bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
History of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) and Its Use for Spinal Cord Injury Repair
Authors: Walker Melissa J. , Xu Xiao-Ming
Published: June 2018

Following an initial mechanical insult, traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) induces a secondary wave of injury, resulting in a toxic lesion environment inhibitory to axonal regeneration. This review focuses on the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its application, in combination with other factors and cell transplantations, for repairing the injured spinal cord. As studies of recent decades strongly suggest that combinational treatment approaches hold the greatest therapeutic potential for the central nervous system (CNS) trauma, future directions of combinational therapies will also be discussed.
Magnetic MOF for AO7 Removal and Targeted Delivery
Authors: Zhan Xue-Qing , Yu Xiao-Yan , Tsai Fang-Chang , Ma Ning , Liu Huan-Li , Han Yu , Xie Lei , Jiang Tao , Shi Dean , Xiong Yan
Published: June 2018

Owing to their high surface area and porosity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been gradually employed for a myriad of applications ranging from sensing, pollutant adsorption, and drug delivery to environmental remediation and catalysis. Magnetic nanoparticles-metal-organic frameworks (MMOFs) hybrid materials can facilitate facile removal of MOFs from solutions. In this report, we report the synthesis of Fe3O4@UiO-66 by encapsulation and simulated the drug loading and release by studying the adsorption and release of AO7. Thus, we loaded these MMOFs with AO7 and found that they were able to trigger and control its release by simply applying an external magnetic field. The magnetic field heats the magnets in the MOF, which causes the load to burst from the framework.
Clay Mineral Suites in Submarine Mud Volcanoes in the Kumano Forearc Basin, Nankai Trough: Constraints on the Origin of Mud Volcano Sediments
Authors: Ijiri Akira , Iijima Koichi , Tsunogai Urumu , Ashi Juichiro , Inagaki Fumio
Published: June 2018

Clay mineralogy is an important characteristic of mud volcano sediments. This study determined the clay mineral compositions of sediment from two submarine mud volcanoes in the Kumano forearc basin, Nankai Trough, by X-ray diffraction analysis. Similar compositions dominated by smectite in the two mud volcanoes indicate that the mud volcanoes in the basin are rooted in the same source sequence. These clay mineral compositions differed from those in Pleistocene basin sediment, suggesting that the mud volcano sediment originated beneath the Pleistocene sediment. The illite content in the illite–smectite mixed layer averaged 32% in the mud volcano sediment, which implies that the sediment experienced temperatures above 60 °C that promoted the smectite-to-illite transformation. However, porewater extracted from the mud volcano sediment had Cl‒ concentrations roughly half that of seawater and proportional enrichment in 18O and depletion in D, indicating that dehydration reactions of clay minerals had previously occurred in a deeply buried sedimentary layer. The smectite and illite contents (<60%) in the clay-size fraction rule out in situ smectite dewatering as the cause of the dilution of Cl‒ in porewater. Thus, fluids derived from clay dewatering must have originated from deeper than the source of the mud volcano sediment.
On the Use of JMAK Theory to Describe Mechanical Amorphization: A Comparison between Experiments, Numerical Solutions and Simulations
Authors: Blázquez Javier S. , Manchón-Gordón Alejandro F. , Ipus Jhon J. , Conde Clara F. , Conde Alejandro
Published: June 2018

The kinetics of amorphization during ball milling is generally analyzed using two different approaches: the classical Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) theory and Delogu and Cocco’s model for which a region deterministically transforms after it reaches a certain number of collisions. The application of JMAK analysis to the latter model predicts Avrami exponents to be higher than the experimental ones (typically close to one). We develop simulations based on the probabilistic character of the nucleation phenomenon and concave growth of the amorphous phase in the core of a nanocrystal. The predictions of our simulations are in good agreement with the low Avrami exponents and with the size evolution of the remaining crystallites found experimentally. From these values, the parameters involved in the simulated model (growth rate and probability of nucleation) can be estimated.
Tensile Creep Characterization and Prediction of Zr-Based Metallic Glass at High Temperatures
Authors: Wang Gang , Pan Daoyuan , Shi Xinying , Huttula Marko , Cao Wei , Huang Yongjiang
Published: June 2018

The high temperature creep behaviors of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) are studied by uniaxial tensile creep experiments under applied stresses of 50–180 MPa at temperatures of 660–700 K. The microstructural observations of the BMG samples after creep tests show that crystalline phases can be detected under high temperature or high applied stress. Constitutive models for predicting the high temperature creep behaviors of the studied Zr-based BMG are established based on the θ projection method. The creep activation energy and stress exponent are also calculated to establish the creep model. The parameters of the established models are found to be closely associated with the applied stress and temperature. The results show an excellent agreement between the measured and predicted results, confirming the validity of the established model to accurately estimate the high temperature creep curves for the Zr-based BMG. Moreover, based on the classical diffusion creep theory, a schematic model is proposed to describe the creep behaviors of BMGs from the framework of free volume theory.
Sustainable Land Use, Soil Protection and Phosphorus Management from a Cross-National Perspective
Authors: Stubenrauch Jessica , Garske Beatrice , Ekardt Felix
Published: June 2018

The scarcity of phosphorus (P) is a global concern that is not restricted to western industrialized nations. Until now, most countries in the world are highly dependent on importing mineral P fertilizers for agriculture. The industrialized nation of Germany, the emerging economy of Costa Rica, and the developing country of Nicaragua are examined with regard to their legislation in the field of environmental protection and agriculture, in particular with regard to soil protection and fertilizer law. Based on the structure of agriculture in each country, control weaknesses in legislation in the individual countries, which is largely determined by command-and-control law, are identified and compared. It becomes clear that soil protection in all three countries has not yet been adequately standardised in law and at the same time the efficient use of organic or recycled P fertilizers instead of (finite) mineral P fertilizers is inadequately regulated. In particular, frugality, i.e., the strategy of lower (and not only more efficient) consumption of P fertilizers, has so far played no regulatory role in land-use governance.
Reuse of Animal Manure: A Case Study on Stakeholders’ Perceptions about Pelletized Compost in Northwestern Italy
Authors: Pampuro Niccolò , Caffaro Federica , Cavallo Eugenio
Published: June 2018

The present study aimed at investigating perceptions and preferences about the use and the chemical characteristics of pellets made from composted animal manure in a sample of Italian farmers and agricultural advisors (Piedmont region, Northwestern Italy). The study encompassed two different steps: At first, the participants were administered a questionnaire about their actual use of pellets and preferences about their chemical characteristics. Then, a subgroup participated into a hands-on experience with different pelletized animal manures and some final questions. Concerning the use of pellets made from composted animal manure, even if the participants affirmed to be interested in using organic pellets and declared to own the appropriate equipment needed for their application, the results indicated that pelletized compost utilization had not yet become a common practice for agricultural crops. The obtained results highlighted a lack of knowledge, especially among farmers, about the importance of some chemical properties of this pelletized organic material. The participants, both farmers and advisors, were particularly attracted by the total nitrogen content of organic pelletized fertilizers, probably because the supplying of nutrients, nitrogen particularly, is the function of fertilizers they were interested in the most due to its direct connection with crop production. The hands-on session allowed the participants to better understand the benefits of the principal chemical properties—organic matter and carbon to nitrogen ratio—of pelletized animal manure compost. On the other hand, organic matter content and carbon to nitrogen ratio, more related with biological fertility and biodiversity of soils, are immediately less interesting and, as the hands-on experience pointed out, require more effort to be appreciated by agricultural operators. Targeted information campaigns and training activities may be developed among the agricultural community to make them aware of the importance of increasing soil organic matter content, and the possible use of pelletized composted animal manure. Further studies should be addressed toward gaining more insights into the beneficial effects of the information and training activities for pelletized compost adoption.
Pet Food as the Most Concrete Strategy for Using Food Waste as Feedstuff within the European Context: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Castrica Marta , Tedesco Doriana E. A. , Panseri Sara , Ferrazzi Giovanni , Ventura Vera , Frisio Dario G. , Balzaretti Claudia M.
Published: June 2018

Food loss and waste have a negative environmental impact due to the water, land, energy and other natural resources used to produce the wasted food, along with post-consumption disposal costs. Reducing food waste will thus help improve sustainability and decrease the environmental impact of the food system. Using food waste for animal feed is of growing importance in terms of the policies targeted at tackling food waste but the current legal framework in the European Union (EU) strongly restricts the possibility of using food waste for this purpose. The aim of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of innovative measures for feed production in the EU and to identify the best strategies to implement them. First, a technical evaluation of a case study is presented, which is a process developed in the United States for urban food waste transformation into animal feed. Second, there is an analysis of the potential application of this process in the European Union within the current legal framework. The results reveal that the feed product derived from food waste is compliant with EU safety requirements and is nutritionally valuable. This work also suggests that the implementation of this kind of process in the European Union has great potential, provided that food surplus is recovered and treated before it turns into waste and that the different types of food surplus identified are used as feed for the right animal type in accordance with European legislation (i.e., livestock, aquarium fish, pets). On these terms, pet food can be the most concrete strategy for using food waste within the European context. In general, the implementation of feed-from-food measures to reduce food waste in Europe is already possible and does not need to wait for further policy interventions.
How to Improve Sustainable Competitive Advantage from the Distributor and the Supplier Networks: Evidence from the Paper-Making Industry in China
Authors: Wang Haifeng , Han Pengfei , Liu Weishu
Published: June 2018

Confronted with urgent green requirements from customers and government, firms in high pollution and high resource-consuming industries must make changes and adopt green strategies as well as knowledge-management strategies to develop and sell green products to improve sustainable competitive advantage. To study how to leverage social networks to improve sustainable competitive advantage, our article sheds light on the effects of structural holes in the distributor network as well as in the supplier network and explores how mutual trust could moderate the impact of structural holes in both networks. Based on data from 122 matched pairs of suppliers and distributors of a high-pollution and high-resource-consuming industry, the Chinese paper-making industry, our empirical results demonstrate the positive effects of structural holes in the distributor and the supplier networks on the distributor sustainable competitive advantage. In addition, mutual trust could negatively moderate the relationship between structural holes in the distributor network and the distributor sustainable competitive advantage, but would positively moderate the relationship between structural holes in the supplier network and the distributor sustainable competitive advantage.
Socially-Inclusive Development and Value Creation: How a Composting Project in Galicia (Spain) ‘Hit the Rocks’
Authors: Swagemakers Paul , Dominguez Garcia Maria Dolores , Wiskerke Johannes S. C.
Published: June 2018

This paper introduces the concept of commoning in circular economies, and explores how commons reproduce over time. The starting point is that commoning can have an important role in fostering circular economies and sustainable and socially-inclusive development. By commoning, we refer to local stakeholders working collectively to preserve or restore their natural resource base to generate benefits that are locally shared. Through the analysis of a specific case of a group of commoners’ associations in Galicia (Spain), the paper describes and discusses the development, and ultimate unravelling, of an innovative and decentralized waste management project to convert waste biomass from the monte (often-neglected upland green spaces, largely consisting of brush and trees) into compost. In order to make this composting project economically viable the possibility of collecting and processing urban green waste was also explored. While the project’s application of the principles of a circular economy had the potential to bring locally-shared economic and ecological benefits, and foster territorial prosperity and resilience, it was ultimately frustrated by questions of scale, administrative and regulatory barriers, competing and conflicting land-use claims and financial cutbacks in the public sector.
Optimum Size Selection of CHP Retrofitting in Existing UK Hotel Building
Authors: Rotimi Abdulazeez , Bahadori-Jahromi Ali , Mylona Anastasia , Godfrey Paulina , Cook Darren
Published: June 2018

Several studies have highlighted Combine Heat and Power (CHP) systems to be one of the proven and reliable technologies that can improve the efficiency of heat and electricity generation. The extensive adoption of this type of technology is crucial in reducing building emissions globally and in the U.K. This work uses a dynamic simulation software to evaluate the effect of CHP on the energy performance of an existing U.K. hotel and subsequently an approach to aid in the selection of optimum CHP size. The outcome of the study indicated that CHP systems in hotel buildings can provide considerable economic and environmental benefits with either maximally-sized CHP founded on the building’s base heat demand or with reduced CHP size of more than 50% smaller than the estimated maximum size. The optimum size design can be obtained through evaluation of the relationship between the main performance parameters and their variation with CHP sizes.
Synthesis of trifluoromethylated 2H-azirines through Togni reagent-mediated trifluoromethylation followed by PhIO-mediated azirination
Authors: Sun Jiyun , Zhen Xiaohua , Ge Huaibin , Zhang Guangtao , An Xuechan , Du Yunfei
Published: June 2018

The reaction of enamine compounds with the Togni reagent in the presence of CuI afforded β-trifluoromethylated enamine intermediates, which were converted directly to biologically interesting trifluoromethylated 2H-azirines by an iodosobenzene (PhIO)-mediated intramolecular azirination in a one-pot process.
PRACTICAL ERROR ANALYSIS FOR THE THREE-LEVEL BILINEAR FEM AND FINITE-DIFFERENCE SCHEME FOR THE 1D WAVE EQUATION WITH NON-SMOOTH DATA
Authors: Zlotnik Alexander , Kireeva Olga
Published: June 2018

We deal with the standard three-level bilinear FEM and finite-difference scheme with a weight to solve the initial-boundary value problem for the 1D wave equation. We consider the rich collection of initial data and the free term which are the Dirac δ-functions, discontinuous, continuous but with discontinuous derivatives and from the Sobolev spaces, accomplish the practical error analysis in the L2, L1, energy and uniform norms as the mesh re_nes and compare results with known theoretical error bounds.
Southeast Asian Butterfly Project
Authors: Miracle Eulàlia , Loo Tina , Caspers Max
Published: June 2018

Butterflies are important ecosystem components. They play a major role in pollination, are preyed upon and parasitized by other species, and because of their specific habitat requirements, populations can change quickly and are widely regarded as sensitive environmental indicators, being used to assess factors ranging from climate change to land management. So in addition to their enormous aesthetic appeal and educational value to the layperson, they are important to the scientific community in investigating pressing climate change and biodiversity issues.

While attention to and knowledge of butterflies in western countries is significant, this is not necessarily the case for species-rich tropical areas. Naturalis Biodiversity Center possesses a world-class collection of Southeast Asian butterflies, Indonesian specimens in particular, and would like to bridge this geographic gap in knowledge by embarking on a five-year project to establish an online presence of Southeast Asian butterflies. We hope to establish a consortium of interested international museums and institutes to join us in documenting species-level natural histories, distribution and occurrence data, and photos. The data we will be using will come from literature, digitized collections and observations. Ultimately, we hope to also develop a species identification app, provide links to Red List species protection data, serve as an online field guide for butterfly enthusiasts, and promote and stimulate European Union (EU) and Southeast Asian collection digitization. We will begin this year with a pilot project limited to swallowtails (Papilionidae) in our initial effort to provide an online resource of Southeast Asian butterflies for scientists, educators and laypersons alike.
The Field Guide to the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape app: A Partnership Between the Gunditjmara Community and Museums Victoria
Authors: Smith Ursula , Knight Georgia , Lovett-Murray Tyson , Rose Denis , Henry Dermot
Published: June 2018

In March 2011 Museums Victoria participated in the Australian Biological Resources Study’s Bush Blitz in Kurtonitj, Lake Condah and Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Areas in western Victoria. These areas form part of the Budj Bim Cultural Heritage Landscape recently nominated for World Heritage Status. The Bush Blitz found 854 species that were not previously recorded from the reserves, including over a dozen new to science. Thousands of specimens of plants and animals were collected during the survey, including over 1000 by Museums Victoria.

The Bush Blitz ran in close cooperation with Gunditjmara Traditional Owners and Working on Country rangers. The relationship established between Museums Victoria and the Gunditjmara during the initial Bush Blitz resulted in several return trips by Museum scientists. From these grew a project to combine the Gunditjmara’s traditional knowledge of the animals of their Country with the scientific knowledge generated through the Bush Blitz and other surveys.

The result is a free app for iOS and Android, the Field Guide to the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, presenting over 250 species found in and around the area. For over two-thirds of these species traditional knowledge is included, such as names in the Dhauwurd Wurrung language, information on how they were hunted and used as well as beliefs and stories. Images and descriptions of cultural objects related to daily life in this landscape are also presented. The app contains over 700 images of wildlife and country as well as calls from frogs, birds and mammals.

The content of the app was developed by staff at Museums Victoria in collaboration with the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. We believe this is the first time this sort of synthesis of cultural knowledge specific to the biodiversity of an area has been presented alongside the scientific knowledge.

The app is being used on Country by Gunditjmara for education within the community, by heritage researchers working in the area and by other visitors to Stone Country. We hoped the app would be a model that other communities could adopt using the freely available code and we have had enquires about managing data for similar projects. All the information in the app is stored within the museum’s collection management database (EMu) allowing its association with taxonomy as well as specimens from the area, enriching our knowledge and understanding of our collections.
Blind Image Source Device Identification
Authors: Venkata Udaya Sameer , Naskar Ruchira
Published: June 2018

This article describes how digital forensic techniques for source investigation and identification enable forensic analysts to map an image under question to its source device, in a completely blind way, with no a-priori information about the storage and processing. Such techniques operate based on blind image fingerprinting or machine learning based modelling using appropriate image features. Although researchers till date have succeeded to achieve extremely high accuracy, more than 99% with 10-12 candidate cameras, as far as source device prediction is concerned, the practical application of the existing techniques is still doubtful. This is due to the existence of some critical open challenges in this domain, such as exact device linking, open-set challenge, classifier overfitting and counter forensics. In this article, the authors identify those open challenges, with an insight into possible solution strategies.
A three-dimensional niche comparison of Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica: reconciling observations with projections
Authors: Gafar Natasha A. , Schulz Kai G.
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Coccolithophore responses to changes in carbonate chemistry speciation such
as CO2 and H+ are highly modulated by light intensity and
temperature. Here, we fit an analytical equation, accounting for simultaneous
changes in carbonate chemistry speciation, light and temperature, to
published and original data for Emiliania huxleyi, and compare the
projections with those for Gephyrocapsa oceanica. Based on our
analysis, the two most common bloom-forming species in present-day
coccolithophore communities appear to be adapted for a similar fundamental
light niche but slightly different ones for temperature and CO2,
with E. huxleyi having a tolerance to lower temperatures and higher
CO2 levels than G. oceanica. Based on growth rates, a
dominance of E. huxleyi over G. oceanica is projected below
temperatures of 22 ∘C at current atmospheric CO2 levels.
This is similar to a global surface sediment compilation of E. huxleyi and G. oceanica coccolith abundances suggesting
temperature-dependent dominance shifts. For a future Representative
Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 climate change scenario (1000 µatm
fCO2), we project a CO2 driven niche contraction for
G. oceanica to regions of even higher temperatures. However, the
greater sensitivity of G. oceanica to increasing CO2 is
partially mitigated by increasing temperatures. Finally, we compare
satellite-derived particulate inorganic carbon estimates in the surface ocean
with a recently proposed metric for potential coccolithophore success on the
community level, i.e. the temperature-, light- and
carbonate-chemistry-dependent CaCO3 production potential (CCPP).
Based on E. huxleyi alone, as there was interestingly a better
correlation than when in combination with G. oceanica, and excluding
the Antarctic province from the analysis, we found a good correlation between
CCPP and satellite-derived particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) with an R2
of 0.73, p < 0.01 and a slope of 1.03 for austral winter/boreal
summer and an R2 of 0.85, p < 0.01 and a slope of 0.32 for
austral summer/boreal winter.
BEHAVIOR OF THE DIAMETRIC DISTRIBUTION OF ECOLOGICAL GROUPS IN A MIXED OMBROPHILOUS FOREST FRAGMENT
Authors: Oliveira Thiago Wendling Gonçalves de , Schmitz Rafael , Camaño Jorge Danilo Zea , Corte Ana Paula Dalla , Sanquetta Carlos Roberto
Published: June 2018

The Mixed Ombrophilous Forest is one of the most threatened ecosystems in Brazil. It is thus necessary to understand its dynamics of growth over time so that sustainable use and conservation management strategies be proposed. The objective of this study is to evaluate the behavior of the diametric distribution of two pioneer and non-pioneer ecological groups in a fragment of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest considering four years of evaluations: from 2002 to 2017. Exponential, Gamma, Weber and Weibull 3P density probability functions were adjusted. The diametric behavior of the forest and the ecological groups analyzed remained negative exponentially, being a characteristic of natural forests. The distributions that best adjusted were Weibull 3P for the forest as a whole and for the group of pioneers, and Weber for non-pioneers. We concluded that ecological groups have the same pattern of diametric distribution as the forest as a whole. However, different forest management strategies are necessary considering the intrinsic characteristics of each group.
Use of different waste waters from the leachate of the mushroom production process as foliar fertilizers: Effects on grape amino acids concentration
Authors: Gutiérrez-Gamboa Gastón , Pérez-Álvarez Eva P. , Rubio-Bretón Pilar , Garde-Cerdan Teresa
Published: June 2018

The production of edible mushrooms presents a serious problem for the environment, since about 5 kg of waste are produced for each kilogram of mushroom. These waste waters have nitrogenous matter. Thus, the aim was to investigate the effect of foliar applications of waste water from the mushroom production process on must amino acid composition during two seasons compared to other nitrogen sources. The treatments were applied to the vineyard at veraison and one week later at a total dose of 0.9 kg N/ha. Amino acids were analysed by HPLC. Results showed that treated mushroom water (Tmw) and mushroom water (Mw) improved the amino acid concentration in both seasons differentially. Tmw applied to the grapevines increased total amino acids concentration from 1479.58 to 1735.90 mg/L compared to untreated grapevines over the second study season. The effectiveness of the applications depends on grapevines nitrogen needs. Under moderate nitrogen conditions, Tmw and Mw applications seem to be more effective than urea and phenylalanine treatments. These results are important in relation to the sustainable management of the agri-food sector.
Impact of Time Value of Money Theory in Ijarah Sukuk Genuineness: the Case of Bahrain and Malaysia
Authors: Sharif Abdul Rahman Ateeyah , Abdullah Adam
Published: June 2018

This research is a case study of two Ijarah Sukuk issuances in two countries. One issued by central bank of Bahrain and matured in 2014 and the other was issued by the Malaysian company TSH Resources Bhd and matured in 2017. By adopting library research and document analaysis, this research examines the terms and conditions of both cases based on what has been disclosed in the prospectuses. Accordingly, this study presents the impact of the Time Value of Money (TVM) in these cases and how it differentiates between genuine Ijarah Sukuk and a duplicate-bond Sukuk. The study revealed that there were some Shari’ah non-compliance issues in the implementation of Sukuk concept in both cases in a way it emulates conventional instruments featured as guaranteed-return instruments, which take into account TVM as an essential compenent in calculating its returns. However, such practice has a major effect on the genuineness of Sukuk, in terms of Shari’ah-compliance risk.
Economic Decisions and Simon’s Notion of Bounded Rationality
Authors: Schilirò Daniele
Published: June 2018

Decision making in economics has been always intertwined with the concept of rationality. However, neoclassical economic literature has been dominated by a specific notion of rationality, namely, perfect rationality, characterized by the assumption of consistency and by the maximization hypothesis. Herbert Simon, in his long research activity, questioned this concept of perfect or global rationality, suggesting a different vision, based on empirical evidence and regarding an individual’s choices. He challenged the neoclassical theory of global rationality, suggesting his notion of bounded rationality, a satisficing (instead of optimizing) behavior, and the relevance of procedural rationality to understand the process of thought of decision makers.Thus, this paper focuses on Simon’s notion of bounded rationality, since bounded rationality remains the hallmark of his theoretical contribution. First, the paper examines the economic decision process in the neoclassical theory and Simon’s notion of bounded rationality. Then, it analyzes in depth Simon’s behavioral model of rational choice, underlining the relevance of satisficing behavior and procedural rationality. Finally, it suggests an assessment of the concept of bounded rationality.
The Influence of Loan Portfolio Quality on Sound Banking in CEMAC: The Importance of Bank’s Internal and External Environment
Authors: Andre Kadandji , Votsoma Djekna
Published: June 2018

In this article we analyze the relationship between the loan portfolio quality and the soundness of the banking system in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community. The data used concern a panel of 41 banks in 4 countries in the Community for the period 2000 to 2013. For the analysis of the influence of different indicators, we use a model in nested equations. This study shows that taking into account both individual and macroeconomic indicators makes it possible to neutralize the effects of the deterioration of the quality of the credit portfolio on bank soundness. These indicators together improve the contribution of intermediation activity to the strength of banks.
The role of autobiographical story-telling during rehabilitation among hip-fracture geriatric patients
Authors: Iannello Paola , Biassoni Federica , Bertola Laura , Antonietti Alessandro , Caserta Valerio Antonello , Panella Lorenzo
Published: June 2018

Hip fracture is one of the most common health care problems among elderly people. Literature shows that high self-efficacy expectations and positive affect are some of the key issues in functional recovery after hip fracture. The present investigation tested whether self-narration of such life-breaking event influences self-efficacy and depression during the process of rehabilitation. We designed a Self-Narration Journey (SNJ) to be administered during the in-hospital rehabilitation. In Study 1, we investigated the influence of SNJ on depression and perceived self-efficacy. Study 2 aimed to explore the effect of SNJ, depression, and self-efficacy on functional recovery of independence to perform daily activities during the rehabilitation process. The data showed that the Self-Narration Journey proved effective in increasing the perceived self-efficacy and in lowering the level of depression. The present work highlights a significant effect of the SNJ on the functional recovery process.
Introduction to Special Issue: Media-ludic approaches: Critical reflections on games and research practice
Authors: Mortensen Torill , Witkowski Emma , Toft-Nielsen Claus
Published: June 2018

Introduction
I’d rather be a cyborg than a gamerbro: How masculinity mediates research on digital play
Authors: Taylor Nick
Published: June 2018

This article offers a feminist and media-theoretical approach to ethnographic reflexivity, understood as the researcher’s own agency in shaping encounters with and producing accounts of digital cultures. Looking specifically at male-dominated domains of intensive and competitive play in public sites, such as arcades, local area network (LAN) parties, and eSports tournaments, this article asks: How might masculinity mediate studies of digital play? To address this, I weave together feminist ethnography with materialist media theory, offering an understanding of researcher subjectivity (in this case, my subjectivity) as a media instrument: An assemblage of social locations and learned competencies which does not simply gather, but configures and legitimates, particular knowledges about gaming cultures. Applying this to a problematic instance from fieldwork I conducted at a large-scale gaming event in 2011, I work through the methodological and epistemological quandaries associated with both studying and embodying the social privileges associated with male-dominated media cultures.
METHODS FOR THE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE DETECTION IN MICROORGANSIMS ISOLATED FROM FOOD
Authors: LEDINA Tijana , BULAJIĆ Snežana , ĐORĐEVIĆ Jasna
Published: June 2018

Resistance to antibiotics is a growing problem that the World HealthOrganization has declared one of the biggest threats to global health. The foodchain is one of the most important ways of transmitting and spreading resistanceto antibiotics between the population of resistant and populated by sensitivecommensal and / or pathogenic microorganisms. Resistance to antibiotics can beinborn, or acquired by mutation or lateral gene transfer. From the aspect of thespread of resistance, only resistance acquired by the lateral transfer of the geneis significant. There are numerous methods for detecting and determining thenature of antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from food. The methods mustbe standardized and ensure the consistency of the obtained results. Methods fordetermining the minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotics are used to detectphenotypic resistance in bacteria isolated from food. They include a microdilutionmethod, an agar dilution method, and an E-test. Qualitative and semi-quantitativemethods commonly used in clinical isolates are not suitable for antibiotic resistancetesting in food-isolated microorganisms. In the case of microorganisms withdetected presence of phenotypic resistance to antibiotics, the presence of theresistance gene is determined. Microorganisms evidenced by the presence of geneticdeterminants associated with acquired resistance to antibiotics represent a risk ofresistance dissemination among the susceptible populations. Commercially usedmicroorganisms should not possess genetic determinants of transferable antibioticresistance.
ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF DISINFECTION OF THE SURFACES AND EQUIPMENT IN DIFFERENT PRODUCTION UNITS ON A PHEASANT FARM BY THE APPLICATION OF PARACETIC ACID AND FORMALDEHYDE BASED SOLUTIONS
Authors: ĐORĐEVIĆ Milutin , PEŠIĆ Branislav , RADENKOVIĆ DAMNJANOVIĆ Brana , JANKOVIĆ Ljiljana , TEODOROVIĆ Radislava , DESPOT Dragana
Published: June 2018

Pheasant farms represent semi-closed production facilities with severalproduction units that are cyclically connected and are used for growing pheasantsof different age categories. Production units consist of an aviary for parent stock,egg storage room, incubation station, facilities for raising young pheasants and openaviaries where pheasants are raised till their release on hunting areas. Continuousimplementation of biosafety measures at all stages of the technological process ofproduction is necesarry in order to achieve good production results ; that is raisinghealthy pheasants. Disinfection is one of the most important biosigurative measureswhich must be continually implemented in farm facilities. In this paper, the effectof disinfection with peracetic acid and paraformaldehyde based solutions has beenmonitored at different stages of production, and on different surfaces. Monitoringof the microbiological status of the area within the production facillity resulted inreduction of the total number of bacteria, fungi and mold in a smaller or greaterextent depending on the place of sampling and type of a production unit.
Barn och vårdnadshavares minnen av deltagande i pedagogisk dokumentation
Authors: Alnervik Karin , Öhman Charlotte , Lidén Eva , Nilsson Monica
Published: June 2018

Sammandrag: Syftet med artikeln är att bidra till kunskapandet om pedagogisk dokumentation med specifikt fokus på dokumentationens betydelse ur ett demokratiperspektiv. Trots många studier kring pedagogiskdokumentation finns det få studier som explicit utgår ifrån barn och vårdnadshavares perspektiv. I artikelnanalyseras barns och vårdnadshavares samtal utifrån minnesbilder, vilka framträder i fokusgruppssamtal, från förskoletiden i relation till pedagogiskt dokumentationsarbete. Resultatet visar att den pedagogiskadokumentationspraktiken bidrog till skapandet av en praktikgemenskap på förskolan vilket i sin tur möjliggjorde en demokratisk undervisning.
Nyckelord: demokrati, pedagogisk dokumentation, praktikgemenskap, social kontroll
Propanols
Authors: Klabunde Jens , Bischoff Chris , Papa Anthony J.
Published: June 2018

The article contains sections titled:1.Introduction2.Physical Properties3.Chemical Properties4.Production4.1.Production of 1‐Propanol4.2.Production of 2‐Propanol5.Uses6.Specifications7.Economic Aspects8.Storage and Transportation9.Toxicology and Occupational Health
Self‐Healing Materials
Authors: Zechel Stefan , Hager Martin D. , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: June 2018

The article contains sections titled:1.Introduction2.General Aspects of Self‐Healing Materials3.Materials Classes3.1.Self‐Healing Polymers and Polymer Composites3.1.1.Extrinsic Self‐Healing Polymers3.1.2.Intrinsic Self‐Healing Polymers3.2.Self‐Healing Concrete3.3.Self‐Healing Asphalt3.4.Self‐Healing Ceramics3.5.Self‐Healing Metals4.Self‐Healing Materials Beyond Mechanical Properties5.Economic Aspects6.Outlook
Value‐Added Recycling of Inexpensive Carbon Sources to Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Kwon Sung‐Joo , Seo Hong‐Kyu , Ahn Soyeong , Lee Tae‐Woo
Published: June 2018

Various methods are described here to synthesize functional carbonaceous materials (e.g., graphene and carbon nanotubes) from carbon waste for use in future optoelectronics. An ability to fabricate these materials from such inexpensive precursors would be economically beneficial. It also reviews attempts to improve the electrical properties of these materials, then discusses their practical electronic applications. Finally, future prospects for these processes are presented.
Assisted Tandem Catalytic Conversion of Acrylates into Adipic Esters
Authors: Maity Pradip K. , Tunge Jon A.
Published: June 2018

A ruthenium‐catalyzed tail‐to‐tail dimerization of acrylates followed by hydrogenation results in the synthesis of adipic esters in one pot. An imine‐ligated ruthenium complex that has good catalytic reactivity for tail‐to‐tail dimerization of methyl acrylate can be readily converted to a hydrogenation catalyst resulting in the assisted tandem catalytic conversion of methyl acrylate to methyl adipate.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Metalloporphyrins in Oxidation Catalysis: Old Dogs with Some New Tricks
Authors: Calvete Mário J. F. , Piñeiro Marta , Dias Lucas D. , Pereira Mariette M.
Published: June 2018

The utilization of metalloporphyrin analogues as biomimetic oxidation catalysts is an evolutionary topic of research. Current environmental concerns have directed research in this field for the design, synthesis and application of heterogeneous catalysts, as well as avoiding the use of highly pollutant co‐oxidants and/or co‐catalysts. Herein, we review the last decade concerning the sole use of environmentally benign oxidant source hydrogen peroxide, in oxidation reactions catalyzed by metalloporphyrin analogues, both in homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions. We did not intend to create a comprehensive review; instead we highlight the most important and illustrative examples for this period. We emphasize the application of such catalysts on the oxidation reactions of many relevant substrates using heterogeneous metalloporphyrin based catalysts, specially using inorganic supports for more accessible reutilization protocols.
Catalyst Pendent‐Base Effects on Cyclization of Alkynyl Amines
Authors: Stubbs James M. , Chapple Devon E. , Boyle Paul D. , Blacquiere Johanna M.
Published: June 2018

A family of [CpRu(PP)(MeCN)]PF6 complexes (2 a–e and 4) were prepared in which the bis‐phosphine ligand contains a pendent tertiary amine in the second‐coordination sphere. 2 a–e contain PPh2NR′2 ligands with two amine groups as the pendent base. Complex 4 has the PPh2NPh1 ligand with only one pendent amine. The catalytic performance of 2 a–e and 4 were assessed in the cyclization of 2‐ethynyl aniline and 2‐ethynylbenzyl alcohol. It was revealed that the positioning of the pendent amine near the metal active site is essential for high catalyst performance. A comparison of PPh2NR′2 catalysts (2 a–e) showed minimal difference in performance as a function of pendent amine basicity. Rather, only a threshold basicity – in which the pendent amine was more basic than the substrate – was required for high performance.
Cyanographene and Graphene Acid: The Functional Group of Graphene Derivative Determines the Application in Electrochemical Sensing and Capacitors
Authors: Heng Cheong Yi , Nasir Muhammad Zafir Mohamad , Bakandritsos Aristides , Pykal Martin , Jakubec Petr , Zbořil Radek , Otyepka Michal , Pumera Martin
Published: June 2018

Well‐defined, stoichiometric derivatives of graphene afford many opportunities in fine‐tuning of graphene properties and hence, extend the application potential of this material. Here, we present the electrochemical properties of cyanographene (G−CN), and graphene acid (G−COOH) in order to understand the role of the covalently attached functional groups on the graphene sheet in electrochemical sensing for the detection of biomarkers. G−CN shows better performance for the negatively charged analytes ascorbic and uric acids when compared to G−COOH. The less‐favourable performance of G−COOH is explained by repulsion between negatively charged analytes and negatively charged functional groups of G−COOH. The capacitance of both materials is in a comparable range, but chronopotentiometry reveals that G−CN shows a greater capacitance than G−COOH. The identified differences in electrochemical properties imprinted by the functional group show that its chemical nature can be exploited in fine‐tuning of the selectivity of electrochemical sensing and energy storage applications.
Understanding the Rate‐Limiting Step of Glycogenolysis by Using QM/MM Calculations on Human Glycogen Phosphorylase
Authors: Brás Natércia F. , Fernandes Pedro A. , Ramos Maria J.
Published: June 2018

Liver glycogen phosphorylase (GP) is a key enzyme for human health, as its increased activity is associated with type 2 diabetes. The GP catalytic mechanism has been explored by quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods. Herein, we propose a mechanism that proceeds by three steps: 1) it begins with transfer of a hydrogen atom from the phosphate group of the pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate (HPO42−‐PLP) cofactor to the phosphate substrate; 2) the glycosidic linkage is then cleaved through protonation of the glycosidic oxygen atom by a hydroxy group of the inorganic phosphate group; and 3) an oxygen atom of the phosphate performs a nucleophilic attack on the anomeric carbon atom of glucose, concomitant with the return of a proton from phosphate to PO43−‐PLP, which finally leads to formation of the glucose‐1‐phosphate product and recovers the initial state of the PLP cofactor. The glycosidic bond cleavage and nucleophilic attack from the phosphate group to the glycosyl molecule have the highest activation free energies. The structural properties of the hereby characterized transition states could be very useful in structure‐based drug design studies against liver GP.
Green Layer‐by‐Layer Method for the Preparation of Polyacrylonitrile‐Supported Zinc Benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic Acid Membranes
Authors: Tham Hui Min , Japip Susilo , Hua Dan , Chung Tai‐Shung
Published: June 2018

Ultrafiltration‐level polyacrylonitrile (PAN) flat sheet membranes were chemically modified through cross‐linking and hydrolysis to provide a suitable surface for the growth of a selective layer composed of a Zn benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (Zn(BDC)) metal‐organic framework (MOF). Unlike typical membrane modification methods or conventional MOF synthesis procedures, deionized (DI) water was the only solvent used for each of the modification steps. To better understand the layer‐by‐layer MOF growth process, several MOF growth conditions were also studied, including the effects of solution concentration, growth temperature, membrane immersion time and the number of layers. Subsequently, organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) was used to test the effectiveness of the modifications and compare the performances of the fabricated membranes. With the appropriate combination of the MOF growth conditions, the layer‐by‐layer method was used to produce an OSN membrane with an isopropanol permeance of 2.39 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 and an 86 % rejection of the dye Brilliant Blue R (Mw 825.97 g mol−1).
A discursive–institutional perspective on transformative governance: A case from a fire management policy sector
Authors: Bosomworth Karyn
Published: June 2018

Scholarship around questions of climate change adaptation is increasingly concerned with ideas of transformative adaptation and its governance through critical re‐evaluation of beliefs, values and associated institutions. For public policy sectors, the concept of transformative governance brings attention to their capacities for supporting and engaging in such governance. While much adaptation research and practice informs technical and structural understandings of these capacities (e.g., governance arrangements, learning systems and adaptation planning), most of this research (and practice) has ignored less formal, yet equally important dimensions of public administration and governance. Institutional scholarship highlights that dominant norms, beliefs, and philosophical ideas underpin how policy sectors structure their policy responses and engagement in governance. Discursive Institutionalism suggests that examining a sector's dominant discourse can provide insights into these “institutional logics”. This paper therefore argues that understanding a policy sector's institutional logics is a crucial part of working toward enabling transformative governance of adaptation. This argument is developed through a case study of the institutional logics operating in the fire management policy sector of Victoria, Australia, and the potential influence of these logics on that sector's capacities to engage in transformative governance. Findings suggest this sector's institutional logics may currently constrain its capacities to engage in transformative governance and highlight the need for greater attention to socioinstitutional dimensions of public administration to help catalyze transformative governance of (and for) adaptation.
Revision of USEPA Drinking Water Regulations
Authors: Alston Marc R.
Published: June 2018

The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA, Public Law 96‐502, as amended) directs the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to issue National Primary Drinking Water Regulations in interim and revised forms. This article discusses the regulatory revision process and some possible upcoming changes in the regulations, both with respect to new concepts and specific contaminants. This is part one of a two‐part article on revision of the USEPA Drinking Water Regulations. Part two appears in the January 1985 issue of OpFlow.