bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Government Incentives for Energy from Waste in Colombia
Authors: Alzate-Arias Santiago , Jaramillo-Duque Álvaro , Villada Fernando , Restrepo-Cuestas Bonie
Published: April 2018

This work evaluates the prefeasibility of energy from waste projects in Colombia under the guidelines of Law 1715. That piece of legislation proposes tax incentives for non-conventional energy initiatives, such as deductions of up to 50% on the investment through income tax, VAT exemption, tariff exemption, and accelerated depreciation of assets. Pasto, Colombia, was selected as the case study. Subsequently, incineration, gasification, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas technologies were evaluated. The potential of electric power generation from municipal solid waste (MSW) of each conversion technology was estimated with mathematical models. Additionally, the economic evaluation considered five cases that combine loan options, accelerated depreciation, and income deductions. Finally, the prefeasibility analysis of each case and technology was based on the internal rate of return (IRR) and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The results reveal that only anaerobic digestion and landfill gas technologies constitute viable projects in case of traditional investment with and without loans, because they present IRRs greater than the discount rate, of 6.8%. However, by including the incentives in Law 1715 in the economic evaluation, IRRs of 11.18%, 7.96%, 14.27%, and 13.59% were obtained for incineration, gasification, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas, respectively. These results make all four technologies feasible in this context.
A Sustainable Closed-Loop Supply Chain Decision Mechanism in the Electronic Sector
Authors: Su Jiafu , Li Chi , Tsai Sang-Bing , Lu Hui , Liu Aijun , Chen Quan
Published: April 2018

In a closed-loop supply chain for electronic products, the manufacturer’s priority is to enhance the residual value of the collected end-of-use product and decide whether to outsource this business to a retailer, a third-party service, or retain it exclusively. In this paper, we constructed three models to study the decision mechanism in a closed-loop supply chain, with different players selected to collect the used product. By comparing the three models, we characterized the conditions under which the manufacturer will benefit most, and we then aimed to determine the best choice for the manufacturer. Our findings show that, when the retailer and the third-party service provider provide equal performance in collecting the used product, the manufacturer will give priority to the third-party service provider if they choose to outsource this business. If the reverse flows managed by the retailer result in a higher payoff for the manufacturer, then the manufacturer will choose to outsource this business to the retailer who will also benefit.
Constructing Differentiated Educational Materials Using Semantic Annotation for Sustainable Education in IoT Environments
Authors: Kim Yongsung , Moon Jihoon , Hwang Eenjun
Published: April 2018

Recently, Internet of Things (IoT) technology has become a hot trend and is used in a wide variety of fields. For instance, in education, this technology contributes to improving learning efficiency in the class by enabling learners to interact with physical devices and providing appropriate learning content based on this interaction. Such interaction data can be collected through the physical devices to define personal data. In the meanwhile, multimedia contents in this environment usually have a wide variety of formats and standards, making it difficult for computers to understand their meaning and reuse them. This could be a serious obstacle to the effective use or sustainable management of educational contents in IoT-based educational systems. In order to solve this problem, in this paper, we propose a semantic annotation scheme for sustainable computing in the IoT environment. More specifically, we first show how to collect appropriate multimedia contents and interaction data. Next, we calculate the readability of learning materials and define the user readability level to provide appropriate contents to the learners. Finally, we describe our semantic annotation scheme and show how to annotate collected data using our scheme. We implement a prototype system and show that our scheme can achieve efficient management of various learning materials in the IoT-based educational system.
What Is Going on with Stakeholder Theory in Project Management Literature? A Symbiotic Relationship for Sustainability
Authors: Uribe Diego F. , Ortiz-Marcos Isabel , Uruburu Ángel
Published: April 2018

Nowadays the advance towards sustainability poses a global challenge for modern society as well as for companies. Professionals and academics continually redefine business processes and design management mechanisms in a more appropriate way in order to allow companies to balance economic activity with the environmental and social impact that they generate. Under this complex and dynamic scenario, creating a product, providing a service, or achieving a given result requires a different interpretation of the efficiency paradigm and an adequate socio-environmental intelligence. In the context of project management, sustainability-related knowledge, skills, and suitable tools are necessary to face this challenge. Moreover, its close relationship with stakeholder theory presents an alternative to approach that purpose. This article attempts a systematic review of the literature on stakeholder theory in project management during the past nine years, with the aim of providing a comprehensive view of this relationship, revealing its impact and influence on sustainability, and finding new research paths. We highlight the potential benefits derived from this relationship, either as an instrument for the promotion of corporate social responsibility and inclusive policies, as a means for the generation of shared value and technological innovation, or as a key factor in the strategy and business management of a given project.
Snakebite: When the Human Touch Becomes a Bad Touch
Authors: Fry Bryan G.
Published: April 2018

Many issues and complications in treating snakebite are a result of poor human social, economic and clinical intervention and management. As such, there is scope for significant improvements for reducing incidence and increasing patient outcomes. Snakes do not target humans as prey, but as our dwellings and farms expand ever farther and climate change increases snake activity periods, accidental encounters with snakes seeking water and prey increase drastically. Despite its long history, the snakebite crisis is neglected, ignored, underestimated and fundamentally misunderstood. Tens of thousands of lives are lost to snakebites each year and hundreds of thousands of people will survive with some form of permanent damage and reduced work capacity. These numbers are well recognized as being gross underestimations due to poor to non-existent record keeping in some of the most affected areas. These underestimations complicate achieving the proper recognition of snakebite’s socioeconomic impact and thus securing foreign aid to help alleviate this global crisis. Antivenoms are expensive and hospitals are few and far between, leaving people to seek help from traditional healers or use other forms of ineffective treatment. In some cases, cheaper, inappropriately manufactured antivenom from other regions is used despite no evidence for their efficacy, with often robust data demonstrating they are woefully ineffective in neutralizing many venoms for which they are marketed for. Inappropriate first-aid and treatments include cutting the wound, tourniquets, electrical shock, immersion in ice water, and use of ineffective herbal remedies by traditional healers. Even in the developed world, there are fundamental controversies including fasciotomy, pressure bandages, antivenom dosage, premedication such as adrenalin, and lack of antivenom for exotic snakebites in the pet trade. This review explores the myriad of human-origin factors that influence the trajectory of global snakebite causes and treatment failures and illustrate that snakebite is as much a sociological and economic problem as it is a medical one. Reducing the incidence and frequency of such controllable factors are therefore realistic targets to help alleviate the global snakebite burden as incremental improvements across several areas will have a strong cumulative effect.
Variation in the Microbiome, Trichothecenes, and Aflatoxins in Stored Wheat Grains in Wuhan, China
Authors: Yuan Qing-Song , Yang Peng , Wu Ai-Bo , Zuo Dong-Yun , He Wei-Jie , Guo Mao-Wei , Huang Tao , Li He-Ping , Liao Yu-Cai
Published: April 2018

Contamination by fungal and bacterial species and their metabolites can affect grain quality and health of wheat consumers. In this study, sequence analyses of conserved DNA regions of fungi and bacteria combined with determination of trichothecenes and aflatoxins revealed the microbiome and mycotoxins of wheat from different silo positions (top, middle, and bottom) and storage times (3, 6, 9, and 12 months). The fungal community in wheat on the first day of storage (T0) included 105 classified species (81 genera) and 41 unclassified species. Four species had over 10% of the relative abundance: Alternaria alternata (12%), Filobasidium floriforme (27%), Fusarium graminearum (12%), and Wallemia sebi (12%). Fungal diversity and relative abundance of Fusarium in wheat from top silo positions were significantly lower than at other silo positions during storage. Nivalenol and deoxynivalenol in wheat were 13–34% higher in all positions at 3 months compared to T0, and mycotoxins in wheat from middle and bottom positions at 6 to 12 months were 24–57% higher than at T0. The relative abundance of toxigenic Aspergillus and aflatoxins were low at T0 and during storage. This study provides information on implementation and design of fungus and mycotoxin management strategies as well as prediction models.
Addendum: Aird, S.D. et al. Coralsnake Venomics: Analyses of Venom Gland Transcriptomes and Proteomes of Six Brazilian Taxa. Toxins 2017, 9(6), 187
Authors: Aird Steven , Da Silva Nelson , Qiu Lijun , Villar-Briones Alejandro , Saddi Vera , Pires de Campos Telles Mariana , Grau Miguel , Mikheyev Alexander
Published: April 2018

Following publication of this paper, Dr. Daniel Dashevsky discovered to our chagrin, that the transcriptomic datasets uploaded to the DNA Databank of Japan (DDBJ) contained numerous complete 3FTx sequences that were not included in our paper.[...]
Cytoplasmic Translocation of Nucleolar Protein NOP53 Promotes Viral Replication by Suppressing Host Defense
Authors: Meng Wen , Han Shi-Chong , Li Cui-Cui , Dong Hui-Jun , Chang Jian-Yu , Wang Hwa-Chain Robert , Wang Xiao-Jia
Published: April 2018

NOP53 is a tumor suppressor protein located in the nucleolus and is translocated to the cytoplasm during infection by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), as shown in our previous study. Cytoplasmic NOP53 interacts with the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) to remove its K63-linked ubiquitination, leading to attenuation of type I interferon IFN-β. In the present study, we found no obvious translocation of NOP53 in infection by a mutant virus lacking ICP4 (HSV-1/d120, replication inadequate). Blocking cytoplasmic translocation of NOP53 by the deletion of its nuclear export sequence (NES) abrogated its ability to support viral replication. These results demonstrated that NOP53 redistribution is related to viral replication. It is interesting that treatment with poly (I:C) or RIG-I-N (a constitutively-active variant) directly induced NOP53 cytoplasmic translocation. To better assess the function of cytoplasmic NOP53 in viral replication, the NOP53-derived protein N3-T, which contains a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-derived cell-penetrating Tat peptide at the C-terminal region of N3 (residues 330–432), was constructed and expressed. The recombinant N3-T protein formed trimers, attenuated the expression of IFN-β and IFN-stimulated genes, as well as decreased the phosphorylation level of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). Furthermore, N3-T promoted the efficient replication of enveloped and non-enveloped DNA and RNA viruses belonging to 5 families. Our findings expand the understanding of the mechanism by which viruses utilize the nucleolar protein NOP53 for optimal viral replication.
Natural Immunity to HIV: A Template for Vaccine Strategies
Authors: Fourcade Lyvia , Poudrier Johanne , Roger Michel
Published: April 2018

Africa accounts for the majority of global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, most of which affect women through heterosexual intercourse. Currently, there is no cure for HIV and the development of vaccines and microbicides remains the best solution to eradicate the pandemic. We and others have identified HIV highly-exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals among African female commercial sex workers (CSWs). Analyses of genital samples from HESNs have demonstrated potent innate and anti-inflammatory conditions, HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells as well as immunoglobulins (Igs), and increased regulatory cell populations, all of which support a delicate balance between strength and control against HIV intrusion. Moreover, we have recently shown that frequencies of innate marginal zone (MZ) B-cells are decreased in the blood of HESNs when compared to HIV-uninfected non-CSW women, suggesting their recruitment to peripheral sites. This coincides with the fact that levels of B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS/BAFF), known to shape the MZ pool and whose overexpression leads to MZ deregulation in HIV-infected progressors, are significantly lower in the blood of HESNs when compared to both HIV-infected CSWs and HIV-uninfected non-CSW women. Interestingly, MZ B-cells can bind HIV gp120 and produce specific IgG and IgA, and have a propensity for B regulatory potential, which could help both the fight against HIV and maintenance of low inflammatory conditions in HESNs. HESN individuals provide an exceptional opportunity to identify important clues for the development of protective devices, and efforts should aim at soliciting immune responses observed in the context of their natural immunity to HIV.
Anatomical and Radiographic Study on the Skull and Mandible of the Common Opossum (Didelphis Marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758) in the Caribbean
Authors: Mohamed Reda
Published: April 2018

Common opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) are found throughout the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. The present work was conducted on 10 skulls and mandibles of the common opossum to describe the osteology and foramina of these skulls and mandibles grossly and radiographically. The information that is garnered can be used to detect, diagnose, and treat head affections, as well as for comparative studies with the skulls and mandibles of other similar species. The skulls and mandibles were prepared and cleaned using standard method. All of the characteristic features of various standards views of the skulls bones, including dorsal, lateral, caudal and midsagittal, and the lateral and caudal views of the mandibles as well as the foramina of the skulls and mandibles were described and discussed. Each skull was divided into long facial and short cranial regions. No supraorbital foramen was observed in the skulls. The tympanic bulla was absent while there was the tympanic process of the alisphenoid. The temporal process of the zygomatic bone, zygomatic process of maxilla, and zygomatic process of the squamosal bone formed the zygomatic arch. The dental formula was confirmed. The bones and foramina of the skull and mandible were similar to other marsupial species and were homologue to that of other mammals.
Nitrogen Removal in Greywater Living Walls: Insights into the Governing Mechanisms
Authors: Fowdar Harsha S. , Deletic Ana , Hatt Belinda E. , Cook Perran L. M.
Published: April 2018

Nitrogen is a pollutant of great concern when present in excess in surface waters. Living wall biofiltration systems that employ ornamentals and climbing plants are an emerging green technology that has recently demonstrated significant potential to reduce nitrogen concentrations from greywater before outdoor domestic re-use. However, there still exists a paucity of knowledge around the mechanisms governing this removal, particularly in regards to the fate of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) within these systems. Understanding the fate of nitrogen in living wall treatment systems is imperative both to optimise designs and to predict the long-term viability of these systems, more so given the growing interest in adopting green infrastructure within urban cities. A laboratory study was undertaken to investigate the transformation and fate of nitrogen in biofilters planted with different climbing plants and ornamental species. An isotropic tracer (15N-urea) was applied to quantify the amount removed through coupled nitrification-denitrification. The results found that nitrification-denitrification formed a minor removal pathway in planted systems, comprising only 0–15% of added 15N. DON and ammonium were effectively reduced by all biofilter designs, indicating effective mineralisation and nitrification rates. However, in designs with poor nitrogen removal, the effluent was enriched with nitrate, suggesting limited denitrification rates. Given the likely dominance of plant assimilation in removal, this indicates that plant selection is a critical design parameter, as is maintaining healthy plant growth for optimal nitrogen removal in greywater living wall biofilters in their early years of operation.
Using SWAT-LUD Model to Estimate the Influence of Water Exchange and Shallow Aquifer Denitrification on Water and Nitrate Flux
Authors: Sun Xiaoling , Bernard-Jannin Léonard , Grusson Youen , Sauvage Sabine , Arnold Jeffrey , Srinivasan Raghavan , Sánchez Pérez José Miguel
Published: April 2018

Numerous studies have pointed out the importance of groundwater and surface water interaction (SW–GW) in a river system. However; those functions have rarely been considered in large scale hydrological models. The SWAT-LUD model has been developed based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model; and it integrates a new type of subbasin; which is called subbasin-LU (SL); to represent the floodplain area. New modules representing SW–GW exchanges and shallow aquifer denitrification are developed in the SWAT-LUD model. In this study; the SWAT-LUD model was applied to the middle floodplain area of the Garonne catchment in France. The results showed that the SWAT-LUD model could represent the SW–GW exchange and shallow aquifer denitrification appropriately. An annual 44.1 × 107 m3 of water flowed into the river from the study area; but the annual exchanged water volume was 6.4 × 107 m3; which represented just 1% of the river discharge. A total of 384 tons of N-NO3− (0.023 t·ha−1) was consumed by denitrification in the floodplain shallow aquifer annually. The nitrate concentration (N-NO3−) decrease in the channel was 0.12 mg·L−1; but in the shallow aquifer it reached 11.40 mg·L−1; 8.05 mg·L−1; and 5.41 mg·L−1 in LU1; LU2; and LU3; respectively. Our study reveals that; in the Garonne floodplain; denitrification plays a significant role in the attenuation of nitrate associated with groundwater; but the impacts of denitrification on nitrate associated with river water is much less significant.
PATs Operating in Water Networks under Unsteady Flow Conditions: Control Valve Manoeuvre and Overspeed Effect
Authors: Pérez-Sánchez Modesto , López-Jiménez P. Amparo , Ramos Helena M.
Published: April 2018

The knowledge of transient conditions in water pressurized networks equipped with pump as turbines (PATs) is of the utmost importance and necessary for the design and correct implementation of these new renewable solutions. This research characterizes the water hammer phenomenon in the design of PAT systems, emphasizing the transient events that can occur during a normal operation. This is based on project concerns towards a stable and efficient operation associated with the normal dynamic behaviour of flow control valve closure or by the induced overspeed effect. Basic concepts of mathematical modelling, characterization of control valve behaviour, damping effects in the wave propagation and runaway conditions of PATs are currently related to an inadequate design. The precise evaluation of basic operating rules depends upon the system and component type, as well as the required safety level during each operation.
Freshwater Ecosystem Services in Mining Regions: Modelling Options for Policy Development Support
Authors: Mercado-Garcia Daniel , Wyseure Guido , Goethals Peter
Published: April 2018

The ecosystem services (ES) approach offers an integrated perspective of social-ecological systems, suitable for holistic assessments of mining impacts. Yet for ES models to be policy-relevant, methodological consensus in mining contexts is needed. We review articles assessing ES in mining areas focusing on freshwater components and policy support potential. Twenty-six articles were analysed concerning (i) methodological complexity (data types, number of parameters, processes and ecosystem–human integration level) and (ii) potential applicability for policy development (communication of uncertainties, scenario simulation, stakeholder participation and management recommendations). Articles illustrate mining impacts on ES through valuation exercises mostly. However, the lack of ground- and surface-water measurements, as well as insufficient representation of the connectivity among soil, water and humans, leave room for improvements. Inclusion of mining-specific environmental stressors models, increasing resolution of topographies, determination of baseline ES patterns and inclusion of multi-stakeholder perspectives are advantageous for policy support. We argue that achieving more holistic assessments exhorts practitioners to aim for high social-ecological connectivity using mechanistic models where possible and using inductive methods only where necessary. Due to data constraints, cause–effect networks might be the most feasible and best solution. Thus, a policy-oriented framework is proposed, in which data science is directed to environmental modelling for analysis of mining impacts on water ES.
An Efficient Method for Mapping High-Resolution Global River Discharge Based on the Algorithms of Drainage Network Extraction
Authors: Li Jiaye , Li Tiejian , Liu Suning , Shi Haiyun
Published: April 2018

River discharge, which represents the accumulation of surface water flowing into rivers and ultimately into the ocean or other water bodies, may have great impacts on water quality and the living organisms in rivers. However, the global knowledge of river discharge is still poor and worth exploring. This study proposes an efficient method for mapping high-resolution global river discharge based on the algorithms of drainage network extraction. Using the existing global runoff map and digital elevation model (DEM) data as inputs, this method consists of three steps. First, the pixels of the runoff map and the DEM data are resampled into the same resolution (i.e., 0.01-degree). Second, the flow direction of each pixel of the DEM data (identified by the optimal flow path method used in drainage network extraction) is determined and then applied to the corresponding pixel of the runoff map. Third, the river discharge of each pixel of the runoff map is calculated by summing the runoffs of all the pixels in the upstream of this pixel, similar to the upslope area accumulation step in drainage network extraction. Finally, a 0.01-degree global map of the mean annual river discharge is obtained. Moreover, a 0.5-degree global map of the mean annual river discharge is produced to display the results with a more intuitive perception. Compared against the existing global river discharge databases, the 0.01-degree map is of a generally high accuracy for the selected river basins, especially for the Amazon River basin with the lowest relative error (RE) of 0.3% and the Yangtze River basin within the RE range of ±6.0%. However, it is noted that the results of the Congo and Zambezi River basins are not satisfactory, with RE values over 90%, and it is inferred that there may be some accuracy problems with the runoff map in these river basins.
Effect of Sand Mulches of Different Particle Sizes on Soil Evaporation during the Freeze–Thaw Period
Authors: Feng Huijun , Chen Junfeng , Zheng Xiuqing , Xue Jing , Miao Chunyan , Du Qi , Xu Yongxin
Published: April 2018

Reducing ineffective evaporation is a feasible means to improve water use efficiency in agriculture, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. A field experiment assessed the impact of sand mulches (1-cm thickness) with a particle size of 0.5–1.5 mm (XS) and 1.5–2.0 mm (CS) on soil evaporation during winter in Northern China. Results showed that CS and XS increased by at least 11.93% and 14.92% compared to bare soil (LD), respectively. However, the sand mulches showed significant distinctions in soil evaporation at different stages. Soil evaporation was the highest in LD, while CS evaporated the least in the unstable freezing stage (P1) and stable freezing stage (P2); in the thawing stage (P3), XS evaporated the most, while LD evaporated the least. Ten factors affecting evaporation were analyzed using the principal component analysis method to elaborate the mechanisms of soil evaporation. Mean soil moisture at depths from 0 to 15 cm was a factor that affected the evaporation of XS and CS in the test. Soil moisture was evaporated by vapor when the frost penetration was dense and the frost impeded the vapor movement. The evaporation rates were steady and weak in this period, and soil moisture had slight impact on soil evaporation, especially XS and CS treatment with higher water content at the surface. The research is significant for preventing evaporation and the improvement of water-use efficiency.
Analysis of Current and Future Water Demands in the Upper Indus Basin under IPCC Climate and Socio-Economic Scenarios Using a Hydro-Economic WEAP Model
Authors: Amin Ali , Iqbal Javed , Asghar Areesha , Ribbe Lars
Published: April 2018

Pakistan is currently facing physical and economic water scarcity issues that are further complicated by the rapid increase in its population and by climate change. Many studies have focused on the physical water scarcity using hydrological modeling and the measurement of the impact of climate change on water resources in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB). However, few studies have concentrated on the importance of the economic water scarcity, that is, the water management issue under the looming impacts of climate change and the population explosion of Pakistan. The purpose of this study is to develop a management strategy which helps to achieve water security and sustainability in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) with the help of different socio-economic and climate change scenarios using WEAP (Water Evaluation and Planning) modeling. The streamflow data of five sub-basins (Gilgit, Hunza, Shigar, Shyok, and Astore) and the entire Upper Indus Basin (UIB) were calibrated (2006–2010) and validated (2011–2014) in the WEAP model. The coefficient of determination and Nash Sutcliffe values for the calibration period ranged from 0.81–0.96. The coefficient of determination and the Nash Sutcliffe values for the validation period ranged from 0.85–0.94. After the development of the WEAP model, the analysis of the unmet water demand and percent coverage of the water demand for the period of 2006–2050 was computed. Different scenarios were generated for external driving factors (population growth, urbanization, and living standards) and the impact of climate change to evaluate their effect on the current water supply system. The results indicated that the future unmet water demand is likely to reach 134 million cubic meters (mcm) by the year 2050 and that the external driving factors are putting more pressure on the supply service. This study further explores the importance of proposed dams (likely to be built until 2025) by WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority). These dams will decrease the unmet water demand by 60% in the catchment. The water demands under four scenarios (the reference, moderate future-1, moderate future-2, and management scenarios) were compared. The management scenario analysis revealed that 80% of the water demand coverage could be achieved by the year 2023, which could help in developing sustainable water governance for the catchment.
Application of Stable Isotope Tracer to Study Runoff Generation during Different Types of Rainfall Events
Authors: Gou Jianfeng , Qu Simin , Shi Peng , Li Dachen , Chen Xueqiu , Wang Yifan , Shan Shuai , Si Wei
Published: April 2018

The main purpose of this study is to explore the runoff generation mechanism and isotopic variation of precipitation during typhoon and plum rain events in the mountainous region mainly covered with bamboo in southeastern China. The isotopic value of precipitation in plum rain events is more depleted than that of precipitation in typhoon events and has a larger range of d-excess. Typhoon events are affected by frequent temperate and tropical cyclones, the ocean evaporationis expected to be very intenseand marine air parcels move very quickly. As for plum rain events, marine air parcel moves slowly due to the blocking effect of the cold front and air moisture evaporated from the continent plays a significant role in the isotope of precipitation depletion process. The difference of stable isotope values in various water sources allows the two-component hydrological separation to quantify the contribution of the event and pre-event water. The results indicate that the pre-event water accounts for at least 60% of the discharge and the difference in proportion of pre-event water between different types of rain events suggests that the initial state of watershed, rainfall intensity and macropore flow are major control factors of the runoff production mechanism.
The Influence of Stellar Spin on Ignition of Thermonuclear Runaways
Authors: Galloway Duncan K. , Zand Jean J. M. in ’t , Chenevez Jérôme , Keek Laurens , Sanchez-Fernandez Celia , Worpel Hauke , Lampe Nathanael , Kuulkers Erik , Watts Anna , Ootes Laura ,   The MINBAR collaboration
Published: April 2018

Runaway thermonuclear burning of a layer of accumulated fuel on the surface of a compact star provides a brief but intense display of stellar nuclear processes. For neutron stars accreting from a binary companion, these events manifest as thermonuclear (type-I) X-ray bursts, and recur on typical timescales of hours to days. We measured the burst rate as a function of accretion rate, from seven neutron stars with known spin rates, using a burst sample accumulated over several decades. At the highest accretion rates, the burst rate is lower for faster spinning stars. The observations imply that fast (>400 Hz) rotation encourages stabilization of nuclear burning, suggesting a dynamical dependence of nuclear ignition on the spin rate. This dependence is unexpected, because faster rotation entails less shear between the surrounding accretion disk and the star. Large-scale circulation in the fuel layer, leading to enhanced mixing of the burst ashes into the fuel layer, may explain this behavior; further numerical simulations are required to confirm this.
Comparison of Effect of Leukotriene Biosynthesis Blockers and Inhibitors of Phosphodiesterase Enzyme in Patients with Bronchial Hyperreactivity
Authors: Morina Naim , Haliti Arsim , Iljazi Ali , Islami Drita , Bexheti Sadi , Bozalija Adnan , Islami Hilmi
Published: April 2018

AIM: Blocking effect of leukotriene biosynthesis–zileuton and blocking the effect of phosphodiesterase enzyme–diprophylline in the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma and bronchial increased reactivity, and tiotropium bromide as an antagonist of the muscarinic receptor studied in this work.METHODS: Parameters of the lung function are determined with Body plethysmography. The resistance of the airways (Raw) was registered and measured was intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV), and specific resistance (SRaw) was also calculated. For the research, administered was zileuton (tabl. 600 mg) and diprophylline (tabl. 150 mg).RESULTS: Two days after in-house administration of leukotriene biosynthesis blocker–zileuton (4 x 600 mg orally), on the day 3 initial values of patients measured and afterwards administered 1 tablet of zileuton, and again measured was Raw and ITGV, after 60, 90 and 120 min. and calculated was SRaw; (p < 0.01). Diprophylline administered 7 days at home in a dose of (2 x 150 mg orally), on the day 8 to same patients administered 1 tablet of diprophylline, and performed measurements of Raw, ITGV, after 60, 90 and 120 min, and calculated the SRaw (p < 0.05). Treatment of the control group with tiotropium bromide - antagonist of the muscarinic receptor (2 inh. x 0.18 mcg), is effective in removal of the increased bronchomotor tonus, by also causing the significant decrease of the resistance (Raw), respectively of the specific resistance (SRaw), (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Effect of zileuton in blocking of leukotriene biosynthesis is not immediate after oral administration, but the effect seen on the third day of cys-LTs’ inhibition, and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and A4 (LTA4) in patients with bronchial reactivity and bronchial asthma, which is expressed with a high significance, (p < 0.01). Blockage of phosphodiesterase enzyme–diprophylline decreases the bronchial reactivity, which is expressed with a moderate significance, (p < 0.05).
The challenge and opportunity of behaviour change methods and frameworks to reduce demand for illegal wildlife
Authors: Wallen Kenneth E. , Daut Elizabeth
Published: April 2018

Biodiversity conservation is contingent upon managing human behaviour and, at times, changing behaviour. This is particularly relevant to the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, both flora and fauna. Driven by dynamics of consumer demand and illicit supply, mitigation of illegal trade requires a fuller appreciation of human behaviour and methods to change it. In various sectors, social influence, behavioural insights, social marketing and human-centred approaches trend towards mainstream practice and policy application. However, in the context of conservation and wildlife trafficking, these approaches and their usefulness are not well-articulated nor application widespread. Here, we provide a practical overview of relevant behaviour change methods and frameworks. We discuss their usefulness and potential application to mitigating the illegal wildlife trade, in general and consumer demand, in particular.
Liens entre participation budgétaire, taille et performance : cas des entreprises au Maroc
Authors: Elhamma Azzouz , Lassaad Ben Mahjoub
Published: April 2018

Ce papier étudie le concept de participation budgétaire ; nous déterminons le niveau de participation au processus budgétaire chez les entreprises marocaines. Ensuite, nous déterminons la relation de cette participation avec la taille de l’entreprise et sa contribution dans la performance de l’entreprise. Nos résultats montrent que la taille n’a pas d’effet significatif sur l’ampleur de la participation budgétaire, d’autre part, nous avons constaté que les processus budgétaires les plus participatifs sont les plus performants.
L’apport d’Eugène Tesson, s.j. (1903-1976) à la théologie morale à partir de sa contribution à l’éthique médicale
Authors: Trébuchet Marie-Dominique
Published: April 2018

Le père Eugène Tesson s.j., professeur à l’Institut catholique de Paris de 1942 à 1972, prend tôt conscience que la technique biomédicale en plein essor fait apparaître les limites, tant de la déontologie professionnelle que d’une théologie morale légaliste. Évoluant dans le contexte pionnier du Centre Laennec, Tesson ose, en moraliste capable de puiser du neuf et de l’ancien dans la tradition théologique, aborder la réalité humaine concrète en dialogue avec les praticiens comme avec les sciences biomédicales. Dès lors, la théologie qu’il pratique accueille les questions d’une éthique en train de s’élaborer, tout en proposant une approche de l’homme dans sa totalité complexe. Cette méthode, qui renouvelle la théologie pour un plus grand service de l’humain, reste inspirante pour aujourd’hui.
L’incartade socialiste de 1981
Authors: Asselain Jean-Charles
Published: April 2018

Dans ce texte issu d’une communication lors d’un séminaire de recherche, l’auteur souligne d’abord la rupture politique que constitue le tournant de mars 1983, du fait d’une « inversion des priorités » en matière de politique économique. Il s’attache à définir des continuités fortes entre la politique menée à la fin des années 1970 et celle des années 1980, et offre de nouveaux découpages chronologiques. Enfin, à l’aulne de son analyse macro-économique de moyenne durée, la parenthèse de 1981-1983 apparaît comme un échec économique et social qui aura contribué, plus que n’importe quelle argumentation libérale, à ancrer la conviction qu’il n’existe aucune alternative possible à la politique de rigueur et au primat de l’entreprise privée.
Les réformes financières de 1982 à 1985
Authors: Quennouëlle-Corre Laure
Published: April 2018

À travers l’étude des réformes bancaires et financières menées sous le premier septennat de François Mitterrand, cet article entend revisiter la chronologie centrée autour du tournant de mars 1983. En s’appuyant sur des archives inédites, l’auteure montre qu’en matière financière et monétaire, virages et lignes continues offrent une histoire plus complexe que la rupture politique de 1983 et propose de nouvelles temporalités des politiques mises en œuvre depuis la fin des années 1970 jusqu’au milieu des années 1980. Centré sur l’action des ministres des Finances Jacques Delors et Pierre Bérégovoy, le changement de perspective conduit également à s’interroger sur le caractère néolibéral des politiques suivies, sur leurs fondements idéologiques et sur leurs objectifs.
Qui sont les personnes sans domicile en France depuis 1945 ?
Authors: Brodiez-Dolino Axelle
Published: April 2018

Qui ont été les sans-abri en France au 20 e  siècle ? Ce qui paraît aujourd’hui nouveau l’est-il vraiment ? Embrassant, au prisme de l’urgence sociale lyonnaise, la période qui court de 1945 à nos jours, l’article montre comment, de l’après-guerre aux années 1970, la figure du « clochard » a masqué un iceberg composite de personnes sans domicile ou mal-logées. Il revient sur le retournement économique des années 1970-1980 et sur la montée des demandes d’hébergement et analyse comment, depuis les années 1990, des politiques publiques et des initiatives associatives novatrices répondent à de nouvelles recompositions sociologiques principalement dues à la durabilité de la crise et à de nouvelles arrivées migratoires.
La collection des figurines en terre cuite du Musée National d’Athènes : formation et muséographie
Authors: Avronidaki Christina , Vivliodetis Evangelos
Published: April 2018

Cet article traite de la formation de la collection des figurines en terre cuite du Musée National Archéologique d’Athènes, vers la fin du 19ème siècle, et de l’enrichissement du fonds initial dès lors. De plus, il décrit les critères archéologiques et muséographiques utilisés pour l’exposition permanente, en 2009, d’environ 500 figurines en terre cuite, et la création d’un parcours non seulement chronologique et géographique, mais ponctuellement thématique. This article deals with the collection of terracotta figurines of the Athens National Archaeological Museum, its formation at the end of the 19th century and its enrichment thereafter. Moreover, it presents the archaeological and museographical criteria used for the permanent exhibition in 2009 of about 500 terracotta figurines, and the subsequent creation of a chronological and geographical, but also thematic display.
Two Collaborative Projects for Coroplastic Research, IV. The Work of the Academic Years 2016–2017
Authors: Muller Arthur , Uhlenbrock Jaimee
Published: April 2018

An international team of 7 researchers has been meeting biannually to collaborate on two projects that are envisaged as aids for coroplastic research. The first is the Handbook for Coroplastic Research (HaCoSt), a tool designed for those new to the field of coroplastic studies. The second project has been nicknamed Winter On-Line. This concerns the creation of a searchable version of Franz Winter, Die Typen der figürlichen Terrakotten, 1903, in wiki format.
E-Assessment System for Open and Short Answer (Applied to a Course of Arabic Grammar in 7th Year in Tunisia)
Authors: Ben Khalifa Wiem , Souilem Dalila , Neji Mahmoud
Published: April 2018

The goal of this article is the development of an evaluation system based on the Arabic language. This article contains four parts. The first part is the corpus construction from the 7th year basic education classes' grammar book in Tunisia. Then, the second part is on the construction of the Concept Maps (CMaps) ontological for simple Arabic sentences from this corpus, where the automatic extraction of terms is completed. This extraction is based on two major approaches: linguistic and statistical. The third part in this article is the automatic instantiation. The last part is devoted to the application of the similarity measure chosen in the CMaps ontological fusion, which summarizes the various semantic links and which ends with a judgment according to the calculated score.
An Empirical Study of E-Service Quality and User Satisfaction of Public Service Centers in China
Authors: Ming Chenghan , Chen Tao , Ai Qi
Published: April 2018

This article describes how as part of the reform of the administrative system of China, most local governments have set up public service centers; meanwhile, ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has been commonly applied to make e-services more convenient, efficient and transparent. However, the existing studies in the Chinese context are mostly qualitative and the relationship between service quality and citizen satisfaction has not been tested. This article adopted the D&M model to develop an e-service quality model and tested the impact of service quality on citizen satisfaction. A survey was conducted and 364 valid questionnaires were analyzed. The results showed that the data fit the model well. Most of the hypotheses formulated in this article was proven. Additionally, an important finding was that the impact of service quality on specific satisfaction is stronger than that of information quality and system quality, which indicates that face-to-face services cannot simply be substituted by electronic systems. Both the theoretical and practical implications of the findings were discussed.
CytoNet, A Versatile Web-Based System for Accessing Advisory Cytology Services
Authors: Perroti Rallou , Pouliakis Abraham , Margari Niki , Panopoulou Eleni , Karakitsou Efrossyni , Iliopoulou Dimitra , Panayiotides Ioannis , Koutsouris Dimitrios Dionysios
Published: April 2018

This article describes how the use of artificial intelligence applications as a consultation tool on a cytological laboratory's daily routine has been suggested for several decades. In addition to the use of high-resolution thyroid ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration cytology, a further reduction of the number of unnecessary thyroidectomies can be achieved through the access to such techniques. Despite the evident advantages, artificial intelligence applications hardly ever find their way to end-users due to the specialized knowledge necessary for designing and using them, as well as the users' unfamiliarity with the required technology. The authors aimed to design an easy-to-use online platform (CytoNet) that gives access to a learning vector quantizer neural network (LVQ NN) that discriminates benign from malignant thyroid lesions to users (medical doctors) with no specialized technical background on artificial intelligence.
Sentimentos dos trabalhadores de enfermagem cuidados em uma sala de bem-estar / Nursing care workers - feelings in a wellness room
Authors: Rizzi Danilo Servilha , Ribeiro Renata Perfeito , Martins Julia Trevisan , Jacques João Paulo Belini , Schmidt Denise Rodrigues Costa , Ribeiro Patricia Helena Vivian
Published: April 2018

Este estudo teve como objetivo desvelar os sentimentos vivenciados por trabalhadores de enfermagem de um Centro Cirúrgico após a experiência de terem recebido cuidados em uma sala de “bem-estar” no ambiente laboral. A metodologia empregada foi de abordagem qualitativa, com o delineamento descritivo e exploratório. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas individuais com esses trabalhadores, as quais aconteceram no próprio ambiente de trabalho, utilizando-se de questão norteadora. As entrevistas foram audiogravadas e realizadas entre os meses de maio e agosto de 2010; após, foram analisadas por meio da técnica de Análise Temática de Conteúdo, utilizando-se como pressuposto teórico o Interacionismo Simbólico. Foram desveladas as seguintes categorias temáticas: ambiente que propicia a diminuição do estresse; ambiente próprio para o cuidado; ambiente que facilita a relação interpessoal; ambiente que propicia o reconhecimento; ambiente que recarrega as forças para prestar a assistência, ambiente de inclusão e ambiente que propicia a saúde física. Conclui-se que a “sala de bem-estar” é uma alternativa real e concreta para a promoção da saúde, prevenção de doenças e agravos desses trabalhadores dentro do próprio ambiente laborativo.
Nanocomposites of Chalcogenide and their Applications
Authors: Rana Dolly , Soni Ashish , Sharma Anita , Katoch Akash , Jamwal Deepika
Published: April 2018

Recently, matrix such as polymer, graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the semiconductor nanoparticles plays a promising role due to their better structural, functional properties and broad range of applications in every field. This chapter reviews the metal chalcogenide semiconductor nanocomposites, their properties and applications. Furthermore, the importance of aforementioned matrix and their role in superior properties of metal chalcogenide nano composites have been discussed.