bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mission statements of universities worldwide: Text mining and visualization
Authors: Cortés Sánchez Julián David
Published: September 2018

Purpose: To conduct a transnational study of universities’ mission statements (MS) through content analysis to identify characteristics related to language (e.g. number of words, the most and least frequently used words) and if those characteristics are related to universities’ location, size, focus, research output, age band and status (i.e. private or public). Design/methodology/approach: Content analysis by using Voyant Tools.Findings: The main results showed: (1) a necessity for self-awareness; (2) an overall emphasis on society and students, as stakeholders; (3) there were no discernible similarities in terms between firms and universities; (4) MS tend to be longer in universities from Asia and shorter from Europe; (5) the absence of quantitative elements; (6) small universities prioritized knowledge over research; (7) the youngest universities tend to use more of the least frequently used terms; (8) public universities emphasized students and private universities emphasized education; and (9) the private sector has a noticeable interest in the society and the public sector on community.Research limitations/implications: Sub-samples of certain regions should more inclusive in further studies. Considering that the mean sample of MS studies was 89.6, this study used a sample more than two times larger. Although, the African (4) and Latin-American (5) samples were not significant compared with European (94) or North American (79) subsamples. Thus, further studies should consider a more-inclusive ranking in research databases than the QS world university ranking.Practical implications: University planning offices can use these results and the digital database to construct a global outlook on MS trends or uncommonly used terms to define the purpose of their university and future course of action, embrace an overall isomorphism, or seek a distinctive strategy to differentiate their institution from others. In addition, this research can be used by strategic planning scholars to conduct regionally or nationally focused studies.Social Implications: Universities’ MS serve as public pronouncements of their purpose, ambition, and values. In this study, we presented and analyzed the contents of those purposes, in which mission-oriented universities, some of them as global influencers, seek to perform in multiple levels of importance for every country (i.e. education, research, and services with both private and public sectors and the community).Originality/value: Most of the previous studies are restricted to national contexts and based on reduced samples with no open access digital data. In this study we considered a wide sample of universities from Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania, Latin America and Africa; and delivered a digital open access database of MS from those universities.
George Steiner o sobre el discurso ético en la crítica literaria
Authors: González Alcázar Felipe
Published: September 2018

La crítica literaria plantea un tipo de discurso especial. Además, la teoría y la crítica literarias del siglo XX han tenido diversas tradiciones en el mundo occidental; en la cultura anglosajona ha perdurado la idea de que el crítico y, por consiguiente, el pensamiento literario, debe estar regido por un modelo y un propósito éticos. La propuesta de George Steiner, debido a su gran popularidad y su capacidad para extenderse más allá de la recepción académica, y enfrentada tanto al formalismo crítico como a la deconstrucción, se convierte en un ejemplo de crítica ética, personal, culta e ingeniosamente polémica.
De « l’instant décisif » à la photographie documentaire critique
Authors: Bazin Philippe
Published: September 2018

Cet article se confronte au fameux texte de Henri Cartier-Bresson « L’instant décisif » et en développe une analyse critique en six points aboutissant à voir en lui une forme de pouvoir fondée sur le « coup d’œil immanent et transperçant ». Puis il propose une alternative à cette forme de photographie, adoptée par le photojournalisme, avec la photographie documentaire critique. S’appuyant sur certains photographes américains comme Allan Sekula et Martha Roesler, il définit une « attitude documentaire » qui cherche à poser des questions et non à donner des réponses et pose en particulier celle qu’énonça Michel Foucault : « Qu’est-ce que notre actualité ? », soit « qu’est-ce qui, dans notre présent, fait sens ? ». Une démarche aboutissant à des documents d’expérience qui n’exclut ni la question du sujet au profit de préoccupations formelles, ni la part de hasard qui entre dans un tel document et qui postule un travail d’après-coup, de réélaboration de l’œuvre par la confrontation à des textes (coupures de presse, discours politiques, rapports administratifs, commentaires, légendes, etc.), des paroles d’acteurs du terrain, jouant du montage contre la narration afin que le spectateur s’empare des propositions pour construire son propre point de vue critique sur la question.
Traduire l’avant-garde : Léon Moussinac, Juan Piqueras et la pédagogie critique de cinéma
Authors: Fibla-Gutiérrez Enrique
Published: September 2018

Cet article se concentre sur la relation entre les critiques Juan Piqueras et Léon Moussinac et leurs projets pour une pédagogie critique du cinéma. L’essai adopte une lecture alternative de l’avant-garde comme un modèle « pouvant être traduit » pour démontrer la synergie productive ente les cultures cinématographiques radicales françaises et espagnoles de la fin des années 1920 et du début des années 1930. En tant que traducteurs des luttes sociales en initiatives culturelles, Piqueras et Moussinac ont poussé l’avant-garde internationale et certaines initiatives militantes à être adoptées dans et adaptées à leur contexte local. Dans un contexte politique et social de plus en plus radicalisé, l’esthétique révolutionnaire n’est cependant pas suffisante pour Moussinac et Piqueras. L’art ne peut simplement se « dissoudre dans la vie de tous les jours » de manière abstraite, mais doit au contraire donner lieu à la création d’institutions culturelles au service d’une émancipation politique et artistique. Les projets de Piqueras et Moussinac révèlent non seulement la manière dont l’intervention du cinéma dans la société était imaginée, mais aussi sa mise en pratique dans les domaines culturels, politiques et sociaux de la vie de tous les jours, au-delà des simples cercles esthétiques élitistes et des institutions étatiques.
La vie est à nous : penser l’auteur d’une œuvre collective
Authors: Michon Aurélian
Published: September 2018

Depuis sa sortie en 1936, La vie est à nous a soulevé de nombreuses interrogations. Cet article veut étudier la diversité des points de vue sur le film selon leur époque et leur origine géographique. Attribué dès sa sortie en 1936 à un collectif anonyme, le film est ensuite attaché à la figure de Jean Renoir. L’étude du film connaît un renouveau avec sa redécouverte en 1969. Mais les critiques français ont du mal à s’approprier cet objet, hormis le cas particulier des Cahiers du Cinéma qui le transforment en manifeste de film politique avant de se renier. Dans le monde anglo-saxon, le film a pourtant été étudié depuis longtemps, du fait d’une approche peut-être moins obsédée par la quête de « l’auteurisation » du film.
Jean-Pierre Jeancolas, historien du cinéma français (1937-2017)
Authors: Marie Michel
Published: September 2018

Jean-Pierre Jeancolas (1937-2017), membre de l'AFRHC depuis 1985, vice-président puis président de l'association (1992-1996), eut l'idée du titre de notre revue : 1895.Critique de cinéma dans plusieurs périodiques (Positif, Jeune Cinéma, Politis) il a laissé une œuvre d'historien du cinéma français d'abord mais aussi du cinéma hongrois. C'est cet aspect de ses travaux que plusieurs chercheurs revisitent dans ce dossier afin d'établir l'apport de Jeancolas, les avancées et les limites de ses contributions qu'il voulait ouvertes sur des développements que d'autres peuvent maintenant leur donner, y compris à partir de l'abondante documentation qu'il avait réunie et soigneusement organisée, déposée désormais dans un fonds à son nom à l'Université de Lausanne. On publie en outre un inédit de Jeancolas, communication à un colloque organisé à Oxford en 1991 qui n'a sans doute jamais connu d'édition y compris en anglais : « Le Parti communiste français et le cinéma (1944-1953) ».
Negotiation for Meaning Routines in Audio SCMC Interactions
Authors: Li Chenxi (Cecilia) , Lewis Tim
Published: September 2018

Negotiation for meaning, in response to instances of non-understanding, plays an important role in SLA. Meaning negotiation routines in face-to-face classroom interactions have been identified by Varonis and Gass. Smith expands the model to adapt it to text chat CMC environments. In the past decade, synchronous audio CMC has become commonly used for online language teaching, but its affordances are different from text chat CMC. Therefore, it is necessary to examine what meaning negotiation routines are in language learners' oral interactions in this new online learning environment. In this study, participants were invited to complete two information gap tasks in which target lexical items were embedded to elicit learners' negotiation for meaning and then they participated in a stimulated recall interview. Based on the analysis of students' oral interactions in synchronous audio CMC, the authors propose two new possible stages in negotiation for meaning routines and demonstrate how different modes of communication can affect language learning online.
Virtual Dark Tourism
Authors: Handayani Bintang , Korstanje Maximiliano E.
Published: September 2018

This study looks at some primary points in the discourse of virtual dark tourism (VDT) formation. Derived from the spectrum of sound branding (SB), virtual reality (VR), coupled with augmented reality (AR), the case is used as a tool to support the claims of VDT. Findings suggest viewpoints for making death sites exclusive, and offer valuable clues to the design of VDT formation as an option to include death sites as market offerings of dark tourism. Guided by social constructionist research philosophy, coupled with semiology and compositional interpretation, the analysis offers valuable clues to position sites built around the narratives of death. Not only does it verify elements of unique and emotional selling propositions in the typology of death sites, but it also signifies the emerging state of the art on the nexus between VDT and SB. Specifically, dark themed songs coupled AR are used as tourism drivers for designing Trunyan Cemetery, Bali. Overall, this review shows preliminary designs for prototype death sites. Several issues and directions for future research are discussed.
Energy Management Enhanced ERP
Authors: Thimm Heiko
Published: September 2018

During recent years, energy management has evolved to be an important corporate work area. Despite the new business opportunities for software vendors and user companies that arise from this work area, most ERP systems still only offer limited functionality for energy management. This article attempts to demonstrate these opportunities by a description of corresponding use-cases. Also, technical considerations for the integration of energy management functionalities into an ERP system are described with a focus on a system coupling approach. The intended extension is achieved by coupling a dedicated energy management information system to the ERP system. The coupling approach is exemplified through a demonstration that consists of an extended version of the abas ERP system which has been on the market for more than 30 years.
Designing Software as a Service in Cloud Computing Using Quality Function Deployment
Authors: Abtahi Amir-Reza , Abdi Fahimeh
Published: September 2018

Cloud computing is an approach to access the virtualized resources based on an integrated system. Flexibility, scalability, high accessibility, and cost-effectiveness are some features of this system. These advantages have caused a favorable reception of different cloud computing services, such as software as a service (SAAS), platform as a service (PAAS), and infrastructure as a service (IAAS) on the part of businesses. In this article, a model for SAAS services has been proposed as one of the cloud computing layers with the maximum adjustment between the dimensions and components of QFD-based customer requirements. QFD is a method that seeks to translate the customer's voice into the technical design requirement. For this purpose, the dimensions and components of customer requirements and the dimensions and components of designing were determined through the review of literature and consulting with the experts. Finally, the dimensions and components of final desirable outcome were determined for SAAS by stages to achieve a modified QFD. After the examination of dimensions and components, a comparison was made between the companies and finally the most effective customer needs and the target values were determined. Thus, an SAAS service was designed. The telecommunications and cloud computing service provider companies can satisfy the customers and achieve a competitive advantage in designing SAAS services using the results of this research.
Security Threats for Big Data
Authors: Islam Muhammad Nazrul , Zaki Tarannum , Uddin Md. Sami , Hasan Md. Mahedi
Published: September 2018

With the advancement of modern science and technology, data emerging from different fields are escalating gradually. Recently, with this huge amount of data, Big Data has become a source of immense opportunities for large scale organizations related to various business sectors as well as to information technology (IT) professionals. Hence, one of the biggest challenges of this context is the security of this big set of data in different ICT based organizations. The fundamental objective of this article is to explore how big data may create security challenges in email communication. As an outcome, this article first shows that big data analysis helps to understand the behavior or interest of email users, which in turn can help phishers to create the phishing sites or emails that result in IT security threat; second, the article finds that phishing e-mail generation based on the (email) users' behavior can break an organization's IT security; and finally, a framework was proposed that would help to enhance the security of email communication.
eGovernment Adoption Determinants From Citizens' Perspective
Authors: Jonathan Gideon Mekonnen , Rusu Lazar
Published: September 2018

The lack of adoption of eGovernment by citizens has been cited to be one of the reasons for failures of most eGovernment initiatives. A systematic literature review was conducted to shade light on the current status of the research in this area with a focus on the research goals, research design, research strategies, scientific theories used and research methods. Major databases indexing reputable journals in information systems and e-government area were searched by using keywords to collect relevant articles for analysis. A total of 19 articles were identified which indicated that empirical studies with survey as research strategy and questionnaires as a data collection method dominates the publications list while the use of case studies as research strategy was found to be scarce. The review has also highlighted several limitations related to the choice of research methods and its implication on furthering the understanding of the research on this topic.
Augmenting Medical Decision Making With Text-Based Search of Teaching File Repositories and Medical Ontologies
Authors: Deshpande Priya , Rasin Alexander , Brown Eli T , Furst Jacob , Montner Steven M. , Armato III Samuel G. , Raicu Daniela S
Published: September 2018

Teaching files are widely used by radiologists in the diagnostic process and for student education. Most hospitals maintain an active collection of teaching files for internal purposes, but many teaching files are also publicly available online, some linked to secondary sources. However, public sources offer very limited (and ad-hoc) search capabilities. Based on the previous work on data integration and text-based search, the authors extended their Integrated Radiology Image Search (IRIS 1.1) engine with a new medical ontology, SNOMED CT, and the ICD10 dictionary. IRIS 1.1 integrates public data sources and applies query expansion with exact and partial matches to find relevant teaching files. Using a set of 28 representative queries from multiple sources, the search engine finds more relevant teaching cases versus other publicly available search engines.
Simple Screen Locking Method Using Randomly Generated Number Grid on Image
Authors: Aris Hazleen , Ibrahim Zailani , Azman Ariff
Published: September 2018

Smartphones have become part and parcel of our daily life. Due to the more and more advanced features incorporated, its role has extended beyond calls and text messages, and it has become a place where important personal information is being stored. Thus, it needs to be protected from unauthorised users, which is usually achieved by using screen locking. However, improved screen locking security often compromises other aspects, such as usability and cost. In this article, a new screen locking method (SyS) that is both simple, secure from shoulder surf and smudge attacks, and not expensive to implement is presented. It uses an image and a chosen number to create the screen locking code. Evaluation results show that the SyS screen lock method scores best in terms of usability and security compared to the other three common screen locking methods, namely personal identification number or PIN, password, and pattern. It also performs well theoretically when compared against existing screen locking methods that aim at defending against similar attacks.
The SccoB Process
Authors: Randles Theodore J , Zhang Prof. Zhe , Miller William Johnson
Published: September 2018

Based on qualities of the four-stroke engine and the medical diagnostic process, five characteristics of knowledge were identified and serve as the basis of a self-sustaining knowledge creation process. The SccoB process forms a complementary relation with the firm's existing processes and provides a counterweight to its existing mode of thought. This is done through an internal, counter-culture research institute and the creation of stress and profound insights through the identification and analysis of operational anomalies. SccoB is also a mapping process which moves the organization to greater quality and agility and to more advanced forms of mapping, such as the mapping of technical skills, complex diagnostic problem spaces, business process knowledge requirements, and cognitive force.
Gender Ideologies and Climate Risk
Authors: Buyana Kareem , Lwasa Shuaib , Kasaija Peter
Published: September 2018

Although African cities are nodes of scalable solutions to climate uncertainty, adaptation efforts rarely build on the gender-climate nexus for sustainability. This article examines how gender ideologies intersect with climate risks, based on case study findings from Kampala in Uganda. Climatic hazards in Kampala include prolonged dry spells and seasonal floods; which destroy infrastructure, contaminate air and lead to unprecedented spread of cholera and malaria. Both conventional and emancipatory gender ideologies are characteristic of how the gender-climate nexus shapes adaptation at neighborhood scale. Women, as custodians of domestic hygiene, navigate the health risks of flooding through trade-offs among competing uses of their time and labour, as men comply with the masculinity code of family safety to repair flooded homes and drainages. Emancipatory gender ideologies on the other hand are manifested by women's and men's agency to adopt alternative energy sources and urban greening that have potential for sustainability.
Peri-Urban National Parks as Green Spaces for Recreation
Authors: Koynova Teodora , Koleva Vanya , Dragoeva Asya P. , Natchev Nikolay
Published: September 2018

Little is known regarding the significance for local people of peri-urban national parks as recreational areas. The main goal of the present article is to evaluate the social impact and importance of peri-urban parks for visitors as a green space for outdoor recreation. For this investigation on-site, face-to-face interviews were conducted. The main reason for visiting NP are: “to be near to nature” (64.71%), “to practice sport” (58.09%) and “relaxing” (43.38%). Spending time in NP is considered by most interviewed people to be of crucial importance both for physical (96.32%) and for mental (83.82%) health. It should be noted that high frequency of park visits was reported only by young, employed and well-educated people. Data collected shows that park management plan should encourage low-income groups (unemployed and elderly) to use outdoor recreation as a part of preventive healthcare. The access for older adults, people with disabilities and children to the park should be facilitated. Services like access to clean water, toilets and seating places must be improved. The data from the authors' survey could be useful for the peri-urban national parks development as green spaces for promoting health among all demographic groups of local inhabitants.
Big Data and IoT-Allied Challenges Associated With Healthcare Applications in Smart and Automated Systems
Authors: Rath Mamata
Published: September 2018

Most of the current smart applications are developed with basis on intelligent computing, most of which are implemented using big data analytics and much other advanced technology. With emerging technology, industrial and instructive improvements are causing greater changes in the lifestyle of people in smart cities and there is more chance of various health problems in urban areas. The way of life in metro urban areas with an expansive volume of people is similarly influenced by different applications and administration frameworks. In this way, the majority of the urban communities are transforming into smart urban areas by receiving mechanized frameworks in every conceivable segment. Therefore, there is more health-related issues and health hazard issues can be identified in urban areas. This article carries out a comprehensive survey of health care issues and improved solutions in automated systems using Big Data Analytics in smart cities integrated with IoT.
Multicycle Surface Alloying of Aluminum with Titanium: Structure and Properties
Authors: Ivanov Yurii , Koval Nikolay , Krysina Olga V. , Moskvin Pavel , Petrikova Elizaveta A. , Tolkachev Oleg S.
Published: September 2018

Commercially pure A7 aluminum was surface alloyed with commercially pure titanium on COMPLEX equipment under unified vacuum conditions through vacuum arc evaporation and deposition of a thin Ti film and intense electron beam irradiation of the film–substrate system using a plasma-cathode pulsed electron source. The number of deposition–irradiation cycles was 20. The Ti film thickness in each cycle was 0.5 μm. After multicycle alloying, a modified surface layer of up to 60 μm thick was formed representing a multiphase structure of rapidly solidified submicro-and nanograins. The microhardness of the Ti–Al surface alloy (irradiation at 15 J/cm2, 50 μs, 10 pulses) was more than 8 times the microhardness of A7 aluminum, and its wear resistance and friction coefficient were respectively 45 times higher and 1.2 times lower than the values in the initial material. The chief cause for the improved mechanical and tribological properties of commercially pure A7 aluminum is the formation of an extended intermetallic layer.
Epoxy Composites Filled with Sodium Bicarbonate: Thermal and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Murashkina Yuliya , Lipchansky Dmitry
Published: September 2018

The epoxy composites filled with 5 and 10 mass % of sodium bicarbonate were prepared. Sodium bicarbonate at the heating decomposes into sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide and water. As a result, sodium bicarbonate is able to slow down the combustion process when it used as polymer filler. The thermal stability of the prepared samples was investigated at the heating in air using thermal analysis. The mechanical characteristics of epoxy composites were also studied. The gaseous products of thermal oxidative degradation were studied using mass spectrometric analysis. It was found that sodium bicarbonate accelerates the process of thermal oxidative degradation of the epoxy composites in the initial stage, but enhances thermal stability in the final stage. The addition of boric acid to sodium bicarbonate as filler is recommended to improve the thermal stability of the epoxy polymer.
Specific Features of Obtaining of Metal Nanowires by Replication of Pores of Track Etched Membranes
Authors: Zagorskiy Dmitri , Doludenko Ilya , Shatalov Aleksander
Published: September 2018

Ensembles (massives) of metal nanowires (with diameters 50-200 nm) were obtained using method of template synthesis. Polymer track etched matrixes were used as template. Nanowires obtained were the replicas of the pores in these membranes. The problems of choosing of electrolyte and different regimes of electrodeposition were discussed. Different techniques of separation of obtained nanowires from growth polymer matrix were used-etching at elevated temperature, ultrasound and UV-treatment. The regimes of obtaining of layer Cu/Ni nanowires were investigated and the optimal voltages were found: 0.8 V for Cu-layer and 1.8 for Ni layer. It was also found that application of magnetic field accelerate the process of electrodeposition; moreover, application of SOUTH pole leads to formation of hollow Ni-layers. Using of “two-bath” method of electrodeposition found to be optimal for obtaining of two-parts wires. Such wires could be used for generation of THz irradiation.
Acquiring MIS Structures Based on Bа0.8Sr0.2TiО3 Ferroelectric Films and their Properties
Authors: Afanasyev Mikhail , Nabiev Asaf , Chucheva Galina , Guseinov Dzhahangir
Published: September 2018

The paper considers formation of Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 ferroelectric films of MIS structures on silicon wafer with magnetron sputtering in HF discharge of the initial target material from the polycrystal ferroelectric in the oxygen atmosphere. Dielectric and volt-farad characteristics of MIS structures have been explored, depending on formation modes of Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 ferroelectric films. The authors determined technological modes of film deposition for acquiring MIS structures with the best electrophysical properties.
The Effectiveness of Sulfotozifan in the Case of External Gamma Irradiation
Authors: Konyukhov Gennady , Papunidi Konstantin , Vasilevskiy Nikolai , Tarasova Natalya , Nizamov Ramsi , Kurbangaleev Yagofar
Published: September 2018

No radiation protection agents have been found to date which would not have toxic side effects while having radioprotective action of unlimited duration. Based on the screening of organo-element chemical compounds, a novel radioprotector sulfotozifan was selected to prevent the acute radiation syndrome in animals. Sulfotozifan belongs to compounds of hazard class 3 (National Standard of the Russian Federation (GOST) 12.1:007.76). A single subcutaneous administration of sulfotozifan at a dose of 38.0 mg / kg of body weight 2-4 days prior to the radiation exposure of animals to an absolute lethal dose, protects 80-100% of the animals from the radiation death. The pretreatment of animals with sulfotozifan 2-4 days prior to the irradiation has a positive effect on the animals’ clinical condition, normalizes their hematological parameters, increases the levels of T and B lymphocytes, inhibits peroxidation of lipids (POL), reduces the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), the final product of POL, in the erythrocyte hemolysate and blood plasma, and also promotes a reduction in the formation of radiotoxins. By its organoleptic, physicochemical, and bacterioscopic characteristics, the meat from irradiated animals pretreated with sulfotozifan does not differ significantly from those of the meat from the control animals and thus meets GOST requirements.
Effect of Temperature on the Magnetic Permeability of Hexagonal Ferrites
Authors: Dotsenko Olga , Frolov Kirill , Wagner Dmitry , Dotsenko Veronika , Aksentev Dmitry
Published: September 2018

In this study, Co0,7Zn1,3W powders were synthesized and investigated at the microwave region. The solid-state reaction method and self-propagating high-temperature synthesis were used to production of the two kinds of hexaferrite powders. The high-frequency magnetic properties under temperature effect have been studied. It is show, that there is a nonlinear dependence on temperature within the 0 – +40 °C temperature range.
Modification of Strength Properties of Oxide Materials by Ion Irradiation
Authors: Ghyngazov Sergei , Kostenko Valeria , Shevelev Sergey , Kupchishin Anatoliy I. , Kondratyuk Aleksey
Published: September 2018

The effect of ion irradiation on the strength characteristics of magnesium oxide and ceramics based on zirconia is studied. The MgO samples were a single crystal grown in an artificial manner. Samples of zirconium ceramics were prepared by ceramic technology. Irradiation of MgO crystals was carried out by Si+ ions (E = 150 keV), Fe+ (E = 70 keV), C+ (E = 50 keV) at room temperature. The fluence varied within the range (1016–1017) сm–2. The modification of the investigated types of ceramics was carried out by ions Al+ (Е = 60 keV), Ar+ (Е= 60 keV), N+ (E = 50 keV). We used ion beams of microsecond duration and moderate power (the current density in the pulse was 3 10-3 A/cm2). Fluence was 1017 cm-2. The irradiation of the ceramics with an ion beam C+ (E = 50 keV) was also performed with nanosecond duration (τ = 50 ns). It is established that ionic irradiation of magnesium oxide leads to an increase in crack resistance and a critical stress intensity factor. Irradiation of ceramics leads to hardening of its near-surface layers.
Technological Features of the Thick Tin Film Deposition by with Magnetron Sputtering Form Liquid-Phase Target
Authors: Makarova Mariya , Moiseev Konstantin , Nazarenko Alexander , Luchnikov Petr , Dalskaya Galina , Katakhova Natalya
Published: September 2018

Technological features of obtaining of tin films in a vacuum by liquid-phase target magnetron sputtering were reviewed. With high deposition rate the white color tin coating with amorphous structure is formed on the substrate. X-ray microanalysis of the obtained tin films showed the presence of micro-and nanoparticles of an impurity of the crucible material in the structure of the films. The use of the tantalum crucible with liquid-phase target magnetron sputtering with deposition rate of 3.2 μm / min allows obtaining ultra-pure, continuous, homogeneous tin film on a stationary substrate without impurity material of the crucible.
Modification of Wood Properties by Highly-Concentrated Plasma Flow
Authors: Volokitin Gennadii G. , Skripnikova Nelly , Volokitin Oleg , Shekhovtsov Valentin , Balobanov Pavel , Pfuch Andreas
Published: September 2018

The paper presents investigation results for coatings obtained using thermal plasma treatment of wooden products. Such parameters of plasma treatment as temperatures at different distances from the surface, water absorption, and contact angles with water are measured in this paper.
Surface Doping of Steel with an Intense Pulsed Electron Beam
Authors: Volokitin Gennadii G. , Ivanov Yurii , Klopotov Anatolii A. , Teresov Anton D. , Shugurov Vladimir , Petrikova Elizaveta A. , Ivanova Olga V.
Published: September 2018

Surface doping of AISI420 steel is carried out in a single vacuum cycle, and consisted of spraying a thin (0.5 μm) film of Zr-Ti-Cu alloy by electric-arc sputtering of a cathode of the composition Zr-6 at.% Ti-6 at.% Cu, and the subsequent irradiation of the system “film (Zr-Ti-Cu alloy) / (AISI420 steel) substrate” with an intense pulsed electron beam. It is shown that the concentration of zirconium in the surface layer of steel decreases with an increase in the energy density of the electron beam (ES). It is established that formation of a surface alloy is accompanied by the following: formation of a cellular crystallization structure (the average cell size increases from 150 nm at ES = 20 J/cm2 to 370 nm at ES = 40 J/cm2); formation of a dendritic crystallization structure in the presence of refractory element particles (titanium or zirconium); decomposition of a solid solution with the release of zirconium carbide particles (particle sizes increase from (10-15) nm at ES = 20 J/cm2 to (30-40) nm at ES = 40 J/cm2). Particles of the carbide phase based on chromium of the composition Cr3C2, Cr7C3 and (Cr, Fe)23С6, along with zirconium carbide particles, are revealed upon the irradiation of the system “film (Zr-Ti-Cu alloy) / (AISI420 steel) substrate” with an intense pulsed electron beam (ES = 40 J/cm2). Chromium carbide particles have a round shape; their sizes vary from 40 nm to 60 nm. The analysis of phase transformation diagrams taking place under equilibrium conditions in systems Fe-Zr-C; Cr-Zr-C; Fe-Cr-Zr is carried out. It is established that ultra-high cooling rates that occur during the irradiation of the system “film (Zr-Ti-Cu alloy) / (AISI420 steel) substrate” with an intense pulsed electron beam impose restrictions on formation of phases of the intermetallic type. It is suggested that formation of predominantly carbide phases in the surface layer of the material is conditioned upon high mobility of carbon atoms in steel.
An assessment of artificial nests for cavity-nesting bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in lowbush blueberry (Ericaceae)
Authors: McCallum Robyn S. , McLean Nancy L. , Cutler G. Christopher
Published: September 2018

Fluctuating bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) populations jeopardise pollination services. Nesting habitat for solitary bees is potentially limited in many agroecosystems, but the provision of artificial nests could augment bee communities and the pollination services they provide. We investigated whether cavity-nesting bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifoliumAiton (Ericaceae)) fields would use artificial trap nests. Different nest designs were compared, as was nesting occupancy between fruit-bearing and vegetative fields. Milk carton nests had significantly more uptake by and emergence ofOsmiaPanzer andMegachileLatreille than wooden nests. Only 3% of wooden nests had at least one occupied nesting tube versus 73% of milk carton nests, with a total of 34% nesting tubes occupied. Bee emergence was significantly higher in nesting tubes from fruit-bearing fields than vegetative fields.OsmiaandMegachileemergence was low from milk carton nests, with bees emerging from less than 10% of occupied nesting tubes, in large part due to parasitism. Overturned clay lids were tested as potential nesting sites forOsmia inermisZetterstedt, but only 3% of lids had nesting evidence. Our results suggest that certain artificial nests have potential for encouraging communities of cavity-nesting bees, but further study on nest design and handling protocols is needed.
STAT6 and Furin Are Successive Triggers for the Production of TGF-β by T Cells
Authors: Li Yue , Liu Weiren , Guan Xiaqun , Truscott Jamie , Creemers John W. , Chen Hung-Lin , Pesu Marko , El Abiad Rami G. , Karacay Bahri , Urban Joseph F. , Elliott David E. , Kaplan Mark H. , Blazar Bruce R. , Ince M. Nedim
Published: September 2018

Production of TGF-β by T cells is key to various aspects of immune homeostasis, with defects in this process causing or aggravating immune-mediated disorders. The molecular mechanisms that lead to TGF-β generation by T cells remain largely unknown. To address this issue, we take advantage of the fact that intestinal helminths stimulate Th2 cells besides triggering TGF-β generation by T lymphocytes and regulate immune-mediated disorders. We show that the Th2 cell–inducing transcription factor STAT6 is necessary and sufficient for the expression of TGF-β propeptide in T cells. STAT6 is also necessary for several helminth-triggered events in mice, such as TGF-β–dependent suppression of alloreactive inflammation in graft-versus-host disease. Besides STAT6, helminth-induced secretion of active TGF-β requires cleavage of propeptide by the endopeptidase furin. Thus, for the immune regulatory pathway necessary for TGF-β production by T cells, our results support a two-step model, composed of STAT6 and furin.
Non-lethal elephant population control methods: Summary of the first workshop of the Elephant Specialist Advisory Group of South Africa
Authors: Garaï Marion E. , Bates Lucy A. , Bertschinger Henk , Delsink Audrey , Pretorius Yolanda , Selier Jeanetta , Zitzer Heike R.
Published: September 2018

Management interventions are necessary to control elephant numbers within fenced wildlife reserves in South Africa. Use of non-lethal control methods is increasing, but information about their suitability and effects are not widely available. Three such methods are currently available: immunocontraception with porcine zona pellucida vaccine, vasectomy and gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine. Here we consolidate what we know about these methods, using published sources and material shared at a workshop held in South Africa in 2016, in order to provide up-to-date information for future policy decisions concerning the use of these methods in South Africa and elsewhere.
The zone of non-being: When belonging becomes more important than being
Authors: Du Plessis Amanda L.
Published: September 2018

Silent screams echo in South Africa, objecting to violence due to cultural and gender differences. Bitterness and anger increase as the cultures, knowledge systems and ways of being or ‘non-being’ are despised, demonised and declared substandard and irrational or even eliminated. Most of these individuals cannot afford to speak up, because belonging has become more important than being. It is inevitable that people would question their personhood and dignity when they find themselves in the space of intersection between culture, gender and violence. If the meaning of formosus is to bring out the beauty of each person, how is it that ‘non-being’ for some is better than being? In the fable of Hyginus, an alternative word for ‘being’ is ‘care’. Human beings’ existence is essentially dependent on care. The intersection between culture, gender and violence probes for the reformation of practical theological anthropology and, especially, a rethinking of the ministry of compassion. This article seeks to explore hermeneutics of renewal. The focus is on restoring and reforming the human being which can help non-beings to express their deepest quest for personhood and dignity. In this sense, dignity is defined as being one with all the multiplicities, systems and paradoxes of one’s own way of being, doing and knowing. The epistemology is from a pastoral care point of view.
Influence of inoculum type (ileal, caecal and faecal) on the in vitro fermentation of different sources of carbohydrates in rabbits
Authors: Abad-Guzmán Rodrigo , Larrea-Dávalos Jose Antonio , Carabaño Rosa , García Javier , Carro Maria Dolores
Published: September 2018

Two in vitro experiments were performed to analyse the fermentative potential of ileal content, caecal content, soft faeces and hard faeces from adult rabbits. Experiment 1 evaluated 3 doses (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g fresh digesta/g substrate dry matter [DM]) of ileal and caecal digesta as inoculum in 28 h-incubations. Two ileal and 2 caecal inocula were obtained, each by pooling the ileal or caecal digesta of 2 adult rabbits. Pectin from sugar beet pulp (SBP) and the insoluble residue obtained after a 2-step in vitro pre-digestion of SBP and wheat straw were used as substrates. The 0.5 dose produced the lowest (P<0.05) amount of gas at 28 h, with no differences (P>0.05) between the 1.0 and 2.0 doses (44.9, 51.6 and 53.8 mL/g substrate DM, respectively; values averaged across inocula and substrates). Experiment 2 evaluated two doses of ileal inoculum (1 and 1.5 g fresh digesta/g substrate DM) and compared ileal digesta, caecal digesta, soft faeces and hard faeces as inoculum for determining in vitro gas production (144-h incubations) of the 3 substrates used in Experiment 1 and wheat starch. Three inocula of each type were obtained, each by pooling either digesta or faeces from 3 rabbits. There were no differences (P>0.05) between the 2 ileal doses tested in gas production parameters, and therefore the 1.0 dose was selected for further ileal fermentations. Starch and pectin showed similar (P>0.05) values of gas production rate and maximal gas production rate when they were fermented with caecal digesta (0.038 vs. 0.043%/h, and 13.7 vs. 15.2 mL/h, respectively), soft (0.022 vs. 0.031%/h, and 9.97 vs. 9.33 mL/h) and hard faeces (0.031 vs. 0.038%/h, and 13.6 vs. 10.8 mL/h), and values were higher than those for SBP and wheat straw; in contrast, values for starch and pectin differed with the ileal inoculum (0.046 vs. 0.024%/h, and 18.4 vs. 6.60 mL/h). Both ileal and caecal gas production parameters were well correlated with those for hard and soft faeces inocula, respectively (r≥0.77; P≤0.040). The ileal inoculum showed a relevant fermentative potential, but lower than that of caecal digesta and soft and hard faeces for all substrates except wheat starch.
Agricultural harvesting emissions of ice-nucleating particles
Authors: Suski Kaitlyn J. , Hill Tom C. J. , Levin Ezra J. T. , Miller Anna , DeMott Paul J. , Kreidenweis Sonia M.
Published: September 2018

Abstract. Agricultural activities can modify natural ecosystems and change the nature of the aerosols emitted from those landscapes. The harvesting of crops can loft plant fragments and soil dust into the atmosphere that can travel long distances and interact with clouds far from their sources. In this way harvesting may contribute substantially to ice-nucleating particle (INP) concentrations, especially in regions where agriculture makes up a large percentage of land use. However, a full characterization of particles emitted during harvesting has not been reported. This study characterizes immersion mode INPs emitted during harvesting of several crops in the High Plains region of the United States. The Colorado State University Continuous Flow Diffusion Chamber (CFDC) and the Ice Spectrometer (IS) were utilized to measure INP concentrations during active harvesting of four crops in Kansas and Wyoming. Large spikes of INPs were observed during harvesting, with concentrations over 200 L−1 at −30 °C measured during a wheat harvest. To differentiate between mineral and organic components, a novel heating tube method was employed in real time upstream of the CFDC to deactivate organic INPs in situ. The results indicate that harvesting produces a complex mixture of organic, soil dust, and mineral components that varies for different crops. Electron microscopy analysis showed that while mineral components made up a large proportion of INPs, organic components comprised over 40 % of measured INPs for certain crops at warm temperatures. Heating and enzyme post-treatment of aerosol samples collected for IS processing indicated that bacteria and heat-labile and heat-stable organics contributed to wheat harvest-produced INPs. These results indicate that plant material and organic particles are a significant component of harvest INPs and their impacts on ice formation in clouds and precipitation on a regional scale should be explored.
Radiometric calibration of a non-imaging airborne spectrometer to measure the Greenland Ice Sheet surface
Authors: Crawford Christopher J. , van den Bosch Jeannette , Brunt Kelly M. , Hom Milton G. , Cooper John W. , Harding David J. , Butler James J. , Dabney Philip W. , Neumann Thomas A. , Cleckner Craig S. , Markus Thorsten
Published: September 2018

Abstract. Methods to radiometrically calibrate a non-imaging airborne visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) spectrometer to measure the Greenland Ice Sheet surface are presented. Airborne VSWIR measurement performance is then benchmarked for bright Greenland ice and dark bare rock/soil targets using the MODerate resolution atmospheric TRANsmission (MODTRAN) radiative transfer code (version 6.0), and a coincident Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) acquisition on 29 July 2015 during an in-flight radiometric calibration experiment. Airborne remote sensing flights were carried out in northwestern Greenland in preparation for the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2) laser altimeter mission. Nine science flights were conducted over the Greenland Ice Sheet, sea ice, and open ocean water. The campaign’s primary purpose was to correlate green laser pulse penetration into snow and ice with spectroscopic derived surface properties. An experimental airborne instrument configuration that included a nadir viewing (downward looking at the surface) non-imaging Analytical Spectral Devices Inc. (ASD) spectrometer that measured at-sensor upwelling VSWIR (0.35 to 2.5 µm) spectral radiance (Watts/m−2/sr−1/nm−1) in the two color Slope Imaging Multi-polarization Photon-Counting Lidar’s (SIMPL) ground Instantaneous Field-of-View, and a zenith viewing (upward looking at the sky) ASD spectrometer that measured at-sensor VSWIR spectral irradiance (Watts/m−2/nm−1) was flown. Rigorous radiometric calibration procedures for laboratory, in-flight, and field environments are described in detail to achieve a targeted at-sensor VSWIR measurement requirement of within 5 % to support calibration/validation (cal/val) efforts and geophysical science algorithm development. Our MODTRAN simulations for the 29 July flight line over dark and bright targets indicate that the nadir viewing airborne VSWIR spectrometer achieved an at-sensor spectral radiance measurement accuracy of between 0.6 and 4.7 % for VSWIR wavelengths (0.4 to 2.0 µm) with atmospheric transmittance greater than 80 %. At-sensor MODTRAN simulations for Landsat 8 OLI relative spectral response functions suggest that OLI is measuring 6 to 16% more at-sensor top-of-atmosphere (TOA) spectral radiance from the Greenland Ice Sheet surface than was observed from the nadir viewing airborne VSWIR spectrometer. While more investigation is required to convert airborne at-sensor VSWIR spectral radiance into atmospherically-corrected airborne surface reflectance, it is expected that airborne science flight data products will contribute to spectroscopic determination of Greenland Ice Sheet surface properties to improve understanding of their potential influence on ICESat-2 measurements.