bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A precise experimental study of various affecting operational parameters in electrocoagulation–flotation process of high-load compost leachate in a batch reactor
Authors: Amani T. , Veysi K. , Elyasi S. , Dastyar W.
Published: October 2014

The present study treated compost leachate, a high load organic and inorganic wastewater, using a batch electrocoagulation–flotation (ECF) process. ECF is an effective, fast, reliable, feasible, and economic technique for wastewater treatment. The interactive effects of operational factors such as influent chemical oxygen demand (COD), voltage, electrolysis time (ET), and electrodes distance (ED) on the efficiency of COD and total suspended solid (TSS) removal for various electrodes configurations (Al–Al, Al–Fe, Fe–Al, Fe–Fe) were analyzed and correlated. Al–Al was found to be the best configuration based on maximum removal of COD and TSS. Ultimately, analysis of associated results indicated that the best arrangement (Al–Al) possessed the following optimal factors: influent COD = 12,627 mg/L, voltage = 19 V, ET = 75 min, and ED = 3 cm for maximum removal of COD (96%) and TSS (99%). Confirmation tests indicated a 95% confidence interval for good agreement of the experimental results and predicted values from fitted correlations. Analysis of outcomes demonstrated that COD concentration was the most effective variable for COD and TSS removal, and, in addition, an increase in ET and a decrease in ED had positive effects. Total corrosion on the Al and Fe plates was 34.8 and 146.6 g, respectively.
Natural clinoptilolite composite membranes on tubular stainless steel supports for water softening
Authors: Adamaref Solmaz , An Weizhu , Jarligo Maria Ophelia , Kuznicki Tetyana , Kuznicki Steven M.
Published: October 2014

Disk membranes generated from high-purity natural clinoptilolite mineral rock have shown promising water desalination and de-oiling performance. In order to scale up production of these types of membranes for industrial wastewater treatment applications, a coating strategy was devised. A composite mixture of natural clinoptilolite from St. Cloud (Winston, NM, USA) and aluminum phosphate was deposited on the inner surface of porous stainless steel tubes by the slip casting technique. The commercial porous stainless steel tubes were pre-coated with a TiO2 layer of about 10 μm. Phase composition and morphology of the coating materials were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Water softening performance of the fabricated membranes was evaluated using Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) municipal tap water as feed source. Preliminary experimental results show a high water flux of 7.7 kg/(m2 h) and 75% reduction of hardness and conductivity in a once-through membrane process at 95 °C and feed pressure of 780 kPa. These results show that natural zeolite coated, stainless steel tubular membranes have high potential for large-scale purification of oil sands steam-assisted gravity drainage water at high temperature and pressure requirements.
How Partisans Differ from Independents: The Imaginative Functions of Self-Understanding, Rehearsal, and Relationship Maintenance
Authors: Madison T. Phillip , Rold Michael , Honeycutt James
Published: October 2014

This study looks at partisan voting in light of imagined interactions (IIs). Imagined interactions are a form of daydreaming that allows us to build scripts for use in our interpersonal relationships. II research has generally come from a functionalist perspective, and continues to prove its value in counseling and therapy, as well as to help us to understand intrapersonal communication in general. It has recently been extended into media effects research (i.e., Madison & Porter, 2012, 2014) and with the present study, voting intentions. We ask how respondents who claim to vote for candidates from certain political parties differ from those who do not in terms of the functions of their IIs. We surveyed college students at a prominent southern university ( N = 227) and collected data on voting intentions and functions of the respondent IIs. We found that both Republicans and Democrats tend to have fewer self-understanding and rehearsal IIs than those who indicated preference for independent candidates. These findings suggest that voting along party lines may be a heuristic, or “mindless” behavior. This study provides a new and exciting element to both the II and political processing bodies of literature, and it is our hope that future researchers also consider II in studies of political psychology and voting.
Differing Psychological Definitions of Liberalism and Conservatism: Their Statistical Association with Personality and with Racism
Authors: Kunzendorf Robert G. , Ejaife Liz , Petrychova Karina
Published: October 2014

One-hundred-thirty-seven participants were administered the Psychotemporal Survey of Ideologies (PSI), which yielded scores on six scales: a “visionary liberalism focused on the future” scale, a “pragmatic liberalism focused on the present” scale, a “guilt-ridden liberalism focused on the past” scale, a “dread-ridden conservatism focused on the future” scale, a “pragmatic conservatism focused on the present” scale, and a “nostalgic conservatism focused on the past” scale. These six PSI scores were correlated with “big five” personality dimensions on the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R); plus, scores on the Sexual-Racial Double-Standard Test (S-RD-ST) were regressed over the six PSI scores. A significant positive correlation between PSI “guilt-ridden liberalism focused on the past” and NEO PI-R neuroticism indicated that neuroticism is associated not with liberalism in general but with “liberal guilt”. A significant negative correlation between PSI “pragmatic conservatism focused on the present” and NEO PI-R openness indicated that openness is not positively correlated with liberalism but is negatively correlated with one definition of conservatism. A significant positive correlation between PSI “nostalgic conservatism focused on the past” and NEO PI-R conscientiousness indicated that conscientiousness is associated not with conservatism in general but with one definition of conservatism. S-RD-ST-measured prejudice disfavoring African-American women and favoring white men was associated with PSI “dread-ridden conservatism focused on the future,” whereas prejudice favoring African-American women and disfavoring white men was associated with “visionary liberalism focused on the future.” These findings show that surveying and scaling the PSI“s three psychotemporal definitions of liberalism and its three psychotemporal definitions of conservatism, instead of simply treating liberalism and conservatism as opposite ends of an ideological continuum, constitute a fruitful approach to understanding political ideologies and their relationship to other variables such as personality dimensions and racial biases.
Consensus, Dissension, and Admiration: Encounters with Robert Kastenbaum and His Work
Authors: Wittkowski Joachim
Published: October 2014

The article sheds light on the way the author's scientific views and endeavors in the field of dying, death, and bereavement over 40 years in Germany have been influenced by the work of Robert Kastenbaum. Reconstructing the passage of time, the early years (i.e., the second half of the 1970s), a middle period (i.e., the 1980s and 1990s), and the later years (i.e., from the turn of the century to the present) are outlined. In an anecdotic fashion, two personal encounters with R. Kastenbaum are reported. The article concludes with showing/consensus and dissention in various respects and finally recounts the author's admiration for this outstanding scholar.
Integrating principal component analysis and vector quantization with support vector regression for sulfur content prediction in HDS process
Authors: Shokri Saeid , Sadeghi Mohammad , Marvast Mahdi , Narasimhan Shankar
Published: October 2014

An accurate prediction of sulfur content is very important for the proper
operation and product quality control in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process.
For this purpose, a reliable data- driven soft sensors utilizing Support
Vector Regression (SVR) was developed and the effects of integrating Vector
Quantization (VQ) with Principle Component Analysis (PCA) were studied on
the assessment of this soft sensor. First, in pre-processing step the PCA
and VQ techniques were used to reduce dimensions of the original input
datasets. Then, the compressed datasets were used as input variables for the
SVR model. Experimental data from the HDS setup were employed to validate
the proposed integrated model. The integration of VQ/PCA techniques with SVR
model was able to increase the prediction accuracy of SVR. The obtained
results show that integrated technique (VQ-SVR) was better than (PCA-SVR) in
prediction accuracy. Also, VQ decreased the sum of the training and test
time of SVR model in comparison with PCA. For further evaluation, the
performance of VQ-SVR model was also compared to that of SVR. The obtained
results indicated that VQ-SVR model delivered the best satisfactory
predicting performance (AARE= 0.0668 and R2= 0.995) in comparison with
investigated models.
Memories of Alaskan Adventures
Authors: Rubin Andee
Published: October 2014

A picture is worth a thousand words: here is several thousands words' worth of memories of the work in Alaska that provided the fodder for the book Electronic Quills.
Information Science and Responsive Evaluation
Authors: Stake Robert E.
Published: October 2014

Responsive evaluation builds upon the methods of informal evaluation in disciplined ways: getting personally acquainted with the evaluand, observation of activities, interviewing people who are in different ways familiar with the evaluand, searching documents that reveal what happened in the past or somewhere else. It calls for sustained effort to know quality and insufficiency, by different definitions.
ChipScope: Actually, That Funny Way of Looking at it Works Pretty Well
Authors: Leander Kevin M.
Published: October 2014

In this article, the author describes and reflects on a kind of vision that is unique to Bertram C. (‘Chip’) Bruce. This ‘funny way of looking at it’ includes a way of seeing the world as it is made in myriad connections, a way of seeing the world imaginatively and metaphorically, and a way of seeing the world with optimism and empathy.
Our GSLIS Colleague, Chip Bruce: An Appreciation. A Deweyan Pragmatist in the Internet Age
Authors: Schiller Dan
Published: October 2014

The reconstructive project needed to enable information for democracy, to which Chip Bruce has contributed much, is of long standing. Using a few wide brush strokes, in this article some of the most vital historical contexts for situating this project are supplied.
Biocomputing, Biosensing and Bioactuation Based on Enzyme Biocatalyzed Reactions
Authors: Mailloux Shay , Katz Evgeny
Published: October 2014

The focus of this review paper is on the design and implementation of smart ‘Sense-and-Treat’ systems using enzyme-biocatalytic systems. These systems were used to perform biomolecular computing and they were functionally integrated with signal responsive materials aiming towards their biomedical use. Electrode interfaces, functionalized with signal-responsive materials, find applications in biocomputing, biosensing, and, specifically, triggered release of bioactive substances. ‘Sense-and-Treat’ systems require multiple components working together, including biosensors, actuators, and filters, in order to achieve closed-loop and autonomous operation. In general, biochemical logic networks were developed to process single biochemical or chemical inputs as well as multiple inputs, responding to nonphysiological (for concept demonstration purposes) and physiological signals (for injury detection or diagnosis). Actuation of drug-mimicking release was performed using the responsive material iron-cross-linked alginate with entrapped biomolecular species, responding to physical, chemical or biochemical signals.
Evaluation of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of cobalt and cadmium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry: application in water and food samples
Authors: Bosch Ojeda C. , Sánchez Rojas F.
Published: October 2014

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) was applied to the separation and preconcentration of Cd(II) and Co(II) from water and food samples. The influence of the following analytical parameters on the quantitative recoveries of cadmium and cobalt were investigated: pH, extraction solvent volume, dispersing solvent volume and type, and concentration of chelating agent. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits were 2 μg L
Colistin resistance superimposed to endemic carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: a rapidly evolving problem in Italy, November 2013 to April 2014
Authors: Monaco M. , Giani T , Raffone M , Arena F , Garcia-Fernandez A , Pollini S , Network EuSCAPE-Italy collective , Grundmann H , Pantosti A , Rossolini G M
Published: October 2014

Consecutive non-replicate clinical isolates (n=191) of carbapenem non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae were collected from 21 hospital laboratories across Italy from November 2013 to April 2014 as part of the European Survey on Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE) project. Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-KP) represented 178 (93%) isolates with 76 (43%) respectively resistant to colistin, a key drug for treating carbapenamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. KPC-KP colistin-resistant isolates were detected in all participating laboratories. This underscores a concerning evolution of colistin resistance in a setting of high KPC-KP endemicity.
Drivers’ Growth of Islamic Banking Industry: Lesson from Malaysia
Authors: Elryah Yagoub
Published: October 2014

Numerous studies focus on the Islamic banking performance, banks’ growth. There are, however, very little is known about the drivers’ growth of Islamic banking. The paper attempted to fill this gap. To achieve the objectives of the study, we consider government financial strategies for Islamic banking in Malaysia (Master Plan financial services 2000-2010 and Blueprint financial sector plan 2011-2020) and interviews the policy makers and regulators from BNM and selected banks. In this context, we explored the drivers’ growth Islamic banking industry in Malaysia for the period 2002-2012. The findings of the study revealed that the government strategies, high skilled banker’s human resources, financial stability, foreign banks, innovative products, awareness of the customers and quality of the financial and regulatory reforms were main drivers’ growth of Islamic banking in Malaysia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijssm.v1i4.10626 Int. J. Soc. Sci. Manage. Vol-1, issue-4: 122-128
Suicide – Let’s take necessary steps to prevent it
Authors: Subedi S
Published: October 2014

No AbstractDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v3i1.11344 J Psychiatrists’ Association of Nepal Vol .3, No.1, 2014: 1-2
Joining steel to aluminum alloy by resistance spot welding with a rivet
Authors: Qiu Ranfeng , Wang Nannan , Shi Hongxin , Cui Lihu , Hou Longlong , Zhang Keke
Published: October 2014

A new joining method, termed resistance spot welding with a rivet, was tried to weld steel to aluminum alloy. Scanning electron microscopy studies of the interfacial microstructures revealed the presence of an FeAl reaction layer at the rivet/aluminum alloy interface, and of FeAl3 at the steel/aluminum alloy interface. A tensile shear load of a maximum of 3.85 kN was obtained at a welding current of 21 kA. The results reveal that resistance spot welding with a rivet is an effective method for joining steel and aluminum alloy.
Effect of excess Pb on ferroelectric characteristics of conductive Al-doped ZnO and Sn-doped In2O3 top electrodes in PbLaZrTiO
x
capacitors
Authors: Takada Yoko , Tsuji Toru , Okamoto Naoki , Saito Takeyasu , Kondo Kazuo , Yoshimura Takeshi , Fujimura Norifumi , Higuchi Koji , Kitajima Akira , Oshima Akihiro
Published: October 2014

The Pb content effect of chemical solution deposited lanthanum-doped lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) (Pb:La:Zr:Ti = Pb:3:30:70, Pb = 105∼117) was studied for conductive aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) deposited as top electrodes by means of pulsed laser deposition. The crystallinity, surface morphology, ferroelectric properties and hydrogen degradation resistance of the ITO/PLZT/Pt and AZO/PLZT/Pt capacitors were evaluated. All the PLZT films showed perovskite phase (revealed by X-ray diffraction patterns) and showed similar surface morphology and grain size (revealed by scanning electron microscopy images). PLZT capacitors with a Pb content of 113 exhibited the largest remnant polarization (at 15 V (300 kV cm−
1)), however, the difference in hydrogen degradation resistance was small between the four levels of Pb content.
The Corporate Masquerade: Branding Masculinity through Halloween Costumes
Authors: Alexander Susan M.
Published: October 2014

This paper argues that men's Halloween costumes do not offer insight on versions of hegemonic and non-hegemonic masculine performativity as much as Halloween costumes tell us about the colonization of masculinity by commercial interests, thus creating yet another version of branded masculinity. The data, from a content analysis of 100 images of men's Halloween costumes, demonstrates the considerable power commercial culture has today in constructing and limiting ideas of American masculinity through licensed/branded costumes. Men's Halloween costumes are not a mere masquerade, an impersonation; rather commercially produced costumes masquerade as consumer “choice” while simultaneously masking the continued transformation of American masculinity into specific brand products.
Searching for a Masculine Model: Missteps Made during Three Decades of the Men's Movement and Why Moderation is the Key
Authors: Heinrich Jill
Published: October 2014

This article examines contemporary male ethicists' search for a revised masculine ethic by surveying three stages of the Men's Movement—the Feminist-Friendly, Mythopoetic, and Moderate Men's Movements. These first two movements created an ideological and political gulf that blunted their social and political efficacy and undermined this search. The third, however, minded these missteps by chartering a course of moderation and balance and so the Moderate Men's Movement succeeded by offering men what its predecessors could not—namely a more suitable and appealing way of being male in the world today.
GENETIC DIVERSITY IN RESTORER LINES OF HYBRID RICE (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Hasan M. J. , Kulsum Umma , Rahman M. H. , Nur-E-Elahi M. , Shamsuddin A. K. M.
Published: October 2014

An experiment was conducted with 30 restorer lines to identify most diverse lines in respect of morphological traits for developing heterotic rice hybrids. Thirty restorer lines were classified into four distinct clusters based on mean values of different morphological traits and days to maturity. Again these restorer lines were partitioned into very early, early, medium and late maturing groups. Only one line in very early maturing group had tall plant stature with maximum thousand grain weight but less in yield potential. Early maturing group contained 8 lines from different clusters having short plant stature with short flag leaf and moderate yielding ability. Medium maturing group included 13 lines characterized by medium plant stature with high tillering, excellent spikelet fertility, high grains per panicle and very good yielding ability. Late maturing group contained 8 lines featured by tall plant stature with excellent yield and yield contributing characters. Late maturing restorers BR827R, BR168R and BR736R had maximum genetic distance from centroid indicating extent of heterosis and very high yielding ability. Combining ability and heterosis study with short duration CMS lines may be fruitful for the development of desired hybrid.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpbg.v25i2.18662
A Joyful Dialogue with Spinoza and Others: Le Dœuff, Deleuze and the Ethics
Authors: Anderson Pamela Sue
Published: October 2014

This essay argues for a Le Dœuffian dialogue with Spinoza's Ethics, intending the increase of affective knowledge and bodily power. This intention requires a striving to learn: first, what perhaps we do not already know; second, what our bodies can do; and third, to increase in joy. From this dialogue the reader can gain Spinozist knowledge of bodies, minds, affections, as well as gaining the power to affect and to be affected by other bodies. One of the features of this Le Dœuffian practice is a collective exploration of what makes dialogue productive and joyful, opening up new possibilities, especially for women in philosophy today.
Mal d'archive: On the Growth of Gunter Demnig's Stolperstein-Project
Authors: Osborne Dora
Published: October 2014

In Archive Fever, Derrida opens a critical perspective on the status of the trace as that which remains with his reading of Gradiva, the Pompeian fantasy woman who is supposed to have left her singular toe-print in the ash of Vesuvius. This article returns to the figure of Gradiva as emblem for the non-coincidence of origin and trace, in order to outline the (increasingly troubling) archival aspects of Gunter Demnig's Stolperstein-project, a large-scale, decentralized memorial commemorating those deported under National Socialism. Returning to the site of a missed encounter, Demnig attempts to reinscribe the trace of those who vanished there. But as his project grows, it also shows signs of archive fever, betraying a desire to take possession of the trace of the other, and revealing how, as Derrida describes, the archive does not exist without the political control of memory.
Sectarian Discrimination in Local Councils and Myth-Making
Authors: Bruce Steve
Published: October 2014

Scottish local authorities have been accused of sectarianism in hiring policies because the proportion of workers who declare their religion as Catholic falls below the Catholic proportion of the population as a whole. This rejoinder points out the methodological flaw of drawing conclusions from such incomplete data and presents an alternative way of interpreting the partial statistics. It also notes that, with the high proportion of Labour councillors who are Catholic and the Labour party's history of council control, such discrimination is highly unlikely. Finally, it draws on classic liberalism to defend workers’ refusal to declare their religion.
An Efficient Algorithm Embedded in an Ultrasonic Visualization Technique for Damage Inspection Using the AE Sensor Excitation Method
Authors: Liu Yaolu , Goda Riu , Samata Kiyoshi , Kanda Atsushi , Hu Ning , Zhang Jianyu , Ning Huiming , Wu Liangke
Published: October 2014

To improve the reliability of a Lamb wave visualization technique and to obtain more information about structural damages (e.g., size and shape), we put forward a new signal processing algorithm to identify damage more clearly in an inspection region. Since the kinetic energy of material particles in a damaged area would suddenly change when ultrasonic waves encounter the damage, the new algorithm embedded in the wave visualization technique is aimed at monitoring the kinetic energy variations of all points in an inspection region to construct a damage diagnostic image. To validate the new algorithm, three kinds of surface damages on the center of aluminum plates, including two non-penetrative slits with different depths and a circular dent, were experimentally inspected. From the experimental results, it can be found that the new algorithm can remarkably enhance the quality of the diagnostic image, especially for some minor defects.
Spatial and Temporal Analysis on the Distribution of Active Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) Tracking Accuracy with the Kriging Method
Authors: Liu Xin , Shannon Jeremy , Voun Howard , Truijens Martijn , Chi Hung-Lin , Wang Xiangyu
Published: October 2014

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has already been applied in a number of areas to facilitate the tracking process. However, the insufficient tracking accuracy of RFID is one of the problems that impedes its wider application. Previous studies focus on examining the accuracy of discrete points RFID, thereby leaving the tracking accuracy of the areas between the observed points unpredictable. In this study, spatial and temporal analysis is applied to interpolate the continuous distribution of RFID tracking accuracy based on the Kriging method. An implementation trial has been conducted in the loading and docking area in front of a warehouse to validate this approach. The results show that the weak signal area can be easily identified by the approach developed in the study. The optimum distance between two RFID readers and the effect of the sudden removal of readers are also presented by analysing the spatial and temporal variation of RFID tracking accuracy. This study reveals the correlation between the testing time and the stability of RFID tracking accuracy. Experimental results show that the proposed approach can be used to assist the RFID system setup process to increase tracking accuracy.
Le sentiment d'amour pour une marque : déterminants et pertinence managériale
Authors: Albert Noël
Published: October 2014

Le concept d’amour pour une marque connaît un véritable engouement ces dernières années auprès des praticiens et des théoriciens. Toutefois, alors que les études sur l’amour pour une marque se multiplient, l’origine et les conséquences de ce sentiment restent encore relativement inconnues. Quelles variables ont une influence sur l’amour d’un consommateur pour une marque ? Quels comportements adopte un consommateur amoureux d’une marque ? Cette recherche se propose de répondre à ces questions. Pour cela une étude quantitative est conduite auprès de 287 consommateurs. Les résultats soulignent l’importance d’une relation positive avec la marque, d’une identification à celle-ci ou des émotions positives ressenties par le consommateur. L’intérêt managérial du concept d’amour pour une marque est également démontré à travers son impact sur l’engagement, le bouche-à-oreille positif et l’angoisse d’une éventuelle séparation avec la marque.
Hommes et femmes en Église
Authors: Borras Alphonse
Published: October 2014

C’est à partir d’un séminaire de travail organisé à son initiative en vue de préparer sa contribution aux 87 e Semaines Sociales de France en novembre 2012 que l’auteur présente une étude qui s’efforce de répondre à deux questions majeures : « Quelle reconnaissance accorder aux contributions féminines croissantes dans l’Église catholique ? » et « Dans la recherche de “l’égalité dans la différence”, quelles pistes concrètes dégager pour leur évolution ? ». Il répond en tant que théologien et canoniste et à partir de l’exercice de sa fonction de Vicaire général à Liège (Belgique). Dans un premier temps, il rappelle ce que le droit canonique dit du statut des femmes en Église pour ensuite évoquer ce qu’elles font déjà et en quoi cela interpelle l’Église. Cela le conduira alors à prendre la mesure de la reconnaissance des contributions féminines pour enfin suggérer les trois fronts d’un engagement conjoint où nous sommes attendus, fidèles, pasteurs et autres ministres, « hommes et femmes en Église ».
Evaluation of a Multi-Goal Solver for Use in a Blackboard Architecture
Authors: Straub Jeremy
Published: October 2014

This article presents a multi-goal solver for problems that can be modeled using a Blackboard Architecture. The Blackboard Architecture can be used for data fusion, robotic control and other applications. It combines the rule-based problem analysis of an expert system with a mechanism for interacting with its operating environment. In this context, numerous control or domain (system-subject) problems may exist which can be solved through reaching one of multiple outcomes. For these problems which have multiple solutions, any of which constitutes an end-goal, a solving mechanism which is solution-choice-agnostic and finds the lowest-cost path to the lowest-cost solution is required. Such a solver mechanism is presented and characterized herein. The performance of the solver (including both the computational time required to ascertain a solution and execute it) is compared to the naïve Blackboard approach. This performance characterization is performed across multiple levels of rule counts and rule connectivity. The naïve approach is shown to generate a solution faster, but the solutions generated by this approach, in most cases, are inferior to those generated by the solver.
Gamification and Smart Feedback
Authors: Kickmeier-Rust Michael D. , Hillemann Eva-C. , Albert Dietrich
Published: October 2014

Gamification is a recent trend in the field of game-based learning that accounts for development effort, costs, and effectiveness concerns of games. Another trend in educational technology is learning analytics and formative feedback. In the context of a European project the developed a light weight tool for learning and practicing divisions named Sonic Divider. This simple app is based on features of gamification. More importantly, it features formative assessment and feedback functions based on Competence-based Knowledge Space Theory. The authors applied and evaluated the tool in Austrian classrooms and found some evidence for the motivational aspect of the gamification elements, in particular scoring. They also found positive effects of an individualized and meaningful feedback about errors. Finally, there occurred certain gender difference, for example, girls were much less attracted by competition elements (e.g., by comparing high scores) then boys, however, more attentive towards feedback coming from the tool.
QoE Prediction for Multimedia Services
Authors: Kushik Natalia , Pokhrel Jeevan , Yevtushenko Nina , Cavalli Ana , Mallouli Wissam
Published: October 2014

This paper is devoted to the problem of evaluating the quality of experience (QoE) for a given multimedia service based on the values of service parameters such as QoS indicators. This paper proposes to compare two self learning approaches for predicting the QoE index, namely the approach based on logic circuit learning and the approach based on fuzzy logic expert systems. Experimental results for comparing these two approaches with respect to the prediction ability and the performance are provided.
Load Frequency Control in Power System via Improving PID Controller Based on Particle Swarm Optimization and ANFIS Techniques
Authors: Bahgaat Naglaa K. , El-Sayed M. I. , Hassan M. A. Moustafa , Bendary F. A.
Published: October 2014

The main objective of Load Frequency Control (LFC) is to regulate the power output of the electric generator within an area in response to changes in system frequency and tie-line loading. Thus the LFC helps in maintaining the scheduled system frequency and tie-line power interchange with the other areas within the prescribed limits. Most LFCs are primarily composed of an integral controller. The integrator gain is set to a level that compromises between fast transient recovery and low overshoot in the dynamic response of the overall system. This type of controller is slow and does not allow the controller designer to take into account possible changes in operating conditions and non-linearities in the generator unit. Moreover, it lacks robustness. This paper studies LFC in two areas power system using PID controller. In this paper, PID parameters are tuned using different tuning techniques. The overshoots and settling times with the proposed controllers are better than the outputs of the conventional PID controllers. This paper uses MATLAB/SIMULINK software. Simulations are done by using the same PID parameters for the two different areas because it gives a better performance for the system frequency response than the case of using two different sets of PID parameters for the two areas. The used methods in this paper are: a) Particle Swarm Optimization, b) Adaptive Weight Particle Swarm Optimization, c) Adaptive Acceleration Coefficients based PSO (AACPSO) and d) Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The comparison has been carried out for these different controllers for two areas power system. Therefore, the article presents advanced techniques for Load Frequency Control. These proposed techniques are based on Artificial Intelligence. It gives promising results.
The effect of presenteeism-related health conditions on employee work engagement levels: A comparison between groups
Authors: De Beer Leon T.
Published: October 2014

Orientation: Awareness of presenteeism-related health conditions is important as the prevalence of these conditions unknowingly influences performance and productivity in organisations.Research purpose: The primary objective of this study was to determine the differences in work engagement levels based on groups of presenteeism-related conditions in employees.Motivation for the study: Awareness of the impact of presenteeism-related conditions on work engagement levels can aid in the crafting of interventions to assist employees who suffer from these conditions, which in turn can boost work engagement levels.Research design, approach and method: Cross-sectional data was collected from an availability sample of employees in the manufacturing sector (N = 3387).Main findings: The results of the multi-group structural equation modelling revealed significant mean differences in work engagement levels between the groups. Practical significance tests revealed significant differences between all the groups. The largest difference was between the group who suffered from no presenteeism-related conditions and the group who suffered from all three conditions included in this study concurrently.Practical/managerial implications: Organisational stakeholders are encouraged to take note of the effects that presenteeism-related health conditions have on work engagement and to consider relevant strategies and interventions to address and alleviate symptoms in order to tend to employee health and obviate the effect on productivity.Contribution: This study found that there were clear practical differences between employees who suffer from the presenteeism-related conditions and those who suffer from none of the conditions. Furthermore, there was also a clear difference when comparing the ‘no condition’ group to a general random sample in which employees might experience some symptoms but not comorbidity.
Clinical findings and long-term managements of patients with amelogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Koruyucu Mine , Bayram Merve , Tuna Elif Bahar , Gencay Koray , Seymen Figen
Published: October 2014

The aim of this clinical case series is to present a diagnosis and different treatment methods of patients in different ages with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) as well as further treatments during a 3-6 years follow-up period. A number of 31 patients (16 female, 15 male with a mean age of 10.77 ± 2.65 years) with AI have been examined for the study group between 2007 and 2010 years. A detailed anamnesis was recorded, followed by a clinical and radiological assessment of oral health. The types of AI classified for each patient according to clinical and radiographic evaluation. The main complaints of patients, presence of dental caries and dental anomalies were noted. Necessary treatments had been planned for the individual cases of AI. A number of 19 patients had hypoplastic (HP) form, and 10 patients showed hypomaturation (HM) form of AI, while one patient showed hypocalcified form of AI and one patient had HM-HP form with taurodontism. Main complaints were chiefly related to dissatisfactory esthetics and dental sensitivity. Caries prevalence index was 93.5%. Mean decayed, missing, filling permanent teeth (DMF) and DMF surface (DMFS) were found as 2.74 ± 1.71 and 6.23 ± 3.99; df (decayed, filling primary teeth) and dfs (decayed, filling primary teeth surface) were found as 3.12 ± 2.85 and 5.24 ± 4.97, respectively. All patients received individual clinical care, including preventive, restorative, and prosthetic treatments. Patients have scheduled for regular follow-up in every 3 months. Composite restorations were used as the most common treatment (25 patients, 80.6%). The treatment plan should be based on patient's age, type of defects and individual needs of the patients. Necessary treatment plan is essential, not only due to functional and aesthetic reasons, but also for the positive psychological impact on young patients.
Fifteen months follow-up of a hopeless tooth treated with two-step procedure involving intentional replantation and free gingival graft
Authors: Keceli Huseyin Gencay , Hendek Meltem Karsiyaka
Published: October 2014

The aim of the report is to document 15-month results of mucogingival surgery applied following intentional replantation (IntR). A mandibular left lateral incisor with severe periodontitis and malposition was replanted and splinted following root canal treatment. Three months after IntR, a free gingival graft (FGG) was placed. Fifteen months follow-up of the case demonstrated significant improvement in periodontal healing parameters and significant bone fill was detected around the root apex. As a conclusion, IntR may be speculated as a convenient alternative to keep the periodontally hopeless teeth and supportive approaches such as FGGs may improve the outcomes following IntR.
Investigations of Koutango Virus Infectivity and Dissemination Dynamics in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes
Authors: Lobo Jaime M. de Araújo , Christofferson Rebecca C. , Mores Christopher N.
Published: October 2014

Aedes aegypti has already been implicated in the emergence of dengue and chikungunya viruses in the southern US. Vector competence is the ability of a mosquito species to support transmission of an arbovirus, which is bounded by its ability to support replication and dissemination of the virus through the mosquito body to the salivary glands to be expectorated in the saliva at the time of feeding on a vertebrate host. Here, we investigate the vector competence of A. aegypti for the arbovirus koutango by orally challenging mosquitoes with two titers of virus. We calculated the effective vector competence, a cumulative measure of transmission capability weighted by mosquito survival, and determined that A. aegypti was competent at the higher dose only. We conclude that further investigation is needed to determine the infectiousness of vertebrate hosts to fully assess the emergence potential of this virus in areas rich in A. aegypti.
Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) response to herbicides as affected by application timing and temperature
Authors: Robinson Melody A. , Letarte Jocelyne , Cowbrough Michael J. , Sikkema Peter H. , Tardif François J.
Published: October 2014

Robinson, M. A., Letarte, J., Cowbrough, M. J., Sikkema, P. H. and Tardif, F. J. 2015. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) response to herbicides as affected by application timing and temperature. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 325–333. Field studies were conducted to determine the effects of cold temperatures and physiological growth stage at the time of application on the tolerance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to 10 herbicides used in Ontario, Canada. Herbicides were applied: early during a frost event (when forecasted temperatures ≤ 0°C); at a normal timing (Zadoks 21–29); and a late timing (Zadoks 39). Visible injury, yield, plant height at maturity, test weight and 1000-kernel weight were measured to determine if environmental conditions or growth stage at the time of herbicide application influenced wheat tolerance. Cold temperatures at the time of herbicide application resulted in injury with three treatments: 2,4-D, dicamba/MCPA/mecoprop and dichlorprop/2,4-D. Visible injury was greatest at 14 d after treatment (DAT); it was, however, transient and yield, plant height, test weight and 1000-kernel weight were not affected. The herbicides 2,4-D, dichlorprop/2,4-D, and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl caused visible injury 14 DAT when applied at the normal timing, while 2,4-D at this timing, also caused injury 7 DAT. Dicamba/MCPA/mecoprop was the most injurious herbicide, causing 4% injury at the normal timing and 11% injury at the late application timing (42 DAT). Dicamba/MCPA/mecoprop caused yield reductions of 11 to 24% at two locations in 2010 when applied at the normal timing. Dicamba/MCPA/mecoprop reduced yield at 6 of the 8 site-years when applied late, and also reduced plant height. Cold temperatures at the time of application did not affect tolerance of winter wheat; however, visible injury was more likely to occur when herbicides were applied at later growth stages. In most cases, herbicide injury was transient and no impact on yield was observed. Dicamba/MCPA/mecoprop was the most injurious herbicide, causing prolonged injury at all application timings and reducing yields when applied at the normal timing. In addition, yield and plant height were affected negatively when this herbicide was applied late.
Identification and characterization of S-RNase genes and S-genotypes in Prunus and Malus species
Authors: Gu Chao , Wang Lu , Korban Schuyler S. , Han Yuepeng
Published: October 2014

Gu, C., Wang, L., Korban, S. S. and Han, Y. 2015. Identification and characterization of S-RNase genes and S-genotypes in Prunus and Malus species. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 213–225. Most Rosaceae fruit trees such as Prunus and Malus species exhibit gametophytic self-incompatibility that is genetically controlled by the S-locus. In turn, the S-locus contains at least two tightly-linked S-determinant genes, a pistil S-RNase and a pollen SFB. In this study, S-genotypes of 120 cultivated and wild Prunus accessions (peach) and seven wild Malus accessions (crabapple) have been characterized. Among cultivated Prunus genotypes, four S-RNase alleles, designated S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , and S 4 , have been identified, and they share typical structural features of S-RNases from all other self-incompatible Prunus species. Four S-genotypes, S 1 S 2 , S 1 S 3 , S 1 S 4 , and S 2 S 2 , were identified in peach cultivars, while only one S-genotype S 1 S 2 for wild Prunus species. The S 1 S 2 genotype is predominant in peach cultivars, accounting for 58.3% of all evaluated accessions. Similarly, four SFB alleles were identified in peach cultivars and wild accessions. However, all the four SFB alleles encode truncated proteins due to a frame-shift mutation, resulting in loss of hyper-variable and/or variable regions. For Malus species, a total of 14 S-RNase alleles are identified, and of those, two alleles encode truncated proteins. Overall, the genetic variation of both S-RNase and SFB genes in peach is significantly lower than that of S-RNase and SFB genes in self-incompatible Malus and/or Prunus species. The relationship between the genetic variation of SFB genes and the diversification of S-RNase genes in Rosaceae is also discussed.
Glyphosate and acetolactate synthase inhibitor resistant common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) in southwestern Ontario
Authors: Van Wely Annemarie C. , Soltani Nadar , Robinson Darren E. , Hooker David C. , Lawton Mark B. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: October 2014

Van Wely, A. C., Soltani, N., Robinson, D. E., Hooker, D. C., Lawton, M. B. and Sikkema, P. H. 2015. Glyphosate and acetolactate synthase inhibitor resistant common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) in southwestern Ontario. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 335–338. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) was found to be resistant to glyphosate in Ontario. Field surveys were conducted from 2011 to 2013 to determine the distribution of glyphosate-resistant (GR) and acetolactate synthase inhibitor resistant common ragweed. GR common ragweed was confirmed in Essex County. All GR populations were found to be resistant to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides.
Glyphosate-resistant kochia (Kochia scoparia L. Schrad.) in Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Authors: Beckie Hugh J. , Gulden Robert H. , Shaikh Nasir , Johnson Eric N. , Willenborg Christian J. , Brenzil Clark A. , Shirriff Scott W. , Lozinski Chris , Ford Greg
Published: October 2014

Beckie, H. J., Gulden, R. H., Shaikh, N., Johnson, E. N., Willenborg, C. J., Brenzil, C. A., Shirriff, S. W., Lozinski, C. and Ford, G. 2015. Glyphosate-resistant kochia (Kochia scoparia L. Schrad.) in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 345–349. Previous surveys have documented the occurrence of glyphosate-resistant (GR) kochia in Alberta in 2011 and 2012. To determine the incidence of GR kochia in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, a stratified-randomized survey of 342 sites (one population per site) in southern and central regions of Saskatchewan and a similar survey of 283 sites in southern Manitoba was conducted in the fall of 2013. Mature plants were collected, seed threshed, and progeny screened by spraying with a discriminating glyphosate dose of 900 g ae ha–1 under greenhouse conditions. Screening confirmed 17 GR kochia populations in nine municipalities in west-central or central Saskatchewan, but only two GR populations from different municipalities in the Red River Valley of Manitoba. While the majority of GR kochia populations in Saskatchewan originated in chemical-fallow fields, some populations were found in cropped fields (wheat, Triticum aestivum L.; lentil, Lens culinaris Medik.; GR canola, Brassica napus L.) and non-cropped areas (oil well, roadside ditch). In Manitoba, the two populations occurred in fields cropped to GR corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.). Agronomic and economic impact of this GR weed biotype is compounded because of consistent multiple resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides. However, GR kochia is susceptible to dicamba, an increasingly important auxinic herbicide used for control of this multiple-resistant weed biotype.
Impacts of new particle formation on aerosol cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity in Shanghai: case study
Authors: Leng C. , Zhang Q. , Tao J. , Zhang H. , Zhang D. , Xu C. , Li X. , Kong L. , Cheng T. , Zhang R. , Yang X. , Chen J. , Qiao L. , Lou S. , Wang H. , Chen C.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. New particle formation (NPF) events and their impacts on cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) were investigated using continuous measurements collected in urban Shanghai from 1 to 30 April 2012. During the campaign, NPF occurred in 8 out of the 30 days and enhanced CCN number concentration (NCCN) by a factor of 1.2–1.8, depending on supersaturation (SS). The NPF event on 3 April 2012 was chosen as an example to investigate the NPF influence on CCN activity. In this NPF event, secondary aerosols were produced continuously and increased PM2.5 mass concentration at a rate of 4.33 μg cm−3 h−1, and the growth rate (GR) and formation rate (FR) were on average 5 nm h−1 and 0.36 cm−3 s−1, respectively. The newly formed particles grew quickly from nucleation mode (10–20 nm) into CCN size range. NCCN increased rapidly at SS of 0.4–1.0% but weakly at SS of 0.2%. Correspondingly, aerosol CCN activities (fractions of activated aerosol particles in total aerosols, NCCN/NCN) were significantly enhanced from 0.24–0.60 to 0.30–0.91 at SS of 0.2–1.0% due to the NPF. On the basis of the κ-Köhler theory, aerosol size distributions and chemical composition measured simultaneously were used to predict NCCN. There was a good agreement between the predicted and measured NCCN (R2=0.96, Npredicted/Nmeasured=1.04). This study reveals that NPF exerts large impacts on aerosol particle abundance and size spectra; thus, it significantly promotes NCCN and aerosol CCN activity in this urban environment. The GR of NPF is the key factor controlling the newly formed particles to become CCN at all SS levels, whereas the FR is an effective factor only under high SS (e.g., 1.0%) conditions.