bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Households' Housing and Transportation Expenditures
Authors: Deka Devajyoti
Published: February 2016

Because of growing concern about the significant increase in American household transportation costs, federal agencies have endorsed the notion that it is not merely the affordability of housing alone that is important but the affordability of housing and transportation taken together. Most transportation studies have focused on the relationship between the costs of housing and commuting. Thus the relationship between household expenditures on housing and overall transportation has remained mostly unexamined. With the use of U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey data, this study made an effort to bridge the gap in the existing knowledge base through an examination of this relationship. In the absence of theories about the relationship between the two types of expenditures, this study leaned heavily on a stream of literature on lifestyle choice, which was advanced to explain the absence of a trade-off between the costs of housing and commuting postulated by urban economic theorists. To account for endogeneity between household expenditures on housing and transportation, three-stage least-squares models were used with the two types of expenditures defined in dollar amounts and as shares of income. For the sake of comparison, a third model, which defined the two types of expenditures as shares of household total expenditures, was used. The relationship between the two types of expenditures varied depending on the definition used. In addition, the models showed the way in which dwelling type, building age, number of household automobiles, public transit use, and metropolitan area size affected transportation expenditure. The implications are discussed.
Performance Measurement System for Assessing Transportation Sustainability and Community Livability
Authors: Wang Qian , Tang Shuai , Hu Jinge , Chen Xiao , Wang Le
Published: February 2016

Sustainability and livability as concepts that indicate the capability of transportation systems to maintain social well-being have been widely accepted as critical principles to improve the quality of life and health in communities. This study introduced a geographic information system as the basis for a performance measurement system to assess the two goals from the standpoint of transportation systems. The city of Buffalo, New York, was used as the case study. Various data were collected, and 20 sustainability and livability related performance measures (PMs), including transportation attributes, land use measures, living condition indicators, and systemwide indexes, were developed. Analysis of the PMs raised several policy implications and led to some suggestions. Lessons and challenges from the PM development process are summarized to help other relevant initiatives. The PMs, the supporting database, the case study, and the findings produced by the research are expected to help a wide range of stakeholders, including policy makers, planners, and transportation engineers, to gain more insights into transportation-oriented sustainability and livability performance measurement.
Exploring Transportation Accessibility to Health Care among Vermont's Rural Seniors
Authors: Battista Geoffrey A. , Lee Brian H. Y. , Kolodinsky Jane , Heiss Sarah N.
Published: February 2016

The aging baby boomer generation will have a profound impact on the demand for health care services in the United States. This impact will be felt strongly in rural areas, where the population in general is older and the supplies of health care services and alternative transportation are limited. This study employed a mixed-method approach to assess health care accessibility among seniors in the state of Vermont. A geographic information system was used to project health care accessibility according to the spatial characteristics of the health care and transportation systems. Subsequently, the mechanisms that shaped accessibility were assessed through semistructured interviews with 20 seniors and caregivers. The study found that health care accessibility varied among seniors, given the local health care supply, transportation, and individual resources at their disposal. Health care accessibility also was shaped by less tangible factors, which included social connectedness and personal preferences for care and transportation. The results suggested that mixed methods provided a more nuanced and valid perspective on health care accessibility. This perspective can better inform policy makers as they strive to accommodate rural senior preferences to age in place in a healthy manner.
Ridership Response to Incremental Bus Rapid Transit Upgrades in North America
Authors: Stewart Anson F. , Attanucci John P. , Wilson Nigel H. M.
Published: February 2016

This paper explores ridership increases in response to incrementally upgraded bus services in U.S. and Canadian cities. Current guidelines for developing bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors reveal a tension between comprehensive implementation of full-fledged corridors on the one hand and incremental, flexible development on the other. A review of the literature discusses this tension, various BRT elements, and the impact of these elements on performance and ridership. A methodology for comparing high-productivity bus corridors in different contexts using general transit feed specification (GTFS) data and a spatial database framework is described. Longitudinal and cross-sectional sketch models, with corridors as the unit of analysis, offer some insights into the relative impact of BRT features and external factors. Current data limitations allow for suggestive, if not definitive, results. Dedicated lanes and signal priority were positively correlated with increased ridership in some models tested, even when decreased travel time was controlled for and, suggesting that they may have had important perception and reliability benefits beyond improved speeds. While BRT can be a promising mode for a range of contexts, this analysis suggests that service frequency and reliability improvements are the common foundation for successful projects. Building political momentum for sustained improvements in bus networks is a challenge; the use of emerging data sources, such as GTFS, to compare incremental BRT projects allows for a better understanding of projects that can help meet this challenge.
Exploring Applications of Second-Generation Archived Transit Data for Estimating Performance Measures and Arterial Travel Speeds
Authors: Glick Travis B. , Feng Wei , Bertini Robert L. , Figliozzi Miguel A.
Published: February 2016

Travel time and operating speed influence the attractiveness, operating cost, and system efficiency of transit service. As part of its bus dispatch system, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon has been archiving automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger count data for all bus trips at the stop level since 1997. In 2013, a new and higher-resolution bus AVL data collection system was implemented. This new system provides stop-level data as well as 5-s resolution (5-SR) bus position data between stops. The objective of this paper is to explore potential applications of the new data for assessing transit performance and for estimating transportation system performance measures for urban arterials. Results suggest that the 5-SR data provide high-resolution information on time and position that can be used to determine bus travel speeds between bus stops, identify speed breakdowns, and estimate intersection signal and queuing delays.
Evolution of Satisfaction with Public Transport and Its Determinants in Sweden
Authors: Cats Oded , Abenoza Roberto F. , Liu Chengxi , Susilo Yusak O.
Published: February 2016

Measurement and analysis of satisfaction with public transport services facilitate service performance monitoring, market analysis, benchmarking, and the identification of priority areas. The systematic and regular collection of information concerning satisfaction enables investigation of how passengers’ satisfaction and its determinants change over time. These changes may be driven by changes in service quality or shifts in passengers’ expectations and preferences. This study analyzed how satisfaction with public transport and its determinants evolved over time in Sweden in the years 2001 to 2013. The determinants of satisfaction were identified by factor analysis and the estimation of multivariate satisfaction models. The superposition of these findings culminated in a dynamic passenger satisfaction priority map that allowed the identification of priority areas on the basis of observed trends in satisfaction with service attributes and their respective importance. The deterioration of overall satisfaction with public transport in Sweden in recent years has been driven by a decrease in satisfaction with customer interface and length of trip time. These two service aspects, as well as operation, were found to be key determinants of overall satisfaction that users consistently rated among the least satisfactory. The results of this study will support service providers in designing measures that will foster satisfaction in the future.
Evaluation of Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicle Rated Fuel Economy Based on In-Use Measurements
Authors: Khan Tanzila , Frey H. Christopher
Published: February 2016

A study demonstrated a systematic method to assess the degree of concordance between estimated real-world and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated fuel economy for light-duty gasoline vehicles based on real-world emissions measurements. Cold engine start effects are accounted for in the real-world fuel economy and in comparison with EPA ratings. Portable emissions measurement systems were used to measure emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides of 122 vehicles on a specified test route consisting of various roads. Fuel economy of measured vehicles was estimated considering two cases: EPA standard driving cycles and real-world driving cycles. Average cold start emissions measurements from 32 vehicles were used in sensitivity analysis of fuel economy with respect to cold start. Real-world fuel economy estimates and comparison with rated fuel economy are not highly sensitive to cold start effects. On average, both the city and highway ratings are conservative compared with real-world fuel economy. However, there are proportions of vehicles that have lower real-world fuel economy than rated. The method demonstrated should be applied to additional vehicles and real-world driving cycles. Insights from these comparisons could motivate development of a more accurate rating scheme and identification of advice to consumers to improve their fuel economy.
Pedestrian Crossing Sight Distance: Lateral Clearance Guidelines for Roadways
Authors: Easa Said M.
Published: February 2016

No design guidelines are available for pedestrian crossing sight distance (PCSD) and associated lateral clearance on roadways. Guidelines are available only for intersection (vehicle) sight distance (ISD) at two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) intersections. This paper presents a new model for pedestrian crossing time that is used to establish a general model for lateral clearance at crossings located on curved (or straight) roadways. The model is applicable to all crossing types: TWSC intersections, midblocks, and freeway ramps. The model can be used to determine the maximum lateral clearance to the right or to the left of the crossing or the required lateral clearance at a specified location. The distance from the crossing within which on-street parking should be restricted to satisfy PCSD is also determined. A single spreadsheet that is applicable to all crossing types was developed. A comparison with ISD shows that lateral clearance needs for pedestrians are not satisfied by those currently available for vehicles. Design aids for all crossing types are presented. The method presented in this paper promotes pedestrian safety and should be of interest to the highway community.
Calibration and Validation of a Shared Space Model: Case Study
Authors: Anvari Bani , Bell Michael G. H. , Angeloudis Panagiotis , Ochieng Washington Y.
Published: February 2016

Shared space is an innovative streetscape design that seeks minimum separation between vehicle traffic and pedestrians. Urban design is moving toward space sharing as a means of increasing the community texture of street surroundings. Its unique features aim to balance priorities and allow cars and pedestrians to coexist harmoniously without the need to dictate behavior. There is, however, a need for a simulation tool to model future shared space schemes and to help judge whether they might represent suitable alternatives to traditional street layouts. This paper builds on the authors’ previously published work in which a shared space microscopic mixed traffic model based on the social force model (SFM) was presented, calibrated, and evaluated with data from the shared space link typology of New Road in Brighton, United Kingdom. Here, the goal is to explore the transferability of the authors’ model to a similar shared space typology and investigate the effect of flow and ratio of traffic modes. Data recorded from the shared space scheme of Exhibition Road, London, were collected and analyzed. The flow and speed of cars and segregation between pedestrians and cars are greater on Exhibition Road than on New Road. The rule-based SFM for shared space modeling is calibrated and validated with the real data. On the basis of the results, it can be concluded that shared space schemes are context dependent and that factors such as the infrastructural design of the environment and the flow and speed of pedestrians and vehicles affect the willingness to share space.
Innovations in Accommodation of Longitudinal Utility Installations Along Controlled-Access Highways
Authors: Kraus Edgar , Quiroga Cesar
Published: February 2016

The installation of utilities on controlled-access right-of-way corridors requires state departments of transportation (DOTs) to balance the needs of the traveling public with the rights of utility owners and to achieve the most efficient installation possible without compromising safety and spending more public dollars than necessary. A recent survey of DOTs identified and synthesized practices for managing longitudinal utility installations on controlled-access highway right-of-way. The survey gave special emphasis to the following topics: ( a) use of utility corridors by state DOTs to accommodate utility facilities longitudinally on controlled-access right-of-way (a utility corridor was defined as a specified zone within the right-of-way where multiple longitudinal utilities were required to be located by agency policy or practice); ( b) mechanisms that state DOTs use to acquire right-of-way jointly with utility owners for the use of utility facilities; and ( c) other policies, strategies, and practices to accommodate and manage longitudinal utility facilities on controlled-access right-of-way. This paper provides an overview of survey results, including key management issues for utility facilities during regular permitting and DOT project development, innovative practices to manage utilities in the state DOT right-of-way, and examples in which states have successfully implemented innovative practices. The research team found that most DOTs (88%) actively manage longitudinal utility installations on controlled-access right-of-way. The most effective agencies strike a balance between minimizing costs associated with securing right-of-way, accommodating increasing mobility needs with finite resources, and ensuring safety for travelers to the greatest degree possible.
‘Transocean’: transition's anachronistic zeitgeists
Authors: Setz Cathryn
Published: February 2016

Transition was among the largest of the ‘little’ magazines. Editors Maria and Eugene Jolas translated a wealth of European texts into English, housed Joyce's ‘Work in Progress’, and staged their ‘Revolution of the Word’. Claiming nothing less than a total overhaul of the standardized forms of American journalese, they embraced what they saw as a mystical, transformative power in experimental writing. Such a mission is easily mocked. Critics have long derided transition as delusional, apolitical, and – significantly – anachronistic. Jolas frequently published old material as part of his vision, which reached American readers as new. He also deployed journalistic techniques, baited critics, and orchestrated transition's eventual ossification as a bibliophile's treasure. Rather than judge the project against its more ‘authentic’ counterparts, this essay takes these editorial contradictions as a point of departure, framing a central ‘anachronistic zeitgeist’ as an interpretive strategy with which we might better understand its transatlantic, ‘transoceanic’ history.
Metabolic Interaction of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Gut Microbiota
Authors: Yang Yao-Jong , Sheu Bor-Shyang
Published: February 2016

As a barrier, gut commensal microbiota can protect against potential pathogenic microbes in the gastrointestinal tract. Crosstalk between gut microbes and immune cells promotes human intestinal homeostasis. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota has been implicated in the development of many human metabolic disorders like obesity, hepatic steatohepatitis, and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Certain microbes, such as butyrate-producing bacteria, are lower in T2D patients. The transfer of intestinal microbiota from lean donors increases insulin sensitivity in individuals with metabolic syndrome, but the exact pathogenesis remains unclear. H. pylori in the human stomach cause chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancers. H. pylori infection also induces insulin resistance and has been defined as a predisposing factor to T2D development. Gastric and fecal microbiota may have been changed in H. pylori-infected persons and mice to promote gastric inflammation and specific diseases. However, the interaction of H. pylori and gut microbiota in regulating host metabolism also remains unknown. Further studies aim to identify the H. pylori-microbiota-host metabolism axis and to test if H. pylori eradication or modification of gut microbiota can improve the control of human metabolic disorders.
A QUANTITATIVE TEST OF THE NO-HAIR THEOREM WITH Sgr A* USING STARS, PULSARS, AND THE EVENT HORIZON TELESCOPE
Authors: Psaltis Dimitrios , Wex Norbert , Kramer Michael
Published: February 2016

The black hole in the center of the Milky Way, Sgr A*, has the largest mass-to-distance ratio among all known black holes in the universe. This property makes Sgr A* the optimal target for testing the gravitational no-hair theorem. In the near future, major developments in instrumentation will provide the tools for high-precision studies of its spacetime via observations of relativistic effects in stellar orbits, in the timing of pulsars, and in horizon-scale images of its accretion flow. We explore here the prospect of measuring the properties of the black hole spacetime using all of these three types of observations. We show that the correlated uncertainties in the measurements of the black hole spin and quadrupole moment using the orbits of stars and pulsars are nearly orthogonal to those obtained from measuring the shape and size of the shadow the black hole casts on the surrounding emission. Combining these three types of observations will therefore allow us to assess and quantify systematic biases and uncertainties in each measurement and lead to a highly accurate, quantitative test of the gravitational no-hair theorem.
Les deux mères
Authors: Kessaci Lyasmine
Published: February 2016

La prise en compte de la « figure de la mère » conduit la psychanalyse à reconnaître que celle-ci n’est pas univoque. Elle présente au moins deux faces, que Freud tenta de séparer à l’occasion, et que Lacan prit soin de bien distinguer, cette dualité permettant de saisir en définitive quelle menace recèlent tant l’amour de la mère que le désir qu’elle manifeste vis-à-vis de son enfant. Désir et amour dont nous montrons ici l’ambivalence radicale et la dangerosité grâce au syndrome de « Münchhausen par procuration » et à l’éclairage qu’il apporte au ravage que peut produire une mère.
Wildlife, Protected Areas, and Recreation in the Natural Environment: Theoretical and Practical Variations with Self-Reflection
Authors: Kozorog Miha
Published: February 2016

Avtor obravnava svoji, v soavtorstvu napisani besedili o rekreaciji na varovanem območju Triglavskega narodnega parka, da bi ponovno premislil odnose med človekom in prostoživečimi živalmi. Poudarja spoznanja o ekologiji odnosov in socialnosti živali ter zgodovinah sobivanja ljudi in živali. Sprašuje se tudi, kakšna je lahko vloga etnološkega/antropološkega pisanja v razmerah, ko organizacija znanstvenega dela ne dopušča poglabljanja in ne časa za premislek.
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The author discusses two articles that he coauthored on recreation in the protected area of Triglav National Park in order to reconsider the relationships between people and wildlife. He emphasizes the findings on the ecology of relationships and the social character of animals, and on the histories of human-animal coexistence. In addition, he asks what role ethnological or anthropological writing can play under conditions when the organization of scholarly work allows no in-depth considerations and time for reflection.
Youth Labor Actions: Continuities and Differences in Labor Brigade Members’ Experiences
Authors: Matošević Andrea
Published: February 2016

Omladinske radne akcije (ili samo radne akcije) važan su element u gradnji Jugoslavenskog socijalističkog društva i infrastrukture. Organizirane još tijekom II . Svjetskog rata do 1990 na njima je sudjelovalo više od 2 miliona omladinaca. Različite faze njihova organiziranja uvjetovale su i razlita kvalitativna iskustva omladinaca-brigadira.
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Youth labor actions (or simply labor actions) were an important element in building Yugoslav socialist society and infrastructure. Held from the Second World War until the 1990s, over two million Yugoslavs participated in them. However, different phases of their organization resulted in different qualitative experiences of labor brigade members.
The Fine and the Tasteless. Istrian Culinary Experts and Taste
Authors: Ličen Daša
Published: February 2016

The interpretation in this article draws upon Bourdieu’s work on the relationship between food, consumption, and cultural identity to show how Istrian culinary experts’ knowledge is constructed and established as a form of cultural capital. Expertise in Istrian cuisine is a form of cultural capital that my research partners possess to a great extent and entrust to other people and goods, which subsequently gain a higher value. The experts are a rather coherent group; however, in addition to describing the sources of their cultural capital, I discuss their internal divisions and question their inclusivist stance.
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V tem članku na podlagi Bourdieujevega dela o odnosu med hrano, potrošnjo in kulturno identiteto interpretiram, kako je znanje istrskih kulinaričnih ekspertov ustvarjeno in postavljeno kot oblika kulturnega kapitala. Poznavanje istrske kuhinje je kulturni kapital, ki ga moji raziskovalni partnerji v veliki meri posedujejo in podeljujejo drugim posameznikom in dobrinam, ki posledično pridobijo višjo vrednosti. Kljub temu, da eksperti predstavljajo precej enovito skupino, pa poleg opisovanja virov njihovega kulturnega kapitala razpravljam o njihovi notranjih delitvah in preprašujem njihovo načelno inkluzivnost.
Ethical Concerns in Human Enhancement
Authors: Tran Ben
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this chapter is on issue of fairness and equity in corporations and organizational settings due to advantages received as a result of human enhancement. In so doing, the purpose of this chapter will also analyze the paradigms of bioethics and (business) ethics and legality will be utilized in analyzing the issue of fairness and equity in corporations and organizational settings due to advantages received as a result of human enhancement. Human enhancement, used in this chapter, includes any activity by which we improve our bodies, minds, or abilities beyond what we regard today as normal. In relations to advantages in corporations and organizational settings, human enhancement, used in this chapter, means ways to make functional changes to human characteristic, also referred to as neuro-cognitive enhancements, beyond what we regard as typical, normal, or statistically normal range of functioning for an individual.
A Conceptual Framework for Ethical Decision Making in Organizations
Authors: Galván Lilia Carolina Rodríguez , Dosta Carlos Morán
Published: February 2016

This chapter addresses the lack of a framework that allows the generation of mechanisms and processes that benefit ethical decision making in organizations in order to promote civic virtue in its members. The authors explore how constructing spaces promote an honest and open dialogue among citizens, associations, business, and various levels of government. These spaces encourage the development of mechanisms and processes for social and personal benefit among its participants. The conceptual framework discussed is created by De la Cruz and Sasia (2013), named the Ethical Triangle Model. This model proposes at least three dimensions in an organization: legitimacy, motivation, and capacity. The proposed conceptual framework is dynamic and it is applicable to any organization. Future research must be made for testing the framework proposed here.
Teamwork Assessment and Self/Peer Evaluation in Higher Education
Authors: Issa Tomayess
Published: February 2016

This chapter examines the challenges and opportunities associated with fostering students' learning skills through teamwork assessment and self/peer evaluation in the Business Technology 2 (BT2) undergraduate unit at an Australian university. This assessment will encourage students to promote skills in teamwork, communication (writing, interpersonal interaction and cultural awareness, and presenting), critical and creative thinking (problem-solving and solving and decision-making), Information Technology literacy, and information literacy, and is intended to increase their self-confidence in both their studies and in the future workforce. This chapter provides empirical evidence from 267 students, based on quantitative and qualitative data derived from two sources. The first consists of anonymous informal feedback collected during the semester, while the second (formal) source of students' evaluations and attitudes towards the BT2 unit and teaching is “eVALUate.” The students indicate that they are satisfied with this form of assessment as it assists them to develop specific skills and understandings, including time management, problem solving, decision-making, cultural awareness, oral presentation, communication, and meeting a deadline.
Voicing Possibilities
Authors: Edwards Mark G. , Webb David A. , Chappell Stacie , Kirkham Nin , Gentile Mary C.
Published: February 2016

Business ethics is witnessing the emergence of new activity-based, communicative approaches to ethics theory and pedagogy that go beyond the conventional normative-descriptive distinction. The authors call this emergent approach “performative ethics” and recognise it as a fundamentally innovative new orientation towards theorising and teaching ethics. They apply this notion of performative ethics to the topic of sustainability, and illustrate their discussion using “Giving Voice to Values” (GVV). GVV is an innovative approach that focuses on implementing ethical values and how they might be expressed at multiple levels of organisational life. The challenge of intergenerational sustainability requires a multilevel orientation to the practical expression of core values in a globalised world. To illustrate this, the authors present three short case studies and explore them from a GVV perspective. They show how GVV can be applied, both theoretically and practically, to the task of expressing and acting on shared values for developing sustaining and sustainable personal, organisational, and global futures.
An Investigation of a Computer Training Company's Migration to a New Distance Learning Platform and the Implementation of an Online Professional Development Program
Authors: Rudd Denis , Bernadowski Carianne
Published: February 2016

The purpose of the study was to determine if the Training Partner Program was successful in preparing trainers to use a new distance learning platform. Results indicate the program was a success in improving self-efficacy, engagement, and collaboration among trainers. Additionally, characteristics of online trainers are identified. Online learning in higher education, business training, and elementary/secondary schools is increasing exponentially and developing effective professional development programs to prepare instructors is of paramount importance. The current study provides valuable insight for any training managers or educators developing activities and exercises to train their faculty on distance learning software and systems.
Enhancing Quality Teacher Education Programs in Developing Countries
Authors: Momanyi Marcella
Published: February 2016

This chapter examines the need to enhance teacher quality by infusing quality benchmarks in every aspect of teacher education. These areas include: Teacher education curriculum design and planning; Curriculum implementation; Principles of good teaching and learning; Interactive and effective teaching methodologies; Appropriate scheming and lesson preparation; Assessment and evaluation; and Class management and discipline. Additionally, the author explores emerging issues in teacher education and suggestions for future direction. Finally, this chapter is intended to advance the debate on ways to maintain and sustain quality benchmarks in teacher education programs.
Learning to Partner
Authors: Woulfin Sarah , Gabriel Rachael
Published: February 2016

This chapter uses the cognitive framework to reveal the strengths and challenges of our high school English Language Arts workshop partnership. The chapter begins by describing a partnership with a medium sized district and one comprehensive high school. Then the chapter reviews central aspects of the cognitive framework of implementation. Next, the chapter illuminate factors enabling and constraining the trajectory of our partnership activities. The chapter concludes by discussing implications for reformers, educational leaders, and other stakeholders.
A Critical Overview of Net Zero Energy Buildings and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps
Authors: Vergini Eleni S. , Groumpos Peter P.
Published: February 2016

ZEBs (zero energy buildings) and more specifically “net Zero Energy Building” (nZEB) have become a prominent wording to describe the synergy of energy efficient building and renewable energy utilization to reach a balanced energy budget over a yearly cycle. The lack of a common and accepted definition or even a good understanding of ZEB makes the approach of this problem very challenging. In this paper there is an evaluation of the criteria in the definition framework and selection of the related options. Also a methodology is approached, to set nZEB definitions in a systematic way. Today's different ZEB technologies, challenges and problems are identified and analyzed. For the first time the overall operation of nZEB and its performance is investigated and modeled using FCMs and learning algorithms. A set of low energy buildings using extensive energy and environmental data are simulated for all four seasons of a year. Interesting results are obtained, presented and discussed. Useful conclusions are drown and future research challenging topics are presented.
Intelligent Bidding in Smart Electricity Markets
Authors: Foti Magda , Vavalis Manolis
Published: February 2016

This paper has two aims. Firstly, to briefly present overall objectives and expected outcome of an on-going effort concerning design, implementation and the analysis of next generation energy systems based on anticipatory control and a set of ICT emerging technologies and innovations. Secondly, to describe an early proof-of-concept implementation and the associated experimentation of a simulation platform focused on holistic detailed studies of electric energy markets. The proposed platform allows us to elucidate issues related to the open and smart participation of producers and consumers on large-scale e-markets. Based on an existing simulation system, the authors present the required theoretical studies, the enabling technologies, and the practical tools that contribute to the development of such a platform capable of truly large scale simulations. Elements of game theory are utilized to solve the optimization problem related to the maximization of the social welfare of producers and consumers. Selected simulation results associated with the basic required characteristics are presented.
The Implementation of Continuous Improvement (CI) Methodology
Authors: Salaheldin Salaheldin Ismail , Abbas Hesham Fawzy , Seif Mohamed Abdelghaffar
Published: February 2016

This study aims to identify the expected benefits of continuous improvement (CI) implementation, to determine the critical success factors that contribute to CI implementation and to detect the expected problems that impede the implementation of CI programmes at Al-Sindian Paper Mills. The data analysed in this article was collected from a mail questionnaire sent to all staff who worked on a CI (Six Sigma) project at Al-Sindian Paper Mills. The findings of this study indicate that specialised training is necessary for master black and green belts, implementation of the CI requires a quality assurance and also CI approach is not only concerned with selecting a method and forming teams, but extends to covering the enhancement of improvement skills for operators. Finally avenues for future research were provided.
A Community-Based Semantic Social Context-Aware Driven Adaptation for Multimedia Documents
Authors: Alti Adel , Laborie Sébastian , Roose Philippe
Published: February 2016

This paper presents an approach to enhance users experience through the use of recommendations and social networks for on-the-fly (at runtime) adaptation of multimedia documents. This paper presents also CSSAP, a dynamic service selection and assembly tool based on new user profiles and community profiles defined as set of semantic metadata, which context, quality of service and quality of experience parameters. The tool is based on community-aware semantic services and offer architecture, with three layers (semantic query, community management and semantic services). The most innovative characteristic of the tool is that it profits from the potential of semantic representation techniques to express context constraints and community's interests, while they may be useful to generate and manage of complex dynamic adaptation process. This tool improves assembly of relevant adaptation services for communities inferred social influence from a Facebook as virtual P2P environment. The proposed approach has been validated through a prototype for mobiles user of multimedia contents exchanges. The goal is to improve assembly of potential adaptation services and the efficiency and effectiveness of the authors' approach.
Influence of Thermal Protection Material Composition on Heat and Mass Exchange of Body in Spatial Supersonic Flow
Authors: Goldin Victor D. , Ovchiinikov Vyacheslav A. , Kotov Ivan A.
Published: February 2016

The conjugate problem of aerodynamic heating of a blunted cone moving in the atmosphere at angle of attack at supersonic speed is considered. Three modifications of a thermal protection material based on coal-plastic with different proportions of a phenol-formalhyde binder and a carbon cloth are investigated. The effect of the material composition on the surface temperature and the mass loss characteristics is analyzed.
Growth of Demand for Materials with New Properties in Foresight and Strategic Planning
Authors: Lozhnikova Anna V. , Shchetinin Pyotr P. , Skrylnikova Natalia , Redchikova Natalia
Published: February 2016

The Russian Long-Term Science&Technology Foresight towards 2030 recognizes the critical importance of new materials in virtually all sectors of production, construction, medicine and services. This paper analyzes the essential terminological and content-related problems of foresight categories representation regarding new materials. Besides, the authors consider the development of further measures for direct and indirect (i.e. tax incentives) state support for economic development. The object of study is the science and technology categories “nanotechnologies”, “nanomaterials”, and “nanoproducts”. The study has been conducted using the method of critical technologies. The authors have revealed that the identification of the most promising areas of science and technology development in the framework of foresight, on the one hand, and tax incentives for research and development expenditures, on the other, are asymmetric. The asymmetry is content-related with regard to products and services and, temporal with regard to the duration period. What’s more, it is proposed to expand the current focus of the foresight studies in Russia and ensure that the scope of these studies comprises not only technology but also science and engineering.
Study of Absorption of Organic Pollutants by Modified Natural Materials
Authors: Naumova Ludmila B. , Batalova Valentina N. , Gorlenko Nikolay P. , Kartashova Anna A.
Published: February 2016

The paper presents the study of the absorption mechanism of organic pollutants such as formaldehyde and oxalic acid by natural zeolite and peat materials modified by iron (III) ions using the limited volume method.The relevance of this paper is a search for the use of inexpensive and available natural sorbents for waste water purification from ecologically hazardous water-soluble organic pollutants. The impact produced by the solution concentration and temperature and the size of natural composite particles on the sorption rate of organic substances is described in this paper. The effective factors for diffusion and energy of the process activation are calculated. It is found that the mixed-diffusion kinetics is the determinant stage of the process. In case of peat and zeolite composites, the internal diffusion prevails in the mixed-diffusion kinetics.
The Antiarrhythmic Effect of 4-Methyl-2,6-Diisobornylphenol in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion
Authors: Plotnikova Tatyana , Plotnikov Mark , Chernysheva Galina , Smol'yakova Vera , Shchetinin Pyotr P. , Kuchin Aleksandr , Chukicheva Irina
Published: February 2016

We studied the antiarrhythmic activity of novel sterically hindered phenols – 4-methyl-2,6- diisobornylphenol (dibornol) in acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in male Wistar rats. Left coronary artery occlusion (10 min) in control group induced different ventricular arrhythmia and 23% mortality of animals. Dibornol (p.o. administration 100 mg/kg 24 and 3 hours before ischemia) did not change the frequency and kinds of arrhythmia in acute ischemia, but significantly reduced the frequency and the level of seriousness of arrhythmia in the reperfusion period, decreased the mortality of rats due to lethal arrhythmia.
Preparation of Biocompatible Composites based on Poly-L-Lactide/Hydroxyapatite and Investigation of their Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Authors: Shapovalova Yelena , Lytkina Darya , Rasskazova Liudmila , Zhuk Ilya , Gudima Alexandru , Filimoshkin Anatoly , Korotchenko Natalya , Kurzina Irina , Kzhyshkowska Julia
Published: February 2016

Relevance of the work is due to the need for new materials that are used in medicine as a substitute for natural bone tissue injuries, fractures, etc. The aim of the work is to obtain composites with improved biocompatible properties based on poly-L-lactide (PLA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) and to perform pilot analysis of interaction PLA, HA, composite PLA-HA with primary human monocytes-derived macrophages in vitro. The pilot experiments using human primary monocytes cultivated on the surface of the samples demonstrated that PLA-HA can stimulate release of anti-inflammatory cytokines that indicates the presence of potential anti-inflammatory properties of the composites
Biological Detoxification of Lignocellulosic Hydrolysates for Improved Biobutanol Production
Authors: Morozova Tatyana , Semyonov Sergey
Published: February 2016

The fuel butanol yield and productivity obtained during fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates is decreased due to the presence of inhibiting compounds, such as carboxylic acids, phenolic compounds and furans formed during hydrolysis. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the biological detoxification method of lignocellulosic hydrolysates when two forms of specially adapted activated sludge are used for improved biobutanol production. We investigated the removal of toxic substances from an enzymatic hydrolysate of miscanthus cellulose and an acid hydrolysate of spruce by specially adapted activated sludge of the urban wastewater treatment plants and by activated sludge of the pig farm wastewater treatment plants. Activated sludge treatment removed 98 % and 99 % of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and furfural from the hydrolysate respectively. Fermentation of treated hydrolysates by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 was successful. Control experiments on fermentation of untreated hydrolysates showed a complete absence of fermentation
Numerical Simulation of Thermal Processes Involved in Surface Alloying of Aluminum with Titanium by an Intense Pulsed Electron Beam
Authors: Ivanov Yurii F. , Krysina Olga V. , Petrikova Elizaveta A. , Ivanova Оlgа V. , Ikonnikova Irina , Rygina Maria E.
Published: February 2016

The temperature fields arising in a Ti film – Al substrate system and bulk Ti specimen irradiated with a submillisecond intense electron beam are calculated in the one-dimension approximation. It is found that the temperature fields in the irradiated bulk Ti specimen and Ti film – Al substrate system differ greatly. Electron beam irradiation conditions which allow solid-phase and liquid-phase alloying of aluminum with titanium are defined
Increased utilisation of PEPFAR-supported laboratory services by non-HIV patients in Tanzania
Authors: Mcnairy Margaret , Gwynn Charon , Rabkin Miriam , Antelman Gretchen , Wu Yingfeng , Alemayehu Bereket , Lim Travis , Imtiaz Rubina , Mosha Fausta , Mwasekaga Michael , Othman Asha A. , Justman Jessica
Published: February 2016

Background: It is unknown to what extent the non-HIV population utilises laboratories supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).Objectives: We aimed to describe the number and proportion of laboratory tests performed in 2009 and 2011 for patients referred from HIV and non-HIV services (NHSs )in a convenience sample collected from 127 laboratories supported by PEPFAR in Tanzania. We then compared changes in the proportions of tests performed for patients referred from NHSs in 2009 vs 2011.Methods: Haematology, chemistry, tuberculosis and syphilis test data were collected from available laboratory registers. Referral sources, including HIV services, NHSs, or lack of a documented referral source, were recorded. A generalised linear mixed model reported the odds that a test was from a NHS.Results: A total of 94 132 tests from 94 laboratories in 2009 and 157 343 tests from 101 laboratories in 2011 were recorded. Half of all tests lacked a documented referral source. Tests from NHSs constituted 42% (66 084) of all tests in 2011, compared with 31% (29 181) in 2009. A test in 2011 was twice as likely to have been referred from a NHS as in 2009 (adjusted odds ratio: 2.0 [95% confidence interval: 2.0–2.1]).Conclusion: Between 2009 and 2011, the number and proportion of tests from NHSs increased across all types of test. This finding may reflect increased documentation of NHS referrals or that the laboratory scale-up originally intended to service the HIV-positive population in Tanzania may be associated with a ‘spillover effect’ amongst the general population.
Re-emergence of dengue virus serotype 2 strains in the 2013 outbreak in Nepal
Authors: Gupta Birendra Prasad , Singh Sneha , Kurmi Roshan , Malla Rajani , Sreekumar Easwaran , Manandhar Krishna Das
Published: February 2016

Background & objectives:

Epidemiological interventions and mosquito control are the available measures for dengue control. The former approach uses serotype and genetic information on the circulating virus strains. Dengue has been frequently reported from Nepal, but this information is mostly lacking. The present study was done to generate a comprehensive clinical and virological picture of a dengue outbreak in Nepal during 2013.

Methods:

A hospital-based study involving patients from five districts of Nepal was carried out. Demographic information, clinical details and dengue serological status were obtained. Viral RNA was characterized at the molecular level by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

Results:

From among the 2340 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases during the study period, 198 patients consented for the study. Clinically they had fever (100%), headache (59.1%), rashes (18.2%), retro-orbital pain (30.3%), vomiting (15.1%), joint pain (28.8%) and thrombocytopenia (74.3%). Fifteen (7.5%) of them had mucosal bleeding manifestations, and the rest were uncomplicated dengue fever. The patients were mostly adults with a mean age of 45.75 ± 38.61 yr. Of the 52 acute serum samples tested, 15 were positive in RT-PCR. The causative virus was identified as DENV serotype 2 belonging to the Cosmopolitan genotype.

Interpretations & conclusions:

We report here the involvement of DENV serotype 2 in an outbreak in Nepal in 2013. Earlier outbreaks in the region in 2010 were attributed to serotype 1 virus. As serotype shifts are frequently associated with secondary infections and severe disease, there is a need for enhancing surveillance especially in the monsoon and post-monsoon periods to prevent large-scale, severe dengue outbreaks in the region.
Usage pattern, physical integrity & insecticidal efficacy of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Odisha State, India
Authors: Anuse S.S. , Sahu S.S. , Subramanian S. , Gunasekaran K.
Published: February 2016

Background & objectives:

One of the major strategies being pursued for malaria control by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme is the distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) in endemic areas since 2009. Information on durability of insecticidal efficacy and physical integrity of LLINs and community usage at different time intervals of their use is essential to plan net replacements to maintain universal coverage for an effective and sustainable malaria control strategy. Therefore, a study was undertaken to assess these parameters in two malaria endemic districts of the Odisha State.

Methods:

A total of 309 households were selected in 15 villages of two community health centres (CHCs) (Borigumma and Laxmipur) from Koraput district and one (Khairput) from Malkangiri district. Data on net usage were collected during March to July 2014 using semi-structured questionnaires. PermaNet 2.0 were sampled from all households, replaced with new ones, and bioassays were carried out to determine the insecticidal efficacy of LLINs after four and half, four and two years of field use following the standard procedure of World Health Organization.

Results:

LLIN use rate varied from 57.9 to 90.2 per cent in the study CHCs. The annual washing rate per net in Borigumma, Khairput and Laxmipur was 6.6, 3.2 and 4.8, respectively. The LLINs used two years in the field caused 100 per cent mortality and four to four and half years caused below 80 per cent mortality, except one net.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Nearly 20 per cent of the people were out of net coverage and hence the Programme to ensure 100 per cent coverage. The community should adequately be educated so as to increase the net use rate and avoid incorrect washing practices.