bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of altered pyroclastics from Rhodope prefecture, Thrace, Greece as constituents of pozzolanic cements
Authors: ΜΑΡΑΝΤΟΣ Ι. , ΚΟΣΙΑΡΗΣ Γ. , ΠΕΡΔΙΚΑΤΣΗΣ Β. , ΚΑΡΑΝΤΑΣΗ Σ. , ΚΑΛΟΕΙΔΑΣ Β. , ΜΑΛΑΜΗ Χ.
Published: July 2018

In the Komotini Tertiary basin, tuffs of various types are alternated with tuffites, siltostones, sandstones and marls forming a thick volcanosedimentary sequence. The tuffs are characterised as ash-, fine ash- and in some cases as welded ash tuffs. Crystal-,lappili- and breccia tuffs also occur. The tuffs are built up of glass shards, pumice shards and crystal fragments which are cemented by glassy material. Crystal fragments are represented by quartz crystals. Plagioclase, albite, sanidine and biotite exist as well. Essentially, the vitric parts of the tuffs are altered to zeolites (heulandite 2 and/or mordenite, analcime, laumontite / scolecite), clay minerals (smectite, kaolinite +/or mixed layer I/S of regular type), Si02 minerals (quartz, cristobalite) and K-feldspar. For the purposes of this study, firstly, standard portland cement concrete specimens and concrete specimens with pyroclastic material from three different places, replacing portland cement by 20%, were prepared. The mineralogical composition of the samples under study and the area where they come from, is as follows: a. Iampolis: analcime + quartz + K-feldspar + albite + Illite/Smectite b. Darmeni : analcime + quartz + K-feldspar + albite + calcite c. Skaloma : smectite + cristobalite + heulandite-2 + mordenite + K-feldspar + quartz The compressive strength of the prepared specimens after periods of 7 and 28 days was measured and the pozzolanic activity of the samples was calculated according to ASTM Standard C618. Following the first test, the pozzolanic activity of a second sample from Iampolis area was more extensively studied. The compressive strength of concrete specimens made of 100% Portland cement of 145 type, and concrete specimens that were prepared by replacing Portland cement in proportions of 10, 20, 30 and 40% was determined. From the results of this study it is concluded that the analcimic tuffs could be a potential source for pozzolanic  cement. More extensive study is needed for the estimation of the percentage of the altered pyroclastics that gives the optimum results concerning the cement pozzolanic activity. The optimization of the pozzolanic properties of the altered pyroclastics by calcination may be investigated as well.
Determination of kaolinite and halloysite crystallite size with X-Ray diffraction: implications for industrial applications
Authors: CHRISTIDIS G. , MAKRl P.
Published: July 2018

Mean thickness and thickness distribution of kaolinite and halloysite clay fractions was obtained by X-ray diffraction, using the Bertaut-Warren-Averbach (BWA) technique, which determines the coherent scattering domain (CSD). Mean thickness of kaolinite and halloysite was 11.8 nm and 10.6 nm respectively and both minerals are characterized by lognormal thickness distribution. Laser scattering, which is often used by the industry, yielded considerably greater mean grain size and bimodal size distribution for both materials due to particle agglomeration. Agglomeration affects optical properties of mineral powders such as brightness adversely, because of light diffusion. A greater discrepancy in particle size determined by the two techniques might explain lower brightness observed in white powders.
Upgrading of K-feldspars of Samothraki island (NE Aegean Sea) igneous rocks for use in the ceramic and glass industry
Authors: VLAHOU M. , CHRISTOFIDES G. , SIKALIDIS Κ. , KASSOLI-FOURNARAKI A. , ELEFTHERIADIS G.
Published: July 2018

K-feldspar phenocrysts from Samothraki island igneous rocks were upgraded by magnetic separation techniques and removal of mica, titanite and harmful oxides present as inclusions in the phenocrysts was achieved. Chemical analyses and technological tests were performed in order to compare free of inclusions and inclusion - bearing K-feldspar samples. Magnetic separation was proved adequate to upgrade the studied samples having particle size -0.5 to + 0.2 mm, resulting to high quality K-feldspars (Total alkalis> 15 wt%, Fe203 0.08 wt%, Ti02 0.04 wt%) suitable even for specific ceramic and glass products.
Study of behaviour of southern field lignite, Ptolemais lignite basin, during pyrolysis
Authors: ΚΑΠΙΝΑ Β. , ΓΕΩΡΓΑΚΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ Α. , ΚΑΣΩΛΗ-ΦΟΥΡΝΑΡΑΚΗ Α. , ΦΙΛΙΠΠΙΔΗΣ Α.
Published: July 2018

In the present study the behavior of a lignite sample from Southern field, Ptolemais-Amynteon Lignite Center, is investigated during pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is a thermal depolymerization (cracking) of macromolecules in the absence of oxygen. The pyrolysis experiment was conducted three times and the pyrolysis temperatures were fixed at 600?C, 7007C and 800ΐ. A solid, black residue (carbonizate), no condensable gases and a liquid phase were produced. Course and product yields during pyrolysis are mainly influenced by such parameters as rank of the coal, final temperature, residence time, rate of heating, gas atmosphere and pressure. The weight of the solid phase is reduced during the process, depending on the quality and moisture content of the raw coal. At 800?C a weight loss of 52.95% is noted. The carbonizate contains more carbon and minerals than the starting material, but less volatile matter and moisture. The calorific value of the carbonizate is increased by the removal of low-energy components. Volatile compounds, such as C02 , CO, CH4, H2, CHm (tar), H20, H2S, NH3, are given off. A HP 6890 Gas Chromatograph was employed in this study. A thermal conductivity detector and a flame ionization detector were used to analyse the gases. Degasification began between 220 and 270?C. At the maximum temperature of 800?C, the volatile content is 4.39%. The total Gross Calorific Value of the pyrolysis gases is 42021 kJ m"3 (10036.5 kcal m3). The continuous degasification of this high-volatility lignite by pyrolysis can reduce the volatile content prior to burning, in other words, to produce a smokeless fuel (briquette). The carbonizate is briquetted with a binder in a press using a pressure of 11 bars. The briquette produced is a smokeless and odorless fuel. The energy required for the pyrolysis is obtained from combustion of the volatiles leading to a thermally autarkic process
Radon concentration changes in ground water prior all the earthquakes (M>2.5) occurred from September 1998 to January 1999, in the area of Atalanti fault (Greece)
Authors: ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ Π. , NOTSU Κ. , IGARASHl G. , MORI Τ. , ΔΕΛΗΜΠΑΣΗΣ Ν. , ΚΑΚΚΑΒΑΣ Ν.
Published: July 2018

Significant precursory changes in the radon concentration of groundwater were observed, 5-6 days prior all the earthquakes (M>2.5) occurred in the area of the Atalanti fault during the period from 22/9/1998-17/1/1999. The radon concentration measurements of ground water,were obtained at one hour intervals by the use of a ZnS(Ag) scintillation chamber. When no earthquake occurs, the radon concentration of the groundwater shows considerable stability. Prior of an earthquake radon concentration increases significantly at the beginning and then dropped to an also significant lower value. These radon concentration changes can be attributed to the temporary enrichment of the groundwater by radon from the surrounding rocks due to the action of stress release or stress accumulation prior an earthquake. It seems likely that the method can be an important tool for the earthquake prediction in local scale.
Συμβολή της ακτινοβολίας γ στον εντοπισμό αποθεματικού δυναμικού Ti, σπάνιων γαιών Th, U, Au παράκτιας ζώνης Νέας Περά- μου - Λουτρών Ελευθέρων, Ν. Καβάλας
Authors: ΠΕΡΓΑΜΑΛΗΣ Φ. , ΚΑΡΑΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ Δ. Ε. , ΚΟΥΚΟΥΛΗΣ Α.
Published: July 2018

The radiometric study allowed the survey of γ-radiation, pinpointed the areas of highest or irregular radiation values, and finally acquired a very important drawing specifying the geochemistry of U, Th, Ti, REE, Auetc.In today's shoreside zone, very high surficial levels of U with an average value of 22 and highest of 92 ppm were found, while in the sublittoral old zone all the g-radiation values found were irregular and much higher of those of the radiometric background, of the all-round subaqueous environment (mean values of residual sands 250 and 305 opposite to <60 (c/s)/grxl04 for the "background". The enrichment of sand with trace elements of U is a result of today's and mainly older wave-action, in the lower parts of sandy shoreside formations, with an expected highest enrichment in the bedrock cavities. Initial samples of sands enriched with U elements up to 50 ppm are considered to be a naturally grated multimetal mineral of Ti, U-Th, REE, Au and other metals for high-value technological applications.The concentrations of the above metals are higher of those internationally known to similar minerals(2.5%, 50-1600 ppm, 11.000 ppm and 250 mg/m3 respectively) and can be multiplied with lightwatermetallurgical processes. The concentrations of sands with highγ-radiation in today's shoreside zone can be differentiated between fine, medium and thick grains of sand particles with a slight inclination towards the waveaction. Their thickness has characteristic fluctuations, with a growth tendency up to a depth of 1.5 m and a decreasing tendency for depths under 2 m.On an horizontal region these concentrations values appear to grow continuously from the periphery towards the center and the γ-radiation values of the periphery seem to grow with the remotion of the present sediments. The γ-radiation in the sublittoral zone present a recurrent enrichment in the lower parts of the formations and is covered in the deepest points from the surface of the sea from younger age sediments.In the present sublittoral zone as well as in the shoreside zone, lower layers of sands formed out of natural grate actions, are mainly the medium grain and secondarily the fine grain variety. These natural enrichments due to waveaction, form selective concentrations of less important minerals U-Th, allanite rich in U02 and uraninite low in Th02 , which are responsible for the γ-radiation rise.
The effect of aerobic exercise on relative leukocyte telomere length in male Sprague-Dawley rats given a high fat-diet
Authors: Santoso Dewi Irawati Soeria , Paramita Nurul , Prijanti Ani Retno , Hendrawan Thressia , Wicaksono Swandito
Published: July 2018

Background: There is an increasing number of studies showing that physical activity and aerobic exercise have a positive effect on telomere length. Some studies also show that dynamics of telomere length is influenced by various environmental factors such as lifestyle and diet. However, the association between exercise and diet with telomere length is still questionable. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic physical exercise on relative telomere length changes in high fat-diet condition in rat animal models.

Methods: This study was an in vivo experimental study using twelve Sprague-Dawley male white rats (12-month-old). Subjects were evenly and randomly divided into two groups (n=6): (1) high fat-diet fed control group; (2) high fat-diet fed and aerobic exercise treatment group. Aerobic exercise was conducted using animal treadmill with intensity of 20 m/min, 5 days/week. At weeks 4 and 8, relative telomere length was compared with week 0 control group, using q-RT-PCR.

Results: Lengthening of relative telomere length was observed in both control and treatment groups at weeks 4 and 8, when compared to week 0 control group. The lengthening in the control group was much greater than the treatment group.

Conclusions: Excessive increase of relative telomere length was seen in high fat-diet conditions. Aerobic exercise for 8 weeks suppresses excessive increase of relative telomere length in high fat-diet conditions.
Revealing HIV viral load patterns using unsupervised machine learning and cluster summarization
Authors: Farooq Samir A. , Weisenthal Samuel J. , Trayhan Melissa , White Robert J. , Bush Kristen , Mariuz Peter R. , Zand Martin S.
Published: July 2018

HIV RNA viral load (VL) is an important outcome variable in studies of HIV infected persons. There exists only a handful of methods which classify patients by VL patterns.  Most methods place limits on the use of viral load measurements, are often specific to a particular study design, and do not account for complex, temporal variation. To address this issue, we propose a set of four unambiguous computable characteristics (features) of time-varying HIV viral load patterns, along with a novel centroid-based classification algorithm, which we use to classify a population of 1,576 HIV positive clinic patients into one of five different viral load patterns (clusters) often found in the literature: durably suppressed viral load (DSVL), sustained low viral load (SLVL), sustained high viral load (SHVL), high viral load suppression (HVLS), and rebounding viral load (RVL). The centroid algorithm summarizes these clusters in terms of their centroids and radii. We show that this allows new VL patterns to be assigned pattern membership based on the distance from the centroid relative to its radius, which we term radial normalization classification. This method has the benefit of providing an objective and quantitative method to assign VL pattern membership with a concise and interpretable model that aids clinical decision making. This method also facilitates meta-analyses by providing computably distinct HIV categories. Finally we propose that this novel centroid algorithm could also be useful in the areas of cluster comparison for outcomes research and data reduction in machine learning.
Reconstruction of buildings and utility structures in the system of urban development (project management)
Authors: Лебедев Владимир , Lebedev Vladimir
Published: July 2018

The tutorial covers in detail the organization design and management, systems analysis and systematic construction and reconstruction, renovation and Testament of the construction industry, infographic modeling. the construction and reconstruction using the claim
Sample Path Large Deviations for Stochastic Evolutionary Game Dynamics
Authors: Sandholm William H. , Staudigl Mathias
Published: July 2018

We study a model of stochastic evolutionary game dynamics in which the probabilities that agents choose suboptimal actions are dependent on payoff consequences. We prove a sample path large deviation principle, characterizing the rate of decay of the probability that the sample path of the evolutionary process lies in a prespecified set as the population size approaches infinity. We use these results to describe excursion rates and stationary distribution asymptotics in settings where the mean dynamic admits a globally attracting state, and we compute these rates explicitly for the case of logit choice in potential games.
Event History Analysis for Investigating the Likelihood and Timing of Changing Majors
Authors: Sklar Jeffrey C.
Published: July 2018

Students change their majors for various reasons, and academic advisors often assume the role of facilitating that change through institutional agreements or contracts. Therefore, advisors need to identify time periods during enrollment with the greatest likelihood that students will seek to change majors. They must also examine the student characteristics associated with changing majors so that advisors can identify students to avoid delays to graduation. The relationship between student characteristics and the likelihood of changing majors over time was studied through event history analysis techniques applied to enrollment data for a cohort of first-time first-year students.
Non-flushing of IV administration sets: an under-recognised under-dosing risk
Authors: Cooper Dawn Michelle , Rassam Thomas , Mellor Adrian
Published: July 2018

Background:

intravenous (IV) drugs are administered widely and under-dosing can result in therapy failure. The aim of this study was to quantify frequency, volume and dose of drug discarded within administration sets in the clinical setting.

Methods:

residual volume for 24 different administration sets was measured under controlled conditions in a laboratory. Clinical assessment of current practice regarding post-infusion flushing occurred in 6 departments of one teaching hospital in the UK over 7 days. Details of drug last infused, (concentration, diluent and volume) and type and brand of administration set were collected.

Results:

74% of administration sets were not flushed. Non-flushing exceeded 90% and 61% for gravity and pump infusions respectively (p<0.001) in all areas excluding oncology. Oncology was the only area where flushing was standard practice for all infusions (p<0.001). Mean residual volume of the administration sets was 13.1 ml and 16.7 ml for gravity and pump sets respectively. Antibiotics were commonly infused and up to 21% of antibiotic dose was frequently discarded.

Conclusions:

the findings suggest disposal of substantial volumes of drugs occurs frequently in general hospital areas. Without clear national and local policies this unrecognised under-dosing will continue.
Expression of Cathepsin L and Its Intrinsic Inhibitors in Glomeruli of Rats With Puromycin Aminonucleoside Nephrosis
Authors: Kubo Ayano , Shirato Isao , Hidaka Teruo , Takagi Miyuki , Sasaki Yu , Asanuma Katsuhiko , Ishidoh Kazumi , Suzuki Yusuke
Published: July 2018

Cathepsin L, a lysosomal cysteine proteinase, may have a key role in various biological and disease processes by intracellular and extracellular degradation of proteins. We examined the levels of cathepsin L and its intrinsic inhibitors in glomeruli of rats with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis. In contrast to the weak levels of cathepsin L in normal glomeruli, on days 4 and 8, strong immunostaining was detected in almost all podocytes when proteinuria and pathological changes of the podocytes developed. Cathepsin L was reduced after day 28, but remained in a focal and segmental manner. Cystatin β, an intracellular inhibitor, was not detected in podocytes. However, cystatin C, an extracellular inhibitor, was detected in podocytes after day 4, coincident with cathepsin L. Cystatin C levels were gradually reduced but sustained in many podocytes on day 28, while cystatin C was not detected in podocytes sustained cathepsin L. These results demonstrated that cathepsin L levels are not always accompanied by the levels of its inhibitors in podocytes of PAN nephrosis, suggesting a potential role of cathepsin L in podocyte injury, which is a critical process for the development and progression of tuft adhesion and sclerosis.
Characterization of FGD5 Expression in Primary Breast Cancers and Lymph Node Metastases
Authors: Valla Marit , Mjønes Patricia G. , Engstrøm Monica J. , Ytterhus Borgny , Bordin Diana L. , van Loon Barbara , Akslen Lars A. , Vatten Lars J. , Opdahl Signe , Bofin Anna M.
Published: July 2018

Faciogenital dysplasia 5 ( FGD5) amplification drives tumor cell proliferation, and is present in 9.5% of breast cancers. We describe FGD5 expression, assess associations between FGD5 amplification and FGD5 expression, and assess FGD5 expression in relation to proliferation and prognosis. FGD5 immunohistochemistry was done on primary tumors ( n=829) and lymph node metastases ( n=231) from a cohort of Norwegian patients. We explored associations between FGD5 amplification, FGD5 expression, and proliferation, and analyzed the prognostic value of FGD5 expression by estimating cumulative risks of death and hazard ratios (HRs). We identified nuclear and cytoplasmic expression in 64% and 73% of primary tumors, respectively, and found an association between gene amplification and nuclear expression ( p=0.02). The proportion of cases with FGD5 expression was higher in lymph node metastases, compared with primary tumors ( p=0.004 for nuclear and p=0.001 for cytoplasmic staining). Neither proliferation nor prognosis was associated with FGD5 expression (age-adjusted HR 1.12 [95% confidence interval = 0.89–1.41] for nuclear expression; and 0.88 [95% CI = 0.70–1.12] for cytoplasmic expression). FGD5 is expressed in a high proportion of breast cancers and lymph node metastases. There was a correlation between FGD5 amplification and nuclear expression, but no association between FGD5 expression and proliferation or prognosis.
The ecologies of technological experimentation: Sheba Chhachhi’s multimedia environments
Authors: Adajania Nancy
Published: July 2018

This article concentrates on the multimedia installations of the feminist artist Sheba Chhachhi. Her art practice is situated in such diverse ecologies of pedagogic and technological experimentation as, first, her own experiences of sharing visual communications skills with urban and rural activists in the women’s movement and presenting her photographs in slums and women’s workshops, and later showing her video installations in a gallery setting, a mall and community centre. Secondly, the historic multimedia environments of the National Institute of Design (Dashrath Patel was the founder-secretary of NID and a mentor figure to Chhachhi) will be investigated; and finally, the discussion encompasses the jugaad-oriented entrepreneurship of artisans in India’s street-markets whose creative improvisations modify the techno-kitsch that washes up on our shores as the flotsam of globalisation.
Is this just a story? Friendships and fictions for speculative alliances. The Yugantar film collective (1980–83)
Authors: Wolf Nicole
Published: July 2018

Idhi Katha Matramena/Is this just a story? (1983) is one of three short films made by the feminist film collective Yugantar (1980–83). Through a collaborative process with members of the activist and research collective Stree Shakhti Sanghatana, the film developed into an improvised fiction. The collective’s self-reflective debates, or activist ‘study’ (Harney and Moten 2013) on the manifold layers and subtlety of physical and emotional violence within the family, including their own hitherto unspoken experiences, brought forth novel aesthetic vocabularies affording new female subjectivities on-screen. Those in turn offered a new political language that entered the autonomous women’s movement in India, off-screen. I argue for the political as constituted in the interstices between activism, research and the creative collective process of film-making, rather than political film as either advocacy for a set political agenda or a position of autonomous creative/artistic practice and thought. I particularly stress legacies of feminist fiction’s ‘passionate constructions’ (Haraway 1988), i.e., experimental film practice that is specifically cultivated out of collective study and the complexities of feminist friendship, forging a process of collective imagination as speculative politics. Thinking from Yugantar’s contextually situated practice as an expansion of the possible, I join arguments for fiction and speculation as modes of feminist intervention in South Asian film, activism and discourse. Rather than stressing an authentically Indian legacy of feminist film, however, this exploration of Idhi Katha Matramena highlights collective aesthetic practices that build solidarities within the context of India, and through speculative cinematic friendships across space/time localities of radical change. The text thus probes Yugantar’s past practice as a pertinent spectre for our present future.
Moving towards the epicentre: The void and the image in the film-making of R.V. Ramani
Authors: King Lucia Imaz
Published: July 2018

This article explores the methodology of one of India’s leading non-fiction film-makers, R.V. Ramani. His films critically examine the practices of artists and film-makers in works such as Blue Black Yellow (1996), Face like a Man (1993), Heaven on Earth (2001) and, more recently, A Documentary Proposal (2016) and 409 Ramkinkars; Santhal Family to Mill Re-Call (2017). 409 Ramkinkars, an ambitious collaboration initiated by the artist Vivan Sundaram, is a multi-authored installation and promenade performance investigating the work of the Bengali modernist sculptor Ramkinkar Baij. (Baij’s artworks famously celebrated the Santhal communities living near his workplace at the arts faculty of Santiniketan, north of Kolkata). Other works such as Padharo Mharey Desh/Welcome to my country (2010) tackle directly political issues such as the impact of tourism in the state of Rajasthan, as well as the complexities of caste and gender discrimination. The films discussed in this article, however, were not commissioned by others but were initiated by Ramani himself, emerging from autobiographical and environmental dilemmas in his home state of Tamil Nadu, South India. They include, among others, My Camera and Tsunami (2011) and Brahma Vishnu Shiva (1998). These works are analysed to discover how they reflect an engagement with the concept of ‘void’ while simultaneously detailing the film-maker’s authoring processes as a cinematographer. To aid this analysis, I draw upon certain theories of the (late) Indian film-maker, art critic and theorist, Mani Kaul, who describes the space and temporality in which film texts are formed as a movement towards an absent object or void (1991). I will explore how the conceptualisation of ‘void’ can be understood as integral to the film text itself in Ramani’s films, being attentive to the ways in which the gap between the image and the unrepresentable in film-making as well as film spectatorship can be mobilised. I also reference a lecture by the Russian chemist Ilya Prigogine on the behaviour of particles and atoms in chemistry to create analogies between the self-organising systems that exist in natural phenomena, and the modes of rendering sound and image in Ramani’s film composition. Another sub-theme of the article concerns the relationship between spacetime, music and choreography in the work of this film-maker. Choreography refers here not only to the dynamics of on-screen images that film-makers achieve by designing in-camera movement or through editing, but also to the spatial and temporal signifiers at work in the filmic imaginary.
Efecto país de origen en las preferencias de los consumidores de vino en nuevos mercados
Authors: Concha Velásquez José Roberto , Mora Adriana Rocío , Velásquez Juan José , Reyes Hernando
Published: July 2018

El efecto país origen ha sido protagonista de numerosos estudios durante varios años, donde se ha afirmado que es un factor relevante por considerar en el comportamiento del consumidor, debido a que se refiere a la percepción que tienen las personas frente a un producto extranjero, de acuerdo con la etiqueta de su país de origen. El objetivo de la presente investigación es conocer las características del consumidor de vino en Cali (Colombia), una región donde el consumo de esta bebida ha venido en aumento en los últimos años, teniendo en cuenta su nivel de involucramiento y la influencia del país de origen en su decisión de compra.
Aportes al fortalecimiento de la aglomeración productiva local como estrategia de manejo del riesgo operativo en la industria de cuero, calzado y marroquinería en Bogotá
Authors: Ducón Salas Julio César , Torres Andrea Cely , Muñoz John Harold
Published: July 2018

El artículo enseña los resultados de un análisis realizado a los riesgos operativospresentes en la industria de cuero, calzado y marroquinería de Bogotá. Para ello, se toma como referencia la experiencia del proyecto Zasca CSE, la cual se considera como relevante para dicho análisis, debido a que esta intervención permite la descripción de las interrelaciones de los riesgos a que se exponen empresas del sector productivo que conforman la aglomeración industrial ubicada en el sector del barrio el Restrepo. El proceso metodológico empleado tuvo un enfoque cualitativo de tipo descriptivo, en el que seacudió a fuentes primarias de información tales como entrevistas a actores relacionados con el proyecto (coordinador, líderes de áreas y pequeños empresarios), y fuentes secundarias como bases de datos e informes institucionales,a partir de las cuales se construyó un caso que ilustra específicamente el objetivo propuesto. Como resultado final, se obtuvo una evidenciaempírica de la situación por la que atraviesan pequeñas empresas en su contexto real y se resalta la necesidad e importancia que tiene la articulación de esfuerzos entre los pequeños productores y el apoyo institucional como estrategia para enfrentar los riesgos internos y externos para mejorar la posición competitiva, la productividad y el aprovechamiento de recursos.
Agresja werbalna w komentarzach internetowych
Authors: Zasada Kamila , Kamasa Victoria
Published: July 2018

The steadily growing popularity of the Internet leads to many new social phenomena including verbal aggression on the Internet called cyberbulling or flaming. This study aims to describe verbal aggression in the comments on the polish Internet. Such comments on various subjects and from websites with different levels of anonymity were analysed. The data showed among others, that the percentage of aggressive comments is proportional to the level of anonymity provided on specific websites and thatusers prefer to express aggression by using offensive, but not vulgar, language.
Errata for "Analysis of two existing and one new dynamic programming algorithm for the generation of optimal bushy join trees without cross products"
Authors: Meister Andreas , Moerkotte Guido , Saake Gunter
Published: July 2018

In the published version of EnumerateCmp in the Section 3.3 on Page 936 [1], see also Algorithm 1, a small error is included in Line 5. In the first call of EnumerateCsgRec, too many nodes (
X
∪
N
) will be excluded for the emission of complements, leading to the fact that, in general, not all complements will be emitted correctly.
LightDB
Authors: Haynes Brandon , Mazumdar Amrita , Alaghi Armin , Balazinska Magdalena , Ceze Luis , Cheung Alvin
Published: July 2018

We present the data model, architecture, and evaluation of LightDB, a database management system designed to efficiently manage virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VAMR) video content. VAMR video differs from its two-dimensional counterpart in that it is spherical with periodic angular dimensions, is nonuniformly and continuously sampled, and applications that consume such videos often have demanding latency and throughput requirements. To address these challenges, LightDB treats VAMR video data as a logically-continuous six-dimensional light field. Furthermore, LightDB supports a rich set of operations over light fields, and automatically transforms declarative queries into executable physical plans. We have implemented a prototype of LightDB and, through experiments with VAMR applications in the literature, we find that LightDB offers up to 4× throughput improvements compared with prior work.
Optimizing error of high-dimensional statistical queries under differential privacy
Authors: McKenna Ryan , Miklau Gerome , Hay Michael , Machanavajjhala Ashwin
Published: July 2018

Differentially private algorithms for answering sets of predicate counting queries on a sensitive database have many applications. Organizations that collect individual-level data, such as statistical agencies and medical institutions, use them to safely release summary tabulations. However, existing techniques are accurate only on a narrow class of query workloads, or are extremely slow, especially when analyzing more than one or two dimensions of the data.

In this work we propose HDMM, a new differentially private algorithm for answering a workload of predicate counting queries, that is especially effective for higher-dimensional datasets. HDMM represents query workloads using an implicit matrix representation and exploits this compact representation to efficiently search (a subset of) the space of differentially private algorithms for one that answers the input query workload with high accuracy. We empirically show that HDMM can efficiently answer queries with lower error than state-of-the-art techniques on a variety of low and high dimensional datasets.
MLbench
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhang Hantian , Zeng Luyuan , Wu Wentao , Zhang Ce
Published: July 2018

Modern machine learning services and systems are complicated data systems --- the process of designing such systems is an art of compromising between
functionality
,
performance
, and
quality
. Providing different levels of system supports for different functionalities, such as automatic feature engineering, model selection and ensemble, and hyperparameter tuning, could improve the quality, but also introduce additional cost and system complexity. In this paper, we try to facilitate the process of asking the following type of questions:
How much will the users lose if we remove the support of functionality x from a machine learning service?

Answering this type of questions using existing datasets, such as the UCI datasets, is challenging. The main contribution of this work is a novel dataset, MLBench, harvested from Kaggle competitions. Unlike existing datasets, MLBench contains not only the raw features for a machine learning task, but also those used by the winning teams of Kaggle competitions. The winning features serve as a baseline of best human effort that enables multiple ways to measure the quality of machine learning services that cannot be supported by existing datasets, such as relative ranking on Kaggle and relative accuracy compared with best-effort systems.

We then conduct an empirical study using MLBench to understand example machine learning services from Amazon and Microsoft Azure, and showcase how MLBench enables a comparative study revealing the strength and weakness of these existing machine learning services quantitatively and systematically. The full version of this paper can be found at arxiv.org/abs/1707.09562
Is it Worth Being Good? – The Efficiency and Risk of Socially Responsible Investing in Light of Various Empirical Studies
Authors: Jedynak Tomasz
Published: July 2018

The paper discusses the issue of the effects of using SRI strategies on performance and risk of investment portfolios. During the research procedure, a number of goals were executed which is reflected by the article’s structure. In the first place, potential directions of the effects of using SRI strategies on portfolio parameters were indicated. Generally, these are hypotheses about 1) positive; 2) negative; 3) neutral impacts of SRI on investment portfolio parameters. Then the main streams in the research on SRI were identified. These streams are mainly based on: modern portfolio theory, the costs of an asset selection conception and the analysis of the correlation between CSR policy and company profitability. Moreover, the research stream which focuses on the relationship between the social responsibility of business and its competitive position was identified. The performed wide review of the literature raising the issues of performance and risk of SRI allows us to make an attempt to synthesize the results obtained by various authors. This synthesis is based on criteria such as: subjective scope, geographical span, methodology and findings of particular research. The main finding of the research is that despite many attempts in which various methods were used, so far there is no firm evidence to support or reject any of the above formulated hypotheses.
Models for evaluating craters morphology, relation of indentation hardness and uniaxial compressive strength via a flat-end indenter
Authors: Zhang Ligang , Fu Xiao Fei , Liu G. R. , Li Shi Bin , Li Wei , Qu Sining
Published: July 2018

In this work, the intensive theoretical study and laboratory tests are conducted to evaluate the craters morphology via the flat-ended indenter test, relationship of indentation hardness (HRI) and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). Based on the stress distribution, failure process and Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, the mathematical mechanical models are presented to express the formation conditions of “pulverized zone” and “volume break”. Moreover, a set of equations relating the depth and apex angle of craters, the ratio of indentation hardness and uniaxial compressive strength, the angle of internal friction and Poisson’s ratio are obtained. The depth, apex angle of craters and ratio of indentation hardness and uniaxial compressive strength are all affected by the angle of internal friction and Poisson’s ratio. The proposed models are also verified by experiments of rock samples which are cored from Da Qing oilfield, the percentage error between the test and calculated results for depth, apex angle of craters and the ratio of HRI and UCS are mainly in the range of –1.41%–8.92%, –5.91%–3.94% and –8.22%–13.22% respectively for siltstone, volcanic tuff, volcanic breccia, shale, sand stone and glutenite except mudstone, which demonstrates that our proposed models are robust and effective for brittle rock.
Inter- and intraspecific variability of selected diarylheptanoid compounds and leaf morphometric traits in Alnus glutinosa and Alnus incana
Authors: Vidaković Vera , Stefanović Milena , Novaković Miroslav , Jadranin Milka , Popović Zorica , Matić Rada , Tešević Vele , Bojović Srdjan
Published: July 2018

The reliability of diarylheptanoids as chemotaxonomic markers at inter- and intraspecific levels has been investigated. Six diarylheptanoids were quantified in bark ethanol extracts of four Alnus spp. populations by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The populations described here as locus classicus Alnus glutinosa (I) and locus classicus Alnus incana (III) are clearly differentiated. Compared to population I, individuals in population III have higher extract yields and hirsutanonol-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside content and lower contents of hirsutanonol, rubranoside A and oregonin. Individuals from neighboring populations of A. glutinosa (II) and A. incana (IV) share similar contents of hirsutanonol. All the studied populations exhibit a high intrapopulation variability of the selected diarylheptanoids; they have a heterogeneous chemotype and they partially overlap. The geographical proximity of populations II and IV increases their chemical similarity. Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly shows that the biggest dispersion of individuals lies within population IV. The reason for its heterogeneity might be its physical proximity to population II, i.e. the appearance of hybrids. Also, geometric morphometrics of leaves was performed as a screening criterion for spontaneous hybrids.
Microstructure and Interface Bonding Strength of WC-10Ni/NiCrBSi Composite Coating by Vacuum Brazing
Authors: Xu X. P. , He L. , Xia C. Z. , Zou J. S.
Published: July 2018

WC flexible cloth was fabricated by rolling WC powder that was pre-mixed with a nano-scale binder. BNi-2 braze alloy was used to braze the WC flexible cloth to a workpiece surface in a vacuum to form a compact composite coating. The composite coatings with different percentages of WC (wt.%, 30 %, 50 % and 80 %) have been successfully brazed onto Q345 steel substrate. Microscopic morphology and interfacial structure were characterized in terms of porosity, segregation and the distribution of WC particles. The bonding strength between the coating and the substrate was evaluated by shear test. The results showed that the segregation of WC particles appeared in all three coatings. With the increase of WC content in the coating, the segregation phenomenon was gradually reduced, and the WC particles were more closed. Furthermore, the thickness of the coating and matrix reaction layer was narrower, and more holes were found in the coating. Fracture of the 30 % and 50 % WC coatings was mainly plastic fracture, and the fracture of the 80 % WC coating was mainly brittle fracture accompanied by local plastic fracture. The maximum bonding strength of the coating to the substrate was determined to be 302 MPa.
Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding of Dissimilar 6061/7075 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Liu Zhenlei , Yang Kang , Yan Dejun
Published: July 2018

Refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW) was used to join 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 aluminum alloys in this work. Different sheet configurations and welding parameters were used to optimize joint strength. The effect of sleeve plunge depth on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints were investigated. The results showed that no defects were obtained when 6061-T6 aluminum alloy was placed as the upper sheet. The lap shear failure load of the joint using 6061-T6 aluminum alloy as the upper sheet was higher than that using 7075-T6 as the upper sheet. The maximum failure load of 12,892 N was attained when using the sleeve plunge depth of 3.6 mm. The joint failed at the upward flowing 7075 near the hook.
A Buck-Boost DC/DC Converter with High Efficiency Suitable for Renewable Energies
Authors: Maalandish M , Hosseini S. H. , Jalilzadeh T , Pourjafar S
Published: July 2018

In this paper, a non-isolated buck-boost dc/dc converter with only one switch is presented. The proposed converter consists of one switch in the input side (S), four inductors, four diodes, six capacitors and a capacitor in the output side (Co). In fact, the combination of the inductor, diode and capacitor leads voltage level is increased. Actually, the voltage stress on power switch is decreased for higher power limits at various duty-cycles by combining these components. Therefore, conduction losses can be reduced by using a switch with lower resistanceRDS(ON). Another advantage of the proposed converter is that the normalized voltage stress on diodes is low. As a result, the efficiency of proposed converter is high. In order to investigate the competences of the proposed converter, comparison results with other structures are provided. The principle of operation, theoretical analysis and the experimental prototype of proposed converter in about 120 W with operating at 25 kHz are provided.
Anforderungen an die sprachlichen Qualifikationen von Arbeitnehmern mit Migrationshintergrund
Authors: Thielmann Winfried
Published: July 2018

Bis vor kurzem ist die Politik davon ausgegangen, dass Menschen, die einen Integrationskurs besucht und das Niveau B1 nach GER nachgewiesen haben, die sprachlichen Anforderungen einer Berufsausbildung bewältigen können. Wie hingegen die Bildungsträger erfahren haben, ist dies keineswegs der Fall, weswegen das BAMF die Sprachförderung um die „Berufsbezogene Deutschsprachförderung“ erweitert hat. Aber wie verhalten sich die Anforderungen einer Berufsausbildung zum Niveau B1 des GER bzw. zu der gegenwärtig etablierten Sprachdidaktik? Ausgehend von einer linguistischen Charakterisierung der Niveaustufe B1 wird in diesem Beitrag der Frage nachgegangen, welcher Art die Lücke in der sprachlichen Qualifizierung ist, die durch die „Berufsbezogene Deutschsprachförderung“ geschlossen werden soll, und welche sprachdidaktischen Konsequenzen hier zu ziehen sind. Für diese Bestimmung sind sowohl einschlägige Befunde der Spracherwerbsforschung als auch exemplarisch faktische sprachliche Anforderungen, wie sie für eine Ausbildung im dualen System charakteristisch sind, ausschlaggebend.
Prepubertal gynaecomastia in a boy with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: managing the aromatase overexpression
Authors: Simões-Pereira Joana , Santos Filipa , Lopes Lurdes , Limbert Catarina
Published: July 2018

Background

Gynaecomastia, although rarely related to testicular tumours, in boys with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) usually occurs due to large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumour (LCCSCT).

Case presentation

A 4-year-old boy, with a genetic diagnosis of PJS, presented gynaecomastia since the age of 2, associated with increased height velocity (HV). He exhibited bilateral breast enlargement (Tanner-B4) and a testicular volume of 4 mL. Testicular ultrasound revealed multifocal microcalcifications in both testicles. A laboratory evaluation showed undetectable gonadotrophins, testosterone and oestrogen and inhibin A of 4.6 pg/mL (0.9–1.7). The boy was subjected to therapy with anastrozole. In the last follow-up, 2 years after the start of therapy, he experienced a less tense Tanner-B2 and a decrease in HV; serum inhibin A had become negative.

Conclusions

This is one of the most precocious PJS-related gynaecomastia treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) reported in the literature. Oestrogen levels, although under the detection limit, may be sufficient to stimulate breast tissue/growth plates. Inhibin A is a good marker of LCCSCT and an indicator of response to AIs.
Maternal iodine excess: an uncommon cause of acquired neonatal hypothyroidism
Authors: Hamby Tyler , Kunnel Nayana , Dallas John S. , Wilson Don P.
Published: July 2018

Background

Excessive iodine exposure is an often overlooked cause of neonatal hypothyroidism.

Case presentation

We present an infant with iodine-induced hypothyroidism, which was detected at age 15 days by newborn screening. The infant’s iodine excess resulted from maternal intake of seaweed soup both during and after pregnancy. Treatment included discontinuation of seaweed soup, temporary interruption of breastfeeding and short-term levothyroxine therapy. By age 4 months, the infant’s hypothyroidism had resolved, and her growth and development were normal.

Conclusions

This case illustrates the importance of considering excess dietary iodine as a possible cause of hypothyroidism in infants.
Two siblings with metachromatic leukodystrophy caused by a novel identified homozygous mutation in the ARSA gene
Authors: Aslan Mahmut , Kirik Serkan , Özgör Bilge , Güngör Serdal
Published: July 2018

Background

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessively (AR) inherited disease caused by the deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Although MLD is the most common form of hereditary leukoencephalopathy, it is still very rare. More than 200 gene mutations have been identified in the ARSA gene. The most frequently identified mutation is the one located on chromosome 22q13.33. In the present study, new mutations are reported in two siblings of different ages and with different clinical presentations.

Case presentation

A 9-year-old male patient, suffering from ataxia, attention deficit and perceptual difficulties, was first seen at the age of 7. While the findings of neurological examination and neuroradiological evaluation suggested MLD, the ARSA enzyme levels were analyzed and found to be at a lower limit. Genetic analysis revealed variant homozygous mutations of the ARSA gene at p.N352S/c.1055T>C in exon 6 and at p.E331K/c.991G>A in exon 7. In the genetic analysis of his three siblings and parents, a variant heterozygous mutation of the ARSA gene was detected at p.N352S/c.1055T>C in exon 6 and at p.E331K/c.991G>A in exon 7.

Conclusions

MLD is a rare disease; however, it is likely to find different variant forms in our population, in which the frequency of consanguineous marriages is high. Genetic diagnosis is important in symptomatic cases with enzyme levels within the normal ranges.
The Roman Army during the Regal Period
Authors: Dinu Dana
Published: July 2018

The intention of this article is to give a brief overview of how the military power was organised in Rome during the regal period. There is little information about the military organisation of the Romans between 753 and 509 BC. However, some written historical sources have enabled us to reconstruct some aspects of the military life in early Rome. The Indo-European studies and the comparative mythology of the Indo-European peoples also help to understand how the warrior function was valued in early Roman society. Like the other Indo-European peoples, the Romans structured their society in a system reflecting the ideology of the three functions represented, according to G. Dumézil, by the priests, warriors and herdsmen-cultivators. The same conception can be found at the theological level, within the triad Jupiter, Mars, Quirinus, the most important gods of Rome. Romulus, the founder of Rome, is the son of the god Mars, thereby consecrating the predominance of the warlike function within the trifunctional system. The army has always been the main instrument that assured the defence of Rome, but especially the expansion and preservation of its power over the conquered territories