bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation Studies on Structural Behaviour of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes - using Finite Element Analysis Technique
Authors: Pandu Ratnakar , Chidanandappa Chidanandappa , Reddy N. C. S
Published: May 2018

In this present paper, an FE approach has been presented for the elastic bending and buckling behaviors of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Finite element simulations are carried out to investigate the bending deformations and buckling behaviors of SWCNTs under various conditions. Both axial compression and bending loading conditions are considered. The computed results for SWCNTs agree well with atomistic simulations in the literature and the FE approach is confirmed successfully. In this paper, the steady state structural analysis has been performed to know the strength of the CNTs using shell93 element. For analysis of SWCNT has been considered as cantilever beam and loaded at the free end. SWCNTs with different lengths, different thicknesses under various materials and loadings have been studied. In static analysis, the defections and stress induced are estimated due to axial and bending loads. Under buckling analysis, the buckling factors and corresponding mode shapes are plotted. The displacement response is plotted and reported.
Nitration of MnSOD in the Carotid Body and Adrenal Gland Induced by Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia
Authors: Moya Esteban A. , Arias Paulina , Iturriaga Rodrigo
Published: May 2018

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), main feature of obstructive sleep apnea, produces nitro-oxidative stress, which contributes to potentiate carotid body (CB) chemosensory discharges and sympathetic-adrenal-axis activity, leading to hypertension. The MnSOD enzymatic activity, a key enzyme on oxidative stress control, is reduced by superoxide-induced nitration. However, the effects of CIH-induced nitration on MnSOD enzymatic activity in the CB and adrenal gland are not known. We studied the effects of CIH on MnSOD protein and immunoreactive (MnSOD-ir) levels in the CB, adrenal gland and superior cervical ganglion (SCG), and on 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT-ir), CuZnSOD (CuZnSOD-ir), MnSOD nitration, and its enzymatic activity in the CB and adrenal gland from male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to CIH for 7 days. CIH increased 3-NT-ir in CB and adrenal gland, whereas MnSOD-ir increased in the CB and in adrenal cortex, but not in the whole adrenal medulla or SCG. CIH nitrated MnSOD in the CB and adrenal medulla, but its activity decreased in the adrenal gland. CuZnSOD-ir remained unchanged in both tissues. All changes observed were prevented by ascorbic acid treatment. Present results show that CIH for 7 days produced MnSOD nitration, but failed to reduce its activity in the CB, because of the increased protein level.
O ethos do jornal O Globo e a campanha contra as fake news
Authors: Eichler Vivian Augustin , Kalsing Janaína , Gruszynski Ana
Published: May 2018

O artigo avalia o ethos discursivo do jornal O Globo (Brasil) em sua campanha que tem como foco o combate às notícias falsas (fake news). Os procedimentos metodológicos adotados são a pesquisa bibliográfica e a análise de discurso, que orientam o mapeamento de sentidos, a identificação dos sujeitos e das vozes dos enunciados, bem como o atravessamento de discursos de conteúdos jornalísticos e publicitários vinculados à campanha. Observou-se que o periódico busca reforçar a crença no papel do jornalismo a partir da imagem de autoridade para verificar informações. Dessa maneira, utiliza o fenômeno das fake news para alinhar o seu ethos ao novo ambiente de circulação de informações da sociedade midiatizada e legitimar-se junto a seus públicos.
Pemanfaatan Kitosan Termodifikasi Asam Askorbat sebagai Bahan Antimikroba pada Daging Ayam Karkas Broiler
Authors: Poppy Titis Oktafiana , Khabibi Khabibi , Aminin Agustina L. N.
Published: May 2018

Daging ayam yang umumnya berupa daging ayam karkas broiler merupakan salah satu bahan pangan yang banyak dikonsumsi dan mudah busuk sehingga diperlukan bahan pengawet alternatif alami dan tidak berbahaya seperti kitosan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh kitosan termodifikasi asam askorbat yang digunakan sebagai pengawet pada daging ayam karkas broiler pada suhu dingin. Dan untuk memperoleh data kemampuan pengawetan antara kitosan dan kitosan termodifikasi asam askorbat serta menentukan konsentrasi efektif asam askorbat yang ditambahkan dalam modifikasi kitosan sebagai pengawet daging ayam. Metode yang digunakan untuk dalam pengawetan adalah metode coating. Gugus fungsi kitosan-asam askorbat dianalisis menggunakan FTIR dan untuk menguji kemampuan kitosan termodifikasi asam askorbat sebagai pengawet daging ayam dilakukan analisis Angka Lempeng Total (ALT). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kemampuan kitosan termodifikasi asam askorbat lebih baik dibandingkan kitosan tanpa modifikasi. Konsentrasi asam askorbat optimum adalah pada konsentrasi 40 mmol/L dan mampu mengawetkan daging ayam hingga 4 minggu.
Uji Aktivitas Antioksidan dengan DPPH fraksi Etil Asetat Daun Bidens pilosa L.
Authors: Sariningsih Retno , Suzery Meiny , Cahyono Bambang
Published: May 2018

Telah dilakukan penelitian uji aktivitas antioksidan dengan DPPH fraksi etil asetat daun Bidens pilosa L. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk memperoleh fraksi etil asetat dari fraksi metanol Bidens pilosa L, memperoleh data aktivitas antioksidan, kadar total fenolat dan flavonoid dari fraksi etil asetat. Penelitian ini dilakukan dalam tiga tahapan. Tahapan pertama adalah penyediaan fraksi etil asetat dengan cara ekstraksi bertingkat dari ekstrak metanol. Tahapan yang kedua adalah uji aktivitas antioksidan dengan DPPH, analisis total fenolat dengan metode Folin-Ciocalteu dan analisis total flavonoid. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa fraksi etil asetat dengan rendemen 0,31% dari berat simplisia awal dengan warna coklat yang mempunyai nilai IC50 62,03 ppm, kadar total fenolat sebesar 71,717 mg ekuivalen asam galat/g ekstrak, kadar total flavonoid 565,108 mg ekuivalen kuersetin/g ekstrak. Fraksi etilasetat daun Bidens pilosa L bersifat sebagai antioksidan namun perlu dilalukan penelitian lebih lanjut terhadap senyawa metabolit sekunder yang bersifat sebagai anti oksidan.
Identification of Herbal Medicinal Plants Based on Leaf Image Using Gray Level Co-occurence Matrix and K-Nearest Neighbor Algorithms
Authors: Ni'mah Fittria Shofrotun , Sutojo T , Setiadi De Rosal Ignatius Moses
Published: May 2018

Medicinal plants can be used as an alternative natural treatment, instead of chemical drugs. But because of too many types of plants and lack of knowledge, it will be difficult to identify these herbs. Computer assistance can be used to facilitate the identification of these herbs. This research proposes the identification of herbal plants based on leaf image using texture analysis. There are 10 types of herbal medicinal plants used in this study. The texture analysis used was GLCM by extracting contrast, correlation, energy, and homogeneity. Classification is done by KNN. The result of the experiment showed that the accuracy of identification using 9-fold cross-cross validation method was 83.33% using 9 subsets.
Redistributive policies and technology diffusion
Authors: Magalhães Manuela , Sequeira Tiago Neves
Published: May 2018

In this paper we examine the effects of redistributive policies in a transition economy in the presence of technology diffusion on labor and education decisions, and skill-premium. We set a micro-founded dynamic general equilibrium model with a skill-biased technology diffusion, elastic leisure/labor decisions, and investments in education. The economy is populated by two types of households – skilled and unskilled, which become skilled through investments in education. We highlight the importance of the general equilibrium effects of redistributive policies over the leisure/labor and education decisions and wages. Lump-sum transfers reduce investments in education, raising the share of unskilled individuals, decreasing their wage and, raising the skill-premium. Education subsidies raise investments in education, the skills supply, and unskilled wages and reduce the skill-premium during the slowdown of the technology diffusion.
Feminism and Postmodernism in Kuwaiti Women’s Fiction: Four Novels by Fawziyya S. al-Sālim
Authors: Tijani O. Ishaq
Published: May 2018

This article comparatively examines the first four novels of Fawziyya Shuwaysh al-Sālim (b. 1949): al-Shams madhbūḥa wa-l-layl maḥbūs (1997), al-Nuwākhidha (1998), Muzūn (2000), Ḥajar ʿalā ḥajar (2003). I argue that these novels reflect not only the stages of the author’s career as a novelist but also of the transition of Kuwaiti women’s fiction from the conventional to the postmodern narrative technique and discourse. Al-Sālim’s first and second novels typically reproduce-albeit subversively-the dominant literary discourse and employ conventional narrative techniques. On the other hand, her millennial-third and fourth-novels signal the inception of the feminist-postmodernist novel in Kuwait; in varying degrees, both texts utilise present-day, globalised linguistic vulgarism and fragmented narrative techniques to explore feminist discourses bordering on female transcendence and self-determination.
The Use of Economic Analysis of Law in the Context of Environmental Regulations
Authors: Roy Sharanya Basu
Published: May 2018

One of the recent developments in comprehending the effects and complexities of environmental regulations are by building environmental models. These models play various functional roles in environmental regulations ranging from assisting in policy making, in formulating new laws and resolving legal disputes to being used as a tool for collaborative negotiations between multiple set of parties. One such methodology for developing models in the context of environmental regulations is the economic analysis of law (EAL). This paper looks into how the EAL could be used in formulating environmental regulation models. This paper is an attempt to help policy makers, lawyers and environmental professionals, in general to understand how EAL could be used as an empirical tool to identify how regulatory quality could reduce pollution levels successfully and also how other variables (such as public participation, Ngo′s etc) could help reinforce the existing regulatory quality. In addition, to understand how this methodology can aid in devising models for examining the effectiveness of the regulatory quality, it also looks at EAL′s historical origins and how it has developed over time and its use (both advantages and disadvantages) in understanding regulation.
A Kernel-Based Metric for Balance Assessment
Authors: Zhu Yeying , Savage Jennifer S. , Ghosh Debashis
Published: May 2018

An important goal in causal inference is to achieve balance in the covariates among the treatment groups. In this article, we introduce the concept of distributional balance preserving which requires the distribution of the covariates to be the same in different treatment groups. We also introduce a new balance measure called kernel distance, which is the empirical estimate of the probability metric defined in the reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces. Compared to the traditional balance metrics, the kernel distance measures the difference in the two multivariate distributions instead of the difference in the finite moments of the distributions. Simulation results show that the kernel distance is the best indicator of bias in the estimated casual effect compared to several commonly used balance measures. We then incorporate kernel distance into genetic matching, the state-of-the-art matching procedure and apply the proposed approach to analyze the Early Dieting in Girls study. The study indicates that mothers’ overall weight concern increases the likelihood of daughters’ early dieting behavior, but the causal effect is not significant.
Follow the Money: Remittance Responses to FDI Inflows
Authors: Coon Michael , Neumann Rebecca
Published: May 2018

Migrant networks are an important catalyst for promoting FDI flows between countries. Migrants also send increasingly large remittances to their home countries. This paper considers how these two capital flows are related, specifically examining how remittance flows respond to the amount of FDI inflows to a country. Using a panel of 118 countries over 1980–2010, we estimate a random effects model and find a positive and significant effect of FDI flows on remittances, while controlling for other standard determinants of remittance flows. We account for the potential endogeneity of FDI to remittances by utilizing a two-stage Instrumental Variables approach. These findings suggest that FDI complements remittances, rather than crowding out emigrant investment to the home countries. We find the relationship is strongest for low income countries, highlighting the importance of remittances as a source of investment capital in these countries.
Defamiliarizing the popular image of the bible in some contemporary rewritings in english
Authors: Rychter Ewa
Published: May 2018

This paper focuses on the ways some recent British and Irish rewritings of the Bible estrange what has become the publicly accepted and dominant image of the biblical text. Recently, the Bible has been given the status of “home scripture” (Sherwood, Yvonne. 2012.Biblical Blaspheming: Trials of the Sacred for a Secular Age. Cambridge: CUP) and become a domesticated and conservative text, a rather placid cultural/literary monument, an important foundation of democracy, a venerable religious document judged more tolerant and liberal than other scriptures. Though the Bible used to be perceived as an explosive text, peppered with potentially offensive passages, today its enmity is neutralised either by linking the Bible with ancient times or by relating it to people’s religious beliefs and by entrenching its more scandalous parts within the discourse of tolerance. It is such an anodyne image of the Bible that the biblical rewritings of Roberts, Winterson, Barnes, Crace, Pullman, Tóibin, Alderman, Diski defamiliarize. By showing biblical events through the eyes of various non-standard focalizers, those novels disrupt the formulaic patterns of the contemporary perception of the Bible. It is through these strange perspectives that we observe the critical moment when the overall meaning and the role of the biblical text is established and the biblical story is actually written down. Importantly, it is also the moment when somebody moulds the scripture according to their ideas and glosses over all the complexities, violence and immorality related to the events the biblical text describes. Also, contemporary biblical rewritings defamiliarize the currently popular image of the Bible – that of a whitewashed text which inculcates morality, conserves social order and teaches love and tolerance, by employing images of disintegration, dirt and contagion as well as by constructing a figure of a fervent believer in the Bible and its ideas.
Structural and dielectric properties of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) stabilized by sugar solutions
Authors: Kumar D. Siva , Naidu K. Chandra Babu , Rafi M. Mohamed , Nazeer K. Prem , Begam A. Ayisha , Kumar G. Ramesh
Published: May 2018

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been synthesized using co-precipitation method. Their microstructure and dielectric properties were studied. The sugar solutions like glucose, fructose and sucrose were used as stabilizers to control the size of the SPIONs. The crystal structure and grain size of the particles were determined by X-ray diffraction. The magnetic studies of the samples were carried out using the vibrating sample magnetometer and their surface morphology was studied by HRTEM, FE-SEM and zeta potential. The dielectric properties of glucose-SPIONs (GF), fructose-SPIONs (FF) and sucrose-SPIONs (SF) were investigated in the frequency range of 10 Hz to 5 MHz at selected temperatures. The FF showed a high dielectric constant of 62 at 1 MHz and the dielectric properties of SPIONs were found to have been significantly improved, especially in the low frequency regime according to the Maxwell-Wagner interfacial polarization. The AC conductivity measurements revealed that the electrical conduction depends on both frequency and temperature. Impedance analysis was carried out using Cole-Cole plot and the conduction mechanism of the studied compounds was explained. R and C values were further calculated using RC-circuit.
The crystal structure of 3-((phenylamino)methylene)-1,5-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane-2,4-dione, C16H17N1O4
Authors: Jin-He Jiang , Wu-Lan Zeng , Yong-Mei Yang
Published: May 2018

C16H17N1O4, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 7.0971(3) Å, b = 7.6638(4) Å, c = 13.2375(6) Å, α = 92.116(10)°, β = 99.690(10)°, γ = 95.196(10)° V = 705.81(6) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0529, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1489, T = 296(2) K.
The Dignity of Being a Cause
Authors: O’Meara Thomas F.
Published: May 2018

Theologians, philosophers, and scientists have pondered the causalities of human beings, nature, and cosmos. This seeks to avoid the reduction of all activity to God and to understand the richness of beings other than God. Thomas Aquinas valued this ‟secondary causality” greatly, while recent thinkers are also advocating its importance again.
God Is Dying in Turkey as Well: Application of Secularization Theory to a Non-Christian Society
Authors: Ertit Volkan
Published: May 2018

It has been stated in academic studies and popular media that Islam began its rise in dominance in Turkey with the accession of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to power in 2002 under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However, contrary to claims of societal Islamization, in light of quantitative and qualitative studies this study argues that despite the AKP and its leader Erdoğan being in power, the following evidence has been observed in Turkey: praying rates have decreased, extramarital sexual relationship has become prevalent, the number of mosques per person has decreased, the belief in virginity is a point of honour for fewer people, people‘s clothes have become more flatteringly formfitting and more attractive, including women’s head-scarves; secular experts rather than religious officials are being sought for help concerning problems in daily life, homosexuality has become more socially acceptable visible, traditional family structures has been shattered. Therefore, it is claimed that AKP (or Erdoğan) has failed in efforts to Islamize Turkey over the past 15 years (2002-2017) despite having all the governmental means and opportunities to do so. This study argues that the classical theory of secularization, which claims that modernization leads to secularization, can still explain not only the social transformation seen in historically Christian and Western European countries and their offshoots, but also the social transformation of Turkey, a Muslim-majority country that has been governed for the past 15 years by a political party with clear Islamic sensitivities.
Centrifuge Modeling of Stress and Pore Pressure Responses Due to Closed-Ended Pile Jacking in Silty Clay
Authors: Zhang Yaguo , Liang Fayun , Li Jingpei , Li Tonglu
Published: May 2018

A series of centrifuge model tests were performed to examine the short-term soil stress responses around closed-ended displacement piles during jacking in Shanghai silty clays. Miniature transducers were placed near the piles to monitor the evolution of the total radial soil stress and pore pressure at different positions, which were closely associated with the progress of pile penetration. The results show that these stresses accumulated when the pile approached and decreased when the tip (or shoulder) passed, which indicates that the transducers experienced a loading and unloading process. The maxima of the soil stress or pore pressure increased with the initial depth of the observation positions and decreased with the horizontal distance to the pile axis. Compared with the total radial stress, the arrival of the peak pore pressure had an obvious hysteresis. Three typical modes to describe the stress variations during the pile installation process were summarized. Furthermore, the cumulative total stresses and pore pressures at a given location because of the installation of two piles were investigated.
SU AKTİVİTESİNİN VE FARKLI KURUTMA SİSTEMLERİNİN BİYOAKTİF BİLEŞENLERİN STABİLİTELERİ ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ
Authors: YILDIRIM Aslı , DURAN Mustafa , KOÇ Mehmet
Published: May 2018

Gıdaların yapısında bulunan temel bileşenlerden biri
olan su, gıdanın kalite özellikleri ve genel kabul edilebilirliği üzerinde son
derece etkilidir. Ancak gıdanın yapısını ve depolama stabilitesini etkileyen
fiziksel, kimyasal, mikrobiyolojik ve enzimatik reaksiyonlar göz önüne
alındığında gıdanın yapısında yer alan su miktarından çok su aktivitesi (aw)
ifadesi önem kazanmaktadır. Pek çok gıdanın yapısında yer alan fenolik
bileşikler başta olmak üzere, terpen ve terpenoidler ile alkoloidler gibi
biyoaktif bileşenler su aktivitesinden etkilenmektedirler. Kurutma ve dondurma
gibi prosesler ile ortama şeker veya tuz ilavesi gibi uygulamalarla suyun
moleküler mobilitesi azaltılarak raf ömrü arttırılmaktadır. Su aktivitesinin
yüksek olması özellikle fenolik bileşikler gibi biyoaktif bileşenlerin depolama
stabilitelerini olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Enkapsülasyon teknolojisi ile
gıda maddesi bir kaplama materyali ile immobilize edilmekte ve su aktivitesi
düşürülerek biyoaktif bileşenlerin depolama stabiliteleri arttırılmaktadır. Bu
derlemede gıdaların yapısında yer alan bazı biyoaktif bileşenler üzerine aw’nin
etkileri ile ilgili bilgi verilmiştir.
Dynamic Effect of Cushion Part of Wheeled Vehicles on Their Steerability
Authors: B. Sokil  , O. Lyashuk
Published: May 2018

The effect of relative motion of cushion system on dynamic pressure force of steered wheeled vehicles with non-linear elastic characteristics of suspension was evaluated in the article under consideration. The problem is to find the dynamic force of system cushion-non-cushion part pressure on front wheel. The dependence for the limiting value of dynamic turning angle of steered wheels on longitudinal-and- angular oscillations amplitude and parameters describing elastic characteristics of elastic suspension was obtained. It was demonstrated that for more rigid suspensions the value of dynamic turning angle is smaller at small amplitudes of longitudinal-and-angular oscillations and bigger at big amplitudes of longitudinal-and-angular oscillations.
The Performance of PPOdm-CNF Mixed Matrix Membrane for CO2/CH4 Separation
Authors: P. S. Murugiah  , P. C. Oh  , K. K. Lau
Published: May 2018

Mixed Matrix Membrane (MMM) is one of the most promising candidate among the available gas separation application for CO2/CH4 separation in natural gas industries. However, the fabrication of a defect-free MMM remains a challenge. For this work, a novel MMM was developed by incorporating carbon nanofibers (CNF) at different weight loadings into poly (2, 6-dimethyl-1, 4-pheneylene oxide) (PPOdm) polymer matrix via dry-phase inversion technique. CNF was purified with hydrogen peroxide prior tomembrane fabrication. Approximately 178 % increment in the CO2 permeability were attained at 3 wt% of CNF loading whereas the CO2/CH4 selectivity were increased by 53% compared to pristine PPOdm polymeric membrane. The smooth wall of CNF coupled with its larger pore diameter acted as a pathway and renders high gas permeability values. PPOdm – 3 wt% CNF MMM exhibits improved morphology with no significant filler agglomeration on the polymer matrix. The TGA and DSC analysis showed that at 3 wt%of CNF loading, the thermal stability of the polymer chains was enhanced in which higher decomposition (Td = 425 ºC) and glass transition (Tg =210 ºC) temperatures were reported.
Caracterización de factores implicados en las conductas de riesgo en adolescentes
Authors: Salas Fabio Gabriel
Published: May 2018

Las conductas de riesgo en los adolescentes han cobrado gran relevancia en la actualidad. Esto se debe en parte a su impacto tanto en la vida de los jóvenes que las protagonizan, como en las consecuencias generales que estas conllevan para la comunidad. Surge así un interés científico por conocer los diversos factores asociados como una manera de comprender mejor estos comportamientos, aunque, muchos de estos estudios se sostienen en perspectivas limitadas que no consideran los factores que aquí se mencionan sobre esta problemática.El presente trabajo pretende realizar una caracterización del concepto de conductas de riesgo que permita clarificar su importancia en la constitución del escenario donde tiene lugar el desarrollo de los adolescentes. Para ello se describen algunos de los componentes de mayor relevancia que configuran este tipo de comportamientos, así como, los factores que favorecen y obstaculizan su presencia.Se concluye que cualquier propuesta para abordar este tipo de comportamientos debe tener en cuenta los diferentes aspectos implicados referidos en este trabajo, y el papel que cada uno de estos juega en la configuración de estas conductas.
Pelatantheria woonchengii, a new addition for the Orchid Flora of Vietnam
Authors: Truong Vuong Ba , Truong Tam Quang , Nguyen Khang Van , Cootes Jim
Published: May 2018

Pelatantheria woonchengii is a new record for the orchid flora of Vietnam. This species was previously misidentified as Pelatantheria ctenoglossum Ridl., as both species are present in Vietnam. The illustration, description, distribution and comparison with the closest species in Vietnam are included An updated identification key for all Vietnamese members of the genus Pelatantheria is presented.
Musgos (Bryophyta) da microrregião do Salgado Paraense e sua utilização como possíveis indicadores de ambientes perturbados
Authors: Santos Rita de Cássia Pereira dos , Lisboa Regina Célia Lobato
Published: May 2018

RESUMO Foi realizado um estudo dos musgos ocorrentes em diferentes ecossistemas da microrregião do Salgado Paraense, visando determinar a riqueza, registrar os tipos de ecossistemas e substratos de ocorrência das espécies, identificar algumas destas como indicadoras de ambientes perturbados e ampliar o conhecimento da brioflora do estado do Pará. Foram registradas 38 espécies de musgos, distribuídas em 21 gêneros e 11 famílias. A riqueza de espécies foi relativamente baixa, levando-se em consideração a grande quantidade de amostras analisadas (558). Calymperes afzelii, C. erosum, C. lonchophyllum, C. palisotii, Octoblepharum albidum var. albidum, O. pulvinatum, Sematophyllum subsimplex, Splacnobryum obtusum e Taxithelium planum foram as que apresentaram melhor adaptação a condições adversas. Sugere-se que estas espécies podem ser potencialmente utilizadas como indicadoras de ambientes perturbados. Entretanto, todas as espécies ocorrentes nos oito municípios desta microrregião estão adaptadas a um complexo de fatores ambientais e encontram as condições necessárias e favoráveis à sua manutenção e reprodução.
Serum 6-Bromotryptophan Levels Identified as a Risk Factor for CKD Progression
Authors: Tin Adrienne , Nadkarni Girish , Evans Anne M. , Winkler Cheryl A. , Bottinger Erwin , Rebholz Casey M. , Sarnak Mark J. , Inker Lesley A. , Levey Andrew S. , Lipkowitz Michael S. , Appel Lawrence J. , Arking Dan E. , Coresh Josef , Grams Morgan E.
Published: May 2018

Background Metabolite levels reflect physiologic homeostasis and may serve as biomarkers of disease progression. Identifying metabolites associated with APOL1 risk alleles—genetic variants associated with CKD risk commonly present in persons of African descent—may reveal novel markers of CKD progression relevant to other populations.

Methods We evaluated associations between the number of APOL1 risk alleles and 760 serum metabolites identified via untargeted profiling in participants of the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK) (n=588; Bonferroni significance threshold P<6.5×10−5) and replicated findings in 678 black participants with CKD in BioMe, an electronic medical record–linked biobank. We tested the metabolite association with CKD progression in AASK, BioMe, and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study.

Results One metabolite, 6-bromotryptophan, was significant in AASK (P=4.7×10−5) and replicated in BioMe (P=5.7×10−3) participants, with lower levels associated with more APOL1 risk alleles. Lower levels of 6-bromotryptophan were associated with CKD progression in AASK and BioMe participants and in white participants in the MDRD Study, independent of demographics and clinical characteristics, including baseline GFR (adjusted hazard ratio per two-fold higher 6-bromotryptophan level, AASK, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.64 to 0.91; BioMe, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.85; MDRD, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.79). The interaction between the APOL1 risk alleles and 6-bromotryptophan was not significant. The identity of 6-bromotryptophan was confirmed in experiments comparing its molecular signature with that of authentic standards of other bromotryptophan isomers.

Conclusions Serum 6-bromotryptophan is a consistent and novel risk factor for CKD progression.
Self-Realization of Students with Disabilities as a Basic Mechanism of Social Inclusion
Authors: Osmuk L.A.
Published: May 2018

The problem covered in the article concerns the features of self-realization in students with disabilities. Self-realization is seen as the basic mechanism of social inclusion. For a disabled student, even the first attempts to demonstrate his/her potential may result in his/her successful inclusion in the educational environment contributing to an overall feeling of security. As an empirical material we use data of in-depth interview (n=12) conducted with students of the Institute of Social Technologies and Rehabilitation of Novosibirsk State Technical University; the results allow us to analyze the process of self-realization and its effects on the individual. The obtained variations of self-realization trajectories provide an opportunity to improve the work of the social and psychological support service of the Resource and Training Center taking into account the above mentioned mechanism. It is argued that self-realization is the starting point of motivation to self-inclusion.
Creating Special Educational Environments for Students with Visual Impairments at the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education: Practical Outcomes
Authors: Kuravsky L.S. , Vasina L.G. , Sokolov V.V.
Published: May 2018

The paper describes practical outcomes of implementing a model of special educational settings for students with visual impairments enrolled in bachelor’s programmes in Mathematical Support and Administration of Information Systems and Applied Computer Science. These outcomes suggest that project-based learning, special educational settings, active involvement in research and participation in finding solutions to relevant practical tasks promotes high quality training in students with disabilities.
Evaluation of Ion-pair Formation of Adefovir to Improve Permeation across Artificial and Biological Membranes
Authors: Darsazan Bahar , Shafaati Alireza , Zarghi Afshin , Mortazavi Seyed Alireza
Published: May 2018

Purpose: Adefovir is an antiviral drug that exhibits high hydrophilic properties and negligible bioavailability (less than 12%). It is only applied in the form of the ester prodrug adefovir dipivoxil (ADV). The oral bioavailability of ADV is limited (32% to 45%) by its low permeability (Class 3) and biological conversion of the prodrug to adefovir. Ion-pair formation is considered as an alternative approach to a covalent prodrug (ADV) to enhance intestinal permeation of adefovir. Methods: The effect of various counter-ions (anionic, cationic and two quaternary ammonium salts) on the lipophilicity of adefovir was investigated by means of the n-octanol/buffer partitioning system, an in vitro transport model (PAMPA) and a biological membrane (everted gut sac). Results: Quaternary ammonium salts, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and cetrimide enhanced the lipophilicity of adefovir 136- and 87-fold, respectively. The apparent permeability of adefovir in combination with CPC (counter-ion) was 2.5-fold greater than ADV permeability in the PAMPA model. The apparent permeability of adefovir-CPC (counter-ion) was 1.3-fold greater than that of adefovir dipivoxil permeability in a biologic membrane (everted gut sac). Conclusion: These results suggest that the adefovir-CPC ion-paired system has potential for improving the permeation of adefovir across the intestinal membrane. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.
La protección de los empresarios en la Proposición de Ley “De impulso de la transparencia en la contratación predispuesta”: Una solución a medias.
Authors: Albiez Dohrmann Klaus Jochen
Published: May 2018

Resumen: Se examina una propuesta de ley sobre la transparencia material en los contratos no negociados individualmente, la cual extiende la protección también a los empresarios. El estudio se centra en aquellos aspectos positivos y negativos de la transparencia material relacionados con los contratos de adhesión entre empresarios. Al mismo tiempo, se proponen algunos cambios para mejorar el texto normativo. El estudio termina con una propuesta más: la incorporación de una cláusula general de buena fe para todos los contratos de adhesión en la Ley de Condiciones Generales de la Contratación.Palabras clave: condiciones generales de la contratación, cláusulas no negociadas, empresarios, transparencia formal, transparencia material, cláusula general de buena fe. Abstract: This paper examines a Proposal of Law on material transparency in contracts that are not individually negotiated, which also extends protection to entrepreurs. The study focuses on those positive and negative aspects of material transparency related to the adhesion contracts between entrepreneurs. At the same time, some changes are proposed to improve the normative text. The study ends with one more proposal: the incorporation of a good faith general clause for all the adhesion contracts in the General Terms of Contracting Law.Key words: General terms of contracting; non negotiated contract terms; entrepreneurs; formal transparency; material transparency; general clause of good faith.
Compulsive behavior in fur animals
Authors: ŚWIĘCICKA NATASZA
Published: May 2018

Fur animals kept indoors, due to partial limitation of their natural behavior, are more likely to develop behavioral disorders. This is due to negative emotions associated with inability to satisfy certain needs or achieve a particular purpose, which leads to frustration or deprivation in animals. This condition can lead to the emergence of compulsive behaviors, which are often a form of coping with stress. Compulsive behaviors in fur animals are usually stereotypical: animals walk along the cage, catch their own tail, gnaw fur (trichotilomanie), or bite the trellis or the claws. The environmental factors resulting from the maintenance conditions and social relations of the animals in the group play an important role in the emergence of this type of behavior. Another factor that is equally important in causing compulsive behavior is mental strain resulting from disease..
Imaging techniques as a method of sectional examination in forensic veterinary medicine
Authors: GRELA MAŁGORZATA , LISTOS PIOTR , GRYZIŃSKA MAGDALENA , CHAGOWSKI WOJCIECH , BUSZEWICZ GRZEGORZ , TERESIŃSKI GRZEGORZ
Published: May 2018

An autopsy or necropsy can be performed only once; therefore, its proper execution is of fundamental importance in explaining the cause of death. The protocol with photographic documentation is an integral part of the autopsy, but sometimes it does not fully reflect the state of the body and the pathological changes observed at each stage of the procedure. These shortcomings are addressed by modern imaging techniques, which are increasingly used during the autopsy of human bodies, but quite rarely during necropsy of animals. Non-invasive techniques (CT, MRI, or photogrammetry with laser body scanning), or in some cases also minimally invasive techniques (biopsy), enable comprehensive analysis of the carcass, but Virtopsy is only a supplement to the classical autopsy, especially in veterinary forensic medicine..
Forecasting high waters at Venice Lagoon using chaotic time series analysis and nonlinear neural networks
Authors: Zaldívar J. M. , Gutiérrez E. , Galván I. M. , Strozzi F. , Tomasin A.
Published: May 2018

Time series analysis using nonlinear dynamics systems theory and multilayer neural networks models have been applied to the time sequence of water level data recorded every hour at ‘Punta della Salute’ from Venice Lagoon during the years 1980–1994. The first method is based on the reconstruction of the state space attractor using time delay embedding vectors and on the characterisation of invariant properties which define its dynamics. The results suggest the existence of a low dimensional chaotic attractor with a Lyapunov dimension, DL, of around 6.6 and a predictability between 8 and 13 hours ahead. Furthermore, once the attractor has been reconstructed it is possible to make predictions by mapping local-neighbourhood to local-neighbourhood in the reconstructed phase space. To compare the prediction results with another nonlinear method, two nonlinear autoregressive models (NAR) based on multilayer feedforward neural networks have been developed.

From the study, it can be observed that nonlinear forecasting produces adequate results for the ‘normal’ dynamic behaviour of the water level of Venice Lagoon, outperforming linear algorithms, however, both methods fail to forecast the ‘high water’ phenomenon more than 2–3 hours ahead.
Collaborative spatial decision making in environmental restoration management: an experimental approach
Authors: Jankowski Piotr
Published: May 2018

This paper presents the results of an experimental study about the use of collaborative spatial decision support tools to aid environmental restoration management and decision making. Similar, but non-geographic tools were developed and successfully applied in the 1990s for the computerised support of group decision making aimed at solving business problems. Yet, there are significant differences between business applications and spatial applications including environmental management. These differences motivated the study of habitat restoration reported in this paper. The results demonstrate that maps—the most common representation structures of spatial data in geographic information systems—play only a limited support role. Development of new ways to visualise spatial information and novel integrations of maps with analytical tools including multiple criteria decision models may help develop more effective collaborative spatial decision support systems.
How well does your model fit the data?
Authors: Hall M. J.
Published: May 2018

Despite almost five decades of activity on the computer modelling of input–output relationships, little general agreement has emerged on appropriate indices for the goodness-of-fit of a model to a set of observations of the pertinent variables. The coefficient of efficiency, which is closely allied in form to the coefficient of determination, has been widely adopted in many data mining and modelling exercises. Values of this coefficient close to unity are taken as evidence of good matching between observed and computed flows. However, studies using synthetic data have demonstrated that negative values of the coefficient of efficiency can occur both in the presence of bias in computed outputs, and when the computed volume of flow greatly exceeds the observed volume of flow. In contrast, the coefficient of efficiency lacks discrimination for cases close to perfect reproduction. In the latter case, a coefficient based upon the first differences of the data proves to be more helpful.
Improved non-linear transfer function and neural network methods of flow routing for real-time forecasting
Authors: Lekkas D. F. , Imrie C. E. , Lees M. J.
Published: May 2018

Data-based methods of flow forecasting are becoming increasingly popular due to their rapid development times, minimum information requirements, and ease of real-time implementation, with transfer function and artificial neural network methods the most commonly applied methods in practice. There is much antagonism between advocates of these two approaches that is fuelled by comparison studies where a state-of-the-art example of one method is unfairly compared with an out-of-date variant of the other technique. This paper presents state-of-the-art variants of these competing methods, non-linear transfer functions and modified recurrent cascade-correlation artificial neural networks, and objectively compares their forecasting performance using a case study based on the UK River Trent. Two methods of real-time error-based updating applicable to both the transfer function and artificial neural network methods are also presented. Comparison results reveal that both methods perform equally well in this case, and that the use of an updating technique can improve forecasting performance considerably, particularly if the forecast model is poor.
Calculation of time of concentration for hydrologic design and analysis using geographic information system vector objects
Authors: Green Jonathan I. , Nelson E. James
Published: May 2018

Synthetic unit hydrographs are commonly used to estimate runoff from rainfall events in a hydrologic analysis. A key parameter required as part of any hydrologic analysis using a synthetic unit hydrograph is time of concentration or lag time. Generally, equations used to compute time of concentration or lag time are empirically derived from basin parameters such as area, slope, and a specific flow path length. A more realistic method for determination of flow path travel time is to divide the flow path according to different hydraulic conditions such as sheet flow, shallow concentrated flow and open channel flow as specified in the NRCS method using TR55. Such equations are all based on flow length and the slope of the flow path, two parameters that are easily calculated from GIS vector objects. A method is presented that uses GIS vector objects with equations assigned for the calculation of time of concentration or lag time for use in hydrologic analysis and design.
Evolutionary algorithms for multiobjective evaluation of watershed management decisions
Authors: Muleta Misgana K. , Nicklow John W.
Published: May 2018

The comprehensive and systematic management of watersheds is essential for reducing the adverse environmental impacts arising from anthropogenically caused erosion and subsequent sedimentation. This paper describes a computational methodology that is designed to serve as a watershed decision support system and is capable of controlling environmental impacts of non-point source pollution resulting from erosion. In the decision process, the methodology also accounts for other inseparable objectives such as economics and social dynamics of the watershed. This decision support tool was developed by integrating a comprehensive hydrologic model known as SWAT and state-of-the-art multiobjective optimization technique within the framework of a discrete-time optimal-control model. Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA), a multiobjective optimizer based on evolutionary algorithms, has been used to generate Pareto optimal sets. For demonstration purposes, the tool was applied to the Big Creek watershed located in Southern Illinois. Results indicate that the methodology is highly effective and has the potential to improve comprehensive watershed management.
Comparative application of artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms for multivariate time-series modelling of algal blooms in freshwater lakes
Authors: Recknagel Friedrich , Bobbin Jason , Whigham Peter , Wilson Hugh
Published: May 2018

The paper compares potentials and achievements of artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms in terms of forecasting and understanding of algal blooms in Lake Kasumigaura (Japan). Despite the complex and nonlinear nature of ecological data, artificial neural networks allow seven-days-ahead predictions of timing and magnitudes of algal blooms with reasonable accuracy. Genetic algorithms possess the capability to evolve, refine and hybridize numerical and linguistic models. Examples presented in the paper show that models explicitly synthesized by genetic algorithms not only perform better in seven-days-ahead predictions of algal blooms than artificial neural network models, but provide more transparency for explanation as well.
Estimation and propagation of parametric uncertainty in environmental models
Authors: McIntyre Neil , Wheater Howard , Lees Matthew
Published: May 2018

It is proposed that a numerical environmental model cannot be justified for predictive tasks without an implicit uncertainty analysis which uses reliable and transparent methods. Various methods of uncertainty-based model calibration are reviewed and demonstrated. Monte Carlo simulation of data, Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE), the Metropolis algorithm and a set-based approach are compared using the Streeter–Phelps model of dissolved oxygen in a stream. Using idealised data, the first three of these calibration methods are shown to converge the parameter distributions to the same end result. However, in practice, when the properties of the data and model structural errors are less well defined, GLUE and the set-based approach are proposed as more versatile for the robust estimation of parametric uncertainty. Methods of propagation of parametric uncertainty are also reviewed. Rosenblueth's two-point method, first-order variance propagation, Monte Carlo sampling and set theory are applied to the Streeter–Phelps example. The methods are then shown to be equally successful in application to the example, and their relative merits for more complex modelling problems are discussed.
WEST: modelling biological wastewater treatment
Authors: Vanhooren Henk , Meirlaen Jurgen , Amerlinck Youri , Claeys Filip , Vangheluwe Hans , Vanrolleghem Peter A.
Published: May 2018

Modelling is considered to be an inherent part of the design and operation of a wastewater treatment system. The models used in practice range from conceptual models and physical design models (laboratory-scale or pilot-scale reactors) to empirical or mechanistic mathematical models. These mathematical models can be used during the design, operation and optimisation of a wastewater treatment system. To do so, a good software tool is indispensable. WEST is a general modelling and simulation environment and can, together with a model base, be used for this task. The model base presented here is specific for biological wastewater treatment and is written in MSL-USER. In this high-level object-oriented language, the dynamics of systems can be represented along with symbolic information. In WEST's graphical modelling environment, the physical layout of the plant can be rebuilt, and each building block can be linked to a specific model from the model base. The graphical information is then combined with the information in the model base to produce MSL-EXEC code, which can be compiled with a C++ compiler. In the experimentation environment, the user can design different experiments, such as simulations and optimisations of, for instance, designs, controllers and model fits to data (calibration).