bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La implicación de las TIC en la educación: Alcances, Limitaciones y Prospectiva / The role of ICT in education: Applications, Limitations, and Future Trends
Authors: Islas Torres Claudia
Published: January 2018

La metamorfosis que tiene el actual manejo, transformación, construcción y difusión del conocimiento se ha alterado por las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC), algunos autores críticos plantean que en la actualidad los individuos se convierten en simples contenidos más que en verdaderos elementos de valor, en realidad solo somos un conjunto de datos, individuos dependientes de la tecnología incapaces de pensar o comportarse por sí solos, situación que al parecer se refleja en el ámbito educativo. Por lo anterior, el siguiente escrito es una recopilación documental que tuvo como objetivo exhibir las formas en que estas herramientas se han implicado en el ámbito educativo modificándolo, alterándolo o quizá transformándolo. Desde hace varias décadas se encuentra en la literatura científica y en distintas fuentes una enorme cantidad de documentos o reportes de investigación que se enfocan en el abordaje de esta temática, desde diversos marcos epistémicos y posturas metodológicas, por lo que en esta ocasión, se expone una recopilación de puntos clave que muestran los alcances, limitaciones y la prospectiva que significan las TIC en la educación. Para la realización de este trabajo se eligió como descriptores de categorías los términos: tecnologías en la educación, palabras clave como alcances, limitaciones y prospectiva. Se trabajó con información del periodo de tiempo entre el año 2010 y 2017, los resultados de la recopilación exhiben la manera en que la visión de las TIC en la educación ha cambiado, desde su utilidad como medio, herramienta de conectividad, de aprendizaje, empoderamiento, entre otros; hasta proyectarlas como elementos asociados a la cotidianeidad imposibles de separar de las acciones humanas convirtiéndose en parte sustancial de la forma de vida de quienes conviven en los contextos educativos.
Determining of Water Chiller Usage Time on Potato Crop Based on Distribution Temperature of Root Zone
Authors: Ciptaningtyas Drupadi , Zaqlul Iqbal , Suhardiyanto Herry
Published: January 2018

The difference of lowland and upland ambient temperature, around 7 C, is an obstacle to plant highland crop in the lowlands. Therefore, many methods were applied to adjust this condition, for example the application of water chiller to decrease the temperature of nutrient solution. However, until now the application of water chiller has not been optimum, because generally water chiller work all day for 24 hours, without considering the actual microenvironment of the plant. This study aims to optimize the application of water chiller for potato crops that usually plant in lowland, by determining the time of use of water chiller based on the distribution temperature of root zone that was simulated by Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). This research begins with making a CFD simulation by Solidworks 2011 software, consisting of preprocessing, solving, and post-processing stages. The results show that water chiller for potato plants only needs to be activated from 08.00 to 17.00 o'clock, because only around that time the temperature of the root area exceeds the optimum temperature for the potato crop growth. Keywords: rice husk char, fluid simulation, CFD, potato plant, temperature distribution
Identifikasi Jenis dan Mutu Teh Menggunakan Pengolahan Citra Digital dengan Metode Jaringan Syaraf Tiruan
Authors: Effendi Masud , Fitriyah Fitriyah , Effendi Usman
Published: January 2018

Teh merupakan hasil pucuk daun muda tanaman Camelia sinensis dan menjadi salah satu produk ekspor terbesar. Salah satu kendala yang dihadapi konsumen dalam memilih teh berkualitas baik adalah minimnya pengetahuan konsumen terhadap jenis dan mutu teh, sehingga menyebabkan perbedaan penentuan jenis dan mutu teh. Penelitian untuk mengidentifikasi jenis dan mutu teh dari 3 jenis teh yaitu teh hitam, teh hijau, dan teh putih perlu dilakukan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah merancang aplikasi sistem pengolahan citra digital untuk mengidentifikasi jenis dan mutu teh serta menentukan hasil pengenalan terbaik berdasarkan akurasi yang diperoleh. Penelitian ini menerapkan metode pengolahan citra digital dengan teknik Learning Vector Quantization yang menggunakan 6 parameter warna yaitu R, G, B, H, S, dan I sebagai neuron input dan 13 mutu dari 3 jenis teh sebagai neuron output. Penelitian menggunakan 403 citra dengan perbandingan training dan testing sebesar 80:20. Akurasi training diperoleh sebesar 62,7%. Prediksi menggunakan 26 sampel citra teh berbeda menunjukkan tingkat akurasi sebesar 42,31%. Kata Kunci: jaringan syaraf tiruan, learning vector quantization (LVQ), teh
Zur maschinenunterstützten Übersetzung von Patentschriften: Der Stellenwert der internen Rekurrenz
Authors: Härtinger Heribert
Published: January 2018

The empirical study presented in this paper explores the relationship between the linguistic features of patent specifications as a text genre and the benefits to be gained from usingCAT tools for their translation. The database is a corpus of 60 complete original (i.e. non-translated) texts selected in accordance with the requirements of the task at hand. The study focuses on analysing patterns of intratextual recurrence that are typical of this genre with a view to examining their impact on the retrieval performance of commercial translation memory (TM) systems. Using the model developed by Reinke (2004) for comparing sentence content, it also looks at genre characteristics that may affect the usability of the search results. The test software was the Translator's Workbench by SDL/Trados (version 7.0.0). The results confirm that it makes sense from a linguistic point of view to use TM systems for patent translations for two reasons: first, because the corpus was found to contain a broad spectrum of recurring sentences, clauses and complex phrases, which is characteristic of this text genre, and second, because the analysis showed that the structural, argumentative and functional features of patent documents have a positive effecton the usability of the search results. The study is also of practical interest because patents are a frequently translated LSP genre, which, despite its high degree of linguistic standardisation, has so far not been one of the areas where memory-based translation tools are routinely used.
Entscheidungsprozesse beim Übersetzen: Routine und Reflexion bei Novizen und Berufsübersetzern
Authors: Prassl Friederike
Published: January 2018

This article focuses on the decision-making processes involved in research and knowledge integration in translation processes. First, the relevance of decision taking intranslation is discussed. Second, the psychology of decision making as seen by Jungermann et al. (2005) is introduced, who propose a categorization of decision-making processes intofour types: “routinized”, “stereotype”, “reflected” and “constructed”. This classification is then applied to the translations by five professional translators and five novices of five segments occurring in a popular-science text. The analysis reveals that the decision-making types are distributed differently among students and professional translators, which also has to be seen against the background of whether the decisions made were successful or not. The preliminary results of this study show that students resort to reflected decisions in most cases, but with a low success rate. Professionals achieve a higher success rate when making reflected decisions. As expected, they also make more routinized decisions than students. The professionals’ success rates improve with increasing cognitive involvement, while their failure rates are relatively high when making routinized decisions, an aspect worthwhile considering in translation didactics.
Die Personifikation technischer Objekte oder ihrer Teile als Mittel zur Sicherung der Verständlichkeit in der wissenschaftsjournalistischen Autoberichterstattung
Authors: Thome Gisela
Published: January 2018

Consciously focusing on the subject of the text by personifying it or its constituent parts is an especially impressive means of making technical facts accessible to professional lay people. In applying this technique, authors of scientific-journalistic reporting on private cars are guided by current findings in comprehensibility research. According to this approach, understanding is the result of complex social and mental processes occurring between participants in communication in which new information contained in the text combines with the knowledge stored cognitively within the individual. Thus, consistently attributing human qualities to cars of different types, as a form of latently effective metaphor, prompts readers to establish analogies between the properties of the car in question and the personal qualities and experience they are familiar with, rendering in this way the behaviour, appearance and functioning of technical objects more understandable. This knowledge can be applied to designing e.g. attractive German advertising texts and translating into German, in an idiomatic manner, in order to reflect that language’s special preference for the presentation of personified technical and other inanimate elements.
Terminologisierung in DIN 2330, Abschnitt 2 Überlegungen zur Konstitution eines terminologischen Systems in einem terminologischen Text
Authors: Roelcke Thorsten
Published: January 2018

The analysis of terminologization – interpreted here as the genesis of more or less complex terminological systems in linearly organized texts – deals with subjects such as: the structure of terminological systems, the linearization of introducing terms by various definitions, the explication of their meanings, terminological vagueness and metaphors, as well as, among other areas, coherence and cohesion of texts through terminological usage, etc. In view of the terminological norm DIN 2330 by Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. this article demonstrates some steps for analysis in this form and contrasts the terminologization in DIN 2330 with that in Gueintz’s Deutscher Sprachlehre Entwurf (1641). It aims at a new linguistic methodology that is applicable to further LSP texts in German and other languages.
Die verschwundene Fachsprache: Die Entwicklung des Deutschstudiums an der Kopenhagener Wirtschaftsuniversität (CBS) – ein Praxisbericht aus dem Unterricht im Fach „Intersprachliche Wissensvermittlung“
Authors: Skovgaard Andersen Mette
Published: January 2018

This article is a practitioner’s analysis of the past 20 years of curriculum development of the Master Programme “German as a Foreign Language” at Copenhagen Business School. Itanalyzes changes in the role and conceptualization of language for specific purposes caused by a shift from knowledge to skills (competences) in Danish study regulations. It is argued that these changes are closely related to developments in educational policy in other European countries. Based on a qualitative study conducted in summer 2013, the major consequences of the changes for learning are discussed. In particular, the findings show that teaching characterized by an overly narrow and pragmatic conceptualization of language for specific purposes can be detrimental to learning, notably to students’ acquisition of action competencies.
Partition Coefficients of Methylated DNA Bases Obtained from Free Energy Calculations with Molecular Electron Density Derived Atomic Charges.
Authors: Lara Alejandro , Riquelme Maximiliano , Vöhringer-Martinez Esteban
Published: January 2018

Partition coefficients serve in various areas as pharmacology and environmental sciences to predict the hydrophobicity of different substances. Recently, they have been also used to address the accuracy of force fields for various organic compounds and specifically the methylated DNA bases. In this study atomic charges were derived by different partitioning methods (Hirshfeld and Minimal Basis Iterative Stockholder) directly from the electron density obtained by electronic structure calculations in vac- uum, with an implicit solvation model or with explicit solvation taking the dynamics of the solute and the solvent into account. To test the ability of these charges to describe electrostatic interactions in force fields for condensed phases the original atomic charges of the AMBER99 force field were replaced with the new atomic charges and combined with different solvent models to obtain the hydration and chloroform solvation free energies by molecular dynamics simulations. Chloroform-water partition coefficients derived from the obtained free energies were compared to experimental and previously reported values obtained with the GAFF or the AMBER-99 force field. The results show that good agreement with experimental data is obtained when the polarization of the electron density by the solvent has been taken into account deriving the atomic charges of polar DNA bases and when the energy needed to polarize the electron den- sity of the solute has been considered in the transfer free energy. These results were further confirmed by hydration free energies of polar and aromatic amino acid side chain analogues. Comparison of the two partitioning methods Hirsheld-I and Minimal Basis Iterative Stockholder (MBIS) revealed some deficiencies in the Hirshfeld-I method related to nonexistent isolated anionic nitrogen pro-atoms used in the method. Hydration free energies and partitioning coefficients obtained with atomic charges from the MBIS partitioning method accounting for polarization by the implicit solvation model are in good agreement with the experimental values.
Frequência dos tipos sanguíneos de gatos domésticos mestiços no município de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
Authors: Sorgatto Simone , De Oliveira Bruna Brito , Godoy Kelly Cristina Da Silva , Antunes Tamires Ramborguer , Lacerda Luciana Almeida , De Souza Alda Izabel
Published: January 2018

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as frequências dos tipos sanguíneos, do sistema AB, de gatos domésticos sem raça definida na cidade de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Foram selecionados aleatoriamente 202 animais clinicamente saudáveis e a tipagem sanguínea foi realizada por meio do teste de hemaglutinação em tubo de ensaio. A distribuição da frequência foi de 98,5% e 1,5% para gatos dos tipos A e AB, respectivamente. Gatos do tipo B não foram identificados. Os resultados demostraram que no município de Campo Grande há predomínio de gatos domésticos mestiços do tipo sanguíneo A, contudo a presença de gatos com tipo AB e a ausência do tipo B, indicam peculiaridade da população escolhida. Estes dados alertam sobre a possibilidade de reações transfusionais adversas e a ocorrência de isoeritrólise neonatal, e contribui para a seleção adequada de doadores em banco de sangue animal.
Leishmaniose visceral canina autóctone em área indene no Centro Oeste de Minas Gerais, Brasil
Authors: Lamounier Viviane Valadares , Teixeira Neto Rafael Gonçalves , Lopes Valeriana Valadares , Barbosa José Ronaldo , Fontes Gilberto
Published: January 2018

Objetivou-se relatar o primeiro caso autóctone de leishmaniose visceral canina no município de Cláudio-MG, Brasil. Com base no exame clínico foram constatados sinais sugestivos da doença em um cão macho, sem raça definida de aproximadamente sete anos. O animal foi submetido à colheita de sangue para realização dos testes imunológicos de imunocromatografia rápida (DPP®) e ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA), obtendo-se resultados positivos para leishmaniose canina em ambos os testes. Após autorização do tutor foi obtida amostra de medula óssea do animal e posteriormente realizou-se a eutanásia e o exame necroscópico obtendo-se fragmentos de baço, linfonodos e pele. Amostras de medula óssea e tecidos foram utilizadas para realização dos exames parasitológicos, os quais demonstraram a presença do agente etiológico na forma amastigota. O fragmento de baço obtido na necropsia foi utilizado para identificação da espécie de Leishmania por meio da reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). Foi demostrado pela PCR-RFLP a presença de Leishmania infantum, confirmando a infecção do animal pela espécie responsável pelo desenvolvimento da forma visceral da doença. Conclui-se com este resultado que a implantação de estratégias de prevenção e controle epidemiológico da leishmaniose visceral canina no município é importante, a fim de evitar a propagação da doença entre a população canina, bem como a transmissão a população humana.
A Sociedade Consumocentrista e seus Reflexos Socioambientais: A Cooperação Social e a Democracia Participativa para a Preservação Ambiental
Authors: Calgaro Cleide Calgaro Calgaro , Pereira Agostinho Oli Koppe
Published: January 2018

No presente trabalho analisa-se a sociedade consumocentrista e os impactos socioambientais advindo do descarte de produtos. Procura-se verificar se a cooperação social, a democracia participativa e as políticas públicas voltadas para o espaço local podem colaborar efetivamente para a preservação ambiental minimizando os problemas criados pelo consumocentrismo. O método utilizado é o analítico. Conclui-se que a cooperação social, a democracia participativa e as políticas públicas locais possam viabilizar a melhoria social e a preservação ambiental, vez que teriam força de minimizar os efeitos nefastos da sociedade hiperconsumista no âmbito socioambiental.
A (IN)VISIBILIDADE DA COMUNIDADE LGBT E O PLANEJAMENTO ESTATAL
Authors: Barbosa Fernanda Lopes , Clark Giovani
Published: January 2018

O objeto do artigo é estudar a invisibilidade da comunidade LGBT perante as normas estatais de planejamento, quando se trata de garantir os direitos fundamentais a ela, como: saúde, educação, segurança e emprego. E, por outro lado, como o mesmo segmento social é visível aos olhos do Estado e do capital, quando se trata de gerar lucro e fomentar a economia, nas leis planejadoras. É feito, ainda, uma crítica construtiva a tal postura, e propõe-se, ao final, formas pelas quais o planejamento estatal pode contribuir a fim de resolver o paradoxo.
Catastrophic Effects of Out-of-Pocket Payments for Health Care Using Synthetic Panel Data
Authors: Adhikari Shiva Raj , Sapkota Vishnu Prasad
Published: January 2018

Panel data can provide more accurate information about the movement of catastrophic payments. The study measures dynamics of catastrophic payment by utilizing recently developed method of creating synthetic panel from two cross-sectional data. It is interested to estimate percentage of households that faced catastrophic health expenditure in first period but didn't face it in second period. Catastrophic payment is defined as OOP payments as a share of total non-food consumption. The threshold for catastrophic health expenditure for non-food expenditure has been set 15% to 50%. The findings related to the movement of households from catastrophic health expenditure to non-catastrophic health expenditure and vice versa between the period of 2004 and 2011. Probability of percentage population faced catastrophic impact due to medicine costs in the first period and in the second period is decreasing from 20.1 per cent to 0.01 percent as increased in threshold 15% to 50%. Similarly, probability of catastrophic impact in the first period but not in the second period is decreasing from 3.1 per cent to 0.00 percent as increased in threshold 15% to 50%. Probability of not having catastrophic impact in the first period but catastrophic impact in the second period is decreasing from 17.2 per cent to 1.9 percent as increased in threshold 15% to 50%. Probability of not having catastrophic impact in both periods is increasing from 60.0 per cent to 98.3 percent as increased in threshold 15% to 50%.  Catastrophic to catastrophic incidences in Terai ecological belt are higher than in hills and Mountain. Similarly, Disadvantaged non Dalit Terai caste have higher incidence than other caste groups. Synthetic panel gives the indicative trends; incidences may not be directly comparable with incidences estimated from cross-sectional data.Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 21 & 22 No. 1-2 (2016) Combined Issue, Page: 22-41
Effectiveness of Teaching Economics in Higher Secondary School Level, Nepal
Authors: Khadka Chakra Bahadur
Published: January 2018

Teaching economics to students in a clear and unbiased manner supports beginner students, master the essential principles of understanding the economizing problem, specific economic issues, help the student to understand and apply economics in a precise and empirical manner on economic issues and promote a lasting student interest in issue of economics.The objective of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of teaching economics in higher secondary school level. Two hundred four teachers and equal students’ number have been selected for questionnaire survey. The survey data were collected from different training centers of the training and workshop interval. Psychometric scale, was designed for data collection. For the data analysis, SEM is used, including simultaneously complete tests of model fit, together with simultaneously overall tests of model fit, specific parameter estimates, compare simultaneously, OLS coefficients, Means and Variances. The finding is based on the assumption that is; default model is correct, the probability of getting a discrepancy as significant as 73.59 is 0.00 of students' understanding of economics in their classroom. Maximum likelihood estimates at all the parameter estimates are highly significant. If EFET positive change by 1, T_EFET_2 also positively change by 0.88. The regression weights to estimate, 0.88, has a standard error of about 0.06. Dividing the regression weight estimate by the estimate of its standard error gives z = 0.88/0.06 = 14.91. The variables of student understanding are significantly different from 0 except S_QOAT_4. As ATME positive changes by 1, S_ATME_2 also positively change 0.57. The regression weights to estimate, 0.57, has a standard error of about 0.04. Students they agreed with 8A and 9A statement. This is recommended that teach the teachers as a workshop style and training in improving economics instruction in Higher Secondary Schools Level.  The experimental program helps teachers to gain an understanding of economic concepts and improve pedagogy. Improved classroom environment, the latest text materials might be the encouraging to economics subject to the student.Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 21 & 22 No. 1-2 (2016) Combined Issue, Page:99-126
Small Talk and the Cinema: Conversation, Philosophy and the Case of Sullivan's Travels
Authors: Long Cooper
Published: January 2018

This article seeks to bring small talk about cinema – the type of conversation that can begin with the question “Have you seen any good movies lately?” – into the analytical ambit of cinema and media studies. In order to do so, I argue that such conversation is relevant to the philosophical project of Stanley Cavell. Throughout his attempts to wed film analysis and philosophical reflection, including his seminal studies of Hollywood genres, Cavell has remained committed to the idea that philosophy is not a search for objective absolutes or momentous conclusions. This is a characteristic inconclusiveness that small talk shares. While small talk is often derided as unimportant on account of this very inconclusiveness, the work of Cavell provides a propitious framework for appreciating small talk's underacknowledged philosophical stakes and for reconsidering assumptions about the relative value of communicative practices. In order to better illustrate this relation between small talk and philosophy, this article cites the cinematic example of Sullivan's Travels (Preston Sturges, 1941), a film that not only dramatizes small talk but also, in its final moments, gives striking visual expression to small talk's constitutive non-achievement.
Deleuze, Žižek, Spring Breakers and the Question of Ethics in Late Capitalism
Authors: Gunn Jenny
Published: January 2018

This article examines Harmony Korine's 2012 film, Spring Breakers. Arguing that Korine's film explores the bankruptcy of ethics in advanced capitalism, the article considers two predominate and contrasting theories of contemporary subjectivity: Slavoj Žižek's psychoanalytically-inspired conception of the subject as radical lack and Deleuze's affirmation of the subject through attention to affect and the virtual. In reference to Kant's radical reformulation of the moral law as an empty and tautological form with the concept of the categorical imperative, this article shows that Korine's allegory of the spring break adventure correlates the subject's eagerness to surmount any and all obstacles toward enjoyment to late stage capitalism's increasing encroachment on the absolute limit of deterritorialization. In so doing, the film suggests that neither Deleuze nor Žižek, affirmation nor lack, offer an effective ethical principle for the subject in the face of the real of global capital.
CO2 Capture and Crystallization of Ammonia Bicarbonate in a Lab-Scale Scrubber
Authors: Chen Pao , Yu Shun
Published: January 2018

A lab-scale bubble-column scrubber is used to capture CO2 gas and produce ammonia bicarbonate (ABC) using aqueous ammonia as an absorbent under a constant pH and temperature. The CO2 concentration is adjusted by mixing N2 and CO2 in the range of 15–60 vol % at 55 °C. The process variables are the pH of the solution, temperature, gas-flow rate and the concentration of gas. The effects of the process variables on the removal efficiency (E), absorption rate (RA) and overall mass-transfer coefficient (KGa) were explored. A multiple-tube mass balance model was used to determine RA and KGa, in which RA and KGa were in the range of 2.14 × 10−4–1.09 × 10−3 mol/(s·L) and 0.0136–0.5669 1/s, respectively. Results found that, RA showed an obvious increase with the increase in pH, inlet gas concentration and gas temperature, while KGa decreased with an increase in inlet gas concentration. Using linear regression, an empirical expression for KGa/E was obtained. On the other hand, ammonia bicarbonate crystals could be produced at a pH of 9.5 when the gas concentration was higher than 30% and γ (=Fg/FA, the gas-liquid molar flow rate ratio) ≥ 1.5.
Operational Performance Characterization of a Heat Pump System Utilizing Recycled Water as Heat Sink and Heat Source in a Cool and Dry Climate
Authors: Im Piljae , Liu Xiaobing , Henderson Hugh
Published: January 2018

The wastewater leaving from homes and businesses contains abundant low-grade energy, which can be utilized through heat pump technology to heat and cool buildings. Although the energy in the wastewater has been successfully utilized to condition buildings in other countries, it is barely utilized in the United States, until recently. In 2013, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science at Denver, the United States implemented a unique heat pump system that utilizes recycled wastewater from a municipal water system to cool and heat its 13,000 m2 new addition. This recycled water heat pump (RWHP) system uses seven 105 kW (cooling capacity) modular water-to-water heat pumps (WWHPs). Each WWHP uses R-410A refrigerant, has two compressors, and can independently provide either 52 °C hot water (HW) or 7 °C chilled water (CHW) to the building. This paper presents performance characterization results of this RWHP system based on the measured data from December 2014 through August 2015. The annual energy consumption of the RWHP system was also calculated and compared with that of a baseline Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system which meets the minimum energy efficiencies that are allowed by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 90.1-2013. The performance analysis results indicate that recycled water temperatures were favorable for effective operation of heat pumps. As a result, on an annual basis, the RWHP system avoided 50% of source energy consumption (resulting from reduction in natural gas consumption although electricity consumption was increased slightly), reduced CO2 emissions by 41%, and saved 34% in energy costs as compared with the baseline system.
An Optimal and Distributed Demand Response Strategy for Energy Internet Management
Authors: Liu Qian , Wang Rui , Zhang Yan , Wu Guohua , Shi Jianmai
Published: January 2018

This study proposes a new model of demand response management for a future smart grid that consists of smart microgrids. The microgrids have energy storage units, responsive loads, controllable distributed generation units, and renewable energy resources. They can buy energy from the utility company when the power generation in themselves cannot satisfy the load demand, and sell extra power generation to the utility company. The goal is to optimize the operation schedule of microgrids to minimize the microgrids’ payments and the utility company’s operation cost. A parallel distributed optimization algorithm based on games theory is developed to solve the optimization problem, in which microgrids only need to send their aggregated purchasing/selling energy to the utility company, thus avoid infringing its privacy. Microgrids can update their operation schedule simultaneously. A case study is implemented, and the simulation results show that the proposed method is effective and efficient.
RETRACTED: Microenvironment Stimuli HGF and Hypoxia Differently Affected miR-125b and Ets-1 Function with Opposite Effects on the Invasiveness of Bone Metastatic Cells: A Comparison with Breast Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Matteucci Emanuela , Maroni Paola , Nicassio Francesco , Ghini Francesco , Bendinelli Paola , Desiderio Maria
Published: January 2018

We examined the influence of microenvironment stimuli on molecular events relevant to the biological functions of 1833-bone metastatic clone and the parental MDA-MB231 cells. (i) In both the cell lines, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the osteoblasts’ biological products down regulated nuclear Ets-1-protein level in concomitance with endogenous miR-125b accumulation. In contrast, under hypoxia nuclear Ets-1 was unchanged, notwithstanding the miR-125b increase. (ii) Also, the 1833-cell invasiveness and the expression of Endothelin-1, the target gene of Ets-1/HIF-1, showed opposite patterns under HGF and hypoxia. We clarified the molecular mechanism(s) reproducing the high miR-125b levels with the mimic in 1833 cells. Under hypoxia, the miR-125b mimic maintained a basal level and functional Ets-1 protein, as testified by the elevated cell invasiveness. However, under HGF ectopic miR-125b downregulated Ets-1 protein and cell motility, likely involving an Ets-1-dominant negative form sensible to serum conditions; Ets-1-activity inhibition by HGF implicated HIF-1α accumulation, which drugged Ets-1 in the complex bound to the Endothelin-1 promoter. Altogether, 1833-cell exposure to HGF would decrease Endothelin-1 transactivation and protein expression, with the possible impairment of Endothelin-1-dependent induction of E-cadherin, and the reversion towards an invasive phenotype: this was favoured by Ets-1 overexpression, which inhibited HIF-1α expression and HIF-1 activity. (iii) In MDA-MB231 cells, HGF strongly and rapidly decreased Ets-1, hampering invasiveness and reducing Ets-1-binding to Endothelin-1 promoter; HIF-1α did not form a complex with Ets-1 and Endothelin-1-luciferase activity was unchanged. Overall, depending on the microenvironment conditions and endogenous miR-125b levels, bone-metastatic cells might switch from Ets-1-dependent motility towards colonization/growth, regulated by the balance between Ets-1 and HIF-1.
Plant Secondary Metabolites as Anticancer Agents: Successes in Clinical Trials and Therapeutic Application
Authors: Seca Ana , Pinto Diana
Published: January 2018

Cancer is a multistage process resulting in an uncontrolled and abrupt division of cells and is one of the leading causes of mortality. The cases reported and the predictions for the near future are unthinkable. Food and Drug Administration data showed that 40% of the approved molecules are natural compounds or inspired by them, from which, 74% are used in anticancer therapy. In fact, natural products are viewed as more biologically friendly, that is less toxic to normal cells. In this review, the most recent and successful cases of secondary metabolites, including alkaloid, diterpene, triterpene and polyphenolic type compounds, with great anticancer potential are discussed. Focusing on the ones that are in clinical trial development or already used in anticancer therapy, therefore successful cases such as paclitaxel and homoharringtonine (in clinical use), curcumin and ingenol mebutate (in clinical trials) will be addressed. Each compound’s natural source, the most important steps in their discovery, their therapeutic targets, as well as the main structural modifications that can improve anticancer properties will be discussed in order to show the role of plants as a source of effective and safe anticancer drugs.
Neuroimmune-Driven Neuropathic Pain Establishment: A Focus on Gender Differences
Authors: Coraggio Vincenzo , Guida Francesca , Boccella Serena , Scafuro Mariantonietta , Paino Salvatore , Romano Domenico , Maione Sabatino , Luongo Livio
Published: January 2018

The role of neuroinflammatory cells in the establishment of neuropathic pain has been investigated in depth in the last few years. In particular, microglia have been shown to be key players in the induction of tactile allodynia, as they release proinflammatory molecules that, in turn, sensitize nociceptive neurons within the spinal cord. However, the role of peripheral immune cells such as macrophages, infiltrating monocytes, mast cells, and T-cells has been highlighted in the last few studies, even though the data are still conflicting and need to be clarified. Intriguingly, the central (microglia) and peripheral (T-cell)-adaptive immune cells that orchestrate maladaptive process-driven neuropathic pain seem to be involved in a gender-dependent manner. In this review, we highlight the role of the microglia and peripheral immune cells in chronic degenerative disease associated with neuro-immune-inflammatory processes.
Glomerulus Classification and Detection Based on Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Gallego Jaime , Pedraza Anibal , Lopez Samuel , Steiner Georg , Gonzalez Lucia , Laurinavicius Arvydas , Bueno Gloria
Published: January 2018

Glomerulus classification and detection in kidney tissue segments are key processes in nephropathology used for the correct diagnosis of the diseases. In this paper, we deal with the challenge of automating Glomerulus classification and detection from digitized kidney slide segments using a deep learning framework. The proposed method applies Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) between two classes: Glomerulus and Non-Glomerulus, to detect the image segments belonging to Glomerulus regions. We configure the CNN with the public pre-trained AlexNet model and adapt it to our system by learning from Glomerulus and Non-Glomerulus regions extracted from training slides. Once the model is trained, labeling is performed by applying the CNN classification to the image blocks under analysis. The results of the method indicate that this technique is suitable for correct Glomerulus detection in Whole Slide Images (WSI), showing robustness while reducing false positive and false negative detections.
Investigation on the Effect of a Pre-Center Drill Hole and Tool Material on Thrust Force, Surface Roughness, and Cylindricity in the Drilling of Al7075
Authors: Ghasemi Amir , Khorasani Amir , Gibson Ian
Published: January 2018

Drilling is one of the most useful metal cutting processes and is used in various applications, such as aerospace, electronics, and automotive. In traditional drilling methods, the thrust force, torque, tolerance, and tribology (surface roughness) are related to the cutting condition and tool geometry. In this paper, the effects of a pre-center drill hole, tool material, and drilling strategy (including continuous and non-continuous feed) on thrust force, surface roughness, and dimensional accuracy (cylindricity) have been investigated. The results show that using pre-center drill holes leads to a reduction of the engagement force and an improvement in the surface quality and cylindricity. Non-continuous drilling reduces the average thrust force and cylindricity value, and High Speed Steels HSS-Mo (high steel speed + 5–8% Mo) reduces the maximum quantity of cutting forces. Moreover, cylindricity is directly related to cutting temperature and is improved by using a non-continuous drilling strategy.
Effects of Polypropylene Orientation on Mechanical and Heat Seal Properties of Polymer-Aluminum-Polymer Composite Films for Pouch Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zeng Fangxinyu , Chen Jinyao , Yang Feng , Kang Jian , Cao Ya , Xiang Ming
Published: January 2018

In this study, polyamide-aluminum foil-polypropylene (PA-Al-PP) composite films with different orientation status of the PP layer were prepared, and their morphology, tensile, peeling and heat seal behavior were studied. The comparative study of tensile and fracture behaviors of single-layer film of PA, Al and PP, as well as the composite films of PA-Al, PP-Al and PA-Al-PP revealed that in PA-Al-PP composite film, the PA layer with the highest tensile strength can share the tensile stress from the Al layer during stretching, while the PP layer with the lowest tensile strength can prevent further development of the small cracks on boundary of the Al layer during stretching. Moreover, the study of heat seal behavior suggested that both the orientation status and the heat seal conditions were important factors in determining the heat seal strength (HSS) and failure behavior of the sample. Four failure types were observed, and a clear correspondence between HSS and failure types was found. The results also elucidated that for the composite film, only in the cases where the tensile stress was efficiently released by each layer during HSS measurement could the composite film exhibit desired high HSS that was even higher than its tensile strength.
Hydroxyl Ion Diffusion through Radicular Dentine When Calcium Hydroxide Is Used under Different Conditions
Authors: Cai Michael , Abbott Paul , Castro Salgado Jacqueline
Published: January 2018

Calcium hydroxide’s anti-bacterial action relies on high pH. The aim here was to investigate hydroxyl ion diffusion through dentine under different conditions. Teeth were divided into control (n = 4) and four experimental groups (n = 10): Group 1—no medicament; Group 2—Calmix; Group 3—Calmix/Ledermix; Group 4—Calasept Plus/Ledermix; Group 5—Pulpdent/smear layer. Deep (inner dentine) and shallow (outer dentine) cavities were cut into each root. pH was measured in these cavities for 12 weeks. The inner and outer dentine pH in Group 2 was significantly higher than all groups. Inner dentine pH in Group 3 was slightly higher than that in Group 4 initially but subsequently comparable. After Day 2, Group 5 had significantly lower pH than Groups 3 and 4. The outer dentine pH in Group 3 started higher than that in Groups 4 and 5, but by Day 28 the difference was insignificant. The time for the inner dentine to reach maximum pH was one week for Group 2 and four weeks for Groups 3 and 4. The time for the outer dentine to reach maximum pH was eight weeks for all experimental groups. Mixing different Ca(OH)2 formulations with Ledermix gave similar hydroxyl ion release but pH and total diffusion was lower than Ca(OH)2 alone. The smear layer inhibited diffusion.
GaN-Based Laser Wireless Power Transfer System
Authors: De Santi Carlo , Meneghini Matteo , Caria Alessandro , Dogmus Ezgi , Zegaoui Malek , Medjdoub Farid , Kalinic Boris , Cesca Tiziana , Meneghesso Gaudenzio , Zanoni Enrico
Published: January 2018

The aim of this work is to present a potential application of gallium nitride-based optoelectronic devices. By using a laser diode and a photodetector, we designed and demonstrated a free-space compact and lightweight wireless power transfer system, whose efficiency is limited by the efficiency of the receiver. We analyzed the effect of the electrical load, temperature, partial absorption and optical excitation distribution on the efficiency, by identifying heating and band-filling as the most impactful processes. By comparing the final demonstrator with a commercial RF-based Qi system, we conclude that the efficiency is still low at close range, but is promising in medium to long range applications. Efficiency may not be a limiting factor, since this concept can enable entirely new possibilities and designs, especially relevant for space applications.
The Sodium and Potassium Content of the Most Commonly Available Street Foods in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in the Context of the FEEDCities Project
Authors: Lança de Morais Inês , Lunet Nuno , Albuquerque Gabriela , Gelormini Marcello , Casal Susana , Damasceno Albertino , Pinho Olívia , Moreira Pedro , Jewell Jo , Breda João , Padrão Patrícia
Published: January 2018

This cross-sectional study is aimed at assessing sodium (Na) and potassium (K) content and the molar Na:K ratios of the most commonly available ready-to-eat street foods in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Four different samples of each of these foods were collected and 62 food categories were evaluated through bromatological analysis. Flame photometry was used to quantify sodium and potassium concentrations. The results show that home-made foods can be important sources of sodium. In particular, main dishes and sandwiches, respectively, contain more than 1400 and nearly 1000 mg Na in an average serving and provide approximately 70% and 50% of the maximum daily recommended values. Wide ranges of sodium content were found between individual samples of the same home-made food collected from different vending sites from both countries. In industrial foods, sodium contents ranged from 1 to 1511 mg/serving in Tajikistan, and from 19 to 658 mg/serving in Kyrgyzstan. Most Na:K ratios exceeded the recommended level of 1.0 and the highest ratios were found in home-made snacks (21.2) from Tajikistan and industrial beverages (16.4) from Kyrgyzstan. These findings not only improve data on the nutritional composition of foods in these countries, but may also serve as baseline information for future policies and interventions.
EBR Strengthening Technique for Concrete, Long-Term Behaviour and Historical Survey
Authors: Czaderski Christoph , Meier Urs
Published: January 2018

Epoxy bonded steel plates (externally bonded reinforcemen: EBR) for the strengthening of concrete structures were introduced to the construction industry in the late 1960s, and the use of fibre reinforced polymers (FRPs) was introduced in the 1990s, which means that these techniques have already been used in construction for 50 and 25 years, respectively. In the first part of the paper, a historical survey of the development and introduction of these strengthening techniques into the construction industry are presented. The monitoring of such applications in construction is very important and gives more confidence to this strengthening technique. Therefore, in the second part of the paper, two long-term monitoring campaigns over an extraordinarily long duration will be presented. Firstly, a 47-year monitoring campaign on a concrete beam with an epoxy bonded steel plate and, secondly, a 20-year monitoring campaign on a road bridge with epoxy bonded CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced polymers) strips are described. The paper is an expanded version of the paper presented at the SMAR2017 Conference.
Estimation of Water Stress in Grapevines Using Proximal and Remote Sensing Methods
Authors: Matese Alessandro , Baraldi Rita , Berton Andrea , Cesaraccio Carla , Di Gennaro Salvatore , Duce Pierpaolo , Facini Osvaldo , Mameli Massimiliano , Piga Alessandra , Zaldei Alessandro
Published: January 2018

In light of climate change and its impacts on plant physiology, optimizing water usage and improving irrigation practices play a crucial role in crop management. In recent years, new optical remote sensing techniques have become widespread since they allow a non-invasive evaluation of plant water stress dynamics in a timely manner. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) currently represent one of the most advanced platforms for remote sensing applications. In this study, remote and proximal sensing measurements were compared with plant physiological variables, with the aim of testing innovative services and support systems to farmers for optimizing irrigation practices and scheduling. The experiment, conducted in two vineyards located in Sardinia, Italy, consisted of two regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatments and two reference treatments maintained under stress and well-watered conditions. Indicators of crop water status (Crop Water Stress Index—CWSI—and linear thermal index) were calculated from UAV images and ground infrared thermal images and then related to physiological measurements. The CWSI values for moderate water deficit (RDI-1) were 0.72, 0.28 and 0.43 for ‘Vermentino’, ‘Cabernet’ and ‘Cagnulari’ respectively, while for severe (RDI-2) water deficit the values were 0.90, 0.34 and 0.51. The highest differences for net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs) between RDI-1 and RDI-2 were observed in ‘Vermentino’. The highest significant correlations were found between CWSI with Pn (R = −0.80), with ΦPSII (R = −0.49) and with Fv’/Fm’ (R = −0.48) on ‘Cagnulari’, while a unique significant correlation between CWSI and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) (R = 0.47) was found on ‘Vermentino’. Pn, as well as the efficiency of light use by the photosystem II (PSII), declined under stress conditions and when CWSI values increased. Under the experimental water stress conditions, grapevines were able to recover their efficiency during the night, activating a photosynthetic protection mechanism such as thermal energy dissipation (NPQ) to prevent irreversible damage to the photosystem. The results presented here demonstrate that CWSI values derived from remote and proximal sensors could be valuable indicators for the assessment of the spatial variability of crop water status in Mediterranean vineyards.