bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the importance of food tourism to Chongqing, China
Authors: Chen Qian , Huang Rong
Published: June 2015

Food is widely accepted as of great importance in tourists’ experiences by researchers. However, few studies allow tourists themselves to indicate the importance of food for their travel. In the meanwhile, the argument regarding the overestimation of the importance of food tourism to attract tourists is on the increase. Through a case study in Chongqing (China), this study aims to critically assess the importance of food tourism from domestic tourists’ perspectives. In particular, it fills the gap by providing a thorough exploration of tourists’ food experiences at different stages of their travel. A quantitative research methodology involving a structured questionnaire has been adopted. The results reveal that food plays different roles in different travel stages. The importance of food tourism in the pre-travel stage to Chongqing is not as important as the existing literature sources suggest. However, food has shown its importance during tourists’ travel in Chongqing as well as increased importance in their post-travel stage. In light of these findings, marketing strategies can be identified to accelerate the development of food tourism at a destination.
Numerical simulation of unsteady-state particle dispersion in ferroalloy workshop
Authors: Ma Weiwu , Liu Wenxin , Li Liqing , Huang Guijie , Su Bo , Yu Chuck
Published: June 2015

Fluent software was used to simulate the unsteady-state two-phase flow of particle dispersion during tapping in a workshop with a ferroalloy furnace. The gas phase was studied using the Euler coordinate system, and the motion of every solid particle was described using the Lagrange system with a discrete phase model. The concentration distribution and residence time of the particles was obtained by simulation under different conditions. The results showed that particles spread to every corner of the workshop with no wind. Ventilation can significantly reduce the particle content of the workshop. When tapping lasts for at least 720 s, the particle content of the workshop with no wind was 3.8 times more than that under north wind conditions (with a speed of 0.2 m/s). The north wind condition can be more effective to remove the particles than the south wind. The maximum residence time of a particle was only 780 s when the speed of the north wind was more than 2 m/s. A greater wind velocity would provide a better dispersion of particles and not conducive to particle deposition. Further investigation into the effects of particle size and density on particle flow patterns and dedusting would be necessary to reduce occupational exposure to fine particles in the foundry workshop.
Developing optically efficient nanofiber coatings inspired by Cyphochilus white beetle
Authors: Zeighami Fateme , Tehran Mohammad Amani
Published: June 2015

Achieving whiteness and opaqueness has been an issue in paint, ceramic, paper, and coating industries from the very beginning. In the past two decades, biomimetics, for the construction of bio-inspired functional materials, has attracted much attention. As an application of biomimetic science, various structural colored materials are investigated by many researchers. The white beetle exoskeletal scales is one of those materials that shows a brilliant white color caused by randomly arranged chitin nanofibers. This material is the inspiration for achieving light weight, efficient, and low-cost white coatings by means of a nanostructure. We used this idea in this research to apply nanofibrous polymeric layer on a substrate, paper sheet in here, and witnessed the possible achievements by varying the nanofiber layer characteristics that underpin its optical properties. We coated nylon and PAN nanofiber layers on the surface of a paper using an electrospinning method and for both polymers desirably high whiteness and opaqueness achieved. Moreover, it was observed that end-use application in printing and writing is easily attained on the nanofiber-coated paper using the common methods. Measuring the properties of the nylon nanofiber-coated paper showed that the tensile strength and hydrophilicity slightly increased depending on the nanofiber layer characteristics.
Why Can’t We All Get Along? A Study of Hygge and Janteloven in a Danish Social-Casual Games Community
Authors: Beltagui Ahmad , Schmidt Thomas
Published: June 2015

This article examines social interactions in a Danish online social-casual games community using the Danish social constructs of Hygge and Janteloven. Hygge relates to notions of home, family, safety, and security in small, sheltered surroundings, while Janteloven is a subversive attempt to codify the unwritten rules that enforce equality (or mediocrity) in Scandinavian societies. Off-line, Hygge exists in physical environments where a safe, social atmosphere can be created, similar to sociability in physical third places. In the online setting, we identify the social construction of shared interpersonal spaces where Hygge is achieved and regulated through perceived fairness with respect to constitutive and regulative rules. A sense of belonging moderates players’ behaviors toward others and even their achievements in the game to maintain harmony. The article offers a unique examination of social constructs online, contributing to the knowledge of Danish culture and of how local cultures shape online behaviors.
Analysis of flow boiling heat transfer in narrow annular gaps applying the design of experiments method
Authors: Boye Gunar , Schmidt Jürgen , Beyrau Frank
Published: June 2015

The axial heat transfer coefficient during flow boiling of n-hexane was measured using infrared thermography to determine the axial wall temperature in three geometrically similar annular gaps with different widths ( s = 1.5 mm, s = 1 mm, s = 0.5 mm). During the design and evaluation process, the methods of statistical experimental design were applied. The following factors/parameters were varied: the heat flux [Formula: see text], the mass flux [Formula: see text], the vapor quality [Formula: see text], and the subcooled inlet temperature [Formula: see text]. The test sections with gap widths of s = 1.5 mm and s = 1 mm had very similar heat transfer characteristics. The heat transfer coefficient increases significantly in the range of subcooled boiling, and after reaching a maximum at the transition to the saturated flow boiling, it drops almost monotonically with increasing vapor quality. With a gap width of 0.5 mm, however, the heat transfer coefficient in the range of saturated flow boiling first has a downward trend and then increases at higher vapor qualities. For each test section, two correlations between the heat transfer coefficient and the operating parameters have been created. The comparison also shows a clear trend of an increasing heat transfer coefficient with increasing heat flux for test sections s = 1.5 mm and s = 1.0 mm, but with increasing vapor quality, this trend is reversed for test section 0.5 mm.
Toroidal drive with half stator
Authors: Xu Lizhong , Fu Linping
Published: June 2015

The toroidal drive can transmit large torque. However, it is a hard work to produce small toroidal stator which limits the miniaturization of the toroidal drive. Here, a novel toroidal drive with half stator is proposed for which the small stator can be produced easily. For the novel toroidal drive, three-dimensional design and the motion simulation are done; the forces and the contact stress in drive system are investigated; and the output torque is compared with one of the normal toroidal drives. Results show that the output torque of the toroidal drive with half stator is almost the same as the output torque of the normal toroidal drive, and the half stator toroidal drive is a good design for realizing the miniaturization of the toroidal drive.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of migration after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Authors: Spanos Konstantinos , Karathanos Christos , Saleptsis Vasileios , Giannoukas Athanasios D
Published: June 2015

Aim

To identify patients who are under higher threat for migration because of an old generation stent graft application.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was undertaken to identify all studies which included older generation endografts and data reporting on graft migration after EVAR. Outcome data were pooled and combined, and were calculated using fixed or random effects models.

Results

From 2000 to 2014, 22 retrospective studies were identified reporting on stent- graft migration after EVAR (8.6%). From those patients, 39% received re-intervention with the mean time of identification ranging from 12 to 36 months. Six of these retrospective nonrandomized studies were eligible for meta-analysis. AAA diameter (AAA diameter: 0.719 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.00065–1.4384 mm; p = 0.00497) and neck length (neck length: 4.36 mm; 95% CI: 1.3277–7.394; p = 0.0048) were the only significant factors associated with stent- graft migration. Neck diameter and neck angulation did not have any important influence on stent-graft migration.

Conclusions

Patients with large AAA and short necks who were treated with older generation stent grafts such as AneurX and Talent are in higher risk for endograft migration than others. Stent- graft migration consists of an insidious and underestimated threat.
Optimal planning for open source software updates
Authors: Luo Chao , Okamura Hiroyuki , Dohi Tadashi
Published: June 2015

Open source software is widely deployed for both academic and commercial purposes. However, failures and attacks against open source software are often reported. In contrast to traditional software, failures of open source software are reported by users and fixed by developers. Because of the overheads and cost of updates, users do not update their software as soon as the latest patch is released. We are attracted by the optimal maintenance problem for open source software from the users’ perspective. In this paper, we propose periodic and aperiodic maintenance management models with non-homogeneous bug-discovery/correction processes in terms of total expense. Also, according to a dynamic-programming algorithm, we numerically derive the optimal maintenance schedule under the aperiodic policy. In numerical examples, we investigate the efficiency of the proposed policies by mathematical experiments. And, based on bug reports of Hadoop MapReduce, we predictively illustrate the optimal maintenance scheduling for a real open source software product.
Modelling and simulation of the operation and maintenance of offshore wind turbines
Authors: Santos Fernando , Teixeira Ângelo P , Soares C Guedes
Published: June 2015

The offshore environment limits the accessibility to the wind turbines and subjects them to faster degradation processes than in onshore. Thus, operation and maintenance is more challenging and costly and represents a considerable share of the cost of energy. It is therefore important to identify which factors most influence the turbines’ performance, namely, the availability, overall cost and revenues, so that actions can be taken to minimize their effect. This article addresses such issues by presenting a parametric study on how the variation of failure and repair models, vessels logistic times, weather windows and waiting times affect a wind turbine performance. Offshore failure models/data were not usually available on the public domain, being obtained herein from onshore ones using an empirical approach based on stress factors for mechanical systems. The baseline model results from the optimization of an operation and maintenance strategy based on corrective maintenance replacements and imperfect age-based preventive maintenance repairs. Generalized stochastic Petri nets with predicates coupled with Monte Carlo simulation are used for modelling and simulation. Results are discussed.
Treatment of fracture subluxations of the proximal interphalangeal joint using a ligamentotaxis device: a multidisciplinary approach
Authors: MacFarlane R. J. , Gillespie S. , Cashin F. , Mahmood A. , Cheung G. , Brown D. J.
Published: June 2015

Complex fracture subluxations of the proximal interphalangeal joint are often difficult to treat and their outcome variable. A number of methods for treatment of these injuries have been described. We have used a ligamentotaxis device ( Ligamentotaxor, Arex, Palaiseau Cedex, France) since 2008. We performed 28 operations in 28 patients with complex proximal interphalangeal joint injuries over a 3-year period. Patients followed a standardized postoperative rehabilitation regime, including fixator adjustment as necessary. The mean age was 33 years (range 18–67). The mean time to surgery was 7 days. At final follow-up (mean 22 months, range 6–52) the mean proximal interphalangeal joint range of motion was 85° (range 60°–110°). The mean QuickDASH functional outcome score was 4.8 (range 0–36.4). Our results compare favourably with other devices reported in the literature.
Illustration of Cost Saving Implications of Lower Extremity Nerve Decompression to Prevent Recurrence of Diabetic Foot Ulceration
Authors: Rankin Timothy M. , Miller John D. , Gruessner Angelika C. , Nickerson D. Scott
Published: June 2015

The US diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) incidence is 3-4% of 22.3 million diagnosed diabetes cases plus 6.3 million undiagnosed, 858 000 cases total. Risk of recurrence after healing is 30% annually. Lower extremity multiple nerve decompression (ND) surgery reduces neuropathic DFU (nDFU) recurrence risk by >80%. Cost effectiveness of hypothetical ND implementation to minimize nDFU recurrence is compared to the current $6.171 billion annual nDFU expense. A literature review identified best estimates of annual incidence, recurrence risk, medical management expense, and noneconomic costs for DFU. Illustrative cost/benefit calculations were performed assuming widespread application of bilateral ND after wound healing to the nDFU problem, using Center for Medicare Services mean expense data of $1143/case for unilateral lower extremity ND. Calculations use conservative, evidence-based cost figures, which are contemporary (2012) or adjusted for inflation. Widespread adoption of ND after nDFU healing could reduce annual DFU occurrences by at least 21% in the third year and 24% by year 5, representing calculated cost savings of $1.296 billion (year 3) to $1.481 billion (year 5). This scenario proffers significant expense reduction and societal benefit, and represents a minimum 1.9× return on the investment cost for surgical treatment. Further large cost savings would require reductions in initial DFU incidence, which ND might achieve by selective application to advanced diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN). By minimizing the contribution of recurrences to yearly nDFU incidence, ND has potential to reduce by nearly $1 billion the annual cost of DFU treatment in the United States.
Would an Energy Conservation Nudge in Hotels Encourage Hotel Guests to Conserve?
Authors: Chang Howook “Sean” , Huh Chang , Lee Myong Jae
Published: June 2015

Utility companies achieved an average reduction of 2.5 percent in home energy use through an energy conservation nudge that provides feedback on energy consumption as compared with neighbors. This study investigated whether hotels can replicate this effect with their guests. A 2 (valence of electricity consumption) × 2 (comparison subject) experimental design with a control group was used with 1,000 respondents reporting their behavioral intentions in response to the energy conservation nudge in a scenario-based experiment. The results of a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that behavioral intentions toward electricity conservation were pronounced when the nudge was provided (regardless of the valence of electricity consumption and the comparison subject). The results of an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with an energy conscious level as a covariate confirmed the effectiveness of the nudge on electricity conservation. The results indicate that hotels can achieve guest-driven electricity efficiency when an appropriately designed nudge is supplied to guests. The implications of the study are also discussed.
The Impact of the CAP on Agriculture and Rural Areas of EU Member States
Authors: Papadopoulos Apostolos G.
Published: June 2015

The article presents the main aspects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) while also exploring the contextual parameters and impact on agriculture and rural areas of the European Union (EU) member states. CAP is one of the most important policies of the EU, having for decades occupied the major share of the region’s budget and had profound effects on farm structures, agricultural employment and rural areas, as well as wider economic, social, political, environmental and cultural implications, for old and new member states. The article is organized in five sections. The introductory section offers a brief account of the basic dimensions of the newly reformed CAP, which suggest how the CAP is destined to evolve in the near future. The next section is dedicated to the analysis of farm structures, agricultural and regional employment, agricultural incomes and regional development. The third section deals with the evolution of the CAP objectives, as well as the drivers connected to the recent CAP reforms. Next, there is a comprehensive presentation of the CAP impact on agriculture and rural areas of the member states. Finally, a number of conclusions are drawn regarding the path dependency of the CAP and its continued inefficiency on lowering social and spatial inequalities in rural areas.
Sharing the Cost of a Path
Authors: Darmann Andreas , Klamler Christian , Pferschy Ulrich
Published: June 2015

In recent years, many authors have analyzed fair division aspects in problems containing network structures. Frequently, the connection of all vertices of the network, that is, a minimum cost spanning tree, and the sharing of its cost was considered. In this article, we study the fair division of costs of connecting two designated vertices by a path. Specifically, we will introduce two cost-sharing rules that provide a division of the costs of forming a shortest path. One of the cost-sharing rules will include aspects from non-cooperative extensive form games in the sense that selfish and individually rational behaviour without agreement between the agents in a sequential structure is taken into account for the determination of the cooperative solution. The other cost-sharing rule is based on an alternating structure along the shortest path. Axiomatic characterizations of the two cost-sharing rules are provided.
Motivational Interviewing among HIV Health Care Providers
Authors: Bofill Lina , Weiss Stephen M. , Lucas Mar , Bordato Alejandra , Dorigo Analia , Fernandez-Cabanillas Graciela , Aristegui Ines , Lopez Maria , Waldrop-Valverde Drenna , Jones Deborah
Published: June 2015

In Argentina, providers’ response to motivational interviewing (MI) to improve engagement and retention in care among challenging patients with HIV was evaluated. Twelve HIV care physicians participated, and their video recordings pre- and post-MI training were also obtained. One week post-training, 11 of the 12 participants were committed to using MI strategies during consult session. Of the 12 participants, 9 demonstrated appropriate utilization of MI techniques and change in HIV education provided during consultation ( Z = −2.375, P = .018). Motivational interviewing appears to be a viable strategy to enhance engagement and retention in challenging HIV-positive patients.
Art, fisheries and ethnobiology
Authors: Begossi Alpina , Caires Rodrigo
Published: June 2015

Background

Nature is perceived in a variety of forms, and the perception of nature can also be expressed in different ways. Local art may represent the perception of nature by humans. It can embody perception, imagination and wisdom. Local art, in particular, reflects how people interact with nature. For example, when studying the representation of fish by different cultures, it is possible to access information on the fish species found in the environment, on its relative importance, and on historical events, among others. In this context, art can be used to obtain information on historical events, species abundance, ecology, and behaviour, for example. It can also serve to compare baselines by examining temporal and spatial scales. This study aims to analyse art and nature from a human ecological perspective: art can understood as an indicator of fish abundance or salience.

Art has a variety of dimensions and perspectives. Art can also be associated with conservation ecology, being useful to reinterpret ecological baselines. A variety of paintings on fish, as well as paintings from local art, are explored in this study. They are analyzed as representing important fish, spatially and historically.

Methods

A survey regarding the fish found in different paintings was conducted using art books and museum books. Pictures were taken by visiting museums, particularly for local or traditional art (Australia and Cape Town).

Results

The fish illustrated here seem to be commonly important in terms of salience. For example,Coryphaenaspp. is abundant in Greece, Nile tilapia in Egypt,Gadus morhuain the Netherlands, as well as barracuda in Australia; salience is also applied to useful, noticeable or beautiful organisms, such asCarassius auratus(China). Another aspect of salience, the diversity of a group, is also represented by the panel whereUraspis uraspisappears to be depicted.

Conclusions

Regarding the evaluation of baselines, we should consider that art may represent abundant fish in certain historic periods and geographic regions. Art could be an important temporal and geographical indicator to discover preterit information on the abundance of fish and compare it to present abundance.
Matching Behavior as a Tradeoff Between Reward Maximization and Demands on Neural Computation
Authors: Kubanek Jan , Snyder Lawrence H.
Published: June 2015

When faced with a choice, humans and animals commonly distribute their behavior in proportion to the frequency of payoff of each option. Such behavior is referred to as matching and has been captured by the matching law. However, matching is not a general law of economic choice. Matching in its strict sense seems to be specifically observed in tasks whose properties make matching an optimal or a near-optimal strategy. We engaged monkeys in a foraging task in which matching was not the optimal strategy. Over-matching the proportions of the mean offered reward magnitudes that would yield more reward than matching, yet, surprisingly, the animals almost exactly matched them. To gain insight into this phenomenon, we modeled the animals' decision-making using a mechanistic model. The model accounted for the animals' macroscopic and microscopic choice behavior. When the models' three parameters were not constrained to mimic the monkeys' behavior, the model over-matched the reward proportions and in doing so, harvested substantially more reward than the monkeys. This optimized model revealed a marked bottleneck in the monkeys' choice function that compares the value of the two options. The model featured a very steep value comparison function relative to that of the monkeys. The steepness of the value comparison function had a profound effect on the earned reward and on the level of matching. We implemented this value comparison function through responses of simulated biological neurons. We found that due to the presence of neural noise, steepening the value comparison requires an exponential increase in the number of value-coding neurons. Matching may be a compromise between harvesting satisfactory reward and the high demands placed by neural noise on optimal neural computation.
Getting information from the cloud storage in the investigation of incidents in the field of information security
Authors: Нестеров Антон , Nesterov Anton , Баркалов Юрий , Barkalov Yuriy
Published: June 2015

Relevance of the work is due to the increase of crimes committed with the use of cloud technologies and lack of scientific support and research methods of obtaining information located in the cloud storage.

Currently, there is a significant increase in incidents committed using cloud technologies. Therefore, to obtain forensically important information from the cloud storage is an urgent task. The process of obtaining such information is a complex technical actions that require a lot of experience and time. The data obtained in this work, experts will optimize actions to improve the efficiency analysis of incidents in the area of ​​information security related to the use of cloud technologies, both through optimization of labor and time costs, and due to the quality of research results.
Conflict of Different Visions: Macedonian Emigration in Bulgaria in the Period Between the Two World Wars
Authors: Goševa Vera
Published: June 2015

After the World War I numerous Macedonian émigrés who found themselves in Bulgaria set up various organizations bringing them together. Although the activities of most of such organisations were controlled by the VMRO, there were some periods when it was possible for an independent pro‑sovereignty movement to exist under the umbrella of Macedonian émigré associations. The forceful takeover of the Ilinden Organization – one of the most vocal champions of Macedonian interests on emigration – executed by way of the physical liquidation of its members by VMRO activists, was symptomatic of the way in which every attempt was stifled of expressing pro‑independence sentiments leading to Macedonia’s political independence.
A Game-Theoretic Approach for Regulating Hazmat Transportation
Authors: Bianco Lucio , Caramia Massimiliano , Giordani Stefano , Piccialli Veronica
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we study a novel toll setting policy to regulate hazardous material (hazmat) transportation, where the regulator (e.g., a government authority) aims at minimizing not only the network total risk but also at spreading the risk in an equitable way over a given road network. The idea is to use a toll setting policy to discourage carriers transporting hazmat from overloading portions of the network with the consequent increase of the risk exposure of the population involved. Specifically, we assume that the toll paid by a carrier on a network link depends on the usage of that link by all carriers. Therefore the route choices of each carrier depend on the other carrier’s choices, and the tolls deter the carriers from using links with a high total risk. The resulting model is a mathematical programming with equilibrium constraints (MPEC) problem, where the inner problem is a Nash equilibrium problem (game) having as players the carriers, each one wishing to minimize his or her travel cost (including tolls); the outer problem is addressed by the government authority, whose aim is finding the link tolls that induce the carriers to choose route plans that minimize both the network total risk and the maximum link total risk among the network links (to address risk equity). To guarantee the stability of the solution, we study conditions for the existence and uniqueness of the Nash equilibrium, and propose a local search heuristic for the MPEC problem. Computational results are carried out on a real road network, comparing the performance of our toll setting policy with the toll setting approach proposed in the literature.
Narrowing the gender gap
Authors: Bromley Matt
Published: June 2015

Why do gender gaps exist across different aspects of education? Is it how our brains are built or society's attitudes? And what can schools do to close these gaps? In the first of a three-part series, Matt Bromley takes a look at some of the common challenges and possible solutions
Tumor MicroRNA Expression Profiling Identifies Circulating MicroRNAs for Early Breast Cancer Detection
Authors: Matamala Nerea , Vargas María Teresa , González-Cámpora Ricardo , Miñambres Rebeca , Arias José Ignacio , Menéndez Primitiva , Andrés-León Eduardo , Gómez-López Gonzalo , Yanowsky Kira , Calvete-Candenas Julio , Inglada-Pérez Lucía , Martínez-Delgado Beatriz , Benítez Javier
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND

The identification of novel biomarkers for early breast cancer detection would be a great advance. Because of their role in tumorigenesis and stability in body fluids, microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as a promising diagnostic tool. Our aim was to identify miRNAs deregulated in breast tumors and evaluate the potential of circulating miRNAs in breast cancer detection.

METHODS

We conducted miRNA expression profiling of 1919 human miRNAs in paraffin-embedded tissue from 122 breast tumors and 11 healthy breast tissue samples. Differential expression analysis was performed, and a microarray classifier was generated. The most relevant miRNAs were analyzed in plasma from 26 healthy individuals and 83 patients with breast cancer (36 before and 47 after treatment) and validated in 116 healthy individuals and 114 patients before treatment.

RESULTS

We identified a large number of miRNAs deregulated in breast cancer and generated a 25-miRNA microarray classifier that discriminated breast tumors with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Ten miRNAs were selected for further investigation, of which 4 (miR-505-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-21-5p, and miR-96-5p) were significantly overexpressed in pretreated patients with breast cancer compared with healthy individuals in 2 different series of plasma. MiR-505-5p and miR-96-5p were the most valuable biomarkers (area under the curve 0.72). Moreover, the expression levels of miR-3656, miR-505-5p, and miR-21-5p were decreased in a group of treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating miRNAs reflect the presence of breast tumors. The identification of deregulated miRNAs in plasma of patients with breast cancer supports the use of circulating miRNAs as a method for early breast cancer detection.
El olivar regado en la provincia de Jaén
Authors: Araque Jiménez Eduardo , Gallego Simón Vicente José , Sánchez Martínez José Domingo
Published: June 2015

Este trabajo pretende ser una aproximación inicial a la serie de transformaciones profundas que ha experimentado el monocultivo olivarero existente en la provincia de Jaén. En particular, nos hemos centrado en analizar el impacto que ha tenido la masiva aplicación del factor agua, toda vez que ha significado la aparición de una nueva imagen y caracterización del sector tanto en términos agroambientales como económicos y paisajísticos.
Once textos de Geografía Económica : una valoración crítica
Authors: Sánchez Hernández José Luis
Published: June 2015

La Geografía Económica como disciplina referenciada está recobrando, por fortuna, el vigor perdido con la eclosión de lo que Ortega (2000:411) denomina geografías económicas especializadas (industria, comercio, turismo, transportes...) que, desde mediados de la década de 1970, vienen afianzándose en el panorama académico a través de la publicación de textos monográficos, de la celebración de reuniones científicas y de la constitución de grupos de trabajo.
Ordenación del uso público de un espacio natural protegido en un destino turístico de masas: las lagunas de Torrevieja y La Mata
Authors: Such Climent María Paz
Published: June 2015

Este artículo se enmarca en el tema de las relaciones entre turismo y medio ambiente, en el contexto de las estrategias de renovación-reestructuración planteadas en un destino turístico consolidado como es el municipio de Torrevieja, principal núcleo turístico de la zona suralicantina y uno de los más importantes de la Comunidad Valenciana. En particular, se exponen algunas de las iniciativas promovidas por la administración local, en relación con la ordenación del uso público del Parque Natural de las Lagunas de Torrevieja y La Mata. A propósito de este ejemplo, se previene acerca de la necesidad de adoptar criterios más amplios de ordenación territorial, respecto a un mejor aprovechamiento de las oportunidades que ofrecen los espacios naturales protegidos, en la cualificación de la oferta turística.
Preparation and microstructure of cobalt(III) poly (acrylate) hybrid materials
Authors: Alvarez-Gayosso Carlos , A. Canseco Miguel , Estrada Rodolfo , Palacios-Alquisira Joaquin , Hinojosa Jaime , Castano Victor
Published: June 2015

The chemical reactions between poly (acrylic acid) and cobalt (III) oxide and between poly (acrylic acid) and cobalt (III) fluoride were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The results demonstrate the formation of cements between the metal and PAA aqueous solutions. Structural information was obtained from the observed frequency shifts of the absorption bands of the carboxylates groups in the cobalt (III) poly (acrylate) relative to those recorded for the purely ionic form. The results show that the bidentate bridging structure is the most likely to occur in both cases. Also, from the analysis of the corresponding coordination chemistry, an octahedral structure may be tentatively assigned to the cobalt (III) poly (acrylate).
Strain and Pressure Gauges from Tough, Conducting and Edible Hydrogels
Authors: Keller Alex , Benz Dominik , in het Panhuis Marc
Published: June 2015

The development of highly conductive, robust edible hydrogels was investigated using a combination of the biopolymers gellan gum and gelatin, a common salt (NaCl) and plant-derived cross-linker (genipin). Robust strain gauge/pressure sensors were developed using edible materials to demonstrate the potential of these hydrogels. The hydrogels exhibited gauge factor and pressure sensitivity values of 7.6 ± 0.1 and 400 ± 7 μΩ/Pa for loads up to 3 kPa, respectively. Furthermore, these devices were able to operate under larger loads with gauge factor and pressure sensitivity values of 0.308 ± 0.002 and 7.17 ± 0.05 μΩ/Pa, respectively, for loads between 9 kPa and 280 kPa.
Analysis of LiFePO4 Cathodic Active Material Synthesized in Open Environment Conditions through Ionic Medium
Authors: Kwee Darren W. , Lim Taehoon , Martinez-Morales Alfredo
Published: June 2015

In this work, LiFePO4(LFP) particles were synthesized through an ionic liquid medium. Through the fabrication of LFP particles, we observed the formation of quasi-1−dimensional (1D) structures. The characterization of phases found in the reaction, through time-dependent studies, have led us to propose a possible scheme for particle formation.

Synthesized material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). We also report our analysis on particle morphology and crystallinity of LFP particles synthesized through an ionic liquid−mediated process.
Development of Transport Properties Characterization Capabilities for Thermoelectric Materials and Modules
Authors: Reyes-Gil Karla R. , Whaley Josh , Nishimoto Ryan , Yang Nancy
Published: June 2015

Thermoelectric (TE) generators have very important applications, such as emerging automotive waste heat recovery and cooling applications. However, reliable transport properties characterization techniques are needed in order to scale-up module production and thermoelectric generator design. DOE round-robin testing found that literature values for figure of merit (ZT) are sometimes not reproducible in part for the lack of standardization of transport properties measurements. In Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), we have been optimizing transport properties measurements techniques of TE materials and modules. We have been using commercial and custom-built instruments to analyze the performance of TE materials and modules. We developed a reliable procedure to measure thermal conductivity, seebeck coefficient and resistivity of TE materials to calculate the ZT as function of temperature. We use NIST standards to validate our procedures and measure multiple samples of each specific material to establish consistency. Using these developed thermoelectric capabilities, we studied transport properties of Bi2Te3 based alloys thermal aged up to 2 years. Parallel with analytical and microscopy studies, we correlated transport properties changes with chemical changes. Also, we have developed a resistance mapping setup to measure the contact resistance of Au contacts on TE materials and TE modules as a whole in a non-destructive way. The development of novel but reliable characterization techniques has been fundamental to better understand TE materials as function of aging time, temperature and environmental conditions.
Design of High-Throughput Superoleophobic Copper Meshes for Oil-Water Separation
Authors: Liu HaoRan , Jia BoKang , Li GuanQiu , Nooralla Sumaya , Zhang TieJun
Published: June 2015

Advanced materials with desired wettability are extremely important for environmental sustainability, such as oily industrial wastewater treatment and oil spill cleanup. To meet this demand, a scalable nanoengineering approach was developed to fabricate superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic inorganic meshes for cross-flow filtration and oil/water separation. The resulting nanostructured copper meshes exhibit superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity (oil contact angle approaching to 159°). With these meshes, very high values of filtration flux (≥900,000 Lh-1m-2) have been achieved, with ultra-low oil residue in the filtrate (<40 ppm) and long water retention time (more than 1 h). The proposed nanoengineering method paves the way for effective gravity-driven separation of immiscible oil/water mixtures, especially for low-density oil purification.
Percutaneous Cryoablation for Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Maria Tsitskari , Georgiades Christos
Published: June 2015

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. Nephron sparing resection (partial nephrectomy) has been the “gold standard” for the treatment of resectable disease. With the widespread use of cross sectional imaging techniques, more cases of renal cell cancers are detected at an early stage, i.e. stage 1A or 1B.  This has provided an impetus for expanding the nephron sparing options and especially, percutaneous ablative techniques.  Percutaneous ablation for RCC is now performed as a standard therapeutic nephron-sparing option in patients who are poor candidates for resection or when there is a need to preserve renal function due to comorbid conditions, multiple renal cell carcinomas, and/or heritable renal cancer syndromes. During the last few years, percutaneous cryoablation has been gaining acceptance as a curative treatment option for small renal cancers. Clinical studies to date indicate that cryoablation is a safe and effective therapeutic method with acceptable short and long term outcomes and with a low risk, in the appropriate setting.  In addition it seems to offer some advantages over radio frequency ablation (RFA) and other thermal ablation techniques for renal masses.
Mapping QTLs for Reproductive‐Stage Drought Resistance Traits using an Advanced Backcross Population in Upland Rice
Authors: Sellamuthu Reena , Ranganathan Chandrababu , Serraj Rachid
Published: June 2015

The reproductive stage of development is the most drought sensitive, and water deficits at that time can lead to a drastic yield reduction in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Understanding the genetic and physiological bases of yield and yield components under reproductive‐stage drought stress will help in the development of resilient cultivars. A population of backcross inbred lines derived from upland cultivars Apo and Moroberekan was used for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with grain yield and other yield‐related traits under reproductive stage drought stress and irrigated (nonstress) conditions in the field. Reproductive traits affect grain yield directly and indirectly in both irrigated and drought conditions. Days to flowering, spikelet fertility, pollen fertility, and panicle exsertion are important traits affecting grain yield under reproductive stage drought. Therefore QTLs associated with grain yield or these reproductive traits that have direct or indirect effect on grain yield are likely to be useful in improving yield under drought. A total of 45 genomic regions were identified for traits observed under reproductive stage drought stress and control conditions. The yield QTL (qYLD4.2) on chromosome 4 colocates with number of spikelets per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle, and number of secondary rachis per panicle. The QTLs qYLD4.1, qYLD6.3, and qYLD12 are other important QTLs identified in this study. Those QTLs with either direct or pleiotropic effects could be used as candidates in marker‐assisted breeding for drought resistance improvement in rice.
Mapping and Validation of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Tiller Production in Rice
Authors: Pinson Shannon R. M. , Wang Yueguang , Tabien Rodante E.
Published: June 2015

An increase in early tiller production is desired in rice (Oryza sativa L.) to increase yield potential and enhance ability to shade and suppress weeds. Unfortunately, tiller production and survival are sensitive to many environmental cues, making tillering pattern a difficult trait to reliably evaluate in field plots. The present objective was to use pot‐grown plants where seeding depth and the environment could be controlled to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with rate of seedling development (seedling leaf number, SLN) and tiller production (tiller number, TN) as well as the node from which the first tiller originated (N1T). The QTLs were identified in two related mapping populations, the first being a set of 280 ‘Lemont’ × ‘TeQing’ recombinant inbred lines (RILs) observed over four trials, in which nine QTLs associated with TN, three for SLN, and two for N1T were detected. Eight of the TN QTLs were verified in a second population consisting of 123 TeQing‐into‐Lemont backcross introgression lines (TILs). Each SLN and N1T QTL was colocated with a TN QTL, and all nine detected TN QTLs were located in genomic regions previously reported to contain TN major genes or QTLs, demonstrating their robustness under diverse genetic backgrounds and growth conditions. Early tillering was associated with rapid seedling development as detected by an increased number of leaves and nodes on 8‐wk‐old seedlings. The present data indicated that breeders could effectively select for enhanced early tiller production among segregating genotypes based on tiller counts conducted at a single time point approximately 8 to 9 wk after germination under greenhouse conditions. Marker–trait linkages reported here can support marker‐assisted selection of these nine TN QTLs.
OsbZIP33 is an ABA‐Dependent Enhancer of Drought Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Chen Hao , Dai Xiao J. , Gu Zhan Y.
Published: June 2015

The grain yield of crops has been seriously decreased by abiotic stresses all over the world. Identification of crop stress‐resistant genes used in molecular breeding is particularly urgent at this time. Here, we characterized the function of a rice (Oryza sativa L.) basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, OsbZIP33, under drought stress. Expression of OsbZIP33 was dramatically induced under drought, high salinity, H2O2 and high temperature stresses. Transactivation assays demonstrated that OsbZIP33 had transactivation activity. At both the seedling and five‐leaf stages, transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsbZIP33 exhibited significantly improved drought resistance, which was positively correlated with the observed expression levels of OsbZIP33. Representative downstream drought‐inducible genes showed significantly higher expression levels in transgenic rice plants than in wild‐type plants under drought conditions. OsbZIP33 was shown to be induced by exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Overexpression of OsbZIP33 made transgenic plants more sensitive to ABA than wild‐type plants. Expression profiles of marker genes in ABA signaling indicated that OsbZIP33 enhanced drought tolerance in rice through ABA‐dependent signal transduction pathway. Overall, our findings suggest that OsbZIP33 positively regulates drought resistance in rice. Nevertheless, given the dramatically enhanced drought resistance of rice overexpressing OsbZIP33, further analysis of OsbZIP33 may greatly improve the stress resistance of crops.
Developing Winter Food Barley for the Pacific Northwest of the US
Authors: Meints Brigid , Cuesta‐Marcos Alfonso , Ross Andrew S. , Fisk Scott , Kongraksawech Teepakorn , Marshall Juliet M. , Murphy Kevin , Hayes Patrick M.
Published: June 2015

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has been cultivated for human consumption for millennia. However, most North Americans do not regularly consume barley as a foodstuff. In the last decade, there has been renewed interest in barley production for human consumption. A number of quality traits are used to estimate nutritional value and are useful for food processing. These include β‐glucan, grain protein, kernel hardness, solvent retention capacity (SRC), and hull type. The Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the US is a high‐yielding region that has a reputation for setting dietary and nutritional trends. However, there are currently no winter food barleys adapted to this area. To determine the potential suitability of winter growth habits for food barley production in the PNW, we developed and tested 14 advanced lines. The germplasm was developed via marker‐assisted and phenotypic selection and included hulled lines with waxy starch and hull‐less lines with normal starch. Agronomic and food quality traits were measured on samples from three representative environments (dryland, irrigated, and high rainfall) over a 2‐yr period allowing for assessment of performance within and across locations, as well as genotype × environment interaction. Lines with waxy starch had significantly higher levels of β‐glucan, harder kernels, and higher water retention capacity. Hull‐less lines had, on average, slightly lower yields than hulled lines, with an average difference of 105 kg ha−1. Our future food barley variety development will focus exclusively on hull‐less types because of the simplified processing and consumer interest in the nutritional benefits of whole grain.
Fiscal policies in the European Union during the crisis
Authors: Ferreiro Jesús , Gálvez Catalina , González Ana
Published: June 2015

The paper studies the fiscal policies implemented in the European Union
countries since the beginning of the current crisis. With this aim in mind we
have analyzed separately the expansionary fiscal policies implemented at the
first stage of the crisis and the fiscal consolidation policies that became
widespread at the beginning of the current decade. Studying the content of
the national fiscal policies (discretionary measures versus built-in
stabilizers, revenue-based versus expenditure-based fiscal policies, the
relationship existing between the size of the fiscal impulses-adjustments and
the composition of these measures) shows the significant differences between
the fiscal policies implemented in the European Union countries.
The fiscal compact, cyclical adjustment and the remaining leeway for expansionary fiscal policies in the Euro area
Authors: Truger Achim
Published: June 2015

Fiscal policy in the Euro area is still dominated by austerity measures
implemented under the institutional setting of the ?reformed? stability and
growth pact, and the even stricter ?fiscal compact?. At the same time, calls
for a more expansionary fiscal policy to overcome the economic crisis have
become more frequent, recently. Therefore, the article tries to assess the
remaining leeway for a truly expansionary fiscal policy within the existing
institutional framework. Special emphasis is put on the method of cyclical
adjustment employed by the European commission in order to assess member
states? fiscal position and effort. It turns out that even in the existing
framework the leeway for a macroeconomically and socially more sensible
fiscal policy using the interpretational leeway inherent in the rules is
quite substantial.