bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estado del arte sobre la escuela rural: una perspectiva desde los vínculos entre escuela y comunidad
Authors: Rivera Sepúlveda Álvaro Andrés
Published: September 2016

En las últimas décadas del siglo XX y principios del siglo XXI las comunidades rurales colombianas se han visto sometidas a un proceso continuo de transformación socio-cultural como consecuencia del capitalismo neoliberal en tanto modelo hegemónico de desarrollo y de la racionalidad moderna establecida como patrón cultural. En este contexto 
La identidad perdida de la universidad latinoamericana, entre la razón y el mercado
Authors: Marín Gutiérrez María Piedad
Published: September 2016

Este trabajo se enmarca en un proyecto de investigación que se propone investigar por las identidades de la universidad latinoamericana, en un momento de la contemporaneidad donde la educación y en especial la universidad se encuentra atrapada por la racionalidad técnica – instrumental y las fuerzas del mercado e indaga en la manera como en ella pueden emerger nuevas propuestas investigativas y opciones para estudiar la realidad y reinventarla como espacio intercultural que valore los múltiples saberes y formas de comprenderla. 
El fogón en la escuela: Rasgo de la comunidad Nasa para una educación intercultural
Authors: Burbano López Sandra Liliana
Published: September 2016

A partir de la reflexión emergida desde los rasgos culturales de la comunidad Nasa en aporte potente para una educación intercultural, se posiciona como rasgo fuerte y posible la figura del fogón tanto por su papel tangible como lugar vital en la casa indígena como por su  carga simbólica al representar el aprendizaje a través de los relatos de los padres, madres y abuelos transmitidos en el seno del hogar. La simbología, la espiritualidad y sobretodo la capacidad de educar a través de la experiencia cotidiana alrededor del fogón, se perfila como un rasgo profundamente ligado a la naturaleza y por lo tanto, expresa de manera clara cómo el educar se relaciona con la vida. En donde esta relación responde a las necesidades y expectativas de los seres humanos por encima de estructuras que encierren su capacidad liberadora y creativa. ¿Cómo convertir el aula de clase en un fogón? Es una pregunta bastante compleja sobretodo en tiempos de estándares y lineamientos educativos que coartan la potencia del acto cotidiano, sin embargo es posible hacer los rastreos desde la comunidad Nasa para encontrar las conexiones que revitalicen el acto educativo desde un diálogo intercultural fundado en términos de igualdad y respeto por el otro 
Relación entre procesos interdisciplinares en la calidad de la educación básica de Bogotá-Colombia en 2015
Authors: Bautista Díaz Diego Armando
Published: September 2016

La presente investigación presenta como resultado de la investigación doctoral titulada Relación entre los Procesos interdisciplinares y las prácticas docentes en la Institución Educativa Instituto Técnico Internacional de Bogotá-Colombia; estudio realizado en uno de los colegios públicos adscrito a la Secretaria de Educación de Bogotá en lo referente al nivel de apropiación por parte de los maestros de los procesos educativos para la formación integral y a su vez en el reconocimiento del nivel de innovación de las prácticas de los maestros en el aula, con el propósito de identificar cuáles deben ser puntos de intervención en el campo curricular para en el mejoramiento de los procesos en educación ambiental, sexual, para la ciudadanía y la convivencia, para el emprendimiento y el uso de TIC para fortalecer la cultura del trabajo interdisciplinar en las instituciones educativas de educación básica y media.
Nuevos comportamientos de los jóvenes universitarios frente a la comunicación mediados por las TIC
Authors: Posada Vásquez Amparo
Published: September 2016

Con un enfoque fenomenológico el artículo expone los cambios en la forma de enseñar y aprender que están teniendo las universidades, como producto de la inserción de las TIC. Diversión y comodidad son en líneas generales los principales principios orientadores de este cambio. El artículo en su estructura presenta una revisión documental donde se evidencia un proceso exhaustivo de lectura de documentos sobre autores que han realizado estudios sobre el tema, la muestra de esta investigación se realizó con treinta estudiantes entre los 18 y 22 años, género masculino y femenino, los instrumentos que se utilizaron fueron: grupos focales, entrevistas semiestructuradas,  diarios de campo y observación participante. Como resultado de esta investigación se observó que los estudiantes de la electiva I, la educación mediada por la tecno cultura, reconocieron el gran impacto de las tecnologías en sus vidas y que el cambio está en saber utilizarlas. Finalmente esta investigación permite concluir que los jóvenes se cuestionen desde un punto de vista ético, el deber ser de las TIC, en la sociedad actual, introducen una reflexión frente al uso e impacto de las mismas en la educación y particularmente en los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje.
Theodor W. Adorno: Reflexiones sobre formación (Bildung) y semiformación (Halbbildung) en el contexto de una crítica ilustrada a la Ilustración
Authors: Runge Peña Andrés Klaus , Piñeres Sus Juan David
Published: September 2016

Nuestro escrito tiene cuatro partes. La primera, a modo de contextualización, se dedica a unas aclaraciones iniciales sobre el concepto de formación (Bildung). En la segunda y tercera partes, se hace una lectura de Adorno a la luz de lo que plantea como crisis de la formación en la modernidad y al doble carácter de la cultura y de la formación. En la cuarta parte, se propone una reflexión sobre la formación como parte del proyecto de una crítica ilustrada a la Ilustración.
El recurso de la pedagogía a la hermenéutica filosófica de Gadamer –Homenaje a Rafael Flórez–
Authors: Garcés Gómez Juan Felipe
Published: September 2016

El recurso a la obra de Gadamer, especialmente Verdad y Método (1993), no es nuevo en el ámbito de las investigaciones y producciones pedagógicas en Colombia. A Rafael Flórez y sus libros Pedagogía y Verdad (1989) y Hacia una pedagogía del conocimiento (1994), se debe el impacto de la hermenéutica filosófica, sus conceptos y problemas,  en las investigaciones pedagógicas. Pretendemos presentar el recurso de Flórez a la hermenéutica filosófica de Gadamer, no sin antes evidenciar otros recursos a la hermenéutica en las versiones de Ricoeur y Habermas. Posteriormente, espero presentar una propuesta para radicalizar el recurso a la hermenéutica gadameriana y los retos que tal radicalización supone para la investigación y producción pedagógica. Finalmente, a modo de conclusión, espero proponer algunas tareas que a la pedagogía le esperan una vez que su autorreflexión, desde la hermenéutica filosófica, opere la transformación anhelada
Geneaologías de la Nueva Era en México
Authors: Torre Renée De la , Zúñiga Cristina Gutiérrez
Published: September 2016

La literatura identifica el inicio del movimiento New Age en México a partir de la influencia de la cultura estadounidense en este país, sobre todo a través del contacto con la cultura hippie y neochamánica.  En este artículo  se ofrece una genealogía histórica del New Age atendiendo a actores y vectores de diverso origen que, a partir del establecimiento de escuelas esotéricas en nuestro país desde principios del siglo XX, transformaron el imaginario de México como sede de una civilización que guarda en sus vestigios prehispánicos tradiciones iniciáticas, que resultan claves en el advenimiento de la  Nueva Era.  En una segunda parte, se aborda la hibridación de estas doctrinas con la matriz del nacionalismo cultural promovido desde el Estado y con fuerte influencia en movimientos artísticos y políticos, que incidió en la gestación de una versión mexicanizada del New Age que en el presente es un componente central en la red espiritual global. También se analizan las mediaciones de industrias culturales como la literatura de masas y la  televisión y su impacto en  la popularización de nociones hoy concebidas como parte del movimiento New Age.
“É Tudo Energia” - A Nova Era e a Umbanda em diálogo
Authors: Oliveira Amurabi
Published: September 2016

O caráter plural e aberto da Nova Era tem sido destacado por uma série de pesquisadores dedicados a este campo de investigação, porém ainda é incipiente a discussão acerca dos diálogos da Nova Era com a Umbanda no Brasil. Neste trabalho, volto-me para aquilo que é denominado genericamente de Umbanda Esotérica, indicando como há uma gama de possibilidades no arranjo entre a Nova Era e a Umbanda, que se produz através da percepção dos agentes de que os elementos presentes nestes dois universos são distintos, porém não são opostos. Realizo esses apontamentos a partir de algumas incursões em campo em dois centros de Umbanda na região metropolitana de Florianópolis, buscando destacar a pluralidade de práticas possíveis nesse diálogo entre Nova Era e Umbanda.
A Religião Nórdica Antiga: conceitos e métodos de pesquisa
Authors: Langer Johnni
Published: September 2016

O presente artigo realiza uma sistematização bibliográfica e teórica dos conceitos, metodologias e abordagens envolvendo as investigações acadêmicas sobre a Religião Nórdica Antiga (Pré-cristã). Em relação aos conceitos, foi realizada uma discussão especialmente em torno das publicações em língua inglesa efetuadas dos anos 1970 até nossos dias. Para o debate metodológico, utilizamos essencialmente os arqueólogos dinamarqueses envolvidos com o projeto Väger till Midgård (Estradas para Midgard). O principal objetivo do trabalho é fornecer aos pesquisadores alguns parâmetros para a fundamentação de suas pesquisas sobre religião e religiosidade na Escandinávia Medieval.
La modernización de las políticas turísticas en el ámbito cultural: Análisis de los programas oﬁciales a nivel Estado de México
Authors: Castillo Nechar Marcelino
Published: September 2016

Este trabajo presenta algunos resultados conceptuales y empíricos encontrados a partir de la realización de un proyecto de investigación registrado en la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México durante 2005 a 2006. Cabe señalar que el análisis efectuado gira en torno a la cuestión de la investigación del turismo en el ámbito sociocultural, el esfuerzo por distinguir entre turismo cultural y cultura turística, considerando la política implementada al respecto y, ﬁnalmente, una descripción a cuestiones empíricas en el desenvolvimiento del turismo-cultura en la entidad.
¿Políticas públicas o acciones de gobierno turísticas en Ixtapan de la Sal? El caso del Cocdetur
Authors: Cruz Jiménez Graciela
Published: September 2016

Los cambios en la forma de gobierno en México han impulsado, al menos en teoría, a las políticas públicas como un mecanismo para propiciar la participación de los distintos sectores de la sociedad en su diseño, implementación y evaluación, contrario a las tradicionales acciones de gobierno, asumidas en solitario por la autoridad pública. El Consejo Consultivo de Ixtapan de la Sal (Cocdetur) se erigió como un órgano de consulta tendiente a incorporar los principios de las políticas públicas a la conducción de la actividad turística. Este artículo pretende determinar si se cumplieron estos propósitos o se mantuvo el esquema tradicional. Con base en ello, las condiciones sustentables o no que propicia una u otra en la comunidad receptora.
Ambiente de la isla Roqueta de Acapulco Guerrero, México
Authors: Niño Gutiérrez Naú Silverio
Published: September 2016

La Geografía del ambiente de la isla La Roqueta de Acapulco implica analizar las condiciones actuales del paisaje insular para proponer su posible manejo sustentable como área natural protegida para lo cual se incluye la elaboración de las cartas geográﬁcas temáticas de localización, litológica, altimétrica, edafológica, uso actual del suelo y vegetación.
El museo en busca de los turistas
Authors: Rico Mansard Luisa Fernanda
Published: September 2016

El presente trabajo se divide en tres partes: consideraciones, reﬂexiones y propuestas, teniendo como objetivo fundamental el potenciar el uso turístico de los museos en México a partir de la revalorización de los objetos en el ámbito museal, del acercamiento al museo más allá de su entorno inmediato y, sobre todo, con la apreciación del turista, no como integrante del gran público, sino como público meta. Bajo esta óptica se sugiere la museología turística como un campo de análisis especíﬁco y su aplicación práctica en beneﬁcio del turista. Se parte de las ideas de alteridad, lo local, lo global y lo glocal como elemento atractor de turistas y se proponen diez acciones operativas para alcanzar estos propósitos.
Alojamientos turísticos y problemáticas ambientales. El caso de los complejos de cabañas en Tandil, Argentina
Authors: Fernández Guillermina , Guzmán Ramos Aldo , Van Morlegan Cristina
Published: September 2016

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo, presentar un diagnóstico sobre el comportamiento ambiental del sector de alojamientos turísticos de una localidad del sureste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires en la República Argentina. Precisamente se evalúa el sector de cabañas en el área serrana de la localidad mencionada por tener en los últimos tiempos un crecimiento superior al resto del sector y localizarse en un área que resulta sensible al impacto. En el trabajo se aplicó una metodología cualitativa, a través de entrevistas personalizadas aplicadas al 75% de los establecimientos. La entrevista se basa en las variables del Cuestionario para la Certificación de la Sostenibilidad Turística del Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, la que se agrupa en cuatro áreas; cliente externo, planta de servicios, entorno físico- biológico y entorno socioeconómico. El análisis de la situación ambiental de los establecimientos, demuestra que existe un claro desconocimiento del entorno y del impacto, que si bien puede ser reducido de forma individual, es importante de manera grupal, por lo cual es necesario considerarlo dentro de una planificación del desarrollo turístico.
Turismo Cultural: descripción de los símbolos y significados de los decorados en la Cerámica Vallesana
Authors: Utrilla Cobos Sandra Alicia
Published: September 2016

La información que aquí se expone es resultado de una investigación basada en teorías de corte semiótico, antropológico y sociológico, con categorías de análisis orientadas a dos sujetos activos: turistas y artesanos de Valle de Bravo, Estado de México, así como a la significación de la cultura material en los productos artesanales cerámicos. La indagación se realiza a partir de 1971 a 1999, aquél como inicio de reconocimiento del lugar como Municipio Turístico del Estado de México, y éste por considerarse un año importante dada la transición al siglo XXI. El objetivo es lograr un rescate de la identidad simbólica de los productos artesanales para conseguir la competitividad y permanencia de los productos, difundirlos y dar continuidad a este oficio que plasma y transmite conocimiento.
Ефективність препарату Пантокрин у складі комплексного лікування хронічної хвороби нирок
Authors: Kolomiychuk N.O.
Published: September 2016

Подана динаміка перебігу хронічної хвороби нирок у 25 хворих з урахуванням ефективності застосування препарату пантокрин. У дослідженні брали участь пацієнти з хронічною хворобою нирок від І до V стадії різної нозології. Тривалість дослідження — 8 тижнів, ефективність лікування оцінювалась на кожному тижні лікування. Критерії оцінки ефективності: зменшення загальної слабкості, втомлюваності, виснаженості, посилення відчуття наповненості життям та енергії. Згідно з отриманими даними, ефективність застосування препарату пантокрин у комплексному лікуванні спостерігається з першого тижня лікування. Після восьми тижнів лікування, згідно з даними критеріями ефективності, 20 % пацієнтів взагалі не відчували загальної слабкості, 40 % відчували незначну загальну слабкість, 28 % пацієнтів не відчували втомлюваності та виснаженості, 40 % пацієнтів більшість часу відчували присутність енергії та наповненість життям. Крім того, деякі пацієнти помітили зменшення відчуття тривоги, пригніченості та депресії; пацієнти, схильні до гіпотонії, відзначали нормалізацію артеріального тиску. Препарат пантокрин рекомендовано включати в схему лікування пацієнтів із хронічною хворобою нирок.
Система гемостазу та її регуляція при порушенні функціональної здатності нирок
Authors: Melnyk O.O.
Published: September 2016

При різних порушеннях функціонування нирок спостерігається зміна системи гемостазу, що може проявлятися у вигляді тромбозів або кровотеч. У цих процесах беруть участь ендотелій судин, тромбоцити, плазмові білки систем згортання і протизгортання. Для корекції порушень гемостазу в уремічних пацієнтів при гіперкоагуляції застосовується антитромботична терапія (антикоагулянти, антиагреганти), а при кровотечах — десмопресин, кріопреципітат, кон’юговані естрогени, рекомбінантний еритропоетин людини, трансфузія еритроцитів. Рекомендується алгоритм дослідження системи гемостазу, при використанні якого можливо адекватно призначити терапію залежно від тромбоемболічних або геморагічних ускладнень.
Glomus tumor - a case report
Authors: Stosic Momcilo , Stojanovic Igor , Lalic Marija
Published: September 2016

Introduction. Glomus tumor is a neuromyoarterial tumor. It is a rare tumor
which accounts for about 2% of all hand tumors. The diagnosis is based on the
triad of symptoms, clinical examination which includes three tests, magnetic
resonance imaging, and ultrasound imaging. The most common treatment is
surgical excision, using transungual or lateral subperiosteal approach.
Sclerotherapy and radiotherapy may be the treatments of choice, but they are
less effective. The recurrence rate is high - from 5% to 50%. Case Outline.
We diagnosed a glomus tumor of 1 cm in diameter in the distal phalanx of the
fourth finger of the right hand in a 30-year-old woman. She had been visiting
different physicians for more than two years and had been variously
diagnosed. We performed a biopsy of the tumor, which was bleeding profusely
during the procedure. Upon biopsy results, the tumor was excised with
transungual approach. Two and a half months after the procedure the patient
was feeling well. Conclusion. There should be higher awareness of this tumor
in order to diagnose it more easily and treat it accordingly, and thus
alleviate the severe pain which the tumor causes. When it is considered as
the possible cause of the lesion, the diagnosing is easier and treatment is
immediate.
Allogeneic fetal stem cell transplantation to child with psychomotor retardation: A case report
Authors: Dajic Katerina , Velickovic Vesna , Djurdjevic Predrag , Simovic Aleksandra , Stojkovic Andjelka
Published: September 2016

Introduction. The consequences of autologous and allogeneic stem cell
transplantation (stem cells of hematopoiesis), applied in adults and children
suffering from leukemia or some other malignant disease, are well-known and
sufficiently recognizable in pediatric clinical practice regardless of the
indication for the treatment. However, the efficacy of fetal stem cell
transplantation is unrecognizable when the indications are psychomotor
retardation and epilepsy. Case Outline. With the exception of neurological
psychiatric problems, a boy aged 9.5 years was in good general health before
transplantation with allogeneic fetal stem cells. The main aim of allogeneic
fetal stem cell transplantation was treatment of psychomotor retardation and
epilepsy. After 13 months of treatment, he was admitted to hospital in a very
serious, life-threatening condition due to sepsis and severe pleuropneumonia.
The humoral immunity in the boy was adequate, unlike cellular immunity. The
immune imbalance in terms of predominance of T-suppressor lymphocytes
contributes to delayed and late development of sepsis and severe
pleuropneumonia. The boy still shows the same severity of psychomotor
retardation, dyslalia, epilepsy, strabismus and amblyopia. Conclusion.
Implementation of fetal stem cell therapy for unconfirmed indications abuses
the therapeutic approach, harms patients, misleads parents, and brings
financial harm to the healthcare system of any country, including Serbia.
Fuel poverty and perception on housing and environmental quality in Belgrade’s informal settlement Kaludjerica
Authors: Bajic Tanja , Petric Jasna , Nikolic Teodora
Published: September 2016

Informal development is a specific form of urban sprawl and one of the main
challenges for the sustainable development of major cities in Serbia. In this
paper we examine this phenomenon with regard to the influence of spatial and
urban vulnerabilities of the informal settlements on the housing and
environmental deprivation, especially in the context of inhabitants?
vulnerability to fuel poverty. The empirical research was carried out on the
example of Belgrade?s suburban settlement Kaludjerica. The statistical
analysis of the results has shown that the observed energy characteristics of
housing have no relevant influence on households? financial burden of energy
expenditure, but that they considerably influence households? perception on
thermal comfort. The relation between a limited access to public services and
the lack of amenities in the settlement and noted high household expenditure
on transport has proved to be a particularly important indicator. Based on
the perception on overall life commodities, a poor quality of the environment
has been recognized as a key factor of deprivation related to housing.
Participatory engagement in urban design process: The case of an urban settlement in Malta
Authors: Bianco Lino
Published: September 2016

Public participation in urban design matters goes beyond public consultation,
a useful tool which is being reduced to endorsement of documents prepared by
bureaucrats in national development planning agencies. Effective engagement
of the public at an early design stage is useful for having a socio-economic
and environmental sustainable urban design. Based on a case study from Malta,
this paper provides insight on how residents are the prime movers of an urban
planning issue involving the re-development of the site where their
residences are located. Through fieldwork surveys and interviews with the
residents, data of the site and the surrounding environs was collected. The
design team mapped and interpreted the findings. In light of the results
derived and taking cognizance of the concerns of the general public and
national developmental and environmental planning policies, an urban design
proposal was prepared. The resultant layout was a co-designed solution of the
team with the residents in full respect not only of existing socio-economic
realities of the community but also of the natural environs, the geophysical
context of the site. Furthermore, although more compact than the present, the
proposed layout is more environmentally sensitive and socio-economically
sustainable.
Time- and Temperature-Varying Activation Energies: Isobutane Selective Oxidation to Methacrolein over Phosphomolybdic Acid and Copper(II) Phosphomolybdates
Authors: Brown Trevor , Miron David , Brown Susannah , Kendell Shane
Published: September 2016

The selective oxidation energetics of isobutane to methacrolein over phosphomolybdic acid and copper(II) phosphomolybdates have been investigated using low-pressure, pseudo-steady-state and temperature-programming techniques. Time-varying flexible least squares methods were used to determine variations in oxidation activation energies as the temperature increases at 5 °C·min−1. Catalyst activity stabilizes by the fourth consecutive temperature-programmed run. Rate parameters increase linearly with temperature in two sinusoidal, oscillating wave packets. For H3PMo12O40, three distinct reaction pathways are apparent in the fourth run with activation energies 76 ± 3, 93 ± 7 and 130 ± 3 kJ·mol−1, and under these experimental conditions are observed at the optimum temperatures 704 ± 7 K, 667 ± 25 K and 745 ± 7 K, respectively. Over the copper-containing catalysts, two pathways are apparent: 76 ± 3 kJ·mol−1 at 665 ± 9 K and 130 ± 3 kJ·mol−1 at 706 ± 9 K. The three activation energies indicate either different reaction pathways leading to methacrolein or distinct active sites on the catalyst surface. The intermediate activation energy, 93 kJ·mol−1, only observed over phosphomolybdic acid, may be linked to hydrogen bonding. Differences in optimum temperatures for the same activation energies for H3PMO12O40 and for the copper catalysts indicate that compensating entropy changes are smaller over H3PMo12O40. The inclusion of copper enhances catalyst stability and activity.
Keratins Are Altered in Intestinal Disease-Related Stress Responses
Authors: Helenius Terhi , Antman Cecilia , Asghar Muhammad , Nyström Joel , Toivola Diana
Published: September 2016

Keratin (K) intermediate filaments can be divided into type I/type II proteins, which form obligate heteropolymers. Epithelial cells express type I-type II keratin pairs, and K7, K8 (type II) and K18, K19 and K20 (type I) are the primary keratins found in the single-layered intestinal epithelium. Keratins are upregulated during stress in liver, pancreas, lung, kidney and skin, however, little is known about their dynamics in the intestinal stress response. Here, keratin mRNA, protein and phosphorylation levels were studied in response to murine colonic stresses modeling human conditions, and in colorectal cancer HT29 cells. Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-colitis was used as a model for intestinal inflammatory stress, which elicited a strong upregulation and widened crypt distribution of K7 and K20. K8 levels were slightly downregulated in acute DSS, while stress-responsive K8 serine-74 phosphorylation (K8 pS74) was increased. By eliminating colonic microflora using antibiotics, K8 pS74 in proliferating cells was significantly increased, together with an upregulation of K8 and K19. In the aging mouse colon, most colonic keratins were upregulated. In vitro, K8, K19 and K8 pS74 levels were increased in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in HT29 cells. In conclusion, intestinal keratins are differentially and dynamically upregulated and post-translationally modified during stress and recovery.
Fractal Aspects in Classical Parallel Computing
Authors: Craus Mitică , Bîrlescu Vlad-Sergiu , Agop Maricel
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we prove that many parallel communication topologies and several parallel algorithms have fractal properties, which leads to the idea that there is a strong connection between the classical parallel computing and a plausible computing on a fractal medium. Furthermore, we show that some parallel algorithms are suitable for incursive and hyperincursive computation, which links parallel computing to quantum computing and a possible fractal computing.
Design of Light-Weight High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Feng Rui , Gao Michael , Lee Chanho , Mathes Michael , Zuo Tingting , Chen Shuying , Hawk Jeffrey , Zhang Yong , Liaw Peter
Published: September 2016

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a new class of solid-solution alloys that have attracted worldwide attention for their outstanding properties. Owing to the demand from transportation and defense industries, light-weight HEAs have also garnered widespread interest from scientists for use as potential structural materials. Great efforts have been made to study the phase-formation rules of HEAs to accelerate and refine the discovery process. In this paper, many proposed solid-solution phase-formation rules are assessed, based on a series of known and newly-designed light-weight HEAs. The results indicate that these empirical rules work for most compositions but also fail for several alloys. Light-weight HEAs often involve the additions of Al and/or Ti in great amounts, resulting in large negative enthalpies for forming solid-solution phases and/or intermetallic compounds. Accordingly, these empirical rules need to be modified with the new experimental data. In contrast, CALPHAD (acronym of the calculation of phase diagrams) method is demonstrated to be an effective approach to predict the phase formation in HEAs as a function of composition and temperature. Future perspectives on the design of light-weight HEAs are discussed in light of CALPHAD modeling and physical metallurgy principles.
Deformation Study of Lean Methane-Air Premixed Spherically Expanding Flames under a Negative Direct Current Electric Field
Authors: Li Chao , Wu Xiaomin , Li Yiming , Hou Juncai
Published: September 2016

This paper compares numerical simulations with experiments to study the deformation of lean premixed spherically expanding flames under a negative direct current (DC) electric field. The experiments, including the flame deformation and the ionic distribution on the flame surface were investigated in a mesh to mesh electric field. Besides, a numerical model of adding an electric body force to the positive ions on the flame surface was also established to perform a relevant simulation. Results show that the spherical flame will acquire an elliptical shape with a marked flame stretch in the horizontal direction and a slight inhibition in the vertical direction under a negative DC electric field. Meanwhile, a non-uniform ionic distribution on the flame surface was also detected by the Langmuir probe. The simulation results from the numerical model show good agreement with experimental data. According to the velocity field analysis in simulation, it was found the particular motion of positive ions and neutral molecules on the flame surface should be responsible for the special flame deformation. When a negative DC electric field was applied, the majority of positive ions and colliding neutral molecules will form an ionic flow along the flame surface by a superposition of the electric field force and the aerodynamic drag. The ionic flow was not uniform and mainly formed on the upper and lower sides, so it will lead to a non-uniform ionic distribution along the flame surface. What’s more, this ionic flow will also induce two vortexes both inside and outside of the flame surface due to viscosity effects. The external vortexes could produce an entraining effect on the premixed gas and take away the heat from the flame surface by forced convection, and then suppress the flame propagation in the vertical direction, while, the inner vortexes would scroll the burned zones and induce an inward flow at the horizontal center, which could be the reason for the pitted structure at the horizontal center when a high voltage was applied.
A Study on Applicability of Distributed Energy Generation, Storage and Consumption within Small Scale Facilities
Authors: Rodríguez-Molina Jesús , Martínez José-Fernán , Castillejo Pedro
Published: September 2016

Distributed generation and storage of energy, conceived as one of the prominent applications of the Smart Grid, has become one of the most popular ways for generation and usage of electricity. Not only does it offer environmental advantages and a more decentralized way to produce energy, but it also enables former consumers to become producers (thus turning them into prosumers). Alternatively, regular power production and consumption is still widely used in most of the world. Unfortunately, accurate business models representations and descriptive use cases for small scale facilitates, either involved in distributed energy or not, have not been provided in a descriptive enough manner. What is more, the possibilities that electricity trade and its storage and consumption activities offer for small users to obtain profits are yet to be addressed and offered to the research community in a thorough manner, so that small consumers will use them to their advantage. This paper puts forward a study on four different business models for small scale facilities and offers an economical study on how they can be deployed as a way to offer profitability for end users and new companies, while at the same time showing the required technological background to have them implemented.
Quantifying Tree and Soil Carbon Stocks in a Temperate Urban Forest in Northeast China
Authors: Lv Hailiang , Wang Wenjie , He Xingyuan , Xiao Lu , Zhou Wei , Zhang Bo
Published: September 2016

Society has placed greater focus on the ecological service of urban forests; however, more information is required on the variation of carbon (C) in trees and soils in different functional forest types, administrative districts, and urban-rural gradients. To address this issue, we measured various tree and soil parameters by sampling 219 plots in the urban forest of the Harbin city region. Averaged tree and soil C stock density (C stocks per unit tree cover) for Harbin city were 7.71 (±7.69) kg C·m−2 and 5.48 (±2.86) kg C·m−2, respectively. They were higher than those of other Chinese cities (Shenyang and Changchun), but were much lower than local natural forests. The tree C stock densities varied 2.3- to 3.2-fold among forest types, administrative districts, and ring road-based urban-rural gradients. In comparison, soil organic C (SOC) densities varied by much less (1.4–1.5-fold). We found these to be urbanization-dependent processes, which were closely related to the urban-rural gradient data based on ring-roads and settlement history patterns. We estimated that SOC accumulation during the 100-year urbanization of Harbin was very large (5 to 14 thousand tons), accounting for over one quarter of the stored C in trees. Our results provide new insights into the dynamics of above- and below-ground C (especially in soil) during the urbanization process, and that a city’s ability to provide C-related ecosystem services increases as it ages. Our findings highlight that urbanization effects should be incorporated into calculations of soil C budgets in regions subject to rapid urban expansion, such as China.
How Time since Forest Fire Affects Stand Structure, Soil Physical-Chemical Properties and Soil CO2 Efflux in Hemiboreal Scots Pine Forest Fire Chronosequence?
Authors: Köster Kajar , Köster Egle , Orumaa Argo , Parro Kristi , Jõgiste Kalev , Berninger Frank , Pumpanen Jukka , Metslaid Marek
Published: September 2016

We compared the changes in aboveground biomass and initial recovery of C pools and CO2 efflux following fire disturbances in Scots pine (Pinus sylvesteris L.) stands with different time since stand-replacing fire. The study areas are located in hemiboreal vegetation zone, in north-western Estonia, in Vihterpalu. Six areas where the last fire occurred in the year 1837, 1940, 1951, 1982, 1997, and 2008 were chosen for the study. Our results show that forest fire has a substantial effect on the C content in the top soil layer, but not in the mineral soil layers. Soil respiration showed a chronological response to the time since the forest fire and the values were lowest in the area where the fire was in the year 2008. The respiration values also followed seasonal pattern being highest in August and lowest in May and November. The CO2 effluxes were lowest on the newly burned area through the entire growing season. There was also a positive correlation between soil temperature and soil respiration values in our study areas.
Evolutionary Game between Commensal and Pathogenic Microbes in Intestinal Microbiota
Authors: Wu Amy , Ross David
Published: September 2016

The human intestinal microbiota plays a fundamental role in host health and is associated with many diseases when the homeostasis is disturbed. Although recent achievements in metagenomic sequencing have begun to reveal the variety of microbial composition associated with healthy and disease states, species-specific interactions and systematic dynamics still pose a great challenge to resolve the complexity of human microbiota. Using Clostridium difficile infection in human intestinal microbiota as an example, we apply evolutionary game theory to gain a fundamental understanding of the phenotypic variability and dynamic progression of microbiota. Here, microbiota dynamics are determined by the frequency-dependent fitness of each phenotypic population in the presence of the others. More specifically, the fitness is a function of phenotypic composition of the microbiota. We show how the phenotypic variability of microbiota can be explained by game theoretical approach. Knowledge of this study provides a new perspective in administrating antibiotic when dealing with pathogenic invasion. Instead of solely targeting to pathogens, therapies should aim at the whole ecosystem by reducing the fitness of pathogens compared to that of commensal microbes. In this case, the system will eradicate the pathogens by itself.
Polymorphisms in Long Noncoding RNA H19 Contribute to the Protective Effects of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis in a Chinese Population
Authors: Wu Qiuyun , Yan Weiwen , Han Ruhui , Yang Jingjin , Yuan Jiali , Ji Xiaoming , Liu Yi , Ni Chunhui
Published: September 2016

The H19 is a kind of long noncoding RNA, which has been implicated in multiple biological functions. However, the associations between genetic variants in H19 and susceptibility of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) have been seldom reported. In the present study, three potential polymorphisms (rs2067051, rs217727, and rs2839702) in H19 were genotyped in a case-control study including 703 CWP cases and 705 controls. We found that individuals with the H19 rs2067051 CT/TT genotypes showed a decreased risk of CWP compared with those with the CC genotype (adjusted OR = 0.64, 95%CI = 0.49–0.83, p = 0.001). Further stratified analyses revealed that the associations between variant genotypes of rs2067051 and the risk of CWP were more prominent in subjects of non-smokers (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95%CI = 0.39–0.79, p = 0.001) and CWP patients with Stage I (adjusted OR = 0.63, 95%CI = 0.46–0.86, p = 0.004). Additionally, the protective effects of H19 rs2067051 were also evident in coal miners both with dust exposure years <25 years (adjusted OR = 0.63, 95%CI = 0.42–0.95, p = 0.026) and ≥25 years (adjusted OR = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.40–0.80, p = 0.001). Our results indicated that rs2067051 in the H19 gene is correlated with a deceased risk of CWP in a Chinese population, which may be a potential genetic marker for prevention and intervention of CWP. Further functional studies are warranted to validate our findings.
Do They Need Goals or Support? A Report from a Goal-Setting Intervention Using Physical Activity Monitors in Youth
Authors: Bronikowski Michal , Bronikowska Malgorzata , Glapa Agata
Published: September 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity (PA) and different goal setting and strategies in youth. The study took into consideration different sources of support as well as gender variations. Classmate and Teacher Support scales were used to evaluate support in physical education (PE) classes, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was reported. Garmin Vivofit® activity trackers were used during an 8 week-long intervention to count daily steps. Data was collected from 65 adolescents (mean age 17.2 ± 0.2), 74 young adolescents (mean age 15.3 ± 0.2) and 57 children (mean age 11.5 ± 0.4). An experimental design was employed, with “goal” and “do your best” groups given different step goal strategies. The results show that both groups achieved a comparable number of steps. Two-way ANOVA showed interactional effects between gender and teacher support. There were no such effects for MVPA and number of steps. Although classmate support in PE was reported to be reasonably high, the findings show that it does not play a significant role in increasing MVPA behaviors in youths. However, the problem of significantly lower support given to adolescent girls by PE teachers should be embedded into the teaching context of PE students and counteracted in school setting realities.
Kinase Signaling in Apoptosis Induced by Saturated Fatty Acids in Pancreatic β-Cells
Authors: Šrámek Jan , Němcová-Fürstová Vlasta , Kovář Jan
Published: September 2016

Pancreatic β-cell failure and death is considered to be one of the main factors responsible for type 2 diabetes. It is caused by, in addition to hyperglycemia, chronic exposure to increased concentrations of fatty acids, mainly saturated fatty acids. Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis induction by saturated fatty acids in β-cells are not completely clear. It has been proposed that kinase signaling could be involved, particularly, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), protein kinase C (PKC), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and Akt kinases and their pathways. In this review, we discuss these kinases and their signaling pathways with respect to their possible role in apoptosis induction by saturated fatty acids in pancreatic β-cells.
Testosterone-Mediated Endocrine Function and TH1/TH2 Cytokine Balance after Prenatal Exposure to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate: By Sex Status
Authors: Zhong Shou-Qiang , Chen Zan-Xiong , Kong Min-Li , Xie Yan-Qi , Zhou Yang , Qin Xiao-Di , Paul Gunther , Zeng Xiao-Wen , Dong Guang-Hui
Published: September 2016

Little information exists about the evaluation of potential developmental immunotoxicity induced by perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a synthetic persistent and increasingly ubiquitous environmental contaminant. To assess potential sex-specific impacts of PFOS on immunological health in the offspring, using male and female C57BL/6 mice, pups were evaluated for developmental immunotoxic effects after maternal oral exposure to PFOS (0.1, 1.0 and 5.0 mg PFOS/kg/day) during Gestational Days 1–17. Spontaneous TH1/TH2-type cytokines, serum levels of testosterone and estradiol were evaluated in F1 pups at four and eight weeks of age. The study showed that male pups were more sensitive to the effects of PFOS than female pups. At eight weeks of age, an imbalance in TH1/TH2-type cytokines with excess TH2 cytokines (IL-4) was found only in male pups. As for hormone levels, PFOS treatment in utero significantly decreased serum testosterone levels and increased estradiol levels only in male pups, and a significant interaction between sex and PFOS was observed for serum testosterone at both four weeks of age (pinteraction = 0.0049) and eight weeks of age (pinteraction = 0.0227) and for estradiol alternation at four weeks of age (pinteraction = 0.0351). In conclusion, testosterone-mediated endocrine function may be partially involved in the TH1/TH2 imbalance induced by PFOS, and these deficits are detectable among both young and adult mice and may affect males more than females.
Cancer Salivary Biomarkers for Tumours Distant to the Oral Cavity
Authors: Rapado-González Óscar , Majem Blanca , Muinelo-Romay Laura , López-López Rafa , Suarez-Cunqueiro María
Published: September 2016

The analysis of saliva as a diagnostic approach for systemic diseases was proposed just two decades ago, but recently great interest in the field has emerged because of its revolutionary potential as a liquid biopsy and its usefulness as a non-invasive sampling method. Multiple molecules isolated in saliva have been proposed as cancer biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, drug monitoring and pharmacogenetic studies. In this review, we focus on the current status of the salivary diagnostic biomarkers for different cancers distant to the oral cavity, noting their potential use in the clinic and their applicability in personalising cancer therapies.
Characterization of Post-Translational Modifications to Calsequestrins of Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Lewis Kevin , Munske Gerhard , Byrd Samuel , Kang Jeehoon , Cho Hyun-Jai , Ríos Eduardo , Kang ChulHee
Published: September 2016

Calsequestrin is glycosylated and phosphorylated during its transit to its final destination in the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum. To determine the significance and universal profile of these post-translational modifications to mammalian calsequestrin, we characterized, via mass spectrometry, the glycosylation and phosphorylation of skeletal muscle calsequestrin from cattle (B. taurus), lab mice (M. musculus) and lab rats (R. norvegicus) and cardiac muscle calsequestrin from cattle, lab rats and humans. On average, glycosylation of skeletal calsequestrin consisted of two N-acetylglucosamines and one mannose (GlcNAc2Man1), while cardiac calsequestrin had five additional mannoses (GlcNAc2Man6). Skeletal calsequestrin was not phosphorylated, while the C-terminal tails of cardiac calsequestrin contained between zero to two phosphoryls, indicating that phosphorylation of cardiac calsequestrin may be heterogeneous in vivo. Static light scattering experiments showed that the Ca2+-dependent polymerization capabilities of native bovine skeletal calsequestrin are enhanced, relative to the non-glycosylated, recombinant isoform, which our crystallographic studies suggest may be due to glycosylation providing a dynamic “guiderail”-like scaffold for calsequestrin polymerization. Glycosylation likely increases a polymerization/depolymerization response to changing Ca2+ concentrations, and proper glycosylation, in turn, guarantees both effective Ca2+ storage/buffering of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and localization of calsequestrin (Casq) at its target site.
Part and Parcel of the Cardiac Autonomic Nerve System: Unravelling Its Cellular Building Blocks during Development
Authors: Végh Anna , Duim Sjoerd , Smits Anke , Poelmann Robert , Ten Harkel Arend , DeRuiter Marco , Goumans Marie , Jongbloed Monique
Published: September 2016

The autonomic nervous system (cANS) is essential for proper heart function, and complications such as heart failure, arrhythmias and even sudden cardiac death are associated with an altered cANS function. A changed innervation state may underlie (part of) the atrial and ventricular arrhythmias observed after myocardial infarction. In other cardiac diseases, such as congenital heart disease, autonomic dysfunction may be related to disease outcome. This is also the case after heart transplantation, when the heart is denervated. Interest in the origin of the autonomic nerve system has renewed since the role of autonomic function in disease progression was recognized, and some plasticity in autonomic regeneration is evident. As with many pathological processes, autonomic dysfunction based on pathological innervation may be a partial recapitulation of the early development of innervation. As such, insight into the development of cardiac innervation and an understanding of the cellular background contributing to cardiac innervation during different phases of development is required. This review describes the development of the cANS and focuses on the cellular contributions, either directly by delivering cells or indirectly by secretion of necessary factors or cell-derivatives.
R-Phycoerythrin Induces SGC-7901 Apoptosis by Arresting Cell Cycle at S Phase
Authors: Tan Huixin , Gao Shiyong , Zhuang Yan , Dong Yanhong , Guan Wenhui , Zhang Kun , Xu Jian , Cui Jingru
Published: September 2016

R-Phycoerythrin (R-PE), one of the chemical constituents of red algae, could produce singlet oxygen upon excitation with the appropriate radiation and possibly be used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer. Documents reported that R-PE could inhibit cell proliferation in HepG2 and A549 cells, which was significative for cancer therapy. This is due to the fact that R-PE could kill cancer cells directly as well as by PDT. However, little is known about the cytotoxicity of R-PE to the SGC-7901 cell. In this study, it has been found that R-PE could inhibit SGC-7901 proliferation and induce cell apoptosis, which was achieved by arresting the SGC-7901 cell at S phase. CyclinA, CDK2 and CDC25A are proteins associated with the S phase, and it was found that R-PE could increase the expression of cyclin A protein and decrease the expression of CDK2 and CDC25A proteins. Thus, it was concluded that R-PE reduced the CDK2 protein activated through decreasing the CDC25A factor, which reduced the formation of Cyclin-CDK complex. The reduction of Cyclin-CDK complex made the SGC-7901 cells arrest at the S phase. Therefore, R-PE induced apoptosis by arresting the SGC-7901 cell at S phase was successful, which was achieved by the expression of the CDC25A protein, which reduced the CDK2 protein actived and the formation of Cyclin-CDK complex.