bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure Transformations in Broken Symmetry Groups—Abstraction and Visualization
Authors: Rau Valery G. , Togunov Igor A. , Rau Tamara F. , Polyakov Sergey V.
Published: September 2018

The work reports the finding and the study of transformation groups with two conditional elements (binary transformations of abstract structures of the finite numerical sets with broken symmetry). The term Broken Symmetry Group (BSG) is introduced. Transformation examples of relevant structures are studied with computer visualization and application in real structure study. A special type of BSG was discovered, which describes the subsets of “evolutionary trees” with convergent and divergent properties of the oriented graph (orgraph) with structure-development direction edges and “growth spirals”.
Disruption of Autographa Californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus ac111 Results in Reduced per os Infectivity in a Host-Dependent Manner
Authors: Li Sainan , Li Lu , Zhao Haizhou , Liu Wenhua
Published: September 2018

The Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) ac111 gene is highly conserved in lepidopteran-specific baculoviruses, and its function in the AcMNPV life cycle is still unknown. To investigate the function of ac111, an ac111-knockout AcMNPV (vAc111KO) was constructed through homologous recombination in Escherichia coli. Viral growth curve analysis and plaque assays showed that the deletion of ac111 had no effect on infectious budded virion production. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that viral DNA replication was unaffected in the absence of ac111. Electron microscopy revealed that the ac111 deletion did not affect nucleocapsid assembly, occlusion-derived virion formation, or the embedding of occlusion-derived virions into the occlusion bodies. However, in vivo bioassays showed that although the deletion of ac111 did not affect the per os infectivity of AcMNPV in Spodoptera exigua larvae, it led to an approximately five-fold reduction in infectivity of AcMNPV in Trichoplusia ni larvae, and vAc111KO took approximately 21 h longer to kill Trichoplusia ni larvae than the wild-type viruses. Taken together, our results demonstrated that although ac111 is not essential for virus replication in vitro, it plays an important role in the per os infectivity of AcMNPV in a host-dependent manner.
Molecular Mechanisms of Hepatocarcinogenesis Following Sustained Virological Response in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Hayes C. Nelson , Zhang Peiyi , Zhang Yizhou , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: September 2018

Despite the success of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents in treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the number of cases of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expected to increase over the next five years. HCC develops over the span of decades and is closely associated with fibrosis stage. HCV both directly and indirectly establishes a pro-inflammatory environment favorable for viral replication. Repeated cycles of cell death and regeneration lead to genomic instability and loss of cell cycle control. DAA therapy offers >90% sustained virological response (SVR) rates with fewer side effects and restrictions than interferon. While elimination of HCV helps to restore liver function and reverse mild fibrosis, post-SVR patients remain at elevated risk of HCC. A series of studies reporting higher than expected rates of HCC development among DAA-treated patients ignited debate over whether use of DAAs elevates HCC risk compared to interferon. However, recent prospective and retrospective studies based on larger patient cohorts have found no significant difference in risk between DAA and interferon therapy once other factors are taken into account. Although many mechanisms and pathways involved in hepatocarcinogenesis have been elucidated, our understanding of drivers specific to post-SVR hepatocarcinogenesis is still limited, and lack of suitable in vivo and in vitro experimental systems has hampered efforts to examine etiology-specific mechanisms that might serve to answer this question more thoroughly. Further research is needed to identify risk factors and biomarkers for post-SVR HCC and to develop targeted therapies based on more complete understanding of the molecules and pathways implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis.
Combining an R-Based Evolutionary Algorithm and Hydrological Model for Effective Parameter Calibration
Authors: Shin Mun-Ju , Choi Yun Seok
Published: September 2018

The hydrological model assessment and development (hydromad) modeling package is an R-based package that can be applied to simulate hydrological models and optimize parameters. As the hydromad package is incompatible with hydrological models outside the package, the parameters of such models cannot be directly optimized. Hence, we proposed a method of optimizing the hydrological-model parameters by combining the executable (EXE) file of the hydrological model with the shuffled complex evolution (SCE) algorithm provided by the hydromad package. A physically based, spatially distributed, grid-based rainfall–runoff model (GRM) was employed. By calibrating the parameters of the GRM, the performance of the model was found to be reasonable. Thus, the hydromad can be used to optimize the hydrological-model parameters outside the package if the EXE file of the hydrological model is available. The time required to optimize the parameters depends on the type of event, even for the same catchment area.
The Systematic Adsorption of Diclofenac onto Waste Red Bricks Functionalized with Iron Oxides
Authors: Zhang Ziyang , Li Yuxiu , Chen Hongrui , Zhang Xiaoran , Li Haiyan
Published: September 2018

In this study, waste red bricks were incorporated with iron oxides (goethite and hematite) and used for the removal of diclofenac (DCF) from aqueous solutions. The prepared waste red bricks were systematically characterized by XRF, XRD, BET, and SEM. The batch experiments were systematically conducted by investigating the adsorption kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, pH, and ionic strength effect. Results showed that the incorporation of iron oxides could enhance the adsorption capacity of DCF onto waste bricks, while the increased effect of hematite was better than goethite. DCF was adsorbed rapidly onto waste bricks, and the adsorption kinetic fitted the pseudo-second-order model perfectly, which could be attributed to the strong interaction between DCF and iron oxides. The increasing pH values decreased the adsorption capacity greatly, which may be due to the electrostatic repulsive interactions. The adsorption of DCF onto waste bricks was an exothermic reaction, and the adsorption isotherms fitted well with the Langmuir model. This study offers new guidelines for the utilization of construction waste, and shows useful methods for the elimination of micropollutants from aqueous solution.
Effect of Flaring Gate Piers on Discharge Coefficient for Finite Crest-Length Weirs
Authors: Tian Zhong , Wang Wei , Bai Ruidi , Li Nan
Published: September 2018

The use of flaring gate piers (FGPs) along with finite crest-length weirs changes the shape of plunging jets and increases the efficiency of energy dissipation in some projects; however, the FGPs may affect the discharge capacity. In this study, the flow pattern and discharge coefficient were experimentally investigated under different conditions by varying the weir lengths Lw, contraction ratio β, contraction angle θ, and water heads H. A comparative analysis of the weirs with and without FGPs was performed. For the finite crest-length weirs with FGPs, the water-surface profiles in the flow channel were backwater curves. Moreover, the plunging jets leaving the weir became narrower and then subsequently diffused largely in the transverse and longitudinal directions in air. The discharge coefficients of the weirs with FGPs were approximately equal for various weir lengths. Moreover, following the earlier studies on traditional finite crest-length weirs, a discharge-coefficient equation was developed for the weir with an FGP in this study. The results showed that in the weirs with FGPs, the discharge coefficients clearly increased with the increase in the contraction ratio and water head, but the changes in their values along with the contraction angle were neglected.
Human Health Impact of Cross-Connections in Non-Potable Reuse Systems
Authors: Schoen Mary E. , Jahne Michael A. , Garland Jay L.
Published: September 2018

We used quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to estimate the microbial risks from two contamination pathways in onsite non-potable water systems (ONWS): contamination of potable water by (treated) reclaimed, non-potable water and contamination of reclaimed, non-potable water by wastewater or greywater. A range of system sizes, event durations, fraction of users exposed, and intrusion dilutions were considered (chlorine residual disinfection was not included). The predicted annual microbial infection risk from domestic, non-potable reuse remained below the selected benchmark given isolated, short-duration intrusion (i.e., 5-day) events of reclaimed water in potable water. Whereas, intrusions of wastewater into reclaimed, non-potable water resulted in unacceptable annual risk without large dilutions or pathogen inactivation. We predicted that 1 user out of 10,000 could be exposed to a 5-day contamination event of undiluted wastewater in the reclaimed, non-potable water system each year to meet the annual benchmark risk of 10−4 infections per person per year; whereas, 1 user out of 1000 could be exposed to a 5-day contamination event of undiluted reclaimed water in the potable water each year. Overall, the predicted annual risks support the use of previously derived non-potable reuse treatment requirements for a variety of ONWS sizes and support the prioritization of protective measures to prevent the intrusion of wastewater into domestic ONWS.
A PROBABILISTIC CELLULAR AUTOMATON TO FORECAST PORT CHOICE DECISIONS
Authors: Leva Mabel A. , Leon Alejandro , Garrido Rodrigo A. , Ibeas Angel
Published: September 2018

The port choice problem consists in predicting the selection of a port, made by an agent who has alternatives to choose from. Most of the literature has tackled this problem assuming a discrete choice model dependent on the ports’ characteristics and agents’ attributes. However, in practice the port choice decision depends also on the choices made by other agents as well as decisions made by these agents in the past. There are only a few examples that incorporate the complexity generated by spatio-temporal interactions between agents. However, those modelling structures are rather cumbersome, precluding their use in practical cases. This article presents a new modelling framework to predict port choice decisions, based on the theory of Cellular Automaton (CA), which is simple in structure and can be quickly calibrated and applied. This framework is a probabilistic CA intended to imitate the decision processes made from multiple shippers that interact with each other. These shippers face similar alternatives of seaports for exporting their products within a certain time span. The port choice here is a dynamic decision that depends on the ports’ characteristics and attributes of each shipper at a given time, as well as the decisions made by their neighbours. The outcome of the interaction is a discrete decision that evolves in time according to the dynamics of the system as a whole. The specified CA was applied to the case of vehicle exports from Brazil and the calibration was performed through a genetic algorithm. The results show that the probabilistic CA is able to replicate the historic behaviour of the port choice decisions in the Brazilian vehicle industry, with a high degree of success. The spatial component of the CA turned out to be of major relevance in the dynamic decision process along with the attributes and geographical location of ports.
Radiation Hydrodynamical Simulations of the First Quasars
Authors: Smidt Joseph , Whalen Daniel J. , Johnson Jarrett L. , Surace Marco , Li Hui
Published: September 2018

Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are the central engines of luminous quasars and are found in most massive galaxies today. But the recent discoveries of ULAS J1120+0641, a 2 × 109

black hole (BH) at z = 7.1, and ULAS J1342+0928, a 8.0 × 108

BH at z = 7.5, now push the era of quasar formation up to just 690 Myr after the Big Bang. Here we report new cosmological simulations of SMBHs with X-rays fully coupled to primordial chemistry and hydrodynamics which show that J1120 and J1342 can form from direct collapse black holes if their growth is fed by cold, dense accretion streams, like those thought to fuel rapid star formation in some galaxies at later epochs. Our models reproduce all of the observed properties of J1120: its mass, luminosity, and H ii region as well as star formation rates and metallicities in its host galaxy. They also reproduce the dynamical mass of the innermost 1.5 kpc of its emission region recently measured by ALMA and J-band magnitudes that are in good agreement with those found by the VISTA Hemisphere Survey.
The Missing Satellite Problem Outside of the Local Group. I. Pilot Observation
Authors: Tanaka Masayuki , Chiba Masashi , Hayashi Kohei , Komiyama Yutaka , Okamoto Takashi , Cooper Andrew P. , Okamoto Sakurako , Spitler Lee
Published: September 2018

We present results from a pilot observation of nearby (∼20 Mpc) galaxies with masses similar to that of the Milky Way (MW) to address the missing satellite problem. This is the first paper from an ongoing project to address the problem with a statistical sample of galaxies outside of the Local Group (LG) without employing an assumption that the LG is a typical halo in the universe. Thanks to the close distances of our targets, dwarf galaxies around them can be identified as extended, diffuse galaxies. By applying a surface brightness cut together with a careful visual screening to remove artifacts and background contamination, we construct a sample of dwarf galaxies. The luminosity function (LF) of one of the targets is broadly consistent with that of the MW, but the other has a more abundant dwarf population. Numerical simulations by Okamoto seem to overpredict the number of dwarfs on average, while more recent predictions from Copernicus Complexio are in better agreement. In both observations and simulations, there is a large diversity in the LFs, demonstrating the importance of addressing the missing satellite problem with a statistically representative sample. We also characterize the projected spatial distributions of the satellites and do not observe strong evidence for alignments around the central galaxies. Based on this successful pilot observation, we are carrying out further observations to increase the sample of nearby galaxies, which we plan to report in our future paper.
Strong Lensing Modeling in Galaxy Clusters as a Promising Method to Test Cosmography. I. Parametric Dark Energy Models
Authors: Magaña Juan , Acebrón Ana , Motta Verónica , Verdugo Tomás , Jullo Eric , Limousin Marceau
Published: September 2018

In this paper we probe five cosmological models for which the dark energy equation of state parameter, w(z), is parameterized as a function of redshift using strong lensing data in the galaxy cluster Abell 1689. We constrain the parameters of the w(z) functions by reconstructing the lens model under each one of these cosmologies with strong lensing measurements from two galaxy clusters, Abell 1689 and a mock cluster, Ares, from the Hubble Frontier Fields Comparison Challenge, to validate our methodology. To quantify how the cosmological constraints are biased due to systematic effects in the strong lensing modeling, we carry out three runs considering the following uncertainties for the multiple image positions: 0.″25, 0.″5, and 1.″0. With Ares, we find that larger errors decrease the systematic bias on the estimated cosmological parameters. With real data, our strong-lensing constraints on w(z) are consistent with those derived from other cosmological probes. We confirm that strong lensing cosmography with galaxy clusters is a promising method to constrain w(z) parameterizations. A better understanding of galaxy clusters and their environment is needed, however, to improve the SL modeling and hence to estimate stringent cosmological parameters in alternative cosmologies.
Distortion of Magnetic Fields in a Starless Core. IV. Magnetic Field Scaling on Density and Mass-to-flux Ratio Distribution in FeSt 1-457
Authors: Kandori Ryo , Tomisaka Kohji , Tamura Motohide , Saito Masao , Kusakabe Nobuhiko , Nakajima Yasushi , Kwon Jungmi , Nagayama Takahiro , Nagata Tetsuya , Tatematsu Ken’ichi
Published: September 2018

In the present study, the magnetic field scaling on density,

, was revealed in a single starless core for the first time. The κ index of 0.78 ± 0.10 was obtained toward the starless dense core FeSt 1-457 based on the analysis of the radial distribution of the polarization angle dispersion of background stars measured at the near-infrared wavelengths. The result prefers κ = 2/3 for the case of isotropic contraction, and the difference of the observed value from κ = 1/2 is 2.8 sigma. The distribution of the ratio of mass-to-magnetic flux was evaluated. FeSt 1-457 was found to be magnetically supercritical near the center (λ ≈ 2), whereas nearly critical or slightly subcritical at the core boundary (λ ≈ 0.98). Ambipolar diffusion-regulated star formation models for the case of moderate magnetic field strength may explain the physical status of FeSt 1-457. The mass-to-flux ratio distribution for typical dense cores (critical Bonnor–Ebert sphere with central λ = 2 and κ = 1/2–2/3) was calculated, and found to be magnetically critical/subcritical at the core edge, which indicates that typical dense cores are embedded in and evolve from magnetically critical/subcritical diffuse surrounding medium.
The Spatially Resolved Dust-to-metals Ratio in M101
Authors: Chiang 江 I-Da 宜達 , Sandstrom Karin M. , Chastenet Jérémy , Johnson L. Clifton , Leroy Adam K. , Utomo Dyas
Published: September 2018

The dust-to-metals ratio describes the fraction of heavy elements contained in dust grains, and its variation provides key insights into the life cycle of dust. We measure the dust-to-metals ratio in M101, a nearby galaxy with a radial metallicity (Z) gradient spanning ∼1 dex. We fit the spectral energy distribution of dust from 100 to 500 μm with five variants of the modified blackbody dust emission model in which we vary the temperature distribution and how emissivity depends on wavelength. Among them, the model with a single-temperature blackbody modified by a broken power-law emissivity gives the statistically best fit and physically most plausible results. Using these results, we show that the dust-to-gas ratio is proportional to

. This implies that the dust-to-metals ratio is not constant in M101, but decreases as a function of radius, which is equivalent to a lower fraction of metals trapped in dust at low metallicity (large radius). The dust-to-metals ratio in M101 remains at or above what would be predicted by the minimum depletion level of metals observed in the Milky Way. Our current knowledge of the metallicity-dependent CO-to-H2 conversion factor suggests that variations in the conversion factor cannot be responsible for the trends in dust-to-metals ratio we observe. This change of dust-to-metals ratio is significantly correlated with the mass fraction of molecular hydrogen, which suggests that the accretion of gas-phase metals onto existing dust grains could contribute to a variable dust-to-metals ratio.
Seismic Study of the γ Doradus-type Pulsations in the Eclipsing Binary KIC 10486425
Authors: Zhang X. B. , Fu J. N. , Luo C. Q. , Ren A. B. , Yan Z. Z.
Published: September 2018

We present a photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the eclipsing binary KIC 10486425. Synthesis of the light curve and radial velocity measurements indicates that this binary is a circular, synchronized, detached system. The masses and radii of the two components are determined as

, M
2 = 1.11 M
⊙,

and

, respectively. The cooler secondary star is more evolved, while the primary is still on the zero-age main sequence, suggesting that KIC 10486425 could be an Algol system. After removal of the binarity effects from the observed Kepler data, multiple frequency analysis is applied to the outside-eclipse light residuals, revealing that the primary component of KIC 10486425 is a γ Dor type pulsating star with a dominant period of 0.758 days. A total of 160 pulsation frequencies with significant confidence are extracted in the g-mode region, from which a period-spacing pattern is identified which clearly shows a downward slope. Synthesis of the period-spacing pattern leads to a mode identification of (l = 2, m = 2) for the pulsations with an asymptotic period spacing of ΔΠ
l = 2 = 1803.5 s. The near-core rotation rate is derived as

, about 15% slower than the orbital frequency of this synchronized binary, suggesting that the core and the envelope rotate differentially.
Sofosbuvir-based salvage therapy for HCV infection in cirrhotic patients with DAA failure and multidrug resistance
Authors: Abdurakhmanov Dzhamal T , Rozina Teona P , Nikulkina Elena N , Nabatchikova Ekaterina A , Chulanov Vladimir P , Moiseev Sergey V
Published: September 2018

Despite very high efficacies of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) reported in clinical trials, treatment failure in real-life practice can occur in 5–10% of cases and is mostly associated with emergence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs). Little is known about the efficacy of retreatment in these patients, especially in those with decompensated cirrhosis, and only a few retreatment studies have been performed so far. Here we present case reports of successful sofosbuvir-based treatment in patients with advanced class B cirrhosis with prior pegylated interferon/ribavirin and all-oral DAA failure with multiclass drug resistance. HCV resistance testing at failure was performed to guide the choice of salvage therapy.
Epigenetic function of Granulocytic nuclei? Designing a new line of research
Authors: Mingorance Gámez Carlos
Published: September 2018

Granulocytes share the common feature of having a lobulated nucleus, a fact whose function has yet to be discussed in depth. This hypothesis suggests that the division of the nuclei follows an epigenetic purpose, separating genes into compartments with different regulatory mechanisms, which may be due to intrinsic factors like regulatory RNA or extrinsic factors like proteins.

This paper describes the outlines of a line of research for both the initial testing to test the hypothesis and the following descriptive studies, including potential clinical uses in the prognosis or diagnosis of diseases that present dysregulation of the number of lobes. The chosen approach is to study the pattern of distribution (random or otherwise) of genes amongst the lobes.
Level of agency cost driven by cultural and corruption and earnings management: Evidence of South East Asia countries
Authors: Putra Andi Manggala , Pagalung Gagaring , Habbe Abdul Hamid
Published: September 2018

Purpose: This study scrutinises the correlation between earnings quality and agency cost based on corruption level and cultural values in six South-East Asian (SEA) countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.Design/methodology: We restrict categorisation of each SEA country whether they have low or high agency cost. This study employs 581 firm-years observations from the 30 biggest market capitalisation firms of six SEA countries. We run multiple regressions of three main accrual models for main analysis (Jones, 1991; Dechow et al., 1995; Kasznik, 1999) to get discretionary accruals.Findings: Results show that firms in low agency cost countries have lower earnings quality, and indicate that earnings management behaviour in this study is efficient rather than detrimental. Furthermore, results present that firms with bigger size engage less in earnings management conduct compared to their counterparts.Originality/value: This study provides broader acknowledgement of how cultural values and corruption and their assumed correlation to agency cost could affect earnings management behaviour in South East Asia. We use a single proxy of high/low agency cost based on national cultural and corruption index.
Un artesonado del castillo de Vélez Blanco en Ciudad de México
Authors: Motos Díaz Ismael
Published: September 2018

El presente artículo desvela que el paradero actual, hasta hoy desconocido, de un artesonado renacentista de los salones nobles del castillo de Vélez Blanco (España) es el Instituto Cultural Helénico en Ciudad de México. Para la consecución de este hallazgo ha sido necesario realizar un estudio histórico-documental que ha permitido seguir su rastro entre las distintas colecciones y localizaciones en las que estuvo instalado o almacenado: París, New York y México DF. Esta investigación también resuelve mediante el uso de nuevas tecnologías y el análisis de datos arqueológicos cómo era el artesonado original y en qué estancias del castillo estuvo instalado.
Juan de Valdés Leal, Bernardo Simón de Pineda y el retablo mayor de la iglesia del hospital de la Misericordia de Sevilla
Authors: Roda Peña José
Published: September 2018

Se documenta y estudia la génesis y el desarrollo del proceso constructivo del retablo mayor de la iglesia del hospital de la Misericordia de Sevilla, obra del maestro ensamblador Bernardo Simón de Pineda entre 1668 y 1670, así como el verdadero papel desempeñado por el pintor Juan de Valdés Leal en los momentos iniciales de su diseño y contratación. Asimismo, se analizan los canales y mecanismos empleados para la financiación del conjunto retablístico, así como su ulterior dorado y policromía por parte de Miguel Delgado Moreno y Domingo Martínez en 1723-1724.
Los tapices de la Escuela de Equitación en el Palacio de Dueñas de Sevilla. Los cartones de Jacob Jordaens y el origen de la serie
Authors: Díaz Padrón Matías , Diéguez Rodríguez Ana
Published: September 2018

En este trabajo se reflexiona, en primer lugar, en el número original de cartones que Jacob Jordaens debió realizar con el tema de la Escuela de Equitación. Atendiendo a los cartones y tapices conservados de diferentes series, se hace una aproximación a las composiciones ideadas por Jordaens. En relación con estas escenas se incluyen los tapices de la colección Alba conservados actualmente en el palacio de Dueñas en Sevilla, que en su origen debió contar con doce paños. En segundo lugar, la peculiar bordura de estos tapices, con la parte baja rematada en negro, permite relacionar otros tres paños en colecciones extranjeras con los conservados en Sevilla. Esta nota singular, junto con su calidad en la ejecución de los tapices, hace plantearse su procedencia primera en alguna de las colecciones regias del siglo XVII, puesto que las primeras noticias de la serie de Sevilla se fechan a principios del siglo XVIII.
Kâulak y el retrato fotográfico. Visualidad y repentismo
Authors: Sánchez Vigil Juan Miguel
Published: September 2018

El debate sobre la consideración artística de la fotografía fue una constante desde su presentación oficial en 1839. Uno de los principales autores en la historia de la fotografía española, Antonio Cánovas del Castillo Vallejo, Kâulak (1862-1933), reflexionó sobre el arte fotográfico y publicó sus conclusiones en las revistas del primer tercio del siglo XX, fundamentalmente en La Fotografía, creada por él en octubre de 1901. Cánovas abrió galería en 1904 y retrató a la sociedad madrileña hasta comienzos de los años treinta. Este artículo tiene por objeto presentar las reflexiones de Kâulak sobre el arte fotográfico y poner en valor su trabajo como retratista, destacando dos de las características que consideró fundamentales: la visualidad o fotogenia y el “repentismo” o capacidad de respuesta ante el comportamiento del modelo.
Julio González y Hans Hartung, vínculos de abstracción
Authors: Fernández Aparicio Carmen
Published: September 2018

Este artículo estudia la relación artística entre el escultor Julio González y el pintor Hans Hartung entre 1937 y los primeros cuarenta, dentro de un panorama dominado por un creciente interés por la abstracción. Se revisa las obras de ambos artistas, su recepción crítica y las exposiciones en las que participaron en relación con una abstracción de síntesis expresiva previa al Informalismo.
Algunas notas sobre el original de imprenta La culebra de oro. Para algunos [ca. 1637] de Matías de los Reyes
Authors: Gómez Moral Alba
Published: September 2018

La conservación de testimonios originales de imprenta constituye, hasta el momento, la vía más certera de aproximación al método de trabajo consumado en los talleres impresores durante el período de la imprenta manual. En este caso, el análisis del texto manuscrito del original de imprenta La culebra de oro. Para algunos, en contraste con el subsiguiente impreso, demuestra que en el madrileño taller de la viuda de Juan Sánchez el texto fue manipulado en repetidas ocasiones con la finalidad de adaptarlo al espacio disponible en la caja de escritura. Tales modificaciones textuales, como se verá, no tuvieron nada que ver con la mano de su autor, Matías de los Reyes.
De hombres menores y mujeres formidables: el hombre a la sombra de Mecha Inzunza en El Tango de la Vieja Guardia de Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Authors: Ramón García Emilio
Published: September 2018

Los dos personajes principales de El tango de la vieja guardia siguen la estela de los grandes personajes de Pérez-Reverte, pero muestran una complejidad superior. Max Costa, con un alto concepto de sí mismo, se transforma en el momento que conoce a Mecha Inzunza y depende de cómo se ve reflejado en las palabras y las lecturas de ella y en sus encuentros. Mecha es una mujer formidable, en todo superior a él, que ejerce poder en el sentido de Foucault: le incita, induce, seduce, facilita y actúa sobre él incluso cuando él se siente viejo y sin fuerzas. La novela se plantea como una partida de ajedrez aplazada, con misterios y guerras, con Mecha como maestra del juego y con Max, sin percatarse, como peón y ayudante. La inequidad de los roles de género se subvierte y quien domina es Mecha, que sabe leer los acontecimientos mucho mejor.
Sacralizaciones artísticas en los autos sacramentales de Lope. El caso de La puente del mundo
Authors: Escudero Baztán Juan Manuel
Published: September 2018

Este artículo trata sobre un auto sacramental de Lope poco estudiado y leído: La puente del mundo. El análisis de su escritura y su estructura es un buen ejemplo de la técnica sacramental de principios del siglo XVII, más cercana a la retórica de la sacralización y con escasa relación a la construcción de un artefacto alegórico de complejas referencias, que domina el género sacramental a partir de la segunda mitad de la centuria con el dominio incuestionable de Calderón de la Barca.
Researching Mobile-Assisted English Language Learning Among Adult Distance Learners in China
Authors: Kan Qian , Tang Jinlan‎
Published: September 2018

Guided by the conceptual framework for next generation designs for mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) in informal setting, our study investigates how mobile devices impact the learning practices and habits amongst adult distant learners of English at a higher education institution in China. Data sources include quantitative data of 148 completed responses to an online survey and qualitative data from follow-up email interviews. The study demonstrates that students' main motivation for engaging in mobile assisted English learning is to fill in the gaps in their daily schedule in order to maximize available time, and the majority use mobile devices to support formal course learning. The skills and knowledge areas practiced with mobile devices are listening, followed by speaking and pronunciation, vocabulary, reading, and translation. Our study also reveals that teachers play a very limited role as perceived by students, while students expect more support from teachers for their out-of-class hour mobile assisted language learning. The research findings bear significant pedagogical implications in terms of integrating MALL into language learning curriculum, learner support and the need for continuous teacher training.
Investigating Students' and Teachers' Perceptions of Using the iPad in an Italian English as a Foreign Language Classroom
Authors: Morgana Valentina , Shrestha Prithvi N
Published: September 2018

Recent research indicates that mobile technologies can support second language learning. However, studies focused on the use of the iPad and teaching in schools is still scarce. This study reports on an action research project that investigated the use of the iPad in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context in an Italian school. The study sought to investigate learners' and teachers' perceptions of mobile learning through the use of the iPad. The data was collected through a survey (N=41), classroom observations (N=4), interviews (N=20), and recorded teacher meetings (N=5). Results show a positive impact on student motivation and on the approach to second language learning tasks. We found that within the duration of the study students and teachers became increasingly independent in the use of the iPad for English language learning and teaching. This study provides educators with hints on how to start integrating mobile devices to perform specific language learning/teaching tasks.
Exploring Learners' and Teacher's Participation in Online Non-Formal Project-Based Language Learning
Authors: Sampurna Jessica , Kukulska-Hulme Agnes , Stickler Ursula
Published: September 2018

This article reports on the implementation of online project-based language learning in a non-formal educational context. Project-based learning may enable additional out-of-class language practice and digital technologies can support this activity, but little is known about whether learners will participate. Twenty-one tertiary learners from across Indonesia used multiple Web 2.0 tools to collaboratively create English learning materials for children as a project over the course of four weeks. Online data, learners' reflections, and interviews were analysed using content analysis. The study explores participation levels among learners and their teacher. Findings suggest that while learners' participation varied considerably, the teacher's participation was consistently the highest in all platforms except Google Docs. Learners had different attitudes towards their own and their peers' contribution, but generally valued the teacher's participation.
Improving Virtual Design Team Performance Through Use of a Collaborative Sketching Application
Authors: Stone Brett , Salmon John , Hepworth Ammon , Gorrell Steven , Richey Michael
Published: September 2018

As virtual teamwork in engineering becomes more central to the daily design activities of organizations around the world, it is increasingly important for team members to be able to easily and effectively share their visual ideas with remote teammates. However, sharing visual representations of ideas among virtual teammates is generally difficult and commonly hampered by various factors, making the process time-consuming and non-intuitive. In laboratory experiments and a case study, involving students from six different universities across the U.S. working as teams to build unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the authors quantify how a collaborative sketching application (CSA) provides a significant benefit to design engineering activities for virtual teams. From the experiments and the case study, it was observed that such a tool improved users' understanding of each other's ideas when working in a virtual setting, improved the perceived equality of teammate contribution, and decreased the level of frustration experienced when working remotely.
Exploring Early Adopter Baby Boomers' Approach to Managing Their Health and Healthcare
Authors: Seale Deborah E , LeRouge Cynthia M , Ohs Jennifer E , Tao Donghua , Lach Helen W. , Jupka Keri , Wray Ricardo
Published: September 2018

The Patient 3.0 Profile is used to explore to the patient engagement strategies of early adopter baby boomers' in three domains: 1) patient relationships, 2) health information use and 3) consumer health technology (CHT) use. Findings from six focus groups with early adopter boomers challenge prior notions about older adults' passive approach to patient engagement. Baby boomers want to make final healthcare decisions with input from providers. While adept at finding and critically assessing online health information for self-education and self-management, boomers want providers to curate relevant and trustworthy information. Boomers embrace CHTs offered through providers (i.e., patient portals, email and text messaging) and sponsored by wellness programs (i.e., diet and activity devices and apps). However, there is no indication they add information to their online medical records or use CHT for diagnosis, treatment or disease management. Additional resources are needed to encourage widespread adoption, support patient effectiveness, and confirm cost-benefit.
Design of a Low-Cost Controller for Sun-Tracking to Maximize the Output of Photovoltaic Panels
Authors: Krim Saber , Gdaim Soufien , Mtibaa Abdellatif , Mimouni Mohamed Faouzi
Published: September 2018

The electrical energy is considered as the main resource for the development of countries. As there are several sources of renewable energy, the solar energy is one of the green energies, which is imperishable. A lot of researchers have been working on the improvement of the efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels in order to generate more electrical power. Tracking the sun position is a solution to increase the power produced by photovoltaic panels. Referring to some measurements, the parallel orientation of the photovoltaic panels with the sun raises the produced power by more than 40%. This article aims first to control their position to track the sun during the day. The control system is based on an induction motor controlled by the Direct Toque Control (DTC) approach. To overcome the conventional DTC drawbacks, a robust DTC-SVM based on sliding mode controllers is the second contribution in this article. The simulation results demonstrate that the robust DTC-SVM with sliding mode controllers offers the best results in terms of ripples compared to conventional DTC approaches.
Robust Economic Dispatch of Microgrid With Highly Penetrated Renewables and Energy Storage System
Authors: Dey Bishwajit , Bhattacharyya Biplab , Sharma Sharmistha
Published: September 2018

Economic dispatch (ED) of a grid-connected and renewable integrated microgrid is considered in this article. Here, the renewable energy sources (RES) taken into consideration are wind farms. A parameter worst-case-transaction-cost which arises due to the stochastic availability and uncontrollable nature of wind farms is also emphasised and efforts have been taken to minimize it too. Hence, the article focuses on separately optimizing the generation costs and the worst-case transaction costs. It also optimises the net microgrid cost as a whole, which is the summation of generation costs and the worst-case transaction costs. Two different cases with highly varying transaction prices are studied. Various types of loads, ramp rates of generators, charging and discharging limits of the batteries are taken into consideration while minimizing the microgrid cost. Four meta-heuristic soft computing algorithms are applied for optimization and a comparative analysis among them is studied. Numerical results are tabulated to justify the effectiveness of the novel approach.
Youth Involvement in ICT Informal Sector Jobs in Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Authors: Onabajo Michael Bamidele , Adewusi Adedeji Oluwaseun
Published: September 2018

This article examines the motivators of gender notions and satisfaction in ICT informal sector jobs among youths in Ile-Ife, Osun state. A cross-sectional research design was employed to collect data. A total of 168 questionnaires and 30 in-depth interviews were administered and conducted on young ICT entrepreneurs. Findings revealed that socio-cultural factors such as peer group, parental influence, and social responsibilities have positively motivated youths to engage in ICT informal sector jobs. It also revealed that men were more prominent in ICT informal jobs like repairs, sales of mobile phones and computers, and women engage in the sale of rechargeable cards. Lastly, the study found that income (β = 0.062, p = 0.003) positively influences satisfaction with ICT informal sector jobs. The study concluded that youths are socio-culturally motivated to engage in ICT informal sector jobs. However; there are gender occupational differences in ICT informal sector jobs.
Machine Learning Based Program to Prevent Hospitalizations and Reduce Costs in the Colombian Statutory Health Care System
Authors: Riascos Alvaro J , Serna Natalia
Published: September 2018

Health-care systems that rely on hospitalization for early patient treatment pose a financial concern for governments. In this article, the author suggests a hospitalization prevention program in which the decision of whether to intervene on a patient depends on a simple decision model and the prediction of the patient risk of an annual length-of-stay using machine learning techniques. These results show that the prevention program achieves significant cost savings relative to several base scenarios for program efficacies greater than or equal to 40% and intervention costs per patient of 100,000 to 700,000 Colombian pesos (i.e., approximately 14% to 100% of the average cost per patient in Colombia statuary health care system). This article also shows how tree-based methods outperform linear regressions when predicting an annual length-of-stay and the final model achieves a lower out-of-sample error compared to those of the Heritage Health Prize.
Student Perceptions of Mobile Video Recording to Learn American Sign Language
Authors: Gale Elaine , Kung Shiao-Chuan
Published: September 2018

This article reports an exploratory study of teacher candidate perception of learning, using video recording in an American Sign Language (ASL) class. Video recording for practice and reflection is relevant to learning ASL, a visual language. One advantage of recording video for learning ASL with mobile devices instead of computers is the larger physical space that can be captured. Thirteen teacher candidates in a graduate program participated, by completing three surveys regarding their experiences with mobile app assignments designed for practicing expressive skills using specific ASL grammatical features. Results showed that 10 out of 12 teacher candidates found app assignments helpful in assessing their own sign skills, and 11 out of 12 found them helpful in clarifying ASL concepts. Nine out of 12 teacher candidates reported increased interest in learning ASL, and 11 out of 13 teacher candidates indicated that their ASL improved due to use of the app.
The Effects of Flipping an English for Academic Purposes Course
Authors: Hughes Christopher
Published: September 2018

This article addresses the lack of research into the effects of flipping tertiary level English for Academic Purposes courses. An experimental method was used to compare the outcomes and satisfaction of students (n=29) enrolled in a flipped and a traditional version of an Advanced Presentation and Discussion course at a university in South Korea. Results show that students in the traditionally taught class achieved better objective assessment outcomes, students in the flipped class achieved better competency-based assessment outcomes, and satisfaction was the same. These findings are of interest because they confirm some previous assertions about flipped learning while contradicting others. It is suggested that instructors need to consider the instructional design, video production, use of face-to-face time, and audience-specific considerations at the outset of establishing a course in order to develop effective learning environments.
Understanding Social Capital on Mobile SNS- An IS Success Model Perspective
Authors: Xu Zuoning , Zhou Tao
Published: September 2018

The social capital embedded within the social network relationships among users may facilitate their continued usage of mobile SNS. However, how to develop social capital remains a question. In this article, the authors incorporated three factors of system quality, information quality, and service quality from the information systems (IS) success model to examine their effects on social capital in mobile SNS. The results indicate that these three factors have significant effects on social capital, which includes structural capital, relational capital, and cognitive capital. The results imply that service providers need to improve users' technological perceptions in order to develop social capital and facilitate their continuance of mobile SNS.
Effects of Quality Improvement and Upgrading on Software Market Disruption
Authors: Katsamakas Evangelos
Published: September 2018

Digital goods, such as software, are significant elements of the contemporary digital economy. The authors propose a model that characterizes dynamic profit-maximizing competitive pricing strategies of digital goods with network effects. In a two-period game theory model, an incumbent firm has a quality advantage in period 1, but the potential disrupter has a quality advantage in period 2. They analyze pricing strategies and characterize conditions under which the potential disrupter becomes an actual disrupter. They discuss implications for user adoption of digital goods and opportunities for future research.
A Multi-Objective ACO to Solve the Daily Carpool Problem
Authors: Sahraoui Abdelatif , Derdour Makhlouf , Marzak Bouchra
Published: September 2018

In urban areas, the cost of road congestion has paid great attention to the sociological, technological and environmental aspects, such as the optimal route and fuel consumption. This step is towards a smarter vehicle mobility where the travel time will be planned and dynamically adapted to changes with actual status of the traffic flow. In this article a multi-objective ACO algorithm is proposed to solve the daily carpooling problem. In particular, a set of decision variables are proposed in order to minimize three objective functions subject to a set of constraints on these objectives.
Structure and Phase Composition of a Ti Film–Al Substrate System Irradiated with an Intense Pulsed Electron Beam
Authors: Ivanov Yurii , Krysina Olga V. , Moskvin Pavel , Petrikova Elizaveta A. , Ivanova Olga V. , Tolkachev Oleg S.
Published: September 2018

Commercially pure A7 aluminum was exposed to surface modification in a single vacuum cycle which included vacuum arc evaporation and deposition of commercially pure titanium and intense electron beam irradiation and melting of the film–substrate system using a plasma-cathode pulsed electron source. The deposited Ti film thickness was 0.5 and 1 μm. The irradiated Ti–Al system revealed a multilayer multiphase structure consisting of submicro-and nanosized elements with intermetallic inclusions Al3Ti, Al2Ti, and TiAl3. The Ti film during irradiation broke up into fragments with their immersion in the molten Al surface layer to a depth of 20 μm. The modified material surpassed the initial aluminum in wear resistance by a factor of 2.4 and in microhardness by a factor larger than 4. The main cause for the high surface hardness and high wear resistance of the modified aluminum was likely the formation of both the intermetallic particles and the Ti-hardened transition layer.