bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure Lightweight Optimization of Truck Axle on Fatigue Failure
Authors: Kezhi Ling Hu , Gao Feng Ying , Li Xiao Lin , Zhang Da Wei , Xiao Bao Liang
Published: March 2018

Struck axle is a critical component of truck that bears the auto-body weight and load weight. Fatigue life safety is the primary consideration in the design process of axle. With the development of environmental protection concept of energy saving and emission reduction, lightweight design of vehicles becomes more and more urgent. It has been becoming a mainstream trend for design to ensure both safety and significantly reduce the weight of axle. Based on the basic truck axle structure design, revised designs with thickness-reduced were proposed to reduce the weight of truck axle .Both basic and modified design were modeled using Abaqus 3D software to calculate the stress and strain contours in the case of vertical load and axial torque, then fatigue life contours of models for each load case were calculated with the help of Brown-Miner biaxial fatigue theory. It was shown by the research that topology-optimization of truck axle, under a premise of qualified fatigue life and stiffness required by customers, can reduce the weight of two kinds of truck axles by 15.3% and 18.1% respectively.
Upgrading the Ti/TiN Film Depositions on KP-1 Steel by Using the Anode Ring Bias Voltage
Authors: Hwang Un Hak
Published: March 2018

By newly adopting of a two-step bias voltage-sustained nitrification of the plasma process the titanium nitride films which applied to the mold base steel KP-1 are manufactured. The two-step process of biased voltages was introduced in order to consider microscopic kinematics of Ti ion bombardments which lead to a deep study on the plasmas including surface temperature of substrates associated with nitrification the KP-1 surface. For supplying of the additional biased voltage to the conventional coater, an anode-biased ring was installed near the plasma source and it ultimately upgraded the typical method of physical vapor depositions which uniquely adopted one bias voltage applied to the substrates because the additional ring controlled both ions and electrons effectively in order to improve surface smoothness and to increase surface hardness with various values of surface temperatures of substrate and deposition times. The discharge ionic current of titanium flux was measured as functions of both the ring bias voltage and the substrate voltage using single probe. By using plasma physics for the two-step bias voltages the discrete mean-free-times, due to cyclonic motions of ions by magnetic field, were studied to show the effects of two bias voltages. The maximal hardness increase of Ti/TiN films deposited on KP-1 was 370% when the surface temperature was 370 °C, the substrate bias voltage of 800volts, and the deposition time was 55 minutes after ring bias was applied. The 2000 times-magnified cross-sectional morphologies of TiN films deposited on the carbon mold base KP-1 were taken as a function of the ring anode bias. The 1000 times-magnified photograph of the TiN-filmed surface deposited on KP-1 mold base was taken to investigate the surface morphology. In order to examine the two-step bias test with respect to both the corrosion problem and the surface hardness, the 2000 times-magnified morphological photograph of a cross-sectional Ti/TiN film which was deposited on the KP-1steel mold was taken.
Preparation and Catalytic Performance of the Porous Polysulfone Microspheres Enabled by Immobilized Ionic Liquids for Esterification
Authors: Zhao Yong Dong , Zhao Zhi Ping , Li Shuo , Lu Peng
Published: March 2018

Chloromethylated polysulfone (PSF-Cl) porous microspheres were prepared with non-solvent induced phase inversion method for the immobilization of acidic ionic liquid ([MIMBS][HSO4]). FT-IR, SEM, and 1H-NMR were used to characterize the structure and property of polysulfone porous microsphere supported ionic liquid (PSF-ILs). The results showed that acidic ionic liquid was supported onto the PSF-Cl porous microspheres by covalent bond. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited a good catalytic activity with about 57% acetic acid conversion rate after 8h reaction. After the catalyst was reused for 7 times in the synthesis of ethyl acetate, the yield only decreased 6%.
Application and Research of High Molecular Carboxylates in Desulphurization System of Thermal Power Plant
Authors: Kang Yan Chang , Li Bing , Zhang Qi Long
Published: March 2018

The main components of polymer carboxyl group are introduced.The effects of macromolecular carboxyl groups on the limestone-gypsum wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system of coal-fired power plants in China were studied by test method. The results showed that the macromolecular carboxyl groups can accelerate the chemical absorption of SO2 under the action of active agents and crystallization agents, improve the desulfurization efficiency of about 2%, and shorten the limestone ablation time of more than 40%, catalytic calcium sulfite oxidation of calcium sulfate.
Effects of Zr on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 6061 Alloys
Authors: Tzeng Yu Chih
Published: March 2018

This study discusses how the addition of trace amounts of Zr (0.15 wt%) affect the microstructure and change the mechanical properties of 6061 alloys. The results show that adding a trace amount of Zr can refine the grains thereby enhancing the alloy’s hardness and mechanical properties after aging heat treatment. After thermal exposure at 250°C, alloys without Zr displayed a reduction of mechanical properties because the metastable Mg2Si strengthening phase grew into the coarse β-Mg2Si equilibrium phase during the thermal exposure, while the alloys with Zr displayed a plentiful precipitation of the Al3Zr phase, which effectively hindered the movement of dislocations and thus improved their mechanical properties.
Numerical Simulation of Extrusion Molding of Single - Hole Propellant
Authors: Zhu Chun Jiu , Nan Feng Qiang , Liang Yi
Published: March 2018

In order to improve the simulation accuracy of single hole nitroguanidine propellant extrusion molding process, the influence of wall slip on the extrusion process was studied. The finite element method was used to simulate the extrusion forming of single pore nitroguanidine. The power law constitutive equation considering the effect of wall slip was constructed to calculate the slip factor and non-Newtonian index , the influence of the slip coefficient on the pressure field, velocity field and shear velocity field in the flow channel were analyzed. compared with the actual results, the error of the middle aperture is 1.37%, the arc thickness error is 0.96% and the outer diameter error is 1.12%.Those errors are less then 1.5%. So, the simulation results basically meet the production needs.
Determination of Fracture Toughness of PMMA under Impact Loading Using Izod Impact Tester
Authors: Pokasawat Poorichaya , Poapongsakorn Piyamon
Published: March 2018

The aim of this study is to develop a new test method for determining dynamic fracture toughness of brittle material using the izod impact tester. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is used in this study. Test setup and load calibration methods are proposed. The proposed method can be successfully used to determine near-mode I fracture toughness under dynamic load. The effects of notch tip preparation and specimen thickness are also studied and discussed. Stress intensity factor at maximum load (Kmax) is determined based on a numerical simulation. It is found that the notch preparation method has a minimal effect on total fracture energy, except in the case of saw notch. Moreover, fracture toughness increases with increasing of specimen thickness.
Synthesis and Characterization of Porous NiO/YSZ Electrode Materials Using Different Pore Formers
Authors: Imperial James Francis L. , Cervera Rinlee Butch M.
Published: March 2018

Solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) cathodes require a good porosity and a fine microstructure in order to maximize the triple phase boundary (TPB) between electronic conductor, ionic conductor and the gas phase involved in the reaction. Nickel oxide and yttria stabilized zirconia (NiO/YSZ) composite, one of the most desired candidates for SOEC cathode material, is synthesized via the glycine-nitrate combustion process and mixed with corn starch and carbon black pore formers in order to observe how they modify its microstructure and porosity. XRD spectra indicate a distinct cubic phases of both NiO and YSZ. SEM micrographs were able to confirm that the addition of selected pore formers lead to an increase in porosities. Apparent and relative density measurements show that corn starch pore former produces the lowest density among the sintered pellets. EIS measurements revealed that samples with lower density also showed lower total conductivity.
Synthesis, Structure and Transport Properties of Novel Chlorine-Doped Perovskite Based on Ba2CaNbO5.5
Authors: Tarasova Nataliia , Animitsa Irina , Galisheva Anzhelika
Published: March 2018

The chlorine-doped complex oxide Ba2CaNbO5.475Cl0.05based on barium calcium niobate was synthesized using the solid state method. It was found that the introduction of chloride ions leads to the increase of the cell volume. Structure and electrical properties have been investigated. Electrical conductivities were measured by varying the temperature in dry (pH2O=3.5·10-5atm) and wet (pH2O=2·10-2atm) air. The composition Ba2CaNbO5.475Cl0.05is capable to dissociative dissolution of water vapor and can exhibit proton transport. Chlorine doping increases the conductivity of matrix compound Ba2CaNbO5.5, the difference between un-and chlorine-doped samples is up to one order of magnitude at low temperatures.
Preparation of Porous LSM/YSZ Composite with Varying Grain Size of YSZ Precursor Using Solid State Reaction Method
Authors: Avila Romar Angelo M. , Tambago Trina G. , Cervera Rinlee Butch M.
Published: March 2018

Lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite is a promising material as an anode for solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) applications. In this study, LSM/YSZ with a 1:1 LSM to YSZ weight ratio was synthesized via solid state reaction method using oxide precursors of commercial micrograined size LSM with varying YSZ precursor grain size. For the YSZ precursor, both nanograined (nanoYSZ) and micrograined YSZ (microYSZ) precursors were studied. Graphite was added at 10% weight ratio as a pore former. Density measurements using Archimedes principle revealed that LSM/nanoYSZ had the highest relative density of 97.8%, whereas LSM/nanoYSZ with graphite had the lowest density of 89.1%. The addition of graphite to LSM/nanoYSZ reduced the density by 8.7% compared to the decrease of 5.5% for LSM/microYSZ. Scanning electron microscopy confirms that the addition of graphite has a greater effect on the microstructure of LSM/nanoYSZ as compared to LSM/microYSZ. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results show that the samples with nanoYSZ had a higher total conductivity than the samples with microYSZ. LSM/nanoYSZ and LSM/nanoYSZ with graphite revealed a total conductivity values of 0.0470 Scm-1and 0.0440 Scm-1at 700 °C with activation energies of 0.0178 eV and 0.0234 eV, respectively.
Experimental Evaluation of Cold Forging Lubricants Using Double-Cup-Extrusion-Tests
Authors: Lorenz Robby , Hagenah Hinnerk , Merklein Marion
Published: March 2018

Cold forging processes enable the economical production of high quality components like joints, shafts and gears. The manufactured parts are characterized by improved properties such as hardness, surface quality and fatigue strength. For manufacturing components using cold forging, a comprehensive knowledge regarding the cold forging procedure and its process parameters is needed. One important influencing factor, which needs to be analyzed to use the potential of this kind of processes, is the tribological system, especially the used lubricant. The tribological conditions significantly influence the material flow and thus the workpiece quality. Furthermore, resource efficient and environmentally benign metal forming processes became very important within the last decade. The present study evaluates the resulting tribological conditions and their differences for various cold forging lubricants with and without a zinc phosphate based lubricant carrier. The lubricants are based on molybdenum disulphide, polymers, or both inorganic salts and waxes. The tribological conditions of the different lubricants are investigated using the Double-Cup-Extrusion-Test (DCET) as a laboratory friction test.
IFN Regulatory Factor 2 Inhibits Expression of Glycolytic Genes and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Proinflammatory Responses in Macrophages
Authors: Cui Huachun , Banerjee Sami , Guo Sijia , Xie Na , Liu Gang
Published: March 2018

Rapid initiation and timely resolution of inflammatory response in macrophages are synergistic events that are known to be equally critical to optimal host defense against pathogen infections. However, the regulation of these processes, in particular by a specific cellular metabolic program, has not been well understood. In this study, we found that IFN regulatory factor 2 (IRF2) underwent an early degradation in a proteasome-mediated pathway in LPS-treated mouse macrophages, followed by a later recovery of the expression via transactivation. We showed that IRF2 was anti-inflammatory in that knockdown of this protein promoted the production of LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators. Mechanistically, although IRF2 apparently did not target the proximal cytoplasmic signaling events upon LPS engagements, it inhibited HIF-1α–dependent expression of glycolytic genes and thereby cellular glycolysis, sequential events necessary for the IRF2 anti-inflammatory activity. We found that macrophages in endotoxin tolerant state demonstrated deficiency in LPS-augmented glycolysis, which was likely caused by failed downregulation of IRF2 and the ensuing upregulation of the glycolytic genes in these cells. In contrast to observations with LPS, knockdown of IRF2 decreased IL-4–induced macrophage alternative activation. The pro–IL-4 activity of IRF2 was dependent on KLF4, a key mediator of the alternative activation, which was transcriptionally induced by IRF2. In conclusion, our data suggest that IRF2 is an important regulator of the proinflammatory response in macrophages by controlling HIF-1α–dependent glycolytic gene expression and glycolysis. This study also indicates IRF2 as a novel therapeutic target to treat inflammatory disorders associated with dysregulations of macrophage activations.
The management of diabetic ketoacidosis at a rural regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal
Authors: Ndebele Nontobeko F.M. , Naidoo Mergan
Published: March 2018

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a biochemical triad of hyperglycaemia, ketoacidosis and ketonaemia and one of the potentially life-threatening acute metabolic complications of diabetes mellitus. This study aimed at describing the clinical profile of patients presenting with DKA to a busy rural regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: A retrospective review of clinical notes of patients presenting with DKA to the Emergency Department was performed over a 10-month period. Data included patients’ demographic profile, clinical presentation, precipitating factors, comorbidities, biochemical profile, length of hospital stay and outcome.Results: One hundred and five black South African patients above the age of 12 years were included in the study. Sixty-four (60.95%) patients had type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and 41 (39.05%) patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients with T2DM were significantly older than those with T1DM (52.1 ± 12.4 years vs. 24.4 ± 9.5 years, p < 0.0001). The acute precipitant was identified in 68 (64.76%) cases with the commonest precipitant in T1DM patients being poor adherence to treatment, whereas in T2DM, the most common precipitant was infection. Nausea and vomiting were the most common presenting symptoms with the majority of patients presenting with non-specific symptoms. Fifty-seven (54.29%) cases had pre-existing comorbidities, with higher prevalence in T2DM than T1DM patients. Glycated haemoglobin was severely elevated in the majority of patients. Patients remained hospitalised for an average of 8.9 ± 7.5 days. The mortality rate was 17.14%, and 12 of the 18 deaths occurred in patients with T2DM.Conclusion: The prevalence of DKA was higher in patients with T1DM and those with pre-existing comorbidities. The mortality rate remains alarmingly high in older patients with T2DM.
Density forecasting for long-term electricity demand in South Africa using quantile regression
Authors: Mokilane Paul , Galpin Jacky , Yadavalli V.S. Sarma , Debba Provesh , Koen Renee , Sibiya Siphamandla
Published: March 2018

Background: This study involves forecasting electricity demand for long-term planning purposes. Long-term forecasts for hourly electricity demands from 2006 to 2023 are done with in-sample forecasts from 2006 to 2012 and out-of-sample forecasts from 2013 to 2023. Quantile regression (QR) is used to forecast hourly electricity demand at various percentiles. Three contributions of this study are (1) that QR is used to generate long-term forecasts of the full distribution per hour of electricity demand in South Africa; (2) variabilities in the forecasts are evaluated and uncertainties around the forecasts can be assessed as the full demand distribution is forecasted and (3) probabilities of exceedance can be calculated, such as the probability of future peak demand exceeding certain levels of demand. A case study, in which forecasted electricity demands over the long-term horizon were developed using South African electricity demand data, is discussed. Aim: The aim of the study was: (1) to apply a quantile regression (QR) model to forecast hourly distribution of electricity demand in South Africa; (2) to investigate variabilities in the forecasts and evaluate uncertainties around point forecasts and (3) to determine whether the future peak electricity demands are likely to increase or decrease. Setting: The study explored the probabilistic forecasting of electricity demand in South Africa. Methods: The future hourly electricity demands were forecasted at 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, … , 0.99 quantiles of the distribution using QR, hence each hour of the day would have 99 forecasted future hourly demands, instead of forecasting just a single overall hourly demand as in the case of OLS. Results: The findings are that the future distributions of hourly demands and peak daily demands would be more likely to shift towards lower demands over the years until 2023 and that QR gives accurate long-term point forecasts with the peak demands well forecasted. Conclusion: QR gives forecasts at all percentiles of the distribution, allowing the potential variabilities in the forecasts to be evaluated by comparing the 50th percentile forecasts with the forecasts at other percentiles. Additional planning information, such as expected pattern shifts and probable peak values, could also be obtained from the forecasts produced by the QR model, while such information would not easily be obtained from other forecasting approaches. The forecasted electricity demand distribution closely matched the actual demand distribution between 2012 and 2015. Therefore, the forecasted demand distribution is expected to continue representing the actual demand distribution until 2023. Using a QR approach to obtain long-term forecasts of hourly load profile patterns is, therefore, recommended.
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Electronic Health Records
Authors: Aronsky Dominik , Prodinger Birgit , Maritz Roxanne
Published: March 2018

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is the World Health Organization’s standard for describing health and health-related states. Examples of how the ICF has been used in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have not been systematically summarized and described yet.

Objectives: To provide a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature about the ICF’s use in EHRs, including related challenges and benefits.

Methods: Peer-reviewed literature, published between January 2001 and July 2015 was retrieved from Medline®, CINAHL®, Scopus®, and ProQuest® Social Sciences using search terms related to ICF and EHR concepts. Publications were categorized according to three groups: Requirement specification, development and implementation. Information extraction was conducted according to a qualitative content analysis method, deductively informed by the evaluation framework for Health Information Systems: Human, Organization and Technology-fit (HOT-fit).

Results: Of 325 retrieved articles, 17 publications were included; 4 were categorized as requirement specification, 7 as development, and 6 as implementation publications. Information regarding the HOT-fit evaluation framework was summarized. Main benefits of using the ICF in EHRs were its unique comprehensive perspective on health and its interdisciplinary focus. Main challenges included the fact that the ICF is not structured as a formal terminology as well as the need for a reduced number of ICF codes for more feasible and practical use.

Conclusion: Different approaches and technical solutions exist for integrating the ICF in EHRs, such as combining the ICF with other existing standards for EHR or selecting ICF codes with natural language processing. Though the use of the ICF in EHRs is beneficial as this review revealed, the ICF could profit from further improvements such as formalizing the knowledge representation in the ICF to support and enhance interoperability.

Citation: Maritz R, Aronsky D, Prodinger B. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Electronic Health Records. Appl Clin Inform 2017; 8: 964–980 https://doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2017050078
The Effect of Strain Localization on Galvanic Corrosion Pitting in AA7050
Authors: Nicolas Andrea , Mello Alberto W. , Sangid Michael D.
Published: March 2018

Corrosion is the primary failure mechanism for sea-based structures, as it plays an important role in material degradation and structural integrity. The localized corrosion behavior is affected by the micromechanics and the electrochemistry of the material; however, there are very limited studies where both mechanisms are studied jointly, let alone relative to microstructural attributes, i.e., at the mesoscale. High-resolution strain maps are created on pre-loaded AA7050 in the transverse-short orientation via digital image correlation to identify strain accumulation with respect to the microstructure. Afterward, this material is subjected to a galvanic corrosion environment. In order to investigate the driving force for localized corrosion, the microstructure, the cathodic particles, the localized strain, and the evolution of surface topology caused by corrosion pitting are spatially characterized in the region of interest. The evolution of the corroded surface is tracked every 24 h throughout the 20 d of corrosion that the material was immersed in 0.6 M NaCl solution. Specifically, three representative sized cathodic particles are monitored throughout the corrosion study, to identify their evolution of pitting before and after the particles fallout from contact with the matrix. Finally, the relationship between strain and localized galvanic corrosion is quantitatively investigated using Gaussian process modeling to identify the underlying correlations. The results show that localized strains within ±3σ of the macroscopic residual strain do not affect the corrosion rate of the material; however, extreme values beyond that threshold associated with the cracking of the particle itself seem to heavily promote the growth of localized galvanic corrosion.
Wavenumber-4 structures observed in the low-latitude ionosphere during low and high solar activity periods using FORMOSAT/COSMIC observations
Authors: Onohara Amelia Naomi , Batista Inez Staciarini , Batista Paulo Prado
Published: March 2018

Abstract. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the four-peak structure observed in the low-latitude equatorial ionosphere by the FORMOSAT/COSMIC satellites. Longitudinal distributions of NmF2 (the density of the F layer peak) and hmF2 (ionospheric F2-layer peak height) averages, obtained around September equinox periods from 2007 to 2015, were submitted to a bi-spectral Fourier analysis in order to obtain the amplitudes and phases of the main waves. The four-peak structure in the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere was present in both low and high solar activity periods. This kind of structure possibly has tropospheric origins related to the tidal waves propagating from below that modulate the E-region dynamo, mainly the eastward non-migrating diurnal tide with wavenumber 3 (DE3, E for eastward). This wave when combined with the migrating diurnal tide (DW1, W for westward) presents a wavenumber-4 (wave-4) structure under a synoptic view. Electron densities observed during 2008 and 2013 September equinoxes revealed that the wave-4 structures became more prominent around or above the F-region altitude peak (∼  300–350 km). The four-peak structure remains up to higher ionosphere altitudes (∼  800 km). Spectral analysis showed DE3 and SPW4 (stationary planetary wave with wavenumber 4) signatures at these altitudes. We found that a combination of DE3 and SPW4 with migrating tides is able to reproduce the wave-4 pattern in most of the ionospheric parameters. For the first time a study using wave variations in ionospheric observations for different altitude intervals and solar cycle was done. The conclusion is that the wave-4 structure observed at high altitudes in ionosphere is related to effects of the E-region dynamo combined with transport effects in the F region.
Paleomagnetic constraints on the timing and distribution of Cenozoic rotations in Central and Eastern Anatolia
Authors: Gürer Derya , van Hinsbergen Douwe J. J. , Özkaptan Murat , Creton Iverna , Koymans Mathijs R. , Cascella Antonio , Langereis Cornelis G.
Published: March 2018

Abstract. To quantitatively reconstruct the kinematic evolution of Central and Eastern Anatolia within the framework of Neotethyan subduction accommodating Africa–Eurasia convergence, we paleomagnetically assess the timing and amount of vertical axis rotations across the Ulukışla and Sivas regions. We show paleomagnetic results from ∼ 30 localities identifying a coherent rotation of a SE Anatolian rotating block comprised of the southern Kırşehir Block, the Ulukışla Basin, the Central and Eastern Taurides, and the southern part of the Sivas Basin. Using our new and published results, we compute an apparent polar wander path (APWP) for this block since the Late Cretaceous, showing that it experienced a ∼ 30–35° counterclockwise vertical axis rotation since the Oligocene time relative to Eurasia. Sediments in the northern Sivas region show clockwise rotations. We use the rotation patterns together with known fault zones to argue that the counterclockwise-rotating domain of south-central Anatolia was bounded by the Savcılı Thrust Zone and Deliler–Tecer Fault Zone in the north and by the African–Arabian trench in the south, the western boundary of which is poorly constrained and requires future study. Our new paleomagnetic constraints provide a key ingredient for future kinematic restorations of the Anatolian tectonic collage.
Diagnosing ice sheet grounding line stability from landform morphology
Authors: Simkins Lauren M. , Greenwood Sarah L. , Anderson John B.
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Ice sheet grounding lines not only define where an ice sheet flux meets and interacts with the ocean, but also represent sedimentary environments, where an upstream sediment flux reaches the ice sheet margin. Landforms that form at the grounding lines hold the potential to reveal the nature of the processes that govern this dynamic and potentially vulnerable environment. Here we analyse a large dataset (n = 6,275) of grounding line landforms mapped on the western Ross Sea continental shelf from high-resolution geophysical data. Their morphometric properties divide the population into two distinct morphotypes: recessional moraines (consistently narrow, closely spaced, low amplitude, symmetric, and straight), and grounding zone wedges (broad, widely spaced, higher amplitude, asymmetric, sinuous, and highly variable). Landforms transition abruptly between morphotypes, both spatially along a continuous grounding line position and temporally within a retreat sequence. We find minimal effect of water depth or topography on the production of one landform or the other, and find no conclusive evidence for morphology being determined by the presence or absence of an ice shelf. Instead, we find that both sediment supply to the grounding line and the time for which a grounding line is occupied are important in determining the resultant landform morphology. The development of grounding zone wedge asymmetry through sediment progradation representing longevity of a grounding line position ("stable"), while the development of sinuosity due in part to basal meltwater flushing of sediment through grounding line embayments is linked with large magnitude retreat events ("unstable"). We find that while longer duration grounding line positions form grounding zone wedges and are destabilised in the form of larger magnitude retreat, short-lived grounding line positions manifest as recessional moraines back-step with small magnitude retreat events. These two resulting retreat styles appear to reflect differences in sensitivity to processes that control grounding line retreat both in space and time.
The Perils of Pain: Applying Primary Prevention to Combat Canada's Opioid Crisis
Authors: Lofft Zoe
Published: March 2018

The development and promotion of the pain reliever OxyContin marks a dark chapter in modern healthcare, leaving lasting impact. Following the introduction of the drug in 1996 by Purdue Pharma, it became popularized among prescribers due to the company’s unsupported assurance of its safety and efficacy. OxyContin has been highly profitable for Purdue but has resulted in dangerous health side effects, most notably chronic addiction. In addition, the increasing prevalence of opioid addiction exacerbates health and societal problems like illicit drug use, especially the abuse of other opioids like heroine and fentanyl. The ramifications of the opioid crisis extend beyond individual health problems, causing social issues, economic burden and political tensions as well. In response to this, the Canadian National Advisory Committee on Prescription Drug Misuse created the “First Do No Harm” strategy, focusing on prevention, education, treatment, monitoring and surveillance. Although these strategies have been applied with some success, opioid-related deaths and costs continue to grow in Canada. A primary preventative approach that focuses on using epidemiological data to reduce opioid access is thought to be an important part of ongoing strategies. Primary prevention will assist in improving the health of Canadians, mitigate future opioid-related healthcare costs and ultimately contribute toward stopping their ongoing distribution. In doing so, the future Canadian healthcare landscape, families and patients alike may be spared the collateral damage opioids cause.
Evolutionary GEM: Evolution of Lactase Persistence
Authors: Du Xinghan (Hill) , Gray Patricia M.
Published: March 2018

Though humans are known to lose lactase ability post-weaning, some people maintain lactase production into adulthood, a condition known as lactase persistence. Global distribution patterns of lactase persistency are inconsistent; the condition is much more prevalent in some populations than others. Using results across independent studies, the existence of such a phenomenon can be attributed to positive selection on ancestral pastoralist populations. Two different hypotheses explain this positive selection: milk-independent economies, and colonic bacteria adaption.
Del Cosmos al Caosmos en la reapropiación actual del Barroco. Una nueva normatividad para afrontar la crisis epocal
Authors: Sáez Rueda Luis
Published: March 2018

El ensayo pretende iluminar la crisis actual, tal y como ha sido diagnosticada por insignes corrientes del pensamiento europeo contemporáneo, desde la óptica del Barroco, especialmente el hispano. El autor defiende que una de las figuras fundamentales de lo barroco es la que llama diferencia aporética infinita. Según ello, el Barroco comprende al mundo como un conjunto de diferencias que se enlazan aporéticamente tendiendo al infinito. Esta figura se muestra, al mismo tiempo, como un operador crítico respecto a la realidad, una realidad que ha perdido su configuración pre-moderna como Cosmos. Sostiene también el autor que en su proyección actual la figura de la diferencia aporética infinita adopta la forma de una nueva normatividad, la del Caosmos, especialmente visible en el postestructuralismo y en el neobarroco iberoamericano. Ello permite distinguir dos modos de afrontamiento de la crisis actual. El caosmótico sería propio de una comprometida trans-modernidad fuerte, que contrasta con la evasiva postmodernidad débil. Tal problemática es investigada, finalmente, desde el punto de vista de la sutil heroicidad barroca y de su sombra en el presente.
La teoría del amor en el pensamiento de Ortega a la altura de 1914. Claves ético-filosóficas y antropológicas de “Meditaciones del Quijote"
Authors: De Haro Honrubia Alejandro
Published: March 2018

Este artículo científico tiene como principal objetivo ofrecer las claves ético-filosóficas y antropológicas de Meditaciones del Quijote (1914). Para lograr tal fin, recurriremos a la teoría del amor que Ortega, siguiendo toda una tradición, elabora y que vertebra su primera gran obra. Ortega meditó, y mucho, sobre el amor. El eterno insatisfecho, como Ortega define el amor en Estudios sobre el amor (1941) recorre sus páginas desde sus inicios hasta el final de su producción, pues no en vano Ortega fue un filósofo, siendo para él la filosofía, como ya aclara desde 1914, la ciencia general del amor; dentro del globo intelectual representa el mayor ímpetu hacia una omnímoda conexión. Justificamos la elaboración de este trabajo en el hecho de que su reflexión sobre el amor y también el odio no se ha estudiado atendiendo a la teoría ético-filosófica y antropológica contenida en Meditaciones del Quijote, en el contexto de la cual Ortega dialoga con autores como Sócrates o Platón, Spinoza, Nietzsche o Scheler. Nos ocuparemos asimismo de las interferencias político-sociales de su meditación sobre el amor en la España de la Restauración.
Litter and Soil Carbon Stock in Cultivated and Natural Area of Intergrated Forest for Conservation Education of Wan Abdul Rachman Great Forest Park
Authors: Ellannia Leoni Dellta , Setiawan Agus , Niswati Ainin
Published: March 2018

Intergrated Forest for Conservation Education of Wan Abdul Rachman (IFCE WAR) Great Forest Park is a conservation forest zone which has natural area and cultivated area.  The natural area in Wan Abdul Rachman Great Forest Park consists of secondary forest, whereas the cultivated area consists of agroforestry with cacao plants and agroforestry with coffee plants. The different land use in both areas caused the difference in carbon sink specifically in litter and soil. The research was aimed to study the difference of litter and soil carbon stock in natural and cultivated area in IFCE WAR Great Forest Park.  The observation plots included in the current study was determined using purposive sampling method. The research was conducted in June until August 2015. Data was analyzed using analysis of variance and continued with honestly significant difference test. The results showed that there was no difference of litter carbon stock in cultivated area and natural area in IFCE WAR Great Forest Park, whereas the soil carbon stock in natural area was higher than that in cultivated area.
A Cross-Cultural Interview Study of Singaporean and US General Music Teachers’ “Pedagogical Creativity”
Authors: Abramo Joseph Michael , Tan Leonard
Published: March 2018

In this qualitative interview study, we explored the “pedagogical creativity”—the creativity teachers employ in their generation and execution of curricula and instruction—of veteran and novice general music teachers from the United States and Singapore. We prompted participants, 10 from each country, to articulate their underlying philosophies through semistructured interviews. The teachers discussed (a) a diversity of ways they were flexible; (b) varying degrees of embracing and incorporating ambiguity into their teaching; (c) forming novel associative bonds to create curricula, including incorporating the nonmusical identities of themselves and their students into the classroom; and (d) the ways teacher evaluation and policy mandates did or did not affect their teaching. Findings indicated that the veteran teachers were better able to articulate their processes and had more experiences to draw upon. The teachers from the United States and Singapore differed in their attitudes toward incorporating other subject areas into their teaching, but little on all other aspects of pedagogical creativity. We discuss implications to provide a fuller understanding of how teachers and teacher educators may nurture pedagogical creativity.
Animal Research Is an Ethical Issue for Humans as Well as for Animals
Authors: Archibald Kathy
Published: March 2018

Animals are used in biomedical research to study disease, develop new medicines, and test them for safety. As the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics’ review Normalising the Unthinkable acknowledges, many great strides in medicine have involved animals. However, their contribution has not always been positive. Decades of attempts to develop treatments for diseases including asthma, cancer, stroke, and Alzheimer’s using animals have failed to translate to humans, leaving patients with inadequate treatments or without treatments at all. As Normalising the Unthinkable points out, we have to confront the fact that animal research may have hindered progress, at least in some respects. For example, animal tests have been shown to have very little ability to predict the safety of medicines for human patients. A dramatic illustration of this failing is TGN1412, which almost killed 6 clinical trial volunteers in 2006, after crab-eating macaques showed the drug to be safe, even at massive doses. This failing contributes to adverse drug reactions, which are now one of the world’s leading causes of death, killing hundreds of thousands of people every year and hospitalizing millions. A revolution in science and technology has produced a new generation of more relevant and predictive tools, which could be used to create safer medicines more quickly and at less cost: a win-win situation that should be supported by everyone. The obstacle preventing this from happening is governments’ continued insistence on animal testing. Yet the evidence is clear that reliance on animals as surrogate humans puts patients at risk, can delay medical progress, and can cause effective treatments to be wrongly discarded. There is a compelling case to be made that animal research is an ethical issue for humans as well as for animals.
Do increasing prices affect food deprivation in the European Union?
Authors: García-Germán Sol , Bardají Isabel , Garrido Alberto
Published: March 2018

The rise of prices of agricultural commodities in global markets during 2007-2012 was followed by increased consumer food prices around the world. More expensive food may have an impact on consumer food access and thus on their welfare, not only in developing countries but also amongst the most vulnerable in developed countries. Using a longitudinal database from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions and population-averaged models, we tested whether increasing food prices had an impact on household food deprivation in 26 European Union (EU) member states. Results revealed a significant relationship between food deprivation and the consumer food price index and disposable income. Households in the lowest income quintile in the member states recently acceded to the EU were the most vulnerable to food deprivation. Results also showed that low-income households in densely populated areas were more vulnerable to food deprivation. This should be taken into account when evaluating food assistance programmes that focus on the segments of the population most at risk of food deprivation.
The relationship between feed efficiency, growth and group dominance dynamics in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
Authors: Gomez-Raya Luis , Rauw Wendy M. , Cabaleiro Santiago , Caamaño Rubén , Garcia-Cortes L. Alberto , Kause Antti
Published: March 2018

Variation among families of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) in growth, feed efficiency, and body weight variation was investigated. A total of 672 turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) originating from eight families (84 full-sibs per family) were used in this experiment. Body weight (BW) was recorded individually four times between approximately 250 and 370 days of age. Feed intake was measured for each tank during the three corresponding time periods. Feed efficiency was estimated for each tank based on the calculations of residual feed intake (RFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The within-tank coefficient of variation in body weight (CV-BW) and residual body weight variation (RBWV) were calculated to evaluate group dominance dynamics. Components of variation attributable to families were estimated from linear and quadratic random regression orthogonal polynomials. The random quadratic family component explained 14% (RFI), 22% (FCR), 76% (BW), 50% (CV-BW), and 45% (RBWV) of the total variance. The family components were significant for BW, CV-BW and RBWV (p<0.001), and was very close to significance for FCR (p=0.052). The correlation between the intercept (grand mean) of RFI and FCR was highly significant (r=0.94). Intercepts of RFI and FCR were positively correlated with CV-BW and RBWV (r=0.09 to 0.12), however, the correlations were not significant. The results indicate differences between families in FCR, which may be used in selection programs aimed at improving feed efficiency.
Olive fruit detachment force against pulling and torsional stress
Authors: Castillo-Ruiz Francisco J. , Tombesi Sergio , Farinelli Daniela
Published: March 2018

Olive harvesting often requires high hand labour, considering that workers, with long poles or hand held devices, aid trunk shaker due to low harvesting efficiency. Currently, fruit detachment force (FDF) and fruit fresh weight were used to predict harvesting efficiency, although during harvesting process, fruit is subjected to bending and twisting movement besides pulling forces simulated by FDF measurements. For these reasons, the aim of the present study was to determine FDF evolution under different stalk twisting angles. In order to provide more information about mechanical behaviour of olive stalk, a trial was carried out during ripening process on four olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars: Frantoio, Arbequina, Leccino and Maurino. FDF under traction force was measured after applying different stalk twisting angles (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°, 360°, 540°, 720º). FDF was considered to be 0 when fruit was detached from the bearing branch during the twisting process. Fruit weight, firmness, ripeness index and oil content were also measured to determine the optimal period for olive harvesting and olive ripening stage at each sampling date. FDF was significantly reduced, usually over 180º, when stalk was rotated before applying the pull force to measure FDF, keeping differences along fruit ripening process. Moreover, stalk twisting was an important variable for olive detachment, considering that fruits detached without pulling forces varied between 10.7 and 58.8% of the total fruits according with the different sampling dates. For these reasons, present and future harvesting systems, should take advantage of stalk susceptibility against torsion or bending strain to increase harvesting efficiency.
The Application of Fluid Dynamics to Probability States in Superfluid Spacetime
Authors: Cantor Jerome
Published: March 2018

The possibility that spacetime has the characteristics of a superfluid suggests that the relationship between velocity and time may be modeled in terms of percolation theory, where time dilation corresponds to increasing fluid viscosity. By equating superfluid percolation through a porous medium to conductance in a random resistor network, it was previously shown that the Lorentz factor corresponds to a probability function describing a phase transition to normal fluid. The current paper discusses how this novel linkage of momentum, time, and probability may provide a means of resolving conflicts between quantum mechanics and relativity theory.
The Students’ Error in Using Conjunction (Because, Since, as, in Case) in the Sentences
Authors: Pangaribuan Tagor , Haddina Elisa , Manik Sondang
Published: March 2018

This research deals with the students’ error in using conjunction (because, since, as, in case) in the sentences. Conjunction is very important for the learners to develop a skill in grammar. And grammar is the most important part of language for anyone. Should be first understood before being able to construct sentences, rules based on the grammar of language are used to express a certain idea represented in a sentence. By understanding the grammatical rules, the sentences can be arranged to produce the desired meaning. The objective of the study are to find out the students’ difficulties in using subordinate conjunction and to find out the causes of the students’ problems in using subordinate conjunction. Finding of the study expected to provide information for the improvement of teaching conjunction. In addition the findings and description would be of some use for the teachers in teaching conjunction. The outcomes would be useful in minimizing the difficulties in teaching conjunctions. The data of this research were the scores of the students based on the number of items that they hard correctly. A test was administered to collect the data; the research was helped by the classroom English teacher. Based on the value of standard reliability, the result of reliability of the test is 0.97; it means that the value of the standard reliability of test is very good. It was shown that students made more errors working with items numbers 5,6,9,10,14, and 15 the total frequency of errors were 237 all items. It means that the second students of Senior High School, SMK Swasta HKBP Pematangsiantar good errors in using subordinate conjunction (as, in, case, because, since) in the sentence (complex sentences).
Do Open-Minded Student Teachers Have More Favorable Attitudes Towards Different Dimensions of Heterogeneity?
Authors: Syring Marcus , Tillmann Teresa , Weiss Sabine , Kiel Ewald
Published: March 2018

The present study aims at investigating student teachers’ attitudes towards heterogeneity, which represent one part of teachers’ profession and determine future teacher action. Particularly, it addresses research gaps regarding the relationship between attitudes and personality traits such as the Big Five, which are also important in the field of teacher professionalism. Through confirmatory factor analysis, the validity of an existing measurement instrument of attitudes was verified in a sample with 294 student teachers. Personality traits represented significant predictors of some of the attitudes measured, but were only able to explain relatively little variance. Practical implications for teacher training are discussed.