bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organización y factor humano
Authors: Ortiz Victor Julio
Published: June 2017

En este artículo el autor plantea la importancia de considerar el aspecto humano al concebir el diseño, estudio y /o análisis de las organizaciones. Describe algunos conceptos sobre el ser humano especialmente derivadas de la escuela del comportamiento.
Oportunidad y problemas de la revolución de las computadoras
Authors: Pfeiffer Ralph
Published: June 2017

El doctor Pffeiffer analiza en su artículo los efectos positivos que ha traído la utilización de la computadora y sus diversas aplicaciones y explica cómo la alta gerencia puede aprovechar al máximo esta nueva tecnología.
La misión de las organizaciones
Authors: Alvarez Londoño Hernan
Published: June 2017

Y esta especie humana que permanece y que aumenta, al tratar de satisfacer sus necesidades, se convierte en autora, promotora y actriz del cambio social. Es decir, ese hombre debido a su propia naturaleza ha creado, desarrollado, modificado y reemplazado técnicas, conocimientos, teorías, filosofías, ideologías, valores, recursos, culturas y aun sociedades. En esa búsqueda nació, por ejemplo la revolución industrial y así nacieron las organizaciones: como obras humanas cuyo fin era la satisfacción de dichas necesidades.
Las ventas dentro del contexto de Mercadeo
Authors: Villegas Orrego Fabio
Published: June 2017

El mercadeo tiene como objetivo final satisfacer necesidades y deseos del comprador. Las ventas buscan un comprador para trasferir la propiedad sobre un producto o servicio, con utilidades para la empresa.
Los círculos de participación como administración participativa
Authors: Monroy Leonel
Published: June 2017

Hoy día se habla mucho de participación; participación en las organizaciones, participación a nivel de sistema político, etc. Es importante entonces aclarar lo que se puede entender como participación a nivel de las organizaciones donde trabaja el ser humano.Algunas de las cosas que he escuchado, sobre todo muy reales, es que la participación se entiende como la vivencia o el sentimiento de ser tenido en cuenta o de ser reconocido, atendido e integrado en diferentes tipos de procesos en los cuales las personas aportan ideas, soluciones, su pensamiento, su capacidad creativa, etc.* Ponencia presentada en IV Congreso Nacional de Relaciones Industriales y I del Caribe, sede de Administración del Personal. Cali, noviembre de 1985.
Predicting User Acceptance and Continuance Behaviour Towards Location-based Services: The Moderating Effect of Facilitating Conditions on Behavioural Intention and Actual Use
Authors: Hossain Mohamamd Alamgir , Hasan Mohammad Imran , Chan Caroline , Ahmed Jashim Uddin
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this study is to establish and examine the significance of a consumer acceptance and continuance model for location-based services (LBSs) through the integration of perceived entertainment gratification (PEG) and perceived application quality (PAQ) with the technology acceptance model (TAM). By arguing that behavioural intention (BI) does not automatically lead to actual use (AU), we investigated the moderating effect of facilitating conditions (FC) on the relationship between BI and AU. A quantitative study was conducted in Australia and Bangladesh; data were obtained from multiple sources by systematic sampling of the distribution of questionnaires. For data analysis we applied the partial least square (PLS) method. The results indicate that, in both Australia and Bangladesh, perceived usefulness (PU), PEG and PAQ have significant influence on user attitude (UA), which has a subsequent effect on BI. Interestingly, perceived ease of use (PEoU) does not have a direct effect on UA but indirectly influences it through PU—confirming the mediating effect of PU. Further, FC has a moderating effect between BI and AU. The implications of these findings and directions for future research directions are also discussed.
The Contemporary Dance Economy: Problems and Potentials in the Contemporary Neoliberal Moment
Authors: Paramana Katerina
Published: June 2017

Michel Foucault suggests that ‘conduct’ is not only something we do, but something that is done to us, as well as a behaviour or practice that is an effect of other forms of conduct. How is the conduct of the dance field – in the different ways that Foucault is referring to it – affected by, and affecting neoliberalism? What is dance's role in the contemporary neoliberal moment? These are the questions I unpick in this article. I do so, first, by using Foucault's thinking on neoliberalism and the relationship between conduct, biopolitics, and neoliberal governmentality in order to illustrate how bodies of individuals and that of society are affected by the neoliberal economy. Wendy Brown's work on neoliberalism, which builds on Foucault's thinking, is interweaved in this discussion to allow me to address neoliberalism's function and effects in the contemporary moment. Second, I examine some of the problems of the contemporary dance economy as I, and other scholar-practitioners, have identified them, and address their relationship to neoliberalism, conduct, governmentality, and biopolitics – how they result from conducts suggested by neoliberalism or helping it do its work by becoming conducts of the field. I propose ways we might address them, suggesting that it is urgent that we do so if we are to advance the field and resist neoliberalism. For this, I use examples from conversations that recently took place in the field, such as at PAF London (2015), Sadler's Wells Summer University (2015), and Resilience: Articulating Dance Knowledges in the 21st Century and Post Dance conferences (2015). I argue that dance has an important role to play in changing today's world, but needs to come to terms with what I refer to as its ‘fears’, assert itself, and take action. In many ways, this article constitutes a critique of the contemporary dance economy; a critique that, by showing the relation of our conduct to conducts imposed by larger economies, aspires at articulating our role as central to both advancing the field and effecting social change.
Site, Adapt, Perform: A Practice-as-Research Confrontation with Climate Change
Authors: Kloetzel Melanie
Published: June 2017

In recent years, arts festivals around the globe have become enamoured of touring, site-based performance. Such serialised site work is growing in popularity due to its accessibility, its spectacular characteristics, and its adaptive qualities. Employing practice-as-research methodologies to dissect the basis of such site-adaptive performances, the author highlights her discovery of the crumbling foundation of the adaptation discourse by way of her creative process for the performance work Room. Combining findings from the phenomenological explorations of her dancing body as well as from cultural analyses of the climate change debate by Dipesh Chakrabarty (2009), Claire Colebrook (2011, 2012), and Bruno Latour (2014), the author argues that only by fundamentally shifting the direction of the adaptation discourse – on scales from global to the personal – will we be able to build a site-adaptive performance strategy that resists the neoliberal drive towards ecological and economic precarity.
Passionate Love-Letters to a Dead Girl: Elizabeth Siddall in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray
Authors: Orlando Emily J.
Published: June 2017

While Oscar Wilde's attraction to Pre-Raphaelite art has been well documented, surprisingly little attention has been paid to his career-long fascination with Elizabeth Siddall (1829–62). This essay will demonstrate that Wilde's deep and abiding interest in Siddall reverberates across his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), to an extent that has not been considered. I will specifically argue that the suicide of Dorian Gray's lover Sibyl Vane was inspired by Elizabeth Siddall's untimely overdose. The very name Sibyl echoes Siddall, who is best known as the model for John Everett Millais's Ophelia and Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Beata Beatrix. I want to suggest that Siddall, long dead by the 1890s, may have been coded as Celtic across turn-of-the-century Irish literature in ways not hitherto considered. Although Siddall was not born of Irish parents, she served ‘as a model for “a fair Celt with red hair”’ for the Pre-Raphaelite painter William Holman Hunt, perhaps owing to the fact that she was copper-haired, ivory-skinned, Welsh, and working class. As such, Siddall ­– who has not previously been read in a Celtic context – might serve as a signifier of the young, pale, passive, red-haired Irish maiden romanticised across popular culture as a symbol of the Irish nation. Indeed, it is plausible that the Dublin-born Wilde was attracted to Siddall because of her resemblance to the aisling figure derived from the eighteenth-century Gaelic tradition and popular in turn-of-the-century Irish culture. The essay will examine closely the nods to Elizabeth Siddall in The Picture of Dorian Gray and ultimately will propose that the Pre-Raphaelite musings in Wilde – whose engagement with feminism and with his native Ireland have always been complicated – effectively, if not intentionally, silence the figure of the fin-de-siècle New Woman as she appeared across the British and Irish Isles.
Zwitterionic Polymer P(AM-DMC-AMPS) as a Low-Molecular-Weight Encapsulator in Deepwater Drilling Fluid
Authors: Zhao Xin , Qiu Zhengsong , Zhang Yongjun , Zhong Hanyi , Huang Weian , Tang Zhichuan
Published: June 2017

In deepwater oil and gas drilling, the high-molecular-weight encapsulator aggravates the thickening of the drilling fluid at low temperatures. Therefore, it is hard to manage the downhole pressure, and drilling fluid loss occurs. In this paper, a zwitterionic polymer P(AM-DMC-AMPS) which was the terpolymer of acrylamide, methacrylatoethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, was developed as a low-molecular-weight encapsulator. It was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance, and gel permeation chromatography. Moreover, the low-temperature rheology, shale inhibition and filtration properties of water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs) containing different encapsulators were experimentally investigated and compared. The results showed that the molecular weight of P(AM-DMC-AMPS) was about 260,000, much lower than that of the conventional encapsulators. In the deepwater drilling temperature range 4–75 °C, WBDF containing P(AM-DMC-AMPS) had lower and more stable rheological property because of its short molecular chains. The high shale recovery rate and low swelling rate indicated its strong shale inhibition performance, owing to its adsorption on the clay surface and the wrapping effect through both hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. It also improved the filtration property of WBDF, and was compatible with other WBDF components. This product is expected to simultaneously realize the good encapsulation performance and low-temperature rheological property for deepwater drilling fluid.
Preparation of ZnO-Loaded Lignin-Based Carbon Fiber for the Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Hydroquinone
Authors: Wei Yuexing , Song Min , Yu Lei , Tang Xinhong
Published: June 2017

To improve the hydroquinone (HQ) determination limit in wastewater and contribute to the comprehensive utilization of lignin, a zinc oxide-loaded lignin-based carbon fiber (ZCF) was prepared by a combination of electrospinning and thermal treatment processes, and was applied in electrocatalytic oxidation of HQ using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The characterization of composites was conducted by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The CV curves demonstrate that a ZCF-modified electrode can efficiently enhance the electrochemical signal and provide a fast response to HQ with a linear range from 1 × 10−6 to 5 × 10−3 mol/L and a determination limit of 2.5 × 10−7 M. Compared with modification materials reported in other literature, it performs excellent. In addition, the effect of the scan rate and the stability of modified materials were also investigated to illustrate the electrochemical behavior on HQ determination. Under optimum conditions, the ZCF-modified electrode was also used for the simultaneous determination of HQ, catechol (CC), and resorcinol (RS), which could well separate the oxidation peaks of the three isomers.
Effect of Ce/Y Addition on Low-Temperature SCR Activity and SO2 and H2O Resistance of MnOx/ZrO2/MWCNTs Catalysts
Authors: Dong Lifu , Fan Yinming , Ling Wei , Yang Chao , Huang Bichun
Published: June 2017

The effects of SO2 and H2O on the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) activity over MnOx/ZrO2/MWCNTs and MnOx/ZrO2/MWCNTs catalysts modified by Ce or Y was studied. MnCeZr and MnYZr catalysts reached nearly 100% and 93.9% NOx conversions at 200 °C and 240 °C, respectively. They displayed a better SO2 tolerance, and the effect of H2O was negligible. The structural properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, H2-TPR, XPS, and FTIR before and after the reaction. The results showed that Ce could increase the mobility of the oxygen and improve the valence and the oxidizability of manganese, while the effect of Y was the opposite. This might be the main reason why the catalytic activity of MnCeZr was better than MnYZr in the presence or absence of SO2 and H2O. Doping Ce or Y broadened the active temperature window. Ce or Y, which existed in the catalysts with a high dispersion or at the amorphous state, preferred to react with SO2 to form sulfate species, and protected the manganese active sites from combing with SO2 to some extent, which coincided with the theory of ionic polarization.
Insights into the Metal Salt Catalyzed 5-Ethoxymethylfurfural Synthesis from Carbohydrates
Authors: Yu Xin , Gao Xueying , Tao Ruili , Peng Lincai
Published: June 2017

The use of common metal salts as catalysts for 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF) synthesis from carbohydrate transformation was performed. Initial screening suggested AlCl3 as an efficient catalyst for EMF synthesis (45.0%) from fructose at 140 °C. Interestingly, CuSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3 were found to yield comparable EMF at lower temperature of 110 to 120 °C, and high yields of ethyl levulinate (65.4–71.8%) were obtained at 150 °C. However, these sulfate salts were inactive in EMF synthesis from glucose and the major product was ethyl glucoside with around 80% yield, whereas EMF of 15.2% yield could be produced from glucose using CrCl3. The conversion of sucrose followed the accumulation of the reaction pathways of fructose and glucose, and a moderate yield of EMF could be achieved.
Catalytic Acetalization: An Efficient Strategy for High-Value Utilization of Biodiesel-Derived Glycerol
Authors: Sun Suqun , He Min , Dai Yuanwei , Li Xin , Liu Zhijun , Yao Li
Published: June 2017

In this study, an efficient process for high value utilization of biodiesel-derived glycerol was proposed via a simple reaction of acetalization catalyzed by novel catalysts of ester sulfate-functionalized ionic liquids (ILs). The relationship between the IL structure and its catalytic activity was investigated. The effects of reaction conditions, and the substrate adaptability, were also carefully studied. The results demonstrate that ester sulfate-functionalized IL shows excellent catalytic activity on the acetalization of glycerol with aldehyde (ketone). Under the optimized condition, 87% glycerol conversion was obtained with 99% acetal selectivity when glycerol was condensed with cyclohexanone. In particular, 29% of product consists of six-membered compound, an important fine chemical and an excellent precursor in organic chemistry, because of the significant steric-hindrance effect of IL catalyst. Furthermore, the IL catalyst shows good recyclability where insignificant activity loss was exhibited even after six runs.
Exergy Dynamics of Systems in Thermal or Concentration Non-Equilibrium
Authors: Sciubba Enrico , Zullo Federico
Published: June 2017

The paper addresses the problem of the existence and quantification of the exergy of non-equilibrium systems. Assuming that both energy and exergy are a priori concepts, the Gibbs “available energy” A is calculated for arbitrary temperature or concentration distributions across the body, with an accuracy that depends only on the information one has of the initial distribution. It is shown that A exponentially relaxes to its equilibrium value, and it is then demonstrated that its value is different from that of the non-equilibrium exergy, the difference depending on the imposed boundary conditions on the system and thus the two quantities are shown to be incommensurable. It is finally argued that all iso-energetic non-equilibrium states can be ranked in terms of their non-equilibrium exergy content, and that each point of the Gibbs plane corresponds therefore to a set of possible initial distributions, each one with its own exergy-decay history. The non-equilibrium exergy is always larger than its equilibrium counterpart and constitutes the “real” total exergy content of the system, i.e., the real maximum work extractable from the initial system. A systematic application of this paradigm may be beneficial for meaningful future applications in the fields of engineering and natural science.
Dependence between Stock Returns of Italian Banks and the Sovereign Risk
Authors: Durante Fabrizio , Foscolo Enrico , Weissensteiner Alex
Published: June 2017

We analyze the interdependence between the government yield spread and stock returns of the banking sector in Italy during the years 2003–2015. In a first step, we find that the Spearman’s rank correlation between the yield spread and the Italian banking system changed significantly after September 2008. According to this finding, we split the time window in two sub-periods. While we show that the dependence between the banking industry and changes in the yield spread increased significantly in the second time interval, we find no contagion effects from changes in the yield spread to returns of the banking system.
Correction: Vialard, L., et al. Toward a Socio-Territorial Approach to Health: Health Equity in West Africa. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 106
Authors: Vialard Lucie , Squiban Clara , Riveau Gilles , Hermann Emmanuel , Diop Doudou , Fournet Florence , Salem Gérard , Foley Ellen
Published: June 2017

In the original version of our article [1], insufficient acknowledgement was given to the organizers of the medical survey. [...]
Does the Health Impact of Exposure to Neighbourhood Green Space Differ between Population Groups? An Explorative Study in Four European Cities
Authors: Ruijsbroek Annemarie , Droomers Mariël , Kruize Hanneke , Van Kempen Elise , Gidlow Christopher , Hurst Gemma , Andrusaityte Sandra , Nieuwenhuijsen Mark , Maas Jolanda , Hardyns Wim , Stronks Karien , Groenewegen Peter
Published: June 2017

It has been suggested that certain residents, such as those with a low socioeconomic status, the elderly, and women, may benefit more from the presence of neighbourhood green space than others. We tested this hypothesis for age, gender, educational level, and employment status in four European cities. Data were collected in Barcelona (Spain; n = 1002), Kaunas (Lithuania; n = 989), Doetinchem (The Netherlands; n = 847), and Stoke-on-Trent (UK; n = 933) as part of the EU-funded PHENOTYPE project. Surveys were used to measure mental and general health, individual characteristics, and perceived neighbourhood green space. Additionally, we used audit data about neighbourhood green space. In Barcelona, there were positive associations between neighbourhood green space and general health among low-educated residents. In the other cities and for the other population groups, there was little evidence that the association between health and neighbourhood green space differed between population groups. Overall, our study does not support the assumption that the elderly, women, and residents who are not employed full-time benefit more from neighbourhood green space than others. Only in the highly urbanised city of Barcelona did the low-educated group benefit from neighbourhood green spaces. Perhaps neighbourhood green spaces are more important for the health of low-educated residents in particularly highly urbanised areas.
Activation of Magnesium Lignosulfonate and Kraft Lignin: Influence on the Properties of Phenolic Resin-Based Composites for Potential Applications in Abrasive Materials
Authors: Klapiszewski Lukasz , Jamrozik Artur , Strzemiecka Beata , Matykiewicz Danuta , Voelkel Adam , Jesionowski Teofil
Published: June 2017

Magnesium lignosulfonate and kraft lignin were activated by different oxidizing agents for use in phenolic resin composites used for the production of abrasive components. The physicochemical properties of the oxidized materials were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis (DMTA) and inverse gas chromatography (IGC). The homogeneity of the model abrasive composites containing the studied products was assessed based on observations obtained using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). FTIR and XPS analysis of the oxidized products indicated that the activation process leads mainly to the formation of carbonyl groups. The IGC technique was used to assess changes in the surface energy and the acid–base properties of the studied biopolymers. The changes in the acid–base properties suggest that more groups acting as electron donors appear on the oxidized surface of the materials. DMTA studies showed that the model composites with 5% magnesium lignosulfonate oxidized by H2O2 had the best thermomechanical properties. Based on the results it was possible to propose a hypothetical mechanism of the oxidation of the natural polymers. The use of such oxidized products may improve the thermomechanical properties of abrasive articles.
Identification of Novel Placentally Expressed Aspartic Proteinase in Humans
Authors: Majewska Marta , Lipka Aleksandra , Panasiewicz Grzegorz , Gowkielewicz Marek , Jozwik Marcin , Majewski Mariusz , Szafranska Bozena
Published: June 2017

This study presents pioneering data concerning the human pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-Like family, identified in the genome, of the term placental transcriptome and proteome. RNA-seq allowed the identification of 1364 bp hPAG-L/pep cDNA with at least 56.5% homology with other aspartic proteinases (APs). In silico analyses revealed 388 amino acids (aa) of full-length hPAG-L polypeptide precursor, with 15 aa-signal peptide, 47 aa-blocking peptide and 326 aa-mature protein, and two Asp residues (D), specific for a catalytic cleft of the APs (VVFDTGSSNLWV91-102 and AIVDTGTSLLTG274-285). Capillary sequencing identified 9330 bp of the hPAG-L gene (Gen Bank Acc. No. KX533473), composed of nine exons and eight introns. Heterologous Western blotting revealed the presence of one dominant 60 kDa isoform of the hPAG-L amongst cellular placental proteins. Detection with anti-pPAG-P and anti-Rec pPAG2 polyclonals allowed identification of the hPAG-L proteins located within regions of chorionic villi, especially within the syncytiotrophoblast of term singleton placentas. Our novel data extend the present knowledge about the human genome, as well as placental transcriptome and proteome during term pregnancy. Presumably, this may contribute to establishing a new diagnostic tool for examination of some disturbances during human pregnancy, as well as growing interest from both scientific and clinical perspectives.
Interactive Roles of DNA Helicases and Translocases with the Single-Stranded DNA Binding Protein RPA in Nucleic Acid Metabolism
Authors: Awate Sanket , Brosh, Jr. Robert
Published: June 2017

Helicases and translocases use the energy of nucleoside triphosphate binding and hydrolysis to unwind/resolve structured nucleic acids or move along a single-stranded or double-stranded polynucleotide chain, respectively. These molecular motors facilitate a variety of transactions including replication, DNA repair, recombination, and transcription. A key partner of eukaryotic DNA helicases/translocases is the single-stranded DNA binding protein Replication Protein A (RPA). Biochemical, genetic, and cell biological assays have demonstrated that RPA interacts with these human molecular motors physically and functionally, and their association is enriched in cells undergoing replication stress. The roles of DNA helicases/translocases are orchestrated with RPA in pathways of nucleic acid metabolism. RPA stimulates helicase-catalyzed DNA unwinding, enlists translocases to sites of action, and modulates their activities in DNA repair, fork remodeling, checkpoint activation, and telomere maintenance. The dynamic interplay between DNA helicases/translocases and RPA is just beginning to be understood at the molecular and cellular levels, and there is still much to be learned, which may inform potential therapeutic strategies.
Alteration of SHP-1/p-STAT3 Signaling: A Potential Target for Anticancer Therapy
Authors: Huang Tzu-Ting , Su Jung-Chen , Liu Chun-Yu , Shiau Chung-Wai , Chen Kuen-Feng
Published: June 2017

The Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1), a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase, has been reported as a negative regulator of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and linked to tumor development. In this present review, we will discuss the importance and function of SHP-1/p-STAT3 signaling in nonmalignant conditions as well as malignancies, its cross-talk with other pathways, the current clinical development and the potential role of inhibitors of this pathway in anticancer therapy and clinical relevance of SHP-1/p-STAT3 in cancers. Lastly, we will summarize and highlight work involving novel drugs/compounds targeting SHP-1/p-STAT3 signaling and combined strategies that were/are discovered in our and our colleagues’ laboratories.
Micro-Electromechanical Affinity Sensor for the Monitoring of Glucose in Bioprocess Media
Authors: Theuer Lorenz , Lehmann Micha , Junne Stefan , Neubauer Peter , Birkholz Mario
Published: June 2017

An affinity-viscometry-based micro-sensor probe for continuous glucose monitoring was investigated with respect to its suitability for bioprocesses. The sensor operates with glucose and dextran competing as binding partner for concanavalin A, while the viscosity of the assay scales with glucose concentration. Changes in viscosity are determined with a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) in the measurement cavity of the sensor probe. The study aimed to elucidate the interactions between the assay and a typical phosphate buffered bacterial cultivation medium. It turned out that contact with the medium resulted in a significant long-lasting drift of the assay’s viscosity at zero glucose concentration. Adding glucose to the medium lowers the drift by a factor of eight. The cglc values measured off-line with the glucose sensor for monitoring of a bacterial cultivation were similar to the measurements with an enzymatic assay with a difference of less than ±0.15 g·L−1. We propose that lectin agglomeration, the electro-viscous effect, and constitutional changes of concanavalin A due to exchanges of the incorporated metal ions may account for the observed viscosity increase. The study has demonstrated the potential of the MEMS sensor to determine sensitive viscosity changes within very small sample volumes, which could be of interest for various biotechnological applications.
Purine Acquisition and Synthesis by Human Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Chitty Jessica , Fraser James
Published: June 2017

While members of the Kingdom Fungi are found across many of the world’s most hostile environments, only a limited number of species can thrive within the human host. The causative agents of the most common invasive fungal infections are Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans. During the infection process, these fungi must not only combat the host immune system while adapting to dramatic changes in temperature and pH, but also acquire sufficient nutrients to enable growth and dissemination in the host. One class of nutrients required by fungi, which is found in varying concentrations in their environmental niches and the human host, is the purines. These nitrogen-containing heterocycles are one of the most abundant organic molecules in nature and are required for roles as diverse as signal transduction, energy metabolism and DNA synthesis. The most common life-threatening fungal pathogens can degrade, salvage and synthesize de novo purines through a number of enzymatic steps that are conserved. While these enable them to adapt to the changing purine availability in the environment, only de novo purine biosynthesis is essential during infection and therefore an attractive antimycotic target.
Mechanism of Surrounding Rock Failure and Crack Evolution Rules in Branched Pillar Recovery
Authors: Hu Gaojian , Yang Tianhong , Zhou Jingren , Yu Qinglei , Xie Lianku , Liu Honglei , Zhao Yong
Published: June 2017

To study the mechanism of surface collapse and crack evolution in a roadway chain failure process in the pillar recovery of Hongling lead zinc ore in Inner Mongolia Province, China, microseismic monitoring technology, moment tensor theory, and numerical simulation are used for the inversion of rock mass fracturing, the destruction type classification of crack, and the mechanism of surrounding rock. Research shows the following: (1) the rock mass fracturing is first produced within the +955 m level, before extending through the hanging wall to the ground surface. Then, many shear failures occur in the ground surface of the footwall, extending downwards in an arc-shaped path to the +905 m level. Finally, the surface gradually collapses with large-scale shear failures. (2) The mechanism of surface collapse is as follows: after the recovery of pillars in the +905 m level, tensile cracks generated in the top of orebody #2 extend upwards and obliquely. Analogously, shear cracks are generated in the top of orebody #1, extending upwards. After the recovery of pillars in the +855 m level, the marble interlayer is destroyed and sinks, and many tensile cracks and shear cracks exist and incise in the ground surface, which cause the ground surface to collapse. (3) The mechanism of crack evolution is as follows: after the recovery of 5107 pillars, the footwall haul road in the +905 m level was damaged and collapsed by the cut-through cracks. Those cracks then continue to extend upwards and converge with the slanting shear cracks in the +905 m level, which form a triangular failure in the footwall rock. Finally, the failure causes the tensile and shearing cracks in the haulage way of the +955 m level to extend and connect, which forms the haulage way chain failure.
Structural Inheritance and Redox Performance of Nanoporous Electrodes from Nanocrystalline Fe85.2B10-14P0-4Cu0.8 Alloys
Authors: Fu Chaoqun , Xu Lijun , Dan Zhenhua , Makino Akihiro , Hara Nobuyoshi , Qin Fengxiang , Chang Hui
Published: June 2017

Nanoporous electrodes have been fabricated by selectively dissolving the less noble α-Fe crystalline phase from nanocrystalline Fe85.2B14–xPxCu0.8 alloys (x= 0, 2, 4 at.%). The preferential dissolution is triggered by the weaker electrochemical stability of α-Fe nanocrystals than amorphous phase. The final nanoporous structure is mainly composed of amorphous residual phase and minor undissolved α-Fe crystals and can be predicted from initial microstructure of nanocrystalline precursor alloys. The structural inheritance is proved by the similarity of the size and outlines between nanopores formed after dealloying in 0.1 M H2SO4 and α-Fe nanocrystals precipitated after annealing of amorphous Fe85.2B14−xPxCu0.8 (x = 0, 2, 4 at.%) alloys. The Redox peak current density of the nanoporous electrodes obtained from nanocrystalline Fe85.2B10P4Cu0.8 alloys is more than one order higher than those of Fe plate electrode and its counterpart nanocrystalline alloys due to the large surface area and nearly-amorphous nature of ligaments.
Complete Recycling of Composite Material Comprising Polybutylene Terephthalate and Copper
Authors: Knappich Fabian , Hartl Ferdinand , Schlummer Martin , Mäurer Andreas
Published: June 2017

Composite materials comprising plastic and metal parts generate a large amount of waste containing valuable components that are difficult to separate and recycle. We therefore developed an economical solvent-based process for the recovery of costly manufactured composite materials comprising several copper panels over-moulded with a polymeric matrix of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). We applied the CreaSolv® Process, which uses proprietary formulations with a low risk to user and environment, in order to dissolve the polymer and retain the inert copper. After separating the metal from the solution, solvent recovery was achieved by means of vacuum distillation and melt degassing extrusion. The recovered solvent was collected and recycled while maintaining its original properties. We tested two candidate solvents with PBT, measuring their impact on the molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity of the polymer at different residence times and dissolution temperatures. We found that increasing the temperature-time-load had a negative effect on the Mw. Both solvents we tested were able to dissolve the polymeric matrix within 30 min and with moderate energy consumption. Furthermore, we found that the exclusion of oxygen during dissolution significantly increases the quality of the recovered polymer and metal. We transferred the process from the laboratory scale to the small-technical scale and produced material for large analytical and mechanical quality evaluation, revealing no decline in the polymer quality by blending with new plastic. The recovered copper met virgin material properties. Therefore, both components of the original composite material have been recovered in a form suitable for reuse.
The Development of an Open Hardware and Software System Onboard Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Monitor Concentrated Solar Power Plants
Authors: Mesas-Carrascosa Francisco , Verdú Santano Daniel , Pérez Porras Fernando , Meroño-Larriva José , García-Ferrer Alfonso
Published: June 2017

Concentrated solar power (CSP) plants are increasingly gaining interest as a source of renewable energy. These plants face several technical problems and the inspection of components such as absorber tubes in parabolic trough concentrators (PTC), which are widely deployed, is necessary to guarantee plant efficiency. This article presents a system for real-time industrial inspection of CSP plants using low-cost, open-source components in conjunction with a thermographic sensor and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The system, available in open-source hardware and software, is designed to be employed independently of the type of device used for inspection (laptop, smartphone, tablet or smartglasses) and its operating system. Several UAV flight missions were programmed as follows: flight altitudes at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 m above ground level; and three cruising speeds: 5, 7 and 10 m/s. These settings were chosen and analyzed in order to optimize inspection time. The results indicate that it is possible to perform inspections by an UAV in real time at CSP plants as a means of detecting anomalous absorber tubes and improving the effectiveness of methodologies currently being utilized. Moreover, aside from thermographic sensors, this contribution can be applied to other sensors and can be used in a broad range of applications where real-time georeferenced data visualization is necessary.
An FPGA-Based WASN for Remote Real-Time Monitoring of Endangered Species: A Case Study on the Birdsong Recognition of Botaurus stellaris
Authors: Hervás Marcos , Alsina-Pagès Rosa , Alías Francesc , Salvador Martí
Published: June 2017

Fast environmental variations due to climate change can cause mass decline or even extinctions of species, having a dramatic impact on the future of biodiversity. During the last decade, different approaches have been proposed to track and monitor endangered species, generally based on costly semi-automatic systems that require human supervision adding limitations in coverage and time. However, the recent emergence of Wireless Acoustic Sensor Networks (WASN) has allowed non-intrusive remote monitoring of endangered species in real time through the automatic identification of the sound they emit. In this work, an FPGA-based WASN centralized architecture is proposed and validated on a simulated operation environment. The feasibility of the architecture is evaluated in a case study designed to detect the threatened Botaurus stellaris among other 19 cohabiting birds species in The Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l’Empord
The Development of the Differential MEMS Vector Hydrophone
Authors: Zhang Guojun , Liu Mengran , Shen Nixin , Wang Xubo , Zhang Wendong
Published: June 2017

To solve the problem that MEMS vector hydrophones are greatly interfered with by the vibration of the platform and flow noise in applications, this paper describes a differential MEMS vector hydrophone that could simultaneously receive acoustic signals and reject acceleration signals. Theoretical and simulation analyses have been carried out. Lastly, a prototype of the differential MEMS vector hydrophone has been created and tested using a standing wave tube and a vibration platform. The results of the test show that this hydrophone has a high sensitivity, Mv = −185 dB (@ 500 Hz, 0 dB reference 1 V/μPa), which is almost the same as the previous MEMS vector hydrophones, and has a low acceleration sensitivity, Mv = −58 dB (0 dB reference 1 V/g), which has decreased by 17 dB compared with the previous MEMS vector hydrophone. The differential MEMS vector hydrophone basically meets the requirements of acoustic vector detection when it is rigidly fixed to a working platform, which lays the foundation for engineering applications of MEMS vector hydrophones.
On Line Service Composition in the Integrated Clinical Environment for eHealth and Medical Systems
Authors: García-Valls Marisol , Touahria Imad
Published: June 2017

Medical and eHealth systems are progressively realized in the context of standardized architectures that support safety and ease the integration of the heterogeneous (and often proprietary) medical devices and sensors. The Integrated Clinical Environment (ICE) architecture appeared recently with the goal of becoming a common framework for defining the structure of the medical applications as concerns the safe integration of medical devices and sensors. ICE is simply a high level architecture that defines the functional blocks that should be part of a medical system to support interoperability. As a result, the underlying communication backbone is broadly undefined as concerns the enabling software technology (including the middleware) and associated algorithms that meet the ICE requirements of the flexible integration of medical devices and services. Supporting the on line composition of services in a medical system is also not part of ICE; however, supporting this behavior would enable flexible orchestration of functions (e.g., addition and/or removal of services and medical equipment) on the fly. iLandis one of the few software technologies that supports on line service composition and reconfiguration, ensuring time-bounded transitions across different service orchestrations; it supports the design, deployment and on line reconfiguration of applications, which this paper applies to service-based eHealth domains. This paper designs the integration between ICE architecture and iLand middleware to enhance the capabilities of ICE with on line service composition and the time-bounded reconfiguration of medical systems based on distributed services. A prototype implementation of a service-based eHealth system for the remote monitoring of patients is described; it validates the enhanced capacity of ICE to support dynamic reconfiguration of the application services. Results show that the temporal cost of the on line reconfiguration of the eHealth application is bounded, achieving a low overhead resulting from the addition of ICE compliance.
The Strategies, Complexities, and Realities of Zero Prison Population Growth
Authors: Patterson Evelyn
Published: June 2017

Although there is general consensus that growth in the prison population should be reversed, there is little agreement on how to achieve this goal. In this paper, I apply classic demographic methods to answer questions that assess the strategies, complexities, and realities of routes to zero and negative prison population growth. Modified admissions policies have had the greatest impact on halting growth, whereas decreasing the length of sentences has had only a modest, short-term influence on the prison population size. As state and federal policy-makers consider reducing sentences for selective classes of nonviolent offenders, it is important that they have a holistic understanding of the implications of such policies. Traditionally, this type of modification has been coupled with more punitive policies for violent offenders, a pattern that reinforces the appearance of having “tough on crime” policies. Model estimates show that such strategies countervail the overall goal of decreasing the size of the prison population. Regardless of underlying reasons to halt growth of the prison populations, integration of the formal demography enable a means to assess the short- and long-term consequences of current and future policy.
Muscular Power during a Lifting Task Increases after Three Months of Resistance Training in Overweight and Obese Individuals
Authors: Zemková Erika , Kyselovičová Ol’ga , Jeleň Michal , Kováčiková Zuzana , Ollé Gábor , Štefániková Gabriela , Vilman Tomáš , Baláž Miroslav , Kurdiová Timea , Ukropec Jozef , Ukropcová Barbara
Published: June 2017

Background: This study evaluates the effect on power produced during a modified lifting task in the overweight and obese after three months of either resistance or aerobic training. Methods: Seventeen male subjects divided randomly into two groups performed deadlift and deadlift high pull, both with increasing weights up to maximal power, prior to and after the training programs (three sessions per week). Results: Their mean power increased significantly during the deadlift at 20 kg (14.3%, p = 0.026), 30 kg (17.7%, p = 0.008), 40 kg (16.5%, p = 0.011), 50 kg (14.5%, p = 0.020), and 60 kg (14.3%, p = 0.021) and during the deadlift high pull at 30 kg (9.9%, p = 0.037), 40 kg (10.1%, p = 0.035), and 50 kg (8.2%, p = 0.044) after the resistance training. However, the group that participated in the aerobic training failed to show any significant changes in power performance during either the deadlift or deadlift high pull. Conclusion: Three months of resistance training enhances power outputs during a lifting task with weights from 30 to 50 kg (~40%–60% of 1-repetition maximum) in the overweight and obese. Because this test was sensitive in revealing pre-post training changes in lifting performance, it should be implemented in the functional diagnostics for overweight and obese individuals and also complement existing testing methods.
Visualization of Chinese CBM Research: A Scientometrics Review
Authors: Luo Xiao , Zhang Xin , Zhang Long , Huang Gun
Published: June 2017

The field of coalbed methane (CBM) is well recognized as being able to provide clean fuels and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, thereby helping to reduce global warming. It is an effective solution to the problem of global climate change. Given the importance of CBM research on sustainable development, we have developed a comprehensive and powerful visualization of Chinese CBM research to help other peers obtain a quick and efficient understanding of the current situation and development of CBM research in China. This method, by using CiteSpace, also represents a paradigm shift in our way of dealing with the large volume of scientific publications and could change the way literature searches and reviews are conducted, as well as how the impact of specific work is assessed.
Evaluating Urban Forms for Comparison Studies in the Massing Design Stage
Authors: Chen Kian , Norford Leslie
Published: June 2017

We introduce five performance indicators to facilitate the comparison of urban massing design in the early design stages. The five simple indicators are based on existing studies and cover three main performance areas that are sensitive to urban form changes: solar, ventilation, and connectivity potentials. The first three indicators—the non-solar heated façade to floor area index, daylight façade to floor area index, and photovoltaics envelope to floor area index—measure the solar potential. The frontal area index measures the ventilation potential and the route-directness index measures the connectivity potential. The indicators are simple to use, as they only require urban geometry data for their calculation. We demonstrate the indicators in two case studies; variations in the values of these indicators show that they are sensitive to urban form changes and can be used in comparative studies to identify better performing urban forms among massing designs. We implement the indicators as an open-source Python library, Pyliburo, that designers and researchers can readily access and integrate into their existing design workflows.
Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Host Resistance to Stem Rust in USDA NSGC Durum Wheat Accessions
Authors: Chao Shiaoman , Rouse Matthew N. , Acevedo Maricelis , Szabo‐Hever Agnes , Bockelman Harold , Bonman J. Michael , Elias Elias , Klindworth Daryl , Xu Steven
Published: June 2017

The USDA–ARS National Small Grains Collection (NSGC) maintains germplasm representing global diversity of small grains and their wild relatives. To evaluate the utility of the NSGC durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) accessions, we assessed genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns in a durum core subset containing 429 lines with spring growth habit originating from 64 countries worldwide. Genetic diversity estimated using wheat single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers showed considerable diversity captured in this collection. Average LD decayed over a genetic distance to within 3 cM at r2 = 0.2, with a fast LD decay for markers linked at >5 cM. We evaluated accessions for resistance to wheat stem rust, caused by a fungal pathogen, Puccinia graminis Pers. Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. and E. Henn (Pgt), using races from both eastern Africa and North America, at seedling and adult plant stages. Five accessions were identified as resistant to all stem rust pathogen races evaluated. Genome‐wide association analysis detected 17 significant associations at the seedling stage with nine likely corresponding to Sr7, Sr12, and Sr13 and the remaining potentially being novel genes located on six chromosomes. A higher frequency of resistant accessions was found at the adult plant stage than at the seedling stage. However, few significant associations were detected possibly a result of strong G × E interactions not properly accounted for in the mixed model. Nonetheless, the resistant accessions identified in this study should provide wheat breeders with valuable resources for improving stem rust resistance.