bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Signifying on Stowe: Ralph Ellison and the Sentimental Rhetoric of Invisible Man
Authors: Diller Christopher G.
Published: November 2014

Although recent scholarship has shown how many twentieth-century African American writers appraised the mixed literary inheritance of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852), Ralph Ellison has been neglected in this regard. This essay excavates Ellison’s critique of Stowe and white sentimentality from unpublished drafts of a book review he wrote of John Beecher’s All Brave Sailors (1945). It then argues that this critique reappears in Invisible Man in the form of a literary pedagogy that simultaneously depends and signifies on some of the central tropes and assumptions of the sentimental novel. Ellison thereby creates a modernist and masculinist sentimental rhetoric that reinforces his novel’s articulation of the ethical and political ideal of e pluribus unum.
Palestinian Trajectories: Novel and Politics Since 1948
Authors: Abu-Manneh Bashir
Published: November 2014

This essay offers a materialist reading of the canonical Palestinian novel from the nakba (catastrophe) of 1948 to the early 1980s by adapting a Lukácsian periodization to the Palestinian context. The essay connects praxis and historical developments with changes in aesthetic form and delineates the links between Palestinian revolution and realism and between collective defeat and modernism. Ghassan Kanafani’s Returning to Haifa (‘A’id ila Haifa, 1969) and Jabra Ibrahim Jabra and Abdelrahman Munif’s untranslated World without Maps (‘Alam Bila Kharai’t, 1982), among other texts, are read as symptomatic of a broad cultural and historical shift. While realism registers the knowability and transformability of the present, modernism captures anxiety and the disintegration of agency. As decolonizing and emancipatory hopes shrink in the Middle East, Palestinian modernism emerges—in Adornian manner—to embody defeat and register utopian desire.
Spectrophotometric determination of the stability constant of vanadium(v)-p-chloro-N-phenyl-p-chlorobenzo- hydroxamic acid complex
Authors: Abualreish Mustafa , Al msiedeen A.M.
Published: November 2014

The stability constant of the complex vanadium(v) p-chloro-N-Phenyl-p-chlorobenzohydroxamic acid was determined spectropho-tometrically. The ligand p-chloro-N-phenyl-p-chloro-benzohydroxamic acid abbreviated in this paper as PCNPPCBHA was synthesized by the coupling of equimolar solutions of p-chlorobenzoyl chloride and freshly prepared p-chloro-ß-phenyl hydroxylamine; in which the later was prepared by the reduction of p-chloronitrobenzene with zinc powder. The pH at maximum extraction of the ligand PCNPPCBHA to the metal vanadium(v) and the ratio of the ligand: metal , were determined. Keywords : Spectrophotometric determination , Vanadium(V) , p - chloro - N - phenyl - p - chloro-benzohydroxamic acid.
FDI sway on economic growth: a case study of China
Authors: Shahzad Farrukh , Zia Ahsan , Zulfiqar Bushra , Fareed Zeeshan
Published: November 2014

This research paper intends to examine the effect of outside Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in China for the period 1987 to 2013. It assessed the GDP development execution and evaluated the historical tend of the FDI and CPI in China. The connection between gross domestic product (GDP,) foreign direct investment and Inflation is measured with the assistance of various relapse models. We used T-statistics and multiple regressions on data. GDP in this model is utilized as dependent variable though FDI and swelling (CPI) are measured as independent variables. As indicated by the results, the model is general reveal that there is positive and significant relationship of GDP with FDI and also positive and significant relationship found between GDP and CPI. On the premise of the experimental results gained, policy maker should play a vital role to invest FDI may be included in the exchange of assets from less beneficial to more gainful divisions of the economy.Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, Consumer Price Index, Gross Domestic Product, China.
Determination of rock elastic parameters using VP/VS relation-ship for escravos area, Niger delta, Nigeria
Authors: Ajayi Tobiloba , Adepelumi Abraham , Agih Christain
Published: November 2014

The elastic properties of sedimentary rocks in the Escravos area, Niger delta, Nigeria, have been computed for six boreholes drilled to a maximum of 22 m. Compressional wave (Vp), Shear wave (Vs) velocities and density (?) values were computed for the lithologies at the six different boreholes. The elastic properties were estimated using the computed Vp, Vs and ? values. Empirical relations between the derived elastic and physical properties of the subsurface lithologies encountered in the boreholes were established. The results show three distinctive layers comprising Sand, Sandy clay and Clayey sand existing in the boreholes. The computed values of the elastic properties show that the formation encountered in the wells are moderately dense and saturated with water. A distinct linear relationship existing between Vp / Vs was observed; while an exponential relationship was derived for ?/Vs. Empirical relationships derived from this study for Vp - Vs is given as Vs = 0.902Vp - 1164, and for Vs - Poisson’s is given as ? = -1E-07Vs2 - 4E-05Vs + 0.502. The values of allowable bearing capacity and the settlement suggest that the study area is able to support engineering construction. Empirical relations established for Vp - Vs and Vs - Poisson’s is characteristics of sedimentary terrain, and can be used within the Escravos area, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Keywords: Allowable Bearing Capacity, Elastic Properties, Empirical Relations, Settlement.
The effect of health education programs for parents about breakfast on students' breakfast and their academic achievement in the north of Jordan
Authors: Kawafheh Mariam M. , Hamdan Falastine R. , Abozeid Shalabia El-Sayed , Nawafleh Hani
Published: November 2014

Background: Breakfast is often said to be the most important meal of the day, there is a significant evidence of positive academic effects due to breakfast consumption. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine whether the health education intervention about breakfast for parents leads to improvement in students' breakfast intake and their academic achievements, it also aims at investigating the effect of students' gender and class on their performance. Methods: The sample of the study was selected by random sampling technique. It consisted of (234) students, (115) male and (119) female students at Fatima Bent Al Yaman school for girls and Khaled Ben Al Walid school for boys in Irbid the first Directorate of Education in the first semester 2013/2014 and was distributed into four sections, which were selected purposefully two female sections and two male sections. Results: findings of the study indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the post- tests between the control and the experimental groups in favor of the experimental group which their parents were exposed to health education intervention about breakfast, and there was no statistically significant difference in the students' achievement due to gender or to the interaction between gender and group. Conclusion: breakfast has a positive effect on students’ academic performance. Keywords: Academic Achievement, Health Education Programs, School Children.
Weibull-Bayesian analysis based on ranked set sampling
Authors: Sadek Amr , Alharbi Fahad
Published: November 2014

Most of estimation methods reported in the literature are based on simple random sampling (SRS), which to certain extent is considerably less effective in estimating the parameters as compared to a new sampling technique, ranked set sampling (RSS) and its modifications. In this Paper we address the problem of Bayesian estimation of the parameters for Weibull distribution, based on ranked set sampling. Two loss functions have been studied: (i) the squared-error loss function as symmetric loss function, (ii) the linex loss function as asymmetric loss function. Different estimates are compared using simulations for illustrative purposes. Keywords: Bayes, Estimation, Loss function, priors, Ranked set sampling.
Semi-parametric mixed effects models for longitudinal data with applications in business and economics
Authors: Sapra Sunil
Published: November 2014

Longitudinal data is becoming increasingly common in business, social sciences, and biological sciences due to the advantages it offers over cross-section data in modeling and incorporating heterogeneity among subjects and in being able to make causal inferences from observational data. Parametric models and methods are widely used for analyzing longitudinal data for continuous, discrete, and count data occurring in these disciplines. Some popular models are Gaussian, Logit, and Poisson fixed and random effects models. These models are unreliable in situations in which the link function is nonlinear and the form of nonlinearity is not known with certainty. This paper employs a semi-parametric extension of fixed and random effects models called generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) to analyze several longitudinal data sets. These semi-parametric models are flexible and robust extensions of generalized linear models. Following Wood [19], the GAMMs are represented using penalized regression splines and estimated by penalized regression methods treating the penalized component of each smooth as a random effect term and the unpenalized component as a fixed effect term. The degree of smoothness for the unknown functions in the linear predictor part of the GAMM is estimated as the variance parameter of the term. Applications of GAMMs studied include analysis of anti-social behavior, decision to use a professional tax preparer, and analysis of patent data on manufacturing firms. For each application, several GAMMs are compared with their parametric counterparts. Keywords: Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMMS), Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMS), Logit Models, Poisson Regression Models, Penalized Regression Splines.
Certain effects of uncertain models
Authors: Knaeble Brian
Published: November 2014

Statistical summaries of multiple regression analyses often state conclusions as if model uncertainty is of little concern. The error due to a mis-specified model, however, can be more significant in practice than the sampling error associated with commonly reported statistics. The true effect of an explanatory variable may be opposite that indicated by a fitted coefficient of a linear model, even if the model is well fit and the coefficient is deemed statistically significant. Here we study the sensitivity of the sign of a fitted coefficient to changes in the model structure. As a consequence of the principle of least squares, we show generally, that a set of covariates with a relatively weak coefficient of determination can not reverse the sign of a relatively strong fitted coefficient of a linear model that has been fit with a regression matrix having orthogonal columns. A consequence of the theory is a necessary condition for Simpson's paradox. Keywords: confounding, least squares, model uncertainty, regression, sensitivity analysis.
Comparative screening of enzyme producing endophytic actinomycetes from fresh and fallen leaves of Emblica officinalis in Western Ghats
Authors: Singh Mrinalini , Sedhuraman Padmavathy
Published: November 2014

Objective: To assess the comparative amylase, lipase and cellulase production abilities of endophytic actinomycetes isolated from both fresh and fallen leaves of Emblica officinalis in Western Ghats. Methods: Endophytic actinomycetes were isolated using Starch casein agar media. The screening of these isolates for extracellular enzymatic production was carried out using carbohydrate degradation test. Results: Among the endophytic actinomycetes isolated from fresh leaves, 75% exhibited amylase activity, 41.66% exhibited lipase activity and 50% exhibited cellulase activity whereas in fallen leaves, 80% exhibited amylase activity, 60% exhibited lipase activity and 60% exhibited cellulase activity. Conclusion: Hence, endophytic actinomycetes isolated from the fallen leaves exhibited remarkable lipase, cellulase and amylase producing capacity which mediates as biocatalysts in bioremediation and biofuel production, as compared to fresh leaves. Keywords: Amylase, Lipase, Cellulase, Endophytic Actinomycetes, Emblica officinalis, Western Ghats.
Progress, challenges and opportunities for HIV prevention and control among high risk groups: a public health perspective
Authors: Gupta Renu , Khurana Sarbjeet , Singh Ravinder
Published: November 2014

Aim of the study: To study various factors linked to the prevention and control of HIV-AIDS in the high risk groups in India. Objective of the study: 1)     To study the socio-cultural and political obstacles in the prevention and control of HIV-AIDS in India. 2)     To study the factors responsible for poor access of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in India. Methodology: The relevant published literature was searched for studying various factors in the prevention and control of HIV-AIDS as well as for the factors responsible for the poor access of ART in India. Observations: There are various socio-cultural issues/obstacles in prevention of HIV-AIDS in high risk group for e.g., gender inequality, power inequalities and male dominance; condom use believed to be in conflict with the cultural importance for procreation; poverty, illiteracy, increase in migrant population and unemployment; poor knowledge and awareness of reproductive and sexual health and sexuality; emergence of new urban sub-culture and physical or mental abuse at a young age. Lack of awareness and access to health care; misconceptions; stigma and discrimination, leading to secrecy of their high risk behavior and hence the further spread of the disease. There are various political obstacles viz; HIV-AIDS control program has a focus on short term goals rather than long term sustainable achievements; minimal involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS in policy formulation and no political initiatives taken for family centered approach; lack of rights approach and control program lacks planning with regard to the structural factors existing in the country. There are various factors responsible for poor access of the population groups for ART viz; social factors like lack of awareness about HIV and availability of ART; long waiting hours at the ART centers etc. Economic factors responsible for poor access of the population groups for ART are the costs of travelling to the clinic; shortage of doctors/paramedics for prescribing medicines, shortage of personnel/ trained counselors, shortage of testing facilities and inadequate laboratory support. Political factors leading to poor access of ART are lack of political initiative for expansion of services, submitting documents such as ration card/voter ID has been made mandatory for treatment, lack of consistency and coordination across services and the control program not reaching to the marginalized groups. Keywords: HIV, AIDS, High Risk Groups, Socio-Cultural Factors, Political Factors, ART, Task Shifting.
The (a, q) data modeling in probabilistic reasoning
Authors: Douglas Richard
Published: November 2014

This article considers a critical and experimental approach on the attributive and qualitative AI data modeling and data retrieval in computational probabilistic reasoning. The mathematical correlation of X?Y in the d=dx/dy differentiations and its point based locations and matrix based predictions in Markov Models, Bayesian fields, and Rete’s algorithms, with the further development of non-linear ‘human-type’ reasoning in AI. The new approach in the ternary system transition (decimal-binary) of Brusentsov-Bergman principle by its bound allocation in the ‘mirror-based’ system in tn-1… tn+1 powers, and hereon considers its further data retrieval for suitable matching and translation of probabilistic data differentiation. The causation/probability matrix of this paper regards not only bound/free variable in x1, x2, x3, xn variables, but discovers and explains its further subsets in anXqn formula, where the supposition of d=X/Y regarded not as a mathematical placement of the variable X, but as its attributive (a) and qualitative (q) allocation in a certain value/relevance cell of the Probability Triangle of the ternary system. From where the automated differentiation retrieves only the most relevant/objective anXqn data cell, not the closest by the pre-set context, making the AI selections more assertive and preference based than linear. Keywords: probability reasoning, artificial intelligence, computational logic, cognitive selection, AI computation.
Range of outputs precise of digits rounding in SPSS and MS Excel
Authors: Al-Hashami Zaher
Published: November 2014

The statistical operations done by many specialist programs, by them can do these operations fluently and precisely. There are many functions in such programs can calculate in SAS, STAT and the analytical program SPSS. There is Microsoft Excel program that is calculate like these functions. The level of some programs may be different than others within these functions they are calculating. From these functions are Sum, Average, Maximum and Minimum. Round function is also from these functions that can measure it's accuracy through this research. In this research i chose ten digits numbers and I also chose three criteria under, equal and more than 5. According to that the rounding operations are done based on if wanted decimal place is less, equal or higher than 5. Rounding applied on ten digits using SPSS and MS Excel programs. The outputs findings are the same except that Microsoft Excel is truncating the last zeroes of the digit after the decimal point. Wherever the decimal place specified in the digit is want it will truncate after the decimal point. The SPSS is more precise than MS Excel based on the decimal place in the digit number wanted statistically and analytically.Keywords: Decimal Place, Digit, Excel, Function, Round.
Securing the Cloud: Threats, Attacks and Mitigation Techniques
Authors: Alani Mohammed M.
Published: November 2014

This paper is aimed to present information about the most current threats and attacks on cloud computing, as well as security measures. The paper discusses threats and attacks that are most effective on cloud computing such as data breach, data loss, service traffic hijacking..etc. The severity and effect of these attacks are discussed along with real-life examples of these attacks. The paper also suggests mitigation techniques that can be used to reduce or eliminate the risk of the threats discussed. In addition, general cloud security recommendations are given.Keywords: cloud, cloud computing, security, threats, attacks, SaaS, PaaS, IaaS.
On the composition of parallel versions of the story “The appearance of the liṅga” (liṅgodbhava) in the Purāṇas
Authors: Wagner-Hohenberger Angela
Published: November 2014

Parallel versions of Purāṇic narratives have been analysed by using text-historical and text-critical methods as well as structural approaches. Less attention has been given to the narrative structures and the ways in which parallel versions are produced. In this regard a narratological approach provides a helpful addition to the other methods. The plot or fabula of the story “The appearance of the liṅga”, which is retold several times in the Purāṇas, can be analysed as consisting of a common, stable set of fabula-elements, which is discernible in each version. Furthermore, the fabula-elements are composed of different text types, namely, doctrinal, prescriptive and liturgical. Differences in the versions can be detected in changes that occur not in all, but usually in only one or two fabula-elements. These differences between the versions are produced by changing events in the narrative as well as including different text types in individual fabula-elements. The combination of different text types is not necessarily an indicator that the narrative is composed of diverse textual layers, at different historical periods or by different authors. Rather, it is a characteristic feature of producing different versions of a narrative for different purposes and in various historical contexts. Furthermore, the combination of text types lends the narrative authority with respect to their doctrinal, normative or ritual content.
Das mehrsortige axiomatische System MS
Authors: Zimmermann Alexander
Published: November 2014

In this article we define in an exact and clear way a many-sorted axiomatical first-order system with identity and we prove its weak consistency and weak completeness. In e.g. Wang (1952) and Oberschelp (1962), the necessary definitions and proofs are often only sketched. In this article we intend to present a complete demonstration of each result. Thus we will set out each proof in a systematic way, stating all necessary definitions and lemmata. The base of our system is the axiomatical system in Mates (1972), pp. 215ff, but we do without propositional constants and propositional variables.
Time and Invariance
Authors: Weinert Friedel
Published: November 2014

The aim of this paper is to infer conclusions about the temporality of the physical world from central features of the measurement of time. In order to do so it makes a distinction between the passage of time and the measurement of the passage of time. Whilst the passage of time can be experienced on the basis of, say, chaotic processes, the measurement of the passage of time requires certain physical regularities. But regularity is not sufficient and it is important to highlight the connection between time, regularity and invariance in the measurement of time, especially with respect to classical physics, the Special theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. It is only after this connection has been clarified that the paper considers the dispute on whether the physical world is static or dynamic. As there are clearly both time-symmetric physical laws and time-asymmetric physical processes, the question is empirically underdetermined because the evidence is at present compatible with two incompatible views about the temporality of the physical world.
Irrtum durch Fehlidentifikation
Authors: Barz Wolfgang
Published: November 2014

I try to show that all judgments are immune to error through misidentification in Shoemaker’s sense. To establish my thesis I distinguish between mispredication and misidentification. I claim that, if a judgement is false, it is only mispredication that accounts for its falsity. Misidentification is irrelevant in this connection.
Gleichzeitige Ungleichzeitigkeit: Emergenz und die Parallelität aggregierter Dynamiken
Authors: Fullsack Manfred
Published: November 2014

The paper endeavors to illuminate the term ” emergence“ in its significance for debates on the ” reducibility“ of phenomena such as ” cooperation“ which commonly are perceived as consequences of aggregated dynamics. The significance of parallel or coevolutionary processes for the ” reductionist question“ will be discussed in regard to an extension of the Demographic Prisoner’s Dilemma-simulation by Joshua M. Epstein.
Taking the History of Mathematics Seriously
Authors: Frey Adrian
Published: November 2014

Kitcher’s philosophy of mathematics rests on the idea that a philosopher who tries to understand mathematical knowledge ought to take its historical development into consideration. In this paper, I take a closer look at Kitcher’s reasons for proposing such a historical turn. I argue that, whereas a historical account is indeed an essential part of the standpoint advanced in The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge, this is no longer the case for the position defended in the manuscript Mathematical Truth? The Wittgensteinian account of mathematics advocated in that manuscript does not force us to take a historical turn.
Kant and Kitcher on Apriority
Authors: Ritter Bernhard
Published: November 2014

In this paper, two questions are pursued. First, is Kitcher’s account of a priori knowledge a sensible reconstruction of the Kantian notion? My general answer is: to a large extent, yes. A central problem of justification in transcendental philosophy actually demands a conception of apriority along Kitcher’s lines. Secondly, can a priori knowledge be embedded within a naturalistic framework? To this, there is no answering “yes” or “no”. However, an examination of particular limitations supports the contention that talk of justificatory procedures and beliefs should not be modelled on talk about causes and effects. The “actualistic” grammar of causality should not be allowed to dictate the shape of an epistemological theory.
Self-Conceptions and Evolution: A Critical Comment on Philip Kitcher’s The Ethical Project
Authors: Wallimann-Helmer Ivo
Published: November 2014

This paper provides a critical comment on Philip Kitcher’s as yet unpublished book The Ethical Project. In the first part it explains why Kitcher’s position is naturalist as well as pragmatist. In the second part it is argued that the role ethics plays in human history is richer than Kitcher conceives it: Building on his view, this paper suggests that ethics not only provides a mechanism to diminish the risk of social conflict and social instability, but it also enables the emergence of self-conceptions. This reveals according to what processes certain particular changes occurred in the evolution of ethics.
Abstracting Propositions: How Many of Them Do We Need?
Authors: Vignolo Massimiliano
Published: November 2014

Anthony Wrigley presents the plenitude objection that, he claims, affects any attempt to introduce propositions via abstraction. I argue that the plenitude objection begs the question against the abstraction of propositions. Then I respond to a semantic objection to the abstraction of propositions. Finally I reply to a third objection that questions the usefulness of the abstraction of propositions.
Deduktive Begrundung Zu einem Explikationsvorschlag von Reinhard Kleinknecht
Authors: Os CorGlaReiSie
Published: November 2014

In his paper ” Deduktive Begr¨undung und deduktive Ableitung“ Reinhard Kleinknecht offers an explication of the concepts of deductive reason and deductive argument respectively. To this end, he provides seven conditions that he sees as individually necessary and jointly sufficient for being a deductive reason. We argue that some of his conditions are far too restrictive and that his concept of deductive argument is therefore to narrow to capture the usual practice of deductively establishing propositions as true. We also show that some features of the proposed concept do not appear to meet Kleinknecht’s own standards. Finally, we ask what purposes Kleinknecht’s explication is supposed to serve and why one might want to introduce such a narrow concept of deductive argument.
Disjunctivism: An Answer to Two Pseudo-Problems?
Authors: Gebharter Alexander , Mirnig Alexander G.
Published: November 2014

Ever since it was discovered that hallucinations and illusions are not all that compatible with our natural view of the relation between the perceiving subject and the perceived object, according to which we always perceive the object itself (or, as most epistemologists prefer to say, we perceive it directly), the philosophical position of Direct (or Na¨ıve) Realism which is meant to be the epistemological equivalent of this view, has begun to falter. To express these problems more explicitly, the argument from hallucination and the argument from illusion were created and brought direct realists in dire need of explaining how phenomena such as hallucinations and illusions could possibly go together with their position. One of the main direct (or na¨ıve) realists’ responses to these arguments is Disjunctivism, a position that, while being able to efficiently deal with both arguments, is subject to quite a few problems in its postulations as well. The intuitive plausibility of both arguments seems to have led many a philosopher to take their validity for granted. Because of this, it will be attempted to give an accurate and adequate reformulation of both arguments in this paper to find out whether their impact on the philosophy of perception is justified in the first place.1
Reflexion und Theorie in der Transzendentalpragmatik
Authors: Crelier Andrés
Published: November 2014

The paper discusses the reflexive grounding of knowledge put forward by the Transcendental Pragmatics. It describes the opposition between theory and reflection as two different attitudes towards knowledge, and stresses the reflexive turn of the Transcendental Pragmatics. With regard to the “ultimate” grounding of knowledge (Letztbegr¨undung), it points out the conceptual difficulties of “pure reflection”, as well as the conceptual quandaries of “pure theory”. Finally, the paper argues that a “reflexive theory” can be a middle path suitable for a grounding of knowledge.
Variation in the realization of /εi/ by Dutch youngsters: from local urban dialects to emerging ethnolects?
Authors: Meel Linda van , Hinskens Frans , Hout Roeland van
Published: November 2014

How do speakers of current Turkish and Moroccan ethnolects of Dutch deal with phonemes that do not exist in their heritage languages and that are at the same time subject to pronounced regional and social variation in the Dutch speech community at large, such as the Dutch diphthong /εi/? This diphthong does not occur in Turkish and Berber and it occurs only as a dialectal allophone in certain dialects of Moroccan Arabic.

Data from speakers from the Amsterdam and Nijmegen urban areas are studied. In the Amsterdam dialect, the diphthong is traditionally subject to monophthongization and lowering, yielding realizations as [a:] or [a:], while in Nijmegen the diphthong is only subject to monophthongization, resulting in the variant [ε:]. Recently, a new lowered, diphthongal variant [ai] entered colloquial spoken standard Dutch. Therefore, ethnolect speakers have a wide range of variants to ‘choose’ from: the traditional standard Dutch variant [εi], the new variant [ai], which is expanding areally and socially, and the monophthongal variants of the surrounding urban dialects.

Two variable properties of /εi/ are examined: (1) height of the prominent first element, and (2) the degree of monophthongization. The urban dialect features which had developed into sociolect features over the past generations appear to be undergoing social redistribution to become ethnolect markers.
An Adaptive Coordinated Control for an Offshore Wind Farm Connected VSC Based Multi-Terminal DC Transmission System
Authors: Kumar M. Ajay , Srikanth N.V.
Published: November 2014

The voltage source converter (VSC) based multiterminal high voltage direct current (MTDC) transmission system is an interesting technical option to integrate offshore wind farms with the onshore grid due to its unique performance characteristics and reduced power loss via extruded DC cables. In order to enhance the reliability and stability of the MTDC system, an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based coordinated control design has been addressed in this paper. A four terminal VSC-MTDC system which consists of an offshore wind farm and oil platform is implemented in MATLAB/ SimPowerSystems software. The proposed model is tested under different fault scenarios along with the converter outage and simulation results show that the novel coordinated control design has great dynamic stabilities and also the VSC-MTDC system can supply AC voltage of good quality to offshore loads during the disturbances.
Historical Aspects of Sunflower Researches in the Republic of Moldova
Authors: Duca Maria
Published: November 2014

The first document that attests the cultivation of sunflower on the territory of the Republic of Moldova dates back to 1845. The first evidence of oil production from sunflower seeds has been identified in 1867. Since then, the area cultivated with sunflower has expanded exponentially. Sunflower has now become the third most produced crop, after corn and wheat. In the Republic of Moldova, sunflower research activities have been focused on genetics, breeding and improvement of crop cultivation technologies, with a special emphasis on resistance to disease and pests including broomrape, which can considerably diminish crop productivity. Significant efforts have been invested to identify solutions for fighting parasites, such as the investigation of morpho-physiological, biochemical and genetic aspects of the host–parasite interaction; the development of chemical and agro-technical methods to fight parasites; the evaluation of genetic resistance in artificial and natural conditions; the development of hybrids resistant to a number of Orobanche varieties; and the monitoring of broomrape impact on the production indices. The current paper examines the scientific information available, providing a comprehensive view on the management, breeding, resistance and economic impact of sunflower broomrape in the Republic of Moldova. The review aims to provide a perspective for future research strategies to further develop our understanding of the parasite–host interaction.
Klimamessungen für die Denkmalpflege im Dom zu Freiberg
Authors: Weichert Lothar
Published: November 2014

Diese Mitteilung gibt einige Ergebnisse von Klimamessungen wieder, die am und im Dom zu Freiberg über einen Zeitraum von fast zwei Jahren vorgenommen wurden. Die Auswirkung zeitlicher und betragsmäßiger Schwankungen von Temperatur und relativer Luftfeuchte im Außenbereich auf den Innenbereich des Domes bzw. an und in den Bauteilen der historischen Tulpenkanzel zeigt sich in einer stark ausgeprägten Dämpfung. Der zeitliche Verzug konnte quantifiziert werden, ebenso die Verminderung der betraglichen Schwankung. Die Frage, ob es an den Bauteilen der Tulpenkanzel zur Kondensation von Wasser aus der umgebenden Atmosphäre kommt, kann aufgrund der Meßergebnisse verneint werden. Der hohe Wassergehalt im Tuffstein des Kanzelfußes dürfte damit eindeutig auf aufsteigende Feuchte zurückzuführen sein. Die in einem Bohrloch des Steines sich einstellende Gleichgewichtsfeuchte im Luftraum und ihre zeitliche Schwankungen dürften in kausalem Zusammenhang stehen mit dem, durch andere Messungen festgestellten, Salzgehalt, besonders MgSO4.
Tyrosine phosphorylation ofLRP6 by Src and Fer inhibits Wnt/β‐catenin signalling
Authors: Chen Qing , Su Yi , Wesslowski Janine , Hagemann Anja I , Ramialison Mirana , Wittbrodt Joachim , Scholpp Steffen , Davidson Gary
Published: November 2014

Low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related proteins 5 and 6 (LRP5/6) function as transmembrane receptors to transduce Wnt signals. A key mechanism for signalling is Wnt‐induced serine/threonine phosphorylation at conservedPPPSPxSmotifs in theLRP6 cytoplasmic domain, which promotes pathway activation. Conserved tyrosine residues are positioned close to allPPPSPxSmotifs, which suggests they have a functional significance. Using a cell culture‐based cDNAexpression screen, we identified the non‐receptor tyrosine kinases Src and Fer as novelLRP6 modifiers. Both Src and Fer associate withLRP6 and phosphorylateLRP6 directly. In contrast to the knownPPPSPxSSer/Thr kinases, tyrosine phosphorylation by Src and Fer negatively regulatesLRP6‐Wnt signalling. Epistatically, they function upstream of β‐catenin to inhibit signalling and in agreement with a negative role in regulatingLRP6,MEFcells lacking these kinases show enhanced Wnt signalling. Wnt3a treatment of cells enhances tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenousLRP6 and, mechanistically, Src reduces cell surfaceLRP6 levels and disrupts LRP6 signalosome formation. Interestingly,CK1γ inhibits Fer‐inducedLRP6 phosphorylation, suggesting a mechanism wherebyCK1γ acts to de‐represses inhibitoryLRP6 tyrosine phosphorylation. We propose thatLRP6 tyrosine phosphorylation by Src and Fer serves a negative regulatory function to prevent over‐activation of Wnt signalling at the level of the Wnt receptor, LRP6.
The GH receptor exon 3 deleted/full-length polymorphism is associated with central adiposity in the general population
Authors: Glad Camilla A M , Carlsson Lena M S , Melander Olle , Almgren Peter , Sjöström Lars , Nilsson Staffan , Larsson Ingrid , Svensson Per-Arne , Johannsson Gudmundur
Published: November 2014

Objective

To test the hypothesis that the GH receptor (GHR) exon 3 deleted (d3)/full-length (fl) polymorphism influences anthropometry and body composition in the general population.

Design and setting

The Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) reference study is a cross-sectional population-based study, randomly selected from a population registry. A subgroup of the population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer study (MDC-CC) was used as a replication cohort.

Methods

The SOS reference study comprises 1135 subjects (46.2% men), with an average age of 49.5 years. The MDC-CC includes 5451 successfully genotyped subjects (41.5% men), with an average age of 57.5 years. GHR d3/fl genotypes were determined using TagSNP rs6873545. Linear regression analyses were used to test for genotype–phenotype associations.

Results

In the SOS reference study, subjects homozygous for the d3-GHR weighed ∼4 kg more (P=0.011), and had larger waist-to-hip ratio (WHR, P=0.036), larger waist circumference (P=0.016), and more fat-free mass estimated from total body potassium (P=0.026) than grouped fl/d3 and fl/fl subjects (d3-recessive genetic model). The association with WHR was replicated in the MDC-CC (P=0.002), but not those with other anthropometric traits.

Conclusions

In this population-based study, the GHR d3/fl polymorphism was found to be of functional relevance and associated with central adiposity, such that subjects homozygous for the d3-GHR showed an increased abdominal obesity.
Beschreibung und zeichnerische Aufnahme des Minaretts von Érd aus dem Jahre 1857
Authors: Prohászka Péter
Published: November 2014

This paper deals with the description and drawing prepared in 1857 on the minaret of Érd. The k. k. Central-Commission zur Erforschung und Erhaltung der Baudenkmale was established on the territory of the Habsburg Monarchy in 1850. The conservers, the correspondents and the engineers of the k. k. Baubehörde surveyed and pictured several architectural and archaeological monuments and reported on them to Vienna. In this study a drawing and descriptions of the minaret standing at the border of Érd are published. The survey was made for the order of Florian Menapace, Landesbaudirektor, who sent the drawing and the attached remarks to Vienna. Only the drawing can be found nowadays in the Archiv of the Central-Commission, today the Planarchiv of the Bundesdenkmalamt. The drawing was made by Wenzl Kansky. Fortunately, the description prepared by the engineer Alajos Zalay and the Menapace report based on it remained in Hungarian State Archiv in Budapest. They are important sources on the minaret built in the 17th century and the autor gives an evaluation on it in the study.
Electric Charging and Colloid Stability of Fabricated Nedle-Like \(\mbox{TiO}_{2}\) Nanoparticles
Authors: Ueno Kento , Kobayashi Motoyoshi , Adachi Yasuhisa , Kojima Takashi
Published: November 2014

Charging and stability of needle-like TiO\(_{2}\) nanoparticles were studied. Measured isoelectric point (IEP) was pH~4 and lower than that of spherical ones pH~6. Heat treatment at 400\(\text{\r{}}\)C changed the IEP from 4 to 6. The shift is probably due to shape controller (ethylenediamine). The particles aggregate around IEP and thus are charge-stabilized. Experimental hydrodynamic diameters of needle-like particles showed a reasonably good agreement with the theoretical diameter. That is, the particles can be dispersed to primary particles. 1pK Stern and standard electrokinetic models describe electrophoretic mobility of needle-like TiO\(_{2}\), indicating that double layer relaxation is significant for needle-like TiO\(_{2}\).
Photoluminescence Quenching of Nanocomposite Materials Used for Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Thao Tran Thi , Chung Do Ngoc , Dinh Nguyen Nang , Truong Vo Van
Published: November 2014

In this work, we have studied the photoluminescence (PL) quenching of two polymeric composites, poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in presence of nc-TiO\(_{2}\) particles by PL- spectroscopy. PL quenching values are 19.2\(\text{\%}\) and 45.5\(\text{\%}\), for MEH-PPV+nc-TiO\(_{2}\) and P3HT+nc-TiO$_{2}$, respectively. The obtained results on the relationship of PL quenching and photoelectrical efficiency (PCE) of an OSC showed that the quenching coefficient of a semiconducting polymer can be considered as apreliminarycriterion for choosing an appropriate polymeric composite being used for OSC preparation. Under illumination of solar energyof 56 mW/cm\(^{2}\), P3HT+TiO\(_{2}\) based OSC possess FF, V$_{OC}$, J$_{SC}$ and PCE of 0.64, 0.243 V, 1.43 mA/cm\(^{2}\) and 0.45\(\text{\%}\), respectively.
The Temperature-sensitivity of a Critical Electric Field Induced Magnetic Easy-axis Reorientation Ferromagnetic/ferroelectric Layered Heterostructures
Authors: Hong Nguyen Thi Minh , Thang Pham Duc , Long Dang Dinh , Ha Pham Thai , Trung Nguyen Ngoc , Cong Pham Hong , Duc Nguyen Dinh
Published: November 2014

We have investigated the effects of temperature on the magnetic easy axis reorientation (EARs) in polycrystalline ferromagnetic (FM) nano-scale thin films, i.e. (001)-oriented cubic films such as Fe, Ni, CFO and (0001)-oriented hexagonal films such as Co, grown on ferroelectric (FE) substrates, for example PZT, BTO substrates. The model of FM/FE bilayered heterostructures has been applied to study the total free energy of the FM films. By minimizing this energy, we have shown that temperature has a significant effect on a critical electric field induced magnetic reorientation.
A Simple Process to Fabricate Micro Flux Sources with High Magnetic Field Gradient
Authors: Cuong Le Viet , Thang Pham Duc , Hien Nguyen The
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we present a fabrication process to produce the micro-sized magnetic structures based on the hard magnetic powders. Under the magnetic field originated from a micro patterned hard magnetic film, these magnetic powders are magnetically aligned to form arrays of the micro magnets on a polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The high magnetic field gradient and stable magnetic flux can be obtained at certain micro-sized area on the surface of the micro magnets. The fabricated structures have been used for trapping iron oxide particles. Generally this fabrication process is simple, low cost and the micro magnets can be used for further applications in biology, medicine and beyond.
Structure and Magnetic Properties of PZT/CoCr Heterostructures
Authors: Hong Nguyen Thi Minh , Thang Pham Duc , Ha Pham Thai
Published: November 2014

The microstructure, crystallographic structure and magnetic properties of ferroelectric-ferromagnetic PZT/CoCr heterostructures have been investigated by using XRD, SEM and VSM.~Upon applying an electric field, the in-plane magnetization of the heterostructures decreases at various bias magnetic fields. The change in magnetization and the magnetization reversed voltage were obtained. The results demonstrate that the change in magnetic anisotropy can be controlled by electric field via strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling.
Immobilizing Alcalase® Enzyme onto Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Huu Cao Xuan , Linh Nguyen Bao , Yen Nguyen Thi Hoang , Long Dang Duc
Published: November 2014

In recent years, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been applied to numerous biological systems. The nanoparticles are particularly useful in separating biological molecules due to its low price, scalable ability and very little interference. Here, MNPs, which can efficiently separate biocatalysts from reaction media by external magnet, was used to immobilize an alkaline protease (Alcalase®). Covalent attachment of the enzyme to MNPs began with the functionalization of the MNPs' surface with amines (APTES). Then, glutaraldehyde was introduced to link the MNP surface amines with enzyme surface amine residues, typically lysine. Successful covalent bonds were checked by FT-IR. Our results showed the attached enzyme did not affect superparamagnetic property of MNPs, therefore the MNPs-attached enzyme was easily recovered after the reaction. The immobilized enzyme maintained its activities after 10 times of recycle uses.
Preventing Poverty: A Call for Collaboration
Authors: Mason Susan E.
Published: November 2014

Dear readers, this is my last essay as editor of Families in Society. I would like to thank all those readers, authors, reviewers, and staff who have worked together on the journal in the last three and a half years during my term. As social work's most enduring professional journal, your contributions advance translational research on issues related to the capabilities of individuals, families, and communities, including the myriad factors that affect functioning and well-being. This research capacity is part of our overall commitment to inform and inspire collaboration between participants, service providers, and other community stakeholders that will drive positive change. I am counting on your continued support for the journal and for the ideas and values it promotes.
Naturally occurring C-terminal splice variants of nuclear receptors
Authors: van der Vaart Michiel , Schaaf Marcel J.M.
Published: November 2014

Alternative mRNA splicing in the region encoding the C-terminus of nuclear receptors results in receptor variants lacking the entire ligand-binding domain (LBD), or a part of it, and instead contain a sequence of splice variant-specific C-terminal amino acids. A total of thirteen such splice variants have been shown to occur in vertebrates, and at least nine occur in humans. None of these receptor variants appear to be able to bind endogenous ligands and to induce transcription on promoters containing the response element for the respective canonical receptor variant. Interestingly, ten of these C-terminal splice variants have been shown to display dominant-negative activity on the transactivational properties of their canonical equivalent. Research on most of these splice variants has been limited, and the dominant-negative effect of these receptor variants has only been demonstrated in reporter assays in vitro, using transiently transfected receptors and reporter constructs. Therefore, the in vivo function and relevance of most C-terminal splice variants remains unclear. By reviewing the literature on the human glucocorticoid receptor β-isoform (hGRβ), we show that the dominant-negative effect of hGRβ is well established using more physiologically relevant readouts. The hGR β-isoform may alter gene transcription independent from the canonical receptor and increased hGRβ levels correlate with glucocorticoid resistance and the occurrence of several immune-related diseases. Thus, available data suggests that C-terminal splice variants of nuclear receptors act as dominant-negative inhibitors of receptor-mediated signaling in vivo, and that aberrant expression of these isoforms may be involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases.