bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desenvolvimento motor em crianças praticantes e não praticantes de atividades lúdicas aquáticas
Authors: Silva Lauana Priscila da , Dias Leticia Regina , Caetano Mabile Taize B. F. , Martelli Anderson , Frezzato Renata Camargo , Delbim Lucas Rissette
Published: November 2017

Entende-se como desenvolvimento motor a junção das características biológicas, meio ambiente e necessidades da tarefa. Sabe-se que é um processo permanente, o qual se inicia na concepção e só cessa com a morte do indivíduo. A estimulação diária das crianças pode acelerar e/ou melhorar esse desenvolvimento e, assim, as atividades lúdicas aquáticas se enquadram nessa estimulação, pois seu principal objetivo é a adaptação ao meio liquido, através do uso de brincadeiras, respeitando sempre o desenvolvimento motor de cada fase. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o impacto da prática de atividades lúdicas aquáticas no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor (DNPM) de crianças entre 5 a 6 anos de idade. A amostra foi dividida em dois grupos, um de crianças praticantes e outro de crianças não praticantes de atividades lúdicas aquáticas. Ambos os grupos foram avaliados com a Escala de Desenvolvimento Motor (EDM) sendo observado que o desempenho motor de ambos os grupos encontram-se dentro da normalidade esperada para as idades. Porém, a escassez de estudos com essa população sugere a necessidade de novos trabalhos investigativos sobre o assunto. https://doi.galoa.com.br/doi/10.17648/jibi-2448-0002-1-2-4906
Fatores genéticos associados ao câncer de mama masculino: uma revisão de literatura
Authors: Silveira Nathalia Maria Tomaz , Doudement Mariana Bezerra , Lucena João Carlos De Alencar , Parente Daniela Moura
Published: November 2017

O câncer de mama masculino é um quadro neoplásico raro, abrange 1% dos casos de câncer de mama no mundo todo, 1% dos tumores malignos em homens e apresenta incidência anual de 1 por 100.000. Reuniram-se informações acerca da atualidade de estudos relacionados ao caráter genético na patologia abordada, cujo objetivo foi analisar aspectos da predisposição e associação, utilizando 15 artigos originais indexados no período entre janeiro de 2011 a fevereiro de 2016, escritos em inglês e espanhol, com delineamento experimental ou observacional, utilizando os descritores câncer de mama masculino, tratamento do câncer, câncer de mama e fator genético do câncer de mama, assim como suas traduções em inglês male breast cancer, cancer treatment, breast cancer e genetic factors. Discutiu-se principalmente a influência genética na ocorrência do câncer de mama masculino, como alterações em genes supressores BRCA, relações com o ponto de checagem CHECK2, histórico familiar e ligações com a síndrome de Klinefelter, entre outros fatores. Aspectos ambientais também são sugeridos por parte da literatura na manifestação clínica da neoplasia, porém com menores ênfases conclusivas. Apesar da literatura sobre o tema ainda necessitar de crescimento e aprofundamento, observaram-se reafirmações científicas sobre a importância da influência genética, sobretudo do BRCA 2, além de confirmações quanto a multifatoriedade da neoplasia. https://doi.galoa.com.br/doi/10.17648/jibi-2448-0002-1-2-4947
Os fatores genéticos da insônia - Uma revisão de literatura
Authors: Ferreira Guilherme Sousa , Barros Indira Maria De Almeida , Xavier Lyvia Ester Ferreira
Published: November 2017

A insônia é um dos distúrbios do sono caracterizado pela dificuldade em iniciar ou manter o sono. Isso se reflete em um sono de baixa qualidade que pode causar problemas ao longo do dia, como cansaço e falta de energia. Sob essa condição, estão associados alguns fatores genéticos, entre eles os genes ABCC9, 5-HTT e Clock. A presente revisão de literatura tem por objetivo a explanação acerca dos fatores genéticos relacionados com o distúrbio da insônia. Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura de forma sistemática, realizada por meio de um levantamento bibliográfico que procura reunir os conhecimentos sobre as características da insônia e sua herança gênica. Encontrou-se uma relevância de achados autorais valiosos para a síntese dessa pesquisa. Portanto, a partir do estudo abordado nessa revisão, torna-se evidente a importância do conhecimento das causas genéticas do distúrbio da insônia para a melhor abordagem clínica, haja vista a relevância desse mecanismo biológico. https://doi.galoa.com.br/doi/10.17648/jibi-2448-0002-2-1-4945
Variações anatômicas nas vias biliares presentes em intervenções cirúrgicas
Authors: Andrade Iza Beatriz Feitosa de , Fortes Talita Maria Lopes , Soares Karinn De Araújo
Published: November 2017

Os ductos biliares conduzem a bile, uma secreção emulsificante, produzida pelo fígado e armazenada pela vesícula biliar, a qual auxilia na digestão de gorduras assim que há presença desta no trato digestório.  O entendimento anatômico e topográfico das vias biliares serve para uma intervenção cirúrgica de sucesso, pois são contínuos os relatos de variações anatômicas. Em alguns procedimentos, como na colecistectomia, que consiste na retirada cirúrgica da vesícula biliar, há relatos de ocorrência de lesões nos ductos biliares. Esta é uma pesquisa de revisão de literatura realizada nas bases de dados da CAPES, MEDLINE, LILACS e na biblioteca virtual SciELO, com o objetivo de identificar as variações anatômicas nas vias biliares e associá-las às intervenções cirúrgicas que ocorrem nesta região. Observou-se que as mais comuns variações anatômicas relatadas na literatura estão relacionadas à posição e à morfologia do ducto cístico e dos ductos hepáticos acessórios. Desta forma, por mais que sejam constantes os relatos na literatura, sempre são necessários novos estudos científicos para conhecimento das variações anatômicas nas vias biliares. https://doi.galoa.com.br/doi/10.17648/jibi-2448-0002-2-1-5615
AS INFLUÊNCIAS SOBRE O PENSAMENTO EDUCACIONAL DE FERNANDO DE AZEVEDO
Authors: LARISSA CECCO BRUNA , MARCHIORI DOS SANTOS BERNARDI LUCI TERESINHA , SILVA DA COSTA MIGUEL ÂNGELO
Published: November 2017

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar as principais ideias e os intelectuais que influenciaram o pensamento educacional de Fernando de Azevedo, nas décadas de 20 e 30, contribuindo com a formulação do importante Manifesto dos Pioneiros da Educação Nova (1932), documento único na história da educação brasileira, que evidenciava a importância em criar um sistema de organização escolar em torno de alguns objetivos comuns, como uma educação pública, laica, gratuita e obrigatória, colocando assim a função do Estado em debate. Com base na metodologia de análise de redes sociais, procuramos identificar os educadores estrangeiros que inspiraram a criação da figura política, educacional e social de Azevedo e, consequentemente, do Manifesto, com a luta dos 26 signatários preocupados a construir uma nova educação e um país melhor. A rede social tem como ator principal Fernando de Azevedo, e, como nós secundários Georg Kerschensteiner, John Dewey, Émile Durkheim e Johann Pestalozzi, importantes intelectuais que foram responsáveis por mudanças político-educacionais em seus países de origem. Identificamos uma estrutura caracterizada pela incorporação de conhecimentos, teorias, exercícios e práticas que foram consideradas fundamentais em um movimento mundial por uma educação pública, que garantisse direito a todos e que possibilitasse a construção de um país, de um mundo melhor, e que influenciou o cardeal Fernando de Azevedo na defesa de um Brasil com educação para todos.
JOGOS E BRINCADEIRAS NO PIAUÍ: MEMÓRIAS DE INFÂNCIA NA ESCOLA (1930-1961)
Authors: DA SILVA MESQUITA OLIVEIRA VILMA , DO AMPARO BORGES FERRO MARIA
Published: November 2017

Este artigo tem o objetivo de discutir a História da Educação tendo como objeto de estudo os jogos e as brincadeiras e como esses foram, ao longo do tempo, constituindo-se como atividades que auxiliam na aprendizagem escolar. Tem como problema: como os jogos e as brincadeiras estão presentes nas memórias de professores e alunos na educação primária de Teresina nas décadas de 1930 a 1961? Considerando a natureza histórica, fundamenta-se em estudos da Nova História Cultural, o aporte metodológico está baseado na História Oral, e utiliza a técnica da entrevista. O recorte temporal inicial, 1930, deve-se ao período em que o movimento denominado Escola Nova coloca o aluno como o centro do processo educativo e, juntamente com ele, os seus jogos e as brincadeiras como atividades que despertam o interesse e a aprendizagem, e o marco final, 1961, quando a LDB 4.024 preconiza, em seu artigo 22, a obrigatoriedade do ensino de Educação Física na educação primária, disciplina que incluía os jogos e as brincadeiras como atividades recreativas. Recorrendo à Memória de uma docente e de alunos que participaram da educação primária em Teresina, no período que compreende o estudo, foi realizada a análise da inclusão dessas atividades educativas, assim como recomendavam as reformas educacionais implantadas no Piauí, conforme os ideais da Escola Nova, e foi constatado, por meio das ressignificações das memórias dos interlocutores que as reformas educacionais propostas para a educação primária não foram contempladas como propunham os seus pressupostos.
COMPARATIVE PEDAGOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCOLOGY
Authors: Sysoieva Svitlana
Published: November 2017

It is observed the object, subject, purpose, status and tasks of the comparative pedagogy in the context of the establishment and development of the scientific field of integrated research of education – educology; it is defined that educology contributes to rethinking the place of comparative pedagogy in the science educational area and educology approach helps to overcome the disciplinary barriers in the comparative studies and to reach high productive level which is provides by interdisciplinary methodology and multidisciplinary approaches. Comparative study as educational discipline acquaints students with the laws of the global educational process; forms the capacity for distinguishing general, special and individual in the development of educational systems; promotes general and pedagogical culture. Focus during the study of the discipline should be given to the analysis of the positive and negative effects of foreign experience of the educational development that enables deeper understand own problems, prevent mistakes and failures, increase the efficiency of the national educational system using world experience. Studying of this course plays an important role in the improving of the methodological culture of students, promotes arming them with new methods of research, demonstrates the best traditions of humanistic pedagogy and creates awareness of the complexity and ambiguity of such a phenomenon as education.
Campaña Electoral del 2017 en el Ecuador. Un Análisis desde la Perspectiva del Marketing Sensorial
Authors: Hallo-Alvear Fernando , Camino-Guaján Rafael
Published: November 2017

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar la aplicación de las estrategias de Marketing Sensorial que fueron trabajadas por ocho binomios candidatos a la presidencia y vicepresidencia durante la campaña electoral de primera vuelta en las elecciones desarrolladas en el territorio ecuatoriano el 19 de febrero del año 2017. Con el equipo de investigación conformado por Pamela Vargas y Daniela Gallo, se indagó y analizó toda la información acerca del tema con el fin de concluir, dentro del campo político, cómo las diversas propuestas y acciones que realizaron durante el periodo de la campaña electoral tuvieron su impacto en los electores desde un punto de vista sensorial. De manera objetiva y técnica se estudió la forma en que cada candidato decidió aplicar estrategias que fueron percibidas por los electores por medio de sus sentidos, generando durante este periodo recordación u olvido, aceptación o rechazo, empatía o antipatía y en la mayoría de los casos, un voto. La estructura y enfoque del presente artículo es netamente técnico y divulgativo a nivel académico, no pretende dar juicios de valor ni posturas partidistas de ninguna índole a favor o en contra de los candidatos que formaron parte del estudio, así como tampoco se pretende concluir cuál estrategia fue mejor que otra o profundizar en temas políticos.
RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL EMPRESARIAL: ¿HERRAMIENTA PARA EL DESARROLLO DE LOS EMPRENDIMIENTOS?
Authors: Suárez Morales Lizbeth
Published: November 2017

El objetivo del presente artículo, es analizar la RSE como una herramienta de desarrollo de los Emprendimientos, realizando   un   breve   recorrido   teórico   por   los   paradigmas   funcionalista   e interaccionista, el primero que tiene  raíces en las teorías positivistas y evolucionistas que han caracterizado históricamente el pensamiento científico de Occidente; y la segunda también llamada de conflicto, que se basa en las teorías críticas y libertarias enraizadas en el marxismo, el existencialismo, el anarquismo, la fenomenología, la teoría crítica y el enfoque de la acción humana.

La Responsabilidad Social Empresarial, como parte del paradigma interaccionista renueva la concepción de la empresa, otorgando a ésta una dimensión amplia e integradora, que va más allá de la mera cuestión económica en la que se incorpora perfectamente la triple faceta de la sostenibilidad: económica, social y medioambiental. El desarrollo sostenible se sitúa como fin a alcanzar por medio de la adecuada implantación de un modelo de empresa socialmente responsable, en el que los distintos grupos de interés, stakeholders, son el centro de atención esencial para la gestión.  En el caso del Ecuador el 90% de las empresas proceden de emprendimientos familiares, que en casos citados se puede identificar que las empresas ecuatorianas, aplican RSE como una esta buena práctica para garantizar el desarrollo de los a emprendimientos socialmente responsables.
Evaluación del impacto nutricional y la aceptación organoléptica de galletas enriquecidas con lactosuero, soya y nuez de macadamia en preescolares de Chiapas, México
Authors: López-Villafuerte Karla Berenice , Cabrera-Martínez Diana Xóchitl , Águilar-Nájera Oscar Aarón , Sol-González Wayne , López-Zúñiga Erika Judith , Vela-Gutiérrez Gilber
Published: November 2017

El lactosuero contiene 4.7 g de lactosa (su componente principal), seguido de las proteínas con una alta proporción de aminoácidos azufrados, lo que contribuye a una gran calidad nutricional. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el impacto nutricional y sensorial de una galleta elaborada a base de lactosuero, soya y nuez de macadamia en preescolares del estado de Chiapas, México. Inicialmente, se determinó el estado nutricio de los preescolares de un jardín de niños de la ciudad de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas; posteriormente, los niños que manifestaron problemas de desnutrición se alimentaron por un período de tres meses con una galleta elaborada a base de lactosuero, soya y nueces de macadamia. Se evaluaron cuatro formulaciones con aceptación sensorial al 95 %  (P < 0.05), seleccionándose la de mayor grado de aceptación. A la mitad y al final del estudio se evaluó el estado nutricional de los preescolares. Mediante análisis químico proximal se determinó la composición nutricional de la galleta, así como el grado de aceptabilidad mediante una prueba de preferencia con jueces no entrenados. El 50 % del total de los niños alimentados mostraron mejoría en su estado nutricional (P < 0.05). El análisis químico proximal de la galleta arrojó un 75.56 % de humedad, 0.27 % de cenizas, 0.84 % de grasas, 12.95 % de proteínas, 2.01 % de fibras y 8.37 % de hidratos de carbono. El alto grado de aceptabilidad y la mejora del estado nutricional de los niños alimentados, mostraron evidencias de la viabilidad de la galleta para ser consumida por niños con problemas de desnutrición en comunidades marginadas.
Design of the expert system to analyze disease in Plant Teak using Forward Chaining
Authors: Poningsih Poningsih
Published: November 2017

Teak is one kind of plant that is already widely known and developed by the wider community in the form of plantations and community forests. This is because until now Teak wood is a commodity of luxury, high quality, the price is expensive, and high economic value. Expert systems are a part of the method sciences artificial intelligence to make an application program disease diagnosis teak computerized seek to replace and mimic the reasoning process of an expert or experts in solving the problem specification that can be said to be a duplicate from an expert because science knowledge is stored inside a database  Expert System for the diagnosis of disease teak using forward chaining method aims to explore the characteristics shown in the form of questions in order to diagnose the disease teak with web-based software. Device keel expert system can recognize the disease after consulting identity by answering some of the questions presented by the application of expert systems and can infer some kind of disease in plants teak. Data disease known customize rules (rules) are made to match the characteristics of teak disease and provide treatment solutions.
Mapping of MAC Address with Moving WiFi Scanner
Authors: Hidayat Arief , Terabe Shintaro , Yaginuma Hideki
Published: November 2017

Recently, Wifi is one of the most useful technologies that can be used for detecting and counting MAC Address. This paper described using of WiFi scanner which carried out seven times circulated the bus. The method used WiFi and GPS are to counting MAC address as raw data from the pedestrian smartphone, bus passenger or WiFi devices near from the bus as long as the bus going around the route. There are seven processes to make map WiFi data.
Recent Work on Canada's Second World War
Authors: Engen Robert
Published: November 2017

This review essay reviews three recent books on Canadian military history: Mark Celinscak's Distance from the Belsen Heap, Daniel Byers's Zombie Army, and Tim Cook's Fight to the Finish. It examines their importance to the new and challenging directions that scholarship on Canada's Second World War is taking. Celinscak and Byers provide expert engagement with little-discussed and uncomfortable aspects of Canada's war, while Cook's sweeping history provides a framework for them that will be the new standard work on the subject.
Confederation in Court: The bna Act as Legal History
Authors: Miller Bradley
Published: November 2017

This article argues that Canadian historians should teach more of the law, and not just the politics, of Confederation and the British North America Act, 1867 (bna Act). It proposes three themes grounded in legal history that can offer students new perspectives on what they often see as the over-familiar and underwhelming events and aftermaths of 1867. It suggests, first, that instructors should wade into the court battles and the constitutional theories that followed Confederation, highlighting the power of the internal mechanisms of law and legal theory as historical forces. Second, it argues that instructors can recast the post-Confederation period as an era of constitutional experimentation and often-abortive institution formation in which governments invoked the bna Act to expand the new federal state, but often failed in their efforts because of legal and political divides. Finally, it shows how historians can connect the bna Act to the emergence of individual and group constitutional rights by focusing on how some post-Confederation jurists attempted to use different varieties of legal theory to create judicially enforceable rights regimes. In so doing, historians can teach students both about the deep roots of Canadian rights culture and about the fragility of rights that are not guaranteed by clear constitutional text.
Time Wasting and the Contemporary Television-Viewing Experience
Authors: Samuel Michael
Published: November 2017

This article explores contemporary changes in television-viewing habits and experiences brought about by the advent of online streaming television services. It identifies Raymond Williams's concept of “flow” as essential to the traditional viewing experience and posits that the boundless choice of on-demand viewing services superficially disrupts the desirable experience of “flow” for contemporary viewers. Excessive choice and unfettered access to content has ironically left viewers nostalgic for traditional forms of television viewing. This nostalgia is apparent in the viewing habits of users of streaming television services and in the methods these services themselves employ to deliver programing to their users.
Bi-Level Model for Design of Transit Short-Turning Service Considering Bus Crowding
Authors: Yang Xiyu , Ji Yuxiong , Du Yuchuan , Zhang H. Michael
Published: November 2017

A bi-level model was developed to design the short-turning strategy on a bus route. The upper-level model aimed at minimizing the total cost, including operational cost, passengers’ waiting time cost, and in-vehicle travel time cost. The lower-level model was a logit model to capture the service choices of passengers. The effects of bus crowding and seat availability were considered explicitly in the proposed model. An algorithm was developed to determine the frequencies of different services and the turnback points of the short-turning service. A case study demonstrates the superiority of the proposed model over alternative models. Sensitivity of the optimal design to seat capacity was also investigated.
In the Pre-eclamp sia and Normotensive Patient- Lipid Profile Study
Authors: Khatun Jamila , Amir Shamima
Published: November 2017

Pre-eclampsia is associated with substantial risks for the fetus and mother. Disorders of lipoprotein metabolism are reported to be a major cause of hypertension and proteinuria in pre-eclampsia. This was a cross-sectional comparative study carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sylhet, M.A.G Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet during December 2013 to May 2014. 50 pre-eclampsia and 50 normotensive pregnant women's serum lipid profile were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fasting lipid profile was measured after 10-12 hours overnight fasting. The mean age (25.12 # 3.98 years vs 24.94 # 3.90 years; p=0.820), gestational age (36.80 # 0.70 weeks vs 36.9 # 1.1 weeks ; p=0.144), and BMI (21.43 # 2.09kg/M2 vs 22.02 # 1.73kg/M2, p=0.131) were statistically similar in both pre-eclamptic women and the control pregnant women. SBP (163.70 #11.24mm of Hg vs 115.10 # 9.39mm of Hg; p<0.001) and DBP (103.6 #9.4mm of Hg vs 71.50 #5.37mm of Hg p<0.001) were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic women than that of normotensive pregnant women. Serum total cholesterol (227.56 # 55.79mg/dl vs 194.56 # 43.33mg/dl, p=0.001). serum LDL-cholesterol (147.72 #51.03mg/dl vs 119.43 # 37.17mg/dl; p=0.002) and serum triglyceride (232.06 # 65.54mg/dl vs 157.44 # 64.24mg/dl p<0.001) were significantly higher in pre- eclampsia than that of normal pregnancy; while serum HDL- cholesterol (38.96 # 2.93 mg/dl vs 45.82 # 6.11 mg/dl; p <0.001) was significantly lower in pre-eclampsia than that of control pregnancy. An abnormal lipid profile has a direct effect on endothelial dysfunction. Early detection of these parameters may help patient by preventing complications in pre-eclampsia.Medicine Today 2017 Vol.29(2): 1-4
Positive Disposition in the Prediction of Strategic Independence among Millennials
Authors: Konopaske Robert , Kirby Eric , Kirby Susan
Published: November 2017

Research on the dispositional traits of Millennials (born in 1980–2000) finds that this generation, compared to earlier generations, tends to be more narcissistic, hold themselves in higher regard and feel more entitled to rewards. The purpose of this intragenerational study is to counter balance extant research by exploring how the positive dispositional traits of proactive personality, core self-evaluation, grit and self-control predict strategic independence in a sample of 311 young adults. Strategic independence is a composite variable measuring a person’s tendency to make plans and achieve long-term goals. A confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression found evidence of discriminant validity across the scales and that three of the four independent variables were statistically significant and positive predictors of strategic independence in the study. The paper discusses research and practical implications, strengths and limitations and areas for future research.
Tocotrienols: A Family of Molecules with Specific Biological Activities
Authors: Comitato Raffaella , Ambra Roberto , Virgili Fabio
Published: November 2017

Vitamin E is a generic term frequently used to group together eight different molecules, namely: α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherol and the corresponding tocotrienols. The term tocopherol and eventually Vitamin E and its related activity was originally based on the capacity of countering foetal re-absorption in deficient rodents or the development of encephalomalacia in chickens. In humans, Vitamin E activity is generally considered to be solely related to the antioxidant properties of the tocolic chemical structure. In recent years, several reports have shown that specific activities exist for each different tocotrienol form. In this short review, tocotrienol ability to inhibit cancer cell growth and induce apoptosis thanks to specific mechanisms, not shared by tocopherols, such as the binding to Estrogen Receptor-β (ERβ) and the triggering of endoplasmic reticulum (EndoR) stress will be described. The neuroprotective activity will also be presented and discussed. We propose that available studies strongly indicate that specific forms of tocotrienols have a distinct mechanism and biological activity, significantly different from tocopherol and more specifically from α-tocopherol. We therefore suggest not pooling them together within the broad term “Vitamin E” on solely the basis of their putative antioxidant properties. This option implies obvious consequences in the assessment of dietary Vitamin E adequacy and, probably more importantly, on the possibility of evaluating a separate biological variable, determinant in the relationship between diet and health.
Mild Solutions to the Cauchy Problem for Some Fractional Differential Equations with Delay
Authors: Liang Jin , Mu Yunyi
Published: November 2017

In this paper, we present new existence theorems of mild solutions to Cauchy problem for some fractional differential equations with delay. Our main tools to obtain our results are the theory of analytic semigroups and compact semigroups, the Kuratowski measure of non-compactness, and fixed point theorems, with the help of some estimations. Examples are also given to illustrate the applicability of our results.
Health Promotion in Disease Outbreaks and Health Emergencies. By Glenn Laverack. CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2017; 188 pp.; ISBN: 978-1-138-09317-1
Authors: Prescott Susan
Published: November 2017

Throughout our evolutionary history, humans have lived—and died—with the threat of infectious diseases and catastrophic emergencies.[...]
Improvement of Power Factor of CoSb3 Thermoelectric Thin Films via Microstructure Optimization
Authors: Zheng Zhuanghao , Wei Meng , Li Fu , Luo Jingting , Liang Guangxing , Ma Hongli , Zhang Xianghua , Fan Ping
Published: November 2017

Skutterudite CoSb3 has emerged as one of the most studied candidate materials for thermoelectric applications. In this work, CoSb3 thin films were prepared by radio frequency sputtering, and their microstructure was investigated with emphasis on the effect of target composition and deposition temperature. The goal was to enhance the thermoelectric properties of CoSb3 thin films via microstructure optimization. Results showed that the Sb content of films gradually decreased with increasing deposition temperature. Although the thin films prepared by the target with a Co and Sb element ratio of 1:3.5 approached the ideal stoichiometric ratio, they showed poor thermoelectric properties due to the formation of an additional Sb phase. By contrast, the thin films obtained with insufficient Sb showed a single CoSb3 phase and good thermoelectric properties. The mechanism behind this difference was studied accordingly. The power factor of the thin films was enhanced due to their dense structure and good crystallization.
An Analysis of Information Dynamic Behavior Using Autoregressive Models
Authors: Oliveira Amanda , Dória Neto Adrião , Martins Allan
Published: November 2017

Information Theory is a branch of mathematics, more specifically probability theory, that studies information quantification. Recently, several researches have been successful with the use of Information Theoretic Learning (ITL) as a new technique of unsupervised learning. In these works, information measures are used as criterion of optimality in learning. In this article, we will analyze a still unexplored aspect of these information measures, their dynamic behavior. Autoregressive models (linear and non-linear) will be used to represent the dynamics in information measures. As a source of dynamic information, videos with different characteristics like fading, monotonous sequences, etc., will be used.
Digital Image Stabilization Method Based on Variational Mode Decomposition and Relative Entropy
Authors: Hao Duo , Li Qiuming , Li Chengwei
Published: November 2017

Cameras mounted on vehicles frequently suffer from image shake due to the vehicles’ motions. To remove jitter motions and preserve intentional motions, a hybrid digital image stabilization method is proposed that uses variational mode decomposition (VMD) and relative entropy (RE). In this paper, the global motion vector (GMV) is initially decomposed into several narrow-banded modes by VMD. REs, which exhibit the difference of probability distribution between two modes, are then calculated to identify the intentional and jitter motion modes. Finally, the summation of the jitter motion modes constitutes jitter motions, whereas the subtraction of the resulting sum from the GMV represents the intentional motions. The proposed stabilization method is compared with several known methods, namely, medium filter (MF), Kalman filter (KF), wavelet decomposition (MD) method, empirical mode decomposition (EMD)-based method, and enhanced EMD-based method, to evaluate stabilization performance. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the other stabilization methods.
Formula I(1) and I(2): Race Tracks for Likelihood Maximization Algorithms of I(1) and I(2) Cointegrated VAR Models
Authors: Doornik Jurgen , Mosconi Rocco , Paruolo Paolo
Published: November 2017

This paper provides some test cases, called circuits, for the evaluation of Gaussian likelihood maximization algorithms of the cointegrated vector autoregressive model. Both I(1) and I(2) models are considered. The performance of algorithms is compared first in terms of effectiveness, defined as the ability to find the overall maximum. The next step is to compare their efficiency and reliability across experiments. The aim of the paper is to commence a collective learning project by the profession on the actual properties of algorithms for cointegrated vector autoregressive model estimation, in order to improve their quality and, as a consequence, also the reliability of empirical research.
Economic Analysis of Flat-Plate and U-Tube Solar Collectors Using an Al2O3 Nanofluid
Authors: Kang Woobin , Shin Yunchan , Cho Honghyun
Published: November 2017

In this study, the efficiencies of flat-plate and U-tube solar collectors were investigated experimentally when an Al2O3 nanofluid was used as a working fluid and compared to those of solar collectors using water. The energy savings and CO2 and SO2 generated were calculated and compared to those of solar collectors using water. In addition, based on the experimental results, an economic analysis of the use of solar collectors in various countries was performed. As the concentration of the Al2O3 nanofluid increased, the performance of the solar collector improved. The highest efficiency for the solar collectors was shown at the concentration of 1.0 vol % with the nanoparticle size of 20 nm. The maximum efficiencies of the flat-plate and U-tube solar collectors using a 1.0 vol %-Al2O3 nanofluid with 20-nm nanoparticles was 74.9% and 72.4%, respectively, when the heat loss parameter was zero. The efficiencies of the flat-plate and U-tube solar collectors using Al2O3 nanofluid were 14.8% and 10.7% higher, respectively, than those using water. When 50 EA (each) flat-plate solar collectors were operated for one year using an Al2O3 nanofluid, the coal use, generated CO2, and generated SO2 were 189.99 kg, 556.69 kg, and 2.03 kg less than those of solar collectors using water, respectively. In addition, the largest electricity cost reduction was in Germany.
An Interval Fuzzy-Stochastic Chance-Constrained Programming Based Energy-Water Nexus Model for Planning Electric Power Systems
Authors: Liu Jing , Li Yongping , Huang Guohe , Suo Cai , Yin Shuo
Published: November 2017

In this study, an interval fuzzy-stochastic chance-constrained programming based energy-water nexus (IFSCP-WEN) model is developed for planning electric power system (EPS). The IFSCP-WEN model can tackle uncertainties expressed as possibility and probability distributions, as well as interval values. Different credibility (i.e., γ) levels and probability (i.e., qi) levels are set to reflect relationships among water supply, electricity generation, system cost, and constraint-violation risk. Results reveal that different γ and qi levels can lead to a changed system cost, imported electricity, electricity generation, and water supply. Results also disclose that the study EPS would tend to the transition from coal-dominated into clean energy-dominated. Gas-fired would be the main electric utility to supply electricity at the end of the planning horizon, occupying [28.47, 30.34]% (where 28.47% and 30.34% present the lower bound and the upper bound of interval value, respectively) of the total electricity generation. Correspondingly, water allocated to gas-fired would reach the highest, occupying [33.92, 34.72]% of total water supply. Surface water would be the main water source, accounting for more than [40.96, 43.44]% of the total water supply. The ratio of recycled water to total water supply would increase by about [11.37, 14.85]%. Results of the IFSCP-WEN model present its potential for sustainable EPS planning by co-optimizing energy and water resources.
Thermal Activity Monitoring of an Active Volcano Using Landsat 8/OLI-TIRS Sensor Images: A Case Study at the Aso Volcanic Area in Southwest Japan
Authors: Mia Md. Bodruddoza , Fujimitsu Yasuhiro , Nishijima Jun
Published: November 2017

Thermal remote sensing is currently an emerging technique for monitoring active volcanoes around the world. The study area, the Aso volcano, is currently the most active and has erupted almost every year since 2012. For the first time, Landsat 8 TIRS thermal data were used in this study area to evaluate and monitor the recent thermal status of this volcano, situated in Southwest Japan, from 2013 to 2016 using four sets of images. The total heat discharged rate (HDR), radiative heat flux (RHF), land surface temperature (LST), and land cover (LC) were evaluated, and the relationship between them was determined, to understand the thermal status of the study area. We used the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) for land cover, the NDVI-threshold method for emissivity, the split-window algorithm for LST, and the Stefan–Boltzmann equation for radiative heat flux estimation in this study. The total heat discharge rate was computed using a relationship coefficient of RHF and HDR here. The highest HDR was obtained in 2013, at about 4715 MW, and was the lowest in 2016, at about 3819 MW. The total heat loss showed a declining trend, overall, from 2013 to 2016. The highest pixel RHF was in 2013 and the lowest was in 2014; after that, it increased gradually until 2016, coinciding with the LST of this study area. LC showed that, with decreasing heat loss, the vegetated coverage increased and bare land or mixed land decreased, and vice versa. From the spatial distribution of RHF, we saw that, within the Nakadake craters of the Aso volcano, Crater 1 was the most active part of this volcano throughout the study period, and Crater 3 was the most active after 2014. We inferred that the applied methods using the continuous Landsat 8 TIRS data showed an effective and efficient method of monitoring the thermal status of this active volcano.
The New Old (and Old New) Medical Model: Four Decades Navigating the Biomedical and Psychosocial Understandings of Health and Illness
Authors: Farre Albert , Rapley Tim
Published: November 2017

The importance of how disease and illness are conceptualised lies in the fact that such definition is paramount to understand the boundaries and scope of responsibility associated with medical work. In this paper, we aim to provide an overview of the interplay of these understandings in shaping the nature of medical work, philosophically, and in practice. We first discuss the emergence of the biopsychosocial model as an attempt to both challenge and broaden the traditional biomedical model. Then, we outline the main criticisms associated with the biopsychosocial model and note a range of contributions addressing the shortcomings of the model as initially formulated. Despite recurrent criticisms and uneven uptake, the biopsychosocial model has gone on to influence core aspects of medical practice, education, and research across many areas of medicine. One of these areas is adolescent medicine, which provides a particularly good exemplar to examine the contemporary challenges associated with the practical application of the biopsychosocial model. We conclude that a more optimal use of existing bodies of evidence, bringing together evidence-based methodological advances of the biopsychosocial model and existing evidence on the psychosocial needs associated with specific conditions/populations, can help to bridge the gap between philosophy and practice.
Deriving Ephemeral Gullies from VHR Image in Loess Hilly Areas through Directional Edge Detection
Authors: Yang Xin , Dai Wen , Tang Guoan , Li Min
Published: November 2017

Monitoring ephemeral gullies facilitates water planning and soil conservation. Artificial interpretation based on high spatial resolution images is the main method for monitoring ephemeral gullies in large areas; however, this method is time consuming. In this study, a semiautomatic method for extracting ephemeral gullies in loess hilly areas based on directional edge detection is proposed. First, the area where ephemeral gullies developed was extracted because the weak trace of ephemeral gullies in images can hardly be detected by most image detectors, which avoided the noise from other large gullies. Second, a Canny edge detector was employed to extract all edges in the image. Then, those edges along the direction where ephemeral gullies developed were searched and coded as candidate ephemeral gullies. Finally, the ephemeral gullies were identified through filtering of pseudo-gullies by setting the appropriate length threshold. Experiments in three loess hilly areas showed that accuracy ranged from 38.18% to 85.05%, completeness ranged from 82.35% to 92.86%, and quality ranged from 35.29% to 79.82%. The quality of the remote sensing images highly affected the results. The accuracy was significantly improved when the image was used with less grass and shrubs. The length threshold in directional searching also affected the accuracy. A small threshold resulted in additional noise and disconnected gullies, whereas a large threshold disregarded the short gullies. A reasonable threshold can be obtained through the index of quality. The threshold also exhibits a strong relationship with the average length of ephemeral gullies, and this relationship can help obtain the optimum threshold in the hilly area of the Northern Loess Plateau of China.
Specific Effects of Chronic Dietary Exposure to Chlorpyrifos on Brain Gene Expression—A Mouse Study
Authors: Pallotta Maria , Ronca Raffaele , Carotenuto Rosa , Porreca Immacolata , Turano Mimmo , Ambrosino Concetta , Capriglione Teresa
Published: November 2017

chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate insecticide used to control pests on a variety of food and feed crops. In mammals, maternal exposure to CPF has been reported to induce cerebral cortex thinning, alteration of long-term brain cognitive function, and Parkinson-like symptoms, but the mechanisms of these processes are not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the alterations induced in the brains of mice chronically exposed to CPF by dietary intake. For our purpose, we analysed F1 offspring (sacrificed at 3 and 8 months) of Mus musculus, treated in utero and postnatally with 3 different doses of CPF (0.1-1-10 mg/kg/day). Using RT2 Profiler PCR Arrays, we evaluated the alterations in the expression of 84 genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In the brains of exposed mice, we evidenced a clear dose–response relationship for AChE inhibition and alterations of gene expression. Some of the genes that were steadily down-regulated, such as Pink1, Park 2, Sv2b, Gabbr2, Sept5 and Atxn2, were directly related to Parkinson’s onset. Our experimental results shed light on the possibility that long-term CPF exposure may exert membrane signalling alterations which make brain cells more susceptible to develop neurodegenerative diseases.
Determination of the Biocide Econea® in Artificial Seawater by Solid Phase Extraction and High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Downs Robert , Dean John , Downer Adrian , Perry Justin
Published: November 2017

Econea®, or 4-bromo-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile, is a new type of environmentally friendly anti-fouling compound used in the immersed coatings of commercial sea going vessels. This paper reports the development of a new analytical method to directly detect the active biocide Econea® in an artificial sea water matrix using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The developed method is both rapid and sensitive, with a limit of detection of 0.05 μg/L and a limit of quantitation of 0.17 μg/L in artificial seawater. The subsequent developed method was then applied to investigate the biocide’s release from a commercially available Econea® containing paint immersed in artificial sea water over a 45-day period. It was found that the average release rate of Econea® from this paint was 4.3 ± 0.6 μg cm−2 d−1.
Neoliberalism and the Unfolding Patterns of Young People’s Political Engagement and Political Participation in Contemporary Britain
Authors: Hart James , Henn Matt
Published: November 2017

Recent trends suggest that young people in Britain are increasingly rejecting electoral politics. However, evidence suggests that British youth are not apolitical, but are becoming ever more sceptical of the ability of electoral politics to make a meaningful contribution to their lives. Why young people are adopting new political behaviour and values, however, is still a point of contention. Some authors have suggested that neoliberalism has influenced these new patterns of political engagement. This article will advance this critique of neoliberalism, giving attention to three different facets of neoliberalism and demonstrate how they combine to reduce young people’s expectations of political participation and their perceptions of the legitimacy of political actors. We combine ideational and material critiques to demonstrate how young people’s political engagement has been restricted by neoliberalism. Neoliberalism has influenced youth political participation through its critiques of collective democracy, by the subsequent transformations in political practice that it has contributed to, and through the economic marginalisation that has resulted from its shaping of governments’ monetary policy. This approach will be conceptually predicated on a definition of neoliberalism which acknowledges both its focus on reducing interventions in the economy, and also its productive capacity to modify society to construct market relations and galvanise competition amongst agents. From this definition, we develop the argument that neoliberal critiques of democracy, the subsequent changes in political practices which respond to these criticisms and the transformation in socioeconomic conditions caused by neoliberalism have coalesced to negatively influence young people’s electoral participation.
Social Sustainability of Provinces in China: A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Window Analysis under the Concepts of Natural and Managerial Disposability
Authors: Sueyoshi Toshiyuki , Yuan Yan , Li Aijun , Wang Daoping
Published: November 2017

Natural and managerial disposability are two important strategic concepts, whose priorities are economic prosperity and environmental protection, respectively. This study defines social sustainability as the simultaneous achievement of economic prosperity and environmental protection, and then assesses the degree of social sustainability across provinces in China. In addition, this study combines the concepts of natural and managerial disposability with Data Envelopment Analysis window analysis. The method allows for frontier shifts among different time periods and thus can provide more stable and reliable results. This method is applied to assess the energy and environmental performances across the provinces of China during 2003–2014, and provides detailed information about provincial variations, which are valuable and important to policy makers (especially for those in local governments). This study identifies three important findings. First, there were no significant improvements in China’s environmental performance during the analysis periods, since, historically, the governments have not paid enough attention to environmental protection. Second, there are increasing trends in the provincial gaps regarding the environmental performance. In this regard, the central government should help the poor provinces to protect the environment. Third, there are significant differences between the results obtained under natural disposability and those obtained under managerial disposability, since they have different priorities regarding the operational and the environmental performances. Thus, significant contributions can be made by eco-technology progress combined with managerial performance improvements by business leaders and policy makers. This can be a new policy direction for the Chinese government.
User Evaluation of the MOBOT Rollator Type Robotic Mobility Assistive Device
Authors: Koumpouros Yiannis , Karavasili Alexandra , Efthimiou Eleni , Fotinea Stavroula-Evita , Goulas Theodore , Vacalopoulou Anna
Published: November 2017

In this paper, we report on the evaluation strategy and the results that were obtained from the final end-user evaluation process of an innovative robotic assistive device supporting mobility. More specifically, the paper deals with the evaluation of the MOBOT robotic rollator as regards to the system’s overall performance and its individual assistive characteristics and functionalities, as implemented in respect to (i) the provided cognitive assistance, and (ii) the adopted audio-gestural human-robot communication model. User evaluation was designed on the basis of an extensive survey of scales and methodologies widely reported in the relevant literature. The actual evaluation phase exploited the QUEST 2.0, ATDPA-Device Form, and PYTHEIA scales to measure the subjective satisfaction of the users. The PYTHEIA scale, in particular, was structured in order to fill the gaps that were identified during the study of previously existing tools for measuring assistive device user satisfaction. The scale was applied for the first time during the reported evaluation process. An analysis of the results showed that MOBOT was ranked very high by end users in all of the aspects addressed by the three employed assessment scales, thus providing significant evidence for positive acceptance of any industrialized outcome of the current prototype in the assistive robots market.