bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Additivity of ISSR Markers in Natural Hybrids of Related Forest Species Bromus benekenii and B. ramosus (Poaceae)
Authors: Sutkowska Agnieszka , Pasierbzziński Andrzej , Bąba Wojciech , Warzecha Tomasz , Mitka Józef
Published: September 2015

The co-occurrence of hybrids and parental species in similar ecological niches poses a question on the role of traits additivity and overdispersion (emergence of new traits) in microevolutionary processes. We analysed genetic polymorphism ofBromus benekenii,B. ramosusand the spontaneous hybridB. benekenii×B. ramosusin sympatric and allopatric parts of the species distribution in Europe, based on non-coding regions of the taxon genomes (ISSR genetic fingerprinting). We tested 68 individuals in 7 populations, including a hybrid population in N France. Altogether 233 polymorphic ISSR bands (loci) were obtained. We found that the parent species were genetically distinct and the hybrids had an additive pattern of ISSR bands found in the putative parental species (NMDS, STRUCTURE); however, there was evidence of introgression towardsB. ramosus(NEWHYBRIDS, UPGMA classifications, Nei's D genetic distance).Bromus benekeniihad 72,B. ramosus21 and the hybrids 9 private bands (genetic overdispersion), probably resulting from the rearranged genomes. Based on its low genetic divergence index DW, the hybrid population seems to be at a young age. We argue that in the face of anthropogenic landscape transformations favouring secondary contacts, the hybrids may competitively replace the parental species in sympatric areas.
On the Use of Long-Term Risk Measures as an Approach to Communicating Risks
Authors: Ren Jiandong
Published: September 2015

Value at risk (VaR) is a widely used measure for financial risks. However, as argued in Taleb (2012), “VaR encourages low volatility, high blowup risk taking which can be gamed by the Wall Street bonus structure.” It was also argued that one reason for this is the limited ability of all quantitative risk measures (including VaR, TVaR and many other modifications) to measure the risk of extreme events (black swans). In this paper, we argue that VaR and its modifications, being short–term in nature, intend to measure extreme risk by creating extreme small probability values. Even if accurate, they might not be effective in communicating risk to people because it is well documented in the psychology literature that humans tend to make irrational decisions when dealing with extreme small probabilities. As such, we propose that long-term risk measures, such as ruin probabilities over a long time horizon, provide a natural approach to avoid small probability values in measuring the risk of extreme events. They could be considered as a vehicle to communicate extreme risks to fund managers, insurance companies, as well as the public, and to help them in making decisions under uncertainty.
Lexicographic Voting: Holding Parties Accountable in the Presence of Downsian Competition
Authors: Klingelhöfer Jan
Published: September 2015

This paper combines ideas from models of electoral competition with forward-looking voters and models of electoral competition with backward-looking voters. Two political parties can commit in advance to policy platforms, but not to a maximum level of rent extraction. In the case without uncertainty, the electorate can limit rents to the same extent as in a purely backward-looking model of accountability, and the policy preferred by the voter who represents the median preferences of the electorate is implemented. In the case with uncertainty about the bliss point of the representative voter, the electorate has to accept higher rent seeking by the incumbent politician, but nonetheless retains some control over rent extraction. The policy positions of the two competing parties do not converge as they do in the case without uncertainty. I show in an example that this nonconvergence can increase the welfare of the representative voter.
Optimistic about the future? How uncertainty and expectations about future consumption prospects affect optimal consumer behavior
Authors: Kakeu Johnson , Byron Sharri
Published: September 2015

This paper analyzes a continuous time stochastic growth model with a Duffie and Epstein (Duffie, D., and L. Epstein. 1992. “Stochastic Differential Utility.”
Wie christlich ist das Mittelalter oder: Wie ist das Mittelalter christlich?
Authors: Müller Jan-Dirk
Published: September 2015

The courtly culture of the Middle Ages integrates Christian values into the ethics of a feudal warrior society. It establishes a hierarchy of norms of behaviour with

Die folgenden vier Beiträge gehen auf Vorträge zurück, die anlässlich eines von Andreas Kablitz und Jan-Dirk Müller in Wien am IFK veranstalteten Interdisziplinären Kolloquiums mit dem Titel »Wie christlich ist das Mittelalter?« (vom 02.–04.4.2014) gehalten wurden.
Modeling of environmentally assisted fatigue crack growth behavior
Authors: Kujawski Daniel , Sree Phani C.R.
Published: September 2015

It is well recognized that environment has a significant role on the failure of mechanically loaded structures. In most cases of cyclic loading, fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior exhibits lower threshold and faster growth rate in air than in vacuum. It is well documented that the effect of loading frequency on FCG behavior can be more pronounced in aggressive environment/material systems. This is seen in the K
max term of the FCG. On the other hand, a weak dependence of FCG behavior with R ratio in inert environment indicates that a crack extension is governed mainly by ΔK. Existing experimental data indicate that the actual crack extension per cycle is associated with the rising part of the load cycle than the unloading part. In this paper, the synergetic role of environment and mechanical loading on crack growth behavior is considered to see their roles on FCG. In this article, we attempt to model how crack extension interplays between a crack-tip opening and crack-tip blunting angle associated with the applied load and environment, respectively. To support such a model for discussion, we have selected limited FCG data taken from literature corresponding to different environments ranging from vacuum to air and NaCl solution for a number of alloys and with different specimens geometries. We are also not discussing innate mechanisms for each alloy, due to space concerns.
Die Zerstörungskraft der göttlichen Liebe: Empedokles im XII. Gesang von Dantes Inferno
Authors: Primavesi Oliver
Published: September 2015

Riassunto

Il canto XII dell’Inferno si apre con l’evocazione del terremoto che, poco prima dell’arrivo di Cristo agli inferi, aveva causato una frana al di sopra del settimo cerchio. Virgilio ricorda che egli stesso, per spiegare tale avvenimento, aveva dapprima fatto ricorso alla teoria del filosofo presocratico Empedocle, secondo il quale l’amore divino condurrebbe il mondo, ciclicamente, nel caos. Se questo tentativo di spiegazione è stato recentemente interpretato come un errore pagano-razionalistico, il presente contributo si propone di mostrare che Dante, attraverso la bocca di Virgilio, interpreta la dottrina del ciclo cosmico proposta da Empedocle come prefigurazione della corrispondenza fra la discesa di Cristo agli Inferi e il suo ritorno nel Giorno del Giudizio. Tale interpretazione fu già espressa da Luca Signorelli verso il 1500 negli affreschi del Duomo di Orvieto.
Ovidio – io non lo ’nvidio. Dantes Überbietung der ovidischen Verwandlungen im Kontext der lateinischen Ovid-Kommentare
Authors: Meier Christel
Published: September 2015

Riassunto

Rispetto a Virgilio, senza dubbio la figura di poeta intradiegetica più prominente e al contempo la fonte antica più importante della Commedia, si tende a sottovalutare l’importanza di Ovidio. Le sue Metamorfosi, infatti, sono un testo di riferimento molto presente per tutte e tre le Cantiche, sia nell’emulazione delle metamorfosi animali di Inferno XXIV-XXV che nelle figurazioni tipologiche e nelle imitazioni contrastive in Purgatorio e in Paradiso. Con la sua interpretazione innovativa di Ovidio, Dante si trova all’inizio di una nuova, intensa fase della ricezione delle Metamorfosi nel Tardo Medioevo. Attraverso il testo e l’immagine, il latino e le lingue volgari, la poesia e la predica, il testo ovidiano raggiunge ora diversi ambienti comunicativi della società.
Poeta, autore e investitura profetica nella Commedia
Authors: Riccobono Maria Gabriella
Published: September 2015

Der vorliegende Beitrag möchte klären, inwiefern Dante die Konzepte des »auctor« beziehungsweise des »poeta« voneinander abhebt oder aber analogisiert. Dafür wird zunächst untersucht, wie in den der Commedia vorangehenden Werken die volgare-Dichter und die lateinischen auctores zueinander in Beziehung gesetzt werden. In der Commedia steht die prophetische Dimension im Vordergrund, so dass sich Dante hier den Rang eines poeta zuerkennen und seine Vision als ein den heiligen Schriften gleichrangiges Werk darstellen kann. Von diesen Voraussetzungen ausgehend scheint die Interpretation der Verse, in denen Dante durch seinen Ahn Cacciaguida die deutlichste und elaborierteste Dichter-Investition in der Commedia erfährt, zwingend: Die auctoritas gebührt stets den heiligen Schriften und ihren Verfassern: Der einzige wahre auctor ist, in der Tat, Gott.
A Novel UWB Antenna with Dual Band-Notched Characteristics
Authors: Lin Yongfan , Liang Jiangang , Wu Goucheng , Xu Zhiyong , Niu Xuebin
Published: September 2015

In this article, started from analyzing the basic principle of band-notched characteristics, a feasibly method used for band-notched antenna is demonstrated and the equivalent circuit for this method is designed. A novel UWB antenna is designed. Based on this method, two stubs which can be equivalent to shorted stubs in parallel configuration are added to realize dual band-notched characteristics. Simulated and measured results all show that the UWB antenna yields an impendence bandwidth of 2.0–10.6 GHz by defining VSWR ≦ 2, and two obvious band-notched functions (3.27–3.83 GHz, 4.60–5.90 GHz) occur at the working bandwidth of WIMAX (3.3–3.7 GHz) and HiperLAN/2 (5.15–5.35 GHz, 5.47–5.725 GHz), so the electromagnetic interference between UWB application and WIMAX, HiperLAN/2 can be suppressed.
Oxidation Behaviors of Inconel 740H in Air and Dynamic Steam
Authors: Lu Jintao , Yang Zhen , Xu Songqian , Zhao Haiping , Gu Y.
Published: September 2015

Inconel 740H alloy is a candidate material for 700°C advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) coal-fired power plants application as superheater/reheater tube. In this work, oxidation behavior of Inconel 740H alloy was studied in static air at 750°C and 850°C, and in dynamic pure steam at 750°C, respectively. The alloy was oxidized approximately following a parabolic law in three test environment. In the static air, the oxidation rate at 850°C was about 50 times of that at the 750°C. More NiCrMn spinal and TiO2 were detected after oxidation at 850°C. Cr2O3, however, was the main oxidation product at 750°C. In the pure steam, Cr2O3 was still the main oxidation product. The oxidation rate was about 2.6 times of that in static air, but the surface roughness was much smaller and edges of oxide particles were more blurred. There was no evidence of cracks or spallation in three test environments.
Is HEADS in our heads? Health risk behavior is not routinely discussed with young people with chronic conditions
Authors: Boisen Kirsten A. , Hertz Pernille Grarup , Blix Charlotte , Teilmann Grete
Published: September 2015

Background:

Outpatient clinic visits are a window of opportunity to address health risk behaviors and promote a healthier lifestyle among young people. The HEADS (Home, Education, Eating, Activities, Drugs [i.e. substance use including tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs], Sexuality [including contraception], Safety, Self-harm) interview is a feasible way of exploring health risk behaviors and resilience.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how often HEADS topics were addressed according to young patients and staff in pediatric and adult outpatient clinics.

Methods:

We conducted a questionnaire survey among young patients and health care professionals at a tertiary university hospital. Young patients reported on their cumulative experience and staff reported on their usual practice.

Results:

A total of 290 young patients aged 12–22 years (78% having a chronic condition) and 97 health care professionals participated. We found only small reported differences between staff and young patients regarding whether home, education, and activity were addressed. However, staff reported twice the rate of addressing smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception compared to young patients. Young patients reported that smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception were addressed significantly more at adult clinics in comparison to pediatric clinics. After controlling for age, gender and duration of illness, according to young patients, adjusted odds ratios for addressing smoking at adult vs. pediatric clinics was 2.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26–4.83), alcohol 2.84 (95% CI:1.45–5.57), illegal drugs 4.20 (95% CI:1.69–10.44), sexuality 3.54 (95% CI: 1.67–7.50), contraception 3.68 (95% CI:1.61–8.41), and any of the above 2.95 (95% CI: 1.47–5.91).

Conclusion:

According to young patients, smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception were not routinely addressed at a tertiary hospital, and especially at paediatric clinics, these issues were seldom addressed.
The effectiveness of an adolescent reproductive health education intervention in Uganda
Authors: Wolf Hilary T. , Teich Hayley G. , Halpern-Felsher Bonnie L. , Murphy Ramon J. , Anandaraja Natasha , Stone Jessie , Kalumuna Charles
Published: September 2015

Ugandan adolescents lack sufficient reproductive health knowledge, which accounts in part for the staggering rates of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted (STI) infections in this population. This study aimed to (1) examine Ugandan adolescents’ baseline STI and contraceptive knowledge; (2) determine whether this knowledge varies by demographic factors, prior sexual experience or school grade; and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program to increase and retain STI and contraceptive knowledge among Ugandan adolescents. This study surveyed 129 adolescents (ages 15–19) regarding knowledge of STIs and contraceptive methods at schools and community non-governmental organizations at three time points. Findings demonstrated that at baseline the mean test scores for contraceptive knowledge and STI knowledge were 44% and 72%, respectively. Participants in higher secondary school grade-levels had greater odds of having prior STI knowledge (OR=19.6, 95% CI 2.0–187.6); participants who had previously engaged in sex had greater odds of having prior contraceptive knowledge (OR=4.62, 95% CI 1.45–14.72). A higher grade level was not associated with better knowledge of contraception; and being sexually active was not associated with better knowledge of STI information. Participants’ knowledge of STIs and contraceptives improved after the education session (p<0.001), and knowledge was retained 3-weeks later (p<0.001). Findings suggest that Ugandan adolescents do not have adequate education regarding contraceptive methods and that implementation of reproductive health modules by an outside party can be effective in improving knowledge.
Recovery of Biogas from Meat Industry Wastewater Using Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR): Modeling and Optimization
Authors: Thirugnanasambandham K. , Sivakumar V. , Sruthi B.
Published: September 2015

The main objective of the present study is to investigate the biogas recovery process from meat industry wastewater using continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Plackett–Burman design was used to screen the effective process variables among temperature, alkalinity dose, organic loading rate, agitation speed, nutrients, dilution factor and volatile fatty acid content. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to study the individual and interactive of process variables on the biogas recovery process. Optimum conditions for maximizing the biogas recovery was determined using derringer’s desired function methodology as follows; temperature of 45°C, organic loading rate of 8 m3/COD/day, C:N ratio of 90:10 and dilution factor of 15%. Under these optimal conditions, predicted biogas recovery and COD removal are found to be 0.08 m3/L/d and 94%, respectively. This result confirms the effectiveness of CSTR to treat meat industry wastewater in terms of biogas recovery.
Urinary myo-inositol levels in Japanese schoolchildren with normal glucose tolerance
Authors: Satake Eiichiro , Matsushita Rie , Kitsuda Kazuteru , Ohtaka Kohnosuke , Nagata Eiko , Yamaguchi Rie , Sano Shinichiro , Fujisawa Yasuko , Nakanishi Toshiki , Nakagawa Yuichi , Ohzeki Takehiko
Published: September 2015

Urinary

In Study 1 (328 schoolchildren), fasting and postprandial UMI were measured, with ΔUMI defined as the difference between fasting and postprandial UMI levels. In Study 2, oral glucose tolerance tests and UMI measurements were conducted in 18 children with suspected having diabetes.

For Study 1, ΔUMI was observed [−0.65 (−3.9, 1.35) mg/g creatinine]. For Study 2, children with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance had a significantly higher ΔUMI than children with normal glucose tolerance.

These studies demonstrated the normal range of UMI in children and possibility of a novel biomarker for early detection of glucose intolerance in children.
Sorption and preconcentration of uranium and thorium from aqueous solutions using multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with
magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Zolfonoun Ehsan , Yousefi Seyed Reza
Published: September 2015

The presented study investigates application of MWCNTs-Fe3O4 nanocomposite as an adsorbent for solid phase extraction and
preconcentration of uranium and thorium prior to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry determination. The magnetic
MWCNTs with adsorbed analytes can be easily separated from the aqueous solution by using an external magnet without additional
centrifugation or filtration of the sample. Due to the high surface area of MWCNTs, satisfactory concentration factor and extraction
recovery can be achieved with only 10 mg nanocomposite in 5 min. The effects of pH, sorbent amount, eluent type,
chelating reagent concentration, sample volume and time on the recovery of the analytes were investigated. Under the optimum
conditions, the detection limits for U(VI) and Th(IV) were 0.44 and 0.27 μg L
–1, respectively.
The effect of yttrium incorporation on the formation and properties of α-Al2O3 coatings
Authors: Lin Yuebin , Zhu Yufu , Zhu Weiguo
Published: September 2015

The Al layer with α-Al2O3 seed crystals and the rare earth element Y were deposited directly onto a 316L stainless steel substrate and then oxidized at a temperature as low as 580°C using the double glow plasma technique. The complex Al target material containing 10 wt% α-Al2O3 seed crystals and 10 wt% Y was used in the experiment. The results indicated that the coatings were very dense and uniform. The field emission transmission electron microscopy observation indicated that element Y was discontinuously distributed, which was mainly concentrated at the grain boundary of the coating. After plasma oxidation, Y was oxidized to Y2O3. Under the action of coupled multiple factors (ion bombardment, α-Al2O3 seed crystals, and rare earth element Y), the AlYα oxide coatings contained large amounts of α-Al2O3 crystals. The increase of the Y content improved the adhesive force of the coatings. The corrosion current of the oxide coatings was reduced by three orders of magnitude.
Kalibrierungs- und Trainingsstrategien zur individuellen Signalgenerierung für die myoelektrische Steuerung technischer Hilfsmittel
Authors: Doneit Wolfgang , Tuga Michele René , Mikut Ralf , Liebetanz David , Rupp Rüdiger , Reischl Markus
Published: September 2015

Bioelektrische Signale werden oft für Steuerungsaufgaben in der
Rehabilitationstechnik eingesetzt. So stellt die antagonistische
myoelektrische Steuerung den de-facto Standard für die Ansteuerung von
Handprothesen dar. Neuerdings wird auch die Navigation eines
Elektrorollstuhls über die Kontraktionen zweier Ohrmuskeln
erforscht. Charakteristisch für diese Anwendungen sind individuelle
Amplituden und unbeabsichtigte Koaktivierungen, die eine direkte
Interpretation der Intention des Anwenders erschweren. Dieser Artikel
diskutiert Einflussgrößen auf die Qualität der
myoelektrischen Signale und stellt eine Signalverarbeitungskette zur
Bereinigung des Signals bzw. zur Intentionsschätzung vor. Zur
individuellen Anpassung der Parameter werden standardisierte
Trainingsparadigmen eingeführt. Mit Hilfe von Regressionsmodellen
sollen Fehlerquellen wie Koaktivierungen eliminiert werden. Die
Funktionalität der Verfahren wird anhand simulierter und realer Daten
von zweikanaligen myoelektrischen Messungen von Unterarm und Ohr
nachgewiesen.
Using animations to support the understanding of geometrical
tolerancing concepts
Authors: Humienny Zbigniew , Berta Marcin
Published: September 2015

A new concept of teaching and training the ISO GPS system fundamental
and advanced principles with use of computer simulations, as well as
animations at a very large extend is shown. The innovative application
Geometrical Tolerancing structure, main components and key
capabilities are demonstrated and discussed through a few screen
shoots. It is indicated that application is suitable for open distance
learning. The short analysis of the educational theories and other
approaches that were considered to form background of the application
are also given.
Influence of Rotor-Stator Interaction on Flow Stability in Centrifugal Pump Based on Energy Gradient Method
Authors: Zheng Lu-Lu , Dou Hua-Shu , Jiang Wei , Chen Xiaoping , Zhu Zuchao , Cui Baoling
Published: September 2015

Numerical simulation is performed for the three-dimensional turbulent flow field in a centrifugal pump by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the RNG k-epsilon turbulent model. The finite volume method and the SIMPLE algorithm are employed for the solution of the system. All the parameters in the centrifugal pump at different blade angular positions are obtained by simulation. The flow structure is analyzed and the distributions of the energy gradient function
Alkaline earth-gold-aluminides: synthesis and structure of SrAu3Al2, SrAu2.83Al2.17, BaAu2.89Al2.11 and BaAu7.09Al5.91
Authors: Gerke Birgit , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: September 2015

New alkaline earth-gold-aluminides were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum or quartz ampoules in muffle furnaces at maximum annealing temperatures of 1325 K. The structures were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data. SrAu3Al2 crystallizes in an ordered version of the LT-SrZn5 structure: Pnma, a = 1315.9(3), b = 549.0(1), c = 684.5(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0232, 930 F
2 values, 35 variables. SrAu2.83Al2.17 (a = 1065.0(2), b = 845.0(2), c = 548.1(1) pm, wR2 = 0.0416, 452 F
2 values, 22 variables) and BaAu2.89Al2.11 (a = 1096.1(3), b = 835.7(3), c = 554.0(1) pm, wR2 = 0.0280, 501 F
2 values, 22 variables) both adopt the BaZn5 type, space group Cmcm with Au/Al mixing on the 4c site. The gold and aluminum atoms in both types form three-dimensional networks of condensed tetrahedra with the strontium and barium atoms in large cavities. BaAu7.09Al5.91 is a new member of the NaZn13 type: Fm3̅c, a = 1257.6(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0267, 168 F
2 values, 12 variables. Both the 96i and 8b sites show Au/Al mixing. The crystal chemical details are discussed.
Consumer Markets for Remanufactured and Refurbished Products
Authors: Abbey James D. , Meloy Margaret G. , Blackburn Joseph , Guide V. Daniel R.
Published: September 2015

Consumer product returns in the United States are approaching three-hundred billion dollars annually. In the majority of cases, the returned products are perfectly functional convenience returns. Managers have a multi-billion dollar profit opportunity to reuse the products by strategically employing remanufacturing. Yet, remanufacturing has multiple barriers that must be understood and addressed. This article addresses several key managerial issues regarding remanufactured consumer products. First, will consumers buy remanufactured products? Second, will the green consumer segment desire remanufactured products? Third, will remanufactured product sales cannibalize new product sales? Finally, this article provides guidance regarding pricing and cannibalization mitigation strategies.
CGIP: Managing Consumer-Generated Intellectual Property
Authors: Berthon Pierre , Pitt Leyland , Kietzmann Jan , McCarthy Ian P.
Published: September 2015

Two related trends characterize the recent past: value propositions are migrating from the physical to the informational, and value creation is shifting from firms to consumers. These two trends meet in the phenomenon of “consumer-generated intellectual property” (CGIP). This article addresses the question: “How should firms manage the intellectual property that their customers create?” It explores how CGIP presents important dilemmas for managers and argues that consumers' “intellectual property” should not be leveraged at the expense of their “emotional property.” It integrates these perspectives into a diagnostic framework and discusses eight strategies for firms to manage CGIP.
Balanced Workplace Flexibility: Avoiding the Traps
Authors: Kossek Ellen Ernst , Thompson Rebecca J. , Lautsch Brenda A.
Published: September 2015

This article identifies three types of traps that can emerge when implementing workplace flexibility—altered work-life dynamics, reduced fairness perceptions, and weakened organizational culture—and provides core lessons for managers seeking a balanced flexibility approach. First managers must become flex savvy to understand the variation that exists in flexibility practices to align implementation with the workforce and organizational context. Second, implementing flexibility must not be treated as an accommodation but as a broader systemic organizational change empowering individuals and teams. The article provides a Work-smart case to highlight how to avoid traps and implement balanced workplace flexibility across multiple stakeholder interests.
Application of an integrated hydrological model at the Southern Trans-Tisza region of Hungary as part of a conceptual phosphorus transport model framework
Authors: Jolankai Zsolt , Koncsos Laszlo
Published: September 2015

An integrated hydrological model has been applied for small rural-urban catchments at the Tisza-Maros confluence using the WateRisk integrated hydrological model system. The aim of the hydrological simulations was to identify the role that the relief plays in the runoff generation process, and to highlight the relationship between the precipitation, runoff and the depression’s water storage of the relief. The overall aim is to support the description of contaminant (phosphorus) transport processes with knowledge about the rainfall-runoff-storage relationship, described with the complex deterministic hydrodynamic model system. To support this aim the rainfall-runoff and the one-dimensional flow routing modules have been used in the model. Results suggest that the depletion of the surface depressions water storage capacity is a non-linear saturation type function of the amount of rainfall falling on the surface. Manning n values of the drainage channel system might also have strong influence on runoff dynamics.
Acessibilidade nos portais da Educação Profissional e Tecnológica do Ministério da Educação
Authors: Sonza Andréa Poletto , Conforto Débora , Santarosa Lucila
Published: September 2015

Neste artigo, trazemos aspectos relacionados à acessibilidade, usabilidade e comunicabilidade de sites, portais e
sistemas, tomando como aporte a tese de Sonza (2008). Tais aspectos são considerados essenciais para que a grande
maioria de usuários seja bem-vinda em todas as interfaces, inclusive aqueles que possuem alguma limitação sensorial,
físico-motora ou cognitiva. Permitir o passaporte ao mundo virtual a todos os cidadãos, independente de tecnologia,
situação ou limitação, constitui-se um requisito básico para uma sociedade inclusiva, na qual todos possam ter
vez e voz. E é nesse cenário que o núcleo do SIEP (Sistema de Informações da Educação Profissional e Tecnológica)
do Cefet/Bento Gonçalves está inserido.
Rehabilitation of abandoned non-hazardous tailings ponds
Authors: Kog Yue Choong
Published: September 2015

Sand quarrying left behind more than 400 tailings ponds in Bedok, Tampines and Pasir Ris in Singapore. A large quantity of non-hazardous tailings consisting mostly of clays from the quarrying activities over decades was present in these abandoned ponds. Because of the high proportion of montmorillonite, the clay in the tailings ponds remained in suspension for years and did not settle. A large area of land meant for housing development was sterilised as a result. Before any development could take place, the sterilised land had to be rehabilitated and the tailings had to be disposed of. Studies were carried out to understand the characteristics of the tailings ponds and their contents. Various alternatives were investigated for the rehabilitation with the purpose to arrive at an environmentally acceptable and the most economical solution to this huge problem. The development of Tampines new town was substantially completed in the 1990s, housing half a million people. To date, after 30 years, there are no reported foundation and settlement problems related to the rehabilitation works. There is also no adverse environmental impact reported for disposing of the tailings. Valuable lessons and experience has been gathered in the process of a successful rehabilitation and are presented herein.
Читательская грамотность 15-летних школьников: значимость семейных, индивидуальных и школьных характеристик
Authors: Kuzmina Yulia , Tyumeneva Yulia
Published: September 2015

С использованием четырех моделей регрессионного многоуровневого анализа оценен вклад различных факторов в достижения 15-летних учащихся в чтении. Наиболее значимым фактором оказался семейный бэкграунд, причем не только на индивидуальном, но и на школьном уровне, где он оказывает влияние уже как средний по школе социально-экономический статус семей учащихся. На уровне школы агрегированные семейные характеристики учеников обнаруживают связь с индивидуальными достижениями, превосходя при этом эффект школьных ресурсов и локализации школы — тех из школьных факторов, которые показали значимый вклад в достижения. Отношение к чтению и обучению значимо с точки зрения успешности в чтении на индивидуальном уровне, но, агрегируясь на уровне школы, установки учеников по отношению к чтению и школе не вносят самостоятельного вклада в индивидуальные результаты.
Two Aims of Medical Humanities Education: Good Doctors and Happy Doctors
Authors: You Hojong
Published: September 2015

Recently, medical humanities education has begun to take up an increased proportion of the Korean medical curriculum. Many people now agree that not only basic medicine and clinical medicine but also medical humanities is needed in medical education. The aims of medical humanities education should dawn now. ‘Medical humanities’ can be roughly defined as “the interdisciplinary study and activity at the intersection of the humanities, social science, arts, and medicine.” People tend to assume that the aim of medical humanities education is to produce good doctors, that is, physicians who contribute to society. Actually, cultivating good doctors is one of the proper aims of medical humanities education. In addition to it, another aim of medical humanities education should be cultivating happy doctors. Nowadays, many of Korea’s physicians feel unhappy. In such a situation, medical humanities education should be aimed at developing happiness in medical trainees.
Evidence from two shale regions that a riparian songbird accumulates metals associated with hydraulic fracturing
Authors: Latta Steven C. , Marshall Leesia C. , Frantz Mack W. , Toms Judith D.
Published: September 2015

The risk of contamination of surface waters from hydraulic fracturing activities (i.e., fracking) to extract gas from underground shale formations has been viewed primarily in the context of localized point‐source events such as spills with no evidence of contaminants entering food chains. We showed that in watersheds where hydraulic fracturing occurs, an obligate riparian songbird and top predator in headwater systems, the Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla), accumulated metals associated with the fracking process. In both the Marcellus and Fayetteville shale regions, barium and strontium were found at significantly higher levels in feathers of birds in sites with fracking activity than at sites without fracking. The question of what pathway these metals followed from the shale layers to enter the food chain was not resolved by this study, but our data suggested a recent origin for these metals in the riparian systems we studied because levels of barium and strontium in feather samples from reference sites in the Marcellus Region without fracking activity did not differ from historical samples of waterthrush feathers gathered prior to any fracking in the region. Our finding of similarly elevated levels of metals associated with fracking in two geographically distant shale formations suggests hydraulic fracturing may be contaminating surface waters and underscores the need for additional monitoring and study to further assess ecological and human health risks posed by the increasingly widespread development of unconventional sources of natural gas around the world.
Transnational Support of Asian Indian Elderly in India: Examining Patterns of Exchanges
Authors: Kalavar Jyotsna M. , Zarit Steven H. , Ferraccio Brian J.
Published: September 2015

Using a mixed methods approach, the provision of support exchanges between family members across national borders was examined. Specifically, this project examined transnational support among Asian Indian elderly residing in India whose children resided outside India. Seventy adults participated in this project in the cities of Bangalore and Mumbai. Individuals participated in either a focus group meeting or completed a survey to examine their transnational family support experiences. Most seniors were educated, of middle-income category or higher, socially active, enjoyed good health, and were not keen to live in multigeneration households. Survey findings suggest that transnational care is reciprocal in nature and that communication technology has enhanced intergenerational contact. The older adults’ report of support exchanges provided and received between generations showed significant differences on certain types of support. Undoubtedly, in today’s rapidly growing global economy, a great deal of emotional support, communication, and exchanges takes place between adults and their elderly parents across national borders.
A Patient-Centered Transitions Framework for Persons With Complex Chronic Conditions
Authors: Ho Julia , Kuluski Kerry , Gill Ashlinder
Published: September 2015

Hospitals are under increasing pressures by governing bodies to meet mandated performance standards and fiscal targets. As a result, hospitals are incentivized by funders to discharge patients efficiently and effectively. Gaining insight into the patient experience of discharge, as well as understanding patient needs and concerns, is prudent. Leveraging this knowledge may expedite patient discharge and potentially minimize hospital readmission rates. The purpose of this study was to better understand the discharge experiences and concerns of patients with multiple chronic diseases—a population currently understudied. In this study, qualitative survey data were analyzed from a large scale, mixed methods study that took place in 2011 at Bridgepoint Hospital, a complex continuing care and rehabilitation facility in Toronto, Canada. One hundred and sixteen patients were interviewed individually using a self-designed survey composed of open- and close-ended questions. All data pertaining to hospital discharge were extracted and examined using qualitative descriptive analysis. Key discharge concerns were related to process (next steps in the care plan, friction in the provider–patient relationship, premature discharge), consequences (relocation, impact on family, leaving the comforts and security of the hospital), and needs (availability of home care, managing daily activities, navigating the predisability home). Our findings are presented in a patient-centered framework that can be used as a guide for future discharge strategies for complex patient populations.
Evaluation of Disease and Pest Damage on Soybean Cultivars Released from 1923 through 2008 under Field Conditions in Central Illinois
Authors: Hartman G. L. , Bowen C. R. , Haudenshield J. S. , Fox C. M. , Cary T. R. , Diers B. W.
Published: September 2015

Diseases and pests of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] often reduce soybean yields. Targeted breeding that incorporates known genes for resistance and non‐targeted breeding that eliminates susceptible plants in breeding populations reduces the impact of soybean pathogens and pests. Maturity group (MG) III soybean cultivars released from 1923 through 2008 were grown in three field environments to determine if disease and insect ratings were associated with year of cultivar release. Disease and pest ratings were evaluated on 40 soybean cultivars at one location (Urbana, IL) planted in two rotation treatments in 2010 and on 59 cultivars in two locations (Urbana and Arthur) in 2011. During the season, foliar disease symptoms and insect foliar feeding damage were recorded. At harvest maturity, stem diseases were assessed. In at least one environment, foliar incidence reached 100% for bacterial diseases, brown spot (Septoria glycines Hemmi), and insect foliar feeding damage and 100% incidence for anthracnose [Colletotrichum truncatum (Schwein.) Andrus & W.D. Moore], Cercospora stem blight (Cercospora kikuchii T. Matsumoto & Tomoy.), and charcoal rot [Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid.] on stems for all cultivars. For the nine different disease and pest severity assessments in 2010, seven had a significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation to year of cultivar release indicating that cultivars more recently released had lower severity ratings than cultivars with older release dates. This study demonstrated that incidence and severity of diseases were less pronounced on more newly‐released soybean cultivars, showing that decades of breeding has resulted in increased disease resistance in modern soybean cultivars.
Ground Cover Assessment of Perennial Ryegrass Using Digital Imaging
Authors: Lynch Tiina M. H. , Barth Susanne , Dix Philip J. , Grogan Dermot , Grant Jim , Grant Olga M.
Published: September 2015

Ground‐cover assessments of grassland swards provide information on durability and persistence, which in turn relate to disease resistance and competitive ability. These assessments are traditionally performed visually, but digital imaging can provide a more accurate method of ground‐cover scoring. Differences in ground cover between late‐heading perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars in four trials (2 yr of sowing and two sites) were determined using both digital imaging and visual scoring. Ground‐cover percentages were calculated from digital images with public‐domain software on the basis of color separation of grass leaves from bare soil. For both years of sowing, highly significant interactions of cultivar and site were detected. Significant differences between cultivars were detected in three out of four trials, with diploid cultivars having greater cover than tetraploids in the older trials. Thus digital image analysis of ground cover may be a useful tool in crop improvement and provision of guidelines regarding suitability of a particular cultivar for a particular site.
Parametric and adsorption kinetic studies of methylene blue removal from simulated textile water using durian (Durio zibethinus murray) skin
Authors: Anisuzzaman S. M. , Joseph Collin G. , Krishnaiah D. , Bono A. , Ooi L. C.
Published: September 2015

In this study, durian (Durio zibethinus Murray) skin was examined for its ability to remove methylene blue (MB) dye from simulated textile wastewater. Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of MB removal from aqueous solutions at different parametric conditions such as different initial concentrations (2–10 mg/L), biosorbent dosages (0.3–0.7 g) and pH solution (4–9) onto durian skin were studied using batch adsorption. The amount of MB adsorbed increased from 3.45 to 17.31 mg/g with the increase in initial concentration of MB dye; whereas biosorbent dosage increased from 1.08 to 2.47 mg/g. Maximum dye adsorption capacity of the durian skin was found to increase from 3.78 to 6.40 mg/g, with increasing solution pH. Equilibrium isotherm data were analyzed according to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The sorption equilibrium was best described by the Freundlich isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity of 7.23 mg/g and this was due to the heterogeneous nature of the durian skin surface. Kinetic studies indicated that the sorption of MB dye tended to follow the pseudo second-order kinetic model with promising correlation of 0.9836 < R2 < 0.9918.
Biosorption of Congo Red from aqueous solution by Bacillus weihenstephanensis RI12; effect of SPB1 biosurfactant addition on biodecolorization potency
Authors: Mnif Inès , Fendri Raouia , Ghribi Dhouha
Published: September 2015

Bacillus weihenstephanensis RI12, isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soil, was assessed for Congo Red bio-treatment potency. Results suggested the potential of this bacterium for use in effective treatment of Congo Red contaminated wastewaters under shaking conditions at acidic and neutral pH value. The strain could tolerate higher doses of dyes as it could decolorize up to 1,000 mg/l of Congo Red. When used as microbial surfactant to enhance Congo Red biodecolorization, Bacillus subtilis SPB1-derived lipopeptide accelerated the decolorization rate and maximized the decolorization efficiency at an optimal concentration of biosurfactant of about 0.075%. Studies ensured that Congo Red removal by this strain could be due to an adsorption phenomena. Germination potencies of tomato seeds using the treated dyes under different conditions showed the efficient biotreatment of the azo dye Congo Red especially with the addition of SPB1 biosurfactant. To conclude, the addition of SPB1 bioemulsifier reduced energy costs by reducing the effective decolorization period; the biosurfactant stimulated bacterial decolorization method may provide a highly efficient, inexpensive and time-saving procedure in the treatment of textile effluents.
A novel poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/diatomite composite flocculant with outstanding flocculation performance
Authors: Xu Kun , Liu Yao , Wang Yang , Tan Ying , Liang Xuecheng , Lu Cuige , Wang Haiwei , Liu Xiusheng , Wang Pixin
Published: September 2015

Series of anionic flocculants with outstanding flocculation performance, poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/diatomite composite flocculants (PAAD) were successfully prepared through aqueous solution copolymerization and applied to flocculate from oil-field fracturing waste-water. The structure of PAAD was characterized by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy , 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray diffraction tests, and its properties were systematically evaluated by viscometer, thermogravimetry analysis and flocculation measurements. Furthermore, the influences of various reaction parameters on the apparent viscosity of flocculant solution were studied, and the optimum synthesis condition was determined. The novel composite flocculants exhibited outstanding flocculation properties. Specifically, the dosage of composite flocculants that could make the transmittance of treated wastewater exceed 90% was only approximately 12–35 ppm, which was far lower than that of conventional flocculants. Meanwhile, the settling time was lower than 5 s, which was similar to that of conventional flocculants. This was because PAAD flocculants had a higher absorption capacity, and larger chain extending space than conventional linear flocculants, which could refrain from the entanglement of linear polymer chains and significantly improve flocculation capacity.
Effects of the incorporation of drinking water sludge on the anaerobic digestion of domestic wastewater sludge for methane production
Authors: Torres-Lozada Patricia , Díaz-Granados José Sánchez , Parra-Orobio Brayan Alexis
Published: September 2015

Water purification and wastewater treatment generate sludge, which must be adequately handled to prevent detrimental effects to the environment and public health. In this study, we examined the influence of the application of settled sludge from a drinking water treatment plant (SDWTP) on the anaerobic digestion (AD) of the thickened primary sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (SWWTP) which uses chemically assisted primary treatment (CAPT). On both plants the primary coagulant is ferric chloride. The study was performed at laboratory scale using specific methanogenic activity (SMA) tests, in which mixtures of SWWTP–SDWTP with the ratios 100:00, 80:20, 75:25, 70:30 and 00:100 were evaluated. Methane detection was also performed by gas chromatography for a period of 30 days. Our results show that all evaluated ratios that incorporate SDWTP, produce an inhibitory effect on the production of methane. The reduction in methane production ranged from 26% for the smallest concentration of SDWTP (20%) to more than 70% for concentrations higher than 25%. The results indicated that the hydrolytic stage was significantly affected, with the hydrolysis constant Kh also reduced by approximately 70% (0.24–0.26 day−1 for the different ratios compared with 0.34 day−1 for the SWWTP alone). This finding demonstrates that the best mixtures to be considered for anaerobic co-digestion must contain a fraction of SDWTP below 20%.
Evaluation of thermal steam-explosion key operation factors to optimize biogas production from biological sludge
Authors: Pérez-Elvira S. I. , Sapkaite I. , Fdz-Polanco F.
Published: September 2015

Thermal steam-explosion is the most extended hydrolysis pretreatment to enhance anaerobic digestion of sludge. Thermal hydrolysis key parameters are temperature (T) and time (t), and the generally accepted values reported from full-scale information are: 150–230 °C and 20–60 min. This study assesses the influence of different temperature–time–flash combinations (110–180 °C, 5–60 min, 1–3 re-flashing) on the anaerobic degradation of secondary sludge through biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests. All the conditions tested presented higher methane production compared to the untreated sludge, and both solubilization (after the hydrolysis) and degradation (by anaerobic digestion) increased linearly when increasing the severity (T–t) of the pretreatment, reaching 40% solubilization and degradation of the particulate matter at 180° C–60 min. However, for the 180 °C temperature, the treatment time impacted negatively on the lag phase. No influence of re-flashing the pretreated matter was observed. In conclusion, thermal steam-explosion at short operation times (5 min) and moderate temperatures (145 °C) seems to be very attractive from a degradation point of view thus presenting a methane production enhancement similar to the one obtained at 180°C and without negative influence of the lag phase.