bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
El papel de las crónicas misionales coloniales en la configuración de los Llanos Orientales de Colombia y en la producción social de las diferencias
Authors: González Gómez Lina Marcela
Published: June 2015

Sobre las misiones católicas, una de las más importantes estrategias para el ejercicio del dominio colonial en América, existe una bibliografía significativa que, en el caso colombiano, se ha concentrado especialmente en mostrar su estructura económica, sus labores evangelizadoras y su papel en la definición de la geopolítica colonial. Este artículo pretende realizar una mirada diferente sobre el tema, al concentrarse en el análisis de las crónicas que dieron cuenta del transcurrir de las misiones, bajo la hipótesis de que en esos relatos se encuentran las bases que ayudan a entender la configuración del perfil regional de los Llanos Orientales y la producción social de la diferencias.
Estrategias de negociación y resistencia indígena a la colonización del occidente de Antioquia, 1880-1920
Authors: Salgado Elizabeth Karina
Published: June 2015

Este artículo analiza las acciones políticas, sociales, culturales y económicas emprendidas por las comunidades indígenas del antiguo resguardo de San Carlos de Cañasgordas frente el proceso colonizador del occidente de Antioquia entre 1880-1920, temporalidad en la se realizaron las reparticiones definitivas de la propiedad colectiva en las hoyas de los ríos Sucio y Murrí. Estas estrategias permitieron a los grupos indígenas continuar cohesionados por su identidad étnica aunque su territorio físico fue fraccionado con las posesiones de colonos.
Legislación sobre tierras e impacto en el desarrollo de haciendas ganaderas en el Magdalena Medio antioqueño, 1920-1940
Authors: Álvarez Múnera José Roberto
Published: June 2015

El desarrollo del campo colombiano, país eminentemente rural, ha conjugado dos modelos: uno liderado por el empresariado y otro impulsado por la economía campesina. Ambos, han subsistido en medio de tensiones por definir políticas agrarias sobre legalización y uso de la tierra, acceso a crédito y fomento productivo en general. Esta reflexión histórica, con apoyo en fuentes regionales, asocia una política para la legalización de tierras baldías, en relación con el desarrollo empresarial en un sector rural: la ganadería en el Magdalena Medio antioqueño en la primera mitad de siglo XX. La hacienda como unidad productiva rural por excelencia, es entendida como empresa rural y al hacendado como empresario. Al final, es presentado la magnitud del desarrollo hacendario en la región y período estudiado. Este es un producto agregado de la tesis doctoral “Empresas rurales en Antioquia: el caso de la ganadería en el oriente y el Magdalena Medio 1920-1960”.
La Compañía de Ópera Bracale en Colombia (1922-1933), un agente de la cultura musical del país
Authors: Cárdenas Velásquez Daniel
Published: June 2015

La compañía de ópera de Adolfo Bracale visitó Colombia en varias ocasiones entre 1922 y 1933. Realizó aportes al medio musical de este período al traer consigo cantantes, instrumentistas y directores de ópera del momento, reconocidos internacionalmente, e incorporó repertorio no escuchado antes. Con las temporadas de ópera el ambiente musical del país se vio enriquecido por la movilización de diferentes factores culturales, sociales y comerciales. La última función de la compañía de ópera de Bracale tuvo lugar en Medellín en 1933, pocos meses antes de quebrar. Debido a este hecho, algunos de los músicos de esta compañía, incluido el propio Bracale, tomaron la decisión de establecer su residencia en el país, y así contribuyeron a la formación de músicos y orquestas que hicieron parte de la cultura musical del momento y de las generaciones siguientes.
Olivier Compagnon, América latina y la gran guerra. El adiós a Europa (Argentina y Brasil, 1914-1939) (Buenos Aires: Crítica, 2014), 356 pp.
Authors: Murillo Ramírez Óscar
Published: June 2015

Reseña de Olivier Compagnon, América latina y la gran guerra. El adiós a Europa (Argentina y Brasil, 1914-1939) (Buenos Aires: Crítica, 2014), 356 pp.
Use of a model process for transfer of minilab TLC screening methods for quinine sulfate, mefloquine, and dihydroartemisinin—piperaquine phosphate tablets to quantitative HPTLC—densitometry methods
Authors: Strock J. , Nguyen M. , Sherma J.
Published: June 2015

Transfer of four thin-layer chromatography (TLC) Global Pharma Health Fund Minilab mobile kit protocols for detecting fake pharmaceutical products to quantitative high-performance TLC (HPTLC)—densitometry methods was carried out using a model process published earlier. The developed and validated methods were for the drugs quinine sulfate, mefloquine, dihydroartemisinin, and piperaquine phosphate. EMD Millipore Premium Purity silica gel 60 F254 glass plates, automated standard and sample solution application with a CAMAG Linomat 4, and automated densitometry with a CAMAG Scanner 3 for detection, identification, and quantification were used. Sample peak identity and purity validation were carried out by spectral comparison checks available in the winCATS software, and accuracy was estimated by the standard addition approach. HPTLC gives better efficiency, selectivity, and resolution than TLC, and the new methods overcome the deficiencies in technology related to manual application and visual zone comparison that do not allow the Minilab TLC procedures to support regulatory compliance actions. These new methods should be fully validated according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines or by interlaboratory studies if required by their applications. In addition, a previously reported transferred simultaneous HPTLC–densitometry method for lumefantrine and artemether was used to analyze a new combination tablet to demonstrate its applicability.
Optically active II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals via chiral phase transfer
Authors: Mukhina Maria V. , Maslov Vladimir G. , Korsakov Ivan V. , Purcell Milton Finn , Loudon Alexander , Baranov Alexander V. , Fedorov Anatoly V. , Gun’ko Yurii K.
Published: June 2015

We report optically active ensembles of II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals prepared via chiral phase transfer, which is initiated by exchange of the original achiral ligands capping the nanocrystals surfaces for chiral L- and D-cysteine. We used this method to obtain ensembles of CdSe, CdS, ZnS:Mn, and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and CdSe/CdS quantum rods exhibited Circular Dichroism (CD) and Circularly Polarized Luminescence (CPL) signals. The optically active nanocrystals revealed the CD and CPL bands strongly correlated with absorption and luminescence bands with unique band “pattern” for each material and the nanocrystal shape.
Musical Ownership and Pop-folk on Jersey
Authors: Johnson Henry
Published: June 2015

This article is a study of musical ownership and pop-folk on the island of Jersey. Focusing on the amateur pop-folk band Badlabecques, the discussion highlights how traditional songs have been sustained through intervention, technology and creative practice. What makes this band different to most mainstream groups performing in a similar style is that it was assembled as a result of intervention by language educators who were seeking to find ways of popularizing the island’s severely endangered language, Jèrriais. By re working folk songs through the use of technology and creative practice, the band is attempting to make Jèrriais more appealing to a younger generation of potential speakers. While language sustainability and promotion are at the core of the band’s raison d’être, this particular group is also creative with its new renderings of traditional songs as constructed in the contemporary cultural imaginary. The discussion explores the dialectics of musical ownership for one contemporary pop-folk band in a context of linguistic and musical intervention, and offers insights into the use of new media technologies in the promotion of traditional and neo-traditional songs. Such an approach helps foreground some of the changing, and sometimes challenging, dynamics at work in the production of folk song in the contemporary era.
Communication in Videogames: Editorial Note
Authors: Zagalo Nelson , Sicart Miguel , Ferreira Emmanoel
Published: June 2015

The video game history can be traced to history that goes hand in hand with the history of modern computing...
Five more steps and you will be a new person: the procedural closure of the experiential field in Every Day the Same Dream
Authors: Duret Christophe
Published: June 2015

This paper will provide an analysis of the editorial game Every Day the Same Dream (EDSD). EDSD assumes the specific characteristics of a thesis novel (a “thesis game”, in this specific case) which Suleiman (1983: 1) defined as a type of novel which explicitly puts forth “recognized body of doctrine or system of ideas” and which has an “unambiguous dualistic system of values [...] rules of action addressed to the reader [and a] doctrinal intertext” (Suleiman, 1983: 54). According to the principle of procedural rhetoric (Bogost, 2008), the thesis of EDSD is mainly defended through the formal structure of the game, especially in the problem solving processes performed by the player. We therefore analyze EDSD as a thesis game by putting forward the concept of “micro-apparatus of procedural closure of the experiential field”, which arises from the meeting of hermeneutic and cognitive sciences, the objective being to describe the strategies used to disseminate a persuasive message among players and to analyze its reception.
The expressive power of the Possible Worlds Theory in video games: when narratives become interactive and fictional spaces
Authors: Maza Antonio José Planells de la
Published: June 2015

The philosophical concept of possible worlds (Lenzen, 2004; Lewis, 1986) has been used in literary studies and narratology (Dolezel, 1998; Eco, 1979) to define the way in which we conceive different narrative possibilities inside the fictional world. In Game Studies, some authors have used this concept to explore the relationship between game design and game experience (Kücklich, 2003; Maietti, 2004; Ryan, 2006), while Jesper Juul (2005) has studied the fictional world evoked by the connection between rules and fiction. In this paper we propose a new approach to video games as ludofictional worlds - a set of possible worlds which generates a game space based on the relationship between fiction and game rules. In accordance with the concepts of minimal departure (Ryan, 1991) and indexical term (Lewis, 1986), the position of the player character determines his/her actual world and the next possible or necessary world. Lastly, we use this model to analyse the video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and show that the possible worlds perspective provides a useful, flexible and modular framework for describing the internal connections between ludofictional worlds and the interactive nature of playable game spaces.
Eventos marinos de alta energía y cambios traumáticos en los asentamientos costeros del Suroeste de la Península Ibérica. High-energy marine events and traumatic changes in coastal settlements from the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Gómez Tocano Francisco , Arruda Ana Margarida , Rodríguez Vidal Joaquín , Cárceres Puro Luís Miguel , Ruiz Muñoz Francisco
Published: June 2015

La explicación de la Protohistoria del Suroeste peninsular está experimentando cambios sustanciales al haber incorporado en su investigación técnicas multidisciplinares que la alejan de la tradicional interpretación de los textos antiguos; en lo fundamental, ahora se matiza la importancia de los colonos orientales y también se intenta conocer la aportación de la sociedad occidental al proceso a partir de mediados del I Milenio a.C. De ello se deduce que la sociedad occidental, con los descendientes indígenas y el aporte de orientales, formaría grupos más o menos homogéneos vinculados a la obtención y comercio internacional de productos marinos, desde asentamientos costeros situados entre cabo de San Vicente y la bahía de Cádiz, donde se situaba la capitalidad de la Liga Gaditana. A partir del 237 a.C., la invasión cartaginesa no produjo grandes novedades en el sistema pero, al finalizar la Segunda Guerra Púnica, se detectan cambios físicos con un aspecto muy traumático, pero que no tienen un reflejo negativo en la continuidad del mismo sistema durante el período romano republicano. Si las destrucciones son evidentes, así como la pacífica continuidad romana, es posible que un EWE de finales del siglo III a.C. causara las destrucciones físicas, según se deduce de las evidencias en algunos asentamientos costeros, como contraste a la continuidad de otros situados tierra adentro, y no una consecuencia de la guerra.
Flexibilizar el currículum de las Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES) en un entorno de complejidad: un análisis de casos desde la perspectiva cultural del socio-constructivismo
Authors: Benavides-Lara Mario Alberto
Published: June 2015

This paper presents an analysis using a case study methodology, on how the trend of flexibility in designing curricula within Higher Education Institutions (HEI) is developed within the paradigm of complexity. Since the initial premise of this research is that the curriculum is a tool of acculturation, we propose that flexibility should be considered within the socio- cultural perspective of constructivism. Thus, the conclusion arrived at is that flexibility as a trend in curricular design should recover its cultural meaning and epistemological function as part of a complex reality; in other words, that the university should be an institution involved and active in the advancement, development and meeting of cultures and their knowledge.
Grand Crossings: The Life and Work of Alexander Saxton
Authors: Rydell Robert W.
Published: June 2015

In his Justice, Nature & the Geography of Difference, geographer David Harvey states that "we have much to learn from our predecessors, particularly those who worked in the latter part of the last century, for their political and intellectual courage cannot be doubted." My intellectual biography of Alexander Saxton follows Harvey's lead and situates Saxton's work as a writer, political activist, and historian in the tradition of humane radicals who have struggled to create a just society.
Uneven Playing Field? Assessing the Teacher Quality Gap Between Advantaged and Disadvantaged Students
Authors: Goldhaber Dan , Lavery Lesley , Theobald Roddy
Published: June 2015

Policymakers aiming to close the well-documented achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students have increasingly turned their attention to issues of teacher quality. A number of studies have demonstrated that teachers are inequitably distributed across student subgroups by input measures, like experience and qualifications, as well as output measures, like value-added estimates of teacher performance, but these tend to focus on either individual measures of teacher quality or particular school districts. In this study, we present a comprehensive, descriptive analysis of the inequitable distribution of both input and output measures of teacher quality across various indicators of student disadvantage across all school districts in Washington State. We demonstrate that in elementary school, middle school, and high school classrooms, virtually every measure of teacher quality we examine—experience, licensure exam scores, and value added—is inequitably distributed across every indicator of student disadvantage—free/reduced-price lunch status, underrepresented minority, and low prior academic performance. Finally, we decompose these inequities to the district, school, and classroom levels and find that patterns in teacher sorting at all three levels contribute to the overall teacher quality gaps.
Rhizoremediation of Petrol Engine Oil Using Biosurfactants Producing Microbial Consortium in Mustard Crop
Authors: Kumar Govind , Kumar Rajesh , Sharma Anita
Published: June 2015

Contamination of soil / water resources by petroleum products poses severe threats to underground water and soil quality. In the present study biosurfactant producing bacterial cultures were used to degrade petrol engine oil under in situ conditions in the plant rhizosphere system. Two bacterial isolates used in this study were recovered from Haldia oil refinery sites and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (JX100389) and P. moraviensis (JX149542). Application of consortium C2, (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and P. moraviensis) degraded 79.02 % petrol engine oil @ 2% in the soil planted with mustard (Brassica juncea var. Kranti) crop after 120 days. GC-MS of biodegraded fuel showed the presence of new product like hexadecanoic acid 2, oxo-methyl ester.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 3(2): 261-266 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v3i2.12475
Site-Specific Nutrient Management for Rainfed Maize in Western Mid-Hills of Nepal
Authors: Ghimire Prakash , Dahal Khem Raj , Marahatta Santosh , Devkota Krishna , Ghimire Buddhi Raj
Published: June 2015

On-farm experiment was conducted in eight farmers’ field, of Khasyoli village development committee (952 to 1415 masl), Nepal, from April to September, 2011 to address the major constraint (nutrient management) to maize production through site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) as this approach is popular among scientists. The experiment comprised three nutrient omission plots (0N, 0P, and 0K), an ample NPK plot, and a farmers’ fertilization practice (FFP) plot, arranged in randomized complete block design. Farmers planted open pollinated variety (Manakamana-3) and managed in their way. Field-specific NPK application rates were calculated by considering nutrient demand, indigenous NPK supply and recovery efficiency of fertilizers. Grain yield in FFP (2.32 Mg/ha) and 0N (1.79 Mg/ha) plots differed significantly from each other and rest of the treatments, but was statistically similar among 0P (3.18 Mg/ha), 0K (3.40 Mg/ha) and ample NPK (3.38 Mg/ha) plots. Post-harvest grain and stover analysis revealed that indigenous NPK supply (20-71 kg N, 19-68 kg P2O5 and 51-164 kg K2O/ha) of soil vary among the farmers’ field. Moreover, soil was poor in indigenous N supply (42 kg/ha), but rich in indigenous P2O5 (35 kg/ha) and K2O (90 kg/ha) supply, on an average. As per the principles of SSNM, the initial fertilizer recommendation made can vary from 40-222 kg N, 0- 93 kg P2O5, and 0-50 kg K2O/ha. On an average, farmers may apply no or lower dose of P2O5 (18 kg/ha) and K2O (3 kg/ha) but need to significantly increase dose of N (143 kg/ha) fertilizer for enhancing soil and maize productivity.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 3(2): 227-231 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v3i2.12538
Protein Profile Study of Some Nigerian Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Accessions
Authors: Alege Gbenga Olorunshola
Published: June 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the genetic diversity among 23 sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) accessions obtained from different agro-ecological localities from 10 different states across 4 geopolitical zones in Nigeria using evidence from Sodium Dodecyl Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Total seed protein of the studied plants resolved on 12% SDS-PAGE showed variations in numbers and intensity of bands among the different sesame accessions. Thirteen (13) major bands were recorded in this study. Lack of unique band and presence of common band (band 7) among the 23 studied sesame accessions indicate some levels of genetic affinity and evidence of common evolutionary origin of the sesame genotypes. This band can therefore be tagged as species specific band for discriminating Sesamum indicum. Cluster analysis grouped the 23 sesame genotypes into two clusters with similarity coefficient ranging from 0.42 to 0.96 which indicates existence of genetic diversity; therefore there is ample opportunity for improving the 23 sesame genotypes. Variations in protein bands observed among the 23 studied plants could be attributed to genomic changes taken place during species diversification. It can be concluded that genetic diversity existed among Nigerian sesame for the improvement of characters of interest. Accessions 9 (YOL), 15(OTT), 22 (OFF) and 23 (JAL) are therefore recommended for used in future breeding programs for the development of improved sesame varieties.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 3(2): 322-329 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v3i2.12734
Anthropological practice
Authors: Smith Gavin
Published: June 2015

The two articles that follow are intended as the first in an occasional series that Focaal will feature in forthcoming issues. The objective is to encourage a more rooted consideration of some of the ethical dilemmas and problems that anthropologists face in planning their research, doing their fieldwork, and publishing its results.
Estimation of arsenic in nail using silver diethyldithiocarbamate method
Authors: Bhuiyan Habiba Akhter , Tshering Kipchu , Misbahuddin Mir
Published: June 2015

Spectrophotometric method of arsenic estimation in nails has four steps: a) washing of nails, b) digestion of nails, c) arsenic generation, and finally d) reading absorbance using spectrophotometer. Although the method is a cheapest one, widely used and effective, it is time consuming, laborious and need caution while using four acids.  

Introduction

Estimation of total arsenic in water and biological samples are important for the diagnosis of arsenicosis (Misbahuddin, 2015). Biological samples include blood, urine, hair and nail. The normal amount of arsenic in blood is very low and requires sophisticated instrument to detect. Presence of arsenic in urine indicates recent exposure of arsenic. Absence of arsenic in urine sometimes does not exclude the diagnosis of arsenicosis. High concentration of arsenic in hair and nail indicates chronic exposure. The accumulation of arsenic in hair is less than the nail. There is superstition in some countries not to give hair sample. Compared to urine or blood samples, nails have the advantage of facilitating specimen collection, storage, and transportation. Therefore, the estimation of arsenic in nail is the preferred biological sample for easy collection (Karagas et al., 1996).

Estimation of arsenic in nail can be done using spectrophotometer, atomic absorption spectrometer with hydride generator (AAS-HG), High performance liquid chromatography with hydride generation with atomic fluorescence spectrometer (HPLC-HG-AFS), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (Chen et al., 1999), proton particle-induced X-ray emission and neutron activation analysis. Among these methods spectrophotometric method using silver diethyldithiocarbamate (SDDC) is still an effective, widely used and cheapest method.

In this method, arsenic reacts with zinc in presence of acid to produce arsine gas (AsH3) which is scrubbed through lead acetate impregnated glass wool (remove hydrogen sulfide) and is absorbed in SDDC dissolved in hexamethylenetetramine. The red color developed due to arsine silver diethyldithio-carbamate reaction is measured by spectrophotometer at wavelength of 535 nm.

 

Video Clips

Nail wash:                 3.2 min

Digestion of nail:        7.0 min

Arsine generation:     10.0 min

Reading absorbance:   1.2 min

 

 
Role of Ultrasound-Guided Hydrostatic Reduction of Intussusception in Children with Early Presentation
Authors: Hossain Md Shakhawat , Huq Md Ashraf Ul , Hannan Jafrul , Hasina Kaniz , Sarker RN
Published: June 2015

General objective: To study the efficacy of Ultrasoundguided hydrostatic reduction of intussusception in children with early presentation.Methods: The study group included children aged 03 months to 02 years with early case of intussusception confirmed on ultrasonography. One litre of normal saline bag was suspended at 100 cm height from the patients level. After connecting the saline bag with Foleys catheter introduced in the rectum, gradual distension of colon and retrograde movement of intussusceptum towards the caecum monitored by real time ultrasound.Successful reduction was assumed once mass was disappeared and passage of saline into the small intestine. If 1st attempt failed but there is some movement of the mass was present and child had no abdominal signs, 2nd and 3rd attempts were taken at least 30 min interval.Result: The overall success rate of US-guided hydrostatic reduction of intussusception in children with early presentation was about 90%, with no immediate recurrence and no perforation.Conclusion: Ultrasound guided hydrostatic reduction should be the first line of the treatment in patients with early presentation of intussusceptions aged between 3 months and 2 years old. In cases with failed initial reduction, a second or even third attempt may provide successful reduction.J. Paediatr. Surg. Bangladesh 3(2): 61-64, 2012 (July)
Perinatal Outcome Associated with Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid In Pregnancy
Authors: Begum Nasrin , Mahmood Sharmeen , Munmun Salma Akhter , Haque MS , Nahar KN , Chowdhury SB
Published: June 2015

Objectives: To evaluate perinatal outcome associated with meconium stained amniotic fluid in pregnant women.Methods: It was a prospective cross sectional study, conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, from January 2013 to December 2013. Total 50 pregnant women admitted in the labour ward for delivery with meconium stained amniotic fluid were the study population. Singleton pregnancy of more than 34 weeks duration was included and pregnancy with APH, breech presentation, congenital malformation of fetus, IUD were excluded from the study. Out of 50 patients two did not provide all the information needed to analyze the data and hence were excluded. Outcome Variables were gestational age, antenatal checkup, medical diseases of mother (HTN, Diabetes mellitus, Heart disease), obstetric complication (oligohydramnios, prolonged labour), mode of delivery, neonatal details (weight of the baby in kg, APGAR scoring at 1 min & 5 min), neonatal resuscitation, admission in neonatal ICU(NICU), neonatal complications (RDS, MAS, Neonatal death).Results: Over half (52.1%) of the neonates needed resuscitation and 54.2% admitted in ICU. About 90% of the neonates had normal birth weight and only 10.4% were of low birth weight. 14.6% of the neonates developed meconium aspiration syndrome and 10.4% respiratory distress syndrome. Neonatal jaundice and neonatal sepsis were observed in 4.2% neonates each. Four neonates (8.3%) died early in the neonatal life, while 1 (2.1 %) was still-born. Low APGAR score (<7) at 1 and 5 minutes of birth was found in 64.7% and 52.9% of the cases respectively with thick meconium stained amniotic fluid as opposed to 25.8% and 16.1% of the cases respectively having thin meconium stained amniotic fluid (p = 0.008 and p = 0.007 respectively). Thick meconium was significantly associated with meconium aspiration syndrome (p = 0.003). Neonates needing immediate resuscitation and admission in ICU was staggeringly higher in the former group than those in the later group (p = 0.002). The incidence of perinatal death was significantly higher in patients with thick meconium stained amniotic fluid than that in patients with thin meconium ( p= 0.021).Conclusion: Meconium stained amniotic fluid was associated with low APGAR score, higher incidence of MAS, ICU admission and perinatal death.J. Paediatr. Surg. Bangladesh 4(2): 44-49, 2013 (July)
Microwave Synthesis of High Activity FeSe2/C Catalyst toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Zheng Qiaoling , Cheng Xuan , Li Hengyi
Published: June 2015

The carbon supported iron selenide catalysts (FeSe2/C) were prepared with various selenium to iron ratios (Se/Fe), namely, Se/Fe = 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0, through facile microwave route by using ferrous oxalate (FeC2O4·2H2O) and selenium dioxide (SeO2) as precursors. Accordingly, effects of Se/Fe ratio on the crystal structure, crystallite size, microstructure, surface composition and electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of FeSe2/C in an alkaline medium were systematically investigated. The results revealed that all the FeSe2/C catalysts obtained with the Se/Fe ratios of 2.0–4.0 exhibited almost pure orthogonal FeSe2 structure with the estimated mean crystallite sizes of 32.9–36.2 nm. The electrocatalytic activities in potassium hydroxide solutions were higher than those in perchloric acid solutions, and two peak potentials or two plateaus responded to ORR were observed from cyclic voltammograms and polarization curves, respectively. The ORR potentials of 0.781–0.814 V with the electron transfer numbers of 3.3–3.9 at 0.3 V could be achieved as the Se/Fe ratios varied from 2.0 to 4.0. The Fe and Se were presented at the surface of FeSe2/C upon further reduction on FeSe2. The Se/Fe ratios slightly influenced the degree of graphitization in carbon support and the amount of active sites for ORR.
Recent Developments and Applications of Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) in Food and Environmental Analysis—A Review
Authors: Merkle Sybille , Kleeberg Kim , Fritsche Jan
Published: June 2015

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a simple, sensitive, rapid and solvent-free technique for the extraction of analytes from gaseous, liquid and solid samples and takes a leading position among microextraction methods. Application of SPME in sample preparation has been increasing continuously over the last decade. It is most often used as an automatized fiber injection system coupled to chromatographic separation modules for the extraction of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and also allows for the trace analysis of compounds in complex matrices. Since SPME was first introduced in the early 1990s, several modifications have been made to adapt the procedure to specific application requirements. More robust fiber assemblies and coatings with higher extraction efficiencies, selectivity and stability have been commercialized. Automation and on-line coupling to analytical instruments have been achieved in many applications and new derivatization strategies as well as improved calibration procedures have been developed to overcome existing limitations regarding quantitation. Furthermore, devices using tubes, needles or tips for extraction instead of a fiber have been designed. In the field of food analysis, SPME has been most often applied to fruit/vegetables, fats/oils, wine, meat products, dairy and beverages whereas environmental applications focus on the analysis of air, water, soil and sediment samples.
Design and Experimental Analysis of an Exhaust Air Energy Recovery Wind Turbine Generator
Authors: Fazlizan Ahmad , Chong Wen , Yip Sook , Hew Wooi , Poh Sin
Published: June 2015

A vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) was positioned at the discharge outlet of a cooling tower electricity generator. To avoid a negative impact on the performance of the cooling tower and to optimize the turbine performance, the determination of the VAWT position in the discharge wind stream was conducted by experiment. The preferable VAWT position is where the higher wind velocity matches the positive torque area of the turbine rotation. With the proper matching among the VAWT configurations (blade number, airfoil type, operating tip-speed-ratio, etc.) and exhaust air profile, the turbine system was not only able to recover the wasted kinetic energy, it also reduced the fan motor power consumption by 4.5% and increased the cooling tower intake air flow-rate by 11%. The VAWT had a free running rotational speed of 479 rpm, power coefficient of 10.6%, and tip-speed-ratio of 1.88. The double multiple stream tube theory was used to explain the VAWT behavior in the non-uniform wind stream. For the actual size of a cooling tower with a 2.4 m outlet diameter and powered by a 7.5 kW fan motor, it was estimated that a system with two VAWTs (side-by-side) can generate 1 kW of power which is equivalent to 13% of energy recovery.
Wind Speed Forecasting Based on FEEMD and LSSVM Optimized by the Bat Algorithm
Authors: Sun Wei , Liu Mohan , Liang Yi
Published: June 2015

Affected by various environmental factors, wind speed presents high fluctuation, nonlinear and non-stationary characteristics. To evaluate wind energy properly and efficiently, this paper proposes a modified fast ensemble empirical model decomposition (FEEMD)-bat algorithm (BA)-least support vector machines (LSSVM) (FEEMD-BA-LSSVM) model combined with input selected by deep quantitative analysis. The original wind speed series are first decomposed into a limited number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) with one residual series. Then a LSSVM is built to forecast these sub-series. In order to select input from environment variables, Cointegration and Granger causality tests are proposed to check the influence of temperature with different leading lengths. Partial correlation is applied to analyze the inner relationships between the historical speeds thus to select the LSSVM input. The parameters in LSSVM are fine-tuned by BA to ensure the generalization of LSSVM. The forecasting results suggest the hybrid approach outperforms the compared models.
Simulation of Syngas Production from Lignin Using Guaiacol as a Model Compound
Authors: Rodríguez-Olalde Nancy , Mendoza-Chávez Erick , Castro-Montoya Agustín , Saucedo-Luna Jaime , Maya-Yescas Rafael , Rutiaga-Quiñones José , Ortega José
Published: June 2015

Lignin is an abundant component in biomass that can be used a feedstock for producing several value-added products, including biofuels. However, lignin is a complex molecule (involving in its structure three types of phenylpropane units: coumaryl, coniferyl and sinapyl), which is difficult to implement in any process simulation task. The lignin from softwood is formed mainly by coniferyl units; therefore, in this work the use of the guaiacol molecule to model softwood lignin in the simulation of the syngas process (H2 + CO) is proposed. A Gibbs reactor in ASPEN PLUS® was feed with ratios of water and guaiacol from 0.5 to 20. The pressure was varied from 0.05 to 1.01 MPa and the temperature in the range of 200–3200 °C. H2, CO, CO2, CH4, O2 and C as graphite were considered in the output stream. The pressure, temperature and ratio water/guaiacol conditions for syngas production for different H2/CO ratio are discussed. The obtained results allow to determine the operating conditions to improve the syngas production and show that C as graphite and water decomposition can be avoided.
Models of Talik, Permafrost and Gas Hydrate Histories—Beaufort Mackenzie Basin, Canada
Authors: Majorowicz Jacek , Osadetz Kirk , Safanda Jan
Published: June 2015

Models of talik, permafrost and gas hydrate (GH) histories below shallow lakes are investigated and compared to models of Beaufort Mackenzie Basin (BMB) GH occurrences to describe lacustrine inundation effects, which are compared against factors controlling the variations among Mackenzie Delta (MD) permafrost, GH and talik occurrence. Models using a 2–4 °C boundary temperature range indicate that geological setting, specifically underlying lithology and porosity, are the primary controls in talik formation below lakes. Below a lake of any size, where the underlying lithology is sandy it is practically impossible to produce a pervasive talik or to completely degrade significant GH accumulations in response to the boundary condition thermal effects alone. Models predict that talik formation is, in such cases, restricted to the upper few tens of meters below the lake. Permafrost degradation appears common where porosities are <40% and water bottom temperatures reach 2–4 °C, in both marine and lacustrine settings. Where porosities are higher a thin GH stability zone can persist, even where deep taliks have formed.
Adaptation of Leaf Water Relations to Climatic and Habitat Water Availability
Authors: Mitchell Patrick , O'Grady Anthony
Published: June 2015

Successful management of forest systems requires a deeper understanding of the role of ecophysiological traits in enabling adaptation to high temperature and water deficit under current and anticipated changes in climate. A key attribute of leaf water relations is the water potential at zero turgor (πtlp), because it defines the operating water potentials over which plants actively control growth and gas exchange. This study examines the drivers of variation in πtlp with respect to species climate of origin and habitat water availability. We compiled a water relations database for 174 woody species occupying clearly delineated gradients in temperature and precipitation across the Australian continent. A significant proportion of the variability in πtlp (~35%) could be explained by climatic water deficit and its interaction with summertime maximum temperature, demonstrating the strong selective pressure of aridity and high temperature in shaping leaf water relations among Australian species. Habitat water availability (midday leaf water potential), was also a significant predictor of πtlp (R2 = 0.43), highlighting the importance of species ecohydrologic niche under a set of climatic conditions. Shifts in πtlp in response to both climatic and site-based drivers of water availability emphasises its adaptive significance and its suitability as a predictor of plant performance under future climatic change.
From Structural Variation of Gene Molecules to Chromatin Dynamics and Transcriptional Bursting
Authors: Boeger Hinrich , Shelansky Robert , Patel Heta , Brown Christopher
Published: June 2015

Transcriptional activation of eukaryotic genes is accompanied, in general, by a change in the sensitivity of promoter chromatin to endonucleases. The structural basis of this alteration has remained elusive for decades; but the change has been viewed as a transformation of one structure into another, from “closed” to “open” chromatin. In contradistinction to this static and deterministic view of the problem, a dynamical and probabilistic theory of promoter chromatin has emerged as its solution. This theory, which we review here, explains observed variation in promoter chromatin structure at the level of single gene molecules and provides a molecular basis for random bursting in transcription—the conjecture that promoters stochastically transition between transcriptionally conducive and inconducive states. The mechanism of transcriptional regulation may be understood only in probabilistic terms.
Greater Independence in Activities of Daily Living is Associated with Higher Health-Related Quality of Life Scores in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
Authors: Chan Charice , Slaughter Susan , Jones C. , Wagg Adrian
Published: June 2015

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) for nursing home residents is important, however, the concept of quality of life is broad, encompasses many domains and is difficult to assess in people with dementia. Basic activities of daily living (ADL) are measured routinely in nursing homes using the Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimum Data Set Version 2.0 (RAI-MDS) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) instrument. We examined the relationship between HRQL and ADL to assess the future possibility of ADL dependency level serving as a surrogate measure of HRQL in residents with dementia. To assess ADL, measures derived from the RAI-MDS and FIM data were gathered for 111 residents at the beginning of our study and at 6-month follow-up. Higher scores for independence in ADL were correlated with higher scores for a disease-specific HRQL measure, the Quality of Life—Alzheimer’s Disease Scale. Preliminary evidence suggests that FIM-assessed ADL is associated with HRQL for these residents. The associations of the dressing and toileting items with HRQL were particularly strong. This finding suggests the importance of ADL function in HRQL. The RAI-MDS ADL scales should be used with caution to evaluate HRQL.
Breastfeeding Rates and Growth Charts—the Zhejiang Infant Feeding Trial
Authors: Zhu Bingquan , Zhang Jian , Qiu Liqian , Binns Colin , Shao Jie , Zhao Yun , Zhao Zhengyan
Published: June 2015

A randomised control trial was undertaken in Hangzhou, China, to study the influence of the growth chart used on breastfeeding rates. Mothers with infants who were being fully breastfed at 6 weeks after birth (n = 1602) were invited to participate in the trial; 1415 agreed to participate and 1295 completed the study. Two growth charts were used, one that was heavier for the first six months of life (Chart A, n = 686) and a lighter growth chart (Chart B, n = 609). Mothers were interviewed and infants measured at 6 weeks and 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after delivery. At 6 months the full breastfeeding rates were 18.1% in the group using the heavier growth chart compared to 22.8% in the lighter growth chart group. After adjusting for potential confounders this difference remained significant (aOR 1.41, 95% confidence intervals 1.02, 1.93). These results suggest that breastfeeding rates may be influenced by the type of growth chart used. Mothers who perceive that their infants are not growing adequately (i.e., using the heavier charts) may introduce other foods to their infants earlier than mothers using the lighter chart. While a larger trial is required to confirm the results, in the interim it is suggested that if heavier growth charts are used, a lower percentile line could be used to assess adequacy of growth.
Cost-Effectiveness of a New Nordic Diet as a Strategy for Health Promotion
Authors: Jensen Jørgen , Saxe Henrik , Denver Sigrid
Published: June 2015

Inappropriate diets constitute an important health risk and an increasing environmental burden. Healthy regional diets may contribute to meeting this dual challenge. A palatable, healthy and sustainable New Nordic diet (NND) based on organic products from the Nordic region has been developed. This study assesses whether a large-scale introduction of NND is a cost-effective health promotion strategy by combining an economic model for estimating the utility-maximizing composition of NND, a life cycle assessment model to assess environmental effects of the dietary change, and a health impact model to assess impacts on the disease burden. Consumer expenditure for food and beverages in the NND is about 16% higher than currently, with the largest relative difference in low-income households. Environmental loads from food consumption are 15%–25% lower, and more than 18,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALY) will be saved per year in Denmark. NND exhibits a cost-effectiveness ratio of about €73,000–94,000 per DALY saved. This cost-effectiveness improves considerably, if the NND’s emphasis on organic and Nordic-origin products is relaxed.
Toxicity and Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Grown in a Controlled Environment
Authors: Alia Naz , Sardar Khan , Said Muhammad , Salma Khalid , Sadia Alam , Sadaf Siddique , Toqeer Ahmed , Miklas Scholz
Published: June 2015

The impact of heavy metal toxicity on the shoot and root lengths, total protein, fiber characteristics, moisture content and nutrient composition of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was evaluated. Plants were grown in pots containing soil and treated with different concentrations (mg/kg) of lead (Pb; 300, 400 and 500), cadmium (Cd; 0.5, 1 and 1.5) and zinc (Zn; 250, 500, and 700) as well as mixtures of Cd and Pb (0.5/300, 1/400, 1.5/500), Cd and Zn (0.5/250, 1/500, 1.5/700), and Pb and Zn (300/250, 400/500, 500/700). Soil contaminated by long-term irrigation with wastewater containing heavy metals was simulated. An increase in concentrations of heavy metals both individually and as mixtures significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the growth parameters and nutrient contents of S. oleracea. The uptake patterns of heavy metals in mixtures showed antagonistic impacts on each other. The toxicities of the mixtures Cd and Pb, Cd and Zn as well as Pb and Zn were higher than those observed in separate heavy metal applications but less than their additive sums. The toxicity caused by individual heavy metals was the highest for Cd followed by Pb and Zn. The highest toxicity was observed in plants grown in soil contaminated by Cd and Pb.
Sexual Health of Polish Athletes with Disabilities
Authors: Plinta Ryszard , Sobiecka Joanna , Drosdzol-Cop Agnieszka , Nowak-Brzezińska Agnieszka , Kobiołka Agnieszka , Skrzypulec-Plinta Violetta
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine sexual functioning of Polish athletes with disabilities (including paralympians). The study encompassed 218 people with physical disabilities, aged between 18 and 45 (149 men and 69 women). The entire research population was divided into three groups: Polish paralympians (n = 45), athletes with disabilities (n = 126) and non-athletes with disabilities (n = 47). The quality of sexual life of Polish paralympians was measured by using the Polish version of Female Sexual Function Index and International Index of Erectile Function. Clinically significant erectile dysfunctions were most often diagnosed in non-athletes (83.33%) with 50% result of severe erectile dysfunctions, followed by athletes and paralympians with comparable results of 56.98% and 54.17% respectively (p = 0.00388). Statistically significant clinical sexual dysfunctions concerned lubrication, orgasm as well as pain domains, and prevailed among female non-athletes (68.42%, 68.42% and 57.89%). Practising sports at the highest level has a favourable effect on the sexuality of men and women with physical disabilities. Men with physical disabilities manifest more sexual disorders than women, an aspect which should be considered by health-care professionals working with people with disabilities.
Medical Textiles as Vascular Implants and Their Success to Mimic Natural Arteries
Authors: Singh Charanpreet , Wong Cynthia , Wang Xungai
Published: June 2015

Vascular implants belong to a specialised class of medical textiles. The basic purpose of a vascular implant (graft and stent) is to act as an artificial conduit or substitute for a diseased artery. However, the long-term healing function depends on its ability to mimic the mechanical and biological behaviour of the artery. This requires a thorough understanding of the structure and function of an artery, which can then be translated into a synthetic structure based on the capabilities of the manufacturing method utilised. Common textile manufacturing techniques, such as weaving, knitting, braiding, and electrospinning, are frequently used to design vascular implants for research and commercial purposes for the past decades. However, the ability to match attributes of a vascular substitute to those of a native artery still remains a challenge. The synthetic implants have been found to cause disturbance in biological, biomechanical, and hemodynamic parameters at the implant site, which has been widely attributed to their structural design. In this work, we reviewed the design aspect of textile vascular implants and compared them to the structure of a natural artery as a basis for assessing the level of success as an implant. The outcome of this work is expected to encourage future design strategies for developing improved long lasting vascular implants.
Magnetically Targeted Stem Cell Delivery for Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Cores Jhon , Caranasos Thomas , Cheng Ke
Published: June 2015

Stem cells play a special role in the body as agents of self-renewal and auto-reparation for tissues and organs. Stem cell therapies represent a promising alternative strategy to regenerate damaged tissue when natural repairing and conventional pharmacological intervention fail to do so. A fundamental impediment for the evolution of stem cell therapies has been the difficulty of effectively targeting administered stem cells to the disease foci. Biocompatible magnetically responsive nanoparticles are being utilized for the targeted delivery of stem cells in order to enhance their retention in the desired treatment site. This noninvasive treatment-localization strategy has shown promising results and has the potential to mitigate the problem of poor long-term stem cell engraftment in a number of organ systems post-delivery. In addition, these same nanoparticles can be used to track and monitor the cells in vivo, using magnetic resonance imaging. In the present review we underline the principles of magnetic targeting for stem cell delivery, with a look at the logic behind magnetic nanoparticle systems, their manufacturing and design variants, and their applications in various pathological models.