bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial evaluation of flowering stalks of Cistanche violacea, a holoparasitic plant collected from arid region in Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abdallah Emad Mohamed
Published: December 2017

Objective: Cistanche violacea has been found in Qassim region (Saudi Arabia), growing as a parasitic plant on Haloxylon salicornicum. The flowering stalk part of this plant was evaluated for antimicrobial potential against various referenced bacteria and fungi.Methods: The flowering stalk parts were collected from the field, dried, extracted by maceration in 80% methanol and 80% Ethanol, The crude extracts were examined against the tested microorganisms using agar-well diffusion method.Results: The antimicrobial testing showed that among 10 referenced bacterial isolates, only one exhibited significant susceptibility to the methanol and ethanol extracts of C. violacea, which was Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC® 12228TM, recorded 15 and 16 mm inhibition zones, respectively. While other bacteria recorded weak or no susceptibility and no antifungal activity was detected.Conclusions: In general, the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the flowering stalks of C. violacea exhibited weak or no antimicrobial properties except with one bacterial strain, further studies on the other biological activities are recommended as well as investigating the chemical constituents. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first report evaluating the antimicrobial potential of the flowering stalks of C. violacea in Qassim area, Saudi Arabia.
ANÁLISE BIBLIOMÉTRICA SOBRE INTRAEMPREENDEDORISMO E SEUS DIRECIONAMENTOS
Authors: Da Silva Alan Ferreira , Magalhães Lilian Cristina Bezerra , Chaves Maria Liliane De Queiroz , De Barros Adriano David Monteiro
Published: December 2017

O comportamento empreendedor dentro das empresas e os bons resultados obtidos por organizações levaram ao estudo e caracterização desse fenômeno, agora chamado de intraempreendedorismo. Partindo das bases Scopus, Web of Science e ScienceDirect, utilizando o termo intraempreendedorismo e intrapreneurship, no título, no período de publicação entre 2000 à 2016, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo promover um levantamento bibliográfico, a fim de expor a importância dessas pesquisas para os setores empresarial e educacional, assim como a ênfase no destaque da temática nos últimos anos, as áreas mais estudadas, os profissionais que mais publicaram sobre o tema entre outros aspectos relevantes. A partir da análise detalhada dos documentos previamente selecionados, foram obtidos resultados consideravelmente importantes a respeito do tema, desde o crescente aparecimento de estudos relacionados ao intraempreendedorismo, não apenas na área da administração como se esperava, até a possiblidade de comparativos a respeito do desenvolvimento de pesquisas na área e o levantamento de hipóteses sobre quais fatores influenciam as mesmas. Partindo de três variáveis principais, país de publicação, base de dados e autores, foi possível correlacionar a quantidade de artigos, para cada variável, e suas possíveis causas. Entrepreneurial behavior within companies and the good results obtained by organizations led to the study and characterization of this phenomenon, now called intrapreneurship. Based on the Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect bases, using the term intrapreneurship and intrapreneurship, in the title, during the period of publication between 2000 and 2016, the present work had the objective of promoting a bibliographical survey, in order to expose the importance of these The business and educational sectors, as well as the emphasis on the theme in recent years, the areas studied, the professionals who published the most among other relevant aspects. From the detailed analysis of the documents previously selected, considerable results were obtained on the subject, from the increasing appearance of studies related to intrapreneurship, not only in the area of the administration as expected, to the possibility of comparative with respect to the development of Research in the area and the collection of hypotheses about which factors influence them. Based on three main variables, country of publication, database and authors, it was possible to correlate the number of articles, for each variable, and their possible causes.
O SIGNIFICADO DO TRABALHO DOCENTE: uma análise da percepção dos professores de uma Ifes de Minas Gerais
Authors: Murad Isabela , Domingos Barbara Ávila , Da Silva Isabel Cristina , Mafra Flávia Luciana Naves
Published: December 2017

Na contemporaneidade assiste-se a um quadro social cada vez mais exigente no que se refere às questões do mundo do trabalho bem como suas buscas incessantes por profissionais competentes e com habilidades variadas, tais mudanças refletem diretamente no trabalho docente, reforçando a necessidade de compreender o significado desta profissão. Assim, este estudo objetiva identificar e analisar os significados do trabalho atribuídos por professores da área de Administração de uma IFES (Instituição Federal de Ensino Superior) de Minas Gerais, sediada na região do Campo das Vertentes. Para operacionalizar essa investigação realizou-se um estudo de caso qualitativo-descritivo, coletando-se os dados por meio de entrevistas em profundidade. Os resultados foram analisados por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Nessa análise, constatou-se que os significados atribuídos pelos professores ao trabalho docente são representados por dimensões positivas e negativas do contexto de trabalho. Do lado positivo, tem-se prestígio social, o reconhecimento, a realização pessoal e profissional e o prazer em exercer o trabalho que gosta. Do outro lado, tem-se a sobrecarga de tarefas, a necessidade em cumprir indicadores, as dificuldades do trabalho em equipe e o excesso de responsabilidades. No entanto, o trabalho é tido como significativo pelos docentes, constituindo-se como parte da identidade de cada um deles. At the present time, there is an increasingly demanding social situation in the world of work, as well as its constant search for competent professionals with varied skills. These changes reflect directly on the teaching work, reinforcing the need to understand the Meaning of this profession. Thus, this study aims to identify and analyze the meanings of the work attributed by professors of the Administration area of an IFES (Federal Institution of Higher Education) of Minas Gerais, headquartered in the region of Campo das Vertentes. In order to operationalize this investigation, a qualitative-descriptive case study was carried out, and data were collected through in-depth interviews. The results were analyzed using the content analysis technique. In this analysis, it was verified that the meanings attributed by the teachers to the teaching work are represented by positive and negative dimensions of the work context. On the positive side, one has social prestige, recognition, personal and professional fulfillment and the pleasure in performing the work that he likes. On the other hand, there is the overload of tasks, the need to comply with indicators, the difficulties of teamwork and the excess of responsibilities. However, the work is considered significant by the teachers, constituting as part of the identity of each one of them.
ALTAS HABILIDADES/SUPERDOTAÇÃO: emigração de talento humano e impacto socioeconômico
Authors: Abad Alberto , Marques Abad Thaís Marluce
Published: December 2017

O fenômeno da globalização, na atual conjuntura econômica, política e social, constitui o principal motor da migração internacional de talentos. Dentre estes, é possível encontrar tanto profissionais qualificados academicamente com um alto valor econômico, quanto indivíduos com indicativos de Altas Habilidades/ Superdotação. Existem análises relativas ao tema que apontam o fenômeno tanto como uma rede de segurança (permitindo exportar o excedente demográfico e receber renda por remessas) quanto como um empecilho ao desenvolvimento. Contudo, neste artigo pondera-se uma terceira opção, que aponta às caraterísticas do país emissor como chave para tornar o fenômeno em um fator de desenvolvimento educativo, social, cientifico, econômico e cultural, ou como fonte de maior assimetria econômica. Assim, o objetivo deste é analisar o fenômeno de migração internacional de talento humano ou de AH/SD no Brasil considerando seu impacto socioeconômico e propor algumas estratégias para protegê-lo e fomentar seu retorno. A metodologia proposta é de tipo descritivo e explicativo, apoiada em pesquisa bibliográfica que incluiu livros e publicações periódicas que abordam os estudos atuais sobre a mobilidade internacional de talento, as Teorias da Dependência, e a Teoria de Intercambio Desigual de Arghiri Emmanuel.  El fenómeno de la globalización, en la actual coyuntura económica, política y social, constituye el motor principal de la migración internacional de talentos. Entre estos, es posible encontrar tanto profesionales calificados académicamente con un alto valor económico, como individuos con indicativos de Altas Capacidades/Superdotación. Existen aproximaciones teóricas relativas al tema que analizan el fenómeno tanto como una red de seguridad (permitiendo exportar el excedente demográfico y recibir renta por remesas) como un problema para el desarrollo. Sin embargo, em este artículo se considera una tercera opción, que considera las características del país emisor como clave para tornar el fenómeno en un factor de desarrollo educativo, social, científico, económico y cultural, o como fuente de una mayor asimetría económica. El objetivo del presente artículo es analizar el fenómeno de la migración internacional de talento humano o de AC/SD en Brasil, considerando su impacto socioeconómico y proponer algunas estrategias para protegerlo y fomentar su retorno. La metodología propuesta es de tipo descriptivo y explicativo, apoyada en una investigación bibliográfica que incluye libros y publicaciones periódicas que abordan los estudios actuales sobre la movilidad internacional de talento, las Teorías de la Dependencia, y la Teoría del Intercambio Desigual de Arghiri Emmanuel.
O PROGRAMA EDUCACIONAL DE RESISTÊNCIA ÀS DROGAS E A IMAGEM INSTITUCIONAL DA POLÍCIA MILITAR DO ESPÍRITO SANTO
Authors: Bortoluzzi Karina De Jesus
Published: December 2017

Identifica, com fundamento na percepção dos responsáveis pelos discentes atendidos, como o Programa Educacional de Resistência às Drogas (PROERD) influencia a imagem institucional da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (PMES). O tema é relevante, pois intenciona observar o PROERD por um aspecto ainda pouco analisado, o da imagem institucional e sua potencialidade como ferramenta de marketing. Aborda os diferentes conceitos de imagem e marketing. Analisa, ainda, a relação da atuação preventiva e a missão constitucional elencada para as Polícias Militares. Apresenta o histórico do PROERD e sua adequação ao texto da Constituição. Demonstra, por meio de questionários e suas respectivas representações gráficas, a percepção do público acerca da relação do PROERD com a imagem institucional da PMES e traz, a seu tempo, por meio da pesquisa de campo, a boa avaliação do público quanto à efetividade do programa. Conclui que o PROERD possui características correspondentes ao modelo de marketing social e que está intimamente ligado à atividade-fim da PMES. Infere, segundo a percepção do público, a grande efetividade do Programa e sua correspondência aos valores institucionais da Corporação. Responde ao problema de pesquisa ao concluir que a aplicação traz melhorias significativas na imagem da instituição e, por isso, tem condições de tornar-se ferramenta de marketing social da Polícia Militar.  It identifies, based on the perception of those responsible for the persons attended, such as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (PROERD) influences the institutional image of the military police of Espírito Santo (PMES). The theme is relevant, because intends observe the proerd for a somewhat unanalysed aspect, the institutional image and its potentiality as a marketing tool. addresses the different concepts of image and marketing. Also analyses the relationship of preventative action and the constitutional mission Elencada for the military police. It presents the history of the Proerd and its suitability to the text of the Constitution. It demonstrates, through questionnaires and their respective graphical representations, the public perception of the relationship of Proerd with the institutional image of SMEs and brings, at its time, through field research, the public's good assessment of the program's effectiveness. It concludes that the proerd has characteristics corresponding to the social marketing model and is closely linked to the end-activity of PMES. It infers, according to the public perception, the great effectiveness of the program and its correspondence to the institutional values of the corporation. Responds to the problem of research by concluding that the application brings significant improvements in the image of the institution and, therefore, is able to become the social marketing tool of the military police.
MULHERES NA POLÍTICA LEGISLATIVA: literatura, discurso e prática
Authors: Chaves Adller Moreira
Published: December 2017

Durante as últimas décadas as mulheres têm conquistado espaços que antes eram relegadas, mudando os espaços e sendo mudadas neles. Desta forma, este artigo discute sobre o que a literatura tem dito sobre as mulheres na política institucional, comparando com práticas e discursos que circundam uma vereadora de uma cidade do interior da Bahia. Para isso, produzio os dados através de uma história de vida e de estudos documentais e bibliográficos, a priore e a posteriori. Para analisa-los foi utilizada uma análise de discurso. O trabalho constatou que apesar de conquistar diversos espaços sociais, a sociedade e os partidos políticos ainda tratam a mulher como não pertencente a política institucional, ficando apenas na retórica questões de igualdade de oportunidades e participação. Outro importante elemento que afasta as mulheres da política, é a construção social de cada uma, fazendo com que dificulte a participação delas na vida pública.   During the last decades women have conquered spaces that were previously relegated, changing spaces and being changed in them. In this way, this article discusses what literature has said about women in institutional policy, comparing with practices and discourses that surround a city councilwoman from a city in the interior of Bahia. For this, it produced the data through a history of life and of documentary and bibliographic studies, the prior and the posteriori. A discourse analysis was used to analyze them. The paper found that despite conquering several social spaces, society and political parties still treat women as not belonging to institutional policy, leaving only rhetoric issues of equal opportunities and participation. Another important element that removes women from politics is the social construction of each one, making it difficult for them to participate in public life.
A CARREIRA DA MULHER: uma análise da produção científica brasileira
Authors: Santos Luana Sodré da Silva
Published: December 2017

Este artigo teve como objetivo identificar e analisar artigos em que o tema carreira fosse o objeto principal do estudo, publicados em periódicos associados à Scientific Periodicals Electronic Library (SPELL) e na SCIELO (Scientific Eletronic Library Online), no campo da administração. Por meio da análise de conteúdo, na articulação da revisão teórica com a empírica, emergiu a categoria de análise carreira da mulher. Após a identificação e classificação desses artigos, publicados entre os anos 2010 e 2017, os mesmos foram organizados em planilhas, e os dados, tabulados de forma a permitir visualizar: 1) número de publicações por periódico e por ano; 2) temáticas abordadas; 3) os periódicos que mais utilizavam esta perspectiva teórica; 4) as principais metodologias utilizadas. Entre os resultados encontrados foi possível observar que, nos últimos 7 anos, a produção acadêmica sobre carreira da mulher não teve um número expressivode publicações, sendo a maioria delas baseada em profissionais mais tradicionais, como executivas e gestoras, havendo poucos estudos voltados para outras categorias profissionais, como profissionais da área de saúde, professores, profissionais autônomos etc, o que indica um campo de pesquisa a ser explorado pelos pesquisadores brasileiros. Aponta-se a necessidade de se desconstruir a noção de carreira como uma gestão individual e masculinizada, assim como o diálogo com várias áreas do saber, ampliando a dimensão da carreira para a mulher. This article aims to identify and analyze articles in which the subject career was the main object of the study, published in journals associated with the Scientific Periodicals Electronic Library (SPELL) and SCIELO (Scientific Eletronic Library Online), in the administration area. Through content analysis, in the articulation of theoretical revision with empirical, emerged the category of career analysis of women. After the identification and classification of these articles, published between the years 2010 and 2017, they were organized in spreadsheets, and the data, tabulated in order to visualize: 1) number of publications per periodic and per year; 2) themes approched; 3) the journals that most used this theoretical perspective; 4) the main methodologies used. Among the results found, it was possible to observe that, in the last 7 years, the academic production on women's career did not have an expressive number of publications, most of them based on more traditional professionals, such as executives and managers, with few studies focused on other Professional categories such as health professionals, teachers, autonomous professionals, etc, indicating a area of research to be explored by brazilian researchers. It is pointed out the need to deconstruct the notion of career as an individual and masculinized management, as well as the dialogue with several areas of knowledge, expanding the dimension of women’s career.
Scientific evidence base for transactional analysis in the year 2010 Annex 2 – the Psychotherapy List: References to research on Transactional Analysis psychotherapy effects 1963-2010
Authors: Ohlsson Thomas
Published: December 2017

The Big List and the Psychotherapy List are the primary results of this investigation into the history of researched TA articles. They are found in Annexes 1 and 2 respectively, which are included as separate documents from the main documnet (Scientific evidence base for transactional analysis in the year 2010) for ease of later reference. Both lists contain comments by the author. The comments are offered only to pass on the author’s limited knowledge of the studies, and the author makes no claims of having made full and systematic reviews of the articles in the lists.
GROWTH OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochormis niloticus) FRY FED WITH COCONUT TESTA-CASSAVA BAGASSE MIXED SUBSTRATE FERMENTED USING Rhizopus oryzae
Authors: Pradana Yudha Wali , Sriherwanto Catur , Yunita Etyn , Suja’i Imam
Published: December 2017

Utilization of agroindustrial byproduct as cheap raw materials for aquafeed was hampered by its poor nutritional value as well as high antinutrition content which could be overcome through fermentation. Coconut testa (CT) and cassava bagasse (CB) were mixed, and fermented using Rhizopus oryzae for preparing aquafeed. Subsequent feeding test was carried out on tilapias (Oreochormis niloticus L.) using 5 feeding treatments: one unfermented feed (commercial feed 100%), and the other four feeds produced by fermentation using substrate mixture of CT and CB in 4 different ratios, namely 100%:0%, 75%:25%, 50%:50%, and 25%:75%. Feeding 100% commercial feed (true protein 22.64% and crude fibre 14.67%) showed the best results on the fish growth with body weight gain of 3.96 g and feed conversion ratio of 8.63. Meanwhile, feeding fermented feeds (true protein 7.96-20.27% and crude fiber 14.14-18.47%) resulted in body weight gain in the range of 2.22 to 2.75 g with feed conversion ratio of 10.89 to 13.62. Thus, the fermented feeds promoted growth in tested tilapias albeit less optimally than commercial feed did.Keywords: Rhizopus oryzae, Oreochromis niloticus, coconut testa, cassava bagasse, fermentation ABSTRAKPenggunaan hasil samping agroindustri sebagai bahan pakan murah ikan terkendala rendahnya nutrisi dan tingginya antinutrisi yang dapat diatasi melalui fermentasi. Dalam penelitian ini, kulit daging buah kelapa (KK) dan onggok singkong (OS) dicampur dengan perbandingan tertentu, lalu difermentasi menggunakan Rhizopus oryzae untuk pakan ikan. Uji pemberian pakan dilakukan terhadap ikan nila (Oreochormis niloticus L.) dengan 5 perlakuan: satu perlakuan pakan tanpa fermentasi (pakan komersial 100%), dan empat perlakuan pakan fermentasi substrat campuran KK dan OS dengan 4 perbandingan yang berbeda, yakni 100%:0%, 75%:25%, 50%:50%, dan 25%:75%. Pemberian pakan komersial 100% (protein sejati 22,64% dan serat kasar 14,67%) memperlihatkan hasil terbaik pada pertumbuhan ikan nila dengan pertambahan bobot badan 3,96 g dan rasio konversi pakan 8,63. Sebaliknya, pemberian pakan fermentasi (protein sejati berkisar 7,96-20,27% dan serat kasar 14,14-18,47%) menghasilkan pertambahan bobot badan ikan pada kisaran 2,22-2,75 g dengan rasio konversi pakan 10,89-13,62. Dengan demikian pakan fermentasi tersebut mendorong pertumbuhan ikan nila namun kurang optimal dibandingkan pakan komersial.Kata Kunci: Rhizopus oryzae, Oreochromis niloticus, kulit daging buah kelapa, onggok, fermentasi
Multiple Imputation of Missing Data at Level 2: A Comparison of Fully Conditional and Joint Modeling in Multilevel Designs
Authors: Grund Simon , Lüdtke Oliver , Robitzsch Alexander
Published: December 2017

Multiple imputation (MI) can be used to address missing data at Level 2 in multilevel research. In this article, we compare joint modeling (JM) and the fully conditional specification (FCS) of MI as well as different strategies for including auxiliary variables at Level 1 using either their manifest or their latent cluster means. We show with theoretical arguments and computer simulations that (a) an FCS approach that uses latent cluster means is comparable to JM and (b) using manifest cluster means provides similar results except in relatively extreme cases with unbalanced data. We outline a computational procedure for including latent cluster means in an FCS approach using plausible values and provide an example using data from the Programme for International Student Assessment 2012 study.
Humanist Guillaume Budé’s artful rhetoric: responding in kind to Utopia
Authors: Frank Andrea
Published: December 2017

Guillaume Budé’s prefatory letter to More's Utopia was prominently placed by Erasmus and More. Beneath the letter's disorienting qualities, Budé engages key ideas of Utopia, among them justice, law and lawyers, the “gadfly” of avarice and other sources of political discord, and Christianity and government. Budé’s rhetoric is subtly evocative, particularly in his irony, juxtaposition, and wealth of classical allusions, through which he indicates education of citizens and engaging rhetoric are means toward right government, the pursuit of “Hagnopolis”—an Augustinian Holy City—and ultimately demonstrates the truth, impossibility, and importance of the Utopian isle.
Raphael Hythloday and Lucian's Cynic
Authors: Avery Joshua
Published: December 2017

This essay responds to an argument made by R. Bracht Branham, who has argued that More's Utopia privileges Raphael Hythloday's voice over Morus's. Branham contrasts this dynamic with Lucian's Cynicus, in which he contends that the dominant Cynic speaker is ironically undermined. For Branham, More's idealism moves him to privilege the idealistic Raphael over the pragmatic Morus. I argue, on the contrary, that Raphael is rather ironically undermined in the same vein as was Lucian's Cynic figure, and that the dialogue reveals a like-mindedness between More and Lucian in their caution against a self-absorbed idealism. Furthermore, I utilize Virginia Cox's categories of “fictional” and “documentary” dialogic modes to argue that More employs a deliberate generic blending as part of this purpose. The vivid concreteness of contemporary England in Book I is pointedly contrasted with the utter fantasy of the “no-place” that dominates Book II.
Melitta Schmideberg: Her Life and Work Encompassing Migration, Psychoanalysis, and War in Britain
Authors: Shapira Michal
Published: December 2017

The article deals with the forgotten work of Melitta Schmideberg (1904–83), who was a significant, pioneering female psychoanalyst in the intellectual culture of 1930s and 1940s Britain. If scholars know anything about Schmideberg, it is that she was the troubled daughter of eminent psychoanalyst Melanie Klein. Contributing to the still limited scholarship on this intense period in the development of psychoanalysis in Britain, the article reveals that Schmideberg was a very active early psychologist, an avid public speaker, a founding member of important institutes for the study of crime, and a prolific author on a very wide range of issues that bothered her and others and that were tied to the troubled history of the twentieth century. A Central European Jewish refugee in Britain, she was among the first to psychoanalyse children and criminals. As the focus on women in the scholarship of twentieth-century European intellectual history is hardly sufficient, this article recovers her forgotten work whose significance warrants reclamation from obscurity. It provides the first exploration of her life showing that the issues her experiences raise are central to the history of the time.
Effects of the Macular Carotenoid Lutein in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Authors: Gong Xiaoming , Draper Christian , Allison Geoffrey , Marisiddaiah Raju , Rubin Lewis
Published: December 2017

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are central to retinal health and homoeostasis. Oxidative stress-induced damage to the RPE occurs as part of the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration and neovascular retinopathies (e.g., retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy). The xanthophyll carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, are selectively taken up by the RPE, preferentially accumulated in the human macula, and transferred to photoreceptors. These macular xanthophylls protect the macula (and the broader retina) via their antioxidant and photo-protective activities. This study was designed to investigate effects of various carotenoids (β-carotene, lycopene, and lutein) on RPE cells subjected to either hypoxia or oxidative stress, in order to determine if there is effect specificity for macular pigment carotenoids. Using human RPE-derived ARPE-19 cells as an in vitro model, we exposed RPE cells to various concentrations of the specific carotenoids, followed by either graded hypoxia or oxidative stress using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP). The results indicate that lutein and lycopene, but not β-carotene, inhibit cell growth in undifferentiated ARPE-19 cells. Moreover, cell viability was decreased under hypoxic conditions. Pre-incubation of ARPE-19 cells with lutein or lycopene protected against tBHP-induced cell loss and cell co-exposure of lutein or lycopene with tBHP essentially neutralized tBHP-dependent cell death at tBHP concentrations up to 500 μM. Our findings indicate that lutein and lycopene inhibit the growth of human RPE cells and protect the RPE against oxidative stress-induced cell loss. These findings contribute to the understanding of the protective mechanisms attributable to retinal xanthophylls in eye health and retinopathies.
Estimation of Compressive Strength of High Strength Concrete Using Non-Destructive Technique and Concrete Core Strength
Authors: Ju Minkwan , Park Kyoungsoo , Oh Hongseob
Published: December 2017

Estimating the compressive strength of high strength concrete (HSC) is an essential investigation for the maintenance of nuclear power plant (NPP) structures. This study intends to evaluate the compressive strength of HSC using two approaches: non-destructive tests and concrete core strength. For non-destructive tests, samples of HSC were mixed to a specified design strength of 40, 60 and 100 MPa. Based on a dual regression relation between ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and rebound hammer (RH) measurements, an estimation expression is developed. In comparison to previously published estimation equations, the equation proposed in this study shows the highest accuracy and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE). For the estimation of compressive strength using concrete core specimens, three different concrete core diameters were examined: 30, 50, and 100 mm. Based on 61 measured compressive strengths of core specimens, a simple strength correction factor is investigated. The compressive strength of a concrete core specimen decreases as the core diameter reduces. Such a relation is associated with the internal damage of concrete cores and the degree of coarse aggregate within the core diameter from the extracting process of the cores. The strength estimation expressions was formulated using the non-destructive technique and the core strength estimation can be updated with further test results and utilized for the maintenance of NPP.
Cellular Automaton Modeling of the Transition of Multi-Crystalline Silicon from a Planar Faceted Front to Equiaxed Growth
Authors: Zhang Yingxin , Li Ri , Wang Jia , Wang Longxuan , Yan Wenbo , Liu Caichi , Chen Hongjian
Published: December 2017

A modeling approach combining the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method and the cellular automaton (CA) technique are developed to simulate the faceted front to equiaxed structure transition (FET) of directional solidification of multi-crystalline silicon. The LB method is used for the coupled calculation of velocity, temperature and solute content field, while the CA method is used to compute the nucleation at the silicon-crucible interface and on SiC particles, as well as the mechanism of growth and capturing. For silicon, the interface kinetic coefficient is rather low, which means that the kinetic undercooling can be large. A strong anisotropy in the surface tension and interfacial kinetics are considered in the model. A faceted front in conjunction with a sufficiently high carbon content can lead to equiaxed growth by nucleation on SiC. The temperature gradient in Si melt at the interface is negative, which leads to the occurrence of a faceted interface. The higher the absolute value of thermal gradients, the faster the growth velocity. Due to differences in the degree of undercooling, there will be the unification of facets in front of the solid-liquid interface. Transitions from faceted front to thermal equiaxed dendrites or faceted equiaxed grains are observed with smaller or larger impurity contents, respectively.
Elution of Artificial Sputum from Swab by Rotating Magnetic Field-Induced Mechanical Impingement
Authors: Banik Shubham , Mahony James , Selvaganapathy P.
Published: December 2017

Cotton-tipped applicator swabs are used as a collection device for many biological samples and its complete elution is a desired step for clinical and forensic diagnostics. Swabs are used to collect infectious body fluids, where the concentration of pathogens can range from 1 × 104 CFU/mL (colony forming units/mL) in respiratory-tract infections and 1 × 105 in urinary-tract infections, to up to 1 × 109 CFU/mL in salivary samples. These samples are then eluted and lysed, prior to DNA (De-oxy Ribonucleic Acid) analysis. The recovery of micro-organisms from a matrix of swab fibres depends on the nature of the body fluid, the type of the swab fibres, and the process of elution. Various methods to elute samples from swab include chemical digestion of fibres (~20% recovery), centrifugation (~58% recovery), piezoelectric vibration, or pressurized fluid-flow (~60% recovery). This study reports a magnetically-actuated physical impingement method for elution and recovery of artificial sputum samples from cotton fibres. A device has been fabricated to induce a rotating magnetic field on smaller magnetic particles in a vial that strikes the swab within a confined gap. Elution from the swab in this device was characterized using 2% Methyl cellulose in deionised water, loaded with fluorescent-tagged polystyrene beads and E. coli at various concentrations. The recovery efficiency was found to increase with both rotational speed and elution time, but plateaus after 400 RPM (Revolutions per minute) and 120 s, respectively. At a higher concentration of polystyrene beads (5 × 108 particles/mL), a maximum recovery of ~85% was achieved. With lower concentration, (1 × 105 particles/mL) the maximum efficiency (~92.8%) was found to be almost twice of passive elution (46.7%). In the case of E. coli, the corresponding recovery efficiency at 3.35 × 105 CFU/mL is 90.4% at 500 RPM and 120 s. This elution method is expected to have a wide applicability in clinical diagnostics.
Observation and Simulation of Axle Box Acceleration in the Presence of Rail Weld in High-Speed Railway
Authors: An Boyang , Wang Ping , Xu Jingmang , Chen Rong , Cui Dabin
Published: December 2017

Rail welds are widely used in high-speed railways and short-wave irregularities usually appear due to limitations in welding technology. These irregularities can excite a high wheel/rail force and are regarded as the main cause of deterioration in track structures. To measure this fierce force (or deterioration of the rail weld), axle box acceleration is treated as an effective and economic measure, though an exact quantitative relation between these two quantities remains elusive. This paper aims to develop such a relation in order to provide a new theoretical basis and an analysis method for monitoring and controlling weld geometry irregularity. To better understand the characteristics of axle box acceleration, the paper consists of two parts: an observation and a numerical simulation of axle box acceleration by rail welds. Based on measured data from field tests, axle box acceleration at rail welds was found to have high-frequency vibrations in two frequency bands (i.e., 350–500 Hz and 1000–1200 Hz). Upon analyzing the vibration characteristics in time–frequency domains, the exact location of the rail weld irregularity could be identified. Subsequently, a 3D high-speed wheel/rail rolling contact finite element model was employed to investigate the effect of rail weld geometry on axle box acceleration, and led to the discovery that the weld length and depth determine the vibration frequency and amplitude of the axle box acceleration, respectively. A quantitative relation between axle box acceleration and wheel/rail force has also been determined. Finally, we propose an approach for real-time health detection of rail welds and discuss the influence of other defects and rail welds on the acceleration signal of the axle box.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Convective Heat Transfer of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide at Low Mass Fluxes
Authors: Lei Xianliang , Zhang Qian , Zhang Jun , Li Huixiong
Published: December 2017

Significant differences in the heat transfer behaviors of supercritical carbon dioxide in a heated channel have been observed at different mass fluxes. At low mass fluxes, a unique heat transfer characteristic is accompanied by a monotonously smooth temperature variation without any temperature peak, even though the ratio of heat flux to mass flux (q/G) is high. In this study, experimental and numerical investigations explore the hidden mechanism of the peculiar heat transfer characteristics of supercritical carbon dioxide at low mass fluxes in vertically upward tubes with inside diameters (ID) of 5 mm. The range of operating conditions examined within the study include a mass flux (G) between 0–200 kg/m2s, and a heat flux (q) of up to 120 kW/m2. The parametric effects within these experimental conditions were analyzed on the basis of the obtained heat transfer data. Furthermore, a qualitative modeling force analysis and quantitative numerical simulation of vertical flow at low mass flux reveal the heat transfer mechanism for these temperature profiles. In addition, the distribution of flow parameters and thermo-physical properties (such as shear stress, density, and specific heat) in the near-wall region were also studied. It is found that the heat transfer behavior of supercritical CO2 at low mass flux is similar to “film boiling” at subcritical pressure, where “vapor-like” fluid occupies the sublayer region. Due to reduced buoyancy, the fluid does not cause enough mixing/instability to bring it to the bulk flow.
Photoacoustic Imaging in Oxygen Detection
Authors: Cao Fei , Qiu Zhihai , Li Huanhao , Lai Puxiang
Published: December 2017

Oxygen level, including blood oxygen saturation (sO2) and tissue oxygen partial pressure (pO2), are crucial physiological parameters in life science. This paper reviews the importance of these two parameters and the detection methods for them, focusing on the application of photoacoustic imaging in this scenario. sO2 is traditionally detected with optical spectra-based methods, and has recently been proven uniquely efficient by using photoacoustic methods. pO2, on the other hand, is typically detected by PET, MRI, or pure optical approaches, yet with limited spatial resolution, imaging frame rate, or penetration depth. Great potential has also been demonstrated by employing photoacoustic imaging to overcome the existing limitations of the aforementioned techniques.
Influence of Raindrop Size Distribution on Throughfall Dynamics under Pine and Birch Trees at the Rainfall Event Level
Authors: Zabret Katarina , Rakovec Jože , Mikoš Matjaž , Šraj Mojca
Published: December 2017

Part of precipitation is intercepted by forest canopies, while the rest reaches the ground as throughfall or stemflow. This process is influenced by various meteorological variables, of which we have mainly focused on drop diameter and velocity. Rainfall in the open and throughfall under birch and pine trees have both been measured since 2014 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The results demonstrate that the total throughfall during 3.5 years was 73% and 53% of rainfall under birch and pine trees, respectively. During the 236 analysed events, the median volume diameter was 1.8 mm (±1.7 mm), and kinetic energy between 0.01 mJ/cm2 and 23.3 mJ/cm2 was recorded. We closely analysed the effect of rainfall microstructure on throughfall under pine and birch trees during three specific rainfall events. The increase in drop diameter and fall velocity during a rainfall event instantaneously increased throughfall under pine trees between 25% and 47%, whereas no such changes were observed under birch trees. This may be the consequence of different tree properties of the two species. Additionally, in the case of a saturated canopy, throughfall under pine trees exceeded rainfall in the open after an onset of larger and faster drops.
Influences of Pile Group Effects on Wave Forces on an Offshore Bridge Pile-Cap Foundation
Authors: Xiang Baoshan , Huang Bo , Yang Zhiying , Zhu Bing , Yin Ruitao
Published: December 2017

In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model for a pile-cap system of an offshore bridge is developed to examine the pile group effect on wave force of pile with different arrangements of the pile group with a pile-cap system. In the present model, the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equation is taken as the governing equation for wave motion, while the volume of fluid method is used to trace the free water surface. Based on the present model, a set of analysis was conducted to examine the influence of the pile-cap system on the pile group effect, including the arrangement of the pile group, the submerged depth of the bridge cap, and the existence of the cap. Numerical examples show that the present model overall agreed well with the previous experimental data. The existence of the cap and submerged coefficient of the cap have a significant influence on the pile group effect coefficient. During the study of the pile group effect on the wave force of a pile with a pile-cap system of an offshore bridge, the influence of the existence of the cap on the pile group effect needs to be considered.
Text Messaging Based Obesity Prevention Program for Parents of Pre-Adolescent African American Girls
Authors: Callender Chishinga , Thompson Deborah
Published: December 2017

African American girls are at a greater risk of obesity than their nonminority peers. Parents have the primary control over the home environment and play an important role in the child obesity prevention. Obesity prevention programs to help parents develop an obesity-preventive home environment are needed. The purpose of this study was to collect formative research from parents of 8–10-year old African American girls about perceptions, expectations, and content for a text messaging based program. Mothers (n = 30) participated in surveys and interviews to inform message development and content. A professional expert panel (n = 10) reviewed draft text messages via a survey. All the mothers reported owning a cellphone with an unlimited texting plan, and they used their cellphones for texting (90.0%) and accessing the Internet (100.0%). The majority were interested in receiving text messages about healthy eating and physical activity (86.7%). Interviews confirmed survey findings. One hundred and seven text messages promoting an obesity-preventive home environment were developed. The expert panel and parents reported positive reactions to draft text messages. This research provides evidence that mobile health (mHealth) interventions appeal to parents of African American girls and they have ready access to the technology with which to support this approach.
Contamination-Free Graphene Transfer from Cu-Foil and Cu-Thin-Film/Sapphire
Authors: Lee Jaeyeong , Lee Shinyoung , Yu Hak
Published: December 2017

The separation of graphene grown on metallic catalyst by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is essential for device applications. The transfer techniques of graphene from metallic catalyst to target substrate usually use the chemical etching method to dissolve the metallic catalyst. However, this causes not only high material cost but also environmental contamination in large-scale fabrication. We report a bubble transfer method to transfer graphene films to arbitrary substrate, which is nondestructive to both the graphene and the metallic catalyst. In addition, we report a type of metallic catalyst, which is 700 nm of Cu on sapphire substrate, which is hard enough to endure against any procedure in graphene growth and transfer. With the Cr adhesion layer between sapphire and Cu film, electrochemically delaminated graphene shows great quality during several growth cycles. The electrochemical bubble transfer method can offer high cost efficiency, little contamination and environmental advantages.
Role of Moisture in the Failure of Coatings on Wood
Authors: Rowell Roger , Bongers Ferry
Published: December 2017

Most wood coating tests are done either in a short term artificial weathering chamber or long term on an outdoor rack/fence. In both cases, the coatings are exposed to both ultraviolet radiation and water. This study is focused on the influence of moisture alone on wood opaque film forming coating failures. As moisture is sorbed into the wood structure, the wood swells in proportion to the volume of water sorbed. As moisture is lost, the wood shrinks in proportion to the volume of the water lost. Moisture in the wood end grain is responsible for coating failure in, for example, window corners and end to end siding. The wood cell wall moisture can be greatly reduced by a process known as acetylation which not only reduces the moisture sorbed in the cell wall but results in high levels of dimensional stability. The reduced moisture uptake along with the stability results in less stress created between the coating wood surface interface improving the performance of the coating and increasing its useful lifetime.
Challenges for Theory and Computation
Authors: Schwarz Karlheinz
Published: December 2017

The routinely made assumptions for simulating solid materials are briefly summarized, since they need to be critically assessed when new aspects become important, such as excited states, finite temperature, time-dependence, etc. The significantly higher computer power combined with improved experimental data open new areas for interdisciplinary research, for which new ideas and concepts are needed.
Role of H Distribution on Coherent Quantum Transport of Electrons in Hydrogenated Graphene
Authors: Parisi Luca , Angilella Giuseppe G. N. , Deretzis Ioannis , Pucci Renato , La Magna Antonio
Published: December 2017

Using quantum mechanical methods, in the framework of non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) theory, we discuss the effects of the real space distribution of hydrogen adatoms on the electronic properties of graphene. Advanced methods for the stochastic process simulation at the atomic resolution are applied to generate system configurations in agreement with the experimental realization of these systems as a function of the process parameters (e.g., temperature and hydrogen flux). We show how these Monte Carlo (MC) methods can achieve accurate predictions of the functionalization kinetics in multiple time and length scales. The ingredients of the overall numerical methodology are highlighted: the ab initio study of the stability of key configurations, on lattice matching of the energetic configuration relation, accelerated algorithms, sequential coupling with the NEGF based on calibrated Hamiltonians and statistical analysis of the transport characteristics. We demonstrate the benefit to this coupled MC-NEGF method in the study of quantum effects in manipulated nanosystems.
Structurally Complex Frank–Kasper Phases and Quasicrystal Approximants: Electronic Origin of Stability
Authors: Degtyareva Valentina , Afonikova Natalia
Published: December 2017

Metal crystals with tetrahedral packing are known as Frank–Kasper phases, with large unit cells with the number of atoms numbering from hundreds to thousands. The main factors of the formation and stability of these phases are the atomic size ratio and the number of valence electrons per atom. The significance of the electronic energy contribution is analyzed within the Fermi sphere–Brillouin zone interaction model for several typical examples: Cu4Cd3, Mg2Al3 with over a thousand atoms per cell, and for icosahedral quasicrystal approximants with 146–168 atoms per cell. Our analysis shows that to minimize the crystal energy, it is important that the Fermi sphere (FS) is in contact with the Brillouin zones that are related to the strong diffraction peaks: the zones either inscribe the FS or are circumscribed by the FS creating contact at edges or vertices.
Is an Entropy-Based Approach Suitable for an Understanding of the Metabolic Pathways of Fermentation and Respiration?
Authors: Zivieri Roberto , Pacini Nicola
Published: December 2017

Lactic fermentation and respiration are important metabolic pathways on which life is based. Here, the rate of entropy in a cell associated to fermentation and respiration processes in glucose catabolism of living systems is calculated. This is done for both internal and external heat and matter transport according to a thermodynamic approach based on Prigogine’s formalism. It is shown that the rate of entropy associated to irreversible reactions in fermentation processes is higher than the corresponding one in respiration processes. Instead, this behaviour is reversed for diffusion of chemical species and for heat exchanges. The ratio between the rates of entropy associated to the two metabolic pathways has a space and time dependence for diffusion of chemical species and is invariant for heat and irreversible reactions. In both fermentation and respiration processes studied separately, the total entropy rate tends towards a minimum value fulfilling Prigogine’s minimum dissipation principle and is in accordance with the second principle of thermodynamics. The applications of these results could be important for cancer detection and therapy.