bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual construction of freeform-fabricated polycaprolactone scaffolds for osteogenesis
Authors: Liu Lu , Shi Guixin , Cui Ying , Li Hui , Li Zhengchao , Zeng Qiangcheng , Guo Yong
Published: January 2017

The construction of engineered bone mostly focuses on simulating the extracellular matrix (ECM) for proper biological activity. However, the complexity of architecture and the variability of the mechanical properties of natural bones are related to individual differences in age, nutritional state, mechanical loading and disease status. Defect substitutions should be normed with the host natural bone, balancing architectural and mechanical adaption, as well as biological activity. Using a freeform fabrication (FFF) method, we prepared polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with different architectures. With simulation of structural and mechanical parameters of rabbit femur cancellous bone, individual defect substitution with the characteristics of the rabbit femur was obtained with high porosity and connectivity. Biological adaption in vitro was examined and osteoid formation in vivo was assessed by implantation in situ. Simulating the femur cancellous bone, 300-μm FFF PCL scaffolds had better architectural and mechanical properties. The protocol produced an architecturally, mechanically and biologically adaptive construction of an individual model for rapid-prototype PCL scaffolds. A guide system was developed to accurately reproduce virtually individual defect substitutions of the bone.
Detecting paraprotein interference on a direct bilirubin assay by reviewing the photometric reaction data
Authors: García-González Elena , Aramendía Maite , González-Tarancón Ricardo , Romero-Sánchez Naiara , Rello Luis
Published: January 2017

Background:

The direct bilirubin (D-Bil) assay on the AU Beckman Coulter instrumentation can be interfered by paraproteins, which may result in spurious D-Bil results. In a previous work, we took advantage of this fact to detect this interference, thus helping with the identification of patients with unsuspected monoclonal gammopathies. In this work, we investigate the possibility to detect interference based on the review of the photometric reactions, regardless of the D-Bil result.

Methods:

The D-Bil assay was carried out in a set of 2164 samples. It included a group of 164 samples with paraproteins (67 of which caused interference on the assay), as well as different groups of samples for which high absorbance background readings could also be expected (i.e. hemolyzed, lipemic, or icteric samples). Photometric reaction data were reviewed and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to establish a cut-off for absorbance that best discriminates interference.

Results:

The best cut-off was 0.0100 for the absorbance at the first photometric point of the complementary wavelength in the blank cuvette. Once the optimal cut-off for probable interference was selected, all samples analyzed in our laboratory that provided absorbance values above this cut-off were further investigated to try to discover paraproteins. During a period of 6 months, we detected 44 samples containing paraproteins, five of which belonged to patients with non-diagnosed monoclonal gammopathies.

Conclusions:

Review of the photometric reaction data permits the systematic detection of paraprotein interference on the D-Bil AU assay, even for samples for which reasonable results are obtained.
Evaluation of the Greiner Bio-One serum separator BCA Fast Clot tube
Authors: Dimeski Goce , Johnston Julie , Masci Paul P. , Zhao Kong-Nan , Brown Nigel
Published: January 2017

Background:

Current commercial tubes have difficulties in producing “true” serum from all blood samples even within the recommended clotting times. Hence, Becton Dickinson (BD) and now Greiner have produced tubes containing thrombin as the procoagulant to reduce the clotting time and increase the possibility of producing serum from anticoagulated blood samples.

Methods:

The Greiner BCA Fast Clot (GBBCAFC) tube was evaluated in a hospital environment using 40 participants, (30 healthy and 10 undergoing renal dialysis) for 32 analytes against the Greiner lithium heparin tube and the BD Rapid Serum Tubes (BD RST) tube measured on Beckman DxC 800 and DxI 800 analyzers. Clotting strength was also examined using thromboelastography (TEG).

Results:

The analytes results showed there was a very close agreement between the BD RST tube and GBBCAFC tube in comparison with lithium heparin plasma. The result comparison data showed equivalent performance with lower levels of hemolysis. The prolonged storage study also showed very similar agreement between the BD RST and the GBBCAFC tubes. Likewise, the TEG data showed there was very little difference in clotting ability between the tubes, and neither was capable of producing true serum from blood spiked with 2 U heparin/mL of blood.

Conclusions:

The study showed the GBBCAFC tube with the combination of the two procoagulants blood clotting activator and thrombin produced comparable performance with the lithium heparin plasma and the BD RST serum samples.
On a class of generalized Meijer–Laplace transforms of Fox function type kernels and their extension to a class of Boehmians
Authors: Al-Omari Shrideh Khalaf Qasem
Published: January 2017

In this paper, we investigate a Meijer–Laplace transform enfolding Fox’s H-functions on a class of Boehmians.
The extended Meijer–Laplace transform of a Boehmian is determined and executed to preserve certain properties of the classical transform.
The inverse problem and related theorems are also discussed in some details.
Titania-Loaded Coal Char as Catalyst in Oxidation of Styrene with Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Nurhadi Mukhamad , Chandren Sheela , Yuan Lai Sin , Ho Chin Siong , Indra Mahlia Teuku Meurah , Nur Hadi
Published: January 2017

Titania-loaded coal char catalyst was successfully prepared. The preparation steps involved pyrolysis of low rank coal at different temperatures and durations, sulfonation, impregnation of titanium(IV) isopropoxide, and then heating at 110 °C. It is found that the coal chars’ surfaces were rough after sulfonation and impregnation, while large pore volume, high surface area and carbon composition were observed at low pyrolysis temperature for short duration. These properties contributed to high selectivity towards benzaldehyde (> 90 %) at 600 °C (0.5–2 h)) in styrene oxidation using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant.
Interventional Approach for Path-Specific Effects
Authors: Lin Sheng-Hsuan , VanderWeele Tyler
Published: January 2017

Standard causal mediation analysis decomposes the total effect into a direct effect and an indirect effect in settings with only one single mediator. Under the settings with multiple mediators, all mediators are often treated as one single block of mediators. The effect mediated by a certain combination of mediators, i. e. path-specific effect (PSE), is not always identifiable without making strong assumptions. In this paper, the authors propose a method, defining a randomly interventional analogue of PSE (rPSE), as an alternative approach for mechanism investigation. This method is valid under assumptions of no unmeasured confounding and allows settings with mediators dependent on each other, interaction, and mediator-outcome confounders which are affected by exposure. In addition, under linearity and no-interaction, our method has the same form of traditional path analysis for PSE. Furthermore, under single mediator without a mediator-outcome confounder affected by exposure, it also has the same form of the results of causal mediation analysis. We also provide SAS code for settings of linear regression with exposure-mediator interaction and perform analysis in the Framingham Heart Study dataset, investigating the mechanism of smoking on systolic blood pressure as mediated by both cholesterol and body weight. Allowing decomposition of total effect into several rPSEs, our method contributes to investigation of complicated causal mechanisms in settings with multiple mediators.
Tailoring trehalose for biomedical and biotechnological applications
Authors: O’Neill Mara K. , Piligian Brent F. , Olson Claire D. , Woodruff Peter J. , Swarts Benjamin M.
Published: January 2017

Trehalose is a non-reducing sugar whose ability to stabilize biomolecules has brought about its widespread use in biological preservation applications. Trehalose is also an essential metabolite in a number of pathogens, most significantly the global pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, though it is absent in humans and other mammals. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in modifying the structure of trehalose to generate analogs that have applications in biomedical research and biotechnology. Non-degradable trehalose analogs could have a number of advantages as bioprotectants and food additives. Trehalose-based imaging probes and inhibitors are already useful as research tools and may have future value in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, among other uses. Underlying the advancements made in these areas are novel synthetic methods that facilitate access to and evaluation of trehalose analogs. In this review, we focus on both aspects of the development of this class of molecules. First, we consider the chemical and chemoenzymatic methods that have been used to prepare trehalose analogs and discuss their prospects for synthesis on commercially relevant scales. Second, we describe ongoing efforts to develop and deploy detectable trehalose analogs, trehalose-based inhibitors, and non-digestible trehalose analogs. The current and potential future uses of these compounds are discussed, with an emphasis on their roles in understanding and combatting mycobacterial infection.
The Influence of Different Training Conditions on the Kinematics of Long Jump-Specific Exercise in Young Female Jumpers
Authors: Makaruk Hubert , Mastalerz Andrzej , Starzak Marcin , Buszta Mariusz
Published: January 2017

Introduction.
This study examined the changes in the kinematic parameters of long jump-specific technical exercise performed in different training conditions.

Material and methods.
The study involved a group of young female athletes who volunteered to participate in the research. The key variables for long jump performance were measured using the Xsens MVN system. A three-way ANOVA (general linear model with repeated measures; factors: surface × hurdle × number of jumps) was used to determine if significant differences existed between the testing conditions.

Results.
The main finding of this study was that the tartan surface resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) greater velocities of the centre of mass of the body (CM) or parts of the athlete’s body than the grass surface. The second important finding was that the hurdles condition provided significantly (p < 0.05) greater velocity of the CM when landing and shorter contact time compared to the condition without hurdles.

Conclusions.
The findings of the study indicate that technical exercise should be performed on harder surfaces such as a tartan track rather than softer ones (e.g. grass) due to more beneficial movement characteristics and greater potential for the automaticity of movement during specific training tasks.
Solid waste management in Thailand: an overview and case study (Tha Khon Yang sub-district)
Authors: Yukalang Nachalida , Clarke Beverley Dawn , Ross Kirstin Elizabeth
Published: January 2017

Due to rapid urbanization, solid waste management (SWM) has become a significant issue in several developing countries including Thailand. Policies implemented by the Central Thai Government to manage SWM issues have had only limited success. This article reviews current municipal waste management plans in Thailand and examines municipal waste management at the local level, with focus on the Tha Khon Yang sub-district surrounding Mahasarakham University in Mahasarakham Province. Within two decades this area has been converted from a rural to an urban landscape featuring accommodation for over 45,000 university students and a range of business facilities. This development and influx of people has outpaced the government’s ability to manage municipal solid waste (MSW). There are significant opportunities to improve local infrastructure and operational capacity; but there are few mechanisms to provide and distribute information to improve community participation in waste management. Many community-based waste management projects, such as waste recycling banks, the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), and waste-to-biogas projects have been abandoned. Additionally, waste from Tha Kon Yang and its surrounding areas has been transferred to unsanitary landfills; there is also haphazard dumping and uncontrolled burning of waste, which exacerbate current pollution issues.
Quantum Thermal Rectification to Design Thermal Diodes and Transistors
Authors: Joulain Karl , Ezzahri Younès , Ordonez-Miranda Jose
Published: January 2017

We study in this article how heat can be exchanged between two-level systems, each of them being coupled to a thermal reservoir. Calculations are performed solving a master equation for the density matrix using the Born–Markov approximation. We analyse the conditions for which a thermal diode and a thermal transistor can be obtained as well as their optimisation.
On Type-II Bäcklund Transformation for the MKdV Hierarchy
Authors: Mao Hui , Lv Shuqiang
Published: January 2017

The study of new integrable defects leads to new type of Bäcklund transformations named as the type-II Bäcklund transformations. In this article, we show, for the MKdV hierarchy, that the type-II Bäcklund transformation is the compound type-I Bäcklund transformation.
Comprehensive Laboratory Testing and Evaluation of the Evaporative Cooling Effect of Pavement Materials
Authors: Meena K. K. , Chandrappa A. K. , Biligiri K. P.
Published: January 2017

This paper presents a methodology to quantify the evaporative cooling effect (ECE) of eight paving mixtures, including asphalt and cement concrete types with varying material properties in the laboratory. Further, quantification of the ECE of the different mixtures entailed recommendation of those materials that could be appropriate to mitigate urban heat island (UHI) effects. In dry and wet conditions, asphalt–rubber open-graded and dense asphalt mixtures had nonlinear temperature gradients and higher temperatures at surface, 25- and 50-mm depths, whereas asphalt–rubber gap-graded mixture had insignificant gradients and lower temperatures. Open and dense-graded asphalt mixtures had higher temperature differentials between dry and wet conditions than gap-graded mixture illustrating that they will have higher ECE. However, based on temperature gradients and profiles, gap-graded mix showed an unvarying thermal behavior under dry and wet conditions demonstrating that thermophysical properties also play prominent roles in heat energy transport and storage through the system. Pervious concrete mixtures with 20 % and 25 % air voids depicted nonlinear temperature gradients and higher temperature differentials compared to pervious concrete with 30 % air voids and conventional concrete mixtures that provided superior ECE and could indeed act as suitable UHI mitigation strategies.
Estimating Porosity of In Situ Pervious Concrete Using Surface Infiltration Tests
Authors: Haselbach L. , Werner B. , Dutra V. P. , Schwetz P. , Pinto da Silva Filho L. C. , Batezini R. , Curvo F. , Balbo J. T.
Published: January 2017

Widespread adoption and acceptance of pervious concrete systems are dependent on determining the in situ properties of the placement. The porosity of the pervious concrete layer is the dominant variable of the system, affecting durability, hydraulic, and mechanical properties. Current practice has the porosity of the system estimated prior to placement by a fresh concrete density test on the mix from the concrete mixer, and tested after placement by extracting cores and performing a hardened porosity test. This study provides a method for correlating the surface infiltration rate of a newly placed pervious concrete layer and its estimated porosity with simple linear equations. Although not intended to replace standardized acceptance porosity tests, using this existing nondestructive infiltration method for also estimating porosity may readily provide more information on the variable characteristics of an entire pervious concrete slab for correlation to additional studies, performance, and evaluation of installation techniques. The findings also indicate that the standard 300-mm-diameter single-ring surface infiltration test would have similar results to a more involved double-ring imbedded infiltration test. Finally, the research provides information on interpreting the relationship of laboratory measured infiltration rates for single-lift versus double-lift compaction methods, and shows that coring may have impacts on the surface infiltration rate performed on the extracted cores, probably because of coring debris clogging some of the pores.
Clinical, Therapeutic and Caring Aspects of Epilepsy at the Developmental Age
Authors: Kontna Ewa , Lewicka Marta , Małecka Bogumiła , Barczykowska Ewa
Published: January 2017

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by the occurrence of seizures of distinct nature. At the developmental age it occurs in 0.5% of people. Diagnostic and therapeutic process is complex. In the treatment, pharmacological, surgical, and dietetic methods are used. In the handling of a child affected by epilepsy, we should take into account the impact of the disease on the quality of patient’s life and on that of their families’.The aim of the work is to present the current clinical knowledge on the subject of epilepsy at the age of development and the problems, which the children and their parents must face. (JNNN 2016;5(1):31–35)
Human Exploration of Enclosed Spaces through Echolocation
Authors: Flanagin Virginia L. , Schörnich Sven , Schranner Michael , Hummel Nadine , Wallmeier Ludwig , Wahlberg Magnus , Stephan Thomas , Wiegrebe Lutz
Published: January 2017

Some blind humans have developed echolocation, as a method of navigation in space. Echolocation is a truly active sense because subjects analyze echoes of dedicated, self-generated sounds to assess space around them. Using a special virtual space technique, we assess how humans perceive enclosed spaces through echolocation, thereby revealing the interplay between sensory and vocal-motor neural activity while humans perform this task. Sighted subjects were trained to detect small changes in virtual-room size analyzing real-time generated echoes of their vocalizations. Individual differences in performance were related to the type and number of vocalizations produced. We then asked subjects to estimate virtual-room size with either active or passive sounds while measuring their brain activity with fMRI. Subjects were better at estimating room size when actively vocalizing. This was reflected in the hemodynamic activity of vocal-motor cortices, even after individual motor and sensory components were removed. Activity in these areas also varied with perceived room size, although the vocal-motor output was unchanged. In addition, thalamic and auditory-midbrain activity was correlated with perceived room size; a likely result of top-down auditory pathways for human echolocation, comparable with those described in echolocating bats. Our data provide evidence that human echolocation is supported by active sensing, both behaviorally and in terms of brain activity. The neural sensory-motor coupling complements the fundamental acoustic motor-sensory coupling via the environment in echolocation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPassive listening is the predominant method for examining brain activity during echolocation, the auditory analysis of self-generated sounds. We show that sighted humans perform better when they actively vocalize than during passive listening. Correspondingly, vocal motor and cerebellar activity is greater during active echolocation than vocalization alone. Motor and subcortical auditory brain activity covaries with the auditory percept, although motor output is unchanged. Our results reveal behaviorally relevant neural sensory-motor coupling during echolocation.
MRI follow-up is unnecessary in patients with macroprolactinomas and long-term normal prolactin levels on dopamine agonist treatment
Authors: Eroukhmanoff J , Tejedor I , Potorac I , Cuny T , Bonneville J F , Dufour H , Weryha G , Beckers A , Touraine P , Brue T , Castinetti F
Published: January 2017

Objective

Both antitumor and antisecretory efficacies of dopamine agonists (DA) make them the first-line treatment of macroprolactinomas. However, there is no guideline for MRI follow-up once prolactin is controlled. The aim of our study was to determine whether a regular MRI follow-up was necessary in patients with long-term normal prolactin levels under DA.

Patients and methods

We conducted a retrospective multicenter study (Marseille, Paris La Pitie Salpetriere and Nancy, France; Liege, Belgium) including patients with macroprolactinomas (largest diameter: >10 mm and baseline prolactin level: >100 ng/mL) treated by dopamine agonists, and regularly followed (pituitary MRI and prolactin levels) during at least 48 months once normal prolactin level was obtained.

Results

In total, 115 patients were included (63 men and 52 women; mean age at diagnosis: 36.3 years). Mean baseline prolactin level was 2224 ± 6839 ng/mL. No significant increase of tumor volume was observed during the follow-up. Of the 21 patients (18%) who presented asymptomatic hemorrhagic changes of the macroprolactinoma on MRI, 2 had a tumor increase (2 and 7 mm in the largest size). Both were treated by cabergoline (1 mg/week) with normal prolactin levels obtained for 6 and 24 months. For both patients, no further growth was observed on MRI during follow-up at the same dose of cabergoline.

Conclusion

No significant increase of tumor size was observed in our patients with controlled prolactin levels on DA. MRI follow-up thus appears unnecessary in patients with biologically controlled macroprolactinomas.
A Drosophila toolkit for defining gene function in spermatogenesis
Authors: Siddall N A , Hime G R
Published: January 2017

Expression profiling and genomic sequencing methods enable the accumulation of vast quantities of data that relate to the expression of genes during the maturation of male germ cells from primordial germ cells to spermatozoa and potential mutations that underlie male infertility. However, the determination of gene function in specific aspects of spermatogenesis or linking abnormal gene function with infertility remain rate limiting, as even in an era of CRISPR analysis of gene function in mammalian models, this still requires considerable resources and time. Comparative developmental biology studies have shown the remarkable conservation of spermatogenic developmental processes from insects to vertebrates and provide an avenue of rapid assessment of gene function to inform the potential roles of specific genes in rodent and human spermatogenesis. The vinegar fly,Drosophila melanogaster, has been used as a model organism for developmental genetic studies for over one hundred years, and research with this organism produced seminal findings such as the association of genes with chromosomes, the chromosomal basis for sexual identity, the mutagenic properties of X-irradiation and the isolation of the first tumour suppressor mutations.Drosophilaresearchers have developed an impressive array of sophisticated genetic techniques for analysis of gene function and genetic interactions. This review focuses on how these techniques can be utilised to study spermatogenesis in an organism with a generation time of 9 days and the capacity to introduce multiple mutant alleles into an individual organism in a relatively short time frame.
Urinary triclosan concentrations and early outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer
Authors: Hua Rui , Zhou Yao , Wu Biao , Huang Zhongwei , Zhu Yongtong , Song Yali , Yu Yanhong , Li Hong , Quan Song
Published: January 2017

Triclosan (TCS) exists ubiquitously in the environment. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that TCS exerts endocrine disruptive effects on reproduction, but data from human populations are limited and conflicting. The objective of our study was to investigate whether high urinary TCS concentration is adversely associated with early reproductive outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). This prospective cohort study was conducted from September 2015 to June 2016, including 156 infertile women undergoing their first IVF-ET cycle. Two spot urine samples were collected prior to oocyte retrieval for TCS detection using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Linear regression model and binary logistic regression model were used to evaluate the association between urinary TCS concentrations and IVF outcomes. The intake of aquaculture food may have positive influences on urinary TCS concentrations. After adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), antral follicle count (AFC) and smoking status, a significant decrease of top quality embryo formation and implantation rate was observed in patients with urinary TCS concentration greater than or equal to the median level (0.045 μmol/mol Cr). We concluded that TCS exposure may exert negative effects during early stages of human reproduction.
Líneas de investigación preponderantes sobre comunicación alternativa: de los orígenes a la era digital
Authors: Lemus Pool María Consuelo
Published: January 2017

El objetivo de este trabajo es sistematizar y analizar la evolución de las líneas de investigación sobre la comunicación alternativa, con la finalidad de comprender las áreas de interés preponderantes que se generaron en sus orígenes, así como las transformaciones que éstas han tenido en la actual era digital. La estrategia metodológica empleada fue la revisión sistemática de la literatura. Se rastreó el concepto comunicación alternativa en bases de datos, catálogos, tesis y publicaciones especializadas, las cuales estuvieron disponibles a través de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, así como materiales de acceso libre en Internet, cuya temporalidad osciló entre 1970 y 2014. Para su análisis se empleó un método heurístico. Uno de los principales hallazgos fue identificar tres áreas clave de exploración que se mantienen vigentes desde los orígenes hasta el contexto contemporáneo: la comunicación para el desarrollo; comunitaria y contrahegemónica. En cada uno de estos énfasis, la comunicación alternativa se presenta con rasgos y matices diversos.
Planificar la comunicación desde las mediaciones
Authors: Contreras Baspineiro Adalid Percy
Published: January 2017

La definición de la Planificación de la Comunicación se tensiona entre el eclecticismo de sus múltiples tendencias, por lo que se podría considerar que estamos frente a un concepto polisémico.Nuestra propuesta de “planificación de la comunicación desde las mediaciones”, se caracteriza porque propone como eje de los procesos la construcción social, cultural y política de discurso o, como sugiere Verón desde “la producción social del sentido”, siendo necesarios desplazamientos desde el management, o los planes de medios, o las campañas persuasivas hacia las mediaciones donde los sujetos históricos interactúan tendiendo puentes con lo conocido y lo desconocido y lo vivido y por vivir.En este marco, proponemos establecer las dinámicas o tendencias de la realidad sintonizándolas desde las enunciaciones discursivas y (re)construcción de sentidos en las interacciones entre: sujetos históricos, espacios de comunicación, instituciones dialogantes, contextos cambiantes y escenarios complejos, con una panoplia metodológica organizada con la participación de los sujetos.
El efecto de la subasta de los fondos privados de pensión en las comisiones y competencia
Authors: Guillén Uyen Jorge
Published: January 2017

Este trabajo aclara el efecto de las recientes subastas de fondos privados de pensión en las comisiones y la competencia. Para lograr este último resultado, utilizamos datos de panel organizados por trimestres, de diez países latinoamericanos, de los años 2005-2015. La Reforma del sistema privado de pensiones en algunos países de la región permite la implementación de mecanismos de subastas sobre el precio para captar nuevos afiliados. El objetivo de este mecanismo fue bajar las tarifas e incentivar la competencia. Hemos concluido que el efecto sobre las tarifas es exitoso al bajarlas, mas el efecto sobre la competencia es ambiguo según nuestro modelo de datos de panel y la medición de eficiencia. Los resultados son relevantes para la regulación de las políticas en el mercado de ahorro previsional.
Strategic management development: the role of learning school on promotion of managers’ competence
Authors: Salamzadeh Yashar , YousefNia Mehran , Radovic Markovic Mirjana , Salamzadeh Aidin
Published: January 2017

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos del uso de la escuela de aprendizaje en la mejora de los criterios de competencia de los gerentes en Bank Saderat Irán y determinar los efectos de cada criterio de la mencionada escuela. Utilizando la tabla de Morgan, asumiendo el tamaño ilimitado de la población y mediante el cálculo de la fórmula del tamaño de la muestra en la población ilimitada, 384 personas fueron seleccionadas al azar de entre ellos. Después de seleccionar seis competencias básicas de los directivos, los datos fueron recogidos a través de un cuestionario que contenía 47 preguntas y se distribuyó entre los empleados. Después de la confirmación de la validez del cuestionario con SPSS utilizando la prueba de Spearman, se estableció la correlación significativa de todos los criterios excepto los rasgos de personalidad y la implementación de la escuela de aprendizaje, y finalmente utilizando el método de Topsis, Actitud, conocimiento, capacidad y rasgos de personalidad (directamente proporcional). Los resultados de este estudio se pueden utilizar en la toma de decisiones para la selección, nombramiento y mejora de los gerentes calificados en el país para los altos directivos de las organizaciones económicas.
PERILAKU SOSIAL BERINVESTASI DAN PROSPEK PENGEMBANGAN PERIKANAN RAKYAT DI WPP 714
Authors: Zulham Armen
Published: January 2017

Tulisan ini mempelajari perikanan rakyat pada WPP 714 yang berlokasi di Kota Kendari dan di Kota Tual. Data tentang nelayan perikanan rakyat yang digunakan merupakan data hasil survey yang dikumpulkan pada Bulan Mei 2015 dan bulan Oktober 2015. Basis analisis adalah kelompok alat tangkap Pancing, Jaring dan Perangkap. Jumlah responden pada setiap pengambilan data per lokasi masing-masing 100 responden. Hasil analisis menunjukkan: investasi nelayan perikanan rakyat merupakan induced investment karena memanfaatkan dana sendiri. Pada lokasi tertentu telah memaanfaatkan jasa bank dan pedagang. Armada perikanan rakyat pada dua lokasi itu mampu mensubtitusi peran perikanan komersial, jika berbagai infrastruktur (autonomous investment) seperti: Pabrik Es, Cold Storage, pasokan listrik serta sarana transportasi distribusi ikan, pasokan BBM disiapkan oleh pemerintah. Keberhasilan membangun dan memfungsikan infrastruktur dapat mempercepat transformasi armada perikanan rakyat menuju perikanan komersial. Tulisan ini merekomendasikan transformasi armada perikanan rakyat menjadi armada komersial harus segera dilakukan dengan mengganti PTM dan PMT menjadi armada KM dengan tonase kapal >=20 GT. Transformasi harus dikuti dengan pelatihan manajerial bisnis dan didukung oleh skema pembiayaan yang mudah diakses dengan bunga rendah.This paper studied about artisanal fisheries in Fisheries Management Area of Indonesian Republic (FMAs) 714 located in Kendari City and Tual City. Data in this paper are obtained from survey conducted in May and October 2015. The analysis is based on the group of fishing equipments: line, net, and trap. Total numbers of respondents are 100 on each location. It is found that the fishing investment of artisanal fisheries can be called as induced investment, because it used a personal funding. In some particular locations they used bank and merchant services. Artisanal fishing vessel on both locations are able to substitute the role of commercial fisheries. This could only occur with the presence of various infrastructures (autonomous investement) such as ice factory, cold storage, electrical supply, fish transportation and distribution equipment, and fuel supply fasilities, prepared by the government. The other things are prepared and accessible of the capital support scheme. The success in building and functioning infrastructures mentioned above could accelerate transformation of the artisanal fisheries towards commercial fisheries. This paper recommends the transformation to be immediately implemented by substituting non powered fishing vessels and out board fishing vessels to inboard powered fishing vessels with tonnage >=20 GT. This transformation should be followed by business managerial training and be supported by accessible funding scheme with low interest.
Biomimicry thinking: methodological improvements and practical implementation
Authors: Bianciardi Alessandro , Credi Caterina , Levi Marinella , Rosa Francesco , Zecca Alessandro
Published: January 2017

The importance of oil–water separation processes is rapidly increasing in the modern industry. This family of processes, in fact, is of fundamental importance in solving problems in several industrial sectors, among which, for instance, are the management of oil spills, accidental industrial waste water dispersions, water treatment industry, engine fuel filtration and oil sand tailing technology. This paper, firstly, presents and discusses a biologically inspired design approach, based on biomimicry thinking (BT). Besides integrating linguistic tools and brainstorming within the BT approach, the importance of a stricter integration with the engineering context is also discussed. Secondly, the paper presents a practical application of this approach: design an innovative and sustainable oil–water separation device. In particular, the application of the proposed approach allowed identifying a bioinspired solution capable to improve the process performances in a device based on a known strategy. More in detail, the adopted bioinspired solution consists of a superoleophobic surface that mimics the microstructure of the filefish scale surface and eases the oil–water separation process by hindering oil drops deposition on some surfaces. The cost and resource effectiveness of the practical realisation of this surface greatly benefited by the latest advancements in the additive manufacturing field.
On some factors influencing the laboratory measurement of permeability of rock
Authors: Głowacki A. , Selvadurai A. P. S.
Published: January 2017

The paper presents the results of one-dimensional laboratory permeability experiments conducted on three rock types: limestone, granite and sandstone. The experiments investigate how sample preparation, saturation and flow reversal can influence the attainment of a steady pressure gradient. The results show that the peak pressure gradient recorded in an experiment can be related to the residual pressure gradient that can be used to estimate the permeability of rocks.
Histones and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Enhance Tubular Necrosis and Remote Organ Injury in Ischemic AKI
Authors: Nakazawa Daigo , Kumar Santhosh V. , Marschner Julian , Desai Jyaysi , Holderied Alexander , Rath Lukas , Kraft Franziska , Lei Yutian , Fukasawa Yuichiro , Moeckel Gilbert W. , Angelotti Maria Lucia , Liapis Helen , Anders Hans-Joachim
Published: January 2017

Severe AKI is often associated with multiorgan dysfunction, but the mechanisms of this remote tissue injury are unknown. We hypothesized that renal necroinflammation releases cytotoxic molecules that may cause remote organ damage. In hypoxia-induced tubular epithelial cell necrosis in vitro, histone secretion from ischemic tubular cells primed neutrophils to form neutrophil extracellular traps. These traps induced tubular epithelial cell death and stimulated neutrophil extracellular trap formation in fresh neutrophils. In vivo, ischemia-reperfusion injury in the mouse kidney induced tubular necrosis, which preceded the expansion of localized and circulating neutrophil extracellular traps and the increased expression of inflammatory and injury-related genes. Pretreatment with inhibitors of neutrophil extracellular trap formation reduced kidney injury. Dual inhibition of neutrophil trap formation and tubular cell necrosis had an additive protective effect. Moreover, pretreatment with antihistone IgG suppressed ischemia-induced neutrophil extracellular trap formation and renal injury. Renal ischemic injury also increased the levels of circulating histones, and we detected neutrophil infiltration and TUNEL-positive cells in the lungs, liver, brain, and heart along with neutrophil extracellular trap accumulation in the lungs. Inhibition of neutrophil extracellular trap formation or of circulating histones reduced these effects as well. These data suggest that tubular necrosis and neutrophil extracellular trap formation accelerate kidney damage and remote organ dysfunction through cytokine and histone release and identify novel molecular targets to limit renal necroinflammation and multiorgan failure.
Risk Taking and Interest Rates: Evidence from Decades in the Global Syndicated Loan Market
Authors: Lee Seung Jung , Liu Lucy Qian , Stebunovs Viktors
Published: January 2017

We study how low interest rates in the United States affect risk taking in the market for cross-border corporate loans. Because banks tend to originate these loans with intent to sell to nonbank investors, we examine risk taking by the broad financial system. To the extent that actions of the Federal Reserve affect U.S. interest rates, our analysis provides evidence of cross-border spillover effects of U.S. monetary policy and highlights the global lending and risk-taking channels. We find that movements in the U.S. interest rates have an important effect on ex-ante credit risk of cross-border corporate loans, though the channels are different in the pre- and post-crisis periods. Before the crisis, banks made ex-ante riskier loans to non-U.S. borrowers in response to a decline in U.S. short-term interest rates, and, after it, banks and nonbanks originated such loans in response to a decline in U.S. longer- term interest rates. Economic uncertainty, risk appetite, and the U.S. dollar exchange rate appear to play a limited role in explaining ex-ante credit risk. Our results highlight the potential policy challenges faced by central banks in affecting credit risk cycles in their own jurisdictions.
Oppilatio+ - A data and cognitive science based approach to analyze pedestrian flows in networks
Authors: Biedermann Daniel H. , Kielar Peter M. , Riedl Andreas M. , Borrmann André
Published: January 2017

Public transport services are a widespread and environmentally friendly option for mobility. In the majority of cases, passengers of public transport services will have to walk from a subway, train, or bus station to their desired travel destination. In an urban environment with a network of narrow streets, this can lead to crowd congestions during rush hour, due to the fact that passengers tend to arrive in waves. In order to monitor and analyze such crowding behavior, city planners, crowd managers, and organizers of public events must ascertain which routes these pedestrians will take from the respective station to their destination. The Oppilatio+ approach is suitable for solving this problem. It is an easy-to-apply approach to predict way-finding behavior with a minimal set of information. The necessary data includes the schedule of incoming transport vehicles at the stations and the time-stamped count of pedestrians at the respective destinations. Under these conditions, the Oppilatio+ approach is suitable for estimating the distribution of pedestrians on all possible walkways between stations and destinations. This information helps crowd control experts to recognize weak spots in the infrastructure and help event organizers to ensure an undisturbed arrival at their event. We validated our approach using two field experiments. The first one was a field study on a public event, and the second one was a case study for a large Swiss train station.
Grand Intentions
Authors: Gregory Mark A
Published: January 2017

It is with the best of intentions that Australia embarked on a program of privatisation that commenced in the 1970s and continues today. Government’s efforts over the past 40 years to divest itself of utilities and enterprises in a shift from a command economy to a broader market economy is to be applauded but only lightly for the implementation of the privatisation program has, at times, been a shambles resulting in failed legislation and regulation, unwanted outcomes, and a lack of competition. It is timely that Emeritus Professor Tevor Barr has authored a novel that was inspired by real events during the privatisation of Australian Government telecommunications assets. The aptly named and newly privatised Telco One has recruited a chief executive officer from New York and the business culture transition begins. Decades after the events described in Professor Barr’s Grand Intentions the Australian telecommunications market remains in a state of constant flux with successive Governments failing to put in place a balanced, fair and open competitive market that would justify the privatisation program. The rationale for the National Broadband Network highlights the quagmire into which the Government of the day was forced to step and it will be another five to ten years before a future Government has the next opportunity to restructure the industry. Let us hope that they get it right this time around.
Editorial
Authors: Pietrafesa Pedro Araújo , Costa e Silva Margot Riemann , Vieira Jeferson De Castro
Published: January 2017

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Desenvolvimento Local: a experiência de Rafaela, Santa-Fé (Argentina)
Authors: Oliveira Nilton Marques , Esinosa Luciano Martin
Published: January 2017

Resumo: as políticas de desenvolvimento local podem ser definidas como respostas para uma mudança abrupta de modelo de acumulação de capital. Em função disso, desenvolvem ações visando a incorporação de inovações tecnológicas e organizativas no entorno territorial inovador e promotor da incorporação de vantagens competitivas para aumentar a produtividade, eficiência e competitividade. No presente estudo se analisou as instituições do desenvolvimento local que integram a estrutura produtiva de Rafaela-Argentina, no quadro do apoio que estas dão ao setor produtivo, integrada pelas micro, pequenas e médias empresas. Constatou-se a presença de variadas entidades que oferecem serviços de desenvolvimento empresarial aos agentes da região. Isto, somado com um plano estratégico que conta com a participação dos atores locais, explicando parte do sucesso da experiência em Rafaela na Argentina.Palavras-chave: Desenvolvimento Local. Instituições. Rafaela. Santa-Fe-Argentina.
O Trânsito das Questões da Agenda Pública para a Governamental: a institucionalização da segurança alimentar nas políticas públicas
Authors: De Mouras Joana Tereza Vaz , Nicoletti Milenna
Published: January 2017

Resumo: este artigo discute a entrada da Segurança Alimentar na agenda governamental a partir de uma confluência das demandas dos movimentos sociais e entidades da sociedade civil, combinada a uma prerrogativa governamental, abordando o conceito de estruturas de oportunidades políticas e constrangimentos e oportunidades estabelecidos pela configuração político-institucional compreendidos pela perspectiva neoinstitucionalista. Neste ínterim, o artigo apresenta um resgate histórico da consolidação da Segurança Alimentar no Brasil, objetivando explorar a evolução paulatina conferida à temática impulsionada pelos movimentos sociais e pelas instituições como propiciadoras de oportunidades políticas. Por conseguinte, são criadas inovadoras estruturas decisórias mais descentralizadas e flexíveis, a exemplo dos conselhos e das conferências como importantes mecanismos de integração entre diferentes interesses, contribuindo, dessa forma, para que a pauta da segurança alimentar tenha se expandido e ocupado um importante espaço nas agendas políticas culminando em um conjunto de ações institucionais idealizadas e projetadas mediante diversas políticas de combate à insegurança alimentar.Palavras-chave: Segurança alimentar. Agenda governamental. Oportunidades políticas. Instituições. Políticas públicas.
Como Anda a Habitação Social no Brasil? Reflexões sobre a Trajetória das Políticas Habitacionais da Década de 1960 à Atualidade
Authors: Melchiors Lucia Camargos
Published: January 2017

Resumo: a questão da habitação é uma das faces mais complexas da urbanização, em especial, em países em desenvolvimento como o Brasil, no qual o acesso à moradia é uma necessidade urgente. Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma reflexão sobre as políticas habitacionais brasileiras a partir de uma perspectiva histórica, examinando distintos períodos, da década de 1960 à atualidade. São abordadas as políticas do Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento (BNH) e um estudo do Programa Minha Casa, Minha Vida (PMCMV), dando ênfase para o último, o principal programa governamental voltado à produção da habitação social no país nos últimos anos. Percebe-se que existem avanços e retrocessos das políticas ao longo do período estudado e que a habitação social brasileira tem sido historicamente preterida perante os interesses do capital imobiliário.Palavras-chave: Política habitacional. Habitação social. Programa Minha Casa,Minha Vida.
Espacialização da "Logística! como Fato de Organização Produtiva do Território Mato-grossense
Authors: De Arruda Zuleika Alves
Published: January 2017

Resumo: este artigo apresenta análises a respeito do processo de espacialização da logística do agronegócio no território mato-grossense. Esclarece que o Estado de Mato Grosso indica um elevado crescimento econômico decorrente do agronegócio, porém com problemas logísticos (transporte e armazenagem) que, associados à localização geográfica, impedem a competitividade das commodities agrícolas no mercado globalizado. Esta discussão contempla o papel do Estado neoliberal na (re)estruturação do território, assim como as estratégias usadas pelas corporações do agronegócio na apropriação do território. Mostra ainda que a inexistência/precariedade dos circuitos de escoamento possibilitou que o território fosse corporalizado pelas corporações do agronegócio, e contribuiu para a reprodução ampliada do capitalpor meio da expansão de serviços de apoio à logística. Conclui que o agronegócio é a versão contemporânea do capitalismo, que visa abarcar o espaço geográfico em sua totalidade, sendo necessário adequar o território, suprimir as distâncias e barreiras que impeçam o capital de (se) (re)produzir.Palavras-chave: Agronegócio. Logística. Território corporativizado.(Re)estruturação.
Trabalho e Precarização dos Empregos: Trabalhadores Temporários na Indústria Fumageira de Santa Cruz do Sul (RS)
Authors: Cadoná Marco André , Freitas Valter De Almeida
Published: January 2017

Resumo: este artigo analisa as repercussões da organização da produção da indústria do tabaco no trabalho e no mercado de trabalho de Santa Cruz do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil), ocupando-se especialmente com a experiência dos trabalhadores temporários para compreender as estratégias de reprodução dessa força de trabalho que atua de forma precária e insegura na produção industrial que se realiza em empresas multinacionais do setor fumageiro.Palavras-chave: Multinacionais do tabaco. Trabalhadores temporários. Insegurança nos empregos. Trabalho precário.