bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Performance SiC MOSFETs for Fault Tolerant Applications
Authors: C. Onambele  , A. Mpanda  , F. Giacchetti  , M. Elsied
Published: April 2017

Harsh environment applications are characterized by exceptional constraints regarding temperature, volume, fault tolerance, efficiency, etc. As the introduction of power electronics in such systems is constantly growing, research activities are essential to get more knowledge on the capabilities of available technologies for such applications: aerospace and renewable energies. This paper evaluates the performance of a Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFET transistor for a multiphase power converter for fault-tolerant applications. Two methods are carried out in this study: first, the model provided by the manufacturer is used in simulation for a fault-tolerant electric drive application, then in the same operating conditions, the power module is characterized and its performance evaluated. Both methods lead to high system efficiency around 97-98% for a 1200V-400A SiC MOSFET transistor module integrated in a 120kW-100A 6-phase modular inverter.
Income generation of rural community by using solar distillation system
Authors: A. Afzal  , J. Alvarado  , A. Munir  , A. Ghafoor
Published: April 2017

Processing of different herbs by distillation technique was one of the agro-based industries which lie in medium temperature range (60-280 oC). This study has been carried out for essential oils extraction using solar distillation system as well as to perform the quality analysis of eucalyptus leaves (comaldulensis) essential oils using GC MS analysis for income generation of rural community. The solar distillation system consists of a primary reflector (10 m2 Scheffler concentrator), a secondary reflector, distillation still, condenser and Florentine flasks. Results have shown that the essential oil from 10 kg fresh eucalyptus leaves (comaldulensis) for different experiments were extracted to be 29.7, 30, 28.2, 29.9 and 30.2 ml. GC MS analysis shows that eucalyptol (C10H16O) was identified as the most dominant compound of eucalyptus leaves (comaldulensis) essential oil (50.91%). This is the great opportunity of small scale farmer to on-farm solar industry for income generation of rural community. Keywords: Scheffler concentrator, Solar distillation system, Essential oil, GC-MS analysis, Income generation.
Parametric analysis of thermal losses on hybrid solar gas-turbine power plants
Authors: R.P. Merchán  , M.J. Santos  , A. Medina  , A. Calvo Hernández
Published: April 2017

In this paper a parametric analysis of thermal and pressure losses for a hybrid Brayton thermosolar plant is carried out. A serial hybridization is modelled with the purpose of delivering an stable power output. A purely thermodynamic model describing this sort of facilities is presented. The model is general and flexible, so it is easily applicable to different plant configurations (hybrid or pure combustion modes). The overall system is considered as formed by three subsystems linked by heat exchangers: solar collector, combustion chamber, and recuperative Brayton gas-turbine. All the main irreversibility sources existing in real installations are assumed by the subsystem models. For numerical calculations, particular parameters from a real installation and actual meteorological data are taken (solar irradiance and ambient temperature are yearly averaged). Later, a sensitivity analysis is accomplished, in which both solar and turbine subsystems are examined, being the optical efficiency of the heliostat field and the turbine efficiency, respectively, the most influential variables. This kind of studies could be a guideline for the design of future hybrid gas-turbine thermosolar facilities.
Procedural Remedies as Continuing Violations and Therapeutic Jurisprudence as Best Practice to Prevent Workplace Harassment in the United States
Authors: Saade Marta Vides
Published: April 2017

The well-being of adversaries and witnesses participating in workplace gender and sex discrimination actions filed under federal and state laws in the United States is generally not considered as important. These actions are typically initiated within the personal workplace where the offending conduct presumably occurred, and proceed in an already tension filled atmosphere. The effect is that the procedure itself becomes an additional violation harming claimants through overt and micro-aggressions. These practices have focused on “rule” not “relational” principles. Conventional law and policy frameworks inadequately address the harms these processes promote. This chapter will move from the limitations of rights-based regulation to a jurisprudence of imperfect obligations and vulnerability, incorporating therapeutic understandings of needs and relationships, as the more inclusive and equitable foundation of institutional practices. It offers “best practices” models in therapeutic jurisprudence as alternatives to resolve workplace conflicts.
Small Punch Testing - The Transition from a Code of Practice to a European Testing Standard
Authors: Matocha Karel , Hurst Roger
Published: April 2017

The development and practical use of the Small Punch test technique for the evaluation of mechanical properties of metallic materials in Europe resulted in the publication of the CEN document CWA 15627 Small Punch Test Method for Metallic Materials in 2007. The evaluation of the actual mechanical properties of metallic materials from the results of such tests according to CWA 15627 were presented at the first three International conferences SSTT "Determination of Mechanical Properties by Small Punch and other Miniature Testing Techniques" held in Ostrava (2010, 2012) and Castle Seggau in Austria (2014). In the present paper the motivation and the steps taken to lead to the setting up of a working group and programme facilitating the transformation of CWA 15627 Small Punch Test Method for Metallic Materials into an EN standard are summarized along with early results of the programme.
Verification and Calibration of Instrumented Indentation Testing Machines
Authors: Sun Ming Cheng , Zhang Chao Qun , Yang Chao , Han De Bin
Published: April 2017

The frame compliance is calibrated by experimental and calculation methods for an instrumented indentation equipment. The indentation depth and contact diameter with single cycle test is determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy directly. The alternative method is to calculate the contact depth and the contact radius from the load-depth curves. The observed and calculated frame compliances are obtained respectively according to EN ISO 14577-4 Annex Methods 2.
A splitting theorem for spaces of Busemann non-positive curvature
Authors: Pinto Alon
Published: April 2017

In this paper we introduce a new tool for decomposing Busemann non-positively curved (BNPC) spaces as products, and use it to extend several important results previously known to hold in specific cases like CAT(0) spaces. These results include a product decomposition theorem, a de Rham decomposition theorem, and a splitting theorem for actions of product groups on certain BNPC spaces. We study the Clifford isometries of BNPC spaces and show that they always form Abelian groups, answering a question raised by Gelander, Karlsson, and Margulis. In the smooth case of BNPC Finsler manifolds, we show that the fundamental groups have the duality property and generalize a splitting theorem previously known in the Riemannian case.
Gradings on Lie algebras with applications to infra-nilmanifolds
Authors: Deré Jonas
Published: April 2017

In this paper, we study positive as well as non-negative and non-trivial gradings on finite dimensional Lie algebras. The existence of such a grading on a Lie algebra is invariant under taking field extensions, a result very recently obtained by Y. Cornulier and we give a different proof of this fact. Similarly, we prove that given a grading of one of these types and a finite group of automorphisms, there always exist a grading of the same type which is preserved by this group. From these results we conclude that the existence of an expanding map or a non-trivial self-cover on an infra-nilmanifold depends only on the covering Lie group. Another application is the construction of a nilmanifold admitting an Anosov diffeomorphism but no non-trivial self-covers and in particular no expanding maps, which is the first known example of this type.
The geometry of profinite graphs revisited
Authors: Auinger Karl
Published: April 2017

For a formation

\mathfrak{F}

of finite groups, tight connections are established between the pro-

\mathfrak{F}

-topology of a finitely generated free group

F

and the geometry of the Cayley graph

\Gamma (\widehat {F_{\mathfrak F}})

of the pro-

\mathfrak{F}

-completion

\widehat {F_{\mathfrak F}}

of

F

. For example, the Ribes–Zalesskii theorem is proved for the pro-

\mathfrak{F}

-topology of

F

in case

\Gamma (\widehat {F_{\mathfrak F}})

is a tree-like graph. All these results are established by purely geometric proofs, more directly and more transparently than in earlier papers, without the use of inverse monoids. Due to the richer structure provided by formations (compared to varieties), new examples of (relatively free) profinite groups with tree-like Cayley graphs are constructed. Thus, new topologies on

F

are found for which the Ribes–Zalesskii theorem holds.
La crítica de Agustín de Hipona a la filosofía en De civitate Dei
Authors: Domínguez Valdés Patricio
Published: April 2017

Este artículo reconstruye panorámicamente la posición de Agustín de Hipona con respecto a la filosofía en la obra De civitate Dei. Sostiene que la valoración y el reproche que le hace Agustín a los platonici descansan en último término en un concepto de filosofía tomado del mismo platonismo y reinterpretado según textos bíblicos que enfatizan la centralidad de la mediación y el culto para alcanzar la beata vita.
تعزيز احتياجات مجتمع المعرفة
الرقمي من المعلومات
Authors: Saleem Naifa Eid
Published: April 2017

يعتبر التوصيف الوظيفي هو الدليل الذي يرشد الموظف في مساره المهني ويعرفه بواجباته والمهام المطلوبة منه. هدفت هذه الدراسة التعرف على مدى تأثر المكتبة الرئيسة بجامعة السلطان قابوس بسلطنة عمان بالتغييرات التي تحدث في البيئة الرقمية فيما يتعلق بالتوصيف الوظيفي لأخصائيي المعلومات ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة تم استخدام المنهج النوعي وتوصلت الدراسة إلى مجموعة من النتائج منها أن المكتبة الرئيسة تأثرت بالتغييرات التي تحدث في البيئة الرقمية وأن هذا التأثر شمل التحديث والتطوير في مهام أخصائي المعلومات بالأقسام المختلفة على مستويات مختلفة فهناك أقسام قامت بالتحديث و التطوير كليا في توصيفها الوظيفي ليتناسب مع التغيرات التي تحدث في البيئة الرقمية وأقسام لم تحدث في توصيفها الوظيفي وذلك نظرا لطبيعة المواد التي تعالجها أو لطبيعة الخدمة التي تقدمها وأقسام أخرى طورت وعدلت في بعض الوظائف لتتناسب مع التغيرات التي تحدث في البيئة الرقمية.
إدارة المعرفة: مفهومها, وأهميتها, وواقع تطبيقها في
المكتبات العامة في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة من وجهة نظر مديريها
Authors: Abdullah K.A. , Jirjees J.M.
Published: April 2017

أدت التطورات السريعة والمتلاحقة في قطاع المكتبات إلى فرض الأخذ بمفهوم المعرفة كونه من الركائز التي يجب الإعتماد عليها إذا ما أرادت هذه المكتبات أن تبقى صامدة وقادرة على زيادة فاعليتها.

لذا أصبح تبني مفهوم إدارة المعرفة في المكتبات كباقي المنظمات التي تسعى الى التميز من أهم الإستراتيجيات التي ترتكز عليها لتفعيل المعرفة بكونها مورداً مهماً من حيث انتاجها، وتنظيمها والتشارك بها، وجعلها متاحة لمختلف المستفيدين منها سواء لتغطية حاجات العاملين أنفسهم داخل المكتبة أو غيرهم من الدارسين والباحثين المستفيدين من خدماتها. ومنطلقات إدارة المعرفة في ذلك أن العنصر البشري هو المورد ورأس المال الذي يتعامل مع المعرفة ويمتلكها ويتحتم عليه الإفصاح عنها والمشاركة بها، من أجل دعم الإبداع المعرفي في كل أرجاء المكتبة، بالإعتماد على تكنولوجيا المعلومات كأداة فعالة في إدارة المعرفة بما ينعكس بشكل ايجابي على خدمات المعلومات المقدمة.

لذا سعت هذه الدراسة إلى التعرف على واقع تبني مفهوم إدارة المعرفة وأهميتها في المكتبات العامة الإماراتية من وجهة نظر مدراء تلك المكتبات، وتحديدا، هدفت الدراسة إلى:

•قياس واقع ممارسة عمليات إدارة المعرفة في هذه المكتبات

•معرفة دور إدارة المعرفة في تحسين مستوى خدمات المعلومات فيها.

•معرفة العوائق التي تحول دون التطبيق الأمثل لإدارة المعرفة.

•تقديم المقترحات اللازمة لتفعيل وتطوير واقع إدارة المعرفة في هذه المكتبات بما ينسجم ويتوافق مع التطلعات المستقبلية.

اعتمدت هذه الدراسة المنهج الوصفي التحليلي والميداني بالاعتماد على الإستبيان في جمع البيانات. وبينت نتائج الدراسة أن واقع ممارسات عمليات إدارة المعرفة إيجابية ومرتفعة، وأن المكتبات العامة في الإمارات العربية المتحدة قد تبنت إلى حد كبير متطلبات إدارة المعرفة بها، وأنها بحاجة إلى دعم اكبر فيما يخص توفير الإستراتيجيات والهياكل التنظيمية الداعمة لإدارة المعرفة، والتدريب وورش العمل حول مستجدات إدارة المعرفة، ومتطلبات دعم التشارك بالمعرفة.

المعرفة، والتدريب وورش العمل حول مستجدات إدارة المعرفة، ومتطلبات دعم التشارك بالمعرفة.
تعزيز محو الأمية الرقمية من خلال أدوات الويب 2.0 : مدونة نسيج نموذج دراسي
Authors: Hayek Heyam
Published: April 2017

تتعاظم أهمية المهارات الرقمية كلما تقدمت التكنولوجيا ، وتصبح محو الأمية الرقمية ضرورة ملحة ، مما يستدعي الحاجة الى تعزيز هذه المهارات الرقمية على جميع المستويات . والعمل على امتلاك أحدث تقنيات الاتصالات والمعلومات وتحويلها إلى أصول وطنية استراتيجية تمكنها من تحقيق تنمية مستدامة . ذلك أمر لا بد منه لكل بلد بحيث لا يمكن
استبعادها من المنافسة في السوق العالمية .

من هذا المنطلق تناقش الدراسة التي بين يدينا مفهوم الوعي والرقمي ومهاراته وبرامجه في ظل البيئة الرقمية التفاعلية التي عززت من تواجدها التطور الهائل في تطبيقات الويب 2.0 . تتخذ الدراسة من مدونة نسيج نموذجاً لبيئة رقمية ، تستهدف العاملين في مجال المكتبات والمعلومات ، وتركز على عرض وشرح التطبيقات والأدوات والمتطلبات التي تؤدي إلى الوصول الى السلوك الملائم للحصول على المعلومات في البيئة الرقمية الآنية والمستقبلية المتغيرة دوماً.

تطرح الدراسة الأسئلة التالية :

•ما التغييرات التي أحدثتها موجة الرقمنة التي تسود العالم على مفهوم الوعي الرقمي ؟ وما هو مفهوم الوعي الرقمي ؟

•ما هي المهارات الرقمية التي يمتلكها الأكاديميين والطلاب والعاملين في مجال المعلومات والاتصالات ؟

•ما هو الدور الذي يمكن أن تلعبه وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي في نشر المعرفة والوعي الرقمي ؟

•ما هو الدور الذي يمكن أن تقوم به المؤسسات المجتمعية من أجل نشر المعرفة والوعي الرقمي ؟

تستخدم الدراسة المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، ودراسة الحالة، بينما تعتمد على الاستبانة ، كأداة رئيسية في جميع البيانات .
توصلت الدراسة الى عدة نتائج منها : يتمتع أفراد العينة المبحوثة من قراء مدونة نسيج بوعي معلوماتي عالِ ، أغلب أفراد العينة يرون في مدونة نسيج مصدر قوي للحصول على المعلومات والتي تساعدهم في إنجاز مهام الدراسة والعمل . جزء كبير من قراء المدونة يقوم بتطبيق المعلومات التي يقرأها في المدونة ، بالاضافة إلى أن هناك عدد من القراء بدأوا بطلب الكتابة في موضوعات محددة ترتبط بدراستهم وعملهم.
Managing the business of sustainable buildings
Authors: Amin Radwa
Published: April 2017

Cost and profit are considered the biggest barriers towards sustainable building business. The aim of this article is to shift this perspective by interpreting the building composition of the sustainable business and introducing the differences between the different accounting frameworks associated with both the conventional and sustainable building businesses. To achieve this target, this article compares between the “bottom line” analysis adopted in the conventional building business against the “triple bottom line” utilized in the sustainable building business. The “bottom line” is more associated with how much profit any business generates, whereas the “triple bottom line” accounts for people, planet, and profit. In this context, the sustainable business has a wider vision towards assets and is more accommodative to the future needs of a business. In light of this, it is evident that adequately managing the sustainable building business will positively enhance the overall cost that will lead not only to a definite increase in profit and building assets, with no impact or minor impact on the first cost, but also to a favorable decrease in the running costs. The focal point of this article is to establish that cost and profit are legendary barriers, and contrary to what is currently perceived, there will be a massive drive towards promoting sustainable building business.
Environmental attitudes and behaviors in sustainability about water use in homes
Authors: Obeidat Islam M. , Obeidat Saif , Obeidat Manar
Published: April 2017

Introduction: The use of water is a global environmental concern. Understanding factors affecting peoples' behavior is necessary to devise effective water management policies. Water reuse is positively influenced by environmental values, convenience, adequate storage space, simplicity of reuse, feelings of satisfaction when reusing materials, and involvement in society.

Purpose: This paper proposed and tested a conceptual framework to identify the environmental (e.g., attitude toward the environment), situational (e.g., individual knowledge and experience), and psychological (e.g., personality characteristics, perceptions) factors that affect peoples' water management intentions and behaviors in homes.

Problem: Global environmental problems (e.g., water concern) can be effectively addressed by individual lifestyle changes. Unlike reduction and reuse, recycling is not influenced by environmental values; instead, it is viewed as an accepted norm. However, access to recycling facilities or curbside recycling improves participation.

Finding: A strong relationship between intention and behavior was found for all the three water management practices (i.e., reduction, reuse, and recycling). Water reduction was positively influenced by environmental values, increased knowledge of environmental policies, the belief that water is a threat to personal well-being, and feelings of personal responsibility. Older age groups were more likely to reduce water than younger age groups, possibly because they maintained lifestyles developed during their experiences and culture. Ease of recycling (e.g., presence of curbside recycling) was associated with diminished intentions to employ water use reduction and reuse strategies, possibly because individuals who recycled felt they had fulfilled their water management responsibilities. Designers should:

– enact curbside recycling methods and techniques in homes to decrease water use;

– recognize how factors beyond awareness and knowledge (e.g., water values) affect water management practices;

– understand that different household water management practices (i.e., reduction, reuse, and recycling) are influenced by different factors (e.g., environmental attitudes).
Implementation of rooftop solar PV in Qatar through the roof rental business model
Authors: Alhaj Mohamed
Published: April 2017

Qatar is an emerging renewable energy market in the MENA region and has made progress in recent years. The natural gas-rich state has abundant solar energy resources and a national vision to generate 2% of its electricity from solar energy by 2020. A number of green businesses in Qatar are operating at different segments of the solar value chain. However, deployment of residential and commercial solar PV in Qatar still remains very low. One reason for this is the lack of incentives for the public and businesses to adopt solar energy technologies because of the high capital cost and high per kWh price as compared to the utility power. This study proposes the use of the roof rental business model by green businesses in Qatar as a method for increasing public support for solar in Qatar and generating income for green businesses. The study reviews the current status of solar energy deployment in Qatar and the major business players in the solar value chain. The roof rental business model is discussed in detail and recommendations are given on how to implement it. The study also addresses the feed-in-tariff incentive as an essential pillar in the roof rental business model. Finally, this study concludes that the roof rental business model can create massive public support for solar energy in Qatar provided that the feed-in-tariff policy is implemented.
Health-oriented sustainable buildings in the context of Qatar
Authors: Kim Doyoon
Published: April 2017

With growing popularity of green building rating systems, LEED and GSAS projects are becoming a building industry standard in Qatar. Furthermore, more projects targeting higher rating in green building certification has become a trend. A large number of green buildings have been focused on in terms of energy and water efficiency, where a high level of certification can be achieved and their performance can be easily translated and expressed into numeric terms. Media tends to highlight efficiencies in green buildings that are broadcasted as high-performance buildings. Although non-quantifiable benefits of green buildings such as enhanced occupant's productivity, health and comfort are equally important, emphasis on human factor has drawn relatively less attention to the green building design process. Considering the significance of cost incurred for building occupants in facility operation, worker's wages and expenses are much higher than the utility cost or any other operation costs. Especially, low energy and water tariffs in Qatar actually lower financial feasibility of high energy and water performance green buildings than those in other countries. In addition, due to hot weather conditions in Qatar, people spend more hours indoor than outdoor compared with other climate zone countries. In this regard, building occupant's health and comfort should be more importantly treated in the context of green building in Qatar. According to a study on Qatari public health, a large percentage of students in Qatar experience allergic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema) and communicable diseases (influenza and hepatitis). Such diseases result in absenteeism and poor academic performance. Knowing that Doha was ranked the 12th worst ambient air quality in fine particles by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, prevalence of such diseases indicates that indoor environment is not sufficiently protected from polluted outdoor conditions. The diseases eventually burden the national healthcare cost to attend patients and potentially deteriorate Qatari businesses as well as education performance resulted from high absenteeism. This paper aims to first understand the level of the occupant's satisfaction in indoor air quality and thermal comfort based on a survey questionnaire for typical operating buildings in Qatar, and strives to find the correlation between indoor environment quality in Qatari buildings and locally prevalent allergic and communicable diseases. The study finally aims to determine the root causes of health-related indoor environmental quality issues and to suggest improvements in design, construction and operation of a green building implementation.
Occupant's thermal comfort in Qatari offices – Need for the new adaptive standard
Authors: Indraganti Madhavi , Boussaa Djamel
Published: April 2017

Qatar's per capita energy consumption is one of the highest in the world, consuming 30.184 TWh as of 2012. Buildings contribute significantly (80%) to this, with air-conditioning taking a lion's share. Qatar does not have custom-made adaptive thermal comfort standards (ACS). In their absence, designers tend to follow Western standards that are meant for colder climates verbatim. This leads to the disregard of the effect of local climate, clothing and cultural needs. Availability of cheap energy encourages such practice. Following the ACS is vital for energy savings in buildings. In this paper, we aim to develop the ACS for Qatar. It necessitates long-term field studies in real buildings. This paper presents the results of long-term thermal comfort field surveys in eight Qatari offices. The occupant's thermal perceptions along with the environmental measurements were recorded in these surveys. This was done during the winter in Doha. A total of 40 subjects expressed comfort over a wide range of temperatures in offices. They returned 1362 sets of data, of which 27% were from women. Fanger's PMV overestimated the actual sensation. These findings have far-reaching energy implications towards environmental sustainability as specified in Qatar Vision 2030.
Performance evaluation of algae (Chlorella vulgaris) for the treatment of textile waste water and biofuel extraction for energy conservation
Authors: Ansari Sana J. , Ghaffar Hammad , Ali Ehsan
Published: April 2017

In the past few decades, rapid industrialization has greatly contributed to the increase in environmental pollution and the decline in several energy resources. Greenhouse gas accumulation, emissions of particulate matter into the atmosphere and the release of untreated wastewater from different industries are serious threats to a sustainable environment. In particular, the wastewater from the textile industry is highly toxic and unable to be reused for industrial processes and irrigation. This toxic water ultimately makes its way to rivers and oceans and adversely affects the aquatic life. This paper focuses on the treatment of industrial wastewater obtained immediately after the dying process by algae growth, which leads to a significant decline in COD (chemical oxygen demand), total nitrogen/carbon, alkalinity and turbidity levels. Samples of wastewater from the textile industry were subjected to the treatment with fresh water algae (Chlorella vulgaris) and algal stains were found in heterotrophic mode. After about six days, algae were properly cultured on textile wastewater. It was found that 54% nitrogen, 24–28% alkalinity and 78–82% of COD were removed, allowing the treated wastewater to be used for other industrial processes. The cultured algae were further harvested (using centrifugation) for the extraction of biofuel that could be used as an alternative energy source for different industrial processes. This method of treating textile wastewater is not only cost-effective but also yields far better results for reducing water toxicity and providing an alternative fuel source.
Multi-layer UPVC piping system
Authors: Kamal Ahmed
Published: April 2017

Technocore is the brand name of PVC multi-layer pipes manufactured and marketed by Hepworth under the license of Wavin. Technocore is a PVC pipe made up of three layers, which improves the durability of pipes more significantly than conventional pipes with solid wall construction. The secret lies in the new and ground-breaking microcellular foaming (MCF) technology from Wavin. A uniform middle layer construction based on many small-sized cells of ≤  50 microns ensures increased mechanical properties of the pipe combined with the inner and outer layer ‘sandwich’ construction of virgin raw material, resulting in a pipe that exceeds all the requirements for durability despite its lower weight. The Wavin multi-layer technology has been used successfully for more than 25 years. Due to modern technology, existing pipe systems can be re-engineered to comply with new requirements and continuously rising standards that enter new markets (which replace conventional materials), dedicate functionality for each individual layer, improve the characteristics of the total pipe, and achieve environmental and sustainable advantages (CSR) The cell structure of the core of the pipes reduces the weight of the pipes. Less weight means less emissions and a more sustainable future. There are other indirect environmental factors. For example, lower weight means less CO2 emissions during transport, as well as reduced CO2 consumption during recycling, reuse and disposal. A lead-free system can create a healthy working condition and protects the environment. When using new technologies, less virgin raw materials (e.g. PVC resin) are required, which make them environmental-friendly and sustainable products when compared with conventional products. All the Wavin ML-PVC products are in line with EU lead-free legislation and therefore contribute to a better HSE policy and CSR aspects. They are stimulated and supported by TEPPFA. The Wavin ML-PVC technology enables producers to participate in voluntary programs such as Vinyl-Plus (following the successful Vinyl 2000 program) Wavin and Hepworth. ML-PVC products are rated as a ‘greener’ product compared with conventional products, which enables Wavin Group and Hepworth to win tenders in many EU countries as well as in the Middle East, for example Estidama in Abu Dhabi and potentially QNBN in Doha, Qatar.
Investigation of long-term, basin-scale thermohaline trends in Qatar's marine region in response to environmental and climatic change
Authors: Husrevoglu Y. Sinan , Al-Ansari Ebrahim S.
Published: April 2017

The Arabian Gulf, an economically and geopolitically important marine area, is a semi-enclosed and shallow basin with an average depth 36 m. The Gulf is one of the seasonally warmest (i.e., in summer) and most saline marine regions, which naturally experiences extreme seasonal heating, cooling, and evaporation cycles. Recent economic development and industrialization along with climate change also have introduced significant anthropogenic pressures on this naturally-stressed marine environment. Due to its semi-enclosed, shallow morphology and unique climatic setting, the impacts of environmental pressures are increasingly manifested in the hydrography and biogeochemistry of the Gulf. Oceanographic data collected within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Qatar, although limited in space and time, indicate that physical and biogeochemical properties exhibit high spatial and temporal variability. Previous observational and numerical studies of the region conclude that increased field observation activity is required to better investigate the physical and biogeochemical dynamics of the Gulf. Long-term, continuous, and integrated monitoring of the marine environment, therefore, is essential to understand the status and seasonal/interannual variability of marine physical and biogeochemical dynamics as well as to predict any significant future changes in water column and ecological properties in response to environmental pressures and climatic changes. In this study, basin-scale oceanographic data collected in Qatar's marine region in the recent years are comparatively analyzed with available historical observations to assess thermohaline trends in water column structure and continental shelf circulation, to identify spatial and temporal data gaps, and to provide recommendations regarding optimal time and space coverage for future observational studies.
Agriculture in a changing climate: Learning from the east Canadian situation
Authors: Seguin Philippe
Published: April 2017

The impact of climate change on agriculture differs depending on the region and sector of activity. Predictive models suggest that climate change in eastern Canada will overall result in increased temperatures, changed precipitations patterns, and overall longer cropping seasons. Both modelling and actual experimentation in controlled environments and in fields suggest that yield response will vary depending on the crop species. In cool-season forage species, which are the predominant in the region, yields are expected to increase while the nutritive value is expected to be negatively affected. Changes in precipitation patterns and increased temperatures in the winter may jeopardize the winter survival of some perennial species. Increased temperature will, however, expend the area in which some warmer-season crops such as corn may be grown locally. The development of climate-smart approaches to develop resilient agricultural production systems and technologies are currently being researched locally. It is a concerted effort that includes changes in policies, adaptation of field management practices, the local introduction of new crop species, selection of new traits associated with abiotic stress resistance, and the development of new technologies that can help local crops cope with stresses associated with climate change. This presentation will review some of the challenges and opportunities associated with climate change in eastern Canada and some of the local initiatives to adapt to this changing climate with a focus on forage crops.
هيكلية المعلومات وتأثيرها على الأمن
Authors: الحانوتي تيسير
Published: April 2017

يبدأ البحث بمقدمة عن التطور الكبير الذي تشهده مجتمعاتنا فيما يخص تقنيات المعلومات والاتصالات وتأثيرها على ثورة المعلومات ثم سرد تاريخي عن أمن المعلومات بالعصور القديمة المختلفة (الصينيون،المصريون القدماء،الإغريق، المغول، الهنود، اليونانيين، المسلمين).

ثم سأبين مدى تأثر أمن المعلومات بالانتشار الواسع لاستخدام الانترنت من حيث انتهاك سرية المعلومات وكذلك اهتمام العالم بأمن المعلومات بسبب الانترنت أيضا.

ثم سأدخل الى موضوع البحث بعرض لهيكلية المعلومات من حيث النوع ثم من حيث المحتوى ومدى تأثيرها على ألأمن بجميع مستوياته ثم مدى ارتباط أمن المعلومات بالخصوصية.

ثم سأبين بعض المخاطر التي تهدد أمن المعلومات وأنواعها والطرق التي تُتبع لانتهاك أمن المعلومات وبعض الاسباب التي تؤدي الى انتهاك أمن المعلومات.

ثم سأبين العناصر الرئيسية لأمن المعلومات وكيفية التقليل من مخاطر انتهاك أمنها على مختف المستويات (الشخصية والمؤسسية).

ثم أختم البحث ببعض التوصيات التي تهم مختلف المستويات.
Miguel Calderón Campos: El español del reino de Granada en sus documentos (1492-1833). Oralidad y escritura (Berna: Peter Lang SA, 2015. 273 páginas)
Authors:   Universidad Nacional del Sur (Argentina), Junquera Macarena
Published: April 2017

NO PRESENTA RESUMEN
Argument-structure and implicational constructions in a knowledge base
Authors:   Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (España), Luzondo-Oyón Alba , Ruiz de Mendoza Ibáñez Francisco José ,   Universidad de La Rioja (España)
Published: April 2017

This paper provides formalized, machine-tractable representations of two broad kinds of constructional configuration, argument-structure and implicational constructions, on the basis of previous linguistic analyses. It discusses computational implementation requirements on constructional description. In this respect, the paper argues that the Goldbergian approach (cf. Goldberg, 2006) provides the best fit for the implementation of implicational constructions, while a “mini-constructionist” account (cf. Boas, 2014) is suitable for argumentstructure constructions. Because of their representativeness, we have chosen to illustrate our discussion by making reference to the family of English resultatives, which are argumentstructure constructions, and to the family of Wh-attitudinal constructions, which are implicational. Computational implementation demands that the members of the family of the resultative be split into mini-constructions, while the complexity of implicational configurations requires that different formal variants be grouped together under one single computational representation. The paper further makes explicit proposals for the machine tractability of lexical-constructional integration and of meaning implications that have reached constructional status through entrenchment, two problems that remain unsolved within standard computational approaches to language processing.
The frontier beneath our feet
Authors: Grant Gordon E. , Dietrich William E.
Published: April 2017

Following the simple question as to where water goes when it rains leads to one of the most exciting frontiers in earth science: the critical zone—Earth's dynamic skin. The critical zone extends from the top of the vegetation canopy through the soil and down to fresh bedrock and the bottom of the groundwater. Only recently recognized as a distinct zone, it is challenging to study because it is hard to observe directly, and varies widely across biogeoclimatic regions. Yet new ideas, instruments, and observations are revealing surprising and sometimes paradoxical insights, underscoring the value of field campaigns and long‐term observatories. These insights bear directly on some of the most pressing societal problems today: maintaining healthy forests, sustaining streamflow during droughts, and restoring productive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The critical zone is critical because it supports all terrestrial life; it is the nexus where water and carbon is cycled, vegetation (hence food) grows, soil develops, landscapes evolve, and we live. No other frontier is so close to home.
Case review and outcomes of prenatally diagnosed amniotic sheets
Authors: Kesrouani Assaad , Nasr Bernard , Atallah Habib , Maalouf Samer , Chalhoub Elie
Published: April 2017

Favorable perinatal outcomes were recorded following the prenatal diagnosis of amniotic sheets, which are commonly associated with a history cesarean delivery.
Hepatic steatosis after pediatric liver transplant
Authors: Perito Emily R. , Vase Tabitha , Ramachandran Rageshree , Phelps Andrew , Jen Kuang‐Yu , Lustig Robert H. , Feldstein Vickie A. , Rosenthal Philip
Published: April 2017

Hepatic steatosis develops after liver transplantation (LT) in 30% of adults, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in nontransplanted children. However, posttransplant steatosis has been minimally studied in pediatric LT recipients. We explored the prevalence, persistence, and association with chronic liver damage of hepatic steatosis in these children. In this single‐center study of pediatric patients transplanted 1988‐2015 (n = 318), 31% of those with any posttransplant biopsy (n = 271) had ≥ 1 biopsy with steatosis. Median time from transplant to first biopsy with steatosis was 0.8 months (interquartile range [IQR], 0.3‐6.5 months) and to last biopsy with steatosis was 5.5 months (IQR, 1.0‐24.5 months); 85% of patients with steatosis also had for‐cause biopsies without steatosis. All available for‐cause biopsies were re‐evaluated (n = 104). Of 9 biopsies that could be interpreted as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)/borderline NASH, with steatosis plus inflammation or ballooning, 8 also had features of cholestasis or rejection. Among 70 patients with surveillance biopsies 3.6‐20.0 years after transplant, only 1 overweight adolescent had a biopsy with NAFLD (grade 1 steatosis, mild inflammation, no ballooning or fibrosis)—despite a 30% prevalence of overweight/obesity in the cohort and 27% with steatosis on previous for‐cause biopsy. Steatosis on preceding for‐cause biopsy was not associated with portal (P = 0.49) or perivenular fibrosis (P = 0.85) on surveillance biopsy. Hepatic steatosis commonly develops early after transplant in children and adolescents, but it rarely persists. Biopsies that did have steatosis with NASH characteristics were all for‐cause, mostly in patients with NAFLD risk factors and/or confounding causes of liver damage. Prospective studies that follow children into adulthood will be needed to evaluate if and when hepatic steatosis presents a longterm risk for pediatric LT recipients. Liver Transplantation 23 957–967 2017 AASLD.
A parallel implementation of a 4DEnVar ensemble
Authors: Arbogast Étienne , Desroziers Gérald , Berre Loïk
Published: April 2017

The four‐dimensional ensemble variational (4DEnVar) formulation has received considerable attention during recent years, especially at numerical weather prediction centres that are (or were) relying on a 3D/4D‐Var formalism for their data assimilation systems. Since 4DEnVar background‐error covariances are, by construction, given by an ensemble of 4D nonlinear trajectories, an important issue is the way in which to build this ensemble. The use of an ensemble of perturbed 4DEnVar to generate the ensemble is a natural approach, but raises difficulties for the input and storage of 4D trajectories. A parallel implementation of such a 4DEnVar ensemble (En‐4DEnVar) approach is proposed, with distributed input and storage of ensemble perturbations. It has the benefit of an object‐oriented implementation of 4DEnVar, which has recently been developed at Météo‐France. First results obtained with the French global model Action de Recherche Petite Echelle Grande Echelle (ARPEGE) show that such an approach is efficient and suggest that En‐4DEnVar implementations are tractable.
Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy in postliver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Lin Ta‐Ya , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Huang Ching‐I , Chen Yao‐Li , Dai Chia‐Yen , Huang Jee‐Fu , Lin Zu‐Yau , Chen Shinn‐Cherng , Huang Chung‐Feng , Yu Ming‐Lung , Chuang Wan‐Long
Published: April 2017

Posttransplant hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence is universal in chronic hepatitis C recipients. Antiviral therapy is suggested after liver transplant to halt disease progression. Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy remains the standard of care in many areas where direct antiviral agents are poorly accessible. This study aimed to assess the treatment efficacy and safety of the regimen for Taiwanese patients with post‐transplant HCV recurrence. Nine patients with HCV recurrence postliver transplantation were allocated. Patients received either pegylated interferon α‐2a 180 μg/wk or pegylated interferon α‐2b 1.5 mg/kg/wk plus ribavirin for 24–48 weeks. The primary endpoint was the achievement of sustained virological response (SVR), defined as undetectable HCV RNA throughout 6 months of follow‐up after the end of treatment. The safety profiles were also documented. The rates of rapid virological response, early virological response, end‐of‐treatment virological response, and SVR were 33%, 63%, 75%, and 56% respectively. Of the four patients who failed antiviral treatment, the treatment responses were nonresponse (n = 1), loss of follow‐up (n = 1), and relapse (n = 2). Three patients terminated therapy early due to severe adverse events, including severe anemia, intra‐abdomen infection, and hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence. One of the three patients who terminated treatment early at Week 6 experienced rapid virological response followed by SVR. Pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination allowed a chance for cure with a fair SVR rate in Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C patients postliver transplantation. Early identification of side effects and careful monitoring during therapy might enhance the treatment efficacy.
The reservoir potential of the Bazhenov Formation: regional prediction
Authors: Zubkov M.Yu.
Published: April 2017

The petroleum potential of the Bazhenov Formation reservoir has been assessed on the regional scale using several criteria inferred from published evidence, available geological and geophysical data, and well logging results from Upper Jurassic reservoirs.
Geochemistry of organic matter of the Bazhenov Formation in the north of the Khantei anteclise
Authors: Kostyreva E.A. , Sotnich I.S.
Published: April 2017

Results of comprehensive geochemical studies of dispersed organic matter of the Bazhenov Formation are presented. The maximum total contents of organic carbon are found in the areas of the Surgut arch and South Nadym megamonoclise. The contents of organic matter are high (up to 24%) at the top of the formation section and gradually decrease to its bottom. By pyrolysis parameters and the composition of hydrocarbon biomarkers, the organic matter is referred to as type II kerogen (sapropelic organic matter) and is localized in the oil window.
Comprehensive assessment of cavernosography with 320-row dynamic volume CT versus conventional cavernosography in erectile dysfunction patients caused by venous leakage
Authors: Xu Cheng-Cheng , Pan Yu-Ning , Tang Yi-Fan , Zhang Jie , Wang Guo-Yao , Huang Qiu-Li
Published: April 2017

The present study aims to investigate and compare the diagnostic and prognostic value of cavernosography with 320-row dynamic volume computed tomography (DVCT) versus conventional cavernosography in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by venous leakage. A total of 174 patients diagnosed with ED were enrolled and received cavernosography with 320-row DVCT (DVCT group) and conventional cavernosography scans (control group) respectively. The diagnosis, complications, and prognosis of patients were evaluated. The DVCT group provided high-resolution images with less processing and testing time, as well as lowered radiological agent and contrast agent compared with the control group. In the DVCT group, 89 patients who were diagnosed with venous ED had six various venous leakage, namely superficial venous leakage, profundus venous leakage, the mixed type, cavernosal venous leakage, crural venous leakage, and also venous leakage between the penis and urethra cavernosum (9, 21, 32, 6, 18, and 3 cases respectively). Similarly, 74 patients out of the 81 who suffered from venous ED were classified to have superficial venous leakage (11), profundus venous leakage (14), the mixed type venous leakage (26), and middle venous leakage (23). Six out of 25 patients in the DVCT group, had improvements in ED while the remaining 19 achieved full erectile function recovery with no penile fibrosis and erectile pain. Cavernosography with 320-row DVCT is a reliable system that can be used to diagnose ED caused by venous leakage. This is especially useful in accurately determining the type of venous and allows for a better prognosis and direction of treatment.
Multiple Eschars on Lip in Scrub Typhus
Authors: Chakrabartty Subroto , Majumdar Sumit , Chakravarti Swati , Barman Santanu , Roy Soumya
Published: April 2017

Scrub typhus is an endemic disease of Asian Pacific region, affecting about 1 million people every year. Although it remarkably recovers with doxycycline, the mortality in untreated cases may be as high as 40 to 45%. Owing to the lack of diagnostic facilities for scrub typhus in most places, it is very important to recognize the clinical features. A typical eschar is pathognomonic of the disease. However, this is very rare to be found on the face, and hence can lead to confusions. We present the case of a boy who presented three eschars on the upper lip and was diagnosed as a case of scrub typhus. He responded dramatically with intravenous doxycycline and the eschars healed spontaneously over the next 2 to 3 weeks.
An Intramolecular CAr–H•••O=C Hydrogen Bond and the Configuration of Rotenoids
Authors: Ren Yulin , Gallucci Judith , Kinghorn A.
Published: April 2017

Over the past half a century, the structure and configuration of the rotenoids, a group of natural products showing multiple promising bioactivities, have been established by interpretation of their NMR and electronic circular dichroism spectra and confirmed by analysis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The chemical shift of the H-6′ 1H NMR resonance has been found to be an indicator of either a cis or trans C/D ring system. In the present study, four structures representing the central rings of a cis-, a trans-, a dehydro-, and an oxadehydro-rotenoid have been plotted using the Mercury program based on X-ray crystal structures reported previously, with the conformations of the C/D ring system, the local bond lengths or interatomic distances, hydrogen bond angles, and the H-6′ chemical shift of these compounds presented. It is shown for the first time that a trans-fused C/D ring system of rotenoids is preferred for the formation of a potential intramolecular C6′–H6′•••O=C4 H-bond, and that such H-bonding results in the 1H NMR resonance for H-6′ being shifted downfield.
The Political Economy of Industrial Development in Viet Nam
Authors: Vu-Thanh Tu-Anh
Published: April 2017

Viet Nam’s industrial development since Doi Moi has been a success, but only a partial one. This chapter provides an account of Viet Nam’s industrial growth since 1986 which focuses on the political economy of the country. It shows that the key determinant of Viet Nam’s industrial growth lies in the relationship between the party-state and the private sector. It also shows that the level of distrust and discrimination against the private sector—and therefore the level of industrial growth—depend on three things: the degree of trade-off between political ideology and economic legitimacy, the internal structure of the state, and the quality of the country’s leadership.