bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Salmonella isolated from organically reared poultry located in the same longitude with three distinct seasonal characteristics
Authors: İncili Gökhan Kürşad , Koluman Ahmet , Dikici Abdullah , Kahraman Tolga , Ünlü Abdullah Teoman
Published: November 2018

This study is designed to determine Salmonella prevalence in organic poultry farms and slaughterhouse in three different regions with distinct seasonal characteristics. Salmonella strains were isolated from organic reared poultry farm environment (water, feed, and feces) and poultry meat samples (neck skin and breast meat). Antibiotic resistance and 16S rRNA profiles were demonstrated with alignment scores. Salmonella spp. prevalences according to regions were, 51 of 200 (25.50%) samples taken from Region A, 77 of 200 (38.50%) samples taken from Region B, 105 of 200 (52.50%) samples taken from Region C. Serotyping of the strains revealed that S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis are the most dormant strains among all strains. Antibiotic susceptibility of the strains revealed that major resistance against ampicillin. This study is held for an awareness rising about the possible impact of seasonality related with food borne pathogens prevalence.

Practical applications

Poultry meat and meat products account for approximately one‐third of all Salmonella infections in humans. The relation between environmental temperature and foodborne pathogens is a complex matter, which has not been investigated widely and is hard to predict. The data obtained in this study indicate a significant high prevalence in warm region, which may be evaluated as a possible key for environmental temperature effect on foodborne pathogens distribution in organically reared poultry. In addition, this study provides important information to show the sources of contamination steps ranging from farm to fork in organically reared poultry.
Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence genes of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from pork meat in retail outlets in India
Authors: Savariraj Wilfred Ruban , Ravindran Narendra Babu , Kannan Porteen , Paramasivam Raja , Senthilkumar TMA , Kumarasamy Peria , Rao Veluru Appa
Published: November 2018

Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus was carried out in a total of 120 retail pork samples and the overall prevalence of S. aureus in retail pork meat was 76.67%. All the isolates were resistant to both Ampicillin and Tetracycline (100%) followed by Cefoxitin, Oxacillin, Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, and Novobiocin. The multiple antibiotic resistance index of majority of the isolates were 0.3 and above. Methicillin resistance based on polymerase chain reaction revealed that 76.09% carried either mecA or mecC. The prevalence of enterotoxigenic S. aureus in pork was 82.61% and of the various toxin genes sei was the major gene followed by seg, seb, sej, sed, seh, sec, and sea in decreasing order. The prevalence of multidrug resistant and virulent S. aureus carrying enterotoxin genes in retail pork meat is a clear indication of the potential of these isolates in causing foodborne intoxication under favorable conditions to the consumers.

Practical application

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a well‐known opportunistic pathogen widely present in a broad host range, including human beings and food producing animals, such as pigs, cows, goats and chickens. It has the potential to contaminate animal products and they gain entry in to the food chain, during processing, preparation and storage. The wide use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multi drug resistant strains, particularly Methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The present study highlights the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance with special reference to MRSA and enterotoxin gene profile of S. aureus isolated from retail pork meat. The results will provide the insights of the existing situation of antimicrobial resistance in pork meat in India.
Use of TiBrush for surface decontamination at peri‐implantitis sites in dogs: Radiographic and histological outcomes
Authors: Viganò Paolo , Apaza Alccayhuaman Karol A. , Sakuma Shigeru , Amari Yoshiyuki , Bengazi Franco , Botticelli Daniele
Published: November 2018

Aim

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy on the healing of mechanical decontamination of infected implant surfaces performed with a titanium brush.

Methods

Mandibular premolars and first molars were extracted bilaterally in six dogs. After 3 months, two unsubmerged implants were installed on both sides of the mandible. Three months later, peri‐implantitis was induced with ligatures for 3 months and then removed. After 1 month, surgical mechanical decontamination of the surfaces was performed either with a rotatory titanium brush or gauzes soaked in saline. Five month later, biopsies were retrieved. Evaluations on X‐rays taken of the mesiodistal plane and on histological slides prepared in a buccal‐lingual plane were performed.

Results

After the induction of peri‐implantitis, a mean marginal bone loss of 2.6 ± 0.6 mm and 1.9 ± 1.0 mm was observed in the brush and gauze groups by X‐ray, respectively. Five months after treatment, a mean gain of marginal bone of 0.6 mm was obtained in both groups. The mean closures of the vertical and horizontal defects were 0.6 mm and 0.6 mm for the brush group, and 0.8 mm and 0.5 mm for the gauze group, respectively. Histologically, a loss of attachment at the buccal aspect of 2.2 ± 0.9 mm in the brush group and of 2.3 ± 0.5 mm in the gauze group was found. No statistically‐significant differences were found after the treatment.

Conclusions

Mechanical implant surface decontamination performed with a rotatory titanium brush resulted in a marginal bone level gain, yielding a low content of inflammatory infiltrate close to the marginal bone.
Relationship between Positive Environmental Disclosures and Environmental Performance: An Empirical Investigation of the Greenwashing Sin of the Hidden Trade‐off
Authors: Hora Manpreet , Subramanian Ravi
Published: November 2018

Firms make positive discretionary disclosures about their environmental efforts in order to signify attention to the environmental impacts of their operations. On the one hand, firms may choose to make these disclosures to deflect attention away from other activities that may contribute negatively to their environmental performance (i.e., greenwashing in the form of the “sin of the hidden trade‐off ”). On the other hand, firms making these disclosures may legitimately improve their overall environmental performance. Our study empirically addresses the following question: Do firms that make positive discretionary environmental disclosures improve their overall environmental performance more than the firms that do not make such disclosures? Specifically, because press announcements have been shown to be a popular medium for positive discretionary disclosures, we examine the relationship between announcements in the press of firms’ environmental efforts beyond compliance, and suitably weighted‐aggregated firm‐level releases of the range of pollutants reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). We employ matching methods (coarsened exact matching and propensity score matching) that account for potential sources of endogeneity, including the relationship between firms’ prior environmental performance and their propensity to disclose environmental information. Our findings from the matching methods provide encouraging evidence that greenwashing in the form of the sin of the hidden trade‐off does not appear to be prevalent. Additionally, our post hoc analysis explores factors based on the content of disclosures and industry, that may help explain differences in environmental performance among the firms making the disclosures.
Wireless body sensor for electrocardiographic monitoring in dogs and cats
Authors: Brložnik M. , Likar Š. , Krvavica A. , Avbelj V. , Domanjko Petrič A.
Published: November 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the diagnostic utility of electrocardiogram data obtained by a wireless sensor from 36 dogs and four cats with suspected arrhythmias caused by cardiac or systemic diseases.

Materials and Methods

Wireless electrocardiographic recordings were obtained via two precordial electrodes attached to an electrocardiogram sensor connected to a smart device via low‐power Bluetooth technology. Cardiac rate, rhythm and duration of P‐QRS‐T waves were evaluated with VisECG® software. Fifteen‐ to 30‐minute wireless recordings were compared to standard electrocardiograms. Furthermore, the wireless sensor was used in 10 dogs and four cats for 24‐hour continuous electrocardiogram monitoring at home.

Results

When compared to standard electrocardiogram, equivalent results were obtained for heart rate and duration of different waves. Due to the longer recording time, more arrhythmias were diagnosed with the wireless device in 50% (15 of 30) of animals with arrhythmias. Satisfactory recordings were obtained when the dogs were resting, standing or walking but interpretation of the wireless electrocardiogram signal was not possible during strenuous physical activity.

Clinical Significance

Wireless electrocardiographic monitoring is a reliable and accurate method for identification of heart rate, arrhythmia and duration of electrocardiogram waves. A higher diagnostic yield of arrhythmias was documented with the wireless sensor due to prolonged monitoring. The device offers a good option for the long‐term monitoring of canine and feline cardiac rhythm.
Latin America’s Future Public Policy Challenges: A Ten‐year Time Horizon
Authors: Ward Peter M. , Wilson Robert H.
Published: November 2018

This article identifies the most likely public policy challenges and agenda items that policymakers will confront in Latin America 10 years from now. While many of today’s challenges will continue to be salient within the public‐policy agenda—the “known knowns”—our goal is to drill down and highlight the most likely sub‐issues and specific policy imperatives and challenges in the medium term (the “known unknowns”). Fifty intensive key informant interviews were conducted with senior and experienced individuals from a range of professional settings, including scholars and academics, agency directors, top think‐tank analysts, heads of non‐governmental organizations, public intellectuals, and senior board members. The article reports on unstructured, one‐on‐one “listening sessions” in which respondents have offered their views on the specific but thus far largely latent public policy issues that they anticipate will need to be addressed looking beyond the status quo ante.
Killing Democracy Softly: Executive Privilege and the Defense of Democracy in the Americas
Authors: Smith Betsy L.
Published: November 2018

Is the Organization of American States a “club of presidents?” A review of democratic crises from 1990 to 2016 lends support to the argument that the organization can be considered as such. This article adds to the literature by noting that the severity of democratic crises in Latin America is a key factor in the response. When there is a severe threat to democracy, there is likely to be a response, regardless of the origin of the crisis. The origin matters more during low‐level threats; the organization is more likely to respond to low‐level threats to presidents. Meanwhile, when the threat is from the president, it is less likely there will be a response. The findings from this article provide support for continued evaluations of the defense‐of‐democracy regimes in the Americas and show the potential for executives to erode democracy slowly and over time without significant responses from the Organization of American States, leading to low‐quality democracies in the region.
Heterogeneity of melts in impact deposits and implications for their origin (Ries suevite, Germany)
Authors: Siegert Susann , Hecht Lutz
Published: November 2018

Impact melt‐bearing clastic deposits (suevites) are one of the most important records of the impact cratering process. A deeper understanding of their composition and formation is therefore essential. This study focuses on impact melt particles in suevite at Ries, Germany. Textures and chemical evidence indicate that the suevite contains three melt types that originate from different shock levels in the target. The most abundant melt type (“melt type 1”) represents well‐mixed whole‐rock melting of crystalline basement and includes incompletely mixed mafic melt schlieren (“melt type 1 mafic”). Polymineralic melt type 2 comprises mixes between monomineralic melt types 3 and melt type 1. Melt types 2 and 3 are located within melt type 1 as small patches or schlieren but also isolated within the suevite matrix. The main melt type 1 is heterogeneous with respect to trace elements, varying geographically around the crater: in the western sector, it has lower values in trace elements, e.g., Ba, Zr, Th, and Ce, than in the eastern sector. The west–east zoning likely reflects the heterogeneous nature of crystalline basement target rocks with lower trace element contents, e.g., Ba, Zr, Th, and Ce, in the west compared to the east. The chemical zoning pattern of suevite melt type 1 indicates that mixing during ejection and emplacement occurred only on a local (hundreds of meters) scale. The incomplete larger scale mixing indicated by the preservation of these local chemical signatures, and schlieren corroborate the assumption that mixing, ejection, and quenching were very rapid, short‐lived processes.
Relative reactivity to egg white and yolk or change upon heating as markers for baked egg tolerance
Authors: Brossard Chantal , Rancé Fabienne , Drouet Martine , Paty Evelyne , Juchet Agnes , Guérin‐Dubiard Catherine , Pasco Maryvonne , Tranquet Olivier , Nau Françoise , Denery‐Papini Sandra
Published: November 2018

Background

Hen's egg food allergy is frequent in childhood and phenotypically heterogeneous. Some children can tolerate extensively heated egg. We investigated whether individual relative responses could differentiate children who tolerate baked egg.

Methods

Reactivities to raw, pasteurized or hard‐boiled egg (E), egg white (EW), and egg yolk (EY) fractions were tested by skin prick test (SPT) in 54 egg‐allergic children. IgE‐sensitization to EW and EY was determined by ImmunoCAP and IgE‐binding to EW and 8 EW proteins and to EY and 4 EY sub‐fractions by ELISA. Population heterogeneity was assessed by hierarchical ascending classification upon individual variations of reactivity and links between classifications and clinical features by analyzing the contingency tables.

Results

All children had positive SPT to raw E and raw EW and 72% to raw EY. Heating decreased SPT‐reactivity for some children, pasteurization being less effective than hard‐boiling. Children were classed into three classes from relative SPT‐reactivity to raw fractions, two from variations of SPT‐reactivity with each thermal processing or EW/EY ratio of sensitization, and four from their sensitization pattern. Classifications according to heating were found independent of each other. SPT variations with hard‐boiling, IgE‐sensitization (ratio or pattern) were linked to allowance by the physicians of egg in baked products.

Conclusions

Egg‐allergic children were often both sensitized to EY and EW, and heterogeneous patterns of relative responses were evidenced. Irrespective of age and level of sensitization, a low EW/EY ratio or SPT getting null with hard‐boiling was found in children allowed to eat baked egg.
Gender Essentialism and Responses to Candidates’ Messages
Authors: Swigger Nathaniel , Meyer Meredith
Published: November 2018

People often form negative attitudes against those who deviate from gender norms. Within the political realm, this has the potential to translate into effects on perceptions of candidate likability and traits. Female candidates who tend to focus on issues stereotypically thought of as feminine are generally more positively evaluated than those who focus on stereotypically masculine domains. The current studies investigate whether these effects vary depending on the extent to which people endorse gender essentialism, which is the tendency to attribute gender differences to relatively more intrinsic, innate, and immutable factors versus believing that gender differences are largely due to cultural and learned factors. Current data with adults across two studies suggest a number of interesting findings: Evaluations of candidates depended on an interaction between respondents’ gender essentialism and whether or not the candidate’s message fit traditional stereotypes. In particular, high essentialist respondents felt significantly more negative toward male candidates with nonstereotypic messages.
Flax rhamnogalacturonan lyases: phylogeny, differential expression and modeling of protein structure
Authors: Mokshina Natalia , Makshakova Olga , Nazipova Alsu , Gorshkov Oleg , Gorshkova Tatyana
Published: November 2018

Rhamnogalacturonan lyases (RGLs; EC 4.2.2.23) degrade the rhamnogalacturonan I (RG‐I) backbone of pectins present in the plant cell wall. These enzymes belong to polysaccharide lyase family 4, members of which are mainly from plants and plant pathogens. RGLs are investigated, as a rule, as pathogen ‘weapons’ for plant cell wall degradation and subsequent infection. Despite the presence of genes annotated as RGLs in plant genomes and the presence of substrates for enzyme activity in plant cells, evidence supporting the involvement of this enzyme in certain processes is limited. The differential expression of some RGL genes in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) tissues, revealed in our previous work, prompted us to carry out a total revision (phylogenetic analysis, analysis of expression and protein structure modeling) of all the sequences of flax predicted as coding for RGLs. Comparison of the expressions of LusRGL in various tissues of flax stem revealed that LusRGLs belong to distinct phylogenetic clades, which correspond to two co‐expression groups. One of these groups comprised LusRGL6‐A and LusRGL6‐B genes and was specifically upregulated in flax fibers during deposition of the tertiary cell wall, which has complex RG‐I as a key noncellulosic component. The results of homology modeling and docking demonstrated that the topology of the LusRGL6‐A catalytic site allowed binding to the RG‐I ligand. These findings lead us to suggest the presence of RGL activity in planta and the involvement of special isoforms of RGLs in the modification of RG‐I of the tertiary cell wall in plant fibers.
Uterine two‐dimensional and Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of feline pyometra
Authors: Blanco Paula Graciela , Rube Ana , López Merlo Mariana , Batista Pablo Rodrigo , Arioni Sol , López Knudsen Ignacio , Tórtora Mariana , Gobello Cristina
Published: November 2018

Contents

The aim of this study was to compare uterine two‐dimensional and Doppler ultrasonographic parameters in queens suffering from pyometra from those in early pregnancy. Secondly, the effect of the presence of clinical signs of systemic illness on these parameters was also described. Fourteen post‐oestrous queens, with uterine luminal content in the absence of embryos were included. According to their outcome (pyometra surgery or parturition), the queens were retrospectively assigned to one of the following groups: Pyometra (PYO; n = 7) or pregnant (PRG; n = 7). In all the queens, two‐dimensional and Doppler ultrasound examinations of the uterus were performed. The presence or absence of clinical signs of systemic illness was recorded. The widest cross‐sectional diameter (UD), uterine wall thickness (WT), uterine lumen contents (LC) and uterine artery resistance index (RI) were measured. Uterine horn diameter was higher in PYO group than in PRG group (p < 0.05), while WT (p > 0.1) and LC (p = 0.09) did not differ between groups. Values of RI for PYO and PRG groups were 0.61 ± 0.03 vs 0.53 ± 0.09 (p < 0.05), respectively. PYO cats suffering from clinical signs of systemic illness showed larger UD than those without signs (p < 0.01). It is concluded that two‐dimensional and Doppler ultrasound might be useful to distinguish queens suffering from pyometra from those in early pregnancy. Secondly, the clinical signs of systemic illness were associated with a larger UD.
Neonatal puppy survival after planned caesarean section in the bitch using aglepristone as a primer: A retrospective study on 74 cases
Authors: Roos Juliette , Maenhoudt Cindy , Zilberstein Luca , Mir Fernando , Borges Paulo , Furthner Etienne , Niewiadomska Zuzanna , Nudelmann Nicolas , Fontbonne Alain
Published: November 2018

Since most of dystocia end up in caesarean sections (C‐sections), the history of any problem during whelping is a good reason to plan in advance a further C‐section. Our aim was to confirm that on a large sample and over an extended period of time, mortality in puppies <2 weeks of age was low, born after a planned C‐section using aglepristone as a primer. Seventy‐four C‐sections on 59 different bitches were included. Bitches were monitored during oestrus to estimate the day of ovulation by progesterone assays; 60, 61 or 62 days after ovulation, foetal viability was checked by ultrasonography and progesterone plasma level was measured. None of the bitches was at term (progesterone plasma level >2 ng/ml). An injection of aglepristone was performed in late afternoon to block the effect of progesterone, mimicking its drop at the end of pregnancy. The C‐section was conducted the following morning. Twenty‐one breeds were represented most of which were bulldogs (26%, 21/74) and Great Danes (16%, 13/74). Four hundred and thirty‐five puppies were born. A total of 43/435 puppies died within the first 2 weeks (9.89%). None of the puppies showed any external signs of prematurity. The average number of deaths per litter relative to the date after ovulation was similar (0.5 pups per litter at day 60, 0.7 at day 61, 0.4 at day 62). This study shows that planned C‐section after an accurate determination of ovulation and using aglepristone as a primer is a safe procedure for bitches and their offspring. It may be offered to owners if a pregnant bitch is “at risk” of dystocia.
Macroeconomic consequences of state fragility in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Chuku Chuku , Onye Kenneth
Published: November 2018

Are poor macroeconomic outcomes primarily the result of economic policies, or of deeper underlying state fragility problems in sub‐Saharan Africa? We attempt to answer this question by using carefully specified dynamic panel regression techniques to show how state fragility conditions help to explain the differences in the macroeconomic performance of sub‐Saharan African economies, and to identify the most plausible mechanisms of transmission. We find that countries with greater fragility suffer higher macroeconomic volatility and crisis; they also experience weaker growth. When we disaggregate state fragility into its various components, we find that it is the security and social components that have the strongest causal impact on macroeconomic outcomes, while the political component is, at best, weak. Therefore, we conclude that it is state fragility conditions, and not necessarily macroeconomic policies, that are of first‐order importance in explaining the differences in macroeconomic performance for African countries. The knock‐on effects are mostly mediated through the fiscal channel, the aid channel, and the finance channel. Accordingly, we recommend that interventions in fragile states should best focus on exploiting the potential for using fiscal policy, aid, and finance as instruments to improve macroeconomic outcomes in sub‐Saharan Africa.
Home Production and China's Hidden Consumption
Authors: Wang Yabin
Published: November 2018

This paper presents a structural approach to estimating the value of home production in China. The structural model incorporates stylized facts about the time allocation of Chinese households, such as the active participation of retired individuals in home production. Estimates based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey show that the aggregate value of home production as a fraction of adjusted GDP have fallen at a rate of 2.7 percent per year over the past decade in China. However, a significant part of China's private consumption was still satisfied through unpaid home production in 2009, amounting to roughly 18 percent of adjusted GDP.
Risks, benefits, and ethical questions associated with transplanting kidneys from hepatitis C virus‐infected donors into hepatitis C virus‐negative patients
Authors: Goldberg David , Reese Peter P.
Published: November 2018

Utilization of kidneys from hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected deceased donors has the potential to increase the number of kidney transplants by 500‐1000 (or more) each year. This increase in the number of kidney transplants offers major opportunities to extend survival and improve quality of life for patients infected with HCV, as well as uninfected recipients. However, due to a lack of prospective safety and efficacy data on a sufficient number of HCV‐negative recipients who received a kidney from a HCV‐infected donor, as well as key logistical barriers, the practice of transplanting HCV‐infected organs into uninfected recipients is not yet ready to be considered as standard of care. Ongoing research coupled with a collaboration between insurers and transplant centers might bring positive‐into‐negative transplant into the realm of standard of care in well‐informed transplant candidates, regardless of HCV status.
How the Link Between Social Capital and Migratory Duration Helps Us Understand Immigrant–Native Inequality*
Authors: McNeely Natasha Altema , Maltby Elizabeth , Rocha Rene R.
Published: November 2018

Objective

In the aggregate, people are socioeconomic indicators who are better off in high social capital environments. But the gap between natives and immigrants is large in these same areas. In this article, we offer an alternative argument for the effect of social capital on inequality between immigrants and natives.

Methods

We use a duration modeling analysis of data on migratory stays supplied by the Mexican Migration Project to link social capital to immigration trends.

Results

We suggest that social capital may be reducing equality for benign reasons and show that social capital is a resource that mostly benefits unauthorized immigrants in punitive policy environments. Unauthorized immigrants are encouraged to settle in high social capital states to gain access to these resources. This group tends to be less assimilated and possesses few socioeconomic resources.

Conclusion

High social capital states are unequal not because social capital produces inequality but because it is valued by immigrants who are faring poorly. The most vulnerable immigrants benefit the most from living in places where social networks and feelings of generalized trust are strong.
Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among at‐risk blood donors in Japan
Authors: Sayama Yusuke , Furui Yasumi , Takakura Akiko , Ishinoda Masazumi , Matsumoto Chieko , Taira Rikizo , Igarashi Shigeru , Momose Shun'ya , Matsubayashi Keiji , Uchida Shigeharu , Hino Satoru , Nagai Tadashi , Satake Masahiro
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and is endemic in Latin America. In nonendemic countries, including Japan, Chagas disease is primarily a problem in the context of transfusion transmission. Approximately 250,000 immigrants from Latin America reside in Japan, and many of those individuals serve as active blood donors. This study surveyed the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection among at‐risk blood donors in Japan, defined as those who themselves (or whose mothers) were born (or raised) in Latin America, or those with a travel history to Latin America.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Blood samples were obtained from at‐risk donors in two periods, 2004–2012 and 2013–2016. Collected samples were tested for T. cruzi antibodies using both an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Samples that tested positive in both assays were additionally tested by polymerase chain reaction, and look‐back investigation was conducted when necessary.

RESULTS

Of 18,484 samples obtained from 18,076 at‐risk donors, 3 (1:6,025, 0.017%) donors showed seroreactivity by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and chemiluminescent immunoassay. All antibody‐positive donors were born in Latin America. One of them also was positive for T. cruzi DNA. Eleven previous donations from this donor were subjected to look‐back investigation, and five recipients were tested. All five recipients tested negative for T. cruzi antibodies.

CONCLUSION

Seroprevalence of T. cruzi was 0.017% among at‐risk donors in Japan. Transfusion‐transmitted infection of Chagas disease has not been confirmed to date. Screening for T. cruzi antibodies by targeting at‐risk donors is an appropriate strategy for ensuring blood safety in Japan.
An Investigation into the 11th Grade National Philosophy Curriculum in Turkey
Authors: Manav Faruk
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the attainments and their descriptions, and units of the 11th grade level Turkish Philosophy curriculum, introduced in Turkey in the academic year 2018-2019 in order to display its advantages and disadvantages. In this study, a qualitative research method ‘document analysis technique’ was used. The attainments of the curriculum what learning domains they corresponded to and what level of behavior they represented were analyzed. The study, found that all the attainments belonged to the cognitive domain and that out of the 21 attainments, 10 of them corresponded to representative behaviors at the comprehension level, 5 of them at the analysis level, 5 of them at the evaluation level and 1 of them at the knowledge level. The units integrated in the curriculum that referred to the periods of history of philosophy were named differently from widely accepted names used Philosophy literature. The descriptions of the attainments did not fully reflect the scope of some attainments and neglected some periods in the history of philosophy. Nevertheless, the curriculum had positive qualities such as philosophical writing, text reading and the inclusion of Turkish-Islamic philosophers. The study recommends that the identified problems should be resolved to make the curriculum functional and eliminate its defects.
A Study on Awareness of Energy Drinks of Physical Education and Sports (Pes) Students
Authors: Uluöz Eren , Gencer Ayşe , Kamışlı Sibel
Published: November 2018

Energy drinks are often used by sedanter individuals as well as by individuals engaged in sports. The purpose of this study is to determine the energy drinks consumption habits of the students of PES. Total of 102 (Female:33/Male:69) from Çukurova University PES students were chosen as the participants since they were to be aware of the impact of energy drinks. Data utilizing descriptive and causal comparative research methods revealed that 42.2% of participants reported using energy drink while 57.8% did not. The energy consumption ratios of the users versus non-user compared in terms of socio-demographic variables such as "sex", "age", "socioeconomic status", "living place", "income situation", "place of birth" and "lifestyle" categories did not show any statistically significant differences (p>0,05). In relation to the causes of consuming energy drinks, both consumers and non-consumers stated that energy drinks were for "being vigorous or energetic (34,9%)", "keeping energy high while doing sports (32,6%)" and "mixing with alcohol (16,3%)". Total of 60,7% of all participants and 74,4% of those who regularly use energy drinkers reported that they do not know the harm of energy drinkers. Since energy drinks contain caffeine or other stimulants, consumption during intensive physical activity is not recommended. Therefore, consumption of energy drinks during intensive physical activity is not recommended. Consequently, although energy consumption in low quantities provides some temporary advantages for healthy people, it can trigger many health problems when examined from the general population standpoint. More consciousness-raising activities on energy consumption in particular in individuals with chronic systemic disorders and in special groups such as sportsmen may reduce unconscious consumption which can cause serious health problems.
A Study on Hydrogen Emission of Zirconium Hydride
Authors: Xiaogang Fu , Bo Qin , Haoran Ma , Jinquan Zhang , Bin Long
Published: November 2018

The hydrogen emission of zirconium hydride at high temperature is a challenging issue for many researchers. The hydrogen emission content of zirconium hydride pins should be evaluated to confirm the application feasibility. The comparison of theory analysis and experiment data indicated that Richardson's law could offer a conservative result for calculating the hydrogen emission content of zirconium hydride pins at high temperature. Furthermore, the methods of preventing hydrogen loss should be developed for the purpose of extending the work temperature or time. The results showed that a ZrO2 layer prepared for zirconium hydride could not prevent hydrogen loss after exposure at 650 °C in an inert environment and ZrO2 transformed into Zr3O gradually due to the opposite movement of hydrogen and oxygen. Finally, a further improvement to prevent hydrogen loss was developed. The zirconium hydride with a ZrO2 layer in the cladding of He+CO2 exhibited no significant reduction of hydrogen content. It is helpful to prevent the hydrogen loss by increasing the oxygen potential on the outside of ZrO2 layer.
Burning Characteristics and the Fuel Properties of the Dry-Carbonization Chars of Sewage Sludge
Authors: Haykiri-Acma H. , Yaman S.
Published: November 2018

As an alternative treatment to hydrothermal carbonization, sewage sludge (SS) was subjected to dry carbonization at temperatures of 200–700 °C to produce pyrochar. The fuel properties of the obtained chars were characterized, and their combustibility was checked by thermal analysis method. The combustibility of the chars was evaluated considering the criteria such as the ignition index (Ci), burnout index (Cb), comprehensive combustibility index (S), and the burning stability index (DW). Although even low temperature treatments such as 200 °C and 300 °C did not improve the calorific value, some improvements took place in the combustion characteristics upon treatment.
A Low-Speed Compressor Test Rig for Flutter Investigations
Authors: Malzacher Leonie , Geist Silvio , Motta Valentina , Peitsch Dieter , Hennings Holger
Published: November 2018

A test facility for aeroeolastic investigations has been set up at the chair of Aero Engines at the Technische Universität Berlin. The test rig provides data for tool and code validation, and is used for basic aeroelastic experiments. It is a low-speed wind tunnel, which allows free and controlled flutter testing. The test section contains a linear cascade with eleven compressor blades. Nine of them are elastically suspended. The paper presents a detailed description of the test facility results to evaluate the overall flow quality alongside an aeroelastic model to predict the flutter velocity and critical interblade phase angles (IBPAs). Furthermore, chordwise pressure distributions, measured with traveling wave (TW) mode experimental tests, are presented. These measurements have been carried out for a wide range of IBPAs and have been compared to numerical results. Hot-wire anemometry has been applied to examine the inlet flow for several Mach numbers and Reynolds numbers. The results show small turbulence intensities. The blade surface pressure distribution and the flow field of the blade's suction and pressure sides have been obtained by oil flow visualization.
Sensitivity of Lyapunov Exponents in Design Optimization of Nonlinear Dampers
Authors: Tamer Aykut , Masarati Pierangelo
Published: November 2018

This work presents how the analytical sensitivity of Lyapunov characteristic exponents (LCEs) can be used in the design of nonlinear dampers, which are frequently utilized to stabilize the response of mechanical systems. The kinetic energy dissipated in the form of heat often induces nonlinearities, therefore reducing the reliability of standard stability evaluation methods. Owing to the difficulty of estimating the stability properties of equilibrium solution of the resulting nonlinear time-dependent systems, engineers usually tend to linearize and time-average the governing equations. However, the solutions of nonlinear and time-dependent dynamical systems may exhibit unique properties, which are lost when they are simplified. When a damper is designed based on a simplified model, the cost associated with neglecting nonlinearities can be significantly high in terms of safety margins that are needed as a safeguard with respect to model uncertainties. Therefore, in those cases, a generalized stability measure, with its parametric sensitivity, can replace usual model simplifications in engineering design, especially when a system is dominated by specific, non-negligible nonlinearities and time-dependencies. The estimation of the characteristic exponents and their sensitivity is illustrated. A practical application of the proposed methodology is presented, considering that the problem of helicopter ground resonance (GR) and landing gear shimmy vibration with nonlinear dampers are implemented instead of linear ones. Exploiting the analytical sensitivity of the Lyapunov exponents within a continuation approach, the geometric parameters of the damper are determined. The mass of the damper and the largest characteristic exponent of the system are used as the objective function and the inequality or equality constraint in the design of the viscous dampers.
Reconstruction of Radiative Properties Fields in Participating Media by Using the Sequential Quadratic Programing Combined With Regularization Technique
Authors: Wei Lin-Yang , Qi Hong , Zhang Xiao-Luo , Wen Shuang , Islam Md Arafat , Ruan Li-Ming
Published: November 2018

The refractive index and absorption coefficient fields in participating media are reconstructed simultaneously in this work. In the direct model, the coupled radiation–conduction heat transfer in participating media exposed to a pulse laser irradiation is solved by finite volume method (FVM). In the inverse model, the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm combined with the generalized Gaussian Markov random field (GGMRF) model is employed to solve the reconstruction problem. It is found that the refractive index and absorption coefficient fields cannot be reconstructed simultaneously. A secondary reconstruction technique based on different regularization parameters is proposed to reconstruct the refractive index and absorption coefficient fields simultaneously. All the retrieval results indicate that the proposed secondary reconstruction technique performs accurately and effectively.
Experimental and Numerical Studies on Defect Characteristics During Milling of Aluminum Honeycomb Core
Authors: An Qinglong , Dang Jiaqiang , Ming Weiwei , Qiu Kunxian , Chen Ming
Published: November 2018

The honeycomb sandwich structure has been widely used in the aerospace industry due to its high specific strength and stiffness. However, the machining defects of the aluminum honeycomb core (AHC) have become the key factor that restricts its application. In this paper, the defects' characteristics including the formation mechanism, distribution characteristic, and cutting process of honeycomb cell walls during AHC milling process were experimentally investigated. Furthermore, using normalized Cockcroft and Latham ductile fracture criterion and Johnson–Cook (JC) constitutive model, the numerical simulation of the AHC machining process was conducted concerning the entrance angle. It is indicated that six categories of milling defects are obtained and the quantity as well as distribution regularity of AHC milling defects are determined by the double effects of both the entrance angle and cutting force. Most of the surface defects of honeycomb materials were found concentrated in three regions, named by zones I–III, in which extruding, shear, and tensile deformation was mainly generated, respectively. Besides, the finite element simulation results also agree well with the experimental findings. Finally, a novel optimization method to avoid defects in the aforementioned regions by controlling the entrance angle of all the honeycomb walls during the cutting process was proposed in this paper. Meanwhile, the optimal control equations of the entrance angle for all cell walls were derived. This method was verified by milling experiments at last and the results showed that the optimization effect was obvious since the quality of the machined surface was greatly improved.
Robust Hybrid Position-Force Control for Robotic Surface Polishing
Authors: Solanes J. Ernesto , Gracia Luis , Muñoz-Benavent Pau , Valls Miro Jaime , Perez-Vidal Carlos , Tornero Josep
Published: November 2018

This work presents a hybrid position-force control of robots for surface polishing using task priority. The robot force control is designed using sliding mode ideas in order to benefit from its inherent robustness and low computational cost. In order to avoid the chattering drawback typically present in sliding mode control, several chattering-free controllers are evaluated and tested. A distinctive feature of the method is that the sliding mode force task is defined using not only equality constraints but also inequality constraints, which are satisfied using conventional and nonconventional sliding mode control, respectively. Moreover, a lower priority tracking controller is defined to follow the desired reference trajectory on the surface being polished. The applicability and the effectiveness of the proposed approach considering the mentioned chattering-free controllers are substantiated by experimental results using a redundant 7R manipulator.
Planning for Successful Transients and Trips in a 1 MWe-Scale High-Temperature sCO2 Test Loop
Authors: Allison Timothy C. , Jeffrey Moore J. , Hofer Doug , Towler Meera Day , Thorp Joseph
Published: November 2018

Supercritical CO2 power cycles incorporate a unique combination of high fluid pressure, temperature, and density as well as limited component availability (e.g., high-temperature trip valves) that can result in operational challenges, particularly during off-design and transient operation. These conditions and various failure scenarios must be considered and addressed during the facility, component, and control system design phase in order to ensure machinery health and safety during operation. This paper discusses significant findings and resulting design/control requirements from a detailed failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) that was performed for the 1 MWe-scale supercritical CO2 test loop at Southwest Research Institute, providing insight into design and control requirements for future test facilities and applications. The test loop incorporates a centrifugal pump, axial turboexpander, gas-fired primary heat exchanger, and microchannel recuperator for testing in a simple recuperated cycle configuration at pressures and temperatures up to 255 bar and 715 °C, respectively. The analysis considered off-design operation as well as high-impact failures of turbomachinery and loop components that may require fast shutdowns and blowdowns. The balance between fast shutdowns/blowdowns and the need to manage thermal stresses in the turbomachinery resulted in staged shutdown sequences and impacted the design/control strategies for major loop components and ancillary systems including the fill, vent, and seal supply systems.
An Influence of a Fluidic Oscillator Insertion in a Swirl-Stabilized Burner on Turbulent Premixed Flame
Authors: Hassan Sameh H. , Emara Ahmed A. , Elkady Mahmoud A.
Published: November 2018

A series of experiments were performed on a vertical EV burner with a constant coflow air of 873 L/min to generate turbulent lean premixed flow in order to study the impact of the addition of acetylene/argon mixture to the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on the temperature field and flame structure. The fluidics mechanism was inserted at a fixed position inside the entry section of the EV burner assembly. The flow rates of fuel (LPG/C2H2/Ar) and air were measured using calibrated rotameters. The different volume ratios of the fuel constituents were admitted via three solenoid valves and monitored using a labview program. The axial temperature profiles at different operating conditions were measured using (type S) thermocouple. Flame images were obtained—before and after fluidics insertion—using a high-resolution digital camera. The experimental program aims at identifying and analyzing the changes in flame characteristics resulting from the insertion of fluidics while considering different proportions of the fuel constituents) (including pure LPG, as a reference case). The results obtained indicate the following: it was noticed that in most cases of pure LPG only and other mixtures, the images show increase in the length of the flame and decrease of its luminosity as a result of higher degrees of swirl due to the fluidics insertion while the temperature profiles of the different flames were changed. It was indicated that NOx trend was decreased by 52% while the combustion efficiency was improved by 2.5%.
Incidence Effect on the Aero-Thermal Performance of a Film Cooled Nozzle Vane Cascade
Authors: Abdeh H. , Barigozzi G. , Perdichizzi A. , Henze M. , Krueckels J.
Published: November 2018

In the present paper, the influence of inlet flow incidence on the aerodynamic and thermal performance of a film cooled linear nozzle vane cascade is fully assessed. Tests have been carried out on a solid and a cooled cascade. In the cooled cascade, coolant is ejected at the end wall through a slot located upstream of the leading edge plane. Moreover, a vane showerhead cooling system is also realized through four rows of cylindrical holes. The cascade was tested at a high inlet turbulence intensity level (Tu1 = 9%) and at a constant inlet Mach number of 0.12 and nominal cooling condition, varying the inlet flow angle in the range ±20 deg. The aero-thermal characterization of vane platform was obtained through five-hole probe and end wall adiabatic film cooling effectiveness measurements. Vane load distributions and surface flow visualizations supported the discussion of the results. A relevant negative impact of positive inlet flow incidence on the cooled cascade aerodynamic and thermal performance was detected. A negligible influence was instead observed at negative incidence, even at the lowest tested value of −20 deg.
A DEMATEL-Based Disassembly Line Balancing Heuristic
Authors: Ilgin Mehmet Ali
Published: November 2018

Circular economy has emerged as a response to increasing environmental problems. As opposed to linear economy, circular economy aims at the preservation of energy, material, and labor contents of used products. A critical process in circular economy is product recovery which involves the recovery of materials or components from returned products through various recovery options including recycling, refurbishing, and remanufacturing. All recovery options require some level of disassembly and disassembly operations that are generally carried out in a disassembly line. Like assembly lines, disassembly lines must be balanced in order to ensure the effective operation of the line. Mathematical programming techniques, metaheuristics, and various heuristic procedures were employed in order to solve different types of disassembly line balancing problem (DLBP). However, the use of multi-attribute decision making techniques is limited to few studies. In this study, we propose a DEMATEL-based disassembly line balancing approach which does not require extensive knowledge in operations research and computer programming. A solution can be obtained by carrying out basic matrix operations and following the steps of the approach. Two numerical examples are also provided in order to present the applicability of the proposed approach. The results indicate that the proposed approach presents a satisfactory performance compared to the previously proposed approaches.