bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efektivitas Layanan Bimbingan Kelompok dengan Modeling dalam Meningkatkan Efikasi Diri Siswa dalam Menghadapi Ujian
Authors: Anggara Fery , Yusuf A. Muri , Marjohan Marjohan
Published: July 2017

Self-Efficacyis the most important factorforstudents’successto face examination,becauseself-efficacy beliefs made a powerful and independent contribution to the prediction of their academic performance.Modeling is one of technique usedto increase itandGroup guidancewas helpful in increasing students’ self-efficacy. This research sought to see the effectiveness of group guidance to increase the students’ self-efficacy through modeling to face examination. The subject of the research was 9 students in class XII of Pesantren Modern Diniyyah Pasia Assumed to have low self-efficacy.This research was classified into pre-experimental research which applied The One Group Pretest-Postest design. The treatment was given throuh modeling in eight meetings. The data were gathered by using self-efficacy scale which had been validated previously. The result of the research revealed that the application of group guidance service through modeling was effective to increase the students’ self-efficacy into better category. The students were confident about their ability to face examination, they were sure that they could maintain themselves, and they had confident to organize their ability to face other situation or condition.
Kontribusi Konsep Diri Akademik dan Motivasi terhadap Prestasi Belajar Bahasa Inggris serta Implikasinya dalam Penyusunan Program Pelayanan Bimbingan dan Konseling di Bidang Belajar
Authors: Fau Sesilianus , Firman Firman , Mudjiran Mudjiran
Published: July 2017

The background of this research wasthe variation ofstudents’ achievement in learningEnglishatschool. Academic self-concept and motivation were assumed to have the most dominant effect on students’ achievement in school. The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the academic self-concept, (2) motivation, (3) the achievement of English learning, (4) to test the contribution of academic self-concept to English learning achievement, (5) to test contribution of motivation to English learning achievement, (6) to test the contribution of academic self-concept and motivation to English learning achievement, and (7) to describe the preparation of Guidance and Counseling program to improve academic self-concept, motivation, and students’ achievement in the school. This research was done through quantitative approach with descriptive correlational method and qualitative approach. The population in this study was the students of XII IPA 1 to 4 of SMA 8 Padang. The sample was chosen by using simple random sampling. Meanwhile, informants in qualitative approach were the teachers of Guidance and Counseling. The Instrument used in the quantitative approach was questionnaire. On the other hand, the key instrument in the qualitative approach was the researcher. Quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, simple linear regression and multiple regression. While, qualitative data were analyzed by using Miles and Huberman’s model. The findings of this research showed that: (1) the average description of the academic self-concept of students was in medium category, (2) students' motivation to learn was at high category, (3) the students’ English learning achievement was at goodcategory, (4) there is a contribution of academic self-concept to the students’ English learning achievement amounted to 20.3% (R = 0.451, sig. 0.000), (5) there is a contribution of motivation to English learning achievement of students amounted to 32.9% (R = 0.573, sig. 0.000), (6) there are contributions of both academic self-concept and motivation to the students’ English learning achievement amounted to 60.1% (R = 0.775, sig. 0.000), and (7) most of the Guidance and Counseling program for XII class of SMAN 8 Padang A.Y. 2015/2016 have been arranged well and the materials related to the improvement of academic self-concept, motivation, and students’ achievement have been contained and written in the Guidance and Counseling program that has been arranged.
Hermenéutica, sociedad y objetividad científica
Authors: Alcalá Mendizábal Diana
Published: July 2017

El presente artículo propone la hermenéutica, más concretamente la hermenéutica analógica de Beuchot, como camino para hallar la verdad. Con este fin, se realiza un recorrido a través del racionalismo occidental y el equivocismo contemporáneo, para proponer una interpretación de la realidad equilibrada y prudente. Es en este punto intermedio donde radica un panorama amplio de verdad, que evita ver esta como un corresponder unívocamente a un estado de cosas o a un hecho, sino como apertura a un mundo multívoco. La experiencia hermenéutica nos lleva así a una comprensión más clara,  tanto en las ciencias humanas como en las exactas.
Alimentación tradicional en la región del Maule de Chile. Representación de clientes y encargados de restaurantes tradicionales
Authors: Díaz Herrera Claudio , Oyarzo Orellana Carolina
Published: July 2017

El artículo tiene por objeto dilucidar la representación que poseen dueños y clientes, respecto la noción de alimentación y restaurante tradicional en la región del Maule. Metodología. Estudio cualitativo, exploratorio y orientado teórica y metodológicamente desde las representaciones sociales. Muestra estructural compuesta por 14 dueños de restaurantes considerados como tradicionales, y 29 de sus clientes en la región del Maule (Chile). Se aplicó una entrevista estructurada. Los resultados expresan que la noción de restaurante tradicional se compone por una valoración histórica para ambas posiciones estructurales. Los clientes representan la condición de comensal desde la emergencia de sentimientos asociados a la familiaridad y los dueños representan su condición, por orgullo y responsabilidad. Los clientes recomendarían los locales por su calidad gastronómica y la tradición asociada a la historia del lugar. Los dueños recomendarían su local por la calidad de los productos y el reconocimiento público. Limitaciones. Destaca como dificultad, la percepción en los participantes del estudio, a considerar la investigación como un aspecto evaluador, por tanto, negativo y fiscalizador del lugar. Conclusiones. Sería recomendable realizar un estudio de tipo cuantitativo, que permita caracterizar la oferta gastronómica y composición nutricional de los alimentos en restaurantes tradicionales de la región.
Energía solar fotovoltaica para la generación de energía eléctrica y agua potable
Authors: Silvestre G. Adán
Published: July 2017

El presente trabajo propone la generación y acceso desde los centros de distribución, tanto de energía eléctrica como de agua potable mediante el uso de recursos naturales renovables y de alcance universal (agua subterránea/acuíferos y energía solar) para sectores en donde el suministro de estos servicios es limitado, ya sea por costos o por razones técnicas. Se propone, además, como valores agregados: (a) la creación de huertas comunitarias a partir de dicha generación, con el fin de garantizar no solo la sostenibilidad alimentaria sino también ingresos adicionales y (b) el diseño y construcción de un biodigestor para el tratamiento de las aguas residuales de la comunidad beneficiada con el proyecto.
Estimación de la tasa de deshidratación foliar y su importancia para la gestión de ecosistemas terrestres en el caribe colombiano
Authors: Valdelamar Villegas Juan Carlos , Prada Sánchez Katherine , Gamarra Cabarcas Karla
Published: July 2017

El conocimiento de la biología de las plantas, especialmente de la tolerancia que estas pueden tener frente a las actuales alteraciones ambientales en lo que hace referencia al cambio climático, es de gran importancia para identificar aquellas especies capaces de resistir situaciones de estrés hídrico que se producen en las plantas debido al aumento de su tasa de evapotranspiración y deshidratación. Por ello, mediante el presente estudio, se comparó la tasa de deshidratación foliar en once de las principales especies de plantas presentes en dos ecosistemas estratégicos de Cartagena, Colombia (caño Juan Angola y cerro de La Popa), los cuales pertenecen en su mayoría (36%) a la familia Fabaceae, seguida de las Malvaceae, Rubiaceae, Ancaradiaceae, Sapindaceae, Combrataceae, Apocynaceae y la Rizophoraceae, con 9% cada una. Los resultados ubican a la especie Laguncularia racemosa como la de mayor tasa de deshidratación foliar (23,35 ± mgH2O/hr); mientras que Guazima ulmifolia fue la especie con menor tasa de deshidratación (3,51 ± 1,63 mgH2O/hr). Se discuten los resultados encontrados en el estudio, con respecto a la importancia de la información obtenida para la gestión ecológica y ambiental de los ecosistemas locales de la ciudad ante un futuro escenario de cambio climático.
Potencial de uso de biogás en Colombia
Authors: Acosta Pabuena Melvin , Pasqualino Jorgelina
Published: July 2017

En Colombia, aunque en promedio, el 93% de los residuos sólidos se disponen en rellenos sanitarios adecuados, en el departamento de Bolívar, solo el 45% de la población recibe servicio de recolección, mientras que unas 150 ton/día se vierten de forma descontrolada en botaderos satélite y cuerpos de agua. En las zonas rurales, la cobertura alcanza apenas el 0,5%. La fracción orgánica de los residuos urbanos alcanza hasta los 2/3. La digestión anaerobia de estos residuos para obtener biogás es ampliamente empleada en países de Europa y Asia. Sin embargo, en Latinoamérica, la producción de biogás tanto doméstica como industrial es escasa. En Colombia, se encuentran algunos digestores de tipo industrial en rellenos sanitarios y plantas procesadoras de aceite de palma y, aunque algunas de estas plantas utilizan el biogás con fines energéticos, en muchos casos el gas es quemado en antorcha como medio de reducción de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. En las zonas rurales de Colombia, se han implementado pequeños proyectos por iniciativa de los agricultores o de agencias de cooperación. En este artículo se presentarán los proyectos actuales de producción de biogás en Colombia y el potencial existente.
Análisis bibliométrico retrospectivo de la producción del grupo de investigación CIPTEC de la Fundación Universitaria Tecnológico Comfenalco
Authors: González Polo Cindy , Gómez Verjel Elvira , Lombana Judith
Published: July 2017

La investigación científica y tecnológica requiere de un ejercicio riguroso, sistemático y de altos estándares para su desarrollo, mediante la generación de proyectos de investigación. Para su materialización, se apoya en semilleros y grupos de investigación, conformados por docentes y estudiantes investigadores cuyo objetivo principal es plantear soluciones a diferentes problemas de la industria. La presente investigación pretende analizar de manera retrospectiva la producción del grupo CIPTEC con el fin de reestructurar las líneas de investigación del grupo. Para dar cumplimiento al objetivo planeado, se realizó una indagación exploratoria, bajo un diseño documental, mediante la recopilación, clasificación e identificación de todos los productos que se han generado en el grupo por el programa de Ingeniería Industrial y sus tecnologías afines durante sus años de existencia. Además, se determinaron los fundamentos estructurales e históricos del rigor investigativo del grupo, según el tipo de investigación, los resultados obtenidos y la metodología aplicada.
Radiaciones ionizantes: Frontera del conocimiento y retos tecnológicos
Authors: Morín Zorrilla José Antonio
Published: July 2017

El presente trabajo hace referencia al papel de las radiaciones ionizantes en la naturaleza y se examinan sus principales aplicaciones: obtención de energía, medicina nuclear, manejo de recursos hídricos y desarrollo de fármacos. Se indican los avances, así como los retos que deben enfrentar su uso, en particular, los retos tecnológicos para desarrollar la energética nuclear convencional y la basada en la reacción termonuclear controlada. Se presta atención a las modalidades de imagen en medicina nuclear, el papel de los equipos que combinan buena resolución anatómica con sensibilidad, como son Tomografía Axial Computarizada/Tomografía de Emisión de Positrones en Imagen Molecular, el uso de radiofármacos en terapia radionuclídica; ambos como parte de la Medicina Molecular dirigida a enfoques individualizados de atención. Buena parte de los ejemplos se refieren a trabajos desarrollados en Cuba. Finalmente, se reflexiona que la ciencia ha de dar respuesta a los retos encaminando las correspondientes tecnologías. Se considera que el reto principal está en romper la barrera psicológica que impide al hombre vivir en paz, cuidar de su planeta, distribuir equitativamente el fruto de su trabajo.
Atendimento educacional especializado e as demandas de tecnologia assistiva nas práticas inclusivas brasileiras
Authors: Sardagna Helena , De Oliveira Sandra
Published: July 2017

presente artigo apresenta uma análise que visou identificar demandas de tecnologia assistiva para a criação de banco de dados virtual, a partir de levantamento junto a professores de Atendimento Educacional Especializado (AEE) em escolas públicas de dois municípios da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre/RS- Brasil. O texto transita pelos argumentos da inclusão e da acessibilidade, especialmente na produção de Tecnologia Assistiva (TA) para o AEE, visando à inserção e permanência das pessoas com deficiência, tanto na escola, quanto na formação profissional com vistas ao mercado de trabalho. Como resultado, a pesquisa apontou para sete demandas de TA e a criação de banco de dados virtual, disponível na web.
The laryngocele; case presentation
Authors: Berteșteanu Gabriel V. , Nicolaescu Alexandru , Popescu Radu C. , Popescu Bogdan , Nițu Liliana , Păun Oana , Antonie Beatrice C. , Pașcu Paula , Grigore Raluca
Published: July 2017

Laryngocele is a rare pathology, but because of their clinical evolution and the symptoms they generate, they should always be considered as a differential diagnosis when investigating neck masses. A laryngocele is basically a herniation of the mucosa of the laryngeal ventricle (Morgagni's ventricle) arising usually from the saccular region. This herniation may remain confined to the larynx - in which case the laryngocele is internal- or expand through the thyro-hyoid membrane into the structures of the neck - thus being called an external laryngocele. Usually the laryngocele has both an internal and external component thus being a mixed laryngocele. Diagnosis of laryngoceles still relies heavily on clinical signs such as tympanism, easily depressible neck mass, indirect laryngoscopy, but is now simplified by imagistic investigations (ultrasound, CT and MRI). However, the treatment of this condition is exclusively surgical and consists of total excision of the laryngocele, as well as proper identification of the point of origin from the saccule and also the final suture of the breach in order to prevent recurrence. Investigation of possible causes of obstruction of the laryngeal ventricle should always be performed (because of the possibility of an underlying malignancy) as well as a follow-up protocol of the patient, given the risk of relapse. We present a recently diagnosed case of a 32 year old man with mixed laryngocele, which we have operated in our clinic.
Investigation into the Vibrational Responses of Cylinder Liners in an IC Engine Fueled with Biodiesel
Authors: Li Guoxing , Gu Fengshou , Wang Tie , You Jianjun , Ball Andrew
Published: July 2017

The paper presents a study of the relationship between the combustion behavior and vibration response of internal combustion (IC) engines fueled with biodiesel based on finite element modelling along with experimental evaluation. An improved finite element (FE) model is established and validated to predict the dynamic responses of cylinder liners with respect to two main sources: combustion shock and piston side thrust. Based on the validated FE model, the response characteristics of the cylinder liner in an IC engine fueled with biodiesel and its causal relationship with excitation sources have been predicted. Due to the lower calorific value of biodiesel, a greater amount of fuel is injected into the combustion chamber to maintain power outputs, which results in a prolonged combustion duration and subsequent higher overall vibration levels, compared with that of diesel. The advanced ignition of biodiesel is the main cause to the compound effect on the coupling of piston side-thrust force, thereby resulting in a nonlinear increase in the root mean square (RMS) of local vibration response close to the combustion top dead center (TDC). These key findings provides insight understandings for not only biodiesel combustion diagnostics but also more accurate diagnostics of fossil diesel based on nonintrusive vibrations.
Permeability and Stiffness Assessment of Paved and Unpaved Roads with Geocomposite Drainage Layers
Authors: Li Cheng , Ashlock Jeramy , White David , Vennapusa Pavana
Published: July 2017

Poor subsurface drainage is frequently identified as a factor leading to the accelerated damage of roadway systems. Geocomposite drainage layers offer an alternative to traditional methods but have not been widely evaluated, especially in terms of the impact of changes on both drainage capacity and stiffness. In this study, both paved and unpaved test sections with and without an embedded geocomposite drainage layer were constructed and tested. The geocomposite layers were installed directly beneath the roadway surface layers to help the rapid drainage of any infiltrated water and thus prevent water entering the underlying foundation materials. The laboratory, field, and numerical analysis results showed that the geocomposite layers increased the permeability of roadway systems by two to three orders of magnitude and that it can effectively prevent the surface and foundation materials from becoming saturated during heavy rainfall events. For the stiffness of the sections, the paved sections with and without a geocomposite layer showed that the composite modulus values measured at the surface were more reflective of the foundation layer support conditions beneath the geocomposite layer than the geocomposite layer itself. The unpaved road section with the geocomposite layer yielded lower composite modulus values than the control section but showed overall better road surface conditions after a rain event due to the improved subsurface drainage condition.
Effects of the Lake Sobradinho Reservoir (Northeastern Brazil) on the Regional Climate
Authors: Ekhtiari Nikoo , Grossman-Clarke Susanne , Koch Hagen , Meira de Souza Werônica , Donner Reik , Volkholz Jan
Published: July 2017

This study investigates the effects of Lake Sobradinho, a large reservoir in Northeastern Brazil, on the local near-surface atmospheric and boundary layer conditions. For this purpose, simulations with the regional climate model COSMO-CLM are compared for two different scenarios: (1) with the lake being replaced by the average normal native vegetation cover and (2) with the lake as it exists today, for two different two-month periods reflecting average and very dry conditions, respectively. The performance of the simulation is evaluated against data from surface meteorological stations as well as satellite data in order to ensure the model’s ability to capture atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of Lake Sobradinho. The obtained results demonstrate that the lake affects the near-surface air temperature of the surrounding area as well as its humidity and wind patterns. Specifically, Lake Sobradinho cools down the air during the day and warms it up during the night by up to several ∘ C depending on the large-scale meteorological conditions. Moreover, the humidity is significantly increased as a result of the lake’s presence and causes a lake breeze. The observed effects on humidity and air temperature also extend over areas relatively far away from the lake.
A Review on Metal Nanoparticles Nucleation and Growth on/in Graphene
Authors: Ruffino Francesco , Giannazzo Filippo
Published: July 2017

In this review, the fundamental aspects (with particular focus to the microscopic thermodynamics and kinetics mechanisms) concerning the fabrication of graphene-metal nanoparticles composites are discussed. In particular, the attention is devoted to those fabrication methods involving vapor-phase depositions of metals on/in graphene-based materials. Graphene-metal nanoparticles composites are, nowadays, widely investigated both from a basic scientific and from several technological point of views. In fact, these graphene-based systems present wide-range tunable and functional electrical, optical, and mechanical properties which can be exploited for the design and production of innovative and high-efficiency devices. This research field is, so, a wide and multidisciplinary section in the nanotechnology field of study. So, this review aims to discuss, in a synthetic and systematic framework, the basic microscopic mechanisms and processes involved in metal nanoparticles formation on graphene sheets by physical vapor deposition methods and on their evolution by post-deposition processes. This is made by putting at the basis of the discussions some specific examples to draw insights on the common general physical and chemical properties and parameters involved in the synergistic interaction processes between graphene and metals.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Disease—From Brain Starch to Bench and Bedside
Authors: Pawlowski Matthias , Meuth Sven , Duning Thomas
Published: July 2017

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Over the last three decades, research has advanced dramatically and provided a detailed understanding of the molecular events underlying the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. In parallel, assays for the detection of biomarkers that reflect the typical Alzheimer’s disease-associated pathology have been developed and validated in myriads of clinical studies. Such biomarkers complement clinical diagnosis and improve diagnostic accuracy. The use of biomarkers will become even more important with the advent of disease-modifying therapies. Such therapies will likely be most beneficial when administered early in the disease course. Here, we summarise the development of the core Alzheimer’s disease cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers: amyloid-β and tau. We provide an overview of their role in cellular physiology and Alzheimer’s disease pathology, and embed their development as cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers into the historical context of Alzheimer’s disease research. Finally, we summarise recommendations for their use in clinical practice, and outline perspectives for novel cerebrospinal fluid candidate biomarkers.
Exploiting Hardware Vulnerabilities to Attack Embedded System Devices: a Survey of Potent Microarchitectural Attacks
Authors: Fournaris Apostolos , Pocero Fraile Lidia , Koufopavlou Odysseas
Published: July 2017

Cyber-Physical system devices nowadays constitute a mixture of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems that are meant to operate harmonically under a security critical framework. As security IT countermeasures are gradually been installed in many embedded system nodes, thus securing them from many well-know cyber attacks there is a lurking danger that is still overlooked. Apart from the software vulnerabilities that typical malicious programs use, there are some very interesting hardware vulnerabilities that can be exploited in order to mount devastating software or hardware attacks (typically undetected by software countermeasures) capable of fully compromising any embedded system device. Real-time microarchitecture attacks such as the cache side-channel attacks are such case but also the newly discovered Rowhammer fault injection attack that can be mounted even remotely to gain full access to a device DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). Under the light of the above dangers that are focused on the device hardware structure, in this paper, an overview of this attack field is provided including attacks, threat directives and countermeasures. The goal of this paper is not to exhaustively overview attacks and countermeasures but rather to survey the various, possible, existing attack directions and highlight the security risks that they can pose to security critical embedded systems as well as indicate their strength on compromising the Quality of Service (QoS) such systems are designed to provide.
Characterization of an ISFET with Built-in Calibration Registers through Segmented Eight-Bit Binary Search in Three-Point Algorithm Using FPGA
Authors: Manlises Cyrel , Cruz Febus , Chung Wen-Yaw , Paglinawan Arnold
Published: July 2017

Sensors play the most important role in observing changes in an environment they are a part. They detect even the smallest changes and send the information to other electronic devices. Making sure that these sensors provide an accurate output is equally crucial, as the data it measures and collects are used for analysis. Until now, calibrating sensors has been done manually by following a sequence of procedures, and is usually performed on-site or in a laboratory prior to deployment. To eliminate the manual procedure in the calibration (at the very least), an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) with a built-in calibration registers circuit was created through segmented eight-bit binary search in a three-point algorithm using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The circuit was created using a three-point calibration algorithm and three standard buffers (pH 4, pH 7, and pH 10). The block diagram, schematic diagram, and the number of logic gates were derived after synthesizing the Verilog program in Xilinx/FPGA. An average of 0.30% error was computed to prove the reliability of the created circuit using FPGA. Having an ISFET with built-in calibration registers will alleviate the work of experts in performing calibrations. This would follow the plug and play standard, hence its being a calibration-ready ISFET device. With this feature, it could be used as a pH level meter or a remote sensor node in several applications.
A Chemist’s Perspective on the Role of Phosphorus at the Origins of Life
Authors: Fernández-García Christian , Coggins Adam J. , Powner Matthew W.
Published: July 2017

The central role that phosphates play in biological systems, suggests they also played an important role in the emergence of life on Earth. In recent years, numerous important advances have been made towards understanding the influence that phosphates may have had on prebiotic chemistry, and here, we highlight two important aspects of prebiotic phosphate chemistry. Firstly, we discuss prebiotic phosphorylation reactions; we specifically contrast aqueous electrophilic phosphorylation, and aqueous nucleophilic phosphorylation strategies, with dry-state phosphorylations that are mediated by dissociative phosphoryl-transfer. Secondly, we discuss the non-structural roles that phosphates can play in prebiotic chemistry. Here, we focus on the mechanisms by which phosphate has guided prebiotic reactivity through catalysis or buffering effects, to facilitating selective transformations in neutral water. Several prebiotic routes towards the synthesis of nucleotides, amino acids, and core metabolites, that have been facilitated or controlled by phosphate acting as a general acid–base catalyst, pH buffer, or a chemical buffer, are outlined. These facile and subtle mechanisms for incorporation and exploitation of phosphates to orchestrate selective, robust prebiotic chemistry, coupled with the central and universally conserved roles of phosphates in biochemistry, provide an increasingly clear message that understanding phosphate chemistry will be a key element in elucidating the origins of life on Earth.
Investigation of Antibacterial and Fouling Resistance of Silver and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Doped Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride-co-Hexafluoropropylene) Composite Membrane
Authors: Macevele Lutendo , Moganedi Kgabo , Magadzu Takalani
Published: July 2017

Composite membranes were successfully prepared using a phase-inversion method. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) profiles has confirmed formation of 4.8 wt % Ag/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (PVDF-HFP), 3 wt % Ag-MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP (EDX surface composition of Ag nanoparticles) and 1.5 wt % MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP composite membranes. The MWCNTs crystallites are mainly encapsulated by a layer of PVDF-HFP, as evidenced by disappearance of graphitic peak. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images have depicted the formation of microporous structure, with few MWCNTs on the surface and strongly interacting with PVDF-HFP as demonstrated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), XRD and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data. The data indicated an increase in porosity, swellability and water content of the PVDF-HFP membrane with the addition of MWCNTs and/or Ag nanoparticles, showing an improved hydrophilicity. The 1.5 wt % MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP composite membrane showed good desalination and fouling resistance rates, which correlates with a low water contact angle. The combined effects of Ag nanoparticles and MWCNTs do not promote fouling resistance of PVDF-HFP membranes, as shown during NaCl microfiltration (this is linked with high water contact angle as compared to that of MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP composite). Both 1.5 wt % MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP and 3 wt % Ag-MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP composite membranes prevented the bacteria passing through the membrane (100% bacterial load reduction). The surface of 3 wt % Ag-MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP showed good bactericidal and non-leaching properties of the dopant materials (MWCNTs and Ag), as evidenced by bacterial growth on the edges of the membranes.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti5553 Butt Welds Performed by LBW under Conduction Regime
Authors: Sánchez-Amaya Jose , Pasang Timotius , Amaya-Vazquez Margarita , Lopez-Castro Juan , Churiaque Cristina , Tao Yuan , Botana Pedemonte Francisco
Published: July 2017

Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr (Ti5553) is a metastable β titanium alloy with a high potential use in the aeronautic industry due to its high strength, excellent hardenability, fracture toughness and high fatigue resistance. However, recent research shows this alloy has a limited weldability. Different welding technologies have been applied in the literature to weld this alloy, such as electron beam welding (EBW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) or laser beam welding (LBW) under keyhole regime. Thus, in tensile tests, joints normally break at the weld zones, the strength of the welds being always lower than that of the base metal. In the present work, a novel approach, based on the application of LBW under conduction regime (with a High-Power Diode Laser, HPDL), has been employed for the first time to weld this alloy. Microstructure, microhardness and strength of obtained welds were analyzed and reported in this paper. LBW under conduction regime (LBW-CR) leads to welds with slightly higher values of Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) than those previously obtained with other joining processes, probably due to the higher hardness of the fusion zone and to lower porosity of the weld.
Effects of Welding Speed on Microstructure and Mechanical Property of Fiber Laser Welded Dissimilar Butt Joints between AISI316L and EH36
Authors: Cao Longchao , Shao Xinyu , Jiang Ping , Zhou Qi , Rong Youmin , Geng Shaoning , Mi Gaoyang
Published: July 2017

Fiber laser welding of dissimilar materials between AISI316L austenitic stainless steel and EH36 ship steels were conducted. Then the effects of welding speed on microstructure and mechanical characterization of the welded joint were investigated. Optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the microstructure. Microhardness testing, transverse tensile strength, and impact tests at the temperature of −40 °C were performed to study the mechanical properties. The martensite phase formed due to the rapid cooling rate during laser welding and low Creq/Nieq ratio. The coarse martensite grains in the center seam are transformed to finer martensite grains as the welding speed increases resulting in the higher cooling rate. The microhardness of joints was about 350 HV0.3, which was twice that of the base metal because of the formation of the martensite phase. When the welding speed was 0.6 m/min, fewer defects were found, and tensile testing indicated overmatching of the weld metal relative to the base metal. In addition, the joints also exhibited better ductility and impact toughness.
Les apports de la nouvelle directive-cadre relative aux déchets en droit français de l’environnement industriel
Authors: Deharbe David
Published: July 2017

La nouvelle directive-cadre no 2008/ 98/ CE pour la gestion des déchets dans l’Union européenne impacte directement le droit français de l’environnement industriel grâce à la nouvelle contribution du droit communautaire à la définition du déchet, et ce malgré la non-prise en compte des sous-produits et des exclusions. La nouvelle directive promeut une «société du recyclage » en appelant à un traitement responsable et à la création d’une nouvelle génération de plans de gestion des déchets. Toutefois, la question des déchets se heurte au lobbying qui freine les apports de la nouvelle directive-cadre au droit français de l’environnement industriel.
Design of 3D Animation Special Effects in Animation 3D Modeling Teaching Based on QFD Theory
Authors: Wang Qiong
Published: July 2017

A multimedia teaching device based on synchronous text teaching content display was designed by utilizing multimedia and animation technology. The device can make relevant text appear synchronously while the teaching video is played. It can achieve perfect combination of video and text, reduce learning load and improve learning efficiency. To estimate this new teaching device, we chose the students as the objects of study before and after using the device, and combined QFD theory for quantitative evaluation. Finally, such conclusion was drawn that this teaching device indeed has an ideal teaching effect.
Mobile Teaching of Digital Mapping Based on the WeChat Official Account Admin Platform
Authors: Gao Caiyun , Wang Jingyan
Published: July 2017

Digital mapping is a core and basic course for students who are majoring in Surveying and Mapping Engineering. The traditional teaching model, which is limited by classroom size, credit hours, and many other factors, can barely meet the teaching demands of a modern classroom. The continuous optimization of mobile techniques and the mobile environment has been witnessed in recent years. Several mobile terminals have emerged, which strongly support the future of micro-learning of digital mapping. This study builds a mobile digital mapping teaching system to explore effective learning models for mobile terminals. Content analysis is combined with questionnaire survey to analyze the basic characteristics of learners, learning content, learning behavior, and learning effects. Results suggest that the WeChat official account admin platform plays a positive role in attracting learners, spreading micro-content, promoting personalized learning, and evaluating real-time learning effects. In summary, this study enriches research on mobile teaching and provides teachers with new perspectives in teaching digital mapping and other specialized courses to Surveying and Mapping Engineering majors.
Access to Finance
Authors: Yıldırım İsmail
Published: July 2017

Microinsurance provides indemnity for those with low income and with limited access to insurance options. Aimed at supporting sustainable means of living for individuals, microinsurance is a market-based practice. Many microinsurance products focus on the famine and drought in Latin America, Africa and Asia and most commonly provided by European insurance companies. However, demand for microinsurance is also the case in developed countries. Microinsurance was introduced in Turkey in 2011 when 55,000 low-income women were insured as part of a microinsurance package created with the collaboration of Turkish Foundation for Waste Reduction (TISVA) and Günes Insurance. This section provides information on the aim, importance, and scope of microinsurance which plays a significant role in action against poverty while explaining practices available in Turkey and the world.
Use of Videos in Teaching and Learning
Authors: Smith Amanda Elizabeth , O'Brien Dai
Published: July 2017

This chapter outlines the experiences of the authors when using video technologies in creating resources for teaching British Sign Language (BSL). The authors outline their own experiences of creating resources for teaching and how the increasing availability of video technology and video hosting websites has impacted on their teaching practice. The chapter outlines some practical stages in creating online video resources for the teaching of sign language, and also how to ensure that less computer literate students can engage with this new technology. The authors conclude with some suggestions about future research directions to measure the impact and effectiveness of such resources and technologies and call other teachers of sign languages to explore the potential of these approaches for themselves.
Using News Reports in Language Education
Authors: Foley-Ryan Matthew Michael
Published: July 2017

The proliferation of news outlets with a digital presence in recent years has enabled language education to embrace current affairs in (and outside of) the classroom at a level which classic language-learning text books simply cannot rival. The inclusion of such material as a means of instruction allows language education to be as connected to the world in which students inhabit as possible. This chapter details how news reports, be they in video or textual form and obtained online, can be used in language education in a variety of ways. Clear instructions of how news reports have been successfully used in language classes, methodology and the exploration of learning results enables replication by other teachers, as do indications of how to adapt material to suit differing student profiles, classroom activities and language levels.
Developing Intercultural Competence and Language Skills Through International Online Collaborative Learning
Authors: Saito Rieko , Thor Masako Hayakawa , Inose Hiroko
Published: July 2017

Raising the intercultural competence of learners has been one of the most important issues in language education in this global world, but how can we integrate intercultural education into our teaching? This chapter introduces two online exchange projects, one for the beginner level and one for the intermediate level, which were designed for Swedish learners of Japanese as a means to develop their intercultural competence through collaborative language learning. The projects were designed through collaboration between five universities in Europe and Asia. In this chapter, the authors explore how the intercultural competence of learners developed based on learners' reflections after each session and their answers in the questionnaire after the project. The study finds that the different language levels require teachers to take different approaches in designing the intercultural contents of the projects. The chapter ends with further discussions on how to design intercultural education in an online environment.
How Consumers Become “Cool”
Authors: Rahman Kaleel
Published: July 2017

In this research, the author attempts to understand the vernacular meaning of cool. The author explores whether individuals depict “coolness” by going their own way or following the trend, and whether their depiction is communicated through the inner or outer qualities of coolness. The research design involves a qualitative projective technique using collages generated by 38 individuals in a global consumer culture - Dubai. Collages were analysed and themes were identified in relation to the research question. Although prior research showed that cool is more a matter of going one's own way rather than following the trend (Warren & Campbell, 2011), this research shows that it involves both. Cool is a constant negotiation between fitting in and following the trend versus going one's own way. Despite widespread use, academic understanding of coolness is its infancy. This research contributes the body of knowledge in understanding the meaning of cool.
A Cross-Cultural Study of Smartphone Adoption in Uzbekistan and South Korea
Authors: Sanakulov Nodir , Karjaluoto Heikki
Published: July 2017

Smartphone technology has changed how mobile phones are perceived and used in daily life. In 2015, global smartphone sales reached 1.4 billion units, representing an increase of 14.4 percent from 2014. Despite this popularity, penetration rates vary significantly across countries, with a global median of 43%. The main purpose of this research is to examine smartphone adoption in Uzbekistan and South Korea based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and to categorize constructs according to the Kano model. The findings indicate significant differences between South Korea and Uzbekistan in terms of technology adoption as a whole and perception of UTAUT constructs.
When Age, Religion, and Culture Matter
Authors: Sarofim Samer , Tolba Ahmed
Published: July 2017

The ultimate objective of the chapter is to provide a conceptualized model to showcase the differential effect of aging, religiosity, and cultural differences on consumers' emotions. Further, the downstream consequences of these antecedents (aging, religiosity, and cultural differences) on consumers' actual behavior in the market place are to be demonstrated. The mediating role of emotions in explicating the relationship between the proposed antecedents and consequences will serve as an integral part of the model to illustrate the underlying mechanism. The introduced model will provide both marketers and academicians with a clear understanding of major factors affecting consumer behavior and, importantly, the emotional mechanisms through which these factors exert differential impact on actual consumption behaviors.
Irrigation and Food Security
Authors: Jeločnik Marko , Zubović Jovan
Published: July 2017

Agriculture is among the sectors strongly affected by climate changes (the largest damage in agriculture is usually caused by drought), which simultaneously influence the volume of production and safety of products. Besides, soybean is one of the most important crops used for human and animal nutrition, and certain branches of light industry. In climate conditions of Serbia, soybean is predominantly produced in the system of dry land farming. The chapter has several closely related goals. Primarily, it presents the detailed analysis of the economic importance of soybean production for the Republic of Serbia (with a special focus on sustainability of national food security). One of the goals is the assessment of cumulative losses incurred in the soybean production in the climatic conditions of the Republic of Serbia (dominantly caused by drought) in the last several years. Also, it was estimated the possible positive impact of irrigation on the current state of food security on the macro level, as well as the higher profitability of soybean production on the micro level.
Social Network Analysis of Different Parameters Derived From Real-Time Facebook Profiles
Authors: Dey Paramita , Dutta Krishnendu
Published: July 2017

With the advent of online social media, it is possible to collect large information and extract information. One of the powerful roles that networks play is to bridge gap between the local and the global perspectives. For example, social network analysis could be used to offer explanations for how simple processes at the level of individual nodes and links can have a global effect. Social networks like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn are very large in size with millions of vertices and billions of edges. To collect meaningful information from these densely connected graphs and huge volume of data, it is important to find proper topology of the network as well as conduct analysis based on different network parameters. The main objective of this work is to study the network parameters commonly used to explain social structures. We extract data from the three real-time Facebook accounts using the Netvizz application, analyze and evaluate their network parameters on some widely recognized graph topology using Gephi, a free and open source software.
Hadoop-Based Distributed K-Shell Decomposition for Social Networks
Authors: Pechlivanidou Katerina , Katsaros Dimitrios , Tassiulas Leandros
Published: July 2017

Complex network analysis comprises a popular set of tools for the analysis of online social networks. Among these techniques, k-shell decomposition of a network is a technique that has been used for centrality analysis, for communities' discovery, for the detection of influential spreaders, and so on. The huge volume of input graphs and the environments where the algorithm needs to run, i.e., large data centers, makes none of the existing algorithms appropriate for the decomposition of graphs into shells. In this article, we develop for a distributed algorithm based on MapReduce for the k-shell decomposition of a graph. We furthermore, provide an implementation and assessment of the algorithm using real social network datasets. We analyze the tradeoffs and speedup of the proposed algorithm and conclude for its virtues and shortcomings.
Towards a Unified Semantic Model for Online Social Networks to Ensure Interoperability and Aggregation for Analysis
Authors: El Kassiri Asmae , Belouadha Fatima-Zahra
Published: July 2017

The Online Social Networks (OSN) have a positive evolution due to the diversity of social media and the increase in the number of users. The revenue of the social media organizations is generated from the analysis of users' profiles and behaviors, knowing that surfers maintain several accounts on different OSNs. To satisfy its users, the social media organizations have initiated projects for ensuring interoperability to allow for users creating other accounts on other OSN using an initial account, and sharing content from one media to others. Believing that the future generations of Internet will be based on the semantic web technologies, multiple academic and industrial projects have emerged with the objective of modeling semantically the OSNs to ensure interoperability or data aggregation and analysis. In this chapter, we present related works and argue the necessity of a unified semantic model (USM) for OSNs; we introduce a kernel of a USM using standard social ontologies to support the principal social media and it can be extended to support other future social media.
Challenges and Opportunities for Shared Economies
Authors: Sen Chitrakalpa , Adury Surya Teja
Published: July 2017

Shared economy or access economy has ushered in a new revolution. It is often mentioned that the fourth industrial revolution will be propagated by sharing economies. This study reviews the nature of shared economy and its impacts. It focuses on the challenges posed by access economy, especially in context of emerging nations. It discusses the unique nature of trust as a construct, the potential of sharing economy platforms to reduce the information barrier, the changing nature of relationship with the factors of production and most importantly, the regulatory challenges in this particular market structure.