the lithological and facies development of the copper ore deposit in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline in the so-called depression at the top of the Weissliegend. The lithological variability and quality parameters of the deposit in the exploitation field located between the Central and Northern elevations of Rudna, where the deposit profile is described as “typical”, i.e. the Cu-Ag mineralization occurs in all three basic lithological types of copper ore, is analyzed. The lithological variability of ores in depression zones is the reason why the degree of mineralization and the parameters of the economic deposit are highly variable. The authors focused on the mutual relationships between the neighbouring lithological units and the development of the balance deposit. To illustrate the variability of deposit parameters closely related to the lithological and facies development of the host rocks, three-dimensional lithological and geochemical models and isoline maps of the thickness of individual specific copper ore types were made using geostatistical methods and based on field observations and sampling of the deposit.
NEW RESULTS OF POLYMETALLIC, PGE AND REE MINERALIZATION RESEARCH IN THE SUWAŁKI ANORTHOSITE MASSIF (NE POLAND)
Authors: Wiszniewska Janina , Krzemińska Ewa , Polechońska Olga , Petecki Zdzisław , Ruszkowski Michał , Salwa Sylwester
Published: November 2018

Suwałki Anortosite Massif (SAM) occurs in the crystalline basement of NE Poland within 200 km of the magmatic, Mesoproterozoic AMCG (anorthosite–mangerite–charnockite–granite) rock suite terrane called the Mazury Complex. SAM was discovered as a result of the drilling research of the prominent negative magnetic and gravimetric anomalies. There is an extensive negative anomaly of both potential fields related to the anorthosite massif. Gravimetric anomaly is surrounded by the bands of positive anomalies caused by rocks with elevated densities, such as granitoids, monzondiorites and granodiorites. A negative magnetic anomaly is surrounded by the bands of positive anomalies with significant amplitudes, particularly strongly marked from the south, west and north. Positive magnetic anomalies are associated with the presence of rocks with proven strong magnetic susceptibility due to the content of ferrolites (ilmenite-magnetite rocks) with accompanying Fe-Cu-Ni-Co sulphide mineralization. Fe-Ti-(V) ore deposits in the SAM were discovered in the early 1960s, in the region of Krzemianka and Udryn, but also Jeleniewo and Jezioro Okrągłe, under a thick overburden of Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks within small positive magnetic anomalies. These deposits were documented in about 100 deep boreholes to a depth of 2300 m, and the resources in C1 + C2 category were estimated for about 1.5 billion tons of titanium-magnetite ores with vanadium, mainly in the Krzemianka and Udryn ore fields. The model age obtained by the Re-Os NTIMS method for Fe-Ti-V ores and sulphides from the Krzemianka and Jezioro Okrągłe ore deposits was 1559 ±37 Ma with an initial ratio of 187Os/188Os = 1.16 ±0.06. This age was recognized as the age of the entire Suwałki Massif. Despite many years of research, the deep structure and the form of the massif has not been fully recognized. At present, geophysical and geological 3D modelling of borehole data is carried out using the OasisMontaj (Geosoft) software package. The 3D model is generated in the GeoModeller 3D application (Intrepid Geophysics) in order to recognize the geological correctness and interpretation of magnetic-gravity anomalies of the whole massif and its cover.
Odnawianie się rozsypisk złotonośnych przedpola Sudetów Wschodnich
Authors: Wierchowiec Jan
Published: November 2018

W obrębie sekwencji okruchowych przedpola Sudetów Wschodnich wyróżniono w sumie pięć różnowiekowych poziomów złotonośnych związanych z preglacjalnymi „białymi” żwirami typu serii Gozdnicy, wodnolodowcowymi piaskami i żwirami plejstocenu oraz osadami holoceńskich tarasów Złotego Potoku i Białej Głuchołaskiej. Maksymalne zawartości Au (0,4 g/m3 osadu) notuje się w grubookruchowych żwirach kwarcowych, przestrzennie związanych z preglacjalną (eoplejstoceńską) doliną paleo-Białej Głuchołaskiej. Na powierzchni wyróżnionych dwóch podtypów złocin (ziarna blaszkowo-płytkowe, płaskie lub wtórnie zdeformowane oraz cementacyjno-grudkowe) rozpoznano i opisano nano- i mikrostruktury (morfotypy) Au oraz wewnętrzne tekstury (widoczne w przekroju ziaren), wskazujące na procesy tzw. odnawiania się rozsypisk złotonośnych. Są one wiązane z selektywnym rozpuszczaniem złota w warunkach hipergenicznych, jego wytrącaniem z roztworu i wtórną rekrystalizacją prowadzącą w rezultacie do formowania skupień złota autogenicznego. Rozpoznano dwa morfotypy złota autogenicznego: banieczkowate lub drobnorobaczkowe skupienia Au oraz krystaliczne skupienia i przerosty złota. Wspomniane morfotypy są bardzo dobrze zachowane i nie noszą oznak abrazji. Szczegółowa analiza SEM pokazuje, że pojedyncze banieczkowate nanocząsteczki z czasem zrastały się formując inkrustacje Au, a ostatecznie warstwę złota autogenicznego na powierzchni złociny pełniącej rolę swego rodzaju osadnika dla nowych nanocząstek. Występowanie banieczkowatych lub drobnorobaczkowych skupień Au w paragenezie z minerałami ilastymi oraz brak jakichkolwiek oznak abrazji tych skupień wskazują, że utworzyły się one in situ, to jest są pochodzenia autogenicznego. Nano- i mikroskupienia złota robaczkowo-pęcherzykowego zbudowane ze złota amorficznego mogą być wynikiem koagulacji koloidów lub ich adsorpcji przez minerały ilaste wypełniające kawerny na powierzchni złocin. Krystaliczne przerosty złota są prawdopodobnie efektem rekrystalizacji złota koloidalnego wytrącanego na powierzchni złocin po depozycji w rozsypisku.
Geological setting of the barite-fluorite deposit at Jeżów Sudecki (Kaczawa Mts.)
Authors: Sroga Cezary , Bobiński Wojciech , Kozdrój Wiesław
Published: November 2018

From 1969 to 1993, investigation for the Ba-F mineralization was executed within the metamorphic Kaczawa complex, north of the Intra-Sudetic Fault in the Jeżów Sudecki-Dziwiszów area (Kaczawa Mts., Western Sudetes). The article presents unpublished results of those prospecting works. A small deposit of Ba-F with Zn, Pb, Cu-sulphides, on the SE slope of the Szybowisko hill near Jelenia Góra, was documented in 1994. The economic mineralization is developed in the Jeżów Sudecki fault, steep fracture zone running parallel to the Intra-Sudetic Fault, and was identified at a distance of 600 m along the strike of the fault (in the W–E direction) and up to a depth of 500 m along the dip (towards the south). Two (locally three) bifurcating veins were found. The average content of the main components is: BaSO4 – 63.18%, CaF2 – 8.60%. The Ba-F mineralization is associated with the Jeżów Sudecki fault, synchronous with the formation of the Intra-Sudetic Fault zone. Both of these faults are Variscan and fall steeply southward. Younger, alpine (?) inverse and transverse normal faults were formed after the intrusion of a rhyolite dyke into the Kaczawa complex rocks and after the formation of the barite deposit. The Ba-F mineralization developed in a multi-stage process and shows a pulsatory nature. Five mineral parageneses were distinguished in the deposit. The age of the Ba-F mineralization has not been definitively established.
Em Direção à Mediação do Erro por Meio de Um Arcabouço de Sistema Computacional
Authors: Kutzke Alexander Robert , Direne Alexandre
Published: November 2018

This paper reports the study on the error mediation in teaching computer programming. In order to achieve this goal, the proposal of a system framework for the manipulation of error records that promotes the error mediation with effective participation of the teacher is described. The implementation of this framework gives rise to the FARMA-ALG tool, which is described in detail. Experiments carried out using the FARMA-ALG tool in real teaching environments, as well as the analysis of students' perceptions about the error mediation are reported. The results indicate that the tool and, consequently, the proposed framework can act positively for the error mediation in the educational work and in the overcoming of the traditional view of the error
Juiz Online no ensino de CS1 - lições aprendidas e proposta de uma ferramenta
Authors: Francisco Rodrigo Elias , Ambrósio Ana Paula Laboissière , Junior Cleon Xavier Pereira , Fernandes Márcia Aparecida
Published: November 2018

Online judges, initially used in programming marathons, have also been adopted to teach Introductory Programming (CS1), presenting some advantages, as reducing teacher workload and instant feedback to students, and disadvantages by of not being fully adapted as a tool for teaching. This paper presents a Systematic Review of Literature (SRL) about online judges for teaching CS1, which focused on aspects: benefits, problems; functional requirements and nonfunctional requirements. The result contributed to an online judge specification that meets the CS1 discipline. Also a practical experience was realized with the use of online judge BOCA (developed for programming marathons) in the teaching of CS1's classes. The lessons learned from practical experience and the knowledge gained at SRL contributed to a judge online proposal for teaching CS1, focusing primarily on three requirements considered essential: building exercise lists, personalized feedback, and plagiarism. Thus, this research contributes to the teaching of introductory programming by presenting an approach based on results found in the literature, through articles presenting different online judges for teaching, and practical experiences with real classes.
A theoretical study of styrene and sulfenyl chloride reaction mechanism
Authors: Vektarienė Aušra , Vektaris Gytis
Published: November 2018

The classical description of sulfenyl halides additions to olefins proposes the formation of an episulfonium ion intermediate during the reaction path. However, a careful analysis of experiments performed in the past suggests that there should not be a single mechanistic picture of sulfenyl halide additions to substituted olefins. Our work is the first theoretical study of detailed insights into the mechanism of methylsulfenchloride addition to styrene. The reaction potential energy profile has been calculated by means of the B3LYP functional with the 6-31++G(d, p) basis set. Mixing of the molecular orbital shapes of reaction stationary points has been described. The addition proceeds as a single step reaction from the methylsulfenchloride and styrene reactants via the concerted transition state (TS) to the final product along the reaction path estimated by the calculation of the intrinsic reaction coordinate. The reaction intermediate was not detected by calculations. The polar solvent has a significant effect on the decrease of reaction activation energy barriers. The large charge separation of the S–Cl bond in TS implies that the addition reaction should proceed through the ionic TS.
La tutoría universitaria como espacio de relación personal. Un estudio de caso múltiple
Authors: López Martín Inmaculada , González Villanueva Purificación
Published: November 2018

La acción tutorial implica asesoramiento académico, personal y profesional. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo principal, indagar en las relaciones profesor-estudiante en la tutoría universitaria desde la visión del tutor, e identificar elementos de mejora. Se utilizó un diseño cualitativo. Como método, un estudio de caso múltiple, considerando “el caso”: universidadpública y universidad privada. Como resultados, surgen seis temas. Presentamos “la tutoría como espacio de relación”. Este tema muestra que la tutoría debe fundamentarse en la comunicación y la relación personal cercana, basada en el respeto y la privacidad. Dado que, no es una relación entre iguales, los profesores coinciden en la necesidad de establecer límites para no perder su estatus. Se concluye que, cuanto menos asimétrica y jerárquica es la relación tutor-estudiante, más efectivo es el aprendizaje. La motivación y formación del profesorado, entre otros aspectos, han de tenerse en cuenta para un modelo de tutoría sólido.
Prediction of the stability of proteins by computational approaches: a case report
Authors: Scafuri Bernardina , Facchiano Angelo , Marabotti Anna
Published: November 2018

The prediction of the stability of a protein is a very important issue in computational biology. Indeed, missense mutations are frequently associated to a change in protein stability, leading usually to destabilization, unfolding and aggregation. However, the direct measurement of the effect of mutations on proteins' stability is often impaired by the large number of mutations that can affect a protein sequence. Therefore, predicting the impact of a mutation on this feature is of remarkable interest to infer the phenotypic effects associated to a genotypic variation. For this reason, many different predictors of the effects of mutations on protein stability have been developed during the past years, and they are available online as Web servers. In the present work, we applied several tools based on different approaches to predict the stability of three proteins involved in the different forms of the rare disease galactosemia, and we compare their different results, describing also the problems that we had to face, the solutions that we have adopted and the lessons learnt from this case study.
Hierarchical generalized additive models: an introduction with mgcv
Authors: Pedersen Eric J , Miller David L. , Simpson Gavin L. , Ross Noam
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we discuss an extension to two popular approaches to modelling complex structures in ecological data: the generalized additive model (GAM) and the hierarchical model (HGLM). The hierarchical GAM (HGAM), allows modelling of nonlinear functional relationships between covariates and outcomes where the shape of the function itself varies between different grouping levels. We describe the theoretical connection between these models, HGLMs and GAMs, explain how to model different assumptions about the degree of inter-group variability in functional response, and show how HGAMs can be readily fitted using existing GAM software, the mgcv package in R. We also discuss computational and statistical issues with fitting these models, and demonstrate how to fit HGAMs on example data.
British Film Propaganda in the Netherlands: Its Preconditions and Missed Opportunities
Authors: Stachura Natalia
Published: November 2018

British film propaganda directed at neutral countries was meant to strengthen the pro-British attitude or at least weaken pro-German sentiments in the neutral countries. Directed at the wide strata of neutral societies as well as at intellectual, military and economic elites, factual films from the battle lines were believed not only to counteract German propaganda but also to overshadow hostile actions taken by British government against economic and political freedoms of the neutrals. This article is an attempt at understanding the reasons for the eventual failure of British film propaganda in the Netherlands. While mentioning various conflict areas between the countries, it focuses on cultural entanglements and cultural networks that developed, though precariously, throughout the war. The neglect of existing connections between British and Dutch filmmakers and the hesitant if not hostile attitude of War Office Cinematograph Committee towards expensive adaptations of literary works, and feature films in general, might be perceived, the article argues, as one of the core reasons, along political and economic tensions, why Britain lost the battle for Dutch cinema audiences.
Current and future goals are represented in opposite patterns in object-selective cortex
Authors: van Loon Anouk Mariette , Olmos-Solis Katya , Fahrenfort Johannes Jacobus , Olivers Christian NL
Published: November 2018

Adaptive behavior requires the separation of current from future goals in working memory. We used fMRI of object-selective cortex to determine the representational (dis)similarities of memory representations serving current and prospective perceptual tasks. Participants remembered an object drawn from three possible categories as the target for one of two consecutive visual search tasks. A cue indicated whether the target object should be looked for first (currently relevant), second (prospectively relevant), or if it could be forgotten (irrelevant). Prior to the first search, representations of current, prospective and irrelevant objects were similar, with strongest decoding for current representations compared to prospective (Experiment 1) and irrelevant (Experiment 2). Remarkably, during the first search, prospective representations could also be decoded, but revealed anti-correlated voxel patterns compared to currently relevant representations of the same category. We propose that the brain separates current from prospective memories within the same neuronal ensembles through opposite representational patterns.
Value-based attentional capture affects multi-alternative decision making
Authors: Gluth Sebastian , Spektor Mikhail S , Rieskamp Jörg
Published: November 2018

Humans and other animals often violate economic principles when choosing between multiple alternatives, but the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms remain elusive. A robust finding is that adding a third option can alter the relative preference for the original alternatives, but studies disagree on whether the third option’s value decreases or increases accuracy. To shed light on this controversy, we used and extended the paradigm of one study reporting a positive effect. However, our four experiments with 147 human participants and a reanalysis of the original data revealed that the positive effect is neither replicable nor reproducible. In contrast, our behavioral and eye-tracking results are best explained by assuming that the third option’s value captures attention and thereby impedes accuracy. We propose a computational model that accounts for the complex interplay of value, attention, and choice. Our theory explains how choice sets and environments influence the neurocognitive processes of multi-alternative decision making.
Changing the Context of Education through the Concept of an Assembly University
Authors: Chang Jekuk
Published: November 2018

Technological development is proceeding at a greater pace across broader scales and with deeper human impacts than at any previous time. It is a primary driver forboth economic globalization and disruptive innovation. Undoubtedly, technological development has brought importantsocial benefits. However, it has also presented significant challenges. This paper introduces three such challenges within the context of the academia. Next, it examines how lessonsregarding the disruptive potential of sharing economies in the broader marketplace might be applied in transforming the context of higher education. To this end, the paper defines the concept of an Assembly University. Finally, it outlines certain steps taken by Dongseo University (DSU) toward implementing the Assembly University concept as a benchmark of best practices.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Catalytic Activity of a Calcium(II) Complex with 4-Formylbenzene-1,3-disulfonate-isonicotinic Acid Hydrazone
Authors: Tai Xi-Shi , Li Peng-Fei , Liu Li-Li
Published: November 2018

A new calcium(II) complex was synthesized by one-pot synthesis method from disodium 4-formylbenzene-1,3-disulfonate, isonicotinic acid hydrazide and Ca(ClO4)2•2H2O. The structure of calcium(II) complex was determined by elemental analysis, IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The results show that the Ca(II) complex molecules form 3D network structure by the interactions of π-π stacking and hydrogen bonds. The Ca(II) complex catalyst could efficiently catalyse oxidation of benzylic alcohol with good conversion of benzyl alcohol (78 %) and excellent selectivity of benzaldehyde (98 %).
Dynamic Simulation of Heterogeneous Catalysis at Particle Scale to Estimate the Kinetic Parameters for the Pore Diffusion Model
Authors: Patan Ameer Khan , Mekala Mallaiah , Thamida Sunil Kumar
Published: November 2018

In this work, dynamic simulation at particle scale is carried out to predict the kinetics of solid catalyzed esterification reaction between acetic acid and methanol to produce methyl acetate and water. The reaction kinetic data utilized for modeling and validation is with solid catalyst as Indion 180. It was observed that the reaction rate and kinetics inside the pores of the catalyst is of higher magnitude as compared to bulk liquid. Each solid catalyst particle is surrounded by reactant solution of equal volume. A dynamic simulation is carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics which has solver for diffusion-reaction equation for both in liquid phase and inside porous catalyst particle. The intrinsic reaction rate constants for bulk liquid phase and inside the particle are obtained by solving the full diffusion-reaction equation and optimization method. Three different models (model 1,2,3) were proposed for evaluating the rate constants from the experimental kinetic data. The three models differ in the way the boundary condition of acetic acid concentration is defined at the interface of a catalyst particle and its immediate surrounding liquid. The different models originated based on the possibility of numerical solution to partial differential equations pertaining to particle scale catalytic reactions as distributed parameter models by various software such as MATLAB and COMSOL multiphysics. They also differ in the way the initial kinetics is utilized in evaluating the rate constants for outside and inside the catalyst particle. One of the proposed models (model 3) has shown good agreement with the experimental data.
Impact of Testing Temperature on the Structure and Catalytic Properties of Au Nanotubes Composites
Authors: Mashentseva Anastassiya A. , Zdorovets Maxim V. , Borgekov Daryn B.
Published: November 2018

In the paper, the catalytic activity of composites based on gold nanotubes and ion track membranes was studied using bench reaction of the p-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction in the temperature range of 25-40 °C. The efficiency of the prepared catalysts was estimated on the rate constant of the reaction and by conversion degree of 4-NP to p-aminophenol (4-AP). The comprehensive evaluation of the structure was performed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A decreasing of the composites activity was observed when the reaction were carried out at the temperature over 35 °C, due to an increased average crystallite size from 7.31±1.07 to 10.35±3.7 nm (after 1st run). In temperature range of 25-35 °C the efficiency of the composite catalyst was unchanged in 3 runs and decreases by 24-32 % after the 5th run. At the high temperature of 40 °C after the 5th run the composite become completely  catalytically inert.
A Straightforward Selective Acylation of Phenols over ZSM-5 towards Making Paracetamol Precursors
Authors: Roswanda Robby , Sirampun Alfhons Daniel , Mukti Rino Rakhmata , Mujahidin Didin
Published: November 2018

Commercially available ZSM-5 was minimally treated as the catalyst to selectively acylate phenols. The ZSM-5 was simply immersed in ammonium nitrate in order to fill the pores with Brönsted acid to concentrate the catalytic reactions inside the pores. The reactions were carried out in liquid phase at 383 K. Acetic acid and propionic acid were chosen as the acyl substrate. Gas chromatography reveals two products which are phenyl acetate and almost exclusively para-hydroxyacetophenone meaning no ortho product observed. This para selectivity can be attributed to the pores of ZSM-5 where the reaction is assumed to be happening via intermolecular reaction. It is a relatively straightforward method in making para-hydroxyacetophenone which is known as paracetamol precursor.
Mental Health First Aid Advances Into the Workplace, but Questions Remain
Authors: Bock Anna
Published: November 2024

This Medical News article discusses a popular bystander training program for on-the-job mental health crises.
Intermittent hypoxia training improves cerebral blood flow without cognitive impairment
Authors: Zhang Qihan , Wang Qing , Jin Feiyang , Huang Dan , Ji Xunming , Wang Yuan
Published: November 2024

Objective

Brief exposure to intermittent hypoxia has been shown to potentially induce protective effects in the body. Animal studies suggest that intermittent hypoxia could increase cerebral blood flow and confer resistance to subsequent hypoxic–ischemic injury, yet clinical investigations are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a moderate short‐term intermittent hypoxia protocol on cerebral blood flow and cognitive performance.

Methods

Subjects who met the inclusion criteria were recruited to this study and randomized into the intermittent hypoxia group or the control group, which receives intermittent hypoxia training and sham‐intermittent hypoxia training, respectively. Cerebral hemodynamics, cognitive performance, cerebral perfusion pressure, and oxygen saturation were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results

A total of 100 healthy participants were included in this study. Compared to the control group, the intermittent hypoxia group exhibited higher peak systolic blood flow velocity (108.64 ± 22.53 vs. 100.21 ± 19.06, p = 0.049) and cerebrovascular conduction index (0.74 ± 0.17 vs. 0.66 ± 0.21, p = 0.027), and lower cerebrovascular resistance index (1.41 ± 0.29 vs. 1.54 ± 0.36, p = 0.044) following intermittent hypoxia training. Additionally, within‐group comparisons revealed that intermittent hypoxia training led to increased cerebral blood flow velocity, elevated cerebrovascular conductance index, and decreased cerebrovascular resistance index (p < 0.05). Other indicators including cognitive function, cerebral perfusion pressure, and oxygen saturation did not exhibit significant differences between groups.

Interpretation

These findings revealed that intermittent hypoxia may represent a safe and effective strategy for improving cerebral blood flow.
Fault Estimation for Semi‐Markov Jump Cyber‐Physical Control Systems With External Disturbances
Authors: Panneerselvam V. , Sakthivel R. , Aravinth N. , Kwon O. M.
Published: November 2024

The main thrust of this study is to scrutinize the issues of fault estimation and asynchronous sampled‐data fault‐tolerant control for semi‐Markov jump cyber‐physical systems with external disturbances, faults and deception attacks. To do so, initially, an intermediate variable is framed and then using that variable as a foundation, a mode‐dependent intermediate estimator is constructed, which estimates the fault signals and system's state simultaneously. Due to the unavailability of mode information in the Markov chain for the observer/controller, a hidden Markov model is employed to represent the asynchronous scenario between the mode of the original system and that of the designed observer/controller. Subsequently, benefited by the estimated terms and sampled‐data approach, an asynchronous sampled fault‐tolerant control protocol is offered up that facilitates compensating for the faults occurring in the system. In the meantime, the extended passive performance is used to lessen the negative impact of external disturbances exerting on the system. Besides this, the deception attacks occurring in the system are presumed to have a stochastic nature that adheres to the Bernoulli distribution. Moreover, by constructing mode‐dependent Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional and blending it with integral inequalities, the sufficient condition confirming the intended outcomes is procured in the framework of linear matrix inequalities. Thereafter, on the platform of deduced adequate criteria, an explicit formulation for the requisite gain values can be obtained. Ultimately, simulation results are offered to verify the reliability of presented outcomes.
Study: Medicaid expansion improved access to MOUD, but more efforts needed
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: November 2024

States that enacted Medicaid expansion have seen an increase in the likelihood that outpatients with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive one of the evidence‐based medication treatments. The magnitude of the increase suggests, however, that Medicaid expansion alone has not been a sufficient strategy for realizing the potential of medications for OUD (MOUD).
Project 2025: No preference for workers in recovery
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2024

The conservative proposal which the Trump Administration is reportedly considering adopting, Project 2025, contains some of the following recommendations.
Effect of Sodium Terephthalate on the Electrocatalytic Performance of Active Self‐Supporting Nanoporous PdAg Catalysts
Authors: Wang Jiafen , Si Fang , Duan Jinrong , Mo Jiahui , Yang Jiahang , Liu Jia , Song Yanyan
Published: November 2024

Direct‐methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have become a hot research topic in the energy field due to their excellent energy conversion efficiency and environmental sustainability. Optimization of catalyst preparation strategy is the key to enhance the performance of DMFC. In this study, melt quenching is employed to synthesize Al–Pd–Ag precursor alloy ribbons, and self‐supported nanoporous Pd–Ag catalysts with high activity are successfully prepared by a precisely controlled dealloying process. The catalysts are characterized microstructurally and tested electrochemically, and their performance is compared with samples without sodium terephthalate addition and with commercial Pt/C and Pd/C catalysts. In the results, it is shown that the maximum peak current density of methanol electrocatalytic oxidation is significantly enhanced to 1451.16 mA mg−1 with the addition of 15 mM sodium terephthalate, which is about 6.6 times higher than that of the unadded samples, and the catalytic performance is improved by a factor of 7.7 and 12.0, respectively, compared to those of commercial Pt/C and Pd/C. This remarkable performance enhancement is attributed to the innovative dealloying method, which not only refines the catalyst structure but also achieves a significant increase in catalytic performance through the assistance of active self‐supporting nanoporous structures and interfacial synergistic effects between palladium and silver.
A Workflow‐Centric Approach to Generating FAIR Data Objects for Computationally Generated Microstructure‐Sensitive Mechanical Data
Authors: Shoghi Ronak , Hartmaier Alexander
Published: November 2024

From a data perspective, the materials mechanics field is characterized by the sparsity of available data, mainly due to the strong microstructure sensitivity of properties like strength, fracture toughness, and fatigue limit. This requires testing specimens with different thermomechanical histories, even when the composition is similar. Experimental data on mechanical behavior is rare, as mechanical testing is destructive and requires significant material and effort. Furthermore, mechanical behavior is typically characterized in simplified tests under uniaxial loading conditions, whereas a complete characterization requires multiaxial testing. To address this data sparsity, simulation methods like micromechanical modeling can contribute to microstructure‐sensitive data collections. This work introduces a novel data schema integrating both metadata and mechanical data, following the workflows of the material modeling processes by which the data has been generated. Each workflow run produces unique data objects by incorporating user, system, and job‐specific information correlated with mechanical properties. This approach can be applied to any workflow as long as it is well‐defined. This integrated format provides a sustainable way of generating Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) data objects. The metadata elements focus on key features required to characterize microstructure‐specific data, simplifying the collection of purpose‐specific datasets by search algorithms.
Electromagnetic Absorption Mechanism of TPMS‐Based Metastructures: Synergy Between Materials and Structures
Authors: An Qing , Li Dawei , Liao Wenhe , Liu Tingting , Qu Zhi , Wang Gang , Li Xiangjia
Published: November 2024

3D metastructure absorbers have gained attention for their lightweight, load‐bearing capabilities, and superior electromagnetic wave absorption. However, the complex interplay between unit cell geometry, material properties, and electromagnetic response is not well understood, hindering the design of high‐performance devices. A multi‐scale model, validated is presented by simulations and experiments, that clarify the relationship between materials, structures, and electromagnetic behavior in 3D metastructures. By systematically investigating strut‐based and sheet‐based structures, volume fraction, unit size, crystal lattice orientation, and density gradient within TPMS‐based unit cells, it is revealed that unit geometry significantly influences electromagnetic field propagation and reflection loss. Specifically, under the same unit size, sheet‐based TPMS metastructures exhibit stronger reflectivity than strut‐based ones, while multilayer structures show the opposite trend. The direct correlation is also further confirmed between geometric symmetry and polarization insensitivity, with orthogonal isotropic superstructures displaying excellent polarization‐insensitive properties. This finding provides a new design principle for achieving robust, angle‐independent absorption in these materials. This work enhances understanding of the structure‐electromagnetic behavior interplay, guiding the design of next‐generation broadband, wide‐angle, and polarization‐insensitive devices.
Charge‐Stabilized Nanodiscs as a New Class of Lipid Nanoparticles
Authors: Pires Ivan S. , Hostetler Alexander , Covarrubias Gil , Carlo Isabella S. , Suggs Jack R. , Kim B.J. , Pickering Andrew J. , Gordon Ezra , Irvine Darrell J. , Hammond Paula T.
Published: November 2024

Nanoparticles have the potential to improve disease treatment and diagnosis due to their ability to incorporate drugs, alter pharmacokinetics, and enable tissue targeting. While considerable effort is placed on developing spherical lipid‐based nanocarriers, recent evidence suggests that high aspect ratio lipid nanocarriers can exhibit enhanced disease site targeting and altered cellular interactions. However, the assembly of lipid‐based nanoparticles into non‐spherical morphologies has typically required incorporating additional agents such as synthetic polymers, proteins, lipid‐polymer conjugates, or detergents. Here, charged lipid headgroups are used to generate stable discoidal lipid nanoparticles from mixed micelles, which are termed charge‐stabilized nanodiscs (CNDs). The ability to generate CNDs in buffers with physiological ionic strength is restricted to lipids with more than one anionic group, whereas monovalent lipids only generate small nanoliposomal assemblies. In mice, the smaller size and anisotropic shape of CNDs promote higher accumulation in subcutaneous tumors than spherical liposomes. Further, the surface chemistry of CNDs can be modified via layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly to improve their tumor‐targeting properties over state‐of‐the‐art LbL‐liposomes when tested using a metastatic model of ovarian cancer. The application of charge‐mediated anisotropy in lipid‐based assemblies can aid in the future design of biomaterials and cell‐membrane mimetic structures.