bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transport Properties for Pharmaceutical Controlled-Release Systems: A Brief Review of the Importance of Their Study in Biological Systems
Authors: Ribeiro Ana C. F. , Esteso Miguel A.
Published: December 2018

The goal of this work was to comprehensive study the transport properties of controlled-release systems for the safe and reliable delivery of drugs. Special emphasis has been placed on the measurement of the diffusion of drugs, alone or in combination with carrier molecules for enhanced solubility and facilitated transport. These studies have provided detailed comprehensive information—both kinetic and thermodynamic—for the design and operation of systems for the controlled release and delivery of drugs. Cyclodextrins are among the most important carriers used in these systems. The basis for their popularity is the ability of these materials to solubilize poorly soluble drugs, generally resulting in striking increases in their water solubilities. The techniques used in these investigations include pulse voltammetry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy, ultrasonic relaxation, and dissolution kinetics. Transport in these systems is a mutual diffusion process involving coupled fluxes of drugs and carrier molecules driven by concentration gradients. Owing to a strong association in these multicomponent systems, it is not uncommon for a diffusing solute to drive substantial coupled fluxes of other solutes, mixed electrolytes, or polymers. Thus, diffusion data, including cross-diffusion coefficients for coupled transport, are essential in order to understand the rates of many processes involving mass transport driven by chemical concentration gradients, as crystal growth and dissolution, solubilization, membrane transport, and diffusion-limited chemical reactions are all relevant to the design of controlled-release systems. While numerous studies have been carried out on these systems, few have considered the transport behavior for controlled-release systems. To remedy this situation, we decided to measure mutual diffusion coefficients for coupled diffusion in a variety of drug–carrier solutions. In summary, the main objective of the present work was to understand the physical chemistry of carrier-mediated transport phenomena in systems of controlled drug release.
Deep Validation of Spatial Temporal Features of Synthetic Mobility Models
Authors: Ibadah Nisrine , Minaoui Khalid , Rziza Mohammed , Oumsis Mohammed , Benavente-Peces César
Published: December 2018

This paper analyzes the most relevant spatial-temporal stochastic properties of benchmark synthetic mobility models. Each pattern suffers from various mobility flaws, as will be shown by the models’ validation. A set of metrics is used to describe mobility features, such as the speed decay problem, the density wave phenomenon, the spatial node distribution, and the average neighbor percentage. These metrics have already been validated for the random waypoint mobility model (RWPMM), but they have not yet been verified for other mobility patterns that are most frequently used. For this reason, this investigation attempts to deeply validate those metrics for other mobility models, namely the Manhattan Grid mobility, the Reference Point Group mobility, the Nomadic Community mobility, the Self-Similar Least Action Walk, and SMOOTH models. Moreover, we propose a novel mobility metric named the “node neighbors range”. The relevance of this new metric is that it proves at once the set of outcomes of previous metrics. It offers a global view of the overall range of mobile neighbors during the experimental time. The current research aims to more rigorously understand mobility features in order to conduct a precise assessment of each mobility flaw, given that this fact further impacts the performance of the whole network. These validations aim to summarize several parameters into 18,126 different scenarios with an average of 486 validated files. An exhaustive analysis with details like those found in this paper leads to a good understanding of the accurate behaviors of mobility models by displaying the ability of every pattern to deal with certain topology changes, as well as to ensure network performances. Validation results confirm the effectiveness and robustness of our novel metric.
Improving Synchronous Dataflow Analysis Supported by Petri Net Mappings
Authors: Rocha José-Inácio , Páscoa Dias Octávio , Gomes Luís
Published: December 2018

Whereas most of the work that analyses Synchronous Dataflow (SDF) stays in the dataflow framework, this work pushes its analysis into another framework level, thereby addressing issues that are not well addressed or are even unexplored in SDF. In this manner, the paper proposes a model-driven engineering (MDE) method, combining Synchronous Dataflow (SDF) and Petri nets, to highlight and reinforce their interoperability in digital signal processing applications, cyber-physical systems, or industrial applications. Improvements regarding the settlement and exploitation of the initial conditions associated with SDF are demonstrated; this issue is crucial for every cyber-physical system, since a system’s initial conditions are crucial to ensuring the system’s liveness. The improvements outlined in this work exploit an innovating mapping in the Place/Transition (P/T) Petri net domain that is intended to reduce and predict the total amount of initial data in SDF channels. The relevance of the firing semantics engaged with the equivalent Petri net model is discussed. This paper proposes a new approach to estimate whether an SDF has a static schedule by performing simulation and property verification of the equivalent-based P/T Petri net system achieved, framed by a Petri net invariant analysis and based on the stubborn set method of Petri nets. In this way, this new approach will allow mitigating the state explosion problem. Finally, a strategy is applied to two case studies to discover all the elementary circuits (static schedules) associated with the generated model’s state-space.
Soft Switching DC Converter for Medium Voltage Applications
Authors: Lin Bor-Ren
Published: December 2018

A dc-dc converter with asymmetric pulse-width modulation is presented for medium voltage applications, such as three-phase ac-dc converters, dc microgrid systems, or dc traction systems. To overcome high voltage stress on primary side and high current rating on secondary side, three dc-dc circuits with primary-series secondary-parallel structure are employed in the proposed converter. Current doubler rectifiers are used on the secondary side to achieve low ripple current on output side. Asymmetric pulse-width modulation is adopted to realize soft switching operation for power switches for wide load current operation and achieve high circuit efficiency. Current balancing cells with magnetic component are used on the primary side to achieve current balance in each circuit cell. The voltage balance capacitors are also adopted on primary side to realize voltage balance of input split capacitors. Finally, the circuit performance is confirmed and verified from the experiments with a 1.44 kW prototype.
Preface: Special Issue on Environmental Toxicology of Trace Metals
Authors: Slaveykova Vera I. , Cheloni Giulia
Published: December 2018

Trace metals (TMs) have a central role in the functioning of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. [...]
Combining the Two-Layers PageRank Approach with the APA Centrality in Networks with Data
Authors: Agryzkov Taras , Pedroche Francisco , Tortosa Leandro , Vicent José F.
Published: December 2018

Identifying the influential nodes in complex networks is a fundamental and practical topic at the moment. In this paper, a new centrality measure for complex networks is proposed based on two contrasting models that have their common origin in the well-known PageRank centrality. On the one hand, the essence of the model proposed is taken from the Adapted PageRank Algorithm (APA) centrality, whose main characteristic is that constitutes a measure to establish a ranking of nodes considering the importance of some dataset associated to the network. On the other hand, a technique known as two-layers PageRank approach is applied to this model. This technique focuses on the idea that the PageRank centrality can be understood as a two-layer network, the topological and teleportation layers, respectively. The main point of the proposed centrality is that it combines the APA centrality with the idea of two-layers; however, the difference now is that the teleportation layer is replaced by a layer that collects the data present in the network. This combination gives rise to a new algorithm for ranking the nodes according to their importance. Subsequently, the coherence of the new measure is demonstrated by calculating the correlation and the quantitative differences of both centralities (APA and the new centrality). A detailed study of the differences of both centralities, taking different types of networks, is performed. A real urban network with data randomly generated is evaluated as well as the well-known Zachary’s karate club network. Some numerical results are carried out by varying the values of the α parameter—known as dumping factor in PageRank model—that varies the importance given to the two layers (topology and data) within the computation of the new centrality. The proposed algorithm takes the best characteristics of the models on which it is based: on the one hand, it is a measure of centrality, in complex networks with data, whose calculation is stable numerically and, on the other hand, it is able to separate the topological properties of the network and the influence of the data.
Tunicamycin-Induced ER Stress is Accompanied with Oxidative Stress via Abrogation of Sulfur Amino Acids Metabolism in the Liver
Authors: Kim Sou Hyun , Kwon Do-young , Kwak Jae-Hwan , Lee Seunghyun , Lee Yun-Hee , Yun Jieun , Son Tae Gen , Jung Young-Suk
Published: December 2018

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the relationship between oxidative stress, another well-known risk factor of NAFLD, and ER stress has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we treated mice with tunicamycin (TM) (2 mg/kg body weight) for 48 h to induce ER stress in the liver and examined the metabolic pathway that synthesizes the endogenous antioxidant, glutathione (GSH). Tunicamycin (TM) treatment significantly increased mRNA levels of CHOP and GRP78, and induced lipid accumulation in the liver. Lipid peroxidation in the liver tissue also increased from TM treatment (CON vs. TM; 3.0 ± 1.8 vs. 11.1 ± 0.8 nmol MDA/g liver, p < 0.001), which reflects an imbalance between the generation of reactive substances and antioxidant capacity. To examine the involvement of GSH synthetic pathway, we determined the metabolomic changes of sulfur amino acids in the liver. TM significantly decreased hepatic S-adenosylmethionine concentration in the methionine cycle. The levels of cysteine in the liver were increased, while taurine concentration was maintained and GSH levels profoundly decreased (CON vs. TM; 8.7 ± 1.5 vs. 5.4 ± 0.9 µmol GSH/g liver, p < 0.001). These results suggest that abnormal cysteine metabolism by TM treatment resulted in a decrease in GSH, followed by an increase in oxidative stress in the liver. In HepG2 cells, decreased GSH levels were examined by TM treatment in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, pretreatment with TM in HepG2 cells potentiated oxidative cell death, by exacerbating the effects of tert-butyl hydroperoxide. In conclusion, TM-induced ER stress was accompanied by oxidative stress by reducing the GSH synthesis, which made the liver more susceptible to oxidative stress.
Performance of the Four-Plex Tandem Mass Spectrometry Lysosomal Storage Disease Newborn Screening Test: The Necessity of Adding a 2nd Tier Test for Pompe Disease
Authors: Chiang Shu-Chuan , Chen Pin-Wen , Hwu Wuh-Liang , Lee An-Ju , Chen Li-Chu , Lee Ni-Chung , Chiou Li-Yan , Chien Yin-Hsiu
Published: December 2018

Early diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) through newborn screening (NBS) has been adapted widely. The National Taiwan University Hospital Newborn Screening Center launched the four-plex tandem mass spectrometry LSD newborn screening test in 2015. The test determined activities of acid α-glucosidase (GAA; Pompe), acid α-galactosidase (GLA; Fabry), acid β-glucocerebrosidase (ABG; Gaucher), and acid α-l-iduronidase (IDUA; MPS-I) in dried blood spots (DBS). Through 2017, 64,148 newborns were screened for these four LSDs. The screening algorithm includes enzyme activity/ratio as the cutoffs for the first screening test and a second-tier test for Pompe disease screening. The second-tier Pompe disease screening test measured activity inhibition by acarbose. Twenty-nine newborns required a confirmatory test; six were confirmed to have Pompe disease, and nine were confirmed to have Fabry disease. The screen-positive rate for Pompe disease was 0.031%. Therefore, in Pompe disease newborn screening, a validated 2nd tier test is necessary to decrease false positives.
One-Year Progression and Risk Factors for the Development of Chronic Kidney Disease in Septic Shock Patients with Acute Kidney Injury: A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kim June-sung , Kim Youn-Jung , Ryoo Seung , Sohn Chang , Seo Dong , Ahn Shin , Lim Kyoung , Kim Won
Published: December 2018

(1) Background: Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) can lead to permanent kidney damage, although the long-term prognosis in patients with septic shock remains unclear. This study aimed to identify risk factors for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in septic shock patients with AKI. (2) Methods: A single-site, retrospective cohort study was conducted using a registry of adult septic shock patients. Data from patients who had developed AKI between January 2011 and April 2017 were extracted, and 1-year follow-up data were analysed to identify patients who developed CKD. (3) Results: Among 2208 patients with septic shock, 839 (38%) had AKI on admission (stage 1: 163 (19%), stage 2: 339 (40%), stage 3: 337 (40%)). After one year, kidney function had recovered in 27% of patients, and 6% had progressed to CKD. In patients with stage 1 AKI, 10% developed CKD, and mortality was 13% at one year; in patients with stage 2 and 3 AKI, the CKD rate was 6%, and the mortality rate was 42% and 47%, respectively. Old age, female, diabetes, low haemoglobin levels and a high creatinine level at discharge were seen to be risk factors for the development of CKD. (4) Conclusions: AKI severity correlated with mortality, but it did not correlate with the development of CKD, and patients progressed to CKD, even when initial AKI stage was not severe. Physicians should focus on the recovery of renal function, and ensure the careful follow-up of patients with risk factors for the development of CKD.
Hospitalization Length after Myocardial Infarction: Risk-Assessment-Based Time of Hospital Discharge vs. Real Life Practice
Authors: Węgiel Michał , Dziewierz Artur , Wojtasik-Bakalarz Joanna , Sorysz Danuta , Surdacki Andrzej , Bartuś Stanisław , Dudek Dariusz , Rakowski Tomasz
Published: December 2018

According to guidelines, it is safe for low-risk patients with myocardial infarction (MI) to be discharged within 72 h of hospitalization. However, results coming from registries show that the hospital stay is often much longer in a real-life situation. Data on the length of the hospital stay (LOS) of MI patients in Polish centers are lacking. We enrolled 212 consecutive patients with acute MI. Low-risk patients were defined according to PAMI II criteria: age <70 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >45%, no persistent ventricular arrhythmia, and no multi-vessel disease (MVD). The median of the hospitalization length was eight days (Q1: 6; Q3: 9). In low-risk patients (25%), the median of LOS was six days (Q1: 5; Q3: 7) (p < 0.001). In a logistic regression analysis patients age, LVEF, ST-segment-elevation MI and the presence of MVD were independent predictors of longer hospitals stay (≥8 days). During follow up, there were no significant differences in the rates of clinical events between patients with shorter (<8 days) and longer (≥8 days) hospitalization. In a real-life situation, the LOS, even in low-risk patients is much longer than recommended in the guidelines.
The Thermal Conductivity of Periodic Particulate Composites as Obtained from a Crystallographic Mode of Filler Packing
Authors: Venetis John , Sideridis Emilio Paul
Published: December 2018

In this paper, an icosahedral non-body-centered model is presented to simulate the periodic structure of a general class of homogeneous particulate composites, by predicting the particle arrangement. This model yielded three different variations, which correspond to three different deterministic particle configurations. In addition, the concept of a boundary interphase between matrix and inclusions was taken into account. In this framework, the influence of particle vicinity on the thermomechanical properties of the overall material was examined in parallel with the concept of boundary interphase. The simultaneous consideration of these two basic influential factors constitutes the novelty of this work. Next, by the use of this advanced model, the authors derived a closed-form expression to estimate the thermal conductivity of this type of composite. To test the validity of the model, the theoretical predictions arising from the proposed formula were compared with experimental data found in the literature, together with theoretical results obtained from several accurate formulae derived from other workers, and an adequate accordance was observed.
Tensile Properties, Fracture Mechanics Properties and Toughening Mechanisms of Epoxy Systems Modified with Soft Block Copolymers, Rigid TiO2 Nanoparticles and Their Hybrids
Authors: Bajpai Ankur , Alapati Arun Kumar , Klingler Andreas , Wetzel Bernd
Published: December 2018

The effect of the hybridization of a triblock copolymer and a rigid TiO2 nanofiller on the tensile, fracture mechanics and thermo-mechanical properties of bisphenol F based epoxy resin were studied. The self-assembling block copolymer, constituted of a center block of poly (butyl acrylate) and two side blocks of poly (methyl) methacrylate-co-polar co-monomer was used as a soft filler, and TiO2 nanoparticles were employed as rigid modifiers. Toughening solely by block copolymers (BCP’s) led to the highest fracture toughness and fracture energy in the study, KIc = 2.18 MPa·m1/2 and GIc = 1.58 kJ/m2. This corresponds to a 4- and 16-fold improvement, respectively, over the neat reference epoxy system. However, a reduction of 15% of the tensile strength was observed. The hybrid nanocomposites, containing the same absolute amounts of modifiers, showed a maximum value of KIc = 1.72 MPa·m1/2 and GIc = 0.90 kJ/m2. Yet, only a minor reduction of 4% of the tensile strength was observed. The fracture toughness and fracture energy were co-related to the plastic zone size for all the modified systems. Finally, the analysis of the fracture surfaces revealed the toughening mechanisms of the nanocomposites.
Optimization of Fiber Orientation Model Parameters in the Presence of Flow-Fiber Coupling
Authors: Li Tianyi , Luyé Jean-François
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we propose a novel systematic procedure to minimize the discrepancy between the numerically predicted and the experimentally measured fiber orientation results on an injection-molded part. Fiber orientation model parameters are optimized simultaneously using Latin hypercube sampling and kriging-based adaptive surrogate modeling techniques. Via an adequate discrepancy measure, the optimized solution possesses correct skin–shell–core structure and global orientation evolution throughout the considered center-gated disk. Some non-trivial interaction between these parameters and flow-fiber coupling effects as well as their quantitative importance are illustrated. The parametric fine-tuning of orientation models mostly leads to a better agreement in the skin and shell regions, while the coupling effect via a fiber-dependent viscosity improves prediction in the core.
Determining Absorptivity Variations of Multiple Laser Beam Treatments of Stainless Steel Sheets
Authors: Kügler Helge , Vollertsen Frank
Published: December 2018

The absorptivity of laser radiation of metals is investigated in several studies. Therefore, absorption coefficients depending on temperature or roughness are known. However, many processes use iterative processing strategies, such as additive manufacturing, laser beam bending, or laser-assisted incremental forming. Simulations of these processes often use literature data for absorption coefficients and do not consider the variation of absorptivity during the process. In this study, the influences of multiple laser beam processing on absorptivity are investigated for stainless steel sheets. Absorption and roughness measurements are compared before and after heating treatments with the laser beam or in an oven. It is shown that an increasing amount of laser heating cycles correlates with higher absorptivity and higher roughness values. However, this increase of roughness is not considered to be sufficient for enhanced absorptivity. On the one hand, similar changes of absorptivity were detected when heating steel sheets in an oven. These oven-heated specimens do not show extensive roughness changes. On the other hand, the same amount of laser heating cycles with additional cool down time after each cycle results in a negligible absorptivity change. Therefore, the variation of the absorptivity is attributed to oxidation.
Understanding Pathogenesis and Care Challenges of Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome in Fungal Infections
Authors: Dellière Sarah , Guery Romain , Candon Sophie , Rammaert Blandine , Aguilar Claire , Lanternier Fanny , Chatenoud Lucienne , Lortholary Olivier
Published: December 2018

Immune deficiency of diverse etiology, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), antineoplastic agents, immunosuppressive agents used in solid organ recipients, immunomodulatory therapy, and other biologics, all promote invasive fungal infections. Subsequent voluntary or unintended immune recovery may induce an exaggerated inflammatory response defining immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), which causes significant mortality and morbidity. Fungal-associated IRIS raises several diagnostic and management issues. Mostly studied with Cryptococcus, it has also been described with other major fungi implicated in human invasive fungal infections, such as Pneumocystis, Aspergillus, Candida, and Histoplasma. Furthermore, the understanding of IRIS pathogenesis remains in its infancy. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the clinical characteristics of IRIS depending on fungal species and existing strategies to predict, prevent, and treat IRIS in this patient population, and tries to propose a common immunological background to fungal IRIS.
The Significance of Lipids to Biofilm Formation in Candida albicans: An Emerging Perspective
Authors: Alim Darakshan , Sircaik Shabnam , Panwar Sneh Lata
Published: December 2018

Candida albicans, the dimorphic opportunistic human fungal pathogen, is capable of forming highly drug-resistant biofilms in the human host. Formation of biofilm is a multistep and multiregulatory process involving various adaptive mechanisms. The ability of cells in a biofilm to alter membrane lipid composition is one such adaptation crucial for biofilm development in C. albicans. Lipids modulate mixed species biofilm formation in vivo and inherent antifungal resistance associated with these organized communities. Cells in C. albicans biofilms display phase-dependent changes in phospholipid classes and in levels of lipid raft formation. Systematic studies with genetically modified strains in which the membrane phospholipid composition can be manipulated are limited in C. albicans. In this review, we summarize the knowledge accumulated on the impact that alterations in phospholipids may have on the biofilm forming ability of C. albicans in the human host. This review may provide the requisite impetus to analyze lipids from a therapeutic standpoint in managing C. albicans biofilms.
Exact Solution of Ambartsumian Delay Differential Equation and Comparison with Daftardar-Gejji and Jafari Approximate Method
Authors: Bakodah Huda O. , Ebaid Abdelhalim
Published: December 2018

The Ambartsumian equation, a linear differential equation involving a proportional delay term, is used in the theory of surface brightness in the Milky Way. In this paper, the Laplace-transform was first applied to this equation, and then the decomposition method was implemented to establish a closed-form solution. The present closed-form solution is reported for the first time for the Ambartsumian equation. Numerically, the calculations have demonstrated a rapid rate of convergence of the obtained approximate solutions, which are displayed in several graphs. It has also been shown that only a few terms of the new approximate solution were sufficient to achieve extremely accurate numerical results. Furthermore, comparisons of the present results with the existing methods in the literature were introduced.
Deuterated Arachidonic Acids Library for Regulation of Inflammation and Controlled Synthesis of Eicosanoids: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Chistyakov Dmitry V. , Filimonov Ivan S. , Azbukina Nadezhda V. , Goriainov Sergei V. , Chistyakov Viktor V. , Fomich Maksim A. , Bekish Andrei V. , Shmanai Vadim V. , Sergeeva Marina G. , Shchepinov Mikhail S.
Published: December 2018

The synthesis of signal lipids, including eicosanoids, is not fully understood, although it is key to the modulation of various inflammatory states. Recently, isotopologues of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) deuterated at bis-allylic positions (D-PUFAs) have been proposed as inhibitors of non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) in various disease models. Arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 n-6) is the main precursor to several classes of eicosanoids, which are produced by cyclooxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenases (LOX). In this study we analyzed the relative activity of human recombinant enzymes COX-2, 5-LOX, and 15-LOX-2 using a library of arachidonic acids variably deuterated at the bis-allylic (C7, C10, and C13) positions. Kinetic parameters (KM, Vmax) and isotope effects calculated from kH/kD for seven deuterated arachidonic acid derivatives were obtained. Spectroscopic methods have shown that deuteration at the 13th position dramatically affects the kinetic parameters of COX-2 and 15-LOX-2. The activity of 5-LOX was evaluated by measuring hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (8-HETE and 5-HETE) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Deuteration at the seventh and 10th positions affects the performance of the 5-LOX enzyme. A flowchart is proposed suggesting how to modulate the synthesis of selected eicosanoids using the library of deuterated isotopologues to potentially fine-tune various inflammation stages.
Quantitative Assessment of rPM6 for Fluorine- and Chlorine-Containing Metal Complexes: Comparison with Experimental, First-Principles, and Other Semiempirical Results
Authors: Saito Toru , Fujiwara Manami , Takano Yu
Published: December 2018

We report a reparameterization of PM6 parameters for fluorine and chlorine using our training set containing transition metal complexes. Spin unrestricted calculations with the resulting rPM6 (UrPM6) were examined quantitatively using two test sets: (i) the description of magnetic interactions in 25 dinuclear metal complexes and (ii) the prediction of barrier heights and reaction energies for epoxidation and fluorination reactions catalyzed by high-valent manganese-oxo species. The conventional UPM6 and UPM7 methods were also evaluated for comparison on the basis of either experimental or computational (the UB3LYP/SVP level) outcomes. The merits of UrPM6 are highlighted by both the test sets. As regards magnetic exchange coupling constants, the UrPM6 method had the smallest mean absolute errors from the experimental data (19 cm−1), followed by UPM7 (119 cm−1) and UPM6 (373 cm−1). For the epoxidation and fluorination reactions, all of the transition state searches were successful using UrPM6, while the success rates obtained by UPM6 and UPM7 were only 50%. The UrPM6-optimized stationary points also agreed well with the reference UB3LYP-optimized geometries. The accuracy for estimating reaction energies was also greatly remedied.
A General Model for Estimating Emissions from Integrated Power Generation and Energy Storage. Case Study: Integration of Solar Photovoltaic Power and Wind Power with Batteries
Authors: Miller Ian , Gençer Emre , O’Sullivan Francis M.
Published: December 2018

The penetration of renewable power generation is increasing at an unprecedented pace. While the operating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of photovoltaic (PV) and wind power are negligible, their upstream emissions are not. The great challenge with the deployment of renewable power generators is their intermittent and variable nature. Current electric power systems balance these fluctuations primarily using natural gas fired power plants. Alternatively, these dynamics could be handled by the integration of energy storage technologies to store energy during renewable energy availability and discharge when needed. In this paper, we present a model for estimating emissions from integrated power generation and energy storage. The model applies to emissions of all pollutants, including greenhouse gases (GHGs), and to all storage technologies, including pumped hydroelectric and electrochemical storage. As a case study, the model is used to estimate the GHG emissions of electricity from systems that couple photovoltaic and wind generation with lithium-ion batteries (LBs) and vanadium redox flow batteries (VFBs). To facilitate the case study, we conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of photovoltaic (PV) power, as well as a synthesis of existing wind power LCAs. The PV LCA is also used to estimate the emissions impact of a common PV practice that has not been comprehensively analyzed by LCA—solar tracking. The case study of renewables and battery storage indicates that PV and wind power remain much less carbon intensive than fossil-based generation, even when coupled with large amounts of LBs or VFBs. Even the most carbon intensive renewable power analyzed still emits only ~25% of the GHGs of the least carbon intensive mainstream fossil power. Lastly, we find that the pathway to minimize the GHG emissions of power from a coupled system depends upon the generator. Given low-emission generation (<50 gCO2e/kWh), the minimizing pathway is the storage technology with lowest production emissions (VFBs over LBs for our case study). Given high-emission generation (>200 gCO2e/kWh), the minimizing pathway is the storage technology with highest round-trip efficiency (LBs over VFBs).
“At War ’Twixt Will and Will Not”: On Shakespeare’s Idea of Religious Experience in Measure for Measure
Authors: Smith Matthew J.
Published: December 2018

“Religions in Shakespeare’s Writings,” the title of this special issue, can prompt consideration not only of singular exceptions to the normative religious landscape but also of the ideas that support the banner under which a plurality of examples together may be described as “religious.” In recent years, readers of Shakespeare have devoted attention to exploring Shakespeare’s engagement with specific theological and sectarian movements in early modern Europe. Such work has changed how we view the relation between theater and its religious landscapes, but it may be that in focusing on the topical we overlook Shakespeare’s place among such sociologists and philosophers of religion as Montaigne, Hobbes, James, Weber, and Berger. To this end, I argue that in Measure for Measure Shakespeare uses law to synthesize certain aspects of religious experience from divergent corners. And drawing on descriptions of religion from anthropology and phenomenology, I suggest that Shakespeare unites his characters through patterns of action within this deadly exigency that demonstrate a shared experience of religion as a desire for salvation beyond the law.
Pursuing Firm Economic Sustainability through Debt Restructuring Agreements in Italy: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Danovi Alessandro , Magno Francesca , Dossena Giovanna
Published: December 2018

Corporate restructuring has become a central topic for both academics and practitioners, particularly following the global financial crisis. In particular, there is increasing interest in understanding the effectiveness of turnaround strategies, which are defined as attempts to restore the performance of firms after periods of downfall. However, despite the relevance of this issue, there is a shortage of empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of turnaround strategies related specifically to financial interventions. Through the support of an empirical analysis among Italian firms, this paper seeks to fill this significant gap in the available literature. In particular, we conducted an in-depth analysis of 262 debt restructuring agreement (DRA) plans that occurred between 2005 and 2013 in 16 bankruptcy courts. Our study confirms the positive effect of changes in the top management team. This measure can be both a symbolic signal of genuine willingness to modify the strategy of the firm, and a real manifestation of the necessity to have new skills to complete the turnaround. In addition, the adoption of operational and strategic/asset measures increase the likelihood of turnaround success.
Relationship between prescribing of antibiotics and other medicines in primary care: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Yan , Mölter Anna , White Andrew , Welfare William , Palin Victoria , Belmonte Miguel , Ashcroft Darren M , Sperrin Matthew , van Staa Tjeerd Pieter
Published: December 2018

Background

High levels of antibiotic prescribing are a major concern as they drive antimicrobial resistance. It is currently unknown whether practices that prescribe higher levels of antibiotics also prescribe more medicines in general.

Aim

To evaluate the relationship between antibiotic and general prescribing levels in primary care.

Design and setting

Cross-sectional study in 2014–2015 of 6517 general practices in England using NHS digital practice prescribing data (NHS-DPPD) for the main study, and of 587 general practices in the UK using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink for a replication study.

Method

Linear regression to assess determinants of antibiotic prescribing.

Results

NHS-DPPD practices prescribed an average of 576.1 antibiotics per 1000 patients per year (329.9 at the 5th percentile and 808.7 at the 95th percentile). The levels of prescribing of antibiotics and other medicines were strongly correlated. Practices with high levels of prescribing of other medicines (a rate of 27 159.8 at the 95th percentile) prescribed 80% more antibiotics than low-prescribing practices (rate of 8815.9 at the 5th percentile). After adjustment, NHS-DPPD practices with high prescribing of other medicines gave 60% more antibiotic prescriptions than low-prescribing practices (corresponding to higher prescribing of 276.3 antibiotics per 1000 patients per year). Prescribing of non-opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines were also strong indicators of the level of antibiotic prescribing. General prescribing levels were a much stronger driver for antibiotic prescribing than other risk factors, such as deprivation.

Conclusion

The propensity of GPs to prescribe medications generally is an important driver for antibiotic prescribing. Interventions that aim to optimise antibiotic prescribing will need to target general prescribing behaviours, in addition to specifically targeting antibiotics.
ETHICAL FACTORS IN SPATIAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Winskowski Piotr
Published: December 2018

The paper consists of a review of the methods of emphasizing values in spatial environment seen in the public art of the second half of the 20th century. The most influential factors – the disputable status of arts between non-artistic sphere, the evolution of abstract art (both in the sense of the geometric shapes of pieces and the conceptual potential of its idea), the environmental perspective of contemporary art to accent the relation more than the solid piece – are regarded. Polish examples of Second World War memorials (Westerplatte, Gdansk, Treblinka, Auschwitz-Birkenau) and later tragic events (the Gdansk 1970 monument) as well as foreign ones (the Walter Benjamin memorial in Portbou, Spain) are discussed in relation to the above problems. The role of the accidental factors of commemoralized events and non-artistic aspects of its memorial’s perception are emphasized. They are seen as important keys for the reconstruction of the past existential situation in the mind and body of the contemporary perceiver / interactor. In this way the relationship between a past event and the present perception is formed in a very deep, intimate way. This strategy of using spatial medium for emphasizing an ethical message is also recognized in a contemporary, temporal installation (Helsinki 2000) as some proof of its present character and a wide potential for future public art.

Etiniai veiksniai erdvinėje aplinkoje

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Apžvelgiamos kai kurios XX a. antrosios pusės viešumai skirto meno raidos tendencijos, išryškinusios vertybių ir jų ženklinimo erdvinėje aplinkoje slinktis. Apibrėžiami esminiai veiksniai, turėję įtakos šio laikotarpio viešumai skirto meno raidai: meno kūrinio ribų kitimas, abstraktaus ir konceptualaus meno sklaida, aplinkos svarba šiuolaikiniame mene akcentuojant ne tiek objektus, kiek jų kontekstualius ryšius. Viešumai skirto meno aspektai nagrinėjami aptariant kai kuriuos lenkų sukurtus memorialus, skirtus Antrojo pasaulinio karo aukoms (Vesterplatėje, Gdanske, Treblinkoje, Aušvice-Birkenau) ir kai kuriems vėlesniems tragiškiems visuomeniniams politiniams įvykiams atminti (1970 m. monumentas Gdanske, taip pat keli užsieniniai pavyzdžiai (Valterio Benjamino memorialas Portbou, Ispanijoje, Masaaki Nishi instaliacija Helsinkyje). Išryškinamas netikėtų sprendimų ir alternatyvių įženklinimo formų efektyvumas kuriant įtaigius atmintinius įvykius primenančius kūrinius. Daroma išvada, kad minėtos kompozicinės priemonės yra labai reikšmingos rekonstruojant praeityje buvusias situacijas ir kuriant interaktyvią suvokimo aplinką kaip etinio charakterio atspindį.
MENTAL DUALITY EMERGING FROM LOCAL-GLOBAL CONTRADICTION
Authors: Krikštopaitis Juozas Algimantas
Published: December 2018

The paper discusses the phenomenon of mental duality which emerges when a person, upon entering a community of a different cultural and historic experience, seeks to be admitted to citizenship thus realizing possibilities for his activity. However, this phenomenon of duality appears even when a person does not leave his native country. The matter is that a foreign culture surging into a person’s native domain can turn him into an emigrant in his own home. The phenomenon of emigration (exile) is discussed, while examining the resulting activities of distinguished members of the Lithuanian diaspora. A conclusion is made that in the present globalized and urbanized world it is impossible to avoid such a mental duality. The author suggests nurturing of the signs of uniqueness in creativity based on native cultural values. That would reduce stress due to mental duality.

Mentalinis dvilypumas, kylantis iš prieštaros lokalus–globalus

Santrauka

Mentalinis dvilypumas, kylantis iš prieštaros lokalus–globalus Aptariamas mentalinio susidvejinimo reiškinys, kai asmuo, patekęs į kitos kultūros ir kitos istorinės patirties visuomenę, siekia joje įsipilietinti ir realizuoti savo galimybes. Tačiau susidvejinimo reiškinys atsiranda net ir tuomet, kai žmogus neiškeliauja kitur. Reikalas tas, kad kita kultūra, įsiveržusi į gimtąjį arealą, gali žmogų paversti išeiviu jo paties namuose. Išeivystės (egzilės) reiškinys aptariamas nagrinėjant žymių Lietuvos išeivių veiklos rezultatus. Daroma išvada, kad dabarties globaliai urbanizuotame pasaulyje mentalinio susidvejinimo išvengti neįmanoma. Autorius siūlo puoselėti kūrybinės raiškos unikalumo požymius, remiantis gimtosios kultūros vertybėmis. Toks kelias padėtų švelninti mentalinio susidvejinimo įtampą.
THE PROBLEM OF LAND MANAGEMENT TRADITIONS IN THE CURONIAN SPIT
Authors: Bučas Jurgis
Published: December 2018

The Curonian Spit was inhabited six thousand years ago. During this period its survival was menaced by natural forces. The 17th–18th centuries faced unreasonable deforestation of the Curonian Spit and opened its dunes to wind erosion. In the 18th century 14 settlements were hid under moving sand. The Spit survival was in danger of being flown under the Curonian Lagoon waters. At the begining of the 19th century radical actions were taken to save the Curonian Spit damaged by wind erosion. Tremendous ecological awareness of some natural powers as wind and flora helped man to create a landscape which was described at UNESCO General Conference as a worldwide worth cultural heritage and enrolled in the World Heritage List as a cultural landscape of universal worth illustrating the history of dramatic coexistence of nature and man.

The paper describes the Curonian Spit as a cultural landscape, its historical formation and present managment, discusses its creation and management traditions and evaluates them while preparing the Curonian Spit National Park managment plan as well as the Master Plan of Neringa city.

Gamtosauginė direktyva ar kraštotvarkinės tradicijos ?

Santrauka

Kuršių nerijoje žmonės įsikūrė ketvirtajame tūkstantmetyje prieš Kristų. Visą istorinį laikotarpį pusiasaliui grėsmę kėlė gamtos jėgos. XVI-XVIII a. neapgalvotas nerijos miškų naikinimas atidengė pusiasalio smėlynus vėjo erozijai. XVIII a. smėliu užpustyta 14 gyvenviečių. Kilo grėsmė, kad ir pats pusiasalis bus nupustytas į Kuršių marias. Pasitinkant XIX a., imtasi radikalių priemonių gelbėti vėjo erozijos naikinamą Kuršių neriją. Su didžiule ekologine išmintimi panaudodamas pačios gamtos jėgą (vėją) ir medžiagą (augalus), per XIX a. supustyto jūros smėlio kopose žmogus sukūrė kraštovaizdį, kuris UNESCO Generalinės konferencijos buvo įvardytas pasaulio reikšmės nekilnojamojo kultūros paveldo vertybe ir įrašytas į Pasaulio paveldo sąrašą kaip universalios reikšmės kultūrinis kraštovaizdis, iliustruojantis gamtos ir žmogaus dramatiško sambūvio istoriją. Nagrinėjama Kuršių nerijos kultūrinio kraštovaizdžio istorinio formavimo ir dabartinio jo tvarkymo veikla, aptariamos jo kūrimo bei priežiūros tradicijos ir kaip jos vertinimos rengiant Kuršių nerijos nacionalinio parko tvarkymo planą bei Neringos miesto savivaldybės bendrąjį planą.
URBANISTINĖS PLĖTROS PERIPETIJOS
Authors: Juškevičius Pranciškus
Published: December 2018

Šiame žurnalo numeryje pristatome du aktualius forume perskaitytus pranešimus – Pranciškaus Juškevičiaus, VGTU Urbanistikos katedros profesoriaus, pranešimą „Urbanistinės plėtros peripetijos“ ir Gintauto Tiškaus, VGTU Architektūros pagrindų ir teorijos katedros magistranto, pranešimą „Urbanistinės plėtros valstybinio valdymo problemos“.
HERITAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF LITHUANIAN CONSTRUCTION VISION
Authors: Bučas Jurgis , Čepaitienė Rasa , Gražulevičiūtė-Vileniškė Indrė , Mlinkauskienė Aušra
Published: December 2018

The part of heritage created during construction processes is analysed in the paper. In foreign countries the term “built heritage” is used to define the entire legacy of construction activities which is in the disposition of contemporary society. The term “built heritage” is not used in the Lithuanian heritage preservation law. In this paper the aspects concerning the meaning of the term “built heritage” are not discussed, attention is concentrated on the analysis of miscellaneous social and economic significance of this product of construction activities as a cultural good. Challenges concerning preservation of cultural goods provided by construction activities and development prospects of these activities are revealed. A chronological table of heritage preservation objectives and means in the context of the Lithuanian construction vision is also presented.

Paveldas Lietuvos statybų vizijos kontekste

Santrauka

Aptariama ta praeities palikimo dalis, kuri suku riama statybos procese. Užsienio šalyse statybinės veiklos palikimui, kuriuo disponuoja šiuolaikinė visuomenė, nusakyti vartojamas terminas statybinis paveldas. Lietuvos Respublikos paveldosaugos teisėje tokio termino nėra. Straipsnyje neliečiami šio termino reikšmės aspektai, bet nagrinėjama šio statybinės veiklos produkto, kaip kultūros gėrybės, daugialypė socialinė ir eko nominė reikšmė, iššūkiai, susiję su statybinės veiklos kultūros gėrybių apsauga ir šios veiklos plėtros perspektyvomis, pridedama lentelė, kurioje chronologine tvarka pateikiami paveldosaugos tikslai ir priemonės statybų vizijos kontekste.
A participação da mulher na ciência: um estudo da visão de estudantes por meio do teste DAST
Authors: Cavalli Mariana Bolake , Meglhioratti Fernanda Aparecida
Published: December 2018

Ao compreender a necessidade da equidade social da mulher e a importância de dar visibilidade à atividade científica feminina, o trabalho aqui desenvolvido tem como proposta investigar as ideias dos alunos a respeito de cientistas e como relacionam a mulher com a ciência. Foi aplicado o Teste DAST (Draw a Scientist Test), proposto por Chambers (1983), no qual solicita-se ao aluno desenhar uma pessoa cientista. Em ato contínuo, é requerido ao aluno que explique, no verso da folha, o seu desenho. Em seguida, foi realizada uma discussão coletiva com os alunos relativa aos desenhos produzidos e ao papel da mulher na ciência. A investigação foi feita com uma turma do oitavo ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola particular do município de Cascavel-PR. Concluímos que as alunas e os alunos investigados tinham uma visão estereotipada dos cientistas, com ideia de uma ciência masculinizada, mas que a problematização do desenho proporcionou uma reflexão inicial dos estereótipos apresentados pelos estudantes. Destacamos a importância do rompimento do estereótipo de cientista, sendo competência da educação científica desenvolver a compreensão dos alunos e das alunas referente à atividade científica.
A produção escrita no gênero textual artigo de opinião e sua relação com as marcas da interação professor aluno e texto
Authors: Moraes Tiago Do Amaral , Motokane Marcelo Tadeu
Published: December 2018

A escrita é uma atividade comunicativa muito utilizada dentro das salas de aulas, sendo que, na maioria das vezes, constituem uma forma de avaliação. Nas aulas de ciências a escrita também aparece em muitas atividades típicas, como a construção de textos em gêneros que envolvam práticas científicas. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho é verificar as produções de alunos dentro do gênero textual proposto, buscando identificar como os gêneros escritos se relacionam com as falas da professora e com o material utilizado. Neste trabalho, por meio da aplicação de uma sequência didática investigativa, propusemos aos alunos a escrita de um artigo de opinião sobre uma situação fictícia do extermínio de morcegos pela população local. Também investigamos marcas das falas da professora e de um texto-base da sequência nos textos e suas relações com os gêneros textuais. Analisando de maneira qualitativa, percebemos que nem todos os alunos escreveram o gênero textual proposto, alguns construíram exercícios escolares tradicionais ou textos que misturam elementos de ambos os gêneros. Também verificamos que a fala da professora aparece muito mais forte nos textos que são exercícios escolares tradicionais do que em artigos de opinião.