bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Involving the public in systematic reviews: a narrative review of organizational approaches and eight case examples
Authors: Boote Jonathan , Baird Wendy , Sutton Anthea
Published: September 2012

This paper reviews the recent literature on public involvement in the systematic review process. We examine how relevant organizations involve the public in their review processes and how the public are involved in individual reviews. We identified nine surveys or reports of public involvement in systematic reviews at an organizational level and eight examples of public involvement in individual reviews. The public was found to be involved in the following stages of the review process: topic prioritization; refining the scope of the review; suggesting, locating and appraising the literature; interpreting findings; and writing up the review. Numerous tensions, facilitating strategies and recommendations for good practice were identified. Future research directions are delineated.
Tub Has a Key Role in Insulin and Leptin Signaling and Action In Vivo in Hypothalamic Nuclei
Authors: Prada Patrícia O. , Quaresma Paula G.F. , Caricilli Andrea M. , Santos Andressa C. , Guadagnini Dioze , Morari Joseane , Weissmann Laís , Ropelle Eduardo R. , Carvalheira José Barreto C. , Velloso Lício A. , Saad Mario J.A.
Published: September 2012

Mutation of tub gene in mice induces obesity, suggesting that tub could be an important regulator of energy balance. In the current study, we investigated whether insulin, leptin, and obesity can modulate Tub in vivo in hypothalamic nuclei, and we investigated possible consequences on energy balance, neuropeptide expression, and hepatic glucose metabolism. Food intake, metabolic characteristics, signaling proteins, and neuropeptide expression were measured in response to fasting and refeeding, intracerebroventricular insulin and leptin, and Tub antisense oligonucleotide (ASO). Tub tyrosine phosphorylation (Tub-p-tyr) is modulated by nutritional status. Tub is a substrate of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase (IRTK) and leptin receptor (LEPR)–Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) in hypothalamic nuclei. After leptin or insulin stimulation, Tub translocates to the nucleus. Inhibition of Tub expression in hypothalamus by ASO increased food intake, fasting blood glucose, and hepatic glucose output, decreased O2 consumption, and blunted the effect of insulin or leptin on proopiomelanocortin, thyroid-releasing hormone, melanin-concentrating hormone, and orexin expression. In hypothalamus of mice administered a high-fat diet, there is a reduction in leptin and insulin-induced Tub-p-tyr and nuclear translocation, which is reversed by reducing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B expression. These results indicate that Tub has a key role in the control of insulin and leptin effects on food intake, and the modulation of Tub may contribute to insulin and leptin resistance in DIO mice.
The Wnt Signaling Pathway Effector TCF7L2 Controls Gut and Brain Proglucagon Gene Expression and Glucose Homeostasis
Authors: Shao Weijuan , Wang Dingyan , Chiang Yu-Ting , Ip Wilfred , Zhu Lingyun , Xu Fenghao , Columbus Joshua , Belsham Denise D. , Irwin David M. , Zhang Haibo , Wen Xiaoyan , Wang Qinghua , Jin Tianru
Published: September 2012

The type 2 diabetes risk gene TCF7L2 is the effector of the Wnt signaling pathway. We found previously that in gut endocrine L-cell lines, TCF7L2 controls transcription of the proglucagon gene (gcg), which encodes the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Whereas peripheral GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion, brain GLP-1 controls energy homeostasis through yet-to-be defined mechanisms. We aim to determine the metabolic effect of a functional knockdown of TCF7L2 by generating transgenic mice that express dominant-negative TCF7L2 (TCF7L2DN) specifically in gcg-expressing cells. The gcg-TCF7L2DN transgenic mice showed reduced gcg expression in their gut and brain, but not in pancreas. Defects in glucose homeostasis were observed in these mice, associated with attenuated plasma insulin levels in response to glucose challenge. The defect in glucose disposal was exacerbated with high-fat diet. Brain Wnt activity and feeding-mediated hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) repression in these mice were impaired. Peripheral injection of the cAMP-promoting agent forskolin increased brain β-cat Ser675 phosphorylation and brain gcg expression and restored feeding-mediated hypothalamic AMPK repression. We conclude that TCF7L2 and Wnt signaling control gut and brain gcg expression and glucose homeostasis and speculate that positive cross-talk between Wnt and GLP-1/cAMP signaling is an underlying mechanism for brain GLP-1 in exerting its metabolic functions.
Novel and Reversible Mechanisms of Smoking-Induced Insulin Resistance in Humans
Authors: Bergman Bryan C. , Perreault Leigh , Hunerdosse Devon , Kerege Anna , Playdon Mary , Samek Ali M. , Eckel Robert H.
Published: September 2012

Smoking is the most common cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States, in part because it is an independent risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, mechanisms responsible for smoking-induced insulin resistance are unclear. In this study, we found smokers were less insulin sensitive compared with controls, which increased after either 1 or 2 weeks of smoking cessation. Improvements in insulin sensitivity after smoking cessation occurred with normalization of IRS-1ser636 phosphorylation. In muscle cell culture, nicotine exposure significantly increased IRS-1ser636 phosphorylation and decreased insulin sensitivity, recapitulating the phenotype of smoking-induced insulin resistance in humans. The two pathways known to stimulate IRS-1ser636 phosphorylation (p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK] and mammalian target of rapamycin [mTOR]) were both stimulated by nicotine in culture. Inhibition of mTOR, but not p44/42 MAPK, during nicotine exposure prevented IRS-1ser636 phosphorylation and normalized insulin sensitivity. These data indicate nicotine induces insulin resistance in skeletal muscle by activating mTOR. Therapeutic agents designed to oppose skeletal muscle mTOR activation may prevent insulin resistance in humans who are unable to stop smoking or are chronically exposed to secondhand smoke.
White Blood Cells Count and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Young Men
Authors: Twig Gilad , Afek Arnon , Shamiss Ari , Derazne Estela , Tzur Dorit , Gordon Barak , Tirosh Amir
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE

Association between white blood cell (WBC) count and diabetes risk has been recently suggested. We assessed whether WBC count is an independent risk factor for diabetes incidence among young healthy adults.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

WBC count was measured in 24,897 young (mean age 30.8 ± 5.36 years), normoglycemic men with WBC range of 3,000 to 12,000 cells/mm3. Participants were periodically screened for diabetes during a mean follow-up of 7.5 years.

RESULTS

During 185,354 person-years of follow-up, diabetes was diagnosed in 447 subjects. A multivariate model adjusted for age, BMI, family history of diabetes, physical activity, and fasting glucose and triglyceride levels revealed a 7.6% increase in incident diabetes for every increment of 1,000 cells/mm3 (P = 0.046). When grouped in quintiles, a baseline WBC count above 6,900 cells/mm3 had an independent 52% increase in diabetes risk (hazard ratio 1.52 [95% CI 1.06–2.18]) compared with the lowest quintile (WBC <5,400 cells/mm3). Men at the lowest WBC quintile were protected from diabetes incidence even in the presence of overweight, family history of diabetes, or elevated triglyceride levels. After simultaneous control for risk factors, BMI was the primary contributor of the variation in multivariate models (P < 0.001), followed by age and WBC count (P < 0.001), and family history of diabetes and triglyceride levels (P = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

WBC count, a commonly used and widely available test, is an independent risk factor for diabetes in young men at values well within the normal range.
Early Microvascular Recruitment Modulates Subsequent Insulin-Mediated Skeletal Muscle Glucose Metabolism During Lipid Infusion
Authors: Eggleston Emma M. , Jahn Linda A. , Barrett Eugene J.
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE

To test whether early, insulin-mediated microvascular recruitment in skeletal muscle predicts steady-state glucose metabolism in the setting of physiological elevation of free fatty acid concentrations.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We measured insulin’s microvascular and metabolic effects in 14 healthy young adults during a 2-h euglycemic insulin clamp. Plasma free fatty acid concentrations were raised (Intralipid and heparin infusion) for 3 h before the clamp and maintained at postprandial concentrations during the clamp. Microvascular blood volume (MBV) was measured by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) continuously from baseline through the first 30 min of the insulin clamp. Muscle glucose and insulin uptake were measured by the forearm balance method.

RESULTS

The glucose infusion rate (GIR) necessary to maintain euglycemia during the clamp varied by fivefold across subjects (2.5–12.5 mg/min/kg). The early MBV responses to insulin, as indicated by CEU video intensity, ranged widely, from a 39% decline to a 69% increase. During the clamp, steady state forearm muscle glucose uptake and GIR each correlated significantly with the change in forearm MBV (P < 0.01). To explore the basis for the wide range of vascular and metabolic insulin sensitivity observed, we also measured Vo2max in a subset of eight subjects. Fitness (Vo2max) correlated significantly with the GIR, the forearm glucose uptake, and the percentage change in MBV during the insulin clamp (P < 0.05 for each).

CONCLUSIONS

Early microvascular responses to insulin strongly associate with steady state skeletal muscle insulin-mediated glucose uptake. Physical fitness predicts both metabolic and vascular insulin responsiveness.
Benefits of Early Hypertension Control on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Diabetes
Authors: O’Connor Patrick J. , Vazquez-Benitez Gabriela , Schmittdiel Julie A. , Parker Emily D. , Trower Nicole K. , Desai Jay R. , Margolis Karen L. , Magid David J.
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of early hypertension (HT) control on occurrence of subsequent major cardiovascular events in those with diabetes and recent-onset HT.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Study subjects were 15,665 adults with diabetes but no diagnosed coronary or cerebrovascular disease at baseline who met standard criteria for new-onset HT. Poisson regression models assessed whether adequate blood pressure control within 1 year of HT onset predicts subsequent occurrence of major cardiovascular events with and without adjustment for baseline Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and other covariates.

RESULTS

Mean age was 51.5 years, and mean blood pressure at HT onset was 136.8/80.8 mmHg. In the year after HT onset, mean blood pressure decreased to 131.4/78.0 mmHg and was <130/80 mmHg in 32.9% of subjects and <140/90 mmHg in 80.2%. Over a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, age-adjusted rates of major cardiovascular events in those with mean 1-year blood pressure measurements of <130/80, 130–139/80–89, and ≥140/90 mmHg were 5.10, 4.27, and 6.94 events/1,000 person-years, respectively (P = 0.004). In FRS-adjusted models, rates of major cardiovascular events were significantly higher in those with mean blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg in the first year after HT onset (rate ratio 1.30 [95% CI 1.01–1.169]; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Failure to adequately control BP within 1 year of HT onset significantly increased the likelihood of major cardiovascular events within 3 years. Prompt control of new-onset HT in patients with diabetes may provide important short-term clinical benefits.
Reduced Heart Rate Variability Among Youth With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Jaiswal Mamta , Urbina Elaine M. , Wadwa R. Paul , Talton Jennifer W. , D’Agostino Ralph B. , Hamman Richard F. , Fingerlin Tasha E. , Daniels Stephen , Marcovina Santica M. , Dolan Lawrence M. , Dabelea Dana
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE

This study compared heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in youth with and without type 1 diabetes and explored potential contributors of altered HRV.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

HRV parameters were measured among 354 youth with type 1 diabetes (mean age 18.8 years, diabetes duration 9.8 years, and mean A1C 8.9%) and 176 youth without diabetes (mean age 19.2 years) participating in the SEARCH CVD study. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between diabetes status and HRV parameters, adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS

Compared with control subjects, youth with type 1 diabetes had reduced overall HRV (10.09 ms lower SD of NN intervals [SDNN]) and markers of parasympathetic loss (13.5 ms reduced root mean square successive difference of NN intervals [RMSSD] and 5.2 normalized units (n.u.) reduced high frequency [HF] power) with sympathetic override (5.2 n.u. increased low frequency [LF] power), independent of demographic, anthropometric, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Older age, female sex, higher LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and presence of microalbuminuria were independently associated with lower HRV but did not account for the observed differences between youth with and without diabetes. Youth with type 1 diabetes and A1C levels ≥7.5% had significantly worse HRV parameters than control subjects; however, in youth with optimal glycemic control (A1C <7.5%), HRV parameters did not differ significantly from control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Youth with type 1 diabetes have signs of early cardiac autonomic neuropathy: reduced overall HRV and parasympathetic loss with sympathetic override. The main driver of these subclinical abnormalities appears to be hyperglycemia.
Insulin Resistance and Truncal Obesity as Important Determinants of the Greater Incidence of Diabetes in Indian Asians and African Caribbeans Compared With Europeans
Authors: Tillin Therese , Hughes Alun D. , Godsland Ian F. , Whincup Peter , Forouhi Nita G. , Welsh Paul , Sattar Naveed , McKeigue Paul M. , Chaturvedi Nish
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE

To determine the extent of, and reasons for, ethnic differences in type 2 diabetes incidence in the U.K.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Population-based triethnic cohort. Participants were without diabetes, aged 40–69 at baseline (1989–1991), and followed-up for 20 years. Baseline measurements included fasting and postglucose bloods, anthropometry, and lifestyle questionnaire. Incident diabetes was identified from medical records and participant recall. Ethnic differences in diabetes incidence were examined using competing risks regression.

RESULTS

Incident diabetes was identified in 196 of 1,354 (14%) Europeans, 282 of 839 (34%) Indian Asians, and 100 of 335 (30%) African Caribbeans. All Indian Asians and African Caribbeans were first-generation migrants. Compared with Europeans, age-adjusted subhazard ratios (SHRs [95% CI]) for men and women, respectively, were 2.88 (95%, 2.36–3.53; P < 0.001) and 1.91 (1.18–3.10; P = 0.008) in Indian Asians, and 2.23 (1.64–3.03; P < 0.001) and 2.51 (1.63–3.87; P < 0.001) in African Caribbeans. Differences in baseline insulin resistance and truncal obesity largely attenuated the ethnic minority excess in women (adjusted SHRs: Indian Asians 0.77 [0.49–1.42]; P = 0.3; African Caribbeans 1.48 [0.89–2.45]; P = 0.13), but not in men (adjusted SHRs: Indian Asians 1.98 [1.52–2.58]; P < 0.001 and African Caribbeans, 2.05 [1.46–2.89; P < 0.001]).

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin resistance and truncal obesity account for the twofold excess incidence of diabetes in Indian Asian and African Caribbean women, but not men. Explanations for the excess diabetes risk in ethnic minority men remains unclear. Further study requires more precise measures of conventional risk factors and identification of novel risk factors.
Changes in physiological and biomechanical variables in women practicing the Power Yoga system
Authors: Mróz Anna , Buśko Krzysztof , Wit Bożena
Published: September 2012

Changes in physiological and biomechanical variables in women practicing the Power Yoga system

Study aim: To investigate changes in selected indices of anaerobic capacity, the ability to maintain body balance and the height of elevating body's centre of mass, and maximum power output in lower limbs during countermovement jump (CMJ) after 6 months of participation in yoga classes in Ashtanga Vinyasa system (Power Yoga).

Material and methods: The study included 24 untrained women who volunteered to participate in a half-year experiment. The analysis focused on 12 women who participated in the classes until the experiment ended. The Wingate test was used to evaluate anaerobic capacity. In order to measure the functional state of vestibular organ the authors used a stabilographic method. Measurements of power output in the lower limbs and the height of elevation of the centre of mass in CMJ jumps were carried out using a dynamometric platform.

Results: The 6 months of training in the Power Yoga system considerably improved the height of CMJ jumps from 0.276 ± 0.048 m to 0.308 ± 0.038 m (p<0.05). These changes were not accompanied by significant increases in maximum power output (1286 ± 200 W and 1327 ± 2134 W before and after, respectively; p>0.05).

Conclusions: Practicing Power Yoga does not induce changes in the anaerobic capacity and the functional state of the vestibular organ in women.
Immediate cardiovascular effects of pranava relaxation in patients with hypertension and diabetes
Authors: Bhavanani Ananda , Madanmohan  , Zeena S , Vithiyalakshmi L
Published: September 2012

Immediate cardiovascular effects of pranava relaxation in patients with hypertension and diabetes

Study aim: To assess immediate cardiovascular effect of pranava pranayama in the supine position in patients with concomitant hypertension and diabetes.

Material and methods: Twenty-nine established patients having both hypertension and type 2 diabetes and attending regular therapy sessions were recruited and randomly allotted to pranava or control groups. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded before and after 10 minutes of "sham relaxation" in the control group and 10 minutes of pranava pranayama in the study group.

Results: Significant (p<0.05) decreases of blood pressure and heart rate were observed. However, responses in the pranava and control groups were different: systolic pressure, pulse pressure, as well as mean pressure significantly decreased in the pranava group and this was not observed in the control group.

Conclusions: Pranava pranayam in the supine posture produces an integrated relaxation response, clinically valuable in patients with hypertension and diabetes.
Simple and Efficient Model Filtering in Statistical Machine Translation
Authors: Pino Juan , Waite Aurelien , Byrne William
Published: September 2012

Simple and Efficient Model Filtering in Statistical Machine Translation

Data availability and distributed computing techniques have allowed statistical machine translation (SMT) researchers to build larger models. However, decoders need to be able to retrieve information efficiently from these models to be able to translate an input sentence or a set of input sentences. We introduce an easy to implement and general purpose solution to tackle this problem: we store SMT models as a set of key-value pairs in an HFile. We apply this strategy to two specific tasks: test set hierarchical phrase-based rule filtering and n-gram count filtering for language model lattice rescoring. We compare our approach to alternative strategies and show that its trade offs in terms of speed, memory and simplicity are competitive.
Hierarchical Phrase-Based Translation with Jane 2
Authors: Huck Matthias , Peter Jan-Thorsten , Freitag Markus , Peitz Stephan , Ney Hermann
Published: September 2012

Hierarchical Phrase-Based Translation with Jane 2

In this paper, we give a survey of several recent extensions to hierarchical phrase-based machine translation that have been implemented in version 2 of Jane, RWTH's open source statistical machine translation toolkit. We focus on the following techniques: Insertion and deletion models, lexical scoring variants, reordering extensions with non-lexicalized reordering rules and with a discriminative lexicalized reordering model, and soft string-to-dependency hierarchical machine translation. We describe the fundamentals of each of these techniques and present experimental results obtained with Jane 2 to confirm their usefulness in state-of-the-art hierarchical phrase-based translation (HPBT).
TrTok: A Fast and Trainable Tokenizer for Natural Languages
Authors: Maršík Jiří , Bojar Ondřej
Published: September 2012

TrTok: A Fast and Trainable Tokenizer for Natural Languages

We present a universal data-driven tool for segmenting and tokenizing text. The presented tokenizer lets the user define where token and sentence boundaries should be considered. These instances are then judged by a classifier which is trained from provided tokenized data. The features passed to the classifier are also defined by the user making, e.g., the inclusion of abbreviation lists trivial. This level of customizability makes the tokenizer a versatile tool which we show is capable of sentence detection in English text as well as word segmentation in Chinese text. In the case of English sentence detection, the system outperforms previous methods. The software is available as an open-source project on GitHub1.
rgbF: An Open Source Tool for n-gram Based Automatic Evaluation of Machine Translation Output
Authors: Popović Maja
Published: September 2012

rgbF: An Open Source Tool for n-gram Based Automatic Evaluation of Machine Translation Output

We describe RGBF, a tool for automatic evaluation of machine translation output based on n-gram precision and recall. The tool calculates the F-score averaged on all n-grams of an arbitrary set of distinct units such as words, morphemes, POS tags, etc. The arithmetic mean is used for n-gram averaging. As input, the tool requires reference translation(s) and hypothesis, both containing the same combination of units. The default output is the document level 4-gram F-score of the desired unit combination. The scores at the sentence level can be obtained on demand, as well as precision and/or recall scores, separate unit scores and separate n-gram scores. In addition, weights can be introduced both for n-grams and for units, as well as the desired n-gram order n.
Better Splitting Algorithms for Parallel Corpus Processing
Authors: Schwartz Lane
Published: September 2012

Better Splitting Algorithms for Parallel Corpus Processing

Each iteration of minimum error rate training involves re-translating a development set. Distributing this work across computational nodes can speed up translation time, but in practice some parts may take much longer to complete than others, leading to computational slack time. To address this problem, we develop three novel algorithms for distributing translation tasks in a parallel computing environment, drawing on research in parallel machine scheduling. We present results showing a substantial speedup in overall decoding time.
Modeling regional sea level rise using local tide gauge data
Authors: Bâki Iz H. , Berry L. , Koch M.
Published: September 2012

Currently regional mean sea level trends and variations are inferred from the analysis of several individual local tide gauge data that spanonly a long period of time at a given region. In this study, we propose using a model to merge various tide gauge data, regardless of theirtime span, in a single solution, to estimate parameters representative of regional mean sea level trends. The proposed model can accountfor the geographical correlations among the local tide gauge stations as well as serial correlations, if needed, for individual stations’ data.Such a vigorous regional solution enables statistically optimal uncertainties for estimated and projected trends. The proposed formulationalso unifies all the local reference levels by modeling their offsets from a predefined station’s reference level. To test its effectiveness, theproposed model was used to investigate the regional mean sea level variations for the coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle using 26 localtide gauge stations that span approximately 830 years of monthly averages from the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level repository. Thenew estimate for the regional trend is 2.14 mm/yr with a ±0.03 mm/yr standard error, which is an order of magnitude improvement overthe most recent mean sea level trend estimates and projections for the Florida region obtained from simple averages of local solutions.
Determining the mechanical losses in a high-speed motor on the example of a flywheel energy storage system
Authors: Baszyński Marcin , Piróg Stanisław
Published: September 2012

Determining the mechanical losses in a high-speed motor on the example of a flywheel energy storage system

The article describes the method of determining mechanical losses and electromagnetic motor torque on the example of a flywheel energy storage system utilizing BLDC motor. The description of the test stand contains: the topology of power factor correction boost rectifier, an inverter supplying the BLDC motor, and the measuring system. The detailed experimental results are included in the paper.
Verification of the modified AGT method applied to determining efficiency of squirrel-cage induction motor
Authors: Figura Radosław , Szychta Leszek , Kwiecień Roman
Published: September 2012

Verification of the modified AGT method applied to determining efficiency of squirrel-cage induction motor

The modified air gap torque method to determine the efficiency of squirrel-cage induction motor was presented. of testing which continues the authors' work on application of AGT method to estimating induction motor's efficiency are discussed. The proposed method is verified in a number of selected low-power motors.
Convergence of the identification algorithm applied to the mutual inductance of the induction motor
Authors: Jąderko Andrzej , Pietryka Jędrzej
Published: September 2012

Convergence of the identification algorithm applied to the mutual inductance of the induction motor

A new observer of induction motor state variables is proposed in the paper. A nonlinearity of the main magnetic path is expressed as a function of a properly chosen parameter versus the position vector length. The value of the mutual inductance received in the identification algorithm is calculated exploiting the estimated values of the state variables. The coefficients appearing in the differential equations of the observer system are modified in each step of the algorithm on the basis of the calculated mutual inductance. The analysis of convergence of the identification algorithm is shown in this paper.
Dynamic variables limitation for backstepping control of induction machine and voltage source converter
Authors: Morawiec Marcin
Published: September 2012

Dynamic variables limitation for backstepping control of induction machine and voltage source converter

The paper presents the method of control of an induction squirrel-cage machine supplied by a voltage source converter. The presented idea is based on an innovative method of the voltage source converter control, consisting in direct joining of the motor control system with the voltage source rectifier control system. The combined control system gives good dc-bus voltage stabilization. In the applied control system the limits of the reference variables have been introduced. A correction of the estimated machine load torque is proposed. The new proposed solutions are confirmed by mathematical dependences, simulation and experimental results.
Communication issues in the control system of reactive power compensator for hydroelectric plant with induction generator
Authors: Olesiński Remigiusz , Hańczur Paweł , Wiśniewski Janusz , Koczara Włodzimierz
Published: September 2012

Communication issues in the control system of reactive power compensator for hydroelectric plant with induction generator

The presented paper concerns the issues of communication networks applied to monitoring and control of reactive power compensator for small hydroelectric plants installed in areas distant from urban agglomerations. Ethernet, CAN, Modbus and GPRS transmission protocols has been used. Industrial programmable controller as a data collector has been used also.
Experiments performed with bubbly flow in vertical pipes at different flow conditions covering the transition region: simulation by coupling Eulerian, Lagrangian and 3D random walks models
Authors: Muñoz-Cobo José , Chiva Sergio , El Aziz Essa Mohamed , Mendes Santos
Published: September 2012

Experiments performed with bubbly flow in vertical pipes at different flow conditions covering the transition region: simulation by coupling Eulerian, Lagrangian and 3D random walks models

Two phase flow experiments with different superficial velocities of gas and water were performed in a vertical upward isothermal cocurrent air-water flow column with conditions ranging from bubbly flow, with very low void fraction, to transition flow with some cap and slug bubbles and void fractions around 25%. The superficial velocities of the liquid and the gas phases were varied from 0.5 to 3 m/s and from 0 to 0.6 m/s, respectively. Also to check the effect of changing the surface tension on the previous experiments small amounts of 1-butanol were added to the water. These amounts range from 9 to 75 ppm and change the surface tension. This study is interesting because in real cases the surface tension of the water diminishes with temperature, and with this kind of experiments we can study indirectly the effect of changing the temperature on the void fraction distribution. The following axial and radial distributions were measured in all these experiments: void fraction, interfacial area concentration, interfacial velocity, Sauter mean diameter and turbulence intensity. The range of values of the gas superficial velocities in these experiments covered the range from bubbly flow to the transition to cap/slug flow. Also with transition flow conditions we distinguish two groups of bubbles in the experiments, the small spherical bubbles and the cap/slug bubbles. Special interest was devoted to the transition region from bubbly to cap/slug flow; the goal was to understand the physical phenomena that take place during this transition A set of numerical simulations of some of these experiments for bubbly flow conditions has been performed by coupling a Lagrangian code, that tracks the three dimensional motion of the individual bubbles in cylindrical coordinates inside the field of the carrier liquid, to an Eulerian model that computes the magnitudes of continuous phase and to a 3D random walk model that takes on account the fluctuation in the velocity field of the carrier fluid that are seen by the bubbles due to turbulence fluctuations. Also we have included in the model the deformation that suffers the bubble when it touches the wall and it is compressed by the forces that pushes it toward the wall, provoking that the bubble rebound like a ball.
Model of heat transfer in the stagnation point of rapidly evaporating microjet
Authors: Mikielewicz Dariusz , Muszyński Tomasz , Mikielewicz Jarosław
Published: September 2012

Model of heat transfer in the stagnation point of rapidly evaporating microjet

The paper presents investigation into the single water microjet surface cooling producing evaporating film. Reported tests were conducted under steady state conditions. Experiments were conducted using the nozzle size of 70 and 100 μm respectively. In the course of investigations obtained were experimental relations between heat flux and wall superheating. It was proved that the phenomenon is similar to that of pool boiling but the boiling curves are showing a smaller value of critical heat flux (CHF) that the stagnant pool boiling. Values of CHF are also reduced with decreasing liquid subcooling. Theoretical model of surface cooling by evaporating microjet impingement in the stagnation point was described theoreticaly. Results of experiments were compared with predictions by the model showing a good consistency.
Decision Makers' Allocation of Home-Care Therapy Services: A Process Map
Authors: Mohammed Rakib , Poss Jeff , Egan Mary , Rappolt Susan , Berg Katherine
Published: September 2012

Purpose: To explore decision-making processes currently used in allocating occupational and physical therapy services in home care for complex long-stay clients in Ontario. Method: An exploratory study using key-informant interviews and client vignettes was conducted with home-care decision makers (case managers and directors) from four home-care regions in Ontario. The interview data were analyzed using the framework analysis method. Results: The decision-making process for allocating therapy services has four stages: intake, assessment, referral to service provider, and reassessment. There are variations in the management processes deployed at each stage. The major variation is in the process of determining the volume of therapy services across home-care regions, primarily as a result of financial constraints affecting the home-care programme. Government funding methods and methods of information sharing also significantly affect home-care therapy allocation. Conclusion: Financial constraints in home care are the primary contextual factor affecting allocation of therapy services across home-care regions. Given the inflation of health care costs, new models of funding and service delivery need to be developed to ensure that the right person receives the right care before deteriorating and requiring more costly long-term care.
Errors of Fact and Law: Race, Space, and Hockey in Christie v York
Authors: Adams Eric M
Published: September 2012

Christie v York has pride of place among decisions wrongly decided in Canadian legal history. Fred Christie and two friends were on their way to a hockey game when they entered the York Tavern at the Montreal Forum, seeking a beer before the game, and the York denied them service on the grounds of race. Or so the facts tell us. As it turns out, a significant error has long been woven into the story of Christie v York. What were Christie and his friends doing that night at the Forum? This article reveals that they were not attending a hockey game. The real facts, long hidden from view, involve a hot summer night, the Canadian Olympic boxing trials, Joe Louis, American race riots, and a local black boxer. And yet, even in error, hockey matters in the case, especially in Justice Henry Davis’s famous dissent. Recasting Christie as a case that turns on the judicial construction of facts, this article highlights the importance of real space and circumstance in creating notions of identity, belonging, and equality. While Christie’s errors of law have been the principal source of interest among legal scholars to date, this article argues that Christie’s facts, both real and imagined, provide a far richer contribution to the legal history of the complex relationship among race and space and law.
The Society of Property
Authors: Dorfman Avihay
Published: September 2012

The basic question that arises in connection with the distinction between property and contract is, what accounts for the general scope that property rights and duties, unlike their contractual counterparts, share? The most typical theoretical approach to this question has so far been to emphasize certain extrinsic circumstances, such as transaction costs or the normative priority of protecting property over contract rights. But the problem with this approach is that it implies that the source of the difference (whatever it is) does not originate in either property or contract but rather lies outside both (for instance, in the costs of making and carrying out transactions concerning external objects). In that, it fails to consider whether the general scope of property rights and duties is, in fact, a side effect of the special structure of property (vis-à-vis contract). On the account I shall develop, property is a framework of coordination in which participants approach the resolution of their competing claims (such as for use of and access to an object) together. In this way, property turns coordination itself into a form of respectful recognition among persons, quite apart from the functions it occasionally serves (such as promoting efficiency or sustaining freedom). This formal way of distinguishing between property and contract lies at the centre of the characterization of the rights and the duties in question that I shall pursue in these pages. Moreover, and perhaps more dramatically, this characterization provides the necessary normative resources to elaborate on their normativity: I shall argue that property, unlike contract, expresses the categorical value of regarding others as free and equal persons (at least, in the sphere of action onto which property maps).
IDENTIFYING AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE GOVERNANCE FOR SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS
Authors: Ghosh Saumyendu , Amaya Lenis , Skibniewski Mirosław J.
Published: September 2012

Projects undertaken in the project-based industry are characterized by multiple stakeholders, uncertainty, and complexity due to the unique nature of each project. These differences also extend to knowledge movement from one project to another. Increased knowledge creation resulting from project implementation is expected to lead to numerous benefits. These benefits encompass reusability of lessons learned, as well as knowledge of strategic, operational, organizational, and managerial aspects of the firm. By adopting a unified knowledge creation framework, firms seek tangible and intangible benefits such as cost reduction, improved productivity, enhanced efficiency, and business growth. A case study was used to identify problem areas of knowledge creation and align corporate and project objectives. Incorporating a comprehensive knowledge creation plan in the organizational memory infrastructure can be a significant stride toward improving overall project management efficiency and increasing the organization's productivity and profitability in the industry. This stream of research will allow researchers to further refine knowledge creation success models. The paper will also draw practitioners’ attention to areas where investment is needed to improve the knowledge governance process.
ANALYSIS OF WATERPROOFING DEFECTS AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR CAR PARKING ROOFS: LITHUANIAN CASE
Authors: Ustinovichius Leonas , Rasiulis Romas , Ignatavičius Česlovas , Vilutienė Tatjana
Published: September 2012

This work presents the analysis of installation options of exploitable car park roofs offered by the designers, material manufacturers and suppliers and introduces the Lithuanian legislation with the requirements for this type of roofing. Reasons of the most frequently occurring defects have been examined and several options for correcting defects have been provided. The most cost-effective option for correcting the defect in question has been chosen. Practical measures for increasing the reliability of exploitable car park roofs have been proposed. The analysis has shown that at a minimum slope reliability of the exploitable roof coated with roller heat-welded materials is not guaranteed. The authors propose to tighten the requirements on car park roofing.
BUCKLING LOAD ESTIMATION OF CRACKED COLUMNS USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK MODELING TECHNIQUE
Authors: Bilgehan Mahmut , Gürel Muhammet Arif , Pekgökgöz Recep Kadir , Kısa Murat
Published: September 2012

In this paper, buckling analysis of slender prismatic columns with a single non-propagating open edge crack subjected to axial loads has been presented utilizing the transfer matrix method and the artificial neural networks. A multi-layer feedforward neural network learning by backpropagation algorithm has been employed in the study. The main focus of this work is the investigation of feasibility of using an artificial neural network to assess the critical buckling load of axially loaded compression rods. This is explored by comparing the performance of neural network models with the results of the matrix method for all considered support conditions. It can be seen from the results that the critical buckling load values obtained from the neural networks closely follow the values obtained from the matrix method for the whole data sets. The final results show that the proposed methodology may constitute an efficient tool for the estimation of elastic buckling loads of edge-cracked columns. Also, it can be seen from the results that the computational time reduces if the proposed method is used.
STRUCTURED PROJECT LEARNING MODEL TOWARD IMPROVED COMPETITIVENESS IN BIDDING FOR LARGE CONSTRUCTION FIRMS
Authors: Abdul-Rahman Hamzah , Wang Chen , Malay Shamini Batu
Published: September 2012

Changes and uncertainties are inevitable in the construction industry so that contractors have to find ways to improve themselves in all aspects in order to enhance their competitiveness in tendering as it determines their survival in the industry. It is believed that experiences and knowledge of past projects have the potential to improve the competitiveness of the bids submitted. This study aims to propose project learning in a structured manner as an effective approach for improvements in bidding. Through a questionnaire survey, the five most significant benefits from project learning for the betterment of bid submissions were identified, namely: “improved accuracy in pricing”, “more realistic estimates”, “better evaluation of risks involved in tendering for a project”, “less rework and repetition of mistakes”, and “faster resolution of similar problems”. Further, the five most suitable project learning methods for improvement in bidding were recommended, which included “periodic learning meeting”, “documentation learning”, “on job training”, “debriefing”, and “informal face-to-face interaction”. Accordingly, a structured learning model toward improved bidding is developed for large construction firms.
Les courants anticapitalistes en Chine. Le point de vue d'une philosophe
Authors: Duménil Gérard , Zhang Shuangli
Published: September 2012

Résumé Vus de l’Ouest, les débats et événements politiques en Chine ne sont pas toujours faciles à déchiffrer. Au mois de mars 2012, la chute de Bo Xilai, le leader de la municipalité autonome de Chongqing (de près de 30 millions d’habitants), surprit moins que la découverte que Bo était le leader des « néomaoïstes » en Chine. En cet automne de l’année 2012, se tient le 18 e Congrès du Parti Communiste à Pékin. Même en interrogeant des gens bien informés, au cours des derniers mois, il était presque impossible d’obtenir ne serait-ce qu’une vague intuition de ce qui pouvait résulter de la réunion. Cette interview doit être comprise comme une vaste fresque des principaux courants actuels qui sous-tendent les débats actuels en Chine. Le thème central est l’anticapitalisme, car, de manière assez surprenante, ce thème définit encore l’axe central autour duquel gravitent les controverses.
Vatican II : 50 ans après. Relecture
Authors: Bressolette Claude
Published: September 2012

Résumé L’annonce de la convocation d’un nouveau Concile par le pape Jean XXIII a beaucoup surpris. Il s’agissait à la fois d’être clair sur la doctrine et d’encourager les hommes de bonne volonté, le « remède de la miséricorde » étant préféré à celui de la sévérité pour combattre les erreurs. Paul VI reprit la visée pastorale souhaitée par son prédécesseur. Quatre objectifs prioritaires furent définis par lui : l’Église comme mystère ; Renouveau et Tradition ; unité dans la diversité ; mission de l’Église et dialogue avec le monde. La levée des excommunications réciproques de 1054 fut un moment très applaudi de cette « nouvelle Pentecôte ». Les textes conciliaires témoignent d’une grande cohérence de pensée. Plusieurs aspects prouvent la singularité de Vatican II : volonté de s’adresser au monde, invitation d’observateurs orthodoxes et protestants, etc. La démarche théologique dite « inductive » est engagée pour scruter les « signes des temps ». Vatican II fut bien une révolution dans l’attitude de l’Église à l’égard du monde moderne. Il suffit pour s’en convaincre de lire le Syllabus de Pie IX (1864), puis l’encyclique Ecclesiam suam de Paul VI (1964). L’exercice de la responsabilité collégiale fut une autre innovation adoptée non sans quelques oppositions. Autres points saillants : le décret sur l’œcuménisme, le décret sur les Églises orientales catholiques, l’orientation christocentrique du rapport Église/Révélation, la réforme liturgique, les prises de position sur la liberté religieuse et la nouvelle évangélisation.
Genèse historique et enjeux éthiques contemporains de l'identité des Églises orthodoxes russes
Authors: Nivière Antoine
Published: September 2012

Résumé Une réflexion sur les enjeux éthiques de la liberté dans les Églises orthodoxes russes au siècle dernier nécessite de faire un détour par l’histoire, afin de comprendre la montée en puissance actuelle de l’idéologie nationale russe et la nouvelle alliance entre l’Église orthodoxe et l’État. Le vent de liberté insufflé par le concile de 1917 fut bien vite mis à mal par le coup d’État bolchevique. Le clergé était face à un redoutable choix : subir les persécutions du régime ou bien collaborer ; ou encore partir en exil – notamment en France – où le métropolite Euloge dirigea l’Église hors-frontières. Le combat pour la liberté passait alors par la question épineuse du lien entre l’Église et l’État, mais se jouait également sur un terrain théologique. La dernière décennie du xx e siècle a remis en question les anciens clivages : quelle est à présent la nature de l’espace de liberté laissé à l’Église ? Aujourd’hui, les nouveaux exilés posent la question de la construction d’une orthodoxie locale. L’Exarchat du Patriarchat œcuménique est devenu multiethnique, tandis que le Patriarchat de Moscou persiste à conduire l’ensemble du monde orthodoxe. Cependant, certaines séquelles de la période soviétique demeurent. Les textes officiels de référence de ce Patriarchat ne sont que déclarations d’intention. La réflexion théologique reste, en réalité, conservatrice. Le Patriarche Cyrille a consolidé les tendances bureaucratiques de son Église et la proximité avec le pouvoir de Vladimir Poutine est forte. L’Église hors-frontières, avec son patrimoine religieux, pourrait revenir dans le giron de Moscou.
Un sujet pour l'éthique ? Le pouvoir sur la vie nue d'Agamben à Lévinas
Authors: Maesschalck Marc
Published: September 2012

Résumé La thèse de l’auteur met en évidence qu’un défi majeur de l’éthique actuelle consiste dans sa conception de l’identité d’acteur, c’est-à-dire dans sa croyance au sujet éthique. L’auteur démontre que la seule manière de dépasser un constructivisme de l’identité des sujets dans l’action éthique est de renouer avec une critique des croyances afférant à l’éveil de la subjectivisation éthique, à savoir la surpuissance d’une idée de la vie et la surdétermination par une vérité de soi. Pour ce faire, il entretient un dialogue critique entre les réflexions d’Agamben et de Lévinas qui, par rapport aux questions fondatrices d’une position sur la subjectivité éthique, se révèlent décisives et complémentaires.
Entre projet éducatif institutionnel et motivations personnelles
Authors: Gauthier André-Pierre
Published: September 2012

Résumé Enrichir l’éducation de la notion d’accompagnement invite à regarder autrement du côté de la Création et du Salut. Du côté de Dieu et du côté de la médiation du sujet humain qui, dans l’acte éducatif, peut aider à l’accomplissement du projet divin. Alors, nous pouvons dire de l’École et de l’éducation, nous inspirant des mots du poète Paul Valéry : « Il dépend de toi, [éducateur], que je sois tombe ou trésor. Ami, n’entre pas ici sans désir ».