bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Image-Based Localization Using Context
Authors: Azzi Charbel , Zelek John , Asmar Daniel , Fakih Adel
Published: December 2015

Image-based localization problem consists of estimating the 6 DoF
camera pose by matching the image to a 3D point cloud (or equivalent)
representing a 3D environment. The robustness and accuracy
of current solutions is not objective and quantifiable. We
have completed a comparative analysis of the main state of the art
approaches, namely Brute Force Matching, Approximate Nearest
Neighbour Matching, Embedded Ferns Classification, ACG Localizer(
Using Visual Vocabulary) and Keyframe Matching Approach.
The results of the study revealed major deficiencies in each approach
mainly in search space reduction, clustering, feature matching
and sensitivity to where the query image was taken. Then, we
choose to focus on one common major problem that is reducing
the search space. We propose to create a new image-based localization
approach based on reducing the search space by using
global descriptors to find candidate keyframes in the database then
search against the 3D points that are only seen from these candidates
using local descriptors stored in a 3D cloud map.
Multifunctionality of modal markers:Lithuanian epistemic adverbials gal and galbūt ‘perhaps/maybe’ vs. their translational correspondences
Authors: Šolienė Audronė
Published: December 2015

Straipsnyje nagrinėjama lietuvių kalbos adverbialų gal ir galbūt kiekybinė ir kokybinė distribucija skirtinguose diskurso tipuose (šnekamoji kalba, grožinė literatūra, akademinė kalba). Tyrimo tikslas yra aptarti lietuvių kalbos adverbialų gal ir galbūt ir jų atitikmenų anglų kalboje multifunkcionalumo aspektus. Straipsnyje pateikiama kiekybinė ir kokybinė šių adverbialų analizė. Šių lietuvių kalbos adverbialų vartosena dar iki šiol nebuvo aptarta pasitelkiant įvairių tekstynų teikiamomis galimybėmis. Tyrimas remiasi tekstynų inspiruota metodologija – empirinė medžiaga yra paimta iš dvikrypčio lygiagrečiojo tekstyno ParaCorpEN→LT→EN, Lietuvių mokslo kalbos tekstyno CorALit ir iš Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos tekstyno. Kiekybinė analizė atskleidžia, kad gal dominuoja visuose diskurso tipuose. Šis adverbialas vartojamas dvigubai dažniau nei galbūt. Tirti adverbialai gana dažnai figūruoja grožinės literatūros tekstuose, tačiau prototipinė jų vartosena yra būdinga šnekamajai kalbai. Tuo tarpu akademiniuose tekstuose gal ir galbūt nėra dažni ir vartojami panašiai: jų vartosenos dažnis beveik sutampa. Tai galėtų rodyti, kad mokslinių tekstų autoriai pasitelkia kitas lingvistines priemones savo kaip autorių požiūriui reikšti, yra linkę prisiimti atsakomybę už savo teiginių teisingumą ir retai jais abejoja. Atlikta šių adverbialų kokybinė ir kiekybinė analizė parodė, kad jie yra įvairialypiai ir gali atlikti keletą funkcijų. Prototipiškai jie kvalifikuoja propoziciją episteminiu aspektu, tačiau be šios funkcijos gali atlikti ir keletą kitų: aproksimatoriaus, sąšvelnio, klausiamosios dalelytės ir nefaktiškumo žymiklių episteminuose sąrašuose (angl. epistemic lists). Akivaizdu, kad gal yra funkciškai lankstesnis nei galbūt: pastarasis adverbialas nebuvo vartojamas kaip klausiamoji dalelytė. Tačiau svarbu pažymėti, kad abu adverbialai be savo prototipinės episteminės reikšmės įvairiuose diskursuose įgyja ir kitų, su autoriaus požiūriu nesiejamų, funkcijų ir yra linkę pragmatiškėti.
FORMAÇÃO TÉCNICA EM PRÁTICAS INTEGRATIVAS E COMPLEMENTARES EM SAÚDE NA ESCOLA DE SAÚDE DA UFRN
Authors: Estácio Mércia Maria de Santi , Aguiar Andréa Câmara Viana Venâncio , Rocha Bianca Nunes Guedes do Amaral , Silva Flávio César Bezerra da
Published: December 2015

Este texto apresenta o Curso Técnico em Práticas Integrativas e Complementares em Saúde (TPICS), oferecido pela Escola de Saúde da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (ESUFRN), com a finalidade de analisar os objetivos propostos no seu Projeto Pedagógico, descrevendo como os mesmos estão sendo alcançados ao longo da sua trajetória. As terapias alternativas e complementares vêm sendo gradativamente inseridas no Sistema Único de Saúde, assim, emerge a necessidade de preparar o profissional técnico para atuar com um perfil voltado para terapêuticas mais acessíveis à população que surtam efeitos benéficos sem a exigência de utilizar recursos dispendiosos ao sistema de saúde. O curso TPICS encontra-se na sua sexta turma de alunos, e já formou 96 técnicos desde agosto de 2010. Durante a formação, os alunos desenvolvem, entre outras competências, a noção de corporeidade no saber e fazer profissional para poder lidar com o holismo tão propagado nas políticas de saúde do Brasil, sendo estimulados a protagonizarem o processo de ensino e aprendizagem, estabelecendo uma relação crítica e progressiva ao longo do curso. A avaliação se dá de forma processual, dialógica e comprometida com o desenvolvimento pleno do aluno, nas dimensões humana, cognitiva, política, filosófica e ética. Contudo, observa-se que há a oferta de uma formação sólida considerando os princípios norteadores do Projeto Pedagógico do Curso a partir do pluralismo de ideias e concepções pedagógicas, agregando questões técnicas à formação crítica e humanista, fortalecendo a promoção da saúde através de abordagens integrais de cunho preventivista.
ANÁLISE DA PRODUÇÃO CIENTÍFICA NOS CURSOS TÉCNICO DE NÍVEL MÉDIO DO IFRN CAMPUS PAU DOS FERROS: ESTUDO DE CASO DAS TURMAS 2012.1 (2012-2015)
Authors: Cruz Carlos Eduardo Ferreira da , Souza Eduardo Alves de , Rêgo Ruam Carlos Damião Nogueira , Amorim Ana Beatriz Filgueira
Published: December 2015

O presente trabalho configura-se como resultado de discussões sobre a iniciação científica no ensino técnico e suas implicações no processo de produção cientifica por meio do contato dos alunos com a reunião e análise dados e vivência da escrita acadêmica de projetos e artigos científicos. Nesse contexto, a pesquisa objetivou-se analisar a produção técnica-científica dos cursos técnicos de nível médio do Campus Pau dos Ferros do IFRN, no período de 2012 a 2015. Para realização do estudo, foram aplicados os métodos de pesquisas bibliográfica, qualitativa e de levantamento com 97 alunos dos cursos de Alimentos, Apicultura e Informática. Constatou-se que 38,1% dos alunos participaram de projetos de pesquisa e/ou extensão; 61,9% participaram de eventos científicos; 44,3% publicaram trabalhos em periódicos e/ou eventos científicos; 39,2% submeteram trabalhos para periódicos e/ou eventos científicos; por fim, que 52,6% dos alunos atuaram em onze áreas temáticas diferentes. Conclui-se que a iniciação científica se apresentou como um importante instrumento didático-pedagógico para o contato e experimentação dos alunos com a pesquisa acadêmica desde o ensino médio.
ESTADO DO CONHECIMENTO DA EDUCAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL E TECNOLÓGICA NA PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO, STRICTO SENSU, EM SERVIÇO SOCIAL, DA REGIÃO CENTRO-OESTE
Authors: Cantuario Janaina Neves Estrela de
Published: December 2015

Este artigo compreende a investigação da produção dos cursos da pós-graduação, stricto sensu, de serviço social da região Centro-Oeste sobre a temática da educação profissional e tecnológica. As ênfases analíticas sistematizadas evidenciam as conexões entre a reestruturação produtiva e a organização do trabalho no campo da educação profissional e tecnológica; a educação e dualidade estrutural e as políticas sociais e assistência estudantil. O estudo confirma que a temática educação profissional e tecnológica ganha relevância no serviço social com as transformaçõese recomposições do capitalismo e as correlatas mudanças na organização do trabalho, período que coincide com novas configurações nas políticas educacionais do Estado brasileiro, a expansão da pós-graduação no Brasil e o desenvolvimento de um novo campo de estudos, pesquisa e produção de conhecimento, que, de maneira mais geral, trata da relação entre o sistema produtivo e o sistema educativo.
ENSINO MÉDIO INTEGRADO E PRÁTICAS PEDAGÓGICAS INTEGRADORAS CAMINHOS PARA A FORMAÇÃO HUMANA INTEGRAL
Authors: Silva Luzinete Moreira da , Melo T. G. S. , Nascimento J. P.
Published: December 2015

O Ensino Médio Integrado é uma etapa da Educação Básica que a partir do Decreto nº 5.154/2004 retorna à realidade legal brasileira na intenção de integrar a formação humana com a formação profissional garantindo uma formação integral para os sujeitos. Assim, o presente artigo tem como temáticas centrais o Ensino Médio Integrado e as Práticas Pedagógicas Integradoras desenvolvidas a partir da implementação do referido decreto até o ano de 2014. Essa pesquisa possui como objetivo analisar as propostas de práticas pedagógicas integradoras que possibilitam a materialização do Ensino Médio Integrado na conclusão da Educação Básica. Para tanto, desenvolvemos uma pesquisa bibliográfica e utilizamos como referencial teórico o materialismo histórico dialético fazendo uma análise detalhada e crítica sobre o contexto estudado interpretando a realidade e apontando possibilidades de uma formação humana integral. A partir desse estudo foi possível constatar que o Ensino Médio integrado é um desafio e que as práticas pedagógicas podem ou não ser integradoras, dependendo dos objetivos e finalidades com que são desenvolvidas, ou seja, dependendo da visão e do projeto de sociedade em que se acredita e defende.
El texto literario en las clases de ELE: un recurso didáctico y motivador
Authors: Nevado Fuentes Charo
Published: December 2015

El presente artículo pretende poner de manifiesto la importancia que la literatura y en concreto el texto literario debe alcanzar en el campo educativo de la enseñanza de ELE. Abordaremos, desde una perspectiva histórica, las principales líneas de pensamiento que han tratado el tema de la enseñanza de la literatura en las clases de español como lengua extranjera, así como los diferentes tratamientos que el uso de la literatura ha tenido en el aula, pasando de ser un mero pretexto de presentación de contenidos a un recurso didáctico. También analizaremos las ventajas que proporcionan los textos literarios, ya que son muestras reales de lengua que complementan el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Por último, estableceremos los criterios de selección a la hora de elegir los textos literarios más adecuados para llevar al aula de español y presentaremos algunos ejemplos que sirvan como modelos de uso.
Speech and Gesture in Classroom Interaction: A Case Study of Angola and Portugal
Authors: Livingstone Kerwin A.
Published: December 2015

Una de las principales razones por la cual los seres humanos usan el lenguaje es para comunicarse. Sus comunicaciones, sin embargo, no se realizan  de forma mecánica o robótica. Suele haber una sinergia entre el acto de habla y ciertas partes del cuerpo. En la medida que se producen enunciados hablados, se mueven estas partes corporales produciendo así acciones que son visibles, denominadas ‘acciones corporales visibles’. Estas acciones corporales visibles suelen ejecutarse con distintas partes del cuerpo. Se utiliza el término ‘gestos’ para referirse al movimiento de los miembros superiores del cuerpo. Estos gestos están vinculados más directamente con el habla. Sin importar su edad, nacionalidad, cultura, antecedentes o etnia, los seres humanos, cuando hablan, hacen gestos de forma natural y ubicua. Estos movimientos revelan mucho de sus pensamientos, objetivos, creencias e intereses, entre otros. A la luz de lo anteriormente mencionado, esta investigación pretende comparar descriptivamente el habla y el gesto en dos contextos distintos con dos métodos didácticos diferentes (Angola y Portugal). Se revisan unos metrajes de video de los contextos de interacción —con estudiantes adolescentes y profesores— y se lleva a cabo un análisis descriptivo comparativo general. Por medio del software ELAN, se efectúa un microanálisis de 30 segundos de cada uno de los contextos de interacción. Se presentan algunas conclusiones basadas en el estudio realizado.
Tierras, mujeres y niñez. Familia y conflicto armado
Authors: Zorio Sandra
Published: December 2015

Este artículo pretende realizar un análisis socio-jurídico sobre la situación de las mujeres, los niños, niñas y adolescentes y su derecho a la tierra, específicamente, en la aplicación de la Ley de Víctimas y Restitución de Tierras. Se pretende demostrar que a pesar de existir un conjunto de normativas amplias y garantistas en favor de estas poblaciones, las instituciones del Estado encargadas de los temas de tierras no logran recoger en sus procedimientos de política pública la realidad sociológica de las familias desplazadas, y por consiguiente, las mujeres, los niños, niñas y adolescentes quedan excluidos de los mecanismos de acceso al goce efectivo de sus derechos. Todo esto, porque en el Estado habita una noción de familia anacrónica y poco coincidente con la realidad campesina, modelo que supone a la familia como un grupo jerárquico en el que el hombre es el líder y las mujeres y sus hijos e hijas, una especie de auxiliares.
Determinants and methodology of public companies’ just value management
Authors: Shokhazamiy Shokhmansur , Abduraupov Rustam
Published: December 2015

We have devoted the paper to verify the determinants and methodology of value management of a company. We proposed to determine the just value according to the geometric model, which uses the appropriate quantitative values with respect to the real value of a company and the objective price of its shares in the open developed financial market. Furthermore, the paper offers theoretical suggestions and practical recommendations which are useful for the investors and managers in making timely financial decisions
Building a framework for market orientation impact on radical and incremental marketing innovation research
Authors: Abdullah Alshahry , Aimin Wang
Published: December 2015

With the privatization of the health sector and an overall trend in health care where the servicing of the patients and illness prevention is becoming a major source of industry’s revenue, marketing innovation to attract new customers is becoming increasingly relevant for organizational performance and financial results of hospitals. Consequently, offering an innovative and superior marketing mix for the customers is a necessary requirement for market competitiveness. Marketing operations and market orientation should, therefore, aim to boost the marketing innovation of hospitals. In this paper, we built a research framework to measure influence of market orientation on marketing innovation in Saudi Arabia hospitals. By determining the relationship between the market orientation factors, centralization, formalization and marketing innovation, organizations will know which aspect of market orientation to focus on. A six-step research framework has been proposed which will help to explain the impact of customer orientation, inter-functional orientation and competitor orientation on marketing innovation together with the moderating effects of centralization and formalization on those relationships. The findings of the future study may suggest an important role of market orientation for an effective innovation generation and business performance of hospitals in Saudi Arabia.
Eco-Innovation Determination based on Structural Equation Modeling: Identifying the Mediation and Moderation Effect
Authors: Ding Ma , Jianmu Ye
Published: December 2015

The motivation of enterprise eco-innovation is always an intriguing topic for policy makers, regulators, and scholars. Utilizing the rationale of institutional theory, stakeholder theory as well as upper echelons theory, this study devises a conceptualized model in explaining eco-innovation and uses questionnaire data from 288 enterprises in Wuhan city to test the hypothetical model through Structural Equation Modeling analysis. The study reveals that both institutional/stakeholder force and organizational force are significant triggers in enterprise eco-innovation, as the latter one mediates the effect of the former one. Supervisory support does not strengthen the relationship between institutional/stakeholder force and firm eco-innovation, yet weakens the relationship between organizational driver and eco-innovation. Conclusions imply that firm should prepare in terms of technological capability, scientific or social networking, resource base and specificity to better embrace eco-innovation, whereas governments should commit to optimize its regulation setting, law enforcement and various administrative and economic instruments to better incentivize enterprises to engage in eco-innovations.
Female Entrepreneurship: from Women’s Empowerment to Shared Value Creation
Authors: Zoeller Véras Erika
Published: December 2015

This paper is an investigation on female entrepreneurship, women’s enterprise development and the opportunities to create shared value. Enterprise development can make a significant contribution to women’s empowerment and gender equality and has a key role in gender strategies. Thus, understanding these topics together has become important. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research regarding the combination of the concepts. The framework arose due to the fact that although women are making relevant advancements in entrepreneurship, yet, if compared to men, they lack access to finance, training, and rights. Moreover they have an insufficient access to economic opportunities.
Tolerance and phenological avoidance of herbivory in tarweed species
Authors: Krimmel Billy , Pearse Ian S.
Published: December 2015

Avoidance and tolerance of herbivory are important components of plant interactions with herbivores. Their relationship to each other and to plant defense is important in understanding how plants maximize fitness in the face of herbivore pressure. Various tarweed species have populations comprised of both early‐season and late‐season flowering individuals. Late‐season flowering individuals employ a recently described indirect defense against herbivores in which the accumulation of dead insects on their sticky surfaces attracts predatory insects that eat herbivores. In two tarweed species (Hemizonia congesta and Madia elegans), we observed that key herbivores rarely interact with early‐season individuals in the field, and early‐season individuals did not invest in dense glandular trichomes that cause indirect defense. We conducted field and greenhouse bud‐removal experiments to assess tolerance of M. elegans to herbivore damage. We found that late‐season individuals were more tolerant of simulated herbivory than early‐season individuals in both the field and the greenhouse. Late‐season individuals that were forced into an earlier phenology with a 24‐h light cue lost their tolerance to simulated herbivory. One possible mechanism linking phenological avoidance of herbivores with decreased tolerance is that early‐season individuals invested less in below‐ground biomass than late‐season individuals, which may accumulate belowground resources for regrowth at the expense of early flowering.
About the Contributors
Authors: Research Digest North East Third Sector
Published: December 2015

Details of contributors to this issue.
Academic Commentary: 'Understanding the Changing Role of the Third Sector in the Era of Austerity'
Authors: Rodger John J.
Published: December 2015

Perhaps the most enduring issue surrounding third sector engagement with government directed social policy initiatives is the preservation of organisational autonomy: how can voluntary organisations avoid becoming state outposts, providing cheap services for the state without abandoning the principle of caritas (the Latin term which encompasses the notions of altruism, caring and social solidarity) which influenced their foundation and shapes their practice? These three pieces, in their different ways, relate to this central question.
Outputs Reviewed: Individual Giving and Philanthropy
Authors: Research Group North East Third Sector
Published: December 2015

Wiepking, P., & Breeze, B. (2012). Feeling poor, acting stingy: The effect of money perceptions on charitable giving. International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, 17(1), 13-24.

Pharoah, C. (2011). Private giving and philanthropy–their place in the Big Society. People, Place & Policy Online, 5(2), 65-75.

Andreoni, J., Rao, J. M., & Trachtman, H. (2011). Avoiding the ask: a field experiment on altruism, empathy, and charitable giving (No. w17648). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Dei Verbum, notas sobre a construção do texto conciliar
Authors: Souza Ney De
Published: December 2015

O artigo retrata as etapas da elaboração da Constituição DeiVerbum do Concilio Vaticano II. As etapas são as fases de germinaçãodo futuro texto conciliar. O estudo aqui apresentado aborda asinúmeras discussões que ocorreram na assembleia conciliar sobreos esboços elaborados pela Comissão Teológica e refeitos devido àsinúmeras intervenções dos bispos presentes no Concílio. Antes dechegar às sessões conciliares o artigo busca as raízes do documentonos albores da modernidade e da ruptura do Cristianismo.
Snow cover mapping using IRS-P6 AWiFS data and the relationships between some climatic factors with snowpack in the northwest of Iran
Authors: Seyedielmabad M. , Moradi H. R.
Published: December 2015

In this study, we explored the potential of the multispectral and multi-temporal IRS Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) data for mapping of the snow cover in the northwest regions of Iran. The AWiFS snow cover maps, based on the unsupervised classification method, were compared with the estimates of snow cover area derived from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) images based on the normalized difference snow index. Good concurrence was observed with respect to the snow area between the AWiFS features and the MODIS features; however, the snow spatial distribution of the AWiFS features differed from those of the MODIS based on the nonentity of the temporal accordance between two types of features. Also, we explored the relationships between some climatic and topographic factors with the snowpack in the northwest part of Iran. Relationships between some climatic factors with snowpack specifications were obtained, which showed significant correlation only between the components of daily temperature and snow density. The other results showed that the amounts of snowpack depth have significant correlations with the height of the stations and the height classes in 1% surface and snowpack depths showed significant differences together within the different height classes.
Monitoring of Erwinia amylovora in Montenegro
Authors: Radunovic Dragana , Gavrilovic Veljko , Gasic Katarina , Krstic Marija
Published: December 2015

Recent studies of Erwinia amylovora in Montenegro, conducted from 2012 to
2014, indicated that the bacterium was widespread in the northern,
continental part of the country, where the most important fruit-growing
regions are situated. The presence of the bacterium was confirmed on quince,
pear, apple, medlar and hawthorn. Pathogenic, cultural and biochemical
characteristics of E. amylovora strains sampled from pome fruit species and
indigenous flora in Montenegro had been studied previously. In the present
study, serological tests were used for identification of E. amylovora strains
originating from pome fruit trees and indigenous plants. Monitoring of E.
amylovora and collection of samples with symptoms of bacterial fire blight
from different hosts and locations were performed in Montenegro from 2012 to
2014. Isolation of the bacterium on nutrient medium produced a large number
of isolates, whose pathogenicity was confirmed on immature pear fruits.
Twenty-seven strains of the bacterium, originating from three pome fruit
species (quince, pear and apple) and one indigenous species (hawthorn) were
selected for serological analyses. Two applied serological methods, ELISA and
IF test, enabled rapid detection of the bacterium and simultaneous
examination of a large number of samples over a short period of time.
Serological analyses showed high homogeneity in antigenic structure of the
studied E. amylovora strains sampled from quince, pear, apple and hawthorn
from nine locations in Montenegro.
Ideal victim and competition for victimhood in the stories of the survivors of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Basic Goran
Published: December 2015

Previous research on victimhood often presented a one-sided picture of the
?victim? and the ?perpetrator?. Researchers have emphasised the importance of
narratives and they have focused on narratives about victimhood, but they
have not analysed post-war interviews as an arena for the competition for
gaining the status of victim. This paper tries to fill-in this gap through
analysing stories of 27 survivors of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina during
the 1990s. The paper aims at describing the interviewees? portrayal of
?victimhood? as a social phenomenon, as well as to analyse those discursive
patterns, which contribute to constructing the categories of a ?victim? and a
?perpetrator?. The research question is: How do the interviewees describe
victimhood after the war? Within the dynamics that constructs the status of a
?victim? and a ?perpetrator? a competition for the role of a victim is
noticeable after the war. All interviewees are eager to present themselves as
victims, while at the same time they diminish the victim status of other
categories. This situation can produce and reproduce competition for gaining
the status of a victim, and, in this way, to reinforce collective
demarcations that were played out so successfully during the war.
Sexual harassment in tertiary institutions: A comparative perspective
Authors: Joseph Janice
Published: December 2015

Sexual harassment is not a new phenomenon in tertiary institutions. It has
been receiving considerable attention in research and the media and public
awareness has increased dramatically. However, the term sexual harassment is
not used uniformly across the globe because countries have defined it
differently. Consequently, prevalence of sexual harassment in education
varies across cultures. This paper examines sexual harassment from a
comparative perspective. It specifically focuses on the definition of sexual
harassment, incidence of sexual harassment of students in tertiary
institutions, effects of sexual harassment on victims; and victims? responses
to sexual harassment. It also offers suggestions for curtailing sexual
harassment in these institutions.
Storage of Heat, Cold and Electricity
Authors: Stamatiou Anastasia , Ammann Andreas , Abdon Andreas , Fischer Ludger J. , Gwerder Damian , Worlitschek Jörg
Published: December 2015

A promising energy storage system is presented based on the combination of a heat pump, a heat engine, a hot and a cold storage. It can be operated as a pure bulk electricity storage (alternative to Pumped Heat Electrical Storage (PHES)/Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)) or as combined
storage of heat, cold and electricity. Both variations have been evaluated using a steady state, thermodynamic model and two promising concepts are proposed: A transcritical CO2 cycle for the pure electricity storage and a subcritical NH3 cycle for combined storage of
electricity, heat and cold. Parametric studies are used to evaluate the influence of different parameters on the roundtrip efficiency of the storage system.
Phase Change Material Systems for High Temperature Heat Storage
Authors: Perraudin David Y. S. , Binder Selmar R. , Rezaei Ehsan , Ortonaa Alberto , Haussener Sophia
Published: December 2015

Efficient, cost effective, and stable high-temperature heat storage material systems are important in applications such as high-temperature industrial processes (metal processing, cement and glass manufacturing, etc.), or electricity storage using advanced adiabatic compressed
air energy storage. Incorporating phase change media into heat storage systems provides an advantage of storing and releasing heat at nearly constant temperature, allowing steady and optimized operation of the downstream processes. The choice of, and compatibility of materials and encapsulation
for the phase change section is crucial, as these must guarantee good and stable performance and long lifetime at low cost. Detailed knowledge of the material properties and stability, and the coupled heat transfer, phase change, and fluid flow are required to allow for performance and lifetime
predictions. We present coupled experimental-numerical techniques allowing prediction of the long-term performance of a phase change material-based high-temperature heat storage system. The experimental investigations focus on determination of material properties (melting temperature, heat
of fusion, etc.) and phase change material and encapsulation interaction (stability, interface reactions, etc.). The computational investigations focus on an understanding of the multi-mode heat transfer, fluid flow, and phase change processes in order to design the material
system for enhanced performance. The importance of both the experimental and numerical approaches is highlighted and we give an example of how both approaches can be complementarily used for the investigation of long-term performance.
Effect of Experimental Parameters on Water Splitting Using a Hematite Photoanode
Authors: Vorlet Olivier , Giordano Francesco , Chappuis Thierry , Ellert Christoph
Published: December 2015

Many studies designate hematite as a promising material for direct water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen. For a real outdoor application, it is important to consider hourly and seasonal conditions like temperature and sunlight intensity. The performance of an undoped hematite thin-film
photoanode was tested in a photoelectrochemical cell under varying conditions of temperature and light intensity. Both parameters show a positive effect on performance under outdoor conditions.
Inhibition of cell proliferation in gastric cancer cell lines on exposure to rubriflordilactone A
Authors: Peng Shang-Jin , Chen Jue-Wei
Published: December 2015

The present study investigates the effect of rubriflordilactone A on the viability and its underlying mechanism in gastric cancer cell lines (SNU-1 and SNU-5) and normal gastric epithelial cell line (GES‑1). Incubation of the gastric cancer and non cancer cell lines in acidic media led to reduction in the viability of the non cancer cells without any effect on cancer cells. Apoptosis in SNU-1 and SNU-5 cells was induced on exposure to rubriflordilactone A after 48 hours compared to the control cells (p<0.01). The percentage of apoptosis in SNU-1 and SNU-5 cells on exposure to rubriflordilactone A was 79.3 ± 4.7 and 74.0 ± 5.1, respectively after 48 hours. Exposure of SNU-1 and SNU-5 cancer cell lines to rubriflordilactone A at a concentration of 10 μM in media with acidic pH decreased phosphorylation of ERK ½. The similar reduction was caused by ERK 1/2 phosphorylation inhibition, PD98059. Thus rubriflordilactone A reduces viability of gastric cancer cell lines by inducing apoptosis through the reduction of ERK 1/2 phosphorylation.

 
Anti-oxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of Zygophyllum album
Authors: Kchaou Mouna , Ben Salah Hichem , Mhiri Rania , Allouche Noureddine
Published: December 2015

The present study was carried out to explore the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and anti-oxidant effect as well as content of phenolic compounds of various extracts from Zygophyllum album. It was observed that dichloromethane and ethanol extracts were endowed with a powerful anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with IC50 values of 40 and 58 µg/mL, respectively. These two extracts exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50=0.2 mg/mL), the highest total anti-oxidant capacity (185.2 and 222.4 mg vitamin E/mg extract, respectively), the highest reducing power effect, and the highest β-carotene bleaching capacity. The findings showed that the extents of anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of Z. album extracts as well as their anti-oxidant capacity are in accordance with their phenolic contents. Hence, Z. album leaves would be useful against Alzheimer's disease.

 

VIDEO CLIP

Determination of flavonoids content:  2 min 50 sec

 
Assessment of Thickened Renal Fascia as a Finding at Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Parvin Rehena , Ali Md Naushad , Md Sadeque ASQ , Mohiuddin AS , Nahar Nazmun
Published: December 2015

This cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Radiology & Imaging, BIRDEM, Dhaka, from January 2012 to December 2012 to find out the sensitivity of thickened renal fascia in diagnosis of acute pancreatitis at CT. Total 50 patients (mean age was 41.64 years with range from 18 to 65 years, 34M/ 16F) with clinical suspicion of acute pancreatitis included in this study after analyzing selection criteria. Total 32(64%) of the 50 clinically suspected cases were diagnosed as acute pancreatitis according to the criteria mentioned in material and methods. The mean thickness of renal fascia in acute pancreatitis was 7.20 ± 3.32 mm (mean±SD) with range from 1 to 13 mm and maximum 18(40%) patients were found having thickened fascia within 4.0 to 6.9 mm. The extension of acute panceatitis only in left side was 71.8%. In 21.8%, the extension was bilateral. In 3.1% the renal fascial thickening was present on right side only .In the remaining 3.1%, renal fascia was not thickened.In 31 (96.8%) patients, the process extended into the anterior pararenal space. Both anterior and posterior renal fascia thickening was observed in 2(6.2%) patients. Normal thickness of renal fascia was found in 1(3.1%) patient. Sensitivity of thickened renal fascia in diagnosis of acute pancreatitis at CT was found 97%, specificity 50%, accuracy 80%, positive predictive value77%, negative predictive value 90%.It can be concluded that renal fascia thickening is an important as well as sensitive (97%) CT feature in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.Medicine Today 2015 Vol.27(1): 4-7
Patterns of Vascular Events and Risk Factors of Stroke- A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh
Authors: Bhattacharjee Shekhar , Bhattacharjee Swapna , Ahmad Khandker Parvez , Kabir Jesmin Ul Zannat , Hossain Md Jahid
Published: December 2015

Although stroke can affect any age but overall its incidence increases with advanced age. A number of risk factors affect stroke incidence. Here, we have tried to focus on relation of age and sex with stroke incidence as well as identification of modifiable risk factors, both of which bears important implications both patients and physicians. This retrospective study was undertaken by analyzing previous records of patients admitted in medicine ward of Shahabuddin Medical College and Hospital Dhaka, Bangladesh, from June 2013 to December 2014. Patients with stroke confirmed by CT/MRI scan were included in the study. Patients age, sex, risk factors including smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia were recorded from the history sheets and attached investigation slips. A total of 64 patients diagnosed as having stroke by CT/MRI scan were included. Overall male and female ratio was 1.2:1. In the study cerebral infraction, intra cerebral haemorrhage and subarachnoid haemorrhage were found in 71.87%, 20.31%, and 7.81%patients respectively. Most patients were between 40-79 years with male predominance but above 80 years female patients more than male. Among the stroke patients hypertension was found in 60.93% patients followed by smoking 48.43% dyslipidemia 40.38% and diabetes mellitus 37.93%. Stroke can be regarded as a preventable disease to large extent. Quitting smoking, detecting and treating most of the modifiable risk factors can go a long way to protect the community against stroke.Medicine Today 2015 Vol.27(1): 12-14
Prevalence and Short Term Outcome of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis of Known Chronic Liver Disease Patients
Authors: Ismail Mohammad , Rahman Mohammad Anisur
Published: December 2015

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an infection of ascitic fluid occurring in the absence of a contiguous source of infection characterized by symptoms of fever, abdominal pain, rebound tenderness, encephalopathy. It may develope in hospitalized patients and mortality rate is significantly high. To determine the prevalence of SBP in chronic liver disease with ascites and to establish that SBP is the cause of higher mortality than non SBP, a prospective longitudinal study was carried out in patients attending in the inpatient Department of Gastroenterology of Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorder Hospital(BIRDEM), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University(BSMMU), Dhaka Medical College Hospital(DMCH), Dhaka from March 2010 to September 2010. Among the 60 patients the most common age group was the 46-55 years. In physical finding below average body build was found in 48 (80.0%) cases. Malnutrition was found in 48(80.0%) cases. Per abdominal finding liver was not palpable in 54 (90.0%) cases. Shifting dullness was found in 59 (98.3%) cases. Fluid thrill was detected in 57 (95.0%) cases. It was found that SBP were developed in 11(18.3%) cases and remaining 49(81.7%) case were non SBP, which were higher than SBP. Organism of culture of ascitic fluid in SBP patients (n=11) were E. coli and Pseudomoas spp found in 2(18.2%) cases, the rest 6(54.5%) cases shows no growth. Among 11 SBP patients improvement occurred in 5(45.5%) cases and the rest 6(54.5%) cases died p value <.001. SBP is medical emergency, prompt management and prophylactic antibiotics are essential to reduce mortality.Medicine Today 2015 Vol.27(1): 15-19
SLAM-Aided Stem Mapping for Forest Inventory with Small-Footprint Mobile LiDAR
Authors: Tang Jian , Chen Yuwei , Kukko Antero , Kaartinen Harri , Jaakkola Anttoni , Khoramshahi Ehsan , Hakala Teemu , Hyyppä Juha , Holopainen Markus , Hyyppä Hannu
Published: December 2015

Accurately retrieving tree stem location distributions is a basic requirement for biomass estimation of forest inventory. Combining Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is a commonly used positioning strategy in most Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) systems for accurate forest mapping. Coupled with a tactical or consumer grade IMU, GNSS offers a satisfactory solution in open forest environments, for which positioning accuracy better than one decimeter can be achieved. However, for such MLS systems, positioning in a mature and dense forest is still a challenging task because of the loss of GNSS signals attenuated by thick canopy. Most often laser scanning sensors in MLS systems are used for mapping and modelling rather than positioning. In this paper, we investigate a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM)-aided positioning solution with point clouds collected by a small-footprint LiDAR. Based on the field test data, we evaluate the potential of SLAM positioning and mapping in forest inventories. The results show that the positioning accuracy in the selected test field is improved by 38% compared to that of a traditional tactical grade IMU + GNSS positioning system in a mature forest environment and, as a result, we are able to produce a unambiguous tree distribution map.
Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer by Dietary Polyphenols
Authors: Mocanu Maria-Magdalena , Nagy Péter , Szöllősi János
Published: December 2015

The review will discuss in detail the effects of polyphenols on breast cancer, including both the advantages and disadvantages of the applications of these natural compounds. First, we focus on the characterization of the main classes of polyphenols and then on in vitro and in vivo experiments carried out in breast cancer models. Since the therapeutic effects of the administration of a single type of polyphenol might be limited because of the reduced bioavailability of these drugs, investigations on combination of several polyphenols or polyphenols with conventional therapy will also be discussed. In addition, we present recent data focusing on clinical trials with polyphenols and new approaches with nanoparticles in breast cancer. Besides the clinical and translational findings this review systematically summarizes our current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer effects of polyphenols, which are related to apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, plasma membrane receptors, signaling pathways and epigenetic mechanisms. At the same time the effects of polyphenols on primary tumor, metastasis and angiogenesis in breast cancer are discussed. The increasing enthusiasm regarding the combination of polyphenols and conventional therapy in breast cancer might lead to additional efforts to motivate further research in this field.
Metathetical Redox Reaction of (Diacetoxyiodo)arenes and Iodoarenes
Authors: Jobin-Des Lauriers Antoine , Legault Claude
Published: December 2015

The oxidation of iodoarenes is central to the field of hypervalent iodine chemistry. It was found that the metathetical redox reaction between (diacetoxyiodo)arenes and iodoarenes is possible in the presence of a catalytic amount of Lewis acid. This discovery opens a new strategy to access (diacetoxyiodo)arenes. A computational study is provided to rationalize the results observed.
Nanocarriers for DNA Vaccines: Co-Delivery of TLR-9 and NLR-2 Ligands Leads to Synergistic Enhancement of Proinflammatory Cytokine Release
Authors: Poecheim Johanna , Heuking Simon , Brunner Livia , Barnier-Quer Christophe , Collin Nicolas , Borchard Gerrit
Published: December 2015

Adjuvants enhance immunogenicity of vaccines through either targeted antigen delivery or stimulation of immune receptors. Three cationic nanoparticle formulations were evaluated for their potential as carriers for a DNA vaccine, and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) as immunostimulatory agent, to induce and increase immunogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen encoding plasmid DNA (pDNA). The formulations included (1) trimethyl chitosan (TMC) nanoparticles, (2) a squalene-in-water nanoemulsion, and (3) a mineral oil-in-water nanoemulsion. The adjuvant effect of the pDNA-nanocomplexes was evaluated by serum antibody analysis in immunized mice. All three carriers display a strong adjuvant effect, however, only TMC nanoparticles were capable to bias immune responses towards Th1. pDNA naturally contains immunostimulatory unmethylated CpG motifs that are recognized by Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9). In mechanistic in vitro studies, activation of TLR-9 and the ability to enhance immunogenicity by simultaneously targeting TLR-9 and NOD-like receptor 2 (NLR-2) was determined by proinflammatory cytokine release in RAW264.7 macrophages. pDNA in combination with MDP was shown to significantly increase proinflammatory cytokine release in a synergistic manner, dependent on NLR-2 activation. In summary, novel pDNA-Ag85A loaded nanoparticle formulations, which induce antigen specific immune responses in mice were developed, taking advantage of the synergistic combinations of TLR and NLR agonists to increase the adjuvanticity of the carriers used.
Localization of Mixed Completely and Partially Polarized Signals with Crossed-Dipole Sensor Arrays
Authors: Wang Kun , He Jin , Shu Ting , Liu Zhong
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we investigate the problem of source localization and classification under the coexistence of both completely polarized (CP) and partially polarized (PP) electromagnetic (EM) signals, using a crossed-dipole sensor array. We propose a MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC)-based solution, which does not require multidimensional searches. Moreover, the proposed method need no estimation of the degree of polarization of signals. The efficacy of the proposed method is examined by comparing with existing methods.
La forêt d'Irati
Authors: Viers Georges
Published: December 2015

La foret d'Irati, propriété des Syndicats de Cize et de Soûle, est une hêtraie mêlée d'un peu de sapins, située sur le versant méridional des Basses-Pyrénées. Aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, la Mâture et les forges ont appauvri les quartiers les plus proches des voies d'évacuation. L'arrêt des exploitations importantes au XIXe siècle, la présence de fortes réserves de bois dans la partie sud ont fait dire, à tort, qu'il s'agissait d'une forêt vierge. Au XXe siècle, l'exploitation a repris au moyen d'un câble long de 12 km. Ce câble a donné le monopole de l'exploitation à la Compagnie qui l'avait installé et des coupes massives ont eu lieu pour assurer son amortissement. La forêt aujourd'hui très dégradée, ne pourra se refaire que par la cessation totale des extractions. Elle risque aussi de souffrir du pacage sur ses lisières et dans les parcelles trop éclaircies. L'absence de route reste le plus grand obstacle à une exploitation rationnelle et les erreurs du passé se reproduiront si rien n'est changé à cet égard. Malheureusement, les revenus forestiers des Vallées propriétaires ne sont pas réinvestis dans les massifs boisés, mais dans des travaux qui ne concernent que l'élevage des brebis.
L'interprétation des poches à phosphorites du Quercy
Authors: Mazières B.
Published: December 2015

Le problème des phosphorites du Quercy est d'abord celui du karst fossile. L'auteur apporte des preuves nouvelles de l'existence d'une tectonique éocène» en fonction de laquelle s'est établi un karst profonde L'examen de « connexions ostéologiques » concernant les fossiles conservés dans les poches montre que les cavités qui les abritaient leur sont contemporaines.
Parentis
Authors: Enjalbert Henri
Published: December 2015

Le 25 mars 1954, dans le périmètre de recherche de la Société Esso-Standard, un gisement de pétrole était découvert à Parentis. La roche réservoir, constituée par du calcaire et de la dolomie, se situe à la limite inférieure du Crétacé que les sondes atteignent vers 2 000-2 400 mètres de profondeur. Il s'agit d'une structure en dôme, qui, pour une grande part, se situe au-dessous du lac de Biscarosse. Au début de 1957, 23 puits producteurs fournissaient en moyenne 120 000 m3 par mois. Ce pétrole est actuellement évacué Vers la raffinerie de Port-Jérôme sur la Basse-Seine, mais il est prévu pour 1959 une raffinerie en Gironde, au Bec d'Ambès.
HEIGHT DETERMINATION TECHNIQUES FOR THE NEXT NATIONAL HEIGHT SYSTEM OF FINLAND - A CASE STUDY
Authors: Saari Timo , Poutanen Markku , Saaranen Veikko , Kaartinen Harri , Kukko Antero , Lahtinen Sonja
Published: December 2015

Precise levelling is known for its accuracy and reliability in height determination, but the process itself is slow, laborious and expensive. We have started a project to study methods for height determination that could decrease the creation time of national height systems without losing the accuracy and reliability that is needed for them. In the pilot project described here, we study some of the alternative techniques with a pilot field test where we compared them with the precise levelling. The purpose of the test is not to evaluate the mutual superiority or suitability of the techniques, but to establish the background for a larger test and to find strong and weak points of each technique. The techniques chosen for this study were precise levelling, Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) levelling, which included static Global Positioning System (GPS) and Virtual Reference Station (VRS) measurements. This research highlighted the differences of the studied techniques and gave insights about the framework and procedure for the later experiments. The research will continue in a larger scale, where the suitability of the techniques regarding the height systems is to be determined.