bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mentoring Students through Digital Learning Experiences
Authors: Conway Cassandra Sligh , Harris Stanley Melton , Smith Susan , Brackett Vivian , Hayes Gloria
Published: February 2016

The digital world has taken over the traditional ways of communicating. Because of the need to view information and relay the information in a quick yet simple way, communicating through digital technology is the wave of the future. Students are captivated by digital technology and it seems to be an active way to promote learning and or concepts that might have been difficult to relay without the influence of digital technology. Any information used on a computer or disseminated on a computer is known as digital technology. Digital technology can enhance the level of creativity and distribution of information (Digital Literacy, www.icliteracy.info). The purpose of this effort is as follows: 1) give a basic review of the literature on mentoring and digital technology; 2) provide mentoring experiences that relay effective mentoring styles; 3) promote a discussion on the uniqueness of each mentoring experience; and 4) discuss implications and recommendations to enhance learning.
Mentoring and Lived Experiences of Beginning Teachers in a Resident Teacher Program
Authors: Adjei-Boateng Emmanuel , Gourneau Bonni
Published: February 2016

There has been considerable attention and focus, in the field of education, on development support for beginning teachers. The resident teacher program or a teacher residency is a comprehensive means of providing beginning teachers with support. This initiative is usually organized through the concerted efforts of a college of education and school district. Within this study, attention is given to the potential or real benefits and to the successes and challenges of an existing resident teacher program with six beginning teachers enrolled in an elementary education resident teacher program. The outcome shows that resident teachers' experiences is characterized by double commitment with a lot of responsibilities but double support; ability to bring what's learned in graduate courses into classroom teaching; and confidence to transition into regular classroom teaching after the program.
The Impact of School Leadership and Professional Development on Professional Commitment
Authors: Rugutt John K. , Chemosit Caroline C. , Ngeno Viviline , Soi Dorothy
Published: February 2016

This study used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) approach to investigate the impact of school leadership, professional development, gender and teaching experience on professional commitment with a sample of 396 elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators from Kenya. The HLM results indicate significant differences among schools (?2 (49) = 218.92, p<0.001), with an intra-class correlation of 0.3183 indicating that 31.83% of variance in professional commitment was among schools. When professional development and school leadership were used as level 2 predictor variables with no level 1 predictors, the school variability dropped from 4.73584 to 3.30865 indicating that 30.14% of variance in school professional commitment was due to school leadership and professional development (?2 (47) = 161.67, p<0.001). Further, the reliability of the sample means in any school for the true mean school professional commitment was 0.703.
Preparing Teacher Candidates for Diverse School Environments
Authors: Delano-Oriaran Omobolade
Published: February 2016

This chapter shares an Authentic and Culturally Engaging (ACE) Service-Learning framework as a pedagogical approach in equipping teacher candidates with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be successful in-service teachers in diverse PK-12 school environments. As PK-12 schools become more racially and culturally diverse, there is a need to better prepare teacher candidates for diverse school environments, especially given that many teachers have asserted that they do not know how to teach diverse students. The chapter highlights components of the ACE framework and suggests practical strategies that teacher educators can use in integrating this framework into their courses. The end of the chapter focuses on teacher educators and how they can engage in a relearning process to unpack their previous knowledge regarding social justice and multicultural education in an effort to prepare their teacher candidates for diverse schools followed by a suggested checklist applicable to any teacher preparation course.
Literacy and Early Childhood
Authors: González Katia , Frumkin Rhoda
Published: February 2016

In this chapter, the authors explore the components needed for a culturally responsive workshop specifically tailored to meet the needs of Mexican mothers participating in an early childhood literacy learning after school program in the United States. The impact of visualization, use of videos, and small and large group sharing of perspectives is discussed. In addition, authors provide opportunities for readers to reflect upon the impact of culturally responsive practices and intercultural communication.
Equity and Inclusion in Today's Diverse and Inclusive 21st Century Classroom
Authors: Ruffin Tiece
Published: February 2016

This chapter shares the odyssey of one African-American teacher educator at a predominately white institution in a diverse learner's course fostering culturally responsive pre-service teachers with the tools to provide culturally responsive instruction for today's diverse and inclusive 21st century classroom. Early on in this journey, the instructor found that resistance, fear, and anxiety often ruled student perception of diverse learners in the inclusive classroom. Therefore, through action research the African-American teacher educator collected data, and subsequently planned, implemented, and monitored various actions designed to lessen pre-service teacher resistance, anxiety, and fear of student diversities in the classroom while fostering culturally responsive teachers for the diverse and inclusive 21st century classroom. Ultimately, these experiences mitigated the fears and concerns of preservice teachers around the enormity of diversities in the classroom and equipped them with tools for success.
Sustainable Process Integration in the Petrochemical Industries
Authors: Bamufleh Hisham S , Noureldin Mohamed M.B. , El-Halwagi Mahmoud M.
Published: February 2016

The petrochemical industry has a substantial impact on the environment through the use of large quantities of natural resources (mass and energy) and discharge of wastes into the environment. Process integration offers a powerful framework for the sustainable development of the petrochemical through conservation of mass and energy and synergism among the different building blocks in the supply chain. The chapter provides an overview of process integration basics and tools that can be used to enhance the performance of the petrochemical industry. The chapter also describes the key building blocks of the petrochemical supply chain and how they may be integrated. Finally, the chapter describes key drivers and opportunities of process integration within individual petrochemical plants, among various petrochemical facilities, and the relationship to the existing refining infrastructure.
Catalysis with Room Temperature Ionic Liquids Mediated Metal Nanoparticles
Authors: Deng Youquan , Liu Shimin
Published: February 2016

There has been still a growing interest in ionic liquids (ILs) for catalysis, in particular considering their tremendous success made over the past decades. Indeed, ILs for catalysis has been a main subject in chemistry and technology, and a rough estimate is that more than 6000 publications involving IL catalysis have been reported in the past fifteen years. Since there have been a large number of excellent reviews and books concerning the catalysis in ILs, in this chapter the authors mainly focus on the IL immobilized nano- or super-fine metal particles for catalysis, which could bridge or fill the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Detailed IL-immobilized catalyst preparation, characterization and their application in hydrogenation, C-C coupling, oxidation, etc. will be discussed.
Kinetic Models for Complex Parallel–Consecutive Reactions Assessment of Reaction Network and Product Selectivity
Authors: Farag Hamdy , Kishida Masahiro
Published: February 2016

Kinetic models were developed to account for the partial contributions of intermediates in complex parallel–consecutive reactions. The models allow precise estimation of the apparent rate constants of all steps in such a reaction network. The hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) over CoMo-based alumina and carbon catalysts, and over an unsupported molybdenum sulfide catalyst, were investigated in a batch reactor and used to represent this type of reaction. The HDS reactions proceeded through two parallel–consecutive reaction pathways, i.e., direct desulfurization (DDS) and hydrogenation (HYD), in which two main intermediates, namely biphenyl and partially hydrogenated DBT, were involved. Different selectivities in terms of yield fraction (percentage ratio of HYD/DDS) were observed for these catalysts. The results are discussed in the context of proposed HDS reaction networks. Use of these models enables more accurate assessment of differences among the performances of different catalysts.
Valorisation of Glycerol to Fine Chemicals and Fuels
Authors: Dimitratos Nikolaos , Villa Alberto , Chan-Thaw Carine E. , Hammond Ceri , Prati Laura
Published: February 2016

The selective transformation of biomass-derived compounds to useful fine chemicals and fuels has developed rapidly in recent years, and biomass compounds will soon become one of the main resource contributors for the production of chemicals. In the near future, it is expected that biomass derived compounds will contribute substantially to global chemical production along with fossil-based analogues. Although, there is still debate about the sustainability of the usage of biomass-derived molecules, it is important to emphasise that effort has been made to use biomass in the most efficient way, and that the biomass resources used are not suitable for food purposes. In this review we will focus to present selected examples on the transformation of glycerol in three distinct areas; (i) glycerol oxidation, (ii) glycerol hydrogenolysis and (iii) glycerol aqueous reforming, using supported metal nanoparticles as the chosen catalysts.
Preparation, Characterization and Desulfurization of the Supported Nickel Phosphide Catalysts
Authors: Wang Zhoujun , Wu Pingyi , Lan Ling , Ji Shengfu
Published: February 2016

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is an important technology to produce clean fuels, in which the nickel phosphide catalysts exhibit excellent catalytic performances. In this work, a series of NixP/SBA-15 catalysts with various P/Ni molar ratios were prepared using the mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15 as the support. The structure and surface properties of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 sorption analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transfer spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The catalytic performances for the HDS of dibenzothiophene (DBT) were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the NixP/SBA-15 catalysts possessed high specific surface area and the mesoporous structures, which benefited the elimination of the internal diffusion limitation in the HDS reactions. Both Ni2P and Ni12P5 phases showed catalytic activity in HDS reactions while Ni2P was more active. The optimal P/Ni molar ratio was about 0.75. The DBT conversion can reach 95.8% under the reaction condition of pressure at 3.0 MPa, H2:oil=600, WHSV at 26.7 h-1, and temperature at 340oC. In situ DRIFTS spectra indicated that the coordinative unsaturated Nid+ (0<d<1) species on the catalysts surface were the active sites for the HDS of DBT.
Contextual Reasoning under Uncertainty in Sensor Data Stream Monitoring
Authors: Kolomvatsos Kostas , Anagnostopoulos Christos , Hadjiefthymiades Stathes
Published: February 2016

Contextual data streams monitoring plays an important role in the identification of abnormalities in many application domains. Abnormalities are related to negative effects that, consequently, affect people's quality of living. A number of sensors could be placed in various locations undertaking the responsibility of monitoring specific phenomena. Sensors report their measurements to a central system that is capable of situational reasoning. The system, through decision making, responds to any event related to the observed phenomena. In this paper, the authors propose a mechanism that builds on top of the sensors measurements and derives the appropriate decisions for the immediate identification of events. The proposed system adopts data fusion and prediction (time series regression) methods for efficiently aggregating sensors observations. They also adopt Fuzzy Logic for handling the uncertainty on the decision making. The authors perform a set of simulations over real data and report on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed system.
Intrusion Detection Using Deep Belief Network and Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Alom Zahangir , Bontupalli Venkata Ramesh , Taha Tarek M.
Published: February 2016

Security threats for computer networks have increased dramatically over the last decade, becoming bolder and more brazen. There is a strong need for effective Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) that are designed to interpret intrusion attempts in incoming network traffic intelligently. In this paper, the authors explored the capabilities of Deep Belief Networks (DBN) – one of the most influential deep learning approach – in performing intrusion detection after training with the NSL-KDD dataset. Additionally, they examined the impact of using Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and Regularized ELM on the same dataset to evaluate the performance against DBN and Support Vector Machine (SVM) approaches. The trained system identifies any type of unknown attack in the dataset examined. In addition to detecting attacks, the proposed system also classifies them into five groups. The implementation with DBN and SVM give a testing accuracy of about 97.5% and 88.33% respectively with 40% of training data selected from the NSL-KDD dataset. On the other hand, the experimental results show around 98.20% and 98.26% testing accuracy respectively for ELM and RELM after reducing the data dimensions from 41 to 9 essential features with 40% training data. ELM and RELM perform better in terms of testing accuracy upon comparison with DBN and SVM.
Energetic ions scattered into the loss cone with observations of the Cluster satellite
Authors: Xiong Ying , Yuan Zhigang , Wang Jingfang
Published: February 2016

Abstract. In this paper, we report in situ observations by the Cluster spacecraft of energetic ions scattered into the loss cone during the inbound pass from the plasma sheet into the plasmasphere. During the inbound pass of the plasma sheet, Cluster observed the isotropy ratio of energetic ions to gradually decrease from unity and the isotropic boundary extended to lower L value for higher-energy ions, implying that the field line curvature scattering mechanism is responsible for the scattered ions into the loss cone from the plasma sheet. In the outer boundary of a plasmasphere plume, Cluster 3 observed the increase of the isotropy ratio of energetic ions accompanied by enhancements of Pc2 waves with frequencies between the He+ ion gyrofrequency and O+ ion gyrofrequency estimated in the equatorial plane. Those Pc2 waves were left-hand circularly polarized and identified as electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves. Using the observed parameters, the calculations of the pitch angle diffusion coefficients for ring current protons demonstrate that EMIC waves could be responsible for the ions scattering and loss-cone filling. Our observations provide in situ evidence of energetic ion loss in the plasma sheet and the plasmasphere plume. Our results suggest that energetic ions scattering into the loss cone in the central plasma sheet and the outer boundary of the plasmaspheric plume are attributed to the field line curvature scattering mechanism and EMIC wave scattering mechanism, respectively.
Vulnerability, resilience, hazard, risk, damage, and loss: a socio-ecological framework for natural disaster analysis
Authors: Modica Marco , Zoboli Roberto
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Evaluating socio-economic losses due to natural disasters is a challenging task because of the combined complexity of the social and ecological systems affected. However, also under pressure from the expected effects of climate change, evaluating the socio-economic costs of natural catastrophes has become a vital need for policy makers, urban planners, and private agents (such as insurance companies and banks). This paper suggests a general framework encompassing all the important concepts which should be taken into account by the above agents in the assessment of natural disasters. In particular, we propose a simple and consistent set of relationships among vulnerability, resilience, hazard, risk, damage, and loss which can guide socio-economic assessment.
Monstrosity and War Memories in Latin American Post-conflict Cinema
Authors: D'Argenio Maria Chiara
Published: February 2016

This article explores the relationship between inhumanity, monstrosity, war and memory in two Latin American films: Días de Santiago (Peru, 2004) and La sombra del caminante (Colombia, 2004). These aesthetically innovative films tackle the internal armed conflicts that have occurred in Colombia and Peru in recent years. Focusing on former soldiers’ reintegration into civilian life, they display war as a traumatic experience that produces monstrosity, understood as a dehumanisation of the individual. By analysing the tropes of monstrosity and the haunting past, and the films’ aesthetics, I show how the performance of the monster articulates a tension between inhumanity and humanness, which can be read as a metaphor for the tension between the acts of remembering, investigating and forgetting within post-conflict societies.
Between genres and styles in the films of Robert Bresson
Authors: Alvim Luíza Beatriz
Published: February 2016

The films of French director Robert Bresson are considered sober and transcendental. However, in A gentle woman (1969) and in Four nights of a dreamer (1972), he included extracts of quite different genres, like a libertine comedy (the extract of film Benjamim by Michel Deville, 1968), a Shakespearean tragedy (a performance of Shakespeare´s Hamlet) and a gangster film (When love possesses us, produced by Bresson himself). In a way, those excerpts represent exactly the opposite of Bresson´s cinema. On the other hand, they still have some familiarity with it. We analyze the approach of those genres in the sequences in Bresson´s films, as well of the styles present in them by the use of music and images of paintings.
VIABILIDADE NO TRATAMENTO DE EFLUENTE INDUSTRIAL ATRAVÉS DA UTILIZAÇÃO DE REAGENTE DE FENTON E FOTOCATÁLISE HETEROGÊNEA (doi:10.5216/reec.V11i1.34861)
Authors: Pinheiro Valverde Ravila , Martins Morais Ana Carolina , Rodrigues Caixeta Leonardo , Tenaglia Carneiro Gabriel
Published: February 2016

RESUMO: O crescente processo de urbanização e industrialização tem transformado o cenário urbano e consequentemente o meio ambiente, tornando-se necessária a adoção de práticas sustentáveis. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo mostrar uma alternativa de tratamento de efluentes industriais que visa juntamente com os parâmetros das legislações, o tratamento para que possam ser descartados ou reutilizados os efluentes gerados, sem causar nenhum tipo de dano à saúde das pessoas, nem alteração dos demais ecossistemas. O experimento consiste na utilização de Reagente de Fenton onde ocorre uma reação que é formada pela decomposição de H2O2 catalisado por Fe2+ obtendo assim radicais hidroxila e íon hidroxila em meio ácido e a Fotocatalise heterogênea, definido como um processo oxidativo avançado (POA), que é baseado na irradiação de um foto semicondutor, onde se utiliza um fotocatalisador que é ativado por luz solar ou artificial. Neste processo o semicondutor absorve energia dos fótons da radiação ultravioleta, gerando radicais hidroxila (OH•) altamente reativos e capazes de mineralizar a matéria orgânica. Uma vez que a matéria orgânica é mineralizada o então efluente tratado poderá ser reutilizado ou descartado no corpo hídrico inicial, tornando o método de tratamento viável e eficaz. ABSTRACT: The growing process of urbanization and industrialization has transformed the urban landscape and consequently the environment, making it necessary to adopt sustainable practices. This paper aims to show an alternative treatment of industrial effluents which aims along with the parameters of the laws, treatment so they can be discarded or reused effluents generated without causing any damage to people's health or change in other ecosystems. The experiment consists of the use of Fenton's Reagent which is a reaction which is formed by the decomposition of H2O2 catalyzed by Fe2+ thereby obtaining hydroxyl and hydroxyl ion radical in an acid medium and heterogeneous photocatalysis, which is defined as an advanced oxidation process (AOP), which is based on the irradiation of a semiconductor photo, which uses a photocatalyst that is ac tivated by sunlight or artificial light. In this process the semiconductor absorbs the photon energy of ultraviolet radiation, generating hydroxyl radicals (OH•) highly reactive and able to mineralize organic matter. Once the organic material is mineralized then treated wastewater can be reused or discarded in the initial water body, making feasible and effective method of treatment.
The COP21 Agreement and the Economics of its Implementation
Authors: Lane Jan-Erik
Published: February 2016

After the triumph in Paris in December 2015, it seems that we are back to zero. People appear to miss the crux of the climate change problematic: How to implement the COP21 objectives of halting and starting a large reduction of CO2 emissions? The literature on policy implementation entails that it is not only complicated but also likely to meet with failures. In this paper, the standard information about CO2 will be employed to argue that only significant reduction is the use of coal for electricity and petroleum and diesel for transportation will contribute to the implementation success of COP21.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Computer and Information Science, Vol. 9, No. 1
Authors: Lee Chris
Published: February 2016

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Computer and Information Science, Vol. 9, No. 1
Implementing End-User Privacy through Human Computer Interaction for Improving Quality of Personalized Web
Authors: Abu-Dalbouh Hussain
Published: February 2016

<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US">Users are exposed to an overwhelming amount of information in several application domains. There is a remarkable increase in the usage of Internet and general technology improvements. From this, it follows that there is a demand and need to create personalized web systems. Thus, personalized web systems are a good method of handling the flood of information and information overload, by helping people to surf the net and look for what they need. Unfortunately, the privacy issues that end-users face have not been taken seriously by some of these personalized web systems, as some of them apply it partially or fail to address the privacy issues in personalization. This affects the quality of the existing personalized web. The paper aims to investigate and explain the reasons behind the end-user’s fears in giving out his/her personal information on personalized websites. Then, based on the results modifying approach of personalized web through the use of Human Computer Interaction models to enhance the quality of the current personalized web. By addressing the main privacy issues in human computer interaction that helps the end-user trust the personalization web and website with his/her personal information and improve the quality of current personalized web. A survey study with 134 Internet users was conducted. The findings show that personalization plays different roles of attracting users in personalized websites. Internet users want useful personalized services, but at the same time, they are concerned with the manner in which firms use their data for personalization. If the involvement of Internet users with their current site is high, then personalized services are not attractive enough to motivate them to give their personal information.
Effectiveness of Proactive Intensive FFI in Cultivating Grammatical Knowledge of Iranian EFL Learners at Different Proficiency Levels
Authors: Rooholamin Amir , Biria Reza , Haghverdi Hamid Reza
Published: February 2016

The present study provides a report on an experiment seeking the effect of proactive intensive form-focused instruction on the grammatical development of intermediate and advanced Iranian EFL learners. More specifically the aim of the study was to discern (a) whether the grammatical knowledge of Iranian EFL learners at different proficiency levels ameliorated in the wake of exposure to proactive intensive FFI (b) whether the grammatical knowledge of the learners at the two proficiency levels improved equally or not, and (c) whether there was an interaction effect between the FFI and the proficiency level, which affected the grammatical development of the learners. To meet these objectives, 119 intermediate and advanced EFL learners at Sadr Institute of Higher Education in Isfahan, Iran were asked to take part in this study. To ascertain the homogeneity of the participants, a QPT was administered to them. The learners in each proficiency level were assigned to a control and an experimental group and they sat for a grammar pretest. Subsequently, the learners in the treatment groups received proactive intensive FFI (metalinguistic explanations followed by repeated form-focused tasks and explicit corrective feedback on form) in their free discussion classes, while those in the control groups participated in classes bereft of FFI. After 9 sessions of instruction, the learners took a posttest. Such statistical tools as paired sample t test and two-way ANOVA were utilized to analyze the collected data, and the following results were obtained: (a) both intermediate and advanced group learners experienced a boost in their grammatical knowledge after being exposed to proactive intensive FFI (b) the treatment in the current study was more beneficial to intermediate EFL learners’ grammatical development than it was to advanced learners’, and (c) proactive intensive FFI, proficiency level, and the interaction between them all were instrumental in molding the grammatical knowledge of Iranian EFL learners. The implications for EFL practitioners are enumerated in the paper.
Determination of General and Specific Combining Ability of Five Upland Cotton Cultivars
Authors: Lakho Habib R. , Soomro Ayaz A. , Rashid Muhammad A. R. , Memon Shabana
Published: February 2016

The present investigation was aimed to determine the general combining ability of the parental lines and specific combining ability of the hybrids respectively and also heterotic effect of F1 hybrids for some agro-economical traits in upland cotton. Five parent genotypes viz. NIAB-78, Chandi-95, Haridost, CRIS-134 and Shahbaz were used to generate ten F1 hybrids through diallel mating design. The seeds of F1 hybrids along with their parents were sown in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications during 2009-10. All the traits showed highly significant variation and GCA and SCA variances were also significant for all the parameters studied. Among the parents, NIAB-78, Haridost and CRIS-134 were best general combiners for plant height, sympodial branches per plant, bolls per plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield per plant, GOT% and seed index. Cross NIAB-78×Chandi-95 was best specific combiner for plant height and bolls per plant and CRIS-134×Haridost for sympodial branches per plant. However, the hybrid Chandi-95×CRIS-134 proved best specific combiner for seed cotton yield per plant and GOT%, while NIAB-78×CRIS-134 gave maximum SCA effects for seed index.
Genotyping and Phenotyping of the Potential Clones, Biotypes and Variants of Grapevine Cultivar Korinthiaki Staphis (Vitis vinifera L.)
Authors: Stavrakaki Maritina , Biniari Katerina
Published: February 2016

This study presents the results regarding the identification and discrimination of twenty seven possible clones of grapevine cultivar Korinthiaki staphis (Vitis vinifera L.), three biotypes of Korinthiaki lefki and the related cultivar Staphidampelo using the ampelographic description and the molecular method AFLP. The results from the statistical analysis showed that all the biotypes of cultivar Korinthiaki staphis show small distance and are grouped in the same cluster, depending on their origin, while Staphidampelo and Korinthiaki lefki are neither variants nor biotypes of the cultivar Korinthiaki staphis but different cultivars since they are very distant compared to the other biotypes and moreover, Korinthiaki lefki is in a separate cluster of the dendrogram. The ampelographic description in combination with the molecular method AFLP are effective for the study of the between and within genetic diversity of grapevine cultivars as well as for their identification and discrimination. The results of this study can constitute the base for the implementation of the clonal selection for grapevine cultivar Korinthiaki staphis and the seclusion of the desired clones.
Overview of the Use of Sustainable Energies in Agricultural Greenhouses
Authors: Vourdoubas John
Published: February 2016

Global concern on environmental problems like climate changes has altered our energy patterns promoting non-polluting renewable energies instead of fossil fuels. Technological advances in sustainable energy technologies allow their increasing use in all sectors of everyday life. Agricultural greenhouses utilize energy for heating, cooling and operation of various electric devices. The highest amount of energy used in greenhouses is consumed in heating them. Controlling crops growth conditions including temperature results in higher productivity and in better economic results. Various sustainable energies including renewable energies and high efficiency and low carbon energy technologies have been used in commercial scale and the technical and economic viability of others has been investigated in experimental scale. Among renewable energies solar energy, biomass and geothermal energy can be used in order to cover part or all of the energy requirements for heating, cooling and power generation of greenhouses. Energy efficient and low carbon technologies like co-generation of heat and power, heat pumps, fuel cells but also waste heat can be used also for energy generation in them. Governmental energy incentives for the promotion of sustainable energies like feed-in tariffs or net-metering allow the use of the abovementioned energy technologies for electricity generation in greenhouses offering additional economic benefits to the farmers. Use of the sustainable energies which are mature, reliable and cost effective in greenhouses results in mitigation of climate changes, use of local renewable energy resources instead of fossil fuels and better profitability of the cultivated crop.
Livestock Precision Farming and the Kit Radicaux Libres Test: Two Simple Approaches to Detect Variation in Piglets’ Behaviour and Welfare
Authors: Pastorelli Grazia , Rossi Raffaella , Guarino Marcella , Borgonovo Federica , Candotti Paolo , Corino Carlo
Published: February 2016

In commercial practice, the mixing of pigs from different litters is very frequently done in order to minimise the within-pen variation in weight. Aggressive behavior can be easily observed when unknown pigs are mixed into a group. Post-mixing fighting occurs between pigs that are unfamiliar with each other and some times leads to serious injury. For the establishment of social hierarchy, aggression may occur. The aim of the study was to evaluate the response of piglets fed and not with dietary plant extract (PE) when exposed to mixing-induced stress. Behavioural and physiological indicators combined with Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) methods were used. A total of 84 female piglets (Dalland), (average live weight 5.53 ± 0.1 kg, corresponding to day 0 of experimental trial) divided into 6 pens of 14 piglets each were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: a control diet (CON) and a diet supplemented with 5 mg/kg feed of plant extract (PE). At 37 d of the experimental trial, half the animals of two treated pens (7+7) and half the animals of two control pens (7+7) were mixed. The experimental trial lasted 59 days. Blood from piglets of each treatment was collected by anterior vena cava puncture before mixing, on day 37, and after mixing, on day 39, for assessing total blood antioxidant activity, by Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) test and haptoglobin (HPT) and cortisol concentration as biological indicators of stress. Behaviour measurements were performed using an ethological rating scale and Precision Livestock Farming methods as indicator of qualitative behavioural assessment. Dietary treatment and mixing affected total antioxidant activity (P < 0.05) of whole blood that was higher in the PE group and after mixing. A trend effect of mixing was found for cortisol and haptoglobin which were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the PE group. The rating scale and PLF showed significant variation in the abnormal animal behaviours due to mixing; continuous monitoring of pigs by PLF showed more (P < 0.05) animal activity in the PE group than in CON. In this context, the behaviour measurements were demonstrated to be simple and reliable tools for evaluating pig behaviour and KRL test was an effective method for assessing antioxidant activity.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Modern Applied Science, Vol. 10, No. 2
Authors: Lee Sunny
Published: February 2016

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Modern Applied Science, Vol. 10, No. 2
A obscenidade do olhar: da janela indiscreta de Alfred Hitchcock à câmera diegética
Authors: Riguini Renata Damiano , Ferrari Ilka Franco
Published: February 2016

Neste artigo, exploraremos o cinema como campo de interlocução paradiscussões sobre o olhar, na psicanálise. Em Janela Indiscreta, Hitchcock fazuso de um tipo de artifício no qual a câmera se confunde com o olho dopersonagem e do espectador. Assim, o apetite do olho é provocado, porHitchcock, ao saber fazê-lo funcionar servindo à pulsão. A validade deretomar esse modelo é constatar que o recurso do mestre do suspense éexplorado até a obscenidade em nossos dias; na obscenidade de querer poderver tudo, condizente com uma época em que a intimidade já não se esconde,em que tudo se mostra. Na pista de Hitchcock, com a tecnologia, o cinemade horror investe na câmera diegética e promove milhões em bilheteria,desde A Bruxa de Blair. Acreditamos que o cinema nos ensina sobre umanova forma de uso do olho, sintoma atual, que o torna mais que indiscreto,obsceno.
Sintomas de tept e trauma na infância em pacientes com transtorno da personalidade bordeline
Authors: Conceição Isadora Klamt , Bello Joana Rodrigues , Kristensen Christian Haag , Dornelles Vinícius Guimarães
Published: February 2016

O transtorno da personalidade borderline (TPB) é o mais prevalente dentretodos os transtornos da personalidade, apresentando um percentual de 5,9%na população geral. O transtorno tem um impacto enorme na vida dossujeitos, por isso a comunidade científica está voltada a estudar elementosrelacionados a essa psicopatologia. Tendo isso em vista, os objetivos desteartigo foram: investigar a presença de sintomatologia pós-traumática e ohistórico de trauma na infância em sujeitos com TPB. Para isso, foi realizadoum estudo transversal, de caráter exploratório. Dessa forma, 22 sujeitos comdiagnóstico de TPB preencheram um instrumento de rastreio para avaliarsintomas de TEPT. Foi encontrado que os pacientes com TPB apresentamdiversos sintomas de TEPT, como dificuldade de concentração, lembrançasintrusivas, tensão ao relembrar e evitação de lembranças.
Phylogenetic incongruence through the lens of Monadic Second Order logic
Authors: Kelk Steven , Van Iersel Leo , Scornavacca Celine , Weller Mathias
Published: February 2016

Within the field of phylogenetics there is growing interest in measures for summarising the dissimilarity, or incongruence, of two or more phylogenetic trees. Many of these measures are NP-hard to compute and this has stimulated a considerable volume of research into fixed parameter tractable algorithms. In this article we use Monadic Second Order logic to give alternative, compact proofs of fixed parameter tractability for several well-known incongruence measures. In doing so we wish to demonstrate the considerable potential of MSOL - machinery still largely unknown outside the algorithmic graph theory community - within phylogenetics. A crucial component of this work is the observation that many measures, when bounded, imply the existence of an agreement forest of bounded size, which in turn implies that an auxiliary graph structure, the display graph, has bounded treewidth. It is this bound on treewidth that makes the machinery of MSOL available for proving fixed parameter tractability.
Hollywood Accounting: Technologies of Surveillance, Knowledge and Power in Paramount Budget Documents, 1927–58
Authors: McClain William Thomas
Published: February 2016

Film production at Paramount Pictures during the so-called classical era required the mobilisation of massive material and human capital that depended on institutional systems of surveillance, knowledge creation and control ranging from departmental affiliations to the pre-printed budget forms. This article focuses on those pre-printed budget forms as technologies of knowledge and power, revealing that the necessities of creating and managing coalitions of expert labourers created alternative power centres and spaces where being the object of surveillance was itself a source of power. It concludes by discussing the implications of this ecology for the historiography of Hollywood.
Financial Reporting Quality, Executive Stock Options and Business Ethics
Authors: Rakoto Philémon
Published: February 2016

This paper tests the improvement of financial reporting quality when firms award stock options to their executives. The originality of this study is that we introduce the moderating effect of business ethics in the model. The sample is made up of 116 Canadian high-technology firms with available data for the fiscal year ending in 2012. We define the quality of financial reporting as the value relevance of accounting information as developed by Ohlson. Our results show that executive stock option award alone does not improve the quality of financial reporting. Rather, the quality improves when a firm awards stock options to its executives and investors perceive that the level of business ethics in that firm is high.
Proximal Location of Optic Disc Hemorrhage and Glaucoma Progression
Authors: Shin Young In , Lee Jaekyoung , Jeong Yoon , Huh Min Gu , Park Ki Ho , Jeoung Jin Wook
Published: September 2024

Importance

Although optic disc hemorrhage (DH) is widely recognized as a glaucoma risk factor, its clinical relevance in relation to proximity has not been investigated.

Objective

To determine the association of the proximal location of DH with glaucoma progression.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this longitudinal observational cohort study, 146 eyes of 146 patients at Seoul National University Hospital who had had 1 or more DH with at least 5 years of follow-up and had at least 5 reliable visual field examinations were included. These data were analyzed January 10, 2010, through June 27, 2017.

Exposures

Laminar, marginal, rim, and parapapillary subtypes of DH were identified based on their respective proximal locations. The laminar and marginal subtypes were classified into the cup-type group, while the rim and parapapillary subtypes were classified into the peripapillary-type group. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare survival experiences and multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazard model to identify risk factors for glaucoma progression. Regression analyses, both univariate and multivariate, were used to discover significant indicators of mean deviation (MD) loss.

Main Outcome and Measure

The primary outcome was glaucoma progression. Glaucoma progression was defined either as structural or functional deterioration.

Results

For all of the eyes, the mean follow-up period was 10.9 (3.7) years (range, 5.1-17.8 years), the mean age at which DH was first detected was 55.1 (11.3) years (range, 21-77 years), and 94 participants were female (64.1%). Over the mean follow-up period of 10.9 years, glaucoma progression was detected in 94 eyes (61.4%) with an MD change of −0.48 dB per year. The cup-type group showed a faster rate of MD change relative to the peripapillary-type group (−0.56 vs −0.32 dB per year; difference = −0.24; 95% CI, −0.37 to −0.11; P = .01). The cup group showed a higher cumulative probability of progression of glaucoma (80.4%) relative to the peripapillary group (54.4%; difference = 26.0%; 95% CI, 11.4%-40.6%; P < .001) in a life table analysis. The presence of cup hemorrhage was associated with an increased risk of glaucoma progression (hazard ratio, 3.28; 95% CI, 2.12-5.07; P < .001) in the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Cup-type DH was associated to MD loss rate in regression analysis.

Conclusions And Relevance

This study showed glaucoma progression was higher in cases of DH classified as the cup type. These findings support the potential utility of assessing the proximal location of DH to predict how glaucoma might progress.
Substituting Medical Cannabis for Medications Among Patients with Rheumatic Conditions in the United States and Canada
Authors: Boehnke Kevin F. , Scott J. Ryan , Martel Marc O. , Smith Tristin , Bergmans Rachel S. , Kruger Daniel J. , Williams David A. , Fitzcharles Mary‐Ann
Published: September 2024

Objective

There are numerous reports of people substituting medical cannabis (MC) for medications. Our obejctive was to investigate the degree to which this substitution occurs among people with rheumatic conditions.

Methods

In a secondary analysis from a cross‐sectional survey conducted with patient advocacy groups in the US and Canada, we investigated MC use and medication substitution among people with rheumatic conditions. We subgrouped by whether participants substituted MC for medications and investigated differences in perceived symptom changes and use patterns, including methods of ingestion, cannabinoid content (cannabidiol vs delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]), and use frequency.

Results

Among 763 participants, 62.5% reported substituting MC products for medications, including nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (54.7%), opioids (48.6%), sleep aids (29.6%), and muscle relaxants (25.2%). Following substitution, most participants reported decreases or cessation in medication use. The primary reasons for substitution were fewer adverse effects, better symptom management, and concerns about withdrawal symptoms. Substitution was associated with THC use and significantly higher symptom improvements (including pain, sleep, anxiety, and joint stiffness) than nonsubstitution, and a higher proportion of substitutors used inhalation routes than those who did not.

Conclusion

Although the determination of causality is limited by our cross‐sectional design, these findings suggest that an appreciable number of people with rheumatic diseases substitute medications with MC for symptom management. Inhalation of MC products containing some THC was most commonly identified among those substituting, and disease characteristics did not differ by substitution status. Further study is needed to better understand the role of MC for symptom management in rheumatic conditions.
Prevalence and Risk of Immunostimulatory Herbal Supplement Treatment Among Autoimmune Dermatology Patients
Authors: Faden Daniella F. , Stone Caroline J. , Xie Lillian , Lopes Almeida Gomes Lais , Werth Victoria P.
Published: September 2024

Objective

We assess the prevalence and patterns of herbal supplement treatment among patients with autoimmune skin diseases, particularly dermatomyositis (DM) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), and identify commonly taken supplements and their associated risks.

Methods

This study screened 673 adult patients with clinicopathologic evidence of DM or CLE at the University of Pennsylvania's rheumatologic‐dermatology clinic between January 2007 and February 2024. Demographic data, disease characteristics, and detailed information on herbal supplement treatment were collected. Predictors of supplement treatment were analyzed using chi‐square tests and reported as odds ratios.

Results

The prevalence of herbal supplement treatment was 32% among the cohort. The relative frequency of herbal supplement treatment was significantly higher in younger patients (44% of patients ages 18–29 years, reference; 29% ages 50–64 years, P = 0.02; 23% ages ≥65 years, P = 0.003) and in Hispanic/Latino patients (58% vs 31% White, P = 0.009). No significant difference in herbal supplement treatment was seen by sex (33% of female participants, 29% of male participants, P = 0.49), race (31% White, P = reference; 31% Black, P = 1.0; 38% Asian, P = 0.55), or disease (30% of patients with DM, 36% of patients with CLE; P = 0.12). Among patients with DM, 31% experienced a disease onset or exacerbation after supplement treatment compared with 10% of patients with CLE. Elderberry treatment was associated with the highest risk of exacerbation in both disease cohorts (62% DM, 50% CLE).

Conclusion

Herbal supplement treatment is prevalent among patients with autoimmune skin diseases, with immunostimulatory supplements posing a significant risk for immune dysregulation, particularly in DM. Providers should proactively screen and counsel patients regarding treatment with these supplements.
Effect of Solutionization and Deformation on Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical/Electrical Properties of Al–Mg–Si Alloy with Er + Sc Co‐Addition
Authors: Chen Bao‐an , Chen Rui , Li Menglin , Wang Ruihong , Han Yu , Zhu Zhixiang , Dong Jianhua , Huang Yiting , Yang Changlong , Jiang Shengyu
Published: September 2024

Effect of solutionization (two‐step vs one‐step solution treatment) and deformation (one‐step solutionization + deformation vs no deformation) on microstructural evolution and mechanical/electrical properties of an aged Al–Mg–Si alloy with microalloying Er + Sc co‐addition is studied, respectively, in comparison with its counterpart with a single Sc addition at the same total addition content. Experimental results showed that the Er + Sc co‐added Al–Mg–Si alloy displayed a combination of aging hardness and electrical conductivity superior to the single Sc‐added alloy, under either two‐step or one‐step solution treatment. This highlights an effective microalloying way to improve the Al–Mg–Si alloy by partially using cheap Er rather than full addition of expensive Sc. While the introduction of deformation yielded to a higher aging hardness but a lower electrical conductivity in the Er + Sc co‐added alloy apparently than in the single Sc‐added alloy. When comparing among the Er + Sc co‐added alloys, it is found that, although the one‐step solutionization leads to the highest aging hardness (≈102 HV in peak aging) and the deformation introduction results in the highest electrical conductivity (up to 57.3% IACS), the two‐step solutionization brought about the best combination of aging hardness (≈87 HV) and electrical conductivity (up to 56.7% IACS). Microstructural evolution under different treatments is analyzed to rationalize the variation in aging hardness and electrical conductivity especially in the Er + Sc co‐added Al–Mg–Si alloy.