bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study on the Relation between the Demographics of Human Resource Managers in Turkey and Characteristics of their Companies
Authors: Demir Riza , Uyargil Cavide
Published: October 2017

The demographics of HR managers have been a matter of discussion for a long time. Most frequently encountered comments include; those that work in the field of HRM are generally female, those that have a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration or economics, psychology, the humanities or law and those that have Master’s Degree, have more work experience or those that are transferred from other companies are mostly employed in HRM. A more in-depth analysis may be obtained by the comparing the demographics of HR managers with the characteristics of their organizations. In this context, the purpose of the study is to first determine the demographics of HR managers and whether there is a relation between the demographics and the characteristics of their organizations in Turkey. The data were obtained through “using available information” on corporate websites, various databases and social networking sites. The findings of the study show that there is relation between the demographic factors of human resource managers such as gender, education background, total work experience, and the way that they are appointed to their current position, and the characteristic factors of their organizations such as segment, sector, partnership, year of establishment, and legal status.
Lecturer Performance Factors in Private Universities in Bandung City
Authors: Hadiantini Ratih , Pandia Suka Prayanta , Kaburuan Emil Robert
Published: October 2017

Nowadays, private universities in west Java, especially in Bandung city, grow and develop fast. Educators are the most important aspect to improve higher education quality. We are talking about lecturers in this case. Government rule says in teacher and lecturer act No. 14 year 2015 that lecturer is professional educator and scientist who transform, develop, and propagate science, technology, and art through education, research, and society dedication. Lecturer is educator who has important role in transforming learners, and lecturer has to have good qualification of academic and character. Lecturer is prosecuted to present good performance. A high lecturer performance influences a higher education quality. This research is aimed to figure out the factors that influence lecturer performance. Performance factors of lecturer include experience, skill, age, sex, education, work period, responsibility, work satisfaction, perception, motivation, leadership, fee, supervision, and work condition (Robbins S P, 2011). There are seven (7) factors, in this research, that influence lecturer performance in learning process in private universities in Bandung city such as age, education, work period, work motivation, work satisfaction, fee perception and supervision perception. The result of the research says X1 variable (age) influences in the amount of 0,069, X2 variable (education) influences in the amount of 0,571; X3 variable (work period) influences in the amount of 0,034; X4 variable (work motivation) influences in the amount of 1,185; X5 variable (work satisfaction) influences in the amount of 0,554; X6 variable (fee perception) influences in the amount of -0,38; X7 variable (supervision perception) influences in the amount of 0,209.
Recruitment into the Nigerian Federal Public Service: Constraints and Agenda for Reform
Authors: Adebisi Ademola Pius
Published: October 2017

It has been observed that the Nigerian Federal Public Service has been bedeviled by over blotedness, low productivity, ineffectiveness, cronism and manpower lopsidedness. These challenges have been traced to the flawed recruitment into the service. This research work investigated the recruitment process into the Nigerian public service using primary and secondary sources of data and the Federal public service as a case study and discovered that, both exogenous and endogenous social pressures have been the banes of recruitment into the Nigerian Federal Public Service. The study therefore proposed an agenda for reform which among others include: re-orientation of public officials handling recruitment process; establishment of Bureau of Employment Monitoring (BEMO) to perform oversight function over recruitment process; sanctioning of erring government officials handling recruitment into the service and reforming the Nigerian economy with a view to stimulating more jobs in the private sector and thereby reducing the social pressures on public service jobs.
Automated Quantitative Cytology Imaging Analysis System in Cervical Cancer Screening in Shanxi Province, China
Authors: Dong Yan , Bai Jigeng , Zhang Yuping , Shang Guangjie , Zhao Yan , Li Sha , Yan Ning , Hao Sumei , Zhang Wenjuan
Published: October 2017

Purpose: In China the number of pathologists is far from being enough to meet the demands of ongoing population based cervical cancer screening programs. This article aims to present our experience with automated quantitative cytology imaging platform, a reading system with an artificial intelligence that we currently use routinely for cervical cancer screening in Shanxi province.Methods: From 2012-2016 a total of 40 178 women were screened. Women were divided into three groups and each group had two subgroups. Smear and liquid based technique were compared using manual and automated platform.Results: Detection rates of CIN2 + and positive rates of CIN2 were higher in all three groups when automated quantitative cytology platform was used compared with groups where reading was done by the pathologist using conventional microscope. Operator’s costs associated with automated quantitative cytology platform vs. conventional reading using light microscope were compared too. The overall costs of operations based on automated platform were proven to be lower.Conclusion: The use of automated platform and artificial intelligence as a means to overcome the lack of cytotechnologists and pathologists and to implement proper quality control in the large scale population based cervical cancer screening seems very promising.
The Exponentiated Kumaraswamy-Weibull Distribution with Application to Real Data
Authors: Eissa Fathy Helmy
Published: October 2017

A new five-parameter lifetime distribution called the exponentiated Kumaraswamy-Weibull distribution is introduced. It includes several important sub-models as special cases such as exponentiated Weibull, Kumaraswamy-Weibull, exponentiated exponential, exponentiated Rayleigh and Weibull. Essential mathematical and statistical properties for the distribution are presented. A proximate form of the mode is derived and it can be used to derive mode forms of other well-known distributions. Important parametric characterizations for probability density and hazard functions are discussed. The estimation of the parameters by maximum likelihood method is discussed. Three real data sets are used to show its excellent performance fit over existing popular lifetime models. It is effective model to analyze several positive data sets.
‘My Jorley’
Authors: Postma Geertje , Kokkeler Ben , Janssen Janine
Published: October 2017

Lessons from Ghana regarding the use of serious gaming in the field of sexual health and rights

In this contribution is looked into the world of serious gaming. What can be the function of these game in a digital context? Elaborate attention is paid to a particular game that has been developed for discussing sexual (health) issues and rights. Although this particular game ‘My Jorley’ has been developed for a Ghanese public of youngsters, the technique behind this game can also be applied in the other prevention programs.
From Nigeria with love?
Authors: van Wingerden Sigrid
Published: October 2017

From Nigeria with love?

Every year there are some 130 cases of victimization dating fraud in the Netherlands. On average the victims lose more than 19.000 euros in this scam. With dating fraud a person on the internet pretends to be someone else and begins a love affair with the victim with the aim to make as much money off the victim as possible. This is a form of Nigerian fraud. In this article is described how this dating fraud is being done. Dating fraud is highly organized with highly educated offenders. Victims come from all layers of society, but according tot he Fraud Helpdesk midddle-aged women who are lonely, have a christian background and work in care, loose the largest amounts. The impact on the victims is huge: the emotional damage is even bigger than the fiancial loss. To reduce dating fraud it is necessary to pay more attention tot his form of fraud.
Gluren bij de buren
Authors: ten Voorde Jeroen
Published: October 2017

Criminalisation of secretly scanning of sexual behaviour in the Netherlands and other countries

In early 2016, the Dutch minister of Security and Justice announced a revision of the sexual offences in the Dutch Penal Code. One topic that has been debated in Dutch literature and case law, is whether secretly scanning of naked persons should be criminalised as a separate sexual offence. This article discusses various (recently introduced) criminalisations of secretly scanning of naked persons in different countries, with the purpose of exploring the difficulties of a separate criminal offence.
Freud en de criminaliteit; criminele uitstapjes in Wenen
Authors: van Vliet Jaap
Published: October 2017

Freud and the criminality, criminal trips in Vienna

The article describes a visit to the Freudmuseum and the Museum of Crime in Vienna. In addition, the author’s memories are collected about his work in forensic psychiatry from 1979 to 1983.
Niet zulke jazzy impressies uit Japan
Authors: Noyon Lucas , Jue-Volker Beatrijs
Published: October 2017

Not such jazzy impressions from Japan

This article focuses on the experiences that authors gained during a study trip to Japan. In general terms, the main features of Japanese criminal law are being observed. This system resembles the letter of Dutch criminal law, but in practice it appears to differ greatly. Among other things, attention is paid to the strong position of the prosecutor’s office, the high conviction rate, the limited contradictory nature of the criminal procedure, and the relative strong position of the victim. Subsequently, attention is given to some recent reforms, including the democratization of criminal law. Also, authors describe a visit to the Fuchu-prison. This article concludes with the question to what extent we could learn something from the Japanese practice in the Netherlands.
How to Differentiate a Macintosh from a Mongoose
Authors: Conty Arianne ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: October 2017

Many scholars have understood the Anthropocene as confirming the patient work in the social sciences to deconstruct the nature/culture divide, for the human being is now present in the entire eco-system, from deet-resistant mosquitoes to the ozone hole in the heavens. Scholars like Bruno Latour have claimed that nature and culture have always been co-determined and thus that their separation was a case of modern bad faith with disastrous consequences. Because Latour blames this divide on the human exceptionalism that pitted a human subject against a world of objects, and thus denied agency to other living and nonliving actants, the solution for Latour lies in recognizing their agency in an ‘enlarged democracy.’ Such scholarship has inspired many scholars to adopt a ‘flat ontology’ that treats all forms of agency, whether animate or inanimate, as equivalent and autonomous material forces. This article will elucidate Latour’s ‘democracy of things’ and explore the beneficial consequences for the Anthropocene of attributing autonomous agency to non-human actants, while at the same time discussing the negative repercussions of reifying the agency of technological tools as separate from human agency. Due to such widespread reification of technological agency, it will be shown that causal analysis that traces such agency back to its source in human political organization is required in order to adequately respond to the Anthropocene.
Studying Impact of Different Precipitating Agents on Crystal Structure, Morphology and Photocatalytic Activity of Bismuth Oxide
Authors: Astuti Yayuk , Arnelli Arnelli , Pardoyo Pardoyo , Fauziyah Amilia , Nurhayati Siti , Wulansari Arum Dista , Andianingrum Rizka , Widiyandari Hendri , Bhaduri Gaurav A.
Published: October 2017

Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) is a well-studied photocatalyst for degradation of various environmental contaminants. In this research Bi2O3 has been synthesized by precipitation method using two different bases (NH4OH and NaOH). The samples thus obtained were then analyzed using FTIR, XRD, and SEM for surface functionalization, crystal structures and morphological differences, respectively. The Bi2O3 precipitated using NH4OH showed a flower like structure made up of individual plates having α-Bi2O3 crystal structure. The precipitate obtained using NaOH showed a honeycomb like flower structure with a mixture of both α-Bi2O3 and γ-Bi2O3 crystal structure. Degradation of methyl orange (MO) was used as a model system to test the photocatalytic activity of the bismuth oxide. The Bi2O3 synthesized using NH4OH showed superior photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange than the one synthesized using NaOH.
Front-matter
Authors: Istadi Istadi
Published: October 2017

Front-matter
Author Guidelines Version 2017
Authors: Istadi Istadi
Published: October 2017

Author Guidelines Version 2017
Back-matter
Authors: Istadi Istadi
Published: October 2017

Back-matter
Catalytic Performance for Hydrocarbon Production from Syngas on the Promoted Co-Based Hybrid Catalysts; Influence of Pt Contents
Authors: Kang Suk-Hwan , Ryu Jae-Hong , Kim Jin-Ho , Kim Hyo-Sik , Yang Hee Chul , Chung Dong Yong
Published: October 2017

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction from syngas was investigated on the Pt-promoted cobalt-based hybrid catalysts prepared by co-precipitation method in a slurry of ZSM-5 (Si/Al=25). The hybrid catalysts were compared with each other for the different content of Pt as a promoter and are characterized using BET, XRD, H2-TPR and NH3-TPD. Their physicochemical properties were correlated with the activity and selectivity of the catalysts. As results, all hybrid catalysts show the C5-C9 yield (%) higher than that of Co-Al2O3/ZSM-5 catalyst. The Pt-promoted hybrid catalysts were found to be more promising towards production of the hydrocarbons of gasoline range and over C10.
The Microwave-assisted Synthesis of Polyethersulfone (PES) as A Matrix in Immobilization of Candida antarctica Lipase B (Cal-B)
Authors: Widhyahrini Khusna , Handayani Nurrahmi , Wahyuningrum Deana , Nurbaiti Santi , Radiman Cynthia Linaya
Published: October 2017

Candida antarctica lipase B (Cal-B) has been widely used in the hydrolysis reaction. However, it has some weaknesses, such as: forming of the heavy emulsion during the process, which is difficult to resolve and has no reusability. Therefore, it needs to be immobilized into a suitable matrix. One of the suitable supporting materials is polyethersulfone (PES) and its synthesis becames the objective of this paper. The PES was synthesized via a polycondensation reaction between hydroquinone and 4,4'-dichlorodiphenylsulfonein N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent using Microwave Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS) method at170 °C for 66 minutes using an irradiation power of 300 watt. The synthesized PES was characterized by FTIR and 1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6). Then the PES membrane was prepared from 20 % of the optimized mixtures of PES, PSf (polysulfone), and PEG (polyethylene glycol) dissolved in 80 % NMP.  The Cal-B was immobilized on the PES membrane by mixing it in a shaker at 30 °C and 100 rpm for 24 h using phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The identification of the immobilized Cal-B was done by using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and SEM micrographs. The results of Lowry assay showed that the ‘Cal-B immobilized’ blended-membrane has a loading capacity of 91 mg/cm2 in a membrane surface area of 17.34 cm2. In this work, the activity of immobilized Cal-B was twice higher than the native enzyme in p-NP (p-Nitrophenolpalmitate) hydrolyzing. The results indicated that the synthesized PES showed a good performance when used as a matrix in the immobilization of Cal-B.
Hydrocracking of Non-edible Vegetable Oils with Co-Ni/HZSM-5 Catalyst to Gasoil Containing Aromatics
Authors: Prajitno Danawati Hari , Roesyadi Achmad , Al-Muttaqii Muhammad , Marlinda Lenny
Published: October 2017

Biofuel has been considered as one of the environmentally friendly energy sources to substitute fossil fuel derived from non-edible vegetable oil. This research aims to investigate the effect of the non-edible vegetable oil composition on a specific hydrocarbons distribution contained in biofuel and the aromatics formation through hydrocracking reaction with the Co-Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst. The formation of aromatics from non-edible vegetable oils, such as: Cerbera manghas, rubber seed, and sunan candlenut oils, containing saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids is presented. The hydrocracking reaction was carried out in a pressure batch reactor, a reaction temperature of 350 oC for 2 h, reactor pressure of 15 bar after flowing H2 for 1 hour, and a catalyst/oil ratio of 1 g/200 mL. Liquid hydrocarbon product was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Based on the GC-MS analysis, hydrocracking on three different oils indicated that polyunsaturated fatty acids were required to produce relatively high aromatics content. The sunan candlenut oil can be converted to gasoil range hydrocarbons containing a small amount of aromatic through hydrocracking reaction. Meanwhile, the aromatics in liquid product from hydrocracking of Cerbera manghas and rubber seed oils were not found.
Self-Cleaning Limestone Paint Modified by Nanoparticles TiO2 Synthesized from TiCl3 as Precursors and PEG6000 as Dispersant
Authors: Fadhilah Nur , Etruly Niki , Muharja Maktum , Sawitri Dyah
Published: October 2017

Limestone is commonly used for wall painting, but it is easy to be dirty. In this study, a self-cleaning limestone paint was synthesized by modifying dispersant and TiO2 nanoparticles. The TiO2 that prepared by TiCl3 were functionalized with PEG6000 as a surface activating agent. The paint achieved highest impurity degradation of 83.11 % for the mass ratio of TiO2 and PEG6000 (MRTP) of 1: 6, in which TiO2 average size distribution was 75.81 µm2, the particle surface area of TiO2 was 2,544 µm2, and the smallest contact angle was 7°. It was found that the dispersant (PEG6000) significantly improved the self-cleaning ability of limestone paint. The surface tension reduction from PEG6000-modified prevented the agglomeration process of TiO2 and suggests that the limestone paint a good self-cleaning coating for wall painting.
The Effect of Mesoporous H-ZSM-5 Crystallinity as a CaO Support on the Transesterification of Used Cooking Oil
Authors: Purnamasari Amalia Putri , Sari Meyga E. F. , Kusumaningtyas Desy T. , Suprapto Suprapto , Hamid Abdul , Prasetyoko Didik
Published: October 2017

Transesterification of used cooking oil was carried out over calcium oxide supported on mesoporous H-ZSM-5 prepared from kaolin as solid base catalysts. Solid basic catalysts investigated in this study were characterized by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption techniques. The XRD pattern showed peaks corresponding to the CaO and mesoporous ZSM-5 in the sample. The peak intensity of the CaO increased as CaO loading in ZSM-5 was increased. The characterization based on FTIR spectroscopy revealed that CaO/H-ZSM-5 solids have functional groups characteristics of both CaO and mesoporous H-ZSM-5 which appeared in the band at around  550 cm-1 and 480 cm-1. The isotherm of N2 adsorption-desorption of CaO/H-ZSM-5 indicated the type IV isotherm with the presence of hysteresis loop. For the catalytic activity, the biodiesel yield using catalyst of 10 % CaO/HZSM-5 (100 %), 30 % CaO/HZSM-5 (100 %), 50 % CaO/HZSM-5 (100 %) were 24.34, 27.37, and 29.73 %, respectively. It also related with the basic active site, when loading CaO increased, the basic active site also increased.
Kinetics of Hydrogen Absorption and Desorption in Titanium
Authors: Suwarno Suwarno , Yartys V. A.
Published: October 2017

Titanium is reactive toward hydrogen forming metal hydride which has a potential application in      energy storage and conversion. Titanium hydride has been widely studied for hydrogen storage, thermal storage, and battery electrodes applications. A special interest is using titanium for hydrogen production in a hydrogen sorption-enhanced steam reforming of natural gas. In the present work, non-isothermal dehydrogenation kinetics of titanium hydride and kinetics of hydrogenation in gaseous flow at isothermal conditions were investigated. The hydrogen desorption was studied using temperature desorption spectroscopy (TDS) while the hydrogen absorption and desorption in gaseous flow were studied by temperature programmed desorption (TPD). The present work showed that the path of dehydrogenation of the TiH2 is d®b®a hydride phase with possible overlapping steps occurred. The fast hydrogen desorption rate observed at the TDS main peak temperature were correlated with the fast transformation of the d-TiH1.41 to b-TiH0.59. In the gaseous flow, hydrogen absorption and desorption were related to the transformation of b-TiH0.59 Û d-TiH1.41 with 2 wt.% hydrogen reversible content.
Production of Hydrocarbon (C7-C20) from Hydrocracking of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters on Pd/Al-MCM-41 Catalyst
Authors: Juwono Hendro , Triyono Triyono , Sutarno Sutarno , Wahyuni Endang Tri , Harmami Harmami , Ulfin Ita , Kurniawan Fredy
Published: October 2017

The production of hydrocarbon (C7-C20) and alcohol (C11-C19)  from fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) compound are produced from the transesterification of the seed oil of the Nyamplung that has been conducted by the catalytic hydrocracking using Al-MCM-41 and Pd2+-impregnated-Al-MCM-41 catalysts. The performance of catalysts were compared by various analysis including the acidity that was determined by pyridine and FTIR, the crystal structure observed by XRD, the surface area and pore volume analyzed by BET/BJH, the surface morphology observed by TEM, the metal on the surface of catalyst observed by XPS and the product of the hydrocracking analyzed by GC-MS. Hexagonal structure of the MCM-41(100) was shown in the 2θ = 3o-5o of the diffractogram. The presence of impregnated Al and Pd observed at the 2θ = 20o and 34o, respectively. The Pd/Al-MCM-41 catalyst was more acidic than Al-MCM-41 catalyst. The surface area and pore volume of the catalyst decreased after the impregnation process. The tendency of catalytic hydrocracking of hydrocarbon produced was indicated that more amount of Palladium have more hydrocarbons aliphatic than alcohol.
Optimized Heating Rate and Soot-catalyst Ratio for Soot Oxidation over MoO3 Catalyst
Authors: Mei Congwei , Mei Deqing , Yue Shan , Chen Zong , Yuan Yinnan
Published: October 2017

MoO3 is now utilized as a promising catalyst due to its high activity and favorable mobility at low temperature. Its spectral data and surface microstructures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) and Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Thermo-analysis of the carbon black was performed over nano-MoO3 catalyst in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at various heating rates and soot-catalyst ratios. Through the analysis of kinetic parameters, we found that the heat transfer effect and diffusion effect can be removed by setting lower heating rates and soot-catalyst ratios. Therefore, a strategy for selecting proper thermogravimetric parameters were established, which can contribute to the better understanding of thermo-analytical process.
Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Catalytic Property of A Zn(II) Complex with 5-Bromosalicylaldehyde Ligand
Authors: Tai Xi Shi , Li Peng Fei , Wang Xin , Liu Li Li
Published: October 2017

The study on catalytic activity of complex materials has been one of the hot spots in coordination  chemistry. In order to extensively study the catalytic activity of complexes, a new six-coordination Zn(II) complex material, [ZnL2(H2O)2] (C1) (HL = 5-bromosalicylaldehyde), has been prepared with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde, NaOH, and Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O as raw materials. The structure of C1 was determined by elemental analysis, IR spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The Zn(II) complex shows a moderate catalytic activity for A3 coupling reaction of benzaldehyde, piperidine, and phenylacetylene with the benzaldehyde conversion reached 54.6 %. Furthermore, the Zn(II) complex catalyst exhibited 54.8 %, 53.8 %, and 54.4 % conversions of benzaldehyde in the second, third, and fourth cycles, respectively.  In addition, the Zn(II) complex features a selectivity of 100 % to the     product of propargylamine for the A3 coupling reaction.
Effects of Doping on the Performance of CuMnOx Catalyst for CO Oxidation
Authors: Dey Subhashish , Dhal Ganesh Chandra , Prasad Ram , Mohan Devendra
Published: October 2017

The rare earth-doped CuMnOx catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation method. The CuMnOx catalyst was doped with (1.5 wt.%) CeOx, (1.0 wt.%) AgOx, and (0.5 wt.%) of AuOx by the dry deposition method. After the precipitation, filtration, and washing process, drying the sample at 110 oC for 16 hr in an oven and calcined at 300 oC temperature for 2 h in the furnace at stagnant air calcination condition. The influence of doping on the structural properties of the catalyst has enhanced the activity of the catalyst for CO oxidation. The doping of noble metals was not affected the crystal structure of the CuMnOx catalyst but changed the planar spacing, adsorption performance, and reaction performance. The catalysts were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface are, Scanning Electron Microscope Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) techniques.  The results showed that doping metal oxides (AgOx, AuOx, and CeOx) into CuMnOx catalyst can enhance the CO adsorption ability of the catalyst which was confirmed by different types of characterization technique.
The Role of Concentration Ratio of TTiP:AcAc on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Thin Film in Reducing Degradation Products of Used Frying Oil
Authors: Kaltsum Ummi , Kurniawan Affandi Faisal , Nurhasanah Iis , Priyono Priyono
Published: October 2017

The TiO2 thin film has been applied to reduce degradation products (free fatty acid/FFA and peroxide value/PV) in used frying oil under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. FFA and PV are degradation products in used frying oil that can cause various diseases in human. In this study, the TiO2 thin films were made from precursor solution with concentration ratio of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTiP) and acetylacetone (AcAc) of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 2:3, and 3:2. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of concentration ratio of TTiP and AcAc on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 thin film in reducing FFA and PV of used frying oil. The spray coating method was used to deposit precursor solution of TiO2 onto glass substrate at 450 oC. All TiO2 thin films consist of spherical-like grain with dominant structure of TiO2 rutile. The band gap energy of TiO2 thin films was in the range 3.11-3.16 eV. Concentration ratio of TTiP and AcAc of 2:3 results in TiO2 thin film with highest photocatalytic activity in reducing FFA and PV of used frying oil.
Cu/ZnO/Al2O3/Cr2O3/CeO2 Catalyst for Hydrogen Production by Oxidative Methanol Reforming via Washcoat Catalyst Preparation in Microchannel Reactor
Authors: Lesmana Donny , Wu Ho Shing
Published: October 2017

The oxidative methanol reforming reaction was carried out using Cu/ZnO/Al2O3/Cr2O3/CeO2 (15/15/2.5/1.25/1.25 mol%), with washcoat by EC sol on microchannel reactor. The experimental conditions were used various sol for washcoat of catalyst, various method for calcinations of catalyst, steam to methanol mole ratio, the mole ratio of oxygen to methanol, weight hourly space velocity, reaction temperature. The experiment result shows that methanol conversion achieved 98.8 % and carbon    monoxide concentration equal to 1204 ppm when using Cu/ZnO/Al2O3/Cr2O3/CeO2 (15/15/2.5/1.25/1.25 mol%) catalyst mixed with EC sol at the reaction temperature of 200 oC.
Hydromechanical Modeling of Stress, Pore Pressure, and Porosity Evolution in Fold‐and‐Thrust Belt Systems
Authors: Obradors‐Prats J. , Rouainia M. , Aplin A. C. , Crook A. J. L.
Published: October 2017

We present coupled, critical state, geomechanical‐fluid flow simulations of the evolution of a fold‐and‐thrust belt in NW Borneo. Our modeling is the first to include the effects of both syntectonic sedimentation and transient pore pressure on the development of a fold‐and‐thrust belt. The present‐day structure predicted by the model contains the key first‐order structural features observed in the field in terms of thrust fault and anticline architectures. Stress predictions in the sediments show two compressive zones aligned with the shortening direction located at the thrust front and back limb. Between the compressive zones, near to the axial plane of the anticline, the modeled stress field represents an extensional regime. The predicted overpressure distribution is strongly influenced by tectonic compaction, with the maximum values located in the two laterally compressive regions. We compared the results at three notional well locations with their corresponding uniaxial strain models: the 2‐D thrust model predicted porosities which are as much as 7.5% lower at 2.5 km depth and overpressures which are up to 6.4 MPa higher at 3 km depth. These results show that one‐dimensional methods are not sufficient to model the evolution of pore pressure and porosity in contractional settings. Finally, we performed a drained simulation during which pore pressures were kept hydrostatic. The predicted geological structures differ substantially from those of the coupled simulation, with no thrust faulting. These results demonstrate that pore pressure is a key control on structural development.
Rupture Directivity of the Strongest 2016–2017 Central Italy Earthquakes
Authors: Calderoni Giovanna , Rovelli Antonio , Di Giovambattista Rita
Published: October 2017

The along‐strike rupture directivity of 16 of the strongest earthquakes (4.4 ≤ Mw ≤ 6.5) within the 2016–2017 central Italy seismic sequence is estimated by investigating high‐frequency S wave amplitude variations versus source azimuths with an empirical Green's function deconvolution approach. The results confirm that an along‐strike rupture directivity is a persistent feature of normal‐faulting earthquakes in the Apennines. The preferred rupture directions of the 2016–2017 earthquakes and of similar‐magnitude events from the 1997 Umbria‐Marche and 2009 L'Aquila‐Campotosto seismic sequences show a significant spatial consistency. Different sectors of the Apennines show an alternating trend of preferential along‐strike rupture propagation directions with significant spatial and temporal stabilities independent of the magnitude. These results, if confirmed by further data, could lead to more refined hazard assessments of the investigated region.
Multiscale Characterization of Joint Surface Roughness
Authors: Nigon Benoit , Englert Andreas , Pascal Christophe , Saintot Aline
Published: October 2017

Recent studies provided detailed characterizations of fault (i.e., shear fracture) roughness at different length scales. Similar investigation for joints (i.e., tensile fractures) are seldom and not as detailed. The present study aims at characterizing joint plumose patterns. We investigated the scale‐dependent surface roughness properties of S‐type plumoses. Joint surface measurements at relatively large scales were carried out with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. Joint surface measurements at the microscopic scale were carried out based on a noncontact optical method, using a Keyence VHX‐2000D microscope. Three parameters were used to characterize fracture surface elevation, standard deviation, Hurst exponent, and correlation length through 3 scale length orders of magnitude. Our study showed that standard deviation and correlation length decrease with scale, similarly to previous findings on faults. In addition, the range of Hurst exponents as a function of scale for the studied joint surface agrees well with those previously found for faults. However, directional analysis showed that correlation length and Hurst exponent of joint surfaces at scales smaller than 1 dm differ significantly from the ones of fault surfaces. In contrast to fault surface ornaments that are mainly characterized by linear structures, plumose structures show marked variability in orientation and anisotropy as a function of position on the joint surface.
Effective Pressure Law for the Intrinsic Formation Factor in Low Permeability Sandstones
Authors: Chen M. , Li M. , Bernabé Y. , Zhao J. Z. , Zhang L. H. , Zhang Z. Y. , Tang Y. B. , Xiao W. L.
Published: October 2017

The effective pressure law for the intrinsic formation factor of low permeability sandstones from the Ordos Basin (northwest of China) was studied experimentally by measuring the electrical resistivity of brine saturated rock samples while cycling the pore and confining pressures, pp and pc. We used a 100,000 ppm NaCl solution so that the results could be directly interpreted in terms of the intrinsic formation factor F. The Response Surface method was used to construct a quadratic function of pp and pc fitting the experimental data, from which the coefficient α of the effective pressure law, peff = pc – αpp, was determined. We found that the coefficient α generally had low values, mainly from 0.2 to 0.4, thus contradicting the theoretical prediction that α should be equal to 1 for scale‐invariant properties, such as F, in linear elastic materials having a homogeneous solid matrix. Since the two underlying assumptions, linear elasticity and homogeneity of the solid matrix, are likely violated in reservoir rocks, we tried to assess their effects on α using simple analytical models, based on idealized geometries of the pore and solid phases. Analysis of these models suggests that non‐linear elasticity associated with the formation of solid–solid contacts in the compressed rocks (e.g., during closure of rough cracks or crack‐like pores along the grain boundaries), may be more effective in producing the low α values observed than inhomogeneity of the solid matrix.
Alternating Influence of Northern Versus Southern‐Sourced Water Masses on the Equatorial Pacific Subthermocline During the Past 240 ka
Authors: Rippert Nadine , Max Lars , Mackensen Andreas , Cacho Isabel , Povea Patricia , Tiedemann Ralf
Published: October 2017

The eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) is a key area to understand past oceanic processes that control atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Many studies argue for higher nutrient concentrations by enhanced nutrient transfer via Southern Ocean Intermediate Water (SOIW) to the low‐latitude Pacific during glacials. Recent studies, however, argue against SOIW as the primary nutrient source, at least during early Marine Isotope Stage 2 (MIS 2), as proxy data indicate that nutrients are better utilized in the Southern Ocean under glacial conditions. New results from the subarctic Pacific suggest that enhanced convection of nutrient‐rich Glacial North Pacific Intermediate Water (GNPIW) contributes to changes in nutrient concentrations in equatorial subthermocline water masses during MIS 2. However, the interplay between SOIW versus GNPIW and its influence on the nutrient distribution in the EEP spanning more than one glacial cycle are still not understood. We present a carbon isotope (δ13C) record of subthermocline waters derived from deep‐dwelling planktonic foraminifera Globorotaloides hexagonus in the EEP, which is compared with published δ13C records around the Pacific. Results indicate enhanced influence of GNPIW during MIS 6 and MIS 2 compared to today with largest contributions of northern‐sourced intermediate waters during glacial maxima. These observations suggest a mechanistic link between relative contributions of northern and southern intermediate waters and past EEP nutrient concentrations. A switch from increased GNPIW (decreased SOIW) to diminished GNPIW (enhanced SOIW) influence on equatorial subthermocline waters is recognized during glacial terminations and marks changes to modern‐like conditions in nutrient concentrations and biological productivity in the EEP.
Characterization and Mitigation of Radio Frequency Interference in PolSAR Data
Authors: Tao Mingliang , Zhou Feng , Zhang Zijing
Published: October 2017

Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) is a very important instrument for active remote sensing. However, it is common to find that PolSAR echoes are often contaminated by incoherent electromagnetic interference, which is referred to as radio frequency interference (RFI). The analysis of RFI signatures and its influence on PolSAR data seems to be lacking in existing literatures, especially for PolSAR post products, such as the polarimetric decomposition parameters and clustering result. The goal of this paper is to reveal the link between RFI and polarization, as well as to analyze the impact of interference on PolSAR image and its post products. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the adverse impact of RFI on the real measured NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar data set are illustrated from two perspectives, that is, evaluation of imaging quality and interpretation of scattering mechanisms. The point target response and effective number of looks are evaluated for assessing the distortion to focusing quality. Further, we discussed the characteristics of ultra wideband RFI and proposed a mitigation method using nonnegative matrix factorization along azimuth direction. The experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Plant Virus Diseases: Epidemiology
Authors: Navas‐Castillo Jesús , Fiallo‐Olivé Elvira
Published: October 2017

The epidemiology of plant virus diseases concerns the cyclical development of virus diseases within plant populations in time and space. It also deals with how and why a virus is spread by vectors in an ecosystem. The main factors that influence the epidemiology of plant virus diseases involve the viruses, the plant hosts and the vectors. The interactions between these factors are complex and depend on the species, strain and isolate of the virus, its host range and the ability of the vector to disseminate the virus. All components of the epidemiological process of a plant virus are influenced by the environmental conditions, both biotic and abiotic, which can determine the successful development of an epidemic. Knowledge of these factors is fundamental to the choice and improvement of control methods to prevent or eliminate plant virus diseases.

Key Concepts

Plant viruses are a concern for agriculture as virus diseases can cause qualitative and/or quantitative losses of yield.

Modern agriculture has caused the dissemination of exotic plant species, viruses and vectors into foreign environments.

The emergence of novel virus species and strains has been increasing worldwide in the past two decades.

Most plant viruses are transmitted by vectors, mainly insects.

A noticeable number of plant viruses have been found to pass from one generation to the next through seed.

Weeds and other wild plants play a key role as alternative virus reservoirs and as a source of novel viruses which can potentially infect crops.

Environmental factors, both physical and biotic, may affect the infection cycle at different grades.

Understanding of epidemiological processes is fundamental to the choice and improvement of control methods to eliminate the diseases that viruses cause.

Control strategies basically focus on the elimination of virus sources and the avoidance of spatio–temporal coincidences between viruses, vectors and crops.
Genetic Epidemiology of Complex Traits
Authors: Rana Brinda K , De Vivo Imaculata , Schork Nicholas J
Published: October 2017

Genetic epidemiology is a research discipline that combines genetics, molecular biology, epidemiology, statistics and bioinformatics to investigate the role of genes, the environment and their interaction in the expression of quantitative and qualitative traits and diseases in the population at large. Genetic epidemiologists often leverage population‐based family, case–control, and cohort research designs, including many with a longitudinal data collection scheme. However, characterising the influence of genes and the environment traits and diseases is complicated because most traits and diseases are influenced by a number of genetic and nongenetic factors. In addition to the problems associated with the characterisation of the genetic and environmental factors influencing traits and diseases due to the complex, multifactorial and context‐dependent pathophysiological basis of most traits and diseases, a number of issues associated with the genetic structure of human populations also complicate relevant analyses. Genetic epidemiologists attempt to deal with these issues in many ways. As the current biomedical research area era involving high‐throughput and data‐intensive assays evolves, new fields (e.g. metabolomics, epigenomics and megagenomics), technologies (e.g. high‐throughput sequencing, microarrays and mass spectrometry) and statistical approaches will be brought into genetic epidemiology, enabling more comprehensive ‘system‐level’ approaches to characterising the roles of the environment and inherited factors in disease risk, incidence, prevalence and response to therapy.

Key Concepts

Genetic epidemiologists investigate the role of genes, the environment and their interaction between the aetiology and population‐level incidence and prevalence of health‐related traits and diseases within families and in the population at large.

Factors at both the population and the individual or pathophysiological level contribute to the complexity of complex diseases, making it difficult to identify and characterise their determinants.

The main approaches taken by genetic epidemiologists for discovering genes influencing diseases and traits are family‐based linkage and population‐based association studies.

Once a variant gene has been identified, genetic epidemiologists characterise the effect of that gene on the disease burden or trait distribution in the population using a number of approaches, such as cataloguing its frequency in different populations, examining environmental factors that exacerbate or ameliorate its effects and assessing its origins and its typical effect on the time course of, for example, disease expression among individuals.

By integrating data from multiple high‐throughput biomedical assays (e.g. data from epigenomics, metabolomics, proteomics and metabolomics), genetic epidemiologists can apply ‘system‐level’ approaches to understand how various factors contribute to interaction in the expression of health‐related traits and diseases.
Genetic Risk: Computation
Authors: Grimm Tiemo , Müller‐Myhsok Bertram , Zerres Klaus
Published: October 2017

Despite the progress of molecular genetics and the resulting improved possibilities for precise risk classification in affected families, the principles of formal risk assessment continue to be of great importance as a decision‐making aid for a targeted molecular genetic analysis and an adequate interpretation of molecular findings. Assuming a genetic model, which is both the basis for risk assessment and the interpretation of molecular findings is of great importance. Even in the molecular era Bayesian theorem has to be applied in monogenetic diseases like Huntington disease, spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Precise risk assessment in genetic counseling often deserves Bayesian risk calculation.

Key Concepts

Risk assessment in families with genetic diseases is of great importance in spite of improved molecular diagnostics.

Risk assessment is important for both the indication of molecular diagnostics and the interpretation of possible molecular findings.

The prerequisite for the risk assessment is the assumption of a specific genetic model.

Taking a larger number of variables (e.g. incomplete penetrance, spontaneous mutations and late onset) into account, risk calculation can significantly modify a priori risks.
Zebrafish as a Model for Human Diseases
Authors: Tavakoli Sahar , Rothschild Harriet , Zon Leonard I
Published: October 2017

The zebrafish, Danio rerio (a tropical and small freshwater fish), is an early vertebrate model organism. Its use in modelling human disease has numerous advantages over other animals as zebrafish have a fully sequenced genome, high fecundity, short generation interval (3–4 months), rapid embryonic development, external fertilisation and translucent embryos. External fertilisation and transparent zebrafish embryos allow for gene function studies at the early stages of the embryogenesis, for access to all stages of development and for time‐lapse imaging of progressing pathologies. In addition, zebrafish are economically viable for large‐scale genetic and chemical screens, which is not feasible in other vertebrate model organisms. Advances in the techniques and coincidentally these characteristics of zebrafish confer an advantage over murine biology and therefore elevate zebrafish as a critical human disease model and research tool.

Key Concepts

The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a small tropical freshwater fish that belongs to the Cyprinidae family of the order Cypriniformes.

A model organism is any nonhuman organism which is widely used to study and understand biological processes in order to provide a better understanding of disease processes in human disease research.

Because of its external fertilization, high fecundity, translucent embryos, short generation interval, rapid embryonic development, fully sequenced genome and similar genome to humans, the zebrafish became a useful animal model to study human diseases.

Genetic screens are used to identify new genomic regions that contribute to a particular phenotype within a population of genetically mutagenised individuals. This laboratory procedure provides a useful platform to study gene function.

Transplanting donor zebrafish tissue into a recipient is a useful tool to study cell engraftment and tumour metastasis in a uniform background.