bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Niveles de Glomalina en un suelo con plantaciones de Pino radiata (Pinus radiata D. Don.) y distintos tiempos de plantación
Authors: Effron Diana N. , Quinteros Cristina , Catán Silvia I. , Sarti Gabriela C. , Defrieri Rosa L.
Published: September 2018

Los hongos micorrízicos arbusculares (HMA) son microorganismos simbiontes que forman asociaciones mutualísticas con raíces de la mayoría de las plantas superiores. Los HMA producen glomalina que contiene un alto porcentaje de carbono y su contenido puede usarse como un indicador de los efectos del cambio de uso del suelo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el contenido de glomalina total (GT) y glomalina fácilmente extraíble (GFE) en un suelo andisol de la Provincia de Chubut, Argentina, bajo la influencia de la especie forestal (Pinus radiata D. Don. en dos parcelas con diferentes tiempos de plantación, una con 50 años (P50) y otra con 20 años (P20); y vincular dichos niveles con el carbono orgánico, las propiedades biológicas y bioquímicas del suelo. Los resultados mostraron que los valores de los parámetros dosados dependieron del tiempo de plantación, resultando significativamente mayores en el suelo con la plantación de 50 años. Los mayores valores del C de respiración y de las actividades enzimáticas en el suelo bajo P50 podrían vincularse con los mayores niveles de glomalina hallados, ya que la misma, al influir en el mejoramiento de los agregados del suelo y generar un aumento en el contenido de C orgánico, causaría en el mismo un incremento en la actividad microbiana del suelo.
Nuevos datos relativos a la variación morfológica de Homonota ruptcoia (squamata: phyllodactylidae) y comentarios sobre su hábitat
Authors: Cacciau Pier , Avila Ignacio , Buongermini Emilio , Céspedez Jorge
Published: September 2018

Homonota rupícola es un gecko recientemente asignado a la Familia Phyllodactylidae (Gamble et al., 2011) que constituye uno de los pocos reptiles endémicos de Paraguay (Cacciali et al., 2011). Esta especie, junto con Homonota borelli, H. taragiú y H. uruguayensis, se encuentra en el grupo de H. borelli, siendo H. rupícola una de las especies evolutivamente más recientes (Morando et al., 2014). La especie fue descrita en base a cuatro ejemplares, todos provenientes del Cerro Pedregal (25º31 '07"S, 57º02' 53"0) en el límite entre los Departamentos de Cordillera y Paraguarí (Cacciali et al., 2007) (Fig. 1). Entre los caracteres diagnósticos de Homonota rupícola se destaca la presencia de escamas dorsales quilladas alternadas con escamas granulares yuxtapuestas, coloración formada por manchas irregulares grises, blancas y negras, y escamas homogéneas en los lados de la cabeza.
Distribución de las especies Notomabuya frenata y Copeoglossum nlgropunctatum (Squamata: Scincidae) en el Gran Chaco Americano
Authors: Tedesco M. E. , Anosky A. A. , Ruiz García J. A. , Motte M. , Céspedes J. A. , Álvarez B. B.
Published: September 2018

La familia Scincidae, de amplia distribución a nivel mundial, cuenta actualmente con siete subfamilias reconocidas, (Uetz y Hosek, 2015), una de ellas Mabuyinae, (Mittleman, 1952), presente en toda América. Esta subfamilia incluye a dos especies exclusivamente sudamericanas Notomabuya frenata y Copeoglossum igropunctatum, cuya distribución en el Chaco Argentino Paraguayo se describe en este trabajo. Notomabuya frenata, está ampliamente distribuida en Argentina (Abdala et al, 2012; Kacoliris et al., 2006; Alvarez et al., 2002; Cei, 1993) Paraguay, Bolivia y Brasil (Vrcibradic et al., 2006, Caldeira Costa et al., 2008) y Copeoglossum nigropunctatum presenta registros de colección para el norte de Paraguay y Bolivia (Hedges y Conn, 2012), (Uetz y Hosek, 2015). Los registros se apoyan en datos de colecta producto de viajes de campaña a diferentes localidades de Argentina y Paraguay. En Argentina, los registros provienen de Concepción, Estancia "Santa Catalina" y San Cosme, provincia de Corrientes; Las Hacheras, Campo Largo y Presidencia de la Plaza, provincia del Chaco; Gral. Güemes y San Martín JI, provincia de Formosa. En Paraguay, Bahía Negra, Puerto Diana y Estancia "El Ceiba", Departamento Alto Paraguay y Parque Nacional "Tte. Gral. Agripino Enciso", Departamento Boquerón. Estos registros se complementan con los provenientes de las Colecciones Herpetológicas: Universidad Nacional del Nordeste Corrientes (UNNEC), Argentina, y Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay, (MNHNP), Paraguay, y de referencias bibliográficas.
Green Product Purchase Intention
Authors: Nur Shidiq Aang Muhammad , Widodo Arry
Published: September 2018

Green products are environmentally sound products, designed and processed in a way to reduce the effects that may pollute the environment, whether in production, distribution and consumption. This study is conducted to determine the effect of green brand knowledge mediated attitudes toward the green brand and how it affects the intention to buy green products manufactured by Twin Tulipware. The purpose of this research is to know and analyze how the green brand knowledge, how the attitude toward the green brand, how the intention to buy green products, the amount of influence knowledge and green attitude to purchase intention of green products manufactured by Twin Tulipware directly and indirectly. The researchers use three research variables categorised as the independent variables and dependent variable. The research method applied in this study is a quantitative inquiry. Sampling is done by non-probability sampling method with accidental sampling type, with 100 respondents, knowing and using Twin Tulipware product. The data are collected by using questionnaires. The results show that the direct effects of green brand knowledge on the intention to buy green products are 49.5% and indirect influence through the attitude toward the green brand is 21%. Therefore, the total effect of green brand knowledge on the intention to buy green products through the attitude of the green brand is 70.5%. Knowledge and attitude have a R2 (R Square) value of 56.6% of the intention to buy green products.
GROUND OF BASIC ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF EFFECTIVENESS OF MACHINEBUILDING ENTERPRISES
Authors: Riabkova O.V.
Published: September 2018

The main objectives of the article are to determine the main economic indicators of the effectiveness of machinebuilding enterprises in the monitoring system. To optimize, you need to know what is wrong or ineffective, so it is necessary to measure various aspects of business processes that reflect the performance of the enterprise. To do this, use the monitoring system of economic performance indicators of the enterprise. So in the article existing approaches to evaluating business performance and results analysis using their validity are generalized. the criteria of evaluation of integral index of effectiveness of machine-building enterprise are certain, and also his components that is determined by basic business processes and business processes of development. The partial indicators of effectiveness are considered in the context of three-dimensional criterion format "cost - time - quality". The criteria for indicators of the individual components and the integral performance indicator based on typical Harrington scale intervals are defined and meet the following levels: high, sufficient, satisfactory, inadequate and critical level. Evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed methodological approach provides a basis for defining a list of existing problems and providing substantiated proposals for the implementation of corrective and / or preventive measures aimed at improving the company's performance. Using such an assessment will provide managers with the opportunity to receive regular analytical information to monitor the performance of the enterprise, assess the relevance of the company's current activities to strategic goals and prospects of development, timely response to organizational changes. Prospects for further research, we see in determining the ratio of proposed performance indicators to the traditional economic indicators of machine-building enterprises.
Réponses des « survivants » à un plan de sauvegarde de l’emploi
Authors: François-Philip B. de St Julien Delphine
Published: September 2018

En lien avec les recherches relatives aux changements organisationnels et aux stratégies déployées par les salariés, cet article vise à étudier la typologie définie par Chreim (2006) et à proposer une échelle de mesure des réponses des salariés qui restent dans leur entreprise après un plan de sauvegarde de l’emploi, dénommés les « survivants ». Trois profils de « survivants », les « Convaincus », les « Soumis » et les « Ambivalents », sont définis suite à une analyse factorielle exploratoire et confirmatoire, contribuant ainsi à de multiples implications managériales, relatives à la légitimité organisationnelle.
TETIANA BOROVYK’S STAGE PERFORMANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINIAN BALLET IN THE LAST QUARTER OF THE 20TH AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Authors: Vyshotravka Liudmyla
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the article is to analyze T. Borovyk’s creative work and define the main stages of her creative path on the stage of Taras Shevchenko National Opera and Ballet Theater of Ukraine (now the National Opera of Ukraine); to identify the characteristic features of the performing style of the ballerina. The research methodology consisted in the use of the following culturological methods of research: general-historical, comparative-historical, analytical, biographical, etc. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the publication of art critical analysis of T.Borovyk’s creative heritage from the standpoint of modern ballet studies. Conclusions. T.Borovyk’s ballet repertoire consisted of more than 20 ballet parties, as well as numerous concert numbers staged by national (V. Kovtun, A. Shekera, H. Maiorov, V. Fedotov) and foreign (D. Balanchin, R. Petit, O. Ratmansky, O. Vinogradov , E. Frey) choreographers. Among the characteristic features of T.Borovyk’s performing style were technical virtuosity (lightness in performing jumps and swiftness of rotations), elegance of lines in poses and arabesques, as well as bright acting expression. The fine manner of the ballerina was distinguished by the penetrating lyricism and deep understanding of dramatic acting.
DECORATIVE AND ARTISTIC FEATURES OF DESIGNING RURAL HOUSING IN NADDNIPRIANSHCHYNA (THE LATE 19TH - EARLY 20TH CENTURY)
Authors: Oborska Svitlana
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the article is to study and analyze the decorative and artistic features of designing rural housing in Naddniprianshchyna in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centurу. The research methodology consisted in the set of basic principles: objectivity, historicism, systemicity, multifactorness, complexity, development and pluralism; to fulfill the research purpose, the following methods of scientific knowledge were used: problem-chronological, concrete-historical, statistical, descriptive, and logical-analytical. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the art critical analysis of decorative and artistic features of designing rural housing in Naddniprianshchyna in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the context of identifying traditional features of Ukrainian art modernism; the study of characteristic features of design, decoration and interior; the consideration of peculiarities of the internal subject environment of the modernist style of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Conclusions. As a result of the art critical analysis of the decorative and artistic features of designing rural housing in Naddniprianshchyna in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, it was discovered that the assimilation by Ukrainian culture - in particular, the domestic modernism – of the semantic principles of Western and Oriental art was the embodiment of a certain qualitative specificity of human relations with the world, which affected the peculiarities of the internal subject environment of the modernist style of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The materializing tradition of the exterior and interior of the Ukrainian dwelling, with its locally-regional constructive and decorative-artistic features, becomes an embodiment of a distinctive artistic and aesthetic reality.
HARMONY IN MODERN CHOREOGRAPHY
Authors: Ponomarenko Yuriy
Published: September 2018

The aim of the research is to determine the system-forming tendencies in the evolution of choreography (dominant of the expressive arts) as a factor in harmonizing the globalization problems of our time. Methodology of the research. In the work on the study methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization were used. Scientific novelty. For the first time choreography is studied in the context of the choreical complex of modern culture as the newest forms of syncretism and the synthesis of arts. The leading spectacular forms of dance thesis as an actual program presentation are analyzed. Conclusions. It is proved that trochaicity, choreography, expressive measurement are those settings that are system-forming in modern culture, where art practices reflect the experience of kinesics so it is interpreted as an internal core of form formation. It is revealed that the experience of studying choreographic culture is associated with the cultural and historical reconstruction of the dance notation systems as a set of written practices of the trochaic reality of culture as a whole. It is analyzed that the system of notation of dance as a code for transferring speakers to graphematics, as well as a peculiar palaeography of dance, gives a lot to understand how the harmony of movement turns into a certain visual space for the presentation of expressive arts.
TRANSLATOR’S CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN CONDITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS INTEGRATION PROCESSES
Authors: Antonivska Maryna
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the article. The research is related to the generalization of scientific information on the emergence and development of the concept of «intercultural communication», as well as its impact on the life of modernized society, reveals the essence and versatility of the concepts of «translation» and «translator» in the structure of the intercultural communicative act and analyzes the relationship and the influence of a translator on the finite result in the process of intercultural communication. Scientific novelty determines the role of a translator in overcoming communicative deviations on the basis of linguistic and cultural differences. As the translator’s task includes not only the search of equivalent correspondences for the transmission of the communicative installation of the sender, but also the provision to the recipient of necessary information for understanding the explanation, that is why the issue of translator’s competence in this context is of paramount importance. Conclusions. It is proved that the competence of a translator is very important and necessary means of intercultural communication and plays an extraordinary role in maintaining direct communication between communicators belonging to completely different linguistic and cultural areas.
LANGUAGE AS A SUBJECT OF HUMANITARIAN COGNITION
Authors: Lysyniuk Maryna
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the article is to analyze the concept of language as a phenomenon of culture. The research methodology consisted in the use of the systemic-structural method, based on ensuring the comprehensiveness and detail of the research into the subject. The scientific novelty of the work lies in summarizing the present concepts of language as a form of existence of culture. Conclusions. It can be concluded that language is the possession of any person; at the same time, language is a component of culture that a person inherits, the main instrument of cognition and assimilation of culture. Comprehension of science, religion and literature is possible only through language. Each language contains the worldview peculiar to a specific nation, i.e., the national-cultural conceptual thesaurus.
MANAGERIAL POTENTIAL OF NETWORK IMAGE TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Poplavskyi Mykhailo
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the article is to characterize image as a special product of culture acquiring a managerial potential, being very clearly presented in the networked society. Methodology of the study. The study is based on systemic and synergetic approach, focused on understanding the management mechanisms of a networked information and communication society. The scientific novelty of this research is determined by the orientation towards the person’s image formed with the usage of the whole spectrum of social and cultural technologies with their own managerial potential, thus making it possible to rapidly accumulate social capital and increase social statuses of the Internet network subject. Conclusions. The reasons for a such unprecedented strengthening of the network image managerial potential technologies are a rapid social capital accumulation and a subject social status enhancement, communication design by means of graphic design, information provision in the form it draws the attention of the audience, as well as the «cultural code of access» to cultural concepts, mental fundamentals of the worldview of the target audience subjects and the ability to program them.
THE VALUE-CULTURAL DIMENSION OF THE POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION IN DONBAS
Authors: Semchynskyi Kostiantyn
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the article is to examine the prospects for the post-conflict reconciliation in the context of the future de-occupation of Donbas and the features of the region's reintegration into the Ukrainian value-cultural information space. The effective post-conflict reconciliation in Ukrainian Donbas requires a number of cultural, educational, rehabilitation-adaptive measures among the population of temporarily occupied territories, which are outlined and described by the author. The research methodology. Applying systematic, analytical, statistical and comparative methods, the author concludes that the success of the post-conflict reconciliation in Ukraine largely depends on the state's ability to guarantee security and high standards of living to its people, create favorable conditions for the development of entrepreneurship and provide employment and social support to all citizens of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the work lies in substantiating the necessity of forming a comprehensive post-conflict reconciliation strategy by building positive peace in the Ukrainian society based on the principles of justice, sovereignty of the Ukrainian state, the rule of law and respect for the freedom of citizens to choose their own destiny. The novelty also consists in revealing the influence of using peacekeeping technologies considering the value-cultural features of the currently occupied Ukrainian territories and the value-cultural aspects of the post-conflict reconciliation in Donbas as a whole. Conclusions. The strategy of post-conflict reconciliation in Ukraine should be based on effective interaction between state institutions, non-state actors, international and national organizations with an aim to prevent such conflicts in the future. The effective post-conflict reconciliation in Donbas includes the spread of Ukrainian value-cultural dominants, the Ukrainianization of information-cultural space and education system, and requires the consideration of the region's value-cultural specificity in the process of implementing an integrated reconciliation strategy.
VIRTUALIZATION OF EDUCATION AS A PHENOMENON OF MODERN CULTURE
Authors: Trach Yuliia
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the article is to find out the features of the process of virtualization of education as a phenomenon of modern culture. The research methodology. The fulfillment of the research purpose involved the use of the phenomenological approach and the method of content analysis of humanitarian texts, which allowed for revealing the key precedents of virtual reality in the field of education in the culturological aspect. The scientific novelty of the work consists in an attempt of general theoretical consideration of virtualization of education as an institution of culture and a translator of socio-cultural experience. Conclusions. Modern information technology plays an essential role in the process of virtualization of the educational space. For each of the subjects of educational interaction, namely the state, civil society, family and man, the status of the virtual educational space is realized at different rates and therefore often has different content. Virtualization is a socio-cultural phenomenon that is shaping and evolving under the influence of technical innovation and the information and technological revolution. As an innovative phenomenon, socio-cultural virtualization systematically transforms the socio-cultural environment. In its essential aspects, virtualization of the society must be combined with the progress of its cultural understanding, spiritual culture, and development of social intelligence.
Estudio de caso sobre las Unidades de Cultura Científica (UCC+i) españolas en la prensa digital
Authors: González-Pedraz Cristina , Pérez-Rodríguez Ana Victoria , Campos-Domínguez Eva , Quintanilla Fisac Miguel Ángel
Published: September 2018

Las oficinas de comunicación de la ciencia (SCO) son departamentos habituales en los centros de investigación. El presente trabajo realiza un estudio de caso sobre unas SCO particulares por su fin social, las Unidades de Cultura Científica y de la Innovación (UCC+ i) españolas, y su impacto en medios digitales. Se aplica una metodología mixta, el análisis de contenido cuantitativo y la observación cualitativa, sobre una muestra de 3619 textos procedentes de 19 periódicos digitales españoles entre enero y septiembre de 2016. El trabajo sugiere que estas unidades están favoreciendo la visibilidad de la ciencia española y que los medios digitales con escasos recursos dependen informativamente de ellas.
International Examination and Synthesis of the Primary and Secondary Surveys in Paramedicine
Authors: Colbeck Marc A , Maria Sonja , Eaton Georgette , Campbell Craig B , Batt Alan M , Caffey Matthew R
Published: September 2018

Background

To guide their care paramedics routinely rely upon two assessment and treatment algorithms, known as the primary survey and the secondary survey.  No clear consensus of the concepts (assessments and interventions) that are, or should be, included in these algorithms exist internationally. 

Methods

This paper evaluated Australasian paramedic clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), as well as six other international paramedic CPGs (USA, Ireland, UK, South Africa, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates) in order to identify which concepts are currently described in best-practice recommendations for paramedics.  The authors also contributed concepts that they felt were important additions based on their experience as veteran paramedics and paramedic educators.

Results

The resulting amalgamation of concepts identified in each term was then formed into two mnemonics which, together sequentially list approximately 100 specific clinical concepts that paramedics routinely consider in their care of patients. We describe these as the “International Paramedic Primary and Secondary Surveys”.

Conclusion

The primary and secondary surveys presented in this paper represent an evidence-based guide to the best practice in conducting a primary and secondary survey in the paramedic context.  Findings will be of use to paramedics, paramedic students, and other clinicians working in remote or isolated practices.
Editorial: Gesellschaftstheorie III: Kontroversen
Authors: Redaktion Prokla
Published: September 2018

Editorial: Gesellschaftstheorie III: Kontroversen
Editorial: Globale Proteste zwischen Organisation und Bewegung
Authors: Redaktion Prokla
Published: September 2018

Editorial: Globale Proteste zwischen Organisation und Bewegung
Zur Geographie der Abstiegsgesellschaft
Authors: Belina Bernd
Published: September 2018

Departing from a discussion of two books that were popular in the German academic left and beyond in 2016, Oliver Nachtwey’s “Die Abstiegsgesellschaft” [“Society of Downward Mobility”] and Didier Eribon’s “Returning to Reims”, both touching on the topic of how changes in class structure are related to the rise of parties of the extreme right in Germany and France respectively, the paper argues that we need to pay more attention to uneven geographic development within and between cities and regions. Following Lefebvre, Harvey and Massey, it insists that it is in everyday life that subjectification and the constitution of classes and other social groups occur, and that the multiple ways in which everyday life is structured and differentiated spatially can play a crucial role in how global political-economic processes are perceived and translated into political positions. It urges radicals who want to understand the ascent of the extreme right to have a closer look at the systematic geography of the society of downward mobility.
Probleme der Klassenanalyse
Authors: Lessenich Stephan
Published: September 2018

In analyzing the signs of the times in advanced democratic capitalism, it is pressing for a Marxist left to take into account the motivational structures of the dominated classes. Marxists tend to attribute the current rise of nationalist and authoritarian thinking and the recurrent dominance of protectionist and exclusionary practices to internal struggles in the ruling classes, leading to a split-off of the most reactionary class fractions who in turn successfully address the populace with a racist and pseudo-social semantic and programmatic. But what if such a programmatic is not only a class strategy “from above” and not external to the “actual” social imaginary of the dominated classes? What if at least major parts of the dominated in the rich capitalist societies of Europe and North America may be said to have an (“objective”) interest in sticking to what is given and to opt against solidarity – because they know or at least suspect that, at the end of the day, they profit from the structures of inequality that over decades have been established in global capitalism? What if we admit that, today, the proletarians have more to lose than only their chains? To be sure, class analysis (and, as it were, class struggle) becomes a much harder business then.
Torbjörn Bildtgård and Peter Öberg (2017). Intimacy and Ageing: New Relationships in Later Life. Bristol, UK: Policy Press, 212 pp. ISBN 978 1 4473 2649 6 (hardback)
Authors: Jandric Dora
Published: September 2018

Not Available.
Learning Micromanipulation, Part 2: Term Projects in Practice
Authors: Bonciani Giovanni , Biancucci Gaetano , Fioravanti Simona , Valiyev Vagif , Binni Antonello
Published: September 2018

This paper describes the activities that have been necessary to design, fabricate, control and test some low-cost test stands independently developed by the students enrolled in the course of Micro-Nano sensors and actuators for the postgraduate course in Industrial Nanotechnologies Engineering of the University of Rome La Sapienza. The construction and use of these test stands are an essential part of teaching and learning methods whose theoretical bases have been presented in the companion paper (Part 1). Each test stand is composed of a compliant structure and a control system, which consists of a programmable control micro-card equipped with sensors and actuators. The compliant structure consists of a compliant mechanism whose geometry is achieved by scaling some previously developed silicon micromanipuators and microactuators up to the macroscale by a factor of 20. This macroscale model offered a kinesthetic tool to improve the understanding of the original microsystems and their working principles. The original silicon micromechanisms have been previously presented in the literature by the research group after design and deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) microfabrication. Scaling from micro to macro size was quite easy because the original DRIE masks were bestowed to the students in the form of CAD files. The samples at the macroscale have been fabricated by means of recently available low-cost 3D printers after some necessary modifications of the mask geometry. The purpose of the whole work (Parts 1 and 2) was the improvement of the efficiency of an educational process in the field of microsystem science. By combining the two companion papers, concerning, respectively, the theoretical basis of the teaching methods and the students’ achievements, it is possible to conclude that, in a given class, there may be some preferred activities that are more efficient than others in terms of advancements and satisfaction.
“Naturalness” and Its Relation to Animal Welfare from an Ethological Perspective
Authors: Gygax Lorenz , Hillmann Edna
Published: September 2018

Here we view naturalness from the point of view of proximate behavioural control. The mechanisms of behaviour control have evolved in order that animals reach a specific goal after they have performed motivated behaviour. This goal was closely related to a function at the time when the mechanism evolved. Function and goal may be de-coupled in a novel environment such as artificial housing conditions. We argue that an animal that can perform the behaviour it wants and can reach the goals it likes can behave according to what is “in-its-nature” even under human influenced conditions. We illustrate this argument using abnormal sucking behaviour in calves and piglets as well as dehorning in cattle and goats. We conclude that a minimal welfare standard is ensured for animals that are given the opportunity to behave as is in-their-nature.
Testing and Improving the WOFOST Model for Sunflower Simulation on Saline Soils of Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Zhu Jiangxu , Zeng Wenzhi , Ma Tao , Lei Guoqing , Zha Yuanyuan , Fang Yuanhao , Wu Jingwei , Huang Jiesheng
Published: September 2018

Monitoring and improving environmental stress in crops is vital for the sustainable development of agriculture and food security. Traditional experimental methods are costly and time-consuming, yet crop growth models focus mainly only on water and nutrient stresses. In this study, a new World Food Studies (WOFOST) model, WOFOST-ES, was developed by the addition of a general environmental stress factor (ES). To calibrate and validate WOFOST-ES, two-year micro-plot experiments and one-year field experiments with sunflower were conducted in the Hetao Irrigation District, China. The results of the micro-plot experiments indicated that the WOFOST model failed to simulate sunflower growth correctly but that the WOFOST-ES model was highly accurate in simulating both yield (R2 = 0.99, root mean square error (RMSE) = 56 kg/ha) and leaf area index (LAI) (R2 = 0.86, RMSE = 0.44). A statistical method for estimating ESs based on the dominant stress factor (salt at our study site) was also proposed as a supplemental tool for WOFOST-ES, and micro-plot and field experiments conducted in 2013 and 2017 both proved acceptable accuracy of the statistical method when using WOFOST-ES. Comparison between ESs and the water and salt stress factors of Feddes-type stress reduction functions indicated that ESs failed to reveal actual environmental stresses during the sunflower seeding stage but did reflect other environmental stresses in addition to water and salt during the bud, flowering, and maturity stages. Although the present WOFOST-ES model proved to be accurate, stable, and practical, future studies should be performed, focusing on the physical separation of ESs, their mechanistic quantification, and their evaluation at small time steps using more observations.
Pallet Picking Strategy in Food Collecting Center
Authors: Facchini Francesco , De Pascale Gianluigi , Faccilongo Nicola
Published: September 2018

This study aims to analyze the optimal warehouse layout for agricultural and food collecting centers that help small–medium farms to trade in the short food supply chain, by choosing among longitudinal, transversal, and fishbone layout. The developed model allows for the identification of the warehouse ensuring the least impact through inbound material handling, under both an economic and an environmental perspective. The analysis was carried out by using an analytical model to minimize the travelling time of the goods from picking to delivery area. The model considers the different turnover index from which four hypotheses were formulated to implement the results. The Carbon Footprint (CF) and Management Costs (MCs) were calculated by the picking time performance. Findings: Results show that the optimal warehouse layout can be identified after a careful consideration of the turnover indexes. However, for seasonality, the optimal design might be missed across the seasons. Practical implications: the analysis hereby presented is related to those collecting centers aiming to gather conspicuous amounts of seasonal food.
Nanomaterials-Based Electrochemical Sensors for In Vitro and In Vivo Analyses of Neurotransmitters
Authors: Durairaj Sharmila , Sidhureddy Boopathi , Cirone Joseph , Chen Aicheng
Published: September 2018

Neurotransmitters are molecules that transfer chemical signals between neurons to convey messages for any action conducted by the nervous system. All neurotransmitters are medically important; the detection and analysis of these molecules play vital roles in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Among analytical strategies, electrochemical techniques have been identified as simple, inexpensive, and less time-consuming processes. Electrochemical analysis is based on the redox behaviors of neurotransmitters, as well as their metabolites. A variety of electrochemical techniques are available for the detection of biomolecules. However, the development of a sensing platform with high sensitivity and selectivity is challenging, and it has been found to be a bottleneck step in the analysis of neurotransmitters. Nanomaterials-based sensor platforms are fascinating for researchers because of their ability to perform the electrochemical analysis of neurotransmitters due to their improved detection efficacy, and they have been widely reported on for their sensitive detection of epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, acetylcholine, nitric oxide, and purines. The advancement of electroanalytical technologies and the innovation of functional nanomaterials have been assisting greatly in in vivo and in vitro analyses of neurotransmitters, especially for point-of-care clinical applications. In this review, firstly, we focus on the most commonly employed electrochemical analysis techniques, in conjunction with their working principles and abilities for the detection of neurotransmitters. Subsequently, we concentrate on the fabrication and development of nanomaterials-based electrochemical sensors and their advantages over other detection techniques. Finally, we address the challenges and the future outlook in the development of electrochemical sensors for the efficient detection of neurotransmitters.
Mechanism Analysis of PCC Harmonic Resonance Based on Nonlinear Self-Oscillation Concept in a High-Power Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Plant
Authors: Zhao Yong , Yang Zilong , Wang Yibo , Zhang Ying
Published: September 2018

With the high penetration of photovoltaic systems, the interaction between grid-tied inverters and line impedances results in harmonic resonance at point of common coupling (PCC) in high-power photovoltaic (PV) plants. Thus far, most publications have reported about this issue from a theoretical perspective, and there is no field verification in a real PV plant. To fill this gap, field waveforms are captured in a high-power PV plant to figure out the mechanism of the harmonic resonance phenomenon. This paper, for the first time, presents a nonlinear self-oscillation concept to clarify the mechanism of the harmonic resonance in a high-power PV plant. The field harmonic measurement of a grid-tied PV plant is carried out. The analysis of harmonic spectra and current distributions in a photovoltaic plant shows that these harmonic characteristics are different from the signals generated by the resonances of PV inverter output filters. The correlation of frequency, phase sequence and amplitude show that the different harmonics at PCC are generated by the same source inside PV inverters. Based on the comparison of PCC harmonics with periodic steady-state outputs of nonlinear systems, the nonlinear self-oscillation concept is proposed to clarify the mechanism of the harmonic resonance in a high-power PV plant. The tests in field and signal analysis verify the effectiveness of the proposed method and solution.
Dynamic Denoising and Gappy Data Reconstruction Based on Dynamic Mode Decomposition and Discrete Cosine Transform
Authors: Fathi Mojtaba F. , Bakhshinejad Ali , Baghaie Ahmadreza , D’Souza Roshan M.
Published: September 2018

Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) is a data-driven method to analyze the dynamics, first applied to fluid dynamics. It extracts modes and their corresponding eigenvalues, where the modes are spatial fields that identify coherent structures in the flow and the eigenvalues describe the temporal growth/decay rates and oscillation frequencies for each mode. The recently introduced compressed sensing DMD (csDMD) reduces computation times and also has the ability to deal with sub-sampled datasets. In this paper, we present a similar technique based on discrete cosine transform to reconstruct the fully-sampled dataset (as opposed to DMD modes as in csDMD) from sub-sampled noisy and gappy data using l 1 minimization. The proposed method was benchmarked against csDMD in terms of denoising and gap-filling using three datasets. The first was the 2-D time-resolved plot of a double gyre oscillator which has about nine oscillatory modes. The second dataset was derived from a Duffing oscillator. This dataset has several modes associated with complex eigenvalues which makes them oscillatory. The third dataset was taken from the 2-D simulation of a wake behind a cylinder at Re = 100 and was used for investigating the effect of changing various parameters on reconstruction error. The Duffing and 2-D wake datasets were tested in presence of noise and rectangular gaps. While the performance for the double-gyre dataset is comparable to csDMD, the proposed method performs substantially better (lower reconstruction error) for the dataset derived from the Duffing equation and also, the 2-D wake dataset according to the defined reconstruction error metrics.
Effect of Ionic Liquids on the Isobaric Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Behavior of Acetone-Chloroform
Authors: Gao Qinglin , Zhao Zongchang , Jia Peng , Zhang Xiaodong
Published: September 2018

Isobaric vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data of the ternary system acetone + chloroform + 1,3-dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate ([MMIM][DMP]) or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate ([EMIM][DEP]) were obtained at 101.3 kPa. Results indicated that the addition of [MMIM][DMP] or [EMIM][DEP] could eliminate the azeotropic point of the binary system of acetone + chloroform when the mole fraction of ionic liquids (ILs) was above 0.15. Besides, the experimental data could be well correlated by the nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model. The structures as well as interactions between molecular solvents (acetone, chloroform) and the ion pairs ([MMIM][DMP], [EMIM][DEP]) were studied by quantum chemical calculations. The result indicated that the interaction energies (ΔE) follow the order of ΔE(acetone + [EMIM][DEP]) > ΔE(acetone + [MMIM][DMP]) > ΔE(chloroform + [EMIM][DEP]) ≈ ΔE(chloroform + [MMIM][DMP]), and chloroform had stronger affinity to ionic liquids than acetone.
Optical Assembling of Micro-Particles at a Glass–Water Interface with Diffraction Patterns Caused by the Limited Aperture of Objective
Authors: Zhong Min-Cheng , Liu Ai-Yin , Zhu Rong
Published: September 2018

Optical tweezers can manipulate micro-particles, which have been widely used in various applications. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that optical tweezers can assemble the micro-particles to form stable structures at the glass–solution interface in this paper. Firstly, the particles are driven by the optical forces originated from the diffraction fringes, which of the trapping beam passing through an objective with limited aperture. The particles form stable ring structures when the trapping beam is a linearly polarized beam. The particle distributions in the transverse plane are affected by the particle size and concentration. Secondly, the particles form an incompact structure as two fan-shaped after the azimuthally polarized beam passing through a linear polarizer. Furthermore, the particles form a compact structure when a radially polarized beam is used for trapping. Thirdly, the particle patterns can be printed steady at the glass surface in the salt solution. At last, the disadvantage of diffraction traps is discussed in application of optical tweezers. The aggregation of particles at the interfaces seriously affects the flowing of particles in microfluidic channels, and a total reflector as the bottom surface of sample cell can avoid the optical tweezers induced particle patterns at the interface. The optical trapping study utilizing the diffraction gives an interesting method for binding and assembling microparticles, which is helpful to understand the principle of optical tweezers.
Microstructures of Three In-Situ Reinforcements and the Effect on the Tensile Strengths of an Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni Alloy
Authors: Tian Lusha , Guo Yongchun , Li Jianping , Xia Feng , Liang Minxian , Duan Hongbo , Wang Ping , Wang Jianli
Published: September 2018

In the present paper, the microstructures of three kinds of in-situ reinforcements Al-Ti-C, Al-Ti-B, and Al-Ti-B-C-Ce were deeply investigated using a combination of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of in-situ reinforcements on the room temperature and elevated temperature (350 °C) tensile strengths of Al-13Si-4Cu-1Mg-2Ni alloy were analyzed. It is found that doping with trace amounts of B and Ce, the size of the Al3Ti phase in the in-situ reinforced alloy changed from 80 µm (un-reinforced) to about 10 µm, with the simultaneous formation of the AlTiCe phase. The Al-Ti-B-C-Ce reinforcement which is rapid solidified, was more effective and superior to enhance the tensile strengths of the Al-13Si-4Cu-1Mg-2Ni alloy, both at room and high temperatures than those of addition other reinforcements. The room temperature (RT) strength increased by 19.0%, and the 350 °C-strength increased by 18.4%.
Ferroelectric Materials: A Novel Pathway for Efficient Solar Water Splitting
Authors: Kim Sangmo , Nguyen Nguyen Thi , Bark Chung Wung
Published: September 2018

Over the past few decades, solar water splitting has evolved into one of the most promising techniques for harvesting hydrogen using solar energy. Despite the high potential of this process for hydrogen production, many research groups have encountered significant challenges in the quest to achieve a high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. Recently, ferroelectric materials have attracted much attention as promising candidate materials for water splitting. These materials are among the best candidates for achieving water oxidation using solar energy. Moreover, their characteristics are changeable by atom substitute doping or the fabrication of a new complex structure. In this review, we describe solar water splitting technology via the solar-to-hydrogen conversion process. We will examine the challenges associated with this technology whereby ferroelectric materials are exploited to achieve a high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency.
A Hybrid State Estimator Based on SCADA and PMU Measurements for Medium Voltage Distribution System
Authors: Kong Xiangyu , Chen Ying , Xu Tao , Wang Chengshan , Yong Chengsi , Li Peng , Yu Li
Published: September 2018

With the increasing importance of renewable energy and flexible loads, the operation of the distribution system is becoming more stochastic and complex, and it is necessary to monitor the power system in real-time. Considering the gradual applications of intelligent electronic devices in the distribution systems, a hybrid state estimator based on supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and phasor measurement unit (PMU) measurements is proposed in this paper, which consists of the improved robust estimation and linear state estimation. At the time of SCADA data acquisition, the improved robust estimation combining the SCADA measurements with PMU measurements is performed. To eliminate the effect of bad data, the internal student residual method is introduced, and the robust thresholds are adjusted adaptively. Then the linear state estimation is performed at the time of PMU data acquisition based on the results of the previous estimation time and the PMU measurements, which can quickly correct the robust estimation results and track the changes of the distribution system. Finally, the effectiveness and performance of the proposed method are verified in a modified IEEE 33-bus distribution system and a real distribution system in China.
Indoor Building Reconstruction from Occluded Point Clouds Using Graph-Cut and Ray-Tracing
Authors: Previtali Mattia , Díaz-Vilariño Lucía , Scaioni Marco
Published: September 2018

Despite the increasing demand of updated and detailed indoor models, indoor reconstruction from point clouds is still in an early stage in comparison with the reconstruction of outdoor scenes. Specific challenges are related to the complex building layouts and the high presence of elements such as pieces of furniture causing clutter and occlusions. This work proposes an automatic method for modelling Manhattan-World indoors acquired with a mobile laser scanner in the presence of highly occluded walls. The core of the methodology is the transformation of indoor reconstruction into a labelling problem of structural cells in a 2D floor plan. Assuming the prevalence of orthogonal intersections between walls, indoor completion is formulated as an energy minimization problem using graph cuts. Doors and windows are detected from occlusions by implementing a ray-tracing algorithm. The methodology is tested in a real case study. Except for one window partially covered by a curtain, all building elements were successfully reconstructed.
A Filter Feature Selection Algorithm Based on Mutual Information for Intrusion Detection
Authors: Zhao Fei , Zhao Jiyong , Niu Xinxin , Luo Shoushan , Xin Yang
Published: September 2018

For a large number of network attacks, feature selection is used to improve intrusion detection efficiency. A new mutual information algorithm of the redundant penalty between features (RPFMI) algorithm with the ability to select optimal features is proposed in this paper. Three factors are considered in this new algorithm: the redundancy between features, the impact between selected features and classes and the relationship between candidate features and classes. An experiment is conducted using the proposed algorithm for intrusion detection on the KDD Cup 99 intrusion dataset and the Kyoto 2006+ dataset. Compared with other algorithms, the proposed algorithm has a much higher accuracy rate (i.e., 99.772%) on the DOS data and can achieve better performance on remote-to-login (R2L) data and user-to-root (U2R) data. For the Kyoto 2006+ dataset, the proposed algorithm possesses the highest accuracy rate (i.e., 97.749%) among the other algorithms. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is a highly effective feature selection method in the intrusion detection.