bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La Incidencia de las Pausas Activas en la Calidad de Vida Laboral de la Empresa Maxi-Distribuciones
Authors: González-Franco Gardenia Vanesa , Yerovi-Villalba Luis Aníbal , Barreno-Benavides Luis Enrique
Published: November 2017

El artículo analiza la incidencia de las pausas activas en los trabajadores de la empresa Maxi- Distribuciones operadora del servicio de radiocomunicación, el artículo parte con la descripción teórica de las pausas activas, así como de los elementos que la integran como son: salud laboral, salud en el trabajo y calidad de vida laboral, desde las perspectivas de diferentes autores; igualmente experiencias en la aplicación de las pausas activas en nuestro país; se analiza además, la situación actual de las mismas en la empresa sujeto de investigación, a partir de ello se propone un programa de pausas activas, basado en una rutina de ejercicios, tendientes a eliminar y disminuir los problemas causados por la rutina en el trabajo sin ninguna pausa o terapia; finalmente, se realiza una evaluación de los resultados obtenidos luego de la aplicación del programa señalado a los trabajadores de la empresa.
El Canal de Crédito en Ecuador: Primeras Señales de la Desaceleración Económica de 2015
Authors: Espinoza Nereyda E. , Sánchez Gonzalo E. , Vargas Patricia A.
Published: November 2017

El artículo realiza una observación de la desaceleración de la economía ecuatoriana del año 2015 a través del comportamiento del mercado crediticio. La evidencia sugiere que la oferta y demanda de crédito se han reducido considerablemente generando una contracción importante del volumen de crédito. La revisión literaria indica que este tipo de contracción tiene el potencial de amplificar el efecto de la desaceleración y afectar principalmente a las empresas pequeñas y medianas.
Análisis Comparado del Acceso a Salud y Educación en Comunidades Agrícolas Marginadas y Aisladas
Authors: Herrero-Olarte Susana
Published: November 2017

Las Comunidades Marginadas y Aisladas (CMA) agrícolas tienen la necesidad de contar con políticas que consideren sus características propias. Es preciso para ello definir cuáles son sus necesidades y por ende priorizar los objetivos de las estrategias políticas a desarrollar para que puedan mejorar su calidad de vida. Para identificar sus principales problemas se acudió a 11 países en los que se realizaron 256 encuestas a familias en las CMA, 36 entrevistas a organizaciones que trabajaban en esas comunidades y se analizaron 11 proyectos de cooperación al desarrollo ejecutados en CMA. El acceso a la salud y a la educación era el principal problema para el 36% de la población encuestada. A continuación se comparan indicadores de referencia en el ámbito de la salud y la educación de cada CMA con el promedio nacional. En todos los casos, las condiciones de acceso a la salud y a la educación eran peores en las comunidades, menos en la transmisión de VIH. Para las familias, la principal causa era la pobreza. Además de la pobreza y de la desinformación, que sin duda dificultan el acceso a la salud y a la educación, las familias no se reconocen como titulares de derechos y por ende no pueden ejercer como tales, en la medida en que no consideran a las autoridades como titulares de obligaciones.
Estudio del Costo de las Pérdidas Laborales tanto Económicas como Humanas en una Empresa de Fabricación de Plásticos
Authors: Vélez-Barzallo Julio César , Cerón-Pérez Eve , Cerda-Prado Nelson
Published: November 2017

El presente trabajo de investigación se realizó con la finalidad de determinar el costo económico de los accidentes laborales ocurridos y reportados ante el Seguro General de Riesgos del Trabajo (SGRT) a partir del año 2012 en la empresa Rhenania S. A., para lo cual se realizó el estudio aplicando métodos de investigación adecuados para este fin. Se efectuó la encuesta al 100% de la población trabajadora y se encontró que han ocurrido 49 incidentes laborales y 21 accidentes laborales durante los últimos años, pero los casos reportados al SGRT desde el año 2012 han sido 3 incidentes laborales y 8 accidentes laborales. Se diseñó una metodología de cálculo para valorar en términos económicos los incidentes y accidentes laborales, y obtener como resultado un costo económico de 33.257,37 dólares, de los cuales 689,58 dólares correspondieron a incidentes laborales y 32.567,79 dólares correspondieron a accidentes laborales. De estos valores, al porcentualizar se obtuvo que el 9,91% corresponde a la parte salarial, el 2,62% a la parte de salud y el 87,47% a la parte de la productividad. A base de la información obtenida en la investigación, la empresa debe tomar las medidas en cuanto a mantenimiento de la maquinaria y la prevención necesaria en lo que se refiere a Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional para evitar incidentes y accidentes laborales.
La Última Crisis Financiera Mundial y sus Consecuencias
Authors: García-Osorio Nelson , Borsic-Laborde Zlata
Published: November 2017

La crisis mundial tiene su origen en el ”corazón” del sistema financiero estadounidense del 2007. Se perdió la confianza en los títulos hipotecarios de baja calidad, los precios de los activos bajaron, la reducción de la liquidez y la incertidumbre en los mercados financieros generaron un progresivo impacto en la actividad económica que a través de los canales comerciales internacionales se redujo la demanda agregada en todo el mundo, marcando así la dinámica recesiva.
INVENTARIO FORESTAL EN LA ESTACIÓN PINDO MIRADOR
Authors: Luzuriaga Carmen , Cuasapaz Cristina , Quichimbo Gloria
Published: November 2017

El presente proyecto se ejecutó en la “Estación Biológica Pindo Mirador” gracias al financiamiento de la Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial (UTE). La zona de estudio constituyó los bosques de la Estación; se consideró como variable la pendiente del terreno. El diseño utilizado fue el muestreo en fajas que permitió captar mejor la variación de la población, debido a la heterogeneidad en su composición florística. El tamaño de cada parcela fue de 200 X 50 metros, lo que representa 1Ha; la intensidad de muestreo fue del 5%. Además se trabajó con subparcelas circulares para inventariar la regeneración natural de las especies.

Los resultados evidencian especies forestales de uso maderable y no maderable. Se propone considerar al bosque como un sistema biológico con usos múltiples: valor ambiental, ecológico, recreativo; así como un lineamiento general la regeneración natural como proceso natural que mantiene al bosque. Este inventario servirá de punto de partida para establecer estrategias de manejo del bosque y como un estudio que puntualiza la importancia de la Declaratoria de Bosque Protector a la zona de estudio de la Estación Biológica Pindo Mirador.
NECESIDADES DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN LA SOCIEDAD ECUATORIANA
Authors: Gallegos Rodrigo , Larrea Mónica , Cadena Patricia , Hernández Pablo , Analuisa Patricia , Torres Rubén , Montalván Arturo , Palacios José
Published: November 2017

Se plantea el Primer Estudio de Necesidades de Investigación en la Sociedad Ecuatoriana para el Sistema Nacional UTE, a fin de optimizar los recursos físicos, humanos, tecnológicos y económicos que la Universidad destina a la Investigación. Este estudio sistemático y permanente está orientado a establecer la relación entre los proyectos de investigación que desarrolla la UTE con los requerimientos de desarrollo nacional y así el Sistema Integrado de Educación Superior Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial -SIUTE- responda de manera pertinente a la sociedad y el país. Se desarrolló en las ciudades de Quito, Salinas y Santo Domingo, así como en las comunidades más cercanas a las mismas y donde la Universidad tiene presencia académica, investigativa o de vinculación social. Tuvo como alcance las necesidades de la comunidad a través de la información que generan las instituciones públicas locales y regionales: alcaldías, prefecturas y gobernaciones. En esta primera fase se buscó alinear la investigación con las prioridades determinadas a nivel nacional y local por parte de los gobiernos y actividades respectivas, tomando como referentes también a los líderes de opinión y gremios empresariales y locales más significativos. Se analizó la Política Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología definida a través de la Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología SENACYT –hoy SENESCYT, así como los grandes lineamientos del Plan Nacional del Buen Vivir desarrollado por la Secretaría Nacional de Planificación y Desarrollo, SENPLADES, de tal forma que la integración de las fuentes gubernamentales, institucionales y sociales, definan y enriquezcan las prioridades de la Investigación en la Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial. Es así que se establecen las principales líneas de investigación formativa para la Universidad; las que responden, por un lado, a la estrategia de desarrollo país, pero por otro , a las especificidades de la actividad académica universitaria y a las aptitudes propias del grupo docente - investigador con que cuenta la Universidad. Cabe aclarar que estas líneas se traducen en ejes de investigación formativa y los trabajos de investigación y graduación deberán alinearse con las mismas.
Eficiencia de uso de Nitrógeno (15N) aplicado con fuentes de potasio en la palma aceitera
Authors: Calvache Ángel Marcelo , Saquicela Rodrigo , Valverde Franklin
Published: November 2017

El N es uno de los nutrientes requeridos en mayor cantidad por las plantas. El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar la eficiencia del uso de N por la palma aceitera en producción (cinco años), al aplicar N con fuentes de K en las épocas seca y lluvioso de los años 2009 y 2010, respectivamente. Se investigó los efectos del KCI y KZSC>4 (269.l 3 g K [palma]*') al ser aplicados con sulfato de amonio (27.65 g N [palmaj"), utilizando lsN con 10 % de abundancia en exceso, se evaluó el N proveniente del fertilizante, eficiencia de uso de N, N total y materia seca acumulada en los órganos de la palma aceitera Tenera INIAP (Elaeis guineensis Jaca.) en La Concordia, Ecuador. Se utilizó la prueba t de Student independiente (a = 0.05) con tres bloques. No hubo diferencias (P 2 0.0776) debido a la aplicación de N con KC! o KQSO4 en las épocas seca y lluvioso, ni en la eficiencia de uso del N porla planta de palma. La eficiencia de uso del N fue de 0.24 %, 8.79%, 16.49%. 2.43%, 1.70 %, 0.11% y 29.93% para las raíces, estípe, hojas, racimos inmaduros, racimos maduros, hojas podadas y planta entera. Los épocas seca, lluviosa y las fuentes de K tendrían el mismo efecto en la absorción de N por la palma aceitera, que fue baja en las condiciones climóticas del sitio experimental.
Análisis comparativo del índice de inclusión educativa en las escuelas de educación básica de la ciudad de Manta
Authors: Villafuerte Holguín Jhonny , Bravo Santos , Corral Jaza Karen
Published: November 2017

En Ecuador “la educación es un derecho de las personas y un deber ineludible e inexcusable del Estado" así se establece en la Constitución del año 2008, la cual es puesta en ejecución a través de la Ley Orgónica de Educación Intercultural del 2011- LOEI; con la que se garantiza que todos los estudiantes, sin ningún tipo de discriminación tengan acceso a una educación de calidad. Este trabajo cuantitativo con enfoque positivista tiene como objetivo: Determinar la evolución del índice de inclusión educativa de Booth y Ainscow en 30 escuelas de educación básica ordinaria de la ciudad de Manta, durante el periodo 2014-2015. Para la parte empírica de este trabajo se seleccionó el índice de inclusión que Aisnicow, M. y Booth, T. presentaron en el año 2000; el que fue adaptada al contexto local, y aplicado durante los períodos 2014 y 2015, a un grupo representativo de 30 centros educativos públicos y privados, a través de la participación de 100 profesores y profesoras, de diversos niveles de formación profesional, edad y experiencia profesional; quienes laboran en los centros educativos participantes. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio, ratifican que existen importantes avances a nivel de la dimensión política; sin embargo, aún se evidencian debilidades en las dimensiones práctica y cultural de la educación inclusiva en la ciudad de Manta.
MANAJEMEN LIKUIDITAS LEMBAGA KEUANGAN MIKRO SYARIAH NON BANK (BMT) DENGAN AKAD TAWARRUQ
Authors: Susilo Edi
Published: November 2017

Non-bank Islamic microfinance institutions (BMT) are legal entity Cooperative have no instrument to fulfill liquidity needs as Islamic banking. Whereas the BMT should provide liquidity fund for the partners / members at any time. This article uses descriptive analytical method, to understand deeply the Tawarruq contract as liquidity management solutions Non-bank Islamic Microfinance Institutions  (BMT). The results show the Tawarruq contract can be revitalized by necessity of the present to fulfill the liquidity needs of Non-bank Islamic Microfinance Institutions (BMT). Keywords: Tawarruq, Islamic Microfinance Institutions, BMT
BISNIS JUAL BELI ONLINE (ONLINE SHOP) DALAM HUKUM ISLAM DAN HUKUM NEGARA
Authors: Fitria Tira Nur
Published: November 2017

This study aims to find out about online shop (online business shop) in Islamic view (Islamic law). This research is qualitative descriptive. This study included literature to examine the written sources such as scientific journals, books referesni, literature, encyclopedias, scientific articles, scientific papers and other sources that are relevant and related to the object being studied. As for the object of study of this research is in the form of texts or writings that describe and explain about the business / online shop (online shopping), which become popular in Indonesia. Results from this study is Islam do business through online is allowed in accordance with Islamic Shari'a. While there are elements of usury, injustice, menopoli and fraud. Prophet hinted that buying and selling is lawful while consensual (Antaradhin), for sale or through an online business as having a positive impact because it is practical, fast, and easy for the buyer. If the business by via online not in accordance with the terms and conditions described above, online business is not allowed.
Ambiguous Attachments and Industrious Nostalgias
Authors: Clopot Cristina
Published: November 2017

This article questions notions of belonging in the case of displaced
communities’ descendants and discusses such groups’ efforts to preserve
their heritage. It examines the instrumental use of nostalgia in
heritage discourses that drive preservation efforts. The case study
presented is focused on the Russian Old Believers in Romania. Their
creativity in reforming heritage practices is considered in relation to
heritage discourses that emphasise continuity. The ethnographic data
presented in this article, derived from my doctoral research project,
is focused on three major themes: language preservation, the singing
tradition and the use of heritage for touristic purposes.
Skewed Vulnerabilities and Moral Corruption in Global Perspectives on Climate Engineering
Authors: Carr Wylie , Preston Christopher J.
Published: November 2017

Ethicists and social scientists alike have advocated for the inclusion of vulnerable populations in research and decision-making on climate engineering. Unfortunately, there have been few efforts to do so. The research presented in this paper was designed to build knowledge about how vulnerable populations think about climate engineering. The goal of this manuscript is to bring the ethics literature on climate engineering into dialogue with emerging social science data documenting the perspectives of vulnerable populations. The results indicate some concerns among vulnerable populations may resemble those outlined by ethicists. However, the perspectives expressed by interviewees also extend previous ethical treatments by indicating ways in which climate engineering could compound existing injustices.
Existence results for a Kirchhoff-type second-order differential equation on the half-line with impulses
Authors: Heidarkhani Shapour , Afrouzi Ghasem A. , Moradi Shahin
Published: November 2017

We shall discuss the existence of at least one weak solution and infinitely many weak solutions for a Kirchhoff-type second-order impulsive differential equation on the half-line. Our technical approach is based on variational methods. Some recent results are extended and improved. Some examples are presented to demonstrate the application of our main results.
Toward a learned profession: The future of accounting research
Authors: Behn Bruce
Published: November 2017

The Pathways Commission (2012) recommended that we devote significant efforts to building a learned profession by purposeful integration of accounting research, education, and practice for students, accounting practitioners and educators. The reason this goal is so important for our broadly defined accounting profession is that we are in market for talent with other traditional learned professions such as medicine, law and engineering (and other future learned professions). Potential students want rewarding successful careers so they will migrate to learned professions that help make a difference in the world. The key aspect to a learned profession is intellectual technique (research) that informs practice and teaching. If our accounting profession can enhance the link between research, practice and teaching, we can move towards a learned profession.
Effect of hot water treatment in controlling fusarium wilt of gladiolus
Authors: Yasmin L , Ali MA , Dey TK
Published: November 2017

The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Research Centre (HRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur during 2010-12 following two factors RCB design with four replications. The levels of Factor A (Duration): were i) T1 = 5 minutes, ii) T2 = 10 minutes and iii) T3 = 15 minutes. Factor B (Water temperature): i) A1 = 500C, ii) A2 = 520C, iii) A3 = 540C, iv) A4 = 560C and v) A5 = Control (normal water). The treatment combinations were evaluated against the wilt disease of gladiolus (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli) under naturally infested field condition. Corm treated with hot water at 540C for 5 minutes was very effective in inhibiting the wilt disease incidence and thereby resulting better corm emergence, flower sticks plot-1, corm plot-1 and comel yield of gladiolus. Corm treated with hot water at 520C for 10 minutes appeared moderately effective against Fusarium wilt as well as better flower, corm and cormel yield of gladiolus under field condition.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(3): 393-401, September 2017
Combining ability estimates in maize (Zea mays L.) Through line × tester analysis
Authors: Ahmed S , Begum S , Islam MA , Ratna M , Karim MR
Published: November 2017

Eighteen advanced S4 lines of maize extracted from NK46 were evaluated through line × tester method by using two testers for grain yield and its components. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects of crosses were determined to evaluate the prospective inbred lines. Highly significant genotypic differences for all of six characters, i.e. days to 50% tasselling, Days to 50% silking, plant height, ear height, 1000 kernel weight, and yield indicated presence of wide range of variability among the genotypes for those traits. Non-additive gene action was predominant. Four lines for days to 50% tasselling, one for days to 50% silking, two for plant height, one for ear height, three for 1000 kernel weight, and four for yield were found with significant GCA effects in desired direction. For days to tasselling, days to silking, plant height and ear height, none of 36 cross combinations confirmed significant SCA effects. Five combinations showed significant positive SCA effects for 1000 kernel weight. For yield two crosses showed significant positive SCA. Considering the results of present study, based on GCA and SCA analysis of observed characters seven lines namely, NK46-2, NK46-4, NK46-10, NK46- 13, NK46-18, NK46-43 and NK46-44 were selected for further breeding programBangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(3): 425-436, September 2017
Management of brinjal shoot and fruit borer leucinodes orbonalis guenee using different approaches
Authors: Chowdhury MAH , Alam MZ , Hossain MS , Suh SJ , Kwon YJ
Published: November 2017

The present study was conducted during October 2014 to June 2015 in the farm of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur to find out the most effective management option (s) against brinjal shoot and fruit borer (BSFB) with 6 treatments namely, Beauveria bassiana, 1´109 CFU @ g l-1, Bioneem 0.3 EC (Azadirachtin) @ 1.5 ml l-1, Tracer 45 SC (Spinosad) @ 0.4 ml l-1, Vertimec 1.8 EC (Abamectin) @ 1.2 ml l-1 of water, Mechanical control (hand picking) with clean cultivation and untreated control. Results revealed that shoot infestation at pre-fruiting stage was the lowest in Bioneem 0.3 EC (4.34%) and at fruiting stage in Tracer 45 SC treated plot (7.75%) and the highest was in untreated control plot (17.94% at pre-fruiting stage and 39.46 at fruiting stage). The lowest fruit infestation by BSFB was obtained with Tracer 45 SC (8.16% n/n and 10.0% w/w) followed by B. bassiana, 1´109 CFU (23.23% n/n and 18.27% w/w) and the highest infestation was observed under untreated control plot (48.59% n/n and 32.09% w/w). Percent reduction of infested fruit by number (83.21%) and weight (68.84%) over untreated control was higher in Tracer 45 SC treated plot resulting significantly higher marketable yield. Therefore, the significant highest marketable yield (34.39 t ha-1) was harvested in the plot treated with Tracer 45 SC followed by 22.78 t ha-1 with B. bassiana, 1´109 CFU and 19.26 t ha-1 from Vertimec 1.8 EC treated plot. The highest benefit cost ratio of 3.05 was obtained from Tracer 45 SC followed by 2.93 in B. bassiana, 1´109 CFU and 2.89 with Vertimec 1.8 EC sprayed plot.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(3): 539-548, September 2017
Character association and path co-efficient analysis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Amin MF , Hasan M , Barma NCD , Rahman MA , Rahman MM
Published: November 2017

The experiment was carried out with 50 wheat lines to study their mean, range, cv (%), correlation co- efficient, and path co- efficient considering 14 different morphological characters at the experimental field of Regional Wheat Research Centre (RWRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur during December 2010 to April 2011. Significant variation was observed among the genotypes for all characters studied. In general, genotypic correlations were higher than the phenotypic correlations. It indicates that there was an inherent association among them which was adversely influenced by the environment. The correlation coefficients showed that, seed yield was negatively and significantly correlated with days to heading (DTH), plant height (PHT), days to anthesis (DTA), days to physiological maturity (DPM), and canopy temperature at anthesis stage (CTanth.) but only negatively correlated with canopy temperature at vegetative stage (CTveg.), canopy temperature at grain filling stage (CTgf.), spikelets per spike both genotypically and phenotypically and grain per spike showed genotypically negative correlation. Path analysis showed that plant height (PHT), days to physiological maturity (DPM), canopy temperature at grain filling stage (CTgf.), and thousand grain weight (TGW) influenced seed yield directly in positive direction but days to heading (DTH), days to anthesis (DTA), grain filling duration (GFD), grain filling rate (GFR), Chlorophyll content at anthesis stage (CHLA), canopy temperature at vegetative stage (CTveg.), canopy temperature at anthesis stage (CTanth.), spikelets per spike, and grains per spike had negative direct effect on seed yield. Considering analytical findings of correlation co-efficient, path co-efficient analysis and field performance, the genotypes G 3, G 10, G 11, G 12, G13, G 21, G 29, G 35, G 38, G 40, G 46 and G 48 were found suitable for future breeding programme.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(3): 571-588, September 2017
Trans-Plasma Membrane Electron Transport and Ascorbate Efflux by Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Eccardt Amanda , Bell Thomas , Mattathil Lyn , Prasad Rohan , Kelly Shannon , Fisher Jonathan
Published: November 2017

Trans-plasma membrane electron transport (tPMET) and the antioxidant roles of ascorbate reportedly play a role in protection of cells from damage by reactive oxygen species, which have been implicated in causing metabolic dysfunction such as insulin resistance. Skeletal muscle comprises the largest whole-body organ fraction suggesting a potential role of tPMET and ascorbate export as a major source of extracellular antioxidant. We hypothesized that skeletal muscle is capable of tPMET and ascorbate efflux. To measure these processes, we assayed the ability of cultured muscle cells, satellite cells, and isolated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) to reduce two extracellular electron acceptors, water soluble tetrazolium salt 1 (WST-1), and dichlorophenolindophenol (DPIP). Ascorbate oxidase (AO) was utilized to determine which portion of WST-1 reduction was dependent on ascorbate efflux. We found that muscle cells can reduce extracellular electron acceptors. In C2C12 myotubes and satellite cells, a substantial portion of this reduction was dependent on ascorbate. In myotubes, glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) inhibitors along with a pan-GLUT inhibitor suppressed tPMET and ascorbate efflux, while a GLUT4 inhibitor had no effect. The adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase activator 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) suppressed both tPMET and ascorbate efflux by myotubes, while insulin had no effect. Taken together, our data suggest that muscle cells are capable of tPMET and ascorbate efflux supported by GLUT1, thus illustrating a model in which resting muscle exports electrons and antioxidant to the extracellular environment.
Effects of Viewing Displays from Different Distances on Human Visual System
Authors: Ramadan Mohamed , Alhaag Mohammed , Abidi Mustufa
Published: November 2017

The current stereoscopic 3D displays have several human-factor issues including visual-fatigue symptoms such as eyestrain, headache, fatigue, nausea, and malaise. The viewing time and viewing distance are factors that considerably affect the visual fatigue associated with 3D displays. Hence, this study analyzes the effects of display type (2D vs. 3D) and viewing distance on visual fatigue during a 60-min viewing session based on electroencephalogram (EEG) relative beta power, and alpha/beta power ratio. In this study, twenty male participants watched four videos. The EEGs were recorded at two occipital lobes (O1 and O2) of each participant in the pre-session (3 min), post-session (3 min), and during a 60-min viewing session. The results showed that the decrease in relative beta power of the EEG and the increase in the alpha/beta ratio from the start until the end of the viewing session were significantly higher when watching the 3D display. When the viewing distance was increased from 1.95 m to 3.90 m, the visual fatigue was decreased in the case of the 3D-display, whereas the fatigue was increased in the case of the 2D-display. Moreover, there was approximately the same level of visual fatigue when watching videos in 2D or 3D from a long viewing distance (3.90 m).
Clinic Design as Placebo—Using Design to Promote Healing and Support Treatments
Authors: Rehn Jonas , Schuster Kai
Published: November 2017

Analogously to the medical placebo effect, people seem to anticipate the quality of treatments based on external stimuli. In order to gain insights on the effect the built environment can have on a person’s judgments and behavior with a particular focus on health related issues, a quantitative survey (N = 851) with four groups before and after the renovation of a rehabilitation clinic has been conducted. In line with an overall modernization of the clinic, the entrance, the lobby, and some patient rooms have been changed. In the lobby, a service counter and coffee bar have been added as well as light colors and new flooring material to achieve a more modern and clean atmosphere in the sense of aesthetical appearance of the space. The outcome revealed that patients rate the intention to change their health behavior as well as the quality of food or significantly higher in a modernized clinic. These differences cannot be directly attributed solely to the changes in the building. Analogously to the medical placebo, an effect referred to as design placebo effect is, therefore, proposed to explain improved ratings of aspects that have not directly been changed due to the intervention. Other significant effects are attributable to winter and summer climate. During summer time, ratings for waiting area, atmosphere, patient rooms, as well as for staff were significantly higher. It is, therefore, assumed that aesthetic attributes, such as architectural design, or friendliness of the weather, exert their effects as perceptual placebos that directly influence judgment outcomes and behavioral intentions. Further research is needed to match certain design and general environmental features to their effects on patients and investigate their effect strength.
Risk and Resilience Factors Related to Parental Bereavement Following the Death of a Child with a Life-Limiting Condition
Authors: Jaaniste Tiina , Coombs Sandra , Donnelly Theresa , Kelk Norm , Beston Danielle
Published: November 2017

This paper reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on risk and resilience factors impacting on parental bereavement outcomes following the death of a child with a life-limiting condition. Over the past few decades, bereavement research has focussed primarily on a risk-based approach. In light of advances in the literature on resilience, the authors propose a Risk and Resilience Model of Parental Bereavement, thus endeavouring to give more holistic consideration to a range of potential influences on parental bereavement outcomes. The literature will be reviewed with regard to the role of: (i) loss-oriented stressors (e.g., circumstances surrounding the death and multiple losses); (ii) inter-personal factors (e.g., marital factors, social support, and religious practices); (iii) intra-personal factors (e.g., neuroticism, trait optimism, psychological flexibility, attachment style, and gender); and (iv) coping and appraisal, on parental bereavement outcomes. Challenges facing this area of research are discussed, and research and clinical implications considered.
Secret Sharing and Shared Information
Authors: Rauh Johannes
Published: November 2017

Secret sharing is a cryptographic discipline in which the goal is to distribute information about a secret over a set of participants in such a way that only specific authorized combinations of participants together can reconstruct the secret. Thus, secret sharing schemes are systems of variables in which it is very clearly specified which subsets have information about the secret. As such, they provide perfect model systems for information decompositions. However, following this intuition too far leads to an information decomposition with negative partial information terms, which are difficult to interpret. One possible explanation is that the partial information lattice proposed by Williams and Beer is incomplete and has to be extended to incorporate terms corresponding to higher-order redundancy. These results put bounds on information decompositions that follow the partial information framework, and they hint at where the partial information lattice needs to be improved.
Parameter Identification of Electrochemical Model for Vehicular Lithium-Ion Battery Based on Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Yang Xiao , Chen Long , Xu Xing , Wang Wei , Xu Qiling , Lin Yuzhen , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: November 2017

The dynamic characteristics of power batteries directly affect the performance of electric vehicles, and the mathematical model is the basis for the design of a battery management system (BMS).Based on the electrode-averaged model of a lithium-ion battery, in view of the solid phase lithium-ion diffusion equation, the electrochemical model is simplified through the finite difference method. By analyzing the characteristics of the model and the type of parameters, the solid state diffusion kinetics are separated, and then the cascade parameter identifications are implemented with Particle Swarm Optimization. Eventually, the validity of the electrochemical model and the accuracy of model parameters are verified through 0.2–2 C multi-rates battery discharge tests of cell and road simulation tests of a micro pure electric vehicle under New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) conditions. The results show that the estimated parameters can guarantee the output accuracy. In the test of cell, the voltage deviation of discharge is generally less than 0.1 V except the end; in road simulation test, the output is close to the actual value at low speed with the error around ±0.03 V, and at high speed around ±0.08 V.
Performance Analysis of an Updraft Tower System for Dry Cooling in Large-Scale Power Plants
Authors: Liu Haotian , Weibel Justin , Groll Eckhard
Published: November 2017

An updraft tower cooling system is assessed for elimination of water use associated with power plant heat rejection. Heat rejected from the power plant condenser is used to warm the air at the base of an updraft tower; buoyancy-driven air flows through a recuperative turbine inside the tower. The secondary loop, which couples the power plant condenser to a heat exchanger at the tower base, can be configured either as a constant-pressure pump cycle or a vapor compression cycle. The novel use of a compressor can elevate the air temperature in the tower base to increases the turbine power recovery and decrease the power plant condensing temperature. The system feasibility is evaluated by comparing the net power needed to operate the system versus alternative dry cooling schemes. A thermodynamic model coupling all system components is developed for parametric studies and system performance evaluation. The model predicts that constant-pressure pump cycle consumes less power than using a compressor; the extra compression power required for temperature lift is much larger than the gain in turbine power output. The updraft tower system with a pumped secondary loop can allow dry cooling with less power plant efficiency penalty compared to air-cooled condensers.
Band Gap Tuning of Cu2ZnGeSxSe4-x Absorbers for Thin-Film Solar Cells
Authors: Schnabel Thomas , Seboui Mahmoud , Ahlswede Erik
Published: November 2017

In this work, kesterite-type Cu2ZnGeSxSe4-x absorbers were prepared by a two-step process for use in thin-film solar cells. Their high band gap makes them an interesting candidate as top cells in multijunction solar cells. However, an exact tuning of the band gap is essential. Therefore, for the first time, the [S]/([S] + [Se]) ratio was controlled via addition of a variable amount of GeS during the annealing step, which allowed precise control of the band gap between 1.5 and 1.7 eV. The changes in morphology and crystallinity of the absorber are discussed in detail. An additional focus was directed toward the parameters of the resulting solar cells. Although the efficiency declined as the [S]/([S] + [Se]) ratio increases, the open-circuit voltage was considerably increased.
Yield, Composition, and Property of Biochar Obtained from the Two-Step Pyrolysis of Rice Husk Impregnated with Boric Acid
Authors: Cheng Xu , Wang Biao
Published: November 2017

Adding catalysts such as boric acid into biomass is a flexible method to achieve high biochar yield with low carbon emission levels. This work is directed towards investigating the effects of boric acid content on biochar yield, composition, and property through a two-step pyrolysis of rice husk. The results showed that biochar yields, compositions, and properties were associated with the amounts of boric acid impregnated. Yield, C content, and calorific value of biochar were improved by adding 2.0 wt % of boric acid into rice husk, and those values were 46.4 wt %, 59.3 wt %, and 22.6 MJ/kg, respectively. However, the fixed-carbon content of biochar was around 55.4 wt % and was barely affected by the changes in the amounts of boric acid absorbed. Therefore, the optimized boric acid content of rice husk was 2.0 wt % when biochar was applied to the fields of carbon storage and solid fuel. Meanwhile, the specific surface area of biochar continuously decreased with increasing boric acid content of rice husk, indicating that the boric acid had a negative influence on the pore structure of biochar. Thus, the addition of boric acid is not recommended when preparing a biochar to be used as an absorbent.
Moderate Collapse in a Shale Cap of a Nearly Depleted Reservoir
Authors: Zhao Kai , Han Jiyong , Dou Liangbin , Feng Yongcun
Published: November 2017

Reservoir depletion will cause the safe equivalent circulation density (ECD) operating window of drilling fluids to narrow, or even disappear. Previous studies have proposed a set of two specific casings at the top and bottom of the depleted reservoir, respectively, or conducted wellbore strengthening to increase fracture pressure, but these will cause a waste of time and costs, or differential pressure sticking. Aiming at resolving this problem, a novel concept and evaluation method of moderate collapse in the shale cap was developed and case calculations were performed. The results show that the degree of collapse is different for wells drilled in different types of fault regimes, and it can be controlled by optimizing the well trajectory. The collapse pressure within the shale cap was decreased due to reservoir depletion, and when a certain degree of collapse was acceptable, the collapse pressure can be even lower and a safe operating window will appear which can be beneficial to optimizing the casing program and drilling design. The research results provide a theoretical basis and new design idea for successfully and economically drilling into new untapped reservoirs in deeper horizons through depleted zones in the future.
Fatty Acid Profiles of In Vitro Digested Processed Milk
Authors: Tunick Michael , Van Hekken Diane
Published: November 2017

Digestion of milkfat releases some long-chain (18-carbon) fatty acids (FAs) that can provide health benefits to the consumer, yet because they are found in small amounts and can be difficult to identify, there is limited information on the effects that common fluid milk processing may have on the digestibility of these FAs. This study provides FA profiles for raw and combinations of homogenized and/or heat-treated (high and ultra-high temperature pasteurization) milk, before and after in vitro digestion, in order to determine the effects of processing on the digestibility of these healthy fatty acids. Use of a highly sensitive separation column resulted in improved FA profiles that showed that, when milk was subjected to both pasteurization and homogenization, the release of the 18-carbon FAs, oleic acid, linoleic acid (an omega-6 FA), rumenic acid (a conjugated linoleic acid, CLA), and linolenic acid (an omega-3 FA) tended to be higher than with either pasteurization or homogenization, or with no treatment. Milk is noted for containing the omega-3 FAs and CLAs, which are associated with positive health benefits. Determining how processing factors may impact the components in milk will aid in understanding the release of healthy FAs when milk and dairy foods are consumed.
A Microbiomic Analysis in African Americans with Colonic Lesions Reveals Streptococcus sp.VT162 as a Marker of Neoplastic Transformation
Authors: Brim Hassan , Yooseph Shibu , Lee Edward , Sherif Zaki A. , Abbas Muneer , Laiyemo Adeyinka , Varma Sudhir , Torralba Manolito , Dowd Scot , Nelson Karen , Pathmasiri Wimal , Sumner Susan , De Vos Willem , Liang Qiaoyi , Yu Jun , Zoetendal Erwin , Ashktorab Hassan
Published: November 2017

Increasing evidence suggests a role of the gut microbiota in colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC). To detect bacterial markers of colorectal cancer in African Americans a metabolomic analysis was performed on fecal water extracts. DNA from stool samples of adenoma and healthy subjects and from colon cancer and matched normal tissues was analyzed to determine the microbiota composition (using 16S rDNA) and genomic content (metagenomics). Metagenomic functions with discriminative power between healthy and neoplastic specimens were established. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (q-PCR) using primers and probes specific to Streptococcus sp. VT_162 were used to validate this bacterium association with neoplastic transformation in stool samples from two independent cohorts of African Americans and Chinese patients with colorectal lesions. The metabolomic analysis of adenomas revealed low amino acids content. The microbiota in both cancer vs. normal tissues and adenoma vs. normal stool samples were different at the 16S rRNA gene level. Cross-mapping of metagenomic data led to 9 markers with significant discriminative power between normal and diseased specimens. These markers identified with Streptococcus sp. VT_162. Q-PCR data showed a statistically significant presence of this bacterium in advanced adenoma and cancer samples in an independent cohort of CRC patients. We defined metagenomic functions from Streptococcus sp. VT_162 with discriminative power among cancers vs. matched normal and adenomas vs. healthy subjects’ stools. Streptococcus sp. VT_162 specific 16S rDNA was validated in an independent cohort. These findings might facilitate non-invasive screening for colorectal cancer.
“To Work Just Like Anyone Else”—A Narrative from a Man Aging with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Lundström Ulrica , Lilja Margareta , Isaksson Gunilla
Published: November 2017

People aging with spinal cord injury (SCI) develop medical problems commonly associated with the aging process at a younger age than the general population. However, research about how the life story changes and how meaning will be experienced in occupations is lacking. The aim was to describe and offer an explanation of how a man experienced meaning in everyday occupations while aging with an SCI. Four narrative interviews were performed over a four-year period, with a man in his fifties, who lived with SCI for 39 years. The narrative analysis generated an overall plot, named “To Work Just Like Anyone Else,” and gives a picture of his experiences, thoughts, and reflections about meaning in occupations, from when he became injured to the present, and in relation to his future. His life story is characterized by secondary health complications, and his experiences of negotiating with the aging body and making choices to continue working. Further, how occupational risk factors, e.g., imbalance, alienation, and deprivation, occur as a result of lack of rehabilitation and support from social systems is addressed. Future research should explore how rehabilitation and social systems can support people aging with SCI to experience meaning in everyday occupations and to have balance in everyday life.
WLAN Fingerprint Indoor Positioning Strategy Based on Implicit Crowdsourcing and Semi-Supervised Learning
Authors: Song Chunjing , Wang Jian
Published: November 2017

Wireless local area network (WLAN) fingerprint positioning is an indoor localization technique with high accuracy and low hardware requirements. However, collecting received signal strength (RSS) samples for the fingerprint database is time-consuming and labor-intensive, hindering the use of this technique. The popular crowdsourcing sampling technique has been introduced to reduce the workload of sample collection, but has two challenges: one is the heterogeneity of devices, which can significantly affect the positioning accuracy; the other is the requirement of users’ intervention in traditional crowdsourcing, which reduces the practicality of the system. In response to these challenges, we have proposed a new WLAN indoor positioning strategy, which incorporates a new preprocessing method for RSS samples, the implicit crowdsourcing sampling technique, and a semi-supervised learning algorithm. First, implicit crowdsourcing does not require users’ intervention. The acquisition program silently collects unlabeled samples, the RSS samples, without information about the position. Secondly, to cope with the heterogeneity of devices, the preprocessing method maps all the RSS values of samples to a uniform range and discretizes them. Finally, by using a large number of unlabeled samples with some labeled samples, Co-Forest, the introduced semi-supervised learning algorithm, creates and repeatedly refines a random forest ensemble classifier that performs well for location estimation. The results of experiments conducted in a real indoor environment show that the proposed strategy reduces the demand for large quantities of labeled samples and achieves good positioning accuracy.
Functional Characterization of Waterlogging and Heat Stresses Tolerance Gene Pyruvate decarboxylase 2 from Actinidia deliciosa
Authors: Luo Hui-Ting , Zhang Ji-Yu , Wang Gang , Jia Zhan-Hui , Huang Sheng-Nan , Wang Tao , Guo Zhong-Ren
Published: November 2017

A previous report showed that both Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) genes were significantly upregulated in kiwifruit after waterlogging treatment using Illumina sequencing technology, and that the kiwifruit AdPDC1 gene was required during waterlogging, but might not be required during other environmental stresses. Here, the function of another PDC gene, named AdPDC2, was analyzed. The expression of the AdPDC2 gene was determined using qRT-PCR, and the results showed that the expression levels of AdPDC2 in the reproductive organs were much higher than those in the nutritive organs. Waterlogging, NaCl, and heat could induce the expression of AdPDC2. Overexpression of kiwifruit AdPDC2 in transgenic Arabidopsis enhanced resistance to waterlogging and heat stresses in five-week-old seedlings, but could not enhance resistance to NaCl and mannitol stresses at the seed germination stage and in early seedlings. These results suggested that the kiwifruit AdPDC2 gene may play an important role in waterlogging resistance and heat stresses in kiwifruit.
Arabic Handwritten Digit Recognition Based on Restricted Boltzmann Machine and Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Alani Ali
Published: November 2017

Handwritten digit recognition is an open problem in computer vision and pattern recognition, and solving this problem has elicited increasing interest. The main challenge of this problem is the design of an efficient method that can recognize the handwritten digits that are submitted by the user via digital devices. Numerous studies have been proposed in the past and in recent years to improve handwritten digit recognition in various languages. Research on handwritten digit recognition in Arabic is limited. At present, deep learning algorithms are extremely popular in computer vision and are used to solve and address important problems, such as image classification, natural language processing, and speech recognition, to provide computers with sensory capabilities that reach the ability of humans. In this study, we propose a new approach for Arabic handwritten digit recognition by use of restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) deep learning algorithms. In particular, we propose an Arabic handwritten digit recognition approach that works in two phases. First, we use the RBM, which is a deep learning technique that can extract highly useful features from raw data, and which has been utilized in several classification problems as a feature extraction technique in the feature extraction phase. Then, the extracted features are fed to an efficient CNN architecture with a deep supervised learning architecture for the training and testing process. In the experiment, we used the CMATERDB 3.3.1 Arabic handwritten digit dataset for training and testing the proposed method. Experimental results show that the proposed method significantly improves the accuracy rate, with accuracy reaching 98.59%. Finally, comparison of our results with those of other studies on the CMATERDB 3.3.1 Arabic handwritten digit dataset shows that our approach achieves the highest accuracy rate.