bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hiponatremia in the practice of a psychiatrist. Part 1: SIADH syndrome and drug-induced hyponatremia.
Authors: Stelmach Ewa , Hołownia Olga , Słotwiński Maciej , Gerhant Aneta , Olajossy Marcin
Published: September 2017

Introduction. Hyponatremia is an important part of psychiatric practice. In order to analyze its causes and symptoms, the literature on hyponatremia in psychiatric patients has been reviewed. The work has been divided into two separate manuscripts. In the first one the authors discuss the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) and hyponatremia occurring with the use of psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, antipsychotics, normotimics), while the second paper discusses research on psychogenic polydipsia. The causes of hyponatremia in patients treated in psychiatric wards include: water intoxication associated with polydipsia, somatic comorbidities, side effect of internal medicine and psychiatric drugs. The most common mechanism leading in these cases to hyponatremia is the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of vasopressin (SIADH). The SIADH syndrome is a group of symptoms, first described in 1967 by Schwartz and Bartter in The American Journal of Medicine, which results from the hypersecretion of antidiuretic hormone, also called vasopressin, which causes patients to develop normovolemic hyponatremia. The phenomenon of drug-induced hyponatremia in psychiatric practice is generally observed with the use of antidepressants, antipsychotics and anti-epileptic drugs (used in psychiatry as normotimic drugs).

Aim and method. The first manuscript includes a review of literature on the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of vasopressin (SIADH) and hyponatremia occurring after the use of psychotropic drugs, and is divided into two subsections: 1. The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of vasopressin (SIADH), 2. Hyponatremia and psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, antipsychotics, normotimics).

Conclusion. In the view of the reviewed literature it is extremely important to control the natremia level during pharmacotherapy using the above mentioned drugs, especially in the initial period of therapy.
Hiponatremia in the practice of a psychiatrist. Part 2: psychogenic polydipsia
Authors: Gerhant Aneta , Słotwiński Maciej , Hołownia Olga , Stelmach Ewa , Olajossy Marcin
Published: September 2017

Objective. The study is the second part of the literature review on hyponatremia in patients with diagnosed mental disorders. This article focuses on psychogenic polydipsia as, along with the SIADH, one of the two most common causes of hyponatremia in the mentioned group of patients.

Method: The literature review was based on searching the Medline, the Google Scholar and the Ebsco databases in Polish and English by entering the following phrases: psychogenic polydipsia, the psychosis – intermittent hyponatremia – polydipsia syndrome, water intoxication.

Discussion: Psychogenic polydipsia occurs in up to 25% of patients treated for mental disorders. It most frequently concerns patients with schizophrenia. 30% of patients with psychogenic polydipsia suffer from hyponatremia with or without symptoms of water intoxication. In the etiology of psychogenic polydipsia, the influence of dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission has been considered, as well as angiotensin, which is claimed to have dipsogenic properties. In order to reduce the severity of the disorder, attempts have been made to administer the following groups of medications: β-blockers, opioid receptor antagonists, angiotensin convertase inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists. Other methods include replacing classic antipsychotic drugs with clozapine. There are also reports of a reduced severity of polydipsia with hyponatremia after introducing risperidone and olanzapine. Preventing episodes of water intoxication in patients with psychogenic polydipsia requires the monitoring of their body weight and a suitable reduction of fluid intake by them.

Results: Mentally ill patients, especially those with chronic schizophrenia, should be monitored for psychogenic polydipsia and the concomitant hyponatremia.
Phantom limb phenomenon as an example of body image distortion
Authors: Razmus Magdalena , Daniluk Beata , Markiewicz Piotr
Published: September 2017

Introduction: The perception of one’s own body, its mental representation, and emotional attitude to it are the components of so-called “body image” [1]. The aim of the research was to analyse phantom pain and non-painful phantom sensations as results of limb loss and to explain them in terms of body image distortion.

Material and method: Three methods were used in the study of 22 amputees (7 women and 15 men, between 43 and 76 years old, M = 61, SD = 11.3): (1) a clinical interview; (2) The Questionnaire of Body Experiencing after Limb Amputation; (3) modified version of The Pain Questionnaire based on The McGill Pain Questionnaire.

Results: The prevalence of phantom limb pain was 59%. Some various non-painful phantom sensations after amputation were experienced by 77% of respondents. There was a statistically significant relationship between phantom pain and non-painful phantom sensations in a group of participants experiencing phantom limb phenomenon at the moment of the research.

Conclusions: Deformation of body image in the form of phantom pain and non-painful phantom sensations is a frequent experience after limb loss. We suggest that phantom limb is a form of out-of-date or inadequate body image as an effect of the brain activity trying to keep a kind of status quo. A co-occurrence of non-painful phantom sensations and phantom pain suggests that these both forms of post-amputation sensations may share neural mechanisms. Results indicate, that there exists somatosensory memory which may be manifested in similarities between pre- and post-amputation sensations.
Multivariate and abstract approximation theory for Banach space valued functions
Authors: Anastassiou George A.
Published: September 2017

Here we study quantitatively the high degree of approximation of sequences of linear operators acting on Banach space valued Fréchet differentiable functions to the unit operator, as well as other basic approximations including those under convexity. These operators are bounded by real positive linear companion operators. The Banach spaces considered here are general and no positivity assumption is made on the initial linear operators for which we study their approximation properties. We derive pointwise and uniform estimates, which imply the approximation of these operators to the unit assuming Fréchet differentiability of functions, and then we continue with basic approximations. At the end we study the special case where the approximated function fulfills a convexity condition resulting into sharp estimates. We give applications to Bernstein operators.
An alternative and easy approach to fixed point results via simulation functions
Authors: Radenovic Stojan , Vetro Francesca , Vujaković Jelena
Published: September 2017

We discuss, extend, improve and enrich results on simulation functions established by several authors. Furthermore, by using Lemma 2.1 of Radenovic et al. [Bull. Iran. Math. Soc., 2012, 38, 625],we get much shorter and nicer proofs than the corresponding ones in the existing literature.
Copula-Based Dependence Measures For Piecewise Monotonicity
Authors: Liebscher Eckhard
Published: September 2017

The aim of the present paper is to develop and examine association coefficients which can be helpfully applied in the framework of regression analysis. The construction of the coeffiecients is connected with the well-known Spearman coeffiecient and extensions of it (see Liebscher [5]). The proposed coeffiecient measures the discrepancy between the data points and a function which is strictly increasing on one interval and strictly decreasing in the remaining domain.We prove statements about the asymptotic behaviour of the estimated coeffiecient (convergence rate, asymptotic normality).
Graphical Method of Reversible Circuits Synthesis
Authors: Skorupski Andrzej
Published: September 2017

This paper presents a new approach to designing reversible circuits. Reversible circuits can decrease energy dissipation theoretically to zero. This feature is a base to build quantum computers. The main problem of reversible logic is designing optimal reversible circuits i.e. circuits with minimal gates number implementing the given reversible function. There are many types of reversible gates. Most popular library is a set of three types of gates so called CNT (Control, NOT and Toffoli). The method presented in this paper is based only on the Toffoli gates. A graphical representation of the reversible function called s-maps is introduced in the paper. This representation allows to find optimal reversible circuits. The paper is organized as follows. Section 1 recalls basic concepts of reversible logic. In Section 2 a graphical representation of the reversible functions is presented. Section 3 describes the algorithm whereby all optimal solutions of the given function could be obtained.
Analysis of Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) Resonator and Design of Miniaturized SIW Bandpass Filter
Authors: Rhbanou Ahmed , Bri Seddik , Sabbane Mohamed
Published: September 2017

In this paper, the substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) resonator is designed to study the influence of dielectric materials on its operating parameters (insertion loss, fractional bandwidth and unloaded Q-factor). The results obtained show that the use of high permittivity substrate in the SIW resonator by increasing its thickness allows reducing the size of resonator by causing the increase in its unloaded Q-factor. A SIW bandpass filter is designed using low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology and high permittivity substrate. The filter has a fractional bandwidth of 27 % centered at 14.32 GHz with insertion loss of 0.7 dB.
Energy Consumption Models For MISO-UWB and TR-MISO-UWB Systems
Authors: Abboubi Adil El , Elbahhar Fouzia , Heddebaut Marc , Elhillali Yassin
Published: September 2017

this paper, an energy consumption model is developed and exploited to evaluate the electrical energy consumption of ultra-wideband impulse radio (UWB-IR) systems. We develop the energy consumption models and our comparative study, on the one hand, for a system based single-input singleoutput (SISO) configuration and a multiple-input single-output (MISO) and, on the other hand, for a time reversal TR-MISO configuration and for MISO alone configuration. We consider an indoor propagation environment based on the 802.15.4a channel model. The results show very different behaviors depending on the propagation conditions, the number of antennas used, or on the number of transmitted symbols. Using such a model, a radiofrequency designer can obtain significant inputs to optimally select an adequate configuration to design an adaptive energyaware UWB-IR system.
Comparative Analysis of Channel Estimation Techniques in SISO, MISO and MIMO Systems
Authors: Obinna Okoyeigbo , Kennedy Okokpujie , Osemwegie Omoruyi , Nsikan Nkordeh
Published: September 2017

The ever-growing need for high data rate, bandwidth efficiency, reliability, less complexity and less power consumption in our communication systems is on the increase. Modern techniques have to be developed and put in place to meet these requirements. Research has shown, that compared to conventional Single Input Single Output (SISO) systems, Multiple- Input Single Output (MISO), and Multiple-Input Multiple- Output (MIMO) can actually increase the data rate of a communication system, without actually requiring more transmit power or bandwidth. This paper aims at the investigation of the existing channel estimation techniques. Based on the pilot arrangement, the block type and comb type are compared, employing the Least Square estimation (L.S) and Minimum Mean Squared Error (MMSE) estimators. Pilots occupy bandwidth, minimizing the number of pilots used to estimate the channel, in order to allow for more bandwidth utilization for data transmission, without compromising the accuracy of the estimates is taken into consideration. Various channel interpolation techniques and pilot-data insertion ratio are investigated, simulated and compared, to determine the best performance technique with less complexity and minimum power consumption. As performance measures, the Mean Squared Error (MSE) and Bit Error Rate (BER) as a function of Signal to Noise power Ratio (SNR) of the different channel estimation techniques are plotted, in order to identify the technique with the most optimal performance. The complexity and energy efficiency of the techniques are also investigated. The system modelling and simulations are carried out using Matlab simulation package. The MIMO gives the optimum performance, followed by the MISO and SISO. This is as a result of the diversity and multiplexing gain experienced in the multiple antenna techniques using the STBC.
Trust and Risk Assessment Model of Popular Software Based on Known Vulnerabilities
Authors: Janiszewski Marek , Felkner Anna , Olszak Jakub
Published: September 2017

This paper presents a new concept of an approach to risk assessment which can be done on the basis of publicly available information about vulnerabilities. The presented approach uses also the notion of trust and implements many concepts used in so called trust and reputation management systems (which are widely used in WSN, MANET or P2P networks, but also in ecommerce platforms). The article shows first outcomes obtained from the presented model. The outcomes demonstrate that the model can be implemented in real system to make software management more quantified and objective process, which can have real and beneficial impact on institutional security. In article, however the emphasis was set not on the model itself (which can be easily changed) but on the possibility of finding useful information about vulnerabilities.
Soil biodiversity and environmental change in European forests
Authors: Lukac Martin
Published: September 2017

Biodiversity not only responds to environmental change, but has been shown to be one of the key drivers of ecosystem function and service delivery. Forest soil biodiversity is also governed by these principles, the structure of soil biological communities is clearly determined by spatial, temporal and hierarchical factors. Global environmental change, together with land-use change and forest ecosystem management, impacts the aboveground structure and composition of European forests. Due to the close link between the above- and belowground parts of forest ecosystems, we know that soil biodiversity is also impacted. However, very little is known about the nature of these impacts; effects they have on the overall level of biodiversity, the functions it fulfills, and on the future stability of forests and forest soils. Even though much remains to be learned about the relationships between soil biodiversity and forest ecosystem functionality, it is clear that better effort needs to be made to preserve existing soil biodiversity and forest conservation strategies taking soils into account must be considered.
Carbon sequestration in soil following afforestation of former agricultural land in the Czech Republic
Authors: Cukor Jan , Vacek Zdeněk , Linda Rostislav , Bílek Lukáš
Published: September 2017

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a great component of the global carbon cycle and plays significant role in terms of climatic changes and agricultural land-use. An important management concern is the extent of SOC stocks sequestration when farmland is converted to forest stands. We have reviewed the literature about changes in SOC stock in relation to altitude and stand age and sought differences between former agricultural land and origin forest stands. Accumulation of SOC was monitored in 17 examples (41 samples) in 9 locations across the all Czech Republic with focus on the main tree species Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). Results showed a significant increase of SOC stock in an afforested farmland with increasing stand age. Another factor was the altitude. With increasing altitude, the carbon stock in our model gradually decreased. From the data analyzed comparing forest stand and former agricultural land, similar carbon sequestration was documented for both variants with higher SOC for forest stands. However, other conditions affecting SOC stock should be taken into consideration, especially silvicultural management, topography, disturbances, soil properties and cultivation. The general tendencies of SOC changes at the investigated sites are comparable to those in other studies across the Europe.
Carbon stock in forest aboveground biomass – comparison based on Landsat data
Authors: Pechanec Vilém , Stržínek Filip , Purkyt Jan , Štěrbová Lenka , Cudlín Pavel
Published: September 2017

The objective of this study was to verify a possibility of the assessment of carbon stock above all in forest aboveground biomass in the area of Czech Republic based on Landsat data and terrestrial mapping of land cover. Landsat 7 ETM+ data and method based on vegetation index ND45 were used. Simultaneously the aboveground carbon stock was assessed by expert based estimations of carbon in aboveground biomass in the various classes of landscape cover, derived from Corine Land Cover 2012 data. By comparison of results obtaining by both methods for the whole investigated area in the Czech Republic the differences reached only 4.68% and for forest stands 7.19%. The results of aboveground carbon stock based on the Landsat 7 ETM+ data did not differ distinctly from the assessment of carbon stock for individual classes of land cover for both vegetation cover of the Czech Republic and forest stands.
Interaction of Brilliant Blue dye solution with soil and its effect on mobility of compounds around the zones of preferenial flows at spruce stand
Authors: Bebej Juraj , Homolák Marián , Orfánus Tomáš
Published: September 2017

We performed field experiment with 10 g l−1 concentration of Brilliant Blue solutes in 100 l of water sprinkling on 1 × 1 m surface of the Dystric Cambisol. Consequently, four vertical profiles were exposed at experimental plot after 2 hours (CUT 2), 24 hours (CUT 24), 27 hours (CUT 27) and after 504 hours (CUT 504) in order to analyse spatiotemporal interactions among the BB solution (Na-salts), soil exchangeable complex and fine earth soil (%) samples extracted from both the high and low coloured zones located around the optically visualised macropore preferred flow (PF) zones. The concentration changes were quantifying via soil profiles not affected by BB (termed as REF) located in the close vicinity of experimental plot. Observed changes in pH (H2O), chemical composition of fineearth soil, as well as in concentration of Na+ in soil exchangeable complex to suggest, the BB dye solution didn’t represent an inert tracer, but compounds strongly involved in reaction with surrounding soils. Recorded chemical trends seems to be the result both the competitive processes between the Na+ of BB dye solution and composition of surrounding soil exchangeable complex, as well and the spatial-temporal controlled mechanism of dye solution transfer in soil.
Effect of surface humus on water infiltration and redistribution in beech forest stands with different density
Authors: Homolák Marián , Pichler Viliam , Gömöryová Erika , Bebej Juraj
Published: September 2017

The aim of the paper is to demonstrate how the beech surface humus form and forest density affect the infiltration and redistribution of rainwater into the soil matrix. Beech as the most-abundant tree species in Slovakia has a tendency to form a compact humus layer with specific structure, leading to a reduction in the soil surface infiltration area and a significant influence on the preferential flow generation. The research was carried out in beech forests with different forest stand density in the Vtáčnik Mountain (Central Slovakia). The maximal infiltration surface area 35.11 ± 6.58% of sand surface infiltration area was reached at the plot A (0.8). The minimal infiltration surface area was reached at the plot B (0.8) and was 19.45 ± 2.52%. Statistical tests confirmed a significant effect of the forest stand density on the surface infiltration area (p = 0.05) and number of infiltration inputs (p = 0.05). The results show a statistically significant influence of surface humus form and stand density on infiltration and redistribution of rainwater into the soil matrix. The influence results in water flow changes from matrix flow to preferential flow and fingering. As a consequence deeper infiltration of water and solutions, e. g. dissolved organic carbon, to deeper soil layers is observed.
Golodness and polyhedral products for two-dimensional simplicial complexes
Authors: Iriye Kouyemon , Kishimoto Daisuke
Published: September 2017

Golodness of two-dimensional simplicial complexes is studied through polyhedral products, and combinatorial and topological characterizations of Golodness of surface triangulations are given. An answer to the question of Berglund is also given so that there is a two-dimensional simplicial complex which is rationally Golod but not Golod over

ℤ
/
p

{\mathbb{Z}/p}

.
Analyzing Trade Growth Effects of Deviations from Long-run Economic Growth
Authors: Naanwaab Cephas B. , Edwards Jeffrey A.
Published: September 2017

This paper explores the relationship between trade growth and long-run trends in real GDP growth from a purely empirical perspective. Its novelty lies in the way that it models trade growth: as a function of cyclical trends in real GDP growth. The main finding is that trade growth responds asymmetrically to deviations from long-run GDP growth. Generally, trade growth is positive and statistically significant when GDP growth is above the long-run trend. On the other hand, trade growth ceases but does not become negative when GDP growth falls below its long-run trend. While this behavior holds true broadly, individual countries’ trade growth may respond differently when GDP growth is above or below trend. Comparatively, low-income countries’ trade growth takes the greatest hit when economic growth slows, while lower-middle and high-income countries are least affected. These findings have potential implications for trade policy-making in the twenty-first Century especially given the current atmosphere of anti-globalization and slow trade growth.
Mexican Scientists in the Making of Nutritional and Nuclear Diplomacy in the First Half of the Twentieth Century
Authors: Minor Adriana , Vargas-Domínguez Joel
Published: September 2017

This article focuses on scientist-diplomats that are the scientists who serve as national representatives and consultants for discussions on scientific and technical issues in international organizations. We examine two exemplary cases of Mexican scientist-diplomats: Francisco de Paula Miranda and Manuel Sandoval Vallarta, experts in nutrition and atomic energy, respectively. We discuss especially how they became involved as experts in the international arena, and we analyse the feedback process of construction of their scientific and diplomatic authority. Furthermore, we consider the interaction of interests (disciplinary, professional, local, and global) that they represented and negotiated.
Poisons, trials and experts:
Authors: Cuenca-Lorente Mar
Published: September 2017

Pere Mata i Fontanet (1811–1877) was the most important Spanish toxicologist in the nineteenth-century. However, he remained an invisible character outside Spanish borders. He was the author of the most influential Spanish treatise on legal medicine and toxicology, which had six editions but was never translated. His treatises did not include experimental results but rather a rhetorical discussion and a place where he discussed and claimed for changes to be made in those new sciences. His participation in famous trials such as poisoning cases contributed to increase his claimed authority as an expert. This paper will show that it was precisely during those trials, when experts had to face the puzzling questions of lawyers and jurors, that toxicology was built.
Physical activity of female students in secondary schools in the context of physical activity recommendations fulfilment
Authors: Junger Ján , Kačúr Peter , Tlučáková Lenka , Čech Pavol , Bebčáková Viera
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Increasing energy intake and decreasing movement performance are among the greatest population issues of mankind. Risk elimination consists in returning to physically active way of life. The aim of the paper was to analyse the physical activity of female in selected secondary schools in the Presov district region, Slovakia, from the point of view of physical activity recommendations fulfilment.

Methods

The research group consisted of 353 female students from 14 selected secondary schools in the Presov district region. The students were distributed in four groups according to age (15–18 years).

Results

More than half of the studied females did not perform movement activity of medium or high intensity. The highest percentage of success rate in the criteria fulfilment was achieved by females of all age categories in walking 5 times per week for the minimum of 30 minutes (W 5 × 30). Only 44.3% of the students aged 15 years and up to 70.8% of those at the age of 18 met at least one criterion of the physical activity recommendations.

Conclusions

As for physical activity recommendations fulfilment, the most successful criterion was performing physical activity regardless of its intensity. Physical activity recommendations seem to be very hard to implement in this age category, especially those concerning intense physical activity.
Influence of neural mobilization of lower limbs on the functional performance and dynamic balance in asymptomatic individuals: a cross-over randomized controlled trial
Authors: Nunes Guilherme S. , Uhlig Shelley , Ribas Luciane Mari Do Amaral , Gonçalves Fernanda Bottin , Wageck Bruna , Noronha Marcos De
Published: September 2017

Purpose

To verify the influence of neural mobilization (NM) applied to the lower limbs on functional performance and dynamic balance in asymptomatic individuals.

Methods

The total of 30 asymptomatic participants (15 women and 15 men; age, 30.1 ± 6.7 years; height, 1.70 ± 0.1 m; body mass, 73.1 ± 13.4 kg) were enrolled in this cross-over randomized controlled trial. The participants received NM of the femoral, sciatic, and tibial nerves, as well as static stretching (SS) of the following muscles: hamstring, lumbar, piriformis, hip adductors, hip flexors, quadriceps, and triceps surae. The order of applying NM and SS was randomly decided and the interventions were performed at least 48 hours apart. Functional performance was measured by performance in vertical jump (VJ) and dynamic balance was measured with the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT).

Results

There were no differences between NM and SS for height (cm) in VJ (p = 0.16) or in the distance reached (%) in the SEBT, normalized by lower limb length (dominant limb: anterior, p = 0.35; posterolateral, p = 0.69; posteromedial, p = 0.50 / non-dominant limb: anterior, p = 0.68; posterolateral, p = 1.00; posteromedial, p = 0.77).

Conclusions

NM did not exert any influence on functional performance or dynamic balance. Thereby, having no positive or negative impact on performance, NM can be used at any time of treatment.
Comparison of tactical principles efficiency among soccer players from different game positions
Authors: Rechenchosky Leandro , Borges Paulo Henrique , Menegassi Vanessa Menezes , Jaime Matheus De Oliveira , Guilherme José , Teoldo Israel , Rinaldi Wilson
Published: September 2017

Purpose. The aim of the study was to analyse the execution efficiency of core tactical principles in young soccer players and compare them among different game positions. Methods. The sample included 54 Brazilian young soccer players. Tactical performance was measured by the System of Tactical Assessment in Soccer with the GR3-3GR test in 3770 tactical actions. Friedman followed by Wilcoxon tests were used to analyse differences between tactical principles. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to compare tactical efficiency between defenders, midfielders, and forwards (p < 0.05). Results. Offensively, the results indicated that young players demonstrated less efficiency in executing the principle ‘depth mobility’ compared with ‘penetration,’ ‘offensive coverage,’ ‘width and length,’ and ‘offensive unity.’ Regarding the defensive aspects, ‘concentration’ was performed more efficiently than other principles. Comparisons between positions proved that midfielders and forwards executed ‘offensive unity’ more efficiently than defenders. Defenders tended to present high ‘defensive coverage’ efficiency when compared with ‘midfielders.’ Conclusions. High efficiency in the execution of ‘concentration’ represents an obstacle to make deep passes and hinders offensive movements between the last defender line and goal, given low efficiency of ‘depth mobility.’ Midfielders and forwards performed ‘offensive unity’ more efficiently than defenders. As for defensive principles, defenders presented better performance in ‘defensive coverage,’ giving support to the first defender. In practical applications, it is suggested that coaches of young regional soccer players carry out activities which allow depth passes to teammates as well as games to promote ‘offensive unity’ for defenders and ‘defensive coverage’ for midfielders.
On the Understanding of the Adsorption of 2-Phenylethanol on Polyurethane-Keratin based Membranes
Authors: Cordero-Soto Itza , Rutiaga-Quiñones Olga , Huerta-Ochoa Sergio , Saucedo-Rivalcoba Veronica , Gallegos-Infante Alberto
Published: September 2017

Polymers and specifically hybrid polymeric membranes have been identified as effective formulations in adsorption processes. Nevertheless, the adsorption mechanisms associated with their thermodynamics and kinetics are not fully understood, particularly when these polymeric membranes are used to adsorb 2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) to intensify its production in a specific bioconversion process. This work was aimed at giving phenomenological insights on the adsorption of 2-PE on a set of novel porous hybrid membranes based on polyurethane and keratin biofiber obtained from chicken feathers. Feathers, considered as a waste by-product of the poultry industry, represent an alternative source of keratin, a biopolymer that can be used to design low-cost materials from natural resources. Two types of hybrid membranes were prepared. i. e. composite and copolymer. Firstly, these materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) (before and after the adsorption process) and X-Ray (WAXD) analysis. Secondly, these materials, including the reference ones (keratin biofiber and polyurethane), were evaluated during the removal of 2-PE, relating their adsorption capabilities to physiochemical properties elucidated during the characterization. Particularly a composite with 0.1 g of chicken-feather-keratin (C1) presented the highest removal percentage (60.68%), a significant initial adsorption rate (0.2340 mgPE.h−1.gA
−1), the maximum adsorption capacity (12.13 mgPE.gA
−1) and the best stability and mechanical properties at studied operating conditions. In comparison with results reported in literature, in this composite carbonyl functional groups from polyurethane showed rather major affinity to 2-PE than amino groups from the keratin biofiber. To this end, parameters associated with its industrial application were obtained, namely thermodynamic and kinetic information was obtained from a proper design of experiments and phenomenological models based on adsorption macroscopic fundamentals.
Improvement of Air Homogeneity in Paddy Dryer With Central Air Flow Channel
Authors: Ashfaq Sidrah , Ahmad Manzoor , Munir Anjum , Ghafoor Abdul
Published: September 2017

Air heterogeneity in the drying chamber of the batch-type dryer is a major problem because uneven air distribution within the drying chamber reduces the product quality and dryer efficiency. To surmount this problem, a new dryer with central air distribution model has been designed and developed. This is the distinct design feature of the dryer, which ensure the uniformity in the moisture content of the final dried paddy grains. ANSYS-Fluent (Computational Fluid Dynamics [CFD]) was used to predict the flow behavior of the air with respect to pressure and velocity within the drying chamber by applying actual boundary conditions and standard k−ε turbulence model. Pressure and velocity profiles in the drying chamber were determined using CFD to optimize the drying uniformity. An estimated value for velocity input was used and air distribution was found good. For the validation of simulation results several drying tests were performed at different dryer depths of 18, 36, 54 and 72 cm in the drying chamber. The drying results expressed as percentage moisture content reduction, along the length of the dryer and measured the uniformity in the drying rate. The drying curves for each depth showed high R
2 value. Numerical simulation and experimental results showed that the newly developed solar-assisted paddy dryer is capable to produce uniform air distribution throughout the length of the drying chamber in the dryer for uniform and quality drying. This approach improved the overall performance of the solar-assisted paddy dryer.
Farm Gate Prices for Non-Varietal Wine in Argentina: A Multilevel Comparison of the Prices Paid by Cooperatives and Investor-Oriented Firms
Authors: Malvido Perez Carletti Agustina , Hanisch Markus , Rommel Jens , Fulton Murray
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we use a unique data set of the prices paid to farmers in Argentina for grapes to examine the prices paid by non-varietal wine processing cooperatives and investor-oriented firms (IOFs). Motivated by contrasting theoretical predictions of cooperative price effects generated by the yardstick of competition and property rights theories, we apply a multilevel regression model to identify price differences at the transaction level and the departmental level. On average, farmers selling to cooperatives receive a 3.4 % lower price than farmers selling to IOFs. However, we find cooperatives pay approximately 2.4 % more in departments where cooperatives have larger market shares. We suggest that the inability of cooperatives to pay a price equal to or greater than the one paid by IOFs can be explained by the market structure for non-varietal wine in Argentina. Specifically, there is evidence that cooperative members differ from other farmers in terms of size, assets and the cost of accessing the market. We conclude that the analysis of cooperative pricing cannot solely focus on the price differential between cooperatives and IOFs, but instead must consider other factors that are important to the members.
Indoor positioning using differential Wi-Fi lateration
Authors: Retscher Guenther , Tatschl Thomas
Published: September 2017

For Wi-Fi positioning usually location fingerprinting or (tri)lateration are employed whereby the received signal strengths (RSSs) of the surrounding Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) are scanned on the mobile devices and used to perform localization. Within the scope of this study, the position of a mobile user is determined on the basis of lateration. Two new differential approaches are developed and compared to two common models, i.e., the one-slope and multi-wall model, for the conversion of the measured RSS of the Wi-Fi signals into ranges. The two novel methods are termed DWi-Fi as they are derived either from the well-known DGPS or VLBI positioning principles. They make use of a network of reference stations deployed in the area of interest. From continuous RSS observations on these reference stations correction parameters are derived and applied by the user in real-time. This approach leads to a reduced influence of temporal and spatial variations and various propagation effects on the positioning result. In practical use cases conducted in a multi-storey office building with three different smartphones, it is proven that the two DWi-Fi approaches outperform the common models as static positioning yielded to position errors of about 5 m in average under good spatial conditions.
Sandwich classification for GL
n
(R), O2n
(R) and U2n
(R,Λ) revisited
Authors: Preusser Raimund
Published: September 2017

Let n be a natural number greater than or equal to 3, R a commutative ring and

σ
∈

GL
n

⁢

(
R
)

{\sigma\in\mathrm{GL}_{n}(R)}

. We show that

t

k
⁢
l

⁢

(

σ

i
⁢
j

)

{t_{kl}(\sigma_{ij})}

(resp.

t

k
⁢
l

⁢

(

σ

i
⁢
i

-

σ

j
⁢
j

)

{t_{kl}(\sigma_{ii}-\sigma_{jj})}

), where

i
≠
j

{i\neq j}

and

k
≠
l

{k\neq l}

can be expressed as a product of eight (resp. 24) matrices of the form

σ

±
1

ϵ

{{}^{\epsilon}\sigma^{\pm 1}}

, where

ϵ
∈

E
n

⁢

(
R
)

{\epsilon\in E_{n}(R)}

. We prove similar results for the orthogonal groups

O

2
⁢
n

⁢

(
R
)

{\mathrm{O}_{2n}(R)}

and the hyperbolic unitary groups

U

2
⁢
n

⁢

(
R
,
Λ
)

{\mathrm{U}_{2n}(R,\Lambda)}

under the assumption that R is commutative and

n
≥
3

{n\geq 3}

. This yields new, very short proofs of the Sandwich Classification Theorems for the groups

GL
n

⁢

(
R
)

{\mathrm{GL}_{n}(R)}

,

O

2
⁢
n

⁢

(
R
)

{\mathrm{O}_{2n}(R)}

and

U

2
⁢
n

⁢

(
R
,
Λ
)

{\mathrm{U}_{2n}(R,\Lambda)}

.
Effect of Pointing Error on BER Performance of a Multi-wavelength OCDMA FSO System with SIK Dual Detector Receiver
Authors: Nazrul Islam A. K. M. , Majumder S. P.
Published: September 2017

A novel analytical approach is presented to evaluate the bit error rate (BER) performance of a multi-wavelength optical code division multiple access (MW-OCDMA) free space optical (FSO) system using optical domain encoder and sequence inverse keying (SIK) balanced photodetector direct detection receiver taking the effect of pointing errors into considerations. The analysis is carried out to find the expression for the signal, multi-access interference (MAI) and crosstalk at the output of the SIK receiver in presence of pointing error. The BER performance results are evaluated for different values of standard deviation of pointing error, code length, number of simultaneous user and other system parameters. It is found that, MW-OCDMA system offers improved BER performance over single wavelength OCDMA FSO system. However, the performance of an MW-OCDMA system is degraded due to the effect of pointing error between the laser transmitter and optical receiver and the system suffers significant power penalty at a given BER of 10−9. The penalty is found to be 11.0 dB, 24.0 dB and 30 dB for jitter standard deviation of 1.3, 1.8 and 2.5 respectively when code length is 512 and number of user is 8 for number of wavelength 8. Further, the penalty can be greatly reduced by increasing the code length for a given number of user and number of wavelength.
Ultra-low Loss with Single Mode Polymer-Based Photonic Crystal Fiber for THz Waveguide
Authors: Sen Shuvo , Islam Md. Shadidul , Paul Bikash Kumar , Islam Md. Ibadul , Chowdhury Sawrab , Ahmed Kawsar , Hasan Md. Rabiul , Uddin Muhammad Shahin , Asaduzzaman Sayed
Published: September 2017

In this article, a low loss circular photonic crystal fiber (C-PCF) has been suggested as Terahertz (THz) waveguide. Both the core and cladding vicinity of the suggested PCF are constituted by circular-shaped air holes. The optical properties such as effective material loss, effective area, core power fraction and V-parameter have numerically been probed by utilizing full vectorial finite element method (FEM) with perfectly matched layers (FMLs) boundary condition. The reported PCF reveals low absorption loss and large effective area of 0.04 cm−1 and 2.80×10−07 m2 respectively at 1 THz operating frequency. In addition, the core power fraction of the fiber is about 50.83 % at the same activation frequency. The V-parameter shows that the proposed PCF acts as a single mode over 0.70 to 1.15 THz frequency. So, the reported PCF offers the best performance in long distance communication applications.
Post-flight trajectory reconstruction of suborbital free-flyers using GPS raw data
Authors: Ivchenko N. , Yuan Y. , Linden E.
Published: September 2017

This paper describes the reconstruction of postflight trajectories of suborbital free flying units by using logged GPS raw data. We took the reconstruction as a global least squares optimization problem, using both the pseudo-range and Doppler observables, and solved it by using the trust-region-reflective algorithm, which enabled navigational solutions of high accuracy. The code tracking was implemented with a large number of correlators and least squares curve fitting, in order to improve the precision of the code start times, while a more conventional phased lock loop was used for Doppler tracking. We proposed a weighting scheme to account for fast signal strength variation due to free-flier fast rotation, and a penalty for jerk to achieve a smooth solution. We applied these methods to flight data of two suborbital free flying units launched on REXUS 12 sounding rocket, reconstructing the trajectory, receiver clock error and wind up rates. The trajectory exhibits a parabola with the apogee around 80 km, and the velocity profile shows the details of payloadwobbling. The wind up rates obtained match the measurements from onboard angular rate sensors.
A Robust VRPHTW Model with Travel Time Uncertainty
Authors: Yang Fengmei , Wang Yakun , Yuan Wenyan , Li Jian
Published: September 2017

Vehicle routing problem with hard time window (VRPHTW) is extremely strict in travel time. However, the travel time is usually uncertain due to some stochastic factors such as weather and other road conditions. It is an important issue to take travel time uncertainty into consideration in VRPHTW. This paper develops a robust VRPHTW model to cope with time uncertainty. We use robustness method of Bertismas to consider the maximum change of uncertain travel time in the degree of robustness set by decision maker. The probability that the optimal solution violates constraints is derived. The violated probability shows that the robustness of VRPHTW model can reach a satisfactory level. Finally, one modified max-min ant system algorithm is proposed to solve this problem and one numerical example is conducted to illustrate the model and the algorithm. Both theory analysis and numerical example show the effectiveness of the proposed robust model.
Pricing Defaultable Securities under Actual Probability Measure
Authors: Feng Jianfen , Chen Dianfa , Yu Mei
Published: September 2017

In this paper, a new approach is developed to estimate the value of defaultable securities under the actual probability measure. This model gives the price framework by means of the method of backward stochastic differential equation. Such a method solves some problems in most of existing literatures with respect to pricing the credit risk and relaxes certain market limitations. We provide the price of defaultable securities in discrete time and in continuous time respectively, which is favorable to practice to manage real credit risk for finance institutes.
Time Series Forecasting Using a Hybrid Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization and Neural Network Model
Authors: Xiao Yi , Liu John J. , Hu Yi , Wang Yingfeng
Published: September 2017

For time series forecasting, the problem that we often encounter is how to increase the prediction accuracy as much as possible with the irregular and noise data. This study proposes a novel multilayer feedforward neural network based on the improved particle swarm optimization with adaptive genetic operator (IPSO- MLFN). In the proposed IPSO, inertia weight is dynamically adjusted according to the feedback from particles’ best memories, and acceleration coefficients are controlled by a declining arccosine and an increasing arccosine function. Further, a crossover rate which only depends on generation and does not associate with the individual fitness is designed. Finally, the parameters of MLFN are optimized by IPSO. The empirical results on the container throughput forecast of Shenzhen Port show that forecasts with IPSO-MLFN model are more conservative and credible.
Study of How Experience Involvement Affects Users’ Continuance Intention to Use Mobile Reading
Authors: Wang Qi , Zhou Xiaoli , Zhang Xiaohang
Published: September 2017

With the rapid development of mobile internet and the continuous replacement of new smart phones, the advancement of we-media age, and advent of the era of 4G, reading revolution has opened. This paper is to study which factors affect users’ continuance intention. We discussed the relationship between experience involvement, subjective norms, and the dimensions of perceived value as well as users’ continuance intention. The results show that the model which this paper put forward could effectively explain the hypothesizes, and this paper mainly draws the following conclusions: subjective norm significantly affect experience involvement; on one hand, experience involvement significantly and directly affect users’ continuance intention, and on the other hand, indirectly affect users’ continuance intention by significantly affect the users’ perceived usefulness, perceived pleasure and perceived cost; experience involvement can’t significantly affect users’ perceived image enhancement. We suggest the mobile reading providers pay more attention to the free experience process, increasing its convenience, enriching its content and rationalizing its cost. And they should also optimize the mobile reading to improve users’ perceived image enhancement. Mobile reading providers should let users more involved to achieve value co-creation.
Research on Management of Food Enterprise Technological Innovation Based on Overall Unbalanced Multiplicative Linguistic Evaluation Scale
Authors: Xu Yingjun , Yin Shijiu , Chen Mo , Gao Yang
Published: September 2017

This paper develops a overall unbalanced multiplicative linguistic evaluation scale. Based on the developed linguistic evaluation scale and linguistic weighted averaging (LWA) operator, the technological innovation management ability of five food enterprises is evaluated. Numerical results verified the validity and utility of the scale. Meanwhile, it indicates that to improve the level of technological innovation, an enterprise should make more efforts to stimulate innovations by using the enterprises distribution system, to cultivate the leader and the staff’s positive attitude to an innovation failure, to thoroughly analyze the reason of the termination of an innovation project and to strengthen the leader and the staff’s innovation awareness. The overall unbalanced multiplicative linguistic evaluation scale can also be extensively applied to other fields such as project evaluation, engineering management, medical diagnosis and personnel appraisal.
Moisture Transport due to Baroclinic Waves: Linear Analysis of Precipitating Quasi-Geostrophic Dynamics
Authors: Wetzel Alfredo N. , Smith Leslie M. , Stechmann Samuel N.
Published: September 2017

The effects of rainfall speed, V