bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Featured Article: Female mice with loss-of-function ITCH display an altered reproductive phenotype
Authors: Stermer Angela R , Myers Jessica L , Murphy Caitlin J , Di Bona Kristin R , Matesic Lydia , Richburg John H
Published: October 2015

Major progress in deciphering the role of the E3 ligase, ITCH, in animal physiology has come from the generation and identification of Itch loss-of-function mutant mice ( itchy). Mutant mice display an autoimmune-like phenotype characterized by chronic dermatitis, which has been attributed to increased levels of ITCH target proteins (e.g. transcription factors JUNB and CJUN) in T cells. Autoimmune disorders also exist in humans with Itch frameshift mutations resulting in loss of functional ITCH protein. Recent phenotypic analysis of male itchy mice revealed reduced sperm production, although cross breeding experiments showed no difference in litter size when male itchy mice were bred to wild type females. However, a reduction in litter sizes did occur when itchy females were bred to wild type males. Based on these results, characterization of female reproductive function in itchy mice was performed. Developmental analysis of fetuses at gestational day 18.5, cytological evaluation of estrous cyclicity, histopathological analysis of ovaries, and protein analysis were used to investigate the itchy reproductive phenotype. Gross skeletal and soft tissue analysis of gestational day 18.5 itchy fetuses indicated no gross developmental deformities. Itchy females had reduced implantation sites, decreased corpora lutea, and increased estrous cycle length due to increased number of days in estrus compared to controls. Alterations in the expression of prototypical ITCH targets in the ovaries were not indicated, suggesting that an alteration in an as yet defined ovary-specific ITCH substrate or interaction with the altered immune system likely accounts for the disruption of female reproduction. This report indicates the importance of the E3 ligase, ITCH , in female reproduction.
The reduced soluble fibrinogen-like protein 2 and regulatory T cells in acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Liu Kun , Li Ting , Huang Shiyuan , Long Rui , You Ya , Liu Jinping , Wang Zhaohui
Published: October 2015

Soluble fibrinogen-like protein 2, sfgl2, is the new effector of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cell (Treg) and exerts immunosuppressive activity. We design this study to investigate the possible role of sfgl2 in atherosclerosis. A total of 58 acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, together with 22 stable angina (SA) patients and 31 normal coronary artery (NCA) people were enrolled in our study. Serum level of sfgl2 and plasma level of Treg were respectively measured. In line with the change of Treg, serum level of sfgl2 in ACS (8.70 ng/mL) was significantly decreased ( P = 0.003), compared with that in SA (11.86 ng/mL) and NCA (17.55 ng/mL). Both sfgl2 and Treg level were obviously decreased in ACS; Sfgl2 may play a protective role in atherosclerosis.
Lack of Iliac Engagement Correlates With Iliac Limb Complications Following Standard EVAR
Authors: Coulston James , Baigent Amy , Selvachandran Haran , Jones Steven , Torella Francesco , Fisher Robert
Published: October 2015

Objective:

An adequate distal sealing zone is a prerequisite for successful endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Poor engagement of iliac limbs within the common iliac artery potentially increases the risk of limb-related complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of common iliac artery used for distal sealing as a predictor of iliac limb complications following standard EVAR.

Methods:

This was a retrospective case controlled study where an iliac complication group was compared to a larger control group from the unit database. Core analysis of postoperative computed tomography scans was used to ascertain the percentage engagement of the iliac limb of the stent graft within the native iliac artery in both groups.

Results:

There were 240 limbs in the control group and 33 limbs in the complications group. Complications included 10 endoleaks, 1 iliac limb dislocation, 2 insufficient engagement, 4 occlusions, and 16 kinks. The proportion of common iliac artery engagement was significantly higher in the control group compared with the complications group (75.3:68.6%, P = .003).

Conclusions:

Increased engagement in the common iliac artery following standard EVAR reduces the risks of limb complications. A clinical guide utilization of more than 70% of the total length of common iliac artery could be used as this was associated with a significantly lower rate of iliac limb complications following standard EVAR.
Flow-diverting stents allow efficient treatment of unruptured, intradural dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery: An explanatory approach using in vivo flow analysis
Authors: Gölitz Philipp , Struffert Tobias , Hoelter Philip , Eyüpoglu Ilker , Knossalla Frauke , Doerfler Arnd
Published: October 2015

Object

Our study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of flow-diverting stents (FDS) in treating unruptured, intradural dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery (VADAs). Additionally, the effect of FDS on the aneurysmal flow pattern was investigated by performing in vivo flow analysis using parametric color coding (PCC).

Methods

We evaluated 11 patients with unruptured, intradural VADAs, treated with FDS. Pre- and postinterventional DSA-series were postprocessed by PCC, and time-density curves were calculated. The parameters aneurysmal inflow-velocity, outflow-velocity and relative time-to-peak (rTTP) were calculated. Pre- and postinterventional values were compared and correlated with the occlusion rate after six months.

Results

Follow-up DSA detected 10 aneurysms occluded, meaning an occlusion rate of 91%. No procedure-related morbidity and mortality was found. Flow analyses revealed a significant reduction of aneurysmal inflow- velocity and prolongation of rTTP after FDS deployment. Concerning aneurysm occlusion, the postinterventional outflow-velocity turned out to be a marginally statistically significant predictor. A definite threshold value (–0.7 density change/s) could be determined for the outflow-velocity that allows prediction of complete aneurysm occlusion with high sensitivity and specificity (100%).

Conclusions

Using FDS can be considered an efficient and safe therapy option in treating unruptured, intradural VADA. From in vivo flow analyses the postinterventional aneurysmal outflow-velocity turned out to be a potential predictor for later complete aneurysm occlusion. Here, it might be possible to determine a threshold value that allows prediction of aneurysm occlusion with high specificity and sensitivity. As fast, applicable and easy-to-handle tool, PCC could be used for procedural monitoring and might contribute to further treatment optimization.
Childhood and education in Thailand-Burma/Myanmar Border Refugees camps
Authors: Ramírez Carpeño Eva , Isabelle Feldman Hannah
Published: October 2015

This article examines the childhood of those living inside refugee camps on the Thailand-Burma border, focusing specifically on education. Both quantitative and qualitative data are used. The article integrates objective research from international and national literature and subjective information collected through interviews with refugees and foreign workers from the camps. It gives a brief overview of the camps’ demographic, an in-depth description of education for refugees and looks at general perceptions of childhood. The findings reveal that despite violations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), young people still retain hope of a better future. However, this hope is largely maintained by the strong presence of and over-reliance upon international non-governmental organisations. The article concludes with suggestions for improvement.
Living liminally: Migrant children living in the Myanmar-Thailand border region
Authors: Ball Jessica , Moselle Sarah
Published: October 2015

This article focuses on the perils and potential opportunities for children living as forced migrants in the transnational borderland between Myanmar and Thailand. During decades of armed conflict and economic ruin, millions of children and families from Myanmar have been displaced internally or forced to emigrate to Thailand and China. For migrant Myanmar children living in Thailand, lack of identity documentation, social protection and education are prevalent. Often stateless and disconnected from their families, communities and cultures of origin and excluded from institutional affiliations, they live perched on the edge of society in a liminal state. Despite their vulnerability, however, the conditions of liminality may also instil unique orientations to the world as transmigrants, with skills that equip them to cope with a high degree of uncertainty and hardship and to adapt nimbly to future stresses and opportunities in a globalized world. This article proposes an innovative programme of research that challenges foundational theories of child development and views these children as actively engaged in meaning-making and as carriers of globalization.
Has the grand idea of geoengineering as Plan B run out of steam?
Authors: Anshelm Jonas , Hansson Anders
Published: October 2015

Paul Crutzen’s 2006 call for geoengineering research triggered public debate in the mass media of several countries. Since then, a common belief among numerous involved scientists has been that more geoengineering experimentation or research is needed and that geoengineering should be carefully considered in a precautionary way as an emergency option or ‘Plan B’. Despite the controversial potential of geoengineering in terms of mega-risks, ethical dilemmas and governance challenges, public geoengineering debate in the daily press from 2006 to 2013 was heavily dominated by accounts of scientists’ arguments for more geoengineering research or even deployment, only about 8% of mass media articles expressing criticism of geoengineering. However, based on a reading of 700 articles published worldwide in 2014 and 2015, we demonstrate a gradual shift in the coverage, and the daily press now primarily reports critical views of geoengineering technologies. The patterns outlined here point in the same direction: It seems as though the grand idea of geoengineering as Plan B is fading.
Utility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test in the Diagnosis of Latent TB in HIV-Positive Patients in a Medium-TB Burden Country
Authors: Khazraiyan Hamideh , Liaei Zahra Abdi , Koochak Hamid Emadi , Ardalan Farid Azmoudeh , Ahmadinejad Zahra , Soltani Ahmad
Published: October 2015

Background:

The authors aimed to compare TST with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in HIV-infected patients in Iran as a TB-medium endemic country.

Methods:

In a cross-sectional design,130 HIV-positive patients in HIV clinic of Tehran University were studied. Patients screened for LTBI with QFT and TST simultaneously. Concordance between 2 tests results and variables associated with tests discordance were assessed.

Results:

Positive results found in 24.6% for TST and 7.7% for QFT. Overall agreement between them was 73.85% (Kappa = 0.083). History of imprisonment was associated with more positive TST ( P = 0.014) and QFT ( P = 0.01). Patients with intravenous drug use (IDU) history had significant discordant results (0.018).

Conclusion:

The authors recommend QFT for all negative cases of TST in HIV-positive patients especially who had history of IDU.
Improvements for international medicine donations: a review of the World Health Organization Guidelines for Medicine Donations, 3rd edition
Authors: Cañigueral-Vila Nuria , Chen Jennifer C. , Frenkel-Rorden Lindsey , Laing Richard
Published: October 2015

Some humanitarian and development organizations respond to major natural disasters and emergencies by donating medicines. Many provide medicines on a routine basis to support health systems, particularly those run by Faith-Based Organizations. Although such donations can provide essential medicines to populations in great need, inappropriate donations also take place, with burdensome consequences. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the interagency Guidelines for Medicine Donations for use by donors and recipients in the context of emergency aid and international development assistance. Although comprehensive in nature and transferable to various emergency situations, adjustments to both content and formatting would improve this resource. Recommendations for the next version of these guidelines include: specific wording and consistent formatting; definition of who is a recipient, clear distinction between acute and long-term emergencies, and proper donation procedures pertaining to each; inclusion of visual aides such as flowcharts, checklists, and photos; and improving the citations system.
Haemostatic chitosan coated gauze: in vitro interaction with human blood and in-vivo effectiveness
Authors: Pogorielov M. , Kalinkevich O. , Deineka V. , Garbuzova V. , Solodovnik A. , Kalinkevich A. , Kalinichenko T. , Gapchenko A. , Sklyar A. , Danilchenko S.
Published: October 2015

Background

Chitosan and its derivates are widely used for biomedical application due to antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and tissue repair induced properties. Chitosan-based materials also used as a haemostatic agent but influence of different molecular weight and concentration of chitosan on biological response of blood cells is still not clear.

The aim of this research was to evaluate interaction between human blood cells and various forms of chitosan-based materials with different molecular weight and chitosan concentration and prove their effectiveness on in-vivo model.

Methods

We used chitosan with molecular weight 200, 500 and 700 kDa and deacetylation rate 80-82 %. For chitosan impregnation of gauze chitosan solutions in 1 % acetic acid with different concentrations (1, 2, 3, 5 %) were used. We used scanning electron microscopy to obtain information about chitosan distribution on cotton surface; Erythrocyte agglutination test and Complete blood count test – for evaluation of interaction between blood cells and chitosan-based materials with different compound. In-vivo studies was performed in 20 Wistar rats to evaluate effectiveness of new dressing.

Results

Our data shown that chitosan can bind erythrocytes in concentration-depend manner that does not depend on its molecular weight. In addition, chitosan-based materials affect selectively human blood cells. Composition of chitosan with cotton materials does not change erythrocyte shape and does not cause agglutination.

Conclusions

Сotton-chitosan materials have higher adhesive properties to platelets that depend on molecular weight and concentration of chitosan. These materials also change platelets’ shape that probable is one of the most important mechanisms of haemostatic effect. In-vivo studies have shown high effectiveness of 2 % 200 kDa chitosan for stop bleeding from arteries of large diameter.
Differential evolution-based optimization procedure for automatic estimation of the common-reflection surface traveltime parameters
Authors: Barros Tiago , Ferrari Rafael , Krummenauer Rafael , Lopes Renato
Published: October 2015

The common-reflection surface (CRS) method is a sophisticated alternative to the traditional common-midpoint stacking because its traveltime approximation allows for the use of more traces than the normal moveout. This in turn requires more parameters for the moveout description, thus increasing the computational burden of the parameter estimation. In the literature, a suboptimal strategy is often used, which decreases the complexity but, as we found in this work, compromises the accuracy of the parameters in some cases. To cope with this problem, in this work, we have devised detailed information for efficient estimation of the CRS parameters using the differential evolution (DE) global optimization algorithm. Because we used data sets with low fold and low signal-to-noise ratio, from which no reliable velocity analysis could be easily performed, we applied this algorithm in a fully automatic global search, i.e., without any velocity guide. The results for a 2D real data set from Brazil indicated that the global strategy yielded good results, both in terms of image quality as in the quality of the parameter volumes, especially the stacking velocity estimates, while keeping the computational costs relatively low. We also developed a convergence and a sensitivity analysis of the DE that shows its computational efficiency and the robustness of the optimization method with respect to the choice of the control parameters of the algorithm.
Double-weave 3D seismic acquisition — Part 2: Seismic modeling and subsurface fold analyses
Authors: Naghizadeh Mostafa
Published: October 2015

The compatibility of 3D double-weave acquisition designs with sparse Fourier reconstruction algorithms was examined using simple modeled seismic data. Zigzag and orthogonal double-weave acquisitions and random acquisition all had successful 5D sparse Fourier interpolation results. However, the simplicity and regularity of double-weave acquisition made it a more attractive alternative to random acquisition. The subsurface fold analysis of double-weave acquisition reveals nonuniform distribution of midpoint sampling in comparison with random and traditional orthogonal acquisition layouts. This can be alleviated by either using larger bin sizes or introducing random shifts to the shot-receiver lines of double-weave acquisition layouts. Zigzag double-weave acquisition reveals a more uniform offset-azimuth distribution compared with orthogonal double-weave, random, and traditional orthogonal acquisitions.
Maternal Body Weight and Gestational Diabetes Differentially Influence Placental and Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Martino J. , Sebert S. , Segura M. T. , García-Valdés L. , Florido J. , Padilla M. C. , Marcos A. , Rueda R. , McArdle H. J. , Budge H. , Symonds M. E. , Campoy C.
Published: October 2015

Context:

Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can both contribute to adverse neonatal outcomes. The extent to which this may be mediated by differences in placental metabolism and nutrient transport remains to be determined.

Objective:

Our objective was to examine whether raised maternal body mass index (BMI) and/or GDM contributed to a resetting of the expression of genes within the placenta that are involved in energy sensing, oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic pathways.

Methods:

Pregnant women from Spain were recruited as part of the “Study of Maternal Nutrition and Genetics on the Foetal Adiposity Programming” survey at the first antenatal visit (12–20 weeks of gestation) and stratified according to prepregnancy BMI and the incidence of GDM. At delivery, placenta and cord blood were sampled and newborn anthropometry measured.

Results:

Obese women with GDM had higher estimated fetal weight at 34 gestational weeks and a greater risk of preterm deliveries and cesarean section. Birth weight was unaffected by BMI or GDM; however, women who were obese with normal glucose tolerance had increased placental weight and higher plasma glucose and leptin at term. Gene expression for markers of placental energy sensing and oxidative stress, were primarily affected by maternal obesity as mTOR was reduced, whereas SIRT-1 and UCP2 were both upregulated. In placenta from obese women with GDM, gene expression for AMPK was also reduced, whereas the downstream regulator of mTOR, p70S6KB1 was raised.

Conclusions:

Placental gene expression is sensitive to both maternal obesity and GDM which both impact on energy sensing and could modulate the effect of either raised maternal BMI or GDM on birth weight.
Bankruptcy: Is It Enough to Forgive or Must We Also Forget?
Authors: Elul Ronel , Gottardi Piero
Published: October 2015

In many countries, lenders are restricted in their access to information about borrowers' past defaults. We study this provision in a model of repeated borrowing and lending with moral hazard and adverse selection. We analyze its effects on borrowers' incentives and credit access, and identify conditions under which it is welfare improving. Our model's predictions are consistent with the evidence on the impact of these credit bureau regulations on borrowers' and lenders' behavior as well as on credit provision. We also show that “forgetting” must be the outcome of a regulatory intervention. (JEL D14, D82, G33, K35, L26)
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Understanding Pro-cyclical Mortality
Authors: Stevens Ann H. , Miller Douglas L. , Page Marianne E. , Filipski Mateusz
Published: October 2015

It is well-known that mortality rates are pro-cyclical. In this paper, we attempt to understand why. We find little evidence that cyclical changes in individuals' own employment-related behavior drives the relationship; own-group employment rates are not systematically related to own-group mortality. Further, most additional deaths that occur when the economy is strong are among the elderly, particularly elderly women and those residing in nursing homes. We also demonstrate that staffing in nursing homes moves countercyclically. These findings suggest that cyclical fluctuations in the quality of health care may be a critical contributor to cyclical movements in mortality. (JEL E24, E32, I12, J16, L84)
The Impact of Regulation on Mortgage Risk: Evidence from India
Authors: Campbell John Y. , Ramadorai Tarun , Ranish Benjamin
Published: October 2015

We employ loan-level data on over a million loans disbursed in India between 1995 and 2010 to understand how fast-changing regulation impacted mortgage lending and risk. Our paper uses changes in regulatory treatment discontinuities associated with loan size and leverage to detect regulation-induced loan delinquencies. We also find that an acceleration in the classification of assets as nonperforming resulted in substantially lower delinquency probabilities and losses given delinquency. (JEL D14, G21, G28, L51, O16, R31)
Assessing the Welfare Effects of Unemployment Benefits Using the Regression Kink Design
Authors: Landais Camille
Published: October 2015

I show how, in the tradition of the dynamic labor supply literature, one can identify the moral hazard effects and liquidity effects of unemployment insurance (UI) using variations along the time profile of unemployment benefits. I use this strategy to investigate the anatomy of labor supply responses to UI. I identify the effect of benefit level and potential duration in the regression kink design using kinks in the schedule of benefits in the US. My results suggest that the response of search effort to UI benefits is driven as much by liquidity effects as by moral hazard effects. (JEL D82, J22, J65)
Identity-Based Policies and Identity Manipulation: Evidence from Colonial Punjab
Authors: Cassan Guilhem
Published: October 2015

I study identity-marker based policies and demonstrate the existence of identity manipulation. I analyze the impact of the Punjab Alienation of Land Act (1901), a caste-based legislation, on identity manipulation. Using data from the colonial census, I show that a movement of identity manipulation took place in response to the law. I estimate that in 20 years, 7.5 percent of the population that had an incentive to do so manipulated its identity. I then use an accounting exercise to estimate that the amount of mistargeting caused by this manipulation is between 3.9 percent and 8.2 percent of the land distributed. (JEL J15, N35, N45, N55, Q15, Q24, Z13)
Water Pollution Progress at Borders: The Role of Changes in China's Political Promotion Incentives
Authors: Kahn Matthew E. , Li Pei , Zhao Daxuan
Published: October 2015

At political boundaries, local leaders have weak incentives to reduce polluting activity because the social costs are borne by downstream neighbors. This paper exploits a natural experiment set in China in which the central government changed the local political promotion criteria and thus incentivized local officials to reduce border pollution along specific criteria. We document evidence of pollution progress with respect to targeted criteria at province boundaries. Heavy metal pollutants, not targeted by the central government, have not decreased in concentration after the regime shift. Using data on the economic geography of key industrial water polluters, we explore possible mechanisms. (JEL D72, O13, O18, P25, P28, Q25, Q53)
How Much Are Public School Teachers Willing to Pay for Their Retirement Benefits?
Authors: Fitzpatrick Maria Donovan
Published: October 2015

Public sector employees receive large fractions of their lifetime income in the form of deferred compensation. The introduction of the opportunity provided to Illinois public school employees to purchase additional pension benefits allows me to estimate employees' willingness-to-pay for benefits relative to the cost of providing them. The results show employees are willing to pay 20 cents on average for a dollar increase in the present value of expected retirement benefits. The findings suggest substantial inefficiency in compensation and cast doubt on the ability of deferred compensation schemes to attract employees. (JEL H75, I21, J26, J45)
Tetranucleotide usage highlights genomic heterogeneity among mycobacteriophages
Authors: Siranosian Benjamin , Perera Sudheesha , Williams Edward , Ye Chen , de Graffenried Christopher , Shank Peter
Published: October 2015

Background

The genomic sequences of mycobacteriophages, phages infecting mycobacterial hosts, are diverse and mosaic. Mycobacteriophages often share little nucleotide similarity, but most of them have been grouped into lettered clusters and further into subclusters. Traditionally, mycobacteriophage genomes are analyzed based on sequence alignment or knowledge of gene content. However, these approaches are computationally expensive and can be ineffective for significantly diverged sequences. As an alternative to alignment-based genome analysis, we evaluated tetranucleotide usage in mycobacteriophage genomes. These methods make it easier to characterize features of the mycobacteriophage population at many scales.

Description

We computed tetranucleotide usage deviation (TUD), the ratio of observed counts of 4-mers in a genome to the expected count under a null model. TUD values are comparable between members of a phage subcluster and distinct between subclusters. With few exceptions, neighbor joining phylogenetic trees and hierarchical clustering dendrograms constructed using TUD values place phages in a monophyletic clade with members of the same subcluster. Regions in a genome with exceptional TUD values can point to interesting features of genomic architecture. Finally, we found that subcluster B3 mycobacteriophages contain significantly overrepresented 4-mers and 6-mers that are atypical of phage genomes.

Conclusions

Statistics based on tetranucleotide usage support established clustering of mycobacteriophages and can uncover interesting relationships within and between sequenced phage genomes. These methods are efficient to compute and do not require sequence alignment or knowledge of gene content. The code to download mycobacteriophage genome sequences and reproduce our analysis is freely available athttps://github.com/bsiranosian/tango_final.
Effects of Human Capital on Profits of Russia’s Enterprises and Organizations
Authors: Басовская  , Basovskaya Elena
Published: October 2015

Through econometric models construction the author evaluates the effects of

capital-labor ratio and human capital, where the latter is characterized by the

employees’ educational level, on profits of enterprises and organizations,

operating in Russia. In 2009 the capital-labor ratio and the human capital, as

estimated by the employees’ educational level, could be considered responsible

for no less, than 39% of profitability of enterprises and organizations. For the

most part this effect is due to the capital-labor ratio, while the lesser, though

essential part of the said effect is due to the employees human capital. It is

shown, that the elasticity of profit in terms of employees human capital exceeds

manifold the profit elasticity in terms of capital-labor ratio, meaning that the

effect of changes in human capital level on the labor productivity exceeds

manifold that of changes in capital-labor ratio. Therefore, to enhance the human

capital through better education of employees is more beneficial, than to

increase investments in basic capital assets.
Declaration Form of Personal Income Taxation in Uzbekistan: Problems and Solutions
Authors: Усмонова  , Usmonova M.
Published: October 2015

The paper analyzes problems and ways to solve them in the field of personal

income taxation, using the declaration method. Also provided are some practical

approaches, aimed at improving the system of personal taxation.
Development of Acquiring Business in Russia
Authors: Мартынов  , Martynov V.
Published: October 2015

The paper considers the place of acquiring as a complex banking product in

Russia and ways to develop and encourage the acquiring business, as well as

problems of acquiring services and feasible options to solve them under the

current conditions in the RF. The author addresses the issue on how to transfer

acquiring costs on vendors and considers the possibility for vendors to

purchase acquiring equipment on their own. The trend to growth of turnover

and acquiring operations is outlined. Reviewed is the known experience of

acquiring usage, gained by Scandinavian nations. General survey of clearing

operations in the RF is also provided, including the pros and contras of using

mPOS-terminals and their distinctive features. It is shown, that the banking

sector is eager to develop acquiring network and then profit on it.
Using Cash Flow Statement for Evaluating Financial Position and Creditworthiness of an Organization
Authors: Комогорова  , Komogorova I. , Аверина  , Averina Tatyana , Михайлова  , Mikhaylova E.
Published: October 2015

The paper discusses the use of absolute and relative indicators characterizing

cash flows, as part of a technique to evaluate creditworthiness of companies.

The authors present the calculations, made on the basis of 2014 financial

statements of Novomoskovsk chemical industry enterprise «NAK “Azote”». The

results of calculations illustrate the variability of findings concerning dynamics

of the financial position of the organization, depending on whether the use of

revenues or the amount of positive cash flow from current operations are taken

as the basis for evaluating the rates of floating funds turnover.
Stadium Norm and Douglas-Rachford Splitting: A New Approach to Road Design Optimization
Authors: Bauschke Heinz H. , Koch Valentin R. , Phan Hung M.
Published: October 2015

The basic optimization problem of road design is quite challenging due to an objective function that is the sum of nonsmooth functions and the presence of set constraints. In this paper, we model and solve this problem by employing the Douglas-Rachford splitting algorithm. This requires a careful study of new proximity operators related to minimizing area and to the stadium norm. We compare our algorithm to a state-of-the-art projection algorithm. Our numerical results illustrate the potential of this algorithm to significantly reduce cost in road design.
Potential in bioethanol production from various ethanol fermenting microorganisms using rice husk as substrate
Authors: NACHAIWIENG WOOTTICHAI , LUMYONG SAISAMORN , PRATANAPHON RONACHAI , YOSHIOKA KOICHI , KHANONGNUCH CHARTCHAI
Published: October 2015

Nachaiwieng W, Lumyong S, Pratanapol R, Yoshioka K, Khanongnuch C. 2015. Potential in bioethanol production fromvarious ethanol fermenting microorganisms using rice husk as substrate. Biodiversitas 16: 320-326. Rice husk was investigated as thepotential substrate for bioethanol fermentation. It was collected from five locations in northern Thailand and found that the maincomponent of rice husk approximately 51-54% (w/w) was holocellulose. The sugar composition in rice husk holocellulose was glucose,xylose and arabinose in the ratio 66.68, 27.61 and 5.71%, respectively. Before further fermentation, acid and alkali pretreatment of ricehusk were prior investigated and 2% (w/v) NaOH at 130oC for 30 min was proved to be the most suitable pretreatment method withoutfermenting inhibitors generation. Then, rice husk hydrolysate obtained by enzymatic saccharification with Meicelase enzyme was usedas carbon sources for ethanol fermentation in comparison among 11 ethanol fermenting microorganisms including 3 strains ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae, 3 strains of Zymomonas mobilis, 3 strains of Kluyveromyces marxianus and 2 strains of pentose sugarfermenting microbes, Candida shehatae TISTR 5843 and Pichia stipitis BCC 15191. All three strains of Z. mobilis exhibited the bestethanol fermentation yield, giving the ethanol yield of 0.48 g g-1 available monosaccharides and fermentation profile of each individualgenus was also demonstrated. However, some unutilized sugars still remained in rice husk fermenting medium, therefore, conversion tovaluable products or optimization of co-culture ethanol fermentation needs to be further investigated.
Land suitability for endemic plants in Kiara Payung Biodiversity Park, West Java
Authors: NILAWATI TINA SAFARIA , SURAKUSUMAH WAHYU , ANNISYA VITA
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Nilawati TS, Surakusumah W, Annisya V. 2015. Land suitability for endemic plants in Kiara Payung Biodiversity Park, West Java. Nusantara Bioscience 7: 112-117. According to Bappenas data (2003), there are 38.000 species of plants, 55% of which are endemic, in Indonesia. However, in Indonesia, there is severe environmental deterioration which may cause extinction of endemic plants. One way to solve the environmental degradation is by conducting ex situ conservation, such as the establishment of Kiara Payung Biodiversity Park in Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia. The aim of this research was to determine land suitability of the park for plantation of endemic plants of West Java, Bouea macrophylla, Blumeodendron tokbrai, and Pterospermum javanicum, based on climatic and edaphic factors using GIS Arcview software. The climatic and edaphic data were taken from the field, and then they were overlaid in land unit maps with other parameters of every endemic plant species in West Java based on literature review. All data were interpreted based on land evaluation method by matching process. The results showed that the endemic plants B. macrophylla and P. javanicum are not suitable to be planted in Kiara Payung Biodiversity Park, while B. tokbrai is suitable to be planted in the entire blocks 5, 6, and 7 and part of blocks 2,3,4 and 8 of this park.
Voz do Avatar, Voz como Avatar, Avatar da Voz
Authors: Serra Pedro
Published: October 2015

O meu artigo propõe um exercício de arqueofonia – ou arqueologia da voz – que incide, nesta oportunidade, sobre a possibilidade de estabelecer a complexa figura e imaginação do ‘avatar’ como comparandum da noção e representação do cyborg. As valências da comparação permitem pensar diferentes objectos, como sejam a ‘voz do avatar’, a ‘voz como avatar’ e, finalmente, o arquivo das representações da voz, ‘avatares da voz’. Em jeito de crítica aplicada, são sucintamente comentados o filme Her, de Spike Jonze; fragmentos do Livro do Desassossego, de Bernardo Soares/Fernando Pessoa; e, por último, a simulação digital da voz de John Donne acessível em linha, corolário do Virtual Paul’s Cross Project: A Digital Re-Creation of John Donne’s Gunpowder Day Sermon, sediado na North Carolina State University.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_1
Três Obras
Authors: Pestana Silvestre
Published: October 2015

O autor faz uma breve retrospetiva do seu trabalho, descrevendo três obras: “Ver Só” (1983), Foto-Poema de um registo fotográfico performativo; “Amnese – Águas Vivas” (2002), um conjunto de cinco peças escultóricas em néon (árgon) linear azul; e “Galeria Pública para Artes Digitais” (2005-atualidade), Bienal Virtual no Second Life, originalmente produzida para a 13ª Bienal de Cerveira. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_15
Pulsar
Authors: Pimenta Emanuel Dimas
Published: October 2015

Neste texto, descreve-se o conceito para o edifício Pulsar, uma estrutura arquitetónica reprogramável constituída por materiais texteis inteligentes com origem na nanotecnologia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_16
O Literário Será Sempre Moderno? O Novo Nostálgico da Literatura Eletrónica
Authors: Bettencourt Sandra
Published: October 2015

Recensão crítica de Jessica PRESSMAN, Digital Modernism: Making it New in New Media, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014, 240 pp. [1ª ed.]. ISBN 978-0-19-993710-3. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_18
A Mente Modernista e o Exercício da Revisão
Authors: Athayde Manaíra Aires
Published: October 2015

Recensão crítica a Hannah SULLIVAN, The Work of Revision. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2013, 349 pp. ISBN 978-0674073128 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_22
A Not So Global History of the Book
Authors: Cardoso Catarina Figueiredo
Published: October 2015

A review of Michael F. SUAREZ S.J., H.R. WOUDHUYSEN, eds., The Book: A Global History, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2013, 748 pp. ISBN 978-0199679416 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_23
Academia, Geopolítica das Humanidades Digitais e Pensamento Crítico
Authors: Pereira Paulo Silva
Published: October 2015

As mudanças que ocorreram no campo das tecnologias de informação e de comunicação nas últimas décadas tiveram impacto decisivo em vários setores da atividade humana, nomeadamente a nível de novas práticas criativas e de novos regimes de produção de conhecimento. Se é certo que durante algum tempo o esforço ia no sentido da integração de ferramentas informáticas no trabalho desenvolvido no campo das artes, humanidades e ciências sociais, mas numa lógica apenas de suporte técnico a tarefas academicamente consagradas, com a emergência do paradigma de Humanidades Digitais tornou-se mais visível o propósito de reinventar a cultura através da gramática dos novos meios e o crescente efeito de mediação da tecnologia digital no modo como decorre e se organiza a pesquisa ou se dá a conhecer os seus resultados finais. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_7
Reducing stress and fuel consumption providing road information
Authors: Corcoba Magaña Víctor , Muñoz Organero Mario
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we propose a solution to reduce the stress level of the driver, minimize fuel consumption and improve safety. The system analyzes the driving style and the driver’s workload during the trip while driving. If it discovers an area where the stress increases and the driving style is not appropriate from the point of view of energy efficiency and safety for a particular driver, the location of this area is saved in a shared database. On the other hand, the implemented solution warns a particular user when approaching a region where the driving is difficult (high fuel consumption and stress) using the shared database based on previous recorded knowledge of similar drivers in that area. In this case, the proposal provides an optimal deceleration profile if the vehicle speed is not adequate. Therefore, he or she may adjust the vehicle speed with both a positive impact on the driver workload and fuel consumption. The Data Envelopment Analysis algorithm is used to estimate the efficiency of driving and the driver’s workload in in each area. We employ this method because there is no preconceived form on the data in order to calculate the efficiency and stress level. A validation experiment has been conducted using both a driving simulator and a real environment with 12 participants who made 168 driving tests. The system reduced the slowdowns (38%), heart rate (4.70%), and fuel consumption (12.41%) in the real environment. The proposed solution is implemented on Android mobile devices and does not require the installation of infrastructure on the road. It can be installed on any model of vehicle.
ALTAIR: Supervised Methodology to Obtain Retinal Vessels Caliber
Authors: Chamoso Pablo , Pérez-Ramos Henar , García-García Ángel
Published: October 2015

A back of the eye examination allows performing a noninvasive evaluation of the retinal microcirculation, as well as of the vascular damage induced by multiple cardiovascular risk factors. The objective of this work is to study the existing needs to lead to the development and validation (reliability and validity) of a methodology able to extract all the information from the images of the back of the eye to solve the studied needs. Its development will subsequently allow analyzing its utility in various clinical environments. Currently there are different works that evaluate the thickness of the retinal veins and arteries, but they require either full intervention by an observer or no intervention at all, so when facing incorrect analysis (none of them achieves a 100 % accuracy in automatic analysis) erroneous results can be a serious problem when drawing conclusions. The proposed solution refers to the second group (automatic), but providing a supervisor the possibility to interfere with the analysis when any kind of error is produced, which ideally will not happen many times. Thanks to this the possible subjectivity that can be introduced by the supervisor does not affect the final result of the analysis.
Simulação numérica do fluxo de águas do sistema aquífero urucuia na bacia hidrogeológica do Rio Corrente (BA)
Authors: Engelbrecht Bruno Zanon , Chang Hung Kiang
Published: October 2015

Com o objetivo de quantificar o balanço hidrológico e compreender a dinâmica do fluxo das águas subterrâneas do Sistema Aquífero Urucuia (SAU), na bacia hidrogeológica do rio Corrente, realizou-se uma simulação do fluxo dessas águas, em regime permanente. O SAU aloja-se na bacia hidrográfica do São Francisco e é composto pelo conjunto de aquíferos interligados, cujo arcabouço é formado pelas rochas do Grupo Urucuia. O sistema é do tipo poroso granular, com geometria de um espesso tabuleiro, constituído essencialmente por arenitos. O método de elementos finitos foi utilizado na simulação numérica, empregando-se o algoritmo computacional FEFlow (Finite Element Subsurface Flow e Transport Simulation System). Por meio da simulação numérica foram estimados os parâmetros hidrodinâmicos: recarga máxima de 267 mm/a e mínima de 142 mm/a; condutividade hidráulica horizontal e vertical de 9,7 x 10-5 m/s; fluxo de base de 1,26 x 107 m³/dia. Os resultados ressaltam a importância da bacia do rio Corrente na manutenção da vazão do rio São Francisco e confirmam a natureza homogênea e isotrópica do SAU.
Acceleration of investment through the stabilization of money
Authors: Sriyono Sriyono
Published: October 2015

Indonesia downfall as represented in the economic crisis is due to the inability of the government to restore the pre-crisis level of investment in 1997. This could happen although the government has enforced Law No. 1 of 1967 Jo No 11 of 1970 on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Law No. 6 Years 1968 Jo No 12 Year 1978 on Domestic Investment (DCI). This study attempts to reveal whether the investment is quite effective in accelerating investment through the stabilization of money. This is very important because the stabilization of money can raise investments, which finally affect greatly the condition of the state economy. The data were collected from 1970 to 2012. Econometric model is employed for testing the hypotheses because it can handle the mutual dependence (interdependence). Besides that, econometric model is an invaluable tool for understanding the way the economic system works and so to test and evaluate policy alternatives. Hypothesis is tested using multiple regressions with Two Stages Least Square method. The result shows that the stabilization of money could accelerate the investment by looking at the intermediate indicators on the exchange rate. However, it cannot be seen through the indicators of inflation.
Determinant factors of investors� behavior in investment decision in Indonesian capital markets
Authors: Listyarti Indra , Suryani Tatik
Published: October 2015

This study examines the effect of financial information, macro environment, and subjective norms on investors behavior when making investment decisions in Indonesian capital market. It was conducted by a survey design and involved 190 individual investors in three big cities in Indonesia (Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung). By using Structural Equation Modeling with Warp-PLS 3.0, the results showed that macro factors had a significantly positive effect on the technical information, the financial information and the macro factors had a significantly positive effect on the investor intentions, and the intentions of investors and the financial information had a significantly positive impact on investment decisions. It was also found that the financial information held a great contribution to build investor intentions and investment decisions. Thus, Indonesian individual investors were rational and sophisticated investors. They were not influenced by the actions of other investors, analyst opinions, and media. The implication of this research was how to provide information comprehensively to investors, which was very important to influence their decisions.
The role of board of commissioners and transparency in improving bank operational efficiency and profitability
Authors: Lutfi Lutfi , Silvy Meliza , Iramani Rr.
Published: October 2015

Good corporate governance is a critical aspect in banking industries because the larg- est part of the source of funds is from public. Two of the important aspects of good corporate governance are the role of the board of commissioners and transparency. This study aimed to assess the effect of the implementation of good governance, which is proxied by the role of the board of commissioners and transparency of financial and non-financial condition, toward the operational efficiency and profitability of the na- tional commercial banks in Indonesia. This study uses data of thirty six banks for five years, from 2008 to 2012. Random effect panel data technique is used to analyze the data since this technique can increase the power of statistical analysis. The results shows that in terms of efficiency only board that functions well capable of improving the operational efficiency of the banks. As for profitability, both good board of commis- sioners and public transparency are capable of increasing the bank operational profit- ability in Indonesia.
The effect of job stress and job motivation on employees’ performance through job satisfaction (A study at PT. Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk. Surabaya - Gempol branch)
Authors: Noermijati Noermijati , Primasari Diana
Published: October 2015

Job stress and motivation has a critical role to enhance female employee performance. The research attempts to analyze the direct effect of job stress and motivation on employee performance, and indirect effect of job stress and motivation on employee performance through job satisfaction. This research involves 108 married female employees, with minimal one year working period, as the population and respondents (census sampling). Using Path analysis, it was found that job stress have significant negative effect on employee performance. Motivation has a significant positive effect on employee performance. Job stress does not have an effect on job satisfaction. Motivation significantly positive influences job satisfaction. Job satisfaction significantly influences employee performance. Job stress does not have indirect effect on employee performance through job satisfaction. Motivation has an indirect effect on employee performance through job satisfaction. Motivation has the most important role to enhance employee performance. As an implication, company must give more attention and enhance employee motivation, especially on fulfilling self actualization need.