bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The species‐rich, paleotropical genus Memecylon (Melastomataceae): Molecular phylogenetics and revised infrageneric classification of the African species
Authors: Stone Robert Douglas
Published: June 2014

The internal and external transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA were sequenced in 167 samples of Memecylon s.str. and 22 outgroup samples of Lijndenia, Mouriri, Spathandra, Votomita, and Warneckea. Maximum‐likelihood analyses of ETS, ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 alignments yielded tree topologies that are not significantly incongruent, with one exception involving the Tanzanian sample Luke 9741. Monophyly of Memecylon s.str. is strongly supported in the separate ETS and the combined ETS + ITS1 + 5.8S + ITS2 analyses. Also supported in all analyses except 5.8S is a sister‐group relationship between a small species‐group from western and central Africa (Memecylon subg. Mouririoidea, ovary 4‐loculed) and the remaining taxa (M. subg. Memecylon, ovary unilocular). In the combined analysis, internal branches at the base of M. subg. Memecylon are short and weakly supported, yet within this large subgenus one finds a series of monophyletic groups representing different parts of the widespread paleotropical distribution (one group in western and central Africa; two separate groups in East Africa, one of these extending to southern Africa and disjunctly to western and northern Madagascar; one species‐rich group occurring exclusively on Madagascar and the neighboring Comoro and Mascarene islands; and three distinct groups in Indo‐Malesia, one of these also including the Seychelles endemic M. elaeagni). Within the western and central African clade, M. sect. Polyanthema sensu Jacques‐Félix is paraphyletic with respect to M. sect. Afzeliana, and at the morphological level it seems to be a group defined by symplesiomorphies (ovary unilocular, fruit globose). Three East African species (M. fragrans, M. greenwayi, M. semseii) are returned to Memecylon s.str. after being erroneously transferred to Lijndenia by Borhidi. The Madagascan endemic M. mocquerysii is no longer considered a taxonomic synonym of the distantly related, Tanzanian M. cogniauxii. In addition to elevating M. sect. Mouririoidea to subgeneric rank, the following changes are proposed in the infrageneric classification of African Memecylon: (1) the circumscription of sect. Polyanthema is narrowed to comprise only the members of the “M. polyanthemos complex” sensu Jacques‐Félix; (2) Engler's sections Tenuipedunculata, Cauliflora, and Obtusifolia are re‐instated with emended descriptions (in the case of sect. Cauliflora with an expanded circumscription); (3) seven new sections, Buxifolia, Diluviana, Felixiocylon, Germainiocylon, Magnifoliata, Montana, and Sitacylon, are described; (4) the purported occurrence of M. sect. Pseudonaxiandra in East Africa is rejected. A key is provided to the two subgenera and twelve sections currently recognized in African Memecylon. Further study is needed toward a sectional classification of Indo‐Malesian Memecylon, and for revision of the seven Madagascan sections recognized by Jacques‐Félix.
Molecular and morphological phylogenetic reconstruction reveals a new generic delimitation of Asian Derris (Fabaceae): Reinstatement of Solori and synonymisation of Paraderris with Derris
Authors: Sirichamorn Yotsawate , Adema Frits A.C.B. , Roos Marco C. , van Welzen Peter C.
Published: June 2014

The genus Derris is a problematic taxon within tribe Millettieae, because of the various generic circumscriptions proposed by different authors. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies proved Derris s.l. to be polyphyletic and thus unacceptable as a taxon. Moreover, the most recent circumscription of Derris s.str. was also not monophyletic. In this study, 29 qualitative morphological characters were analyzed together with the molecular data of our earlier studies. The combined datasets confirmed the monophyly of Solori (also known as Brachypterum) and showed it to be distinct at the generic level with the following synapomorphies: presence of stipellae, more than five flowers per brachyblast, tubular and (or) lobed floral disk, seven to twelve ovules and one‐winged pods with obvious seed chambers when dry. Paraderris appeared to be a well‐supported monophyletic group, but nested within Derris s.str. In order to maintain the monophyly of Derris s.str., Paraderris is synonymised with Derris s.str., which broadens the generic circumscription for Derris s.str. This Derris s.str. only has two synapomorphies, the liana habit and two‐winged pods. Other morphological characters used for previous generic circumscriptions of Derris s.str. appeared to be based on combinations of plesiomorphies. No infrageneric classification of Derris s.str. will be provided, because of low support for clades and lack of obvious apomorphies for several clades. Taxonomic treatment and nomenclatural changes are presented where necessary.
Taxonomy and evolutionary history of Alyssum montanum (Brassicaceae) and related taxa in southwestern Europe and Morocco: Diversification driven by polyploidy, geographic and ecological isolation
Authors: Zozomová-Lihová Judita , Marhold Karol , Španiel Stanislav
Published: June 2014

The Alyssum montanum–A. repens polyploid complex is a group of related perennial taxa with a diversity centre in the European (Sub)Mediterranean, controversial taxonomic treatments, and a poorly known evolutionary history. In the present study, morphological, ploidy level and genetic (AFLPs and chloroplast DNA sequences) data were collected to address the taxonomy and evolution of a sublineage of this complex distributed in southwestern Europe and Morocco. As a result, a new taxonomic treatment, differing substantially from recent concepts, is presented, including an identification key, synonymy and typifications. The recognition of several previously described but recently not accepted endemics is favoured (A. flexicaule, A. orophilum, A. rhodanense), whereas the existence of southern Iberian endemics is not supported. Most of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by a single species for which the name A. fastigiatum is applicable. Populations from the summit areas of the Pyrenees represent a separate species, which is described here as A. cacuminum. Populations from coastal sand dunes in the Basque country (Bay of Biscay) and Galicia, recently recognised as two subspecies of A. loiseleurii, are elevated to species rank according to their genetic and morphological divergence. Alyssum atlanticum is resolved as a species confined to northern Africa and not reaching southern Spain. The distribution of A. montanum in a strict sense is much more restricted than previously reported, being delimited by the Pyrenees in the south, and the Alps in the northeast. The species complex studied here is composed of several polyploid stenoendemics confined to different mountain ranges or specific lowland habitats, and a few relatively widely distributed species. We infer that hybridisation and polyploidisation events, along with ecological and geographic isolation, have stimulated speciation in this complex. Hypotheses about the origin and evolutionary history of the species are discussed.
Molecular phylogeny of Acanthophyllum (Caryophyllaceae: Caryophylleae), with emphasis on infrageneric classification
Authors: Pirani Atefeh , Zarre Shahin , Pfeil Bernard E. , Bertrand Yann J.K. , Assadi Mostafa , Oxelman Bengt
Published: June 2014

Despite being one of the larger genera of Caryophyllaceae with about 60 cushion‐forming subshrubby species, Acanthophyllum is represented poorly in previous molecular phylogenetic studies. The genus is an important component of the subalpine steppe flora in Central to Southwest Asia. Although the placement of Acanthophyllum in the tribe Caryophylleae and a close relationship to Allochrusa has already been suggested, the monophyly of the genus and its infrageneric taxa, as well as its relation to other closely related genera, have not been addressed. We have assembled datasets of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and intron sequences of the chloroplast gene rps16 for 47 Acanthophyllum species and 63 species of 11 additional genera from Caryophylleae. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. Our analysis suggests that Allochrusa, Diaphanoptera, Ochotonophila and Scleranthopsis are nested within Acanthophyllum but that the traditionally recognized sections of Acanthophyllum are monophyletic after reassignment of a few species. Emarginate petals may be a synapomorphy for one of the two basal clades of Acanthophyllum. Moreover, non‐monophyly of the genera Gypsophila and Diaphanoptera is suggested by the present study. The age of the crown clade of Acanthophyllum s.l. is estimated to be 11.1 Ma by *BEAST species tree analysis.
Districting for Arc Routing
Authors: Butsch Alexander , Kalcsics Jörg , Laporte Gilbert
Published: June 2014

This paper proposes a heuristic for districting problems arising in an arc routing context. The aim is to design districts by amalgamating edges of a graph as opposed to cells. Solutions must satisfy two hard criteria (complete and exclusive assignment as well as connectedness) and several soft criteria (balance, small deadheading, local compactness, and global compactness). The latter criteria are amalgamated into a weighted objective. The proposed heuristic applies a construction procedure followed by a tabu search improvement phase in which several subroutines are defined and selected according to a roulette wheel mechanism, as in adaptive large neighborhood search. Extensive tests conducted on instances derived from real-world street data confirm the efficiency of the proposed methodology.
Online Gambling Behavior: The Impacts of Cumulative Outcomes, Recent Outcomes, and Prior Use
Authors: Ma Xiao , Kim Seung Hyun , Kim Sung S.
Published: June 2014

The objective of this work is to examine various psychological forces underlying the behavior of people’s online gambling, an increasingly popular form of entertainment in the gaming industry. Drawing on extant theories, we first developed a model of how cumulative outcomes, recent outcomes, and prior use affect online gambling behavior differently. We empirically tested the model using longitudinal panel data collected over eight months from 22,304 actual users of a gambling website. The results of a multilevel panel data analysis strongly supported our hypotheses. First, consistent with gambling theory, individuals' online gambling was found to increase with any increase in a cumulative net gain or cumulative net loss. Second, as the availability heuristic prescribes, a recent loss reduced online gambling, whereas a recent gain increased it. Third, consistent with the literature on repeated behavior, regular use and extended use moderated the relationship between current and subsequent gambling. Taken together, the present study clarifies how people react differently to immediate and cumulative outcomes and also how regular use and extended use facilitate routine behavior in the context of online gambling. In general, our findings suggest that the three perspectives, i.e., gambling theory, the availability heuristic, and repeated behavior, should be taken into account to understand online gambling, which is in essence a series of risk-taking attempts with the potential of eventually becoming routine behavior. This study is expected to offer valuable insights into other types of online games that could engage people in risking real or cyber money and, at the same time, could be easily enmeshed with everyday life (e.g., fantasy sports, online virtual worlds).
Partial Monitoring—Classification, Regret Bounds, and Algorithms
Authors: Bartók Gábor , Foster Dean P. , Pál Dávid , Rakhlin Alexander , Szepesvári Csaba
Published: June 2014

In a partial monitoring game, the learner repeatedly chooses an action, the environment responds with an outcome, and then the learner suffers a loss and receives a feedback signal, both of which are fixed functions of the action and the outcome. The goal of the learner is to minimize his regret, which is the difference between his total cumulative loss and the total loss of the best fixed action in hindsight. In this paper we characterize the minimax regret of any partial monitoring game with finitely many actions and outcomes. It turns out that the minimax regret of any such game is either zero or scales as T1/2, T2/3, or T up to constants and logarithmic factors. We provide computationally efficient learning algorithms that achieve the minimax regret within a logarithmic factor for any game. In addition to the bounds on the minimax regret, if we assume that the outcomes are generated in an i.i.d. fashion, we prove individual upper bounds on the expected regret.
Characterisation of osteoarthritis in a small animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Onur T. , Wu R. , Metz L. , Dang A.
Published: June 2014

Objectives

Our objective in this article is to test the hypothesis that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a factor in the onset and progression of osteoarthritis, and to characterise the quality of the articular cartilage in an appropriate rat model.

Methods

T2DM rats were obtained from the UC Davis group and compared with control Lewis rats. The diabetic rats were sacrificed at ages from six to 12 months, while control rats were sacrificed at six months only. Osteoarthritis severity was determined via histology in four knee quadrants using the OARSI scoring guide. Immunohistochemical staining was also performed as a secondary form of osteoarthritic analysis.

Results

T2DM rats had higher mean osteoarthritis scores than the control rats in each of the four areas that were analysed. However, only the results at the medial and lateral femur and medial tibia were significant. Cysts were also found in T2DM rats at the junction of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Immunohistochemical analysis does not show an increase in collagen II between control and T2DM rats. Mass comparisons also showed a significant relationship between mass and osteoarthritis score.

Conclusions

T2DM was found to cause global degeneration in the UCD rat knee joints, suggesting that diabetes itself is a factor in the onset and progression of osteoarthritis. The immunohistochemistry stains showed little to no change in collagen II degeneration between T2DM and control rats. Overall, it seems that the animal model used is pertinent to future studies of T2DM in the development and progression of osteoarthritis. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:203–11
Review
Authors: Giotaki Gina
Published: June 2014

Fields in Motion: Ethnography in the Worlds of Dance, Dena Devida (ed.) (2011) Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, ISBN13: 9781554583393, 486 pp., p/bk, $39.95, h/bk, $95.00
A educação da “Geração M”
Authors: Reis Carlos Francisco de Sousa
Published: June 2014

Partindo da análise da evolução dos meios de comunicação destacamos o significado do seu impacto no quotidiano daqueles que vivem no seio das sociedades ditas mediáticas, como a nossa, em que os media penetram todas as dimensões sociais: a economia, a política, a educação, mas também os valores, as atitudes, os costumes e os hábitos. São fornecidos alguns dados indicativos sobre o uso dos meios de modo a esclarecer o seu poder para se instituírem como uma força determinante da socialização dos indivíduos. A discussão do tema serve para derivar recomendações sobre o tipo de consumo que parece ser adequado a diferentes grupos etários, tendo em conta certos critérios desenvolvimentais.
Professores e alunos… para quê as TIC?
Authors: Silva Comandante Alcindo Ferreira da
Published: June 2014

No ensino a distância grande parte dos actos de ensinar dos professores e de aprender dos alunos decorrem em espaços e tempos diferentes sendo as tecnologias essenciais para que se possam estabelecer as interacções necessárias ao processo pedagógico. Muitas vezes, sob a pressão de problemas e necessidades, escolhem-se tecnologias tendo como fundamentação principal o seu potencial, esquecendo ou desvalorizando outros factores importantes como as características e funções dos alunos e professores, a natureza do objecto de aprendizagem e as situações previsíveis de aprendizagem. Neste artigo, tendo como pano de fundo a experiência de alguns anos na gestão de um sistema de EAD descrevem-se algumas linhas de orientação para ajuda na selecção e adopção de tecnologias no ensino.
Vivências e percepções do estágio curricular em Educação de Adultos: A perspectiva dos alunos
Authors: Oliveira Albertina Lima , Vieira Cristina Maria Coimbra , Alcoforado Joaquim Luís Medeiros , Ferreira Joaquim Armando , Simões António
Published: June 2014

O presente estudo teve como objectivo investigar as vivências e percepções dos estagiários de Educação de Adultos, ao longo de um ano curricular, relativamente aos sentimentos dominantes, às fontes de apoio, às dificuldades/obstáculos enfrentados, bem como aos recursos pessoais e externos por si percebidos. Adicionalmente, pretendeu-se determinar se o ano de estágio contribui para aumentar a capacidade para a autodirecção da aprendizagem. Para o efeito, utilizou-se um plano de investigação em que se combinaram metodologias qualitativas e quantitativas, recorrendo-se a uma amostra de 19 alunos da Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade e Coimbra. A nível dos principais resultados obtidos, identificou-se uma sucessão de três fases relativamente distintas durante o estágio, as quais se revelaram associadas a sentimentos, dificuldades e recursos específicos. No que respeita à segunda questão em estudo, embora se tenha verificado uma tendência para o aumento da autodirecção na aprendizagem, os resultados alcançados revelaram-se inconclusivos.
O uso dos jogos teatrais na educação: possibilidades diante do fracasso escolar
Authors: Neves Libéria , Santiago Ana Lydia
Published: June 2014

Este artigo se refere ao uso do teatro na educação, sobretudo com crianças em situação de fracasso escolar. Pretende-se aqui descrever um dos seis casos estudados em pesquisa participante, realizada com crianças na referida situação, apresentando diversas dificuldades de aprendizagem, e encaminhadas por suas professoras. A partir das queixas escolares manifestadas, elaborou-se um programa de vivências semanais de jogos teatrais durante o período de um ano. Tal programa foi montado tendo em vista a promoção e a estimulação das funções cognitivas envolvidas nos processos de aprendizagem — o que caracteriza o objetivo pedagógico da pesquisa. Entretanto, no curso do trabalho, evidenciaram-se, também, questões relativas à subjetividade das participantes, relacionadas diretamente a seus processos de aprendizagem. Apoiando-se na teoria psicanalítica, foi possível verificar que o uso de jogos teatrais no âmbito da educação configura-se, ao mesmo
tempo, como uma prática pedagógica e uma prática subjetiva (terapêutica), significando uma possibilidade diante do fracasso escolar.
Cine, educación y vejez. Una propuesta de intervención pedagógica desde la película Elsa & Fred
Authors: Pereira Domínguez Carmen , Valero Iglesias Luis Fernando
Published: June 2014

Este artigo foi elaborado no âmbito da formação dos alunos de Educação Social, seguindo os novos planos Europeus de Educação Superior. Trata das formas de melhorar os meios de aprendizagem e de favorecer os conhecimentos, as habilidades e as atitudes apropriadas à intervenção socioeducativa junto das pessoas mais velhas. Para isso, desenvolvemos uma proposta de intervenção pedagógica através do estudo, reflexão e valoração de um exemplo cinematográfico para educar em valores: Elsa & Fred. A partir de nossa experiência, não podemos deixar de aproveitar a oportunidade de recrearmos com este reconhecido filme que aprofunda, com mestria e humanidade, o conhecimento de alguns aspectos da velhice característicos da sociedade actual. Além, das reflexões finais deste artigo e das referências bibliográficas, juntamos em anexo, uma lista orientadora de uma série de mostras cinematográficas sobre a velhice que pode ser útil para educar os nossos olhares sobre este tema.
Contribuição da formação inicial para a construção do perfil profissional dos educadores de infância: percepções de futuros educadores
Authors: Precatado Maria Adelaide , Damião Maria Helena , Nascimento Maria Augusta
Published: June 2014

Apresenta-se um estudo sobre a contribuição da formação inicial para a construção do perfil profissional dos educadores de infância. Na abordagem empírica realizada procurou-se conhecer a percepção dos futuros educadores relativamente à contribuição do curso de formação inicial, na globalidade e nas suas principais componentes, para o domínio do perfil profissional definido pela tutela. Os resultados obtidos em três Escolas Superiores de Educação revelam a prevalência de percepções positivas face ao processo de formação, destacando-se a importância atribuída à componente de prática pedagógica.
A avaliação na metodologia de trabalho de projecto: uma experiência na formação de professores
Authors: Ferreira Carlos Alberto
Published: June 2014

No presente artigo descrevemos e reflectimos sobre uma experiência de formação inicial de professores do 1º ciclo do ensino básico sobre a prática da avaliação das aprendizagens e dos projectos, no contexto da utilização da metodologia de trabalho de projecto implementada em sala de aula.
“Olhar com Olhos de Ver”
Authors: Dias C. Melo
Published: June 2014

A observação é um processo fundamental que não tem um fim em si mesmo, mas que é subordinado ao serviço dos sujeitos e dos seus processos complexos de atribuir inteligibilidade ao real, fornecendo os dados empíricos necessários a posteriores análises críticas. Iniciar a observação implica a organização de um projecto, de modo a realizar-se com o conhecimento da realidade a que se refere (Estrela, 1992). Apesar da importância do posicionamento em co-territorialidade, para os iniciados em observação de classes, a técnica de observação naturalista é mais acessível e prática. Esta define-se em quatro princípios: o Princípio da não selectividade da observação; o Princípio da precisão da situação; o Princípio da composição; e o Princípio da continuidade (Estrela, 1986, p. 49). Considera-se que este treino de iniciação à observação de classes corresponde fundamentalmente a um treino de observador, onde existe um plano contingente às diversas variáveis intervenientes nas situações pedagógicas.
La construcción de la pedagogía social
Authors: Soriano Díaz Andrés
Published: June 2014

Definir o âmbito da Pedagogia Social não é uma tarefa fácil, assim como não é uma tarefa fácil dar uma resposta única e imediata à pergunta: “o que é a Pedagogia Social?”. Neste artigo centramo-nos no processo de construção da Pedagogia Social para compreendermos a situação actual em que se encontra. Com esse objectivo elaboramos uma reflexão sobre a concepção de Pedagogia Social recorrendo a três vias: a histórica, a empírica e a analítica.
Ideias e simbologias do consumo
Authors: Ferreira Teresa
Published: June 2014

O presente artigo centra-se no estudo das representações sociais do consumo, considerando as ideias e imagens transmitidas por jovens adolescentes. Este estudo foi levado a cabo numa escola, recorrendo aos grupos focais como método de recolha de dados qualitativos. No total, participaram 37 alunos: 21 do sexo feminino e 16 do sexo masculino, com idades entre os 13 e os 16 anos. Da análise dos dados resultam várias categorias, sendo que algumas emergem dos dados recolhidos e outras derivam dos processos teóricos subjacentes à elaboração do instrumento de recolha de dados. As categorias “direitos e deveres dos consumidores”, “consumo sustentável e responsável” e “gestão financeira e o endividamento” foram previamente criadas com base na estrutura do guião da entrevista. A categoria “jovens e o consumo” e algumas subcategorias que integram “gestão financeira e o endividamento” emergiram da análise das entrevistas.
La torre de PISA tambalea el Sistema Educativo Español
Authors: Cruz Manuel Fernández , González González Daniel , Rodríguez José Álvarez
Published: June 2014

A sociedade espanhola acaba de reabrir o eterno debate sobre a necessidade de alcançar um pacto nacional em matéria de educação. Sem dúvida, os fracos resultados obtidos pela Espanha na avaliação PISA, os quais têm tido um forte impacto mediático, contribuíram bastante para esta situação. Neste artigo, comparam-se algumas dimensões da situação educativa espanhola com a realidade educativa da maioria dos estados da OCDE e, de forma particular, com os países europeus, identificando-se os pontos mais sensíveis e propondo-se os principais eixos do que poderá ser o pacto educativo. O tumultuado debate iniciado em Espanha e as suas imediatas consequências merecem a atenção dos analistas de outros estados do sul da Europa – Portugal, Itália e Grécia, que têm obtido valores semelhantes nas avaliações internacionais e, tal como a Espanha, estão destinados a converter a educação no primeiro plano das preocupações políticas e sociais.
Abordagens ao estudo, rendimento académico e atribuições causais do desempenho em estudantes do ensino superior
Authors: Ferreira Marco Maia , Raposo Nicolau Vasconcelos , Bidarra Maria da Graça
Published: June 2014

Com o objectivo de contribuir para o estudo do rendimento académico no ensino superior e tendo como quadro de referência os trabalhos de Entwistle (1997) e de McAuley, Duncan e Russell (1992), procurámos esclarecer as relações entre as abordagens ao estudo, as atribuições causais, o rendimento académico e a percepção subjectiva do rendimento académico. Os dados foram recolhidos junto de 558 alunos, pertencentes a seis instituições de ensino superior e as medidas utilizadas foram a Causal Dimension Scale II (McAuley, Duncan & Russel, 1992), o inventário Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (Entwistle, 1997), tendo sido construído, para o rendimento académico, um indicador com base nas classificações obtidas. Procedimentos de modelação por equações estruturais permitiram concluir que as abordagens ao estudo constituem o factor mais importante do rendimento académico dos alunos, observando-se, igualmente, uma forte relação entre as abordagens ao estudo e as atribuições causais.
Integración de práctica y reflexión en un único proceso
Authors: González Sánchez Margarita
Published: June 2014

Neste artigo apresentamos um conjunto de reflexões em torno da formação prática em Educação Social. Salientamos algumas das dificuldades que se colocam quando se considera o prácticum como uma modalidade de formação, conscientes de que a relação entre o saber teórico e o saber prático é uma relação complexa.
Algunas consideraciones sobre la cultura del voluntariado como factor en la construcción Europea y ciudadanía
Authors: Torres Sabaté M. Concepció , Valero Iglesias Luis Fernando
Published: June 2014

O presente trabalho desenvolve algumas considerações sobre o papel que o voluntariado pode desempenhar na construção europeia. São ainda apresentadas algumas das acções que neste contexto a Universidade Rovira i Virgili (URV) desenvolve.
X-RAY TRANSMISSION AND REFLECTION THROUGH A COMPTON-THICK MEDIUM VIA MONTE-CARLO SIMULATIONS
Authors: Eikmann Wiebke , Wilms Jörn , Smith Randall K. , Lee Julia C.
Published: June 2014

The spectral shape of an X-ray source strongly depends on the amount and distribution of the surrounding material. The spectrum of a primary source which is located in an optically thin medium with respect to Compton scattering is mainly modified by photo absorption in the lower energy range and is almost unaltered above ~ 10 keV. This picture changes when the source is obscured by gas exceeding hydrogen column densities of ~ 1024 cm−2. At this degree of absorption it is likely that photons are scattered at least twice before leaving the medium. The multiple scatterings lead to a lack of photons in the high energy range of the resulting spectrum as well as to an accumulation of photons at moderate energies forming the so-called Compton-bump. The shape of the fluorescent lines also changes since scattered line photons form several Compton-shoulders which are very prominent especially for Compton-thick sources. Using a Monte Carlo method, we demonstrate the importance of Compton scattering for high column densities. For that purpose, we compare our results with existing absorption models that do not consider Compton scattering. These calculations will be implemented in a prospective version of the tbabs absorption model including an analytic evaluation of the strength of the fluorescent lines.
STATIC TESTS OF UNCONVENTIONAL PROPULSION UNITS FOR ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANES
Authors: Helmich Martin
Published: June 2014

This paper presents static tests of a new unconventional propulsion unit for small aviation airplanes. Our laboratory stand – a fan drive demonstrator – enables us to compare various design options. We performed experiments to verify the propulsion functionality and a measurement procedure to determine the available thrust of the propulsion unit and its dependence on engine speed. The results used for subsequent optimization include the operating parameters of the propulsion unit, and the temperature and velocity fields in parts of the air duct.
A MYOELECTRIC PROSTHETIC ARM CONTROLLED BY A SENSOR-ACTUATOR LOOP
Authors: Kutílek Patrik , Hýbl Jan , Mareš Jakub , Socha Vladimír , Smrčka Pavel
Published: June 2014

This paper describes new methods and systems designed for application in upper extremity prostheses. An artificial upper limb with this system is a robot arm controlled by EMG signals and a set of sensors. The new multi-sensor system is based on ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, Hall-effect sensors, a CO2 sensor and a relative humidity sensor. The multi-sensor system is used to update a 3D map of objects in the robot’s environment, or it directly sends information about the environment to the control system of the myoelectric arm. Occupancy grid mapping is used to build a 3D map of the robot’s environment. The multi-sensor system can identify the distance of objects in 3D space, and the information from the system is used in a 3D map to identify potential collisions or a potentially dangerous environment, which could damage the prosthesis or the user. Information from the sensors and from the 3D map is evaluated using a fuzzy expert system. The control system of the myoelectric prosthetic arm can choose an adequate reaction on the basis of information from the fuzzy expert system. The systems and methods were designed and verified using MatLab/Simulink. They are aimed for use as assistive technology for disabled people.
SEGMENTING TAGGED CARDIAC MRI DATA USING A LOCAL VARIANCE FILTER
Authors: Oberhuber Tomáš , Kučera Slavomír , Loucký Jakub , Súkupová Lucie , Tintěra Jaroslav
Published: June 2014

We present a new method for segmenting tagged MRI data. It is based on the observation that the tagging grid vanishes almost immediately inside the ventricles because of the blood flow. Segmentation can be therefore driven by the intensity of the tagging grid. We estimate the intensity using a local variance filter. The main segmentation is computed by the graph-cuts method, though other segmentation methods can also be used. We compare the results obtained by our method with manual segmentation.
PHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF PI OF THE SKY DATA
Authors: Opiela Rafał , Małek Katarzyna , Mankiewicz Lech , Siudek Małgorzata , Sokołowski Marcin , Zarnecki Aleksander Filip
Published: June 2014

Pi of the Sky is a system of two wide field of view robotic telescopes, which search for short timescale astrophysical phenomena, especially for prompt optical GRB emissions. The system was designed for autonomous operation, monitoring a large fraction of the sky with 12m–13m range and time resolution of the order of 1–10 seconds. Two fully automatic Pi of the Sky detectors located in Spain (INTA — INTA El Arenosillo Test Centre in Mazagón, near Huelva.) and Chile (SPDA — San Pedro de Atacama Observatory.) have been observing the sky almost every night in search of rare optical phenomena. They also collect a lot of useful observations which include e.g. many kinds of variable stars. To be able to draw proper conclusions from the data received, adequate quality of the data is very important. Pi of the Sky data is subject to systematic errors caused by various factors, such as cloud cover, seen as significant fluctuations in the number of stars observed by the detector, problems with conducting mounting, a strong background of the moon or the passing of a bright object, e.g., a planet, near the observed star. Some of these adverse effects have already been detected during the cataloging of individual measurements, but the quality of our data was still not satisfactory for us. In order to improve the quality of our data, we have developed two new procedures based on two different approaches. In this article we will report on these procedures, give some examples, and we will show how these procedures improve the quality of our data.
IN-CYLINDER MASS FLOW ESTIMATION AND MANIFOLD PRESSURE DYNAMICS FOR STATE PREDICTION IN SI ENGINES
Authors: Sławomir Wojnar , Rohal-Ilkiv Boris , Šimončic Peter , Honek Marek , Jozef Csambál
Published: June 2014

The aim of this paper is to present a simple model of the intake manifold dynamics of a spark ignition (SI) engine and its possible application for estimation and control purposes. We focus on pressure dynamics, which may be regarded as the foundation for estimating future states and for designing model predictive control strategies suitable for maintaining the desired air fuel ratio (AFR). The flow rate measured at the inlet of the intake manifold and the in-cylinder flow estimation are considered as parts of the proposed model. In-cylinder flow estimation is crucial for engine control, where an accurate amount of aspired air forms the basis for computing the manipulated variables. The solutions presented here are based on the mean value engine model (MVEM) approach, using the speed-density method. The proposed in-cylinder flow estimation method is compared to measured values in an experimental setting, while one-step-ahead prediction is illustrated using simulation results.
ON OBSERVATIONAL PHENOMENA RELATED TO KERR SUPERSPINARS
Authors: Stuchlik Zdenek , Schee Jan
Published: June 2014

We investigate possible signatures of a Kerr naked singularity (superspinar) in various observational phenomena. It has been shown that Kerr naked singularities (superspinars) have to be efficiently converted to a black hole due to accretion from Keplerian discs. In the final stages of the conversion process the near-extreme Kerr naked singularities (superspinars) provide a variety of extraordinary physical phenomena. Such superspinning Kerr geometries can serve as an efficient accelerator for extremely high-energy collisions, enabling a direct and clear demonstration of the outcomes of the collision processes. We shall discuss the efficiency and the visibility of the ultra-highenergy collisions in the deepest parts of the gravitational well of superspinning near-extreme Kerr geometries for the whole variety of particles freely falling from infinity. We demonstrate that ultrahigh-energy processes can be obtained with no fine tuning of the motion constants and the products of
the collision can escape to infinity with efficiency substantially higher than in the case of near-extreme black holes. Such phenomena influence the radiative processes taking place in the accretion disc, and together with the particular generated geometry they influence the observed radiation field. Here we
assume the “geometrical” influence of a Kerr naked singularity on the spectral line profiles of radiation emitted by monochromatically and isotropically radiating point sources forming a Keplerian ring or disc around such a compact object. We have found that the profiled spectral line of the radiating
Keplerian ring can be split into two parts because there is no event horizon in the naked singularity spacetimes. The profiled lines generated by Keplerian discs are qualitatively different for a Kerr naked singularity and black hole spacetimes broadened near the inner edge of a Keplerian disc.
Aproximações entre ofertas de educação de jovens e adultos com foco na juventude: perfis e espaços
Authors: Ribeiro Eliane , Souza Luiz Carlos , De Freitas Maria Virgínia
Published: June 2014

Este trabalho se insere nos debates sobre as atuais políticas públicas de educação para a juventude no Brasil. Neste contexto, realiza comparações entre a oferta do Programa Nacional de Inclusão de Jovens – ProJovem Urbano (PJU) e a da Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA). O objetivo central é buscar indícios dos possíveis efeitos sociais do PJU sobre as condições de oferta educacional para a juventude, em comparação às condições oferecidas pela EJA ao seu público jovem. Na análise, efetuamos procedimentos de estatística descritiva básica, comparando perfis de alunos, professores e escolas a partir de dados oriundos do sistema de monitoramento e avaliação do PJU e também do Censo Escolar – INEP. As comparações explicitam semelhanças e diferenças entre os dois cenários. Estatisticamente, as comparações mostram que em alguns dos aspectos analisados a oferta do PJU é melhor que a da EJA. Por outro lado, evidenciam também aspectos em que a EJA oferece melhores condições que o PJU. Estas diferenciações influenciam qualitativamente a oferta educacional para a juventude e apontam para a necessidade de se aprofundar a compreensão sobre suas causas, bem como sobre as estratégias possíveis para seu enfrentamento.
Understanding Cultural Differences in Innovation: A Conceptual Framework and Future Research Directions
Authors: Kumar V.
Published: June 2014

Extant literature on innovation has produced important and significant results. However, no study to date has provided researchers with a framework to understand innovation from a cultural differences perspective. To fill this research gap, the author proposes a framework that categorizes culture and innovation studies into the following six approaches: (1) innovation characteristics, (2) adoption of/propensity to adopt innovations, (3) geographical innovations, (4) market characteristics, (5) learning effect, and (6) organizational functions. Each approach contains two perspectives. From these approaches and perspectives, the author identifies unique and general insights on culture and innovation, discusses the implications of implementing this framework, and recognizes possible areas of further research.
Giving against the Odds: When Tempting Alternatives Increase Willingness to Donate
Authors: Savary Jennifer , Goldsmith Kelly , Dhar Ravi
Published: June 2014

The authors examine how a reference to an unrelated product in the choice context affects consumers’ likelihood of donating to charity. Building on research on self-signaling, the authors predict that consumers are more likely to give when the donation appeal references a hedonic product than when a utilitarian product is referenced or when no comparison is provided. They posit that this phenomenon occurs because referencing a hedonic product during a charitable appeal changes the self-attributions, or self-signaling utility, associated with the choice to donate. A series of hypothetical and actual choice experiments demonstrate the predicted effect and show that the increase in donation rates occurs because the self-attributions signaled by a choice not to donate are more negative in the context of a hedonic reference product. Finally, consistent with these experimental findings, a field experiment shows that referencing a hedonic product during a charitable appeal increases real donation rates in a nonlaboratory setting. The authors discuss the theoretical implications for both consumer decision making and the self-signaling motives behind prosocial choice.
Circadian angiogenesis
Authors: Jensen Lasse Dahl , Gyllenhaal Charlotte , Block Keith
Published: June 2014

Daily rhythms of light/darkness, activity/rest and feeding/fasting are important in human physiology and their disruption (for example by frequent changes between day and night shifts) increases the risk of disease. Many of the diseases found to be associated with such disrupted circadian lifestyles, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders and neurological diseases, depend on pathological de-regulation of angiogenesis, suggesting that disrupting the circadian clock will impair the physiological regulation of angiogenesis leading to development and progression of these diseases. Today there is little known regarding circadian regulation of pathological angiogenesis but there is some evidence that supports both direct and indirect regulation of angiogenic factors by the cellular circadian clock machinery, as well as by circulating circadian factors, important for coordinating circadian rhythms in the organism. Through highlighting recent advances both in pre-clinical and clinical research on various diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disorders and obesity, we will here present an overview of the available knowledge on the importance of circadian regulation of angiogenesis and discuss how the circadian clock may provide alternative targets for pro- or anti-angiogenic therapy in the future.
Mammalian genome evolution as a result of epigenetic regulation of transposable elements
Authors: Buckley Reuben M. , Adelson David L.
Published: June 2014

Transposable elements (TEs) make up a large proportion of mammalian genomes and are a strong evolutionary force capable of rewiring regulatory networks and causing genome rearrangements. Additionally, there are many eukaryotic epigenetic defense mechanisms able to transcriptionally silence TEs. Furthermore, small RNA molecules that target TE DNA sequences often mediate these epigenetic defense mechanisms. As a result, epigenetic marks associated with TE silencing can be reestablished after epigenetic reprogramming – an event during the mammalian life cycle that results in widespread loss of parental epigenetic marks. Furthermore, targeted epigenetic marks associated with TE silencing may have an impact on nearby gene expression. Therefore, TEs may have driven species evolution via their ability to heritably alter the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in mammals.
A Phenomenological Fatigue Performance Model of Asphalt Mixtures Based on Fracture Energy Density
Authors: Bahadori A. M. , Mansourkhaki A. , Ameri M.
Published: June 2014

In this study the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures was interpreted based on fracture energy density. Recent studies indicate that the fracture energy from indirect tension tests correlates with the field performance of asphalt concrete. The fracture energy density was obtained from indirect tensile strength tests, and the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures was evaluated with four-point bending beam fatigue tests implemented at three different strain levels. Two different asphalt mixtures with varying binder contents were tested during this study. Test results showed that the fracture energy density could be an appropriate material property in phenomenological fatigue models. Thus a phenomenological fatigue model based on fracture energy density is presented, and this approach could be advantageous because a simple fatigue model based on fracture energy density does not require time-consuming fatigue tests. For comparison purposes, the various types of fatigue models were evaluated, and fatigue models based on fracture energy density and dissipated energy showed rather high prediction accuracy. In general, fatigue models based on the energy concept have the least dependence on material properties and can predict the fatigue lives of asphalt mixtures without changing coefficients.
Quantification of Transitions Occurring in a Hydrothermally Activated Fly Ash
Authors: Jha Bhagwanjee , Singh D. N.
Published: June 2014

Interaction of fly ash with NaOH results in formation of several transition compounds (viz., zeolites), which are polycrystalline in nature and their crystal wise quantification is a challenging task. In fact, various parameters (viz., oxides, minerals present in the fly ash, pH and EC of NaOH) control the outcome of such interaction at 100°C. Hence, extensive monitoring of these controlling parameters and the zeolites becomes essential. With this in view, a three-stage methodology to quantify transitions occurring in the fly ash has been proposed in this manuscript. Interestingly, it has been observed that Stage-3 of the fly ash-alkali interaction results in formation of 47 types of zeolite-crystals (viz., Na-P1, faujasite, chabazite, hydroxysodalite, and analcime), which exhibits polymerization of these zeolites and wide variation in their size (ranging from 30 to 2346 nm). This sort of transition encourages application of the residues in waste water treatment and other environmental cleanup projects.
A Dimensional Parameter for Prediction of Cooling Performance of Quenchants
Authors: Prabhu K. Narayan , Ramesh G.
Published: June 2014

Computer aided cooling curve analysis was carried out during immersion quenching of ISO/DIS 9950 quench probe. Water, brine solutions, polymer solutions, mineral oils, and vegetable oils were used as quench media. The results showed that the quench medium used had a significant effect on the quench probe cooling curve parameters. An empirical correlation was proposed to predict the average cooling rate from surface tension, wetting angle, thermal conductivity, and kinematic viscosity of the quench medium.
Listeria monocytogenes induces IFNβ expression through an IFI16‐, cGAS‐ and STING‐dependent pathway
Authors: Hansen Kathrine , Prabakaran Thaneas , Laustsen Anders , Jørgensen Sofie E , Rahbæk Stine H , Jensen Søren B , Nielsen Rikke , Leber Jess H , Decker Thomas , Horan Kristy A , Jakobsen Martin R , Paludan Søren R
Published: June 2014

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram‐positive facultative intracellular bacterium, which replicates in the cytoplasm of myeloid cells. Interferon β (IFNβ) has been reported to play an important role in the mechanisms underlying Listeria disease. Although studies in murine cells have proposed the bacteria‐derived cyclic‐di‐AMP to be the key bacterial immunostimulatory molecule, the mechanism for IFNβ expression during L. monocytogenes infection in human myeloid cells remains unknown. Here we report that in human macrophages, Listeria DNA rather than cyclic‐di‐AMP is stimulating the IFN response via a pathway dependent on the DNA sensors IFI16 and cGAS as well as the signalling adaptor molecule STING. Thus, Listeria DNA is a major trigger of IFNβ expression in human myeloid cells and is sensed to activate a pathway dependent on IFI16, cGAS and STING.
Deoxypyrimidine monophosphate bypass therapy for thymidine kinase 2 deficiency
Authors: Garone Caterina , Garcia‐Diaz Beatriz , Emmanuele Valentina , Lopez Luis C , Tadesse Saba , Akman Hasan O , Tanji Kurenai , Quinzii Catarina M , Hirano Michio
Published: June 2014

Autosomal recessive mutations in the thymidine kinase 2 gene (TK2) cause mitochondrial DNA depletion, multiple deletions, or both due to loss of TK2 enzyme activity and ensuing unbalanced deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) pools. To bypass Tk2 deficiency, we administered deoxycytidine and deoxythymidine monophosphates (dCMP+dTMP) to the Tk2 H126N (Tk2−/−) knock‐in mouse model from postnatal day 4, when mutant mice are phenotypically normal, but biochemically affected. Assessment of 13‐day‐old Tk2−/− mice treated with dCMP+dTMP 200 mg/kg/day each (Tk2−/−200dCMP/dTMP) demonstrated that in mutant animals, the compounds raise dTTP concentrations, increase levels of mtDNA, ameliorate defects of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes, and significantly prolong their lifespan (34 days with treatment versus 13 days untreated). A second trial of dCMP+dTMP each at 400 mg/kg/day showed even greater phenotypic and biochemical improvements. In conclusion, dCMP/dTMP supplementation is the first effective pharmacologic treatment for Tk2 deficiency.