bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
REFLEKSI EPISTIMOLOGI DALAM METODOLOGI PENELITIAN (Suatu Kontemplasi atas Pekerjaan Penelitian)
Authors: Saifullah Saifullah
Published: November 2015

Research methodology is the application of epistemology in philosophical which is realized by logico hypotetico verificative-deducto hypothetico verificative. The results of the evaluation of the quality of the research methodology that gave rise buildings recently become a standard formula valid and tested public. In this context it is necessary scrutiny of the functioning and the importance of pre usability, and value the benefits of the research process so that the quality of research produced a positive impact on building science researchers. The role of the researcher holds a central position of being able to adjust the ground circumstances. Benefit value for the benefit of life as the goal of research in theory and practical should be explicitly and implicitly always accompanies every step of research. A consequence of the value of the benefits of scientific research which is undertaken is delivering research results to the user community. The use of research methodologies in the study strongly influenced the extent of the ability of researchers and scientists at the clump science community are able to map the identity of the building a distinctive methodology of scientific disciplines that is useful for subsequent research. Metodologi Penelitian merupakan penerapan epistimologi secara filsafati yang diwujudkan dengan logico  hypotetico  verificative-deducto  hypothetico  verificative.  Hasil  evaluasi terhadap  kualitas  bangunan  metodologi  penelitian  yang  memunculkan  formula  baru menjadi standar yang valid dan teruji publik. Dalam konteks ini maka perlu pencermatan tentang fungsi dan kegunaan akan pentingnya pra, proses dan nilai manfaat riset agar kualitas riset yang dihasilkan berdampak positif pada bangunan keilmuan peneliti. Peran peneliti  memegang  posisi  sentral  karena  mampu  menyesuaikan  situasi  dan  kondisi lapangan. Nilai kemanfaatan bagi kemaslahatan hidup sebagai tujuan riset secara teoritis dan praktis sebaiknya secara eksplisit dan implisit selalu menyertai setiap langkah riset. Konsekuensi ilmiah dalam nilai manfaat riset yang dilakukan adalah menyampaikan hasilhasil riset ke masyarakat pengguna. Penggunaan metodologi penelitian dalam riset sangat dipengaruhi sejauhmana kemampuan peneliti dan komunitas ilmuan pada rumpun ilmu mampu memetakan jati diri bangunan metodologi disiplin keilmuan yang khas sehingga bermanfaat bagi peneliti berikutnya.
PEMBARUAN PEMIKIRAN ISLAM INDONESIA: Negosiasi Intelektual Muslim dengan Modernitas
Authors: Mustofa M. Lutfi
Published: November 2015

Renewal in Islam is an important part of the great tradition of Muslim community in their long life historical canvas. Initial dynamics of Islamic reform that appear along the modern era and in various areas, stretching from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, India, North Africa, and Indonesia stressed that the context of modernity is demanding a revitalization of the Muslim intellectual heritage, including the works of earlier generations of Muslim scholars, as the role played by the European Christian community. As for the "second wave" of reform in Islam insists the appreciation of the importance of critical and historical approaches in understanding Islam, rather than theological, ideological, and political polemic. Therefore, to fill a more meaningful modernity Muslim reformers called for the need of refresher ijtihad by applying a new methodology to perform reinterpretation of sacred texts in solving social issues and contemporary morality.
Fatwa and Political Interest: Understanding the Fatwa of Dewan Syari’ah Pusat of PKS on Islamic Political Party
Authors: Huda Ahmad Nuril
Published: November 2015

Dewan Syari’ah Pusat, atau DSP, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera merupakan sebuah institusi fatwa yang relatif baru, dan satu-satunya institusi fatwa di Indonesia yang didirikan dalam tubuh sebuah partai politik, yang fatwa-fatwanya bersifat mengikat bagi para anggota partai. Dengan menganalisa fatwa DSP tentang partai politik Islam, artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengurai hubungan antara ‘ulama dan politik dalam perkembangan mutakhir Islam keindonesiaan. Artikel ini berusaha untuk mendeskripsikan karakteristik DSP beserta fatwa-fatwanya, dan berusaha mengurai konteks sosial-politik dari fatwa tentang partai politik Islam yang dikeluarkan oleh DSP. Analisa artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa DSP berfungsi sebagai image builder partai, dan sampai batas tertentu, bersamaan dengan pencitraan “koneksi Timur Tengah” dalam tubuh institusi DSP, memberikan legislasi Islami bagi eksistensi partai, terutama dalam hal kebijakan dan platform strategis partai. Selain itu, pengeluaran fatwa DSP tentang partai Islam tidak bisa dilepaskan dari keadaan sosial-politik Islam keindonesiaan dan karena itu menjadi representasi hubungan antara Islam dan politik di Indonesia.
WAHDAT AL WUJUD DALAM PEMIKIRAN IBNU ARABI
Authors: Rofi'ie Abd Halim
Published: November 2015

Ibnu Arabi, the Grand Master of Islam, is a great thinker whose controversial thought, wahdat al-wujud, has significantly influenced the mystiques of Islam. The meaning of wahdat al-wujud is basically two folds, i.e. that Being is the only One which exists and that the universe is merely a manifestation of the One. The One Being here refers to Allah SWT. The One covers up all the existing phenomena and functions as a resource which emanates the entire universe. In this context, He is referred to as al-Haqiqat al-Muhammadiyah. He might also be viewed as both the Universal Soul for His being the source of cosmos that governs the universe and the Universal Body for His reflecting any actions on every single micro existence that forms the universe. Furthermore, when His existence is deemed as a jauhar (jewel) that face-up any occurrences, He is typically known as al-haba’.

The concept of wahdat al-wujud can actually be simplified into the principle of laa maujuda illa wujud al-wahid (no existence except the Existing One, the Being). The One might reveal His own existence into different martabat or levels: Martabat Ahadiyah, Martabat Wahidiyah, and Martabat Tajalli Syuhudi. Those standing points trigger Ibnu Arabi to believe that any kinds of realities or existences are nothing but a true reflection of the One.
KEBAIKAN DAN KEBURUKAN MENURUT ZOROASTRIANISME (MENGENAL AJARAN MORAL ZARATHUSTRA)
Authors: Kholil Ahmad
Published: November 2015

Religions always have two values, which are very distinctive, i.e. the goodness and the badness. Al Quran describes these two qualities with various uslub related to Arabic culture: al hasanat and al sayyi’at. The goodness and the badness are always “in a war” until the end of the world. As religions, both Islam and Zoroaster rely on the faith toward God to edify their followers for performing the goodness and leaving the badness. This paper reviews to some extent–some commonalities between the moral teachings of Islam and those of Zoroaster (excluding few shared concepts of theology and creation process of the first living man). Moslems are required to apply the concept of amar ma’ruf nahi munkar, while Zoroastrians are called to implement the four principles of moral attitude: putting the weapon down, ending any quarrel, exploring the independence, and performing good attitude.
Rekonstruksi definisi Sunnah sebagai pijakan kontekstualitas pemahaman Hadits
Authors: Nasrulloh Nasrulloh
Published: November 2015

Canonization of sunnah into hadith massively appears to deal with extremismand arbitrary interpretations that have been critical to the sunnah of the Prophet.It marks the end of the interpretation process of the sunnah, including ‘theliving sunnah’ because it was freely appreciated and interpreted by others andsubsequently was turned into a verbal form. At this stage comes the new movementpioneered by Imam Shafi’i who spread the dogma that the required one is thesunnah of the Prophet. The sunnah that has validity as a source of Islamiclaw is the provable one through verbal transmission mechanism (hadith). Thehistorical point of view shows difference, intersection and similarity between thehadith and sunnah. Tracing both the meaning of hadith and sunnah in depthwill change the mindset of understanding the hadith and sunnah.Kanonisasi sunnah ke dalam bentuk hadits muncul dalam skala besar untukmenghadapi ekstrimisme dan penafsiran sewenang-wenang yang sudah gawatterhadap sunnah Nabi. Ini menandai berakhirnya proses penafsiran terhadapsunnah Nabi, termasuk ‘sunnah yang hidup’ karena sunnah Nabi yang semulabebas dipahami dan ditafsirkan oleh generasi sahabat dan setelahnya sudahberubah bentuk menjadi verbal. Pada tahap ini muncullah gerakan baruyang dipelopori oleh Imam Syafi’i yang menyebarkan dogma bahwa sunnahyang harus dipegang adalah sunnah yang berasal dari Nabi. Sunnah yangmemiliki keabsahan sebagai sumber hukum islam adalah sunnah yang dapatdibuktikan berasal dari Nabi melalui mekanisme transmisi verbal (hadits).Dengan pendekatan sejarah, diketahui adanya perbedaan dan persinggunganserta kesamaan antara hadits dan sunnah. Dengan menelusuri kedua maknahadits dan sunnah secara mendalam akan merubah pola pikir pemahamanterhadap hadits dan sunnah.
Examining Attentional Bias in Scrupulosity: Null Findings From the Dot Probe Paradigm
Authors: Jacoby Ryan J. , Berman Noah C. , Graziano Robert , Abramowitz Jonathan S.
Published: November 2015

Research consistently demonstrates that individuals with anxiety symptoms exhibit attentional biases toward threatening stimuli using various computer-based tasks. However, the presence of attentional biases across obsessive-compulsive symptom presentations has been mixed and requires clarification. This study was the first to use the dot probe paradigm to investigate the association between scrupulosity symptoms (obsessions and compulsions having to do with religion and morality) and selective attention to scrupulosity-relevant lexical stimuli. Contrary to hypotheses, individuals with higher levels of scrupulosity did not selectively attend (i.e., have faster reaction times) to scrupulosity-specific threat words (e.g., hell) more so than to general threat or neutral words. Various potential explanations for these null findings, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.
Evaluation of Inference-Based Therapy (Doubt Therapy) as a Self-Help Tool for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Moritz Steffen , Dietl Chantal , Kersten Jan Felix , Aardema Frederick , O’Connor Kieron
Published: November 2015

Introduction: Inference-based therapy (IBT) is a novel therapeutic approach aimed at reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms. For this study, the original therapist-guided protocol was adapted for self-help administration. Method: Fifty patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder who had been recruited via specialized online fora were randomly allocated to either IBT or a wait-list control condition. At baseline and 4 weeks later, questionnaires tapping into psychopathology, quality of life, and faulty reasoning were administered. Results: The completion rate was acceptable (74%) and not significantly different across groups. Relative to controls, patients in the IBT group showed modest but significant symptom decline on obsessions (Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale [Y-BOCS] self-report and Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory—Revised [OCI-R]) and washing compulsions (OCI-R) across time. No significant differences emerged for depression, quality of life, and inferential confusion. Ratings at the post-assessment suggest that the training was well accepted among patients. Test–retest reliability was high indicating good quality of the data. Discussion: This study confirms prior research suggesting that IBT is effective as a stand-alone technique. Follow-up studies are needed to elucidate the long-term effects of the training and whether positive effects are maintained if IBT is introduced as an add-on to standard treatment (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy/medication).
A Multisite Pre/Post Study of Mindfulness Training for Therapists: The Impact on Session Presence and Effectiveness
Authors: Ivanovic Mariana , Swift Joshua K. , Callahan Jennifer L. , Dunn Rose
Published: November 2015

Background: To date, little research has tested whether the use of mindfulness by clinicians results in actual changes in psychotherapy sessions. The purpose of this multisite study was to test whether a brief 5-week mindfulness training program could lead to improved session presence and effectiveness for trainee clinicians (n= 31). Methods: At the end of 85 pretraining and 132 posttraining sessions, clients completed the client version of the Therapist Presence Inventory (TPI-C; Geller, Greenberg, & Watson, 2010) and the Session Rating Scale (SRS; Johnson, Miller, & Duncan, 2000). Results: Although the levels of client-rated presence did not differ between pretraining and posttraining sessions, sessions that occurred after the training were rated by clients as more effective compared to the pretraining sessions,t(170.91) = 2.63,p= .01,d= .30. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary session outcome evidence supporting mindfulness training for clinicians.
Challenges to Geosteering and Completion Optimization of Horizontal Wells in the Cotton Valley Formation, East Texas
Authors: Liu S.. , Lucas J. L. , Plemons P. A. , Zhou X.. , Zett A.. , Spain D. R. , Rabinovich M.. , Pour R. A. , Zhou Q..
Published: November 2015

Cotton Valley tight gas sands in the East Texas basin of North America consist of very-fine-grained, well-sorted quartz arenites and subarkoses that are overprinted by significant diagenetic processes. Stratigraphic variations in rock type control gas production. Hydraulic fracturing delivers economic gas production.

We drilled horizontal wells more than 4,000 ft long consisting of more than 12 hydraulic-fracturing stages. The good gas-producing rock-type reservoirs are usually less than 14-ft thick and exhibit strong diagenetic overprint. Low gas prices challenge the use of sophisticated geosteering logs. By use of a very-basic gamma ray (GR) log and very-limited offset-pilot-well data, chasing such thin and variable sand bodies over a distance of 4,000 ft in a marginal marine sedimentary environment is daunting. Apart from this, horizontal wells that target thin layers present unique challenges to completion optimization.

We acquired quad-combo log data, including azimuthal-density image data, by use of a logging-while-drilling (LWD) tool. We performed extensive log modeling by combining the horizontal well logs with logs from the two offset vertical wells, and achieved consistent interpretation. Log modeling has helped the post-drill well diagnosis in geosteering, completion design, and production performance. It has also supported formation evaluation.

This study will highlight an integrated-study work flow in tight gas sands by use of openhole and cased-hole data. It will demonstrate the geosteering challenges, explain the log-modeling process, and display the formation-evaluation results. Geomechanical study, together with hydraulic-fracturing data and production-log data, will be used to confirm that good gas-producing rock types are easier to fracture, and they contribute better to production.
Surgical Management of Post-Traumatic Iris Cyst
Authors: Philip Swetha Sara , John Deepa Rebecca , Ninan Fini , John Sheeja Susan
Published: November 2015

Purpose :

Epithelial cysts of the iris may be primary or secondary. The management of secondary, posttraumatic
iris cysts is often challenging. The purpose of this work is to report the successful surgical management of a
post-traumatic iris cyst.

Case Report:

A 38 year-old man presented with an iris cyst associated with epithelial downgrowth and total cataract, six
years after sustaining a penetrating injury to his right eye. The iris cyst was excised in toto with the epithelial
downgrowth, and the procedure was combined with cataract extraction and intra ocular lens implantation. The patient had
good post-operative visual recovery with minimal inflammatory reaction.

Conclusion:

Post-traumatic cysts of the iris can be associated with significant ocular morbidity. Many different modalities
of treatment, with varying degrees of success, have been described for the treatment of iris cysts. Excision of the iris cyst
in toto is a good surgical management option, which can result in an excellent functional outcome with minimal
inflammatory complications.
Corneal Infection Therapy with Topical Bacteriophage Administration
Authors: Fadlallah Ali , Chelala Elias , Legeais Jean-Marc
Published: November 2015

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen in bacterial keratitis, a vision-threatening disease. Although the
incidence of S. aureus keratitis varies worldwide, the increasing trend of resistance to certain antibiotics makes this
condition an important, global, healthcare concern. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman with nosocomial left-eye
corneal abscess and interstitial keratitis.The patient then undergo topical Phage therapy with successful results.
Modification of Vermiculite for the Preparation of Floating Adsorbent for Phosphate in Wastewater
Authors: Lee Taeyoon , Lee Sangmin , Lee Jeakeun , Lim Jun‐Heok
Published: November 2015

Floating adsorbents made from exfoliated vermiculite (EV) were tested for their ability to remove phosphate in aqueous solution. The modified vermiculites (MEV) were prepared with EV/glycerol ratio of 1/4 where glycerol contained 4 mol% H2SO4 and heated until designated temperatures. The highest specific surface area of 58.6 m2/g and carbon content of 62.2% were obtained for MEV heated at 580 °C and 380 °C, respectively. The dry density of MEV was decreased from 1.78 g/cm3 (EV) to 0.25 g/cm3, indicating these adsorbent floating characteristic. The MEV heated at 380 °C showed the highest Freundlich partition coefficient of 45.7 L/kg and the highest Langmuir sorption capacity of 714.3 mg/kg among other MEVs (476.2 mg/kg for MEV‐580 and 181.8 mg/kg for MEV‐780). Removal of phosphate using MEV heated at 380 °C was well explained by pseudo‐second‐order model and model parameters were comparable to other phosphate adsorption tests.
Sepiolite functionalized with N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]-ethylenediamine triacetic acid trisodium salt. Part II: Sorption of Ni2+ from aqueous solutions
Authors: Lazarevic Slavica , Jankovic-Castvan Ivona , Jokic Bojan , Janackovic Djordje , Petrovic Rada
Published: November 2015

sorption of Ni2+ on the sepiolite functionalized by covalent grafting of
N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine triacetic acid trisodium salt,
MSEAS, was studied in batch experiments as a function of the initial metal
concentration, the equilibration time, pH value, and temperature. The
modification of sepiolite resulted in an enhanced Ni2+ retention with a
capacity of 0.261 mmol/g at 298 K. The retention of Ni2+ ions occurred
dominantly by specific sorption and exchange of Mg2+ ions from the sepiolite
structure. The sorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The
sorption equilibrium results were best described by the non-linear form of
the Langmuir Sorption Equation. The values of the thermodynamic parameters
(enthalpy, free energy and entropy) were calculated from temperature
dependent sorption isotherms and these values showed that the sorption of
Ni2+ onto modified sepiolite was endothermic.
Simple one-pot synthesis of thioureas from amine, carbon disulfide and oxidants in water
Authors: Milosavljevic Milutin , Vukicevic Ivan , Drmanic Sasa , Nikolic Jasmina , Marinkovic Aleksandar , Krstic Sanja , Petrovic Slobodan
Published: November 2015

The present study reports the new facile methodology for synthesis of
symmetrical and asymmetrical thioureas by an one-pot reaction of amine,
carbon disulfide and oxidants: hydrogen peroxide, ethylenediamine tetraacetic
acid (EDTA)/sodium percarbonate system or air. The structures of the
synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, 1H and 13C NMR and MS methods.
Reaction mechanism has been proposed on the basis of reaction intermediate
isolation and their structure determination. The synthetic benefits of the
presented methods is reflected in the operational simplicity, mild reaction
conditions, short reaction times, recycling of solvent, high purity and yield
of products, absence of dangerous by-products and technological applicability
at industrial scale. Considering commercial importance of the thioureas, it
can be emphasized that implementation of the optimal synthesis of thiourea,
based on presented methods, at industrial level of production would provide
concurrent alternative to existing technologies in use.
Empirical mapping of the convective heat transfer coefficients with local hot spots on highly conductive surfaces
Authors: Tekelioğlu Murat
Published: November 2015

An experimental method was proposed to assess the natural and forced
convective heat transfer coefficients on highly conductive bodies.
Experiments were performed at air velocities of 0m/s, 4.0m/s, and 5.4m/s, and
comparisons were made between the current results and available literature.
These experiments were extended to arbitrary-shape bodies. External flow
conditions were maintained throughout. In the proposed method, in
determination of the surface convective heat transfer coefficients, flow
condition is immaterial, i.e., either laminar or turbulent. With the present
method, it was aimed to acquire the local heat transfer coefficients on any
arbitrary conductive shape. This method was intended to be implemented by the
heat transfer engineer to identify the local heat transfer rates with local
hot spots. Finally, after analyzing the proposed experimental results,
appropriate decisions can be made to control the amount of the convective
heat transfer off the surface. Limited mass transport was quantified on the
cooled plate.
Evaluation of nanofluids performance for simulated microprocessor
Authors: Siddiqui Aysha , Arshad Waqas , Ali Hafiz , Ali Muzaffar , Nasir Muhammad
Published: November 2015

In this investigation, deionized water was used as base fluid. Two different types of nanoparticles, namely Al2O3 and Cu were used with 0.251% and 0.11% volumetric concentrations in the base fluid, respectively. Nanofluids cooling rate for flat heat sink used to cool a microprocessor was observed and compared with the cooling rate of pure water. An equivalent microprocessor heat generator i. e. a heated Cu cylinder was used for controlled experimentation. Two surface heaters, each of 130 W power, were responsible for heat generation. The experiment was performed at the flow rates of 0.45, 0.55, 0.65, 0.75, and 0.85 liter per minute. The main focus of this research was to minimize the base temperature and to increase the overall heat transfer coefficient. The lowest base temperature achieved was 79.45 oC by Al2O3 nanofluid at Reynolds number of 751. Although, Al2O3-water nanofluid showed superior performance in overall heat transfer coefficient enhancement and thermal resistance reduction as compared to other tested fluids. However, with the increase of Reynolds number, Cu-water nanofluid showed better trends of thermal enhancement than Al2O3-water nanofluid, particularly at high Reynolds number ranges.
Periodically fully developed laminar flow and heat transfer in a two-dimensional horizontal channel with staggered fins
Authors: Turgut Oğuz , Arslan Kamil
Published: November 2015

The 2-D periodically fully developed laminar forced convection fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics in a horizontal channel with staggered fins are investigated numerically under constant wall heat flux boundary condition. Study is performed using ANSYS Fluent 6.3.26 which uses finite volume method. Air (Pr @ 0.7) and Freon-12 (Pr @ 3.5) are used as working fluids. Effects of Reynolds number, Prandtl number, fin height, and distances between two fins on heat transfer and friction factor are examined. Results are given in the form of non-dimensional average Nusselt number and average Darcy friction factor as a function of Reynolds number for different fin distances and Prandtl numbers. The velocity and temperature profiles are also obtained. It is seen that as the fin distance increases, behavior approaches the finless channel, as expected. Also, thermal enhancement factors are given graphically for working fluids. It is seen that heat transfer dominates the friction as both the distance between two fins and Prandtl number increase. It is also seen that fins having blockage ratio of 0.10 in 2-D periodically fully developed laminar flow is not advantageous in comparison to smooth channel without fins.
Numerical study of heat and mass transfer optimization in a 3D inclined solar distiller
Authors: Ghachem Kaouther , Maatki Chamseddine , Kolsi Lioua , Alshammari Naif , Oztop Hakan , Borjini Mohamed , Ben Aissia , Al-Salem Khaled
Published: November 2015

A numerical study of the 3-D double-diffusive natural convection in an inclined solar distiller was established. The flow is considered laminar and caused by the interaction of thermal energy and the chemical species diffusions. The governing equations of the problem, are formulated using vector potential-vorticity formalism in its 3-D form, then solved by the finite volumes method. The Rayleigh number is fixed at Ra = 105 and effects of the buoyancy ratio and inclination are studied for opposed temperature and concentration gradients. The main purpose of the study is to find the optimum inclination angle of the distiller which promotes the maximum mass and heat transfer.
Effect of non-uniform temperature distribution on surface absorption receiver in parabolic dish solar concentrator
Authors: Senthil Ramalingam , Cheralathan Marimuthu
Published: November 2015

A flat surface absorption receiver was experimentally investigated with a parabolic dish solar concentrator in order to study the effect of receiver temperature distribution on heat gain and losses. The addition of specially designed metal fins in the inner surface of the receiver surface side the receiver transfers the incident heat flux to heat transfer fluid. The receiver surface temperature increased with increase in concentration ratio, intensity of beam radiation, and ambient temperature, but decrease with wind speed. The absorptivity of black coated mild steel of 0.85 and also the 0.15 emissivity of mild steel reduced the heat loss from the surface and improved heat gain to heat transfer fluid. The temperature gradient between the receiver periphery and centre is around 150?C. Fluid flow direction like straight and curved paths have been discussed for effective heat absorption and reduced operational duration. The thermal efficiency and operational duration were determined for a flow rate of 80 litres per hour through the receiver. Water flow though the curved path was observed with improved thermal efficiency of 3.8% and 20% reduction in operational duration when compared to the vertical flow through the receiver at same flow rate.
Impact of CO2 concentration on indoor air quality and correlation with relative humidity and indoor air temperature in school buildings in Serbia
Authors: Lazovic Ivan , Stevanovic Zarko , Jovasevic-Stojanovic Milena , Zivkovic Marija , Banjac Milos
Published: November 2015

Previous studies have shown that poorly ventilated classrooms can have
negative impact on the health of children and school staff. In most cases,
schools in Serbia are ventilated naturally. Considering their high occupancy,
classroom air quality test determines the level of air pollution, after which
it is possible to implement corrective measures. The research presented in
this study was conducted in four schools which are located in different areas
and have different architecture designs. Measurements in these schools have
been performed during the winter (heating season) and spring (non-heating
season) and the following results were presented: indoor air temperature,
relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration. These results show that
the classroom average concentration of carbon dioxide often exceeds the value
of 1500 ppm, during its full occupancy, which indicates inadequate
ventilation. Measurement campaigns show that carbon dioxide concentration
increased significantly from non-heating to heating season in three of the
four schools. Analysis of measurements also determined high correlation
between relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration in all schools in
winter season. This fact may constitute a solid basis for the fresh air
supply strategy.
Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus infection in undocumented migrants and refugees in southern Italy, January 2012 to June 2013
Authors: Coppola Nicola , Alessio Loredana , Gualdieri Luciano , Pisaturo Mariantonietta , Sagnelli Caterina , Caprio Nunzio , Maffei Rita , Starace Mario , Angelillo Italo Francesco , Pasquale Giuseppe , Sagnelli Evangelista
Published: November 2015

Screening of undocumented migrants or refugees for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections has been offered free of charge and free from bureaucratic procedures since 2012 at four primary-level clinical centres in Naples and Caserta, Italy. Of 926 undocumented migrants and refugees visiting one of the primary-level clinical centres from January 2012 to June 2013, 882 (95%) were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), total hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and antibodies against HCV and HIV. Of the 882 individuals enrolled, 78 (9%) were HBsAg positive, 35 (4%) anti-HCV positive and 11 (1%) anti-HIV positive (single infections); seven (1%) had more than one infection (three were HBsAg positive). Of the 801 HBsAg-negative patients, 373 (47%) were anti-HBc positive. The HBsAg-positivity rate was high (14%; 62/444) in individuals from sub-Saharan Africa and intermediate in those from eastern Europe (6%; 12/198), northern Africa (2%; 2/80) and Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (the ‘India-Pakistan area’) (3%; 4/126). Anti-HCV was detected in 9/126 (7%) individuals originating from the India-Pakistan area, in 12/198 (6%) from eastern Europe, in 17/444 (4%) from sub-Saharan and in 2/80 (2%) from northern Africa. The HBV, HCV and HIV infections in the undocumented migrants and refugees screened serve as a reminder to the Italian healthcare authorities to carry out extensive screening and educational programmes for these populations.
Denominators count: supplementing surveillance data for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection with testing data, Norway, 2007 to 2013
Authors: Kløvstad Hilde , Aavitsland Preben
Published: November 2015

As genital Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) infection is often asymptomatic, surveillance of diagnosed cases is heavily influenced by the rate and distribution of testing. In 2007, we started supplementing case-based surveillance data from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS) with aggregated data on age group and sex of individuals tested. In this report, annual testing rates, diagnosis rates and proportion positive for chlamydia in Norway between 1990 and 2013 are presented. From 2007, rates are also stratified by age group and sex. The annual testing rate for chlamydia culminated in the early 1990s, with 8,035 tested per 100,000 population in 1991. It then declined to 5,312 per 100,000 in 2000 after which it remained relatively stable. Between 1990 and 2013 the annual rate of diagnosed cases increased 1.5 times from ca 300 to ca 450 per 100,000 population. The proportion of positive among the tested rose twofold from ca 4% in the 1990s to 8% in 2013. Data from 2007 to 2013 indicate that more women than men were tested (ratio: 2.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.56–2.58) and diagnosed (1.54; 95% CI: 1.52–1.56). Among tested individuals above 14 years-old, the proportion positive was higher in men than women for all age groups. Too many tests are performed in women aged 30 years and older, where 49 of 50 tests are negative. Testing coverage is low (15%) among 15 to 24 year-old males. Information on sex and age-distribution among the tested helps to interpret surveillance data and provides indications on how to improve targeting of testing for chlamydia. Regular prevalence surveys may address remaining limitations of surveillance.
Presence of antibodies but no evidence for circulation of MERS-CoV in dromedaries on the Canary Islands, 2015
Authors: Gutiérrez Carlos , Tejedor-Junco María Teresa , González Margarita , Lattwein Erik , Renneker Stefanie
Published: November 2015

In 2012, a new betacoronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), was identified in humans. Several studies confirmed dromedary camels to be a potential reservoir and a source for human infection. Camels located on the Canary Islands were included in those studies and ca 10% of them were positive for MERS-CoV-specific antibodies. However, these findings could not be correctly interpreted because epidemiological information was not provided. Thus, further investigations were necessary to clarify these results. A total of 170 camels were investigated in this survey, of which seven (4.1%) were seropositive by ELISA. Epidemiological information revealed that all seropositive camels had been imported from Africa 20 or more years prior. We conclude that seropositive camels had contact with MERS-CoV in Africa and that there is no shedding of the virus among camels or people around the farms on the Canary Islands. However, the presence of antibodies in the camel herds should be monitored.
Small-Sample Adjustments for Tests of Moderators and Model Fit Using Robust Variance Estimation in Meta-Regression
Authors: Tipton Elizabeth , Pustejovsky James E.
Published: November 2015

Meta-analyses often include studies that report multiple effect sizes based on a common pool of subjects or that report effect sizes from several samples that were treated with very similar research protocols. The inclusion of such studies introduces dependence among the effect size estimates. When the number of studies is large, robust variance estimation (RVE) provides a method for pooling dependent effects, even when information on the exact dependence structure is not available. When the number of studies is small or moderate, however, test statistics and confidence intervals based on RVE can have inflated Type I error. This article describes and investigates several small-sample adjustments to F-statistics based on RVE. Simulation results demonstrate that one such test, which approximates the test statistic using Hotelling’s T2 distribution, is level-α and uniformly more powerful than the others. An empirical application demonstrates how results based on this test compare to the large-sample F-test.
“Touching Them into Words”: Running with Michael Ondaatje among the Dead
Authors: Kortenaar Neil ten
Published: November 2015

Michael Ondaatje's Running in the Family makes the claim, however obliquely, that the author can speak with his dead father. This contact relies on shifting pronouns that in writing, unlike in speaking, can be attributed to more than one person in different contexts. The text cannot reach out directly and touch the dead, but it makes room for the dead to enter, much as wild animals invade human spaces. The dead exist in the depths of the flat page, and writing allows them to communicate with the living. Writing can do so because the living and the dead are both readers. The article seeks to extend this kind of communication beyond Ondaatje and his father to include Ondaatje's readers, specifically the author of the article and the Sri Lankan-Canadian critic Chelva Kanaganayakam.
(In)auspiciousness, Discipline, and Sympathy in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee'sBishabrikshaand Rabindranath Tagore'sChokher Bali
Authors: Herrick Margaret
Published: November 2015

The article traces how, in two extremely influential early Bengali novels, a widow's “inauspiciousness,” the destructiveness she trails in her wake (variously defined), is instrumentalized to inaugurate a new domesticity and a new bourgeois couple who inhabit it. These novels, in other words, use a widow's inauspiciousness to create modern citizen subjects. And they do so, the article argues, both within their own pages (the householder protagonists are transformed into citizen subjects) and beyond them (their readers are transformed into citizen subjects too). By the end of these texts, however, the widow herself is hurried offstage, effectively containing the danger of any further social change and banishing inauspiciousness as such to a realm outside modernity.
The Nation's Taxidermist: Ungovernable Bodies in R.K. Narayan's The Man-Eater of Malgudi
Authors: Walther Sundhya
Published: November 2015

The taxidermy animal confronts the viewer with an array of strange contradictions, in part owing to the strong colonial resonance of taxidermy as a form. This article examines the representation of taxidermy in R.K. Narayan's 1961 novel The Man-eater of Malgudi. It considers how the novel utilizes the taxidermy body as a conduit for its political critique aimed at the modernization and capitalist expansion of the post-Independence period. At the same time, the taxidermy animals exceed the project of the novel, and expose Narayan's Malgudi itself as a taxidermic representation. By cutting away the complex realities of its context, The Man-eater of Malgudi conducts a problematic act of preservation, one that constructs and holds in stasis an imagined India. This reading connects taxidermy and literature as forms that aim to place nonhuman animal bodies, both spatially and ontologically, within anthropocentric frames.
Slavery, Death, and the Village: Localizing Imperatives of Nigerian Writing
Authors: Osinubi Taiwo Adetunji
Published: November 2015

This article explores the ubiquitous citations of the village and the manifestation of villagers in Nigerian fiction published since about 2000. Through a close reading of Chuma Nwokolo's Diaries of a Dead African, I argue that Nwokolo's novel exemplifies the ongoing critical regionalism in Nigerian writing, a practice through which writers expand the geographical imaginaries of Nigerian fiction as well as meditate reflexively upon the circulation of Nigerian fiction within the global book-publishing industry. This critical regionalism responds to the global circulation of the Nigerian novel by drawing upon, revising, and updating the geographical imaginaries of early Nigerian novelists. Elements of the village novel as a genre and ideas of the village as a crucial iteration of African spaces are deployed to signal the interplay between the complex spaces and representational practices of emerging fiction. In sum, this article works toward the legibility of the village within contemporary writing.
Analysis of Residual Stresses in Blow Molded Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottles Using Creep Model
Authors: Hao W.-F , Chen X.-W. , Yuan Y.-N. , Ma Y.-J.
Published: November 2015

In this paper, the residual stress in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, which was processed using blow-molding, was analyzed theoretically and numerically. First, the process of blow-molding was analyzed theoretically, which had considered both blowing process and curing of the polymer. The creep model was used to describe the relation between the deformation and the pressure in the blowing process, and thermo-chemical model was used to describe the curing process of the PET bottle. Then, a simulation was carried out using ABAQUS based on the creep model and thermo-chemical curing model. The deformation, residual stresses, heat flux vector and strain of the PET bottle during the blow-molding process were obtained. Finally, the effect of loading path on the residual stress was analyzed numerically, which shows that the longer the pressure was applied, the larger the residual stress.
The Development of a Multi-Axis Magnetic Roller for Micro-Structure Transfer Embossing Processing Technology
Authors: Weng Y.-J. , Huang J.-C. , Lin H.-S.
Published: November 2015

This study proposed a processing technology using a multi-axis magnetic roller for micro-structure transfer embossing development. First, dynamics deduction and ANSYS numerical simulation were used to explore the impact of the upper axis on the medium and lower axis, under the conditions of different parameters. This study also-developed and established a multi-axis magnetic roller micro-structure transfer embossing system for analysis, simulation, and discussion, on the technological characteristics of the multi-axis auxiliary roller embossing replication and transfer embossing processing technology. By taking advantage of the feature of the uniform contact pressing of the magnetic roller during the roller embossing process, coupled with the coordinated force application of the three axis rollers, this study attempted to achieve complete, uniform transfer embossing and replication of the micro-structure during the roller embossing process. The results of multi-axis transfer embossing process simulation and experimental analysis showed that multi-axis transfer embossing technology can transfer and replicate a micro-structure on the roller in a more uniform and more effective manner. The proposed multi-axis magnetic roller micro-structure transfer embossing system can smoothly replicate a micro-structure by roller embossing with good replication moldability and optical performance characteristics, in order to sufficiently achieve uniform embossing results
Electrofusion Welding Process Optimization Using a Coupled Numerical and Experimental Approach
Authors: Tillier Y. , Chebbo Z. , Vincent M. , Boujlal A. , Gueugnaut D.
Published: November 2015

In the water and gas distribution industry, electrofusion is one of the main techniques used for welding polyethylene pipes. In order to help understanding the origin of some defects discovered recently and to optimize and predict the welding quality, we developed a coupled numerical and experimental approach. Our numerical model, that computes a weld quality index based on molecular interdiffusion, is able to reasonably well predict whether welding will occur or not depending on the welding conditions imposed.
Hole Fraction Dependence on Linear Viscosity of PS, PP and ABS
Authors: Sahin-Dinc F.
Published: November 2015

A linear dependency of zero shear, constant shear-rate and constant shear-stress viscosities with temperature and hole fraction (“thermo-occupancy” function) was derived for polyacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). The relation of viscosity parameters, such as transmission coefficient and a measure of activation energy coefficient, with shear-rate and shear-stress was also investigated and some conclusions on the differences for the studied polymers were discussed. In particular, it was found that, for all materials, the derivative of logarithm of viscosities at zero shear, constant shear-rate and constant shear-stress decreases with decreasing rate with the hole fraction.
Molecular identification and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter strains of poultry origin in India with special emphasis on fluoroquinolone resistance
Authors: Kabir SM Lutful , Asakura Masahiro , Shiramaru Sachi , Pal Amit , Hinenoya Atsushi , Yamasaki Shinji
Published: November 2015

The current study aimed to identify the selected number of Campylobacter strains of poultry origin in India that were isolated in the Laboratory of International Prevention of Epidemics, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan to the species level with the aid of cdtA/B/C gene-based multiplex PCR assays as well as to investigate their antimicrobial resistance profiles. C. jejuni (4 strains) and C. coli (16 strains) were identified. The poultry isolates identified were subjected to susceptibility testing with the aid of disk diffusion method using 12 antimicrobial agents. Again, the resistant and intermediate isolates confirmed by the disk diffusion method were subjected to determination of minimum inhibitory concentration by agar dilution method. To elucidate the mechanism of quinolone resistance, a total number of 20 quinolone resistant strains were subjected to sequence determination and analysis of the gyrA gene in the quinolone-resistance determining region. The results of the disk diffusion method were consistent with the results of the agar dilution method with slight variation in case of ampicillin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin and fosfomycin. All C. jejuni and C. coli strains had the Thr 86 to Ile substitution in gyrA. Results of this study support the emergence of resistance of C. jejuni and C. coli strains of poultry origin in India to a variety of antimicrobials especially fluoroquinolones.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(1): 1-8
Evaluation of reproductive health status in government and commercial dairy herds of Bangladesh
Authors: Mojumder Mohammad Liaquat Osman , Ahmed Jalal Uddin , Bhuiyan Md Musharraf Uddin , Hasan Md Jahid , Ali Md Showkat
Published: November 2015

To evaluate the reproductive herd health status, the data were collected from Talbag Dairy Farm, Savar; Bangladesh Agricultural University Dairy Farm, Mymensingh and Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm, Savar for a period of two years. A total of 122 lactating cows were selected to collect data on productive and reproductive performance from the farms record book maintained by three farms. The mean value ± SD of breeding age, calving age, age at first conception, calving to first estrus, calving to first service, days open, calving interval, first service conception rate, number of service per conception, calf per year of Talbag Dairy Farm, BAU Dairy Farm, Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm were 25.10 ± 2.68, 219.23 ± 12.23 and 27.40 ± 7.56 months; 34.30 ± 8.54, 55.88 ± 11.60 and 38.93 ± 8.58 months; 26.20 ± 4.05, 52.71 ± 12.55 and 29.83 ± 8.72 months; 165.00 ±73.82, 219.23 ± 121.83 and 190.50 ± 104.19 days; 165.00 ±73.82, 240.77 ± 128.59 and 190.50 ± 104.19 days; 201.00 ± 72.48, 250.38 ± 72.82 and 335.08 ± 118.61 days; 383.30 ± 57.87, 526.44 ± 196.80 and 523.17 ± 216.37 days; 73.50 ± 29.25, 64.75 ± 30.53 and 61.85 ± 31.87 %; 1.95 ± 0.44, 1.99 ± 0.72 and 2.30 ± 1.02; 383.30 ±57.87, 526.44 ± 196.80 and 523.17 ± 216.37 days, respectively. The overall calf mortality (%) in Talbag Dairy Farm, BAU Dairy Farm, Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm were 4%, 0.70% and 4.06%, respectively. The calf mortality (%) at birth and birth to 30 days in Talbag Dairy Farm, BAU Dairy Farm, Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm were 3%, 1% and 1.85%; 3.5%, 5% and 6.39%; respectively. It is concluded that commercial farms reasonably better due to optimum level of breeding age, first service conception rate, less calving interval and less service per conception.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(1): 31-38