bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the restriction of arm elevation after intramedullary fixation for proximal humeral fractures
Authors: Inui Hiroaki , Nobuhara Katsuya
Published: February 2017

Background

Nail protrusion is suspected as a reason for the restriction of arm elevation after antegrade nailing of proximal humeral fractures, although assessment of the restriction of the glenohumeral joint during arm elevation has been insufficient.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 30 shoulders with proximal humeral fractures in 29 cases were treated with Polarus short nails (Acumed, Beaverton, OR, USA). At a mean final follow-up of 14 months, clinical outcomes, bony union, alignment including retroversion of the head and entry points of the nails were evaluated. The ability of a subject to achieve maximum elevation above the zero position was also evaluated.

Results

Constant and Japanese Shoulder Association scores were a mean (SD) of 54 (12) and 71 (8.9) points, respectively. Even though all cases achieved bony union without mal-alignment of the head and greater tuberosity height or protrusion of the nail at its entry point, only six subjects could achieve maximum elevation above the zero position.

Conclusions

Based on these findings, treatment of proximal humeral fractures with an antegrade humeral nail inserted from the top of the humeral head results in restricted arm elevation, even in patients without nail protrusion or fragment malalignment.
Data ideologies of an interested public: A study of grassroots open government data intermediaries
Authors: Schrock Andrew , Shaffer Gwen
Published: February 2017

Government officials claim open data can improve internal and external communication and collaboration. These promises hinge on “data intermediaries”: extra-institutional actors that obtain, use, and translate data for the public. However, we know little about why these individuals might regard open data as a site of civic participation. In response, we draw on Ilana Gershon to conceptualize culturally situated and socially constructed perspectives on data, or “data ideologies.” This study employs mixed methodologies to examine why members of the public hold particular data ideologies and how they vary. In late 2015 the authors engaged the public through a commission in a diverse city of approximately 500,000. Qualitative data was collected from three public focus groups with residents. Simultaneously, we obtained quantitative data from surveys. Participants’ data ideologies varied based on how they perceived data to be useful for collaboration, tasks, and translations. Bucking the “geek” stereotype, only a minority of those surveyed (20%) were professional software developers or engineers. Although only a nascent movement, we argue open data intermediaries have important roles to play in a new political landscape.
Treatment choices for depression: Young people’s response to a traditional e-health versus a Health 2.0 website
Authors: Scanlan Faye , Jorm Anthony , Reavley Nicola , Meyer Denny , Bhar Sunil
Published: January 2017

Objective

This exploratory experimental study compared young people’s credibility appraisals and behavioural intentions following exposure to depression treatment information on a Health 2.0 website versus a traditional website. The traditional website listed evidence-based treatment recommendations for depression as judged by field experts. The Health 2.0 website contained information about how helpful each treatment was, as aggregated from feedback from young people with lived experience of depression.

Method

Participants ( n = 279) were provided with a vignette asking them to imagine that they had just received a diagnosis of depression and they had gone online to find information to guide their treatment choices. They were randomly allocated to view either the traditional or the Health 2.0 website, and were asked to rate the credibility of the depression treatment information provided. They were also asked to indicate the extent to which they would be likely to act on the advice of the website.

Results

Participants in the traditional website condition rated their website as significantly more influential than did participants presented with the Health 2.0 website. This difference in treatment influence was fully accounted for the participants’ perception of credibility of the information provided by the websites.

Conclusion

The traditional website was rated as significantly more credible and influential than the Health 2.0 website. Treatment decisions appeared to be based on the extent to which online information appears credible. In conclusion, health-related content was perceived by users as more credible when endorsed by experts than by other users, and perceived message credibility appears to be a powerful determinant of behavioural intentions within the e-health setting.
Immigration, Collective Efficacy, Social Ties, and Violence: Unpacking the Mediating Mechanisms in Immigration Effects on Neighborhood-Level Violence
Authors: Feldmeyer Ben , Madero-Hernandez Arelys , Rojas-Gaona Carlos E. , Sabon Lauren Copley
Published: February 2017

An extensive body of research indicates that community levels of crime are either unaffected by levels of immigration or that immigration is associated with lower, not higher, rates of crime. According to the “immigrant revitalization” perspective, the protective effects of immigration are largely indirect, working through neighborhood-level processes, such as social networks, social capital, and collective efficacy. However, these mediating effects have received little empirical attention in the immigration–crime literature. Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, the current study seeks to extend research on immigration and crime by assessing the mediating effects of neighborhood friendship and kinship ties and collective efficacy in immigration–violence relationships. Similar to previous studies, we find that the total effect of immigrant concentration on homicide and perceptions of violence is null. However, examining the indirect pathways reveals that immigration works in complex ways, with both positive and negative influences on violence that ultimately manifest as a nonsignificant effect. Specifically, immigrant concentration is associated with lower levels of collective efficacy, thereby increasing violence, but it is simultaneously linked to stronger friendship and kinship networks, which in turn reduces violence. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Tissue tolerance: a distinct concept to control acute GVHD severity
Authors: Wu Shin-Rong , Reddy Pavan
Published: February 2017

Target tissue damage occurs as a consequence of pathological immune responses following allogeneic stem cell transplantation resulting in acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Among those who study infections in plants, it is well recognized that tissues play a distinct role from the immune system in mediating disease severity. Recently, this has also been appreciated in mammals. However, the severity of immunopathology in the context of alloimmune diseases such as acute GVHD has been mainly understood and managed by direct targeting of immune cells to generate immune tolerance. The role of tissue-intrinsic factors that might contribute to regulation of acute GVHD severity has been largely overlooked. Here, we introduce the concept of “tissue tolerance” to discuss the tissue-specific programs that contribute to target tissue resilience, repair, and regeneration, and mitigate severity of acute GVHD without altering the load or function of alloreactive immune cells.
Biochemical and genetic functional dissection of the P38 viral suppressor of RNA silencing
Authors: Iki Taichiro , Tschopp Marie-Aude , Voinnet Olivier
Published: February 2017

Phytoviruses encode viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) to counteract the plant antiviral silencing response, which relies on virus-derived small interfering (si)RNAs processed by Dicer RNaseIII enzymes and subsequently loaded into ARGONAUTE (AGO) effector proteins. Here, a tobacco cell-free system was engineered to recapitulate the key steps of antiviral RNA silencing and, in particular, the most upstream double-stranded (ds)RNA processing reaction, not kinetically investigated thus far in the context of plant VSR studies. Comparative biochemical analyses of distinct VSRs in the reconstituted assay showed that in all cases tested, VSR interactions with siRNA duplexes inhibited the loading, but not the activity, of antiviral AGO1 and AGO2. Turnip crinkle virus P38 displayed the additional and unique property to bind both synthetic and RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase-generated long dsRNAs, and inhibited the processing into siRNAs. Single amino acid substitutions in P38 could dissociate dsRNA-processing from AGO-loading inhibition in vitro and in vivo, illustrating dual-inhibitory strategies discriminatively deployed within a single viral protein, which, we further show, are bona fide suppressor functions that evolved independently of the conserved coat protein function of P38.
Optical effects produced by running onboard engines of low-earth-orbit spacecraft
Authors: Белецкий Александр , Beletsky Aleksandr , Михалев Александр , Mikhalev Aleksandr , Хахинов Виталий , Khakhinov Vitaliy , Лебедев Валентин , Lebedev Valentin
Published: February 2017

This paper presents results of optical observations made during Radar-Progress Experiment performed on April 17, 2013 and July 30, 2014 after approach-correction engines (ACE) of Progress M-17M and Progress M-23M cargo spacecraft in the thermosphere had been started. A region of enhanced emission intensity was recorded during engine operation. This may have been related to the scatter of twilight solar emission along the cargo spacecraft exhaust and to the emergence of additional atomic oxygen [OI] emission at 630 nm. The maximum dimension of the observed emission region was ~330–350 km and ~250–270 km along and across the orbit respectively. For the first time after ACE had been started, an expansion rate of emission region was ~ 7 and ~ 3.5 km/s along and across the orbit respectively. The maximum intensity of the disturbance area for Progress M-17M is estimated as ~40–60 R at 2 nm. Pro-gress M-23M Space Experiment recorded a minor disturbance of atmospheric [OI] 630.0 nm emissions, both in near and in far cargo spacecraft flight paths, which might have been associated with the ACE exhaust gas injection.
Fare Evasion in Transit Networks
Authors: Correa José , Harks Tobias , Kreuzen Vincent J. C. , Matuschke Jannik
Published: February 2017

Public transit systems in major urban areas usually operate under deficits and therefore require significant subsidies. An important cause of this deficit, particularly in the developing world, is the high fare evasion rate mainly due to an ineffective control policy or the lack of it. In this paper we study new models for optimizing fare inspection strategies in transit networks based on bilevel programming. In the first level, the leader (the network operator) determines probabilities for inspecting passengers at different locations, while in the second level, the followers (the fare-evading passengers) respond by optimizing their routes given the inspection probabilities and travel times. To model the followers’ behavior we study both a nonadaptive variant, in which passengers select a path a priori and continue along it throughout their journey, and an adaptive variant, in which they gain information along the way and use it to update their route. For these problems, which are interesting in their own right, we design exact and approximation algorithms, and we prove a tight bound of 3/4 on the ratio of the optimal cost between adaptive and nonadaptive strategies. For the leader’s optimization problem, we study a fixed-fare and a flexible-fare variant, where ticket prices may or may not be set at the operator’s will. For the latter variant, we design an LP-based approximation algorithm. Finally, employing a local search procedure that shifts inspection probabilities within an initially determined support set, we perform an extensive computational study for all variants of the problem on instances of the Dutch railway and the Amsterdam subway network. This study reveals that our solutions are within 5% of theoretical upper bounds drawn from the LP relaxation. We also derive exact nonlinear programming formulations for all variants of the leader’s problem and use them to obtain exact solutions for small instance sizes.

The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2016.1560 .
Femoral osteochondritis of the knee: Prognostic value of the mechanical axis
Authors: Gonzalez-Herranz P. , Rodriguez M.L. , de la Fuente C.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Femoral osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a disorder of unknown aetiology and variable prognosis that causes knee pain. In this paper, the authors study the impact of lower limb malalignment on the development and prognosis of OCD.

Methods

After anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiograph and MRI of the knee, 53 cases of OCD were diagnosed. All patients were studied by standing full-length AP radiograph of the lower extremities in order to analyse the relationship between the femorotibial and mechanical axis and the location and stability of the osteochondritis.

Results

The OCD lesion was located in the medial condyle (zone 2) in 75.5% of cases (40 cases). The lateral condyle was affected in 24.5% of cases (zone 4 in nine cases and zone 5 in four cases). The femorotibial angle (anatomical axis) was normally aligned in 68% of cases. A valgus deformity was observed in 9.5% of cases and a varus deformity in 22.5%. The mechanical axis of the limb appeared normal in only 32% of cases, with medial deviation in 53%, and lateral deviation in 15% of cases. When the OCD lesion was located in the medial condyle (40 cases), the mechanical axis also crossed the knee through the medial zone in 28 cases. When the OCD lesion was located in the lateral condyle (13 cases), the mechanical axis crossed the knee through zones 1 or 2 in four cases. In stable OCD, the mechanical axis and location of the lesion coincided in 19 of 36 cases (52%), compared with 16 of 17 cases (94%) in unstable OCD.

Conclusions

There is a high correlation between OCD location and lower limb mechanical axis deviation. The convergence of the mechanical axis with the location of the OCD lesion may be considered an associated factor in fragment instability. This convergence is more common in unstable OCD.
Fluoroscopic imaging overestimates the screw tip to subchondral bone distance in a cadaveric model of slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Authors: Heffernan M.J. , Snyder B. , Zhou H. , Li X.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Intra-operative imaging plays a key role in screw placement for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Complications have been associated with inadequate screw position. The purpose of this study was to evaluate computed tomography (CT) (3D fluoroscopy) and standard fluoroscopy (C-arm) images as compared with direct anatomic measurement to determine final screw position in a cadaveric SCFE model.

Methods

Osteotomy with pinning was performed at the physeal scar in ten cadaveric hips. A standardised approach-withdrawal technique was performed with C-arm images taken at 15° increments. We also obtained a CT (3D fluoroscopy) scan of each hip. The screw tip-subchondral bone (STSB) distance was measured on digital imaging software and also with a digital calliper directly when the femoral head was cut in plane to expose the STSB distance anatomically. Statistical analysis included t-tests and Fisher's exact test.

Results

Moderate SCFE osteotomies were achieved with a mean Southwick angle (39.5° ± 7°). The 60° fluoroscopic image was found to be the most representative image (41% of the time) compared with both anteroposterior (AP) and lateral images (8% and 21%). Both fluoroscopy (2.7 ± 0.8 mm, p < 0.001) and CT (1.6 ± 0.7 mm, p = 0.03) overestimated the STSB distance compared with direct measurement (0.94 ±  0.51 mm). Two-thirds (67%) of CT measurements were within 1 mm of the cadaveric measurement, while only 20% of C-arm measurements fulfilled this criterion (p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Both standard fluoroscopy and CT overestimated the STSB distance when compared with direct measurement in a cadaveric model of SCFE. Surgeons should be aware of the limitations of intra-operative imaging to determine the STSB distance. We suggest that using the known pitch of a screw (2.9 mm in a 7.3-mm cannulated screw) as an intra-operative tool to help guide screw placement.
Bolotnaia Five Years On: Can Online Activism Effect Large Scale Political Change in Russia?
Authors: Murphy Flora
Published: February 2017

Bolotnaia Five Years On: Can Online Activism Effect Large Scale Political Change in Russia?
This work explores the role of new media in Russian politics and ultimately argues that their potential to bring about significant political change in the current Russian political landscape is limited. The 2011-2012 winter protests, in Bolotnaia Square in Moscow and across Russia, led to a boom in both Russian and English-language protest scholarship, especially regarding the role that new media and online communication networks play in the organisation and execution of political movements. But the significance of this case study is not limited to Russia: this question must be understood in a global context. In a post-Arab Spring world, this topic is one of active discussion and current global relevance. This paper aims to consider the Russian case study in that broader context, bridging gaps in existing scholarship in this field.
Study of old ecological hazards, oil seeps and contaminations using earth observation methods – spectral library for oil seep
Authors: Smejkalová Eva , Bujok Petr , Pikl Miroslav
Published: January 2017

The possibilities of remote sensing techniques in the field of the Earth surface monitoring and protection specifically for the problems caused by petroleum contaminations, for the mapping of insufficiently plugged and abandoned old oil wells and for the analysis of onshore oil seeps are described. Explained is the methodology for analyzing and detection of potential hydrocarbon contaminations using the Earth observation in the area of interest in Slovakia (Korňa) and in Czech Republic (Nesyt), mainly building and calibrating the spectral library for oil seeps. The acquisition of the in-situ field data (ASD, Cropscan spectroradiometers) for this purpose, the successful building and verification of hydrocarbon spectral library, the application of hydrocarbon indexes and use of shift in red-edge part of electromagnetic spectra, the spectral analysis of input data are clarified in the paper. Described is approach which could innovate the routine methods for investigating the occurrence of hydrocarbons and can assist during the mapping and locating the potential oil seep sites. Important outcome is the successful establishment of a spectral library (database with calibration data) suitable for further application in data classification for identifying the occurrence of hydrocarbons.
Long-term fire effects of the drained open fen on organic soils
Authors: Sulwiński Marcin , Mętrak Monika , Suska-Malawska Małgorzata
Published: January 2017

Fire has considerable impact on vegetation and organic soils properties. As we observed that the differences between vegetation of burnt and unburnt areas on the rich fen are visible 11 years after the fire, we assumed that the post-fire changes are long lasting, yet limited exclusively to the burnt areas. In order to check this hypothesis we studied spatial differentiation of physical and chemical properties of soils, and productivity capacities of burnt and unburnt areas in the fen in Biebrza National Park. We took soil samples from the neighboring burnt and unburnt areas, from the depth of 0–30 cm and 30–50 cm. We analyzed 21 parameters of the soils including: pH, ash content, moisture, bulk density, exchangeable K, Na, Ca, available P, N-NH4+, N-NO3−, total N, C, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, P; and calculated C:N, C:P ratios. Surface layer of the burnt soils differed significantly from the unburnt soils in respect of 17 out of 21 parameters. The most pronounced difference was observed for available phosphorous (on average 6 times higher for the burnt soils). The differences in the deeper layer were mostly insignificant. The burnt areas were also characterized by twofold higher plant productivity than recorded for the unburnt areas. The influence of fire on peaty soils was long lasting but mostly limited to the surface layer of the soils. In the case of particular soil features, the post-fire differences were modified by advanced muck formation (moorshing) processes in the unburnt areas. Since the fire led to long lasting increase of fertility, the recovery of fen vegetation is unlikely.
Removal efficiency of anionic surfactants from water during UVC photolysis and advanced oxidation process in H2O2/UVC system
Authors: Ríos Francisco , Olak-Kucharczyk Magdalena , Gmurek Marta , Ledakowicz Stanisław
Published: January 2017

Surfactants after their use are discharged into aquatic ecosystems. These compounds may be harmful to fauna and flora in surface waters or can be toxic for microorganisms of the activated sludge or biofilm in WWTP. In order to determine effectiveness of different advanced oxidation processes on the degradation of surfactants, in this study the degradation of anionic surfactants in aqueous solution using photolysis by 254 nm irradiation and by advanced oxidation process in a H2O2/UVC system was investigated. Two representatives of anionic surfactants, linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS-R11–14) and ether carboxylic derivate (EC-R12–14E10) were tested. The influence of pH, initial surfactant concentration and dose of hydrogen peroxide on the degradation was also studied. Results show outstanding effectiveness of the H2O2/UVC system in the removal of surfactant from aqueous solutions.
Air quality modeling for Warsaw agglomeration
Authors: Holnicki Piotr , Kałuszko Andrzej , Nahorski Zbigniew , Stankiewicz Krystyna , Trapp Wojciech
Published: January 2017

The paper investigates the air quality in the urban area of Warsaw, Poland. Calculations are carried out using the emissions and meteorological data from the year 2012. The modeling tool is the regional CALMET/CALPUFF system, which is used to link the emission sources with the distributions of the annual mean concentrations. Several types of polluting species that characterize the urban atmospheric environment, like PM10, PM2.5, NOx, SO2, Pb, B(a)P, are included in the analysis. The goal of the analysis is to identify the most polluted districts and polluting compounds there, to check where the concentration limits of particular pollutants are exceeded. Then, emission sources (or emission categories) which are mainly responsible for violation of air quality standards and increase the adverse health effects, are identified. The modeling results show how the major emission sources – the energy sector, industry, traffic and the municipal sector – relate to the concentrations calculated in receptor points, including the contribution of the transboundary inflow. The results allow to identify districts where the concentration limits are exceeded and action plans are needed. A quantitative source apportionment shows the emission sources which are mainly responsible for the violation of air quality standards. It is shown that the road transport and the municipal sector are the emission classes which substantially affect air quality in Warsaw. Also transboundary inflow contributes highly to concentrations of some pollutants. The results presented can be of use in analyzing emission reduction policies for the city, as a part of an integrated modeling system.
Photocatalytic degradation of volatile chlorinated organic compounds with ozone addition
Authors: Ebrahimi Hossein , Shahna Farshid Ghorbani , Bahrami Abdulrahman , Jaleh Babak , Abedi Kamal ad-Din
Published: January 2017

The decomposition of hydrocarbons using combined advanced oxidation methods is largely considered owing to abundant production of OH radicals and the potential economic advantages. In this study, the synergetic effect of ozonation on photocatalytic oxidation of chloroform and chlorobenzene over expanded graphite-TiO2&ZnO Nano composite was investigated. The effect of introduced ozone concentration and residence time was also examined on removal efficiency. The results showed that the removal efficiency was significantly enhanced by the combined system resulting from the additional oxidation process causing active species to be increased. Increasing the introduced ozone concentration which generates more reactive compounds had a greater effect on the removal efficiency than that of residence time. However, from the mineralization point of view, the residence time had a dominant effect, and the selectivity towards CO2 was dramatically declined when the flow rate increased. Based on these results, the combined system is preferred due to higher removal efficiency and complete mineralization.
Bioecological and statistical risk assessment of toxic metals in sediments of a worldwide important wetland: Gala Lake National Park (Turkey)
Authors: Tokatli Cem
Published: January 2017

Gala Lake National Park that has an international importance is one of the most important wetland ecosystems for Turkey. As same as many aquatic habitats, Gala Lake is under a significant anthropogenic pressure originated from agricultural activities conducted around the lake and from industrial discharges by means of Ergene River.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sediment quality of Gala Lake and Irrigation Canal by investigating some toxic element accumulations (As, B, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu) from a statistical perspective. Pearson Correlation Index (PCI) and Factor Analysis (FA) were applied to detected data in order to determine the associated contaminants and effective factors on the system. Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI) and Biological Risk Index based sediment quality guidelines (mERM-Q) applied to detected data in order to assess the ecological and biological risks of heavy metals in the ecosystem. Also Geographic Information System (GIS) technology was used to make visual explanations by presenting distribution maps of investigated elements.

According to the results of PCI, significant positive correlations were recorded among the investigated toxic elements at 0.01 significance level. According to the results of FA, two factors, which were named as “Agricultural Factor” and “Industrial Factor”, explained 86.6% of the total variance. According to the results of Potential Ecological Risk Index, cadmium was found to be the highest risk factor and according to results of Biological Risk Index, nickel and chromium were found to be the highest risk factors for Gala Lake and Irrigation Canal. As a result of the present study, it was also determined that heavy metal contents in sediments of Gala Lake National Park reached to critical levels and the system is intensively under effect of agricultural and industrial originated pollution.
Adsorption capacity of chosen sandy ground with respect to contaminants relocating with groundwater
Authors: Aniszewski Andrzej
Published: January 2017

One of the most important problems concerning contaminant transport in the ground is the problem related to the definition of parameters characterizing the adsorption capacity of ground for the chosen contaminants relocating with groundwater. In this paper, for chloride and sulfate indicators relocating in sandy ground, the numerical values of retardation factors (Ra) (treated as average values) and pore groundwater velocities with adsorption (ux/Ra) (in micro-pore ground spaces) are taken into consideration. Based on 2D transport equation the maximal dimensionless concentration values (C*max c) in the chosen ground cross-sections were calculated. All the presented numerical calculations are related to the unpublished measurement series which was marked in this paper as: October 1982. For this measurement series the calculated concentration values are compared to the measured concentration ones (C*max m) given recently to the author of this paper. In final part of this paper the parameters characterizing adsorption capacity (Ra, ux/Ra) are also compared to the same parameters calculated for the two earlier measurement series. Such comparison also allowed for the estimation of a gradual in time depletion of adsorption capacity for the chosen sandy ground.
Ranking criteria for assessment of municipal solid waste dumping sites
Authors: Mahmood Khalid , Batool Syeda Adila , Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz , Ul-Haq Zia
Published: January 2017

Priority wise channelization of resources is the key to successful environmental management, especially when funds are limited. The study in hand has successfully developed an algorithmic criterion to compare hazardous effects of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) dumping sites quantitatively. It is a Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) that has made use of the scaling function to normalize the data values, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for assigning weights to input parameters showing their relevant importance, and Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) for aggregating the normalized scores. Input parameters have been divided into three classes namely Resident’s Concerns, Groundwater Vulnerability and Surface Facilities. Remote Sensing data and GIS analysis were used to prepare most of the input data. To elaborate the idea, four dumpsites have been chosen as case study, namely Old-FSD, New-FSD, Saggian and Mahmood Booti. The comparison has been made first at class levels and then class scores have been aggregated into environmental normalized index for environmental impact ranking. The hierarchy of goodness found for the selected sites is New-FSD > Old-FSD > Mahmood Booti > Saggian with comparative scores of goodness to environment as 36.67, 28.43, 21.26 and 13.63 respectively. Flexibility of proposed model to adjust any number of classes and parameters in one class will be very helpful for developing world where availability of data is the biggest hurdle in research based environmental sustainability planning. The model can be run even without purchasing satellite data and GIS software, with little inaccuracy, using imagery and measurement tools provided by Google Earth.
Effects of three pesticides on superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase activities and reproduction of Daphnia magna
Authors: Song Yuzhi , Chen Mindong , Zhou Junying
Published: January 2017

Applying pesticides to crops is one of the causes of water pollution by surface runoff, and chlorpyrifos, trifluralin and chlorothalonil are used respectively as insecticide, herbicide and fungicide for crop plants widely. To explore effects of three pesticides on aquatic organisms, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were determined after 24 h and 48 h exposure of D. magna with ages of 6–24 h to several low concentrations of chlorpyrifos (0.36, 0.72, 1.43, 2.86, 5.72 μg∙L−1), trifluralin (0.17, 0.33, 0.66, 1.33, 2.65 mg∙L−1) and chlorothalonil (0.09, 0.18, 0.36, 0.72, 1.43 mg∙L−1) respectively. Main reproductive parameters including first pregnancy time, first brood time, the number of first brood and total fecundity after 21 d exposures at the same concentrations of pesticides as described above were also measured. The results showed that the activities of GST increased in lower concentrations and decreased in higher concentrations after 24 h exposure to three pesticides, respectively. The activities of SOD showed the same changes after 48 h exposure. With the time prolonged, the activities of GST decreased while the activities of SOD increased. After 21 d exposure, the first pregnancy time and first brood time were delayed, while the number of the first brood and total fecundity per female decreased with increasing concentrations. These results corroborated that GST activity was more sensitive to those pesticides than SOD activity, and there was a significant relationship between total fecundity and pesticides-dose(r>0.94, n=6), GST activity after 48 h exposure and total fecundity after 21 d exposure (r>0.92, n=6).
The application of forest sustainable management framework and community participation adjacent to Doi Laung wildlife sanctuary, Thailand
Authors: Khonkaen Piyapit , Cheng Jie-Dar
Published: January 2017

This paper present the data for monitoring forest conditions and forest resource management by a local community adjacent to the Doi Laung Wildlife Sanctuary, Huaimai Sub-district, Song District, Phrae Province, Thailand. This study uses quantitative forest surveys, interviews, discussions, and descriptions of the historical context of public participation in forest management including a detailed assessment of field conditions. The findings of a forest resources inventory show that (1) from the three sampled areas, Doi Laung Wildlife Sanctuary has highest richness, followed by village #16 and #14, and (2) Huaikhon #16 implied the process of framework to maintain a healthy condition and response to community needs with collective management. The conceptual model assessment that links key group indicators and drivers is presented based on previously developed assessment models. The framework focuses on the best way to provide forest management, forest fire prevention, and firefighting as well as monitoring of Check-dam construction and other activities that support the recovery of the forest community. This paper demonstrates the general of an environmental assessment framework to applying organize environmental information to facilitate policy decision making for the sustainable development.
Effect of hall currents on thermal instability of dusty couple stress fluid
Authors: Aggarwal Amrish Kumar , Verma Anushri
Published: January 2017

In this paper, effect of Hall currents on the thermal instability of couple-stress fluid permeated with dust particles has been considered. Following the linearized stability theory and normal mode analysis, the dispersion relation is obtained. For the case of stationary convection, dust particles and Hall currents are found to have destabilizing effect while couple stresses have stabilizing effect on the system. Magnetic field induced by Hall currents has stabilizing/destabilizing effect under certain conditions. It is found that due to the presence of Hall currents (hence magnetic field), oscillatory modes are produced which were non-existent in their absence.
Heat transfer in plate heat exchanger channels: Experimental validation of selected correlation equations
Authors: Cieśliński Janusz T. , Fiuk Artur , Typiński Krzysztof , Siemieńczuk Bartłomiej
Published: January 2017

This study is focused on experimental investigation of selected type of brazed plate heat exchanger (PHEx). The Wilson plot approach was applied in order to estimate heat transfer coefficients for the PHEx passages. The main aim of the paper was to experimentally check ability of several correlations published in the literature to predict heat transfer coefficients by comparison experimentally obtained data with appropriate predictions. The results obtained revealed that Hausen and Dittus-Boelter correlations underestimated heat transfer coefficient for the tested PHEx by an order of magnitude. The Aspen Plate code overestimated heat transfer coefficient by about 50%, while Muley-Manglik correlation overestimated it from 1% to 25%, dependent on the value of Reynolds number and hot or cold liquid side.
Influence of nitrogen on thermodynamic properties and plasma composition in discharge tube of CO-laser
Authors: Grigorian Galina M. , Cenian Adam
Published: January 2017

The role of the addition of nitrogen to the discharge plasma of CO lasers on thermodynamic properties and composition of the laser active medium is discussed here. It is shown that nitrogen addition improves laser characteristics and changes the composition of the laser active medium. The addition of nitrogen significantly decreases CO dissociation level and concentrations of C atoms created in plasma-chemical reactions of laser discharge.
Analytical 1D models of the wall thermal resistance of rectangular minichannels applied in heat exchangers
Authors: Rybiński Witold , Mikielewicz Jarosław
Published: January 2017

The paper presents four 1-dimensional models of thermal resistance of walls in a heat exchanger with rectangular minichannels. The first model is the simplest one, with a single wall separating two fluids. The second model of the so called equivalent wall takes into account total volume of intermediate walls between layers of minichannels and of side walls of minichannels. The next two more complicated models take separately into account thermal resistance of these walls. In these two models side walls are treated as fins. The results of models comparison are presented. It is shown that thermal resistance may be neglected for metal walls but it should be taken into account for the walls made of plastics. For the case of non-neglected wall thermal resistance the optimum wall thickness was derived. Minichannel heat exchangers made of plastic are larger than those built of metal, but are significantly cheaper. It makes possible to use of such exchangers in inexpensive microscale ORC installations.
Experimental investigation of domestic micro-CHP based on the gas boiler fitted with ORC module
Authors: Wajs Jan , Mikielewicz Dariusz , Bajor Michał , Kneba Zbigniew
Published: January 2017

The results of investigations conducted on the prototype of vapour driven micro-CHP unit integrated with a gas boiler are presented. The system enables cogeneration of heat and electric energy to cover the energy demand of a household. The idea of such system is to produce electricity for own demand or for selling it to the electric grid – in such situation the system user will became the prosumer. A typical commercial gas boiler, additionally equipped with an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) module based on environmentally acceptable working fluid can be regarded as future generation unit. In the paper the prototype of innovative domestic cogenerative ORC system, consisting of a conventional gas boiler and a small size axial vapour microturbines (in-house designed for ORC and the commercially available for Rankine cycle (RC)), evaporator and condenser were scrutinised. In the course of study the fluid working temperatures, rates of heat, electricity generation and efficiency of the whole system were obtained. The tested system could produce electricity in the amount of 1 kWe. Some preliminary tests were started with water as working fluid and the results for that case are also presented. The investigations showed that domestic gas boiler was able to provide the saturated/superheated ethanol vapour (in the ORC system) and steam (in the RC system) as working fluids.
A model of gas flow with friction in a slotted seal
Authors: Joachimiak Damian , Krzyślak Piotr
Published: January 2017

The paper discusses thermodynamic phenomena accompanying the flow of gas in a slotted seal. The analysis of the gas flow has been described based on an irreversible adiabatic transformation. A model based on the equation of total enthalpy balance has been proposed. The iterative process of the model aims at obtaining such a gas temperature distribution that will fulfill the continuity equation. The model allows for dissipation of the kinetic energy into friction heat by making use of the Blasius equation to determine the friction coefficient. Within the works, experimental research has been performed of the gas flow in a slotted seal of slot height 2 mm. Based on the experimental data, the equation of local friction coefficient was modified with a correction parameter. This parameter was described with the function of pressure ratio to obtain a mass flow of the value from the experiment. The reason for taking up of this problem is the absence of high accuracy models for calculating the gas flow in slotted seals. The proposed model allows an accurate determination of the mass flow in a slotted seal based on the geometry and gas initial and final parameters.
Validation of the generalized model of two-phase thermosyphon loop based on experimental measurements of volumetric flow rate
Authors: Bieliński Henryk
Published: January 2017

The current paper presents the experimental validation of the generalized model of the two-phase thermosyphon loop. The generalized model is based on mass, momentum, and energy balances in the evaporators, rising tube, condensers and the falling tube. The theoretical analysis and the experimental data have been obtained for a new designed variant. The variant refers to a thermosyphon loop with both minichannels and conventional tubes. The thermosyphon loop consists of an evaporator on the lower vertical section and a condenser on the upper vertical section. The one-dimensional homogeneous and separated two-phase flow models were used in calculations. The latest minichannel heat transfer correlations available in literature were applied. A numerical analysis of the volumetric flow rate in the steady-state has been done. The experiment was conducted on a specially designed test apparatus. Ultrapure water was used as a working fluid. The results show that the theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the measured volumetric flow rate at steady-state.
Timeline analysis of complex language learning trajectories: Data visualisation as conceptual tool and method
Authors: Tasker Isabel
Published: January 2017

This paper discusses and demonstrates the use of visualisation and visual methods in the description and analysis of the learning trajectories of long-term learners and users of an additional language (in this case, Mandarin Chinese). It draws on a longitudinal case study that investigated how the dynamic complexity and variety of long-term trajectories of learning an additional language can be described, represented and interpreted. The specific focus of this article is the visual timeline analysis method used in the study. The timeline method offers an innovative way of representing and comparing individual language learning chronologies in visual format. By progressively layering, along a time axis, visualisations of longitudinal data relating to a number of different aspects of the learning context, the method allows a simultaneous overview of multiple aspects of development over time. These information-rich representations can reveal insights into patterns of choices and development over time which are not easily perceived in text-based accounts.
Preferences Toward Leniency under Mandatory Criminal Sentencing Guidelines: Role-in-the-Offense Adjustments for Federal Drug Trafficking Defendants
Authors: Nutting Andrew W.
Published: January 2017

This paper tests whether judges and/or prosecutors manipulated mandatory federal sentencing guidelines to shorten prison sentences. It finds that, among drug traffickers convicted under the federal guidelines’ former mandatory sentencing system, those who faced harsher underlying charges were found to have played significantly lower-level roles in their conspiracies. This is consistent with guideline manipulation to help defendants facing longer sentences. Women received significantly larger role-in-the-offense reductions related to harsher underlying charges than men. Effects were insignificant if defendants were eligible for lower-cost alternative methods of sentence reduction, namely substantial assistance departures and safety-valve reductions from mandatory minimum sentences.
Similarity of empirical copulas of flood peak-volume relationships: a regional case study of North-West Austria
Authors: Gaál Ladislav , Szolgay Ján , Bacigál Tomáš , Kohnová Silvia , Hlavčová Kamila , Výleta Roman , Parajka Juraj , Blöschl Günter
Published: January 2017

This paper analyses the bivariate relationship between flood peaks and corresponding flood event volumes modelled by empirical copulas in a regional context in the North-West of Austria. Flood data of a total of 69 catchments in the region are analysed for the period 1976–2007. In order to increase the sample size and the homogeneity of the samples for the statistical analysis, 24872 hydrologically independent flood events were isolated and assigned to one of three flood process types: synoptic floods, flash floods or snowmelt floods in contrary to the more traditional engineering approach of selecting annual maxima of flood peaks and corresponding flood volumes. The first major part of the paper examines whether the empirical peak-volume copulas of different flood process types are statistically distinguishable, separately for each catchment. The results indicate that the empirical copulas of flash floods tend to be different from those of the synoptic and snowmelt floods in the target region. The second part examines how similar are the empirical flood peak-volume copulas between catchments for a given flood type. For the majority of catchment pairs, the empirical copulas of all flood types are indeed statistically similar. The flash floods show the largest degree of spatial heterogeneity. It is concluded that there is merit in treating flood types separately and in pooling events of the same type in a region when analysing and estimating flood peak-volume dependence copulas; however, the sample size of the analysed events is a limiting factor in spite of the introduced event selection procedure.
An analysis of methods for gravity determination and their utilization for the calculation of geopotential numbers in the Slovak national levelling network
Authors: Majkráková Miroslava , Papčo Juraj , Zahorec Pavol , Droščák Branislav , Mikuška Ján , Marušiak Ivan
Published: January 2017

The vertical reference system in the Slovak Republic is realized by the National Levelling Network (NLN). The normal heights according to Molodensky have been introduced as reference heights in the NLN in 1957. Since then, the gravity correction, which is necessary to determine the reference heights in the NLN, has been obtained by an interpolation either from the simple or complete Bouguer anomalies. We refer to this method as the “original”. Currently, the method based on geopotential numbers is the preferred way to unify the European levelling networks. The core of this article is an analysis of different ways to the gravity determination and their application for the calculation of geopotential numbers at the points of the NLN. The first method is based on the calculation of gravity at levelling points from the interpolated values of the complete Bouguer anomaly using the CBA2G_SK software. The second method is based on the global geopotential model EGM2008 improved by the Residual Terrain Model (RTM) approach. The calculated gravity is used to determine the normal heights according to Molodensky along parts of the levelling lines around the EVRF2007 datum point EH-V. Pitelová (UELN-1905325) and the levelling line of the 2nd order NLN to Kráľova hoľa Mountain (the highest point measured by levelling). The results from our analysis illustrate that the method based on the interpolated value of gravity is a better method for gravity determination when we do not know the measured gravity. It was shown that this method is suitable for the determination of geopotential numbers and reference heights in the Slovak national levelling network at the points in which the gravity is not observed directly. We also demonstrated the necessity of using the precise RTM for the refinement of the results derived solely from the EGM2008.