bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate strategy, corporate governance and performance of financial institutions in Malaysia
Authors: Kallamu Basiru Salisu , Mohd Saat Nur Ashikin
Published: February 2017

We examine the impact of corporate strategy and corporate governance on the performance of finance companies in Malaysia using data from 406 firm-year observations. The results indicate that diversification influence accounting returns negatively while separate risk management committee (RMC) influence market valuation of finance companies positively both in the period after the Asian financial crisis which also is the period after the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG) was issued. Finally, the results indicate significant difference between the period before and after the Asian financial crisis and MCCG in terms of diversification and corporate governance in the finance companies. The results support agency theory which suggests that diversification may create further agency problem between the management and the shareholders
Predicting corporate voting outcomes for shareholder sponsored proposals
Authors: Gnutti Alexander H. , Martin John D. , Ramsey J. Douglas
Published: February 2017

We analyze voting support for shareholder sponsored corporate governance proposals. Specifically, we study the impact of institutional share ownership, board structure, firm size, historical share performance, and proposal sponsor on the proportion of yes votes received. We use data from 253 shareholder proposals that came to a vote in 2013 for our analysis. Among our findings are the following: (1) pension funds sponsored 14 of the 20 proposals receiving the highest level of voting support while individuals and labor unions sponsored 16 of the 20 proposals receiving the lowest voting support; (2) firms with a classified board received higher proposal support than those without a classified board; (3) firms with a higher percentage of institutional ownership received greater voter support, and (4) firm size was inversely related to voting support
Challenging governance between internal and external actors: a resource dependence approach for studying board dynamics and interaction
Authors: Tomo Andrea , Hinna Alessandro , Scarozza Danila , De Nito Ernesto , Mangia Gianluigi
Published: February 2017

This research represents a continuation of a previous systematic research conducted few years ago by some of the authors (Hinna et al. 2010, 2014). In order to focus on the need to deepen the study on board dynamics in public organizations, this study presents an overview of international literature regarding boards in public organizations, in order to evidence if, and in which terms “board dynamics and interactions” has been a topic of research in public governance in recent years. Then, using a resource dependence approach the paper tries to understand how external factors and pressures can influence board composition and board interaction. The results will contribute and provide suggestions to further research on board dynamics in public organizations
Probabilistic Modeling of Single and Concurrent Truckloads on Bridges
Authors: Watson Donald C. , Crim Matthew , Gurley Kurtis R. , Washburn Scott S.
Published: February 2017

The maintenance of bridges and the evolution of an appropriate bridge rating system require the consideration of loads from heavy trucks. These loads can arise from a single overweight truck or multiple trucks simultaneously present, or concurrent, on a bridge. This paper presents a probabilistic modeling approach to assess the frequency and likelihood of observing various bridge loads caused by single and concurrent trucks. The approach used weigh-in-motion (WIM) data collected at or near bridges of interest to identify single and concurrent trucks and their Corresponding loads. The modeling approach was applied to bridges near three WIM stations in Florida. Results showed that in any given month, there was a 100% probability of observing at least one single or concurrent truckload that exceeded twice the minimum weight of a single overweight truck (i.e., exceeded 711,715 N or 160,000 lb). In addition, the probability of observing extreme truckloads was significantly higher when all trucks were considered, as opposed to only overweight trucks. The modeling approach can easily be adapted to the goals of the study and to any region where WIM data are available at or near the bridge(s) of interest. Results generated from the modeling approach provide probabilistic loading input for bridge maintenance planning and truck permitting policy.
Effect of Geometric Factors on Lateral Position of Vehicles in Freeway Buffer-Separated Managed Lanes
Authors: Lindheimer Tomás E. , Fitzpatrick Kay , Avelar Raul , Miles Jeffrey D.
Published: February 2017

Chapter 3 in the 2004 AASHTO high-occupancy-vehicle guidelines includes a prioritized trade-off table of various design options for high-occupancy-vehicle lanes (now known as managed lanes). The design trade-offs include the reduction of lane, shoulder, or buffer width. The key measure thought to be affected by lane, shoulder, and buffer width is lateral position. The presented study identified the relationship between operations and cross-section width, including the type of buffer design separating the managed lanes from the general-purpose lanes. This research study collected lateral position data on existing managed lane facilities with a range of geometric elements within both tangent and horizontal curves and identified potential relationships between the geometric design element values and the measure of effectiveness. The field studies included data collected at 28 sites with fixed video cameras and along 161 centerline miles with an instrumented vehicle that recorded data for the vehicle immediately in front of the instrumented vehicle. The study found that managed-lane drivers shifted away from the pylons placed in the buffer. Horizontal alignment (tangent or curve) and the direction of the horizontal curve (left or right) influenced lateral position. Left shoulder, lane, and buffer width affected lateral position. Modifying a 6.5-ft shoulder to a minimum shoulder (i.e., 1.5 ft) will result in drivers moving to the right about 0.5 ft; however, if an 18.5-ft shoulder is reduced by 5 ft, the impact in operations is negligible (drivers would shift only about 0.11 ft toward the right).
Prepregnancy Body Mass Index as a Significant Predictor of Total Gestational Weight Gain and Birth Weight
Authors: Morisset Anne-Sophie , Dubois Lise , Colapinto Cynthia K. , Luo Zong-Chen , Fraser William D.
Published: February 2017

Purpose: We aimed to describe adherence to gestational weight gain (GWG) recommendations and identify determinants of excessive GWG in a sample of women from Quebec, Canada.

Methods: Data were collected from the multi-centre 3D (Design, Develop, Discover) pregnancy cohort study, which included women who delivered between May 2010 and August 2012 at 9 obstetrical hospitals in Quebec, Canada. GWG was calculated for 1145 women and compared to the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations.

Results: Overall, 51% of participants exceeded the recommendations. Approximately 68% of women with obesity gained weight in excess of the IOM recommendations. The corresponding numbers were 75%, 44%, and 27% in overweight, normal weight, and underweight women, respectively. A prepregnancy BMI of 25 kg/m2 or more was the only significant predictor of exceeding GWG recommendations (OR 3.35, 95% CI 2.44–4.64) in a multivariate model. Birth weight was positively associated with GWG. GWG and prepregnancy BMI could explain 3.13% and 2.46% of the variance in birth weight, respectively.

Conclusion: About half of women exceeded GWG recommendations, and this was correlated with infant birth weight. This reinforces the need to develop and evaluate strategies, including nutritional interventions, for pregnant women to achieve optimal GWG.
Molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance patterns of spp. and Escherichia coli of laying chicken
Authors: Saifuddin AKM , Isalm SKM Azizul , Anwar Md Nurul
Published: February 2017

Multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria are most the common causes of diseases in commercial poultry, and antibiotic resistance of these organisms is often plasmid mediated. In Bangladesh such types of data are very much scarce. In this study, the antibiogram profile of Salmonella spp and E. coli isolates from 20 either clinically affected or dead laying chicken obtained from 10 commercial layer farms was performed. And MDR pattern was determined by using 7 common antimicrobials followed by isolation of plasmids to correlate between plasmids and drug resistance. Of these tested samples, 70-100% of both Salmonella Spp and E. coli were resistant to ?-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin) cephalexin and cotrimoxazole while 60-90% isolates of both species were susceptible to both ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Both Salmonella spp and E. coli isolates contain plasmids above 10 kbp size which might contain MDR genes. This is the first report on the characterization of plasmids found in both Salmonella spp and E. coli isolates obtained from a significant number of commercial layer farms (N=10) in Chittagong District, Bangladesh. The gathered information furthers our understanding of the mechanisms of drug resistance in specific region related to other parts of the country and world. The large plasmids might be potential factors for dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes regionallyMicrobes and Health, December 2016, 5(1): 4-6
DFT Study of the Structure, Reactivity, Natural Bond Orbital and Hyperpolarizability of Thiazole Azo Dyes
Authors: Osman Osman
Published: February 2017

The structure, reactivity, natural bond orbital (NBO), linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of three thiazole azo dyes (A, B and C) were monitored by applying B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP and ωB97XD functionals with 6-311++G** and aug-cc-pvdz basis sets. The geometrical parameters,dipolemoments,HOMO-LUMO(highest occupied molecular orbital,lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy gaps, absorption wavelengths and total hyperpolarizabilities were investigated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) chloroform (CHCl3), dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) and dimethlysulphoxide (DMSO). The donor methoxyphenyl group deviates from planarity with the thiazole azo moiety by ca. 38◦; while the acceptor dicyanovinyl, indandione and dicyanovinylindanone groups diverge by ca. 6◦. The HOMOs for the three dyes are identical. They spread over the methoxyphenyl donor moiety, the thiazole and benzene rings as π-bonding orbitals. The LUMOs are shaped up by the nature of the acceptor moieties. The LUMOs of the A, B and C dyes extend over the indandione, malononitrile and dicyanovinylindanone acceptor moieties, respectively, as π-antibonding orbitals. The HOMO-LUMO splittings showed that Dye C is much more reactive than dyes A and B. Compared to dyes A and B, Dye C yielded a longer maximum absorption wavelength because of the stabilization of its LUMOs relative to those of the other two. The three dyes show solvatochromism accompanied by signiﬁcant increases in hyperpolarizability. The enhancement of the total hyperpolarizability of C compared to those of A and B is due to the cumulative action of the long π-conjugation of the indanone ring and the stronger electron-withdrawing ability of the dicyanovinyl moiety that form the dicyanovinylindanone acceptor group. These ﬁndings are facilitated by a natural bond orbital (NBO) technique. The very high total hyperpolarizabilities of the three dyes deﬁne their potent nonlinear optical (NLO) behaviour.
Completing the Complete ECC Formulae with Countermeasures
Authors: Chmielewski Łukasz , Massolino Pedro , Vliegen Jo , Batina Lejla , Mentens Nele
Published: February 2017

This work implements and evaluates the recent complete addition formulae for the prime order elliptic curves of Renes, Costello and Batina on an FPGA platform. We implement three different versions:(1) an unprotected architecture; (2) an architecture protected through coordinate randomization; and (3) an architecture with both coordinate randomization and scalar splitting in place. The evaluation is done through timing analysis and test vector leakage assessment (TVLA). The results show that applying an increasing level of countermeasures leads to an increasing resistance against side-channel attacks. This is the ﬁrst work looking into side-channel security issues of hardware implementations of the complete formulae.
Wrinkled Graphene–AgNWs Hybrid Electrodes for Smart Window
Authors: Jun Ki-Woo , Kim Jong-Nam , Jung Jin-Young , Oh Il-Kwon
Published: February 2017

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing demand for stretchable electrodes for flexible and soft electronic devices. An electrode in such devices requires special functionalities to be twisted, bent, stretched, and deformed into variable shapes and also will need to have the capacity to be restored to the original state. In this study, we report uni- or bi-axially wrinkled graphene–silver nanowire hybrid electrodes comprised of chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene and silver nanowires. A CVD-grown graphene on a Cu-foil was transferred onto a biaxially pre-strained elastomer substrate and silver nanowires were sprayed on the transferred graphene surface. The pre-strained film was relaxed uni-(or bi-)axially to produce a wrinkled structure. The bi-axially wrinkled graphene and silver nanowires hybrid electrodes were very suitable for high actuating performance of electro-active dielectric elastomers compared with the wrinkle-free case. Present results show that the optical transparency of the highly stretchable electrode can be successfully tuned by modulating input voltages.
Disparate Effects of Stilbenoid Polyphenols on Hypertrophic Cardiomyocytes In Vitro vs. in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Heart Failure Rat
Authors: Akinwumi Bolanle , Raj Pema , Lee Danielle , Acosta Crystal , Yu Liping , Thomas Samuel , Nagabhushanam Kalyanam , Majeed Muhammed , Davies Neal , Netticadan Thomas , Anderson Hope
Published: February 2017

Stilbenoids are bioactive polyphenols, and resveratrol (trans-3,5,40-trihydroxystilbene) is a representative stilbenoid that reportedly exerts cardioprotective actions. As resveratrol exhibits low oral bioavailability, we turned our attention to other stilbenoid compounds with a history of medicinal use and/or improved bioavailability. We determined the effects of gnetol (trans-3,5,20,60-tetrahydroxystilbene) and pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-40-hydroxystilbene) on cardiac hypertrophy. In vitro, gnetol and pterostilbene prevented endothelin-1-induced indicators of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy including cell enlargement and protein synthesis. Gnetol and pterostilbene stimulated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and inhibition of AMPK, using compound C or shRNA knockdown,abolished these anti-hypertrophiceffects. In contrast,resveratrol, gnetol, nor pterostilbene reduced blood pressure or hypertrophy in the spontaneously hypertensive heart failure (SHHF) rat. In fact, AMPK levels were similar between Sprague-Dawley and SHHF rats whether treated by stilbenoids or not. These data suggest that the anti-hypertrophic actions of resveratrol (and other stilbenoids?) do not extend to the SHHF rat, which models heart failure superimposed on hypertension. Notably, SHHF rat hearts exhibited prolonged isovolumic relaxationtime(an indicator of diastolicdys function),and this was improved by stilbenoid treatment.In conclusion, stilbenoid-based treatment as a viable strategy to prevent pathological cardiac hypertrophy,a major risk factor for heart failure,may be context-dependent and requires furtherstudy.
Monitoring Rice Agriculture across Myanmar Using Time Series Sentinel-1 Assisted by Landsat-8 and PALSAR-2
Authors: Torbick Nathan , Chowdhury Diya , Salas William , Qi Jiaguo
Published: February 2017

Assessment and monitoring of rice agriculture over large areas has been limited by cloud cover, optical sensor spatial and temporal resolutions, and lack of systematic or open access radar. Dense time series of open access Sentinel-1 C-band data at moderate spatial resolution offers new opportunities for monitoring agriculture. This is especially pertinent in South and Southeast Asia where rice is critical to food security and mostly grown during the rainy seasons when high cloud cover is present. In this research application, time series Sentinel-1A Interferometric Wide images (632) were utilized to map rice extent, crop calendar, inundation, and cropping intensity across Myanmar. An updated (2015) land use land cover map fusing Sentinel-1, Landsat-8 OLI, and PALSAR-2 were integrated and classified using a randomforest algorithm. Time series phenological analyses of the dense Sentinel-1 data were then executed to assess rice information across all of Myanmar. The broad land use land cover map identified 186,701 km2 of cropland across Myanmar with mean out-of-sample kappa of over 90%. A phenological time series analysis refined the cropland class to create a rice mask by extrapolating unique indicators tied to the rice life cycle (dynamic range, inundation, growth stages) from the dense time series Sentinel-1 to map rice paddy characteristics in an automated approach. Analyses show that the harvested rice area was 6,652,111 ha with general (R2 = 0.78) agreement with government census statistics. The outcomes show strong ability to assess and monitor rice production at moderate scales over a large cloud-prone region. In countries such as Myanmar with large populations and governments dependent upon rice production, more robust and transparent monitoring and assessment tools can help support better decision making. These results indicate that systematic and open access Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can help scale information required by food security initiatives and Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification programs.
An Electrochemical Gas Biosensor Based on Enzymes Immobilized on Chromatography Paper for Ethanol Vapor Detection
Authors: Kuretake Tatsumi , Kawahara Shogo , Motooka Masanobu , Uno Shigeyasu
Published: February 2017

This paper presents a novel method of fabricating an enzymatic biosensor for breath analysis using chromatography paper as enzyme supporting layer and a liquid phase layer on top of screen printed carbon electrodes. We evaluated the performance with ethanol vapor being one of the breathing ingredients. The experimental results show that our sensor is able to measure the concentration of ethanol vapor within the range of 50 to 500 ppm. These results suggest the ability of detecting breath ethanol, and it can possibly be applied as a generic vapor biosensor to a wide range of diseases.
Early Subretinal Allograft Rejection is Characterized by Innate Immune Activity
Authors: Kennelly Kevin P. , Holmes Toby M. , Wallace Deborah M. , O'farrelly Cliona , Keegan David J.
Published: February 2017

Successful subretinal transplantation is limited by considerable early graft loss despite pharmacological suppression of adaptive immunity. We postulated that early innate immune activity is a dominant factor in determining graft survival and chose a nonimmunosuppressed mouse model of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell transplantation to explore this. Expression of almost all measured cytokines by DH01 RPE cells increased significantly following graft preparation, and the neutrophil chemoattractant KC/GRO/CINC was most significantly increased. Subretinal allografts of DH01 cells (C57BL/10 origin) into healthy, non immunosuppressed C57BL/6 murine eyes were harvested and fixed at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days postoperatively and subsequently cryosectioned and stained. Graft cells were detected using SV40 large T antigen (SV40T) immunolabeling and apoptosis/necrosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Sections were also immunolabeled for macrophage (CD11b and F4/80), neutrophil (Gr1 Ly-6G), and T-lymphocyte (CD3-∊) infiltration. Images captured with an Olympus FV1000 confocal microscope were analyzed using the Imaris software. The proportion of the subretinal bolus comprising graft cells (SV40T+) was significantly ( p < 0.001) reduced between postoperative day (POD) 3 (90 ± 4%) and POD 7 (20 ± 7%). CD11b+, F4/80+, and Gr1 Ly-6G+cells increased significantly ( p < 0.05) from POD 1 and predominated over SV40T+cells by POD 7. Colabeling confocal microscopic analysis demonstrated graft engulfment by neutrophils and macrophages at POD 7, and reconstruction of z-stacked confocal images confirmed SV40T inside Gr1 Ly-6G+cells. Expression of CD3-∊ was low and did not differ significantly between time points. By POD 28, no graft cells were detectable and few inflammatory cells remained. These studies reveal, for the first time, a critical role for innate immune mechanisms early in subretinal graft rejection. The future success of subretinal transplantation will require more emphasis on techniques to limit innate immune-mediated graft loss, rather than focusing exclusively on suppression of the adaptive immune response.
The Class 0 Protostar BHR71: Herschel Observations and Dust Continuum Models
Authors: Yang Yao-Lun , II Neal J. Evans , Green Joel D. , Dunham Michael M. , Jørgensen Jes K.
Published: February 2017

We use Herschel spectrophotometry of BHR71, an embedded Class 0 protostar, to provide new constraints on its physical properties. We detect 645 (non-unique) spectral lines among all spatial pixels. At least 61 different spectral lines originate from the central region. A CO rotational diagram analysis shows four excitation temperature components, 43, 197, 397, and 1057 K. Low-J CO lines trace the outflow while the high-J CO lines are centered on the infrared source. The low-excitation emission lines of

trace the large-scale outflow, while the high-excitation emission lines trace a small-scale distribution around the equatorial plane. We model the envelope structure using the dust radiative transfer code, hyperion, incorporating rotational collapse, an outer static envelope, outflow cavity, and disk. The evolution of a rotating collapsing envelope can be constrained by the far-infrared/millimeter spectral energy distribution along with the azimuthally averaged radial intensity profile, and the structure of the outflow cavity plays a critical role at shorter wavelengths. Emission at 20–40 μm requires a cavity with a constant-density inner region and a power-law density outer region. The best-fit model has an envelope mass of 19 

inside a radius of 0.315 pc and a central luminosity of 18.8 

. The time since collapse began is 24,630–44,000 years, most likely around 36,000 years. The corresponding mass infall rate in the envelope (1.2 × 10−5

) is comparable to the stellar mass accretion rate, while the mass-loss rate estimated from the CO outflow is 20% of the stellar mass accretion rate. We find no evidence for episodic accretion.
Hubble Space Telescope Detection of the Millisecond Pulsar J2124−3358 and its Far-ultraviolet Bow Shock Nebula
Authors: Rangelov B. , Pavlov G. G. , Kargaltsev O. , Reisenegger A. , Guillot S. , van Kerkwijk M. H. , Reyes C.
Published: February 2017

We observed the nearby millisecond pulsar J2124–3358 with the Hubble Space Telescope in broad far-UV (FUV) and optical filters. The pulsar is detected in both bands with fluxes F(1250–2000 Å) = (2.5 ± 0.3) × 10−16 erg s−1 cm−2 and F(3800–6000 Å) = (6.4 ± 0.4) × 10−17 erg s−1 cm−2, which corresponds to luminosities of ≈5.8 × 1027 and 1.4 × 1027 erg s−1, for d = 410 pc and E(B − V) = 0.03. The optical-FUV spectrum can be described by a power-law model,

, with slope α = 0.18–0.48 for a conservative range of color excess, E(B − V) = 0.01–0.08. Since a spectral flux rising with frequency is unusual for pulsar magnetospheric emission in this frequency range, it is possible that the spectrum is predominantly magnetospheric (power law with α < 0) in the optical, while it is dominated by thermal emission from the neutron star surface in the FUV. For a neutron star radius of 12 km, the surface temperature would be between 0.5 × 105 and 2.1 × 105 K for α ranging from −1 to 0, E(B − V) = 0.01–0.08, and d = 340–500 pc. In addition to the pulsar, the FUV images reveal extended emission that is spatially coincident with the known Hα bow shock, making PSR J2124–3358 the second pulsar (after PSR J0437−4715) with a bow shock detected in the FUV.
Flux and Polarization Variability of OJ 287 during the Early 2016 Outburst
Authors: Rakshit Suvendu , Stalin C. S. , Muneer S. , Neha S. , Paliya Vaidehi S.
Published: February 2017

The gamma-ray blazar OJ 287 was in a high activity state during 2015 December–2016 February. Coinciding with this high brightness state, we observed this source for photometry on 40 nights in R-band and for polarimetry on nine epochs in UBV
RI bands. During the period of our observations, the source brightness varied from 13.20 ± 0.04 mag to 14.98 ± 0.04 mag and the degree of polarization (P) fluctuated between 6.0% ± 0.3% and 28.3% ± 0.8% in R-band. Focusing on intranight optical variability (INOV), we find a duty cycle of about 71% using χ
2-statistics, similar to that known for blazars. From INOV data, the shortest variability timescale is estimated to be 142 ± 38 minutes, yielding a lower limit of the observed Doppler factor δ
0 = 1.17, the magnetic field strength B ≤ 3.8 G, and the size of the emitting region R

s
 < 2.28 × 1014 cm. On internight timescales, a significant anticorrelation between R-band flux and P is found. The observed P at U-band is generally larger than that observed at longer-wavelength bands, suggesting a wavelength-dependent polarization. Using V-band photometric and polarimetric data from Steward Observatory obtained during our monitoring period, we find a varied correlation between P and V-band brightness. While an anticorrelation is sometimes seen between P and V-band magnitude, no correlation is seen at other times, thereby suggesting the presence of more than one short-lived shock component in the jet of OJ 287.
Effects of the Core-collapse Supernova Ejecta Impact on a Rapidly Rotating Massive Companion Star
Authors: Zhu Chunhua , Lü Guoliang , Wang Zhaojun
Published: February 2017

We investigate the effects of the core-collapse supernova (CCSN) ejecta on a rapidly rotating and massive companion star. We show that the stripped mass is twice as high as that of a massive but nonrotating companion star. In close binaries with orbital periods of about 1 day, the stripped masses reach up to

. By simulating the evolutions of the rotational velocities of the massive companion stars based on different stripped masses, we find that the rotational velocity decreases greatly for a stripped mass higher than about

. Of all the known high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs), Cygnus X-3 and 1WGA J0648.024418 have the shortest orbital periods, 0.2 and 1.55 days, respectively. The optical counterpart of the former is a Wolf-Rayet star, whereas it is a hot subdwarf for the latter. Applying our model to the two HMXBs, we suggest that the hydrogen-rich envelopes of their optical counterparts may have been stripped by CCSN ejecta.
On the Detectability of the
HSS, HSO, and HOS Radicals in the Interstellar Medium
Authors: Fortenberry Ryan C. , Francisco Joseph S.
Published: February 2017

HSS has yet to be observed in the gas phase in the interstellar medium (ISM). HSS has been observed in cometary material and in high abundance. However, its agglomeration to such bodies or dispersal from them has not been observed. Similarly, HSO and HOS have not been observed in the ISM, either, even though models support their formation from reactions of known sulfur monoxide and hydrogen molecules, among other pathways. Consequently, this work provides high-level, quantum chemical rovibrational spectroscopic constants and vibrational frequencies in order to assist in interstellar searches for these radical molecules. Furthermore, the HSO−HOS isomerization energy is determined to be 3.63 kcal mol−1, in line with previous work, and the dipole moment of HOS is 36% larger at 3.87 D than HSO, making the less stable isomer more rotationally intense. Finally, the S−S bond strength in HSS is shown to be relatively weak at 30% of the typical disulfide bond energy. Consequently, HSS may degrade into SH and sulfur atoms, making any ISM abundance of HSS likely fairly low, as recent interstellar surveys have observed.
« Toutes et tous égaux devant la science » ?
Authors: Détrez Christine , Perronnet Clémence
Published: February 2017

Cet article analyse le travail « d’évaluation » d’un projet éducatif sur l’égalité filles-garçons en sciences à l’école primaire. Il porte un regard réflexif sur les pratiques évaluatives des dispositifs, en mettant en évidence différents sens socialement situés du mot « évaluer ». Les résultats présentés s’appuient sur une enquête qualitative longitudinale par observations et entretiens auprès des enfants et des adultes participant au projet, et mettent en évidence les effets ambivalents de l’éducation à l’égalité. Une première analyse montre que l’égalité se traduit davantage dans les discours que dans les pratiques, et que les stéréotypes « refoulés » refont régulièrement surface. Cependant, des effets inattendus, notamment liés à l’enquête sociologique elle-même, sont également mis au jour.
Employability Skills in Higher Education Sector in India
Authors: Meenambigai R. , Saravanakumar N. , Ambeth I. , Pragadheeswari R. , Thiyagarajan P.
Published: February 2017

The youth of India constitutes 28 percent of the Country's population and never before have there been so many young people; never again is there likely to be such potential for economic and social progress. How we meet the needs and aspirations of young people will define the common future. India as a developing Country needs to invest heavily in young people's education and health and protect their rights. The formal system of skilled workforce creation by way of Industrial Training Institutes/ Industrial schools produces only 2 percent people. It is very meager when compared to the skilled workforce of 47 percent in China and 80 percent in Japan. Livelihood opportunities are affected by supply and demand mismatch. On the supply side, India is failing to create enough job opportunities; and on the demand side, professionals entering the job market are lacking in skill sets. This results to the rising unemployment rates along with low employability issues. Skilling is the key to unlock this mismatch between the existing educational scenario and the industrial requirement.
The Transforming Role of Education in a Post-Conflict Region in Southeastern Bangladesh
Authors: Uddin Ala
Published: February 2017

This paper attempts to provide an insight into the transforming role of education in peace-building in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The region has been witnessed ethnic conflict since the mid-1970s. However, the situation intensified with the government sponsored population transfer program (1979 onward), which not only changed the demographic profile, it forcibly displaced many indigenous people—who less than two decades earlier had already been displaced by the Kaptai hydroelectric project (in 1960s). Consequently, the indigenous people who were already in duress because of land scarcity caused by the dam and transmigration faced further survival problem in competition with the Bengali settlers. In this situation, the indigenous people resisted the influx of the Bengali settlers in the hills. In response to the resistance, the Bangladesh government deployed a huge number of military and other armed forces to foil the “insurgency”. In consequence, many incidents of massacre, attack and reprisal attack, killing, sexual violence, etc. took place, often committed by the armed forces and Bengali settlers. However, a couple of initiatives led to a long-awaited agreement in 1997, which formally ended the two and half-decade-long bloody conflict in the hills. Even though 17 years have elapsed since the signing of the Accord, the region is neither a peaceful nor a secured region to its people. Under the circumstances, this paper proposes education can transform the communities toward peaceful coexistence. Addressing the sensitive issues education can contribute to reconstruct and social renewal in the aftermath of violent conflict. Based on empirical findings, also consulted with secondary sources, the paper posits, merely education is not the solution of the long-standing conflict; however, it has significant role to play in peace-building in the post-conflict and conflict-affected societies, like the CHT.
Didactic Sequences Teaching Mathematics for Engineers With Focus on Differential Equations
Authors: Siero González Luis Ramón , Romo Vázquez Avenilde
Published: February 2017

This investigation takes place in the Research Center for Applied Science and Advance Technology of the National Polytechnic Institute (CICATA-IPN) and in the School of Science of Engineering and Technology of the Autonomous University of Baja California (ECITEC-UABC), having the objective of designing a mathematical modeling activity for the training of future engineers in the subjects of differential equations, and circuits. Considering the Anthropological Theory of Didactics (ATD) implementing a methodology within the mentioned theory that allows the analysis of mathematical models in use, as basis for designing didactical activities, in order to create a link between these two subjects, showing the future engineers that the mathematics can be used to solve problems in an extra-mathematical context.
IoT Architecture
Authors: Sultana H. Parveen
Published: February 2017

Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging area for the researchers. IoT with the combination of thing, gateway, and Internet perform any operation in a smart way. This chapter discusses the importance of Internet of Things in various application areas. It has been elucidated that how IoT can be used effectively in the smart wireless networks. Most of the devices used in the IoT system are of sensor and actuator devices. The architectural model and communication layout of IoT is explicated through appropriate diagrams. A 16 bit and 32 bit microcontroller based processors are used in the IoT devices to send and receive instructions from the machine to machine, people to people and people to machine. As and when changes or any variations occur in the smart environment suitable instructions are forwarded through gateway to execute corrective task.
Beneficial Effects of Guided Imagery or Clinical Massage on the Status of Patients in a Progressive Care Unit
Authors: Patricolo Gail Elliott , LaVoie Amanda , Slavin Barbara , Richards Nancy L. , Jagow Deborah , Armstrong Karen
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUND

Patients in the progressive care unit typically experience high levels of pain and anxiety and exhibit difficulty sleeping.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether either clinical massage or guided imagery could reduce pain and anxiety and improve sleep.

METHODS

This study included 288 inpatients on 2 floors of a progressive care unit. On 1 floor, each patient was offered daily a 15-minute complimentary clinical massage, whereas the patients on the other floor were provided access to a 30-minute guided-imagery recording. Patients were asked to rate their pain and anxiety levels immediately before and after the massage intervention or were asked whether the guided-imagery intervention was helpful for pain, anxiety, or insomnia.

RESULTS

The massage intervention showed an immediate and significant reduction in self-reported pain and anxiety (P < .001); likewise, a significant number of patients self-reported that guided imagery helped alleviate pain, anxiety, and insomnia (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that clinical massage and guided imagery can benefit patients in the progressive care unit.
Cambio climático y planificación hidrológica: ¿es adecuado asumir un porcentaje único de reducción de aportaciones para toda la demarcación?
Authors: Marcos-Garcia P. , Pulido-Velazquez M.
Published: February 2017

La incorporación del cambio climático a la planificación hidrológica no es tarea sencilla, dada la alta incertidumbre asociada. En España, actualmente se consideran los escenarios futuros aplicando un coeficiente de reducción único a las series históricas de aportaciones. El presente artículo analiza la cuestión para el Sistema de Explotación Júcar, a la luz de los últimos escenarios de cambio climático (AR5) y comparando los resultados de tres modelos hidrológicos conceptuales. De los resultados se deduce que la disminución de precipitación y el aumento de temperatura podrían ser mayores en cabecera que en las subcuencas mediterráneas. Asimismo, la dispersión respecto al posible porcentaje de reducción del recurso es elevada, pudiendo resultar muy superior a las previsiones del Plan Hidrológico. Por tanto, sería necesario analizar la robustez y resiliencia del sistema frente a un rango plausible de situaciones de estrés, para identificar dónde es más vulnerable y proponer medidas de adaptación.
A hybrid algorithm for flexible job-shop scheduling problem with setup times
Authors: Azzouz Ameni , Ennigrou Meriem , Ben Said Lamjed
Published: February 2017

Job-shop scheduling problem is one of the most important fields in manufacturing optimization where a set of n jobs must be processed on a set of m specified machines. Each job consists of a specific set of operations, which have to be processed according to a given order. The Flexible Job Shop problem (FJSP) is a generalization of the above-mentioned problem, where each operation can be processed by a set of resources and has a processing time depending on the resource used. The FJSP problems cover two difficulties, namely, machine assignment problem and operation sequencing problem. This paper addresses the flexible job-shop scheduling problem with sequence-dependent setup times to minimize two kinds of objectives function: makespan and bi-criteria objective function. For that, we propose a hybrid algorithm based on genetic algorithm (GA) and variable neighbourhood search (VNS) to solve this problem. To evaluate the performance of our algorithm, we compare our results with other methods existing in literature. All the results show the superiority of our algorithm against the available ones in terms of solution quality.
Integrated production-distribution planning optimization models: A review in collaborative networks context
Authors: Andres Beatriz , Sanchis Raquel , Lamothe Jaques , Saari Leila , Hauser Frederic
Published: February 2017

Researchers in the area of collaborative networks are more and more aware of proposing collaborative approaches to address planning processes, due to the advantages associated when enterprises perform integrated planning models. Collaborative production-distribution planning, among the supply network actors, is considered a proper mechanism to support enterprises on dealing with uncertainties and dynamicity associated to the current markets. Enterprises, and especially SMEs, should be able to overcome the continuous changes of the market by increasing their agility. Carrying out collaborative planning allows enterprises to enhance their readiness and agility for facing the market turbulences. However, SMEs have limited access when incorporating optimization tools to deal with collaborative planning, reducing their ability to respond to the competition. The problem to solve is to provide SMEs affordable solutions to support collaborative planning. In this regard, new optimisation algorithms are required in order to improve the collaboration within the supply network partners. As part of the H2020 Cloud Collaborative Manufacturing Networks (C2NET) research project, this paper presents a study on integrated production and distribution plans. The main objective of the research is to identify gaps in current optimization models, proposed to address integrated planning, taking into account the requirements and needs of the industry. Thus, the needs of the companies belonging to the industrial pilots, defined in the C2NET project, are identified; analysing how these needs are covered by the optimization models proposed in the literature, to deal with the integrated production-distribution planning.
Lidar ratios of stratospheric volcanic ash and sulfate aerosols retrieved from CALIOP measurements
Authors: Prata Andrew T. , Young Stuart A. , Siems Steven T. , Manton Michael J.
Published: February 2017

Abstract. We apply a two-way transmittance constraint to nighttime CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) observations of volcanic aerosol layers to retrieve estimates of the particulate lidar ratio (Sp) at 532 nm. This technique is applied to three volcanic eruption case studies that were found to have injected aerosols directly into the stratosphere. Numerous lidar observations permitted characterisation of the optical and geometric properties of the volcanic aerosol layers over a time period of 1–2 weeks. For the volcanic ash layers produced by the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption (June 2011) we obtain mean and median particulate lidar ratios of 72 ± 14 sr and 70 sr, respectively. For the sulfates produced by Kasatochi (August 2008) and Sarychev Peak (June 2009), the mean of the retrieved lidar ratios were 68 ± 21 sr (median 62 sr) and 66 ± 15 sr (median 61 sr), respectively. The layer-integrated volume depolarisation ratios (∂v) observed for the Puyehue ash layers (∂v = 0.28 ± 0.03) were much larger than those found for the sulfate layers produced by the Kasatochi (∂v = 0.08 ± 0.03) and Sarychev (∂v = 0.05 ± 0.04) eruptions. However, for the Sarychev layers we observe an exponential decay (e-folding time of 1 week) in ∂v with time from 0.25 to 0.05. The layer-integrated attenuated colour ratios for the Puyehue ash layers (χ' = 0.54 ± 0.07) were also larger than what was observed for the Kasatochi (χ' = 0.35 ± 0.07) and Sarychev (χ' = 0.32 ± 0.07) sulfate layers, indicating that the Puyehue ash layers were generally composed of larger particles. These observations are particularly relevant to the new stratospheric aerosol subtyping classification scheme, which has been incorporated into version 4 of the level 2 CALIPSO data products.
Vertical distribution of the phase state of particles in tropical deep-convective clouds as derived from cloud-side reflected solar radiation measurements
Authors: Jäkel Evelyn , Wendisch Manfred , Krisna Trismono C. , Ewald Florian , Kölling Tobias , Jurkat Tina , Voigt Christiane , Cecchini Micael A. , Machado Luiz A. T. , Afchine Armin , Costa Anja , Krämer Martina , Andreae Meinrat O. , Pöschl Ulrich , Rosenfeld Daniel , Yuan Tianle
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Vertical profiles of the cloud particle phase state in tropical deep-convective clouds (DCCs) were investigated using airborne solar radiation data collected by the German research aircraft HALO during the ACRIDICON-CHUVA campaign, which was conducted over the Brazilian Amazon in September 2014. A phase discrimination retrieval based on imaging spec-troradiometer measurements of cloud side spectral reflectivity was applied to DCCs under different aerosol conditions. From the retrieval results the height of the mixed phase layer of the DCCs was determined. The retrieved profiles were compared with in situ measurements and satellite observations. It was found that the depth and vertical position of the mixed phase layer can vary up to 900 m for one single cloud scene. In particular, this variation is attributed to the different stages of cloud development in one scene. Clouds of mature or decaying stage are affected by falling ice particles resulting in lower levels of fully glaciated cloud layers compared to growing clouds. Comparing polluted and moderate aerosol conditions revealed a shift of the lower boundary of the mixed phase layer from 5.6 ± 0.2 km (269 K) [moderate] to 6.2 ± 0.3 km (267 K) [polluted], and of the upper boundary from 6.8 ± 0.2 km (263 K) [moderate] to 7.4 ± 0.4 km (259 K) [polluted], as would be expected from theory.
The response of the H geocorona between 3 and 8 Re to geomagnetic disturbances studied using TWINS stereo Lyman-α data
Authors: Zoennchen Jochen H. , Nass Uwe , Fahr Hans J. , Goldstein Jerry
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Circumterrestrial Lyman-α column brightness observations from 3–8 Earth radii (Re) have been used to study temporal density variations in the exospheric neutral hydrogen as response to geomagnetic disturbances of different strength, i.e., Dst peak values between −26 and −147 nT. The data used were measured by the two Lyman-α detectors (LAD1/2) onboard both TWINS satellites between the solar minimum of 2008 and near the solar maximum of 2013. The solar Lyman-α flux at 121.6 nm is resonantly scattered near line center by exospheric H atoms and measured by the TWINS LADs. Along a line of sight (LOS), the scattered LOS-column intensity is proportional to the LOS H column density, assuming optically thin conditions above 3 Re. In the case of the eight analyzed geomagnetic storms we found a significant increase in the exospheric Lyman-α flux between 9 and 23 % (equal to the same increase in H column density ΔnH) compared to the undisturbed case short before the storm event. Even weak geomagnetic storms (e.g., Dst peak values  ≥  −41 nT) under solar minimum conditions show increases up to 23 % of the exospheric H densities. The strong H density increase in the observed outer exosphere is also a sign of an enhanced H escape flux during storms. For the majority of the storms we found an average time shift of about 11 h between the time when the first significant dynamic solar wind pressure peak (pSW) hits the Earth and the time when the exospheric Lyman-α flux variation reaches its maximum. The results show that the (relative) exospheric density reaction of ΔnH have a tendency to decrease with increasing peak values of Dst index or the Kp index daily sum. Nevertheless, a simple linear correlation between ΔnH and these two geomagnetic indices does not seem to exist. In contrast, when recovering from the peak back to the undisturbed case, the Kp index daily sum and the ΔnH essentially show the same temporal recovery.