bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Balance Control of a Cascaded Multilevel Inverter for Standalone Solar Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Wang Lei , Wu Qinghua , Tang Wenhu
Published: November 2017

This paper presents a clock phase-shifting (CPS) energy balance control (EBC) method for cascaded half-bridge multilevel inverters in standalone solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. It is based on the conservation of energy in each cascaded unit. By shifting the phase of the clock pulse of each cascaded unit, a staircase-like output voltage is obtained. The CPS EBC not only regulates the staircase-like output voltage of the cascaded multilevel inverters accurately under static conditions, but also suppresses the fluctuations of DC sources and improves its dynamic responses to load steps. Thus, the problems existing in solar PV systems using the cascaded multilevel inverters are avoided. Results obtained from simulations and experiments are presented to verify the feasibility and advantages of the proposed control method.
Cost Assessment Methodology and Economic Viability of Tidal Energy Projects
Authors: Segura Eva , Morales Rafael , Somolinos José
Published: November 2017

The exploitation of technologies with which to harness the energy from ocean currents will have considerable possibilities in the future thanks to their enormous potential for electricity production and their high predictability. In this respect, the development of methodologies for the economic viability of these technologies is fundamental to the attainment of a consistent quantification of their costs and the discovery of their economic viability, while simultaneously attracting investment in these technologies. This paper presents a methodology with which to determine the economic viability of tidal energy projects, which includes a technical study of the life-cycle costs into which the development of a tidal farm can be decomposed: concept and definition, design and development, manufacturing, installation, operation and maintenance and dismantling. These cost structures are additionally subdivided by considering their sub-costs and bearing in mind the main components of the tidal farm: the nacelle, the supporting tidal energy converter structure and the export power system. Furthermore, a technical study is developed in order to obtain an estimation of the annual energy produced (and, consequently, the incomes generated if the electric tariff is known) by considering its principal attributes: the characteristics of the current, the ability of the device to capture energy and its ability to convert and export the energy. The methodology has been applied (together with a sensibility analysis) to the particular case of a farm composed of first generation tidal energy converters in one of the Channel Island Races, the Alderney Race, in the U.K., and the results have been attained by means of the computation of engineering indexes, such as the net present value, the internal rate of return, the discounted payback period and the levelized cost of energy, which indicate that the proposed project is economically viable for all the case studies.
Design and Performance of Test Cells as an Energy Evaluation Model of Facades in a Mediterranean Building Area
Authors: León-Rodríguez Ángel Luis , Suárez Rafael , Bustamante Pedro , Campano Miguel Ángel , Moreno-Rangel David
Published: November 2017

The current European energy policies have an influence on the need to rehabilitate the housing stock in order to meet the objectives of the European Union. Most of this housing stock was built without any type of energy regulation in adverse technical and economic conditions and thus is now energetically obsolete. The major rehabilitation effort required must be approached through actions based on previous quantitative energy knowledge of the existing buildings in order to guarantee the efficiency of energy-retrofitted solutions. This assessment can be carried out through monitoring dwellings conditioned by use patterns; through simulation programs, which do not usually offer faithful representations of energy conditions; or by using test cells, which allow us to evaluate a controlled indoor environment without the influence of users. The objective of this paper is to present the design and performance of test cells as an experimental method for vertical facade analysis in order to tackle the problem of retrofitting residential buildings in a Mediterranean climate, taking into account energy and environment. With this equipment, efficiency and energy savings, as well as illumination and interior air quality, can be simultaneously and comprehensively evaluated.
Design of a PM Vernier Machine with Consideration for Modulation Flux and Comparison with Conventional PM motors
Authors: Kim Byungtaek
Published: November 2017

This study deals with the core design of a PM vernier machine considering modulation flux effects, and the comparative investigation on volume and performance characteristics of the vernier over conventional PM machines are addressed. To these ends, for a PM vernier machine in operation at the base-speed, the flux density equations for teeth and yokes considering the flux modulation effects are derived, where the air gap harmonic permeance function is used. Using the derived equations, a PM vernier motor with specified yoke flux densities is designed. To identify the predicted flux yoke densities, the flux distribution and iron losses in core parts are analyzed through time-step finite element (FE) simulations. Through Fourier series expansion of the air gap flux waves obtained by FE analysis at several specified times, the harmonic components constituting the flux waves are investigated and their speeds are also evaluated in numerical ways. Finally, to estimate the competitiveness of vernier machines versus conventional machines, the designed PM vernier motor is compared against two different conventional PM motors designed through the same design procedures in various aspects such as volume, torque capacity, efficiency, and power factor, in which, in particular, the core losses are included in efficiency calculation.
One Voice Too Many: Echoes of Irony and Trauma in Oedipus the King
Authors: Waggoner Joshua
Published: November 2017

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King has often inspired concurrent interpretations examining the tragic irony of the play and the traumatic neurosis of its protagonist. The Theban king epitomizes a man who knows everything but himself, and Sophocles’ use of irony allows Oedipus to discover the truth in a manner that Freud viewed in The Interpretation of Dreams as “comparable to the work of a psychoanalysis.” Psychoanalytical readings of Oedipus at times depend greatly on his role as a doubled figure, but this article specifically investigates his doubled voice in order to demonstrate the interrelated, chiasmic relationship between Oedipus’ trauma and the trope of irony. It argues, in fact, that irony serves as the language, so to speak, of the traumatic experiences haunting the king and his city, but it also posits that this doubled voice compounds the irony of the play and its hero. In other words, in addition to the Sophoclean irony that dominates the work, the doubling of the king’s voice reveals a modified form of Socratic irony that contributes to the tragedy’s power. Consequently, even after the king’s recognition of the truth ultimately resolves the work’s tragic irony, Oedipus remains divided by a state of simultaneous knowledge and ignorance.
Magnetic Beads-Based Sensor with Tailored Sensitivity for Rapid and Single-Step Amperometric Determination of miRNAs
Authors: Vargas Eva , Torrente-Rodríguez Rebeca , Ruiz-Valdepeñas Montiel Víctor , Povedano Eloy , Pedrero María , Montoya Juan , Campuzano Susana , Pingarrón José
Published: November 2017

This work describes a sensitive amperometric magneto-biosensor for single-step and rapid determination of microRNAs (miRNAs). The developed strategy involves the use of direct hybridization of the target miRNA (miRNA-21) with a specific biotinylated DNA probe immobilized on streptavidin-modified magnetic beads (MBs), and labeling of the resulting heteroduplexes with a specific DNA–RNA antibody and the bacterial protein A (ProtA) conjugated with an horseradish peroxidase (HRP) homopolymer (Poly-HRP40) as an enzymatic label for signal amplification. Amperometric detection is performed upon magnetic capture of the modified MBs onto the working electrode surface of disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) using the H2O2/hydroquinone (HQ) system. The magnitude of the cathodic signal obtained at −0.20 V (vs. the Ag pseudo-reference electrode) demonstrated linear dependence with the concentration of the synthetic target miRNA over the 1.0 to 100 pM range. The method provided a detection limit (LOD) of 10 attomoles (in a 25 μL sample) without any target miRNA amplification in just 30 min (once the DNA capture probe-MBs were prepared). This approach shows improved sensitivity compared with that of biosensors constructed with the same anti-DNA–RNA Ab as capture instead of a detector antibody and further labeling with a Strep-HRP conjugate instead of the Poly-HRP40 homopolymer. The developed strategy involves a single step working protocol, as well as the possibility to tailor the sensitivity by enlarging the length of the DNA/miRNA heteroduplexes using additional probes and/or performing the labelling with ProtA conjugated with homopolymers prepared with different numbers of HRP molecules. The practical usefulness was demonstrated by determination of the endogenous levels of the mature target miRNA in 250 ng raw total RNA (RNAt) extracted from human mammary epithelial normal (MCF-10A) and cancer (MCF-7) cells and tumor tissues.
Alteration of Vascular Responsiveness to Uridine Adenosine Tetraphosphate in Aortas Isolated from Male Diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty Rats: The Involvement of Prostanoids
Authors: Matsumoto Takayuki , Kobayashi Shota , Ando Makoto , Iguchi Maika , Takayanagi Keisuke , Kojima Mihoka , Taguchi Kumiko , Kobayashi Tsuneo
Published: November 2017

We investigated whether responsiveness to dinucleotide uridine adenosine tetraphosphate (Up4A) was altered in aortas from type 2 diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats compared with those from age-matched control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats at the chronic stage of disease. In OLETF aortas, we observed the following: (1) Up4A-induced contractions were lower than those in the LETO aortas under basal conditions, (2) slight relaxation occurred due to Up4A, but this was not observed in phenylephrine-precontracted LETO aortas, (3) acetylcholine-induced relaxation was reduced (vs. LETO), and (4) prostanoid release (prostaglandin (PG)F2α, thromboxane (Tx)A2 metabolite, and PGE2) due to Up4A was decreased (vs. LETO). Endothelial denudation suppressed Up4A-induced contractions in the LETO group, but increased the contractions in the OLETF group. Under nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition, Up4A induced contractions in phenylephrine-precontracted aortas; this effect was greater in the LETO group (vs. the OLETF group). The relaxation response induced by Up4A was unmasked by cyclooxygenase inhibitors, especially in the LETO group, but this effect was abolished by NOS inhibition. These results suggest that the relaxant component of the Up4A-mediated response was masked by prostanoids in the LETO aortas and that the LETO and OLETF rats presented different contributions of the endothelium to the response.
Does Locoregional Chemotherapy Still Matter in the Treatment of Advanced Pelvic Melanoma?
Authors: Guadagni Stefano , Fiorentini Giammaria , Clementi Marco , Palumbo Giancarlo , Palumbo Paola , Chiominto Alessandro , Baldoni Stefano , Masedu Francesco , Valenti Marco , Tommaso Ambra Di , Fabi Bianca , Aliberti Camillo , Sarti Donatella , Guadagni Veronica , Pellegrini Cristina
Published: November 2017

Pelvic Melanoma relapse occurs in 15% of patients with loco regional metastases, and 25% of cases do not respond to new target-therapy and/or immunotherapy. Melphalan hypoxic pelvic perfusion may, therefore, be an option for these non-responsive patients. Overall median survival time (MST), stratified for variables, including BRAF V600E mutation and eligibility for treatments with new immunotherapy drugs, was retrospectively assessed in 41 patients with pelvic melanoma loco regional metastases. They had received a total of 175 treatments with Melphalan hypoxic perfusion and cytoreductive excision. Among the 41 patients, 22 (53.7%) patients exhibited a wild-type BRAF genotype, 11 of which were not eligible for immunotherapy. The first treatment resulted in a 97.5% response-rate in the full cohort and a 100% response-rate in the 22 wild-type BRAF patients. MST was 18 months in the full sample, 20 months for the 22 wild-type BRAF patients and 21 months for the 11 wild-type BRAF patients not eligible for immunotherapy. Melphalan hypoxic perfusion is a potentially effective treatment for patients with pelvic melanoma loco regional metastases that requires confirmation in a larger multicenter study.
Evaluation of Surface Mechanical Properties and Grindability of Binary Ti Alloys Containing 5 wt % Al, Cr, Sn, and V
Authors: Lim Hae-Soon , Hwang Moon-Jin , Jeong Ha-Na , Lee Woon-Young , Song Ho-Jun , Park Yeong-Joon
Published: November 2017

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the surface mechanical properties and the grindability of Ti alloys. Binary Ti alloys containing 5 wt % concentrations of Al, Cr, Sn, or V were prepared using a vacuum arc melting furnace, and their surface properties and grindability were compared to those of commercially pure Ti (cp-Ti). Ti alloys containing Al and Sn had microstructures that consisted of only α phase, while Ti alloys containing Cr and V had lamellar microstructures that consisted of α + β phases. The Vickers microhardness of Ti alloys was increased compared to those of cp-Ti by the solid solution strengthening effect. Among Ti alloys, Ti alloy containing Al had the highest Vickers microhardness. At a low SiC wheel speed of 5000 rpm, the grinding rates of Ti alloys showed an increasing tendency as the hardness values of Ti alloys decreased. At a high SiC wheel speed of 10,000 rpm, the grinding rates of Ti alloys showed an increasing tendency as the tensile strength values increased. The Ti alloy containing Al, which showed the lowest tensile strength, had the lowest grinding rate. The grinding ratios of the Ti alloys were higher than those of cp-Ti at both wheel revolution speeds of 5000 and 10,000 rpm. The grinding ratio of the Ti alloy containing Al was significantly increased at 10,000 rpm (p < 0.05).
Disaccharides: Influence on Volatiles and Phenolics of Sour Cherry Juice
Authors: Zlatić Emil , Pichler Anita , Kopjar Mirela
Published: November 2017

The food industry is continuously developing ingredients, processing methods and packaging materials to improve the quality of fruit products. The aim of this work was to study the effect of sugars, a common ingredient in the food industry, on phenolics and volatiles of sour cherry juice. Sucrose, trehalose and maltose chemical isomers were chosen for this investigation. All sugars influenced the evaluated parameters. Samples with maltose addition had lower, while samples with sucrose and trehalose addition had higher anthocyanin content than the control sample. Generally, trehalose had a higher positive effect on volatiles with the desired flavor note.
Particles: A New International Open Access Journal for Nuclear and Particle Physics
Authors: Lacey Roy
Published: November 2017

Particles, a new online, open access journal, has been launched to facilitate the publication of original research papers, review articles, and communications of new results and progress in a broad set of subfields which span nuclear and particle physics, experimental/theoretical high-energy physics and astrophysics.[...]
A Tree Based Broadcast Scheme for (m, k)-firm Real-Time Stream in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Park HoSung , Kim Beom-Su , Kim Kyong , Shah Babar , Kim Ki-Il
Published: November 2017

Recently, various unicast routing protocols have been proposed to deliver measured data from the sensor node to the sink node within the predetermined deadline in wireless sensor networks. In parallel with their approaches, some applications demand the specific service, which is based on broadcast to all nodes within the deadline, the feasible real-time traffic model and improvements in energy efficiency. However, current protocols based on either flooding or one-to-one unicast cannot meet the above requirements entirely. Moreover, as far as the authors know, there is no study for the real-time broadcast protocol to support the application-specific traffic model in WSN yet. Based on the above analysis, in this paper, we propose a new (m, k)-firm-based Real-time Broadcast Protocol (FRBP) by constructing a broadcast tree to satisfy the (m, k)-firm, which is applicable to the real-time model in resource-constrained WSNs. The broadcast tree in FRBP is constructed by the distance-based priority scheme, whereas energy efficiency is improved by selecting as few as nodes on a tree possible. To overcome the unstable network environment, the recovery scheme invokes rapid partial tree reconstruction in order to designate another node as the parent on a tree according to the measured (m, k)-firm real-time condition and local states monitoring. Finally, simulation results are given to demonstrate the superiority of FRBP compared to the existing schemes in terms of average deadline missing ratio, average throughput and energy consumption.
Exploring Free Matrix CFT Holographies at One-Loop
Authors: Bae Jin-Beom , Joung Euihun , Lal Shailesh
Published: November 2017

We extend our recent study on the duality between stringy higher spin theories and free conformal field theories (CFTs) in the S U ( N ) adjoint representation to other matrix models, namely the free S O ( N ) and S p ( N ) adjoint models as well as the free U ( N ) × U ( M ) bi-fundamental and O ( N ) × O ( M ) bi-vector models. After determining the spectrum of the theories in the planar limit by Polya counting, we compute the one loop vacuum energy and Casimir energy for their respective bulk duals by means of the Character Integral Representation of the Zeta Function (CIRZ) method, which we recently introduced. We also elaborate on possible ambiguities in the application of this method.
Outcomes of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Left in Place after Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Pampa-Saico Saúl , Caravaca-Fontán Fernando , Burguera-Vion Víctor , Nicolás Víctor Diéz , Yerovi-León Estefanía , Jimenez-Álvaro Sara , Fernández-Rodríguez Ana , Marcén Roberto , Rivera-Gorrín Maite
Published: November 2017

No clear consensus has been reached regarding the optimal time to remove the peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC) after kidney transplantation (KT). This retrospective observational study, conducted in a single peritoneal dialysis (PD) unit including all PD patients who received a KT between 1995 - 2015, was undertaken to evaluate the clinical outcomes and potential complications associated with a PDC left in place after KT. Of the 132 PD patients who received a KT, 20 were excluded from the study. Of the remaining, 112 (85%) patients with functioning KT were discharged with their PDC left in place and had it removed in a mean interval of 5 ± 3 months after KT, after achieving optimal graft function. During this follow-up period, 7 patients (6%) developed exit-site infection and there were 2 cases (2%) of peritonitis; all of them were successfully treated. Delayed PDC removal after KT is associated with low complication rates, although regular examination is needed so that mild infections can be detected early and therapy promptly instituted.
Effective Remedy for Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis with Ureteroileal Fistula
Authors: Banshodani Masataka , Kawanishi Hideki , Shintaku Sadanori , Yamashita Masahiro , Moriishi Misaki , Tsuchiya Shinichiro
Published: November 2017

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS), treated with surgical enterolysis as a final option, may become refractory to surgical intervention due to intraperitoneal complications. We report the case of a 59-year-old man presenting with EPS who underwent enterolysis at the age of 50, following 15 years of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and peritonitis. During the patient's first surgery, complete surgical enterolysis could not be performed due to severe intestinal adhesions with a deteriorated/calcified small bowel. Six months after the surgery, the obstructive bowel symptoms occurred several times a year. Nine years later, the patient suffered cystitis-like symptoms and fecal discharge from the urinary meatus. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with EPS recurrence with ureteroileal fistula between the right ureter and ileum. During the second surgical intervention, we conducted a divided jejunostomy, as surgical enterolysis and fistulectomy were unachievable due to severe ileal adhesion with calcified capsule and inflammation. Thereafter, symptoms reduced dramatically and oral intake became possible. Three years following surgery, the patient's condition is improved, with no evidence of EPS recurrence or cystitis-like symptoms. Although EPS with ureteroileal fistula is extremely rare, we propose that jejunostomy may be an effective treatment option for patients with EPS refractory to surgical enterolysis or intestinal bypass due to intraperitoneal complications.
Klebsiella pneumoniae Renal Abscess and Peritonitis in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient: A Novel Route of Infection
Authors: Dhruve Miten J. , Bargman Joanne M.
Published: November 2017

We present a peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient who had a renal biopsy performed during an episode of urosepsis and subsequently presented with a renal abscess at the biopsy site along with concurrent peritonitis. Microbiology from the PD effluent and from the renal abscess were both positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. We propose that the PD peritonitis was the result of seeding of the peritoneal cavity with bacteria from the renal abscess. Successful treatment was achieved through drainage of the abscess and intraperitoneal antibiotics.
A Comprehensive Method to Measure Solar Meridional Circulation and the Center-to-limb Effect Using Time–Distance Helioseismology
Authors: Chen Ruizhu , Zhao Junwei
Published: November 2017

Meridional circulation is a crucial component of the Sun’s internal dynamics, but its inference in the deep interior is complicated by a systematic center-to-limb effect in helioseismic measurement techniques. Previously, an empirical method, removing travel-time shifts measured for the east–west traveling waves in the equatorial area from those measured for the north–south traveling waves in the central meridian area, was used, but its validity and accuracy need to be assessed. Here, we develop a new method to separate the center-to-limb effect,

, and the meridional-flow-induced travel-time shifts,

, in a more robust way. Using 7-year observations of the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, we exhaustively measure the travel-time shifts between two surface locations along the solar disk’s radial direction for all azimuthal angles and all skip distances. The measured travel-time shifts are a linear combination of

and

, which can be disentangled by solving the linear equation set. The

is found to be isotropic relative to the azimuthal angle, and the

is then inverted for the meridional circulation. Our inversion results show a three-layer flow structure, with equatorward flow found between about 0.82 and 0.91 R
☉ for low latitude areas and between about 0.85 and 0.91 R
☉ for higher latitude areas. Poleward flows are found below and above the equatorward flow zones, indicating a double-cell circulation in each hemisphere.
Les Liaisons dangereuses  : livre de l’ennui ?
Authors: Fayard Jean-François
Published: November 2017

Évoquer le thème de l’ennui dans une œuvre telle que les « Liaisons dangereuses » de Choderlos de Laclos, relèverait-t-il d’une approche délibérément provocatrice, voire, plus crûment encore, d’un oxymore littéraire caractérisé ? Et si, dans ce livre éponyme de « roman de mœurs » au Siècle des Lumières, la ronde des amours n’était qu’un écran de fumée destiné à opacifier l’intrigue réelle : la lutte du libertinage de sentiments contre un ennui né de l’oisiveté sociétale don l’aboutissement aura pour nom : Terreur ?
Cet étrange état
Authors: Sirois François
Published: November 2017

La complexité de l’état d’ennui s’exprime d’abord par la différence des vocables qui le désignent d’une langue à l’autre. De ce socle, l’article reprend la question de l’ennui comme un affect de couverture, témoignant à la fois d’un aspect conflictuel et d’un aspect traumatique. L’enjeu des moments de transition dans l’émergence de l’ennui est souligné. La matrice de la scène primitive est posée comme source infantile de l’ennui. L’ennui concerne l’analyste selon le registre de la méthode, celui du contre-transfert et celui de la structure psychique dans les cas où l’ennui est une défense de caractère.
Corps disparus : de la restitution du sujet par l’art et la parole
Authors: Pontelli Adriana María , Hacker Anne-Lise
Published: November 2017

La série percutante, Mains anonymes (1981-1991), de l’artiste plasticien Carlos Alonso, n’attire pas seulement le regard : elle invite également à la réflexion. Il est difficile d’écrire sur cette œuvre dans la tension que provoque l’esthétisation de la douleur et de la violence. En effet, à partir de la souffrance la plus intime, le peintre montre dans sa création le terrible bouleversement qu’a été pour lui la disparition de sa fille Paloma pendant la dernière dictature militaire en Argentine. Ces manifestations artistiques constituent des formes de traitement du deuil face au vide d’un corps disparu et face à l’absence d’un lieu symbolique qui permette d’établir la fin de la vie.
Knowing with images. Media and everyday life
Authors: Tarquini Federico
Published: November 2017

La croissance exponentielle des images produites et distribuées par les médias numériques, actuellement capable de franchir les seuils de l’intimité la plus privée, pose un nombre considérable de problèmes à l’attention du débat intellectuel. De même, la nature de la majorité des images produites et distribuées sur Instagram a pour fonction d’informer sur nos activités quotidiennes les réseaux sociaux auxquels nous sommes connectés. Depuis la diffusion des appareils photographiques, l’image demeure dans notre routine de manière incroyable, tellement extraordinaire qu’elle nous pousse à poser le principal dilemme théorique qu’on abordera dans cet article : après l’écriture et la parole, l’image est le noyau de la « grammaire » de notre connaissance aujourd’hui ? Afin de répondre de manière exhaustive à cette question, on examinera principalement l’expérience de l’image sur les réseaux sociaux, suivant les principales théories des études médiologiques.
L’acceptabilité morale de la gestation pour autrui
Authors: Jouan Marlène
Published: November 2017

Le débat sur la gestation pour autrui, où règne bien souvent la plus grande confusion, clive au moins autant les féministes que celui sur la prostitution. Cet article se concentre sur l’argument de l’autonomie des femmes convoqué dans ce débat, et se propose d’interroger la gestation pour autrui à l’aune du raisonnement moral qui légitime l’interruption volontaire de grossesse, non contestée. À cette fin, nous nous appuyons essentiellement sur la littérature anglophone et analysons la gestation pour autrui en tant que travail de care . L’article montre que l’évaluation de son acceptabilité morale requiert de recourir à une notion complexe de responsabilité, susceptible à la fois de relever le défi de la domination de genre qui contraint nos représentations de la maternité, de reconnaître le risque d’aliénation qui pèse sur la gestatrice, et enfin de prendre en charge les relations structurelles d’injustice qui informent la pratique transfrontalière de la gestation pour autrui.
Discriminations envers les homosexuel·le·s dans le monde du travail en Suisse
Authors: Parini Lorena , Lloren Anouk
Published: November 2017

Cet article est issu d’une recherche effectuée en Suisse en 2014-2015 portant sur les discriminations que subissent les personnes homosexuelles dans le monde du travail. À partir d’un questionnaire diffusé par internet, les auteures analysent les formes et les fréquences de l’homophobie ainsi que l’impact de différents facteurs sociaux comme l’âge, la visibilité ou le milieu de travail (plutôt masculin, féminin ou mixte) sur les divers types de discrimination. Les résultats montrent que ces discriminations sont une réalité vécue par une grande partie des homosexuel-le-s en Suisse sous forme de stigmatisations verbales, mises à l’écart, harcèlement moral et sexuel, notamment. Les résultats sont ici interprétés dans une perspective de genre ce qui permet de mettre en lumière l’importance des normes de genre dans les comportements homophobes.
Manufactured Brace Modalities for Elbow Stiffness
Authors: Sodhi Nipun , Khlopas Anton , Vaughn Michael D. , George Jaiben , Yakubek George , Sultan Assem A. , Harwin Steven F. , Mont Michael A.
Published: November 2017

Multiple surgical and nonsurgical treatment options exist for patients with elbow stiffness. Many nonsurgical mobilization bracing options have been implemented to increase elbow range of motion. Three of the main bracing options for these patients are turnbuckle, static progressive stretch, and dynamic bracing. The purpose of this study was to review the current literature on turnbuckle, static progressive stretch, and dynamic bracing to provide information for practitioners and patients regarding which brace is more appropriate to use for elbow stiffness. Specifically, the authors compared the protocol and duration of splint use and changes in range of motion outcomes between static progressive and dynamic brace cohorts. A search of PubMed yielded 8 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Overall, although all 3 bracing options are available for patients, these studies found that, based on the evaluated metrics, the static progressive brace was a markedly superior option for patients with elbow stiffness. The time required to wear the static progressive stretch brace was 13 times less than that for the turnbuckle and 5 times less than that for the dynamic devices. Additionally, the high failure rate (10%) and low success rate (29%) of the dynamic brace, compared with the 63% regaining of functional range of motion in the static progressive stretch group, further highlight the benefits of the static progressive stretch brace. [
Orthopedics.
2018; 41(1):e127–e135.]
Comparison of Pneumatic Retinopexy and Scleral Buckle for Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair
Authors: Paulus Yannis M. , Leung Loh-Shan , Pilyugina Svetlana , Blumenkranz Mark S.
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To compare pneumatic retinopexy (PR) and scleral buckle for the repair of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Retrospective analysis of 90 patients undergoing surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, with 46 patients undergoing PR compared with 44 patients undergoing scleral buckle procedure (SBP).

RESULTS:

Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. Single surgery reattachment rate was 95.5% with SBP and 67% with PR (
P
= .00057). Final reattachment rate was 100% with SBP and 97.8% with PR. A final visual acuity (VA) of 20/40 or better occurred in 89% of patients with SBP and 72% of patients with PR (
P
= .04). PR and SBP had a similar mean VA if the primary procedures were successful, whereas those patients with unsuccessful PR had lower mean final acuities.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrates that SBP has a significantly higher rate of single surgery reattachment than PR, along with improved final VA. Initial success of PR may be an important predictor of final visual outcome.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:887–893.]
Treatment of Ipilimumab-Induced Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome With Oral Dexamethasone
Authors: Witmer Matthew T.
Published: November 2017

The author presents a retrospective case report of a 54-year-old male with ipilimumab (Yervoy; Bristol-Myers Squibb, New York City, NY)-induced Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease (VKH), which consisted of uveitis, optic neuritis, and choroiditis that was successfully treated with oral dexamethasone. The patient demonstrated resolution of uveitis, optic neuritis, and choroiditis 1 month following initiation of oral dexamethasone. Ipilimumab is a recently approved therapy for malignant melanoma. Reports have identified that VKH disease is a potential side effect of the medication. Oral dexamethasone is a safe and effective treatment for this side effect of the medication.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:928–931.]
Multi-Dimensional Acquisition, Representation, and Interaction of Cultural Heritage Tangible Assets
Authors: Portalés Cristina , Casas Sergio , Alonso-Monasterio Pau , Viñals María José
Published: November 2017

The acquisition, digital representation and interaction of cultural heritage (CH) assets is of high interest for an accurate documentation of our cultural legacy. Detailed studies demand more information on the assets apart from the mere visual appearance or even shape of objects. In this regards, some research works can be found that combine shape with other kind of data, such as radiometric (e.g., IR, thermal radiation, etc.) or semantic information, leading to multi-Dimensional (mD) virtual objects. In this chapter, we review the state of the art of different techniques to deal with mD acquisition of CH tangible assets. We also discuss some representation (e.g., visual, sonic, etc.) and interaction approaches to enhance the value of CH by means of the technologies of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), considering also the application of these techniques to tourism. Finally, we also point out some current needs and technological barriers that need to be tackled by the research community regarding the acquisition and dissemination of heritage.
Should Festival Be Smarter?
Authors: Stankov Uglješa , Pavluković Vanja , Alcántara-Pilar Juan Miguel , Cimbaljević Marija , Armenski Tanja
Published: November 2017

The trend of information and communication technologies (ICT) employment to enhance transactions and to deliver better experience to visitors of mass events has been growing increasingly popular over the years. The emergence of “smart tourism” agenda which highlights new, more sustainable ways of business management, experience enhancement and destination management also creates new opportunities for ICT employment in mass event. Thus, this chapter discusses existing ICT holding potential for smart approach employment on mass events. An additional case of Exit festival was used as an exploratory evidence to support the main idea of the chapter. Based on comprehensive literary review and additional information on visitors' familiarity with ICT gained from the Exit festival, recommendations for mass event managers are presented.
Multi-Platform Advertising as a Global Phenomenon
Authors: Yang Kenneth C. C.
Published: November 2017

Multi-platform advertising has become a global phenomenon. It is also widely known as cross-device, cross-media, cross-platform, cross-touchpoints, and cross-channel advertising. This book chapter provides an overview of multi-platform advertising in terms of its consumer platform usage behavior, global diffusion, emerging metrics, opportunities and challenges as perceived by major players, regulatory concerns, and technological developments. This book chapter offers the up-dated contextual information to allow readers of this edited volume to comprehend better the phenomenon of multi-platform advertising around the world.
Understanding How Mexican and U.S. Consumers Decide to Use Mobile Social Media
Authors: Yang Kenneth C. C.
Published: November 2017

This chapter investigated cross-national consumer behaviors in adopting mobile social media among U.S. and Mexican samples. Using a combination of Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2) and consumer behavior theories to describe the decision-making process of mobile and social media platform adoption. Three thematic insights are identified after analyzing their adoption decision narratives. This book chapter concluded with a summary of current academic research on multi-platforms and their advertising applications. This chapter further identified major theoretical concepts, frameworks, and methodological approaches that may help advertising and marketing communications researchers and practitioners to better understand the planning, execution, and assessment of multi-platform advertising campaigns.
A Comparative Study of Digital Game Curricula in Taiwan and United States
Authors: Kang Yowei
Published: November 2017

The advertising industry has increasingly integrated digital game as a viable platform to deliver messages. The economic impacts of this emerging platform can also be seen globally. Digital game revenue in Asia is predicted to reach $20 billion, about 38% of the world market. As a result, higher education institutes around the world have enthusiastically developed programs to educate future multi-platform advertising professionals. In this book chapter, the author identifies selected departments, programs, or curricula in digital games among higher education institutes in both U.S. and Taiwan. This chapter describes, reports, and analyzes curricula from over 387 programs in the U.S. and 35 programs from Taiwan. An overview of these digital game curricula enables educators to better assess these programs to discuss how digital game has been taught as a viable platform. The chapter also discusses trends in program assessment to better educate future digital creative industry professionals.
Emerging Agencies and Best Practices for Multi-Platform Advertising
Authors: Yang Kenneth C. C. , Torres Daniel , Ramirez Angel
Published: November 2017

The rapid development of multi-platform advertising has created a lot of unforeseeable challenges and opportunities for both traditional and new advertising and marketing communications agencies. In this book chapter, the authors examined the emergence of new agencies, their best practices, and their critical role in the development, planning and implementation of multi-platform advertising campaigns. The authors analyzed emerging advertising and marketing communications agencies, best practices, and effectiveness metrics to demonstrate how the transformation of, as well as the emergence, of the new advertising agencies has helped shape the future of multi-platform advertising practices around the world.
National Culture, Societal Values, and Type of Economy
Authors: Dantas José Guilherme Leitão , Moreira António Carrizo , Valente Fernando Manuel
Published: November 2017

We analyze the relationship between cultural values, societal values and the type of the economy with necessity-driven, opportunity-driven and improvement-driven entrepreneurship. We take into account GEM's data from 56 countries. These reports are also used to characterize the three types of entrepreneurship, the societal values and the type of economy. We approach national culture through the five dimensions of Hofstede's work on cultural values using the Values Survey Module 2013 (based on Hofstede's work). Cultural values marginally explain necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship. In turn, societal values only explain improvement-driven entrepreneurship. Finally, the type of economy is important in explaining necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship, however it is of no added value in explaining improvement-driven opportunity. One needs to be cautious when drawing general conclusions as we believe that societal values are failing to capture differences among the types of entrepreneurship analyzed.
Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability
Authors: Carvalho João M. S.
Published: November 2017

This chapter provides a summarized and objective review over the relationships among innovation, social innovation, entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, new business models (NBM), value proposition and sustainability (economic, social, ecological, and psychological). A study has been done in Porto region through interviews with 13 social innovators and entrepreneurs to evaluate those relationships. The conceptual base for the analysis presented in this chapter is tetrad-value theory. It has been concluded that market-oriented social innovation has a crucial role in the social entrepreneurship development. Moreover, these NBM should be adjusted to population needs towards societal well-being, by combining creation of shared value, co-creation of value, and multiple value creation. Thus, a transformational value proposition contributes to economic, social, ecological, and psychological sustainability, and consequently to human, social and territorial development.
Improvement in Higher Education
Authors: Vázquez Dolores Gallardo
Published: November 2017

Given the current context of globalization, institutions of higher education must implement the strategy of university social responsibility in order to be more competitive. The attention paid to relevant agents of interest becomes of utmost importance since this strategy highlights the links that universities and companies can generate. Although the first alliances in corporate social responsibility in Spain were terminated between companies and entities of the third sector, later, this kind of collaboration was established by universities. This has included the creation of academic chairs in corporate or university social responsibility. Their fundamental purpose is to promote socially responsible behaviors through training and initiatives, including a series of projects that can lead to clear improvements in higher education. Universities are nourished by their contacts with companies and other institutions and the financial support that this collaboration entails, while companies benefit from universities' contribution of knowledge that can be shared with society at large.
The Influence of Institutional Environment on Environmental Practices and Its Impact on Regional Development
Authors: Sánchez-Fernández María Dolores
Published: November 2017

This chapter studied the institutional influence associated to environmental practices in hotels. The aim was to interpret whether it was the normative, coercive or mimetic pressures (Institutional pressures) that influenced the three, four and five star hotels in north of Portugal and Galicia (a gender perspective). In order to accomplish these objectives, the author used an investigation model that connects institutional context pressures with environmental practices and environmental practices with legitimacy. To study used the Institutional Theory as theoretical reference.
Cleaner Production in the Brazilian Sucroenergy Sector
Authors: Brunhara Jéssica Patricia Corrêa , Corrêa Rosana Pereira , Mazini Sergio Ricardo
Published: November 2017

This chapter presents a discussion about the real role of companies as social and environmental agents, which is increasingly gaining momentum and timeliness. With industrial expansion and increasing pollution, it has become imperative that companies assume not only the role of producers of goods and services, but also those responsible for the implementation of environmental management systems and their instruments. The Cleaner Production is a process in the production process that helps in the environmental preservation, since it establishes the following order of priority for waste management: elimination - reduction - reuse - treatment - final disposal. In the sugar-energy sector, considered as one of the greatest precursors of environmental degradation by deforestation and burning, Cleaner Production is fundamental for the rational use of natural resources and for minimizing the environmental impacts caused by productive operations.
Sensitization of Sustainable Manufacturing Strategies to Benefit Indian SMEs
Authors: Kek Vimal , Kandasamy Jayakrishna
Published: November 2017

In recent times, globalization policy eliminates the restriction of market boundaries, enabling all manufacturers to exploit the markets of developing countries, due to which, the environmental regulations in the developing countries are evolving to secure their nature with stringent regulation. In this view, this article is written to impart knowledge on sustainable manufacturing to all manufacturers. However, for successful implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices, formulation of strategies is found to be essential. In this view, critical insights have been presented by reviewing existing practices of sustainable manufacturing, how to deploy them and their correlation with the environmental benefits are mapped to support practicing managers. The practices discussed in the chapter include process optimization in view of the environment energy modeling, waste minimization options, better end-of-life policies, material efficiency and need to employee training.
Green Environment and Management
Authors: Ince Fatma
Published: November 2017

This chapter on environmental management system (EMS) addresses the relationship between organizational factors and environmental goals. Because the increasing awareness about environment affects the related groups and forces the firms have an environmental approach. The global competition, regulations and other pressures can change the tools of the sustainability. So, the firms start to consider an environmental management system as an innovative instrument as well as an adaptation strategy. Because, environmental standards and policies give the firm an opportunity to improve the business performance. From this viewpoint, this chapter provides an overview of the context, organizational drivers and implementation of the EMS.
A Research of the Influence on the Consumer Behavior From CSR Information Embedded in the Process of Online Purchasing
Authors: Yu Li , Tsai Sang-Binge , Li Dakai , Teng Limei , Li Guodong
Published: November 2017

As the online purchasing is becoming prevalent, more and more corporates started to show their CSR information in the processes of online retail. For example: some CSR information could be showed in the “COMMODITY DETAILS”. Could this kind of information affect consumer behavior? By recognizing three types of embedded CSRC information, according to the consumer behavior experiments, this paper will show CSR's influences on the consumer behavior such as evaluation of the company, purchasing intention, and purchasing intention. By the comparison of the results after three types' CSR communication, we found that CSR information could significantly affect consumer behavior and the consumer response will differ from different types of CSR information embedded.
Improving Renewable Energy Source in Automotive Applications
Authors: Liu Wei , Shi Hongbo , Ma Hailing , Tsai Sang-Binge
Published: November 2017

With the rapid development of automobile industry, people have become more and more aware of the shortage of the traditional automobile energy and the irreversible pollution to the environment. Sustainable development will be the first place in the automobile industry, but there is no clear evidence to identify the most effective specific solution. This chapter is divided into two parts, the first part aims to analyze the evaluation of automotive sustainable development by synthesis. A new hybrid multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) model that combines DEMATEL technique and DANP method is proposed. By analysis and comparison, the result shows that renewable energy source is the main influencing criteria that affects the automobile sustainable development. Based on this, the second part of this chapter provides an effective solution. An advanced energy storage based on the super capacitor of self-generating wireless charging is designed to be used in automotive applications. It has advantages of short charging time, high power conversion efficiency and low power consumption.