bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topical Application of Apricot Kernel Extract Improves Dry Eye Symptoms in a Unilateral Exorbital Lacrimal Gland Excision Mouse
Authors: Kim Chan-Sik , Jo Kyuhyung , Lee Ik-Soo , Kim Junghyun
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of topical application of apricot kernel extract (AKE) in a unilateral exorbital lacrimal gland excision mouse model of experimental dry eye. Dry eye was induced by surgical removal of the lacrimal gland. Eye drops containing 0.5 or 1 mg/mL AKE were administered twice a day from day 3 to day 7 after surgery. Tear fluid volume and corneal irregularity scores were determined. In addition, we examined the immunohistochemical expression level of Muc4. The topical administration of AKE dose-dependently improved all clinical dry eye symptoms by promoting the secretion of tear fluid and mucin. Thus, the results of this study indicate that AKE may be an efficacious topical agent for treating dry eye disease.
Optical Aptamer Probes of Fluorescent Imaging to Rapid Monitoring of Circulating Tumor Cell
Authors: Hwang Ji , Kim Sang , Han Ho-Seong , Kim Kyunggon , Han Jin
Published: November 2016

Fluorescence detecting of exogenous EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) or muc1 (mucin1) expression correlated to cancer metastasis using nanoparticles provides pivotal information on CTC (circulating tumor cell) occurrence in a noninvasive tool. In this study, we study a new skill to detect extracellular EpCAM/muc1 using quantum dot-based aptamer beacon (QD-EpCAM/muc1 ALB (aptamer linker beacon). The QD-EpCAM/muc1 ALB was designed using QDs (quantum dots) and probe. The EpCAM/muc1-targeting aptamer contains a Ep-CAM/muc1 binding sequence and BHQ1 (black hole quencher 1) or BHQ2 (black hole quencher2). In the absence of target EpCAM/muc1, the QD-EpCAM/muc1 ALB forms a partial duplex loop-like aptamer beacon and remained in quenched state because the BHQ1/2 quenches the fluorescence signal-on of the QD-EpCAM/muc1 ALB. The binding of EpCAM/muc1 of CTC to the EpCAM/muc1 binding aptamer sequence of the EpCAM/muc1-targeting oligonucleotide triggered the dissociation of the BHQ1/2 quencher and subsequent signal-on of a green/red fluorescence signal. Furthermore, acute inflammation was stimulated by trigger such as caerulein in vivo, which resulted in increased fluorescent signal of the cy5.5-EpCAM/muc1 ALB during cancer metastasis due to exogenous expression of EpCAM/muc1 in Panc02-implanted mouse model.
Automated Urban Travel Interpretation: A Bottom-up Approach for Trajectory Segmentation
Authors: Das Rahul , Winter Stephan
Published: November 2016

Understanding travel behavior is critical for an effective urban planning as well as for enabling various context-aware service provisions to support mobility as a service (MaaS). Both applications rely on the sensor traces generated by travellers’ smartphones. These traces can be used to interpret travel modes, both for generating automated travel diaries as well as for real-time travel mode detection. Current approaches segment a trajectory by certain criteria, e.g., drop in speed. However, these criteria are heuristic, and, thus, existing approaches are subjective and involve significant vagueness and uncertainty in activity transitions in space and time. Also, segmentation approaches are not suited for real time interpretation of open-ended segments, and cannot cope with the frequent gaps in the location traces. In order to address all these challenges a novel, state based bottom-up approach is proposed. This approach assumes a fixed atomic segment of a homogeneous state, instead of an event-based segment, and a progressive iteration until a new state is found. The research investigates how an atomic state-based approach can be developed in such a way that can work in real time, near-real time and offline mode and in different environmental conditions with their varying quality of sensor traces. The results show the proposed bottom-up model outperforms the existing event-based segmentation models in terms of adaptivity, flexibility, accuracy and richness in information delivery pertinent to automated travel behavior interpretation.
Three-Dimensional Object Recognition and Registration for Robotic Grasping Systems Using a Modified Viewpoint Feature Histogram
Authors: Chen Chin-Sheng , Chen Po-Chun , Hsu Chih-Ming
Published: November 2016

This paper presents a novel 3D feature descriptor for object recognition and to identify poses when there are six-degrees-of-freedom for mobile manipulation and grasping applications. Firstly, a Microsoft Kinect sensor is used to capture 3D point cloud data. A viewpoint feature histogram (VFH) descriptor for the 3D point cloud data then encodes the geometry and viewpoint, so an object can be simultaneously recognized and registered in a stable pose and the information is stored in a database. The VFH is robust to a large degree of surface noise and missing depth information so it is reliable for stereo data. However, the pose estimation for an object fails when the object is placed symmetrically to the viewpoint. To overcome this problem, this study proposes a modified viewpoint feature histogram (MVFH) descriptor that consists of two parts: a surface shape component that comprises an extended fast point feature histogram and an extended viewpoint direction component. The MVFH descriptor characterizes an object’s pose and enhances the system’s ability to identify objects with mirrored poses. Finally, the refined pose is further estimated using an iterative closest point when the object has been recognized and the pose roughly estimated by the MVFH descriptor and it has been registered on a database. The estimation results demonstrate that the MVFH feature descriptor allows more accurate pose estimation. The experiments also show that the proposed method can be applied in vision-guided robotic grasping systems.
Peroxynitrite Sensor Based on a Screen Printed Carbon Electrode Modified with a Poly(2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene) Film
Authors: Hosu Ioana , Constantinescu-Aruxandei Diana , Jecu Maria-Luiza , Oancea Florin , Badea Doni Mihaela
Published: November 2016

For the first time the electropolymerization of 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene (2,6-DHN) on a screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was investigated and evaluated for peroxynitrite (PON) detection. Cyclic voltammetry was used to electrodeposit the poly(2,6-DHN) on the carbon electrode surface. The surface morphology and structure of poly(2,6-DHN) film were investigated by SEM and FTIR analysis, and the electrochemical features by cyclic voltammetry. The poly(2,6-DHN)/SPCE sensor showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for PON oxidation in alkaline solutions at very low potentials (0–100 mV vs. Ag/AgCl pseudoreference). An amperometric FIA (flow injection analysis) system based on the developed sensor was optimized for PON measurements and a linear concentration range from 2 to 300 μM PON, with a LOD of 0.2 μM, was achieved. The optimized sensor inserted in the FIA system exhibited good sensitivity (4.12 nA·μM−1), selectivity, stability and intra-/inter-electrode reproducibility for PON determination.
Improved Goldstein Interferogram Filter Based on Local Fringe Frequency Estimation
Authors: Feng Qingqing , Xu Huaping , Wu Zhefeng , You Yanan , Liu Wei , Ge Shiqi
Published: November 2016

The quality of an interferogram, which is limited by various phase noise, will greatly affect the further processes of InSAR, such as phase unwrapping. Interferometric SAR (InSAR) geophysical measurements’, such as height or displacement, phase filtering is therefore an essential step. In this work, an improved Goldstein interferogram filter is proposed to suppress the phase noise while preserving the fringe edges. First, the proposed adaptive filter step, performed before frequency estimation, is employed to improve the estimation accuracy. Subsequently, to preserve the fringe characteristics, the estimated fringe frequency in each fixed filtering patch is removed from the original noisy phase. Then, the residual phase is smoothed based on the modified Goldstein filter with its parameter alpha dependent on both the coherence map and the residual phase frequency. Finally, the filtered residual phase and the removed fringe frequency are combined to generate the filtered interferogram, with the loss of signal minimized while reducing the noise level. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by experimental results based on both simulated and real data.
Radius and Orientation Measurement for Cylindrical Objects by a Light Section Sensor
Authors: Chen Youdong , Liu Chongxu
Published: November 2016

In this paper, an efficient method based on a light section sensor is presented for measuring cylindrical objects’ radii and orientations in a robotic application. By this method, the cylindrical objects can be measured under some special conditions, such as when the cylindrical objects are welded with others, or in the presence of interferences. Firstly, the measurement data are roughly identified and accurately screened to effectively recognize ellipses. Secondly, the data are smoothed and homogenized to eliminate the effect of laser line loss or jump and reduce the influence of the inhomogeneity of measurement data on the ellipse fitting to a minimum. Finally, the ellipse fitting is carried out to obtain the radii and orientations of the cylindrical objects. Measuring experiments and results demonstrate the effective of the proposed radius and orientation measurement method for cylindrical object.
A Spatial Analytic Hierarchy Process for Identification of Water Pollution with GIS Software in an Eco-Economy Environment
Authors: Serbu Razvan , Marza Bogdan , Borza Sorin
Published: November 2016

Water pollution has become a global problem and its impact on the health of the human population is growing day by day. This study aims to assess the pollution of the Cibin River (Romania) by a physicochemical analysis. Water samples have been collected from four locations along the Cibin River over a period of 12 months. At this time, there are several commonly used Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods for the assessing the impact of pollutants on the environment. In this research, we used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) multi-criteria method to evaluate each sampling station’s physicochemical parameters. The significant results place the river in the first (sampling stations 1, 2 and 3) and second (sampling stations 4) water quality classes. Another significant result of this work is that the research using GIS software allowed an integrated automatic data collection system and displays interactive results.
Big Bounce Genesis and Possible Experimental Tests: A Brief Review
Authors: Cheung Yeuk-Kwan , Li Changhong , Vergados Joannis
Published: November 2016

We review the recent status of big bounce genesis as a new possibility of using dark matter particles’ mass and interaction cross-section to test the existence of a bounce universe at the early stage of evolution in our currently-observed universe. To study the dark matter production and evolution inside the bounce universe, called big bounce genesis for short, we propose a model independent approach. We shall present the motivation for proposing big bounce, as well as the model independent predictions, which can be tested by dark matter direct searches. A positive finding shall have profound impact on our understanding of the early universe physics.
Pathogens Inactivated by Low-Energy-Electron Irradiation Maintain Antigenic Properties and Induce Protective Immune Responses
Authors: Fertey Jasmin , Bayer Lea , Grunwald Thomas , Pohl Alexandra , Beckmann Jana , Gotzmann Gaby , Casado Javier , Schönfelder Jessy , Rögner Frank-Holm , Wetzel Christiane , Thoma Martin , Bailer Susanne , Hiller Ekkehard , Rupp Steffen , Ulbert Sebastian
Published: November 2016

Inactivated vaccines are commonly produced by incubating pathogens with chemicals such as formaldehyde or β-propiolactone. This is a time-consuming process, the inactivation efficiency displays high variability and extensive downstream procedures are often required. Moreover, application of chemicals alters the antigenic components of the viruses or bacteria, resulting in reduced antibody specificity and therefore stimulation of a less effective immune response. An alternative method for inactivation of pathogens is ionizing radiation. It acts very fast and predominantly damages nucleic acids, conserving most of the antigenic structures. However, currently used irradiation technologies (mostly gamma-rays and high energy electrons) require large and complex shielding constructions to protect the environment from radioactivity or X-rays generated during the process. This excludes them from direct integration into biological production facilities. Here, low-energy electron irradiation (LEEI) is presented as an alternative inactivation method for pathogens in liquid solutions. LEEI can be used in normal laboratories, including good manufacturing practice (GMP)- or high biosafety level (BSL)-environments, as only minor shielding is necessary. We show that LEEI efficiently inactivates different viruses (influenza A (H3N8), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)) and bacteria (Escherichia coli) and maintains their antigenicity. Moreover, LEEI-inactivated influenza A viruses elicit protective immune responses in animals, as analyzed by virus neutralization assays and viral load determination upon challenge. These results have implications for novel ways of developing and manufacturing inactivated vaccines with improved efficacy.
Sydnone C-4 heteroarylation with an indolizine ring via Chichibabin indolizine synthesis
Authors: Albota Florin , Caira Mino R , Draghici Constantin , Dumitrascu Florea , Dumitrescu Denisa E
Published: November 2016

The synthesis of sydnones heteroarylated at C-4 with an indolizine was achieved by Chichibabin (Tschitschibabin) indolizine synthesis starting from the corresponding sydnone-N-pyridinium bromides. The latter compounds were also transformed to sydnone-indolizines connected through a keto group at the C-4 position by refluxing them in 1,2-epoxybutane with an activated alkyne. The structures of the new compounds were assigned by FTIR, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis.
ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITIES TO ACHIEVE THE LOW ENERGY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS STANDARDS
Authors: BASIŃSKA Małgorzata , KOCZYK Halina
Published: November 2016

The article applies the global costs calculation method to the energy assessment of selected solutions for the technical equipping of buildings, dependant on their purpose and function. Representative archetypes, the life span of which were assumed to be 30-years, were used to estimate the performance of the minimum requirements according to the building regulations valid in 2013, current general standards, as well as low energy building and passive house standards. The subjects of the analysis were three residential buildings, for which the variability of the cladding and ventilation needs was assumed. In all analysed cases the application of four systems of energy supply to the building was also assumed. The optimal level of primary energy index value, dependant on the source of heat, was established by means of the global cost method. This level was then compared with the requirements presently valid in Poland. The analysis also allowed for the determination of the growth in investment costs, that must be considered in order to achieve the energy needed for heating and ventilation at the level of 40 kWh/m2/a or 15 kWh/m2/a. The analysis presents a comparison of the subsidized loans for energy-efficient houses offered by the Polish Government.
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY TAX IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AS AN INSTRUMENT OF FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION
Authors: JANOUŠKOVÁ Jana , SOBOTOVIČOVÁ Šárka
Published: November 2016

The issue of fiscal decentralization is connected with efforts to build a space for own decision-making in municipalities when raising funds. In the framework of fiscal decentralization, municipalities in the Czech Republic have an opportunity to influence immovable property tax revenues. The aim of the research is to find out the municipalities’ attitude towards the possibility of increasing immovable property tax revenues through a coefficient and how this option is used by municipalities. In the article, there is a description of the immovable property tax development in the Czech Republic on the basis of time series. The research relies on the evaluation of secondary statistical data and on the results of primary research focused on the application of the local coefficient. Municipalities have the option to edit tax components and the amount of tax reflects then the specificities and needs of the community. However, almost 92% of municipalities still postpone the introduction of a local coefficient. The motivation for the introduction of local coefficients was an increase in municipalities’ revenues generally or the need to fund specific projects. On the other hand the empirical research showed that some form of compensation is introduced in 46% of the municipalities.
Le mirage de l’oralité dans le roman chinois contemporain
Authors: Zhang Yinde
Published: November 2016

RÉSUMÉ L’oralité dialectale qui a investi récemment la production romanesque en Chine réactualise les débats sur les rapports entre création littéraire et communauté linguistique. La présente étude a pour visée de réexaminer les tensions permanentes entre le champ littéraire aspirant à l’autonomie et la normativité linguistique dictée par les impératifs politiques, idéologiques ou économiques de l’État-nation. On cherchera à montrer comment les écrivains se réapproprient actuellement la langue vernaculaire pour préserver leur subjectivité créative dans une négociation avec le système.
Pour une esthétique écologique du paysage
Authors: Delord Julien
Published: November 2016

La philosophie de l’environnement a bouleversé la conception moderne de de l’homme en reconnaissant la part des relations écologiques et des limites environnementales qui le façonnent. Le paysage, à la fois produit des interactions écologiques et espace soumis au jugement esthétique, ne pouvait rester indifférent aux innovations conceptuelles de la pensée environnementale. En ce sens, l’idée de « tiers-paysage » défendue par le paysagiste Gilles Clément a introduit une rupture avec le dogme idéaliste de la philosophie classique du paysage, dont les jugements esthétiques étaient informés par les canons de l’art pictural. Nous nous proposons de prolonger le geste de Clément et de mener à son terme la déconstruction du paysage classique en proposant une appréhension naturaliste du paysage dont le paradigme central serait le tiers-paysage et son fondement sauvage. De ce choix découle une argumentation en faveur d’une esthétique objectiviste du paysage inspirée des théories d’Allen Carlson à laquelle nous adjoignons une dimension évolutionniste qui traduit l’unité originelle et l’interdépendance des relations esthétiques qui englobent toutes les formes de vie dans leur dynamique « paysageante ».
L’« homme vitruvien » et les enjeux de la représentation du corps dans les arts à la Renaissance
Authors: Marcucci Laetitia
Published: November 2016

La « figure vitruvienne », héritée du traité De architectura de Vitruve, et les variations auxquelles elle donne lieu dans les arts à la Renaissance révèlent une grande diversité de formes et un remaniement du canon antique. En s’appuyant sur une méthode historique et conceptuelle, l’article entend mettre à jour les enjeux esthétiques suscités par la représentation du corps humain dans les arts, en tenant compte de la diversité des voies empruntées par les artistes de la Renaissance, influencés qui plus est par la tentation de la mathématisation, la physiognomonie et la recherche de l’expressivité.
Gamification Transformed
Authors: Dubbels Brock Randall
Published: November 2016

Gamification may provide new venues for offering customer experiences. The chapter compares three models of game play analyzed through user experience research. In section 1, the three models are presented: Grind Core, Freemium, and Immersion. These models are differentiated as value delivered, and user experience. Value and experience are defined across four categories: function, emotion, life change and social impact. In section 2, the role of emotion, value, and experience are described to inform how games can be transformative, providing the life change and social impact through the immersion experience model. This chapter is intended to help developers identify what kind of value experience they want to provide their customers, and provide a new view of gamification.
The Relationship between Avatar-Based Customization, Player Identification, and Motivation
Authors: Turkay Selen , Kinzer Charles K.
Published: November 2016

Player identification is an outcome of gameplay experiences in virtual worlds and has been shown to affect enjoyment and reduce self-discrepancy. Avatar customization has potential to impact player identification by shaping the relationship between the player and the character. This mixed method study examines the effects of avatar-based customization on players' identification with their characters, and the effects of identification dimensions (i.e., perceived similarity, wishful identification, embodied presence) on their motivation in a massively multiplayer online game, Lord of the Rings Online (LotRO). Participants (N = 66) played LotRO either in customization or in no-customization group for ten hours in four sessions in a lab setting. Data were collected through interviews and surveys. Results showed both time and avatar customization positively impacted player identification with their characters. Player motivation was predicted in different sessions by different identification dimensions, which shows the dynamic and situational impact of identification on motivation.
Social Media Uses and Effects
Authors: Pindayi Brian
Published: November 2016

This chapter aims at analysing the effects of social media on African society by focusing on WhatsApp usage. The chapter will; one, show how usage of WhatsApp is affecting interpersonal relationships in Africa. Two, evaluate the common uses of WhatsApp in Africa. Three, scrutinise the reasons people in Africa prefer using WhatsApp. Four, add theoretical perspectives on how social media is impacting on the communication landscape of the region. The chapter will also introduce two concepts, one; medium veracity wherein different media have varying levels of trust or credibility and two; the social media domino effect, wherein social media platforms are mutually dependent and have a symbiotic relationship. By examining why people are using WhatsApp, this chapter seeks to add to the empirical conversation on futility and the transformative potential of social media.
World Bioethics Day Giornata Mondiale di Bioetica su dignità umana e diritti umani
Authors: Spagnolo Antonio G.
Published: November 2016

Non disponibile / Not available
The human rights to life and conscience and resolving conflicts of human rights
Authors: Meaney Joseph , Casini Marina , Midolo Emanuela , Spagnolo Antonio G.
Published: November 2016

Gli autori affrontano la questione del criterio da seguire per risolvere le situazioni in cui i diritti umani legalmente riconosciuti entrano in conflitto tra loro. La questione è aggravata dalla mancanza di consenso per quanto riguarda le priorità tra i diritti umani. Tuttavia, gli autori ritengono che quando è in gioco il diritto alla vita, questo – sia dal punto di vista etico che giuridico – dovrebbe prevalere sulle rivendicazioni di altri diritti, quanto meno nella sua formulazione negativa (non cagionare la morte). Si tratta infatti, logicamente e cronologicamente del più fondamentale dei diritti. Gli autori ritengono che vi sia una forte logica a stabilire una priorità tra le tre generazioni di diritti umani andando dal più al meno importante. È comunque un utile esercizio quello di esaminare – nella dimensione del conflitto tra diritti – la questione del diritto al rispetto della coscienza nell’ambito sanitario, cercando di stabilire l’ordine delle priorità. Gli autori approvano la posizione assunta da legislazioni e decisioni giudiziarie che generalmente assicurano il riconoscimento del diritto al rispetto della coscienza per gli operatori sanitari.The authors raise the question of what should be done when legally recognized human rights come into conflict. This serious problem is further complicated by a lack of consensus concerning prioritization among human rights. Nevertheless, the authors believe that a solid legal and ethical case can be made that the right to life should trump other human rights claims, particularly in its negative version. It is in fact, logically and chronologically the most basic human right. The authors believe that there is a strong logic to prioritizing the three generations of human rights as generally more important to less so. Viewing the problem of conscience rights in healthcare settings through the prism of conflicting rights and attempting to determine which rights should prevail is also a helpful exercise. The authors concur with the generally high position that the human right of conscience of healthcare professionals has been granted in most legislation and court decisions on the issue.
Il dibattito in Bioetica - I moduli informativi e di espressione del consenso in cure palliative: una valorizzazione dei percorsi relazionali. L’esperienza di Antea
Authors: Iannone Maria Teresa , Lerro Federica , Casale Giuseppe , Sacchini Dario
Published: November 2016

Non disponibile / Not available
Tidal airway closure in asthma and COPD
Authors: Tantucci Claudio , Pini Laura
Published: November 2016

Functional closure of small airways can occur during tidal breathing above functional residual capacity (FRC) both in asthma and COPD patients, especially during exacerbations. Such event has several noxious consequences on gas exchange, airway hyperresponsiveness and mechanical stress and strain within lung tissue and airway wall, mostly due to increase in ventilation heterogeneity. The availability of simple functional tests based on sequential measurements of lung volumes (i.e.: FRC), by plethysmography and dilutional techniques may reveal and monitor easily tidal airway closure that can be and should be treated with the aim of abolishing or at least reducing this dangerous condition.
Politics of faith: Transforming religious communities and spiritual subjectivities in post-apartheid South Africa
Authors: McEwen Haley , Steyn Melissa
Published: November 2016

The enforcement of racial segregation during apartheid was aimed not only at regulating public spaces, residential areas and the workforce, but also at shaping the subjectivities of individuals who were socialised to see themselves through the lens of a white racial hierarchy. The ideology of white supremacy and superiority that informed apartheid policy was largely justified using Christonormative epistemologies that sought to legitimate the racial hierarchy as having basis in Holy Scripture and as an extension of God’s will. At the same time, apartheid policy fragmented religious communities, entrenching race as a central component of spiritual subjectivities. Twenty years after the end of apartheid, the legacy of apartheid continues to shape the lives and opportunities of all people living in South Africa, despite many gains made in working towards a non-racial, non-sexist democracy. While much scholarly attention has been paid to postapartheid contexts of work, residency and recreation, relatively little attention has been paid to spaces of worship. This is surprising, given that religious belief and practice are widespread in South Africa in the first instance, and that Christian belief, in particular, was so central to the social imaginary of apartheid, in the second. Thus, in efforts to transform society and advance social justice, it is imperative to consider diversity, difference and otherness from the perspective of, and in relation to, contemporary religious communities and contexts. This article will consider some of the factors shaping dynamics of diversity and difference within the context of religious communities in South Africa, over 20 years into democracy.
An other-typological illustration of the Exodus story according to Dr King’s perception of universal reconciliation in his sermon on Exodus 14:30
Authors: Yang Sunggu
Published: November 2016

The article contends that Dr King makes an other-typological illustrative use of the Exodus story in his preaching – one of the most significant biblical narratives that the Black church in the US holds dear. This peculiar use of the Exodus story differentiates itself from the conventional typological understanding and use of the same story in the Black church’s history. While in the latter the Exodus story has a symbolic meaning of the irreconcilable conflict between the oppressed and the oppressing reality, in the former the same story contains a spiritual lesson that what is really hoped for in the midst of the seemingly irreconcilable racial and social conflict is compassion, liberation, and reconciliation for both parties involved. This article, by examining a representative sermon of Dr King on the Exodus story, shows that his other-typological illustrative approach originates from his fundamental theological ideal of universal reconciliation.
The prospect of humanising development discourse in Africa through Christian anthropology
Authors: Ogbonnaya Joseph
Published: November 2016

The invention of development as public discourse began with US President Truman’s 1949 speech that trumped up an illusion of global material prosperity based on a total restructuring of the ‘developing’ world on the model of development and material achievement of the West. Truman argued that this painful process was the only recipe for world prosperity. After decades of serious engagement on development discourse and multiple implementations of successive theories, the situation of the developing countries has not improved as rapidly as expected. At the same time, the developed countries are experiencing various forms of financial crises. This article acknowledges the professionalisation of development discourse, and proposes humanising development discourse in Africa in the light of Christian anthropology. This vision of integral development promotes the common good on the basis of God’s love and respect for the uniqueness of the human person.
A learning-oriented framework for e-portfolio development in distance education
Authors: Van Staden Christina J.
Published: November 2016

George Kuh’s (2008) list of 10 high-impact practices, supported by the American Association for Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), was amended early 2016 to include eportfolios. It is important, since it was the first amendment of the list. In this paper, the author reported on the usefulness of a learning-oriented framework for facilitating e-portfolio development in tertiary distance education. The framework integrates the three principles of a learning-oriented approach to assessment, namely that assessment tasks should be learning-oriented, that the student should be actively involved in self and peer assessment, and that quick, frequent feedback should be given to promote current and future learning. The learning tasks were designed to simultaneously provide opportunities to demonstrate the key competencies that ought to be developed during higher education. A variety of technologies were integrated to promote informal, accidental, selfdirected, selfregulated, cooperative, networked, experiential and transformative learning and the development of a community of practice. An investigation into one of the eportfolios, developed within this framework, shows that the student demonstrated achievement towards learning outcomes, while the level of development of key competencies could simultaneously be demonstrated and traced. After being exposed to a demanding, challenging, and frequently solo journey, the student states that the degree is valuable since she was not required to ‘merely regurgitate[d] the text book in parrot fashion in the exam’, she had to demonstrate the ‘ability to do something practical’. Based on this statement, eportfolios can be regarded as a high-impact educational practice.
La literatura científica sobre rankings universitarios: una revisión sistemática
Authors: Tomàs-Folch Marina , Feixas Monica , Bernabeu Maria Dolors , Ruíz José María
Published: November 2016

Presentamos una revisión sistemática de la literatura científica sobre rankings universitarios. En concreto, hemos indagado sobre la existencia de tendencias  en los métodos utilizados en los estudios publicados en artículos de revistas especializadas.

La muestra de artículos seleccionados de acuerdo a los criterios de búsqueda planteados ha sido de 28 artículos. Las fuentes de datos provienen de las bases de datos ISI y SCOPUS on-line utilizando las palabras clave “rankings”, “higher education” y “universidad” en ciencias sociales y humanidades en el período 2000 a 2012.

Los resultados de la revisión sistemática nos muestran  que los artículos publicados  tienen una orientación más cuantitativa (N=22) que cualitativa (N=6), con enfoques más generalistas (N=21) que específicos (N=7), con pretensión generalizadora (N=24) frente  (N=4) a los de alcance local y que la mayor concentración de las referencias que incluyen los artículos analizados han estado publicados entre los años 2005-2010.

Se concluye que existe un creciente interés y preocupación por los estudios, investigaciones y publicaciones  de artículos sobre rankings universitarios.

 
Percepciones hacia el aprendizaje cooperativo del alumnado del Máster de Formación del Profesorado de Secundaria
Authors: Gil Molina Pilar
Published: November 2016

Este estudio cualitativo ha explorado las percepciones del alumnado del Máster de Formación del Profesorado de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanzas de Idiomas (MFPS) de la Universidad del País Vasco (UPV-EHU) sobre el aprendizaje cooperativo (AC). La muestra ha estado por formada por 65 sujetos matriculados en 6 especialidades diferentes del MFPS y que han trabajado de forma colaborativa en 15 grupos de trabajos en la materia “Aprendizaje y desarrollo de la personalidad”. Para la recogida de datos se ha utilizado un cuestionario de preguntas abiertas que ha sido cumplimentado por cada grupo de trabajo. Se han obtenido un total de 273 respuestas correspondientes a tres categorías: 1) Identificación de los aprendizajes realizados en la materia; 2) Identificación de los aprendizajes realizados sobre el trabajo colaborativo; y 3) Valoración de la experiencia con la metodología de AC. Del análisis cualitativo de la opinión vertida por los grupos cabe destacar, que la totalidad de ellos ha realizado una evaluación positiva de la experiencia, que para algunos ha resultado ser novedosa. Las percepciones del alumnado señalan que el AC puede potenciar aprendizajes relacionados con la materia y con las competencias de trabajo grupal.   La mayoría se muestra convencida de que esta metodología les será de utilidad como herramienta de trabajo en su futuro profesional como docentes de Educación Secundaria. 
Los Trabajos Fin de Grado: una herramienta para el desarrollo de competencias transversales en la Educación Superior
Authors: Zamora Polo Francisco , Sánchez Martín Jesús
Published: November 2016

Este artículo profundiza en la singularidad de los Trabajos Fin de Grado (TFG) como espacio formativo para desarrollar competencias de tipo transversal en la educación universitaria. A partir de tres casos (dos proyectos fin de carrera de enseñanzas técnicas y un trabajo fin de grado en educación primaria) se evalúa la transversalidad y el grado de consecución de cada uno de los objetivos inicialmente programados. De los resultados aquí expuestos, se puede deducir que los TFG plantean un sustrato interesante para trascender la enseñanza meramente académica y acometer metas más complejas como puede ser la educación integral y ciudadana de los estudiantes universitarios. Una formación, necesaria y demandada tanto por los empleadores como por la propia sociedad. 

 
Detection of atmospheric gaseous amines and amides by a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer with protonated ethanol reagent ions
Authors: Yao Lei , Wang Ming-Yi , Wang Xin-Ke , Liu Yi-Jun , Chen Hang-Fei , Zheng Jun , Nie Wei , Ding Ai-Jun , Geng Fu-Hai , Wang Dong-Fang , Chen Jian-Min , Worsnop Douglas R. , Wang Lin
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Amines and amides are important atmospheric organic-nitrogen compounds but high time resolution, highly sensitive, and simultaneous ambient measurements of these species are rather sparse. Here, we present the development of a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-CIMS) method, utilizing protonated ethanol as reagent ions to simultaneously detect atmospheric gaseous amines (C1 to C6) and amides (C1 to C6). This method possesses sensitivities of 5.6–19.4 Hz pptv−1 for amines and 3.8–38.0 Hz pptv−1 for amides under total reagent ion signals of  ∼  0.32 MHz. Meanwhile, the detection limits were 0.10–0.50 pptv for amines and 0.29–1.95 pptv for amides at 3σ of the background signal for a 1 min integration time. Controlled characterization in the laboratory indicates that relative humidity has significant influences on the detection of amines and amides, whereas the presence of organics has no obvious effects. Ambient measurements of amines and amides utilizing this method were conducted from 25 July to 25 August 2015 in urban Shanghai, China. While the concentrations of amines ranged from a few parts per trillion by volume to hundreds of parts per trillion by volume, concentrations of amides varied from tens of parts per trillion by volume to a few parts per billion by volume. Among the C1- to C6-amines, the C2-amines were the dominant species with concentrations up to 130 pptv. For amides, the C3-amides (up to 8.7 ppb) were the most abundant species. The diurnal and backward trajectory analysis profiles of amides suggest that in addition to the secondary formation of amides in the atmosphere, industrial emissions could be important sources of amides in urban Shanghai. During the campaign, photo-oxidation of amines and amides might be a main loss pathway for them in daytime, and wet deposition was also an important sink.
A Monte Carlo approach for determining cluster evaporation rates from concentration measurements
Authors: Kupiainen-Määttä Oona
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Evaporation rates of small negatively charged sulfuric acid–ammonia clusters are determined by combining detailed cluster formation simulations with cluster distributions measured in the CLOUD experiment at CERN. The analysis is performed by varying the evaporation rates with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), running cluster formation simulations with each new set of evaporation rates and comparing the obtained cluster distributions to the measurements. In a second set of simulations, the fragmentation of clusters in the mass spectrometer due to energetic collisions is studied by treating also the fragmentation probabilities as unknown parameters and varying them with MCMC. This second set of simulations results in a better fit to the experimental data, suggesting that a large fraction of the observed HSO4− and HSO4− ⋅ H2SO4 signals may result from fragmentation of larger clusters, most importantly the HSO4− ⋅ (H2SO4)2 trimer.
Improved MODIS Dark Target aerosol optical depth algorithm over land: angular effect correction
Authors: Wu Yerong , de Graaf Martin , Menenti Massimo
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) product retrieved from MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) measurements has greatly benefited scientific research in climate change and air quality due to its high quality and large coverage over the globe. However, the current product (e.g., Collection 6) over land needs to be further improved. The is because AOD retrieval still suffers large uncertainty from the surface reflectance (e.g., anisotropic reflection) although the impacts of the surface reflectance have been largely reduced using the Dark Target (DT) algorithm. It has been shown that the AOD retrieval over dark surface can be improved by considering surface bidirectional distribution reflectance function (BRDF) effects in previous study. However, the relationship of the surface reflectance between visible and shortwave infrared band that applied in the previous study can lead to an angular dependence of the AOD retrieval. This has at least two reasons. The relationship based on the assumption of isotropic reflection or Lambertian surface is not suitable for the surface bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF). However, although the relationship varies with the surface cover type by considering the vegetation index NDVISWIR, this index itself has a directional effect and affects the estimation of the surface reflection, and it can lead to some errors in the AOD retrieval. To improve this situation, we derived a new relationship for the spectral surface BRF in this study, using 3 years of data from AERONET-based Surface Reflectance Validation Network (ASRVN). To test the performance of the new algorithm, two case studies were used: 2 years of data from North America and 4 months of data from the global land. The results show that the angular effects of the AOD retrieval are largely reduced in most cases, including fewer occurrences of negative retrievals. Particularly, for the global land case, the AOD retrieval was improved by the new algorithm compared to the previous study and MODIS Collection 6 DT algorithm, with the increase of 2.0 and 4.5 % AOD retrievals falling within the expected accuracy envelope ±(0.05 + 15 %), respectively. This implies that the users can get more accurate data without angular bias, i.e., more meaningful AOD data.
Calibrated cryo-cell UV-LA-ICPMS elemental concentrations from
NGRIP ice core reveal abrupt, sub-annual variability in dust across
the interstadial period GI-21.2
Authors: Della Lunga Damiano , Müller Wolfgang , Rasmussen Sune Olander , Svensson Anders , Vallelonga Paul
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Several abrupt shifts from periods of extreme cold (Greenland stadials, GS) to relatively warmer conditions (Greenland interstadials, GI) called Dansgaard-Oeschger events are recorded in the Greenland ice cores. Using cryo-cell UV-laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (UV-LA-ICPMS), we analysed a 2.85 m NGRIP ice core section (~ 250 years; 2691.50–2688.65 m depth) across the transitions of GI-21.2, a short-lived interstadial prior to interstadial GI-21.1 (GI-21.2: 84.87–85.09 ka b2k). GI-21.2 is a ~ 100-year-long period with δ18O values 3–4 ‰ higher than the following ~ 200 years of stadial conditions (GS-21.2), which precede the major GI-21.1 warming. We report concentrations of "major" elements indicative of dust and/or sea salt (Na, Fe, Al, Ca, Mg) at a spatial resolution of ~ 200 μm, while maintaining detection limits in the low-ppb range, thereby achieving sub-annual time resolution even in deep NGRIP ice. We present an improved external calibration and quantification procedure using a set of five ice standards made from aqueous (international) standard solutions. Our results show that element concentrations decrease drastically (more than tenfold) at the warming onset of GI-21.2 at the scale of a single year, followed by relatively low concentrations characterizing the interstadial part before gradually reaching again typical stadial values.
Multi-fidelity fluid–structure interaction analysis of a membrane blade concept in non-rotating, uniform flow condition
Authors: Saeedi Mehran , Bletzinger Kai-Uwe , Wüchner Roland
Published: November 2016

Abstract. In order to study the aerodynamic performance of a semi-flexible membrane blade, fluid–structure interaction simulations have been performed for a non-rotating blade under steady inflow condition. The studied concept blade has a length of about 5 m. It consists of a rigid mast at the leading edge, ribs along the blade, tensioned edge cables at the trailing edge and membranes forming the upper and lower surface of the blade. Equilibrium shape of membrane structures in the absence of external loading depends on the location of the supports and the prestresses in the membranes and the supporting edge cables. Form-finding analysis is used to find the equilibrium shape. The exact form of a membrane structure for the service conditions depends on the internal forces and also on the external loads, which in turn depend on the actual shape. As a result, two-way coupled fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis is necessary to study this class of structures. The fluid problem has been modelled using two different approaches, which are the vortex panel method and the numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations. Nonlinear analysis of the structural problem is performed using the finite-element method. The goal of the current study is twofold: first, to make a comparison between the converged FSI results obtained from the two different methods to solve the fluid problem. This investigation is a prerequisite for the development of an efficient and accurate multi-fidelity simulation concept for different design stages of the flexible blade. The second goal is to study the aerodynamic performance of the membrane blade in terms of lift and drag coefficient as well as lift-to-drag ratio and to compare them with those of the equivalent conventional rigid blade. The blade configuration from the NASA-Ames Phase VI rotor is taken as the baseline rigid-blade configuration. The studied membrane blade shows a higher lift curve slope and higher lift-to-drag ratio compared with the rigid blade.
Redantruare: cuerpo y cinestesia en la ceremonia saliar
Authors: Alonso Fernández Zoa
Published: November 2016

Partiendo de las metodologías de trabajo que caracterizan los estudios sobre danza y movimiento y de la exhaustiva lectura de las fuentes, este artículo analiza distintos aspectos de la ceremonia de los Salios y su relación con el complejo concepto de ‘romanidad’. Si bien es cierto que se trata de unos ritos ampliamente estudiados a lo largo de los últimos cien años desde el punto de vista del contexto y la función ritual, las coreografías saliares constituyen un medio ignorado pero excepcional para examinar mecanismos de participación religiosa a través de la actuación, el territorio y la visibilidad. Para este tipo de aproximación fenomenológica del rito se tendrán en cuenta los procesos somáticos y cinestésicos que explican la involucración de los espectadores en la danza y se pondrá de manifiesto el potencial de esta coreografía para reflejar y (re)crear la identidad de las élites romanas en la construcción del cuerpo ciudadano.
Minervium vs. Minerva Capta: due facce della stessa medaglia?
Authors: Cinaglia Tiziano
Published: November 2016

La vulgata moderna ha sempre identificato il Minervium varroniano con i parva delubra menzionati da Ovidio relativamente al culto di Minerva Capta; si tratta, in effetti, dello stesso tempio, individuabile sull’altura del Celio. Sulla base di una analisi etimologica, linguistica ed infine storica, vengono esaminati i due diversi nomi, sottolineando le implicazioni religiose e cultuali che se ne ricavano: il Minervium, contestualizzabile soltanto grazie all’arcaica lista dei sacella degli Argei; Minerva Capta, invece, epiclesi fondamentale per la comprensione del culto, connesso ai riti d’iniziazione post-puberali. Da questo esame si evidenzia come entrambe le espressioni si colleghino a fasi arcaiche della religione romana e, pertanto, viene dimostrata anche l’arcaicità del culto stesso di Minerva, sia per quanto riguarda il Celio, ma più in generale per la storia della comunità romana.