bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, Chemical Hydrolysis and Bioavailability Evaluation of Poly(HEMA)-Ibuprofen Conjugate as Macromolecular Prodrug.
Authors: Agrawal Neeraj , Chandrasekar M.J. , Sara U.V. , A. Rohini
Published: August 2017

Ibuprofen (IBU) suffers from the general side effects of NSAIDs owing to local and systemic action. The study aimed to retard the adverse effects of gastrointestinal origin. A macromolecular prodrug of IBU was synthesized by coupling the drug to 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HEMA) to get a monomeric drug conjugate which was then polymerized to get polymeric prodrug. Purified synthesized prodrug was characterized by m.p, TLC, UV, FTIR, NMR and MS. The prodrug was evaluated for its in-vitro drug release behavior in buffers of pH 1.2 and 7.4 mimicking the upper and lower GIT respectively. The results showed that the drug release from the polymeric backbone takes place in a sustained manner over a period of 12 h and the amount of drug released was comparatively higher at pH 7.4 indicating that the drug release should takes place predominantly at the alkaline environment of the lower GIT rather than at the acidic environment of the upper GIT. The in-vivo release studies in rabbits after oral administration of IBU conjugate revealed sustained release characteristics within the prodrug treated animals. This study suggested that after oral administration, the drug –polymer conjugate can release IBU for prolonged periods and predominantly in the lower GIT in a site specific manner, thus reducing the direct contact of the drug to the gastric mucosa and hence the GIT complications.
Evaluation of Passive and Iontophoretic Transport of Lisinopril from Hydrogel Matrix Across Model Membrane In Vitro
Authors: A Faruk , P.S. Ishar
Published: August 2017

Clinical studies of lisinopril delivery through iontophoresis are highly desired for better controls over transdermal drug flux. Therefore, investigations were carried out to ascertain the relative importance of the various factor for iontophoretic transport using an ionizable drug lisinopril, which has four pKa values 2.4, 4.0 (for amino group) and 6.7, 7.0 (for carboxylic group). Ionization of lisinopril varies with pH, hence rate and extent of transport across the skin can be enhanced, controlled and manipulated by the application of factors like anodal and cathodal current at varied pH of donor solution and current densities. To determine these parameters, experiments were performed and data were collected at 3.0, 4.0 and 7.4 pH using 4 mg/ml drug concentration and 0.1 mA/cm2 current density for 10 hours. After establishing the pH for optimum transport of drug, effect of current density (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mA/cm2) on the transport of drug (keeping drug concentration constant) were investigated. Passive diffusion of lisinopril was maximal at pH 3.0, when unionized form of drug was 45%. Anodal iontophoresis was most effective (significant result, p less than 0.05) in transport of drug across skin as compared to cathodal iontophoresis at pH 3.0. While at pH 4.0, cathodal iontophoretic transport of lisinopril across rat skin was highly effective (Student‘t’ test, p less than 0.05) compared to anodal iontophoresis. The effect of current density on steady state flux of lisinopril during cathodal iontophoresis at 7.4 pH was 1.33 ± 1.12 and 24.8 ± 3.1 μg/cm2/h at 0.0 under passive diffusion and 4 mA/cm2, respectively. Thus, flux was enhanced nearly 18.6 times during anodal iontophoresis as compared to passive diffusion. For cathodal flux at pH 3.0 on similar iontophoretic treatment showed enhancement nearly 4 times.
Integrated Computer Systems. Enterprise Resource Planning (E.R.P.)
Authors: TRANĂ Dan Mircea
Published: August 2017

At the beginning of the XXI century society, knowledge based society, the management of economic organizations can only be achieved through optimal IT systems. They can be seen as an extension of increasingly complex information systems and provide effective leadership only if they are integrated in the economic system of the organization. We have previously shown some of the features that recommend integrated IT systems to be controlled and used, as well as main principles for building the integrated computer systems, strategies that can be applied in the designing of this type of IT system. Advantages of management integrated IT systems can be best supported by examples, and therefore we intend to present a special category, but increasingly used, of integrated IT systems: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). They are “distributed IT systems based on client / server and developed for the processing of transactions and facilitating the integration of business processes with suppliers, customers and other business partners.”
Silver Economy in EU – Long-term Perspectives of Labour Force Structure
Authors: PREDESCU Antoniu , POPESCU Maria-Loredana
Published: August 2017

This paper is focused on circumscribing in what manner labour force structure, as distinct economic factor, will influence, in next decades, process of building up a silver economy in EU. For this, we use statistical data, put to use so as to generate a proper prognosis of future increase in size of ageing population in EU, relative to size of total population. This task is accomplished using the strategy of comparing positions of different countries in European Union, the more economically developed Western EU economies and the less developed Eastern EU economies, so that to be able to argue whether European Union has its (certain) opportunities – and, of course, its drawbacks – for constructing its ‘silver economy’, and, the scope of these opportunities (which necessarily counterbalance drawbacks).
The Complexity of the Implications of Globalization in the Context of the Current Global Economy
Authors: CREŢOIU Raluca Ionela
Published: August 2017

Globalization represents a controversial phenomenon both because of its complexity and because of the various implications it has on the global economy. Globalization will act simultaneously on many levels, its effects being correlated with the diversity of the angles from which this phenomenon can be approached from – economic, social, politic, cultural, philosophic etc.The article represents an incursion into the issue regarding the implications and effects of globalization grouped in several areas of analysis such as the disappearance of borders, the effects on culture, the effects on the education, the impact on labour market impact and the phenomenon of immigration, the effects of globalization in the context of the food crisis underdevelopment and poverty.To complete the analysis that points out enough elements considered to be negative, at the end of the article, there are also approached the development opportunities that globalization can offer in terms of boosting the economic exchanges, the exchange of genuine cultural values and ensuring a transfer of information at a global scale, so necessary for the scientific and technological progress.  The conclusions of the article weighs the many aspects highlighted, both negative and positive, and suggests a series of useful research directions in order to fathom the complex features of this concept so controversial – globalization.
The Vulnerability of SMES in the Economic Crisis
Authors: ŢÂU Nicolae , CREŢOIU Raluca Ionela
Published: August 2017

The vulnerability of small and medium enterprises is closely related to their reduced volume of activity and insufficient financial resources available to them. Therefore, these types of organizations are more likely to be the subject of the changes that occur in the market. Although there are available a variety of funding sources, most SMEs in Romania are not able to access existing funds as they are not competitive on the single European market. During the economic crisis, the businesses environment but the economical one as well was not beneficial for the Romanian SMEs due to the financial, structural and fiscal instability, which led to negative results, especially on long term.
Importance of Beliefs, Attitudes and Values in the Frame of Human Resource Motivation
Authors: MOISE Claudia
Published: August 2017

The article deals with a complex and original field of analyse – the role that concepts such as beliefs, attitudes and values can entail in the modern human resources management techniques that are dealing with employee’s motivation. Nowadays employees have a complex approach regarding motivation. Especially when we speak about big organisations such as multinational companies, we will find complex jobs having many tasks and a complicated network of inter-relations within the organisation. In such cases, as we speak about middle and top management positions, employee’s motivation is relying on different types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic altogether. The substantiation of an efficient motivational strategy can be based on the link between beliefs, attitudes and values of the employees and their motivation development process.
Methodologies used in Project Management
Authors: UNGUREANU Adrian , UNGUREANU Anca
Published: August 2017

Undoubtedly, a methodology properly defined and strictly followed for project management provides a firm guarantee that the work will be done on time, in budget and according to specifications. A project management methodology in simple terms is a “must-have” to avoid failure and reduce risks, because is one of the critical success factors, such basic skills of the management team. This is the simple way to guide the team through the design and execution phases, processes and tasks throughout the life cycle of project management. Project management methodology is a strictly defined combination on practices regarding logic, methods and processes that determine how best to plan, develop and control a project along the continuous process of its implementation and successful completion. In project management there are various approaches and methods that can be used in different types of project management. All types of project methodologies can be divided into traditional and modern approaches.
Labour Law Patrimonial Liabilities. General Aspects
Authors: COVRIG Georgiana
Published: August 2017

The damages under labour law are assessed according to special legal provisions and in the absence of such regulations, civil law regulations must be applied in relation to the prices at the time at which the agreement of will was made or the damaged person may bring the action before the court. In the case of goods’ damage, the damage assessment is done in all cases taking into account the real degree of wear of the asset.
LIAQUAT AHAMED Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
Authors: UŢĂ Cristian
Published: August 2017

LIAQUAT AHAMEDLords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the WorldTranslator: Dana-Ligia IlinHumanitas Publishing House, Bucharest, 2014  Former, among others, economist of the World Bank (led its investment division) and director of an investment fund, Liaquat Ahamed began working at the Lords of Finance long before the crisis of 2008. However, its appearance in 2009 has increased dramatically its relevance. As a result, the Financial Times the New York Times, Time magazine and Amazon.com declared the volume Best book of the year, simultaneously, its author being awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History.
How functional measurement of the traditional foods can raise the knowingness of old recipes used in Romania and Diaspora
Authors: DANTUONO Luigi Fillippo Fillippo , Costea Carmen , MIHOREANU Larisa , VASILE Adrian
Published: August 2017

The present research continues a European project on “sustainable exploitation of bioactive components from the Black Sea Area traditional foods”. Known as Base Food, it was a collaborative program, funded by European Union under the 7th Framework Programme, few years ago. The initial research brought together scientists from countries situated around the Black Sea together with consultants from Italy, United Kingdom, Greece, Portugal and Serbia. Farther the medical, nutritional and technological approaches (Campos S., Doxey J., & Hammond D., 2011, pp. 1496-1506) in the initial project, the Romanian team initiated a unique and outstanding valuable contribution and extended the local research towards socio-economic tracks. Thus, specific aspects were analysed and detailed within certain doctoral programmes. The present paper is emphasizing farther elements, remained collateral, when the main research was considered.
The role of lifestyle change in health promotion
Authors: GHEORGHE Mirela Manuela , CRINGANU George Mădălin , ZHANG Juan
Published: August 2017

We are experiencing a period where we are faced with rising healthcare costs, as well as an increased disease impact on the entire population of the country. Although the slogan “prevention is cheaper than cure” may seem old-fashioned, however, it is more true than ever. It is necessary to offer health education and also to promote health care in Romania, in accordance with the international standards, as adopted by the European Union.Health Promotion is the art and science of helping people change their lifestyle in order to achieve a state of optimal health, restoring the harmony at all levels of human existence.Promoting a lifestyle which given certain conditions maximizes health, welfare and human fulfilment represents a goal that does not belong exclusively to the health sector; all fields of activity, all those sectors that define the life of an individual or a community are essential parts of achieving a healthy lifestyle.Modern men adopt a lifestyle where sedentary life, overeating, smoking, erratic working hours and alcohol use are common behaviours. Therefore, they become vulnerable to a new class of diseases of multi-factorial aetiology where the lifestyle plays a prominent role.Although the lifestyle may be complex, it is still under personal control and lead by the ability to choose extensively, which can be of benefit to the person's life and health. Choices regarding health involve more than objective information.Health education should be an ongoing concern for health professionals and health educators, psychologists, sociologists, family, for those who through effective collaboration contribute to ensuring physical and mental health in the community, in the increasingly demanding conditions of the modern life, which raise difficult issues regarding human adaptability.
Construction of economic indicators using internet searches
Authors: POPESCU Mioara
Published: August 2017

The volume of online data searches can be used as indicators of economic analysis and forecasting. This paper reviews some of the applications that use the large data sets provided by the Internet user searches and presents a very specific case for Romanian economy. These data provide some additional information relative to existing surveys and with further development, internet search data could become an important tool for analysis and prediction.
The impact of managerial competencies on the managerial performance in the educational system
Authors: STAN Cristina
Published: August 2017

The concept of competence in science education is in the midst of individual and collective performance. The complexity of the activity of running school has found a certain specific of its management that is materialized in two dimensions of the school activity: the variety of categories of staff and the interpersonal relationship, culture and work climate. All these result in the formation and development of a set of skills specific to the managerial field and necessary to the director of school in performing different roles sprung from this activity.
Economic Oscillations with Endogenous Population, Human Capital and Wealth
Authors: ZHANG Wei-Bin
Published: August 2017

This paper demonstrates oscillations in the economic growth model with endogenous population growth and physical and human capital accumulation proposed by Zhang (2014). This study generalizes Zhang’s model by treating all the time-independent parameters as time-dependent parameters. The model is a synthesis of the Solow growth model, Uzawa-Lucas two-sector model, and the Haavelmo population model and the Barro-Becker fertility choice model. The model studies the dynamic interdependence between population change, wealth accumulation, and human capital accumulation. We simulate the model to demonstrate existence of business cycles under different periodic shocks.
The Fiscal and Financial Control Reform in Romania and Turkey: A Comparative Study
Authors: IONESCU Luminiţa , BUHUR Sami
Published: August 2017

After Romania became a member of the European Union in 2007, acquis communautaire became part of the Romanian national legislation and although Turkey is not a member of the EU, the accession process as a candidate country covers many sectors, such as: taxation, statistic, environment, financial control, etc. Since 2007 Romania recorded a strong economic growth, making best use of EU structural funds to enhance investment, innovation, and employment. Turkey is a candidate country and a strategic partner for the European Union with a dynamic economy. Turkey applied to join the European Economic Community in 1987 and it was declared eligible to join the EU in 1997. Finally, the accession negotiations were opened with Turkey in October 2005 and in the last years many reforms have been implemented.The aim of this paper is to present a comparative study between fiscal and financial control reform in Romania and Turkey, the evolution of fiscal and financial reforms in Romania, and the major problems seen in the public fiscal system in Turkey.
Situations referring to the organization, classification and management of economic data
Authors: ŞERBAN Măriuţa , HURLOIU Lăcrămioara-Rodica , ŞTEFAN Raluca-Mariana , HURLOIU Iulian-Ioan
Published: August 2017

An efficient information system provides relevant, accurate, reliable and timely information to users. This information is stored as data in files, which must be arranged and maintained so that users can easily obtain the information they need.Data management is a very important part of the economic organizational information system because it influences the speed with which data can be obtained and, therefore, the decision may be taken. There are times when speed decision is vital to the economic organization. Such information systems, resource data type must be organized and structured in a logical way that allows easy access, efficient processing, fast data access and effective management.
The Use of Direct Marketing Techniques in Sport Marketing
Authors: Gardan Daniel , Epuran Gheorghe , Gardan Iuliana Petronela
Published: August 2017

Adapting marketing principles and concepts to sport related services and products domain represents a challenge for any specialist in the field because the specific features that are characteristic for the needs, motivations and consumption process itself.In order to achieve different quantitative and qualitative marketing communication objectives, sports involved organizations are developing a communication mix adapted to the channels used by the consumers. Among the communication tools used are found also the direct marketing techniques that have had a tremendous development during the last 25 years and so.The article will analyze the process of building a efficient direct marketing communication with sport consumers and the implications of using such instruments and tools for the future activity of sport related organizations. Some future research lines are proposed and conclusions are stated on the matter.
THE UNIFORM RECOGNITION ITEMS IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Authors: Gadau Liana
Published: August 2017

Through the issues presented and analyzed, we want to highlight the overwhelming importance of the recognition process of the elements in the financial statements, resulted in the recognition criteria, more or less detailed, depending on the chosen normalization framework, but which helps to the accurate positioning of items in the financial statements and thus the credibility and relevance of the information contained therein.The necessity of normalization process of recognition of the elements in the financial statements appeared at different levels of the accounting referential, and here we refer particularly at the two basic referential: the international and the American one, which will constitute the basis of our analysis on this paper. The result of the normalization process of recognition of the items from the financial statements has result in the establishment of the criteria for recognition, which contribute to proper positioning of elements in the financial statements, thus giving credibility and relevance of the information contained therein.
The Impact Of Corruption On Economic Development: Case Study Romania
Authors: Ionescu Luminita , Caloian Florentin
Published: August 2017

In the last decade, Romania implemented a strong legislation and a comprehensive program of public financial management reform in order to improve the national fiscal transparency and to reduce corruption.Corruption is a growing phenomenon all over the world, affecting economic development and aggravated by the legacy of the global economic crisis. The global risks are different from the past due to notably cyber attacks, new economic realities and geopolitical risks. Most of the time, corruption is associated with financial crime, fraud and bribery. Corruption is a major factor of reducing economic development and the governments must increase of macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts in order to facilitate access to the public funds.
The FiscalTransparency in Romania and Turkey: A Comparative Study
Authors: Ionescu Luminita , BUHUR Sami
Published: August 2017

The recent financial crisis had a significant impact on global economy and fiscal transparency all over the world. International Monetary Fund and other international institutions are concerned about fiscal policy, fiscal reforms and fiscal transparency among its member countries.The aim of this paper is to present a comparative study of fiscal transparency in Romania and Turkey, the evolution of fiscal and financial reforms in Romania, and weaknesses in the public system in Romania and Turkey.
Geographical Labor Market Imbalances by Chiara Mussida and Francesco Pastore
Authors: PASNICU Daniela
Published: August 2017

The book, entitled Geographical Labor Market Imbalances represents a collective volume of outstanding scientific papers concerning regional issues, which were presented at the XXVII National Conference of Labour Economics organized by AIEL (Italian Association of Labor Economics), the Department of Law of SecundaUniversità di Napoli and the Departments of Economic and Social Sciences of the UniversitàCattolica del SacroCuore (Piacenza), 27-28 September 2012.
Foreward
Authors: Gurgu Elena , Zorzoliu Raluca Ileana , Cociuban Aristide Dumitru
Published: August 2017

There is no need for it.
CYBERNETIC MODEL OF THE ECONOMIC AGENT
Authors: STEFANESCU Roxana
Published: August 2017

The paper is based on the synthesis of the economic systems and processes management. It analysis the cybernetic characteristics of the economy, it defines in a system manner the market and analysis its characteristic traits and synthesizes the cybernetic characteristics of the economic agent. In the first part of the paper the systemic and cybernetic traits of the market that determines the behavior and functionality of the economic systems are identified.  In the second part are presented the economic agents, categorized in elementary agents and aggregate agents.  At the end the economic agents are shown from the systemic, cybernetic perspective.
Romania’s Implication in the Global Financial Cycle
Authors: Gurgu Elena , COCIUBAN Aristide
Published: August 2017

In this article we intend to approach the global financial cycle and the international production networks, as well as Romania’s international investment position through its main components. The targets relate to: the global financial cycle and the recent experience of emerging economies, describing global production networks, the implications of extending international production networks, the influence of trade integration on economic development. Also, we approach the evolution of investments in our country in 2015, with reference to international reserves, gross external debt and net external debt. Drawn conclusions refer to mitigating the contagion effects generated by the increase of the degree of global financial integration.
EFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN ROMANIA
Authors: IONESCU Luminita , ROBERTSON Kari
Published: August 2017

Bureaucracy is an important phenomenon in all European countries, with significant consequences over the public and private systems. After the recent economic crises, European governments made efforts to reduce bureaucracy and to speed up the process of absorbing European funds and to encourage the business environment.The aim of this paper is to present some particular aspects of positive bureaucracy and how efficient bureaucracy is facilitating a healthy business sector, a modern public administration and a safe environment in Romania.
PUBLIC DEBT ANALYSIS BASED ON SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS
Authors: DASCALU Elena
Published: August 2017

This article is an analysis of public debt, in terms of sustainability and vulnerability indicators, under a functioning market economy. The problems encountered regarding the high level of public debt or the potential risks of budgetary pressure converge to the idea that sustainability of public finances should be a major challenge for public policy.Thus, the policy adequate to address public finance sustainability must have as its starting point the overall strategy of the European Union, as well as the economic development of Member States, focusing on the most important performance components, namely, reducing public debt levels, increasing productivity and employment and, last but not the least, reforming social security systems. In order to achieve sustainable levels of public debt, the European Union Member States are required to establish and accomplish medium term strategic budgetary goals to ensure a downward trend in public debt.
SOCIAL PROGRESS AND ECONOMIC PROJECTS FOR DISADVANTAGED GROUPS IN ROMANIA
Authors: BALUTA Aurelian Virgil
Published: August 2017

The paper aims to analyse the social progress, social politics, social law and successful projects applicable to the some disadvantaged groups: Roma people and woman. Inclusion of Roma people is analysed from economic point of view. The economic problems of equality by gender is presented in terms of labour rate and other relevant ratio. For Roma people the focus of analyse is also on labour involvement. The chapters of the communication are: introduction, literature review ( state of art ) in the field of social progress, theoretical background, tools for social progress in EU, economic inclusion of Roma population, economic equality by gender, conclusions.
Some hints on individual lending and different factors affecting the credit activity risks
Authors: CERNENCO Luminiţa , LAZARENCO Marilena
Published: August 2017

The bank crediting responds to some economical necesities with objective feature ( the stimulation of the production , the stimulation of the competition , the correlation of the needs of the capital with the posibilities of the formation of this ) . We can say that the humanity lives through credit , because the credit expands through the relationships with the external partners , in the most complexe domains of activity . The increase of the credit portofolio was characteristic of the activity developed of all sections of customers , both the credits given to individual or to companies . This evolution was determined of actions sustained by the selling and promotion of the new credit products .
A Impossibilidade do Livre Arbítrio
Authors: Amen Miguel
Published: August 2017

O artigo que se segue é o primeiro de uma série de dois à volta do tema do livre arbítrio. Neste, pretendo mostrar a impossibilidade do livre arbítrio. No segundo, a publicar na próxima edição desta Revista, discutirei as implicações e o significado prático dessa conclusão.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases Related Knowledge and Perception among Residents of Semi Urban Region of Eastern Nepal
Authors: Acharya Alok , Yadav Amar Kumar , Upadhyay Priya , Kumar Surendra
Published: August 2017

Background : Mosquito borne diseases are endemic in most part of the country. While public health efforts are placed towards the elimination of major vector borne diseases like malaria and filariasis, climatic and manmade environmental changes has led to threats of reemergence of mosquito borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya in new regions. There are needs of studies among community people regarding knowledge and perception of vector borne diseases to change the attitudes of people towards vector control and avoid risky behavior by application of behavior change communication tools.Material & Methods: A cross sectional study was done among households from 2 wards of Tankisinwari VDC in semi-urban region near Biratnagar sub-metropolitan city. The study duration was of 3 months from November 27 2014 to February 27 2015. Study population was 566 and 654 households from 2 wards. Among them, 57 from one ward and 65 from other ward, a total of 122 households were taken proportionately from both wards. Data was entered into excel sheet and analysis was done using SPSS 16.Results: People who heard of filariasis as disease transmitted by mosquito bite were 23.8% and malaria (89.3%), Dengue (19.6%). Among the participants, 85% responded that mosquito borne disease can be prevented in their area while 4.9% and 6.6% only heard of indoor residual spraying and insecticide treated bed nets respectively. Among those who did not know about breeding places of mosquito, 29.2% were illiterates, who were significantly more than literates 5.1% (p<0.05). Among those who were aware of environmental vector control measure, closed drainage was preferred by 52.5% and disposal of waste by burial or burning was practiced by 64.4%.Conclusion: There is need of public health intervention with interactive tools of behavior change communication in the community to enhance perception about mosquito and mosquito borne diseases.Journal of Nobel Medical CollegeVolume 6, Number 1, Issue 10 (January-June, 2017), Page: 36-43
A Rare Site Mandibular Condyle Osteochondroma Complicated by Fracture
Authors: Bhattarai Manoj
Published: August 2017

Osteochondromas are most common benign bone tumor occurring at the metaphysealregion of long tubular bone but rarely seen at maxillofacial region with less than 100 casesof mandibular condyle osteochondromas reported in literature. This article reports a rarecase of mandibular condyle osteochondroma with associated fracture in 32 years oldfemale patient presenting with sudden onset of severe pain at right preauricular regionfollowing yawning.Journal of Nobel Medical CollegeVolume 6, Number 1, Issue 10 (January-June, 2017), page: 83-85
The Disposition of the Ladies: Mi’kmaw Women and the Removal of the King’s Road Reserve, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Authors: Walls Martha
Published: August 2017

In the late nineteenth century, politically powerful residents of Sydney, Nova Scotia, launched a campaign to remove from King’s Road a small Mi’kmaw community that refused to surrender its urban tract and move outside of the city. An Indian Act amendment of 1911 made possible a federal Exchequer Court hearing, which, after gathering testimony from witnesses in support of and opposed to relocation, was empowered to decide the fate of the King’s Road Reserve. This paper highlights the court’s transcript to explore twentieth-century colonialism as it unfolded in an urban setting. It considers how formative negative stereotypes of First Nations femininity were in the shaping of a colonial policy that assumed that Indians—particularly women—were a detriment to urban progress.
Real Canadians: Exclusion, Participation, Belonging, and Male Military Mobilization in Wartime Canada, 1939–45
Authors: Thompson Scott
Published: August 2017

This article demonstrates the role that exclusionary rationalities within Canada’s Second World War mobilization system had on what kinds of peoples were able to contribute to polity, nationalism, and cultural identity during the war period. With the onset of the Second World War, cultural understandings of belonging and Canadianness were tied to a vision of civic nationalism bound tightly to participation in the war effort. During the war, Canada’s National Registration program was employed to identify Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Negro, and other racialized populations for the specific purpose of excluding them from being mobilized to serve in the Armed Forces, thus from participating in Canadian society in this crucial way. This article demonstrates how policies adopted by mobilization officials in the calling of men into service between 1939 and 1945 worked to govern those who could take up these key identity performances tied to civic nationalism, racialize those who could not, and normalize British white male soldier/worker-citizens as real Canadians.
Experimental investigation of phase equilibria in the Ni–Nb–V ternary system
Authors: Liu Xingjun , Zhang Xianjie , Jiang Hengxing , Yang Shuiyuan , Shi Zhan , Wang Cuiping
Published: August 2017

The phase equilibria of the Ni–Nb–V ternary system at 1 000 °C and 1 200 °C were established using electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The results of the investigation revealed that: (1) The Nb solubility in (Ni) and σ′ phases was less than 10 at.%; (2) A ternary compound τ (NiNbV) was confirmed, in which V had a large solubility; (3) A new liquid region was evident at 1 200 °C, but was absent at 1 000 °C; (4) The lattice constants of Ni3Nb and Ni6Nb7 phase decreased with increase in V content in the Ni3Nb and Ni6Nb7. The phase equilibria of the Ni–Nb–V ternary system will contribute to its thermodynamic assessment.
Study of phase transformation and crystal structure of Co nanowires
Authors: Mukhtar Aiman , Mehmood Tahir , Wu Kaiming , Khan Babar S. , Latif Humaira , Parveen Zahida , Kazmi Syeda Ruqaya
Published: August 2017

Under the same potential, the structure of Co nanowires depends on the Co2+ concentration. While depositing in 0.391 M solution at −1.6 V, the rate of producing Co adatoms on Au surface is lower and larger Co critical clusters can form, favoring the formation of hcp Co. While depositing in 1.067 M solution at −1.6 V, the rate of producing Co adatoms on Au surface is higher and smaller Co critical clusters can form, favoring the formation of fcc Co. Therefore, the structure of electrodeposited Co nanowires can be controlled by the rate of producing Co adatoms.
Electrochemical lithiation of silicon electrodes: neutron reflectometry and secondary ion mass spectrometry investigations
Authors: Jerliu Bujar , Dörrer Lars , Hüger Erwin , Seidlhofer Beatrix-Kamelia , Steitz Roland , Borchardt Günter , Schmidt Harald
Published: August 2017

In-situ neutron reflectometry and ex-situ secondary ion mass spectrometry in combination with electrochemical methods were used to study the lithiation of amorphous silicon electrodes. For that purpose specially designed closed three-electrode electrochemical cells with thin silicon films as the working electrode and lithium as counter and reference electrodes were used. The neutron reflectometry results obtained in-situ during galvanostatic cycling show that the incorporation, redistribution and removal of Li in amorphous silicon during a lithiation cycle can be monitored. It was possible to measure the volume modification during lithiation, which is found to be rather independent of cycle number, current density and film thickness and in good agreement with first-principles calculations as given in literature. Indications for an inhomogeneous lithiation mechanism were found by secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements. Lithium tracer diffusion experiments indicate that the diffusivities inside the lithiated region (D > 10−15 m2 s−1) are considerably higher than in pure amorphous silicon as known from literature. This suggests a kinetics based explanation for the occurrence of an inhomogeneous lithiation mechanism.
Application of the grey-based fuzzy logic approach for materials selection
Authors: Babu Jalumedi , James Ajith , Philip Jose , Chakraborty Shankar
Published: August 2017

Material selection is considered an important step in the design and manufacturing of a part/product. Wrong selection of material may cause poor quality, increase in cost, early failure of the product, or any combination of them. It may also create difficulties in the manufacturing process leading to increases in manufacturing time and cost. The general rule in design is to select materials based on their properties that match with the product requirements. Hence, decision making for material selection is a crucial process, and several mathematical tools and techniques have been presented in the literature to aid this process. Those techniques have their own advantages and limitations. This paper proposes the application of the grey-based fuzzy logic approach to solve three real time material selection problems. For all the examples, the first and the last ranks of materials derived using the adopted method and those obtained by past researchers are exactly the same. This indicates that when uncertainties are involved, grey-based fuzzy logic can be employed as an efficient tool for solving complex material selection problems.
Ultrasound and UV Stimulated Heterogeneous Catalytic Oxidation of an Azo Dye: A Synergistic Effect
Authors: Ertugay Neşe , Acar Filiz Nuran
Published: August 2017

This research deals with the decolourisation of direct azo dye, Direct Blue 71 (DB71), in aqueous solution by means of sonocatalytic, photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic heterogeneous oxidation processes in the presence of a zinc oxide (ZnO) catalyst. The effect of these oxidation processes under visible light and 20 kHz ultrasound was investigated to study their influence on degradation rates by varying the initial dye concentration, pH and catalyst load and to understand the effect of synergy on the degradation process. The synergistic effect is quantified in terms of a synergy factor which has already been defined in the literature. The highest value of the factor was obtained for a low DB71 dye concentration at pH 5.5, 20 °C temperature and 400 mg L−1 optimum ZnO dosage. Pseudo first-order kinetics were followed for the removal of the azo dye according to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. For comparison, the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model was also used for experimental values obtained from the sonocatalytic process, the photocatalytic process and the combination of these processes. The Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model demonstrated consistency in all calculations of the initial rates of degradation with the appropriate values for the reaction rate constant and DB71 dye absorption constant.
Exporting a Prince, Ideas and Institutions to Greece, 1862–4: Mid–Victorian Perceptions of Britain's Stand and Mission in the World
Authors: Hionidis Pandeleimon
Published: August 2017

The expulsion from Greece of King Otho in 1862 and the Greeks’ decision to offer the throne of their kingdom to Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria, provided a good opportunity for commenting on national progress for the following two years. Through the description of the gloomy condition of Greece, all the errors and omissions that a state should avoid in its struggle for political stability and material improvement were exhibited. Moreover, British comments celebrated the ‘exemplary’, the principles of government, the material and the scientific advancement that had given Britain its world supremacy. On the whole, British confidence in the reforming power of economic progress remained strong enough to enable writers to believe in the abilities of the Greeks to advance in ‘modern civilization’.

In a sense, the debate occasioned by the case of Greece was enlarged upon in the question of the elements of national strength. Within this wider perspective, commentary and judgmental pronouncements on other European nations facilitated the discovery and display of elements that could be widely accepted as constituent parts of British national identity and international success in the mid–Victorian era, such as free institutions, industrial progress and a ‘liberal character’.
Policing Communism Across the ‘White Man's World’: Anti-Communist Co-operation between Australia, South Africa and Britain in the Early Cold War
Authors: Smith Evan
Published: August 2017

In the aftermath of the Second World War, the British Commonwealth faced the twin ‘threats’ of decolonisation and communism, with many across the Commonwealth seeing decolonisation as the first step towards communist dictatorship. Recent scholarship has shown that the British attempted to ‘manage’ the decolonisation process to prevent socialist movements or national liberation movements sympathetic to the Soviet Bloc from coming to power. Therefore Britain, along with the Dominions, co-ordinated their intelligence services to combat the communist threat across the Commonwealth. This paper explores how this co-ordination of anti-communist efforts was implemented in Britain, Australia and South Africa in the early Cold War era, which involved the breaking of strikes using the armed forces, the close monitoring of ‘persons of interest’ and the (attempted) banning of the Communist Party. It also seeks to demonstrate that the history of anti-communism, similar to communism, has an international dimension that is only starting to be investigated by historians.
Entropy Generation Analysis of Wildfire Propagation
Authors: Guelpa Elisa , Verda Vittorio
Published: August 2017

Entropy generation is commonly applied to describe the evolution of irreversible processes, such as heat transfer and turbulence. These are both dominating phenomena in fire propagation. In this paper, entropy generation analysis is applied to a grassland fire event, with the aim of finding possible links between entropy generation and propagation directions. The ultimate goal of such analysis consists in helping one to overcome possible limitations of the models usually applied to the prediction of wildfire propagation. These models are based on the application of the superimposition of the effects due to wind and slope, which has proven to fail in various cases. The analysis presented here shows that entropy generation allows a detailed analysis of the landscape propagation of a fire and can be thus applied to its quantitative description.
Surface Sampling Collection and Culture Methods for Escherichia coli in Household Environments with High Fecal Contamination
Authors: Exum Natalie , Kosek Margaret , Davis Meghan , Schwab Kellogg
Published: August 2017

Empiric quantification of environmental fecal contamination is an important step toward understanding the impact that water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions have on reducing enteric infections. There is a need to standardize the methods used for surface sampling in field studies that examine fecal contamination in low-income settings. The dry cloth method presented in this manuscript improves upon the more commonly used swabbing technique that has been shown in the literature to have a low sampling efficiency. The recovery efficiency of a dry electrostatic cloth sampling method was evaluated using Escherichia coli and then applied to household surfaces in Iquitos, Peru, where there is high fecal contamination and enteric infection. Side-by-side measurements were taken from various floor locations within a household at the same time over a three-month period to compare for consistency of quantification of E. coli bacteria. The dry cloth sampling method in the laboratory setting showed 105% (95% Confidence Interval: 98%, 113%) E. coli recovery efficiency off of the cloths. The field application demonstrated strong agreement of side-by-side results (Pearson correlation coefficient for dirt surfaces was 0.83 (p < 0.0001) and 0.91 (p < 0.0001) for cement surfaces) and moderate agreement for results between entrance and kitchen samples (Pearson (0.53, p < 0.0001) and weighted Kappa statistic (0.54, p < 0.0001)). Our findings suggest that this method can be utilized in households with high bacterial loads using either continuous (quantitative) or categorical (semi-quantitative) data. The standardization of this low-cost, dry electrostatic cloth sampling method can be used to measure differences between households in intervention and non-intervention arms of randomized trials.
Changes in Soil Microbial Community and Its Effect on Carbon Sequestration Following Afforestation on the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Xiang Yun , Cheng Man , Huang Yimei , An Shaoshan , Darboux Frédéric
Published: August 2017

Afforestation plays an important role in soil protection and ecological restoration. The objective of this study is to understand the effect of afforestation on soil carbon and soil microbial communities in the Loess Plateau of China. We measured two chemically-separated carbon fractions (i.e., humic acid, HA, and fulvic acid, FA) and soil microbial communities within shrublands (18-year-old Caragana korshinskii Kom (shrubland I) and 28-year-old Caragana korshinskii Kom (shrubland II)) and cropland. The size and structure of the soil microbial community was measured by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. The analysis of C-fractions indicated that at a depth of 0–20 cm, FA-C concentration in shrubland I and shrubland II were 1.7 times that of cropland, while HA-C had similar values across all three sites. Total PLFAs, G+ (Gram positive) bacterial, G− (Gram negative) bacterial, and actinobacterial PLFAs were highest in shrubland II, followed by shrubland I and finally cropland. Fungal PLFAs were significantly higher in shrubland II compared to the other sites. Additionally, we found a high degree of synergy between main microbial groups (apart from fungi) with FA-C. We concluded that planting C. korshinskii in abandoned cropland could alter the size and structure of soil microbial community, with these changes being closely related to carbon sequestration and humus formation.
The Herbal Bitter Drug Gentiana lutea Modulates Lipid Synthesis in Human Keratinocytes In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Wölfle Ute , Haarhaus Birgit , Seiwerth Jasmin , Cawelius Anja , Schwabe Kay , Quirin Karl-Werner , Schempp Christoph
Published: August 2017

Gentiana lutea is a herbal bitter drug that is used to enhance gastrointestinal motility and secretion. Recently we have shown that amarogentin, a characteristic bitter compound of Gentiana lutea extract (GE), binds to the bitter taste receptors TAS2R1 and TAS2R38 in human keratinocytes, and stimulates the synthesis of epidermal barrier proteins. Here, we wondered if GE also modulates lipid synthesis in human keratinocytes. To address this issue, human primary keratinocytes were incubated for 6 days with GE. Nile Red labeling revealed that GE significantly increased lipid synthesis in keratinocytes. Similarly, gas chromatography with flame ionization detector indicated that GE increases the amount of triglycerides in keratinocytes. GE induced the expression of epidermal ceramide synthase 3, but not sphingomyelinase. Lipid synthesis, as well as ceramide synthase 3 expression, could be specifically blocked by inhibitors of the p38 MAPK and PPARγ signaling pathway. To assess if GE also modulates lipid synthesis in vivo, we performed a proof of concept half side comparison on the volar forearms of 33 volunteers. In comparison to placebo, GE significantly increased the lipid content of the treated skin areas, as measured with a sebumeter. Thus, GE enhances lipid synthesis in human keratinocytes that is essential for building an intact epidermal barrier. Therefore, GE might be used to improve skin disorders with an impaired epidermal barrier, e.g., very dry skin and atopic eczema.