bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protocolo estandarizado para el seguimiento poblacional del pavón, Oreophasis derbianus: propuesta de métodos de campo y analíticos
Authors: González-García Fernando , Martínez-Morales Miguel Angel , Abundis Santamaría Alejandro , Rivas-Romero Javier A. , Quiñónez-Guzmán Juan M. , Rodríguez Acosta James , Rangel-Salazar José Luis , Guichard Romero Carlos Alberto
Published: November 2017

La estimación robusta del tamaño poblacional de especies de fauna silvestre es un requisito fundamental en estudios ecológicos y en el diseño e implementación de estrategias de conservación. Sin embargo, en varios casos, estas estimaciones carecen de exactitud, precisión, representatividad y comparabilidad. Esto ha ocasionado que la información generada para las poblaciones de una determinada especie sea difícilmente generalizable y que su aplicación sea limitada. Éste es el caso del pavón, Oreophasis derbianus, un ave endémica de Mesoamérica y en peligro de extinción. En este trabajo presentamos una propuesta de protocolo de muestreo en campo y métodos analíticos estandarizados para el estudio poblacional de esta especie. La propuesta está basada en nuestra experiencia en el estudio de la especie y en la aplicación de la teoría del muestreo de distancias. El propósito de este protocolo estandarizado es generar datos de campo de calidad para obtener estimaciones robustas de la abundancia poblacional de O. derbianus. Este protocolo lo desarrollamos y evaluamos principalmente en la Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo, en Chia­pas, México, pero también fue replicado en otras tres localidades en México y Guatemala. Su desarrollo y evaluación incluyó muestreos mensuales en campo durante casi diez años y la impartición de talleres de capacitación teórico-prácticos a personal de campo para la adecuada implementación de este protocolo. Como resultado de esta experiencia, definimos una serie de li­neamientos básicos y factibles que proponemos sea un estándar como métodos de muestreo y analíticos de las poblaciones de O. derbianus para asegurar la calidad y comparabilidad de los datos generados en campo. Finalmente, presentamos estimaciones de la densidad poblacional de O. derbianus en las cuatro localidades estudiadas y discutimos el significado de su variación espacial y temporal en el contexto de esta propuesta.
La tángara azul gris (Thraupis episcopus) en el estado de Guerrero, México
Authors: Blancas-Calva Epifanio , Blancas-Hernández Jean Cristian , Castro-Torreblanca Marisol , Cano-Nava Gabriel Antonio
Published: November 2017

Registramos a la tángara azul gris (Thraupis episcopus) en la planicie costera del sureste del estado de Guerrero, México, en áreas urbanas con cobertura de árboles dispersos de especies nativas e introducidas. El área de distribución actual conocida para el taxón comprende tierras bajas del este de México, desde el centro-sur de Nuevo León hasta la península de Yucatán, incluido el este de Oaxaca y en la vertiente del Pacífico en la planicie costera de Chiapas. Sin embargo, no existen registros pre­vios publicados de la especie en Guerrero. Posiblemente T. episcopus es una especie que ha expandido su área de distribución en episodios de dispersión activa.
Reproducción del rabijunco pico-rojo (Phaethon aethereus) en isla Clarión, México
Authors: González-Zamora Diego Adolfo , Angulo-Castellanos Luis Felipe , Hernández-Vázquez Salvador , Almanza-Rodríguez Humberto , Piña-Ortiz Alberto , Castillo-Guerrero José Alfredo
Published: November 2017

El rabijunco de pico rojo se encuentra catalogado como una especie amenazada en México. Hay muy poca información de esta especie en el mundo. Entre enero-mayo de 2015 y 2016 confirmamos su anidación en la Isla Clarión (existían reportes y conteos de parejas volando alrededor de la isla, pero sin evidencia de nidos). Estimamos aproximadamente 48 parejas anidando en la isla. La temporada de reproducción ocurre entre los meses de diciembre y mayo. Al comparar nuestros datos con un reporte de parejas volando en 1990 parece que la población se ha mantenido relativamente estable en los últimos 25 años.
Registros y sitios de anidación del zambullidor menor (Tachybaptus dominicus) en Zacatecas
Authors: Pérez-Valadez Noé
Published: November 2017

En el año 2012 registré por primera vez en el estado de Zacatecas al zambullidor menor (Tachybaptus dominicus). Desde entonces he observado a esta especie en lugares diferentes en el municipio de Nochistlán de Mejía, suroeste de Zacatecas. Adicionalmente, en mayo, julio, septiembre y octubre de 2014 encontré cuatro sitios de anidación en cuerpos de agua artificial, uno de ellos con un nido que contenía tres huevos. Los cuerpos de agua artificiales, localmente conocidos como bordos, son lugares importantes no sólo para el zambullidor menor, el cual es una especie en la categoría de protección especial de acuerdo con la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, sino también para otras aves acuáticas residentes y migratorias, como los patos. A pesar de que el zambullidor menor ha sido registrado en los estados vecinos de Aguascalientes y Jalisco, no existe información para el estado de Zacatecas. En este estudio documento información sobre registros, sitios de anidación y comportamiento de esta especie en el municipio de Nochistlán de Mejía.
Patrones de riqueza y diversidad de aves en áreas verdes del centro urbano de San Salvador, El Salvador
Authors: Vides-Hernández Gabriel L. , Velado-Cano Maryory A. , Pablo-Cea José D. , Carmona-Galindo Víctor D.
Published: November 2017

La creciente urbanización ha propiciado que los ecosistemas naturales sean constantemente sustituidos por paisajes urbanos, proceso muy notorio en El Salvador, debido a su pequeña extensión territorial (21.041 km²) y su alta densidad poblacional (291 hab/km²). Realizamos un inventario en 12 áreas verdes urbanas, con diferentes tamaños, formas y distancia con respecto al área boscosa más grande de la zona metropolitana, basados en la teoría de biogeografía de islas de McArthur y Wilson (1967). Evaluamos si la riqueza, diversidad y equititavidad de aves se relacionaba con el tamaño y la distancia de las áreas verdes y si la forma de las mismas tenía algún efecto sobre la riqueza de aves. Registramos un total de 20 especies de aves y las clasificamos según su dieta (generalista y especialista). Observamos que la distancia no influyó en la riqueza de aves y que no hubo interacción entre las variables tamaño y distancia, pero que sí influyó el tamaño del área verde. La riqueza de aves con dieta restringida incremento en las áreas verdes más circulares que en las de forma más irregular. Concluimos que en el centro urbano de San Salvador, la presencia de áreas verdes grandes y circulares aporta más a la riqueza de aves de dieta especialista, que áreas de similar tamaño pero de forma irregular. Sin embargo, áreas pequeñas aportan más a la riqueza de aves que poseen esa dieta, si su forma es más circular
Registro del Estornino Pinto (Sturnus vulgaris) en Morelia, Michoacán
Authors: Maya-Elizarrarás Elisa
Published: November 2017

Reporto observaciones del estornino pinto en la ciudad de Morelia, Michoacán, especie exótica e invasora que fue traída al conti­nente americano desde el siglo pasado y que en los últimos años ocupa ya diferentes regiones del territorio nacional. Su detección temprana es un primer paso de acción dentro de la estrategia nacional sobre especies invasoras en México. Es importante realizar estudios sobre el efecto que esta y otras especies invasoras tienen sobre la fauna nativa.
PERKEMBANGAN PERBANKAN BAGI HASIL DI INDONESIA
Authors: Utami Wikan Budi
Published: November 2017

Anjloknya nilai tukar mata ung lokal yang diakibatkan adanya krisis ekonomi, menyebabkan bank-bank konvensional yang memberlakukan sistem bunga dan menganggap uang bukan hanya sekedar berfungsi sebagai alat tukar melainkan telah menjadi barang komoditas, sehingga mereka menaikkan secara besar-besaran bunga pinjaman dan simpanannya. Tingginya tingkat bunga tersebut menyebabkan ekonomi kekurangan  likuiditas, yang akibatnya dunia usaha menjadi stagnan, sehingga akhirnya bangkrut dan berakibat meningkatnya pengangguran. Walhasil masyarakat semakin miskin. Di sisi lain bank harus membayar bunga deposito yang tinggi, sedangkan pendapatan bunganya anjlok karena kredit macet. Akhirnya banyak bank-bank konvensional berbasis bunga, satu per satu gugur terlikuidasi. Dalam keadaan demikian terbukti bank syariah yang non bunga tapi bersistem bagi hasil (profit sharing)-lah yang bisa tetap bertahan terhadap tekanan krisis ekonomi. Hal ini disebabkan karena konsep yang mendasari  sistem keuangan syariah, menganggap uang hanya sebagai alat tukar. Sehingga uag tersebut tidak akan menghasilkan nilai tambah apapun, kecuali apabila dikonversi menjadi barang atau jasa. Sehingga tiap transaksi keuangan harus dilatarbelakangi transaksi sektor riil.  Kata kunci : perbankan, bagi hasil
PERILAKU PRODUSEN ISLAM
Authors: Pardanawati Sri Laksmi
Published: November 2017

Production is matarantai consumption, which provide goods and services that are the need of consumers, producers as consumers, aiming to obtain the maximum maslahah through its activities. So the producers in the economic perspective of Islam is not a hunter but the hunter mashlahah maximum profit. Expression mashlahah in production activities is a boon and a blessing, so produsen will determine the combination of blessings and benefits that provide maximum mashlahah. Therefore, the aim of manufacturers is not just profits, then consideration also not just the things that are resources that have a technical connection with the output, but also consideration of the content of blessing (nontechnical) that exist on the resources and output Keywords : Behavior, Producer
PENGARUH KUALITAS JASA TERHADAP KEPUASAN NASABAH PADA BANK UMUM SYARIAH DI SURAKARTA
Authors: Mustofa Ulul Azmi , Siyamto Yudi
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is influence of service quality on customer satisfaction Islamic banks, so as to identify which dimension of service quality that is dominant in influencing customer satisfaction.Variables used consists of dimensional compliance, assurance, reliability, tangible, empathy and responsiveness known  CARTER name. This research was conducted in the region with a population Surakarta Islamic commercial bank customers are categorized as foreign banks with a sample of 90 respondents, as well as the sampling process is done by accidental sampling.The results showed that partially dimensional compliance, reliability, tangibility, empathy, responsiveness individual has an influence on customer satisfaction Islamic commercial bank. As for the variables assurance there are no significant effects. In this case the use CARTER dimension is good enough since it simultaneously has the effect on customer satisfaction.Keywords: Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, CARTER
KUALITAS PELAYANAN BANK DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE IMPORTANCE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS (IPA) DAN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION INDEX (CSI) TERHADAP KEPUASAN NASABAH
Authors: Siyamto Yudi
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of services provided by the bank in serving kepusan customers using 5 dimensions of assurance, reliability, tangibility, empathy, and responsiveness, so from that dimension is unknown dimension into the client's preferences into consideration the quality of services by banks in Surakarta. The method used is the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) and the Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) doped with Miscrosoft software Excel for Windows and SPSS for windows. Questionnaires distributed amounted to 90 respondents with a sampling with accidental sampling method. The results of data processing by using IPA (Importance Performance Analysis) obtained an average rate of 95.21% suitability. Furthermore, for the assessment of the quadrant where the priority that should be corrected is related  Equanimity  customers  and  Ease  of  providing  services.  However  the  overall  services provided  by the  bank  are  quite  satisfied  because  of  the  20  attributes,  only  the  second  to  be prioritized. It was also evident from the results of the methods CSI (Customer Satisfaction Index) indicates the level of customer satisfaction by 80.80%. The value is in the range from 66 to 80.99%, so overall customers are satisfied with the performance of the services provided by the bank in Surakarta.
PERAN MANAJEMEN SYARIAH TERHADAP PENINGKATAN KEPUASAN PELANGGAN PADA RUMAH SAKIT ISLAM DI KOTA SURAKARTA
Authors: Sumadi Sumadi
Published: November 2017

This study aims to find customer satisfaction model at Islamic Hospital in Surakarta. The sample in this study is the respondents who have come and treated in the Islamic Hospital in the city of Surakarta. With various limitations, the target object is the community around the solo who ever come to the hotel sharia. The spread of questionnaires is not necessarily done in Islamic Hospital by looking and giving directly to visitors who come to the place of Islamic Hospital. The criteria used are the people around the solo who already know about the Islamic Hospital and have visited the treatment and never stay in the Islamic Hospital which amounted to 57 respondents. The sampling technique in this research is by accidental sampling. Data analysis method used is validity test, reability test, normality test and multiple linear regression analysis test with t test, F test, and coefficient of determination (R2).
“Berliner Sonderschule”: History, Space, and Humour in Jan Ole Gerster’sOh Boy(A Coffee in Berlin)
Authors: Blankenship Robert , Twark Jill E.
Published: November 2017

The term Berliner Sonderschule appears both in a humorous scene in Jan Ole Gerster’s 2012 film Oh Boy (English: A Coffee in Berlin) and in a media interview in which Gerster uses it to refer to his own cinematic aesthetic. He thereby consciously sets his work apart from recent films belonging to the Berlin School. Exploring various cinematic and narrative techniques in Oh Boy—including how the director spotlights the city’s palimpsestuous architectural objects and displays the influence of German history on present-day Berliners—we reveal what Gerster might mean with his use of the tongue-in-cheek designation Berliner Sonderschule. We assess this appellation also as a way for the director to reinforce his distance from the Berlin School and to refer to his kaleidoscopic aesthetic with self-deprecating humour. In Oh Boy, Gerster confronts the interconnectedness of past and present, critiques the state of cinema in post-Wall Germany, and is not afraid to laugh at himself in the process.
Extraction of Natural Surfactant Saponin from Soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) and its Utilization in the Remediation of Hexavalent Chromium from Contaminated Water
Authors: Mondal Monohar Hossain , Malik Susanta , Garain Amit , Mandal Sangita , Saha Bidyut
Published: November 2017

In this study optimization of extraction conditions for saponin from soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) has been investigated. This investigation showed that a better extraction of saponin can be achieved with increasing the dielectric constant of solvent employed. The best yield was attained in a 50% v/v aqueous ethanol medium. Another objective of the present study is to assess the thermodynamics of the uptake-reduction of hexavalent chromium in contaminated water samples using saponin. Pyrene has been employed to determine the critical micellar concentration (CMC) (in the UV-vis method of determination) of saponin as a spectroscopic probe. Thus, the effectiveness of the bio-surfactant as a self-motivated adsorbent for hexavalent chromium is investigated. Several physico-chemical parameters like contact time, sorbate concentration, pH and temperature have been determined. The findings of the investigation invoked a very efficient uptake of 213.48 mg g−1 of hexavalent chromium from the contaminated water sample at a lower value of pH 2 and temperature 35°C. It is observed that the method followed a pseudo-first order kinetics, where the evaluated ΔG0 has supported the sorption as a feasible and spontaneous process. The HR-MS, FTIR, steady state Fluorescence spectroscopy, HR-TEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy have been employed for the current scientific studies.
Mathematical Models of Microbial Growth and Metabolism: A Whole-Organism Perspective
Authors: Nev Olga A. , Van Den Berg Hugo A.
Published: November 2017

We review the principles underpinning the development of mathematical models of the metabolic activities of micro-organisms. Such models are important to understand and chart the substantial contributions made by micro-organisms to geochemical cycles, and also to optimise the performance of bioreactors that exploit the biochemical capabilities of these organisms. We advocate an approach based on the principle of dynamic allocation. We survey the biological background that motivates this approach, including nutrient assimilation, the regulation of gene expression, and the principles of microbial growth. In addition, we discuss the classic models of microbial growth as well as contemporary approaches. The dynamic allocation theory generalises these classic models in a natural manner and is readily amenable to the additional information provided by transcriptomics and proteomics approaches. Finally, we touch upon these organising principles in the context of the transition from the free-living unicellular mode of life to multicellularity.
Why are grammatical elements more evenly dispersed than lexical elements? Assessing the roles of text frequency and semantic generality
Authors: Hilpert Martin , Correia Saavedra David
Published: November 2017

Grammatical elements such as determiners, conjunctions or pronouns are very evenly dispersed across natural language data. By contrast, the uses of lexical elements have a stronger tendency to occur in bursts that are interspersed by long lulls. This paper considers two alternative explanations for this difference. First, it could be hypothesised that the more even distribution of grammatical elements is merely an effect of an element's high text frequency. Alternatively, it could be argued that a more even distribution is a symptom of greater generality in meaning. In order to assess the impact of both frequency and semantic generality, we conducted a corpus-based study that contrasts lexical and grammatical elements in Present-Day English. Our results suggest that evenness of dispersion is chiefly an effect of high frequency.
Quelques éléments d'alchimie péruvienne
Authors: Kahn Didier
Published: November 2017

Le Peruviana de C.-B. Morisot (1644–6) est un des ouvrages les plus singuliers qui soient. Dédié à Gaston d'Orléans et à l'un de ses proches, mêlant histoire politique et allégorie alchimique, il offre tour à tour descriptions de laboratoire, ballets symboliques et exégèses alchimiques des divers épisodes du règne de Louis XIII dans une latinité savamment ludique. Après avoir rappelé comment Stephen Bamforth a pu être amené à connaître ce roman alchimique, on en traduit ici des extraits choisis pour illustrer la haute fantaisie, mais aussi la rigueur dont l'auteur a su faire preuve dans la composition de cettte curiosité littéraire, de cet « étrange monstre », comme l'appelait Marc Fumaroli.
Friendship and Rivalry in Science and Scholarship: Pierre-Daniel Huet and the Académies de Caen
Authors: Maber Richard
Published: November 2017

An informed engagement in a wide variety of advanced intellectual pursuits was entirely normal in the early modern period; less predictable, though, were the crucial dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Uniquely in seventeenth-century France, Caen saw the foundation of two separate learned societies, the principal Académie de Caen and the smaller but distinct Académie de physique. The latter was also unique: inspired by the Royal Society of London and founded well before the Parisian Académie des sciences, it gained royal recognition and finance in 1668 before failing soon after 1672. In this essay, these remarkable events are reconsidered in the light of the individuals involved, especially the dominant personality of the strong-minded polymath Pierre-Daniel Huet, and their relationships. Based on primary documents that have been unstudied or misinterpreted, it serves as a case-study of the complex ways in which intellectual life in France operated in practice during the later seventeenth century.
‘Era una meraviglia vederli’: Carnival in Cognac (1520) between the Bastille and the Cloth of Gold
Authors: Cooper Richard
Published: November 2017

The years 1517–20 saw a renewal of court festival in France, following the arrival of Leonardo da Vinci. Machines became a feature, as did elaborate mythological and chivalric pageants, banquets and dances. Although the 1518 celebrations at Amboise and the Bastille have been studied, as has the Field of the Cloth of Gold, little was known about the elaborate Carnival in 1520 held in the birthplace of François Ier. Archival evidence reveals this to have been an innovative Valois festival, lasting over a fortnight, in the Château which the King and his mother had specially rebuilt and decorated to accommodate the whole court and foreign ambassadors, who hunted and feasted every day and danced every night, despite Lenten austerity.
Anya Ahmed (2015). Retiring to Spain. Women’s Narratives of Nostalgia, Belonging and Community. Bristol: Policy Press, 208 pp. ISBN 978 1 44731 330 4 (hardback)
Authors: Blaakilde Anne Leonora
Published: November 2017

Not Available.
Bacteriophages in the Dairy Environment: From Enemies to Allies
Authors: Fernández Lucía , Escobedo Susana , Gutiérrez Diana , Portilla Silvia , Martínez Beatriz , García Pilar , Rodríguez Ana
Published: November 2017

The history of dairy farming goes back thousands of years, evolving from a traditional small-scale production to the industrialized manufacturing of fermented dairy products. Commercialization of milk and its derived products has been very important not only as a source of nourishment but also as an economic resource. However, the dairy industry has encountered several problems that have to be overcome to ensure the quality and safety of the final products, as well as to avoid economic losses. Within this context, it is interesting to highlight the role played by bacteriophages, or phages, viruses that infect bacteria. Indeed, bacteriophages were originally regarded as a nuisance, being responsible for fermentation failure and economic losses when infecting lactic acid bacteria, but are now considered promising antimicrobials to fight milk-borne pathogens without contributing to the increase in antibiotic resistance.
A Negative Index Metamaterial to Enhance the Performance of Miniaturized UWB Antenna for Microwave Imaging Applications
Authors: Mahmud Md. , Islam Mohammad , Misran Norbahiah , Singh Mandeep , Mat Kamarulzaman
Published: November 2017

A new, compact planar wideband negative index metamaterial based on a modified split ring resonator (SRR) is studied to enhance performance of ultrawideband antenna. A compact, metamaterial (MTM)-inspired microstrip antenna is presented for microwave imaging system (MIS) application. Two layers of left-handed metamaterial array (2 × 4) of the unit cell are placed on the radiating patch and the ground plane, respectively. Each left-handed metamaterial (LHM) unit cell was constructed by modifying a square split ring resonator (SRR), resulting in negative permeability and permittivity with a stable negative refractive index. The results shows that it has a significant impact on the performance of conventional patch antenna in terms of transmission co-efficient, efficiency and low loss. Compared to antenna without LHM, it is shown that the bandwidth is significantly broadened up to a few megahertz and becomes more convergent leading to the achievement of desired properties for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications leading to microwave imaging. The proposed MTM antenna structure is fabricated on commercially-available, flame-retardant material of size 26 × 22 × 1.6 mm3 with 4.6 dielectric constants, due to its low cost and convenience for making multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs). The antenna achieves 3.1 GHz to 10.71 GHz of impedance bandwidth (−10 dB), which covers the full UWB band. The use of double-layer negative index MTM unit cells enhances UWB performance, and the improved radiation efficiency, nearly directional radiation pattern, acceptable gain, stable surface current and negative refractive index make this MTM antenna a suitable candidate for UWB applications.
Sources and Formation Processes of Short-Chain Saturated Diacids (C2–C4) in Inhalable Particles (PM10) from Huangshi City, Central China
Authors: Liu Hongxia , Kawamura Kimitaka , Kunwar Bhagawati , Cao Junji , Zhang Jiaquan , Zhan Changlin , Zheng Jingru , Yao Ruizhen , Liu Ting , Liu Xianli , Xiao Wensheng
Published: November 2017

PM10 samples were collected from Huangshi (HS) city, Central China during April 2012 to March 2013, and were analyzed for short-chain saturated dicarboxylic acids (diacids) using a capillary gas chromatograph (GC). We found that oxalic acid (C2, 318 ± 104 ng·m−3) was the most abundant diacid species, followed by malonic acid (C3, 25.4 ± 9.11 ng·m−3) and succinic acid (C4, 2.09 ± 0.52 ng·m−3). The concentrations of C2 and C4 diacids were highest in winter, followed by summer and spring, and lowest in autumn. C3 diacid was decreased in the order of summer > winter > autumn > spring. Further, the seasonal variations of WSOC (water-soluble organic carbon)- and OC (organic carbon)-normalized diacid concentrations were similar to those of diacid concentrations, suggesting that both primary emission and secondary production are important sources for diacids in Huangshi (HS) aerosols. Strong correlations were found among C2 diacid and the three ions SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+ in summer and winter, suggesting that the species could undergo a similar secondary oxidation processing. C2 had good correlation with K+ in summer and autumn, which indicates an enhanced contribution of combustion sources for C2 diacid. Moreover, according to the ratio of C2/K+, we can conclude that C2 diacid should be formed by a secondary reaction of biomass combustion in HS aerosols, especially in summer and autumn. The ratios of C2/C4 and C3/C4 were compared with those reported in other sites, and the results suggest that HS aerosols should be more photochemically aged than at other urban areas. Principal component analysis of diacids and selected water-soluble inorganic ions over four seasons suggests that HS aerosols are influenced not only from primary emission, but also from secondary reaction. According to the linear relation between C2 and C3 diacids, the results indicate that C2 diacid is formed from the oxidation of hydrocarbon compounds in spring, while it is from the oxidation of C3 and C4 diacids in summer, autumn, and winter.
Novel Ni-Ce-Zr/Al2O3 Cellular Structure for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane
Authors: Bortolozzi Juan , Portela Raquel , Ávila Pedro , Milt Viviana , Miró Eduardo
Published: November 2017

A novel γ-alumina-supported Ni-Ce-Zr catalyst with cellular structure was developed for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE). First, powdered samples were synthesized to study the effect of both the total metal content and the Ce/Zr ratio on the physicochemical properties and performance of these catalysts. All synthesized powdered samples were highly active and selective for ODHE with a maximum ethylene productivity of 6.94 µmolethylene gact cat−1 s−1. According to the results, cerium addition increased the most reducible nickel species population, which would benefit ethane conversion, whereas zirconium incorporation would enhance ethylene selectivity through the generation of higher amounts of the least reducible nickel species. Therefore, the modification of active site properties by addition of both promoters synergistically increases the productivity of the Ni-based catalysts. The most efficient formulation, in terms of ethylene productivity per active phase amount, contained 15 wt% of the mixed oxide with Ni0.85Ce0.075Zr0.075 composition. This formulation was selected to synthesize a Ni-Ce-Zr/Al2O3 structured body by deposition of the active phase onto a homemade γ-alumina monolith. The structured support was manufactured by extrusion of boehmite-containing dough. The main properties of the Ni0.85Ce0.075Zr0.075 powder were successfully preserved after the shaping procedure. In addition, the catalytic performance of the monolithic sample was comparable in terms of ethylene productivity to that of the powdered counterpart.
Cluster Analysis of Monthly Precipitation over the Western Maritime Continent under Climate Change
Authors: Singh Saurabh K , Lo Edmond Yat-Man , Qin Xiaosheng
Published: November 2017

Changes in climate because of global warming during the 20th and 21st centuries have a direct impact on the hydrological cycle as driven by precipitation. However, studying precipitation over the Western Maritime Continent (WMC) is a great challenge, as the WMC has a complex topography and weather system. Understanding changes in precipitation patterns and their groupings is an important aspect of planning mitigation measures to minimize flood and drought risk as well as of understanding the redistribution of precipitation arising from climate change. This paper employs Ward’s hierarchical clustering on regional climate model (RCM)-simulated monthly precipitation gridded data over 42 approximately evenly distributed grid stations from the years 2030 to 2060. The aim was to investigate spatial and temporal groupings over the four major landmasses in the WMC and to compare these with historical precipitation groupings. The results showed that the four large-scale islands of Java, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo would experience a significant spatial redistribution of precipitation over the years 2030 to 2060, as compared to historical patterns from 1980 to 2005. The spatial groups were also compared for two future forcing scenarios, representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5, and different groupings over the Borneo region were observed.
Minimization of the Electromagnetic Torque Ripple Caused by the Coils Inter-Turn Short Circuit Fault in Dual-Redundancy Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors
Authors: Chen Yiguang , Zhang Bo
Published: November 2017

With the development of electric vehicles and More-Electric/All-Electric aircraft, high reliability is required in motor servo systems. The redundancy technique is one of the most effective methods to improve the reliability of motor servo systems. In this paper, the structure of dual-redundancy permanent magnet synchronous motor (DRPMSM) with weak thermal coupling and no electromagnetic coupling is analyzed and the mathematical model of this motor is established. However, there is little research on how to suppress the torque ripple caused by short-circuited coils in the DRPMSM. The main contribution of this paper is to present the advantages of DRPMSM and to find a way to suppress the torque ripple caused by the short circuit fault in DRPMSM. In order to improve operation quality and enhance the reliability of DRPMSM after a short circuit occurs, the torque ripple caused by the coils inter-turn short circuit fault in DRPMSM is analyzed in detail. Then, a control method for suppressing the electromagnetic torque ripple of a short-circuited coil is proposed for the first time by using an improved adaptive proportional resonant (PR) controller and a proportional integral (PI) controller in parallel. PR control is a method of controlling alternating components without steady-state error, and it can be used to suppress torque ripple. DRPMSM adopts speed and current double closed-loop control strategies. An improved adaptive PR controller and a PI controller are employed in parallel for the speed loop, while traditional PI control is adopted in current loop. From the simulation and experimental results, the torque ripple is reduced from 45.4 to 5.6% when the torque ripple suppression strategy proposed in this paper is adopted, in the case that the speed is 600 r/min. The torque ripple suppression strategy based on the PR controller can quickly and effectively suppress the torque ripple caused by the short-circuited coils, which makes the motor speed more stable.
Antimicrobial Peptides Are Expressed during Early Development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Are Inducible by Immune Challenge
Authors: Caccia Elisabetta , Agnello Maria , Ceci Marcello , Strickler Dinglasan Patricia , Vasta Gerardo , Romano Nicla
Published: November 2017

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPS) are ancestral components in the evolution of immunity from protozoans to metazoans. Their expression can be constitutive or inducible by infectious challenge. Although characterized in detail in their structure and activity, the temporal and spatial expression of AMPS during vertebrate embryogenesis is still poorly understood. In the present study, we identified selected AMPs in zebrafish, and characterized their expression during early development, and upon experimental immune challenge in adult animals, with the goal of establishing this genetically-tractable model system for further AMP studies. By mining available genomic databases, zebrafish AMP sequences homologous to AMPs from other vertebrates were selected for further study. These included parasin I and its enzyme cathepsin D, β-defensin (DB1), liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2), bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI), and chromogranin-A and -B (CgA and CgB). Specific primers were designed for RT-PCR amplification of each AMP gene of interest and amplicons between 242 bp and 504 bp were obtained from RNA extracted from adult zebrafish. Sequencing of the amplicons and alignment of their deduced amino acid sequences with those from AMPs from other vertebrate species confirmed their identity. The temporal expression of AMPs was investigated by RT-PCR analysis in fertilized oocytes, embryos, and adult individuals. Parasin I and chatepsin D transcripts were detectable immediately after fertilization, while the transcripts for CgA and CgB became evident starting at 48 h post fertilization. Mature transcripts of LEAP2 and DB1 were detectable only in the adult zebrafish, while BPI transcripts were detectable starting from the 12th day post fertilization. To explore the possible upregulation of AMP expression by infectious challenge, experiments were carried out in adult zebrafish by intraperitoneal injection of a cocktail of lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid. Except for CgA and CgB, amplicons corresponding to all tested AMPs showed stronger signals in the experimental animals as compared to the unchallenged controls. This study provided information on the early expression of AMPs in zebrafish from ontogeny to adulthood and their inducibility by microbials. This information could be useful to actuate new prophylactic strategies as an alternative to the use of antibiotics in culture.
Development and Physico-Chemical Characterization of a Shea Butter-Containing Lipid Nutrition Supplement for Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Sloffer Elizabeth , Gaur Shashank , Engeseth Nicki , Andrade Juan
Published: November 2017

Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) are used to prevent and treat moderate and severe acute malnutrition, a leading cause of mortality in children-under-five. The physical and chemical changes of two new LNS products were evaluated before and after accelerated shelf life testing (ASLT) according to protocols suggested by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Doctors without Borders and compared against USAID’s A-20 paste as a control. LNS formulas containing Shea butter from the Shea nut tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), a common fat source in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, with and without flax-seed oil, as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, were developed. LNS formulas were batched (0.8 kg) in a wet grinder, sealed under nitrogen in three-layer mini-pouches (20 g), and underwent ASLT at 40 ± 2 °C for six months with sampling every eight weeks. At each time point, water activity, moisture, peroxide value, oil separation, vitamin C content, and hardness were evaluated. Results showed comparable stability among all formulas with an increase in Aw (p < 0.05) but no change in vitamin C, oil separation, or peroxide value. Addition of Shea butter improved the LNS’s hardness, which remained stable over time. Modifying fat profile in LNS can improve its texture and essential fatty acid content without affecting its storage stability.
Evaluation of Drug-Disease Interactions and Their Association with Unplanned Hospital Readmission Utilizing STOPP Version 2 Criteria
Authors: Lau Mandy , Tenney Justin
Published: November 2017

Early hospital readmission is a common problem among geriatric patients, as they are more susceptible to adverse drug events, which are associated with increased hospital admission. The objective is to examine the association between exposure to potentially inappropriate medications under selected STOPP version 2 criteria related to drug-disease interactions and unplanned early hospitalization within 28 days of index admission in elderly patients prescribed a potentially inappropriate medication. This retrospective single-center study reviewed patients 75 years of age or older that were discharged with 5 or more medications, including at least one selected medication listed in the STOPP version 2 criteria relating to drug-disease interactions. 182 patients, with a mean age of 83.5 years, were included in the study, with anticholinergics being the most common potentially inappropriate medications (22.4%). Potentially inappropriate medications (57.1% vs. 17.1%, p < 0.001), gout (31% vs. 11.5%, p = 0.003), and gastrointestinal disease (11.9% vs. 2.5%, p = 0.026) were shown to increase risk of 28-day readmission, whereas no other factors assessed correlated with readmission. A rapid evaluation of elderly patient discharge medications and concomitant disease states with the aid of the STOPP version 2 criteria could potentially reduce hospital readmissions or emergency department visits.
Coordinating Leader-Follower Supply Chain with Sustainable Green Technology Innovation on Their Fairness Concerns
Authors: Du Bisheng , Liu Qing , Li Guiping
Published: November 2017

Sustainable green technology innovation is essential in all the stages of the supply chain development. The members of the supply chain in each stage need to invest in sustainable green technology innovation research and development. However, whether the sustainable green technology innovation investments and profits for all the members are fairness concerned is a critical factor to motivate the supply chain members. Motivated by a real business investigation, in this study, a supply chain model with one supplier and one manufacturer is analyzed. We consider fairness concerns for the supplier and the manufacturer with sustainable green technology innovation development. We derive the optimal results in both with and without fairness concern. The results indicate that fairness concerns can promote and coordinate the supply chain members without advantage inequity averseness, to invest more on their sustainable green technology innovation development.
Hospital Smoke-Free Policy: Compliance, Enforcement, and Practices. A Staff Survey in Two Large Public Hospitals in Australia
Authors: McCrabb Sam , Baker Amanda , Attia John , Balogh Zsolt , Lott Natalie , Palazzi Kerrin , Naylor Justine , Harris Ian , Doran Christopher , George Johnson , Wolfenden Luke , Skelton Eliza , Bonevski Billie
Published: November 2017

Background: Smoke-free hospital policies are becoming increasingly common to promote good health and quit attempts among patients who smoke. This study aims to assess: staff perceived enforcement and compliance with smoke-free policy; the current provision of smoking cessation care; and the characteristics of staff most likely to report provision of care to patients. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of medical, nursing, and allied staff from two Australian public hospitals was conducted. Staff report of: patient and staff compliance with smoke-free policy; perceived policy enforcement; the provision of the 5As for smoking cessation (Ask, Assess, Advise, Assist, and Arrange follow-up); and the provision of stop-smoking medication are described. Logistic regressions were used to determine respondent characteristics related to the provision of the 5As and stop-smoking medication use during hospital admission. Results: A total of 805 respondents participated. Self-reported enforcement of smoke-free policy was low (60.9%), together with compliance for both patients (12.9%) and staff (23.6%). The provision of smoking cessation care was variable, with the delivery of the 5As ranging from 74.7% (ask) to 18.1% (arrange follow-up). Medical staff (odds ratio (OR) = 2.09, CI = 1.13, 3.85, p = 0.018) and full time employees (OR = 2.03, CI = 1.06, 3.89, p = 0.033) were more likely to provide smoking cessation care always/most of the time. Stop-smoking medication provision decreased with increasing age of staff (OR = 0.98, CI = 0.96, 0.99, p = 0.008). Conclusions: Smoke-free policy enforcement and compliance and the provision of smoking cessation care remains low in hospitals. Efforts to improve smoking cessation delivery by clinical staff are warranted.
Development and Relative Validity of a Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Intakes of Total and Free Sugars in Australian Toddlers
Authors: Devenish Gemma , Mukhtar Aqif , Begley Andrea , Do Loc , Scott Jane
Published: November 2017

Background: Dental research into early childhood caries is hindered by a lack of suitable dietary assessment tools that have been developed and validated for the population and outcomes of interest. The aim of this study was to develop and investigate the relative validity and reproducibility of the Study of Mothers’ and Infants’ Life Events Food Frequency Questionnaire (SMILE-FFQ), to assess the total and free sugars intakes of Australian toddlers. Methods: The SMILE-FFQ was designed to capture the leading dietary contributors to dental caries risk in toddlers aged 18–30 months via a proxy report. Ninety-five parents of Australian toddlers completed the questionnaire online before and after providing three 24-h recalls (24HR), collected on non-consecutive days using the multipass method. Total and free sugars were compared between the two SMILE-FFQ administrations and between each SMILE-FFQ and the 24HR using multiple statistical tests and standardised validity criteria. Correlation (Pearson), mean difference (Wilcoxon rank test) and Bland Altman analyses were conducted to compare absolute values, with cross-classification (Chi-Square and Weighted Kappa) used to compare agreement across tertiles. Results: All reproducibility tests showed good agreement except weighted kappa, which showed acceptable agreement. Relative validity tests revealed a mix of good and acceptable agreement, with total sugars performing better at the individual level than free sugars. Compared to the 24HR, the SMILE-FFQ tended to underestimate absolute values at lower levels and overestimate them at higher levels. Conclusions: The combined findings of the various tests indicate that the SMILE-FFQ performs comparably to the 24HR for assessing both total and free sugars among individuals, is most effective for ranking participants rather than determining absolute intakes, and is therefore suitable for use in observational studies of Australian toddlers.
Size Effects of Fiscal Policy and Business Confidence in the Euro Area
Authors: Michail Nektarios , Savva Christos , Koursaros Demetris
Published: November 2017

In the aftermath of the European sovereign debt crisis (2009–2014), the management of expectations has risen in importance. However, policy responses have emphasized the management of fiscal spending without examining the impact changes in the business confidence have on the economy. This paper uses a Factor-Augmented Vector Autoregressive specification, which allows for a larger information set covering both domestic and international developments, to measure the responses of five Euro Area economies to a one percent shock in government consumption and business confidence. The evidence suggests that even though the response to a government consumption shock is strong, a shock in expectations has an even greater effect. This points out to the fact that perceptions about the future and trust in the policymaker are much more important than previously considered. Thus, especially in (but not limited to) times of turbulence, or during efforts of stabilization and/or structural reforms, more emphasis should be placed on the overall credibility of the decisions, which could help to mitigate any potential adverse effects from the policies.
Hepatotoxicity of Herbal Supplements Mediated by Modulation of Cytochrome P450
Authors: Brewer Christopher , Chen Taosheng
Published: November 2017

Herbal supplements are a significant source of drug-drug interactions (DDIs), herb-drug interactions, and hepatotoxicity. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes metabolize a large number of FDA-approved pharmaceuticals and herbal supplements. This metabolism of pharmaceuticals and supplements can be augmented by concomitant use of either pharmaceuticals or supplements. The xenobiotic receptors constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and the pregnane X receptor (PXR) can respond to xenobiotics by increasing the expression of a large number of genes that are involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics, including CYP450s. Conversely, but not exclusively, many xenobiotics can inhibit the activity of CYP450s. Induction of the expression or inhibition of the activity of CYP450s can result in DDIs and toxicity. Currently, the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration does not require the investigation of the interactions of herbal supplements and CYP450s. This review provides a summary of herbal supplements that inhibit CYP450s, induce the expression of CYP450s, and/or whose toxicity is mediated by CYP450s.
The Na, K-ATPase β-Subunit Isoforms Expression in Glioblastoma Multiforme: Moonlighting Roles
Authors: Rotoli Deborah , Cejas Mariana-Mayela , Maeso María-del-Carmen , Pérez-Rodríguez Natalia-Dolores , Morales Manuel , Ávila Julio , Mobasheri Ali , Martín-Vasallo Pablo
Published: November 2017

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common form of malignant glioma. Recent studies point out that gliomas exploit ion channels and transporters, including Na, K-ATPase, to sustain their singular growth and invasion as they invade the brain parenchyma. Moreover, the different isoforms of the β-subunit of Na, K-ATPase have been implicated in regulating cellular dynamics, particularly during cancer progression. The aim of this study was to determine the Na, K-ATPase β subunit isoform subcellular expression patterns in all cell types responsible for microenvironment heterogeneity of GBM using immunohistochemical analysis. All three isoforms, β1, β2/AMOG (Adhesion Molecule On Glia) and β3, were found to be expressed in GBM samples. Generally, β1 isoform was not expressed by astrocytes, in both primary and secondary GBM, although other cell types (endothelial cells, pericytes, telocytes, macrophages) did express this isoform. β2/AMOG and β3 positive expression was observed in the cytoplasm, membrane and nuclear envelope of astrocytes and GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) negative cells. Interestingly, differences in isoforms expression have been observed between primary and secondary GBM: in secondary GBM, β2 isoform expression in astrocytes was lower than that observed in primary GBM, while the expression of the β3 subunit was more intense. These changes in β subunit isoforms expression in GBM could be related to a different ionic handling, to a different relationship between astrocyte and neuron (β2/AMOG) and to changes in the moonlighting roles of Na, K-ATPase β subunits as adaptor proteins and transcription factors.